V“And what,” demanded Mrs. Bantry as she looked through the window atthe retreating car of the Chief Constable, “did she mean by that? ‘They are,really.’ Don’t you think, Jane, that there’s something—”

Miss Marple fell upon the words eagerly.

“Oh, I do—indeed I do. It’s quite unmistakable! Her manner changed atonce when the Jeffersons were mentioned. She had seemed quite naturalup to then.”

“But what do you think it is, Jane?”

“Well, my dear, you know them. All I feel is that there is something, asyou say, about them which is worrying that young woman. Another thing,did you notice that when you asked her if she wasn’t anxious about thegirl being missing, she said that she was angry! And she looked angry—really angry! That strikes me as interesting, you know. I have a feeling—perhaps I’m wrong—that that’s her main reaction to the fact of the girl’sdeath. She didn’t care for her, I’m sure. She’s not grieving in any way. ButI do think, very definitely, that the thought of that girl, Ruby Keene, makesher angry. And the interesting point is—why?”

“We’ll find out!” said Mrs. Bantry. “We’ll go over to Danemouth and stayat the Majestic—yes, Jane, you too. I need a change for my nerves afterwhat has happened here. A few days at the Majestic—that’s what we need.

And you’ll meet Conway Jefferson. He’s a dear—a perfect dear. It’s the sad-dest story imaginable. Had a son and daughter, both of whom he loveddearly. They were both married, but they still spent a lot of time at home.

His wife, too, was the sweetest woman, and he was devoted to her. Theywere flying home one year from France and there was an accident. Theywere all killed: the pilot, Mrs. Jefferson, Rosamund, and Frank. Conwayhad both legs so badly injured they had to be amputated. And he’s beenwonderful—his courage, his pluck! He was a very active man and nowhe’s a helpless cripple, but he never complains. His daughter-in-law liveswith him—she was a widow when Frank Jefferson married her and shehad a son by her first marriage—Peter Carmody. They both live with Con-way. And Mark Gaskell, Rosamund’s husband, is there too most of thetime. The whole thing was the most awful tragedy.”

“And now,” said Miss Marple, “there’s another tragedy—”

Mrs. Bantry said: “Oh yes—yes—but it’s nothing to do with the Jeffer-sons.”

“Isn’t it?” said Miss Marple. “It was Mr. Jefferson who went to the po-lice.”

“So he did … You know, Jane, that is curious….”