ThreeBlindMiceandOtherStories.

by AgathaChristie

ThreeBlindMice

ThreeBlindMiceThreeBlindMiceSeehowtheyrunSeehowtheyrunTheyallranafterthefarmer'swifeShecutofftheirtailswithacarvingknifeDidyoueverseesuchasightinyourlifeAsThreeBlindMice Itwasverycold.Theskywasdarkandheavywithunshedsnow.

Amaninadarkovercoat,withhism.u.f.flerpulleduproundhisface,andhishatpulleddownoverhiseyes,camealongCulverStreetandwentupthestepsofnumber74.Heputhisfingeronthebellandhearditshrillinginthebas.e.m.e.ntbelow.

MrsCasey,herhandsbusyinthesink,saidbitterly,"Dratthatbell.Neveranypeace,thereisn't."

Wheezingalittle,shetoiledupthebas.e.m.e.ntstairsandopenedthedoor.

Themanstandingsilhouettedagainsttheloweringskyoutsideaskedinawhisper,"MrsLyon?"

"Secondfloor,"saidMrsCasey."Youcangoonup.Doessheexpectyou?"

Themanslowlyshookhishead.

"Oh,well,goonupandknock."

Shewatchedhimashewentuptheshabbilycarpetedstairs.

Afterwardshesaid,he"gaveherafunnyfeeling."Butactuallyallshethoughtwasthathemusthaveaprettybadcoldonlytobeabletowhisperlikethat-andnowonderwiththeweatherwhat.i.twas.

Whenthemangotroundthebendofthestaircasehebegantowhistlesoftly.Thetunehewhistledwas"ThreeBlindMice."

MollyDavissteppedbackintotheroadandlookedupatthenewlypaintedboardbythegate.

MONKSWELLMANORGUESTHOUSE Shenoddedapproval.Itlooked,itreallydidlook,quiteprofessional.Or,perhaps,onemightsayalmostprofessional.TheTofGuestHousestaggereduphillalittle,andtheendofManorwa.s.slightlycrowded,butonthewholeGileshadmadeawonderfuljobofit.

Gileswasreallyveryclever.Thereweresomanythingsthathecoulddo.Shewasalwaysmakingfreshdiscoveriesaboutthishusbandofhers.Hesaidsolittleabouthimselfthat.i.twasonlybydegreesthatshewasfindingoutwhatalotofvariedtalentshehad.Anex-navalmanwasalwaysa"handyman,"sopeoplesaid.

Well,Gileswouldhaveneedofallhistalentsintheirnewventure.n.o.bodycouldbemorerawtothebusinessofrunningaguesthousethansheandGiles.But.i.twouldbegreatfun.Anditdidsolvethehousingproblem.

IthadbeenMolly'sidea.WhenAuntKatherinedied,andthelawyerswrotetoherandinformedherthatheraunthadleftherMonkswellManor,thenaturalreactionoftheyoungcouplehadbeentosellit.

Gileshadasked,"Whatisitlike?"

AndMollyhadreplied,"Oh,abig,ramblingoldhouse,fullofstuffy,old-fashionedVictorianfurniture.Ratheranicegarden,b.u.t.terriblyovergrownsincethewar,becausethere'sbeenonlyoneoldgardenerleft."

Sotheyhaddecidedtoputthehouseonthemarket,andkeepjustenoughfurnituretofurnishasmallcottageorflatforthemselves.

b.u.t.twodifficultiesaroseatonce.First,thereweren'tanysmallcottagesorflatstobefound,andsecondly,allthefurniturewasenormous.

"Well,"saidMolly,"we'lljusthavetosellitall.Isupposeitwillsell?"

Thesolicitora.s.suredthemthatnowadaysanythingwouldsell.

"Veryprobably,"hesaid,"someonewillbuyitforahotelorguesthouseinwhichcasetheymightliketobuyitwiththefurniturecomplete.Fortunatelythehouseisinverygoodrepair.ThelateMissEmoryhadextensiverepairsandmodernizationsdonejustbeforethewar,andtherehasbeenverylittledeterioration.Oh,yes,it'singoodshape."

AnditwasthenthatMollyhadhadheridea.

"Giles,"shesaid,"whyshouldn'twerunitasaguesthouseourselves?"

Atfirstherhusbandhadscoffedattheidea,butMollyhadpersisted.

"Weneedn'ttakeverymanypeople-notatfirst.It'saneasyhousetorun-it'sgothotandcoldwaterinthebedroomsandcentralheatingandagascooker.Andwecanhavehensandducksandourowneggs,andvegetables."

"Who'ddoallthework-isn't.i.tveryhardtogetservants?"

"Oh,we'dhavetodothework.Butwhereverwelivedwe'dhavetodothat.Afewextrapeoplewouldn'treallymeanmuchmoretodo.We'dprobablygetawomantocomeinafterabitwhenwegotproperlystarted.Ifwehadonlyfivepeople,eachpayingsevenguineasaweek-"Mollydepartedintotherealmsofsomewhatoptimisticmentalarithmetic.

