the red house mystery-第15部分

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possibly　Mark　had　revealed　it　to　her　secretly　one　day；　never　guessing　that　
she　would　make　so　unkind　a　use　of　it　later　on；　possibly　Cayley；　having　
been　let　into　the　joke　of　the　dressing…up；　had　shown　her　how　she　could　
make　her　appearance　on　the　bowling…green　even　more　mysterious　and　
supernatural。　One　way　or　another；　she　knew　about　the　secret　passage。　
So　she　must　be　hurried　away。　

Why？　Because　if　she　stayed　and　talked；　she　might　make　some　
innocent　mention　of　it。　And　Cayley　did　not　want　any　mention　of　it。　

Why；　again？　Obviously　because　the　passage；　or　even　the　mere　
knowledge　of　its　existence；　might　provide　a　clue。　

〃I　wonder　if　Mark's　hiding　there；〃　thought　Antony；　and　he　went　to　
sleep。　

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CHAPTER　X　

Mr。　Gillingham。　Talks　Nonsense　

Antony　came　down　in　a　very　good　humour　to　breakfast　next　morning；　
and　found　that　his　host　was　before　him。　Cayley　looked　up　from　his　
letters　and　nodded。　

〃Any　word　of　Mr。　Ablett　…　of　Mark？〃　said　Antony；　as　he　poured　out　his　
coffee。　

〃No。　The　inspector　wants　to　drag　the　lake　this　afternoon。　

〃Oh！　Is　there　a　lake？〃　

There　was　just　the　flicker　of　a　smile　on　Cayley's　face；　but　it　
disappeared　as　quickly　as　it　came。　

〃Well；　it's　really　a　pond；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　was　called　'the　lake。'〃　

〃By　Mark；〃　thought　Antony。　Aloud　he　said；　〃What　do　they　expect　to　
find？〃　

〃They　think　that　Mark　…〃　He　broke　off　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃May　have　drowned　himself；　knowing　that　he　couldn't　get　away？　
And　knowing　that　he　had　compromised　himself　by　trying　to　get　away　at　
all？〃　〃Yes；　I　suppose　so；〃　said　Cayley　slowly。　

〃I　should　have　thought　he　would　have　given　himself　more　of　a　run　for　
his　money。　After　all；　he　had　a　revolver。　If　he　was　determined　not　to　be　
taken　alive；　he　could　always　have　prevented　that。　Couldn't　he　have　
caught　a　train　to　London　before　the　police　knew　anything　about　it？〃　

〃He　might　just　have　managed　it。　There　was　a　train。　They　would　
have　noticed　him　at　Waldheim；　of　course；　but　he　might　have　managed　it　at　
Stanton。　He's　not　so　well…known　there；　naturally。　The　inspector　has　
been　inquiring。　Nobody　seems　to　have　seen　him。〃　

〃There　are　sure　to　be　people　who　will　say　they　did；　later　on。　There　
was　never　a　missing　man　yet　but　a　dozen　people　come　forward　who　swear　
to　have　seen　him　at　a　dozen　different　places　at　the　same　time。〃　

Cayley　smiled。　

〃Yes。　That's　true。　Anyhow；　he　wants　to　drag　the　pond　first。〃　He　
added　dryly；　〃From　what　I've　read　of　detective　stories；　inspectors　always　
do　want　to　drag　the　pond　first。〃　

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〃Is　it　deep？〃　

〃Quite　deep　enough；〃　said　Cayley　as　he　got　up。　On　his　way　to　the　
door　he　stopped；　and　looked　at　Antony。　〃I'm　so　sorry　that　we're　keeping　
you　here　like　this；　but　it　will　only　be　until　to…morrow。　The　inquest　is　tomorrow　afternoon。　Do　amuse　yourself　how　you　like　till　then。　Beverley　
will　look　after　you。〃　

〃Thanks　very　much。　I　shall　really　be　quite　all　right。〃　

Antony　went　on　with　his　breakfast。　Perhaps　it　was　true　that　
inspectors　liked　dragging　ponds；　but　the　question　was；　Did　Cayleys　like　
having　them　dragged？　Was　Cayley　anxious　about　it；　or　quite　indifferent？　
He　certainly　did　not　seem　to　be　anxious；　but　he　could　hide　his　feelings　
very　easily　beneath　that　heavy；　solid　face；　and　it　was　not　often　that　the　real　
Cayley　peeped　out。　Just　a　little　too　eager　once　or　twice；　perhaps；　but　
there　was　nothing　to　be　learnt　from　it　this　morning。　Perhaps　he　knew　that　
the　pond　had　no　secrets　to　give　up。　After　all；　inspectors　were　always　
dragging　ponds。　

