malvina of brittany-第14章

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towards　us；　stooping　and　with　bent　head。　　We　expected　him　to　pass
the　house　by。　　To　our　surprise　he　stopped　when　he　came　to　it；　and
pushed　open　the　gate。　　In　another　moment　we　should　have　lost　all
chance　of　seeing　anything　more　of　him　except　his　bent　back。　　With　a
couple　of　strides　my　friend　was　behind　him。　　He　laid　his　hand　on　the
man's　shoulder　and　forced　him　to　turn　round。　　It　was　an　old；
wrinkled　face　with　gentle；　rather　watery　eyes。

We　were　both　so　taken　aback　that　for　a　moment　we　could　say　nothing。
My　friend　stammered　out　an　apology　about　having　mistaken　the　house；
and　rejoined　me。　　At　the　corner　we　burst　out　laughing　almost
simultaneously。　　And　then　my　friend　suddenly　stopped　and　stared　at
me。

〃Hepworth's　old　clerk！〃　he　said。　　〃Ellenby！〃

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It　seemed　to　him　monstrous。　　The　man　had　been　more　than　a　clerk。
The　family　had　treated　him　as　a　friend。　　Hepworth's　father　had　set
him　up　in　business。　　For　the　murdered　lad　he　had　had　a　sincere
attachment；　he　had　left　that　conviction　on　all　of　them。　　What　was
the　meaning　of　it？

A　directory　was　on　the　mantelpiece。　　It　was　the　next　afternoon。　　I
had　called　upon　him　in　his　chambers。　　It　was　just　an　idea　that　came
to　me。　　I　crossed　over　and　opened　it；　and　there　was　his　name；
〃Ellenby　and　Co。；　Ships'　Furnishers；〃　in　a　court　off　the　Minories。

Was　he　helping　her　for　the　sake　of　his　dead　mastertrying　to　get
her　away　from　the　man。　　But　why？　　The　woman　had　stood　by　and　watched
the　lad　murdered。　　How　could　he　bear　even　to　look　on　her　again？

Unless　there　had　been　that　something　that　had　not　come　out
something　he　had　learnt　laterthat　excused　even　that　monstrous
callousness　of　hers。

Yet　what　could　there　be？　　It　had　all　been　so　planned；　so
cold…blooded。　　That　shaving　in　the　dining…room！　　It　was　that　seemed
most　to　stick　in　his　throat。　　She　must　have　brought　him　down　a
looking…glass；　there　was　not　one　in　the　room。　　Why　couldn't　he　have
gone　upstairs　into　the　bathroom；　where　Hepworth　always　shaved
himself；　where　he　would　have　found　everything　to　his　hand？

He　had　been　moving　about　the　room；　talking　disjointedly　as　he　paced；
and　suddenly　he　stopped　and　looked　at　me。

〃Why　in　the　dining…room？〃　he　demanded　of　me。

He　was　jingling　some　keys　in　his　pocket。　　It　was　a　habit　of　his　when
cross…examining；　and　I　felt　as　if　somehow　I　knew；　and；　without
thinkingso　it　seemed　to　meI　answered　him。

〃Perhaps；〃　I　said；　〃it　was　easier　to　bring　a　razor　down　than　to
carry　a　dead　man　up。〃

He　leant　with　his　arms　across　the　table；　his　eyes　glittering　with
excitement。

〃Can't　you　see　it？〃　he　said。　　〃That　little　back　parlour　with　its
fussy　ornaments。　　The　three　of　them　standing　round　the　table；
Hepworth's　hands　nervously　clutching　a　chair。　　The　reproaches；　the
taunts；　the　threats。　　Young　Hepworthhe　struck　everyone　as　a　weak
man；　a　man　physically　afraidwhite；　stammering；　not　knowing　which
way　to　look。　　The　woman's　eyes　turning　from　one　to　the　other。　　That
flash　of　contempt　againshe　could　not　help　itfollowed；　worse
still；　by　pity。　　If　only　he　could　have　answered　back；　held　his　own！
If　only　he　had　not　been　afraid！　　And　then　that　fatal　turning　away
with　a　sneering　laugh　one　imagines；　the　bold；　dominating　eyes　no
longer　there　to　cower　him。

〃That　must　have　been　the　moment。　　The　bullet；　if　you　remember；
entered　through　the　back　of　the　man's　neck。　　Hepworth　must　always
have　been　picturing　to　himself　this　meetingtenants　of　garden
suburbs　do　not　carry　loaded　revolvers　as　a　habitdwelling　upon　it
till　he　had　worked　himself　up　into　a　frenzy　of　hate　and　fear。　　Weak
men　always　fly　to　extremes。　　If　there　was　no　other　way；　he　would
kill　him。

