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肩書を与える: The Gold 捕らえる、獲得する
Author: Carolyn 井戸／弁護士席s
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Language: English
Date first 地位，任命するd:  September 2016
Most 最近の update: September 2016

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The Gold 捕らえる、獲得する

By Carolyn 井戸／弁護士席s

CONTENTS

I - The 罪，犯罪 In West Sedgwick
II - The Crawford House
III - The 検死官's 陪審／陪審員団
IV - The 検死
V - Florence Lloyd
VI - The Gold 捕らえる、獲得する
VII - Yellow Roses
VIII - その上の 調査
IX - The Twelfth Rose
X - The Will
XI - Louis's Story
XII - Louis's 自白
XIII - 行方不明になる Lloyd's 信用／信任
XIV - Mr. Porter's 見解（をとる）s
XV - The Photograph Explained
XVI - A Call On Mrs. Purvis
XVII - The Owner Of The Gold 捕らえる、獲得する
XVIII - In Mr. Goodrich's Office
XIX - The Midnight Train
XX - Fleming 石／投石する
XXI - The 公表，暴露

Though a young 探偵，刑事, I am not 完全に an inexperienced one, and I have several 公正に／かなり successful 調査s to my credit on the 記録，記録的な／記録するs of the Central Office.

The 長，指導者 said to me one day: "Burroughs, if there's a mystery to be unravelled; I'd rather put it in your 手渡すs than to 信用 it to any other man on the 軍隊.

"Because," he went on, "you go about it scientifically, and you never jump at 結論s, or 受託する them, until they're indubitably 令状d."

I 宣言するd myself duly 感謝する for the 長，指導者's 肉親，親類d words, but I was 内密に a bit chagrined. A 探偵，刑事's ambition is to be, considered 有能な of jumping at 結論s, only the 結論s must always 証明する to be 訂正する ones.

But though I am an earnest and painstaking 労働者, though my habits are methodical and systematic, and though I am indefatigably 患者 and persevering, I can never make those brilliant deductions from seemingly unimportant 手がかり（を与える）s that Fleming 石／投石する can. He 持つ／拘留するs that it is nothing but 観察 and 論理（学）の inference, but to me it is little short of clairvoyance.

The smallest 詳細（に述べる） in the way of 証拠 すぐに connotes in his mind some important fact that is indisputable, but which would never have occurred to me. I suppose this is 大部分は a natural bent of his brain, for I have not yet been able to 達成する it, either by 熟考する／考慮する or experience.

Of course I can deduce some facts, and my 同僚s often say I am rather clever at it, but they don't know Fleming 石／投石する 同様に as I do, and don't realize that by comparison with his talent 地雷 is insignificant.

And so, it is both by way of entertainment, and in hope of learning from him, that I am with him whenever possible, and often ask him to "deduce" for me, even at 危険 of boring him, as, unless he is in the 権利 mood, my requests いつかs do.

I met him accidentally one morning when we both chanced to go into a 地階 of the Metropolis Hotel in New York to have our shoes 向こうずねd.

It was about half-past nine, and as I like to get to my office by ten o'clock, I looked 今後 to a pleasant half-hour's 雑談（する） with him. While waiting our turn to get a 議長，司会を務める, we stood talking, and, seeing a pair of shoes standing on a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, evidently there to be cleaned, I said banteringly:

"Now, I suppose, 石／投石する, from looking at those shoes, you can deduce all there is to know about the owner of them."

I remember that Sherlock Holmes wrote once, "From a 減少（する） of water, a logician could infer the 可能性 of an 大西洋 or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other," but when I heard Fleming 石／投石する's reply to my half-laughing challenge, I felt that he had outdone the mythical logician. With a 穏やかな twinkle in his 注目する，もくろむ, but with a perfectly 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 直面する, he said slowly,

"Those shoes belong to a young man, five feet eight インチs high. He does not live in New York, but is here to visit his sweetheart. She lives in Brooklyn, is five feet nine インチs tall, and is deaf in her left ear. They went to the theatre last night, and neither was in evening dress."

"Oh, pshaw!" said I, "as you are 熟知させるd with this man, and know how he spent last evening, your relation of the story doesn't 利益／興味 me."

"I don't know him," 石／投石する returned; "I've no idea what his 指名する is, I've never seen him, and except what I can read from these shoes I know nothing about him."

I 星／主役にするd at him incredulously, as I always did when 直面するd by his astonishing "deductions," and 簡単に said,

"Tell this little Missourian all about it."

