I
"Elvira."
"Hallo, Bridget."
The Hon. Elvira Blake pushed her way through thefront door of 180 Onslow Square, which her friend Bridget had rushed down to open for her,having been watching through the window.
"Let's go upstairs,"said Elvira. "Yes, we'd better. Otherwise we'll get entangled by Mummy."
The two girls rushed up the stairs, therebycircumventing Bridget's mother, who came out on to the landingfrom her own bedroom just too late.
"You really are lucky not to have a mother,"said Bridget, rather breathlessly as she took her friend into herbedroom and shut the door firmly. "I mean, Mummy's quite a pet and all that, but the questions she asks! Morning, noon andnight. Where are you going, and who have you met? And are they cousins of somebody else ofthe same name in Yorkshire? I mean, the futility of it all."
"I suppose they have nothing else to think about,"said Elvira vaguely. "Look here, Bridget,there's something terribly important I've got to do, and you've got to help me."
"Well, I will if I can. What is it – a man?"
"No, it isn't, as amatter of fact." Bridget looked disappointed. "I've got to get away to Ireland for twenty-fourhours or perhaps longer, and you've got to cover up for me."
"To Ireland? Why?"
"I can't tell you allabout it now. There's no time. I'vegot to meet my guardian, Colonel Luscombe, at Prunier's forlunch at half-past one."
"What have you done with the Carpenter?"
"Gave her the slip in Debenham's."
Bridget giggled.
"And after lunch they'retaking me down to the Melfords. I'm going to live with themuntil I'm twenty-one."
"How ghastly!"
"I expect I shall manage. Cousin Mildred isfearfully easy to deceive. It's arranged I'm to come up for classes and things. There's aplace called World of Today. They take you to lectures and to Museums and to PictureGalleries and the House of Lords, and all that. The whole point is that nobody will knowwhether you're where you ought to be or not! We'll manage lots of things."
"I expect we will." Bridgetgiggled. "We managed in Italy, didn't we? Old Macaroni thought she was so strict. Little did she know what we gotup to when we tried."
Both girls laughed in the pleasant consciousness ofsuccessful wickedness.
"Still, it did need a lot of planning," said Elvira.
"And some splendid lying," said Bridget. "Have you heard from Guido?"
"Oh yes, he wrote me a long letter signed Ginevraas though he was a girl friend. But I do wish you'd stoptalking so much, Bridget. We've got a lot to do and only aboutan hour and a half to do it in. now first of all just listen. I'm coming up tomorrow for an appointment with the dentist. That's easy, I can put it off by telephone – or youcan from here. Then, about midday, you can ring up the Melfords pretending to be yourmother and explain that the dentist wants to see me again the next day and so I'm staying over with you here."
"That ought to go down all right. They'll say how very kind and gush. But supposing you'renot back the next day?"
"Then you'll have todo some more ringing up."
Bridget looked doubtful.
"We'll have lots oftime to think up something before then," said Elviraimpatiently. "What's worrying menow is money. You haven't got any, I suppose?" Elvira spoke without much hope.
"Only about two pounds."
"That's no good. I've got to buy my air ticket. I've looked up theflights. It only takes about two hours. A lot depends upon how long it takes me when I getthere."
"Can't you tell mewhat you're going to do?"
"No, I can't. But it's terribly, terribly important."
Elvira's voice was sodifferent that Bridget looked at her in some surprise.
"Is anything really the matter, Elvira?"
"Yes, it is."
"Is it something nobody's got to know about?"
"Yes, that's the sortof thing. It's frightfully, frightfully secret. I've got to find out if something is really true or not. It's a bore about the money. What's maddening isthat I'm really quite rich. My guardian told me so. But allthey give me is a measly dress allowance. And that seems to go as soon as I get it."
"Wouldn't yourguardian – Colonel Thingummybob – lendyou some money?"
"That wouldn't do atall. He'd ask a lot of questions and want to know what Iwanted it for."
"Oh, dear, I suppose he would. I can't think why everybody wants to ask so many questions. Do you know that ifsomebody rings me up, Mummy has to ask who it is? When it really is no business of hers!"
Elvira agreed, but her mind was on another tack.
