Chapter 14 Chapter Thirteen

1 Dr Metcalfe was one of the most famous surgeons at Danemouth.He respects his patients and always puts those on the ward in a good mood.He is a middle-aged man with a calm and pleasant voice. He was listening carefully to what Superintendent Harper had to say, and answered his questions modestly and accurately. Harper said, "So, Doctor Metcalfe, I am sure Mrs. Jefferson is telling me the truth?" "Yes, Mr. Jefferson's health is precarious. He has been relentlessly putting pressure on himself over the years. He is determined to live like everyone else, so his pace of life is much faster than normal for his peers.He refused to rest, relax, and take his time—anything suggested by me or his medical advisors.The result is that he is an overworked machine—heart, lungs, blood pressure all overworked.

"You mean Mr. Jefferson doesn't listen to anybody?" "Yes. I don't recall ever blaming him. I don't say that to my own parents, but it's better to be busy than to be lazy. Many of my colleagues are like that, and I can assure you that it's not a bad idea. In In a place like Danemouth, what people see is mostly another situation: the sick and weak clinging to life, they are afraid of being overworked, afraid of moving air, stray bacteria, and even a meal that cannot be decided. "I think that's true," said Superintendent Harper. "Then Conway Jefferson is physically fit--or muscular. By the way, when he's in good spirits he can do what?"

"He has great strength in his arms and shoulders. He was a very strong man before that accident. He can maneuver a wheelchair very dexterously, and if he relies on crutches, he can move around the room by himself - for example, from his Move the bed to the chair." "Can't a man with an injury like Mr. Jefferson have a prosthetic?" "His condition is not good. His spine is damaged." "I get it. Let me recap. Physically, Jefferson is healthy and strong. He feels good, doesn't he?" Metcalf nodded. "But he has a bad heart. Any fatigue or exertion, shock or sudden fright could have caused his sudden death, isn't it?"

"Basically. Excessive fatigue is slowly destroying him. Because he doesn't rest when he's tired. It's aggravating his heart attack. Tiredness can't kill him suddenly. But sudden shock or fright might easily do. So I have clearly warned his family." Superintendent Harper said slowly, "But the shock didn't actually take his life. Doctor, I mean, it couldn't have been more shocking, could it? And he's alive. " Dr. Metcalfe shrugged. "I know. But, Captain, if you were me, you'd know that there are a lot of cases that are really puzzling. People who should have died of shock and exposure didn't die of shock and exposure and blah blah blah. The human body is bigger than we think Much tougher.

And, in my experience, physical blows are usually more fatal than mental ones.Simply put, the sudden slamming of a door probably killed Mr. Jefferson more than learning that the girl he liked died in some violent act. " "why?" "A piece of bad news almost always elicits a defensive response from the listener. It desensitizes the listener. They are initially unable to accept it. It takes a while to fully wake up.But a door slams, a person jumps out of a closet, a car drives by while crossing the street—these are instant actions.To put it in layman's terms——I was so scared that my heart almost jumped out. "

Superintendent Harper paused, "But does anyone know that the shock caused by the girl's death might have easily killed Mr. Jefferson?" "Oh, it's easy." The doctor looked at him curiously. "You don't mean to think "I don't know what I'm thinking. " said Superintendent Harper angrily. 2 "But you must admit, sir, that these two things fit very well," he said a little later to Sir Henry Clithering, "two birds with one stone. First the girl—whose death would take Mr. Jefferson too— Before he had a chance to change his will."

"You think he'll change the will?" "You know this better than I do, sir. What do you say?" "I don't know. Before Ruby Keene came, I stumbled across that he had left money to Mark Gaskell and Mrs. Jefferson. I don't see why he would change his mind now. But of course he could." .Maybe he’ll leave the money to some nursing home, or donate to young professional dancers.” Superintendent Harper agreed. "You never know what's going on in a man's head—especially when he's dealing with money without having to think about moral obligations. In his case, they're not related by blood."

Sir Henry said: "He likes that boy—Little Peter." "Do you think he regards him as a grandson? You know that better than I do, sir." Sir Henry said slowly, "No, I don't think so." "There's one more thing I want to ask you, sir. I can't judge for myself, but they are your friends, so you should know. I'd like to know how much Mr. Jefferson really likes Mr. Gaskell and Mrs. Jefferson." Sir Henry frowned. "I don't quite understand what you mean, Superintendent?" "Well, that's the way it is, sir. Putting aside their relationship, as if they were nothing to do with each other, does he like them?"

