the red house mystery-第3章

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herself；　particularly　at　rehearsals。　

〃I　say；　Cay！〃　He　was　frowning　to　himself　…　annoyed；　puzzled。　He　
held　up　a　letter　and　shook　it。　〃Who　do　you　think　this　is　from？〃　

Cayley；　at　the　other　end　of　the　table；　shrugged　his　shoulders。　How　
could　he　possibly　guess？　

〃Robert；〃　said　Mark。　

〃Robert？〃　It　was　difficult　to　surprise　Cayley。　〃Well？〃　

〃It's　all　very　well　to　say　'we1l？'　like　that；〃　said　Mark　peevishly。　〃He's　
coming　here　this　afternoon。〃　

〃I　thought　he　was　in　Australia；　or　somewhere。〃　

〃Of　course。　So　did　I。〃　He　looked　across　at　Rumbold。　〃Got　any　
brothers；　Major？〃　

〃No。〃　

〃Well；　take　my　advice；　and　don't　have　any。〃　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

〃Not　likely　to　now；〃　said　the　Major。　

Bill　laughed。　Miss　Norris　said　politely：　〃But　you　haven't　any　
brothers；　Mr。　Ablett？〃　

〃One；〃　said　Mark　grimly。　〃If　you're　back　in　time　you'll　see　him　this　
afternoon。　He'll　probably　ask　you　to　lend　him　five　pounds。　Don't。〃　

Everybody　felt　a　little　uncomfortable。　

〃I've　got　a　brother；〃　said　Bill　helpfully；　〃but　I　always　borrow　from　
him。〃　

〃Like　Robert；〃　said　Mark。　

〃When　was　he　in　England　last？〃　asked　Cayley。　

〃About　fifteen　years　ago；　wasn't　it？　You'd　have　been　a　boy；　of　
course。〃　

〃Yes；　I　remember　seeing　him　once　about　then；　but　I　didn't　know　if　he　
had　been　back　since。〃　

〃No。　Not　to　my　knowledge。〃　Mark；　still　obviously　upset；　returned　
to　his　letter。　

〃Personally；〃　said　Bill；　〃I　think　relations　are　a　great　mistake。〃　

〃All　the　same；〃　said　Betty　a　little　daringly；　〃it　must　be　rather　fun　
having　a　skeleton　in　the　cupboard。〃　

Mark　looked　up；　frowning。　

〃If　you　think　it's　fun；　I'll　hand　him　over　to　you；　Betty。　If　he's　
anything　like　he　used　to　be；　and　like　his　few　letters　have　been　…　well；　Cay　
knows。〃　

Cayley　grunted。　

〃All　I　knew　was　that　one　didn't　ask　questions　about　him。〃　

It　may　have　been　meant　as　a　hint　to　any　too　curious　guest　not　to　ask　
more　questions；　or　a　reminder　to　his　host　not　to　talk　too　freely　in　front　of　
strangers；　although　he　gave　it　the　sound　of　a　mere　statement　of　fact。　But　
the　subject　dropped；　to　be　succeeded　by　the　more　fascinating　one　of　the　
coming　foursome。　Mrs。　Calladine　was　driving　over　with　the　players　in　
order　to　lunch　with　an　old　friend　who　lived　near　the　links；　and　Mark　and　
Cayley　were　remaining　at　home　…　on　affairs。　Apparently　〃affairs〃　were　
now　to　include　a　prodigal　brother。　But　that　need　not　make　the　foursome　
less　enjoyable。　

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At　about　the　time　when　the　Major　（for　whatever　reasons）　was　fluffing　
his　tee…shot　at　the　sixteenth；　and　Mark　and　his　cousin　were　at　their　
business　at　The　Red　House；　an　attractive　gentleman　of　the　name　of　Antony　
Gillingham　was　handing　up　his　ticket　at　Woodham　station　and　asking　the　
way　to　the　village。　Having　received　directions；　he　left　his　bag　with　the　
station…master　and　walked　off　leisurely。　He　is　an　important　person　to　this　
story；　so　that　it　is　as　well　we　should　know　something　about　him　before　
letting　him　loose　in　it。　Let　us　stop　him　at　the　top　of　the　hill　on　some　
excuse；　and　have　a　good　look　at　him。　

The　first　thing　we　realize　is　that　he　is　doing　more　of　the　looking　than　
we　are。　Above　a　clean…cut；　clean…shaven　face；　of　the　type　usually　
associated　with　the　Navy；　he　carries　a　pair　of　grey　eyes　which　seem　to　be　
absorbing　every　detail　of　our　person。　To　strangers　this　look　is　almost　
alarming　at　first；　until　they　discover　that　his　mind　is　very　often　elsewhere；　
that　he　has；　so　to　speak；　left　his　eyes　on　guard；　while　he　himself　follows　a　
train　of　thought　in　another　direction。　Many　people　do　this；　of　course；　
when；　for　instance；　they　are　talking　to　one　person　and　trying　to　listen　to　
another；　but　their　eyes　betray　them。　Antony's　never　did。　

