the red house mystery-第22章

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black　sheep；　but　certainly　not　frightened。　No；　that　was　much　too　thin　a　
story。　But　suppose　Mark　had　actually　seen　his　brother　and　had　a　quarrel　
with　him；　suppose　it　could　be　made　to　look　as　if　Robert　had　killed　Mark　…

Antony　pictured　to　himself　Cayley　in　the　passage；　standing　over　the　
dead　body　of　his　cousin；　and　working　it　out。　How　could　Robert　be　made　
to　seem　the　murderer；　if　Robert　were　alive　to　deny　it？　But　suppose　
Robert　were　dead；　too？　

He　looks　at　his　watch　again。　（Only　twenty…five　minutes　now。）　
Suppose　Robert　were　dead；　too？　Robert　dead　in　the　office；　and　Mark　
dead　in　the　passage　how　does　that　help？　Madness！　But　if　the　bodies　
were　brought　together　somehow　and　Robert's　death　looked　like　suicide？。。。。　
Was　it　possible？　

Madness　again。　Too　difficult。　（Only　twenty　minutes　now。）　Too　
difficult　to　arrange　in　twenty　minutes。　Can't　arrange　a　suicide。　Too　
difficult。。。。　Only　nineteen　minutes。。。。　

And　then　the　sudden　inspiration！　Robert　dead　in　the　office；　Mark's　
body　hidden　in　the　passage　…　impossible　to　make　Robert　seem　the　
murderer；　but　how　easy　to　make　Mark！　Robert　dead　and　Mark　missing；　
why；　it　jumped　to　the　eye　at　once。　Mark　had　killed　Robert　…　accidentally；　
yes；　that　would　be　more　likely　…　and　then　had　run　away。　Sudden　panic。。。。　
（He　looks　at　his　watch　again。　Fifteen　minutes；　but　plenty　of　time　now。　
The　thing　arranges　itself。）　

Was　that　the　solution；　Antony　wondered。　It　seemed　to　fit　in　with　the　
facts　as　they　knew　them；　but　then；　so　did　that　other　theory　which　he　had　
suggested　to　Bill　in　the　morning。　

〃Which　one？〃　said　Bill。　

They　had　come　back　from　Jallands　through　the　park　and　were　sitting　
in　the　copse　above　the　pond；　from　which　the　Inspector　and　his　fishermen　
had　now　withdrawn。　Bill　had　listened　with　open　mouth　to　Antony's　
theory；　and　save　for　an　occasional　〃By　Jove！〃　had　listened　in　silence。　
〃Smart　man；　Cayley；〃　had　been　his　only　comment　at　the　end。　

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〃Which　other　theory？〃　

〃That　Mark　had　killed　Robert　accidentally　and　had　gone　to　Cayley　for　
help；　and　that　Cayley；　having　hidden　him　in　the　passage；　locked　the　office　
door　from　the　outside　and　hammered　on　it。〃　

〃Yes；　but　you　were　so　dashed　mysterious　about　that。　I　asked　you　
what　the　point　of　it　was；　and　you　wouldn't　say　anything。〃　He　thought　for　
a　little；　and　then　went　on；　〃I　suppose　you　meant　that　Cayley　deliberately　
betrayed　Mark；　and　tried　to　make　him　look　like　a　murderer？〃　

〃I　wanted　to　warn　you　that　we　should　probably　find　Mark　in　the　
passage；　alive　or　dead。〃　

〃And　now　you　don't　think　so？〃　

〃Now　I　think　that　his　dead　body　is　there。〃　

〃Meaning　that　Cayley　went　down　and　killed　him　afterwards　after　you　
had　come；　after　the　police　had　come？〃　

〃Well；　that's　what　I　shrink　from；　Bill。　It's　so　horribly　cold…blooded。　
Cayley　may　be　capable　of　it；　but　I　hate　to　think　of　it。〃　

〃But；　dash　it　all；　your　other　way　is　cold…blooded　enough。　According　
to　you；　he　goes　up　to　the　office　and　deliberately　shoots　a　man　with　whom　
he　has　no　quarrel；　whom　he　hasn't　seen　for　fifteen　years！〃　〃Yes；　but　to　
save　his　own　neck。　That　makes　a　difference。　My　theory　is　that　he　
quarrelled　violently　with　Mark　over　the　girl；　and　killed　him　in　sudden　
passion。　Anything　that　happened　after　that　would　be　self…defense。　I　
don't　mean　that　I　excuse　it；　but　that　I　understand　it。　And　I　think　that　
Mark's　dead　body　is　in　the　passage　now；　and　has　been　there　since；　say；　
half…past　two　yesterday　afternoon。　And　to…night　Cayley　is　going　to　hide　
it　in　the　pond。〃　

Bill　pulled　at　the　moss　on　the　ground　beside　him；　threw　away　a　
handful　or　two；　and　said　slowly；　〃You　may　be　right；　but　it's　all　guess…work；　
you　know。〃　

