the red seal(红印)-第23部分
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〃Did he take my letter off the table also？〃 called Kent。
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〃Why； no。〃 Clymer's voice testified to his increased surprise。 〃Mrs。
Brewster dropped her fan right in the doorway just as McIntyre and I
approached； we both stooped to get it and； like fools； bumped our heads
together in the act。 He got the fan； however； and I waited for him to walk
into the dining room before following Mrs。 Brewster。〃
〃As you passed the table； Mr。 Clymer； did you see my letter lying on
the table？〃 persisted Kent。
〃Upon my word I never looked at the table；〃 Clymer's hearty tone
carried conviction。 〃I walked right along in my hurry to know what the
cheering was about。 I am sorry； Kent； have you mislaid your letter？〃
〃Yes；〃 glumly。 〃Sorry to have disturbed you； Mr。 Clymer； good
night；〃 and Clymer's echoing； 〃Good night〃 sounded faintly as he hung up
the receiver。
〃Drew blank；〃 he announced； turning to Ferguson。 〃Confound you；
Ferguson； you bad no right to touch the papers in my safe。 If harm
comes from it； I'll make you suffer；〃 and not waiting for the detective's
jumbled apologies and explanations； he hurried from the building。 But
once on the sidewalk he paused for thought。 McIntyre must have picked
up the white envelope； there was no other feasible explanation of its
disappearance。 But what had attracted his attention to the envelope … the
red seal with the big letter 〃 B〃 was its only identifying mark。 If Helen
had only told him the contents of the envelope！
Kent struck his clenched fist in his left hand in wrath； something must
be done； he could not stand there all night。 Although it was through no
fault of his own that he had lost the envelope entrusted to his care； he was
still responsible to Helen for its disappearance。 She must be told that it
was gone； however unpleasant the task。
Kent walked hastily along Pennsylvania Avenue until he came to a
drug store still open； and entered the telephone booth。 He had recollected
that the twins had a branch telephone in their sitting room； he would have
to chance their being awake at that hour。
Barbara McIntyre turned on her pillow and rubbed her sleepy eyes；
surely she had been mistaken in thinking she heard the telephone bell
ringing。 Even as she lay striving to listen； she dozed off again； to be
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rudely awakened by Helen's voice at her ear。
〃Babs！〃 came the agitated whisper。 〃The envelope's gone。〃
〃Gone！〃 Barbara swung out of bed。
〃Gone where？〃
〃Father has it。〃
Downstairs in the library Mrs。 Brewster paused on her entrance by the
side of a piece of carved Venetian furniture and laying her coronation scarf
on it； she examined a white envelope … the red seal was intact。
At the sound of approaching footsteps she raised a trap door in the
piece of furniture and only her keen ears caught the faint thud of the
envelope as it dropped inside； then with a happy； tender smile she turned
to meet Colonel McIntyre。
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CHAPTER XII
THE ECHO OF A LAUGH
Colonel McIntyre tramped the deserted dining room in exasperation。
Nine o'clock and the twins had not come to breakfast； nor was there any
evidence that Mrs。 Brewster intended taking that meal downstairs。
〃Will you wait any longer； sir？〃 inquired Grimes； who hovered
solicitously in the background。 〃I'm afraid； sir； your eggs will be over…
done。〃
〃Bring them along；〃 directed McIntyre； and flung himself into his
chair at the foot of the table。 He had been seated but a few minutes when
Barbara appeared and dutifully presented her cheek to be kissed； then she
tripped lightly to Helen's place opposite her father； and pressed the electric
bell for Grimes。
〃Coffee； please；〃 she said as that worthy appeared； and busied herself
in arranging the cups and saucers。 〃Helen is taking her breakfast
upstairs；〃 she explained to her father。
〃How about Mrs。 Brewster？〃
