Chapter 6 Chapter Six

The lights on the screen came on.Advertisements flashed across the screen.Ushers in movie theaters walk around with cases of lemonade and ice cream.Arthur.Cagli watched them closely.One was a plump girl with brunette hair, one was a tall, dark-skinned person, and there was a little blond-haired person who was the one he had come to see, Jack's wife.Jack's widow is now Joey.Craig's man's wife.It was a pretty, somewhat dull little face, with makeup on, brows furrowed, and hair horribly stiff with a cheap perm.Arthur.Cagli bought her a box of ice cream.He had her home address and was going to visit, but he wanted to meet her before she knew him.Well, that's it.In all respects she was not a daughter-in-law Mrs Argyle would have liked very much.No doubt this was why Jack kept her from the public.

He sighed, carefully hid the ice cream under the seat, and leaned back in the chair, when the lights went out and the movie started playing.He immediately stood up and left the cinema. At eleven o'clock the next morning, he called on the address given to him.A sixteen-year-old boy opened the door and answered Cagli's inquiry: The Craigs?top floor. Cagli climbed the stairs.He knocked on a door, Maureen.Craig opened the door.With the uniform and makeup removed, she looks like a different girl.A silly little face, kind but not particularly interesting.She looked at him, frowning suspiciously.

My name is Cagli.I believe you have received a letter from Mr. Marshall concerning me. Her face brightened. Oh, it turned out to be you!Come in, come in.She stepped back to let him in.Sorry for the mess this place is.I haven't had time to sort it out yet.She swept loose laundry off a chair and pushed aside the leftovers from her previous breakfast.please sit down.It's good of you to come. This is the least I can do.Cagli said. She smiled awkwardly, as if she didn't quite understand what he meant. Mr. Marshall wrote to me, she said.The story Jack made up turned out to be true.Someone gave him a lift to Cheymouth that night.So that person is you, isn't it?

Yes, Cagli said.it's me. I really haven't recovered yet, Maureen said.Been talking about it for half the night, Joey and me.Really, I said, probably what happened on film.Two years, isn't it, or nearly? Almost, yes. It's the kind of thing that you actually see in the movies, and of course, you say to yourself, that's all bullshit and doesn't happen in real life.And now it's happening!It really happened!Really exciting, isn't it? I think, Cagli said, it's possible to think that way. He looked at her with a vague pain. She went on chatting happily. Poor Jack died and had no way of knowing about it.He got pneumonia, you know, in jail.I think it's moisture effect or something, don't you think?

Cagli knew she had a romantic image of prison in her mind.A dank dungeon with rats biting people's toes. At the time, I'd say, she went on, it seemed like the best thing for him to die. Yes, probably yes, I think it must be. Uh, I mean, he was there, locked up year after year.Joey said I'd better get a divorce, and I was planning to. You wanted to divorce him then? Oh, it doesn't do any good to be chained up by a man who's been in prison for years, isn't it?Besides, you know, while I like Jack and all, he's not what you call steady; I never really thought our marriage would last.

Did you actually start the divorce process when he died? Oh, so to speak.I mean, I went to see a lawyer.Joey sent me: Of course, Joey has never been able to stand Jack. Joey is your husband? Yes.He does electrical stuff.Has a great job and they think highly of him.He always told me Jack was no good, but of course I was just a kid, silly.Jack has a way, you know. From what I've heard of him, that seems to be the case. He's so good at cheating women I don't know why, really.He wasn't good looking or anything, monkey face, I used to call him that.But he still has a set.You will find that you will do whatever he asks you to do.You know, this set was very useful at one time.Right after we got married, he got in trouble for a customer's car at the car factory where he worked.I don't understand what's going on.Anyway, the boss is very angry.But Jack lied to the boss's wife.Very old, she.Must be close to fifty, but Jack sucks up to her and makes her spin around until she's dazed and doesn't know whether she's headed or feet on the ground.She would do anything for him anyway.She tricked her husband into promising him that if Jack lost money he would not be brought to justice.But he never knew where the money came from, it was from his own wife!That really made us laugh, Jack and me!

Cagli looked at her with mild disgust. Is that so funny? Oh, I guess it's funny, don't you think?Really, it's ridiculous.Such an old woman who was crazy about Jack, and took out her savings for him. Cagli sighed.Things never turn out the way you imagine, he thought.Day by day, he discovered that this man, whom he had spent so much time trying to clear his name, was becoming less and less likable to him.He has gradually been able to understand and understand some of the reactions that shocked him in Yangjiao. Mrs. Craig, I'm only here, he said, to see what I can, uh, do for you, to make up for what has happened.

Maureen.Craig was slightly puzzled. You are very kind, I believe, she said, but why should you?We are all fine, Joey is making money and I have a job myself.I'm a usher, you know, in a movie theater. Yes I know. We are going to buy a TV next month.The girl continued proudly. I'm glad, Arthur."I'm happier than I can express it," said Cagli, that this, this unfortunate past, has left no, er, permanent shadow. He was finding it harder and harder to pick the right words to speak to the girl Jack had once married.Anything he said sounded pompous and contrived.Why couldn't he speak to her naturally?

