the filigree ball-第12部分

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public　manner　a　preference　for　her　sister。　　A　woman　has　great
aptness　in　concealing　a　mortal　hurt；　and；　from　what　I　had　seen　of
this　one；　I　thought　it　highly　improbable　that　all　was　quiet　in　her
passionate　breast　because　she　had　turned　an　impassive　front　to　the
world。

I　was　becoming　confused　in　the　maze　of　my　own　imaginings。　　To　escape
the　results　of　this　confusion；　I　determined　to　drop　theory　and
confine　myself　to　facts。

And　thus　passed　the　first　few　days　succeeding　the　tragic　discovery
in　the　Moore　house。




VII

SLY　WORK


The　next　morning　my　duty　led　me　directly　in　the　way　of　that　little
friend　of　mine　whom　I　have　already　mentioned。　　It　is　strange　how
often　my　duty　did　lead　me　in　her　way。

She　is　a　demure　little　creature；　with　wits　as　bright　1s　her　eyes；
which　is　saying　a　great　deal；　and　while；　in　the　course　of　our　long
friendship；　I　had　admired　without　making　use　of　the　special　abilities
I　saw　in　her；　I　felt　that　the　time　had　now　come　when　they　might
prove　of　inestimable　value　to　me。

Greeting　her　with　pardonable　abruptness；　I　expressed　my　wishes　in
these　possibly　alarming　words：

〃Jinny；　you　can　do　something　for　me。　　Find　out　…　I　know　you　can；
and　that；　too；　without　arousing　suspicion　or　compromising　either　of
us　…　where　Mr。　Moore；　of　Waverley　Avenue；　buys　his　groceries；　and
when　you　have　done　that；　whether　or　not　he　has　lately　resupplied
himself　with　candles。〃

The　surprise　which　she　showed　had　a　touch　of　naivete　in　it　which
was　very　encouraging。

〃Mr。　Moore？〃　she　cried；　〃the　uncle　of　her　who　…　who　…〃

〃The　very　same；〃　I　responded；　and　waited　for　her　questions　without
adding　a　single　word　in　way　of　explanation。

She　gave　me　a　look　…　oh；　what　a　look！　It　was　as　encouraging　to　the
detective　as　it　was　welcome　to　the　lover；　after　which　she　nodded；
once　in　doubt；　once　in　question　and　once　in　frank　and　laughing
consent；　and　darted　off。

I　thanked　Providence　for　such　a　self…contained　little　aide…decamp
and　proceeded　on　my　way；　in　a　state　of　great　self…satisfaction。

An　hour　later　I　came　upon　her　again。　　It　is　really　extraordinary
how　frequently　the　paths　of　some　people　cross。

〃Well？〃　I　asked。

〃Mr。　Moore　deals　with　Simpkins；　just　two　blocks　away　from　his　house；
and　only　a　week　ago　he　bought　some　candles　there。〃

I　rewarded　her　with　a　smile　which　summoned　into　view　the　most
exasperating　of　dimples。

〃You　had　better　patronize　Simpkins　yourself　for　a　little　while；〃　I
suggested；　and　by　the　arch　glance　with　which　my　words　were　received；
I　perceived　that　my　meaning　was　fully　understood。

Experiencing　from　this　moment　an　increased　confidence；　not　only　in
the　powers　of　my　little　friend；　but　in　the　line　of　investigation
thus　happily　established；　I　cast　about　for　means　of　settling　the
one　great　question　which　was　a　necessary　preliminary　to　all　future
action：　　Whether　the　marks　detected　by　me　in　the　dust　of　the　mantel
in　the　southwest　chamber　had　been　made　by　the　hand　of　him　who　had
lately　felt　the　need　of　candles；　albeit　his　house　appeared　to　be
fully　lighted　by　gas？

The　subterfuge　by　which；　notwithstanding　my　many　disadvantages；　I
was　finally　enabled　to　obtain　unmistakable　answer　to　this　query　was
the　fruit　of　much　hard　thought。　　Perhaps　I　was　too　proud　of　it。
Perhaps　I　should　have　mistrusted　myself　more　from　the　start。　　But
I　was　a　great　egotist　in　those　days；　and　reckoned　quite　above　their
inherent　worth　any　bright　ideas　which　I　could　safely　call　my　own。

The　point　aimed　at　was　this：　to　obtain　without　Moore's　knowledge　an
accurate　impression　of　his　finger…tips。

The　task　presented　difficulties；　but　these　served　duly　to　increase
my　ardor。

Confiding　to　the　lieutenant　of　the　precinct　my　great　interest　in
the　mysterious　house　with　whose　suggestive　interior　I　had　made
myself　acquainted　under　such　tragic　circumstances；　I　asked　　him　as
a　personal　favor　to　obtain　for　me　an　opportunity　of　spending　another
night　there。

He　was　evidently　surprised　by　the　request；　not　cherishing；　as　I
suppose；　any　great　longings　himself　in　this　direction；　but
recognizing　that　for　some　reason　I　set　great　store　on　this
questionable　privilege；　…　I　do　not　think　that　he　suspected　in　the
least　what　that　reason　was；　…　and　being；　as　I　have　intimated；
favorably　disposed　to　me；　he　exerted　himself　to　such　good　effect
that　I　was　formally　detailed　to　assist　in　keeping　watch　over　the
premises　that　very　night。

I　think　that　it　was　at　this　point　I　began　to　reckon　on　the　success
which；　after　many　failures　and　some　mischances；　was　yet　to　reward
my　efforts。

As　I　prepared　to　enter　the　old　house　at　nightfall；　I　allowed　myself
one　short　glance　across　the　way　to　see　if　my　approach　had　been
observed　by　the　man　whose　secret；　if　secret　he　had；　I　was　laying
plans　to　surprise。　　I　was　met　by　a　sight　I　had　not　expected。　　Pausing
on　the　pavement　in　front　of　me　stood　a　handsome　elderly　gentleman
whose　appearance　was　so　fashionable　and　thoroughly　up　to　date；　that
I　should　have　failed　to　recognize　him　if　my　glance　had　not　taken　in
at　the　same　instant　the　figure　of　Rudge　crouching　obstinately　on　the
edge　of　the　curb　where　he　had　evidently　posted　himself　in　distinct
refusal　to　come　any　farther。　　In　vain　his　master；　…　for　the
well…dressed　man　before　me　was　no　less　a　personage　than　the　whilom
butt　of　all　the　boys　between　the　Capitol　and　the　Treasury　building；
　…　signaled　and　commanded　him　to　cross　to　his　side；　nothing　could
induce　the　mastiff　to　budge　from　that　quarter　of　the　street　where
he　felt　himself　safe。

Mr。　Moore；　glorying　in　the　prospect　of　unlimited　wealth；　presented
a　startling　contrast　in　more　ways　than　one　to　the　poverty…stricken
old　man　whose　curious　garb　and　lonely　habits　had　made　him　an　object
of　ridicule　to　half　the　town。　　I　own　that　I　was　half　amused　and
half　awed　by　the　condescending　bow　with　which　he　greeted　my　offhand
nod　and　the　affable　way　in　which　he　remarked：

〃You　are　making　use　of　your　prerogatives　as　a　member　of　the　police；
I　see。〃

The　words　came　as　easily　from　his　lips　as　if　his　practice　in
affability　had　been　of　the　very　longest。

〃I　wonder　how　the　old　place　enjoys　its　present　distinction；〃　he
went　on；　running　his　eye　over　the　dilapidated　walls　under　which　we
stood；　with　very　evident　pride　in　their　vast　proportions　and　the　air
of　gloomy　grandeur　which　signalized　them。　　〃If　it　partakes　in　the
slightest　degree　of　the　feelings　of　its　owner；　I　can　vouch　for　its
impatience　at　the　free　use　which　is　made　of　its　time…worn　rooms　and
halls。　　Are　these　intrusions　necessary？　　Now　that　Mrs。　Jeffrey's
body　has　been　removed；　do　you　feel　that　the　scene　of　her　demise　need
hold　the　attention　of　the　police　any　longer？〃

〃That　is　a　question　to　put　to　the　superintendent　and　not　to　me；〃　was
my　deprecatory　reply。　　〃The　major　has　issued　no　orders　for　the　watch
to　be　taken　off；　so　we　men　have　no　choice。　　I　am　sorry　if　it　offends
you。　　Doubtless　a　few　days　will　end　the　matter　and　the　keys　will　be
given　into　your　hand。　　I　suppose　you　are　anxious　to　move　in？〃

