‘Do you suffer much from rheumatism?’
‘It’s got much worse lately. I find it difficult to walk.
Horrid cramps in my legs. Oh well -‘ gain there came that bewitching elfin smile, ‘age must tell.’
Miss Believer came out of the french windows and hurried across to them.
‘A telegram, Cara, just come over the telephone.
Arriving this afternoon, Christian Gulbrandsen.’
‘hristian?’ Carrie Louise looked very surprised. ‘I’d no i!ea he was in England.’
‘The oak suite, I suppose?’
‘Yes,%p!ase, Jolly. Then there will be no stairs.’ Miss Believer nodded and turned back to the house.
‘Christian Gulbrandsen is my stepson,’ said Carrie Louise. ‘Eric’s eldest son. Actually he’s two years older than I am. FIe’s one of the trustees of the Institute – the principal trustee. How very annoying that Lewis is away.
Christian hardly ever stays longer than ode night. He’s an immensely busy man. And there are sure to be so many things they would want to discuss.’
Christian Gulbrandsen arrived that afternoon in time for tea. He was a big heavy-featured ma, with a slow methodical way of talking. He greeted Crrie Louise with every sign of affection.
‘And how is our little Carrie Louise? You do not look a day older. Not a day.’
His hands on her shoulders – he stood smiling down at her. A hand tugged his sleeve.
‘Christian!’ ‘Ah,’ he turned – ‘it is Mildred? How are you, Mildred?’
‘I’ve not really been at all well lately.’
‘That is bad. That is bad.’
There was a strong resemblance between Christian Gulbrandsen and his half-sister Mildred. There was nearly thirty years’ difference in age and they might easily have been taken for father and daughter. Mildred herself seemed particularly pleased by his arrival. She was flushed and talkative, and had talked repeatedly during the day of ‘my brother,’ ‘my brother Christian,’ ‘my brother Mr Gulbrandsen.’
‘And how is little Gina?’ said Gulbrandsen, turning to that young woman. ‘You and your husband are still here, then?’
‘Yes. We’ve quite settled down, haven’t we, Wally?’ ‘Looks like it,’ said Wally.
Gulbrandsen’s small shrewd eyes seemed to sum up Wally quickly. Wally, as usual, looked sullen and unfriendly.
‘So here I am with all the family again,’ said Gulbrandsen.
His voice displayed a rather determined geniality – but in actual fact, Miss Marple thought, he was not feeling particularly genial. There was a grim set to his lips and a certain preoccupation in his manner.
Introduced to Miss Marple, he swept a keen look over her as though measuring and appraising this newcomer.
‘We’d no idea you were in England, Christian,’ said Mrs Serrocold.
‘No, I came over rather unexpectedly.’
‘It is too bad that Lewis is away. How long can you stay?’ ‘I meant to go tomorrow. When will Lewis be back?’ ‘Tomorrow afternoon or evening.’ ‘It seems then that I must stay another night.’ ‘If you’d only let us know ‘ ‘My dear Carrie Louise, my arrangements, they were made very suddenly.’ ‘You will stay to see Lewis?’ ‘Yes, it is necessary that I see Lewis.’ Miss Bellever said to Miss Marple: ‘Mr Gulbrandsen and Mr Serrocold are both trustees of the Gulbrandsen Institute. The others are the Bishop of Cromer and Mr Gilfoy.’ Presumably, then, it was on business concerned with the Gulbrandsen Institute that Christian Gulbrandsen had come to Stonygates. It seemed to be assumed so by Miss Believer and everyone else. And yet Miss Marple wondered.
Once or twice the old man cast a thoughtful puzzled look at Carrie Louise Whenhe was not aware of it – a look that puzzled Carrie Louis’xs watching friend. From Carrie Louise he shifted his gae to the others, examining them one and all with a kind of covert appraisal that seemed distinctly odd.
After tea, Miss Marple withdrew tactfully from the others to the library, but rather to her surprise when she had settled herself with her knitting, Christian Gulo brandsen came in and sat down beside her.
‘You are a very old friend, I think, of our dear Carrie Louise?’ he said.
‘We were at school together in Italy, Mr Gulbrandsen.
Many many years ago.’ ‘Ah yes. And you are fond of her?’ ‘Yes, indeed,’ said Miss Marple warmly.