I am afraid it is a great sorrow to you. She stared at him wide-eyed, her wide blue eyeballs ignoring what he meant. It was scary at the time, she said, with neighbors chattering and worrying and all that, but I have to say the police were very lenient, in every sense of the word.They spoke very politely to me and said everything politely. He doubted whether she had any affection for the dead man.He asked her a question abruptly. Do you think he did it?He said. You mean, I think he killed his mother? Yes.Exactly. Uh, of course, uh, uh yeah, I guess I think so.Of course, he said he didn't, but I mean you'd never believe anything Jack said when it looked like it was him.You know, he can get very violent, Jack will, if you fight him.I knew he was in some kind of trouble.He doesn't really want to talk to me, and when I do ask him, he just curses at me.But he left that day, saying it would be all right.His mother, he said, would pay for it.She had to.So of course I believed him.

As far as I know, he never mentioned your marriage to his family.You didn't see them before it happened, did you? No.You know, they're upper class, have a big house and all that.I don't make a good impression on them.Jack thought it best not to let them know about me.Also, he said that if he took me there, his mother would want to dictate my life and his.She couldn't help dictating other people's lives, he said, and he had had enough.We're doing fine ourselves, he said. She didn't show any expression of indignation, and really thought her husband's behavior was natural.

I suppose you were shocked when he was arrested? oh of course.How could he do such a thing?But, I said to myself, there is no escape.When he was upset, his temper was always very violent. Cagli leans forward: Let's put it this way: Are you really not surprised that your husband stole a fortune by smashing his mother's head with a poker? Oh, uh Mr. Cagry, I'm sorry, that's a bit harsh to say.I don't think he hit her that hard on purpose.I don't think he intended to kill her.It could just be that she won't give him the money, and he grabs the poker and threatens her, and while she insists, he loses control and hits her.I don't think he intended to kill her.That was just bad luck for him.You know, he needs that money badly.If he can't get it, he'll have to go to jail. So you don't blame him? Oh of course I blame him I don't like that kind of violence.And it's your own mother!No, I don't think it's possible to do that.I started to think Joey was right when he told me I shouldn't have anything to do with Jack.But, you know, it's hard for a girl to make up her mind.Joey, you know, has always been rigid.I have known him for a long time.Jack is different, he is educated and all that.He looks like he's very rich, likes to spend money, and of course he has his way, as I've been telling you.He can fool anyone.He tricked me. That's right.You'll regret it, miss, Joey said.I thought it was just sour grapes, if you know what I mean.But in the end, Joey was absolutely right. Cagli looked at her.He wondered if she still didn't understand the full meaning of his words. How do you say it right?he asked. Oh, he's the one who got me in all this mess.I mean, we've always been respected.My mother raised us very carefully.We have always behaved well and no one gossips.And the police arrested my husband!And the neighbors all know.It's in all the newspapers, News of the World, etc.And so many reporters came to ask questions.Puts me in a very bad position. But, my dear boy, Arthur.Cagli said, you do understand now that he didn't do it, right? For a moment, that fair and beautiful face showed a bewildered expression. certainly!I almost forgot.But anyway, uh, I mean, he did go out there and make a fuss and threaten her and all.If he didn't, he wouldn't have been arrested at all, would he? No, said Cagli, no.This is true. Maybe this pretty, stupid girl is more practical than he is, he thought. Oh, that's terrible, Maureen went on.I didn't know what to do at the time.Then my mom said I better go see his family right away.They have to do something for me, she said.After all, she said, you have rights, and it's best to show them that you know how to take care of them.So here I go.It was the foreign woman who was there to help open the door for me, and at first I couldn't make her understand.It looked as if she didn't want to believe it.Impossible, she kept saying.Totally impossible.It kind of breaks my heart.We're married, I said, and not to the registry office.is in church.That's the way my mother insisted!But she just kept saying: It's not true.I do not believe.Then Mr. Argyle came along, and he was very nice.Told me not to worry, said he would do everything in his power to defend Jack, and asked me if I had any money, and gave me a fixed fee every week.Even now it is delivered on time.Joey didn't like me accepting it, but I told him, don't be stupid.They don't lack that money, do they?When Joey and I got married, he sent me a nice check as a wedding present.And he said he was very happy, that he hoped this marriage would be happier than the last.Yes, he is very kind, Mr. Argyle. She turned her head away as the door opened. Oh, Joey is back. Joey was a quiet, fair-haired young man.He frowned slightly after listening to Maureen's explanation and introduction. Had hoped it was all over, he said dismissively.Forgive me for saying so, sir.But it doesn't do any good to stir up the past.This is how I feel.Maureen is out of luck, that's all I can say Yes, Cagli said.I quite understand your point. Of course, Joey.Craig said she shouldn't have turned in a guy like that.I knew he was bad.There are already