Miss Marple 3-Book Collection 1: The Murder at the Vicarage, The Body in the Library, The Moving Finger

‘Do you think she would remember when the pistol was there last?’

‘I don’t know. She might. But I don’t fancy conscientious dusting is her strong point.’

‘It comes to this – that almost anyone might have taken that pistol?’

‘It seems so – yes.’

The door opened and Dr Haydock came in with Anne Protheroe.

She started at seeing Lawrence. He, on his part, made a tentative step towards her.

‘Forgive me, Anne,’ he said. ‘It was abominable of me to think what I did.’

‘I –’ She faltered, then looked appealingly at Colonel Melchett. ‘Is it true, what Dr Haydock told me?’

‘That Mr Redding is cleared of suspicion? Yes. And now what about this story of yours, Mrs Protheroe? Eh, what about it?’

She smiled rather shamefacedly.

‘I suppose you think it dreadful of me?’

‘Well, shall we say – very foolish? But that’s all over. What I want now, Mrs Protheroe, is the truth – the absolute truth.’

She nodded gravely.

‘I will tell you. I suppose you know about – about everything.’

‘Yes.’

‘I was to meet Lawrence – Mr Redding – that evening at the studio. At a quarter past six. My husband and I drove into the village together. I had some shopping to do. As we parted he mentioned casually that he was going to see the Vicar. I couldn’t get word to Lawrence, and I was rather uneasy. I – well, it was awkward meeting him in the Vicarage garden whilst my husband was at the Vicarage.’

Her cheeks burned as she said this. It was not a pleasant moment for her.

‘I reflected that perhaps my husband would not stay very long. To find this out, I came along the back lane and into the garden. I hoped no one would see me, but of course old Miss Marple had to be in her garden! She stopped me and we said a few words, and I explained I was going to call for my husband. I felt I had to say something. I don’t know whether she believed me or not. She looked rather – funny.

‘When I left her, I went straight across to the Vicarage and round the corner of the house to the study window. I crept up to it very softly, expecting to hear the sound of voices. But to my surprise there were none. I just glanced in, saw the room was empty, and hurried across the lawn and down to the studio where Lawrence joined me almost at once.’

‘You say the room was empty, Mrs Protheroe?’

‘Yes, my husband was not there.’

‘Extraordinary.’

‘You mean, ma’am, that you didn’t see him?’ said the Inspector.

‘No, I didn’t see him.’

Inspector Slack whispered to the Chief Constable, who nodded.

‘Do you mind, Mrs Protheroe, just showing us exactly what you did?’

‘Not at all.’

She rose, Inspector Slack pushed open the window for her, and she stepped out on the terrace and round the house to the left.

Inspector Slack beckoned me imperiously to go and sit at the writing table.

Somehow I didn’t much like doing it. It gave me an uncomfortable feeling. But, of course, I complied.

Presently I heard footsteps outside, they paused for a minute, then retreated. Inspector Slack indicated to me that I could return to the other side of the room. Mrs Protheroe re-entered through the window.

‘Is that exactly how it was?’ asked Colonel Melchett.

‘I think exactly.’

‘Then can you tell us, Mrs Protheroe, just exactly where the Vicar was in the room when you looked in?’ asked Inspector Slack.

‘The Vicar? I – no, I’m afraid I can’t. I didn’t see him.’

Inspector Slack nodded.

‘That’s how you didn’t see your husband. He was round the corner at the writing-desk.’

‘Oh!’ she paused. Suddenly her eyes grew round with horror. ‘It wasn’t there that – that –’

‘Yes, Mrs Protheroe. It was while he was sitting there.’

‘Oh!’ She quivered.

He went on with his questions.

‘Did you know, Mrs Protheroe, that Mr Redding had a pistol?’

‘Yes. He told me so once.’

‘Did you ever have that pistol in your possession?’

She shook her head. ‘No.’

‘Did you know where he kept it?’

‘I’m not sure. I think – yes, I think I’ve seen it on a shelf in his cottage. Didn’t you keep it there, Lawrence?’

‘When was the last time you were at the cottage, Mrs Protheroe?’

‘Oh! About three weeks ago. My husband and I had tea there with him.’

‘And you have not been there since?’