the red house mystery-第25章

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that's　the　fact。〃　

〃Anything　else　there？〃　

Antony　felt　in　the　bag。　

〃Stones　and　…　yes；　there's　something　else。〃　He　took　it　out　and　held　it　
up。　〃There　we　are；　Bill。〃　

It　was　the　office　key。　

〃By　Jove；　you　were　right。〃　

Antony　felt　in　the　bag　again；　and　then　turned　it　gently　upside　down　on　
the　grass。　A　dozen　large　stones　fell　out　…　and　something　else。　He　flashed　
down　his　torch。　

〃Another　key；〃　he　said。　

He　put　the　two　keys　in　his　pocket；　and　sat　there　for　a　long　time　in　
silence；　thinking。　Bill　was　silent；　too；　not　liking　to　interrupt　his　thoughts；　
but　at　last　he　said：　

〃Shall　I　put　these　things　back？〃　

Antony　looked　up　with　a　start。　

What？　Oh；　yes。　No；　I'll　put　them　back。　You　give　me　a　light；　will　
you？〃　

Very　slowly　and　carefully　he　put　the　clothes　back　in　the　bag；　pausing　
as　he　took　up　each　garment；　in　the　certainty；　as　it　seemed　to　Bill；　that　it　
had　something　to　tell　him　if　only　he　could　read　it。　When　the　last　of　them　

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was　inside；　he　still　waited　there　on　his　knees；　thinking。　

〃That's　the　lot；〃　said　Bill。　

Antony　nodded　at　him。　

〃Yes；　that's　the　lot；〃　he　said；　〃and　that's　the　funny　thing　about　it。　
You're　sure　it　is　the　lot？〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　

〃Give　me　the　torch　a　moment。〃　He　took　it　and　flashed　it　over　the　
ground　between　them。　〃Yes；　that's　the　lot。　It's　funny。〃　He　stood　up；　
the　bag　in　his　hands。　〃Now　let's　find　a　hiding…place　for　these；　and　then　…〃　
He　said　no　more；　but　stepped　off　through　the　trees；　Bill　following　him　
meekly。　

As　soon　as　they　had　got　the　bag　off　their　hands　and　were　clear　of　the　
copse；　Antony　became　more　communicative。　He　took　the　two　keys　out　
of　his　pocket。　

〃One　of　them　is　the　office　key；　I　suppose；　and　the　other　is　the　key　of　
the　passage　cupboard。　So　I　thought　that　perhaps　we　might　have　a　look　at　
the　cupboard。〃　

〃I　say；　do　you　really　think　it　is？〃　

〃Well；　I　don't　see　what　else　it　can　be。〃　

〃But　why　should　he　want　to　throw　it　away？〃　

〃Because　it　has　now　done　its　work；　whatever　it　was；　and　he　wants　to　
wash　his　hands　of　the　passage。　He'd　throw　the　passage　away　if　he　could。　
I　don't　think　it　matters　much　one　way　or　another；　and　I　don't　suppose　
there's　anything　to　find　in　the　cupboard；　but　I　feel　that　we　must　look。〃　

〃Do　you　still　think　Mark's　body　might　be　there？〃　

〃No。　And　yet　where　else　can　it　be？　Unless　I'm　hopelessly　wrong；　
and　Cayley　never　killed　him　at　all。〃　

Bill　hesitated；　wondering　if　he　dare　advance　his　theory。　

〃I　know　you'll　think　me　an　ass　…〃　

〃My　dear　Bill；　I'm　such　an　obvious　ass　myself　that　I　should　be　
delighted　to　think　you　are　too。〃　

〃Well；　then；　suppose　Mark　did　kill　Robert；　and　Cayley　helped　him　to　
escape；　just　as　we　thought　at　first。　I　know　you　proved　afterwards　that　it　
was　impossible；　but　suppose　it　happened　in　a　way　we　don't　know　about　

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and　for　reasons　we　don't　know　about。　I　mean；　there　are　such　a　lot　of　
funny　things　about　the　whole　show　that　…　well；　almost　anything　might　
have　happened。〃　

〃You're　quite　right。　Well？〃　

〃Well；　then；　this　clothes　business。　Doesn't　that　seem　rather　to　bear　
out　the　escaping　theory？　Mark's　brown　suit　was　known　to　the　police。　
Couldn't　Cayley　have　brought　him　another　one　in　the　passage；　to　escape　in；　
and　then　have　had　the　brown　one　on　his　hands？　And　thought　it　safest　to　
hide　it　in　the　pond？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Anthony　thoughtfully。　Then：　〃Go　on。〃　

