the red house mystery-第1章

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The　Red　House　Mystery


by　A。A。　Milne　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

TO　JOHN　VINE　MILNE　MY　DEAR　FATHER；　

Like　all　really　nice　people；　you　have　a　weakness　for　detective　stories；　
and　feel　that　there　are　not　enough　of　them。　So；　after　all　that　you　have　
done　for　me；　the　least　that　I　can　do　for　you　is　to　write　you　one。　Here　it　
is：　with　more　gratitude　and　affection　than　I　can　well　put　down　here。　

A。A。M。　
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The　Red　House　Mystery　

CHAPTER　I　

Mrs。　Stevens　is　Frightened　

In　the　drowsy　heat　of　the　summer　afternoon　the　Red　House　was　
taking　its　siesta。　There　was　a　lazy　murmur　of　bees　in　the　flower…borders；　
a　gentle　cooing　of　pigeons　in　the　tops　of　the　elms。　From　distant　lawns　
came　the　whir　of　a　mowing…machine；　that　most　restful　of　all　country　
sounds；　making　ease　the　sweeter　in　that　it　is　taken　while　others　are　
working。　

It　was　the　hour　when　even　those　whose　business　it　is　to　attend　to　the　
wants　of　others　have　a　moment　or　two　for　themselves。　In　the　
housekeeper's　room　Audrey　Stevens；　the　pretty　parlourmaid；　re…trimmed　
her　best　hat；　and　talked　idly　to　her　aunt；　the　cook…housekeeper　of　Mr。　Mark　
Ablett's　bachelor　home。　

〃For　Joe？〃　said　Mrs。　Stevens　placidly；　her　eye　on　the　hat。　Audrey　
nodded。　She　took　a　pin　from　her　mouth；　found　a　place　in　the　hat　for　it；　
and　said；　〃He　likes　a　bit　of　pink。〃　

〃I　don't　say　I　mind　a　bit　of　pink　myself；〃　said　her　aunt。　〃Joe　Turner　
isn't　the　only　one。〃　

〃It　isn't　everybody's　colour；〃　said　Audrey；　holding　the　hat　out　at　arm's　
length；　and　regarding　it　thoughtfully。　〃Stylish；　isn't　it？〃　

〃Oh；　it'll　suit　you　all　right；　and　it　would　have　suited　me　at　your　age。　
A　bit　too　dressy　for　me　now；　though　wearing　better　than　some　other　people；　
I　daresay。　I　was　never　the　one　to　pretend　to　be　what　I　wasn't。　If　I'm　
fifty…five；　I'm　fifty…five　…　that's　what　I　say。〃　

〃Fifty…eight；　isn't　it；　auntie？〃　

〃I　was　just　giving　that　as　an　example；〃　said　Mrs。　Stevens　with　great　
dignity。　

Audrey　threaded　a　needle；　held　her　hand　out　and　looked　at　her　nails　
critically　for　a　moment；　and　then　began　to　sew。　

〃Funny　thing　that　about　Mr。　Mark's　brother。　Fancy　not　seeing　your　
brother　for　fifteen　years。〃　She　gave　a　self…conscious　laugh　and　went　on；　
〃Wonder　what　I　should　do　if　I　didn't　see　Joe　for　fifteen　years。〃　

〃As　I　told　you　all　this　morning；〃　said　her　aunt；　〃I've　been　here　five　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

years；　and　never　heard　of　a　brother。　I　could　say　that　before　everybody　if　I　
was　going　to　die　to…morrow。　There's　been　no　brother　here　while　I've　been　
here。〃　

〃You　could　have　knocked　me　down　with　a　feather　when　he　spoke　
about　him　at　breakfast　this　morning。　I　didn't　hear　what　went　before；　
naturally；　but　they　was　all　talking　about　the　brother　when　I　went　in　…　now　
what　was　it　I　went　in　for　…　hot　milk；　was　it；　or　toast？　…　well；　they　was　all　
talking；　and　Mr。　Mark　turns　to　me；　and　says　…　you　know　his　way　
'Stevens；'　he　says；　'my　brother　is　coming　to　see　me　this　afternoon；　I'm　
expecting　him　about　three；'　he　says。　'Show　him　into　the　office；'　he　says；　
just　like　that。　'Yes；　sir；'　I　says　quite　quietly；　but　I　was　never　so　surprised　
in　my　life；　not　knowing　he　had　a　brother。　'My　brother　from　Australia；'　he　
says　…　there；　I'd　forgotten　that。　From　Australia。〃　

〃Well；　he　may　have　been　in　Australia；〃　said　Mrs。　Stevens；　judicially；　〃I　
can't　say　for　that；　not　knowing　the　country；　but　what　I　do　say　is　he's　never　
been　here。　Not　while　I've　been　here；　and　that's　five　years。〃　

