VI. Translate these sentences into Russian

(p.35) "... I thought perhaps you mightn't have heard the news."

(p.36) The vicar, a gentle, middle-aged man, was always the last to hear anything.

(p.40) "And yet," said Miss Marple, "you went to the police. Wasn't that - excuse me - rather premature?"

VII. Translate into Russian in writing.

(p.41) "And you'll meet Conway Jefferson... The whole thing was the most awful tragedy."

VIII. Make up and write down five false statements about pages 35-47.

Chapter 7

P.47

George Bartlett was a thin, lanky youth with a prominent Adam apple and an immense difficulty in saying what he meant. He was in such a state of dither that it was hard to get a calm

P.48

statement from him. "I say, it is awful, isn't it? Sort of thing one reads about in the Sunday papers, but one doesn't feel it really happens, don't you know?"

"Unfortunately there is no doubt about it, Mr Bartlett," said the superintendent.

"No, no, of course not. But it seems so rum somehow. And miles from here and everything in some country house, wasn't it? Awfully country and all that. Created a bit of a stir in the neighbourhood, what?"

Colonel Melchett took charge. "How well did you know the dead girl, Mr Bartlett?"

George Bartlett looked alarmed. "Oh, n-n-not well at all, s-s-sir. No, hardly, if you know what I mean. Danced with her once or twice, passed the time of day, bit of tennis you know!"

"You were, I think, the last person to see her alive last night?"

"I suppose I was. Doesn't it sound awful? I mean she was perfectly all right when I saw her, absolutely."

"What time was that, Mr Bartlett?"

"Well, you know, I never know about time. Wasn't very late, if you know what I mean."

"You danced with her?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact well, yes, I did. Early on in the evening, though. Tell you what. It was just after her exhibition dance with the pro fellow. Must have been ten, half past, eleven I don't know."

"Never mind the time. We can fix that. Please tell us exactly what happened."

"Well, we danced, don'tyou know. Not that I'm much of a dancer."

"How you dance is not really relevant, Mr Bartlett."

George Bartlett cast an alarmed eye on the colonel and stammered, "No - er - n-n-no, I suppose it isn't. Well, as I say, we danced round and round, and I talked, but Ruby didn't say very much, and she yawned a bit. As I say, I don't dance awfully well, and so girls well, inclined to give it a miss, if you know what I mean too. I know where I get off, so I said 'righty ho,' and that was that."

"What was the last you saw of her?" "She went off upstairs."

"She said nothing about meeting anyone? Or going for a drive? Or - or having a date?" The colonel used the colloquial expression with a slight effort.

P.49

Bartlett shook his head. "Not to me." He looked rather mournful. "Just gave me the push."

"What was her manner? Did she seem anxious, abstracted, anything on her mind?"

George Bartlett considered. Then he shook his head. "Seemed a bit bored. Yawned, as I said. Nothing more."

Colonel Melchett said, "And what did you do, Mr Bartlett?"

"Eh?"

"What did you do when Ruby Keene left you?"

George Bartlett gaped at him. "Let's see now. What did I do?"

"We're waiting for you to tell us."

"Yes, yes, of course. Jolly difficult, remembering things, what? Let me see. Shouldn't be surprised if I went into the bar and had a drink."

"Did you go into the bar and have a drink?"

"That's just it. I did have a drink. Don't think it was just then. Have an idea I wandered out, don't you know. Bit of air. Rather stuffy for September. Very nice outside. Yes, that's it. I strolled around a bit, then I came in and had a drink, and then I strolled back to the ballroom. Wasn't much doing. Noticed - what's-er-name - Josie was dancing again. With the tennis fellow. She been on the sick list, twisted ankle or something."

"That fixes the time of your return at midnight. Do you intend us to understand that you spent over an hour walking about outside?"

"Well, I had a drink, you know. I was well, I was thinking of things."

This statement received more incredulity than any other. Colonel Melchett said sharply, "What were you thinking about?"

"Oh, I don't know. Things," said Mr Bartlett vaguely.

"You have a car, Mr Bartlett?"

"Oh, yes, I've got a car."

"Where was it, in the hotel garage?"

"No, it was in the courtyard, as a matter of fact. Thought I might go for a spin, you see."

"Perhaps you did go for a spin?"

"No, no. I didn't. I swear I didn't."

"You didn't, for instance, take Miss Keene for a spin?"

"Oh, I say, look here. What are you getting at? I didn't, I swear I didn’t. Really, now."

P.50

"Thanks, Mr Bartlett. That will be all at the present. For the At present," repeated Colonel Melchett.

They left Bartlett with a ludicrous expression of alarm on his face. "Brainless young ass," said Colonel Melchett. "Or isn’t he?" Inspector Harper shook his head. "We‘ve got a long way to go," he said.