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‘Now isn’t that a coincidence?’ exclaimed Miss Marple ‘Uncle Henry had a desk just like this, only his was burr walnut and this is any’

‘At any rate,’ said Char there, as you can see’

‘I expect,’ said Miss Marple, ‘your cabinet People were very artful when theyas a secret inside a secret’

She extracted a hairpin fro it out, she stuck the point into what appeared to be a tiny wormhole in one side of the secret recess With a little difficulty she pulled out a small drawer In it was a bundle of faded letters and a folded paper

Edward and Charers Edward unfolded the paper He dropped it with an exclaust

‘A damned cookery recipe Baked ham!’

Charether She drew one out and glanced at it ‘Love letters!’

Miss Marple reacted with Victorian gusto ‘How interesting! Perhaps the reason your uncle never married’

Charmian read aloud:

‘ “My ever dear Mathew, Iindeed since I received your last letter I try to occupy myself with the various tasks allotted to me, and often say to lobe, though little did I think when I went to Ae off to these far islands!” ’

Charmain broke off ‘Where is it from? Oh! Hawaii!’ She went on:

‘ “Alas, these natives are still far froe state and spendthearlands of flowers Mr Gray has made soet sadly discouraged I try to do all I can to cheer and encourage hiuess, dear Mathew Alas, absence is a severe trial for a loving heart Your renewed vows and protestations of affection cheered reatly Now and always you have my faithful and devoted heart, dear Mathew, and I remain—Your true love, Betty Martin

‘ “PS—I address my letter under cover to our mutual friend, Matilda Graves, as usual I hope heaven will pardon this little subterfuge” ’

Edhistled ‘A female missionary! So that was Uncle Mathew’s romance I wonder why they never married?’

‘She see through the letters ‘Mauritius—all sorts of places Probably died of yellow fever or so’

A gentle chuckle made them start Miss Marple was apparently much amused ‘Well, well,’ she said ‘Fancy that, now!’

She was reading the recipe for baked halances, she read out: ‘ “Baked haaar Bake in a slow oven Serve with a border of pureed spinach” What do you think of that, now?’

‘I think it sounds filthy,’ said Edward

‘No, no, actually it would be very good—but what do you think of the whole thing?’

A sudden ray of light illuraht be, you know! No reason to put a cooking-recipe in a secret drawer otherwise’

‘Exactly,’ said Miss Marple ‘Very, very significant’

Charht be—invisible ink! Let’s heat it Turn on the electric fire’

Edward did so, but no signs of writing appeared under the treatment

Miss Marple coughed ‘I really think, you know, that you’reit rather too difficult The recipe is only an indication, so to speak It is, I think, the letters that are significant’

‘The letters?’

‘Especially,’ said Miss Marple, ‘the signature’

But Edward hardly heard her He called excitedly, ‘Charht enough, but the letters themselves ritten much later’

‘Exactly,’ said Miss Marple

‘They’re only fake old I bet anything old Uncle Mat faked them himself—’