the woman in the alcove-第15部分

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Great　as　is　the　temptation　to　give　a　detailed　account　of　proceedings　which　were　of　such　moment　to　myself；　and　to　every　word　of　which　I　listened　with　the　eagerness　of　a　novice　and　the　anguish　of　a　woman　who　sees　her　lover's　reputation　at　the　mercy　of　a　verdict　which　may　stigmatize　him　as　a　possible　criminal；　I　see　no　reason　for　encumbering　my　narrative　with　what；　for　the　most　part；　would　be　a　mere　repetition　of　facts　already　known　to　you。

Mr。　Durand's　intimate　and　suggestive　connection　with　this　crime；　the　explanations　he　had　to　give　of　this　connection；　frequently　bizarre　and；　I　must　acknowledge；　not　always　convincing；nothing　could　alter　these　nor　change　the　fact　of　the　undoubted　cowardice　he　displayed　in　hiding　Mrs。　Fairbrother's　gloves　in　my　unfortunate　little　bag。

As　for　the　mystery　of　the　warning；　it　remained　as　much　of　a　mystery　as　ever。　Nor　did　any　better　success　follow　an　attempt　to　fix　the　ownership　of　the　stiletto；　though　a　half…day　was　exhausted　in　an　endeavor　to　show　that　the　latter　might　have　come　into　Mr。　Durand's　possession　in　some　of　the　many　visits　he　was　shown　to　have　made　of　late　to　various　curio…shops　in　and　out　of　New　York　City。*

I　had　expected　all　this；　just　as　I　had　expected　Mr。　Grey　to　be　absent　from　the　proceedings　and　his　testimony　ignored。　But　this　expectation　did　not　make　the　ordeal　any　easier；　and　when　I　noticed　the　effect　of　witness　after　witness　leaving　the　stand　without　having　improved　Mr。　Durand's　position　by　a　jot　or　offering　any　new　clue　capable　of　turning　suspicion　into　other　directions；　I　felt　my　spirit　harden　and　my　purpose　strengthen　till　I　hardly　knew　myself。　I　must　have　frightened　my　uncle；　for　his　hand　was　always　on　my　arm　and　his　chiding　voice　in　my　ear；　bidding　me　beware；　not　only　for　my　own　sake　and　his；　but　for　that　of　Mr。　Durand；　whose　eye　was　seldom　away　from　my　face。

The　verdict；　however；　was　not　the　one　I　had　so　deeply　dreaded。　While　it　did　not　exonerate　Mr。　Durand；　it　did　not　openly　accuse　him；　and　I　was　on　the　point　of　giving　him　a　smile　of　congratulation　and　renewed　hope　when　I　saw　my　little　detective　the　one　who　had　spied　the　gloves　in　my　bag　at　the　balladvance　and　place　his　hand　upon　his　arm。

The　police　had　gone　a　step　further　than　the　coroner's　jury；　and　Mr。　Durand　was　arrested；　before　my　eyes；　on　a　charge　of　murder。


*Mr。　Durand's　visits　to　the　curio…shops；　as　explained　by　him；　were　made　with　a　view　of　finding　a　casket　in　which　to　place　his　diamond。　This　explanation　was　looked　upon　with　as　much　doubt　as　the　others　he　had　offered　where　the　situation　seemed　to　be　of　a　compromising　character。



IX

THE　MOUSE　NIBBLES　AT　THE　NET

The　next　day　saw　me　at　police　headquarters　begging　an　interview　from　the　inspector；　with　the　intention　of　confiding　to　him　a　theory　which　must　either　cost　me　his　sympathy　or　open　the　way　to　a　new　inquiry；　which　I　felt　sure　would　lead　to　Mr。　Durand's　complete　exoneration。

I　chose　this　gentleman　for　my　confidant；　from　among　all　those　with　whom　I　had　been　brought　in　contact　by　my　position　as　witness　in　a　case　of　this　magnitude；　first；　because　he　had　been　present　at　the　most　tragic　moment　of　my　life；　and　secondly；　because　I　was　conscious　of　a　sympathetic　bond　between　us　which　would　insure　me　a　kind　hearing。　However　ridiculous　my　idea　might　appear　to　him；　I　was　assured　that　he　would　treat　me　with　consideration　and　not　visit　whatever　folly　I　might　be　guilty　of　on　the　head　of　him　for　whom　I　risked　my　reputation　for　good　sense。

