Chapter 16 16

.16. Inspector Neil found Mrs. Percival young upstairs writing letters in her own sitting room.When he entered the room, she stood up nervously. "Is there anything—what—was there—" "Please sit down, Mrs. Fortescue. I just have a few questions for you." "Oh, yes, yes, of course, Inspector. It's all terrible, isn't it? Terrible." She sat nervously in an armchair.Inspector Neil sat down in a small upright chair beside her.He looked at her more carefully than last time, thinking that she could be regarded as an ordinary woman-but he also felt that she was not very happy.She was restless and dissatisfied, and her intellectual horizons were not wide, but she might be very skilled and competent in nursing.Although she married a rich man and was able to live a leisurely life, leisure made her dissatisfied.She shopped for clothes, read novels, ate sweets; but he remembered the night of Rex Fortescu's death, and she was so excited, knowing that she didn't like cruel thrills;Facing his searching gaze, her eyelids quivered a few times and drooped down.It made her look nervous and guilty, but he wasn't sure.

He comforted: "I'm afraid we will have to investigate again and again. You must be very annoying. I understand this, but you understand that many things can only be judged if the time is accurate. I heard that you came downstairs to drink tea very late? Is it Dou?" Miss Fu went upstairs to pick you up." "Yes, yes, indeed, she said the tea had been brought in. I didn't know how late it was. I was writing." Inspector Neil looked at the desk. He said, "I see. I think you went for a walk." "She said that? Yes—I think you're right. I was writing, and it was stuffy in the room, and I got a headache, so I went out—er—for a walk. Just in the garden."

"I see. You didn't meet anyone?" She stared at him: "Meeting people? What do you mean by that?" "I just don't know if you saw anyone when you were walking, or if anyone saw you." "I only see the gardener from a distance." She looked at him suspiciously. "Then you entered the house, went upstairs to your room, and just as you were taking off your coat and hat, Miss Doufu came to tell you that the tea is ready?" "Yes, yes, so I went downstairs." "Who's there?" "Adele and Ellen, Lance is coming in a minute or two - I mean my brother-in-law, you know, the one who came back from Kenya."

"So you all have tea together?" "Yes, we had tea. Then Lance went upstairs to see Aunt Effie, and I went back to my room to write. Ellen and Adele were alone." He nodded reassuringly. "Yes, Miss Fortescue seemed to have been with Mrs. Fortescue for five or ten minutes or so since you left. Your husband hasn't come back yet?" "Oh, no. Percy—Val—didn't get home until about six-thirty or seven. He was stuck in town." "He came back by train?" "Yes, and then take a taxi from the train station." "Isn't it special that he came back by train?"

"He takes the train sometimes, but not often. I think he's been in some parts of the city where it's hard to park. It's easier for him to come back by the train from Cannon Street." "I see," said Inspector Neil. "I asked your husband if Mrs. Fortescue made a will. He didn't think so. I suppose you don't know?" Unexpectedly, Jennifer Fortescu nodded desperately. She said, "Oh, I know. Adele made a will, she told me." "Really! When?" "Oh, not long ago. About a month ago, I think." "That's interesting," said Inspector Neal.

Mrs. Percival leaned forward eagerly.Now her expression was animated, and she was clearly excited by her superior knowledge. She said, "Val doesn't know about it. Nobody does. I just found out by chance. I was down the street, just coming out of the stationery store, and I saw Adele stepping out of the law office. You know, it was 'Ancer and Ural & Associates', in Highland Street." Neil said, "Local lawyer?" "Yes, I asked Adele: 'What are you doing there?' and she laughed and said: 'Do you want to know? ’ We walked together and she said, ‘I’ll tell you, Jennifer.I'm going to make a will. ’ I said: ‘Why, Adele, you are not sick, are you? ' She says she's not sick, she's in good health, but everybody ought to make a will.She said she didn't want to go to the proud London family lawyer, Mr. Billingsley, that the old ghost would sue the family.She said, 'No, Jennifer, the will is my own business, and I will do as I please without anyone knowing about it. ’ I said: ‘Well, Adele, I’m not going to tell anyone. 'she says:

'It doesn't matter if you say it, you don't know the content anyway. ' But I didn't tell anyone. No, I didn't even tell Percy (Val).I think women should unite, Inspector Neil, what do you think? " "I trust your good intentions, Mrs. Fortescue," said Inspector Neal diplomatically. Jennifer said: "I'm sure I'm not a bad person. I don't like Adele very much, you know what I mean. I always thought she was the kind of woman who will do anything to get her way. Now that she's dead, maybe I see Wrong her, poor thing." "Thank you, Mrs. Fortescue, for helping me so much."

"You're welcome, I'm too happy to help. These things are terrible, aren't they? Who's the old lady here this morning?" "It's Miss Marple. She kindly came to provide information about Gretty's life. It seems that Gretty Martin used to be a servant in her house." "Really? So much fun." "One more thing, Mrs. Percival. Do you know anything about the black thrush?" Jennifer Fortescu was startled.She knocked her handbag to the floor and bent over to pick it up. "Black thrush, Inspector? Black thrush? What kind of black thrush?"

She seemed out of breath when she spoke.Inspector Neil smiled and said: "It's the black thrush. Live or dead, or even just a symbol." Jennifer Fortescue snapped: "I don't understand you. I don't know what you're talking about." "Then you don't know anything about the black thrush?" She said slowly: "I guess you mean the ones Summer found in the pie. It's all pretty silly." "It's on the library table too, isn't it?" "What a silly prank. I don't know who told you that. My father-in-law, Mr. Fortescue, was very annoyed."

"Just annoyed? Nothing else?" "Oh, I see what you mean. Yes, I think--yes, not bad. He asked if there were any strangers near us. " "Stranger!" Inspector Neil raised his eyebrows. Mrs. Percival defended: "Well, he said so." Inspector Neil repeated thoughtfully, "Stranger," and asked her, "Is he showing signs of fear?" "Scared? I don't know what you mean." "Nervous. I mean nervous about strangers." "Yeah, yeah, he was pretty nervous. I don't remember exactly. It's been months, you know. I think it was just a stupid prank.

