"Don'tthinkthere'sanythinginthat.Shedidn'tevenknowSpenlowatthetime.Irememberthecase.Opinioninpolicecircleswasthatasonofthehousewasmixedupinit-JimAbercrombie-awfulyoungwaster.Hadapileofdebts,andjustaftertherobberytheywereallpaidoffsomerichwoman,sotheysaid,butIdon'tknow-oldAbercrombiehedgedabitaboutthecase-triedtocallthepoliceoff."

"Itwasjustanidea,sir,"saidSlack.

MissMarplereceivedInspectorSlackwithgratification,especiallywhensheheardthathehadbeensentbyColonelMelchett.

"Now,really,thatisverykindofColonelMelchett.Ididn'tknowherememberedme."

"Heremembersyou,allright.Toldmethatwhatyoudidn'tknowofwhatgoesoninStMaryMeadisn'tworthknowing."

"Tookindofhim,butreallyIdon'tknowanythingatall.Aboutthismurder,Imean."

"Youknowwhatthetalkabout.i.tis."

"Ofcourse-but.i.twouldn'tdo,wouldit,torepeatjustidletalk?"

Slacksaid,withanattemptatgeniality,"Thisisn'tanofficialconversation,youknow.It'sinconfidence,sotospeak."

"Youmeanyoureallywanttoknowwhatpeoplearesaying?Whetherthere'sanytruthinitornot?"

"That'stheidea."

"Well,ofcourse,there'sbeenagreatdealoftalkandspeculation.Andtherearereallytwodistinctcamps,ifyouunderstandme.Tobeginwith,therearethepeoplewhothinkthatthehusbanddidit.Ahusbandorawifeis,inaway,thenaturalpersontosuspect,don'tyouthinkso?"

"Maybe,"saidtheinspectorcautiously.

"Suchclosequarters,youknow.Then,sooften,themoneyangle.Iheardthat.i.twasMrsSpenlowwhohadthemoneyandthereforeMrSpenlowdoesbenefitbyherdeath.InthiswickedworldI'mafraidthemostuncharitablea.s.sumptionsareoftenjustified."

"Hecomesintoatidysum,allright."

"Justso.Itwouldseemquiteplausible,wouldn't.i.t,forhimtostrangleher,leavethehousebytheback,comeacrossthefieldstomyhouse,askformeandpretendhe'dhadatelephonecallfromme,thengobackandfindhiswifemurderedinhisabsence-hoping,ofcourse,thatthecrimewouldbeputdowntosometramporburglar."

Theinspectornodded."Whatwiththemoneyangle-andifthey'dbeenonbadtermslately?"

ButMissMarpleinterruptedhim:"Oh,b.u.t.theyhadn't."

"Youknowthatforafact?"

"Everyonewouldhaveknownifthey'dquarrelled!Themaid,Gladys-she'dhavesoonspreaditroundthevillage."

Theinspectorsaidfeebly,"Shemightn'thaveknown,"andreceivedapityingsmileinreply.

MissMarplewenton:"Andthenthere'stheotherschoolofthought.TedGerard.Agood-lookingyoungman.I'mafraid,youknow,thatgoodlooksareinclinedtoinfluenceonemorethantheyshould.Ourlastcuratebutone-quiteamagicaleffect!Allthegirlscametochurch-eveningserviceaswellasmorning.Andmanyolderwomenbecameunusuallyactiveinparishwork-andtheslippersandscarvesthatweremadeforhim!Quiteembarra.s.singforthepooryoungman."

"Butletmesee,wherewasI?Ohyes,thisyoungman,TedGerard.Ofcourse,therehasbeentalkabouthim.He'scomedowntoseehersooften.ThoughMrsSpenlowtoldmeherselfthathewasamemberofwhat.i.thinktheycalltheOxfordGroup.Areligiousmovement.Theyarequitesincereandveryearnest,Ibelieve,andMrsSpenlowwasimpressedbyitall."