some rumors about him out there.He has a record of being in the custody of a probation officer twice.Once they take one wrong step, they keep going.First embezzlement or defrauding women of their savings, and finally murder. But, Cagli said, it wasn't murder. That's what you said, sir.Joey.Craig said.It seemed completely disbelieving. When the murder happened, Jack.Argyle had a solid alibi.He's hitchhiking from me to Cheymouth.So you know, Mr. Craig, he couldn't have committed the murder. Probably not, sir, said Craig.But anyway, it's not wise to bring it all up, forgive me for saying so.After all, he is dead now and has no effect on him.It was in vain that the neighbors started talking and thinking wildly again. Cagli stood up. Oh, maybe from your point of view, this is a perception.But there's such a thing as axioms, you know, Mr. Craig. Of course I know, said Craig, that the English trial was perfectly fair. Even the best system in the world can make mistakes, Cagli said.After all, justice is in the hands of humans, and humans are fallible. After saying goodbye to them and walking to the street, he was unexpectedly more disturbed.He said to himself, would it really be better if my memory of that day didn't come back?Just like that self-righteous guy, the guy who doesn't talk much just said, the child is dead.He had gone before the infallible God.He was remembered as a murderer or a thief, and it made no difference to him now. Then suddenly a surge of anger surged in his heart. But this should make a difference to someone!he thinks.Someone should be happy.Why are they all unhappy?This girl, uh, I can understand well enough.She may have had a crush on Jack, but she never loved him and she probably never could love anyone.But other people, his father, his sister, and his nanny should all be happy.Before they worry about themselves, they should think about him first, yes, someone must care. Miss Argyle?There's a second desk over there. Cagli stood for a moment, watching her. Neat, petite, very quiet and competent.She was wearing a dark blue dress with a white collar and cuffs, and her blue-black hair was coiled neatly around her neck.She was a darker complexion, darker than that of an Englishman; her frame was also a little smaller.This was the mulatto whom Argyle had adopted as his daughter. The eyes that looked up to meet his were black, utterly black.A pair of eyes that tell you nothing. Her voice was low and sweet. can I help you? Are you Miss Argyle?Costina.Miss Argyle? Yes. My name is Calgary, Arthur.calgary.you may have heard Yes.I've heard of you.My father wrote me a letter. I'd love to talk to you. She glanced up at the clock. The library closes in half an hour.Can you wait until then? certainly.Would you like to find a place with me for a cup of tea? Thanks.She turned to a man coming from behind him.Yes.can I help you? Arthur.Cagli moved away.He walked around, looked at the books on the shelves, and kept watching Tina.Argyll.She remained the same calm, capable, undisturbed.The half hour seemed slow to him, but at last the bell rang and she nodded at him. I'll meet you outside in a few minutes. She didn't keep him waiting long.She was without a hat, just a thick dark coat.He asked where she was going. I don't know Redmin very well.he explained. There is a teahouse near the cathedral.Not great, but not as crowded as other places. They immediately sat down at a small table, and a dry and thin waitress lazily accepted their order for refreshments. It's not going to be good tea, Tina said apologetically, "but I thought maybe you wanted to hide it a little bit." Yes.I must explain why I am looking for you.You know, I've met the rest of your family, including, may I say, your brother Jack's widow, and you're the only one of your family I haven't met yet.Oh yes, and your married sister. Do you feel the need to meet all of us? This sentence was very polite, but there was a certain degree of coldness and indifference in the voice, which made Cagli a little uncomfortable. Not a social necessity, he agreed dryly.And not just out of curiosity. (But, really not?) I just wanted to personally express to all of you my deep regret that I couldn't testify for your brother's innocence at trial. I see If you like him do you like him? She thought about it, and then said: No.I don't like Jack. Yet I have heard from all sides that he is attractive. She said clearly and calmly: I don't trust or like him. You never forgive me for suspecting that he killed your mother? It never occurred to me that there might be other possibilities. The waitress brought their tea.The bread and butter were stale, the jam was a strange jellylike thing, the cake was gaudy and unappetizing, and the tea was tasteless. He took a sip of his tea and said: I have begun to understand that the news I bring of clearing your brother of murder may have an unpleasant effect.May bring new anxieties to all of you. Because the case had to be reopened? Yes.Have you thought about this? My father seemed to think it was inevitable. Feel sorry.Really sorry. Why are you sorry, Dr. Cagli? I don't like to bring you new troubles because of me. But will you feel at ease by keeping silent? Are you thinking from the standpoint of justice? yes, don't you? certainly.Axioms would have seemed very important to me.But now I'm starting to wonder if there's something more important at all. For example, he thought of Hester.Like innocent people, maybe. Her black eyes were even darker. How do you feel, Miss Argyle? She was silent for a moment, then said: I'm thinking of that line in Magna Carta.We will not deny justice to anyone. I understand, he said.this is your answer