“Yes,” Monte Irvin was saying, “only a year ago; but, thank God, it seems more like ten! Merciful time effaces4 sadness but spares joy.”
He turned to his wife, whose flower-like face peeped out from a nest of white fur. Covertly5 he squeezed her hand, and was rewarded with a swift, half coquettish glance, in which he read trust and contentment. The dreadful ordeal6 through which she had passed had accomplished7 that which no physician in Europe could have hoped for, since no physician would have dared to adopt such drastic measures. Actuated by deliberate cruelty, and with the design of bringing about her death from apparently8 natural causes, the Kazmah group had deprived her of cocaine9 for so long a period that sanity10, life itself, had barely survived; but for so long a period that, surviving, she had outlived the drug craving11. Kazmah had cured her!
“But nothing can ever efface3 the memory of all you have done for Rita, and for me,” he said, “nothing, Mrs. Seton.”
“Oh,” said Margaret, “my mind was away back, and that sounded—so odd.”
Seton Pasha, who occupied the lounge-chair upon the broad arm of which his wife was seated, looked up, smiling into the suddenly flushed face. They were but newly returned from their honeymoon13, and had just taken possession of their home, for Seton was now stationed in Cairo. He flicked14 a cone15 of ash from his cheroot.
“It seems to me that we are all more or less indebted to one another,” he declared. “For instance, I might never have met you, Margaret, if I had not run into your cousin that eventful night at Princes; and Gray would not have been gazing abstractedly out of the doorway16 if Mrs. Irvin had joined him for dinner as arranged. One can trace almost every episode in life right back, and ultimately come—”
“To Kismet!” cried his wife, laughing merrily. “So before we begin dinner tonight—which is a night of reunion—I am going to propose a toast to Kismet!”
“Good!” said Seton, “we shall all drink it gladly. Eh, Irvin?”
“Gladly, indeed,” agreed Monte Irvin. “You know, Seton,” he continued, “we have been wandering, Rita and I; and ever since your wife handed her patient over to me as cured we have covered some territory. I don't know if you or Chief Inspector17 Kerry has been responsible, but the press accounts of the Kazmah affair have been scanty18 to baldness. One stray bit of news reached us—in Colorado, I think.”
“What was that, Mr. Irvin?” asked Margaret, leaning towards the speaker.
“It was about Mollie Gretna. Someone wrote and told me that she had eloped with a billiard marker—a married man with five children!”
“Right!” cried Seton. “She did. When last heard of she was acting20 as barmaid in a Portsmouth tavern21!”
But Monte Irvin did not laugh.
“Poor, foolish girl!” he said gravely. “Her life might have been so different—so useful and happy.”
“I agree,” replied Seton, “if she had had a husband like Kerry.”
“Oh, please don't!” said Margaret. “I almost fell in love with Chief Inspector Kerry myself.”
“A grand fellow!” declared her husband warmly. “The Kazmah inquiry22 was the triumph of his career.”
Monte Irvin turned to him.
“You did your bit, Seton,” he said quietly. “The last words Inspector Kerry spoke23 to me before I left England were in the nature of a splendid tribute to yourself, but I will spare your blushes.”
“Kerry is as white as they're made,” replied Seton, “but we should never have known for certain who killed Sir Lucien if he had not risked his life in that filthy24 cellar as he did.”
“Shall we change the conversation, dear?” whispered Margaret.
“No, please,” said Rita. “You cannot imagine how curious I am to learn the true details—for, as Monte says, we have been out of touch with things, and although we were so intimately concerned, neither of us really knows the inner history of the affair to this day. Of course, we know that Kazmah was a dummy26 figure, posed in the big ebony chair. He never moved, except to raise his hand, and this was done by someone seated in the inner room behind the figure. But who was seated there?”
Seton glanced inquiringly at his wife, and she nodded, smiling.
“Right-o!” he said. “If you will excuse me for a moment I will get my notes. Hello, here's Gray!”
A little two-seater came bowling27 along the road from Cairo, and drew up beneath the balcony. It was the car which had belonged to Margaret when in practice in Dover Street. Quentin Gray jumped out, waving his hand cheerily to the quartette above, and went in at the doorway. Seton walked through the flat and admitted him.