"It did sound 井戸／弁護士席, reeled off like that, didn't it?" he 観察するd, chuckling more at my 空気／公表する of eager curiosity than at his own 業績／成就. "But it's absurdly 平易な, after all. He is a young man because his shoes are in the very 最新の, extreme, not 排除的 style. He is five feet eight, because the size of his foot goes with that 高さ of man, which, by the way, is the 高さ of nine out of ten men, any way. He doesn't live in New York or he wouldn't be stopping at a hotel. Besides, he would be 負かす／撃墜する-town at this hour, …に出席するing to 商売／仕事."

"Unless he has freak 商売／仕事 hours, as you and I do," I put in.

"Yes, that might be. But I still 持つ／拘留する that he doesn't live in New York, or he couldn't be staying at this Broadway hotel 夜通し, and sending his shoes 負かす／撃墜する to be 向こうずねd at half-past nine in the morning. His sweetheart is five feet nine, for that is the 高さ of a tall girl. I know she is tall, for she wears a long skirt. Short girls wear short skirts, which make them look shorter still, and tall girls wear very long skirts, which make them look taller."

"Why do they do that?" I 問い合わせd, 大いに 利益／興味d.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask that of some one wiser than I. But I know it's a fact. A girl wouldn't be considered really tall if いっそう少なく than five feet nine. So I know that's her 高さ. She is his sweetheart, for no man would go from New York to Brooklyn and bring a lady over here to the theatre, and then take her home, and return to New York in the 早期に hours of the morning, if he were not in love with her. I know she lives in Brooklyn, for the paper says there was a 激しい にわか雨 there last night, while I know no rain fell in New York. I know that they were out in that rain, for her long skirt became muddy, and in turn muddied the whole upper of his left shoe. The fact that only the left shoe is so 国／地域d 証明するs that he walked only at her 権利 味方する, showing that she must be deaf in her left ear, or he would have walked part of the time on that 味方する. I know that they went to the theatre in New York, because he is still sleeping at this hour, and has sent his boots 負かす／撃墜する to be cleaned, instead of coming 負かす／撃墜する with them on his feet to be 向こうずねd here. If he had been 単に calling on the girl in Brooklyn, he would have been home 早期に, for they do not sit up late in that borough. I know they went to the theatre, instead of to the オペラ or a ball, for they did not go in a cab, さもなければ her skirt would not have become muddied. This, too, shows that she wore a cloth skirt, and as his shoes are not 特許 leathers, it is （疑いを）晴らす that neither was in evening dress."

I didn't try to get a 立証 of Fleming 石／投石する's 主張s; I didn't want any. 得点する／非難する／２０s of times I had known him to make 類似の deductions and in 事例／患者s where we afterward learned the facts, he was invariably 訂正する. So, though we didn't follow up this 事柄, I was sure he was 権利, and, even if he hadn't been, it would not have 重さを計るd ひどく against his large 割合 of 証明するd successes.

We separated then, as we took 議長，司会を務めるs at some distance from each other, and, with a sigh of 悔いる that I could never hope to go far along the line in which 石／投石する showed such proficiency, I began to read my morning paper.

Fleming 石／投石する left the place before I did, nodding a good-by as he passed me, and a moment after, my own foot-gear 存在 in proper 条件, I, too, went out, and went straight to my office.

As I walked the short distance, my mind dwelt on 石／投石する's quick-witted work. Again I wished that I 所有するd the 肉親，親類d of 知能 that makes that sort of thing so 平易な. Although unusual, it is, after all, a trait of many minds, though often, perhaps, unrecognized and 未開発の by its owner. I dare say it lies 活動停止中の in men who have never had occasion to realize its value. Indeed, it is of no continuous value to anyone but a 探偵，刑事, and nine 探偵，刑事s out of ten do not 所有する it.

So I walked along, envying my friend 石／投石する his gift, and reached my office just at ten o'clock as was my almost invariable habit.

"Hurry up, Mr. Burroughs!" cried my office-boy, as I opened the door. "You're 手配中の，お尋ね者 on the telephone."

Though a respectful and 井戸／弁護士席-mannered boy, some excitement had made him a trifle unceremonious, and I looked at him curiously as I took up the receiver.

But with the first words I heard, the office-boy was forgotten, and my own 神経s received a shock as I listened to the message. It was from the 探偵，刑事 Bureau with which I was connected, and the superintendent himself was directing me to go at once to West Sedgwick, where a terrible 罪，犯罪 had just been discovered.

"Killed!" I exclaimed; "Joseph Crawford?"

"Yes; 殺人d in his home in West Sedgwick. The 検死官 telephoned to send a 探偵，刑事 at once and we want you to go."

"Of course I'll go. Do you know any more 詳細（に述べる）s?"

"No; only that he was 発射 during the night and the 団体／死体 設立する this morning. Mr. Crawford was a big man, you know. Go 権利 off, Mr. Burroughs; we want you to lose no time."

