the red house mystery-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


simpler　one　afterwards。　Go　on。　Only　remember　the　key　is　on　the　
outside　of　the　door　to　start　with。〃　

〃Yes；　well；　I　don't　mind　that。　Mark　goes　in　to　see　his　brother；　and　
they　quarrel　and　all　the　rest　of　it；　just　as　Cayley　was　saying。　Cayley　hears　
the　shot；　and　in　order　to　give　Mark　time　to　get　away；　locks　the　door；　puts　
the　key　in　his　pocket　and　pretends　that　Mark　has　locked　the　door；　and　that　
he　can't　get　in。　How's　that？〃　

〃Hopeless；　Watson；　hopeless。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃How　does　Cayley　know　that　it　is　Mark　who　has　shot　Robert；　and　not　
the　other　way　round？〃　

〃Oh！〃　said　Bill；　rather　upset。　〃Yes。〃　He　thought　for　a　moment；　〃All　
right。　Say　that　Cayley　has　gone　into　the　room　first；　and　seen　Robert　on　
the　ground。〃　

〃Well？〃　

〃Well；　there　you　are。〃　

〃And　what　does　he　say　to　Mark？　That　it's　a　fine　afternoon；　and　could　
he　lend　him　a　pocket…handkerchief？　Or　does　he　ask　him　what's　
happened？〃　

〃Well；　of　course；　I　suppose　he　asks　what　happened；〃　said　Bill　
reluctantly。　

〃And　what　does　Mark　say？〃　

〃Explains　that　the　revolver　went　off　accidentally　during　a　struggle。〃　

〃Whereupon　Cayley　shields　him　by　doing　what；　Bill？　Encouraging　
him　to　do　the　damn　silliest　thing　that　any　man　could　possibly　do　confess　
his　guilt　by　running　away！〃　

〃No；　that's　rather　hopeless；　isn't　it？〃　Bill　thought　again。　〃Well；〃　he　
said　reluctantly；　〃suppose　Mark　confessed　that　he'd　murdered　his　brother？〃　

〃That's　better；　Bill。　Don't　be　afraid　of　getting　away　from　the　accident　

65



The　Red　House　Mystery　

idea。　Well　then；　your　new　theory　is　this。　Mark　confesses　to　Cayley　that　
he　shot　Robert　on　purpose；　and　Cayley　decides；　even　at　the　risk　of　
committing　perjury；　and　getting　into　trouble　himself；　to　help　Mark　to　
escape。　Is　that　right？〃　

Bill　nodded。　

〃Well　then；　I　want　to　ask　you　two　questions。　First；　is　it　possible；　as　I　
said　before　dinner；　that　any　man　would　commit　such　an　idiotic　murder　a　
murder　that　puts　the　rope　so　very　tightly　round　his　neck？　Secondly；　if　
Cayley　is　prepared　to　perjure　himself　for　Mark　（as　he　has　to；　anyway；　
now）；　wouldn't　it　be　simpler　for　him　to　say　that　he　was　in　the　office　all　the　
time；　and　that　Robert's　death　was　accidental？〃　

Bill　considered　this　carefully；　and　then　nodded　slowly　again。　

〃Yes；　my　simple　explanation　is　a　wash…out；〃　he　said。　〃Now　let's　have　
yours。〃　

Antony　did　not　answer　him。　He　had　begun　to　think　about　something　
quite　different。　

66



The　Red　House　Mystery　

CHAPTER　IX　

Possibilities　of　a　Croquet　Set　

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　Bill　sharply。'　

Antony　looked　round　at　him　with　raised　eyebrows。　

〃You've　thought　of　something　suddenly；〃　said　Bill。　〃What　is　it？〃　

Antony　laughed。　

〃My　dear　Watson；〃　he　said；　〃you　aren't　supposed　to　be　as　clever　as　
this。〃　

〃Oh；　you　can't　take　me　in！〃　

〃No。。。。　Well；　I　was　wondering　about　this　ghost　of　yours；　Bill。　It　
seems　to　me　…〃　

〃Oh；　that！〃　Bill　was　profoundly　disappointed。　〃What　on　earth　has　the　
ghost　got　to　do　with　it？〃　

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Antony　apologetically。　〃I　don't　know　what　
anything　has　got　to　do　with　it。　I　was　just　wondering。　You　shouldn't　
have　brought　me　here　if　you　hadn't　wanted　me　to　think　about　the　ghost。　
This　is　where　she　appeared；　isn't　it？〃　

〃Yes。〃　Bill　was　distinctly　short　about　it。　

〃How？〃　

〃What？〃　

〃I　said；　'How？'〃　

〃How？　How　do　ghosts　appear？　I　don't　know。　They　just　appear。〃　

〃Over　four　or　five　hundred　yards　of　open　park？〃　

〃Well；　but　she　had　to　appear　here；　because　this　is　where　the　original　
one　…　Lady　Anne；　you　know　…　was　supposed　to　walk。〃　

〃Oh；　never　mind　Lady　Anne！　A　real　ghost　can　do　anything。　But　
how　did　Miss　Norris　appear　suddenly　over　five　hundred　yards　of　bare　
park？〃　

Bill　looked　at　Antony　with　open　mouth。　

〃I　…　I　don't　know；〃　he　stammered。　〃We　never　thought　of　that。〃　

〃You　would　have　seen　her　long　before；　wouldn't　you；　if　she　had　come　
the　way　we　came？〃　

〃Of　course　we　should。〃　

67



The　Red　House　Mystery　

〃And　that　would　have　spoilt　it　rather。　You　would　have　had　time　to　
recognize　her　walk。〃　

Bill　was　interested　now。　

〃That's　rather　funny；　you　know；　Tony。　We　none　of　us　thought　of　
that。〃　

〃You're　sure　she　didn't　come　across　the　park　when　none　of　you　were　
looking？〃　

〃Quite。　Because；　you　see；　Betty　and　I　were　expecting　her；　and　we　
kept　looking　round　in　case　we　saw　her；　so　that　we　should　all　be　playing　
with　our　backs　to　her。〃　

〃You　and　Miss　Calladine　were　playing　together？〃　

〃I　say；　however　do　you　know　that？〃　

〃Brilliant　deductive　reasoning。　Well；　then　you　suddenly　saw　her？〃　

〃Yes；　she　walked　across　that　side　of　the　lawn。〃　He　indicated　the　
opposite　side；　nearer　to　the　house。　

〃She　couldn't　have　been　hiding　in　the　ditch？　Do　you　call　it　the　moat；　
by　the　way？〃　

〃Mark　does。　We　don't　among　ourselves。　No；　she　couldn't。　Betty　
and　I　were　here　before　the　others；　and　walked　round　a　bit。　We　should　
have　seen　her。〃　

〃Then　she　must　have　been　hiding　in　the　shed。　Or　do　you　call　it　the　
summer…house？〃　

〃We　had　to　go　there　for　the　bowls；　of　course。　She　couldn't　have　been　
there。〃　

〃Oh！〃　

〃It's　dashed　funny；〃　said　Bill；　after　an　interval　for　thought。　〃But　it　
doesn't　matter；　does　it？　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　Robert。〃　

〃Hasn't　it？〃　

〃I　say；　has　it？〃　said　Bill；　getting　excited　again。　

〃I　don't　know。　We　don't　know　what　has；　or　what　hasn't。　But　it　has　
got　something　to　do　with　Miss　Norris。　And　Miss　Norris　…〃　He　broke　off　
suddenly。　

