The house itself was quite a good one. The grounds were neat and trim. The flower boxes in the windows ablaze1 with bloom. The place spoke2 for itself as the residence of some prosperous individual who, in all probability, was somebody of importance in the City. It was the last place in the world to associate with crime and violence. In front of the house was a fairly large lawn, shaded by shrubs3 and trees. A kitchen garden at the back was bounded by a lane, and on the far side of this stretched a wide open common covered with gorse and bracken.
"Have you any idea where we are?" Lord Ravenspur asked.
"Not the faintest,'" Walter confessed. "I nave4 never been here before. The only thing I am sure of is that Vera is in yonder house. But let us get away from here and talk it over. The further this thing goes, the more sure I am that we have foes5 to deal with who are clever as they are unscrupulous."
"But where shall we go?" Ravenspur asked.
Walter suggested skirting round the back of the house, and so on to the common. Once there, they found shelter enough, for the gorse was high and the bracken was deep. Indeed, a regiment6 of soldiers might have hidden there with perfect safety.
"I think I begin to see my way," Walter said. "One of us must stay here and the other get back to London without delay. If you don't mind, I should like to consult my friend Venables about this business. He is very clever and courageous7, and, besides, he has a decided8 fondness for detective business. I think you will agree with me that we want another hand?"
"We want half a dozen," Ravenspur murmured. "What we really ought to do is to place the matter in the hands of the police and have yonder house searched at once. Yet, I am very loth to do that. I am exceedingly anxious to prevent anything like a scandal, and this is the very sort of thing to appeal to the cheap Press. But what are we going to do about our journey to Weymouth? What would the officials at Waterloo think when we didn't turn up last night? And, again, there are all the servants in Park Lane. If you can only show me some way to stop the mouths of these people I shall be grateful. You know what servants are."
"I think that can be managed," Walter said after a thoughtful pause. "You stay here while I go back to London. I will return as soon as possible. Oh, of course, I will bring a change of clothing with me. It would be madness to hang about a suburb like this in evening dress. We should be spotted10 in a moment."
It seemed to Ravenspur that there was no help for it. Anxious and troubled and worn out as he was, he could not be altogether blind to the absurdity11 of the situation. The idea of a man in his position hiding himself on a London common, dressed as he was, seemed ridiculous. He had no more than a dust coat over his evening dress; he was wearing the collar of an Order. Still, as he looked about him he took fresh heart of grace. The common appeared to be little frequented. There were deep hollows here and there, full of bracken and brambles, under which it was possible to hide. There was no prospect12 of Walter getting back within the next three hours. There was nothing for it but to make the best of the situation.
Meanwhile, Walter was hurrying back to London. He made a wide détour of the common, so that it was not possible for him to be seen from the house. Then presently he struck a main road on the far side of which ran a railway line. He could see in the distance the buildings and signals that marked a station. At any rate, he would be able to find out where he was without displaying his ignorance by asking questions. It was still quite early, only a little past five o'clock, as Walter found on consulting his watch. After all said and done, the station was not much use to him, for probably no train would run within the next couple of hours. Presently there was a clatter13 of hoofs14 behind, and an empty hansom came along. The sight of the cab was proof to Walter that he was not very far outside the radius15. A happy idea came to him.
"Are you going back to town?" he asked the cabman.
"Well, yes, sir," the cabman explained. "I have been taking a fare out to Cannon16 Green."
"Then you are just the man for me," Walter exclaimed. "My man has failed to turn up, and I was going to try the station. I suppose that is Cannon Green station just at the end of the road?"
"That's right, sir," the cabman said civilly. "But you'll get no train yet. Drive you anywhere you like, sir, for half-a-sovereign."
