Sir William Ossington, known to the cronies of earlier days as Billy Bones,stared incredulously at his friend.
“Didn’t you have enough crime out in Mayang?” he asked plaintively1.
“Have you got to come home and do our work for us here?”
“Crime in Mayang isn’t on a wholesale2 basis,” said Luke. “What I’m upagainst now is a man who’s done a round half-dozen murders at least—and got away with it without a breath of suspicion!”
Sir William sighed.
“It does happen. What’s his speciality—wives?”
“No, he’s not that kind. He doesn’t actually think he’s God yet—but hesoon will.”
“Mad?”
“Oh, unquestionably, I should say.”
“Ah! but he probably isn’t legally mad. There’s a difference, you know.”
“I should say he knows the nature and consequence of his acts,” saidLuke.
“Exactly,” said Billy Bones.
“Well, don’t let’s quibble about legal technicalities. We’re not nearly atthat stage yet. Perhaps we never shall be. What I want from you, old boy,is a few facts. There was a street accident took place on Derby Daybetween five and six o’clock in the afternoon. Old lady run over in White-hall and the car didn’t stop. Her name was Lavinia Pinkerton. I want youto dig up all facts you can about that.”
Sir William sighed. “I can soon get hold of that for you. Twenty minutesought to do it.”
He was as good as his word. In less than that time Luke was talking tothe police officer in charge of the matter.
“Yes, sir, I remember the details. I’ve got most of them written downhere.” He indicated the sheet that Luke was studying. “An inquest washeld — Mr. Satcherverell was the Coroner. Censure3 of the driver of thecar.”
“Did you ever get him?”
“No, sir.”
“What make of car was it?”
“It seems pretty certain it was a Rolls—big car driven by a chauffeur4. Allwitnesses unanimous on that point. Most people know a Rolls by sight.”
“You didn’t get the number?”
“No, unfortunately, nobody thought to look at it. There was a note of anumber FZX 4498—but it was the wrong number, a woman spotted5 it andmentioned it to another woman who gave it to me. I don’t know whetherthe second woman got it wrong but anyway it was no good.”
Luke asked sharply: “How did you know it was no good?”
The young officer smiled.
“FZX 4498 is the number of Lord Whitfield’s car. That car was standingoutside Boomington House at the time in question and the chauffeur washaving tea. He had a perfect alibi—no question of his being concerned andthe car never left the building till 6:30 when his lordship came out.”
“I see,” said Luke.
“It’s always the way, sir,” the man sighed, “half the witnesses have dis-appeared before a constable6 can get there and take down particulars.”
Sir William nodded.
“We assumed it was probably a number not unlike that FZX 4498—anumber beginning probably with two fours. We did our best, but couldnot trace any car. We investigated several likely numbers but they couldall give satisfactory accounts of themselves.”
Sir William looked at Luke questioningly.
Luke shook his head. Sir William said:
“Thanks, Bonner, that will do.”
When the man had gone out, Billy Bones looked inquiringly at hisfriend.
“What’s it all about, Fitz?”
Luke sighed. “It all tallies7. Lavinia Pinkerton was coming up to blow thegaff—to tell the clever people at Scotland Yard all about the wicked mur-derer. I don’t know whether you’d have listened to her—probably not—”
“We might,” said Sir William. “Things do come through to us that way.
Just hearsay8 and gossip—we don’t neglect that sort of thing, I assure you.”
“That’s what the murderer thought. He wasn’t going to risk it. He elimin-ated Lavinia Pinkerton and although one woman was sharp enough tospot his number no one believed her.”
Billy Bones sprang upright in his chair.
“You don’t mean—”
“Yes, I do. I’ll bet you anything you like it was Whitfield who ran herdown. I don’t know how he managed it. The chauffeur was away at tea.
Somehow or other, I suppose, he sneaked9 away putting on a chauffeur’scoat and cap. But he did it, Billy!”
“Impossible!”
“Not at all. Lord Whitfield has committed at least seven murders to mycertain knowledge and probably a lot more.”
“Impossible,” said Sir William again.
“My dear fellow, he practically boasted to me of it last night!”
“He’s mad, then?”
“He’s mad, all right, but he’s a cunning devil. You’ll have to go warily10.
Don’t let him know we suspect him.”
Billy Bones murmured: “Incredible….”
Luke said: “But true!”
He laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“Look here, Billy, old son, we must get right down to this. Here are thefacts.”
The two men talked long and earnestly.
On the following day Luke returned to Wychwood. He drove down earlyin the morning. He could have returned the night before but he felt amarked distaste for sleeping under Lord Whitfield’s roof or accepting hishospitality under the circumstances.
