the red house mystery-第23章

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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　
mud。〃　

〃Yes。。。。　Do　you　think　you　could　leave　something　in　your　bed　that　
looked　vaguely　like　you　in　the　dark？　A　bolster　with　a　pyjama…coat　round　
it；　and　one　arm　outside　the　blanket；　and　a　pair　of　socks　or　something　for　
the　head。　You　know　the　kind　of　thing。　I　think　it　would　please　him　to　
feel　that　you　were　still　sleeping　peacefully。〃　

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Bill　chuckled　to　himself。　

〃Rather。　I'm　awfully　good　at　that。　I'll　make　him　up　something　
really　good。　But　what　about　you？〃　

〃I'm　at　the　other　end　of　the　house；　he's　hardly　likely　to　bother　about　me　
a　second　time。　And　I　shall　be　so　very　fast　asleep　at　his　first　visit。　Still；　I　
may　as　well　to　be　on　the　safe　side。〃　

They　went　into　the　house。　Cayley　was　in　the　hall　as　they　came　in。　He　
nodded；　and　took　out　his　watch。　

〃Time　to　change？〃　he　said。　

〃Just　about；〃　said　Bill。　

〃You　didn't　forget　my　letter？〃　

〃I　did　not。　In　fact；　we　had　tea　there。〃　

〃Ah！〃　He　looked　away　and　said　carelessly；　〃How　were　they　all？〃　

〃They　sent　all　sorts　of　sympathetic　messages　to　you；　and　and　all　that　
sort　of　thing。〃　

〃Oh；　yes。〃　

Bill　waited　for　him　to　say　something　more；　and　then；　as　nothing　was　
coming；　he　turned　round；　said；　〃Come　on；　Tony；〃　and　led　the　way　upstairs。　

〃Got　all　you　want？〃　he　said　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　

〃I　think　so。　Come　and　see　me　before　you　go　down。〃　

〃Righto。〃　

Antony　shut　his　bedroom　door　behind　him　and　walked　over　to　the　
window。　He　pushed　open　a　casement　and　looked　out。　His　bedroom　was　
just　over　the　door　at　the　back　of　the　house。　The　side　wall　of　the　office；　
which　projected　out　into　the　lawn　beyond　the　rest　of　the　house；　was　on　his　
left。　He　could　step　out　on　to　the　top　of　the　door；　and　from　there　drop　
easily　to　the　ground。　Getting　back　would　be　little　more　difficult。　There　
was　a　convenient　water…pipe　which　would　help。　

He　had　just　finished　his　dressing　when　Bill　came　in。　〃Final　
instructions？〃　he　asked；　sitting　down　on　the　bed。　〃By　the　way；　how　are　
we　amusing　ourselves　after　dinner？　I　mean　immediately　after　dinner。〃　

〃Billiards？〃　

〃Righto。　Anything　you　like。〃　

〃Don't　talk　too　loud；〃　said　Antony　in　a　lower　voice。　〃We're　more　or　

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less　over　the　hall；　and　Cayley　may　be　there。〃　He　led　the　way　to　the　
window。　〃We'll　go　out　this　way　to…night。　Going　downstairs　is　too　risky。　
It's　easy　enough；　better　put　on　tennis…shoes。〃　

〃Right。　I　say；　in　case　I　don't　get　another　chance　alone　with　you　what　
do　I　do　when　Cayley　comes　to　tuck　me　up？〃　〃It's　difficult　to　say。　Be　as　
natural　as　you　can。　I　mean；　if　he　just　knocks　lightly　and　looks　in；　be　
asleep。　Don't　overdo　the　snoring。　But　if　he　makes　a　hell　of　a　noise；　
you'll　have　to　wake　up　and　rub　your　eyes；　and　wonder　what　on　earth　he's　
doing　in　your　room　at　all。　You　know　the　sort　of　thing。〃　

〃Right。　And　about　the　dummy　figure。　I'll　make　it　up　directly　we　
come　upstairs；　and　hide　it　under　the　bed。〃　

〃Yes。。。。　I　think　we'd　better　go　completely　to　bed　ourselves。　We　shan't　
take　a　moment　dressing　again；　and　it　will　give　him　time　to　get　safely　into　
the　passage。　Then　come　into　my　room。〃　

〃Right。。。。　Are　you　ready？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

They　went　downstairs　together。　

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CHAPTER　XVII　

Mr。　Beverley　Takes　the　Water　

Cayley　seemed　very　fond　of　them　that　night。　After　dinner　was　over；　
he　suggested　a　stroll　outside。　They　walked　up　and　down　the　gravel　in　
front　of　the　house；　saying　very　little　to　each　other；　until　Bill　could　stand　it　
no　longer。　For　the　last　twenty　turns　he　had　been　slowing　down　hopefully　
each　time　they　came　to　the　door；　but　the　hint　had　always　been　lost　on　his　
companions；　and　each　time　another　turn　had　been　taken。　But　in　the　end　
he　had　been　firm。　