Bill　went　on　eagerly：　

〃It　all　seems　to　fit　in；　you　know。　I　mean　even　with　your　first　theory　
that　Mark　killed　him　accidentally　and　then　came　to　Cayley　for　help。　Of　
course；　if　Cayley　had　played　fair；　he'd　have　told　Mark　that　he　had　nothing　
to　be　afraid　of。　But　he　isn't　playing　fair；　he　wants　to　get　Mark　out　of　the　
way　because　of　the　girl。　Well；　this　is　his　chance。　He　makes　Mark　as　
frightened　as　possible；　and　tells　him　that　his　only　hope　is　to　run　away。　
Well；　naturally；　he　does　all　he　can　to　get　him　well　away；　because　if　Mark　is　
caught；　the　whole　story　of　Cayley's　treachery　comes　out。〃　

〃Yes。　But　isn't　it　overdoing　it　rather　to　make　him　change　his　
underclothes　and　everything？　It　wastes　a　good　deal　of　time；　you　know。〃　

Bill　was　pulled　up　short；　and　said；　〃Oh！〃　in　great　disappointment。　

〃No；　it's　not　as　bad　as　that；　Bill；〃　said　Antony　with　a　smile。　〃I　
daresay　the　underclothes　could　be　explained。　But　here's　the　difficulty。　
Why　did　Mark　need　to　change　from　brown　to　blue；　or　whatever　it　was；　
when　Cayley　was　the　only　person　who　saw　him　in　brown？〃　

〃The　police　description　of　him　says　that　he　is　in　a　brown　suit。〃　

〃Yes；　because　Cayley　told　the　police。　You　see；　even　if　Mark　had　had　
lunch　in　his　brown　suit；　and　the　servants　had　noticed　it；　Cayley　could　
always　have　pretended　that　he　had　changed　into　blue　after　lunch；　because　
only　Cayley　saw　him　afterwards。　So　if　Cayley　had　told　the　Inspector　that　
he　was　wearing　blue；　Mark　could　have　escaped　quite　comfortably　in　his　
brown；　without　needing　to　change　at　all。〃　

〃But　that's　just　what　he　did　do；〃　cried　Bill　triumphantly。　〃What　fools　

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we　are！〃　

Antony　looked　at　him　in　surprise；　and　then　shook　his　head。　

〃Yes；　yes！〃　insisted　Bill。　〃Of　course！　Don't　you　see？　Mark　did　
change　after　lunch；　and；　to　give　him　more　of　a　chance　of　getting　away；　
Cayley　lied　and　said　that　he　was　wearing　the　brown　suit　in　which　the　
servants　had　seen　him。　Well；　then　he　was　afraid　that　the　police　might　
examine　Mark's　clothes　and　find　the　brown　suit　still　there；　so　he　hid　it；　and　
then　dropped　it　in　the　pond　afterwards。〃　

He　turned　eagerly　to　his　friend；　but　Antony　said　nothing。　Bill　began　
to　speak　again；　and　was　promptly　waved　into　silence。　

〃Don't　say　anything　more；　old　boy；　you've　given　me　quite　enough　to　
think　about。　Don't　let's　bother　about　it　to…night。　We'll　just　have　a　look　
at　this　cupboard　and　then　get　to　bed。〃　

But　the　cupboard　had　not　much　to　tell　them　that　night。　It　was　empty　
save　for　a　few　old　bottles。　

〃Well；　that's　that；〃　said　Bill。　

But　Antony；　on　his　knees　with　the　torch　in　his　hand；　continued　to　
search　for　something。　

〃What　are　you　looking　for？〃　asked　Bill　at　last。　

〃Something　that　isn't　there；〃　said　Antony；　getting　up　and　dusting　his　
trousers。　And　he　locked　the　door　again。　

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CHAPTER　XVIII　

Guess…work　

The　inquest　was　at　three　o'clock；　thereafter　Antony　could　have　no　
claim　on　the　hospitality　of　the　Red　House。　By　ten　o'clock　his　bag　was　
packed；　and　waiting　to　be　taken　to　the　〃George。〃　To　Bill；　coming　
upstairs　after　a　more　prolonged　breakfast；　this　early　morning　bustle　was　a　
little　surprising。　

〃What's　the　hurry？〃　he　asked。　

〃None。　But　we　don't　want　to　come　back　here　after　the　inquest。　Get　
your　packing　over　now　and　then　we　can　have　the　morning　to　ourselves。〃　

〃Righto。〃　He　turned　to　go　to　his　room；　and　then　came　back　again。　〃I　
say；　are　we　going　to　tell　Cayley　that　we're　staying　at　the　'George'？〃　

〃You're　not　staying　at　the　'George；'　Bill。　Not　officially。　You're　

going　back　to　London。〃　

〃Oh！〃　

〃Yes。　Ask　Cayley　to　have　your　luggage　sent　in　to　Stanton；　ready　for　

you　when　you　catch　a　train　there　after　the　inquest。　You　can　tell　him　that　
you've　got　to　see　the　Bishop　of　London　at　once。　The　fact　that　you　are　
hurrying　back　to　London　to　be　confirmed　will　make　it　seem　more　natural　
that　I　should　resume　my　interrupted　solitude　at　the　'George'　as　soon　as　you　
have　gone。〃　

