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Meals could be ordered through the telephone by asking for Room Service, or you could press the bell labelled Chambermaid

Miss Marple did the latter Talking to Room Service always flustered her

The result was excellent In no tihly satisfactory cha a striped lavender print dress and actually a cap, a freshly laundered cap A s, rosy, positively countrified face (Where did they find these people?)

Miss Marple ordered her breakfast Tea, poached eggs, fresh rolls So adept was the chae juice

Fivepotbellied teapot, crea Two beautifully poached eggs on toast, poached the proper way, not little round hard bullets shaped in tin cups, a good-sized round of butter stamped with a thistle Mar rolls, not the hard kind with papery interiors—they smelt of fresh bread (the most delicious smell in the world!) There was also an apple, a pear and a banana

Miss Marple inserted a knife gingerly but with confidence She was not disappointed Rich deep yellow yolk oozed out, thick and creas!

Everything’s piping hot A real breakfast She could have cooked it herself but she hadn’t had to! It was brought to her as if—no, not as though she were a queen—as though she were a ood but not unduly expensive hotel In fact—back to 1909 Miss Marple expressed appreciation to the cha,

“Oh, yes, Madam, the Chef is very particular about his breakfasts”

Miss Marple studied her appraisingly Bertram’s Hotel could certainly produce marvels A real housemaid She pinched her left arm surreptitiously

“Have you been here long?” she asked

“Just over three years, Madam”

“And before that?”

“I was in a hotel at Eastbourne Very modern and up-to-date—but I prefer an old-fashioned place like this”

Miss Marple took a sip of tea She found herself huotten song

“Oh where have you been all my life…”

The chahtly startled

“I was just reetically “Very popular at one time”

Again she sang softly “Oh where have you been all my life…”

“Perhaps you know it?” she asked

“Well—” The chaetic

“Too long ago for you,” said Miss Marple “Ah well, one gets to res—in a place like this”

“Yes, Madam, a lot of the ladies who stay here feel like that, I think”

“It’s partly why they come, I expect,” said Miss Marple

The chambermaid went out She was obviously used to old ladies ittered and reminisced

Miss Marple finished her breakfast, and got up in a pleasant leisurely fashion She had a plan ready- Not too much—to overtire herself Oxford Street today, perhaps And toe She planned ahead happily

It was about ten o’clock when she eloves, u—her s—

The door next but one on the corridor opened sharply and sowick She withdrew back into the room and closed the door sharply