加勒比海之谜(英文版)- 第25部分

〃I　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　we　had　better　make　sure。〃

Evelyn　Hillingdon　stared　at　her　in　astonishment。

〃But　you　yourself　told　Tim　we　mustn't　touch　anything？〃

〃I　know。　But　the　moon　wasn't　out。　I　hadn't　seen〃　Her　finger　pointed。　Then；　very　gently；　she　touched　the　blonde　hair　and　parted　it　so　that　the　roots　were　exposed。。。

Evelyn　gave　a　sharp　ejaculation。　〃Lucky！　And　then　after　a　moment　she　repeated：　〃Not　Molly。。。　Lucky。〃

Miss　Marple　nodded。　〃Their　hair　was　of　much　the　same　colourbut　hers；　of　course；　was　dark　at　the　roots　because　it　was　dyed。〃

〃But　she's　wearing　Molly's　shawl！〃

〃She　admired　it。　I　heard　her　say　she　was　going　to　get　one　like　it。　Evidently　she　did。〃

〃So　that's　why　we　weredeceived。。。〃　Evelyn　broke　off　as　she　met　Miss　Marple's　eyes　watching　her。

〃Someone；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃will　have　to　tell　her　husband。〃

There　was　a　moment's　pause；　then　Evelyn　said：　〃All　right。　I'll　do　it。〃

She　turned　and　walked　away　through　the　palm　trees。

Miss　Marple　remained　for　a　moment　motionless；　then　she　turned　her　head　very　slightly；　and　said：　〃Yes；　Colonel　Hillingdon？〃

Edward　Hillingdon　came　from　the　trees　behind　her　to　stand　by　her　side。　〃You　knew　I　was　there？〃

〃You　cast　a　shadow；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

They　stood　a　moment　in　silence。

He　said；　more　as　though　he　were　speaking　to　himself：　〃So；　in　the　end；　she　played　her　luck　too　far。。。〃

〃You　are；　I　think；　glad　she　is　dead？〃

〃And　that　shocks　you？　Well；　I　will　not　deny　it。　I　am　glad　she　is　dead。〃

〃Death　is　often　a　solution　to　problems。〃

Edward　Hillingdon　turned　his　head　slowly。　Miss　Marple　met　his　eyes　calmly　and　steadfastly。

〃If　you　think〃　he　took　a　sharp　step　towards　her。

There　was　a　sudden　menace　in　his　tone。

Miss　Marple　said　quietly：　〃Your　wife　will　be　back　with　Mr。　Dyson　in　a　moment。　Or　Mr。　Kendal　will　be　here　with　Dr。　Graham。〃

Edward　Hillingdon　relaxed。　He　turned　back　to　look　down　at　the　dead　woman。　Miss　Marple　slipped　away　quietly。　Presently　her　pace　quickened。　Just　before　reaching　her　own　bungalow；　she　paused。　It　was　here　that　she　had　sat　that　day　talking　to　Major　Palgrave。　It　was　here　that　he　had　fumbled　in　his　wallet　looking　for　the　snapshot　of　a　murderer。。。

She　remembered　how　he　had　looked　up；　and　how　his　face　had　gone　purple　and　red。。。　〃So　ugly；〃　as　Seсora　de　Caspearo　had　said。　〃He　has　the　Evil　Eye。〃

The　Evil　Eye。。。　Eye。。。　Eye。。。



Chapter　24

NEMESIS



Whatever　the　alarms　and　excursions　of　the　night；　Mr。　Rafiel　had　not　heard　them。

He　was　fast　asleep　in　bed；　a　faint　thin　snore　ing　from　his　nostrils；　when　he　was　taken　by　the　shoulders　and　shaken　violently。

〃Ehwhatwhat　the　devil's　this？〃

〃It's　me；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　for　once　ungrammatical；　〃though　I　should　put　it　a　little　more　strongly　than　that。　The　Greeks；　I　believe；　had　a　word　for　it。　Nemesis；　if　I　am　not　wrong。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　raised　himself　on　his　pillows　as　far　as　he　could。　He　stared　at　her。　Miss　Marple；　standing　there　in　the　moonlight；　her　head　encased　in　a　fluffy　scarf　of　pale　pink　wool；　looked　as　unlike　a　figure　of　Nemesis　as　it　was　possible　to　imagine。

〃So　you're　Nemesis；　are　you？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel　after　a　momentary　pause。

〃I　hope　to　bewith　your　help。〃

〃Do　you　mind　telling　me　quite　plainly　what　you're　talking　about　like　this　in　the　middle　of　the　night。〃

〃I　think　we　may　have　to　act　quickly。　Very　quickly。　I　have　been　foolish。　Extremely　foolish。　I　ought　to　have　known　from　the　very　beginning　what　all　this　was　about。　It　was　so　simple。〃

〃What　was　simple；　and　what　are　you　talking　about？〃

〃You　slept　through　a　good　deal；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃A　body　was　found。　We　thought　at　first　it　was　the　body　of　Molly　Kendal。　It　wasn't；　it　was　Lucky　Dyson。　Drowned　in　the　creek。〃

〃Lucky；　eh？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃And　drowned？　In　the　creek。　Did　she　drown　herself　or　did　somebody　drown　her？〃

〃Somebody　drowned　her；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃I　see。　At　least　I　think　I　see。　That's　what　you　mean　by　saying　it's　so　simple；　is　it？　Greg　Dyson　was　always　the　first　possibility；　and　he's　the　right　one。　Is　that　it？　Is　that　what　you're　thinking？　And　what　you're　afraid　of　is　that　he　may　get　away　with　it。〃

Miss　Marple　took　a　deep　breath。

〃Mr。　Rafiel；　will　you　trust　me。　We　have　got　to　stop　a　murder　being　mitted。〃

〃I　thought　you　said　it　had　been　mitted。〃

〃That　murder　was　mitted　in　error。　Another　murder　may　be　mitted　any　moment　now。　There's　no　time　to　lose。　We　must　prevent　it　happening。　We　must　go　at　once。〃

〃It's　all　very　well　to　talk　like　that；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃We；　you　say？　What　do　you　think　I　can　do　about　it？　I　can't　even　walk　without　help。　How　can　you　and　I　set　about　preventing　a　murder？　You're　about　a　hundred　and　I'm　a　broken　up　old　crock。〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　Jackson；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃Jackson　will　do　what　you　tell　him；　won't　he？〃

〃He　will　indeed；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃especially　if　I　add　that　I'll　make　it　worth　his　while。　Is　that　what　you　want？〃

〃Yes。　Tell　him　to　e　with　me　and　tell　him　to　obey　any　orders　I　give　him。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　looked　at　her　for　about　six　seconds。　Then　he　said：　〃Done。　I　expect　I'm　taking　the　biggest　risk　of　my　life。　Well；　it　won't　be　the　first　one。〃　He　raised　his　voice。　〃Jackson。〃

At　the　same　time　he　picked　up　the　electric　bell　that　lay　beside　his　hand　and　pressed　the　button。

Hardly　thirty　seconds　passed　before　Jackson　appeared　through　the　connecting　door　to　the　adjoining　room。

〃You　called　and　rang；　sir？　Anything　wrong？〃　He　broke　off；　staring　at　Miss　Marple。

〃Now　Jackson；　do　as　I　tell　you。　You　will　go　with　this　lady。　Miss　Marple。　You'll　go　where　she　takes　you　and　you'll　do　exactly　as　she　says。　You'll　obey　every　order　she　gives　you。　Is　that　understood？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃And　for　doing　that；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃you　won't　be　the　loser。　I'll　make　it　worth　your　while。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃

〃e　along；　Mr。　Jackson；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　She　spoke　over　her　shoulder　to　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃We'll　tell　Mrs。　Walters　to　e　to　you　on　our　way。　Get　her　to　get　you　out　of　bed　and　bring　you　along。〃

〃Bring　me　along　where？〃

〃To　the　Kendals'　bungalow；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　think　Molly　will　be　ing　back　there。〃



II



Molly　came　up　the　path　from　the　sea。

Her　eyes　stared　fixedly　ahead　of　her。

Occasionally；　under　her　breath；　she　gave　a　little　whimper。。。

She　went　up　the　steps　of　the　loggia；　paused　a　moment；　then　pushed　open　the　window　and　walked　into　the　bedroom。

The　lights　were　on；　but　the　room　itself　was　empty。　Molly　went　across　to　the　bed　and　sat　down。　She　sat　for　some　minutes；　now　and　again　passing　her　hand　over　her　forehead　and　frowning。　Then；　after　a　quick　surreptitious　glance　round；　she　slipped　her　hand　under　the　mattress　and　brought　out　the　book　that　was　hidden　there。　She　bent　over　it；　turning　the　pages　to　find　what　she　wanted。

Then　she　raised　her　head　as　a　sound　of　running　footsteps　came　from　outside。

ent　she　pushed　the　book　behind　her　back。

Tim　Kendal；　panting　and　out　of　breath；　came　in；　and　uttered　a　great　sigh　of　relief　at　the　sight　of　her。

〃Thank　God。　Where　have　you　been；　Molly？　I've　been　searching　everywhere　for　you。〃

〃I　went　to　the　creek。〃

〃You　went〃　he　stopped。

〃Yes。　I　went　to　the　creek。　But　I　couldn't　wait　there。　I　couldn't。　There　was　someone　in　the　waterand　she　was　dead。〃

〃You　mean　Do　you　know　I　thought　it　was　you。　I've　only　just　found　out　it　was　Lucky。〃

〃I　didn't　kill　her。　Really；　Tim；　I　didn't　kill　her。　I'm　sure　I　didn't。　I　mean　I'd　remember　if　I　did；　wouldn't　I？〃

