the bittermeads mystery-第1部分

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The　Bittermeads　Mystery

by　E。　R。　Punshon







CONTENTS

I　　　　　　　　THE　LONE　PASSENGER

II　　　　　　　THE　FIGHT　IN　THE　WOODS

III　　　　　　A　COINCIDENCE

IV　　　　　　　A　WOMAN　WEEPS

V　　　　　　　　A　WOMAN　AND　A　MAN

VI　　　　　　　A　DISCOVERY

VII　　　　　　QUESTION　AND　ANSWER

VIII　　　　　CAPTIVITY　CAPTURE

IX　　　　　　　THE　ATTIC　0F　MYSTERY

X　　　　　　　　THE　NEW　GARDENER

XI　　　　　　　THE　PROBLEM

XII　　　　　　AN　AVOWAL

XIII　　　　　INVISIBLE　WRITING

XIV　　　　　　LOVE…MAKING　AT　NIGHT

XV　　　　　　　THE　SOUND　OF　A　SHOT

XVI　　　　　　IN　THE　WOOD

XVII　　　　　A　DECLARATION

XVIII　　　　ROBERT　DUNN'S　ENEMY

XIX　　　　　　THE　VISIT　TO　WRESTE　ABBEY

XX　　　　　　　ELLA'S　WARNING

XXI　　　　　　DOUBTS　AND　FEARS

XXII　　　　　PLOTS　AND　PLANS

XXIII　　　　COUNTER　PLANS

XXIV　　　　　AN　APHORISM

XXV　　　　　　THE　UNEXPECTED

XXVI　　　　　A　RACE　AGAINST　TIME

XXVII　　　　FLIGHT　AND　PURSUIT

XXVIII　　　BACK　AT　BITTEBMEADS

XXIX　　　　　THE　ATTIC

XXX　　　　　　SOME　EXPLANATIONS

XXXI　　　　　CONCLUSION





CHAPTER　I

THE　LONE　PASSENGER


That　evening　the　down　train　from　London　deposited　at　the　little
country　station　of　Ramsdon　but　a　single　passenger；　a　man　of　middle
height；　shabbily　dressed；　with　broad　shoulders　and　long　arms　and　a
most　unusual　breadth　and　depth　of　chest。

Of　his　face　one　could　see　little；　for　it　was　covered　by　a　thick
growth　of　dark　curly　hair；　beard；　moustache　and　whiskers；　all
overgrown　and　ill…tended；　and　as　he　came　with　a　somewhat　slow　and
ungainly　walk　along　the　platform；　the　lad　stationed　at　the　gate　to
collect　tickets　grinned　amusedly　and　called　to　one　of　the　porters
near：

〃Look　at　this；　Bill；　here's　the　monkey…man　escaped　and　come　back
along　of　us。〃

It　was　a　reference　to　a　travelling　circus　that　had　lately　visited
the　place　and　exhibited　a　young　chimpanzee　advertised　as　〃the
monkey…man；〃　and　Bill　guffawed　appreciatively。

The　stranger　was　quite　close　and　heard　plainly；　for　indeed　the　youth
at　the　gate　had　made　no　special　attempt　to　speak　softly。

The　boy　was　still　laughing　as　he　held　out　his　hand　for　the　ticket；
and　the　stranger　gave　it　to　him　with　one　hand　and　at　the　same　time
shot　out　a　long　arm；　caught　the　boy　…　a　well…grown　lad　of　sixteen
　…　by　the　middle　and；　with　as　little　apparent　effort　as　though
lifting　a　baby；　swung　him　into　the　air　to　the　top　of　the　gate…post；
where　he　left　him　clinging　with　arms　and　legs　six　feet　from　the
ground。

〃Hi；　what　are　you　a…doing　of？〃　shouted　the　porter；　running　up；　as
the　amazed　and　frightened　youth；　clinging　to　his　gate…post；　emitted
a　dismal　howl。

〃Teaching　a　cheeky　boy　manners；〃　retorted　the　stranger　with　an　angry
look　and　in　a　very　gruff　and　harsh　voice。　　〃Do　you　want　to　go　on
top　of　the　other　post　to　make　a　pair？〃

The　porter　drew　back　hurriedly。

〃You　be　off；〃　he　ordered　as　he　retreated。　　〃We　don't　want　none　of
your　sort　about　here。〃

〃I　certainly　have　no　intention　of　staying；〃　retorted　the　other　as
gruffly　as　before。　　〃But　I　think　you'll　remember　Bobbie　Dunn　next
time　I　come　this　way。〃

