Chapter 8 Chapter 8: The Famous Detective Appears

1 Craddock put before the Chief of the Bureau all the typewritten records of the interrogation.The latter had just read a telegram from the Swiss police. "Turns out he has a criminal record," Ridesdale said. "Uh—unsurprisingly." "Yes, Director." "Jewelry...well, not bad...false documents to enter the country...yes...cheques...definitely a liar." "Yes, Chief—in small matters." "I see. Small things lead to big things." "I wonder, Chief." The chief looked up. "Worried, Craddock?" "Yes, Chief."

"What's the matter? It's an obvious case. Maybe not? Let's see what these people you've interviewed say." He moved the report to himself and glanced at it quickly. "Common thing - lots of inconsistencies and conflicts. Different people definitely have different accounts of tense moments. But the general outline is clear enough. " "I know, Chief—but the outline is unsatisfactory. If you know what I mean—it's a false outline." "Let's look at the facts, then. Rudy Shields left Mendenham on the five-twenty bus for Chipping Crighorn, arriving at six. The conductor and two passengers testified. Leaving the public After the bus stop, he walked in the direction of the small paddock. He entered the house without much trouble—possibly through the front door. He held the occupant down with his revolver and fired two shots, one of which was The gun slightly wounded Miss Blacklock before killing herself a third time.

Whether it was an accident or a suicide in fear of crime, there is not enough evidence yet.His reasons for why he does this are really unsatisfactory, which I agree with.But this 'why' is not the question we should answer at all.The coroner's conclusion was a likely suicide - or an accidental death.Regardless of the outcome, it is the same for us.We can write the closing report. " "You mean we can always fall back on Colonel Easterbrook's psychological theories," said Craddock despondently. Ridesdale smiled. "Colonel Easterbrook may have been experienced, after all," he said. "I'm sick of the psychological terms people talk about these days—but we really can't rule out the psychological."

"I still feel the profile is all wrong, Chief." "Is there any reason why anyone in Chipping Cleghorn who fell into this trap lied to you?" Craddock hesitated. "I think that foreign girl knows more than she says. But that may be my prejudice, too." "You think she might conspire with this guy? Let him in? Encourage him to do it?" "That's pretty much it. I wouldn't let her go lightly. But it must mean that there were valuables in the house, money or jewels or something. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Miss Blacklock categorically denied that there were valuables, The same goes for everyone else. It just makes us assume there are valuables in the house, but no one else knows—"

"Much like the plot of a bestseller." "I agree that sounds ludicrous, Commissioner. The other point is that Miss Bonner is absolutely convinced that Shields attempted to murder Miss Blacklock." "Then, from what you've said—from her testimony, this Miss Bonner "Ah, I agree, Chief," Craddock put in quickly, "she's an absolutely unreliable witness, easily Take cues from others.Anyone could put something in her head - but the interesting thing was that this view happened to be her own theory - and no one hinted at her.Others also deny this.Finally, for the first time, she did not follow the crowd.What she said was exactly the impression she got. "

"Then why did Rudy Shields kill Miss Blacklock?" "That's the problem, Chief. I don't know. Miss Blacklock doesn't know either—unless she's lying on a much higher level than I thought. Nobody knows. So it probably isn't true." He sighed. "Cheer up," said the Commissioner, "I'll take you out, and we'll have lunch with Sir Henry. It's the best that Mendenham's Royal Pleasure Hotel has to offer." "Thank you, Director." Craddock was a little surprised. "You see, we have a letter—" said Sir Henry Clethering suddenly, as he entered the room. "Ah, here you are, Henry."

Sir Henry was very casual this time, and said, "Good morning, Dermot." "I have something for you, Henry," said the chief. "What is it?" "A personal letter from an old lady. She lives at the Royal Pleasure Hotel. Something she thinks has something to do with the Chipping Crighorn case and we want to know." "That old girl," said Sir Henry triumphantly, "what did I tell you? They heard everything, they saw everything. But they didn't talk nonsense, as is often said. This special man Got what?" Ridesdale read the letter. "Like my grandmother wrote it," he complained, "spiky. Like a spider in an inkwell, all underlined. Started writing quite a bit, saying hopefully it won't take up too much of our precious time , but it might be of some help to us, etc., etc. What's her name? Jane—what—Murple—no, Marple, Jane Marple.”

