the wisdom of father brown-第12章

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ought　against　him　by　his　furious　opponent。　　The　idea　that　the　great　national　hero　of　the　hour　had　arrested　a　wrongdoer　with　his　own　hand　doubtless　had　its　weight　with　the　police；　who　are　not　without　elements　of　the　journalist。　　They　treated　Cutler　with　a　certain　solemn　attention；　and　pointed　out　that　he　had　got　a　slight　slash　on　the　hand。　　Even　as　Cutler　bore　him　back　across　tilted　chair　and　table；　Bruno　had　twisted　the　dagger　out　of　his　grasp　and　disabled　him　just　below　the　wrist。　　The　injury　was　really　slight；　but　till　he　was　removed　from　the　room　the　half…savage　prisoner　stared　at　the　running　blood　with　a　steady　smile。

　　　　　〃Looks　a　cannibal　sort　of　chap；　don't　he？〃　said　the　constable　confidentially　to　Cutler。

　　　　　Cutler　made　no　answer；　but　said　sharply　a　moment　after：　〃We　must　attend　to　the。。。the　death。。。〃　and　his　voice　escaped　from　articulation。

　　　　　〃The　two　deaths；〃　came　in　the　voice　of　the　priest　from　the　farther　side　of　the　room。　　〃This　poor　fellow　was　gone　when　I　got　across　to　him。〃　And　he　stood　looking　down　at　old　Parkinson；　who　sat　in　a　black　huddle　on　the　gorgeous　chair。　　He　also　had　paid　his　tribute；　not　without　eloquence；　to　the　woman　who　had　died。

　　　　　The　silence　was　first　broken　by　Cutler；　who　seemed　not　untouched　by　a　rough　tenderness。　　〃I　wish　I　was　him；〃　he　said　huskily。　　〃I　remember　he　used　to　watch　her　wherever　she　walked　more　thananybody。　　She　was　his　air；　and　he's　dried　up。　　He's　just　dead。〃

　　　　　〃We　are　all　dead；〃　said　Seymour　in　a　strange　voice；　looking　down　the　road。

　　　　　They　took　leave　of　Father　Brown　at　the　corner　of　the　road；　with　some　random　apologies　for　any　rudeness　they　might　have　shown。　　Both　their　faces　were　tragic；　but　also　cryptic。

　　　　　The　mind　of　the　little　priest　was　always　a　rabbit…warren　of　wild　thoughts　that　jumped　too　quickly　for　him　to　catch　them。　　Like　the　white　tail　of　a　rabbit　he　had　the　vanishing　thought　that　he　was　certain　of　their　grief；　but　not　so　certain　of　their　innocence。

　　　　　〃We　had　better　all　be　going；〃　said　Seymour　heavily；　〃we　have　done　all　we　can　to　help。〃

　　　　　〃Will　you　understand　my　motives；〃　asked　Father　Brown　quietly；　〃if　I　say　you　have　done　all　you　can　to　hurt？〃

　　　　　They　both　started　as　if　guiltily；　and　Cutler　said　sharply：　　〃To　hurt　whom？〃

　　　　　〃To　hurt　yourselves；〃　answered　the　priest。　　〃I　would　not　add　to　your　troubles　if　it　weren't　common　justice　to　warn　you。　　You've　done　nearly　everything　you　could　do　to　hang　yourselves；　if　this　actor　should　be　acquitted。　　They'll　be　sure　to　subpoena　me；　I　shall　be　bound　to　say　that　after　the　cry　was　heard　each　of　you　rushed　into　the　room　in　a　wild　state　and　began　quarrelling　about　a　dagger。　　As　far　as　my　words　on　oath　can　go；　you　might　either　of　you　have　done　it。　　You　hurt　yourselves　with　that；　and　then　Captain　Cutler　must　have　hurt　himself　with　the　dagger。〃

　　　　　〃Hurt　myself！〃　exclaimed　the　Captain；　with　contempt。　　〃A　silly　little　scratch。〃

　　　　　〃Which　drew　blood；〃　replied　the　priest；　nodding。　　〃We　know　there's　blood　on　the　brass　now。　　And　so　we　shall　never　know　whether　there　was　blood　on　it　before。〃

　　　　　There　was　a　silence；　and　then　Seymour　said；　with　an　emphasis　quite　alien　to　his　daily　accent：　　〃But　I　saw　a　man　in　the　passage。〃

　　　　　〃I　know　you　did；〃　answered　the　cleric　Brown　with　a　face　of　wood；　〃so　did　Captain　Cutler。　　That's　what　seems　so　improbable。〃

　　　　　Before　either　could　make　sufficient　sense　of　it　even　to　answer；　Father　Brown　had　politely　excused　himself　and　gone　stumping　up　the　road　with　his　stumpy　old　umbrella。

　　　　　As　modern　newspapers　are　conducted；　the　most　honest　and　most　important　news　is　the　police　news。　　If　it　be　true　that　in　the　twentieth　century　more　space　is　given　to　murder　than　to　politics；　it　is　for　the　excellent　reason　that　murder　is　a　more　serious　subject。　　But　even　this　would　hardly　explain　the　enormous　omnipresence　and　widely　distributed　detail　of　〃The　Bruno　Case；〃　or　〃The　Passage　Mystery；〃　in　the　Press　of　London　and　the　provinces。　　So　vast　was　the　excitement　that　for　some　weeks　the　Press　really　told　the　truth；　and　the　reports　of　examination　and　cross…examination；　if　interminable；　even　if　intolerable　are　at　least　reliable。　　The　true　reason；　of　course；　was　the　coincidence　of　persons。　　The　victim　was　a　popular　actress；　the　accused　was　a　popular　actor；　and　the　accused　had　been　caught　red…handed；　as　it　were；　by　the　most　popular　soldier　of　the　patriotic　season。　　In　those　extraordinary　circumstances　the　Press　was　paralysed　into　probity　and　accuracy；　and　the　rest　of　this　somewhat　singular　business　can　practically　be　recorded　from　reports　of　Bruno's　trial。

　　　　　The　trial　was　presided　over　by　Mr　Justice　Monkhouse；　one　of　those　who　are　jeered　at　as　humorous　judges；　but　who　are　generally　much　more　serious　than　the　serious　judges；　for　their　levity　comes　from　a　living　impatience　of　professional　solemnity；　while　the　serious　judge　is　really　filled　with　frivolity；　because　he　is　filled　with　vanity。　　All　the　chief　actors　being　of　a　worldly　importance；　the　barristers　were　well　balanced；　the　prosecutor　for　the　Crown　was　Sir　Walter　Cowdray；　a　heavy；　but　weighty　advocate　of　the　sort　that　knows　how　to　seem　English　and　trustworthy；　and　how　to　be　rhetorical　with　reluctance。　　The　prisoner　was　defended　by　Mr　Patrick　Butler；　K。C。；　who　was　mistaken　for　a　mere　flaneur　by　those　who　misunderstood　the　Irish　character　and　those　who　had　not　been　examined　by　him。　　The　medical　evidence　involved　no　contradictions；　the　doctor；　whom　Seymour　had　summoned　on　the　spot；　agreeing　with　the　eminent　surgeon　who　had　later　examined　the　body。　　Aurora　Rome　had　been　stabbed　with　some　sharp　instrument　such　as　a　knife　or　dagger；　some　instrument；　at　least；　of　which　the　blade　was　short。　　The　wound　was　just　over　the　heart；　and　she　had　died　instantly。　　When　the　doctor　first　saw　her　she　could　hardly　have　been　dead　for　twenty　minutes。　　Therefore　when　Father　Brown　found　her　she　could　hardly　have　been　dead　for　three。

　　　　　Some　official　detective　evidence　followed；　chiefly　concerned　with　the　presence　or　absence　of　any　proof　of　a　struggle；　the　only　suggestion　of　this　was　the　tearing　of　the　dress　at　the　shoulder；　and　this　did　not　seem　to　fit　in　particularly　well　with　the　direction　and　finality　of　the　blow。　　When　these　details　had　been　supplied；　though　not　explained；　the　first　of　the　important　witnesses　was　called。

　　　　　Sir　Wilson　Seymour　gave　evidence　as　he　did　everything　else　that　he　did　at　allnot　only　well；　but　perfectly。　　Though　himself　much　more　of　a　public　man　than　the　judge；　he　conveyed　exactly　the　fine　shade　of　self…effacement　before　the　King's　justice；　and　though　everyone　looked　at　him　as　they　would　at　the　Prime　Minister　or　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury；　they　could　have　said　nothing　of　his　part　in　it　but　that　it　was　that　of　a　private　gentleman；　with　an　accent　on　the　noun。　　He　was　also　refreshingly　lucid；　as　he　was　on　the　committees。　　He　had　been　calling　on　Miss　Rome　at　the　theatre；　he　had　met　Captain　Cutler　there；　they　had　been　joined　for　a　short　time　by　the　accused；　who　had　then　returned　to　his　own　dressing…room；　they　had　then　been　joined　by　a　Roman　Catholic　priest；　who　asked　for　the　deceased　lady　and　said　his　name　was　Brown。　　Miss　Rome　had　then　gone　just　outside　the　theatre　to　the　entrance　of　the　passage；　in　order　to　point　out　to　Captain　Cutler　a　flower…shop　at　which　he　was　to　buy　her　some　more　flowers；　and　the　witness　had　remained　in　the　room；　exchanging　a　few　words　with　the　priest。　　He　had　then　distinctly　heard　the　deceased；　having　sent　the　Captain　on　his　errand；　turn　round　laughing　and　run　down　the　passage　towards　its　other　end；　where　was　the　prisoner's　dressing…room。　　In　idle　curiosity　as　to　the　rapid　movement　of　his　friends；　he　had　strolled　out　to　the　head　of　the　passage　himself　and　looked　down　it　towards　the　prisoner's　door。　　Did　he　see　anything　in　the　passage？　　Yes；　he　saw　something　in　the　passage。

