Chapter 19 19 farewell

Early the next morning, the tour bus stopped in front of the Fort Gordon Hotel.Miss Marple came down to say good-bye to her friends.She found Mrs. Rileypotter's mood very indignant. Really, girls these days, she said.There is neither vitality nor drive. Miss Marple looked at her questioningly. I mean Joanna, my niece. Oh my God, is she sick? Humph, she herself said she was not feeling well, but I can't see what's wrong with her.She said she had a sore throat and felt like she was going to have a fever.It's all bullshit, I thought. Oh, I'm sorry for her, said Miss Marple.Do you need me to help take care of her?

If I were you, I'd leave her alone, said Mrs. Rileyport.If you ask me, it's all an excuse. Miss Marple looked at her again with her inquiring eyes. Girls are just stupid, falling in love at every turn. Emlyn.Pais?asked Miss Marple. Oh, so you noticed it too.Yes, they were indeed in love.But I don't like him very much.You know, it's just a student with long hair, always demonstrating or something Why don't they just call it a demonstration?I hate short names the most.Also, how do I go down?No one to take care of me, no one to pack my luggage, take it in and take it out.I paid for the trip and all expenses.

I think she is very devoted to you, said Miss Marple. Uh, not the first day or two.When a person reaches middle age, he must have some savings. Young girls don't understand this kind of thing.They seemed to have an absurd idea that she and Price were going to visit the mountains, about seven or eight miles round trip. but if she does have a sore throat and a fever You'll see soon enough that her sore throat is gone and her fever is gone as soon as the tour bus is gone, said Mrs. Rileyporter.Oh my god, we gotta get in the car.Oh, good-bye, Miss Marple, it's a pleasure to meet you.It's a pity we have to go our separate ways.

I'm sorry, too, said Miss Marple.But seriously, Mrs. Rileyport, you know, I'm not as young and vigorous as you are, and besides, after all this fright, I do have to rest for twenty-four hours. Then we will meet later. The two shook hands, and Mrs. Rileyport boarded the tour bus. Miss Marple heard someone behind her say: Have a safe and smooth journey. She turned around and saw Emlyn.Pais, he's grinning. Was this addressed to Mrs. Rileyport? That's right.Otherwise who else? I'm sorry to hear that Joanna was not feeling well this morning. Emlyn.Pais grinned again at Miss Marple.He said:

As soon as the car leaves, she will be fine. Oh, really!said Miss Marple.you mean Yes, I mean, Emlyn.Pais said.Joanna had had enough of her aunt who was driving her around all day. So you're not going to go on the ride again? Yes, I'm going to be here for two days.I want to relax for a while and travel around.Don't be so disapproving, Miss Marple.You're not really that disapproving, are you? Yes, Miss Marple said.I did this myself when I was younger, maybe with a different excuse.However, I think our chances of running away were much less than yours at that time. Colonel Walker and Mrs. Walker came forward and shook hands with Miss Marple warmly.

It has been a pleasure meeting you and having talked so much about gardening with you, said the Colonel.I believe we will be able to feast our eyes the day after tomorrow if nothing unexpected happens.Indeed, this accident was too unfortunate.I gotta say it must have been an accident.I think the coroner made too much of a fuss about it. Very strange, said Miss Marple.Why didn't anyone come out and admit it?I mean, if someone has been to the top of a mountain and pushed rocks, boulders, etc., why no one has come forward to explain. Of course it was because they were afraid of being blamed, Colonel Walker said.They will definitely keep their mouths shut and say nothing.Well, goodbye.I'll send you a cutting of a magnolia tree and a rosewood camellia, though I'm not sure if those plants would do well in your home country.

They boarded the tour bus one by one.Miss Marple turned and walked away, and when she turned her head, she saw Professor Wang Sidai waving at the tour bus that was about to leave.Mrs. Sanborn came out of the hotel, said good-bye to Miss Marple, and stepped into the car.Miss Marple took Professor Wang Sitai's arm. I need your help, she said.How about we find a place to talk? good.How about where we sat the other day? I think there is a very nice corridor here. They rounded the corner of the hotel.The happy horn sounded, and the tour bus started. You know, I actually hope, said Professor Wang Sidai.You didn't stay.I would rather see you get on the tour bus and leave here safely.He looked at her sharply.why do you stayIs it because of exhaustion or something else?

For another reason, said Miss Marple.I don't actually feel particularly tired, although that's a logical excuse for someone my age. And I think I should stay and take care of you. No, said Miss Marple.You don't have to.You have other things to do. whats the matter?He looks at her.Do you have any thoughts or see anything? I think I have seen some clues, but it has yet to be confirmed.There are some things that I can't do by myself, and I think you can help me with that, because you have contacts with those so-called people in power. You mean Scotland Yard, the Commissioner and the Warden of the Royal Prison?

Yes, some if not all of them.Maybe even the Minister of the Interior will listen to you. You are so whimsical!well what do you want me to do First I want to give you this address. She took out a notebook, tore a page from it, and handed it to him. What's this?Oh, a famous charity, isn't it? I think it's the best charity and they do a lot of good.You can send them clothes, Miss Marple said.Children's clothes, women's clothes, car coats, pullovers and more. You want me to donate clothes to it? No, I'm just asking you to do good, and that's what we, you and I, are doing.

What kind of good deeds? I want you to investigate a package.That package was mailed from the local area two days ago, from the post office here. Who sent it?You? No, said Miss Marple.not me.But logically I have to be responsible for it. What do you mean by that? I mean, said Miss Marple, smiling.I went to the post office and explained incoherently, uh, like an old aunt, that I had lost track of finding someone to post a package for me, but I had put the wrong address on it.I am very upset about this.The female director was very kind. She said she remembered the package, but the address on it was not the one I mentioned, but this one, which is the address I gave you just now.My explanation is that I was so confused that I wrote the address wrong and confused it with another charity I also occasionally send things to.She told me it was too late and the matter was irretrievable because the package had already been sent.I said that was ok, I would write a letter to the charity that received the package, explain to them that I had the wrong address, and ask them to forward it to the organization I was going to send it to.

