“Viewedinthataspectthewholebusinessseemedmoresinister, ? Whyshouldshe, aninsignificantpaidcompanion, bemurderedbyheremployer? Whatstorylaybehindthatfatalbathingexpedition? ShehadenteredMaryBarton’, , commonplace, refinedEnglishwomen! Thewholethingwasfantastic, .”
“Youdidn’tdoanything, then?”askedMissHelier.
“Mydearyounglady, whatcouldIdo? , withtheresultsIhavetoldyou.”
“Butyoufelttherewassomethingwrong,”saidMissMarple.
.
“, pleasant-manneredEnglishladyofafoulandcold-bloodedcrime? ; andyetIamconvincedthatsheknewIsuspectedanddislikedher.”
“Howlongdidshestayoutthere?”askedMissMarple.
“, ’’swhatshesaid.”
“Diditseemtohaveupsether?”askedMissMarple.
Thedoctorhesitated.
“Well, Idon’tknowthatitaffectedherappearanceatall,”hesaidcautiously.
“Shedidn’t, forinstance, growfatter?”askedMissMarple.
“Doyouknow—it’, Ibelieveyou’—yes, shedidseem, ifanything, tobeputtingonweight.”
“Howhorrible,”saidJaneHelierwithashudder.“It’slike—it’slikefatteningonyourvictim’sblood.”
“Andyet, inanotherway, Imaybedoingheraninjustice,”wentonDrLloyd.“Shecertainlysaidsomethingbeforesheleft, , Ithinkthereare, conscienceswhichworkveryslowly—whichtakesometimetoawakentotheenormityofthedeedcommitted.”
“, andhadthankedmeverywarmlyforallIhaddonetohelpher.I, ofcourse, madelightofthematter, saidIhadonlydonewhatwasnaturalunderthecircumstances, , andthenshesuddenlyaskedmeaquestion.
‘Doyouthink,’sheasked, ‘thatoneiseverjustifiedintakingthelawintoone’sownhands?’
