the red house mystery-第10章

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Bill　grunted　assent；　but　without　prejudice　to　Mark。　〃All　the　same；〃　
he　said；　〃I　can't　believe　it。　That　he　would　do　it　deliberately；　I　mean。〃　

〃Suppose　it　was　an　accident；　as　Cayley　says；　would　he　lose　his　head　
and　run　away？〃　

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Bill　considered　for　a　moment。　

〃Yes；　I　really　think　he　might；　you　know。　He　nearly　ran　away　when　he　
saw　the　ghost。　Of　course；　that's　different；　rather。〃　

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　In　each　case　it's　a　question　of　obeying　your　
instinct　instead　of　your　reason。〃　

They　had　left　the　open　land　and　were　following　a　path　through　the　
bordering　trees：　Two　abreast　was　uncomfortable；　so　Antony　dropped　
behind；　and　further　conversation　was　postponed　until　they　were　outside　
the　boundary　fence　and　in　the　high　road。　The　road　sloped　gently　down　to　
the　village　of　Waldheim　a　few　red…roofed　cottages；　and　the　grey　tower　of　a　
church　showing　above　the　green。　

〃Well；　now；〃　said　Antony；　as　they　stepped　out　more　quickly；　〃what　
about　Cayley？〃　

〃How　do　you　mean；　what　about　him？〃　

〃I　want　to　see　him。　I　can　see　Mark　perfectly；　thanks　to　you；　Bill。　You　
were　wonderful。　Now　let's　have　Cayley's　character。　Cayley　from　
within。〃　

Bill　laughed　in　pleased　embarrassment；　and　protested　that　he　was　not　a　
blooming　novelist。　

〃Besides；〃　he　added；　〃Mark's　easy。　Cayley's　one　of　these　heavy；　quiet　
people；　who　might　be　thinking　about　anything。　Mark　gives　himself　
away。。。。　Ugly；　black…jawed　devil；　isn't　he？〃　

〃Some　women　like　that　type　of　ugliness。〃　

〃Yes；　that's　true。　Between　ourselves；　I　think　there's　one　here　who　
does。　Rather　a　pretty　girl　at　Jallands〃　he　waved　his　left　hand　〃down　that　
way。〃　

〃What's　Jallands？〃　

〃Well；　I　suppose　it　used　to　be　a　farm；　belonging　to　a　bloke　called　
Jalland；　but　now　it's　a　country　cottage　belonging　to　a　widow　called　
Norbury。　Mark　and　Cayley　used　to　go　there　a　good　deal　together。　Miss　
Norbury　…　the　girl　…　has　been　here　once　or　twice　for　tennis；　seemed　to　
prefer　Cayley　to　the　rest　of　us。　But　of　course　he　hadn't　much　time　for　
that　sort　of　thing。〃　

〃What　sort　of　thing？〃　

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〃Walking　about　with　a　pretty　girl　and　asking　her　if　she's　been　to　any　
theatres　lately。　He　nearly　always　had　something　to　do。〃　

〃Mark　kept　him　busy？〃　

〃Yes。　Mark　never　seemed　quite　happy　unless　he　had　Cayley　doing　
something　for　him。　He　was　quite　lost　and　helpless　without　him。　And；　
funnily　enough；　Cayley　seemed　lost　without　Mark。〃　

〃He　was　fond　of　him？〃　

〃Yes；　I　should　say　so。　In　a　protective　kind　of　way。　He'd　sized　Mark　
up；　of　course　his　vanity；　his　self…importance；　his　amateurishness　and　all　the　
rest　of　it　but　he　liked　looking　after　him。　And　he　knew　how　to　manage　
him。〃　

〃Yes。。。。　What　sort　of　terms　was　he　on　with　the　guests　…　you　and　Miss　
Norris　and　all　of　them？〃　

〃Just　polite　and　rather　silent；　you　know。　Keeping　himself　to　himself。　
We　didn't　see　so　very　much　of　him；　except　at　meals。　We　were　here　to　
enjoy　ourselves；　and　well；　he　wasn't。〃　

〃He　wasn't　there　when　the　ghost　walked？〃　

〃No。　I　heard　Mark　calling　for　him　when　he　went　back　to　the　house。　I　
expect　Cayley　stroked　down　his　feathers　a　bit；　and　told　him　that　girls　will　
be　girls。。。。　…　Hallo；　here　we　are。　

