The Murder at the Vicarage-29
The 
Murder at the Vicarage
Chapter Twenty - Nine
I don＊t know how long I sat there 每 only a few minutes in 
reality. I suppose. Yet it seemed as though an eternity had passed when I heard the door 
open and, turning my head, looked up to see Melchett entering the room.
He stared at Hawes asleep in his chair, then turned to me.
※What＊s this, Clement? What does it all mean?§
Of the two letters in my hand I select one and passed it to him. He 
read it aloud in a low voice.
※ ＆My dear Clement:
It is a peculiarly unpleasant thing that I have to say. After all, I 
think I prefer writing it. We can discuss it at a later date. It concerns the recent 
peculations. I am sorry to say that I have satisfied myself beyond any possible doubt as 
to the identity of the culprit. Painful as it is for me to have to accuse an ordained 
priest of the church, my duty is only too painfully clear. An example must be mad and＃＊§
He looked at me questioningly. At this point the writing tailed off in 
an undistinguishable scrawl where death had overtaken the writer＊s hand.
Melchett drew a deep breath, then looked at Hawes.
※So that＊s the solution! The one man we never even considered. And 
remorse drove him to confess!§
※He＊s been very queer lately,§ I said.
Suddenly Melchett strode across to the sleeping man with a sharp 
exclamation. He seized him by the shoulder and shook him, at first gently, then with 
increasing violence.
※He＊s not asleep! He＊s drugged! What＊s the meaning of this?§
His eye went to the empty cachet box. He picked it up.
※Has he＃§
※I think so,§ I said. ※He showed me these the other day. Told me 
he＊d been warned against and overdose. It＊s his way out, poor chap. Perhaps the best 
way. It＊s not for us to judge him.§
But Melchett was Chief constable of the County before anything else. 
The arguments that appealed to me had no weight with him. He had caught a murderer and he 
wanted his murderer hanged.
In one second he was at the telephone, jerking the receiver up and down 
impatiently until he got a reply. He asked for Haydock＊s number. Then there was a 
further pause during which he stood, his ear to the telephone and his eyes on the limp 
figure in the chair.
※Hullo 每 Hullo 每 Hullo 每 is that Doctor Haydock＊s? Will the 
doctor come around at once to High Street? Mr. Hawes＊s. It＊s urgent 每 what＊s that? 
Well, that number is it, then? Oh! Sorry.§
He rang off, fuming.
※Wrong number, wrong number 每 always wrong numbers! And a man＊s 
life hanging on it. HULLO 每 you gave me the wrong number 每 yes 每 don＊t waste time 
每 give me three nice 每 nine, not five.§
Another period of impatience 每 shorter this time.
※Hullo 每 is that you, Haydock? Melchett speaking. Come to Nineteen 
High Street at once, will you? Hawes has taken some kind of overdose. At once, man, it＊s 
vital.§
He rang off, strode impatiently up and down the room.
※Why on earth you didn＊t get hold of the doctor at once, Clement, I 
cannot think. You wits must have all gone wool 每 gathering.§
Fortunately it never occurs to Melchett that anyone can possibly have 
any different idea on conduct from those he holds himself, I said nothing, and he went on.
※Where did you find this letter?§
※Crumpled on the floor 每 where it had fallen from his hand.§
※Extraordinary business 每 that old maid was right about its being 
the wrong note we found. Wonder how she tumbled to that? But what an ass the fellow was 
not to destroy this one. Fancy keeping it 每 the most damaging evidence you can imagine!§
※Human nature is full of inconsistencies.§
※If it weren＊t, I doubt if we should ever catch a murderer! Sooner 
or later they always do some fool things. You＊re looking very under the weather, 
Clement. I suppose this has been the most awful shock to you?§
※It has. As I say, Hawes has been queer in his manner for sometime, 
but I never dreamed＃§
※Who would? Hullo, that sounds like a car.§ He went across to the 
window, pushing up the sash and leaning out. ※Yes, it＊s Haydock, all right.§
A moment later the doctor entered the room.
In a few succinct words, Melchett explained the situation.
Haydock is not a man who ever shows his feelings. He merely raised his 
eyebrows, nodded, and strode across to his patient. He felt his pulse, raised the eyelid, 
and looked intently at the eye.
The he turned to Melchett.
※Want me to save him for the gallows?§ he asked. ※He＊s pretty 
far gone, you know. It will be touch and go anyway. I doubt if I can bring him round.§
※Do everything possible.§
※Right.§
He busied himself with the case he had brought with him, preparing a 
hypodermic injection which he injected into Hawes＊s arm. Then he stood up.
※Best thing is to run him into Much Benham 每 to the hospital there. 
