the illustrious prince-第13部分

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lem　of　creating　the　sensational　without　the　aid　of　facts。　This　sudden　deluge；　therefore；　of　undoubtedly　tragical　happenings　became　almost　an　embarrassment　to　them。　Black　headlines；　notes　of　exclamation；　the　use　of　superlative　adjectives；　scarcely　met　the　case。　The　murder　of　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　was　strange　enough。　Here　was　an　unknown　man；　holding　a　small　position　in　his　own　country；a　man　apparently　without　friends　or　social　position。　He　travelled　over　from　America；　merely　a　unit　amongst　the　host　of　other　passengers；　yet　his　first　action；　on　arriving　at　Liverpool；　was　to　make　use　of　privileges　which　belonged　to　an　altogether　different　class　of　person；　and　culminated　in　his　arrival　at　Euston　in　a　special　train　with　a　dagger　driven　through　his　heart！　Here　was　material　enough　for　a　least　a　fortnight　of　sensations　and　countersensations；　of　rumored　arrests　and　strange　theories。　Yet　within　the　space　of　twenty…four　hours　the　affair　of　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　had　become　a　small　thing；　had　shrunk　almost　into　insignificance　by　the　side　of　the　other　still　more　dramatic；　still　more　wonderful　happening。　Somewhere　between　the　Savoy　Hotel　and　Melbourne　Square；　Kensington；　a　young　American　gentleman　of　great　strength；　of　undoubted　position；　the　nephew　of　a　Minister；　and　himself　secretary　to　the　Ambassador　of　his　country　in　London；　had　met　with　his　death　in　a　still　more　mysterious；　still　more　amazing　fashion。　He　had　left　the　hotel　in　an　ordinary　taxicab；　which　had　stopped　on　the　way　to　pick　up　no　other　passenger。　He　had　left　the　Savoy　alone；　and　he　was　discovered　in　Melbourne　Square　alone。　Yet；　somewhere　between　these　two　points；　notwithstanding　the　fact　that　the　aggressor　must　have　entered　the　cab　either　with　or　without　his　consent；　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole；　without　a　struggle；　without　any　cry　sufficiently　loud　to　reach　the　driver　or　attract　the　attention　of　any　passer…by；　had　been　strangled　to　death　by　a　person　who　had　disappeared　as　though　from　the　face　of　the　earth。　The　facts　seemed　almost　unbelievable；　and　yet　they　were　facts。　The　driver　of　the　taxi　knew　only　that　three　times　during　the　course　of　his　drive　he　had　been　caught　in　a　block　and　had　had　to　wait　for　a　few　secondsonce　at　the　entrance　to　Trafalgar　Square；　again　at　the　junction　of　Haymarket　and　Pall　Mall；　and；　for　a　third　time；　opposite　the　Hyde　Park　Hotel。　At　neither　of　these　halting　places　had　he　heard　any　one　enter　or　leave　the　taxi。　He　had　heard　no　summons　from　his　fare；　even　though　a　tube；　which　was　in　perfect　working　order；　was　fixed　close　to　the　back　of　his　head。　He　had　known　nothing；　in　fact；　until　a　policeman　had　stopped　him；　having　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　ghastly　face　inside。　There　was　no　evidence　which　served　to　throw　a　single　gleam　of　light　upon　the　affair。　Mr。　Vanderpole　had　called　at　the　Savoy　Hotel　upon　a　travelling　American；　who　had　written　to　the　Embassy　asking　for　some　advice　as　to　introducing　American　patents　into　Great　Britain　and　France。　He　left　there　to　meet　his　chief；　who　was　dining　down　in　Kensington；　with　the　intention　of　returning　at　once　to　join　the　Duchess　of　Devenham's　theatre　party。　He　was　in　no　manner　of　trouble。　It　was　not　suggested　that　any　one　had　any　cause　for　enmity　against　him。　Yet　this　attack　upon　him　must　have　been　carefully　planned　and　carried　out　by　a　person　of　great　strength　and　wonderful　nerve。　The　newspaper…reading　public　in　London　love　their　thrills；　and　they　had　one　here　which　needed　no　artificial　embellishments　from　the　pens　of　those　trained　in　an　atmosphere　of　imagination。　The　simple　truth　was；　in　itself；　horrifying。　There　was　scarcely　a　man　or　woman　who　drove　in　a　taxicab　about　the　west　end　of　London　during　the　next　few　days　without　a　little　thrill　of　emotion。

