the bittermeads mystery-第20部分

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　…　quite　a　distant　relative；　I　believe；　though　in　the　direct　line
of　succession？〃

〃Very　likely；〃　said　Dunn　indifferently。　　〃I　think　so；　but　I　don't
care　anything　about　the　rest　of　them。　　It's　only　Rupert　Dunsmore　I
have　anything
against。〃



CHAPTER　XIX

THE　VISIT　TO　WRESTE　ABBEY


It　was　a　little　later　when　Deede　Dawson　returned　to　the　subject　of
Wreste　Abbey。

〃Lord　Chobham　has　a　very　valuable　collection　of　plate　and　jewellery
and　so　on；　hasn't　he？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh；　there's　plenty　of　the　stuff　there；〃　Dunn　answered。　　〃Why？〃

〃Oh；　I　was　thinking　a　visit　might　be　made　fairly　profitable；〃　Deede
Dawson　said　carelessly；　for　the　first　time　definitely　throwing　off
his　mask　of　law…abiding　citizen　under　which　he　lived　at　Bittermeads。

〃It　would　be　a　risky　job；〃　answered　Dunn；　showing　no　surprise　at　the
suggestion。　　〃The　stuff's　well　guarded；　and　then；　that's　not　what
I'm　thinking　about　…　it's　meeting　Rupert　Dunsmore；　man　to　man；　and
no　one　to　come　between　us。　　If　that　ever　happens　…　〃

Deede　Dawson　nodded　reassuringly。

〃That'll　be　all　right；〃　he　said。　　〃So　you　shall；　I　promise　you　that。
But　we　might　as　well　kill　two　birds　with　one　stone　and　clear　a　bit
of　profit；　too。　　I've　got　to　live；　like　any　one　else；　and　I　haven't
five　thousand　a　year　of　my　own；　so　I　get　my　living　out　of　those　who
have；　and　I　don't　see　who　has　any　right　to　blame　me。　　Mind；　if　there
was　any　money　in　chess；　I　should　be　a　millionaire；　but　there　isn't；
and　if　a　man　can　make　a　fortune　on　the　Stock　Exchange；　which　takes
no　more　thought　or　skill　than　auction…bridge；　why　shouldn't　I　make　a
bit　when　I　can？　　There's　the　'D。　D。'　gambit　I've　invented；　people
will　be　studying　and　playing　for　centuries；　but　it'll　never　bring　me
a　penny　for　all　the　brain…work　I　put　into　it；　and　so　I've　got　to
protect　myself；　haven't　I？〃

〃It's　what　I　do　with　less　talk　about　it；〃　answered　Dunn
contemptuously。　　〃Why；　I've　guessed　all　that　from　the　first　when
you　weren't　so　all…fired　keen　on　seeing　me　in　gaol；　as　most　of　your
honest；　hard…working　lot；　who　only　do　their　swindling　in　business…hours；
would　have　been。　　And　I've　kept　my　eyes　open；　of　course。　　It　wasn't
hard　to　twig　you　did　a　bit　on　the　cross　yourself。　　Well；　that's　your
affair；　but　one　thing　I　do　want　to　know　…　how　much　does　Miss　Cayley
know？〃

For　all　his　efforts　he　could　not　keep　his　anxiety　entirely　out　of
his　voice　as　he　said　this；　and　recognizing　that　thereby　he　had
perhaps　risked　rousing　some　suspicion　in　the　other's　mind；　he　added：　

〃And　her　mother　…　the　young　lady　and　her　mother；　how　much　do　they
know？〃

〃Oh；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson；　with　his　false　laugh　and　cold…watchful
eyes。　　〃My　wife　knows　nothing　at　all；　but　Ella's　the　best　helper
I've　ever　had。　　She　looks　so　innocent；　she　can　take　in　any　one；　and
she　never　gives　the　show　away；　she　acts　all　the　time。　　A　wonderful
girl　and　useful　…　you'd　hardly　believe　how　useful。〃

Dunn　did　not　answer。　　It　was　only　by　a　supreme　effort　that　he　kept
his　hands　from　Deede　Dawson's　throat。　　He　did　not　believe　a　word　of
what　the　other　said；　for　he　knew　well　the　utter　falseness　of　the　man。
None　the　less；　the　accusation　troubled　him　and　chilled　him　to　the
heart；　as　though　with　the　touch　of　the　finger　of　death。

〃You　remember　that　packing…case；〃　Deede　Dawson　added。　　〃The　one　you
helped　me　to　get　away　from　here　the　night　you　came。　　Well；　she　knew
what　was　in　it；　though　you　would　never　have　thought　so；　to　look　at
her；　would　you？〃

His　cold　eyes　were　very　intent　and　keen　as　he　said　this；　and　Dunn
thought　to　himself　that　it　had　been　said　more　to　test　any　possible
knowledge　or　suspicion　of　his　own　than　for　any　other　reason。　　With
a　manner　of　only　slight　interest；　he　answered　carelessly：

〃Did　she？　　Why？　　Wasn't　it　your　stuff？　　Had　it　been　pinched？　　But
she　was　safe　enough；　the　police　would　never　stop　a　smart　young　lady
in　a　motor…car；　except　on　very　strong　evidence。〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　agreed　Deede　Dawson。　　〃That's　one　reason　why　Ella's
so　useful。　　But　I've　been　thinking　things　out；　and　trying　to　make
them　work　in　together；　and　I　think　the　first　thing　to　do　is　for　you
to　drive　Allen　and　Ella　over　to　Wreste　Abbey　this　afternoon；　so
that　they　may　have　a　good　look　around。〃

〃Oh；　Miss　Cayley　and　Allen；〃　Dunn　muttered。

The　new…comer；　Allen；　had　been　making　himself　very　much　at　home　at
Bittermeads　since　his　arrival；　though　he　had　not　so　far　troubled
to　any　great　extent　either　Ella　in　the　house　or　Dunn　outside。　　His
idea　of　comfort　seemed　to　be　to　stay　in　bed　very　late；　and　spend
his　time　when　he　did　get　up　in　the　breakfast…room　in　the　company
of　a　box　of　cigars　and　a　bottle　of　whisky。

The　suggestion　that　he　and　Ella　should　pay　a　visit　together　to
Wreste　Abbey　was　one　that　greatly　surprised　Dunn。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃This　afternoon？　　I'll　get　the　car　ready。〃

〃This　is　the　afternoon　the　Abbey　is　thrown　open　to　visitors；　isn't
it？〃　asked　Deede　Dawson。　　〃Allen　and　Ella　can　get　in　as　tourists；
and　have　a　good　look　round；　and　you　can　look　round　outside　and　get
to　know　the　lie　of　the　land。　　There　won't　be　long　to　wait；　for
Rupert　Dunsmore　will　be　back　from　his　little　excursion　before　long；
I　expect。〃

He　laughed　in　his　mirthless　way；　and　walked　off；　and　Dunn；　as　he
got　the　car　ready；　seemed　a　good　deal　preoccupied　and　a　little
worried。

〃How　can　he　know　that　Rupert　Dunsmore　is　coming　back？〃　he　said　to
himself。　　〃Can　he　have　any　way　of　finding　out　things　I　don't　know
about？　　And　if　he　did；　how　could　he　know　…　that？　　Most　likely　it's
only　a　guess　to　soothe　me　down；　and　he　doesn't　really　know　anything
at　all　about　it。〃

After　lunch；　Allen　and　Ella　appeared　together；　ready　for　their
expedition。　　Ella　looked　her　best　in　a　big　motoring　coat　and　a
close…fitting　hat；　with　a　long　blue　veil。　　Allen　was；　for　almost
the　first　time　since　his　arrival；　shaved；　washed　and　tidy。

He　looked　indeed　as　respectable　as　his　sinister　and　forbidding
countenance　would　permit；　and　though　Deede　Dawson　had　made　him　as
smart　as　possible；　he　had　permitted　him　to　gratify　his　own　florid
taste　in　adornment；　so　that　his　air　of　prosperity　and　wealth　had
the　appearance　of　being　that　of　some　recently…enriched　vulgarian
whose　association　with　a　motor…car　and　a　well…dressed　girl　of　Ella's
type　was　probably　due　to　the　fact　that　he　had　recently　purchased
them　both　out　of　newly…acquired　wealth。

Dunn　wore　a　neat　chauffeur's　costume；　with　which；　however；　his
bearded　face　did　not　go　too　well。　　He　felt　indeed　that　their　whole
turn…out　was　far　too　conspicuous　considering　the　real　nature　of
their　errand；　and　far　too　likely　to　attract　attention；　and　he
wondered　if　Deede　Dawson's　subtle　and　calculating　mind　had　not　for
some　private　reason　desired　that　to　be　so。

〃He　is　keeping　well　in　the　background　himself；〃　Dunn　mused。　　〃He　may
reckon　that　if　things　go　wrong　…　in　case　of　any　pursuit　…　it's　a
good　move　perhaps　in　a　way；　but　he　may　find　an　unexpected　check　to
his　king　opened　on　him。〃

The　drive　was　a　long　one；　and　Ella　noticed　that　though　Dunn　consulted
his　map　frequently；　he　never　appeared　in　any　doubt　concerning　the　way。

A　little　before　three　they　drove　into　the　village　that　lay　round　the
park　gates　of　Wreste　Abbey。

Motors　were　not　allowed　in　the　park；　so　Dunn　put　theirs　in　the　garage
of　the　little　hotel；　that　was　already　almost　full；　for　visiting　day
at　Wreste　Abbey　generally　drew　a　goodly　number　of　tourists；　while
Ella　and　Allen；　in　odd　companionship；　walked　up　to　the　Abbey　by　the
famous　approach　through　the　chestnut　avenue。

Allen　was　quiet　and　surly；　and　much　on　his　guard；　and　very
uncomfortable　in　Ella's　company；　and　Ella　herself；　though　for
different　reasons　was　equally　silent。

But　the　beauty　of　the　walk　through　the　chestnut　avenue；　and　of　the
vista　with　the　great　house　at　the　end；　drew　from　her　a　quick
exclamation　of　delight。

〃How　beautiful　a　place　this　is；〃　she　said　aloud。　　〃And　how　peaceful
and　how　quiet。〃

〃Don't　like　these　quiet　places　myself；〃　grumbled　Allen。　　〃Don't　like
'em；　don't　trust　'em。　　Give　me　lots　of　traffic；　when　everything's　so
awful　quiet　you've　only　got　to　kick　your　foot　against　a　stone　or　drop
a　tool；　and　likely　as　not　you'll　wake　the　whole　blessed　place。〃

〃Wake　〃　repeated　Ella；　noticing　the　word；　and　she　repeated　it　with
emphasis。　　〃Why　do　you　say　'wake'？〃



CHAPTER　XX

ELLA'S　WARNING


Ella　did　not　say　anything　more；　and　in　their　character　of　tourists
visiting　the　place；　they　were　admitted　to　the　Abbey　and　passed　on
though　its　magnificent　rooms；　where　was　stored　a　collection　rich
and　rare　even　for　one　of　the　stateliest　homes　of　England。

〃What　a　wonderful　place！〃　Ella　sighed　wistfully。　　Yet　she　could　not
enjoy　the　spectacle　of　all　these　treasures　as　she　would　have　done
at　another　time；　for　she　was　always　watching　Allen；　who　hung　about
a　good　deal；　and　seemed　to　look　more　at　the　locks　of　the　cases　that
held　some　of　the　more　valuable　of　the　objects　shown　than　at　the
things　themselves；　and　generally　spent　fully　half　the　time　in　each
room　at　the　window；　admiring；　the　view；　he　said；　but　for　quite
another　reason；　Ella　suspected。

〃I　shall　speak　when　I　get　back；〃　she　said　to　herself；　pale　and
resolute。　　〃I　don't　care　what　happens；　I　don't　care　if　I　have　to
tell　mother　…　perhaps　she　knows　already。　　Anyhow；　I　shall　speak。〃

Having　come　to　this　determination；　she　grew　cheerful　and　more
interested　apparently　in　what　they　were　seeing；　as　well　as　less
watchful　of　her　companion。　　When；　presently；　they　left　the　house　to
go　into　the　gardens；　it　happened　that　they　noticed　an　old　gentleman
walking　at　a　little　distance　behind　a　gate　marked　〃Private；〃　and
leaning　on　the　arm　of　a　tall；　thin；　clean…shaven　man　of　middle…age。

〃Lord　Chobham；　the　old　gentleman；〃　whispered　a　tourist；　who　was
standing　near。　　〃I　saw　him　once　in　the　House　of　Lords。　　That's　his
secretary　with　him；　Mr。　Dunsmore；　one　of　the　family；　he　manages
everything　now　the　old　gentleman　is　getting　so　feeble。〃

Ella　walked　on　frowning　and　a　little　worried；　for　she　thought　she
had　seen　the　secretary　before　and　yet　could　not　remember　where。
Soon　she　noticed　Dunn；　who　had　apparently　been　obeying　Deede　Dawson's
orders　to　look　round　outside　and　get　to　know　the　lie　of　the　land。

He　see