the bittermeads mystery-第15部分

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and　was　very　unwell；　and　Ella　hardly　stirred　from　her　side　all　day。

Even　when　Clive　called　in　the　afternoon　she　would　not　come　down；
but　sent　instead　a　message　begging　to　be　excused　because　of　her
mother's　indisposition；　and　Dunn；　from　a　secure　spot　in　the　garden；
watched　the　young　man　retire；　looking　very　disconsolate。

This　day；　too；　Dunn　saw　nothing　of　Deede　Dawson；　for　that　gentleman
immediately　after　breakfast　disappeared　without　saying　anything　to
anybody；　and　by　night　had　still　not　returned。

Dunn　therefore　was　left　entirely　to　himself；　and　to　him　the　day
seemed　one　of　the　longest　he　had　ever　spent。

That　Ella　remained　so　persistently　with　her　mother　troubled　him　a
good　deal；　for　he　did　not　think　such　close　seclusion　on　her　part
could　be　really　necessary。

He　was　inclined　to　fear　that　Ella　had　overheard　enough　of　what　had
passed　between　him　and　Deede　Dawson　to　rouse　her　mistrust；　and　that
she　was　therefore　deliberately　keeping　out　of　his　way。

Then　too；　he　was　troubled　in　another　fashion　by　Deede　Dawson's
absence；　for　he　was　afraid　it　might　mean　that　plans　were　being
prepared；　or　possibly　action　being　taken；　that　might　mature
disastrously　before　he　himself　was　ready　to　act。

All　day　this　feeling　of　unrest　and　apprehension　continued；　and　at
night　when　he　went　upstairs　to　bed　it　was　stronger　than　ever。　　He
felt　convinced　now　that　Ella　was　deliberately　avoiding　him。　　But
then；　if　she　distrusted　him；　that　must　be　because　she　feared　he
was　on　her　stepfather's　side；　and　if　it　seemed　to　her　that　who　was
on　his　side　was　of　necessity　an　object　of　suspicion　to　herself；　then
there　could　be　no　such　bond　of　dread　and　guilt　between　them　as　any
guilty　knowledge　on　her　part　of　Wright's　death　would　involve。

The　substantial　proof　this　exercise　in　logic　appeared　to　afford　of
Ella's　innocence　brought　him　much　comfort；　but　did　not　lighten　his
sense　of　apprehension　and　unrest；　for　he　thought　that　in　this
situation　in　which　he　found　himself　his　doubts　of　Ella　had　merely
been　turned　into　doubts　on　Ella's　part　of　himself；　and　that　the　one
was　just　as　likely　as　the　other　to　end　disastrously。

〃Though　I　don't　know　what　I　can　do；〃　he　muttered　as　he　stood　in　his
attic；　〃if　I　gain　Deede　Dawson's　confidence　I　lose　Ella's；　and　if
I　win　Ella's；　Deede　Dawson　will　at　once　suspect　me。〃

He　w　I　over　to　the　window　and　looked　out；　supporting　himself　on　his
elbows；　and　gazing　moodily　into　the　darkness。

As　he　stood　there　a　faint　sound　came　softly　to　his　ear　through　the
stillness　of　the　quiet　night　in　which　nothing　stirred。

He　listened；　and　heard　it　again。　　Beyond　doubt　some　one　was　stirring
in　the　garden　below；　moving　about　there　very　cautiously　and　carefully；
and　at　once　Dunn　glided　from　the　room　and　down　the　stairs　with　all
that　extraordinary　lightness　of　tread　and　agility　of　movement　of
which　his　heavy　body　and　clumsy…looking　build　gave　so　small　promise。

He　had　not　been　living　so　many　days　in　the　house　without　having
taken　certain　precautions；　of　which　one　had　been　to　secure　for
himself　a　swift　and　silent　egress　whenever　necessity　might　arise。

Keys　to　both　the　front　and　back　doors　were　in　his　possession；　and
the　passage　window　on　the　ground　floor　he　could　at　need　lift
bodily　from　its　frame；　leaving　ample　room　for　passage　either　in
or　out。　　This　was　the　method　of　departure　he　chose　now　since　he
did　not　know　but　that　the　doors　might　be　watched。

