Earmarked for important promotion8, he was an interesting figure as he stood there in the gloomy, ill-lighted place, his pose that of an athlete about to perform a long jump, or perhaps, as it might have appeared to some, that of a dancing-master about to demonstrate a new step.
His close-cropped hair was brilliantly red, and so was his short, wiry, aggressive moustache. He was ruddy of complexion9, and he looked out unblinkingly upon the world with a pair of steel-blue eyes. Neat he was to spruceness, and while of no more than medium height he had the shoulders of an acrobat10.
The detective who stood beside him, by name John Durham, had one trait in common with his celebrated superior. This was a quick keenness, a sort of alert vitality11, which showed in his eyes, and indeed in every line of his thin, clean-shaven face. Kerry had picked him out as the most promising12 junior in his department.
“Give me the particulars,” said the Chief Inspector. “It isn't robbery. He's wearing a diamond ring worth two hundred pounds.”
His diction was rapid and terse—so rapid as to create the impression that he bit off the ends of the longer words. He turned his fierce blue eyes upon the uniformed officer who stood at the end of the slab.
“They are very few, Chief Inspector,” was the reply. “He was hauled out by the river police shortly after midnight, at the lower end of Limehouse Reach. He was alive then—they heard his cry—but he died while they were hauling him into the boat.”
“Any statement?” rapped Kerry.
“He was past it, Chief Inspector. According to the report of the officer in charge, he mumbled13 something which sounded like: 'It has bitten me,' just before he became unconscious.”
“'It has bitten me,'” murmured Kerry. “The divisional surgeon has seen him?”
“Yes, Chief Inspector. And in his opinion the man did not die from drowning, but from some form of virulent14 poisoning.”
“Poisoning?”
“That's the idea. There will be a further examination, of course. Either a hypodermic injection or a bite.”
“A bite?” said Kerry. “The bite of what?”
Kerry stared down critically at the swollen16 face of the victim, and then glanced sharply aside at Durham.
“Accounts for his appearance, I suppose,” he murmured.
“Yes,” said Durham quietly. “He hadn't been in the water long enough to look like that.” He turned to the local officer. “Is there any theory as to the point at which he went in?”
“Well, an arrest has been made.”
“By whom? of whom?” rapped Kerry.
“Two constables17 patrolling the Chinatown area arrested a man for suspicious loitering. He turned out to be a well-known criminal—Jim Poland, with a whole list of convictions against him. They're holding him at Limehouse Station, and the theory is that he was operating with———” He nodded in the direction of the body.
“Then who's the smart with the swollen face?” inquired Kerry. “He's a new one on me.”
“Yes, but he's been identified by one of the K Division men. He is an American crook19 with a clean slate20, so far as this side is concerned. Cohen is his name. And the idea seems to be that he went in at some point between where he was found by the river police and the point at which Jim Poland was arrested.”
Kerry snapped his teeth together audibly, and:
“I'm open to learn,” he said, “that the house of Huang Chow is within that area.”
“It is.”
“It looks very queer.” He glanced aside at the local officer. “Cover him up,” he ordered, and, turning, he walked briskly out of the mortuary, followed by Detective Durham.
Although dawn was not far off, this was the darkest hour of the night, so that even the sounds of dockland were muted and the riverside slept as deeply as the great port of London ever sleeps. Vague murmurings there were and distant clankings, with the hum of machinery22 which is never still.
Few of London's millions were awake at that hour, yet Scotland Yard was awake in the person of the fierce-eyed Chief Inspector and his subordinate. Perhaps those who lightly criticize the Metropolitan23 Force might have learned a new respect for the tireless vigilance which keeps London clean and wholesome24, had they witnessed this scene on the borders of Limehouse, as Kerry, stepping into a waiting taxi-cab accompanied by Durham, proceeded to Limehouse Police Station in that still hour when the City slept.
The arrival of Kerry created something of a stir amongst the officials on duty. His reputation in these days was at least as great as that of the most garrulous25 Labour member.
The prisoner was in cells, but the Chief Inspector elected to interview him in the office; and accordingly, while the officer in charge sat at an extremely tidy writing-table, tapping the blotting-pad with a pencil, and Detective John Durham stood beside him, Kerry paced up and down the little room, deep in reflection, until the door opened and the prisoner was brought in.
One swift glance the Chief Inspector gave at the battle-scarred face, and recognized instantly that this was a badly frightened man. Crossing to the table he took up a typewritten slip which lay there, and:
“Your name is James Poland?” he said. “Four convictions; one, robbery with violence.”
“You were arrested at the corner of Pekin Street about midnight. What were you doing there?”
“Taking a walk.”
“I'll say it again,” rapped Kerry, fixing his fierce eyes upon the man's face. “What were you doing there?”
“I've told you.”
Poland blinked his small eyes, cleared his throat, and looked down at the floor uneasily. Then:
“You mean, who was Cohen?” cried Kerry.
“You don't tell me———” he began huskily.
“I've told you,” said Kerry. “He's on the slab. Spit out the truth; it'll be good for your health.”
The man hesitated, then looked up, his eyes half closed and a cunning expression upon his face.
“Make out your own case,” he said. “You've got nothing against me.”
Kerry snapped his teeth together viciously.
“I've told you what happened to your pal,” he warned. “If you're a wise man you'll come in on our side, before the same thing happens to you.”
“Take him back,” he ordered.
Jim Poland being returned to his cell, Kerry, as the door closed behind the prisoner and his guard, stared across at Durham where he stood beside the table.
“An old hand,” he said. “But there's another way.” He glanced at the officer in charge. “Hold him till the morning. He'll prove useful.”
From his waistcoat pocket he took out a slip of chewing gum, unwrapped it, and placed the mint-flavoured wafer between his large white teeth. He bit upon it savagely, settled his hat upon his head, and, turning, walked toward the door. In the doorway he paused.
“Come with me, Durham,” he said. “I am leaving the conduct of the case entirely32 in your hands from now onward33.”
Detective Durham looked surprised and not a little anxious.
“I am doing so for two reasons,” continued the Chief Inspector. “These two reasons I shall now explain.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
inspector
|
|
| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
bowler
|
|
| n.打保龄球的人，（板球的）投（球）手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
slab
|
|
| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
deference
|
|
| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
promotion
|
|
| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
acrobat
|
|
| n.特技演员，杂技演员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
vitality
|
|
| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
mumbled
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
virulent
|
|
| adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
reptile
|
|
| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
swollen
|
|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
constables
|
|
| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
constable
|
|
| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
crook
|
|
| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
slate
|
|
| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
metropolitan
|
|
| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
wholesome
|
|
| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
garrulous
|
|
| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
sullenly
|
|
| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
liar
|
|
| n.说谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
grunted
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |