夜雨聆风Twenty-seven
Griselda and Dennis had not yet returned. I realized that the most naturalthing would have been for me to go up to the house with Miss Marple andfetch them home. Both she and I had been so entirely taken up with ourpreoccupation over the mystery that we had forgotten anybody existed inthe world except ourselves.
I was just standing in the hall, wondering whether I would not evennow go over and join them, when the doorbell rang.
I crossed over to it. I saw there was a letter in the box, and presumingthat this was the cause of the ring, I took it out.
As I did so, however, the bell rang again, and I shoved the letter hastilyinto my pocket and opened the front door.
It was Colonel Melchett.
“Hallo, Clement. I’m on my way home from town in the car. Thought I’djust look in and see if you could give me a drink.”
“Delighted,” I said. “Come into the study.”
He pulled off the leather coat that he was wearing and followed me intothe study. I fetched the whisky and soda and two glasses. Melchett wasstanding in front of the fireplace, legs wide apart, stroking his closelycropped moustache.
“I’ve got one bit of news for you, Clement. Most astounding thing you’veever heard. But let that go for the minute. How are things going downhere? Any more old ladies hot on the scent?”
“They’re not doing so badly,” I said. “One of them, at all events, thinksshe’s got there.”
“Our friend, Miss Marple, eh?”
“Our friend, Miss Marple.”
“Women like that always think they know everything,” said ColonelMelchett.
He sipped his whisky and soda appreciatively.
