加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第26部分

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〃Was　there　anyone　on　the　left　of　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃Tim　Kendal　and　his　wife　were　sitting　not　far　off。　Sitting　at　a　table　just　by　a　big　hibiscus　bush。　They　were　doing　accounts　there。　So　you　see　the　Major　looked　up。　His　glass　left　eye　was　glaring　over　my　shoulder；　but　what　he　saw　with　his　other　eye　was　a　man　sitting　by　a　hibiscus　bush　and　the　face　was　the　same；　only　rather　older；　as　the　face　in　the　snapshot。　Also　by　a　hibiscus　bush。　Tim　Kendal　had　heard　the　story　the　Major　had　been　telling　and　he　saw　that　the　Major　had　recognised　him。　So；　of　course；　he　had　to　kill　him。　Later；　he　had　to　kill　the　girl；　Victoria；　because　she'd　seen　him　putting　a　bottle　of　tablets　in　the　Major's　room。　She　didn't　think　anything　of　it　at　first　because　of　course　it　was　quite　natural　on　various　occasions　for　Tim　Kendal　to　go　into　the　guests'　bungalows。　He　might　have　just　been　returning　something　to　it　that　had　been　left　on　a　restaurant　table。　But　she　thought　about　it　and　then　she　asked　him　questions　and　so　he　had　to　get　rid　of　her。　But　this　is　the　real　murder；　the　murder　he's　been　planning　all　along。　He's　a　wife　killer；　you　see。〃

〃What　damned　nonsense；　what〃　Tim　Kendal　shouted。

There　was　a　sudden　cry；　a　wild　angry　cry。　Esther　Walters　detached　herself　from　Mr。　Rafiel；　almost　flinging　him　down　and　rushed　across　the　room。　She　pulled　vainly　at　Jackson。

〃Let　go　of　himlet　go　of　him。　It's　not　true。　Not　a　word　of　it's　true。　Tim　Tim　darling；　it's　not　true。　You　could　never　kill　anyone；　I　know　you　couldn't。　I　know　you　wouldn't。　It's　that　horrible　girl　you　married。　She's　been　telling　lies　about　you。　They're　not　true。　None　of　them　are　true。　I　believe　in　you。　I　love　you　and　trust　in　you。　I'll　never　believe　a　word　anyone　says。　I'll〃

Then　Tim　Kendal　lost　control　of　himself。

〃For　God's　sake；　you　damned　bitch；〃　he　said；　〃shut　up；　can't　you？　D'you　want　to　get　me　hanged？　Shut　up；　I　tell　you。　Shut　that　big；　ugly　mouth　of　yours。〃

〃Poor　silly　creature；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel　softly。　〃So　that's　what's　been　going　on；　is　it？〃



Chapter　25

MISS　MARPLE　USES　HER　IMAGINATION



〃So　that's　what　had　been　going　on？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　He　and　Miss　Marple　were　sitting　together　in　a　confidential　manner。　〃She'd　been　having　an　affair　with　Tim　Kendal　had　she？〃

〃Hardly　an　affair；　I　imagine；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　primly。　〃It　was；　I　think；　a　romantic　attachment　with　the　prospect　of　marriage　in　the　future。〃

〃Whatafter　his　wife　was　dead？〃

〃I　don't　think　poor　Esther　Walters　knew　that　Molly　was　going　to　die；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　just　think　she　believed　the　story　Tim　Kendal　told　her　about　Molly　having　been　in　love　with　another　man；　and　the　man　having　followed　her　here；　and　I　think　she　counted　on　Tim's　getting　a　divorce。　I　think　it　was　all　quite　proper　and　respectable。　But　she　was　very　much　in　love　with　him。〃

〃Well；　that's　easily　understood。　He　was　an　attractive　chap。　But　what　made　him　go　for　her；　d'you　know　that　too？〃

〃You　know；　don't　you？〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃I　dare　say　I've　got　a　pretty　fair　idea；　but　I　don't　know　how　you　should　know　about　it。　As　far　as　that　goes；　I　don't　see　how　Tim　Kendal　could　know　about　it。〃

〃Well；　I　really　think　I　could　explain　all　that　with　a　little　imagination；　though　it　would　be　simpler　if　you　told　me。〃

〃I'm　not　going　to　tell　you；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃You　tell　me；　since　you're　being　so　clever。〃

〃Well；　it　seems　to　me　possible；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃that　as　I　have　already　hinted　to　you；　your　man　Jackson　was　in　the　habit　of　taking　a　good　snoop　through　your　various　business　papers　from　time　to　time。〃

〃Perfectly　possible；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃but　I　shouldn't　have　said　there　was　anything　there　that　could　do　him　much　good。　I　took　care　of　that。〃

〃I　imagine；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃he　read　your　will。〃

