By the Pricking of My Thumbs

by Agatha Christie

  She was wonderful - planned and arranged it all. The Homes for the Elderly - every comfort and luxury. And no temptations - no children - keep children out of her way - It seemed to work - these homes were in faraway places - Cumberland - North Wales - no one was likely to recognize her - or so we thought.

  It was on Mr Eccles's advice - a very shrewd lawyer - his charges were high - but I relied on him.' 'Blackmail?' suggested Tuppence.

  'I never thought of it like that. He was a friend, and an adviser ' 'Who painted the boat in the picture - the boat called Waterlily?' 'I did. It pleased her. She remembered her triumph on the stage. It was one of Boscowan's pictures. She liked his pictures.

  Then, one day, she wrote a name in black pigment on the bridge - the name of a dead child - So I painted a boat to hide it and labelled the boat Waterlily ' The door in the wall swung open - The friendly witch came through it.

  She looked at Tuppence and from Tuppence to Philip Starke.

  'All right again?' she said in a matter-of-fact way.

  'Yes,' said Tuppence. The nice thing about the friendly witch, she saw, was that there wasn't going to be any fuss.

  'Your husband's down below, waiting in the car. I said I'd bring you down to him - if that's the way you want it?' 'That's the way I want it,' said Tuppence.

  'I thought you would.' She looked towards the door into the bedroom. 'Is she - in there?' 'Yes,' said Philip Starke.

  Mrs Perry went to the bedroom. She came out again 'I see -' She looked at him inquiringly.

  'She offered Mrs Beresford a glass of milk - Mm Beresford didn't want it.' 'And so, I suppose, she drank it herself?' He hesitated.

  'Yes.' 'Dr Mortimer will be along later,' said Mrs Perry.

  She came to help Tuppence to her feet, but Tuppence rose unaided.

  'I'm not hurt,' she said. 'It was just shock - I'm quite all right now.' She stood facing Philip Starke - neither of them seemed to have anything to say. Mrs Perry stood by the door in the wall.

  Tuppence spoke at last.

  'There is nothing I can do, is there?' she said, but it was hardly a question.

  'Only one thing - It was Nellie Bligh who struck you down in the churchyard that day.' Tuppence nodded.

  'I've realized it must have been.' ' She lost her head. She thought you were on the track of her, of our, secret. She - I'm bitterly remorseful for the terrible strain I've subjected her to all these long years. It's been more than any woman ought to be asked to bear ' 'She loved you very much, I suppose,' said Tuppence. 'But I don't think we'll go on looking for any Mrs Johnson, if that is what you want to ask us not to do.' 'Thank you - I'm very grateful.'

  There was another silence. Mrs Perry waited paritly.

  Tuppence looked round her. She went to the broken window and looked at the peaceful canal down below.

  'I don't suppose I shall ever see this house again. I'm looking at it very hard, so that I shall be able to remember it.' 'Do you want to remember it?' 'Yes, I do. Someone said to me that it was a house that had been put to the wrong use. I know what they meant now.' He looked at her questioningly, but did not speak.

  'Who sent you here to find me?' asked Tuppence.

  'Emma Boscowan.' 'I thought so.' She joined the friendly witch and they went through the secret door and on down.

  A house for lovers, Emma Boscowan had said to Tuppence.

  Well, that was how she was leaving it - in the possession of two lovers - one dead and one who suffered and lived She went out through the door to where Tommy and the car were waiting.

  She said goodbye to the friendly witch. She got into the car.

  'Tuppence,' said Tommy.

  'I know,' said Tuppence.

  'Don't do it again,' said Tommy. 'Don't ever do it again.' 'I won't.' 'That's what you say now, but you will.' 'No, I shan't. I'm too old.' Tommy pressed the starter. They drove off. ' 'Poor Nellie Bligh,' said Tuppence.

  'Why do you say that?' 'So terribly in love with Philip Starke. Doing all those things for him all those years - such a lot of wasted doglike devotion.' 'Nonsense!' said Tommy. 'I expect she's enjoyed every minute of it. Some women do.' 'Heartless brute,' said Tuppence.

  'Where do you want to go - The Lamb and Flag at Market Basing?'

  The End