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sted of two married couples and though Miss Marple was not as yet acquainted with their surnames； she knew that the big man with the upstanding bush of thick grey hair was addressed as 〃Greg〃； that the golden blonde woman； his wife； was known as Luckyand that the other married couple； the dark lean man and the handsome but rather weatherbeaten woman； were Edward and Evelyn。 They were botanists； she understood； and also interested in birds。
〃No luck at all；〃 said Greg。 〃At least no luck in getting what we were after。〃
〃Don't know if you know Miss Marple？ Colonel and Mrs。 Hillingdon and Greg and Lucky Dyson。〃
They greeted her pleasantly and Lucky said loudly that she'd die if she didn't have a drink at once or sooner。 Greg hailed Tim Kendal who was sitting a little way away with his wife poring over account books。
〃Hi； Tim。 Get us some drinks。〃 He addressed the others。 〃Planters Punch？〃
They agreed。
〃Same for you。 Miss Marple？〃 Miss Marple said thank you； but she would prefer fresh lime。 〃Fresh lime it is；〃 said Tim Kendal 〃and five Planters Punches。〃
〃Join us； Tim？〃
〃Wish I could。 But I've got to fix up these accounts。 Can't leave Molly to cope with everything。 Steel band tonight； by the way。〃
〃Good；〃 cried Lucky。 〃Damn it；〃 she winced； 〃I'm all over thorns。 Ouch！ Edward deliberately rammed me into a thorn bush！〃
〃Lovely pink flowers；〃 said Hillingdon。
〃And lovely long thorns。 You're a sadistic brute Edward。〃
〃Not like me；〃 said Greg； grinning。 〃Full of the milk of human kindness。〃
Evelyn Hillingdon sat down by Miss Marple and started talking to her in an easy pleasant way。 Miss Marple put her knitting down on her lap。 Slowly and with some difficulty； owing to rheumatism in the neck； she turned her head over her right shoulder to look behind her。 At some little distance there was the large bungalow occupied by the rich Mr。 Rafiel。 But it showed no sign of life。
She replied suitably to Evelyn's remarks （really； how kind people were to her！） but her eyes scanned thoughtfully the faces of the two men。
Edward Hillingdon looked a nice man。 Quiet but with a lot of charm。。。 And Gregbig； boisterous； happylooking。 He and Lucky were Canadian or American； she thought。 She looked at Major Palgrave； still acting a bonhomie a little larger than life。 Interesting。。。
Chapter 2
MISS MARPLE MAKES PARISONS
It was very gay that evening at the Golden Palm Hotel。 Seated at her little corner table Miss Marple looked round her in an interested fashion。 The dining room was a large room open on three sides to the soft warm scented air of the West Indies。 There were small table lamps； all softly coloured。 Most of the women were in evening dress； light cotton prints out of which bronzed shoulders and arms emerged。 Miss Marple herself had been urged by her nephew's wife； Joan； in the sweetest way possible； to accept 〃a small cheque〃。
〃Because； Aunt Jane； it will be rather hot out there； and I don't expect you have any very thin clothes。〃
Jane Marple had thanked her and had accepted the cheque。 She came of the age when it was natural for the old to support and finance the young； but also for the middleaged to look after the old。 She could not； however； force herself to buy anything very thin。 At her age she seldom felt more than pleasantly warm even in the hottest weather； and the temperature of St。 Honorй was not really what is referred to as 〃tropical heat〃。 This evening she was attired in the best traditions of the provincial gentlewoman of Englandgrey lace。
Not that she was the only elderly person present。 There were representatives of all ages in the room。 There were elderly tycoons with young third or fourth wives。 There were middleaged couples from the North of England。 There was a gay family from Caracas plete with children。 The various countries of South America were well represented； all chattering loudly in Spanish or Portuguese。 There was a solid English background of two clergymen； one doctor and one retired judge。 There was even a family of Chinese。 The dining room service was mainly done by women； tall black girls of proud carriage； dressed in crisp white； but there was an experienced Italian head waiter in charge； and a French wine waiter； and there was the attentive eye of Tim Kendal watching over everything； pausing here and there to have a social word with people at their tables。 His wife seconded him ably。 She was a goodlooking girl。 Her hair was a natural golden blonde and she had a wide generous mouth that laughed easily。 It was very seldom that Molly Kendal was out of temper。 Her staff worked for her enthusiastically； and she adapted her manner carefully to suit her different guests。 With the elderly men she laughed and flirted； she congratulated the younger women on their clothes。 〃Oh what a smashing dress you've got on tonight； Mrs。 Dyson。 I'm so jealous I could tear it off your back。〃 But she looked very well in her own dress； or so Miss Marple thought； a white sheath； with a pale green embroidered silk shawl thrown over her shoulders。 Lucky was fingering the shawl。 〃Lovely colour！ I'd like one like it。〃 〃You can get them at the shop here；〃 Molly told her and passed on。 She did not pause by Miss Marple's table。 Elderly ladies she usually left to her husband。 〃The old dears like a man much better；〃 she used to say。
Tim Kendal came and bent over Miss Marple。 〃Nothing special you want； is there？〃 he asked。 〃Because you've only got to tell meand I could get it specially cooked for you。 Hotel food； and semitropical at that； isn't quite what you're used to at home； I expect？〃
Miss Marple smiled and said that that was one of the pleasures of ing abroad。 〃That's all right； then。 But if there is anything〃
〃Such as？〃
〃Well〃 Tim Kendal looked a little doubtful。 〃Bread and butter pudding？〃 he hazarded。
Miss Marple smiled and said that she thought she could do without bread and butter pudding very nicely for the present。 She picked up her spoon and began to eat her passion fruit sundae with cheerful appreciation。
Then the steel band began to play。 The steel bands were one of the main attractions of the islands。 Truth to tell Miss Marple could have done very well without them。 She considered that they made a hideous noise； unnecessarily loud。 The pleasure that everyone else took in them was undeniable； however； and Miss Marple； in the true spirit of her youth； decided that as they had to be； she must manage somehow to learn to like them。 She could hardly request Tim Kendal to conjure up from somewhere the muted strains of the 〃Blue Danube〃。 （So gracefulwaltzing。） Most peculiar； the way people danced nowadays。 Flinging themselves about； seeming quite contorted。 Oh well； young people must enjoy Her thoughts were arrested。 Because； now she came to think of it； very few of these people were young。 Dancing； lights； the music of a band （even a steel band） all that surely was for youth。 But where was youth？ Studying； she supposed； at universities； or doing a jobwith a fortnight's holiday a year。 A place like this was too far away and too expensive。 This gay and carefree life was all for the thirties and the fortiesand the old men who were trying to live up （or down） t