加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第21部分

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n　something。〃

Evelyn　was　quick；　decisive。

〃All　right；　Tim。　I'll　e。　You　go　back　to　her。　I'll　be　with　you　in　a　moment。〃

Tim　Kendal　disappeared。　Evelyn　slipped　out　of　bed；　threw　on　a　dressing　gown　and　looked　across　at　the　other　bed。　Her　husband；　it　seemed；　had　not　been　awakened。　He　lay　there；　his　head　turned　away；　breathing　quietly。　Evelyn　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　decided　not　to　disturb　him。　She　went　out　of　the　door　and　walked　rapidly　to　the　main　building　and　beyond　it　to　the　Kendals'　bungalow。　She　caught　up　with　Tim　in　the　doorway。

Molly　lay　in　bed。　Her　eyes　were　closed　and　her　breathing　was　clearly　not　natural。　Evelyn　bent　over　her；　rolled　up　an　eyelid；　felt　her　pulse　and　then　looked　at　the　bedside　table。　There　was　a　glass　there　which　had　been　used。　Beside　it　was　an　empty　phial　of　tablets。　She　picked　it　up。

〃They　were　her　sleeping　pills；〃　said　Tim；　〃but　that　bottle　was　half　full　yesterday　or　the　day　before。　I　think　she　must　have　taken　the　lot。〃

〃Go　and　get　Dr。　Graham；〃　said　Evelyn；　〃and　on　the　way　knock　them　up　and　tell　them　to　make　strong　coffee。　Strong　as　possible。　Hurry。〃

Tim　dashed　off。　Just　outside　the　doorway　he　collided　with　Edward　Hillingdon。

〃Oh；　sorry；　Edward。〃

〃What's　happening　here？〃　demanded　Hillingdon。　〃What's　going　on？〃

〃It's　Molly。　Evelyn's　with　her。　I　must　get　hold　of　the　doctor。　I　suppose　I　ought've　gone　to　him　first　but　II　wasn't　sure　and　I　thought　Evelyn　would　know。　Molly　would　have　hated　it　if　I'd　fetched　a　doctor　when　it　wasn't　necessary。〃

He　went　off；　running。　Edward　Hillingdon　looked　after　him　for　a　moment　and　then　he　walked　into　the　bedroom。

〃What's　happening？〃　he　said。　〃Is　it　serious？〃

〃Oh；　there　you　are；　Edward。　I　wondered　if　you'd　woken　up。　This　silly　child　has　been　taking　things。〃

〃Is　it　bad？〃

〃One　can't　tell　without　knowing　how　much　she's　taken。　I　shouldn't　think　it　was　too　bad　if　we　get　going　in　time。　I've　sent　for　coffee。　If　we　can　get　some　of　that　down　her〃

〃But　why　should　she　do　such　a　thing？　You　don't　think〃　He　stopped。

〃What　don't　I　think？〃　asked　Evelyn。

〃You　don't　think　it's　because　of　the　inquirythe　policeall　that？〃

〃It's　possible；　of　course。　That　sort　of　thing　could　be　very　alarming　to　a　nervous　type。〃

〃Molly　never　used　to　seem　a　nervous　type。〃

〃One　can't　really　tell；〃　said　Evelyn。　〃It's　the　most　unlikely　people　sometimes　who　lose　their　nerve。〃

〃Yes；　I　remember。。。〃　Again　he　stopped。

〃The　truth　is；〃　said　Evelyn；　〃that　one　doesn't　really　know　anything　about　anybody。〃　She　added；　〃Not　even　the　people　who　are　nearest　to　you。。。〃

〃Isn't　that　going　a　little　too　far；　Evelynexaggerating　too　much？〃

〃I　don't　think　it　is。　When　you　think　of　people；　it　is　in　the　image　you　have　made　of　them　for　yourself。〃

〃I　know　you；〃　said　Edward　Hillingdon　quietly。

〃You　think　you　do。〃

〃No。　I'm　sure。〃　He　added；　〃And　you're　sure　of　me。〃

Evelyn　looked　at　him　then　turned　back　to　the　bed。　She　took　Molly　by　the　shoulders　and　shook　her。

〃We　ought　to　be　doing　something；　but　I　suppose　it's　better　to　wait　until　Dr。　Graham　es。　Oh；　I　think　I　hear　them。〃



II



〃She'll　do　now。〃　Dr。　Graham　stepped　back；　wiped　his　forehead　with　a　handkerchief　and　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。

〃You　think　she'll　be　all　right；　sir？〃　Tim　demanded　anxiously。

〃Yes；　yes。　We　got　to　her　in　good　time。　Anyway；　she　probably　didn't　take　enough　to　kill　her。　A　couple　of　days　and　she'll　be　as　right　as　rain　but　she'll　have　a　rather　nasty　day　or　two　first。〃　He　picked　up　the　empty　bottle。　〃Who　gave　her　these　things　anyway？〃