Walter jumped into the cab without further hesitation17. A ride of a little over an hour brought him to Park Lane. A sleepy footman opened the door, and regarded Walter in amazement18. He had his story all ready. There had been misunderstanding on the previous evening, and Lord Ravenspur and Miss Rayne had gone on to Weymouth by an early train. There was something very paltry19 about this deception20, but at the same time it seemed to Walter to be absolutely necessary. He roused his own man; together they packed a couple of portmanteaux, which Walter gave directions should be taken to Waterloo Station without delay, and left in the cloakroom. Once he had satisfied the curiosity of the household in Park Lane, he went on promptly21 to Venables' rooms. Over a hasty breakfast he explained everything that had happened to his companion. As he expected, Venables at once threw himself heart and soul into the adventure.
"I quite understand your point of view," he exclaimed. "What you want to do is to hang about all day and take observations. At the same time, it is absolutely necessary that we should arouse no suspicions. I think I can see my way. This is a matter of disguise. We can pick up all we want in this direction in Covent Garden on our way to the station."
"There is only one thing that worries me," Walter said, "and that is Bruno. What shall we do with him?"
"Oh, that's all right," Venables cried. "Very well-trained dog, isn't he? So much the better. You see, in the course of my adventures I have come across some pretty shady specimens22 of humanity, though I am bound to say that I have found many of this class pretty faithful when they are well paid. Now I know a fellow at Cannon Green who will look after the dog for us for a consideration. He is a fancier himself, and always has a few animals for sale. What more natural than that he should have a bloodhound on the premises23? Mr. Bill Perks24 is more than suspected of being a receiver of stolen goods, and on two occasions has been in trouble. Still, he knows me, and will do anything I like, provided I pay him handsomely. Don't let us waste any more time."
An hour later and the two adventurers left the train at Cannon Green, bearing a set of instruments such as those used by surveyors when they are planning and laying out new land. Their disguise was slight enough, but quite sufficient for the purpose. Both wore smart looking caps, edged with gold, so that their appearance was sufficiently25 formal and official. In addition to this Walter carried a bulky bag, which contained a complete change of clothing for Lord Ravenspur. The latter was glad enough to see Walter and Venables. He breathed a little more freely when he found himself clad at length in a Norfolk suit. He rather rebelled against a showy white helmet and a set of long grey whiskers which Venables proceeded to attach dexterously26 to his face. A few touches of grease paint and pencil, together with a pair of big spectacles, rendered the disguise complete. Walter expressed his admiration27.
"I can hardly believe that it is you, uncle," he said.
"And you are changed almost out of recognition," Ravenspur said. "Really, I must compliment Mr. Venables. And now, I suppose I had better hide the bag in these bushes. We have a very anxious day before us, I am afraid, but that does not prevent one feeling the call of Nature. I don't think I was ever so ravenously28 hungry in my life. Where can we get some breakfast?"
Venables, who seemed to have thought of everything, had already solved the problem. There was a very fair hotel not far from the station, and it would be an easy matter to hide the surveying outfit29 till it was needed. In the first place, they could skirt round the edge of the common, and pay a call on the man Perks, who would look after the dog till his services were needed again.
They came at length to Perks' house, a rather dilapidated looking place, with a large, untidy garden around it. There were sheds and huts and kennels30 at the back, so that the intruders were greeted with a terrible din9 of barking as they went up the path.
"Cunning hand, Perks," Venables explained. "It is very little he makes out of dog-fancying. But see how useful these animals are. Day or night the police can never approach the place with the object of raid without Perks having ample notice. But come along, and you shall see the man for yourselves. Oh, you needn't trouble yourself about your disguise. Perks is not in the least suspicious nor will he ask any questions. He will only think that you are a couple of amateur detectives like myself."
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1
ablaze
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| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
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2
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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3
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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4
nave
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| n.教堂的中部；本堂 | |
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5
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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6
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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7
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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8
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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10
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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11
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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12
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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13
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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14
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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15
radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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16
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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17
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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18
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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19
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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20
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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21
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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22
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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23
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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24
perks
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| 额外津贴，附带福利，外快( perk的名词复数 ) | |
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25
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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27
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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28
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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29
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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30
kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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