ThistimeEdnagotwellawaywithhernewsbulletin.

"Oh,ma'am,itwaseversuchashocktoGladdie.Yousee,oneofMissEmily'sbroocheswasmissing,andsuchahueandcryforitasneverwas,andofcourse,n.o.bodylikesathinglikethattohappen;it'supsetting,ma'am.IfyouknowwhatImean.AndGladdie'shelpedsearcheverywhere,andtherewasMissLaviniasayingshewasgoingtothepoliceabout.i.t,andthenitturnedupagain,pushedrighttothebackofadrawerinthedressing-table,andverythankfulGladdiewas."

"Andtheverynextdayaseverwasaplategotbroken,andMissLavinia,shebouncedoutrightawayandtoldGladdietotakeamonth'snotice.AndwhatGladdiefeelsisitcouldn'thavebeentheplateandthatMissLaviniawasjustmakinganexcuseofthat,andthat.i.tmustbebecauseofthebroochandtheythinka.s.shetookitandput.i.tbackwhenthepolicewasmentioned,andGladdiewouldn'tdosuchathing,notnevershewouldn't,andwhatshefeelsisasitwillgetroundandtellagainsther,andit'saveryseriousthingforagirlasyouknow,ma'am."

MissMarplenodded.Thoughhavingnoparticularlikingforthebouncing,self-opinionedGladys,shewasquitesureofthegirl'sintrinsichonestyandcouldwellimaginethattheaffairmusthaveupsether.

Ednasaidwistfully,"Isuppose,ma'am,thereisn'tanythingyoucoulddoabout.i.t?"

"Tellhernottobesilly,"saidMissMarplecrisply."Ifshedidn'ttakethebrooch-whichI'msureshedidn't-thenshehasnocausetobeupset."

"It'llgetabout,"saidEdnadismally.

MissMarplesaid,"I-er-amgoingupthatwaythisafternoon.I'llhavewordwiththeMissesSkinner."

"Oh,thankyou,madam,"saidEdna.

OldHallwasabigVictorianhousesurroundedbywoodsandparkland.Sinceithadbeenprovedunlettableandunsalableasitwas,anenterprisingspeculatorhaddivideditintofourflatswithacentralhot-watersystem,andtheuseof"thegrounds"tobeheldincommonbythetenants.

Theexperimenthadbeensatisfactory.Arichandeccentricoldladyandhermaidoccupiedoneflat.Theoldladyhadapa.s.sionforbirdsandentertainedafeatheredgatheringtomealseveryday.AretiredIndianjudgeandhiswiferentedasecond.Averyyoungcouple,recentlymarried,occupiedthethird,andthefourthhadbeentakenonlytwomonthsagobytwomaidenladiesofthenameofSkinner.Thefoursetsoftenantswereonlyonthemostdistanttermswitheachother,sincenoneofthemhadanythingincommon.Thelandlordhadbeenheardtosaythatthiswasanexcellentthing.Whathedreadedwerefriendshipsfollowedbyestrangementsandsubsequentcomplaintstohim.

MissMarplewasacquaintedwithallthetenants,thoughsheknewnoneofthemwell.TheelderMissSkinner,Misswaswhatmightbetermedtheworkingmemberofthefirm.MissEmily,theyounger,spentmostofhertimeinbed,sufferingfromvariouscomplaintswhich,intheopinionofStMaryMead,werelargelyimaginary.OnlyMissLaviniabelieveddevoutlyinhersister'smartyrdomandpatienceunderafflictionandwillinglyranerrandsandtrottedupanddowntothevillageforthingsthat"mysisterhadsuddenlyfancied."

ItwastheviewofStMaryMeadthatifMissEmilysufferedhalfasmucha.s.shesaidshedid,shewouldhavesentforDrHaydocklongago.ButMissEmily,whenthiswashintedtoher,shuthereyesinasuperiorwayandmurmuredthathercasewasnotasimpleone-thebestspecialistsinLondonhadbeenbaffledbyit-andthatawonderfulnewmanhadputheronamostrevolutionarycourseoftreatmentandthatshereallyhopedherhealthwouldimproveunderit.NohumdrumG.P.couldpossiblyunderstandhercase.

"Andit'smyopinion,"saidtheoutspokenMissHartnell,"thatshe'sverywisenottosendforhim.DearDrHaydock,inthatbreezymannerofhis,wouldtellherthattherewasnothingthematterwithherandtogetupandnotmakeafuss!Doheralotofgood!"

Failingsucharbitrarytreatment,however,MissEmilycontinuedtolieonsofas,tosurroundherselfwithstrangelittlepillboxes,andtorejectnearlyeverythingthathadbeencookedforherandaskforsomethingelse-usuallysomethingdifficultandinconvenienttoget.

ThedoorwasopenedtoMissMarpleby"Gladdie,"lookingmoredepressedthanMissMarplehadeverthoughtpossible.Inthesitting-room(aquarterofthelatedrawing-room,whichhadbeenpart.i.tionedintoadining-room,drawing-room,bathroom,andhousemaid'scupboard),MissLaviniarosetogreetMissMarple.

LaviniaSkinnerwasatall,gaunt,bonyfemaleoffifty.Shehadagruffvoiceandanabruptmanner.

"Nicetoseeyou,"shesaid."Emily'slyingdown-feelinglowtoday,poordear.Hopeshe'llseeyou-itwouldcheerherup-b.u.t.therearetimeswhenshedoesn'tfeeluptoseeinganybody.Poordear,she'swonderfullypatient."

MissMarplerespondedpolitely.ServantswerethemaintopicofconversationinStMaryMead,soitwasnotdifficulttoleadtheconversationinthatdirection.MissMarplesaidshehadheardthatthatnicegirl,GladysHolmes,wasleaving.

MissLavinianodded.

"Wednesdayweek.Brokethings,youknow.Can'thavethat."

MissMarplesighedandsaidweallhadtoputupwiththingsnowadays.Itwa.s.sodifficulttogetgirlstocometothecountry.DidMissSkinnerreallythinkitwaswisetopartwithGladys?

"Knowit'sdifficulttogetservants,"admittedMissLavinia."TheDevereuxshaven'tgotanybody-b.u.t.thenIdon'twonder-alwaysquarrelling,jazzonallnight-mealsanytime-thatgirlknowsnothingofhousekeeping.Ipityherhusband!ThentheLarkinshavejustlosttheirmaid.Ofcourse,whatwiththejudge'stemperandhiswantingChotaHazri,ashecallsit,atsixinthemorning,andMrsLarkinalwaysfussing,Idon'twonderatthat,either.MrsCarmichael'sJanetisafixture,ofcourse-thoughinmyopinionshe'sthemostdisagreeablewomanandabsolutelybulliestheoldlady."

"Thendon'tyouthinkyoumightreconsideryourdecisionaboutGladys.Shereallyisanicegirl.Iknowallherfamily;veryhonestandsuperior."

MissLaviniashookherhead.

"I'vegotmyreasons,"shesaidimportantly.

MissMarplemurmured:"Youmissedabrooch,Iunderstand-"

"Nowwhohasbeentalking?Isupposethegirlhas.Quitefrankly,I'malmostcertainshetookit.Andthengotfrightenedandput.i.tbackbutofcourseonecan'tsayanythingunlessoneissure."Shechangedthesubject."DocomeandseeMissEmily,MissMarple.I'msureitwoulddohergood."

MissMarplefollowedmeeklytowhereMissLaviniaknockedonadoor,wasbiddenenter,andusheredherguestintothebestroomintheflat,mostofthelightofwhichwas.e.xcludedbyhalf-drawnblinds.MissEmilywaslyinginbed,apparentlyenjoyingthehalfgloomandherownindefinitesufferings.

Thedimlightshowedhertobeathin,indecisive-lookingcreature,withagooddealofgreyishyellowhairuntidilywoundaroundherheadanderuptingintocurls,thewholethinglookinglikeabird'snestofwhichnoself-respectingbirdcouldbeproud.Therewasasmellintheroomofeaudecologne,stalebiscuits,andcamphor.

Withhalf-closedeyesandinathin,weakvoice,EmilySkinnerexplainedthatthiswas"oneofherbaddays."

"Theworstofill-healthis,"saidMissEmilyinamelancholytone,"thatoneknowswhataburdenoneistoeveryonearoundone.

"Laviniaisverygoodtome.Lavviedear,Idosohategivingtrouble,butifmyhot.w.a.terbottlecouldonlybefilledinthewayIlikeit-toofullitweighsonmeso;ontheotherhand,ifitisnotsufficientlyfilled,itgetscoldimmediately!"

"I'msorry,dear.Giveittome.Iwillemptyalittleout."

