the red house mystery-第4章

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there。　Look！〃　

The　next　moment　Antony　saw　it。　A　man　was　lying　on　the　floor　at　the　
far　end　of　the　room；　his　back　towards　them。　A　man？　Or　the　body　of　a　
man？　

〃Who　is　it？〃　said　Antony。　

〃I　don't　know；〃　the　other　whispered。　

〃Well；　we'd　better　go　and　see。〃　He　considered　the　windows　for　a　
moment。　〃I　should　think；　if　you　put　your　weight　into　it；　just　where　they　
join；　they'll　give　all　right。　Otherwise；　we　can　kick　the　glass　in。〃　

Without　saying　anything；　Cayley　put　his　weight　into　it。　The　window　
gave；　and　they　went　into　the　room。　Cayley　walked　quickly　to　the　body；　
and　dropped　on　his　knees　by　it。　For　the　moment　he　seemed　to　hesitate；　
then　with　an　effort　he　put　a　hand　on　to　its　shoulder　and　pulled　it　over。　

〃Thank　God！〃　he　murmured；　and　let　the　body　go　again。　

〃Who　is　it？〃　said　Antony。　

〃Robert　Ablett。〃　

〃Oh！〃　said　Antony。　〃I　thought　his　name　was　Mark；〃　he　added；　more　
to　himself　than　to　the　other。　

〃Yes；　Mark　Ablett　lives　here。　Robert　is　his　brother。〃　He　shuddered；　
and　said；　〃I　was　afraid　it　was　Mark。〃　

〃Was　Mark　in　the　room　too？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Cayley　absently。　Then；　as　if　resenting　suddenly　these　
questions　from　a　stranger；　〃Who　are　you？〃　

But　Antony　had　gone　to　the　locked　door；　and　was　turning　the　handle。　
〃I　suppose　he　put　the　key　in　his　pocket；〃　he　said；　as　he　came　back　to　the　
body　again。　

〃Who？〃　

Antony　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃Whoever　did　this；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　man　on　the　floor。　〃Is　he　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

dead？〃　

〃Help　me；〃　said　Cayley　simply。　

They　turned　the　body　on　to　its　back；　nerving　themselves　to　look　at　it。　
Robert　Ablett　had　been　shot　between　the　eyes。　It　was　not　a　pleasant　sight；　
and　with　his　horror　Antony　felt　a　sudden　pity　for　the　man　beside　him；　and　
a　sudden　remorse　for　the　careless；　easy　way　in　which　he　had　treated　the　
affair。　But　then　one　always　went　about　imagining　that　these　things　didn't　
happen　…　except　to　other　people。　It　was　difficult　to　believe　in　them　just　at　
first；　when　they　happened　to　yourself。　

〃Did　you　know　him　well？〃　said　Antony　quietly。　He　meant；　〃Were　
you　fond　of　him？〃　

〃Hardly　at　all。　Mark　is　my　cousin。　I　mean；　Mark　is　the　brother　I　
know　best。〃　

〃Your　cousin？〃　

〃Yes。〃　He　hesitated；　and　then　said；　〃Is　he　dead？　I　suppose　he　is。　
Will　you　…　do　you　know　anything　about　…　about　that　sort　of　thing？　Perhaps　
I'd　better　get　some　water。〃　

There　was　another　door　opposite　to　the　locked　one；　which　led；　as　
Antony　was　to　discover　for　himself　directly；　into　a　passage　from　which　
opened　two　more　rooms。　Cayley　stepped　into　the　passage；　and　opened　
the　door　on　the　right。　The　door　from　the　office；　through　which　he　had　
gone；　remained　open。　The　door；　at　the　end　of　the　short　passage　was　shut。　
Antony；　kneeling　by　the　body；　followed　Cayley　with　his　eyes；　and；　after　he　
had　disappeared；　kept　his　eyes　on　the　blank　wall　of　the　passage；　but　he　was　
not　conscious　of　that　at　which　he　was　looking；　for　his　mind　was　with　the　
other　man；　sympathizing　with　him。　

〃Not　that　water　is　any　use　to　a　dead　body；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃but　the　
feeling　that　you're　doing　something；　when　there's　obviously　nothing　to　be　
done；　is　a　great　comfort。〃　

Cayley　came　into　the　room　again。　He　had　a　sponge　in　one　hand；　a　
handkerchief　in　the　other。　He　looked　at　Antony。　Antony　nodded。　
Cayley　murmured　something；　and　knelt　down　to　bathe　the　dead　man's　face。　
Then　he　placed　the　handkerchief　over　it。　A　little　sigh　escaped　Antony；　a　
sigh　of　relief。　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

They　stood　up　and　looked　at　each　other。
〃If　I　can　be　of　any　help　to　you；〃　said　Antony；　〃please　let　me。〃
〃That's　very　kind　of　you。　There　will　be　things　to　do。　Police；　doctors


…I　don't　know。　But　you　mustn't　let　me　trespass　on　your　kindness。　
Indeed；　I　should　apologise　for　having　trespassed　so　much　already。〃　

〃I　came　to　see　Beverley。　He　is　an　old　friend　of　mine。〃　

〃He's　out　playing　golf。　He　will　be　back　directly。〃　Then；　as　if　he　had　
only　just　realized　it；　〃They　will　all　be　back　directly。〃　

〃I　will　stay　if　I　can　be　of　any　help。〃　

〃Please　do。　You　see；　there　are　women。　It　will　be　rather　painful。　If　
you　would　…〃　He　hesitated；　and　gave　Antony　a　timid　little　smile；　pathetic　
in　so　big　and　self…reliant　a　man。　〃Just　your　moral　support；　you　know。　It　
would　be　something。〃　

〃Of　course。〃　Antony　smiled　back　at　him；　and　said　cheerfully；　〃Well；　
then；　I'll　begin　by　suggesting　that　you　should　ring　up　the　police。〃　

〃The　police？　Y…yes。〃　He　looked　doubtfully　at　the　other。　〃I　suppose　
…〃　

Antony　spoke　frankly。　

〃Now；　look　here；　Mr…er　…〃　

〃Cayley。　I'm　Mark　Ablett's　cousin。　I　live　with　him。〃　

〃My　name's　Gillingham。　I'm　sorry；　I　ought　to　have　told　you　before。　
Well　now；　Mr。　Cayley；　we　shan't　do　any　good　by　pretending。　Here's　a　
man　been　shot　…　well；　somebody　shot　him。〃　

〃He　might　have　shot　himself；〃　mumbled　Cayley。　

〃Yes；　he　might　have；　but　he　didn't。　Or　if　he　did；　somebody　was　in　the　
room　at　the　time；　and　that　somebody　isn't　here　now。　And　that　somebody　
took　a　revolver　away　with　him。　Well；　the　police　will　want　to　say　a　word　
about　that；　won't　they？〃　

Cayley　was　silent；　looking　on　the　ground。　

〃Oh；　I　know　what　you're　thinking；　and　believe　me　I　do　sympathize　
with　you；　but　we　can't　be　children　about　it。　If　your　cousin　Mark　Ablett　
was　in　the　room　with　this〃　…　he　indicated　the　body　…　〃this　man；　then　…〃　

〃Who　said　he　was？〃　said　Cayley；　jerking　his　head　up　suddenly　at　
Antony。　

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〃You　did。〃　

〃I　was　in　the　library。　Mark　went　in　…　he　may　have　come　out　again　…　I　
know　nothing。　Somebody　else　may　have　gone　in　…〃　

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Antony　patiently；　as　if　to　a　little　child。　You　know　
your　cousin；　I　don't。　Let's　agree　that　he　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　But　
somebody　was　in　the　room　when　this　man　was　shot；　and　…　well；　the　police　
will　have　to　know。　Don't　you　think　…〃　He　looked　at　the　telephone。　
〃Or　would　you　rather　I　did　it？〃　

Cayley　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　went　to　the　telephone。　

〃May　I　…　er　…　look　round　a　bit？〃　Antony　nodded　towards　the　open　
door。　

〃Oh；　do。　Yes。〃　He　sat　down　and　drew　the　telephone　towards　him。　
〃You　must　make　allowances　for　me；　Mr。　Gillingham。　You　see；　I've　
known　Mark　for　a　very　long　time。　But；　of　course；　you're　quite　right；　and　
I'm　merely　being　stupid。〃　He　took　off　the　receiver。　

Let　us　suppose　that；　for　the　purpose　of　making　a　first　acquaintance　
with　this　〃office；〃　we　are　coming　into　it　from　the　hall；　through　the　door　
which　is　now　locked；　but　which；　for　our　special　convenience；　has　been　
magically　unlocked　for　us。　As　we　stand　just　inside　the　door；　the　length　of　
the　room　runs　right　and　left；　or；　more　accurately；　to　the　right　only；　for　the　
left…hand　wall　is　almost　within　our　reach。　Immediately　opposite　to　us；　
across　the　breadth　of　the　room　（some　fifteen　feet）；　is　that　other　door；　by　
which　Cayley　went　out　and　returned　a　few　minutes　ago。　In　the　right…
hand　wall；　thirty　feet　away　from　us；　are　the　French　windows。　Crossing　
the　room　and　going　out　by　the　opposite　door；　we　come　into　a　passage；　
from　which　two　rooms　lead。　The　one　on　the　right；　into　which　Cayley　
went；　is　less　than　half　the　length　of　the　office；　a　small；　square　room；　which　
has　evidently　been　used　some　time　or　other　as　a　bedroom。　The　bed　is　no　
longer　there；　but　there　is　a　basin；　with　hot　and　cold　taps；　in　a　corner；　chairs；　
a　cupboard　or　two；　and　a　chest　of　drawers。　The　window　faces　the　same　
way　as　the　French　windows　in　the　next　room；　but　anybody　looking　out　of　
the　bedroom　window　has　his　view　on　the　immediate　right　shut　off　by　the　
outer　wall　of　the　office；　which　projects；　by　reason　of　its　greater　length；　
fifteen　feet　further　into　the　lawn。　

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The　room　on　the　other　side　of　the　bedroom　is　a　bathroom。　The　three　
rooms　together；　in　fact；　form　a　sort　of　private　suite；　used；　perhaps；　during　
the　occupation　of　the　previous　owner；　by　some　invalid；　who　could　not　
manage　the　stairs；　but　allowed　by　Mark　to　fall　into　disuse；　save　for　the　
living…room。　At　any　rate；　he　never　slept　downstairs。　

Antony　glanced　at　the　bathroom；　and　then　wandered　into　the　bedroom；　
the　room　into　which　Cayley　had　been。　The　window　was　open；　and　he　
looked　out　at　the　well…kept　grass　beneath　him；　and　the　peaceful　stretch　of　
park　beyond；　and　he　felt　very　sorry　for　the　owner　of　it　all；　who　was　now　
mixed　up　in　so　grim　a　business。　

〃Cayley　thinks　he　did　it；〃　said　Antony　to　himself。　〃That's　obvious。　It　
explains　why　he　wasted　so　much　time　banging　on　the　door。　Why　should　
he　try　to　break　a　lock　when　it's　so　much　easier　to　break　a　window？　Of　
course　he　might　just　have　lost　his　head；　on　the　other　hand；　he　might　…　well；　
he　might　have　wanted　to　give　his　cousin　a　chance　of　getting　away。　The　
same　about　the　police；　and　…　oh；　lots　of　things。　Why；　for　instance；　did　we　
run　all　the　way　round　the　house　in　order　to　get　to　the　windows？　Surely　
there's　a　back　way　out　through　the　hall。　I　must　have　a　look　later　on。〃　

Antony；　it　will　be　observed；　had　by　no　means　lost　his　head。　

There　was　a　step　in　the　passage　outside；　and　he　turned　round；　to　see　
Cayley　in　the　doorway。　He　remained　looking　at　him　for　a　moment；　
asking　himself　a　question。　It　was　rather　a　curious　question。　He　was　
asking　himself　why　the　door　was　open。　

Well；　not　exactly　why　the　door　was　open；　that　could　be　explained　
easily　enough。　But　why　had　he　expected　the　door　to　be　shut？　He　did　
not　remember　shutting　it；　but　somehow　he　was　surprised　to　see　it　open　
now；　to　see　Cayley　through　the　doorway；　just　coming　into　the　room。　
Something　working　sub…consciously　in　his　brain　had　told　him　that　it　was　
surprising。　Why？　

He　tucked　the　matter　away　in　a　corner　of　his　mind　for　the　moment；　the　
answer　would　come　to　him　later　on。　He　had　a　wonderfully　retentive　
mind。　Everything　which　he　saw　or　heard　seemed　to　make　its　
corresponding　impression　somewhere　in　his　brain；　often　without　his　being　
conscious　of　it；　and　these　photographic　impressions　were　always　there　

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ready　for　him　when　he　wished　to　develop　them。　

Cayley　joined　him　at　the　window。　

〃I've　telephoned；〃　he　said。　〃They're　sending　an　inspector　or　some　
one　from　Middleston；　and　the　local　police　and　doctor　from　Stanton。〃　He　
shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃We're　in　for　it　now。〃　

〃How　far　away　is　Middleston？〃　It　was　the　town　for　which　Antony　
had　taken　a　ticket　that　morning　…　only　six　hours　ago。　How　absurd　it　
seemed。　

〃About　twenty　miles。　These　people　will　be　coming　back　soon。　

〃Beverley；　and　the　others？〃　

〃Yes。　I　expect　they'll　want　to　go　away　at　once。〃　

〃Much　better　that　they　should。〃　

〃Yes。〃　Cayley　was　silent　for　a　little。　Then　he　said；　〃You're　staying　
near　here？〃　

〃I'm　at　'The　George；'　at　Waldheim。〃　

〃If　you're　by　yourself；　I　wish　you'd　put　up　here。　You　see；〃　he　went　on　
awkwardly；　〃you'll　have　to　be　here　…　for　the　…　the　inquest　and　…　and　so　on。　
If　I　may　offer　you　my　cousin's　hospitality　in　his　…　I　mean　if　he　doesn't　…　if　
he　really　has　…〃　

Antony　broke　in　hastily　with　his　thanks　and　acceptance。　

〃That's　good。　Perhaps　Beverley　will　stay　on；　if　he's　a　friend　of　yours。　
He's　a　good　fellow。〃　

Antony　felt　quite　sure；　from　what　C