〃Can't　you　hear　the　silence？　　After　the　reverberations　had　died
away！　　And　then　they　are　both　down　on　their　knees；　patting　him；
feeling　for　his　heart。　　The　man　must　have　gone　down　like　a　felled
ox；　there　were　no　traces　of　blood　on　the　carpet。　　The　house　is　far
from　any　neighbour；　the　shot　in　all　probability　has　not　been　heard。
If　only　they　can　get　rid　of　the　body！　　The　pondnot　a　hundred　yards
away！〃

He　reached　for　the　brief；　still　lying　among　his　papers；　hurriedly
turned　the　scored　pages。

〃What　easier？　　A　house　being　built　on　the　very　next　plot。
Wheelbarrows　to　be　had　for　the　taking。　　A　line　of　planks　reaching
down　to　the　edge。　　Depth　of　water　where　the　body　was　discovered　four
feet　six　inches。　　Nothing　to　do　but　just　tip　up　the　barrow。

〃Think　a　minute。　　Must　weigh　him　down；　lest　he　rise　to　accuse　us；
weight　him　heavily；　so　that　he　will　sink　lower　and　lower　into　the
soft　mud；　lie　there　till　he　rots。

〃Think　again。　　Think　it　out　to　the　end。　　Suppose；　in　spite　of　all
our　precautions；　he　does　rise？　　Suppose　the　chain　slips？　　The
workmen　going　to　and　fro　for　watersuppose　they　do　discover　him？

〃He　is　lying　on　his　back；　remember。　　They　would　have　turned　him　over
to　feel　for　his　heart。　　Have　closed　his　eyes；　most　probably；　not
liking　their　stare。

〃It　would　be　the　woman　who　first　thought　of　it。　　She　has　seen　them
both　lying　with　closed　eyes　beside　her。　　It　may　have　always　been　in
her　mind；　the　likeness　between　them。　　With　Hepworth's　watch　in　his
pocket；　Hepworth's　ring　on　his　finger！　　If　only　it　was　not　for　the
beardthat　fierce；　curling；　red　beard！

〃They　creep　to　the　window　and　peer　out。　　Fog　still　thick　as　soup。
Not　a　soul；　not　a　sound。　　Plenty　of　time。

〃Then　to　get　away；　to　hide　till　one　is　sure。　　Put　on　the　mackintosh。
A　man　in　a　yellow　mackintosh　may　have　been　seen　to　enter；　let　him　be
seen　to　go　away。　　In　some　dark　corner　or　some　empty　railway　carriage
take　it　off　and　roll　it　up。　　Then　make　for　the　office。　　Wait　there
for　Ellenby。　　True　as　steel；　Ellenby；　good　business　man。　　Be　guided
by　Ellenby。〃

He　flung　the　brief　from　him　with　a　laugh。

〃Why；　there's　not　a　missing　link！〃　he　cried。　　〃And　to　think　that　not
a　fool　among　us　ever　thought　of　it！〃

〃Everything　fitting　into　its　place；〃　I　suggested；　〃except　young
Hepworth。　　Can　you　see　him；　from　your　description　of　him；　sitting
down　and　coolly　elaborating　plans　for　escape；　the　corpse　of　the
murdered　man　stretched　beside　him　on　the　hearthrug？〃

〃No；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　I　can　see　her　doing　it；　a　woman　who　for
week　after　week　kept　silence　while　we　raged　and　stormed　at　her；　a
woman　who　for　three　hours　sat　like　a　statue　while　old　Cutbush
painted　her　to　a　crowded　court　as　a　modern　Jezebel；　who　rose　up　from
her　seat　when　that　sentence　of　fifteen　years'　penal　servitude　was
pronounced　upon　her　with　a　look　of　triumph　in　her　eyes；　and　walked
out　of　court　as　if　she　had　been　a　girl　going　to　meet　her　lover。

〃I'll　wager；〃　he　added；　〃it　was　she　who　did　the　shaving。　　Hepworth
would　have　cut　him；　even　with　a　safety…razor。〃

〃It　must　have　been　the　other　one；　Martin；〃　I　said；　〃that　she
loathed。　　That　almost　exultation　at　the　thought　that　he　was　dead；〃　I
reminded　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　mused。　　〃She　made　no　attempt　to　disguise　it。　　Curious
there　having　been　that　likeness　between　them。〃　　He　looked　at　his
watch。　　〃Do　you　care　to　come　with　me？〃　he　said。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　I　asked　him。

〃We　may　just　catch　him；〃　he　answered。　　〃Ellenby　and　Co。〃

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The　office　was　on　the　top　floor　of　an　old…fashioned　house　in　a
cul…de…sac　off　the　Minories。　　Mr。　Ellenby　was　out；　so　the　lanky
office…boy　informed　us；　but　would　be　sure　to　return　before　evening；
and　we　sat　and　waited　by　the　meagre　fire　till；　as　the　dusk　was
falling；　we　heard　his　footsteps　on　the　creaking　stairs。

He　halted　a　moment　in　the　doorway；　recognising　us　apparently　without
surprise；　and　then；　with　a　hope　that　we　had　not　been　kept　waiting
long；　he　led　the　way　into　an　inner　room。

〃I　do　not　suppose　you　remember　me；〃　said　my　friend；　as　soon　as　the
door　was　closed。　　〃I　fancy　that；　until　last　night；　you　never　saw　me
without　my　wig　and　gown。　　It　makes　a　difference。　　I　was　Mrs。
Hepworth's　senior　counsel。〃

It　was　unmistakable；　the　look　of　relief　that　came　into　the　old；　dim
eyes。　　Evidently　the　incident　of　the　previous　evening　had　suggested
to　him　an　enemy。

〃You　were　very　good；〃　he　murmured。　　〃Mrs。　Hepworth　was　overwrought
at　the　time；　but　she　was　very　grateful；　I　know；　for　all　your
efforts。〃

I　thought　I　detected　a　faint　smile　on　my　friend's　lips。

〃I　must　apologise　for　my　rudeness　to　you　of　last　night；〃　he
continued。　　〃I　expected；　when　I　took　the　liberty　of　turning　you
round；　that　I　was　going　to　find　myself　face　to　face　with　a　much
younger　man。〃

〃I　took　you　to　be　a　detective；〃　answered　Ellenby；　in　his　soft；
gentle　voice。　　〃You　will　forgive　me；　I'm　sure。　　I　am　rather　short…
sighted。　　Of　course；　I　can　only　conjecture；　but　if　you　will　take　my
word；　I　can　assure　you　that　Mrs。　Hepworth　has　never　seen　or　heard
from　the　man　Charlie　Martin　since　the　date　of〃he　hesitated　a
moment〃of　the　murder。〃

〃It　would　have　been　difficult；〃　agreed　my　friend；　〃seeing　that
Charlie　Martin　lies　buried　in　Highgate　Cemetery。〃

Old　as　he　was；　he　sprang　from　his　chair；　white　and　trembling。

〃What　have　you　come　here　for？〃　he　demanded。

〃I　took　more　than　a　professional　interest　in　the　case；〃　answered　my
friend。　　〃Ten　years　ago　I　was　younger　than　I　am　now。　　It　may　have
been　her　youthher　extreme　beauty。　　I　think　Mrs。　Hepworth；　in
allowing　her　husband　to　visit　herhere　where　her　address　is　known
to　the　police；　and　watch　at　any　moment　may　be　set　upon　heris
placing　him　in　a　position　of　grave　danger。　　If　you　care　to　lay
before　me　any　facts　that　will　allow　me　to　judge　of　the　case；　I　am
prepared　to　put　my　experience；　and；　if　need　be；　my　assistance；　at
her　service。〃

His　self…possession　had　returned　to　him。

〃If　you　will　excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　tell　the　boy　that　he　can
go。〃

We　heard　him；　a　moment　later；　turn　the　key　in　the　outer　door；　and
when　he　came　back　and　had　made　up　the　fire；　he　told　us　the　beginning
of　the　story。

The　name　of　the　man　buried　in　Highgate　Cemetery　was　Hepworth；　after
all。　　Not　Michael；　but　Alex；　the　elder　brother。

From　boyhood　he　had　been　violent；　brutal；　unscrupulous。　　Judging
from　Ellenby's　story；　it　was　difficult　to　accept　him　as　a　product　of
modern　civilisation。　　Rather　he　would　seem　to　have　been　a　throwback
to　some　savage；　buccaneering　ancestor。　　To　expect　him　to　work；　while
he　could　live　in　vicious　idleness　at　somebody　else's　expense；　was
found　to　be　hopeless。　　His　debts　were　paid　for　about　the　third　or
fourth　time；　and　he　was　shipped　off　to　the　Colonies。　　Unfortunately；
there　were　no　means　of　keeping　him　there。　　So　soon　as　the　money
provided　him　had　been　squandered；　he　returned；　demanding　more　by
menaces　and　threats。　　Meeting　with　unexpected　firmness；　he　seems　to
have　regarded　theft　and　forgery　as　the　only　alternative　left　to　him。
To　save　him　from　punishment　and　the　family　name　from　disgrace；　his
parents'　savings　were　sacrificed。　　It　was　grief　and　shame　that；
according　to　Ellenby；　killed　them　both　within　a　few　months　of　one
another。

Deprived　by　this　blow　of　what　he　no　doubt　had　come　to　consider　his
natural　means　of　support；　and　his　sister；　fortunately　for　herself；
being　well　out　of　his　reach；　he　next　fixed　upon　his　brother　Michael
as　his　stay…by。　　Michael；　weak；　timid；　and　not　perhaps　without　some
remains　of　boyish　affection　for