Audrey took a violent dislike to him. Even before he had been suggested to her as a possible husband she had never liked him, as there was an atmosphere of impurity7 about him which repelled8 her. But that he should seek to be her husband made her more active in her dislike, and when he pressed his suit she told him plainly that she would never marry him. Lord Anvers, not being troubled with delicacy9, simply laughed.
"My father can wish it, but he won't get it," retorted Miss Branwin, all her outraged12 soul flashing with sapphire13 lights in her eyes. "I don't love you, and I never shall love you."
"Oh, I know there's another man," said Anvers, coolly. "Your father told me to be prepared for the objection, that your affections were engaged."
"My affections have nothing to do with the matter, Lord Anvers. If there wasn't another man in the world, I wouldn't marry you."
"Why not?"
"Oh! we won't go into particulars," she said sharply. "I have heard--"
"A lot of lies, I assure you. I'm not a bad chap, as chaps go, and, upon my soul, I'll try and make you happy."
"I want a better husband than one who is not bad as chaps go," said Audrey, coldly. "I want a man I can respect--a Galahad."
"Never heard of him," confessed Anvers, candidly14, "unless it's another name for a fellow called Shawe."
"Perhaps it is," replied Miss Branwin, holding herself very straight, "and you can tell my father that I shall marry no one else but Mr. Shawe."
"Oh, come, give me a chance," pleaded the aristocratic black sheep.
"I have given you a chance to propose to me and I refuse you."
Anvers looked bewildered. He was unaccustomed to this very plain speaking on the part of a spinster. "You don't let a chap down easy; and I shan't lose heart, anyhow. Your 'No' means 'Yes.' A woman sometimes doesn't accept a chap straight away."
"This woman will never accept you, Lord Anvers. So if you are a gentleman you will refrain from troubling me."
"'Fraid I can't, Miss Branwin. I love you."
"You love my money," she retorted scornfully, and exasperated15 by this obstinacy16. "You know it is only the money."
"Oh, money's a good thing," said the truthful17 Anvers, easily; "but, really, upon my word, you know, you're so pretty that I'd marry you without a penny."
Audrey burst out laughing. "Such candour on your part deserves candour on mine," she said quietly. "I say 'No' to your proposal, and I mean it."
For the time being Anvers saw that he was beaten, so took his leave. "But I shall come back again," he warned his lady-love. "I'll bring you up to the scratch somehow, see if I don't." And he reported the conversation to Sir Joseph, with the remark that he would never stop proposing until Audrey accepted his soiled title and his brutal10 self.
Of course, Branwin scolded the girl. She made no protest during the storm of words, and let Sir Joseph talk himself into exhaustion18. When the millionaire could say no more she faced him calmly. "I shall never marry Lord Anvers, papa, and I shall marry Ralph whenever I can."
"Oh, you will, and when--when, confound you?" roared Branwin.
"When he learns who killed my mother," said Audrey, and passed out of the room without noticing the sudden greyness which replaced the purple hues19 of her father's large face.
What with anxiety to learn who had murdered her mother, and with the insistent20 troubles around her, Audrey felt angry with everyone and everything. Even Ralph seemed to be against her since he had waxed lukewarm in prosecuting21 his search for the assassin. Audrey had not seen him since he had advised her to heed22 the warning of the anonymous23 letter, and she had received no communication likely to show that he was looking into the matter of the murder. Under these circumstances, she resolved to take up the rôle of an amateur detective herself. Since there was no one else who loved the dead sufficiently24 to avenge25 the crime, Audrey at least made up her mind to hunt down the murderer.
She began one afternoon by driving to Perry Toat's office, for Ralph had written down its whereabouts. Sir Joseph, sullen26 and angry with his daughter, had gone to his club, and Mrs. Mellop in her bedroom was fretting27 over the destruction of her hopes. Therefore, there was no one to spy on the girl, and, having dressed herself plainly, she took a taxi-cab in Kensington High Street and drove to the Strand28. Perry Toat's office was in Buckingham Street, and the detective herself was disengaged. She admitted Audrey into her private sanctum the moment she read the name on the card.
