“Get some water and wine, Lane,” he directed, and the young officer sped out of the room, to return quickly with Nicodemus bearing the necessary articles. Douglas forced some of the stimulant1 between Eleanor’s clenched2 teeth, and bathed her temples and hands with the iced water, and, to his infinite relief, he had the satisfaction of seeing her open her eyes.
“Father,” she murmured, “Father!”
“I am here.” The tall, sad-faced man stooped over her, and she placed her trembling hand against his cheek. “Don’t look so wild, my darling,”—as recollection returned fully4 to her. “Think no more of it,” and he laid his hand softly over her eyes. She smiled like a tired child, and, reaching over, laid her hand in Douglas’, then, reassured5, lay still. Seen together, the likeness6 between father and daughter was obvious. Eleanor had inherited his handsome deep blue eyes, long eyelashes, and brilliant coloring.
Brett rose from beside the still figure. “He’s dead—this time,” he said tersely7. “Apoplexy. It beats me how he got out of that burning automobile8.”
“He wasn’t in it,” said Barry Thornton calmly.
“He wasn’t?” Brett’s excitement overcame him. “Why, I saw him with my own eyes.”
“You saw him leave here, yes; but you probably did not notice that the Japanese chauffeur9 was crouching10 at his feet in the car. When the machine turned into Wisconsin Avenue, out of your sight, my brother slowed down and sprang out, giving his hat to the Japanese, who took his place at the wheel and raced the machine up Wisconsin Avenue.”
“Well, I’ll be damned!” ejaculated Brett. “So it was poor Fugi who was burned up. But, good Lord! when Colonel Thornton had made so successful a getaway what induced him to put his head in the lion’s mouth by returning here, and what was he doing in this room?”
“If you search his pockets you may find out,” was the cryptic12 reply as Barry Thornton drew up a chair by Eleanor’s couch and seated himself.
Brett thrust his hand first in one pocket of the dead man’s clothing and then in another. In the last one he jerked it out again as if his fingers had been bitten. In his hand dangled13 the priceless ruby14 necklace and a wallet filled with bank notes! Brett sat down on the floor, for once speechless.
“How did you know it?” he asked finally.
Barry Thornton raised his disengaged hand and pointed15 to the portrait of his ancestor and namesake. “I was watching this scene through those peepholes,”—an exclamation16 escaped Douglas,—“you almost caught me this morning, Mr. Hunter. This old house is honeycombed with secret passages. My brother kept a large sum of money in a secret drawer in that desk. He probably needed funds to assist him in escaping from this country, so came back here and entered the house by means of one of the secret passages. He has been concealed17 behind that sliding panel,”—pointing to an aperture18 in the wall near the chimney,—“waiting to slip into this room. He seized the opportunity when Nicodemus put out the lights, and left by the billiard room door, to steal the necklace as well as get his money. Your reëntering the room flustered19 him, and he was making in haste for the secret passage when I stepped out of it and faced him. Thinking me dead years ago—his escape barred—the shock proved too much....” Thornton did not complete his sentence. There was a moment’s silence.
“I think it would be as well, Mr. Thornton, that we remove your brother’s body to his room,” suggested Douglas, recovering somewhat from his astonishment20.
“We can all testify to the details of Colonel Thornton’s death,” put in Lane. “But we cannot leave him lying here on his own floor. His death was natural, brought on by shock.”
“Very well, sir.” Brett rose and walked to the door. He returned in a moment with a plain-clothes policeman, and, with the assistance of Douglas and Lane, all that was mortal of Dana Thornton was carried to his room. Barry Thornton had requested them to return, and Douglas, Lane, and Brett trooped back to the library.
“Eleanor has told me of her long search,” began Thornton. “My disappearance22 came from lapse23 of memory, and the latter was brought on by a fall on shipboard. That fall,”—deliberately,—“was caused by my brother, Dana.”
“Oh, Father!” Eleanor sat bolt upright.
“Yes, I had found out some of his deviltries and taxed him with them. I told him I would expose him if he did not mend his ways, and he promised to do so. He visited me on board ship, and while he was there I had occasion to mount the rigging. He followed me up, and managed to push me as I was swinging from one of the ropes. I lost my balance and fell, with what result you already know.”
“The fiend!” cried Eleanor, bitterly. “And I trusted him so.”
“His ability to inspire confidence has been his greatest asset,” said her father dryly. “After leaving the gig that day at Old Point Comfort, everything is a blank to me.”
“What brought back your memory?” asked Douglas.
“A chance remark overheard in a drinking hell of Colon11, Panama. Two days before that a man whose face was dimly familiar met me in the streets of Cristobal and gave me his card, telling me I must ask for him at the Navy Department at Washington, and that the Secretary was keeping a place open for me. At the time, while his words impressed me deeply, they conveyed no very clear idea, nor did Senator Carew’s name enlighten me; but they caused me to renew my efforts to remember the past, which I felt convinced was very different from my surroundings then.
“As I have said, two days after I overheard two men plotting against the United States. Toward the end of their conversation the younger man, whom I took to be an American, mentioned the name which woke the sleeping chords of memory—the name of my dearly loved wife, Nora Fitzgerald,”—his voice broke with a sob24. Eleanor raised his hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly. Her father’s grasp tightened25 involuntarily and he continued:
“I hastened back to Washington as soon as I could get here, working my passage, and on my arrival went to see Secretary Wyndham. The news of Senator Carew’s death was a great shock, for I had depended on him to assist me to find my wife and child. I believe I had some sort of attack at the Department, but all I recollect3 is finding myself again in the street.”
