the red seal-第16章

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〃Yes；　so　I　did；〃　replied　Kent。　　〃And　I　believe　I　was　so　ungallant　as　to　bolt　into　the　dining　room　in　front　of　you。　　Please　accept　my　apologies。〃　　Behind　her　fan；　which　she　used　with　languid　grace；　the　widow　watched　him。

〃We　all　bolted　together；〃　she　responded；　〃and　are　equally　guilty　…〃

〃Of　what？〃　questioned　a　voice　from　the　background；　and　looking　up　Kent　saw　Colonel　McIntyre　standing　on　the　step　above　Mrs。　Brewster。　The　music　had　ceased　and　in　the　lull　their　conversation　had　been　distinctly　audible。

〃Guilty　of　curiosity；〃　finished　the　widow。

〃Colonel　de　Geofroy's　farewell　speech　was　very　amusing；　did　you　not　think　so？〃

〃I　did　not　stay　to　hear　it；〃　Kent　confessed。　　〃I　had　to　return　to　the　porch　and　get　my　envelope。〃

〃You　were　a　long　time　about　it；〃　commented　McIntyre；　sitting　down　by　Mrs。　Brewster　and　possessing　himself　of　her　fan。　　〃I　waited　to　tell　you　that　Helen　and　Barbara　were　worn　out　after　the　inquest　and　so　stayed　at　home　to…night；　but　you　didn't　show　up。〃

〃Neither　did　the　envelope；〃　retorted　Kent；　and　as　his　companions　looked　at　him；　he　added。　　〃It　had　disappeared　off　the　table。〃

〃Probably　blew　away；〃　suggested　McIntyre。　　〃I　noticed　a　strong　current　of　air　from　the　dining　room；　and　two　of　the　windows　inclosing　the　porch　were　open。

〃That's　hardly　possible；〃　Kent　replied　skeptically。　　〃The　envelope　weighed　at　least　two　ounces；　it　would　have　taken　quite　a　gale　to　budge　it。〃

McIntyre　turned　red。　　〃Are　you　insinuating　that　one　of　us　walked　off　with　your　envelope；　Kent？〃　he　demanded　angrily。　　Mrs。　Brewster　stayed　him　as　he　was　about　to　rise。

〃Did　you　not　say　that　Detective　Ferguson　brought　you　the　envelope；　Mr。　Kent？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　what　more　likely　than　that　he　carried　it　off　again？〃　　She　smiled　amusedly　as　Kent's　expression　altered。　　〃Why　not　ask　the　detective？〃

Her　suggestion　held　a　grain　of　truth。　　Suppose　Ferguson　had　not　believed　his　statement　that　the　papers　in　the　envelope　were　his　personal　property　and　had　taken　the　envelope　away　to　examine　it　at　his　leisure？　　The　thought　brought　Kent　to　his　feet。

〃Good　night；　Mrs。　Sherlock　Holmes；〃　he　said　jestingly；　〃I'll　follow　your　advice　…　There　was　no　opportunity　to　say　more；　for　several　men　had　discovered　the　widow's　perch　on　the　stairs　and　came　to　claim　their　dances。　　Over　their　heads　McIntyre　watched　Kent　stride　downstairs；　then　stooping　over　he　picked　up　Mrs。　Brewster's　fan　and　sat　down　to　patiently　await　her　return。

Kent's　pursuit　of　the　detective　took　longer　than　he　had　anticipated；　and　it　was　after　midnight　before　he　finally　located　him　at　the　office　of　the　Chief　of　Detectives　in　the　District　Building。　　〃I've　called　for　the　envelope　you　took　from　my　safe　early　this　evening；〃　he　began　without　preface；　hardly　waiting　for　the　latter's　surprised　greeting。

〃Why；　Mr。　Kent；　I　left　it　lying　on　the　porch　table　at　the　club；〃　declared　Ferguson。　　〃Didn't　you　take　it？〃

〃No。〃　　Kent's　worried　expression　returned。　　〃Like　a　fool　I　forgot　the　envelope　when　that　cheering　broke　out　in　the　dining　room　and　rushed　to　find　out　what　it　was　about；　when　I　returned　to　the　porch　the　envelope　was　gone。

〃Disappeared？〃　questioned　Ferguson　in　astonishment。

〃Disappeared　absolutely；　I　searched　the　porch　thoroughly　and　couldn't　find　a　trace　of　it；〃　Kent　explained。　　〃And　in　spite　of　McIntyre's　contention　that　it　might　have　blown　out　of　the　window；　I　am　certain　it　did　not。〃

〃The　windows　were　open；　and　I　recollect　there　was　a　strong　draught；〃　remarked　Ferguson　thoughtfully。　　〃But　not　sufficient　to　carry　away　that　envelope。〃

〃Exactly。〃　Kent　stepped　closer。　　〃Did　you　observe　which　one　of　our　companions　stood　nearest　the　porch　table？〃

Ferguson　eyed　him　curiously。　　〃Say；　are　you　insinuating　that　one　of　those　people　took　your　envelope？〃

