Assistant Commissioner2 of Police T. X. Meredith did not occupyoffices in New Scotland Yard. It is the peculiarity3 of publicoffices that they are planned with the idea of supplying themargin of space above all requirements and that on theircompletion they are found wholly inadequate4 to house the variousdepartments which mysteriously come into progress coincident withthe building operations.
"T. X.," as he was known by the police forces of the world, had abig suite5 of offices in Whitehall. The house was an old onefacing the Board of Trade and the inscription6 on the ancient doortold passers-by that this was the "Public Prosecutor7, SpecialBranch."The duties of T. X. were multifarious. People said of him - andlike most public gossip, this was probably untrue - that he wasthe head of the "illegal" department of Scotland Yard. If bychance you lost the keys of your safe, T. X. could supply you (sopopular rumour8 ran) with a burglar who would open that safe inhalf an hour.
If there dwelt in England a notorious individual against whom thepolice could collect no scintilla9 of evidence to justify10 aprosecution, and if it was necessary for the good of the communitythat that person should be deported11, it was T. X. who arrested theobnoxious person, hustled12 him into a cab and did not loose hishold upon his victim until he had landed him on the indignantshores of an otherwise friendly power.
It is very certain that when the minister of a tiny power whichshall be nameless was suddenly recalled by his government andbrought to trial in his native land for putting into circulationspurious bonds, it was somebody from the department which T. X.
controlled, who burgled His Excellency's house, burnt the locksfrom his safe and secured the necessary incriminating evidence.
I say it is fairly certain and here I am merely voicing theopinion of very knowledgeable13 people indeed, heads of publicdepartments who speak behind their hands, mysteriousunder-secretaries of state who discuss things in whispers in theremote corners of their clubrooms and the more frank views ofAmerican correspondents who had no hesitation14 in putting thoseviews into print for the benefit of their readers.
That T. X. had a more legitimate15 occupation we know, for it wasthat flippant man whose outrageous16 comment on the Home OfficeAdministration is popularly supposed to have sent one HomeSecretary to his grave, who traced the Deptford murderers througha labyrinth17 of perjury18 and who brought to book Sir Julius Waglitethough he had covered his trail of defalcation19 through the balancesheets of thirty-four companies.
On the night of March 3rd, T. X. sat in his inner officeinterviewing a disconsolate20 inspector21 of metropolitan22 police,named Mansus.
In appearance T. X. conveyed the impression of extreme youth, forhis face was almost boyish and it was only when you looked at himclosely and saw the little creases23 about his eyes, the setting ofhis straight mouth, that you guessed he was on the way to forty.
In his early days he had been something of a poet, and had writtena slight volume of "Woodland Lyrics," the mention of which at thislater stage was sufficient to make him feel violently unhappy.
In manner he was tactful but persistent24, his language was at timesmarked by a violent extravagance and he had had the distinction ofhaving provoked, by certain correspondence which had seen thelight, the comment of a former Home Secretary that "it wasunfortunate that Mr. Meredith did not take his position with theseriousness which was expected from a public official."His language was, as I say, under great provocation25, violent andunusual. He had a trick of using words which never were on landor sea, and illustrating26 his instruction or his admonition withthe quaintest27 phraseology.
Now he was tilted28 back in his office chair at an alarming angle,scowling at his distressed29 subordinate who sat on the edge of achair at the other side of his desk.
"But, T. X.," protested the Inspector, "there was nothing to befound."It was the outrageous practice of Mr. Meredith to insist upon hisassociates calling him by his initials, a practice which had earntdisapproval in the highest quarters.
"Nothing is to be found!" he repeated wrathfully. "Curious Mike!"He sat up with a suddenness which caused the police officer tostart back in alarm.
"Listen," said T. X., grasping an ivory paperknife savagely31 in hishand and tapping his blotting-pad to emphasize his words, "you'rea pie!""I'm a policeman," said the other patiently.
"A policeman!" exclaimed the exasperated32 T. X. "You're worse thana pie, you're a slud! I'm afraid I shall never make a detectiveof you," he shook his head sorrowfully at the smiling Mansus whohad been in the police force when T. X. was a small boy at school,"you are neither Wise nor Wily; you combine the innocence33 of aBaby with the grubbiness of a County Parson - you ought to be inthe choir34."At this outrageous insult Mr. Mansus was silent; what he mighthave said, or what further provocation he might have received maybe never known, for at that moment, the Chief himself walked in.
The Chief of the Police in these days was a grey man, rathertired, with a hawk35 nose and deep eyes that glared under shaggyeyebrows and he was a terror to all men of his department save toT. X. who respected nothing on earth and very little elsewhere.
"Well, T. X.," he said, "what have you discovered about our friendKara?"He turned from T. X. to the discomforted inspector.
"Very little," said T. X. "I've had Mansus on the job.""And you've found nothing, eh?" growled38 the Chief.
"He has found all that it is possible to find," said T. X. "We donot perform miracles in this department, Sir George, nor can wepick up the threads of a case at five minutes' notice."Sir George Haley grunted39.
