the red house mystery-第26章

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came　back；　and　decided　that　it　was　impossible。　He　considered　the　
possibility　of　Robert's　behaving　like　an　ordinary　decent　person　in　public；　
and　decided　that　it　was　very　unlikely。　He　came　to　those　two　decisions　
instantaneously；　as　he　was　reading　the　letter。　Isn't　that　rather　quick　
work？〃　

〃Well；　what's　the　explanation？〃　

Antony　waited　until　he　had　refilled　and　lighted　his　pipe　before　
answering。　

〃What's　the　explanation？　Well；　let's　leave　it　for　a　moment　and　take　
another　look　at　the　two　brothers。　In　conjunction；　this　time；　with　Mrs。　
Norbury。〃　

〃Mrs。　Norbury？〃　said　Bill；　surprised。　

〃Yes。　Mark　hoped　to　marry　Miss　Norbury。　Now；　if　Robert　really　
was　a　blot　upon　the　family　honour；　Mark　would　want　to　do　one　of　two　
things。　Either　keep　it　from　the　Norburys　altogether；　or　else；　if　it　had　to　
come　out；　tell　them　himself　before　the　news　came　to　them　indirectly。　
Well；　he　told　them。　But　the　funny　thing　is　that　he　told　them　the　day　
before　Robert's　letter　came。　Robert　came；　and　was　killed；　the　day　before　

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yesterday　…Tuesday。　Mark　told　Mrs。　Norbury　about　him　on　Monday。　
What　do　you　make　of　that？〃　

〃Coincidence；〃　said　Bill；　after　careful　thought。　〃He'd　always　meant　
to　tell　her；　his　suit　was　prospering；　and　just　before　it　was　finally　settled；　he　
told　her。　That　happened　to　be　Monday。　On　Tuesday　he　got　Robert's　
letter；　and　felt　jolly　glad　that　he'd　told　her　in　time。〃　

〃Well；　it　might　be　that；　but　it's　rather　a　curious　coincidence。　And　here　
is　something　which　makes　it　very　curious　indeed。　It　only　occurred　to　me　
in　the　bath　this　morning。　Inspiring　place；　a　bathroom。　Well；　it's　this　…　he　
told　her　on　Monday　morning；　on　his　way　to　Middleston　in　the　car。〃　

〃Well？〃　

〃Well。〃　

〃Sorry；　Tony；　I'm　dense　this　morning。〃　

〃In　the　car；　Bill。　And　how　near　can　the　car　get　to　Jallands？〃　

〃About　six　hundred　yards。〃　

〃Yes。　And　on　his　way　to　Middleston；　on　some　business　or　other；　
Mark　stops　the　car；　walks　six　hundred　yards　down　the　hill　to　Jallands；　says；　
'Oh；　by　the　way；　Mrs。　Norbury；　I　don't　think　I　ever　told　you　that　I　have　a　
shady　brother　called　Robert；'　walks　six　hundred　yards　up　the　hill　again；　
gets　into　the　car；　and　goes　off　to　Middleston。　Is　that　likely？〃　

Bill　frowned　heavily。　

〃Yes；　but　I　don't　see　what　you're　getting　at。　Likely　or　not　likely；　we　
know　he　did　do　it。〃　

〃Of　course　he　did。　All　I　mean　is　that　he　must　have　had　some　strong　
reason　for　telling　Mrs。　Norbury　at　once。　And　the　reason　I　suggest　is　that　
he　knew　on　that　morning　…　Monday　morning；　not　Tuesday　…　that　Robert　
was　coming　to　see　him；　and　had　to　be　in　first　with　the　news。　

〃But　…　but　…〃　

〃And　that　would　explain　the　other　point　…　his　instantaneous　decision　at　
breakfast　to　tell　you　all　about　his　brother。　It　wasn't　instantaneous。　He　
knew　on　Monday　that　Robert　was　coming；　and　decided　then　that　you　
would　all　have　to　know。〃　

〃Then　how　do　you　explain　the　letter？〃　

〃Well；　let's　have　a　look　at　it。〃　

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Antony　took　the　letter　from　his　pocket　and　spread　it　out　on　the　grass　
between　them。　

〃Mark；　your　loving　brother　is　coming　to　see　you　to…morrow；　all　the　
way　from　Australia。　1　give　you　warning；　so　that　you　will　be　able　to　
conceal　your　surprise　but　not　I　hope　your　pleasure。　Expect　him　at　three　
or　thereabouts。〃　

〃No　date　mentioned；　you　see；〃　said　Antony。　〃Just　to…morrow。　

〃But　he　got　this　on　Tuesday。〃　

〃Did　he？〃　

〃Well；　he　read　it　out　to　us　on　Tuesday。〃　

〃Oh；　yes！　he　read　it　out　to　you。　

Bill　read　the　letter　again；　and　then　turned　it　over　and　looked　at　the　back　
of　it。　The　back　of　it　had　nothing　to　say　to　him。　

