命案目睹记41
时间：2025-10-20 07:29:46
（单词翻译:单击）
III
“I must say,” said Alexander, sitting up in bed, thoughtfully consuming a
chocolate bar, “that this has been the most smashing day ever. Actually
finding a real clue!”
His voice was awed.
“In fact the whole holidays have been smashing,” he added happily. “I
don’t suppose such a thing will ever happen again.”
“I hope it won’t happen again to me,” said Lucy who was on her knees
packing Alexander’s clothes into a suitcase. “Do you want all this space fic-
tion with you?”
“Not those two top ones. I’ve read them. The football and my football
boots, and the gum-boots can go separately.”
“What difficult things you boys do travel with.”
“It won’t matter. They’re sending the Rolls for us. They’ve got a smash-
ing Rolls. They’ve got one of the new Mercedes- Benzes too.”
“They must be rich.”
“Rolling! Jolly nice, too. All the same, I rather wish we weren’t leaving
here. Another body might turn up.”
“I sincerely hope not.”
“Well, it often does in books. I mean somebody who’s seen something or
heard something gets done in, too. It might be you,” he added, unrolling a
second chocolate bar.
“Thank you!”
“I don’t want it to be you,” Alexander assured her. “I like you very much
and so does Stodders. We think you’re out of this world as a cook. Abso-
lutely lovely grub. You’re very sensible, too.”
This last was clearly an expression of high approval. Lucy took it as
such, and said: “Thank you. But I don’t intend to get killed just to please
you.”
“Well, you’d better be careful, then,” Alexander told her.
He paused to consume more nourishment and then said in a slightly off-
hand voice:
“If Dad turns up from time to time, you’ll look after him, won’t you?”
“Yes, of course,” said Lucy, a little surprised.
“The trouble with Dad is,” Alexander informed her, “that London life
doesn’t suit him. He gets in, you know, with quite the wrong type of wo-
men.” He shook his head in a worried manner.
“I’m very fond of him,” he added; “but he needs someone to look after
him. He drifts about and gets in with the wrong people. It’s a great pity
Mum died when she did. Bryan needs a proper home life.”
He looked solemnly at Lucy and reached out for another chocolate bar.
“Not a fourth one, Alexander,” Lucy pleaded. “You’ll be sick.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. I ate six running once and I wasn’t. I’m not the bili-
ous type.” He paused and then said:
“Bryan likes you, you know.”
“That’s very nice of him.”
“He’s a bit of an ass in some ways,” said Bryan’s son; “but he was a jolly
good fighter pilot. He’s awfully brave. And he’s awfully good-natured.”
He paused. Then, averting his eyes to the ceiling, he said rather self-con-
sciously:
“I think, really, you know, it would be a good thing if he married again…
Somebody decent… I shouldn’t, myself, mind at all having a stepmother…
not, I mean, if she was a decent sort….”
With a sense of shock Lucy realized that there was a definite point in Al-
exander’s conversation.
“All this stepmother bosh,” went on Alexander, still addressing the ceil-
ing, “is really quite out of date. Lots of chaps Stodders and I know have
stepmothers—divorce and all that—and they get on quite well together.
Depends on the stepmother, of course. And of course, it does make a bit of
confusion taking you out and on Sports Day, and all that. I mean if there
are two sets of parents. Though again it helps if you want to cash in!” He
paused, confronted with the problems of modern life. “It’s nicest to have
your own home and your own parents—but if your mother’s dead—well,
you see what I mean? If she’s a decent sort,” said Alexander for the third
time.
Lucy felt touched.
“I think you’re very sensible, Alexander,” she said. “We must try and
find a nice wife for your father.”
“Yes,” said Alexander noncommittally.
He added in an offhand manner:
“I thought I’d just mention it. Bryan likes you very much. He told me
so….”
“Really,” thought Lucy to herself. “There’s too much match- making
round here. First Miss Marple and now Alexander!”
For some reason or other, pigsties came into her mind.
She stood up.
“Good night, Alexander. There will be only your washing things and py-
jamas to put in in the morning. Good night.”
“Good night,” said Alexander. He slid down in bed, laid his head on the
pillow, closed his eyes, giving a perfect picture of a sleeping angel; and
was immediately asleep.
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