“I am in a quandary,” Benedict had said to Kate. “I hesitate to leave you here at this moment, but there is a great mystery to be solved at once.”
Rudolph’s hand trembled perceptibly as he held a match to a candle’s wick. There was something in his manner that affected3 Kate Strong unpleasantly. Her overwrought nerves exaggerated the uncanny features of her surroundings, and she grew cold at the thought of Benedict’s departure.
At that instant a door opened at the rear of the lodge4, and Mrs. Brevoort and Ned Strong, groping through a dark hall-way toward a gleam of light, burst into the room.
“What is the matter, Kate?” cried Mrs. Brevoort, rushing toward her friend, while her companion stood in the centre of the room, scrutinizing5, with a puzzled expression[110] in his eyes, the disturbed faces of Benedict and Rudolph.
“Rudolph,” cried Ned Strong, suppressed excitement in his voice, “a crime has been committed at the house—perhaps a murder. What do you know about it?”
Norman Benedict had been relieved of all responsibility, so far as Kate Strong was concerned.
“Pardon me,” he said to Ned Strong, “but would it not be well for us to go up to the manor-house at once?” Benedict did not lack courage, but, under the circumstances, he was pleased at the prospect6 of having an ally in his tour of investigation7.
Rudolph Smolenski, pale with apprehension8, but rendered active by the dark possibilities that threatened him, had placed himself at the doorway9 through which the young men threatened to pass. The Rexanian put up a hand with a gesture that was both threatening and imploring10.
“Remain here, Mr. Strong; and you, sir. It may not be safe for you to go up to the house.”
“What do you mean, Rudolph?” asked Ned Strong, sternly. “Be careful, man. You are putting yourself in a very questionable11 position. Stand aside, and let us pass. If there’s any one in great danger, Rudolph, I think you’re the man. Stand aside.”
Kate Strong and Mrs. Brevoort, with hand clasped in hand, were seated side by side on the sofa, gazing with disturbed faces at the three men.
“Listen to Rudolph, Ned,” implored12 Kate. “He may be right. You may run a great risk in going to the house.”
[111]
Rudolph still stubbornly held his place in front of the door. Norman Benedict’s patience was at an end.
“Come, come, man,” he exclaimed. “Out of the way, or we’ll be obliged to use force. Do you hear me?”
Mrs. Brevoort had arisen. Ned Strong felt a gentle hand on his arm.
“Don’t go up to that gloomy old house, Mr. Strong,” she implored, looking up at him with an expression on her face that made life seem very precious to him at that moment.
“There is not the slightest cause to worry,” he said, quietly, although his pulse was beating feverishly13. “This gentleman—Mr.—Mr.——?”
“My name is Benedict,” answered the reporter, impatiently. “I found Miss Strong with a sprained14 ankle near the gate, and have had the pleasure of being of service to her. But you’ll pardon me for using heroic measures. I have wasted too much time already.”
With these words, Benedict seized Rudolph by the collar of his coat and hurled15 the pudgy little Rexanian into a far corner of the room. Then he bolted through the door.
“I can’t let him go alone,” cried Ned Strong, reluctantly but firmly removing Mrs. Brevoort’s hand from his arm. “Remain here. We’ll be back at once.”
Thus saying, he dashed down the dark corridor in pursuit of Benedict.
Rudolph Smolenski had managed to totter16 to his feet and was gazing about the room in a dazed way. The reporter had, in the excitement of the moment, used more force in[112] removing the Rexanian from his path than was actually necessary for his purpose.
“What do you make of all this, Kate?” exclaimed Mrs. Brevoort, reseating herself beside the girl, and looking at the ludicrous picture that Rudolph presented, with a nervous smile on her face.
“I’m sure I’ve got beyond the point where my opinion is worth much,” answered Kate, wearily. “My ankle aches, and the whole universe seems to be nothing but an exposed nerve.”
“Poor girl, how thoughtless I’ve been!” cried Mrs. Brevoort, gently, pushing Kate back into a reclining position. “Get me some cold water, man,” she said to the lodge-keeper, whose wits were beginning to return to his aching head.
“That is much better,” said Kate gratefully, a few moments later. “But is it not strange that the doctor does not come?—Rudolph, did you see Dr. Moore?”
“I did, Miss Strong,” answered the Rexanian, with reckless defiance17 of the truth. He had begun to feel that one lie more or less would not make much difference with the retribution that threatened to overtake him so soon. “He should have been here long before this.”
The minutes dragged slowly along. To the two women the next quarter of an hour seemed almost interminable. Mrs. Brevoort used part of it to describe to Kate Strong the weird18 scene that she and Ned had witnessed just before the pistol-shot had punctuated19 the course of events.
Morose20, but alert, Rudolph Smolenski overheard her story, and his sluggish21 brain began[113] to grasp the fact that it was high time for him to act. Hitherto he had been tenacious22 of a lingering hope that he had not already forfeited23 his situation. The blow he had received when he struck the floor had not tended to give him a clear idea of the helplessness of his position. But as it dawned upon him that Ludovics must have been the man who fired the pistol at the manor-house, a cold sweat broke out upon his hands and brow. He had been the last man to talk to Ludovics, and the driver of the carriage that still waited outside the lodge gate had been a witness to their conversation. If Ludovics had murdered the prince, he, Rudolph, would be held as an accessory before the fact.
“Where are you going, Rudolph?” asked Kate suspiciously, as the Rexanian arose and walked unsteadily toward the door leading into the corridor.
“Just outside a moment, Miss Strong,” he faltered24. “I will take a look toward the big house and see if they are coming.”
“Do,” returned Kate. “I am growing very impatient,” she added, turning to Mrs. Brevoort.
They sat in silence for a time, their cold hands pressed together.
Suddenly they heard the rattle25 of a ramshackle vehicle as it passed the front of the house, bound cityward.
“That’s strange,” cried Mrs. Brevoort, springing up. “What does it mean?”
It meant that they would never set eyes upon Rudolph Smolenski again. But they had no time now to dwell upon his disappearance26. Hardly had the noise of the retreating[114] carriage died away when the sound of many voices reached them from the end of the corridor, and they felt a mingled27 sensation of relief and apprehension at the approaching footsteps of a crowd.
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1
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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2
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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3
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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4
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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5
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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6
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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7
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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8
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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9
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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10
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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11
questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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12
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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13
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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14
sprained
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| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
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15
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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16
totter
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| v.蹒跚， 摇摇欲坠；n.蹒跚的步子 | |
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17
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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18
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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19
punctuated
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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20
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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21
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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22
tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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23
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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25
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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26
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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27
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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