Chapter 1 A House Gwenda Reed stood, shivering a little, on the quay-side. The doc s and the custo!

! sheds and all o" #ngland that she could see, were gently waving up and down. And it was in that !o!ent that she !ade her decision$the decision that was to lead to such very !o!entous events. %he wouldn&t go 'y the 'oat train to (ondon as she had planned. A"ter all, why should she) *o one was waiting "or her, no'ody e+pected her. %he had only ,ust got o"" that heaving crea ing 'oat -it had 'een an e+ceptionally rough three days through the .ay and up to /ly!outh0 and the last thing she wanted was to get into a heaving swaying train. %he would go to a hotel, a nice "ir! steady hotel standing on good solid ground. And she would get into a nice steady 'ed that didn&t crea and roll. And she would go to sleep, and the ne+t !orning$why, o" course$what a splendid idea1 %he would hire a car and she would drive slowly and without hurrying hersel" all through the %outh o" #ngland loo ing a'out "or a house$a nice house$the house that she and Giles had planned she should "ind. 2es, that was a splendid idea. 3n that way she would see so!ething o" #ngland$o" the #ngland that Giles had told her a'out and which she had never seen4 although, li e !ost *ew 5ealanders, she called it Ho!e. At the !o!ent, #ngland was not loo ing particularly attractive. 3t was a grey day with rain i!!inent and a sharp irritating wind 'lowing. /ly!outh, Gwenda thought, as she !oved "orward

o'ediently in the queue "or /assports and Custo!s, was pro'a'ly not the 'est o" #ngland. 6n the "ollowing !orning, however, her "eelings were entirely di""erent. The sun was shining. The view "ro! her window was attractive. And the universe in general was no longer waving and wo''ling. 3t had steadied down. This was #ngland at last and here she was, Gwenda Reed, young !arried wo!an o" twenty-one, on her travels. Giles&s return to #ngland was uncertain. He !ight "ollow her in a "ew wee s. 3t !ight 'e as long as si+ !onths. His suggestion had 'een that Gwenda should precede hi! to #ngland and should loo a'out "or a suita'le house. They 'oth thought it would 'e nice to have, so!ewhere, a per!anency. Giles&s ,o' would always entail a certain a!ount o" travelling. %o!eti!es Gwenda would co!e too4 so!eti!es the conditions would not 'e suita'le. .ut they 'oth li ed the idea o" having a ho!e$so!e place o" their own. Giles had inherited so!e "urniture "ro! an aunt recently, so that everything co!'ined to !a e the idea a sensi'le and practical one. %ince Gwenda and Giles were reasona'ly well o"" the prospect presented no di""iculties. Gwenda had de!urred at "irst at choosing a house on her own. &7e ought to do it together,& she had said. .ut Giles had said laughingly8 &3&! not !uch o" a hand at houses. 3" you li e it, 3 shall. A 'it o" a garden, o" course, and not so!e 'rand-new horror$and not too 'ig. %o!ewhere on the south coast was !y idea. At any rate, not too "ar inland.& &7as there any particular place)& Gwenda as ed. .ut Giles said &*o.& He&d 'een le"t an orphan young -they were 'oth orphans0 and had 'een passed around to various relations "or holidays, and no particular spot had any

particular association "or hi!. 3t was to 'e Gwenda&s house$and as "or waiting until they could choose it together, suppose he was held up "or si+ !onths) 7hat would Gwenda do with hersel" all that ti!e) Hang a'out in hotels) *o, she was to "ind a house and get settled in. &7hat you !ean is,& said Gwenda, &do all the wor 1& .ut she li ed the idea o" "inding a ho!e and having it all ready, cosy and lived in, "or when Giles ca!e 'ac . They had 'een !arried ,ust three !onths and she loved hi! very !uch. A"ter sending "or 'rea "ast in 'ed, Gwenda got up and arranged her plans. %he spent a day seeing /ly!outh which she en,oyed and on the "ollowing day she hired a co!"orta'le 9ai!ler car and a chau""eur and set o"" on her ,ourney through #ngland. The weather was good and she en,oyed her tour very !uch. %he saw several possi'le residences in 9evonshire 'ut nothing that she "elt was e+actly right. There was no hurry. %he would go on loo ing. %he learned to read 'etween the lines o" the house agents& enthusiastic descriptions and saved hersel" a certain nu!'er o" "ruitless errands. 3t was on a Tuesday evening a'out a wee later that the car ca!e gently down the curving hill road into 9ill!outh and on the outs irts o" that still char!ing seaside resort, passed a :or %ale 'oard where, through the trees, a gli!pse o" a s!all white ;ictorian villa could 'e seen.

3!!ediately Gwenda "elt a thro' o" appreciation$al!ost o" recognition. This was her house1 Already she was sure o" it. %he could picture the garden, the long windows$she was sure that the house was ,ust what she wanted. 3t was late in the day, so she put up at the Royal Clarence Hotel and went to the house agents whose na!e she had noted on the 'oard the "ollowing !orning. /resently, ar!ed with an order to view, she was standing in the old-"ashioned long drawing-roo! with its two :rench windows giving on to a "lagged terrace in "ront o" which a ind o" roc ery interspersed with "lowering shru's "ell sharply to a stretch o" lawn 'elow. Through the trees at the 'otto! o" the garden the sea could 'e seen. This is !y house, thought Gwenda. 3t&s ho!e. 3 "eel already as though 3 now every 'it o" it. The door opened and a tall !elancholy wo!an with a cold in the head entered, sni""ing. &<rs Hengrave) 3 have an order "ro! <essrs Gal'raith and /enderley. 3&! a"raid it&s rather early in the day$& <rs Hengrave, 'lowing her nose, said sadly that that didn&t !atter at all. The tour o" the house 'egan. 2es, it was ,ust right. *ot too large. A 'it old-"ashioned, 'ut she and Giles could put in another 'athroo! or two. The itchen could 'e !oderni=ed. 3t already had an Aga, "ortunately. 7ith a new sin and up-to-date equip!entThrough all Gwenda&s plans and preoccupations, the voice o" <rs Hengrave droned thinly on recounting the details o" the late <a,or Hengrave&s last illness. Hal" o" Gwenda attended to !a ing the requisite noises o"

condolence, sy!pathy and understanding. <rs Hengrave&s people all lived in >ent$an+ious she should co!e and settle near the!... the <a,or had 'een very "ond o" 9ill!outh, secretary "or !any years o" the Gol" Clu', 'ut she hersel"... &2es... 6" course... 9read"ul "or you... <ost natural... 2es, nursing ho!es are li e that... 6" course... 2ou !ust 'e...& And the other hal" o" Gwenda raced along in thought8 (inen cup'oard here, 3 e+pect... 2es. 9ou'le roo!$nice view o" sea$Giles will li e that. ?uite a use"ul little roo! here$Giles !ight have it as a dressing-roo!... .athroo!$ 3 e+pect the 'ath has a !ahogany surround$6h yes, it has1 How lovely$ and standing in the !iddle o" the "loor1 3 shan&t change that$it&s a period piece1 %uch an enor!ous 'ath1 6ne could have apples on the surround. And sail 'oats$and painted duc s. 2ou could pretend you were in the sea... 3 now8 we&ll !a e that dar 'ac spare roo! into a couple o" really up-to-date green and chro!iu! 'athroo!s $the pipes ought to 'e all right over the itchen$and eep this ,ust as it is... &/leurisy,& said <rs Hengrave. &Turning to dou'le pneu!onia on the third day $& &Terri'le,& said Gwenda. &3sn&t there another 'edroo! at the end o" this passage)& There was$and it was ,ust the sort o" roo! she had i!agined it would 'e$ al!ost round, with a 'ig 'ow window. %he&d have to do it up, o" course. 3t was in quite good condition, 'ut why were people li e <rs Hengrave so "ond o" that !ustard-cu!-'iscuit shade o" wall paint)

They retraced their attic&

steps along the corridor.

Gwenda

!ur!ured,

conscientiously, &%i+, no, seven 'edroo!s, counting the little one and the

The 'oards crea ed "aintly under her "eet. Already she "elt that it was she and not <rs Hengrave who lived here1 <rs Hengrave was an interloper$a wo!an who did up roo!s in !ustard-cu!-'iscuit colour and li ed a "rie=e o" wisteria in her drawing-roo!. Gwenda glanced down at the typewritten paper in her hand on which the details o" the property and the price as ed were given. 3n the course o" a "ew days Gwenda had 'eco!e "airly conversant with house values. The su! as ed was not large$o" course the house needed a certain a!ount o" !oderni=ation$'ut even then... And she noted the words &6pen to o""er&. <rs Hengrave !ust 'e very an+ious to go to >ent and live near &her people&... They were starting down the stairs when quite suddenly Gwenda "elt a wave o" irrational terror sweep over her. 3t was a sic ening sensation, and it passed al!ost as quic ly as it ca!e. 2et it le"t 'ehind it a new idea. &The house isn&t$haunted, is it)& de!anded Gwenda. <rs Hengrave, a step 'elow, and having ,ust got to the !o!ent in her narrative when <a,or Hengrave was sin ing "ast, loo ed up in an a""ronted !anner. &*ot that 3 a! aware o", <rs Reed. 7hy$has anyone$'een saying so!ething o" the ind)&

&2ou&ve never "elt or seen anything yoursel") *o'ody&s died here)& Rather an un"ortunate question, she thought, a split second o" a !o!ent too late, 'ecause presu!a'ly <a,or Hengrave$ &<y hus'and died in the %t <onica&s *ursing Ho!e,& said <rs Hengrave sti""ly. &6h, o" course. 2ou told !e so.& <rs Hengrave continued in the sa!e rather glacial !anner8 &3n a house which was presu!a'ly 'uilt a'out a hundred years ago, there would nor!ally 'e deaths during that period. <iss #lworthy "ro! who! !y dear hus'and acquired this house seven years ago, was in e+cellent health, and indeed planning to go a'road and do !issionary wor , and she did not !ention any recent de!ises in her "a!ily.& Gwenda hastened to soothe the !elancholy <rs Hengrave down. They were now once !ore in the drawing-roo!. 3t was a peace"ul and char!ing roo!, with e+actly the ind o" at!osphere that Gwenda coveted. Her !o!entary panic ,ust now see!ed quite inco!prehensi'le. 7hat had co!e over her) There was nothing wrong with the house. As ing <rs Hengrave i" she could ta e a loo at the garden, she went out through the :rench windows on to the terrace. There should 'e steps here, thought Gwenda, going down to the lawn. .ut instead there was a vast uprising o" "orsythia which at this particular place see!ed to have got a'ove itsel" and e""ectually shut out all view o" the sea.

Gwenda nodded to hersel". %he would alter all that. :ollowing <rs Hengrave, she went along the terrace and down so!e steps at the "ar side on to the lawn. %he noted that the roc ery was neglected and overgrown, and that !ost o" the "lowering shru's needed pruning. <rs Hengrave !ur!ured apologetically that the garden had 'een rather neglected. 6nly a'le to a""ord a !an twice a wee . And quite o"ten he never turned up. They inspected the s!all 'ut adequate itchen garden and returned to the house. Gwenda e+plained that she had other houses to see, and that though she li ed Hillside -what a co!!onplace na!e10 very !uch, she could not decide i!!ediately. <rs Hengrave parted "ro! her with a so!ewhat wist"ul loo and a last long lingering sni"". Gwenda returned to the agents, !ade a "ir! o""er su',ect to surveyor&s report and spent the rest o" the !orning wal ing round 9ill!outh. 3t was a char!ing and old-"ashioned little seaside town. At the "ar, &!odern& end, there were a couple o" new-loo ing hotels and so!e raw-loo ing 'ungalows, 'ut the geographical "or!ation o" the coast with the hills 'ehind had saved 9ill!outh "ro! undue e+pansion. A"ter lunch Gwenda received a telephone call "ro! the agents saying that <rs Hengrave accepted her o""er. 7ith a !ischievous s!ile on her lips Gwenda !ade her way to the post o""ice and despatched a ca'le to Giles.

Have 'ought a house. (ove. Gwenda. &That&ll tic le hi! up,& said Gwenda to hersel". &%how hi! that the grass doesn&t grow under !y "eet1& Chapter @ 7allpaper A !onth had passed and Gwenda had !oved into Hillside. Giles&s aunt&s "urniture had co!e out o" store and was arranged round the house. 3t was good quality old-"ashioned stu"". 6ne or two over-large wardro'es Gwenda had sold, 'ut the rest "itted in nicely and were in har!ony with the house. There were s!all gay papier!ache ta'les in the drawing-roo!, inlaid with !other-o"-pearl and painted with castles and roses. There was a pri! little wor -ta'le with a gathered sac underneath o" pure sil 4 there was a rosewood 'ureau and a !ahogany so"a ta'le. The so-called easy chairs Gwenda had relegated to various 'edroo!s and had 'ought two large squashy wells o" co!"ort "or hersel" and Giles to stand each side o" the "ireplace. The large chester"ield so"a was placed near the windows. :or curtains Gwenda had chosen old-"ashioned chint= o" pale eggshell 'lue with pri! urns o" roses and yellow 'irds on the!. The roo!, she now considered, was e+actly right. %he was hardly settled yet, since she had wor !en in the house still. They should have 'een out 'y now, 'ut Gwenda rightly esti!ated that until she hersel" ca!e into residence, they would not go.

The

itchen alterations were "inished, the new 'athroo!s nearly so. :or

"urther decorating Gwenda was going to wait a while. %he wanted ti!e to savour her new ho!e and decide on the e+act colour sche!es she wanted "or the 'edroo!s. The house was really in very good order and there was no need to do everything at once. 3n the itchen a <rs Coc er was now installed, a lady o" condescending graciousness, inclined to repulse Gwenda&s over-de!ocratic "riendliness, 'ut who, once Gwenda had 'een satis"actorily put in her place, was willing to un'end. 6n this particular !orning, <rs Coc er deposited a 'rea "ast tray on Gwenda&s nees, as she sat up in 'ed. &7hen there&s no gentle!an in the house,& <rs Coc er a""ir!ed, &a lady pre"ers her 'rea "ast in 'ed.& And Gwenda had 'owed to this supposedly #nglish enact!ent. &%cra!'led this !orning,& <rs Coc er o'served, re"erring to the eggs. &2ou said so!ething a'out "innan haddoc , 'ut you wouldn&t li e it in the 'edroo!. 3t leaves a s!ell. 3&! giving it to you "or your supper, crea!ed on toast.& &6h, than you, <rs Coc er.& <rs Coc er s!iled graciously and prepared to withdraw. Gwenda was not occupying the 'ig dou'le 'edroo!. That could wait until Giles returned. %he had chosen instead the end roo!, the one with the

rounded walls and the 'ow window. %he "elt thoroughly at ho!e in it and happy. (oo ing round her now, she e+clai!ed i!pulsively8 &3 do li e this roo!.& <rs Coc er loo ed round indulgently. &3t is quaite a naice roo!, !ada!, though s!all. .y the 'ars on the window 3 should say it had 'een the nursery at one ti!e.& &3 never thought o" that. /erhaps it has.& &Ah, well,& said <rs Coc er, with i!plication in her voice, and withdrew. &6nce we have a gentle!an in the house,& she see!ed to 'e saying, &who nows) A nursery !ay 'e needed.& Gwenda 'lushed. %he loo ed round the roo!. A nursery) 2es, it would 'e a nice nursery. %he 'egan "urnishing it in her !ind. A 'ig dolls& house there against the wall. And low cup'oards with toys in the!. A "ire 'urning cheer"ully in the grate and a tall guard round it with things airing on the rail. .ut not this hideous !ustard wall. *o, she would have a gay wallpaper. %o!ething 'right and cheer"ul. (ittle 'unches o" poppies alternating with 'unches o" corn"lowers... 2es, that would 'e lovely. %he&d try and "ind a wallpaper li e that. %he "elt sure she had seen one so!ewhere. 6ne didn&t need !uch "urniture in the roo!. There were two 'uilt-in cup'oards, 'ut one o" the!, a corner one, was loc ed and the ey lost. 3ndeed the whole thing had 'een painted over, so that it could not have 'een opened "or !any years. %he !ust get the !en to open it up 'e"ore they le"t. As it was, she hadn&t got roo! "or all her clothes.

%he "elt !ore at ho!e every day in Hillside. Hearing a throat 'eing ponderously cleared and a short dry cough through the open window, she hurried over her 'rea "ast. :oster, the te!pera!ental ,o''ing gardener, who was not always relia'le in his pro!ises, !ust 'e here today as he had said he would 'e. Gwenda 'athed, dressed, put on a tweed s irt and a sweater and hurried out into the garden. :oster was at wor outside the drawing-roo! window. Gwenda&s "irst action had 'een to get a path !ade down through the roc ery at this point. :oster had 'een recalcitrant, pointing out that the "orsythia would have to go and the weigela, and the! there lilacs, 'ut Gwenda had 'een ada!ant, and he was now al!ost enthusiastic a'out his tas . He greeted her with a chuc le. &(oo s li e you&re going 'ac Gwenda &!iss&.0 &6ld ti!es) How)& :oster tapped with his spade. &3 co!e on the old steps$see, that&s where they went$,ust as you want &e! now. Then so!eone planted the! over and covered the! up.& &3t was very stupid o" the!,A said Gwenda. &2ou want a vista down to the lawn and the sea "ro! the drawing-roo! window.& to old ti!es, !iss.& -He persisted in calling

:oster was so!ewhat ha=y a'out a vista$'ut he gave a cautious and grudging assent. &3 don&t say, !ind you, that it won&t 'e an i!prove!ent... Gives you a view$ and the! shru's !ade it dar in the drawing-roo!. %till they was growing a treat$never seen a healthier lot o" "orsythia. (ilacs isn&t !uch, 'ut the! wiglers costs !oney$and !ind you$they&re too old to replant.& &6h, 3 now. .ut this is !uch, !uch nicer.& &7ell.& :oster scratched his head. &<ay'e it is.& &3t&s right,& said Gwenda, nodding her head. %he as ed suddenly, &7ho lived here 'e"ore the Hengraves) They weren&t here very long, were they)& &<atter o" si+ years or so. 9idn&t 'elong. A"ore the!) The <iss #lworthys. ;ery churchy "ol . (ow church. <issions to the heathen. 6nce had a 'lac clergy!an staying here, they did. :our o" &e! there was, and their 'rother$ 'ut he didn&t get !uch o" a loo -in with all those wo!en. .e"ore the!$now let !e see, it was <rs :indeyson$ah1 she was the real gentry, she was. %he 'elonged. 7as living here a"ore 3 was 'orn.& &9id she die here)& as ed Gwenda. &9ied out in #gypt or so!e such place. .ut they 'rought her ho!e. %he&s 'uried up to churchyard. %he planted that !agnolia and those la'iurna!s. And those pittispores. :ond o" shru's, she was.& :oster continued8 &7eren&t none o" those new houses 'uilt up along the hill then. Countri"ied, it was. *o cine!a then. And none o" the! new shops. 6r

that there parade on the "ront1 His tone held the disapproval o" the aged "or all innovations. &Changes,& he said with a snort. &*othing 'ut changes.& &3 suppose things are 'ound to change,& said Gwenda. &And a"ter all there are lots o" i!prove!ents nowadays, aren&t there)& &%o they say. 3 ain&t noticed the!. Changes1& He gestured towards the !acrocarpa hedge on the le"t through which the glea! o" a 'uilding showed. &Bsed to 'e the cottage hospital, that used,& he said. &*ice place and handy. Then they goes and 'uilds a great place near to a !ile out o" town. Twenty !inutes& wal i" you want to get there on a visiting day$or threepence on the 'us.& He gestured once !ore towards the hedge... &3t&s a girls& school now. <oved in ten years ago. Changes all the ti!e. /eople ta es a house nowadays and lives in it ten or twelve years and then o"" they goes. Restless. 7hat&s the good o" that) 2ou can&t do any proper planting unless you can loo well ahead.& Gwenda loo ed a""ectionately at the !agnolia. &(i e <rs :indeyson,A she said. &Ah. %he was the proper ind. Co!e here as a 'ride, she did. .rought up her children and !arried the!, 'uried her hus'and, had her grandchildren down in the su!!ers, and too o"" in the end when she was nigh on eighty.& :oster&s tone held war! approval. Gwenda went 'ac into the house s!iling a little. %he interviewed the wor !en, and then returned to the drawing-roo! where she sat down at the des and wrote so!e letters. A!ongst the

correspondence that re!ained to 'e answered was a letter "ro! so!e cousins o" Giles who lived in (ondon. Any ti!e she wanted to co!e to (ondon they 'egged her to co!e and stay with the! at their house in Chelsea. Ray!ond 7est was a well- nown -rather than popular0 novelist and his wi"e Coan, Gwenda new, was a painter. 3t would 'e "un to go and stay with the!, though pro'a'ly they would thin she was a !ost terri'le /hilistine. *either Giles nor 3 are a 'it high'row, re"lected Gwenda. A sonorous gong 'oo!ed ponti"ically "ro! the hall. %urrounded 'y a great deal o" carved and tortured 'lac wood, the gong had 'een one o" Giles&s aunt&s pri=ed possessions. <rs Coc er hersel" appeared to derive distinct pleasure "ro! sounding it and always gave "ull !easure. Gwenda put her hands to her ears and got up. %he wal ed quic ly across the drawing-roo! to the wall 'y the "ar window and then 'rought hersel" up short with an e+cla!ation o" annoyance. 3t was the third ti!e she&d done that. %he always see!ed to e+pect to 'e a'le to wal through solid wall into the dining-roo! ne+t door. %he went 'ac across the roo! and out into the "ront hall and then round the angle o" the drawing-roo! wall and so along to the dining-roo!. 3t was a long way round, and it would 'e annoying in winter, "or the "ront hall was draughty and the only central heating was in the drawing-roo! and dining-roo! and two 'edroo!s upstairs. 3 don&t see, thought Gwenda to hersel" as she sat down at the char!ing %heraton dining ta'le which she had ,ust 'ought at vast e+panse in lieu o" Aunt (avender&s !assive square !ahogany one, 3 don&t see why 3 shouldn&t

have a doorway !ade through "ro! the drawing-roo! to the dining-roo!. 3&ll tal to <r %i!s a'out it when he co!es this a"ternoon. <r %i!s was the 'uilder and decorator, a persuasive !iddle-aged !an with a hus y voice and a little note'oo which he always held at the ready, to ,ot down any e+pensive idea that !ight occur to his patrons. <r %i!s, when consulted, was eenly appreciative. &%i!plest thing in the world, <rs Reed$and a great i!prove!ent, i" 3 !ay say so.& &7ould it 'e very e+pensive)& Gwenda was 'y now a little dou't"ul o" <r %i!s&s assents and enthusias!s. There had 'een a little unpleasantness over various e+tras not included in <r %i!s&s original esti!ate. &A !ere tri"le,& said <r %i!s, his hus y voice indulgent and reassuring. Gwenda loo ed !ore dou't"ul than ever. 3t was <r %i!s&s tri"les that she had learnt to distrust. His straight"orward esti!ates were studiously !oderate. &3&ll tell you what, <rs Reed,& said <r %i!s coa+ingly, &3&ll get Taylor to have a loo when he&s "inished with the dressing-roo! this a"ternoon, and then 3 can give you an e+act idea. 9epends what the wall&s li e.& Gwenda assented. %he wrote to Coan 7est than ing her "or her invitation, 'ut saying that she would not 'e leaving 9ill!outh at present since she wanted to eep an eye on the wor !en. Then she went out "or a wal along the "ront and en,oyed the sea 'ree=e. %he ca!e 'ac into the drawing-roo!, and Taylor, <r %i!s&s leading wor !an, straightened up "ro! the corner and greeted her with a grin.

&7on&t 'e no di""iculty a'out this, <rs Reed,& he said. &.een a door here 'e"ore, there has. %o!e'ody as didn&t want it has ,ust had it plastered over.& Gwenda was agreea'ly surprised. How e+traordinary, she thought, that 3&ve always see!ed to "eel there was a door there. %he re!e!'ered the con"ident way she had wal ed to it at lunch-ti!e. And re!e!'ering it, quite suddenly, she "elt a tiny shiver o" uneasiness. 7hen you ca!e to thin o" it, it was really rather odd... 7hy should she have "elt so sure that there was a door there) There was no sign o" it on the outside wall. How had she guessed$ nown$that there was a door ,ust there) 6" course it would 'e convenient to have a door through to the dining-roo!, 'ut why had she always gone so unerringly to that one particular spot) Anywhere on the dividing wall would have done equally well, 'ut she had always gone auto!atically, thin ing o" other things, to the one place where a door had actually 'een. 3 hope, thought Gwenda uneasily, that 3&! not clairvoyant or anything... There had never 'een anything in the least psychic a'out her. %he wasn&t that ind o" person. 6r was she) That path outside "ro! the terrace down through the shru''ery to the lawn. Had she in so!e way nown it was there when she was so insistent on having it !ade in that particular place) /erhaps 3 a! a 'it psychic, thought Gwenda uneasily. 6r is it so!ething to do with the house) 7hy had she as ed <rs Hengrave that day i" the house was haunted)

3t wasn&t haunted1 3t was a darling house1 There couldn&t 'e anything wrong with the house. 7hy, <rs Hengrave had see!ed quite surprised 'y the idea. 6r had there 'een a trace o" reserve, o" wariness, in her !anner) Good Heavens, 3&! 'eginning to i!agine things, thought Gwenda. %he 'rought her !ind 'ac with an e""ort to her discussion with Taylor. &There&s one other thing,& she added. &6ne o" the cup'oards in !y roo! upstairs is stuc . 3 want to get it opened.& The !an ca!e up with her and e+a!ined the door. &3t&s 'een painted over !ore than once,& he said. &3&ll get the !en to get it open "or you to!orrow i" that will do.& Gwenda acquiesced and Taylor went away. That evening Gwenda "elt ,u!py and nervous. %itting in the drawing-roo! and trying to read, she was aware o" every crea o" the "urniture. 6nce or twice she loo ed over her shoulder and shivered. %he told hersel" repeatedly that there was nothing in the incident o" the door and the path. They were ,ust coincidences. 3n any case they were the result o" plain co!!on sense. 7ithout ad!itting it to hersel", she "elt nervous o" going up to 'ed. 7hen she "inally got up and turned o"" the lights and opened the door into the hall, she "ound hersel" dreading to go up the stairs. %he al!ost ran up the! in her haste, hurried along the passage and opened the door o" her roo!. 6nce inside she at once "elt her "ears cal!ed and appeased. %he loo ed round the roo! a""ectionately. %he "elt sa"e in here, sa"e and happy. 2es, now she was here, she was sa"e. -%a"e "ro! what, you idiot) she as ed hersel".0 %he

loo ed at her py,a!as spread out on the 'ed and her 'edroo! slippers 'elow the!. Really, Gwenda, you !ight 'e si+ years old1 2ou ought to have 'unny shoes, with ra''its on the!. %he got into 'ed with a sense o" relie" and was soon asleep. The ne+t !orning she had various !atters to see to in the town. 7hen she ca!e 'ac it was lunch-ti!e. &The !en have got the cup'oard open in your 'edroo!, !ada!,& said <rs Coc er as she 'rought in the delicately "ried sole, the !ashed potatoes and the crea!ed carrots. &6h good,A said Gwenda. %he was hungry and en,oyed her lunch. A"ter having co""ee in the drawingroo!, she went upstairs to her 'edroo!. Crossing the roo! she pulled open the door o" the corner cup'oard. Then she uttered a sudden "rightened little cry and stood staring. The inside o" the cup'oard revealed the original papering o" the wall, which elsewhere had 'een done over in the yellowish wall paint. The roo! had once 'een gaily papered in a "loral design, a design o" little 'unches o" scarlet poppies alternating with 'unches o" 'lue corn"lowers... Gwenda stood there staring a long ti!e, then she went sha ily over to the 'ed and sat down on it.

Here she was in a house she had never 'een in 'e"ore, in a country she had never visited$and only two days ago she had lain in 'ed i!agining a paper "or this very roo!$ and the paper she had i!agined corresponded e+actly with the paper that had once hung on the walls. 7ild "rag!ents o" e+planation whirled round in her head. 9unne, #+peri!ent with Ti!e-seeing "orward instead o" 'ac ... %he could e+plain the garden path and the connecting door as coincidence$ 'ut there couldn&t 'e coincidence a'out this. 2ou couldn&t conceiva'ly i!agine a wallpaper o" such a distinctive design and then "ind one e+actly as you had i!agined it... *o, there was so!e e+planation that eluded her and that$yes, "rightened her. #very now and then she was seeing, not "orward, 'ut 'ac $'ac to so!e "or!er state o" the house. Any !o!ent she !ight see so!ething !ore$so!ething she didn&t want to see... The house "rightened her... .ut was it the house or hersel") %he didn&t want to 'e one o" those people who saw things... %he drew a long 'reath, put on her hat and coat and slipped quic ly out o" the house. At the post o""ice she sent the "ollowing telegra!8 7est, 1D Addway %quare Chelsea (ondon. <ay 3 change !y !ind and co!e to you to!orrow. Gwenda. %he sent it reply paid.

Chapter E &Cover her "ace...& Ray!ond 7est and his wi"e did all they could to !a e young Giles&s wi"e "eel welco!e. 3t was not their "ault that Gwenda "ound the! secretly rather alar!ing. Ray!ond, with his odd appearance, rather li e a pouncing raven, his sweep o" hair and his sudden crescendos o" quite inco!prehensi'le conversation, le"t Gwenda round-eyed and nervous. .oth he and Coan see!ed to tal a language o" their own. Gwenda had never 'een plunged in a high'row at!osphere 'e"ore and practically all its ter!s were strange. &7e&ve planned to ta e you to a show or two,& said Ray!ond whilst Gwenda was drin ing gin and rather wishing she could have had a cup o" tea a"ter her ,ourney. Gwenda 'rightened up i!!ediately. &The .allet tonight at %adler&s 7ells, and to!orrow we&ve got a 'irthday party on "or !y quite incredi'le Aunt Cane$the 9uchess o" <al"i with Gielgud, and on :riday you si!ply !ust see They 7al ed without :eet. Translated "ro! the Russian$a'solutely the !ost signi"icant piece o" dra!a "or the last twenty years. 3t&s at the little 7it!ore Theatre.& Gwenda e+pressed hersel" grate"ul "or these plans "or her entertain!ent. A"ter all, when Giles ca!e ho!e, they would go together to the !usical shows and all that. %he "linched slightly at the prospect o" They 7al ed without :eet, 'ut supposed she !ight en,oy it-only the point a'out &signi"icant& plays was that you usually didn&t. &2ou&ll adore !y Aunt Cane,& said Ray!ond. &%he&s what 3 should descri'e as a per"ect /eriod /iece. ;ictorian to the core. All her dressing-ta'les have

their legs swathed in chint=. %he lives in a village, the ind o" village where nothing ever happens, e+actly li e a stagnant pond.& &%o!ething did happen there once,& his wi"e said drily. &A !ere dra!a o" passion$crude$no su'tlety to it.& &2ou en,oyed it "right"ully at the ti!e,& Coan re!inded hi! with a slight twin le. &3 so!eti!es en,oy playing village cric et,& said Ray!ond, with dignity. &Anyway, Aunt Cane distinguished hersel" over that !urder.& &6h, she&s no "ool. %he adores pro'le!s.& &/ro'le!s)& said Gwenda, her !ind "lying to arith!etic. Ray!ond waved a hand. &Any ind o" pro'le!. 7hy the grocer&s wi"e too her u!'rella to the church social on a "ine evening. 7hy a gill o" pic led shri!ps was "ound where it was. 7hat happened to the ;icar&s surplice. All grist to !y Aunt Cane&s !ill. %o i" you&ve any pro'le! in your li"e, put it to her, Gwenda. %he&ll tell you the answer.& He laughed and Gwenda laughed too, 'ut not very heartily. %he was introduced to Aunt Cane, otherwise <iss <arple, on the "ollowing day. <iss <arple was an attractive old lady, tall and thin, with pin chee s and 'lue eyes, and a gentle, rather "ussy !anner. Her 'lue eyes o"ten had a little twin le in the!.

A"ter an early dinner at which they dran Aunt Cane&s health, they all went o"" to His <a,esty&s Theatre. Two e+tra !en, an elderly artist and a young 'arrister were in the party. The elderly artist devoted hi!sel" to Gwenda and the young 'arrister divided his attentions 'etween Coan and <iss <arple whose re!ar s he see!ed to en,oy very !uch. At the theatre, however, this arrange!ent was reversed. Gwenda sat in the !iddle o" the row 'etween Ray!ond and the 'arrister. The lights went down and the play 'egan. 3t was super'ly acted and Gwenda en,oyed it very !uch. %he had not seen very !any "irst-rate theatrical productions. The play drew to a close, ca!e to that supre!e !o!ent o" horror. The actor&s voice ca!e over the "ootlights "illed with the tragedy o" a warped and perverted !entality. &Cover her "ace. <ine eyes da==le, she died young...& Gwenda screa!ed. %he sprang up "ro! her seat, pushed 'lindly past the others out into the aisle, through the e+it and up the stairs and so to the street. %he did not stop, even then, 'ut hal" wal ed, hal" ran, in a 'lind panic up the Hay!ar et. 3t was not until she had reached /iccadilly that she noticed a "ree ta+i cruising along, hailed it and, getting in, gave the address o" the Chelsea house. 7ith "u!'ling "ingers she got out !oney, paid the ta+i and went up the steps. The servant who let her in glanced at her in surprise. &2ou&ve co!e 'ac early, !iss. 9idn&t you "eel well)&

&3$no, yes$3$3 "elt "aint& &7ould you li e anything, !iss) %o!e 'randy)& &*o, nothing. 3&ll go straight up to 'ed.& %he ran up the stairs to avoid "urther questions. %he pulled o"" her clothes, le"t the! on the "loor in a heap and got into 'ed. %he lay there shivering, her heart pounding, her eyes staring at the ceiling. %he did not hear the sound o" "resh arrivals downstairs, 'ut a"ter a'out "ive !inutes the door opened and <iss <arple ca!e in. %he had two hot-water 'ottles tuc ed under her ar! and a cup in her hand. Gwenda sat up in 'ed, trying to stop her shivering. &6h, <iss <arple, 3&! "right"ully sorry. 3 don&t now what$it was aw"ul o" !e. Are they very annoyed with !e)& &*ow don&t worry, !y dear child,& said <iss <arple. &Cust tuc yoursel" up war!ly with these hot-water 'ottles.& &3 don&t really need a hot-water 'ottle.& &6h yes, you do. That&s right. And now drin this cup o" tea...& 3t was hot and strong and "ar too "ull o" sugar, 'ut Gwenda dran o'ediently. The shivering was less acute now. it

&Cust lie down now and go to sleep,& said <iss <arple. &2ou&ve had a shoc , you now. 7e&ll tal a'out it in the !orning. 9on&t worry a'out anything. Cust go to sleep.& %he drew the covers up, s!iled, patted Gwenda and went out. 9ownstairs Ray!ond was saying irrita'ly to Coan8 &7hat on earth was the !atter with the girl) 9id she "eel ill, or what)& &<y dear Ray!ond, 3 don&t now, she ,ust screa!ed1 3 suppose the play was a 'it too !aca're "or her.& &7ell, o" course 7e'ster is a 'it grisly. .ut 3 shouldn&t have thought$& He 'ro e o"" as <iss <arple ca!e into the roo!. &3s she all right)& &2es, 3 thin so. %he&d had a 'ad shoc , you now.& &%hoc ) Cust seeing a Caco'ean dra!a)& &3 thin there !ust 'e a little !ore to it than that,& said <iss <arple

thought"ully. Gwenda&s 'rea "ast was sent up to her. %he dran so!e co""ee and ni''led a little piece o" toast. 7hen she got up and ca!e downstairs, Coan had gone to her studio, Ray!ond was shut up in his wor roo! and only <iss <arple was sitting 'y the window, which had a view over the river4 she was 'usily engaged in nitting. %he loo ed up with a placid s!ile as Gwenda entered.

&Good !orning, !y dear. 2ou&re "eeling 'etter, 3 hope.& &6h yes, 3&! quite all right. How 3 could !a e such an utter idiot o" !ysel" last night, 3 don&t now. Are they$are they very !ad with !e)& &6h no, !y dear. They quite understand.& &Bnderstand what)& <iss <arple glanced up over her nitting. &That you had a 'ad shoc last night.& %he added gently8 &Hadn&t you 'etter tell !e all a'out it)& Gwenda wal ed restlessly up and down. &3 thin 3&d 'etter go and see a psychiatrist or so!eone.& &There are e+cellent !ental specialists in (ondon, o" course. .ut are you sure it is necessary)& &7ell$3 thin 3&! going !ad... 3 !ust 'e going !ad.& An elderly parlour-!aid entered the roo! with a telegra! on a salver which she handed to Gwenda. &The 'oy wants to now i" there&s an answer, !a&a!)&

Gwenda tore it open. 3t had 'een retelegraphed on "ro! 9ill!outh. %he stared at it "or a !o!ent or two unco!prehendingly, then screwed it into a 'all. &There&s no answer,& she said !echanically. The !aid le"t the roo!. &*ot 'ad news, 3 hope, dear)& &3t&s Giles$!y hus'and. He&s "lying ho!e. He&ll 'e here in a wee .& Her voice was 'ewildered and !isera'le. <iss <arple gave a gentle little cough. &7ell$surely$that is very nice, isn&t it)& &3s it) 7hen 3&! not sure i" 3&! !ad or not) 3" 3&! !ad 3 ought never to have !arried Giles. And the house and everything. 3 can&t go 'ac there. 6h, 3 don&t now what to do.& <iss <arple patted the so"a invitingly. &*ow suppose you sit down here, dear, and ,ust tell !e all a'out it.& 3t was with a sense o" relie" that Gwenda accepted the invitation. %he poured out the whole story, starting with her "irst view o" Hillside and going on to the incidents that had "irst pu==led her and then worried her.

&And so 3 got rather "rightened,A she ended. &And 3 thought 3&d co!e up to (ondon$get away "ro! it all. 6nly, you see, 3 couldn&t get away "ro! it. 3t "ollowed !e. (ast night$& she shut her eyes and gulped re!iniscently. &(ast night)& pro!pted <iss <arple. &3 dare say you won&t 'elieve this,& said Gwenda, spea ing very "ast. &2ou&ll thin 3&! hysterical or queer or so!ething. 3t happened quite suddenly, right at the end. 3&d en,oyed the play. 3&d never thought once o" the house. And then it ca!e$out o" the 'lue$when he said those words$& %he repeated in a low quivering voice8 &Cover her "ace, !ine eyes da==le, she died young.& &3 was 'ac there$on the stairs, loo ing down on the hall through the

'anisters, and 3 saw her lying there. %prawled out$dead. Her hair all golden and her "ace all$all 'lue1 %he was dead, strangled, and so!eone was saying those words in that sa!e horri'le gloating way$and 3 saw his hands $grey, wrin led$not hands$!on ey&s paws... 3t was horri'le, 3 tell you. %he was dead...& <iss <arple as ed gently8 &7ho was dead)& The answer ca!e 'ac quic and !echanical. &Helen...& Chapter F Helen) :or a !o!ent Gwenda stared at <iss <arple, then she pushed 'ac the hair "ro! her "orehead.

&7hy did 3 say that)&she said. &7hy did 3 say Helen) 3 don&t now any Helen1& %he dropped her hands with a gesture o" despair. &2ou see,A she said, &3&! !ad1 3 i!agine things1 3 go a'out seeing things that aren&t there. :irst it was only wallpapers$'ut now it&s dead 'odies. %o 3&! getting worse.& &*ow don&t rush to conclusions, !y dear$& &6r else it&s the house. The house is haunted$or 'ewitched or so!ething... 3 see things that have happened there$or else 3 see things that are going to happen there$and that would 'e worse. /erhaps a wo!an called Helen is going to 'e !urdered there... 6nly 3 don&t see i" it&s the house that&s haunted why 3 should see these aw"ul things when 3 a! away "ro! it. %o 3 thin really that it !ust 'e !e that&s going queer. And 3&d 'etter go and see a psychiatrist at once$this !orning.& &7ell, o" course, Gwenda dear, you can always do that when you&ve e+hausted every other line o" approach, 'ut 3 always thin !ysel" that it&s 'etter to e+a!ine the si!plest and !ost co!!onplace e+planations "irst. (et !e get the "acts quite clear. There were three de"inite incidents that upset you. A path in the garden that had 'een planted over 'ut that you "elt was there, a door that had 'een 'ric ed up, and a wallpaper which you i!agined correctly and in detail without having seen it) A! 3 right)& &2es.& &7ell, the easiest, the !ost natural e+planation would 'e that you had seen the! 'e"ore.&

&3n another li"e, you !ean)& &7ell no, dear. 3 !eant in this li"e. 3 !ean that they !ight 'e actual !e!ories.& &.ut 3&ve never 'een in #ngland until a !onth ago, <iss <arple.& &2ou are quite sure o" that, !y dear)& &6" course 3&! sure. 3&ve lived near Christchurch in *ew 5ealand all !y li"e.& &7ere you 'orn there)& &*o, 3 was 'orn in 3ndia. <y "ather was a .ritish Ar!y o""icer. <y !other died a year or two a"ter 3 was 'orn and he sent !e 'ac to her people in *ew 5ealand to 'ring up. Then he hi!sel" died a "ew years later.& &2ou don&t re!e!'er co!ing "ro! 3ndia to *ew 5ealand)& &*ot really. 3 do re!e!'er, "right"ully vaguely, 'eing on a 'oat. A round window thing$a porthole, 3 suppose. And a !an in white uni"or! with a red "ace and 'lue eyes, and a !ar on his chin$a scar, 3 suppose. He used to toss !e up in the air and 3 re!e!'er 'eing hal" "rightened and hal" loving it. .ut it&s all very "rag!entary.& &9o you re!e!'er a nurse$or an ayah)& &*ot an ayah$*annie. 3 re!e!'er *annie 'ecause she stayed "or so!e ti!e$until 3 was "ive years old. %he cut duc s out o" paper. 2es, she was on

the 'oat. %he scolded !e when 3 cried 'ecause the Captain issed !e and 3 didn&t li e his 'eard.& &*ow that&s very interesting, dear, 'ecause you see you are !i+ing up two di""erent voyages. 3n one, the Captain had a 'eard and in the other he had a red "ace and a scar on his chin.& &2es,& Gwenda considered, &3 suppose 3 !ust 'e.& &3t see!s possi'le to !e,& said <iss <arple, &that when your !other died, your "ather 'rought you to #ngland with hi! "irst, and that you actually lived at this house, Hillside. 2ou&ve told !e, you now, that the house "elt li e ho!e to you as soon as you got inside it. And that roo! you chose to sleep in, it was pro'a'ly your nursery$& &3t was a nursery. There were 'ars on the windows.& &2ou see) 3t had this pretty gay paper o" corn"lowers and poppies. Children re!e!'er their nursery walls very well. 3&ve always re!e!'ered the !auve irises on !y nursery walls and yet 3 'elieve it was repapered when 3 was only three.& &And that&s why 3 thought at once o" the toys, the dolls& house and the toy cup'oards)& &2es. And the 'athroo!. The 'ath with the !ahogany surround. 2ou told !e that you thought o" sailing duc s in it as soon as you saw it.& Gwenda said thought"ully. &3t&s true that 3 see!ed to now right away ,ust where everything was$the itchen and the linen cup'oard. And that 3 ept

thin ing there was a door through "ro! the drawing-roo! to the dining-roo!. .ut surely it&s quite i!possi'le that 3 should co!e to #ngland and actually 'uy the identical house 3&d lived in long ago)& &3t&s not i!possi'le, !y dear. 3t&s ,ust a very re!ar a'le coincidence$and re!ar a'le coincidences do happen. 2our hus'and wanted a house on the south coast, you were loo ing "or one, and you passed a house that stirred !e!ories, and attracted you. 3t was the right si=e and a reasona'le price and so you 'ought it. *o, it&s not too wildly i!pro'a'le. Had the house 'een !erely what is called -perhaps rightly0 a haunted house, you would have reacted di""erently, 3 thin . .ut you had no "eeling o" violence or repulsion e+cept, so you have told !e, at one very de"inite !o!ent, and that was when you were ,ust starting to co!e down the staircase and loo ing down into the hall.& %o!e o" the scared e+pression ca!e 'ac into Gwenda&s eyes. %he said8 &2ou !ean$that$that Helen$that that&s true too)& <iss <arple said very gently8 &7ell, 3 thin so, !y dear... 3 thin we !ust "ace the position that i" the other things are !e!ories, that is a !e!ory too...& &That 3 really saw so!eone illed$strangled$and lying there dead)& &3 don&t suppose you new consciously that she was strangled, that was

suggested 'y the play last night and "its in with your adult recognition o" what a 'lue convulsed "ace !ust !ean. 3 thin a very young child, creeping down the stairs, would reali=e violence and death and evil and associate the! with a certain series o" words$"or 3 thin there&s no dou't that the !urderer actually said those words. 3t would 'e a very severe shoc to a child. Children are odd little creatures. 3" they are 'adly "rightened, especially 'y so!ething

they don&t understand, they don&t tal a'out it. They 'ottle it up. %ee!ingly, perhaps, they "orget it. .ut the !e!ory is still there deep down.& Gwenda drew a deep 'reath. &And you thin that&s what happened to !e) .ut why don&t 3 re!e!'er it all now)& &6ne can&t re!e!'er to order. And o"ten when one tries to, the !e!ory goes "urther away. .ut 3 thin there are one or two indications that that is what did happen. :or instance when you told !e ,ust now a'out your e+perience in the theatre last night you used a very revealing turn o" words. 2ou said you see!ed to 'e loo ing Gthrough the 'anistersG$'ut nor!ally, you now, one doesn&t loo down into a hall through the 'anisters 'ut over the!. 6nly a child would loo through.& &That&s clever o" you,& said Gwenda appreciatively. &These little things are very signi"icant.& &.ut who was Helen)& as ed Gwenda in a 'ewildered way. &Tell !e, !y dear, are you still quite sure it was Helen)& &2es... 3t&s "right"ully odd, 'ecause 3 don&t now who GHelenG is$'ut at the sa!e ti!e 3 do now$3 !ean 3 now that it was GHelenG lying there... How a! 3 going to "ind out !ore)& &7ell, 3 thin the o'vious thing to do is to "ind out de"initely i" you ever were in #ngland as a child, or i" you could have 'een. 2our relatives$& Gwenda interrupted. &Aunt Alison. %he would now, 3&! sure.&

&Then 3 should write to her 'y air !ail. Tell her circu!stances have arisen which !a e it i!perative "or you to now i" you have ever 'een in #ngland. 2ou would pro'a'ly get an answer 'y air !ail 'y the ti!e your hus'and arrives.& &6h, than you, <iss <arple. 2ou&ve 'een "right"ully ind. And 3 do hope what you&ve suggested is true. .ecause i" so, well, it&s quite all right. 3 !ean, it won&t 'e anything supernatural.& <iss <arple s!iled. &3 hope it turns out as we thin . 3 a! going to stay with so!e old "riends o" !ine in the *orth o" #ngland the day a"ter to!orrow. 3 shall 'e passing 'ac through (ondon in a'out ten days. 3" you and your hus'and are here then, or i" you have received an answer to your letter, 3 should 'e very curious to now the result.& &6" course, dear <iss <arple1 Anyway, 3 want you to !eet Giles. He&s a per"ect pet. And we&ll have a good pow-wow a'out the whole thing.& Gwenda&s spirits were "ully restored 'y now. <iss <arple, however, loo ed thought"ul. Chapter H <urder in Retrospect 3t was so!e ten days later that <iss <arple entered a s!all hotel in <ay"air, and was given an enthusiastic reception 'y young <r and <rs Reed. &This is !y hus'and, <iss <arple. Giles, 3 can&t tell you how ind <iss <arple was to !e.&

&3&! delighted to !eet you, <iss <arple. 3 hear Gwenda nearly panic ed hersel" into a lunatic asylu!.& <iss <arple&s gentle 'lue eyes su!!ed up Giles Reed "avoura'ly. A very li ea'le young !an, tall and "air with a disar!ing way o" 'lin ing every now and then out o" a natural shyness. %he noted his deter!ined chin and the set o" his ,aw. &7e&ll have tea in the little waiting-roo!, the dar one,& said Gwenda. &*o'ody ever co!es there. And then we can show <iss <arple Aunt Alison&s letter.& &2es,& she added, as <iss <arple loo ed up sharply. &3t&s co!e, and it&s al!ost e+actly what you thought.& Tea over, the air !ail letter was spread out and read. 9earest Gwenda, -<iss 9an'y had written0 3 was !uch distur'ed to hear you had had so!e worrying e+perience. To tell you the truth, it had really entirely escaped !y !e!ory that you had actually resided "or a short ti!e in #ngland as a young child. 2our !other, !y sister <egan, !et your "ather, <a,or Halliday, when she was on a visit to so!e "riends o" ours at that ti!e stationed in 3ndia. They were !arried and you were 'orn there. A'out two years a"ter your 'irth your !other died. 3t was a great shoc to us and we wrote to your "ather with who! we had corresponded, 'ut who! actually we had never seen, 'egging hi! to entrust you to our care, as we would 'e only too glad to have you, and it !ight 'e di""icult "or an Ar!y !an stranded with a young child. 2our "ather, however, re"used, and told us he was resigning "ro! the Ar!y and ta ing you

'ac with hi! to #ngland. He said he hoped we would at so!e ti!e co!e over and visit hi! there. 3 understand that on the voyage ho!e, your "ather !et a young wo!an, 'eca!e engaged to her, and !arried her as soon as he got to #ngland. The !arriage was not, 3 gather, a happy one, and 3 understand they parted a'out a year later. 3t was then that your "ather wrote to us and as ed i" we were still willing to give you a ho!e. 3 need hardly tell you, !y dear, how happy we were to do so. 2ou were sent out to us in the charge o" an #nglish nurse, and at the sa!e ti!e your "ather settled the 'ul o" his estate upon you and suggested that you !ight legally adopt our na!e. This, 3 !ay say, see!ed a little curious to us, 'ut we "elt that it was indly !eant$and intended to !a e you !ore one o" the "a!ily$we did not, however, adopt that suggestion. A'out a year later your "ather died in a nursing ho!e. 3 sur!ise that he had already received 'ad news a'out his health at the ti!e when he sent you out to us. 3&! a"raid 3 cannot tell you where you lived whilst with your "ather in #ngland. His letter naturally had the address on it at the ti!e 'ut that is now eighteen years ago and 3&! a"raid one doesn&t re!e!'er such details. 3t was in the %outh o" #ngland, 3 now$and 3 "ancy 9ill!outh is correct. 3 had a vague idea it was 9art!outh, 'ut the two na!es are not unli e. 3 'elieve your step!other !arried again, 'ut 3 have no recollection o" her na!e, nor even o" her un!arried na!e, though your "ather had !entioned it in the original letter telling o" his re!arriage. 7e were, 3 thin , a little resent"ul o" his !arrying again so soon, 'ut o" course one nows that on 'oard ship the in"luence o" propinquity is very great$and he !ay also have thought that it would 'e a good thing on your account.

3t see!ed stupid o" !e not to have !entioned to you that you had 'een in #ngland even i" you didn&t re!e!'er the "act, 'ut, as 3 say, the whole thing had "aded "ro! !y !ind. 2our !other&s death in 3ndia and your su'sequently co!ing to live with us always see!ed the i!portant points. 3 hope this is all cleared up now) 3 do trust Giles will soon 'e a'le to ,oin you. 3t is hard "or you 'oth 'eing parted at this early stage. All !y news in !y ne+t letter, as 3 a! sending this o"" hurriedly in answer to your wire. 2our loving aunt, Alison 9an'y. /%. 2ou do not say what your worrying e+perience was) &2ou see,A said Gwenda. &3t&s al!ost e+actly as you suggested.& <iss <arple s!oothed out the "li!sy sheet. &2es$yes, indeed. The co!!on-sense e+planation. 3&ve "ound, you now, that that is so o"ten right.& &7ell, 3&! very grate"ul to you, <iss <arple,& said Giles. &/oor Gwenda was thoroughly upset, and 3 !ust say 3&d have 'een rather worried !ysel" to thin that Gwenda was clairvoyant or psychic or so!ething.& &3t !ight 'e a distur'ing quality in a wi"e,A said Gwenda. &Bnless you&ve always led a thoroughly 'la!eless li"e.&

&7hich 3 have,A said Giles. &And the house) 7hat do you "eel a'out the house)& as ed <iss <arple. &6h, that&s all right. 7e&re going down to!orrow. Giles is dying to see it.& &3 don&t now whether you reali=e it, <iss <arple,A said Giles, &'ut what it a!ounts to is, that we&ve got a "irst-class !urder !ystery on our hands. Actually on our very doorstep$ or !ore accurately in our "ront hall.& &3 had thought o" that, yes,A said <iss <arple slowly. &And Giles si!ply loves detective stories,A said Gwenda. &7ell, 3 !ean, it is a detective story. .ody in the hall o" a 'eauti"ul strangled wo!an. *othing nown o" her 'ut her Christian na!e. 6" course 3 now it&s nearly twenty years ago. There can&t 'e any clues a"ter all this ti!e, 'ut one can at least cast a'out, and try to pic up so!e o" the threads. 6h1 3 dare say one won&t succeed in solving the riddle$& &3 thin you !ight,A said <iss <arple. &#ven a"ter eighteen years. 2es, 3 thin you !ight.& &.ut at any rate it won&t do any har! to have a real good try)& Giles paused, his "ace 'ea!ing. <iss <arple !oved uneasily, her "ace was grave$al!ost trou'led.

&.ut it !ight do a great deal o" har!,A she said. &3 would advise you 'oth$oh yes, 3 really would advise it very strongly$to leave the whole thing alone.& &(eave it alone) 6ur very own !urder !ystery$i" it was !urder1& &3t was !urder, 3 thin . And that&s ,ust why 3 should leave it alone. <urder isn&t $it really isn&t$a thing to ta!per with light-heartedly.& Giles said8 &.ut, <iss <arple, i" every'ody "elt li e that$& %he interrupted hi!. &6h, 3 now. There are ti!es when it is one&s duty$an innocent person

accused-suspicion resting on various other people$a dangerous cri!inal at large who !ay stri e again. .ut you !ust reali=e that this !urder is very !uch in the past. /resu!a'ly it wasn&t nown "or !urder$i" so, you would have heard "ast enough "ro! your old gardener or so!eone down there$a !urder, however long ago, is always news. *o, the 'ody !ust have 'een disposed o" so!ehow, and the whole thing never suspected. Are you sure$ are you really sure, that you are wise to dig it all up again)& &<iss <arple,A cried Gwenda, &you sound really concerned)& &3 a!, !y dear. 2ou are two very nice and char!ing young people -i" you will allow !e to say so0. 2ou are newly !arried and happy together. 9on&t, 3 'eg o" you, start to uncover things that !ay$well, that !ay$how shall 3 put it)$ that !ay upset and distress you.& Gwenda stared at her. &2ou&re thin ing o" so!ething special$o" so!ething$ what is it you&re hinting at)&

&*ot hinting, dear. Cust advising you -'ecause 3&ve lived a long ti!e and now how very upsetting hu!an nature can 'e0 to let well alone. That&s !y advice8 let well alone.& &.ut it isn&t letting well alone.& Giles&s voice held a di""erent note, a sterner note. &Hillside is our house, Gwenda&s and !ine, and so!eone was !urdered in that house, or so we 'elieve. 3&! not going to stand "or !urder in !y house and do nothing a'out it, even i" it is eighteen years ago1& <iss <arple sighed. &3&! sorry,& she said. &3 i!agine that !ost young !en o" spirit would "eel li e that. 3 even sy!pathi=e and al!ost ad!ire you "or it. .ut 3 wish$oh, 3 do wish-that you wouldn&t do it.& 6n the "ollowing day, news went round the village o" %t <ary <ead that <iss <arple was at ho!e again. %he was seen in the High %treet at eleven o&cloc . %he called at the ;icarage at ten !inutes to twelve. That a"ternoon three o" the gossipy ladies o" the village called upon her and o'tained her i!pressions o" the gay <etropolis and, this tri'ute to politeness over, the!selves plunged into details o" an approaching 'attle over the "ancywor stall at the :ete and the position o" the tea tent. (ater that evening <iss <arple could 'e seen as usual in her garden, 'ut "or once her activities were !ore concentrated on the depredations o" weeds than on the activities o" her neigh'ours. %he was distraite at her "rugal evening !eal, and hardly appeared to listen to her little !aid #velyn&s spirited account o" the goings-on o" the local che!ist. The ne+t day she was still distraite, and one or two people, including the ;icar&s wi"e, re!ar ed upon it. That evening <iss <arple said that she did not "eel very well and too to her 'ed. The "ollowing !orning she sent "or 9r Haydoc .

9r Haydoc

had 'een <iss <arple&s physician, "riend and ally "or !any

years. He listened to her account o" her sy!pto!s, gave her an e+a!ination, then sat 'ac in his chair and waggled his stethoscope at her. &:or a wo!an o" your age,& he said, &and in spite o" that !isleading "rail appearance, you&re in re!ar a'ly good "ettle.& &3&! sure !y general health is sound,A said <iss <arple. &.ut 3 con"ess 3 do "eel a little overtired$a little run down.& &2ou&ve 'een gallivanting a'out. (ate nights in (ondon.& &That, o" course. 3 do "ind (ondon a little tiring nowadays. And the air$so used up. *ot li e "resh seaside air.& &The air o" %t <ary <ead is nice and "resh.& &.ut o"ten da!p and rather !uggy. *ot, you now, e+actly 'racing.& 9r Haydoc eyed her with a dawning o" interest. &3&ll send you round a tonic,& he said o'ligingly. &Than you, 9octor. #aston&s syrup is always very help"ul.& &There&s no need "or you to do !y prescri'ing "or !e, wo!an.& &3 wondered i", perhaps, a change o" air$)& <iss <arple loo ed questioningly at hi! with guileless 'lue eyes.

&2ou&ve ,ust 'een away "or three wee s.& &3 now. .ut to (ondon which, as you say, is enervating. And then up *orth$ a !anu"acturing district. *ot li e 'racing sea air.& 9r Haydoc pac ed up his 'ag. Then he turned round, grinning. &(et&s hear why you sent "or !e,& he said. &Cust tell !e what it&s to 'e and 3&ll repeat it a"ter you. 2ou want !y pro"essional opinion that what you need is sea air$& &3 new you&d understand,& said <iss <arple grate"ully. &#+cellent thing, sea air. 2ou&d 'etter go to #ast'ourne right away, or your health !ay su""er seriously.& &#ast'ourne, 3 thin , is rather cold. The downs, you now.& &.ourne!outh, then, or the 3sle o" 7ight.& <iss <arple twin led at hi!. &3 always thin a s!all place is !uch pleasanter.& 9r Haydoc sat down again. &<y curiosity is roused. 7hat s!all seaside town are you suggesting)& &7ell, 3 had thought o" 9ill!outh.&

&/retty little place. Rather dull. 7hy 9ill!outh)& :or a !o!ent or two <iss <arple was silent. The worried loo had returned to her eyes. %he said8 &%upposing that one day, 'y accident, you turned up a "act that see!ed to indicate that !any years ago$nineteen or twenty$a !urder had occurred. That "act was nown to you alone, nothing o" the ind had ever 'een suspected or reported. 7hat would you do a'out it)& &<urder in retrospect in "act)& &Cust e+actly that& Haydoc re"lected "or a !o!ent. &There had 'een no !iscarriage o" ,ustice) *o'ody had su""ered as a result o" this cri!e)& &As "ar as one can see, no.& &H!. <urder in retrospect. %leeping !urder. 7ell, 3&ll tell you. 3&d let sleeping !urder lie$ that&s what 3&d do. <essing a'out with !urder is dangerous. 3t could 'e very dangerous.& &That&s what 3&! a"raid o".& &/eople say a !urderer always repeats his cri!es. That&s not true. There&s a type who co!!its a cri!e, !anages to get away with it, and is darned care"ul never to stic his nec out again. 3 won&t say they live happily ever a"ter$3 don&t 'elieve that&s true$there are !any inds o" retri'ution. .ut

outwardly at least all goes well. /erhaps that was so in the case o" <adeleine %!ith or again in the case o" (i==ie .orden. 3t was not proven in the case o" <adeleine %!ith and (i==ie was acquitted$'ut !any people 'elieve 'oth o" those wo!en were guilty. 3 could na!e you others. They never repeated their cri!es$one cri!e gave the! what they wanted and they were content. .ut suppose so!e danger had !enaced the!) 3 ta e it your iller, whoever he or she is, was one o" that ind. He co!!itted a cri!e and got away with it and no'ody suspected. .ut supposing so!e'ody goes po ing a'out, digging into things, turning up stones and e+ploring avenues and "inally, perhaps, hitting the target) 7hat&s your iller going to do a'out it) Cust stay there s!iling while the hunt co!es nearer and nearer) *o, i" there&s no principle involved, 3&d say let it alone.& He repeated his "or!er phrase8 &(et sleeping !urder lie.& He added "ir!ly8 &And those are !y orders to you. (et the whole thing alone.& &.ut it&s not 3 who a! involved. 3t&s two very delight"ul children. (et !e tell you1& %he told hi! the story and Haydoc listened. &#+traordinary,A he said when she had "inished. &#+traordinary coincidence. #+traordinary 'usiness altogether. 3 suppose you see what the i!plications are)& &6h, o" course. .ut 3 don&t thin it&s occurred to the! yet.& &3t will !ean a good deal o" unhappiness and they&ll wish they&d never !eddled with the thing. % eletons should 'e ept in their cup'oards. %till, you now, 3 can quite see young Giles&s point o" view. 9ash it all, 3 couldn&t leave the thing alone !ysel". #ven now, 3&! curious...& He 'ro e o"" and directed a stern glance at <iss <arple.

&%o that&s what you&re doing with your e+cuses to get to 9ill!outh. <i+ing yoursel" up in so!ething that&s no concern o" yours.& &*ot at all, 9r Haydoc . .ut 3&! worried a'out those two. They&re very young and ine+perienced and !uch too trusting and credulous. 3 "eel 3 ought to 'e there to loo a"ter the!.& &%o that&s why you&re going. To loo a"ter the!1 Can&t you ever leave !urder alone, wo!an) #ven !urder in retrospect)& <iss <arple gave a s!all pri! s!ile. &.ut you do thin , don&t you, that a "ew wee s at 9ill!outh would 'e 'ene"icial to !y health)& &<ore li ely to 'e the end o" you,& said 9r Haydoc . &.ut you won&t listen to !e1& 6n her way to call upon her "riends, Colonel and <rs .antry, <iss <arple !et Colonel .antry co!ing along the drive, his gun in his hand and his spaniel at his heels. He welco!ed her cordially. &Glad to see you 'ac again. How&s (ondon)& <iss <arple said that (ondon was very well. Her nephew had ta en her to several plays. &High'row ones, 3 'et. 6nly care "or a !usical co!edy !ysel".&

<iss <arple said that she had 'een to a Russian play that was very interesting, though perhaps a little too long. &Russians1& said Colonel .antry e+plosively. He had once 'een given a novel 'y 9ostoievs y to read in a nursing ho!e. He added that <iss <arple would "ind 9olly in the garden. <rs .antry was al!ost always to 'e "ound in the garden. Gardening was her passion. Her "avourite literature was 'ul' catalogues and her conversation dealt with pri!ulas, 'ul's, "lowering shru's and alpine novelties. <iss <arple&s "irst view o" her was a su'stantial posterior clad in "aded tweed. At the sound o" approaching steps, <rs .antry reassu!ed an erect position with a "ew crea s and winces, her ho''y had !ade her rheu!atic y, wiped her hot 'row with an earth-stained hand and welco!ed her "riend. &Heard you were 'ac , Cane,& she said. &Aren&t !y new delphiniu!s doing well) Have you seen these new little gentians) 3&ve had a 'it o" trou'le with the!, 'ut 3 thin they&re all set now. 7hat we need is rain. 3t&s 'een terri'ly dry.& %he added, &#sther told !e you were ill in 'ed.& #sther was <rs .antry&s coo and liaison o""icer with the village. &3&! glad to see it&s not true.& &Cust a little overtired,& said <iss <arple. &9r Haydoc thin s 3 need so!e sea air. 3&! rather run down.& &6h, 'ut you couldn&t go away now,& said <rs .antry. &This is a'solutely the 'est ti!e o" the year in the garden. 2our 'order !ust 'e ,ust co!ing into "lower.&

&9r Haydoc thin s it would 'e advisa'le.& &7ell, Haydoc &s not such a "ool as so!e doctors,& ad!itted <rs .antry grudgingly. &3 was wondering, 9olly, a'out that coo o" yours.& &7hich coo ) 9o you want a coo ) 2ou don&t !ean that wo!an who dran , do you)& &*o, no, no. 3 !ean the one who !ade such delicious pastry. 7ith a hus'and who was the 'utler.& &6h, you !ean the <oc Turtle,& said <rs .antry with i!!ediate recognition. &7o!an with a deep !ourn"ul voice who always sounded as though she was going to 'urst into tears. %he was a good coo . Hus'and was a "at, rather la=y !an. Arthur always said he watered the whis y. 3 don&t now. /ity there&s always one o" a couple that&s unsatis"actory. They got le"t a legacy 'y so!e "or!er e!ployer and they went o"" and opened a 'oarding-house on the south coast.& &That&s ,ust what 3 thought. 7asn&t it at 9ill!outh)& &That&s right. 1F %ea /arade, 9ill!outh.& &3 was thin ing that as 9r Haydoc has suggested the seaside 3 !ight go to$ was their na!e %aunders)& &2es. That&s an e+cellent idea, Cane. 2ou couldn&t do 'etter. <rs %aunders will loo a"ter you well, and as it&s out o" the season they&ll 'e glad to get you

and won&t charge very !uch. 7ith good coo ing and sea air you&ll soon pic up.& &Than you, 9olly,A said <iss <arple, &3 e+pect 3 shall.& Chapter I #+ercise in 9etection &7here do you thin the 'ody was) A'out here)& as ed Giles. He and Gwenda were standing in the "ront hall o" Hillside. They had arrived 'ac the night 'e"ore, and Giles was now in "ull cry. He was as pleased as a s!all 'oy with his new toy. &Cust a'out,A said Gwenda. %he retreated up the stairs and peered down critically. &2es$3 thin that&s a'out it.& &Crouch down,A said Giles. &2ou&re only a'out three years old, you now.& Gwenda crouched o'ligingly. &2ou couldn&t actually see the !an who said the words)& &3 can&t re!e!'er seeing hi!. He !ust have 'een ,ust a 'it "urther 'ac $ yes, there. 3 could only see his paws.& &/aws.& Giles "rowned. &They were paws. Grey paws$not hu!an.&

&.ut loo here, Gwenda. This isn&t a ind o" <urder in the Rue <orgue. A !an doesn&t have paws.& &7ell, he had paws.& Giles loo ed dou't"ully at her. &2ou !ust have i!agined that 'it a"terwards.& Gwenda said slowly, &9on&t you thin 3 !ay have i!agined the whole thing) 2ou now, Giles, 3&ve 'een thin ing. 3t see!s to !e "ar !ore pro'a'le that the whole thing was a drea!. 3t !ight have 'een. 3t was the sort o" drea! a child !ight have, and 'e terri'ly "rightened, and go on re!e!'ering a'out. 9on&t you thin really that&s the proper e+planation) .ecause no'ody in 9ill!outh see!s to have the "aintest idea that there was ever a !urder, or a sudden death, or a disappearance or anything odd a'out this house.& Giles loo ed li e a di""erent ind o" little 'oy$a little 'oy who has had his nice new toy ta en away "ro! hi!. &3 suppose it !ight have 'een a night!are,A he ad!itted grudgingly. Then his "ace cleared suddenly. &*o,A he said. &3 don&t 'elieve it. 2ou could have drea!t a'out !on eys& paws and so!eone dead$'ut 3&! da!ned i" you could have drea!t that quotation "ro! The 9uchess o" <al"i.& &3 could have heard so!eone say it and then drea!t a'out it a"terwards.&

&3 don&t thin any child could do that. *ot unless you heard it in conditions o" great stress$and i" that was the case we&re 'ac again where we were$ hold on, 3&ve got it. 3t was the paws you drea!t. 2ou saw the 'ody and heard the words and you were scared sti"" and then you had a night!are a'out it, and there were waving !on eys& paws too$ pro'a'ly you were "rightened o" !on eys.& Gwenda loo ed slightly du'ious$she said slowly8 &3 suppose that !ight 'e it...& &3 wish you could re!e!'er a 'it !ore... Co!e down here in the hall. %hut your eyes. Thin ... 9oesn&t anything !ore co!e 'ac to you)& &*o, it doesn&t, Giles... The !ore 3 thin , the "urther it all goes away... 3 !ean, 3&! 'eginning to dou't now i" 3 ever really saw anything at all. /erhaps the other night 3 ,ust had a 'rainstor! in the theatre.& &*o. There was so!ething. <iss <arple thin s so, too. 7hat a'out GHelenG) %urely you !ust re!e!'er so!ething a'out Helen)& &3 don&t re!e!'er anything at all. 3t&s ,ust a na!e.& &3t !ightn&t even 'e the right na!e.& &2es, it was. 3t was Helen.& Gwenda loo ed o'stinate and convinced.

&Then i" you&re so sure it was Helen, you !ust now so!ething a'out her,A said Giles reasona'ly. &9id you now her well) 7as she living here) 6r ,ust staying here)& &3 tell you 3 don&t now.& Gwenda was 'eginning to loo strained and nervy. Giles tried another tac . &7ho else can you re!e!'er) 2our "ather)& &*o. 3 !ean, 3 can&t tell. There was always his photograph, you see. Aunt Alison used to say8 GThat&s your 9addy.G 3 don&t re!e!'er hi! here, in this house...& &And no servants$nurses$anything li e that)& &*o$no. The !ore 3 try to re!e!'er, the !ore it&s all a 'lan . The things 3 now are all underneath$li e wal ing to that door auto!atically. 3 didn&t re!e!'er a door there. /erhaps i" you wouldn&t worry !e so !uch, Giles, things would co!e 'ac hopeless. 3t&s so long ago.& &6" course it&s not hopeless$even old <iss <arple ad!itted that.& &%he didn&t help us with any ideas o" how to set a'out it,& said Gwenda. &And yet 3 "eel, "ro! the glint in her eye, that she had a "ew. 3 wonder how she would have gone a'out it.& &3 don&t suppose she would 'e li ely to thin o" ways that we wouldn&t,& said Giles positively. &7e !ust stop speculating, Gwenda, and set a'out things in !ore. Anyway, trying to "ind out a'out it all is

a syste!atic way. 7e&ve !ade a 'eginning$3&ve loo ed through the /arish registers o" deaths. There&s no GHelenG o" the right age a!ongst the!. 3n "act there doesn&t see! to 'e a Helen at all in the period 3 covered$#llen /ugg, ninety-"our, was the nearest. *ow we !ust thin they !ust either have 'ought it or rented it.& &According to :oster, the gardener, so!e people called #lworthy had it 'e"ore the Hengraves and 'e"ore the! <rs :indeyson. *o'ody else.& &2our "ather !ight have 'ought it and lived in it "or a very short ti!e$and then sold it again. .ut 3 thin that it&s !uch !ore li ely that he rented it$ pro'a'ly rented it "urnished. 3" so, our 'est 'et is to go round the house agents.& Going round the house agents was not a prolonged la'our. There were only two house agents in 9ill!outh. <essrs 7il inson were a co!paratively new arrival. They had only opened their pre!ises eleven years ago. They dealt !ostly with the s!all 'ungalows and new houses at the "ar end o" the town. The other agents, <essrs Gal'raith and /enderley, were the ones "ro! who! Gwenda had 'ought the house. Calling upon the!, Giles plunged into his story. He and his wi"e were delighted with Hillside and with 9ill!outh generally. <rs Reed had only ,ust discovered that she had actually lived in 9ill!outh as a s!all child. %he had so!e very "aint !e!ories o" the place, and had an idea that Hillside was actually the house in which she had lived 'ut could not 'e quite certain a'out it. Had they any record o" the house 'eing let to a <a,or Halliday) 3t would 'e a'out eighteen or nineteen years ago... <r /enderley stretched out apologetic hands. o" the ne+t pro"ita'le approach. 3" your "ather, and presu!a'ly your step!other, lived in this house,

&3&! a"raid it&s not possi'le to tell you, <r Reed. 6ur records do not go 'ac that "ar$not, that is, o" "urnished or short-period lets. ;ery sorry 3 can&t help you, <r Reed. As a !atter o" "act i" our old head cler , <r *arracott, had still 'een alive$he died last winter$he !ight have 'een a'le to assist you. A !ost re!ar a'le !e!ory, really quite re!ar a'le. He had 'een with the "ir! "or nearly thirty years.& &There&s no one else who would possi'ly re!e!'er)& &6ur sta"" is all on the co!paratively young side. 6" course there is old <r Gal'raith hi!sel". He retired so!e years ago.& &/erhaps 3 could as hi!)& said Gwenda. &7ell, 3 hardly now a'out that...& <r /enderley was du'ious. &He had a stro e last year. His "aculties are sadly i!paired. He&s over eighty, you now.& &9oes he live in 9ill!outh)& &6h yes. At Calcutta (odge. A very nice little property on the %eaton road. .ut 3 really don&t thin -& &3t&s rather a "orlorn hope,A said Giles to Gwenda. &.ut you never now. 3 don&t thin we&ll write. 7e&ll go there together and e+ert our personality.& Calcutta (odge was surrounded 'y a neat tri! garden, and the sitting-roo! into which they were shown was also neat i" slightly overcrowded. 3t s!elt o" 'ees-wa+ and Ronu . 3ts 'rasses shone. 3ts windows were heavily "estooned.

A thin !iddle-aged wo!an with suspicious eyes ca!e into the roo!. Giles e+plained hi!sel" quic ly, and the e+pression o" one who e+pects to have a vacuu! cleaner pushed at her le"t <iss Gal'raith&s "ace. &3&! sorry, 'ut 3 really don&t thin 3 can help you,& she said. &3t&s so long ago, isn&t it)& &6ne does so!eti!es re!e!'er things,& said Gwenda. &6" course 3 shouldn&t now anything !ysel". 3 never had any connection with the 'usiness. A <a,or Halliday, you said) *o, 3 never re!e!'er co!ing across anyone in 9ill!outh o" that na!e.& &2our "ather !ight re!e!'er, perhaps,& said Gwenda. &:ather)& <iss Gal'raith shoo her head. &He doesn&t ta e !uch notice

nowadays, and his !e!ory&s very sha y.& Gwenda&s eyes were resting thought"ully on a .enares 'rass ta'le and they shi"ted to a procession o" e'ony elephants !arching along the !antelpiece. &3 thought he !ight re!e!'er, perhaps,& she said, &'ecause !y "ather had ,ust co!e "ro! 3ndia. 2our house is called Calcutta (odge)& %he paused interrogatively. &2es,A said <iss Gal'raith. &:ather was out in Calcutta "or a ti!e. 3n 'usiness there. Then the war ca!e and in 1D@J he ca!e into the "ir! here, 'ut would have li ed to go 'ac , he always says. .ut !y !other didn&t "ancy "oreign parts$and o" course you can&t say the cli!ate&s really healthy. 7ell, 3 don&t

now$perhaps you&d li e to see !y "ather. 3 don&t now that it&s one o" his good days$& %he led the! into a s!all 'lac study. Here, propped up in a 'ig sha''y leather chair sat an old gentle!an with a white walrus !oustache. His "ace was pulled slightly sideways. He eyed Gwenda with distinct approval as his daughter !ade the introductions. &<e!ory&s not what it used to 'e,& he said in a rather indistinct voice. &Halliday, you say) *o, 3 don&t re!e!'er the na!e. >new a 'oy at school in 2or shire$'ut that&s seventy-odd years ago.& &He rented Hillside, we thin ,& said Giles. &Hillside) 7as it called Hillside then)& <r Gal'raith&s one !ova'le eyelid snapped shut and open. &:indeyson lived there. :ine wo!an.& &<y "ather !ight have rented it "urnished... He&d ,ust co!e "ro! 3ndia.& &3ndia) 3ndia, d&you say) Re!e!'er a "ellow$Ar!y !an. >new that old rascal <oha!!ed Hassan who cheated !e over so!e carpets. Had a young wi"e$and a 'a'y-little girl.& &That was !e,& said Gwenda "ir!ly. &3n$deed$you don&t say so1 7ell, well, ti!e "lies. *ow what was his na!e) 7anted a place "urnished$yes$<rs :indeyson had 'een ordered to #gypt or so!e such place "or the winter$all to!"oolery. *ow what was his na!e)& &Halliday,& said Gwenda.

&That&s right, !y dear$Halliday. <a,or Halliday. *ice "ellow. ;ery pretty wi"e $quite young$"air-haired, wanted to 'e near her people or so!ething li e that. 2es, very pretty.& &7ho were her people)& &*o idea at all. *o idea. 2ou don&t loo li e her.& Gwenda nearly said, &%he was only !y step!other,& 'ut re"rained "ro! co!plicating the issue. %he said, &7hat did she loo li e)& Bne+pectedly <r Gal'raith replied8 &(oo ed worried. That&s what she loo ed, worried. 2es, very nice "ellow, that <a,or chap. 3nterested to hear 3&d 'een out in Calcutta. *ot li e these chaps that have never 'een out o" #ngland. *arrow$that&s what they are. *ow 3&ve seen the world. 7hat was his na!e, that Ar!y chap$wanted a "urnished house)& He was li e a very old gra!ophone, repeating a worn record. &%t Catherine&s. That&s it. Too %t Catherine&s$si+ guineas a wee $while <rs :indeyson was in #gypt. 9ied there, poor soul. House was put up "or auction$who 'ought it now) #lworthys$that&s it$pac o" wo!en$sisters. Changed the na!e$said %t Catherine&s was /opish. ;ery down on anything /opish$Bsed to send out tracts. /lain wo!en, all o" &e!$Too an interest in niggers$%ent &e! out trousers and 'i'les. ;ery strong on converting the heathen.& He sighed suddenly and leant 'ac .

&(ong ti!e ago,A he said "ret"ully. &Can&t re!e!'er na!es. Chap "ro! 3ndia$ nice chap... 3&! tired, Gladys. 3&d li e !y tea.& Giles and Gwenda than ed hi!, than ed his daughter, and ca!e away. &%o that&s proved,& said Gwenda. &<y "ather and 3 were at Hillside. 7hat do we do ne+t)& &3&ve 'een an idiot,& said Giles. &%o!erset House.& &7hat&s %o!erset House)& as ed Gwenda. &3t&s a record o""ice where you can loo up !arriages. 3&! going there to loo up your "ather&s !arriage. According to your aunt, your "ather was !arried to his second wi"e i!!ediately on arriving in #ngland. 9on&t you see, Gwenda $it ought to have occurred to us 'e"ore$it&s per"ectly possi'le that GHelenG !ay have 'een a relation o" your step!other&s$a young sister, perhaps. Anyway, once we now what her surna!e was, we !ay 'e a'le to get on to so!eone who nows a'out the general set-up at Hillside. Re!e!'er the old 'oy said they wanted a house in 9ill!outh to 'e near <rs Halliday&s people. 3" her people live near here we !ay get so!ething.& &Giles,& said Gwenda. &3 thin you&re wonder"ul.& Giles did not, a"ter all, "ind it necessary to go to (ondon. Though his energetic nature always !ade hi! prone to rush hither and thither and try to do everything hi!sel", he ad!itted that a purely routine enquiry could 'e delegated. He put through a trun call to his o""ice.

&Got it,& he e+clai!ed enthusiastically, when the e+pected reply arrived. :ro! the covering letter he e+tracted a certi"ied copy o" a !arriage certi"icate. &Here we are, Gwenda. :riday, Aug. Kth >ensington Registry 6""ice. >elvin Ca!es Halliday to Helen %penlove >ennedy.& Gwenda cried out sharply1 &Helen)& They loo ed at each other. Giles said slowly8 &.ut$'ut$it can&t 'e her. 3 !ean$they separated, and she !arried again$and went away.& &7e don&t now,A said Gwenda, &that she went away...& %he loo ed again at the plainly written na!e8 Helen %penlove >ennedy. Helen... Chapter K 9r >ennedy A "ew days later Gwenda, wal ing along the #splanade in a sharp wind, stopped suddenly 'eside one o" the glass shelters which a thought"ul Corporation had provided "or the use o" its visitors. &<iss <arple)& she e+clai!ed in lively surprise.

:or indeed <iss <arple it was, nicely wrapped up in a thic "leecy coat and well wound round with scarves. &?uite a surprise to you, 3&! sure, to "ind !e here,& said <iss <arple 'ris ly. &.ut !y doctor ordered !e away to the seaside "or a little change, and your description o" 9ill!outh sounded so attractive that 3 decided to co!e here$ especially as the coo and 'utler o" a "riend o" !ine ta e in 'oarders.& &.ut why didn&t you co!e and see us)& de!anded Gwenda. &6ld people can 'e rather a nuisance, !y dear. *ewly !arried young couples should 'e le"t to the!selves.& %he s!iled at Gwenda&s protest. &3&! sure you&d have !ade !e very welco!e. And how are you 'oth) And are you progressing with your !ystery)& &7e&re hot on the trail,& Gwenda said, sitting 'eside her. %he detailed their various investigations up to date. &And now,& she ended, &we&ve put an advertise!ent in lots o" papers$local ones and The Ti!es and the other 'ig dailies. 7e&ve ,ust said will anyone with any nowledge o" Helen %penlove Halliday, nee >ennedy, co!!unicate etc. 3 should thin , don&t you, that we&re 'ound to get so!e answers.& &3 should thin so, !y dear$yes, 3 should thin so.& <iss <arple&s tone was placid as ever, 'ut her eyes loo ed trou'led. They "lashed a quic appraising glance at the girl sitting 'eside her. That tone o" deter!ined heartiness did not ring quite true. Gwenda, <iss <arple thought,

loo ed worried. 7hat 9r Haydoc had called &the i!plications& were, perhaps, 'eginning to occur to her. 2es, 'ut now it was too late to go 'ac ... <iss <arple said gently and apologetically, &3 have really 'eco!e !ost interested in all this. <y li"e, you now, has so "ew e+cite!ents. 3 hope you won&t thin !e very inquisitive i" 3 as you to let !e now how you progress)& &6" course we&ll let you now,A said Gwenda war!ly. &2ou shall 'e in on

everything. 7hy, 'ut "or you, 3 should 'e urging doctors to shut !e up in a loony 'in. Tell !e your address here, and then you !ust co!e and have a drin $3 !ean, have tea with us, and see the house. 2ou&ve got to see the scene o" the cri!e, haven&t you)& %he laughed, 'ut there was a slightly nervy edge to her laugh. 7hen she had gone on her way <iss <arple shoo her head very gently and "rowned. Giles and Gwenda scanned the !ail eagerly every day, 'ut at "irst their hopes were disappointed. All they got was two letters "ro! private enquiry agents who pronounced the!selves willing and s illed to underta e investigations on their 'ehal". &Ti!e enough "or the! later,& said Giles. &And i" we do have to e!ploy so!e agency, it will 'e a thoroughly "irst-class "ir!, not one that touts through the !ail. .ut 3 don&t really see what they could do that we aren&t doing.& His opti!is! -or sel"-estee!0 was ,usti"ied a "ew days later. A letter arrived, written in one o" those clear and yet so!ewhat illegi'le handwritings that sta!p the pro"essional !an.

Galls Hill 7oodleigh .olton. 9ear %ir, 3n answer to your advertise!ent in The Ti!es, Helen %penlove >ennedy is !y sister. 3 have lost touch with her "or !any years and should 'e glad to have news o" her. 2o urs "aith"ully, Ca!es >ennedy, <9 &7oodleigh .olton,& said Giles. &That&s not too "ar away. 7oodleigh Ca!p is where they go "or picnics. Bp on the !oorland. A'out thirty !iles "ro! here. 7e&ll write and as 9r >ennedy i" we !ay co!e and see hi!, or i" he would pre"er to co!e to us.& A reply was received that 9r >ennedy would 'e prepared to receive the! on the "ollowing 7ednesday4 and on that day they set o"". 7oodleigh .olton was a straggling village set along the side o" a hill. Galls Hill was the highest house ,ust at the top o" the rise, with a view over 7oodleigh Ca!p and the !oors towards the sea. &Rather a 'lea spot,& said Gwenda shivering. The house itsel" was 'lea and o'viously 9r >ennedy scorned such !odern innovations as central heating. The wo!an who opened the door was dar and rather "or'idding. %he led the! across the rather 'are hall, and into a study where 9r >ennedy rose to receive the!. 3t was a long, rather high roo!, lined with well-"illed 'oo shelves.

9r >ennedy was a grey-haired elderly !an with shrewd eyes under tu"ted 'rows. His ga=e went sharply "ro! one to the other o" the!. &<r and <rs Reed) %it here, <rs Reed, it&s pro'a'ly the !ost co!"orta'le chair. *ow, what&s all this a'out)& Giles went "luently into their prearranged story. He and his wi"e had 'een recently !arried in *ew 5ealand. They had co!e to #ngland, where his wi"e had lived "or a short ti!e as a child, and she was trying to trace old "a!ily "riends and connections. 9r >ennedy re!ained sti"" and un'ending. He was polite 'ut o'viously irritated 'y Colonial insistence on senti!ental "a!ily ties. &And you thin !y sister$!y hal"-sister$and possi'ly !ysel"$are

connections o" yours)& he as ed Gwenda, civilly, 'ut with slight hostility. &%he was !y step!other,& said Gwenda. &<y "ather&s second wi"e. 3 can&t really re!e!'er her properly, o" course. 3 was so s!all. <y !aiden na!e was Halliday.& He stared at her$and then suddenly a s!ile illu!inated his "ace. He 'eca!e a di""erent person, no longer aloo". &Good (ord,& he said. &9on&t tell !e that you&re Gwennie1& Gwenda nodded eagerly. The pet na!e, long "orgotten, sounded in her ears with reassuring "a!iliarity.

