the wisdom of father brown-第30部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　they　spoke。

　　　　　But　he　was　a　very　different　figure　from　the　confused　mass　of　white　and　black　that　had　appeared　for　an　instant　in　the　doorway。　　He　was　buttoned　and　buckled　up　to　his　bursting　eyeballs　in　the　most　brilliant　fashion。　　A　tall　black　hat　was　tilted　on　his　broad　black　head　a　hat　of　the　sort　that　the　French　wit　has　compared　to　eight　mirrors。　　But　somehow　the　black　man　was　like　the　black　hat。　　He　also　was　black；　and　yet　his　glossy　skin　flung　back　the　light　at　eight　angles　or　more。　　It　is　needless　to　say　that　he　wore　white　spats　and　a　white　slip　inside　his　waistcoat。　　The　red　flower　stood　up　in　his　buttonhole　aggressively；　as　if　it　had　suddenly　grown　there。　　And　in　the　way　he　carried　his　cane　in　one　hand　and　his　cigar　in　the　other　there　was　a　certain　attitude　an　attitude　we　must　always　remember　when　we　talk　of　racial　prejudices：　　something　innocent　and　insolentthe　cake　walk。

　　　　　〃Sometimes；〃　said　Flambeau；　looking　after　him；　〃I'm　not　surprised　that　they　lynch　them。〃

　　　　　〃I　am　never　surprised；〃　said　Father　Brown；　〃at　any　work　of　hell。　　But　as　I　was　saying；〃　he　resumed；　as　the　negro；　still　ostentatiously　pulling　on　his　yellow　gloves；　betook　himself　briskly　towards　the　watering…place；　a　queer　music…hall　figure　against　that　grey　and　frosty　scene〃as　I　was　saying；　I　couldn't　describe　the　man　very　minutely；　but　he　had　a　flourish　and　old…fashioned　whiskers　and　moustachios；　dark　or　dyed；　as　in　the　pictures　of　foreign　financiers；　round　his　neck　was　wrapped　a　long　purple　scarf　that　thrashed　out　in　the　wind　as　he　walked。　　It　was　fixed　at　the　throat　rather　in　the　way　that　nurses　fix　children's　comforters　with　a　safety…pin。　　Only　this；〃　added　the　priest；　gazing　placidly　out　to　sea；　〃was　not　a　safety…pin。〃

　　　　　The　man　sitting　on　the　long　iron　bench　was　also　gazing　placidly　out　to　sea。　　Now　he　was　once　more　in　repose。　　Flambeau　felt　quite　certain　that　one　of　his　eyes　was　naturally　larger　than　the　other。　　Both　were　now　well　opened；　and　he　could　almost　fancy　the　left　eye　grew　larger　as　he　gazed。

　　　　　〃It　was　a　very　long　gold　pin；　and　had　the　carved　head　of　a　monkey　or　some　such　thing；〃　continued　the　cleric；　〃and　it　was　fixed　in　a　rather　odd　wayhe　wore　pince…nez　and　a　broad　black〃

　　　　　The　motionless　man　continued　to　gaze　at　the　sea；　and　the　eyes　in　his　head　might　have　belonged　to　two　different　men。　　Then　he　made　a　movement　of　blinding　swiftness。

　　　　　Father　Brown　had　his　back　to　him；　and　in　that　flash　might　have　fallen　dead　on　his　face。　　Flambeau　had　no　weapon；　but　his　large　brown　hands　were　resting　on　the　end　of　the　long　iron　seat。　　His　shoulders　abruptly　altered　their　shape；　and　he　heaved　the　whole　huge　thing　high　over　his　head；　like　a　headsman's　axe　about　to　fall。　　The　mere　height　of　the　thing；　as　he　held　it　vertical；　looked　like　a　long　iron　ladder　by　which　he　was　inviting　men　to　climb　towards　the　stars。　　But　the　long　shadow；　in　the　level　evening　light；　looked　like　a　giant　brandishing　the　Eiffel　Tower。　　It　was　the　shock　of　that　shadow；　before　the　shock　of　the　iron　crash；　that　made　the　stranger　quail　and　dodge；　and　then　dart　into　his　inn；　leaving　the　flat　and　shining　dagger　he　had　dropped　exactly　where　it　had　fallen。

　　　　　〃We　must　get　away　from　here　instantly；〃　cried　Flambeau；　flinging　the　huge　seat　away　with　furious　indifference　on　the　beach。　　He　caught　the　little　priest　by　the　elbow　and　ran　him　down　a　grey　perspective　of　barren　back　garden；　at　the　end　of　which　there　was　a　closed　back　garden　door。　　Flambeau　bent　over　it　an　instant　in　violent　silence；　and　then　said：　　〃The　door　is　locked。〃