〃What　about　her？〃　

〃Well；　you're　all　in　it　in　a　kind　of　way。　And　if　something　

68



The　Red　House　Mystery　

unaccountable　happens　to　one　of　you　a　day　or　two　before　something　
unaccountable　happens　to　the　whole　house；　one　is　well；　interested。〃　It　was　
a　good　enough　reason；　but　it　wasn't　the　reason　he　had　been　on　the　point　of　
giving。　

〃I　see。　Well？〃　

Antony　knocked　out　his　pipe　and　got　up　slowly。　

〃Well　then；　let's　find　the　way　from　the　house　by　which　Miss　Norris　
came。　

Bill　jumped　up　eagerly。　

〃By　Jove！　Do　you　mean　there's　a　secret　passage？〃　

〃A　secluded　passage；　anyway。　There　must　be。〃　

〃I　say；　what　fun！　I　love　secret　passages。　Good　Lord；　and　this　
afternoon　I　was　playing　golf　just　like　an　ordinary　merchant！　What　a　life！　
Secret　passages！〃　

They　made　their　way　down　into　the　ditch。　If　an　opening　was　to　be　
found　which　led　to　the　house；　it　would　probably　be　on　the　house　side　of　
the　green；　and　on　the　outside　of　the　ditch。　The　most　obvious　place　at　
which　to　begin　the　search　was　the　shed　where　the　bowls　were　kept。　It　
was　a　tidy　place　as　anything　in　Mark's　establishment　would　be。　There　
were　two　boxes　of　croquet　things；　one　of　them　with　the　lid　open；　as　if　the　
balls　and　mallets　and；　hoops　（neatly　enough　put　away；　though）　had　been　
recently　used；　a　box　of　bowls；　a　small　lawn…mower；　a　roller　and　so　forth。　
A　seat　ran　along　the　back　of　it；　whereon　the　bowls…players　could　sit　when　
it　rained。　

Antony　tapped　the　wall　at　the　back。　

〃This　is　where　the　passage　ought　to　begin。　It　doesn't　sound　very　
hollow；　does　it？〃　

〃It　needn't　begin　here　at　all；　need　it？〃　said　Bill；　walking　round　with　
bent　head；　and　tapping　the　other　walls。　He　was　just　too　tall　to　stand　
upright　in　the　shed。　

〃There's　only　one　reason　why　it　should；　and　that　is　that　it　would　save　
us　the　trouble　of　looking　anywhere　else　for　it。　Surely　Mark　didn't　let　you　
play　croquet　on　his　bowling…green？〃　He　pointed　to　the　croquet　things。　

〃He　didn't　encourage　it　at　one　time；　but　this　year　he　got　rather　keen　

69



The　Red　House　Mystery　

about　it。　There's　really　nowhere　else　to　play。　Personally　I　hate　the　game。　
He　wasn't　very　keen　on　bowls；　you　know；　but　he　liked　calling　it　the　
bowling…green；　and　surprising　his　visitors　with　it。〃　

Antony　laughed。　

〃I　love　you　on　Mark；〃　he　said。　〃You're　priceless。〃　

He　began　to　feel　in　his　pockets　for　his　pipe　and　tobacco；　and　then　
suddenly　stopped　and　stiffened　to　attention。　For　a　moment　he　stood　
listening；　with　his　head　on　one　side；　holding　up　a　finger　to　bid　Bill　listen　
too。　

〃What　is　it？〃　whispered　Bill。　

Antony　waved　him　to　silence；　and　remained　listening。　Very　quietly　
he　went　down　on　his　knees；　and　listened　again。　Then　he　put　his　ear　to　the　
floor。　He　got　up　and　dusted　himself　quickly；　walked　across　to　Bill　and　
whispered　in　his　ear：　

〃Footsteps。　Somebody　coming。　When　I　begin　to　talk；　back　me　up。〃　

Bill　nodded。　Antony　gave　him　an　encouraging　pat　on　the　back；　and　
stepped　firmly　across　to　the　box　of　bowls；　whistling　loudly　to　himself。　
He　took　the　bowls　out；　dropped　one　with　a　loud　bang　on　the　floor；　said；　
〃Oh；　Lord！〃　and　went　on：　

