the red seal(红印)-第25部分
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time； and wondered what had become of the faithful Grimes； the butler
was usually the soul of promptness； and to keep a caller waiting on the
doorstep would； in his category； rank as the height of impropriety。 As
Kent again raised his hand toward the bell； the door swung open suddenly
and Barbara beckoned to him to come inside。
〃The bell is out of order；〃 she explained。 〃I saw you from the
window。 Hurry； and Grimes won't know that you are here；〃 and she
darted ahead of him into the reception room。 Kent followed more slowly；
he was hurt that she had had no other greeting for him。
〃Babs； aren't you glad to see me？〃 he asked wistfully。
For an instant her eyes were lighted by her old sunny smile。
〃You know I am；〃 she whispered softly。 As his arms closed around
her and their lips met in a tender kiss she added fervently； 〃Oh； Harry； why
didn't you make me marry you in the happy bygone days？〃
〃I asked you often enough；〃 he declared。
〃Will you go with me to Rockville at once？〃 Her face changed and
she drew back from him。 〃No；〃 she said。 〃It is selfish of me to think of
my own happiness now。〃
〃How about mine？〃 demanded Kent with warmth。 〃If you won't
consider yourself； consider me。〃
〃I do。〃 She looked out of the window to conceal sudden blinding
tears。 There was a hint of hidden tragedy in her lovely face which went
to Kent's heart。
〃Sweetheart；〃 his voice was very tender； 〃is there nothing I can do for
you？〃
〃Nothing；〃 she shook her head drearily。 〃This family must 'dree its
weir。'
Kent studied her in silence； that she was in deadly earnest he
recognized； she was no hysterical fool or given to sentimental twaddle。
〃You came to me on Wednesday to ask my aid in solving Jimmie
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Turnbull's death；〃 he said。 〃I have learned certain facts …〃
Barbara sprang to her feet。 〃Wait；〃 she cautioned。 〃Let me close
the door。 Now； go on …〃 with her customary impetuosity she reseated
herself。
〃Before I do so； I must tell you； Babs； that I recognized the fraud you
and Helen perpetrated at the coroner's inquest yesterday afternoon。〃
〃Fraud？〃
〃Yes；〃 quietly。 〃I am aware that you impersonated Helen on the
witness stand and vice versa。 You took a frightful risk。〃
〃I don't see why；〃 she protested。 〃In my testimony I told nothing but
the truth。〃
〃I never doubted you told the truth regarding the events of Monday
night as you saw them； but the coroner's questions were put to you under
the impression that you were Helen。〃 Kent scrutinized her keenly。
〃Would Helen have been able to give the same answers that you did
without perjuring herself？〃
Barbara started and her face paled。 〃Are you insinuating that Helen
killed Jimmie？〃 she cried。
〃No；〃 his emphatic denial was prompt。 〃But I do believe that she
knows more of what transpired Monday night than she is willing to admit。
Is that not so； Barbara？〃
〃Yes；〃 she acknowledged reluctantly。
〃Does she know who poisoned Jimmie？〃
〃No … no！〃 Barbara rested a firm hand on his shoulder。 〃I swear
Helen does not know。 You must believe me； Harry。〃
〃She may not know；〃 Kent spoke slowly。 〃But are you sure she does
not suspect some one？〃
〃Well； what if I do？〃 asked Helen quietly； and Kent； looking around；
found her standing just inside the door。 Her entrance had been noiseless。
〃You should tell the authorities； Helen。〃 Kent rose as she passed him
and selected a seat which brought her face somewhat in shadow。 〃If you
do not you may retard justice。〃
〃But if I speak I may involve the innocent；〃 she retorted。 〃I …〃 her
eyes shifted from him to Barbara and back again。 〃I cannot undertake
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that responsibility。〃
〃Better that than let the guilty escape through your silence；〃 protested
Kent。 〃Possibly the theories of the police may coincide with yours。
〃What are they？〃 asked Barbara impetuously。
Kent considered before replying。 If Detective Ferguson had gone so
far as to secure a search warrant to go through Rochester's apartment and
