Three Blind Mice and Other Stories Part 10

"Iknow.LikeTreasureIsland.Butourproblemlackstheusualromantictouches.Nopointonachartindicatedbyaskullandcrossbones,nodirectionslike'fourpacestotheleft,westbynorth.'It'shorriblyprosaic-justwhereweoughttodig."

"Haveyoutriedatall?"

"Ishouldsaywe'ddugabouttwosolidacres!Thewholeplaceisreadytobeturnedintoamarketgarden.We'rejustdiscussingwhethertogrowvegetablemarrowsorpotatoes."

Charmiansaid,ratherabruptly,"Maywereallytellyouallabout.i.t?"

"But,ofcourse,mydear."

"Thenlet'sfindapeacefulspot.Comeon,Edward."Sheledthewayoutoftheovercrowdedandsmoke-ladenroom,andtheywentupthestairs,toasmallsitting-roomonthesecondfloor.

Whentheywereseated,Charmianbeganabruptly."Well,heregoes!ThestorystartswithUncleMathew,uncle-orrather,great-great-uncle-tobothofus.Hewasincrediblyancient.EdwardandIwerehisonlyrelations.Hewasfondofusandalwaysdeclaredthatwhenhediedhewouldleavehismoneybetweenus.Well,hediedlastMarchandlefteverythinghehadtobedividedequallybetweenEdwardandmyself.WhatI'vejustsaidsoundsrathercallous-Idon'tmeanthat.i.twasrightthathedied-actuallywewereveryfondofhim.Buthe'dbeenillforsometime.

"Thepointisthatthe'everything'heleftturnedouttobepracticallynothingatall.Andthat,frankly,wasabitofablowtousboth,wasn't.i.t,Edward?"

TheamiableEdwardagreed."Yousee,"hesaid,"we'dcountedonitabit.Imean,whenyouknowagoodbitofmoneyiscomingtoyou,youdon't-well-buckledownandtrytomakeityourself.I'mintheArmy-notgotanythingtospeakofoutsidemypay-andCharmianherselfhasn'tgotabean.Sheworksasastagemanagerinarepertorytheater-quiteinterestingandsheenjoysit-butnomoneyinit.We'dcountedongettingmarriedbutweren'tworriedaboutthemoneysideofitbecausewebothknewwe'dbejollywelloffsomeday."

"Andnow,yousee,we'renot!"saidCharmian."What'smore,Ansteys-that'sthefamilyplace,andEdwardandIbothloveit-willprobablyhavetobesold.AndEdwardandIfeelwejustcan'tbearthat!Butifwedon'tfindUncleMathew'smoney,weshallhavetosell."

Edwardsaid,"Youknow,Charmian,westillhaven'tcometothevitalpoint."

"Well,youtalkthen."

EdwardturnedtoMissMarple."It'slikethis,yousee.AsUncleMathewgrewolder,hegotmoreandmoresuspicious.Hedidn'ttrustanybody."

"Verywiseofhim,"saidMissMarple."Thedepravityofhumannatureisunbelievable."

"Well,youmayberight.Anyway,UncleMathewthoughtso.Hehadafriendwholosthismoneyinabankandanotherfriendwhowasruinedbyanabscondingsolicitor,andhelostsomemoneyhimselfinafraudulentcompany.Hegotsothatheusedtoholdforthatgreatlengththattheonlysafeandsanethingtodowastoconvertyourmoneyintosolidbullionandburyit."

"Ah,"saidMissMarple."Ibegintosee."

"Yes.Friendsarguedwithhim,pointedoutthathe'dgetnointerestthatway,butheheldthatthatdidn'treallymatter.Thebulkofyourmoney,hesaid,shouldbe'keptinaboxunderthebedorburiedinthegarden.'Thosewerehiswords."

Charmianwenton:"Andwhenhedied,helefthardlyanythingatallinsecurities,thoughhewasveryrich.Sowethinkthatthat'swhathemusthavedone."

Edwardexplained:"Wefoundthathehadsoldsecuritiesanddrawnoutlargesumsofmoneyfromtimetotime,andn.o.bodyknowswhathedidwiththem.But.i.tseemsprobablethatheliveduptohisprinciplesandthathedidbuygoldandburyit."

"Hedidn'tsayanythingbeforehedied?Leaveanypaper?Noletter?"

"That'sthemaddeningpartofit.Hedidn't.He'dbeenunconsciousforsomedays,butheralliedbeforehedied.Helookedatusbothandchuckled-afaint,weaklittlechuckle.Hesaid,'You'llbeallright,myprettypairofdoves.'Andthenhetappedhiseye-hisrighteye-andwinkedatus.Andthen-hedied.PooroldUncleMathew."

"Hetappedhiseye,"saidMissMarplethoughtfully.

