There was a light burning in the surgery as they approached the house,--a fact to which Higgins, the first policeman, called attention.
"That light sometimes burns all night," he said, pursing up his lips.
"Any city ordinance3 against it?" asked Burton.
Higgins looked up with a slow question in his eyes.
"You will stay with me, Mr. Burton," he said quietly. "O'Meara and Hanna, you go to the rear of the house and see that he doesn't make a get-away."
He rang the bell at the front door, and stepped instantly back, so that he could keep an eye on the whole front of the house. In a minute the door was opened wide and Dr. Underwood, in a dressing-gown, stood there peering out into the dark.
"Who wants me?" he asked.
Higgins stepped quickly inside, and as soon as Burton, who followed in his wake, had entered, he closed the front door, turned the key and slipped it into his pocket.
"Excuse me," he said, in a brisk undertone. "No one wants you, Doctor. I want Mr. Henry Underwood."
"You want him, Higgins? What for?"
"Assault."
"Assault? Henry? You're crazy. Henry hasn't spirit enough to assault any one. I'd bail4 him out with the greatest joy in the world, if he did. Whom did he assault, in the name of Goshen?"
"Mr. Hadley."
"Hadley! Well, there may be something to the boy, after all. When did this happen?"
"Just now, tonight. I don't want any trouble, but I don't want any foolishness, either. I've got to arrest him, you know, Doctor. It ain't what I may choose to do about it. So will you take me up to his room at once, before he hears me or takes an alarm?"
"You always were an unfortunate man, Higgins, but it is mighty5 hard luck that you should have to show the whole community what an idiot you are. It is kind of hard to be made a fool of in such a public way. Henry is abed and asleep and has been for hours."
"Then I'll have to wake him and if you'll excuse me, Doctor, I can't let you give him any more time by this palaver6. Will you take me to his room, or shall I hunt for it myself?"
Underwood glanced at Burton and wrinkled his face into an unbetraying mask, but as he led the way upstairs he walked more slowly and draggingly than he had done in the afternoon, and Burton's heart ached for him.
"That's his room," he said, pointing to a closed door. The gleam of light along the lower edge showed plainly that the occupant was still up.
Higgins went to the door with a catlike silence and swiftness and laid his hand on the knob. It turned without resistance and he burst in upon Henry Underwood, half undressed. The bed had not been disturbed. The scattered7 clothing on the chairs showed that he had just come in from outdoors.
"What does this mean?" Henry demanded, with a look of amazement8.
"You are under arrest," said Higgins. "Don't try any tricks. My men are about the house."
"What am I arrested for?"
"For assault on Mr. Hadley. And I warn you that anything you may say will be used against you."
"This is all foolishness, you know," Henry said, but his voice was spiritless and unconvincing, and Dr. Underwood groaned10 involuntarily.
"I haven't anything to do with that. All I have to do is to carry out orders. And I'll have to ask you to change your shoes. No, you don't!" He sprang forward and caught Henry roughly as the latter, at the word, rubbed his muddy shoe upon the rug on which he was standing11. "We want your shoes, fresh mud and all. Just take them off, will you?"
"Take them off yourself," growled12 Henry, with a black look.
Higgins whistled and the two other men answered, one by melodramatically dropping in through the open window, and the other by appearing at the door. "Take off his shoes,--carefully, mind you. We want that mud on them. And get another pair for him, if you can find them."
He motioned Henry to sit down, but instead of dropping obligingly into the nearest chair, Henry stalked indignantly across the room and threw himself down on an upholstered lounge. Then he thrust out both feet before him with an arrogant13 air, and the two policemen, who had followed him closely, dropped on their knees and unfastened and removed his shoes. Higgins, who was proud of himself for thinking of a detail which might prove important, watched the process so closely that he paid no attention to anything else. Underwood, who leaned heavily against the door-casing, watched his son's face with a look that was something like despair. But Burton, who stood silently at one side, watched Henry, and so saw an apparently14 casual motion that took his right hand from the vicinity of his breast pocket to the inner edge of the upholstered seat of the lounge.
"Well, what next?" Henry asked brusquely, when the men had shod him.
"You will come with us," said Higgins.
He rose without a word, and reached for his hat and coat.
"Henry!" The word broke from Dr. Underwood like a cry. "Have you anything to say to me?"
Henry gave him one look, and then dropped his eyelids15.
"I think not," he said, with a curious air of deliberation.
"I'll come and see you to-morrow, my boy."
Henry nodded carelessly, and turned to Higgins.
"I'm ready," he said briefly16.
"One moment," said Burton. "How is your cut finger? I think I'd better look at it before you go." And without waiting for permission, he picked up Henry's hand and examined the forefinger17 which had been cut the evening before. Henry had dressed it carelessly with court-plaster, but it was evident that the finger was both stiff and sore.
But Henry was far from being a model patient. He pulled his hand away with a look of surprise and resentment18 at Burton's touch. "That's nothing," he said impatiently. "What are you waiting for, Higgins?"
"You," replied Higgins succinctly19, slipping his hand under Henry's elbow.
Dr. Underwood followed the little procession downstairs and did not notice that Burton lingered for a moment in the room. He lingered without moving until Henry was out of eyeshot, and then jumped to the sofa and ran his long fingers between the upholstered back and seat. It did not take more than a minute to satisfy his curiosity. Then he hurried downstairs, where he found a forlorn group.
Mrs. Underwood, tragically20 calm, sat like a classic statue of despair in a large armchair, while the doctor, who had evidently been explaining the situation to his family, limped painfully and restlessly about the room. Leslie, erect21, and with hands clenched22 and head thrown back, followed him with her eyes.
"I think Henry is insane," she said deliberately23.
Dr. Underwood glanced apprehensively24 at Burton, who just then appeared in the doorway25. Then he dropped into a chair with a groan9.
"I forgot my confounded ankle," he said, in lame26 explanation.
Mrs. Underwood turned her gaze slowly upon him. "Don't prevaricate27, Roger," she said coldly. "You did not groan because of your ankle, but because Henry's sin has found him out. I should think that you would at least see the importance of keeping clear of future sin."
"May I come in?" asked Burton. There was something strange in his voice,--a quality that made every one turn toward him expectantly, as though he brought a message. "May I venture a word? Of course you know that I know what has happened. I came here with the officer because I felt that my interest in everything touching28 the honor of your family warranted me in seeing this unfortunate affair through as far as possible. I say unfortunate, because of course it must add to your annoyance29 temporarily. But I do not think it will do more than that. In fact, I think it may be the means of really getting at the truth that lies under this mass of misunderstanding. I do not think that Henry Underwood is insane,--or that he had anything to do with Mr. Hadley's plight30. I believe him innocent and honorable, and I am going to bend every energy I possess to proving him so."
He had spoken to all, but his eyes rested eagerly on Leslie, and at his last words she sprang impulsively32 forward and caught his hand in both her own.
"Oh, thank you, thank you!" she cried.
"Leslie, control yourself," said Mrs. Underwood, in calm reproof34.
Dr. Underwood got upon his feet, with entire disregard of his ankle, and crossed the room to Burton.
"Have you any ground for that opinion, beyond an optimistic disposition35 and a natural desire to spare the family of your patient?" he demanded. "God knows I want to believe you,--but--" He broke off and shook his head.
Burton hastily realized that he was hardly justified36, at this point, in making his own grounds for assurance public.
"Well,--his cut finger is sufficient. He couldn't tie all the knots that bound Hadley with that stiff finger," he said, with a would-be astute37 air.
Underwood could not conceal38 his disappointment. "You have nothing definite, then, to go upon?"
"Perhaps my evidence, in the present stage, would not be conclusive39 in court. But that is what I hope to make it. That is what I am definitely undertaking40 to do. And I believe I shall succeed." He smiled at Leslie, and though she did not repeat her impulsive33 demonstration41 of gratitude42, he was satisfied with the look in her eyes.
On his way back to the hotel, he suddenly stopped under the trees and spoke31 to himself impatiently. What difference did it make to him what sort of a look there was in the eyes of Philip's betrothed43? He would be better employed in considering the situation of the Underwoods in the light of this new revelation about the silent Henry. If Henry was in love with Miss Hadley--and why else should he carry a locket with her portrait in his breast pocket and think first of all of concealing44 this trinket when threatened with arrest and fearing a search?--then there was a reasonable explanation of his prowling in the neighborhood of the Hadley house. Burton had thrust the locket back into its hiding-place in the upholstered lounge, but he could not be mistaken. It was the same face that he had seen looking up at Selby,--Hello! No need to hunt further for an explanation of the antagonism45 between the two men! The look on Selby's face when he talked so earnestly to Miss Hadley was one of the few human expressions that can neither be concealed46 nor counterfeited47. And since nothing could be more reckless, hopeless and bitter, than love between the daughter of the pompous48 banker and the scapegoat49 of the town, why, of course, that was the mine that Cupid would fire.
But if Henry was innocent, who was the man who was so bent50 on making him appear guilty? Who really was behind the High Ridge51 mystery? The problem was not solved. It was merely made more complicated. And Burton had to acknowledge that his guess was not evidence that would convince the public. Indeed, now that he was half an hour away from it, he began to wonder at his own confidence. It had come to him like a revelation, but it needed verification.
Very well, he said doggedly52, he would verify a part of it at once. He would call on Miss Hadley to-morrow.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
melodrama
|
|
| n.音乐剧；情节剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
ordinance
|
|
| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bail
|
|
| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
palaver
|
|
| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
eyelids
|
|
| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
forefinger
|
|
| n.食指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
succinctly
|
|
| adv.简洁地；简洁地，简便地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
tragically
|
|
| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
apprehensively
|
|
| adv.担心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
prevaricate
|
|
| v.支吾其词；说谎；n.推诿的人；撒谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
plight
|
|
| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
impulsively
|
|
| adv.冲动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
impulsive
|
|
| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
reproof
|
|
| n.斥责，责备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
astute
|
|
| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
conclusive
|
|
| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
betrothed
|
|
| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
concealing
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
antagonism
|
|
| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
counterfeited
|
|
| v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
pompous
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
scapegoat
|
|
| n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
doggedly
|
|
| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |