IThere was a moment’s silence. A silence of dismay and bewilderment.
Then the judge’s small clear voice took up the thread once more.
‘We will now proceed to the next stage of our inquiry1. First however, Iwill just add my own credentials2 to the list.’
He took a letter from his pocket and tossed it on to the table.
‘This purports3 to be from an old friend of mine, Lady Constance Culm-ington. I have not seen her for some years. She went to the East. It is ex-actly the kind of vague incoherent letter she would write, urging me tojoin her here and referring to her host and hostess in the vaguest of terms.
The same technique, you will observe. I only mention it because it agreeswith the other evidence—from all of which emerges one interesting point.
Whoever it was who enticed4 us here, that person knows or has taken thetrouble to find out a good deal about us all. He, whoever he may be, is awareof my friendship for Lady Constance—and is familiar with her epistolarystyle. He knows something about Dr Armstrong’s colleagues and theirpresent whereabouts. He knows the nickname of Mr Marston’s friend andthe kind of telegrams he sends. He knows exactly where Miss Brent wastwo years ago for her holiday and the kind of people she met there. Heknows all about General Macarthur’s old cronies.’
He paused. Then he said:
‘He knows, you see, a good deal. And out of his knowledge concerning us,he has made certain definite accusations5.’
Immediately a babel broke out.
General Macarthur shouted:
‘A pack of dam’ lies! Slander6!’
Vera cried out:
‘It’s iniquitous7!’ Her breath came fast. ‘Wicked!’
Rogers said hoarsely8:
‘A lie—a wicked lie…we never did—neither of us…’
Anthony Marston growled9:
‘Don’t know what the damned fool was getting at!’
The upraised hand of Mr Justice Wargrave calmed the tumult10.
He said, picking his words with care:
‘I wish to say this. Our unknown friend accuses me of the murder of oneEdward Seton. I remember Seton perfectly11 well. He came up before me fortrial in June of the year 1930. He was charged with the murder of an eld-erly woman. He was very ably defended and made a good impression onthe jury in the witness-box. Nevertheless, on the evidence, he was cer-tainly guilty. I summed up accordingly, and the jury brought in a verdictof Guilty. In passing sentence of death I concurred12 with the verdict. An ap-peal was lodged13 on the grounds of misdirection. The appeal was rejectedand the man was duly executed. I wish to say before you all that my con-science is perfectly clear on the matter. I did my duty and nothing more. Ipassed sentence on a rightly convicted murderer.’
Armstrong was remembering now. The Seton case! The verdict hadcome as a great surprise. He had met Matthews, KC on one of the days ofthe trial dining at a restaurant. Matthews had been confident. ‘Not a doubtof the verdict. Acquittal practically certain.’ And then afterwards he hadheard comments: ‘Judge was dead against him. Turned the jury rightround and they brought him in guilty. Quite legal, though. Old Wargraveknows his law. It was almost as though he had a private down on the fel-low.’
All these memories rushed through the doctor’s mind. Before he couldconsider the wisdom of the question he had asked impulsively14:
‘Did you know Seton at all? I mean previous to the case.’
The hooded15 reptilian16 eyes met his. In a clear cold voice the judge said:
‘I knew nothing of Seton previous to the case.’
Armstrong said to himself:
‘The fellow’s lying—I know he’s lying.’
II
Vera Claythorne spoke17 in a trembling voice.
She said:
‘I’d like to tell you. About that child—Cyril Hamilton. I was nursery gov-erness to him. He was forbidden to swim out far. One day, when my atten-tion was distracted, he started off. I swam after him…I couldn’t get therein time…It was awful…But it wasn’t my fault. At the inquest the Coronerexonerated me. And his mother—she was so kind. If even she didn’t blameme, why should—why should this awful thing be said? It’s not fair—notfair…’
She broke down, weeping bitterly.
General Macarthur patted her shoulder.
He said:
‘There there, my dear. Of course it’s not true. Fellow’s a madman. Amadman! Got a bee in his bonnet18! Got hold of the wrong end of the stickall round.’
