Three Blind Mice and Other Stories Part 14

InspectorSlackstared.

"Didyougetherfingerprintsonpurpose?"

"Ofcourse."

"Yoususpectedherthen?"

"Well,youknowitdidstrikemethatshewasalittletoogoodtobetrue.IpracticallytoldMissLaviniaso.Butshesimplywouldn'ttakethehint!I'mafraid,youknow,Inspector,thatIdon'tbelieveinparagons.Mostofushaveourfaults-anddomesticserviceshowsthemupveryquickly!"

"Well,"saidInspectorSlack,recoveringhisbalance,"I'mobligedtoyou,I'msure.We'llsendtheseuptotheYardandseewhattheyhavetosay."

Hestopped.MissMarplehadputherheadalittleononesideandwasregardinghimwithagooddealofmeaning.

"Youwouldn'tconsider,Isuppose,Inspector,lookingalittlenearerhome?"

"Whatdoyoumean,MissMarple?"

"It'sverydifficulttoexplain,butwhenyoucomeacrossapeculiarthingyounoticeit.Although,often,peculiarthingsmaybethemeresttrifles.I'vefeltthatallalong,youknow;ImeanaboutGladysandthebrooch.She'sanhonestgirl;shedidn'ttakethatbrooch.ThenwhydidMissSkinnerthinkshedid?MissSkinner'snotafool,farfromit!Whywa.s.shesoanxioustoletagirlgowhowasagoodservantwhenservantsarehardtoget?Itwaspeculiar,youknow.SoIwondered.Iwonderedagooddeal.AndInoticedanotherpeculiarthing!MissEmily'sahypochondriac,butshe'sthefirsthypochondriacwhohasn'tsentforsomedoctororotheratonce.Hypochondriacslovedoctors.MissEmilydidn't!"

"Whatareyousuggesting,MissMarple?"

"Well,I'msuggesting,youknow,thatMissLaviniaandMissEmilyarepeculiarpeople.MissEmilyspendsnearlyallhertimeinadarkroom.Andifthathairofhersisn'tawig,I-I'lleatmyownbackswitch!AndwhatIsayisthis-it'sperfectlypossibleforathin,pale,grey-haired,whiningwomantobethesameasablack-haired,rosy-cheeked,plumpwoman.Andn.o.bodythatIcanfindeversawMissEmilyandMaryHigginsatoneandthesametime."

"Plentyoftimetogetimpressionsofallthekeys,plentyoftimetofindoutallabouttheothertenants,andthen-getridofthelocalgirl.MissEmilytakesabriskwalkacrosscountryonenightandarrivesatthestationasMaryHigginsnextday.Andthen,attherightmoment,MaryHigginsdisappears,andoffgoesthehueandcryafterher.I'lltellyouwhereyou'llfindher,Inspector.OnMissEmilySkinner'ssofa!Getherfingerprintsifyoudon'tbelieveme,butyou'llfindI'mright!Acoupleofcleverthieves,that'swhattheSkinnersare-andnodoubtinleaguewithacleverpostandrailsorfenceorwhateveryoucallit.b.u.t.theywon'tgetawaywithitthistime!I'mnotgoingtohaveoneofourvillagegirl'scharacterforhonestytakenawaylikethat!GladysHolmesisashonestastheday,andeverybody'sgoingtoknowit!Goodafternoon!"

MissMarplehadstalkedoutbeforeInspectorSlackhadrecovered.

"Whew!"hemuttered."Iwonderifshe'sright."

HesoonfoundoutthatMissMarplewasrightagain.

ColonelMelchettcongratulatedSlackonhisefficiency,andMissMarplehadGladyscometoteawithEdnaandspoketoherseriouslyonsettlingdowninagoodsituationwhenshegotone.

TheCaseoftheCaretaker

"Well,"demandedDrHaydockofhispatient,"andhowisitgoingtoday?"

MissMarplesmiledathimwanlyfrompillows.

"Isuppose,really,thatI'mbetter,"sheadmitted,"butIfeelsoterriblydepressed.Ican'thelpfeelinghowmuchbetteritwouldhavebeenifIhaddied.Afterall,I'manoldwoman.n.o.bodywantsmeorcaresaboutme."

DrHaydockinterruptedwithhisusualbrusqueness."Yes,yes,typicalafter-reactiontothistypeof'flu.'Whatyouneedissomethingtotakeyououtofyourself.Amentaltonic."