Yes; I knew Joseph Crawford by 指名する, though not 本人自身で, and I knew he was a big man in the 商売／仕事 world, and his sudden death would mean excitement in 塀で囲む Street 事柄s. Of his home, or home-life, I knew nothing.

"I'll go 権利 off," I 保証するd the 長，指導者, and turned away from the telephone to find Donovan, the office-boy, already looking up trains in a 時刻表／予定表.

"Good boy, Don," said I approvingly; "what's the next train to West Sedgwick, and how long does it take to get there?"

"You 肉親，親類 s'lect the ten-twenty, Mr. Burruz, if you whirl over in a taxi an' shoot the tunnel," said Donovan, who was rather a graphic conversationalist. "That'll 流出／こぼす you out at West Sedgwick '一区切り／（ボクシングなどの）試合 ４半期/4分の1 of 'leven. Was he moidered, Mr. Burruz?"

"So they tell me, Don. His death will mean something in 財界."

"Yessir. He was a big plute. Here's your time-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, Mr. Burruz. When'll you be 支援する?"

"Don't know, Don. You look after things."

"Sure! everything'll be took care of. Lemme know your orders when you have 'em."

By means of the taxi Don had called and the tunnel 大勝する as he had 示唆するd, I caught the train, 満足させるd that I had obeyed the 長，指導者's orders to lose no time.

Lose no time indeed! I was more anxious than any one else could かもしれない be to reach the scene of the 罪，犯罪 before 重要な 手がかり（を与える）s were obliterated or destroyed by bungling 捜査官／調査官s. I had had experience with the police of 郊外の towns, and I 井戸／弁護士席 knew their two 主要な／長／主犯 types. Either they were of a pompous, dignified demeanor, which covered a bewildered ignorance, or else they were overzealous and worked with a misdirected energy that made serious trouble for an intelligent 探偵，刑事. Of course, of the two 肉親，親類d I preferred the former, but the danger was that I should 遭遇（する） both.

On my way I コースを変えるd my mind, and so partly forgot my impatience, by 努力するing to "deduce" the 駅／配置する or 占領／職業 of my fellow 乗客s.

Opposite me in the tunnel train sat a 穏やかな-直面するd gentleman, and from the general, 外見 of his 長，率いる and hat I 結論するd he was a clergyman. I 熟考する／考慮するd him unostentatiously and tried to find some 指示，表示する物 of the denomination he might belong to, or the character of his congregation, but as I watched, I saw him draw a 冒険的な paper from his pocket, and turning his 手渡す, a hitherto unseen diamond flashed brilliantly from his little finger. I あわてて, 改訂するd my judgment, and turning わずかに 観察するd the man who sat next me. 決定するd to draw only 論理（学）の inferences, I scrutinized his coat, that 衣料品 存在 usually 高度に suggestive to our best 規制するd 探偵，刑事s. I noticed that while the left sleeve was unworn and in good 条件, the 権利 sleeve was frayed at the inside 辛勝する／優位, and 過度に smooth and shiny on the inner forearm. Also the 最高の，を越す button of the coat was very much worn, and the next one わずかに.

"A-ha!" said I to myself, "I've nailed you, my friend. You're a desk-clerk, and you 令状 all day long, standing at a desk. The worn 最高の，を越す button rubs against your desk as you stand, which it would not do were you seated."

With a pardonable curiosity to learn if I were 権利, I opened conversation with the young man. He was not unwilling to 答える／応じる, and after a few questions I learned, to my chagrin, that he was a photographer. 式のs for my deductions! But surely, Fleming 石／投石する himself would not have guessed a photographer from a worn and shiny coat-sleeve. At the 危険 of 存在 rudely personal, I made some 言及／関連 to fashions in coats. The young man smiled and 発言／述べるd incidentally, that 借りがあるing to 確かな circumstances he was at the moment wearing his brother's coat.

"And is your brother a desk clerk?" 問い合わせd I almost involuntarily:

He gave me a surprised ちらりと見ること, but answered courteously enough, "Yes;" and the conversation flagged.

Exultantly I thought that my deduction, though rather an obvious one, was 権利; but after another furtive ちらりと見ること at the young man, I realized that 石／投石する would have known he was wearing another's coat, for it was the most glaring misfit in every way.

Once more I tried, and directed my attention to a middle-老年の, angular-looking woman, whose strong, sharp-featured 直面する betokened a prim spinster, probably at the 長，率いる of a girls' school, or engaged in some clerical work. However, as I passed her on my way to leave the train I noticed a wedding-（犯罪の）一味 on her 手渡す, and heard her say to her companion, "No; I think a woman's sphere is in her own kitchen and nursery. How could I think さもなければ, with my six children to bring up?" After these lamentable 失敗s, I 決定するd not to 信用 much to deduction in the 事例／患者 I was about to 調査／捜査する, but to learn actual facts from actual 証拠.

I reached West Sedgwick, as Donovan had said, at ４半期/4分の1 before eleven. Though I had never been there before, the place looked やめる as I had imagined it. The 鉄道 駅／配置する was one of those modern attractive structures of rough gray 石／投石する, with picturesque 事業／計画（する）ing roof and 幅の広い, clean 壇・綱領・公約s. A flight of 石／投石する steps led 負かす／撃墜する to the roadway, and the landscape in every direction showed the 井戸／弁護士席-kept roads, the 井戸／弁護士席-grown trees and the carefully-tended 広い地所s of a town of 郊外の homes. The 国民s were doubtless おもに men whose 商売／仕事 was in New York, but who preferred not to live there.

The superintendent must have apprised the 検死官 by telephone of my 即座の arrival, for a village cart from the Crawford 設立 was を待つing me, and a smart groom approached and asked if I were Mr. Herbert Burroughs.

A little disappointed at having no more 望ましい companion on my way to the house, I climbed up beside the driver, and the groom solemnly took his place behind. Not curiosity, but a 正当と認められる 願望（する） to learn the main facts of the 事例／患者 as soon as possible, led me to question the man beside me.

I ちらりと見ることd at him first and saw only the usual blank countenance of the 井戸／弁護士席-trained coachman.

His 直面する was intelligent, and his 注目する，もくろむs 警報, but his impassive 表現 showed his habit of controlling any 指示，表示する物 of 利益／興味 in people or things.

I felt there would be difficulty in ingratiating myself at all, but I felt sure that subterfuge would not help me, so I spoke 直接／まっすぐに.

"You are the coachman of the late Mr. Crawford?"

"Yes, sir."

I hadn't really 推定する／予想するd more than this in words, but his トン was so decidedly uninviting of その上の conversation that I almost 結論するd to say nothing more. But the 運動 約束d to be a 公正に／かなり long one, so I made another 成果／努力.

"As the 探偵，刑事 on this 事例／患者, I wish to hear the story of it as soon as I can. Perhaps you can give me a 簡潔な／要約する 輪郭（を描く） of what happened."

It was perhaps my straightforward manner, and my やめる 明らかな 仮定／引き受けること of his 知能, that made the man relax a little and reply in a more conversational トン.

"We're forbidden to chatter, sir," he said, "but, bein' as you're the 探偵，刑事, I s'提起する／ポーズをとる there's no 害（を与える）. But it's little we know, after all. The master was 井戸／弁護士席 and sound last evenin', and this mornin' he was 設立する dead in his own office-議長，司会を務める."

"You mean a 私的な office in his home?"

"Yes, sir. Mr. Crawford went to his office in New York 'most every day, but days when he didn't go, and evenin's and Sundays, he was much in his office at home, sir."

"Who discovered the 悲劇?"

"I don't rightly know, sir, if it was Louis, his valet, or Lambert, the butler, but it was one or t'other, sir."

"Or both together?" I 示唆するd.

"Yes, sir; or both together."

"Is any one 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of the 罪，犯罪?"

The man hesitated a moment, and looked as if uncertain what to reply, then, as he 始める，決める his jaw squarely, he said:

"Not as I knows on, sir."

"Tell me something of the town," I 観察するd next, feeling that it was better to ask no more 決定的な questions of a servant.

We were 運動ing along streets of 広大な／多数の／重要な beauty. Large and handsome dwellings, each 始める，決める in the 中央 of 広範囲にわたる and finely-kept grounds, met the 見解（をとる） on either 補佐官. (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する 入り口s opened the way to wide sweeps of driveway circling green velvety lawns adorned with 時折の shrubs or flower-beds. The avenues were wide, and 国境d with trees carefully 始める，決める out and 適切に trimmed. The streets were in 罰金 条件, and everything betokened a community, not only 豊富な, but intelligent and public-spirited. Surely West Sedgwick was a delightful 場所 for the homes of 豊富な New York 商売／仕事 men.

"井戸／弁護士席, sir," said the coachman, with unconcealed pride, "Mr. Crawford was the 長，率いる of everything in the place. His is the handsomest house and the grandest grounds. Everybody 尊敬（する）・点d him and looked up to him. He hadn't an enemy in the world."

This was an 開始 for その上の conjecture as to the 殺害者, and I said: "But the man who killed him must have been his enemy."

"Yes, sir; but I mean no enemy that anybody knew of. It must have been some 夜盗，押し込み強盗 or 侵入者."

Though I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to learn such facts as the coachman might know, his opinions did not 利益／興味 me, and I again turned my attention to the beautiful 住居s we were passing.