On his way through Wychwood, he drew up his car at Miss Waynflete’shouse. The maid who opened the door stared at him in astonishment11 butshowed him into the little dining room where Miss Waynflete was sittingat breakfast.
She rose to receive him in some surprise.
He did not waste time. “I must apologize for breaking in on you at thishour.”
He looked round. The maid had left the room, shutting the door. “I’m go-ing to ask you a question, Miss Waynflete. It’s rather a personal one, but Ithink you will forgive me for asking it.”
“Please ask me anything you like. I am quite sure your reason for doingso will be a good one.”
“Thank you.”
He paused.
“I want to know exactly why you broke off your engagement to LordWhitfield all those years ago.”
She had not expected that. The colour rose in her cheeks and one handwent to her breast.
“Has he told you anything?”
Luke replied: “He told me there was something about a bird—a birdwhose neck was wrung12….”
“He said that?” Her voice was wondering. “He admitted it? That’s ex-traordinary!”
“Will you tell me, please.”
“Yes, I will tell you. But I beg that you will never speak of the matter tohim—to Gordon. It is all past—all over and finished with—I don’t want it—raked up.”
She looked at him appealingly.
Luke nodded.
“It is only for my personal satisfaction,” he said. “I shall not repeat whatyou tell me.”
“Thank you.” She had recovered her composure. Her voice was quitesteady as she went on. “It was like this. I had a little canary—I was veryfond of it—and—perhaps—rather silly about it—girls were, then. Theywere rather—well—coy about their pets. It must have been irritating to aman—I do realize that.”
“Yes,” said Luke as she paused.
“Gordon was jealous of the bird. He said one day quite ill-temperedly, ‘Ibelieve you prefer that bird to me.’ And I, in the rather silly way girls wenton in those days, laughed and held it up on my finger saying somethinglike: ‘Of course I love you, dicky bird, better than a great silly boy! Ofcourse I do!’ Then—oh, it was frightening—Gordon snatched the bird fromme and wrung its neck. It was such a shock—I shall never forget it!”
Her face had gone very pale.
“And so you broke off the engagement?” said Luke.
“Yes. I couldn’t feel the same afterwards. You see, Mr. Fitzwilliam—” shehesitated. “It wasn’t just the action—that might have been done in a fit ofjealousy and temper—it was the awful feeling I had that he’d enjoyed doingit—it was that that frightened me!”
“Even long ago,” murmured Luke. “Even in these days….”
She laid a hand on his arm.
“Mr. Fitzwilliam—”
He met the frightened appeal in her eyes with a grave steady look.
“It is Lord Whitfield who committed all these murders!” he said. “You’veknown that all along, haven’t you?”
She shook her head with vigour13.
“Not known it! If I had known it, then — then of course I would havespoken out—no, it was just a fear.”
“And yet you never gave me a hint?”
She clasped her hands in a sudden anguish14.
“How could I? How could I? I was fond of him once….”
“Yes,” said Luke gently. “I see.”
She turned away, fumbled15 in her bag, and a small lace-edged handker-chief was pressed for a moment to her eyes. Then she turned back again,dry-eyed, dignified16 and composed.
“I am so glad,” she said, “that Bridget has broken off her engagement.
She is going to marry you instead, is she not?”
“Yes.”
“That will be much more suitable,” said Miss Waynflete rather primly17.
Luke was unable to help smiling a little.
But Miss Waynflete’s face grew grave and anxious. She leaned forwardand once more laid a hand on his arm.
“But be very careful,” she said. “Both of you must be very careful.”
“You mean—with Lord Whitfield?”
“Yes. It would be better not to tell him.”
Luke frowned. “I don’t think either of us would like the idea of that.”
“Oh! what does that matter? You don’t seem to realize that he’s mad—mad. He won’t stand it—not for a moment! If anything happens to her—”
“Nothing shall happen to her!”
“Yes, I know—but do realize that you’re not a match for him! He’s sodreadfully cunning! Take her away at once—it’s the only hope. Make hergo abroad! You’d better both go abroad!”
Luke said slowly:
“It might be as well if she went. I shall stay.”
“I was afraid you would say that. But at any rate get her away. At once,mind!”
Luke nodded slowly.
“I think,” he said, “that you’re right.”
“I know I’m right! Get her away—before it’s too late.”
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收听单词发音
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1
plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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2
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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3
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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4
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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5
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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7
tallies
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| n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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8
hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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9
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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10
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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11
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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12
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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13
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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14
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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15
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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16
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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primly
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| adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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