"Ah, I see what you mean." "Yes, sir. No one doubts that he is very much attached to them both--but, as I see it, he is attached to them because they are respectively the husband of his daughter and the wife of his son. But what if one of them remarries?" ?” Sir Henry thought for a moment and said: "It's an interesting point you make. I don't know. I'm inclined to think - and it's just my opinion - that it won't make much difference in his attitude. He'll wish them Happiness, he wouldn't complain. But, I don't think he'd be interested in them any more than that."

"Will that be his attitude toward them both, sir." "I think so. It's almost certainly his attitude toward Mr. Gaskell, and I think it's the same about Mrs. Jefferson, but not so sure. I think he likes her as a person." "Sex is about liking," said Superintendent Harper with wit. "It's easier to think of her as a daughter than as a son, and vice versa. It's easy for a woman to think of a son-in-law as a member of the family." Accept it, but rarely treat the daughter-in-law as a daughter." Superintendent Harper continued: "Sir, would you mind coming with me down this path to the tennis court? I saw Miss Marple sitting there.

I want to ask her to do me a favor, actually, I want to ask both of you. " "How can I help? Superintendent?" "Getting what I can't get. Sir, I want you to check on Edwards for me." "Edwards? What would you like to know from him?" "Anything you can think of: everything he knows and what he thinks! Relationships between the various members of the family, what he thinks about the Ruby Keene thing. Some inside material. He knows better than anyone —He must know: and he won't tell me, but he will tell you. We may find out something. Of course, if you have no objection. " Sir Henry said solemnly: "I have no objection. The purpose of my haste here is to find out the truth. I will do my best." He asked again: "What do you want Miss Marple to do for you?" "A bunch of girls, some girls in the army. We've got half a dozen or so of them who were Pamela Reeves' best friends. Maybe they know something. Look, I've been wondering if that girl really If she's going to Woolworths, she'll try to persuade another girl to go with her. Usually girls like to shop with their mates." "Yes, I think so." "So I think it might just be an excuse to go to Woolworth. I'd like to know where the girl went. She might be missing something. If so, Miss Marple can sniff out the girls. I dare Says she knows girls better—more than I do. Besides, they're afraid of the police." "I've heard that Miss Marple is best at solving family cases in the country. You know, she's very sharp." The superintendent smiled. "You're right. Not much escapes her." Seeing them approaching, Miss Marple raised her head to welcome them warmly. After listening to the superintendent's words, she immediately accepted his request. "Superintendent, I'd be more than happy to help you, and I thought I could do something. You know, I've been in constant contact with Sunday school, the Girl Scouts Under Eleven, our Girl Scouts, orphans in the neighborhood House--see, I'm a member of the committee, and often communicate with the matrons--and the servants--and usually I talk to very young maids. I know very well when a girl is telling the truth and when she is telling a lie. " "Actually, you are an expert," said Sir Henry. Miss Marple gave him a reproachful look and said, "Oh, please don't make fun of me, Sir Henry." "I dare not even in my dreams make fun of you. I have been the butt of yours quite a few times." "There is indeed a lot of evil in the country," explained Miss Marple in a low voice. "By the way," said Sir Henry, "I have answered the question you asked me last time. The superintendent told me that Ruby's waste-basket had clippings of nails." Miss Marple thought, and said, "Really? That's how it is..." "Miss Marple, why do you want to know this?" asked the superintendent. Miss Marple said: "It's like this - well, when I saw the body, I thought something was wrong, something was wrong with her fingers. At first I didn't understand what was the matter. Then I thought about getting used to heavy makeup. Girls generally have long nails. Of course, I know all girls like to bite their nails - a habit that's hard to break.But vanity often works.I thought at the time that the girl hadn't gotten rid of this bad habit.Then the little boy—it was Peter—said something that made it clear to me that she used to have long nails, but one of them got caught on something and tore off.That way, she'll definitely trim the rest of her nails.So I asked Sir Henry about the nails and he said he'd look into it. " Sir Henry said: "You said just now, 'When you saw the body you felt something was wrong.' Was there anything else?" Miss Marple nodded vigorously. "Oh yes!" she said. "That dress. That dress is so wrong." The two men looked at her curiously. "Why?" asked Sir Henry. "Here, you see, it's an old dress. Josie's sure of it, and I saw it with my own eyes. It's very shabby and old. There's something