the red seal-第12章

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〃At　a　dance　given　by　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Charles　Grosvenor。〃

〃At　what　hour　did　you　return？〃

〃I　think　it　was　half　past　five　or　a　few　minutes　earlier。〃

〃Who　let　you　in？〃

〃My　sister。〃

〃Did　you　see　the　burglar？〃

〃He　had　left；〃　she　answered。　　〃My　sister　told　me　of　her　adventure　as　we　went　upstairs　to　our　rooms。〃

〃Miss　McIntyre；〃　Penfield　picked　up　a　page　of　the　deputy　coroner's　closely　written　notes；　and　ran　his　eyes　down　it。　　〃Your　sister　has　testified　that　James　Turnbull　went　to　your　house　disguised　as　a　burglar　on　a　wager　with　you。　　What　were　the　terms　of　that　wager？〃

〃I　bet　him　that　he　could　not　enter　the　house　after　midnight　without　his　presence　being　detected　by　our　new　police　dogs；〃　exclaimed　Barbara　slowly。　　She　had　stopped　twirling　her　gloves　about；　and　one　hand　was　firmly　clenched　over　the　arm　of　her　chair。

〃Did　the　dogs　discover　his　presence　in　the　house？〃

〃Apparently　not；　or　they　would　have　aroused　the　household；〃　she　said。　〃I　cannot　answer　that　question；　though；　because　I　was　not　at　home。〃

〃Where　are　the　dogs　kept？〃

〃In　the　garage　in　the　daytime。〃　

〃And　at　night？〃　he　persisted。

〃They　roam　about　our　house；〃　she　admitted；　〃or　sleep　in　the　boudoir；　which　is　between　my　sister's　bedroom　and　mine。

〃Were　the　dogs　in　the　house　on　Monday　night？〃

〃I　did　not　see　them　on　my　return　from　the　dance。〃

〃That　is　not　an　answer　to　my　question；　Miss　McIntyre；〃　the　coroner　pointed　out。　　〃Were　the　dogs　in　the　house？〃

There　was　a　distinct　pause　before　she　spoke。　　〃I　recall　hearing　our　butler；　Grimes；　say　that　he　found　the　dogs　in　the　cellar。　　Mr。　Turnbull's　shocking　death　put　all　else　out　of　my　mind；　I　never　once　thought　of　the　dogs。〃

〃In　spite　of　the　fact　that　it　was　a　wager　over　the　dogs　which　brought　about　the　whole　situation？〃　remarked　the　coroner　dryly。

Barbara　flushed　at　his　tone；　then　grew　pale。

〃I　honestly　forgot　about　the　dogs；〃　she　repeated。　　〃Father　sent　them　out　to　our　country　place　Tuesday　afternoon；　they　annoyed　our　…　our　guest；　Mrs。　Brewster。〃

〃In　what　way？〃

〃By　barking　…　'they　are　noisy　dogs。〃

〃And　yet　they　did　not　arouse　the　household　when　Mr。　Turnbull　broke　into　the　house　…　Coroner　Penfield　regarded　her　sternly。　　〃How　do　you　account　for　that？〃

Barbara's　right　hand　stole　to　the　arm　of　her　chair　and　clasped　it　with　the　same　convulsive　strength　that　she　clung　to　the　other　chair　arm。　When　she　spoke　her　voice　was　barely　audible。

〃I　can　account　for　it　in　two　ways；〃　she　began。　　〃If　the　dogs　were　accidentally　locked　in　the　cellar　they　could　not　possibly　hear　Mr。　Turnbull　moving　about　the　house；　if　they　were　roaming　about　and　scented　him；　they　might　not　have　barked　because　they　would　recognize　him　as　a　friend。〃

〃Were　the　dogs　familiar　with　his　step　and　voice？〃

〃Yes。　　Only　last　Sunday　he　played　with　them　for　an　hour；　and　later　in　the　afternoon　took　them　for　a　walk　in　the　country。〃

〃I　see。〃　Penfield　stroked　his　chin　reflectively。　　〃When　your　sister　told　you　of　finding　the　burglar　and　his　arrest；　did　you　not；　in　the　light　of　your　wager；　suspect　that　he　might　be　Mr。　Turnbull？〃

〃No。〃　　Barbara's　eyes　did　not　falter　before　his　direct　gaze。　　〃I　supposed　that　Mr。　Turnbull　meant　to　try　and　enter　the　house　in　his　own　proper　person；　it　never　dawned　on　me　that　he　would　resort　to　disguise。　　Besides；〃　as　the　coroner　started　to　make　a　remark；　〃we　have　had　numerous　robberies　in　our　neighborhood；　and　the　apartment　house　two　blocks　from　us　has　had　a　regular　epidemic　of　sneak　thieves。〃

The　coroner　waited　until　Dr。　Mayo；　who　had　been　writing　with　feverish　haste；　had　picked　up　a　fresh　sheet　of　paper　before　resuming　his　examination。

〃You　accompanied　your　sister　to　the　police　court；〃　he　said。　　〃Did　you　see　the　burglar　there？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　you　realize　his　identity　in　the　court　room？〃

