initials only-第19部分

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　abode　suited　to　my　purse　and　my　passion　for　first…rate　reading。　　As　I　grew　better　off；　my　time　became　daily　more　valuable。　　I　have　never　seen　the　hour　when　I　felt　like　moving　that　precious　collection。　　Besides；　I　am　a　man　of　the　people。　I　like　the　working　class；　and　am　willing　to　be　thought　one　of　them。　I　can　find　time　to　talk　to　a　hard…pushed　mechanic　as　easily　as　to　such　members　of　the　moneyed　class　as　I　encounter　on　stray　evenings　at　the　Hotel　Clermont　I　have　led　…　I　may　say　that　I　am　leading　…　a　double　life；　but　of　neither　am　I　ashamed；　nor　have　I　cause　to　be。　Love　drove　me　to　ape　the　gentleman　in　the　halls　of　the　Clermont；　a　broad　human　interest　in　the　work　of　the　world；　to　live　as　a　fellow　among　the　mechanics　of　Hicks　Street。〃

〃But　why　make　use　of　one　name　as　a　gentleman　of　leisure　and　quite　a　different　one　as　the　honest　workman？〃

〃Ah；　there　you　touch　upon　my　real　secret。　　I　have　a　reason　for　keeping　my　identity　quiet　till　my　invention　is　completed。〃

〃A　reason　connected　with　your　anarchistic　tendencies？〃

〃Possibly。〃　　But　the　word　was　uttered　in　a　way　to　carry　little　conviction。　　〃I　am　not　much　of　an　anarchist；〃　he　now　took　the　trouble　to　declare；　with　a　careless　lift　of　his　shoulders。　　〃　I　like　fair　play；　but　I　shall　never　give　you　much　trouble　by　my　manner　of　insuring　it。　　I　have　too　much　at　stake。　　My　invention　is　dearer　to　me　than　the　overthrow　of　present　institutions。　　Nothing　must　stand　in　the　way　of　its　success；　not　even　the　satisfaction　of　inspiring　terror　in　minds　shut　to　every　other　species　of　argument。　　I　have　uttered　my　last　speech；　you　can　rely　on　me　for　that。

〃We　are　glad　to　hear　it；　Mr。　Dunn。　　Physical　overthrow　carries　more　than　the　immediate　sufferer　with　it。〃

If　this　were　meant　as　an　irritant；　it　did　not　act　successfully。　　The　social　agitator；　the　political　demagogue；　the　orator　whose　honeyed　tones　had　rung　with　biting　invective　in　the　ears　of　the　United　Brotherhood　of　the　Awl；　the　Plane　and　the　Trowel；　simply　bowed　and　calmly　waited　for　the　next　attack。

Perhaps　it　was　of　a　nature　to　surprise　even　him。

〃We　have　no　wish；〃　continued　the　Inspector；　〃to　probe　too　closely　into　concerns　seemingly　quite　removed　from　the　main　issue。　　You　say　that　you　are　ready；　nay　more；　are　even　eager　to　answer　all　questions。　You　will　probably　be　anxious　then　to　explain　away　a　discrepancy　between　your　word　and　your　conduct；　which　has　come　to　our　attention。　You　were　known　to　have　expressed　the　intention　of　spending　the　afternoon　of　Mrs。　Spotts'　death　in　New　York　and　were　supposed　to　have　done　so；　yet　you　were　certainly　seen　in　the　crowd　which　invaded　that　rear　building　at　the　first　alarm。　　Are　you　conscious　of　possessing　a　double；　or　did　you　fail　to　cross　the　river　as　you　expected　to？〃

〃I　am　glad　this　has　come　up。〃　　The　tone　was　one　of　self…congratulation　which　would　have　shaken　Sweetwater　sorely　had　he　been　admitted　to　this　unofficial　examination。　　〃I　have　never　confided　to　any　one　the　story　of　my　doings　on　that　unhappy　afternoon；　because　I　knew　of　no　one　who　would　take　any　interest　in　them。　　But　this　is　what　occurred。　　I　did　mean　to　go　to　New　York　and　I　even　started　on　my　walk　to　the　Bridge　at　the　hour　mentioned。　　But　I　got　into　a　small　crowd　on　the　corner　of　Fulton　Street；　in　which　a　poor　devil　who　had　robbed　a　vendor's　cart　of　a　few　oranges；　was　being　hustled　about。　　There　was　no　policeman　within　sight；　and　so　I　busied　myself　there　for　a　minute　paying　for　the　oranges　and　dragging　the　poor　wretch　away　into　an　alley；　where　I　could　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　him　eat　them。　　When　I　came　out　of　the　alley　the　small　crowd　had　vanished；　but　a　big　one　was　collecting　up　the　street　very　near　my　home。　　I　always　think　of　my　books　when　I　see　anything　suggesting　fire；　and　naturally　I　returned；　and　equally　naturally；　when　I　heard　what　had　happened；　followed　the　crowd　into　the　court　and　so　up　to　the　poor　woman's　doorway。　　But　my　curiosity　satisfied；　I　returned　at　once　to　the　street　and　went　to　New　York　as　I　had　planned。〃