〃What　about　the　postmark？〃　he　asked。　

〃We　haven't　got　the　envelope；　unfortunately。〃　

〃And　you　think　that　he　got　this　letter　on　Monday。〃　

〃I'm　inclined　to　think　so；　Bill。　Anyhow；　I　think　…　I　feel　almost　certain　

…　that　he　knew　on　Monday　that　his　brother　was　coming。〃　
〃Is　that　going　to　help　us　much？〃　
〃No。　It　makes　it　more　difficult。　There's　something　rather　uncanny　
about　it　all。　I　don't　understand　it。〃　He　was　silent　for　a　little；　and　then　
added；　〃I　wonder　if　the　inquest　is　going　to　help　us。　

〃What　about　last　night？　I'm　longing　to　hear　what　you　make　of　that。　
Have　you　been　thinking　it　out　at　all？〃　

〃Last　night；〃　said　Antony　thoughtfully　to　himself。　〃Yes；　last　night　
wants　some　explaining。〃　

Bill　waited　hopefully　for　him　to　explain。　What；　for　instance；　had　
Antony　been　looking　for　in　the　cupboard？　

〃I　think；〃　began　Antony　slowly；　〃that　after　last　night　we　must　give　up　
the　idea　that　Mark　has　been　killed；　killed；　I　mean；　by　Cayley。　I　don't　
believe　anybody　would　go　to　so　much　trouble　to　hide　a　suit　of　clothes　
when　he　had　a　body　on　his　hands。　The　body　would　seem　so　much　more　
important。　I　think　we　may　take　it　now　that　the　clothes　are　all　that　Cayley　
had　to　hide。〃　

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〃But　why　not　have　kept　them　in　the　passage？〃　

〃He　was　frightened　of　the　passage。　Miss　Norris　knew　about　it。〃　

〃Well；　then；　in　his　own　bedroom；　or　even；　in　Mark's。　For　all　you　or　I　
or　anybody　knew；　Mark　might　have　had　two　brown　suits。　He　probably　
had；　I　should　think。〃　

〃Probably。　But　I　doubt　if　that　would　reassure　Cayley。　The　brown　
suit　hid　a　secret；　and　therefore　the　brown　suit　had　to　be　hidden。　We　all　
know　that　in　theory　the　safest　hiding…place　is　the　most　obvious；　but　in　
practice　very　few　people　have　the　nerve　to　risk　it。〃　

Bill　looked　rather　disappointed。　

〃Then　we　just　come　back　to　where　we　were；〃　he　complained。　〃Mark　
killed　his　brother；　and　Cayley　helped　him　to　escape　through　the　passage；　
either　in　order　to　compromise　him；　or　because　there　was　no　other　way　out　
of　it。　And　he　helped　him　by　telling　a　lie　about　his　brown　suit。〃　

Antony　smiled　at　him　in　genuine　amusement。　

〃Bad　luck；　Bill；〃　he　said　sympathetically。　〃There's　only　one　murder；　
after　all。　I'm　awfully　sorry　about　it。　It　was　my　fault　for　…〃　

〃Shut　up；　you　ass。　You　know　I　didn't　mean　that。〃　

〃Well；　you　seemed　awfully　disappointed。〃　

Bill　said　nothing　for　a　little；　and　then　with　a　sudden　laugh　confessed。　

〃It　was　so　exciting　yesterday；〃　he　said　apologetically；　〃and　we　seemed　
to　be　just　getting　there；　and　discovering　the　most　wonderful　things；　and　
now　…〃　

〃And　now？〃　

〃Well；　it's　so　much　more　ordinary。〃　

Antony　gave　a　shout　of　laughter。　

〃Ordinary！〃　he　cried。　〃Ordinary！　Well；　I'm　dashed！　Ordinary！　If　
only　one　thing　would　happen　in　an　ordinary　way；　we　might　do　something；　
but　everything　is　ridiculous。〃　Bill　brightened　up　again。　

〃Ridiculous？　How？〃　

〃Every　way。　Take　those　ridiculous　clothes　we　found　last　night。　You　
can　explain　the　brown　suit；　but　why　the　under　clothes。　You　can　explain　
the　underclothes　in　some　absurd　way；　if　you　like　…　you　can　say　that　Mark　
always　changed　his　underclothes　whenever　he　interviewed　anybody　from　

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Australia　…　but　why；　in　that　case；　my　dear　Watson；　why　didn't　he　change　

his　collar？〃　

〃His　collar？〃　said　Bill　in　amazement。　

〃His　collar；　Watson。〃　

〃I　don't　understand。〃　

〃And　it's　all　so　ordinary；〃　scoffed　Antony。　

〃Sorry；　Tony；　I　didn't　mean　that。　Tell　me　about　the　collar。〃　

〃Well；　that's　all。　There　was　no　collar　in　the　bag　last　night。　Shirt；　
socks；　tie　…　everything　except　a　collar。　Why？〃　

