加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第25部分

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Sitting　down　on　her　bed。　Miss　Marple　removed　her　neat　sandal　shoes　and　replaced　them　with　a　pair　of　plimsolls。　Then　she　shook　her　head；　removed　the　plimsolls；　burrowed　in　her　suitcase　and　took　out　a　pair　of　shoes　the　heel　on　one　of　which　she　had　recently　caught　on　a　hook　by　the　door。　It　was　now　in　a　slightly　precarious　state　and　Miss　Marple　adroitly　rendered　it　even　more　precarious　by　attention　with　a　nail　file。　Then　she　emerged　with　due　precaution　from　her　door　walking　in　stockinged　feet。

With　all　the　care　of　a　Big　Game　Hunter　approaching　upwind　of　a　herd　of　antelope；　Miss　Marple　gently　circumnavigated　Mr。　Rafiel's　bungalow。

Cautiously　she　manoeuvred　her　way　around　the　corner　of　the　house。　She　put　on　one　of　the　shoes　she　was　carrying；　gave　a　final　wrench　to　the　heel　of　the　other；　sank　gently　to　her　knees　and　lay　prone　under　the　window。　If　Jackson　heard　anything；　if　he　came　to　the　window　to　look　out；　an　old　lady　would　have　had　a　fall　owing　to　the　heel　ing　off　her　shoe。　But　evidently　Jackson　had　heard　nothing。

Very；　very　gently　Miss　Marple　raised　her　head。　The　windows　of　the　bungalow　were　low。　Shielding　herself　slightly　with　a　festoon　of　creeper　she　peered　inside。。。

Jackson　was　on　his　knees　before　a　suitcase。

The　lid　of　the　suitcase　was　up　and　Miss　Marple　could　see　that　it　was　a　specially　fitted　affair　containing　partments　filled　with　various　kinds　of　papers。

Jackson　was　looking　through　the　papers；　occasionally　drawing　documents　out　of　long　envelopes。　Miss　Marple　did　not　remain　at　her　observation　post　for　long。　All　she　wanted　was　to　know　what　Jackson　was　doing。　She　knew　now。　Jackson　was　snooping。　Whether　he　was　looking　for　something　in　particular；　or　whether　he　was　just　indulging　his　natural　instincts；　she　had　no　means　of　judging。　But　it　confirmed　her　in　her　belief　that　Arthur　Jackson　and　Jonas　Parry　had　strong　affinities　in　other　things　than　facial　resemblance。

Her　problem　was　now　to　withdraw。　Very　carefully　she　dropped　down　again　and　crept　along　the　flowerbed　until　she　was　clear　of　the　window。　She　returned　to　her　bungalow　and　carefully　put　away　the　shoe　and　the　heel　that　she　had　detached　from　it。　She　looked　at　them　with　affection。　A　good　device　which　she　could　use　on　another　day　if　necessary。　She　resumed　her　own　sandal　shoes；　and　went　thoughtfully　down　to　the　beach　again。

Choosing　a　moment　when　Esther　Walters　was　in　the　water。　Miss　Marple　moved　into　the　chair　Esther　had　vacated。

Greg　and　Lucky　were　laughing　and　talking　with　Seсora　de　Caspearo　and　making　a　good　deal　of　noise。

Miss　Marple　spoke　very　quietly；　almost　under　her　breath；　without　looking　at　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃Do　you　know　that　Jackson　snoops？〃

〃Doesn't　surprise　me；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃Caught　him　at　it；　did　you？〃

〃I　managed　to　observe　him　through　a　window。　He　had　one　of　your　suitcases　open　and　was　looking　through　your　papers。〃

〃Must　have　managed　to　get　hold　of　a　key　to　it。　Resourceful　fellow。　He'll　be　disappointed　though。　Nothing　he　gets　hold　of　in　that　way　will　do　him　a　mite　of　good。〃

〃He's　ing　down　now；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　glancing　up　towards　the　hotel。

〃Time　for　that　idiotic　sea　dip　of　mine。〃　He　spoke　againvery　quietly。　〃As　for　youdon't　be　too　enterprising。　We　don't　want　to　be　attending　your　funeral　next。　Remember　your　age；　and　be　careful。　There's　somebody　about　who　isn't　too　scrupulous；　remember？〃