"Gods and little fishes," said Sir Henry, "can I say that? George, here is my own special talent, a one-of-a-kind, four-star old maid. Super old maid of old maids. She managed to get to Mendenham anyway." Instead of sitting securely at St. Mary Mead's, getting involved in a murder at just the right time. A murder being retold - for the benefit and entertainment of Miss Marple." "Well, Henry," said Ridesdale sarcastically, "I'm glad to meet this perfect man of yours. Come on: we'll meet this lady at the Pleasure Hotel. Look, Craddock looks very Doubt."

"Not at all, Chief," said Craddock politely. But he was muttering to himself that sometimes the godfather (Sir Henry was Craddock's godfather.) went a little too far. 2 Miss Jane Marple is very close, if not exactly, to Craddock's imagination.She was much kinder and older than he had imagined.She looked very old.Her hair is white, her pink face is covered with wrinkles, her blue eyes are soft and innocent, and she is wrapped in a thick woolen coat.The woolen shawl draped over her shoulders resembled a lace hat, and the yarn she was knitting was a baby's shawl. She was incoherent with joy and joy at the sight of Sir Henry, and panic when she was introduced to the Commissioner and Craddock.

"Honestly, Sir Henry, what a pleasure... what a pleasure. It's been so long since I last saw you... Yes, my rheumatism has been bad lately. Of course I couldn't have afforded the hotel." Rent, they're asking crazy prices these days. But Raymond—my nephew, Raymond West, you may remember him—" "Everyone knows his name." "Yes. The lovely boy has been successful in his wise books--he never writes anything pleasant, and he is proud of it. The dear boy insists on paying all my expenses. And he The lovely lady made a name for herself as an artist too. Mostly with bowls of withered flowers and broken combs on the windowsill. I never dared tell her, but I still admire Blair Layton and Alma Tadema .Oh, look I'm babbling again. And the Chief Constable himself--I really didn't expect--I'm so afraid of taking his time--"