&2es,& she said. &3&! Gwennie.& &God 'less !y soul. Grown up and !arried. How ti!e "lies1 3t !ust 'e$what $"i"teen years$no, o" course, !uch longer than that. 2ou don&t re!e!'er !e, 3 suppose)& Gwenda shoo her head. &3 don&t even re!e!'er !y "ather. 3 !ean, it&s all a vague ind o" 'lur.& &6" course$Halliday&s "irst wi"e ca!e "ro! *ew 5ealand$3 re!e!'er his telling !e so. A "ine country, 3 should thin .& &3t&s the loveliest country in the world$'ut 3&! quite "ond o" #ngland, too.& &6n a visit$or settling down here)& He rang the 'ell. &7e !ust have tea.& 7hen the tall wo!an ca!e, he said, &Tea, please$and$er$hot 'uttered toast, or$or ca e, or so!ething.& The respecta'le house eeper loo ed veno!ous, 'ut said, &2es, sir,& and went out. &3 don&t usually go in "or tea,& said 9r >ennedy vaguely. &.ut we !ust cele'rate.& &3t&s very nice o" you,& said Gwenda. &*o, we&re not on a visit. 7e&ve 'ought a house.& %he paused and added, &Hillside.&

9r >ennedy said vaguely, &6h yes. 3n 9ill!outh. 2ou wrote "ro! there.& &3t&s the !ost e+traordinary coincidence,& said Gwenda. &3sn&t it, Giles)& &3 should say so,& said Giles. &Really quite staggering.& &3t was "or sale, you see,& said Gwenda, and added in "ace o" 9r >ennedy&s apparent non-co!prehension, &3t&s the sa!e house where we used to live long ago.& 9r >ennedy "rowned. &Hillside) .ut surely$6h yes, 3 did hear they&d changed the na!e. Bsed to 'e %t %o!ething or other$i" 3&! thin ing o" the right house$on the (eaha!pton road, co!ing down into the town, on the righthand side)& &2es.& &That&s the one. :unny how na!es go out o" your head. 7ait a !inute. %t Catherine&s$ that&s what it used to 'e called.& &And 3 did live there, didn&t 3)& Gwenda said. &2es, o" course you did.& He stared at her, a!used. &7hy did you want to co!e 'ac there) 2ou can&t re!e!'er !uch a'out it, surely)& &*o. .ut so!ehow$it "elt li e ho!e.& &3t "elt li e ho!e,& the doctor repeated. There was no e+pression in the words, 'ut Giles wondered what he was thin ing a'out. &%o you see,& said Gwenda, &3 hoped you&d tell !e a'out it all$a'out !y "ather and Helen and$& she ended la!ely$&and everything...&

He loo ed at her re"lectively. &3 suppose they didn&t now very !uch$out in *ew 5ealand. 7hy should they) 7ell, there isn&t !uch to tell. Helen$!y sister$was co!ing 'ac "ro! 3ndia on the sa!e 'oat with your "ather. He was a widower with a s!all daughter. Helen was sorry "or hi! or "ell in love with hi!. He was lonely, or "ell in love with her. 9i""icult to now ,ust the way things happen. They were !arried in (ondon on arrival, and ca!e down to 9ill!outh to !e. 3 was in practice there, then. >elvin Halliday see!ed a nice chap, rather nervy and run down$'ut they see!ed happy enough together$then.& He was silent "or a !o!ent 'e"ore he said, &However, in less than a year, she ran away with so!eone else. 2ou pro'a'ly now that)& &7ho did she run away with)& as ed Gwenda. He 'ent his shrewd eyes upon her. &%he didn&t tell !e,& he said. &3 wasn&t in her con"idence. 3&d seen$couldn&t help seeing$ that there was "riction 'etween her and >elvin. 3 didn&t now why. 3 was always a strait-laced sort o" "ellow$a 'eliever in !arital "idelity. Helen wouldn&t have wanted !e to now what was going on. 3&d heard ru!ours$one does$'ut there was no !ention o" any particular na!e. They o"ten had guests staying with the! who ca!e "ro! (ondon, or "ro! other parts o" #ngland. 3 i!agined it was one o" the!.& &There wasn&t a divorce, then)&

&Helen didn&t want a divorce. >elvin told !e that. That&s why 3 i!agined, perhaps wrongly, that it was a case o" so!e !arried !an. %o!eone whose wi"e was an RC perhaps.& &And !y "ather)& &He didn&t want a divorce, either.& 9r >ennedy spo e rather shortly. &Tell !e a'out !y "ather,& said Gwenda. &7hy did he decide suddenly to send !e out to *ew 5ealand)& >ennedy paused a !o!ent 'e"ore saying, &3 gather your people out there had 'een pressing hi!. A"ter the 'rea -up o" his second !arriage, he pro'a'ly thought it was the 'est thing.& &7hy didn&t he ta e !e out there hi!sel")& 9r >ennedy loo ed along the !antelpiece searching vaguely "or a pipe cleaner. &6h, 3 don&t now... He was in rather poor health.& &7hat was the !atter with hi!) 7hat did he die o")& The door opened and the scorn"ul house eeper appeared with a laden tray. There was 'uttered toast and so!e ,a!, 'ut no ca e. 7ith a vague gesture 9r >ennedy !otioned Gwenda to pour out. %he did so. 7hen the cups were

"illed and handed round and Gwenda had ta en a piece o" toast, 9r >ennedy said with rather "orced cheer"ulness8 &Tell !e what you&ve done to the house) 3 don&t suppose 3&d recogni=e it now$a"ter you two have "inished with it.& &7e&re having a little "un with 'athroo!s,A ad!itted Giles. Gwenda, her eyes on the doctor, said8 &7hat did !y "ather die o")& &3 couldn&t really tell, !y dear. As 3 say, he was in rather poor health "or a while, and he "inally went into a %anatoriu!$so!ewhere on the east coast. He died a'out two years later.& &7here was this %anatoriu! e+actly)& &3&! sorry. 3 can&t re!e!'er now. As 3 say, 3 have an i!pression it was on the east coast.& There was de"inite evasion now in his !anner. Giles and Gwenda loo ed at each other "or a 'rie" second. Giles said, &At least, sir, you can tell us where he&s 'uried) Gwenda is$ naturally$very an+ious to visit his grave.& 9r >ennedy 'ent over the "ireplace, scraping in the 'owl o" his pipe with a pen ni"e. &9o you now,& he said, rather indistinctly, &3 don&t really thin 3 should dwell too !uch on the past. All this ancestor worship$it&s a !ista e. The "uture is what !atters. Here you are, you two, young and healthy with the world in "ront o" you. Thin "orward. *o use going a'out putting "lowers on the grave o" so!eone who!, "or all practical purposes, you hardly new.&

Gwenda said !utinously8 &3 should li e to see !y "ather&s grave.& &3&! a"raid 3 can&t help you.& 9r >ennedy&s tones were pleasant 'ut cold. &3t&s a long ti!e ago, and !y !e!ory isn&t what it was. 3 lost touch with your "ather a"ter he le"t 9ill!outh. 3 thin he wrote to !e once "ro! the %anatoriu! and, as 3 say, 3 have an i!pression it was on the east coast$'ut 3 couldn&t really 'e sure even o" that. And 3&ve no idea at all o" where he is 'uried.& &How very odd,& said Giles. &*ot really. The lin 'etween us, you see, was Helen. 3 was always very "ond o" Helen. %he&s !y hal"-sister and very !any years younger than 3 a!, 'ut 3 tried to 'ring her up as well as 3 could. The right schools and all that. .ut there&s no gainsaying that Helen$well, that she never had a sta'le character. There was trou'le when she was quite young with a very undesira'le young !an. 3 got her out o" that sa"ely. Then she elected to go out to 3ndia and !arry 7alter :ane. 7ell, that was all right, nice lad, son o" 9ill!outh&s leading solicitor, 'ut "ran ly, dull as ditchwater. He&d always adored her, 'ut she never loo ed at hi!. %till, she changed her !ind and went out to 3ndia to !arry hi!. 7hen she saw hi! again, it was all o"". %he wired to !e "or !oney "or her passage ho!e. 3 sent it. 6n the way 'ac , she !et >elvin. They were !arried 'e"ore 3 new a'out it. 3&ve "elt, shall we say, apologetic "or that sister o" !ine. 3t e+plains why >elvin and 3 didn&t eep up the relationship a"ter she went away.& He added suddenly8 &7here&s Helen now) Can you tell !e) 3&d li e to get in touch with her.& &.ut we don&t now,& said Gwenda. &7e don&t now at all.&

&6h1 3 thought "ro! your advertise!ent$& He loo ed at the! with sudden curiosity. &Tell !e, why did you advertise)& Gwenda said8 &7e wanted to get in touch$& and stopped. &7ith so!eone you can hardly re!e!'er)& 9r >ennedy loo ed pu==led. Gwenda said quic ly8 &3 thought$i" 3 could get in touch with her$she&d tell !e$a'out !y "ather.& &2es$yes$3 see. %orry 3 can&t 'e o" !uch use. <e!ory not what it was. And it&s a long ti!e ago.& &At least,& said Giles, &you Tu'ercular)& 9r >ennedy&s "ace again loo ed suddenly wooden8 &2es$yes, 3 rather 'elieve it was.& &Then we ought to 'e a'le to trace that quite easily,& said Giles. &Than you very !uch, sir, "or all you&ve told us.& He got up and Gwenda "ollowed suit. &Than you very !uch,& she said. &And do co!e and see us at Hillside.& They went out o" the roo! and Gwenda, glancing 'ac over her shoulder, had a "inal view o" 9r >ennedy standing 'y the !antelpiece, pulling his gri==led !oustache and loo ing trou'led. now what ind o" a %anatoriu! it was)

&He nows so!ething he won&t tell us,& said Gwenda, as they got into the car. &There&s so!ething$oh, Giles1 3 wish$3 wish now that we&d never started...& They loo ed at each other, and in each !ind, unac nowledged to the other, the sa!e "ear sprang. &<iss <arple was right,& said Gwenda. &7e should have le"t the past alone.& &7e needn&t go any "urther,& said Giles uncertainly. &3 thin perhaps, Gwenda darling, we&d 'etter not.& Gwenda shoo her head. &*o, Giles, we can&t stop now. 7e should always 'e wondering and i!agining. *o, we&ve got to go on... 9r >ennedy wouldn&t tell us 'ecause he wanted to 'e ind$'ut that sort o" 'usiness is no good. 7e&ll have to go on and "ind out what really happened. #ven i"$even i"$it was !y "ather who...& .ut she couldn&t go on. Chapter L >elvin Halliday&s 9elusion They were in the garden on the "ollowing !orning when <rs Coc er ca!e out and said8 &#+cuse !e, sir. There&s a 9octor >ennedy on the telephone.& (eaving Gwenda in consultation with old :oster, Giles went into the house and pic ed up the telephone receiver. &Giles Reed here.&

&This is 9r >ennedy. 3&ve 'een thin ing over our conversation yesterday, <r Reed. There are certain "acts which 3 thin perhaps you and your wi"e ought to now. 7ill you 'e at ho!e i" 3 co!e over this a"ternoon)& &Certainly we shall. 7hat ti!e)& &Three o&cloc )& &%uits us.& 3n the garden old :oster said to Gwenda, &3s that 9r >ennedy as used to live over at 7est Cli"")& &3 e+pect so. 9id you now hi!)& &# was allus rec oned to 'e the 'est doctor here$not 'ut what 9r (a=en'y wasn&t !ore popular. Always had a word and a laugh to ,olly you along, 9r (a=en'y did. 9r >ennedy was always short and a 'it dry, li e$'ut he new his ,o'.& &7hen did he give up his practice)& &(ong ti!e ago now. <ust 'e "i"teen years or so. His health 'ro e down, so they say.& Giles ca!e out o" the window and answered Gwenda&s unspo en question. &He&s co!ing over this a"ternoon.& &6h.& %he turned once !ore to :oster. &9id you now 9r >ennedy&s sister at all)& &%ister) *ot as 3 re!e!'er. %he was only a 'it o" a lass. 7ent away to school, and then a'road, though 3 heard she co!e 'ac here "or a 'it a"ter

she !arried. .ut 3 'elieve she run o"" with so!e chap$always wild she was, they said. 9on&t now as 3 ever laid eyes on her !ysel". 3 was in a ,o' over to /ly!outh "or a while, you now.& Gwenda said to Giles as they wal ed to the end o" the terrace, &7hy is he co!ing)& &7e&ll now at three o&cloc .& 9r >ennedy arrived punctually. (oo ing round the drawing-roo! he said8 &%ee!s odd to 'e here again.& Then he ca!e to the point without prea!'le. &3 ta e it that you two are quite deter!ined to trac down the %anatoriu! where >elvin Halliday died and learn all the details you can a'out his illness and death)& &9e"initely,A said Gwenda. &7ell, you can !anage that quite easily, o" course. %o 3&ve co!e to the conclusion that it will 'e less shoc to you to hear the "acts "ro! !e. 3&! sorry to have to tell you, "or it won&t do you or any'ody else a 'it o" good, and it will pro'a'ly cause you, Gwennie, a good deal o" pain. .ut there it is. 2our "ather wasn&t su""ering "ro! tu'erculosis and the %anatoriu! in question was a !ental ho!e.& &A !ental ho!e) 7as he out o" his !ind, then)& Gwenda&s "ace had gone very white.

&He was never certi"ied. And in !y opinion he was not insane in the general !eaning o" the ter!. He had had a very severe nervous 'rea down and su""ered "ro! certain delusional o'sessions. He went into the nursing ho!e o" his own will and volition and could, o" course, have le"t it at any ti!e he wanted to. His condition did not i!prove, however, and he died there.& &9elusional o'sessions)& Giles repeated the words questioningly. &7hat ind o" delusions)& 9r >ennedy said drily, &He was under the i!pression that he had strangled his wi"e.& Gwenda gave a sti"led cry. Giles stretched out a hand quic ly and too her cold hand in his. Giles said, &And$and had he)& &#h)& 9r >ennedy stared at hi!. &*o, o" course he hadn&t. *o question o" such a thing.& &.ut$'ut how do you now)& Gwenda&s voice ca!e uncertainly. &<y dear child1 There was never any question o" such a thing. Helen le"t hi! "or another !an. He&d 'een in a very un'alanced condition "or so!e ti!e4 nervous drea!s, sic "ancies. The "inal shoc sent hi! over the edge. 3&! not a psychiatrist !ysel". They have their e+planations "or such !atters. 3" a !an would rather his wi"e was dead than un"aith"ul, he can !anage to !a e hi!sel" 'elieve that she is dead$even that he has illed her.& 7arily, Giles and Gwenda e+changed a warning glance. Giles said quietly, &%o you are quite sure that there was no question o" his having actually done what he said he had done)& &6h, quite sure. 3 had two letters "ro! Helen. The "irst one "ro! :rance a'out a wee a"ter she went away and one a'out si+ !onths later. 6h no, the whole thing was a delusion pure and si!ple.&

Gwenda drew a deep 'reath. &/lease,& she said. &7ill you tell !e all a'out it)& &3&ll tell you everything 3 can, !y dear. To 'egin with, >elvin had 'een in a rather peculiar neurotic state "or so!e ti!e. He ca!e to !e a'out it. %aid he had had various disquieting drea!s. These drea!s, he said, were always the sa!e, and they ended in the sa!e way$ with his throttling Helen. 3 tried to get at the root o" the trou'le$there !ust, 3 thin , have 'een so!e con"lict in early childhood. His "ather and !other, apparently, were not a happy couple... 7ell, 3 won&t go into all that. That&s only interesting to a !edical !an. 3 actually suggested that >elvin should consult a psychiatrist, there are several "irst-class chaps$'ut he wouldn&t hear o" it$thought that thing was all nonsense.& &3 had an idea that he and Helen weren&t getting along too well, 'ut he never spo e a'out that, and 3 didn&t li e to as questions. The whole thing ca!e to a head when he wal ed into !y house one evening$it was a :riday, 3 re!e!'er, 3&d ,ust co!e 'ac "ro! the hospital and "ound hi! waiting "or !e in the consulting roo!4 he&d 'een there a'out a quarter o" an hour. As soon as 3 ca!e in, he loo ed up and said, G3&ve illed Helen.G& &:or a !o!ent 3 didn&t now what to thin . He was so cool and !atter o" "act. 3 said, G2ou !ean$you&ve had another drea!)G He said, G3t isn&t a drea! this ti!e. 3t&s true. %he&s lying there strangled. 3 strangled her.G& &Then he said$quite coolly and reasona'ly8 G2ou&d 'etter co!e 'ac with !e to the house. Then you can ring up the police "ro! there.G 3 didn&t now what to thin . 3 got out the car again, and we drove along here. The house was quiet and dar . 7e went up to the 'edroo!$& ind o"

Gwenda 'ro e in, &The 'edroo!)& Her voice held pure astonish!ent. 9r >ennedy loo ed "aintly surprised. &2es, yes, that&s where it all happened. 7ell, o" course when we got up there $there was nothing at all1 *o dead wo!an lying across the 'ed. *othing distur'ed$the coverlets not even ru!pled. The whole thing had 'een an hallucination.& &.ut what did !y "ather say)& &6h, he persisted in his story, o" course. He really 'elieved it, you see. 3 persuaded hi! to let !e give hi! a sedative and 3 put hi! to 'ed in the dressing-roo!. Then 3 had a good loo round. 3 "ound a note that Helen had le"t cru!pled up in the wastepaper 'as et in the drawing-roo!. 3t was quite clear. %he had written so!ething li e this8 GThis is Good'ye. 3&! sorry$'ut our !arriage has 'een a !ista e "ro! the 'eginning. 3&! going away with the only !an 3&ve ever loved. :orgive !e i" you can. Helen.G& &#vidently >elvin had co!e in, read her note, gone upstairs, had a ind o" e!otional 'rainstor! and had then co!e over to !e persuaded that he had illed Helen.& &Then 3 questioned the house!aid. 3t was her evening out and she had co!e in late. 3 too her into Helen&s roo! and she went through Helen&s clothes, etc. 3t was all quite clear. Helen had pac ed a suitcase and a 'ag and had ta en the! away with her. 3 searched the house, 'ut there was no trace o" anything unusual$certainly no sign o" a strangled wo!an.&

&3 had a very di""icult ti!e with >elvin in the !orning, 'ut he reali=ed at last that it was a delusion$or at least he said he did, and he consented to go into a nursing ho!e "or treat!ent.& &A wee later 3 got, as 3 say, a letter "ro! Helen. 3t was posted "ro! .iarrit=, 'ut she said she was going on to %pain. 3 was to tell >elvin that she did not want a divorce. He had 'etter "orget her as soon as possi'le.& &3 showed the letter to >elvin. He said very little. He was going ahead with his plans. He wired out to his "irst wi"e&s people in *ew 5ealand as ing the! to ta e the child. He settled up his a""airs and he then entered a very good private !ental ho!e and consented to have appropriate treat!ent. That treat!ent, however, did nothing to help hi!. He died there two years later. 3 can give you the address o" the place. 3t&s in *or"ol . The present %uperintendent was a young doctor there at the ti!e, and will pro'a'ly 'e a'le to give you "ull details o" your "ather&s case.& Gwenda said8 &And you got another letter "ro! your sister$a"ter that again)& &6h yes. A'out si+ !onths later. %he wrote "ro! :lorence$gave an address poste restante as G<iss >ennedyG. %he said she reali=ed that perhaps it was un"air to >elvin not to have a divorce$though she hersel" did not want one. 3" he wanted a divorce and 3 would let her now, she would see that he had the necessary evidence. 3 too the letter to >elvin. He said at once that he did not want a divorce. 3 wrote to her and told her so. %ince then 3 have never heard any !ore. 3 don&t now where she is living, or indeed i" she is alive or dead. That is why 3 was attracted 'y your advertise!ent and hoped that 3 should get news o" her.&

He added gently8 &3&! very sorry a'out this, Gwennie. .ut you had to now. 3 only wish you could have le"t well alone...& Chapter D Bn nown :actor) 7hen Giles ca!e 'ac "ro! seeing 9r >ennedy o"", he "ound Gwenda sitting where he had le"t her. There was a 'right red patch on each o" her chee s, and her eyes loo ed "everish. 7hen she spo e her voice was harsh and 'rittle. &7hat&s the old catchphrase) 9eath or !adness either way) That&s what this is$death or !adness.& &Gwenda$darling.& Giles went to her$put his ar! round her. Her 'ody "elt hard and sti"". &7hy didn&t we leave it all alone) 7hy didn&t we) 3t was !y own "ather who strangled her. And it was !y own "ather&s voice 3 heard saying those words. *o wonder it all ca!e 'ac $no wonder 3 was so "rightened. <y own "ather.& &7ait, Gwenda$wait. 7e don&t really now$& &6" course we now1 He told 9r >ennedy he had strangled his wi"e, didn&t he)& &.ut >ennedy is quite positive he didn&t$& &.ecause he didn&t "ind a 'ody. .ut there was a 'ody$and 3 saw it.& &2ou saw it in the hall$not the 'edroo!.&

&7hat di""erence does that !a e)& &7ell, it&s queer, isn&t it) 7hy should Halliday say he strangled his wi"e in the 'edroo! i" he actually strangled her in the hall)& &6h, 3 don&t now. That&s ,ust a !inor detail.& &3&! not so sure. /ull your soc s up, darling. There are so!e very "unny points a'out the whole set-up. 7e&ll ta e it, i" you li e, that your "ather did strangle Helen. 3n the hall. 7hat happened ne+t)& &He went o"" to 9r >ennedy.& &And told hi! he had strangled his wi"e in the 'edroo!, 'rought hi! 'ac with hi! and there was no 'ody in the hall$or in the 'edroo!. 9ash it all, there can&t 'e a !urder without a 'ody. 7hat had he done with the 'ody)& &/erhaps there was one and 9r >ennedy helped hi! and hushed it all up$ only o" course he couldn&t tell us that,A Giles shoo his head. &*o, Gwenda$3 don&t see >ennedy acting that way. He&s a hard-headed, shrewd, une!otional %cots!an. 2ou&re suggesting that he&d 'e willing to put hi!sel" in ,eopardy as an accessory a"ter the "act. 3 don&t 'elieve he would. He&d do his 'est "or Halliday 'y giving evidence as to his !ental state$that, yes. .ut why should he stic his nec out to hush the whole thing up) >elvin Halliday wasn&t any relation to hi!, nor a close "riend. 3t was his own sister who had 'een illed and he was clearly "ond o" her$even i" he did show

slight ;ictorian disapproval o" her gay ways. 3t&s not, even, as though you were his sister&s child. *o, >ennedy wouldn&t connive at concealing !urder. 3" he did, there&s only one possi'le way he could have set a'out it, and that would 'e deli'erately to give a death certi"icate that she had died o" heart "ailure or so!ething. 3 suppose he !ight have got away with that$'ut we now de"initely that he didn&t do that. .ecause there&s no record o" her death in the /arish registers, and i" he had done it, he would have told us that his sister had died. %o go on "ro! there and e+plain, i" you can, what happened to the 'ody.& &/erhaps !y "ather 'uried it so!ewhere$in the garden)& &And then went to >ennedy and told hi! he&d !urdered his wi"e) 7hy) 7hy not rely on the story that she&d Gle"t hi!G)& Gwenda pushed 'ac her hair "ro! her "orehead. %he was less sti"" and rigid now, and the patches o" sharp colour were "ading. &3 don&t now,& she ad!itted. &3t does see! a 'it screwy now you&ve put it that way. 9o you thin 9r >ennedy was telling us the truth)& &6h yes$3&! pretty sure o" it. :ro! his point o" view it&s a per"ectly reasona'le story. 9rea!s, hallucinations$"inally a !a,or hallucination. He&s got no dou't that it was a hallucination 'ecause, as we&ve ,ust said, you can&t have a !urder without a 'ody. That&s where we&re in a di""erent position "ro! hi!. 7e now that there was a 'ody.& He paused and went on8 &:ro! his point o" view, everything "its in. <issing clothes and suitcase, the "arewell note. And later, two letters "ro! his sister.&

Gwenda stirred. &Those letters. How do we e+plain those)& &7e don&t$'ut we&ve got to. 3" we assu!e that >ennedy was telling us the truth -and as 3 say, 3&! pretty sure that he was0, we&ve got to e+plain those letters.& &3 suppose they really were in his sister&s handwriting) He recogni=ed it)& &2ou now, Gwenda, 3 don&t 'elieve that point would arise. 3t&s not li e a

signature on a dou't"ul cheque. 3" those letters were written in a reasona'ly close i!itation o" his sister&s writing, it wouldn&t occur to hi! to dou't the!. He&s already got the preconceived idea that she&s gone away with so!eone. The letters ,ust con"ir!ed that 'elie". 3" he had never heard "ro! her at all$ why, then he !ight have got suspicious. All the sa!e, there are certain curious points a'out those letters that wouldn&t stri e hi!, perhaps, 'ut do stri e !e. They&re strangely anony!ous. *o address e+cept a poste restante. *o indication o" who the !an in the case was. A clearly stated deter!ination to !a e a clean 'rea with all old ties. 7hat 3 !ean is, they&re e+actly the ind o" letters a !urderer would devise i" he wanted to allay any suspicions on the part o" his victi!&s "a!ily. 3t&s the old Crippen touch again. To get the letters posted "ro! a'road would 'e easy.& &2ou thin !y "ather$& &*o$that&s ,ust it$3 don&t. Ta e a !an who&s deli'erately decided to get rid o" his wi"e. He spreads ru!ours a'out her possi'le un"aith"ulness. He stages her departure$note le"t 'ehind, clothes pac ed and ta en. (etters will 'e received "ro! her at care"ully spaced intervals "ro! so!ewhere a'road.

Actually he has !urdered her quietly and put her, say, under the cellar "loor. That&s one pattern o" !urder$and it&s o"ten 'een done. .ut what that type o" !urderer doesn&t do is to rush to his 'rother-in-law and say he&s !urdered his wi"e and hadn&t they 'etter go to the police) 6n the other hand, i" your "ather was the e!otional type o" iller, and was terri'ly in love with his wi"e and strangled her in a "it o" "ren=ied ,ealousy$6thello "ashion$-and that "its in with the words you heard0 he certainly doesn&t pac clothes and arrange "or letters to co!e, 'e"ore he rushes o"" to 'roadcast his cri!e to a !an who isn&t the type li ely to hush it up. 3t&s all wrong, Gwenda. The whole pattern is wrong.& &Then what are you trying to get at, Giles)& &3 don&t now... 3t&s ,ust that throughout it all, there see!s to 'e an un nown "actor$call hi! M. %o!eone who hasn&t appeared as yet. .ut one gets gli!pses o" his technique.& &M)& said Gwenda wonderingly. Then her eyes dar ened. &2ou&re !a ing that up, Giles. To co!"ort !e.& &3 swear 3&! not. 9on&t you see yoursel" that you can&t !a e a satis"actory outline to "it all the "acts) 7e 'ecause you saw$& He stopped. &Good (ord1 3&ve 'een a "ool. 3 see it now. 3t covers everything. 2ou&re right. And >ennedy&s right, too. (isten, Gwenda. Helen&s preparing to go away with a lover$who that is we don&t now.& now that Helen Halliday was strangled

&M)& Giles 'rushed her interpolation aside i!patiently. &%he&s written her note to her hus'and$'ut at that !o!ent he co!es in, reads what she&s writing and goes haywire. He cru!ples up the note, slings it into the waste-'as et, and goes "or her. %he&s terri"ied, rushes out into the hall$he catches up with her, throttles her $she goes li!p and he drops her. And then, standing a little way "ro! her, he quotes those words "ro! The 9uchess o" <al"i ,ust as the child upstairs has reached the 'anisters and is peering down.& &And a"ter that)& &The point is, that she isn&t dead. He !ay have thought she was dead$'ut she&s !erely se!i-su""ocated. /erhaps her lover co!es round$a"ter the "rantic hus'and has started "or the doctor&s house on the other side o" the town, or perhaps she regains consciousness 'y hersel". Anyway, as soon as she has co!e to, she 'eats it. .eats it quic ly. And that e+plains everything. >elvin&s 'elie" that he has illed her. The disappearance o" the clothes4 pac ed and ta en away earlier in the day. And the su'sequent letters which are per"ectly genuine. There you are$that e+plains everything.& Gwenda said slowly, &3t doesn&t e+plain why >elvin said he had strangled her in the 'edroo!.& &He was so heat up, he couldn&t quite re!e!'er where it had all happened.& Gwenda said8 &3&d li e to 'elieve you. 3 want to 'elieve... .ut 3 go on "eeling sure$quite sure$that when 3 loo ed down she was dead$quite dead.&

&.ut how could you possi'ly tell) A child o" 'arely three.& %he loo ed at hi! queerly. &3 thin one can tell$'etter than i" one was older. 3t&s li e dogs$they now death and throw 'ac their heads and howl. 3 thin children$ now death...& &That&s nonsense$that&s "antastic& The ring o" the "ront-door 'ell interrupted hi!. He said, &7ho&s that, 3 wonder)& Gwenda loo ed dis!ayed. &3 quite "orgot. 3t&s <iss <arple. 3 as ed her to tea today. 9on&t let&s go saying anything a'out all this to her.& Gwenda was a"raid that tea !ight prove a di""icult !eal$'ut <iss <arple "ortunately see!ed not to notice that her hostess tal ed a little too "ast and too "everishly, and that her gaiety was so!ewhat "orced. <iss <arple hersel" was gently garrulous$she was en,oying her stay in 9ill!outh so !uch and$ wasn&t it e+citing)$so!e "riends o" "riends o" hers had written to "riends o" theirs in 9ill!outh, and as a result she had received so!e very pleasant invitations "ro! the local residents. &6ne "eels so !uch less o" an outsider, i" you now what 3 !ean, !y dear, i" one gets to now so!e o" the people who have 'een esta'lished here "or years. :or instance, 3 a! going to tea with <rs :ane$she is the widow o" the senior partner in the 'est "ir! o" solicitors here. ?uite an old-"ashioned "a!ily "ir!. Her son is carrying it on now.&

The gentle gossiping voice went on. Her landlady was so ind$and !ade her so co!"orta'le$&and really delicious coo ing. %he was "or so!e years with !y old "riend <rs .antry$although she does not co!e "ro! this part o" the world hersel"$her aunt lived here "or !any years and she and her hus'and used to co!e here "or holidays$so she nows a great deal o" the local gossip. 9o you "ind your gardener satis"actory, 'y the way) 3 hear that he is considered locally as rather a scri!s-han er$!ore tal than wor .& &Tal and tea is his speciality,& said Giles. &He has a'out "ive cups o" tea a day. .ut he wor s splendidly when we are loo ing.& &Co!e out and see the garden,& said Gwenda. They showed her the house and the garden, and <iss <arple !ade the proper co!!ents. 3" Gwenda had "eared her shrewd o'servation o" so!ething a!iss, then Gwenda was wrong. :or <iss <arple showed no cogni=ance o" anything unusual. 2et, strangely enough, it was Gwenda who acted in an unpredicta'le !anner. %he interrupted <iss <arple in the !idst o" a little anecdote a'out a child and a seashell to say 'reathlessly to Giles8 &3 don&t care$3&! going to tell her...& <iss <arple turned her head attentively. Giles started to spea , then stopped. :inally he said, &7ell, it&s your "uneral, Gwenda.& And so Gwenda poured it all out. Their call on 9r >ennedy and his su'sequent call on the! and what he had told the!.

&That was what you !eant in (ondon, wasn&t it)& Gwenda as ed 'reathlessly. &2ou thought, then, that$that !y "ather !ight 'e involved)& <iss <arple said gently, &3t occurred to !e as a possi'ility$yes. GHelenG !ight very well 'e a young step!other$and in a case o"$er$strangling, it is so o"ten a hus'and who is involved.& <iss <arple spo e as one who o'serves natural pheno!ena without surprise or e!otion. &3 do see why you urged us to leave it alone,& said Gwenda. &6h, and 3 wish now we had. .ut one can&t go 'ac .& &*o,& said <iss <arple, &one can&t go 'ac .& &And now you&d 'etter listen to Giles. He&s 'een !a ing o',ections and suggestions.& &All 3 say is,A said Giles, &that it doesn&t "it.& And lucidly, clearly, he went over the points as he had previously outlined the! to Gwenda. Then he particulari=ed his "inal theory. &3" you&ll only convince Gwenda that that&s the only way it could have 'een.& <iss <arple&s eyes went "ro! hi! to Gwenda and 'ac again. &3t is a per"ectly reasona'le hypothesis,A she said. &.ut there is always, as you yoursel" pointed out, <r Reed, the possi'ility o" M.&

&M1& said Gwenda. &The un nown "actor,A said <iss <arple. &%o!eone, shall we say, who hasn&t appeared yet$'ut whose presence, 'ehind the o'vious "acts, can 'e deduced.& &7e&re going to the %anatoriu! in *or"ol where !y "ather died,A said

Gwenda. &/erhaps we&ll "ind out so!ething there.& Chapter 1J A Case History %alt!arsh House was set pleasantly a'out si+ !iles inland "ro! the coast. 3t had a good train service to (ondon "ro! the "ive-!iles-distant town o" %outh .enha!. Giles and Gwenda were shown into a large airy sitting-roo! with cretonne covers patterned with "lowers. A very char!ing-loo ing old lady with white hair ca!e into the roo! holding a glass o" !il . %he nodded to the! and sat down near the "ireplace. Her eyes rested thought"ully on Gwenda and presently she leaned "orward towards her and spo e in what was al!ost a whisper. &3s it your poor child, !y dear)& Gwenda loo ed slightly ta en a'ac . %he said dou't"ully8 &*o$no. 3t isn&t.& &Ah, 3 wondered.& The old lady nodded her head and sipped her !il . Then she said conversationally, &Hal" past ten$that&s the ti!e. 3t&s always at hal" past ten. <ost re!ar a'le.& %he lowered her voice and leaned "orward again.

&.ehind the "ireplace,A she 'reathed. &.ut don&t say 3 told you.& At this !o!ent, a white uni"or!ed !aid ca!e into the roo! and requested Giles and Gwenda to "ollow her. They were shown into 9r /enrose&s study, and 9r /enrose rose to greet the!. 9r /enrose, Gwenda could not help thin ing, loo ed a little !ad hi!sel". He loo ed, "or instance, !uch !adder than the nice old lady in the drawing-roo! $'ut perhaps psychiatrists always loo ed a little !ad. &3 had your letter, and 9r >ennedy&s,& said 9r /enrose. &And 3&ve 'een loo ing up your "ather&s case history, <rs Reed. 3 re!e!'ered his case quite well, o" course, 'ut 3 wanted to re"resh !y !e!ory so that 3 should 'e in a position to tell you everything you wanted to now. 3 understand that you have only recently 'eco!e aware o" the "acts)& Gwenda e+plained that she had 'een 'rought up in *ew 5ealand 'y her !other&s relations and that all she had nown a'out her "ather was that he had died in a nursing ho!e in #ngland. 9r /enrose nodded. &?uite so. 2our "ather&s case, <rs Reed, presented certain rather peculiar "eatures.& &%uch as)& Giles as ed. &7ell, the o'session$or delusion$was very strong. <a,or Halliday, though clearly in a very nervous state, was !ost e!phatic and categorical in his assertion that he had strangled his second wi"e in a "it o" ,ealous rage. A

great !any o" the usual signs in these cases were a'sent, and 3 don&t !ind telling you "ran ly, <rs Reed, that had it not 'een "or 9r >ennedy&s assurance that <rs Halliday was actually alive, 3 should have 'een prepared, at that ti!e, to ta e your "ather&s assertion at its "ace value.& &2ou "or!ed the i!pression that he had actually illed her)& Giles as ed. &3 said Gat that ti!eG. (ater, 3 had cause to revise !y opinion, as <a,or Halliday&s character and !ental !a e-up 'eca!e !ore "a!iliar to !e. 2our "ather, <rs Reed, was !ost de"initely not a paranoiac type. He had no delusions o" persecution, no i!pulses o" violence. He was a gentle, indly, and well-controlled individual. He was neither what the world calls !ad, nor was he dangerous to others. .ut he did have this o'stinate "i+ation a'out <rs Halliday&s death and to account "or its origin 3 a! quite convinced we have to go 'ac a long way$to so!e childish e+perience. .ut 3 ad!it that all !ethods o" analysis "ailed to give us the right clue. .rea ing down a patient&s resistance to analysis is so!eti!es a very long 'usiness. 3t !ay ta e several years. 3n your "ather&s case, the ti!e was insu""icient.& He paused, and then, loo ing up sharply, said8 &2ou now, 3 presu!e, that <a,or Halliday co!!itted suicide.& &6h no1& cried Gwenda. &3&! sorry, <rs Reed. 3 thought you new that. 2ou are entitled, perhaps, to attach so!e 'la!e to us on that account. 3 ad!it that proper vigilance would have prevented it. .ut "ran ly 3 saw no sign o" <a,or Halliday&s 'eing a suicidal type. He showed no tendency to !elancholia$no 'rooding or despondency. He co!plained o" sleeplessness and !y colleague allowed

hi! a certain a!ount o" sleeping ta'lets. 7hilst pretending to ta e the!, he actually ept the! until he had accu!ulated a su""icient a!ount and$& He spread out his hands. &7as he so dread"ully unhappy)& &*o. 3 do not thin so. 3t was !ore, 3 should ,udge, a guilt co!ple+, a desire "or a penalty to 'e e+acted. He had insisted at "irst, you now, on calling in the police, and though persuaded out o" that, and assured that he had actually co!!itted no cri!e at all, he o'stinately re"used to 'e wholly convinced. 2et it was proved to hi! over and over again, and he had to ad!it, that he had no recollection o" co!!itting the actual act.& 9r /enrose ru""led over the papers in "ront o" hi!. &His account o" the evening in question never varied. He ca!e into the house, he said, and it was dar . The servants were out. He went into the dining-roo!, as he usually did, poured hi!sel" out a drin and dran it, then went through the connecting door into the drawingroo!. A"ter that he re!e!'ered nothing-nothing at all, until he was standing in his 'edroo! loo ing down at his wi"e who was dead$strangled. He new he had done it$& Giles interrupted. &#+cuse !e, 9r /enrose, 'ut why did he now he had done it)& &There was no dou't in his !ind. :or so!e !onths past he had "ound hi!sel" entertaining wild and !elodra!atic suspicions. He told !e, "or instance, that he had 'een convinced his wi"e was ad!inistering drugs to hi!. He had, o" course, lived in 3ndia, and the practice o" wives driving their hus'ands insane 'y datura poisoning o"ten co!es up there in the native courts. He had su""ered "airly o"ten "ro! hallucinations, with con"usion o" ti!e and place. He

denied strenuously that he suspected his wi"e o" in"idelity, 'ut nevertheless 3 thin that that was the !otivating power. 3t see!s that what actually occurred was that he went into the drawing-roo!, read the note his wi"e le"t saying she was leaving hi!, and that his way o" eluding this "act was to pre"er to G illG her. Hence the hallucination.& &2ou !ean he cared "or her very !uch)& as ed Gwenda. &6'viously, <rs Reed.& &And he never$recogni=ed$that it was a hallucination)& &He had to ac nowledge that it !ust 'e$'ut his inner 'elie" re!ained unsha en. The o'session was too strong to yield to reason. 3" we could have uncovered the underlying childish "i+ation$& Gwenda interrupted. %he was uninterested in childish "i+ations. &.ut you&re quite sure, you say, that he$that he didn&t do it)& &6h, i" that is what is worrying you, <rs Reed, you can put it right out o" your head. >elvin Halliday, however ,ealous he !ay have 'een o" his wi"e, was e!phatically not a iller.& 9r /enrose coughed and pic ed up a s!all sha''y 'lac 'oo . &3" you would li e this, <rs Reed, you are the proper person to have it. 3t contains various ,ottings set down 'y your "ather during the ti!e he was here. 7hen we turned over his e""ects to his e+ecutor -actually a "ir! o" solicitors0, 9r <cGuire, who was then %uperintendent, retained this as part o" the case

history. 2our "ather&s case, you now, appears in 9r <cGuire&s 'oo $only under initials, o" course. <r >.H. 3" you would li e this diary$& Gwenda stretched out her hand eagerly. &Than you,& she said. &3 should li e it very !uch.& 3n the train on the way 'ac to (ondon, Gwenda too out the sha''y little 'lac 'oo and 'egan to read. %he opened it at rando!. >elvin Halliday had written8 ,A suppose these doctor wallahs now their 'usiness... 3t all sounds such

poppycoc . 7as 3 in love with !y !other) 9id 3 hate !y "ather) 3 don&t 'elieve a word o" it... 3 can&t help "eeling this is a si!ple police case$cri!inal court$not a cra=y loony-'in !atter. And yet$so!e o" these people here$ so natural, so reasona'le$,ust li e everyone else$e+cept when you suddenly co!e across the in . ;ery well, then, it see!s that 3, too, have a in ... 3&ve written to Ca!es... urged hi! to co!!unicate with Helen... (et her co!e and see !e in the "lesh i" she&s alive... He says he doesn&t now where she is... that&s 'ecause he nows that she&s dead and that 3 illed her... he&s a good "ellow, 'ut 3&! not deceived... Helen is dead... 7hen did 3 'egin to suspect her) A long ti!e ago... %oon a"ter we ca!e to 9ill!outh... Her !anner changed... %he was concealing so!ething... 3 used to watch her... 2es, and she used to watch !e...

9id she give !e drugs in !y "ood) Those queer aw"ul night!ares. *ot ordinary drea!s... living night!ares... 3 now it was drugs... 6nly she could have done that... 7hy)... There&s so!e !an... %o!e !an she was a"raid o"... (et !e 'e honest. 3 suspected, didn&t 3, that she had a lover) There was so!eone$3 now there was so!eone$%he said as !uch to !e on the 'oat... %o!eone she loved and couldn&t !arry... 3t was the sa!e "or 'oth o" us... 3 couldn&t "orget <egan... How li e <egan little Gwennie loo s so!eti!es. Helen played with Gwennie so sweetly on the 'oat... Helen... 2ou are so lovely, Helen... 3s Helen alive) 6r did 3 put !y hands round her throat and cho e the li"e out o" her) 3 went through the dining-roo! door and 3 saw the note$propped up on the des , and then$and then$all 'lac $,ust 'lac ness. .ut there&s no dou't a'out it... 3 illed her... Than God Gwennie&s all right in *ew 5ealand. They&re good people. They&ll love her "or <egan&s sa e. <egan$<egan, how 3 wish you were here... 3t&s the 'est way... *o scandal... The 'est way "or the child. 3 can&t go on. *ot year a"ter year. 3 !ust ta e the short way out. Gwennie will never anything a'out all this. %he&ll never now her "ather was a !urderer... Tears 'linded Gwenda&s eyes. %he loo ed across at Giles, sitting opposite her. .ut Giles&s eyes were riveted on the opposite corner. Aware o" Gwenda&s scrutiny, he !otioned "aintly with his head. Their "ellow passenger was reading an evening paper. 6n the outside o" it, clearly presented to their view was a !elodra!atic caption8 &7ho were the !en in her li"e)& now

%lowly, Gwenda nodded her head. %he loo ed down at the diary. There was so!eone$3 now there was so!eone... Chapter 11 The <en in Her (i"e <iss <arple crossed %ea /arade and wal ed along :ore %treet, turning up the hill 'y the Arcade. The shops here were the old-"ashioned ones. A wool and art needlewor shop, a con"ectioner, a ;ictorian-loo ing (adies& 6ut"itter and 9raper and others o" the sa!e ind. <iss <arple loo ed in at the window o" the art needlewor shop. Two young assistants were engaged with custo!ers, 'ut an elderly wo!an at the 'ac o" the shop was "ree. <iss <arple pushed open the door and went in. %he seated hersel" at the counter and the assistant, a pleasant wo!an with grey hair, as ed, &7hat can 3 do "or you, !ada!)& <iss <arple wanted so!e pale 'lue wool to nit a 'a'y&s ,ac et. The

proceedings were leisurely and unhurried. /atterns were discussed, <iss <arple loo ed through various children&s nitting 'oo s and in the course o" it discussed her great-nephews and nieces. *either she nor the assistant displayed i!patience. The assistant had attended to custo!ers such as <iss <arple "or !any years. %he pre"erred these gentle, gossipy, ra!'ling old ladies to the i!patient, rather i!polite young !others who didn&t now what they wanted and had an eye "or the cheap and showy.

