加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第23部分

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hat　I've　ever　been　thereall　sorts　of　funny　things　used　to　happen。　You'd　be　surprised　at　some　of　the　things　women　gave　their　husbands。　In　India；　for　example；　in　the　bad　old　days；　a　young　wife　who　married　an　old　husband。　Didn't　want　to　get　rid　of　him；　I　suppose；　because　she'd　have　been　burnt　on　the　funeral　pyre；　or　if　she　wasn't　burnt　she'd　have　been　treated　as　an　outcast　by　the　family。　No　catch　to　have　been　a　widow　in　India　in　those　days。　But　she　could　keep　an　elderly　husband　under　drugs；　make　him　semiimbecile；　give　him　hallucinations；　drive　him　more　or　less　off　his　head。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Yes；　lot　of　dirty　work。〃

He　went　on：　〃And　witches；　you　know。　There's　a　lot　of　interesting　things　known　now　about　witches。　Why　did　they　always　confess；　why　did　they　admit　so　readily　that　they　were　witches；　that　they　had　flown　on　broomsticks　to　the　Witches'　Sabbath。〃

〃Torture；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Not　always；〃　said　Jackson。　〃Oh　yes；　torture　accounted　for　a　lot　of　it；　but　they　came　out　with　some　of　those　confessions　almost　before　torture　was　mentioned。　They　didn't　so　much　confess　as　boast　about　it。　Well；　they　rubbed　themselves　with　ointments；　you　know。　Anointing　they　used　to　call　it。　Some　of　the　preparations；　belladonna；　atropine；　all　that　sort　of　thing；　if　you　rub　them　on　the　skin　they　give　you　hallucinations　of　levitation；　of　flying　through　the　air。　They　thought　it　all　was　genuine；　poor　devils。　And　look　at　the　Assassinsmedieval　people；　out　in　Syria；　the　Lebanon；　somewhere　like　that。　They　fed　them　Indian　hemp；　gave　them　hallucinations　of　paradise　and　houris；　and　endless　time。　They　were　told　that　that　was　what　would　happen　to　them　after　death；　but　to　attain　it　they　had　to　go　and　do　a　ritual　killing。　Oh；　I'm　not　putting　it　in　fancy　language；　but　that's　what　it　came　to。〃

〃What　it　came　to；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃is　in　essence　the　fact　that　people　are　highly　credulous。〃

〃Well　yes；　I　suppose　you　could　put　it　like　that。〃

〃They　believe　what　they　are　told；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃Yes　indeed；　we're　all　inclined　to　do　that；〃　she　added。　Then　she　said　sharply。　〃Who　told　you　these　stories　about　India；　about　the　doping　of　husbands　with　datura；〃　and　she　added　sharply；　before　he　could　answer；　〃Was　it　Major　Palgrave？〃

Jackson　looked　slightly　surprised。

〃Wellyes；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　it　was。　He　told　me　a　lot　of　stories　like　that。　Of　course　most　of　it　must　have　been　before　his　time；　but　he　seemed　to　know　all　about　it。〃

〃Major　Palgrave　was　under　the　impression　that　he　knew　a　lot　about　everything；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃He　was　often　inaccurate　in　what　he　told　people。〃　She　shook　her　head　thoughtfully。　〃Major　Palgrave；〃　she　said；　〃has　a　lot　to　answer　for。〃

There　was　a　slight　sound　from　the　adjoining　bedroom。　Miss　Marple　turned　her　head　sharply。　She　went　quickly　out　of　the　bathroom　into　the　bedroom。　Lucky　Dyson　was　standing　just　inside　the　window。

〃Ioh！　I　didn't　think　you　were　here；　Miss　Marple。〃

〃I　just　stepped　into　the　bathroom　for　a　moment；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　with　dignity　and　a　faint　air　of　Victorian　reserve。

In　the　bathroom；　Jackson　grinned　broadly。　Victorian　modesty　always　amused　him。

〃I　just　wondered　if　you'd　like　me　to　sit　with　Molly　for　a　bit；〃　said　Lucky。　She　looked　over　towards　the　bed。　〃She's　asleep；　isn't　she？〃

〃I　think　so；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃But　it's　really　quite　all　right。　You　go　and　amuse　yourself；　my　dear。　I　thought　you'd　gone　on　that　expedition？〃

〃I　was　going；〃　said　Lucky；　〃but　I　had　such　a　filthy　headache　that　at　the　last　moment　I　cried　off。　So　I　thought　I　might　as　well　make　myself　useful。〃

〃That　was　very　nice　of　you；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　She　reseated　herself　by　the　bed　and　resumed　her　knitting；　〃but　I'm　quite　happy　here。〃

Lucky　hesitated　for　a　moment　or　two　and　then　turned　away　and　went　out。

Miss　Marple　waited　a　moment　then　tiptoed　back　into　the　bathroom；　but　Jackson　had　departed；　no　doubt　through　the　other　door。　Miss　Marple　picked　up　the　jar　of　face　cream　he　had　been　holding；　and　slipped　it　into　her　pocket。



Chapter　22

A　MAN　IN　HER　LIFE



Getting　a　little　chat　in　a　natural　manner　with　Dr。　Graham　was　not　so　easy　as　Miss　Marple　had　hoped。　She　was　particularly　anxious　not　to　approach　him　directly　since　she　did　not　want　to　lend　undue　importance　to　the　questions　she　was　going　to　ask　him。

Tim　was　back；　looking　after　Molly　and　Miss　Marple　had　arranged　that　she　should　relieve　him　there　during　the　time　that　dinner　was　served　and　he　was　needed　in　the　dining　room。　He　had　assured　her　that　Mrs。　Dyson　was　quite　willing　to　take　that　on；　or　even　Mrs。　Hillingdon；　but　Miss　Marple　said　firmly　that　they　were　both　young　women　who　liked　enjoying　themselves　and　that　she　herself　preferred　a　light　meal　early　and　so　that　would　suit　everybody。　Tim　once　again　thanked　her　warmly。　Hovering　rather　uncertainly　round　the　hotel　and　on　the　pathway　which　connected　with　various　bungalows；　among　them　Dr。　Graham's；　Miss　Marple　tried　to　plan　what　she　was　going　to　do　next。

She　had　a　lot　of　confused　and　contradictory　ideas　in　her　head　and　if　there　was　one　thing　that　Miss　Marple　did　not　like；　it　was　to　have　confused　and　contradictory　ideas。　This　whole　business　had　started　out　clearly　enough。　Major　Palgrave　with　his　regrettable　capacity　for　telling　stories；　his　indiscretion　that　had　obviously　been　overheard　and　the　corollary；　his　death　within　twentyfour　hours。　Nothing　difficult　about　that；　thought　Miss　Marple。　But　afterwards；　she　was　forced　to　admit；　there　was　nothing　but　difficulty。

Everything　pointed　in　too　many　different　directions　at　once。　Once　admit　that　you　didn't　believe　a　word　that　anybody　had　said　to　you；　that　nobody　could　be　trusted；　and　that　many　of　the　persons　with　whom　she　had　conversed　here　had　had　regrettable　resemblances　to　certain　persons　at　St。　Mary　Mead；　and　where　did　that　lead　you？　Her　mind　was　increasingly　focused　on　the　victim。　Someone　was　going　to　be　killed　and　she　had　the　increasing　feeling　that　she　ought　to　know　quite　well　who　that　someone　was。

There　had　been　something。　Something　she　had　heard？　Noticed？　Seen？

Something　someone　had　told　her　that　had　a　bearing　on　the　case。　Joan　Prescott？　Joan　Prescott　had　said　a　lot　of　things　about　a　lot　of　people。　Scandal？　Gossip？　What　exactly　had　Joan　Prescott　said？

Gregory　Dyson；　LuckyMiss　Marple's　mind　hovered　over　Lucky。　Lucky；　she　was　convinced　with　a　certainty　born　of　her　natural　suspicions；　had　been　actively　concerned　in　the　death　of　Gregory　Dyson's　first　wife。　Everything　pointed　to　it。　Could　it　be　that　the　predestined　victim　over　whom　she　was　worrying　was　Gregory　Dyson？　That　Lucky　intended　to　try　her　luck　again　with　another　husband；　and　for　that　reason　wanted　not　only　freedom　but　the　handsome　inheritance　that　she　would　get　as　Gregory　Dyson's　widow？

〃But　really；〃　said　Miss　Marple　to　herself；　〃this　is　all　pure　conjecture。　I'm　being　stupid。　I　know　I'm　being　stupid。　The　truth　must　be　quite　plain；　if　one　could　just　clear　away　the　litter。　Too　much　litter；　that's　what's　the　matter。〃

〃Talking　to　yourself？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。

Miss　Marple　jumped。　She　had　not　noticed　his　approach。　Esther　Walters　was　supporting　him　and　he　was　ing　slowly　down　from　his　bungalow　to　the　terrace。

〃I　really　didn't　notice　you；　Mr。　Rafiel。〃

〃Your　lips　were　moving。　What's　bee　of　all　this　urgency　of　yours？〃

〃It's　still　urgent；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃only　I　can't　just　see　what　must　be　perfectly　plain〃

〃I'm　glad　it's　as　simple　as　that。　Well；　if　you　want　any　help；　count　on　me。〃

He　turned　his　head　as　Jackson　approached　them　along　the　path。

〃So　there　you　are；　Jackson。　Where　the　devil　have　you　been？　Never　about　when　I　want　you。〃

〃Sorry；　Mr。　Rafiel。〃

Dexterously　he　slipped　his　shoulder　under　Mr。　Rafiel's。　〃Down　to　the　terrace；　sir？〃

