the woman in the alcove-第31部分

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ore　his　eyes　and　this　name　wild　on　his　lips：

〃Grizel！　Grizel！〃

Mrs。　Fairbrother's　name！　and　the　man



XXII

GUILT

Was　he　Wellgood？　Sears？　Who？　A　lover　of　the　woman　certainly；　that　was　borne　in　on　us　by　the　passion　of　his　cry：

〃Grizel！　Grizel！〃

But　how　here？　and　why　such　fury　in　Mr。　Grey's　face　and　such　amazement　in　that　of　the　inspector？

This　question　was　not　to　be　answered　offhand。　Mr。　Grey；　advancing；　laid　a　finger　on　the　man's　shoulder。　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃we　will　have　our　conversation　in　another　room。〃

The　man；　who；　in　dress　and　appearance　looked　oddly　out　of　place　in　those　gorgeous　rooms；　shook　off　the　stupor　into　which　he　had　fallen　and　started　to　follow　the　Englishman。　A　waiter　crossed　their　track　with　the　soup　for　our　table。　Mr。　Grey　motioned　him　aside。

〃Take　that　back；〃　said　he。　〃I　have　some　business　to　transact　with　this　gentleman　before　I　eat。　I'll　ring　when　I　want　you。〃

Then　they　entered　where　I　was。　As　the　door　closed　I　caught　sight　of　the　inspector's　face　turned　earnestly　toward　me。　In　his　eyes　I　read　my　duty；　and　girded　up　my　heart；　as　it　were；　to　meetwhat？　In　that　moment　it　was　impossible　to　tell。

The　next　enlightened　me。　With　a　total　ignoring　of　my　presence；　due　probably　to　his　great　excitement；　Mr。　Grey　turned　on　his　companion　the　moment　he　had　closed　the　door　and；　seizing　him　by　the　collar；　cried：

〃Fairbrother；　you　villain；　why　have　you　called　on　your　wife　like　this？　Are　you　murderer　as　well　as　thief？〃

Fairbrother！　this　man？　Then　who　was　he　who　was　being　nursed　back　to　life　on　the　mountains　beyond　Santa　Fe？　Sears？　Anything　seemed　possible　in　that　moment。

Meanwhile；　dropping　his　hand　from　the　other's　throat　as　suddenly　as　he　had　seized　it；　Mr。　Grey　caught　up　the　stiletto　from　the　table　where　he　had　flung　it；　crying：　〃Do　you　recognize　this？〃

Ah；　then　I　saw　guilt！

In　a　silence　worse　than　any　cry；　this　so…called　husband　of　the　murdered　woman；　the　man　on　whom　no　suspicion　had　fallen；　the　man　whom　all　had　thought　a　thousand　miles　away　at　the　time　of　the　deed；　stared　at　the　weapon　thrust　under　his　eyes；　while　over　his　face　passed　all　those　expressions　of　fear；　abhorrence　and　detected　guilt　which；　fool　that　I　was；　I　had　expected　to　see　reflected　in　response　to　the　same　test　in　Mr。　Grey's　equable　countenance。

The　surprise　and　wonder　of　it　held　me　chained　to　the　spot。　I　was　in　a　state　of　stupefaction；　so　that　I　scarcely　noted　the　broken　fragments　at　my　feet。　But　the　intruder　noticed　them。　Wrenching　his　gaze　from　the　stiletto　which　Mr。　Grey　continued　to　hold　out；　he　pointed　to　the　broken　cup　and　saucer；　muttering：

〃That　is　what　startled　me　into　this　betrayalthe　noise　of　breaking　china。　I　can　not　bear　it　since〃

He　stopped；　bit　his　lip　and　looked　around　him　with　an　air　of　sudden　bravado。

〃Since　you　dropped　the　cups　at　your　wife's　feet　in　Mr。　Ramsdell's　alcove；〃　finished　Mr。　Grey　with　admirable　self…possession。

〃I　see　that　explanations　from　myself　are　not　in　order；〃　was　the　grim　retort；　launched　with　the　bitterest　sarcasm。　Then　as　the　full　weight　of　his　position　crushed　in　on　him；　his　face　assumed　an　aspect　startling　to　my　unaccustomed　eyes；　and；　thrusting　his　hand　into　his　pocket　he　drew　forth　a　small　box　which　he　placed　in　Mr。　Grey's　hands。