〃Well；　but；　auntie；　he　hasn't　been　here　for　fifteen　years。　I　heard　Mr。　
Mark　telling　Mr。　Cayley。　'Fifteen　years；'　he　says。　Mr。　Cayley　having　
arst　him　when　his　brother　was　last　in　England。　Mr。　Cayley　knew　of　him；　
I　heard　him　telling　Mr。　Beverley；　but　didn't　know　when　he　was　last　in　
England　…　see？　So　that's　why　he　arst　Mr。　Mark。〃　

〃I'm　not　saying　anything　about　fifteen　years；　Audrey。　I　can　only　
speak　for　what　I　know；　and　that's　five　years　Whitsuntide。　I　can　take　my　
oath　he's　not　set　foot　in　the　house　since　five　years　Whitsuntide。　And　if　
he's　been　in　Australia；　as　you　say；　well；　I　daresay　he's　had　his　reasons。〃　

〃What　reasons？〃　said　Audrey　lightly。　

〃Never　mind　what　reasons。　Being　in　the　place　of　a　mother　to　you；　
since　your　poor　mother　died；　I　say　this；　Audrey　…　when　a　gentleman　goes　
to　Australia；　he　has　his　reasons。　And　when　he　stays　in　Australia　fifteen　
years；　as　Mr。　Mark　says；　and　as　I　know　for　myself　for　five　years；　he　has　his　
reasons。　And　a　respectably　brought…up　girl　doesn't　ask　what　reasons。〃　

〃Got　into　trouble；　I　suppose；〃　said　Audrey　carelessly。　〃They　were　
saying　at　breakfast　he'd　been　a　wild　one。　Debts。　I'm　glad　Joe　isn't　like　
that。　He's　got　fifteen　pounds　in　the　post…office　savings'　bank。　Did　I　tell　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

you？〃　

But　there　was　not　to　be　any　more　talk　of　Joe　Turner　that　afternoon。　The　
ringing　of　a　bell　brought　Audrey　to　her　feet　…　no　longer　Audrey；　but　now　
Stevens。　She　arranged　her　cap　in　front　of　the　glass。　

〃There；　that's　the　front　door；〃　she　said。　〃That's　him。　'Show　him　into　
the　office；'　said　Mr。　Mark。　I　suppose　he　doesn't　want　the　other　ladies　and　
gentlemen　to　see　him。　Well；　they're　all　out　at　their　golf；　anyhow　
Wonder　if　he's　going　to　stay　…　P'raps　he's　brought　back　a　lot　of　gold　from　
Australia　…　I　might　hear　something　about　Australia；　because　if　anybody　can　
get　gold　there；　then　I　don't　say　but　what　Joe　and　I　…〃　

〃Now；　now；　get　on；　Audrey。〃　

〃Just　going；　darling。〃　She　went　out。　

To　anyone　who　had　just　walked　down　the　drive　in　the　August　sun；　the　
open　door　of　the　Red　House　revealed　a　delightfully　inviting　hall；　of　which　
even　the　mere　sight　was　cooling。　lt　was　a　big　low…roofed；　oak…beamed　
place；　with　cream…washed　walls　and　diamond…paned　windows；　blue…
curtained。　On　the　right　and　left　were　doors　leading　into　other　living…
rooms；　but　on　the　side　which　faced　you　as　you　came　in　were　windows　
again；　looking　on　to　a　small　grass　court；　and　from　open　windows　to　open　
windows　such　air　as　there　was　played　gently。　The　staircase　went　up　in　
broad；　low　steps　along　the　right…hand　wall；　and；　turning　to　the　left；　led　you　
along　a　gallery；　which　ran　across　the　width　of　the　hail；　to　your　bedroom。　
That　is；　if　you　were　going　to　stay　the　night。　Mr。　Robert　Ablett's　
intentions　in　this　matter　were　as　yet　unknown。　

As　Audrey　came　across　the　hall　she　gave　a　little　start　as　she　saw　Mr。　
Cayley　suddenly；　sitting　unobtrusively　in　a　seat　beneath　one　of　the　front　
windows；　reading。　No　reason　why　he　shouldn't　be　there；　certainly　a　
much　cooler　place　than　the　golf…links　on　such　a　day；　but　somehow　there　
was　a　deserted　air　about　the　house　that　afternoon；　as　if　all　the　guests　were　
outside；　or　…　perhaps　the　wisest　place　of　all　…　up　in　their　bedrooms；　
sleeping。　Mr。　Cayley；　the　master's　cousin；　was　a　surprise；　and；　having　
given　a　little　exclamation　as　she　came　suddenly　upon　him；　she　blushed；　
and　said；　〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　I　didn't　see　you　at　first；〃　and　he　
looked　up　from　his　book　and　smiled　at　her。　An　attractive　smile　it　was　on　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

that　big　ugly　face。　〃Such　a　gentleman；　Mr。　Cayley；〃　she　thought　to　
herself　as　she　went　on；　and　wondered　what　the　master　would　do　without　
him。　If　this　brother；　for　instance；　had　to　be　bundled　back　to　Australia；　it　
was　Mr。　Cayley　who　would　do　most　of　the　bundling。　

〃So　this　is　Mr。　Robert；〃　said　Audrey　to　herself；　as　she　came　in　sight　of　
the　visitor。　

She　told　her　aunt　afterwards　that　she　would　have　known　him　anywhere　
for　Mr。　Mark's　brother；　but　she　would　have　said　that　in　any　event。　Actually　
she　was　surprised。　Dapper　little　Mark；　with　his　neat　pointed　beard　and　
his　carefully　curled　moustache；　with　his　quick…darting　eyes；　always　
moving　from　one　to　the　other　of　any　company　he　was　in；　to　register　one　
more　smile　to　his　credit　when　he　had　said　a　good　thing；　one　more　
expectant　look　when　he　was　only　waiting　his　turn　to　say　it；　he　was　a　very　
different　man　from　this　rough…looking；　ill…dressed　colonial；　staring　at　her　
so　loweringly。　

〃I　want　to　see　Mr。　Mark　Ablett；〃　he　growled。　It　sounded　almost　like　a　
threat。　

Audrey　recovered　herself　and　smiled　reassuringly　at　him。　She　had　a　
smile　for　everybody。　

〃Yes；　sir。　He　is　expecting　you；　if　you　will　come　this　way。〃　

〃Oh！　So　you　know　who　I　am；　eh？〃　

〃Mr。　Robert　Ablett？〃　

〃Ay；　that's　right。　So　he's　expecting　me；　eh？　He'll　be　glad　to　see　me；　
eh？〃　

〃If　you　will　come　this　way；　sir；〃　said　Audrey　primly。　

She　went　to　the　second　door　on　the　left；　and　opened　it。　

〃Mr。　Robert　Ab…〃　she　began；　and　then　broke　off。　The　room　was　
empty。　She　turned　to　the　man　behind　her。　〃If　you　will　sit　down；　sir；　I　will　
find　the　master。　I　know　he's　in；　because　he　told　me　that　you　were　coming　
this　afternoon。〃　

〃Oh！〃　He　looked　round　the　room。　〃What　d'you　call　this　place；　eh？〃　

〃The　office；　sir。〃　

〃The　office？〃　

〃The　room　where　the　master　works；　sir。〃　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

〃Works；　eh？　That's　new。　Didn't　know　he'd　ever　done　a　stroke　of　
work　in　his　life。〃　

〃Where　he　writes；　sir；〃　said　Audrey；　with　dignity。　The　fact　that　Mr。　
Mark　〃wrote；〃　though　nobody　knew　what；　was　a　matter　of　pride　in　the　
housekeeper's　room。　

〃Not　well…dressed　enough　for　the　drawing…room；　eh？〃　

〃I　will　tell　the　master　you　are　here；　sir；〃　said　Audrey　decisively。　

She　closed　the　door　and　left　him　there。　

Well！　Here　was　something　to　tell　auntie！　Her　mind　was　busy　at　
once；　going　over　all　the　things　which　he　had　said　to　her　and　she　had　said　to　
him　…　quiet…like。　〃Directly　I　saw　him　I　said　to　myself　…〃　Why；　you　
could　have　knocked　her　over　with　a　feather。　Feathers；　indeed；　were　a　
perpetual　menace　to　Audrey。　

However；　the　immediate　business　was　to　find　the　master。　She　walked　
across　the　hall　to　the　library；　glanced　in；　came　back　a　little　uncertainly；　and　
stood　in　front　of　Cayley。　

〃If　you　please；　sir；〃　she　said　in　a　low；　respectful　voice；　〃can　you　tell　me　
where　the　master　is？　It's　Mr。　Robert　called。〃　

〃What？〃　said　Cayley；　looking　up　from　his　book。　〃Who？〃　

Audrey　repeated　her　question。　

〃I　don't　know。　Isn't　he　in　the　office？　He　went　up　to　the　Temple　after　
lunch。　I　don't　think　I've　seen　him　since。〃　

〃Thank　you；　sir。　I　will　go　up　to　the　Temple。〃　

Cayley　returned　to　his　book。　

The　〃Temple〃　was　a　brick　summer…house；　in　the　gardens　at　the　back　of　
the　house；　about　three　hundred　yards　away。　Here　Mark　meditated　
sometimes　before　retiring　to　the　〃office〃　to　put　his　thoughts　upon　paper。　
The　thoughts　were　not　of　any　great　value；　moreover；　they　were　given　off　at　
the　dinner…table　more　often　than　they　got　on　to　paper；　and　got　on　to　paper　
more　often　than　they　got　into　print。　But　that　did　not　prevent　the　master　of　
The　Red　House　from　being　a　little　pained　when　a　visitor　treated　the　
Temple　carelessly；　as　if　it　had　been　erected　for　the　ordinary　purposes　of　
flirtation　and　cigarette…smoking。　There　had　been　an　occasion　when　two　
of　his　guests　had　been　found　playing　fives　in　it。　Mark　had　said　nothing　at　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

the　time；　save　to　ask　with　a　little　less　than　his　usual　point　…　whether　they　
couldn't　find　anywhere　else　for　their　game；　but　the　offenders　were　never　
a