〃Do　you　mind　telling　us　where　you　went　in　New　York？〃

〃Not　at　all。　　I　went　shopping。　　I　wanted　a　certain　very　fine　wire；　for　an　experiment　I　had　on　hand；　and　I　found　it　in　a　little　shop　in　Fourth　Avenue。　　If　I　remember　rightly；　the　name　over　the　door　was　Grippus。　　Its　oddity　struck　me。〃

There　was　nothing　left　to　the　Inspector　but　to　dismiss　him。　　He　had　answered　all　questions　willingly；　and　with　a　countenance　inexpressive　of　guile。　　He　even　indulged　in　a　parting　shot　on　his　own　account；　as　full　of　frank　acceptance　of　the　situation　as　it　was　fearless　in　its　attack。　　As　he　halted　in　the　doorway　before　turning　his　back　upon　the　room；　he　smiled　for　the　third　time　as　he　quietly　said：

〃I　have　ceased　visiting　my　friend's　apartment　in　upper　New　York。　If　you　ever　want　me　again；　you　will　find　me　amongst　my　books。　　If　my　invention　halts　and　other　interests　stale；　you　have　furnished　me　this　day　with　a　problem　which　cannot　fail　to　give　continual　occupation　to　my　energies。　　If　I　succeed　in　solving　it　first；　I　shall　be　happy　to　share　my　knowledge　with　you。　　Till　then；　trust　the　laws　of　nature。　　No　man　when　once　on　the　outside　of　a　door　can　button　it　on　the　inside；　nor　could　any　one　without　the　gift　of　complete　invisibility；　make　a　leap　of　over　fifteen　feet　from　the　sill　of　a　fourth　story　window　on　to　an　adjacent　fire　escape；　without　attracting　the　attention　of　some　of　the　many　children　playing　down　below。〃

He　was　half…way　out　the　door；　but　his　name　quickly　spoken　by　the　Inspector　drew　him　back。

〃Anything　mote？〃　he　asked。

The　Inspector　smiled。

〃You　are　a　man　of　considerable　analytic　power；　as　I　take　it；　Mr。　Brotherson。　　You　must　have　decided　long　ago　how　this　woman　died。〃

〃Is　that　a　question；　Inspector？〃

〃You　may　take　it　as　such。〃

〃Then　I　will　allow　myself　to　say　that　there　is　but　one　common…sense　view　to　take　of　the　matter。　　Miss　Challoner's　death　was　due　to　suicide；　so　was　that　of　the　washerwoman。　　But　there　I　stop。　　As　for　the　means　…　the　motive　…　such　mysteries　may　be　within　your　province　but　they　are　totally　outside　mine！　　God　help　us　all！　　The　world　is　full　of　misery。　　Again　I　wish　you　good…day。〃

The　air　seemed　to　have　lost　its　vitality　and　the　sun　its　sparkle　when　he　was　gone。

〃Now；　what　do　you　think；　Gryce？〃

The　old　man　rose　and　came　out　of　his　corner。

〃This：　that　I'm　up　against　the　hardest　proposition　of　my　lifetime。　Nothing　in　the　man's　appearance　or　manner　evinces　guilt；　yet　I　believe　him　guilty。　　I　must。　　Not　to；　is　to　strain　probability　to　the　point　of　breakage。　　But　how　to　reach　him　is　a　problem　and　one　of　no　ordinary　nature。　　Years　ago；　when　I　was　but　little　older　than　Sweetwater；　I　had　just　such　a　conviction　concerning　a　certain　man　against　whom　I　had　even　less　to　work　on　than　we　have　here。　　A　murder　had　been　committed　by　an　envenomed　spring　contained　in　a　toy　puzzle。　I　worked　upon　the　conscience　of　the　suspect　in　that　case；　by　bringing　constantly　before　his　eyes　a　facsimile　of　that　spring。　　It　met　him　in　the　folded　napkin　which　he　opened　at　his　restaurant　dinner。　　He　stumbled　upon　it　in　the　street；　and　found　it　lying　amongst　his　papers　at　home。　　I　gave　him　no　relief　and　finally　he　succumbed。　　He　had　been　almost　driven　mad　by　remorse。　　But　this　man　has　no　conscience。　　If　he　is　not　innocent　as　the　day；　he's　as　hard　as　unquarried　marble。　　He　might　be　confronted　with　reminders　of　his　crime　at　every　turn　without　weakening　or　showing　by　loss　of　appetite　or　interrupted　sleep　any　effect　upon　his　nerves。　　That's　my　opinion　of　the　gentleman。　　He　is　either　that；　or　a　man　of　uncommon　force　and　self…restraint。〃

