the filigree ball-第2部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


that　I　was　ready　to　vow　that　the　shadows　were　denser　here　than
elsewhere　and　that　the　few　gas　lamps；　which　flickered　at　intervals
down　the　street；　shone　with　a　more　feeble　ray　than　in　any　other　equal
length　of　street　in　Washington。

Meanwhile；　the　shadow　of　Uncle　David　had　vanished　from　the　pavement。
He　had　paused　beside　a　fence　which；　hung　with　vines；　surrounded　and
nearly　hid　from　sight　the　little　cottage　he　had　mentioned　as　the
only　house　on　the　block　with　the　exception　of　the　great　Moore　place；
in　other　words；　his　own　home。

As　I　came　abreast　of　him　I　heard　him　muttering；　not　to　his　dog　as
was　his　custom；　but　to　himself。　　In　fact；　the　dog　was　not　to　be　seen；
and　this　desertion　on　the　part　of　his　constant　companion　seemed　to
add　to　his　disturbance　and　affect　him　beyond　all　reason。　　I　could
distinguish　these　words　amongst　the　many　he　directed　toward　the
unseen　animal：

〃You're　a　knowing　one；　too　knowing！　　You　see　that　loosened　shutter
over　the　way　as　plainly　as　I　do；　but　you're　a　coward　to　slink　away
from　it。　　I　don't。　　I　face　the　thing；　and　what's　more；　I'll　show
you　yet　what　I　think　of　a　dog　that　can't　stand　his　ground　and　help
his　old　master　out　with　some　show　of　courage。　　Creaks；　does　it？
Well；　let　it　creak！　　I　don't　mind　its　creaking；　glad　as　I　should　be
to　know　whose　hand　…　Halloo！　　You've　come；　have　you？〃　　This　to　me。
I　had　just　stepped　up　to　him。

〃Yes；　I've　come。　　Now　what　is　the　matter　with　the　Moore　house？〃

He　must　have　expected　the　question；　yet　his　answer　was　a　long　time
coming。　　His　voice；　too；　sounded　strained；　and　was　pitched　quite
too　high　to　be　natural。　　But　he　evidently　did　not　expect　me　to　show
surprise　at　his　manner。

〃Look　at　that　window　over　there！〃　he　cried　at　last。　　〃That　one　with
the　slightly　open　shutter！　　Watch　and　you　will　see　that　shutter　move。
There！　　it　creaked；　didn't　you　hear　it？〃

A　growl　…　it　was　more　like　a　moan　…　came　from　the　porch　behind　us。
Instantly　the　old　gentleman　turned　and　with　a　gesture　as　fierce　as
it　was　instinctive；　shouted　out：

〃Be　still　there！　　If　you　haven't　the　courage　to　face　a　blowing
shutter；　keep　your　jaws　shut　and　don't　let　every　fellow　who　happens
along　know　what　a　fool　you　are。　　I　declare；〃　he　maundered　on；　half
to　himself　and　half　to　me；　〃that　dog　is　getting　old。　　He　can't　be
trusted　any　more。　　He　forsakes　his　master　just　when　…〃　　The　rest　was
lost　in　his　throat　which　rattled　with　something　more　than　impatient
anger。

Meanwhile　I　had　been　attentively　scrutinizing　the　house　thus
pointedly　brought　to　my　notice。

I　had　seen　it　many　times　before；　but；　as　it　happened；　had　never
stopped　to　look　at　it　when　the　huge　trees　surrounding　it　were
shrouded　in　darkness。　　The　black　hollow　of　its　disused　portal　looked
out　from　shadows　which　acquired　some　of　their　somberness　from　the
tragic　memories　connected　with　its　empty　void。

Its　aspect　was　scarcely　reassuring。　　Not　that　superstition　lent　its
terrors　to　the　lonely　scene；　but　that　through　the　blank　panes　of　the
window；　alternately　appearing　and　disappearing　from　view　as　the
shutter　pointed　out　by　Uncle　David　blew　to　and　fro　in　the　wind；　I
saw；　or　was　persuaded　that　I　saw；　a　beam　of　light　which　argued　an
unknown　presence　within　walls　which　had　so　lately　been　declared
unfit　for　any　man's　habitation。

〃You　are　right；〃　I　now　remarked　to　the　uneasy　figure　at　my　side。
〃Some　one　is　prowling　through　the　house　yonder。　　Can　it　possibly　be
Mrs。　Jeffrey　or　her　husband？〃