“What did you do then?” questioned Douglas, as the older man paused.
“I came on here, thinking I might find Dana. He was out, but old Nicodemus opened the door for me. He recognized me almost instantly; hurried me out into the kitchen, and there poured out such an extraordinary tale of Dana’s behavior that I sat dumfounded.”
“In justice to myself I must,” was the grave reply. “Dana was a moral degenerate27; brave to a fault, and very clever, he did not know the difference between right and wrong. If he had been content to keep straight he might have risen to high places; instead he practiced deceit and dishonor.” Thornton’s sad face hardened. “He was always a first class actor, and that talent helped him in the double life he was leading. Nicodemus told me that he was in the habit of disguising himself whenever he was up to deviltry.”
“Ah, that explains why Annette did not know that Dana Thornton was ‘the mutual28 friend’ to whom she delivered and from whom she received secret despatches,” put in Brett, who had followed Captain Thornton’s words with breathless interest.
“After what Nicodemus told me I decided29 not to let my brother know of my presence here,” continued Captain Thornton, “and so occupied an unused room in the garret, where Nicodemus took care of me.”
“Oh, why didn’t you come to me?” asked Eleanor passionately30.
“I did, dear; yesterday morning, but you were out.” An exclamation broke from Eleanor. “I did not leave any message or name, so you were not told of my visit. Nicodemus told me of my wife’s death, and of your presence in Washington, Eleanor.
“How I kept my hands off Dana I don’t know!” Thornton’s eyes blazed with righteous indignation. “He was the cause of all my misfortunes. When possible I spied upon him; not an honorable occupation, but I felt I must fight the devil with fire. When I entered this room just now I intended to slay31 him, but Providence32 intervened and gave him a more merciful death than I would have meted33 out to him.”
“I don’t know about that,” said Brett; “in the hour of his triumph you snatched his victory from him. God only knows what thoughts were concentrated in his active brain when physical endurance succumbed34 to the shock of seeing you.”
“Perhaps you are right,” agreed Thornton wearily. “I think that is all I have to tell you, gentlemen.”
“There is one question I feel I must ask,” Brett rose to his feet as he spoke35. “Did Annette commit suicide, or was she killed by human or supernatural agency?”
“I think my brother planned her murder; one crime more or less did not trouble his elastic36 conscience.”
“By Heaven! she brought it on herself by offering to confess to Colonel Thornton what she knew of Senator Carew’s murder. But how the devil did he accomplish it?” questioned Brett. “The only door was locked on the inside, and no one could have entered by the windows. I examined all the wall space, thinking there might be a concealed entrance, but couldn’t find a sign of one.”
“But you did not examine the floor of the closet,” replied Thornton. “It has a trapdoor cleverly concealed. The passage leads to a secret door which opens on the landing of the circular staircase leading from this floor to the next. My idea is that Dana stole into the room, found the maid asleep, and blew out the gas, leaving her to be asphyxiated37, and then returned to his room.”
“Did you see him do this?”—sternly.
“Most certainly not. If I had had the faintest idea that he intended to murder the maid, I would have prevented the crime. I stayed downstairs last night, going over some papers in Dana’s desk until nearly three this morning. I was stealing up to my room when I saw Miss Carew coming down the hall, and, when she screamed and roused the household, I bolted into the secret passage opening from the stair landing.”
“I am exceedingly obliged to you, sir, for straightening out these mysteries,” said Brett, stepping to the door. “How much do you wish made public?”
“Only that which is absolutely necessary to clear the innocent from suspicion,” returned Thornton gravely. “I leave the matter to your judgment38.”
Eleanor slipped from the lounge where she had been lying. “Wait for me here, Father,” she requested, as she left the room.
“Will you excuse me, Mr. Thornton,” said Fred Lane, rising. “I would like to join Mrs. Truxton and Cynthia for half an hour.”
“Certainly, Captain, and I will be exceedingly grateful if you will explain to Mrs. Truxton what has taken place here to-night. Tell her as much or as little as you think necessary.”
“I will indeed, sir; good night,” and Lane, his step elastic as he thought of joining Cynthia, hastened to Mrs. Truxton’s room.
Eleanor was not long absent. Walking over to the lounge, she laid a number of leather-bound journals on her father’s knee.
“Mother kept a diary for you, Father; she charged me never to part with it until we should meet, when I was to give it to you.”
Thornton kissed her in silence. As Eleanor stood hesitating, Douglas’ arm stole round her waist. “Come with me, dear heart,” he murmured. The lovelight transfigured his strong face and was reflected in her beautiful eyes. Together they strolled to the door, but before passing out of the room Eleanor paused and glanced back at her father.
Thornton’s iron composure had given way, and his head was bowed over the familiar handwriting as he read through tear-dimmed eyes the messages of love and faith penned by his girl wife in the years that were no more.
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1
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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2
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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4
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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5
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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6
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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7
tersely
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| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
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8
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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9
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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10
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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11
colon
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| n.冒号，结肠，直肠 | |
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12
cryptic
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| adj.秘密的，神秘的，含义模糊的 | |
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13
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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14
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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15
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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16
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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17
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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18
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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19
flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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20
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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21
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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22
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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23
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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24
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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25
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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26
hitching
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| 搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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27
degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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28
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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29
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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30
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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31
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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32
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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33
meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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35
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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36
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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37
asphyxiated
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| v.渴望的，有抱负的，追求名誉或地位的( aspirant的过去式和过去分词 )；有志向或渴望获得…的人 | |
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38
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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39
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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