the enchanted castle-第13部分

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Having　left　his　missive　to　do　its　warning　work；　Gerald　de　Sherlock
Holmes　sped　back；　wrapped　in　invisibility；　to　the　spot　where　by　the
light　of　their　dark…lanterns　the　burglars　were　still　still　burgling　with
the　utmost　punctuality　and　despatch。　I　didn't　see　any　sense　in
running　into　danger；　so　I　just　waited　outside　the　passage　where　the
steps　are　you　know？〃

Mabel　nodded。

〃Presently　they　came　out；　very　cautiously；　of　course；　and　looked
about　them。　They　didn't　see　me　so　deeming　themselves　unobserved
they　passed　in　silent　Indian　file　along　the　passage　one　of　the　sacks
of　silver　grazed　my　front　part　and　out　into　the　night。〃　

〃But　which　way？〃

〃Through　the　little　looking…glass　room　where　you　looked　at
yourself　when　you　were　invisible。　The　hero　followed　swiftly　on　his
invisible　tennis…shoes。　The　three　miscreants　instantly　sought　the
shelter　of　the　groves　and　passed　stealthily　among　the
rhododendrons　and　across　the　park；　and　his　voice　dropped　and　he
looked　straight　before　him　at　the　pinky　convolvulus　netting　a　heap
of　stones　beyond　the　white　dust　of　the　road　〃the　stone　things　that
come　alive；　they　kept　looking　out　from　between　bushes　and　under
trees　and　I　saw　them　all　right；　but　they　didn't　see　me。　They　saw　the
burglars　though；　right　enough；　but　the　burglars　couldn't　see　them。
Rum；　wasn't　it？〃

〃The　stone　things？〃　Mabel　had　to　have　them　explained　to　her。

〃I　never　saw　them　come　alive；〃　she　said；　〃and　I've　been　in　the
gardens　in　the　evening　as　often　as　often。　

〃I　saw　them；〃　said　Gerald　stiffly。

〃I　know；　I　know；〃　Mabel　hastened　to　put　herself　right　with　him；
〃what　I　mean　to　say　is　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　they　re　only　visible
when　you're　invisible　the　liveness　of　them；　I　mean；　not　the
stoniness。〃　

Gerald　understood；　and　I'm　sure　I　hope　you　do。

〃I　shouldn't　wonder　if　you're　right；〃　he　said。　〃The　castle　garden's
enchanted　right　enough；　but　what　I　should　like　to　know　is　how　and
why。　I　say；　come　on；　I've　got　to　catch　Johnson　before　twelve。　We'll
walk　as　far　as　the　market　and　then　we'll　have　to　run　for　it。〃　

〃But　go　on　with　the　adventure；〃　said　Mabel。　〃You　can　talk　as　we
go。〃　〃Oh；　do　it　is　so　awfully　thrilling！〃　

This　pleased　Gerald；　of　course。

〃Well；　I　just　followed；　you　know；　like　in　a　dream；　and　they　got　out
the　cavy　way　you　know；　where　we　got　in　and　I　jolly　well　thought　I
d　lost　them；　I　had　to　wait　till　they'd　moved　off　down　the　road　so
that　they　shouldn't　hear　me　rattling　the　stones；　and　I　had　to　tear　to
catch　them　up。　I　took　my　shoes　off　I　expect　my　stockings　are　done
for。　And　I　followed　and　followed　and　followed　and　they　went
through　the　place　where　the　poor　people　live；　and　right　down　to
the　river。　And　

I　say；　we　must　run　for　it。〃　

So　the　story　stopped　and　the　running　began。

They　caught　Johnson　in　his　own　back…yard　washing　at　a　bench
against　his　own　back…door。

〃Look　here；　Johnson；〃　Gerald　said；　〃what'll　you　give　me　if　I　put
you　up　to　winning　that　fifty　pounds　reward？〃

〃Halves；〃　said　Johnson　promptly；　〃and　a　clout　'long…side　your　head
if　you　was　coming　any　of　your　nonsense　over　me。〃　

〃It's　not　nonsense；〃　said　Gerald　very　impressively。　〃If　you'll　let　us
in　I'll　tell　you　all　about　it。　And　when　you've　caught　the　burglars　and
got　the　swag　back　you　just　give　me　a　quid　for　luck。　I　won't　ask　for
more。〃　

〃Come　along　in；　then；〃　said　Johnson；　〃if　the　young　ladies'll　excuse
the　towel。　But　I　bet　you　do　want　something　more　off　of　me。　Else
why　not　claim　the　reward　yourself？〃