　　　　　Sir　Walter　Cowdray　allowed　an　impressive　interval；　during　which　the　witness　looked　down；　and　for　all　his　usual　composure　seemed　to　have　more　than　his　usual　pallor。　　Then　the　barrister　said　in　a　lower　voice；　which　seemed　at　once　sympathetic　and　creepy：　　〃Did　you　see　it　distinctly？〃

　　　　　Sir　Wilson　Seymour；　however　moved；　had　his　excellent　brains　in　full　working…order。　　〃Very　distinctly　as　regards　its　outline；　but　quite　indistinctly；　indeed　not　at　all；　as　regards　the　details　inside　the　outline。　　The　passage　is　of　such　length　that　anyone　in　the　middle　of　it　appears　quite　black　against　the　light　at　the　other　end。〃　The　witness　lowered　his　steady　eyes　once　more　and　added：　　〃I　had　noticed　the　fact　before；　when　Captain　Cutler　first　entered　it。〃　There　was　another　silence；　and　the　judge　leaned　forward　and　made　a　note。

　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　Sir　Walter　patiently；　〃what　was　the　outline　like？　Was　it；　for　instance；　like　the　figure　of　the　murdered　woman？〃

　　　　　〃Not　in　the　least；〃　answered　Seymour　quietly。

　　　　　〃What　did　it　look　like　to　you？〃

　　　　　〃It　looked　to　me；〃　replied　the　witness；　〃like　a　tall　man。〃

　　　　　Everyone　in　court　kept　his　eyes　riveted　on　his　pen；　or　his　umbrella…handle；　or　his　book；　or　his　boots　or　whatever　he　happened　to　be　looking　at。　　They　seemed　to　be　holding　their　eyes　away　from　the　prisoner　by　main　force；　but　they　felt　his　figure　in　the　dock；　and　they　felt　it　as　gigantic。　　Tall　as　Bruno　was　to　the　eye；　he　seemed　to　swell　taller　and　taller　when　an　eyes　had　been　torn　away　from　him。

　　　　　Cowdray　was　resuming　his　seat　with　his　solemn　face；　smoothing　his　black　silk　robes；　and　white　silk　whiskers。　　Sir　Wilson　was　leaving　the　witness…box；　after　a　few　final　particulars　to　which　there　were　many　other　witnesses；　when　the　counsel　for　the　defence　sprang　up　and　stopped　him。

　　　　　〃I　shall　only　detain　you　a　moment；〃　said　Mr　Butler；　who　was　a　rustic…looking　person　with　red　eyebrows　and　an　expression　of　partial　slumber。　　〃Will　you　tell　his　lordship　how　you　knew　it　was　a　man？〃

　　　　　A　faint；　refined　smile　seemed　to　pass　over　Seymour's　features。　　〃I'm　afraid　it　is　the　vulgar　test　of　trousers；〃　he　said。　　〃When　I　saw　daylight　between　the　long　legs　I　was　sure　it　was　a　man；　after　all。〃

　　　　　Butler's　sleepy　eyes　opened　as　suddenly　as　some　silent　explosion。　　〃After　all！〃　he　repeated　slowly。　　〃So　you　did　think　at　first　it　was　a　woman？〃

　　　　　Seymour　looked　troubled　for　the　first　time。　　〃It　is　hardly　a　point　of　fact；〃　he　said；　〃but　if　his　lordship　would　like　me　to　answer　for　my　impression；　of　course　I　shall　do　so。　　There　was　something　about　the　thing　that　was　not　exactly　a　woman　and　yet　was　not　quite　a　man；　somehow　the　curves　were　different。　　And　it　had　something　that　looked　like　long　hair。〃

　　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Mr　Butler；　K。C。；　and　sat　down　suddenly；　as　if　he　had　got　what　he　wanted。

　　　　　Captain　Cutler　was　a　far　less　plausible　and　composed　witness　than　Sir　Wilson；　but　his　account　of　the　opening　incidents　was　solidly　the　same。　　He　described　the　return　of　Bruno　to　his　dressing…room；　the　dispatching　of　himself　to　buy　a　bunch　of　lilies…of…the…valley；　his　return　to　the　upper　end　of　the　passage；　the　thing　he　saw　in　the　passage；　his　suspicion　of　Seymour；　and　his　struggle　with　Bruno。　　But　he　could　give　little　artistic　assistance　about　the　black　figure　that　he　and　Seymour　had　seen。　　Asked　about　its　outline；　he　said　he　was　no　art　criticwith　a　somewhat　too　obvious　sneer　at　Seymour。　　Asked　if