the red house mystery-第8章

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difficult　solution　to　a　problem；　when　the　easy　solution　had　no　flaw　in　it。　
But　at　the　same　time　Birch　would　have　preferred　the　difficult　solution；　
simply　because　there　was　more　credit　attached　to　it。　A　〃sensational〃　
arrest　of　somebody　in　the　house　would　have　given　him　more　pleasure　than　
a　commonplace　pursuit　of　Mark　Ablett　across　country。　Mark　must　be　
found；　guilty　or　not　guilty。　But　there　were　other　possibilities。　It　would　
have　interested　Antony　to　know　that；　just　at　the　time　when　he　was　feeling　
rather　superior　to　the　prejudiced　inspector；　the　inspector　himself　was　
letting　his　mind　dwell　lovingly　upon　the　possibilities　in　connexion　with　
Mr。　Gillingham。　Was　it　only　a　coincidence　that　Mr。　Gillingham　had　
turned　up　just　when　he　did？　And　Mr。　Beverley's　curious　answers　when　
asked　for　some　account　of　his　friend。　An　assistant　in　a　tobacconist's；　a　
waiter！　An　odd　man；　Mr。　Gillingham；　evidently。　It　might　be　as　well　to　
keep　an　eye　on　him。　

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CHAPTER　VI

　Outside　Or　Inside？　

The　guests　had　said　good…bye　to　Cayley；　according　to　their　different　
manner。　The　Major；　gruff　and　simple：　〃If　you　want　me；　command　me。　
Anything　I　can　do　…　Good…bye〃；　Betty；　silently　sympathetic；　with　
everything　in　her　large　eyes　which　she　was　too　much　overawed　to　tell；　
Mrs。　Calladine；　protesting　that　she　did　not　know　what　to　say；　but　
apparently　finding　plenty；　and　Miss　Norris；　crowding　so　much　into　one　
despairing　gesture　that　Cayley's　unvarying　〃Thank　you　very　much〃　might　
have　been　taken　this　time　as　gratitude　for　an　artistic　entertainment。　

Bill　had　seen　them　into　the　car；　had　taken　his　own　farewells　（with　a　
special　squeeze　of　the　hand　for　Betty）；　and　had　wandered　out　to　join　
Antony　on　his　garden　seat。　

〃Well；　this　is　a　rum　show；〃　said　Bill　as　he　sat　down。　

〃Very　rum；　William。〃　

〃And　you　actually　walked　right　into　it？〃　

〃Right　into　it；〃　said　Antony。　

〃Then　you're　the　man　I　want。　There　are　all　sorts　of　rumours　and　
mysteries　about；　and　that　inspector　fellow　simply　wouldn't　keep　to　the　
point　when　I　wanted　to　ask　him　about　the　murder；　or　whatever　it　is；　but　
kept　asking　me　questions　about　where　I'd　met　you　first；　and　all　sorts　of　
dull　things　like　that。　Now；　what　really　happened？〃　

Antony　told　him　as　concisely　as　he　could　all　that　he　had　already　told　
the　inspector；　Bill　interrupting　him　here　and　there　with　appropriate　〃Good　
Lords〃　and　whistles。　

〃I　say；　it's　a　bit　of　a　business；　isn't　it？　Where　do　I　come　in；　exactly？〃　

〃How　do　you　mean？〃　

〃Well；　everybody　else　is　bundled　off　except　me；　and　I　get　put　through　
it　by　that　inspector　as　if　I　knew　all　about　it　…　what's　the　idea？〃　

Antony　smiled　at　him。　

〃Well；　there's　nothing　to　worry　about；　you　know。　Naturally　Birch　
wanted　to　see　one　of　you　so　as　to　know　what　you'd　all　been　doing　all　day。　
And　Cayley　was　nice　enough　to　think　that　you'd　be　company　for　me；　as　I　

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knew　you　already。　And　well；　that's　all。〃　

〃You're　staying　here；　in　the　house？〃　said　Bill　eagerly。　〃Good　man。　
That's　splendid。〃　

〃It　reconciles　you　to　the　departure　of　some　of　the　others？〃　

Bill　blushed。　

〃Oh；　well；　I　shall　see　her　again　next　week；　anyway；〃　he　murmured。　

〃I　congratulate　you。　I　liked　her　looks。　And　that　grey　dress。　A　nice　
comfortable　sort　of　woman。〃　

〃You　fool；　that's　her　mother。〃　

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon。　But　anyhow；　Bill；　I　want　you　more　than　she　
does　just　now。　So　try　and　put　up　with　me。〃　

〃I　say；　do　you　really？〃　said　Bill；　rather　flattered。　He　had　a　great　
admiration　for　Antony；　and　was　very　proud　to　be　liked　by　him。　

〃Yes。　You　see；　things　are　going　to　happen　here　soon。〃　

〃Inquests　and　that　sort　of　thing？〃　

〃Well；　perhaps　something　before　that。　Hallo；　here　comes　Cayley。〃　

Cayley　was　walking　across　the　lawn　towards　them；　a　big；　heavy…
shouldered　man；　with　one　of　those　strong；　clean…shaven；　ugly　faces　which　
can　never　quite　be　called　plain。　〃Bad　luck　on　'Cayley；〃　said　Bill。　〃I　say；　
ought　I　to　tell　him　how　sorry　I　am　and　all　that　sort　of　thing？　It　seems　so　
dashed　inadequate。〃　

〃I　shouldn't　bother；〃　said　Antony。　

Cayley　nodded　as　he　came　to　them；　and　stood　there　for　a　moment。　

〃We　can　make　room　for　you；〃　said　Bill；　getting　up。　

〃Oh；　don't　bother；　thanks。　I　just　came　to　say；〃　he　went　on　to　Antony；　
〃that　naturally　they've　rather　lost　their　heads　in　the　kitchen；　and　dinner　
won't　be　till　half…past　eight。　Do　just　as　you　like　about　dressing；　of　course。　
And　what　about　your　luggage？〃　

〃I　thought　Bill　and　I　would　walk　over　to　the　inn　directly；　and　see　about　
it。〃　

〃The　car　can　go　and　fetch　it　as　soon　as　it　comes　back　from　the　station。〃　

〃It's　very　good　of　you；　but　I　shall　have　to　go　over　myself；　anyhow；　to　
pack　up　and　pay　my　bill。　Besides；　it's　a　good　evening　for　a　walk。　If　you　
wouldn't　mind　it；　Bill？〃　

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〃I　should　love　it。〃　

〃Well；　then；　if　you　leave　the　bag　there；　I'll　send　the　car　round　for　it　
later。〃　

〃Thanks　very　much。〃　

Having　said　what　he　wanted　to　say；　Cayley　remained　there　a　little　
awkwardly；　as　if　not　sure　whether　to　go　or　to　stay。　Antony　wondered　
whether　he　wanted　to　talk　about　the　afternoon's　happenings；　or　whether　it　
was　the　one　subject　he　wished　to　avoid。　To　break　the　silence　he　asked　
carelessly　if　the　inspector　had　gone。　

Cayley　nodded。　Then　he　said　abruptly；　〃He's　getting　a　warrant　for　
Mark's　arrest。〃　

Bill　made　a　suitably　sympathetic　noise；　and　Antony　said　with　a　shrug　
of　the　shoulders；　〃Well；　he　was　bound　to　do　that；　wasn't　he？　It　doesn't　
follow　that　well；　it　doesn't　mean　anything。　They　naturally　want　to　get　
hold　of　your　cousin；　innocent　or　guilty。〃　

〃Which　do　you　think　he　is；　Mr。　Gillingham？〃　said　Cayley；　looking　at　
him　steadily。　

〃Mark？　It's　absurd；〃　said　Bill　impetuously。　

〃Bill's　loyal；　you　see；　Mr。　Cayley。〃　

〃And　you　owe　no　loyalty　to　anyone　concerned？〃　

〃Exactly。　So　perhaps　I　might　be　too　frank。〃　

Bill　had　dropped　down　on　the　grass；　and　Cayley　took　his　place　on　the　
seat；　and　sat　there　heavily；　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　his　chin　on　his　hands；　
gazing　at　the　ground。　

〃I　want　you　to　be　quite　frank；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Naturally　I　am　
prejudiced　where　Mark　is　concerned。　So　I　want　to　know　how　my　
suggestion　strikes　you　who　have　no　prejudices　either　way。　

〃Your　suggestion？〃　

〃My　theory　that；　if　Mark　killed　his　brother；　it　was　purely　accidental　as　
I　told　the　inspector。〃　

Bill　looked　up　with　interest。　

〃You　mean　that。　Robert　did　the　hold…up　business；〃　he　said；　〃and　there　
was　a　bit　of　a　struggle；　and　the　revolver　went　off；　and　then　Mark　lost　his　
head　and　bolted？　That　sort　of　idea？〃　

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〃Exactly。〃　

〃Well；　that　seems　all　right。〃　He　turned　to　Antony。　〃There's　nothing　
wrong　with　that；　is　there？　It's　the　most　natural　explanation　to　anyone　
who　knows　Mark。〃　

Antony　pulled　at　his　pipe。　

〃I　suppose　it　is；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃But　there's　one　thing　that　worries　
me　rather。〃　

〃What's　that？〃　Bill　and　Cayley　asked　the　question　simultaneously。　

〃The　key。〃　

〃The　key？〃　said　Bill。　

Cayley　lifted　his　head　and　looked　at　Antony。　〃What　about　the　key？〃　
he　asked。　

〃Well；　there　may　be　nothing　in　it；　I　just　wondered。　Suppose　Robert　
was　killed　as　you　say；　and　suppose　Mark　lost　his　head　and　thought　of　
nothing　but　getting　away　before　anyone　could　see　him。　Well；　very　likely　
he'd　lock　the　door　and　put　the　key　in　his　pocket。　He'd　do　it　without　
thinking；　just　to　gain　a　moment's　time。　

〃Yes；　that's　what　I　suggest。　

〃It　seems　sound　enough；〃　said　Bill。　〃Sort　of　thing　you'd　do　without　
thinking。　Besides；　if　you　are　going　to　run　away；　it　gives　you　more　of　a　
chance。〃　

〃Yes；　that's　all　right　if　the　key　is　there。　But　suppose　it　isn't　there？〃　

The　suggestion；　made　as　if　it　were　already　an　established　fact；　startled　
them　both。　They　looked　at　him　wonderingly。　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　Cayley。　

〃Well；　it's　just　a　question　of　where　people　happen　to　keep　their　keys。　
You　go　up　to　your　bedroom；　and　perhaps　you　like　to　lock　your　door　in　
case　anybody　comes　wandering　in　when　you've　only　got　one　sock　and　a　
pair　of　braces　on。　Well；　that's　natural　enough。　And　if　you　look　round　
the　bedrooms　of　almost　any　house；　you'll　find　the　keys　all　ready；　so　that　
you　can　lock　yourself　in　at　a　moment's　notice。　But　downstairs　people　
don't　lock　themselves　in。　It's　really　never　done　at　all。　Bill；　for　instance；　
has　never　locked　himself　into　the　dining…room　in　order　to　be　alone　with　
the　sherry。　On　the　other　hand；　all　women；　and　particularly　servants；　have　a　

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horror　of　burglars。　And　if　a　burglar　gets　in　by　the　window；　they　like　to　
limit　his　activities　to　that　particular　room。　So　they　keep　the；　keys　on　the　
outside　of　the　doors；　and　lock　the　doors　when　they　go　to　bed。〃　He　
knocked　the　ashes　out　of　his　pipe；　and　added；　〃At　least；　my　mother　always　
used　to。〃　

〃You　mean；〃　said　Bill　excitedly；　〃that　the　key　was　on　the　outside　of　the　
door　when　Mark　went　into　the　room？〃　

〃Well；　I　was　just　wondering。〃　

〃Have　you　noticed　the　other　rooms　the　billiard…room；　and　library；　and　
so　on？〃　said　Cayley。　

〃I've　only　just　thought　about　it　while　I've　been　sitting　out　here。　You　
live　here　haven't　you　ever　noticed　them？〃　

Cayley　sat　considering；　with　his　head　on　one　side。　

〃It　seems　rather　absurd；　you　know；　but　I　can't　say　that　I　have。〃　He　
turned　to　Bill。　〃Have　you？〃　

〃Good　Lord；　no。　I　should　never　worry　about　a　thing　like　that。〃　

〃I'm　sure　you　wouldn't；〃　laughed　Antony。　〃Well；　we　can　have　a　look　
when　we　go　in。　If　the　other　keys　are　outside；　then　this　one　was　probably　
outside　too；　and　in　that　case　well；　it　makes　it　more　interesting。〃　

Cayley　said　nothing。　Bill　chewed　a　piece　of　grass；　and　then　said；　
〃Does　it　make　much　difference？〃　

〃It　makes　it　more　hard　to　understand　what　happened　in　there。　Take　
your　accidental　theory　and　see　where　you　get　to。　No　instinctive　turning　
of　the　key　now；　is　there？　He's　got　to　open　the　door　to　get　it；　and　opening　
the　door　means　showing　his　head　to　anybody　in　the　hall　…　his　cousin；　for　
instance；　whom　he　left　there　two　minutes　ago。　Is　a　man　in　Mark's　state　of　
mind；　frightened　to　death　lest　he　should　be　found　with　the　body；　going　to　
do　anything　so　foolhardy　as　that？〃　

〃He　needn't　have　been　afraid　of　me；〃　said　Cayley。　

〃Then　why　didn't　he　call　for　you？　He　knew　you　were　about。　You　
could　have　advised　him；　Heaven　knows　he　wanted　advice。　But　the　whole　
theory　of　Mark's　escape　is　that　he　was　afraid　of　you　and　of　everybody　else；　
and　that　he　had　no　other　idea　but　to　get　out　of　the　room　himself；　and　
prevent　you　or　the　servants　from　coming　into　it。　If　the　key　had　been　on　

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the　inside；　he　would　probably　have　locked　the　door。　If　it　were　on　the　
outside；　he　almost　certainly　wouldn't。〃　

〃Yes；　I　expect　you're　right；〃　said　Bill　thoughtfully。　〃Unless　he　took　
the　key　in　with　him；　and　locked　the　door　at　once。　

〃Exactly。　But　in　that　case　you　have　to　build　up　a　new　theory　
entirely。〃　

〃You　mean　that　it　makes　it　seem　more　deliberate？〃　

〃Yes；　that；　certainly。　But　it　also　seems　to　make　Mark　out　an　absolute　
idiot。　Just　suppos