Eighteen THE GIRL OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

Eighteen THE GIRL OF THE PHOTOGRAPH
On Bobby’s return to the inn he was greeted with the information thatsomeone was waiting to see him.
“It’s a lady. You’ll find her in Mr. Askew¹’s little sitting room.”
Bobby made his way there slightly puzzled. Unless she had flown thereon wings he could not see how Frankie could possibly have got to theAnglers’ Arms ahead of him, and that his visitor could be anyone else butFrankie never occurred to him.
He opened the door of the small room which Mr. Askew kept as hisprivate sitting room. Sitting bolt upright in a chair was a slender figuredressed in black—the girl of the photograph.
Bobby was so astonished that for a moment or two he could not speak.
Then he noticed that the girl was terribly nervous. Her small hands weretrembling and closed and unclosed themselves on the arm of the chair.
She seemed too nervous even to speak, but her large eyes held a kind ofterrified appeal.
“So it’s you?” said Bobby at last. He shut the door behind him and cameforward to the table.
Still the girl did not speak—still those large, terrified eyes looked intohis. At last words came—a mere² hoarse³ whisper.
“You said—you said—you’d help me. Perhaps I shouldn’t have come—”
Here Bobby broke in, finding words and assurance at the same time.
“Shouldn’t have come? Nonsense. You did quite right to come. Of course,you should have come. And I’ll do anything—anything in the world—tohelp you. Don’t be frightened. You’re quite safe now.”
The colour rose a little in the girl’s face. She said abruptly⁴:
“Who are you? You’re—you’re—not a chauffeur⁵. I mean, you may be achauffeur, but you’re not one really.”
Bobby understood her meaning in spite of the confused form of wordsin which she had cloaked them.
“One does all sorts of jobs nowadays,” he said. “I used to be in the Navy.
As a matter of fact, I’m not exactly a chauffeur—but that doesn’t matternow. But, anyway, I assure you you can trust me and—and tell me allabout it.”
Her flush had deepened.
“You must think me mad,” she murmured. “You must think me quitemad.”
“No, no.”
“Yes — coming here like this. But I was so frightened — so terriblyfrightened—” Her voice died away. Her eyes widened as though they sawsome vision of terror.
Bobby seized her hand firmly.
“Look here,” he said, “it’s quite all right. Everything’s going to be allright. You’re safe now—with—with a friend. Nothing shall happen to you.”
He felt the answering pressure of her fingers.
“When you stepped out into the moonlight the other night,” she said in alow, hurried voice, “it was—it was like a dream—a dream of deliverance. Ididn’t know who you were or where you came from, but it gave me hopeand I determined⁶ to come and find you—and—tell you.”
“That’s right,” said Bobby encouragingly. “Tell me. Tell me everything.”
She drew her hand away suddenly.
“If I do, you’ll think I’m mad—that I’ve gone wrong in my head from be-ing in that place with those others.”
“No, I shan’t. I shan’t, really.”
“You will. It sounds mad.”
“I shall know it isn’t. Tell me. Please tell me.”
She drew a little farther away from him, sitting very upright, her eyesstaring straight in front of her.
“It’s just this,” she said. “I’m afraid I’m going to be murdered.”
Her voice was dry and hoarse. She was speaking with obvious self-re-straint but her hands were trembling.
“Murdered?”
“Yes, that sounds mad, doesn’t it? Like—what do they call it?—persecu-tion mania⁷.”
“No,” said Bobby. “You don’t sound mad at all—just frightened. Tell me,who wants to murder you and why?”
She was silent a minute or two, twisting and untwisting her hands. Thenshe said in a low voice:
“My husband.”
“Your husband?” Thoughts whirled round in Bobby’s head: “Who areyou—” he said abruptly.
It was her turn to look surprised.
“Don’t you know?”
“I haven’t the least idea.”
She said: “I’m Moira Nicholson. My husband is Dr. Nicholson.”
“Then you’re not a patient there?”
“A patient? Oh, no!” Her face darkened suddenly. “I suppose you think Ispeak like one.”
“No, no, I didn’t mean that at all.” He was at pains to reassure⁸ her. “Hon-estly, I didn’t mean it that way. I was only surprised at finding you mar-ried—and—all that. Now, go on with what you’re telling me—about yourhusband wanting to murder you.”
“It sounds mad, I know. But it isn’t—it isn’t! I see it in his eyes when helooks at me. And queer things have happened—accidents.”
“Accidents?” said Bobby sharply.
“Yes. Oh! I know it sounds hysterical⁹ and as though I was making it allup—”
“Not a bit,” said Bobby. “It sounds perfectly¹⁰ reasonable. Go on. Aboutthese accidents.”
“They were just accidents. He backed the car not seeing I was there—Ijust jumped aside in time—and some stuff that was in the wrong bottle—oh, stupid things—and things that people would think quite all right, butthey weren’t — they were meant. I know it. And it’s wearing me out —watching for them—being on my guard—trying to save my life.”
She swallowed convulsively.
“Why does your husband want to do away with you?” asked Bobby.
Perhaps he hardly expected a definite answer—but the answer camepromptly:
“Because he wants to marry Sylvia Bassington-ffrench.”
“What? But she’s married already.”
“I know. But he’s arranging for that.”
“How do you mean?”
“I don’t know exactly. But I know that he’s trying to get Mr. Bassington-ffrench brought to the Grange as a patient.”
“And then?”
“I don’t know, but I think something would happen.”
She shuddered¹¹.
“He’s got some hold over Mr. Bassington-ffrench. I don’t know what itis.”
“Bassington-ffrench takes morphia,” said Bobby.
“Is that it? Jasper gives it to him, I suppose.”
“It comes by post.”
“Perhaps Jasper doesn’t do it directly—he’s very cunning. Mr. Bassing-ton-ffrench mayn’t know it comes from Jasper—but I’m sure it does. Andthen Jasper would have him at the Grange and pretend to cure him—andonce he was there—”
She paused and shivered.
“All sorts of things happen at the Grange,” she said. “Queer things.
People come there to get better — and they don’t get better — they getworse.”
As she spoke¹², Bobby was aware of a glimpse into a strange, evil atmo-sphere. He felt something of the terror that had enveloped¹³ Moira Nich-olson’s life so long.
He said abruptly:
“You say your husband wants to marry Mrs. Bassington-ffrench?”
Moira nodded.
“He’s crazy about her.”
“And she?”
“I don’t know,” said Moira slowly. “I can’t make up my mind. On the sur-face she seems fond of her husband and little boy and content and peace-ful. She seems a very simple woman. But sometimes I fancy that she isn’tso simple as she seems. I’ve even wondered sometimes whether she is anentirely different woman from what we all think she is .?.?. whether, per-haps, she isn’t playing a part and playing it very well .?.?. But, really, Ithink, that’s nonsense—foolish imagination on my part .?.?. When you’velived at a place like the Grange your mind gets distorted and you do beginimagining things.”
“What about the brother Roger?” asked Bobby.
“I don’t know much about him. He’s nice, I think, but he’s the sort ofperson who would be very easily deceived. He’s quite taken in by Jasper, Iknow. Jasper is working on him to persuade Mr. Bassington-ffrench tocome to the Grange. I believe he thinks it’s all his own idea.” She leanedforward suddenly and caught Bobby’s sleeve. “Don’t let him come to theGrange,” she implored¹⁴. “If he does, something awful will happen. I know itwill.”
Bobby was silent a minute or two, turning over the amazing story in hismind.
“How long have you been married to Nicholson?” he said at last.
“Just over a year—” She shivered.
“Haven’t you ever thought of leaving him?”
“How could I? I’ve nowhere to go. I’ve no money. If anyone took me in,what sort of story could I tell? A fantastic tale that my husband wanted tomurder me? Who would believe me?”
“Well, I believe you,” said Bobby.
He paused a moment, as though making up his mind to a certain courseof action. Then he went on:
“Look here,” he said bluntly. “I’m going to ask you a question straightout. Did you know a man called Alan Carstairs?”
He saw the colour come up in her cheeks.
“Why do you ask me that?”
“Because it’s rather important that I should know. My idea is that youdid know Alan Carstairs, that perhaps at some time or other you gave himyour photograph.”
She was silent a moment, her eyes downcast. Then she lifted her headand looked him in the face.
“That’s quite true,” she said.
“You knew him before you were married?”
“Yes.”
“Has he been down here to see you since you were married?”
She hesitated, then said:
“Yes, once.”
“About a month ago would that be?”
“Yes. I suppose it would be about a month.”
“He knew you were living down here?”
“I don’t know how he knew—I hadn’t told him. I had never even writtento him since my marriage.”
“But he found out and came here to see you. Did your husband knowthat?”
“No.”
“You think not. But he might have known all the same?”
“I suppose he might, but he never said anything.”
“Did you discuss your husband at all with Carstairs? Did you tell him ofyour fears as to your safety?”
She shook her head.
“I hadn’t begun to suspect then.”
“But you were unhappy?”
“Yes.”
“And you told him so?”
“No. I tried not to show in any way that my marriage hadn’t been a suc-cess.”
“But he might have guessed it all the same,” said Bobby gently.
“I suppose he might,” she admitted in a low voice.
“Do you think—I don’t know how to put it—but do you think that heknew anything about your husband—that he suspected, for instance, thatthis nursing home place mightn’t be quite what it seemed to be?”
Her brows furrowed¹⁵ as she tried to think.
“It’s possible,” she said at last. “He asked one or two rather peculiarquestions — but — no. I don’t think he can really have known anythingabout it.”
Bobby was silent again for a few minutes. Then he said:
“Would you call your husband a jealous man?”
Rather to his surprise, she answered:
“Yes. Very jealous.”
“Jealous, for instance, of you.”
“You mean even though he doesn’t care? But, yes, he would be jealous,just the same. I’m his property, you see. He’s a queer man—a very queerman.”
She shivered.
Then she asked suddenly:
“You’re not connected with the police in any way, are you?”
“I? Oh, no!”
“I wondered, I mean—”
Bobby looked down at his chauffeur’s livery.
“It’s rather a long story,” he said.
“You are Lady Frances Derwent’s chauffeur, aren’t you? So the landlordhere said. I met her at dinner the other night.”
“I know.” He paused. “We’ve got to get hold of her,” he said. “And it’s abit difficult for me to do. Do you think you could ring up and ask to speakto her and then get her to come and meet you somewhere outdoors?”
“I suppose I could—” said Moira slowly.
“I know it must seem frightfully odd to you. But it won’t when I’ve ex-plained. We must get hold of Frankie as soon as possible. It’s essential.”
Moira rose.
“Very well,” she said.
With her hand on the door handle she hesitated.
“Alan,” she said, “Alan Carstairs. Did you say you’d seen him?”
“I have seen him,” said Bobby slowly. “But not lately.”
And he thought, with a shock:
“Of course—she doesn’t know he’s dead. .?.?.”
He said:
“Ring up Lady Frances. Then I’ll tell you everything.”
 