　　　　　As　he　spoke　a　black　feather　from　one　of　the　ornamental　firs　fell；　brushing　the　brim　of　his　hat。　　It　startled　him　more　than　the　small　and　distant　detonation　that　had　come　just　before。　　Then　came　another　distant　detonation；　and　the　door　he　was　trying　to　open　shook　under　the　bullet　buried　in　it。　　Flambeau's　shoulders　again　filled　out　and　altered　suddenly。　　Three　hinges　and　a　lock　burst　at　the　same　instant；　and　he　went　out　into　the　empty　path　behind；　carrying　the　great　garden　door　with　him；　as　Samson　carried　the　gates　of　Gaza。

　　　　　Then　he　flung　the　garden　door　over　the　garden　wall；　just　as　a　third　shot　picked　up　a　spurt　of　snow　and　dust　behind　his　heel。　　Without　ceremony　he　snatched　up　the　little　priest；　slung　him　astraddle　on　his　shoulders；　and　went　racing　towards　Seawood　as　fast　as　his　long　legs　could　carry　him。　　It　was　not　until　nearly　two　miles　farther　on　that　he　set　his　small　companion　down。　　It　had　hardly　been　a　dignified　escape；　in　spite　of　the　classic　model　of　Anchises；　but　Father　Brown's　face　only　wore　a　broad　grin。

　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　Flambeau；　after　an　impatient　silence；　as　they　resumed　their　more　conventional　tramp　through　the　streets　on　the　edge　of　the　town；　where　no　outrage　need　be　feared；　〃I　don't　know　what　all　this　means；　but　I　take　it　I　may　trust　my　own　eyes　that　you　never　met　the　man　you　have　so　accurately　described。〃

　　　　　〃I　did　meet　him　in　a　way；〃　Brown　said；　biting　his　finger　rather　nervously〃I　did　really。　　And　it　was　too　dark　to　see　him　properly；　because　it　was　under　that　bandstand　affair。　　But　I'm　afraid　I　didn't　describe　him　so　very　accurately　after　all；　for　his　pince…nez　was　broken　under　him；　and　the　long　gold　pin　wasn't　stuck　through　his　purple　scarf　but　through　his　heart。〃

　　　　　〃And　I　suppose；〃　said　the　other　in　a　lower　voice；　〃that　glass…eyed　guy　had　something　to　do　with　it。〃

　　　　　〃I　had　hoped　he　had　only　a　little；〃　answered　Brown　in　a　rather　troubled　voice；　〃and　I　may　have　been　wrong　in　what　I　did。　　I　acted　on　impulse。　　But　I　fear　this　business　has　deep　roots　and　dark。〃

　　　　　They　walked　on　through　some　streets　in　silence。　　The　yellow　lamps　were　beginning　to　be　lit　in　the　cold　blue　twilight；　and　they　were　evidently　approaching　the　more　central　parts　of　the　town。　　Highly　coloured　bills　announcing　the　glove…fight　between　Nigger　Ned　and　Malvoli　were　slapped　about　the　walls。

　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　Flambeau；　〃I　never　murdered　anyone；　even　in　my　criminal　days；　but　I　can　almost　sympathize　with　anyone　doing　it　in　such　a　dreary　place。　　Of　all　God…forsaken　dustbins　of　Nature；　I　think　the　most　heart…breaking　are　places　like　that　bandstand；　that　were　meant　to　be　festive　and　are　forlorn。　　I　can　fancy　a　morbid　man　feeling　he　must　kill　his　rival　in　the　solitude　and　irony　of　such　a　scene。　　I　remember　once　taking　a　tramp　in　your　glorious　Surrey　hills；　thinking　of　nothing　but　gorse　and　skylarks；　when　I　came　out　on　a　vast　circle　of　land；　and　over　me　lifted　a　vast；　voiceless　structure；　tier　above　tier　of　seats；　as　huge　as　a　Roman　amphitheatre　and　as　empty　as　a　new　letter…rack。　　A　bird　sailed　in　heaven　over　it。　　It　was　the　Grand　Stand　at　Epsom。　　And　I　felt　that　no　one　would　ever　be　happy　there　again。〃

