“Inconsiderate, that’s what I call it,” said Lord Caterham.
He spoke1 in a gentle, plaintive2 voice and seemed pleased with the adject-ive he had found.
“Yes, distinctly inconsiderate. I often find these self-made men are in-considerate. Very possibly that is why they amass3 such large fortunes.”
He looked mournfully out over his ancestral acres, of which he hadtoday regained4 possession.
His daughter, Lady Eileen Brent, known to her friends and society ingeneral as “Bundle,” laughed.
“You’ll certainly never amass a large fortune,” she observed dryly,“though you didn’t do so badly out of old Coote, sticking him for this place.
What was he like? Presentable?”
“One of those large men,” said Lord Caterham, shuddering5 slightly,“with a red square face and iron-grey hair. Powerful, you know. Whatthey call a forceful personality. The kind of man you’d get if a steamrollerwere turned into a human being.”
“Rather tiring?” suggested Bundle sympathetically.
“Frightfully tiring, full of all the most depressing virtues6 like sobrietyand punctuality. I don’t know which are the worst, powerful personalitiesor earnest politicians. I do so prefer the cheerful inefficient7.”
“A cheerful inefficient wouldn’t have been able to pay you the price youasked for this old mausoleum,” Bundle reminded him.
Lord Caterham winced8.
“I wish you wouldn’t use that word, Bundle. We were just getting awayfrom the subject.”
“I don’t see why you’re so frightfully sensitive about it,” said Bundle.
“After all, people must die somewhere.”
“They needn’t die in my house,” said Lord Caterham.
“I don’t see why not. Lots of people have. Masses of stuffy9 old great-grandfathers and grandmothers.”
“That’s different,” said Lord Caterham. “Naturally I expect Brents to diehere—they don’t count. But I do object to strangers. And I especially objectto inquests. The thing will become a habit soon. This is the second. You re-member all that fuss we had four years ago? For which, by the way, I holdGeorge Lomax entirely10 to blame.”
“And now you’re blaming poor old steamroller Coote. I’m sure he wasquite as annoyed about it as anyone.”
“Very inconsiderate,” said Lord Caterham obstinately11. “People who arelikely to do that sort of thing oughtn’t to be asked to stay. And you may saywhat you like, Bundle, I don’t like inquests. I never have and I nevershall.”
“Well, this wasn’t the same sort of thing as the last one,” said Bundlesoothingly. “I mean, it wasn’t a murder.”
“It might have been—from the fuss that thickhead of an inspector13 made.
He’s never got over that business four years ago. He thinks every deaththat takes place here must necessarily be a case of foul14 play fraught15 withgrave political significance. You’ve no idea the fuss he made. I’ve beenhearing about it from Tredwell. Tested everything imaginable for finger-prints. And of course they only found the dead man’s own. The clearestcase imaginable—though whether it was suicide or accident is anothermatter.”
“I met Gerry Wade16 once,” said Bundle. “He was a friend of Bill’s. You’dhave liked him, Father. I never saw anyone more cheerfully inefficientthan he was.”
“I don’t like anyone who comes and dies in my house on purpose to an-noy me,” said Lord Caterham obstinately.
“But I certainly can’t imagine anyone murdering him,” continuedBundle. “The idea’s absurd.”
“Of course it is,” said Lord Caterham. “Or would be to anyone but an asslike Inspector Raglan.”
“I daresay looking for fingerprints17 made him feel important,” saidBundle soothingly12. “Anyway, they brought it in ‘Death by misadventure,’
didn’t they?”
Lord Caterham acquiesced18.
“They had to show some consideration for the sister’s feelings?”
“Was there a sister. I didn’t know.”
“Half sister, I believe. She was much younger. Old Wade ran away withher mother—he was always doing that sort of thing. No woman appealedto him unless she belonged to another man.”
“I’m glad there’s one bad habit you haven’t got,” said Bundle.
“I’ve always led a very respectable God-fearing life,” said Lord Cater-ham. “It seems extraordinary, considering how little harm I do to any-body, that I can’t be let alone. If only—”
He stopped as Bundle made a sudden excursion through the window.
