the bittermeads mystery-第19部分

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lighted　a　match；　but　the　match；　when　he　had　lighted　it；　he　used　to
put　light　to　a　scrap　of　folded　paper　with　writing　on　it；　like　a　note。

This　piece　of　paper　he　used　to　light　his　cigarette　with　and　when　he
had　done　so　he　watched　the　paper　burn　to　an　ash；　not　dropping　it　to
the　ground　till　the　little　flame　stung　his　fingers。

The　ash　that　had　fallen　he　ground　into　the　path　where　they　stood
with　the　heel　of　his　boot。

〃What　have　you　burned　there？〃　she　asked；　as　if　she　suspected　it　was
something　of　importance　he　had　destroyed。

In　fact　it　was　the　note　that　had　fallen　from　dead　John　Clive's　hand
wherein　Ella　had　asked　him　to　meet　her　at　the　oak　where　he　had　met
his　death。

That　bit　of　paper　would　have　been　enough；　Dunn　thought；　to　place　a
harsh　hempen　noose　about　the　soft　white　throat　he　watched　where　the
little　pulse　still　fluttered　up　and　down。　　But　now　it　was　burnt　and
utterly　destroyed；　and　no　one　would　ever　see　it。

At　the　thought　he　laughed　and　she　drew　back；　very　startled。

〃Oh；　what　is　the　matter？〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Nothing；〃　he　answered。　　〃Nothing　in　all　the　world　except　that　I
love　you。〃



CHAPTER　XVIII

ROBERT　DUNN'S　ENEMY


When　he　had　said　this　he　went　a　step　or　two　aside　and　sat　down　on
the　stump　of　a　tree。　　He　was　very　agitated　and　disturbed　for　he　had
not　in　the　very　least　meant　to　say　such　a　thing；　he　had　not　even
known　that　he　really　felt　like　that。

It　was；　indeed；　a　rush　and　power　of　quite　unexpected　passion　that
had　swept　him　away　and　made　him　for　the　moment　lose　all　control
of　himself。　　Ella　showed　much　more　composure。　　She　had　become
extraordinarily　pale；　but　otherwise　she　did　not　appear　in　any　way
agitated。

She　remained　silent；　her　eyes　bent　on　the　ground；　her　only　movement
a　gesture　by　which　she　rubbed　softly　and　in　turn　each　of　her　wrists
as　though　they　hurt　her。

〃Well；　can't　you　say　something？〃　he　asked　roughly；　annoyed　by　her
persistent　silence。

〃I　don't　see　that　there's　anything　for　me　to　say；〃　she　answered。

〃Oh；　well　now　then；〃　he　muttered；　quite　disconcerted。

She　raised　her　eyes　from　the　ground；　and　for　the　first　time　looked
full　at　him；　in　her　expression　both　curiosity　and　resentment。

〃It　is　perfectly　intolerable；〃　she　said　with　a　heaving　breast。
〃Will　you　tell　me　who　you　are？〃

〃I've　told　you　one　thing；〃　he　answered　sullenly；　his　eyes　on　fire。
〃I　should　have　thought　that　was　enough。　　I'll　tell　you　nothing　more。〃

〃I　think　you　are　the　most　horrid　man　I　ever　met；〃　she　cried。　　〃And
the　very；　very　ugliest　…　all　that　hair　on　your　face　so　that　no　one
can　see　anything　else。　　What　are　you　like　when　you　cut　it　off？〃

〃Does　that　matter？〃　he　asked；　in　the　same　gruff　and　surly　manner。

〃I　should　think　it　matters　a　good　deal　when　I　ask　you；〃　she
exclaimed。　　〃Do　you　expect　any　one　to　care　for　a　man　she　has　never
seen　…　nothing　but　hair。　　　You　hurt　my　wrists　awfully　that　night；〃
she　added　resentfully。　　〃And　you've　never　even　hinted　you're　sorry。〃

His　reply　was　unexpected　and　it　disconcerted　her　greatly　and　for
the　first　time；　for　he　caught　both　her　wrists　in　his　hands　and
kissed　them　passionately　where　the　cords　had　been。

〃You　mustn't　do　that；　please　don't　do　that；〃　she　said　quickly；
trying　to　release　herself。

Her　strength　was　nothing　to　his　and　he　stood　up　and　put　his　arm
around　her　and　strained　her　to　him　in　an　embrace　so　passionate　and
powerful　she　could　not　have　resisted　it　though　she　had　wished　to。