〃You　can　take　me　to　the　bar；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃All　right；　Esther；　you　can　go　now　and　change　into　your　evening　togs。　Meet　me　on　the　terrace　in　half　an　hour。〃

He　and　Jackson　went　off　together。　Mrs。　Walters　dropped　into　the　chair　by　Miss　Marple。　She　rubbed　her　arm　gently。　〃He　seems　a　very　lightweight；〃　she　observed；　〃but　at　the　moment　my　arm　feels　quite　numb。　I　haven't　seen　you　this　afternoon　at　all；　Miss　Marple。〃

〃No；　I've　been　sitting　with　Molly　Kendal；〃　Miss　Marple　explained。　〃She　seems　really　very　much　better。〃

〃If　you　ask　me　there　was　never　very　much　wrong　with　her；〃　said　Esther　Walters。

Miss　Marple　raised　her　eyebrows。

Esther　Walters's　tone　had　been　decidedly　dry。

〃You　meanyou　think　her　suicide　attempt。。。〃

〃I　don't　think　there　was　any　suicide　attempt；〃　said　Esther　Walters。　〃I　don't　believe　for　a　moment　she　took　a　real　overdose　and　I　think　Dr。　Graham　knows　that　perfectly　well。〃

〃Now　you　interest　me　very　much；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　wonder　why　you　say　that？〃

〃Because　I'm　almost　certain　that　it's　the　case。　Oh；　it's　a　thing　that　happens　very　often。　It's　a　way；　I　suppose；　of　calling　attention　to　oneself；〃　went　on　Esther　Walters。

〃'You'll　be　sorry　arple。

〃That　sort　of　thing；〃　agreed　Esther　Walters；　〃though　I　don't　think　that　was　the　motive　in　this　particular　instance。　That's　the　sort　of　thing　you　feel　like　when　your　husband's　playing　you　up　and　yet　you're　still　terribly　fond　of　him。〃

〃You　don't　think　Molly　Kendal　is　fond　of　her　husband？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Esther　Walters；　〃do　you？〃

Miss　Marple　considered。　〃I　have；〃　she　said；　〃more　or　less　assumed　it。〃　She　paused　a　moment　before　adding；　〃perhaps　wrongly。〃

Esther　was　smiling　her　rather　wry　smile。

〃I've　heard　a　little　about　her；　you　know。　About　the　whole　business。〃

〃From　Miss　Prescott？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Esther；　〃from　one　or　two　people。　There's　a　man　in　the　case。　Someone　she　was　keen　on。　Her　people　were　dead　against　him。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃I　did　hear　that。〃

〃And　then　she　married　Tim。　Perhaps　she　was　fond　of　him　in　a　way。　But　the　other　man　didn't　give　up。　I've　wondered　once　or　twice　if　he　didn't　actually　follow　her　out　here。〃

〃Indeed。　Butwho？〃

〃I've　no　idea　who；〃　said　Esther；　〃and　I　should　imagine　that　they've　been　very　careful。〃

〃You　think　she　cares　for　this　other　man？〃

Esther　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃I　dare　say　he's　a　bad　lot；〃　she　said；　〃but　that's　very　often　the　kind　who　knows　how　to　get　under　a　woman's　skin　and　stay　there。〃

〃You　never　heard　what　kind　of　a　manwhat　he　didanything　like　that？〃

Esther　shook　her　head。　〃No。　People　hazard　guesses；　but　you　can't　go　by　that　type　of　thing。　He　may　have　been　a　married　man。　That　may　have　been　why　her　people　disliked　it；　or　he　may　have　been　a　real　bad　lot。　Perhaps　he　drank。　Perhaps　he　tangled　with　the　law。　I　don't　know。　But　she　cares　for　him　still。　That　I　know　positively。〃

〃You've　seen　something；　heard　something？〃　Miss　Marple　hazarded。

〃I　know　what　I'm　talking　about；〃　said　Esther。　Her　voice　was　harsh　and　unfriendly。

〃These　murders〃　began　Miss　Marple。

〃Can't　you　fet　murders？〃　said　Esther。　〃You've　got　Mr。　Rafiel　now　all　tangled　up　in　them。　Can't　you　justlet　them　be？　You'll　never　find　out　any　more；　I'm　sure　of　that。〃

Miss　Marple　looked　at　her。

〃You　think　you　know；　don't　you？〃　she　said。

〃I　think　I　do；　yes。　I'm　fairly　sure。〃

〃Then　oughtn't　you　to　tell　what　you　knowdo　something　about　it？〃

〃Why　should　I？　What　good　would　it　do？　I　couldn't　prove　anything。　What　would　happen　anyway？　People　get　let　off　nowadays　so　easily。　They　call　it　diminished　responsibility　and　things　like　that。　A　f