Three Blind Mice and Other Stories Part 9

He'senjoyinghimself,thoughtMolly.He'senjoyinghimself.

Inthebigroomthesoft,mutednoteshada.n.a.lmosteerieeffect.

"Thankyou,MrParavicini,"saidSergeantTrotter."That,Itakeit,is.e.xactlyhowyouplayedthetuneonthe-formeroccasion?"

"Yes,Sergeant,itis.Irepeateditthreetimes."

SergeantTrotterturnedtoMolly."Doyouplaythepiano,MrsDavis?"

"Yes,SergeantTrotter."

"Couldyoupickoutthetune,asMrParavicinihasdone,playingitinexactlythesamemanner?"

"CertainlyIcould."

"Thenw.i.l.l.yougoandsitatthepianoandbereadytodosowhenIgivethesignal?"

Mollylookedslightlybewildered.Thenshecrossedslowlytothepiano.

MrParavicinirosefromthepianostoolwithashrillprotest."But,Sergeant,Iunderstoodthatwewereeachtorepeatourformerroles.Iwasatthepianohere."

"Thesameactionswillbeperformedasontheformeroccasion-b.u.t.theywillnotnecessarilybeperformedbythesamepeople."

"I-don'tseethepointofthat,"saidGiles.

"Thereisapoint,MrDavis.Itisameansofcheckingupontheoriginalstatements-andImaysayofonestatementinparticular.Now,then,please.Iwilla.s.signyouyourvariousstations.MrsDaviswillbehere-atthepiano.MrWren,w.i.l.l.youkindlygotothekitchen?JustkeepaneyeonMrsDavis'sdinner.MrParavicini,w.i.l.l.yougotoMrWren'sbedroom?Thereyoucanexerciseyourmusicaltalentsbywhistling'ThreeBlindMice'justashedid.MajorMetcalf,w.i.l.l.yougouptoMrDavis'sbedroomandexaminethetelephonethere?Andyou,MrDavis,w.i.l.l.youlookintothecupboardinthehallandthenG.o.downtothecellar?"

Therewasamoment'ssilence.Thenfourpeoplemovedslowlytowardthedoor.Trotterfollowedthem.Helookedoverhisshoulder.

"Countuptofiftyandthenbegintoplay,MrsDavis,"hesaid.

Hefollowedtheothersout.BeforethedoorclosedMollyheardMrParavicini'svoicesayshrilly,"Ineverknewthepoliceweresofondofparlorgames."

"Forty-eight,forty-nine,fifty."

Obediently,thecountingfinished,Mollybegantoplay.Againthesoftcruellittletunecreptoutintothebig,echoingroom.

ThreeBlindMiceSeehowtheyrun...

Mollyfeltherheartbeatingfasterandfaster.AsParavicinihadsaid,itwasastrangelyhauntingandgruesomelittlerhyme.Ithadthatchildis.h.i.+ncomprehensionofpitywhichissoterrifyingifmetwithinanadult.

Veryfaintly,fromupstairs.shecouldhearthesametunebeingwhistledinthebedroomabove-ParavicinienactingthepartofChristopherWren.

Suddenly,nextdoor,thewirelesswentoninthelibrary.SergeantTrottermusthavesetthatgoing.Hehimself,then,wasplayingthepartofMrsBoyle.

Butwhy?Whatwasthepointofitall?Wherewasthetrap?Fortherewasatrap,ofthatshewascertain.

Adraftofcoldairblewacrossthebackofherneck.Sheturnedherheadsharply.Surelythedoorhadopened.Someonehadcomeintotheroom-No,theroomwasempty.Butsuddenlyshefeltnervous-afraid.Ifsomeoneshouldcomein.SupposingMrParavicinishouldskiproundthedoor,shouldcomeskippingovertothepiano,hislongfingerstwitchingandtwisting- "Soyouareplayingyourownfuneralmarch,dearlady,ahappythought-"Nonsense-don'tbestupid-don'timaginethings.Besides,youcanhearhimwhistlingoveryourhead,justashecanhearyou.

Shealmosttookherfingersoffthepianoastheideacametoher!n.o.bodyhadheardMrParaviciniplaying.Wasthatthetrap?Wasit,perhaps,possiblethatMrParavicinihadn'tbeenplayingatall?Thathehadbeen,notinthedrawing-room,butinthelibrary.Inthelibrary,stranglingMrsBoyle?Hehadbeenannoyed,veryannoyed,whenTrotterhadarrangedforhertoplay.Hehadlaidstressonthesoftnesswithwhichhehadpickedoutthetune.Ofcourse,hehademphasizedthesoftnessinthehopesthat.i.twouldbetoosofttobeheardoutsidetheroom.Becauseifanyonehearditthistimewhohadn'thearditlasttime-whythen,Trotterwouldhavegotwhathewanted-thepersonwhohadlied.

Thedoorofthedrawing-roomopened.Molly,strunguptoexpectParavicini,nearlyscreamed.But.i.twasonlySergeantTrotterwhoentered,justa.s.shefinishedthethirdrepet.i.tionofthetune.

"Thankyou,MrsDavis,"hesaid.

Hewaslookingextremelypleasedwithhimself,andhismannerwasbriskandconfident.

Mollytookherhandsfromthekeys."Haveyougotwhatyouwanted?"sheasked.

"Yes,indeed."Hisvoicewas.e.xultant."I'vegotexactlywhatIwanted."

"Which?Who?"

"Don'tyouknow,MrsDavis?Come,now-it'snotsodifficult.Bytheway,you'vebeen,ifImaysayso,extraordinarilyfoolish.You'veleftmehuntingaboutforthethirdvictim.Asaresult,you'vebeeninseriousdanger."

"Me?Idon'tknowwhatyoumean."

"Imeanthatyouhaven'tbeenhonestwithme,MrsDavis.Youheldoutonme-justasMrsBoyleheldoutonme."

"Idon'tunderstand."

"Oh,yes,youdo.Why,whenIfirstmentionedtheLongridgeFarmcase,youknewallabout.i.t.Oh,yes,youdid.Youwereupset.AnditwasyouwhoconfirmedthatMrsBoylewasthebilletingofficerforthispartofthecountry.Bothyouandshecamefromtheseparts.SowhenIbegantospeculatewhothethirdvictimwaslikelytobe,Iplumpedatonceforyou.You'dshownfirsthandknowledgeoftheLongridgeFarmbusiness.Wepolicemenaren'tsodumbaswelook,youknow."

Mollysaidinalowvoice,"Youdon'tunderstand.Ididn'twanttoremember."

"Icanunderstandthat."Hisvoicechangedalittle."YourmaidennamewasWainwright,wasn't.i.t?"

"Yes."

"Andyou'rejustalittleolderthanyoupretendtobe.In1940,whenthisthinghappened,youweretheschoolteacheratAbbeyvaleschool."

"No!"

"Oh,yes,youwere,MrsDavis."

"Iwasn't,Itellyou."

"Thechildwhodiedmanagedtogetaletterpostedtoyou.Hestoleastamp.Theletterbeggedforhelp-helpfromhiskindteacher.It'sateacher'sbusinesstofindoutwhyachilddoesn'tcometoschool.Youdidn'tfindout.Youignoredthepoorlittledevil'sletter."

"Stop."Molly'scheekswereflaming."It'smysisteryouaretalkingabout.Shewastheschoolmistress.Andshedidn'tignorehisletter.Shewasill-withpneumonia.Sheneversawtheletteruntilafterthechildwasdead.Itupsetherdreadfully-dreadfully-shewasaterriblysensitiveperson.But.i.twasn'therfault.It'sbecauseshetookittoheartsodreadfullythatI'veneverbeenabletobearbeingremindedofit.It'sbeenanightmaretome,always."

Molly'shandswenttohereyes,coveringthem.Whenshetookthemaway,Trotterwa.s.staringather.

