"You are not angry at what I say, Miss Blacklog?" she asked.
"If I were to be angry at all the lies you tell, I should never be out of a temper," said Miss Blacklog.
"I will go and say to the Inspector that I make it all up, shall I?" asked Mitzi.
"He knows that already," said Miss Blacklog, pleasantly.
Mitzi turned off the taps and as she did so two hands came up behind her head and with one swift movement forced it down into the water-filled sink.
"Only I know that you're telling the truth for once," said Miss Blacklog viciously.
Mitzi thrashed and struggled but Miss Blacklog was strong and her hands held the girl's head firmly under water.
Then, from somewhere quite close behind her, Dora Bunner's voice rose piteously on the air:
"Oh Lotty - Lotty - don't do it... Lotty."
Miss Blacklog screamed.
Her hands flew up in the air, and Mitzi, released, came up choking and spluttering.
Miss Blacklog screamed again and again. For there was no one, except Mitzi, there in the kitchen with her...
"Dora, Dora, forgive me.
I had to... I had to -" She rushed distractedly towards the scullery door - and the bulk of Sergeant Fletcher barred her way, just as Miss Marple stepped, flushed and triumphant, out of the broom cupboard.
"I could always mimic people's voices," said Miss Marple.
"You'll have to come with me, madam," said Sergeant Fletcher.
"I was a witness of your attempt to drown this girl.
And there will be other charges.
I must warn you, Letitia Blacklog -"
"Charlotte Blacklog," corrected Miss Marple.
"That's who she is, you know.
Under that choker of pearls she always wears you'll find the scar of the operation."
"Operation?"
"Operation for goitre."
Miss Blacklog, quite calm now, looked at Miss Marple.
"So you know all about it?" she said.
"Yes, I've known for some time."
Charlotte Blacklog sat down by the table and began to cry.
"You shouldn't have done that," she said.
"Not made Dora's voice come. I loved Dora.
I really loved Dora."
Inspector Craddock and the others had crowded in the doorway.
Constable Edwards, who added a knowledge of first-aid and artificial respiration to his other accomplishments, was busy with Mitzi.
As soon as Mitzi could speak she was lyrical with self-praise.
"I do that good, do I not?
I am clever!
And I am brave!
Oh, I am brave!
Very very nearly was I murdered, too.
But I am so brave I risk everything."
With a rush Miss Hinchliffe thrust aside the others and leapt upon the weeping figure of Charlotte Blacklog by the table.
It took all Sergeant Fletcher's strength to hold her off.
"Now then -" he said. "Now then - no, no, Miss Hinchliffe -" Between clenched teeth Miss Hinchliffe was muttering; "Let me get at her.
Just let me get at her.
It was she who killed Amy Murgatroyd."
Charlotte Blacklog looked up and sniffed.
"I didn't want to kill her.
I didn't want to kill anybody - I had to - but it's Dora I mind about - after Dora was dead, I was all alone - ever since she died - I've been alone - oh, Dora - Dora -" And once again she dropped her head on her hands and wept.
Chapter 23 EVENING AT THE VICARAGE
Miss Marple sat in the tall arm-chair. Bunch was on the floor in front of the fire with her arms round her knees.