〃At　night　and　with　no　gas　in　the　house？　　Hardly。〃

The　words　were　natural；　but　the　voice　was　not。　　Neither　was　his
manner　quite　suited　to　the　occasion。　　Giving　him　another　sly　glance；
and　marking　how　uneasily　he　edged　away　from　me　in　the　darkness；　I
cried　out　more　cheerily　than　he　possibly　expected：

〃I　will　summon　another　officer　and　we　three　will　just　slip　across
and　investigate。〃

〃Not　I！〃　was　his　violent　rejoinder；　as　he　swung　open　a　gate　concealed
in　the　vines　behind　him。　　〃The　Jeffreys　would　resent　my　intrusion　if
they　ever　happened　to　hear　of　it。〃

〃Indeed！〃　I　laughed；　sounding　my　whistle；　then；　soberly　enough；　for
I　was　more　than　a　little　struck　by　the　oddity　of　his　behavior　and
thought　him　as　well　worth　investigation　as　the　house　in　which　he
showed　such　an　interest：　　〃You　shouldn't　let　that　count。　　Come　and
see　what's　up　in　the　house　you　are　so　ready　to　call　yours。〃

But　he　only　drew　farther　into　the　shade。

〃I　have　no　business　over　there；〃　he　objected。　　〃Veronica　and　I　have
never　been　on　good　terms。　　I　was　not　even　invited　to　her　wedding
though　I　live　within　a　stone's　throw　of　the　door。　　No；　I　have　done
my　duty　in　calling　attention　to　that　light；　and　whether　it's　the
bull's…eye　of　a　burglar　…　perhaps　you　don't　know　that　there　are
rare　treasures　on　the　book　shelves　of　the　great　library　…　or　whether
it　is　the　fantastic　illumination　which　frightens　fool…folks　and　some
fool…dogs；　I'm　done　with　it　and　done　with　you；　too；　for　to…night。〃

As　he　said　this；　he　mounted　to　his　door　and　disappeared　under　the
vines；　hanging　like　a　shroud　over　the　front　of　the　house。　　In　another
moment　the　rich　peal　of　an　organ　sounded　from　within；　followed　by
the　prolonged　howling　of　Rudge；　who；　either　from　a　too　keen
appreciation　of　his　master's　music　or　in　utter　disapproval　of　it；
…　no　one；　I　believe；　has　ever　been　able　to　make　out　which；　…　was
accustomed　to　add　this　undesirable　accompaniment　to　every　strain
from　the　old　man's　hand。　　The　playing　did　not　cease　because　of　these
outrageous　discords。　　On　the　contrary；　it　increased　in　force　and
volume；　causing　Rudge's　expression　of　pain　or　pleasure　to　increase
also。　　The　result　can　be　imagined。　　As　I　listened　to　the　intolerable
howls　of　the　dog　cutting　clean　through　the　exquisite　harmonies　of
his　master；　I　wondered　if　the　shadows　cast　by　the　frowning　structure
of　the　great　Moore　house　were　alone　to　blame　for　Uncle　David's　lack
of　neighbors。

Meantime；　Hibbard；　who　was　the　first　to　hear　my　signal；　came　running
down　the　block。　　As　he　joined　me；　the　light；　or　what　we　chose　to
call　a　light；　appeared　again　in　the　window　toward　which　my　attention
had　been　directed。

〃Some　one's　in　the　Moore　house！〃　I　declared；　in　as　matter　of…fact
tones　as　I　could　command。

Hibbard　is　a　big　fellow；　the　biggest　fellow　on　the　force；　and　so　far
as　my　own　experience　with　him　had　gone；　as　stolid　and　imperturbable
as　the　best　of　us。　　But　after　a　quick　glance　at　the　towering　walls
of　the　lonely　building；　he　showed　decided　embarrassment　and　seemed
in　no　haste　to　cross　the　street。

With　difficulty　I　concealed　my　disgust。

〃Come；〃　I　cried；　stepping　down　from　the　curb；　〃let's　go　over　and
investigate。　　The　property　is　valuable；　the　furnishings　handsome；
and　there　is　no　end　of　costly　books　on　the　library　shelves。　　You
have　matches　and　a　revolver？〃

