加勒比海之谜(英文版)- 第18部分

〃I　suppose　so。　Poor　Tim　Kendal　is　worried　to　death。〃

〃And　well　he　might　be。　Bad　luck　for　that　young　couple；　I　must　say。〃

〃I　know。　I　gather　it　was　rather　a　big　undertaking　for　them　to　take　on　this　place。　They've　been　worried　about　making　a　success　of　it。　They　were　doing　very　well；　too。〃

〃They　were　doing　a　good　job；〃　agreed　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃He's　very　capable　and　a　damned　hard　worker。　She's　a　very　nice　girlattractive　too。　They've　both　worked　like　blacks；　though　that's　an　odd　term　to　use　out　here；　for　blacks　don't　work　themselves　to　death　at　all；　so　far　as　I　can　see。　Was　looking　at　a　fellow　shinning　up　a　coconut　tree　to　get　his　breakfast；　then　he　goes　to　sleep　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　Nice　life。〃

He　added；　〃We've　been　discussing　the　murder　here。〃

Esther　Walters　looked　slightly　startled。　She　turned　her　head　towards　Miss　Marple。

〃I've　been　wrong　about　her；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　with　characteristic　frankness。　〃Never　been　much　of　a　one　for　the　old　pussies。　All　knitting　wool　and　tittletattle。　But　this　one's　got　something。　Eyes　and　ears；　and　she　uses　them。〃

Esther　Walters　looked　apologetically　at　Miss　Marple；　but　Miss　Marple　did　not　appear　to　take　offence。

〃That's　really　meant　to　be　a　pliment；　you　know；〃　Esther　explained。

〃I　quite　realise　that；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　realise；　too；　that　Mr。　Rafiel　is　privileged；　or　thinks　he　is。〃

〃What　do　you　meanprivileged？〃　asked　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃To　be　rude　if　you　want　to　be　rude；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Have　I　been　rude？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　surprised。　〃I'm　sorry　if　I've　offended　you。〃

〃You　haven't　offended　me；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃I　make　allowances。〃

〃Now；　don't　be　nasty。　Esther；　get　a　chair　and　bring　it　here。　Maybe　you　can　help。〃

Esther　walked　a　few　steps　to　the　balcony　of　the　bungalow　and　brought　over　a　light　basket　chair。

〃We'll　go　on　with　our　consultation；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃We　started　with　old　Palgrave；　deceased；　and　his　eternal　stories。〃

〃Oh　dear；〃　sighed　Esther。　〃I'm　afraid　I　used　to　escape　from　him　whenever　I　could。〃

〃Miss　Marple　was　more　patient；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃Tell　me；　Esther；　did　he　ever　tell　you　a　story　about　a　murderer？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Esther。　〃Several　times。〃

〃What　was　it　exactly？　Let's　have　your　recollection。〃

〃Well〃　Esther　paused　to　think。　〃The　trouble　is；〃　she　said　apologetically；　〃I　didn't　really　listen　very　closely。　You　see；　it　was　rather　like　that　terrible　story　about　the　lion　in　Rhodesia　which　used　to　go　on　and　on。　One　did　get　rather　in　the　habit　of　not　listening。〃

〃Well；　tell　us　what　you　do　remember。〃

〃I　think　it　arose　out　of　some　murder　case　that　had　been　in　the　papers。　Major　Palgrave　said　that　he'd　had　an　experience　not　every　person　had　had。　He'd　actually　met　a　murderer　face　to　face。〃

〃Met？〃　Mr。　Rafiel　exclaimed。　〃Did　he　actually　use　the　word　'Met'？〃

Esther　looked　confused。　〃I　think　so。〃　She　was　doubtful。　〃Or　he　may　have　said；　'I　can　point　you　out　a　murderer'。〃

〃Well；　which　was　it？　There's　a　difference。〃

〃I　can't　really　be　sure。。。　I　think　he　said　he'd　show　me　a　picture　of　someone。〃

〃That's　better。〃

〃And　then　he　talked　a　lot　about　Lucrezia　Bia。〃

〃Never　mind　about　Lucrezia　Bia。　We　know　all　about　her。〃

〃He　talked　about　poisoners　and　that　Lucrezia　was　very　beautiful　and　had　red　hair。　He　said　there　were　probably　far　more　women　poisoners　going　about　the　world　than　anyone　knew。〃

〃That　I　fear　is　quite　likely；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃And　he　talked　about　poison　being　a　woman's　weapon。〃

〃Seems　to　have　been　wandering　from　the　point　a　bit；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃Well；　of　course；　he　always　did　wander　from　the　point　in　his　stories。　And　then　one　used　to　stop　listening　and　just　say　'Yes'　and　'Really？'　and　'You　don't　say　so'。〃

