the bittermeads mystery-第24部分

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you　know。〃

〃I　only　wish　I　was　as　certain　of　everything　else；〃　Deede　Dawson　said。

〃Oh；　all　right；〃　exclaimed　Dunn。　　〃I　suppose　you　know　and　you　may
be　right。〃

〃I　am；〃　Deede　Dawson　assured　him。　　〃Listen　carefully　now；　there
mustn't　be　any　blunders。　　You　are　to　make　an　early　start　tomorrow。
I　don't　want　you　to　take　the　car　for　fear　of　its　being　seen　and
identified。　　You　must　take　the　train　to　London　and　then　another
train　back　immediately　to　Delsby。　　From　Delsby　you'll　have　an
eighteen…mile　walk　through　lonely　country　where　you　aren't　likely
to　meet　any　one；　and　must　try　not　to。　　The　less　you　are　seen　the
better。　　You　know　that　for　yourself；　and　for　your　own　sake　you'll
be　careful。　　You'll　have　no　time　to　spare；　but　you　will　be　able　to
get　to　the　place　I　told　you　of　by　four　all　right　…　no　earlier；　no
later。　　You　must　arrange　to　be　there　at　four　exactly。　　You　may
spoil　all　if　you　are　too　early。　　Almost　as　soon　as　you　get　there；
Rupert　Dunsmore　will　arrive。　　You　must　do　the　rest　for　yourself；
and　then　you　must　strike　straight　across　country　for　here。　　You　can
look　up　your　routes　on　the　map。　　There　will　be　less　risk　of
attracting　attention　if　you　come　and　go　by　different　ways。　　You
ought　to　be　here　again　some　time　in　the　small　hours。　　I'll　let　you
in；　and　you'll　have　cleared　your　own　score　with　Rupert　Dunsmore　and
earned　more　money　than　you　ever　have　had　in　all　your　life　before。
Now；　can　I　depend　on　you？〃

〃Yes　…　yes；〃　answered　Dunn；　over　whom　there　had　come　a　new　and
strange　sense　of　unreality　as　he　stood　and　listened　to　cold…blooded
murder　being　thus　calmly；　coolly　planned；　as　though　it　were　some
afternoon's　pleasure　trip　that　was　being　arranged；　so　that　he
hardly　knew　whether　he　did；　in　fact；　hear　this　smooth；　low；
unceasing　voice　that　from　the　darkness　at　his　side　laid　down　such
a　bloody　road　for　his　feet　to　travel。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　can　depend　on　me；〃　he　said。　　〃But　can　I　depend　on　you；
when　you　say　Rupert　Dunsmore　will　be　there　at　that　time　and　that
place？〃

It　was　a　moment　or　two　before　Deede　Dawson　answered；　and　then　his
voice　was　very　low　and　soft　and　confident　as　he　said：　

〃Yes；　you　can　…　absolutely。　　You　see；　I　know　his　plans。〃

〃Oh；　do　you？〃　Dunn　said　as　though　satisfied。　　〃Oh；　well　then；　it's
no　wonder　you're　so　sure。〃

〃No　wonder　at　all；〃　agreed　Deede　Dawson。　　〃There's　just　one　other
thing　I　can　tell　you。　　Some　one　else　will　be　there；　too；　at　Brook
Bourne　Spring　in　Ottam's　Wood。〃

〃Who's　that？〃　asked　Dunn　sharply。

〃The　man；〃　said　Deede　Dawson；　〃who　is　behind　all　this　…　the　man　you
and　I　are　working　for　…　the　man　who's　going　to　pay　us；　even　better
than　he　thinks。〃

〃He　…　he　will　be　there？〃　repeated　Dunn；　drawing　a　deep；　breath。

〃Yes；　but　you　won't　see　him；　and　it　wouldn't　help　you　if　you　did；〃
Deede　Dawson　told　him。　　〃Most　likely　he'll　be　disguised　…　a　mask；
perhaps；　I　don't　know。　　Anyhow；　he'll　be　there。　　Watching。　　I'm
not　suggesting　you　would　do　such　a　thing　as　never　go　near　the　place；
loaf　around　a　bit；　then　come　back　and　report　Rupert　Dunsmore　out　of
the　way　for　good；　draw　your　pay　and　vanish；　and　leave　us　to　find　out
he　was　as　lively　and　troublesome　as　ever。　　I　don't　think　you　would
do　that；　because　you　sounded　as　if　you　meant　what　you　said　when　you
told　me　he　was　your　worst　enemy。　　But　it's　just　as　well　to　be　sure；
and　so　we　mean　to　have　a　witness；　and　as　it's　what　you　might　call
a　delicate　matter；　that　witness　will　most　likely　be　our　employer
himself。　　So　you　had　better　do　the　job　thoroughly　if　you　want　your
pay。〃