〃The　Great　Mogul；〃　he　declared　simply。

It　was　the　first　time　I　had　heard　this　diamond　so　named。

Without　a　word　that　gentleman　opened　the　box；　took　one　look　at　the　contents；　assumed　a　satisfied　air；　and　carefully　deposited　the　recovered　gem　in　his　own　pocket。　As　his　eyes　returned　to　the　man　before　him；　all　the　passion　of　the　latter　burst　forth。

〃It　was　not　for　that　I　killed　her！〃　cried　he。　〃It　was　because　she　defied　me　and　flaunted　her　disobedience　in　my　very　face。　I　would　do　it　again；　yet〃

Here　his　voice　broke　and　it　was　in　a　different　tone　and　with　a　total　change　of　manner　he　added：　〃You　stand　appalled　at　my　depravity。　You　have　not　lived　my　life。〃　Then　quickly　and　with　a　touch　of　sullenness：　〃You　suspected　me　because　of　the　stiletto。　It　was　a　mistake；　using　that　stiletto。　Otherwise；　the　plan　was　good。　I　doubt　if　you　know　now　how　I　found　my　way　into　the　alcove；　possibly　under　your　very　eyes；　certainly；　under　the　eyes　of　many　who　knew　me。〃

〃I　do　not。　It　is　enough　that　you　entered　it；　that　you　confess　your　guilt。〃

Here　Mr。　Grey　stretched　his　hand　toward　the　electric　button。

〃No；　it　is　not　enough。〃　The　tone　was　fierce；　authoritative。　〃Do　not　ring　the　bell；　not　yet。　I　have　a　fancy　to　tell　you　how　I　managed　that　little　affair。〃

Glancing　about；　he　caught　up　from　a　near…by　table　a　small　brass　tray。　Emptying　it　of　its　contents；　he　turned　on　us　with　drawn…down　features　and　an　obsequious　air　so　opposed　to　his　natural　manner　that　it　was　as　if　another　man　stood　before　us。

〃Pardon　my　black　tie；〃　he　muttered；　holding　out　the　tray　toward　Mr。　Grey。

Wellgood！

The　room　turned　with　me。　It　was　he；　then；　the　great　financier；　the　multimillionaire；　the　husband　of　the　magnificent　Grizel；　who　had　entered　Mr。　Ramsdell's　house　as　a　waiter！

Mr。　Grey　did　not　show　surprise；　but　he　made　a　gesture；　when　instantly　the　tray　was　thrown　aside　and　the　man　resumed　his　ordinary　aspect。

〃I　see　you　understand　me；〃　he　cried。　〃I　who　have　played　host　at　many　a　ball；　passed　myself　off　that　night　as　one　of　the　waiters。　I　came　and　went　and　no　one　noticed　me。　It　is　such　a　natural　sight　to　see　a　waiter　passing　ices　that　my　going　in　and　out　of　the　alcove　did　not　attract　the　least　attention。　I　never　look　at　waiters　when　I　attend　balls。　I　never　look　higher　than　their　trays。　No　one　looked　at　me　higher　than　my　tray。　I　held　the　stiletto　under　the　tray　and　when　I　struck　her　she　threw　up　her　hands　and　they　hit　the　tray　and　the　cups　fell。　I　have　never　been　able　to　bear　the　sound　of　breaking　china　since。　I　loved　her〃

A　gasp　and　he　recovered　himself。

〃That　is　neither　here　nor　there；〃　he　muttered。　〃You　summoned　me　under　threat　to　present　myself　at　your　door　to…day。　I　have　done　so。　I　meant　to　restore　you　your　diamond；　simply。　It　has　become　worthless　to　me。　But　fate　exacted　more。　Surprise　forced　my　secret　from　me。　That　young　lady　with　her　damnable　awkwardness　has　put　my　head　in　a　noose。　But　do　not　think　to　hold　it　there。　I　did　not　risk　this　interview　without　precautions；　I　assure　you；　and　when　I　leave　this　hotel　it　will　be　as　a　free　man。〃

With　one　of　his　rapid　changes；　wonderful　and　inexplicable　to　me　at　the　moment；　he　turned　toward　me　with　a　bow；　saying　courteously　enough：

