initials only-第21部分

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　that　he　wanted　this　shield　removed。　　With　no　curtain　to　the　window　and　no　shade；　and　all　this　brilliance　pouring　into　the　room；　he　feared　the　disclosure　of　his　presence　there；　or；　if　not　that；　some　effect　on　his　own　mind　of　those　memories　he　was　more　anxious　to　see　mirrored　in　another's　discomfiture　than　in　his　own。

Was　it　to　escape　any　lack　of　concentration　which　these　same　memories　might　bring；　that　he　rose　and　stepped　to　the　window？　　Or　was　it　under　one　of　those　involuntary　impulses　which　move　us　in　spite　of　ourselves　to　do　the　very　thing　our　judgment　disapproves？

No　sooner　had　he　approached　the　sill　than　Mr。　Brotherson's　shade　flew　way　up　and　he；　too；　looked　out。　　Their　glances　met；　and　for　an　instant　the　hardy　detective　experienced　that　involuntary　stagnation　of　the　blood　which　follows　an　inner　shock。　　He　felt　that　he　had　been　recognised。　　The　moonlight　lay　full　upon　his　face；　and　the　other　had　seen　and　known　him。　　Else；　why　the　constrained　attitude　and　sudden　rigidity　observable　in　this　confronting　figure；　with　its　partially　lifted　hand？　　A　man　like　Brotherson　makes　no　pause　in　any　action　however　trivial；　without　a　reason。　　Either　he　had　been　transfixed　by　this　glimpse　of　his　enemy　on　watch；　or　daring　thought！　had　seen　enough　of　sepulchral　suggestion　in　the　wan　face　looking　forth　from　this　fatal　window　to　shake　him　from　his　composure　and　let　loose　the　grinning　devil　of　remorse　from　its　iron　prison…house？　If　so；　the　movement　was　a　memorable　one；　and　the　hazard　quite　worth　while。　　He　had　gained　…　no！　　he　had　gained　nothing。　　He　had　been　the　fool　of　his　own　wishes。　　No　one；　let　alone　Brotherson；　could　have　mistaken　his　face　for　that　of　a　woman。　　He　had　forgotten　his　newly…grown　beard。　　Some　other　cause　must　be　found　for　the　other's　attitude。　　It　savoured　of　shock；　if　not　fear。　　If　it　were　fear；　then　had　he　roused　an　emotion　which　might　rebound　upon　himself　in　sharp　reprisal。　　Death　had　been　known　to　strike　people　standing　where　he　stood；　mysterious　death　of　a　species　quite　unrecognisable。　What　warranty　had　he　that　it　would　not　strike　him；　and　now？　　None。

Yet　it　was　Brotherson　who　moved　first。　　With　a　shrug　of　the　shoulder　plainly　visible　to　the　man　opposite；　he　turned　away　from　the　window　and　without　lowering　the　shade　began　gathering　up　his　papers　for　the　night；　and　later　banking　up　his　stove　with　ashes。

Sweetwater；　with　a　breath　of　decided　relief；　stepped　back　and　threw　himself　on　the　bed。　　It　had　really　been　a　trial　for　him　to　stand　there　under　the　other's　eye；　though　his　mind　refused　to　formulate　his　fear；　or　to　give　him　any　satisfaction　when　he　asked　himself　what　there　was　in　the　situation　suggestive　of　death　to　the　woman　or　harm　to　himself。

Nor　did　morning　light　bring　counsel；　as　is　usual　in　similar　cases。　He　felt　the　mystery　more　in　the　hubbub　and　restless　turmoil　of　the　day　than　in　the　night's　silence　and　inactivity。　　He　was　glad　when　the　stroke　of　six　gave　him　an　excuse　to　leave　the　room；　and　gladder　yet　when　in　doing　so；　he　ran　upon　an　old　woman　from　a　neighbouring　room；　who　no　sooner　saw　him　than　she　leered　at　him　and　eagerly　remarked：

〃Not　much　sleep；　eh？　　We　didn't　think　you'd　like　it。　　Did　you　see　anything？〃

Now　this　gave　him　the　one　excuse　he　wanted。

〃See　anything？〃　he　repeated；　apparently　with　all　imaginable　innocence。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Don't　you　know　what　happened　in　that　room？〃

〃Don't　tell　me！　　〃he　shouted　out。　　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　any　nonsense。　　I　haven't　time。　　I've　got　to　be　at　the　shop　at　seven　and　I　don't　feel　very　well。　　What　did　happen？〃　he　mumbled　in　drawing　off；　just　loud　enough　for　the　woman　to　hear。　　〃Something　unpleasant　I'm　sure。〃　　Then　he　ran　downstairs。