Edwardsaideagerly,"Doesthatconveyanythingtoyou?Itmademethinkofana.r.s.eneLupinstorywheretherewa.s.somethinghiddeninaman'sgla.s.seye.ButUncleMathewdidn'thaveagla.s.seye."

MissMarpleshookherhead."No,Ican'tthinkofanythingatthemoment."

Charmiansaid,disappointedly,"Janetoldusyou'dsayatoncewheretodig!"

MissMarplesmiled."I'mnotquiteaconjurer,youknow.Ididn'tknowyouruncle,orwhatsortofmanhewas,andIdon'tknowthehouseorthegrounds."

Charmiansaid,"Ifyoudidknowthem?"

"Well,itmustbequitesimplereally,mustn't.i.t?"saidMissMarple.

"Simple!"saidCharmian."YoucomedowntoAnsteysandseeifit'ssimple!"

Itispossiblethatshedidnotmeantheinvitationtobetakenseriously,butMissMarplesaidbriskly,"Well,really,mydear,that'sverykindofyou.I'vealwayswantedtohavethechanceoflookingforburiedtreasure.And,"sheadded,lookingatthemwithabeaming,late-Victoriansmile,"withaloveinteresttoo!"

"Yousee!"saidCharmian,gesturingdramatically.

TheyhadjustcompletedagrandtourofAnsteys.Theyhadbeenroundthekitchengarden-heavilytrenched.Theyhadbeenthroughthelittlewoods,whereeveryimportanttreehadbeenduground,andhadgazedsadlyonthepittedsurfaceoftheoncesmoothlawn.Theyhadbeenuptotheattic,whereoldtrunksandchestshadbeenrifledoftheircontents.Theyhadbeendowntothecellars,whereflagstoneshadbeenheavedunwillinglyfromtheirsockets.Theyhadmeasuredandtappedwalls,andMissMarplehadbeenshowneveryantiquepieceoffurniturethatcontainedorcouldbesuspectedofcontainingasecretdrawer.

Onatableinthemorningroomtherewasaheapofpapers-allthepapersthatthelateMathewStroudhadleft.Notonehadbeendestroyed,andCharmianandEdwardwerewonttoreturntothemagainandagain,earnestlyperusingbills,invitations,andbusinesscorrespondenceinthehopeofspottingahithertounnoticedclue.

"Canyouthinkofanywherewehaven'tlooked?"demandedCharmianhopefully.

MissMarpleshookherhead."Youseemtohavebeenverythorough,mydear.Perhaps,ifImaysayso,justalittletoothorough.Ialwaysthink,youknow,thatoneshouldhaveaplan.It'slikemyfriend,MrsEldritch;shehadsuchanicelittlemaid,polishedlinoleumbeautifully,butshewa.s.sothoroughthatshepolishedthebathroomfloorstoomuch,andasMrsEldritchwa.s.steppingoutofthebaththecorkmatslippedfromunderherandshehadaverynastyfallandactuallybrokeherleg!Mostawkward,becausethebathroomdoorwaslocked,ofcourse,andthegardenerhadtogetaladderandcomeinthroughthewindow-terriblydistressingtoMrsEldritch,whohadalwaysbeenaverymodestwoman."

Edwardmovedrestlessly.

MissMarplesaidquickly,"Pleaseforgiveme.Soapt,Iknow,toflyoffatatangent.Butonethingdoesremindoneofanother.Andsometimesthatishelpful.AllIwastryingtosaywasthatperhapsifwetriedtosharpenourwitsandthinkofalikelyplace-"

Edwardsaidcrossly,"Youthinkofone,MissMarple.Charmian'sbrainsandminearenowonlybeautifulblanks!"

"Dear,dear.Ofcourse-mosttiringforyou.Ifyoudon'tmindI'lljustlookthroughallthis."Sheindicatedthepapersonthetable."Thatis,ifthere'snothingprivate-Idon'twanttoappeartopry."

"Oh,that'sallright.ButI'mafraidyouwon'tfindanything."

Shesatdownbythetableandmethodicallyworkedthroughth.e.s.h.eafofdoc.u.ments.a.s.shereplacedeachone,shesortedthemautomaticallyintotidylittleheaps.Whenshehadfinishedshesatstaringinfrontofherforsomeminutes.

Edwardasked,notwithoutatouchofmalice,"Well,MissMarple?"

Shecametoherselfwithalittlestart."Ibegyourpardon.Mosthelpful."

"You'vefoundsomethingrelevant?"

"Ohno,nothinglikethat,butIdobelieveIknowwhatsortofmanyourUncleMathewwas.RatherlikemyownUncleHenry,Ithink.Fondofratherobviousjokes.Abachelor,evidently-Iwonderwhy-perhapsanearlydisappointment?Methodicaluptoapoint,butnotveryfondofbeingtiedup-sofewbachelorsare!"