He　had　seen　a　good　deal　of　the　world　with　those　eyes；　though　never　as　
a　sailor。　When　at　the　age　of　twenty…one　he　came　into　his　mother's　money；　
400　pounds　a　year；　old　Gillingham　looked　up　from　the　〃Stockbreeders'　
Gazette〃　to　ask　what　he　was　going　to　do。　

〃See　the　world；〃　said　Antony。　

〃Well；　send　me　a　line　from　America；　or　wherever　you　get　to。〃　

〃Right；〃　said　Antony。　

Old　Gillingham　returned　to　his　paper。　Antony　was　a　younger　son；　
and；　on　the　whole；　not　so　interesting　to　his　father　as　the　cadets　of　certain　
other　families；　Champion　Birket's；　for　instance。　But；　then；　Champion　
Birket　was　the　best　Hereford　bull　he　had　ever　bred。　

Antony；　however；　had　no　intention　of　going　further　away　than　London。　
His　idea　of　seeing　the　world　was　to　see；　not　countries；　but　people；　and　to　
see　them　from　as　many　angles　as　possible。　There　are　all　sorts　in　London　
if　you　know　how　to　look　at　them。　So　Antony　looked　at　them　…　from　
various　strange　corners；　from　the　view…point　of　the　valet；　the　newspaper

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reporter；　the　waiter；　the　shop…assistant。　With　the　independence　of　400　
pounds　a　year　behind　him；　he　enjoyed　it　immensely。　He　never　stayed　
long　in　one　job；　and　generally　closed　his　connexion　with　it　by　telling　his　
employer　（contrary　to　all　etiquette　as　understood　between　master　and　
servant）　exactly　what　he　thought　of　him。　He　had　no　difficulty　in　finding　
a　new　profession。　Instead　of　experience　and　testimonials　he　offered　his　
personality　and　a　sporting　bet。　He　would　take　no　wages　'the　first　month；　
and　…　if　he　satisfied　his　employer　…　double　wages　the　second。　He　always　
got　his　double　wages。　

He　was　now　thirty。　He　had　come　to　Waldheim　for　a　holiday；　because　
he　liked　the　look　of　the　station。　His　ticket　entitled　him　to　travel　further；　
but　he　had　always　intended　to　please　himself　in　the　matter。　Waldheim　
attracted　him；　and　he　had　a　suit…case　in　the　carriage　with　him　and　money　
in　his　pocket。　Why　not　get　out？　

The　landlady　of　〃The　George〃　was　only　too　glad　to　put　him　up；　and　
promised　that　her　husband　would　drive　over　that　afternoon　for　his　luggage。　

〃And　you　would　like　some　lunch；　I　expect；　sir。〃　

〃Yes；　but　don't　give　yourself　any　trouble　about　it。　Cold　anything…
you've…got。〃　

〃What　about　beef；　sir？〃　she　asked；　as　if　she　had　a　hundred　varieties　of　
meat　to　select　from；　and　was　offering　him　her　best。　

〃That　will　do　splendidly。　And　a　pint　of　beer。〃　

While　he　was　finishing　his　lunch；　the　landlord　came　in　to　ask　about　the　
luggage。　Antony　ordered　another　pint；　and　soon　had　him　talking。　

〃It　must　be　rather　fun　to　keep　a　country　inn；〃　he　said；　thinking　that　it　
was　about　time　he　started　another　profession。　

〃I　don't　know　about　fun；　sir。　It　gives　us　a　living；　and　a　bit　over。〃　

〃You　ought　to　take　a　holiday；〃　said　Antony；　looking　at　him　
thoughtfully。　

〃Funny　thing　your　saying　that；〃　said　the　landlord；　with　a　smile。　
〃Another　gentleman；　over　from　The　Red　House；　was　saying　that　only　
yesterday。　Offered　to　take　my　place　'n　all。〃　He　laughed　rumblingly。　

〃The　Red　House？　Not　the　Red　House；　Stanton？〃　

〃That's　right；　sir。　Stanton's　the　next　station　to　Waldheim。　The　Red　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

House　is　about　a　mile　from　here　…　Mr。　Ablett's。〃　

Antony　took　a　letter　from　his　pocket。　It　was　addressed　from　〃The　
Red　House；　Stanton；〃　and　signed　〃Bill。〃　

〃Good　old　Bill；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　〃He's　getting　on。〃　