〃Let　me　down；　please　let　me　down；〃　wailed　the　boy；　clinging
desperately　to　the　gate…post　on　whose　top　he　had　been　so
unceremoniously　deposited；　and　Dunn　laughed　and　walked　away；　leaving
the　porter　to　rescue　his　youthful　colleague　and　to　cuff　his　ears
soundly　as　soon　as　he　had　done　so；　by　way　of　a　relief　to　his　feelings。

〃That　will　learn　you　to　be　a　bit　civil　to　folk；　I　hope；〃　said　the
porter　severely。　　〃But　that　there　chap　must　have　an　amazing　strong
arm；〃　he　added　thoughtfully。　　〃Lifting　you　up　there　all　the　same　as
you　was　a　bunch　of　radishes。〃

For　some　distance　after　leaving　the　station；　Dunn　walked　on　slowly。

He　seemed　to　know　the　way　well　or　else　to　be　careless　of　the
direction　he　took；　for　he　walked　along　deep　in　thought　with　his　eyes
fixed　on　the　ground　and　not　looking　in　the　least　where　he　was　going。

Abruptly；　a　small　child　appeared　out　of　the　darkness　and　spoke　to
him；　and　he　started　violently　and　in　a　very　nervous　manner。

〃What　was　that？　　What　did　you　say；　kiddy？〃　he　asked；　recovering
himself　instantly　and　speaking　this　time　not　in　the　gruff　and　harsh
tones　he　had　used　before　but　in　a　singularly　winning　and　pleasant
voice；　cultivated　and　gentle；　that　was　in　odd　contrast　with　his
rough　and　battered　appearance。　　〃The　time；　was　that　what　you　wanted
to　know？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　please；　sir；〃　answered　the　child；　who　had　shrunk　back　in
alarm　at　the　violent　start　Dunn　had　given；　but　now　seemed　reassured
by　his　gentle　and　pleasant　voice。　　〃The　right　time；〃　the　little　one
added　almost　instantly　and　with　much　emphasis　on　the　〃right。〃

Dunn　gravely　gave　the　required　imformation　with　the　assurance　that
to　the　best　of　his　belief　it　was　〃right；〃　and　the　child　thanked　him
and　scampered　off。

Resuming　his　way；　Dunn　shook　his　head　with　an　air　of　grave
dissatisfaction。

〃Nerves　all　to　pieces；〃　he　muttered。　　〃That　won't　do。　　Hang　it　all；
the　job's　no　worse　than　following　a　wounded　tiger　into　the　jungle；
and　I've　done　that　before　now。　　Only　then；　of　course；　one　knew　what
to　expect；　whereas　now　…　And　I　was　a　silly　ass　to　lose　my　temper
with　that　boy　at　the　station。　　You　aren't　making　a　very　brilliant
start；　Bobby；　my　boy。〃

By　this　time　he　had　left　the　little　town　behind　him　and　he　was
walking　along　a　very　lonely　and　dark　road。

On　one　side　was　a　plantation　of　young　trees；　on　the　other　there　was
the　open　ground；　covered　with　furze　bush；　of　the　village　common。

Where　the　plantation　ended　stood　a　low；　two…storied　house　of　medium
size；　with　a　veranda　stretching　its　full　length　in　front。　　It　stood
back　from　the　road　some　distance　and　appeared　to　be　surrounded　by　a
large　garden。

At　the　gate　Dunn　halted　and　struck　a　match　as　if　to　light　a　pipe；
and　by　the　flickering　flame　of　this　match　the　name　〃Bittermeads；〃
painted　on　the　gate　became　visible。

〃Here　it　is；　then；〃　he　muttered。　　〃I　wonder　…　〃

Without　completing　the　sentence　he　slipped　through　the　gate；　which
was　not　quite　closed；　and　entered　the　garden；　where　he　crouched
down　in　the　shadow　of　some　bushes　that　grew　by　the　side　of　the
gravel　path　leading　to　the　house；　and　seemed　to　compose　himself
for　a　long　vigil。

An　hour　passed；　and　another。　　Nothing　had　happened　…　he　had　seen
nothing；　heard　nothing；　save　for　the　passing　of　an　occasional
vehicle　or　pedestrian　on　the　road；　and　he　himself　had　never　stirred
or　moved；　so　that　he　seemed　one　with　the　night　and　one　with　the
shadows　where　he　crouched；　and　a　pair　of　field…mice　that　had　come
from　the　common　opposite　went　to　and　fro　about　their　busy　occupations
at　his　feet　without　paying　him　the　least　attention。

