Christie, Agatha - They Do It With Mirrors by Christie Agatha

Author:Christie, Agatha [Christie, Agatha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2011-11-22T23:00:00+00:00

Twelve

1

Lewis Serrocold went away and Inspector Curry sat down and gave Miss Marple a rather peculiar smile.

“So Mr. Serrocold has been asking you to act as watchdog,” he said.

“Well, yes,” she added apologetically. “I hope you don’t mind—”

“I don’t mind. I think it’s a very good idea. Does Mr. Serrocold know just how well qualified you are for the post?”

“I don’t quite understand, Inspector.”

“I see. He thinks you’re just a very nice, elderly lady who was at school with his wife.” He shook his head at her. “We know you’re a bit more than that, Miss Marple, aren’t you? Crime is right down your street. Mr. Serrocold only knows one aspect of crime—the promising beginners. Makes me a bit sick, sometimes. Daresay I’m wrong and old-fashioned. But there are plenty of good decent lads about, lads who could do with a start in life. But there, honesty has to be its own reward—millionaires don’t leave trust funds to help the worthwhile. Well—well, don’t pay any attention to me. I’m old-fashioned. I’ve seen boys—and girls—with everything against them, bad homes, bad luck, every disadvantage, and they’ve had the grit to win through. That’s the kind I shall leave my packet to, if I ever have one. But then, of course, that’s what I never shall have. Just my pension and a nice bit of garden.”

He nodded his head at Miss Marple.

“Superintendent Blacker told me about you last night. Said you’d had a lot of experience of the seamy side of human nature. Well now, let’s have your point of view. Who’s the nigger in the woodpile? The G.I. husband?”

“That,” said Miss Marple, “would be very convenient for everybody.”

Inspector Curry smiled softly to himself.

“A G.I. pinched my best girl,” he said reminiscently. “Naturally, I’m prejudiced. His manner doesn’t help. Let’s have the amateur point of view. Who’s been secretly and systematically poisoning Mrs. Serrocold?”

“Well,” said Miss Marple judicially, “one is always inclined, human nature being what it is, to think of the husband. Or if it’s the other way round, the wife. That’s the first assumption, don’t you think, in a poisoning case?”

“I agree with you every time,” said Inspector Curry.

“But really—in this case—” Miss Marple shook her head. “No, frankly—I cannot seriously consider Mr. Serrocold. Because you see, Inspector, he really is devoted to his wife. Naturally he would make a parade of being so—but it isn’t a parade. It’s very quiet, but it’s genuine. He loves his wife, and I’m quite certain he wouldn’t poison her.”

“To say nothing of the fact that he wouldn’t have any motive for doing so. She’s made over her money to him already.”

“Of course,” said Miss Marple primly, “there are other reasons for a gentleman wanting his wife out of the way. An attachment to a young woman, for instance. But I really don’t see any signs of it in this case. Mr. Serrocold does not act as though he had any romantic preoccupation. I’m really afraid,” she sounded quite regretful about it, “we shall have to wash him out.

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