〃Great　is　the　wisdom　of　Johnson　he　speaks　winged　words。〃　The
children　were　all　in　the　cottage　now；　and　the　door　was　shut。　〃I
want　you　never　to　let　on　who　told　you。　Let　them　think　it　was　your
own　unaided　pluck　and　far…sightedness。〃

〃Sit　you　down；〃　said　Johnson；　〃and　if　you're　kidding　you'd　best
send　the　little　gells　home　afore　I　begin　on　you。〃

〃I　am　not　kidding；〃　replied　Gerald　loftily；　〃never　less。　And　anyone
but　a　policeman　would　see　why　I　don't　want　anyone　to　know　it　was
me。　I　found　it　out　at　dead　of　night；　in　a　place　where　I　wasn't
supposed　to　be；　and　there'd　be　a　beastly　row　if　they　found　out　at
home　about　me　being　out　nearly　all　night。　Now　do　you　see；　my
bright…eyed　daisy？〃

Johnson　was　now　too　interested；　as　Jimmy　said　afterwards；　to
mind　what　silly　names　he　was　called。　He　said　he　did　see　and　asked
to　see　more。

〃Well；　don't　you　ask　any　questions；　then。　I'll　tell　you　all　it's　good
for　you　to　know。　Last　night　about　eleven　I　was　at　Yalding　Towers。
No　it　doesn't　matter　how　I　got　there　or　what　I　got　there　for　and
there　was　a　window　open　and　I　got　in；　and　there　was　a　light。　And　it
was　in　the　strong…room；　and　there　were　three　men；　putting　silver　in
a　bag。〃　

〃Was　it　you　give　the　warning；　and　they　sent　for　the　police？〃
Johnson　was　leaning　eagerly　forward；　a　hand　on　each　knee。

〃Yes；　that　was　me。　You　can　let　them　think　it　was　you；　if　you　like。
You　were　off　duty；　weren't　you？〃

〃I　was；〃　said　Johnson；　〃in　the　arms　of　Murphy　〃

〃Well；　the　police　didn't　come　quick　enough。　But　I　was　there　a
lonely　detective。　And　I　followed　them。〃

〃You　did？〃

〃And　I　saw　them　hide　the　booty　and　I　know　the　other　stuff　from
Houghton's　Court's　in　the　same　place；　and　I　heard　them　arrange
about　when　to　take　it　away。〃　

〃Come　and　show　me　where；〃　said　Johnson；　jumping　up　so　quickly
that　his　Windsor　arm…chair　fell　over　backwards；　with　a　crack；　on
the　red…brick　floor。

〃Not　so；〃　said　Gerald　calmly；　〃if　you　go　near　the　spot　before　the
appointed　time　you'll　find　the　silver；　but　you'll　never　catch　the
thieves。〃　

〃You're　right　there。〃　The　policeman　picked　up　his　chair　and　sat
down　in　it　again。　〃Well？〃

〃Well；　there's　to　be　a　motor　to　meet　them　in　the　lane　beyond　the
boat…house　by　Sadler's　Rents　at　one　o　clock　tonight。　They'll　get　the
things　out　at　half…past　twelve　and　take　them　along　in　a　boat。　So
now's　your　chance　to　fill　your　pockets　with　chink　and　cover
yourself　with　honour　and　glory。〃　

〃So　help　me！〃　Johnson　was　pensive　and　doubtful　still　〃So　help　me！
you　couldn't　have　made　all　this　up　out　of　your　head。〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　could。　But　I　didn't。　Now　look　here。　It's　the　chance　of
your　lifetime；　Johnson！　A　quid　for　me；　and　a　still　tongue　for　you；
and　the　job's　done。　Do　you　agree？〃

〃Oh；　I　agree　right　enough；〃　said　Johnson。　〃I　agree。　But　if　you're
coming　any　of　your　larks　〃

〃Can't　you　see　he　isn't？〃　Kathleen　put　in　impatiently。　〃He's　not　a
liar　we　none　of　us　are。〃　

〃If　you're　not　on；　say　so；〃　said　Gerald；　〃and　I'll　find　another
policeman　with　more　sense。〃　

〃I　could　split　about　you　being　out　all　night；〃　said　Johnson。

〃But　you　wouldn't　be　so　ungentlemanly；〃　said　Mabel　brightly。
〃Don't　you　be　so　unbelieving；　when　we're　trying　to　do　you　a　good
turn。〃　

〃If　I　were　you；〃　Gerald　advised；　〃I'd　go　to　the　place　where　the
silver　is；　with　two　other　men。　You　could　make　a　nice　little　ambush
in　the　wood…yard　it's　close　there。　And　I'd　have　two　or　three　more
men　up　trees　in　the　lane　to　wait　for　the　motor…car。〃　

