Superintendent1 Battle replaced the sheet with the slightly crestfallen2 air ofa man whose best point has fallen flat. Anthony stood with his hands inhis pockets lost in thought.
“So that’s what old Lollipop3 meant when he talked about ‘other means,’
” he murmured at last.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Cade?”
“Nothing, Superintendent. Forgive my abstraction. You see I—or rathermy friend, Jimmy McGrath, has been very neatly4 done out of a thousandpounds.”
“A thousand pounds is a nice sum of money,” said Battle.
“It isn’t the thousand pounds so much,” said Anthony, “though I agreewith you that it’s a nice sum of money. It’s being done that maddens me. Ihanded over that manuscript like a little woolly lamb. It hurts, Superin-tendent, indeed it hurts.”
The detective said nothing.
“Well, well,” said Anthony. “Regrets are vain, and all may not yet be lost.
I’ve only got to get hold of dear old Stylptitch’s reminiscences betweennow and next Wednesday and all will be gas and gaiters.”
“Would you mind coming back to the Council Chamber5, Mr. Cade?
There’s one little thing I want to point out to you.”
Back in the Council Chamber, the detective strode at once to the middlewindow.
“I’ve been thinking, Mr. Cade. This particular window is very stiff; verystiff indeed. You might have been mistaken in thinking that it wasfastened. It might just have stuck. I’m sure—yes, I’m almost sure, that youwere mistaken.”
Anthony eyed him keenly.
“And supposing I say that I’m quite sure I was not?”
“Don’t you think you could have been?” said Battle, looking at him verysteadily.
“Well, to oblige you, Superintendent, yes.”
Battle smiled in a satisfied fashion.
“You’re quick in the uptake, sir. And you’ll have no objection to sayingso, careless like, at a suitable moment?”
“None whatever. I—”
He paused, as Battle gripped his arm. The superintendent was bent6 for-ward, listening.
Enjoining7 silence on Anthony with a gesture, he tiptoed noiselessly tothe door, and flung it suddenly open.
On the threshold stood a tall man with black hair neatly parted in themiddle, china- blue eyes with a particularly innocent expression, and alarge placid8 face.
“Your pardon, gentlemen,” he said in a slow drawling voice with a pro-nounced transatlantic accent. “But is it permitted to inspect the scene ofthe crime? I take it that you are both gentlemen from Scotland Yard?”
“I have not that honour,” said Anthony. “But this gentleman is Superin-tendent Battle of Scotland Yard.”
“Is that so?” said the American gentleman, with a great appearance ofinterest. “Pleased to meet you, sir. My name is Hiram P. Fish, of New YorkCity.”
“What was it you wanted to see, Mr. Fish?” asked the detective.
The American walked gently into the room, and looked with much in-terest at the dark patch on the floor.
“I am interested in crime, Mr. Battle. It is one of my hobbies. I have con-tributed a monograph9 to one of our weekly periodicals on the subject ‘De-generacy and the Criminal.’ ”
As he spoke10, his eyes went gently round the room, seeming to noteeverything in it. They rested just a shade longer on the window.
“The body,” said Superintendant Battle, stating a self-evident fact, “hasbeen removed.”
“Surely,” said Mr. Fish. His eyes went on to the panelled walls. “Some re-markable pictures in this room, gentlemen. A Holbein, two Van Dycks,and, if I am not mistaken, a Velazquez. I am interested in pictures—andlikewise in first editions. It was to see his first editions that Lord Caterhamwas so kind as to invite me down here.”
He sighed gently.
“I guess that’s all off now. It would show a proper feeling, I suppose, forthe guests to return to town immediately?”
“I’m afraid that can’t be done, sir,” said Superintendent Battle. “Nobodymust leave the house until after the inquest.”
“Is that so? And when is the inquest?”
“May be tomorrow, may not be until Monday. We’ve got to arrange forthe autopsy11 and see the coroner.
“I get you,” said Mr. Fish. “Under the circumstances, though it will be amelancholy party.”
Battle led the way to the door.
“We’d best get out of here,” he said. “We’re keeping it locked still.”
He waited for the other two to pass through, and then turned the keyand removed it.
“I opine,” said Mr. Fish, “that you are seeking for fingerprints12?”