“Sorry I'm late!” cried Gray, impetuous and boyish as ever, although he looked older and had grown very bronzed. “The chief detained me.”
“Go through to them,” said Seton informally. “I'm getting my notes; we're going to read the thrilling story of the Kazmah mystery before dinner.”
“Good enough!” cried Gray. “I'm in the dark on many points.”
He had outlived his youthful infatuation, although it was probable enough that had Rita been free he would have presented himself as a suitor without delay. But the old relationship he had no desire to renew. A generous self-effacing regard had supplanted28 the madness of his earlier passion. Rita had changed too; she had learned to know herself and to know her husband.
So that when Seton Pasha presently rejoined his guests, he found the most complete harmony to prevail among them. He carried a bulky notebook, and, tapping his teeth with his monocle:
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began whimsically, “I will bore you with a brief account of the extraordinary facts concerning the Kazmah case.”
Margaret was seated in the rest-chair which her husband had vacated, and Seton took up a position upon the ledge29 formed by one of the wide arms. Everyone prepared to listen, with interest undisguised.
“There were three outstanding personalities30 dominating what we may term the Kazmah group,” continued Seton. “In order of importance they were: Sin Sin Wa, Sir Lucien Pyne and Mrs. Sin.”
“I shall begin with Sir Lucien,” Seton went on. “For some years before his father's death he seems to have lived a very shady life in many parts of the world. He was a confirmed gambler, and was also somewhat unduly32 fond of the ladies' society. In Buenos Ayres—the exact date does not matter—he made the acquaintance of a variety artiste known as La Belle33 Lola, a Cuban-Jewess, good-looking and unscrupulous. I cannot say if Sir Lucien was aware from the outset of his affair with La Belle that she was a married woman. But it is certain that her husband, Sin Sin Wa, very early learned of the intrigue34, and condoned35 it.
“How Sir Lucien came to get into the clutches of the pair I do not know. But that he did so we have ascertained36 beyond doubt. I think, personally, that his third vice—opium—was probably responsible. For Sin Sin Wa appears throughout in the character of a drug dealer37.
“These three people really become interesting from the time that La Belle Lola quitted the stage and joined her husband in the conducting of a concern in Buenos Ayres, which was the parent, if I may use the term, of the Kazmah business later established in Bond Street. From a music-hall illusionist, who came to grief during a South American tour, they acquired the oriental waxwork38 figure which subsequently mystified so many thousands of dupes. It was the work of a famous French artist in wax, and had originally been made to represent the Pharaoh, Rameses II., for a Paris exhibition. Attired39 in Eastern robes, and worked by a simple device which raised and lowered the right hand, it was used, firstly, in a stage performance, and secondly40, in the character of 'Kazmah the Dream-reader.'
“Even at this time Sir Lucien had access to good society, or to the best society which Buenos Ayres could offer, and he was the source of the surprising revelations made to patrons by the 'dream-reader.' At first, apparently, the drug business was conducted independently of the Kazmah concern, but the facilities offered by the latter for masking the former soon became apparent to the wily Sin Sin Wa. Thereupon the affair was reorganized on the lines later adopted in Bond Street. Kazmah's became a secret dope-shop, and annexed41 to it was an elaborate chandu-khan, conducted by the Chinaman. Mrs. Sin was the go-between.
“You are all waiting to hear—or, to be exact, two are waiting to hear, Gray and Margaret already know—who spoke as Kazmah through the little window behind the chair. The deep-voiced speaker was Juan Mareno, Mrs. Sin's brother! Mrs. Sin's maiden42 name was Lola Mareno.
“Many of these details were provided by Mareno, who, after the death of his sister, to whom he was deeply attached, volunteered to give crown evidence. Most of them we have confirmed from other sources.
“Behold 'Kazmah the dream-reader,' then, established in Buenos Ayres. The partners in the enterprise speedily acquired considerable wealth. Sir Lucien—at this time plain Mr. Pyne—several times came home and lived in London and elsewhere like a millionaire. There is no doubt, I think, that he was seeking a suitable opportunity to establish a London branch of the business.”
“My God!” said Monte Irvin. “How horrible it seems!”