At　half　past　six　he　found　the　janitor。　　He　was；　to　all　appearance；　in　a　state　of　great　excitement　and　he　spoke　very　fast。

〃I　won't　stay　another　night　in　that　room；〃　he　loudly　declared；　breaking　in　where　the　family　were　eating　breakfast　by　lamplight。　　〃I　don't　want　to　make　any　trouble　and　I　don't　want　to　give　my　reasons；　but　that　room　don't　suit　me。　　I'd　rather　take　the　dark　one　you　talked　about　yesterday。　　There's　the　money。　　Have　my　things　moved　to…day；　will　ye？〃

〃But　your　moving　out　after　one　night's　stay　will　give　that　room　a　bad　name；〃　stammered　the　janitor；　rising　awkwardly。　　〃There'll　be　talk　and　I　won't　be　able　to　let　that　room　all　winter。〃

〃Nonsense！　　Every　man　hasn't　the　nerves　I　have。　　You'll　let　it　in　a　week。　　But　let　or　not　let；　I'm　going　front　into　the　little　dark　room。　　I'll　get　the　boss　to　let　me　off　at　half　past　four。　　So　that's　settled。〃

He　waited　for　no　reply　and　got　none；　but　when　he　appeared　promptly　at　a　quarter　to　five；　he　found　his　few　belongings　moved　into　a　middle　room　on　the　fourth　floor　of　the　front　building；　which；　oddly　perhaps；　chanced　to　be　next　door　to　the　one　he　had　held　under　watch　the　night　before。

The　first　page　of　his　adventure　in　the　Hicks　Street　tenement　had　been　turned；　and　he　was　ready　to　start　upon　another。



XVII

IN　WHICH　A　BOOK　PLAYS　A　LEADING　PART


When　Mr。　Brotherson　came　in　that　night；　he　noticed　that　the　door　of　the　room　adjoining　his　own　stood　open。　　He　did　not　hesitate。　Making　immediately　for　it；　he　took　a　glance　inside；　then　spoke　up　with　a　ringing　intonation：

〃Halloo！　　coming　to　live　in　this　hole？〃

The　occupant　a　young　man；　evidently　a　workman　and　somewhat　sickly　if　one　could　judge　from　his　complexion　…　turned　around　from　some　tinkering　he　was　engaged　in　and　met　the　intruder　fairly；　face　to　face。　　If　his　jaw　fell；　it　seemed　to　be　from　admiration。　　No　other　emotion　would　have　so　lighted　his　eye　as　he　took　in　the　others　　proportions　and　commanding　features。　　No　dress　…　Brotherson　was　never　seen　in　any　other　than　the　homeliest　garb　in　these　days　　…　could　make　him　look　common　or　akin　to　his　surroundings。　　Whether　seen　near　or　far；　his　presence　always　caused　surprise；　and　surprise　was　what　the　young　man　showed；　as　he　answered　briskly：

〃Yes；　this　is　to　be　my　castle。　　Are　you　the　owner　of　the　buildings？　If　so　…〃

〃I　am　not　the　owner。　　I　live　next　door。　　Haven't　I　seen　you　before；　young　man？〃

Never　was　there　a　more　penetrating　eye　than　Orlando　Brotherson's。　As　he　asked　this　question　it　took　some　effort　on　the　part　of　the　other　to　hold　his　own　and　laugh　with　perfect　naturalness　as　he　replied：

〃If　you　ever　go　up　Henry　Street　it's　likely　enough　that　you've　seen　me　not　once；　but　many　times。　　I'm　the　fellow　who　works　at　the　bench　next　the　window　in　Schuper's　repairing　shop。　　Everybody　knows　me。〃

Audacity　often　carries　the　day　when　subtler　means　would　fail。　Brotherson　stared　at　the　youth；　then　ventured　another　question：

〃A　carpenter；　eh？〃

〃Yes；　and　I'm　an　A1　man　at　my　job。　　Excuse　my　brag。　　It's　my　one　card　of　introduction。〃

〃I've　seen　you。　　I've　seen　you　somewhere　else　than　in　Schuper's　shop。　Do　you　remember　me？〃

