the red seal(红印)-第14部分
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shaken at last by the accumulative evidence； and he was convinced that he
had found the solution to the problem； but how impart it to the weeping
girl？ To prove her lover a thief； forger； and suicide was indeed a task he
shrank from。
A ring at the telephone caused Kent to move hastily to the instrument；
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when he hung up the receiver Helen was adjusting her veil before a mirror
over the mantel。
〃Colonel McIntyre is in the next room；〃 he said； keeping his voice
lowered。
〃My father！〃 Helen's eyes were hard and dry。 〃Does he know that I
am here？〃
〃I don't know； Sylvester simply said he had called to see me and is
waiting in the outer office。〃 Observing her indecision； Kent opened the
door leading directly into the corridor。 〃You can leave this way without
encountering Colonel McIntyre。〃
Helen hurried through the door and paused in the corridor to whisper
feverishly in Kent's ear； 〃Promise me you will remain faithful to Barbara
whatever develops。〃
〃I will！〃 Kent's pledge rang out clearly； and Helen with a lighter
heart turned to walk away when a telegraph boy appeared around the
corner of the corridor and thrust a yellow envelope at Kent； who stood half
inside his office watching Helen。
〃Sign here；〃 the boy said； indicating the line on the receipt slip； and
getting it back； departed。
Motioning to Helen to wait； Kent tore open the telegram。 It was from
Cleveland and dated the night before。 The message ran： Called to
Cleveland。 Address City Club。 Rochester。
Without comment Kent held out the telegram so that Helen could read
it。
〃What！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Philip in Cleveland last night。 I … I … don't
understand。〃 And looking at her Kent was astounded at the flash of
terror which shone for an instant in her eyes。 Before he had time to
question her she bolted around the corridor。
Kent remained staring ahead for an instant then returned thoughtfully
to his office； and within a second Sylvester received a telephone message
to show Colonel McIntyre into Kent's office。 Not only Colonel McIntyre
followed the clerk into the room but Benjamin Clymer。 〃Any further
developments； Kent？〃 inquired the banker。 〃No； we can't sit down； just
dropped in to see you a minute。〃
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〃There is nothing new；〃 Kent had made instant decision； such
information regarding the death of Turnbull as he had gleaned from
Ferguson； and the events of the night before should be confided to Clymer
alone； and not in the presence of Colonel McIntyre。
〃Did you search Turnbull's apartment last night as you spoke of
doing？〃 asked McIntyre。
〃I did； and found no trace of your securities； Colonel。〃
McIntyre lifted his eyebrows as he smiled sarcastically。 〃Can I see
Rochester？〃 he asked。
〃He is in Cleveland； I don't know just when he will be back。〃
〃Indeed？ Too bad you haven't the benefit of his advice；〃 remarked
McIntyre insolently。 〃At Clymer's request； Kent； I have allowed you
until Saturday night to find the securities and either clear Turnbull's name
or admit his guilt； there remain two days and a half before I take the affair
in my own hands and make it public。〃
〃I hope to establish Turnbull's innocence before that time；〃 retorted
Kent coolly。
Inwardly his spirits sank； had not every effort on his part brought but
further proof of Jimmie's guilt？ That McIntyre would make no attempt to
hush up the scandal was obvious。
〃Keep me informed of your progress；〃 McIntyre's manner was
domineering and Kent felt the blood mount to his temples； but he was
determined not to lose his temper whatever the provocation； McIntyre was
Barbara's father。
Clymer； aware that the atmosphere was getting strained； diplomatically
intervened。
〃Dine with me to…night； Kent；〃 he said。 〃Perhaps you will then have
some news that will throw light on the present whereabouts of the
securities。 I found； on making inquiries； that they have not been offered
for sale in the usual channels。 Come； McIntyre； I have a directors'
meeting in twenty minutes。〃
McIntyre； who had been swinging his walking stick from one hand to
the other in marked impatience； turned to Kent； his manner more
conciliatory。
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〃Pleasant quarters you have；〃 he remarked。 〃Does Rochester share
his room with you？〃
〃No； Colonel； his is across the ante…room where you waited a few
minutes ago；〃 explained Kent as he accompanied his visitors to the door。
〃This is my office。〃
〃Ah； yes； I thought as much on seeing only one desk；〃 McIntyre's
manner grew more cordial。 〃Does Rochester's furniture duplicate yours；
safe and all？〃
〃Safe … no； he has none； that is the firm's safe。〃 Kent was becoming
restless under so many personal questions。 〃Good…by； Mr。 Clymer。〃
〃Don't forget to…night at eight；〃 the banker reminded him before
stepping into the corridor。 〃We'll dine at the Club de Vingt。 Come along；
McIntyre。〃
Sylvester stopped Kent on his way back to his office and handed him
the neatly typewritten copies of his brief； and with a word of thanks the
lawyer went over to his desk and； gathering such papers as he required at
the court house； he thrust them and the brief into his leather bag； but
instead of hurrying on his way； he stood still to consider the events of the
morning。
Helen McIntyre； during their interview； had not responded to his
appeal for her confidence； nor vouchsafed any reason for her belief that
Jimmie Turnbull had been the victim of foul play。 And Colonel McIntyre
had given him only until Saturday night to solve the problem！ Kent's
overwrought feelings found vent in an emphatic oath。
〃Excuse me；〃 exclaimed Sylvester mildly from the doorway。 〃I
knocked and understood you to say come in。
〃Well； what is it？〃 Kent's nerves were getting a bit raw； a glance at
his watch showed him he had a slender margin only in which to reach the
court house in time for his appointment。 Not even waiting for the clerk's
reply he snatched up his brief case and made for the private door leading
into the corridor。 But he was destined not to get away without another
interruption。
As Sylvester was hastily explaining； 〃Two gentlemen to see you； Mr。
Kent；〃 the clerk was thrust aside and Detective Ferguson entered；
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accompanied by a deputy marshal。
〃Sorry to detain you； Mr。 Kent；〃 exclaimed the detective。 〃I came to
tell you that Coroner Penfield has just called an inquest for this afternoon
to inquire into Jimmie Turnbull's death。 Where's your partner； Mr。
Rochester？〃 looking around inquiringly。
〃In Cleveland。 Won't I do？〃 replied Kent； his appointment forgotten
in the news that Ferguson had just given him。
〃No； we didn't come for legal advice；〃 Ferguson smiled； then grew
serious。 〃What's Mr。 Rochester's address？〃
Kent walked over to his desk and picked up the telegram。 〃The City
Club； Cleveland；〃 he stated。
〃Thanks；〃 Ferguson jotted down the address in his note…book。 〃Jones；
here；〃 placing his hand on his companion； 〃came to serve Mr。 Rochester
with a subpoena； he's wanted at the Turnbull inquest as a material
witness。〃
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CHAPTER VIII
THE INQUEST
Coroner Penfield adjusted his eyeglasses and scanned the spectators
gathered for the Turnbull inquest。 The room was crowded with both men
and women； the latter predominating； and the coroner decided that； while
some had come from a personal interest in the dead man； the majority had
been attracted by morbid curiosity。 There was a stir among the spectators
as an inner door opened and the jury； led by the morgue master filed into
the room and took their places。 Coroner Penfield rose and addressed the
foreman。
〃Have you viewed the body？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes； doctor；〃 and the man sat down。
Coroner Penfield then concisely stated the reason for the inquest and
summoned Officer O'Ryan to the witness stand。 The policeman stood；
cap in hand； while being sworn by the morgue master； and then took his
place on the platform in the chair reserved for the witnesses。
