the red house mystery-第2章

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couldn't　find　anywhere　else　for　their　game；　but　the　offenders　were　never　
asked　to　The　Red　House　again。　

Audrey　walked　slowly　up　to　the　Temple；　looked　in　and　walked　slowly　
back。　All　that　walk　for　nothing。　Perhaps　the　master　was　upstairs　in　his　
room。　〃Not　well…dressed　enough　for　the　drawing…room。〃　Well；　now；　
Auntie；　would　you　like　anyone　in　your　drawing…room　with　a　red　
handkerchief　round　his　neck　and　great　big　dusty　boots；　and　…　listen！　One　of　
the　men　shooting　rabbits。　Auntie　was　partial　to　a　nice　rabbit；　and　onion　
sauce。　How　hot　it　was；　she　wouldn't　say　no　to　a　cup　of　tea。　Well；　one　
thing；　Mr。　Robert　wasn't　staying　the　night；　he　hadn't　any　luggage。　Of　
course　Mr。　Mark　could　lend　him　things；　he　had　clothes　enough　for　six。　
She　would　have　known　him　anywhere　for　Mr。　Mark's　brother。　

She　came　into　the　house。　As　she　passed　the　housekeeper's　room　on　
her　way　to　the　hall；　the　door　opened　suddenly；　and　a　rather　frightened　face　
looked　out。　

〃Hallo；　Aud；〃　said　Elsie。　〃It's　Audrey；〃　she　said；　turning　into　the　
room。　

〃Come　in；　Audrey；〃　called　Mrs。　Stevens。　

〃What's　up？〃　said　Audrey；　looking　in　at　the　door。　

〃Oh；　my　dear；　you　gave　me　such　a　turn。　Where　have　you　been？〃　

〃Up　to　the　Temple。〃　

〃Did　you　hear　anything？〃　

〃Hear　what？〃　

〃Bangs　and　explosions　and　terrible　things。〃　

〃Oh！〃　said　Audrey；　rather　relieved。　〃One　of　the　men　shooting　rabbits。　
Why；　I　said　to　myself　as　I　came　along；　'Auntie's　partial　to　a　nice　rabbit；'　I　
said；　and　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　if　…〃　

〃Rabbits！〃　said　her　aunt　scornfully。　〃It　was　inside　the　house；　my　
girl。〃　

〃Straight　it　was；〃　said　Elsie。　She　was　one　of　the　housemaids。　〃I　
said　to　Mrs。　Stevens　…　didn't　I；　Mrs。　Stevens？　…　'That　was　in　the　house；'　I　
said。〃　

Audrey　looked　at　her　aunt　and　then　at　Elsie。　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

〃Do　you　think　he　had　a　revolver　with　him？〃　she　said　in　a　hushed　voice。　

〃Who？〃　said　Elsie　excitedly。　

〃That　brother　of　his。　From　Australia。　I　said　as　soon　as　I　set　eyes　on　
him；　'You're　a　bad　lot；　my　man！'　That's　what　I　said；　Elsie。　Even　before　he　
spoke　to　me。　Rude！〃　She　turned　to　her　aunt。　〃Well；　I　give　you　my　
word。〃　

〃If　you　remember；　Audrey；　I　always　said　there　was　no　saying　with　
anyone　from　Australia。〃　Mrs。　Stevens　lay　back　in　her　chair；　breathing　
rather　rapidly。　〃I　wouldn't　go　out　of　this　room　now；　not　if　you　paid　me　a　
hundred　thousand　pounds。〃。　

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Stevens！〃　said　Elsie；　who　badly　wanted　five　shillings　for　a　
new　pair　of　shoes；　〃I　wouldn't　go　as　far　as　that；　not　myself；　but　…〃　

〃There！〃　cried　Mrs。　Stevens；　sitting　up　with　a　start。　They　listened　
anxiously；　the　two　girls　instinctively　coming　closer　to　the　older　woman's　
chair。　

A　door　was　being　shaken；　kicked；　rattled。　

〃Listen！〃　

Audrey　and　Elsie　looked　at　each　other　with　frightened　eyes。　

They　heard　a　man's　voice；　loud；　angry。　

〃Open　the　door！〃　it　was　shouting。　〃Open　the　door！　I　say；　open　the　
door！〃　

〃Don't　open　the　door！〃　cried　Mrs。　Stevens　in　a　panic；　as　if　it　was　her　
door　which　was　threatened。　〃Audrey！　Elsie！　Don't　let　him　in！〃　

〃Damn　it；　open　the　door！〃　came　the　voice　again。　

〃We're　all　going　to　be　murdered　in　our　beds；〃　she　quavered。　Terrified；　
the　two　girls　huddled　closer；　and　with　an　arm　round　each；　Mrs。　Stevens　sat　
there；　waiting。　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

CHAPTER　II　

Mr。　Gillingham　Gets　Out　at　the　Wrong　Station　

Whether　Mark　Ablett　was　a　bore　or　not　depended　on　the　point　of　
view；　but　it　may　be　said　at　once　that　he　never　bored　his　company　on　the　
subject　of　his　early　life。　However；　stories　get　about。　There　is　always　
somebody　who　knows。　It　was　understood　…　and　this；　anyhow；　on　Mark's　
own　authority　…　that　his　father　had　been　a　country　clergyman。　It　was　said　
that；　as　a　boy；　Mark　had　attracted　the　notice；　and　patronage；　of　some　rich　
old　spinster　of　the　neighbourhood；　who　had　paid　for　his　education；　both　at　
school　and　university。　At　about　the　time　when　he　was　coming　down　from　
Cambridge；　his　father　had　died；　leaving　behind　him　a　few　debts；　as　a　
warning　to　his　family；　and　a　reputation　for　short　sermons；　as　an　example　to　
his　successor。　Neither　warning　nor　example　seems　to　have　been　effective。　
Mark　went　to　London；　with　an　allowance　from　his　patron；　and　（it　is　
generally　agreed）　made　acquaintance　with　the　money…lenders。　He　was　
supposed；　by　his　patron　and　any　others　who　inquired；　to　be　〃writing〃；　but　
what　he　wrote；　other　than　letters　asking　for　more　time　to　pay；　has　never　
been　discovered。　However；　he　attended　the　theatres　and　music　halls　very　
regularly　…　no　doubt　with　a　view　to　some　serious　articles　in　the　〃Spectator〃　
on　the　decadence　of　the　English　stage。　

Fortunately　（from　Mark's　point　of　view）　his　patron　died　during　his　
third　year　in　London；　and　left　him　all　the　money　he　wanted。　From　that　
moment　his　life　loses　its　legendary　character；　and　becomes　more　a　matter　
of　history。　He　settled　accounts　with　the　money…lenders；　abandoned　his　
crop　of　wild　oats　to　the　harvesting　of　others；　and　became　in　his　turn　a　
patron。　He　patronized　the　Arts。　It　was　not　only　usurers　who　discovered　
that　Mark　Ablett　no　longer　wrote　for　money；　editors　were　now　offered　free　
contributions　as　well　as　free　lunches；　publishers　were　given　agreements　
for　an　occasional　slender　volume；　in　which　the　author　paid　all　expenses　
and　waived　all　royalties；　promising　young　painters　and　poets　dined　with　
him；　and　he　even　took　a　theatrical　company　on　tour；　playing　host　and　
〃lead〃　with　equal　lavishness。　

He　was　not　what　most　people　call　a　snob。　A　snob　has　been　defined　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

carelessly　as　a　man　who　loves　a　lord；　and；　more　carefully；　as　a　mean　lover　
of　mean　things　…　which　would　be　a　little　unkind　to　the　peerage　if　the　first　
definition　were　true。　Mark　had　his　vanities　undoubtedly；　but　he　would　
sooner　have　met　an　actor…manager　than　an　earl；　he　would　have　spoken　of　
his　friendship　with　Dante　…　had　that　been　possible　…　more　glibly　than　of　his　
friendship　with　the　Duke。　Call　him　a　snob　if　you　like；　but　not　the　worst　
kind　of　snob；　a　hanger…on；　but　to　the　skirts　of　Art；　not　Society；　a　climber；　
but　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Parnassus；　not　Hay　Hill。　

His　patronage　did　not　stop　at　the　Arts。　It　also　included　Matthew　
Cayley；　a　small　cousin　of　thirteen；　whose　circumstances　were　as　limited　as　
had　been　Mark's　own　before　his　patron　had　rescued　him。　He　sent　the　
Cayley　cousin　to　school　and　Cambridge。　His　motives；　no　doubt；　were　
unworldly　enough　at　first；　a　mere　repaying　to　his　account　in　the　Recording　
Angel's　book　of　the　generosity　which　had　been　lavished　on　himself；　a　
laying…up　of　treasure　in　heaven。　But　it　is　probable　that；　as　the　boy　grew　
up；　Mark's　designs　for　his　future　were　based　on　his　own　interests　as　much　
as　those　of　his　cousin；　and　that　a　suitably　educated　Matthew　Cayley　of　
twenty…three　was　felt　by　him　to　be　a　useful　property　for　a　man　in　his　
position；　a　man；　that　is　to　say；　whose　vanities　left　him　so　little　time　for　his　
affairs。　

Cayley；　then；　at　twenty…three；　looked　after　his　cousin's　affairs。　By　this　
time　Mark　had　bought　The　Red　House　and　the　considerable　amount　of　
land　which　went　with　it。　Cayley　superintended　the　necessary　staff。　His　
duties；　indeed；　were　many。　He　was　not　quite　secretary；　not　quite　land…
agent；　not　quite　business…adviser；　not　quite　companion；　but　something　of　
all　four。　Mark　leant　upon　him　and　called　him　〃Cay；〃　objecting　quite　
rightly　in　the　circumstances　to　the　name　of　Matthew。　Cay；　he　felt　was；　
above　all；　dependable；　a　big；　heavy…jawed；　solid　fellow；　who　didn't　bother　
you　with　unnecessary　talk　…　a　boon　to　a　man　who　liked　to　do　most　of　the　
talking　himself。　

Cayley　was　now　twenty…eight；　but　had　all　the　appearance　of　forty；　
which　was　his　patron's　age。　Spasmodically　they　entertained　a　good　deal　
at　The　Red　House；　and　Mark's　preference　…　call　it　kindliness　or　vanity；　as　
you　please　…　was　for　guests　who　were　not　in　a　position　to　repay　his　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

hospitality。　Let　us　have　a　look　at　them　as　they　came　down　to　that　
breakfast；　of　which　Stevens；　the　parlourmaid；　has　already　given　us　a　
glimpse。　

The　first　to　appear　was　Major　Rumbold；　a　tall；　grey…haired；　grey…
moustached；　silent　man；　wearing　a　Norfolk　coat　and　grey　flannel　trousers；　
who　lived　on　his　retired　pay　and　wrote　natural　history　articles　for　the　
papers。　He　inspected　the　dishes　on　the　side…table；　decided　carefully　on　
kedgeree；　and　got　to　work　on　it。　He　had　passed　on　to　a　sausage　by　the　
time　of　the　next　arrival。　This　was　Bill　Beverly；　a　cheerful　young　man　in　
white　flannel　trousers　and　a　blazer。　

〃Hallo；　Major；〃　he　said　as　he　came　in；　〃how's　the　gout？〃　

〃It　isn't　gout；〃　said　the　Major　gruffly。　

〃Well；　whatever　it　is。〃　

The　Major　grunted。　

〃I　make　a　point　of　being　polite　at　breakfast；〃　said　Bill；　helping　himself　
largely　to　porridge。　〃Most　people　are　so　rude。　That's　why　I　asked　you。　
But　don't　tell　me　if　it's　a　secret。　Coffee？〃　he　added；　as　he　poured　himself　
out　a　cup。　

〃No；　thanks。　I　never　drink　till　I've　finished　eating。〃　

〃Quite　right；　Major；　it's　only　manners。〃　He　sat　down　opposite　to　the　
other。　〃Well；　we've　got　a　good　day　for　our　game。　It's　going　to　be　
dashed　hot；　but　that's　where　Betty　and　I　score。　On　the　fifth　green；　your　
old　wound；　the　one　you　got　in　that　frontier　skirmish　in　'43；　will　begin　to　
trouble　you；　on　the　eighth；　your　liver；　undermined　by　years　of　curry；　will　
drop　to　pieces；　on　the　twelfth…〃　

〃Oh；　shut　up；　you　ass！〃　

〃Well；　I'm　only　warning　you。　Hallo；　good　morning；　Miss　Norris。　I　
was　just　telling　the　Major　what　was　going　to　happen　to　you　and　him　this　
morning。　Do　you　want　any　assistance；　or　do　you　prefer　choosing　your　
own　breakfast？〃　

〃Please　don't　get　up；〃　said　Miss　Norris。　〃I'll　help　myself。　Good　
morning；　Major。〃　She　smiled　pleasantly　at　him。　The　Major　nodded。　

〃Good　morning。　Going　to　be　hot。〃　

〃As　I　was　telling　him；〃　began　Bill；　〃that's　where…　Hallo；　here's　Betty。　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

Morning；　Cayley。〃　

Betty　Calladine　and　Cayley　had　come　in　together。　Betty　was　the　
eighteen…year…old　daughter　of　Mrs。　John　Calladine；　widow　of　the　painter；　
who　was　acting　hostess　on　this　occasion　for　Mark。　Ruth　Norris　took　
herself　seriously　as　an　actress　and；　on　her　holidays；　seriously　as　a　golfer。　
She　was　quite　competent　as　either。　Neither　the　Stage　Society　nor　
Sandwich　had　any　terrors　for　her。　

〃By　the　way；　the　car　will　be　round　at　10。30；〃　said　Cayley；　looking　up　
from　his　letters。　〃You're　lunching　there；　and　driving　back　directly　
afterwards。　Isn't　that　right？〃　

〃I　don't　see　why　we　shouldn't　have　…　two　rounds；〃　said　Bill　hopefully。　

〃Much　too　hot　in　the　afternoon；〃　said　the　Major。　〃Get　back　
comfortably　for　tea。〃　

Mark　came　in。　He　was　generally　the　last。　He　greeted　them　and　sat　
down　to　toast　and　tea。　Breakfast　was　not　his　meal。　The　others　chattered　
gently　while　he　read　his　letters。　

〃Good　God！〃　said　Mark　suddenly。　

There　was　an　instinctive　turning　of　heads　towards　him。　〃I　beg　your　
pardon；　Miss　Norris。　Sorry；　Betty。〃　

Miss　Norris　smiled　her　forgiveness。　She　often　wanted　to　say　it　
herself；　particularly　at　rehearsals。　

〃I　say；　Cay！〃　He　was　frowning　to　himself　…