the red house mystery-第21章

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wondering　if　she　guessed　that　her　affairs　were　now　being　discussed　with　a　
stranger。　Yet　what　could　he　do？　What；　indeed；　did　he　want　to　do　except　
listen；　in　the　hope　of　learning？　Mark　engaged；　or　about　to　be　engaged！　
Had　that　any　bearing　on　the　events　of　yesterday？　What；　for　instance；　
would　Mrs。　Norbury　have　thought　of　brother　Robert；　that　family　skeleton？　
Was　this　another　reason　for　wanting　brother　Robert　out　of　the　way？　

〃I　never　liked　him；　never！〃　

〃Never　liked？〃　said　Antony；　bewildered。　

〃That　cousin　of　his　Mr。　Cayley。〃　

〃Oh！〃　

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〃I　ask　you；　Mr。　Gillingham；　am　I　the　sort　of　woman　to　trust　my　little　
girl　to　a　man　who　would　go　about　shooting　his　only　brother？〃　

〃I'm　sure　you　wouldn't；　Mrs。　Norbury。〃　

〃If　there　has　been　any　shooting　done；　it　has　been　done　by　somebody　
else。〃　

Antony　looked　at　her　inquiringly。　

〃I　never　liked　him；〃　said　Mrs。　Norbury　firmly。　〃Never。〃　However；　
thought　Antony　to　himself；　that　didn't　quite　prove　that　Cayley　was　a　
murderer。　

〃How　did　Miss　Norbury　get　on　with　him？〃　he　asked　cautiously。　

〃There　was　nothing　in　that　at　all；〃　said　Miss　Norbury's　mother　
emphatically。　〃Nothing。　I　would　say　so　to　anybody。〃　

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon。　I　never　meant　…〃　

〃Nothing。　I　can　say　that　for　dear　Angela　with　perfect　confidence。　
Whether　he　made　advances　…〃　She　broke　off　with　a　shrug　of　her　plump　
shoulders。　

Antony　waited　eagerly。　

〃Naturally　they　met。　Possibly　he　might　have　…　I　don't　know。　But　my　
duty　as　a　mother　was　clear；　Mr。　Gillingham。〃　

Mr。　Gillingham　made　an　encouraging　noise。　

〃I　told　him　quite　frankly　that　…　how　shall　I　put　it？　…　that　he　was　
trespassing。　Tactfully；　of　course。　But　frankly。〃　

〃You　mean；〃　said　Antony；　trying　to　speak　calmly；　〃that　you　told　him　
that　…　er　…　Mr。　Ablett　and　your　daughter　…？〃　

Mrs。　Norbury　nodded　several　times。　

〃Exactly；　Mr。　Gillingham。　I　had　my　duty　as　a　mother。〃　

〃I　am　sure；　Mrs。　Norbury；　that　nothing　would　keep　you　from　doing　
your　duty。　But　it　must　have　been　disagreeable。　Particularly　if　you　
weren't　quite　sure　〃　

〃He　was　attracted；　Mr。　Gillingham。　Obviously　attracted。〃　

〃Who　would　not　be？〃　said　Antony；　with　a　charming　smile。　〃It　must　
have　been　something　of　a　shock　to　him　to　…〃　

〃It　was　just　that　which　made　me　so　glad　that　I　had　spoken。　I　saw　at　
once　that　I　had　not　spoken　a　moment　too　soon。〃　

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〃There　must　have　been　a　certain　awkwardness　about　the　next　
meeting；〃　suggested　Antony。　

〃Naturally；　he　has　not　been　here　since。　No　doubt　they　would　have　
been　bound　to　meet　up　at　the　Red　House　sooner　or　later。〃　

〃Oh；　…　this　was　only　quite　lately？〃　

〃Last　week；　Mr。　Gillingham。　I　spoke　just　in　time。　

〃Ab！〃　said　Antony；　under　his　breath。　He　had　been　waiting　for　it。　

He　would　have　liked　now　to　have　gone　away；　so　that　he　might　have　
thought　over　the　new　situation　by　himself；　or；　perhaps　preferably；　to　have　
changed　partners　for　a　little　while　with　Bill。　Miss　Norbury　would　hardly　
be　ready　to　confide　in　a　stranger　with　the　readiness　of　a　mother；　but　he　
might　have　learnt　something　by　listening　to　her。　For　which　of　them　had　
she　the　greater　feeling　Cayley　or　Mark？　Was　she　really　prepared　to　
marry　Mark？　Did　she　love　him　or　the　other　…　or　neither？　Mrs。　Norbury　
was　only　a　trustworthy　witness　in　regard　to　her　own　actions　and　thoughts；　
he　had　learnt　all　that　was　necessary　of　those；　and　only　the　daughter　now　
had　anything　left　to　tell　him。　But　Mrs。　Norbury　was　still　talking。　

〃Girls　are　so　foolish；　Mr。　Gillingham；〃　she　was　saying。　〃It　is　
fortunate　that　they　have　mothers　to　guide　them。　It　was　so　obvious　to　me　
from　the　beginning　that　dear　Mr。　Ablett　was　just　the　husband　for　my　little　
girl。　You　never　knew　him？〃　

Antony　said　again　that　he　had　not　seen　Mr。　Ablett。　

〃Such　a　gentleman。　So　nice…looking；　in　his　artistic　way。　A　regular　
Velasquez　…　I　should　say　Van　Dyck。　Angela　would　have　it　that　she　could　
never　marry　a　man　with　a　beard。　As　if　that　mattered；　when　…〃　She　broke　
off；　and　Antony　finished　her　sentence　for　her。　

〃The　Red　House　is　certainly　charming；〃　he　said。　

〃Charming。　Quite　charming。　And　it　is　not　as　if　Mr。　Ablett's　
appearance　were　in　any　way　undistinguished。　Quite　the　contrary。　I'm　
sure　you　agree　with　me？〃　

Antony　said　that　he　had　never　had　the　pleasure　of　seeing　Mr。　Ablett。　

〃Yes。　And　quite　the　centre　of　the　literary　and　artistic　world。　So　
desirable　in　every　way。〃　

She　gave　a　deep　sigh；　and　communed　with　herself　for　a　little。　Antony　

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was；　about　to　snatch　the　opportunity　of　leaving；　when　Mrs。　Norbury　began　
again。　

〃And　then　there's　this　scapegrace　brother　of　his。　He　was　perfectly　
frank　with　me；　Mr。　Gillingham。　He　would　be。　He　told　me　of　this　
brother；　and　I　told　him　that　I　was　quite　certain　it　would　make　no　difference　
to　my　daughter's　feelings　for　him。。。。　After　all；　the　brother　was　in　
Australia。〃　

〃When　was　this？　Yesterday？〃　Antony　felt　that；　if　Mark　had　only　
mentioned　it　after　his　brother's　announcement　of　a　personal　call　at　the　Red　
House；　this　perfect　frankness　had　a　good　deal　of　wisdom　behind　it。　

〃It　couldn't　have　been　yesterday；　Mr。　Gillingham。　Yesterday　…〃　she　
shuddered；　and　shook　her　head。　

〃I　thought　perhaps　he　had　been　down　here　in　the　morning。〃　

〃Oh；　no！　There　is　such　a　thing；　Mr。　Gillingham；　as　being　too　devoted　
a　lover。　Not　in　the　morning；　no。　We　both　agreed　that　dear　Angela　
Oh；　no。　No；　the　day　before　yesterday；　when　he　happened　to　drop　in　
about　tea…time。〃　

It　occurred　to　Antony　that　Mrs。　Norbury　had　come　a　long　way　from　
her　opening　statement　that　Mark　and　Miss　Norbury　were　practically　
engaged。　She　was　now　admitting　that　dear　Angela　was　not　to　be　rushed；　
that　dear　Angela　had；　indeed；　no　heart　for　the　match　at　all。　

〃The　day　before　yesterday。　As　it　happened；　dear　Angela　was　out。　Not　
that　it　mattered。　He　was　driving　to　Middleston。　He　hardly　had　time　for　
a　cup　of　tea；　so　that　even　if　she　had　been　in　…〃　

Antony　nodded　absently。　This　was　something　new。　Why　did　Mark　
go　to　Middleston　the　day　before　yesterday？　But；　after　all；　why　shouldn't　
he？　A　hundred　reasons　unconnected　with　the　death　of　Robert　might　have　
taken　him　there。　

He　got　up　to　go。　He　wanted　to　be　alone　…　alone；　at　least；　with　Bill。　
Mrs。　Norbury　had　given　him　many　things　to　think　over；　but　the　great　
outstanding　fact　which　had　emerged　was　this：　that　Cayley　had　reason　to　
hate　Mark；　…　Mrs。　Norbury　had　given　him　that　reason。　To　hate？　Well；　to　
be　jealous；　anyhow。　But　that　was　enough。　

〃You　see；〃　he　said　to　Bill；　as　they　walked　back；　〃we　know　that　Cayley　

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is　perjuring　himself　and　risking　himself　over　this　business；　and　that　must　
be　for　one　of　two　reasons。　Either　to　save　Mark　or　to　endanger　him。　
That　is　to　say；　he　is　either　whole…heartedly　for　him　or　whole…heartedly　
against　him。　Well；　now　we　know　that　he　is　against　him；　definitely　
against　him。〃　

〃But；　I　say；　you　know；〃　protested　Bill；　〃one　doesn't　necessarily　try　to　
ruin　one's　rival　in　love。〃　

〃Doesn't　one？〃　said　Antony；　turning　to　him　with　a　smile。　

Bill　blushed。　

〃Well；　of　course；　one　never　knows；　but　I　mean　…〃　

〃You　mightn't　try　to　ruin　him；　Bill；　but　you　wouldn't　perjure　yourself　
in　order　to　get　him　out　of　a　trouble　of　his　own　making。〃　

〃Lord！　no。〃　

〃So　that　of　the　two　alternatives　the　other　is　the　more　likely。〃　

They　had　come　to　the　gate　into　the　last　field　which　divided　them　from　
the　road；　and　having　gone　through　it；　they　turned　round　and　leant　against　it；　
resting　for　a　moment；　and　looking　down　at　the　house　which　they　had　left。　

〃Jolly　little　place；　isn't　it？〃　said　Bill。　

〃Very。　But　rather　mysterious。〃　

〃In　what　way？〃　

〃Well；　where's　the　front　door？〃　

〃The　front　door？　Why；　you've　just　come　out　of　it。〃　

〃But　isn't　there　a　drive；　or　a　road　or　anything？〃　

Bill　laughed。　

〃No；　that's　the　beauty　of　it　to　some　people。　And　that's　why　it's　so　
cheap；　and　why　the　Norburys　can　afford　it；　I　expect。　They're　not　too　well　
off。〃　

〃But　what　about　luggage　and　tradesmen　and　that　kind　of　thing？〃　

〃Oh；　there's　a　cart…track；　but　motor…cars　can't　come　any　nearer　than　the　
road〃　he　turned　round　and　pointed　〃up　there。　So　the　week…end　
millionaire　people　don't　take　it。　At　least；　they'd　have　to　build　a　road　and　a　
garage　and　all　the　rest　of　it；　if　they　did。〃　

〃I　see；〃　said　Antony　carelessly；　and　they　turned　round　and　continued　
their　walk　up　to　the　road。　But　later　on　he　remembered　this　casual　

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conversation　at　the　gate；　and　saw　the　importance　of　it。


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CHAPTER　XVI　

Getting　Ready　for　the　Night　

What　was　it　which　Cayley　was　going　to　hide　in　that　pond　that　night？　
Antony　thought　that　he　knew　now。　It　was　Mark's　body。　

》From　the　beginning　he　had　seen　this　answer　coming　and　had　drawn　
back　from　it。　For；　if　Mark　had　been　killed；　it　seemed　such　a　cold…blooded　
killing。　Was　Cayley　equal　to　it？　Bill　would　have　said　〃No；〃　but　that　
was　because　he　had　had　breakfast　with　Cayley；　and　lunch　with　him；　and　
dinner　with　him；　had　ragged　him　and　played　games　with　him。　Bill　would　
have　said　〃No；〃　because　Bill　wouldn't　have　killed　anybody　in　cold　blood　
himself；　and　because　he　took　it　for　granted　that　other　people　behaved　
pretty　much　as　he　did。　But　Antony　had　no　such　illusions。　Murders　were　
done；　murder　had　actually　been　done　here；　for　there　was　Robert's　dead　
body。　Why　not　another　murder？　

Had　Mark　been　in　the　office　at　all　that　afternoon？　The　only　evidence　
（other　than　Cayley's；　which　obviously　did　not　count）　was　Elsie's。　Elsie　
was　quite　certain　that　she　had　heard　his　voice。　But　then　Bill　had　said　that　
it　was　a　very　characteristic　voice　…　an　easy　voice；　therefore；　to　imitate。　If　
Bill　could　imitate　it　so　successfully；　why　not　Cayley？　

But　perhaps　it　had　not　been　such　a　cold…blooded　killing；　after　all。　
Suppose　Cayley　had　had　a　quarrel　with　his　cousin　that　afternoon　over　the　
girl　whom　they　were　both　wooing。　Suppose　Cayley　had　killed　Mark；　
either　purposely；　in　sudden　passion；　or　accidentally；　meaning　only　to　
knock　him　down。　Suppose　that　this　had　happened　in　the　passage；　say　
about　two　o'clock；　either　because　Cayley　had　deliberately　led　him　there；　or　
because　Mark　had　casually　suggested　a　visit　to　it。　（One　could　imagine　
Mark　continually　gloating　over　that　secret　passage。）　Suppose　Cayley　there；　
with　the　body　at　his　feet；　feeling　already　the　rope　round　his　neck；　his　mind　
darting　this　way　and　that　in　frantic　search　for　a　way　of　escape；　and　
suppose　that　suddenly　and　irrelevantly　he　remembers　that　Robert　is　
coming　to　the　house　at　three　o'clock　that　afternoon　…　automatically　he　
looks　at　his　watch　…in　half　an　hour's　time。。。。　In　half　an　hour's　time。　He　
must　think　of　something　quickly；　quickly。　Shall　he　bury　the　body　in　the　

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passage　and　let　it　be　thought　that　Mark　ran　away；　frightened　at　the　mere　
thought　of　his　brother's　arrival？　But　there　was　the　evidence　of　the　
breakfast　table。　Mark　had　seemed　annoyed　at　this　resurrection　of　the　
black　sheep；　but　certainly　not　frightened。　No；　that　was　much　too　thin　a　
st