〃What　about　this　picture　he　was　going　to　show　you？〃

〃I　don't　remember。　It　may　have　been　something　he'd　seen　in　the　paper〃

〃He　didn't　actually　show　you　a　snapshot？〃

〃A　snapshot？　No。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　quite　sure　of　that。　He　did　say　that　she　was　a　goodlooking　woman；　and　you'd　never　think　she　was　a　murderer　to　look　at　her。〃

〃She？〃

〃There　you　are；〃　exclaimed　Miss　Marple。　〃It　makes　it　all　so　confusing。〃

〃He　was　talking　about　a　woman？〃　Mr。　Rafiel　asked。

〃Oh　yes。〃

〃The　snapshot　was　a　snapshot　of　a　woman？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃It　can't　have　been！〃

〃But　it　was；〃　Esther　persisted。　〃He　said　'She's　here　in　this　island。　I'll　point　her　out；　and　then　I'll　tell　you　the　whole　story。'〃

Mr。　Rafiel　swore。　In　saying　what　he　thought　of　the　late　Major　Palgrave　he　did　not　mince　his　words。

〃The　probabilities　are；〃　he　finished；　〃that　not　a　word　of　anything　he　said　was　true！〃

〃One　does　begin　to　wonder；〃　Miss　Marple　murmured。

〃So　there　we　are；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃The　old　booby　started　telling　you　hunting　tales。　Pig　sticking；　tiger　shooting；　elephant　hunting；　narrow　escapes　from　lions。　One　or　two　of　them　might　have　been　fact。　Several　of　them　were　fiction；　and　others　had　happened　to　somebody　else！　Then　he　gets　on　to　the　subject　of　murder　and　he　tells　one　murder　story　to　cap　another　murder　story。　And　what's　more　he　tells　them　all　as　if　they'd　happened　to　him。　Ten　to　one　most　of　them　were　a　hash　up　of　what　he'd　read　in　the　paper；　or　seen　on　T。V。。〃

He　turned　accusingly　on　Esther。　〃You　admit　that　you　weren't　listening　closely。　Perhaps　you　misunderstood　what　he　was　saying。〃

〃I'm　certain　he　was　talking　about　a　woman；〃　said　Esther　obstinately；　〃because　of　course　I　wondered　who　it　was。〃

''Who　do　you　think　it　was？〃　asked　Miss　Marple。

Esther　flushed　and　looked　slightly　embarrassed。　〃Oh；　I　didn't　really　I　mean；　I　wouldn't　like　to〃

Miss　Marple　did　not　insist。　The　presence　of　Mr。　Rafiel；　she　thought；　was　inimical　to　her　finding　out　exactly　what　suppositions　Esther　Walters　had　made。　That　could　only　be　cosily　brought　out　in　a　tкteаtкte　between　two　women。　And　there　was；　of　course；　the　possibility　that　Esther　Walters　was　lying。　Naturally；　Miss　Marple　did　not　suggest　this　aloud。　She　registered　it　as　a　possibility　but　she　was　not　inclined　to　believe　in　it。　For　one　thing　she　did　not　think　that　Esther　Walters　was　a　liar　（though　one　never　knew）　and　for　another；　she　could　see　no　point　in　such　a　lie。

〃But　you　say；〃　Mr。　Rafiel　was　now　turning　upon　Miss　Marple；　〃you　say　that　he　told　you　this　yam　about　a　murderer　and　that　he　then　said　he　had　a　picture　of　him　which　he　was　going　to　show　you。〃

〃I　thought　so；　yes。〃

〃You　thought　so？　You　were　sure　enough　to　begin　with！〃

Miss　Marple　retorted　with　spirit。　〃It　is　never　easy　to　repeat　a　conversation　and　be　entirely　accurate　in　what　the　other　party　to　it　has　said。　One　is　always　inclined　to　jump　at　what　you　think　they　meant。　Then；　afterwards；　you　put　actual　words　into　their　mouths。　Major　Palgrave　told　me　this　story；　yes。　He　told　me　that　the　man　who　told　it　to　him；　this　doctor；　had　shown　him　a　snapshot　of　the　murderer；　but　if　I　am　to　be　quite　honest　I　must　admit　that　what　he　actually　said　to　me　was　'Would　you　like　to　see　a　snapshot　of　a　murderer？'　and　naturally　I　assumed　that　it　was　the　same　snapshot　he　had　been　talking　about。　That　it　was　the　snapshot　of　that　particular　murderer。　But　I　have　to　admit　that　it　is　possibleonly　remotely　possible；　but　still　possiblethat　by　an　association　of　ideas　in　his　mind　he　leaped　from　the　snapshot　he　had　been　shown　in　the　past；　to　a　snapshot　he　had　taken　recently　of　someone　here　whom　he　was　convinced　was　a　murderer。〃

〃Women！〃　snorted　Mr。　Rafiel；　in　exasperation；　〃You're　all　the　same；　the　whole　blinking　lot　of　you！　Can't　be　accurate。　You're　never　exactly　sure　of　what　a　thing　was。　And　now；〃　he　added　irritably；　〃where　does　that　leave　us？〃　He　snorted。　〃Evelyn　Hillingdon；　or　Greg's　wife。　Lucky？　The　whole　thing　is　a　mess。〃

