initials only-第8部分

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〃Don't　ask　me。　　And　I　put　the　thing　under　my　pillow！　　I　thought　it　was　so　…　so　pretty。〃

〃Mrs。　Watkins；〃　　Mr。　Gryce　from　that　moment　ignored　the　daughter；　　〃did　you　see　it　there？〃

〃Yes；　but　I　didn't　know　where　it　came　from。　　I　had　not　seen　my　daughter　stoop。　　I　didn't　know　where　she　got　it　till　I　read　that　bulletin。〃

〃Never　mind　that。　　The　question　agitating　me　is　whether　any　stain　was　left　under　that　pillow。　　We　want　to　be　sure　of　the　connection　between　this　possible　weapon　and　the　death　by　stabbing　which　we　all　deplore　…　if　there　is　a　connection。〃

〃I　didn't　see　any　stain；　but　you　can　look　for　yourself。　　The　bed　has　been　made　up；　but　there　was　no　change　of　linen。　　We　expected　to　remain　here；　I　see　no　good　to　be　gained　by　hiding　any　of　the　facts　now。〃

〃None　whatever；　Madam。〃

〃Come；　then。　　Caroline；　sit　down　and　stop　crying。　　Mr。　Gryce　believes　that　your　only　fault　was　in　not　taking　this　object　at　once　to　the　desk。〃

〃Yes；　that's　all；〃　　acquiesced　the　detective　after　a　short　study　of　the　shaking　figure　and　distorted　features　of　the　girl。　　〃You　had　no　idea；　I'm　sure；　where　this　weapon　came　from；　or　for　what　it　had　been　used。　　That's　evident。〃

Her　shudder；　as　she　seated　herself；　was　very　convincing。　　She　was　too　young　to　simulate　so　successfully　emotions　of　this　character。

〃I'm　glad　of　that；〃　　she　responded；　half　fretfully；　half　gratefully；　as　Mr。　Gryce　followed　her　mother　into　the　adjoining　room。　　〃I've　had　a　bad　enough　time　of　it　without　being　blamed　for　what　I　didn't　know　and　didn't　do。〃

Mr。　Gryce　laid　little　stress　upon　these　words；　but　much　upon　the　lack　of　curiosity　she　showed　in　the　minute　and　careful　examination　he　now　made　of　her　room。　　There　was　no　stain　on　the　pillow…cover　and　none　on　the　bureau…spread　where　she　might　very　naturally　have　laid　the　cutter　down　on　first　coming　into　her　room。　　The　blade　was　so　polished　that　it　must　have　been　rubbed　off　somewhere；　either　purposely　or　by　accident。　　Where　then；　since　not　here？　　He　asked　to　see　her　gloves　…　the　ones　she　had　worn　the　previous　night。

〃They　are　the　same　she　is　wearing　now；〃　　the　anxious　mother　assured　him。　　〃Wait；　and　I　will　get　them　for　you。〃

〃No　need。　　Let　her　hold　out　her　hands　in　token　of　amity。　　I　shall　soon　see。〃

They　returned　to　where　the　girl　still　sat；　wrapped　in　her　cloak；　sobbing　still；　but　not　so　violently。

〃Caroline；　you　may　take　off　your　things；〃　　said　the　mother；　drawing　the　pins　from　her　own　hat。　　〃We　shall　not　go　to…day。〃

The　child　shot　her　mother　one　disappointed　look；　then　proceeded　to　follow　suit。　　When　her　hat　was　off；　she　began　to　take　off　her　gloves。　As　soon　as　they　were　on　the　table；　the　mother　pushed　them　over　to　Mr。　Gryce。　　As　he　looked　at　them；　the　girl　lifted　off　her　cloak。

〃Will　…　will　he　tell？〃　　she　whispered　behind　its　ample　folds　into　her　mother's　ear。

The　answer　came　quickly；　but　not　in　the　mother's　tones。　　Mr。　Gryce's　ears　had　lost　none　of　their　ancient　acuteness。

〃I　do　not　see　that　I　should　gain　much　by　doing　so。　　The　one　discovery　which　would　link　this　find　of　yours　indissolubly　with　Miss　Challoner's　death；　I　have　failed　to　make。　　If　I　am　equally　unsuccessful　below　…　if　I　can　establish　no　closer　connection　there　than　here　between　this　cutter　and　the　weapon　which　killed　Miss　Challoner；　I　shall　have　no　cause　to　mention　the　matter。　　It　will　be　too　extraneous　to　the　case。　　Do　you　remember　the　exact　spot　where　you　stooped；　Miss　Watkins？〃

