加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第8部分

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Chapter　8

A　TALK　WITH　ESTHER　WALTERS



〃This　place　isn't　what　it　used　to　be；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　irritably；　as　he　observed　Miss　Marple　approaching　the　spot　where　he　and　his　secretary　were　sitting。　〃Can't　move　a　step　without　some　old　hen　getting　under　your　feet。　What　do　old　ladies　want　to　e　to　the　West　Indies　for？〃

〃Where　do　you　suggest　they　should　go？〃　asked　Esther　Walters。

〃To　Cheltenham；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel　promptly。　〃Or　Bournemouth；〃　he　offered；　〃or　Torquay　or　Llandrindod　Wells。　Plenty　of　choice。　They　like　it　therethey're　quite　happy。〃

〃They　can't　often　afford　to　e　to　the　West　Indies；　I　suppose；〃　said　Esther。　〃It　isn't　everyone　who　is　as　lucky　as　you　are。〃

〃That's　right；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃Rub　it　in。　Here　am　I；　a　mass　of　aches　and　pains　and　disjoints。　You　grudge　me　any　alleviation！　And　you　don't　do　any　work。　Why　haven't　you　typed　out　those　letters　yet？〃

〃I　haven't　had　time。〃

〃Well；　get　on　with　it；　can't　you？　I　bring　you　out　here　to　do　a　bit　of　work；　not　to　sit　about　sunning　yourself　and　showing　off　your　figure。〃

Some　people　would　have　considered　Mr。　Rafiel's　remarks　quite　insupportable　but　Esther　Walters　had　worked　for　him　for　some　years　and　she　knew　well　enough　that　Mr。　Rafiel's　bark　was　a　great　deal　worse　than　his　bite。　He　was　a　man　who　suffered　almost　continual　pain；　and　making　disagreeable　remarks　was　one　of　his　ways　of　letting　off　steam。　No　matter　what　he　said　she　remained　quite　imperturbable。

〃Such　a　lovely　evening；　isn't　it？〃　said　Miss　Marple；　pausing　beside　them。

〃Why　not？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃That's　what　we're　here　for；　isn't　it？〃

Miss　Marple　gave　a　tinkly　little　laugh。　〃You're　so　severeof　course　the　weather　is　a　very　English　subject　of　conversationone　fets　Oh　dear；　this　is　the　wrong　coloured　wool。〃　She　deposited　her　knitting　bag　on　the　garden　table　and　trotted　towards　her　own　bungalow。

〃Jackson！〃　yelled　Mr。　Rafiel。　Jackson　appeared。

〃Take　me　back　inside；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃I'll　have　my　massage　now　before　that　chattering　hen　es　back。　Not　that　massage　does　me　a　bit　of　good；〃　he　added。　Having　said　which；　he　allowed　himself　to　be　deftly　helped　to　his　feet　and　went　off　with　the　masseur　beside　him　into　his　bungalow。

Esther　Walters　looked　after　them　and　then　turned　her　head　as　Miss　Marple　came　back　with　a　ball　of　wool　to　sit　down　near　her。

〃I　hope　I'm　not　disturbing　you？〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Esther　Walters；　〃I've　got　to　go　off　and　do　some　typing　in　a　minute；　but　I'm　going　to　enjoy　another　ten　minutes　of　the　sunset　first。〃

Miss　Marple　sat　down　and　in　a　gentle　voice　began　to　talk。　As　she　talked；　she　summed　up　Esther　Walters。　Not　at　all　glamorous；　but　could　be　attractivelooking　if　she　tried。　Miss　Marple　wondered　why　she　didn't　try。　It　could　be；　of　course；　because　Mr。　Rafiel　would　not　have　liked　it；　but　Miss　Marple　didn't　think　Mr。　Rafiel　would　really　mind　in　the　least。　He　was　so　pletely　taken　up　with　himself　that　so　long　as　he　was　not　personally　neglected；　his　secretary　might　have　got　herself　up　like　a　houri　in　Paradise　without　his　objecting。　Besides；　he　usually　went　to　bed　early　and　in　the　evening　hours　of　steel　bands　and　dancing；　Esther　Walters　might　easily　have　Miss　Marple　paused　to　select　a　word　in　her　mind；　at　the　same　time　conversing　cheerfully　about　her　visit　to　Jamestown。　Ah　yes；　blossomed。　Esther　Walters　might　have　blossomed　in　the　evening　hours。

She　led　the　conversation　gently　in　the　direction　of　Jackson。

On　the　subject　of　Jackson；　Esther　Walters　was　rather　vague。

〃He's　very　petent；〃　she　said。　〃A　fully　trained　masseur。〃

〃I　suppose　he's　been　with　Mr。　Rafiel　a　long　time？〃

〃Oh　noabout　nine　months；　I　think。〃

〃Is　he　married？〃　Miss　Marple　hazarded。

〃Married？　I　don't　think　so；〃　said　Esther　slightly　surprised。　〃He's　never　mentioned　it　if　so〃

〃No；〃　she　added。　〃Definitely　not　married；　I　should　say。〃　And　she　showed　amusement。

Miss　Marple　interpreted　that　by　adding　to　it　in　her　own　mind　the　following　sentence：　〃At　any　rate　he　doesn't　behave　as　though　he　were　married。〃

But　then；　how　many　married　men　there　were　who　behaved　as　though　they　weren't　married！！　Miss　Marple　could　think　of　a　dozen　examples！

〃He's　quite　goodlooking；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。

〃YesI　suppose　he　is；〃　said　Esther　without　interest。

Miss　Marple　considered　her　thoughtfully。　Uninterested　in　men？　The　kind　of　woman；　perhaps；　who　was　only　interested　in　one　man。　A　widow；　they　had　said。　She　asked：　〃Have　you　worked　for　Mr。　Rafiel　long？〃

〃Four　or　five　years。　After　my　husband　died；　I　had　to　take　a　job　again。　I've　got　a　daughter　at　school　and　my　husband　left　me　very　badly　off。〃

〃Mr。　Rafiel　must　be　a　rather　difficult　man　to　work　for？〃　Miss　Marple　hazarded。

〃Not　really；　when　you　get　to　know　him。　He　flies　into　rages　and　is　very　contradictory。　I　think　the　real　trouble　is　he　gets　tired　of　people。　He's　had　five　different　valetattendants　in　two　years。　He　likes　having　someone　new　to　bully。　But　he　and　I　have　always　got　on　very　well。〃

〃Mr。　Jackson　seems　a　very　obliging　young　man？〃

〃He's　very　tactful　and　resourceful；〃　said　Esther。　〃Of　course；　he's　sometimes　a　little〃　She　broke　off。

Miss　Marple　considered。　〃Rather　a　difficult　position　sometimes？〃　she　suggested。

〃Well；　yes。　Neither　one　thing　nor　the　other。　However〃　she　smiled〃I　think　he　manages　to　have　quite　a　good　time。〃

Miss　Marple　considered　this　also。　It　didn't　help　her　much。　She　continued　her　twittering　conversation　and　soon　she　was　hearing　a　good　deal　about　that　natureloving　quartet；　the　Dysons　and　the　Hillingdons。

〃The　Hillingdons　have　been　here　for　the　last　three　or　four　years　at　least；〃　said　Esther；　〃but　Gregory　Dyson　has　been　here　much　longer　than　that。　He　knows　the　West　Indies　very　well。　He　came　here；　originally；　I　believe；　with　his　first　wife。　She　was　delicate　and　had　to　go　abroad　in　the　winters；　or　go　somewhere　warm；　at　any　rate。〃

〃And　she　died？　Or　was　it　divorce？〃

〃No。　She　died。　Out　here；　I　believe。　I　don't　mean　this　particular　island　but　one　of　the　West　Indies　islands。　There　was　some　sort　of　trouble；　I　believe；　some　kind　of　scandal　or　other。　He　never　talks　about　her。　Somebody　else　told　me　about　it。　They　didn't；　I　gather；　get　on　very　well　together。〃

〃And　then　he　married　this　wife。　'Lucky'。〃　Miss　Marple　said　the　word　with　faint　dissatisfaction　as　if　to　say　〃Really；　a　most　incredible　name！〃

〃I　believe　she　was　a　relation　of　his　first　wife。〃

〃Have　they　known　the　Hillingdons　a　great　many　years？〃

〃Oh；　I　think　only　since　the　Hillingdons　came　out　here。　Three　or　four　years；　not　more。〃

〃The　Hillingdons　seem　very　pleasant；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃Quiet；　of　course。〃

〃Yes。　They're　both　quiet。〃

〃Everyone　says　they're　very　devoted　to　each　other；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　The　tone　of　her　voice　ittal　but　Esther　Walters　looked　at　her　sharply。　〃But　you　don't　think　they　are？〃　she　said。

〃You　don't　really　think　so　yourself；　do　you；　my　dear？〃

〃Well；　I've　wondered　sometimes。。。〃

〃Quiet　men；　like　Colonel　Hillingdon；〃　said　Miss　Marple　〃are　often　attracted　to　flamboyant　types。〃　And　she　added；　after　a　significant　pause　〃Luckysuch　a　curious　name。　Do　you　think　Mr。　Dyson　has　any　idea　ofof　what　might　be　going　on？〃

〃Old　scandalmonger；〃　thought　Esther　Walters。　〃Really；　these　old　women！〃

She　said　rather　coldly；　〃I've　no　idea。〃

Miss　Marple　shifted　to　another　subject。　〃It's　very　sad　about　poor　Major　Palgrave　isn't　it？〃　she　said。