〃Oh　I　see。　Yes；　yes；　I　did　have　a　copy　of　my　will　along。〃

〃You　told　me；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃you　told　me（as　Humpty　Dumpty　saidvery　loud　and　clear）　that　you　had　not　left　anything　to　Esther　Walters　in　your　will。　You　had　impressed　that　fact　upon　her；　and　also　upon　Jackson。　It　was　true　in　Jackson's　case；　I　should　imagine。　You　have　not　left　him　anything；　but　you　had　left　Esther　Walters　money；　though　you　weren't　going　to　let　her　have　any　inkling　of　the　fact。　Isn't　that　right？〃

〃Yes；　it's　quite　right；　but　I　don't　know　how　you　knew。〃

〃Well；　it's　the　way　you　insisted　on　the　point；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　have　a　certain　experience　of　the　way　people　tell　lies。〃

〃I　give　in；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃All　right。　I　left　Esther　50；000　pounds。　It　would　e　as　a　nice　surprise　to　her　when　I　died。　I　suppose　that；　knowing　this；　Tim　Kendal　decided　to　exterminate　his　present　wife　with　a　nice　dose　of　something　or　other　and　marry　50；000　pounds　and　Esther　Walters。　Possibly　to　dispose　of　her　also　in　good　time。　But　how　did　he　know　she　was　going　to　have　50；000　pounds？〃

〃Jackson　told　him；　of　course；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃They　were　very　friendly；　those　two。　Tim　Kendal　was　nice　to　Jackson　and；　quite；　I　should　imagine；　without　ulterior　motive。　But　amongst　the　bits　of　gossip　that　Jackson　let　slip　I　think　Jackson　told　him　that　unbeknown　to　herself；　Esther　Walters　was　going　to　inherit　a　fat　lot　of　money；　and　he　may　have　said　that　he　himself　hoped　to　induce　Esther　Walters　to　marry　him　though　he　hadn't　had　much　success　so　far　in　taking　her　fancy。　Yes；　I　think　that's　how　it　happened。〃

〃The　things　you　imagine　always　seem　perfectly　plausible；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃But　I　was　stupid；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃very　stupid。　Everything　fitted　in　really；　you　see。　Tim　Kendal　was　a　very　clever　man　as　well　as　being　a　very　wicked　one。　He　was　particularly　good　at　putting　about　rumours。　Half　the　things　I've　been　told　here　came　from　him　originally；　I　imagine。　There　were　stories　going　around　about　Molly　wanting　to　marry　an　undesirable　young　man　but　I　rather　fancy　that　the　undesirable　young　man　was　actually　Tim　Kendal　himself；　though　that　wasn't　the　name　he　was　using　then。　Her　people　had　heard　something；　perhaps　that　his　background　was　rather　fishy。　So　he　put　on　a　high　indignation　act；　refused　to　be　taken　by　Molly　to　be　'shown　off'　to　her　people　and　then　he　brewed　up　a　little　scheme　with　her　which　they　both　thought　great　fun。　She　pretended　to　sulk　and　pine　for　him。　Then　a　Mr。　Tim　Kendal　turned　up；　primed　with　the　names　of　various　old　friends　of　Molly's　people；　and　they　weled　him　with　open　arms　as　being　the　sort　of　young　man　who　would　put　the　former　delinquent　one　out　of　Molly's　head。　I　am　afraid　Molly　and　he　must　have　laughed　over　it　a　good　deal。　Anyway；　he　married　her；　and　with　her　money　he　bought　out　the　people　who　ran　this　place　and　they　came　out　here。　I　should　imagine　that　he　ran　through　her　money　at　a　pretty　fair　rate。　Then　he　came　across　Esther　Walters　and　he　saw　a　nice　prospect　of　more　money。〃

〃Why　didn't　he　bump　me　off？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。

Miss　Marple　coughed。　〃I　expect　he　wanted　to　be　fairly　sure　of　Mrs。　Walters　first。　Besides；　I　mean。。。〃　She　stopped；　a　little　confused。

〃Besides；　he　realised　he　wouldn't　have　to　wait　long；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃and　it　would　clearly　be　better　for　me　to　die　a　natural　death。　Being　so　rich。　Deaths　of　millionaires　are　scrutinised　rather　carefully；　aren't　they；　unlike　mere　wives？〃