"Andthink,Giles,"sheended,"itwouldbeourownhouse.Withourownthings.Asitis,itseemstomeitwillbeyearsbeforewecaneverfindanywheretolive."

That,Gilesadmitted,wastrue.Theyhadhadsolittletimetogethersincetheirhastymarriage,thattheywerebothlongingtosettledowninahome.

Sothegreatexperimentwa.s.setunderway.Advertis.e.m.e.ntswereputinthelocalpaperandintheTimes,andvariousanswerscame.

Andnow,today,thefirstoftheguestswastoarrive.Gileshadgoneoffearlyinthecartotryandobtainsomearmywirenettingthathadbeenadvertisedasforsaleontheothersideofthecounty.

Mollyannouncedthenecessityofwalkingtothevillagetomakesomelastpurchases.

Theonlythingthatwaswrongwastheweather.Forthelasttwodaysithadbeenbitterlycold,andnowthesnowwasbeginningtofall.

Mollyhurriedupthedrive,thick,featheryflakesfallingonherwaterproofedshouldersandbrightcurlyhair.Theweatherforecastshadbeenlugubriousintheextreme.Heavysnowfallwastobeexpected.

Shehopedanxiouslythatallthepipeswouldn'tfreeze.Itwouldbetoobadifeverythingwentwrongjustastheystarted.

Sheglancedatherwatch.Pastteatime.WouldGileshavegotbackyet?Wouldhebewonderingwhereshewas?

"IhadtogotothevillageagainforsomethingIhadforgotten,"shewouldsay.

Andhewouldlaughandsay,"Moretins?"

Tinswereajokebetweenthem.Theywerealwaysonthelookoutfortinsoffood.Thelarderwasreallyquitenicelystockednowincaseofemergencies.

And,Mollythoughtwithagrimacea.s.shelookedupatthesky,itlookedasthoughemergenciesweregoingtopresentthemselvesverysoon.

Thehousewasempty.Gileswas...o...b..ckyet.

Mollywentfirstintothekitchen,thenupstairs,goingroundthenewlypreparedbedrooms.MrsBoyleinthesouthroomwiththemahoganyandthefour-poster.MajorMetcalfintheblueroomwiththeoak.MrWrenintheeastroomwiththebaywindow.Alltheroomslookedverynice-andwhatablessingthatAuntKatherinehadhadsuchasplendidstockoflinen.Mollypattedacounterpaneintoplaceandwentdownstairsagain.

Itwasnearlydark.Thehousefeltsuddenlyveryquietandempty.Itwasalonelyhouse,twomilesfromavillage,twomiles,asMollyput.i.t,fromanywhere.

Shehadoftenbeenaloneinthehousebefore-butshehadneverbeforebeensoconsciousofbeingaloneinit.

Thes...o...b..atinasoftflurryagainstthewindowpanes.Itmadeawhispery,uneasysound.

SupposingGilescouldn'tgetback-supposingthesnowwa.s.sothickthatthecarcouldn'tgetthrough?Supposingshehadtostayalonehere-stayalonefordays,perhaps.

Shelookedroundthekitchen-abig,comfortablekitchenthatseemedtocallforabig,comfortablecookpresidingatthekitchentable,herjawsmovingrhythmicallya.s.sheaterockcakesanddrankblacktea-sheshouldbeflankedbyatall,elderlyparlour-maidononesideandaround,rosyhousemaidontheother,withakitchen-maidattheotherendofthetableobservingherbetterswithfrightenedeyes.Andinsteadtherewasjustherself,MollyDavis,playingarolethatdidnotyetseemaverynaturalroletoplay.

Herwholelife,atthemoment,seemedunreal-Gilesseemedunreal.Shewasplayingapart-justplayingapart.

Ashadowpa.s.sedthewindow,andshejumped-astrangemanwascomingthroughthesnow.Sheheardtherattleofthesidedoor.Thestrangerstoodthereintheopendoorway,shakingoffsnow,astrangeman,walkingintotheemptyhouse.Andthen,suddenly,illusionfled.

"OhGiles,"shecried,"I'msogladyou'vecome!"

"Hullo,sweetheart!Whatfilthyweather!Lord,I'mfrozen."

Hestampedhisfeetandblewthroughhishands.

AutomaticallyMollypickedupthecoatthathehadthrowninaGiles-likemannerontotheoakchest.Sheput.i.tonahanger,takingoutofthestuffedpocketsam.u.f.fler,anewspaper,aballofstring,andthemorning'scorrespondencewhichhehadshovedinpellmell.Movingintothekitchen,shelaiddownthearticlesonthedresserandputthekettleonthegas.

"Didyougetthenetting?"sheasked."Whatagesyou'vebeen."

"Itwasn'ttherightkind.Wouldn'thavebeenanygoodforus.Iwentontoanotherdump,b.u.t.thatwasn'tanygoodeither.Whathaveyoubeendoingwithyourself?n.o.bodyturnedupyet,Isuppose?"

