The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

might easily put on a wig to play her part: I

daresay you will find out easily enough which of

them it is. Personally, I incline myself to think it

will be Miss Carruthers."

And really, my dears, that is the end of the

story. Carruthers was a false name, but she was

the woman all right. There was insanity in her

family. Mrs. Rhodes, who was a most reckless and

dangerous driver, had run over her little girl, and

it had driven the poor woman off her head. She

concealed her madness very cunningly except for

writing distinctly insane letters to her intended vic-tim.

She had been following her about for some

time, and she laid her plans very cleverly. The

false hair and maid's dress she posted in a parcel

first thing the next morning. When taxed with the

truth she broke down and confessed at once. The

poor thing is in Broadmoor now. Completely un-balanced,

of course, but a very cleverly planned

crime.

Mr. Petherick came to me afterwards and

brought me a very nice letter from Mr. Rhodes--really,

it made me blush. Then my old friend said

to me: "Just one thing--why did you think it was

more likely to be Carruthers than Granby? You'd

never seen either of them."

"Well," I said. "It was the g's. You said she

dropped her g's. Now, that's done a lot by hunting

MISS MARPLE TELLS A STORY

141