CHAPTER 13-5

 

 

"We have our regulars you know," said Miss Gorringe. She spoke proudly. "The samepeople come back year after year. We have a lot of Americans. People from Boston, andWashington. Very quiet, nice people."

　　"They like our English atmosphere," said Mr. Humfries, showing his very white teeth in a smile.

　　Father looked at him thoughtfully. InspectorCampbell said:

　　"You‘re quite surethat no message came here from the Canon? I mean it might have been taken by someone whoforgot to write it down or to pass it on."

　　"Telephone messages are always taken down mostcarefully," said Miss Gorringe with ice in her voice. "I cannot conceive it possible that a message would not have been passed on tome or to the appropriate person on duty."

　　She glared at him.

　　Inspector Campbell looked momentarily taken aback.

　　"We’ve really answeredall these questions before, you know," said Mr. Humfries, alsowith a touch of ice in his voice. "We gave all the informationat our disposal to your sergeant – I can‘t remember his name for the moment."

　　Father stirred a little and said, in a kind ofhomely way.

　　"Well you see, things have begun to look rathermore serious. It looks like a bit more than absent-mindedness. That’s why, I think, it would be a good thing if we could have a word or two withthose two people you mentioned – General Radley and MissMarple."

　　"You want me to – toarrange an interview with them?" Mr. Humfries looked ratherunhappy. "General Radley‘s verydeaf."

　　"I don’t think it willbe necessary to make it too formal," said Chief-InspectorDavy. "We don‘t want to worrypeople. You can leave it quite safe to us. Just point out those two you mentioned. Thereis just a chance, you know, that Canon Pennyfather might have mentioned some plan of his,or some person he was going to meet at Lucerne or who was going with him to Lucerne.Anyway, it’s worth trying."

　　Mr. Humfries looked somewhat relieved.

　　"Nothing more we can do for you?" he asked. "I‘m sureyou understand that we wish to help you in every way, only you do understand how we feelabout any press publicity."

　　"Quite," saidInspector Campbell.

　　"And I’ll just have aword with the chambermaid," said Father.

　　"Certainly, if you like. I doubt very much whethershe can tell you anything."

　　"Probably not. But there might be some detail –some remark the Canon made about a letter or an appointment. One neverknows."

　　Mr. Humfries glanced at his watch.

　　"She‘ll be on duty atsix," he said. "Second floor.Perhaps, in the meantime you’d care for tea?"

　　"Suits me," saidFather promptly.

　　They left the office together.

　　Miss Gorringe said, "GeneralRadley will be in the smoking-room. The first room down that passage on the left. He‘ll be in front of the fire there with The Times. I think," she added discreetly, "he might be asleep. You’re sure you don‘t’ wantme to –”

　　"No, no, I‘ll see toit," said Father. "And what aboutthe other one – the old lady?"

　　"She’s sitting overthere, by the fireplace," said Miss Gorringe.

　　"The one with white fluffy hair and the knitting?"said Father, taking a look. "Might almostbe on the stage, mightn‘t she? everybody’s universal great-aunt."

　　"Great-aunts aren‘tmuch like that nowadays," said Miss Gorringe, "nor grandmothers nor great-grandmothers, if it comes to that. we had theMarchioness of Barlow in yesterday. She’s a great-grandmother.Honestly, I didn‘t know her when she came in. just back fromParis. Her face a mask of pink and white and her hair platinum blonde and I suppose anentirely false figure, but it looked wonderful."

　　"Ah," said Father, "I prefer the old-fashioned kind myself. Well, thank you, ma’am." He turned to Campbell. "I‘ll look after it, shall I, sir? I know you’ve got an important appointment."

　　"That‘s right,"said Campbell, taking his cue. "I don’t suppose anything much will come of it, but it‘sworth trying."

　　Mr. Humfries disappeared into his inner sanctum,saying as he did so:

　　"Miss Gorringe – justa moment, please."

　　Miss Gorringe followed him in and shut the doorbehind her.

　　Humfries was walking up and down. He demandedsharply:

　　"What do they want to see Rose for? Wadell askedall the necessary questions."

　　"I suppose it’s justroutine," said Miss Gorringe, doubtfully.

　　"You‘d better have aword with her first."

　　Miss Gorringe looked a little startled.

　　"But surely Inspector Campbell –”

　　"Oh, I’m not worriedabout Campbell. It‘s the other one. Do you know who he is?"

　　"I don’t think he gavehis name. Sergeant of some kind, I suppose. He looks rather a yokel."

　　"Yokel, my foot," saidMr. Humfries, abandoning his elegance. "That‘s Chief-Inspector Davy, an old fox if there ever was one. They think a lot ofhim at the Yard. I’d like to know what he‘s doing here, nosing about and playing the genial hick. I don’t like it at all."

　　"You can‘t think –”

　　"I don’t know what tothink. But I tell you I don‘t like it. did he ask to seeanyone else besides Rose?"

　　"I think he’s going tohave a word with Henry."

　　Mr. Humfries laughed. Miss Gorringe laughed too.

　　"We needn‘t worryabout Henry."

　　"No, indeed."

　　"And the visitors knew Canon Pennyfather?"

　　Mr. Humfries laughed again.

　　"I wish him joy of old Radley. He’ll have to shout the place down and then he won‘tget anything worth having. He’s welcome to Radley and thatfunny old hen, Miss Marple. All the same, I don‘t much likehis poking his nose in…”