〃What　about　a　little　billiards？〃　he　said；　shaking　himself　free　from　the　
others。　

〃Will　you　play？〃　said　Antony　to　Cayley。　

〃I'll　watch　you；〃　he　said；　and　he　had　watched　them　resolutely　until　the　
game；　and　then　another　game　after　that；　had　been　played。　

They　went　into　the　hall　and　attacked　the　drinks。　

〃Well；　thank　heaven　for　bed；〃　said　Bill；　putting　down　his　glass。　〃Are　
you　coming？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Antony；　and　finished　his　drink。　He　looked　at　Cayley。　

〃I've　just　got　one　or　two　little　things　to　do；〃　said　Cayley。　〃I　shan't　be　
long　following　you。〃　

〃Well；　good　night；　then。〃　

〃Good　night。〃　

〃Good　night；〃　called　Bill　from　half…way　up　the　stairs。　〃Good　night；　
Tony。〃　

〃Good　night。〃　

Bill　looked　at　his　watch。　Half…past　eleven。　Not　much　chance　of　
anything　happening　for　another　hour。　He　pulled　open　a　drawer　and　
wondered　what　to　wear　on　their　expedition。　Grey　flannel　trousers；　
flannel　shirt；　and　a　dark　coat；　perhaps　a　sweater；　as　they　might　be　lying　out　
in　the　copse　for　some　time。　And　good　idea　a　towel。　He　would　want　it　
later　on；　and　meanwhile　he　could　wear　it　round　his　waist。　

Tennis…shoes。。。。　There　Everything　was　ready。　Now　then　for　the　
dummy　figure。　

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He　looked　at　his　watch　again　before　getting　into　bed。　Twelve…fifteen。　
How　long　to　wait　before　Cayley　came　up？　He　turned　out　the　light；　and　
then；　standing　by　the　door　in　his　pyjamas；　waited　for　his　eyes　to　become　
accustomed　to　the　new　darkness。。。。　He　could　only　just　make　out　the　bed　in　
the　corner　of　the　room。　Cayley　would　want　more　light　than　that　if　he　
were　to　satisfy　himself　from　the　door　that　the　bed　was　occupied。　He　
pulled　the　curtains　a　little　way　back。　That　was　about　right。　He　could　
have　another　look　later　on；　when　he　had　the　dummy　figure　in　the　bed。　

How　long　would　it　be　before　Cayley　came　up？　It　wasn't　that　he　
wanted　his　friends；　Beverley　and　Gillingham；　to　be　asleep　before　he　
started　on　his　business　at　the　pond；　all　that　he　wanted　was　to　be　sure　that　
they　were　safely　in　their　bedrooms。　Cayley's　business　would　make　no　
noise；　give　no　sign；　to　attract　the　most　wakeful　member　of　the　household；　
so　long　as　the　household　was　really　inside　the　house。　But　if　he　wished　to　
reassure　himself　about　his　guests；　he　would　have　to　wait　until　they　were　
far　enough　on　their　way　to　sleep　not　to　be　disturbed　by　him　as　he　came　up　
to　reassure　himself。　So　it　amounted　to　the　same　thing；　really。　He　would　
wait　until　they　were　asleep。。。。　until　they　were　asleep　。。。。　asleep。。。。　

With　a　great　effort　Bill　regained　the　mastery　over　his　wandering　
thoughts　and　came　awake　again。　This　would　never　do。　It　would　be　
fatal　if　he　went　to　sleep。。。。　if　he　went　to　sleep。。。。　to　sleep。。。。　And　then；　in　an　
instant；　he　was　intensely　awake。　Suppose　Cayley　never　came　at　all！　

Suppose　Cayley　was　so　unsuspicious　that；　as　soon　as　they　had　gone　
upstairs；　he　had　dived　down　into　the　passage　and　set　about　his　business。　
Suppose；　even　now；　he　was　at　the　pond；　dropping　into　it　that　secret　of　his。　
Good　heavens；　what　fools　they　had　been！　How　could　Antony　have　taken　
such　a　risk？　Put　yourself　in　Cayley's　place；　he　had　said。　But　how　was　it　
possible？　They　weren't　Cayley。　Cayley　was　at　the　pond　now。　They　
would　never　know　what　he　had　dropped　into　it。　

Listen！。。。。　Somebody　at　the　door。　He　was　asleep。　Quite　naturally　
now。　Breathe　a　little　more　loudly；　perhaps。　He　was　asleep。。。。　The　door　
was　opening。　He　could　feel　it　opening　behind　him。。。。　Good　Lord；　
suppose　Cayley　really　was　a　murderer！　Why；　even　now　he　might　be　…　no；　
he　mustn't　think　of　that。　If　he　thought　of　that；　he　would　have　to　turn　