Lifting　the　window　down；　he　swung　himself　outside；　replacing　behind
him　the　window　so　that　it　appeared　to　be　as　firmly　in　position　as
ever；　but　could　be　removed　again　almost　instantly　should　need　arise。

Once　outside　he　listened　again；　and　though　at　first　everything　was
quiet；　presently　he　heard　again　a　cautious　step　going　to　and　fro
at　a　little　distance。

Crouching　in　the　shadow　of　the　house；　he　listened　intently；　and
soon　was　able　to　assure　himself　that　there　was　but　one　footstep
and　that　he　would　have　only　one　individual　to　deal　with。

〃It　won't　be　Deede　Dawson's；〃　he　thought　to　himself；　〃but　it　may
very　likely　be　some　one　waiting　for　him　to　return。　　I　must　find　out
who　…　and　why。〃

Slipping　through　the　darkness　of　the　night；　with　whose　shadows　he
seemed　to　melt　and　mingle；　as　though　he　were　but　another　one　of
them；　he　moved　quickly　in　the　direction　of　these　cautious　footsteps
he　had　listened　to。

They　had　ceased　now；　and　the　silence　was　profound；　for　those　faint
multitudinous　noises　of　the　night　that　murmur　without　ceasing　in
the　woods　and　fields　are　less　noticeable　near　the　habitations　of　men。

A　little　puzzled；　Dunn　paused　to　listen　again　and　once　more　crept
forward　a　careful　yard　or　two；　and　then　lay　still；　feeling　it　would
not　be　safe　to　venture　further　till　he　was　more　sure　of　his
direction；　and　till　some　fresh　sound　to　guide　him　reached　his　ears。

He　had　not　long　to　wait；　for　very　soon；　from　quite　close　by；　he
heard　something　that　surprised　and　perplexed　him　equally　…　a　deep；
long…drawn　sigh。

Again　he　heard　it；　and　in　utter　wonder　asked　himself　who　this
could　be　who　came　into　another　person's　garden　late　at　night　to
stand　and　sigh；　and　what　such　a　proceeding　could　mean。

Once　more　he　heard　the　sigh；　deeper　even　than　before；　and　then　after
it　a　low　murmur　in　which　at　first　he　could　distinguish　nothing；　but
then　caught　the　name　of　Ella　being　whispered　over　and　over　again。

He　bent　forward；　more　and　more　puzzled；　trying　in　vain　to　make　out
something　in　the　darkness；　and　then　from　under　a　tree；　whose　shadow
had　hitherto　been　a　complete　concealment；　there　moved　forward　a　form
so　tall　and　bulky　there　could　be　little　doubt　whom　it　belonged　to。

〃John　Clive　…　what　on　earth　…　！〃　Dunn　muttered；　his　bewilderment
increasing；　and　the　next　moment　he　understood　and　had　some　difficulty
in　preventing　himself　from　bursting　out　laughing　as　there　reached
him　the　unmistakable　sound　of　a　kiss　lightly　blown　through　the　air。

Clive　was　sending　a　kiss　through　the　night　towards　Ella's　room　and
his　nocturnal　visit　was　nothing　more　than　the　whim　of　a　love…sick
youth。

With　Dunn；　his　first　amusement　gave　way　almost　at　once　to　an　extreme
annoyance。

For；　in　the　first　place；　these　proceedings　seemed　to　him　exceedingly
impertinent；　for　what　possible　right　did　Clive　imagine　he　had　to
come　playing　the　fool　like　this；　sighing　in　the　dark　and　blowing
kisses　like　a　baby　to　its　mammy？

And　secondly；　unless　he　were　greatly　mistaken；　John　Clive　might　just
as　sensibly　and　safely　have　dropped　overboard　from　a　ship　in
mid…Atlantic　for　a　swim　as　come　to　indulge　his　sentimentalities　in
the　Bittermeads　garden　at　night。

〃You　silly　ass！〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　was　very　low；　but　very
distinct　and　very　full　of　an　extreme　disgust　and　anger。　　

Clive　fairly　leaped　in　the　air　with　his　surprise；　and　turned　and
made　a　sudden　dash　at　the　spot　whence　Dunn's　voice　had　come；　but
where　Dunn　no　longer　was。