"Perfect old fool," muttered Inspector Craddock, bored. "Go to the manager's closet," Ridesdale said, "and we can have a good talk there." Miss Marple's chatter was interrupted, she packed up her spare knitting needles, and walked into Mr Rowlandson's comfortable living room with them, trembling and complaining all the way. "Well, Miss Marple, let us hear what you have to say." said the chief. Miss Marple cuts to the chase with surprising simplicity. "It was a check," she said, "and he doctored it." "he?" "The young man who works the information desk here is the man who allegedly directed the burglary scene and shot himself." "You mean he altered a check?" Miss Marple nodded. "Yes. I brought it." She drew the check from her bag and put it on the table. "It was sent from the bank this morning, along with my other things. You see, it was seven pounds, and he changed it to Seventeen, a sum is added in front of seven, and the ten added after the word seven (English seventeen (17) is seventeen. Seven is seven (7), and teen is ten (10). Chinese and English are just the opposite. ——Annotation. ) is attached with a horizontal line in a beautiful artistic style, which just blurs the whole word.Well done.It should be said that after some practice.Used the same ink as I actually wrote the check at the help desk.Should think he used to do that, don't you think? " "He has chosen the wrong man this time," said Sir Henry. Miss Marple nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'm afraid he shouldn't have gone too far in the criminal way. He's done it to me with the wrong person. A busy young newlywed, or a girl in love—the kind." Will sign checks no matter what the amount is, and doesn't look at the customer's credit book carefully. But to an old lady who is more used to pennies - this is the wrong person. A sum of seventeen pounds I am Never sign. Twenty pounds is a whole month's salary and check-book. As for my personal expenses, I usually change seven pounds in cash - it used to be five pounds, but everything goes up now. gone." "Perhaps he reminds you of someone?" asked Sir Henry nonchalantly, with a mischievous look in his eyes. Miss Marple smiled at him and shook her head. "You're naughty, Sir Henry. In fact, you are. Fred Taylor, from the fish shop. He always adds an extra one to the shilling. Now everyone eats a lot of fish, and the bill changes." It's been a long time, and many people never add the numbers themselves. Ten shillings went into his pocket every time. Although it was not a lot of money, it was enough for him to buy a few ties and take Jesse Sprague. That girl at my house--go to the movies. Take a ride, that's what these young lads want to do. Yeah, the first week I got here, there was a mistake on my bill. I pointed it out to the lad, He apologized very sincerely and looked guilty. But I said to myself at the time: 'Your eyes are deceiving, young man. ’ ‘The deceitful glance I mean,’ Miss Marple went on, "It's the kind of stare that looks straight at you, motionless." Craddock felt a sudden wave of admiration.He had in mind "Jim Kelly's view of life," the notorious swindler he had helped solve and land in jail not long ago. "Rudy Shields is an insatiable character," Ridesdale said. "We found out he had a criminal record in Switzerland." "Has he made the place (again) uneasy, has he entered the country with false papers?" asked Miss Marple. "Exactly," Rydersdale replied. "He used to hang out with the red-haired waitress in the catering department," said Miss Marple. "Fortunately I saw she was unmoved. She just liked people who were a little 'different' and he used to buy her flowers." and chocolate, which English lads don't do very often. Did she tell you all she knew?" She turned abruptly to Craddock, "Or didn't she tell you all?" "I'm not absolutely sure," said Craddock cautiously. "I think she's hiding something," said Miss Marple. "She looked worried. I got salmon this morning instead of the steak I asked for, and forgot to take the milk jug. Usually she's an excellent Hospitality. Yes, she's worried, Bo asked her to testify or something. But I hope—" Her blue eyes were straight, looking at the handsome and manly face with a purely feminine Victorian admiration Inspector Craddock, "You can persuade her to tell all she knows." Inspector Craddock blushed, but Sir Henry smiled to himself. "It might matter," said Miss Marple, "who he might have told her." Ridesdale stared at her dumbfounded. "Who?" "I didn't express clearly, I mean who asked him to do it." "So you think someone else made him do it?" Miss Marple's eyes widened in surprise. "Ah, but it goes without saying—I mean . a small string of jewelry from the store, or a little money from the cash register - but it's all petty theft. The purpose is to have cash at any time, so that you can dress well, take the girls out for a walk, etc. ...and then all of a sudden, he's crazy, holding a revolver, holding a room full of people, and shooting people. There's no way he's going to do that - not ever: he's not that kind of guy .It doesn't make sense." Craddock took a sharp breath.Letitia Blacklock: That's what it says.The pastor's wife said the same.His own feeling is also: getting stronger and stronger.That doesn't make sense.And now Sir Henry's old maid said it again, and said it with the full certainty of an old lady's drawn-out voice. "Perhaps you can tell us, Miss Marple," he said, suddenly aggressively, "what happened?" She turned to him in surprise. "But how do I know what happened? The report is there - but it's too scant. Of course, some guesses can be made, but there's no definitive evidence." "George," said Sir Henry, "wouldn't it be against the rules to allow Miss Marple to see the transcript of Craddock's conversations with those at Chipping Crighorn?" "It may be against the rules," replied Ridesdale, "but I'm not so rigid, she can see. I'll be curious what she thinks."' Miss Marple was quite embarrassed. "I'm afraid you have never been too good to Sir Henry. Sir