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round。　He　mustn't　turn　round。　He　was　asleep；　just　peacefully　asleep。　
But　why　didn't　the　door　shut？　Where　was　Cayley　now？　Just　behind　
him？　And　in　his　hand　no；　he　mustn't　think　of　that。　He　was　asleep。　But　
why　didn't　the　door　shut？　

The　door　was　shutting。　There　was　a　sigh　from　the　sleeper　in　the　bed；　
a　sigh　of　relief　which　escaped　him　involuntarily。　But　it　had　a　very　
natural　sound　a　deep　breath　from　a　heavy　sleeper。　He　added　another　one　
to　it　to　make　it　seem　more　natural。　The　door　was　shut。　

Bill　counted　a　hundred　slowly　and　then　got　up。　As　quickly　and　as　
noiselessly　as　possible　he　dressed　himself　in　the　dark。　He　put　the　dummy　
figure　in　the　bed；　arranged　the　clothes　so　that　just　enough　but　not　too　much　
of　it　was　showing；　and　stood　by　the　door　looking　at　it。　For　a　casual　
glance　the　room　was　just　about　light　enough。　Then　very　quietly；　very　
slowly　he　opened　the　door。　All　was　still。　There　was　no　light　from　
beneath　the　door　of　Cayley's　room。　Very　quietly；　very　carefully　he　crept　
along　the　passage　to　Antony's　room。　He　opened　the　door　and　went　in。　

Antony　was　still　in　bed。　Bill　walked　across　to　wake　him　up；　and　then　
stopped　rigid；　and　his　heart　thumped　against　his　ribs。　There　was　
somebody　else　in　the　room。　

〃All　right；　Bill；〃　said　a　whispering　voice；　and　Antony　stepped　out　from　
the　curtains。　

Bill　gazed　at　him　without　saying　anything。　

〃Rather　good；　isn't　it？〃　said　Antony；　coming　closer　and　pointing　to　the　
bed。　〃Come　on；　the　sooner　we　get　out　now；　the　better。〃　

He　led　the　way　out　of　the　window；　the　silent　Bill　following　him。　They　
reached　the　ground　safely　and　noiselessly；　went　quickly　across　the　lawn　
and　so；　over　the　fence；　into　the　park。　It　was　not　until　they　were　out　of　
sight　of　the　house　that　Bill　felt　it　safe　to　speak。　

〃I　quite　thought　it　was　you　in　bed；〃　he　said。　

〃I　hoped　you　would。　I　shall　be　rather　disappointed　now　if　Cayley　
doesn't　call　again。　It's　a　pity　to　waste　it。〃　

〃He　came　all　right　just　now？〃　

〃Oh；　rather。　What　about　you？〃　

Bill　explained　his　feelings　picturesquely。　

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〃There　wouldn't　have　been　much　point　in　his　killing　you；〃　said　Antony　
prosaically。　〃Besides　being　too　risky。〃　

〃Oh！〃　said　Bill。　And　then；　〃I　had　rather　hoped　that　it　was　his　love　for　
me　which　restrained　him。〃　

Antony　laughed。　

〃I　doubt　it。。。。　You　didn't　turn　up　your　light　when　you　dressed？〃　

〃Good　Lord；　no。　Did　you　want　me　to？〃　

Antony　laughed　again　and　took　him　by　the　arm。　

〃You're　a　splendid　conspirator；　Bill。　You　and　I　could　take　on　
anything　together。〃　

The　pond　was　waiting　for　them；　more　solemn　in　the　moonlight。　The　
trees　which　crowned　the　sloping　bank　on　the　far　side　of　it　were　
mysteriously　silent。　It　seemed　that　they　had　the　world　very　much　to　
themselves。　

Almost　unconsciously　Antony　spoke　in　a　whisper。　

〃There's　your　tree；　there's　mine。　As　long　as　you　don't　move；　there's　
no　chance　of　his　seeing　you。　After　he's　gone；　don't　come　out　till　I　do。　
He　won't　be　here　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　so；　so　don't　be　impatient。〃　

〃Righto；〃　whispered　Bill。　

Antony　gave　him　a　nod　and　a　smile；　and　they　walked　off　to　their　posts。　

The　minutes　went　by　slowly。　To　Antony；　lying　hidden　in　the　
undergrowth　at　the　foot　of　his　tree；　a　new　problem　was　presenting　itself。　
Suppose　Cayley　had　to　make　more　than　one　journey　that　night？　He　might　
come　back　to　find　them　in　the　boat；　one　of　them；　indeed；　in　the　water。　
And　if　they　decided　to　wait　in　hiding；　on　the　chance　of　Cayley　coming　
back　again；　what　was　the　least　time　they　could　safely　allow？　Perhaps　it　
would　be　be