Chapter 21 22 The clock strikes three

Miss Cook and Miss Barrow came at eight forty-five, one in beige with lace trim, the other in pale green. When going to dinner earlier, Anthea had already asked Miss Marple about these two women. It was strange that they wanted to stay in town, she said. Oh, I don't think so, said Miss Marple.I think it's natural.I think they have their own detailed plan. What do you mean they have plans?asked Mrs. Green. Oh, I mean, they are probably fully prepared for all kinds of accidents, so they already have a contingency plan. You mean, asked Anthea, who seemed interested in the subject.They already have a contingency murder plan?

Mrs Green said: You don't think Miss Temple's death is a case of murder, do you? It really was murder, Anthea said.I just wonder who would want to kill her.I think it may be some students who hate her, they have always held a grudge against her, so they designed to kill her. Do you think the hate can last that long?asked Miss Marple. Oh, I think so.I don't think a person's hatred can go away after many years. No, said Miss Marple.I think hate dies with age.You can deliberately hold grudges, but I don't think you will succeed.Hate is not as powerful as love, she said again.

Don't you think it's possible that this murder was committed by Miss Cooke or Miss Barrow, or even by both of them? Why did they make such a murderous move?said Mrs. Green.Wow, Ancia!In my opinion, they are very good people. I think they're a little bit mysterious, Anthea said.Don't you think, Crotty? I think you may be right, Crotty said.I think they're a bit of a poser, you know. I think they're sneaky, Anthea said. You're always thinking wildly, Mrs. Green said.Anyway, weren't they walking down the walk at the time?You saw them on the trail, didn't you?she said to Miss Marple.

I can't say I noticed them particularly, said Miss Marple.In fact, I never got a chance to see them at all. you mean She wasn't there, Crotty said.She was in our garden at the time. Oh yes, I forgot. It was a quiet and peaceful day, said Miss Marple.I had a great time.There is a large field of white flowers at the end of the garden near the hill, and I want to see it again tomorrow morning.The flowers were just blooming when I went there that day, so it must be a sea of ​​flowers now.You know, I'll always remember it; it will be a great memory of my visit here. I hate it, Anthea said.I'm going to tear it down.I'm going to rebuild a greenhouse in that place.I think we'll do it when we save enough money, won't we, Crotty?

We'll leave it there, Crotty said.I don't want to touch it.Now what are we going to do with the greenhouse?It will be years before the grapes re-fruit. Quit the quarrel, said Mrs. Green.Let's stop arguing about this topic.Let's go to the living room, the guests are coming for coffee soon. The guest came in just at that moment.Crotty came in with a pot of coffee, poured the coffee and distributed it to the guests.When everyone had them, she brought a glass to Miss Marple. Miss Cook leaned forward and said: Forgive me, Miss Marple, but really, you know, I wouldn't drink if I were you.I mean coffee; you won't sleep well if you drink coffee this late.

oh, do you think so?said Miss Marple.I'm used to drinking coffee at night. Yes, but this is very strong coffee, and I advise you not to drink it. Miss Marple looked at Miss Cook. Miss Cook looked very serious, her hair, her unnatural looking hair covering one eye and the other blinking slightly. I know what you mean, said Miss Marple.Maybe you're right.I think you are quite good at diet. Oh yes, I'm pretty researched on diet.I also know how to take care of myself and things like that. Indeed, Miss Marple pushed the glass back a little.I don't think there should be a picture of that girl here?she asked.I mean Microloty.Hunter, did I say her name right?The archdeacon had mentioned her.He seems to like her very much.

I think so.He likes any young man, Crotty said. She stood up, walked across the room, opened the lid of the desk, took out a photograph from it, and walked back to hand it to Miss Marple. This is Microlotty, she said. What a pretty face, said Miss Marple.Yes, a very beautiful and distinctive face.poor child. The world is getting worse, Anthea said.These things happen all the time.Girls go out with boys of all ages, and no one bothers to take care of them. These days they have to fend for themselves, Crotty said.It's a pity they don't know how to take care of themselves.May God bless them!

She reached out to retrieve the photo from Miss Marple, but the coffee cup caught on her sleeve and fell to the floor. Oh my God!said Miss Marple.Is this my fault?Did I touch your hand? No, Crotty said.It's my sleeve.This sleeve is a little too big.If you don't want coffee, can I pour you some hot milk? That would be wonderful, said Miss Marple.Drinking a cup of warm milk before going to bed does have a calming effect and helps me get a good night's sleep. After chatting for a while, Miss Cooke and Miss Barrow got up to take their farewells, which were rather protracted, one after the other returning with forgotten things, including a scarf, a handbag, and a handkerchief.