〃Yes；　you're　quite　right。　Such　a　lot　of　lies　as　he　told；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃Look　at　the　lies　he　got　Molly　herself　to　believe；　putting　that　book　on　mental　disorders　in　her　way。　Giving　her　drugs　which　would　give　her　dreams　and　hallucinations。　You　know；　your　Jackson　was　rather　clever　over　that。　I　think　he　recognised　certain　of　Molly's　symptoms　as　being　the　result　of　drugs。　And　he　came　into　the　bungalow　that　day　to　potter　about　a　bit　in　the　bathroom。　That　face　cream　he　examined。　He　might　have　got　some　idea　from　the　old　tales　of　witches　rubbing　themselves　with　ointments　that　had　belladonna　in　them。　Belladonna　in　face　cream　could　have　produced　just　that　result。　Molly　would　have　blackouts。　Times　she　couldn't　account　for；　dreams　of　flying　through　the　air。　No　wonder　she　got　frightened　about　herself。　She　had　all　the　signs　of　mental　illness；　Jackson　was　on　the　right　track。　Maybe　he　got　the　idea　from　Major　Palgrave's　stories　about　the　use　of　datura　by　Indian　women　on　their　husbands。〃

〃Major　Palgrave！〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃Really；　that　man！〃

〃He　brought　about　his　own　murder；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃and　that　poor　girl　Victoria's　murder；　and　he　nearly　brought　about　Molly's　murder。　But　he　recognised　a　murderer　all　right。〃

〃What　made　you　suddenly　remember　about　his　glass　eye？〃　asked　Mr。　Rafiel　curiously。

〃Something　that　Seсora　de　Caspearo　said。　She　talked　some　nonsense　about　his　being　ugly；　and　having　the　Evil　Eye；　and　I　said　it　was　only　a　glass　eye；　and　he　couldn't　help　that；　poor　man；　and　she　said　his　eyes　looked　different　ways；　they　were　crosseyeswhich；　of　course；　they　were。　And　she　said　it　brought　bad　luck。　I　knewI　knew　that　I　had　heard　something　that　day　that　was　important。　Last　night；　just　after　Lucky's　death；　it　came　to　me　what　it　was！　And　then　I　realised　there　was　no　time　to　waste。。。〃

〃How　did　Tim　Kendal　e　to　kill　the　wrong　woman？〃

〃Sheer　chance。　I　think　his　plan　was　this：　Having　convinced　everybodyand　that　included　Molly　herselfthat　she　was　mentally　unbalanced；　and　after　giving　her　a　sizeable　dose　of　the　drug　he　was　using；　he　told　her　that　between　them　they　were　going　to　clear　up　all　these　murder　puzzles。　But　she　had　got　to　help　him。　After　everyone　was　asleep；　they　would　go　separately　and　meet　at　an　agreed　spot　by　the　creek。　He　said　he　had　a　very　good　idea　who　the　murderer　was；　and　they　would　trap　him。　Molly　went　off　obediently　but　she　was　confused　and　stupefied　with　the　drug　she　had　been　given；　and　it　slowed　her　up。　Tim　arrived　there　first　and　saw　what　he　thought　was　Molly。　Golden　hair　and　pale　green　shawl。　He　came　up　behind　her；　put　his　hand　over　her　mouth；　and　forced　her　down　into　the　water　and　held　her　there。〃

〃Nice　fellow！　But　wouldn't　it　have　been　easier　just　to　give　her　an　overdose　of　narcotic？〃

〃Much　easier；　of　course。　But　that　might　have　given　rise　to　suspicion。　All　narcotics　and　sedatives　had　been　carefully　removed　from　Molly's　reach；　remember。　And　if　she　had　got　hold　of　a　fresh　supply；　who　more　likely　to　have　supplied　it　than　her　husband？　But　if；　in　a　fit　of　despair；　she　went　out　and　drowned　herself　whilst　her　innocent　husband　slept；　the　whole　thing　would　be　a　romantic　tragedy；　and　no　one　would　be　likely　to　suggest　that　she　had　been　drowned　deliberately。　Besides；〃　added　Miss　Marple；　〃murderers　always　find　it　difficult　to　keep　things　simple。　They　can't　keep　themselves　from　elaborating。〃

〃You　seem　convinced　you　know　all　there　is　to　be　known　about　murderers！　So　you　believe　Tim　didn't　know　he　had　killed　the　wrong　woman？〃

Miss　Marple　shook　her　head。　〃He　didn't　even　look　at　her　face；　just　hurried　off　as　quickly　as　he　could；　let　an　hour　elapse；　then　started　to　anise　a　search　for　her；　playing　the　part　of　a　distracted　husband。〃

〃But　what　the　devil　was　Lucky　doing　hanging　about　the　creek　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃

Miss　Marple　gave　an　embarrassed　little　cough。

〃It　is　possible；　I　think；　that　she　waserwaiting　to　meet　someone。〃

〃Edward　Hillingdon？〃

〃Oh　no；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃That's　all　over。　I　wondered　whetherjust　possiblyshe　might　have　been　waiting　for　Jackson。〃

〃Waiting　for　Jackson？〃

〃I've　noticed　her　look　at　him　once　or　twice；〃　murmured　Mis