Tim　sank　slowly　down　on　the　end　of　the　bed。

〃You　didn't　　are　you　sure　of　that？　No。　No；　of　course　you　didn't！〃　He　fairly　shouted　the　words。　〃Don't　start　thinking　like　that；　Molly。　Lucky　drowned　herself。　Of　course　she　drowned　herself。　Hillingdon　was　through　with　her。　She　went　and　lay　down　with　her　face　in　the　water〃

〃Lucky　wouldn't　do　that。　She'd　never　do　that。　But　I　didn't　kill　her。　I　swear　I　didn't。〃

〃Darling；　of　course　you　didn't！〃　He　put　his　arms　round　her　but　she　pulled　herself　away。

〃I　hate　this　place。　It　ought　to　be　all　sunlight。　It　seemed　to　be　all　sunlight。　But　it　isn't。　Instead　there's　a　shadowa　big　black　shadow。。。　And　I'm　in　itand　I　can't　get　out〃　Her　voice　had　risen　to　a　shout。

〃Hush；　Molly。　For　God's　sake；　hush！〃

He　went　into　the　bathroom；　came　back　with　a　glass。

〃Look。　Drink　this。　It'll　steady　you。〃

〃II　can't　drink　anything。　My　teeth　are　chattering　so。〃

〃Yes　you　can；　darling。　Sit　down。　Here；　on　the　bed。〃　He　put　his　arm　round　her。　He　approached　the　glass　to　her　lips。　〃There　you　are　now。　Drink　it。〃

A　voice　spoke　from　the　window。

〃Jackson；〃　said　Miss　Marple　clearly。　〃Go　over。　Take　that　glass　from　him　and　hold　it　tightly。　Be　careful。　He's　strong　and　he　may　be　pretty　desperate。〃

There　were　certain　points　about　Jackson。　He　was　a　man　of　training；　trained　to　obey　orders。　He　was　a　man　with　a　great　love　for　money；　and　money　had　been　promised　him　by　his　employer；　that　employer　being　a　man　of　stature　and　authority。　He　was　also　a　man　of　extreme　muscular　development　heightened　by　his　training。　His　not　to　reason　why；　his　but　to　do。　Swift　as　a　flash　he　had　crossed　the　room。　His　hand　went　over　the　glass　that　Tim　was　holding　to　Molly's　lips；　his　other　arm　had　fastened　round　Tim。　A　quick　flick　of　the　wrist　and　he　had　the　glass。　Tim　turned　on　him　wildly；　but　Jackson　held　him　firmly。

〃What　the　devillet　go　of　me。　Let　go　of　me。　Have　you　gone　mad？　What　are　you　doing？〃　Tim　struggled　violently。

〃Hold　him；　Jackson；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃What's　going　on？　What's　the　matter　here？〃

Supported　by　Esther　Walters；　Mr。　Rafiel　came　through　the　window。

〃You　ask　what's　the　matter？〃　shouted　Tim。　〃Your　man's　gone　mad；　stark；　staring　mad；　that's　what's　the　matter。　Tell　him　to　let　go　of　me。〃

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

Mr。　Rafiel　turned　to　her。　〃Speak　up；　Nemesis；〃　he　said。　〃We've　got　to　have　chapter　and　verse　of　some　kind。〃

〃I've　been　stupid　and　a　fool；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃but　I'm　not　being　a　fool　now。　When　the　contents　of　that　glass　that　he　was　trying　to　make　his　wife　drink；　have　been　analysed；　I'll　wageryes；　I'll　wager　my　immortal　soul　that　you'll　find　it's　got　a　lethal　does　of　narcotic　in　it。　It's　the　same　pattern；　you　see；　the　same　pattern　as　in　Major　Palgrave's　story。　A　wife　in　a　depressed　state；　and　she　tries　to　do　away　with　herself；　husband　saves　her　in　time。　Then　the　second　time　she　succeeds。　Yes；　it's　the　right　pattern。　Major　Palgrave　told　me　the　story　and　he　took　out　a　snapshot　and　then　he　looked　up　and　saw〃

〃Over　your　right　shoulder〃　continued　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　shaking　her　head。　〃He　didn't　see　anything　over　my　right　shoulder。〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about？　You　told　me。。。〃

〃I　told　you　wrong。　I　was　pletely　wrong。　I　was　stupid　beyond　belief。　Major　Palgrave　appeared　to　me　to　be　looking　over　my　right　shoulder；　glaring；　in　fact；　at　something。　But　he　couldn't　have　seen　anything；　because　he　was　looking　through　his　left　eye　and　his　left　eye　was　his　glass　eye。〃

〃I　rememberhe　had　a　glass　eye；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃I'd　fottenor　I　took　it　for　granted。　You　mean　he　couldn't　see　anything？〃

〃Of　course　he　could　see；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃He　could　see　all　right；　but　he　could　only　see　with　one　eye。　The　eye　he　could　see　with　was　his　right　eye。　And　so；　you　see；　he　must　have　been　looking　at　something　or　someone　not　to　the　right　of　me　but　to　the　left　of　me。〃

〃Was　there　anyone