〃I'm　inclined　to　believe　him　the　latter。〃

〃And　so　give　the　whole　matter　the　go…by？〃

〃Possibly。〃

〃It　will　be　a　terrible　disappointment　to　Sweetwater。〃

〃That's　nothing。〃

〃And　to　me。〃　

〃That's　different。　　I'm　disposed　to　consider　you；　Gryce　…　after　all　these　years。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　have　done　the　state　some　service。〃

〃What　do　you　want？　　You　say　the　mine　is　unworkable。〃

〃Yes；　in　a　day；　or　in　a　week；　possibly　in　a　month。　　But　persistence　and　a　protean　adaptability　to　meet　his　moods　might　accomplish　something。　　I　don't　say　will；　I　only　say　might。　　If　Sweetwater　had　the　job；　with　unlimited　time　in　which　to　carry　out　any　plan　he　may　have；　or　even　for　a　change　of　plans　to　suit　a　changed　idea；　success　might　be　his；　and　both　time；　effort　and　outlay　justified。〃

〃The　outlay？　　I　am　thinking　of　the　outlay。〃

〃Mr。　Challoner　will　see　to　that。　　I　have　his　word　that　no　reasonable　amount　will　daunt　him。〃

〃But　this　Brotherson　is　suspicious。　　He　has　an　inventor's　secret　to　hide；　if　none　other。　　We　can't　saddle　him　with　a　guy　of　Sweetwater's　appearance　and　abnormal　loquaciousness。〃

〃Not　readily；　I　own。　　But　time　will　bring　counsel。　　Are　you　willing　to　help　the　boy；　to　help　me　and　possibly　yourself　by　this　venture　in　the　dark？　　The　Department　shan't　lose　money　by　it；　that's　all　I　can　promise。〃

〃But　it's　a　big　one。　　Gryce；　you　shall　have　your　way。　　You'll　be　the　only　loser　if　you　fail；　and　you　will　fail；　take　my　word　for　it。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　speak　as　confidently　to　the　contrary；　but　I　can't。　I　can　give　you　my　hand　though；　Inspector；　and　Sweetwater's　thanks。　I　can　meet　the　boy　now。　　An　hour　ago　I　didn't　know　how　I　was　to　do　it。〃



XV

THAT'S　THE　QUESTION


〃How　many　times　has　he　seen　you？〃

〃Twice。〃

〃So　that　he　knows　your　face　and　figure？〃

〃I'm　afraid　so。　　He　cannot　help　remembering　the　man　who　faced　him　in　his　own　room。〃

〃That's　unfortunate。〃

〃Damned　unfortunate；　but　one　must　expect　some　sort　of　a　handicap　in　a　game　like　this。　　Before　I'm　done　with　him；　he'll　look　me　full　in　the　face　and　wonder　if　he's　ever　seen　me　before。　　I　wasn't　always　a　detective。　　I　was　a　carpenter　once；　as　you　know；　and　I'll　take　to　the　tools　again。　　As　soon　as　I'm　handy　with　them　I'll　hunt　up　lodgings　in　Hicks　Street。　　He　may　suspect　me　at　first；　but　be　won't　long；　I'll　be　such　a　confounded　good　workman。　　I　only　wish　I　hadn't　such　pronounced　features。　　They've　stood　awfully　in　my　way；　Mr。　Gryce。　I　don't　like　to　talk　about　my　appearance；　but　I'm　so　confounded　plain　that　people　remember　me。　　Why　couldn't　I　have　had　one　of　those　putty　faces　which　don't　mean　anything？　　It　would　have　been　a　deuced　sight　more　convenient。〃

〃You've　done　very　well　as　it　is。〃

〃B