MissMarplesighedandshookherhead.

"Andwhat'smore,"continuedDrHaydock,"I'vebroughtmymedicinewithme!"

Hetossedalongenvelopeontothebed.

"Justthethingforyou.Thekindofpuzzlethatisrightupyourstreet."

"Apuzzle?"MissMarplelookedinterested.

"Literaryeffortofmine,"saidthedoctor,blus.h.i.+ngalittle."Triedtomakearegularstoryofit.'Hesaid,shesaid,thegirlthought,etcetera.'Factsofthestoryaretrue."

"Butwhyapuzzle?"askedMissMarple.

DrHaydockgrinned."Becausetheinterpretationisuptoyou.Iwanttoseeifyou'reascleverasyoualwaysmakeout."

WiththatParthianshothedeparted.

MissMarplepickedupthema.n.u.scriptandbegantoread.

"Andwhereisthebride?"askedMissHarmongenially.

ThevillagewasallagogtoseetherichandbeautifulyoungwifethatHarryLaxtonhadbroughtbackfromabroad.TherewasageneralindulgentfeelingthatHarry-wickedyoungscapegrace-hadhadalltheluck.EveryonehadalwaysfeltindulgenttowardHarry.EventheownersofwindowsthathadsufferedfromhisindiscriminateuseofacatapulthadfoundtheirindignationdissipatedbyyoungHarry'sabjectexpressionofregret.Hehadbrokenwindows,robbedorchards,poachedrabbits,andlaterhadrunintodebtbeendisentangledandsentofftoAfrica-andthevillage,asrepresentedbyvariousagingspinsters,hadmurmuredindulgently,"Ahwell!Wildoats!He'llsettledown!"

Andnow,sureenough,theprodigalhadreturned-notinaction,butintriumph.HarryLaxtonhad"madegood,"asthesayinggoes.Hehadpulledhimselftogether,workedhard,andhadfinallymetandsuccessfullywooedayoungAnglo-Frenchgirlwhowasthepossessorofaconsiderablefortune.

HarrymighthavelivedinLondon,orpurchasedanestateinsomefas.h.i.+onablehuntingcounty,buthepreferredtocomebacktothepartoftheworldthatwashometohim.Andthere,inthemostromanticway,hepurchasedthederelictestateintheDowerHouseofwhichhehadpa.s.sedhischildhood.

KingsdeanHousehadbeenunoccupiedfornearlyseventyyears.Ithadgraduallyfallenintodecayandabandon.Anelderlycaretakerandhiswifelivedintheonehabitablecornerofit.Itwasavast,unprepossessing,grandiosemansion,thegardensovergrownwithrankvegetationandthetreeshemmingitinlikesomegloomyenchanter'sden.

TheDowerHousewasapleasant,unpretentioushouseandhadbeenletforalongtermofyearstoMajorLaxton,Harry'sfather.Asaboy,HarryhadroamedovertheKingsdeanestateandkneweveryinchofthetangledwoods,andtheoldhouseitselfhadalwaysfascinatedhim.

MajorLaxtonhaddiedsomeyearsago,soitmighthavebeenthoughtthatHarrywouldhavehadnotiestobringhimback;nevertheless,itwastothehomeofhisboyhoodthatHarrybroughthisbride.TheruinedoldKingsdeanHousewaspulleddown.Anarmyofbuildersandcontractorsswoopeddownupontheplaceandinalmostamiraculouslyshorts.p.a.ceoftime-somarvellouslydoeswealthtell-thenewhouserose,whiteandgleamingamongthetrees.

Nextcametheposseofgardenersandafterthemaprocessionoffurniturevans.

Thehousewasready.Servantsarrived.LastlyacostlylimousinedepositedHarryandMrsHarryatthefrontdoor.

Thevillagerushedtocall,andMrsPrice,whoownedthelargesthouse,andwhoconsideredherselftoleadsocietyintheplace,sentoutcardsofinvitationforaparty"tomeetthebride."

Itwasagreatevent.Severalladieshadnewfrocksfortheoccasion.Everyonewas.e.xcited,curious,anxioustoseethisfabulouscreature.Theysaiditwasallsolikeafairystory!

MissHarmon,weather-beaten,heartyspinster,threwoutherquestiona.s.shesqueezedherwaythroughthecrowdeddrawing-roomdoor.LittleMissBrent,athin,acidulatedspinster,flutteredoutinformation.