〃What　the　blazes　…？〃　he　began；　spluttering　in　ineffectual　rage。
〃You　…　you　…！〃

〃You　silly　ass！〃　Dunn　repeated；　no　less　emphatically　than　before。

Clive　made　another　rush　that　a　somewhat　prickly　bush　very
effectually　stopped。

〃You　　…　who　are　you　　…　where　　…　what　　…　how　dare　you？〃　he　gasped
as　he　picked　himself　up　and　tried　to　disentangle　himself　from　the
prickles。

〃Don't　make　such　a　row；〃　said　Dunn　from　a　new　direction。　　〃Do　you
want　to　raise　the　whole　neighbourhood？　　Haven't　you　played　the　fool
enough？　　If　you　want　to　commit　suicide；　why　can't　you　cut　your
throat　quietly　and　decently　at　home；　instead　of　coming　alone　to　the
garden　at　Bittermeads　at　night？〃

There　was　a　note　of　sombre　and　intense　conviction　in　his　voice　that
penetrated　even　the　excited　mind　of　the　raging　Clive。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked；　and　then：

　〃Who　are　you？〃

〃Never　mind　who　I　am；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃And　I　mean　just　what　I　say。
You　might　as　well　commit　suicide　out　of　hand　as　come　fooling　about
here　alone　at　night。〃

〃You're　crazy；　you're　talking　rubbish！〃　Clive　exclaimed。

〃I'm　neither　crazy　nor　talking　rubbish；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃But　if
you　persist　in　making　such　a　row　I　shall　take　myself　off　and　leave
you　to　see　the　thing　through　by　yourself　and　get　yourself　knocked
on　the　head　any　way　you　like　best。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　beginning　to　understand；〃　said　Clive。　　〃I　suppose　you're
one　of　my　poaching　friends　…　are　you？　　Look　here；　if　you　know　who
it　was　who　attacked　me　the　other　night　you　can　earn　fifty　pounds
any　time　you　like。〃

〃Your　poaching　friends；　as　you　call　them；〃　answered　Dunn；　〃　are
most　likely　only　anxious　to　keep　out　of　your　way。　　This　has
nothing　to　do　with　them。〃

〃Well；　come　nearer　and　let　me　see　you；〃　Clive　said。　　〃You　needn't
be　afraid。　　You　can't　expect　me　to　take　any　notice　of　some　one　I
can't　see；　talking　rubbish　in　the　dark。〃

〃I　don't　much　care　whether　you　take　any　notice　or　not；〃　answered
Dunn。　　〃You　can　go　your　own　silly　way　if　you　like；　it's　nothing　to
me。　　I've　warned　you；　and　if　you　care　to　listen　I'll　make　my　warning
a　little　clearer。　　And　one　thing　I　will　tell　you　…　one　man　already
has　left　this　house　hidden　in　a　packing…case　with　a　bullet　through
his　brain；　and　I　will　ask　you　a　question：　'How　did　your　father　die？'〃

〃He　was　killed　in　a　motor…car　accident；〃　answered　Clive　hesitatingly；
as　though　not　certain　whether　to　continue　this　strange　and　puzzling
conversation　or　break　it　off。

〃There　are　many　accidents；〃　said　Dunn。　　〃And　that　may　have　been　one；
for　all　I　know；　or　it　may　not。　　Well；　I've　warned　you。　　I　had　to　do
that。　　You'll　probably　go　on　acting　like　a　fool　and　believing　that
nowadays　murders　don't　happen；　but　if　you're　wise；　you'll　go　home
to　bed　and　run　no　more　silly　risks。〃

〃Of　course　I'm　not　going　to　pay　the　least　attention；〃　began　Clive；
when　Dunn　interrupted　him　sharply。

〃Hush！　　hush！〃　he　said　sharply。　　〃Crouch　down：　don't　make　a　sound；
don't　stir　or　move。　　Hush！〃

For　Dunn's　sharp　ear　had　caught　the　sound　of　approaching　footsteps
that　were　drawing　quickly　nearer；　and　almost　instantly　he　guessed
who　it　would　be；　for　there　were　few　pedestrians　who　came　along　that
lonely　road　so　late　at　night。

There　were　two　of　them　apparently；　and　at　the　gate　of　Bittermeads
they　halted。

〃Well；　good　night；〃　said　then　a　voice　both　Dunn　and　Clive　knew　at
once　for