It was after three o’clock when, weary and sick at heart, the husband andwife reached home. Several hours passed before Tuppence could sleep.
She lay tossing from side to side, seeing always that flower-like face withthe horror-stricken eyes.
The dawn was coming in through the shutters2 when Tuppence finallydropped off to sleep. After the excitement, she slept heavily and dream-lessly. It was broad daylight when she awoke to find Tommy, up anddressed, standing3 by the bedside, shaking her gently by the arm.
“Wake up, old thing. Inspector4 Marriot and another man are here andwant to see you.”
“What time is it?”
“Just on eleven. I’ll get Alice to bring you your tea right away.”
“Yes, do. Tell Inspector Marriot I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
A quarter of an hour later, Tuppence came hurrying into the sittingroom. Inspector Marriot, who was sitting looking very straight and sol-emn, rose to greet her.
“Good morning, Mrs. Beresford. This is Sir Arthur Merivale.”
Tuppence shook hands with a tall thin man with haggard eyes and grey-ing hair.
“It’s about this sad business last night,” said Inspector Marriot. “I wantSir Arthur to hear from your own lips what you told me—the words thepoor lady said before she died. Sir Arthur has been very hard to con-vince.”
“I can’t believe,” said the other, “and I won’t believe, that Bingo Haleever hurt a hair of Vere’s head.”
Inspector Marriot went on.
“We’ve made some progress since last night, Mrs. Beresford,” he said.
“First of all we managed to identify the lady as Lady Merivale. We commu-nicated with Sir Arthur here. He recognised the body at once, and washorrified beyond words, of course. Then I asked him if he knew anyonecalled Bingo.”
“You must understand, Mrs. Beresford,” said Sir Arthur, “that CaptainHale, who is known to all his friends as Bingo, is the dearest pal6 I have. Hepractically lives with us. He was staying at my house when they arrestedhim this morning. I cannot but believe that you have made a mistake—itwas not his name that my wife uttered.”
“There is no possibility of mistake,” said Tuppence gently. “She said,‘Bingo did it—’ ”
“You see, Sir Arthur,” said Marriot.
The unhappy man sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands.
“It’s incredible. What earthly motive7 could there be? Oh, I know youridea, Inspector Marriot. You think Hale was my wife’s lover, but even ifthat were so—which I don’t admit for a moment—what motive was therefor killing8 her?”
Inspector Marriot coughed.
“It’s not a very pleasant thing to say, sir. But Captain Hale has been pay-ing a lot of attention to a certain young American lady of late—a younglady with a considerable amount of money. If Lady Merivale liked to turnnasty, she could probably stop his marriage.”
“This is outrageous9, Inspector.”
Sir Arthur sprang angrily to his feet. The other calmed him with a sooth-ing gesture.
“I beg your pardon, I’m sure, Sir Arthur. You say that you and CaptainHale both decided10 to attend this show. Your wife was away on a visit atthe time, and you had no idea that she was to be there?”
“Not the least idea.”
“Just show him that advertisement you told me about, Mrs. Beresford.”
Tuppence complied.
“That seems to me clear enough. It was inserted by Captain Hale to catchyour wife’s eye. They had already arranged to meet there. But you onlymade up your mind to go the day before, hence it was necessary to warnher. That is the explanation of the phrase, ‘Necessary to finesse11 the King.’
You ordered your costume from a theatrical12 firm at the last minute, butCaptain Hale’s was a home- made affair. He went as the Gentlemandressed in Newspaper. Do you know, Sir Arthur, what we found clasped inthe dead lady’s hand? A fragment torn from a newspaper. My men haveorders to take Captain Hale’s costume away with them from your house. Ishall find it at the Yard when I get back. If there’s a tear in it correspond-ing to the missing piece—well, it’ll be the end of the case.”
“You won’t find it,” said Sir Arthur. “I know Bingo Hale.”
Apologising to Tuppence for disturbing her, they took their leave.
Late that evening there was a ring at the bell, and somewhat to the as-tonishment of the young pair Inspector Marriot once more walked in.
“I thought Blunt’s Brilliant Detectives would like to hear the latest devel-opments,” he said, with a hint of a smile.
“They would,” said Tommy. “Have a drink?”
He placed materials hospitably13 at Inspector Marriot’s elbow.
“It’s a clear case,” said the latter, after a minute or two. “Dagger14 was thelady’s own—the idea was to have made it look like suicide evidently, butthanks to you two being on the spot, that didn’t come off. We’ve foundplenty of letters—they’d been carrying on together for some time, that’sclear—without Sir Arthur tumbling to it. Then we found the last link—”
“The last what?” said Tuppence sharply.
