Getting hold of Bill presented few difficulties. Bundle motored up to townon the following morning—this time without adventures on the way—andrang him up. Bill responded with alacrity1 and made various suggestions asto lunch, tea, dinner and dancing. All of which suggestions Bundle turneddown as made.
“In a day or two, I’ll come and frivol with you, Bill. But for the momentI’m up on business.”
“Oh,” said Bill. “What a beastly bore.”
“It’s not that kind,” said Bundle. “It’s anything but boring. Bill, do youknow anyone called Jimmy Thesiger?”
“Of course. So do you.”
“No, I don’t,” said Bundle.
“Yes, you do. You must. Everyone knows old Jimmy.”
“Sorry,” said Bundle. “Just for once I don’t seem to be everyone.”
“Oh! but you must know Jimmy—pink-faced chap. Looks a bit of an ass2.
But really he’s got as many brains as I have.”
“You don’t say so,” said Bundle. “He must feel a bit top heavy when hewalks about.”
“Was that meant for sarcasm3?”
“It was a feeble effort at it. What does Jimmy Thesiger do?”
“How do you mean, what does he do?”
“Does being at the Foreign Office prevent you from understanding yournative language?”
“Oh! I see, you mean, has he got a job? No, he just fools around. Whyshould he do anything?”
“In fact, more money than brains?”
“Oh! I wouldn’t say that. I told you just now that he had more brainsthan you’d think.”
Bundle was silent. She was feeling more and more doubtful. This gildedyouth did not sound a very promising4 ally. And yet it was his name thathad come first to the dying man’s lips. Bill’s voice chimed in suddenly withsingular appropriateness.
“Ronny always thought a lot of his brains. You know, Ronny Devereux.
Thesiger was his greatest pal5.”
“Ronny—”
Bundle stopped, undecided. Clearly Bill knew nothing of the other’sdeath. It occurred to Bundle for the first time that it was odd the morningpapers had contained nothing of the tragedy. Surely it was the kind ofspicy item of news that would never be passed over. There could be oneexplanation, and one explanation only. The police, for reasons of theirown, were keeping the matter quiet.
Bill’s voice was continuing.
“I haven’t seen Ronny for an age—not since that weekend down at yourplace. You know, when poor old Gerry Wade7 passed out.”
He paused and then went on.
“Rather a foul8 business that altogether. I expect you’ve heard about it. Isay, Bundle—are you there still?”
“Of course I’m here.”
“Well, you haven’t said anything for an age. I began to think that youhad gone away.”
“No, I was just thinking over something.”
Should she tell Bill of Ronny’s death? She decided6 against it—it was notthe sort of thing to be said over the telephone. But soon, very soon, shemust have a meeting with Bill. In the meantime—“Bill?”
“Hullo.”
“I might dine with you tomorrow night.”
“Good, and we’ll dance afterwards. I’ve got a lot to talk to you about. Asa matter of fact I’ve been rather hard hit—the foulest9 luck—“Well, tell me about it tomorrow,” said Bundle, cutting him short ratherunkindly. “In the meantime, what is Jimmy Thesiger’s address?”
“Jimmy Thesiger?”
“That’s what I said.”
“He’s got rooms in Jermyn Street—do I mean Jermyn Street or the otherone?”
“Bring that class A brain to bear upon it.”
“Yes, Jermyn Street. Wait a bit and I’ll give you the number.”
There was a pause.
“Are you still there?”
“I’m always here.”
“Well, one never knows with these dashed telephones. The number is103. Got it?”
“103. Thank you, Bill.”
“Yes, but, I say—what do you want it for? You said you didn’t knowhim.”
“I don’t, but I shall in half an hour.”
“You’re going round to his rooms?”
“Quite right, Sherlock.”
“Yes, but, I say—well, for one thing he won’t be up.”
“Won’t be up?”
“I shouldn’t think so. I mean, who would be if they hadn’t got to? Look atit that way. You’ve no idea what an effort it is for me to get here at elevenevery morning, and the fuss Codders makes if I’m behind time is simplyappalling. You haven’t the least idea, Bundle, what a dog’s life this is—”
“You shall tell me all about it tomorrow night,” said Bundle hastily.