He　nodded；　quietly　showing　me　first　the　one；　then　the　other；　then
with　a　sheepish　air　which　he　endeavored　to　carry　of　with　a　laugh；　he
cried：

〃Have　you　use　for　'em？　　If　so；　I'm　quite　willing；　to　part　with　'em
for　a　half…hour。〃

I　was　more　than　amazed　at　this　evidence　of　weakness　in　one　I　had
always　considered　as　tough　and　impenetrable　as　flint　rock。　　Thrusting
back　the　hand　with　which　he　had　half　drawn　into　view　the　weapon　I
had　mentioned；　I　put　on　my　sternest　sir　and　led　the　way　across　the
street。　　As　I　did　so；　tossed　back　the　words：

〃We　may　come　upon　a　gang。　　You　do　not　wish　me　to　face　some　half…dozen
men　alone？〃

〃You　won't　find　any　half…dozen　men　there；〃　was　his　muttered　reply。
Nevertheless　he　followed　me；　though　with　less　spirit　than　I　liked；
considering　that　my　own　manner　was　in　a　measure　assumed　and　that　I
was　not　without　sympathy　…　well；　let　me；　say；　for　a　dog　who
preferred　howling　a　dismal　accompaniment　to　his　master's　music；　to
keeping　open　watch　over　a　neighborhood　dominated　by　the　unhallowed
structure　I　now　propose　to　enter。

The　house　is　too　well　known　for　me　to　attempt　a　minute　description
of　it。　　The　illustrations　which　have　appeared　in　all　the　papers　have
already　acquainted　the　general　public　with　its　simple　facade　and　rows
upon　rows　of　shuttered　windows。　　Even　the　great　square　porch　with
its　bench　for　negro　attendants　has　been　photographed　for　the　million。
Those　who　have　seen　the　picture　in　which　the　wedding…guests　are
shown　flying　from　its　yawning　doorway；　will　not　be　especially
interested　in　the　quiet；　almost　solemn　aspect　it　presented　as　I
passed　up　the　low　steps　and　laid　my　hand　upon　the　knob　of　the
old…fashioned　front　door。

Not　that　I　expected　to　win　an　entrance　thereby；　but　because　it　is
my　nature　to　approach　everything　in　a　common…sense　way。　　Conceive
then　my　astonishment　when　at　the　first　touch　the　door　yielded。　　It
was　not　even　latched。

〃So！　　so！〃　thought　I。　　〃This　is　no　fool's　job；　some　one　is　in　the
house。〃

I　had　provided　myself　with　an　ordinary　pocket…lantern；　and；　when　I
had　convinced　Hibbard　that　I　fully　meant　to　enter　the　house　and
discover　for　myself　who　had　taken　advantage　of　the　popular　prejudice
against　it　to　make　a　secret　refuge　or　rendezvous　of　its　decayed　old
rooms；　I　took　out　this　lantern　and　held　it　in　readiness。

〃We　may　strike　a　hornets'　nest；〃　I　explained　to　Hibbard；　whose　feet
seemed　very　heavy　even　for　a　man　of　his　size。　　〃But　I'm　going　in　and
so　are　you。　　Only；　let　me　suggest　that　we　first　take　off　our　shoes。
We　can　hide　them　in　these　bushes。〃

〃I　always　catch　cold　when　I　walk　barefooted；〃　mumbled　my　brave
companion；　but　receiving　no　reply　he　drew　off　his　shoes　and　dropped
them　beside　mine　in　the　cluster　of　stark　bushes　which　figure　so
prominently　in　the　illustrations　that　I　have　just　mentioned。　　Then
he　took　out　his　revolver；　and　cocking　it；　stood　waiting；　while　I
gave　a　cautious　push　to　the　door。

Darkness！　　silence！

Rather　had　I　confronted　a　light　and　heard　some　noise；　even　if　it
had　been　the　ominous　click　to　which　eve　are　so　well　accustomed。
Hibbard　seemed　to　share　my　feelings；　though　from　an　entirely
different　cause。

〃Pistols　and　lanterns　are　no　good　here；〃　he　grumbled。　　〃What　we　want
at　this　blessed　minute　is　a　priest　with　a　sprinkling　of　holy　water；
and　I　for　one　…〃

He　was　actually　sliding　off。

With　a　smothered　oath　I　drew　him　back。

〃See　here！〃　I　cried；　〃you're　not　a　babe　in