加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第14部分

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e　has　said？〃

〃I　think　it　might　be　so；〃　said　Dr。　Graham　slowly。

〃You'd　better　try　and　get　it　out　of　her；　if　so。　We　don't　want　to　make　an　unnecessary　fussunless　we've　something　to　go　on。　If　he　didn't　die　of　blood　pressure；　what　do　you　think　it　was？〃

〃There　are　too　many　things　it　might　be　nowadays；〃　said　Dr。　Graham。

〃You　mean　things　that　don't　leave　recognisable　traces？〃

〃Not　everyone；〃　said　Dr。　Graham　dryly；　〃is　so　considerate　as　to　use　arsenic〃

〃Now　let's　get　things　quite　clearwhat's　the　suggestion？　That　a　bottle　of　pills　was　substituted　for　the　real　ones？　And　that　Major　Palgrave　was　poisoned　in　that　way？〃

〃Noit's　not　like　that。　That's　what　the　girlVictoria　Something　thinks。　But　she's　got　it　all　wrong。　If　it　was　decided　to　get　rid　of　the　Majorquicklyhe　would　have　been　given　somethingmost　likely　in　a　drink　of　some　kind。　Then　to　make　it　appear　a　natural　death；　a　bottle　of　the　tablets　prescribed　to　relieve　blood　pressure　was　put　in　his　room。　And　the　rumour　was　put　about　that　he　suffered　from　high　blood　pressure。〃

〃Who　put　the　rumour　about？〃

〃I've　tried　to　find　outwith　no　success。　It's　been　too　cleverly　done。　A　says　'I　think　B　told　me'B；　asked；　says　'No；　I　didn't　say　so　but　I　do　remember　C　mentioning　it　one　day。'　C　says　'Several　people　talked　about　itone　of　them；　I　think；　was　A。'　And　there　we　are；　back　again。〃

〃Someone　was　clever？〃

〃Yes。　As　soon　as　the　death　was　discovered；　everybody　seemed　to　be　talking　about　the　Major's　high　blood　pressure　and　repeating　round　what　other　people　had　said。〃

〃Wouldn't　it　have　been　simpler　just　to　poison　him　and　let　it　go　at　that？〃

〃No。　That　might　have　meant　an　inquirypossibly　an　autopsy。　This　way；　a　doctor　would　accept　the　death　and　give　a　certificateas　he　did。〃

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？　Go　to　the　C。I。D。？　Suggest　they　dig　the　chap　up？　It'd　make　a　lot　of　stink〃

〃It　could　be　kept　quite　quiet。〃

〃Could　it　？　In　St。　Honorй？　Think　again！　The　grapevine　would　be　on　to　it　before　it　had　happened。　All　the　same；〃　Daventry　sighed　〃I　suppose　we'll　have　to　do　something。　But　if　you　ask　me；　it's　all　a　mare's　nest！〃

〃I　devoutly　hope　it　is；〃　said　Dr。　Graham。



Chapter　11

EVENING　AT　THE　GOLDEN　PALM



Molly　rearranged　a　few　of　the　table　decorations　in　the　dining　room；　removed　an　extra　knife；　straightened　a　fork；　reset　a　glass　or　two；　stood　back　to　look　at　the　effect　and　then　walked　out　on　to　the　terrace　outside。

There　was　no　one　about　just　at　present　and　she　strolled　to　the　far　corner　and　stood　by　the　balustrade。　Soon　another　evening　would　begin。　Chattering；　talking；　drinking；　all　so　gay　and　carefree；　the　sort　of　life　she　had　longed　for　and；　up　to　a　few　days　ago；　had　enjoyed　so　much。　Now　even　Tim　seemed　anxious　and　worried。　Natural；　perhaps；　that　he　should　worry　a　little。　It　was　important　that　this　venture　of　theirs　should　turn　out　all　right。　After　all；　he　had　sunk　all　he　had　in　it。

But　that；　thought　Molly；　is　not　really　what's　worrying　him。　It's　me。　But　I　don't　see；　said　Molly　to　herself；　why　he　should　worry　about　me。　Because　he　did　worry　about　her。　That　she　was　quite　sure　of。　The　questions　he　put；　the　quick　nervous　glance　he　shot　at　her　from　time　to　time。　But　why？　thought　Molly。　〃I've　been　very　careful；〃　she　summed　up　things　in　her　mind。　She　didn't　understand　it　really　herself。　She　couldn't　remember　when　it　had　begun。　She　wasn't　even　very　sure　what　it　was。　She'd　begun　to　be　frightened　of　people。　She　didn't　know　why。　What　could　they　do　to　her？　What　should　they　want　to　do　to　her？

She　nodded　her　head；　then　started　violently　as　a　hand　touched　her　arm。　She　spun　round　to　find　Gregory　Dyson；　slightly　taken　aback；　looking　apologetic。

〃Ever　so　sorry。　Did　I　startle　you；　little　girl？〃

Molly　hated　being　called　〃little　girl〃。

She　said　quickly　and　brightly：　〃I　didn't　hear　you　ing；　Mr。　Dyson；　so　it　made　me　jump。〃

〃Mr。　Dyson？　We're　very　formal　tonight。　Aren't　we　all　one　great　happy　family　here？　Ed　and　me　and　Lucky　and　Evelyn　and　you　and　Tim　and　Esther　Walters　and　old　Rafiel。　All　the　lot　of　us　one　happy　family。〃

〃He's　had　plenty　to　drink　already；〃　thought　Molly。　She　smiled　at　him　pleasantly。

〃Oh！　I　e　over　the　heavy　hostess　sometimes；〃　she　said　lightly。　〃Tim　and　I　think　it's　more　polite　not　to　be　too　handy　with　Christian　names。〃

〃Aw！　we　don't　want　any　of　that　stuffedshirt　business。　Now　then；　Molly　my　lovely；　have　a　drink　with　me。〃

〃Ask　me　later；〃　said　Molly。　〃I　have　a　few　things　to　get　on　with。〃

〃Now　don't　run　away。〃　His　arm　fastened　round　her　arm。　〃You're　a　lovely　girl；　Molly。　I　hope　Tim　appreciates　his　good　luck。〃

〃Oh；　I　see　to　it　that　he　does；〃　said　Molly　cheerfully。

〃I　could　go　for　you；　you　know；　in　a　big　way。〃　He　leered　at　her〃though　I　wouldn't　let　my　wife　hear　me　say　so。〃

〃Did　you　have　a　good　trip　this　afternoon？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　Between　you　and　me　I　get　a　bit　fed　up　sometimes。　You　can　get　tired　of　the　birds　and　butterflies。　What　say　you　and　I　go　for　a　little　picnic　on　our　own　one　day？〃

〃We'll　have　to　see　about　that；〃　said　Molly　gaily。　〃I'll　be　looking　forward　to　it。〃

With　a　light　laugh　she　escaped；　and　went　back　into　the　bar。

〃Hallo；　Molly；〃　said　Tim；　〃you　seem　in　a　hurry。　Who's　that　you've　been　with　out　there？〃

He　peered　out。

〃Gregory　Dyson。〃

〃What　does　he　want？〃

〃Wanted　to　make　a　pass　at　me；〃　said　Molly。

〃Blast　him；〃　said　Tim。

〃Don't　worry；〃　said　Molly；　〃I　can　do　all　the　blasting　necessary。〃

Tim　started　to　answer　her；　caught　sight　of　Fernando　and　went　over　to　him　shouting　out　some　directions。　Molly　slipped　away　through　the　kitchen；　out　through　the　kitchen　door　and　down　the　steps　to　the　beach。

Gregory　Dyson　swore　under　his　breath。

Then　he　walked　slowly　back　in　the　direction　of　his　bungalow。　He　had　nearly　got　there　when　a　voice　spoke　to　him　from　the　shadow　of　one　of　the　bushes。　He　turned　his　head；　startled。　In　the　gathering　dusk　he　thought　for　a　moment　that　it　was　a　ghostly　figure　that　stood　there。　Then　he　laughed。　It　had　looked　like　a　faceless　apparition　but　that　was　because；　though　the　dress　was　white；　the　face　was　black。

Victoria　stepped　out　of　the　bushes　on　to　the　path。

〃Mr。　Dyson；　please？〃

〃Yes。　What　is　it？〃

Ashamed　of　being　startled；　he　spoke　with　a　touch　of　impatience。

〃I　brought　you　this；　sir。〃　She　held　out　her　hand。　In　it　was　a　bottle　of　tablets。　〃This　belongs　to　you；　doesn't　it？　Yes？〃

〃Oh；　my　bottle　of　Serenite　tablets。　Yes；　of　course。　Where　did　you　find　it？〃

〃I　found　it　where　it　had　been　put。　In　the　gentleman's　room。〃

〃What　do　you　meanin　the　gentleman's　room？〃

〃The　gentleman　who　is　dead；〃　she　added　gravely。　〃I　do　not　think　he　sleeps　very　well　in　his　grave。〃

〃Why　the　devil　not？〃　asked　Dyson。

Victoria　stood　looking　at　him。

〃I　still　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　You　mean　you　found　this　bottle　of　tablets　in　Major　Palgrave's　bungalow？〃

〃That　is　right；　yes。　After　the　doctor　and　the　Jamestown　people　go　away；　they　give　me　all　the　things　in　his　bathroom　to　throw　away。　The　toothpaste　and　the　lotions；　and　all　the　other　thingsincluding　this。〃

〃Well；　why　didn't　you　throw　it　away？〃

〃Because　these　are　yours。　You　missed　them。　You　remember；　you　asked　about　them？〃

〃Yeswellyes；　I　did。　II　thought　I'd　just　mislaid　them。〃

〃No；　you　did　not　mislay　them。　They　were　taken　from　your　bungalow　and　put　in　Major　Palgrave's　bungalow。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　He　spoke　roughly。

〃I　know　I　saw。〃　She　smiled　at　him　in　a　sudden　flash　of　white　teeth。　〃Someone　put　them　in　the　dead　gentleman's　room。　Now　I　give　them　back　to　you。〃

〃Herewait。　What　do　you　mean？　Whatwho　did　you　see？〃

She　hurried　away；　back　into　the　darkness　of　the　bushes。　Greg　made　as　to　move　after　her　and　then　stopped。　He　stood　stroking　his　chin。

〃What's　the　matter；　Greg？　Seen　a　ghost？〃　asked　Mrs。　Dyson；　as　she　came　along　the　path　from　their　bungalow。　〃Thought　I　had　for　a　minute　or　two。〃

〃Who　was　that　you　were　talking　to？〃

〃The　coloured　girl　who　does　our　place。　Victoria；　her　name　is；　isn't　it？〃

〃What　did　she　want？　Making　a　pass　at　you？〃

〃Don't　be　stupid。　Lucky。　That　girl's　got　some　idiotic　idea　into　her　head。〃

〃Idea　about　what？〃

〃You　remember　I　couldn't　find　my　Serenite　the　other　day？〃

〃You　said　you　couldn't。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　'I　said　I　couldn't'？〃

〃Oh；　for　heck's