the red seal(红印)-第29部分
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〃That letter was a forgery。〃 Kent sat back and watched the detective's
rapidly changing expression。 〃And no trace has been found of the
Colonel's securities； last known to be in the possession of Turnbull。〃
〃Great heavens！〃 ejaculated Ferguson。
〃Which was the forger … Turnbull or Rochester？〃
Kent shook a puzzled head。 〃That is for us to discover；〃 he said
soberly。 〃Colonel McIntyre contends that Turnbull forged the letter and
stole the securities； then fearing his guilt would become known；
committed still another crime … that of suicide； he could have swallowed a
dose of aconitine while at the police court。〃
〃Well； I'll be … blessed！〃 ejaculated Ferguson。 〃But if he was the
forger how does that square with Rochester's peculiar behavior？ The
checks bearing your forged signatures were presented； mind you； by
Rochester after Turnbull's death？〃
〃It doesn't square；〃 acknowledged Kent frankly。 〃There is this to be
said for Turnbull： he was the soul of honor； his affairs were found to be in
excellent condition； he was drawing a good salary； his investments paying
well … he did not need to acquire securities or money by resorting to
forgery。〃
〃Whereas Philip Rochester was on the point of bankruptcy；〃 remarked
Ferguson。 〃Do you suppose he forged Colonel McIntyre's letter and gave
it to Turnbull； and the latter got the securities from the bank treasurer and
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handed them over to Rochester in good faith； supposing his room…mate
would give the papers to Colonel McIntyre？〃
Kent nodded in agreement。 〃It looks that way to me；〃 he said
gloomily。 〃Philip Rochester stood well in the community； his law
practice is large and lucrative； and if it had not been for his periods of
idleness and … and〃 … hesitating … 〃passion for good living； he would never
have run into debt。〃
〃But he got there。〃 Ferguson's laugh was contemptuous。 〃A
desperate man will do anything； Mr。 Kent。〃
〃I know；〃 Kent looked dubious。 〃I would believe him guilty if it
were not for the use of aconitine … that shows premeditation on the part of
the murderer。〃
〃And why shouldn't Rochester plan Turnbull's murder ahead of the
scene in the police court？〃 argued Ferguson。 〃Wasn't he living in deadly
fear of exposure？ If he did not commit the murder； why did he run away？
And if he is innocent； why doesn't he come forward and prove it？〃
〃He may not know that he is suspected of the crime；〃 retorted Kent；
rising。 〃It is for us to find Rochester； and I suggest that we search this
apartment thoroughly。〃
〃I have already done so；〃 objected Ferguson。 〃And there wasn't the
faintest clew to his hiding place。〃
〃For all that I am not satisfied。〃 Kent walked over and switched on
another light。 〃When I came here on Wednesday night I had a tussle with
some man； but he escaped in the dark without my seeing him。 I believe
he was Rochester。〃
〃You are probably right。〃 Ferguson crossed the room。 〃And if he
came back once； he may return again。 Come ahead；〃 and he plunged into
the first bedroom。 The two men subjected each room to an exhaustive
search； but their labors were their only reward； except for an accumulation
of dust； the apartment was undisturbed。 They had reached the
kitchenette…pantry when the gong over their heads sounded loudly； and
Kent； with a muttered exclamation hastened toward the front door of the
apartment。 Ferguson； intent on studying the 〃L〃 of the building as seen
from the window； was hardly conscious of his departure； and some
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seconds elapsed before he turned toward the door。 As he gained it； he
saw a dark shape dart down the hall。 With a bound Ferguson started in
pursuit； and the next second grappled with the flying man just as the
electric lights went out and they were plunged in darkness。
Suddenly Kent's voice echoed down the hall。 〃Come here quick；
Ferguson！〃
There was a note of urgency about his appeal； and Ferguson straining
his muscles until the blood pounded in his temples； threw the struggling
