the red house mystery-第7章

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committed　by　the　unhappy　Elsie。　

For　Elsie　realized　too　late　that　she　would　have　done　better　to　have　said　
nothing　about　her　presence　in　the　hall　that　afternoon。　She　was　bad　at　
concealing　the　truth　and　Mrs。　Stevens　was　good　at　discovering　it。　Elsie　
knew　perfectly　well　that　she　had　no　business　to　come　down　the　front　stairs；　
and　it　was　no　excuse　to　say　that　she　happened　to　come　out　of　Miss　Norris'　
room　just　at　the　head　of　the　stairs；　and　didn't　think　it　would　matter；　as　there　
was　nobody　in　the　hall；　and　what　was　she　doing　anyhow　in　Miss　Norris'　
room　at　that　time？　Returning　a　magazine？　Lent　by　Miss　Norris；　might　
she　ask？　Well；　not　exactly　lent。　Really；　Elsie！　…　and　this　in　a　respectable　
house！　In　vain　for　poor　Elsie　to　plead　that　a　story　by　her　favourite　author　
was　advertised　on　the　cover；　with　a　picture　of　the　villain　falling　over　the　
cliff。　〃That's　where　you'll　go　to；　my　girl；　if　you　aren't　careful；〃　said　Mrs。　
Stevens　firmly。　

But；　of　course；　there　was　no　need　to　confess　all　these　crimes　to　
Inspector　Birch。　All　that　interested　him　was　that　she　was　passing　through　
the　hall；　and　heard　voices　in　the　office。　

〃And　stopped　to　listen？〃　

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Elsie　with　dignity；　feeling　that　nobody　really　
understood　her。　〃I　was　just　passing　through　the　hall；　just　as　you　might　
have　been　yourself；　and　not　supposing　they　was　talking　secrets；　didn't　
think　to　stop　my　ears；　as　no　doubt　I　ought　to　have　done。〃　And　she　sniffed　
slightly。　

〃Come；　come；〃　said　the　inspector　soothingly；　〃I　didn't　mean　to　suggest　
…〃　

〃Everyone　is　very　unkind　to　me；〃　said　Elsie　between　sniffs；　〃and　
there's　that　poor　man　lying　dead　there；　and　sorry　they'd　have　been；　if　it　had　

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been　me；　to　have　spoken　to　me　as　they　have　done　this　day。〃　

〃Nonsense；　we're　going　to　be　very　proud　of　you。　I　shouldn't　be　
surprised　if　your　evidence　were　of　very　great　importance。　Now　then；　
what　was　it　you　heard？　Try　to　remember　the　exact　words。〃　

Something　about　working　in　a　passage；　thought　Elsie。　

〃Yes；　but　who　said　it？〃　

〃Mr。　Robert。〃　

〃How　do　you　know　it　was　Mr。　Robert？　Had　you　heard　his　voice　
before？〃　

〃I　don't　take　it　upon　myself　to　say　that　I　had　had　any　acquaintance　with　
Mr。　Robert；　but　seeing　that　it　wasn't　Mr。　Mark；　nor　yet　Mr。　Cayley；　nor　any　
other　of　the　gentlemen；　and　Miss　Stevens　had　shown　Mr。　Robert　into　the　
office　not　five　minutes　before　…〃　

〃Quite　so；〃　said　the　inspector　hurriedly。　〃Mr。　Robert；　undoubtedly。　
Working　in　a　passage？〃　

〃That　was　what　it　sounded　like；　sir。〃　

〃H'm。　Working　a　passage　over　…　could　that　have　been　it？〃　

〃That's　right；　sir；〃　said　Elsie　eagerly。　〃He'd　worked　his　passage　over。〃　

〃Well？〃　

〃And　then　Mr。　Mark　said　loudly　…　sort　of　triumphant…like　…　'It's　my　turn　
now。　You　wait。'〃　

〃Triumphantly？〃　

〃As　much　as　to　say　his　chance　had　come。〃　

〃And　that's　all　you　heard？〃　

〃That's　all；　sir　…　not　standing　there　listening；　but　just　passing　through　
the　hall；　as　it　might　be　any　time。〃　

〃Yes。　Well；　that's　really　very　important；　Elsie。　Thank　you。〃　

Elsie　gave　him　a　smile；　and　returned　eagerly　to　the　kitchen。　She　was　
ready　for　Mrs。　Stevens　or　anybody　now。　

Meanwhile　Antony　had　been　exploring　a　little　on　his　own。　There　was　
a　point　which　was　puzzling　him。　He　went　through　the　hall　to　the　front　of　
the　house　and　stood　at　the　open　door；　looking　out　on　to　the　drive。　He　and　
Cayley　had　run　round　the　house　to　the　left。　Surely　it　would　have　been　
quicker　to　have　run　round　to　the　right？　The　front　door　was　not　in　the　

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middle　of　the　house；　it　was　to　the　end。　Undoubtedly　they　went　the　
longest　way　round。　But　perhaps　there　was　something　in　the　way；　if　one　
went　to　the　right　…　a　wall；　say。　He　strolled　off　in　that　direction；　followed　a　
path　round　the　house　and　came　in　sight　of　the　office　windows。　Quite　
simple；　and　about　half　the　distance　of　the　other　way。　He　went　on　a　little　
farther；　and　came　to　a　door；　just　beyond　the　broken…in　windows。　It　opened　
easily；　and　he　found　himself　in　a　passage。　At　the　end　of　the　passage　was　
another　door。　He　opened　it　and　found　himself　in　the　hall　again。　

〃And；　of　course；　that's　the　quickest　way　of　the　three；〃　he　said　to　
himself。　〃Through　the　hall；　and　out　at　the　back；　turn　to　the　left　and　there　
you　are。　Instead　of　which；　we　ran　the　longest　way　round　the　house。　
Why？　Was　it　to　give　Mark　more　time　in　which　to　escape？　Only；　in　that　
case　…　why　run？　Also；　how　did。　Cayley　know　then　that　it　was　Mark　
who　was　trying　to　escape？　If　he　had　guessed　…　well；　not　guessed；　but　
been　afraid　…that　one　had　shot　the　other；　it　was　much　more　likely　that　
Robert　had　shot　Mark。　Indeed；　he　had　admitted　that　this　was　what　he　
thought。　The　first　thing　he　had　said　when　he　turned　the　body　over　was；　
'Thank　God！　I　was　afraid　it　was　Mark。'　But　why　should　he　want　to　give　
Robert　time　in　which　to　get　away？　And　again　…　why　run；　if　he　did　want　
to　give　him　time？〃　

Antony　went　out　of　the　house　again　to　the　lawns　at　the　back；　and　sat　
down　on　a　bench　in　view　of　the　office　windows。　

〃Now　then；〃　he　said；　〃let's　go　through　Cayley's　mind　carefully；　and　see　
what　we　get。〃　

Cayley　had　been　in　the　hall　when　Robert　was　shown　into　the　office。　
The　servant　goes　off　to　look　for　Mark；　and　Cayley　goes　on　with　his　book。　
Mark　comes　down　the　stairs；　warns　Cayley　to　stand　by　in　case　he　is　
wanted；　and　goes　to　meet　his　brother。　What　does　Cayley　expect？　
Possibly　that　he　won't　be　wanted　at　all；　possibly　that　his　advice　may　be　
wanted　in　the　matter；　say；　of　paying　Robert's　debts；　or　getting　him　a　
passage　back　to　Australia；　possibly　that　his　physical　assistance　may　be　
wanted　to　get　an　obstreperous　Robert　out　of　the　house。　Well；　he　sits　there　
for　a　moment；　and　then　goes　into　the　library。　Why　not？　He　is　still　
within　reach；　if　wanted。　Suddenly　he　hears　a　pistol…shot。　A　pistol…shot　is　

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the　last　noise　you　expect　to　hear　in　a　country…house；　very　natural；　then；　
that　for　the　moment　he　would　hardly　realize　what　it　was。　He　listens　…　and　
hears　nothing　more。　Perhaps　it　wasn't　a　pistol…shot　after　all。　After　a　
moment　or　two　he　goes　to　the　library　door　again。　The　profound　silence　
makes　him　uneasy　now。　Was　it　a　pistol…shot？　Absurd！　Still　…　no　harm　in　
going　into　the　office　on　some　excuse；　just　to　reassure　himself。　So　he　tries　
the　door　…　and　finds　it　locked！　

What　are　his　emotions　now？　Alarm；　uncertainty。　Something　is　
happening。　Incredible　though　it　seems；　it　must　have　been　a　pistol…shot。　
He　is　banging　at　the　door　and　calling　out　to　Mark；　and　there　is　no　answer。　
Alarm　…　yes。　But　alarm　for　whose　safety？　Mark's；　obviously。　Robert　is　
a　stranger；　Mark　is　an　intimate　friend。　Robert　has　written　a　letter　that　
morning；　the　letter　of　a　man　in　a　dangerous　temper。　Robert　is　the　tough　
customer；　Mark　the　highly　civilized　gentleman。　If　there　has　been　a　
quarrel；　it　is　Robert　who　has　shot　Mark。　He　bangs　at　the　door　again。　

Of　course；　to　Antony；　coming　suddenly　upon　this　scene；　Cayley's　
conduct　had　seemed　rather　absurd；　but　then；　just　for　the　moment；　Cayley　
had　lost　his　head。　Anybody　else　might　have　done　the　same。　But；　as　soon　
as　Antony　suggested　trying　the　windows；　Cayley　saw　that　that　was　the　
obvious　thing　to　do。　So　he　leads　the　way　to　the　windows　…　the　longest　
way。　

Why？　To　give　the　murderer　time　to　escape？　If　he　had　thought　then　
that　Mark　was　the　murderer；　perhaps；　yes。　But　he　thinks　that　Robert　is　
the　murderer。　If　he　is　not　hiding　anything；　he　must　think　so。　Indeed　he　
says　so；　when　he　sees　the　body；　〃I　was　afraid　it　was　Mark；〃　he　says；　when　
he　finds　that　it　is　Robert　who　is　killed。　No　reason；　then；　for　wishing　to　
gain　time。　On　the　contrary；　every　instinct　would　urge　him　to　get　into　the　
room　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　seize　the　wicked　Robert。　Yet　he　goes　
the　longest　way　round。　Why？　And　then；　why　run？　

〃That's　the　question；〃　said　Antony　to　himself；　as　he　filled　his　pipe；　
〃and　bless　me　if　I　know　the　answer。　It　may　be；　of　course；　that　Cayley　is　
just　a　coward。　He　was　in　no　hurry　to　get　close　to　Robert's　revolver；　and　
yet　wanted　me　to　think　that　he　was　bursting　with　eagerness。　That　would　
explain　it；　but　then　that　makes　Cayley　out　a　coward。　Is　he？　At　any　rate　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

he　pushed　his　face　up　against　the　window　bravely　enough。　No；　I　want　a　
better　answer　than　that。〃　

He　sat　there　with　his　unlit　pipe　in　his　hand；　thinking。　There　were　one　
or　two　other　things　in　the　back　of　his　brain；　waiting　to　be　taken　out　and　
looked　at。　For　the　moment　he　left　them　undisturbed。　They　would　come　
back　to　him　later　when　he　wanted　them。　

He　laughed　suddenly；　and　lit　his　pipe。　

〃I　was　wanting　a　new　profession；〃　he　thought；　〃and　now　I've　found　it。　
Antony　Gillingham；　our　own　private　sleuthhound。　I　shall　begin　to…day。〃　

Whatever　Antony　Gillingham's　other　qualifications　for　his　new　
profession；　he　had　at　any　rate　a　brain　which　worked　clearly　and　quickly。　
And　this　clear　brain　of　his　had　already　told　him　that　he　was　the　only　
person　in　the　house　at　that　moment　who　was　unhandicapped　in　the　search　
for　truth。　The　inspector　had　arrived　in　it　to　find　a　man　dead　and　a　man　
missing。　It　was　extremely　probable；　no　doubt；　that　the　missing　man　had　
shot　the　dead　man。　But　it　was　more　than　extremely　probable；　it　was　
almost　certain　that　the　inspector　would　start　with　the　idea　that　this　
extremely　probable　solution　was　the　one　true　solution；　and　that；　in　
consequence；　he　would　be　less　disposed　to　consider　without　prejudice　any　
other　solution。　As　regards　all　the　rest　of　them　…　Cayley；　the　guests；　the　
servants　…　they　also　were　prejudiced；　in　favour　of　Mark　（or　possibly；　for　all　
he　knew；　against　Mark）；　in　favour　of；　or　against；　each　other；　they　had　
formed　some　previous　opinion；　from　what　had　been　said　that　morning；　of　
the　sort　of　man　Robert　was。　No　one　of　them　could　consider　the　matter　
with　an　unbiased　mind。　

But　Antony　could。　He　knew　nothing　about　Mark；　he　knew　nothing　
about　Robert。　He　had　seen　the　dead　man　before　he　was　told　who　the　
dead　man　was。　He　knew　that　a　tragedy　had　happened　before　he　knew　
that　anybody　was　missing。　Those　first　impressions；　which　are　so　vitally　
important；　had　been　received　solely　on　the　merits　of　the　case；　they　were　
founded　on　the　evidence　of　his　senses；　not　on　the　evidence　of　his　emotions　
or　of　other　people's　senses。　He　was　in　a　much　better　position　for　getting　
at　the　truth　than　was　the　inspector。　

It　is　possible　that；　in　thinking　this；　Antony　was　doing　Inspector　Birch　a　

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slight　injustice。　Birch　was　certainly　prepared　to　believe　that　Mark　had　
shot　his　brother。　Robert　had　been　shown　into　the　office　（witness　Audrey）；　
Mark　had　gone　in　to　Robert　（witness　Cayley）；　Mark　and　Robert　had　been　
heard　talking　（witness　Elsie）；　there　was　a　shot　（witness　everybody）；　the　
room　had　been　entered　and　Robert's　body　had　been　found　（witness　Cayley　
and　Gillingham）。　And　Mark　was　missing。　Obviously；　then；　Mark　had　
killed　his　brother：　accidentally；　as　Cayley　believed；　or　deliberately；　as　
Elsie's　evidence　seemed　to　suggest。　There　was　no　point　in　looking　for　a　
difficult　solution　to　a　problem；　when　th