the ragged trousered philanthropists-第122部分

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‘I　can　see　'ow　it's　been　worked；'　said　Crass　at　last。　　‘There's　one　of　the　members　of　the　club　who　works　for　Snatchum；　and　'e's　took　it　on　'isself　to　give　the　order　for　the　funeral；　but　'e's　got　no　right　to　do　it。'

‘Right　or　no　right；　'e's　done　it；'　replied　Misery；　‘so　you'd　better　take　the　box　back　to　the　shop。'

Crass　and　Sawkins　accordingly　returned　to　the　workshop；　where　they　were　presently　joined　by　Nimrod。

‘I've　been　thinking　this　business　over　as　I　came　along；'　he　said；　‘and　I　don't　see　being　beat　like　this　by　Snatchum；　so　you　two　can　just　put　the　tressels　and　the　box　on　a　hand　cart　and　we'll　take　it　over　to　Philpot's　house。'

Nimrod　walked　on　the　pavement　while　the　other　two　pushed　the　cart；　and　it　was　about　half　past　nine；　when　they　arrived　at　the　street　in　Windley　where　Philpot　used　to　live。　　They　halted　in　a　dark　part　of　the　street　a　few　yards　away　from　the　house　and　on　the　opposite　side。

‘I　think　the　best　thing　we　can　do；'　said　Misery；　‘is　for　me　and　Sawkins　to　wait　'ere　while　you　go　to　the　'ouse　and　see　'ow　the　land　lies。　　You've　done　all　the　business　with　'er　so　far。　　It's　no　use　takin'　the　box　unless　we　know　the　corpse　is　there；　for　all　we　know；　Snatchum　may　'ave　taken　it　'ome　with　'im。'

‘Yes；　I　think　that'll　be　the　best　way；'　agreed　Crass；　after　a　moment's　thought。

Nimrod　and　Sawkins　accordingly　took　shelter　in　the　doorway　of　an　empty　house；　leaving　the　handcart　at　the　kerb；　while　Crass　went　across　the　street　and　knocked　at　Philpot's　door。　　They　saw　it　opened　by　an　elderly　woman　holding　a　lighted　candle　in　her　hand；　then　Crass　went　inside　and　the　door　was　shut。　　In　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour　he　reappeared　and；　leaving　the　door　partly　open　behind　him；　he　came　out　and　crossed　over　to　where　the　others　were　waiting。　　As　he　drew　near　they　could　see　that　he　carried　a　piece　of　paper　in　his　hand。

‘It's　all　right；'　he　said　in　a　hoarse　whisper　as　he　came　up。　　I've　got　the　stifficut。'

Misery　took　the　paper　eagerly　and　scanned　it　by　the　light　of　a　match　that　Crass　struck。　　It　was　the　certificate　right　enough；　and　with　a　sigh　of　relief　Hunter　put　it　into　his　note…book　and　stowed　it　safely　away　in　the　inner　pocket　of　his　coat；　while　Crass　explained　the　result　of　his　errand。

It　appeared　that　the　other　member　of　the　Society；　accompanied　by　Snatchum；　had　called　upon　the　old　woman　and　had　bluffed　her　into　giving　them　the　order　for　the　funeral。　　It　was　they　who　had　put　her　up　to　getting　the　certificate　from　the　Coroner　…　they　had　been　careful　to　keep　away　from　the　inquest　themselves　so　as　not　to　arouse　Hunter's　or　Crass's　suspicions。

‘When　they　brought　the　body　'ome　this　afternoon；'　Crass　went　on；　‘Snatchum　tried　to　get　the　stifficut　orf　'er；　but　she'd　been　thinkin'　things　over　and　she　was　a　bit　frightened　'cos　she　knowed　she'd　made　arrangements　with　me；　and　she　thought　she'd　better　see　me　first；　so　she　told　'im　she'd　give　it　to　'im　on　Thursday；　that's　the　day　as　'e　was　goin'　to　'ave　the　funeral。'

‘He'll　find　he's　a　day　too　late；'　said　Misery；　with　a　ghastly　grin。　‘We'll　get　the　job　done　on　Wednesday。'

‘She　didn't　want　to　give　it　to　me；　at　first；'　Crass　concluded；　‘but　I　told　'er　we'd　see　'er　right　if　old　Snatchum　tried　to　make　'er　pay　for　the　other　coffin。'

‘I　don't　think　he's　likely　to　make　much　fuss　about　it；'　said　Hunter。　‘He　won't　want　everybody　to　know　he　was　so　anxious　for　the　job。'

Crass　and　Sawkins　pushed　the　handcart　over　to　the　other　side　of　the　road　and　then；　lifting　the　coffin　off；　they　carried　it　into　the　house；　Nimrod　going　first。

The　old　woman　was　waiting　for　them　with　the　candle　at　the　end　of　the　passage。

‘I　shall　be　very　glad　when　it's　all　over；'　she　said；　as　she　led　the　way　up　the　narrow　stairs；　closely　followed　by　Hunter；　who　carried　the　tressels；　Crass　and　Sawkins；　bringing　up　the　rear　with　the　coffin。　　‘I　shall　be　very　glad　when　it's　all　over；　for　I'm　sick　and　tired　of　answerin'　the　door　to　undertakers。　　If　there's　been　one　'ere　since　Friday　there's　been　a　dozen；　all　after　the　job；　not　to　mention　all　the　cards　what's　been　put　under　the　door；　besides　the　one's　what　I've　had　give　to　me　by　different　people。　　I　had　a　pair　of　boots　bein'　mended　and　the　man　took　the　trouble　to　bring　'em　'ome　when　they　was　finished　…　a　thing　'e's　never　done　before　…　just　for　an　excuse　to　give　me　an　undertaker's　card。

‘Then　the　milkman　brought　one；　and　so　did　the　baker；　and　the　greengrocer　give　me　another　when　I　went　in　there　on　Saturday　to　buy　some　vegetables　for　Sunday　dinner。'

Arrived　at　the　top　landing　the　old　woman　opened　a　door　and　entered　a　small　and　wretchedly　furnished　room。

Across　the　lower　sash　of　the　window　hung　a　tattered　piece　of　lace　curtain。　　The　low　ceiling　was　cracked　and　discoloured。

There　was　a　rickety　little　wooden　washstand；　and　along　one　side　of　the　room　a　narrow　bed　covered　with　a　ragged　grey　quilt；　on　which　lay　a　bundle　containing　the　clothes　that　the　dead　man　was　wearing　at　the　time　of　the　accident。

There　was　a　little　table　in　front　of　the　window；　with　a　small　looking…glass　upon　it；　and　a　cane…seated　chair　was　placed　by　the　bedside　and　the　floor　was　covered　with　a　faded　piece　of　drab…coloured　carpet　of　no　perceptible　pattern；　worn　into　holes　in　several　places。

In　the　middle　of　this　dreary　room；　upon　a　pair　of　tressels；　was　the　coffin　containing　Philpot's　body。　　Seen　by　the　dim　and　flickering　light　of　the　candle；　the　aspect　of　this　coffin；　covered　over　with　a　white　sheet；　was　terrible　in　its　silent；　pathetic　solitude。

Hunter　placed　the　pair　of　tressels　he　had　been　carrying　against　the　wall；　and　the　other　two　put　the　empty　coffin　on　the　floor　by　the　side　of　the　bed。　　The　old　woman　stood　the　candlestick　on　the　mantelpiece；　and　withdrew；　remarking　that　they　would　not　need　her　assistance。　　The　three　men　then　removed　their　overcoats　and　laid　them　on　the　end　of　the　bed；　and　from　the　pocket　of　his　Crass　took　out　two　large　screwdrivers；　one　of　which　he　handed　to　Hunter。　　Sawkins　held　the　candle　while　they　unscrewed　and　took　off　the　lid　of　the　coffin　they　had　brought　with　them：　it　was　not　quite　empty；　for　they　had　brought　a　bag　of　tools　inside　it。

‘I　think　we　shall　be　able　to　work　better　if　we　takes　the　other　one　orf　the　trussels　and　puts　it　on　the　floor；'　remarked　Crass。

‘Yes；　I　think　so；　too；'　replied　Hunter。

Crass　took　off　the　sheet　and　threw　it　on　the　bed；　revealing　the　other　coffin；　which　was　very　similar　in　appearance　to　the　one　they　had　brought　with　them；　being　of　elms　with　the　usual　imitation　brass　furniture。　　Hunter　took　hold　of　the　head　and　Crass　the　foot　and　they　lifted　it　off　the　tressels　on　to　the　floor。

‘'E's　not　very　'eavy；　that's　one　good　thing；'　observed　Hunter。

‘'E　always　was　a　very　thin　chap；'　replied　Crass。

The　screws　that　held　down　the　lid　had　been　covered　over　with　large…headed　brass　nails　which　had　to　be　wrenched　off　before　they　could　get　at　the　screws；　of　which　there　were　eight　altogether。　　It　was　evident　from　the　appearance　of　the　beads　of　these　screws　that　they　were　old　ones　that　had　been　used　for　some　purpose　before：　they　were　rusty　and　of　different　sizes；　some　being　rather　larger　or　smaller；　than　they　should　have　been。　　They　were　screwed　in　so　firmly　that　by　the　time　they　had　drawn　half　of　them　out　the　two　men　were　streaming　with　perspiration。　　After　a　while　Hunter　took　the　candle　from　Sawkins　and　the　latter　had　a　try　at　the　screws。

‘Anyone　would　think　the　dam'　things　had　been　there　for　a　'undred　years；'　remarked　Hunter；　savagely；　as　he　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　face　and　neck　with　his　handkerchief。

Kneeling　on　the　lid　of　the　coffin　and　panting　and　grunting　with　the　exertion；　the　other　two　continued　to　struggle　with　their　task。　Suddenly　Crass　uttered　an　obscene　curse；　he　had　broken　off　one　side　of　the　head　of　the　screw　he　was　trying　to　turn　and　almost　at　the　same　instant　a　similar　misfortune　happened　to　Sawkins。

After　this；　Hunter　again　took　a　screwdriver　himself；　and　when　they　got　all　the　screws　out　with　the　exception　of　the　two　broken　ones；　Crass　took　a　hammer　and　chisel　out　of　the　bag　and　proceeded　to　cut　off　what　was　left　of　the　tops　of　the　two　that　remained。　　But　even　after　this　was　done　the　two　screws　still　held　the　lid　on　the　coffin；　and　so　they　had　to　hammer　the　end　of　the　blade　of　the　chisel　underneath　and　lever　the　lid　up　so　that　they　could　get　hold　of　it　with　their　fingers。　　It　split　up　one　side　as　they　tore　it　off；　exposing　the　dead　man　to　view。

Although　the　marks　of　the　cuts　and　bruises　were　still　visible　on　Philpot's　face；　they　were　softened　down　by　the　pallor　of　death；　and　a　placid；　peaceful　expression　pervaded　his　features。　　His　hands　were　crossed　upon　his　breast；　and　as　he　lay　there　in　the　snow…white　grave　clothes；　almost　covered　in　by　the　white　lace　frill　that　bordered　the　sides　of　the　coffin；　he　looked　like　one　in　a　profound　and　tranquil　sleep。

They　laid　the　broken　lid　on　the　bed；　and　placed　the　two　coffins　side　by　side　on　the　floor　as　close　together　as　possible。　　Sawkins　stood　at　one　side　holding　the　candle　in　his　left　hand　and　ready　to　render　with　his　right　any　assistance　that　might　unexpectedly　prove　to　be　necessary。　　Crass；　standing　at　the　foot；　took　hold　of　the　body　by　the　ankles；　while　Hunter　at　the　other　end　seized　it　by　the　shoulders　with　his　huge；　clawlike　hands；　which　resembled　the　talons　of　some　obscene　bird　of　prey；　and　they　dragged　it　out　and　placed　it　in　the　other　coffin。

Whilst　Hunter　…　hovering　ghoulishly　over　the　corpse　…　arranged　the　grave　clothes　and　the　frilling；　Crass　laid　the　broken　cover　on　the　top　of　the　other　coffin　and　pushed　it　under　the　bed　out　of　the　way。　　Then　he　selected　the　necessary　screws　and　nails　from　the　bag。　and　Hunter　having　by　this　time　finished；　they　proceeded　to　screw　down　the　lid。　Then　they　lifted　the　coffin　on　to　the　tressels；　covering　it　over　with　the　sheet；　and　the　appearance　it　then　presented　was　so　exactly　similar　to　what　they　had　seen　when　they　first　entered　the　room；　that　it　caused　the　same　thought　to　occur　to　all　of　them：　Suppose　Snatchum　took　it　into　his　head　to　come　there　and　take　the　body　out　again？　　If　he　were　to　do　so　and　take　it　up　to　the　cemetery　they　might　be　compelled　to　give　up　the　certificate　to　him　and　then　all　their　trouble　would　be　lost。

After　a　brief　consultation；　they　resolved　that　it　would　be　safer　to　take　the　co