Nor　was　I　disappointed　in　this。　Inspector　Dalzell's　air　was　fatherly　and　his　tone　altogether　gentle　as；　in　reply　to　my　excuses　for　troubling　him　with　my　opinions；　he　told　me　that　in　a　case　of　such　importance　he　was　glad　to　receive　the　impressions　even　of　such　a　prejudiced　little　partizan　as　myself。　The　word　fired　me；　and　I　spoke。

〃You　consider　Mr。　Durand　guilty；　and　so　do　many　others；　I　fear；　in　spite　of　his　long　record　for　honesty　and　uprightness。　And　why？　Because　you　will　not　admit　the　possibility　of　another　person's　guilt；a　person　standing　so　high　in　private　and　public　estimation　that　the　very　idea　seems　preposterous　and　little　short　of　insulting　to　the　country　of　which　he　is　an　acknowledged　ornament。〃

〃My　dear！〃

The　inspector　had　actually　risen。　His　expression　and　whole　attitude　showed　shock。　But　I　did　not　quail；　I　only　subdued　my　manner　and　spoke　with　quieter　conviction。

〃I　am　aware；〃　said　I；　〃how　words　so　daring　must　impress　you。　But　listen；　sir；　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say　before　you　utterly　condemn　me。　I　acknowledge　that　it　is　the　frightful　position　into　which　I　threw　Mr。　Durand　by　my　officious　attempt　to　right　him　which　has　driven　me　to　make　this　second　effort　to　fix　the　crime　on　the　only　other　man　who　had　possible　access　to　Mrs。　Fairbrother　at　the　fatal　moment。　How　could　I　live　in　inaction？　How　could　you　expect　me　to　weigh　for　a　moment　this　foreigner's　reputation　against　that　of　my　own　lover？　If　I　have　reasons〃

〃Reasons！〃

〃reasons　which　would　appeal　to　all；　if　instead　of　this　person's　having　an　international　reputation　at　his　back　he　had　been　a　simple　gentleman　like　Mr。　Durand；would　you　not　consider　me　entitled　to　speak？〃

〃Certainly；　but〃

〃You　have　no　confidence　in　my　reasons；　Inspector；　they　may　not　weigh　against　that　splash　of　blood　on　Mr。　Durand's　shirt…front；　but　such　as　they　are　I　must　give　them。　But　first；　it　will　be　necessary　for　you　to　accept　for　the　nonce　Mr。　Durand's　statements　as　true。　Are　you　willing　to　do　this？〃

〃I　will　try。〃

〃Then；　a　harder　thing　yet；to　put　some　confidence　in　my　judgment。　I　saw　the　man　and　did　not　like　him　long　before　any　intimation　of　the　evening's　tragedy　had　turned　suspicion　on　any　one。　I　watched　him　as　I　watched　others。　I　saw　that　he　had　not　come　to　the　ball　to　please　Mr。　Ramsdell　or　for　any　pleasure　he　himself　hoped　to　reap　from　social　intercourse；　but　for　some　purpose　much　more　important；　and　that　this　purpose　was　connected　with　Mrs。　Fairbrother's　diamond。　Indifferent；　almost　morose　before　she　came　upon　the　scene；　he　brightened　to　a　surprising　extent　the　moment　he　found　himself　in　her　presence。　Not　because　she　was　a　beautiful　woman；　for　he　scarcely　honored　her　face　or　even　her　superb　figure　with　a　look。　All　his　glances　were　centered　on　her　large　fan；　which；　in　swaying　to　and　fro；　alternately　hid　and　revealed　the　splendor　on　her　breast；　and　when　by　chance　it　hung　suspended　for　a　moment　in　her　forgetful　hand　and　he　caught　a　full　glimpse　of　the　great　gem；　I　perceived　such　a　change　in　his　face　that；　if　nothing　more　had　occurred　that　night　to　give　prominence　to　this　woman　and　her　diamond；　I　should　have　carried　home　the　conviction　that　interests　of　no　common　import　lay　behind　a　feeling　so　extraordinarily　displayed。〃

〃Fanciful；　my　dear　Miss　Van　Arsdale　I　Interesting；　but　fanciful。〃

〃I　know。　I　have　not　yet　touched　on　fact。　But　facts　are　coming；　Inspector。〃

He　stared。　Evidently　he　was　not　accustomed　to　hear　the　law　laid　down　in　this　fashion　by　a　midget　of　my　proportions。

