the red seal(红印)-第32章
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between his being incarcerated and your finding him； Colonel。〃
〃How so？〃 demanded McIntyre。
〃Well； if he couldn't get air and you hadn't discovered him at once；
he'd have died；〃 explained Ferguson。 〃If you did find him immediately
the person who knocked him down must have made a lightning escape。〃
〃Air does get in the casket in some way；〃 broke in Kent。 〃It wasn't so
bad inside。 Colonel McIntyre；〃 Kent stopped a moment to remove a
piece of red sealing wax clinging to the cuff of his suit。 It had not been
there when he entered the casket。 Kent dropped the wax in his vest
pocket as he again addressed his host。 〃Who first discovered Grimes in
the casket？〃
〃Mrs。 Brewster。〃
〃And what was Mrs。 Brewster doing in the library at that hour？〃
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glancing keenly at McIntyre as he put the question。
〃She could not sleep and came down for a book；〃 explained the
Colonel。
Ferguson； who had walked several times around the library； looking
behind first one and then the other of the seven doors； paused to ask：
〃What attracted Mrs。 Brewster's attention to the casket？〃
〃The blood stain on its side；〃 McIntyre answered。
〃What … that！〃 Ferguson eyed McIntyre incredulously。 〃Come； sir；
do you mean to tell me she noticed that little bit of a stain in a dark room？〃
〃She had an electric torch；〃 shortly。
〃But why should she turn the torch on this casket？〃 persisted the
detective。 〃She came to the library for a book； and the bookcases are in
another part of the room。〃
〃Quite so； but the book she wished was lying on the top of this casket；〃
replied McIntyre； meeting their level looks with one equally steadfast。 〃I
know because I left the book there。〃
Ferguson glanced from McIntyre to Kent and back again at the
Colonel in non…plussed silence。 The explanation was pat。
〃I'd like to talk with Mrs。 Brewster；〃 he remarked dryly。
〃Certainly。〃 McIntyre pressed an electric button。 The summons
was answered immediately by the new servant； Murray。 〃Ask Mrs。
Brewster if she can see Detective Ferguson in the library； Murray；〃
McIntyre directed。
〃Beg pardon； sir； but Mrs。 Brewster has just gone out；〃 and with a
bow Murray withdrew。
Kent； who had drawn forward a chair preparatory to sitting down and
participating in the interview with the widow； changed his mind。
〃I must leave at once；〃 he said； after consulting his watch。 〃Please
inform Mrs。 Brewster； Colonel； that I will be in my office this afternoon；
and I expect her to make me the visit she postponed this morning。
Ferguson；〃 turning back to address the detective； 〃you'll find me at the
Saratoga for the next hour。 Good morning；〃 and paying no attention to
Colonel McIntyre's request to remain； he left the room。
There was no one in the hall and Kent debated a moment whether or
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not to ring for the servant and ask to see Barbara； but； at sight of the hall
table； Grimes' confidences recurred to him and drove everything else out
of his mind。 Stopping before the table he contemplated its smooth
surface before moving the few ornaments it held。 Satisfied that no
pillbox stood behind any of them； he pulled open the two drawers and
tumbled their contents about。 His efforts only brought to light some half…
empty cigarette boxes； matches； a scratch pad or two； and old visiting
cards。
Kent shut the drawers； picked up his hat； and took his cane from the
tall china umbrella…stand by the hall table。 As he stepped through the
front doorway he caught sight of the end of his cane； which he was
carrying tucked under his arm。 Fastened to the ferule of the cane was the
round top of a paste…board pill box。
Kent backed so swiftly into the house again that his figure blocked the
closing of the front door； which he had started to pull shut after him。
Letting the door close gently he walked back to the umbrella stand。 It
was a tall heavy affair； and he had some difficulty in tipping it over and
letting its contents spill on the floor。 A soft exclamation escaped him as
three little pellets rolled past him； and then came the bottom of a box。
With hasty fingers Kent picked them up； placed them in the box； and
fitted on the top； first carefully smoothing over the hole made by his cane
when thrust into the umbrella stand by the footman。 Replacing the stand
he wrapped the box containing the pills in his handkerchief and hurried
from the house。