"Mansus has done his best," the other went on easily, "but it israther absurd to talk about one's best when you know so little ofwhat you want."Sir George dropped heavily into the arm-chair, and stretched outhis long thin legs.
"What I want," he said, looking up at the ceiling and putting hishands together, "is to discover something about one RemingtonKara, a wealthy Greek who has taken a house in Cadogan Square, whohas no particular position in London society and therefore has noreason for coming here, who openly expresses his detestation ofthe climate, who has a magnificent estate in some wild place inthe Balkans, who is an excellent horseman, a magnificent shot anda passable aviator40."T. X. nodded to Mansus and with something of gratitude41 in his eyesthe inspector took his leave.
"Now Mansus has departed," said T. X., sitting himself on the edgeof his desk and selecting with great care a cigarette from thecase he took from his pocket, "let me know something of the reasonfor this sudden interest in the great ones of the earth."Sir George smiled grimly.
"I have the interest which is the interest of my department," hesaid. "That is to say I want to know a great deal about abnormalpeople. We have had an application from him," he went on, "whichis rather unusual. Apparently42 he is in fear of his life from somecause or other and wants to know if he can have a privatetelephone connection between his house and the central office. Wetold him that he could always get the nearest Police Station onthe 'phone, but that doesn't satisfy him. He has made bad friendswith some gentleman of his own country who sooner or later, hethinks, will cut his throat."T. X. nodded.
"All this I know," he said patiently, "if you will further unfoldthe secret dossier, Sir George, I am prepared to be thrilled.""There is nothing thrilling about it," growled the older man,rising, "but I remember the Macedonian shooting case in SouthLondon and I don't want a repetition of that sort of thing. Ifpeople want to have blood feuds43, let them take them outside themetropolitan area.""By all means," said T. X., "let them. Personally, I don't carewhere they go. But if that is the extent of your information Ican supplement it. He has had extensive alterations44 made to thehouse he bought in Cadogan Square; the room in which he lives ispractically a safe."Sir George raised his eyebrows36.
"A safe," he repeated.
T. X. nodded.
"A safe," he said; "its walls are burglar proof, floor and roofare reinforced concrete, there is one door which in addition toits ordinary lock is closed by a sort of steel latch45 which he letsfall when he retires for the night and which he opens himselfpersonally in the morning. The window is unreachable, there areno communicating doors, and altogether the room is planned tostand a siege."The Chief Commissioner was interested.
"Any more?" he asked.
"Let me think," said T. X., looking up at the ceiling. "Yes, theinterior of his room is plainly furnished, there is a bigfireplace, rather an ornate bed, a steel safe built into the walland visible from its outer side to the policeman whose beat is inthat neighborhood.""How do you know all this?" asked the Chief Commissioner.
"Because I've been in the room," said T. X. simply, "having by anunderhand trick succeeded in gaining the misplaced confidence ofKara's housekeeper46, who by the way" - he turned round to his deskand scribbled47 a name on the blotting-pad - "will be dischargedto-morrow and must be found a place.""Is there any -er -?" began the Chief.
"Funny business?" interrupted T. X., "not a bit. House and manare quite normal save for these eccentricities48. He has announcedhis intention of spending three months of the year in England andnine months abroad. He is very rich, has no relations, and has apassion for power.""Then he'll be hung," said the Chief, rising.
"I doubt it," said the other, "people with lots of money seldomget hung. You only get hung for wanting money.""Then you're in some danger, T. X.," smiled the Chief, "foraccording to my account you're always more or less broke.""A genial49 libel," said T. X., "but talking about people beingbroke, I saw John Lexman to-day - you know him!"The Chief Commissioner nodded.
"I've an idea he's rather hit for money. He was in that Roumaniangold swindle, and by his general gloom, which only comes to a manwhen he's in love (and he can't possibly be in love since he'smarried) or when he's in debt, I fear that he is still feeling theeffect of that rosy50 adventure."A telephone bell in the corner of the room rang sharply, and T. X.
picked up the receiver. He listened intently.
"A trunk call," he said over his shoulder to the departingcommissioner, "it may be something interesting."A little pause; then a hoarse51 voice spoke52 to him. "Is that you,T. X.?""That's me," said the Assistant Commissioner, commonly.
"It's John Lexman speaking.""I shouldn't have recognized your voice," said T. X., "what iswrong with you, John, can't you get your plot to went?""I want you to come down here at once," said the voice urgently,and even over the telephone T. X. recognized the distress30. "Ihave shot a man, killed him!"T. X. gasped53.
"Good Lord," he said, "you are a silly ass1!"
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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prosecutor
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| n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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scintilla
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| n.极少，微粒 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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deported
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| v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止 | |
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hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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knowledgeable
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| adj.知识渊博的；有见识的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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defalcation
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| n.盗用公款，挪用公款，贪污 | |
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disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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creases
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的第三人称单数 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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illustrating
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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quaintest
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| adj.古色古香的( quaint的最高级 )；少见的，古怪的 | |
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tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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growled
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| 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 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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aviator
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| n.飞行家，飞行员 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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