伯特伦旅馆之谜33
时间：2026-01-04 08:03:20
（单词翻译:单击）
Chapter Twenty-five
I
Miss Marple got out of her train at Paddington and saw the burly figure of
Chief-Inspector Davy standing on the platform waiting for her.
He said, “Very good of you, Miss Marple,” put his hand under her elbow
and piloted her through the barrier to where a car was waiting. The driver
opened the door, Miss Marple got in, Chief-Inspector Davy followed her
and the car drove off.
“Where are you taking me, Chief-Inspector Davy?”
“To Bertram’s Hotel.”
“Dear me, Bertram’s Hotel again. Why?”
“The official reply is: because the police think you can assist them in
their inquiries.”
“That sounds familiar, but surely rather sinister? So often the prelude to
an arrest, is it not?”
“I am not going to arrest you, Miss Marple.” Father smiled. “You have an
alibi.”
Miss Marple digested this in silence. Then she said, “I see.”
They drove to Bertram’s Hotel in silence. Miss Gorringe looked up from
the desk as they entered, but Chief-Inspector Davy piloted Miss Marple to
the lift.
“Second floor.”
The lift ascended, stopped, and Father led the way along the corridor.
As he opened the door of No. 18 Miss Marple said:
“This is the same room I had when I was staying here before.”
“Yes,” said Father.
Miss Marple sat down in the armchair.
“A very comfortable room,” she observed, looking round with a slight
sigh.
“They certainly know what comfort is here,” Father agreed.
“You look tired, Chief-Inspector,” said Miss Marple unexpectedly.
“I’ve had to get around a bit. As a matter of fact I’ve just got back from
Ireland.”
“Indeed. From Ballygowlan?”
“Now how the devil did you know about Ballygowlan? I’m sorry—I beg
your pardon.”
Miss Marple smiled forgiveness.
“I suppose Michael Gorman happened to tell you he came from there—
was that it?”
“No, not exactly,” said Miss Marple.
“Then how, if you’ll excuse me asking you, did you know?”
“Oh dear,” said Miss Marple, “it’s really very embarrassing. It was just
something I—happened to overhear.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. It was in a public room—at least technically a
public room. Quite frankly, I enjoy listening to people talking. One does.
Especially when one is old and doesn’t get about very much. I mean, if
people are talking near you, you listen.”
“Well, that seems to me quite natural,” said Father.
“Up to a point, yes,” said Miss Marple. “If people do not choose to lower
their voices, one must assume that they are prepared to be overheard. But
of course matters may develop. The situation sometimes arises when you
realize that though it is a public room, other people talking do not realize
that there is anyone else in it. And then one has to decide what to do about
it. Get up and cough, or just stay quite quiet and hope they won’t realize
you’ve been there. Either way is embarrassing.”
Chief-Inspector Davy glanced at his watch.
“Look here,” he said, “I want to hear more about this — but I’ve got
Canon Pennyfather arriving at any moment. I must go and collect him.
You don’t mind?”
Miss Marple said she didn’t mind. Chief-Inspector Davy left the room.
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