&2es,& said <iss <arple. &3 thin that will 'e very nice indeed. And 3 always "ind %tor leg so relia'le. 3t really doesn&t shrin . 3 thin ounces.& The assistant re!ar ed that the wind was very cold today, as she wrapped up the parcel. &2es, indeed, 3 noticed it as 3 was co!ing along the "ront. 9ill!outh has changed a good deal. 3 have not 'een here "or, let !e see, nearly nineteen years.& &3ndeed, !ada!) Then you will "ind a lot o" changes. The %uper' wasn&t 'uilt then, 3 suppose, nor the %outhview Hotel)& &6h no, it was quite a s!all place. 3 was staying with "riends... A house called %t Catherine&s$perhaps you now it) 6n the (eaha!pton road.& .ut the assistant had only 'een in 9ill!outh a !atter o" ten years. <iss <arple than ed her, too the parcel, and went into the draper&s ne+t door. Here, again, she selected an elderly assistant. The conversation ran !uch on the sa!e lines, to an acco!pani!ent o" su!!er vests. This ti!e, the assistant responded pro!ptly. &That would 'e <rs :indeyson&s house.& &2es$yes. Though the "riends 3 new had it "urnished. A <a,or Halliday and his wi"e and a 'a'y girl.& &6h yes, !ada!. They had it "or a'out a year, 3 thin .& 3&ll ta e an e+tra two

&2es. He was ho!e "ro! 3ndia. They had a very good coo $she gave !e a wonder"ul recipe "or 'a ed apple pudding$and also, 3 thin , "or ginger'read. 3 o"ten wonder what 'eca!e o" her.& &3 e+pect you !ean #dith /agett, !ada!. %he&s still in 9ill!outh. %he&s in service now$at 7indrush (odge.& &Then there were so!e other people$the :anes. A lawyer, 3 thin he was1& &6ld <r :ane died so!e years ago$young <r :ane, <r 7alter :ane, lives with his !other. <r 7alter :ane never !arried. He&s the senior partner now.& &3ndeed) 3 had an idea <r 7alter :ane had gone out to 3ndia$tea-planting or so!ething.& &3 'elieve he did, !ada!. As a young !an. .ut he ca!e ho!e and went into the "ir! a"ter a'out a year or two. They do all the 'est 'usiness round here$ they&re very highly thought o". A very nice quiet gentle!an, <r 7alter :ane. #very'ody li es hi!.& &7hy, o" course,& e+clai!ed <iss <arple. &He was engaged to <iss >ennedy, wasn&t he) And then she 'ro e it o"" and !arried <a,or Halliday.& &That&s right, !ada!. %he went out to 3ndia to !arry <r :ane, 'ut it see!s as she changed her !ind and !arried the other gentle!an instead.& A "aintly disapproving note had entered the assistant&s voice. <iss <arple leaned "orward and lowered her voice.

&3 was always so sorry "or poor <a,or Halliday -3 new his !other0 and his little girl. 3 understand his second wi"e le"t hi!. Ran way with so!eone. A rather "lighty type, 3&! a"raid.& &Regular "li''ertigi''et, she was. And her 'rother the doctor, such a nice !an. 9id !y rheu!atic nee a world o" good.& &7ho! did she run away with) 3 never heard.& &That 3 couldn&t tell you, !ada!. %o!e said it was one o" the su!!er visitors. .ut 3 now <a,or Halliday was quite 'ro en up. He le"t the place and 3 'elieve his health gave way. 2our change, !ada!.& <iss <arple accepted her change and her parcel. &Than you so !uch,& she said. &3 wonder i"$#dith /agett, did you say$still has that nice recipe "or ginger'read) 3 lost it$or rather !y careless !aid lost it$and 3&! so "ond o" good ginger'read.& &3 e+pect so, !ada!. As a !atter o" "act her sister lives ne+t door here, !arried to <r <ount"ord, the con"ectioner. #dith usually co!es there on her days out and 3&! sure <rs <ount"ord would give her a !essage.& &That&s a very good idea. Than you so !uch "or all the trou'le you&ve ta en.& &A pleasure, !ada!, 3 assure you.& <iss <arple went out into the street. &A nice old-"ashioned "ir!,& she said to hersel". &And those vests are really very nice, so it isn&t as though 3 had wasted any !oney.& %he glanced at the pale 'lue ena!el watch that she wore pinned to one side o" her dress. &Cust

"ive !inutes to go 'e"ore !eeting those two young things at the Ginger Cat. 3 hope they didn&t "ind things too upsetting at the %anatoriu!.& Giles and Gwenda sat together at a corner ta'le at the Ginger Cat. The little 'lac note'oo lay on the ta'le 'etween the!. <iss <arple ca!e in "ro! the street and ,oined the!. &7hat will you have, <iss <arple) Co""ee)& &2es, than you$no, not ca es, ,ust a scone and 'utter.& Giles gave the order, and Gwenda pushed the little 'lac 'oo across to <iss <arple. &:irst you !ust read that,& she said, &and then we can tal . 3t&s what !y "ather $what he wrote hi!sel" when he was at the nursing ho!e. 6h, 'ut "irst o" all, ,ust tell <iss <arple e+actly what 9r /enrose said, Giles.& Giles did so. Then <iss <arple opened the little 'lac 'oo and the waitress 'rought three cups o" wea co""ee, and a scone and 'utter, and a plate o" ca es. Giles and Gwenda did not tal . They watched <iss <arple as she read. :inally she closed the 'oo and laid it down. Her e+pression was di""icult to read. There was, Gwenda thought, anger in it. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her eyes shone very 'rightly, unusually so, considering her age. &2es, indeed,& she said. &2es, indeed1&

Gwenda said8 &2ou advised us once$do you re!e!'er)$not to go on. 3 can see why you did. .ut we did go on$and this is where we&ve got to. 6nly now, it see!s as though we&d got to another place where one could$i" one li ed$ stop... 9o you thin we ought to stop) 6r not)& <iss <arple shoo her head slowly. %he see!ed worried, perple+ed. &3 don&t now,A she said. &3 really don&t now. 3t !ight 'e 'etter to do so, !uch 'etter to do so. .ecause a"ter this lapse o" ti!e there is nothing that you can do$nothing, 3 !ean, o" a constructive nature.& &2ou !ean that a"ter this lapse o" ti!e, there is nothing we can "ind out)& as ed Giles. &6h no,& said <iss <arple. &3 didn&t !ean that at all. *ineteen years is not such a long ti!e. There are people who would re!e!'er things, who could answer questions$quite a lot o" people. %ervants "or instance. There !ust have 'een at least two servants in the house at the ti!e, and a nurse, and pro'a'ly a gardener. 3t will only ta e ti!e and a little trou'le to "ind and tal to these people. As a !atter o" "act, 3&ve "ound one o" the! already. The coo . *o, it wasn&t that. 3t was !ore the question o" what practical good you can acco!plish, and 3&d 'e inclined to say to that$*one. And yet...& %he stopped8 &There is a yet... 3&! a little slow in thin ing things out, 'ut 3 have a "eeling that there is so!ething$so!ething, perhaps, not very tangi'le $that would 'e worth ta ing ris s "or$even that one should ta e ris s "or$ 'ut 3 "ind it di""icult to say ,ust what that is...&

Giles 'egan &3t see!s to !e$& and stopped. <iss <arple turned to hi! grate"ully. &Gentle!en,& she said, &always see! to 'e a'le to ta'ulate things so clearly. 3&! sure you have thought things out.& &3&ve 'een thin ing things out,& said Giles. &And it see!s to !e that there are ,ust two conclusions one can co!e to. 6ne is the sa!e as 3 suggested 'e"ore. Helen Halliday wasn&t dead when Gwennie saw her lying in the hall. %he ca!e to, and went away with her lover, whoever he was. That would still "it the "acts as we now the!. 3t would square with >elvin Halliday&s rooted 'elie" that he had illed his wi"e, and it would square with the !issing suitcase and clothes and with the note that 9r >ennedy "ound. .ut it leaves certain points unaccounted "or. 3t doesn&t e+plain why >elvin was convinced he strangled his wi"e in the 'edroo!. And it doesn&t cover the one, to !y !ind, really staggering question$where is Helen Halliday now) .ecause it see!s to !e against all reason that Helen should never have 'een heard o" or "ro! again. Grant that the two letters she wrote are genuine, what happened a"ter that) 7hy did she never write again) %he was on a""ectionate ter!s with her 'rother, he&s o'viously deeply attached to her and always has 'een. He !ight disapprove o" her conduct, 'ut that doesn&t !ean that he e+pected never to hear "ro! her again. And i" you as !e, that point has o'viously 'een worrying >ennedy hi!sel". (et&s say he accepted at the ti!e a'solutely the story he&s told us. His sister&s going o"" and >elvin&s 'rea down. .ut he didn&t e+pect never to hear "ro! his sister again. 3 thin , as the years went on, and he didn&t hear, and >elvin Halliday persisted in his delusion and "inally co!!itted suicide, that a terri'le dou't 'egan to creep up in his !ind. %upposing that >elvin&s story was true) That he actually had illed Helen) There&s no word "ro! her$and surely i" she had died so!ewhere a'road, word would have co!e to hi!) 3 thin that e+plains his

eagerness when he saw our advertise!ent. He hoped that it !ight lead to so!e account o" where she was or what she had 'een doing. 3&! sure it&s a'solutely unnatural "or so!eone to disappear as$as co!pletely as Helen see!s to have done. That, in itsel", is highly suspicious.& &3 agree with you,A said <iss <arple. &.ut the alternative, <r Reed)& Giles said slowly, &3&ve 'een thin ing out the alternative. 3t&s pretty "antastic, you now, and even rather "rightening. .ecause it involves$how can 3 put it $a ind o" !alevolence...& &2es,& said Gwenda. &<alevolence is ,ust right. #ven, 3 thin , so!ething that isn&t quite sane...& %he shivered. &That is indicated, 3 thin ,& said <iss <arple. &2ou now, there&s a great deal o" $well, queerness a'out$!ore than people i!agine. 3 have seen so!e o" it...& Her "ace was thought"ul. &There can&t 'e, you see, any nor!al e+planation,& said Giles. &3&! ta ing now the "antastic hypothesis that >elvin Halliday didn&t ill his wi"e, 'ut genuinely thought he had done so. That&s what 9r /enrose, who see!s a decent sort o" 'lo e, o'viously wants to thin . His "irst i!pression o" Halliday was that here was a !an who had illed his wi"e and wanted to give hi!sel" up to the police. Then he had to ta e >ennedy&s word "or it that that wasn&t so, so he had per"orce to 'elieve that Halliday was a victi! o" a co!ple+ or a "i+ation or whatever the ,argon is$'ut he didn&t really li e that solution. He&s had a good e+perience o" the type and Halliday didn&t square with it. However, on nowing Halliday 'etter he 'eca!e quite genuinely sure that Halliday was not

the type o" !an who would strangle a wo!an under any provocation. %o he accepted the "i+ation theory, 'ut with !isgivings. And that really !eans that only one theory will "it the case$Halliday was induced to 'elieve that he had illed his wi"e, 'y so!eone else. 3n other words, we&ve co!e to M.& &Going over the "acts very care"ully, 3&d say that that hypothesis is at least possi'le. According to his own account, Halliday ca!e into the house that evening, went into the dining-roo!, too a drin as he usually did$and then went into the ne+t roo!, saw a note on the des and had a 'lac out$& Giles paused and <iss <arple nodded her head in approval. He went on8 &%ay it wasn&t a 'lac out$that it was ,ust si!ply dope$ noc -out drops in the whis y. The ne+t step is quite clear, isn&t it) M had strangled Helen in the hall, 'ut a"terwards he too her upstairs and arranged her artistically as a cri!e passionel on the 'ed, and that&s where >elvin is when he co!es to4 and the poor devil, who !ay have 'een su""ering "ro! ,ealousy where she&s concerned, thin s that he&s done it. 7hat does he do ne+t) Goes o"" to "ind his 'rother-in-law$on the other side o" the town and on "oot. And that gives M ti!e to do his ne+t tric . /ac and re!ove a suitcase o" clothes and also re!ove the 'ody$though what he did with the 'ody,& Giles ended ve+edly, &'eats !e co!pletely.& &3t surprises !e you should say that, <r Reed,& said <iss <arple. &3 should say that that pro'le! would present "ew di""iculties. .ut do please go on.& &7ho 7ere The <en 3n Her (i"e)& quoted Giles. &3 saw that in a newspaper as we ca!e 'ac in the train. 3t set !e wondering, 'ecause that&s really the cru+ o" the !atter, isn&t it) 3" there is an M, as we 'elieve, all we now a'out hi! is that he !ust have 'een cra=y a'out her$literally cra=y a'out her.&

&And so he hated !y "ather,& said Gwenda. &And he wanted hi! to su""er.& &%o that&s where we co!e up against it,& said Giles. &7e now what ind o" a girl Helen was$& he hesitated. &<an !ad,& supplied Gwenda. <iss <arple loo ed up suddenly as though to spea , and then stopped. &$and that she was 'eauti"ul. .ut we&ve no clue to what other !en there were in her li"e 'esides her hus'and. There !ay have 'een any nu!'er.& <iss <arple shoo her head. &Hardly that. %he was quite young, you now. .ut you are not quite accurate, <r Reed. 7e do now so!ething a'out what you have ter!ed Gthe !en in her li"eG. There was the !an she was going out to !arry$& &Ah yes$the lawyer chap) 7hat was his na!e)& &7alter :ane,& said <iss <arple. &2es. .ut you can&t count hi!. He was out in <alaya or 3ndia or so!ewhere.& &.ut was he) He didn&t re!ain a tea-planter, you now,& <iss <arple pointed out. &He ca!e 'ac partner.& here and went into the "ir!, and is now the senior

Gwenda e+clai!ed8 &/erhaps he "ollowed her 'ac

here)& &He !ay have

done. 7e don&t now.& Giles was loo ing curiously at the old lady. &How did you "ind all this out)& <iss <arple s!iled apologetically. &3&ve 'een gossiping a little. 3n shops$and waiting "or 'uses. 6ld ladies are supposed to 'e inquisitive. 2es, one can pic up quite a lot o" local news.& &7alter :ane,A said Giles thought"ully. &Helen turned hi! down. That !ay have ran led quite a lot. 9id he ever !arry)& &*o,A said <iss <arple. &He lives with his !other. 3&! going to tea there at the end o" the wee .& &There&s so!eone else we now a'out, too,A said Gwenda suddenly. &2ou re!e!'er there was so!e'ody she got engaged to, or entangled with, when she le"t school$so!eone undesira'le, 9r >ennedy said. 3 wonder ,ust why he was undesira'le...& &That&s two !en,A said Giles. &#ither o" the! !ay have had a grudge, !ay have 'rooded... /erhaps the "irst young !an !ay have had so!e unsatis"actory !ental history.& &9r >ennedy could tell us that,A said Gwenda. &6nly it&s going to 'e a little di""icult as ing hi!. 3 !ean, it&s all very well "or !e to go along and as "or news o" !y step!other who! 3 'arely re!e!'er. .ut it&s going to ta e a 'it o" e+plaining i" 3 want to now a'out her early love-a""airs. 3t see!s rather e+cessive interest in a step!other you hardly new.& &There are pro'a'ly other ways o" "inding out,A said <iss <arple. &6h yes, 3 thin with ti!e and patience, we can gather the in"or!ation we want.&

&Anyway, we&ve got two possi'ilities,A said Giles. &7e !ight, 3 thin , in"er a third,A said <iss <arple. &3t would 'e, o" course, a pure hypothesis, 'ut ,usti"ied, 3 thin , 'y the turn o" events.& Gwenda and Giles loo ed at her in slight surprise. &3t is ,ust an in"erence,A said <iss <arple, turning a little pin . &Helen >ennedy went out to 3ndia to !arry young :ane. Ad!ittedly she was not wildly in love with hi!, 'ut she !ust have 'een "ond o" hi!, and quite prepared to spend her li"e with hi!. 2et as soon as she gets there, she 'rea s o"" the engage!ent and wires her 'rother to send her !oney to get ho!e. *ow why)& &Changed her !ind, 3 suppose,A said Giles. .oth <iss <arple and Gwenda loo ed at hi! in !ild conte!pt. &6" course she changed her !ind,A said Gwenda. &7e now that. 7hat <iss <arple !eans is$why)& &3 suppose girls do change their !inds,A said Giles vaguely. &Bnder certain circu!stances,A said <iss <arple. Her words held all the pointed innuendo that elderly ladies are a'le to achieve with the !ini!u! o" actual state!ent. &%o!ething he did$& Giles was suggesting vaguely, when Gwenda chipped in sharply. &6" course,A she said. &Another !an1&

%he and <iss <arple loo ed at each other with the assurance o" those ad!itted to a "ree!asonry "ro! which !en were e+cluded. Gwenda added with certainty8 &6n the 'oat1 Going out1& &/ropinquity,A said <iss <arple. &<oonlight on the 'oat dec ,A said Gwenda. &All that sort o" thing. 6nly$it !ust have 'een serious$not ,ust a "lirtation.& &6h yes,A said <iss <arple, &3 thin it was serious.& &3" so, why didn&t she !arry the chap)& de!anded Giles. &/erhaps he didn&t really care "or her,A Gwenda said slowly. Then shoo her head. &*o, 3 thin in that case she would still have !arried 7alter :ane. 6h, o" course, 3&! 'eing stupid. <arried !an.& %he loo ed triu!phantly at <iss <arple. &#+actly,A said <iss <arple. &That&s how 3 should reconstruct it. They "ell in love, pro'a'ly desperately in love. .ut i" he was a !arried !an$with children, perhaps$and pro'a'ly an honoura'le type$well, that would 'e the end o" it.& &6nly she couldn&t go on and !arry 7alter :ane,A said Gwenda. &%o she wired her 'rother and went ho!e. 2es, that all "its. And on the 'oat ho!e, she !et !y "ather...& %he paused, thin ing it out.

&*ot wildly in love,A she said. &.ut attracted... and then there was !e. They were 'oth unhappy... and they consoled each other. <y "ather told her a'out !y !other, and perhaps she told hi! a'out the other !an... 2es$o" course $& %he "lic ed over the pages o" the diary. &3 new there was so!eone$she said as !uch to !e on the 'oat$so!eone she loved and couldn&t !arry.& &2es$that&s it. Helen and !y "ather "elt they were ali e$and there was !e to 'e loo ed a"ter, and she thought she could !a e hi! happy$and she even thought, perhaps, that she&d 'e quite happy hersel" in the end.& %he stopped, nodded violently at <iss <arple, and said 'rightly8 &That&s it.& Giles was loo ing e+asperated. &Really, Gwenda, you !a e a whole lot o" things up and pretend that they actually happened.& &They did happen. They !ust have happened. And that gives us a third person "or M.& &2ou !ean$)& &The !arried !an. 7e don&t now what he was li e. He !ayn&t have 'een nice at all. He !ay have 'een a little !ad. He !ay have "ollowed her here$& &2ou&ve ,ust placed hi! as going out to 3ndia.& &7ell, people can co!e 'ac "ro! 3ndia, can&t they) 7alter :ane did. 3t was nearly a year later. 3 don&t say this !an did co!e 'ac , 'ut 3 say he&s a

possi'ility. 2ou eep harping on who the !en were in her li"e. 7ell, we&ve got three o" the!. 7alter :ane, and so!e young !an whose na!e we don&t now, and a !arried !an$& &7ho! we don&t now e+ists,& "inished Giles. &7e&ll "ind out,& said Gwenda. &7on&t we, <iss <arple)& &7ith ti!e and patience,& said <iss <arple, &we !ay "ind out a great deal. *ow "or !y contri'ution. As a result o" a very "ortunate little conversation in the draper&s today, 3 have discovered that #dith /agett who was coo at %t Catherine&s at the ti!e we are interested in, is still in 9ill!outh. Her sister is !arried to a con"ectioner here. 3 thin it would 'e quite natural, Gwenda, "or you to want to see her. %he !ay 'e a'le to tell us a good deal.& &That&s wonder"ul,& said Gwenda. &3&ve thought o" so!ething else,& she added. &3&! going to !a e a new will. 9on&t loo so grave, Giles, 3 shall still leave !y !oney to you. .ut 3 shall get 7alter :ane to do it "or !e.& &Gwenda,& said Giles. &9o 'e care"ul.& &<a ing a will,& said Gwenda, &is a !ost natural thing to do. And the line o" approach 3&ve thought up is quite good. Anyway, 3 want to see hi!. 3 want to see what he&s li e, and i" 3 thin that possi'ly$& %he le"t the sentence un"inished. &7hat surprises !e,& said Giles, &is that no one else answered that advertise!ent o" ours$ this #dith /agett, "or e+a!ple$&

<iss <arple shoo her head. &/eople ta e a long ti!e to !a e up their !inds a'out a thing li e that in these country districts,& she said. &They&re suspicious. They li e to thin things over.& Chapter 1@ (ily >i!'le (ily >i!'le spread a couple o" old newspapers on the itchen ta'le in

readiness "or draining the chipped potatoes which were hissing in the pan. Hu!!ing tunelessly a popular !elody o" the day she leaned "orward ai!lessly studying the newsprint spread out 'e"ore her. Then suddenly she stopped hu!!ing and called8 &Ci!$Ci!. (isten here, will you)& Ci! >i!'le, an elderly !an o" "ew words, was washing at the scullery sin . To answer his wi"e, he used his "avourite !onosylla'le. &Ar)& said Ci! >i!'le. &3t&s a piece in the paper. 7ill anyone with any nowledge o" Helen %penlove Halliday, nee >ennedy, co!!unicate with <essrs Reed and Hardy, %outha!pton Row1 %ee!s to !e they !ight 'e !eaning <rs Halliday as 3 was in service with at %t Catherine&s. Too it "ro! <rs :indeyson, they did, she and&er&us'and. Her na!e was Helen right enough$2es, and she was sister to 9r >ennedy, hi! as always said 3 ought to have had !y adenoids out.&

There was a !o!entary pause as <rs >i!'le ad,usted the "rying chips with an e+pert touch. Ci! >i!'le was snorting into the roller towel as he dried his "ace. &Course, it&s an old paper, this,& resu!ed <rs >i!'le. %he studied its date. &*igh on a wee or !ore old. 7onder what it&s all a'out) Thin as there&s any !oney in it, Ci!)& <r >i!'le said, &Ar,& nonco!!ittally. &<ight 'e a will or so!ething,& speculated his wi"e. &/ower"ul lot o" ti!e ago.& &Ar.& &#ighteen years or !ore, 3 shouldn&t wonder... 7onder what they&re ra ing it all up "or now) 2ou don&t thin it could 'e police, do you, Ci!)& &7hatever)& as ed <r >i!'le. &7ell, you now what 3 always thought,& said <rs >i!'le !ysteriously. &Told you at the ti!e, 3 did, when we was wal ing out. /retending that she&d gone o"" with a "eller. That&s what they say, hus'ands, when they do their wives in. 9epend upon it, it was !urder. That&s what 3 said to you and what 3 said to #die, 'ut #die she wouldn&t have it at any price. *ever no i!agination, #die hadn&t. Those clothes she was supposed to have too away with her$well, they weren&t right, i" you now what 3 !ean. There was a suitcase gone and a 'ag, and enough clothes to "ill &e!, 'ut they wasn&t right, those clothes. And that&s when 3 said to #die, G9epend upon it,G 3 said, Gthe !aster&s !urdered her and put her in the cellar.G 6nly not really the cellar, 'ecause that (ayonee, the %wiss nurse, she saw so!ething. 6ut o" the window. Co!e to

the cine!a along o" !e, she did, though she wasn&t supposed to leave the nursery$'ut there, 3 said, the child never wa es up$good as gold she was, always, in her 'ed at night. GAnd !ada! never co!es up to the nursery in the evening,G 3 says. G*o'ody will now i" you slip out with !e.G %o she did. And when we got in there was ever such a sche!o==le going on. 9octor was there and the !aster ill and sleeping in the dressing-roo!, and the doctor loo ing a"ter hi!, and it was then he as ed !e a'out the clothes, and it see!ed all right at the ti!e. 3 thought she&d gone o"" all right with that "ellow she was so een on$and hi! a !arried !an, too$and #die said she did hope and pray we wouldn&t 'e !i+ed up in any divorce case. 7hat was his na!e now) 3 can&t re!e!'er. .egan with an <$or was it an R) .less us, your !e!ory does go.& <r >i!'le ca!e in "ro! the scullery and ignoring all !atters o" lesser !o!ent de!anded i" his supper was ready. &3&ll ,ust drain the chips... 7ait, 3&ll get another paper. .etter eep this one. &Twouldn&t 'e li ely to 'e police$not a"ter all this ti!e. <ay'e it&s lawyers$ and !oney in it. 3t doesn&t say so!ething to your advantage... 'ut it !ight 'e all the sa!e... 7ish 3 new who 3 could as a'out it. 3t says write to so!e address in (ondon$'ut 3&! not sure 3&d li e to do a thing li e that... not to a lot o" people in (ondon... 7hat do you say, Ci!)& &Ar,& said <r >i!'le, hungrily eyeing the "ish and chips. The discussion was postponed. Chapter 1E 7alter :ane Gwenda loo ed across the 'road !ahogany des at <r 7alter :ane.

%he saw a rather tired-loo ing !an o" a'out "i"ty, with a gentle, nondescript "ace. The sort o" !an, Gwenda thought, that you would "ind it a little di""icult to recollect i" you had ,ust !et hi! casually... A !an who, in !odern phrase, lac ed personality. His voice, when he spo e, was slow and care"ul and pleasant. /ro'a'ly, Gwenda decided, a very sound lawyer. %he stole a glance round the o""ice$the o""ice o" the senior partner o" the "ir!. 3t suited 7alter :ane, she decided. 3t was de"initely old-"ashioned, the "urniture was sha''y, 'ut was !ade o" good solid ;ictorian !aterial. There were deed 'o+es piled up against the walls$'o+es with respecta'le County na!es on the!. %ir Cohn ;avasour-Trench. (ady Cessup. Arthur :"oul es, #sq. 9eceased. The 'ig sash windows, the panes o" which were rather dirty, loo ed into a square 'ac yard "lan ed 'y the solid walls o" a seventeenth-century ad,oining house. There was nothing s!art or up to date anywhere, 'ut there was nothing sordid either. 3t was super"icially an untidy o""ice with its piled-up 'o+es, and its littered des , and its row o" law 'oo s leaning croo edly on a shel"$'ut it was actually the o""ice o" so!eone who new e+actly where to lay his hand upon anything he wanted. The scratching o" 7alter :ane&s pen ceased. He s!iled his slow, pleasant s!ile. &3 thin that&s all quite clear, <rs Reed,& he said. &A very si!ple will. 7hen would you li e to co!e in and sign it)& Gwenda said whenever he li ed. There was no particular hurry. &7e&ve got a house down here, you now,& she said. &Hillside.&

7alter :ane said, glancing down at his notes, &2es, you gave !e the address...& There was no change in the even tenor o" his voice. &3t&s a very nice house,& said Gwenda. &7e love it.& &3ndeed)& 7alter :ane s!iled. &3s it on the sea)& &*o,& said Gwenda. &3 'elieve the na!e has 'een changed. 3t used to 'e %t Catherine&s.& <r :ane too o"" his pince-ne=. He polished the! with a sil hand erchie", loo ing down at the des . &6h yes,A he said. &6n the (eaha!pton road)& He loo ed up and Gwenda thought how di""erent people who ha'itually wear glasses loo without the!. His eyes, a very pale grey, see!ed strangely wea and un"ocussed. 3t !a es his whole "ace loo , thought Gwenda, as though he isn&t really there. 7alter :ane put on the pince-ne= again. He said in his precise lawyer&s voice, &3 thin you said you did !a e a will on the occasion o" your !arriage)& &2es. .ut 3&d le"t things in it to various relatives in *ew 5ealand who have died since, so 3 thought it would 'e si!pler really to !a e a new one altogether$ especially as we !ean to live per!anently in this country.&

7alter :ane nodded. &2es, quite a sound view to ta e. 7ell, 3 thin this is all quite clear, <rs Reed. /erhaps i" you co!e in the day a"ter to!orrow) 7ill eleven o&cloc suit you)& &2es, that will 'e quite all right.& Gwenda rose to her "eet and 7alter :ane rose also. Gwenda said, with e+actly the little rush she had rehearsed 'e"orehand, &3$3 as ed specially "or you, 'ecause 3 thin $3 !ean 3 'elieve$that you once new !y$!y !other.& &3ndeed)& 7alter :ane put a little additional social war!th into his !anner. &7hat was her na!e)& &Halliday. <egan Halliday. 3 thin $3&ve 'een told$that you were once engaged to her)& A cloc on the wall tic ed. 6ne, two, one two, one two. Gwenda suddenly "elt her heart 'eating a little "aster. 7hat a very quiet "ace 7alter :ane had. 2ou !ight see a house li e that$a house with all the 'linds pulled down. That would !ean a house with a dead 'ody in it. -7hat idiotic thoughts you do have, Gwenda10 7alter :ane, his voice unchanged, unru""led, said, &*o, 3 never new your !other, <rs Reed. .ut 3 was once engaged, "or a short period, to Helen >ennedy who a"terwards !arried <a,or Halliday as his second wi"e.&

&6h, 3 see. How stupid o" !e. 3&ve got it all wrong. 3t was Helen$!y step!other. 6" course it&s all long 'e"ore 3 re!e!'er. 3 was only a child when !y "ather&s second !arriage 'ro e up. .ut 3 heard so!eone say that you&d once 'een engaged to <rs Halliday in 3ndia$and 3 thought o" course it was !y own !other$'ecause o" 3ndia, 3 !ean... <y "ather !et her in 3ndia.& &Helen >ennedy ca!e out to 3ndia to !arry !e,A said 7alter :ane. &Then she changed her !ind. 6n the 'oat going ho!e she !et your "ather.& 3t was a plain une!otional state!ent o" "act. Gwenda still had the i!pression o" a house with the 'linds down. &3&! so sorry,A she said. &Have 3 put !y "oot in it)& 7alter :ane s!iled$his slow, pleasant s!ile. The 'linds were up. &3t&s nineteen or twenty years ago, <rs Reed,A he said. &6ne&s youth"ul trou'les and "ollies don&t !ean !uch a"ter that space o" ti!e. %o you are Halliday&s 'a'y daughter. 2ou now, don&t you, that your "ather and Helen actually lived here in 9ill!outh "or a while)& &6h yes,A said Gwenda, &that&s really why we ca!e here. 3 didn&t re!e!'er it properly, o" course, 'ut when we had to decide where we&d live in #ngland, 3 ca!e to 9ill!outh "irst o" all, to see what it was really li e, and 3 thought it was such an attractive place that 3 decided that we&d par ourselves right here and nowhere else. And wasn&t it luc ) 7e&ve actually got the sa!e house that !y people lived in long ago.&

&3 re!e!'er the house,A said 7alter :ane. Again he gave that slow, pleasant s!ile. &2ou !ay not re!e!'er !e, <rs Reed, 'ut 3 rather i!agine 3 used to give you piggy'ac s once.& Gwenda laughed. &9id you really) Then you&re quite an old "riend, aren&t you) 3 can&t pretend 3 re!e!'er you$'ut then 3 was only a'out two and a hal" or three, 3 suppose... 7ere you 'ac on leave "ro! 3ndia or so!ething li e that)& &*o, 3&d chuc ed 3ndia "or good. 3 went out to try tea-planting$'ut the li"e didn&t suit !e. 3 was cut out to "ollow in !y "ather&s "ootsteps and 'e a prosy unadventurous country solicitor. 3&d passed all !y law e+a!s earlier, so 3 si!ply ca!e 'ac and went straight into the "ir!.& He paused and said, &3&ve 'een here ever since.& Again there was a pause and he repeated in a lower voice, &2es$ever since...& .ut eighteen years, thought Gwenda, isn&t really such a long ti!e as all that... Then, with a change o" !anner, he shoo hands with her and said, &%ince we see! to 'e old "riends, you really !ust 'ring your hus'and to tea with !y !other one day. 3&ll get her to write to you. 3n the !eanwhile, eleven o&cloc on Thursday)& Gwenda went out o" the o""ice and down the stairs. There was a co'we' in the angle o" the stairway. 3n the !iddle o" the we' was a pale, rather nondescript spider. 3t didn&t loo , Gwenda thought, li e a real spider. *ot the "at ,uicy ind o" spider who caught "lies and ate the!. 3t was !ore li e a ghost o" a spider. Rather li e 7alter :ane, in "act.

Giles !et his wi"e on the sea"ront. &7ell)& he as ed. &He was here in 9ill!outh at the ti!e,A said Gwenda. &.ac "ro! 3ndia, 3 !ean. .ecause he gave !e piggy'ac s. .ut he couldn&t have !urdered anyone$not possi'ly. He&s !uch too quiet and gentle. ;ery nice, really, 'ut the ind o" person you never really notice. 2ou now, they co!e to parties, 'ut you never notice when they leave. 3 should thin he was "right"ully upright and all that, and devoted to his !other, and with a lot o" virtues. .ut "ro! a wo!an&s point o" view, terri'ly dull. 3 can see why he didn&t cut any ice with Helen. 2ou now, a nice sa"e person to !arry$'ut you don&t really want to.& &/oor devil,& said Giles. &And 3 suppose he was ,ust cra=y a'out her.& &6h, 3 don&t now... 3 shouldn&t thin so, really. Anyway, 3&! sure he wouldn&t 'e our !alevolent !urderer. He&s not !y idea o" a !urderer at all.& &2ou don&t really now a lot a'out !urderers, though, do you, !y sweet)& &7hat do you !ean)& &7ell$3 was thin ing a'out quiet (i==ie .orden$only the ,ury said she didn&t do it. And 7allace, a quiet !an who! the ,ury insisted did ill his wi"e, though the sentence was quashed on appeal. And Ar!strong who every'ody said "or years was such a ind unassu!ing "ellow. 3 don&t 'elieve !urderers are ever a special type.& &3 really can&t 'elieve that 7alter :ane$& Gwenda stopped. &7hat is it)& &*othing.&

.ut she was re!e!'ering 7alter :ane polishing his eyeglasses and the queer 'lind stare o" his eyes when she had "irst !entioned %t Catherine&s. &/erhaps,& she said uncertainly, &he was cra=y a'out her...& Chapter 1F #dith /agett <rs <ount"ord&s 'ac parlour was a co!"orta'le roo!. 3t had a round ta'le covered with a cloth, and so!e old-"ashioned ar!chairs and a stern-loo ing 'ut une+pectedly well-sprung so"a against the wall. There were china dogs and other orna!ents on the !antelpiece, and a "ra!ed coloured representation o" the /rincess #li=a'eth and <argaret Rose. 6n another wall was the >ing in *aval uni"or!, and a photograph o" <r <ount"ord in a group o" other 'a ers and con"ectioners. There was a picture !ade with shells and a watercolour o" a very green sea at Capri. There were a great !any other things, none o" the! with any pretensions to 'eauty or the higher li"e4 'ut the net result was a happy, cheer"ul roo! where people sat round and en,oyed the!selves whenever there was ti!e to do so. <rs <ount"ord, nee /agett, was short and round and dar -haired with a "ew grey strea s in the dar . Her sister, #dith /agett, was tall and dar and thin. There was hardly any grey in her hair though she was at a guess round a'out "i"ty. &:ancy now,& #dith /agett was saying. &(ittle <iss Gwennie. 2ou !ust e+cuse !e, !&a!, spea ing li e that, 'ut it does ta e one 'ac . 2ou used to co!e into !y itchen, as pretty as could 'e. G7innies,G you used to say. G7innies.G And what you !eant was raisins$ though why you called the! winnies is !ore than 3 can say. .ut raisins was what you !eant and raisins it was 3 used to give you, sultanas, that is, on account o" the stones.&

Gwenda stared hard at the upright "igure and the red chee s and 'lac eyes, trying to re!e!'er$to re!e!'er$'ut nothing ca!e. <e!ory was an inconvenient thing. &3 wish 3 could re!e!'er$& she 'egan. &3t&s not li ely that you would. Cust a tiny little !ite, that&s all you were. *owadays no'ody see!s to want to go in a house where there&s children. 3 can&t see it, !ysel". Children give li"e to a house, that&s what 3 "eel. Though nursery !eals are always lia'le to cause a 'it o" trou'le. .ut i" you now what 3 !ean, !&a!, that&s the nurse&s "ault, not the child&s. *urses are nearly always di""icult$trays and waiting upon and one thing and another. 9o you re!e!'er (ayonee at all, <iss Gwennie) #+cuse !e, <rs Reed, 3 should say.& &(eonie) 7as she !y nurse)& &%wiss girl, she was. 9idn&t spea #nglish very well, and very sensitive in her "eelings. Bsed to cry a lot i" (ily said so!ething to upset her. (ily was house parlour-!aid. (ily A''ott. A young girl and pert in her ways and a 'it "lighty. <any a ga!e (ily used to have with you, <iss Gwennie. /lay peep-'o through the stairs.& Gwenda gave a quic uncontrolla'le shiver. The stairs... Then she said suddenly, &3 re!e!'er (ily. %he put a 'ow on the cat.& &There now, "ancy you re!e!'ering that1 6n your 'irthday it was, and (ily she was all "or it, Tho!as !ust have a 'ow on. Too one o"" the chocolate

'o+, and Tho!as was !ad a'out it. Ran o"" into the garden and ru''ed through the 'ushes until he got it o"". Cats don&t li e tric s 'eing played on the!.& &A 'lac and white cat.& &That&s right. /oor old To!!y. Caught !ice so!ething 'eauti"ul. A real proper !ouser.& #dith /agett paused and coughed pri!ly. &#+cuse !e running on li e this, !&a!. .ut tal ing 'rings the old days 'ac . 2ou wanted to as !e so!ething)& &3 li e hearing you tal a'out the old days,& said Gwenda. &That&s ,ust what 3 want to hear a'out. 2ou see, 3 was 'rought up 'y relations in *ew 5ealand and o" course they could never tell !e anything a'out$a'out !y "ather, and !y step!other. %he$she was nice, wasn&t she)& &;ery "ond o" you, she was. 6h yes, she used to ta e you down to the 'each and play with you in the garden. %he was quite young hersel", you understand. *othing 'ut a girl, really. 3 o"ten used to thin she en,oyed the ga!es as !uch as you did. 2ou see she&d 'een an only child, in a !anner o" spea ing. 9r >ennedy, her 'rother, was years and years older and always shut up with his 'oo s. 7hen she wasn&t away at school, she had to play 'y hersel"...& <iss <arple, sitting 'ac against the wall, as ed gently, &2ou&ve lived in

9ill!outh all your li"e, haven&t you)& &6h yes, !ada!. :ather had the "ar! up 'ehind the hill$Rylands it was always called. He&d no sons, and <other couldn&t carry on a"ter he died, so

she sold it and 'ought the little "ancy shop at the end o" the High %treet. 2es, 3&ve lived here all !y li"e.& &And 3 suppose you now all a'out everyone in 9ill!outh)& &7ell, o" course it used to 'e a s!all place, then. Though there used always to 'e a lot o" su!!er visitors as long as 3 can re!e!'er. .ut nice quiet people who ca!e here every year, not these trippers and chara'ancs we have nowadays. Good "a!ilies they were, who&d co!e 'ac to the sa!e roo!s year a"ter year.& &3 suppose,& said Giles, &that you new Helen >ennedy 'e"ore she was <rs Halliday)& &7ell, 3 new o" her, so to spea , and 3 !ay have seen her a'out. .ut 3 didn&t now her proper until 3 went into service there.& &And you li ed her,& said <iss <arple. #dith /agett turned towards her. &2es, !ada!, 3 did,A she said. There was a trace o" de"iance in her !anner. &*o !atter what any'ody says. %he was as nice as could 'e to !e always. 3&d never have 'elieved she&d do what she did do. Too !y 'reath away, it did. Although, !ind you, there had 'een tal $& %he stopped rather a'ruptly and gave a quic apologetic glance at Gwenda. Gwenda spo e i!pulsively. &3 want to now,& she said. &/lease don&t thin 3 shall !ind anything you say. %he wasn&t !y own !other$&

&That&s true enough, !&a!.& &And you see, we are very an+ious to$to "ind her. %he went away "ro! here $and she see!s to have 'een quite lost sight o". 7e don&t now where she is living now, or even i" she is alive. And there are reasons$& %he hesitated and Giles said quic ly, &(egal reasons. 7e don&t now whether to presu!e death or$or what.& &6h, 3 quite understand, sir. <y cousin&s hus'and was !issing$a"ter 2pres it was$and there was a lot o" trou'le a'out presu!ing death and that. Real ve+ing it was "or her. *aturally, sir, i" there is anything 3 can tell you that will help in any way$it isn&t as i" you were strangers. <iss Gwenda and her GwinniesG. %o "unny you used to say it.& &That&s very ind o" you,& said Giles. &%o, i" you don&t !ind, 3&ll ,ust "ire away. <rs Halliday le"t ho!e quite suddenly, 3 understand)& &2es, sir, it was a great shoc to all o" us$and especially to the <a,or, poor !an. He collapsed co!pletely.& &3&! going to as you right out$have you any idea who the !an was she went away with)& #dith /agett shoo her head. &That&s what 9r >ennedy as ed !e$and 3 couldn&t tell hi!. (ily couldn&t either. And o" course that (ayonee, 'eing a "oreigner, didn&t now a thing a'out it.&

&2ou didn&t now,& said Giles. &.ut could you !a e a guess) *ow that it&s all so long ago, it wouldn&t !atter $even i" the guess is all wrong. 2ou !ust, surely, have had so!e suspicion.& &7ell, we had our suspicions... 'ut !ind you, it wasn&t !ore than suspicions. And as "ar as 3&! concerned, 3 never saw anything at all. .ut (ily who, as 3 told you, was a sharp ind o" girl, (ily had her ideas$had had the! "or a long ti!e. G<ar !y words,G she used to say. GThat chap&s sweet on her. 6nly got to see hi! loo ing at her as she pours out the tea. And does his wi"e loo daggers1G& &3 see. And who was the$er$chap)& &*ow 3&! a"raid, sir, 3 ,ust don&t re!e!'er his na!e. *ot a"ter all these years. A Captain$ #sdale$no, that wasn&t it$#!ery$no. 3 have a ind o" "eeling it 'egan with an #. 6r it !ight have 'een H. Rather an unusual ind o" na!e. .ut 3&ve never even thought o" it "or si+teen years. He and his wi"e were staying at the Royal Clarence.& &%u!!er visitors)& &2es, 'ut 3 thin that he$or !ay'e 'oth o" the!$had nown <rs Halliday 'e"ore. They ca!e to the house quite o"ten. Anyway, according to (ily he was sweet on <rs Halliday.& &And his wi"e didn&t li e it.& &*o, sir... .ut !ind you, 3 never 'elieved "or a !o!ent that there was anything wrong a'out it. And 3 still don&t now what to thin .&