Henry has always been too kind. He puts too much weight on any small observation I have made in the past. In fact, I have no talent--not at all--just Knows a thing or two about human nature. I find the NPC too gullible. I'm afraid I always believe the worst. Not a good quality. But it's often proven right by one incident after another." "Look," said Ridesdale, handing her a pad of typed paper, "it won't take you too long. After all, these are people of your kind—you must know them all too well." , you may find something we haven't. This case is closing, let's get an amateur detective's opinion before closing the file. I can tell you without hesitation that Craddock is not satisfied. With you Same, he said it doesn’t make sense.” No one said a word as Miss Marple read the report.She finally put down the typing paper. "Very interesting," she sighed, "there's a lot of talk—different opinions. Things they saw—or thought they saw.Everything is so complicated, almost all trivial things, and if there is anything that is not trivial, it is really hard to see-like looking for a needle in a haystack. " Craddock felt a pang of disappointment.For a moment he thought that Sir Henry might be right about the ridiculous old lady.What she might touch—the senses of old people are often very acute.For example, he couldn't hide anything from Aunt Emma.He was about to tell a lie when she told him his nose twitched. Stupid generalizations, Sir Henry's famous Miss Marple was nothing.Annoyed with her, he said rather curtly: "The point is, the facts are irrefutable. No matter how contradictory the details these men give, they all see the same thing. They see a masked man, who Take your revolver and flashlight and buckle them up. And whether they thought he said 'hands up', or 'save your life', or something to do with the looting phrase in their heads, they did see him. " "But, to be sure," said Miss Marple mildly, "they couldn't—indeed—couldn't have seen anything..." Craddock held his breath.She got the substance.After all, she is sharp. He intended to test her with these words, but she was not stumped.It doesn't really change the facts or what happened, but she's realized that, just like him, those people who claim to see the masked man who held them up have no way of actually seeing him, "if I Understood correctly," Miss Marple's cheeks flushed and her eyes lit up with childish joy, "there's no light in the hall outside—nor on the stairs?" "Not bad," Craddock said. "In this way, if there is a man standing at the door with a strong flashlight in his hand shining into the room, the people inside can't see anything except the flashlight, right?" "Yes, nothing. I tried." "So, when someone says they saw a masked man or something, they're actually recreating what they saw later when the lights came on, even though they don't realize it. Then it all fits pretty well, doesn't it? That is, one can speculate Rudy Shields is—I think—what the term 'gullible' means." Ridesdale stared at her so dumbfounded that she blushed even more. "I may have used the wrong word," she murmured, "I'm not very good at American English--I know American English changes quickly. I got it from a story written by Mr. Darcyle Hammett Learned the word. I learned from my nephew Raymond that this man was one of the top three who wrote in a 'hardcore' literary style. If I understand correctly, 'gullibles' Someone who's been trained on behalf of other people. This Rudy Shields seems to me to be exactly that kind of guy. He's actually quite stupid, greedy, and probably extremely credulous." Ridersdale said with a restrained smile: "Are you implying that someone persuaded him to take a gun and shoot random people in the house? This is an order from a very high level. " "I think what he was told was a joke," said Miss Marple. "Of course he was paid to do things. For money, that is, to put an advertisement in the papers, to go out and inspect the house, and then when it happened Got there that night, put on a mask, put on a cloak, pushed open the door, flicked the flashlight, yelled 'hands up:'" and shot someone?" "No, no," said Miss Marple, "he has no revolver at all." "But everybody says—" Ridesdale began and then stopped. "Exactly," said Miss Marple, "even if he had a gun, no one would have seen it. And I don't think he has. I think someone crept up in the dark after he yelled 'hands up' got behind him, raised the gun over his shoulder and fired those two shots. It scared him half to death, so he turned around suddenly, and at that moment the man shot him, then threw the gun at him The three men beside her looked at her, and Sir Henry said in a low voice: "This inference may be true. " "But who is this Mr. X who suddenly appeared in the dark?" asked the director. Miss Marple coughed. "You'll have to find out from Miss Blacklock who tried to kill her." Good old Dora Bonner, Craddock thought to himself.Every time is a contest between intuition and intelligence. "So you think it was a deliberate murder of Miss Blacklock?" asked Ridesdale. "Of course it does," said Miss Marple, "though there are two difficulties. But I really want to know." The question is whether there might be a shortcut. Whoever made the arrangement with Rudy Shields took great pains to keep his mouth shut; but if he did tell anyone, it would probably be the woman Kid, Myrna Harris. He might—just might—leave some hints as to what kind of person came up with the whole plan." "I'm going to see her right away," Craddock said, getting up. Miss Marple nodded. "Yes, go ahead, Inspector Craddock. I'll be happier when you find a clue. Because she'll be much safer once she tells you all she knows." "Much safer? ... Yes, I see." He leaves the room.Although the director's words were somewhat doubtful, he said it very strategically: "Ah, Miss Marple, of course you gave us something to think about." 3 "I'm sorry about that, it's from the bottom of my heart," said Myrna Harris, "you're such a nice person that you're not offended. But you see, my mother is the kind of person who makes a big fuss. It does look like I Like—what do you say?