1 askew   

adv.斜地；adj.歪斜的

参考例句：

• His glasses had been knocked askew by the blow.他的眼镜一下子被打歪了。
• Her hat was slightly askew.她的帽子戴得有点斜。

2 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

3 hoarse   

adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的

参考例句：

• He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
• He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。

4 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

5 chauffeur   

n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车

参考例句：

• The chauffeur handed the old lady from the car.这个司机搀扶这个老太太下汽车。
• She went out herself and spoke to the chauffeur.她亲自走出去跟汽车司机说话。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 mania   

n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好

参考例句：

• Football mania is sweeping the country.足球热正风靡全国。
• Collecting small items can easily become a mania.收藏零星物品往往容易变成一种癖好。

8 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

9 hysterical   

adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的

参考例句：

• He is hysterical at the sight of the photo.他一看到那张照片就异常激动。
• His hysterical laughter made everybody stunned.他那歇斯底里的笑声使所有的人不知所措。

10 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

11 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：

• He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

13 enveloped   

v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was enveloped in a huge white towel. 她裹在一条白色大毛巾里。
• Smoke from the burning house enveloped the whole street. 燃烧着的房子冒出的浓烟笼罩了整条街。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 implored   

恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
• She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。

15 furrowed   

v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Overhead hung a summer sky furrowed with the rash of rockets. 头顶上的夏日夜空纵横着急疾而过的焰火。 来自辞典例句
• The car furrowed the loose sand as it crossed the desert. 车子横过沙漠，在松软的沙土上犁出了一道车辙。 来自辞典例句