When Calliston was away, his Lares and Penates were looked after by a worthy8 lady, who rejoiced in the name of Mrs. Povy, an appellation9 which has in its sound a certain aroma10 of Pepys' Diary, but Lord Calliston and his friends not being acquainted with the ingenuous12 pages of the quaint11 Samuel, were unaware13 of this, so Mrs. Povy was generally known by the name of Totty. She was elderly, very stout14, with a round red face the tint15 of which was due to health and not drink, as she seldom imbibed16 anything stronger than tea. Totty was addicted17 to a kind of regulation uniform, consisting of a black dress, a huge white apron18, and a muslin cap, set coquettishly on the side of her elderly head. She was one of those quaint old motherly creatures, who never offend, no matter what they say, and she frequently lectured Calliston on the irregularity of his life, which that noble lord accepted with an amused laugh.
The late Mr. Povy had long since departed this life, and having been what is vulgarly known as a warm man, had left Totty comfortably off, so that lady occupied her present position more from choice than necessity. She had a gruff voice, and her casual remarks had the sound of positive commands, which she found of great use with refractory19 servants.
Totty learned from the papers that Lord Calliston had gone off to the Azores with Lady Balscombe, and expressed her disapproval20 of his action in the most emphatic21 manner to Mrs. Swizzle (a friend of her youth) as they sat over their four-o'clock tea.
"Ah," said Totty, fixing her eyes pensively22 on the little black tea-pot, "it ain't no good being a reformatory. The way I've talked to him about his goings on and now look at his goings off."
"Perhaps he couldn't help himself," said Mrs. Swizzle, who was tall and thin, and spoke23 in a kind of subdued24 whistle.
"He never tried to, I'll be bound," retorted Mrs. Povy, wrathfully. "Not as he's always bin26 after married pussons, for I know there is a gal27 as he pays for her board and lodging28."
"Lor'," whistled Mrs. Swizzle, curiously29. "Where?"
"Never you mind," returned Totty, screwing up her mouth. "She's a gal as no decent woman 'ud speak to her--silks and satings and wasting of money--oh, I've no patience with 'em! Kettles is snow in whiteness with gals30' morals now."
At this moment there came a ring at the door, and Totty hurrying away to attend to it, Mrs. Swizzle made the best use of her time by eating up the buttered toast as rapidly as she could.
When Mrs. Povy opened the door she was confronted by a lank31 figure in grey, which was none other than Dowker, come to prosecute32 his inquiries33 concerning Miss Sarschine.
"Well?" enquired34 Totty gruffly, annoyed at being disturbed, "and what do you want?"
Dowker gazed on the substantial figure before him and sighed.
"A few words with you about Lord Calliston," he said softly.
Mrs. Povy shook with wrath25.
"I ain't no spy or gossip," she said. "And if that is what you want to find out, this ain't the shop--so walk out," and she prepared to shut the door. But Dowker was too sharp for her, and placed his foot inside.
"Wait a moment, my good lady," he said, quietly. "I don't mean any harm to Lord Calliston, and what I want to speak to you about is important."
Curiosity got the better of Totty's wrath, so after a time she consented to speak to Dowker privately35, and to this end led him upstairs to Calliston's rooms.
"We're quiet here," she said, closing the door. "I can't ask you into my own room, as a perticler friend of mine is drinking tea with me."
"This will do capitally," replied Dowker, glancing round the room. "And now, as my curiosity may appear rude and you may refuse to answer some of my questions, I may as well tell you who I am."
"And who are you?" asked Mrs. Povy uneasily, "a noospaper or a politics?"
"Dowker--detective."
Mrs. Povy's naturally red face became white.
"What's up?" she gasped36. "Has Lord Calliston bin doing anything wrong?"
"No, no," replied Dowker soothingly37. "I only want to obtain some information about Miss Sarschine."
"I don't know that kind of pusson," said Totty angrily. "Never mind if you know her or not," retorted Dowker sternly, "but answer my questions."
Mrs. Povy sniffed38 and would have refused, but there was something in the detective's eye which quelled39 her, so she yielded an ungracious assent40.
"When did Lord Calliston leave town for his yacht?"
"About a week ago--on Monday last."
"Where was his yacht lying?"
