加勒比海之谜(英文版)- 第27部分

Among　them　she　saw　Canon　Prescott　and　went　to　him。

〃What's　happening？〃

〃Oh；　Miss　Marple？　It's　Mrs。　Kendal。　Her　husband　woke　up；　found　she'd　slipped　out　of　bed　and　gone　out。　We're　looking　for　her。〃

He　hurried　on。　Miss　Marple　walked　more　slowly　after　him。　Where　had　Molly　gone？　Why？　Had　she　planned　this　deliberately；　planned　to　slip　away　as　soon　as　the　guard　on　her　was　relaxed；　and　while　her　husband　was　deep　in　sleep？　Miss　Marple　thought　it　was　probable。　But　why？　What　was　the　reason？　Was　there；　as　Esther　Walters　had　so　strongly　hinted；　some　other　man？　If　so；　who　could　that　man　be？　Or　was　there　some　more　sinister　reason？

Miss　Marple　walked　on；　looking　around　her；　peering　under　bushes。　Then　suddenly　she　heard　a　faint　call：　〃Here。。。　This　way。。。〃

The　cry　had　e　from　some　little　distance　beyond　the　hotel　grounds。　It　must　be；　thought　Miss　Marple　near　the　creek　of　water　that　ran　down　to　the　sea。　She　went　in　that　direction　as　briskly　as　she　could。

There　were　not　really　so　many　searchers　as　it　had　seemed　to　her　at　first。　Most　people　must　still　be　asleep　in　their　bungalows。

She　saw　a　place　on　the　creek　bank　where　there　were　people　standing。　Someone　pushed　past　her；　almost　knocking　her　down；　running　in　that　direction。　It　was　Tim　Kendal。　A　minute　or　two　later　she　heard　his　voice　cry　out：　〃Molly！　My　God；　Molly！〃

It　was　a　minute　or　two　before　Miss　Marple　was　able　to　join　the　little　group。

It　consisted　of　one　of　the　Cuban　waiters；　Evelyn　Hillingdon；　and　two　of　the　native　girls。　They　had　parted　to　let　Tim　through。

Miss　Marple　arrived　as　he　was　bending　over　to　look。

〃Molly。。。〃　He　slowly　dropped　on　to　his　knees。　Miss　Marple　saw　the　girl's　body　clearly；　lying　there　in　the　creek；　her　face　below　the　level　of　the　water；　her　golden　hair　spread　over　the　pale　green　embroidered　shawl　that　covered　her　shoulders。　With　the　leaves　and　rushes　of　the　creek；　it　seemed　almost　like　a　scene　from　Hamlet　with　Molly　as　the　dead　Ophelia。。。

As　Tim　stretched　out　a　hand　to　touch　her；　the　quiet；　monsense　Miss　Marple　took　charge　and　spoke　sharply　and　authoritatively。

'Don't　move　her；　Mr。　Kendal；〃　she　said。　〃She　mustn't　be　moved。〃

Tim　turned　a　dazed　face　up　to　her。

〃But　I　mustit's　Molly。　I　must。。。〃

Evelyn　Hillingdon　touched　his　shoulder。

〃She's　dead；　Tim。　I　didn't　move　her；　but　I　did　feel　her　pulse。〃

〃Dead？〃　said　Tim　unbelievingly。

〃Dead？　You　mean　she'sdrowned　herself？〃

〃I'm　afraid　so。　It　looks　like　it。〃

〃But　why？〃　A　great　cry　burst　from　the　young　man。　〃Why？　She　was　so　happy　this　evening。　Talking　about　what　we'd　do　tomorrow。　Why　should　this　terrible　death　wish　e　over　her　again？　Why　should　she　steal　away　as　she　didrush　out　into　the　night；　e　down　here　and　drown　herself？　What　despair　did　she　havewhat　miserywhy　couldn't　she　tell　me　anything？〃

〃I　don't　know；　my　dear；〃　said　Evelyn　gently。　〃I　don't　know。〃

Miss　Marple　said；　〃Somebody　had　better　get　Dr。　Graham。　And　someone　will　have　to　telephone　the　police。〃

〃The　police？〃　Tim　uttered　a　bitter　laugh。　〃What　good　will　they　be？〃

〃The　police　have　to　be　notified　in　a　case　of　suicide；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

Tim　rose　slowly　to　his　feet。

〃I'll　get　Graham；〃　he　said　heavily。　〃Perhapseven　nowhe　coulddo　something。〃

He　stumbled　away　in　the　direction　of　the　hotel。

Evelyn　Hillingdon　and　Miss　Marple　stood　side　by　side　looking　down　at　the　dead　girl。

Evelyn　shook　her　head。　〃It's　too　late。　She's　quite　cold。　She　must　have　been　dead　at　least　an　hour；　perhaps　more。　What　a　tragedy　it　all　is。　Those　two　always　seemed　so　happy。　I　suppose　she　was　always　unbalanced。〃

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　don't　think　she　was　unbalanced。〃

Evelyn　looked　at　her　curiously。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

The　moon　had　been　behind　a　cloud；　but　now　it　came　out　into　the　open。　It　shone　with　a　luminous　silvery　brightness　on　Molly's　outspread　hair。。。

Miss　Marple　gave　a　sudden　ejaculation。

She　bent　down；　peering；　then　stretched　out　her　hand　and　touched　the　golden　head。　She　spoke　to　Evelyn　Hillingdon；　and　her　voice　sounded　quite　different。

〃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　wen