The Mirror Crack'd - Agatha Christie [87]
Cherry, however inadequate her housework, wanted to come. And she had qualities that to Miss Marple at this moment seemed of supreme importance.
Warm-heartedness, vitality, and a deep interest in everything that was going on.
‘I don’t want, of course,’ said Cherry, ‘to go behind Miss Knight’s back in any way.’
‘Never mind about Miss Knight,’ said Miss Marple, coming to a decision. ‘She’ll go off to someone called Lady Conway at a hotel in Llandudno — and enjoy herself thoroughly. We’ll have to settle a lot of details, Cherry, and I shall want to talk to your husband — but if you really think you’d be happy…’
‘It’d suit us down to the ground,’ said Cherry. ‘And you really can rely on me doing things properly. I’ll even use the dustpan and brush if you like.’
Miss Marple laughed at this supreme offer.
Cherry picked up the breakfast tray again.
‘I must get cracking. I got here late this morning — hearing about poor Arthur Badcock.’
‘Arthur Badcock? What happened to him?’
‘Haven’t you heard? He’s up at the police-station now,’ said Cherry. ‘They asked him if he’d come and “assist them with their inquiries” and you know what that always means.’
‘When did this happen?’ demanded Miss Marple.
‘This morning,’ said Cherry. ‘I suppose,’ she added, ‘that it got out about his once having been married to Marina Gregg.’
‘What!’ Miss Marple sat up again. ‘Arthur Badcock was once married to Marina Gregg?’
‘That’s the story,’ said Cherry. ‘Nobody had any idea of it. It was Mr Upshaw put it about. He’s been to the States once or twice on business for his firm and so he knows a lot of gossip from over there. It was a long time ago, you know. Really before she’d begun her career. They were only married a year or two and then she won a film award and of course he wasn’t good enough for her then, so they had one of these easy American divorces and he just faded out, as you might say. He’s the fading out kind, Arthur Badcock. He wouldn’t make a fuss. He changed his name and came back to England. It’s all ever so long ago. You wouldn’t think anything like that mattered nowadays, would you? Still, there it is. It’s enough for the police to go on, I suppose.’
‘Oh, no,’ said Miss Marple. ‘Oh no. This mustn’t happen. If I could only think what to do — Now, let me see.’ She made a gesture to Cherry. ‘Take the tray away, Cherry, and send Miss Knight up to me. I’m going to get up.’
Cherry obeyed. Miss Marple dressed herself with fingers that fumbled slightly. It irritated her when she found excitement of any kind affecting her. She was just hooking up her dress when Miss Knight entered.
‘Did you want me? Cherry said —’
Miss Marple broke in incisively.
‘Get Inch,’ she said.
‘I beg your pardon,’ said Miss Knight, startled.
‘Inch,’ said Miss Marple, ‘get Inch. Telephone for him to come at once.’
‘Oh, oh I see. You mean the taxi people. But his name’s Roberts, isn’t it?’
‘To me,’ said Miss Marple, ‘he is Inch and always will be. But anyway get him. He’s to come here at once.’
‘You want to go for a little drive?’
‘Just get him, can you?’ said Miss Marple. ‘And hurry, please.’
Miss Knight looked at her doubtfully and proceeded to do as she was told.
‘We are feeling all right, dear, aren’t we?’ she said anxiously.
‘We are both feeling very well,’ said Miss Marple, ‘and I am feeling particularly well. Inertia does not suit me, and never has. A practical course of action, that is what I have been wanting for a long time.’
‘Has that Mrs Baker been saying something that has upset you?’
‘Nothing has upset me,’ said Miss Marple. ‘I feel particularly well. I am annoyed with myself for being stupid. But really, until I got a hint from Dr Haydock this morning — now I wonder if I remember rightly. Where is that medical book of