MissMarpletookabreathandwenton:"AndI'msuretherewasnoreasontobelievethattherewasanythingmoreinitthanthat,butyouknowwhatpeopleare.QuitealotofpeopleareconvincedthatMrsSpenlowwasinfatuatedwiththeyoungmanandthatshe'dlenthimquitealotofmoney.Andit'sperfectlytruethathewasactuallyseenatthestationthatday.Inthetrain-thetwotwenty-sevendowntrain.Butofcourseitwouldbequiteeasy,wouldn't.i.t,toslipoutoftheothersideofthetrainandgothroughthecuttingandoverthefenceandroundbythehedgeandnevercomeoutofthestationentranceatall?Sothatheneednothavebeenseengoingtothecottage.AndofcoursepeopledothinkthatwhatMrsSpenlowwaswearingwasratherpeculiar."

"Peculiar."

"Akimono.Notadress."MissMarpleblushed."Thatsortofthing,youknow,is,perhaps,rathersuggestivetosomepeople."

"Youthinkitwa.s.suggestive?"

"Ohno,Idon'tthinkso.Ithinkitwasperfectlynatural."

"Youthinkitwasnatural?"

"Underthecirc.u.mstances,yes."MissMarple'sglancewascoolandreflective.

InspectorSlacksaid,"Itmightgiveusanothermotiveforthehusband.Jealousy."

"Oh,no,MrSpenlowwouldneverbejealous.He'snotthesortofmanwhonoticesthings.Ifhiswifehadgoneawayandleftanoteonthepincushion,itwouldbethefirsthe'dknowofanythingofthatkind."

InspectorSlackwaspuzzledbytheintentwayshewaslookingathim.Hehadanideathatallherconversationwasintendedtohintatsomethinghedidn'tunderstand.Shesaidnow,withsomeemphasis,"Didn'tyoufindanyclues,Inspector-onthespot?"

"Peopledon'tleavefingerprintsandcigaretteashnowadays,MissMarple."

"b.u.t.this,Ithink,"shesuggested,"wasanold-fashionedcrime-"

Slacksaidsharply."Nowwhatdoyoumeanbythat?"

MissMarpleremarkedslowly,"Ithink,youknow,thatConstablePalkcouldhelpyou.Hewasthefirstpersononthe-onthe'sceneofthecrime,'astheysay."

MrSpenlowwa.s.sittinginadeckchair.Helookedbewildered.Hesaid,inhisthin,precisevoice,"Imay,ofcourse,beimaginingwhatoccurred.Myhearingisnotasgoodasitwas.ButIdistinctlythinkIheardasmallboycallafterme,'Yah,who'saCrippen?'It-itconveyedtheimpressiontomethathewasoftheopinionthatIhad-hadkilledmydearwife."

MissMarple,gentlysnippingoffadeadrosehead,said,"Thatwastheimpressionhemeanttoconvey,nodoubt."

"Butwhatcouldpossiblyhaveputsuchanideaintoachild'shead?"

MissMarplecoughed.

"Listening,nodoubt,totheopinionsofhiselders."

"You-youreallymeanthatotherpeoplethinkthatalso?"

"QuitehalfthepeopleinStMaryMead."

"But,mydearlady,whatcanpossiblyhavegivenrisetosuchanidea?Iwa.s.sincerelyattachedtomywife.Shedidnot,alas,taketolivinginthecountryasmuchasIhadhopedshewoulddo,butperfectagreementoneverysubjectisanimpossibleideal.Ia.s.sureyouIfeelherlossverykeenly."

"Probably.Butifyouwillexcusemysayingso,youdon'tsoundasthoughyoudo."

MrSpenlowdrewhismeagerframeuptoitsfullheight.

"Mydearlady,manyyearsagoIreadofacertainChinesephilosopherwho,whenhisdearlylovedwifewastakenfromhim,continuedcalmlytobeatagonginthestreet-acustomaryChinesepastime,Ipresume-exactlyasusual.Thepeopleinthecityweremuchimpressedbyhisfort.i.tude."

"But,"saidMissMarple,"thepeopleofStMaryMeadreactratherdifferently.Chinesephilosophydoesnotappealtothem."

"Butyouunderstand?"

MissMarplenodded."MyUncleHenry,"sheexplained,"wasamanofunusualself-control.Hismottowas'Neverdisplayemotion.'He,too,wasveryfondofflowers."

"Iwasthinking,"saidMrSpenlowwithsomethinglikeeagerness,"thatImight,perhaps,haveapergolaonthewestsideofthecottage.Pinkrosesand,perhaps,wisteria.Andthereisawhitestarryflower,whosenameforthemomentescapesme-"

Inthetoneinwhichshespoketohergrandnephew,agedthree,MissMarplesaid,"Ihaveaverynicecataloguehere,withpictures.Perhapsyouwouldliketolookthroughit-Ihavetogouptothevillage."

LeavingMrSpenlowsittinghappilyinthegardenwithhiscatalogue,MissMarplewentuptoherroom,hastilyrolledupadressinapieceofbrownpaper,and,leavingthehouse,walkedbrisklyuptothepostoffice.MissPolitt,thedressmaker,livedinroomsoverthepostoffice.

ButMissMarpledidnotatoncegothroughthedoorandupthestairs.Itwasjusttwo-thirty,and,aminutelater,theMuchBenhambusdrewupoutsidethepost-officedoor.ItwasoneoftheeventsofthedayinStMaryMead.Thepostmistresshurriedoutwithparcels,parcelsconnectedwiththeshopsideofherbusiness,forthepostofficealsodealtinsweets,cheapbooks,andchildren'stoys.

ForsomefourminutesMissMarplewasaloneinthepostoffice.

NottillthepostmistressreturnedtoherpostdidMissMarplegoupstairsandexplaintoMissPolittthatshewantedherowngreycrepealteredandmademorefashionableifthatwerepossible.MissPolittpromisedtoseewhatshecoulddo.

ThechiefconstablewasratherastonishedwhenMissMarple'snamewasbroughttohim.Shecameinwithmanyapologies.

"Sosorry-soverysorrytodisturbyou.Youaresobusy,Iknow,b.u.t.thenyouhavealwaysbeensoverykind,ColonelMelchett,andIfeltIwouldrathercometoyouinsteadoftoInspectorSlack.Foronething,youknow,IshouldhateConstablePalktogetintoanytrouble.Strictlyspeaking,Isupposeheshouldn'thavetouchedanythingatall."

ColonelMelchettwa.s.slightlybewildered.Hesaid,"Palk?That'stheStMaryMeadconstable,isn't.i.t?Whathashebeendoing?"

"Hepickedupapin,youknow.Anditoccurredtomeatthetimethat.i.twasquiteprobablehehadactuallypickeditupinMrsSpenlow'shouse."

"Quite,quite.But,afterall,youknow,what'sapin?Matteroffact,hedidpickthepinupjustbyMrsSpenlow'sbody.CameandtoldSlackabout.i.tyesterday-youputhimuptothat,Igather?Oughtn'ttohavetouchedanything,ofcourse,but,asIsaid,what'sapin?Itwasonlyacommonpin.Sortofthinganywomanmightuse."

"Ohno,ColonelMelchett,that'swhereyou'rewrong.Toaman'seye,perhaps,itlookedlikeanordinarypin,but.i.twasn't.Itwasaspecialpin,averythinpin,thekindyoubuybythebox,thekindusedmostlybydressmakers."

Melchettstaredather,afaintlightofcomprehens...o...b..eakinginonhim.MissMarplenoddedherheadseveraltimeseagerly.

"Yes,ofcourse.Itseemstomesoobvious.Shewasinherkimon.o.becauseshewasgoingtotryonhernewdress,andshewentintothefrontroom,andMissPolittjustsaidsomethingaboutmeasurementsandputthetapemeasureroundherneck-andthenallshe'dhavetodowastocrossitandpulliteasy,soI'veheard.Andthenofcourseshe'dgooutsideandpullthedoortoandstandthereknockingasthoughshe'djustarrived.b.u.t.thepinshowsshe'dalreadybeeninthehouse."

"AnditwasMissPolittwhotelephonedtoSpenlow?"

"Yes.Fromthepostofficeattwo-thirty-justwhenthebuscomesandthepostofficewouldbeempty."

ColonelMelchettsaid,"But,mydearMissMarple,why?Inheaven'sname,why?Youcan'thaveamurderwithoutamotive."

"Well,Ithink,youknow,ColonelMelchett,fromallI'veheard,thatthecrimedatesfromalongtimeback.Itremindsme,youknow,ofmytwocousins,AntonyandGordon.WhateverAntonydidalwayswentrightforhim,andwithpoorGordonitwasjusttheotherwayabout:racehorseswentlame,andstockswentdown,andpropertydepreciated.AsIseeit,thetwowomenwereinittogether."

