They came to the Golden Boar. It was only about half past twelve and Mrs Sandbourne suggested a little refreshment before going into luncheon. As sherry and tomato juice and other liquors were being consumed, Mrs Sandbourne proceeded to make certain announcements.
'I have taken advice,' she said, 'both from the Coroner and Inspector Douglas. Since the medical evidence has been taken fully, there will be at the church a funeral memorial service tomorrow at eleven o'clock. I'm going to make arrangements with Mr Courtney, the local vicar, about it. On the following day it will be best, I think, to resume our tour. The programme will be slightly altered, since we have lost three days, but I think it can be reorganised on rather simpler lines. I have heard from one or two members of our party that they would prefer to return to London, presumably by rail. I can quite understand the feelings lying behind this, and would not like to try and influence you in any way. This death has been a very sad occurrence. I still cannot help but believe that Miss Temple 's death was the result of an accident. Such a thing has happened before on that particular pathway, though there do not appear in this case to have been any geological or atmospherical conditions causing it. I think a good deal more investigation will have to be made. Of course, some hiker on a walking tour – that kind of thing – may have been pushing about boulders quite innocently, not realising that there was a danger for someone walking below in what he or she was doing. If so, if that person comes forward, the whole thing may be cleared up quite quickly, but I agree one cannot take that for granted at present. It seems unlikely that the late Miss Temple could have had any enemy, or anyone who wished her harm of any kind. What I should suggest is, that we do not discuss the accident any further. Investigations will be made by the local authorities whose business it is. I think we will probably all like to attend the memorial service in the church tomorrow. And after that, on continuing the tour, I hope that it may distract our minds from the shock we have had. There are still some very interesting and famous houses to see and some very beautiful scenery also.'
Luncheon being announced shortly after that, the subject was not discussed any further. That is to say, not openly. After lunch, as they took coffee in the lounge, people were prone to get together in little groups, discussing their further arrangements.
'Are you continuing on the tour?' asked Professor Wanstead of Miss Marple.
'No,' said Miss Marple. She spoke thoughtfully. 'No. I think – I think that what has happened inclines me to remain here a little longer.'
'At the Golden Boar or at the Old Manor House?'
'That rather depends as to whether I receive any further invitation to go back to the Old Manor House. I would not like to suggest it myself because my original invitation was for the two nights that the tour was to have stayed here originally. I think possibly it would be better for me to remain at the Golden Boar.'
'You don't feel like returning to St Mary Mead?'
'Not yet,' said Miss Marple. 'There are one or two things I could do here, I think. One thing I have done already.' She met his enquiring gaze. 'If you are going on,' she said, 'with the rest of the party, I will tell you what I have put in hand, and suggest a small side-line of enquiry that might be helpful. The other reason that I wish to stay here I will tell you later. There are certain enquiries – local enquiries – that I want to make. They may not lead anywhere so I think it as well not to mention them now. And you?'
'I should like to return to London. I have work there waiting to be done. Unless, that is, I can be helpful to you here?'
'No,' said Miss Marple, 'I do not think so at present. I expect you have various enquiries of your own that you wish to put in hand.'
'I came on the tour to meet you, Miss Marple.'
'And now you have met me and know what I know, or practically all that I know, you have other enquiries to put in hand. I understand that. But before you leave here, I think there are one or two things well, that might be helpful, might give a result.'
'I see. You have ideas.'
'I am remembering what you said.'
'You have perhaps pinned down the smell of evil?'
'It is difficult,' said Miss Marple, 'to know exactly what something wrong in the atmosphere really means.'
'But you do feel that there is something wrong in the atmosphere?'
'Oh yes. Very clearly.'
'And especially since Miss Temple 's death which, of course, was not an accident, no matter what Mrs Sandbourne hopes.'
'No,' said Miss Marple, 'it was not an accident. What I don't think I have told you is that Miss Temple said to me once that she was on a pilgrimage.'
'Interesting,' said the Professor. 'Yes, interesting. She didn't tell you what the pilgrimage was, to where or to whom?'
'No,' said Miss Marple, 'if she'd lived just a little longer and not been so weak, she might have told me. But unfortunately, death came a little too soon.'
'So that you have not any further ideas on that subject.'
'No. Only a feeling of assurance that her pilgrimage was put an end to by malign design. Someone wanted to stop her going wherever she was going, or stop her going to whomever she was going to. One can only hope that chance or Providence may throw light on that.'
'That's why you're staying here?'
'Not only that,' said Miss Marple. 'I want to find out something more about a girl called Nora Broad.'
'Nora Broad.' He looked faintly puzzled.
'The other girl who disappeared about the same time as Verity Hunt did. You remember you mentioned her to me. A girl who had boyfriends and was, I understand, very ready to have boyfriends. A foolish girl, but attractive apparently to the male sex. I think,' said Miss Marple, 'that to learn a little more about her might help me in my enquiries.'
'Have it your own way, Detective-Inspector Marple,' said Professor Wanstead.
The service took place on the following morning. All the members of the tour were there. Miss Marple looked round the church. Several of the locals were there also. Mrs Glynne was there and her sister Clotilde. The youngest one, Anthea, did not attend. There were one or two people from the village also, she thought. Probably not acquainted with Miss Temple but there out of a rather morbid curiosity in regard to what was now spoken of by the term 'foul play'. There was, too, an elderly clergyman; in gaiters, well over seventy, Miss Marple thought, a broad- shouldered old man with a noble mane of white hair. He was slightly crippled and found it difficult both to kneel and to stand. It was a fine face, Miss Marple thought, and she wondered who he was. Some old friend of Elizabeth Temple, she presumed, who might perhaps have come from quite a long distance to attend the service?
As they came out of the church Miss Marple exchanged a few words with her fellow travellers. She knew now pretty well who was doing what. The Butlers were returning to London.
'I told Henry I just couldn't go on with it,' said Mrs Butler. 'You know I feel all the time that any minute just as we might be walking round a corner, someone, you know, might shoot us or throw a stone at us. Someone who has got a down on the Famous Houses of England.'
'Now then, Mamie, now then,' said Mr Butler, 'don't you let your imagination go as far as that!'
'Well, you just don't know nowadays. What with hijackers about and kidnapping and all the rest of it, I don't feel really protected anywhere.'
Old Miss Lumley and Miss Bentham were continuing with the tour, their anxieties allayed.
'We've paid very highly for this tour and it seems a pity to miss anything just because this very sad accident has happened. We rang up a very good neighbour of ours last night, and they are going to see to the cats, so we don't need to worry.'
It was going to remain an accident for Miss Lumley and Miss Bentham. They had decided it was more comfortable that way.
Mrs Riseley-Porter was also continuing on the tour. Colonel and Mrs Walker were resolved that nothing would make them miss seeing a particularly rare collection of fuchsias in the garden due to be visited the day after tomorrow. The architect, Jameson, was also guided by his wish to see various buildings of special interest for him. Mr Caspar, however, was departing by rail, he said. Miss Cooke and Miss Barrow seemed undecided.
'Pretty good walks round here,' said Miss Cooke. 'I think we'll stay at the Golden Boar for a little. That's what