Another　hour　passed；　and　at　last　there　began　to　be　signs　of　life
about　the　house。

A　light　shone　in　one　window　and　in　another；　and　vanished；　and　soon
the　door　opened　and　there　appeared　two　people　on　the　threshold；
clearly　visible　in　the　light　of　a　strong　incandescent　gas…burner
just　within　the　hall。

The　watcher　in　the　garden　moved　a　little　to　get　a　clearer　view。

In　the　paroxysm　of　terror　at　this　sudden　coming　to　life　of　what
they　had　believed　to　be　a　part　of　the　bushes；　the　two　little
field…mice　scampered　away；　and　Dunn　bit　his　lip　with　annoyance；
for　he　knew　well　that　some　of　those　he　had　had　traffic　with　in　the
past　would　have　been　very　sure；　on　hearing　that　scurrying…off　of
the　frightened　mice；　that　some　one　was　lurking　near　at　hand。

But　the　two　in　the　lighted　doorway　opening　on　the　veranda　heard　and
suspected　nothing。

One　was　a　man；　one　a　woman；　both　were　young；　both　were
extraordinarily　good…looking；　and　as　they　stood　in　the　blaze　of　the
gas　they　made　a　strikingly　handsome　and　attractive　picture　on　which；
however；　Dunn　seemed　to　look　from　his　hiding…place　with　hostility
and　watchful　suspicion。

〃How　dark　it　is；　there's　not　a　star　showing；〃　the　girl　was　saying。
〃Shall　you　be　able　to　find　your　way；　even　with　the　lantern？　　You'll
keep　to　the　road；　won't　you？〃

Her　voice　was　low　and　pleasant　and　so　clear　Dunn　heard　every　word
distinctly。　　She　seemed　quite　young；　not　more　than　twenty　or
twenty…one；　and　she　was　slim　and　graceful　in　build　and　tall　for　a
woman。　　Her　face；　on　which　the　light　shone　directly；　was　oval　in
shape　with　a　broad；　low　forehead　on　which　clustered　the　small；
unruly　curls　of　her　dark　brown　hair；　and　she　had　clear　and　very
bright　brown　eyes。　　The　mouth　and　chin　were　perhaps　a　little　large
to　be　in　absolute　harmony　with　the　rest　of　her　features；　and　she
was　of　a　dark　complexion；　with　a　soft　and　delicate　bloom　that
would　by　itself　have　given　her　a　right　to　claim　her　possession　of
a　full　share　of　good　looks。　　She　was　dressed　quite　simply　in　a
white　frock　with　a　touch　of　colour　at　the　waist　and　she　had　a　very
flimsy　lace　shawl　thrown　over　her　shoulders；　presumably　intended
as　a　protection　against　the　night　air。

Her　companion　was　a　very　tall　and　big　man；　well　over　six　feet　in
height；　with　handsome；　strongly…marked　features　that　often　bore　an
expression　a　little　too　haughty；　but　that　showed　now　a　very　tender
and　gentle　look；　so　that　it　was　not　difficult　to　guess　the　state　of
his　feelings　towards　the　girl　at　his　side。　　His　shoulders　were　broad；
his　chest　deep；　and　his　whole　build　powerful　in　the　extreme；　and
Dunn；　looking　him　up　and　down　with　the　quick　glance　of　one　accustomed
to　judge　men；　thought　that　he　had　seldom　seen　one　more　capable　of
holding　his　own。

Answering　his　companion　's　remark；　he　said　lightly：

〃Oh；　no；　I　shall　cut　across　the　wood；　it's　ever　so　much　shorter；
you　know。〃

〃But　it's　so　dark　and　lonely；〃　the　girl　protested。　　〃And　then；　after
last　week　…　〃

He　interrupted　her　with　a　laugh；　and　he　lifted　his　head　with　a
certain　not　unpleasing　swagger。

〃I　don't　think　they'll　trouble　me　for　all　their　threats；〃　he　said。
〃For　that　matter；　I　rather　hope　they　will　try　something　of　the　sort
on。　　They　need　a　lesson。〃

〃Oh；　I　do　hope　you'll　be　careful；〃　the　girl　exclaimed。

He　laughed　again　and　made　another　lightly…confident；　almost…boastful
remark；　to　the　effect　that　he　did　not　think　any　one　was　likely　to
interfere　with　him。

For　a　minute　or　two　longer　they　lingered；　chatting　together　as　they
stood　in　the　gas…light　on　the　veranda　and　from　his　hiding…place　Dunn
watched　them　intently。　　It　seemed　that　it　was　the　girl　in　whom　he
was