the filigree ball-第41部分

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hand　has　preceded　mine　in　stealthy　search　after　that　fatal　spring。
A　woman　who　wore　lace；　valuable　lace。〃

There　was　but　one　woman　connected　with　this　affair　who　rightly
answered　these　conditions。　　The　bride！　　Veronica　Moore。




XXIII

WORDS　IN　THE　NIGHT


Had　I　any　premonition　of　the　astounding　fact　thus　suddenly　and；　I
may　say；　dramatically　revealed　to　us　during　the　weeks　I　had　devoted
to　the　elucidation　of　the　causes　and　circumstances　of　Mrs。　Jeffrey's
death？　　I　do　not　think　so。　　Nothing　in　her　face；　as　I　remembered　it；
nothing　in　the　feeling　evinced　toward　her　by　husband　or　sister；　had
prepared　me　for　a　disclosure　of　crime　so　revolting　as　to　surpass　all
that　I　had　ever　imagined　or　could　imagine　in　a　woman　of　such　dainty
personality　and　unmistakable　culture。　　Nor　was　the　superintendent
or　the　district　attorney　less　confounded　by　the　event。　　Durbin　only
tried　to　look　wise　and　strut　about；　but　it　was　of　no　use；　he
deceived　nobody。　　Veronica　Moore's　real　connection　with　Mr。　Pfeiffer's
death；　…　a　death　which　in　some　inscrutable　way　had　in　so　short　a　time
led　to　her　own；　…　was　an　overwhelming　surprise　to　every　one　of　us。

The　superintendent；　as　was　natural；　recovered　first。

〃This　throws　quite　a　new　light　upon　the　matter；〃　said　he。　　〃Now　we
can　understand　why　Mr。　Jeffrey　uttered　that　extraordinary　avowal
overheard　on　the　bridge：　'She　must　die！'　　She　had　come　to　him　with
blood　on　her　hands。〃

It　seemed　incredible；　nay　more；　unreal。　　I　recalled　the　sweet
refined　face　turned　up　to　me　from　the　bare　boards　of　this　same　floor；
the　accounts　I　had　read　of　the　vivacity　of　her　spirits　and　the　wild
charm　of　her　manner　till　the　shadow　of　this　old　house　fell　upon　her。
I　marveled；　still　feeling　myself　in　the　dark；　still　clinging　to　my
faith　in　womankind；　still　asking　to　what　depths　her　sister　had
followed　her　in　the　mazes　of　crime　we　were　forced　to　recognize　but
could　not　understand。

Durbin　had　no　such　feelings　and　no　such　scruples；　as　was　shown　by
the　sarcastic　comment　which　now　left　his　lips。

〃So！〃　he　cried；　〃we　have　to　do　with　three　criminals　instead　of　two。
Nice　family；　the　Moore…Jeffreys　！〃

But　no　one　paid　any　attention　to　him。　　Addressing　the　major；　the
district　attorney　asked　when　he　expected　to　hear　from　Denver；　adding
that　it　had　now　become　of　the　first　importance　to　ascertain　the
exact　relations　existing　between　the　persons　under　suspicion　and　the
latest　victim　of　this　deadly　mechanism。

The　major's　answer　was　abrupt。　　He　had　been　expecting　a　report　for
days。　　He　was　expecting　one　yet。　　If　it　came　in　at　any　time；　night
or　day；　he　was　to　be　immediately　notified。　　Word　might　be　sent　him
in　an　hour；　in　a　minute。

Were　his　remarks　a　prophecy？　　He　had　hardly　ceased　speaking　when
an　officer　appeared　with　a　telegram　in　his　hand。　　This　the　major
eagerly　took　and；　noting　that　it　was　in　cipher；　read　it　by　means
of　the　code　he　carried　in　his　pocket。　　Translated；　it　ran　thus：

Result　of　open　inquiry　in　Denver。

Three　brothers　Pfeiffer；　all　well　thought　of；　but　plain　in　their
ways　and　eccentric。　　One　doing　business　in　Denver。　　Died　June；
'97。　　One　perished　in　Klondike；　October；　same　year；　and　one；　by
name　Wallace；　died　suddenly　three　months　since　in　Washington。

Nothing　further　gained　by　secret　inquiry　in　this　place。

Result　of　open　inquiry　in　Owosso。

A　man　named　Pfeiffer　kept　a　store　in　Owosso　during　the　time　V。　M。
attended　school　there。　　He　was　one　of　three　brothers；　home　Denver；
name　Wallace。　　Simultaneously　with　V。　M。's　leaving　school；　P。
broke　up　business　and　at　instigation　of　his　brother　William；　who
accompanied　him；　went　to　the　Klondike。　　No　especial　relation　between
lady　and　this　same　P。　ever　noted。　　V。　M。　once　heard　to　laugh　at　his
awkward　ways。

Result　of　secret　inquiry　in　Owosso。

V。　M。　very　intimate　with　schoolmate　who　has　since　died。　　Often　rode
together；　once　gone　a　long　time。　　This　was　just　before　V。　M。　left
school　for　good。　　Date　same　as　that　on　which　a　marriage　occurred　in
a　town　twenty　miles　distant。　　Bride；　Antoinette　Moore；　groom；　W。
Pfeiffer　of　Denver；　witness；　young　girl　with　red　hair。　　Schoolmate
had　red　hair。　　Had　V。　M。　a　middle　initial；　and　was　that　initial　A？

We　all　looked　at　each　other；　this　last　question　was　one　none　of　us
could　answer。

〃Go　for　Mr。　Jeffrey　at　once；〃　ordered　the　major；　〃and　let　another
one　of　you　bring　Miss　Tuttle。　　No　word　to　either　of　what　has　occurred
and　no　hint　of　their　possible　meeting　here。〃

It　fell　to　me　to　fetch　Miss　Tuttle。　　I　was　glad　of　this；　as　it　gave
me　a　few　minutes　by　myself　in　which　to　compose　my　mind　and　adjust　my
thoughts　to　the　new　conditions　opened　up　by　the　amazing　facts　which
had　just　come　to　light。　　But　beyond　the　fact　that　Mrs。　Jeffrey　had
been　answerable　for　the　death　which　had　occurred　in　the　library　at
the　time　of　her　marriage　…　that；　in　the　words　of　the　district
attorney；　she　had　come　to　her　husband　with　blood　on　her　hands；　my
thoughts　would　not　go；　confusion　followed　the　least　attempt　to
settle　the　vital　question　of　how　far　Miss　Tuttle　and　Mr。　Jeffrey
had　been　involved　in　the　earlier　crime　and　what　the　coming　interview
with　these　two　would　add　to　our　present　knowledge。　　In　my　anxiety　to
have　this　question　answered　I　hastened　my　steps　and　was　soon　at　the
door　of　Miss　Tuttle's　present　dwelling　place。

I　had　not　seen　this　lady　since　the　inquest；　and　my　heart　beat　high
as　I　sat　awaiting　her　appearance　in　the　dim　little　parlor　where　I
had　been　seated　by　the　person　who　held　her　under　secret　surveillance。
The　scene　I　had　just　been　through；　the　uncertain　nature　of　the
relations　held　by　this　beautiful　woman　both　toward　the　crime　just
discovered　and　the　one　long　associated　with　her　name；　lent　to　these
few　moments　of　anticipation　an　emotion　which　poorly　prepared　me　for
the　touching　sight　of　the　patient　smile　with　which　she　presently
entered。

But　I　doubt　if　she　noticed　my　agitation。　　She　was　too　much　swayed
by　her　own。　　Advancing　upon　me　in　all　the　unconscious　pride　of　her
great　beauty；　she　tremulously　remarked：

〃You　have　a　message　for　me。　　Is　it　from　headquarters？　　Or　has　the
district　attorney　still　more　questions　to　ask？〃

〃I　have　a　much　more　trying　errand　than　that；〃　I　hastened　to　say；
with　some　idea　of　preparing　her　for　an　experience　that　could　not
fail　to　be　one　of　exceptional　trial。　　〃For　reasons　which　will　be
explained　to　you　by　those　in　greater　authority　than　myself；　you　are
wanted　at　the　house　where　…　〃　I　could　not　help　stammering
under　the　light　of　her　melancholy　eyes　…　〃　where　I　saw　you　once
before；〃　I　lamely　concluded。

〃The　house　in　Waverley　Avenue？〃　she　objected　wildly；　with　the　first
signs　of　positive　terror　I　had　ever　beheld　in　her。

I　nodded；　dropping　my　eyes。　　What　call　had　I　to　penetrate　the
conscience　of　this　woman？

〃Are　they　there？　　all　there？〃　she　presently　asked　again。　　〃The
police　and　…　and　Mr。　Jeffrey？〃

〃Madam；〃　I　respectfully　protested；　〃my　duty　is　limited　to
conducting　you　to　the　place　named。　　A　carriage　is　waiting。　　May　I
beg　that　you　will　prepare　yourself　to　go　at　once　to　Waverley　Avenue？〃

For　answer　she　subjected　me　to　a　long　and　earnest　look　which　I　found
it　impossible　to　evade。　　Then　she　hastened　from　the　room；　but　with
very　unsteady　steps。　　Evidently　the　courage　which　had　upborne　her　so
long　was　beginning　to　fail。　　Her　very　countenance　was　changed。　　Had
she　recognized；　as　I　meant　she　should；　that　the　secret　of　the　Moore
house　was　no　longer　a　secret　confined　to　her　own　breast　and　to　that
of　her　unhappy　brother…in…law？

When　she　returned　ready　for　her　ride　this　change　in　her　spirits　was
less　observable；　and　by　the　time　we　had　reached　the　house　in　Waverley
Avenue　she　had　so　far　regained　her　old　courage　as　to　move　and　speak
with　the　calmness　of　despair　if　not　of　mental　serenity。

The　major　was　awaiting　us　at　the　door　and　bowed　gravely　before　her
heavily　veiled　figure。

〃Miss　Tuttle；〃　he　asked；　without　any　preamble；　the　moment　she　was
well　inside　the　house；　〃may　I　inquire　of　you　here；　and　before　I
show　you　what　will　excuse　us　for　subjecting　you　to　the　distress　of
entering　these　doors；　whether　your　sister；　Mrs。　Jeffrey；　had　any
other　name　or　was　ever　known　by　any　other　name　than　that　of　Veronica？〃

〃She　was　christened　Antoinette；　as　well　as　Veronica；　but　the　person
in　whose　memory　the　former　name　was　given　her　was　no　honor　to　the
family　and　she　very　soon　dropped　it　and　was　only　known　as　Veronica。
Oh；　what　have　I　done？〃　she　cried；　awed　and　frightened　by　the　silence
which　followed　the　utterance　of　these　simple　words。

No　one　answered　her。　　For　the　first　time　in　her　presence；　the　minds
of　those　who　faced　her　were　with　another　than　herself。　　The　bride！
the　unhappy　bride　…　no　maiden　but　a　wife！　　nay；　a　wife　one　minute；
a　widow　the　next；　and　then　again　a　newly…wedded　bride　before　the
husband　lying　below　was　cold！　　What　wander　that　she　shrank　when　her
new…made　bridegroom's　lips　approached　her　own！　　or　that　their
honeymoon　was　a　disappointment！　　Or　that　the　shadow　which　fell　upon
her　on　that　evil　day　never　left　her　till　she　gave　herself　wholly　up
to　its　influence　and　returned　to　die　on　the　spot　made　awful　by　her
own　crime。

Before　any　of　us　were　quite　ready　to　speak；　a　tap　at　the　door　told
us　that　Durbin　had　arrived　with　Mr。　Jeffrey。　　When　they　had　been
admitted　and　the　latter　saw　Miss　Tuttle　standing　there；　he；　too；
seemed　to　realize　that　a　turn　had　come　in　their　affairs；　and　that
courage　rather　than　endurance　was　the　quality　most　demanded　from
him。　　Facing　the　small　group　clustered　in　the　dismal　hall　fraught
with　such　unutterable　associations；　he　earnestly　prayed：

〃Do　not　keep　me　in　suspense。　　Why　am　I　summoned　here？〃

The　reply　was　as　grave　as　the　occasion　warranted。

〃You　are　summoned　to　learn　the　murderous　secret　of　these　old　walls；
and　who　it　was　that　last　made　use　of　it。　　Do　you　feel　inclined　to
hear　these　details　from　my　lips；　or　are　you　ready　to　state　that　you
already　know　the　means　by　which　so　many　persons；　in　times　past　as
well　as　in　times　present；　have　met　death　here？　　We　do　not　require
you　to　answer　us。〃

〃I　know　the　means；〃　he　allowed；　recognizing　without　doubt　that　the
crisis　of　crises　had　come；　and　that　denial　would　be　worse　than
useless。