the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第24部分
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Heaven。 It's certain they aren't here。〃
Viola pondered rather long and deeply on what LeGrand Blossom had
told her。 She made it a point to go for a drive the next afternoon with
Jean Forette in the small car； taking a maid with her on a pretense of doing
some shopping。 And Viola closely observed the conduct of the chauffeur。
On her return； the girl could not help admitting that the Frenchman
was all a careful car driver should be。 He had shown skill and foresight
in guiding the car through the summer…crowded traffic of Lakeside； and
had been cheerful and polite。
〃I am sorry you are going to leave us； Jean；〃 she said； when he had
brought her back to The Haven。
〃I； too； am regretful；〃 he said in his careful English。 〃But your father
had other ideas； and I … I am really afraid of that big new car。 It is not a
machine； mademoiselle； it is … pardon … it is a devil！ It will be the death of
some one yet。 I could never drive it。〃
〃But if we sold that car； Jean； as we are going to do … 〃
〃I could not stay； Miss Viola。 I have a new place； and to that I go in
two weeks。 I am sorry； for I liked it here； though … Oh； well； of what
use？〃 and he shrugged his shoulders。
〃Was there something you did not like？ Did my father not treat you
well？〃 asked Viola quickly。
〃Oh； as to that； mademoiselle； I should not speak。 I liked your father。
We； at times； did have difference； as who has not？ But he was a friend to
me。 What would you have？ I am sorry！〃 And he touched his hat and
drove around to the garage。
As Viola was about to enter the house she chanced to look down the
street and saw Minnie Webb approaching。 She looked so thoroughly
downcast that Viola was surprised。
〃Hello； Minnie！〃 she exclaimed pleasantly。 〃Anything new or
startling？〃
〃Nothing；〃 was the somewhat listless reply。 〃Is there anything new
here？〃 and Minnie Webb's face showed a momentary interest。
〃I can't say that there is；〃 returned Viola。 She paused for a moment。
〃Won't you come in？〃
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〃I don't think so…not to…day；〃 stammered the other girl。 And then as
she looked at Viola her face began to flush。 〃I … I don't feel very well。 I
have a terrible headache。 I think I'll go home and lie down；〃 and she
hurried on without another word。
〃There is certainly something wrong with Minnie；〃 speculated Viola；
as she looked after her friend。 〃I wonder if it is on account of LeGrand
Blossom。〃
She did not know how much Minnie Webb was in love with the man
who had been her father's confidential clerk and who was now in charge of
Mr。 Carwell's business affairs； and； not knowing this； she could； of course；
not realize under what a strain Minnie was now living with so many
suspicions against Blossom。
Divesting herself of her street dress for a more simple gown； Viola
inquired of the maid whether Colonel Ashley was in the house。 When
informed that he had gone fishing with Shag； the girl； with a little gesture
of impatience； took her seat near a window to look over some mail that
had come during her absence。
As she glanced up after reading a belated letter of sympathy she saw；
alighting from his car which had stopped in front of The Haven； Captain
Gerry Poland。 He caught sight of her； and waved his hand。
〃Oh； dear！〃 exclaimed Viola。 〃If he hadn't seen me I could have said
I was not at home； but now … 〃
She heard his ring at the door and resigned herself to meeting him； but
if the captain had not been so much in love with Viola Carwell he could
not have helped noticing her rather cold greeting。
〃I called；〃 he said； 〃to see if there was anything more I could do for
you or for your aunt。 I saw Blossom； and he says he is working over the
books。 I've had a good deal of experience in helping settle up estates that
were involved。 I mean … 〃 he added hastily … 〃where no will was left； and；
my dear Viola； if I could be of any assistance … 〃
〃Thank you；〃 broke in Viola rather coldly； 〃I don't know that there is
anything you can do。 It is very kind of you； but Mr。 Blossom has charge
and … 〃
〃Oh； of course I realize that；〃 went on Captain Poland quickly。 〃But I
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thought there might be something。〃
〃There is nothing；〃 and now the yachtsman could not help noticing the
coldness in Viola's voice。 He seemed to nerve himself for an effort as he
said：
〃Viola〃 … he paused a moment before adding … 〃why can't we be friends？
You were decent enough to me some days ago； and now … Have I done
anything … said anything？ I want to be friends with you。 I want to be … 〃
He took a step nearer her； but she drew back。
〃Please don't think； Captain Poland； that I am not appreciative of what
you have done for me；〃 the girl said quickly。 〃But … Oh； I really don't know
what to think。 It has all been so terrible。〃
〃Indeed it has；〃 said the captain； in a low voice。 〃But I would like to
help。〃
〃Then perhaps you can ！〃 suddenly exclaimed Viola； and there was a
new note in her voice。 〃Have you been to see Harry Bartlett in … in jail？〃
and she faltered over that word。
〃No； I have not；〃 said the captain； and there was a sharp tone in his
answer。 〃I understood no one was allowed to see him。〃
〃That is true enough；〃 agreed Viola。 〃They wouldn't let me see him；
and I wanted to … so much。 I presume you know how he comes to be in
prison。〃
〃It isn't exactly a prison。〃
〃To him it is…and to me；〃 she said。 〃But you know how he comes to
be there？〃
〃Yes。 I was present at the inquest。 By the way； they are to resume it
this week； I heard。 The chemists have finished their analyses and are
ready to testify。〃
〃Oh； I didn't know that。〃
〃Yes。 But； speaking of Harry … poor chap … it's terrible； of course； but
he may be able to clear himself。〃
〃Clear himself； Captain Poland？ What do you mean？〃 and indignant
Viola faced her caller。
〃Oh； well； I mean … 〃 He seemed in some confusion。
〃I want to know something；〃 went on Viola。 〃Did you bring it to the
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attention of the coroner or the prosecutor that Harry Bartlett saw my father
just before…before his death； and quarreled with him？ Did you tell that；
Captain Poland？〃
Viola Carwell was like a stem accuser now。
〃Did you？〃 she demanded again。
〃I did；〃 answered Captain Poland； not； however； without an effort。 〃I
felt that it was my duty to do so。 I merely offered it as a suggestion；
however； to one of the prosecutor's detectives。 I didn't think it would
lead to anything。 I happened to hear your father and Harry having some
words…about what I couldn't catch…and I thought it no more than right that
all the facts should be brought out in court。 I made no secret about it。 I
did not send word anonymously to the coroner； as I might have done。 He
knew the source of the information； and he could have called me to the
stand had he so desired。〃
〃Would you have told the same story on the stand？〃
〃I would。 It was the truth。〃
〃Even if it sent him … sent Harry to jail？〃
〃I would … yes。 I felt it was my duty； and … 〃
〃Oh…duty！〃
Viola made a gesture of impatience。
〃So…you…you told； Captain Poland！ That is enough！ Please don't try
to see me again。〃
〃Viola！〃 he pleaded。 〃Please listen … 〃
〃I mean it！〃 she said； sternly。 〃Go！ I never want to see you again！
Oh； to do such a thing！〃
The captain； nonpiussed for a moment； lingered； as though to appeal
from the decision。 Then； without a word； he turned sharply on his heel
and left the room。
Viola sank on a sofa； and gave way to her emotion。
〃It can't be true！ It can't！〃 she sobbed。 〃I won't believe it。 It must
not be true！ Oh； how can I prove otherwise？ But I will！ I must！ Harry
never did that horrible thing； and I will prove it！
〃Why should Captain Poland try to throw suspicion on him？ It isn't
right。 He had no need to tell the detective that！ I must see Colonel
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Ashley at once and tell him what I think。 Oh； Captain Poland； if I … 〃
Viola twisted in her slender hands a sofa cushion； and then threw it
violently from her。
〃I'll see Colonel Ashley at once！〃 she decided。
Inquiry of a maid disclosed the fact that the colonel was still fishing；
