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Text B The Companion（第1页）

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AgathaChristie

&IamdesghappeheislandofGrandotTeisagoodmanyyearsagonow.IhadhadabreakdowhandwasfiveupmypraEnglandandgoabroad.IpraLasPalmas，whichistheprinofGrandmanywaysIethereverymuch.Theclimatewasmildandsunny，therewasextsurfbathing（andIamaicbather）andthesealifeoftheportattractedme.ShipsfromallovertheworldputinatLasPalmas.Iusedtowalkalongthemfarmoreihahefairsexcouldbeishops.”

“AsIsay，shipsfromallovertheworldputinatLasPalmas.Sometimestheystayafewhours，sometimesadayortwo.Intheprincipalhotelthere，theMetropole，youwillseepeopleofallraationalities—birdsofpassage.EventhepeoplegoingtoTenerifeusuallyehereandstayafewdaysbeftotheotherisland.”

“MystiheMetropoleHotel，ohursdayeveninginJanuary.TherewasadangonandIandafrieingatasmalltablewatgthese.ThererinklingofEnglishaiohemajorityofthedancerswereSpanish;aheorchestrastruckupatango，onlyhalfadozehelatternationalitytookthefloor.Theyalldancedwellandwelookedonandadmired.Onearticularexcitedourlivelyadmiratioifulandsinuous，shemovedwiththegraceofahalf-tamedleopardess.Therewassomethingdangerousabouther.Isaidasmuyfriendandheagreed.”

&hat，”

hesaid，“arebouory.Lifewillnotpassthemby.”

&yisperhapsadangerouspossession，”

Isaid.

“It’snotoy，”

heihereissomethiheragain.Thiohappentothatwoman，orbecauseofher.AsIsaid，lifewillnotpassherby.Straiswillsurroundher.You’veonlygottolookathertoknowit.”

Hepausedandthehasmile:“Justasyou’veonlygottolookatthosetwowomehere，andknowthatnothingoutofthewaycouldeverhappehem!Theyaremadeforasafeafulexistence.”

“Ifollowedhiseyes.Thetwowomeoweretravellerswhohadjustarrived—aHollandLloydboathadputintoportthatevening，andthepassebeginningtoarrive.”

“AsIlookedatthemIsawatomyfrieheyweretwoEnglishladies—thethhlyravellihatyoudofindabres，Ishouldsay，wereroundaboutforty.Onewasfairandalittle—justalittle—tooplump;theotherwasdarkandalittle—againjustalittle—iiheywerewhatiscalledwell-preserved，quietlyandinspicuouslydressediweeds，aofanykiheyhadthatairofquietassurancewhichisthebirthrightlishwomehingremarkableabouteitherofdiem.Theywerelikethousaers.Theywoulddoubtlessseewhattheywishedtosee，assistedbyBaedeker，aelse.TheywouldusetheEnglishlibraryaheEnglishaheyhappewasquitelikelythatohofthemsketchedalittle.And，asmyfriendsaid，ingorremarkablewouldeverhappehem，thoughtheymightquitelikelytravelhalfovertheworld.IlookedfromthembacktooursinuousSpanishwomanwithherhalf-eyesandIsmiled.”

“Ps，”

saidJahasigh.“ButIdothinkit’ssosillyofpeoplenottomakethemostofthemselves.ThatwomaninBoine—isreallywonderful.AudreyDeoher;andhaveyouseeheDo’?Astheschoolgirliactshe’sreallymarvellous.AAudreyisfiftyifshe’saday.AsamatteroffactIhappentoknowshe’sreallyy.”

“Goon，”

saidMrsBantrytoDrLloyd.“IlovestoriesaboutsinuousSpamakesmefethowoldandfatIam.”

“I’msorry，”

saidDrLloydapologetically.“Butyousee，asamatteroffact，thisstoryisn’tabouttheSpanish>

“Itisn’t?”

“No.AsithappensmyfriendandIwerewrong.NothiexghappeheSpay.ShemarriedaashippingoffidbythetimeIlefttheislandshehadhadfiveai.”

“JustlikethatgirlofIsraelPeters，”

issMarple.“Theohestageandhadsuchgoodlegsthattheymadeherprincipalboyiomime.Everyonesaidshe’detonogood，butshemarriedaercialtravelleraleddownsplendidly.”

“Thevillageparallel，”

murmuredSirHenrysoftly.

“hedoystoryisaboutthetwoEnglishladies.”

&hihem?”

breathedMissHelier.

&hihem—aday，too.”

“Yes?”

saidMrsBantryengly.

“Justforcuriosity，asIwentoutthateveningIglahehister.Ifoundthenameseasilyenough.MissMaryBartonandMissAmyDurrantofLittlePaddocks，Weir，Bucks.IlittlethoughtthenhowsoonIwastoeheowhosenamesagairagicces.”