At ten o’clock that morning, Lord Caterham and his daughter were break-fasting. Bundle was looking very thoughtful.
“Father,” she said at last.
Lord Caterham, absorbed in The Times, did not reply.
“Father,” said Bundle again, more sharply.
Lord Caterham, torn from his interested perusal1 of forthcoming sales ofrare books, looked up absentmindedly.
“Eh?” he said. “Did you speak?”
“Yes. Who is it who’s had breakfast?”
She nodded towards a place that had evidently been occupied. The restwere all expectant.
“Oh, what’s-his-name.”
“Fat Iky?”
Bundle and her father had enough sympathy between them to compre-hend each other’s somewhat misleading observations.
“That’s it.”
“Did I see you talking to the detective this morning before breakfast?”
Lord Caterham sighed.
“Yes, he buttonholed me in the hall. I do think the hours before break-fast should be sacred. I shall have to go abroad. The strain on my nerves—”
Bundle interrupted unceremoniously.
“What did he say?”
“Said everyone who wanted to could clear out.”
“Well,” said Bundle, “that’s all right. That’s what you’ve been wanting.”
“I know. But he didn’t leave it at that. He went on to say that neverthe-less he wanted me to ask everyone to stay on.”
“I don’t understand,” said Bundle, wrinkling her nose.
“So confusing and contradictory,” complained Lord Caterham. “And be-fore breakfast too.”
“What did you say?”
“Oh, I agreed, of course. It’s never any good arguing with these people.
Especially before breakfast,” continued Lord Caterham, reverting2 to hisprincipal grievance3.
“Who have you asked so far?”
“Cade. He was up very early this morning. He’s going to stop on. I don’tmind that. I can’t quite make the fellow out; but I like him—I like him verymuch.”
“So does Virginia,” said Bundle, drawing a pattern on the table with herfork.
“Eh?”
“And so do I. But that doesn’t seem to matter.”
“And I asked Isaacstein,” continued Lord Caterham.
“Well?”
“But fortunately he’s got to go back to town. Don’t forget to order the carfor the 10:50, by the way.”
“All right.”
“Now if I can only get rid of Fish too,” continued Lord Caterham, hisspirits rising.
“I thought you liked talking to him about your mouldy old books.”
“So I do, so I do. So I did, rather. But it gets monotonous4 when one findsthat one is always doing all the talking. Fish is very interested, but henever volunteers any statements of his own.”
“It’s better than doing all the listening,” said Bundle. “Like one does withGeorge Lomax.”
Lord Caterham shuddered5 at the remembrance.
“George is all very well on platforms,” said Bundle. “I’ve clapped himmyself, though of course I know all the time that he’s talking balderdash.
And anyway, I’m a Socialist—”
“I know, my dear, I know,” said Lord Caterham hastily.
“It’s all right,” said Bundle. “I’m not going to bring politics into thehome. That’s what George does—public speaking in private life. It ought tobe abolished by Act of Parliament.”
“Quite so,” said Lord Caterham.
“What about Virginia?” asked Bundle. “Is she to be asked to stop on?”
“Battle said everybody.”
“Says he firmly! Have you asked her to be my stepma yet?”
“I don’t think it would be any good,” said Lord Caterham mournfully.
“Although she did call me a darling last night. But that’s the worst of theseattractive young women with affectionate dispositions6. They’ll say any-thing, and they mean absolutely nothing by it.”
“No,” agreed Bundle. “It would have been much more hopeful if she’dthrown a boot at you or tried to bite you.”
“You modern young people seem to have such unpleasant ideas aboutlovemaking,” said Lord Caterham plaintively7.
“It comes from reading The Sheik,” said Bundle. “Desert love. Throw herabout, etc.”
“What is The Sheik?” asked Lord Caterham simply. “Is it a poem?”
Bundle looked at him with commiserating8 pity. Then she rose andkissed the top of his head.
“Dear old Daddy,” she remarked, and sprang lightly out of the window.