Bill　came　in　noisily。　

Bill's　face　was　an　open　book。　Excitement　was　written　all　over　it。　

〃Well；〃　he　said　eagerly；　as　he　sat　down　to　the　business　of　the　meal；　
〃what　are　we　going　to　do　this　morning？〃　

〃Not　talk　so　loudly；　for　one　thing；〃　said　Antony。　Bill　looked　about　
him　apprehensively。　Was　Cayley　under　the　table；　for　example？　After　
last　night　one　never　knew。　

〃Is　er　…〃　He　raised　his　eyebrows。　

〃No。　But　one　doesn't　want　to　shout。　One　should　modulate　the　voice；　
my　dear　William；　while　breathing　gently　from　the　hips。　Thus　one　avoids　
those　chest…notes　which　have　betrayed　many　a　secret。　In　other　words；　
pass　the　toast。〃　

〃You　seem　bright　this　morning。〃　

〃I　am。　Very　bright。　Cayley　noticed　it。　Cayley　said；　'Were　it　not　
that　I　have　other　business；　I　would　come　gathering　nuts　and　may　with　thee。　
Fain　would　I　gyrate　round　the　mulberry…bush　and　hop　upon　the　little　hills。　
But　the　waters　of　Jordan　encompass　me　and　Inspector　Birch　tarries　outside　
with　his　shrimping…net。　My　friend　William　Beverley　will　attend　thee　

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anon。　Farewell；　a　long　farewell　to　all　…thy　grape…nuts。'　He　then　left　

up…centre。　Enter　W。　Beverley；　R。〃　

〃Are　you　often　like　this　at　breakfast？〃　

〃Almost　invariably。　Said　he　with　his　mouth　full。　'Exit　W。　Beverley；　
L。〃　

〃It's　a　touch　of　the　sun；　I　suppose；〃　said　Bill；　shaking　his　head　sadly。　

〃It's　the　sun　and　the　moon　and　the　stars；　all　acting　together　on　an　
empty　stomach。　Do　you　know　anything　about　the　stars；　Mr。　Beverley？　
Do　you　know　anything　about　Orion's　Belt；　for　instance？　And　why　isn't　
there　a　star　called　Beverley's　Belt？　Or　a　novel？　Said　he　masticating。　
Re…enter　W。　Beverley　through　trap…door。〃　

〃Talking　about　trap…doors　…〃　

〃Don't；〃　said　Antony；　getting　up。　〃Some　talk　of　Alexander　and　some　
of　Hercules；　but　nobody　talks　about　…what's　the　Latin　for　trap…door？　
Mensa　a　table；　you　might　get　it　from　that。　Well；　Mr。　Beverley；〃　…and　
he　slapped　him　heartily　on　the　back　as　he　went　past　him　…　〃I　shall　see　you　
later。　Cayley　says　that　you　will　amuse　me；　but　so　far　you　have　not　made　
me　laugh　once。　You　must　try　and　be　more　amusing　when　you　have　
finished　your　breakfast。　But　don't　hurry。　Let　the　upper　mandibles　have　
time　to　do　the　work。〃　With　those　words　Mr。　Gillingham　then　left　the　
spacious　apartment。　

Bill　continued　his　breakfast　with　a　slightly　bewildered　air。　He　did　not　
know　that　Cayley　was　smoking　a　cigarette　outside　the　windows　behind　
him；　not　listening；　perhaps；　possibly　not　even　overhearing；　but　within　
sight　of　Antony；　who　was　not　going　to　take　any　risks。　So　he　went　on　with　
his　breakfast；　reflecting　that　Antony　was　a　rum　fellow；　and　wondering　if　he　
had　dreamed　only　of　the　amazing　things　which　had　happened　the　day　
before。　

Antony　went　up　to　his　bedroom　to　fetch　his　pipe。　It　was　occupied　by　
a　housemaid；　and　he　made　a　polite　apology　for　disturbing　her。　Then　be　
remembered。　

〃Is　it　Elsie？〃　he　asked；　giving　her　a　friendly　smile。　

〃Yes；　sir；〃　she　said；　shy　but　proud。　She　had　no　doubts　as　to　why　it　
was　that　she　had　achieved　such　notoriety。　

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〃It　was　you　who　heard　Mr。　Mark　yesterday；　wasn't　it？　I　hope　the　
inspector　was　nice　to　you？〃　

