加勒比海之谜(英文版)- 第24部分

〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　think　so。　Molly　was　engaged　to　some　other　man　before　I　came　along。　Her　parents　were　very　against　it；　I　understand；　and　I　think　she　really　stuck　to　the　chap　more　out　of　opposition　and　defiance　than　anything　else。〃　He　gave　a　sudden　halfgrin。　〃You　know　what　it　is　when　you're　young。　If　people　cut　up　a　fuss　it　makes　you　much　keener　on　whoever　it　is。〃

Dr。　Graham　smiled　too。　〃Ah　yes；　one　often　sees　that。　One　should　never　take　exception　to　one's　children's　objectionable　friends。　Usually　they　grow　out　of　them　naturally。　This　man；　whoever　he　was；　didn't　make　threats　of　any　kind　against　Molly？〃

〃No；　I'm　sure　he　didn't。　She　would　have　told　me。　She　said　herself　she　just　had　a　silly　adolescent　craze　on　him；　mainly　because　he　had　such　a　bad　reputation。〃

〃Yes；　yes。　Well；　that　doesn't　sound　serious。　Now　there's　another　thing。　Apparently　your　wife　has　had　what　she　describes　as　blackouts。　Brief　passages　of　time　during　which　she　can't　account　for　her　actions。　Did　you　know　about　that；　Tim？〃

〃No；〃　said　Tim　slowly；　〃No。　I　didn't。　She　never　told　me。　I　did　notice；　you　know；　now　you　mention　it；　that　she　seemed　rather　vague　sometimes　and。。。〃　He　paused；　thinking。　〃Yes；　that　explains　it。　I　couldn't　understand　how　she　seemed　to　have　fotten　the　simplest　things；　or　sometimes　not　to　seem　to　know　what　time　of　day　it　was。　I　just　thought　she　was　absentminded；　I　suppose。〃

〃What　it　amounts　to；　Tim；　is　just　this。　I　advise　you　most　strongly　to　take　your　wife　to　see　a　good　specialist。〃

Tim　flushed　angrily。　〃You　mean　a　mental　specialist；　I　suppose？〃

〃Now；　now；　don't　be　upset　by　labels。　A　neurologist；　a　psychologist；　someone　who　specialises　in　what　the　layman　call　nervous　breakdowns。　There's　a　good　man　in　Kingston。　Or　there's　New　York　of　course。　There　is　something　that　is　causing　these　nervous　terrors　of　your　wife's。　Something；　perhaps；　for　which　she　hardly　knows　the　reason　herself。　Get　advice　about　her；　Tim。　Get　advice　as　soon　as　possible。〃

He　put　his　hand　on　the　young　man's　shoulder　and　got　up。

〃There's　no　immediate　worry。　Your　wife　has　good　friends　and　we'll　all　be　keeping　an　eye　on　her。〃

〃She　won't　You　don't　think　she'll　try　it　again？〃

〃I　think　it　most　unlikely；〃　said　Dr。　Graham。

〃You　can't　be　sure；〃　said　Tim。

〃One　can　never　be　sure；〃　said　Dr。　Graham；　〃that's　one　of　the　first　things　you　learn　in　my　profession。〃　Again　he　laid　a　hand　on　Tim's　shoulder。　〃Don't　worry　too　much。〃

〃That's　easy　to　say；〃　said　Tim　as　the　doctor　went　out　of　the　door。　〃Don't　worry；　indeed！　What　does　he　think　I'm　made　of？〃



Chapter　21

JACKSON　ON　COSMETICS



〃You're　sure　you　don't　mind；　Miss　Marple？〃　said　Evelyn　Hillingdon。　

〃No；　indeed；　my　dear；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I'm　only　too　delighted　to　be　of　use　in　any　way。　At　my　age；　you　know；　one　feels　very　useless　in　the　world。　Especially　when　I　am　in　a　place　like　this；　just　enjoying　myself。　No　duties　of　any　kind。　No；　I'll　be　delighted　to　sit　with　Molly。　You　go　along　on　your　expedition。　Pelican　Point；　wasn't　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Evelyn。　〃Both　Edward　and　I　love　it。　I　never　get　tired　of　seeing　the　birds　diving　down；　catching　up　the　fish。　Tim's　with　Molly　now。　But　he's　got　things　to　do　and　he　doesn't　seem　to　like　her　being　left　alone。〃

〃He's　quite　right；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　wouldn't　in　his　place。　One　never　knows；　does　one？　When　anyone　has　attempted　anything　of　that　kind。　Well；　go　along；　my　dear。〃

Evelyn　went　off　to　join　a　little　group　that　was　waiting　for　her。　Her　husband；　the　Dysons　and　three　or　four　other　people。

Miss　Marple　checked　her　knitting　requirements；　saw　that　she　had　all　she　wanted　with　her；　and　walked　over　towards　the　Kendals'　bungalow。

As　she　came　up　on　to　the　loggia　she　heard　Tim's　voice　through　the　halfopen　French　window。

〃If　you'd　only　tell　me　why　you　did　it；　Molly。　What　made　you？　Was　it　anything　I　did？　There　must　be　some　reason。　If　you'd　only　tell　me。〃

Miss　Marple　paused。　There　was　a　little　pause　inside　before　Molly　spoke。　Her　voice　was　flat　and　tired。

〃I　don't　know；　Tim；　I　really　don't　know。　I　supposesomething　came　over　me。〃

Miss　Marple　tapped　on　the　window　and　walked　in。

〃Oh　there　you　are。　Miss　Marple。　It　is　very　good　of　you。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I'm　delighted　to　be　of　any　help。　Shall　I　sit　here　in　this　chair？　You're　looking　much　better；　Molly。　I'm　so　glad。〃

〃I'm　all　right；〃　said　Molly。　〃Quite　all　right。　Just；　oh；　just　sleepy。〃

〃I　shan't　talk；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　'〃You　just　lie　quiet　and　rest。　I'll　get　on　with　my　knitting。〃

Tim　Kendal　threw　her　a　grateful　glance　and　went　out。　Miss　Marple　established　herself　in　her　chair。

Molly　was　lying　on　her　left　side。　She　had　a　halfstupefied；　exhausted　look。　She　said　in　a　voice　that　was　almost　a　whisper：　〃It's　very　kind　of　you。　Miss　Marple。　II　think　I'll　go　to　sleep。〃

She　half　turned　away　on　her　pillows　and　closed　her　eyes。　Her　breathing　grew　more　regular　though　it　was　still　far　from　normal。　Long　experience　of　nursing　made　Miss　Marple　almost　automatically　straighten　the　sheet　and　tuck　it　under　the　mattress　on　her　side　of　the　bed。　As　she　did　so　her　hand　encountered　something　hard　and　rectangular　under　the　mattress。　Rather　surprised　she　took　hold　of　this　and　pulled　it　out。　It　was　a　book。　Miss　Marple　threw　a　quick　glance　at　the　girl　in　the　bed；　but　she　lay　there　utterly　quiescent。　She　was　evidently　asleep。　Miss　Marple　opened　the　book。　It　was；　she　saw；　a　current　work　on　nervous　diseases。　It　came　open　naturally　at　a　certain　place　which　gave　a　description　of　the　onset　of　persecution　mania　and　various　other　manifestations　of　schizophrenia　and　allied　plaints。

It　was　not　a　highly　technical　book；　but　one　that　could　be　easily　understood　by　a　layman。　Miss　Marple's　face　grew　very　grave　as　she　read。　After　a　minute　or　two　she　closed　the　book　and　stayed　thinking。

Then　she　bent　forward　and　with　some　care　replaced　the　book　where　she　had　found　it；　under　the　mattress。

She　shook　her　head　in　some　perplexity。　Noiselessly　she　rose　from　her　chair。　She　walked　the　few　steps　towards　the　window；　then　turned　her　head　sharply　over　her　shoulder。　Molly's　eyes　were　open　but　even　as　Miss　Marple　turned　the　eyes　shut　again。　For　a　minute　or　two　Miss　Marple　was　not　quite　certain　whether　she　might　not　have　imagined　that　quick；　sharp　glance。　Was　Molly　then　only　pretending　to　be　asleep？　That　might　be　natural　enough。　She　might　feel　that　Miss　Marple　would　start　talking　to　her　if　she　showed　herself　awake。　Yes；　that　could　be　all　it　was。

Was　she　reading　into　that　glance　of　Molly's　a　kind　of　slyness　that　was　somehow　innately　disagreeable？　One　doesn't　know；　Miss　Marple　thought　to　herself；　one　really　doesn't　know。

