page15 (1/2)

‘No, I know there isn’t a charge—but that s Oh, dear—I knew I should explain things badly What I really ins’

?

?Certainly,’ said Inspector Slack ‘Have you any ideas on the subject?’

‘Well, as a matter of fact, I have,’ said Miss Marple ‘May I ask you a question? Are fingerprints of no use to you?’

‘Ah,’ said Inspector Slack, ‘that’s where she was a bit too artful for us Did loves, it see in her bedrooerprint in the place!’

‘If you did have fingerprints, would it help?’

‘It ht, madam They may be known at the Yard This isn’t her first job, I’d say!’

Miss Marple nodded brightly She opened her bag and extracted a sed in cotton wool, was a small mirror

‘Fro,’ said Miss Marple ‘The maid’s prints are on it I think they should be satisfactory—she touched an extremely sticky substance a moment previously’

Inspector Slack stared ‘Did you get her fingerprints on purpose?’

‘Of course’

‘You suspected her then?’

‘Well, you know, it did strike ood to be true I practically told Miss Lavinia so But she simply wouldn’t take the hint! I’ons Most of us have our faults—and domestic service shows them up very quickly!’

‘Well,’ said Inspector Slack, recovering his balance, ‘I’ed to you, I’m sure We’ll send these up to the Yard and see what they have to say’

He stopped Miss Marple had put her head a little on one side and was regarding hi

‘You wouldn’t consider, I suppose, Inspector, looking a little nearer home?’

‘What do you mean, Miss Marple?’

‘It’s very difficult to explain, but when you coh, often, peculiar things , you know; I irl; she didn’t take that brooch Then why did Miss Skinner think she did? Miss Skinner’s not a fool; far froood servant when servants are hard to get? It was peculiar, you know So I wondered I wondered a good deal And I noticed another peculiar thing! Miss Emily’s a hypochondriac, but she’s the first hypochondriac who hasn’t sent for some doctor or other at once Hypochondriacs love doctors, Miss Emily didn’t!’

‘What are you suggesting, Miss Marple?’

‘Well, I’, you know, that Miss Lavinia and Miss Emily are peculiar people Miss Emily spends nearly all her ti I—I’ll eat my own back switch! And what I say is this—it’s perfectly possible for a thin, pale, grey-haired, whining woman to be the same as a black-haired, rosy-cheeked, plump woman And nobody that I can find ever saw Miss Eins at one and the same time

‘Plenty of tiet impressions of all the keys, plenty of tiet rid of the local girl Miss Eht and arrives at the station as Mary Higgins next day And then, at the right oes the hue and cry after her I’ll tell you where you’ll find her, Inspector On Miss Eerprints if you don’t believe ht! A couple of clever thieves, that’s what the Skinners are—and no doubt in league with a clever post and rails or fence or whatever you call it But they won’t get aith it this tiirls’ character for honesty taken away like that! Gladys Hol to know it! Good afternoon!’

Miss Marple had stalked out before Inspector Slack had recovered

‘Whew?’ he ht?’