"Have you ever pawned anything, Bridget?"
"Never. I don't thinkI'd know how to."
"It's quite easy, Ibelieve," said Elvira. "You go tothe sort of jeweller who has three balls over the door, isn'tthat right?"
"I don't think I've got anything that would be any good taking to a pawnbroker," said Bridget.
"Hasn't your mothergot some jewellery somewhere?"
"I don't think we'd better ask her to help."
"No, perhaps not – Butwe could pinch something perhaps."
"Oh, I don't think wecould do that," said Bridget, shocked.
"No? Well, perhaps you'reright. But I bet she wouldn't notice. We could get it backbefore she missed it. I know. We'll go to Mr. Bollard."
"Who's Mr. Bollard?"
"Oh, he's a sort offamily jeweller. I take my watch there always to have it mended. He's known me ever since I was six. Come on, Bridget, we'll go there right away. We'll just have time."
"We'd better got outthe back way," said Bridget, "andthen Mummy won't ask us where we'regoing."
Outside the old established business of Bollard andWhitley in Bond Street the two girls made their final arrangements.
"Are you sure you understand, Bridget?"
"I think so," saidBridget in a far from happy voice.
"First," said Elvira, "we synchronise our watches."
Bridget brightened up a little. This familiarliterary phrase had a heartening effect. They solemnly synchronised their watches, Bridgetadjusting hers by one minute.
"Zero hour will be twenty five past exactly,"said Elvira. "That will give me plenty oftime. Perhaps even more than I need, but it's better that wayabout."
"But supposing –」 beganBridget.
"Supposing what?" askedElvira.
"Well, I mean, supposing I really got run over?"
"Of course you won'tget run over," said Elvira. "Youknow how nippy you are on your feet, and all London traffic is used to pulling upsuddenly. It'll be all right."
Bridget looked far from convinced.
"You won't let medown, Bridget, will you?"
"All right," saidBridget, "I won't let you down."
"Good," said Elvira.
Bridget crossed to the other side of Bond Street andElvira pushed open the doors of Messrs Bollard and Whitley, old established jewellers andwatchmakers. Inside there was a beautiful and hushed atmosphere. A frock-coated noblemancame forward and asked Elvira what he could do for her.
"Could I see Mr. Bollard?"
"Mr. Bollard. What name shall I say?"
"Miss Elvira Blake."
The nobleman disappeared and Elvira drifted to acounter where, below plate glass, brooches, rings and bracelets showed off their jewelledproportions against suitable shades of velvet. In a very few moments Mr. Bollard made hisappearance. He was the senior partner of the firm, an elderly man of sixty odd. He greetedElvira with warm friendliness.
"Ah, Miss Blake, so you are in London. It's a great pleasure to see you. Now what can I do for you?"
Elvira produced a dainty little evening wristwatch.
"This watch doesn't goproperly," said Elvira. "Could youdo something to it?"
"Oh yes, of course. There's no difficulty about that." Mr. Bollard took itfrom her. "What address shall I send it to?"
Elvira gave the address.
"And there's anotherthing," she said. "My guardian –Colonel Luscombe you know –」
"Yes, yes, of course."
"He asked me what I'dlike for a Christmas present," said Elvira. "He suggested I should come in here and look at some different things. He saidwould I like him to come with me, and I said I'd rather comealong first – because I always think it's rather embarrassing, don't you? I mean, pricesand all that."
"Well, that'scertainly one aspect," said Mr. Bollard, beaming in anavuncular manner. "Now what had you in mind, Miss Blake? Abrooch, bracelet – a ring?"
"I think really brooches are more useful,"said Elvira. "But I wonder – could I look at a lot of things?" She looked upat him appealingly. He smiled sympathetically.
"Of course, of course. No pleasure at all if onehas to make up one's mind too quickly, is it?"
The next five or six minutes were spent veryagreeably. Nothing was too much trouble for Mr. Bollard. He fetched things from one caseand another, brooches and bracelets piled up on the piece of velvet spread in front ofElvira. Occasionally she turned aside to look at herself in a mirror, trying the effect ofa brooch or a pendant. Finally, rather uncertainly, a pretty little bangle, a smalldiamond wristwatch and two brooches were laid aside.