But　no　thought　of　resistance　came　to　her；　since　for　the　moment　she
had　lost　all　consciousness　of　everything　save　the　strange　thrill　of
his　bright；　clear　eyes　looking　so　closely　into　hers；　of　his　strong
arms　holding　her　so　firmly。

He　released　her；　or　rather　she　at　last　freed　herself　by　an　effort
he　did　not　oppose；　and　she　fled　away　down　the　path。

She　had　an　impression　that　her　hair　would　come　down　and　that　that
would　make　her　look　a　fright；　and　she　put　up　her　hands　hurriedly
to　secure　it。　　She　never　looked　back　to　where　he　stood；　breathing
heavily　and　looking　after　her　and　thinking　not　of　her；　but　of　two
dead　men　whom　he　had　seen　of　late。

〃Shall　I　make　the　third？〃　he　wondered。　　〃I　do　not　care　if　I　do；
not　I。〃

The　path　Ella　had　fled　by　led　into　another　along　which　when　she
reached　it　she　saw　Deede　Dawson　coming。

She　stopped　at　once　and　began　to　busy　herself　with　a　flower…bed
overrun　with　weeds；　but　she　could　not　entirely　conceal　her　agitation
from　her　stepfather's　cold　grey　eyes。

〃Oh；　there　you　are；　Ella；　he　said；　with　all　that　false　geniality　of
his　that　filled　the　girl　with　such　loathing　and　distrust。　　〃Have　you
seen　Dunn？　　Oh；　there　he　is；　isn't　he？　　　I　wanted　to　ask　you；　Ella；
what　do　you　think　of　Dunn？〃

She　glanced　over　her　shoulder　towards　where　Dunn　stood；　and　she
managed　to　answer　with　a　passable　air　of　indifference。

〃Well；　I　suppose；〃　she　said；　〃that　he　is　quite　the　ugliest　man　I
ever　saw。　　Of　course；　if　he　cut　all　of　that　hair　off　…　〃

Deede　Dawson　laughed　though　his　eyes　remained　as　hard　and　cold　as
ever。

〃I　shall　have　to　give　him　orders　to　shave；〃　he　said。　　〃Your　mother
was　telling　me　I　ought　to　the　other　day；　she　said　it　didn't　look
respectable　to　have　a　man　about　with　all　that　hair　on　his　face。
Though　I　don't　see　myself　why　hair　isn't　respectable；　do　you？〃

〃It　looks　odd；〃　answered　Ella　carelessly。

Deede　Dawson　laughed　again；　and　walked　on　to　where　Dunn　was　standing
waiting　for　him。　　With　his　perpetual　smile　that　his　cold　and　evil
eyes　so　strangely　contradicted；　he　said　to　him：　

〃Well；　what　have　you　and　Ella　been　talking　about？〃

〃Why　do　you　ask？〃　growled　Dunn。

〃Because　she　looks　upset；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson。　　〃Oh；　don't　be　shy
about　it。　　Shall　I　give　you　a　little　good　advice？〃

〃What？〃

〃Never　shave。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　that　thick　growth　of　hair　hiding　your　face　gives　you　an　air
of　mystery　and　romance　no　woman　could　possibly　resist。　　You're　a
perpetual　puzzle；　and　to　pique　a　woman's　curiosity　is　the　surest　way
to　interest　her。　　Why；　there　are　plenty　of　women　who　would　marry　you
simply　to　find　out　what　is　under　all　that　hair。　　So　never　you　shave。〃

〃I　don't　mean　to。〃

〃Unless；　of　course；　you　have　to　…　for　purposes　of　disguise；　for
example。

〃I　thought　you　were　hinting　that　the　beard　itself　was　a　disguise；〃
retorted　Dunn。

〃Removing　it　might　become　a　better　one；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson。
〃You　told　me　once　you　knew　this　part　fairly　well。　　Do　you　know
Wreste　Abbey？〃

Dunn　gave　his　questioner　a　scowling　look　that　seemed　full　of　anger
and　suspicion。

〃What　about　it　if　I　do？〃　he　asked。

〃I　am　asking　if　you　do　know　it；〃　said　Deede　Dawson。

〃Yes；　I　do。　　Well？〃

〃It　belongs　to　Lord　Chobham；　doesn't　it？〃

Dunn　nodded。

〃Old　man；　isn't　he？〃

〃I'm　not　a　book　of　reference　about　Lord　Chobham；〃　answered　Dunn。
〃If　you　want　to　know　his　age；　you　can　easily　find　out；　I　suppose。
What's　the　sense　of　asking　me　a　lot　of　questions　like　that？〃

