Nemesis - Agatha Christie [44]
‘And the stones, too,’ said Miss Cooke. ‘Quite a shower of small stones fell down just as I was turning a corner on the path. Yes, one struck me on the shoulder quite sharply.’
II
Tea, coffee, biscuits and cakes despatched, everyone seemed somewhat dissociated and ill at ease. When a catastrophe has occurred, it is very difficult to know what is the proper way to meet it. Everyone had given their view, had expressed surprise and distress. They were now awaiting news and at the same time had a slight hankering after some form of sight-seeing, some interest to carry them through the morning. Lunch would not be served until one o’clock and they really felt that to sit around and repeat their same remarks would be rather a gloomy business.
Miss Cooke and Miss Barrow rose as one woman and explained that it was necessary for them to do a little shopping. One or two things they needed, and they also wished to go to the post office and buy stamps.
‘I want to send off one or two postcards. And I want to enquire about postal dues on a letter to China,’ said Miss Barrow.
‘And I want to match some wools,’ said Miss Cooke. ‘And also it seemed to me there was rather an interesting building on the other side of the Market Square.’
‘I think it would do us all good to get out,’ said Miss Barrow.
Colonel and Mrs Walker also rose, and suggested to Mr and Mrs Butler that they too might go out and see what there was to see. Mrs Butler expressed hopes of an antique shop.
‘Only I don’t really mean a real antique shop. More what you would call a junk shop. Sometimes you can pick up some really interesting things there.’
They all trooped out. Emlyn Price had already sidled to the door and disappeared in pursuit of Joanna without troubling to use conversation to explain his departure. Mrs Riseley-Porter, having made a belated attempt to call her niece back, said she thought that at least the lounge would be rather more pleasant to sit in. Miss Lumley agreed — Mr Caspar escorted the ladies with the air of a foreign equerry.
Professor Wanstead and Miss Marple remained.
‘I think myself,’ said Professor Wanstead, addressing Miss Marple, ‘that it would be pleasant to sit outside the hotel. There is a small terrace giving on the street. If I might persuade you?’
Miss Marple thanked him and rose to her feet. She had hardly exchanged a word so far with Professor Wanstead. He had several learned looking books with him, one of which he was usually perusing. Even in the coach he continued to try and read.
‘But perhaps you too want to shop,’ he said. ‘For myself, I would prefer to wait somewhere peacefully for the return of Mrs Sandbourne. It is important, I think, that we should know exactly what we are in for.’
‘I quite agree with you, as to that,’ said Miss Marple. ‘I did a certain amount of walking round the town yesterday and I don’t feel any necessity to do so again today. I’d rather wait here in case there is anything I can do to help. Not that I suppose there is, but one never knows.’
They moved together through the hotel door and round the corner to where there was a little square of garden with a raised stone walk close to the wall of the hotel and on which there were various forms of basket chairs. There was no one there at the moment so they sat down. Miss Marple looked thoughtfully at her vis-à-vis. At his corrugated and wrinkled face, his bushy brows, his luxuriant head of grey hair. He walked with a slight stoop. He had an interesting face, Miss Marple decided. His voice was dry and caustic, a professional man of some kind, she thought.
‘I am not wrong, am I,’ said Professor Wanstead. ‘You are Miss Jane Marple?’
‘Yes, I am Jane Marple.’
She was slightly surprised, though for no particular reason. They had not been long enough together for people to be identified by the other travellers. The last two nights she had not been with the rest of the party. It was quite natural.
‘I thought so,’ said Professor Wanstead, ‘from a description I have had of you.’
‘A description of me?’ Miss Marple