the red seal(红印)-第37章
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treat him like an ordinary burglar … we had both forgotten Barbara's silly
wager in our horror about father。 Jimmie didn't dare take the securities
and father's confession with him for fear he'd be searched at the police
station； and the scandal would have come out then。〃
〃True；〃 agreed McIntyre。 〃Go on； Helen。〃
〃So Jimmie thrust the securities and father's confession into an
envelope and sealed it with red wax； using Barbara's seal；〃 explained
Helen。 〃He hadn't time to write an address or message on it； but he told
me to return the envelope to him later in the day or give it to Philip
Rochester and ask his aid。 I brought it here on Wednesday morning and
with Harry's permission put the envelope in the safe。〃
〃I tried to get it from there；〃 volunteered Sylvester； 〃for I overheard
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Turnbull's plan； before I left by the reception room window。〃
〃So it was you and not Mr。 Rochester whom I saw steal out of the
window；〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Brewster。
〃It's not the first time I've been mistaken for him；〃 exclaimed Sylvester
calmly。
Kent started and； gazing at Rochester and the clerk； saw there was a
general resemblance in coloring and physique。
〃Did you present the checks to McDonald at the Metropolis Trust
Company bearing Rochester's and my forged signatures？〃 he asked。
〃I did；〃 acknowledged Sylvester。 〃Mr。 Rochester's wardrobe came in
very handy for deceiving the casual glance。 You know； 'clothes make the
man； and want of it the fellow。'〃
Kent looked up quickly； struck by an idea。
〃Sylvester； did you steal the envelope containing the securities from
me at the Club de Vingt？〃 he asked。
Sylvester shook his head。 〃No； but she did；〃 pointing to Mrs。
Brewster。 〃It's no lie；〃 as McIntyre uttered an indignant denial。 〃When
Ferguson left here carrying off the securities from under my nose almost …
I had spent the whole day trying to learn the safe's combination； I trailed
him to the Club de Vingt； and heard the head waiter tell him you； Mr。 Kent；
were sitting in the small smoking porch； so I climbed up the trumpet vine；
oh； it was strong and no climb for one who has done the feats I have in the
circus。 I reached the porch just in time to see Mrs。 Brewster drop her fan；
and when the men bent to pick it up she 'lifted' the envelope and concealed
it under her scarf。〃
〃Don't；〃 Mrs。 Brewster laid a detaining hand on McIntyre as he
stepped forward。 〃The man is telling the truth。 I thought it was the
envelope you gave me earlier in the evening … it was unaddressed and the
red seal was the same。〃
〃Just a moment；〃 interrupted Kent。 〃What did you do with the
envelope？〃
〃When I returned home I dropped it inside one of the Venetian
caskets；〃 Mrs。 Brewster replied。 〃No one ever went near them； and I
thought it would be safe there。 You see； I was puzzled to know how it
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had disappeared from the desk in the reception room； where I had left it in
one of the pigeon holes； intending to take it later to my room。〃
〃I took the envelope … your envelope … out of the desk；〃 confessed
McIntyre。 〃I would have spoken of it； Margaret； but was hurt that you
had left our marriage certificate lying around so carelessly。〃
〃Your what？〃 Barbara sprang up； astounded。
〃Our marriage certificate；〃 repeated McIntyre firmly。 〃Margaret and
I were married last week in Baltimore。 We would have told you； Helen；
but your peculiar conduct and Barbara's； so angered me that I forbade
Margaret to take you into our confidence。〃
〃Father！〃 Barbara got no further； for Helen had risen。 She spoke
with quiet dignity。
〃You forget； father； that since Monday night we have thought you a
forger and； worse； a murderer；〃 her voice faltered。 〃In our effort to guard
you we have become estranged。 Margaret〃… she held out her hand with
an affectionate gesture and with a sob her step…mother kissed her。
〃How did this envelope get back inside our safe？〃 asked Kent a
moment later； picking it up and displaying the red seal； intact save for the
broken corner。
〃I went downstairs about midnight or a little later and into the library；〃
confessed Helen。 〃What was my surprise and terror to see Grimes
holding the envelope。 To me it meant father's exposure as a forger。 I
had a revolver in my hand and struck before I thought。 Then I must
temporarily have lost my reason。 It was only my thought to save father
