the red house mystery-第20章

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must　have　had　rather　an　exciting　time。〃　

〃Exciting？　Good　lord；　I　should　think　it　was。〃　

〃Tell　me　about　it。〃　

As　modestly　as　possible；　Mr。　Beverley　explained　his　qualifications　for　
a　life　on　the　stage。　

〃Good　man；〃　said　Antony　at　the　end　of　it。　〃You　are　the　most　perfect　
Watson　that　ever　lived。　Bill；　my　lad；〃　he　went　on　dramatically；　rising　and　
taking　Bill's　hand　in　both　of　his；　〃There　is　nothing　that　you　and　I　could　not　

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accomplish　together；　if　we　gave　our　minds　to　it。〃　

〃Silly　old　ass。〃　

〃That's　what　you　always　say　when　I'm　being　serious。　Well；　anyway；　
thanks　awfully。　You　really　saved　us　this　time。〃　

〃Were　you　coming　back？〃　

〃Yes。　At　least　I　think　I　was。　I　was　just　wondering　when　I　heard　you　
tapping。　The　fact　of　the　door　being　shut　was　rather　surprising。　Of　course　
the　whole　idea　was　to　see　if　it　could　be　opened　easily　from　the　other　side；　
but　I　felt　somehow　that　you　wouldn't　shut　it　until　the　last　possible　moment　

…　until　you　saw　me　coming　back。　Well；　hen　I　heard　the　taps；　and　I　knew　
it　must　mean　something；　so　I　sat　tight。　Then　when　C　began　to　come　
along　I　said；　'Cayley；　b'Jove'　…　bright；　aren't　I？　…　and　I　simply　hared　to　
the　other　end　of　the　passage　for　all　I　was　worth。　And　hared　back　again。　
Because　I　thought　you　might　be　getting　rather　involved　in　explanations　
about　where　I　was；　and　so　on。〃　
〃You　didn't　see　Mark；　then？〃　

〃No。　Nor　his　No；　I　didn't　see　anything。〃　

〃Nor　what？〃　

Antony　was　silent　for　a　moment。　

〃I　didn't　see　anything；　Bill。　Or　rather；　I　did　see　something；　I　saw　a　
door　in　the　wall；　a　cupboard。　And　it's　locked。　So　if　there's　anything　we　
want　to　find；　that's　where　it　is。〃　

〃Could　Mark　be　hiding　there？〃　

〃I　called　through　the　keyhole　in　a　whisper　'Mark；　are　you　there？'　he　
would　have　thought　it　was　Cayley。　There　was　no　answer。　

〃Well；　let's　go　down　and　try　again。　We　might　be　able　to　get　the　door　
open。〃　

Antony　shook　his　head。　

〃Aren't　I　going　at　all？〃　said　Bill　in　great　disappointment。　

When　Antony　spoke；　it　was　to　ask　another　question：　

〃Can　Cayley　drive　a　car？〃　

〃Yes；　of　course。　Why？〃　

〃Then　he　might　easily　drop　the　chauffeur　at　his　lodge　and　go　off　to　

Stanton；　or　wherever　he　wanted　to；　on　his　own？〃　

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〃I　suppose　so　if　he　wanted　to。〃　

〃Yes。〃　Antony　got　up。　〃Well；　look　here；　as　we　said　we　were　going　
into　the　village；　and　as　we　promised　to　leave　that　letter；　I　almost　think　we'd　
better　do　it。〃　

〃Oh！。。。。　Oh；　very　well。〃　

〃Jallands。　What　were　you　telling　me　about　that？　Oh；　yes；　the　
Widow　Norbury。〃　

〃That's　right。　Cayley　used　to　be　rather　keen　on　the　daughter。　The　
letter's　for　her。〃　

〃Yes；　well；　let's　take　it。　Just　to　be　on　the　safe　side。〃　〃Am　I　going　to　
be　done　out　of　that　secret　passage　altogether？〃　asked　Bill　fretfully。　

〃There's　nothing　to　see；　really；　I　promise　you。〃　

〃You're　very　mysterious。　What's　upset　you？　You　did　see　something　
down　there；　I'm　certain　of　it。〃　

〃I　did　and　I've　told　you　about　it。〃　

〃No；　you　haven't。　You　only　told　me　about　the　door　in　the　wall。〃　

〃That's　it；　Bill。　And　it's　locked。　And　I'm　frightened　of　what's　behind　
it。〃　

〃But　then　we　shall　never　know　what's　there　if　we　aren't　going　to　look。〃　

〃We　shall　know　to…night；〃　said　Antony；　taking　Bill's　arm　and　leading　
him　to　the　hall；　〃when　we　watch　our　dear　friend　Cayley　dropping　it　into　
the　pond。〃　