Gwenda as ed, &7ere they still here$at the Royal Clarence$when$when Helen$!y step!other went away)& &As "ar as 3 recollect they went away ,ust a'out the sa!e ti!e, a day earlier or a day later$anyway, it was close enough to !a e people tal . .ut 3 never heard anything de"inite. 3t was all ept very quiet i" it was so. ?uite a nine days& wonder <rs Halliday going o"" li e that, so sudden. .ut people did say she&d always 'een "lighty$not that 3 ever saw anything o" the ind !ysel". 3 wouldn&t have 'een willing to go to *or"ol with the! i" 3&d thought that& :or a !o!ent three people stared at her intently. Then Giles said, &*or"ol ) 7ere they going to *or"ol )& &2es, sir. They&d 'ought a house there. <rs Halliday told !e a'out three wee s 'e"ore$ 'e"ore all this happened. %he as ed !e i" 3&d co!e with the! when they !oved, and 3 said 3 would. A"ter all, 3&d never 'een away "ro! 9ill!outh, and 3 thought perhaps 3&d li e a change$seeing as 3 li ed the "a!ily.& &3 never heard they had 'ought a house in *or"ol ,& said Giles. &7ell, it&s "unny you should say that, sir, 'ecause <rs Halliday see!ed to want it ept very quiet. %he as ed !e not to spea a'out it to anyone at all$ so o" course 3 didn&t. .ut she&d 'een wanting to go away "ro! 9ill!outh "or so!e ti!e. %he&d 'een pressing <a,or Halliday to go, 'ut he li ed it at 9ill!outh. 3 even 'elieve he wrote to <rs :indeyson who! %t Catherine&s 'elonged to, as ing i" she&d consider selling it. .ut <rs Halliday was dead against it. %he see!ed to have turned right against 9ill!outh. 3t&s al!ost as though she was a"raid to stop there.&

The words ca!e out quite naturally, yet at the sound o" the! the three people listening again sti""ened to attention. Giles said, &2ou don&t thin she wanted to go to *or"ol to 'e near this$the !an whose na!e you can&t re!e!'er)& #dith /agett loo ed distressed. &6h indeed, sir, 3 wouldn&t li e to thin that. And 3 don&t thin it, not "or a !o!ent. .esides 3 don&t thin that$3 re!e!'er now$they ca!e "ro! up *orth so!ewhere, that lady and gentle!an did. *orthu!'erland, 3 thin it was. Anyway, they li ed co!ing south "or a holiday 'ecause it was so !ild down here.& Gwenda said8 &%he was a"raid o" so!ething, wasn&t she) 6r o" so!eone) <y step!other, 3 !ean.& &3 do re!e!'er$now that you say that$& &2es)& &(ily ca!e into the itchen one day. %he&d 'een dusting the stairs, and she said, GRuctions1G she said. %he had a very co!!on way o" tal ing so!eti!es, (ily had, so you !ust e+cuse !e.& &%o 3 as ed her what she !eant and she said that the !issus had co!e in "ro! the garden with the !aster into the drawing-roo! and the door to the hall 'eing open, (ily heard what they said.& &G3&! a"raid o" you,G that&s what <rs Halliday had said.&

&GAnd she sounded scared too,G (ily said. G3&ve 'een a"raid o" you "or a long ti!e. 2ou&re !ad. 2ou&re not nor!al. Go away and leave !e alone. 2ou !ust leave !e alone. 3&! "rightened. 3 thin , underneath, 3&ve always 'een "rightened o" you... G& &%o!ething o" that ind$o" course 3 can&t say now to the e+act words. .ut (ily, she too it very seriously, and that&s why, a"ter it all happened, she$& #dith /agett stopped dead. A curious "rightened loo ca!e over her "ace. &3 didn&t !ean, 3&! sure$& she 'egan. &#+cuse !e, !ada!, !y tongue runs away with !e.& Giles said gently8 &/lease tell us, #dith. 3t&s really i!portant, you see, that we should now. 3t&s all a long ti!e ago now, 'ut we&ve got to now.& &3 couldn&t say, 3&! sure,& said #dith helplessly. <iss <arple as ed8 &7hat was it (ily didn&t 'elieve$or did 'elieve)& #dith /agett said apologetically8 &(ily was always one to get ideas in her head. 3 never too no notice o" the!. %he was always one "or going to the pictures and she got a lot o" silly !elodra!atic ideas that way. %he was out at the pictures the night it happened$and what&s !ore she too (ayonee with her$and very wrong that was, and 3 told her so. G6h, that&s all right,G she said. G3t&s not leaving the child alone in the house. 2ou&re down in the itchen and the !aster and the !issus will 'e in later and anyway that child never wa es once she&s o"" to sleep.G .ut it was wrong, and 3 told her so, though o" course 3 never new a'out (ayonee going till a"terwards. 3" 3 had, 3&d have run

up to see she$you, 3 !ean, <iss Gwenda$were quite all right. 2ou can&t hear a thing "ro! the itchen when the 'ai=e door&s shut.& #dith /agett paused and then went on8 &3 was doing so!e ironing. The evening passed ever so quic and the "irst thing 3 new 9r >ennedy ca!e out in the itchen and as ed !e where (ily was and 3 said it was her night o"" 'ut she&d 'e in any !inute now and sure enough she ca!e in that very !inute and he too her upstairs to the !istress&s roo!. 7anted to now i" she&d ta en any clothes away with her, and what. %o (ily loo ed a'out and told hi! and then she co!e down to !e. All agog she was. G%he&s hoo ed it,G she said. GGone o"" with so!eone. The !aster&s all in. Had a stro e or so!ething. Apparently it&s 'een a terri'le shoc to hi!. <ore "ool he. He ought to have seen it co!ing.G G2ou shouldn&t spea li e that,G 3 said. GHow do you now she&s gone o"" with any'ody) <ay'e she had a telegra! "ro! a sic relation.G G%ic relation !y "oot,G (ily says -always a co!!on way o" spea ing, as 3 said0. G%he le"t a note.G G7ho&s she gone o"" with)G 3 said. G7ho do you thin )G (ily said. G*ot li ely to 'e <r %o'ersides :ane, "or all his sheep&s eyes and the way he "ollows her round li e a dog.G %o 3 said, G2ou thin it&s Captain$whatever his na!e was.G And she said, GHe&s !y 'et. Bnless it&s our !ystery !an in the "lashy car.G -That&s ,ust a silly ,o e we had.0 And 3 said, G3 don&t 'elieve it. *ot <rs Halliday. %he wouldn&t do a thing li e that.G And (ily says, G7ell, it see!s she&s done it.G& &All this was at "irst, you understand. .ut later on, up in our 'edroo!, (ily wo e !e up. G(oo here,G she says. G3t&s all wrong.G G7hat&s wrong)G 3 said. And she said, GThose clothes.G G7hatever are you tal ing a'out)G 3 said. G(isten, #die,G she said. G3 went through her clothes 'ecause the doctor as ed !e to. And there&s a suitcase gone and enough to "ill it$'ut they&re the wrong things.G G7hat do you !ean)G 3 said. And (ily said, G%he too an evening dress, her grey and silver$'ut she didn&t ta e her evening 'elt and

'rassiere, nor the slip that goes with it, and she too

her gold 'rocade

evening shoes, not the silver strap ones. And she too her green tweed$ which she never wears until late on in the autu!n, 'ut she didn&t ta e that "ancy pullover and she too her lace 'louses that she only wears with a town suit. 6h and her undies, too, they were a ,o' lot. 2ou !ar !y words, #die,G (ily said. G%he&s not gone away at all. The !aster&s done her in.G& &7ell, that !ade !e wide awa e. 3 sat right up and as ed her what on earth she was tal ing a'out.& &GCust li e it was in the *ews o" the 7orld last wee ,G (ily says. GThe !aster "ound she&d 'een carrying on and he illed her and put her down in the cellar and 'uried her under the "loor. 2ou&d never hear anything 'ecause it&s under the "ront hall. That&s what he&s done, and then he pac ed a suitcase to !a e it loo as though she&d gone away. .ut that&s where she is$under the cellar "loor. %he never le"t this house alive.G 3 gave her a piece o" !y !ind then, saying such aw"ul things. .ut 3&ll ad!it 3 slipped down to the cellar the ne+t !orning. .ut there, it was all ,ust as usual and nothing distur'ed and no digging 'een done$and 3 went and told (ily she&d ,ust 'een !a ing a "ool o" hersel", 'ut she stuc to it as the !aster had done her in. GRe!e!'er,G she says, Gshe was scared to death o" hi!. 3 heard her telling hi! so.G GAnd that&s ,ust where you&re wrong, !y girl,G 3 said, G'ecause it wasn&t the !aster at all. Cust a"ter you&d told !e, that day, 3 loo ed out o" the window and there was the !aster co!ing down the hill with his gol"-clu's, so it couldn&t have 'een hi! who was with the !istress in the drawing-roo!. 3t was so!eone else.G& The words echoed lingeringly in the co!"orta'le co!!on-place sitting-roo!. Giles said so"tly under his 'reath, &3t was so!eone else...& Chapter 1H An Address

The Royal Clarence was the oldest hotel in the town. 3t had a !ellow 'ow"ronted "acade and an old-world at!osphere. 3t still catered "or the type o" "a!ily who ca!e "or a !onth to the seaside. <iss *arracott who presided 'ehind the reception des was a "ull-'oso!ed lady o" "orty-seven with an old-"ashioned style o" hairdressing. %he un'ent to Giles who! her accurate eye su!!ed up as &one o" our nice people&. And Giles, who had a ready tongue and a persuasive way with hi! when he li ed, spun a very good tale. He had a 'et on with his wi"e$a'out her god!other$and whether she had stayed at the Royal Clarence eighteen years ago. His wi"e had said that they could never settle the dispute 'ecause o" course all the old registers would 'e thrown away 'y this ti!e, 'ut he had said *onsense. An esta'lish!ent li e the Royal Clarence would registers. They !ust go 'ac "or a hundred years. &7ell, not quite that, <r Reed. .ut we do eep all our old ;isitors& .oo s as we pre"er to call the!. ;ery interesting na!es in the!, too. 7hy, the >ing stayed here once when he was /rince o" 7ales, and /rincess Adle!ar o" Holstein-Rot= used to co!e every winter with her lady-in-waiting. And we&ve had so!e very "a!ous novelists, too, and <r 9ovey, the portrait-painter.& Giles responded in suita'le "ashion with interest and respect and in due course the sacred volu!e "or the year in question was 'rought out and e+hi'ited to hi!. Having "irst had various illustrious na!es pointed out to hi!, he turned the pages to the !onth o" August. eep its

2es, here surely was the entry he was see ing. <a,or and <rs %etoun #rs ine, Anstell <anor, 9aith, *orthu!'erland, Culy @Kth$August 1Kth. &3" 3 !ay copy this out)& &6" course, <r Reed. /aper and in $6h, you have your pen. #+cuse !e, 3 !ust ,ust go 'ac to the outer o""ice.& %he le"t hi! with the open 'oo , and Giles set to wor . 6n his return to Hillside he "ound Gwenda in the garden, 'ending over the her'aceous 'order. %he straightened hersel" and gave hi! a quic glance o" interrogation. &Any luc )& &2es, 3 thin this !ust 'e it.& Gwenda said so"tly, reading the words8 &Anstell <anor, 9aith,

*orthu!'erland. 2es, #dith /agett said *orthu!'erland. 3 wonder i" they&re still living there$& &7e&ll have to go and see.& &2es$yes, it would 'e 'etter to go$when)& &As soon as possi'le. To!orrow) 7e&ll ta e the car and drive up. 3t will show you a little !ore o" #ngland.&

&%uppose they&re dead$or gone away and so!e'ody else is living there)& Giles shrugged his shoulders. &Then we co!e 'ac and go on with our other leads. 3&ve written to >ennedy, 'y the way, and as ed hi! i" he&ll send !e those letters Helen wrote a"ter she went away$i" he&s still got the!$and a speci!en o" her handwriting.& &3 wish,& said Gwenda, &that we could get in touch with the other servant$with (ily$the one who put the 'ow on Tho!as$& &:unny your suddenly re!e!'ering that, Gwenda.& &2es, wasn&t it) 3 re!e!'er To!!y, too. He was 'lac with white patches and he had three lovely ittens.& &7hat) Tho!as)& &7ell, he was called Tho!as$'ut actually he turned out to 'e Tho!asina. 2ou now what cats are. .ut a'out (ily$3 wonder what&s 'eco!e o" her) #dith /agett see!s to have lost sight o" her entirely. %he didn&t co!e "ro! round here$and a"ter the 'rea -up at %t Catherine&s she too a place in Torquay. %he wrote once or twice 'ut that was all. #dith said she&d heard she&d got !arried 'ut she didn&t now who to. 3" we could get hold o" her we !ight learn a lot !ore.& &And "ro! (eonie, the %wiss girl.& &/erhaps$'ut she was a "oreigner and wouldn&t catch on to !uch o" what went on. 2ou now, 3 don&t re!e!'er her at all. *o, it&s (ily 3 "eel would 'e

use"ul. (ily was the sharp one... 3

now, Giles, let&s put in another

advertise!ent$an advertise!ent "or her$(ily A''ott, her na!e was.& &2es,& said Giles. &7e !ight try that. And we&ll de"initely go north to!orrow and see what we can "ind out a'out the #rs ines.& Chapter 1I <other&s %on &9own, Henry,A said <rs :ane to an asth!atic spaniel whose liquid eyes 'urned with greed. &Another scone, <iss <arple, while they&re hot)& &Than you. %uch delicious scones. 2ou have an e+cellent coo .& &(ouisa is not 'ad, really. :orget"ul, li e all o" the!. And no variety in her puddings. Tell !e, how is 9orothy 2arde&s sciatica nowadays) %he used to 'e a !artyr to it. (argely nerves, 3 suspect.& <iss <arple hastened to o'lige with details o" their !utual acquaintance&s ail!ents. 3t was "ortunate, she thought, that a!ongst her !any "riends and relations scattered over #ngland, she had !anaged to "ind a wo!an who new <rs :ane and who had written e+plaining that a <iss <arple was at present in 9ill!outh, and would dear #leanor 'e very ind and as her to so!ething. #leanor :ane was a tall, co!!anding wo!an with a steely grey eye, crisp white hair, and a 'a'y pin and white co!ple+ion which !as ed the "act that there was no 'a'y-li e so"tness whatever a'out her.

They discussed 9orothy&s ail!ents or i!agined ail!ents and went on to <iss <arple&s health, the air o" 9ill!outh, and the general poor condition o" !ost o" the younger generation. &*ot !ade to eat their crusts as children,& <rs :ane pronounced. &*one o" that allowed in !y nursery.& &2ou have !ore than one son)& as ed <iss <arple. &Three. The eldest, Gerald, is in %ingapore in the :ar #ast .an . Ro'ert is in the Ar!y.& <rs :ane sni""ed. &<arried a Ro!an Catholic,& she said with signi"icance. &2ou now what that !eans1 All the children 'rought up as Catholics. 7hat Ro'ert&s "ather would have said, 3 don&t now. <y hus'and was very low church. 3 hardly ever hear "ro! Ro'ert nowadays. He ta es e+ception to so!e o" the things 3 have said to hi! purely "or his own good. 3 'elieve in 'eing sincere and saying e+actly what one thin s. His !arriage was, in !y opinion, a great !is"ortune. He !ay pretend to 'e happy, poor 'oy$'ut 3 can&t "eel that it is at all satis"actory.& &2our youngest son is not !arried, 3 'elieve)& <rs :ane 'ea!ed. &*o, 7alter lives at ho!e. He is slightly delicate$ always was "ro! a child$ and 3 have always had to loo a"ter his health very care"ully. -He will 'e in presently.0 3 can&t tell you what a thought"ul and devoted son he is. 3 a! really a very luc y wo!an to have such a son.& &And he has never thought o" !arrying)& enquired <iss <arple. &7alter always says he really cannot 'e 'othered with the !odern young wo!an. They don&t appeal to hi!. He and 3 have so !uch in co!!on that 3&!

a"raid he doesn&t go out as !uch as he should. He reads Thac eray to !e in the evenings, and we usually have a ga!e o" picquet. 7alter is a real ho!e 'ird.& &How very nice,A said <iss <arple. &Has he always 'een in the "ir!) %o!e'ody told !e that you had a son who was out in Ceylon, as a teaplanter, 'ut perhaps they got it wrong.& A slight "rown ca!e over <rs :ane&s "ace. %he urged walnut ca e upon her guest and e+plained. &That was as a very young !an. 6ne o" those youth"ul i!pulses. A 'oy always longs to see the world. Actually, there was a girl at the 'otto! o" it. Girls can 'e so unsettling.& &6h yes, indeed. <y own nephew, 3 re!e!'er$& <rs :ane swept on, ignoring <iss <arple&s nephew. %he held the "loor and was en,oying the opportunity to re!inisce to this sy!pathetic "riend o" dear 9orothy&s. &A !ost unsuita'le girl$as see!s always to 'e the way. 6h, 3 don&t !ean an actress or anything li e that. The local doctor&s sister$!ore li e his daughter, really, years younger$and the poor !an with no idea how to 'ring her up. <en are so helpless, aren&t they) %he ran quite wild, entangled hersel" "irst with a young !an in the o""ice$a !ere cler $and a very unsatis"actory character, too. They had to get rid o" hi!. Repeated con"idential in"or!ation. Anyway, this girl, Helen >ennedy, was, 3 suppose, very pretty. 3 didn&t thin so. 3 always thought her hair was touched up. .ut 7alter, poor 'oy, "ell very !uch in love with her. As 3 say, quite unsuita'le,

no !oney and no prospects, and not the

ind o" girl one wanted as a

daughter-in-law. %till, what can a !other do) 7alter proposed to her and she re"used hi!, and then he got this silly idea into his head o" going out to 3ndia and 'eing a tea-planter. <y hus'and said, G(et hi! go,G though o" course he was very disappointed. He had 'een loo ing "orward to having 7alter with hi! in the "ir! and 7alter had passed all his law e+a!s and everything. %till, there it was. Really, the havoc these young wo!en cause1& &6h, 3 now. <y nephew$& 6nce again <rs :ane swept over <iss <arple&s nephew. &%o the dear 'oy went out to Assa! or was it .angalore$really 3 can&t re!e!'er a"ter all these years. And 3 "elt !ost upset 'ecause 3 new his health wouldn&t stand it. And he hadn&t 'een out there a year -doing very well, too. 7alter does everything well0 than$ would you 'elieve it)$this i!pudent chit o" a girl changes her !ind and writes out that she&d li e to !arry hi! a"ter all.& &9ear, dear.& <iss <arple shoo her head. &Gets together her trousseau, 'oo s her passage$and what do you thin the ne+t !ove is)& &3 can&t i!agine.& <iss <arple leaned "orward in rapt attention. &Has a love-a""air with a !arried !an, i" you please. 6n the 'oat going out. A !arried !an with three children, 3 'elieve. Anyway there is 7alter on the quay to !eet her and the "irst thing she does is to say she can&t !arry hi! a"ter all. 9on&t you call that a wic ed thing to do)&

&6h, 3 do indeed. 3t !ight have co!pletely destroyed your son&s "aith in hu!an nature.& &3t should have shown her to hi! in her true colours. .ut there, that type o" wo!an gets away with anything.& &He didn&t$& <iss <arple hesitated$&resent her action) %o!e !en would have 'een terri'ly angry.& &7alter has always had wonder"ul sel"-control. However upset and annoyed 7alter !ay 'e over anything, he never shows it.& <iss <arple peered at her speculatively. Hesitantly, she put out a "eeler. &That is 'ecause it goes really deep, perhaps) 6ne is really astonished so!eti!es, with children. A sudden out'urst "ro! so!e child that one has thought didn&t care at all. A sensitive nature that can&t e+press itsel" until it&s driven a'solutely 'eyond endurance.& &Ah, it&s very curious you should say that, <iss <arple. 3 re!e!'er so well. Gerald and Ro'ert, you now, 'oth hot-te!pered and always apt to "ight. ?uite natural, o" course, "or healthy 'oys$& &6h, quite natural.& &And dear 7alter, always so quiet and patient. And then, one day, Ro'ert got hold o" his !odel aeroplane$he&d 'uilt it up hi!sel" with days o" wor $so patient and clever with his "ingers$and Ro'ert, who was a dear high-spirited 'oy 'ut careless, s!ashed it. And when 3 ca!e into the schoolroo! there

was Ro'ert down on the "loor and 7alter attac ing hi! with the po er, he&d practically noc ed hi! out$and 3 si!ply had all 3 could do to drag 7alter o"" hi!. He ept repeating. GHe did it on purpose$he did it on purpose. 3&! going to ill hi!.G 2ou now, 3 was quite "rightened. .oys "eel things so intensely, do they not)& &2es, indeed,& said <iss <arple. Her eyes were thought"ul. %he reverted to the "or!er topic. &And so the engage!ent was "inally 'ro en o"". 7hat happened to the girl)& &%he ca!e ho!e. Had another love-a""air on the way 'ac , and this ti!e !arried the !an. A widower with one child. A !an who has ,ust lost his wi"e is always a "air target-helpless, poor "ellow. %he !arried hi! and they settled down here in a house the other side o" the town$%t Catherine&s$ne+t door to the hospital. 3t didn&t last, o" course$she le"t hi! within the year. 7ent o"" with so!e !an or other.& &9ear, dear1& <iss <arple shoo her head. &7hat a luc y escape your son had1& &That&s what 3 always tell hi!.& &And did he give up tea-planting 'ecause his health wouldn&t stand it)& A slight "rown appeared on <rs :ane&s 'row. &The li"e wasn&t really congenial to hi!,& she said. &He ca!e ho!e a'out si+ !onths a"ter the girl did.&

&3t !ust have 'een rather aw ward,& ventured <iss <arple. &3" the young wo!an was actually living here. 3n the sa!e town$& &7alter was wonder"ul,& said 7alter&s !other. &He 'ehaved e+actly as though nothing had happened. 3 should have thought !ysel" -indeed 3 said so at the ti!e0 that it would 'e advisa'le to !a e a clean 'rea $a"ter all, !eetings could only 'e aw ward "or 'oth parties. .ut 7alter insisted on going out o" his way to 'e "riendly. He used to call at the house in the !ost in"or!al "ashion, and play with the child$Rather curious, 'y the way, the child&s co!e 'ac here. %he&s grown up now, with a hus'and. Ca!e into 7alter&s o""ice to !a e her will the other day. Reed, that&s her na!e now. Reed.& &<r and <rs Reed1 3 now the!. %uch a nice una""ected young couple. :ancy that now$ and she is actually the child$& &The "irst wi"e&s child. The "irst wi"e died out in 3ndia. /oor <a,or$3&ve "orgotten his na!e$Hallway$so!ething li e that$was co!pletely 'ro en up when that !in+ le"t hi!. 7hy the worst wo!en should always attract the 'est !en is so!ething hard to "atho!1& &And the young !an who was originally entangled with her) A cler , 3 thin you said, in your son&s o""ice. 7hat happened to hi!)& &9id very well "or hi!sel". He runs a lot o" those Coach Tours. 9a""odil Coaches. A""lic &s 9a""odil Coaches. /ainted 'right yellow. 3t&s a vulgar world nowadays.& &A""lic )& said <iss <arple.

&Cac ie A""lic . A nasty pushing "ellow. Always deter!ined to get on, 3 i!agine. /ro'a'ly why he too up with Helen >ennedy in the "irst place. 9octor&s daughter and all that-thought it would 'etter his social position.& &And this Helen has never co!e 'ac again to 9ill!outh)& &*o. Good riddance. /ro'a'ly gone co!pletely to the 'ad 'y now. 3 was sorry "or 9r >ennedy. *ot his "ault. His "ather&s second wi"e was a "lu""y little thing, years younger than he was. Helen inherited her wild 'lood "ro! her, 3 e+pect. 3&ve always thought$& <rs :ane 'ro e o"". &Here is 7alter.& Her !other&s ear had distinguished certain well- nown sounds in the hall. The door opened and 7alter :ane ca!e in. &This is <iss <arple, !y son. Ring the 'ell, son, and we&ll have so!e "resh tea.& &9on&t 'other, <other. 3 had a cup.& &6" course we will have "resh tea$and so!e scones, .eatrice,& she added to the parlour!aid who had appeared to ta e the teapot. &2es, !ada!.& 7ith a slow, li ea'le s!ile 7alter :ane said8 &<y !other spoils !e, 3&! a"raid.& <iss <arple studied hi! as she !ade a polite re,oinder.

A gentle quiet-loo ing person, slightly di""ident and apologetic in !anner$ colourless. A very nondescript personality. The devoted type o" young !an who! wo!en ignore and only !arry 'ecause the !an they love does not return their a""ection. 7alter, who is Always There. /oor 7alter, his !other&s darling... (ittle 7alter :ane who had attac ed his older 'rother with a po er and had tried to ill hi!... <iss <arple wondered. Chapter 1K Richard #rs ine Anstell <anor had a 'lea aspect. 3t was a white house, set against a

'ac ground o" 'lea hills. A winding drive led up through dense shru''ery. Giles said to Gwenda, &7hy have we co!e) 7hat can we possi'ly say)& &7e&ve got it wor ed out.& &2es$so "ar as that goes. 3t&s luc y that <iss <arple&s cousin&s sister&s aunt&s 'rother-in-law or whatever it was lives near here... .ut it&s a "ar step "ro! a social call to as ing your host a'out his 'ygone love-a""airs.& &And such a long ti!e ago. /erhaps$perhaps he doesn&t even re!e!'er her.& &/erhaps he doesn&t. And perhaps there never was a love-a""air.& &Giles, are we !a ing unuttera'le "ools o" ourselves)& &3 don&t now... %o!eti!es 3 "eel that. 3 don&t see why we&re concerning

ourselves with all this. 7hat does it !atter now)& &%o long a"ter... 2es, 3 now... <iss <arple and 9r >ennedy 'oth said, G(eave it alone.G 7hy don&t we, Giles) 7hat !a es us go on) 3s it her)&

&Her)& &Helen. 3s that why 3 re!e!'er) 3s !y childish !e!ory the only lin she&s got with li"e$ with truth) 3s it Helen who&s using !e$and you$so that the truth will 'e nown)& &2ou !ean, 'ecause she died a violent death$)& &2es. They say$'oo s say$that so!eti!es they can&t rest...& &3 thin you&re 'eing "anci"ul, Gwenda.& &/erhaps 3 a!. Anyway, we can$choose. This is only a social call. There&s no need "or it to 'e anything !ore$unless we want it to 'e$& Giles shoo his head. &7e shall go on. 7e can&t help ourselves.& &2es$you&re right. All the sa!e, Giles, 3 thin 3&! rather "rightened$& &(oo ing "or a house, are you)& said <a,or #rs ine. He o""ered Gwenda a plate o" sandwiches. Gwenda too one, loo ing up at hi!. Richard #rs ine was a s!all !an, "ive "oot nine or so. His hair was grey and he had tired, rather thought"ul eyes. His voice was low and pleasant with a slight drawl. There was nothing re!ar a'le a'out hi!, 'ut he was, Gwenda thought, de"initely attractive... He was actually not nearly as good-loo ing as 7alter :ane, 'ut whereas !ost wo!en would pass :ane without a second

glance, they would not pass #rs ine. :ane was nondescript. #rs ine, in spite o" his quietness, had personality. He tal ed o" ordinary things in an ordinary !anner, 'ut there was so!ething$that so!ething that wo!en are quic to recogni=e and to which they react in a purely "e!ale way. Al!ost unconsciously Gwenda ad,usted her s irt, twea ed at a side curl, retouched her lips. *ineteen years ago Helen >ennedy could have "allen in love with this !an. Gwenda was quite sure o" that. %he loo ed up to "ind her hostess&s eyes "ull upon her, and involuntarily she "lushed. <rs #rs ine was tal ing to Giles, 'ut she was watching Gwenda and her glance was 'oth appraising and suspicious. Canet #rs ine was a tall wo!an, her voice was deep$al!ost as deep as a !an&s. Her 'uild was athletic, she wore a well-cut tweed with 'ig poc ets. %he loo ed older than her hus'and, 'ut, Gwenda decided, well !ight not 'e so. There was a certain haggardness a'out her "ace. An unhappy, hungry wo!an, thought Gwenda. 3 'et she gives hi! Hell, she said to hersel". Aloud she continued the conversation. &House-hunting is terri'ly discouraging,& she said. &House agents& descriptions are always glowing$and then, when you actually get there, the place is quite unspea a'le.& &2ou&re thin ing o" settling down in this neigh'ourhood)& &7ell$this is one o" the neigh'ourhoods we thought o". Really 'ecause it&s near Hadrian&s 7all. Giles has always 'een "ascinated 'y Hadrian&s 7all. 2ou see$it sounds rather odd, 3 e+pect, to you$'ut al!ost anywhere in #ngland is the sa!e to us. <y own ho!e is in *ew 5ealand and 3 haven&t any ties here. And Giles was ta en in 'y di""erent aunts "or di""erent holidays

and so hasn&t any particular ties either. The one thing we don&t want is to 'e too near (ondon. 7e want the real country.& #rs ine s!iled. &2ou&ll certainly "ind it real country all round here. 3t&s co!pletely isolated. 6ur neigh'ours are "ew and "ar 'etween.& Gwenda thought she detected an undercurrent o" 'lea ness in the pleasant voice. %he had a sudden gli!pse o" a lonely li"e$o" short dar winter days with the wind whistling in the chi!neys$the curtains drawn$shut in$shut in with that wo!an with the hungry, unhappy eyes$and neigh'ours "ew and "ar 'etween. Then the vision "aded. 3t was su!!er again, with the :rench windows open to the garden$with the scent o" roses and the sounds o" su!!er dri"ting in. %he said8 &This is an old house, isn&t it)& #rs ine nodded. &?ueen Anne. <y people have lived here "or nearly three hundred years.& &3t&s a lovely house. 2ou !ust 'e very proud o" it.& &3t&s rather a sha''y house now. Ta+ation !a es it di""icult to eep anything up properly. However, now the children are out in the world, the worst strain is over.& &How !any children have you)&

&Two 'oys. 6ne&s in the Ar!y. The other&s ,ust co!e down "ro! 6+"ord. He&s going into a pu'lishing "ir!.& His glance went to the !antelpiece and Gwenda&s eyes "ollowed his. There was a photograph there o" two 'oys$presu!a'ly a'out eighteen and nineteen, ta en a "ew years ago, she ,udged. There was pride and a""ection in his e+pression. &They&re good lads,& he said, &though 3 say it !ysel".& &They loo aw"ully nice,& said Gwenda. &2es,& said #rs ine. &3 thin it&s worth it$really. <a ing sacri"ices "or one&s children, 3 !ean,& he added in answer to Gwenda&s enquiring loo . &3 suppose$o"ten$one has to give up a good deal,& said Gwenda. &A great deal so!eti!es...& Again she caught a dar undercurrent, 'ut <rs #rs ine 'ro e in, saying in her deep authoritative voice, &And you are really loo ing "or a house in this part o" the world) 3&! a"raid 3 don&t now o" anything at all suita'le round here.& And wouldn&t tell !e i" you did, thought Gwenda, with a "aint spurt o" !ischie". That "oolish old wo!an is actually ,ealous, she thought. Cealous 'ecause 3&! tal ing to her hus'and and 'ecause 3&! young and attractive1 &3t depends how !uch o" a hurry you&re in,& said #rs ine.

&*o hurry at all really,A said Giles cheer"ully. &7e want to 'e sure o" "inding so!ething we really li e. At the !o!ent we&ve got a house in 9ill!outh$on the south coast.& <a,or #rs ine turned away "ro! the tea-ta'le. He went to get a cigarette 'o+ "ro! a ta'le 'y the window. &9ill!outh,A said <rs #rs ine. Her voice was e+pressionless. Her eyes watched the 'ac o" her hus'and&s head. &/retty little place,A said Giles. &9o you now it at all)& There was a !o!ent&s silence, then <rs #rs ine said in that sa!e e+pressionless voice, &7e spent a "ew wee s there one su!!er$!any, !any years ago. 7e didn&t care "or it-"ound it too rela+ing.& &2es,A said Gwenda. &That&s ,ust what we "ind. Giles and 3 "eel we&d pre"er !ore 'racing air.& #rs ine ca!e 'ac with the cigarettes. He o""ered the 'o+ to Gwenda. &2ou&ll "ind it 'racing enough round here,A he said. There was a certain gri!ness in his voice. Gwenda loo ed up at hi! as he lighted her cigarette "or her. &9o you re!e!'er 9ill!outh at all well)& she as ed artlessly. His lips twitched in what she guessed to 'e a sudden spas! o" pain. 3n a nonco!!ittal voice he answered, &?uite well, 3 thin . 7e stayed$let !e see $at the Royal George$no, Royal Clarence Hotel.&

&6h yes, that&s the nice old-"ashioned one. 6ur house is quite near there. Hillside it&s called, 'ut it used to 'e called %t$%t$<ary&s, was it, Giles)& &%t Catherine&s,A said Giles. This ti!e there was no !ista ing the reaction. #rs ine turned sharply away, <rs #rs ine&s cup clattered on her saucer. &/erhaps,A she said a'ruptly, &you would li e to see the garden.& &6h yes, please.& They went out through the :rench windows. 3t was a well- ept, well-stoc ed garden, with a long 'order and "lagged wal s. The care o" it was principally <a,or #rs ine&s, so Gwenda gathered. Tal ing to her a'out roses, a'out her'aceous plants, #rs ine&s dar , sad "ace lit up. Gardening was clearly his enthusias!. 7hen they "inally too their leave, and were driving away in the car, Giles as ed hesitantly, &9id you$did you drop it)& Gwenda nodded. &.y the second clu!p o" delphiniu!s.& %he loo ed down at her "inger and twisted the wedding ring on it a'sently. &And supposing you never "ind it again)& &7ell, it&s not !y real engage!ent ring. 3 wouldn&t ris that.& &3&! glad to hear it.&

&3&! very senti!ental a'out that ring. 9o you re!e!'er what you said when you put it on !y "inger) A green e!erald 'ecause 3 was an intriguing greeneyed little cat.& &3 dare say,& said Giles dispassionately, &that our peculiar "or! o" endear!ents !ight sound odd to so!eone o", say, <iss <arple&s generation.& &3 wonder what she&s doing now, the dear old thing. %itting in the sun on the "ront)& &Bp to so!ething$i" 3 now her1 /o ing here, or prying there, or as ing a "ew questions. 3 hope she doesn&t as too !any one o" these days.& &3t&s quite a natural thing to do$"or an old lady, 3 !ean. 3t&s not as noticea'le as though we did it.& Giles&s "ace so'ered again. &That&s why 3 don&t li e$& He 'ro e o"". &3t&s you having to do it that 3 !ind. 3 can&t 'ear the "eeling that 3 sit at ho!e and send you out to do the dirty wor .& Gwenda ran a "inger down his worried chee . &3 now, darling, 3 now. .ut you !ust ad!it, it&s tric y. 3t&s i!pertinent to catechi=e a !an a'out his past love-a""airs$'ut it&s the ind o" i!pertinence a wo!an can ,ust get away with$i" she&s clever. And 3 !ean to 'e clever.&

&3 now you&re clever. .ut i" #rs ine is the !an we are loo ing "or$& Gwenda said !editatively8 &3 don&t thin he is.& &2ou !ean we&re 'ar ing up the wrong tree)& &*ot entirely. 3 thin he was in love with Helen all right. .ut he&s nice, Giles, aw"ully nice. *ot the strangling ind at all.& &2ou haven&t an aw"ul lot o" e+perience o" the strangling Gwenda)& &*o. .ut 3&ve got !y wo!an&s instinct.& &3 dare say that&s what a strangler&s victi!s o"ten say. *o, Gwenda, ,o ing apart, do 'e care"ul, won&t you)& &6" course. 3 "eel so sorry "or the poor !an$that dragon o" a wi"e. 3 'et he&s had a !isera'le li"e.& &%he&s an odd wo!an... Rather alar!ing so!ehow.& &2es, quite sinister. 9id you see how she watched !e all the ti!e)& &3 hope the plan will go o"" all right.& The plan was put into e+ecution the "ollowing !orning. Giles, "eeling, as he put it, rather li e a shady detective in a divorce suit, too up his position at a point o" vantage overloo ing the "ront gate o" Anstell <anor. A'out hal" past eleven he reported to Gwenda that all had gone well. <rs #rs ine had le"t in a s!all Austin car, clearly 'ound "or the !ar et town three !iles away. The coast was clear. ind, have you,

Gwenda drove up to the "ront door and rang the 'ell. %he as ed "or <rs #rs ine and was told she was out. %he then as ed "or <a,or #rs ine. <a,or #rs ine was in the garden. He straightened up "ro! operations on a "lower'ed as Gwenda approached. &3&! so sorry to 'other you,& said Gwenda. &.ut 3 thin 3 !ust have dropped a ring so!ewhere out here yesterday. 3 now 3 had it when we ca!e out "ro! tea. 3t&s rather loose, 'ut 3 couldn&t 'ear to lose it 'ecause it&s !y engage!ent ring.& The hunt was soon under way. Gwenda retraced her steps o" yesterday, tried to recollect where she had stood and what "lowers she had touched. /resently the ring ca!e to light near a large clu!p o" delphiniu!s. Gwenda was pro"use in her relie". &And now can 3 get you a drin , <rs Reed) .eer) A glass o" sherry) 6r would you pre"er co""ee, or so!ething li e that)& &3 don&t want anything$no, really. Cust a cigarette$than s.& %he sat down on a 'ench and #rs ine sat down 'eside her. They s!o ed "or a "ew !inutes in silence. Gwenda&s heart was 'eating rather "ast. *o two ways a'out it. %he had to ta e the plunge. &3 want to as you so!ething,A she said. &/erhaps you&ll thin it terri'ly

i!pertinent o" !e. .ut 3 want to now dread"ully$and you&re pro'a'ly the only person who could tell !e. 3 'elieve you were once in love with !y step!other.& He turned an astonished "ace towards her.

&7ith your step!other)& &2es. Helen >ennedy. Helen Halliday as she 'eca!e a"terwards.& &3 see.& The !an 'eside her was very quiet. His eyes loo ed out across the sunlit lawn unseeingly. The cigarette 'etween his "ingers s!ouldered. ?uiet as he was, Gwenda sensed a tur!oil within that taut "igure, the ar! o" which touched her own. As though answering so!e question he had put to hi!sel", #rs ine said8 &(etters, 3 suppose.& Gwenda did not answer. &3 never wrote her !any$two, perhaps three. %he said she had destroyed the!$'ut wo!en never do destroy letters, do they) And so they ca!e into your hands. And you want to now.& &3 want to now !ore a'out her. 3 was$very "ond o" her. Although 3 was such a s!all child when$she went away.& &%he went away)& &9idn&t you now)& His eyes, candid and surprised, !et hers. &3&ve no news o" her,& he said, &since$since that su!!er in 9ill!outh.&

&Then you don&t now where she is now)& &How should 3) 3t&s years ago$years. All "inished and done with. :orgotten.& &:orgotten)& He s!iled rather 'itterly. &*o, perhaps not "orgotten... 2ou&re very perceptive, <rs Reed. .ut tell !e a'out her. %he&s not$dead, is she)& A s!all cold wind sprang up suddenly, chilled their nec s and passed. &3 don&t now i" she is dead or not,A said Gwenda. &3 don&t now anything a'out her. 3 thought perhaps you !ight now)& %he went on as he shoo his head8 &2ou see, she went away "ro! 9ill!outh that su!!er. ?uite suddenly one evening. 7ithout telling anyone. And she never ca!e 'ac .& &And you thought 3 !ight have heard "ro! her)& &2es.& He shoo his head. &*o. *ever a word. .ut surely her 'rother$doctor chap$lives in 9ill!outh. He !ust now. 6r is he dead too)&

&*o, he&s alive. .ut he doesn&t now either. 2ou see$they all thought she went away$ with so!e'ody.& He turned his head to loo at her. 9eep sorrow"ul eyes. &They thought she went away with !e)& &7ell, it was a possi'ility.& &7as it a possi'ility) 3 don&t thin so. 3t was never that. 6r were we "ools$ conscientious "ools who passed up our chance o" happiness)& Gwenda did not spea . Again #rs ine turned his head and loo ed at her. &/erhaps you&d 'etter hear a'out it. There isn&t really very !uch to hear. .ut 3 wouldn&t li e you to !is,udge Helen. 7e !et on a 'oat going out to 3ndia. 6ne o" the children had 'een ill, and !y wi"e was "ollowing on the ne+t 'oat. Helen was going out to !arry a !an in the 7oods and :orests or so!ething o" that ind. %he didn&t love hi!. He was ,ust an old "riend, nice and ind, and she wanted to get away "ro! ho!e where she wasn&t happy. 7e "ell in love.& He paused. &Always a 'ald ind o" state!ent. .ut it wasn&t$3 want to !a e that quite clear$,ust the usual ship'oard love-a""air. 3t was serious. 7e were 'oth$ well$shattered 'y it. And there wasn&t anything to 'e done. 3 couldn&t let Canet and the children down. Helen saw it the sa!e way as 3 did. 3" it had 'een only Canet$'ut there were the 'oys. 3t was all hopeless. 7e agreed to say good'ye and try and "orget.& He laughed, a short !irthless laugh.

&:orget) 3 never "orgot$not "or one !o!ent. (i"e was ,ust a living Hell. 3 couldn&t stop thin ing a'out Helen... & &7ell, she didn&t !arry the chap she had 'een going out to !arry. At the last !o!ent, she ,ust couldn&t "ace it. %he went ho!e to #ngland and on the way ho!e she !et this other !an$your "ather, 3 suppose. %he wrote to !e a couple o" !onths later telling !e what she had done. He was very unhappy over the loss o" his wi"e, she said, and there was a child. %he thought that she could !a e hi! happy and that it was the 'est thing to do. %he wrote "ro! 9ill!outh. A'out eight !onths later !y "ather died and 3 ca!e into this place. 3 sent in !y papers and ca!e 'ac to #ngland. 7e wanted a "ew wee s& holiday until we could get into this house. <y wi"e suggested 9ill!outh. %o!e "riend had !entioned it as a pretty place and quiet. %he didn&t now, o" course, a'out Helen. Can you i!agine the te!ptation) To see her again. To see what this !an she had !arried was li e.& There was a short silence, then #rs ine said8 &7e ca!e and stayed at the Royal Clarence. 3t was a !ista e. %eeing Helen again was Hell... %he see!ed happy enough, on the whole$3 didn&t now whether she cared still, or whether she didn&t... /erhaps she&d got over it. <y wi"e, 3 thin , suspected so!ething... %he&s$she&s a very ,ealous wo!an$always has 'een.& He added 'rusquely, &That&s all there is to it. 7e le"t 9ill!outh$& &6n August 1Kth,& said Gwenda. &7as that the date) /ro'a'ly. 3 can&t re!e!'er e+actly.& &3t was a %aturday,& said Gwenda.