The process seems to be very tortuous. 'Yes,' said Miss Marple.But you have to have an explanation.I'm not going to do this, I'll leave it to you.We have to know what's inside the package.I can assure you that you will have a way to find out. What is in the package that tells us who the sender is? I don't think so.There may be a small note in it, saying it was sent by a friend; or it may be a false name and address, such as Mrs. Pippin, No. 14, West Garden.And if someone actually went to this address to ask, they would find that there was no such person there. oh.Are there other possibilities? It is also possible, albeit highly unlikely, that there might be a small note inside that reads Anthea.From Miss Beverly Smith. Is it her She took the parcel to the post office, said Miss Marple. Did you entrust her to post it? Oh no, said Miss Marple.I haven't asked anyone to send anything.The first time I saw that package was when you and I were sitting talking in the garden of the Goldenberg Hotel.Anthea passed us carrying it. But you go to the post office and say the package is yours. Yes, said Miss Marple.I'm not telling the truth.But the post office is cautious.You know, I was trying to find out where the package went. Do you want to know if that package has been sent, and if it was sent by one of the Bebley Smith sisters, especially Anthea? I already knew it was from Anthea, said Miss Marple.Because we saw her. Yeah?He took the note from her hand.OK, I can do this.You think there's something wrong with that package? I think something in there might be important. You like secrecy, don't you?Professor Wang Sidai said. It's not necessarily secrets I'm exploring, said Miss Marple.Just some possibilities.I don't like jumping to conclusions unless there is more knowledge about something. Is there anything else? I guess I figured whoever was in charge of investigating this should have known that a second body might be on the way. You mean the second body in connection with this case?Is it the murder that happened ten years ago? Yes.Miss Marple said, in fact, I'm quite sure of it. Another body.Whose corpse is it? Oh, said Miss Marple.That's all I can think of so far. Do you know where the body is now? oh yes!said Miss Marple.I'm pretty sure I know where the body is.I'll have to wait a while to tell you though. What kind of corpse is it?Is it a man or a woman?Is it a child?or a girl? Another girl was also missing at the time, Miss Marple said.One named Nora.Brod's girl.It was here that she disappeared, and no one has heard from her since.I think her body might be somewhere by now. Professor Wang Sidai looked at her. You know, the more you talk, the more afraid I am to leave you, he said.You have so many thoughts in your mind, maybe you will do something stupid, just in case he didn't finish his sentence. I'm afraid this is all nonsense?said Miss Marple. No, no, that's not what I mean.I'm afraid you know too much, so you may be in danger.I'd better stay here and watch you. No, no need.Miss Marple said you must go to London and make things go. You sound as if you know a great deal, Miss Marple. I think I do know a lot now?But I still need confirmation. That's right, but if you do go to prove it, it might be the last thing you prove!We don't want a third body yours. Ah, I didn't expect such a thing, said Miss Marple. You know, if you're thinking right, you're probably in danger.Is there anyone in particular you suspect right now? I think I see something in someone, and I have to find out, so I have to stay.You once asked me if I could smell evil.Yes, there is that smell here, an evil smell, and a dangerous smell if you call it; it's also a sad smell, a horrible smell.I must do something.I have to do my best.But an old woman like me can't do much. Professor Wang Sidai counted in a low voice: one, two, three, four what are you countingasked Miss Marple. See how many people leave by tour bus.Logically speaking, those people should not be the object of your suspicion, because you let them go, and you stayed. Why should I doubt them? Because you said that Mr. Rafael arranged for you to take this tour bus for a certain reason, asked you to take this tour for a certain reason, and asked you to go to the old manor for a certain reason.So, Elizabeth.Temple's death had to do with someone in the car, and the reason you're here has to do with the old manor. You're not right, said Miss Marple.There is a connection between the two.I need someone to tell me something. Do you think you can get anyone to tell you something? I think so.If you don't go, you will miss the train. You have to take care, Professor Wang Sidai said.I promise to take care of myself. The door to the lobby of the hotel opened, and two people came out.It's Miss Cook and Miss Barrow. Hi, said Professor Wang Sitai.I thought you guys left in a tour bus. Well, we changed our minds at the last minute, said Miss Cook, very amused.You know, we just found out that there are some really good trails around here, and there's a place or two I really want to check out.There is a church that still holds a very rare Saxon holy fountain, only four or five miles away, and I believe it is a quick trip by local bus.You know, I'm not only interested in mansions and grounds, I'm also interested in church buildings. Me too, said Miss Barrow.There is also Finley Park, which is said to be a very delicate botanical garden, not far from here.We really thought it would be more enjoyable to spend a few more days here. Are you two still staying at the Fort Gordon Hotel? Yes.We were lucky enough to get a very comfortable double room.Better than the one we stayed in the previous two days. You're about to miss the train, Miss Marple urged him again. I hope, said Professor Wang Sitai.you I'll be all right, said Miss Marple hastily.What a nice guy, she said as he disappeared around the corner of the hotel.He really took care of me like I was his aunt. It scares us a lot these days, doesn't it?Miss Cook said.We're going to see St. Martin's Church in the Grove, would you like to come with us? Thank you for your kind invitation, said Miss Marple.But I guess I'm not in good spirits today and can't go far.More on that tomorrow, if there's anything worth watching. Oh, then here we go. Miss Marple smiled at the two and walked into the hotel.