wrong with it." "I don't see what's wrong with that." Miss Marple flushed slightly. "We guess Ruby Keene changed his clothes to meet someone, presumably someone my nephews called a 'sweetheart'?" The superintendent's eyes lit up. "That's speculation. She's got a date—what people call a boyfriend." "Then why is she wearing an old dress?" demanded Miss Marple. The superintendent scratched his head and thought for a moment. "I see what you mean. You think she should wear a new dress?" "I think she should wear her best clothes. Girls do." Sir Henry interposed: "Yes, but listen to me, Miss Marple. If she's going on a tryst, she'll probably be in a convertible, or she'll take a bad walk. Then she doesn't want to take a new The clothes were messed up, so I wore an old one." "That's a sensible thing to do," agreed the Superintendent. Miss Marple retorted emphatically: "It would be wise to change into trousers and a jumper or tweed. This (I don't want to be snobby, of course, but I'm afraid this time it will be inevitable), this is a woman - a woman of our class." practice." "A well-bred girl," Miss Marple went on, "is always careful to wear the right clothes for the right occasion. I mean, no matter how hot the weather, a well-bred girl will never wear A silk floral dress appears at the racetrack." "And what should be the proper dress for a date with a lover?" asked Sir Henry. "If she's going to meet him at a restaurant or somewhere in tuxedo, she'll wear her best tuxedo, of course—if she's going to look ridiculous in an out date in tuxedo, so she'll Put on her most stunning tracksuit." "That's a mannequin, but this Ruby girl—" Miss Marple said: "Of course Ruby is not - to put it bluntly - Ruby is not a lady. Girls at her level wear their best clothes no matter how inappropriate the occasion.You know, we went on a safari to Scrantel Reef last year.The girls were so inappropriately dressed it was an eye opener.Printed chiffon dresses, original shoes, exquisite hats.They wore these climbing rocks, among gorse and asbestos.The younger men are in their best suits.Of course, hiking was another thing, and the clothes worn back then were actually uniforms—the girls didn't seem to realize that only very slim people looked good in shorts. " The Superintendent swallowed, "So you think Ruby Keene—" "I don't think she's going to change the one she was wearing at the time — her best pink dress, unless she has something newer." Superintendent Harper said: "So, Miss Marple, what's your explanation?" Miss Marple said: "I haven't found an explanation yet. But I think it's important..." 3 On the fenced tennis court, Raymond Starr's tennis lesson draws to a close. A short, stout middle-aged woman said a few words of appreciation, then picked up a sky-blue cardigan and walked towards the restaurant. Raymond shouted happily behind her. Then he turned and walked towards the bench where the three bystanders were sitting.He tucked his racket under his arm and held the tennis bag in his hand, the balls in it dangling constantly.The cheerful expression on his face was gone now.He looked tired and anxious. He approached the bench and said, "It's over." Then the smile came back to his face, charming, boyish, contagious, in perfect harmony with his tanned face and effortless grace. Sir Henry could not help wondering how old he was.Twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five?Can't judge. Raymond shook his head slightly and said, "Look, she'll never be good." "All this must be very dull to you," said Miss Marple. Raymond said: "Sometimes it is. Especially in the late summer. Sometimes the thought of honoraria cheers you up, but in the end money doesn't excite your imagination either!" Superintendent Harper stood up abruptly and said, "Marple Miss, if I can, I will come to you in half an hour." "Okay, thanks. I'll be ready." Harper is gone.Raymond stood there watching his back.He said, "Can I sit here for a while?" "Sit down," said Sir Henry. "Smoker?" He took out his cigarette case, wondering why he had a prejudice against Raymond Starr.Is it just because he's a professional tennis coach and dancer?If so, it's not tennis either -- it's dancing.Sir Henry, like most Britons, decided that any man who danced too well was unreliable: this fellow danced too gracefully!Raymond—Raymond—what's his name?He popped the question out of the blue. The other party seemed to find it very interesting. "Raymond was my original professional name. Raymond and Josie - look, the effect the Spaniards were after. Then because it was very repulsive to foreigners - so I became Raymond - very useful British taste-" Miss Marple said: "Is your real name very different?" He smiled at her. "Actually, my real name is Raymond. My grandmother was Argentinian (no wonder he's got such a good crotch, thought Sir Henry)—" "But my first name was Thomas. It's annoyingly commonplace." .” He turned to Sir Henry. "You're from Devonshire, sir, aren't you? From Stein? There's ours over there. In Alsmonston." Sir Henry grew excited. "You are a member of the Alsmonston Starr family? I didn't expect that." "Yeah—I guess you won't." There was a little bitterness in his voice. Sir Henry said awkwardly: "Bad luck—er—things like that." "Are you referring to the place being sold after three hundred years in the family? Yes, very unfortunate. Still, I suppose we kind of people have to survive. Our lives outlive our worth. I My brother went to New York. He was in the publishing business - doing well. The rest of us were scattered all over the world. It's hard to get a job these days if you only have a public school education and nothing else! If you If you're lucky, you can sometimes work as a receptionist in a restaurant. There ties and appearance are a capital. The only job I got was as a demo in a sanitary ware department. Selling high-end peach and lemon porcelain bathtubs .The showroom was huge, but I never knew anything about the prices or delivery dates for these things—I was fired. "All I could do was dance and play tennis. I got a job at a restaurant in the Riviera. It paid well. I think I'm doing a good job.Then I heard about an old colonel, a very old colonel, unbelievably old, an Englishman through and through, who was always talking about Pune.He found the manager and yelled: ①A city in central and western India. — Annotation. 'Where's the dancing man?I want to find him.My wife and daughter want to dance.where is that guyHow much did he blackmail you?I'm looking for the dancing man. ’” Raymond continued: “It’s silly to say — but I take it.I quit my old job and came here.Although the pay is less than before, it is more enjoyable to work, mainly teaching fat women who will never learn how to play tennis.And dancing with the daughters of the wealthy customers.They are often overlooked at balls without a partner.I guess that's life. Please excuse the bad luck story today! "After he finished speaking, he laughed loudly, showing his snow-white teeth, and the corners of his eyes turned up. Suddenly he looked healthy, happy, and full of life. Sir Henry said: "It is a pleasure to speak to you. I have always wanted to speak to you." "About Ruby Keene? You know, I can't help you. I don't know who killed her. I know very little about her. She never confides secrets to me. " Miss Marple said: "Do you like her?" "I don't particularly like her, but I don't hate her either." His voice sounded casual and uninterested. Sir Henry asked: "Then you have nothing to tell us?" "I'm afraid not. . . If I had, I would have told Harper. That's what it looks like to me! One of those petty, mean petty crimes—no leads, no motive." "Two people had a motive," said Miss Marple. Sir Henry stared at her. "Really?" Raymond looked surprised. Miss Marple stared intently at Sir Henry, only to hear the latter say with great reluctance: "Her death may bring fifty thousand pounds to Mrs. Jefferson and Mr. Gaskell." "What?" Raymond looked genuinely taken aback - not just surprised - but frustrated. "Oh, but it's so absurd—absolutely absurd—that Mrs Jefferson—both of them—could have anything to do with it. The idea is incredible. " Miss Marple coughed, and said softly, "I'm afraid you're being too idealistic." "Me?" He laughed out loud. "No: I'm a cynic through and through." "Money," said Miss Marple. "A very weighty motive." "Maybe," said Raymond passionately, "but the two of them aren't going to strangle a girl brutally——" He shook his head. Then he stood up. "Mrs. Jefferson is in class. She's late." His voice was amused. "Ten minutes late!" Adelaide Jefferson and Hugo Maclean were hurrying down the path. Adelaide Jefferson smiled apologetically and walked to the field.McLeath sat down on the bench.He politely asked Miss Marple's permission, then lit his pipe and smoked in silence for a few minutes, looking disapprovingly at the two white figures on the tennis court. Finally he said, "I don't understand why Eddie takes lessons. Play, yes. Nobody likes to play more than I do. But why take lessons?" "Want to improve her game," said Sir Henry. "She's playing well," said Hugo. "Anyway, good enough. Hell, she's not going to Wimbledon." He was silent for a while and then said: "Who is this Raymond guy? Where do these professional coaches come from? I think he looks like an Italian nigger." "He's a Devonshire Starr," said Sir Henry. "What? No way?" Sir Henry nodded.Apparently Hugo McLeath didn't like hearing that.He was even more unhappy than before. He said, "I don't understand why Eddie asked me to come. It doesn't seem to affect her at all. She's never looked better. Why did she ask me to come?" Sir Henry asked curiously, "When did she call you here?" "Oh—uh—after all this happened." "How did you know? By telephone or telegram?" "telegraph." "Please satisfy my curiosity, when was the telegram sent?" "Well—I don't know the exact time." "When did you receive it?" "I didn't actually receive it, she actually called me and told me." "Really? Where were you?" "I had actually left London the afternoon before, when I was in Danbury Head." "What—near here?" "Yeah, pretty funny, isn't it? I got the news