They　went　into　the　inn；　and　while　Bill　made　himself　pleasant　to　the　
landlady；　Antony　went　upstairs　to　his　room。　It　appeared　that　he　had　not　
very　much　packing　to　do；　after　all。　He　returned　his　brushes　to　his　bag；　
glanced　sound　to　see　that　nothing　else　had　been　taken　out；　and　went　down　
again　to　settle　his　bill。　He　had　decided　to　keep　on　his　room　for　a　few　
days；　partly　to　save　the　landlord　and　his　wife　the　disappointment　of　losing　
a　guest　so　suddenly；　partly　in　case　he　found　it　undesirable　later　on　to　
remain　at　The　Red　House。　For　he　was　taking　himself　seriously　as　a　
detective；　indeed；　he　took　himself　seriously　（while　getting　all　the　fun　out　
of　it　which　was　possible）　at　every　new　profession　he　adopted；　and　he　felt　
that　there　might　come　a　time　after　the　inquest；　say　when　he　could　not　
decently　remain　at　The　Red　House　as　a　guest；　a　friend　of　Bill's；　enjoying　
the　hospitality　of　Mark　or　Cayley；　whichever　was　to　be　regarded　as　his　
host；　without　forfeiting　his　independent　attitude　towards　the　events　of　that　

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afternoon。　At　present　he　was　staying　in　the　house　merely　as　a　necessary　
witness；　and；　since　he　was　there；　Cayley　could　not　object　to　him　using　his　
eyes；　but　if；　after　the　inquest；　it　appeared　that　there　was　still　work　for　a　
pair　of　independent　and　very　keen　eyes　to　do；　then　he　must　investigate；　
either　with　his　host's　approval　or　from　beneath　the　roof　of　some　other　host；　
the　landlord　of　〃The　George；〃　for　instance；　who　had　no　feelings　in　the　
matter。　

For　of　one　thing　Antony　was　certain。　Cayley　knew　more　than　he　
professed　to　know。　That　is　to　say；　he　knew　more　than　he　wanted　other　
people　to　know　he　knew。　Antony　was　one　of　the　〃other　people〃；　if；　
therefore；　he　was　for　trying　to　find　out　what　it　was　that　Cayley　knew；　he　
could　hardly　expect　Cayley's　approval　of　his　labours。　It　would　be　〃The　
George；〃　then；　for　Antony　after　the　inquest。　

What　was　the　truth？　Not　necessarily　discreditable　to　Cayley；　even　
though　he　were　hiding　something。　All　that　could　be　said　against　him　at　
the　moment　was　that　he　had　gone　the　longest　way　round　to　get　into　the　
locked　office　and　that　this　did　not　fit　in　with　what　he　had　told　the　
inspector。　But　it　did　fit　in　with　the　theory　that　he　had　been　an　accessory　
after　the　event；　and　that　he　wanted　（while　appearing　to　be　in　a　hurry）　to　
give　his　cousin　as　much　time　as　possible　in　which　to　escape。　That　might　
not　be　the　true　solution；　but　it　was　at　least　a　workable　one。　The　theory　
which　he　had　suggested　to　the　inspector　was　not。　

However；　there　would　be　a　day　or　two　before　the　inquest；　in　which　
Antony　could　consider　all　these　matters　from　within　The　Red　House。　The　
car　was　at　the　door。　He　got　in　with　Bill；　the　landlord　put　his　bag　on　the　
front　seat　next　to　the　chauffeur；　and　they　drove　back。　

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CHAPTER　VIII　

〃Do　You　Follow　Me；　Watson？〃　

Anthony's　bedroom　looked　over　the　park　at　the　back　of　the　house。　
The　blinds　were　not　yet　drawn　while　he　was　changing　his　clothes　for　
dinner；　and　at　various　stages　of　undress　he　would　pause　and　gaze　out　of　
the　window；　sometimes　smiling　to　himself；　sometimes　frowning；　as　he　
tamed　over　in　his　mind　all　the　strange　things　that　he　had　seen　that　day。　
He　was　sitting　on　his　bed；　in　shirt　and　trousers；　absently　smoothing　down　
his　thick　black　hair　with　his　brushes；　when　Bill　shouted　an　〃Hallo！〃　
through　the　door；　and　came　in。　

〃I　say；　buck　up；　old　boy；　I'm　hungry；〃　he　said。　

Antony　stopped　smoothing　himself　and　looked　up　at　him　thoughtfully。　

〃Where's　Mark？〃　he　said。　

〃Mark？　You　mean　Cayley。〃　

Antony　corrected　himself　with　a　little　laugh。　〃Yes；　I　mean　Cayley。　Is　
he　down？　I　say；　I　shan't　be　a　moment；　Bill。〃　He　got　up　from　the　bed　
and　went　on　briskly　with　his　dressing。　〃Oh；　by　the　way；〃　said　Bill；　taking　
his　place　on　the　bed；　〃your　idea　about　the　keys　is　a　wash…out。〃　

〃Why；　how　do　you　mean？〃　

〃I　went　down　just　now　and　had　a　look　at　them。　We　were　asses　not　to　
have　thought　of　it　when　we　came　in。　The　library　key　is　outside；　but　all　
the　others　are　inside。〃　

〃Yes；　I　know。〃　

〃You　devil；　I　suppose　you　did　think　of　it；　then？〃　

〃I　did；　Bill；〃　said　Antony　apologetically。　

〃Bother！　I　hoped　you'd　forgotten。　Well；　that　knocks　your　theory　on　
the　head；　doesn't　it？〃　

