Nemesis - Agatha Christie [43]
‘…although of course I expect it would be nicer for you to be with the others and to — ’
‘Oh yes, I think it would be better,’ said Miss Marple. ‘I shall know then what the plans are and what to do about things, and perhaps I could be of help in some way. One never knows. So thank you again very much. It will not be difficult, I expect, to get a room at the Golden Boar.’ She looked at Emlyn, who said reassuringly,
‘That’ll be all right. Several rooms have been vacated today. They won’t be full at all. Mrs Sandbourne, I think, has booked for all the party to stay there tonight, and tomorrow we shall see — well, we shall see how this all goes on.’
Goodbyes were said again and thanks. Emlyn Price took Miss Marple’s belongings and started out at a good striding pace.
‘It’s really only just round the corner, and then the first street to the left,’ he said.
‘Yes, I passed it yesterday, I think. Poor Miss Temple. I do hope she’s not badly hurt.’
‘I think she is rather,’ said Emlyn Price. ‘Of course, you know what doctors are, and hospital people. They say the same thing always: “as well as can be expected”. There’s no local hospital — they had to take her to Carristown which is about eight miles away. Anyway, Mrs Sandbourne will be back with the news by the time we’ve fixed you up at the hotel.’
They got there to find the tour assembled in the coffee room and coffee and morning buns and pastries were being served. Mr and Mrs Butler were talking at the moment.
‘Oh, it’s just too, too tragic this happening,’ said Mrs Butler. ‘Just too upsetting, isn’t it? Just when we were all so happy and enjoying everything so much. Poor Miss Temple. And I always thought she was very sure-footed. But there, you know, you never can tell, can you, Henry?’
‘No, indeed,’ said Henry. ‘No, indeed. I am wondering really — yes, our time’s very short you know — whether we hadn’t better — well, give up this tour at this point here. Not continue with it. It seems to me that there’s bound to be a bit of difficulty resuming things until we know definitely. If this was — well — I mean, if this should be so serious that it could prove fatal, there might — well — I mean there might have to be an inquest or something of that kind.’
‘Oh Henry, don’t say dreadful things like that!’
‘I’m sure,’ said Miss Cooke, ‘that you are being a little too pessimistic, Mr Butler. I am sure that things couldn’t be as serious as that.’
In his foreign voice Mr Caspar said: ‘But yes, they are serious. I hear yesterday. When Mrs Sandbourne talk on telephone to doctor. It is very, very serious. They say she has concussion bad — very bad. A special doctor he is coming to look at her and see if he can operate or if impossible. Yes — it is all very bad.’
‘Oh dear,’ said Miss Lumley. ‘If there’s any doubt, perhaps we ought to go home, Mildred. I must look up the trains, I think.’ She turned to Mrs Butler. ‘You see, I have made arrangements about my cats with the neighbours, and if I was delayed a day or two it might make great difficulties for everyone.’
‘Well, it’s no good our working ourselves up too much,’ said Mrs Riseley-Porter, in her deep, authoritative voice. ‘Joanna, put this bun in the waste-paper basket, will you? It is really quite uneatable. Most unpleasant jam. But I don’t want to leave it on my plate. It might make for bad feeling.’
Joanna got rid of the bun. She said:
‘Do you think it would be all right if Emlyn and I went out for a walk? I mean, just saw something of the town. It’s not much good our sitting about here, making gloomy remarks, is it? We can’t do anything.’
‘I think you’d be very wise to go out,’ said Miss Cooke.
‘Yes, you go along,’ said Miss Barrow before Mrs Riseley-Porter could speak.
Miss Cooke and Miss Barrow looked at each other and sighed, shaking their heads.
‘The grass was very slippery,’ said Miss Barrow. ‘I slid once or twice myself, you