the red house mystery-第28章

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which　Robert　had　undoubtedly　come　from　London。　A　witness；　however；　
would　state　that　he　noticed　a　man　resembling　Mark　Ablett　at　the　station　at　

3。53　p。m。　that　afternoon；　and　this　man　caught　the　3。55　up　train　to　town。　
There　was　a　pond　in　the　grounds　of　the　Red　House。　He　had　dragged　
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this；　but　without　result。。。。　

Antony　listened　to　him　carelessly；　thinking　his　own　thoughts　all　the　
time。　Medical　evidence　followed；　but　there　was　nothing　to　be　got　from　
that。　He　felt　so　close　to　the　truth；　at　any　moment　something　might　give　
his　brain　the　one　little　hint　which　it　wanted。　Inspector　Birch　was　just　
pursuing　the　ordinary。　Whatever　else　this　case　was；　it　was　not　ordinary。　
There　was　something　uncanny　about　it。　

John　Borden　was　giving　evidence。　He　was　on　the　up　platform　seeing　
a　friend　off　by　the　3。55　on　Tuesday　afternoon。　He　had　noticed　a　man　on　
the　platform　with　coat　collar　turned　up　and　a　scarf　round　his　chin。　He　
had　wondered　why　the　man　should　do　this　on　such　a　hot　day。　The　man　
seemed　to　be　trying　to　escape　observation。　Directly　the　train　came　in；　he　
hurried　into　a　carriage。　And　so　on。　

〃There's　always　a　John　Borden　at　every　murder　case；　said　Antony　to　
himself。　

〃Have　you　ever　seen　Mark　Ablett？〃　

〃Once　or　twice；　sir。〃　

〃Was　it　he？〃　

〃I　never　really　got　a　good　look　at　him；　sir；　what　with　his　collar　turned　
up　and　the　scarf　and　all。　But　directly　I　heard　of　the　sad　affair；　and　that　
Mr。　Ablett　was　missing；　I　said　to　Mrs。　Borden；　'Now　I　wonder　if　that　was　
Mr。　Ablett　I　saw　at　the　station？'　So　then　we　talked　it　over　and　decided　
that　I　ought　to　come　and　tell　Inspector　Birch。　It　was　just　Mr。　Ablett's　
height；　sir。〃　

Antony　went　on　with　his　thoughts。。。。　

The　Coroner　was　summing　up。　The　jury；　he　said；　had　now　heard　all　
the　evidence　and　would　have　to　decide　what　had　happened　in　that　room　
between　the　two　brothers。　How　had　the　deceased　met　his　death？　The　
medical　evidence　would　probably　satisfy　them　that　Robert　Ablett　had　died　
from　the　effects　of　a　bullet…wound　in　the　head。　Who　had　fired　that　bullet？　
If　Robert　Ablett　had　fired　it　himself；　no　doubt　they　would　bring　in　a　
verdict　of　suicide；　but　if　this　had　been　so；　where　was　the　revolver　which　
had　fired　it；　and　what　had　become　of　Mark　Ablett？　If　they　disbelieved　in　
this　possibility　of　suicide；　what　remained？　Accidental　death；　justifiable。　

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homicide；　and　murder。　Could　the　deceased　have　been　killed　accidentally？　
It　was　possible；　but　then　would　Mark　Ablett　have　run　away？　The　
evidence　that　he　had　run　away　from　the　scene　of　the　crime　was　strong。　
His　cousin　had　seen　him　go　into　the　room；　the　servant　Elsie　Wood　had　
heard　him　quarrelling　with　his　brother　in　the　room；　the　door　had　been　
locked　from　the　inside；　and　there　were　signs　that　outside　the　open　window　
some　one　had　pushed　his　way　very　recently　through　the　shrubbery。　Who；　if　
not　Mark？　They　would　have　then　to　consider　whether　he　would　have　run　
away　if　he　had　been　guiltless　of　his　brother's　death。　No　doubt　innocent　
people　lost　their　heads　sometimes。　It　was　possible　that　if　it　were　proved　
afterwards　that　Mark　Ablett　had　shot　his　brother；　it　might　also　be　proved　
that　he　was　justified　in　so　doing；　and　that　when　he　ran　away　from　his　
brother's　corpse　he　had　really　nothing　to　fear　at　the　hands　of　the　Law。　In　
this　connexion　he　need　hardly　remind　the　jury　that　they　were　not　the　final　
tribunal；　and　that　if　they　found　Mark　Ablett　guilty　of　murder　it　would　not　
prejudice　his　trial　in　any　way　if　and　when　he　was　apprehended。。。。　The　
jury　could　consider　their　verdict。　

They　considered　it。　They　announced　that　the　deceased　had　died　as　
the　result　of　a　bullet…wound；　and　that　the　bullet　had　been　fired　by　his　
brother　Mark　Ablett。　

Bill　turned　round　to　Antony　at　his　side。　But　Antony　was　gone。　Across　
the　room　he　saw　Andrew　Amos　and　Parsons　going　out　of　the　door　together；　
and　Antony　was　between　them。　

