CHAPTER 20-2
He opened it and looked slowlydown the pages. ToMiss Gorringe he gave the appearance of a man looking for oneparticularly entry. Inactuality this was not the case. Father had an accomplishmentwhich he had learnt early inlife and had developed into a highly skilled art.He could remember names and addresseswith a perfect and photographic memory.That memory would remain with him for twenty-fouror even forty-eight hours. Heshook his head as he shut the book and returned it to her.
"Canon Pennyfather hasn‘tbeen in, I suppose?" he said in a light voice.
"Canon Pennyfather?"
"You know he’s turnedupagain?"
"No indeed. Nobody hastold me. Where?"
"Some place in thecountry. Car accident it seems.Wasn‘t reported to us. Some good Samaritan justpicked him upand looked after him."
"Oh! I am pleased. Yes, Ireally am very pleased.I was worried about him."
"So were hisfriends," saidFather. "Actually I was looking to see if one of themmight bestaying here now. Archdeacon – Archdeacon – I can’t remember his namenow, but I‘d know it is I saw it."
"Tomlinson?" saidMissGorringe helpfully. "He is due next week. From Salisbury."
"No, not Tomlinson. Well,it doesn’t matter." He turned away.
It was quiet in the lounge tonight.Anascetic-looking middle-aged man was reading through a badly typed thesis,occasionallywriting a comment in the margin in such small crabbed handwritingas to be almostillegible. Every time he did this, he smiled in vinegarysatisfaction.
There were one or two marriedcouples of longstanding who had little need to talk to each other. Occasionallytwo or three people weregathered together in the name of the weather condition,discussing anxiously how they ortheir families were going to get where theywanted to be.
“– I rang up and begged Susannot to come by car…it means the M.I and always so dangerous in fog –”
"They say it‘s clearerinthe Midlands…”
Chief-Inspector Davy notedthem as he passed.Without haste, and with no seeming purpose, he arrived at hisobjective.
Miss Marple was sitting nearthe fire and observinghis approach.
"So you’re stillhere,Miss Marple. I‘m glad."
"I go tomorrow,"saidMiss Marple.
That fact had, somehow, beenimplicit in herattitude. She had sat, not relaxed, but upright, as one sits inan airport lounge, or arailway waiting-room. Her luggage, he was sure, would bepacked, only toilet things andnight wear to be added.
"It is the end of myfortnight’s holiday," she explained.
"You‘ve enjoyed it,Ihope?"
Miss Marple did not answer atonce.
"In a way – yes…”Shestopped.
"And in another way,no?"
"It’s difficult toexplainwhat I mean –”
"Aren‘t you, perhaps,alittle too near the fire? Rather hot, here. Wouldn’t youlike to move – intothat corner perhaps."
Miss Marple looked at thecorner indicated, then shelooked at Chief-Inspector Davy.
"I think you are quiteright," she said.
He gave her a hand up, carriedher handbag and herbook for her and established her in the quiet corner he hadindicated.
"All right?"
"Quite all right."
"You know why I suggestedit?"
"You thought – verykindly– that it was too hot for me by the fire. Besides,"she added, "ourconversation cannot beoverheard here."
"Have you got somethingyou want to tell me, MissMarple?"
"Now why should you thinkthat?"
"You looked as though youhad," said Davy.
"I‘m sorry I showed itsoplainly," said Miss Marple. "Ididn’t mean to."
"Well, what aboutit?"
"I don‘t know if Ioughtto do so. I would like you to believe, Inspector, that I am not really fondofinterfering. I am against interference. Though often well meant, it can causea great dealof harm."
"It’s like that, isit? Isee. Yes, it‘s quite a problem for you."
"Sometimes one seespeople doing things that seemto unwise – even dangerous. But has one any righttointerfere? Usually not, I think."
"Is this CanonPennyfather you’re talking about?"
"Canon Pennyfather?"MissMarple sounded very surprised. "Oh no. Oh dear me no, nothingwhateverto do with him. It concerns – a girl."
"A girl, indeed? And youthought I could help?"
"I don‘t know,"saidMiss Marple. "I simply don’t know. But I‘m worried, very worried."
Father did not press her. He sat therelooking largeand comfortable and rather stupid. He let her take her time. Shehad been willing to doher best to help him, and he was quite prepared to doanything he could to help her. Hewas not, perhaps, particularly interested. Onthe other hand, one never knew.