&2es, you&re right. 3 re!e!'er Canet said it !ight 'e a crowded day to travel north$'ut 3 don&t thin it was...& &/lease try and re!e!'er, <a,or #rs ine. 7hen was the last ti!e you saw !y step!other$Helen)& He s!iled, a gentle, tired s!ile. &3 don&t need to try very hard. 3 saw her the evening 'e"ore we le"t. 6n the 'each. 3&d strolled down there a"ter dinner$and she was there. There was no one else a'out. 3 wal ed up with her to her house. 7e went through the garden$& &7hat ti!e)& &3 don&t now... *ine o&cloc , 3 suppose.& &And you said good'ye)& &And we said good'ye.& Again he laughed. &6h, not the ind o" good'ye you&re thin ing o". 3t was very 'rusque and curt. Helen said8 G/lease go away now. Go quic ly. 3&d rather not$ G %he stopped then$and 3$3 ,ust went.& &.ac to the hotel)& &2es, yes, eventually. 3 wal ed a long way "irst$right out into the country.& Gwenda said, &3t&s di""icult with dates$a"ter so !any years. .ut 3 thin that that was the night she went away$and didn&t co!e 'ac .&

&3 see. And as 3 and !y wi"e le"t the ne+t day, people gossiped and said she&d gone away with !e. Char!ing !inds people have.& &Anyway,& said Gwenda 'luntly, &she didn&t go away with you)& &Good (ord, no, there was never any question o" such a thing.& &Then why do you thin ,& as ed Gwenda, &that she went away)& #rs ine "rowned. His !anner changed, 'eca!e interested. &3 see,& he said. &That is a 'it o" a pro'le!. %he didn&t$er$leave any e+planation)& Gwenda considered. Then she voiced her own 'elie". &3 don&t thin she le"t any word at all. 9o you thin she went away with

so!eone else)& &*o, o" course she didn&t.& &2ou see! rather sure a'out that.& &3 a! sure.& &Then why did she go)& &3" she went o""$suddenly$li e that$3 can only see one possi'le reason. %he was running away "ro! !e.&

&:ro! you)& &2es. %he was a"raid, perhaps, that 3&d try to see her again$that 3&d pester her. %he !ust have seen that 3 was still$cra=y a'out her... 2es, that !ust have 'een it.& &3t doesn&t e+plain,& said Gwenda, &why she never ca!e 'ac . Tell !e, did Helen say anything to you a'out !y "ather) That she was worried a'out hi!) 6r$or a"raid o" hi!) Anything li e that)& &A"raid o" hi!) 7hy) 6h 3 see, you thought he !ight have 'een ,ealous. 7as he a ,ealous !an)& &3 don&t now. He died when 3 was a child.& &6h, 3 see. *o$loo ing 'ac $he always see!ed nor!al and pleasant. He was "ond o" Helen, proud o" her$3 don&t thin !ore. *o, 3 was the one who was ,ealous o" hi!.& &They see!ed to you reasona'ly happy together)& &2es, they did. 3 was glad$and yet, at the sa!e ti!e, it hurt, to see it... *o, Helen never discussed hi! with !e. As 3 tell you, we were hardly ever alone, never con"idential together. .ut now that you have !entioned it, 3 do re!e!'er thin ing that Helen was worried...& &7orried)& &2es. 3 thought perhaps it was 'ecause o" !y wi"e$& He 'ro e o"". &.ut it was !ore than that.&

He loo ed again sharply at Gwenda. &7as she a"raid o" her hus'and) 7as he ,ealous o" other !en where she was concerned)& &2ou see! to thin not.& &Cealousy is a very queer thing. 3t can hide itsel" so!eti!es so that you&d never suspect it.& He gave a short quic shiver. &.ut it can 'e "rightening$ very "rightening...& &Another thing 3 would li e to now$& Gwenda 'ro e o"". A car had co!e up the drive. <a,or #rs ine said, &Ah, !y wi"e has co!e 'ac "ro! shopping.& 3n a !o!ent, as it were, he 'eca!e a di""erent person. His tone was easy yet "or!al, his "ace e+pressionless. A slight tre!or 'etrayed that he was nervous. <rs #rs ine ca!e striding round the corner o" the house. Her hus'and went towards her. &<rs Reed dropped one o" her rings in the garden yesterday,& he said. <rs #rs ine said a'ruptly8 &3ndeed)& &Good !orning,& said Gwenda. &2es, luc ily 3 have "ound it.&

&That&s very "ortunate.& &6h, it is. 3 should have hated to lose it. 7ell, 3 !ust 'e going.& <rs #rs ine said nothing. <a,or #rs ine said8 &3&ll see you to your car.& He started to "ollow Gwenda along the terrace. His wi"e&s voice ca!e sharply. &Richard. 3" <rs Reed will e+cuse you, there is a very i!portant call$& Gwenda said hastily, &6h, that&s quite all right. /lease don&t 'other.& %he ran quic ly along the terrace and round the side o" the house to the drive. Then she stopped. <rs #rs ine had drawn up her car in such a way that Gwenda dou'ted whether she could get her own car past and down the drive. %he hesitated, then slowly retraced her steps to the terrace. Cust short o" the :rench windows she stopped dead. <rs #rs ine&s voice, deep and resonant, ca!e distinctly to her ears. &3 don&t care what you say. 2ou arranged it$arranged it yesterday. 2ou "i+ed it up with that girl to co!e here whilst 3 was in 9aith. 2ou&re always the sa!e $any pretty girl. 3 won&t stand it, 3 tell you. 3 won&t stand it.& #rs ine&s voice cut in$quiet, al!ost despairing. &%o!eti!es, Canet, 3 really thin you&re insane.& &3&! not the one who&s insane. 3t&s you1 2ou can&t leave wo!en alone.& &2ou now that&s not true, Canet.&

&3t is true1 #ven long ago$in the place where this girl co!es "ro!$9ill!outh. 9o you dare tell !e that you weren&t in love with that yellow-haired Halliday wo!an)& &Can you never "orget anything) 7hy !ust you go on harping on these things) 2ou si!ply wor yoursel" up and$& &3t&s you1 2ou 'rea !y heart... 3 won&t stand it, 3 tell you1 3 won&t stand it1 /lanning assignations1 (aughing at !e 'ehind !y 'ac 1 2ou don&t care "or !e$you&ve never cared "or !e. 3&ll ill !ysel"1 3&ll throw !ysel" over a cli""$3 wish 3 were dead$& &Canet$Canet$"or God&s sa e...& The deep voice had 'ro en. The sound o" passionate so''ing "loated out into the su!!er air. 6n tip-toe Gwenda crept away and round into the drive again. %he cogitated "or a !o!ent, then rang the "ront-door 'ell. &3 wonder,& she said, &i" there is anyone who$er$could !ove this car. 3 don&t thin 3 can get out.& The servant went into the house. /resently a !an ca!e round "ro! what had 'een the sta'le yard. He touched his cap to Gwenda, got into the Austin and drove it into the yard. Gwenda got into her car and drove rapidly 'ac to the hotel where Giles was waiting "or her. &7hat a ti!e you&ve 'een,A he greeted her. &Get anything)&

&2es. 3 now all a'out it now. 3t&s really rather pathetic. He was terri'ly in love with Helen.& %he narrated the events o" the !orning. &3 really thin ,A she ended, &that <rs #rs ine is a 'it insane. %he sounded quite !ad. 3 see now what he !eant 'y ,ealousy. 3t !ust 'e aw"ul to "eel li e that. Anyway, we now now that #rs ine wasn&t the !an who went away with Helen, and that he nows nothing a'out her death. %he was alive that evening when he le"t her.& &2es,A said Giles. &At least$that&s what he says.& Gwenda loo ed indignant. &That,& repeated Giles "ir!ly, &is what he says.& Chapter 1L .indweed <iss <arple 'ent down on the terrace outside the :rench window and dealt with so!e insidious 'indweed. 3t was only a !inor victory, since 'eneath the sur"ace the 'indweed re!ained in possession as always. .ut at least the delphiniu!s new a te!porary deliverance. <rs Coc er appeared in the drawing-roo! window. &#+cuse !e, !ada!, 'ut 9r >ennedy has called. He is an+ious to now how long <r and <rs Reed will 'e away, and 3 told hi! 3 couldn&t ta e it upon

!ysel" to say e+actly, 'ut that you !ight now. %hall 3 as hi! to co!e out here)& &6h. 6h, yes please, <rs Coc er.& <rs Coc er reappeared shortly a"terwards with 9r >ennedy. Rather "lutteringly, <iss <arple introduced hersel". &$and 3 arranged with dear Gwenda that 3 would co!e round and do a little weeding while she was away. 3 thin , you now, that !y young "riends are 'eing i!posed upon 'y their ,o''ing gardener, :oster. He co!es twice a wee , drin s a great !any cups o" tea, does a lot o" tal ing, and not$so "ar as 3 can see$very !uch wor .& &2es,& said 9r >ennedy rather a'sently. &2es. They&re all ali e$all ali e.& <iss <arple loo ed at hi! appraisingly. He was an older !an than she had thought "ro! the Reeds& description o" hi!. /re!aturely old, she guessed. He loo ed, too, 'oth worried and unhappy. He stood there, his "ingers caressing the long, pugnacious line o" his ,aw. &They&ve gone away,& he said. &9o you now "or how long)& &6h, not "or long. They have gone to visit so!e "riends in the *orth o" #ngland. 2oung people see! to !e so restless, always dashing a'out here and there.& &2es,& said 9r >ennedy. &2es$that&s true enough.&

He paused and then said rather di""idently, &2oung Giles Reed wrote and as ed !e "or so!e papers$er$letters, i" 3 could "ind the!$& He hesitated, and <iss <arple said quietly, &2our sister&s letters)& He shot her a quic , shrewd glance. &%o$you&re in their con"idence, are you) A relation)& &6nly a "riend,A said <iss <arple. &3 have advised the! to the 'est o" !y capacity. .ut people seldo! ta e advice... A pity, perhaps, 'ut there it is...& &7hat was your advice)& he as ed curiously. &To let sleeping !urder lie,A said <iss <arple "ir!ly. 9r >ennedy sat down heavily on an unco!"orta'le rustic seat. &That&s not 'adly put,A he said. &3&! "ond o" Gwennie. %he was a nice s!all child. 3 should ,udge that she&s grown up to 'e a nice young wo!an. 3&! a"raid that she&s heading "or trou'le.& &There are so !any inds o" trou'le,A said <iss <arple. &#h) 2es$yes$true enough.& He sighed. Then he said, &Giles Reed wrote and as ed !e i" 3 could let hi! have !y sister&s letters, written a"ter she le"t here$and also so!e authentic speci!en o" her handwriting.& He shot a een glance at her. &2ou see what that !eans)&

<iss <arple nodded. &3 thin so.& &They&re har ing 'ac to the idea that >elvin Halliday, when he said he had strangled his wi"e, was spea ing neither !ore nor less than the truth. They 'elieve that the letters !y sister Helen wrote a"ter she went away weren&t written 'y her at all$that they were "orgeries. They 'elieve that she never le"t this house alive.& <iss <arple said gently, &And you are not, 'y now, so very sure yoursel")& &3 was at the ti!e.& >ennedy still stared ahead o" hi!. &3t see!ed a'solutely clear. /ure hallucination on >elvin&s part. There was no 'ody, a suitcase and clothes were ta en$ what else could 3 thin )& &And your sister had 'een$recently$rather$ahe!$& <iss <arple coughed delicately$ &interested in$in a certain gentle!an)& 9r >ennedy loo ed at her. There was deep pain in his eyes. &3 loved !y sister,A he said, &'ut 3 have to ad!it that, with Helen, there was always so!e !an in the o""ing. There are wo!en who are !ade that way$ they can&t help it.& &3t all see!ed clear to you at the ti!e,A said <iss <arple. &.ut it does not see! so clear now. 7hy)& &.ecause,A said >ennedy with "ran ness, &it see!s incredi'le to !e that, i" Helen is still alive, she has not co!!unicated with !e all these years. 3n the sa!e way, i" she is dead, it is equally strange that 3 have not 'een noti"ied o" the "act. 7ell$&

He got up. He too a pac et "ro! his poc et. &Here is the 'est 3 can do. The "irst letter 3 received "ro! Helen 3 !ust have destroyed. 3 can "ind no trace o" it. .ut 3 did eep the second one$the one that gave the poste restante address. And here, "or co!parison, is the only 'it o" Helen&s handwriting 3&ve 'een a'le to "ind. 3t&s a list o" 'ul's, etc., "or planting. A copy that she had ept o" so!e order. The handwriting o" the order and the letter loo ali e to !e, 'ut then 3&! no e+pert. 3&ll leave the! here "or Giles and Gwenda when they return. 3t&s pro'a'ly not worth "orwarding.& &6h no, 3 'elieve they e+pect to return to!orrow$or the ne+t day.& The doctor nodded. He stood, loo ing along the terrace, his eyes still a'sent. He said suddenly, &2ou now what&s worrying !e) 3" >elvin Halliday did ill his wi"e, he !ust have concealed the 'ody or got rid o" it in so!e way$and that !eans -3 don&t now what else it can !ean0 that his story to !e was a cleverly !ade-up tale$that he&d already hidden a suitcase "ull o" clothes to give colour to the idea that Helen had gone away$that he&d even arranged "or letters to arrive "ro! a'road... 3t !eans, in "act, that it was a cold'looded pre!editated !urder. (ittle Gwennie was a nice child. 3t would 'e 'ad enough "or her to have a "ather who&s a paranoiac, 'ut it&s ten ti!es worse to have a "ather who&s a deli'erate !urderer.& He swung round to the open window. <iss <arple arrested his departure 'y a swi"t question. &7ho was your sister a"raid o", 9r >ennedy)& He turned 'ac to her and stared. &A"raid o") *o one, as "ar as 3 now.&

&3 only wondered... /ray e+cuse !e i" 3 a! as ing indiscreet questions$'ut there was a young !an, wasn&t there)$3 !ean, so!e entangle!ent$when she was very young. %o!e'ody called A""lic , 3 'elieve.& &6h, that. %illy 'usiness !ost girls go through. An undesira'le young "ellow, shi"ty$and o" course not her class, not her class at all. He got into trou'le here a"terwards.& &3 ,ust wondered i" he could have 'een$revenge"ul.& 9r >ennedy s!iled rather sceptically. &6h, 3 don&t thin it went deep. Anyway, as 3 say, he got into trou'le here, and le"t the place "or good.& &7hat sort o" trou'le)& &6h, nothing cri!inal. Cust indiscretions. .la''ed a'out his e!ployer&s a""airs.& &And his e!ployer was <r 7alter :ane)& 9r >ennedy loo ed a little surprised. &2es$yes$now you say so, 3 re!e!'er, he did wor 7atch!an&s. *ot articled. Cust an ordinary cler .& Cust an ordinary cler ) <iss <arple wondered, as she stooped again to the 'indweed, a"ter 9r >ennedy had gone... Chapter 1D <r >i!'le %pea s in :ane and

&3 dunno, 3&! sure,A said <rs >i!'le. Her hus'and, driven into speech 'y what was neither !ore nor less than an outrage, 'eca!e vocal. He shoved his cup "orward. &7hat you thin ing o", (ily)& he de!anded. &*o sugar1& <rs >i!'le hastily re!edied the outrage, and then proceeded to ela'orate on her own the!e. &Thin ing a'out this advert, 3 a!,& she said. &(ily A''ott, it says, plain as plain. And G"or!erly house parlour-!aid at %t Catherine&s 9ill!outhG. That&s !e, all right.& &Ar,& agreed <r >i!'le. &A"ter all these years$you !ust agree it&s odd, Ci!.& &Ar,& said <r >i!'le. &7ell, what a! 3 going to do, Ci!)& &(eave it 'e.& &%uppose there&s !oney in it)&

There was a gurgling sound as <r >i!'le drained his teacup to "orti"y hi!sel" "or the !ental e""ort o" e!'ar ing on a long speech. He pushed his cup along and pre"aced his re!ar s with a laconic8 &<ore.& Then he got under way. &2ou went on a lot at one ti!e a'out what &appened at %t Catherine&s. 3 didn&t ta e !uch account o" it$rec oned as it was !ostly "oolishness$wo!en&s chatter. <ay'e it wasn&t. <ay'e so!ething did &appen. 3" so it&s police 'usiness and you don&t want to 'e !i+ed up in it. All over and done with, ain&t it) 2ou leave well alone, !y girl.& &All very well to say that. 3t !ay 'e !oney as has 'een le"t !e in a will. <ay'e <rs Halliday&s alive all the ti!e and now she&s dead and le"t !e so!ething in &er will.& &(e"t you so!ething in &er will) 7hat "or) Ar1& said <r >i!'le, reverting to his "avourite !onosylla'le to e+press scorn. &#ven i" it&s police... 2ou now, Ci!, there&s a 'ig reward so!eti!es "or

anyone as can give in"or!ation to catch a !urderer.& &And what could you give) All you now you !ade up yoursel" in your head1& &That&s what you say. .ut 3&ve 'een thin ing$& &Ar,A said <r >i!'le disgustedly. &7ell, 3 have. #ver since 3 saw that "irst piece in the paper. <ay'e 3 got things a 'it wrong. That (ayonee, she was a 'it stupid li e all "oreigners, couldn&t understand proper what you said to her$and her #nglish was so!ething aw"ul. 3" she didn&t !ean what 3 thought she !eant... 3&ve 'een trying to re!e!'er the na!e o" that !an... *ow i" it was hi! she saw... Re!e!'er that picture 3 told you a'out) %ecret (over. #ver so e+citing. They trac ed

hi! down in the end through his car. :i"ty thousand dollars he paid the garage !an to "orget he "illed up with petrol that night. 9unno what that is in pounds... And the other one was there, too, and the hus'and cra=y with ,ealousy. All !ad a'out her, they were. And in the end-& <r >i!'le pushed 'ac his chair with a grating sound. He rose to his "eet with slow and ponderous authority. /reparatory to leaving the itchen, he delivered an ulti!atu!$the ulti!atu! o" a !an who, though usually inarticulate, had a certain shrewdness. &2ou leave the whole thing alone, !y girl,& he said. &6r else, li ely as not, you&ll 'e sorry.& He went into the scullery, put on his 'oots -(ily was particular a'out her itchen "loor0 and went out. (ily sat on at the ta'le, her sharp "oolish little 'rain wor ing things out. 6" course she couldn&t e+actly go against what her hus'and said, 'ut all the sa!e... Ci! was so hide'ound, so stic -in-the-!ud. %he wished there was so!e'ody else she could as . %o!eone who would now all a'out rewards and the police and what it all !eant. /ity to turn up a chance o" good !oney. That wireless set... the ho!e per!... that cherry-coloured coat in Russell&s -ever so s!art0... even, !ay'e, a whole Caco'ean suite "or the sitting-roo!... #ager, greedy, short-sighted, she went on drea!ing... 7hat e+actly had (ayonee said all those years ago) Then an idea ca!e to her. %he got up and "etched the 'ottle o" in , the pen, and a pad o" writing paper.

&>now what 3&ll do,& she said to hersel". &3&ll write to the doctor, <rs Halliday&s 'rother. He&ll tell !e what 3 ought to do$i" he&s alive still, that is. Anyway, it&s on !y conscience 3 never told hi! a'out (ayonee$or a'out that car.& There was silence "or so!e ti!e apart "ro! the la'orious scratching o" (ily&s pen. 3t was very seldo! that she wrote a letter and she "ound the co!position o" it a considera'le e""ort. However it was done at last and she put it into an envelope and sealed it up. .ut she "elt less satis"ied than she had e+pected. Ten to one the doctor was dead or had gone away "ro! 9ill!outh. 7as there anyone else) 7hat was the na!e, now, o" that "ellow) 3" she could only re!e!'er that... Chapter @J The Girl Helen Giles and Gwenda had ,ust "inished 'rea "ast on the !orning a"ter their return "ro! *orthu!'erland when <iss <arple was announced. %he ca!e rather apologetically. &3&! a"raid this is a very early call. *ot a thing 3 a! in the ha'it o" doing. .ut there was so!ething 3 wanted to e+plain.&

&7e&re delighted to see you,A said Giles, pulling out a chair "or her. &9o have a cup o" co""ee.& &6h no, no, than you$nothing at all. 3 have 'rea "asted !ost adequately. *ow let !e e+plain. 3 ca!e in whilst you were away, as you indly said 3 !ight, to do a little weeding&Angelic o" you,& said Gwenda. &And it really did stri e !e that two days a wee is not quite enough "or this garden. 3n any case 3 thin :oster is ta ing advantage o" you. Too !uch tea and too !uch tal . 3 "ound out that he couldn&t !anage another day hi!sel", so 3 too it upon !ysel" to engage another !an ,ust "or one day a wee $ 7ednesdays$today, in "act.& Giles loo ed at her curiously. He was a little surprised. 3t !ight 'e indly !eant, 'ut <iss <arple&s action savoured, very "aintly, o" inter"erence. And inter"erence was unli e her. He said slowly8 &:oster&s "ar too old, 3 now, "or really hard wor .& &3&! a"raid, <r Reed, that <anning is even older. %eventy-"ive, he tells !e. .ut you see, 3 thought e!ploying hi!, ,ust "or a "ew odd days, !ight 'e quite an advantageous !ove, 'ecause he used, !any years ago, to 'e e!ployed at 9r >ennedy&s. The na!e o" the young !an Helen got engaged to was A""lic , 'y the way.& &<iss <arple,& said Giles, &3 !aligned you in thought. 2ou are a genius. 2ou now 3&ve got those speci!ens o" Helen&s handwriting "ro! >ennedy)&

&3 now. 3 was here when he 'rought the!.& &3&! posting the! o"" today. 3 got the address o" a good handwriting e+pert last wee .& &(et&s go into the garden and see <anning,& said Gwenda. <anning was a 'ent, cra''ed-loo ing old !an with a rheu!y and slightly cunning eye. The pace at which he was ra ing a path accelerated noticea'ly as his e!ployers drew near. &<orning, sir. <orning, !&a!. The lady said as how you could do with a little e+tra help o" a 7ednesday. 3&ll 'e pleased. %ha!e"ul neglected, this place loo s.& &3&! a"raid the garden&s 'een allowed to run down "or so!e years.& &3t has that. Re!e!'er it, 3 do, in <rs :indeyson&s ti!e. A picture it were, then. ;ery "ond o" her garden she was, <rs :indeyson.& Giles leaned easily against a roller. Gwenda snipped o"" so!e rose heads. <iss <arple, retreating a little up stage, 'ent to the 'indweed. 6ld <anning leant on his ra e. All was set "or a leisurely !orning discussion o" old ti!es and gardening in the good old days. &3 suppose you encouragingly. &Ar, 3 now this place !oderate well, 3 do. And the "ancies people went in "or. <rs 2ule, up at *iagra, she had a yew hedge used to 'e clipped li e a now !ost o" the gardens round here,& said Giles

squirrel. %illy, 3 thought it. /eacoc s is one thing and squirrels is another. Then Colonel (a!pard, he was a great !an "or 'egonias$lovely 'eds o" 'egonias he used to have. .edding out now, that&s going out o" "ashion. 3 wouldn&t li e to tell you how o"ten 3&ve had to "ill up 'eds in the "ront lawns and tur" &e! over in the last si+ years. %ee!s people ain&t got no eye "or geraniu!s and a nice 'it o" lo'elia edging no !ore.& &2ou wor ed at 9r >ennedy&s, didn&t you)& &Ar. (ong ti!e ago, that were. <ust have 'een 1D@J and on. He&s !oved now $given up. 2oung 9r .rent&s up at Cros'y (odge now. :unny ideas, he has $little white ta'lets and so on. ;ittapins he calls &e!.& &3 suppose you re!e!'er <iss Helen >ennedy, the doctor&s sister.& &Ar, 3 re!e!'er <iss Helen right enough. /retty-!aid, she was, with her long yellow hair. The doctor set a lot o" store 'y her. Co!e 'ac and lived in this very house here, she did, a"ter she was !arried. Ar!y gentle!an "ro! 3ndia.& &2es,& said Gwenda. &7e now.& &Ar. 3 did &ear$%aturday night it was$as you and your &us'and was so!e ind o" relations. /retty as a picter, <iss Helen was, when she "irst co!e 'ac "ro! school. :ull o" "un, too. 7anting to go everywhere$dances and tennis and all that. &Ad to !ar the tennis court, 3 &ad$hadn&t 'een used "or nigh twenty years, 3&d say. And the shru's overgrowing it cruel. &Ad to cut &e! 'ac , 3 did. And get a lot o" whitewash and !ar out the lines. (ot o" wor it !ade$and in the end hardly played on. :unny thing 3 always thought that was.&

&7hat was a "unny thing)& as ed Giles. &.usiness with the tennis court. %o!eone co!e along one night$and cut it to ri''ons. Cust to ri''ons it was. %pite, as you !ight say. That was what it was $nasty 'it o" spite.& &.ut who would do a thing li e that)& &That&s what the doctor wanted to now. /roper put out a'out it he was$and 3 don&t 'la!e hi!. Cust paid "or it, he had. .ut none o" us could tell who&d done it. 7e never did now. And he said he wasn&t going to get another$ quite right, too, "or i" it&s spite one ti!e, it would 'e spite again. .ut <iss Helen, she was rare and put out. %he didn&t have no luc , <iss Helen didn&t. :irst that net$and then her 'ad "oot.& &A 'ad "oot)& as ed Gwenda. &2es$"ell over a scraper or so!e such and cut it. *ot !uch !ore than a gra=e, it see!ed, 'ut it wouldn&t heal. :air worried a'out it, the doctor was. He was dressing it and treating it, 'ut it didn&t get well. 3 re!e!'er hi! saying G3 can&t understand it$there !ust have 'een so!ething spectic$or so!e word li e that$on that scraper. And anyway,G he says, Gwhat was the scraper doing out in the !iddle o" the drive)G .ecause that&s where it was when <iss Helen "ell over it, wal ing ho!e on a dar night. The poor !aid, there she was, !issing going to dances and sitting a'out with her "oot up. %ee!ed as though there was nothing 'ut 'ad luc "or her.& The !o!ent had co!e, Giles thought. He as ed casually, &9o you re!e!'er so!e'ody called A""lic )&

&Ar. 2ou !ean Cac ie A""lic ) As was in :ane and 7atch!an&s o""ice)& &2es. 7asn&t he a "riend o" <iss Helen&s)& &That were ,ust a 'it o" nonsense. 9octor put a stop to it and quite right too. He wasn&t any class, Cac ie A""lic . And he was the ind that&s too sharp 'y hal". Cut the!selves in the end, that ind do. .ut he weren&t here long. Got hi!sel" into hot water. Good riddance. Bs don&t want the li es o" he in 9ill!outh. Go and 'e s!art so!ewhere else, that&s what he were welco!e to do.& Gwenda said8 &7as he here when that tennis net was cut up)& &Ar. 3 see what you&re thin ing. .ut he wouldn&t do a senseless thing li e that. He were s!art, Cac ie A""lic were. 7hoever did that it was ,ust spite.& &7as there any'ody who had a down on <iss Helen) 7ho would 'e li ely to "eel spite"ul)& 6ld <anning chuc led so"tly. &%o!e o" the young ladies !ight have "elt spite"ul all right. *ot a patch on <iss Helen to loo at, !ost o" &e! weren&t. *o, 3&d say that was done ,ust in "oolishness. %o!e tra!p with a grudge.& &7as Helen very upset a'out Cac ie A""lic )& as ed Gwenda. &9on&t thin as <iss Helen cared !uch a'out any o" the young "ellows. Cust li ed to en,oy hersel", that&s all. ;ery devoted so!e o" the! were$young <r 7alter :ane, "or one. Bsed to "ollow her round li e a dog.& &.ut she didn&t care "or hi! at all)&

&*ot <iss Helen. Cust laughed$that&s all she did. 7ent a'road to "oreign parts, he did. .ut he co!e 'ac later. Top one in the "ir! he is now. *ever !arried. 3 don&t 'la!e hi!. 7o!en causes a lot o" trou'le in a !an&s li"e.& &Are you !arried)& as ed Gwenda. &.uried two, 3 have,& said old <anning. &Ar, well, 3 can&t co!plain. %!o e !e pipe in peace where 3 li es now.& 3n the ensuing silence, he pic ed up his ra e again. Giles and Gwenda wal ed 'ac up the path towards the house and <iss <arple desisting "ro! her attac on 'indweed ,oined the!. &<iss <arple,& said Gwenda. &2ou don&t loo well. 3s there anything$& &3t&s nothing, !y dear.& The old lady paused "or a !o!ent 'e"ore saying with a strange ind o" insistence, &2ou now, 3 don&t li e that 'it a'out the tennis net. Cutting it to ri''ons. #ven then$& %he stopped. Giles loo ed at her curiously. &3 don&t quite understand$& he 'egan. &9on&t you) 3t see!s so horri'ly plain to !e. .ut perhaps it&s 'etter that you shouldn&t understand. And anyway$perhaps 3 a! wrong. *ow do tell !e how you got on in *orthu!'erland.& They gave her an account o" their activities, and <iss <arple listened attentively.

&3t&s really all very sad,& said Gwenda. &?uite tragic, in "act.& &2es, indeed. /oor thing$poor thing.& &That&s what 3 "elt. How that !an !ust su""er$& &He) 6h yes. 2es, o" course.& &.ut you !eant$& &7ell, yes$3 was thin ing o" her$o" the wi"e. /ro'a'ly very deeply in love with hi!, and he !arried her 'ecause she was suita'le, or 'ecause he was sorry "or her, or "or one o" those quite indly and sensi'le reasons that !en o"ten have, and which are actually so terri'ly un"air.& &3 now a hundred ways o" love, And each one !a es the loved one rue,A quoted Giles so"tly. <iss <arple turned to hi!. &2es, that is so true. Cealousy, you now, is usually not an a""air o" causes. 3t is !uch !ore$how shall 3 say)$"unda!ental than that. .ased on the nowledge that one&s love is not returned. And so one goes on waiting, watching, e+pecting... that the loved one will turn to so!eone else. 7hich, again, invaria'ly happens. %o this <rs #rs ine has !ade li"e a hell "or her hus'and, and he, without 'eing a'le to help it, has !ade li"e a hell "or her.

.ut 3 thin she has su""ered !ost. And yet, you now, 3 dare say he is really quite "ond o" her.& &He can&t 'e,& cried Gwenda. &6h, !y dear, you are very young. He has never le"t his wi"e, and that !eans so!ething, you now.& &.ecause o" the children. .ecause it was his duty.& &The children, perhaps,& said <iss <arple. &.ut 3 !ust con"ess that gentle!en do not see! to !e to have a great regard "or duty in so "ar as their wives are concerned$pu'lic service is another !atter.& Giles laughed. &7hat a wonder"ul cynic you are, <iss <arple.& &6h dear, <r Reed, 3 do hope not that. 6ne always has hope "or hu!an nature.& &3 still don&t "eel it can have 'een 7alter :ane,& said Gwenda thought"ully. &And 3&! sure it wasn&t <a,or #rs ine. 3n "act 3 now it wasn&t.& &6ne&s "eelings are not always relia'le guides,& said <iss <arple. &The !ost unli ely people do things$quite a sensation there was in !y own little village when the Treasurer o" the Christ!as Clu' was "ound to have put every penny o" the "unds on a horse. He disapproved o" horse-racing and indeed any ind o" 'etting or ga!'ling. His "ather had 'een a Tur" Agent and had treated his !other very 'adly$so, intellectually spea ing, he was quite

sincere. .ut he chanced one day to 'e !otoring near *ew!ar et and saw so!e horses training. And then it all ca!e over hi!$'lood does tell.& &The antecedents o" 'oth 7alter :ane and Richard #rs ine see! a'ove suspicion,& said Giles gravely 'ut with a slight a!used twist to his !outh. &.ut then !urder is 'y way o" 'eing an a!ateur cri!e.& &The i!portant thing is,A said <iss <arple, &that they were there. 6n the spot. 7alter :ane was here in 9ill!outh. <a,or #rs ine, 'y his own account, !ust actually have 'een with Helen Halliday very shortly 'e"ore her death$and he did not return to his hotel "or so!e ti!e that night.& &.ut he was quite "ran a'out it. He$& Gwenda 'ro e o"". <iss <arple was loo ing at her very hard. &3 only want to e!phasi=e,A said <iss <arple, &the i!portance o" 'eing on the spot.& %he loo ed "ro! one to the other o" the!. Then she said, &3 thin you will have no trou'le in "inding out C. C. A""lic &s address. As proprietor o" the 9a""odil Coaches, it should 'e easy enough.& Giles nodded. &3&ll get on to it. /ro'a'ly in the telephone directory.& He paused. &2ou thin we should go and see hi!)& <iss <arple waited "or a !o!ent or two, then she said8 &3" you do$you !ust 'e very care"ul. Re!e!'er what that old gardener ,ust said$Cac ie A""lic is s!art. /lease-please 'e care"ul...& Chapter @1 C. C. A""lic

C. C. A""lic , 9a""odil Coaches, 9evon N 9orset Tours, etc. had two nu!'ers listed in the telephone 'oo . An o""ice address in #+eter and a private address on the outs irts o" that town. An appoint!ent was !ade "or the "ollowing day. Cust as Giles and Gwenda were leaving in the car, <rs Coc er ran out and gesticulated. Giles put on the 'ra e and stopped. &3t&s 9r >ennedy on the telephone, sir.& Giles got out and ran 'ac . He pic ed up the receiver. &Giles Reed here.& &<orning. 3&ve ,ust received rather an odd letter. :ro! a wo!an called (ily >i!'le. 3&ve 'een rac ing !y 'rains to re!e!'er who she is. Thought o" a patient "irst$that put !e o"" the scent. .ut 3 rather "ancy she !ust 'e a girl who was in service once at your house. House parlour-!aid at the ti!e we now o". 3&! al!ost sure her na!e was (ily, though 3 don&t recollect her last na!e.& &There was a (ily. Gwenda re!e!'ers her. %he tied a 'ow on the cat.& &Gwennie !ust have a very re!ar a'le !e!ory.& &6h, she has.& &7ell, 3&d li e to have a word with you a'out this letter$not over the phone. 7ill you 'e in i" 3 co!e over)&

&7e&re ,ust on our way to #+eter. 7e could drop in on you, i" you pre"er, sir. 3t&s all on our way.& &Good. That&ll do splendidly.& &3 don&t li e to tal too !uch a'out all this over the phone,& e+plained the doctor when they arrived. &3 always have an idea the local e+changes listen in. Here&s the wo!an&s letter.& He spread the letter on the ta'le. 3t was written on cheap lined paper in an uneducated hand. 9ear sir -(ily >i!'le had written0 3&d 'e grate"ul i" you could give !e advise a'out the enclosed wot i cut out o" paper. 3 'een thin ing and i tal ed it over with !r >i!'le, 'ut i don&t now wots 'est to do a'out it. 9o you thin as it !eans !oney or a reward 'ecos i could do with the !oney i! sure 'ut woodnt want the police or anything li e that, i o"ten hav 'een thin ing a'out that nite wen !rs Halliday went away and i don&t thin sir she ever did 'ecos the clothes was wrong, i thort at "irst the !aster done it 'ut now i! not so sure 'ecos o" the car i saw out o" the window. A posh car it was and i seen it 'e"ore 'ut i woodnt li e to do anything without as ing you "irst i" it was all rite and not police 'ecos i never hav 'een !i+ed up with police and !r >i!'le woodnt li e it. 3 could co!e and see you sir i"i !ay ne+t thursday as its !ar et day and !r >i!'le will 'e out. id 'e very grate"ul i" you could. yours respect"ully, (ily >i!'le.

&3t was addressed to !y old house in 9ill!outh,A said >ennedy, &and "orwarded on to !e here. The cutting is your advertise!ent.& &3t&s wonder"ul,A said Gwenda. &This (ily$you see$she doesn&t thin it was !y "ather who did it1& %he spo e with ,u'ilation. 9r >ennedy loo ed at her with tired, indly eyes. &Good "or you, Gwennie,A he said gently. &3 hope you&re right. *ow this is what 3 thin we&d 'etter do. 3&ll answer her letter and tell her to co!e here on Thursday. The train connection is quite good. .y changing at 9ill!outh Cunction she can get here shortly a"ter F.EJ. 3" you two will co!e over that a"ternoon, we can tac le her all together.& &%plendid,& said Giles. He glanced at his watch. &Co!e on, Gwenda, we !ust hurry. 7e&ve got an appoint!ent,& he e+plained. &7ith <r A""lic 9a""odil Coaches, and, so he told us, he&s a 'usy !an.& &A""lic )& >ennedy "rowned. &6" course1 9evon Tours in 9a""odil Coaches, horri'le great 'utter-coloured 'rutes. .ut the na!e see!ed "a!iliar in so!e other way.& &Helen,& said Gwenda. &<y goodness$not that chap)& &2es.& &.ut he was a !isera'le little rat. %o he&s co!e up in the world)& o" the

&7ill you tell !e so!ething, sir)& said Giles. &2ou 'ro e up so!e "unny 'usiness 'etween hi! and Helen. 7as that si!ply 'ecause o" his$well, social position)& 9r >ennedy gave hi! a dry glance. &3&! old-"ashioned, young !an. 3n the !odern gospel, one !an is as good as another. That holds !orally, no dou't. .ut 3&! a 'eliever in the "act that there is a state o" li"e into which you are 'orn$and 3 'elieve you&re happiest staying in it. .esides,& he added, &3 thought the "ellow was a wrong &un. As he proved to 'e.& &7hat did he do e+actly)& &That 3 can&t re!e!'er now. 3t was a case, as "ar as 3 can recall, o" his trying to cash in on so!e in"or!ation o'tained through his e!ploy!ent with :ane. %o!e con"idential !atter relating to one o" their clients.& &7as he$sore a'out his dis!issal)& >ennedy gave hi! a sharp glance and said 'rie"ly8 &2es.& &And there wasn&t any other reason at all "or your disli ing his "riendship with your sister) 2ou didn&t thin he was$well$odd in any way.& &%ince you have 'rought the !atter up, 3 will answer you "ran ly. 3t see!ed to !e, especially a"ter his dis!issal "ro! his e!ploy!ent, that Cac ie A""lic displayed certain signs o" an un'alanced te!pera!ent. 3ncipient persecution !ania, in "act. .ut that does not see! to have 'een 'orne out 'y his su'sequent rise in li"e.&

&7ho dis!issed hi!) 7alter :ane)& &3 have no idea i" 7alter :ane was concerned. He was dis!issed 'y the "ir!.& &And he co!plained that he had 'een victi!i=ed)& >ennedy nodded. &3 see... 7ell, we !ust drive li e the wind. Till Thursday, sir.& The house was newly 'uilt. 3t was o" %nowcrete, heavily curved, with a 'ig e+panse o" window. They were shown in through an opulent hall to a study, hal" o" which was ta en up 'y a 'ig chro!iu!-plated des . Gwenda !ur!ured nervously to Giles, &Really, 3 don&t now what we should have done without <iss <arple. 7e lean upon her at every turn. :irst her "riends in *orthu!'erland and now her ;icar&s wi"e&s .oys& Clu' Annual 6uting.& Giles raised an ad!onitory hand as the door opened and C. C. A""lic surged into the roo!. He was a stout !an o" !iddle age, dressed in a rather violently chec ed suit. His eyes were dar and shrewd, his "ace ru'icund and good-natured. He loo ed li e the popular idea o" a success"ul 'oo -!a er. &<r Reed) Good !orning. /leased to !eet you.&

Giles introduced Gwenda. %he "elt her hand ta en in a rather over-=ealous grip. &And what can 3 do "or you, <r Reed)& A""lic sat down 'ehind his huge des . He o""ered cigarettes "ro! an ony+ 'o+. Giles entered upon the su',ect o" the .oys& Clu' 6uting. 6ld "riends o" his ran the show. He was an+ious to arrange "or a couple o" days& touring in 9evon. A""lic replied pro!ptly in a 'usinessli e !anner$quoting prices and !a ing suggestions. .ut there was a "aintly pu==led loo on his "ace. :inally he said8 &7ell, that&s all clear enough, <r Reed, and 3&ll send you a line to con"ir! it. .ut this is strictly o""ice 'usiness. 3 understood "ro! !y cler that you wanted a private appoint!ent at !y private address.& &7e did, <r A""lic . There were actually two !atters on which 3 wanted to see you. 7e&ve disposed o" one. The other is a purely private !atter. <y wi"e here is very an+ious to get in touch with her step!other who! she has not seen "or !any years, and we wondered i" you could possi'ly help us.& &7ell, i" you tell !e the lady&s na!e$3 gather that 3&! acquainted with her)& &2ou were acquainted with her at one ti!e. Her na!e is Helen Halliday and 'e"ore her !arriage she was <iss Helen >ennedy.&

A""lic

sat quite still. He screwed up his eyes and tilted his chair slowly

'ac wards. &Helen Halliday$3 don&t recall... Helen >ennedy...& &:or!erly o" 9ill!outh,& said Gwenda. The legs o" A""lic &s chair ca!e down sharply. &Got it,& he said. &6" course.& His round ru'icund "ace 'ea!ed with pleasure. &(ittle Helen >ennedy1 2es, 3 re!e!'er her. .ut it&s a long ti!e ago. <ust 'e twenty years.& &#ighteen.& &3s it really) Ti!e "lies, as the saying goes. .ut 3&! a"raid you&re going to 'e disappointed, <rs Reed. 3 haven&t seen anything o" Helen since that ti!e. *ever heard o" her, even.& &6h dear,A said Gwenda. &That&s very disappointing. 7e did so hope you could help.& &7hat&s the trou'le)& His eyes "lic ered quic ly "ro! one "ace to another. &?uarrel) (e"t ho!e) <atter o" !oney)& Gwenda said8 &%he went away$suddenly$"ro! 9ill!outh$eighteen years ago with$ with so!eone.& Cac ie A""lic said a!usedly8 &And you thought she !ight have gone away with !e) *ow why)&

Gwenda spo e 'oldly8 &.ecause we heard that you$and she$had once$ 'een$well, "ond o" each other.& &<e and Helen) 6h, 'ut there was nothing in that. Cust a 'oy and girl a""air. *either o" us too it seriously.& He added drily, &7e weren&t encouraged to do so.& &2ou !ust thin us dread"ully i!pertinent,& 'egan Gwenda, 'ut he interrupted her. &7hat&s the odds) 3&! not sensitive. 2ou want to "ind a certain person and you thin 3 !ay 'e a'le to help. As !e anything you please$3&ve nought to conceal.& He loo ed at her thought"ully. &%o you&re Halliday&s daughter)& &2es. 9id you now !y "ather)& He shoo his head. &3 dropped in to see Helen once when 3 was over at 9ill!outh on 'usiness. 3&d heard she was !arried and living there. %he was civil enough$& he paused $&'ut she didn&t as !e to stay to dinner. *o, 3 didn&t !eet your "ather.& Had there, Gwenda wondered, 'een a trace o" rancour in that &%he didn&t as !e to stay to dinner&) &9id she$i" you re!e!'er$see! happy)& A""lic shrugged his shoulders. &Happy enough. .ut there, it&s a long ti!e ago. 3&d have re!e!'ered i" she&d loo ed unhappy.&

He added with what see!ed a per"ectly natural curiosity8 &9o you !ean to say you&ve never heard anything o" her since 9ill!outh eighteen years ago)& &*othing.& &*o$letters)& &There were two letters,A said Giles. &.ut we have so!e reason to thin that she didn&t write the!.& &2ou thin she didn&t write the!)& A""lic see!ed "aintly a!used. &%ounds li e a !ystery on the "lic s.& &That&s rather what it see!s li e to us.& &7hat a'out her 'rother, the doctor chap, doesn&t he now where she is)& &*o.& &3 see. Regular !ystery, isn&t it) 7hy not advertise)& &7e have.& A""lic said casually8 &(oo s as though she&s dead. 2ou !ightn&t have heard.& Gwenda shivered. &Cold, <rs Reed)& &*o. 3 was thin ing o" Helen dead. 3 don&t li e to thin o" her dead.&