“Horrible, indeed!” agreed Seton. “But there are two features of the case which, in justice to Sir Lucien, we should not overlook. He, who had been a poor man, had become a wealthy one and had tasted the sweets of wealth; also he was now hopelessly in the toils43 of the woman Lola.
“With the ingenious financial details of the concern, which were conducted in the style of the 'Jose Santos Company,' I need not trouble you now. We come to the second period, when the flat in Albemarle Street and the two offices in old Bond Street became vacant and were promptly44 leased by Mareno, acting on Sir Lucien's behalf, and calling himself sometimes Mr. Isaacs, sometimes Mr. Jacobs, and at other times merely posing as a representative of the Jose Santos Company in some other name.
“All went well. The concern had ample capital, and was organized by clever people. Sin Sin Wa took up new quarters in Limehouse; they had actually bought half the houses in one entire street as well as a wharf46! And Sin Sin Wa brought with him the good-will of an illicit47 drug business which already had almost assumed the dimensions of a control.
“Sir Lucien's household was a mere45 bluff48. He rarely entertained at home, and lived himself entirely49 at restaurants and clubs. The private entrance to the Kazmah house of business was the back window of the Cubanis Cigarette Company's office. From thence down the back stair to Kazmah's door it was a simple matter for Mareno to pass unobserved. Sir Lucien resumed his role of private inquiry agent, and Mareno recited the 'revelations' from notes supplied to him.
“But the 'dream reading' part of the business was merely carried on to mask the really profitable side of the concern. We have recently learned that drugs were distributed from that one office alone to the amount of thirty thousand pounds' worth annually50! This is excluding the profits of the House of a Hundred Raptures51 and of the private chandu orgies organized by Mrs. Sin.
“The Kazmah group gradually acquired control of the entire market, and we know for a fact that at one period during the war they were actually supplying smuggled52 cocaine, indirectly53, to no fewer than twelve R.A.M.C. hospitals! The complete ramifications54 of the system we shall never know.
“I come, now, to the tragedy, or series of tragedies, which brought about the collapse55 of the most ingenious criminal organization which has ever flourished, probably, in any community. I will dare to be frank. Sir Lucien was the victim of a woman's jealousy56. Am I to proceed?”
Seton paused, glancing at his audience; and:
“If you please,” whispered Rita. “Monte knows and I know—why—she killed him. But we don't know—”
“The nasty details,” said Quentin Gray. “Carry on, Seton. Are you agreeable, Irvin?”
“I am anxious to know,” replied Irvin, “for I believe Sir Lucien deserved well of me, bad as he was.”
Seton clapped his hands, and an Egyptian servant appeared, silently and mysteriously as is the way of his class.
“Cocktails, Mahmoud!”
The Egyptian disappeared.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
awning
|
|
| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
conjures
|
|
| 用魔术变出( conjure的第三人称单数 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
efface
|
|
| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
effaces
|
|
| v.擦掉( efface的第三人称单数 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
5
covertly
|
|
| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
cocaine
|
|
| n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
sanity
|
|
| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
craving
|
|
| n.渴望,热望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
honeymoon
|
|
| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
flicked
|
|
| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
cone
|
|
| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
inspector
|
|
| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scanty
|
|
| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
tavern
|
|
| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
filthy
|
|
| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
shuddered
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dummy
|
|
| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
bowling
|
|
| n.保龄球运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
supplanted
|
|
| 把…排挤掉，取代( supplant的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
personalities
|
|
| n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
inhaled
|
|
| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
unduly
|
|
| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
belle
|
|
| n.靓女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
intrigue
|
|
| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
condoned
|
|
| v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
ascertained
|
|
| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
dealer
|
|
| n.商人，贩子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
waxwork
|
|
| n.蜡像 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
attired
|
|
| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
secondly
|
|
| adv.第二，其次 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
annexed
|
|
| [法] 附加的，附属的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
toils
|
|
| 网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
wharf
|
|
| n.码头，停泊处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
illicit
|
|
| adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
bluff
|
|
| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
annually
|
|
| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
raptures
|
|
| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
smuggled
|
|
| 水货 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
indirectly
|
|
| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
ramifications
|
|
| n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
collapse
|
|
| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |