smallhobbit

“It’s lovely to see you too, Jane,” Dolly Bantry replied.  “I do hope I haven’t kept you waiting very long.  My taxi must have been stuck at Piccadilly Circus for ten minutes.”

“Not at all.  And it’s always so interesting standing under the clock at Waterloo.  So many people use it as a meeting point, that one can always watch for ages without realising how much time has passed.  In fact, I’ve got a couple of things you may be interested in, but I’ll tell you about them when we get to the hotel.”

“I look forward to hearing about them.  Now, to find a porter.” 

Dolly waved, and a porter came over.  “Yes, madam?”

“Could you take my friend’s suitcase to the taxi rank, please.”

“Of course, madam, this way, please.”

Miss Marple was delighted when they drew up outside the hotel.  She had been slightly concerned Dolly had chosen somewhere very modern, and although Miss Marple wouldn’t have complained since it was Dolly’s treat, she wouldn’t have felt at home there.  As it was the hotel was pleasant, very respectable, and the sort of establishment she felt she knew even though she’d never stayed there before.

The hall porter took Miss Marple’s suitcase to her room, and soon after she joined Dolly in the lounge for afternoon tea.

Once they were settled with tea, cucumber sandwiches and a slice of Victoria sponge each, Dolly demanded, “Now, who did you see at Waterloo, Jane?  I’m dying to know.”

“Firstly, do you remember the young organist who’s been playing for Evensong sometimes?”

“Yes, recently married, isn’t he?”

“So I thought.  He was waiting there when I arrived, and shortly afterwards he was joined by a young lady who he greeted very affectionately.”

“His wife, I assume.”

“I thought his wife was fairish.”

“Mousey, I’d say.”

“Anyway, this young lady was a redhead.”

“His sister, perhaps.”

“I’d be very surprised if that was his sister from the way they were behaving.”  Miss Marple pursed her lips in disapproval.

“Oh dear.  Did you see where they were going from there?”

“They headed further down the concourse, but I couldn’t make out which train they were after.”

“How frustrating.  And what was the second thing?”

“I spotted Major Challoner.”

“I didn’t know he was up in town.  He didn’t say anything about it last week when we saw him at the Cardews.  Although he possibly didn’t know he was coming up at the time.”

“Well quite.  And on Monday I heard him telling the vicar he hated coming up to London and was glad he didn’t need to do so for at least the next few weeks.”

“So what was he doing?”

“Well, he was doing that thing where you look at your watch a couple of times, and then up at the clock, as if you can’t quite believe the time.”

“Oh, I do that when I’m waiting for Arthur and am afraid that we’ll miss the train.”

“Lots of people do.  But Major Challoner seemed to be making almost a pantomime of it, as if he wanted people to notice.  Well, finally, with another look at his watch, he strode away, towards, of all places, the left luggage office.”

“But if you were planning on catching a train, you’d have already collected your luggage.”

“And if you were waiting for someone who was arriving by train, you wouldn’t leave before they’d arrived.  No, it was all very strange.”

“I suppose we’ll never know what he was doing.”  Dolly put down her teacup.  “We’re not far from Regent’s Park.  Would you like to go for a short stroll before we have to dress for dinner?”

“That would be lovely.”  Miss Marple sighed, “As you say, we shall probably never know what the Major was up to, but I must admit to being rather curious.”