〃No；　sir；　I'm　sorry　to　be　imperlite　but　I　don't　remember　you　at　all。　Won't　you　sit　down？　　It's　not　very　cheerful；　but　I'm　so　glad　to　get　out　of　the　room　I　was　in　last　night　that　this　looks　all　right　to　me。　　Back　there；　other　building；〃　he　whispered。　　〃I　didn't　know；　and　took　the　room　which　had　a　window　in　it；　but　…〃　　The　stop　was　significant；　so　was　his　smile　which　had　a　touch　of　sickliness　in　it；　as　well　as　humour。

But　Brotherson　was　not　to　be　caught。

〃You　slept　in　the　building　last　night？　　In　the　other　half；　I　mean？〃

〃Yes；　I　…　slept。〃

The　strong　lip　of　the　other　man　curled　disdainfully。

〃I　saw　you；〃　said　he。　　〃You　were　standing　in　the　window　overlooking　the　court。　　You　were　not　sleeping　then。　　I　suppose　you　know　that　a　woman　died　in　that　room？〃

〃Yes；　they　told　me　so　this　morning。〃

〃Was　that　the　first　you'd　heard　of　it？〃

〃Sure！〃　　The　word　almost　jumped　at　the　questioner。　　〃Do　you　suppose　I'd　have　taken　the　room　if　…〃

But　here　the　intruder；　with　a　disdainful　grunt；　turned　and　went　out；　disgust　in　every　feature；　…　plain；　unmistakable；　downright　disgust；　and　nothing　more！

This　was　what　gave　Sweetwater　his　second　bad　night；　this　and　a　certain　discovery　he　made。　　He　had　counted　on　hearing　what　went　on　in　the　neighbouring　room　through　the　partition　running　back　of　his　own　closet。　　But　he　could　hear　nothing；　unless　it　was　the　shutting　down　of　a　window；　a　loud　sneeze；　or　the　rattling　of　coals　as　they　were　put　on　the　fire。　　And　these　possessed　no　significance。　What　he　wanted　was　to　catch　the　secret　sigh；　the　muttered　word；　the　involuntary　movement。　　He　was　too　far　removed　from　this　man　still。

How　should　he　manage　to　get　nearer　him　…　at　the　door　of　his　mind　　…　of　his　heart？　　Sweetwater　stared　all　night　from　his　miserable　cot　into　the　darkness　of　that　separating　closet；　and　with　no　result。　　His　task　looked　hopeless；　no　wonder　that　he　could　get　no　rest。

Next　morning　he　felt　ill；　but　he　rose　all　the　same；　and　tried　to　get　his　own　breakfast。　　He　had　but　partially　succeeded　and　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　bed　in　wretched　discomfort；　when　the　very　man　he　was　thinking　of　appeared　at　his　door。

〃I've　come　to　see　how　you　are；〃　said　Brotherson。　　〃I　noticed　that　you　did　not　look　well　last　night。　　Won't　you　come　in　and　share　my　pot　of　coffee？〃

〃I　…　I　can't　eat；〃　mumbled　Sweetwater；　for　once　in　his　life　thrown　completely　off　his　balance。　　〃You're　very　kind；　but　I'll　manage　all　right。　　I'd　rather。　　I'm　not　quite　dressed；　you　see；　and　I　must　get　to　the　shop。〃　　Then　he　thought　…　〃What　an　opportunity　I'm　losing。　Have　I　any　right　to　turn　tail　because　he　plays　his　game　from　the　outset　with　trumps？　　No；　I've　a　small　trump　somewhere　about　me　to　lay　on　this　trick。　　It　isn't　an　ace；　but　it'll　show　I'm　not　chicane。〃　And　smiling；　though　not　with　his　usual　cheerfulness；　Sweetwater　added；　〃Is　the　coffee　all　made？　　I　might　take　a　drop　of　that。　　But　you　mustn't　ask　me　to　eat　…　I　just　couldn't。〃

〃Yes；　the　coffee　is　made　and　it　isn't　bad　either。　　You'd　better　put　on　your　coat；　the　hall's　draughty。〃　　And　waiting　till　Sweetwater　did　so；　he　led　the　way　back　to　his　own　room。　　Brotherson's　manner　expressed　perfect　ease；　Sweetwater's　not。　　He　knew　himself　changed　in　looks；　in　bearing；　in　feeling；　even；　but　was　he　changed　enough　to　deceive　this　man　on　the　very　spot　where　they　had　confronted　each　other　a　few　days　before　in　a　keen　moral　struggle？　　The　looking…glass　he　passed　on　his　way　to　the　table　where　the