18 MISS MARPLE - Agatha Christie - short stories

Carslake fell downstairs and broke his leg and Mrs. Carslake had to go away to the south of France for her health, and now the Burdens have got it and I hear that poor Mr. Burden has got to have an operation almost immediately." "There is, I think, rather too much superstition about such matters," said Mr. Petherick. "A lot of damage is done to property by foolish reports heedlessly circulated." "I have known one or two 'ghosts' that have had a very robust personality," remarked Sir Henry with a chuckle. "I think," said Raymond, "we should allow Dr. Pender to go on with his story." Joyce got up and switched off the two lamps, leaving the room lit only by the flickering firelight. "Atmosphere," she said. "Now we can get along." Dr. Pender smiled at her, and leaning back in his chair and taking off his pince-nez, he began his story in a gentle reminiscent voice. "I don't know whether any of you know Dartmoor at all. The place I am telling you about is situated on the borders of Dartmoor. It was a very charming property, though it had been on the market without finding a purchaser for several years. The situation was perhaps a trifle bleak in winter, but the views were magnificent and there were certain curious and original features about the property itself. It was bought by a man called Haydon--Sir Richard Haydon. I had known him in his college days, and though I had lost sight of him for some years, the old ties of friendship still held, and I accepted with pleasure his invitation to go down to Silent Grove, as his new purchase was called. "The house party was not a very large one. There was Richard Haydon himself, and his cousin, Elliot Haydon. There was a Lady Mannering with a pale, rather inconspicuous daughter called Violet. There was a Captain Rogers and his wife, hard riding, weather-beaten people, who lived only for horses and hunting. There was also a young Dr. Symonds