the filigree ball-第40部分

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〃Yes。　　To　you　and　to　most　people　surveying　it；　it　is　just　what　you
say　and　nothing　more。　　But　to　the　initiated　few　…　pray　Heaven　they
may　have　been　few　…　it　is　writing；　conveying　secret　instructions。
The　whole　combination　of　curves　which　go　to　make　up　this　sketch　is
a　curious　arrangement　of　words　inscribed　with　the　utmost　care；　in
the　smallest　of　characters。　　Viewed　with　a　magnifying　glass；　the
uncertain　outlines　of　a　shadowy　face　surmounted　by　a　mass　of
piled…up　hair　resolve　themselves　into　lines　of　writing；　the　words
of　which　are　quite　intelligible　and　full　of　grim　and　unmistakable
purpose。　　I　have　read　those　lines；　and　what　is　more；　I　have
transcribed　them　into　plain　copy。　　Will　you　read　them？　　They
contain　a　most　extraordinary　confession；　a　confession　that　was
manifestly　intended　as　a　warning；　but　which　unfortunately　has　had
very　different　results。　　It　may　explain　the　death　of　the　man　from
Denver；　even　if　it　cast　no　light　upon　the　other　inexplicable
features　of　the　remarkable　case　we　are　considering。〃

As　I　spoke　I　laid　open　on　the　table　before　me　the　transcription　of
which　I　spoke。　　Instantly　the　two　men　bent　over　it。　　When　they
looked　up　again；　their　countenances　showed　not　excitement　only　but
appreciation；　and　in　the　one　minute　of　triumph　which　I　then　enjoyed；
all　that　had　wounded　or　disturbed　me　in　the　past　was　forgotten。

〃You　are　a　man　in　a　thousand；〃　was　the　major's　first　enthusiastic
comment；　at　which　I　was　conscious　of　regretting；　with　very　pardonable
inconsistency；　that　Durbin　had　not　returned　in　time　to　hear　these
words。

The　major　now　proposed　that　we　should　go　at　once　to　the　old　house。
〃A　family　secret　like　this　does　not　crop　up　every　day　even　in　a　city
so　full　of　surprises　as　Washington。　　We　will　hunt　for　the　spring
under　the　closet　drawers　and　see　what　happens；　eh？　　And　on　our　way
there〃　…　here　he　turned　to　me　〃I　should　like　to　hear　the　particulars
concerning　the　little　clue　just　mentioned。　　By　the　way；　Mr。　Jeffrey's
interest　in　this　old　drawing　is　now　explained。　　He　knew　its
diabolical　secret。〃

This　was　self…evident；　and　my　heart　was　heavy　for　Miss　Tuttle；　who
seemed　to　be　so　deep　in　her　brother…in…law's　confidence。

It　grew　still　heavier　when　Durbin；　joining　us；　added　his　incredulity
to　the　air　of　suspicion　assumed　by　the　others。　　Through　all　the
explanations　I　now　entered　into；　I　found　myself　inwardly　repeating
with　somewhat　forced　iteration；　〃I　will　not　believe　her　guilty　under
any　circumstances。　　She　carries　the　look　of　innocence；　and　innocent
she　must　be　proved；　whatever　the　result　may　be　to　Francis　Jeffrey。〃

To　such　an　extent　had　I　been　influenced　by　the　lofty　expression
which　I　had　once　surprised　on　her　face。

Had　Mr。　David　Moore　been　sitting　open…eyed　behind　his　vines　that
morning；　he　would　have　been　much　surprised　to　see　so　many　of　his
natural　enemies　intrude　on　his　property　at　so　early　an　hour。　　But；
happily；　he　had　not　yet　risen；　and　we　were　able　to　enter　upon　our
investigations　without　being　watched　or　interrupted　by　him。

Our　first　move　was　to　go　in　a　body　to　the　southwest　chamber；　take
down　the　picture；　examine　it　with　a　magnifying…glass　and　satisfy
ourselves　that　the　words　I　had　picked　out　of　its　mazy　lines　were
really　to　be　found　there。　　This　done　and　my　veracity　established；
we　next　proceeded　to　the　closet　where；　according　to　the
instructions　embodied　in　this　picture；　the　secret　spring　was　to　be
found　by　which　some　unknown　and　devilish　machinery　would　be　released
in　the　library　below。