BehindMissMarple'sbackCharmianmadeasigntoEdward.Itsaid,"She'sga-ga."

MissMarplewascontinuinghappilytotalkofherdeceasedUncleHenry."Veryfondofpuns,hewas.Andtosomepeoplepunsaremostannoying.Amereplayuponwordsmaybeveryirritating.Hewasasuspiciousmantoo.Alwayswasconvincedtheservantswererobbinghim.Andsometimes,ofcourse,theywere,butnotalways.Itgrewuponhim,poorman.Towardtheendhesuspectedthemoftamperingwithhisfoodandfinallyrefusedtoeatanythingbutboiledeggs!DearUncleHenry,heusedtobesuchamerrysoulatonetime-veryfondofhiscoffeeafterdinner.Healwaysusedtosay,'ThiscoffeeisveryMoorish,'meaning,youknow,thathe'dlikealittlemore."

EdwardfeltthatifheheardanymoreaboutUncleHenryhe'dgomad.

"Fondofyoungpeople,too,"wentonMissMarple,"butinclinedtoteasethemalittle,ifyouknowwhatImean.Usedtoputbagsofsweetswhereachildjustcouldn'treachthem."

Castingpolitenessaside,Charmiansaid,"Ithinkhesoundshorrible!"

"Ohno,dear,justanoldbachelor,youknow,andnotusedtochildren.Andhewasn'tatallstupid,really.Heusedtokeepagooddealofmoneyinthehouse,andhehadasafeputin.Madeagreatfussabout.i.t-andhowverysecureitwas.Asaresultofhistalkingsomuch,burglarsbrokeinonenightandactuallycutaholeinthesafewithachemicaldevice."

"Servedhimright,"saidEdward.

"Oh,b.u.t.therewasnothinginthesafe,"saidMissMarple."Yousee,hereallykeptthemoneysomewhereelse-behindsomevolumesofsermonsinthelibrary,asamatteroffact.Hesaidpeoplenevertookabookofthatkindoutofth.e.s.h.elf"

Edwardinterruptedexcitedly,"Isay,that'sanidea.Whataboutthelibrary?"

ButCharmianshookascornfulhead.

"DoyouthinkIhadn'tthoughtofthat?IwentthroughallthebooksTuesdayoflastweekwhenyouwentofftoPortsmouth.Tookthemallout,shookthem.Nothingthere."

Edwardsighed.Then,rousinghimself,heendeavouredtoridhimselftactfullyoftheirdisappointingguest."It'sbeenawfullygoodofyoutocomedownasyouhaveandtrytohelpus.Sorryit'sbeenallawashout.Feelwetrespa.s.sedalotonyourtime.However-I'llgetthecaroutandyou'llbeabletocatchthethree-thirty-"

"Oh,"saidMissMarple,"butwe'vegottofindthemoney,haven'twe?Youmustn'tgiveup,MrRossiter.'Ifatfirstyoudon'tsucceed,try,try,tryagain.'"

"Youmeanyou'regoingtogoontrying?"

"Strictlyspeaking,"saidMissMarple,"Ihaven'tbegunyet.'Firstcatchyourhare,'asMrsBeetonsaysinhercookerybook-awonderfulbookb.u.t.terriblyexpensive;mostoftherecipesbegin,'Takeaquartofcreamandadozeneggs.'Letmesee,wherewasI?Ohyes.Well,wehave,sotospeak,caughtourhare-theharebeing,ofcourse,yourUncleMathew,andwe'veonlygottodecidenowwherehewouldhavehiddenthemoney.Itoughttobequitesimple."

"Simple?"demandedCharmian.

"Ohyes,dear.I'msurehewouldhavedonetheobviousthing.Asecretdrawer-that'smysolution."

Edwardsaiddryly,"Youcouldn'tputbarsofgoldinasecretdrawer."

"No,no,ofcoursenot.b.u.t.there'snoreasontobelievethemoneyisingold."

"Healwaysusedtosay-"

"SodidmyUncleHenryabouthissafe!SoIshouldstronglysuspectthatthatwasjustasimpleblind.Diamonds,nowtheycouldbeinasecretdrawerquiteeasily."

"Butwe'velookedinallthesecretdrawers.Wehadacabinetmakerovertoexaminethefurniture."

"Didyou,dear?Thatwascleverofyou.Ishouldsuggestyouruncle'sowndeskwouldbethemostlikely.Wasitthetallescritoireagainstthewallthere?"

"Yes.AndI'llshowyou."Charmianwentovertoit.Shetookdowntheflap.Insidewerepigeonholesandlittledrawers.Sheopenedasmalldoorinthecenterandtouchedaspringinsidetheleft-handdrawer.Thebottomofthecenterrecessclickedandslidforward.Charmiandrewitout,revealingashallowwellbeneath.Itwasempty.

