He stopped — the yellow pages of the song in his hand. Beneath them, reposing on Chopin’s Preludes, was a small automatic pistol.

‘Stephen Restarick,’ exclaimed Sergeant Lake joyfully.

‘Now don’t jump to conclusions,’ Inspector Curry warned him. ‘Ten to one that’s what we’re meant to think.’

Chapter 15

I

Miss Marple climbed the stairs and tapped on the door of Mrs Serrocold’s bedroom.

‘May I come in, Carrie Louise?’

‘Of course, Jane dear.’

Carrie Louise was sitting in front of the dressing table, brushing her silvery hair. She turned her head over her shoulder.

‘Is it the police? I’ll be ready in a few minutes.’

‘Are you all right?’

‘Yes, of course. Jolly insisted on my having my breakfast in bed. And Gina came into the room with it on tiptoe as though I might be at death’s door! I don’t think people realize that tragedies like Christian’s death are much less shock to someone old. Because one knows by then how anything may happen — and how little anything really matters that happens in this world.’

‘Ye — es,’ said Miss Marple dubiously.

‘Don’t you feel the same, Jane? I should have thought you would.’

Miss Marple said slowly:

‘Christian was murdered.’

‘Yes…I see what you mean. You think that does matter?’

‘Don’t you?’

‘Not to Christian,’ said Carrie Louise simply. ‘It matters, of course, to whoever murdered him.’

‘Have you any idea who murdered him?’

Mrs Serrocold shook her head in a bewildered fashion.

‘No, I’ve absolutely no idea. I can’t even think of a reason. It must have been something to do with his being here before — just over a month ago. Because otherwise I don’t think he would have come here suddenly again for no particular reason. Whatever it was must have started off then. I’ve thought and I’ve thought, but I can’t remember anything unusual.’

‘Oh! The same people who are here now — yes, Alex was down from London about then. And — oh yes, Ruth was here.’

‘Ruth?’

‘Her usual flying visit.’

‘Ruth,’ said Miss Marple again. Her mind was active. Christian Gulbrandsen and Ruth? Ruth had come away worried and apprehensive, but had not known why. Something was wrong was all that Ruth could say. Christian Gulbrandsen had known or suspected something that Ruth did not. He had known or suspected that someone was trying to poison Carrie Louise. How had Christian Gulbrandsen come to entertain those suspicions? What had he seen or heard? Was it something that Ruth also had seen or heard but which she had failed to appreciate at its rightful significance? Miss Marple wished that she knew what it could possibly have been. Her own vague hunch that it (whatever it was) had to do with Edgar Lawson seemed unlikely since Ruth had not mentioned him.

She sighed.

‘You’re all keeping something from me, aren’t you?’ asked Carrie Louise.

Miss Marple jumped a little as the quiet voice spoke.

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because you are. Not Jolly. But everyone else. Even Lewis. He came in while I was having my breakfast, and he acted very oddly. He drank some of my coffee and even had a bit of toast and marmalade. That’s so unlike him, because he always has tea and he doesn’t like marmalade, so he must have been thinking of something else — and I suppose he must have forgotten to have his own breakfast. He does forget things like meals, and he looked so concerned and preoccupied.’