“The last link in the chain—that fragment of the Daily Leader. It wastorn from the dress he wore—fits exactly. Oh, yes, it’s a perfectly15 clearcase. By the way, I brought round a photograph of those two exhibits—Ithought they might interest you. It’s very seldom that you get such a per-fectly clear case.”
“Tommy,” said Tuppence, when her husband returned from showingthe Scotland Yard man out, “why do you think Inspector Marriot keeps re-peating that it’s a perfectly clear case?”
“I don’t know. Smug satisfaction, I suppose.”
“Not a bit of it. He’s trying to get us irritated. You know, Tommy,butchers, for instance, know something about meat, don’t they?”
“I should say so, but what on earth—”
“And in the same way, greengrocers know all about vegetables, and fish-ermen about fish. Detectives, professional detectives, must know all aboutcriminals. They know the real thing when they see it—and they knowwhen it isn’t the real thing. Marriot’s expert knowledge tells him that Cap-tain Hale isn’t a criminal—but all the facts are dead against him. As a lastresource Marriot is egging us on, hoping against hope that some little de-tail or other will come back to us—something that happened last night—which will throw a different light on things. Tommy, why shouldn’t it besuicide, after all?”
“Remember what she said to you.”
“I know—but take that a different way. It was Bingo’s doing—his con-duct that drove her to kill herself. It’s just possible.”
“Just. But it doesn’t explain that fragment of newspaper.”
“Let’s have a look at Marriot’s photographs. I forgot to ask him whatHale’s account of the matter was.”
“I asked him that in the hall just now. Hale declared he had neverspoken to Lady Merivale at the show. Says somebody shoved a note intohis hand which said, “Don’t try and speak to me tonight. Arthur suspects.”
He couldn’t produce the piece of paper, though, and it doesn’t sound avery likely story. Anyway, you and I know he was with her at the Ace1 ofSpades, because we saw him.”
Tuppence nodded and pored over the two photographs.
One was a tiny fragment with the legend DAILY LE—and the rest tornoff. The other was the front sheet of the Daily Leader with the small roundtear at the top of it. There was no doubt about it. Those two fitted togetherperfectly.
“What are all those marks down the side?” asked Tommy.
“Stitches,” said Tuppence. “Where it was sewn to the others, you know.”
“I thought it might be a new scheme of dots,” said Tommy. Then he gavea slight shiver. “My word, Tuppence, how creepy it makes one feel. Tothink that you and I were discussing dots and puzzling over that advertise-ment—all as lighthearted as anything.”
Tuppence did not answer. Tommy looked at her and was startled to ob-serve that she was staring ahead of her, her mouth slightly open, and a be-wildered expression on her face.
“Tuppence,” said Tommy gently, shaking her by the arm, “what’s thematter with you? Are you just going to have a stroke or something?”
But Tuppence remained motionless. Presently she said in a farawayvoice:
“Denis Riordan.”
“Eh?” said Tommy, staring.
“It’s just as you said. One simple innocent remark! Find me all thisweek’s Daily Leaders.”
“What are you up to?”
“I’m being McCarty. I’ve been worrying round, and thanks to you, I’vegot a notion at last. This is the front sheet of Tuesday’s paper. I seem to re-member that Tuesday’s paper was the one with two dots in the L ofLEADER. This has a dot in the D of DAILY—and one in the L too. Get methe papers and let’s make sure.”
They compared them anxiously. Tuppence had been quite right in herremembrance.
“You see? This fragment wasn’t torn from Tuesday’s paper.”
“But Tuppence, we can’t be sure. It may merely be different editions.”
“It may—but at any rate it’s given me an idea. It can’t be coincidence—that’s certain. There’s only one thing it can be if I’m right in my idea. Ringup Sir Arthur, Tommy. Ask him to come round here at once. Say I’ve gotimportant news for him. Then get hold of Marriot. Scotland Yard willknow his address if he’s gone home.”
Sir Arthur Merivale, very much intrigued16 by the summons, arrived atthe flat in about half an hour’s time. Tuppence came forward to greet him.
“I must apologise for sending for you in such a peremptory17 fashion,” shesaid. “But my husband and I have discovered something that we think youought to know at once. Do sit down.”
Sir Arthur sat down, and Tuppence went on.
“You are, I know, very anxious to clear your friend.”
Sir Arthur shook his head sadly.
“I was, but even I have had to give in to the overwhelming evidence.”
“What would you say if I told you that chance has placed in my hands apiece of evidence that will certainly clear him of all complicity?”
“I should be overjoyed to hear it, Mrs. Beresford.”
“Supposing,” continued Tuppence, “that I had come across a girl whowas actually dancing with Captain Hale last night at twelve o’clock—thehour when he was supposed to be at the Ace of Spades.”