"Nowisn'tthatacoincidence,"exclaimedMissMarple."UncleHenryhadadeskjustlikethisone,onlyhiswasburrwalnutandthisismahogany."

"Atanyrate,"saidCharmian,"there'snothingthere,asyoucansee."

"Iexpect,"saidMissMarple,"yourcabinetmakerwasayoungman.Hedidn'tknoweverything.Peoplewereveryartfulwhentheymadehidingplacesinthosedays.There'ssuchathingasasecretinsideasecret."

Sheextractedahairpinfromherneatbunofgreyhair.Straighteningitout,shestuckthepointintowhatappearedtobeatinywormholeinonesideofthesecretrecess.Withalittledifficultyshepulledoutasmalldrawer.Initwasabundleoffadedlettersandafoldedpaper.

EdwardandCharmianpouncedonthefindtogether.WithtremblingfingersEdwardunfoldedthepaper.Hedroppeditwithanexclamationofdisgust.

"Acookeryrecipe.Bakedham!"

Charmianwasuntyingaribbonthatheldtheletterstogether.Shedrewoneoutandglancedat.i.t."Loveletters!"

MissMarplereactedwithVictoriangusto."Howinteresting!Perhapsthereasonyourunclenevermarried."

Charmianreadaloud: "MyeverdearMathew, ImustconfessthatthetimeseemslongindeedsinceIreceivedyourlastletter.Itrytooccupymyselfwiththevarioustasksallottedtome,andoftensaytomyselfthatIamindeedfortunatetoseeasmuchoftheglobe,thoughlittledidIthinkwhenIwenttoAmericathatIshouldvoyageofftothesefarislands!"

Charmianbrokeoff."Whereisitfrom?Oh,Hawaii!"

Shewenton: "Alas,thesenativesarestillfarfromseeingthelight.Theyareinanunclothedandsavagestateandspendmostoftheirtimeswimminganddancing,adorningthemselveswithgarlandsofflowers.MrGrayhasmadesomecoversbut.i.tisup-hillworkandheandMrsGraygetsadlydiscouraged.ItrytodoallIcantocheerandencouragehim,butI,too,amoftensadforareasonyoucanguess,dearMathew.Alas,absenceisaseveretrialtoalovingheart.Yourrenewedvowsandprotestationsofaffectioncheeredmegreatly.Nowandalwaysyouhavemyfaithfulanddevotedheart,dearMathew,andIremain- Yourtruelove, BettyMartin"

P.S.-Iaddressmyletterundercovertoourmutualfriend,MatildaGraves,asusual.IhopeHeavenwillpardonthislittlesubterfuge."

Edwardwhistled."Afemalemissionary!SothatwasUncleMathew'sromance.Iwonderwhytheynevermarried?"

"Sheseemstohavegoneallovertheworld,"saidCharmian,lookingthroughtheletters."Mauritius-allsortsofplaces.Probablydiedofyellowfeverorsomething."

Agentlechucklemadethemstart.MissMarplewasapparentlymuchamused."Well,well,"shesaid."Fancythat,now!"

Shewasreadingtherecipeforbakedham.Seeingtheirinquiringglances,shereadout:"'BakedHamwithSpinach.Takeanicepieceofgammon,stuffwithclovesandcoverwithbrownsugar.Bakeinaslowoven.Servewithaborderofpureedspinach.'"

"Whatdoyouthinkofthatnow?"

"Ithinkitsoundsfilthy,"saidEdward.

"No,no,actuallyitwouldbeverygood-butwhatdoyouthinkofthewholething?"

AsuddenrayoflightilluminatedEdward'sface."Doyouthinkit'sacode-cryptogramofsomekind?"Heseizedit."Lookhere,Charmian,itmightbe,youknow!Noreasontoputacookingrecipeinasecretdrawerotherwise."

"Exactly,"saidMissMarple."Very,verysignificant."

Charmiansaid,"Iknowwhat.i.tmightbe-invisibleink!Let'sheat.i.t.Turnontheelectricfire."

Edwarddidso.Butnosignsofwritingappearedunderthetreatment.

MissMarplecoughed."Ireallythink,youknow,thatyou'remakingitrathertoodifficult.Therecipeisonlyanindication,sotospeak.Itis,Ithink,thelettersthataresignificant."

"Theletters?"

"Especially,"saidMissMaple,"thesignature."

ButEdwardhardlyheardher.Hecalledexcitedly,"Charmian!Comehere!She'sright.See-theenvelopesareoldrightenough,b.u.t.thelettersthemselveswerewrittenmuchlater."

"Exactly,"saidMissMarple.

"They'reonlyfakeold.IbetanythingoldUncleMatfakedthemhimself"

"Precisely,"saidMissMarple.

"Thewholething'sasell.Thereneverwasafemalemissionary.Itmustbeacode."