〃I　see　you　take　your　precautions；〃　remarked　Dunn。　　〃Well；　that's
all　right；　I　don't　mind。〃

〃You　understand　exactly　what　you've　got　to　do？〃　Deede　Dawson　asked。

Dunn　nodded。

〃What　about　Allen？〃　he　asked。　　〃Does　he　take　any　part　in　this　show？〃

〃He　and　I　are　planning　a　little　visit　to　Wreste　Abbey　rather　early
the　same　night；　during　the　dinner…hour　most　likely；〃　answered　Deede
Dawson　carelessly。　　〃We　can　get　in　at　one　of　the　long　gallery　windows
quite　easily；　Allen　says。　　He　kept　his　eyes　open　that　day　you　all
went　there。　　It　may　be　helpful　to　give　the　police　two　problems　to
work　on　at　once；　and　besides；　big　as　this　thing　is；　there's　a
shortage　of　ready　money　at　present。　　But　our　little　affair　at　Wreste
Abbey　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　you。　　You　mind　what　you've　got
to　do；　and　don't　trouble　about　anything　else。　　See？〃

〃I　see；〃　answered　Dunn　slowly。　　〃And　if　you　can　arrange　for　Rupert
Dunsmore　to　be　there　at　that　time　all　right；　I'll　answer　for　the
rest。〃

〃You　needn't　be　uneasy　about　that；〃　Deede　Dawson　said；　and　laughed。
〃You　see；　I　know　his　plans；〃　he　repeated；　and　laughed　again；　and
still　laughing　that　chill；　mirthless　way　of　his；　he　turned　and
walked　back　towards　the　house。

Dunn　watched　him　go　through　the　darkness；　and　to　himself　he
muttered：　

〃Yes；　but　I　wonder　if　you　do。〃



CHAPTER　XXIII

COUNTER…PLANS


The　hour　was　late　by　now；　but　Dunn　felt　no　inclination　for　sleep；
and　there　was　no　need　for　him　to　return　indoors　as　yet；　since　Deede
Dawson；　who　always　locked　up　the　house　himself；　never　did　so　till
past　midnight。　　Till　the　small　hours；　very　often　he　was　accustomed
to　sit　up　absorbed　in　those　chess　problems；　the　composing　and
solving　of　which　were　his　great　passion；　so　that；　indeed；　it　is
probable　that　under　other　circumstances　he　might　have　passed　a
perfectly　harmless　and　peaceful　existence；　known　to　wide　circles　as
an　extraordinarily　clever　problemist　and　utterly　unknown　elsewhere。

But　the　Fate　that　is；　after　all；　but　man's　own　character　writ　large；
had　decreed　otherwise。　　And　the　little；　fat；　smiling　man　bending
over　his　travelling　chess　board　on　which　he　moved　delicately　to　and
fro　the　tiny　red　and　white　men　of　carved　ivory；　now　and　again
removing　a　piece　and　laying　it　aside；　had　done　as　much　with　as
little　concern　to　his　fellow　creatures　from　the　very　beginning　of
his　terrible　career。

Outside；　leaning　on　the　gate　where　Deede　Dawson　had　left　him；　Dunn
was　deep　in　thought　that　was　not　always　very　comforting；　for　there
was　very　much　in　all　this　laid　out　for　him　to　accomplish　that　he
did　not　understand　and　that　disturbed　him　a　good　deal。

A　careful；　cautious　〃Hist！〃　broke　in　upon　his　thoughts；　and　in　an
instant　he　stiffened　to　close　attention；　every　nerve　on　the　alert。

The　sound　was　repeated；　a　faint　and　wary　footstep　sounded；　and　in
the　darkness　a　form　appeared　and　stole　slowly　nearer。

Dunn　poised　for　a　moment；　ready　for　attack　or　retreat；　and　then　all
at　once　his　tense　attitude　relaxed。

〃You；　Walter；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃That's　good！　　But　how　did　you　get
here？　　And　how　did　you　know　where　I　was？〃

The　new…comer　drew　a　little　nearer　and　showed　the　tall；　thin　form
of　Walter　Dunsmore　to　whom　Dunn　had　spoken　at　Wreste　Abbey。

〃I　had　to　come；〃　he　murmured。　　〃I　couldn't　rest　without　seeing　you。
You　upset　me　the　other　day；　saying　what　you　did。　　Isn't　it　very
dangerous　your　being　here？　　Suppose　Deede　Dawson　…　〃