It's been procrastinating, Anthea said after they left. I don't know why, said Mrs. Green.I agree with Crotty that those two don't seem real, if you know what I mean.she said to Miss Marple. Yes, said Miss Marple.I also agree with you that they don't seem very real.I have been suspicious of them.I mean, I doubt what they want to do with the tour, do they really enjoy the tour?Also, why did they come here? Have you found the answers to these question marks?Crotty asked. I think so, Miss Marple sighed.I've found answers to a lot of things, she said. Hope you're having a good time here so far, Crotty said.

I'm glad I left the tour group, said Miss Marple.I think if I go with the group, it will not be so comfortable. Indeed, I understand this. Crotty brought a cup of hot milk from Wei's room and accompanied Miss Marple back to her room. Would you like anything else?she asked.Just tell me. No thanks.Miss Marple said, I have everything I want.You see, this is my little duffel bag for the night so I don't have to unpack it.Thank you, she said, thank you sisters for letting me stay here for another night. Oh, since Mr. Raphael wrote, how can we neglect you.He is a very considerate person.Yes, said Miss Marple.He is a well-rounded person.I gotta say, he's got a really good head.

He is a well-known financial expert. He was very thoughtful, financial or otherwise, said Miss Marple.Oh, it's time for me to go to bed.Good night, Miss Beverly Smith. Shall I bring breakfast up tomorrow morning?Do you like breakfast in bed? No, no, I don't want to bother you anyway.No need, I'll go downstairs to eat by myself.Maybe a cup of tea will do, but I want to go to the garden.I really want to see that mound full of white flowers, which bloom so beautifully and so lushly. Good night, Crotty said.I wish you a good night's sleep. In the downstairs hall of the old manor, the old antique clock struck twice.The clocks in this house do not ring at the same time, or at all.The house is full of grandfather clocks, and it's not easy to keep them all accurate.At three o'clock, the clock at the top of the stairs on the second floor struck three times softly.A faint light came in through the crack of the door. Miss Marple sat up straight on the bed, pressing her finger on the switch of the bedside lamp.The door opened slightly, but there was no light outside the door, only a faint sound of footsteps entered the room from the door.Miss Marple switched on the lamp. Oh, she said.It's you, Miss Bebury Smith, what's the matter? I just came to see if you needed anything, said Miss Beverly Smith. Miss Marple looked at Crotty who was wearing a purple robe.What a beautiful woman, thought Miss Marple.Her hair fell over her forehead like a tragic character, a character in a play.Miss Marple thought of the Greek plays again, and of Clytemnestra. You really don't need me to bring you something up here? no thank you.Miss Marple said, I'm afraid, she said apologetically.Did not drink the milk. Oh dear, why don't you drink it? I don't think it will do me any good, said Miss Marple. Crotty stood at the foot of the bed, staring at her. Bad for your health, you know, said Miss Marple. What do you mean by that?Crotty's voice became harsh. I think you know what I mean, said Miss Marple.I think you've been on your mind all night.I'm afraid it's already counted before night. I do not understand what you are saying. not understand?There was a hint of sarcasm in these three words. The milk is probably cold.I'll take it away, and I'll bring you a hot one. Crotty stretched out her hand and picked up the milk glass from the bedside. Don't bother, said Miss Marple.Even if you bring me another glass, I won't drink it. I really don't understand what you're talking about.Really, Crotty said, glaring at her.You are a very queer man.What kind of woman are you?Why are you talking like that?who are you? Miss Marple took off the pink woolen scarf which was wrapped around her head, a pink woolen scarf which she had also worn in the West Indies. I have a title, she said.It's called Nemesis. Nemesis?what does that mean? I think you know that well, said Miss Marple.You are a well educated person.Furies can be late sometimes, but she is here. what are you saying? I'm talking about a pretty girl you killed, Miss Marple said. The girl I killed?What do you mean by that? I'm referring to the girl Viloetti. Why should I kill her? Because you love her, said Miss Marple. Of course I love her, I love her dearly, and she loves me. Someone said to me not long ago that love is a scary word.It still is until now.You love Viloty so much, she is everything in the world to you.She was in love with you with all her heart until someone broke into her life.A different kind of love entered her life.She falls in love with a boy, a young man.He wasn't right for her, not good enough and notorious, but she loved him and he loved her.She is going to run away, to escape the bondage of love that lives with you.She wanted to live the life of a normal woman, live with the man of her choice and bear children for him.She longs for marriage, longs for normal happiness. Crotty made a move.She went to a chair and sat down, staring at Miss Marple. It seems, she said.You understand very well. Yes, crystal clear. You're right, and I'm not going to deny that.Because it doesn't matter whether I deny it or not. 