office it would not be long before the fact of his being a 〃suspect〃 would
be common property； there could； therefore； be no harm in his repeating
Ferguson's conversation to the twins。 In fact； as their legal representative；
they were entitled to know the latest developments from him。
〃Detective Ferguson believes that the poison was administered by
Philip Rochester；〃 he said finally； and watched to see how the
announcement would affect them。 Barbara's eyes opened to their widest
extent； and back in her corner； into which she had gradually edged her
chair； Helen emitted a long； long breath as her taut muscles relaxed。
〃What makes Ferguson think Philip guilty？〃 demanded Barbara。
〃It is known that he and Jimmie were not on good terms；〃 replied Kent。
〃Then Rochester's disappearance after Jimmie's death lends color to the
theory。〃
〃Has Philip really disappeared？〃 asked Helen。 〃You showed me a
telegram …〃
〃Apparently the telegram was a fake；〃 admitted Kent。 〃The
Cleveland police report that he is not at the address given in the telegram。〃
〃But who could have an object in sending such a telegram？〃 asked
Barbara slowly。
〃Rochester； in the hope of throwing the police off his track； if he really
killed Jimmie。〃 Kent looked straight at Helen。 〃It was while searching
our office safe for trace of Rochester's present address that Ferguson
obtained possession of your sealed envelope。〃
Helen plucked nervously at the ribbon on her gown。 〃Did the
detective open the envelope〃 she asked。
〃No。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Positive； the red seal was unbroken。〃
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〃Tell us how the envelope came to be stolen from you；〃 coaxed
Barbara。
〃We were in the little smoking porch off the dining room at the Club
de Vingt。〃 Barbara smiled her remembrance of it； and motioned Kent to
continue。 〃Ferguson had just put down the envelope on the table and I
started to pick it up when cheering in the dining room distracted my
attention and I； with the others； went to see what it was about。 When I
returned to the porch the envelope was no longer on the table。〃
〃Who were with you？〃 questioned Helen。
〃Your father； Mrs。 Brewster …〃
〃Of course；〃 murmured Barbara。 〃Go on； Harry。〃
〃Detective Ferguson and Ben Glymer；〃 Barbara made a wry face；
〃and〃 … went on Kent； not heeding her； 〃each of these persons deny any
further knowledge of the envelope； except they declare it was lying on the
table when we all made a dash for the dining room。
〃Who was the last to leave the porch？〃 asked Helen。
〃Ben Clymer。〃
〃And he saw no one take the envelope？〃
〃He declares that he had his back to the table； part of the time； but to
the best of his knowledge no one took the envelope。〃
〃One of them must have；〃 insisted Barbara。
〃The envelope hadn't legs or wings。〃
〃One of them did take it；〃 agreed Kent。
〃But which one is the question。 Frankly； to find the answer； I must
know the contents of the envelope； Helen。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because then I will have some idea who would be enough interested
in the envelope to steal it。〃
Helen considered him long and thoughtfully。 〃I cannot answer your
question；〃 she announced finally。 She saw his face harden； and hastened
to explain。 〃Not through any lack of confidence in you； Harry； b…b…but；〃
she stumbled in her speech。 〃I … I do not know what the envelope
contains。〃
Kent stared at her open…mouthed。 〃Then who requested you to lock
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the envelope in Rochester's safe？〃 he demanded； and receiving no reply；
asked suddenly： 〃Was it Rochester？〃
〃I am not at liberty to tell you；〃 she responded； her mouth set in
obstinate lines and before he could press his request a second time； she
asked： 〃Philip Rochester defended Jimmie in court when every one
thought him a burglar； why then； should Philip have picked him out to
attack … he is not a homicidal maniac？〃
〃No； but the police contend that Rochester recognized Jimmie in his
make…up and decided to kill him； hoping his death would be attributed to
angina pectoris； and no post…mortem h