“MacDonald,” called Bundle in a clear, autocratic voice.
The emperor approached. Something that might possibly have beentaken for a smile of welcome tried to express itself on his countenance,but the natural gloom of gardeners dispelled19 it.
“Your ladyship?” said MacDonald.
“How are you?” said Bundle.
“I’m no verra grand,” said MacDonald.
“I wanted to speak to you about the bowling20 green. It’s shockingly over-grown. Put someone on to it, will you?”
MacDonald shook his head dubiously21.
“It would mean taking William from the lower border, m’lady.”
“Damn the lower border,” said Bundle. “Let him start at once. And Mac-Donald—”
“Yes, m’lady?”
“Let’s have some of those grapes in from the far house. I know it’s thewrong time to cut them because it always is, but I want them all the same.
See?”
Bundle reentered the library.
“Sorry, Father,” she said. “I wanted to catch MacDonald. Were youspeaking?”
“As a matter of fact I was,” said Lord Caterham. “But it doesn’t matter.
What were you saying to MacDonald?”
“Trying to cure him of thinking he’s God Almighty22. But that’s an impos-sible task. I expect the Cootes have been bad for him. MacDonald wouldn’tcare one hoot23, or even two hoots24, for the largest steamroller that ever was.
What’s Lady Coote like?”
Lord Caterham considered the question.
“Very like my idea of Mrs. Siddons,” he said at last. “I should think shewent in a lot for amateur theatricals25. I gather she was very upset about theclock business.”
“What clock business?”
“Tredwell has just been telling me. It seems the house party had somejoke on. They bought a lot of alarum clocks and hid them about this youngWade’s room. And then, of course, the poor chap was dead. Which madethe whole thing rather beastly.
Bundle nodded.
“Tredwell told me something else rather odd about the clocks,” contin-ued Lord Caterham, who was now quite enjoying himself. “It seems thatsomebody collected them all and put them in a row on the mantelpieceafter the poor fellow was dead.”
“Well, why not?” said Bundle.
“I don’t see why not myself,” said Lord Caterham. “But apparently26 therewas some fuss about it. No one would own up to having done it, you see.
All the servants were questioned and swore they hadn’t touched thebeastly things. In fact, it was rather a mystery. And then the coroner askedquestions at the inquest, and you know how difficult it is to explain thingsto people of that class.”
“Perfectly foul,” agreed Bundle.
“Of course,” said Lord Caterham, “it’s very difficult to get the hang ofthings afterwards. I didn’t quite see the point of half the things Tredwelltold me. By the way, Bundle, the fellow died in your room.”
Bundle made a grimace27.
“Why need people die in my room?” she asked with some indignation.
“That’s just what I’ve been saying,” said Lord Caterham, in triumph. “In-considerate. Everybody’s damned inconsiderate nowadays.”
“Not that I mind,” said Bundle valiantly28. “Why should I?”
“I should,” said her father. “I should mind very much. I should dreamthings, you know—spectral hands and clanking chains.”
“Well,” said Bundle. “Great Aunt Louisa died in your bed. I wonder youdon’t see her spook hovering29 over you.”
“I do sometimes,” said Lord Caterham, shuddering. “Especially after lob-ster.”
“Well, thank heaven I’m not superstitious,” declared Bundle.
Yet that evening, as she sat in front of her bedroom fire, a slim, py-jamaed figure, she found her thoughts reverting30 to that cheery, vacuousyoung man, Gerry Wade. Impossible to believe that anyone so full of thejoy of living could deliberately31 have committed suicide. No, the other solu-tion must be the right one. He had taken a sleeping draught32 and by a puremistake had swallowed an overdose. That was possible. She did not fancythat Gerry Wade had been overburdened in an intellectual capacity.
Her gaze shifted to the mantelpiece and she began thinking about thestory of the clocks. Her maid had been full of that, having just beenprimed by the second housemaid. She had added a detail which appar-ently Tredwell had not thought worthwhile retailing33 to Lord Caterham,but which had piqued34 Bundle’s curiosity.