"Oh,mydear,quitecharming.Suchprettymanners.Andquiteyoung.Really,youknow,itmakesonefeelquiteenvioustoseesomeonewhohaseverythinglikethat.Goodlooksandmoneyandbreeding-mostdistinguished,nothingintheleastcommonabouther-anddearHarrysodevoted!"

"Ah,"saidMissHarmon,"it'searlydaysyet!"

MissBrent'sthinnosequiveredappreciatively."Oh,mydear,doyoureallythink-"

"WeallknowwhatHarryis,"saidMissHarmon.

"Weknowwhathewas!ButIexpectnow-"

"Ah,"saidMissHarmon,"menarealwaysthesame.Iknowthem."

"Dear,dear.Pooryoungthing."MissBrentlookedmuchhappier."Yes,Iexpectshe'llhavetroublewithhim.Someoneoughtreallytowarnher."

"Beasts!"saidClariceVaneindignantlytoheruncle,DrHaydock."Absolutebeastssomepeopleare."

Helookedathercuriously.

Shewasatall,darkgirl,handsome,warmheartedandimpulsive.Herbigbrowneyeswerealightnowwithindignationa.s.shesaid,"Allthesecats-sayingthings-hintingthings."

"AboutHarryLaxton?"

"Yes.It'slikeghoulsfeastingondeadbodies."

"Idaresay,mydear,itdoesseemlikethattoyou.Butyousee,theyhaveverylittletotalkaboutdownhere,andsoI'mafraidtheydotendtodwelluponpastscandals.ButI'mcurioustoknowwhyitupsetsyousomuch."

ClariceVanebitherlipandflushed.Shesaid,inacuriouslym.u.f.fledvoice,"They-theylooksohappy.TheLaxtons,Imean.They'reyoungandinloveandit'sallsolovelyforthem.Ihatetothinkofitbeingspoiledbywhispersandhintsandinnuendoesandgeneralbeastliness."

"H-m.Isee."

Claricewenton:"Hewastalkingtomejustnow.He'ssohappyandeagerandexcitedand-yes,thrilled-athavinggothisheart'sdesireandrebuiltKingsdean.He'slikeachildabout.i.tall.Andshe-well,Idon'tsupposeanythinghasevergonewronginherwholelife.She'salwayshadeverything.You'veseenher.Whatdidyouthinkofher?"

Thedoctordidnotansweratonce.Forotherpeople,LouiseLaxtonmightbean.o.bjectofenvy.Aspoileddarlingoffortune.Tohimshehadbroughtonlytherefrainofapopularsongheardsomanyyearsago:"PoorLittleRichGirl..."

Asmall,delicatefigure,withflaxenhaircurledratherstifflyroundherfaceandbig,wistfulblueeyes.

Louisewasdroopingalittle.Thelongstreamofcongratulationshadtiredher.Shewashopingitmights...o...b..timetogo.Perhaps,evennow,Harrymightsayso.Shelookedathimsideways.Sotallandbroad-shoulderedwithhiseagerpleasureinthishorribledullparty.

"Poorlittlerichgirl..."

"Ooph!"Itwasasighofrelief.

Harryturnedtolookathiswifeamusedly.Theyweredrivingawayfromtheparty.Shesaid,"Darling,whatafrightfulparty!"

Harrylaughed.

"Yes,prettyterrible.Nevermind,mysweet.Ithadtobedone,youknow.Allthoseoldp.u.s.s.iesknewmewhenIlivedhereasaboy.They'dhavebeenterriblydisappointednottohavegotagoodlookatyoucloseup."

Louisemadeagrimace.Shesaid,"Shallwehavetoseealotofthem?"

"What?Onno.They'llcomeandmakeceremoniouscallswithcardcases,andyou'llreturnthecallsandthenyouneedn'tbotheranymore.Youcanhaveyourownfriendsdownorwhateveryoulike."

Louisesaid,afteraminuteortwo,"Isn'tthereanyoneamusinglivingdownhere?"

"Ohyes.There'stheCounty,youknow.Thoughyoumayfindthemabitdulltoo.Mostlyinterestedinbulbsanddogsandhorses.You'llride,ofcourse.You'llenjoythat.There'sahorseoveratEglintonI'dlikeyoutosee.Abeautifulanimal,perfectlytrained,noviceinhim,butplentyofspirit."

