the red seal(红印)-第11章
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〃She is rather blue and depressed；〃 answered Barbara。 〃We are both
feeling the reaction from the shock of Jimmie Turnbull's tragic death。
You must forgive me if I am a bore； I am not good company to…night。〃
The arrival of the head waiter at their table interrupted Clymer's reply。
〃This gentleman desires to speak to you a moment； Miss McIntyre；〃 he
said； and indicated a young man in a sack suit standing just back of him。
〃I'm Parker of the Post；〃 the reporter introduced himself with a bow
which included Clymer。 〃May I sit down？〃 laying his hand on the back
of Mrs。 Brewster's vacant chair。
〃Surely； and won't you have an ice？〃 Barbara's hospitable instincts
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were aroused。 〃Here； waiter …〃
〃No； thanks； I haven't time；〃 protested Parker； slipping into the chair。
〃I just came from your house； Miss McIntyre； the butler said I might find
you here； and as it was rather important； I took the liberty of introducing
myself。 We plan to run a story； featuring the dangers of masquerading in
society； and of course it hinges on the death of Mr。 Turnbull。 I'm sorry〃 …
he apologized as he saw Barbara wince。 〃I realize the topic is one to
make you feel badly； but I promise to ask only few questions。〃 His smile
was very engaging and Barbara's resentment receded somewhat。
〃What are they？〃 she asked。
〃Did you recognize Mr。 Turnbull in his burglar's make…up when you
confronted him in the police court？〃 Parker drew out copy paper and a
pencil； and waited for her reply。 There was a pause。
〃I did not recognize Mr。 Turnbull in court；〃 she stated finally。 〃His
death was a frightful shock。〃
〃Sure。 It was to everybody；〃 agreed Parker。 〃How about your sister；
Miss Barbara； did she recognize him？〃
〃No。〃 faintly。
Parker showed his disappointment； he was not eliciting much
information。 Abruptly he turned to Clymer； whose prominent position in
the financial world made him a familiar figure to all Washingtonians。
〃Weren't you present in the police court on Tuesday morning also？〃
Parker asked。
〃Yes；〃 Clymer modified the curt monosyllable by adding； 〃I helped Dr。
Stone carry Turnbull out of the prisoners' cage and into the anteroom。〃
〃And did you recognize your cashier？〃 demanded Parker。 At the
question Barbara set down her goblet of water without care for its
perishable quality and looked with quick intentness at the banker。
〃I recognized Mr。 Turnbull when his wig was removed；〃 answered
Clymer； raising his head in time to catch Barbara's eyes gazing steadfastly
at him。 With a faint flush she turned her attention to the reporter。
〃Mr。 Turnbull's make…up must have been superfine；〃 Parker remarked。
〃Just one more question。 Can you tell me if Mr。 Philip Rochester
recognized his room…mate when he was defending him in court？〃
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〃No； I cannot；〃 and observing Parker's blank expression； she added；
〃why don't you ask Mr。 Rochester？〃
〃Because I can't locate him； he seems to have vanished off the face of
the globe。〃 The reporter rose。 〃You can't tell me where's he's gone； I
suppose？〃
〃I haven't the faintest idea；〃 answered Barbara truthfully。 〃I was at
his office this …〃 she stopped abruptly on finding that Mrs。 Brewster was
standing just behind her。 Had the widow by chance overheard her
remark？ If so； her father would probably learn of her visit to the office of
Rochester and Kent that morning。
〃Do I understand that Philip Rochester is out of town？〃 inquired Mrs。
Brewster。 〃Why； I had an appointment with him to…morrow。〃
〃He's gone and left no address that I can find；〃 explained Parker。
〃Thank you； Miss McIntyre； good evening；〃 and the busy reporter hurried
away。
There was a curious expression in Mrs。 Brewster's eyes； but she
dropped her gaze on her finger bowl too quickly for Clymer to analyze its
meaning。
〃What can have taken Mr。 Rochester out of town？〃 she asked。 The
question was not addressed to any one in particular； but Colonel McIntyre
answered it； as he did most of the widow's remarks。
〃Dry Washington；〃 he explained。 〃It isn't the first trip Philip has
made to Baltimore since the 'dry' law has been in force； eh； Clymer？〃
〃No； and it won't be his last；〃 was the banker's response。 〃What's the
matter； Miss McIntyre？〃 as Barbara pushed back her chair。
〃I feel a little faint；〃 she stammered。 〃The air here is … is stifling。 If
you don't mind； father； I'll take the car and drive home。〃
〃I'll come with you；〃 announced Mrs。 Brewster； rising hurriedly； and
as she turned solicitously to aid Barbara she caught Colonel McIntyre's
admiring glance and his whispered thanks。
Outside the caf Clymer discovered that the McIntyre limousine was
not to be found； and； cautioning Barbara and the widow to remain where
they were； he went back into the caf in search of Colonel McIntyre； who
had stayed behind to pay his bill。
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A sudden exodus from the caf as other diners came out to get their
cars； separated Barbara from Mrs。 Brewster just as the former caught sight
of her father's limousine coming around McPherson Square。 Not waiting
to see what had become of her companion； Barbara started up the sidewalk
intent on catching their chauffeur's attention。 As she stood by the curb；
a figure brushed by her and a paper was deftly slipped inside her hand。
Barbara wheeled about abruptly。 She stood alone； except for several
elaborately dressed women and their companions some yards away who
were indulging in noisy talk as they hurried along。 At that moment the
McIntyre limousine stopped at the curb and the chauffeur opened the door。
〃Take me home； Harris；〃 she ordered。 〃And then come back for Mrs。
Brewster and father。 I don't feel well … hurry。〃
〃Very good； miss；〃 and touching his cap the chauffeur swung his car
up Fifteenth Street。
The limousine had turned into Massachusetts Avenue before Barbara
switched on the electric lamp in the car and opened the note so
mysteriously given to her。 She read feverishly the few lines it contained
Dear Helen： The coroner will call an inquest。 Secrete letter 〃B。〃
The note was unsigned but it was in the handwriting of Philip
Rochester。
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CHAPTER VII
THE RED SEAL
The gloomy morning； with leaden skies and intermittent rain； reflected
Harry Kent's state of mind。 He could not fix his attention on the business
letters which Sylvester placed before him； instead； his thoughts reverted to
the scene in Rochester's and Turnbull's apartment the night before； the
elusive visitor he had found there on his arrival； his interview with
Detective Ferguson； and above all the handkerchief； saturated with amyl
nitrite； and bearing the small embroidered letter 〃B〃 … the initial；
insignificant in size； but fraught with dire possibilities if； as Ferguson
hinted； Turnbull had been put to death by an over…dose of the drug。 〃B 〃
… Barbara； Barbara … 〃B〃 … his mind rang the changes； pshaw！ other names
than Barbara began with 〃B。〃
〃Shall I transcribe your notes； Mr。 Kent？〃 asked Sylvester； and Kent
awakened from his reverie； discovered that he had scrawled the name
Barbara and capital 〃Bs〃 on the writing pad。 He tore off the sheet and
crumpled it into a small ball。 〃No； my notes are unimportant 〃 Kent
unlocked his desk and took some manuscript from one of the drawers。
〃Make four copies of this brief； then call up the printer and ask how soon
he will complete the work on hand。 Has Mr。 Clymer telephoned？
〃Not this morning。〃 Sylvester rose； papers in hand。 〃There has
been a Mr。 Parker of the Post who telephones regularly once an hour to
ask for Mr。 Rochester's address and when he is expected at the office。〃 He
paused and looked inquiringly at Kent。 〃What shall I say the next time
he calls？〃
〃Switch him on my phone；〃 briefly。 〃That is all now； Sylvester。 I
must be in court by noon； so have the brief copied by eleven。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 and Sylvester departed； only to return a second later。 〃Miss
McIntyre to see you；〃 he announced； and stood aside to allow the girl to
enter。
It was the first time Kent had seen Helen since the tragedy of Tuesday；
and as he advanced to greet her he noted with concern her air of distress
and the troubled look in her eyes。 Her composed manner was obviously
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only maintained by the exertion of self…control； for the hand she offered
him was unsteady。
〃You are so kind；〃 she murmured as he placed a chair for her。 〃Babs
told me you have promised your aid； and so I have come …〃 she pressed
one hand to her side as if she found breathing difficult and Kent； reaching
for his pitcher of ice water which stood near at hand； filled a tumbler and
gave it to her。
〃Take a little；〃 he coaxed as she moved as if to refuse the glass。 〃Why
didn't you telephone and I would have called on you； in fact； I planned to
run in and see you this afternoon。
〃It is wiser to have our talk here；〃 she replied。 Setting down the
empty glass she gazed about the office and her face brightened at sight of
a safe standing in one corner
