the red house mystery-第6章

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〃I　know　that　sort。　Well；　now；　we'll　go　on　to　this　morning。　This　
letter　that　Mark　got　…　did　you　see　it？〃　

〃Not　at　the　time。　He　showed　it　to　me　afterwards。〃　

〃Any　address？〃　

〃No。　A　half…sheet　of　rather　dirty　paper。〃　

〃Where　is　it　now？〃　

〃I　don't　know。　In　Mark's　pocket；　I　expect。〃　

〃Ah！〃　He　pulled　at　his　beard。　〃Well；　we'll　come　to　that。　Can　you　
remember　what　it　said？〃　

〃As　far　as　I　remember；　something　like　this：　'Mark；　your　loving　brother　
is　coming　to　see　you　to…morrow；　all　the　way　from　Australia。　I　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。'〃　

〃Ah！〃　The　inspector　copied　it　down　carefully。　〃Did　you　notice　the　
postmark？〃　
〃London。〃　

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〃And　what　was　Mark's　attitude？〃　

〃Annoyance；　disgust　…〃　Cayley　hesitated。　

〃Apprehension？〃　

〃N…no；　not　exactly。　Or；　rather；　apprehension　of　an　unpleasant　
interview；　not　of　any　unpleasant　outcome　for　himself。〃　

〃You　mean　that　he　wasn't　afraid　of　violence；　or　blackmail；　or　anything　
of　that　sort？〃　

〃He　didn't　appear　to　be。〃　

〃Right。。。。　Now　then；　he　arrived；　you　say；　about　three　o'clock？〃　

〃Yes；　about　that。〃　

〃Who　was　in　the　house　then？〃　

〃Mark　and　myself；　and　some　of　the　servants。　I　don't　know　which。　Of　
course；　you　will　ask　them　directly；　no　doubt。〃　

〃With　your　permission。　No　guests？〃　

〃They　were　out　all　day　playing　golf；〃　explained　Cayley。　〃Oh；　by　the　
way；〃　he　put　in；　〃if　I　may　interrupt　a　moment；　will　you　want　to　see　them　at　
all？　It　isn't　very　pleasant　for　them　now；　naturally；　and　I　suggested　…〃　he　
turned　to　Antony；　who　nodded　back　to　him。　〃I　understand　that　they　want　
to　go　back　to　London　this　evening。　There's　no　objection　to　that；　I　
suppose？〃　

〃You　will　let　me　have　their　names　and　addresses　in　case　I　want　to　
communicate　with　them？〃　

〃Of　course。　One　of　them　is　staying　on；　if　you　would　like　to　see　him　
later；　but　they　only　came　back　from　their　golf　as　we　crossed　the　hall。〃　

〃That's　all　right；　Mr。　Cayley。　Well；　now　then；　let's　go　back　to　three　
o'clock。　Where　were　you　when　Robert　arrived？〃　

Cayley　explained　how　he　had　been　sitting　in　the　hall；　how　Audrey　had　
asked　him　where　the　master　was；　and　how　he　had　said　that　he　had　last　seen　
him　going　up　to　the　Temple。　

〃She　went　away；　and　I　went　on　with　my　book。　There　was　a　step　on　
the　stairs；　and　I　looked　up　to　see　Mark　coming　down。　He　went　into　the　
office；　and　I　went　on　with　my　book　again。　I　went　into　the　library　for　a　
moment；　to　refer　to　another　book；　and　when　I　was　in　there　I　heard　a　shot。　
At　least；　it　was　a　loud　bang；　I　wasn't　sure　if　it　was　a　shot。　I　stood　and　

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listened。　Then　I　came　slowly　to　the　door　and　looked　out。　Then　I　went　
back　again；　hesitated　a　bit；　you　know；　and　finally　decided　to　go　across　to　
the　office；　and　make　sure　that　it　was　all　right。　I　turned　the　handle　of　the　
door　and　found　it　was　locked。　Then　I　got　frightened；　and　I　banged　at　the　
door；　and　shouted；　and　…　well；　that　was　when　Mr。　Gillingham　arrived。〃　
He　went　on　to　explain　how　they　had　found　the　body。　

The　inspector　looked　at　him　with　a　smile。　

〃Yes；　well；　we　shall　have　to　go　over　some　of　that　again；　Mr。　Cayley。　
Mr。　Mark；　now。　You　thought　he　was　in　the　Temple。　Could　he　have　
come　in；　and　gone　up　to　his　room；　without　your　seeing　him？〃　〃There　are　
back　stairs。　He　wouldn't　have　used　them　in　the　ordinary　way；　of　course。　
But　I　wasn't　in　the　hall　all　the　afternoon。　He　might　easily　have　gone　
upstairs　without　my　knowing　anything　about　it。〃　

〃So　that　you　weren't　surprised　when　you　saw　him　coming　down？〃　

〃Oh；　not　a　bit。〃　

〃Well；　did　he　say　anything？〃　

〃He　said；　'Robert's　here？'　or　something　of　the　sort。　I　suppose　he'd　
heard　the　bell；　or　the　voices　in　the　hall。〃　