Esther　Walters　agreed；　though　in　a　somewhat　perfunctory　fashion。　〃The　people　I'm　really　sorry　for　are　the　Kendals；〃　she　said。

〃Yes；　I　suppose　it　is　really　rather　unfortunate　when　something　of　that　kind　happens　in　an　hotel。〃

〃People　e　here；　you　see；　to　enjoy　themselves；　don't　they？〃　said　Esther。　〃To　fet　about　illnesses　and　deaths　and　ine　tax　and　frozen　pipes　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　They　don't　like〃　she　went　on；　with　a　sudden　flash　of　an　entirely　different　manner〃any　reminders　of　mortality。〃

Miss　Marple　laid　down　her　knitting。　〃Now　that　is　very　well　put；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃very　well　put　indeed。　Yes；　it　is　as　you　say。〃

〃And　you　see　they're　quite　a　young　couple；〃　went　on　Esther　Walters。　〃They　only　just　took　over　from　the　Sandersons　six　months　ago　and　they're　terribly　worried　about　whether　they're　going　to　succeed　or　not；　because　they　haven't　had　much　experience。〃

〃And　you　think　this　might　be　really　disadvantageous　to　them？〃

〃Well；　no；　I　don't；　frankly；〃　said　Esther　Walters。　〃I　don't　think　people　remember　anything　for　more　than　a　day　or　two；　not　in　this　atmosphere　of　we'vealleoutheretoenjoyourselveslet'sgetonwithit。　I　think　a　death　just　gives　them　a　jolt　for　about　twentyfour　hours　or　so　and　then　they　don't　think　of　it　again　once　the　funeral　is　over。　Not　unless　they're　reminded　of　it；　that　is。　I've　told　Molly　so；　but　of　course　she　is　a　worrier。〃

〃Mrs。　Kendal　is　a　worrier？　She　always　seems　so　carefree。〃

〃I　think　a　lot　of　that　is　put　on；〃　said　Esther　slowly。　〃Actually；　I　think　she's　one　of　those　anxious　sort　of　people　who　can't　help　worrying　all　the　time　that　things　may　go　wrong。〃

〃I　should　have　thought　he　worried　more　than　she　did。〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　I　think　she's　the　worrier　and　he　worries　because　she　worries；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃

〃That　is　interesting；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃I　think　Molly　wants　desperately　to　try　and　appear　very　gay　and　to　be　enjoying　herself。　She　works　at　it　very　hard　but　the　effort　exhausts　her。　Then　she　has　these　odd　fits　of　depression。　She's　notwell　not　really　wellbalanced。〃

〃Poor　child；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃There　certainly　are　people　like　that；　and　very　often　outsiders　don't　suspect　it。〃

〃No；　they　put　on　such　a　good　show；　don't　they？　However；〃　Esther　added；　〃I　don't　think　Molly　has　really　anything　to　worry　about　in　this　case。　I　mean；　people　are　dying　of　coronary　thrombosis　or　cerebral　haemorrhage　or　things　of　that　kind　all　the　time　nowadays。　Far　more　than　they　used　to；　as　far　as　I　can　see。　It's　only　food　poisoning　or　typhoid　or　something　like　that；　that　makes　people　get　het　up。〃

〃Major　Palgrave　never　mentioned　to　me　that　he　had　high　blood　pressure；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃Did　he　to　you？〃

〃He　said　so　to　somebodyI　don't　know　who。　It　may　have　been　to　Mr。　Rafiel。　I　know　Mr。　Rafiel　says　just　the　oppositebut　then　he's　like　that！　Certainly　Jackson　mentioned　it　to　me　once。　He　said　the　Major　ought　to　be　more　careful　over　the　alcohol　he　took。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　thoughtfully。　She　went　on：　〃I　expect　you　found　him　rather　a　boring　old　man？　He　told　a　lot　of　stories　and　I　expect　repeated　himself　a　good　deal。〃

〃That's　the　worst　of　it；〃　said　Esther。　〃You　do　hear　the　same　story　again　and　again　unless　you　can　manage　to　be　quick　enough　and　fend　him　off。〃

〃Of　course　I　didn't　mind　so　much；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃because　I'm　used　to　that　sort　of　thing。　If　I　get　stories　told　to　me　rather　often；　I　don't　really　mind　hearing　them　again　because　I've　usually　fotten　them。〃

〃There　is　that；〃　said　Esther　and　laughed　cheerfully。

〃There　was　one　story　he　was　very　fond　of　telling；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃about　a　murder。　I　expect　he　told　you　that；　didn't　he？〃

Esther　Walters　opened　her　handbag　and　started　searching　through　it。　She　drew　out　her　lipstick　saying；　〃I　thought　I'd　lost　it。〃　Then　she　asked；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　what　did　you　say？〃

〃I　asked　if　Major　Palgrave　told　you　his　favourite　murder　story？〃

〃I　believe　he　did；　now　I