〃Yes。〃

A　subdued　whistle　escaped　Ferguson。　　〃What　was　in　that　envelope。　Mr。　Kent；〃　he　demanded；　〃to　make　it　of　any　value　to　that　bunch？〃　and　as　Kent　did　not　answer　immediately；　he　added；　　〃Are　you　sure　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　Jimmie　Turnbull's　death　and　Philip　Rochester's　disappearance？〃

〃Quite　sure。〃　Kent's　gaze　did　not　waver　before　his　penetrating　look。　〃I　have　already　told　you　that　the　envelope　contained　old　love　letters；　and　I　very　naturally　do　not　wish　them　to　fall　into　the　hands　of　Colonel　McIntyre；　the　father　of　the　girl　I　hope　to　marry。〃

Ferguson　smiled　understandingly。　　〃I　see。　　From　what　I　know　of　Colonel　McIntyre　there's　a　very　narrow；　nagging　spirit　concealed　under　his　frank　and　engaging　manner；　I　wish　you　joy　of　your　future　father…in…law；〃　and　he　chuckled。

〃Thanks；〃　dryly。　　〃You　haven't　answered　my　question　as　to　who　stood　nearest　the　porch　table；　Ferguson。〃

The　detective　looked　thoughtful。　　〃We　all　stood　fairly　near；　perhaps　Mrs。　Brewster　was　a　shade　the　nearest。　　Mr。　Clymer　was　offering　her　a　chair　when　that　noise　came　from　the　dining　room。　　There's　one　thing　I　am　willing　to　swear　to〃　…　his　manner　grew　more　earnest　…〃　that　envelope　was　still　lying　on　the　table　when　I　hustled　into　the　dining　room。〃

〃Well；　who　was　the　last　person　to　leave　the　porch？〃　Kent　demanded　eagerly。

〃I　don't　know；〃　was　the　disappointing　answer。　　〃I　reached　the　door　at　the　same　moment　you　did　and　passed　right　around　the　dining　room　to　get　a　view　of　what　was　going　on。　　I　thought　I　would　take　a　squint　at　the　tables　and　see　if　there　was　any　wine　being　used；〃　he　admitted。　〃But　there　was　nothing　doing　in　that　line。　　Then　Mr。　Clymer　offered　to　bring　me　down　to　Headquarters；　and　I　left　the　club　with　him。〃

Kent　took　a　turn　about　the　room。　　〃Did　Mr。　Clymer　go　to　the　Cosmos　Club？〃　he　asked；　pausing　by　the　detective。

〃No；　I　heard　him　tell　his　chauffeur　to　drive　to　the　Saratoga。　　Want　to　use　the　telephone？〃　observing　Kent's　glance　stray　to　the　instrument。

By　way　of　answer　Kent　took　off　the　receiver　and　after　giving　a　number　to　Central；　he　recognized　Clymer's　voice　over　the　telephone。

〃That　you；　Mr。　Clymer？　　Yes；　well；　this　is　Kent　speaking。　　Can　you　tell　me　who　was　the　last　person　to　leave　the　porch　when　Colonel　de　Geofroy　made　his　farewell　speech　to…night　at　the　club？〃

〃I　was；〃　came　Clymer's　surprised　answer。

〃I　waited　for　McIntyre　to　pick　up　Mrs。　Brewster's　fan。〃

〃Did　he　take　my　letter　off　the　table　also？〃　called　Kent。

〃Why；　no。〃　　Clymer's　voice　testified　to　his　increased　surprise。　〃Mrs。　Brewster　dropped　her　fan　right　in　the　doorway　just　as　McIntyre　and　I　approached；　we　both　stooped　to　get　it　and；　like　fools；　bumped　our　heads　together　in　the　act。　　He　got　the　fan；　however；　and　I　waited　for　him　to　walk　into　the　dining　room　before　following　Mrs。　Brewster。〃

〃As　you　passed　the　table；　Mr。　Clymer；　did　you　see　my　letter　lying　on　the　table？〃　persisted　Kent。

〃Upon　my　word　I　never　looked　at　the　table；〃　Clymer's　hearty　tone　carried　conviction。　　〃I　walked　right　along　in　my　hurry　to　know　what　the　cheering　was　about。　　I　am　sorry；　Kent；　have　you　mislaid　your　letter？〃

〃Yes；〃　glumly。　　〃Sorry　to　have　disturbed　you；　Mr。　Clymer；　good　night；〃　and　Clymer's　echoing；　〃Good　night〃　sounded　faintly　as　he　hung　up　the　receiver。

〃Drew　blank；〃　he　announced；　turning　to　Ferguson。　　〃Confound　you；　Ferguson；　you　bad　no　right　to　touch　the　papers　in　my　safe。　　If　harm　comes　from　it；　I'll　make　you　suffer；〃　and　not　waiting　for　the　detective's　jumbled　apologies　and　explanations；　he　hurried　from　the　building。　　But　once　on　the　sidewalk　he　paused　for　thought。　　McIntyre　must　have　picked　up　the　white　envelope；　there　was　no　other　feasible　explanation　of　its　disappearance。　　But　what　had　attracted　his　attention　to　the　envelope　…　the　red　seal　with　the　big　letter　〃　B〃　was　its　only　identifying　mark。　　If　Helen　had　only　told　him　the　contents　of　the　envelope！