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CHAPTER　XX　

Mr。　Beverley　is　Tactful　

The　inquest　had　been　held　at　the　〃Lamb〃　at　Stanton；　at　Stanton　
Robert　Ablett　was　to　be　buried　next　day。　Bill　waited　about　outside　for　his　
friend；　wondering　where　he　had　gone。　Then；　realizing　that　Cayley　would　
be　coming　out　to　his　car　directly；　and　that　a　farewell　talk　with　Cayley　
would　be　a　little　embarrassing；　he　wandered　round　to　the　yard　at　the　back　
of　the　inn；　lit　a　cigarette；　and　stood　surveying　a　torn　and　weather…beaten　
poster　on　the　stable　wall。　〃GRAND　THEATRICAL　ENTER〃　it　announced；　
to　take　place　on　〃Wednesday；　Decem。〃　Bill　smiled　to　himself　as　he　
looked　at　it；　for　the　part　of　Joe；　a　loquacious　postman；　had　been　played　by　
〃William　B。　Beverl；〃　as　the　remnants　of　the　poster　still　maintained；　and　he　
had　been　much　less　loquacious　than　the　author　had　intended；　having　
forgotten　his　words　completely；　but　it　had　all　been　great　fun。　And　then　he　
stopped　smiling；　for　there　would　be　no　more　fun　now　at　the　Red　House。　

〃Sorry　to　keep　you　waiting；〃　said　the　voice　of　Antony　behind　him。　
〃My　old　friends　Amos　and　Parsons　insisted　on　giving　me　a　drink。〃　

He　slipped　his　hand　into　the　crook　of　Bill's　arm；　and　smiled　happily　at　
him。　

〃Why　were　you　so　keen　about　them？〃　asked　Bill　a　little　resentfully。　〃I　
couldn't　think　where　on　earth　you　had　got　to。〃　

Antony　didn't　say　anything。　He　was　staring　at　the　poster。　

〃When　did　this　happen？〃　he　asked。　

〃What？〃　

Antony　waved　to　the　poster。　

〃Oh；　that？　Last　Christmas。　It　was　rather　fun。〃　

Antony　began　to　laugh　to　himself。　

〃Were　you　good？〃　

〃Rotten。　I　don't　profess　to　be　an　actor。〃　

〃Mark　good？〃　

〃Oh；　rather。　He　loves　it。〃　

〃Rev。　Henry　Stutters　…　Mr。　Matthew　Cay；〃　read　Antony。　

〃Was　that　our　friend　Cayley？〃　

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〃Yes。〃　

〃Any　good？〃　

〃Well；　much　better　than　I　expected。　He　wasn't　keen；　but　Mark　made　
him。〃　

〃Miss　Norris　wasn't　playing；　I　see。〃　

〃My　dear　Tony；　she's　a　professional。　Of　course　she　wasn't。〃　

Antony　laughed　again。　

〃A　great　success；　was　it？〃　

〃Oh。　rather！〃　

〃I'm　a　fool；　and　a　damned　fool；〃　Antony　announced　solemnly。　〃And　
a　damned　fool；〃　he　said　again　under　his　breath；　as　he　led　Bill　away　from　
the　poster；　and　out　of　the　yard　into　the　road。　〃And　a　damned　fool。　Even　
now　…〃　He　broke　off　and　then　asked　suddenly；　〃Did　Mark　ever　have　
much　trouble　with　his　teeth？〃　

〃He　went　to　his　dentist　a　good　deal。　But　what　on　earth　…〃　

Antony　laughed　a　third　time。　

〃What　luck！〃　he　chuckled。　〃But　how　do　you　know？〃　

〃We　go　to　the　same　man；　Mark　recommended　him　to　me。　Cartwright；　
in　Wimpole　Street。〃　

〃Cartwright　in　Wimpole　Street；〃　repeated　Antony　thoughtfully。　〃Yes；　
I　can　remember　that。　Cartwright　in　Wimpole　Street。　Did　Cayley　go　to　
him　too；　by　any　chance？〃　

〃I　expect　so。　Oh；　yes；　I　know　he　did。　But　what　on　earth　…〃　

〃What　was　Mark's　general　health　like？　Did　he　see　a　doctor　much？〃　

〃Hardly　at　all；　I　should　think。　He　did　a　lot　of　early　morning　exercises　
which　were　supposed　to　make　him　bright　and　cheerful　at　breakfast。　They　
didn't　do　that；　but　they　seemed　to　keep　him　pretty　fit。　Tony；　I　wish　you'd　
…〃　

Antony　held　up　a　hand　and　hushed　him　into　silence。　

〃One　last　question；〃　he　said。　〃Was　Mark　fond　of　swimming？〃　

〃No；　he　hated　it。　I　don't　believe　he　could　swim。　Tony；　are　you　mad；　
or　am　I？　Or　is　this　a　new　game？〃　

Antony　squeezed　his　arm。　

〃Dear　old　Bill；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　game。　What　a　game！　And　the　

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answer　is　Cartwright　in　Wimpole　Street。〃　

