On the whole, an appearance of candour would be best. She would go straight to Prout, who had the Corner House tragedy in hand, and tell him everything, at least everything that Lawrence had found out. She never guessed for a moment that this was exactly what the novelist expected her to do, in fact, he had apparently4 told all he knew to gain this end. Also, at his suggestion, Isidore had blurted5 out the fact that Prout had succeeded in laying Leon Lalage's brother by the heels.
On the whole, this would be by far the best thing to do. It was just possible that her fascinations6 might elicit7 something further from Prout. Leona Lalage might not have felt quite so easy in her mind had she known that the little snake-headed detective was fresh from a long interview with Lawrence.
He was profoundly impressed by the graciousness of his visitor. He even dusted an office chair for her with a clean handkerchief. He seemed a simple sort of man. Leona Lalage had not a high opinion of the police.
"I have come to have a chat with you," she said with her most brilliant smile, "on the subject of the Corner House. They tell me you have made an arrest that by a wonderful chance will have an important bearing on the case."
Prout grew wooden. His official manner caused Leona to hide a smile. Really, it would be child's play to get the better of this man.
"I am afraid you are mistaken, madame," he said.
"Indeed, no. Mr. Isidore spoke8 of it quite freely. It appears that a brother of the dead man has come into your hands. Is not that so?"
Prout grudgingly9 admitted that it was. He was also severe on the indiscretion of certain people. Mr. Isidore ought to know better. The Countess was charmed. Evidently she was going to do exactly as she pleased with this man. Every question that she asked him he contrived10 to answer in some way that betrayed his knowledge.
"Not that I am asking for sheer curiosity," she said gaily11. "You see I am also in a position to throw a little light in a dark place. Do you know that the rest of the missing notes have been in my possession?"
Prout was surprised. Not that he ought to have been surprised after the strange things that had come in his way professionally. The way he conveyed the impression that all this was news to him was artistic12. He asked a score of questions, he made voluminous notes solemnly in a large book.
"You have really been of great service to me, madame," he said. "It was very good of you to come and tell me straightforwardly13. Now, let us see if we can trace these notes to the possession of the previous holder14."
Leona Lalage intimated that was the only thing she desired for the moment. But at the same time she made it pretty clear to Prout that the thing was impossible. Her keen desire was to show him the impossibility of the proceeding15, and induce him to give up any further investigations16 in that direction.
"You see, I have the good fortune to be exceedingly rich," she said, with her most fascinating smile. "I don't value money as much as I should. To me it is a mere17 medium for enjoyment18. I gamble, and bet, and all that kind of thing, in fact I generally have a large sum of money in paper in the house. I might have got those notes from a betting man at Ascot, or at Goodwood, or even the card table. But at the same time I'll try my best to assist you."
Prout was profuse19. He was very anxious over those notes. He had certainly had the good fortune to take into custody20 one René Lalage, the brother to Leon Lalage, who had been murdered in the Corner House.
"Strange they should be the same name as myself," the Countess said.
"Not in the least," Prout hastened to reply. "I find the name is a very common one at Marseilles, and along the Mediterranean21 generally."
The Countess smiled. She had risen prepared to take her departure. If she had any knowledge of faces she had made a good impression.
"It seems hardly credible," she said. "I mean the story of the Corner House as told by Dr. Bruce. That Spanish woman, for instance."
Prout shook his head in a non-committal fashion. He had heard some amazing statements made by suspects in his time, statements so wild that they carried guilt22 on the face of them. And yet he had personally proved many of these statements to be true. The Countess smiled as she turned to the door.
"I am not very easily impressed," she said, "and as to that Spanish woman--eh, Dr. Bruce must have been taking lessons from Mr. Lawrence."
"The woman did exist all the same," Prout said innocently. "In fact, I don't mind admitting that I've got a portrait----"
He paused and looked down. The smile faded from Leona's face.
"Who told you that it was a portrait of--I mean where did you----"
"René Lalage. As you are interested, and as you came here to assist me, madame, I don't mind going so far as to show you the picture. It came from a weekly paper----"
"I know--I mean, what do I mean?" the Countess said hoarsely23. "Really I don't know why I should be so interested."
Prout took a sheet of paper from his desk and held it up. It was a portrait of a fair Spanish gipsy. The letterpress and border had been cut away.
"What do you think of that?" Prout asked.
Leona Lalage said nothing. She could only look and look in a fascinated way.
"It--it proves nothing," she said with an effort, presently. "A pleasant face. Don't you think that she is a little like me?"
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1
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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2
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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3
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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4
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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5
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
fascinations
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| n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉 | |
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7
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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8
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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9
grudgingly
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10
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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11
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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12
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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13
straightforwardly
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| adv.正直地 | |
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14
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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15
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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16
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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17
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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18
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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19
profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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22
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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