"At Shoreham. He went to London Bridge Station to catch the ten minutes past nine train. His yotsh was to leave next morning."
"Did he go alone?"
"As far as I know," retorted Totty. "If Lady Balscombe went with him you can see it in the papers. I know no more than that."
"How often did Miss Sarschine call on Monday?"
"Once, in the afternoon, to see Lord Calliston."
"Did she see him?"
"No, he was out, so she said she'd call again in the evening."
"And did she?"
"Yes; but Lord Calliston had gone about eight o'clock to catch his train. I suppose she thought he wouldn't go till next morning."
"Did she know he was going to elope with Lady Balscombe?"
"Not that I know of."
"Did she see anyone when she came the second time?"
"Yes, Mr. Desmond, my lord's cousin."
"What time was that?"
"About twelve, between eleven and twelve."
Dowker pondered a little. So she called here to see Calliston just before she was murdered, and saw Desmond. Now the question was, what had Desmond to do with the affair.
"Was Mr. Desmond here on that evening by accident?"
"No. He told me he had come to give Miss Sarschine a message from Lord Calliston."
"You did not overhear their conversation?"
"Me," growled41 Tottie, indignantly, "I never listen--out when she was leaving they were 'having a row."
"About what time?"
"I think at ten minutes after twelve."
"Did she go out alone?"
"Yes. Mr. Desmond followed shortly afterwards."
"Did he say anything?"
"No, not a word."
Dowker felt puzzled. It was evident Desmond had given her a message from Calliston that made her angry, and she left the house in a rage, but then this did not connect anyone with a design to murder her. Suddenly he remembered that Ellersby had mentioned that he had met Desmond coming up St. James' Street a short time before the body was found. Was it possible that he had killed Miss Sarschine and was then coming away from the scene of his crime? Impossible, because the doctor said the woman must have been dead some hours. And yet he might have killed her and gone down St. James' Street to avert42 suspicion, and then come up again when he thought the coast would be clear. Unfortunately, he had met Ellersby and then--well, Dowker made up his mind he would go and see Ellersby, find out what he could about the meeting, and afterwards call on Myles Desmond. He, perhaps, might give some satisfactory explanation of his interview with Miss Sarschine, and account for his presence after the interview. If he did not, well, it would appear suspicious.
While these thoughts were rapidly passing through his mind, Totty had her eyes fastened eagerly on him.
"Well, now I've answered all your questions," she said, "perhaps you'll tell me what it all means."
"Murder!"
Mrs. Povy became quite excited, for she had a keen relish43 for horrors.
"Lor'! Who's dead--not Lord Calliston?"
"No. Miss Sarschine."
"Miss Sarschine!"
"Yes. She was murdered shortly after she left these rooms and after her interview with Mr. Desmond."
"Oh, he is innocent, I'm sure," said Mrs. Povy eagerly. "What on earth should he want to kill her for? Besides, he's in love with Miss Penfold."
"Oh, and she, I understand, was going to marry Lord Calliston."
"I don't believe she'd ever have married him," said Tottie disbelievingly; "she's that fond of Mr. Desmond, as never was. Where are you going?"
"To attend to business," replied Dowker, "and by the way, where does Mr. Desmond live?"
"You ain't going to arrest him for this murder?" shrieked44 Totty.
"No--no--there's no evidence," retorted Dowker lightly. "Where does he live?"
"Primrose45 Crescent, in Bloomsbury," replied Mrs. Povy. The detective took the address and went down stairs, followed by Mrs. Povy.
"You don't think Mr. Desmond did it, sir?" began Totty, "for a more----"
"I don't think anything," said Dowker, putting on his hat. "You'll hear soon enough what is done."
As he hurried away Mrs. Povy shut the door and returned to her room, where she implored46 Mrs. Swizzle to mix her a glass of brandy.
"I've 'ad such a turn," she wailed47, "as never was. Oh, it's a blessing48 Povy died afore he saw his wife mixed up with them nasty police."
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1
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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6
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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7
assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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8
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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16
imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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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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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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26
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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gals
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| abbr.gallons （复数）加仑（液量单位）n.女孩，少女( gal的名词复数 ) | |
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lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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33
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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35
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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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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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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38
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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39
quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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41
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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42
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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43
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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44
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
primrose
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| n.樱草，最佳部分， | |
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46
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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