〃Then　where　do　I　sleep　to…night？〃　

Officially；　I　suppose；　in　Fulham　Place；　unofficially；　I　suspect；　in　my　
bed；　unless　they've　got　another　spare　room　at　the　'George。'　I've　put　your　
confirmation　robe　…　I　mean　your　pyjamas　and　brushes　and　things　…　in　my　
bag；　ready　for；　you。　Is　there　anything　else　you　want　to　know？　No？　
Then　go　and　pack。　And　meet　me　at　ten…thirty　beneath　the　blasted　oak　or　
in　the　hall　or　somewhere。　I　want　to　talk　and　talk　and　talk；　and　I　must　have　
my　Watson。〃　

〃Good；〃　said　Bill；　and　went　oil　to　his　room。　

An　hour　later；　having　communicated　their　official　plans　to　Cayley；　
they　wandered　out　together　into　the　park。　

〃Well？〃　said　Bill；　as　they　sat　down　underneath　a　convenient　tree。　〃Talk　

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away。〃　

〃I　had　many　bright　thoughts　in　my　bath　this　morning；〃　began　Antony。　
〃The　brightest　one　of　all　was　that　we　were　being　damn　fools；　and　working　
at　this　thing　from　the　wrong　end　altogether。〃　

〃Well；　that's　helpful。〃　

〃Of　course　it's　very　hampering　being　a　detective；　when　you　don't　know　
anything　about　detecting；　and　when　nobody　knows　that　you're　doing　
detection；　and　you　can't　have　people　up　to　cross…examine　them；　and　you　
have　neither　the　energy　nor　the　means　to　make　proper　inquiries；　and；　in　
short；　when　you're　doing　the　whole　thing　in　a　thoroughly　amateur；　
haphazard　way。　

〃For　amateurs　I　don't　think　we're　doing　at　all　badly；〃　protested　Bill。　

〃No；　not　for　amateurs。　But　if　we　had　been　professionals；　I　believe　we　
should　have　gone　at　it　from　the　other　end。　The　Robert　end。　We've　been　
wondering　about　Mark　and　Cayley　all　the　time。　Now　let's　wonder　about　
Robert　for　a　bit。〃　

〃We　know　so　little　about　him。〃　

〃Well；　let's　see　what　we　do　know。　First　of　all；　then；　we　know　vaguely　
that　he　was　a　bad　lot　…　the　sort　of　brother　who　is　hushed　up　in　front　of　
other　people。〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃We　know　that　he　announced　his　approaching　arrival　to　Mark　in　a　
rather　unpleasant　letter；　which　I　have　in　my　pocket。〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃And　then　we　know　rather　a　curious　thing。　We　know　that　Mark　told　
you　all　that　this　black　sheep　was　coming。　Now；　why　did　he　tell　you？〃　

Bill　was　thoughtful　for　a　moment。　

〃I　suppose；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃that　he　knew　we　were　bound　to　see　him；　
and　thought　that　the　best　way　was　to　be　quite　frank　about　him。〃　

〃But　were　you　bound　to　see　him？　You　were　all　away　playing　golf。〃　

〃We　were　bound　to　see　him　if　he　stayed　in　the　house　that　night。〃　

〃Very　well；　then。　That's　one　thing　we've　discovered。　Mark　knew　
that　Robert　was　staying　in　the　house　that　night。　Or　shall　we　put　it　this　
way　…　he　knew　that　there　was　no　chance　of　getting　Robert　out　of　the　house　

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at　once。〃　

Bill　looked　at　his　friend　eagerly。　

〃Go　on；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　getting　interesting。〃　

〃He　also　knew　something　else；〃　went　on　Antony。　〃He　knew　that　
Robert　was　bound　to　betray　his　real　character　to　you　as　soon　as　you　met　
him。　He　couldn't　pass　him　off　on　you　as　just　a　travelled　brother　from　the　
Dominions；　with　perhaps　a　bit　of　an　accent；　he　had　to　tell　you　at　once；　
because　you　were　bound　to　find　out；　that　Robert　was　a　wastrel。〃　

〃Yes。　That's　sound　enough。〃　

〃Well；　now；　doesn't　it　strike　you　that　Mark　made　up　his　mind　about　all　
that　rather　quickly？〃　

〃How　do　you　mean？〃　

〃He　got　this　letter　at　breakfast。　He　read　it；　and　directly　he　had　read　it　
he　began　to　confide　in　you　all。　That　is　to　say；　in　about　one　second　he　
thought　out　the　whole　business　and　came　to　a　decision　…　to　two　decisions。　
He　considered　the　possibility　of　getting　Robert　out　of　the　way　before　you　
came　back；　and　decided　that　it　was　impossible。　He　considered　the　
possibility　of　Robert's　behaving　like　an　ordi