ABC谋杀案 32

II,Mr. Cust put the receiver back very gently on the hook.,He turned to where Mrs. Marbury was standing in the doorway of the room, clearly devouredwith curiosity.,“Not often you have a telephone call, Mr. Cust?”,“No—er—no, Mrs. Marbury. It isn’t. ”,“Not bad news, I trust?
”,Births—Marriages—Deaths….,“My sister’s just had a little boy,” he blurted out.,He—who had never had a sister!,“Oh, dear! Now—well, that is nice, I am sure. (‘And never once mentioned a sister all theseyears,’ was her inward thought. ‘If that isn’t just like a man!’) I was surprised, I’ll tell you, whenthe lady asked to speak to Mr. Cust. Just at first I fancied it was my Lily’s voice—something likehers, it was—but haughtier if you know what I mean—sort of high up in the air. Well, Mr. Cust,my congratulations, I’m sure. Is it the first one, or have you other little nephews and nieces? ”,“It’s the only one,
” said Mr. Cust. “The only one I’ve ever had or likely to have, and—er—Ithink I must go off at once. They—they want me to come. I—I think I can just catch a train if Ihurry.”,