"I thought you would come, Miss Branwin," said Perry Toat, cordially, "as Mr. Shawe told me that you were different from most girls. Few would wish to undertake the search you propose to make."
"Few girls, if any, have had a mother murdered in so barbarous a fashion," was Audrey's reply, and she eyed with some disapproval29 the garish30 complexion31 and burnished32 hair and general renovation33 of Miss Toat.
The detective smiled, guessing the thought of her visitor. "This and this"--she touched her hair and skin--"are a concession34 to business demands. I had to submit to this sort of thing in order to gain permission to remain for searching purposes at the Pink Shop."
"Oh!" Audrey understood. "And did you find out anything?"
"I told Mr. Shawe all I had discovered, and what theories I formed on the discoveries," said Miss Toat, glancing at her watch. "He explained to me that he had reported everything to you over a week ago."
"Yes," admitted Miss Branwin, "but he did not give me any hope that anything would come of what you have learnt."
"I fear not. The clues are so slight, Miss Branwin. By the way"--Perry Toat looked again at her watch--"I can only give you ten minutes or so, as I am expecting another client--Colonel Ilse. Ah! poor man, he comes to me to be helped in finding his stolen daughter."
"His stolen daughter?" echoed Audrey.
"Yes. His wife died in child-birth some twenty years ago, and the child was stolen by an hospital nurse who attended her. There was some grudge35, I believe. But why should I bother you with the troubles of other people when you have so many of your own?" said Miss Toat, in a lively way. "Come, time is short. What do you wish me to tell you?"
"It's a difficult and mysterious case," said the detective, slowly, "and it is my opinion that Madame Coralie can tell the truth."
"Do you think that she is guilty?"
"No. That is, if she is guilty, it is because she employed someone else to murder your mother. I don't believe she strangled Lady Branwin herself."
"Why not?"
"Ah!" Audrey nodded. "Then Mr. Shawe did not tell you about my idea as to the clock in the still-room being wrong?"
Miss Toat looked at her quickly. "No. What is your idea?"
Audrey related what she knew of the discrepancy38 between the statement of Madame Coralie, her husband, and Badoura, and her own. "It was nearly half-past eight when Madame came to see me at the door," said Audrey, positively39.
Miss Toat looked steadily40 at the girl. "Strange," she said, in a musing41 tone. "Now, I wonder why Mr. Shawe did not tell me this?"
"It is important, is it not?" asked Audrey, eagerly.
"Very important. If we can prove what you say, it will show that it was possible for Madame Coralie to have been with Lady Branwin at eight."
"Then she must be guilty," said Audrey, triumphantly42.
"No. I suspect Eddy43 Vail, her husband. He, as well as his wife, was in dire44 need of money, and he may have committed the deed, although his wife may have suggested its commission. If I could only trace the diamonds"--and Miss Toat, thinking hard, began to trace figures on her blotting-paper.
"I have seen that man Vail," said Miss Branwin, after a pause. "Mr. Shawe described him to me, and I recognised the description at once. He was hanging about Walpole Lane when my mother came back for the red bag which contained the diamonds."
"Oh!"--Miss Toat looked up--"that's a strong point. Did your mother happen to mention, when in the lane, that the diamonds were in the bag?"
"No," said Audrey, after some thought; "she simply asked for the bag. But I am sure that Madame Coralie must have known about the diamonds, as my poor mother would be sure to tell her."
"Have you ever seen Madame Coralie?" asked Miss Toat, sharply.
"Only in the half-darkness, when she came to the door at half-past eight to tell me that my mother would remain for the night."
"Then," said Perry Toat, rising, "go to the Pink Shop and see her now. You are so straightforward45 and earnest that you may succeed where I fail. Ask all the questions you can think of, and see what Madame Coralie looks like."
"Hear what she says, you mean."