He stood erect19, squaring his shoulders. He barked out:
‘Best really to leave this sort of thing unanswered. However, feel I oughtto say—no truth—no truth whatever in what he said about—er—youngArthur Richmond. Richmond was one of my officers. I sent him on a re-connaissance. He was killed. Natural course of events in wartime. Wish tosay resent very much—slur on my wife. Best woman in the world. Abso-lutely—C?sar’s wife!’
General Macarthur sat down. His shaking hand pulled at his moustache.
The effort to speak had cost him a good deal.
Lombard spoke. His eyes were amused. He said:
‘About those natives—’
Marston said:
‘What about them?’
Philip Lombard grinned.
‘Story’s quite true! I left ’em! Matter of self-preservation. We were lost inthe bush. I and a couple of other fellows took what food there was andcleared out.’
General Macarthur said sternly:
‘You abandoned your men—left them to starve?’
Lombard said:
‘Not quite the act of a pukka sahib, I’m afraid. But self-preservation’s aman’s first duty. And natives don’t mind dying, you know. They don’t feelabout it as Europeans do.’
Vera lifted her face from her hands. She said, staring at him:
‘You left them—to die?’
Lombard answered:
‘I left them to die.’
His amused eyes looked into her horrified20 ones.
Anthony Marston said in a slow puzzled voice:
‘I’ve just been thinking — John and Lucy Combes. Must have been acouple of kids I ran over near Cambridge. Beastly bad luck.’
Mr Justice Wargrave said acidly:
‘For them, or for you?’
Anthony said:
‘Well, I was thinking—for me—but of course, you’re right, sir, it wasdamned bad luck on them. Of course it was a pure accident. They rushedout of some cottage or other. I had my licence suspended for a year.
Beastly nuisance.’
Dr Armstrong said warmly:
‘This speeding’s all wrong—all wrong! Young men like you are a dangerto the community.’
Anthony shrugged21 his shoulders. He said:
‘Speed’s come to stay. English roads are hopeless, of course. Can’t get upa decent pace on them.’
He looked round vaguely22 for his glass, picked it up off a table and wentover to the side table and helped himself to another whisky and soda23. Hesaid over his shoulder:
‘Well, anyway it wasn’t my fault. Just an accident!’
III
The manservant, Rogers, had been moistening his lips and twisting hishands. He said now in a low deferential24 voice:
‘If I might just say a word, sir.’
Lombard said:
‘Go ahead, Rogers.’
Rogers cleared his throat and passed his tongue once more over his drylips.
‘There was a mention, sir, of me and Mrs Rogers. And of Miss Brady.
There isn’t a word of truth in it, sir. My wife and I were with Miss Bradytill she died. She was always in poor health, sir, always from the time wecame to her. There was a storm, sir, that night—the night she was takenbad. The telephone was out of order. We couldn’t get the doctor to her. Iwent for him, sir, on foot. But he got there too late. We’d done everythingpossible for her, sir. Devoted25 to her, we were. Anyone will tell you thesame. There was never a word said against us. Not a word.’
Lombard looked thoughtfully at the man’s twitching26 face, his dry lips,the fright in his eyes. He remembered the crash of the falling coffee tray.
He thought, but did not say: ‘Oh yeah?’
Blore spoke—spoke in his hearty27 bullying28 official manner.
He said:
‘Came into a little something at her death, though? Eh?’
Rogers drew himself up. He said stiffly:
‘Miss Brady left us a legacy29 in recognition of our faithful services. Andwhy not, I’d like to know?’
Lombard said:
‘What about yourself, Mr Blore?’
‘What about me?’
‘Your name was included in the list.’
Blore went purple.
‘Landor, you mean? That was the bank robbery—London and Commer-cial.’
Mr Justice Wargrave stirred. He said:
‘I remember. It didn’t come before me, but I remember the case. Landorwas convicted on your evidence. You were the police officer in charge ofthe case?’
Blore said:
‘I was.’
‘Landor got penal30 servitude for life and died on Dartmoor a year later.
He was a delicate man.’
Blore said:
‘He was a crook31. It was he who knocked out the night watchman. Thecase was quite clear against him.’
Wargrave said slowly:
‘You were complimented, I think, on your able handling of the case.’
Blore said sulkily:
‘I got my promotion32.’
He added in a thick voice.
