CHAPTER 13-4

 

 

　　"Oh, just some chance word that might give one aclue. Something like ‘I’m going tosee an old friend tonight that I haven‘t seen since we met inArizona.’ Something like that. or ‘I’m going to stay next week with a niece of mine for her daughter‘s confirmation.’ With absent-minded people, youknow, clues like that are a great help. They show what was in the person‘s mind. It may be that after his dinner at the Athenaeum, he gets into a taxiand thinks ’Now where am I going?‘ andhaving got – say – theconfirmation in his mind – thinks he’s going off there."

　　"Well, I see what you mean," said Miss Gorringe doubtfully. "It seems a littleunlikely."

　　"Oh, one never knows one‘s luck," said Father cheerfully. "Then there are the various guests here. I suppose Canon Pennyfather knew someof them since he came here fairly often."

　　"Oh yes," said MissGorringe, "Let me see now. I’veseen him talking to – yes, Lady Selina Hazy. Then there wasthe Bishop of Norwich. They‘re old friends, I believe. Theywere at Oxford together. And Mrs. Jameson and her daughters. They come from the same partof the world. Oh yes, quite a lot of people."

　　"You see," saidFather, "he might have talked to one of them. he might havejust mentioned some little think that would give us a clue. Is there anyone staying herenow that the Canon knew fairly well?"

　　Miss Gorringe frowned in thought.

　　"Well, I think General Radley is here still. Andthere’s an old lady who came up from the country – who used to stay here as a girl, so she told me. Let me see, I can‘t remember her name at the moment, but I can find it for you. oh yes, MissMarple, that’s her name. I believe she knew him."

　　"Well, we could make a start with those two. Andthere‘d be a chambermaid, I suppose."

　　"Oh yes," said MissGorringe. "But she has been interviewed already by SergeantWadell."

　　"I know. but not perhaps from this angle. Whatabout the waiter who attended on his table. Or the head waiter?"

　　"There’s Henry, ofcourse," said Miss Gorringe.

　　"Who‘s Henry?"asked Father.

　　Miss Gorringe looked almost shocked. It was to herimpossible that anyone should not know Henry.

　　"Henry has been here for more years than I cansay," she said. "You must havenoticed him serving teas as you came in."

　　"Kind of personality," saidDavy. "I remember noticing him."

　　"I don’t know what weshould do without Henry," said Miss Gorringe with feeling. "He really is wonderful. He sets the tone of the place, you know."

　　"Perhaps he might like to serve some more tea tome," said Chief-Inspector Davy. "Muffins,I saw he‘d got there. I’d like agood muffin again."

　　"Certainly if you like," said Miss Gorringe, rather coldly. "Shall I ordertwo teas to be served to you in the lounge?" she added,turning to Inspector Campbell.

　　"That would –” theinspector began, when suddenly the door opened and Mr. Humfries appeared in his Olympianmanner.

　　He looked slightly taken aback, then lookedinquiringly at Miss Gorringe. Miss Gorringe explained.

　　"These are two gentlemen from Scotland Yard, Mr.Humfries," she said.

　　"Detective-Inspector Campbell," said Campbell.

　　"Oh yes. Yes, of course," said Mr. Humfries. "The matter of CanonPennyfather, I suppose? Most extraordinary business. I hope nothing‘s happened to him, poor old chap."

　　"So do I," said MissGorringe. "Such a dear old man."

　　"One of the old school," said Mr. Humfries approvingly.

　　"You seem to have quite a lot of the old schoolhere," observed Chief-Inspector Davy.

　　"I suppose we do, I suppose we do," said Mr. Humfries. "Yes, in many ways we arequite a survival."