the red house mystery-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　her　I　appeared　to　be　animated　by　no　other　feeling　than　a　boyish　desire　to　
bring　off　a　good　joke　…　a　joke　directed　as　much　against　the　others　as　
against　Mark。　

〃He　came　to　me　that　night；　as　I　expected；　still　quivering　with　
indignation。　Miss　Norris　must　never　be　asked　to　the　house　again；　I　was　
to　make　a　special　note　of　it；　never　again。　It　was　outrageous。　Had　he　not　a　
reputation　as　a　host　to　keep　up；　he　would　pack　her　off　next　morning。　As　
it　was；　she　could　stay；　hospitality　demanded　it；　but　never　again　would　she　
come　to　the　Red　House　…　he　was　absolutely　determined　about　that。　I　was　
to　make　a　special　note　of　it。　

〃I　comforted　him；　I　smoothed　down　his　ruffled　feathers。　She　had　
behaved　very　badly；　but　he　was　quite　right；　he　must　try　not　to　show　how　
much　he　disapproved　of　her。　And　of　course　she　would　never　come　again　

…that　was　obvious。　And　then　suddenly　I　began　to　laugh。　He　looked　up　
at　me　indignantly。　

〃'Is　there　a　joke？〃　he　said　coldly。　

〃I　laughed　gently　again。　

〃'I　was　just　thinking；'　I　said；　'that　it　would　be　rather　amusing　if　you　

well；　had　your　revenge。　
〃'My　revenge？　How　do　you　mean？'　
〃'Well；　paid　her　back　in　her　own　coin。'　
〃'Do　you　mean　try　and　frighten　her？'　
〃'No；　no；　but　dressed　up　and　pulled　her　leg　a　bit。　Made　her　look　a　

171



The　Red　House　Mystery　

fool　in　front　of　the　others。'　I　laughed　to　myself　again。　'Serve　her　jolly　

well　right。'　

〃He　jumped　up　excitedly。　

〃'By　Jove；　Cay！'　he　cried。　'If　I　could！　How？　You　must　think　of　a　
way。　

〃I　don't　know　if　Beverley　has　told　you　about　Mark's　acting。　He　was　
an　amateur　of　all　the　arts；　and　vain　of　his　little　talents；　but　as　an　actor　he　
seemed　to　himself　most　wonderful。　Certainly　he　had　some　ability　for　the　
stage；　so　long　as　he　had　the　stage　to　himself　and　was　playing　to　an　
admiring　audience。　As　a　professional　actor　in　a　small　part　he　would　have　
been　hopeless；　as　an　amateur　playing　the　leading　part；　he　deserved　all　that　
the　local　papers　had　ever　said　about　him。　And　so　the　idea　of　giving　us　a　
private　performance；　directed　against　a　professional　actress　who　had　made　
fun　of　him；　appealed　equally　to　his　vanity　and　his　desire　for　retaliation。　
If　he；　Mark　Albett；　by　his　wonderful　acting　could　make　Ruth　Norris　look　a　
fool　in　front　of　the　others；　could　take　her　in；　and　then　join　in　the　laugh　at　
her　afterwards；　he　would　indeed　have　had　a　worthy　revenge！　

〃It　strikes　you　as　childish；　Mr。　Gillingham？　Ah；　you　never　knew　
Mark　Ablett。　

〃'How；　Cay；　how？'　he　said　eagerly。　

〃'Well；　I　haven't　really　thought　it　out；'　I　protested。　'It　was　just　an　
idea。'　

〃He　began　to　think　it　out　for　himself。　

〃'I　might　pretend　to　be　a　manager；　come　down　to　see　her　…　but　I　
suppose　she　knows　them　all。　What　about　an　interviewer？'　

〃'It's　going　to　be　difficult；'　I　said　thoughtfully。　'You've　got　rather　a　
characteristic　face；　you　know。　And　your　beard　…'　

〃'I'd　shave　it　off；'　he　snapped。　

〃'My　dear　Mark！'　

〃He　looked　away；　and　mumbled；　'I've　been　thinking　of　taking　it　off；　

anyhow。　And　besides；　if　I'm　going　to　do　the　thing；　I'm　going　to　do　it　
properly。'　
〃'Yes；　you　always　were　an　artist；'　I　said；　looking　at　him　admiringly。　
〃He　purred。　To　be　called　an　artist　was　what　he　longed　for　most。　Now　

172



The　Red　House　Mystery　

I　knew　that　I　had　him。　

〃'All　the　same；'　I　went　on；　'even　without　your　beard　and　moustache　
you　might　be　recognizable。　Unless；　of　course　…'　I　broke　off。　

〃'Unless　what？'　

〃'You　pretend　to　be　Robert。'　I　began　to　laugh　to　myself　again。　'By　
Jove！'　I　said；　'that's　not　a　bad　idea。　Pretend　to　be　Robert；　the　wastrel　
brother；　and　make　yourself　objectionable　to　Miss　Norris。　Borrow　money　
from　her；　and　that　sort　of　thing。'　

