“That will do, Susanne.” Mrs. Meredith rose before her dressing3 table. “Tell Miss Anne that I am waiting for her.”
Susanne started at her stern tone; the French maid’s nerves were not under their usual excellent control. Before she could execute the order Anne appeared in the doorway4.
“What is it, mother?” she asked. “Why did you send me word to dress at once?”
Mrs. Meredith paused to pick up a half sheet of note paper which she had tossed on her breakfast tray twenty minutes before.
“This is from Coroner Penfield,” she explained. “He has had the effrontery5 to demand your presence and mine in the library—at once.”
Anne shrank back toward the boudoir, with a quick hunted look behind her. It seemed to Susanne’s observant eyes that she sought shelter—
“Why does Coroner Penfield wish to see us?” asked Anne.
“Heaven knows!” with a contemptuous shrug6 of her shoulders. “He states in his note that Inspector7 Mitchell is with him.”
Anne drew a long breath. “Suppose we go down at once, mother,” she said. “Anything is better than—than—suspense.”
“Very well.” Mrs. Meredith picked up a scented8 handkerchief. “Close my door, Susanne, and see that no one enters the room. Come, Anne.”
As Mrs. Meredith and Anne crossed the reception hall on their way to the library they encountered Mrs. Hull9 just coming out of the dining room. She had never taken kindly10 to having breakfast served in her bedroom and, with Sam Hollister for company, had just completed that meal.
“Where away so early in the morning, Belle11?” she asked, as her cousin paused to greet her. “I don’t recall having seen you up and dressed at this hour since our acquaintance.”
“You would not see me now but for an impertinent message from Coroner Penfield,” answered Mrs. Meredith tartly12. “He and Inspector Mitchell are waiting in the library to interview Anne—”
Anne shivered involuntarily. All the way along the upper corridor and down the staircase she had longed for a word of sympathy, of encouragement, of understanding from her mother. If she could only feel that she was not utterly14 alone, the coming interview would lose half its terrors! Just a word, just a glance, a loving touch. She laid her hand on her mother’s arm, only to have it withdrawn15 as Mrs. Meredith moved to one side. She had been rebuffed.
Mrs. Hull saw the incident and divined its significance as she met Anne’s tragic17 eyes. Hot resentment18 conquered every other feeling. She slipped her arm about the young girl’s waist and held her closely to her.
“I’ve always wanted to know a coroner,” she stated calmly, meeting Mrs. Meredith’s displeased19 frown with unruffled composure. “I guess I’ll go in with you and Anne. Come, dearie,” and she supplemented her remarks with a kiss, which Anne returned with fervor20, unconscious that her cheek was wet with a tear.
“Damason”—Anne had caught sight of the chauffeur21 as he came into the reception hall from the pantry—“ask Doctor Curtis to come at once to the library. Suppose we go on, mother, and not keep Coroner Penfield waiting any longer,” and with Mrs. Hull’s motherly arm still about her, Anne followed Mrs. Meredith into the presence of the two men.
Anne’s clear voice reached David Curtis as he paused in the act of closing the front door, a grinning Western union messenger boy waiting on the veranda22, cap in hand, for the generous tip which he saw in the blind surgeon’s fingers. The next second he had darted23 down the steps, a silver dollar reposing24 in his pocket, while Curtis turned toward the library. He had taken but a few steps in that direction when Sam Hollister’s voice brought him to a halt.
“Hello, Curtis!” he said, both manner and voice subdued25. “This is frightful26 about Colonel Hull—a bad smash.”
“Has his wife been told?”
“I imagine not. We ate breakfast together and she said nothing.” Hollister polished his bald head with his handkerchief. “Her devotion to Julian Hull is akin27 to that of a dumb animal. I am glad that she did not see the morning paper. Damason, here, handed it to me just as she left the dining-room.” Curtis turned his sightless eyes inquiringly in the direction of the dining-room.
“Yes, honorable doctor.”
“Where is Mr. Gerald Armstrong?”
“Asleep, honorable sir.”
“What—and with this story abroad?” Hollister raised the morning newspaper with its glaring headlines before tossing it to one side.
“Please, sir, it is the cock’s tail,” ventured Damason. “He drink many. You like I try and wake Mr. Armstrong?”
“Yes. Tell him to come to the library, and, Damason,” sternly, “you come with him.” The Filipino bowed humbly29, then, turning, took the circular staircase two steps at a time, in his blind haste nearly colliding with Lucille Hull and Leonard McLane as they walked down the corridor in earnest conversation.
Inside the library Mrs. Meredith was regarding Coroner Penfield thoughtfully through gold-rimmed lorgnettes.
“If I am correct, and I think I am,” she stated coldly, “the next hearing of this inquest is scheduled for to-morrow. Why then should my daughter and I be subjected to further questioning to-day?”
“Because, madam, evidence of vital importance has been found,” responded Penfield sternly. “Inspector Mitchell has a most unpleasant duty to perform.”
