加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第19部分

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operly。　This；　I　understand；　the　girl　refused　to　do。　She　said　it　was　humiliating　to　him。　Most　insulting　to　be　made　to　e　and　meet　her　family　and　be　looked　over。　Just　as　though　you　were　a　horse；　she　said。〃

Miss　Marple　sighed。　〃One　does　need　so　much　tact　when　dealing　with　the　young；〃　she　murmured。

〃Anyway　there　it　was！　They　forbade　her　to　see　him。〃

〃But　you　can't　do　that　nowadays；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃Girls　have　jobs　and　they　meet　people　whether　anyone　forbids　them　or　not。〃

〃But　then；　very　fortunately；〃　went　on　Miss　Prescott；　〃she　met　Tim　Kendal；　and　the　other　man　sort　of　faded　out　of　the　picture。　I　can't　tell　you　how　relieved　the　family　was。〃

〃I　hope　they　didn't　show　it　too　plainly；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃That　so　often　puts　girls　off　from　forming　suitable　attachments。〃

〃Yes；　indeed。〃

〃One　remembers　oneself。〃　Murmured　Miss　Marple；　her　mind　going　back　to　the　past。　A　young　man　she　had　met　at　a　croquet　party。　He　had　seemed　so　nicerather　gay；　almost　Bohemian　in　his　views。　And　then　he　had　been　unexpectedly　warmly　weled　by　her　father。　He　had　been　suitable；　eligible；　he　had　been　asked　freely　to　the　house　more　than　once；　and　Miss　Marple　had　found　that；　after　all；　he　was　dull。　Very　dull。

The　Canon　seemed　safely　atose　and　Miss　Marple　advanced　tentatively　to　the　subject　she　was　anxious　to　pursue。

〃Of　course　you　know　so　much　about　this　place；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　have　been　here　several　years　running；　have　you　not？〃

〃Well；　last　year　and　two　years　before　that。　We　like　St。　Honorй　very　much。　Always　such　nice　people　here。　Not　the　flashy；　ultrarich　set。〃

〃So　I　suppose　you　know　the　Hillingdons　and　the　Dysons　well！〃

'〃Yes；　fairly　well。〃

Miss　Marple　coughed　and　lowered　her　voice　slightly。

〃Major　Palgrave　told　me　such　an　interesting　story；〃　she　said。

〃He　had　a　great　repertoire　of　stories；　hadn't　he？　Of　course　he　had　travelled　very　widely。　Africa；　India；　even　China　I　believe。〃

〃Yes　indeed；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃But　I　didn't　mean　one　of　those　stories。　This　was　a　story　concerned　withwell；　with　one　of　the　people　I　have　just　mentioned。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Miss　Prescott。　Her　voice　held　meaning。

〃Yes。　Now　I　wonder〃　Miss　Marple　allowed　her　eyes　to　travel　gently　round　the　beach　to　where　Lucky　lay　sunning　her　back。　〃Very　beautifully　tanned；　isn't　she；〃　remarked　Miss　Marple。　〃And　her　hair。　Most　attractive。　Practically　the　same　colour　as　Molly　Kendal's；　isn't　it？〃

〃The　only　difference；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　〃is　that　Molly's　is　natural　and　Lucky's　es　out　of　a　bottle！〃

〃Really；　Joan；〃　the　Canon　protested；　unexpectedly　awake　again。　〃Don't　you　think　that　is　rather　an　uncharitable　thing　to　say？〃

〃It's　not　uncharitable；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　acidly。　〃Merely　accurate。〃

〃It　looks　very　nice　to　me。〃　said　the　Canon。

〃Of　course。　That's　why　she　does　it。　But　I　assure　you；　my　dear　Jeremy；　it　wouldn't　deceive　any　woman　for　a　moment。　Would　it？〃　She　appealed　to　Miss　Marple。

〃Well；　I'm　afraid〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃of　course　I　haven't　the　experience　that　you　havebut　I'm　afraidyes　I　should　say　definitely　not　natural。　The　appearance　at　the　roots　every　fifth　or　sixth　day〃　She　looked　at　Miss　Prescott　and　they　both　nodded　ale　assurance。

The　Canon　appeared　to　be　dropping　off　again。

〃Major　Palgrave　told　me　a　really　extraordinary　story；　murmured　Miss　Marple；　〃about　a　little　deaf　sometimes。　He　appeared　to　be　saying　or　hinting〃　she　paused。

〃I　know　what　you　mean。　There　was　a　great　deal　of　talk　at　the　time〃

〃You　mean　at　the　time　that〃

〃When　the　first　Mrs。　Dyson　died。　Her　death　was　quite　unexpected。　In　fact；　everybody　thought　she　was　a　malade　imaginairea　hypochondriac。　So　when　she　had　this　attack　and　died　so　unexpectedly；　well　of　course；　people　did　talk。〃

〃There　wasn't　any　trouble　at　the　time？〃

〃The　doctor　an　and　he　hadn't　had　much　experience。　He　was　what　I　call　one　of　those　antibioticsforall　men。　You　know；　the　kind　that　doesn't　bother　to　look　at　the　patient　much；　or　worry　what's　the　matter　with　him。　They　just　give　them　some　kind　of　pill　out　of　a　bottle　and　if　they　don't　get　better；　then　they　try　a　different　pill。　Yes；　I　believe　he　was　puzzled；　but　it　seemed　she　had　had　gastric　trouble　before。　At　least　her　husband　said　so；　and　there　seemed　no　reason　for　believing　anything　was　wrong。〃

〃But　you　yourself　think〃

〃Well；　I　always　try　to　keep　an　open　mind；　but　one　does　wonder；　you　know。　And　what　with　various　things　people　said〃

〃Joan！〃　The　Canon　sat　up。　He　looked　belligerent。　〃I　don't　likeI　really　don't　like　to　hear　this　kind　of　illnatured　gossip　being　repeated。　We've　always　set　our　faces　against　that　kind　of　thing。　See　no　evil；　hear　no　evil；　speak　no　eviland　what　is　more；　think　no　evil！　That　should　be　the　motto　of　every　Christian　man　and　woman。〃

The　two　women　sat　in　silence。　They　were　rebuked；　and　in　deference　to　their　training　they　deferred　to　the　criticism　of　a　man。　But　inwardly　they　were　frustrated；　irritated　and　quite　unrepentant。　Miss　Prescott　threw　a　frank　glance　of　irritation　towards　her　brother。　Miss　Marple　took　out　her　knitting　and　looked　at　it。　Fortunately　for　them；　chance　was　on　their　side。

〃Mon　pкre！〃　said　a　small　shrill　voice。　It　was　one　of　the　French　children　who　had　been　playing　at　the　water's　edge。　She　had　e　up　unnoticed；　and　was　standing　by　Canon　Prescott's　chair。

〃Mon　pкre！〃　she　fluted。

〃Eh？　Yes；　my　dear？　Oui；　qu'estce　qu'il　ya；　ma　petite！〃

The　child　explained。　There　had　been　a　dispute　about　who　should　have　the　water　wings　next　and　also　other　matters　of　seaside　etiquette。　Canon　Prescott　was　extremely　fond　of　children；　especially　small　girls。　He　was　always　delighted　to　be　summoned　to　act　as　arbiter　in　their　disputes。　He　rose　willingly　now　and　acpanied　the　child　to　the　water's　edge。　Miss　Marple　and　Miss　Prescott　breathed　deep　sighs　and　turned　avidly　towards　each　other。

〃Jeremy；　of　course　rightly；　is　very　against　illnatured　gossip；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　〃but　one　cannot　really　ignore　what　people　are　saying。　And　there　was；　as　I　say；　a　great　deal　of　talk　at　the　time。〃

〃Yes？〃　Miss　Marple's　tone　urged　her　forward。

〃This　young　woman；　you　see。　Miss　Greatorex　I　think　her　name　was　thenI　can't　remember　nowwas　a　kind　of　cousin　and　she　looked　after　Mrs。　Dyson。　Gave　her　all　her　medicines　and　things　like　that。〃　There　was　a　short；　meaningful　pause。　〃And　of　course　there　had；　I　understand〃Miss　Prescott's　voice　was　lowered〃been　goingson　between　Mr。　Dyson　and　Miss　Greatorex。　A　lot　of　people　had　noticed　them。　I　mean　things　like　that　are　quickly　observed　in　a　place　like　this。　Then　there　was　some　curious　story　about　some　stuff　that　Edward　Hillingdon　got　for　her　at　a　chemist。〃

〃Oh；　Edward　Hillingdon　came　into　it？〃

〃Oh　yes；　he　was　very　much　attracted。　People　noticed　it。　And　LuckyMiss　Greatorexplayed　them　off　against　each　other。　Gregory　Dyson　and　Edward　Hillingdon。　One　has　to　face　it；　she　has　always　been　an　attractive　woman。〃

〃Though　not　as　young　as　she　was；〃　Miss　Marple　replied。

〃Exactly。　But　she　was　always　very　well　turned　out　and　made　up。　Of　course　not　so　flamboyant　when　she　was　just　the　poor　relation。　She　always　seemed　very　devoted　to　the　invalid。　But；　well；　you　see　how　it　was。〃

〃What　was　this　story　about　the　chemist？　How　did　that　get　known？〃

〃Well；　it　wasn't　in　Jamestown；　I　think　it　was　when　they　were　in　Martinique。　The　French；　I　believe；　are　more　lax　than　we　are　in　the　matter　of　drugs。　This　chemist　talked　to　someone；　and　the　story　got　around。　You　know　how　these　things　happen。〃