"No, I do not. Hear what she says, of course; but you may be sure that if she has anything to hide she will be most guarded in her answers. But look into her face, and watch the change of colour, and--oh!" Miss Toat stopped in dismay. "I forgot, Madame Coralie wears a yashmak constantly."
"In that case I shall get her to remove it," said Audrey, quickly. "I see what you mean, and I shall manage in some way to see her face. If she is guilty I shall know somehow."
"I wish I could come with you myself," said Miss Toat, hastily following Audrey to the door, which opened into a small outer office; "but I fear that Colonel Ilse--ah! here he is."
Miss Branwin saw before her a slender and very straight man, with a grey moustache and grey hair, with a tanned face and a general military look. He had kind blue eyes, and when he saw so pretty a girl emerge from the dingy46 office of Perry Toat these same eyes lighted up with admiration47. With a bow to the detective he stood on one side to let the girl pass. Audrey gave a swift glance at his clearly-cut face as she went out. There seemed to be something familiar about Colonel Ilse's countenance48; but she could not say precisely49 what it was. Besides, her mind was too much taken up with the late conversation with Miss Toat to concern itself with so trifling50 a matter. The detective accompanied her to the outer door.
"See me to-morrow at three o'clock," she said, in a low voice, "and tell me if you have succeeded in getting Madame Coralie to remove her yashmak."
Miss Branwin readily promised this, as she felt that she needed Miss Toat's professional assistance in the quest which she was now undertaking51. She felt eager to reach the Pink Shop and to question Madame Coralie, and her heart beat quickly as she climbed into a 'bus which would take her to Kensington. Sir Joseph would have been furious had he seen his daughter travelling on so humble52 a vehicle; but Audrey enjoyed the novelty of the sensation. Indeed, she was beginning to find out, for the first time since her mother's death, that life was worth living. And, although she did not know it, she was suffering from a severe attack of detective fever.
The progress of the 'bus seemed slow to the impatient girl; but in due time she came to Kensington High Street. Here she alighted, and turned into Walpole Lane without delay. Shortly she found herself before the mysterious door of the Pink Shop, and entered with a beating heart and a general sense that there was a crisis at hand.
"Is Madame Coralie to be seen?" she asked Badoura, who came forward in her quaint54 Turkish dress to receive her.
"I will inquire, miss," said Badoura, looking at her closely. "Oh! it is Miss Branwin, is it not?"
"Yes, and I wish particularly to see Madame Coralie."
"Will you please wait here, miss?" said Badoura, and, leaving Audrey near the door of the empty shop--it was too early for the usual customers--she walked towards an alcove55 on the left.
Audrey saw the girl pass through the pink silk curtains into the alcove, and heard a faint murmur56 of voices. Deeming that all was fair in the dangerous and anxious search which she was undertaking she drew near, and distinctly heard Madame Coralie gasp57 with dismay.
"Tell Miss Branwin that I cannot see her," said Madame Coralie, sharply.
Audrey at once stepped forward and swept aside the pink curtain. "But you must, Madame," she said quietly.
The woman waved Badoura to leave the alcove, and beckoned58 Miss Branwin to enter, making some remark in muffled59 tones as she did so. Suddenly, as she rose quickly to her feet, a tack53 caught the yashmak, and it was ripped off. Audrey saw Madame Coralie's side face, and gave a cry of surprise and terror.
"Mother!" she cried, then sank her voice with fear. "Mother! Oh, mother!"
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收听单词发音
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1
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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5
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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impurity
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| n.不洁，不纯，杂质 | |
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repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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9
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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17
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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18
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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19
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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20
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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22
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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28
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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garish
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| adj.华丽而俗气的，华而不实的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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32
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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33
renovation
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| n.革新，整修 | |
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concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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38
discrepancy
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| n.不同；不符；差异；矛盾 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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40
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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41
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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42
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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43
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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44
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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45
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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46
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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47
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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49
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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50
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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51
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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52
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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53
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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54
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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55
alcove
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| n.凹室 | |
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56
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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57
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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58
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
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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