〃He　has　no　family；　and　his　heir　is　his　younger　brother；　General
Dunsmore；　who　has　one　son；　Rupert；　I　believe。　　Do　you　know　if
that's　so？〃

〃Look　here；〃　said　Dunn；　speaking　with　a　great　appearance　of　anger。
〃Don't　you　go　too　far；　or　maybe　something　you　won't　like　will　happen。
If　you've　anything　to　say；　say　it　straight　out。　　Or　there'll　be
trouble。〃

Deede　Dawson　seemed　a　little　surprised　at　the　vehemence　of　the
other's　tone。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked。　　〃Don't　you　like　the　family；　or　what's
upsetting　you？〃

Dunn　seemed　almost　choking　with　fury。　　He　half…lifted　one　hand　and
let　it　fall　again。

〃If　ever　I　get　hold　of　that　young　Rupert　Dunsmore；〃　he　said　with　a
little　gasp　for　breath。　　〃If　ever　I　come　face　to　face　with　him　…　man
to　man　…　〃

〃Dear　me！〃　smiled　Deede　Dawson；　lifting　his　eyebrows。　　〃I'm　treading
on　sore　toes；　it　seems。　　What's　the　trouble　between　you？〃

〃Never　you　mind；〃　replied　Dunn　roughly。　　〃That's　my　business。　　But
no　man　ever　had　a　worse　enemy　than　he's　been　to　me。〃

〃Has　he；　though？〃　said　Deede　Dawson；　who　seemed　very　interested　and
even　a　little　excited。　　〃What　did　he　do？〃

〃Never　you　mind；〃　Dunn　repeated。　　〃That's　my　affair；　but　I　swore　I'd
get　even　with　him　some　day　and　I　will；　too。〃

〃Suppose；〃　said　Deede　Dawson。　　〃Suppose　I　showed　you　a　way？〃

Dunn　did　not　answer　at　first；　and　for　some　moments　the　two　men　stood
watching　each　other　and　staring　into　each　other's　eyes　as　though
each　was　trying　to　read　the　depths　of　the　other's　soul。

〃Suppose；〃　said　Deede　Dawson　very　softly。　　〃Suppose　you　were　to　meet
Rupert　Dunsmore　…　alone　…　quite　alone？〃

Still　Dunn　did　not　answer；　but　somehow　it　appeared　that　his　silence
was　full　of　a　very　deadly　significance。

〃Suppose　you　did　…　what　would　you　do？〃　murmured　Deede　Dawson　again；
and　his　voice　sank　lower　with　each　word　he　uttered　till　the　last
was　a　scarce…audible　whisper。

Dunn　stopped　and　picked　up　a　hoe　that　was　lying　near　by。　　He　placed
the　tough　ash　handle　across　his　knee；　and　with　a　movement　of　his
powerful　hands；　he　broke　the　hoe　across。

The　two　smashed　pieces　he　dropped　on　the　ground；　and　looking　at
Deede　Dawson；　he　said：　

〃Like　that　…　if　ever　Rupert　Dunsmore　and　I　meet　alone；　only　one　of
us　will　go　away　alive。〃　　And　he　confirmed　it　with　an　oath。

Deede　Dawson　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　and　laughed。

〃Good！〃　he　cried。　　〃Why；　you're　the　man　I've　been　looking　for　for
a　long　time。　　The　fact　is；　Rupert　Dunsmore　played　me　a　nasty　trick
once；　and　I　want　to　clear　accounts　with　him。　　Now；　suppose　I　show
him　to　you　…　？〃

〃You　do　that；〃　said　Dunn；　and　he　repeated　the　oath　he　had　sworn
before。　　〃You　show　him　to　me；　and　I'll　take　care　he　never　troubles
any　one　again。〃

〃That's　the　way　I　like　to　hear　a　man　talk；〃　cried　Deede　Dawson。
〃Dunsmore　has　been　away　for　a　time　on　business　I　can　make　a　guess
at；　but　he　is　coming　back　soon。　　Should　you　know　him　if　you　saw
him？〃

〃Should　I　know　him？〃　repeated　Dunn　contemptuously。　　〃Should　I　know
myself？〃

〃That's　good；〃　said　Deede　Dawson　again。　　〃By　the　way；　perhaps　you
can　tell　me；　hasn't　Lord　Chobham　a　rather　distant　cousin；　Walter
Dunsmore；　living　with　him　as　secretary　or　something　of　the　sort
　…　quite　a　distant　relative；　I　believe；　though　in　the　direct　line
of　succession？〃

〃Very　likely；〃　said　Dunn　indifferently。