〃We　will　excuse　the　young　lady。〃

Next　moment　the　barrel　of　a　pistol　gleamed　in　his　hand。

The　moment　was　critical。　Mr。　Grey　stood　directly　in　the　line　of　fire；　and　the　audacious　man　who　thus　held　him　at　his　mercy　was　scarcely　a　foot　from　the　door　leading　into　the　hall。　Marking　the　desperation　of　his　look　and　the　steadiness　of　his　finger　on　the　trigger；　I　expected　to　see　Mr。　Grey　recoil　and　the　man　escape。　But　Mr。　Grey　held　his　own；　though　he　made　no　move；　and　did　not　venture　to　speak。　Nerved　by　his　courage；　I　summoned　up　all　my　own。　This　man　must　not　escape；　nor　must　Mr。　Grey　suffer。　The　pistol　directed　against　him　must　be　diverted　to　myself。　Such　amends　were　due　one　whose　good　name　I　had　so　deeply　if　secretly　insulted。　I　had　but　to　scream；　to　call　out　for　the　inspector；　but　a　remembrance　of　the　necessity　we　were　now　under　of　preserving　our　secret；　of　keeping　from　Mr。　Grey　the　fact　that　he　had　been　under　surveillance；　was　even　at　that　moment　surrounded　by　the　police；　deterred　me；　and　I　threw　myself　toward　the　bell　instead；　crying　out　that　I　would　raise　the　house　if　he　moved；　and　laid　my　finger　on　the　button。

The　pistol　swerved　my　way。　The　face　above　it　smiled。　I　watched　that　smile。　Before　it　broadened　to　its　full　extent；　I　pressed　the　button。

Fairbrother　stared；　dropped　his　pistol；　and　burst　forth　with　these　two　words：

〃Brave　girl！〃

The　tone　I　can　never　convey。

Then　he　made　for　the　door。

As　he　laid　his　hand　on　the　knob；　he　called　back：

〃I　have　been　in　worse　straits　than　this！〃

But　he　never　had；　when　he　opened　the　door；　he　found　himself　face　to　face　with　the　inspector。



XXIII

THE　GREAT　MOGUL

Later；　it　was　all　explained。　Mr。　Grey；　looking　like　another　man；　came　into　the　room　where　I　was　endeavoring　to　soothe　his　startled　daughter　and　devour　in　secret　my　own　joy。　Taking　the　sweet　girl　in　his　arms；　he　said；　with　a　calm　ignoring　of　my　presence；　at　which　I　secretly　smiled：

〃This　is　the　happiest　moment　of　my　existence；　Helen。　I　feel　as　if　I　had　recovered　you　from　the　brink　of　the　grave。〃

〃Me？　Why；　I　have　never　been　so　ill　as　that。〃

〃I　know；　but　I　have　felt　as　if　you　were　doomed　ever　since　I　heard；　or　thought　I　heard；　in　this　city；　and　under　no　ordinary　circumstances；　the　peculiar　cry　which　haunts　our　house　on　the　eve　of　any　great　misfortune。　I　shall　not　apologize　for　my　fears；　you　know　that　I　have　good　cause　for　them；　but　to…day；　only　to…day；　I　have　heard　from　the　lips　of　the　most　arrant　knave　I　have　ever　known；　that　this　cry　sprang　from　himself　with　intent　to　deceive　me。　He　knew　my　weakness；　knew　the　cry；　he　was　in　Darlington　Manor　when　Cecilia　died；　and；　wishing　to　startle　me　into　dropping　something　which　I　held；　made　use　of　his　ventriloquial　powers　（he　had　been　a　mountebank　once；　poor　wretch！）　and　with　such　effect；　that　I　have　not　been　a　happy　man　since；　in　spite　of　your　daily　improvement　and　continued　promise　of　recovery。　But　I　am　happy　now；　relieved　and　joyful；　and　this　miserable　being；would　you　like　to　hear　his　story？　Are　you　strong　enough　for　anything　so　tragic？　He　is　a　thief　and　a　murderer；　but　he　has　feelings；　and　his　life　has　been　a　curious　one；　and　strangely　interwoven　with　ours。　Do　you　care　to　hear　about　it？　He　is　the　man　who　stole　our　diamond。〃

My　patient　uttered　a　little　cry。

〃Oh；　tell　me；〃　she　entreated；　excited；　but　not　unhealthfully；　while　I　was　in　an　anguish　of　curiosity　I　could　with　difficulty　conceal。

Mr。　Grey　turned　with　courtesy　toward　me　and　asked　if　a　few　family　details　would　bore　me。　I　smiled　and　assured　him　to　the　contrary。　At　which　he　settled　himself　in　the　chair　he　liked　best　and　began　a　tale　which　I　will　permit　myself　to　present　to　you　complete　and　from　other　points　of　view　than　his　own。

Some　five　years　before；　one　of　the　great　diamonds　of　the　world　was　offered　for　sale　in　an　Eastern　market。