"We'll make a note ofthese," said Mr. Bollard, "andthen when Colonel Luscombe is in London next, perhaps he'llcome in and see what he decides himself he'd like to give you."
"I think that way will be very nice," said Elvira. "Then he'llfeel more that he's chosen my present himself, won't he?" Her limpid blue gaze was raised hadregistered a moment earlier that the time was now exactly twenty five minutes past thehour.
Outside there was the squealing of brakes and a girl's loud scream. Inevitably the eyes of everyone in the shop turned towards thewindows of the shop giving on Bond Street. The movement of Elvira's hand on the counter in front of her and then to the pocket of her neattailor-made coat and skirt was so rapid and unobtrusive as to be almost unnoticeable, evenif anybody had been looking.
"Tcha, tcha," said Mr.Bollard, turning back from where he had been peering out into the street. "Very nearly accident. Silly girl! Rushing across the road like that."
Elvira was already moving towards the door. Shelooked at her wristwatch and uttered an exclamation.
"Oh dear, I've beenfar too long in here. I shall miss my train back to the country. Thank you so much, Mr.Bollard, and you won't forget which the four things are, willyou?"
In another minute she was out of the door. Turningrapidly to the left and then to the left again, she stopped in the arcade of a shoe shopuntil Bridget, rather breathless, rejoined her.
"Oh," said Bridget, "I was terrified. I thought I was going to be killed. And I've torn a hole in my stocking, too."
"Never mind," saidElvira and walked her friend rapidly along the street and round yet another corner to theright. "Come on."
"Is it – was it –all right?"
Elvira's hand slippedinto her pocket and out again showing the diamond and sapphire bracelet in her palm.
"Oh, Elvira, how you dared!"
"Now, Bridget, you'vegot to get along to that pawnshop we marked down. Go in and see how much you can get forthis. Ask for a hundred."
"Do you think – supposingthey say – I mean – I mean, itmight be on a list of stolen things –」
"Don't be silly. Howcould it be on a list so soon? They haven't even noticed it's gone yet."
"But Elvira, when they do notice it's gone, they'll think – perhaps they'll know – that you must have taken it."
"They might think so – ifthey discover it soon."
"Well, then they'll goto the police and –」
She stopped as Elvira shook her head slowly, herpale yellow hair swinging to and fro and a faint enigmatic smile curving up the corners ofher mouth.
"They won't go to thepolice, Bridget. Certainly not if they think I took it."
"Why – you mean –?"
"As I told you, I'mgoing to have a lot of money when I'm twenty-one. I shall beable to buy lots of jewels from them. They won't make ascandal. Go on and get the money quick. Then go to Aer Lingus and book the ticket –I must take a taxi to Prunier'. I'm already ten minutes late. I'll be with youtomorrow morning by half-past ten."
"Oh, Elvira, I wish you wouldn't take such frightful risks," moaned Bridget.
But Elvira had hailed a taxi.
II
Miss Marple had a very enjoyable time at Robinson& Cleaver's. Besides purchasing expensive but delicioussheets – she loved linen sheets with their texture and theircoolness – she also indulged in a purchase of good qualityred-bordered glass-cloths. Really the difficulty in getting proper glass-cloths nowadays!Instead, you were offered things that might as well have been ornamental tablecloths,decorated with radishes or lobsters or the Tour Eiffel or Trafalgar Square, or elselittered with lemons and oranges. Having given her address in St. Mary Mead, Miss Marplefound a convenient bus which took her to the Army & Navy Stores.
The Army & Navy Stores had been a haunt of MissMarple's aunt in days long gone. It was not, of course, quitethe same nowadays. Miss Marple cast her thoughts back to Aunt Helen seeking out her ownspecial man in the grocery department, settling herself comfortably in a chair, wearing abonnet and what she always called her "black poplin" mantle. Then there would ensure a long hour with nobody in a hurry and AuntHelen thinking of every conceivable grocery that could be purchased and stored up forfuture use. Christmas was provided for, and there was even a far-off look towards Easter.The young Jane had fidgeted somewhat, and had been told to go and look at the glassdepartment by way of amusement.