ThecarsloweddowntotaketheturnintothegatesofKingsdean.Harrywrenchedthewheelandsworeasagrotesquefiguresprangupinthemiddleoftheroadandheonlyjustmanagedtoavoidit.Itstoodthere,shakingafistandshoutingafterthem.

Louiseclutchedhisarm."Who'sthat-thathorribleoldwoman?"

Harry'sbrowwasblack.

"That'soldMurgatroyd.Sheandherhusbandwerecaretakersintheoldhouse.Theyweretherefornearlythirtyyears."

"Whydoessheshakeherfistatyou?"

Harry'sfacegotred.

"She-well,sheresentedthehousebeingpulleddown.Andshegotthesack,ofcourse.Herhusband'sbeendeadtwoyears.Theysayshegotabitqueerafterhedied."

"Isshe-sheisn't-starving?"

Louise'sideaswerevagueandsomewhatmelodramatic.Richespreventedyoufromcomingintocontactwithreality.

Harrywasoutraged."GoodLord,Louise,whatanidea.Ipensionedheroff,ofcourse-andhandsomelytoo!Foundheranewcottageandeverything."

Louiseasked,bewildered,"Thenwhydoesshemind?"

Harrywasfrowning,hisbrowsdrawntogether."Oh,howshouldIknow?Craziness!Shelovedthehouse."

"But.i.twasaruin,wasn't.i.t?"

"Ofcourseitwas-crumblingtopieces-roofleaking-moreorlessunsafe.Allthesame,Isupposeitmeantsomethingtoher.She'dbeentherealongtime.Oh,Idon'tknow!Theolddevil'scracked,Ithink."

Louisesaiduneasily,"She-Ithinkshecursedus.Oh,Harry,Iwishshehadn't."

ItseemedtoLouisethathernewhomewastaintedandpoisonedbythemalevolentfigureofonecrazyoldwoman.Whenshewentoutinthecar,whensherode,whenshewalkedoutwiththedogs,therewasalwaysthesamefigurewaiting.Croucheddownonherself,abatteredhatoverwispsofiron-greyhair,andtheslowmutteringofimprecations.

LouisecametobelievethatHarrywasright-theoldwomanwasmad.Nevertheless,thatdidnotmakethingseasier.MrsMurgatroydneveractuallycametothehouse,nordidsheusedefinitethreats,norofferviolence.Hersquattingfigureremainedalwaysjustoutsidethegates.Toappealtothepolicewouldhavebeenuselessand,inanycase,HarryLaxtonwasaversetothatcourseofaction.Itwould,hesaid,arouselocalsympathyfortheoldbrute.HetookthemattermoreeasilythanLouisedid.

"Don'tworryabout.i.t,darling.She'llgettiredofthissillycursingbusiness.Probablyshe'sonlytryingiton."

"Sheisn't,Harry.She-shehatesus!Icanfeelit.She-she'sill-wis.h.i.+ngus!"

"She'snotawitch,darling,althoughshemaylooklikeone!Don'tbemorbidabout.i.tall."

Louisewa.s.silent.Nowthatthefirstexcitementofsettlinginwasover,shefeltcuriouslylonelyandatalooseend.ShehadbeenusedtolifeinLondonandtheRiviera.ShehadnoknowledgeofortasteforEnglishcountrylife.Shewasignorantofgardening,exceptforthefinalactof"doingtheflowers."Shedidnotreallycarefordogs.Shewasboredbysuchneighboursa.s.shemet.Sheenjoyedridingbest,sometimeswithHarry,sometimes,whenhewasbusyabouttheestate,byherself.Shehackedthroughthewoodsandlanes,enjoyingtheeasypacesofthebeautifulhorsethatHarryhadboughtforher.YetevenPrinceHal,mostsensitiveofchestnutsteeds,waswonttoshyandsnortashecarriedhismistresspastthathuddledfigureofamalevolentoldwoman.

OnedayLouisetookhercourageinbothhands.Shewasoutwalking.Shehadpa.s.sedMrsMurgatroyd,pretendingnottonoticeher,butsuddenlysheswervedbackandwentrightuptoher.Shesaid,alittlebreathlessly,"Whatisit?What'sthematter?Whatdoyouwant?"

Theoldwomanblinkedather.Shehadacunning,darkgypsyface,withwispsofiron-greyhair,andbleared,suspiciouseyes.Louisewonderedifshedrank.