&2ou&re right there. 3 don&t li e to thin o" it !ysel". %tunning loo s she had.& Gwenda said i!pulsively8 &2ou new her. 2ou new her well. 3&ve only got a child&s !e!ory o" her. 7hat was she li e) 7hat did people "eel a'out her) 7hat did you "eel)& He loo ed at her "or a !o!ent or two. &3&ll 'e honest with you, <rs Reed. .elieve it or not, as you li e. 3 was sorry "or the id.& &%orry)& %he turned a pu==led stare on hi!. &Cust that. There she was$,ust ho!e "ro! school. (onging "or a 'it o" "un li e any girl !ight, and there was that sti"" !iddle-aged 'rother o" hers with his ideas a'out what a girl could do and couldn&t do. *o "un at all, that id hadn&t. 7ell, 3 too her a'out a 'it-showed her a 'it o" li"e. 3 wasn&t really een on her and she wasn&t really een on !e. %he ,ust li ed the "un o" 'eing a daredevil. Then o" course they "ound out we were !eeting and he put a stop to it. 9on&t 'la!e hi!, really. Cut a'ove !e, she was. 7e weren&t engaged or anything o" that ind. 3 !eant to !arry so!e ti!e$'ut not till 3 was a good 'it older. And 3 !eant to get on and to "ind a wi"e who&d help !e get on. Helen hadn&t any !oney, and it wouldn&t have 'een a suita'le !atch in any way. 7e were ,ust good "riends with a 'it o" "lirtation thrown in.& &.ut you !ust have 'een angry with the doctor$& Gwenda paused and A""lic said8 &3 was riled, 3 ad!it. 2ou don&t "ancy 'eing told you&re not good enough. .ut there, it&s no good 'eing thin-s inned.&

&And then,A said Giles, &you lost your ,o'.& A""lic &s "ace was not quite so pleasant. &:ired, 3 was. 6ut o" :ane and 7atch!an&s. And 3&ve a very good idea who was responsi'le "or that.& &6h)& Giles !ade his tone interrogative, 'ut A""lic shoo his head. &3&! not saying anything. 3&ve !y own ideas. 3 was "ra!ed$that&s all$and 3&ve a very "air idea o" who did it. And why1& The colour su""used his chee s. &9irty wor ,& he said. &%pying on a !an$laying traps "or hi!$lying a'out hi!. 6h, 3&ve had !y ene!ies all right. .ut 3&ve never let the! get !e down. 3&ve always given as good as 3 got. And 3 don&t "orget.& He stopped. %uddenly his !anner changed 'ac again. He was genial once !ore. &%o 3 can&t help you, 3&! a"raid. A little 'it o" "un 'etween !e and Helen$that was all. 3t didn&t go deep.& Gwenda stared at hi!. 3t was a clear enough story$'ut was it true) she wondered. %o!ething ,arred$it ca!e to the sur"ace o" her !ind what that so!ething was. &All the sa!e,& she said, &you loo ed her up when you ca!e to 9ill!outh later.& He laughed. &2ou&ve got !e there, <rs Reed. 2es, 3 did. 7anted to show her perhaps that 3 wasn&t down and out ,ust 'ecause a long-"aced lawyer had pushed !e out

o" his o""ice. 3 had a nice 'usiness and 3 was driving a posh car and 3&d done very well "or !ysel".& &2ou ca!e to see her !ore than once, didn&t you)& He hesitated a !o!ent. &Twice$perhaps three ti!es. Cust dropped in.& He nodded with sudden "inality. &%orry 3 can&t help you.& Giles got up. &7e !ust apologi=e "or ta ing up so !uch o" your ti!e.& &That&s all right. ?uite a change to tal a'out old ti!es.& The door opened and a wo!an loo ed in and apologi=ed swi"tly. &6h, 3&! so sorry$3 didn&t now you had anyone$& &Co!e in, !y dear, co!e in. <eet !y wi"e. This is <r and <rs Reed.& <rs A""lic shoo hands. %he was a tall, thin, depressed-loo ing wo!an,

dressed in rather une+pectedly well-cut clothes. &.een tal ing over old ti!es, we have,& said <r A""lic . &6ld ti!es 'e"ore 3 !et you, 9orothy.& He turned to the!. &<et !y wi"e on a cruise,& he said. &%he doesn&t co!e "ro! this part o" the world. Cousin o" (ord /olterha!&s, she is.&

He spo e with pride$the thin wo!an "lushed. &They&re very nice, these cruises,& said Giles. &;ery educational,& said A""lic . &*ow, 3 didn&t have any education to spea o".& &3 always tell !y hus'and we !ust go on one o" those Hellenic cruises,& said <rs A""lic . &*o ti!e. 3&! a 'usy !an.& &And we !ustn&t eep you,& said Giles. &Good'ye and than you. 2ou&ll let !e now a'out the quotation "or the outing)& A""lic escorted the! to the door. Gwenda glanced 'ac over her shoulder. <rs A""lic was standing in the doorway o" the study. Her "ace, "astened on her hus'and&s 'ac , was curiously and rather unpleasantly apprehensive. Giles and Gwenda said good'ye again and went towards their car. &.other, 3&ve le"t !y scar",& said Gwenda. &2ou&re always leaving so!ething,& said Giles. &9on&t loo ed !artyred. 3&ll get it.& %he ran 'ac into the house. Through the open door o" the study she heard A""lic sense.& &3&! sorry, Cac ie. 3 didn&t now. 7ho are those people and why have they upset you so)& say loudly8 &7hat do you want to co!e 'utting in "or) *ever any

&They haven&t upset !e. 3$& He stopped as he saw Gwenda standing in the doorway. &6h, <r A""lic , did 3 leave a scar")& &%car") *o, <rs Reed, it&s not here.& &%tupid o" !e. 3t !ust 'e in the car.& %he went out again. Giles had turned the car. 9rawn up 'y the er' was a large yellow li!ousine resplendent with chro!iu!. &%o!e car,A said Giles. &GA posh carG,A said Gwenda. &9o you re!e!'er, Giles) #dith /agett when she was telling us what (ily said) (ily had put her !oney on Captain #rs ine, not Gour !ystery !an in the "lashy carG. 9on&t you see, the !ystery !an in the "lashy car was Cac ie A""lic )& &2es,A said Giles. &And in her letter to the doctor (ily !entioned a Gposh carG.& They loo ed at each other. &He was there$Gon the spotG, as <iss <arple would say$on that night. 6h Giles, 3 can hardly wait until Thursday to hear what (ily >i!'le says.& &%uppose she gets cold "eet and doesn&t turn up a"ter all)& &6h, she&ll co!e. Giles, i" that "lashy car was there that night$& &Thin it was a yellow peril li e this)& &Ad!iring !y 'us)& <r A""lic &s genial voice !ade the! ,u!p. He was leaning over the neatly clipped hedge 'ehind the!. &(ittle .uttercup, that&s what 3 call her. 3&ve always li ed a nice 'it o" 'odywor . Hits you in the eye, doesn&t she)&

&%he certainly does,& said Giles. &:ond o" "lowers, 3 a!,& said <r A""lic . &9a""odils, 'uttercups, calceolarias$ they&re all !y "ancy. Here&s your scar", <rs Reed. 3t had slipped down 'ehind the ta'le. Good'ye. /leased to have !et you.& &9o you thin he heard us calling his car a yellow peril)& as ed Gwenda as they drove away. &6h, 3 don&t thin slightly uneasy. &2e-es$'ut 3 don&t thin that !eans !uch... Giles, that wi"e o" his$she&s "rightened o" hi!, 3 saw her "ace.& &7hat) That ,ovial pleasant chap)& &/erhaps he isn&t so ,ovial and pleasant underneath... Giles, 3 don&t thin 3 li e <r A""lic ... 3 wonder how long he&d 'een there 'ehind us listening to what we were saying... Cust what did we say)& &*othing !uch,A said Giles. .ut he still loo ed uneasy. Chapter @@ (ily >eeps An Appoint!ent &7ell, 3&! da!ned,A e+clai!ed Giles. He had ,ust torn open a letter that had arrived 'y the a"ter-lunch post and was staring in co!plete astonish!ent at its contents. so. He see!ed quite a!ia'le, didn&t he)& Giles loo ed

&7hat&s the !atter)& &3t&s the report o" the handwriting e+perts.& Gwenda said eagerly8 &And she didn&t write that letter "ro! a'road)& &That&s ,ust it, Gwenda. %he did.& They stared at each other. Gwenda said incredulously8 &Then those letters weren&t a "a e. They were genuine. Helen did go away "ro! the house that night. And she did write "ro! a'road. And she wasn&t strangled at all)& Giles said slowly8 &3t see!s so. .ut it really is very upsetting. 3 don&t understand it. Cust as everything see!s to 'e pointing the other way.& &/erhaps the e+perts are wrong)& &3 suppose they !ight 'e. .ut they see! quite con"ident. Gwenda, 3 really don&t understand a single thing a'out all this. Have we 'een !a ing the !ost colossal idiots o" ourselves)& &All 'ased on !y silly 'ehaviour at the theatre) 3 tell you what, Giles, let&s call round on <iss <arple. 7e&ll have ti!e 'e"ore we get to 9r >ennedy&s at "ourthirty.& <iss <arple, however, reacted rather di""erently "ro! the way they had e+pected. %he said it was very nice indeed.

&.ut darling <iss <arple,& said Gwenda, &what do you !ean 'y that)& &3 !ean, !y dear, that so!e'ody hasn&t 'een as clever as they !ight have 'een.& &.ut how$in what way)& &%lipped up,& said <iss <arple, nodding her head with satis"action. &.ut how)& &7ell, dear <r Reed, surely you can see how it narrows the "ield.& &Accepting the "act that Helen actually wrote the letters$do you !ean that she !ight still have 'een !urdered)& &3 !ean that it see!ed very i!portant to so!eone that the letters should actually 'e in Helen&s handwriting.& &3 see... At least 3 thin 3 see. There !ust 'e certain possi'le circu!stances in which Helen could have 'een induced to write those particular letters... That would narrow things down. .ut what circu!stances e+actly)& &6h, co!e now, <r Reed. 2ou&re not really thin ing. 3t&s per"ectly si!ple, really.& Giles loo ed annoyed and !utinous. &3t&s not o'vious to !e, 3 can assure you.&

&3" you&d ,ust re"lect a little$& &Co!e on, Giles,& said Gwenda. &7e&ll 'e late.& They le"t <iss <arple s!iling to hersel". &That old wo!an annoys !e so!eti!es,& said Giles. &3 don&t now now what the hell she was driving at.& They reached 9r >ennedy&s house in good ti!e. The doctor hi!sel" opened the door to the!. &3&ve let !y house eeper go out "or the a"ternoon,& he e+plained. &3t see!ed to 'e 'etter.& He led the way into the sitting-roo! where a tea-tray with cups and saucers, 'read and 'utter and ca es was ready. &Cup o" tea&s a good !ove, isn&t it)& he as ed rather uncertainly o" Gwenda. &/ut this <rs >i!'le at her ease and all that.& &2ou&re a'solutely right,& said Gwenda. &*ow what a'out you two) %hall 3 introduce you straight away) 6r will it put her o"")& Gwenda said slowly8 &Country people are very suspicious. 3 'elieve it would 'e 'etter i" you received her alone.&

&3 thin so too,A said Giles. 9r >ennedy said, &3" you were to wait in the roo! ne+t door, and i" this co!!unicating door were slightly a,ar, you would 'e a'le to hear what went on. Bnder the circu!stances o" the case, 3 thin that you would 'e ,usti"ied.& &3 suppose it&s eavesdropping, 'ut 3 really don&t care,& said Gwenda. 9r >ennedy s!iled "aintly and said8 &3 don&t thin 3 a! willing to give !y advice i" 3 a! as ed "or it.& He glanced at his watch. &The train is due at 7oodleigh Road at "our-thirty-"ive. 3t should arrive in a "ew !inutes now. Then it will ta e her a'out "ive !inutes to wal up the hill.& He wal ed restlessly up and down the roo!. His "ace was lined and haggard. &3 don&t understand,& he said. &3 don&t understand in the least what it all !eans. 3" Helen never le"t that house, i" her letters to !e were "orgeries.& Gwenda !oved sharply$'ut Giles shoo his head at her. The doctor went on8 &3" >elvin, poor "ellow, didn&t ill her, then what on earth did happen)& &%o!e'ody else illed her,& said Gwenda. &.ut !y dear child, i" so!e'ody else illed her, why on earth should >elvin insist that he had done so)& any ethical principle is

involved. 3 do not propose, in any case, to give a pro!ise o" secrecy$though

&.ecause he thought he had. He "ound her there on the 'ed and he thought he had done it. That could happen, couldn&t it)& 9r >ennedy ru''ed his nose irrita'ly. &How should 3 now) 3&! not a psychiatrist. %hoc ) *ervous condition

already) 2es, 3 suppose it&s possi'le. .ut who would want to ill Helen)& &7e thin one o" three people,& said Gwenda. &Three people) 7hat three people) *o'ody could have any possi'le reason "or illing Helen$unless they were co!pletely o"" their heads. %he&d no ene!ies. #very'ody li ed her.& He went to the des drawer and "u!'led through its contents. He held out a "aded snapshot. 3t showed a tall schoolgirl in a gy! tunic, her hair tied 'ac , her "ace radiant. >ennedy, a younger, happy-loo ing >ennedy, stood 'eside her, holding a terrier puppy. &3&ve 'een thin ing a lot a'out her lately,A he said indistinctly. &:or !any years 3 hadn&t thought a'out her at all$al!ost !anaged to "orget... *ow 3 thin a'out her all the ti!e. That&s your doing.& His words sounded al!ost accusing. &3 thin it&s her doing,A said Gwenda. He wheeled round on her sharply.

&7hat do you !ean)& &Cust that. 3 can&t e+plain. .ut it&s not really us. 3t&s Helen hersel".& The "aint !elancholy screa! o" an engine ca!e to their ears. 9r >ennedy stepped out o" the window and they "ollowed hi!. A trail o" s!o e showed itsel" retreating slowly along the valley. &There goes the train,A said >ennedy. &Co!ing into the station)& &*o, leaving it.& He paused. &%he&ll 'e here any !inute now.& .ut the !inutes passed and (ily >i!'le did not co!e. (ily >i!'le got out o" the train at 9ill!outh Cunction and wal ed across the 'ridge to the siding where the little local train was waiting. There were "ew passengers$a hal"-do=en at !ost. 3t was a slac ti!e o" day and in any case it was !ar et day at Helchester. /resently the train started$pu""ing its way i!portantly along a winding valley. There were three stops 'e"ore the ter!inus at (ons'ury .ay8 *ewton (ang"ord, <atchings Halt -"or 7oodleigh Ca!p0 and 7oodleigh .olton. (ily >i!'le loo ed out o" the window with eyes that did not see the lush countryside, 'ut saw instead a Caco'ean suite upholstered in ,ade green... %he was the only person to alight at the tiny station o" <atchings Halt. %he gave up her tic et and went out through the 'oo ing o""ice. A little way along

the road a signpost with &To 7oodleigh Ca!p& indicated a "ootpath leading up a steep hill. (ily >i!'le too the "ootpath and wal ed 'ris ly uphill. The path s irted the side o" a wood, on the other side the hill rose steeply covered with heather and gorse. %o!eone stepped out "ro! the trees and (ily >i!'le ,u!ped. &<y, you did give !e a start,A she e+clai!ed. &3 wasn&t e+pecting to !eet you here.& &Gave you a surprise, did 3) 3&ve got another surprise "or you.& 3t was very lonely in a!ong the trees. There was no one to hear a cry or a struggle. Actually there was no cry and the struggle was very soon over. A wood-pigeon, distur'ed, "lew out o" the wood... &7hat can have 'eco!e o" the wo!an)& de!anded 9r >ennedy irrita'ly. The hands o" the cloc pointed to ten !inutes to "ive. &Could she have lost her way co!ing "ro! the station)& &3 gave her e+plicit directions. 3n any case it&s quite si!ple. Turn to the le"t when she got out o" the station and then ta e the "irst road to the right. As 3 say, it&s only a "ew !inutes& wal .& &/erhaps she&s changed her !ind,& said Giles. &3t loo s li e it.& &6r !issed the train,& suggested Gwenda.

>ennedy said slowly, &*o, 3 thin it&s !ore li ely that she decided not to co!e a"ter all. /erhaps her hus'and stepped in. All these country people are quite incalcula'le.& He wal ed up and down the roo!. Then he went to the telephone and as ed "or a nu!'er. &Hullo) 3s that the station) This is 9r >ennedy spea ing. 3 was e+pecting so!eone 'y the "our-thirty"ive. <iddle-aged country wo!an. 9id anyone as to 'e directed to !e) 6r$ what do you say)& The others were near enough to hear the so"t la=y accent o" 7oodleigh .olton&s one porter. &9on&t thin as there could 'e anyone "or you, 9octor. 7eren&t no strangers on the "our-thirty-"ive. <r *arracotts "ro! <eadows, and Cohnnie (awes, and old .enson&s daughter. 7eren&t no other passengers at all.& &%o she changed her !ind,& said 9r >ennedy. &7ell, 3 can o""er you tea. The ettle&s on. 3&ll go out and !a e it.& He returned with the teapot and they sat down. &3t&s only a te!porary chec ,A he said !ore cheer"ully. &7e&ve got her address. 7e&ll go over and see her, perhaps.& The telephone rang and the doctor got up to answer.

&9r >ennedy)& &%pea ing.& &This is 3nspector (ast, (ong"ord police station. 7ere you e+pecting a wo!an called (ily >i!'le$<rs (ily >i!'le$to call upon you this a"ternoon)& &3 was. 7hy) Has there 'een an accident)& &*ot what you&d call an accident e+actly. %he&s dead. 7e "ound a letter "ro! you on the 'ody. That&s why 3 rang you up. Can you !a e it convenient to co!e along to (ong"ord police station as soon as possi'le)& &3&ll co!e at once.& 3; &*ow let&s get this quite clear,A 3nspector (ast was saying. He loo ed "ro! >ennedy to Giles and Gwenda who had acco!panied the doctor. Gwenda was very pale and held her hands tightly clasped together. &2ou were e+pecting this wo!an 'y the train that leaves 9ill!outh Cunction at "our-"ive) And gets to 7oodleigh .olton at "our-thirty-"ive)& 9r >ennedy nodded. 3nspector (ast loo ed down at the letter he had ta en "ro! the dead wo!an&s 'ody. 3t was quite clear. 9ear <rs >i!'le -9r >ennedy had written0

3 shall 'e glad to advise you to the 'est o" !y power. As you will see "ro! the heading o" this letter 3 no longer live in 9ill!outh. 3" you will ta e the train leaving Coo!'eleigh at E.EJ, change at 9ill!outh Cunction, and co!e 'y the (ons'ury .ay train to 7oodleigh .olton, !y house is only a "ew !inutes& wal . Turn to the le"t as you co!e out o" the station, then ta e the "irst road on the right. <y house is at the end o" it on the right. The na!e is on the gate. 2ours truly, Ca!es >ennedy.

&There was no question o" her co!ing 'y an earlier train)& &An earlier train)& 9r >ennedy loo ed astonished. &.ecause that&s what she did. %he le"t Coo!'eleigh, not at three-thirty 'ut at one-thirty$ caught the two-"ive "ro! 9ill!outh Cunction and got out, not at 7oodleigh .olton, 'ut at <atchings Halt, the station 'e"ore it.& &.ut that&s e+traordinary1& &7as she consulting you pro"essionally, 9octor)& &*o. 3 retired "ro! practice so!e years ago.& &That&s what 3 thought. 2ou new her well)&

>ennedy shoo his head. &3 hadn&t seen her "or nearly twenty years.& &.ut you$er$recogni=ed her ,ust now)& Gwenda shivered, 'ut dead 'odies did not a""ect a doctor and >ennedy replied thought"ully8 &Bnder the circu!stances it is hard to say i" 3 recogni=ed her or not. %he was strangled, 3 presu!e)& &%he was strangled. The 'ody was "ound in a copse a short way along the trac leading "ro! <atchings Halt to 7oodleigh Ca!p. 3t was "ound 'y a hi er co!ing down "ro! the Ca!p at a'out ten !inutes to "our. 6ur police surgeon puts the ti!e o" death at 'etween two-"i"teen and three o&cloc . /resu!a'ly she was the train there.& &*ow why did she get out at <atchings Halt) 9id she !ista e the station) 3 hardly thin so. 3n any case she was two hours early "or her appoint!ent with you, and had not co!e 'y the train you suggested, although she had your letter with her.& &*ow ,ust what was her 'usiness with you, 9octor)& 9r >ennedy "elt in his poc et and 'rought out (ily&s letter. &3 'rought this with !e. The enclosed cutting and the insertion put in the local paper 'y <r and <rs Reed here.& illed shortly a"ter she le"t the station. *o other passenger got out at <atchings Halt. %he was the only person to get out o"

3nspector (ast read (ily >i!'le&s letter and the enclosure. Then he loo ed "ro! 9r >ennedy to Giles and Gwenda. &Can 3 have the story 'ehind all this) 3t goes 'ac a long way, 3 gather)& &#ighteen years,A said Gwenda. /iece!eal, with additions, and parentheses, the story ca!e out. 3nspector (ast was a good listener. He let the three people in "ront o" hi! tell things in their own way. >ennedy was dry, and "actual, Gwenda was slightly incoherent, 'ut her narrative had i!aginative power. Giles gave, perhaps, the !ost valua'le contri'ution. He was clear and to the point, with less reserve than >ennedy, and with !ore coherence than Gwenda. 3t too a longti!e. Then 3nspector (ast sighed and su!!ed up. &<rs Halliday was 9r >ennedy&s sister and your step!other, <rs Reed. %he disappeared "ro! the house you are at present living in eighteen years ago. (ily >i!'le -whose !aiden na!e was A''ott0 was a servant -house parlour!aid0 in the house at the ti!e. :or so!e reason (ily >i!'le inclines -a"ter the passage o" years0 to the theory that there was "oul play. At the ti!e it was assu!ed that <rs Halliday had gone away with a !an -identity un nown0. <a,or Halliday died in a !ental esta'lish!ent "i"teen years ago still under the delusion that he had strangled his wi"e$i" it was a delusion$&

He paused. &These are all interesting 'ut so!ewhat unrelated "acts. The crucial point see!s to 'e, is <rs Halliday alive or dead) 3" dead, when did she die) And what did (ily >i!'le now)& &3t see!s, on the "ace o" it, that she !ust have nown so!ething rather i!portant. %o i!portant that she was illed in order to prevent her tal ing a'out it.& Gwenda cried, &.ut how could anyone possi'ly now she was going to tal a'out it$ e+cept us)& 3nspector (ast turned his thought"ul eyes on her. &3t is a signi"iant point, <rs Reed, that she too the two-"ive instead o" the "our-"ive train "ro! 9ill!outh Cunction. There !ust 'e so!e reason "or that. Also, she got out at the station 'e"ore 7oodleigh .olton. 7hy) 3t see!s possi'le to !e that, a"ter writing to the doctor, she wrote to so!eone else, suggesting a rende=vous at 7oodleigh Ca!p, perhaps, and that she proposed a"ter that rende=vous, i" it was unsatis"actory, to go on to 9r >ennedy and as his advice. 3t is possi'le that she had suspicions o" so!e de"inite person, and she !ay have written to that person hinting at her nowledge and suggesting a rende=vous.& &.lac !ail,& said Giles 'luntly. &3 don&t suppose she thought o" it that way,A said 3nspector (ast. &%he was ,ust greedy and hope"ul$and a little !uddled a'out what she could get out o" it all. 7e&ll see. <ay'e the hus'and can tell us !ore.&

; &7arned her, 3 did,A said <r >i!'le heavily. &G9on&t have nought to do with it,G the! were !y words. 7ent 'ehind !y 'ac , she did. Thought as she new 'est. That were (ily all over. Too s!art 'y hal".& ?uestioning revealed that <r >i!'le had little to contri'ute. (ily had 'een in service at %t Catherine&s 'e"ore he !et her and started wal ing out with her. :ond o" the pictures, she was, and told hi! that li ely as not, she&d 'een in a house where there&d 'een a !urder. &9idn&t pay !uch account, 3 didn&t. All i!agination, 3 thought. *ever content with plain "act, (ily wasn&t. (ong rig!arole she told !e, a'out the !aster doing in the !issus and !ay'e putting the 'ody in the cellar$and so!ething a'out a :rench girl what had loo ed out o" the window and seen so!ething or so!e'ody. G9on&t you pay no attention to "oreigners, !y girl,G 3 said. G6ne and all they&re liars. *ot li e us.G And when she run on a'out it, 3 didn&t listen 'ecause, !ar you, she was wor ing it all up out o" nothing. (i ed a 'it o" cri!e, (ily did. Bsed to ta e the %unday *ews what was running a series a'out :a!ous <urderers. :ull o" it, she was, and i" she li ed to thin she&d 'een in a house where there was a !urder, well, thin ing don&t hurt no'ody. .ut when she was on at !e a'out answering this advertise!ent$G2ou leave it alone,G 3 says to her. G3t&s no good stirring up trou'le.G And i" she&d done as 3 telled her, she&d 'e alive today.& He thought "or a !o!ent or two. &Ar,A he said. &%he&d 'e alive right now. Too s!art 'y hal", that was (ily.&

Chapter @E 7hich o" The!) Giles and Gwenda had not gone with 3nspector (ast and 9r >ennedy to interview <r >i!'le. They arrived ho!e a'out seven o&cloc . Gwenda loo ed white and ill. 9r >ennedy had said to Giles8 &Give her so!e 'randy and !a e her eat so!ething, then get her to 'ed. %he&s had a 'ad shoc .& &3t&s so aw"ul, Giles,A Gwenda ept saying. &%o aw"ul. That silly wo!an,

!a ing an appoint!ent with the !urderer, and going along so con"idently$ to 'e illed. (i e a sheep to the slaughter.& &7ell, don&t thin a'out it, darling. A"ter all, we did now there was so!eone $a iller.& &*o, we didn&t. *ot a iller now. 3 !ean, it was then$eighteen years ago. 3t wasn&t, so!ehow, quite real... 3t !ight all have 'een a !ista e.& &7ell, this proves that it wasn&t a !ista e. 2ou were right all the ti!e, Gwenda.& Giles was glad to "ind <iss <arple at Hillside. %he and <rs Coc er 'etween the! "ussed over Gwenda who re"used 'randy 'ecause she said it always re!inded her o" Channel stea!ers, 'ut accepted so!e hot whis y and le!on, and then, coa+ed 'y <rs Coc er, sat down and ate an o!elette. Giles would have tal ed deter!inedly o" other things, 'ut <iss <arple, with what Giles ad!itted to 'e superior tactics, discussed the cri!e in a gentle aloo" !anner.

&;ery dread"ul, !y dear,& she said. &And o" course a great shoc , 'ut interesting, one !ust ad!it. And o" course 3 a! so old that death doesn&t shoc !e as !uch as it does you$ only so!ething lingering and pain"ul li e cancer really distresses !e. The really vital thing is that this proves de"initely and 'eyond any possi'le dou't that poor young Helen Halliday was illed. 7e&ve thought so all along and now we now.& &And according to you we ought to now where the 'ody is,& said Giles. &The cellar, 3 suppose.& &*o, no, <r Reed. 2ou re!e!'er #dith /agett said she went down there on the !orning a"ter 'ecause she was distur'ed 'y what (ily had said, and she "ound no signs o" anything o" the ind$and there would 'e signs, you now, i" so!e'ody was really loo ing "or the!.& &Then what happened to it) Ta en away in a car and thrown over a cli"" into the sea)& &*o. Co!e now, !y dears, what struc you "irst o" all when you ca!e here$ struc you, Gwenda, 3 should say. The "act that "ro! the drawing-roo! window, you had no view down to the sea. 7here you "elt, very properly, that steps should lead down to the lawn-there was instead a plantation o" shru's. The steps, you "ound su'sequently, had 'een there originally, 'ut had at so!e ti!e 'een trans"erred to the end o" the terrace. 7hy were they !oved)& Gwenda stared at her with dawning co!prehension. &2ou !ean that that&s where$&

&There !ust have 'een a reason "or !a ing the change, and there doesn&t really see! to 'e a sensi'le one. 3t is, "ran ly, a stupid place to have steps down to the lawn. .ut that end o" the terrace is a very quiet place$it&s not overloo ed "ro! the house e+cept 'y one window$the window o" the nursery, on the "irst "loor. 9on&t you see, that i" you want to 'ury a 'ody the earth will 'e distur'ed and there !ust 'e a reason "or its 'eing distur'ed. The reason was that it had 'een decided to !ove the steps "ro! in "ront o" the drawing-roo! to the end o" the terrace. 3&ve learnt already "ro! 9r >ennedy that Helen Halliday and her hus'and were very een on the garden, and did a lot o" wor in it. The daily gardener they e!ployed used !erely to carry out their orders, and i" he arrived to "ind that this change was in progress and so!e o" the "lags had already 'een !oved, he would only have thought that the Hallidays had started on the wor when he wasn&t there. The 'ody, o" course, could have 'een 'uried at either place, 'ut we can 'e quite certain, 3 thin , that it is actually 'uried at the end o" the terrace and not in "ront o" the drawing-roo! window.& &7hy can we 'e sure)& as ed Gwenda. &.ecause o" what poor (ily >i!'le said in her letter$that she changed her !ind a'out the 'ody 'eing in the cellar 'ecause o" what (eonie saw when she loo ed out o" the window. That !a es it very clear, doesn&t it) The %wiss girl loo ed out o" the nursery window at so!e ti!e during the night and saw the grave 'eing dug. /erhaps she actually saw who it was digging it.& &And never said anything to the police)& &<y dear, there was no question at the ti!e o" a cri!e having occurred. <rs Halliday had run away with a lover$that was all that (eonie would grasp. %he pro'a'ly couldn&t spea !uch #nglish anyway. %he did !ention to (ily,

perhaps not at the ti!e, 'ut later, a curious thing she had o'served "ro! her window that night, and that sti!ulated (ily&s 'elie" in a cri!e having occurred. .ut 3&ve no dou't that #dith /agett told (ily o"" "or tal ing nonsense, and the %wiss girl would accept her point o" view and would certainly not wish to 'e !i+ed up with the police. :oreigners always see! to 'e particularly nervous a'out the police when they are in a strange country. %o she went 'ac to %wit=erland and very li ely never thought o" it again.& Giles said8 &3" she&s alive now$i" she can 'e traced$& <iss <arple nodded her head. &/erhaps.& Giles de!anded8 &How can we set a'out it)& <iss <arple said8 &The police will 'e a'le to do that !uch 'etter than you can.& &3nspector (ast is co!ing over here to!orrow !orning.& &Then 3 thin 3 should tell hi!$a'out the steps.& &And a'out what 3 saw$or thin nervously. &2es, dear. 2ou&ve 'een very wise to say nothing o" that until now. ;ery wise. .ut 3 thin the ti!e has co!e.& Giles said slowly8 &%he was strangled in the hall, and then the !urderer carried her upstairs and put her on the 'ed. >elvin Halliday ca!e in, passed out with doped whis y, and in his turn was carried upstairs to the 'edroo!. He ca!e to, and thought he had illed her. The !urderer !ust have 'een watching so!ewhere near at hand. 7hen >elvin went o"" to 9r >ennedy&s, the !urderer too away the 'ody, pro'a'ly hid it in the shru''ery at the end 3 saw$in the hall)& as ed Gwenda

o" the terrace and waited until every'ody had gone to 'ed and was presu!a'ly asleep, 'e"ore he dug the grave and 'uried the 'ody. That !eans he !ust have 'een here, hanging a'out the house, pretty well all that night)& <iss <arple nodded. &He had to 'e$on the spot. 3 re!e!'er your saying that that was i!portant. 7e&ve got to see which o" our three suspects "its in 'est with the require!ents. 7e&ll ta e #rs ine "irst. *ow he de"initely was on the spot. .y his own ad!ission he wal ed up here with Helen >ennedy "ro! the 'each at round a'out nine o&cloc . He said good'ye to her. .ut did he say good'ye to her) (et&s say instead that he strangled her.& &.ut it was all over 'etween the!,& cried Gwenda. &(ong ago. He said hi!sel" that he was hardly ever alone with Helen.& &.ut don&t you see, Gwenda, that the way we !ust loo at it now, we can&t depend on anything anyone says.& &*ow 3&! so glad to hear you say that,& said <iss <arple. &.ecause 3&ve 'een a little worried, you now, 'y the way you two have see!ed willing to accept, as actual "act, all the things that people have told you. 3&! a"raid 3 have a sadly distrust"ul nature, 'ut, especially in a !atter o" !urder, 3 !a e it a rule to ta e nothing that is told to !e as true, unless it is chec ed. :or instance, it does see! quite certain that (ily >i!'le !entioned the clothes pac ed and ta en away in a suitcase were not the ones Helen Halliday would hersel" have ta en, 'ecause not only did #dith /agett tell us that (ily said so to her, 'ut (ily hersel" !entioned the "act in her letter to 9r >ennedy. %o that is one "act. 9r >ennedy told us that >elvin Halliday 'elieved that his wi"e was

secretly drugging hi!, and >elvin Halliday in his diary con"ir!s that$so there is another "act$and a very curious "act it is, don&t you thin ) However, we will not go into that now.& &.ut 3 would li e to point out that a great !any o" the assu!ptions you have !ade have 'een 'ased upon what has 'een told you$possi'ly told you very plausi'ly.& Giles stared hard at her. Gwenda, her colour restored, sipped co""ee, and leaned across the ta'le. Giles said8 &(et&s chec up now on what three people have said to us. Ta e #rs ine "irst. He says$& &2ou&ve got a down on hi!,A said Gwenda. &3t&s waste o" ti!e going on a'out hi!, 'ecause now he&s de"initely out o" it. He couldn&t have illed (ily >i!'le.& Giles went on i!pertur'ly8 &He says that he !et Helen on the 'oat going out to 3ndia and they "ell in love, 'ut that he couldn&t 'ring hi!sel" to leave his wi"e and children, and that they agreed they !ust say good'ye. %uppose it wasn&t quite li e that. %uppose he "ell desperately in love with Helen, and that it was she who wouldn&t run o"" with hi!. %upposing he threatened that i" she !arried anyone else he would ill her.& &<ost i!pro'a'le,& said Gwenda. &Things li e that do happen. Re!e!'er what you overheard his wi"e say to hi!. 2ou put it all down to ,ealousy, 'ut it !ay have 'een true. /erhaps she

has had a terri'le ti!e with hi! where wo!en are concerned$he !ay 'e a little 'it o" a se+ !aniac& &3 don&t 'elieve it.& &*o, 'ecause he&s attractive to wo!en. 3 thin , !ysel", that there is so!ething a little queer a'out #rs ine. However, let&s go on with !y case against hi!. Helen 'rea s o"" her engage!ent to :ane and co!es ho!e and !arries your "ather and settles down here. And then suddenly, #rs ine turns up. He co!es down ostensi'ly on a su!!er holiday with his wi"e. That&s an odd thing to do, really. He ad!its he ca!e here to see Helen again. *ow let&s ta e it that #rs ine was the !an in the drawing-roo! with her that day when (ily overheard her say she was a"raid o" hi!. G3&! a"raid o" you$3&ve always 'een a"raid o" you$3 thin you&re !ad.G& &And, 'ecause she&s a"raid, she !a es plans to go and live in *or"ol , 'ut she&s very secretive a'out it. *o one is to now. *o one is to now, that is, until the #rs ines have le"t 9ill!outh. %o "ar that "its. *ow we co!e to the "atal night. 7hat the Hallidays were doing earlier that evening we don&t now $& <iss <arple coughed. &As a !atter o" "act, 3 saw #dith /agett again. %he re!e!'ers that there was early supper that night$seven o&cloc $'ecause <a,or Halliday was going to so!e !eeting$Gol" Clu', she thin s it was, or so!e /arish !eeting. <rs Halliday went out a"ter supper.& &Right. Helen !eets #rs ine, 'y appoint!ent, perhaps, on the 'each. He is leaving the "ollowing day. /erhaps he re"uses to go. He urges Helen to go

away with hi!. %he co!es 'ac here and he co!es with her. :inally, in a "it o" "ren=y he strangles her. The ne+t 'it is as we have already agreed. He&s slightly !ad, he wants >elvin Halliday to 'elieve it is he who has illed her. (ater, #rs ine 'uries the 'ody. 2ou re!e!'er, he told Gwenda that he didn&t go 'ac to the hotel until very late 'ecause he was wal ing a'out 9ill!outh.& &6ne wonders,A said <iss <arple, &what his wi"e was doing)& &/ro'a'ly "ren=ied with ,ealousy,A said Gwenda. &And gave hi! hell when he did get in.& &That&s !y reconstruction,A said Giles. &And it&s possi'le.& &.ut he couldn&t have illed (ily >i!'le,A said Gwenda, &'ecause he lives in *orthu!'erland. %o thin ing a'out hi! is ,ust waste o" ti!e. (et&s ta e 7alter :ane.& &Right. 7alter :ane is the repressed type. He see!s gentle and !ild and easily pushed around. .ut <iss <arple has 'rought us one valua'le 'it o" testi!ony. 7alter :ane was once in such a rage that he nearly illed his 'rother. Ad!ittedly he was a child at the ti!e, 'ut it was startling 'ecause he had always see!ed o" such a gentle "orgiving nature. Anyway, 7alter :ane "alls in love with Helen Halliday. *ot !erely in love, he&s cra=y a'out her. %he won&t have hi! and he goes o"" to 3ndia. (ater she writes hi! that she will co!e out and !arry hi!. %he starts. Then co!es the second 'low. %he arrives and pro!ptly ,ilts hi!. %he has G!et so!eone on the 'oatG. %he goes ho!e and !arries >elvin Halliday. /ossi'ly 7alter :ane thin s that >elvin Halliday was the original cause o" her turning hi! down. He 'roods, nurses a cra=y ,ealous hate and co!es ho!e. He 'ehaves in a !ost "orgiving, "riendly !anner, is o"ten at this house, has 'eco!e apparently a ta!e cat around the

house, the "aith"ul 9o''in. .ut perhaps Helen reali=es that this isn&t true. %he gets a gli!pse o" what is going on 'elow the sur"ace. /erhaps, long ago, she sensed so!ething distur'ing in quiet young 7alter :ane. %he says to hi!, G3 thin 3&ve always 'een a"raid o" you.G %he !a es plans, secretly, to go right away "ro! 9ill!outh and live in *or"ol . 7hy) .ecause she&s a"raid o" 7alter :ane.& &*ow we co!e again to the "atal evening. Here, we&re not on very sure ground. 7e don&t now what 7alter :ane was doing that night, and 3 don&t see any pro'a'ility o" ever "inding out. .ut he "ul"ils <iss <arple&s require!ent o" 'eing Gon the spotG to the e+tent o" living in a house that is only two or three !inutes& wal away. He !ay have said he was going to 'ed early with a headache, or shut hi!sel" into his study with wor to doso!ething o" that ind. He could have done all the things we&ve decided the !urderer did do, and 3 thin that he&s the !ost li ely o" the three to have !ade !ista es in pac ing a suitcase. He wouldn&t now enough a'out what wo!en wear to do it properly.& &3t was queer,& said Gwenda. &3n his o""ice that day 3 had an odd sort o" "eeling that he was li e a house with its 'linds pulled down... and 3 even had a "anci"ul idea that$that there was so!eone dead in the house.& %he loo ed at <iss <arple. &9oes that see! very silly to you)& she as ed. &*o, !y dear. 3 thin that perhaps you were right.& &And now,A said Gwenda, &we co!e to A""lic . A""lic &s Tours. Cac ie A""lic who was always too s!art 'y hal". The "irst thing against hi! is that 9r

>ennedy 'elieved he had incipient persecution !ania. That is$he was never really nor!al. He&s told us a'out hi!sel" and Helen$'ut we&ll agree now that that was all a pac o" lies. He didn&t ,ust thin she was a cute id$he was !adly, passionately in love with her. .ut she wasn&t in love with hi!. %he was ,ust a!using hersel". %he was !an !ad, as <iss <arple says.& &*o, dear. 3 didn&t say that. *othing o" the ind.& &7ell, a ny!pho!aniac i" you pre"er the ter!. Anyway, she had an a""air with Cac ie A""lic and then wanted to drop hi!. He didn&t want to 'e dropped. Her 'rother got her out o" her scrape, 'ut Cac ie A""lic never "orgave or "orgot. He lost his ,o'$according to hi! through 'eing "ra!ed 'y 7alter :ane. That shows de"inite signs o" persecution !ania.& &2es,& agreed Giles. &.ut on the other hand, i" it was true, it&s another point against :ane$ quite a valua'le point.& Gwenda went on. &Helen goes a'road, and he leaves 9ill!outh. .ut he never "orgets her, and when she returns to 9ill!outh, !arried, he co!es over and visits her. He said "irst o" all, he ca!e once, 'ut later on, he ad!its that he ca!e !ore than once. And, oh Giles, don&t you re!e!'er) #dith /agett used a phrase a'out Gour !ystery !an in a "lashy carG. 2ou see, he ca!e o"ten enough to !a e the servants tal . .ut Helen too pains not to as hi! to a !eal$not to let hi! !eet >elvin. /erhaps she was a"raid o" hi!. /erhaps$& Giles interrupted.