Lord Caterham went back to the salerooms.
He jumped when addressed suddenly by Mr. Hiram Fish, who had madehis usual noiseless entry.
“Good morning, Lord Caterham.”
“Oh, good morning,” said Lord Caterham. “Good morning. Nice day.”
“The weather is delightful,” said Mr. Fish.
He helped himself to coffee. By way of food, he took a piece of dry toast.
“Do I hear correctly that the embargo9 is removed?” he asked after aminute or two. “That we are all free to depart?”
“Yes — er — yes,” said Lord Caterham “As a matter of fact, I hoped, Imean, that I shall be delighted”—his conscience drove him on—“only toodelighted if you will stay on for a little.”
“Why, Lord Caterham—”
“It’s been a beastly visit, I know,” Lord Caterham hurried on. “Too bad.
Shan’t blame you for wanting to run away.”
“You misjudge me, Lord Caterham. The associations have been painful,no one could deny that point. But the English country life, as lived in themansions of the great, has a powerful attraction for me. I am interested inthe study of those conditions. It is a thing we lack completely in Amercia. Ishall be only too delighted to accept your vurry kind invitation and stayon.”
“Oh, well,” said Lord Caterham, “that’s that. Absolutely delighted, mydear fellow, absolutely delighted.”
Spurring himself on to a false geniality10 of manner, Lord Caterham mur-mured something about having to see his bailiff and escaped from theroom.
In the hall, he saw Virginia just descending11 the staircase.
“Shall I take you in to breakfast?” asked Lord Caterham tenderly.
“I’ve had it in bed, thank you, I was frightfully sleepy this morning.”
She yawned.
“Had a bad night, perhaps?”
“Not exactly a bad night. From one point of view decidedly a good night.
Oh, Lord Caterham”—she slipped her hand inside his arm and gave it asqueeze—“I am enjoying myself. You were a darling to ask me down.”
“You’ll stop on for a bit then, won’t you? Battle is lifting the—the em-bargo, but I want you to stay particularly. So does Bundle.”
“Of course I’ll stay. It’s sweet of you to ask me.”
“Ah!” said Lord Caterham.
He sighed.
“What is your secret sorrow?” asked Virginia. “Has anyone bitten you?”
“That’s just it,” said Lord Caterham mournfully.
Virginia looked puzzled.
“You don’t feel, by any chance, that you want to throw a boot at me? No,I can see you don’t. Oh, well, it’s of no consequence.”
Lord Caterham drifted sadly away, and Virginia passed out through aside door into the garden.
She stood there for a moment, breathing in the crisp October air whichwas infinitely12 refreshing13 to one in her slightly jaded14 state.
She started a little to find Superintendent15 Battle at her elbow. The manseemed to have an extraordinary knack16 of appearing out of space withoutthe least warning.
“Good morning, Mrs. Revel17. Not too tired, I hope?”
Virginia shook her head.
“It was a most exciting night,” she said. “Well worth the loss of a littlesleep. The only thing is, today seems a trifle dull after it.”
“There’s a nice shady place down under that cedar18 tree,” remarked thesuperintendent. “Shall I take a chair down to it for you?”
“If you think it’s the best thing for me to do,” said Virginia solemnly.
“You’re very quick, Mrs. Revel. Yes, it’s quite true, I do want a word withyou.”
He picked up a long wicker chair and carried it down the lawn. Virginiafollowed him with a cushion under her arm.
“Very dangerous place, that terrace,” remarked the detective. “That is, ifyou want to have a private conversation.”
“I’m getting excited again, Superintendent Battle.”
“Oh, it’s nothing important.” He took out a big watch and glanced at it.
“Half past ten. I’m starting for Wyvern Abbey in ten minutes to report toMr. Lomax. Plenty of time. I only wanted to know if you could tell me alittle more about Mr. Cade.”
“About Mr. Cade?”
Virginia was startled.
“Yes, where you first met him, and how long you’ve known him and soforth.”