He　cast　a　glance　behind　him　at　his　dog；　gave　a　whistle　which　passed
unheeded；　and　replied　with　dignity；　if　but　little　heart：

〃When　a　man　has　passed　his　seventh　decade　he　is　not　apt　to　be　so
patient　with　delay　as　when　he　has　a　prospect　of　many　years　before
him。　　I　am　anxious　to　enter　my　own　house；　yes；　I　have　much　to　do
there。〃

I　came　very　near　asking　him　what；　but　feared　to　seem　too　familiar；
in　case　he　was　the　cold　but　upright　man　he　would　fain　appear；　and
too　interested　and　inquiring　if　he　were　the　whited　sepulcher　I
secretly　considered　him。　　So　with　a　nod　a　trifle　more　pronounced
than　if　I　had　been　unaffected　by　either　hypothesis；　I　remounted　the
steps；　carelessly　remarking：

〃I'll　see　you　again　after　taking　a　turn　through　the　house。　　If　I
discover　anything　…　ghost　marks　or　human　marks　which　might　be　of
interest　to　you　…　I'll　let　you　know。〃

Something　like　a　growl　answered　me。　　But　whether　it　came　from　master
or　dog；　I　did　not　stop　to　inquire。　　I　had　serious　work　before　me；
very　serious；　considering　that　it　was　to　be　done　on　my　own
responsibility　and　without　the　knowledge　of　my　superiors。　　But　I
was　sustained　by　the　thought　that　no　whisper　of　murder　had　as　yet
been　heard　abroad　or　at　headquarters；　and　that　consequently　I　was
interfering　in　no　great　case；　merely　trying　to　formulate　one。

It　was　necessary；　for　the　success　of　my　plan；　that　some　time　should
elapse　before　I　reapproached　Mr。　Moore。　　I　therefore　kept　my　word　to
him　and　satisfied　my　own　curiosity　by　taking　a　fresh　tour　through　the
house。　　Naturally；　in　doing　this；　I　visited　the　library。　　Here　all
was　dark。　　The　faint　twilight　still　illuminating　the　streets　failed
to　penetrate　here。　　I　was　obliged　to　light　my　lantern。

My　first　glance　was　toward　the　fireplace。　　Venturesome　hands　had
been　there。　　Not　only　had；　the　fender　been　drawn　out　and　the　grate
set　aside；　but　the　huge　settle　had　been　wrenched　free　from　the　mantel
and　dragged　into　the　center　of　the　room。　　Rather　pleased　at　this
change；　for　with　all　my　apparent　bravado　I　did　not　enjoy　too　close　a
proximity　to　the　cruel　hearthstone；　I　stopped　to　give　this　settle　a
thorough　investigation。　　The　result　was　disappointing。　　To　all
appearance　and　I　did　not　spare　it　the　experiment　of　many　a　thump　and
knock　…　it　was　a　perfectly　innocuous　piece　of　furniture；　clumsy　of
build；　but　solid　and　absolutely　devoid　of　anything　that　could　explain
the　tragedies　which　had　occurred　so　near　it。　　I　even　sat　down　on　its
musty　old　cushion　and　shut　my　eyes；　but　was　unrewarded　by　alarming
visions；　or　disturbance　of　any　sort。　　Nor　did　the　floor　where　it　had
stood　yield　any　better　results　to　the　inquiring　eye。　　Nothing　was　to
be　seen　there　but　the　marks　left　by　the　removal　of　its　base　from　the
blackened　boards。

Disgusted　with　myself；　if　not　with　this　object　of　my　present
disappointment；　I　left　that　portion　of　the　room　in　which　it　stood
and　crossed　to　where　I　had　found　the　little　table　on　the　night　of
Mrs。　Jeffrey's　death。　　It　was　no　longer　there。　　It　had　been　set　back
against　the　wall　where　it　properly　belonged；　and　the　candelabrum
removed。　　Nor　was　the　kitchen　chair　any　longer　to　be　seen　near　the
book　shelves。　　This　fact；　small　as　it　was；　caused　me　an　in