man into a tufted arm…chair which stood by the entrance to the small
dining room； and drawing out his handcuffs； slipped them on securely。
〃Stay there；〃 Ferguson admonished his prisoner。 〃Or there will be worse
coming to you；〃 and he thrust the muzzle of his revolver against the man's
heaving chest to illustrate his meaning； then as Kent called again； he sped
down the hall and brought up breathless at the front door。 The light was
still burning in the corridor； though not very brightly； and he saw Kent
hand the grinning messenger boy a shiny quarter。 Touching his battered
cap the boy went whistling away。 〃Tell the elevator boy to report that a
fuse has burned out in Mr。 Rochester's apartment；〃 Ferguson called after
him； and the lad waved his hand as he dashed into the elevator。 Paying
no attention to the detective's call； Kent showed him a white envelope
which bore the simple address：
PHILIP ROCHESTER； ESQ。
THE SARATOGA
〃It's the identical envelope I found in your safe；〃 declared Ferguson。
〃And which disappeared last night at the Club de Vingt。〃 Kent
turned over the envelope。 〃See； the red seal。〃
For a minute the men contemplated the seal with the large distinctive
letter 〃B〃 in the center。
〃Open the letter； sir；〃 Ferguson urged and Kent； his fingers fairly
trembling； jerked and tore at the linen incased envelope； the flap ripped
away and he opened the envelope … it was empty。
Instinctively the two men glanced down at the parquetry flooring；
nothing but a thin coating of dust lay there； and Kent looked up and down
the corridor； it was deserted。
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〃Do you recognize the handwriting？〃 asked Ferguson。
〃No。〃 Kent regarded the envelope in bewilderment。 〃What shall we
do？〃
〃Do？ Call up the Dime Messenger Service and see where the
envelope came from； but first come and see my prisoner。
〃Your prisoner？〃 in profound astonishment。
〃Yes。 I caught him chasing up the hall after you；〃 explained
Ferguson as they hurriedly retraced their steps。 〃I put handcuffs on him
and then went to you。 Ah； here's the light！〃
〃The light； yes； but where's your prisoner？〃 and Kent； who was a trifle
in advance of his companion in reaching the dining room； stood aside to
let Ferguson pass him。
The detective halted abruptly。 The chair into which he had thrust his
prisoner was vacant。 The man had disappeared。
With one accord Ferguson and Kent advanced close to the chair； and
an oath broke from。 the detective。 On the cushion of the chair； still
bearing the impress of a human body； lay a pair of shining new handcuffs。
Dazedly Ferguson stooped over and examined them。 They were still
securely locked。 Wheeling around Kent dashed through the door to his
right and Ferguson； collecting his wits； searched the rest of the apartment
with minute care。 Five minutes later he came face to face with Kent in
the living room。 〃Not a trace of any kind；〃 declared Kent。 〃It's the
same as the other night； the man's gone。 It's … it's positively uncanny。〃
Ferguson's face was red from mortification and his exertions
combined。
〃The fellow must have slipped from the room by that other door and
out through the living room as we came down the hail；〃 he said。 〃Did you
shut the door of the apartment； Mr。 Kent； before coming down here to look
at the prisoner？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kent led the way back to the dining room。 〃Did you
recognize the man； Ferguson？〃
〃No。〃 The detective swore softly as he stared about the room。 〃The
lights went out just as I tackled him。〃
〃It was beastly luck that the fuse burned out at that second；〃 groaned
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Kent。 〃Fortune was with him in that； but how did the man get free of the
handcuffs？〃 pointing to them still lying in the chair。 〃We can't attribute
that to luck； unless〃 … staring keenly at Ferguson …〃 unless you did not snap
them on the man's wrists； after all。〃
〃I did； I swear it；〃 declared Ferguson。 〃I'm no novice at that business。
Here； don't touch them； Mr。 Kent；〃 as his companion bent toward the chair。
〃There may be fi