Mitchell stepped forward with marked reluctance30. His gaze rested on Anne’s white face, and as he noted31 her youth his heart smote32 him—his dealings with criminals had not made him callous33 to human suffering.
“Anne Meredith,” he began, without preface, “in the name of the law I arrest you for the murder of your uncle, John Meredith.”
Twice Anne essayed to speak, and twice her voice failed her. Mrs. Hull’s gasping34 sob35 came faintly to her; she was more conscious of her mother’s stony36 silence.
“What are your grounds for so preposterous37 a charge?” Anne asked, and her voice sounded oddly in her own ears.
“You will learn them in due time,” responded Mitchell, extending the police warrant with its imposing38 seal. “I warn you that anything you say may be used against you.”
“So?” Anne faced him proudly, her eyes flashing with indignation. “You decline to tell me on what you base your charge and in the next breath warn me that anything that I may say in my own defense39 will be used against me. Is it fair, is it honorable to handicap me at every turn?”
“It is neither fair nor required by the law,” broke in a stern voice back of her, and Anne turned with a low cry of relief as Curtis stepped forward and confronted Inspector Mitchell. Behind him appeared Sam Hollister, his hands gripping a telegram which, in his agitation40, he had failed to read.
“Come, come, Mitchell, you must not heckle my client,” the lawyer announced. “Keep within the law.”
“Just a second.” Curtis held up his hand, and turned to Coroner Penfield. “In simple justice to Miss Meredith and to prevent a serious error on the part of the police, I insist that Inspector Mitchell tell us his reasons for securing the warrant for Miss Meredith’s arrest.”
“Reasons?” snapped Mitchell, before Penfield could answer. “There are reasons a-plenty. First, motive—destroying a codicil42 to her uncle’s will in which he revoked43 a bequest44 to her of a million dollars; second, opportunity—she was seen in his bedroom late Sunday night by Herman, the butler, who overheard their quarrel; third, her talk with the man outside the chambermaid’s window, I’ll do it to-night’; fourth, the parrot’s repetition of Meredith’s exclamation45: ‘Anne—I’ve caught you—you devil.’” Mitchell paused and eyed Anne, then looked hastily away—her ghastly face disturbed him.
“Fifth—the weapon,” he went on. “You slipped up there, badly.”
“I aided you in finding the weapon,” put in Anne. “Was that the act of a guilty person?”
“It was excellent camouflage,” retorted Mitchell. “And it might have succeeded if you hadn’t miscalculated the direction the scalpel would fall when dropped through the banisters, and thus secreted46 it in the wrong fern box.” He returned the warrant to his pocket. “What clinched47 the case against you, Miss Meredith, was finding your fingerprints48 on the knife.”
Like an animal at bay Anne faced her accuser. No one spoke49. Mrs. Meredith sat with face averted50, one hand opening and closing spasmodically on her scented handkerchief. Mrs. Hull, unconscious of the tears running down her cheeks, was breathing with difficulty, oblivious51 that her daughter, with Leonard McLane, had joined the group.
“And if the court requires further proof,” went on Mitchell’s relentless52 voice, “a lock of your hair was wound around the button on Meredith’s pajamas53 jacket when we found his dead body in the hall.” Curtis advanced to Anne’s side. “I was the first to find Meredith’s body,” he stated. “I also discovered, while Hollister was telephoning for the coroner, that some hairs were caught on the button over Meredith’s heart. These hairs I removed.” Paying no attention to Mitchell’s surprised ejaculation, he added: “They were white.”
“Say, you are dippy!” Mitchell’s contempt was plain. “Where are the hairs?”
“What are you giving us?” roughly. “Stuff and nonsense?”
“No,” Curtis smiled; his object had been attained—he had succeeded in diverting attention from Anne to himself. “You have been so keen in tracing the crime to Miss Meredith that you have blundered badly—”
“Here, there’s no use listening to you—”
“Oh, yes, there is.” Curtis spoke more rapidly and his manner grew stern. “In handling this case, Mitchell, you have failed to study one factor—the character of the murdered man. John Meredith had a warm heart, a peppery temper, and a confiding56 disposition57. It made him a prey58 to a dastardly conspiracy—”
A shout in the hall interrupted him. A second later the portières were dragged aside and Gerald Armstrong lurched into the library. At his back came Damason, while Gretchen and Susanne, lured59 from their work on the second floor by the disturbance60, stopped just outside the library and peered through the wide opening left by Armstrong’s impetuous handling of the handsome portières.
“Gerald!” Anne pressed her fingers over her ears. Paying not the slightest attention to her, Armstrong stopped directly in front of the blind surgeon.
“Answer my question,” he ordered. “What do you want?”
“Armstrong,” Curtis’ calm tone was in marked contrast to that of the infuriated man before him, “you have twice stated that you were not at Ten Acres when Meredith died. Were you here when he was murdered?”
Armstrong shifted his gaze from Anne to the blind surgeon, from there his eyes wandered to Lucille, standing13 terrified by Leonard McLane’s side.
“What are you driving at?” he demanded roughly.
“This—” Curtis rested his weight on his cane63, leaving his right hand free. “Meredith lived for over five minutes after being stabbed in the throat. You had ample time to be out of the house before he died.”
As if hypnotized, Armstrong regarded the sightless man before him. The entrance of Detective Sergeant64 Brown through one of the French windows failed to arouse him. As Brown drew closer Anne saw a small brown object huddled65 in his left arm.
“Jocko!” she cried. At her familiar voice the monkey raised its head and made a feeble attempt to spring toward her. “Why, he’s ill—injured—” seeing the bloody67 stump68 which the monkey carried pressed to its breast. “How did he lose his paw?”
“It was cut off last night, Anne,” began Curtis, “by the man who sent the monkey into my room to steal—a key.”
Anne’s violent start went unobserved by Inspector Mitchell. His eyes had happened to be fixed69 on Mrs. Meredith and he saw her crimson70 and then turn deadly white. It was the first time she had shown emotion since entering the library.
Detective Sergeant Brown put the monkey down in an armchair, and Anne moved impulsively71 forward and sat by it, for the moment her own agonizing72 situation forgotten in her pity for the evident suffering of her little pet.
The Sergeant addressed Curtis while facing his superior officer.
“I found the monkey in the grove73 of trees down beyond, where you suggested he might be, sir,” he said. “And I found the bolo knife—”
Galvanized into life, Armstrong turned and glared at Brown.
“Who loaned it to you.” Curtis’ voice cut the air like a whiplash. “It was you, Armstrong, who knew that John Meredith had drawn16 out one hundred thousand dollars in cash to invest in certain securities; it was you who took advantage of another’s misfortune; you, contemptible74 hound that you are, made a woman your cat’s-paw—” He wheeled around. “Mitchell, bring Gretchen here.”
The grim earnestness of his tone called for prompt unquestioned obedience75, and Mitchell swung around to find Susanne pushing the pretty Dutch girl into the room. In her terror Gretchen sat down on the nearest chair and Brown, with instant forethought, wheeled the chair and its occupant forward.
“Here she is, Doctor Curtis,” he announced. “Right forninst ye.”
“Gretchen,” Curtis spoke more kindly, “at the inquest you testified that the voice of the woman under your window on Sunday night was that of your ‘young Mees.’ Coroner Penfield took it for granted that you referred to your employer, Miss Anne Meredith. This time we require a spoken answer; do not nod your head, as you did before. Did you mean by ‘young Mees,’ Miss Anne or Miss Lucille Hull?” Gretchen’s terrified gaze swept the room. “I—I—” she faltered76. “It was—God help me—it was—” she gulped77 a sob. “It was Mees Lucille.”
Curtis broke the pause as he faced toward the door. “Is Miss Hull present?”
“Yes.” Lucille controlled her voice admirably, but Doctor McLane noted with growing alarm her ghastly, twitching78 features. “What is it, Doctor Curtis?”
“Are you engaged to marry Gerald Armstrong?” Lucille carefully refrained from looking at her mother.
“I was,” she admitted, “once.”
“Lucille!” Armstrong had turned livid. “You aren’t deserting me? He can’t prove anything. He only knows—”
“That John Meredith was murdered by your accomplice—” Curtis stepped in the direction from which Lucille’s voice came. He had almost reached her side when a figure barred his progress.
“One moment, Doctor. I stabbed John Meredith,” and Mrs. Hull laid her hand in his.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ravages
|
|
| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
effrontery
|
|
| n.厚颜无耻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
shrug
|
|
| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
inspector
|
|
| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
scented
|
|
| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
hull
|
|
| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
belle
|
|
| n.靓女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tartly
|
|
| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
tragic
|
|
| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
displeased
|
|
| a.不快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
fervor
|
|
| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
chauffeur
|
|
| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
veranda
|
|
| n.走廊；阳台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
reposing
|
|
| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
akin
|
|
| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
hovering
|
|
| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
reluctance
|
|
| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
smote
|
|
| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
callous
|
|
| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
stony
|
|
| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
preposterous
|
|
| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
imposing
|
|
| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
codicil
|
|
| n.遗嘱的附录 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
revoked
|
|
| adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bequest
|
|
| n.遗赠；遗产，遗物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
secreted
|
|
| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
clinched
|
|
| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
fingerprints
|
|
| n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
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： |
|
|
|
|
50
averted
|
|
| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
oblivious
|
|
| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
relentless
|
|
| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
pajamas
|
|
| n.睡衣裤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
confiding
|
|
| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
lured
|
|
| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
disturbance
|
|
| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
liar
|
|
| n.说谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
stump
|
|
| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
impulsively
|
|
| adv.冲动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
agonizing
|
|
| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
contemptible
|
|
| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
gulped
|
|
| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |