the cruise of the jasper b.-第23章

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do　I　know　that〃



〃That　it　is　not　a　forgery？〃　said　Lady　Agatha。　〃I　see。〃　　She　mused

a　moment；　and　then　said；　with　a　sigh；　〃Well；　then；　let　us　open

the　box！〃



〃I　think　it　best；　　Agatha；〃　said　Cleggett。　　〃I　shall　have　it

brought　down。〃



But　even　as　he　turned　upon　his　heel　to　go　on　deck　and　give　the

order；　Dr。　Farnsworth　and　the　Rev。　Simeon　Calthrop　ran　excitedly

down　the　cabin　companionway。



〃The　box　of　Reginald　Maltravers；〃　cried　the　Doctor；　who　was　in

Cleggett's　confidence；　〃is　gone！〃





CHAPTER　XIX



TWO　GREAT　MEN　MEET



〃Gone！〃　Lady　Agatha；　who　had　emerged　from　her　stateroom；　turned

pale　and　caught　at　her　heart。



They　rushed　on　deck。　　The　young　Doctor　was　right；　the　box；　which

had　stood　on　the　larboard　side　of　the　cabin；　had　disappeared。



〃It　might　have　been　blown　into　the　canal　during　the　storm；〃

suggested　the　Rev。　Mr。　Calthrop。　　All　of　the　crew　of　the　Jasper

B。　knew　Lady　Agatha's　　story；　and　were　aware　of　the　importance　of

the　box。



〃It　was　on　the　lee　side　of　the　cabin；〃　objected　Dr。　Farnsworth；

〃and　while　it　might　have　been　blown　flat　to　the　deck；　in　spite　of

its　protected　position；　it　would　scarcely　have　been　picked　up　by

the　wind　again　and　wafted　over　the　port　bulwarks。〃



〃If　you　was　to　ask　me；〃　said　Cap'n　Abernethy；　who　had　joined　in

the　discussion；　〃I'd　give　it　as　MY　opinion　it's　a　good　riddance

of　bad　rubbish。〃



〃Rubbish？〃　said　Miss　Pringle。　　〃Rubbish；　indeed！　　I　am　confident

that　that　box　contained　my　plum　preserves！〃



〃It　has　been　stolen！〃　cried　Cleggett；　with　conviction。　　〃Fool

that　I　was；　not　to　have　taken　it　into　the　cabin！〃



〃But；　if　you　had；　you　know；〃　said　Lady　Agatha；　〃one　would

scarcely　have　cared　to　stay　in　there　with　it。〃



〃Loge　has　outgeneraled　me；〃　murmured　Cleggett；　well…nigh　frantic

with　self…reproach。　　〃While　he　made　the　attack　in　front；　he　sent

some　of　his　men　to　the　rear　of　the　vessel　and　it　was　quietly　made

off　with　while　we　were　fighting。〃　　Had　the　disappearance　of　the

box　concerned　himself　alone　Cleggett's　sense　of　disaster　might

have　been　less　poignant。　　But　the　thought　that　his　own

carelessness　had　enabled　the　enemy　to　get　possession　of　a　thing

likely　to　involve　Lady　Agatha　in　further　trouble　was　nearly

insupportable。　　He　gritted　his　teeth　and　clenched　his　hands　in

impotent　rage。



〃No　doubt　Loge　caught　sight　of　it　during　the　early　part　of　the

skirmish；　by　a　flash　of　lightning；〃　said　Dr。　Farnsworth；　〃and

acted　as　you　suggest；　Mr。　Cleggett。　　But　does　he　believe　it　to　be

the　box　which　contains　the　evidence　against　him？　　Or　can　he；　by

any　chance；　be　aware　of　its　real　contents？〃



〃No　matter　which；〃　groaned　Cleggett；　〃no　matter　which！　　For　when

he　opens　it；　he　will　learn　what　is　in　it。　　Don't　you　see　that　he

has　us　now？　　If　he　offers　to　trade　it　back　to　us　for　the　other

oblong　box；　how　can　I　refuse？　　If　we　have　his　secret；　Loge　has

ours！〃



But　Dr。　Farnsworth　was　not　listening。　　He　had　suddenly　leaned

over　the　port　rail　and　was　staring　down　the　canal。　　The　others

followed　his　gaze。



The　house　boat　Annabel　Lee；　they　perceived；　had　got　under　weigh；

and　was　slowly　approaching　the　Jasper　B。　in　the　moonlight。　　They

watched　her　gradual　approach　in　silence。　　She　stopped　within　a

few　yards　of　the　Jasper　B。；　and　a　voice　which　Cleggett　recognized

as　that　of　Wilton　Barnstable；　the　great　detective；　sang　out：



〃Jasper　B。；　ahoy！〃



〃Aye；　aye！〃　shouted　Cleggett。



〃Is　Mr。　Cleggett　on　board？〃



〃He　is　speaking。〃



〃Mr。　Cleggett；　have　you　lost　anything　from　your　canal　boat？〃



Cleggett　did　not　answer；　and　for　a　moment　he　did　not　move。　　Then；

tightening　his　sword　belt；　and　cocking　his　hat　a　trifle；　he

climbed　over　the　starboard　rail　and　walked　along　the　bank　of　the

canal　a　few　yards　until　he　was　opposite　the　Annabel　Lee。　The

great　detective；　on　his　part；　also　stepped　ashore。　They　stood　and

faced　each　other　in　the　moonlight；　silently；　and　their　followers；

also　in　silence；　gathered　in　the　bows　of　the　respective　vessels

and　watched　them。



Finally；　Cleggett；　with　one　hand　on　his　hip；　and　standing　with

his　feet　wide　apart；　said　very　incisively：



〃Sir；　the　Jasper　B。　is　NOT　a　canal　boat。〃



〃Eh？〃　　Wilton　Barnstable　started　at　the　emphasis。

　　　　　　　　　

〃The　Jasper　B。；〃　pursued　Cleggett；　staring　steadily　at　Wilton

Barnstable；　〃is　a　schooner。〃



〃Ah！〃　said　the　other。　　〃Indeed？〃



〃A　schooner；〃　repeated　Cleggett；　〃indeed；　sir！　Indeed；　sir；　a

schooner！〃



There　was　another　silence；　in　which　neither　man　would　look　aside；

they　held　each　other　with　their　eyes；　the　nervous　strain

communicated　itself　to　the　crews　of　the　two　vessels。　　At　last；

however；　the　detective；　although　he　did　not　lower　his　gaze；　and

although　he　strove　to　give　his　new　attitude　an　effect　of　ease　and

jauntiness　by　twisting　the　end　of　his　mustache　as　he　spoke；　said

to　Cleggett：



〃A　schooner；　then；　Mr。　Cleggett；　a　schooner！　　No　offense；　I

hope？〃



〃None　at　all；〃　said　Cleggett；　heartily　enough；　now　that　the　point

had　been　established。　　And　the　tension　relaxed　on　both　ships。



〃You　have　lost　an　oblong　box；　Mr。　Cleggett。〃　The　great　detective

affirmed　it　rather　than　interrogated。



〃How　did　you　know　that？〃



The　other　laughed。　　〃We　know　a　great　many　thingsit　is　our

business　to　know　things；〃　he　said。　Then　he　dropped　his　voice　to　a

whisper；　and　said　rapidly；　〃Mr。　Cleggett；　do　you　know　who　I　am？〃

Before　Cleggett　could　reply　he　continued；　〃Brace　yourselfdo　not

make　an　outcry　when　I　tell　you　who　I　am。　　I　am　Wilton

Barnstable。〃



〃I　knew　you；〃　said　Cleggett。　　The　other　appeared　disappointed　for

a　moment。　　And　then　he　inquired　anxiously；　〃How　did　you　know　me？〃



〃Why；　from　your　pictures　in　the　magazines；〃　said　Cleggett。



The　detective　brightened　perceptibly。　　〃Ah；　yesthe　magazines！　

Yes；　yes；　indeed！　　publicity　is　unavoidable；　unavoidable；　Mr。

Cleggett！　　But　this　box；　now〃



The　great　detective　interrupted　himself　to　laugh　again；　a　trifle

complacently；　Cleggett　thought。



〃I　will　not　mystify　you；　Mr。　Cleggett；　about　the　box。　

Mystification　is　one　of　the　tricks　of　the　older　schools　of

detection。　　I　never　practice　it；　Mr。　Cleggett。　　With　me；　the

detection　of　crime　is　a　businessyes；　a　business。　　I　will　tell

you　presently　how　the　box　came　into　my　possession。〃



〃It　IS　in　your　possession？〃　　Cleggett　felt　a　dull　pang　of　the

heart。　　If　the　box　of　Reginal　Maltravers　were　in　the　hands　of

Logan　Black　he　could　at　least　trade　the　other　oblong　box　to　Loge

for　it；　and　thus　save　Lady　Agatha。　　But　in　the　possession　of

Wilton　Barnstable；　the　great　detective！　　Cleggett　pulled

himself　together；　he　thought　rapidly；　he　recognized　that　the

situation　called；　above　all　things　else；　for　diplomacy　and

adroitness。　　He　went　on；　nonchalantly：



〃I　suppose　you　are　aware　of　the　contents　of　the　box？〃



The　other　laughed　again　as　if　Cleggett　had　made　an　excellent

jest；　there　was　something　urbane　and　benign　in　his　manner；　it

appeared　as　if　he　regarded　the　contents　of　the　box　of　Reginald

Maltravers　as　anything　but　serious；　his　tone　puzzled　Cleggett。



〃Suppose　I　bring　the　box　on　board　the　Jasper　B。；〃　suggested　the

great　detective。　　〃It　interests　me；　that　box。　　I　have　no　doubt　it

has　its　story。　　And　perhaps；　while　you　are　telling　me　some　things

about　it；　I　may　be　able　to　give　you　some　information　in　turn。〃



There　was　no　mistaking　the　fact　that　the　man；　whether　genuinely

friendly　or　no；　wished　to　appear　so。



〃Have　it　brought　into　my　cabin；〃　said　Cleggett；　〃and　we　will

discuss　it。〃



A　few　minutes　later　Wilton　Barnstable；　Cleggett；　Lady　Agatha；

Miss　Pringle；　and　two　of　Wilton　Barnstable's　men　sat　in　the　cabin

of　the　Jasper　B。；　with　the　two　oblong　boxes　before　themthe　one

which　had　contained　Loge's　incriminating　diary；　and　the　one　which

had　caused　Lady　Agatha　so　much　trouble。



In　the　light　of　the　cabin　the　three　detectives　were　revealed　as

startlingly　alike。　　Barton　Ward　and　Watson　Bard；　Barnstable's　two

assistants；　might；　indeed；　almost　have　been　taken　for　Barnstable

himself；　at　a　casual　glance。　　In　height；　in　bulk；　in　dress；　in

facial　expression；　they　seemed　Wilton　Barnstable　all　over　again。　

But；　looking　intently　at　the　three　men；　Cleggett　began　to

perceive　a　difference　between　the　real　Wilton　Barnstable　and　his

two　counterfeits。　It　was　the　difference　between　the　face　which　is

informed　of　genius；　and　the　countenance　which　is　indicative　of

mere　talent。



〃Mr。　Cleggett；〃　began　Wilton　Barnstable；　〃as　I　said　before；　I

will　make　no　attempt　to　mystify　you。　I　was　a　witness　to　the

attack　upon　your　vessel。　Mr。　Ward；　Mr。　Bard；　and　myself；　in　fact；

had　determined　to　assist　you；　had　we　seen　that　the　combat　was

going　against　you。　　We　lay；　during　the　struggle；　in　the　lee　of

youryourer；　schooner！in　the　lee　of　your　schooner；　armed；

and　ready　to　bear　a　hand。　　We　have　our　own　little　matter　to

settle　with　Logan　Black。　　Why　Logan　Black　should　desire

possession　of　this　particular　box；　I　am　unable　to　state。　

Nevertheless；　at　the　moment　when　he　was　leading　his　assault　upon

your　starboard　bow；　two　of　his　men；　who　had　made　a　detour　to　the

stern　of　your　vessel；　had　clambered　stealthily　aboard；　and　were

quietly　pushing　the　box　over　the　side　into　the　canal。　　They　let

themselves　down　into　the　water；　and　swam　towards　the　mouth　of　the

canal；　pushing　it　ahead　of　them。　　We　followed　in　our　rowboat；　Mr。

Ward；　Mr。　Bard；　and　myself；　at　a　discreet　distance。　　We　let　them

push　the　box　as　far　south　as　the　Annabel　Lee。　　And　then〃



He　paused　a　moment；　and　smiled　reminiscently。　　Barton　Ward　and

Watson　Bard　also　smiled　reminiscently；　and　the　three　detectives

exchanged　crafty　glances。



〃Then；　to　be　brief；　we　took　the　box　away　from　them。　　They　were　so

ill…advised　as　to　struggle。　They　are　in　irons；　now；　on　board　the

Annabel　Lee。



〃But　what　I　cannot　understand；　Mr。　Cleggett；　is　why　these　men

should　risk　so　much　to　make　off　with　an　empty　box。〃



〃An　empty　box！〃　cried　Cleggett。



〃Empty！〃　echoed　Lady　Agatha　and　Miss　Pringle；　in　concert。



The　detective　wrenched　the　cover　from　the　box　of　Reginald

Maltravers。



〃Practically　empty；　at　any　rate；〃　he　said。



And；　indeed；　except　for　a　few　wads　of　wet　excelsior；　there　was

nothing　in　the　box　of　Reginald　Maltravers。



〃Where；　then；〃　cried　Lady　Agatha；　〃is　Reginald　Maltravers？〃



〃Where；　indeed；〃　said　Wilton　Barnstable；　〃is　Reginald

Maltravers？〃



〃Where；　then；〃　cried　Miss　Pringle；　〃are　my　plum　preserves？〃



〃Where；　indeed？〃　repeated　Wilton　Barnstable。　And　Barton　Ward　and

Watson　Bard；　although　they　did　not　speak　aloud；　stroked　their

mustaches　and　their　lips　formed　the　ejaculation；　〃Where；　indeed？〃



〃We　will　tell　you　everything；〃　said　Cleggett。　　And　beginning　with

his　purchase　of　the　Jasper　B。　he　recounted　rapidly；　but　with

sufficient　detail；　all　the　facts　with　which　the　reader　is　already

familiar；　weaving　into　hi