Inspector. Prove that I’m Ruby MacKenzie if
you can.”
301
25
(< ^-T^HE old tabby's looking for you, sir,"| said Sergeant Hay in a conspiratorial a whisper, as Inspector Neele descendedthe stairs. "It appears as how she'sgot a lot more to say to you."T"Hell and damnation," said InspectorNeele."Yes, sir," said Sergeant Hay, not a muscleof his face moving.He was about to move away when Neelecalled him back."Go over those notes given us by MissDove, Hay, notes as to her former employmentand situations. Check up on them--and, yes, there are just one or two other things thatI would like to know. Put these inquiries inhand, will you?"He jotted down a few lines on a sheet ofpaper and gave them to Sergeant Hay whosaid:"I'll get on to it at once, sir."Hearing a murmur of voices in the libraryas he passed. Inspector Neele looked in.302Whether Miss Marple had been looking forhim or not, she was now fully engaged talkingto Mrs. Percival Fortescue while her knittingneedles clicked busily. The middle of thesentence which Inspector Neele caught was:"... I have really always thought it was avocation you needed for nursing. It certainlyis very noble work."Inspector Neele withdrew quietly. MissMarple had noticed him, he thought, but shehad taken no notice of his presence.She went on in her gentle soft voice:"I had such a charming nurse looking afterme when I once broke my wrist. She went onfrom me to nurse Mrs. Sparrow's son, a verynice young naval officer. Quite a romance, really, because they became engaged. Soromantic I thought it. They were married andwere very happy and had two dear littlechildren." Miss Marple sighed sentimentally."It was pneumonia, you know. Somuch depends on nursing in pneumonia, does it not.""Oh, yes," said Jennifer Fortescue, "nursing is nearly everything in penumonia, though of course nowadays M and B workswonders, and it's not the long, protractedbattle it used to be."303"I'm sure you must have been an excellentnurse, my dear," said Miss Marple. "Thatwas the beginning of your romance, was itnot? I mean, you came here to nurse Mr.Percival Fortescue, did you not?""Yes," said Jennifer. "Yes, yes--that's howit did happen."Her voice was not encouraging, but MissMarple seemed to take no notice."I understand. One should not listen toservants' gossip, of course, but I'm afraid anold lady like myself is always interested tohear about the people in the house. Nowwhat was I saying? Oh, yes. There wasanother nurse at first, was there not, and shegot sent away--something like that. Carelessness, I believe.""I don't think it was carelessness," saidJennifer. "I believe her father or somethingwas desperately ill, and so I came to replace her.""I see," said Miss Marple. "And you fell inlove and that was that. Yes, very nice indeed,very nice.""I'm not so sure about that," said JenniferFortescue. "I often wish"--her voicetrembled--"I often wish I was back in thewards again."304"Yes, yes, I understand. You were keen onyour profession.""I wasn't so much at the time, but nowwhen I think of it--life's so monotonous, youknow. Day after day with nothing to do, andVal so absorbed in business."Miss Marple shook her head."Gentlemen have to work so hard nowadays,"she said. "There really doesn't seemany leisure, no matter how much moneythere is.""Yes, it makes it very lonely and dull for awife sometimes. I often wish I'd never comehere," said Jennifer. "Oh, well, I dare say itserves me right. I ought never to have doneit."<<<'Ought never to have done what, mydear?""I ought never to have married Val. Ohwell----" she sighed abruptly. "Don't let'stalk of it any more."Obligingly Miss Marple began to talkabout the new skirts that were being worn inParis.II"So kind of you not to interrupt just now,"305said Miss Marple when, having tapped at the