〃He　looked　at　me；　with　his　bright　little　eyes；　nodding　eagerly。　

〃'Robert；'　he　said。　'Yes。　How　shall　we　work　it？'　

〃There　was　really　a　Robert；　Mr。　Gillingham；　as　I　have　no　doubt　you　
and　the　Inspector　both　discovered。　And　he　was　a　wastrel　and　he　went　to　
Australia。　But　he　never　came　to　the　Red　House　on　Tuesday　afternoon。　
He　couldn't　have；　because　he　died　（unlamented）　three　years　ago。　But　
there　was　nobody　who　knew　this；　save　Mark　and　myself；　for　Mark　was　the　
only　one　of　the　family　left；　his　sister　having　died　last　year。　Though　I　
doubt；　anyhow；　if　she　knew　whether　Robert　was　alive　or　dead。　He　was　
not　talked　about。　

〃For　the　next　two　days　Mark　and　I　worked　out　our　plans。　You　
understand　by　now　that　our　aims　were　not　identical。　Mark's　endeavour　
was　that　his　deception　should　last　for；　say；　a　couple　of　hours；　mine　that　it　
should　go　to　the　grave　with　him。　He　had　only　to　deceive　Miss　Norris　and　
the　other　guests；　I　had　to　deceive　the　world。　When　he　was　dressed　up　as　
Robert；　I　was　going　to　kill　him。　Robert　would　then　be　dead；　Mark　（of　
course）　missing。　What　could　anybody　think　but　that　Mark　had　killed　
Robert？　But　you　see　how　important　it　was　for　Mark　to　enter　fully　into　
his　latest　（and　last）　impersonation。　Half…measures　would　be　fatal。　

〃You　will　say　that　it　was　impossible　so　do　the　thing　thoroughly　enough。　
I　answer　again　that　you　never　knew　Mark。　He　was　being　what　he　wished　
most　to　be　…　an　artist。　No　Othello　ever　blacked　himself　all　over　with　such　
enthusiasm　as　did　Mark。　His　beard　was　going　anyhow　…　possible　a　
chance　remark　of　Miss　Norbury's　helped　here。　She　did　not　like　beards。　
But　it　was　important　for　me　that　the　dead　man's　hands　should　not　be　the　
hands　of　a　manicured　gentleman。　Five　minutes　playing　upon　the　vanity　

173



The　Red　House　Mystery　

of　the　artist　settled　his　hands。　He　let　the　nails　grow　and　then　cut　them　
raggedly。　'Miss　Norris　would　notice　your　hands　at　once；'　I　had　said。　
'Besides；　as　an　artist　…'　

〃So　with　his　underclothes。　It　was　hardly　necessary　to　warn　him　that　
his　pants　might　show　above　the　edge　of　his　socks；　as　an　artist　he　had　
already　decided　upon　Robertian　pants。　I　bought　them；　and　other　things；　
in　London　for　him。　Even　if　I　had　not　cut　out　all　trace　of　the　maker's　
name；　he　would　instinctively　have　done　it。　As　an　Australian　and　an　artist；　
he　could　not　have　an　East　London　address　on　his　underclothes。　Yes；　we　
were　doing　the　thing　thoroughly；　both　of　us；　he　as　an　artist；　I　as　a　…　well；　
you　may　say　murderer；　if　you　like。　I　shall　not　mind　now。　

〃Our　plans　were　settled。　I　went　to　London　on　the　Monday　and　wrote　
him　a　letter　from　Robert。　（The　artistic　touch　again。）　I　also　bought　a　
revolver。　On　the　Tuesday　morning　he　announced　the　arrival　of　Robert　at　
the　breakfast…table。　Robert　was　now　alive　…　we　had　six　witnesses　to　
prove　it；　six　witnesses　who　knew　that　he　was　coming　that　afternoon。　Our　
private　plan　was　that　Robert　should　present　himself　at　three　o'clock；　in　
readiness　for　the　return　of　the　golfing…party　shortly　afterwards。　The　maid　
would　go　to　look　for　Mark；　and　having　failed　to　find　him；　come　back　to　
the　office　to　find　me　entertaining　Robert　in　Mark's　absence。　I　would　
explain　that　Mark　must　have　gone　out　somewhere；　and　would　myself　
introduce　the　wastrel　brother　to　the　tea…table。　Mark's　absence　would　not　
excite　any　comment；　for　it　would　be　generally　felt　…　indeed　Robert　would　
suggest　it　…　that　he　had　been　afraid　of　meeting　his　brother。　Then　Robert　
would　make　himself　amusingly　offensive　to　the　guests；　particularly；　of　
course；　Miss　Norris；　until　he　thought　that　the　joke　had　gone　far　enough。　