They　walked　in　silence　for　half　a　mile　or　so　along　the　road　to　
Waldheim。　Bill　tried　two　or　three　times　to　get　his　friend　to　talk；　but　
Antony　had　only　grunted　in　reply。　He　was　just　going　to　make　another　
attempt；　when　Antony　came　to　a　sudden　stop　and　turned　to　him　anxiously。　
〃I　wonder　if　you'd　do　something　for　me；〃　he　said；　looking　at　him　with　
some　doubt。　

〃What　sort　of　thing？〃　

〃Well；　it's　really　dashed　important。　It's　just　the　one　thing　I　want　now。　

Bill　was　suddenly　enthusiastic　again。　

〃I　say；　have　you　really　found　it　all　out？〃　

Antony　nodded。　

〃At　least；　I'm　very　nearly　there；　Bill。　There's　just　this　one　thing　I　
want　now。　It　means　your　going　back　to　Stanton。　Well；　we　haven't　come　
far；　it　won't　take　you　long。　Do　you　mind？〃　

〃My　dear　Holmes；　I　am　at　your　service。〃　

Antony　gave　him　a　smile　and　was　silent　for　a　little；　thinking。　

〃Is　there　another　inn　at　Stanton…fairly　close　to　the　station？〃　

〃The　'Plough　and　Horses'　…　just　at　the　corner　where　the　road　goes　up　to　
the　station　…　is　that　the　one　you　mean？〃　

〃That　would　be　the　one。　I　suppose　you　could　do　with　a　drink；　
couldn't　you？〃　

〃Rather！〃　said　Bill；　with　a　grin。　

〃Good。　Then　have　one　at　the　'Plough　and　Horses。'　Have　two；　if　you　
like；　and　talk　to　the　landlord；　or　landlady；　or　whoever　serves　you。　I　want　
you　to　find　out　if　anybody　stayed　there　on　Monday　night。〃　

〃Robert？〃　said　Bill　eagerly。　

〃I　didn't　say　Robert；〃　said　Antony；　smiling。　〃I　just　want　you　to　find　
out　if　they　had　a　visitor　who　slept　there　on　Monday　night。　A　stranger。　If　
so；　then　any　particulars　you　can　get　of　him；　without　letting　the　landlord　
know　that　you　are　interested　…〃　

〃Leave　it　to　me；〃　broke　in　Bill。　〃I　know　just　what　you　want。〃　

〃Don't　assume　that　it　was　Robert　…　or　anybody　else。　Let　them　
describe　the　man　to　you。　Don't　influence　them　unconsciously　by　

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suggesting　that　he　was　short　or　tall；　or　anything　of　that　sort。　Just　get　them　

talking。　If　it's　the　landlord；　you'd　better　stand　him　a　drink　or　two。〃　

〃Right　you　are；〃　said　Bill　confidently。　〃Where　do　I　meet　you　again？〃　

〃Probably　at　the　'George。'　If　you　get　there　before　me；　you　can　order　
dinner　for　eight　o'clock。　Anyhow　we'll　meet　at　eight；　if　not　before。〃　

〃Good。〃　He　nodded　to　Antony　and　strode　off　back　to　Stanton　again。　

Antony　stood　watching　him　with　a　little　smile　at　his　enthusiasm。　Then　
he　looked　round　slowly；　as　if　in　search　of　something。　Suddenly　he　saw　
what　he　wanted。　Twenty　yards　farther　on　a　lane　wandered　off　to　the　left；　
and　there　was　a　gate　a　little　way　up　on　the　right…hand　side　of　it。　Antony　
walked　to　the　gate；　filling　his　pipe　as　he　went。　Then　he　lit　his　pipe；　sat　on　
the　gate；　and　took　his　head　in　his　hands。　

〃Now　then；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃let's　begin　at　the　beginning。〃　

It　was　nearly　eight　o'clock　when　William　Beverley；　the　famous　sleuthhound；　arrived；　tired　and　dusty；　at　the　〃George；〃　to　find　Antony；　cool　and　
clean；　standing　bare…headed　at　the　door；　waiting　for　him。　

〃Is　dinner　ready？〃　were　Bill's　first　words。　

〃Yes。〃　

〃Then　I'll　just　have　a　wash。　Lord；　I'm　tired。〃　

〃I　never　ought　to　have　asked　you；〃　said　Antony　penitently。　

〃That's　all　right。　I　shan't　be　a　moment。〃　Half…way　up　the　stairs　he　
turned　round　and　asked；　〃Am　I　in　your　room？〃　

〃Yes。　Do　you　know　the　way？〃　

〃Yes。　Start　carving；　will　you？　And　order　lots　of　beer。〃　He　
disappeared　round　the　top　of　the　staircase。　Antony　went　slowly　in。　

When　the　first　edge　of　his　appetite　had　worn　off；　and　he　was　able　to　
spare　a　little　time　between　the　mouthfuls；　Bill　gave　an　account　of　his　
adventures。　The　landlord　of　the　〃Plough　and　Hor