‘I was only doing my duty.’
Lombard laughed—a sudden ringing laugh. He said:
‘What a duty-loving law-abiding lot we all seem to be! Myself excepted.
What about you, doctor—and your little professional mistake? Illegal op-eration, was it?’
Emily Brent glanced at him in sharp distaste and drew herself away alittle.
Dr Armstrong, very much master of himself, shook his head good-hu-mouredly.
‘I’m at a loss to understand the matter,’ he said. ‘The name meant noth-ing to me when it was spoken. What was it—Clees? Close? I really can’t re-member having a patient of that name, or being connected with a death inany way. The thing’s a complete mystery to me. Of course, it’s a long timeago. It might possibly be one of my operation cases in hospital. They cometoo late, so many of these people. Then, when the patient dies, they alwaysconsider it’s the surgeon’s fault.’
He sighed, shaking his head.
He thought:
Drunk—that’s what it was—drunk…And I operated! Nerves all to pieces—hands shaking. I killed her all right. Poor devil—elderly woman—simple job ifI’d been sober. Lucky for me there’s loyalty33 in our profession. The Sister knew,of course—but she held her tongue. God, it gave me a shock! Pulled me up. Butwho could have known about it—after all these years?
IV
There was a silence in the room. Everybody was looking, covertly34 oropenly, at Emily Brent. It was a minute or two before she became aware ofthe expectation. Her eyebrows35 rose on her narrow forehead. She said:
‘Are you waiting for me to say something? I have nothing to say.’
The judge said: ‘Nothing, Miss Brent?’
‘Nothing.’
Her lips closed tightly.
The judge stroked his face. He said mildly:
‘You reserve your defence?’
Miss Brent said coldly:
‘There is no question of defence. I have always acted in accordance withthe dictates36 of my conscience. I have nothing with which to reproach my-self.’
There was an unsatisfied feeling in the air. But Emily Brent was not oneto be swayed by public opinion. She sat unyielding.
The judge cleared his throat once or twice. Then he said: ‘Our inquiryrests there. Now Rogers, who else is there on this island besides ourselvesand you and your wife?’
‘Nobody, sir. Nobody at all.’
‘You’re sure of that?’
‘Quite sure, sir.’
Wargrave said:
‘I am not yet clear as to the purpose of our Unknown host in getting usto assemble here. But in my opinion this person, whoever he may be, isnot sane37 in the accepted sense of the word.
‘He may be dangerous. In my opinion it would be well for us to leavethis place as soon as possible. I suggest that we leave tonight.’
Rogers said:
‘I beg your pardon, sir, but there’s no boat on the island.’
‘No boat at all?’
‘No, sir.’
‘How do you communicate with the mainland?’
‘Fred Narracott, he comes over every morning, sir. He brings the breadand the milk and the post, and takes the orders.’
Mr Justice Wargrave said:
‘Then in my opinion it would be well if we all left tomorrow morning assoon as Narracott’s boat arrives.’
There was a chorus of agreement with only one dissentient voice. It wasAnthony Marston who disagreed with the majority.
‘A bit unsporting, what?’ he said. ‘Ought to ferret out the mystery beforewe go. Whole thing’s like a detective story. Positively38 thrilling.’
The judge said acidly:
‘At my time of life, I have no desire for “thrills” as you call them.’
Anthony said with a grin:
‘The legal life’s narrowing! I’m all for crime! Here’s to it.’
He picked up his drink and drank it off at a gulp39.
Too quickly, perhaps. He choked — choked badly. His face contorted,turned purple. He gasped40 for breath—then slid down off his chair, theglass falling from his hand.
点击
收听单词发音
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1
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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credentials
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| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
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purports
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| v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的第三人称单数 ) | |
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enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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iniquitous
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| adj.不公正的；邪恶的；高得出奇的 | |
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8
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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growled
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| 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 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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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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12
concurred
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| 同意（concur的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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13
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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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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hooded
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| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
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reptilian
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| adj.（像）爬行动物的；（像）爬虫的；卑躬屈节的；卑鄙的n.两栖动物；卑劣的人 | |
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17
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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18
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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19
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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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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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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23
soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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29
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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31
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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35
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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