the filigree ball-第10部分

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the　traditions　which　have　marked　this　house　out　as　solitary；　and　by
a　scene　of　joyous　festivity　make　the　past　forgotten　and　restore
again　to　usefulness　the　decayed　grandeurs　of　an　earlier　time。　　As
Miss　Moore　is　one　of　Washington's　most　charming　women；　and　as　this
romantic　effort　naturally　lent　an　extraordinary　interest　to　the
ceremony　of　her　marriage；　a　　large　number　of　our　representative
people　assembled　to　witness　it；　and　by　high　noon　the　scene　was　one
of　unusual　brilliancy。

〃Halls　which　had　moldered　away　in　an　unbroken　silence　for　years
echoed　again　with　laughter　and　palpitated　to　the　choicest　strains
of　the　Marine　Band。　　All　doors　were　open　save　those　of　the　library
　…　an　exception　which　added　a　pleasing　excitement　to　the　occasion　…
and　when　by　chance　some　of　the　more　youthful　guests　were　caught
peering　behind　the　two　Corinthian　pillars　guarding　these　forbidden
precincts　the　memories　thus　evoked　were　momentary　and　the　shadow
soon　passed。

〃The　wedding　had　been　set　for　high　noon；　and　as　the　clock　in　the
drawing…room　struck　the　hour　every　head　was　craned　to　catch　the
first　glimpse　of　the　bride　coming　down　the　old…fashioned　staircase。
But　five　minutes；　ten　minutes；　a　half…hour；　passed　without　this
expectation　being　gratified。　　The　crowd　above　and　below　was　growing
restless；　when　suddenly　a　cry　was　heard　from　beyond　the　gilded
pillars　framing　the　library　door；　and　a　young　lady　was　seen　rushing
from　the　forbidden　quarter；　trembling　with　dismay　and　white　with
horror。　　It　was　Miss　Abbott　of　Stratford　Circle；　who　in　the　interim
of　waiting　had　allowed　her　curiosity　to　master　her　dread；　and　by　one
peep　into　the　room；　which　seemed　to　exercise　over　her　the
fascination　of　a　Bluebeard's　chamber；　discovered　the　outstretched
form　of　a　man　lying　senseless　and　apparently　dead　on　the　edge　of　the
hearthstone。　　The　terror　which　instantly　spread　amongst　the　guests
shows　the　hold　which　superstition　has　upon　all　classes　of　humanity。
Happily；　however；　an　unseemly　panic　was　averted；　by　the　necessity
which　all　felt　of　preserving　some　sort　of　composure　till　the　ceremony
for　which　they　had　assembled　had　been　performed。　　For　simultaneously
with　this　discovery　of　death　in　the　library　there　had　come　from　above
the　sound　of　the　approaching　bridal　procession；　and　cries　were　hushed；
and　beating　hearts　restrained；　as　Miss　Moore's　charming　face　and
exquisite　figure　appeared　between　the　rows　of　flowering　plants　with
which　the　staircase　was　lined。　　No　need　for　the　murmur　to　go　about；
'Spare　the　bride！　　Let　nothing　but　cheer　surround　her　till　she　is
Jeffrey's　wife！'　　The　look　of　joy　which　irradiated　her　countenance；
and　gave　a　fairy…like　aspect　to　her　whole　exquisite　person　would
have　deterred　the　most　careless　and　self…centered　person　there　from
casting　a　shadow　across　her　pathway　one　minute　sooner　than　necessity
demanded。　　The　richness　of　the　ancestral　veil　which　covered　her
features　and　the　natural　timidity　which　prevents　a　bride　from　lifting
her　eyes　from　the　floor　she　traverses　saved　her　from　observing　the
strange　looks　by　which　her　presence　was　hailed。　　She　was　consequently
enabled　to　go　through　the　ceremony　in　happy　unconsciousness　of　the
forced　restraint　which　held　that　surging　mass　together。

〃But　the　bridesmaids　were　not　so　happy。　　Miss　Tuttle　especially　held
herself　upright　simply　by　the　exercise　of　her　will；　and　though
resplendent　in　‘beauty；　suffered　so　much　in　her　anxiety　for　the
bride　that　it　was　a　matter　of　small　surprise　when　she　fainted　at　the
conclusion　of　the　ceremony。