〃Go　on；〃　said　he；　〃happily；　I　have　no　clerk　here　to　listen。〃

〃I　would　not　speak　if　you　had。　These　are　words　for　but　one　ear　as　yet。　Not　even　my　uncle　suspects　the　direction　of　my　thoughts。〃

〃Proceed；〃　he　again　enjoined。

Upon　which　I　plunged　into　my　subject。

〃Mrs。　Fairbrother　wore　the　real　diamond；　and　no　imitation；　to　the　ball。　Of　this　I　feel　sure。　The　bit　of　glass　or　paste　displayed　to　the　coroner's　jury　was　bright　enough；　but　it　was　not　the　star　of　light　I　saw　burning　on　her　breast　as　she　passed　me　on　her　way　to　the　alcove。〃

〃Miss　Van　Arsdale！〃

〃The　interest　which　Mr。　Durand　displayed　in　it；　the　marked　excitement　into　which　he　was　thrown　by　his　first　view　of　its　size　and　splendor；　confirm　in　my　mind　the　evidence　which　he　gave　on　oath　（and　he　is　a　well…known　diamond　expert；　you　know；　and　must　have　been　very　well　aware　that　he　would　injure　rather　than　help　his　cause　by　this　admission）　that　at　that　time　he　believed　the　stone　to　be　real　and　of　immense　value。　Wearing　such　a　gem；　then；　she　entered　the　fatal　alcove；　and；　with　a　smile　on　her　face；　prepared　to　employ　her　fascinations　on　whoever　chanced　to　come　within　their　reach。　But　now　something　happened。　Please　let　me　tell　it　my　own　way。　A　shout　from　the　driveway；　or　a　bit　of　snow　thrown　against　the　window；　drew　her　attention　to　a　man　standing　below；　holding　up　a　note　fastened　to　the　end　of　a　whip…handle。　I　do　not　know　whether　or　not　you　have　found　that　man。　If　you　have　〃　The　inspector　made　no　sign。　〃I　judge　that　you　have　not；　so　I　may　go　on　with　my　suppositions。　Mrs。　Fairbrother　took　in　this　note。　She　may　have　expected　it　and　for　this　reason　chose　the　alcove　to　sit　in；　or　it　may　have　been　a　surprise　to　her。　Probably　we　shall　never　know　the　whole　truth　about　it；　but　what　we　can　know　and　do；　if　you　are　still　holding　to　our　compact　and　viewing　this　crime　in　the　light　of　Mr。　Durand's　explanations；　is　that　it　made　a　change　in　her　and　made　her　anxious　to　rid　herself　of　the　diamond。　It　has　been　decided　that　the　hurried　scrawl　should　read；　'Take　warning。　He　means　to　be　at　the　ball。　Expect　trouble　if　you　do　not　give　him　the　diamond；'　or　something　to　that　effect。　But　why　was　it　passed　up　to　her　unfinished？　Was　the　haste　too　great？　I　hardly　think　so。　I　believe　in　another　explanation；　which　points　with　startling　directness　to　the　possibility　that　the　person　referred　to　in　this　broken　communication　was　not　Mr。　Durand；　but　one　whom　I　need　not　name；　and　that　the　reason　you　have　failed　to　find　the　messenger；　of　whose　appearance　you　have　received　definite　information；　is　that　you　have　not　looked　among　the　servants　of　a　certain　distinguished　visitor　in　town。　Oh；〃　I　burst　forth　with　feverish　volubility；　as　I　saw　the　inspector's　lips　open　in　what　could　not　fail　to　be　a　sarcastic　utterance；　〃I　know　what　you　feel　tempted　to　reply。　Why　should　a　servant　deliver　a　warning　against　his　own　master？　If　you　will　be　patient　with　me　you　will　soon　see；　but　first　I　wish　to　make　it　clear　that　Mrs。　Fairbrother；　having　received　this　warning　just　before　Mr。　Durand　appeared　in　the　alcove；reckless；　scheming　woman　that　she　was！　sought　to　rid　herself　of　the　object　against　which　it　was　directed　in　the　way　we　have　temporarily　accepted　as　true。　Relying　on　her　arts；　and　possibly　misconceiving　the　nature　of　Mr。　Durand's　interest　in　her；　she　hands　over