Body in the Library - Agatha Christie [53]
“What? Not really?”
Sir Henry nodded. It was clear that this news was unpleasing to Hugo McLean. He scowled more than ever.
He said: “Don’t know why Addie sent for me. She seems not to have turned a hair over this business! Never looked better. Why send for me?”
Sir Henry asked with some curiosity:
“When did she send for you?”
“Oh—er—when all this happened.”
“How did you hear? Telephone or telegram?”
“Telegram.”
“As a matter of curiosity, when was it sent off?”
“Well—I don’t know exactly.”
“What time did you receive it?”
“I didn’t exactly receive it. It was telephoned on to me—as a matter of fact.”
“Why, where were you?”
“Fact is, I’d left London the afternoon before. I was staying at Danebury Head.”
“What—quite near here?”
“Yes, rather funny, wasn’t it? Got the message when I got in from a round of golf and came over here at once.”
Miss Marple gazed at him thoughtfully. He looked hot and uncomfortable. She said: “I’ve heard it’s very pleasant at Danebury Head, and not very expensive.”
“No, it’s not expensive. I couldn’t afford it if it was. It’s a nice little place.”
“We must drive over there one day,” said Miss Marple.
“Eh? What? Oh—er—yes, I should.” He got up. “Better take some exercise—get an appetite.”
He walked away stiffly.
“Women,” said Sir Henry, “treat their devoted admirers very badly.”
Miss Marple smiled but made no answer.
“Does he strike you as rather a dull dog?” asked Sir Henry. “I’d be interested to know.”
“A little limited in his ideas, perhaps,” said Miss Marple. “But with possibilities, I think—oh, definitely possibilities.”
Sir Henry in his turn got up.
“It’s time for me to go and do my stuff. I see Mrs. Bantry is on her way to keep you company.”
IV
Mrs. Bantry arrived breathless and sat down with a gasp.
She said:
“I’ve been talking to chambermaids. But it isn’t any good. I haven’t found out a thing more! Do you think that girl can really have been carrying on with someone without everybody in the hotel knowing all about it?”
“That’s a very interesting point, dear. I should say, definitely not. Somebody knows, depend upon it, if it’s true! But she must have been very clever about it.”
Mrs. Bantry’s attention had strayed to the tennis court. She said approvingly:
“Addie’s tennis is coming on a lot. Attractive young man, that tennis pro. Addie’s looking quite nice-looking. She’s still an attractive woman—I shouldn’t be at all surprised if she married again.”
“She’ll be a rich woman, too, when Mr. Jefferson dies,” said Miss Marple.
“Oh, don’t always have such a nasty mind, Jane! Why haven’t you solved this mystery yet? We don’t seem to be getting on at all. I thought you’d know at once.” Mrs. Bantry’s tone held reproach.
“No, no, dear. I didn’t know at once—not for some time.”
Mrs. Bantry turned startled and incredulous eyes on her.
“You mean you know now who killed Ruby Keene?”
“Oh yes,” said Miss Marple, “I know that!”
“But Jane, who is it? Tell me at once.”
Miss Marple shook her head very firmly and pursed up her lips.
“I’m sorry, Dolly, but that wouldn’t do at all.”
“Why wouldn’t it do?”
“Because you’re so indiscreet. You would go round telling everyone—or, if you didn’t tell, you’d hint.”
“No, I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t tell a soul.”
“People who use that phrase are always the last to live up to it. It’s no good, dear. There’s a long way to go yet. A great many things that are quite obscure. You remember when I was so against letting Mrs. Partridge collect for the Red Cross, and I couldn’t say why. The reason was that her nose had twitched in just the same way that that maid of mine, Alice, twitched her nose when I sent her out to pay the books. Always paid them a shilling or so short, and said ‘it could go on to the next week’s account,’ which, of course, was exactly what Mrs. Partridge did, only on a much larger scale. Seventy-five pounds it was she embezzled.”
“Never mind Mrs. Partridge,” said Mrs. Bantry.
“But I had to explain to you. And if you care I’ll give you a hint. The trouble in this case is that everybody has been much