〃That　was　our　private　plan。　Perhaps　I　should　say　that　it　was　Mark's　
private　plan。　My　own　was　different。　

〃The　announcement　at　breakfast　went　well。　After　the　golfing…party　
had　gone　off；　we　had　the　morning　in　which　to　complete　our　arrangements。　
What　I　was　chiefly　concerned　about　was　to　establish　as　completely　as　
possible　the　identity　of　Robert。　For　this　reason　I　suggested　to　Mark　that；　
when　dressed；　he　should　go　out　by　the　secret　passage　to　the　bowling…green；　
and　come　back　by　the　drive；　taking　care　to　enter　into　conversation　with　the　

174



The　Red　House　Mystery　

lodge…keeper。　In　this　way　I　would　have　two　more　witnesses　of　Robert's　
arrival　…　first　the　lodge…keeper；　and　secondly　one　of　the　gardeners　whom　I　
would　have　working　on　the　front　lawn。　Mark；　of　course；　was　willing　
enough。　He　could　practise　his　Australian　accent　on　the　lodge…keeper。　It　
was　really　amusing　to　see　how　readily　he　fell　into　every　suggestion　which　
I　made。　Never　was　a　killing　more　carefully　planned　by　its　victim。　

〃He　changed　into　Robert's　clothes　in　the　office　bedroom。　This　was　
the　safest　way　…　for　both　of　us。　When　he　was　ready；　he　called　me　in；　and　
I　inspected　him。　It　was　extraordinary　how　well　he　looked　the　part。　I　
suppose　that　the　signs　of　his　dissipation　had　already　marked　themselves　on；　
his　face；　but　had　been　concealed　hitherto　by　his　moustache　and　beard；　for　
now　that　he　was　clean…shaven　they　lay　open　to　the　world　from　which　we　
had　so　carefully　hidden　them；　and　he　was　indeed　the　wastrel　which　he　was　
pretending　to　be。　

〃'By　Jove；　you're　wonderful；'　I　said。　

〃He　smirked；　and　called　my　attention　to　the　various　artistic　touches　
which　I　might　have　missed。　

〃'Wonderful；'　I　said　to　myself　again。　'Nobody　could　possibly　guess。'　

〃I　peered　into　the　hall。　It　was　empty。　We　hurried　across　to　the　
library；　he　got　into　the　passage　and　made　off。　I　went　back　to　the　
bedroom；　collected　all　his　discarded　clothes；　did　them　up　in　a　bundle　and　
returned　with　them　to　the　passage。　Then　I　sat　down　in　the　hall　and　
waited。　

〃You　heard　the　evidence　of　Stevens；　the　maid。　As　soon　as　she　was　on　
her　way　to　the　Temple　in　search　of　Mark；　I　stepped　into　the　office。　My　
hand　was　in　my　side…pocket；　and　in　my　hand　was　the　revolver。　

〃He　began　at　once　in　his　character　of　Robert　…　some　rigmarole　about　
working　his　passage　over　from　Australia；　a　little　private　performance　for　
my　edification。　Then　in　his　natural　voice；　gloating　over　his　well…planned　
retaliation　on　Miss　Norris；　he　burst　out；　'It's　my　turn　now。　You　wait。'　It　
was　this　which　Elsie　heard。　She　had　no　business　to　be　there　and　she　
might　have　ruined　everything；　but　as　it　turned　out　it　was　the　luckiest　thing　
which　could　have　happened。　For　it　was　the　one　piece　of　evidence　which　I　
wanted；　evidence；　other　than　my　own；　that　Mark　and　Robert　were　in　the　

175



The　Red　House　Mystery　

room　together。　

〃I　said　nothing。　I　was　not　going　to　take　the　risk　of　being　heard　to　
speak　in　that　room。　I　just　smiled　at　the　poor　little　fool；　and　took　out　my　
revolver；　and　shot　him。　Then　I　went　back　into　the　library　and　waited　
just　as　I　said　in　my　evidence。　

〃Can　you　imagine；　Mr。　Gillingham；　the　shock　which　your　sudden　
appearance　gave　me？　Can　you　imagine　the　feelings　of　a　'murderer'　who　
has　（as　he　thinks）　planned　for　every　possibility；　and　is　then　confronted　
suddenly　with　an　utterly　new　problem？　What　difference　would　your　
coming　make？　I　didn't　know。　Perhaps　none；　perhaps　all。　And　I　had　
forgotten　to　open　the　window！　

〃I　don't　know　whether　you　will　think　my　plan　for　killing　Mark　a　clever　
one。　Perhaps　not。　But　if　I　do　deserve　any　praise　in　the　matter；　I　think　I　
deserve　it　for　the　way　I　pulled　myself　together　in　the　face　of　the　
unexpected　catastrophe　of　your　arrival。　Yes；　I　got　a　window　open；　Mr。　
Gillingham；　under　your　very　nose；　the　right　window　too