Sir Henry, in his turn, got up.
"It's time for me to go and do my stuff.
I see Mrs Bantry is on her way to keep you company."
Chapter 33
Mrs Bantry arrived breathless and sat down with a gasp.
She said, "I've been talking to chambermaids. But it isn't any good.
I haven't found out a thing more! Do you think that girl can really have been carrying on with someone without everybody in the hotel knowing all about it?"
"That's a very interesting point, dear. I should say definitely not. Somebody knows, depend upon it, if it's true.
But she must have been very clever about it."
Mrs Bantry's attention had strayed to the tennis court.
She said approvingly, "Addie's tennis is coming on a lot. Attractive young man, that tennis pro. Addie's quite nice-looking. She's still an attractive woman. I shouldn't be at all surprised if she married again."
"She'll be quite a rich woman, too, when Mr Jefferson dies," said Miss Marple.
"Oh, don't always have such a nasty mind, Jane. Why haven't you solved this mystery yet? We don't seem to be getting on at all. I thought you'd know at once." Mrs Bantry's tone held reproach.
"No, no, dear, I didn't know at once, not for some time."
Mrs Bantry turned startled and incredulous eyes on her.
"You mean you know now who killed Ruby Keene?"
"Oh, yes," said Miss Marple.
"I know that!"
"But, Jane, who is it?
Tell me at once."
Miss Marple shook her head very firmly and pursed up her lips.
"I'm sorry Dolly, but that wouldn't do at all."
"Why wouldn't it do?"
"Because you're so indiscreet.
You would go round telling everyone or if you didn't tell, you'd hint."
"No, indeed, I wouldn't.
I wouldn't tell a soul."
"People who use that phrase are always the last to live up to it.
It's no good, dear.
There's a long way to go yet.
A great many things that are quite obscure.
You remember when I was so against letting Mrs Partridge collect for the Red Cross and I couldn't say why.
The reason was that her nose had twitched in just the same way that that maid of mine, Alice, twitched her nose when I sent her out to pay the accounts.
Always paid them a shilling or so short and said it could go on to next week, which, of course, was exactly what Mrs Partridge did, only on a much larger scale.
Seventy-five pounds it was she embezzled."
"Never mind Mrs Partridge," said Mrs Bantry.
"But I had to explain to you.
And if you care, I give you a hint.
The trouble in this case is that everybody has been much too credulous and believing.
You simply cannot afford to believe everything that people tell you.
When there's anything fishy about, I never believe anyone at all. You see, I know human nature so well." Mrs Bantry was silent for a minute or two. Then she said in a different tone of voice, "I told you, didn't I, that I didn't see why I shouldn't enjoy myself over this case? A real murder in my own house! The sort of thing that will never happen again." "I hope not," said Miss Marple. "Well, so do I, really. Once is enough. But it's my murder, Jane. I want to enjoy myself over it."
Miss Marple shot a glance at her.
Mrs Ban try said belligerently, "Don't you believe that?"
Miss Marple said sweetly, "Of course, Dolly, if you tell me so."
"Yes, but you never believe what people tell you, do you?
You've just said so.
Well, you're quite right." Mrs Bantry's voice took on a sudden, bitter note. She said, "I'm not altogether a fool. You may think, Jane, that I don't know what they're saying all over St Mary Mead, all over the county!
They're saying, one and all, that there's no smoke without fire; that if the girl was found in Arthur's library, then Arthur must know something about it. They're saying that the girl was Arthur's mistress; that she was his illegitimate daughter; that she was blackmailing him; they're saying anything that comes into their heads. And it will go on like that! Arthur won't realize it at first; he won't know what's wrong. He's such a dear old stupid that he'd never believe people would think things like that about him. He'll be cold-shouldered - and looked at askance whatever that means! - and it will dawn on him little by little, and suddenly he'll be horrified and cut to the soul, and he'll fasten up like a clam and just endure, day after day.
It's because of all that's going to happen to him that I've come here to ferret out every single thing about it that I can! This murder's got to be solved! If it isn't, then Arthur's whole life will be wrecked, and I won't have that happen.
I won't! I won't! I won't!" She paused for a minute and said, "I won't have the dear old boy go through hell for something he didn't do.