〃No；　no。　　Somewhere　near　those　big　chairs；　I　didn't　have　to　step　out　of　my　way；　I　really　didn't。〃

Mr。　Gryce's　answering　smile　was　a　study。　　It　seemed　to　convey　a　two…fold　message；　one　for　the　mother　and　one　for　the　child；　and　both　were　comforting。　　But　he　went　away；　disappointed。　　The　clew　which　promised　so　much　was；　to　all　appearance；　a　false　one。

He　could　soon　tell。



VI

INTEGRITY


Mr。　Gryce's　fears　were　only　too　well　founded。　　Though　Mr。　McElroy　was　kind　enough　to　point　out　the　exact　spot　where　he　saw　Miss　Watkins　stoop；　no　trace　of　blood　was　found　upon　the　rug　which　had　lain　there；　nor　had　anything　of　the　kind　been　washed　up　by　the　very　careful　man　who　scrubbed　the　lobby　floor　in　the　early　morning。　　This　was　disappointing；　as　its　presence　would　have　settled　the　whole　question。　When；　these　efforts　all　exhausted；　the　two　detectives　faced　each　other　again　in　the　small　room　given　up　to　their　use；　Mr。　Gryce　showed　his　discouragement。　　To　be　certain　of　a　fact　you　cannot　prove　has　not　the　same　alluring　quality　for　the　old　that　it　has　for　the　young。　Sweetwater　watched　him　in　some　concern；　then　with　the　persistence　which　was　one　of　his　strong　points；　ventured　finally　to　remark：

〃I　have　but　one　idea　left　on　the　subject。〃

〃And　what　is　that？〃　　Old　as　he　was；　Mr。　Gryce　was　alert　in　a　moment。

〃The　girl　wore　a　red　cloak。　　If　I　mistake　not；　the　lining　was　also　red。　　A　spot　on　it　might　not　show　to　the　casual　observer。　　Yet　it　would　mean　much　to　us。〃

〃Sweetwater！〃

A　faint　blush　rose　to　the　old　man's　cheek。

〃Shall　I　request　the　privilege　of　looking　that　garment　over？

〃Yes。〃

The　young　fellow　ducked　and　left　the　room。　　When　he　returned；　it　was　with　a　downcast　air。

〃Nothing　doing；〃　　said　he。

And　then　there　was　silence。

〃We　only　need　to　find　out　now　that　this　cutter　was　not　even　Miss　Challoner's　property；〃　　remarked　Mr。　Gryce；　at　last；　with　a　gesture　towards　the　object　named；　lying　openly　on　the　table　before　him。

〃That　should　be　easy。　　Shall　I　take　it　to　their　rooms　and　show　it　to　her　maid？〃

〃If　you　can　do　so　without　disturbing　the　old　gentleman。〃

But　here　they　were　themselves　disturbed。　　A　knock　at　the　door　was　followed　by　the　immediate　entrance　of　the　very　person　just　mentioned。　Mr。　Challoner　had　come　in　search　of　the　inspector；　and　showed　some　surprise　to　find　his　place　occupied　by　an　unknown　old　man。

But　Mr。　Gryce；　who　discerned　tidings　in　the　bereaved　father's　face；　was　all　alacrity　in　an　instant。　　Greeting　his　visitor　with　a　smile　which　few　could　see　without　trusting　the　man；　he　explained　the　inspector's　absence　and　introduced　himself　in　his　own　capacity。

Mr。　Challoner　had　heard　of　him。　　Nevertheless；　he　did　not　seem　inclined　to　speak。

Mr。　Gryce　motioned　Sweetwater　from　the　room。　　With　a　woeful　look　the　young　detective　withdrew；　his　last　glance　cast　at　the　cutter　still　lying　in　full　view　on　the　table。

Mr。　Gryce；　not　unmindful　himself　of　this　object；　took　it　up；　then　laid　it　down　again；　with　an　air　of　seeming　abstraction。

The　father's　attention　was　caught。

〃What　is　that？〃　　he　cried；　advancing　a　step　and　bestowing　more　than　an　ordinary　glance　at　the　object　thus　brought　casually；　as　it　were；　to　his　notice。　　〃I　surely　recognise　this　cutter。　　Does　it　belong　here　or　…〃

Mr。　Gryce；　observing　the　other's；　emotion；　motioned　him　to　a　chair。　As　his　visitor　sank　into　it；　he　remarked；　with　all　the　consideration　exacted　by　the　situation：