She slammed down the receiver and took stock of the situation. First sheglanced at the clock. It was five and twenty minutes to twelve. DespiteBill’s knowledge of his friend’s habits, she inclined to her belief that Mr.
Thesiger would by now be in a fit state to receive visitors. She took a taxito 103 Jermyn Street.
The door was opened by a perfect example of the retired10 gentleman’sgentleman. His face, expessionless and polite, was such a face as may befound by the score in that particular district of London.
“Will you come this way, madam?”
He ushered11 her upstairs into an extremely comfortable sitting roomcontaining leather- covered armchairs of immense dimensions. Sunk inone of those monstrosities was another girl, rather younger than Bundle.
A small, fair girl, dressed in black.
“What name shall I say, madam?”
“I won’t give any name,” said Bundle. “I just want to see Mr. Thesiger onimportant business.”
The grave gentleman bowed and withdrew, shutting the door noise-lessly behind him.
There was a pause.
“It’s a nice morning,” said the fair girl timidly.
“It’s an awfully12 nice morning,” agreed Bundle.
There was another pause.
“I motored up from the country this morning,” said Bundle, plungingonce more into speech. “And I thought it was going to be one of those foulfogs. But it wasn’t.”
“No,” said the other girl. “It wasn’t.” And she added: “I’ve come up fromthe country too.”
Bundle eyed her more attentively13. She had been slightly annoyed atfinding the other there. Bundle belonged to the energetic order of peoplewho liked “to get on with it,” and she foresaw that the second visitorwould have to be disposed of and got rid of before she could broach14 herown business. It was not a topic she could introduce before a stranger.
Now, as she looked more closely, an extraordinary idea rose to herbrain. Could it be? Yes, the girl was in deep mourning; her black- cladankles showed that. It was a long shot, but Bundle was convinced that heridea was right. She drew a long breath.
“Look here,” she said, “are you by any chance Loraine Wade?”
Loraine’s eyes opened wide.
“Yes, I am. How clever of you to know. We’ve never met, have we?”
“I wrote to you yesterday, though. I’m Bundle Brent.”
“It was so very kind of you to send me Gerry’s letter,” said Loraine. “I’vewritten to thank you. I never expected to see you here.”
“I’ll tell you why I’m here,” said Bundle. “Did you know RonnyDevereux?”
Loraine nodded.
“He came over the day that Gerry—you know. And he’s been to see metwo or three times since. He was one of Gerry’s greatest friends.”
“I know. Well—he’s dead.”
Loraine’s lips parted in surprise.
“Dead! But he always seemed so fit.”
Bundle narrated15 the events of the preceding day as briefly16 as possible. Alook of fear and horror came into Loraine’s face.
“Then it is true. It is true.”
“What’s true?”
“What I’ve thought — what I’ve been thinking all these weeks. Gerrydidn’t die a natural death. He was killed.”
“You’ve thought that, have you?”
“Yes. Gerry would never have taken things to make him sleep.” She gavethe little ghost of a laugh. “He slept much too well to need them. I alwaysthought it queer. And he thought so too—I know he did.”
“Who?”
“Ronny. And now this happens. Now he’s killed too.” She paused andthen went on: “That’s what I came for today. That letter of Gerry’s yousent me—as soon as I read it, I tried to get hold of Ronny, but they said hewas away. So I thought I’d come and see Jimmy—he was Ronny’s othergreat friend. I thought perhaps he’d tell me what I ought to do.”
“You mean—” Bundle paused. “About—Seven Dials.” Loraine nodded.
“You see—” she began.
But at that moment Jimmy Thesiger entered the room.
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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2
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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3
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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4
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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5
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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6
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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7
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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8
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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9
foulest
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| adj.恶劣的( foul的最高级 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的 | |
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10
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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11
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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13
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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14
broach
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| v.开瓶，提出(题目) | |
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15
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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