just after a round of golf, and I'm here right away." Miss Marple looked at him thoughtfully.He looked restless."I've heard that Daisbury Head is a really nice place and not too expensive," she said. "No, it's not expensive. If it was, I couldn't afford it. It's a nice little place." "We'll have to drive there someday," said Miss Marple. "Oh, what? Oh—yes—yes, I will." He stood up. "It's best to move around—it'll give you an appetite." He walked away quickly. "Women," said Sir Henry, "are very unfair to their devoted admirers." Miss Marple laughed, but made no reply. "Has he struck you as dull?" asked Sir Henry. "I should like to know." "Perhaps a little conservative," said Miss Marple, "but I think he's promising--oh, indeed." Sir Henry also rose. "I must go about my business. I see Mrs. Bantry, and she is coming to keep you company." 4 Mrs Bantry came panting, and she sat down with a breath. She said: "I've been chatting with the waitress just now, but it's not helping me at all. I haven't discovered anything new! Do you think that girl can really have a secret relationship with people without anyone noticing? " "That's an interesting question, my dear. If she's in the thick of it, someone will know: but she must be doing it very cleverly." Mrs Bantry turned her attention to the tennis courts and praised: "Eddie's game has improved a lot. The professional tennis player is a charming young man. Eddie is also very good-looking and she is still an attractive woman." woman—I wouldn't be surprised if she remarried." "And she'll be a rich woman when Mr. Jefferson dies," said Miss Marple. "Oh, don't always have such bad intentions, Jane! Why haven't you solved this mystery? We don't seem to be making any progress. I thought you would find out soon." Mrs. Bantry said in a tone Contains reproach. "No, no, my dear. It wasn't too early for me to know—it was a while ago." Mrs. Bantry looked at her in surprise. "You mean you now know who killed Ruby Keene?" "Oh, yes," said Miss Marple, "I know!" "Jane, who is it? Tell me." Miss Marple shook her head resolutely, her lips pursed. "I'm sorry, Dolly. But I can't tell you." "Why not?" "Because you're so indiscreet. You go around telling people—and if you don't, you give hints." "No, I won't. I won't tell anyone." "He who says it is always the last to deliver. It's not good, dear. We've got a long way to go. Much is still unclear.You remember how much I objected to having Mrs. Partridge collect bills for the Red Cross, and I can't explain why.The reason is that her nose twitches exactly the same way my maid Alice does when she goes out to pay the bill.She always underpaid people a shilling or so, and said 'it can be put on next week's account,' and Mrs. Partridge did exactly the same, only on a much larger scale.She embezzled seventy-five pounds. " "Never mind Mrs. Partridge," said Mrs. Bantry. "But I have to explain it to you. If you really want to, I'll give you a hint. The crux of this case is that everyone is too credulous and trusts others. Simply put, you can't believe what people tell you. Just It's suspicious, and I don't believe anyone! Listen, I know all too well about human nature." Mrs. Bantry was silent for a moment, then said in a different tone: "I told you, I see no reason why I should not take pleasure in this case. What happened in my house--a real murder! It will never happen again in the future." "I hope not," said Miss Marple. "Yes, once is enough. But, Jane, this is my murder, and I want to have fun with it." Miss Marple glanced at her. Mrs. Bantry asked defiantly, "Don't you believe it?" Miss Marple said softly: "Of course I do, Dolly, if you tell me so." "Yes, but you never believe what people say to you, do you? That's what you just said. Well, you're absolutely right." Mrs. Bantry's tone was suddenly tragic.She said: "I'm not quite a fool. Jane. You may think I don't know what people are talking about at St. Mary's Mead—everyone in the county 2 they are saying that there is no such thing as a storm, and if the girl is in Arthur Arthur must have known something. They were saying the girl was Arthur's mistress—some said she was his illegitimate daughter—that she was blackmailing him. What to say: And it goes on and on! Arthur began to lose consciousness—he didn't understand what was going on. He's such a sweet old fool, I can't believe people think of him that way.People would stand him coldly, squint at him (whatever that means).In short, he would slowly understand, and then suddenly be terrified and heartbroken, and he would close like an oyster and suffer miserably inside it day after day. "I'm here looking for anything about it because it could have happened to him! This murder must be solved: if it doesn't, Arthur's life will be ruined - and I won't let it happen. I won't! I won't! I won't!" She paused and added: "I'm not going to let the sweet old chap go through hell for something he didn't do. That's why I left Danemouth and left him home alone— I want to find out the truth." "I know, dear," said Miss Marple. "That's why I'm here."