〃You　ought　to　have　been　in　the　force；　you　ought；〃　said　Johnson
admiringly；　〃but　s'pose　it　was　a　hoax！〃　

〃Well；　then　you'd　have　made　an　ass　of　yourself　I　don't　suppose　it
ud　be　the　first　time；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Are　you　on？〃　said　Gerald　in　haste。　〃Hold　your　jaw；　Jimmy；　you
idiot！〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Johnson。

〃Then　when　you're　on　duty　you　go　down　to　the　wood…yard；　and　the
place　where　you　see　me　blow　my　nose　is　the　place。　The　sacks　are
tied　with　string　to　the　posts　under　the　water。　You　just　stalk　by　in
your　dignified　beauty　and　make　a　note　of　the　spot。　That's　where
glory　waits　you；　and　when　Fame　elates　you　and　you're　a　sergeant；
please　remember　me。〃　

Johnson　said　he　was　blessed。　He　said　it　more　than　once；　and　then
remarked　that　he　was　on；　and　added　that　he　must　be　off　that　instant
minute。

Johnson's　cottage　lies　just　out　of　the　town　beyond　the　blacksmith's
forge　and　the　children　had　come　to　it　through　the　wood。　They　went
back　the　same　way；　and　then　down　through　the　town；　and　through
its　narrow；　unsavoury　streets　to　the　towing…path　by　the　timber　yard。
Here　they　ran　along　the　trunks　of　the　big　trees；　peeped　into　the
saw…pit；　and　the　men　were　away　at　dinner　and　this　was　a　favourite
play　place　of　every　boy　within　miles　made　themselves　a　see…saw
with　a　fresh　cut；　sweet…smelling　pine　plank　and　an　elm…root。

〃What　a　ripping　place！〃　said　Mabel；　breathless　on　the　seesaw's　end。
〃I　believe　I　like　this　better　than　pretending　games　or　even　magic。〃　

〃So　do　I；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Jerry；　don't　keep　sniffing　so　　you'll　have　no
nose　left。〃　

〃I　can't　help　it；〃　Gerald　answered；　〃I　daren't　use　my　hankey　for　fear
Johnson's　on　the　lookout　somewhere　unseen。　I　wish　I'd　thought　of
some　other　signal。〃　Sniff！　〃No；　nor　I　shouldn't　want　to　now　if　I
hadn't　got　not　to。　That's　what's　so　rum。　The　moment　I　got　down
here　and　remembered　what　I'd　said　about　the　signal　I　began　to　have
a　cold　and　Thank　goodness！　here　he　is。〃

The　children；　with　a　fine　air　of　unconcern；　abandoned　the　see…saw。
〃Follow　my　leader！〃　Gerald　cried；　and　ran　along　a　barked　oak
trunk；　the　others　following。　In　and　out　and　round　about　ran　the　file
of　children；　over　heaps　of　logs；　under　the　jutting　ends　of　piled
planks；　and　just　as　the　policeman's　heavy　boots　trod　the
towing…path　Gerald　halted　at　the　end　of　a　little　landing…stage　of
rotten　boards；　with　a　rickety　handrail；　cried　〃Pax！〃　and　blew　his
nose　with　loud　fervour。

〃Morning；〃　he　said　immediately。

〃Morning；〃　said　Johnson。　〃Got　a　cold；　ain't　you？〃

〃Ah！　I　shouldn't　have　a　cold　if　I'd　got　boots　like　yours；〃　returned
Gerald　admiringly。　〃Look　at　them。　Anyone　ud　know　your　fairy
footstep　a　mile　off。　How　do　you　ever　get　near　enough　to　anyone　to
arrest　them？〃　He　skipped　off　the　landing…stage；　whispered　as　he
passed　Johnson；　〃Courage；　promptitude；　and　dispatch。　That's　the
place；〃　and　was　off　again；　the　active　leader　of　an　active　procession。

〃We've　brought　a　friend　home　to　dinner；〃　said　Kathleen；　when
Eliza　opened　the　door。　〃Where's　Mademoiselle？〃

〃Gone　to　see　Yalding　Towers。　Today's　show　day；　you　know。　An
just　you　hurry　over　your　dinners。　It's　my　afternoon　out；　and　my
gentleman　friend　don't　like　it　if　he's　kept　waiting。〃　

〃All　right；　we'll　eat　like　lightning；〃　Gerald　promised。　〃Set　another
place；　there's　an　angel。〃