the red house mystery-第14章

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Antony　went　on　with　his　breakfast。　Perhaps　it　was　true　that　
inspectors　liked　dragging　ponds；　but　the　question　was；　Did　Cayleys　like　
having　them　dragged？　Was　Cayley　anxious　about　it；　or　quite　indifferent？　
He　certainly　did　not　seem　to　be　anxious；　but　he　could　hide　his　feelings　
very　easily　beneath　that　heavy；　solid　face；　and　it　was　not　often　that　the　real　
Cayley　peeped　out。　Just　a　little　too　eager　once　or　twice；　perhaps；　but　
there　was　nothing　to　be　learnt　from　it　this　morning。　Perhaps　he　knew　that　
the　pond　had　no　secrets　to　give　up。　After　all；　inspectors　were　always　
dragging　ponds。　

Bill　came　in　noisily。　

Bill's　face　was　an　open　book。　Excitement　was　written　all　over　it。　

〃Well；〃　he　said　eagerly；　as　he　sat　down　to　the　business　of　the　meal；　
〃what　are　we　going　to　do　this　morning？〃　

〃Not　talk　so　loudly；　for　one　thing；〃　said　Antony。　Bill　looked　about　
him　apprehensively。　Was　Cayley　under　the　table；　for　example？　After　
last　night　one　never　knew。　

〃Is　er　…〃　He　raised　his　eyebrows。　

〃No。　But　one　doesn't　want　to　shout。　One　should　modulate　the　voice；　
my　dear　William；　while　breathing　gently　from　the　hips。　Thus　one　avoids　
those　chest…notes　which　have　betrayed　many　a　secret。　In　other　words；　
pass　the　toast。〃　

〃You　seem　bright　this　morning。〃　

〃I　am。　Very　bright。　Cayley　noticed　it。　Cayley　said；　'Were　it　not　
that　I　have　other　business；　I　would　come　gathering　nuts　and　may　with　thee。　
Fain　would　I　gyrate　round　the　mulberry…bush　and　hop　upon　the　little　hills。　
But　the　waters　of　Jordan　encompass　me　and　Inspector　Birch　tarries　outside　
with　his　shrimping…net。　My　friend　William　Beverley　will　attend　thee　

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anon。　Farewell；　a　long　farewell　to　all　…thy　grape…nuts。'　He　then　left　

up…centre。　Enter　W。　Beverley；　R。〃　

〃Are　you　often　like　this　at　breakfast？〃　

〃Almost　invariably。　Said　he　with　his　mouth　full。　'Exit　W。　Beverley；　
L。〃　

〃It's　a　touch　of　the　sun；　I　suppose；〃　said　Bill；　shaking　his　head　sadly。　

〃It's　the　sun　and　the　moon　and　the　stars；　all　acting　together　on　an　
empty　stomach。　Do　you　know　anything　about　the　stars；　Mr。　Beverley？　
Do　you　know　anything　about　Orion's　Belt；　for　instance？　And　why　isn't　
there　a　star　called　Beverley's　Belt？　Or　a　novel？　Said　he　masticating。　
Re…enter　W。　Beverley　through　trap…door。〃　

〃Talking　about　trap…doors　…〃　

〃Don't；〃　said　Antony；　getting　up。　〃Some　talk　of　Alexander　and　some　
of　Hercules；　but　nobody　talks　about　…what's　the　Latin　for　trap…door？　
Mensa　a　table；　you　might　get　it　from　that。　Well；　Mr。　Beverley；〃　…and　
he　slapped　him　heartily　on　the　back　as　he　went　past　him　…　〃I　shall　see　you　
later。　Cayley　says　that　you　will　amuse　me；　but　so　far　you　have　not　made　
me　laugh　once。　You　must　try　and　be　more　amusing　when　you　have　
finished　your　breakfast。　But　don't　hurry。　Let　the　upper　mandibles　have　
time　to　do　the　work。〃　With　those　words　Mr。　Gillingham　then　left　the　
spacious　apartment。　

Bill　continued　his　breakfast　with　a　slightly　bewildered　air。　He　did　not　
know　that　Cayley　was　smoking　a　cigarette　outside　the　windows　behind　
him；　not　listening；　perhaps；　possibly　not　even　overhearing；　but　within　
sight　of　Antony；　who　was　not　going　to　take　any　risks。　So　he　went　on　with　
his　breakfast；　reflecting　that　Antony　was　a　rum　fellow；　and　wondering　if　he　
had　dreamed　only　of　the　amazing　things　which　had　happened　the　day　
before。　

Antony　went　up　to　his　bedroom　to　fetch　his　pipe。　It　was　occupied　by　
a　housemaid；　and　he　made　a　polite　apology　for　disturbing　her。　Then　be　
remembered。　

〃Is　it　Elsie？〃　he　asked；　giving　her　a　friendly　smile。　

〃Yes；　sir；〃　she　said；　shy　but　proud。　She　had　no　doubts　as　to　why　it　
was　that　she　had　achieved　such　notoriety。　

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〃It　was　you　who　heard　Mr。　Mark　yesterday；　wasn't　it？　I　hope　the　
inspector　was　nice　to　you？〃　

〃Yes；　thank　you；　sir。〃　

〃'It's　my　turn　now。　You　wait；'〃　murmured　Antony　to　himself。　

〃Yes；　sir。　Nasty…like。　Meaning　to　say　his　chance　had　come。〃　

〃I　wonder。〃　

〃Well；　that's　what　I　heard；　sir。　Truly。〃　

Antony　looked　at　her　thoughtfully　and　nodded。　

〃Yes。　I　wonder。　I　wonder　why。〃　

〃Why　what；　sir？〃　

〃Oh；　lots　of　things；　Elsie。。。。　It　was　quite　an　accident　your　being　outside　
just　then？〃　

Elsie　blushed。　She　had　not　forgotten　what　Mrs。　Stevens　had　said　
about　it。　

〃Quite；　sir；　In　the　general　way　I　use　the　other　stairs。〃　

〃Of　course。〃　

He　had　found　his　pipe　and　was　about　to　go　downstairs　again　when　she　
stopped　him。　

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　but　will　there　be　an　inquest？〃　

〃Oh；　yes。　To…morrow；　I　think。〃　

〃Shall　I　have　to　give　my　evidence；　sir？〃　

〃Of　course。　There's　nothing　to　be　frightened　of。〃　

〃I　did　hear　it；　sir。　Truly。〃　

〃Why；　of　course　you　did。　Who　says　you　didn't？〃　

〃Some　of　the　others　sir　Mrs。　Stevens　and　all。〃　

〃Oh；　that's　just　because　they're　jealous；〃　said　Antony　with　a　smile。　

He　was　glad　to　have　spoken　to　her；　because　he　had　recognized　at　once　
the　immense　importance　of　her　evidence。　To　the　inspector　no　doubt　it　
had　seemed　only　of　importance　in　that　it　had　shown　Mark　to　have　adopted　
something　of　a　threatening　attitude　towards　his　brother。　To　Antony　it　had　
much　more　significance。　It　was　the　only　trustworthy　evidence　that　Mark　
had　been　in　the　office　at　all　that　afternoon。　

For　who　saw　Mark　go　into　the　office？　Only　Cayley。　And　if　Cayley　
had　been　hiding　the　truth　about　the　keys；　why　should　he　not　be　hiding　the　

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truth　about　Mark's　entry　into　the　office？　Obviously　all　Cayley's　evidence　
went　for　nothing。　Some　of　it　no　doubt　was　true；　but　he　was　giving　it；　
both　truth　and　falsehood；　with　a　purpose。　What　the　purpose　was　Antony　
did　not　know　as　yet；　to　shield　Mark；　to　shield　himself；　even　to　betray　Mark　
it　might　be　any　of　these。　But　since　his　evidence　was　given　for　his　own　
ends；　it　was　impossible　that　it　could　be　treated　as　the　evidence　of　an　
impartial　and　trustworthy　onlooker。　Such；　for　instance；　as　Elsie　appeared　
to　be。　

Elsie's　evidence；　however；　seemed　to　settle　the　point。　Mark　had　gone　
into　the　office　to　see　his　brother；　Elsie　had　heard　them　both　talking；　and　
then　Antony　and　Cayley　had　found　the　body　of　Robert。。。。　and　the　inspector　
was　going　to　drag　the　pond。　

But　certainly　Elsie's　evidence　did　not　prove　anything　more　than　the　
mere　presence　of　Mark　in　the　room。　〃It's　my　turn　now；　you　wait。〃　That　
was　not　an　immediate　threat；　…　it　was　a　threat　for　the　future。　If　Mark　had　
shot　his　brother　immediately　afterwards　it　must　have　been　an　accident；　the　
result　of　a　struggle；　say；　provoked　by　that　〃nasty…like〃　tone　of　voice。　
Nobody　would　say　〃You　wait〃　to　a　man　who　was　just　going　to　be　shot。　
〃You　wait〃　meant　〃You　wait；　and　see　what's　going　to　happen　to　you　later　
on。〃　The　owner　of　The　Red　House　had　had　enough　of　his　brother's　
sponging；　his　brother's　blackmail；　now　it　was　Mark's　turn　to　get　a　bit　of　his　
own　back。　Let　Robert　just　wait　a　bit；　and　he　would　see。　The　
conversation　which　Elsie　had　overheard　might　have　meant　something　like　
this。　It　couldn't　have　meant　murder。　Anyway　not　murder　of　Robert　by　
Mark。　

〃It's　a　funny　business；〃　thought　Antony。　〃The　one　obvious　solution　is　
so　easy　and　yet　so　wrong。　And　I've　got　a　hundred　things　in　my　head；　and　
I　can't　fit　them　together。　And　this　afternoon　will　make　a　hundred　and　one。　
I　mustn't　forget　this　afternoon。〃　

He　found　Bill　in　the　hall　and　proposed　a　stroll。　Bill　was　only　too　
ready。　〃Where　do　you　want　to　go？〃　he　asked。　