“Maybe,” said the superintendent laconically13.
“I should say too, that, on a night such as last night, an intruder wouldhave left footprints on the hardwood floor.”
“None inside, plenty outside.”
“Mine,” explained Anthony cheerfully.
The innocent eyes of Mr. Fish swept over him.
“Young man,” he said, “you surprise me.”
They turned a corner, and came out into the big wide hall, panelled likethe Council Chamber in old oak, and with a wide gallery above it. Twoother figures came into sight at the far end.
“Aha!” said Mr. Fish. “Our genial14 host.”
This was such a ludicrous description of Lord Caterham that Anthonyhad to turn his head away to conceal15 a smile.
“And with him,” continued the American, “is a lady whose name I didnot catch last night. But she is bright—she is very bright.”
With Lord Caterham was Virginia Revel16.
Anthony had been anticipating this meeting all along. He had no ideahow to act. He must leave it to Virginia. Although he had full confidence inher presence of mind, he had not the slightest idea what line she wouldtake. He was not long left in doubt.
“Why, it’s Mr. Cade,” said Virginia. She held out both hands to him. “Soyou found you could come down after all?”
“My dear Mrs. Revel, I had no idea Mr. Cade was a friend of yours,” saidLord Caterham.
“He’s a very old friend,” said Virginia, smiling at Anthony, with a mis-chievous glint in her eye. “I ran across him in London unexpectedly yes-terday, and told him I was coming down here.”
Anthony was quick to give her her pointer.
“I explained to Mrs. Revel,” he said, “that I had been forced to refuseyour kind invitation—since it had really been extended to quite a differentman. And I couldn’t very well foist17 a perfect stranger on you under falsepretences.”
“Well, well, my dear fellow,” said Lord Caterham, “that’s all over anddone with now. I’ll send down to the Cricketers for your bag.”
“It’s very kind of you, Lord Caterham, but—”
“Nonsense, of course you must come to Chimneys. Horrible place, theCricketers—to stay in, I mean.”
“Of course, you must come, Mr. Cade,” said Virginia softly.
Anthony realized the altered tone of his surroundings. Already Virginiahad done much for him. He was no longer an ambiguous stranger. Her po-sition was so assured and unassailable that anyone for whom she vouchedwas accepted as a matter of course. He thought of the pistol in the tree atBurnham Beeches18, and smiled inwardly.
“I’ll send for your traps,” said Lord Caterham to Anthony. “I suppose, inthe circumstances, we can’t have any shooting. A pity. But there it is. And Idon’t know what the devil to do with Isaacstein. It’s all very unfortunate.”
The depressed19 peer sighed heavily.
“That’s settled, then,” said Virginia. “You can begin to be useful rightaway, Mr. Cade, and take me out on the lake. It’s very peaceful there andfar from crime and all that sort of thing. Isn’t it awful for poor Lord Cater-ham having a murder done in his house? But it’s George’s fault really. Thisis George’s party, you know.”
“Ah!” said Lord Caterham. “But I should never have listened to him!”
He assumed the air of a strong man betrayed by a single weakness.
“One can’t help listening to George,” said Virginia. “He always holds youso that you can’t get away. I’m thinking of patenting a detachable lapel.”
“I wish you would,” chuckled20 her host. “I’m glad you’re coming to us,Cade. I need support.”
“I appreciate your kindness very much, Lord Caterham,” said Anthony.
“Especially,” he added, “when I’m such a suspicious character. But mystaying here makes it easier for Battle.”
“In what way, sir?” asked the superintendent.
“It won’t be so difficult to keep an eye on me,” explained Anthonygently.
And by the momentary21 flicker22 of the superintendent’s eyelids23 he knewthat his shot had gone home.
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收听单词发音
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1
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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2
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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3
lollipop
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| n.棒棒糖 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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6
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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7
enjoining
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| v.命令( enjoin的现在分词 ) | |
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8
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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9
monograph
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| n.专题文章，专题著作 | |
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10
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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11
autopsy
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| n.尸体解剖；尸检 | |
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12
fingerprints
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| n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 ) | |
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13
laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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14
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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15
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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16
revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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17
foist
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| vt.把…强塞给，骗卖给 | |
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beeches
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| n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材 | |
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19
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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20
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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22
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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23
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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