Maybe Crump did it.I don't think Crump is normal, and I'm sure he likes to drink.Sometimes his attitude was downright condescending.I had wondered if he would resent Mr. Fortescue.Inspector, do you think it's possible? " "Anything is possible," Inspector Neil said and walked away. Percival Fortescu had gone to London, but Neil found the Lances in the library.They are playing chess. Neil said apologetically, "I don't want to interrupt." "Inspector, we're just killing time, aren't we, Patty?" Patty nodded. Neal said, "You'll probably think my question is stupid. Mr. Fortescue, do you know anything about the black thrush?" Lance seemed amused. "Black thrush? What kind of black thrush? Do you mean the real bird, or the slave trade?" Inspector Neil suddenly showed a sly smile and said: "Mr. Fortescue, I'm not quite sure what I mean. It's just that black thrush was mentioned." Lance seemed to suddenly become alert: "God, I don't think it's the Black Thrush Mine before?" Inspector Neil snapped: "Black Thrush Mine? What's going on?" Lance frowned in embarrassment. "The problem, Inspector, is that I don't remember much myself. I just have a vague recollection of an shady business my dad used to do. Probably on the coast of West Africa. I believe Aunt Effie scolded him to his face once, but I can't remember." .” "Aunt Effie? Is that Miss Lambsburton?" "yes." Inspector Neil said, "I'll ask her." Adding ruefully, "Mr. Fortescue, she's a horrible old woman and always makes me nervous." Lance laughed. "Yes, Aunt Effie is indeed an oddball, but Inspector, if you're going in the right direction, she might be of help to you—especially if you're digging up the past. She has an excellent memory and loves to recall anything harmful in any way. He thought again: "There is one more thing."You know, I went upstairs to see her soon after I came back--just after tea that day.She talks about Gretty, the girl who was killed, and of course we don't know she's dead.Aunt Effie said she believed Gladys knew something and didn't tell the police. " Inspector Neil said: "That seems certain. Poor girl, she will never speak now." "Aunt Alfie seems to have tried to persuade her to tell all she knew. It's a pity she didn't take it." Inspector Neil nodded.Pulling himself together, he stormed Miss Lambsburton's fortress.Unexpectedly, he found Miss Marple present.Two old women appear to be discussing foreign missions. "I'm leaving, Inspector." Miss Marple stood up hastily. "No need, ma'am," said Inspector Neal. Miss Lambsburton said: "I've invited Miss Marple to stay here. There's no sense in spending money on a ridiculous golf hotel. It's a speculator's den—drinking and playing cards all night. She might as well be serious." I have a Christian family here. I have a room next door. The last one was Dr. Mary Peters, a missionary." Miss Marple said, "It's very kind of you, but I don't think it's right to disturb mourners." Miss Lambsburton said: "Mourning? Nonsense! Is anyone in this house crying for Rex? For Adele? Are you worried about the police? Inspector, any objections?" "Ma'am, I don't." "Look," said Miss Lambton. Miss Marple thanked and said, "You are very kind, I will call the hotel and cancel my reservation." As she stepped outside, Miss Lambsburton said loudly to the inspector, "Well, what can you do? ?” "Ma'am, I wonder if you can tell me about the Black Thrush Mine." Miss Lambsburton suddenly burst into shrill laughter. "Ha, you found out about this! Accept the hint I gave you a few days ago. well, what do you want to know? " "Ma'am, I'll listen as much as you can tell me." "There's not much I can tell you. It's been a long time now—oh, maybe twenty to twenty-five years. It's a mining claim somewhere in East Africa. My brother-in-law and a guy named McCanzie Partnership; they went over there together to investigate the mines, and McCanzie died of a fever. Rex came back and said the mining rights were worthless. That's all I know." Neil persuaded: "Ma'am, I think you know more than that." "The rest are all rumors. I heard that rumors don't count in the law." "Ma'am, you haven't been to court yet." "Well, I can't tell you anything. All I know is that the McCanzies had a big fight. They insisted that Rex tricked McCanzie, and I think that's true. He's shrewd and unscrupulous, but I believe what he did was perfectly legal. They can't prove anything. Mrs. McCanzie is out of her mind. She's come here threatening revenge, saying Rex murdered her husband, stupid and exaggerated, what a fuss! I think she's out of her head—in fact, I remember her being in a nursing home not long after. She dragged two terrified children over here, and said she wanted to raise the children and ask them to take revenge... that's about it.Clowny, really.Well, that's all I can tell you.Tell you, Rex has done more than the Black Thrush Mine fraud in his life.You can find a lot just by looking it up.How did you think of the Black Thrush Mine?Did you catch any clues that the McCanzies did it? " "Ma'am, don't you know what happened to that family?" Miss Lambsburton said: "I don't know. To tell you the truth, I don't think Rex actually set out to kill McCanzie, but he might just die. It's the same thing before God, but not before the law." Same. If he did that, retribution will come now. God's stone mill turns slowly, but it grinds extremely finely—now you better go, I won't say anything, and it's useless for you to ask." "Thank you for giving me this information," said Inspector Neal. Miss Lambsburton shouted after him, "Call back that Marple woman. She's frivolous, like all Anglicans, but she knows how to run charity in a sensible way." Inspector Neil made two phone calls, one to "Ancer and Ural Law Firm," the other to the golf lodge, and then called Inspector Hay over, saying he was leaving the house temporarily. "I'm going to visit a law firm - and then, if you're in a hurry, you can call me at the golf hotel." "Yes, sir." "Try to find out about the black thrush," Neal said back. "Black Thrush, sir?" Sergeant Haiyi said inexplicably. "That's what I'm talking about—not blackberry jam—but black thrush." "Okay, sir," said Sergeant Hay, bewildered.