&This !ight cut 'oth ways. %upposing Helen was in love with hi!$the "irst !an she ever was in love with, and supposing she went on 'eing in love with hi!. /erhaps they had an a""air together and she didn&t let anyone now a'out it. .ut perhaps he wanted her to go away with hi!, and 'y that ti!e she was tired o" hi!, and wouldn&t go, and so$and so$ he illed her. And all the rest o" it. (ily said in her letter to 9r >ennedy there was a posh car standing outside that night. 3t was Cac ie A""lic &s car. Cac ie A""lic was Gon the spotG, too.& &3t&s an assu!ption,& said Giles. &.ut it see!s to !e a reasona'le one. .ut there are Helen&s letters to 'e wor ed into our reconstruction. 3&ve 'een pu==ling !y 'rains to thin o" the Gcircu!stancesG, as <iss <arple put it, under which she could have 'een induced to write those letters. 3t see!s to !e that to e+plain the!, we&ve got to ad!it that she actually had a lover, and that she was e+pecting to go away with hi!. 7e&ll test our three possi'les again. #rs ine "irst. %ay that he still wasn&t prepared to leave his wi"e or 'rea up his ho!e, 'ut that Helen had agreed to leave >elvin Halliday and go so!ewhere where #rs ine could co!e and 'e with her "ro! ti!e to ti!e. The "irst thing would 'e to disar! <rs #rs ine&s suspicions, so Helen writes a couple o" letters to reach her 'rother in due course which will loo as though she has gone a'road with so!eone. That "its in very well with her 'eing so !ysterious a'out who the !an in question is.& &.ut i" she was going to leave her hus'and "or hi!, why did he ill her)& as ed Gwenda. &/erhaps 'ecause she suddenly changed her !ind. 9ecided that she did really care "or her hus'and a"ter all. He ,ust saw red and strangled her. Then, he too the clothes and suitcase and used the letters. That&s a per"ectly good e+planation covering everything.&

&The sa!e !ight apply to 7alter :ane. 3 should i!agine that scandal !ight 'e a'solutely disastrous to a country solicitor. Helen !ight have agreed to go so!ewhere near'y where :ane could visit her 'ut pretend that she had gone a'road with so!eone else. (etters all prepared and then, as you suggested, she changed her !ind. 7alter went !ad and illed her.& &7hat a'out Cac ie A""lic )& &3t&s !ore di""icult to "ind a reason "or the letters with hi!. 3 shouldn&t i!agine that scandal would a""ect hi!. /erhaps Helen was a"raid, not o" hi!, 'ut o" !y "ather$and so thought it would 'e 'etter to pretend she&d gone a'road$ or perhaps A""lic &s wi"e had the !oney at that ti!e, and he wanted her !oney to invest in his 'usiness. 6h yes, there are lots o" possi'ilities "or the letters.& &7hich one do you "ancy, <iss <arple)& as ed Gwenda. &3 don&t really thin 7alter :ane$ 'ut then$& <rs Coc er had ,ust co!e in to clear away the co""ee cups. &There now, !ada!,& she said. &3 quite "orgot. All this a'out a poor wo!an 'eing !urdered and you and <r Reed !i+ed up in it, not at all the right thing "or you, !ada!, ,ust now. <r :ane was here this a"ternoon, as ing "or you. He waited quite hal" an hour. %ee!ed to thin you were e+pecting hi!.& &How strange,& said Gwenda. &7hat ti!e)& &3t !ust have 'een a'out "our o&cloc or ,ust a"ter. And then, a"ter that, there was another gentle!an, ca!e in a great 'ig yellow car. He was positive you

were e+pecting hi!. 7ouldn&t ta e no "or an answer. 7aited twenty !inutes. 3 wondered i" you&d had so!e idea o" a tea-party and "orgotten it.& &*o,& said Gwenda. &How odd.& &(et&s ring up :ane now,& said Giles. &He won&t have gone to 'ed.& He suited the action to the word. &Hullo, is that :ane spea ing) Giles Reed here. 3 hear you ca!e round to see us this a"ternoon$7hat)$*o$no, 3&! sure o" it$no, how very odd. 2es, 3 wonder, too.& He laid down the receiver. &Here&s an odd thing. He was rung up in his o""ice this !orning. A !essage le"t would he co!e round and see us this a"ternoon. 3t was very i!portant.& Giles and Gwenda stared at each other. Then Gwenda said, &Ring up A""lic .& Again Giles went to the telephone, "ound the nu!'er and rang through. 3t too a little longer, 'ut presently he got the connection. &<r A""lic ) Giles Reed, 3$& Here he was o'viously interrupted 'y a "low o" speech "ro! the other end. At last he was a'le to say8 &.ut we didn&t$no, 3 assure you$nothing o" the ind$2es-yes, 3 now you&re a 'usy !an. 3 wouldn&t have drea!ed o"$2es,

'ut loo here, who was it rang you$a !an)$*o, 3 tell you it wasn&t !e. *o $no, 3 see. 7ell, 3 agree, it&s quite e+traordinary.& He replaced the receiver and ca!e 'ac to the ta'le. &7ell, there it is,& he said. &%o!e'ody, a !an who said he was !e, rang up A""lic and as ed hi! to co!e over here. 3t was urgent$'ig su! o" !oney involved.& They loo ed at each other. &3t could have 'een either o" the!,& said Gwenda. &9on&t you see, Giles) #ither o" the! could have illed (ily and co!e on here as an ali'i.& &Hardly an ali'i, dear,& put in <iss <arple. &3 don&t !ean quite an ali'i, 'ut an e+cuse "or 'eing away "ro! their o""ice. 7hat 3 !ean is, one o" the! is spea ing the truth and one is lying. 6ne o" the! rang up the other and as ed hi! to co!e here$to throw suspicion on hi!$'ut we don&t now which. 3t&s a clear issue now 'etween the two o" the!. :ane or A""lic . 3 say$Cac ie A""lic .& &3 thin 7alter :ane,& said Giles. They 'oth loo ed at <iss <arple. %he shoo her head. &There&s another possi'ility,& she said.

&6" course. #rs ine.& Giles "airly ran across to the telephone. &7hat are you going to do)& as ed Gwenda. &/ut through a trun call to *orthu!'erland.& &6h Giles$you can&t really thin $& &7e&ve got to now. 3" he&s there$he can&t have illed (ily >i!'le this

a"ternoon. *o private aeroplanes or silly stu"" li e that.& They waited in silence until the telephone 'ell rang. Giles pic ed up the receiver. &2ou were as ing "or a personal call to <a,or #rs ine. Go ahead, please. <a,or #rs ine is waiting.& Clearing his throat nervously, Giles said, &#r$#rs ine) Giles Reed here$ Reed, yes.& He cast a sudden agoni=ed glance at Gwenda which said as plainly as possi'le, &7hat the hell do 3 say now)& Gwenda got up and too the receiver "ro! hi!. &<a,or #rs ine) This is <rs Reed here. 7e&ve heard o"$o" a house. (inscott .ra e. 3s$is it$do you now anything a'out it) 3t&s so!ewhere near you, 3 'elieve.&

#rs ine&s voice said8 &(inscott .ra e) *o, 3 don&t thin 3&ve ever heard o" it. 7hat&s the postal town)& &3t&s terri'ly 'lurred,& said Gwenda. &2ou now those aw"ul typescripts agents send out. .ut it says "i"teen !iles "ro! 9aith so we thought$& &3&! sorry. 3 haven&t heard o" it. 7ho lives there)& &6h, it&s e!pty. .ut never !ind, actually we&ve$we&ve practically settled on a house. 3&! so sorry to have 'othered you. 3 e+pect you were 'usy.& &*o, not at all. At least only 'usy do!estically. <y wi"e&s away. And our coo had to go o"" to her !other, so 3&ve 'een dealing with do!estic routine. 3&! a"raid 3&! not !uch o" a hand at it. .etter in the garden.& &3&d always rather do gardening than housewor . 3 hope your wi"e isn&t ill)& &6h no, she was called away to a sister. %he&ll 'e 'ac to!orrow.& &7ell, good night, and so sorry to have 'othered you.& %he put down the receiver. &#rs ineis out o" it,A she said triu!phantly. &His wi"e&s away and he&s doing all the chores. %o that leaves it 'etween the two others. 9oesn&t it, <iss <arple)& <iss <arple was loo ing grave. &3 don&t thin , !y dears,A she said, &that you have given quite enough thought to the !atter. 6h dear$3 a! really very worried. 3" only 3 new e+actly what to do...& Chapter @F The <on ey&s /aws

Gwenda leaned her el'ows on the ta'le and cupped her chin in her hands while her eyes roa!ed dispassionately over the re!ains o" a hasty lunch. /resently she !ust deal with the!, carry the! out to the scullery, wash up, put things away, see what there would 'e, later, "or supper. .ut there was no wild hurry. %he "elt she needed a little ti!e to ta e things in. #verything had 'een happening too "ast. The events o" the !orning, when she reviewed the!, see!ed to 'e chaotic and i!possi'le. #verything had happened too quic ly and too i!pro'a'ly. 3nspector (ast had appeared early$at hal" past nine. 7ith hi! had co!e 9etective 3nspector /ri!er "ro! headquarters and the Chie" Consta'le o" the County. The latter had not stayed long. 3t was 3nspector /ri!er who was now in charge o" the case o" (ily >i!'le deceased and all the ra!i"ications arising there"ro!. 3t was 3nspector /ri!er, a !an with a deceptively !ild !anner and a gentle apologetic voice, who had as ed her i" it would inconvenience her very !uch i" his !en did so!e digging in the garden. :ro! the tone o" his voice, it !ight have 'een a case o" giving his !en so!e health"ul e+ercise, rather than o" see ing "or a dead 'ody which had 'een 'uried "or eighteen years. Giles had spo en up then. He had said8 &3 thin , perhaps, we could help you with a suggestion or two.&

And he told the 3nspector a'out the shi"ting o" the steps leading down to the lawn, and too the 3nspector out on to the terrace. The 3nspector had loo ed up at the 'arred window on the "irst "loor at the corner o" the house and had said8 &That would 'e the nursery, 3 presu!e.& And Giles said that it would. Then the 3nspector and Giles had co!e 'ac into the house, and two !en with spades had gone out into the garden, and Giles, 'e"ore the 3nspector could get down to questions, had said8 &3 thin , 3nspector, you had 'etter hear so!ething that !y wi"e has so "ar not !entioned to anyone e+cept !ysel"$ and$er$one other person.& The gentle, rather co!pelling ga=e o" 3nspector /ri!er ca!e to rest on Gwenda. 3t was "aintly speculative. He was as ing hi!sel", Gwenda thought8 &3s this a wo!an who can 'e depended upon, or is she the ind who i!agines things)& %o strongly did she "eel this, that she started in a de"ensive way8 &3 !ay have i!agined it. /erhaps 3 did. .ut it see!s aw"ully real.& 3nspector /ri!er said so"tly and soothingly8 &7ell, <rs Reed, let&s hear a'out it.& And Gwenda had e+plained. How the house had see!ed "a!iliar to her when she "irst saw it. How she had su'sequently learned that she had, in "act, lived there as a child. How she had re!e!'ered the nursery wallpaper, and the connecting door, and the "eeling she had had that there ought to 'e steps down to the lawn.

3nspector /ri!er nodded. He did not say that Gwenda&s childish recollections were not particularly interesting, 'ut Gwenda wondered whether he were thin ing it. Then she nerved hersel" to the "inal state!ent. How she had suddenly re!e!'ered, when sitting in a theatre, loo ing through the 'anisters at Hillside and seeing a dead wo!an in the hall. &7ith a 'lue "ace, strangled, and golden hair$and it was Helen$.ut it was so stupid, 3 didn&t now at all who Helen was.& &7e thin that$& Giles 'egan, 'ut 3nspector /ri!er, with une+pected

authority, held up a restraining hand. &/lease let <rs Reed tell !e in her own words.& And Gwenda had stu!'led on, her "ace "lushed, with 3nspector /ri!er gently helping her out, using a de+terity that Gwenda did not appreciate as the highly technical per"or!ance it was. &7e'ster)& he said thought"ully. &H!, 9uchess o" <al"i. <on ey&s paws)& &.ut that was pro'a'ly a night!are,& said Giles. &/lease, <r Reed.& &3t !ay all have 'een a night!are,& said Gwenda.

&*o, 3 don&t thin it was,& said 3nspector /ri!er. &3t would 'e very hard to e+plain (ily >i!'le&s death, unless we assu!e that there was a wo!an !urdered in this house.& That see!ed so reasona'le and al!ost co!"orting, that Gwenda hurried on. &And it wasn&t !y "ather who !urdered her. 3t wasn&t, really. #ven 9r /enrose says he wasn&t the right type, and that he couldn&t have !urdered any'ody. And 9r >ennedy was quite sure he hadn&t done it, 'ut only thought he had. %o you see it was so!eone who wanted it to see! as though !y "ather had done it, and we thin we now who$at least it&s one o" two people$& &Gwenda,A said Giles. &7e can&t really$& &3 wonder, <r Reed,A said the 3nspector, &i" you would !ind going out into the garden and seeing how !y !en are getting on. Tell the! 3 sent you.& He closed the :rench windows a"ter Giles and latched the! and ca!e 'ac to Gwenda. &*ow ,ust tell !e all your ideas, <rs Reed. *ever !ind i" they are rather incoherent.& And Gwenda had poured out all her and Giles&s speculations and reasonings, and the steps they had ta en to "ind out all they could a'out the three !en who !ight have "igured in Helen Halliday&s li"e, and the "inal conclusions they had co!e to$and how 'oth 7alter :ane and C. C. A""lic had 'een rung up, as though 'y Giles, and had 'een su!!oned to Hillside the preceding a"ternoon. &.ut you do see, don&t you, 3nspector$that one o" the! !ight 'e lying)&

And in a gentle, rather tired voice, the 3nspector said8 &That&s one o" the principal di""iculties in !y ind o" wor . %o !any people !ay 'e lying. And so !any people usually are... Though not always "or the reasons that you&d thin . And so!e people don&t even now they&re lying.& &9o you thin 3&! li e that)& Gwenda as ed apprehensively. And the 3nspector had s!iled and said8 &3 thin you&re a very truth"ul witness, <rs Reed.& &And you thin 3&! right a'out who !urdered her)& The 3nspector sighed and said8 &3t&s not a question o" thin ing$not with us. 3t&s a question o" chec ing up. 7here every'ody was, what account every'ody gives o" their !ove!ents. 7e now accurately enough, to within ten !inutes or so, when (ily >i!'le was illed. .etween two-twenty and two"orty-"ive. Anyone could have illed her and then co!e on here yesterday a"ternoon. 3 don&t see, !ysel", any reason "or those telephone calls. 3t doesn&t give either o" the people you !ention an ali'i "or the ti!e o" the !urder.& &.ut you will "ind out, won&t you, what they were doing at the ti!e) .etween two-twenty and two-"orty-"ive. 2ou will as the!.& 3nspector /ri!er s!iled. &7e shall as all the questions necessary, <rs Reed, you !ay 'e sure o" that. All in good ti!e. There&s no good in rushing things. 2ou&ve got to see your way ahead.&

Gwenda had a sudden vision o" patience and quiet unsensational wor . Bnhurried, re!orseless... %he said8 &3 see... yes. .ecause you&re pro"essional. And Giles and 3 are ,ust a!ateurs. 7e !ight !a e a luc y hit$'ut we wouldn&t really now how to "ollow it up.& &%o!ething o" the ind, <rs Reed.& The 3nspector s!iled again. He got up and un"astened the :rench windows. Then, ,ust as he was a'out to step through the!, he stopped. Rather, Gwenda thought, li e a pointing dog. &#+cuse !e, <rs Reed. That lady wouldn&t 'e a <iss Cane <arple, would she)& Gwenda had co!e to stand 'eside hi!. At the 'otto! o" the garden <iss <arple was still waging a losing war with 'indweed. &2es, that&s <iss <arple. %he&s aw"ully ind in helping us with the garden.& &<iss <arple,& said the 3nspector. &3 see.& And as Gwenda loo ed at hi! enquiringly and said, &%he&s rather a dear,& he replied8 &%he&s a very cele'rated lady, is <iss <arple. Got the Chie" Consta'les o" at least three counties in her poc et. %he&s not got !y Chie" yet, 'ut 3 dare say that will co!e. %o <iss <arple&s got her "inger in this pie.& &%he&s !ade an aw"ul lot o" help"ul suggestions,& said Gwenda.

&3 'et she has,& said the 3nspector. &7as it her suggestion where to loo "or the deceased <rs Halliday)& &%he said that Giles and 3 ought to now quite well where to loo ,& said

Gwenda. &And it did see! stupid o" us not to have thought o" it 'e"ore.& The 3nspector gave a so"t little laugh, and went down to stand 'y <iss <arple. He said8 &3 don&t thin we&ve 'een introduced, <iss <arple. .ut you were pointed out to !e once 'y Colonel <elrose.& <iss <arple stood up, "lushed and grasping a hand"ul o" clinging green. &6h yes. 9ear Colonel <elrose. He has always 'een !ost ind. #ver since$& &#ver since a churchwarden was shot in the ;icar&s study. ?uite a while ago. .ut you&ve had other successes since then. A little poison pen trou'le down near (y!stoc .& &2ou see! to now quite a lot a'out !e, 3nspector$& &/ri!er, !y na!e is. And you&ve 'een 'usy here, 3 e+pect.& &7ell, 3 try to do what 3 can in the garden. %adly neglected. This 'indweed, "or instance, such nasty stu"". 3ts roots,& said <iss <arple, loo ing very earnestly at the 3nspector, &go down underground a long way. A very long way$they run along underneath the soil.& &3 thin you&re right a'out that,A said the 3nspector. &A long way down. A long way 'ac ... this !urder, 3 !ean. #ighteen years.&

&And perhaps 'e"ore that,A said <iss <arple. &Running underground... And terri'ly har!"ul, 3nspector, squee=ing the li"e out o" the pretty growing "lowers...& 6ne o" the police consta'les ca!e along the path. He was perspiring and had a s!udge o" earth on his "orehead. &7e&ve co!e to$so!ething, sir. (oo s as though it&s her all right.& And it was then, Gwenda re"lected, that the night!arish quality o" the day had 'egun. Giles co!ing in, his "ace rather pale, saying8 &3t&s$she&s there all right, Gwenda.& Then one o" the consta'les had telephoned and the police surgeon, a short, 'ustling !an, had arrived. And it was then that <rs Coc er, the cal! and i!pertur'a'le <rs Coc er, had gone out into the garden$not led, as !ight have 'een e+pected, 'y ghoulish curiosity, 'ut solely in the quest o" culinary her's "or the dish she was preparing "or lunch. And <rs Coc er, whose reaction to the news o" a !urder on the preceding day had 'een shoc ed censure and an an+iety "or the e""ect upon Gwenda&s health -"or <rs Coc er had !ade up her !ind that the nursery upstairs was to 'e tenanted a"ter the due nu!'er o" !onths0, had wal ed straight in upon the grueso!e discovery, and had 'een i!!ediately &ta en queer& to an alar!ing e+tent. &Too horri'le, !ada!. .ones is a thing 3 never could a'ide. *ot s eleton 'ones, as one !ight say. And here in the garden, ,ust 'y the !int and all. And !y heart&s 'eating at such a rate$palpitations$3 can hardly get !y 'reath. And i" 3 !ight !a e so 'old, ,ust a thi!'le"ul o" 'randy...&

Alar!ed 'y <rs Coc er&s gasps and her ashy colour, Gwenda had rushed to the side'oard, poured out so!e 'randy and 'rought it to <rs Coc er to sip. And <rs Coc er had said8 &That&s ,ust what 3 needed, !ada!$& when, quite suddenly, her voice had "ailed, and she had loo ed so alar!ing, that Gwenda had screa!ed "or Giles, and Giles had yelled to the police surgeon. &And it&s "ortunate 3 was on the spot,A the latter said a"terwards. &3t was touch and go anyway. 7ithout a doctor, that wo!an would have died then and there.& And then 3nspector /ri!er had ta en the 'randy decanter, and then he and the doctor had gone into a huddle over it, and 3nspector /ri!er had as ed Gwenda when she and Giles had last had any 'randy out o" it. Gwenda said she thought not "or so!e days. They&d 'een away$up *orth, and the last "ew ti!es they&d had a drin , they&d had gin. &.ut 3 nearly had so!e 'randy yesterday,A said Gwenda. &6nly it !a es !e thin o" Channel stea!ers, so Giles opened a new 'ottle o" whis y.& &That was very luc y "or you, <rs Reed. 3" you&d drun 'randy yesterday, 3 dou't i" you would 'e alive today.& &Giles nearly dran so!e$'ut in the end he had whis y with !e.& Gwenda shivered. #ven now, alone in the house, with the police gone and Giles gone with the! a"ter a hasty lunch scratched up out o" tins -since <rs Coc er had 'een

re!oved to hospital0, Gwenda could hardly 'elieve in the !orning tur!oil o" events. 6ne thing stood out clearly8 the presence in the house yesterday o" Cac ie A""lic and 7alter :ane. #ither o" the! could have ta!pered with the 'randy, and what was the purpose o" the telephone calls unless it was to a""ord one or other o" the! the opportunity to poison the 'randy decanter) Gwenda and Giles had 'een getting too near the truth. 6r had a third person co!e in "ro! outside, through the open dining-roo! window perhaps, whilst she and Giles had 'een sitting in 9r >ennedy&s house waiting "or (ily >i!'le to eep her appoint!ent) A third person who had engineered the telephone calls to steer suspicion on the other two) .ut a third person, Gwenda thought, didn&t !a e sense. :or a third person, surely, would have telephoned to only one o" the two !en. A third person would have wanted one suspect, not two. And anyway, who could the third person 'e) #rs ine had de"initely 'een in *orthu!'erland. *o, either 7alter :ane had telephoned to A""lic hi!sel". 6r else A""lic and had pretended to 'e telephoned to had telephoned :ane, and had !ade the sa!e

pretence o" receiving a su!!ons. 6ne o" those two, and the police, who were cleverer and had !ore resources than she and Giles had, would "ind out which. And in the !eanti!e 'oth o" those !en would 'e watched. They wouldn&t 'e a'le to$to try again. Again Gwenda shivered. 3t too a little getting used to$the nowledge that so!eone had tried to ill you. &9angerous,& <iss <arple had said long ago. .ut she and Giles had not really ta en the idea o" danger seriously. #ven a"ter (ily >i!'le had 'een illed, it still hadn&t occurred to her that anyone would try and ill her and Giles. Cust 'ecause she and Giles were getting too

near the truth o" what had happened eighteen years ago. 7or ing out what !ust have happened then$and who had !ade it happen. 7alter :ane and Cac ie A""lic ... 7hich) Gwenda closed her eyes, seeing the! a"resh in the light o" her new nowledge. ?uiet 7alter :ane, sitting in his o""ice$the pale spider in the centre o" its we'. %o quiet, so har!less-loo ing. A house with its 'linds down. %o!eone dead in the house. %o!eone dead eighteen years ago$'ut still there. How sinister the quiet 7alter :ane see!ed now. 7alter :ane who had once "lung hi!sel" !urderously upon his 'rother. 7alter :ane who! Helen had scorn"ully re"used to !arry, once here at ho!e, and once again in 3ndia. A dou'le re'u"". A dou'le igno!iny. 7alter :ane, so quiet, so une!otional, who could e+press hi!sel", perhaps, only in sudden !urderous violence$as, possi'ly, quiet (i==ie .orden had once done... Gwenda opened her eyes. %he had convinced hersel", hadn&t she, that 7alter :ane was the !an) 6ne !ight, perhaps, ,ust consider A""lic . 7ith her eyes open, not shut. His loud chec suit, his do!ineering !anner$,ust the opposite to 7alter :ane$nothing repressed or quiet a'out A""lic . .ut possi'ly he had put that !anner on 'ecause o" an in"eriority co!ple+. 3t wor ed that way, e+perts said. 3" you weren&t sure o" yoursel", you had to 'oast and assert yoursel", and 'e over'earing. Turned down 'y Helen 'ecause he wasn&t good enough

"or her. The sore "estering, not "orgotten. 9eter!ination to get on in the world. /ersecution. #veryone against hi!. 9ischarged "ro! his e!ploy!ent 'y a "a ed charge !ade up 'y an &ene!y&. %urely that did show that A""lic wasn&t nor!al. And what a "eeling o" power a !an li e that would get out o" illing. That good-natured, ,ovial "ace o" his, it was a cruel "ace really. He was a cruel !an$and his thin pale wi"e new it and was a"raid o" hi!. (ily >i!'le had threatened hi! and (ily >i!'le had died. Gwenda and Giles had inter"ered$ then Gwenda and Giles !ust die, too, and he would involve 7alter :ane who had sac ed hi! long ago. That "itted in very nicely. Gwenda shoo wash up lunch. %he "etched a tray and too the things out to the itchen. #verything in the itchen was e+quisitely neat. <rs Coc er was really a treasure. .y the side o" the sin was a pair o" surgical ru''er gloves. <rs Coc er always wore a pair "or washing up. Her niece, who wor ed in a hospital, got the! at a reduced price. Gwenda "itted the! on over her hands and 'egan to wash up the dishes. %he !ight as well eep her hands nice. %he washed the plates and put the! in the rac , washed and dried the other things and put everything neatly away. Then, still lost in thought, she went upstairs. %he !ight as well, she thought, wash out those stoc ings and a ,u!per or two. %he&d eep the gloves on. hersel", ca!e out o" her i!aginings, and returned to

practicality. Giles would 'e ho!e and want his tea. %he !ust clear away and

These things were in the "ore"ront o" her !ind. .ut so!ewhere, underneath the!, so!ething was nagging at her. 7alter :ane or Cac ie A""lic , she had said. 6ne or the other o" the!. And she had !ade out quite a good case against either o" the!. /erhaps that was what really worried her. .ecause, strictly spea ing, it would 'e !uch !ore satis"actory i" you could only !a e out a good case against one o" the!. 6ne ought to 'e sure, 'y now, which. And Gwenda wasn&t sure. 3" only there was so!eone else... .ut there couldn&t 'e anyone else. .ecause Richard #rs ine was out o" it. Richard #rs ine had 'een in *orthu!'erland when (ily >i!'le was illed and when the 'randy in the decanter had 'een ta!pered with. 2es, Richard #rs ine was right out o" it. %he was glad o" that, 'ecause she li ed Richard #rs ine. Richard #rs ine was attractive, very attractive. How sad "or hi! to 'e !arried to that !egalith o" a wo!an with her suspicious eyes and deep 'ass voice. Cust li e a !an&s voice... (i e a !an&s voice... The idea "lashed through her !ind with a queer !isgiving. A !an&s voice... Could it have 'een <rs #rs ine, not her hus'and, who had replied to Giles on the telephone last night) *o$no, surely not. *o, o" course not. %he and Giles would have nown. And anyway, to 'egin with, <rs #rs ine could have had no idea o" who was ringing up. *o, o" course it was #rs ine spea ing, and his wi"e, as he said, was away.

His wi"e was away... %urely$no, that was i!possi'le... Could it have 'een <rs #rs ine) <rs #rs ine, driven insane 'y ,ealousy) <rs #rs ine to who! (ily >i!'le had written) 7as it a wo!an (eonie had seen in the garden that night when she loo ed out o" the window) There was a sudden 'ang in the hall 'elow. %o!e'ody had co!e in through the "ront door. Gwenda ca!e out "ro! the 'athroo! on to the landing and loo ed over the 'anisters. %he was relieved to see it was 9r >ennedy. %he called down8 &3&! here.& Her hands were held out in "ront o" her$wet, glistening, a queer pin ish grey $they re!inded her o" so!ething... >ennedy loo ed up, shading his eyes. &3s that you, Gwennie) 3 can&t see your "ace... <y eyes are da==led$& And then Gwenda screa!ed... (oo ing at those s!ooth !on ey&s paws and hearing that voice in the hall$ &3t was you,A she gasped. &2ou illed her... illed Helen... 3$ now now. 3t was you... all along... 2ou...& He ca!e up the stairs towards her. %lowly. (oo ing up at her.

&7hy couldn&t you leave !e alone)& he said. &7hy did you have to !eddle) 7hy did you have to 'ring$Her$'ac ) Cust when 3&d 'egun to "orget$to "orget. 2ou 'rought her 'ac 3 illed Helen...& He was close upon her now$his hands out towards her$reaching, she new, "or her throat. That ind, qui==ical "ace$that nice, ordinary, elderly "ace$the sa!e still, 'ut "or the eyes$the eyes were not sane... Gwenda retreated 'e"ore hi!, slowly, the screa! "ro=en in her throat. %he had screa!ed once. %he could not screa! again. And i" she did screa! no one would hear. .ecause there was no one in the house$not Giles, and not <rs Coc er, not even <iss <arple in the garden. *o'ody. And the house ne+t door was too "ar away to hear i" she screa!ed. And anyway, she couldn&t screa!... .ecause she was too "rightened to screa!. :rightened o" those horri'le reaching hands... %he could 'ac away to the nursery door and then$and then$those hands would "asten round her throat... A piti"ul little sti"led whi!per ca!e "ro! 'etween her lips. And then, suddenly, 9r >ennedy stopped and reeled 'ac as a ,et o" soapy water struc hi! 'etween the eyes. He gasped and 'lin ed and his hands went to his "ace. again$Helen$!y Helen. .ringing it all up again. 3 had to ill (ily$now 3&ll have to ill you. (i e 3 illed Helen... 2es, li e

&%o "ortunate,& said <iss <arple&s voice, rather 'reathless, "or she had run violently up the 'ac stairs, &that 3 was ,ust syringing the green"ly o"" your roses.& Chapter @H /ostscript at Torquay &.ut, o" course, dear Gwenda, 3 should never have drea!ed o" going away and leaving you alone in the house,A said <iss <arple. &3 new there was a very dangerous person at large, and 3 was eeping an uno'trusive watch "ro! the garden.& &9id you now it was$hi!$all along)& as ed Gwenda. They were all three, <iss <arple, Gwenda and Giles, sitting on the terrace o" the 3!perial Hotel at Torquay. &A change o" scene,& <iss <arple had said, and Giles had agreed, would 'e the 'est thing "or Gwenda. %o 3nspector /ri!er had concurred and they had driven to Torquay "orthwith. <iss <arple said in answer to Gwenda&s question, &7ell, he did see! indicated, !y dear. Although un"ortunately there was nothing in the way o" evidence to go upon. Cust indications, nothing !ore.& (oo ing at her curiously, Giles said, &.ut 3 can&t see any indications even.& &6h dear, Giles, thin . He was on the spot, to 'egin with.& &6n the spot)& &.ut certainly. 7hen >elvin Halliday ca!e to hi! that night he had ,ust co!e 'ac "ro! the hospital. And the hospital, at that ti!e, as several people told us, was actually ne+t door to Hillside, or %t Catherine&s as it was then called.

%o that, as you see, puts hi! in the right place at the right ti!e. And then there were a hundred and one little signi"icant "acts. Helen Halliday told Richard #rs ine she had gone out to !arry 7alter :ane 'ecause she wasn&t happy at ho!e. *ot happy, that is, living with her 'rother. 2et her 'rother was 'y all accounts devoted to her. %o why wasn&t she happy) <r A""lic told you that Ghe was sorry "or the poor idG. 3 thin that he was a'solutely truth"ul when he said that. He was sorry "or her. 7hy did she have to go and !eet young A""lic in that clandestine way) Ad!ittedly she was not wildly in love with hi!. 7as it 'ecause she couldn&t !eet young !en in the ordinary nor!al way) Her 'rother was GstrictG and Gold-"ashionedG. 3t is vaguely re!iniscent, is it not, o" <r .arrett o" 7i!pole %treet)& Gwenda shivered. &He was !ad,& she said. &<ad.& &2es,& said <iss <arple. &He wasn&t nor!al. He adored his hal"-sister, and that a""ection 'eca!e possessive and unwholeso!e. That ind o" thing happens o"tener than you&d thin . :athers who don&t want their daughters to !arry$or even to !eet young !en. (i e <r .arrett. 3 thought o" that when 3 heard a'out the tennis net.& &The tennis net)& &2es, that see!ed to !e very signi"icant. Thin o" that girl, young Helen, co!ing ho!e "ro! school, and eager "or all a young girl wants out o" li"e, an+ious to !eet young !en$ to "lirt with the!$& &A little se+-cra=y.&

&*o,& said <iss <arple with e!phasis. &That is one o" the wic edest things a'out this cri!e. 9r >ennedy didn&t only ill her physically. 3" you thin 'ac care"ully, you&ll see that the only evidence "or Helen >ennedy&s having 'een !an !ad or practically$what is the word you used, dear) oh yes, a ny!pho!aniac$ca!e actually "ro! 9r >ennedy hi!sel". 3 thin , !ysel", that she was a per"ectly nor!al young girl who wanted to have "un and a good ti!e and "lirt a little and "inally settle down with the !an o" her choice$no !ore than that. And see what steps her 'rother too . :irst he was strict and old-"ashioned a'out allowing her li'erty. Then, when she wanted to give tennis parties$a !ost nor!al and har!less desire $he pretended to agree and then one night secretly cut the tennis net to ri''ons$a very signi"icant and sadistic action. Then, since she could still go out to play tennis or to dances, he too advantage o" a gra=ed "oot which he treated, to in"ect it so that it wouldn&t heal. 6h yes, 3 thin he did that... in "act, 3&! sure o" it.& &<ind you. 3 don&t thin Helen reali=ed any o" all this. %he new her 'rother had a deep a""ection "or her and 3 don&t thin she new why she "elt uneasy and unhappy at ho!e. .ut she did "eel li e that and at last she decided to go out to 3ndia and !arry young :ane si!ply in order to get away. To get away "ro! what) %he didn&t now. %he was too young and guileless to now. %o she went o"" to 3ndia and on the way she !et Richard #rs ine and "ell in love with hi!. There again, she 'ehaved not li e a se+-cra=y girl, 'ut li e a decent and honoura'le girl. %he didn&t urge hi! to leave his wi"e. %he urged hi! not to do so. .ut when she saw 7alter :ane she new that she couldn&t !arry hi!, and 'ecause she didn&t now what else to do, she wired her 'rother "or !oney to go ho!e.& &6n the way ho!e she !et your "ather$and another way o" escape showed itsel". This ti!e it was one with good prospect o" happiness.&

&%he didn&t !arry your "ather under "alse pretences, Gwenda. He was recovering "ro! the death o" a dearly loved wi"e. %he was getting over an unhappy love-a""air. They could 'oth help each other. 3 thin it is signi"icant that she and >elvin Halliday were !arried in (ondon and then went down to 9ill!outh to 'rea the news to 9r >ennedy. %he !ust have had so!e instinct that that would 'e a wiser thing to do than to go down and 'e !arried in 9ill!outh, which ordinarily would have 'een the nor!al thing to do. 3 still thin she didn&t now what she was up against$'ut she was uneasy, and she "elt sa"er in presenting her 'rother with the !arriage as a "ait acco!pli.& &>elvin Halliday was very "riendly to >ennedy and li ed hi!. >ennedy see!s to have gone out o" his way to appear pleased a'out the !arriage. The couple too a "urnished house there.& &And now we co!e to that very signi"icant "act$the suggestion that >elvin was 'eing drugged 'y his wi"e. There are only two possi'le e+planations o" that$'ecause there are only two people who could have had the opportunity o" doing such a thing. #ither Helen Halliday was drugging her hus'and, and i" so, why) 6r else the drugs were 'eing ad!inistered 'y 9r >ennedy. >ennedy was Halliday&s physician as is clear 'y Halliday&s consulting hi!. He had con"idence in >ennedy&s !edical nowledge$and the suggestion that his wi"e was drugging hi! was very cleverly put to hi! 'y >ennedy.& &.ut could any drug !a e a !an have the hallucination that he was strangling his wi"e)& as ed Giles. &3 !ean there isn&t any drug, is there, that has that particular e""ect)& &<y dear Giles, you&ve "allen into the trap again$the trap o" 'elieving what is said to you. There is only 9r >ennedy&s word "or it that Halliday ever had that hallucination. He hi!sel" never says so in his diary. He had hallucinations,

yes, 'ut he does not !ention their nature. .ut 3 dare say >ennedy tal ed to hi! a'out !en who had strangled their wives a"ter passing through a phase such as >elvin Halliday was e+periencing.& &9r >ennedy was really wic ed,& said Gwenda. &3 thin ,& said <iss <arple, &that he&d de"initely passed the 'orderline 'etween sanity and !adness 'y that ti!e. And Helen, poor girl, 'egan to reali=e it. 3t was to her 'rother she !ust have 'een spea ing that day when she was overheard 'y (ily. &3 thin 3&ve always 'een a"raid o" you.& That was one o" the things she said. And that always was very signi"icant. And so she deter!ined to leave 9ill!outh. %he persuaded her hus'and to 'uy a house in *or"ol , she persuaded hi! not to tell anyone a'out it. The secrecy a'out it was very illu!inating. %he was clearly very a"raid o" so!eone nowing a'out it$'ut that did not "it in with the 7alter :ane theory or the Cac ie A""lic theory$and certainly not with Richard #rs ine&s 'eing concerned. *o, it pointed to so!ewhere !uch nearer ho!e.& &And in the end, >elvin Halliday, who! dou'tless the secrecy ir ed and who "elt it to 'e pointless, told his 'rother-in-law.& &And in so doing, sealed his own "ate and that o" his wi"e. :or >ennedy was not going to let Helen go and live happily with her hus'and. 3 thin perhaps his idea was si!ply to 'rea down Halliday&s health with drugs. .ut at the revelation that his victi! and Helen were going to escape hi!, he 'eca!e co!pletely unhinged. :ro! the hospital he went through into the garden o" %t Catherine&s and he too with hi! a pair o" surgical gloves. He caught Helen in the hall, and he strangled her. *o'ody saw hi!, there was no one there to see hi!, or so he thought, and so, rac ed with love and "ren=y, he quoted those tragic lines that were so apposite.&

<iss <arple sighed and cluc ed her tongue. &3 was stupid$very stupid. 7e were all stupid. 7e should have seen at once. Those lines "ro! The 9uchess o" <al"i were really the clue to the whole thing. They are said, are they not, 'y a 'rother who has ,ust contrived his sister&s death to avenge her !arriage to the !an she loved. 2es, we were stupid$& &And then)& as ed Giles. &And then he went through with the whole devilish plan. The 'ody carried upstairs. The clothes pac ed in a suitcase. A note, written and thrown in the wastepaper 'as et to convince Halliday later.& &.ut 3 should have thought,A said Gwenda, &that it would have 'een 'etter "ro! his point o" view "or !y "ather actually to have 'een convicted o" the !urder.& <iss <arple shoo her head. &6h no, he couldn&t ris that. He had a lot o" shrewd %cottish co!!on sense, you now. He had a wholeso!e respect "or the police. The police ta e a lot o" convincing 'e"ore they 'elieve a !an guilty o" !urder. The police !ight have as ed a lot o" aw ward questions and !ade a lot o" aw ward enquiries as to ti!es and places. *o, his plan was si!pler and, 3 thin , !ore devilish. He only had Halliday to convince. :irst, that he had illed his wi"e. %econdly that he was !ad. He persuaded Halliday to go into a !ental ho!e, 'ut 3 don&t thin he really wanted to convince hi! that it was all a delusion. 2our "ather accepted that theory, Gwennie, !ainly, 3 should i!agine, "or your sa e. He continued to 'elieve that he had illed Helen. He died 'elieving that.&

&7ic ed,& said Gwenda. &7ic ed$wic ed$wic ed.& &2es,& said <iss <arple. &There isn&t really any other word. And 3 thin , Gwenda, that that is why your childish i!pression o" what you saw re!ained so strong. 3t was real evil that was in the air that night.& &.ut the letters,& said Giles. &Helen&s letters) They were in her handwriting, so they couldn&t 'e "orgeries.& &6" course they were "orgeries1 .ut that is where he overreached hi!sel". He was so an+ious, you see, to stop you and Giles !a ing investigations. He could pro'a'ly i!itate Helen&s handwriting quite nicely$'ut it wouldn&t "ool an e+pert. %o the sa!ple o" Helen&s handwriting he sent you with the letter wasn&t her handwriting either. He wrote it hi!sel". %o naturally it tallied.& &Goodness,& said Giles. &3 never thought o" that.& &*o,& said <iss <arple. &2ou 'elieved what he said. 3t really is very dangerous to 'elieve people. 3 never have "or years.& &And the 'randy)& &He did that the day he ca!e to Hillside with Helen&s letter and tal ed to !e in the garden. He was waiting in the house while <rs Coc er ca!e out and told !e he was there. 3t would only ta e a !inute.& &Good (ord,A said Giles. &And he urged !e to ta e Gwenda ho!e and give her 'randy a"ter we were at the police station when (ily >i!'le was illed. How did he arrange to !eet her earlier)&

&That was very si!ple. The original letter he sent her as ed her to !eet hi! at 7oodleigh Ca!p and co!e to <atchings Halt 'y the two-"ive train "ro! 9ill!outh Cunction. He ca!e out o" the copse o" trees, pro'a'ly, and accosted her as she was going up the lane$and strangled her. Then he si!ply su'stituted the letter you all saw "or the letter she had with her -and which he had as ed her to 'ring 'ecause o" the directions in it0 and went ho!e to prepare "or you and play out the little co!edy o" waiting "or (ily.& &And (ily really was threatening hi!) Her letter didn&t sound as though she was. Her letter sounded as though she suspected A""lic .& &/erhaps she did. .ut (eonie, the %wiss girl, had tal ed to (ily, and (eonie was the one danger to >ennedy. .ecause she loo ed out o" the nursery window and saw hi! digging in the garden. 3n the !orning he tal ed to her, told her 'luntly that <a,or Halliday had illed his wi"e$that <a,or Halliday was insane, and that he, >ennedy, was hushing up the !atter "or the child&s sa e. 3", however, (eonie "elt she ought to go to the police, she !ust do so, 'ut it would 'e very unpleasant "or her$and so on.& &(eonie too i!!ediate "right at the !ention o" the police. %he adored you and had i!plicit "aith in what <. le docteur thought 'est. >ennedy paid her a handso!e su! o" !oney and hustled her 'ac to %wit=erland. .ut 'e"ore she went, she hinted so!ething to (ily as to your "ather&s having illed his wi"e and that she had seen the 'ody 'uried. That "itted in with (ily&s ideas at the ti!e. %he too it "or granted that it was >elvin Halliday (eonie had seen digging the grave.& &.ut >ennedy didn&t now that, o" course,& said Gwenda.

&6" course not. 7hen he got (ily&s letter the words in it that "rightened hi! were that (eonie had told (ily what she had seen out o" the window and the !ention o" the car outside.& &The car) Cac ie A""lic &s car)& &Another !isunderstanding. (ily re!e!'ered, or thought she re!e!'ered, a car li e Cac ie A""lic &s 'eing outside in the road. Already her i!agination had got to wor on the <ystery <an who ca!e over to see <rs Halliday. 7ith the hospital ne+t door, no dou't a good !any cars did par along this road. .ut you !ust re!e!'er that the doctor&s car was actually standing outside the hospital that night$he pro'a'ly leaped to the conclusion that she !eant his car. The ad,ective posh was !eaningless to hi!.& &3 see,& said Giles. &2es, to a guilty conscience that letter o" (ily&s !ight loo li e 'lac !ail. .ut how do you now all a'out (eonie)& Her lips pursed close together, <iss <arple said8 &He went$right over the edge, you now. As soon as the !en 3nspector /ri!er had le"t rushed in and sei=ed hi!, he went over the whole cri!e again and again$everything he&d done. (eonie died, it see!s, very shortly a"ter her return to %wit=erland. 6verdose o" so!e sleeping ta'lets... 6h no, he wasn&t ta ing any chances.& &(i e trying to poison !e with the 'randy.& &2ou were very dangerous to hi!, you and Giles. :ortunately you never told hi! a'out your !e!ory o" seeing Helen dead in the hall. He never new there had 'een an eyewitness.&

&Those telephone calls to :ane and A""lic ,& said Giles. &9id he put those through)& &2es. 3" there was an enquiry as to who could have ta!pered with the 'randy, either o" the! would !a e an ad!ira'le suspect, and i" Cac ie A""lic drove over in his car alone, it !ight tie hi! in with (ily >i!'le&s !urder. :ane would !ost li ely have an ali'i.& &And he see!ed "ond o" !e,& said Gwenda. &(ittle Gwennie.& &He had to play his part,& said <iss <arple. &3!agine what it !eant to hi!. A"ter eighteen years, you and Giles co!e along, as ing questions, 'urrowing into the past, distur'ing a !urder that had see!ed dead 'ut was only sleeping... <urder in retrospect... A horri'ly dangerous thing to do, !y dears. 3 have 'een sadly worried.& &/oor <rs Coc er,& said Gwenda. &%he had a terri'ly near escape. 3&! glad she&s going to 'e all right. 9o you thin she&ll co!e 'ac to us, Giles) A"ter all this)& &%he will i" there&s a nursery,& said Giles gravely, and Gwenda 'lushed, and <iss <arple s!iled a little and loo ed out across Tor'ay. &How very odd it was that it should happen the way it did,& !used Gwenda. &<y having those ru''er gloves on, and loo ing at the!, and then his co!ing into the hall and saying those words that sounded so li e the others. G:aceG... and then8 G#yes da==ledG$& %he shuddered.

&Cover her "ace... <ine eyes da==le... she died young... that !ight have 'een !e... i" <iss <arple hadn&t 'een there.& %he paused and said so"tly, &/oor Helen... /oor lovely Helen, who died young... 2ou now, Giles, she isn&t there any !ore$in the house$in the hall. 3 could "eel that yesterday 'e"ore we le"t. There&s ,ust the house. And the house is "ond o" us. 7e can go 'ac i" we li e...&