—a 'coverer.'—that sort of thing slips out of her mouth a lot. I mean, if I say I think it's just a joke, Mr. won't believe it." Inspector Craddock repeated the assurance he had given to reassure Myrna Harris. "I'll just say it all. But if you can, for my mother's sake, please don't get me involved, okay? It all started with Rudy Shields dating me. That night We made an appointment to go to the movies, and then he said he couldn't come, so I became a little cold to him, because after all, it was his idea to go to the movies, and I don't like having a foreigner standing next to him. He said it's not His fault, I said that this kind of story is just made up, and then he said that he was going to play some pranks that night, and said that he didn’t have to pay for it himself, and asked me if I would like to have a watch? So I asked him what pranks he meant? He said don't tell anybody there's a party somewhere and he's going to act a fake burglary. Then he showed me his poster and I laughed. He laughed at the whole thing, Said it was child's stuff--but the English are like that, they don't grow up at all--I asked him what he meant by that about us--took a quarrel with us, but made up again. Then I read from the newspaper How I felt when I read the news on the Internet and learned that it wasn't a joke at all, and that Rudy Shields shot someone and shot himself, sir. Only you understand me, don't you? —It's strange, I don't know what to do.I thought at the time, if I said I knew about it beforehand, it would make people think that I was involved in the whole thing.But when he talked about it to me, it really seemed like a joke.I could swear he meant that.I didn't even know he had a revolver.He didn't say at all that he was going with a gun. " Craddock offered a few words of reassurance before asking the all-important question: "Did he say who arranged this party?" But he didn't get an answer. "He didn't say at all who told him to do it. I don't think anyone told him to do it. He did it all himself." "Did he mention anyone's name? Did he say it was him or her?" "He didn't say anything but that there would be screams. 'I'm going to laugh at that: faces.' That's what he said." He didn't laugh for long, Craddock thought. 4 "It's just a theory," Ridesdale said, as they drove back to Mendenham, "but there's no basis for it, not at all. Just take it as old girl talk, don't take it seriously, eh?" "I'd rather not do that, Chief." "It's very unlikely. A mysterious Mr. X suddenly appeared behind our Swiss friend in the dark. Where did he come from? Who is he? Where has he been staying?" "He might come in by the side door," said Craddock, "like Shields, and perhaps," he said slowly, "he might come in by the kitchen." "You mean she might have come in from the kitchen?" "Yes, Chief, that's a possibility. I've never been happy with that foreign girl. She strikes me as a filthy creature. Those screams and hysterias—probably a play. She may have been Measuring the lad, letting him in at the right moment, manipulating the process, shooting him, locking himself in the dining room, picking up a piece of silver and buckskin, and starting the screaming scene." "The fact of the matter is--well--what's his name?--oh, yes, Edmund Swettenham said with certainty that there was a key in the lock outside the door, and he turned it to open door to let her out. Is there another door leading to that part of the mansion?" "Yes, there is a door under the stairs that leads to the back stairs and the kitchen, but the door handle seems to have fallen off three weeks ago, and no one has put it on. In the meantime, the door won't open. I must say this statement doesn't seem to have Wrong. The hinge of the lock and the two handles are on a shelf in the hall outside the door, and they are thick with rust, but of course an expert can still open the door." "Better check the girl's file to see if she has all the papers. But it seems to me that the whole reasoning is only on paper." The chief looked at his subordinate with questioning eyes again, and Craddock replied calmly: "I know, chief, of course, if you think it is necessary to close the case, then so be it. But if you let me try harder, I will thank you of." To his considerable surprise, the Chief agreed quietly: "Good boy." "Got to look up the revolver. If that theory holds, then the gun didn't belong to Shields, and of course no one has ever said that Shields ever owned a revolver." "It's made in Germany." "I know, Chief, but most of the guns in this country are made in Continental Europe. Americans bring them home, as do our countrymen. You can't infer that." "That makes sense. Are there any other clues to ask?" "There has to be a motive. If there is anything unique about this inference, it means that what happened last Friday was not just a joke, nor was it an ordinary robbery, but a cold, bloody, deliberate murder. There was an attempt to Murder of Miss Blacklock. Why? It seems to me that if anyone knows the answer, it is Miss Blacklock herself." "I understand she's throwing cold water on that idea?" "She threw cold water on the idea of ​​Rudy Shields trying to kill her. She was right. One more thing, Chief." "Oh?" "Someone might do it again." "That would of course prove that the inference is correct," said the Chief dryly. "By the way, take care of Miss Marple, will you?" "Miss Marple? Why?" "I reckon she'll live at the vicarage in Chipping Crighorn and go to Mendenham twice a week for treatment. There seemed to be a lady named something who was the daughter of an old friend of Miss Marple's.That old girl's hunting instincts are good.Oh yes, I figured she didn't have much excitement in her life, so sniffing around for a possible murderer would give her excitement. " "I hope she doesn't come," said Craddock gravely. "To control her?" "That's not what it means, Chief, but she's a nice old chap. I don't want anything to happen to her. . .