"That place over there," the man went on, pointing with his whip, "is Mr. Philip Crawford's house—the brother of my master, sir. Them red towers, sticking up through the trees, is the house of Mr. Lemuel Porter, a 広大な／多数の／重要な friend of both the Crawford brothers. Next, on the left, is the home of Horace Hamilton, the 広大な／多数の／重要な electrician. Oh, Sedgwick is 十分な of 井戸／弁護士席-known men, sir, but Joseph Crawford was king of this town. Nobody'll 否定する that."

I knew of Mr. Crawford's high standing in the city, and now, learning of his 地元の preeminence, I began to think I was about to engage in what would probably be a very important 事例／患者.

II
The Crawford House

"Here we are, sir," said the driver, as we turned in at a 罰金 石／投石する gateway. "This is the Joseph Crawford place."

He spoke with a sort of reverent pride, and I afterward learned that his devotion to his late master was truly exceptional.

This probably prejudiced him in 好意 of the Crawford place and all its appurtenances, for, to me, the 広い地所 was not so magnificent as some of the others we had passed. And yet, though not so large, I soon realized that every 詳細（に述べる） of art or architecture was perfect in its way, and that it was really a gem of a country home to which I had been brought.

We drove along a curving road to the house, passing 井戸／弁護士席-arranged flower beds, and many 価値のある trees and shrubs. Reaching the porte cochére the driver stopped, and the groom sprang 負かす／撃墜する to 手渡す me out.

As might be 推定する／予想するd, many people were about. Men stood talking in groups on the veranda, while messengers were seen あわてて coming or going through the open 前線 doors.

A waiting servant in the hall at once 勧めるd me into a large room.

The 影響 of the 内部の of the house impressed me pleasantly. As I passed through the wide hall and into the 製図／抽選-room, I was conscious of an atmosphere of wealth tempered by good taste and judgment.

The 製図／抽選-room was (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する, though not ostentatious, and seemed 井戸／弁護士席 adapted as a social setting for Joseph Crawford and his family. It should have been 住むd by men and women in 祝祭 dress and with smiling society manners.

It was therefore a jarring 公式文書，認める when I perceived its only occupant to be a commonplace looking man, in an ill-削減（する） and ill-fitting 商売／仕事 控訴. He （機の）カム 今後 to 迎える／歓迎する me, and his manner was a trifle pompous as he 発表するd, "My 指名する is Monroe, and I am the 検死官. You, I think, are Mr. Burroughs, from New York."

It was probably not intentional, and may have been my imagination, but his トン seemed to me amusingly patronizing.

"Yes, I am Mr. Burroughs," I said, and I looked at Mr. Monroe with what I hoped was an 表現 that would 保証する him that our 駅／配置するs were at least equal.

I 恐れる I impressed him but わずかに, for he went on to tell me that he knew of my 評判 as a clever 探偵，刑事, and had 特に 願望（する）d my 出席 on this 事例／患者. This 感情 was 井戸／弁護士席 enough, but he still kept up his 空気／公表する and トン of patronage, which however amused more than irritated me.

I knew the man by hearsay, though we had never met before; and I knew that he was of a nature to be pleased with his own prominence as 検死官, 特に in the 事例／患者 of so important a man as Joseph Crawford.

So I made allowance for this 害のない conceit on his part, and was even willing to cater to it a little by way of pleasing him. He seemed to me a man, honest, but slow of thought; rather practical and serious, and though overvaluing his own importance, yet not opinionated or stubborn.

"Mr. Burroughs," he said, "I'm very glad you could get here so 敏速に; for the 事例／患者 seems to me a mysterious one, and the value of 即座の 調査 cannot be 過大評価するd."

"I やめる agree with you," I returned. "And now will you tell me the 主要な／長／主犯 facts, as you know them, or will you depute some one else to do so?"

"I am even now getting a 陪審／陪審員団 together," he said, "and so you will be able to hear all that the 証言，証人／目撃するs may say in their presence. In the 合間, if you wish to visit the scene of the 罪，犯罪, Mr. Parmalee will take you there."

At the sound of his 指名する, Mr. Parmalee stepped 今後 and was introduced to me. He 証明するd to be a 地元の 探偵，刑事, a young man who always …に出席するd 検死官 Monroe on occasions like the 現在の; but who, 借りがあるing to the rarity of such occasions in West Sedgwick, had had little experience in 犯罪の 調査.

He was a young man of the type often seen の中で Americans. He was very fair, with a pink complexion, thin, yellow hair and weak 注目する，もくろむs. His manner was nervously 警報, and though he often began to speak with an 空気／公表する of positiveness, he frequently seemed to 弱める, and 負傷させる up his 宣告，判決s in a floundering 不確定.

He seemed to be in no way jealous of my presence there, and indeed spoke to me with an 空気／公表する of comradeship.