There　was　a　slight　apologetic　cough。

Arthur　Jackson　was　standing　at　Mr。　Rafiel's　elbow。　He　had　e　so　noiselessly　that　nobody　had　noticed　him。

〃Time　for　your　massage；　sir；〃　he　said。

Mr。　Rafiel　displayed　immediate　temper。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　sneaking　up　on　me　in　that　way　and　making　me　jump？　I　never　heard　you。〃

〃Very　sorry；　sir。〃

〃I　don't　think　I'll　have　any　massage　today。　It　never　does　me　a　damn　bit　of　good。〃

〃Oh　e　sir；　you　mustn't　say　that。〃　Jackson　was　full　of　professional　cheerfulness。　〃You'd　soon　notice　it　if　you　left　it　off。〃

He　wheeled　the　chair　deftly　round。

Miss　Marple　rose　to　her　feet；　smiled　at　Esther　and　went　down　to　the　beach。



Chapter　18

WITHOUT　BENEFIT　OF　CLERGY



The　beach　was　rather　empty　this　morning。　Greg　was　splashing　in　the　water　in　his　usual　noisy　style。　Lucky　was　lying　on　her　face　on　the　beach　with　a　suntanned　back　well　oiled　and　her　blonde　hair　splayed　over　her　shoulders。　The　Hillingdons　were　not　there。　Seсora　de　Caspearo；　with　an　assorted　bag　of　gentlemen　in　attendance　was　lying　face　upwards　and　talking　deepthroated；　happy　Spanish。　Some　French　and　Italian　children　were　playing　at　the　water's　edge　and　laughing。　Canon　and　Miss　Prescott　were　sitting　in　beach　chairs　observing　the　scene。　The　Canon　had　his　hat　tilted　forward　over　his　eyes　and　seemed　half　asleep。　There　was　a　convenient　chair　next　to　Miss　Prescott　and　Miss　Marple　made　for　it　and　sat　down。

〃Oh　dear；〃　she　said；　with　a　deep　sigh。

〃I　know；〃　said　Miss　Prescott。

It　was　their　joint　tribute　to　violent　death。

〃That　poor　girl；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Very　sad；〃　said　the　Canon。　〃Most　deplorable。〃

〃For　a　moment　or　two；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　〃we　really　thought　of　leaving；　Jeremy　and　I。　But　then　we　decided　against　it。　It　would　not　really　be　fair；　I　felt；　on　the　Kendals。　After　all；　it's　not　their　fault。　It　might　have　happened　anywhere。〃

〃In　the　midst　of　life　we　are　in　death；〃　said　the　Canon　solemnly。

〃It's　very　important；　you　know；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　〃that　they　should　make　a　go　of　this　place。　They　have　sunk　all　their　capital　in　it。〃

〃A　very　sweet　girl；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃but　not　looking　at　all　well　lately。〃

〃Very　nervy；〃　agreed　Miss　Prescott。　〃Of　course　her　family〃　she　shook　her　head。

〃I　really　think；　Joan；〃　said　the　Canon　in　mild　reproof；　〃that　there　are　some　things〃

〃Everybody　knows　about　it；〃　said　Miss　Prescott。　〃Her　family　live　in　our　part　of　the　world。　A　greatauntmost　peculiarand　one　of　her　uncles　took　off　all　his　clothes　in　one　of　the　tube　stations。　Green　Park；　I　believe　it　was。〃

〃Joan；　that　is　a　thing　that　should　not　be　repeated。〃

〃Very　sad；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　shaking　her　head；　〃though　I　believe　not　an　unmon　form　of　madness。　I　know　when　we　were　working　for　the　Armenian　relief；　a　most　respectable　elderly　clergyman　was　afflicted　the　same　way。　They　telephoned　his　wife　and　she　came　along　at　once　and　took　him　home　in　a　cab；　wrapped　in　a　blanket。〃

〃Of　course；　Molly's　immediate　family's　all　right；〃　said　Miss　Prescott。　〃She　never　got　on　very　well　with　her　mother；　but　then　so　few　girls　seem　to　get　on　with　their　mothers　nowadays。〃

〃Such　a　pity；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　shaking　her　head；　〃because　really　a　young　girl　needs　her　mother's　knowledge　of　the　world　and　experience。〃

〃Exactly；〃　said　Miss　Prescott　with　emphasis。　〃Molly；　you　know；　took　up　with　some　manquite　unsuitable；　I　understand。〃

〃It　so　often　happens；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Her　family　disapproved；　naturally。　She　didn't　tell　them　about　it。　They　heard　about　it　from　a　plete　outsider。　Of　course　her　mother　said　she　must　bring　him　along　so　that　they　met　him　properly。　This；　I　understand；　the　girl　refused　to　do。