IV

Mrs. Bantry arrived breathless and sat down with a gasp.

She said:

“I’ve been talking to chambermaids. But it isn’t any good. I haven’tfound out a thing more! Do you think that girl can really have been carry-ing on with someone without everybody in the hotel knowing all aboutit?”

“That’s a very interesting point, dear. I should say, definitely not. Some-body knows, depend upon it, if it’s true! But she must have been veryclever about it.”

Mrs. Bantry’s attention had strayed to the tennis court. She said approv-ingly:

“Addie’s tennis is coming on a lot. Attractive young man, that tennis pro.

Addie’s looking quite nice- looking. She’s still an attractive woman — Ishouldn’t be at all surprised if she married again.”

“She’ll be a rich woman, too, when Mr. Jefferson dies,” said Miss Marple.

“Oh, don’t always have such a nasty mind, Jane! Why haven’t you solvedthis mystery yet? We don’t seem to be getting on at all. I thought you’dknow at once.” Mrs. Bantry’s tone held reproach.

“No, no, dear. I didn’t know at once—not for some time.”

Mrs. Bantry turned startled and incredulous eyes on her.

“You mean you know now who killed Ruby Keene?”

“Oh yes,” said Miss Marple, “I know that!”

“But Jane, who is it? Tell me at once.”

Miss Marple shook her head very firmly and pursed up her lips.

“I’m sorry, Dolly, but that wouldn’t do at all.”

“Why wouldn’t it do?”

“Because you’re so indiscreet. You would go round telling everyone—or,if you didn’t tell, you’d hint.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t tell a soul.”

“People who use that phrase are always the last to live up to it. It’s nogood, dear. There’s a long way to go yet. A great many things that are quiteobscure. You remember when I was so against letting Mrs. Partridge col-lect for the Red Cross, and I couldn’t say why. The reason was that hernose had twitched in just the same way that that maid of mine, Alice,twitched her nose when I sent her out to pay the books. Always paid thema shilling or so short, and said ‘it could go on to the next week’s account,’

which, of course, was exactly what Mrs. Partridge did, only on a much lar-ger scale. Seventy-five pounds it was she embezzled.”

“Never mind Mrs. Partridge,” said Mrs. Bantry.

“But I had to explain to you. And if you care I’ll give you a hint. Thetrouble in this case is that everybody has been much too credulous and be-lieving. You simply cannot afford to believe everything that people tell you.

When there’s anything fishy about, I never believe anyone at all! You see, Iknow human nature so well.”

Mrs. Bantry was silent for a minute or two. Then she said in a differenttone of voice:

“I told you, didn’t I, that I didn’t see why I shouldn’t enjoy myself overthis case. A real murder in my own house! The sort of thing that will neverhappen again.”

“I hope not,” said Miss Marple.

“Well, so do I, really. Once is enough. But it’s my murder, Jane; I want toenjoy myself over it.”

Miss Marple shot a glance at her.

Mrs. Bantry said belligerently:

“Don’t you believe that?”

Miss Marple said sweetly:

“Of course, Dolly, if you tell me so.”

“Yes, but you never believe what people tell you, do you? You’ve justsaid so. Well, you’re quite right.” Mrs. Bantry’s voice took on a sudden bit-ter note. She said: “I’m not altogether a fool. You may think, Jane, that Idon’t know what they’re saying all over St. Mary Mead — all over thecounty! They’re saying, one and all, that there’s no smoke without fire,that if the girl was found in Arthur’s library, then Arthur must knowsomething about it. They’re saying that the girl was Arthur’s mistress—that she was his illegitimate daughter—that she was blackmailing him.

They’re saying anything that comes into their damned heads! And it willgo on like that! Arthur won’t realize it at first—he won’t know what’swrong. He’s such a dear old stupid that he’d never believe people wouldthink things like that about him. He’ll be cold-shouldered and looked ataskance (whatever that means!) and it will dawn on him little by little andsuddenly he’ll be horrified and cut to the soul, and he’ll fasten up like aclam and just endure, day after day, in misery.

“It’s because of all that’s going to happen to him that I’ve come here toferret out every single thing about it that I can! This murder’s got to besolved! If it isn’t, then Arthur’s whole life will be wrecked—and I won’thave that happen. I won’t! I won’t! I won’t!”

She paused for a minute and said:

“I won’t have the dear old boy go through hell for something he didn’tdo. That’s the only reason I came to Danemouth and left him alone athome—to find out the truth.”

“I know, dear,” said Miss Marple. “That’s why I’m here too.”