the red seal(红印)-第4章
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would not have been so difficult to find a companion anxious to spend the
whole afternoon with me for my sake alone。〃
〃Colonel McIntyre； for instance？〃 he teased； and laughed amusedly at
her heightened color。 〃Have a care； Margaret； McIntyre's flirtations are
all very well； but he is the type of man to be deadly in earnest when once
he falls in love。〃
〃Thanks for your warning；〃 Mrs。 Brewster smiled； then grew serious。
〃I sent for you to ask about Jimmie Turnbull's death this morning。 Barbara
told me you accompanied them to the police court。〃
〃Yes。 Why weren't you with the girls？〃
〃Because I was told nothing of their trip to the； police court until they
had returned；〃 she replied。 〃How horribly tragic the whole affair is！〃
And a shiver she could not suppress crept down her spine。
〃It is；〃 agreed Stone。 〃What possessed Jimmie Turnbull to play so
mad a trick？〃
〃His wager with Barbara。〃
Stone leaned a little nearer。 〃Have you learned the nature of that
wager？〃 he asked； lowering his voice。
〃No。 Babs was in so hysterical a condition when she returned from
the police court that she gave a very incoherent account of the whole affair；
and she has kept her room ever since luncheon；〃 explained Mrs。 Brewster。
Stone looked puzzled。 〃I understood that Jimmie was attentive to
Helen McIntyre and not to Barbara；〃 he said。 〃But upon my word；
Barbara appeared more overcome by Jimmie's death than Helen。〃
Mrs。 Brewster did not reply at once； instead； she glanced carefully
around。 The room was generally the rallying place of the McIntyres。 It
stretched across almost the entire width of the house； the diamond…paned
and recessed windows gave it a medieval air in keeping with its antique
furniture； and the seven doors opening from it led； respectively； to the
large dining room beyond； a morning room； billiard room； the front and
back halls； and the Italian loggia which over…looked the stretch of ground
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between the McIntyre residence and its neighbor on the north。
Apparently； she and Dr。 Stone had the room to themselves。
〃I cannot answer your question with positiveness；〃 she stated。 〃Frankly；
Jimmie appeared impartial in his attentions to the twins。 When he wasn't
with Barbara he was with Helen； and vice versa。〃
Stone gazed at her in some perplexity。 〃Are you aware that Helen
stated at the police court this morning that she was Turnbull's fiancee？〃
〃What！〃 Mrs。 Brewster actually bounced in her seat。 〃You … you
astound me！〃
〃I was a bit surprised myself；〃 acknowledged the physician。 〃I
thought Rochester … however； that is neither here nor there。 Helen not
only announced she was Jimmie's fiancee but as such demanded that a
post…mortem examination be held to determine the cause of his death。〃
Mrs。 Brewster's pretty color faded and the glance she turned on her
cousin was sharp。 〃Why should Helen suspect foul play？〃 she demanded。
〃For that is what her request hinted。〃
〃True。〃 Stone pulled his beard absentmindedly。 〃Ah； here is Colonel
McIntyre；〃 he exclaimed as the portieres before the hall door parted and a
tall man strode into the library。
McIntyre was a favorite with the old physician； and he welcomed his
arrival with warmth。 Exchanging a word of greeting with Mrs。 Brewster；
McIntyre drew up a chair and dropped into it。
〃I called at your office； doctor；〃 he said。 〃Went there at once on
learning the shocking news about poor Turnbull。 Why in the world didn't
he announce who he was when my daughter had him arrested as a burglar？
He must have realized that prolonged excitement was bad for his weak
heart。〃
Mrs。 Brewster； who had settled herself more comfortably in her corner
of the sofa on McIntyre's arrival； answered his remark。
〃I only knew Jimmie superficially；〃 she said； 〃but he had one
distinguishing trait patent to all； his inordinate fondness for practical jokes。
Probably the predicament he found himself in was highly to his taste …
until his heart failed。〃
Her voice； slightly raised； carried across the room and reached the ears
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of a tall； slender girl who had stood hesitating on the threshold of the
dining worn door on beholding the group by the sofa。 All hesitation
vanished； however； as the meaning of Mrs。 Brewster's remark dawned on
her； and she walked over to the sofa。
〃You are very unjust； Margaret；〃 she stated； and at sound of her low
triante voice McIntyre whirled around and frowned slightly。 〃Jimmie was