Antony　had　met　Bill　Beverley　two　years　before　in　a　tobacconist's　shop。　
Gillingham　was　on　one　side　of　the　counter　and　Mr。　Beverley　on　the　other。　
Something　about　Bill；　his　youth　and　freshness；　perhaps；　attracted　Antony；　
and　when　cigarettes　had　been　ordered；　and　an　address　given　to　which　they　
were　to　be　sent；　he　remembered　that　he　had　come　across　an　aunt　of　
Beverley's　once　at　a　country…house。　Beverley　and　he　met　again　a　little　
later　at　a　restaurant。　Both　of　them　were　in　evening…dress；　but　they　did　
different　things　with　their　napkins；　and　Antony　was　the　more　polite　of　the　
two。　However；　he　still　liked　Bill。　So　on　one　of　his　holidays；　when　he　
was　unemployed；　he　arranged　an　introduction　through　a　mutual　friend。　
Beverley　was　a　little　inclined　to　be　shocked　when　he　was　reminded　of　
their　previous　meetings；　but　his　uncomfortable　feeling　soon　wore　off；　and　
he　and　Antony　quickly　became　intimate。　But　Bill　generally　addressed　
him　as　〃Dear　Madman〃　when　he　happened　to　write。　

Antony　decided　to　stroll　over　to　The　Red　House　after　lunch　and　call　
upon　his　friend。　Having　inspected　his　bedroom　which　was　not　quite　the　
lavender…smelling　country…inn　bedroom　of　fiction；　but　sufficiently　clean　
and　comfortable；　he　set　out　over　the　fields。　

As　he　came　down　the　drive　and　approached　the　old　red…brick　front　of　
the　house；　there　was　a　lazy　murmur　of　bees　in　the　flower…borders；　a　gentle　
cooing　of　pigeons　in　the　tops　of　the　elms；　and　from　distant　lawns　the　whir　
of　a　mowing…machine；　that　most　restful　of　all　country　sounds。。。。　

And　in　the　hall　a　man　was　banging　at　a　locked　door；　and　shouting；　
〃Open　the　door；　I　say；　open　the　door！〃　

〃Hallo！〃　said　Antony　in　amazement。　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

CHAPTER　III　

Two　Men　and　a　Body　

Cayley　looked　round　suddenly　at　the　voice。　

〃Can　I　help？〃　said　Antony　politely。　

〃Something's　happened；〃　said　Cayley。　He　was　breathing　quickly。　〃I　
heard　a　shot…it　sounded　like　a　shot　…　I　was　in　the　library。　A　loud　bang　…　I　
didn't　know　what　it　was。　And　the　door's　locked。〃　He　rattled　the　handle　
again；　and　shook　it。　〃Open　the　door！〃　he　cried。　〃I　say；　Mark；　what　is　it？　
Open　the　door！〃　

〃But　he　must　have　locked　the　door　on　purpose；〃　said　Antony。　〃So　
why　should　he　open　it　just　because　you　ask　him　to？〃　

Cayley　looked　at　him　in　a　bewildered　way。　Then　he　turned　to　the　
door　again。　〃We　must　break　it　in；〃　he　said；　putting　his　shoulder　to　it。　
〃Help　me。〃　

〃Isn't　there　a　window？〃　

Cayley　turned　to　him　stupidly。　

〃Window？　Window？〃　

〃So　much　easier　to　break　in　a　window；〃　said　Antony　with　a　smile。　He　
looked　very　cool　and　collected；　as　he　stood　just　inside　the　hall；　leaning　on　
his　stick；　and　thinking；　no　doubt；　that　a　great　deal　of　fuss　was　being　made　
about　nothing。　But　then；　he　had　not　heard　the　shot。　

〃Window　…　of　course！　What　an　idiot　I　am。〃　

He　pushed　past　Antony；　and　began　running　out　into　the　drive。　
Antony　followed　him。　They　ran　along　the　front　of　the　house；　down　a　
path　to　the　left；　and　then　to　the　left　again　over　the　grass；　Cayley　in　front；　
the　other　close　behind　him。　Suddenly　Cayley　looked　over　his　shoulder　
and　pulled　up　short。　

〃Here；〃　he　said。　

They　had　come　to　the　windows　of　the　locked　room；　French　windows　
which　opened　on　to　the　lawns　at　the　back　of　the　house。　But　now　they　
were　closed。　Antony　couldn't　help　feeling　a　thrill　of　excitement　as　he　
followed　Cayley's　example；　and　put　his　face　close　up　to　the　glass。　For　the　
first　time　he　wondered　if　there　really　had　been　a　revolver　shot　in　this　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

mysterious　room。　It　had　all　seemed　so　absurd　and　melodramatic　from　the　
other　side　of　the　door。　But　if　there　had　been　one　shot；　why　should　there　
not　be　two　more？　…　at　the　careless　fools　who　were　pressing　their　noses　
against　the　panes；　and　asking　for　it。　

〃My　God；　can　you　see　it？〃　said　Cayley　in　a　shaking　voice。　〃Down　
there。　Look！〃　

The　next　moment　Antony　saw　it。　A　man　was　lying　on　the　floor　at　the　
far　end　of　the　room；　his　back　to