Monte Irvin raised his head and stared dully at Margaret Halley. It was very quiet in the library of the big old-fashioned house at Prince's Gate. A faint crackling sound which proceeded from the fire was clearly audible. Margaret's grey eyes were anxiously watching the man whose pose as he sat in the deep, saddle-back chair so curiously2 suggested collapse3.
“Drugs,” he whispered. “Drugs.”
Few of his City associates would have recognized the voice; all would have been shocked to see the change which had taken place in the man.
“You really understand why I have told you, Mr. Irvin, don't you?” said Margaret almost pleadingly. “Dr. Burton thought you should not be told, but then Dr. Burton did not know you were going to ask me point blank. And I thought it better that you should know the truth, bad as it is, rather than—”
“Rather than suspect—worse things,” whispered Irvin. “Of course, you were right, Miss Halley. I am very, very grateful to you for telling me. I realize what courage it must have called for. Believe me, I shall always remember—”
He broke off, staring across the room at his wife's portrait. Then:
“If only I had known,” he added.
Irvin exhibited greater composure than Margaret had ventured to anticipate. She was confirmed in her opinion that he should be told the truth.
“I would have told you long ago,” she said, “if I had thought that any good could result from my doing so. Frankly4, I had hoped to cure Rita of the habit, and I believe I might have succeeded in time.”
“There has been no mention of drugs in connection with the case,” said Monte Irvin, speaking monotonously5. “In the Press, I mean.”
“Hitherto there has not,” she replied. “But there is a hint of it in one of this evening's papers, and I determined6 to give you the exact facts so far as they are known to me before some garbled7 account came to your ears.”
“Thank you,” he said, “thank you. I had felt for a long time that I was getting out of touch with Rita, that she had other confidants. Have you any idea who they were, Miss Halley?”
He raised his eyes, looking at her pathetically. Margaret hesitated, then:
“Well,” she replied, “I am afraid Nina knew.”
“Her maid?”
“I think she must have known.”
He sighed.
“The police have interrogated8 her,” he said. “Probably she is being watched.”
“Oh, I don't think she knows anything about the drug syndicate,” declared Margaret. “She merely acted as confidential9 messenger. Poor Sir Lucien Pyne, I am sure, was addicted10 to drugs.”
Margaret bit her lip, staring down at the red carpet.
“I would hate to slander12 a man who can never defend himself,” she replied finally. “But—I have sometimes thought he did.”
Silence fell. Both were contemplating13 a theory which neither dared to express in words.
“You see,” continued Margaret, “it is evident that this man Kazmah was patronized by people so highly placed that it is hopeless to look for information from them. Again, such people have influence. I don't suggest that they are using it to protect Kazmah, but I have no doubt they are doing so to protect themselves.”
Monte Irvin raised his eyes to her face. A weary, sad look had come into them.
Margaret nodded her head.
“The prevalence of the drug habit in society—especially in London society—is a secret which has remained hidden so long from the general public,” she replied, “that one cannot help looking for bribery15 and corruption16. The stage is made the scapegoat17 whenever the voice of scandal breathes the word 'dope,' but we rarely hear the names of the worst offenders18 even whispered. I have thought for a long time that the authorities must know the names of the receivers and distributors of cocaine19, veronal, opium20, and the other drugs, huge quantities of which find their way regularly to the West End of London. Pharmacists sometimes experience the greatest difficulty in obtaining the drugs which they legitimately21 require, and the prices have increased extraordinarily22. Cocaine, for instance, has gone up from five and sixpence an ounce to eighty-seven shillings, and heroin23 from three and sixpence to over forty shillings, while opium that was once about twenty shillings a pound is now eight times the price.”
Monte Irvin listened attentively24.
“In the course of my Guildhall duties,” he said slowly, “I have been brought in contact frequently with police officers of all ranks. If influential25 people are really at work protecting these villains26 who deal illicitly27 in drugs, I don't think, and I am not prepared to believe, that they have corrupted28 the police.”
“Neither do I believe so, Mr. Irvin!” said Margaret eagerly.
“But,” Irvin pursued, exhibiting greater animation29, “you inform me that a Home office commissioner30 has been appointed. What does this mean, if not that Lord Wrexborough distrusts the police?”
“Well, you see, the police seemed to be unable, or unwilling31, to do anything in the matter. Of course, this may have been due to the fact that the traffic was so skilfully32 handled that it defied their inquiries33.”
“Take, as an instance, Chief Inspector34 Kerry,” continued Irvin. “He has exhibited the utmost delicacy35 and consideration in his dealings with me, but I'll swear that a whiter man never breathed.”
“Oh, really, Mr. Irvin, I don't think for a moment that men of that class are suspected of being concerned. Indeed, I don't believe any active collusion is suspected at all.”
“Lord Wrexborough thinks that Scotland Yard hasn't got an officer clever enough for the dope people?”
“Quite possibly.”
“I take it that he has put up a secret service man?”
“I believe—that is, I know he has.”
Monte Irvin was watching Margaret's face, and despite the dull misery36 which deadened his usually quick perceptions, he detected a heightened color and a faint change of expression. He did not question her further upon the point, but:
“God knows I welcome all the help that offers,” he said. “Lord Wrexborough is your uncle, Miss Halley; but do you think this secret commission business quite fair to Scotland Yard?”
Margaret stared for some moments at the carpet, then raised her grey eyes and looked earnestly at the speaker. She had learned in the brief time that had elapsed since this black sorrow had come upon him to understand what it was in the character of Monte Irvin which had attracted Rita. It afforded an illustration of that obscure law governing the magnetism37 which subsists38 between diverse natures. For not all the agony of mind which he suffered could hide or mar1 the cleanness and honesty of purpose which were Monte Irvin's outstanding qualities.
“No,” Margaret replied, “honestly, I don't. And I feel rather guilty about it, too, because I have been urging uncle to take such a step for quite a long time. You see”—she glanced at Irvin wistfully—“I am brought in contact with so many victims of the drug habit. I believe the police are hampered39; and these people who deal in drugs manage in some way to evade40 the law. The Home office agent will report to a committee appointed by Lord Wrexborough, and then, you see, if it is found necessary to do so, there will be special legislation.”
Monte Irvin sighed wearily, and his glance strayed in the direction of the telephone on the side-table. He seemed to be constantly listening for something which he expected but dreaded41 to hear. Whenever the toy spaniel which lay curled up on the rug before the fire moved or looked towards the door, Irvin started and his expression changed.
“Oh, Mr. Irvin, your courage is wonderful,” replied Margaret earnestly. “But he”—she hastily corrected herself—“everybody is convinced that Rita is safe. Under some strange misapprehension regarding this awful tragedy she has run away into hiding. Probably she has been induced to do so by those interested in preventing her from giving evidence.”
Monte Irvin's eyes lighted up strangely. “Is that the opinion of the Home office agent?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Inspector Kerry shares it,” declared Irvin. “Please God they are right.”
“It is the only possible explanation,” said Margaret. “Any hour now we may expect news of her.”
“You don't think,” pursued Monte Irvin, “that anybody—anybody—suspects Rita of being concerned in the death of Sir Lucien?”
“Of course not!” she cried. “How ridiculous it would be.”
“Yes,” he murmured, “it would be ridiculous.”
Margaret stood up.
“I am quite relieved now that I have done what I conceived to be my duty, Mr. Irvin,” she said. “And, bad as the truth may be, it is better than doubt, after all. You must look after yourself, you know. When Rita comes back we shall have a big task before us to wean her from her old habits.” She met his glance frankly. “But we shall succeed.”
“How you cheer me,” whispered Monte Irvin emotionally. “You are the truest friend that Rita ever had, Miss Halley. You will keep in touch with me, will you not?”
“Of course. Next to yourself there is no one so sincerely interested as I am. I love Rita as I should have loved a sister if I had had one. Please don't stand up. Dr. Burton has told you to avoid all exertion45 for a week or more, I know.”
Monte Irvin grasped her outstretched hand.
“Any news which reaches me,” he said, “I will communicate immediately. Thank you. In times of trouble we learn to know our real friends.”
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1
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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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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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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monotonously
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| adv.单调地，无变化地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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7
garbled
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| adj.（指信息）混乱的，引起误解的v.对（事实）歪曲，对（文章等）断章取义，窜改( garble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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9
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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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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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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13
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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14
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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bribery
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| n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿 | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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scapegoat
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| n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊 | |
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offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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cocaine
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| n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂） | |
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opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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legitimately
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| ad.合法地；正当地，合理地 | |
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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heroin
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| n.海洛因 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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27
illicitly
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| 违法地，不正地 | |
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corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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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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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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magnetism
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| n.磁性，吸引力，磁学 | |
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38
subsists
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的第三人称单数 ) | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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42
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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43
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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44
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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45
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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