the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第30章
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their way to the lips and out into the world。
Yes； such was the genius of Wilton Barnstable that he could at will
impose himself upon people as the apotheosis of the commonplace。 He
did it often。 It was almost second nature to him now。 His urbane smile
was the only visible sign of his own enjoyment of this habitual feat。 He
knew his own genius； and smiled to think how easy it was to pass for an
average man！
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XXI
THE THIRD OBLONG BOX
ARRIVES
〃I think；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； when Cleggett had finished； 〃that I
may be able to clear up a few points for you。
〃The two men whom you saw me hazing up and down the bank of the
blue silk pajamas； were Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat！〃
〃The wretches！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
〃Wretches indeed；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； Barton Ward； and Watson
Bard； in unison； and with conviction。
〃And the man in the baby blue silk pajamas； was〃 the great
detective paused； as if to make his revelation more effective。 And while
he paused； Miss Genevieve Pringle； with pursed lips and averted face；
signified that the very idea of introducing a man in baby blue silk pajamas
into the conversation was intensely displeasing to her。
〃The man in pajamas was Reginald Maltravers；〃 finished the great
detective。
〃Reginald Maltravers！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
She opened her mouth again as if to say something more； but words
failed her； and she only stared at the detective； with parted lips and round
eyes。
Cleggett went to her and touched her on the arm； and with the touch
she gave a sob of emotion and found her tongue again。
〃Reginald Maltravers；〃 she said； 〃is not dead then！ Not dead after
all！〃
She endeavored to control herself； but for a moment or two she
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
trembled。 It was evident that it was all she could do to keep from crying
hysterically with relief。 The nightmare that had haunted her for days had
vanished almost too suddenly。 Presently she began to be herself again。
〃You are sure that he is not dead？〃 she said with a voice that still
shook。
〃Sure；〃 said Wilton Barnstable。
And as if quietly satisfied with the sensation they had produced； the
three detectives smiled at each other urbanely and contentedly。
Barnstable continued：
〃Reginald Maltravers came to my agency some days ago and
requested a bodyguard。 Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat had attacked him；
no doubt intending to earn the money which Elmer had promised them。
He beat them off。 In fact； he caned them soundly。 But they still
continued to dog him。
〃Mr。 Ward here； who handled the case； soon reported to me that he
believed Reginald Maltravers to be insane。〃
〃Insane he was；〃 cried Lady Agatha。 〃I have seen the light of
insanity in his eye； gleaming through his accursed monocle。〃 She spoke
with vehemence。 Now that she knew the man to be alive； her hatred of
him had flared up again。
〃Insane he was；〃 agreed Wilton Barnstable。 〃And shortly after that
discovery was made； he disappeared。 The next day after his
disappearance； Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat were liberally supplied with
money。
〃Of course they got the money； Lady Agatha； through the clever trick
they worked upon you。〃
〃A great many people have got money from me since I have been in
America；〃 said Lady Agatha。
〃Ah！ Yes？〃 The great detective went on with his masterly summing
up。 〃Of course they got the money from the trick they worked on Lady
Agatha。 But at the time I thought it possible that they had robbed Reginald
Maltravers and then put him out of the way。 They are well…known
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
gunmen。
〃I took them into custody and determined to hold them until such time
as Reginald Maltravers would be found； or his fate discovered。
Eventually I brought them with me on my house boat。 I was really holding
them without due legal warrant； but I am forced to do that； sometimes。
They complained of lack of exercise； so I gave them exercise in the
manner which you saw the other morning； Mr。 Cleggett。
〃One of my agents； shortly after this； picked up the trail of Reginald
Maltravers again。 When I learned that he was alive my first impulse was
to release Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat。 But I learned that the two
gunmen could； if they would； give me a tip as to certain of the activities of
Logan Black； against whom I have been collecting evidence for nearly a
year。 So I kept them on my boat。
〃Reginald Maltravers； most of the time that you were riding about the
country； Lady Agatha； with the box that you thought contained him； was
really following you。 He would lose your trail and find it again； but he
was always some hours behind you。 Of course； he knew nothing of the
oblong box。 He thought that you were running away from him。 And all
the time that Reginald Maltravers was following you； agents of mine were
following Reginald Maltravers。〃
〃Lady Agatha；〃 interrupted Cleggett； 〃was also being pursued by Miss
Pringle here。〃
Wilton Barnstable carefully made a note in a little book which he drew
from his waistcoat pocket。 Barton Ward also made a note in a little book；
Watson Bard started to make a note； and then paused； in fact； Watson Bard
did not complete his note until he had gotten a peep into the notebook of
Barton Ward。 The notes made； the three detectives once more smiled
craftily at each other； and Wilton Barnstable resumed：
〃We knew； of course； that another lady was also following Lady
Agatha。 But； until the present moment； we had not identified her with
Miss Pringle。 And I should not be at all surprised； not at ALL surprised；
if still another person had been following Miss Pringle。〃
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〃With what object？〃 asked Miss Pringle； looking alarmed at the idea。
〃The motive； my dear lady； I must for the present withhold；〃 said
Wilton Barnstable。 And again the three detectives exchanged knowing
glances。
〃Reginald Maltravers' pursuit of you； Lady Agatha； led him to
Fairport；〃 went on the great sleuth。 〃No doubt he met the driver of the
vehicle which brought you hither； and learned that you and Elmer had
been set down in this neighborhood； just as Miss Pringle learned it。 No
doubt it was well after dark when he arrived in the vicinity of the Jasper B。
And it is to be supposed that； once out here； he went to Morris's road
house； thinking it quite likely that you and Elmer would stop there； as he
had been tracking you from road house to road house。 Logan Black；
knowing that the authorities were on his trail； mistook Reginald
Maltravers for a detective； and held him prisoner at Morris's。 Logan
Black's men took away his clothes in order to minimize the possibility of
his escape。〃
〃And the Earl of Claiborne's signet ring〃 began Cleggett。
〃Of course； Reginald Maltravers was wearing it； and of course they
took his valuables from him；〃 said Barnstable。 〃One of the ruffians was
wearing the ring as he approached your vessel with a bomb。 But； Mr。
Cleggett； there are points about that bomb explosion which I do not
understand。〃
〃Nor I；〃 admitted Cleggett。
〃We will clear them up later；〃 said the great detective； smiling
benignly at his thumbs； which he was revolving slowly about each other as
he reconstructed the case。
〃Later！〃 smiled Barton Ward。 〃Later！〃 murmured Watson Bard。
With their hands clasped over their stomachs； they； too； benignly twirled
their thumbs。
〃Tonight；〃 pursued Barnstable； 〃having finally got all the information I
wished from Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat with regard to Logan Black； I
tossed them the key to their irons and told them to unlock themselves and
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clear out。 It was just before the storm began； and they were sitting on the
bank of the canal at the time。 I allowed them to sit there in the evenings
and get the fresh air。
〃But before they could unlock themselves Reginald Maltravers； who
had； we must suppose； escaped from Morris's through the carelessness of
one of Logan Black's subordinates； crawled up the bank of the canal；
which he had swum； and made for the two gunmen； with the water
dripping from his eyeglass。 He had recognized them as the men who had
dogged and assaulted him； and every other idea was obliterated in his
desire for vengeance。
〃They fled。 He pursued。 He caught them； and they fought。 They
succeeded in dropping one of the iron balls on his footon his bunion foot；
Mr。 Cleggettcrippling him。〃
As this mention of the bunion； Miss Genevive Pringle arose with
dignity； and； flinging a shawl about her shoulders； left the cabin； chin in
air。 She did not vouchsafe so much as one backward glance at Cleggett
or the three detectives or lady Agatha as she left； but outraged propriety
was expressed in every line of her figure。
〃H'm；〃 mused the detective； flushing slightly； and Watson Bard