'Yes,' said Miss Marple.You are right, it doesn't matter. Do you know can you imagine how much pain I am in? Yes, said Miss Marple.I can imagine it.I have always been good at imagining. Can you imagine the torture, the pain of knowing you're about to lose the love of your life?And at the hands of a vile, depraved delinquent, a man totally unworthy of my beautiful, noble daughter.I have to stop this, I have to, I have to. 'Yes,' said Miss Marple.So before the girl runs away, you kill her first.You killed her because you loved her. Do you think I might do something like this?Do you think I might strangle the girl I love so dearly?Do you think I might spoil her face?Smash her head into pieces?Only a vicious, horrible person would do such a thing. Yes, Miss Marple said.You can't do that.You love her, you can't do that kind of thing. So, look, aren't you talking nonsense? You did nothing like this to her.The girl killed in this way is not the one you love dearly.Microlotty's still here, isn't she?She is in the garden.I don't think you strangled her.I think you gave her a cup of coffee or milk to take her pain-free overdose of sleeping pills.When she dies, you carry her to the garden, where you push aside the collapsing bricks of the greenhouse, dig a hole for her, and cover it with bricks.Then you plant a Polygonum vine in that spot, and it has been blooming ever since, growing more and more lush every year.Microlotty has stayed here with you.You never let her go. you fool!You crazy old fool!Do you think you can get out of here and tell this story to someone else? I think so, said Miss Marple.It's just that I'm not so sure.You are a strong woman, much stronger than I am. I'm glad you know this. And you won't feel any qualms about it, Miss Marple said.You know a murderer can't just kill one person and stop.This is what I have learned from my life experience and from the crimes I have observed.You killed two girls, right?You killed the girl you loved so much, and you killed another girl. I killed a stupid little dame, a young slut Nora.Broad.How do you know about her? I'm just wondering, said Miss Marple.From the day I saw you, I don't think you'd have the heart to strangle the girl you love and ruin her face.But another girl also disappeared during the same period, and her body has never been found.But I think her body has actually been found, but people don't know that the body is Nora.Broad.She was wearing Microloty's clothes, and she was recognized as Microloty by the first person who identified the body, because he knew her better than anyone else.You'll have to go and identify the body to see if the body that's been found is Microlotty.And you confirmed it, you said that the body was Viloetti. Why should I do this? Because you want the boy who took Viloty away from you, the boy who loved Viloty, to be guilty of murder.So you hide the second girl's body in a place where it won't be easy to find, and when the body is found, it will be mistaken for another girl.You must be fully prepared for it to be treated as Viloetti's corpse as you wish.You dress her in Microlotty's clothes, and put her handbag there, and a letter or two, and a bracelet, and a little cross necklace.Then you ruin her looks. A week ago, you committed a third murder.You killed Elizabeth.Temple.You killed her because she was coming here, and you feared she would have learned the truth from what Viloty wrote her or told her.Do you still think that once Elizabeth.Tempe and the vicar of Bolazong met, and they may conclude the truth based on the information they have.You must never let Elizabeth.Tempe meets with the Vicar of Belarzon.You are a strong woman, you can push big rocks down the mountainside.It takes a lot of effort to push the boulder, but you are strong. Strong enough for you, Crotty said. I don't think so, said Miss Marple.you can do it. What do you mean, you dry, pathetic old woman? 'Yes,' said Miss Marple.I'm old and my hands and feet don't have much strength.In fact, I have no strength in my whole body.But as far as I am concerned, I am a messenger of justice. Crotty laughed: So who can stop me from sending you to your grave? I think, said Miss Marple.My Patronus can. You still believe in your Patronus? Crotty laughed again, and she approached the bed step by step. I may have two Patronuses, said Miss Marple.Mr. Raphael has always been very generous in his affairs. She put her hand under the pillow, and when she pulled it out, there was a whistle in her hand.She puts it between her lips.The whistle has an earth-shattering effect.It let out a shriek, enough to draw the street police over. Two things happened almost simultaneously: the door opened, Crotty turned around, and saw Miss Barrow standing in the doorway; at the same time, the armoire next to the cupboard opened, and Miss Cook came out. .They all carried a very conspicuous professional demeanor, which formed a very strong contrast with the friendly and social demeanor shown by the two of them a few hours ago. Two Patronuses, Miss Marple said happily.As the old saying goes, I'm really, really proud of Mr. Raphael.