Kent　struck　his　clenched　fist　in　his　left　hand　in　wrath；　something　must　be　done；　he　could　not　stand　there　all　night。　　Although　it　was　through　no　fault　of　his　own　that　he　had　lost　the　envelope　entrusted　to　his　care；　he　was　still　responsible　to　Helen　for　its　disappearance。　　She　must　be　told　that　it　was　gone；　however　unpleasant　the　task。

Kent　walked　hastily　along　Pennsylvania　Avenue　until　he　came　to　a　drug　store　still　open；　and　entered　the　telephone　booth。　　He　had　recollected　that　the　twins　had　a　branch　telephone　in　their　sitting　room；　he　would　have　to　chance　their　being　awake　at　that　hour。

Barbara　McIntyre　turned　on　her　pillow　and　rubbed　her　sleepy　eyes；　surely　she　had　been　mistaken　in　thinking　she　heard　the　telephone　bell　ringing。　　Even　as　she　lay　striving　to　listen；　she　dozed　off　again；　to　be　rudely　awakened　by　Helen's　voice　at　her　ear。


〃Babs！〃　came　the　agitated　whisper。　　〃The　envelope's　gone。〃

〃Gone！〃　Barbara　swung　out　of　bed。

〃Gone　where？〃

〃Father　has　it。〃

Downstairs　in　the　library　Mrs。　Brewster　paused　on　her　entrance　by　the　side　of　a　piece　of　carved　Venetian　furniture　and　laying　her　coronation　scarf　on　it；　she　examined　a　white　envelope　…　the　red　seal　was　intact。

At　the　sound　of　approaching　footsteps　she　raised　a　trap　door　in　the　piece　of　furniture　and　only　her　keen　ears　caught　the　faint　thud　of　the　envelope　as　it　dropped　inside；　then　with　a　happy；　tender　smile　she　turned　to　meet　Colonel　McIntyre。


CHAPTER　XII

THE　ECHO　OF　A　LAUGH

Colonel　McIntyre　tramped　the　deserted　dining　room　in　exasperation。　Nine　o'clock　and　the　twins　had　not　come　to　breakfast；　nor　was　there　any　evidence　that　Mrs。　Brewster　intended　taking　that　meal　downstairs。

〃Will　you　wait　any　longer；　sir？〃　inquired　Grimes；　who　hovered　solicitously　in　the　background。　　〃I'm　afraid；　sir；　your　eggs　will　be　over…done。〃

〃Bring　them　along；〃　directed　McIntyre；　and　flung　himself　into　his　chair　at　the　foot　of　the　table。　　He　had　been　seated　but　a　few　minutes　when　Barbara　appeared　and　dutifully　presented　her　cheek　to　be　kissed；　then　she　tripped　lightly　to　Helen's　place　opposite　her　father；　and　pressed　the　electric　bell　for　Grimes。

〃Coffee；　please；〃　she　said　as　that　worthy　appeared；　and　busied　herself　in　arranging　the　cups　and　saucers。　　〃Helen　is　taking　her　breakfast　upstairs；〃　she　explained　to　her　father。

〃How　about　Mrs。　Brewster？〃

〃Still　asleep。〃　　Barbara　poured　out　her　father's　coffee　with　careful　attention　to　detail。　　〃I　peeked　into　her　room　a　moment　ago　and　she　looked　so　'comfy'　I　hadn't　the　heart　to　awaken　her。　　You　must　have　been　very　late　at　the　club　last　night。〃

〃We　got　home　a　little　after　one　o'clock。〃

McIntyre　helped　himself　to　poached　eggs　and　bacon。　　〃What　did　you　do　last　night？〃

〃Went　to　bed　early；〃　answered　Barbara　with　brevity。　　〃Helen　wasn't　feeling　well。〃

McIntyre's　handsome　face　showed　concern　as　he　glanced　across　the　table。　　〃Have　you　sent　for　Dr。　Stone？〃

〃No。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Helen　…　I　…　we　〃…　Barbara　stumbled　in　her　speech。　　〃We　have　taken　an　aversion　to　Dr。　Stone。〃

McIntyre　set　down　his　coffee　cup　with　unwonted　force；　thereby　spilling　some　of　its　contents。

〃What！〃　he　exclaimed　in　complete　astonishment；　and　regarded　her　fixedly　for　a　moment。　　His　tolerant　manner；　which　he　frequently　assumed　toward　Barbara；　grew　stern。　　〃Dr。　Stone　is　my　personal　friend；　as　well　as　our　family　physician　…〃

〃And　a　cousin　of　Margaret　Brewster；〃　put　in　Barbara　mildly。

〃Well；　what　of　it？〃　trenchantly；　aware　that　he　had　colored　at　mention　of　the　widow's　name。　　〃Nothing；〃　Barbara's　eyes　opened　innocently。　　〃I　only　recalled　the　fact　of　his　relationship　as　you　en