〃Mr。　Jeffrey　showed　more　composure；　but　the　inward　excitement　under
which　he　was　laboring　made　him　trip　more　than　once　in　his　responses；
as　many　there　noted　whose　minds　were　not　fixed　too　strongly　on　flight。

〃Only　Doctor　Auchincloss　was　quite　himself；　and　by　means　of　the
solemnity　with　which　he　invested　his　words　kept　the　hubbub　down；
which　was　already　making　itself　heard　on　the　outskirts　of　the　crowd。
But　even　his　influence　did　not　prevail　beyond　the　moment　devoted　to
the　benediction。　　Once　the　sacred　words　were　said；　such　a　stampede
followed　that　the　bride　showed　much　alarm；　and　it　was　left　for　Mr。
Jeffrey　to　explain　to　her　the　cause　of　this　astonishing　conduct　on
the　part　of　her　guests。　　She　bore　the　disclosure　well；　all　things
considered；　and　once　she　was　fully　assured　that　the　unhappy　man
whose　sudden　death　had　thus　interrupted　the　festivities　was　an
intruder　upon　the　scene；　and　quite　unknown；　not　only　to　herself　but
to　her　newly…made　husband；　she　brightened　perceptibly；　though；　like
every　one　around　her；　she　seemed　anxious　to　leave　the　house；　and；
indeed；　did　so　as　soon　as　Miss　Tuttle's　condition　warranted　it。

〃The　fact　that　the　bride　went　through　the　ceremony　without　her　bridal
bouquet　is　looked　upon　by　many　as　an　unfavorable　omen。　　In　her
anxiety　not　to　impose　any　longer　upon　the　patience　of　her　guests；　she
had　descended　without　it。

〃As　to　the　deceased；　but　little　is　known　of　him。　　Letters　found　on
his　person　prove　his　name　to　be　W。　Pfeiffer；　and　his　residence　Denver。
His　presence　in　Miss　Moores　house　at　a　time　so　inopportune　is
unexplained。　　No　such　name　is　on　the　list　of　wedding　guests；　nor　was
he　recognized　as　one　of　Miss　Moore's　friends　either　by　Mr。　Jeffrey
or　by　such　of　her　relatives　and　acquaintances　as　had　the　courage　to
enter　the　library　to　see　him。

〃With　the　exception　of　the　discolored　mark　on　his　temple；　showing
where　his　head　had　come　in　contact　with　the　hearthstone；　his　body
presents　an　appearance　of　natural　robustness；　which　makes　his　sudden
end　seem　all　the　more　shocking。

〃His　name　has　been　found　registered　at　the　National　Hotel。〃

Turning　over　the　files；　I　next　came　upon　the　following　despatch　from
Denver：

〃The　sudden　death　in　Washington　of　Wallace　Pfeiffer；　one　of　our　best
known　and　most　respected　citizens；　is　deeply　deplored　by　all　who
knew　him　and　his　unfortunate　mother。　　He　is　the　last　of　her　three
sons；　all　of　whom　have　died　within　the　year。　　The　demise　of　Wallace
leaves　her　entirely　unprovided　for。　　It　was　not　known　here　that　Mr。
Pfeiffer　intended　to　visit　Washington。　　He　was　supposed　to　go　in
quite　the　opposite　direction；　having　said　to　more　than　one　that　he
had　business　in　San　Francisco。　　His　intrusion　into　the　house　of
Miss　Moore　during　the　celebration　of　a　marriage　in　which　he　could
have　taken　no　personal　interest　is　explained　in　the　following
manner　by　such　as　knew　his　mental　peculiarities：　　Though　a　merchant
by　trade　and　latterly　a　miner　in　the　Klondike；　he　had　great
interest　in　the　occult　and　was　a　strong　believer　in　all　kinds　of
supernatural　manifestations。　　He　may　have　heard　of　the　unhappy
reputation　attaching　to　the　Moore　house　in　Washington　and；
fascinated　by　the　mystery　involved；　embraced　the　opportunity
afforded　by　open　doors　and　the　general　confusion　incident　to　so
large　a　gathering　to　enter　the　interesting　old　place　and　investigate
for　himself　the　fatal　library。　　The　fact　of　his　having　been　found
secluded　in　this　very　room；　at　a　moment　when　every　other　person　in
the　house　was　pushing　forward　to　see　the　bride；　lends　color　to　this
supposition；　and　his　sudden　death　under　circumstances　tending　to
rouse　the　imagination　shows　the　extreme　sensitiveness　of　his　nature。

〃He　will　be　buried　here。〃

The　next　paragraph　was　short。　　Fresher　events　were　already　crowding
this　three…days…old　wonder　to　the　wall。

〃Verdict　in　the　case　of　Wallace　Pfeiffer；　found　lying　dead　on　the
hearthstone　of　the　old　Moore　house　library。

〃Concussion　of　the　brain；　preceded　by　mental　shock　or　heart　failure。

〃The　body　went　on　to　Denver　to=day。〃

And　below；　separated　by　the　narrowest　of　spaces：

〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Francis　Jeffrey　have　decided　to　give　up　their　wedding
tour　and　spend　their　honeymoon　in　Washington。　　They　will　occupy　the
Ransome　house　on　K　Street。〃

The　last　paragraph　brought　me　back　to　the　question　then　troubling
my　mind。　　Was　it　in　the　household　of　this　newly　married　pair　and　in
the　possible　secret　passions　underlying　their　union　that　one　should
look　for　the　cause　of　the　murderous　crime　I　secretly　imagined　to　be
hidden　behind　this　seeming　suicide？　　Or　were　these　parties　innocent
and　old　David　Moore　the　one　motive　power　in　precipitating　a　tragedy；
the　result　of　which　had　been　to　enrich　him　and　impoverish　them？
Certainly；　a　most　serious　and　important　question；　and　one　which　any
man　might　be　pardoned　for　attempting　to　answer；　especially　if　that
man　was　a　young　detective　lamenting　his　obscurity　and　dreaming　of　a
recognition　which　would　yield　him　fame　and　the　wherewithal　to　marry
a　certain　clever　but　mischievous　little　minx　of　whom　you　are
destined　to　hear　more。

But　how　was　that　same　young　detective；　hampered　as　he　was；　and　held
in　thrall　by　a　fear　of　ridicule　and　a　total　lack　of　record；　to　get
the　chance　to　push　an　inquiry　requiring　opportunities　which　could
only　come　by　special　favor？　　This　was　what　I　continually　asked
myself；　and　always　without　result。

True；　I　might　approach　the　captain　or　the　major　with　my　story　of
the　tell…tale　marks　I　had　discovered　in　the　dust　covering　the
southwest　chamber　mantel…shelf；　and；　if　fortunate　enough　to　find
that　these　had　been　passed　over　by　the　other　detectives；　seek　to
gain　a　hearing　thereby　and　secure　for　myself　the　privileges　I　so
earnestly　desired。　　But　my　egotism　was　such　that　I　wished　to　be
sure　of　the　hand　which　had　made　these　marks　before　I　parted　with
a　secret　which；　once　told；　would　make　or　mar　me。　　Yet　to　obtain
the　slight　concession　of　an　interview　with　any　of　the　principals
connected　with　this　crime　would　be　difficult　without　the　aid　of
one　or　both　of　my　superiors。　　Even　to　enter　the　house　again　where
but　a　few　hours　before　I　had　made　myself　so　thoroughly　at　home
would　require　a　certain　amount　of　pluck；　for　Durbin　had　been
installed　there；　and　Durbin　was　a　watch…dog　whose　bite　as　well　as
his　bark　I　regarded　with　considerable　respect。　　Yet　into　that
house　I　must　sooner　or　later　go；　if　only　to　determine　whether　or
not　I　had　been　alone　in　my　recognition　of　certain　clues　pointing
plainly　toward　murder。　　Should　I　trust　my　lucky　star　and　remain
for　the　nonce　quiescent？　　This　seemed　a　wise　suggestion　and　I
decided　to　adopt　it；　comforting　myself　with