Give me a hand to get him down to the car.§
We both lent our assistance. As Haydock climbed into the driving seat, 
he threw a parting remark over his shoulder.
※You won＊t be able to hang him, you know, Melchett.§
※You mean he won＊t recover?§
※May or may not. I didn＊t mean that. I mean that even if he does 
recover 每 well, the poor devil wasn＊t responsible for his actions. I shall give 
evidence to that effect.§
※What did he mean by that?§ asked Melchett as we went upstairs 
again.
I explained that Hawes had been a victim of encephalitis lethargica.
※Sleeping sickness, eh? Always some good reason nowadays for every 
dirty action that＊s done. Don＊t you agree?§
※Science is teaching us a lot.§
※Science be damned 每 I beg your pardon, Clement 每 but all this 
namby 每 pambyism annoys me. I＊m a plain man. Well, I suppose we＊d better have a look 
round here.§
But at this moment there was an interruption 每 and a most amazing 
one. The door opened, and Miss Marple walked into the room.
She was pink and somewhat flustered, and seemed to realize our 
condition of bewilderment.
※So sorry 每 so very sorry 每 to intrude 每 good evening, Colonel 
Melchett. As I say, I am so sorry, but hearing that Mr. Hawes was taking ill, I felt I 
must come round and see if I couldn＊t do something.§
She paused. Colonel Melchett was regarding her in s somewhat disgusted 
fashion.
※Very kind of you, Miss Marple,§ He said dryly. ※But no need to 
trouble. How did you know, by the way?§
It was the question I had been yearning to ask!
※The telephone,§ explained Miss Marple. ※So careless with their 
wrong numbers, aren＊t they? You spoke to me first, thinking I was Doctor Haydock. My 
number is three five.§
※So that was it!§ I exclaimed.
There is always some perfectly good and reasonable explanation for Miss 
Marple＊s omniscience.
※And so,§ she continued, ※I just came round to see if I could be 
of any use.§
※Very kind of you,§ said Melchett again, even more dryly this time. 
※But nothing to b done. Haydock＊s taken him off to hospital.§
※Actually to hospital? Oh, that＊s a great relief! I am so very glad 
to hear it. He＊ll be quite safe there. When you say nothing to be done, you don＊t mean 
that there＊s nothing to be done for him, do you? You don＊t mean that he won＊t 
recover?§
※It＊s very doubtful,§ I said.
Miss Marple＊s eyes had gone to the cachet box.
※I suppose he took an overdose?§ she said.
Melchett, I think, was in favor of being reticent. Perhaps I might have 
been under other circumstances. But my discussion of the case with Miss Marple was too 
fresh in my mind for me to have the same view, though I must admit that her rapid 
appearance on the scene and eager curiosity repelled me slightly.
※You had better look at this,§ I said, and handed her Protheroe＊s 
unfinished letter.
She took it and read it without any appearance of surprise.
※You had already deduced something of the kind, had you not?§ I 
asked.
※Yes 每 yes, indeed. May I ask you, Mr. Clement, what made you come 
here this evening? That is a point which puzzles me. You and Colonel Melchett 每 not at 
all what I should have expected.§
I explained the telephone call, and that I believer I had recognized 
Hawe＊s voice. Miss Marple nodded thoughtfully.
※Very interesting. Very providential 每 if I may use the term. Yes, 
it brought you here in the nick of time.§
※In the nick of time for what?§ I said bitterly
Miss Marple looked surprised.
※To save Mr. Hawes＊s life, of course.§
※Don＊t you think,§ I said, ※that it might be better if Hawes 
didn＊t recover? Better for him 每 better for everyone. We know the truth now and＃§
I stopped 每 for Miss Marple was nodding her head with such a peculiar 
vehemence that it made me lose the thread of what I was saying.
※Of course,§ she said. ※Of course! That＊s what he wants you to 
think! That you know the truth 每 and that it＊s best for everyone as it is. Oh, yes, it 
all fits in 每 the letter, and the overdose, and poor Mr. Hawes＊s state of mind and his 
confession. It all fits in 每 but it＊s wrong.§
We stared at her.
※That＊s why I am so glad Mr. Hawes is safe 每 in the hospital 每 
where no one can get at him. If he recovers, he＊ll tell you the truth.§
※The truth?§
※Yes 每 that he never touched a hair of Colonel Protheroe＊s head.§
※But the telephone call,§ I said. ※The letter 每 the overdose. 
It＊s all so clear.§
※That＊s what he wants you to think. Oh, he＊s very clever! Keeping 
the letter and using it this way was very clever indeed.§
※Who do you mean,§ I said, ※by ＆he＊?§
※I mean the murderer,§ said Miss Marple.
She added very quietly, ※I mean Mr. Lawrence Redding.§
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