Antony　laughed。　

〃Good　Lord；　of　course　it　is；〃　he　said。　〃And　to…night　we　shall　know　if　
it's　a　good　guess　or　a　bad　one。〃　

Bill　brightened　up　suddenly。　

〃To…night；〃　he　said。　〃I　say；　to…night's　going　to　be　rather　fun。　How　do　

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we　work　it？〃　

Antony　was　silent　for　a　little。　

〃Of　course；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃we　ought　to　inform　the　police；　so　that　
they　can　come　here　and　watch　the　pond　to…night。〃　

〃Of　course；〃　grinned　Bill。　

〃But　I　think　that　perhaps　it　is　a　little　early　to　put　our　theories　before　
them。〃　

〃I　think　perhaps　it　is；〃　said　Bill　solemnly。　

Antony　looked　up　at　him　with　a　sudden　smile。　

〃Bill；　you　old　bounder。〃　

〃Well；　dash　it；　it's　our　show。　I　don't　see　why　we　shouldn't　get　our　
little　bit　of　fun　out　of　it。〃　

〃Neither　do　I。　All　right；　then；　we'll　do　without　the　police　to…night。〃　

〃We　shall　miss　them；〃　said　Bill　sadly；　〃but　'tis　better　so。〃　

There　were　two　problems　in　front　of　them：　first；　the　problem　of　getting　
out　of　the　house　without　being　discovered　by　Cayley；　and　secondly；　the　
problem　of　recovering　whatever　it　was　which　Cayley　dropped　into　the　
pond　that　night。　

〃Let's　look　at　it　from　Cayley's　point　of　view；〃　said　Antony。　〃He　may　
not　know　that　we're　on　his　track；　but　he　can't　help　being　suspicious　of　us。　
He's　bound　to　be　suspicious　of　everybody　in　the　house；　and　more　
particularly　of　us；　because　we're　presumably　more　intelligent　than　the　
others。〃　

He　stopped　for　a　moment　to　light　his　pipe；　and　Bill　took　the　
opportunity　of　looking　more　intelligent　than　Mrs。　Stevens。　

〃Now；　he　has　got　something　to　hide　to…night；　and　he's　going　to　take　
good　care　that　we　aren't　watching　him。　Well；　what　will　he　do？〃　

〃See　that　we　are　asleep　first；　before　he　starts　out。〃　

〃Yes。　Come　and　tuck　us　up；　and　see　that　we're　nice　and　
comfortable。〃　

〃Yes；　that's　awkward；〃　said　Bill。　〃But　we　could　lock　our　doors；　and　
then　he　wouldn't　know　that　we　weren't　there。〃　

〃Have　you　ever　locked　your　door？〃　

〃Never。〃　

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〃No　And　you　can　bet　that　Cayley　knows　that。　Anyway；　he'd　bang　on　
it；　and　you　wouldn't　answer；　and　then　what　would　he　think？〃　

Bill　was　silent；　crushed。　

〃Then　I　don't　see　how　we're　going　to　do　it；〃　he　said；　after　deep　thought。　
〃He'll　obviously　come　to　us　just　before　he　starts　out；　and　that　doesn't　give　
us　time　to　get　to　the　pond　in　front　of　him。〃　

〃Let's　put　ourselves　in　his　place；〃　said　Antony；　puffing　slowly　at　his　
pipe。　〃He's　got　the　body；　or　whatever　it　is；　in　the　passage。　He　won't　come　
up　the　stairs；　carrying　it　in　his　arms；　and　look　in　at　our　doors　to　see　if　we're　
awake。　He'll　have　to　make　sure　about　us　first；　and　then　go　down　for　the　
body　afterwards。　So　that　gives　us　a　little　time。〃　

〃Y　yes；〃　said　Bill　doubtfully。　〃We　might　just　do　it；　but　it'll　be　a　bit　of　
a　rush。〃　

〃But　wait。　When　he's　gone　down　to　the　passage　and　got　the　body；　
what　will　he　do　next？〃　

〃Come　out　again；〃　said　Bill　helpfully。　

〃Yes；　but　which　end？〃　

Bill　sat　up　with　a　start。　

〃By　Jove；　you　mean　that　he　will　go　out　at　the　far　end　by　the　bowling…
green？〃　

〃Don't　you　think　so？　Just　imagine　him　walking　across　the　lawn　in　
full　view　of　the　house；　at　midnight；　with　a　body　in　his　arms。　Think　of　the　
awful　feeling　he　would　have　in　the　back　of　the　neck；　wondering　if　
anybody；　any　restless　sleeper；　had　chosen　just　that　moment　to　wander　to　
the　window　and　look　out　into　the　night。　There's　still　plenty　of　moonlight；　
Bill。　Is　he　going　to　walk　across　the　park　in　the　moonlight；　with　all　those　
windows　staring　at　him？　Not　if　he　can　help　it。　But　he　can　get　out　by　
the　bowling　green；　and　then　come　to　the　pond　without　ever　being　in　sight　
of　the　house；　at　all。〃　

〃You're　right。　And　that　will　just　about　give　us　time。　Good。　Now；　
what's　the　next　thing？〃　

〃The　next　thing　is　to　mark　the　exact　place　in　the　pond　where　he　drops　
whatever　he　drops。〃　

〃So　that　we　can　fish　it　out　again。〃　

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〃If　we　can　see　what　it　is；　we　shan't　want　to。　The　police　can　have　a　go　
at　it　to…morrow。　But　if　it's　something　we　can't　identify　from　a　distance；　
then　we　must　try　and　get　it　out。　To　see　whether　it's　worth　telling　the　
police　about。〃　

〃Y　…　yes；〃　said　Bill；　wrinkling　his　forehead。　〃Of　course；　the　trouble　
with　water　is　that　one　bit　of　it　looks　pretty　much　like　the　next　bit。　I　don't　
know　if　that　had　occurred　to　you。　

〃It　had；〃　smiled　Antony。　〃Let's　come　and　have　a　look　at　it。〃　

They　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　copse；　and　lay　down　there　in　silence；　
looking　at　the　pond　beneath　them。　

〃See　anything？〃　said　Antony　at　last。　

〃What？〃　

〃The　fence　on　the　other　side。〃　

〃What　about　it？〃　

〃Well；　it's　rather　useful；　that's　all。〃　

〃Said　Sherlock　Holmes　enigmatically；〃　added　Bill。　〃A　moment　later；　
his　friend　Watson　had　hurled　him　into　the　pond。〃　

Antony　laughed。　

〃I　love　being　Sherlocky；〃　he　said。　〃It's　very　unfair　of　you　not　to　play　
up　to　me。　

〃Why　is　that　fence　useful；　my　dear　Holmes？〃　said　Bill　obediently。　

〃Because　you　can　take　a　bearing　on　it。　You　see　〃　

〃Yes；　you　needn't　stop　to　explain　to　me　what　a　bearing　is。〃　

〃I　wasn't　going　to。　But　you're　lying　here〃　he　looked　up　〃underneath　
this　pine…tree。　Cayley　comes　out　in　the　old　boat　and　drops　his　parcel　in。　
You　take　a　line　from　here　on　to　the　boat；　and　mark　it　off　on　the　fence　there。　
Say　it's　the　fifth　post　from　the　end。　Well；　then　I　take　a　line　from　my　tree　
we'll　find　one　for　me　directly　and　it　comes　on　to　the　twentieth　post；　say。　
And　where　the　two　lines　meet；　there　shall　the　eagles　be　gathered　together。　

Q。E。D。　And　there；　I　almost　forgot　to　remark；　will　the　taller　eagle；　
Beverley　by　name；　do　his　famous　diving　act。　As　performed　nightly　at　the　
Hippodrome。〃　
Bill　looked　at　him　uneasily。
〃I　say；　really？　It's　beastly　dirty　water；　you　know。〃


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〃I'm　afraid　so；　Bill。　So　it　is　written　in　the　book　of　Jasher。〃　

〃Of　course　I　knew　that　one　of　us　would　have　to；　but　I　hoped；　well；　it's　
a　warm　night。〃　

〃Just　the　night　for　a　bathe；〃　agreed　Antony；　getting　up。　〃Well　now；　
let's　have　a　look　for　my　tree。〃　

They　walked　down　to　the　margin　of　the　pond　and　then　looked　back。　
Bill's　tree　stood　up　and　took　the　evening；　tall　and　unmistakable；　fifty　feet　
nearer　to　heaven　than　its　neighbours。　But　it　had　its　fellow　at　the　other　
end　of　the　copse；　not　quite　so　tall；　perhaps；　but　equally　conspicuous。　

〃That's　where　I　shall　be；〃　said　Antony；　pointing　to　it。　〃Now；　for　the　
Lord's　sake；　count　your　posts　accurately。〃　

〃Thanks　very　much；　but　I　shall　do　it　for　my　own　sake；〃　said　Bill　with　
feeling。　〃I　don't　want　to　spend　the　whole　night　diving。〃　

〃Fix　on　the　post　in　a　straight　line　with　you　and　the　splash；　and　then　
count　backwards　to　the　beginning　of　the　fence。〃　

〃Right；　old　boy。　Leave　it　to　me。　I　can　do　this　on　my　head。〃　

〃Well；　that's　how　you　will　have　to　do　the　last　part　of　it；〃　said　Antony　
with　a　smile。　

He　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　nearly　time　to　change　for　dinner。　They　
started　to　walk　back　to　the　house　together。　

〃There's　one　thing　which　worries　me　rather；〃　said　Antony。　〃Where　
does　Cayley　sleep？〃　

〃Next　door　to　me。　Why？〃　

〃Well；　it's　just　possible　that　he　might　have　another　look　at　you　after　
he's　come　back　from　the　pond。　I　don't　think　he'd　bother　about　it　in　the　
ordinary　way；　but　if　he　is　actually　passing　your　door；　I　think　he　might　
glance　in。〃　

〃I　shan't　be　there。　I　shall　be　at　the　bottom　of　the　pond；　sucking　up