“Marvellous!” cried Sir Arthur. “I knew there was some mistake. PoorVere must have killed herself after all.”
“Hardly that,” said Tuppence. “You forget the other man.”
“What other man?”
“The one my husband and I saw leave the booth. You see, Sir Arthur,there must have been a second man dressed in newspaper at the ball. Bythe way, what was your own costume?”
“Mine? I went as a seventeenth century executioner.”
“How very appropriate,” said Tuppence softly.
“Appropriate, Mrs. Beresford. What do you mean by appropriate?”
“For the part you played. Shall I tell you my ideas on the subject, Sir Ar-thur? The newspaper dress is easily put on over that of an executioner.
Previously18 a little note has been slipped into Captain Hale’s hand, askinghim not to speak to a certain lady. But the lady herself knows nothing ofthat note. She goes to the Ace of Spades at the appointed time and sees thefigure she expects to see. They go into the booth. He takes her in his arms,I think, and kisses her—the kiss of a Judas, and as he kisses he strikes withthe dagger. She only utters one faint cry and he covers that with a laugh.
Presently he goes away—and to the last, horrified5 and bewildered, she be-lieves her lover is the man who killed her.
“But she has torn a small fragment from the costume. The murderer no-tices that—he is a man who pays great attention to detail. To make thecase absolutely clear against his victim the fragment must seem to havebeen torn from Captain Hale’s costume. That would present great diffi-culties unless the two men happened to be living in the same house. Then,of course, the thing would be simplicity19 itself. He makes an exact duplicateof the tear in Captain Hale’s costume—then he burns his own and pre-pares to play the part of the loyal friend.”
Tuppence paused.
“Well, Sir Arthur?”
Sir Arthur rose and made her a bow.
“The rather vivid imagination of a charming lady who reads too muchfiction.”
“You think so?” said Tommy.
“And a husband who is guided by his wife,” said Sir Arthur. “I do notfancy you will find anybody to take the matter seriously.”
He laughed out loud, and Tuppence stiffened20 in her chair.
“I would swear to that laugh anywhere,” she said. “I heard it last in theAce of Spades. And you are under a little misapprehension about us both.
Beresford is our real name, but we have another.”
She picked up a card from the table and handed it to him. Sir Arthurread it aloud.
“International Detective Agency .?.?.” He drew his breath sharply. “Sothat is what you really are! That was why Marriot brought me here thismorning. It was a trap—”
He strolled to the window.
“A fine view you have from here,” he said. “Right over London.”
“Inspector Marriot,” cried Tommy sharply.
In a flash the Inspector appeared from the communicating door in theopposite wall.
A little smile of amusement came to Sir Arthur’s lips.
“I thought as much,” he said. “But you won’t get me this time, I’m afraid,Inspector. I prefer to take my own way out.”
And putting his hands on the sill, he vaulted21 clean through the window.
Tuppence shrieked22 and clapped her hands to her ears to shut out thesound she had already imagined — the sickening thud far beneath. In-spector Marriot uttered an oath.
“We should have thought of the window,” he said. “Though, mind you, itwould have been a difficult thing to prove. I’ll go down and—and—see tothings.”
“Poor devil,” said Tommy slowly. “If he was fond of his wife—”
But the Inspector interrupted him with a snort.
“Fond of her? That’s as may be. He was at his wits’ end where to turn formoney. Lady Merivale had a large fortune of her own, and it all went tohim. If she’d bolted with young Hale, he’d never have seen a penny of it.”
“That was it, was it?”
“Of course, from the very start, I sensed that Sir Arthur was a bad lot,and that Captain Hale was all right. We know pretty well what’s what atthe Yard—but it’s awkward when you’re up against facts. I’ll be goingdown now—I should give your wife a glass of brandy if I were you, Mr.
Beresford—it’s been upsetting like for her.”
“Greengrocers,” said Tuppence in a low voice as the door closed behindthe imperturbable23 Inspector, “butchers, fishermen, detectives. I was right,wasn’t I? He knew.”
Tommy, who had been busy at the sideboard, approached her with alarge glass.
“Drink this.”
“What is it? Brandy?”
“No, it’s a large cocktail—suitable for a triumphant24 McCarty. Yes, Mar-riot’s right all round—that was the way of it. A bold finesse for game andrubber.”
Tuppence nodded.
“But he finessed25 the wrong way round.”
“And so,” said Tommy, “exit the King.”
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收听单词发音
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1
ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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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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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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6
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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7
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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8
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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finesse
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| n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕 | |
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theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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15
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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16
intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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25
finessed
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| v.手腕，手段，技巧( finesse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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