the filigree ball-第15部分

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and　she　was　smiling　in　a　way　which　made　me　say　to　myself：

〃It　is　fortunate　that　Durbin　is　not　here。〃

For　Jinny's　one　weakness　is　her　lack　of　power　to　hide　the
satisfaction　she　takes　in　any　detective　work　that　comes　her　way。
I　had　told　her　of　this　and　had　more　than　once　tried　to　impress
upon　her　that　her　smile　was　a　complete　give…away；　but　I　noticed
that　if　she　kept　it　from　her　lips；　it　forced　its　way　out　of　her
eyes；　and　if　she　kept　it　out　of　her　eyes；　it　beamed　like　an　inner
radiance　from　her　whole　face。　　So　I　gave　up　the　task　of　making　her
perfect　and　let　her　go　on　smiling；　glad　that　she　had　such　frequent
cause　for　it。

This　morning　her　smile　had　a　touch　of　pride　in　it　as　well　as　of
delight；　and　noting　this；　I　remarked：

〃You　have　made　Loretta　talk。〃

Her　head　went　up　and　a　demure　dimple　appeared　in　her　cheek。

〃What　did　she　say？〃　I　urged。　　〃What　has　she　been　keeping　back？〃

〃You　will　have　to　ask　the　coroner。　　My　orders　were　strict　to　bring
the　results　of　my　interview　immediately　to　him。〃

〃Does　that　include　Durbin？〃

〃Does　it　include　you？〃

〃I　am　afraid　not。〃

〃You　are　right；　but　why　shouldn't　it　include　you？〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Jinny　？〃

〃Why　do　you　keep　your　own　counsel　so　long？　　You　have　ideas　about
this　crime；　I　know。　　Why　not　mention　them？〃

〃Jinny！〃

〃A　word　to　the　wise　is　sufficient；〃　she　laughed　and　turned　her
pretty　face　toward　the　coroner's　once。　　But　she　was　a　woman　and
could　not　help　glancing　back；　and；　meeting　my　dubious　look；　she
broke　into　an　arch　smile　and　naively　added　this　remark：　〃Loretta
is　a　busybody　ashamed　of　her　own　curiosity。　　So　much　there　can　be
no　harm　in　telling　you。　　When　one's　knowledge　has　been　gained　by
lingering　behind　doors　and　peeping　through　cracks；　one　is　not　so
ready　to　say　what　one　has　seen　and　heard。　　Loretta　is　in　that　box；
and　being　more　than　a　little　scared　of　the　police；　was　glad　to　let
her　anxiety　and　her　fears　overflow　into　a　sympathizing　ear。　　Won't
she　be　surprised　when　she　is　called　up　some　fine　day　by　the　coroner！
I　wonder　if　she　will　blame　me　for　it？〃

〃She　will　never　think　of　doing　so；〃　I　basely　assured　my　little
friend；　with　an　appreciative　glance　at　her　sparkling　eye　and　dimpled
cheek。

The　arch　little　creature　started　to　move　off　again。　　As　she　did　so；
she　cried：　〃Be　good；　and　don't　let　Durbin　cut　in　on　you；〃　but　stopped
for　the　second　time　when　half　across　the　street；　and　when；　obedient
to　her　look；　I　hastily　rejoined　her；　she　whispered　demurely：　〃Oh；　I
forgot　to　tell　you　something　that　I　heard　this　morning；　and　which
nobody　but　yourself　has　any　right　to　know。　　I　was　following　your
commands　and　buying　groceries　at　Simpkins'；　when　just　as　I　was　coming
out　with　my　arms　full；　I　heard　old　Mr。　Simpkins　mention　Mr。　Jeffrey's
name　and　with　such　interest　that　I　naturally　wanted　to　hear　what　he
had　to　say。　　Having　no　real　excuse　for　staying；　I　poked　my　finger
into　a　bag　of　sugar　I　was　carrying；　till　the　sugar　ran　out　and　I　had
to　wait　till　it　was　put　up　again。　　This　did　not　take　long；　but　it
took　long　enough　for　me　to　hear　the　old　grocer　say　that　he　knew　Mr。
Jeffrey；　and　that　that　gentleman　had　come　into　his　shop　only　a　day
or　two　before　his　wife's　death；　to　buy　…　candles！〃