〃A　doctor　in　New　York。　She　wasn't　sleeping　well。〃

〃Well；　well。　I　know　all　we　medicos　hand　these　things　out　freely　nowadays。　Nobody　tells　young　women　who　can't　sleep　to　count　sheep；　or　get　up　and　eat　a　biscuit；　or　write　a　couple　of　letters　and　then　go　back　to　bed。　Instant　remedies；　that's　what　people　demand　nowadays。　Sometimes　I　think　it's　a　pity　we　give　them　to　them。　You've　got　to　learn　to　put　up　with　things　in　life。　All　very　well　to　stuff　a　forter　into　a　baby's　mouth　to　stop　it　crying。　Can't　go　on　doing　that　all　a　person's　life。〃　He　gave　a　small　chuckle。　〃I　bet　you；　if　you　asked　Miss　Marple　what　she　does　if　she　can't　sleep；　she'd　tell　you　she　counted　sheep　going　under　a　gate。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　bed　where　Molly　was　stirring。　Her　eyes　were　open　now。　She　looked　at　them　without　interest　or　recognition。　Dr。　Graham　took　her　hand。

〃Well；　well；　my　dear；　and　what　have　you　been　doing　to　yourself？〃

She　blinked　but　did　not　reply。

〃Why　did　you　do　it；　Molly；　why？　Tell　me　why？〃　Tim　took　her　other　hand。

Still　her　eyes　did　not　move。　If　they　rested　on　anyone　it　was　on　Evelyn　Hillingdon。

There　might　have　been　even　a　faint　question　in　them　but　it　was　hard　to　tell。

Evelyn　spoke　as　though　there　had　been　the　question。

〃Tim　came　and　fetched　me；〃　she　said。

Her　eyes　went　to　Tim；　then　shifted　to　Dr。　Graham。

〃You're　going　to　be　all　right　now；〃　said　Dr。　Graham；　〃but　don't　do　it　again。〃

〃She　didn't　mean　to　do　it；〃　said　Tim　quietly。　〃I'm　sure　she　didn't　mean　to　do　it。　She　just　wanted　a　good　night's　rest。　Perhaps　the　pills　didn't　work　at　first　and　so　she　took　more　of　them。　Is　that　it；　Molly？〃

Her　head　moved　very　faintly　in　a　negative　motion。

〃You　mean　you　took　them　on　purpose？〃　said　Tim。

Molly　spoke　then。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。

〃But　why；　Molly；　why？〃

The　eyelids　faltered。　〃Afraid。〃　The　word　was　just　heard。

〃Afraid？　Of　what？〃

But　her　eyelids　closed　down。

〃Better　let　her　be；〃　said　Dr。　Graham。

Tim　spoke　impetuously。　〃Afraid　of　what？　The　police？　Because　they've　been　hounding　you；　asking　you　questions？　I　don't　wonder。　Anyone　might　feel　frightened。　But　it's　just　their　way；　that's　all。　Nobody　thinks　for　one　moment〃　he　broke　off。

Dr。　Graham　made　him　a　decisive　gesture。

〃I　want　to　go　to　sleep；〃　said　Molly。

〃The　best　thing　for　you；〃　said　Dr。　Graham。

He　moved　to　the　door　and　the　others　followed　him。

〃She'll　sleep　all　right；〃　said　Graham。

〃Is　there　anything　I　ought　to　do？〃　asked　Tim。　He　had　the　usual；　slightly　apprehensive　attitude　of　a　man　in　illness。

〃I'll　stay　if　you　like；〃　said　Evelyn　kindly。

〃Oh　no。　No；　that's　quite　all　right；〃　said　Tim。

Evelyn　went　back　towards　the　bed。　〃Shall　I　stay　with　you；　Molly？〃

Molly's　eyes　opened　again。　She　said；　〃No；〃　and　then　after　a　pause；　〃just　Tim。〃

Tim　came　back　and　sat　down　by　the　bed。

〃I'm　here；　Molly；〃　he　said　and　took　her　hand。

〃Just　go　to　sleep。　I　won't　leave　you。〃

She　sighed　faintly　and　her　eyes　closed。

The　doctor　paused　outside　the　bungalow　and　the　Hillingdons　stood　with　him。

〃You're　sure　there's　nothing　more　I　can　do？〃　asked　Evelyn。

〃I　don't　think　so；　thank　you；　Mrs。　Hillingdon。　She'll　be　better　with　her　husband　now。　But　possibly　tomorrowafter　all；　he's　got　this　hotel　to　runI　think　someone　should　be　with　her。〃

〃D'you　think　she　mighttry　again？〃　asked　Hillingdon。

Graham　rubbed　his　forehead　irritably。　〃One　never　knows　in　these　cases。　Actually；　it's　most　unlikely。　As　you've　seen　for　yourselves；　the　restorative　treatment　is　extremely　unpleasant。　But　of　course　one　can　never　be　absolutely　certain。　She　may　have　more　of　this　stuff　hidden　away　somewhere。〃

〃I　should　never　have　thought　of　suicide　in　connection　with　a　girl　like　Molly；〃　said　Hillingdon。

Graham　said　dryly；　〃It's　not　the　people　who　are　always　talking　of　killing　themselves；　threatening　to　do　so；　who　do　it。　They　dramatise　themselves　that　way　and　let　off　steam。〃