Battle’s manner was easy and pleasant enough. He even refrained fromlooking at her and the fact that he did so made her vaguely19 uneasy.
“It’s more difficult than you think,” she said at last. “He did me a greatservice once—”
Battle interrupted her.
“Before you go any further, Mrs. Ravel, I’d just like to say something.
Last night, after you and Mr. Eversleigh had gone to bed, Mr. Cade told meall about the letters and the man who was killed in your house.”
“He did?” gasped20 Virginia.
“Yes, and very wisely too. It clears up a lot of misunderstanding. There’sonly one thing he didn’t tell me—how long he had known you. Now I’ve alittle idea of my own about that. You shall tell me if I’m right or wrong. Ithink that the day he came to your house in Pont Street was the first timeyou had ever seen him. Ah! I see I’m right. It was so.”
Virginia said nothing. For the first time she felt afraid of this stolid22 manwith the expressionless face. She understood what Anthony had meantwhen he said there were no flies on Superintendent Battle.
“Has he ever told you anything about his life.” the detective continued.
“Before he was in South Africa, I mean. Canada? Or before that, the Su-dan? Or about his boyhood?”
Virginia merely shook her head.
“And yet I’d bet he’s got something worth telling. You can’t mistake theface of a man who’s led a life of daring and adventure. He could tell yousome interesting tales if he cared to.”
“If you want to know about his past life, why don’t you cable to thatfriend of his, Mr. McGrath?” Virginia asked.
“Oh, we have. But it seems he’s up-country somewhere. Still, there’s nodoubt Mr. Cade was in Bulawayo when he said he was. But I wonderedwhat he’d been doing before he came to South Africa. He’d only had thatjob with Castle’s about a month.” He took out his watch again. “I must beoff. The car will be waiting.”
Virginia watched him retreat to the house. But she did not move fromher chair. She hoped that Anthony might appear and join her. Insteadcame Bill Eversleigh, with a prodigious23 yawn.
“Thank God, I’ve got a chance to speak to you at last, Virginia,” he com-plained.
“Well, speak to me very gently, Bill darling, or I shall burst into tears.”
“Has someone been bullying24 you?”
“Not exactly bullying me. Getting inside my mind and turning it insideout. I feel as though I’d been jumped on by an elephant.”
“Not Battle?”
“Yes, Battle. He’s a terrible man really.”
“Well, never mind Battle. I say, Virginia, I do love you so awfully—”
“Not this morning, Bill. I’m not strong enough. Anyway, I’ve always toldyou the best people don’t propose before lunch.”
“Good Lord,” said Bill. “I could propose to you before breakfast.”
Virginia shuddered.
“Bill, be sensible and intelligent for a minute. I want to ask your advice.”
“If you’d once make up your mind to it, and say you’d marry me, you’dfeel miles better, I’m sure. Happier, you know, and more settled down.”
“Listen to me, Bill. Proposing to me is your idée fixe. All men proposewhen they’re bored and can’t think of anything to say. Remember my ageand my widowed state, and go and make love to a pure young girl.”
“My darling Virginia—Oh, Blast! here’s that French idiot bearing downon us.”
It was indeed M. Lemoine, black-bearded and correct of demeanour asever.
“Good morning, madame. You are not fatigued25, I trust?”
“Not in the least.”
“That is excellent. Good morning, Mr. Eversleigh.”
“How would it be if we promenaded26 ourselves a little, the three of us?”
suggested the Frenchman.
“How about it, Bill?” said Virginia.
“Oh, all right,” said the unwilling27 young gentleman by her side.
He heaved himself up from the grass, and the three of them walkedslowly along. Virginia between the two men. She was sensible at once of astrange undercurrent of excitement in the Frenchman, though she had noclue as to what caused it.
Soon, with her usual skill, she was putting him at his ease, asking himquestions, listening to his answers, and gradually drawing him out.
Presently he was telling them anecdotes28 of the famous King Victor. Hetalked well, albeit29 with a certain bitterness as he described the variousways in which the detective bureau had been outwitted.
But all the time, despite the real absorption of Lemoine in his own nar-rative, Virginia had a feeling that he had some other object in view.
Moreover, she judged that Lemoine, under cover of his story, was deliber-ately striking out his own course across the park. They were not juststrolling idly. He was deliberately30 guiding them in a certain direction.
Suddenly, he broke off his story and looked round. They were standingjust where the drive intersected the park before turning an abrupt31 cornerby a clump32 of trees. Lemoine was staring at a vehicle approaching themfrom the direction of the house.
Virginia’s eyes followed his.
“It’s the luggage cart,” she said, “taking Isaacstein’s luggage and his valetto the station.”
“Is that so?” said Lemoine. He glanced down at his own watch and star-ted. “A thousand pardons. I have been longer here than I meant—suchcharming company. Is it possible, do you think, that I might have a lift tothe village?”
He stepped out on to the drive and signalled with his arm. The luggagecart stopped, and after a word or two of explanation Lemoine climbed inbehind. He raised his hat politely to Virginia, and drove off.
The other two stood and watched the cart disappearing with puzzled ex-pressions. Just as the cart swung round the bend, a suitcase fell off into thedrive. The cart went on.
“Come on,” said Virginia to Bill. “We’re going to see something interest-ing. That suitcase was thrown out.”
“Nobody’s noticed it,” said Bill.
They ran down the drive towards the fallen piece of luggage. Just as theyreached it, Lemoine came round the corner of the bend on foot. He washot from walking fast.
“I was obliged to descend,” he said pleasantly. “I found that I had leftsomething behind.”
“This?” said Bill, indicating the suitcase.
It was a handsome case of heavy pigskin, with the initials H. I. on it.
“What a pity!” said Lemoine gently. “It must have fallen out. Shall we liftit from the road?”
Without waiting for a reply, he picked up the suitcase, and carried itover to the belt of trees. He stooped over it, something flashed in his hand,and the lock slipped back.
He spoke33, and his voice was totally different, quick and commanding.
“The car will be here in a minute,” he said. “Is it in sight?”
Virginia looked back towards the house.
“No.”
“Good.”
With deft34 fingers he tossed the things out of the suitcase. Gold-toppedbottle, silk pyjamas35, a variety of socks. Suddenly his whole figurestiffened. He caught up what appeared to be a bundle of silk underwear,and unrolled it rapidly.
A slight exclamation36 broke from Bill. In the centre of the bundle was aheavy revolver.
“I hear the horn,” said Virginia.
Like lightning, Lemoine repacked the suitcase. The revolver he wrappedin a silk handkerchief of his own, and slipped into his pocket. He snappedthe locks of the suitcase, and turned quickly to Bill.
“Take it. Madame will be with you. Stop the car, and explain that it felloff the luggage cart. Do not mention me.”
Bill stepped quickly down to the drive just as the big Lanchester lim-ousine with Isaacstein inside it came round the corner. The chauffeurslowed down, and Bill swung the suitcase up to him.
“Fell off the luggage cart,” he explained. “We happened to see it.”
He caught a momentary37 glimpse of a startled yellow face as the finan-cier stared at him, and then the car swept on again.
They went back to Lemoine. He was standing21 with the revolver in hishand, and a look of gloating satisfaction in his face.
“A long shot,” he said. “A very long shot. But it came off.”
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收听单词发音
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1
perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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reverting
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| 恢复( revert的现在分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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shuddered
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| 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 | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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plaintively
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commiserating
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| v.怜悯，同情( commiserate的现在分词 ) | |
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embargo
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geniality
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| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
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descending
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infinitely
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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cedar
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vaguely
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gasped
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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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stolid
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prodigious
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bullying
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fatigued
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promenaded
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unwilling
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anecdotes
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albeit
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deliberately
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abrupt
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clump
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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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deft
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pyjamas
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exclamation
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momentary
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