The　archness　with　which　this　was　said；　together　with　the　fact　itself；
made　me　her　slave　forever。　　As　her　small　figure　faded　from　sight
down　the　avenue；　I　decided　to　take　her　advice　and　follow　up　whatever
communication　she　had　to　make　to　the　coroner　by　a　confession　of　my
own　suspicions　and　what　they　had　led　me　into。　　If　he　laughed　…　well；
I　could　stand　it。　　It　was　not　the　coroner's　laugh；　nor　even　the
major's；　that　I　feared；　it　was　Durbin's。

X

FRANCIS　JEFFREY

Jinny　had　not　been　gone　an　hour　from　the　coroner's　office　when　an
opportunity　was　afforded　for　me　to　approach　that　gentleman　myself。

With　few　apologies　and　no　preamble；　I　immediately　entered　upon　my
story　which　I　made　as　concise　and　as　much　to　the　point　as　possible。
I　did　not　expect　praise　from　him；　but　I　did　look　for　some　slight
show　of　astonishment　at　the　nature　of　my　news。　　I　was　therefore
greatly　disappointed；　when；　after　a　moment's　quiet　consideration；
he　carelessly　remarked：

〃Very　good！　　very　good！　　The　one　point　you　make　is　excellent　and
may　prove　of　use　to　us。　　We　had　reached　the　same　conclusion；　but
by　another　road。　　You　ask；　'Who　blew　out　the　candle？'　　We；　'Who
tied　the　pistol　to　Mrs。　Jeffrey's　arm？'　　It　could　not　have　been
tied　by　herself。　　Who　was　her　accessory　then？　　Ah；　you　didn't　think
of　that。〃

I　flushed　as　if　a　pail　of　hot　water　had　been　dashed　suddenly　over
me。　　He　was　right。　　The　conclusion　he　spoke　of　had　failed　to　strike
me。　　Why？　　It　was　a　perfectly　obvious　one；　as　obvious　as　that　the
candle　had　been　blown　out　by　another　breath　than　hers；　yet；
absorbed　in　my　own　train　of　thought；　I　had　completely　overlooked
it。　　The　coroner　observing　my　embarrassment；　smiled；　and　my
humiliation　was　complete　or　would　have　been　had　Durbin　been　there；
but　fortunately　he　was　not。

〃I　am　a　fool；〃　I　cried。　　〃I　thought　I　had　discovered　something。　　I
might　have　known　that　there　were　keener　minds　than　mine　in　this
office　…〃

〃Easy！　　easy！〃　was　the　good…natured　interruption。　　〃You　have　done
well。　　If　I　did　not　think　so；　I　would　not　keep　you　here　a　minute。
As　it　is；　I　am　disposed　to　let　you　see　that　in　a　case　like　this；
one　man　must　not　expect　to　monopolize　all　the　honors。　　This　matter
of　the　bow　of　ribbon　would　strike　any　old　and　experienced　official。
I　only　wonder　that　we　have　not　seen　it　openly　discussed　in　the
papers。〃

Taking　a　box　from　his　desk；　he　opened　it　and　held　it　out　toward　me。
A　coil　of　white　ribbon　surmounted　by　a　crisp　and　dainty　bow　met　my
eyes。

〃You　recognize　it？〃　he　asked。

Indeed　I　did。

〃It　was　cut　from　her　wrist　by　my　deputy。　　Miss　Tuttle　wished　him　to
untie　it；　but　he　preferred　to　leave　the　bow　intact。　　Now　lift　it　out。
Careful；　man；　don't　soil　it；　you　will　see　why　in　a　minute。〃

As　I　held　the　ribbon　up；　he　pointed　to　some　spots　on　its　fresh　white
surface。　　〃Do　you　see　those？〃　he　asked。　　〃Those　are　dust…marks；　and
they　were　made　as　truly　by　some　one's　fingers；　as　the　impressions
you　noted　on　the　mantel…shelf　in　the　upper　chamber。　　This　pistol　was
tied　to　her　wrist　after　the　deed；　possibly　by　that　same　hand。〃

It　was　my　own　conclusion　but　it　did　not　sound　as　welcome　to　me　from
his　lips　as　I　had　expected。　　Either　my　nature　is　narrow；　or　my
inordinate　jealousy　lays　me　open　to　the　most　astonishing
inconsistencies；　for　no　sooner　had　he　spoken　these　words　than　I
experienced　a　sudden　revulsion　against　my　own　theory　and　the
suspicions　which　it　threw　upon　the　man　whom　an　hour　before　I　was
eager　to　proclaim　a　criminal。