To　my　great　satisfaction　the　active　part　in　this　experiment　was
delegated　to　me。　　Durbin　continued　to　be　a　mere　looker…on。　　Drawing
out　the　two　large　drawers　from　their　place　at　the　end　of　this　closet；
I　set　them　aside。　　Then　I　hunted　for　and　found　the　small　loophole
which　we　had　been　told　afforded　a　glimpse　of　the　library　hearthstone；
but　seeing　nothing　through　it；　I　called　for　a　light　to　be　placed　in
the　room　below。

I　heard　Durbin　go　down；　then　the　major；　and　finally；　the　district
attorney。　　Nothing　could　stay　their　curiosity　now；　not　even　the
possibility　of　danger；　which　as　yet　was　a　lurking　and　mysterious　one。
But　when　a　light　shot　up　from　below；　and　the　irregular　opening
before　me　became　a　loophole　through　which　I　could　catch　a　very　wide
glimpse　of　the　library　beneath；　I　found　that　it　was　not　necessary
for　me　to　warn　them　to　keep　away　from　the　hearth；　as　they　were　all
clustered　very　near　the　door　…　a　precaution　not　altogether　uncalled
for　at　so　hazardous　a　moment。

〃Are　you　ready？〃　I　called　down。

〃Ready！〃　rose　in　simultaneous　response　from　below。

〃Then　look　out！〃

Reaching　for　the　spring　cleverly　concealed　in　the　wall　at　my　right
I　vigorously　pressed　it。

The　result　was　instantaneous。　　Silently；　but　with　unerring　certainty；
something　small；　round；　and　deadly；　fell　plumb　from　the　library
ceiling　to　where　the　settle　had　formerly　stood　against　the
hearthstone。　　Finding　nothing　there　but　vacancy　to　expend　itself
upon；　it　swung　about　for　a　moment　on　what　looked　like　a　wire　or　a
whip…cord；　then　slowly　came　to　rest　within　a　foot　or　so　from　the
floor。

A　cry　from　the　horrified　officials　below　was　what　first　brought　me
to　myself。　　Withdrawing　from　my　narrow　quarters　I　hastened　down　to
them　and　added　one　more　white　face　to　the　three　I　found　congregated
in　the　doorway。　　In　the　diabolical　ingenuity　we　had　seen　displayed；
crime　had　reached　its　acme　and　the　cup　of　human　depravity　seemed
full。　　When　we　had　regained　in　some　measure　our　self…possession；　we
all　advanced　for　a　closer　look　at　the　murderous　object　dangling
before　us。　　We　found　it　to　be　a　heavy　leaden　weight　painted　on　its
lower　end　to　match　the　bosses　of　stucco…work　which　appeared　at
regular　intervals　in　the　ornamentation　of　the　ceiling。　　When　drawn
up　into　place；　that　is；　when　occupying　the　hole　from　which　it　now
hung　suspended；　the　portion　left　to　protrude　would　evidently　bear
so　small　a　proportion　to　its　real　bulk　as　to　justify　any　eye　in
believing　it　to　be　the　mate；　and　the　harmless　mate；　of　all　the
others。

〃It　hangs　just　where　the　settle　stood；〃　observed　Durbin；
significantly。

〃And　just　at　the　point　where　the　cushions　invite　rest；　as　the
colonel　so　suggestively　puts　it　in　his　strange　puzzle　of　a
confession；〃　added　the　district　attorney。

〃Replace　the　old　seat；〃　ordered　the　major；　〃and　let　us　make　sure　of
this。〃

Ready　hands　at　once　grasped　it；　and；　with　some　effort；　I　own；　drew
it　carefully　back　into　position。

〃You　see！〃　quoth　Durbin。

We　did。

〃Devilish！〃　came　from　the　major's　lips。　　Then　with　a　glance　at　the
ball　which；　pushed　aside　by　the　seat；　now　hung　over　its　edge　a　foot
or　so　from　the　floor；　he　added　briskly：　〃The　ball　has　fallen　to　the
full　length　of　the　cord。　　If　it　were　drawn　up　a　little　…　〃