〃I　say；　Bill；　I　don't　think　I　want　to　play　bowls；　after　all。〃　

〃Well；　why　did　you　say　you　did？〃　grumbled　Bill。　

Antony　flashed　a　smile　of　appreciation　at　him。　

〃Well；　I　wanted　to　when　I　said　I　did；　and　now　I　don't　want　to。〃　

〃Then　what　do　you　want　to　do？〃　

〃Talk。〃　

〃Oh；　right…o！〃　said　Bill　eagerly。　

〃There's　a　seat　on　the　lawn　I　saw　it。　Let's　bring　these　things　along　in　
case　we　want　to　play；　after　all。〃　

〃Right…o！〃　said　Bill　again。　He　felt　safe　with　that；　not　wishing　to　
commit　himself　until　he　knew　what　he　was　wanted　to　say。　

As　they　went　across　the　lawn；　Antony　dropped　the　bowls　and　took　out　
his　pipe。　

〃Got　a　match？〃　he　said　loudly。　

As　he　bent　his　head　over　the　match；　he　whispered；　〃There'll　be　

70



The　Red　House　Mystery　

somebody　listening　to　us。　You　take　the　Cayley　view；〃　and　then　went　on　
in　his　ordinary　voice；　〃I　don't　think　much　of　your　matches；　Bill；〃　and　
struck　another。　They　walked　over　to　the　seat　and　sat　down。　

〃What　a　heavenly　night！〃　said　Antony。　

〃Ripping。〃　

〃I　wonder　where　that　poor　devil　Mark　is　now。〃　

〃It's　a　rum　business。〃　

〃You　agree　with　Cayley　that　it　was　an　accident？〃　

〃Yes。　You　see；　I　know　Mark。〃　

〃H'm。〃　Antony　produced　a　pencil　and　a　piece　of　paper　and　began　to　
write　on　his　knee；　but　while　he　wrote；　he　talked。　He　said　that　he　thought　
Mark　had　shot　his　brother　in　a　fit　of　anger；　and　that　Cayley　knew；　or　
anyhow　guessed；　this　and　had　tried　to　give　his　cousin　a　chance　of　getting　
away。　

〃Mind　you；　I　think　he's　right。　I　think　it's　what　any　of　us　would　do。　I　
shan't　give　it　away；　of　course；　but　somehow　there　are　one　or　two　little　
things　which　make　me　think　that　Mark　really　did　shoot　his　brother　I　mean　
other　than　accidentally。〃　

〃Murdered　him？〃　

〃Well；　manslaughtered　him；　anyway。　I　may　be　wrong。　Anyway；　it's　
not　my　business。〃　

〃But　why　do　you　think　so？　Because　of　the　keys？〃　

〃Oh；　the　keys　are　a　wash…out。　Still；　it　was　a　brilliant　idea　of　mine；　
Wasn't　it？　And　it　would　have　been　rather　a　score　for　me　if　they　had　all　
been　outside。〃　

He　had　finished　his　writing；　and　now　passed　the　paper　over　to　Bill。　In　
the　clear　moonlight　the　carefully　printed　letters　could　easily　be　read：　

〃GO　ON　TALKING　AS　IF　I　WERE　HERE。　AFTER　A　MINUTE　OR　
TWO；　TURN　ROUND　AS　IF　I　WERE　SITTING　ON　THE　GRASS　
BEHIND　YOU；　BUT　GO　ON　TALKING。〃　

〃I　know　you　don't　agree　with　me；〃　Antony　went　on　as　Bill　read；　〃but　
you'll　see　that　I'm　right。〃　

Bill　looked　up　and　nodded　eagerly。　He　had　forgotten　golf　and　Betty　
and　all　the　other　things　which　had　made　up　his　world　lately。　Th