But　Coroner　Z。　gave　me　no　chance　for　making　such　a　fool　of　myself。
Rescuing　the　ribbon　from　my　hands；　which　no　doubt　were　running　a
little　too　freely　over　its　snowy　surface；　he　smiled　with　the
indulgence　proper　from　such　a　man　to　a　novice　like　myself；　and
observed　quite　frankly：

〃You　will　consider　these　observations　as　confidential。　　You　know
how　to　hold　your　tongue；　that　you　have　proved。　　Hold　it　then　a
little　longer。　　The　case　is　not　yet　ripe。　　Mr。　Jeffrey　is　a　man
of　high　standing；　with　a　hitherto　unblemished　reputation。　　It　won't
do；　my　boy；　to　throw　the　doubt　of　so　hideous　a　crime　upon　so　fine
a　gentleman　without　ample　reason。　　That　no　such　mistake　may　be　made
and　that　he　may　have　every　opportunity　for　clearing　himself；　I　am
going　to　have　a　confidential　talk　with　him。　　Do　you　want　to　be
present？〃

I　flushed　again；　but　this　time　from　extreme　satisfaction。

〃I　am　obliged　for　your　confidence；〃　said　I；　then；　with　a　burst　of
courage　born　of　his　good　nature；　I　inquired　with　due　respect　if　my
little　friend　had　answered　his　expectations。　　〃Was　she　as　clever　as
I　said？〃　I　asked。

〃Your　little　friend　is　a　trump；〃　was　his　blunt　reply。　　〃With　what
we　have　learned　through　her　and　now　through　you；　we　can　approach　Mr。
Jeffrey　to　some　purpose。　　It　appears　that；　before　leaving　the　house
on　that　Tuesday　morning；　he　had　an　interview　with　his　wife　which
ought　in　some　way　to　account　for　this　tragedy。　　Perhaps　he　will　tell
us　about　it；　and　perhaps　he　will　explain　how　he　came　to　wander
through　the　Moore　house　while　his　wife　lay　dying　below。　　At　all
events　we　will　give　him　the　opportunity　to　do　so　and；　if　possible；
to　clear　up　mysteries　which　provoke　the　worst　kind　of　conjecture。
It　is　time。　　The　ideas　advanced　by　the　papers　foster　superstition；
and　superstition　is　the　devil。　　Go　and　tell　my　man　out　there　that
I　am　going　to　K　Street。　　You　may　say　'we'　if　you　like；〃　he　added
with　a　humor　more　welcome　to　me　than　any　serious　concession。

Did　I　feel　set　up　by　this？　　Rather。

Mr。　Jeffrey　was　expecting　us。　　This　was　evident　from　his　first　look；
though　the　attempt　he　made　at　surprise　was　instantaneous　and　very
well　feigned。　　Indeed；　I　think　he　was　in　a　constant　state　of
apprehension　during　these　days　and　that　no　inroad　of　the　police
would　have　astonished　him。　　But　expectation　does　not　preclude　dread；
indeed　it　tends　to　foster　it；　and　dread　was　in　his　heart。　　This　he
had　no　power　to　conceal。

〃To　what　am　I　indebted　for　this　second　visit　from　you？〃　he　asked　of
Coroner　Z。；　with　an　admirable　presence　of　mind。　　〃Are　you　not　yet
satisfied　with　what　we　have　been　able　to　tell　you　of　my　poor　wife's
unhappy　end？〃

〃We　are　not；〃　was　the　plain　response。　　〃There　are　some　things　you
have　not　attempted　to　explain；　Mr。　Jeffrey。　　For　instance；　why　you
went　to　the　Moore　house　previous　to　your　being　called　there　by　the
death　of　your　wife。〃

It　was　a　shot　that　told；　an　arrow　which　found　its　mark。　　Mr。
Jeffrey　flushed；　then　turned　pale；　rallied　and　again　lost　himself
in　a　maze　of　conflicting　emotions　from　which　he　only　emerged　to　say：

〃How　do　you　know　that　I　was　there？　　Have　I　said　so；　or　do　those　old
walls　babble　in　their　sleep？〃

〃Old　walls　have　been　known　to　do　this；〃　was　the　grave　reply。
〃Whether　they　had　anything　to　say　in　this　case　is　at　present　quite
immaterial。　　That　you　were　where　I　charge　you　with　being　is　evident
from　your　own　manner。　　May　I　then　ask　if　you　have　anything　to　say
about　this　visit。　　When　a　person　has　died　under　such　peculiar
circumstances　a