"That I cannot say," I replied. "We have made certain discoveries as I have already told you, but whilst they distinctly point to some criminal whose identity is not yet fully2 established, unfortunately I cannot say that in a legal sense they clear Coverly."
Isobel, as I had thought at the first moment of our meeting, looked very tired and had that pathetic expression of appeal in her eyes which had hurt me so much when first it had appeared there on the morning after the tragedy. She was palpably ill at ease, and I had small cause to wonder at this. Although a veiled paragraph (in which I thought I could detect the hand of Gatton) had appeared in the press on the previous day, briefly3 stating that evidence had been volunteered by Sir Eric Coverly which had led to an entirely4 new line of police inquiry5, the item of news—which had naturally excited wide-spread interest—had never been amplified6. Amid the alarms and excursions which had terminated my visit to Upper Crossleys, Gatton I supposed had forgotten to refer to this matter; but I did not doubt that the paragraph was an inspired one issued from Scotland Yard.
My friend's object in circulating this statement was not by any means evident to me, but as I expected to see him later that day I hoped to be able to obtain from him some explanation of his new tactics.
Many hours had elapsed since, with the flames of the burning Bell House reddening the night behind me, and throwing into lurid7 relief the fir-groves surrounding Dr. Damar Greefe's mysterious stronghold, I had been borne along the road towards London. That Gatton had hoped for much from a detailed8 search of the Eurasian's establishment, I knew, for I had not forgotten his anger at the appearance of the flames above the tree tops which had told of the foiling of his plans.
Under cover of the conflagration9 the cunning Eurasian had escaped. Every possible means had been taken to intercept10 him, and whilst Gatton, inspired by I know not what hopes, had hastened to the burning Bell House, I had set out in the police car in pursuit of Dr. Damar Greefe accompanied by Detective-Sergeant Blythe—upon whom, apparently11, the onus12 of the fiasco rested.
In despite of these measures, the hunted man had made good his retreat; and Blythe and I had entered the outskirts13 of London without once sighting the car in which Dannar Greefe had fled.
No communication reached me on the following morning, and I found myself, consumed with impatient curiosity, temporarily out of touch with Gatton. Then, shortly after mid-day, came a telegram:
"Endeavor induce Sir Eric come to your house eight to-night. Will meet him there. Gatton."
Welcoming any ground for action—since to remain passive at such a time was torture—I called at once at Coverly's chambers14. He was out. But I left an urgent written message for him, and in the hope of finding him with Isobel, hurried to her flat. He had not been there that day, however; and now I could only hope that he would return to his rooms in time to keep the appointment. For that Gatton had some good reason for suggesting the meeting I did not doubt.
Gatton and I were now agreed that Dr. Damar Greefe, if not directly responsible for the death of Sir Marcus, at least had been an accessory to his murder. At any rate he had shown his hand; firstly, in the attempted assault upon myself by his Nubian servant and secondly15, by the devilish device whereby he had propelled some sort of gas projectile16 (for this we now knew it to have been) from the tower of Friar's Park into my room at the Abbey Inn. I had, then, become obnoxious17 to him; he evidently regarded my continued existence as a menace to his own.
Two explanations of his attitude presented themselves: one, that my inquiries18 had led me daily nearer to the heart of the mystery; or, two, that the doctor's mysterious associate, the possessor of the green eyes, had adopted an attitude towards myself which the Eurasian had counted sooner or later as certain to compromise him. In short, whilst it was sufficiently19 evident to me that these mysterious people residing at Upper Crossleys were the criminals for whom New Scotland Yard was searching, no definite link between their admittedly dangerous activities and the crime we sought to unravel20, had yet been brought to light.
On the other hand, whilst it was not feasible to suppose that any relationship existed between Sir Eric, the new baronet, and the Eurasian, or the woman associated with the Eurasian, I was quite well aware that, equally, there was no evidence to show that such an association did not exist.
I longed to be able to offer some consolation21 to Isobel, who at this time was passing through days and nights of dreadful apprehension22; but beyond imparting to her some of my own personal convictions, I was unable to say honestly that the complicity of Coverly in the murder was definitely and legally disproved.
"If only he would break his absurd silence," she said suddenly. "This ridiculous suspicion which still seems to be entertained in some quarters would be removed of course; but his every act since the night of the tragedy has only intensified23 it."
She sat facing me on the settee, her hands locked in her lap, and:
"Do you refer to any new act of his," I asked, "with which I am not at present acquainted?"
She nodded slowly.
"Yes," she said; "but I can only tell you in confidence, for it is something which Inspector Gatton does not know."
"Please tell me," I urged; "for you are aware that I have no other object but the clearing of Coverly in the eyes of the police and the public."
"Well," she continued, with hesitation24, "last night he lodged25 with me a copy of a declaration which he assured me cleared him entirely. But he imposed an extraordinary condition."
"What was that?" I asked with interest.
"It was only to be used in the event of the worst happening!" she said.
"What do you mean? In the event of his being put on trial for murder?"
Isobel nodded.
"I suppose so," she said sadly; "it seems madness, doesn't it?"
"Absolute madness!" I agreed. "If he is in a position to establish an alibi26 why not do it now and be done with the whole unsavory business?"
"That is exactly what I pointed27 out to him, but he was adamant28 on the matter and became dreadfully irritable29 and excited. I did not dare to press the point, so of course—" She shrugged30 her shoulders resignedly.
Was it a selfish joy, I wonder, which possessed31 me as I noted32 the restrained impatience33 with which Isobel spoke34 of Coverly? I suppose it was, and perhaps it was even indefensible; yet I record it, desiring to be perfectly35 honest with myself and with others. Nevertheless, in the near future I was to regret the sentiments which at that moment I entertained towards Coverly. But how was I to know in my poor human blindness that his innocence36 would soon be established in the eyes of the world by other means than the publication of the statement which he had so strangely placed with Isobel?
Since, excepting the telegram, no communication had reached me from Gatton, I could only assume that he had discovered nothing in the ruins of the Bell House of sufficient importance to justify37 a report. Doubtless he had reported to New Scotland Yard, but that his discoveries, if any, had not resulted in an arrest, was painfully evident.
My latest contribution to the Planet had been in the nature of a discursive38 essay rather than an informative39 article, although I had enlivened it with some account of my experiences at Upper Crossleys. But at the moment that I had set pen to paper I had realized the difficulty of expressing, within the scope of a newspaper contribution, the peculiar40 conditions which ruled in that oddly deserted41 village. And at Gatton's request I had been most guarded in my treatment of the two abortive42 attempts made upon my own life by the Eurasian doctor.
The appeal in Isobel's eyes, as I have said, was very difficult to resist, but after all I had little substantial consolation to offer; and in the circumstances I shall be understood, I think, when I say that it was with an odd sense of relief that I finally took my departure from her flat. To long for the right to comfort a woman as only a lover may do, and to suspect that this sweet privilege might have been his for the asking, is a torture which no man can suffer unmoved.
Anticipating, almost hourly, a further message from Gatton, I went first to the Planet offices, but although I lunched at the club and returned later, no news reached me there; whereupon, I proceeded to my cottage. As I walked down the high-street of the onetime village, passing that police-box at which (so far as my part in it was concerned) the first scenes of the drama actually had been laid, I was seized with wonder on reflecting that all these episodes, strange and tragic43, had been crowded into so short a space of time.
An officer was on duty there as on the night when I had first made acquaintance with the green eyes of the woman of mystery; but I did not know the man and I walked on deep in meditation44, until, arriving at the Red House, other and dreadful reflections were aroused by the sight of that deserted building.
There were no spectators to-day, for the first excitement aroused by the crime had begun to subside45, and I did not even notice a constable46 posted there. Whereby I concluded that the investigations47 at the Red House had been terminated and that no more was hoped for from an examination of those premises48.
Coates was awaiting me as I entered my cottage with the news that Inspector Gatton had telephoned an hour before from Crossleys, confirming his telegram and stating that he would call immediately he arrived in London. This was stimulating50, and I only regretted that I had not been at home personally to speak to him. Then:
"Sir Eric Coverly also rang up, sir," continued Coates, "at about three o'clock and said that he would be calling this evening at eight in accordance with your request."
"Good. Is that all?" I asked.
"That was all the message, sir," he reported.
I walked into the study in a very thoughtful mood, and from the open window contemplated53 that prospect54 of tree-lined road, now for ever to be associated in my mind with the darkest places in the tragedy in which I had so strangely become involved.
Gatton, I knew, entertained a theory that the selection of the Red House for the dreadful purpose for which it had been employed, was not the result of any mere55 accident, but was ascribable to the fact that the place was conveniently situated56 from the point of view of the assassin. In short, he had an idea that the London headquarters of the wanted man, whom we had now definitely invested with the personality of Dr. Damar Greefe, was somewhere within my immediate49 neighborhood!
It was a startling conclusion and one which rested, as I thought, upon somewhat slender premises; but nevertheless I found it disquieting57. And recognizing how the more sinister58 manifestations59 of that singular green-eyed creature (whom I could never think of as a woman, nor indeed regard as anything quite human) were associated with darkness—a significantly feline60 trait—I confess to a certain apprehension respecting the coming night. This apprehension was strengthened no doubt by my memories of Gatton's last words as I had been on the point of setting out from Upper Crossleys.
"With their Friar's Park base destroyed, Mr. Addison," he had said, "they will be forced to fly to that other abode61, at present unknown, from which I believe they conducted the elaborate assassination62 of Sir Marcus. The only alternative is flight from the country, and the mechanism63 of the C.I.D. having been put into motion, this we may regard as almost impossible—especially in view of the marked personality of Dr. Damar Greefe. Of course," he had added, "they may have some other residence of which we know nothing but I incline to the idea that they will make for London."
That the published paragraph relating to Eric Coverly's alleged64 evidence was in some way associated with this theory of Gatton's I knew, but of the soundness of his theory I had yet to learn.
Since (as Isobel had that day informed me) the document lodged with her was a profound secret from all, Carton's inspired paragraph could have been no more than a shot in the dark; and the fact that it had hit the mark one of those seeming coincidences which sometimes rest upon mere chance, but which rested, in this case upon a process of careful reasoning. The Inspector was certain, as I was certain, of Coverly's innocence, and he had credited him with an alibi because he knew that if he would but consent to break his inexplicable65 silence, he was in a position to establish one. Why he had forestalled66 Coverly I knew not.
I made a poor and hasty dinner, for I was too excited to eat, and returning to the study, I crossed to the bookcase and took down Maspero's "Egyptian Art." I idly glanced again through those passages which Gatton had copied into his note-book—the passages relating to the attributes of Bâst, the cat-goddess. My mind rested particularly, I remember, upon the line, "she plays with her victim as with a mouse."
Stifling67 a somewhat weary sigh, I returned the book to its place and lingered looking out of the open window into the deepening dusk. Mentally my mood was a restless one, but it did not reflect itself physically68; for I stood there leaning against the window whilst a procession of all the figures associated with the "Oritoga mystery" raced through my mind.
And presently as I stood there contemplating69 a mental image of the Eurasian doctor, I heard the telephone bell ring. The sound aroused me in a moment, and walking out into the little ante-room in which the instrument was placed, I took it up—anticipating Coates, who had immediately come in from the garden where he was engaged at the time.
"Hello!" I said.
A voice with which I was unfamiliar70, a man's voice speaking rather thickly, replied:
"Is that Mr. Addison?"
"Yes."
"I have just arrived from Crossleys with Inspector Gatton. He requests me to ask you to meet him by the police-box at the corner of the high street immediately."
"Very good," I said. "I will come."
"And," continued the voice—"could you spare Coates with the car for an hour?"
"Certainly," I replied. "For what do you want him?"
"If he will take the car to Denmark Hill Station and be there by a quarter past eight," continued the voice, "Detective-Sergeant Blythe will meet him. There is a large box," he added, "which Inspector Gatton wishes to have taken to your house."
"Very well," I said. "Coates will start in ten minutes' time, and I will come along immediately to meet Inspector Gatton."
I replaced the telephone upon the little table and went out into the garden, whither my man had returned.
"Coates," I said, "get out the Rover."
Coates immediately ceased his gardening operations and stood upright in an attitude of attention.
"Very good, sir."
"You will just have time to get ready at the garage and return here to admit Sir Eric Coverly at eight o'clock. I am going out, now, to meet Inspector Gatton. But inform Sir Eric that I shall be back in a few minutes. Show him into the study and make him comfortable. You will then proceed in the Rover to Denmark Hill Station. You will meet there a man with a box—a detective from Scotland Yard who will make himself known to you. His name is Blythe. You have to bring the box back here."
"Very good, sir," repeated Coates.
And as he entered the house he was already stripping off the old shooting jacket which he wore in the garden. For my part I slipped a light top-coat over my somewhat untidy house attire71, and taking my hat and a stick, stepped quickly out along the road in the direction of the village street. A brisk walk brought me to the little sentry-box under the trees. But Gatton was not to be seen. Indeed, with the exception of several ordinary pedestrians72 who were obviously returning from the city to their homes (all of whom I scrutinized73, thinking that Coverly might come this way) and the constable on duty at the point, there was no one about who looked in the least like either of my expected visitors.
Having waited for some ten minutes unavailingly, I spoke to the man in the box.
"Good evening, constable," I said; "I expected to meet a friend here—Inspector Gatton, of Scotland Yard—you may know him?"
"I know of him quite well, sir," answered the constable, "and should recognize him if I saw him. But he has not been here this evening."
"You have seen no one hanging about who might have been sent by him?"
"No one, sir."
"Strange," I muttered; then: "My name is Addison, constable," I said, "and if any one should ask for me will you direct him to proceed to my house?" And I gave the man instructions respecting its whereabouts.
"I will," answered the constable; and wishing him "good night," I retraced74 my steps, curious respecting the matter, but not apprehensive75 as I well might have been—and with no glimmering76 of the ghastly truth penetrating77 to my mind.
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1
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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amplified
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| 放大，扩大( amplify的过去式和过去分词 )； 增强； 详述 | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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onus
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| n.负担；责任 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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15
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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projectile
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| n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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adamant
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| adj.坚硬的，固执的 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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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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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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discursive
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| adj.离题的，无层次的 | |
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informative
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| adj.提供资料的，增进知识的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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abortive
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| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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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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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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stimulating
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| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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forestalled
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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70
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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71
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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72
pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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73
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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75
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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76
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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77
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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