〃It　is　unknown　property；　Mr。　Challoner。　　But　we　have　some　reason　to　think　it　belonged　to　your　daughter。　　Are　we　correct　in　this　surmise？

〃I　have　seen　it；　or　one　like　it；　often　in　her　hand。〃　　Here　his　eyes　suddenly　dilated　and　the　hand　stretched　forth　to　grasp　it　quickly　drew　back。　　〃Where　…　where　was　it　found？〃　　he　hoarsely　demanded。　　〃0　God！　　am　I　to　be　crushed　to　the　very　earth　by　sorrow！〃

Mr。　Gryce　hastened　to　give　him　such　relief　as　was　consistent　with　the　truth。

〃It　was　picked　up　…　last　night　…　from　the　lobby　floor。　　There　is　seemingly　nothing　to　connect　it　with　her　death。　　Yet　…〃

The　pause　was　eloquent。　　Mr。　Challoner　gave　the　detective　an　agonised　look　and　turned　white　to　the　lips。　　Then　gradually；　as　the　silence　continued；　his　head　fell　forward；　and　he　muttered　almost　unintelligibly：

〃I　honestly　believe　her　the　victim　of　some　heartless　stranger。　　I　do　now；　but　…　but　I　cannot　mislead　the　police。　　At　any　cost　I　must　retract　a　statement　I　made　under　false　impressions　and　with　no　desire　to　deceive。　　I　said　that　I　knew　all　of　the　gentlemen　who　admired　her　and　aspired　to　her　hand；　and　that　they　were　all　reputable　men　and　above　committing　a　crime　of　this　or　any　other　kind。　　But　it　seems　that　I　did　not　know　her　secret　heart　as　thoroughly　as　I　had　supposed。　　Among　her　effects　I　have　just　come　upon　a　batch　of　letters　　…　love　letters　I　am　forced　to　acknowledge　…　signed　by　initials　totally　strange　to　me。　　The　letters　are　manly　in　tone　…　most　of　them　　…　but　one　…〃

〃What　about　the　one？〃

〃Shows　that　the　writer　was　displeased。　　It　may　mean　nothing；　but　I　could　not　let　the　matter　go　without　setting　myself　right　with　the　authorities。　　If　it　might　be　allowed　to　rest　here　…　if　those　letters　can　remain　sacred；　it　would　save　me　the　additional　pang　of　seeing　her　inmost　concerns　…　the　secret　and　holiest　recesses　of　a　woman's　heart；　laid　open　to　the　public。　　For；　from　the　tenor　of　most　of　these　letters；　she　…　she　was　not　averse　to　the　writer。〃

Mr。　Gryce　moved　a　little　restlessly　in　his　chair　and　stared　hard　at　the　cutter　so　conveniently　placed　under　his　eye。　　Then　his　manner　softened　and　he　remarked：

〃We　will　do　what　we　can。　　But　you　must　understand　that　the　matter　is　not　a　simple　one。　　That；　in　fact；　it　contains　mysteries　which　demand　police　investigation。　　We　do　not　dare　to　trifle　with　any　of　the　facts。　The　inspector；　and；　if　not　he；　the　coroner；　will　have　to　be　told　about　these　letters　and　will　probably　ask　to　see　them。〃

〃They　are　the　letters　of　a　gentleman。〃

〃With　the　one　exception。〃

〃Yes；　that　is　understood。〃　　Then　in　a　sudden　heat　and　with　an　almost　sublime　trust　in　his　daughter　notwithstanding　the　duplicity　he　had　just　discovered：

〃Nothing　…　not　the　story　told　by　these　letters；　or　the　sight　of　that　sturdy　paper…cutter　with　its　long　and　very　slender　blade；　will　make　me　believe　that　she　willingly　took　her　own　life。　　You　do　not　know；　cannot　know；　the　rare　delicacy　of　her　nature。　　She　was　a　lady　through　and　through。　　If　she　had　meditated　death　…　if　the　breach　suggested　by　the　one　letter　I　have　mentioned；　should　have　so　preyed　upon　her　spirits　as　to　lead　her　to　break　her　old　father's　heart　and　outrage　the　feelings　of　all　who　knew　her；　she　could　not；　being　the　woman　she　was；　choose　a　public　place　for　such　an　act　…　an　hotel　writing…room　…　in　face　of　a　lobby　full　of　hurrying　men。　　It　was　out　of　nature。　　Every　one　who　knows　her　will　tell　you　so。　　The