"Perhaps,ifyou'redoingthat,itmightberefilled.Therearenorusksinthehouse,Isuppose-no,no,itdoesn'tmatter.Icandowithout.Someweakteaandasliceoflemon-nolemons?No,really,Icouldn'tdrinkteawithoutlemon.Ithinkthemilkwa.s.slightlyturnedthismorning.Ithasputmerightagainstmilkinmytea.Itdoesn'tmatter.Icandowithoutmytea.OnlyIdofeelsoweak.Oysters,theysay,arenourishing.IwonderifIcouldfancyafew.No,no,toomuchbothertogetholdofthemsolateintheday.Icanfastuntiltomorrow."

Lavinialefttheroommurmuringsomethingincoherentaboutbicyclingdowntothevillage.

MissEmilysmiledfeeblyatherguestandremarkedthatshedidhategivinganyoneanytrouble.

MissMarpletoldEdnathateveningthatshewasafraidhermissionhadmetwithnosuccess.

ShewasrathertroubledtofindthatrumoursastoGladys'sdishonestywerealreadygoingaroundthevillage.

InthepostofficeMissWetherbytackledher:"MydearJane,theygaveherawrittenreferencesayingshewaswillingandsoberandrespectable,butsayingnothingabouthonesty.Thatseemstomemostsignificant!Iheartherewa.s.sometroubleaboutabrooch.Ithinktheremustbesomethinginit,youknow,becauseonedoesn'tletaservantgonowadaysunlessit'ssomethingrathergrave.They'llfinditmostdifficulttogetanyoneelse.GirlssimplywillnotgotoOldHall.They'renervouscominghomeontheirdaysout.You'llsee,theSkinnerswon'tfindanyoneelse,andthenperhapsthatdreadfulhypochondriacsisterwillhavetogetupanddosomething!"

GreatwasthechagrinofthevillagewhenitwasmadeknownthattheMissesSkinnerhadengaged,fromanagency,anewmaidwho,byallaccounts,wasaperfectparagon.

"Athreeyears'referencerecommendinghermostwarmly,sheprefersthecountryandactuallyaskslesswagesthanGladys.Ireallyfeelwehavebeenmostfortunate."

"Well,really,"saidMissMarple,towhomthesedetailswereimpartedbyMissLaviniainthefishmonger'sshop."Itdoesseemtoogoodtobetrue."

ItthenbecametheopinionofStMaryMeadthattheparagonwouldcryoffatthelastminuteandfailtoarrive.

Noneoftheprognosticationscametrue,however,andthevillagewasabletoobservethedomestictreasure,byname,MaryHiggins,drivingthroughthevillageinReed'staxitoOldHall.Ithadtobeadmittedthatherappearancewasgood.Amostrespectable-lookingwoman,veryneatlydressed.

WhenMissMarplenextvisitedOldHall,ontheoccasionofrecruitingstallholdersfortheVicarageFete,MaryHigginsopenedthedoor.Shewascertainlyamostsuperior-lookingmaid,ataguessfortyyearsof.a.ge,withneatblackhair,rosycheeks,aplumpfigurediscreetlyarrayedinblackwithawhiteap.r.o.nandcap-"quitethegood,old-fashionedtypeofservant,"asMissMarpleexplainedafterward,andwiththeproper,inaudible,respectfulvoice,sodifferentfromtheloudbutadenoidalaccentsofGladys.

MissLaviniawaslookingfarlesshara.s.sedtha.n.u.sualand,althoughsheregrettedthatshecouldnottakeastall,owingtoherpreoccupationwithhersister,sheneverthelesstenderedahandsomemonetarycontributionandpromisedtoproduceaconsignmentofpenwipersandbabies'socks.

MissMarplecommentedonherairofwell-being.

"IreallyfeelIoweagreatdealtoMary.IamsothankfulIhadtheresolutiontogetridofthatothergirl.Maryisreallyinvaluable.Cooksnicelyandwaitsbeautifullyandkeepsourlittleflatscrupulouslyclean-mattressesturnedovereveryday.AndsheisreallywonderfulwithEmily!"

MissMarplehastilyinquiredafterEmily.

"Oh,poordear,shehasbeenverymuchundertheweatherlately.Shecan'thelpit,ofcourse,but.i.treallymakesthingsalittledifficultsometimes.Wantingcertainthingscookedandthen,whentheycome,sayingshecan'teatnow-andthenwantingthemagainhalfanhourlaterandeverythingspoiledandhavingtobedoneagain.Itmakes,ofcourse,alotofwork-butfortunatelyMarydoesnotseemtomindatall.She'susedtowaitingoninvalids,shesays,andunderstandsthem.Itissuchacomfort."

