CHAPTER XXVII. AN INGENIOUS TRICK.

 One morning a tailor's boy entered the Somerset Hotel with a bundle which he carried to the clerk.

 

"It is an overcoat for Mr. Silas Drayton," he said.

 

"Very well," said the clerk. "You can leave it, and we will send it to his room."

 

Upon this the boy left the hotel.

 

A young man of twenty-five or thereabouts, who was sitting near by, listened attentively¹ to what passed between the boy and the clerk.

 

The latter summoned Rupert, and said: "Here is the key of 58. You may take up this coat and leave it in the room. It belongs to Mr. Drayton."

 

"All right, sir."

 

Rupert started with the bundle, and the[Pg 252] young man started for the elevator, and got into it just as it was about to ascend².

 

"I want to go up to No. 58," he said.

 

"Very well."

 

When they reached the third floor the elevator boy halted.

 

"You will find No. 58 on this floor," he said.

 

"Thank you."

 

The young man found the room, and was standing³ in front of it when Rupert made his appearance.

 

"Is that my uncle's coat?" he asked.

 

"It is Mr. Drayton's coat."

 

"Exactly. Mr. Drayton is my uncle. You may give it to me, and I will take it in. Have you the key?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Then you may give it to me; I came up without one."

 

He spoke⁴ with such assurance that Rupert, accustomed as he was to impostors, was quite taken in. He handed the package and the key to the young man, who at once opened the door and went into the room.

 

[Pg 253]

 

When Rupert had got half-way down stairs he began to wonder if he had not made a mistake.

 

He did not feel at all sure that the young man to whom he had handed the bundle had any right to claim it. As it might prove to be a serious mistake he went to the clerk and inquired, "Has Mr. Drayton got a nephew stopping here?"

 

"No. Why do you ask?"

 

"I am afraid I have made a blunder. At the door of No. 58 I met a young man who told me he was Mr. Drayton's nephew, and asked me to hand him the bundle."

 

"Did he come down stairs?"

 

"No, he went into the room."

 

"I didn't think you could be so easily imposed upon, Rupert. The man is undoubtedly⁵ an adventurer. Describe him."

 

Rupert did so.

 

"He had been sitting in the office for half an hour. He must have seen the tailor's boy bring in the bundle."

 

"He is upstairs yet. Can't we get back the coat?"

 

[Pg 254]

 

"You will know him when you see him again?"

 

"Oh, yes."

 

"Then take your position by the elevator, and if you see him come down, signal to the detective whom I will also station there. He will take care of him."

 

Ten minutes later the elevator reached the office floor. Among those who stepped out was the young man, wearing an overcoat considerably⁶ too large for him. It was clear that he had put it on in No. 58, and was now about to wear it out of the hotel.

 

He stepped out of the elevator, and with a slight glance about him made briskly for the door. But he had taken only two steps when Rupert caught him by the arm.

 

"I want to see you a minute," he said.

 

"I am in a hurry. I have an appointment. I will see you on my return."

 

But the detective had now stepped forward.

 

"You will have to stop now," he said, firmly.

 

"I don't understand you. By what right do you detain me?"

 

[Pg 255]

 

"Where did you get that overcoat you have on?"

 

"It is my own. Hasn't a man a right to wear an overcoat?"

 

"Yes, if it belongs to him. This seems too large for you."

 

"True," said the young man, "it belongs to my uncle, Mr. Drayton."

 

"Indeed. Then how do you happen to be wearing it?"

 

"I have borrowed it for the day. Really this is very annoying."

 

"What is your name?"

 

"Charles Drayton," answered the young man, with some hesitation⁷.

 

"You will have to take off the coat and accompany me to the police station."

 

"This is an outrage⁸!" exclaimed the young man. "My uncle will be very angry."

 

"If he identifies you, and assures us that it was by his authority you borrowed the coat, we will apologize."

 

"But that won't make up to me for your unwarrantable interference. Take the coat and let me go."

 

[Pg 256]

 

In spite of his protestations, however, Mr. Charles Drayton, as he called himself, was escorted to the nearest police station and held for examination. He was tried, and would have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment⁹, Mr. Silas Drayton disclaiming¹⁰ all relationship, had not the old gentleman taken pity on him and declined to prosecute¹¹.

 

It appeared at the trial that the young man was well known to the police as Sidney Marvin, an expert thief, born in London, but for three years a resident of the United States. Mr. Drayton was blamed for allowing him to escape punishment, but he was a soft-hearted man, and disposed to give the young man another chance.

1 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 ascend   

vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上

参考例句：

• We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
• We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

6 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

7 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

8 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

9 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

10 disclaiming   

v.否认( disclaim的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The Act prohibits anyone who offers a written warranty from disclaiming or modifying implied warranties. 马莫法案禁止任何提供书面保证的人否认或修改默示保证。 来自互联网

11 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？