The Murder at the Vicarage: Chapters 25–32

It is difficult with Miss Hartnell to know where narrative ends and vituperation begins.

To my great surprise Miss Wetherby went off into paroxysms of laughter and tapped me playfully on the arm, saying: “Oh! vicar, you must not be so naughty.”

“My maid, Clara, was standing at the front gate, she went down there for a minute or two—she says to get a breath of fresh air. Most unlikely, I should say. Much more probable that she was looking out for the fishmonger's boy—if he calls himself a boy—impudent young jackanapes, thinks because he's seventeen he can joke with all the girls.”

I was of necessity preaching extempore, and as I looked down on the sea of upturned faces, a sudden madness entered my brain.

I exhorted sinners to repentance.

I finished up with those beautiful and poignant words—perhaps the most poignant words in the whole Bible: “This night thy soul shall be required of thee...”

Not only does she see and hear practically everything that goes on, but she draws amazingly neat and apposite deductions from the facts that come under her notice.

“Of course, I wouldn't dream of saying any of this to Colonel Melchett— such an autocratic man, isn't he?—and poor Inspector Slack—well, he's exactly like the young lady in the boot shop; who wants to sell you patent leather because she's got it in your size, and doesn't take any notice of the fact that you want brown calf.”

“Well, you know, old Protheroe had his knife into Archer pretty badly. Lots of bad blood between them. Leniency wasn't Protheroe's strong point.”

In a few succinct words Melchett explained the situation.

Melchett, I think, was In favour of being reticent.

“Very interesting. Very providential—if I may use the term. Yes, it brought you here in the nick of time.”

I stopped — for Miss Marple was nodding her head with such a peculiar vehemence that it made me lose the thread of what I was saying.

When the forgery is discovered it will look like a clumsy attempt to incriminate Anne Protheroe.

"Of all the cowardly dastardly tricks!"