" Sacked? " Robert said sharply.
"Yes. Why do you look so surprised? In our experience of domestic workers sacking is not an unexpected occurrence."
"No, but in this case it might explain a lot. What did you sack her for?"
"Stealing," said old Mrs. Sharpe.
"She had always lifted a shilling or two from a purse if it was left around," supplemented Marion, "but because we needed help so badly we turned a blind eye and kept purses out of her way. Also any small liftable articles, like stockings. And then she took the watch I'd had for twenty years. I had taken it off to wash some things-the soapsuds rise up one's arms, you know-and when I went back to look for it it had gone. I asked her about it, but of course she 'hadn't seen it. That was too much. That watch was part of me, as much a part of me as my hair or my fingernails. There was no recovering it, because we had no evidence at all that she had taken it. But after she had gone we talked it over and next morning we walked over to the farm, and just mentioned that we would not be needing her any more. That was a Tuesday-she always came on Mondays-and that afternoon after my mother had gone up to rest Inspector Grant arrived, with Betty Kane in the car."
"I see. Was anyone else there when you told the girl at the farm that she was sacked?"
"I don't remember. I don't think so. She doesn't belong to the farm-to Staples, I mean; they are delightful people. She is one of the labourer's daughters. And as far as I remember we met her outside their cottage and just mentioned the thing in passing."
"How did she take it?"
"She got very pink and flounced a bit."
"She grew beetroot red and bridled like a turkeycock," Mrs. Sharpe said. "Why do you ask?"