“I know what I’m doing, Phillipa. I’ve become fond of you—and there’s the boy … You won’t get very much if I should die now—but in a few weeks’ time it might be different.”

Her eyes met Phillipa’s steadily.

“But you’re not going to die!” Phillipa protested.

“Not if I can avoid it by taking due precautions.”

“Precautions?”

“Yes. Think it over … And don’t worry any more.”

She left the room abruptly. Phillipa heard her speaking to Julia in the hall.

Julia entered the drawing room a few moments later.

There was a slightly steely glitter in her eyes.

“Played your cards rather well, haven’t you, Phillipa? I see you’re one of those quiet ones … a dark horse.”

“So you heard—?”

“Yes, I heard. I rather think I was meant to hear.”

“What do you mean?”

“Our Letty’s no fool … Well, anyway, you’re all right, Phillipa. Sitting pretty, aren’t you?”

“Oh, Julia—I didn’t mean—I never meant—”

“Didn’t you? Of course you did. You’re fairly up against things, aren’t you? Hard up for money. But just remember this—if anyone bumps off Aunt Letty now, you’ll be suspect No. 1.”

“But I shan’t be. It would be idiotic if I killed her now when—if I waited—”

“So you do know about old Mrs. Whatsername dying up in Scotland? I wondered … Phillipa, I’m beginning to believe you’re a very dark horse indeed.”

“I don’t want to do you and Patrick out of anything.”

“Don’t you, my dear? I’m sorry—but I don’t believe you.”

16.

Sixteen

INSPECTOR CRADDOCK RETURNS

Inspector Craddock had had a bad night on his night journey home. His dreams had been less dreams than nightmares. Again and again he was racing through the grey corridors of an old-world castle in a desperate attempt to get somewhere, or to prevent something, in time. Finally he dreamt that he awoke. An enormous relief surged over him. Then the door of his compartment slid slowly open, and Letitia Blacklock looked in at him with blood running down her face, and said reproachfully: “Why didn’t you save me? You could have if you’d tried.”

This time he really awoke.

Altogether, the Inspector was thankful finally to reach Milchester. He went straight away to make his report to Rydesdale who listened carefully.

“It doesn’t take us much further,” he said. “But it confirms what Miss Blacklock told you. Pip and Emma—h’m, I wonder.”

“Patrick and Julia Simmons are the right age, sir. If we could establish that Miss Blacklock hadn’t seen them since they were children—”

With a very faint chuckle, Rydesdale said: “Our ally, Miss Marple, has established that for us. Actually Miss Blacklock had never seen either of them at all until two months ago.”

“Then, surely, sir—”