the red house mystery-第15章

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little　secret　all　to　himself　and　to　Cayley；　of　course；　but　Cayley　wouldn't　
count　and　they　must　have　had　great　fun　fixing　it　up；　and　making　it　more　
difficult　for　other　people　to　find　out。　Well　then；　when　Miss　Norris　was　
going　to　dress…up；　Cayley　gave　it　away。　Probably　he　told　her　that　she　

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could　never　get　down　to　the　bowling…green　without　being　discovered；　and　
then　perhaps　showed　that　he　knew　there　was　one　way　in　which　she　could　
do　it；　and　she　wormed　the　secret　out　of　him　somehow。〃　

〃But　this　was　two　or　three　days　before　Robert　turned　up。　

〃Exactly。　I　am　not　suggesting　that　there　was　anything　sinister　about　
the　passage　in　the　first　place。　It　was　just　a　little　private　bit　of　romance　
and　adventure　for　Mark；　three　days　ago。　He　didn't　even　know　that　Robert　
was　coming。　But　somehow　the　passage　has　been　used　since；　in　
connexion　with　Robert。　Perhaps　Mark　escaped　that　way；　perhaps　he's　
hiding　there　now。　And　if　so；　then　the　only　person　who　could　give　him　
away　was　Miss　Norris。　And　she　of　course　would　only　do　it　innocently　
not　knowing　that　the　passage　had　anything　to　do　with　it。〃　

〃So　it　was　safer　to　have　her　out　of　the　way？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃But；　look　here；　Tony；　why　do　you　want　to　bother　about　this　end　of　it？　
We　can　always　get　in　at　the　bowling…green　end。〃　

〃I　know；　but　if　we　do　that　we　shall　have　to　do　it　openly。　It　will　mean　
breaking　open　the　box；　and　letting　Cayley　know　that　we've　done　it。　You　
see；　Bill；　if　we　don't　find　anything　out　for　ourselves　in　the　next　day　or　two；　
we've　got　to　tell　the　police　what　we　have　found　out；　and　then　they　can　
explore　the　passage　for　themselves。　But　I　don't　want　to　do　that　yet。〃　

〃Rather　not。　

〃So　we've　got　to　carry　on　secretly　for　a　bit。　It's　the　only　way。〃　He　
smiled　and　added；　〃And　it's　much　more　fun。〃　

〃Rather！〃　Bill　chuckled　to　himself。　

〃Very　well。　Where　does　the　secret　passage　begin？〃　

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CHAPTER　XI　

The　Reverend　Theodore　Ussher　

〃There's　one　thing；　which　we　have　got　to　realize　at　once；〃　said　

Antony；　〃and　that　is　that　if　we　don't　find　it　easily；　we　shan't　find　it　at　all。〃　

〃You　mean　that　we　shan't　have　time？〃　

〃Neither　time　nor　opportunity。　Which　is　rather　a　consoling　thought　to　

a　lazy　person　like　me。〃　

〃But　it　makes　it　much　harder；　if　we　can't　really　look　properly。〃　

〃Harder　to　find；　yes；　but　so　much　easier　to　look。　For　instance；　the　

passage　might　begin　in　Cayley's　bedroom。　Well；　now　we　know　that　it　

doesn't。〃　

〃We　don't　know　anything　of　the　sort；〃　protested　Bill。　

〃We　…　know　for　the　purposes　of。　our　search。　Obviously　we　can't　go　

tailing　into　Cayley's　bedroom　and　tapping　his　wardrobes；　and　obviously；　
therefore；　if　we　are　going　to　look　for　it　at　all；　we　must　assume　that　it　
doesn't　begin　there。〃　

〃Oh；　I　see。〃　Bill　chewed　a　piece　of　grass　thoughtfully。　〃Anyhow；　it　

wouldn't　begin　on　an　upstairs　floor；　would　it？〃　

〃Probably　not。　Well；　we're　getting　on。〃　

〃You　can　wash　out　the　kitchen　and　all　that　part　of　the　house；〃　said　Bill；　

after　more　thought。　〃We　can't　go　there。〃　

〃Right。　And　the　cellars；　if　there　are　any。〃　

〃Well；　that　doesn't　leave　us　much。〃　

〃No。　Of　course　it's　only　a　hundred…to…one　chance　that　we　find　it；　but　

what　we　want　to　consider　is　which　is　the　most　likely　place　of　the　few　
places　in　which　we　can　look　safely。〃　

〃All　it　amounts　to；〃　said　Bill；　〃is　the　living…rooms　downstairs　dining…

room；　library；　hail；　billiard…room　and　the　office　rooms。〃　

〃Yes；　that's　all。〃　

〃Well；　the　office　is　the　most　likely；　isn't　it？〃　

〃Yes。　Except　for　one　thing。〃　

〃What's　that？〃　

〃Well；　it's　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　house。　One　would　expect　the　

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passage　to　start　from　the　nearest　place　to　which　it　is　going。　Why　make　it　
longer　by　going　under　the　house　first？〃　

〃Yes；　that's　true。　Well；　then；　you　think　the　dining…room　or　the　
library？〃　

〃Yes。　And　the　library　for　choice。　I　mean　for　our　choice。　There　are　
always　servants　going　into　dining…rooms。　We　shouldn't　have　much　of　a　
chance　of　exploring　properly　in　there。　Besides；　there's　another　thing　to　
remember。　Mark　has　kept　this　a　secret　for　a　year。　Could　he　have　kept　it　
a　secret　in　the　dining…room？　Could　Miss　Norris　have　got　into　the　dining…
room　and　used　the　secret　door　just　after　dinner　without　being　seen？　It　
would　have　been　much　too　risky。〃　

Bill　got　up　eagerly。　

〃Come　along；〃　he　said；　〃let's　try　the　library。　If　Cayley　comes　in；　we　
can　always　pretend　we're　choosing　a　book。〃　

Antony　got　up　slowly；　took　his　arm　and　walked　back　to　the　house　with　
him。　

The　library　was　worth　going　into；　passages　or　no　passages。　Antony　
could　never　resist　another　person's　bookshelves。　As　soon　as　he　went　into　
the　room；　he　found　himself　wandering　round　it　to　see　what　books　the　
owner　read；　or　（more　likely）　did　not　read；　but　kept　for　the　air　which　they　
lent　to　the　house。　Mark　had　prided　himself　on　his　library。　It　was　a　
mixed　collection　of　books。　Books　which　he　had　inherited　both　from　his　
father　and　from　his　patron；　books　which　he　had　bought　because　he　was　
interested　in　them　or；　if　not　in　them；　in　the　authors　to　whom　he　wished　to　
lend　his　patronage；　books　which　he　had　ordered　in　beautifully　bound　
editions；　partly　because　they　looked　well　on　his　shelves；　lending　a　noble　
colour　to　his　rooms；　partly　because　no　man　of　culture　should　ever　be　
without　them；　old　editions；　new　editions；　expensive　books；　cheap　books　a　
library　in　which　everybody；　whatever　his　taste；　could　be　sure　of　finding　
something　to　suit　him。　

〃And　which　is　your　particular　fancy；　Bill？〃　said　Antony；　looking　from　
one　shelf　to　another。　〃Or　are　you　always　playing　billiards？〃　

〃I　have　a　look　at　'Badminton'　sometimes；〃　said　Bill。　

〃It's　over　in　that　corner　there。〃　He　waved　a　hand。　

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〃Over　here？〃　said　Antony；　going　to　it。　

〃Yes。〃　He　corrected　himself　suddenly。　…　〃Oh；　no；　it's　not。　It's　over　
there　on　the　right　now。　Mark　had　a　grand　re…arrangement　of　his　library　
about　a　year　ago。　It　took　him　more　than　a　week；　he　told　us。　He's　got　such　
a　frightful　lot；　hasn't　he？〃　

〃Now　that's　very　interesting；〃　said　Antony；　and　he　sat　down　and　filled　
his　pipe　again。　

There　was　indeed　a　〃frightful　lot〃　of　books。　The　four　walls　of　the　
library　were　plastered　with　them　from　floor　to　ceiling；　save　only　where　the　
door　and　the　two　windows　insisted　on　living　their　own　life；　even　though　an　
illiterate　one。　To　Bill　it　seemed　the　most　hopeless　room　of　any　in　which　
to　look　for　a　secret　opening。　

〃We　shall　have　to　take　every　blessed　book　down；〃　he　said；　〃before　we　
can　be　certain　that　we　haven't　missed　it。〃　

〃Anyway；〃　said　Antony；　〃if　we　take　them　down　one　at　a　time；　nobody　
can　suspect　us　of　sinister　designs。　After　all；　what　does　one　go　into　a　
library　for；　except　to　take　books　down？〃　

〃But　there's　such　a　frightful　lot。〃　

Antony's　pipe　was　now　going　satisfactorily；　and　he　got　up　and　walked　
leisurely　to　the　end　of　the　wall　opposite　the　door。　

〃Well；　let's　have　a　look；〃　he　said；　〃and　see　if　they　are　so　very　frightful。　
Hallo；　here's　your　'Badminton。'　You　often　read　that；　you　say？〃　

〃If　I　read　anything。〃　

〃Yes。〃　He　looked　down　and　up　the　shelf。　〃Sport　and　Travel　chiefly。　I　
like　books　of　travel；　don't　you？〃　

〃They're　pretty　dull　as　a　rule。〃　

〃Well；　anyhow；　some　people　like　them　very　much；〃　said　Antony；　
reproachfully。　He　moved　on　to　the　next　row　of　shelves。　〃The　Drama。　
The　Restoration　dramatists。　You　can　have　most　of　them。　Still；　as　you　
well　remark；　many　people　seem　to　love　them。　Shaw；　Wilde；　Robertson　
I　like　reading　plays；　Bill。　There　are　not　many　people　who　do；　but　those　
who　do　are　usually　very　keen。　Let　us　pass　on。〃　

〃I　say；　we　haven't　too　much　time；〃　said　Bill　restlessly。　

〃We　haven't。　That's　why　we　aren't　wasting　any。　Poetry。　Who　

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reads　poetry　nowadays？　Bill；　when　did　you　last　read　'Paradise　Lost'？〃　

〃Never。〃　

〃I　thought　not。　And　when　did　Miss　Calladine　last　read　'The　
Excursion'　aloud　to　you？〃　

〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　Betty　Miss　Calladine　happens　to　be　jolly　keen　on　
what's　the　beggar's　name？〃　

〃Never　mind　his　name。　You　have　said　quite　enough。　We　pass　on。〃　

He　moved　on　to　the　next　shelf。　

〃Biography。　Oh；　lots　of　it。　I　love　biographies。　Are　you　a　member　
of　the　Johnson　Club？　I　bet　Mark　is。　'Memories　of　Many　Courts'　I'm　
sure　Mrs。　Calladine　reads　that。　Anyway；　biographies　are　just　as　
interesting　as　most　novels；　so　why　linger？　We　pass　on。〃　He　went　to　the　
next　shelf；　and　then　gave　a　sudden　whistle。　〃Hallo；　hallo！〃　

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　Bill　rather　peevishly。　

〃Stand　back　there。　Keep　the　crowd　back；　Bill。　We　are　getting　
amongst　it。　Sermons；　as　I　live。　Sermons。　Was　Mark's　father　a　
clergyman；　or　does　Mark　take　to　them　naturally？〃　

〃His　father　was　a　parson；　I　believe。　Oh；　yes；　I　know　he　was。〃　

〃Ah；　then　these　are　Father's　books。　'Half…Hours　with　the　Infinite'　I　
must　order　that　from　the　library　when　I　get　back。　'The　Lost　Sheep；'　
'Jones　on　the　Trinity；'　'The　Epistles　of　St。　Paul　Explained'　Oh；　Bill；　we're　
amongst　it。　'The　Narrow　Way；　being　Sermons　by　the　Rev。　Theodore　
Ussher'　hal…LO！〃　

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　

〃William；　I　am　inspired。　Stand　by。〃　He　took　down　the　Reverend　
Theodore　Ussher's　classic　work；　looked　at　it　with　a　happy　smile　for　a　
moment；　and　then　gave　it　to　Bill。　

〃Here；　hold　Ussher　for　a　bit。〃　

Bill　took　the　book　obediently。　

〃No；　give　it　me　back。　Just　go　out　into　the　hall；　and　see　if　you　can　
hear　Cayley　anywhere。　Say　'Hallo'　loudly；　if　you　do。〃　

Bill　went　out　quickly；　listened；　and　came　back。　

〃It's　all　right。〃　

〃Good。〃　He　took　the　book　out　of　its　shelf　again。　〃Now　then；　you　can　

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hold　Ussher。　Hold　him　in　the　left　hand　so。　With　the　right　or　dexter　
hand；　grasp　this　shelf　firmly　so。　Now；　when　I　say　'Pull；'　pull　gradually。　
Got　that？〃　

Bill　nodded；　his　face　alight　with　excitement。　

〃Good。〃　Antony　put　his　hand　into　the　space　left　by　the　stout　Ussher；　
and　fingered　the　hack　of　the　shelf。　〃Pull；〃　he　said。　

Bill　pulled。　

〃Now　just　go　on　pulling　like　that。　I　shall　get　it　directly。　Not　hard；　
you　know；　but　just　keeping　up　the　strain。〃　

His　fingers　went　at　it　again　busily。　

And　then　suddenly　the　whole　row　of　shelves；　from　top　to　bottom；　
swung　gently　open　towards　them。　

〃Good　Lord！〃　said　Bill；　letting　go　of　the　shelf　in　his　amazement。　

Antony　pushed　the　shelves　back；　extracted　Ussher　from　Bill's　fingers；　
replaced　him；　and　then；　taking　Bill　by　the　arm；　led　him　to　the　sofa　and　
deposited　him　in　it。　Standing　in　front　of　him；　he　bowed　gravely。　

〃Child's　play；　Watson；〃　he　said；　〃child's　play。〃　

〃How　on　earth　〃　

Antony　laughed　happily　and　sat　down　on　the　sofa　beside　him。　

〃You　don't　really　want　it　explained；〃　he　said；　smacking　him　on　the　
knee；　〃you're　just　being　Watsonish。　It's　very　nice　of　you；　of　course；　and　I　
appreciate　it。〃　

〃No；　but　really；　Tony。〃　

〃Oh；　my　dear　Bill！〃　He　smoked　silently　for　a　little；　and　then　went　on；　
〃It's　what　I　was　saying　just　now　a　secret　is　a　secret　until　you　have　
discovered　it；　and　as　soon　as　you　have　discovered　it；　y