〃Which　way　does　his　bedroom　face？　Could　he　have　seen　him　
coming　down　the　drive？〃　

〃He　might　have；　yes。〃　

〃We11？〃　

〃Well；　then；　I　said　'Yes；'　and　he　gave　a　sort　of　shrug；　and　said；　'Don't　go　
too　far　away；　I　might　want　you'；　and　then　went　in。〃　

〃What　did　you　think　he　meant　by　that？〃　

〃Well；　he　consults　me　a　good　deal；　you　know。　I'm　his　sort　of　
unofficial　solicitor　in　a　kind　of　way。〃　

〃This　was　a　business　meeting　rather　than　a　brotherly　one？〃　

〃Oh；　yes。　That's　how　he　regarded　it；　I'm　sure。〃　

〃Yes。　How　long　was　it　before　you　heard　the　shot？〃　

〃Very　soon。　Two　minutes；　perhaps。〃　

The　inspector　finished　his　writing；　and　then　regarded　Cayley　
thoughtfully。　Suddenly　he　said：　

〃What　is　your　theory　of　Robert's　death？〃　

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Cayley　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃You've　probably　seen　more　than　I've　seen；〃　he　answered。　〃It's　your　
job。　I　can　only　speak　as　a　layman　…　and　Mark's　friend。〃　

〃Well？〃　

〃Then　I　should　say　that　Robert　came　here　meaning　trouble；　and　
bringing　a　revolver　with　him。　He　produced　it　almost　at　once；　Mark　tried　
to　get　it　from　him；　there　was　a　little　struggle　perhaps；　and　it　went　off。　
Mark　lost　his　head；　finding　himself　there　with　a　revolver　in　his　hand　and　a　
dead　man　at　his　feet。　His　one　idea　was　to　escape。　He　locked　the　door　
almost　instinctively；　and　then；　when　he　heard　me　hammering　at　it；　went　
out　of　the　window。〃　

〃Y…yes。　Well；　that　sounds　reasonable　enough。　What　do　you　say；　Mr。　
Gillingham？〃　

〃I　should　hardly　call　it　'reasonable'　to　lose　your　head；〃　said　Antony；　
getting　up　from　his　chair　and　coming　towards　them。　

〃Well；　you　know　what　I　mean。　It　explains　things。〃　

〃Oh；　yes。　Any　other　explanation　would　make　them　much　more　
complicated。〃　

〃Have　you　any　other　explanation？〃　

〃Not　I。〃　

〃Are　there　any　points　on　which　you　would　like　to　correct　Mr。　Cayley？　

…　anything　that　he　left　out　after　you　arrived　here？〃　
〃No；　thanks。　He　described　it　all　very　accurately。〃　
〃Ab！　Well　now；　about　yourself。　You're　not　staying　in　the　house；　I　
gather？〃　

Antony　explained　his　previous　movements。　

〃Yes。　Did　you　hear　the　shot？〃　

Antony　put　his　head　on　one　side；　as　if　listening。　〃Yes。　Just　as　I　
came　in　sight　of　the　house。　It　didn't　make　any　impression　at　the　time；　but　

I　remember　it　now。　
〃Where　were　you　then？〃　
〃Coming　up　the　drive。　I　was　just　in　sight　of　the　house。〃　
〃Nobody　left　the　house　by　the　front　door　after　the　shot？〃　
Antony　closed　his　eyes　and　considered。　

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〃Nobody；〃　he　said。　〃No。〃
〃You're　certain　of　that？〃
〃Absolutely；〃　said　Antony；　as　though　rather　surprised　that　he　could　be


suspected　of　a　mistake。　
〃Thank　you。　You're　at　'The　George；'　if　I　want　you？〃　
〃Mr。　Gillingham　is　staying　here　until　after　the　inquest；〃　explained　

Cayley。　
〃Good。　Well　now；　about　these　servants？〃　

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CHAPTER　V　

Mr。　Gillingham　Chooses　a　New　Profession　

As　Cayley　went　over　to　the　bell；　Antony　got　up　and　moved　to　the　

door。　

〃Well；　you　won't　want　me；　I　suppose；　inspector；〃　he　said。　

〃No；　thank　you；　Mr。　Gillingham。　You'll　be　about；　of　course？〃　

〃Oh；　yes。〃　

The　inspector　hesitated。　

〃I　think；　Mr。　Cayley；　it　would　be　better　if　I　saw　the　servants　alone。　You　

know　what　they　are；　the　more　people　about；　the　more　they　get　alarmed。　I　
expect　I　can　get　at　the　truth　better　by　myself。〃　

〃Oh；　quite　so。　In　fact；　I　was　going　to　ask　you　to　excuse　me。　I　feel　
rather　responsible　towards　these　guests　of　ours。　Although　Mr。　
Gillingham　very　kindly　…〃　He　smiled　at　Antony；　who　was　waiting　at　the　
door；　and　left　his　sentence　unfinished。　

〃Ah；　that　reminds　me；〃　said　the　inspector。　〃Didn't　you　say　that　one　of　
your　guests　…　Mr。　Beverley　was　it？　…　a　friend　of　Mr。　Gillingham's；　was　
staying　on？〃　

〃Yes；　would　you　like　to　see　him？〃　

〃Afterwards；　if　I　may。〃　

〃I'll　warn　him。　I　shall　be　up　in　my　room；　if　you　want　me。　I　have　a　
room　upstairs　where　I　work　…　any　of　the　servants　will　show　you。　Ah；　
Stevens；　Inspector　Birch　would　like　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃　

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Audrey　primly；　but　inwardly　fluttering。　The　
housekeeper's　room　had　heard　something　of　the　news　by　this　time；　and　
Audrey　had　had　a　busy　time　explaining　to　other　members　of　the　staff　
exactly　what　he　had　said；　and　what　she　had　said。　The　details　were　not　
quite　established　yet；　but　this　much　at　least　was　certain：　that　Mr。　Mark's　
brother　had　shot　himself　and　spirited　Mr。　Mark　away；　and　that　Audrey　had　
seen　at　once　that　he　was　that　sort　of　man　when　she　opened　the　door　to　him。　
She　had　passed　the　remark　to　Mrs。　Stevens。　And　Mrs。　Stevens　…　if　you　
remember；　Audrey　…　had　always　said　that　people　didn't　go　away　to　
Australia　except　for　very　good　reasons。　Elsie　agreed　with　both　of　them；　

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but　she　had　a　contribution　of　her　own　to　make。　She　had　actually　heard　
Mr。　Mark　in　the　office；　threatening　his　brother。　

〃You　mean　Mr。　Robert；〃　said　the　second　parlourmaid。　She　had　been　
having　a　little　nap　in　her　room；　but　she　had　heard　the　bang。　In　fact；　it　had　
woken　her　up　…　just　like　something　going　off；　it　was。　

〃It　was　Mr。　Mark's　voice；〃　said　Elsie　firmly。　

〃Pleading　for　mercy；〃　said　an　eager…eyed　kitchenmaid　hopefully　from　
the　door；　and　was　hurried　out　again　by　the　others；　wishing　that　she　had　not　
given　her　presence　away。　But　it　was　hard　to　listen　in　silence　when　she　
knew　so　well　from　her　novelettes　just　what　happened　on　these　occasions。　

〃I　shall　have　to　give　that　girl　a　piece　of　my　mind；〃　said　Mrs。　Stevens。　
〃Well；　Elsie？〃　

〃He　said；　I　heard　him　say　it　with　my　own　ears；　'It's　my　turn　now；'　he　
said；　triumphant…like。〃　

〃Well；　if　you　think　that's　a　threat；　dear；　you're　very　particular；　I　must　
say。〃　

But　Audrey　remembered　Elsie's　words　when　she　was　in　front　of　
Inspector　Birch。　She　gave　her　own　evidence　with　the　readiness　of　one　
who　had　already　repeated　it　several　times；　and　was　examined　and　cross…
examined　by　the　inspector　with　considerable　skill。　The　temptation　to　say；　
〃Never　mind　about　what　you　said　to　him；〃　was　strong；　but　he　resisted　it；　
knowing　that　in　this　way　he　would　discover　best　what　he　said　to　her。　By　
this　time　both　his　words　and　the　looks　he　gave　her　were　getting　their　full　
value　from　Audrey；　but　the　general　meaning　of　them　seemed　to　be　well…
established。　

〃Then　you　didn't　see　Mr。　Mark　at　all〃　

〃No；　sir；　he　must　have　come　in　before　and　gone　up　to　his　room。　Or　
come　in　by　the　front　door；　likely　enough；　while　I　was　going　out　by　the　
back。〃　

〃Yes。　Well；　I　think　that's　all　that　I　want　to　know；　thank　you　very　
much。　Now　what　about　the　other　servants？〃　

〃Elsie　heard　the　master　and　Mr。　Robert　talking　together；〃　said　Audrey　
eagerly。　〃He　was　saying　…　Mr。　Mark；　I　mean　…〃　

〃Ah！　Well；　I　think　Elsie　had　better　tell　me　that　herself。　Who　is　

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Elsie；　by　the　way？〃　

〃One　of　the　housemaids。　Shall　I　send　her　to　you；　sir？〃　

〃Please。〃　

Elsie　was　not　sorry　to　get　the　message。　It　interrupted　a　few　remarks　
from　Mrs。　Stevens　about　Elsie's　conduct　that　afternoon　which　were　（Elsie　
thought）　much　better　interrupted。　In　Mrs。　Stevens'　opinion　any　crime　
committed　that　afternoon　in　the　office　was　as　nothing　to　the　double　crime　
committed　by　the　unhappy　Elsie。　

For　Elsie　realized　too　late　that　she　would　have　done　better　to　have　said