Murder at the Gallop Page #2

To snoop.

- Snoop! | - That is what I said, Miss Marple.

I'm sure everyone in Milchester | wants to know how much Enderby left.

I suppose you wanted to be first?

Well, since you are alleging that | I am a tittle-tattling busybody,

I bid you good day.

Come, Mr Stringer.

Miss Marple, don't you think | you should go to the police

and tell Inspector Craddock | what you overheard?

"Tittle-tattling busybody", | I believe, were his words.

- No, yours. | - His meaning.

Well, perhaps now...

Please, after this morning, I prefer | not to mention Inspector Craddock.

Well, anyway, | no matter what he thinks

after what Mrs Lansquenet said, | at least we know we were right -

Mr Enderby was murdered.

We know the motive; | 25,000 to each of the family.

Yes... and it's a great deal of money | and since they all benefit...

They are all suspects, true,

but a motive isn't enough. | Facts are what we want

otherwise we're groping in the dark.

No, we must set to work to find out | all we can about the entire family.

- Mrs Heyley-Brown? | - Yes.

Always a good starting place.

Of course | I disapprove of her gossiping,

but in a desperate situation, | one must use the means at hand.

- Yes. | - I suggest we start at once.

Oh?

Surely you realise why?

Have you and I | ever read a murder thriller

that stops at a single killing?

Then you mean...

Yes, the killer may strike again.

I hadn't thought of that.

Perhaps the police...

We will go to the police | when our case is complete.

They have their methods, | we have ours.

Yes... and moreover I'm told | that Cora Lansquenet

did not return to Milchester | just for the funeral.

After living in France | for a number of years,

two months ago, she rented | a cottage a few miles from here.

That's where her brother, | Mr Enderby, visited her.

The vicar maintains | that he was a recluse.

He hadn't left the country | for 30 years.

Yes, I heard that too, | and Mrs Heyley-Brown...

Always a mine of information.

...says Cora Lansquenet | needed that inheritance badly

because before he died, her husband | ran through all her money

buying worthless paintings.

Yes, all very usefuI, | but it still doesn't tell us

why she thinks her brother | was murdered.

- Perhaps she wasn't being truthfuI. | - Why should she lie?

Well, she did marry a Frenchman - | a painter too.

Yes, and a bad one, but that doesn't | make her completely irresponsible.

No, not completely.

Do you know, I think it's time | I had my portrait painted.

Your portrait, Miss Marple?

I'm going to call on Cora Lansquenet, | just as an excuse.

We must find out what her brother | said to her that day

that makes her so sure | he was murdered.

I'll be back to tea.

Perhaps you'll be so kind | as to get it ready for us.

Mrs Lansquenet?

Mrs Lansquenet, | I'm sorry to disturb you...

Mrs Lansquenet?

- Who are you? What are you doing? | - Well, I was...

What's the matter | with Mrs Lansquenet?

I'm afraid she's dead.

Dead?

You killed her!

- My dear... | - Don't touch me!

You killed her. | I saw you bending over her.

My dear woman, | do I look like a murderess?

I don't know what you look like, | but I saw you.

What you did or didn't see | isn't of much point at the moment.

We have to call the police. | Where's the telephone?

There it is.

You haven't yet told me who you are?

I'm Mrs Lansquenet's companion, | Miss Milchrest.

Hello? Yes, I can hear you're | talking, but you'll have to stop.

Yes, I know it's a party line, | but this is an emergency,

I have to call the police.

You needn't be sarcastic, young man, | indeed I have a crime to report...

Murder. Murder most fouI.

- Good afternoon, Inspector. | - Miss Marple?

Yes. I have some tittle-tattle | to convey. Do come in.

- That's about all we need, sir. | - Fine. Thanks.

Let me have | a lab report on that, will you?

All right, sir. Funny weapon to use.

Yes, a woman's weapon.

Or a man's wishing everyone | to think it was a woman's.

I wasn't precluding that possibility.

The lady feels well enough | to talk now.

Bring her in.

Miss Marple, I won't keep you.

It's all right, Inspector, | I'm entirely at your disposal.

You don't suspect her?

She was here. | The weapon was a hatpin.

Would anyone make themselves | so obvious a suspect?

There have been stupid murderers.

She's a timid woman, Inspector, | not a stupid one.

I think you ought | to know that this morning...

Not now, Miss Marple, please.

Oh, Miss Milchrest, | sit down, won't you.

Oh dear. I've never had anything | to do with the police.

There's nothing to worry about. | They're really very nice.

Thank you, Miss Marple.

You've been Mrs Lansquenet's | companion for many years?

Oh, yes, indeed.

I know it must be a great shock, | but there are things we need to know.

- Well, I'll do my best. | - I'm sure you will.

When did you see her last?

Just before I went to the library.

What time was that?

I caught the two o'clock bus.

She's been dead about two hours, | it's now 4:30pm, so about 2:30pm.

The coroner will be more exact.

Isn't it extremely difficult to | determine the exact time of death?

We'll do our best to be | as accurate as possible.

Before you left her, did she seem | nervous or upset in any way?

No, she was fine. | She was just getting ready to go out.

Miss Milchrest, have you any idea | at all who may have killed her?

Aside from your suspicions | of Miss Marple.

Anyone else? Anyone who hated her?

Oh no, she was kind to everyone. | She was very kind to me.

She said she would leave me | her amethyst brooch

and one of her own paintings | as a remembrance.

She painted very well, | don't you think?

Yes... yes, indeed.

Miss Milchrest, did she have | any visitors lately?

No, we lived very quietly.

Didn't any relatives call on her | after her return to this country?

Only her brother. Her late brother, | I mean. He called a month ago.

He hardly ever left his home. | Was there a special reason?

Well, yes. You see, they had been | estranged for a number of years.

After her husband died, she needed | help financially. She wrote to him.

- Were you present when he called? | - No.

Did you, by any chance, | overhear anything they said?

I'm not the sort of woman | who listens at keyholes!

I'm sorry. I just wondered if you | might have happened to overhear.

I didn't hear a thing!

Miss Marple, I am capable | of asking the questions.

So sorry.

Thank you, Miss Milchrest.

If you'll make a statement | to Sergeant Bacon, we'll talk later.

Sergeant, notify the relatives. | The solicitor has the addresses.

Right, sir.

Mrs Lansquenet told me they were | staying with Mr Hector Enderby.

- Is that at the Gallop Hotel? | - Yes.

It is also a riding establishment.

Miss Milchrest, did you | or Mrs Lansquenet ever ride?

- Ride? | - Horses, you know.

No.

Thank you.

I won't detain you, Inspector,

but I suggest you pay a call | on the family as soon as possible.

Oh you do, do you? Why?

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