The　murder　of　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole　took　place　on　a　Thursday　night。　On　Monday　morning　a　gentleman　of　middle　age；　fashionably　but　quietly　dressed；　wearing　a　flower　in　his　buttonhole；　patent　boots；　and　a　silk　hat　which　he　had　carefully　deposited　upon　the　floor；　was　sitting　closeted　with　Miss　Penelope　Morse。　It　was　obvious　that　that　young　lady　did　not　altogether　appreciate　the　honor　done　to　her　by　a　visit　from　so　distinguished　a　person　as　Inspector　Jacks！

〃I　am　sorry；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　should　find　my　visit　in　the　least　offensive；　Miss　Morse。　I　have　approached　you；　so　far　as　possible；　as　an　ordinary　visitor；　and　no　one　connected　with　your　household　can　have　any　idea　as　to　my　identity　or　the　nature　of　my　business。　I　have　done　this　out　of　consideration　to　your　feelings。　At　the　same　time　I　have　my　duty　to　perform　and　it　must　be　done。〃

〃What　I　cannot　understand；〃　Penelope　said　coldly；　〃is　why　you　should　bother　me　about　your　duty。　When　I　saw　you　at　the　Carlton　Hotel；　I　told　you　exactly　how　much　I　knew　of　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes。〃

〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　Inspector　Jacks　said；　〃I　will　not　ask　for　your　sympathy；　for　I　am　afraid　I　should　ask　in　vain；　but　we　are　just　now；　we　people　at　Scotland　Yard；　up　against　one　of　the　most　extraordinary　problems　which　have　ever　been　put　before　us。　We　have　had　two　murders　occurring　in　two　days；　which　have　this　much；　at　least；　in　commonthat　they　have　been　the　work　of　so　accomplished　a　criminal　that　at　the　present　moment；　although　I　should　not　like　to　tell　every　one　as　much；　we　have　not　in　either　case　the　ghost　of　a　clue。〃

〃That　sounds　very　stupid　of　you；〃　Penelope　remarked；　〃but　I　still　ask〃

〃Don't　ask　for　a　minute　or　two；〃　the　Inspector　interrupted。　〃I　think　I　remarked　just　now　that　these　two　crimes　had　one　thing　in　common；　and　that　was　the　fact　that　they　had　both　been　perpetrated　by　a　criminal　of　unusual　accomplishments。　They　also　have　one　other　point　of　similitude。〃

〃What　is　that？〃　Penelope　asked。

〃The　victim　in　both　cases　was　an　American；〃　the　Inspector　said。

Penelope　sat　very　still。　She　felt　the　steely　eyes　of　the　man　who　had　chosen　his　seat　so　carefully；　fixed　upon　her　face。

〃You　do　not　connect　the　two　affairs　in　any　way？〃　she　asked。

〃That　is　what　we　are　asking　ourselves；〃　Mr。　Jacks　continued。　〃In　the　absence　of　any　definite　clue；　coincidences　such　as　this　are　always　interesting。　In　this　case；　as　it　happens；　we　can　take　them　even　a　little　further。　We　find　that　you；　for　instance；　Miss　Penelope　Morse；　a　young　American　lady；　celebrated　for　her　wit　and　accomplishments；　and　well　known　in　London　society；　were　to　have　lunched　with　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　on　the　day　when　he　made　his　tragical　arrival　in　London；　we　find　too；　curiously　enough；　that　you　were　one　of　the　party　with　whom　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole　was　to　have　dined　and　gone　to　the　theatre　on　the　night　of　his　decease。〃

Penelope　shivered；　and　half　closed　her　eyes。

〃Don't　you　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　the　shock　of　this　coincidence；　as　you　call　it；　has　been　quite　sufficient；　without　having　you　come　here　to　remind　me　of　it？〃

〃Madam；〃　Mr。　Jacks　said；　〃I　have　not　come　here　to　gratify　any　personal　curiosity。　I　have　come　here　in　the　cause　of　justice。　You　should　find　me　a　welcome　visitor；　for　both　these　men　who　have　lost　their　lives　were　friends　of　yours。〃

〃I　should　be　very　sorry　indeed；〃　Penelope　answered；　〃to　stand　in　the　way　of　justice。　No　one　can　hope　more　fervently　than　I　do　that　the　perpetrator　of　these　deeds　will　be　found　and　punished。　But　what　I　cannot　understand　is　your　coming　here　and　reopening　the　subject　with　me。　I　tell　you　again　that　I　have　no　possible　information　for　you。〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　the　Inspector　declared；　〃but；　on　the　other　hand；　there　are　certain　questions　which　you　can　answer　me；answer　them；　I　mean；　not　grudgingly　and　as　though　in　duty　bound；answer　them　intelligently；　and　with　some　apprehension　of　the　things　which　lie　behind。〃

〃And　what　is　the　thing　that　lies　behind　them？〃　she　asked。

〃A　theory；　madam；〃　the　Inspector　answered；〃no　more。　But　in　this　case；　unfortunately；　we　have　not　passed　the　stage　of　theories。　My　theory；　at　the　present　moment；　is　that　the　murderer　of　these　two　men　was　the　same　person。〃

〃You　have　evidence　to　that　effect；〃　she　said；　suddenly　surprised　to　find　that　her　voice　had　sunk　to　a　whisper。

〃Very　little；〃　Mr。　Jacks　admitted；　〃but；　you　see；　in　the　case　of　theories　one　must　build　them　brick　by　brick。　Then　if；　after　all；　as　we　reach　the　end；　the　foundation　was　false；　well；　we　must　watch　them　collapse　and　start　again。〃

〃Supposing　we　leave　these　generalities；〃　Penelope　remarked；　〃and　get　on　with　those　questions　which　you　wish　to　ask　me。　My　aunt；　as　you　may　have　heard；　is　an　invalid；　and　although　she　seldom　leaves　her　room；　this　is　one　of　the　afternoons　when　she　sometimes　sits　here　for　a　short　time。　I　should　not　care　to　have　her　find　you。〃

The　Inspector　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　It　was　a　very　pleasant　drawing　room；　looking　out　upon　the　Park。　A　little　French　clock；　a　masterpiece　of　workmanship；　was　ticking　gayly　upon　the　mantelpiece。　Two　toy　Pomeranians　were　half　hidden　in　the　great　rug。　The　walls　were　of　light　blue；　soft；　yet　full　of　color；　and　the　carpet；　of　some　plain　material；　was　of　the　same　shade。　The　perfume　of　flowersthe　faint　sweetness　of　mimosa　and　the　sicklier　fragrance　of　hyacinthsseemed　almost　overwhelming；　for　the　fire　was　warm　and　the　windows　closed。　By　the　side　of　Penelope's　chair　were　a　new　novel　and　a　couple　of　illustrated　papers；　and　Mr。　Jacks　noticed　that　although　a　paper　cutter　was　lying　by　their　side　the　leaves　of　all　were　uncut。

〃These　questions；〃　he　said；　〃may　seem　to　you　irrelevant；　yet　please　answer　them　if　you　can。　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；　for　instance；was　he；　to　your　knowledge；　acquainted　with　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole？〃

〃I　have　never　heard　them　speak　of　one　another；〃　Penelope　answered。　〃I　should　think　it　very　unlikely。〃

〃You　have　no　knowledge　of　any　common　pursuit　or　interest　in　life　which　the　two　men　may　have　shared？〃　the　Inspector　asked。　〃A　hobby；　for　instance；a　collection　of　postage　stamps；　china；　any　common　aim　of　any　sort？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　knew　little　of　Mr。　Fynes'　tastes。　DickyI　mean　Mr。　Vanderpolehad　none　at　all　except　an　enthusiasm　for　his　profession　and　a　love　of　polo。〃

〃His　profession；〃　the　Inspector　repeated。　〃Mr。　Vanderpole　was　attached　to　the　American　Embassy；　was　he　not？〃

〃I　believe　so；〃　Penelope　answered。

〃Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；〃　the　Inspector　continued；　〃might　almost　have　been　said　to　have　followed　the　same　occupation。〃

〃Surely　not！〃　Penelope　objected。　〃I　always　understood　that　Mr。　Fy