that lent me courage and strength to thrust Grimes inside the casket where
Babs and I used to hide。 I then returned to my room； and was just
coming downstairs again after secreting the envelope； to release Grimes
and get medical assistance if need be； when Margaret's screams aroused
the household。〃
McIntyre interrupted his daughter with a hasty gesture； and addressed
his wife。 〃When Detective Ferguson questioned me as to your reason for
being in the library； Margaret； I stated you had gone down to get a book
left lying on the Venetian casket；〃 he said。 〃I waited for you to volunteer
an explanation of your presence there； but you never made any。〃
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〃I went down to get our marriage certificate。〃 Margaret forgot the
presence of others and spoke only to him； the love…light in her eyes
pleading against the censure she dreaded； as she made her brief confession。
〃Mr。 Clymer sent me a note； inclosing a canceled check； stating the bank
officials had decided my signature was a forgery。 The check was drawn to
Barbara； and on examining it I noticed the peculiar formation of the letter
'B'； it is characteristic of your handwriting and Helen's。〃 She paused； and
added：
〃I was at a loss what to think。 I knew you and Helen wrote alike；
Helen's extraordinary behavior to me led me to believe that perhaps she
had been short of funds； and forged my name to a check in desperation。
Then I remembered seeing you； Charles； open the box containing my
aconitine pills； the box's disappearance； and Jimmie's death from that
poison〃 … she raised her hands in an expressive gesture。 〃Although my
reason told me that you might be guilty； my loyalty and love refuted the
accusation。〃
〃Margaret！〃 McIntyre's voice shook with emotion； then controlling
himself he turned to Sylvester。 〃I presume this check was some more of
your deviltry？〃
Helen answered for the clerk。 Removing a soiled paper from her bag
she laid it on Kent's desk。 〃This note was handed to me by Grimes；〃 she
explained。 〃It reads： 'Helen； please cash this check and give money to
Mrs。 Brewster's dressmaker。 Father。' I followed the instructions。〃
〃And gave the money to my sister；〃 Sylvester chuckled at their
surprise。 〃My sister was taught in a French convent； and she is an
excellent seamstress； when she isn't drunk； as Mrs。 McIntyre knows。〃
〃See here； Sylvester；〃 Clymer broke his long silence。 〃You were in
the police court on a charge of assault and battery brought by your wife on
Tuesday morning； and you were in the prisoner's cage at the moment
Turnbull died。 How then was it possible for you to be at the McIntyre's
at midnight on Monday？〃
〃I was out on bail and appeared in the courtroom just in time for my
trial；〃 Sylvester explained。 〃I did not have to sit in the cage； but
recognizing Turnbull I went there to be with him。〃
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Kent placed the forged check bearing Margaret Brewster's signature on
the desk。 〃I take it this check is your work； Sylvester；〃 he said。 〃You
reaped the benefit by having the money paid to your sister。 Did you also
have the fake telegram delivered to me stating Mr。 Rochester was in
Cleveland？〃
〃I faked that；〃 broke in Rochester； before the clerk could make a
disclaimer。 〃I thought it best to disappear for a few days down in
Virginia； where I could think things over in peace。〃
〃So it was you； Sylvester； and not Mr。 Rochester whom I encountered
in his apartment；〃 exclaimed Kent。 〃How did you get in the apartment？〃
〃From the fire…escape and along the window ledge to the bathroom
window。〃 Sylvester hitched his shoulders。 〃It was nothing for a man of
my agility。〃
Ferguson eyed him with doubtful respect。
〃You have courage；〃 he admitted grudgingly。 〃Come； we must get to
Headquarters；〃 and he aided Sylvester to his feet； but once standing；
Sylvester refused to move。 Instead he turned to Helen。
〃What was that you passed to Mr。 Rochester in the police court and he
later gave to Mr。 Turnbull？〃 he asked。 〃Oh； don't deny it； I saw you palm
a note； Mr。 Rochester； from the young lady。〃
〃There is nothing now to conceal；〃 declared Helen。 〃After O'Ryan
and Jimmie left the house for the police station I grew fearful that Jimmie
might over…tax his strength in carrying out the farce of his arrest。 So as
soon as I could I telephoned to Philip to meet me at the police court and to
bring some amyl nitrite capsules with him。〃
〃And the note； Sylvester； which you saw Miss McIntyre give me in
court；〃 concluded Rochester； as Hel