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CHAPTER　XV　

Mrs。　Norbury　Confides　in　Dear　Mr。　Gillingham　

They　left　the　road；　and　took　the　path　across　the　fields　which　sloped　
gently　downwards　towards　Jallands。　Antony　was　silent；　and　since　it　is　
difficult　to　keep　up　a　conversation　with　a　silent　man　for　any　length　of　time；　
Bill　had　dropped　into　silence　too。　Or　rather；　he　hummed　to　himself；　hit　at　
thistles　in　the　grass　with　his　stick　and　made　uncomfortable　noises　with　his　
pipe。　But　he　noticed　that　his　companion　kept　looking　back　over　his　
shoulder；　almost　as　if　he　wanted　to　remember　for　a　future　occasion　the　
way　by　which　they　were　coming。　Yet　there　was　no　difficulty　about　it；　for　
they　remained　all　the　time　in　view　of　the　road；　and　the　belt　of　trees　above　
the　long　park　wall　which　bordered　its　further　side　stood　out　clearly　against　
the　sky。　

Antony；　who　had　just　looked　round　again；　turned　back　with　a　smile。　

〃What's　the　joke？〃　said　Bill；　glad　of　the　more　social　atmosphere。　

〃Cayley。　Didn't　you　see？〃　

〃See　what？〃　

〃The　car。　Going　past　on　the　road　there：〃　

〃So　that's　what　you　were　looking　for。　You've　got　jolly　good　eyes；　my　
boy；　if　you　recognize　the　car　at　this　distance　after　only　seeing　it　twice。　

〃Well；　I　have　got　jolly　good　eyes。　

〃I　thought　he　was　going　to　Stanton。〃　

〃He　hoped　you'd　think　so　obviously。〃　

〃Then　where　is　he　going？〃　

〃The　library；　probably。　To　consult　our　friend　Ussher。　After　making　
quite　sure　that　his　friends　Beverley　and　Gillingham　really　were　going　to　
Jallands；　as　they　said。〃　

Bill　stopped　suddenly　in　the　middle　of　the　path。　

〃I　say；　do　you　think　so？〃　

Antony　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃I　shouldn't　be　surprised。　We　must　be　devilishly　inconvenient　for　
him；　hanging　about　the　house。　Any　moment　he　can　get；　when　we're　
definitely　somewhere　else；　must　be　very　useful　to　him。〃　

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〃Useful　for　what？〃　

〃Well；　useful　for　his　nerves；　if　for　nothing　else。　We　know　he's　mixed　
up　in　this　business；　we　know　he's　hiding　a　secret　or　two。　Even　if　he　doesn't　
suspect　that　we're　on　his　tracks；　he　must　feel　that　at　any　moment　we　might　
stumble　on　something。〃　

Bill　gave　a　grunt　of　assent；　and　they　went　slowly　on　again。　

〃What　about　to…night？〃　he　said；　after　a　lengthy　blow　at　his　pipe。　

〃Try　a　piece　of　grass；〃　said　Antony；　offering　it　to　him。　Bill　pushed　it　
through　the　mouthpiece；　blew　again；　said；　〃That's　better；〃　and　returned　the　
pipe　to　his　pocket。　

〃How　are　we　going　to　get　out　without　Cayley　knowing？〃　

〃Well；　that　wants　thinking　over。　It's　going　to　be　difficult。　I　wish　we　
were　sleeping　at　the　inn。。。。　Is　this　Miss　Norbury；　by　any　chance？〃　

Bill　looked　up　quickly。　They　were　close　to　Jallands　now；　an　old　
thatched　farmhouse　which；　after　centuries　of　sleep；　had　woken　up　to　a　new　
world；　and　had　forthwith　sprouted　wings；　wings；　however；　of　so　discreet　a　
growth　that　they　had　not　brought　with　them　any　obvious　change　of　
character；　and　Jallands　even　with　a　bathroom　was　still　Jallands。　To　the　
outward　view；　at　any　rate。　Inside；　it　was　more　clearly　Mrs。　Norbury's。　

〃Yes　Angela　Norbury；〃　murmured　Bill。　〃Not　bad…looking；　is　she？〃　

The　girl　who　stood　by　the　little　white　gate　of　Jallands　was　something　
more　than　〃not　bad…looking；〃　but　in　this　matter　Bill　was　keeping　his　
superlatives　for　another。　In　Bill's　eyes　she　must　be　judged；　and　
condemned；　by　all　that　distinguished　her　from　Betty　Calladine。　To　
Antony；　unhampered　by　these　standards　of　comparison；　she　seemed；　quite　
simply；　beautiful。　

〃Cayley　asked　us　to　bring　a　letter　along；〃　explained　Bill；　when　the　
necessary　handshakings　and　introductions　were　over。　〃Here　you　are。〃　

〃You　will　tell　him；　won't　you；　how　dreadfully　sorry　I　am　about　what　
has　happened？　It　seems　so　hopeless　to　say　anything；　so　hopeless　even　to　
believe　it。　If　it　is　true　what　we've　heard。〃　

Bill　repeated　the　outline　of　events　of　yesterday。　

〃Yes。。。。　And　Mr。　Ablett　hasn't　been　found　yet？〃　

She　shook　her　head　in　distress。　〃It　still　seems　to　have　happened　to　

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somebody　else；　somebody　we　didn't　know　at　all。〃　Then；　with　a　sudden　
grave　smile　which　included　both　of　them；　〃But　you　must　come　and　have　
some　tea。〃　

〃It's　awfully　decent　of　you；〃　said　Bill　awkwardly；　〃but　we　…　er　…〃　

〃You　will；　won't　you？〃　she　said　to　Antony。　

〃Thank　you　very　much。〃　

Mrs。　Norbury　was　delighted　to　see　them；　as　she　always　was　to　see　any　
man　in　her　house　who　came　up　to　the　necessary　standard　of　eligibility。　
When　her　life…work　was　completed；　and　summed　up　in　those　beautiful　
words：　〃A　marriage　has　been　arranged；　and　will　shortly　take　place；　
between　Angela；　daughter　of　the　late　John　Norbury。。。。　then　she　would　utter　
a　grateful　Nunc　dimittis　and　depart　in　peace　to　a　better　world；　if　Heaven　
insisted；　but　preferably　to　her　new　son…in…law's　more　dignified　
establishment。　For　there　was　no　doubt　that　eligibility　meant　not　only　
eligibility　as　a　husband。　

But　it　was　not　as　〃eligibles〃　that　the　visitors　from　the　Red　House　were　
received　with　such　eagerness　to…day；　and　even　if　her　special　smile　for　
〃possibles〃　was　there；　it　was　instinctive　rather　than　reasoned。　All　that　she　
wanted　at　this　moment　was　news　…　news　of　Mark。　For　she　was　bringing　
it　off　at　last；　and；　if　the　engagement　columns　of　the　〃Morning　Post〃　were　
preceded；　as　in　the　case　of　its　obituary　columns；　by　a　premonitory　bulletin；　
the　announcement　of　yesterday　would　have　cried　triumphantly　to　the　
world；　or　to　such　part　of　the　world　as　mattered：　〃A　marriage　has　very　
nearly　been　arranged　（by　Mrs。　Norbury）；　and　will　certainly　take　place；　
between　Angela；　only　daughter　of　the　late　John　Norbury；　and　…　Mark　
Ablett　of　the　Red　House。〃　And；　coming　across　it　on　his　way　to　the　
sporting　page；　Bill　would　have　been　surprised。　For　he　had　thought　that；　
if　anybody；　it　was　Cayley。　

To　the　girl　it　was　neither。　She　was　often　amused　by　her　mother's　
ways；　sometimes　ashamed　of　them；　sometimes　distressed　by　them。　The　
Mark　Ablett　affair　had　seemed　to　her　particularly　distressing；　for　Mark　
was　so　obviously　in　league　with　her　mother　against　her。　Other　suitors；　
upon　whom　her　mother　had　smiled；　had　been　embarrassed　by　that　
championship；　Mark　appeared　to　depend　on　it　as　much　as　on　his　own　

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attractions；　great　though　he　thought　these　to　be。　They　went　a…wooing　
together。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　turn　to　Cayley；　that　hopeless　ineligible。　

But　alas！　Cayley　had　misunderstood　her。　She　could　not　imagine　
Cayley　in　love　until　she　saw　it；　and　tried；　too　late；　to　stop　it。　That　was　four　
days　ago。　She　had　not　seen　him　since；　and　now　here　was　this　letter。　
She　dreaded　opening　it。　It　was　a　relief　to　feel　that　at　least　she　had　an　
excuse　for　not　doing　so　while　her　guests　were　in　the　house。　

Mrs。　Norbury　recognized　at　once　that　Antony　was　likely　to　be　the　
more　sympathetic　listener；　and　when　tea　was　over；　and　Bill　and　Angela　
had　been　dispatched　to　the　garden　with　the　promptness　and　efficiency　of　
the　expert；　dear　Mr。　Gillingham　found　himself　on　the　sofa　beside　her；　
listening　to　many　things　which　were　of　even　greater　interest　to　him　than　
she　could　possibly　have　hoped。　

〃It　is　terrible；　terrible；〃　she　said。　〃And　to　suggest　that　dear　Mr。　Ablett　
…〃　

Antony　made　suitable　noises。　

〃You've　seen　Mr。　Ablett　for　yourself。　A　kinder；　more　warmhearted　
man　…〃　

Antony　explained　that　he　had　not　seen　Mr。　Ablett。　

〃Of　course；　yes；　I　was　forgetting。　But；　believe　me；　Mr。　Gillingham；　
you　can　trust　a　woman's　intuition　in　these　matters。〃　

Antony　said　that　he　was　sure　of　this。　

〃Think　of　my　feelings　as　a　mother。〃　

Antony　was　thinking　of　Miss　Norbury's　feelings　as　a　daughter；　and　
wondering　if　she　guessed　that　her　affairs　were　now　being　discus