Doubtless I was 不当な, but I 内密に resented this. However I did not show my 憤慨 and 努力するd to 扱う／治療する Mr. Parmalee as a friend and co-労働者.

The 検死官 had left us together, and we stood in the 製図／抽選-room, talking, or rather he talked and I listened. Upon 知識 he seemed to grow more attractive. He was impulsive and jumped at 結論s, but he seemed to have ideas, though they were rarely definitely 表明するd.

He told me as much as he knew of the 詳細（に述べる）s of the 事件／事情／状勢 and 提案するd that we go 直接／まっすぐに to the scene of the 罪，犯罪.

As this was what I was impatient to do, I 同意d.

"You see, it's this way," he said, in a confidential whisper, as we 横断するd the long hall: "there is no 疑問 in any one's mind as to who committed the 殺人, but no 指名する has been について言及するd yet, and nobody wants to be the first to say that 指名する. It'll come out at the 検死, of course, and then—"

"But," I interrupted, "if the 身元 of the 殺害者 is so 確かな , why did they send for me in such haste?"

"Oh, that was the 検死官's doing. He's a bit inclined to the みごたえのある, is Monroe, and he wants to make the whole 事件／事情／状勢 as important as possible."

"But surely, Mr. Parmalee, if you are 確かな of the 犯罪の it is very absurd for me to （問題を）取り上げる the 事例／患者 at all."

"Oh, 井戸／弁護士席, Mr. Burroughs, as I say, no 指名する has been spoken yet. And, too, a big 事例／患者 like this せねばならない have a city 探偵，刑事 on it. Even if you only 確認する what we all feel sure of, it will 証明する to the public mind that it must be so."

"Tell me then, who is your 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う?"

"Oh, no, since you are here you had better 調査／捜査する with an unprejudiced mind. Though you cannot help arriving at the 必然的な 結論."

We had now reached a の近くにd door, and, at Mr. Parmalee's tap, were 認める by the 視察官 who was in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the room.

It was a beautiful apartment, far too rich and (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する to be 指定するd by the 指名する of "office," as it was called by every one who spoke of it; though of course it was Mr. Crawford's office, as was shown by the 巨大な （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する-desk of dark mahogany, and all the other paraphernalia of a 銀行業者's work-room, from ticker to typewriter.

But the decorations of 塀で囲むs and 天井s, the stained glass of the windows, the pictures, rugs, and vases, all betokened luxurious tastes that are rarely indulged in office furnishings. The room was flooded with sunlight. Long French windows gave 接近 to a 味方する veranda, which in turn led 負かす／撃墜する to a beautiful terrace and formal garden. But all these things were seen only in a hurried ちらりと見ること, and then my 注目する，もくろむs fell on the 悲劇の 人物／姿／数字 in the desk 議長，司会を務める.

The 団体／死体 had not been moved, and would not be until after the 陪審／陪審員団 had seen it, and though a 恐ろしい sight, because of a 弾丸-穴を開ける in the left 寺, さもなければ it looked much as Mr. Crawford must have looked in life.

A handsome man, of large physique and strong, 厳しい 直面する, he must have been surprised, and killed 即時に; for surely, given the chance, he would have 欠如（する）d neither courage nor strength to grapple with an 加害者.

I felt a 深い impulse of sympathy for that splendid 見本／標本 of humanity, taken unawares, without having been given a moment in which to fight for his life, and yet 推定では seeing his 殺害者, as he seemed to have been 発射 直接／まっすぐに from the 前線.

As I looked at that noble 直面する, serene and dignified in its death pallor, I felt glad that my profession was such as might lead to the avenging of such a detestable 罪，犯罪.

And suddenly I had a revulsion of feeling against such petty methods as deductions from trifling 手がかり（を与える）s.

Moreover I remembered my 全く mistaken deductions of that very morning. Let other 探偵，刑事s learn the truth by such claptrap means if they choose. This 事例／患者 was too large and too serious to be 許すd to depend on surmises so liable to be mistaken. No, I would search for real 証拠, human 証言, reliable 証言，証人／目撃するs, and so 徹底的な, systematic, and persevering should my search be, that I would finally 会合，会う with success.

"Here's the 手がかり（を与える）," said Parmelee's 発言する／表明する, as he しっかり掴むd my arm and turned me in another direction.

He pointed to a glittering article on the large desk.

It was a woman's purse, or 捕らえる、獲得する, of the sort known as "gold-mesh." Perhaps six インチs square, it bulged as if overcrowded with some feminine paraphernalia.

"It's 行方不明になる Lloyd's," went on Parmalee. "She lives here, you know—Mr. Crawford's niece. She's lived here for years and years."

"And you 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う her?" I said, horrified.