"Inwhat?"

"Therobbery.Longago.Veryvaluableemeralds,soI'veheard.Thelady'smaidandthetweeny.Becauseonethinghasn'tbeenexplained-how,whenthetweenymarriedthegardener,didtheyhaveenoughmoneytosetupaflowershop?

"Theansweris,itwashershareofthe-theswag,Ithinkistherightexpression.Everythingshedidturnedoutwell.Moneymademoney.b.u.t.theotherone,thelady'smaid,musthavebeenunlucky.Shecamedowntobeingjustavillagedressmaker.Thentheymetagain.Quiteallrightatfirst,Iexpect,untilMrTedGerardcameonthescene.

"MrsSpenlow,yousee,wasalreadysufferingfromconscienceandwasinclinedtobeemotionallyreligious.Thisyoungmannodoubturgedherto'faceup'andto'comeclean,'andIdaresayshewa.s.strunguptodoso.ButMissPolittdidn'tseeitthatway.Allshesawwasthatshemightgotoprisonforarobberyshehadcommittedyearsago.Soshemadeuphermindtoputastoptoitall.I'mafraid,youknow,thatshewasalwaysratherawickedwoman.Idon'tbelieveshe'dhaveturnedahairifthatnice,stupidMrSpenlowhadbeenhanged."

ColonelMelchettsaidslowly,"Wecan-er-verifyyourtheory-uptoapoint.Theident.i.tyofthePolittwomanwiththelady'smaidattheAbercrombies',but-"

MissMarplerea.s.suredhim.

"Itwillallbequiteeasy.She'sthekindofwomanwhowillbreakdownatoncewhenshe'staxedwiththetruth.Andthen,yousee,I'vegothertapemeasure.I-er-abstractedityesterdaywhenIwastryingon.Whenshemissesitandthinksthepolicehavegot.i.t-well,she'squiteanignorantwomanandshe'llthinkitwillprovethecaseagainstherinsomeway."

Shesmiledathimencouragingly."You'llhavenotrouble,Icana.s.sureyou."

Itwasthetoneinwhichhisfavouriteaunthadoncea.s.suredhimthathecouldnotfailtopa.s.shisentranceexaminationintoSandhurst.

Andhehadpa.s.sed.

TheCaseofthePerfectMaid

"Oh,ifyouplease,madam,couldIspeaktoyouamoment?"

Itmightbethoughtthattherequestwasinthenatureofanabsurdity,sinceEdna,MissMarple'slittlemaid,wasactuallyspeakingtohermistressatthemoment.

Recognisingtheidiom,however,MissMarplesaidpromptly,"Certainly,Edna.Comeinandshutthedoor.Whatisit?"

Obedientlyshuttingthedoor,Ednaadvancedintotheroom,pleatedthecornerofherap.r.o.nbetweenherfingers,andswallowedonceortwice.

"Yes,Edna?"saidMissMarpleencouragingly.

"Oh,please,ma'am,it'smycousinGladdie.Yousee,she'slostherplace."

"Dearme,Iamsorrytohearthat.ShewasatOldHall,wasn'tshe,withtheMiss-Misses-Skinner?"

"Yes,ma'am,that'sright,ma'am.AndGladdie'sveryupsetabout.i.t-veryupsetindeed."

"Gladyshaschangedplacesratheroftenbefore,though,hasn'tshe?"

"Ohyes,ma'am.She'salwaysoneforachange,Gladdieis.Sheneverseemstogetreallysettled,ifyouknowwhatImean.Butshe'salwaysbeentheonetogivethenotice,yousee!"

"Andthistimeit'stheotherwayround?"askedMissMarpledryly.

"Yes,ma'am,andit'supsetGladdiesomethingawful."

MissMarplelookedslightlysurprised.HerrecollectionofGladys,whohadoccasionallycometodrinkteainthekitchenonher"daysout,"wasastout,gigglinggirlofunshakablyequabletemperament.

Ednawenton:"Yousee,ma'am,it'sthewayithappened-thewayMissSkinnerlooked."

"How,"inquiredMissMarplepatiently,"didMissSkinnerlook?"