"MrsBoyleisn'tcomingtilltomorrow,anyway."

"MajorMetcalfandMrWrenoughttobeheretoday."

"MajorMetcalfsentacardtosayhewouldn'tbeheretilltomorrow."

"ThenthatleavesusandMrWrenfordinner.Whatdoyouthinkhe'slike?Correctsortofretiredcivilservantismyidea."

"No,Ithinkhe'sanartist."

"Inthatcase,"saidGiles,"we'dbettergetaweek'srentinadvance."

"Oh,no,Giles,theybringluggage.Iftheydon'tpaywehangontotheirluggage."

"Andsupposetheirluggageisstoneswrappedupinnewspaper?Thetruthis,Molly,wedon'tintheleastknowwhatwe'reupagainstinthisbusiness.Ihopetheydon'tspotwhatbeginnersweare."

"MrsBoyleissureto,"saidMolly."She'sthatkindofwoman."

"Howdoyouknow?Youhaven'tseenher?"

Mollyturnedaway.Shespreadanewspaperonthetable,fetchedsomecheese,andsettoworktograteit.

"What'sthis?"inquiredherhusband.

"It'sgoingtobeWelshrarebit,"Mollyinformedhim.

"Breadcrumbsandmashedpotatoesandjustateeny-weenybitofcheesetojustifyitsname."

"Aren'tyouaclevercook?"saidheradmiringhusband.

"Iwonder.Icandoonethingatatime.It'sa.s.semblingthemthatneedssomuchpractice.Breakfastistheworst."

"Why?"

"Becauseitallhappensatonce-eggsandbaconandhotmilkandcoffeeandtoast.Themilkboilsover,orthetoastburns,orthebaconfrizzles,ortheeggsgohard.Youhavetobeasactiveasascaldedcat.w.a.tchingeverythingatonce."

"Ishallhavetocreepdownun.o.bservedtomorrowmorningandwatchthisscalded-catimpersonation."

"Thekettle'sboiling,"saidMolly."Shallwetakethetrayintothelibraryandhearthewireless?It'salmosttimeforthenews."

"Asweseemtobegoingtospendalmostthewholeofourtimeinthekitchen,weoughttohaveawirelessthere,too."

"Yes.Hownicekitchensare.Ilovethiskitchen.Ithinkit'sfarandawaythenicestroominthehouse.Ilikethedresserandtheplates,andIsimplylovethelavishfeelingthatanabsolutelyenormouskitchenrangegivesyou-though,ofcourse,I'mthankfulIhaven'tgottocookonit."

"Isupposeawholeyear'sfuelrationwouldgoinoneday."

"Almostcertainly,Ishouldsay.b.u.t.thinkofthegreatjointsthatwereroastedinit-sirloinsofbeefandsaddlesofmutton.Colossalcopperpreserving-pansfullofhomemadestrawberryjamwithpoundsandpoundsofsugargoingintoit.Whatalovely,comfortableagetheVictorianagewas.Lookatthefurnitureupstairs,largeandsolidandratherornate-but,oh!-theheavenlycomfortofit,withlotsofroomfortheclothesoneusedtohave,andeverydrawerslidinginandoutsoeasily.Doyourememberthatsmartmodernflatwewerelent?Everythingbuiltinandsliding-onlynothingslid-italwaysstuck.Andthedoorspushedshut-onlytheyneverstayedshut,oriftheydidshuttheywouldn'topen."

"Yes,that'stheworstofgadgets.Iftheydon'tgoright,you'resunk."

"Well,comeon,let'shearthenews."

Thenewsconsistedmainlyofgrimwarningsabouttheweather,theusualdeadlockinforeignaffairs,spiritedbickeringsinParliament,andamurderinCulverStreet,Paddington.

"Ugh,"saidMolly,switchingitoff."Nothingbutmisery.I'mnotgoingtohearappealsforfueleconomyalloveragain.Whatdotheyexpectyoutodo,sitandfreeze?Idon'tthinkweoughttohavetriedtostartaguesthouseinthewinter.Weoughttohavewaiteduntilthespring."Sheaddedinadifferenttoneofvoice,"Iwonderwhatthewomanwaslikewhowasmurdered."

"MrsLyon?"

"Wasthathername?Iwonderwhowantedtomurderherandwhy."

"Perhapsshehadafortuneunderthefloorboards."

"Whenitsaysthepoliceareanxioustointerviewaman'seeninthevicinity'doesthatmeanhe'sthemurderer?"

"Ithinkit'susuallythat.Justapolitewayofputtingit."

Theshrillnoteofabellmadethembothjump.

"That'sthefrontdoor,"saidGiles."Enter-amurderer,"headdedfacetiously.

"Itwouldbe,ofcourse,inaplay.Hurryup.ItmustbeMrWren.Nowweshallseewho'srightabouthim,youorme."