〃I　never　had　a　theory。　I　only　said　that　if　they　were　outside；　it　would　
probably　mean　that　the　office　key　was　outside；　and　that　in　that　case　
Cayley's　theory　was　knocked　on　the　head。〃　

〃Well；　now；　it　isn't；　and　we　don't　know　anything。　Some　were　outside　
and　some　inside；　and　there　you　are。　It　makes　it　much　less　exciting。　When　
you　were　talking　about　it　on　the　lawn；　I　really　got　quite　keen　on　the　idea　of　

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the　key　being　outside　and　Mark　taking　it　in　with　him。〃　

〃It's　going　to　be　exciting　enough；〃　said　Antony　mildly；　as　he　
transferred　his　pipe　and　tobacco　into　the　pocket　of　his　black　coat。　〃Well；　
let's　come　down；　I'm　ready　now。〃　

Cayley　was　waiting　for　them　in　the　hall。　He　made　some　polite　
inquiry　as　to　the　guest's　comfort；　and　the　three　of　them　fell　into　a　casual　
conversation　about　houses　in　general　and　The　Red　House　in　particular。　

〃You　were　quite　right　about　the　keys；〃　said　Bill；　during　a　pause。　He　
was　less　able　than　the　other　two；　perhaps　because　he　was　younger　than　
they；　to　keep　away　from　the　subject　which　was　uppermost　in　the　minds　of　
them　all。　

〃Keys？〃　said　Cayley　blankly。　

〃We　were　wondering　whether　they　were　outside　or　inside。〃　

〃Oh！　oh；　yes！〃　He　looked　slowly　round　the　hall；　at　the　different　
doors；　and　then　smiled　in　a　friendly　way　at　Antony。　〃We　both　seem　to　
have　been　right；　Mr。　Gillingham。　So　we　don't　get　much　farther。〃　

〃No。〃　He　gave　a　shrug。　〃I　just　wondered；　you　know。　I　thought　it　
was　worth　mentioning。〃　

〃Oh；　quite。　Not　that　you　would　have　convinced　me；　you　know。　Just　
as　Elsie's　evidence　doesn't　convince　me。〃　

〃Elsie？〃　said　Bill　excitedly。　Antony　looked　inquiringly　at　him；　
wondering　who　Elsie　was。　

〃One　of　the　housemaids；〃　explained　Cayley。　〃You　didn't　hear　what　
she　told　the　inspector？　Of　course；　as　I　told　Birch；　girls　of　that　class　make　
things　up；　but　he　seemed　to　think　she　was　genuine。〃　

〃What　was　it？〃　said　Bill。　

Cayley　told　them　of　what　Elsie　had　heard　through　the　office　door　that　
afternoon。　

〃You　were　in　the　library　then；　of　course；〃　said　Antony；　rather　to　
himself　than　to　the　other。　〃She　might　have　gone　through　the　hall　without　
your　hearing。〃　

〃Oh；　I've　no　doubt　she　was　there；　and　heard　voices。　Perhaps　heard　
those　very　words。　But　…〃　He　broke　off；　and　then　added　impatiently；　〃It　
was　accidental。　I　know　it　was　accidental。　What's　the　good　of　talking　as　

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if　Mark　was　a　murderer？〃　Dinner　was　announced　at　that　moment；　and　as　
they　went　in；　he　added；　〃What's　the　good　of　talking　about　it　at　all；　if　it　
comes　to　that？〃　

〃What；　indeed？〃　said　Antony；　and　to　Bill's　great　disappointment　they　
talked　of　books　and　politics　during　the　meal。　

Cayley　made　an　excuse　for　leaving　them　as　soon　as　their　cigars　were　
alight。　He　had　business　to　attend　to；　as　was　natural。　Bill　would　look　
after　his　friend。　Bill　was　only　too　willing。　He　offered　to　beat　Antony　at　
billiards；　to　play　him　at　piquet；　to　show　him　the　garden　by　moonlight；　or　
indeed　to　do　anything　else　with　him　that　he　required。　

〃Thank　the　Lord　you're　here；〃　he　said　piously。　〃I　couldn't　have　stood　
it　alone。〃　

〃Let's　go　outside；〃　suggested　Antony。　〃It's　quite　warm。　Somewhere　
where　we　can　sit　down；　right　away　from　the　house。　I　want　to　talk　to　
you。〃　

〃Good　man。　What　about　the　bowling…green？〃　

〃Oh；　you　were　going　to　show　me　that；　anyhow；　weren't　you？　Is　it　
somewhere　where　we　can　talk　without　being　overheard？〃　

〃Rather。　The　ideal　place。　You'll　see。〃　

They　came　out　of　the　front　door　and　followed　the　drive　to　the　left。　
Coming　from　Waldheim；　Antony　had　approached　the　house　that　afternoon　
from