〃Yes；　thank　you；　sir。〃　

〃'It's　my　turn　now。　You　wait；'〃　murmured　Antony　to　himself。　

〃Yes；　sir。　Nasty…like。　Meaning　to　say　his　chance　had　come。〃　

〃I　wonder。〃　

〃Well；　that's　what　I　heard；　sir。　Truly。〃　

Antony　looked　at　her　thoughtfully　and　nodded。　

〃Yes。　I　wonder。　I　wonder　why。〃　

〃Why　what；　sir？〃　

〃Oh；　lots　of　things；　Elsie。。。。　It　was　quite　an　accident　your　being　outside　
just　then？〃　

Elsie　blushed。　She　had　not　forgotten　what　Mrs。　Stevens　had　said　
about　it。　

〃Quite；　sir；　In　the　general　way　I　use　the　other　stairs。〃　

〃Of　course。〃　

He　had　found　his　pipe　and　was　about　to　go　downstairs　again　when　she　
stopped　him。　

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　but　will　there　be　an　inquest？〃　

〃Oh；　yes。　To…morrow；　I　think。〃　

〃Shall　I　have　to　give　my　evidence；　sir？〃　

〃Of　course。　There's　nothing　to　be　frightened　of。〃　

〃I　did　hear　it；　sir。　Truly。〃　

〃Why；　of　course　you　did。　Who　says　you　didn't？〃　

〃Some　of　the　others　sir　Mrs。　Stevens　and　all。〃　

〃Oh；　that's　just　because　they're　jealous；〃　said　Antony　with　a　smile。　

He　was　glad　to　have　spoken　to　her；　because　he　had　recognized　at　once　
the　immense　importance　of　her　evidence。　To　the　inspector　no　doubt　it　
had　seemed　only　of　importance　in　that　it　had　shown　Mark　to　have　adopted　
something　of　a　threatening　attitude　towards　his　brother。　To　Antony　it　had　
much　more　significance。　It　was　the　only　trustworthy　evidence　that　Mark　
had　been　in　the　office　at　all　that　afternoon。　

For　who　saw　Mark　go　into　the　office？　Only　Cayley。　And　if　Cayley　
had　been　hiding　the　truth　about　the　keys；　why　should　he　not　be　hiding　the　

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truth　about　Mark's　entry　into　the　office？　Obviously　all　Cayley's　evidence　
went　for　nothing。　Some　of　it　no　doubt　was　true；　but　he　was　giving　it；　
both　truth　and　falsehood；　with　a　purpose。　What　the　purpose　was　Antony　
did　not　know　as　yet；　to　shield　Mark；　to　shield　himself；　even　to　betray　Mark　
it　might　be　any　of　these。　But　since　his　evidence　was　given　for　his　own　
ends；　it　was　impossible　that　it　could　be　treated　as　the　evidence　of　an　
impartial　and　trustworthy　onlooker。　Such；　for　instance；　as　Elsie　appeared　
to　be。　

Elsie's　evidence；　however；　seemed　to　settle　the　point。　Mark　had　gone　
into　the　office　to　see　his　brother；　Elsie　had　heard　them　both　talking；　and　
then　Antony　and　Cayley　had　found　the　body　of　Robert。。。。　and　the　inspector　
was　going　to　drag　the　pond。　

But　certainly　Elsie's　evidence　did　not　prove　anything　more　than　the　
mere　presence　of　Mark　in　the　room。　〃It's　my　turn　now；　you　wait。〃　That　
was　not　an　immediate　threat；　…　it　was　a　threat　for　the　future。　If　Mark　had　
shot　his　brother　immediately　afterwards　it　must　have　been　an　accident；　the　
result　of　a　struggle；　say；　provoked　by　that　〃nasty…like〃　tone　of　voice。　
Nobody　would　say　〃You　wait〃　to　a　man　who　was　just　going　to　be　shot。　
〃You　wait〃　meant　〃You　wait；　and　see　what's　going　to　happen　to　you　later　
on。〃　The　owner　of　The　Red　House　had　had　enough　of　his　brother's　
sponging；　his　brother's　blackmail；　now　it　was　Mark's　turn　to　get　a　bit　of　his　
own　back。　Let　Robert　just　wait　a　bit；　and　he　would　see。　The　
conversation　which　Elsie　had　overheard　might　have　meant　something　like　
this。　It　couldn't　have　meant　murder。　Anyway　not　murder　of　Robert　by　
Mark。　

〃It's　a　funny　business；〃　thought　Antony。　〃The　one　obvious　solution　is　
so　easy　and　yet　so　wrong。　And　I'