He said: “We can, to a certain extent, check up on these people …” But he knew that that wasn’t so easy. India and China and Hong Kong and the South of France … It wasn’t as easy as it would have been fifteen years ago. There were people, as he knew only too well, who were going about the country with borrowed identities—borrowed from people who had met sudden death by “incidents’ in the cities. There were organizations who bought up identities, who faked identity and ration cards—there were a hundred small rackets springing into being. You could check up—but it would take time—and time was what he hadn’t got, because Randall Goedler’s widow was very near death.

It was then that, worried and tired, lulled by the sunshine, he told Miss Marple about Randall Goedler and about Pip and Emma.

“Just a couple of names,” he said. “Nicknames at that! They mayn’t exist. They may be respectable citizens living in Europe somewhere. On the other hand one, or both, of them may be here in Chipping Cleghorn.”

Twenty-five years old approximately—Who filled that description? He said, thinking aloud:

“That nephew and niece of hers—or cousins or whatever they are … I wonder when she saw them last—”

Miss Marple said gently: “I’ll find out for you, shall I?”

“Now, please, Miss Marple, don’t—”

“It will be quite simple, Inspector, you really need not worry. And it won’t be noticeable if I do it, because, you see, it won’t be official. If there is anything wrong you don’t want to put them on their guard.”

Pip and Emma, thought Craddock, Pip and Emma? He was getting obsessed by Pip and Emma. That attractive dare-devil young man, the good-looking girl with the cool stare….

He said: “I may find out more about them in the next forty-eight hours. I’m going up to Scotland. Mrs. Goedler, if she’s able to talk, may know a good deal more about them.”

“I think that’s a very wise move.” Miss Marple hesitated. “I hope,” she murmured, “that you have warned Miss Blacklock to be careful?”

“I’ve warned her, yes. And I shall leave a man here to keep an unobtrusive eye on things.”

He avoided Miss Marple’s eye which said plainly enough that a policeman keeping an eye on things would be little good if the danger was in the family circle….

“And remember,” said Craddock, looking squarely at her, “I’ve warned you.”

“I assure you, Inspector,” said Miss Marple, “that I can take care of myself.”

Eleven

MISS MARPLE COMES TO TEA

I

If Letitia Blacklock seemed slightly absentminded when Mrs. Harmon came to tea and brought a guest who was staying with her, Miss Marple, the guest in question, was hardly likely to notice the fact since it was the first time she had met her.

The old lady was very charming in her gentle gossipy fashion. She revealed herself almost at once to be one of those old ladies who have a constant preoccupation with burglars.