She　decided　that　she　would　try　to　manage　a　little　talk　with　Dr。　Graham　as　soon　as　it　could　be　managed。　She　came　back　to　her　chair　by　the　bed。　She　decided　after　about　five　minutes　or　so　that　Molly　was　really　asleep。　No　one　could　have　lain　so　still；　could　have　breathed　so　evenly。　Miss　Marple　got　up　again。　She　was　wearing　her　plimsolls　today。　Not　perhaps　very　elegant；　but　admirably　suited　to　this　climate　and　fortable　and　roomy　for　the　feet。

She　moved　gently　round　the　bedroom；　pausing　at　both　of　the　windows；　which　gave　out　in　two　different　directions。

The　hotel　grounds　seemed　quiet　and　deserted。　Miss　Marple　came　back　and　was　standing　a　little　uncertainly　before　regaining　her　seat；　when　she　thought　she　heard　a　faint　sound　outside。　Like　the　scrape　of　a　shoe　on　the　loggia？　She　hesitated　a　moment　then　she　went　to　the　window；　pushed　it　a　little　farther　open；　stepped　out　and　turned　her　head　back　into　the　room　as　she　spoke。

〃I　shall　be　gone　only　a　very　short　time；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃just　back　to　my　bungalow；　to　see　where　I　could　possibly　have　put　that　pattern。　I　was　so　sure　I　had　brought　it　with　me。　You'll　be　quite　all　right　till　I　e　back；　won't　you？〃

Then　turning　her　head　back；　she　nodded　to　herself。　〃Asleep；　poor　child。　A　good　thing。〃

She　went　quietly　along　the　loggia；　down　the　steps　and　turned　sharp　right　to　the　path　there。　Passing　along　between　the　screen　of　some　hibiscus　bushes　an　observer　might　have　been　curious　to　see　that　Miss　Marple　veered　sharply　on　to　the　flowerbed；　passed　round　to　the　back　of　the　bungalow　and　entered　it　again　through　the　second　door　there。　This　led　directly　into　a　small　room　that　Tim　sometimes　used　as　an　unofficial　office　and　from　that　into　the　sitting　room。

Here　there　were　wide　curtains　semidrawn　to　keep　the　room　cool。　Miss　Marple　slipped　behind　one　of　them。　Then　she　waited。　From　the　window　here　she　had　a　good　view　of　anyone　who　approached　Molly's　bedroom。　It　was　some　few　minutes；　four　or　five；　before　she　saw　anything。

The　neat　figure　of　Jackson　in　his　white　uniform　went　up　the　steps　of　the　loggia。

He　paused　for　a　minute　at　the　balcony　there；　and　then　appeared　to　be　giving　a　tiny　discreet　tap　on　the　door　of　the　window　that　was　ajar。　There　was　no　response　that　Miss　Marple　could　hear。　Jackson　looked　around　him；　a　quick　furtive　glance；　then　he　slipped　inside　the　open　doors。　Miss　Marple　moved　to　the　door　which　led　directly　into　the　bedroom。　She　did　not　go　through　it　but　applied　her　eye　to　the　hinge。

Jackson　had　walked　into　the　room。　He　approached　the　bed　and　looked　down　for　a　minute　on　the　sleeping　girl。　Then　he　turned　away　and　walked　not　to　the　sitting　room　door　but　to　the　far　door　which　led　into　the　adjoining　bathroom。　Miss　Marple's　eyebrows　rose　in　slight　surprise。　She　reflected　a　minute　or　two；　then　walked　out　into　the　passageway　and　into　the　bathroom　by　the　other　door。

Jackson　spun　round　from　examining　the　shelf　over　the　washbasin。　He　looked　taken　aback；　which　was　not　surprising。

〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃II　didn't。。。〃

〃Mr。　Jackson；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　in　great　surprise。

〃I　thought　you　would　be　here　somewhere；〃　said　Jackson。

〃Did　you　arple。

〃Actually；〃　said　Jackson；　〃I　was　just　looking　at　Mrs。　Kendal's　brand　of　face　cream。〃

Miss　Marple　appreciated　the　fact　that　as　Jackson　was　standing　with　a　jar　of　face　cream　in　his　hand　he　had　been　adroit　in　mentioning　the　fact　at　once。

〃Nice　smell；〃　he　said；　wrinkling　up　his　nose。　〃Fairly　good　stuff；　as　these　preparations　go。　The　cheaper　brands　don't　suit　every　skin。　Bring　it　out　in　a　rash　as　likely　as　not。　The　same　thing　with　face　powders　sometimes。〃

〃You　seem　to　be　very　knowledgeable　on　the　subject；〃　sai