"Dearme,"saidMissMarple."Youarefortunate."

"Yes,indeed.IreallyfeelMaryhasbeensenttousasananswertoprayer."

"Shesoundstome,"saidMissMarple,"almosttoogoodtobetrue.Ishould-well,IshouldbealittlecarefulifIwereyou."

LaviniaSkinnerfailedtoperceivethepointofthisremark.Shesaid,"Oh,Ia.s.sureyouIdoallIcantomakehercomfortable.Idon'tknowwhatIshoulddoifsheleft."

"Idon'texpectshe'llleaveuntilshe'sreadytoleave,"saidMissMarpleandstaredveryhardatherhostess.

MissLaviniasaid,"Ifonehasnodomesticworries,ittakessuchaloadoffone'smind,doesn't.i.t?HowisyourlittleEdnashaping?"

"She'sdoingquitenicely.NotlikeyourMary.StillIdoknowallaboutEdna,becauseshe'savillagegirl."

a.s.shewentoutintothehallsheheardtheinvalid'svoicefretfullyraised:"Thiscompresshasbeenallowedtogetquitedry-DrAllertonparticularlysaidmoisturecontinuallyrenewed.There,there,leaveit.Iwantacupofteaandaboiledegg-boiledonlythreeminutesandahalf,remember,andsendMissLaviniatome."

TheefficientMaryemergedfromthebedroomand,sayingtoLavinia,"MissEmilyisaskingforyou,madam,"proceededtoopenthedoorforMissMarple,helpingherintohercoatandhandingherherumbrellainthemostirreproachablefashion.

MissMarpletooktheumbrella,droppedit,triedtopickitup,anddroppedherbagwhichflewopen.Marypolitelyretrievedvariousoddsandends-ahandkerchief,anengagementbook,anold-fashionedleatherpurse,twoshillings,threepennies,andastripedpieceofpeppermintrock.

MissMarplereceivedthelastwithsomesignsofconfusion.

"Ohdear,thatmusthavebeenMrsClement'slittleboy.Hewa.s.suckingit,Iremember,andhetookmybagtoplaywith.Hemusthaveput.i.tinside.It'sterriblysticky,isn't.i.t?"

"ShallItakeit,madam?"

"Oh,wouldyou?Thankyousomuch."

Marystoopedtoretrievethelast.i.tem,asmallmirror,uponrecoveringwhichMissMarpleexclaimedfervently,"Howluckynowthatthatisn'tbroken."

Shethereupondeparted,Marystandingpolitelybythedoorholdingapieceofstripedrockwithacompletelyexpressionlessface.

FortendayslongerStMaryMeadhadtoendurehearingoftheexcellenciesofMissLavinia'sandMissEmily'streasure.

Ontheeleventhdaythevillageawoketoitsbigthrill.

Mary,theparagon,wasmissing!Herbedhadnotbeensleptinandthefrontdoorwasfoundajar.Shehadslippedoutquietlyduringthenight.

AndnotMaryalonewasmissing!TwobroochesandfiveringsofMissLavinia's,threerings,apendant,abracelet,andfourbroochesofMissEmily'sweremissingalso!

Itwasthebeginningofachapterofcatastrophe.

YoungMrsDevereuxhadlostherdiamondswhichshekeptinanunlockeddrawerandalsosomevaluablefursgiventoherasaweddingpresent.Thejudgeandhiswifealsohadhadjewelrytakenandacertainamountofmoney.MrsCarmichaelwasthegreatestsufferer.Notonlyhadshesomeveryvaluablejewels,butshealsokeptalargesumofmoneyintheflatwhichhadgone.IthadbeenJanet'seveningoutandhermistresswasinthehabitofwalkingroundthegardensatdusk,callingtothebirdsandscatteringcrumbs.ItseemedclearthatMary,theperfectmaid,hadhadkeystofitalltheflats!

Therewas,itmustbeconfessed,acertainamountofill-naturedpleasureinStMaryMead.MissLaviniahadboastedsomuchofhermarvellousMary.

"Andallthetime,mydear,justacommonthief!"

Aninterestingrevelationfollowed.NotonlyhadMarydisappearedintotheblue,b.u.t.theagencywhichhadprovidedherandvouchedforhercredentialswasalarmedtofindthattheMaryHigginswhohadappliedtothemandwhosereferencestheyhadtakenuphad,toallintentsandpurposes,neverexisted.Itwasthenameofabonafideservantwhohadlivedwiththebonafidesisterofadean,b.u.t.therealMaryHigginswas.e.xistingpeacefullyinaplaceinCornwall.