Chapter　20

NIGHT　ALARM



Evening　came。　The　lights　came　up　on　the　terrace。　People　dined　and　talked　and　laughed；　albeit　less　loudly　and　merrily　than　they　had　a　day　or　two　ago。　The　steel　band　played。　But　the　dancing　ended　early。　People　yawned；　went　off　to　bed。　The　lights　went　out。　There　was　darkness　and　stillness。　The　Golden　Palm　Tree　slept。。。

〃Evelyn。　Evelyn！〃　The　whisper　came　sharp　and　urgent。

Evelyn　Hillingdon　stirred　and　turned　on　her　pillow。

〃Evelyn。　Please　wake　up。〃

Evelyn　Hillingdon　sat　up　abruptly。　Tim　Kendal　was　standing　in　the　doorway。　She　stared　at　him　in　surprise。

''Evelyn；　please；　could　you　e？　It'sMolly。　She's　ill。　I　don't　know　what's　the　matter　with　her。　I　think　she　must　have　taken　something。〃

Evelyn　was　quick；　decisive。

〃All　right；　Tim。　I'll　e。　You　go　back　to　her。　I'll　be　with　you　in　a　moment。〃

Tim　Kendal　disappeared。　Evelyn　slipped　out　of　bed；　threw　on　a　dressing　gown　and　looked　across　at　the　other　bed。　Her　husband；　it　seemed；　had　not　been　awakened。　He　lay　there；　his　head　turned　away；　breathing　quietly。　Evelyn　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　decided　not　to　disturb　him。　She　went　out　of　the　door　and　walked　rapidly　to　the　main　building　and　beyond　it　to　the　Kendals'　bungalow。　She　caught　up　with　Tim　in　the　doorway。

Molly　lay　in　bed。　Her　eyes　were　closed　and　her　breathing　was　clearly　not　natural。　Evelyn　bent　over　her；　rolled　up　an　eyelid；　felt　her　pulse　and　then　looked　at　the　bedside　table。　There　was　a　glass　there　which　had　been　used。　Beside　it　was　an　empty　phial　of　tablets。　She　picked　it　up。

〃They　were　her　sleeping　pills；〃　said　Tim；　〃but　that　bottle　was　half　full　yesterday　or　the　day　before。　I　think　she　must　have　taken　the　lot。〃

〃Go　and　get　Dr。　Graham；〃　said　Evelyn；　〃and　on　the　way　knock　them　up　and　tell　them　to　make　strong　coffee。　Strong　as　possible。　Hurry。〃

Tim　dashed　off。　Just　outside　the　doorway　he　collided　with　Edward　Hillingdon。

〃Oh；　sorry；　Edward。〃

〃What's　happening　here？〃　demanded　Hillingdon。　〃What's　going　on？〃

〃It's　Molly。　Evelyn's　with　her。　I　must　get　hold　of　the　doctor。　I　suppose　I　ought've　gone　to　him　first　but　II　wasn't　sure　and　I　thought　Evelyn　would　know。　Molly　would　have　hated　it　if　I'd　fetched　a　doctor　when　it　wasn't　necessary。〃

He　went　off；　running。　Edward　Hillingdon　looked　after　him　for　a　moment　and　then　he　walked　into　the　bedroom。

〃What's　happening？〃　he　said。　〃Is　it　serious？〃

〃Oh；　there　you　are；　Edward。　I　wondered　if　you'd　woken　up。　This　silly　child　has　been　taking　things。〃

〃Is　it　bad？〃

〃One　can't　tell　without　knowing　how　much　she's　taken。　I　shouldn't　think　it　was　too　bad　if　we　get　going　in　time。　I've　sent　for　coffee。　If　we　can　get　some　of　that　down　her〃

〃But　why　should　she　do　such　a　thing？　You　don't　think〃　He　stopped。

〃What　don't　I　think？〃　asked　Evelyn。

〃You　don't　think　it's　because　of　the　inquirythe　policeall　that？〃

〃It's　possible；　of　course。　That　sort　of　thing　could　be　very　alarming　to　a　nervous　type。〃

〃Molly　never　used　to　seem　a　nervous　type。〃

〃One　can't　really　tell；〃　said　Evelyn。　〃It's　the　most　unlikely　people　sometimes　who　lose　their　nerve。〃

〃Yes；　I　remember。。。〃　Again　he　stopped。

〃The　truth　is；〃　said　Evelyn；　〃that　one　doesn't　really　know　anything　about　anybody。〃　She　added；　〃Not　even　the　people　who　are　nearest　to　you。。。〃

〃Isn't　that　going　a　little　too　far；　Evelynexaggerating　too　much？〃

〃I　don't　think　it　is。　When　you　think　of　people；　it　is　in　the　image　you　have　made　of　them　for　yourself。〃

〃I　know　you；〃　said　Edward　Hillingdon　quietly。

〃You　think　you　do。〃

〃No。　I'm　sure。〃　He　added；　〃And　you're　sure　of　me。〃

Evelyn　looked　at　him　then　turned　back　to　the　bed。　She　took　Molly　by　the　shoulders　and　shook　her。

〃We　ought　to　be　doing　something；　but　I　suppose　it's　better　to　wait　until　Dr。　Graham　es。　Oh；　I　think　I　hear　them。〃



II



〃She'll　do　now。〃　Dr。　Graham　stepped　back；　wiped　his　forehead　with　a　handkerchief　and　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。

〃You　think　she'll　be　all　right；　sir？〃　Tim　demanded　anxiously。

〃Yes；　yes。　We　got　to　her　in　good　time。　Anyway；　she　probably　didn't　take　enough　to　kill　her。　A　couple　of　days　and　she'll　be　as　right　as　rain　but　she'll　have　a　rather　nasty　day　or　two　first。〃　He　picked　up　the　empty　bottle。　〃Who　gave　her　these　things　anyway？〃

〃A　doctor　in　New　York。　She　wasn't　sleeping　well。〃

〃Well；　well。　I　know　all　we　medicos　hand　these　things　out　freely　nowadays。　Nobody　tells　young　women　who　can't　sleep　to　count　sheep；　or　get　up　and　eat　a　biscuit；　or　write　a　couple　of　letters　and　then　go　back　to　bed。　Instant　remedies；　that's　what　people　demand　nowadays。　Sometimes　I　think　it's　a　pity　we　give　them　to　them。　You've　got　to　learn　to　put　up　with　things　in　life。　All　very　well　to　stuff　a　forter　into　a　baby's　mouth　to　stop　it　crying。　Can't　go　on　doing　that　all　a　person's　life。〃　He　gave　a　small　chuckle。　〃I　bet　you；　if　you　asked　Miss　Marple　what　she　does　if　she　can't　sleep；　she'd　tell　you　she　counted　sheep　going　under　a　gate。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　bed　where　Molly　was　stirring。　Her　eyes　were　open　now。　She　looked　at　them　without　interest　or　recognition。　Dr。　Graham　took　her　hand。

〃Well；　well；　my　dear；　and　what　have　you　been　doing　to　yourself？〃

She　blinked　but　did　not　reply。

〃Why　did　you　do　it；　Molly；　why？　Tell　me　why？〃　Tim　took　her　other　hand。

Still　her　eyes　did　not　move。　If　they　rested　on　anyone　it　was　on　Evelyn　Hillingdon。

There　might　have　been　even　a　faint　question　in　them　but　it　was　hard　to　tell。

Evelyn　spoke　as　though　there　had　been　the　question。

〃Tim　came　and　fetched　me；〃　she　said。

Her　eyes　went　to　Tim；　then　shifted　to　Dr。　Graham。

〃You're　going　to　be　all　right　now；〃　said　Dr。　Graham；　〃but　don't　do　it　again。〃

〃She　didn't　mean　to　do　it；〃　said　Tim　quietly。　〃I'm　sure　she　didn't　mean　to　do　it。　She　just　wanted　a　good　night's　rest。　Perhaps　the　pills　didn't　work　at　first　and　so　she　took　more　of　them。　Is　that　it；　Molly？〃

Her　head　moved　very　faintly　in　a　nega