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“Oh yes Yes, of course,” said Mr Humfries “The matter of Canon Pennyfather, I suppose? Most extraordinary business I hope nothing’s happened to him, poor old chap”

“So do I,” said Miss Gorringe “Such a dear old man”

“One of the old school,” said Mr Huly

“You seem to have quite a lot of the old school here,” observed Chief-Inspector Davy

“I suppose we do, I suppose we do,” said Mr Humfries “Yes, in many e are quite a survival”

“We have our regulars you know,” said Miss Gorringe She spoke proudly “The same people come back year after year We have a lot of Aton Very quiet, nice people”

“They like our English at his very white teeth in a smile

Father looked at hihtfully Inspector Campbell said,

“You’re quite sure that no ht have been taken by soot to write it down or to pass it on”

“Telephone es are always taken down e with ice in her voice “I cannot conceive it possible that a e would not have been passed on to me or to the appropriate person on duty”

She glared at him

Inspector Campbell looked momentarily taken aback

“We’ve really answered all these questions before, you know,” said Mr Huave all the inforeant—I can’t remember his name for the moment”

Father stirred a little and said, in a kind of homely way,

“Well you see, things have begun to look rather more serious It looks like a bit more than absent if we could have a word or tith those two people you mentioned—General Radley and Miss Marple”

“You want e an intervieith them?” Mr Humfries looked rather unhappy “General Radley’s very deaf”

“I don’t think it will be necessary to make it too formal,” said Chief-Inspector Davy “We don’t want to worry people You can leave it quite safely to us Just point out those two you mentioned There is just a chance, you know, that Canon Pennyfather oing towith hi”

Mr Humfries looked somewhat relieved

“Nothing more we can do for you?” he asked “I’m sure you understand that ish to help you in every way, only you do understand hoe feel about any Press publicity”

“Quite,” said Inspector Campbell

“And I’ll just have a ith the chambermaid,” said Father

“Certainly, if you like I doubt very ”

“Probably not But there ht be some detail—some remark the Canon made about a letter or an appointment One never knows”

Mr Hulanced at his watch

“She’ll be on duty at six,” he said “Second floor Perhaps, in the meantime, you’d care for tea?”

“Suits me,” said Father promptly

They left the office together

Miss Gorringe said, “General Radley will be in the se on the left He’ll be in front of the fire there with The Tiht be asleep You’re sure you don’t want me to—”

“No, no, I’ll see to it,” said Father “And what about the other one—the old lady?”

“She’s sitting over there, by the fireplace,” said Miss Gorringe

“The one hite fluffy hair and the knitting?” said Father, taking a look “Might alreat-aunt”

“Great-aunts aren’t randrandmothers, if it comes to that We had the Marchioness of Barlowe in yesterday She’s a great-grandmother Honestly, I didn’t know her when she came in Just back from Paris Her face a mask of pink and white and her hair platinuure, but it looked wonderful”

“Ah,” said Father, “I prefer the old-fashioned kind myself Well, thank you, ma’am” He turned to Caot an important appointment”

“That’s right,” said Ca ”

Mr Hu as he did so:

“Miss Gorringe—just a moment, please”

Miss Gorringe followed him in and shut the door behind her

Hu up and down He demanded sharply:

“What do they want to see Rose for? Wadell asked all the necessary questions”

“I suppose it’s just routine,” said Miss Gorringe, doubtfully