Miss　Marple　did。　None　better。

〃He　said　something　about　Colonel　Hillingdon　asking　for　something　and　not　seeming　to　know　what　it　was　he　was　asking　for。　Consulting　a　piece　of　paper；　you　know；　on　which　it　was　written　down。　Anyway；　as　I　say；　there　was　talk。〃

〃But　I　don't　see　quite　why　Colonel　Hillingdon〃　Miss　Marple　frowned　in　perplexity。

〃I　suppose　he　was　just　being　used　as　a　cat'spaw。　Anyway；　Gregory　Dyson　married　again　in　an　almost　indecently　short　time。　Barely　a　month　later；　I　understand。〃

They　looked　at　each　other。

〃But　there　was　no　real　suspicion？〃　Miss　Marple　asked。

〃Oh　no；　it　was　justwell；　talk。　Of　course　there　may　have　been　absolutely　nothing　in　it。〃

〃Major　Palgrave　thought　there　was。〃

〃Did　he　say　so　to　you？〃

〃I　wasn't　really　listening　very　closely；〃　confessed　Miss　Marple。　〃I　just　wondered　iferwell；　if　he'd　said　the　same　things　to　you？〃

〃He　did　point　her　out　to　me　one　day；〃　said　Miss　Prescott。

〃Really？　He　actually　pointed　her　out？〃

〃Yes。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　thought　at　first　it　was　Mrs。　Hillingdon　he　was　pointing　out。　He　wheezed　and　chuckled　a　bit　and　said　'Look　at　that　woman　over　there。　In　my　opinion　that's　a　woman　who's　done　murder　and　got　away　with　it。'　I　was　very　shocked；　of　course。　I　said；　'Surely　you're　joking；　Major　Palgrave；'　and　he　said；　'Yes；　yes；　dear　lady；　let's　call　it　joking。'　The　Dysons　and　the　Hillingdons　were　sitting　at　a　table　quite　near　to　us；　and　I　was　afraid　they'd　overhear。　He　chuckled　and　said　'Wouldn't　care　to　go　to　a　drink　party　and　have　a　certain　person　mix　me　a　cocktail。　Too　much　like　supper　with　the　Bias。'〃

〃How　very　interesting；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Did　he　mention　aa　photograph？〃

〃I　don't　remember。。。　Was　it　some　newspaper　cutting？〃

Miss　Marple；　about　to　speak；　shut　her　lips。　The　sun　was　momentarily　obscured　by　a　shadow。　Evelyn　Hillingdon　paused　beside　them。

〃Good　morning；〃　she　said。

〃I　was　wondering　where　you　were；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　looking　up　brightly。

〃I've　been　to　Jamestown；　shopping。〃

〃Oh；　I　see。〃

Miss　Prescott　looked　round　vaguely　and　Evelyn　Hillingdon　said：　〃Oh；　I　didn't　take　Edward　with　me。　Men　hate　shopping。〃

〃Did　you　find　anything　of　interest？〃

〃It　wasn't　that　sort　of　shopping。　I　just　had　to　go　to　the　chemist。〃　With　a　smile　and　a　slight　nod　she　went　on　down　the　beach。

〃Such　nice　people；　the　Hillingdons；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　〃though　she's　not　really　very　easy　to　know；　is　she？　I　mean；　she's　always　very　pleasant　and　all　that；　but　one　never　seems　to　get　to　know　her　any　better。〃

Miss　Marple　agreed　thoughtfully。

〃One　never　knows　what　she　is　thinking；〃　said　Miss　Prescott。

〃Perhaps　that　is　just　as　well；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃

〃Oh　nothing　really；　only　that　I've　always　had　the　feeling　that　perhaps　her　thoughts　might　be　rather　disconcerting。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　looking　puzzled。　〃I　see　what　you　mean。〃　She　went　on　with　a　slight　change　of　subject。　〃I　believe　they　have　a　very　charming　place　in　Hampshire；　and　a　boyor　is　it　two　boyswho　have　just　goneor　one　of　themto　Winchester。〃

〃Do　you　know　Hampshire　well？〃

〃No。　Hardly　at　all。　I　believe　their　house　is　somewhere　near　Alton。〃

〃I　see。〃　Miss　Marple　paused　and　then　said；　〃And　where　do　the　Dysons　live？〃

〃California；〃　said　Miss　Prescott。　〃When　they　are　at　home；　that　is。　They　are　great　travellers。〃

〃One　really　knows　so　little　about　the　people　one　meets　when　one　is　travelling；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　meanhow　shall　I　put　itone　only　knows；　doesn't　one；　what　they　choose　to　tell　you　about　themselves。　For　instance；　you　don't　really　know　that　the　Dysons　live　in　California。〃

Miss　Prescott　looked　startled。　〃I'm　sure　Mr。　Dyson　mentioned　it。〃

〃Yes。　Yes；　exactly。　That's　what　I　mean。　And　the　same　thing　perhaps　with　the　Hillingdons。　I　mean　when　you　say　that　they　live　in　Hampshire；　you're　really　repeating　what　they　told　you　aren't　you？〃