Hesaidsoftly,"Soitwasyoursister.Well,afterall-"Hegaveasuddenqueersmile."Itdoesn'tmuchmatter,doesit?Yoursister-mybrother-"

Hetooksomethingoutofhispocket.Hewa.s.smilingnow,happily.

Mollystaredattheobjectheheld."Ialwaysthoughtthepolicedidn'tcarryrevolvers,"shesaid.

"Thepolicedon't,"saidtheyoungman.Hewenton,"Butyousee,MrsDavis,I'mnotapoliceman.I'mJim.I'mGeorgie'sbrother.YouthoughtIwasapolicemanbecauseIrangupfromthecallboxinthevillageandsaidthatSergeantTrotterwasonhisway.ThenIcutthetelephonewiresoutsidethehousewhenIgothere,sothatyoushouldn'tbeabletoringbacktothepolicestation."

Mollystaredathim.Therevolverwaspointingathernow.

"Don'tmove,MrsDavis-anddon'tscream-orIpullthetriggeratonce."

Hewa.s.stillsmiling.Itwas,Mollyrealizedwithhorror,achild'ssmile.Andhisvoice,whenhespoke,wasbecomingachild'svoice.

"Yes,"hesaid,"I'mGeorgie'sbrother.GeorgiediedatLongridgeFarm.Thatnastywomansentusthere,andthefarmer'swifewascrueltous,andyouwouldn'thelpus-threelittleblindmice.IsaidthenI'dkillyouallwhenIgrewup.Imeant.i.t.I'vethoughtofiteversince."Hefrownedsuddenly."Theybotheredmealotinthearmy-thatdoctorkeptaskingmequestions-Ihadtogetaway.Iwasafraidthey'dstopmedoingwhatIwantedtodo.ButI'mgrownupnow.Grown-upscandowhattheylike."

Mollypulledherselftogether.Talktohim,shesaidtoherself.Distracthismind.

"But,Jim,listen."shesaid."You'llnevergetsafelyaway."

Hisfacecloudedover."Somebody's.h.i.+ddenmyskis.Ican'tfindthem."Helaughed."ButIdaresayitwillbeallright.It'syourhusband'srevolver.Itookitoutofhisdrawer.Idaresaythey'llthinkheshotyou.Anyway-Idon'tmuchcare.It'sbeensuchfun-allofitPretending!ThatwomaninLondon,herfacewhensherecognizedme.Thatstupidwomanthismorning!"

Henoddedhishead.

Clearly,witheerieeffect,cameawhistle.Someonewhistlingthetuneof"ThreeBlindMice."

Trotterstarted,therevolverwavered-avoiceshouted,"Down,MrsDavis."

MollydroppedtothefloorasMajorMetcalf,risingfrombehindtheconcealmentofthesofabythedoorflunghimselfuponTrotter.Therevolverwentoff-andthebulletlodgedinoneofthesomewhatmediocreoilpaintingsdeartotheheartofthelateMissEmory.

Amomentlater,allwaspandemonium-Gilesrushedin,followedbyChristopherandMrParavicini.

MajorMetcalf,retaininghisgraspofTrotter,spokeinshortexplosivesentences.

"Cameinwhileyouwereplaying-slippedbehindthesofa-I'vebeenontohimfromthebeginning-that'stosay,Iknewhewasn'tapoliceofficer.I'mapoliceofficer-InspectorTanner.WearrangedwithMetcalfIshouldtakehisplace.ScotlandYardthought.i.tadvisabletohavesomeoneonthespot.Now,mylad-"HespokequitegentlytothenowdocileTrotter."Youcomewithme.Noonewillhurtyou.You'llbeallright.We'lllookafteryou."

Inapiteouschild'svoicethebronzedyoungmanasked,"Georgiewon'tbeangrywithme?"

Metcalfsaid,"No.Georgiewon'tbeangry."

HemurmuredtoGilesashepa.s.sedhim,"Madasahatter,poordevil."

Theywentouttogether.MrParavicinitouchedChristopherWrenonthearm.