〃No。　　I　only　awoke　to　…　to　the　situation　when　I　saw　him　lying　dead　with　his　wig　removed。　　The　shock　was　frightful〃…　she　closed　her　eyes　for　a　second；　for　the　room　and　the　rows　of　faces　confronting　her　were　mixed　in　a　maddening　maze　and　she　raised　her　hand　to　her　swimming　head。　　When　she　looked　up　she　found　Coroner　Penfield　by　her　side。

〃That　is　all；〃　he　said　kindly。　　〃Please　remain　in　the　witness　room；　I　may　call　you　again；〃　and　he　helped　her　down　the　step　with　careful　attention。

Back　in　his　corner　Kent　watched　her　departure。　He　was　white　to　the　lips。

〃Heat　too　much　for　you？〃　asked　a　kindly…faced　stranger；　and　Kent　gave　a　mumbled　〃No；〃　as　he　strove　to　pull　himself　together。

What　deviltry　was　afoot？　　How　dared　the　twins　take　such　risks　…　to　bear　false　witness　was　a　grave　criminal　offense。　　He；　alone；　among　all　the　spectators；　had　realized　that　in　testifying　before　the　inquest；　the　twins　had　swapped　identities。


CHAPTER　IX

〃B…B…B〃

The　return　of　the　morgue　master　to　the　platform　caused　Coroner　Penfield　to　break　off　his　whispered　conversation　with　Dr。　Mayo。

〃Colonel　McIntyre　just　telephoned　that　his　car　had　a　blow…out　on　the　way　here；〃　explained　the　morgue　master。　　〃He　will　arrive　shortly。〃

Penfield　consulted　a　list　of　names。　　〃Call　Grimes；　the　McIntyre　butler；〃　he　said。　　〃We　will　hear　him　while　waiting　for　the　Colonel。〃

Grimes；　small　and　thin；　with　the　stolid　countenance　of　the　well…trained　servant；　was　exceedingly　short　in　his　replies　to　the　coroner's　questions。　　Yes；　he　had　lived　with　the　McIntyre　during　their　residence　in　Washington；　something　like　five　years；　he　couldn't　quite　remember　the　exact　dates。　　No；　there　was　never　any　quarreling；　upstairs　or　down；　it　was　a　well…ordered　household　until　this。

〃Exactly；〃　remarked　the　coroner　dryly。　　〃What　about　Monday　night？　Tell　us；　Grimes；　what　occurred　in　that　house　between　midnight　Monday　and　five　o'clock　Tuesday　morning。〃

〃Haven't　much　to　tell；〃　was　the　grumpy　response。　　〃I　went　upstairs　about　half…past　eleven　and　got　down　the　next　morning　at　the　usual　hour；　seven　o'clock。〃

〃And　you　heard　no　disturbing　sounds　in　the　night？〃

〃No；　sir。　　We　wouldn't　be　likely　to；　the　servants'　rooms　are　all　at　the　top　of　the　house　and　the　staircase　leading　to　them　has　a　brick　wall　on　either　side；　like　stairs　leading　to　an　ordinary　attic；　and　there's　a　door　at　the　bottom　which　shuts　off　all　sound　from　below。〃　　It　was　the　longest　sentence　the　butler　had　indulged　in　and　he　paused　for　breath。

〃Who　closes　the　house　at　night。　　Grimes？〃

〃I　do；　sir。

〃Why　did　you　leave　the　window　in　the　reception　room　open？〃

〃I　didn't；　sir；〃　was　the　prompt　denial。　　〃I　had　just　locked　it　when　Mrs。　Brewster　came　in；　along　with　Colonel　McIntyre　and　Mr。　Clymer；　and　they　sat　down　to　talk。　　When　I　left　the　room　the　window　was　locked　fast；　and　so　was　every　door　and　window　in　the　place；〃　he　declared　aggressively。　　〃　I'll　take　my　dying　oath　to　it；　sir。〃　Penfield　looked　at　Grimes；　that　he　was　telling　the　truth　was　unmistakable。

〃Who　sits　up　to　let　in　the　young　ladies　when　they　go　to　balls？〃　he　asked。

〃Generally　no　one；　sir；　because　Colonel　McIntyre　accompanies　them　or　calls　for　them；　and　he　has　his　latch…key。　　Lately；〃　added　Grimes　as　an　after…thought；　〃Miss　Helen　has　been　using　a　duplicate　latch…key。〃

〃Has　Miss　Barbara　McIntyre　a　latch…key；　also？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃No；　sir；　I　believe　not；〃　the　butler　looked　dubious。　　〃I　recall　that　Colonel　McIntyre　gave　Miss　Helen　her　key　at　the　luncheon　table；　and　he　said；　then；　to　Miss　Barbara　that　he　couldn't　trust　her　with　one　because　she　would　be　sure　to　lose　it；　she　is　that　careless。〃

The　coroner　asked　the　next　question　with　such　abruptness　that　the　butler　started。