Seven clocks had been neatly35 ranged on the mantelpiece; the last and re-maining one had been found on the lawn outside, where it had obviouslybeen thrown from the window.
Bundle puzzled over that point now. It seemed such an extraordinarypurposeless thing to do. She could imagine that one of the maids mighthave tidied the clocks and then, frightened by the inquisition into the mat-ter, have denied doing so. But surely no maid would have thrown a clockinto the garden.
Had Gerry Wade done so when its first sharp summons woke him? Butno; that again was impossible. Bundle remembered hearing that his deathmust have taken place in the early hours of the morning, and he wouldhave been in a comatose36 condition for some time before that.
Bundle frowned. This business of the clocks was curious. She must gethold of Bill Eversleigh. He had been there, she knew.
To think was to act with Bundle. She got up and went over to the writingdesk. It was an inlaid affair with a lid that rolled back. Bundle sat down atit, pulled a sheet of notepaper towards her and wrote.
Dear Bill,—
She paused to pull out the lower part of the desk. It had stuck halfway,as she remembered it often did. Bundle tugged37 at it impatiently but it didnot move. She recalled that on a former occasion an envelope had beenpushed back with it and had jammed it for the time being. She took a thinpaper knife and slipped it into the narrow crack. She was so far successfulthat a corner of white paper showed. Bundle caught hold of it and drew itout. It was the first sheet of a letter, somewhat crumpled38.
It was the date that first caught Bundle’s eye. A big flourishing date thatleaped out from the paper. Sept. 21st.
“September 21st,” said Bundle slowly. “Why, surely that was—”
She broke off. Yes, she was sure of it. The 22nd was the day Gerry Wadewas found dead. This, then, was a letter he must have been writing on thevery evening of the tragedy.
Bundle smoothed it out and read it. It was unfinished.
“My Darling Loraine,—I will be down on Wednesday. Amfeeling awfully39 fit and rather pleased with myself allround. It will be heavenly to see you. Look here, do forgetwhat I said about that Seven Dials business. I thought itwas going to be more or less a joke—but it isn’t—anythingbut. I’m sorry I ever said anything about it—it’s not thekind of business kids like you ought to be mixed up in. Soforget about it, see?
“Something else I wanted to tell you—but I’m so sleepy Ican’t keep my eyes open.
“Oh, about Lurcher; I think—”
Here the letter broke off.
Bundle sat frowning. Seven Dials. Where was that? Some rather slummydistrict of London, she fancied. The words Seven Dials reminded her ofsomething else, but for the moment she couldn’t think of what. Instead herattention fastened on two phrases. “Am feeling awfully fit .?.?.” and “I’m sosleepy I can’t keep my eyes open.”
That didn’t fit in. That didn’t fit in at all. For it was that very night thatGerry Wade had taken such a heavy dose of chloral that he never wokeagain. And if what he had written in that letter were true, why should hehave taken it?
Bundle shook her head. She looked round the room and gave a slightshiver. Supposing Gerry Wade were watching her now. In this room hehad died .?.?.
She sat very still. The silence was unbroken save for the ticking of herlittle gold clock. That sounded unnaturally40 loud and important.
Bundle glanced towards the mantelpiece. A vivid picture rose before hermind’s eyes. The dead man lying on the bed, and seven clocks ticking onthe mantelpiece—ticking loudly, ominously41 .?.?. ticking .?.?. ticking .?.?.
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收听单词发音
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1
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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2
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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amass
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| vt.积累，积聚 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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5
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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6
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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7
inefficient
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| adj.效率低的，无效的 | |
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8
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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10
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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13
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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14
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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15
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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16
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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17
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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18
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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21
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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23
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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24
hoots
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| 咄，啐 | |
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25
theatricals
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| n.（业余性的）戏剧演出，舞台表演艺术；职业演员；戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 )；剧场的；炫耀的；戏剧性的 | |
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26
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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29
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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30
reverting
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| 恢复( revert的现在分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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31
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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32
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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33
retailing
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| n.零售业v.零售(retail的现在分词) | |
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34
piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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35
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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36
comatose
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| adj.昏睡的，昏迷不醒的 | |
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37
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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39
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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40
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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41
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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