〃Wait；〃　I　eagerly　interposed。　　〃Let　me　see　what　I　can　do　with　it。〃

And　I　dashed　back　upstairs　and　into　the　closet　of　〃The　Colonel's　Own。〃

With　a　single　peep　down　to　see　if　they　were　still　on　the　watch；　I
seized　the　handle　whose　position　I　had　made　sure　of　when　searching
for　the　spring；　and　began　to　turn；　when　instantly　…　so　quick　was
the　response　…　the　long　cord　stiffened　and　I　saw　the　ball　rise　into
sight　above　the　settle　top。

〃Stop！〃　called　out　the　major。　　〃Let　go　and　press　the　spring　again。〃

I　hastened　to　obey　and；　though　the　back　of　the　settle　hid　the　result
from　me；　I　judged　from　the　look　and　attitude　of　those　below　that
the　old　colonel's　calculations　had　been　made　with　great　exactness；
and　that　the　one　comfortable　seat　on　the　rude　and　cumbersome　bench
had　been　so　placed　that　this　leaden　weight　in　descending　would　at
the　chosen　moment　strike　the　head　of　him　who　sat　there；　inflicting
death。　　That　the　weight　should　be　made　just　heavy　enough　to　produce
a　fatal　concussion　without　damaging　the　skull　was　proof　of　the
extreme　care　with　which　this　subtle　apparatus　had　been　contrived。
An　open　wound　would　have　aroused　questions；　but　a　mere　bruise　might
readily　pass　as　a　result　of　the　victim's　violent　contact　with　the
furnishings　of　the　hearth　toward　which　the　shocked　body　would
naturally　topple。　　The　fact　that　a　modern　jury　had　so　regarded　it
shows　how　justified　he　was　in　this　expectation。

I　was　expending　my　wonder　on　this　and　on　a　new　discovery　which；
with　a　very　decided　shock　to　myself　I　had　just　made　in　the　closet；
when　the　command　came　to　turn　the　handle　again　and　to　keep　on
turning　it　till　it　would　turn　no　farther。

I　complied；　but　with　a　trembling　hand；　and　though　I　did　not　watch
the　result；　the　satisfaction　I　heard　expressed　below　was　significant
of　the　celerity　and　precision　with　which　the　weight　rose；　foot　by
foot；　to　the　ceiling　and　finally　slunk　snugly　and　without　seeming
jar　into　its　lair。

When；　a　few　minutes　later；　I　rejoined　those　below；　I　found　them　all；
with　eyes　directed　toward　the　cornice；　searching　for　the　hole
through　which　I　had　just　been　looking。　　It　was　next　to　imperceptible；
so　naturally　had　it　been　made　to　fit　in　with　the　shadows　of　the
scroll　work；　and　even　after　I　had　discovered　it　and　pointed　it　out
to　them；　I　found　difficulty　in　making　them　believe　that　they　really
looked　upon　an　opening。　　But　when　once　convinced　of　this；　the
district　attorney's　remark　was　significant。

〃I　am　glad　that　my　name　is　not　Moore。〃

The　superintendent　made　no　reply；　his　eye　had　caught　mine；　and　he
had　become　very　thoughtful。

〃One　of　the　two　candelabra　belonging　to　the　parlor　mantel　was　found
lying　on　that　closet　floor；〃　he　observed。　　〃Somebody　has　entered
there　lately；　as　lately　as　the　day　when　Mr。　Pfeiffer　was　seated
here。〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　I　impetuously　cried。　　〃Mr。　Pfeiffer's　death　is　quite
explained。〃　And；　drawing　forward　my　hand；　which　up　to　this　moment
I　had　held　tight…shut　behind　my　back；　I　slowly　unclosed　it　before
their　astonished　eyes。

A　bit　of　lace　lay　in　my　palm；　a　delicate　bit；　such　as　is　only　worn
by　women　in　full　dress。

〃Where　did　you　find　that？〃　asked　the　major；　with　the　first　show　of
deep　emotion　I　have　ever　observed　in　him。

My　agitation　was　greater　than　his　as　I　replied：

〃In　the　rough　boarding　under　those　drawers。　　Some　woman's　arm　and
hand　has　preceded　mine　in　stealthy　search　after　that　fatal　spring。
A　woman　who　wore　lace；　valua