She was rewarded by an unobstructed view of the smartest woman in London (thus spake society paragraphers) and of the most expensive set of furs in Europe, also of a perfectly4 gowned slim figure. Of Mollie's disdainful face, with its slightly uptilted nose, she had no more than a glimpse.
A neat maid, evidently Scotch5, admitted the dazzling visitor to number 67; and Spenser Road waited and wondered. It was something to do with the Bond Street murder! Small girls appeared from doorways7 suddenly opened and darted8 off to advise less-watchful neighbors.
Kerry, who had been at work until close upon dawn in the mysterious underworld of Soho was sleeping, but Mrs. Kerry received Mollie in a formal little drawing-room, which, unlike the cosy9, homely10 dining-room, possessed11 that frigid12 atmosphere which belongs to uninhabited apartments. In a rather handsome cabinet were a number of trophies13 associated with the detective's successful cases. The cabinet itself was a present from a Regent Street firm for whom Kerry had recovered valuable property.
Mary Kerry, dressed in a plain blouse and skirt, exhibited no trace of nervousness in the presence of her aristocratic and fashionable caller. Indeed, Mollie afterwards declared that “she was quite a ladylike person. But rather tin tabernacley, my dear.”
“Did ye wish to see Chief Inspector14 Kerry parteecularly?” asked Mary, watching her visitor with calm, observant eyes.
“Oh, most particularly!” cried Mollie, in a flutter of excitement. “Of course I don't know what you must think of me for calling at such a preposterous15 hour, but there are some things that simply can't wait.”
“Aye,” murmured Mrs. Kerry. “'Twill be yon Bond Street affair?”
“Oh, yes, it is, Mrs. Kerry. Doesn't the very name of Bond Street turn your blood cold? I am simply shivering with fear!”
“As the wife of a Chief Inspector I am maybe more used to tragedies than yoursel', madam. But it surely is a sair grim business. My husband is resting now. He was hard at work a' the night. Nae doubt ye'll be wishin' tee see him privately17?”
“Oh, if you please. I am so sorry to disturb him. I can imagine that he must be literally18 exhausted19 after spending a whole night among dreadful people.”
Mary Kerry stood up.
“Oh, of course! I quite understand, Mrs. Kerry! So sorry. But so good of you.”
“Might I offer ye a glass o' sherry an' a biscuit?”
“I simply couldn't dream of troubling you! Please don't suggest such a thing. I feel covered with guilt21 already. Many thanks nevertheless.”
Mary Kerry withdrew, leaving Mollie alone. As soon as the door closed Mollie stood up and began to inspect the trophies in the cabinet. She was far too restless and excited to remain sitting down. She looked at the presentation clock on the mantelpiece and puzzled over the signatures engraved22 upon a large silver dish which commemorated23 the joy displayed by the Criminal Investigation24 Department upon the occasion of Kerry's promotion25 to the post of Chief Inspector.
The door opened and Kerry came in. He had arisen and completed his toilet in several seconds less than five minutes. But his spotlessly neat attire26 would have survived inspection27 by the most lynx-eyed martinet28 in the Brigade of Guards. As he smiled at his visitor with fierce geniality29, Mollie blushed like a young girl.
Chief Inspector Kerry was a much bigger man than she had believed him to be. The impression left upon her memory by his brief appearance at the night club had been that of a small, dapper figure. Now, as he stood in the little drawing-room, she saw that he was not much if anything below the average height of Englishmen, and that he possessed wonderfully broad shoulders. In fact, Kerry was deceptive30. His compact neatness and the smallness of his feet and hands, together with those swift, lithe31 movements which commonly belong to men of light physique, curiously32 combined to deceive the beholder33, but masked eleven stones (*note: 1 stone = 14 pounds) of bone and muscle.
“Very good of you to offer information, miss,” he said. “I'm willing to admit that I can do with it.”
He opened a bureau and took out a writing-block and a fountain pen. Then he turned and stared hard at Mollie. She quickly lowered her eyes.
“Excuse me,” said Kerry, “but didn't I see you somewhere last night?”
“Yes,” she said. “I was sitting just inside the door at—”
“Right! I remember,” interrupted Kerry. He continued to stare. “Before you say any more, miss, I have to remind you that I am a police officer, and that you may be called upon to swear to the truth of any information you may give me.”
“Oh, of course! I know.”
“You know? Very well, then; we can get on. Who gave you my address?”
At the question, so abruptly35 asked, Mollie felt herself blushing again. It was delightful36 to know that she could still blush. “Oh—I... that is, I asked Scotland Yard ”
“They wouldn't tell me,” she continued. “So—I had to find out. You see, I heard you were trying to get information which I thought perhaps I could give.”
“So you went to the trouble to find my private address rather than to the nearest police station,” said Kerry. “Might I ask you from whom you heard that I wanted this information?”
“Well—it's in the papers, isn't it?”
“It is certainly. But it occurred to me that someone... connected might have told you as well.”
“Actually, someone did: Miss Margaret Halley.”
“Good!” rapped Kerry. “Now we're coming to it. She told you to come to me?”
“Oh, no!” cried Mollie—“she didn't. She told me to tell her so that she could tell the Home office.”
“Eh?” said Kerry, “eh?” He bent39 forward, staring fiercely. “Please tell me exactly what Miss Halley wanted to know.”
“She wanted me to tell her where Mrs. Sin lived,” she replied.
Kerry experienced a quickening of the pulse. In the failure of the C.I.D. to trace the abode42 of the notorious Mrs. Sin he had suspected double-dealing. He counted it unbelievable that a figure so conspicuous in certain circles could evade43 official quest even for forty-eight hours. K Division's explanation, too, that there were no less than eighty Chinamen resident in and about Limehouse whose names either began or ended with Sin, he looked upon as a paltry44 evasion45. That very morning he had awakened46 from a species of nightmare wherein 719 had affected47 the arrest of Kazmah and Mrs. Sin and had rescued Mrs. Irvin from the clutches of the former. Now—here was hope. 719 would seem to be as hopelessly in the dark as everybody else.
“You refused?” he rapped.
“Of course I did, Inspector,” said Mollie, with a timid, tender glance. “I thought you were the proper person to tell.”
“Yes,” sighed Mollie. “Unfortunately—I know. Oh Inspector, how can I explain it to you?”
“Don't trouble, miss. Just give me the address and I'll ask no questions!”
His keenness was thrilling, infectious. As a result of the night's “beating” he had a list of some twenty names whose owners might have been patrons of Kazmah and some of whom might know Mrs. Sin. But he had learned from bitter experience how difficult it was to induce such people to give useful evidence. There was practically no means of forcing them to speak if they chose, from selfish motives49, to be silent. They could be forced to appear in court, but anything elicited50 in public was worse than useless. Furthermore, Kerry could not afford to wait. Mollie replied excitedly:
“Oh, Inspector, I know you will think me simply an appalling51 person when I tell you; but I have been to Mrs. Sin's house—'The House of a Hundred Raptures52' she calls it—”
“Yes, yes! But—the address?”
“However can I tell you the address, Inspector? I could drive you there, but I haven't the very haziest53 idea of the name of the horrible street! One drives along dreadful roads where there are stalls and Jews for quite an interminable time, and then over a sort of canal, and then round to the right all among ships and horrid54 Chinamen. Then, there is a doorway6 in a little court, and Mrs. Sin's husband sits inside a smelly room with a positively55 ferocious56 raven57 who shrieks58 about legs and policemen! Oh! Can I ever forget it!”
“One moment, miss, one moment,” said Kerry, keeping an iron control upon himself. “What is the name of Mrs. Sin's husband?”
“Oh, let me think! I can always remember it by recalling the croak59 of the raven.” She raised one hand to her brow, posing reflectively, and began to murmur16:
“Sin Sin Ah... Sin Sin Jar... Sin Sin—Oh! I have it! Sin Sin Wa!”
“Good!” rapped Kerry, and made a note on the block. “Sin Sin Wa, and he has a pet raven, you say, who talks?”
“Who positively talks like some horrid old woman!” cried Mollie. “He has only one eye.”
“The raven?”
“The raven, yes—and also the Chinaman.”
“What!”
“Oh! it's a nightmare to behold34 them together!” declared Mollie, clasping her hands and bending forward.
She was gaining courage, and now looked almost boldly into the fierce eyes of the Chief Inspector.
“Describe the house,” he said succinctly60. “Take your time and use your own words.”
Thereupon Mollie launched into a description of Sin Sin Wa's opium61-house. Kerry, his eyes fixed62 upon her face, listened silently. Then:
“These little rooms are really next door?” he asked.
“I suppose so, Inspector. We always went through the back of a cupboard!”
“Can you give me names of others who used this place?”
“Well”—Mollie hesitated—“poor Rita, of course and Sir Lucien. Then, Cyrus Kilfane used to go.”
“Kilfane? The American actor?”
“Yes.”
“H'm. He's back in America, Sir Lucien is dead, and Mrs. Irvin is missing. Nobody else?”
Mollie shook her head.
“Who first took you there?”
“Cyrus Kilfane.”
“Not Sir Lucien?”
“Oh, no. But both of them had been before.”
“What was Kazmah's connection with Mrs. Sin and her husband?”
“I have no idea, Inspector. Kazmah used to supply cocaine63 and veronal and trional and heroin64, but those who wanted to smoke opium he sent to Mrs. Sin.”
“What! he gave them her address?”
“No, no! He gave her their address.”
“I see. She called?”
“Yes. Oh, Inspector”—Mollie bent farther forward—“I can see in your eyes that you think I am fabulously65 wicked! Shall I be arrested?”
Kerry coughed drily and stood up.
“Probably not, miss. But you may be required to give evidence.”
“Yes. Shall you object?”
Mollie looked into his eyes.
“Not if I can be of the slightest assistance to you, Inspector.”
A theory to explain why this social butterfly had sought him out as a recipient67 of her compromising confidences presented itself to Kerry's mind. He was a modest man, having neither time nor inclination68 for gallantries, and this was the first occasion throughout his professional career upon which he had obtained valuable evidence on the strength of his personal attractions. He doubted the accuracy of his deduction69. But, Mollie at that moment lowering her lashes70 and then rapidly raising them again, Kerry was compelled to accept his own astonishing theory.
“And she is the daughter of a peer!” he reflected. “No wonder it has been hard to get evidence.”
He glanced rapidly in the direction of the door. There were several details which were by no means clear, but he decided71 to act upon the information already given and to get rid of his visitor without delay. Where some of the most dangerous criminals in Europe and America had failed, Mollie Gretna had succeeded in making Red Kerry nervous.
“I am much indebted to you, miss,” he said, and opened the door.
“Oh, it has been delightful to confess to you, Inspector!” declared Mollie. “I will give you my card, and I shall expect you to come to me for any further information you may want. If I have to be brought to court, you will tell me, won't you?”
“Rely upon me, miss,” replied Kerry shortly.
He escorted Mollie to her brougham, observed by no less than six discreetly72 hidden neighbors. And as the brougham was driven off she waved her hand to him! Kerry felt a hot flush spreading over his red countenance73, for the veiled onlookers74 had not escaped his attention. As he re-entered the house:
“Yon's a bad woman,” said his wife, emerging from the dining-room.
“I believe you may be right, Mary,” replied Kerry confusedly.
“I kenned75 it when fairst I set een upon her painted face. I kenned it the now when she lookit sideways at ye. If yon's a grand lady, she's a woman o' puir repute. The Lord gi'e us grace.”
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1
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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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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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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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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commemorated
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| v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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martinet
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| n.要求严格服从纪律的人 | |
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geniality
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| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
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deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
interrogator
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| n.讯问者；审问者；质问者；询问器 | |
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39
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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40
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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41
perturbing
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| v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的现在分词 ) | |
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42
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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43
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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45
evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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46
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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47
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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48
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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49
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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50
elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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52
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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53
haziest
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| 有薄雾的( hazy的最高级 )； 模糊的； 不清楚的； 糊涂的 | |
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54
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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55
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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56
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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57
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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58
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
croak
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| vi.嘎嘎叫，发牢骚 | |
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60
succinctly
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| adv.简洁地；简洁地，简便地 | |
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61
opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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62
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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63
cocaine
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| n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂） | |
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64
heroin
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| n.海洛因 | |
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65
fabulously
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| 难以置信地，惊人地 | |
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66
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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67
recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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68
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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69
deduction
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| n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎 | |
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70
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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71
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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72
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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73
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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74
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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75
kenned
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| v.知道( ken的过去式和过去分词 )；懂得；看到；认出 | |
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