〃Oh；　if　he　suspected；　there　would　soon　be　an　end　of　me；〃　answered
Dunn　grimly。　　〃But　I　think　I'm　going　to　win　…　at　least；　I　did　till
tonight。〃

〃What's　happened？〃　the　other　asked　sharply　and　anxiously。

〃He　has　been　telling　me　his　plans；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃He　has　told　me
everything　…　he　has　put　himself　entirely　in　my　power　…　he　has　done
what　I　have　been　waiting　and　hoping　for　ever　since　I　came　here。
He　has　given　me　his　full　confidence　at　last；　and　I　never　felt　more
uneasy　or　less　certain　of　success　than　I　do　at　this　moment。〃

〃He　has　told　you　…　everything？〃　Walter　Dunsmore　asked。　〃Everything；
except　who　is　behind　it　all；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃I　asked　him　who　he
was　acting　for；　and　he　refused　to　say。　　But　we　shall　know　that
tomorrow；　for　he　told　me　something　almost　as　good　…　he　told　me　where
this　employer　would　be　at　four　o'clock　tomorrow　afternoon。　　So　then
we　shall　have　him；　unless　Deede　Dawson　was　lying。〃

〃Of　course；　it　all　depends　on　finding　that　out；〃　remarked　Walter
thoughtfully。　　〃Finding　out　his　identity。〃

〃Yes；　that's　the　key　move　to　the　problem；〃　Dunn　said。　　〃And　tomorrow
we　shall　know　it；　if　Deede　Dawson　was　speaking　the　truth　just　now。〃

〃I　should　think　he　was；〃　said　Walter　slowly。　　〃I　should　think　it　is
certain　he　was。　　You　may　depend　on　that；　I　think。〃

〃I　think　so；　too；〃　agreed　Dunn。　　〃But　how　did　you　find　out　where　I
was？〃

〃You　know　that　day　you　came　to　Wreste　Abbey？　　There　was　some　fellow
you　had　with　you　who　told　the　landlord　of　the　Chobham　Arms；　so　I
easily　found　out　from　him；〃　answered　Walter。

〃Anyhow；　I'm　glad　you're　here；〃　Dunn　said。　　〃I　was　wondering　how　to
get　in　touch　with　you。　　Well；　this　is　Deede　Dawson's　plan　in　brief。
Tomorrow；　at　four　in　the　afternoon；　Rupert　Dunsmore　is　to　be　killed
　…　and　I've　undertaken　to　do　the　deed。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　exclaimed　Walter；　starting。

〃I've　promised　that　if　Deede　Dawson　will　bring　me　face　to　face　with
Rupert　Dunsmore；　I'll　murder　him；〃　answered　Dunn；　laughing　softly。

〃A　fairly　safe　offer　on　your　part；　isn't　it？〃　observed　Walter。　　〃At
least；　unless　there's　any　saving　clause　about　mirrors。〃

〃Oh；　none；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃I　told　Deede　Dawson　Rupert　Dunsmore
was　my　worst　enemy；　and　that's　true　enough；　for　I　think　every　man's
worst　enemy　is　himself。〃

〃I　wish　I　had　none　worse；〃　muttered　Walter。

〃I　think　you　haven't；　old　chap；〃　Dunn　said　smilingly。　　〃But　come
across　the　road。　　It'll　be　safer　on　the　common。　　Deede　Dawson　is
so　cunning　one　is　never　safe　from　him。　　One　can　never　be　sure
he　isn't　creeping　up　behind。〃

〃Well；　I　daresay　it's　wise　to　take　every　precaution；〃　observed
Walter。　　〃But　I　can't　imagine　either　him　or　any　one　else　getting
near　you　without　your　knowledge。〃

Robert　Dunn；　…　or　rather；　Rupert　Dunsmore；　as　was　his　name　by
right　of　birth　…　laughed　again　to　himself；　very　softly　in　the
darkness。

〃Perhaps　not；〃　he　said。　　〃But　I　take　no　chances　I　can　avoid　with
Deede　Dawson。　　Come　along。〃

They　crossed　the　road　together　and　sat　down　on　the　common　at　an
open　spot；　where　none　could　well　approach　them　unheard　or　unseen。
Dunn　laid　his　hand　affectionately　on　Walter's　shoulder　as　they
settled　themselves。

〃Old　chap；〃　he　said。　　〃It　was　good　of　you　to　come　here。　　You've　run
some　risk。　　It's　none　too　safe　near