"A;Thegrocercockedhisheadononeside，lookingatherpleasantly。"Howaboutafterwards?Whatyougoingtogivehimforafterwards?"
"ouldyousuggest，Sam?"
Themanglandhisshop。"Howaboutanicebigsliceofcheeseowhelikesthat。"
"Perfect，"shesaid。"Helovesit。"
Aedandshehadpaid，sheputhtestsmileandsaid，"Thankyou，Sam。Goodnight。"
"Goodnight，Mrs。Malohankyou。"
Andoldherselfasshehurriedback，allshewasdoinguroherhusbaingforhissupper;aakeitastastyaspossiblebecausethepoormanwastired;aeredthehouse，shehappeofindanythingunusual，ic，orterrible，thennaturallyitwouldbeashodshe'dbeefranticwithgriefandhorror。Mindyou，shewasingtofindanythigoihevegetables，Mrs。PatrieygoihevegetablesonThursdayeveningtocooksupperforherhusband。
That'stheway，shetoldherself。Drightandhingsabsolutelynaturalandthere'llbenoneedforanyagatall。
Therefore，whehekitbythebackdoor，shewashummingalittletuoherselfandsmiling。
"Patrick!"shecalled。"Howarey?"
&heparoableahroughintothelivingroom;andwhenshesawhimlyihefloorwithhislegsdoubledupawistedbaeathhisbody，itreallywasratherashock。Alltheoldloveandlongingforhimwelledupinsideher，andsheraohim，kdownbesidehim，aocryherheartout。Itwaseasy。Noagwasnecessary。
&eslatershegotupahephohehepoli，ahemaherendanswered，she，"Quiequick!Patrick'sdead!"
"Who'sspeaking?"
"Mrs。Maloriey。"
"YoumeanPatriey'sdead?"
"Ithinkso，"shesobbed。"He'slyingonthefloorandIthinkhe'sdead。"
&quhtover，"themansaid。
Thecarcameveryquidwhehefrontdoor，twopoliwalkedihemboth-sheknownearlyallthemanatthatpredshefellrightintoachair，theojoiherone，whowasalley，khebody。
"Ishedead?"shecried。
"I'mafraidheis。e;
Briefly，shetoldherstoingouttothegroingbaonthefloor。Whileshewastalking，dtalking，Noonandiscoveredasmallpatgealedbloodonthedeadman'shead。HeshowedittoO'Malleywhogotupatondhurriedtothephone。
Sahehouse。Firstadotwodeteeofwhomsheknowbyer，apolicephotographerarrivedandtookpidamanwhoknowaboutfiherewasagreatdealandmutterihedthedetectiveskeptaskiofquestions。Buttheyalwaystreatedherkiain，thistimerightfromthebegiriein，andshewassewiired，sotiredhehadn'twaogooutforsupper。Shetoldhowshe'dputthemeati;it'stherenow，g"-andhowshe'dslippedouttothegretables，aofindhimlyingonthefloor。
"Whichgrocer?"oivesasked。
&oldhim，aurnedahiherdeteediatelywehestreet。
Ieshewasbackageofherewasmorewhispering，andthrsheheardafewofthewhisperedphrases-"。。。actedquitenormal。。。verycheerful。。。waogivehimagoodsupper。。。peas。。。cheesecake。。。impossiblethatshe。。。"
Afterawhile，thephotographeraordepartedandtwoothermeookthecorpseawayohenthefimahetwodetectivesremained，andsodidthetwopoli。Theywereexallyoher，andJaaskedifshewouldn&#osomewhereelse，tohersister'shouseperhaps，ortohisoouldtakecareofherandputherupfht。
No，shesaid。Shedidn'tfeelsheoveevenayardatthemoment。Wouldtheymindawfullyifshestayedjustwhereshewasuter?Shedidn'tfeeltoogoodatthemoment，shereallydidn't。
"Thenhadn'tshebetterliedowno;Jaasked。
No，shesaid。She'dlikethtwhereshewas，inthischair。Alittlelater，perhaps，wheer，shewouldmove。
Sotheylefthertherewhiletheywentabouttheirbusihehouse。OallyoivesaskedheraioimesJaspentlyashepassedby。Herhusbaoldher，hadbeenkilledbyablowonthebackoftheheadadmihaheavyblunti，almostlyalargepieetal。Theywerelookihemurderermayhavetakenitwithhim，butoherhandhemayhavethrownitawayorhiddenitsomewhereonthepremises。
"It'stheoldstory，"hesaid。"Gettheon，andyou'vegottheman。"
Later，oivesdsatbesideher。Didsheknow，heasked，ofanythihatcould'vebeeheon?Wouldshemindhavingalookarouhingwasmissing-averybigspanner，forexample，oraheavymetalvase。
Theydidn'thaveaalvases，shesaid。