〃I　don't　mind　much。　Show　me　the　park。〃　

〃Righto。〃　

They　walked　out　together。　

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〃Watson；　old　man；〃　said　Antony；　as　soon　as　they　were　away　from　the　
house；　〃you　really　mustn't　talk　so　loudly　indoors。　There　was　a　gentleman　
outside；　just　behind　you；　all　the　time。〃　

〃Oh；　I　say；〃　said　Bill；　going　pink。　〃I'm　awfully　sorry。　So　that's　why　
you　were　talking　such　rot。〃　

〃Partly；　yes。　And　partly　because　I　do　feel　rather　bright　this　morning。　
We're　going　to　have　a　busy　day。〃　

〃Are　we　really？　What　are　we　going　to　do？〃　

〃They're　going　to　drag　the　pond　…　beg　its　pardon；　the　lake。　Where　is　
the　lake？〃　

〃We're　on　the　way　to　it　now；　if　you'd　like　to　see　it。〃　

〃We　may　as　well　look　at　it。　Do　you　haunt　the　lake　much　in　the　
ordinary　way？〃　

〃Oh；　no；　rather　not。　There's　nothing　to　do　there。〃　

〃You　can't　bathe？〃　

〃Well；　I　shouldn't　care　to。　Too　dirty。〃　

〃I　see。。。。　This　is　the　way　we　came　yesterday；　isn't　it？　The　way　to　the　
village？〃　

〃Yes。　We　go　off　a　bit　to　the　right　directly。　What　are　they　dragging　it　
for？〃　

〃Mark。〃　

〃Oh；　rot；〃　said　Bill　uneasily。　He　was　silent　for　a　little；　and　then；　
forgetting　his　uncomfortable　thoughts　in　his　sudden　remembrance　of　the　
exciting　times　they　were　having；　said　eagerly；　〃I　say；　when　are　we　going　to　
look　for　that　passage？〃　

〃We　can't　do　very　much　while　Cayley's　in　the　house。〃　

〃What　about　this　afternoon　when　they're　dragging　the　pond？　He's　
sure　to　be　there。〃　

Antony　shook　his　head。　

〃There's　something　I　must　do　this　afternoon；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course　we　
might　have　time　for　both。〃　

〃Has　Cayley　got　to　be　out　of　the　house　for　the　other　thing　too？〃　

〃Well；　I　think　he　ought　to　be。〃　

〃I　say；　is　it　anything　rather　exciting？〃　

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〃I　don't　know。　It　might　be　rather　interesting。　I　daresay　I　could　do　it　
at　some　other　time；　but　I　rather　fancy　it　at　three　o'clock；　somehow。　I've　
been　specially　keeping　it　back　for　then。〃　

〃I　say；　what　fun！　You　do　want　me；　don't　you？〃　

〃Of　course　I　do。　Only；　Bill　don't　talk　about　things　inside　the　house；　
unless　I　begin。　There's　a　good　Watson。〃　

〃I　won't。　I　swear　I　won't。〃　

They　had　come　to　the　pond　…　Mark's　lake　…　and　they　walked　silently　
round　it。　When　they　had　made　the　circle；　Antony　sat　down　on　the　grass；　
and　relit　his　pipe。　Bill　followed　his　example。　

〃Well；　Mark　isn't　there；〃　said　Antony。　

〃No；〃　said　Bill。　〃At　least；　I　don't　quite　see　why　you　know　he　isn't。〃　

〃It　isn't　'knowing；'　it's　'guessing；'〃　said　Antony　rapidly。　〃It's　much　
easier　to　shoot　yourself　than　to　drown　yourself；　and　if　Mark　had　wanted　to　
shoot　himself　in　the　water；　with　some　idea　of　not　letting　the　body　be　found；　
he'd　have　put　big　stones　in　his　pockets；　and　the　only　big　stones　are　near　the　
water's　edge；　and　they　would　have　left　marks；　and　they　haven't；　and　
therefore　he　didn't；　and　oh；　bother　the　pond；　that　can　wait　till　this　
afternoon。　Bill；　where　does　the　secret　passage　begin？〃　

〃Well；　that's　what　we've　got　to　find　out；　isn't　it？〃　

〃Yes。　You　see；　my　idea　is　this。〃　

He　explained　his　reasons　for　thinking　that　the　secret　of　the　passage　
was　concerned　in　some　way　with　the　secret　of　Robert's　death；　and　went　
on：　

〃My　theory　is　that　Mark　discovered　the　passage　about　a　year　ago　the　
time　when　he　began　to　get　keen　on　croquet。　The　passage　came　out　into　
the　floor　of　the　shed；　and　probably　it　was　Cayley's　idea　to　put　a　croquet…
box　over　the　trap…door；　so　as　to　hide　it　more　completely。　You　know；　when　
once　you've　discovered　a　secret　yourself；　it　always　seems　as　if　it　must　be　
so　obvious　to　everybody　else。　I　can　imagine　that　Mark　loved　having　this　
little　secret　all　to　himself　and　to　Cayley；　of　course；　but　Cayle