Bruce was allowed to take his own way, a result he had not confidently expected. The vulgar curiosity of the passing crowd annoyed him. Standing4 outside the vestry hall was a carriage and a pair of horses. Leona Lalage, seated inside, smiled brilliantly on Bruce and his companion, and the footman opened the door.
"I managed to get inside," the Countess said. "Did anybody ever hear so foolish a fuss? And that silly juryman!"
"I am afraid I should have shared his opinion under similar circumstances," said Bruce. "You see my guilt----"
"I shall not listen to a word of it," the Countess cried. "The mere5 suggestion is revolting to one's common sense. Fancy you committing a vulgar crime like that! Jump in, and let us get away from this awful crowd. Where shall I drive you?"
It was all the same to Hetty so long as she got away from the insolent6 people. They must go back and have tea at Lytton Avenue. There would be nobody present, and the Countess would not be at home to anybody. Nothing could be sweeter or more sympathetic than her manner.
To lounge there in that dimly-lighted and perfectly7 appointed room was soothing9 and restful. Bruce carried his head a little higher as he made his way home.
There was a smell of tobacco in his room and a vision of Lawrence with his heels on the mantelpiece smoking a cigarette. He was looking at a paragraph in an early edition of the Globe that seemed to give him satisfaction.
"So you've got back," he said. "Rather a sensational10 bit of copy for the papers over the inquest, eh? That pompous11 juryman's face was a study when Hetty and that reporter chap knocked him out of time."
"I didn't see you," said Bruce.
"All the same I was there all the time. I fetched the Countess Lalage in. As I entered I bought a copy of the Globe. The first thing that took my eye was the very strange advertisement inside by the theatrical12 notices."
Bruce glanced carelessly at the paragraph. Then his eye brightened. It ran as follows:
"Danger.--The danger lies in the second floor back bedroom of the corner house.--Z."
"Toujours the corner house," Bruce cried. "What do you make of it?"
Lawrence looked at his friend with a twinkle.
"I'll tell you my opinion later on," he said. "I think that after an exhibition of my marvellous powers, you can safely leave the matter to me. Should you like to have a little bit of an adventure this evening?"
Bruce replied that he was just in the frame of mind for something of the kind. He was far too restless to settle down to anything.
"It may be lively and it may be the reverse," said Lawrence, "but it is nothing more or less than an hour or two spent in the corner house. We are going there after ten, and I prophesy13 that we shall catch something; if we are very lucky it may be the being with the secret."
"In other words you propose to drag my unlucky self into house-breaking?"
"Nothing of the kind. I have procured14 the key to the back part of the premises15 from Prout, who has the profoundest respect for my sagacity. When I pointed8 out that notice in the Globe to him he proposed to have the house watched, which is so like a policeman's intellect."
It was a little past ten when the two friends set out upon their errand. There was nothing of note until the house was reached. The blinds were all closely drawn16, so that the adventurers had to grope their way from room to room, the suggestion of a light being out of the question.
"We'll sit in the hall," said Lawrence. "We'll take it for granted that the owner is a hospitable17 man, and permit ourselves the luxury of tobacco."
It was a long and weary vigil, and when the clock struck midnight Bruce heartily18 wished himself out of it. It was a strain on the nerves, too, sitting in that dark silent house waiting for something that might not come. Lawrence did not usually display any bulldog qualities, but he sat on grimly now.
The traffic grew quieter, only a solitary19 pedestrian or a tramping policeman passed the house. Then came a firm footstep that paused before the house, with a suggestion of listening or waiting for someone on the part of the wayfarer20.
Bruce's heart beat a little faster as he heard a scuffling on the step and the muffled21 rattle22 of a latchkey in the door. There was a breath of welcome fresh air in the stuffy23 place, the impact of two bodies, and Lawrence rushed upon the newcomer. There was a muttered curse and a fall.
"Got him," Lawrence cried. "I knew we should. Or he's got me. Light the gas, Gordon; we'll have to risk it this time."
Bruce fumbled24 for the bracket, and found it at length. There was a flaring25 rush and then dazed eyes made out a tall man with a pair of blazing angry dark eyes, and a beard quivering with rage.
"Come my man, what's your name?" Lawrence panted.
"My name, sir," said the other coolly and clearly, "is Mr. Garrett Charlton, the owner of this house. And who are you?"
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1
defrauded
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| v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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8
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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15
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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17
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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22
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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23
stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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24
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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