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“It is always sad when a work of art has to be destroyed”
“You call this place a work of art?”
“Certainly I do So do you”
“I see what you mean,” admitted Father
“It is like when you get ground elder really badly in a border There’s nothing else you can about it—except dig the whole thing up”
“I don’t know e the ree”
They went up in the lift and along a passage to where Lady Sedgwick and her daughter had a corner suite
Chief-Inspector Davy knocked on the door, a voice said, “Come in,” and he entered with Miss Marple behind him
Bess Sedgas sitting in a high-backed chair near theShe had a book on her knee which she was not reading
“So it’s you again, Chief-Inspector” Her eyes went past hihtly surprised
“This is Miss Marple,” explained Chief-Inspector Davy “Miss Marple—Lady Sedgwick”
“I’ve wick “You ith Selina Hazy the other day, weren’t you? Do sit down,” she added Then she turned towards Chief-Inspector Davy again “Have you any news of the man who shot at Elvira?”
“Not actually what you’d call news”
“I doubt if you ever will have In a fog like that, predatory creatures co alone”
“True up to a point,” said Father “How is your daughter?”
“Oh, Elvira is quite all right again”
“You’ve got her here with you?”
“Yes I rang up Colonel Lusco to take charge” She gave a sudden laugh “Dear old boy He’s always been urging a hter reunion act!”
“He ht at that,” said Father
“Oh no, he isn’t Just at the ” She turned her head to look out of theand spoke in a changed voice “I hear you’ve arrested a friend of e?”
“Not arrested,” Chief-Inspector Davy corrected her “He’s just assisting us with our inquiries”
“I’ve sent my solicitor to look after him”
“Very wise,” said Father approvingly “Anyone who’s having a little difficulty with the police is very wise to have a solicitor Otherwise they ”
“Even if completely innocent?”
“Possibly it’s even more necessary in that case,” said Father
“You’re quite a cynic, aren’t you? What are you questioning him about, may I ask? Or mayn’t I?”
“For one thing we’d like to know just exactly what his ht when Michael Gorman died”
Bess Sedgwick sat up sharply in her chair
“Have you got some ridiculous idea that Ladislaus fired those shots at Elvira? They didn’t even know each other”
“He could have done it His car was just round the corner”
“Rubbish,” said Lady Sedgwick robustly
“How ht upset you, Lady Sedgwick?”
She looked faintly surprised
“Naturally I was upset when hter had a narrow escape of her life What do you expect?”
“I didn’t mean that I mean how much did the death of Michael Gorman upset you?”
“I was very sorry about it He was a brave man”
“Is that all?”
“What more would you expect me to say?”