"井戸／弁護士席, you see, she's engaged to Gregory Hall he's Mr. Crawford's 長官—and Mr. Crawford didn't 認可する of the match; and so—"

He shrugged his shoulders in a careless fashion, as if for a woman to shoot her uncle were an everyday 事件／事情／状勢.

But I was shocked and incredulous, and said so.

"Where is 行方不明になる Lloyd?" I asked. "Does she （人命などを）奪う，主張する 所有権 of this gold 捕らえる、獲得する?"

"No; of course not," returned Parmalee. "She's no fool, Florence Lloyd isn't! She's locked in her room and won't come out. Been there all the morning. Her maid says this isn't 行方不明になる Lloyd's 捕らえる、獲得する, but of course she'd say that."

"井戸／弁護士席, that question せねばならない be easily settled. What's in the 捕らえる、獲得する?"

"Look for yourself. Monroe and I ran through the stuff, but there's nothing to say for sure whose 捕らえる、獲得する it is."

I opened the pretty bauble, and let the contents 落ちる out on the desk.

A crumpled handkerchief, a pair of white kid gloves, a little trinket known as a "vanity 事例／患者," 含む／封じ込めるing a tiny mirror and a tinier 砕く puff; a couple of small hair-pins, a newspaper clipping, and a few silver coins were all that rewarded my trouble.

Nothing 限定された, indeed, and yet I knew if Fleming 石／投石する could look at the little heap of feminine 所持品, he would at once tell the fair owner's age, 高さ, and 負わせる, if not her 指名する and 演説（する）／住所.

I had only recently 保証するd myself that such deductions were of little or no use, and yet, I could not help minutely 診察するing the pretty trifles lying on the desk. I scrutinized the handkerchief for a monogram or an 初期の, but it had 非，不，無. It was dainty, plain and 罰金, of sheer linen, with a 狭くする hem. To me it 示すd an owner of a 精製するd, feminine type, and 絶対 nothing more. I couldn't help thinking that even Fleming 石／投石する could not infer any personal 特徴 of the lady from that blank square of linen.

The vanity 事例／患者 I knew to be a fad of 流行の／上流の women, and had that been monogrammed, it might have 証明するd a 手がかり（を与える）. But, though pretty, it was evidently not of any 広大な／多数の／重要な value, and was 単に such a trifle as the 普通の／平均（する） woman would carry about.

And yet I felt exasperated that with so many articles to 熟考する／考慮する, I could learn nothing of the individual to whom they belonged. The gloves were hopeless. Of a good 質 and a medium size, they seemed to tell me nothing. They were but わずかに 国／地域d, and 明らかに might have been worn once or twice. They had never been cleaned, as the inside showed no scrawled hieroglyphics. But all of these 結論s pointed nowhere save to the 普通の／平均（する） 井戸／弁護士席-groomed American woman.

The hair-pins and the silver money were 平等に 明らかにする of suggestion, but I hopefully 選ぶd up the bit of newspaper.

"Surely this newspaper clipping must throw some light," I mused, but it 証明するd to be only the 演説（する）／住所 of a dyeing and きれいにする 設立 in New York City.

"This is 存在 taken care of?" I said, and the burly 視察官, who up to now had not spoken, said:

"Yes, sir! Nobody touches a thing in this: room while I'm here. You, sir, are of course an exception, but no one else is 許すd to meddle with anything."

This reminded me that as the 探偵，刑事 in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of this 事例／患者, it was my 特権—indeed, my 義務—to 診察する the papers and personal 影響s that were all about, in an 成果／努力 to gather 手がかり（を与える）s for 未来 use.

I was ignorant of many important 詳細（に述べる）s, and turned to Parmelee for （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）.

That young man however, though voluble, was, inclined to talk on only one 支配する, the 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd 犯罪の, 行方不明になる Florence Lloyd.

"You see, it must be her 捕らえる、獲得する. Because who else could have left it here? Mrs. Pierce, the only other lady in the house, doesn't carry a youngish 捕らえる、獲得する like that. She'd have a 黒人／ボイコット leather 捕らえる、獲得する, more likely, or a— or a—"

"井戸／弁護士席, it really doesn't 事柄 what 肉親，親類d of a 捕らえる、獲得する Mrs. Pierce would carry," said I, a little impatiently; "the thing is to 証明する whether this is 行方不明になる Lloyd's 捕らえる、獲得する or not. And as it is certainly not a 事柄 of conjecture, but a 事柄 of fact, I think we may leave it for the 現在の, and turn our attention to other 事柄s."

I could see that Parmalee was disappointed that I had made no startling deductions from my 熟考する／考慮する of the 捕らえる、獲得する and its contents, and, partly 借りがあるing to my own chagrin at this 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s, I pretended to consider the 捕らえる、獲得する of little consequence, and turned hopefully to an 調査 of the room.