　　　　　〃It's　odd　you　should　mention　Epsom；〃　said　the　priest。　　〃Do　you　remember　what　was　called　the　Sutton　Mystery；　because　two　suspected　menice…cream　men；　I　thinkhappened　to　live　at　Sutton？　　They　were　eventually　released。　　A　man　was　found　strangled；　it　was　said；　on　the　Downs　round　that　part。　　As　a　fact；　I　know　（from　an　Irish　policeman　who　is　a　friend　of　mine）　that　he　was　found　close　up　to　the　Epsom　Grand　Standin　fact；　only　hidden　by　one　of　the　lower　doors　being　pushed　back。〃

　　　　　〃That　is　queer；〃　assented　Flambeau。　　〃But　it　rather　confirms　my　view　that　such　pleasure　places　look　awfully　lonely　out　of　season；　or　the　man　wouldn't　have　been　murdered　there。〃

　　　　　〃I'm　not　so　sure　he〃　began　Brown；　and　stopped。

　　　　　〃Not　so　sure　he　was　murdered？〃　queried　his　companion。

　　　　　〃Not　so　sure　he　was　murdered　out　of　the　season；〃　answered　the　little　priest；　with　simplicity。　　〃Don't　you　think　there's　something　rather　tricky　about　this　solitude；　Flambeau？　　Do　you　feel　sure　a　wise　murderer　would　always　want　the　spot　to　be　lonely？　It's　very；　very　seldom　a　man　is　quite　alone。　　And；　short　of　that；　the　more　alone　he　is；　the　more　certain　he　is　to　be　seen。　　No；　I　think　there　must　be　some　otherWhy；　here　we　are　at　the　Pavilion　or　Palace；　or　whatever　they　call　it。〃

　　　　　They　had　emerged　on　a　small　square；　brilliantly　lighted；　of　which　the　principal　building　was　gay　with　gilding；　gaudy　with　posters；　and　flanked　with　two　giant　photographs　of　Malvoli　and　Nigger　Ned。

　　　　　〃Hallo！〃　cried　Flambeau　in　great　surprise；　as　his　clerical　friend　stumped　straight　up　the　broad　steps。　　〃I　didn't　know　pugilism　was　your　latest　hobby。　　Are　you　going　to　see　the　fight？〃

　　　　　〃I　don't　think　there　will　be　any　fight；〃　replied　Father　Brown。

　　　　　They　passed　rapidly　through　ante…rooms　and　inner　rooms；　they　passed　through　the　hall　of　combat　itself；　raised；　roped；　and　padded　with　innumerable　seats　and　boxes；　and　still　the　cleric　did　not　look　round　or　pause　till　he　came　to　a　clerk　at　a　desk　outside　a　door　marked　〃Committee〃。　　There　he　stopped　and　asked　to　see　Lord　Pooley。

　　　　　The　attendant　observed　that　his　lordship　was　very　busy；　as　the　fight　was　coming　on　soon；　but　Father　Brown　had　a　good…tempered　tedium　of　reiteration　for　which　the　official　mind　is　generally　not　prepared。　　In　a　few　moments　the　rather　baffled　Flambeau　found　himself　in　the　presence　of　a　man　who　was　still　shouting　directions　to　another　man　going　out　of　the　room。　　〃Be　careful；　you　know；　about　the　ropes　after　the　fourth　Well；　and　what　do　you　want；　I　wonder！〃

　　　　　Lord　Pooley　was　a　gentleman；　and；　like　most　of　the　few　remaining　to　our　race；　was　worriedespecially　about　money。　　He　was　half　grey　and　half　flaxen；　and　he　had　the　eyes　of　fever　and　a　high…bridged；　frost…bitten　nose。

　　　　　〃Only　a　word；〃　said　Father　Brown。　　〃I　have　come　to　prevent　a　man　being　killed。〃

　　　　　Lord　Pooley　bounded　off　his　chair　as　if　a　spring　had　flung　him　from　it。　　〃I'm　damned　if　I'll　stand　any　more　of　this！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　and　your　committees　and　parsons　and　petitions！　Weren't　there　parsons　in　the　old　days；　when　they　fought　without　gloves？　　Now　they're　fighting　with　the　regulation　gloves；　and　there's　not　the　rag　of　a　possibility　of　either　of　the　boxers　being　killed。〃

　　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　either　of　the　boxers；〃　said　the　little　priest。

　　　　　〃Well；　well；　well！〃　said　the　nobleman；　with　a　touch　of　frosty　humour。　　〃Who's　going　to　be　killed？　　The　referee？〃

　　　　　〃I　don't　know　who's　going　to　be　killed；〃　replied　Father　Brown；　with　a　reflective　stare。　　〃If　I　did　I　shouldn't　have　to　spoil　your　pleasur