"You,also,myfriend,"hesaid,"comewithme."

GilesandMolly,leftalone,lookedateachother.Inanothermomenttheywereineachother'sarms.

"Darling,"saidGiles,"you'resurehedidn'thurtyou?"

"No,no,I'mquiteallright.Giles,I'vebeensoterriblymixedup.Ialmostthoughtyou-whydidyougotoLondonthatday?"

"Darling,Iwantedtogetyouananniversarypresent,fortomorrow.Ididn'twantyoutoknow."

"Howextraordinary!IwenttoLondontogetyouapresentandIdidn'twantyoutoknow."

"Iwasinsanelyjealousofthatneurotica.s.s.Imusthavebeenmad.Forgiveme,darling."

Thedooropened,andMrParaviciniskippedininhisgoatlikeway.Hewasbeaming.

"Interruptingthereconciliation-Suchacharmingscene-But,alas,Imustbidyouadieu.Apolicejeephasmanagedtogetthrough.Ishallpersuadethemtotakemewiththem."HebentandwhisperedmysteriouslyinMolly'sear,"Imayhaveafewembarra.s.smentsinthenearfuture-butIamconfidentIcanarrangematters,andifyoushouldreceiveacase-withagoose,say,aturkey,sometinsoffoiegras,aham-somenylonstockings,yes?Well,youunderstand,itwillbewithmycomplimentstoaverycharminglady.MrDavis,mycheckisonthehalltable."

HekissedMolly'shandandskippedtothedoor.

"Nylons?"murmuredMolly,"Foiegras?WhoisMrParavicini?SantaClaus?"

"Black-marketstyle,Isuspect,"saidGiles.

ChristopherWrenpokedadiffidentheadin."Mydears,"hesaid,"IhopeI'mnotintruding,b.u.t.there'saterriblesmellofburningfromthekitchen.Ought.i.todosomethingabout.i.t?"

Withananguishedcryof"Mypie!"Mollyfledfromtheroom.

StrangeJest

"Andthis,"saidJaneHelier,completingherintroductions,"isMissMarple!"

Beinganactress,shewasabletomakeherpoint.Itwasclearlytheclimax,thetriumphantfinale!Hertonewasequallycompoundedofreverentaweandtriumph.

Theoddpartofitwasthattheobjectthusproudlyproclaimedwasmerelyagentleelderlyspinster.Intheeyesofthetwoyoungpeoplewhohadjust,byJane'sgoodoffices,madeheracquaintance,thereshowedincredulityandatingeofdismay.Theywerenice-lookingpeople-thegirl,Charmian-slimanddark;theman,EdwardRossiter,afair-haired,amiableyounggiant.

Charmiansaid,alittlebreathlessly,"Oh,we'reawfullypleasedtomeetyou."b.u.t.therewas...o...b..inhereyes.Sheflungaquick,questioningglanceatJaneHelier.

"Darling,"saidJane,answeringtheglance,"she'sabsolutelymarvellous.Leaveittoher.ItoldyouI'dgetherhereandIhave."SheaddedtoMissMarple:"You'llfixitforthem,Iknow.Itwillbeeasyforyou."

MissMarpleturnedherplacid,china-blueeyestowardMrRossiter."Won'tyoutellme,"shesaid,"whatallthisisabout?"

"Jane'safriendofours,"Charmianbrokeinimpatiently."EdwardandIareinratherafix.Janesaidifwewouldcometoherparty,she'dintroduceustosomeonewhowas-whowould-whocould-"

Edwardcametotherescue."Janetellsusyou'rethelastwordinsleuths,MissMarple!"

Theoldlady'seyestwinkled,butsheprotestedmodestly:"Ohno,no!Nothingofthekind.It'sjustthatlivinginavillageasIdo,onegetstoknowsomuchabouthumannature.Butreallyyouhavemademequitecurious.Dotellmeyourproblem."

"I'mafraidit'sterriblyhackneyed-justburiedtreasure,"saidEdward.

"Indeed?b.u.t.thatsoundsmostexciting!"