MissJaneMarpleisshockedwhenshereceivesanotefromanoldfriend,FatherGormanonlytoreadinthenewspapertheverysamedaythathewa求爱urdered.Hehadattendedadyingwoman,Mrs.Davis,whodiedthepreviouseveninganditwaswhilehewasonhiswayhomethathewasapparentlyattacked.ThepolicehaveputitdowntoamuggingbuttheletterMissMarplereceivedfromhimintriguesher:alistofsurnamesandaquotefromthebible.Thepolicemaninchargeofthecase,InspectorLejeuneisskepticalaboutitallbeingamurderbutwhenMissMarpleinspectsMrs.Davis’rooms,shefindsanidenticallisttothatsenttoherbyFatherGormanandalsoareferencetothePaleHorseInninMuchDeeping,Hampshire.Shesoonchecksintotheinnandpursuesherowninvestigation.