〃When　did　you　last　see　Mr。　Turnbull　at　the　house？〃

〃Sunday　afternoon。〃　Grimes'　reply　was　spoken　with　more　than　his　accustomed　quickness　of　speech。　　〃Mr。　Turnbull　called　twice；　after　a　long　time　in　the　drawing　room；　he　went　away　taking　the　police　dogs　with　him；　and　later　called　to　bring　them　back。〃

〃Where　were　these　dogs　on　Monday　night？〃

〃I　last　saw　them　in　the　library；〃　replied　Grimes　shortly。

〃And　where　did　you　find　them　the　next　morning？〃　prompted　the　coroner。

〃In　the　cellar；〃　laconically。

〃And　what　were　they　doing　in　the　cellar？〃

〃Hunting　rats。〃

〃And　how　did　the　dogs　get　in　the　cellar？〃　inquired　the　coroner　patiently。　　Grimes　was　not　volunteering　information；　even　if　he　could　not　be　accused　of　holding　it　back。

〃Some　one　must　have　let　them　down　the　back　stairs；〃　the　butler　admitted。　　〃I　don't　know　who　it　was。〃

〃Which　servant　got　downstairs　ahead　of　you　on　Tuesday　morning？〃

〃No　one；　sir；　the　cook　over…slept；　and　she　and　the　maids　came　down　in　a　bunch　ten　minutes　later。〃

〃And　who　told　you　of　the　attempted　burglary　and　the　burglar's　arrest？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃Miss　Barbara。　　She　asked　us　to　hurry　breakfast　for　her　and　Miss　Helen　'cause　they　had　to　go　at　once　to　the　police　court；　she　didn't　give　any　particulars；　or　nothing；〃　added　Grimes　in　an　injured　tone。　〃'Twarn't　'til　Thomas　and　I　saw　the　afternoon　papers　that　we　knew　what　had　been　going　on　in　our　own　house。〃

〃That　is　all；　Grimes；〃　announced　Penfield；　and　the　butler　left　the　platform　with　the　same　stolid　air　he　wore　when　he　arrived。　　He　was　followed　in　the　witness　chair　by　the　other　McIntyre　servants　in　succession。　　Their　testimony　added　nothing　to　what　he　had　said　but　simply　confirmed　his　statements。

Kent；　who　had　grown　restless　during　the　servants'　monotonous　testimony；　forgot　the　oppressive　atmosphere　of　the　room　on　seeing　Mrs。　Brewster　enter　under　the　escort　of　the　morgue　master。　　Spying　a　vacant　seat　several　rows　ahead　of　where　he　was　sitting；　Kent；　with　a　muttered　apology　to　the　people　over　whom　he　crawled　in　his　efforts　to　get　out；　hurried　into　it　just　as　the　vivacious　widow　had　finished　taking　the　oath　to　〃tell　the　truth　and　nothing　but　the　truth；〃　and　seated　herself；　with　much　rustling　of　silk　skirts　in　the　witness　chair。

〃State　your　full　name；　madam；〃　directed　Coroner　Penfield；　eyeing　her　dainty　beauty　with　admiration。

〃Margaret　Perry　Brewster；〃　she　answered。　　〃Widow　of　Louis　C。　Brewster。　　Both　I　and　my　late　husband　were　born　and　lived　in　Los　Angeles；　California。〃

〃Are　you　visiting　the　Misses　McIntyre？〃

〃Yes。〃　　Mrs。　Brewster　spoke　in　a　chatty　impersonal　manner。　　〃I　have　been　with　them　since　the　first　of　the　month。〃

〃Did　you　attend　the　Grosvenor　dance？〃　asked　the　coroner。

〃No；　the　affair　was　only　given　for　the　debutantes　of　last　fall　and　did　not　include　married　people；〃　she　explained。　　〃It　was　a　warm　night　and　Colonel　McIntyre　asked　Mr。　Benjamin　Clymer；　who　was　dining　with　him；　and　me；　to　go　for　a　motor　ride；　leaving　Barbara　at　the　Grosvenors'　en　route。　　We　did　so；　returning　to　the　house　about　eleven　o'clock；　and　sat　talking　until　about　midnight　in　the　reception　room；　then　Colonel　McIntyre　drove　Mr。　Clymer　home；　and　I　went　to　my　room。〃

〃Were　you　awakened　by　any　noises　during　the　night？〃　inquired　Penfield。

〃No；　I　heard　no　noises。〃　　Mrs。　Brewster's　charming　smile　was　infectious。

〃When　did　you　first　learn　of　the　supposed　burglary　and　the　death　of　James　Turnbull？〃

〃The　McIntyre　twins　told　me　about　the　tragedy　on　their　return　from　the　police　court；〃　answered　Mrs。　Brewster；　and　settled　herself　a　little　more　comfortably　in　the　witness　chair。

〃When　you　were　in　the　reception　room；　Mrs。　Brewster　〃　…　Penfield　paused　and　studied　his　notes　a　second　…〃　did　you　observe　if　the　window　was　open　or　closed？〃

〃It　was　not