thinking of the predicament of others； not of himself。〃
〃What do you mean； Helen？〃 her father demanded。
〃Why； how could Jimmie reveal his identity in court without involving
us？〃 she asked。 〃Good afternoon； doctor；〃 recollecting her manners； and
her attention thus diverted； she missed the sudden questioning look which
Mrs。 Brewster and her father exchanged。 〃No；〃 she continued； 〃Jimmie
sacrificed himself for others。〃
〃By becoming a burglar。〃 McIntyre laughed shortly。 〃Don't talk
arrant nonsense； Helen。〃
The girl flushed at his tone； and Dr。 Stone； an interested onlooker；
marveled at the fleeting flash of disdain which lighted her dark eyes。
Stone's interest grew。 The McIntyre family had always been particularly
congenial； and the devotion of Colonel McIntyre （left a widower when the
twins were in short frocks） to his daughters had been commented on
frequently by their wide circle of friends in Washington and by
acquaintances made in their travels abroad。
Colonel McIntyre had married when quite a young man。 Frugality
and industry and a brilliant mind had reaped their reward； and； wiser than
the majority of Americans； he retired early from business and devoted
himself to a life of leisure and the education of his daughters。 Their
debut the previous autumn had been one of the social events of the
Washington season； and the instant popularity the girls had attained proved
a source of pride to Colonel McIntyre。 His chief pleasure consisted in
gratifying their every whim； and Dr。 Stone； knowing the family as he did；
wondered at the faintly discernible air of constraint in the girl's manner。
Usually frank to a sometimes embarrassing degree； she appeared to some
disadvantage as she sat gazing moodily at the tips of her patent…leather
pumps。 Dr。 Stone's attention shifted to Colonel McIntyre and lastly to the
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pretty widow at his elbow。 Had Dame Rumor spoken truly in the report；
widely circulated； that the colonel had fallen a victim to the charms of
Margaret Brewster； his daughters' guest？ If so； it might account for the
young girl's manner … however devoted McIntyre's daughters might be to
Mrs。 Brewster as a friend and companion； they might resent having so
young a woman for their step…mother。
Not receiving any reply to his remarks； McIntyre was about to address
his daughter again when she spoke。
〃Jimmie will be justified；〃 she declared stoutly。 〃Has the coroner
held the autopsy yet； Dr。 Stone？〃
〃Autopsy！〃 McIntyre spoke with sharp abruptness。 〃I thought it was
clearly established that Jimmie died from angina pectoris？〃
〃It is so believed；〃 responded Stone。 His mystification was growing；
had not Helen informed her father of the scene which had transpired at the
police court； and of her request to the coroner？ 〃I understand the post…
mortem examination will be made this afternoon； Helen。〃
A heavy paper knife； nicely balanced between McIntyre's well
manicured fingers； dropped to the floor as a step sounded behind him and
the butler； Grimes； stopped by his side。
〃Mr。 Rochester just telephoned that his partner； Mr。 Harry Kent； is out
of town； Miss〃 … bowing to the silent girl。 Grimes always contented
himself with addressing his 〃young ladies〃 by the simple prefix 〃Miss；〃
and never added their given names； because； as he expressed it； 〃them
twins are alike as two peas； and which is which； I dunno。〃 Considering
himself one of the family from his long service with Colonel McIntyre； he
kept a watchful eye on the twins； but their pranks in childhood had often
exasperated him into giving notice； which he generally found it convenient
to forget when the first of a new month came around。
〃Mr。 Kent will be back to…morrow；〃 added the butler； as silence
followed the delivery of his message。 〃Mr。 Rochester wishes to know if
he can transact any business for you。〃
〃Please thank him and say no。〃 The girl's color rose as she caught
her father's disapproving look。 The colonel waited until the butler had
disappeared before addressing her。
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〃Why did you send for Harry Kent？〃 he questioned。 〃You know I do
not approve of his attentions to Barbara。 Rochester is well enough …〃
〃Speaking of Rochester 〃… Mrs。 Brewster saw the gathering storm
clouds in the girl's expressive eyes； and broke hastily into the conversation。
〃I see by the paper； Cousin Amos〃 … she turned so as to face Dr。 Stone …〃
that Mr。 Rochester declared positively that Jimmie Turnbull died from
angina pectoris。〃
〃What's Philip's opinion worth？〃 The young girl smiled disdainfully。
〃