Having finished her purchases, Aunt Helen would thenproceed to lengthy inquiries about her chosen shop assistant'smother, wife, second boy and crippled sister-in-law. Having had a thoroughly pleasantmorning, Aunt Helen would say in the playful manner of those times "And how would a little girl feel about some luncheon? Whereupon they went upin the lift to the fourth floor and had luncheon which always finished with a strawberryice. After that, they bought half a pound of coffee chocolate creams and went to a matineein a four wheeler.
Of course, the Army & Navy Stores had had a goodmany face-lifts since those days. I fact, it was now quite unrecognisable from the oldtimes. It was gayer and much brighter. Miss Marple, though throwing a kindly and indulgentsmile at the past, did not object to the amenities of the present. There was still arestaurant, and there she repaired to order her lunch.
As she was looking carefully down the menu anddeciding what to have, she looked across the room and her eyebrows went up a little. Howextraordinary coincidence was! Here was a woman she had never seen till the day before,though she had seen plenty of newspaper photographs of her – atrace meetings, in Bermuda, or standing by her own plane or car. Yesterday, for the firsttime, she had seen her in the flesh. And now, as was so often the case, there was thecoincidence of running into her again in a most unlikely place. For somehow she did notconnect lunch at the Army & Navy Stores with Bess Sedgwick. She would not have beensurprised to see Bess Sedgwick emerging from a den in Soho, or stepping out of CoventGarden Opera House in evening dress with a diamond tiara on her head. But somehow, not inthe Army & Navy Stores which in Miss Marple's mind was,and always would be, connected with the armed forces, their wives, daughters, aunts andgrandmothers. Still, there Bess Sedgwick was, looking as usual and very smart, in her darksuit and her emerald shirt, lunching at a table with a man. A young man with a leanhawklike face, wearing a black leather jacket. They were leaning forward talking earnestlytogether, forking in mouthfuls of food as though they were quite unaware what they wereeating.
An assignation, perhaps? Yes, probably anassignation. The man must be fifteen or twenty years younger than she was – but Bess Sedgwick was a magnetically attractive woman.
Miss Marple looked at the young man consideringlyand decided that he was what she called a "handsome fellow."She also decided that she didn't like himvery much. "Just like Harry Russell," said Miss Marple to herself, dredging up a prototype a usual from the past. "Never up to any good. Never did any woman who had anything to do with him anygood either."
"She wouldn't takeadvice from me," thought Miss Marple, "but I could give her some." However, other people's love affairs were no concern of hers, and Bess Sedgwick, by all accounts,could take care of herself very well when it came to love affairs.
Miss Marple sighed, ate her lunch, and meditated avisit to the stationery department.
Curiosity, or what she preferred herself to call "taking an interest" in other people's affairs was undoubtedly one of Miss Marple'scharacteristics.
Deliberately leaving her gloves on the table, sherose and crossed the floor to the cash desk, taking a route that passed close to LadySedgwick's table. Having paid her bill she "discovered" the absence of her gloves andreturned to get them – unfortunately dropping her handbag onthe return route. It came open and spilled various oddments. A waitress rushed to assisther in picking them up, and Miss Marple was forced to show a great shakiness and droppedcoppers and keys a second time.
She did not get very much by these subterfuges butthey were not entirely in vain – and it was interesting thatneither of the two objects of her curiosity spared as much as a glance for the dithery oldlady who kept dropping things.
As Miss Marple waited for the lift down shememorised such scraps a she had heard.
"What about the weather forecast?"
"O.K. No fog."
"All set for Lucerne?"
"Yes. Plane leaves 9.40."
That was all she had got the first time. On the wayback it had lasted a little longer.
Bess Sedgwick had been speaking angrily.
"What possessed you to come to Bertram's yesterday – you shouldn't have come near the place."
"It's all right. Iasked if you were staying there and everyone knows we're closefriends –」
"That's not the point.Bertram's is all right for me – Notfor you. You stick out like a sore thumb. Everyone stares at you."
"Let them!"
"You really are an idiot. Why – why? What reason did you have? You had a reason – Iknow you…」
"Calm down, Bess."
"You're such a liar!"
That was all she had been able to hear. She found itinteresting.
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