Kent found the operative from Detective Headquarters sitting on duty
in Rochester's living room when he entered that apartment a quarter of an
hour later。
〃Any one called here？〃 he asked； as the man； whom he had met the
night before； greeted him。
〃Not a soul； Mr。 Kent。〃 Nelson suppressed a yawn； his relief was late
in coming； and he had had little sleep the night before。 〃There's been no
disturbance of any kind； not even a ring at the telephone。〃
Kent considered a moment； then sat down by the telephone and gave a
number to Central。
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〃That you； Sylvester？〃 he called into the mouth…piece。 〃If Mrs。
Brewster comes to the office； telephone me at Mr。 Rochester's apartment；
Franklin 52。 Don't let Mrs。 Brewster leave until I have seen her。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 came the reply； and Kent hung up the receiver。
〃Had any luncheon？〃 he asked Nelson as the man loitered around。
〃Not yet〃 … Nelson's eyes brightened at the word。 It was long past his
usual meal hour。
〃Run down to the caf on the first floor and tell the head waiter to
give you a square meal and charge it to me；〃 Kent directed。 〃Order
something substantial； you must be used up。〃
The man hung back。 〃Thank you； Mr。 Kent； but I don't like to leave
here until my relief comes；〃 he objected。
〃That's all right； I'll stay in the apartment until you return；〃 and Kent
settled the question by opening the door leading into the outer corridor。
〃Ferguson will be around shortly； so hurry。〃
Kent watched the man scurry toward the elevator shaft； then returned
to Rochester's apartment and once more took up the telephone。 The
operative's reluctance to leave the apartment unguarded had altered his
plans somewhat。
〃Is this Dr。 Stone's office？〃 he asked a moment later； as a faint 〃hello；〃
came over the wire。 〃Oh； doctor； this is Kent。 Please come over to
Rochester's apartment； I would like to consult you in regard to an
important matter。 You'll come now？ Thanks。〃
The doctor kept Kent waiting less than five minutes。 The clock was
striking one when he appeared； bland and smiling。 Hardly waiting for
him to select a seat Kent flung himself into a chair in front of Rochester's
desk and laid the pill box on the writing pad。
〃Now； doctor；〃 he began； and his manner gained in seriousness； 〃what；
in your opinion； killed Jimmie Turnbull？〃
〃The post…mortem examination proved that he had swallowed
aconitine in sufficient quantity to cause death；〃 Stone replied。 〃He
undoubtedly died from the effects of that poison。〃
〃Is aconitine difficult to procure？〃 asked Kent。
〃It is often prescribed for fevers。〃 Stone made himself comfortable in a
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near…by chair。 〃Aconitine is the alkaloid of aconite。 I believe that in
India it is frequently employed； not only for the destruction of wild beasts；
but for criminal purposes。 The India variety is known as the Bish
poison。〃
Kent started … Bish poison … was he never to get away from the letter
〃B〃？
〃Can you procure Bish in this country？〃 he asked。
Stone considered the question。 〃You might be able to purchase it
from some Hindoo residing or traveling in the United States；〃 he said；
after a pause。 〃 I doubt if you could buy it in a drug store。〃
Kent heaved a sigh of relief as he hitched his chair closer to the
physician。
〃Did you prescribe a dose of aconitine for Mrs。 Brewster recently？〃 he
asked。
〃I did； for an attack of rheumatic neuralgia。〃 Stone eyed him
curiously。 〃What then； Kent？〃
〃Is this the box the medicine came in？〃 and Kent placed the cover in
Stone's hand。
Stone turned the paste…board over and studied the defaced label。 〃I
cannot answer that question positively；〃 he said。 〃The label bears my
name and that of the druggist； but the directions are missing。〃
〃But the number's on it；〃 put in Kent swiftly。 〃Come； Stone； call up
the druggist； repeat the number to him； and ask if it calls for your aconitine
prescription。〃
Stone hesitated as if about to speak； then； reaching out his hand； he
picked up the telephone and held a short conversation with the drug clerk
of the Thompson Pharmacy。
〃That is the box which contained the aconitine pills for Mrs。
Brewster；〃 he said； when he had replaced the telephone。 〃Now； Kent； I
have secured the information you wished； kindly tell me your reasons for
desiring it。〃
It was Kent's turn to hesitate。 〃Do you know many instances where
aconitine was used by murderers？〃 he questioned。
〃N…no。 I