〃Still asleep。〃 Barbara poured out her father's coffee with careful
attention to detail。 〃I peeked into her room a moment ago and she looked
so 'comfy' I hadn't the heart to awaken her。 You must have been very late
at the club last night。〃
〃We got home a little after one o'clock。〃
McIntyre helped himself to poached eggs and bacon。 〃What did you
do last night？〃
〃Went to bed early；〃 answered Barbara with brevity。 〃Helen wasn't
feeling well。〃
McIntyre's handsome face showed concern as he glanced across the
table。 〃Have you sent for Dr。 Stone？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Helen … I … we 〃… Barbara stumbled in her speech。 〃We have taken
an aversion to Dr。 Stone。〃
McIntyre set down his coffee cup with unwonted force； thereby
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spilling some of its contents。
〃What！〃 he exclaimed in complete astonishment； and regarded her
fixedly for a moment。 His tolerant manner； which he frequently assumed
toward Barbara； grew stern。 〃Dr。 Stone is my personal friend； as well as
our family physician …〃
〃And a cousin of Margaret Brewster；〃 put in Barbara mildly。
〃Well； what of it？〃 trenchantly； aware that he had colored at mention
of the widow's name。 〃Nothing；〃 Barbara's eyes opened innocently。 〃I
only recalled the fact of his relationship as you enumerated his virtues。〃
Colonel McIntyre transferred his regard from her to the butler。 〃You
need not wait； Grimes。〃 He remained silent until the servant was safely
in the pantry； and then addressed his daughter。 〃None of your tricks；
Barbara；〃 he cautioned。 〃If Helen is ill enough to require medical
attention； Dr。 Stone is to be sent for； regardless of your sudden dislike to
him； for which； by the way； you have given no cause。〃
〃Haven't I？〃 Barbara folded her napkin with neat exactness。 〃It's …
it's intangible。〃
〃Pooh！〃 McIntyre gave a short laugh； as he pushed back his chair。 〃I'm
going to see Helen。 And Barbara；〃 stopping on his way to the door；
〃don't be a fool。〃
Barbara rubbed the tiny mole under the lobe of her ear； a trick she had
when absent…minded or in deep thought。 〃Helen；〃 she announced；
unaware that she spoke loud； 〃shall have a physician； but it won't be … why；
Grimes；〃 awakening to the servant's noiseless return。 〃You can take the
breakfast dishes。 Did Miss Helen eat anything？〃
〃Not very much； miss。〃 Grimes shook a troubled head。 〃But she
done better than at dinner last night； so she's picking up； and don't you be
worried over her；〃 with emphasis； as he sidled nearer。 〃Tell me； miss； is
the colonel courtin' Mrs。 Brewster？〃
〃Ask him；〃 she suggested and smiled at the consternation which
spread over the butler's face。
〃Me； miss！〃 he exclaimed in horror。 〃It would be as much as my
place is worth； the colonel's that quick…tempered。 Why； miss； just
because I tidied up his desk and put his papers to rights he flew into a
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terrible passion。〃
〃When was that？〃
〃Early this morning； miss； and he so upset Thomas； miss； that he gave
notice。〃
〃Oh； that's too bad。〃 Barbara liked the second man。 〃Perhaps father
will reconsider and persuade him to stay。〃
The butler looked unconvinced。 〃It was about the police dogs；〃 he
confided to her。 〃Thomas told him that Miss Helen wanted them brought
back； and the colonel swore at him … 'twas more than Thomas could stand
and he ups and goes。〃 Barbara halted half way to the door。 〃Did
Thomas get the dogs？〃
〃You wait and see； miss。〃 Grimes was guilty of a most undignified
wink。 〃Thomas ain't forgiven himself for not being here Monday night；
miss； though it wouldn't a done him any good； he wouldn't a heard Mr。
Turnbull climbing in or his arrest； away upstairs in the servants' quarters。〃
〃Grimes；〃 Barbara retracted her footsteps and placed her lips very
close to the old servant's ear。
〃When I came in on Tuesday morning I found the door to the attic
stairway standing partly open。。。
〃Did you now； miss？〃 The two regarded each other warily。 〃And
what hour may that have been？〃