"Clever,thewholething,"InspectorSlackwasforcedtoadmit."And,ifyouaskme,thatwomanworksinwithagang.TherewasacaseofmuchthesamekindinNorthumberlandayearago.Stuffwasnevertracedandtheynevercaughther.However,we'lldobetterthanthatinMuchBenham!"

InspectorSlackwasalwaysaconfidentman.

Nevertheless,weekspa.s.sedandMaryHigginsremainedtriumphantlyatlarge.InvainInspectorSlackredoubledthatenergythatsobeliedhisname.

MissLaviniaremainedtearful.MissEmilywa.s.soupsetandfeltsoalarmedbyherconditionthatsheactuallysentforDrHaydock.

ThewholeofthevillagewasterriblyanxioustoknowwhathethoughtofMissEmily'sclaimstoill-healthbutnaturallycouldnotaskhim.Satisfactorydatacametohandonthesubject,however,throughMrMeek,thechemist'sa.s.sistant,whowaswalkingoutwithClara,MrsPriceRidley'smaid.ItwasthenknownthatDrHaydockhadprescribedamixtureofasafoetidaandvalerianwhich,accordingtoMrMeek,wasthestockremedyformalingerersinthearmy!

SoonafterwarditwaslearnedthatMissEmily,notrelishingthemedicalattentionshehadhad,wasdeclaringthatinthestateofherhealthshefelt.i.therdutytobenearthespecialistinLondonwhounderstoodhercase.Itwas,shesaid,onlyfairtoLavinia.

Theflatwasputupforsubletting.

ItwasafewdaysafterthatthatMissMarple,ratherpinkandfl.u.s.tered,calledatthepolicestationinMuchBenhamandaskedforInspectorSlack.

InspectorSlackdidnotlikeMissMarple.Buthewasawarethatthechiefconstable,ColonelMelchett,didnotsharethatopinion.Rathergrudgingly,therefore,hereceivedher.

"Goodafternoon,MissMarple.WhatcanIdoforyou?"

"Oh,dear,"saidMissMarple,"I'mafraidyou'reinahurry."

"Lotofworkon,"saidInspectorSlack,"butIcanspareafewmoments."

"Oh,dear,"saidMissMarple."IhopeIshallbeabletoputwhatIsayproperly.Sodifficult,youknow,toexplainoneself,don'tyouthink?No,perhapsyoudon't.Butyousee,nothavingbeeneducatedinthemodernstyle-justagoverness,youknow,whotaughtonethedatesoftheKingsofEnglandandGeneralKnowledge-andhowneedlesaremadeandallthat.Discursive,youknow,butnotteachingonetokeeptothepoint.WhichiswhatIwanttodo.It'saboutMissSkinner'smaid,Gladys,youknow."

"MaryHiggins,"saidInspectorSlack.

"Ohyes,thesecondmaid.But.i.t'sGladysHolmesImean-ratheranimpertinentgirlandfartoopleasedwithherself,butreallystrictlyhonest,andit'ssoimportantthatthatshouldberecognised."

"NochargeagainsthersofarasIknow,"saidtheinspector.

"No,Iknowthereisn'tacharge-b.u.t.thatmakesitworse.Because,yousee,peoplegoonthinkingthings.Oh,dear-IknewIshouldexplainbadly.WhatIreallymeanisthattheimportantthingistofindMaryHiggins."

"Certainly,"saidInspectorSlack."Haveyouanyideasonthesubject?"

"Well,asamatteroffact,Ihave,"saidMissMarple."MayIaskyouaquestion?Arefingerprintsofnousetoyou?"

"Ah,"saidInspectorSlack,"that'swhereshewasabittooartfulforus.Didmostofherworkinrubberglovesorhousemaid'sgloves,itseems.Andshe'dbeencareful-wipedoffeverythinginherbedroomandonthesink.Couldn'tfindasinglefingerprintintheplace!"

"Ifyoudidhaveherfingerprints,wouldithelp?"

"Itmight,madam.TheymaybeknownattheYard.Thisisn'therfirstjob,I'dsay!"

MissMarplenoddedbrightly.Sheopenedherbagandextractedasmallcardboardbox.Insideit,wedgedincottonwool,wasasmallmirror.

"Frommyhandbag,"saidMissMarple."Themaid'sprintsareonit.Ithinktheyshouldbesatisfactory-shetouchedanextremelystickysubstanceamomentpreviously."