〃Was　that　what　you　were　looking　for　in　the　cupboard？〃　said　Bill　
eagerly。　

〃Of　course。　'Why　no　collar？'　I；　said。　For　some　reason　Cayley　
considered　it　necessary　to　hide　all　Mark's　clothes；　not　just　the　suit；　but　
everything　which　he　was　wearing；　or　supposed　to　be　wearing；　at　the　time　
of　the　murder。　But　he　hadn't　hidden　the　collar。　Why？　Had　he　left　it　out　
by　mistake？　So　I　looked　in　the　cupboard。　It　wasn't　there。　Had　he　left　
it　out　on　purpose？　If　so；　why？　…　and　where　was　it？　Naturally　I　began　to　
say　to　myself；　'Where　have　I　seen　a　collar　lately？　A　collar　all　by　itself？'　
And　I　remembered　…　what；　Bill？〃　

Bill　frowned　heavily　to　himself；　and　shook　his　head。　

Don't　ask　me；　Tony。　I　can't　…　By　Jove！〃　He　threw　up　his　head；　〃In　
the　basket　in　the　office　bedroom！〃　

〃Exactly。〃　

〃But　is　that　the　one？〃　

〃The　one　that　goes　with　the　rest　of　the　clothes？　I　don't　know。　Where　
else　can　it　be？　But　if　so；　why　send　the　collar　quite　casually　to　the　wash　in　
the　ordinary　way；　and　take　immense　trouble　to　hide　everything　else？　
Why；　why；　why？〃　

Bill　bit　hard　at　his　pipe；　but　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。　

〃Anyhow；〃　said　Antony；　getting　up　restlessly；　〃I'm　certain　of　one　thing。　
Mark　knew　on　the　Monday　that　Robert　was　coming　here。〃　

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CHAPTER　XIX　

The　Inquest　

The　Coroner；　having　made　a　few　commonplace　remarks　as　to　the　
terrible　nature　of　the　tragedy　which　they　had　come　to　investigate　that　
afternoon；　proceeded　to　outline　the　case　to　the　jury。　Witnesses　would　be　
called　to　identify　the　deceased　as　Robert　Ablett；　the　brother　of　the　owner　
of　the　Red　House；　Mark　Ablett。　It　would　be　shown　that　he　was　something　
of　a　ne'er…do…well；　who　had　spent　most　of　his　life　in　Australia；　and　that　he　
had　announced；　in　what　might　almost　be　called　a　threatening　letter；　his　
intention　of　visiting　his　brother　that　afternoon。　There　would　be　evidence　
of　his　arrival；　of　his　being　shown　into　the　scene　of　the　tragedy　…　a　room　
in　the　Red　House；　commonly　called　〃the　office〃　…　and　of　his　brother's　
entrance　into　that　room。　The　jury　would　have　to　form　their　own　opinion　
as　to　what　happened　there。　But　whatever　happened；　happened　almost　
instantaneously。　Within　two　minutes　of　Mark　Abletts　entrance；　as　would　
be　shown　in　the　evidence；　a　shot　was　heard；　and　when　…　perhaps　five　
minutes　later　…　the　room　was　forced　open；　the　dead　body　of　Robert　Ablett　
was　found　stretched　upon　the　floor。　As　regards　Mark　Ablett；　nobody　had　
seen　him　from　the　moment　of　his　going　into　the　room；　but　evidence　would　
be　called　to　show　that　he　had　enough　money　on　him　at　the　time　to　take　
him　to　any　other　part　of　the　country；　and　that　a　man　answering　to　his　
description　had　been　observed　on　the　platform　of　Stanton　station；　
apparently　waiting　to　catch　the　3。55　up　train　to　London。　As　the　jury　
would　realize；　such　evidence　of　identity　was　not　always　reliable。　
Missing　men　had　a　way　of　being　seen　in　a　dozen　different　places　at　once。　
In　any　case；　there　was　no　doubt　that　for　the　moment　Mark　Ablett　had　
disappeared。　

〃Seems　a　sound　man；〃　whispered　Antony　to　Bill。　〃Doesn't　talk　too　
much。〃　

Antony　did　not　expect　to　learn　much　from　the　evidence　…　he　knew　the　
facts　of　the　case　so　well　by　now　…　but　he　wondered　if　Inspector　Birch　had　
developed　any　new　theories。　If　so；　they　would　appear　in　he　Coroner's　
examination；　for　the　Coroner　would　certainly　have　been　coached　by　the　

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police　as　to　the　important　facts　to　be　extracted　from　each　witness。　Bill　
was　the　first　to　be　put　through　it。　

〃Now；　about　this　letter；　Mr。　Beverley？〃　he　was　asked　when　his　chief　
evidence　was　over。　〃Did　you　see　it　at　all？〃　

〃I　didn't　see　the　actual　writing。　I　saw　the　back　of　it。　Mark　was　
holding　it　up　when　he　told　us　about　his　brother。〃　

〃You　don't　know　what　was　in　it；　then？〃　

Bill　had　a　sudden　shock。　H