〃Molly　always　seemed　such　a　happy　girl。　I　think　perhaps〃Evelyn　hesitated〃I　ought　to　tell　you　Dr。　Graham。〃　She　told　him　then　about　her　interview　with　Molly　on　the　beach　the　night　that　Victoria　had　been　killed。

Graham's　face　was　very　grave　when　she　had　finished。

〃I'm　glad　you've　told　me；　Mrs。　Hillingdon。　There　are　very　definite　indications　there　of　some　kind　of　deeprooted　trouble。　Yes。　I'll　have　a　word　with　her　husband　in　the　morning。〃



III



〃I　want　to　talk　to　you　seriously；　Kendal；　about　your　wife。〃

They　were　sitting　in　Tim's　office。　Evelyn　Hillingdon　had　taken　his　place　by　Molly's　bedside　and　Lucky　had　promised　to　e　and；　as　she　expressed　it；　〃spell　her〃　later。

Miss　Marple　had　also　offered　her　services。

Poor　Tim　was　torn　between　his　hotel　mitments　and　his　wife's　condition。

〃I　can't　understand　it；〃　said　Tim；　〃I　can't　understand　Molly　any　longer。　She's　changed。　Changed　out　of　all　seeming。〃

〃I　understand　she's　been　having　bad　dreams？〃

〃Yes。　Yes；　she　plained　about　them　a　good　deal。〃

〃For　how　long？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　Aboutoh　I　suppose　a　monthperhaps　longer。　Shewethought　they　were　just　well；　nightmares；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　quite　understand。　But　what's　a　much　more　serious　sign　is　the　fact　that　she　seems　to　have　felt　afraid　of　someone。　Did　she　plain　about　that　to　you？〃

〃Well；　yes。　She　said　once　or　twice　thatoh；　people　were　following　her。〃

〃Ah！　Spying　on　her？〃

〃Yes；　she　did　use　that　term　once。　She　said　they　were　her　enemies　and　they'd　followed　her　here。〃

〃Did　she　have　enemies；　Mr。　Kendal？〃

〃No。　Of　course　she　didn't。〃

〃No　incident　in　England；　anything　you　know　about　before　you　were　married？〃

〃Oh　no；　nothing　of　that　kind。　She　didn't　get　on　with　her　family　very　well；　that　was　all。　Her　mother　was　rather　an　eccentric　woman；　difficult　to　live　with　perhaps；　but。。。〃

〃Any　signs　of　mental　instability　in　her　family？〃

Tim　opened　his　mouth　impulsively；　then　shut　it　again。　He　pushed　a　fountain　pen　about　on　the　desk　in　front　of　him。

The　doctor　said：　〃I　must　stress　the　fact　that　it　would　be　better　to　tell　me；　Tim；　if　that　is　the　case。〃

〃Well；　yes；　I　believe　so。　Nothing　serious；　but　I　believe　there　was　an　aunt　or　something　who　was　a　bit　batty。　But　that's　nothing。　I　meanwell　you　get　that　in　almost　any　family。〃

〃Oh　yes；　yes；　that's　quite　true。　I'm　not　trying　to　alarm　you　about　that；　but　it　just　might　show　a　tendency　towell　to　break　down　or　imagine　things　if　any　stress　arose。〃

〃I　don't　really　know　very　much；〃　said　Tim。　〃After　all；　people　don't　pour　out　all　their　family　histories　to　you；　do　they？〃

〃No；　no。　Quite　so。　She　had　no　former　friend；　she　was　not　engaged　to　anyone；　anyone　who　might　have　threatened　her　or　made　jealous　threats？　That　sort　of　thing？〃

〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　think　so。　Molly　was　engaged　to　some　other　man　before　I　came　along。　Her　parents　were　very　against　it；　I　understand；　and　I　think　she　really　stuck　to　the　chap　more　out　of　opposition　and　defiance　than　anything　else。〃　He　gave　a　sudden　halfgrin。　〃You　know　what　it　is　when　you're　young。　If　people　cut　up　a　fuss　it　makes　you　much　keener　on　whoever　it　is。〃

Dr。　Graham　smiled　too。　〃Ah　yes；　one　often　sees　that。　One　should　never　take　exception　to　one's　children's　objectionable　friends。　Usually　they　grow　out　of　them　naturally。　This　man；　whoever　he　was；　didn't　make　threats　of　any　kind　against　Molly？〃

〃No；　I'm　sure　he　didn't。　She　would　have　told　me。　She　said　herself　she　just　had　a　silly　adolescent　craze　on　him；　mainly　because　he　had　such　a　bad　reputation。〃

〃Yes；　yes。　Well；　that　doesn't　sound　serious。　Now　there's　another　thing。　Apparently　your　wife　has　had　what　she　describes　as　blackouts。　Brief　passages　of　time　during　which　she　can't　account　for　her　actions。　Did　you　know　about　that；　Tim？〃

〃No；〃　said　Tim　slowly；　〃No。　I　didn't。　She　never　told　me。　I　did　notice；　you　know；　now　you　mention　it；　that　she　seemed　r