The 権利-手渡す upper drawer of the 二塁打-pedestalled desk was open. Seemingly, Mr. Crawford had been engaged with its contents during the latter moments of his life.

At a ちらりと見ること, I saw the drawer 含む／封じ込めるd exceedingly 価値のある and important papers.

With an 空気／公表する of 当局, 故意に 誇張するd for the 目的 of impressing Parmalee, I の近くにd the drawer, and locked it with the 重要な already in the keyhole.

This 重要な was one of several on a 重要な-（犯罪の）一味, and, taking it from its place, I dropped the whole bunch in my pocket. This 活動／戦闘 at once put me in my rightful place. The two men watching me unconsciously assumed a more deferential 空気／公表する, and, though they said nothing, I could see that their 尊敬（する）・点 for my 当局 had 増加するd.

Strangely enough, after this episode, a new 信用／信任 in my own 力／強力にするs took 所有／入手 of me, and, shaking off the apathy that had come over me at sight of that dread 人物／姿／数字 in the 議長，司会を務める, I 始める，決める methodically to work to 診察する the room.

Of course I 公式文書，認めるd the position of the furniture, the 明言する／公表する of the window-fastenings, and such things in a few moments. The many とじ込み／提出するing 閣僚s and 索引d boxes, I ちらりと見ることd at, and locked those that had 重要なs or fastenings.

The 視察官 sat with 倍のd 手渡すs watching me with 利益／興味 but 説 nothing. Parmalee, on the other 手渡す, kept up a running conversation, いつかs 発言／述べるing lightly on my 活動／戦闘s, and again returning to the 支配する of 行方不明になる Lloyd.

"I can see," he said, "that you 自然に dislike to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う a woman, and a young woman too. But you don't know 行方不明になる Lloyd. She is haughty and wilful. And as I told you, nobody has について言及するd her yet in this 関係. But I am speaking to you alone, and I have no 推論する／理由 to mince 事柄s. And you know Florence Lloyd is not of the Crawford 在庫／株. The Crawfords are a 罰金 old family, and not one of them could be 有能な of 罪，犯罪. But 行方不明になる Lloyd is on the other 味方する of the house, a niece of Mrs. Crawford; and I've heard that the Lloyd 在庫／株 is not all that could be 願望（する）d. There is a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 in 遺伝, and she may not be responsible..."

I paid little attention to Parmalee's talk, which was thrown at me in jerky, desultory 宣告，判決s, and 利益／興味d me not at all. I went on with my work of 調査, and though I did not get 負かす／撃墜する on my 膝s and 診察する every square インチ of the carpet with a レンズ, yet I 完全に 診察するd all of the contents of the room. I 悔いる to say, however, that I 設立する nothing that seemed to be a 手がかり（を与える） to the 殺害者.

Stepping out on the veranda, I looked for 足跡s. The "light snow" usually so helpful to a 探偵，刑事 had not fallen, as it was April, and rather warm for the season. But I 設立する many heel 示すs, 明らかに of men's boots; yet they were not やむを得ず of very 最近の date, and I don't think much of foot-print 手がかり（を与える）s, anyhow.

Then I 診察するd the carpet, or, rather, the several rugs which ornamented the beautiful polished 床に打ち倒す.

I 設立する nothing but two petals of a pale yellow rose. They were crumpled, but not 乾燥した，日照りの or withered, and could not have been long detached from the blossom on which they grew.

Parmalee chanced to have his 支援する toward me as I 秘かに調査するd them, and I 選ぶd them up and put them away in my pocket-調書をとる／予約する without his knowledge. If the stolid 視察官 saw me, he made no 調印する. Indeed, I think he would have said nothing if I had carried off the big desk itself. I looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room for a bouquet or vase of flowers from which the petals might have fallen, but 非，不，無 was there.

This far I had 進歩d when I heard steps in the hall, and a moment later the 検死官 勧めるd the six gentlemen of his 陪審／陪審員団 into the room.

III
The 検死官's 陪審／陪審員団

It was just as the men （機の）カム in at the door, that I chanced to notice a newspaper that lay on a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. I 選ぶd it up with an 明らかな 空気／公表する of carelessness, and, watching my chance, unobserved by Parmalee, I put the paper away in a drawer, which I locked.

The six men, whom 検死官 Monroe 指名するd over to me, by way of a 簡潔な／要約する introduction, stepped silently as they とじ込み／提出するd past the 団体／死体 of their late friend and neighbor.

For the jurymen had been gathered あわてて from の中で the 国民s of West Sedgwick who chanced to be passing; and as it was after eleven o'clock, they were, for the most part, men of leisure, and occupants of the handsome homes in the 周辺.

Probably 非，不，無 of them had ever before been called to 行為／法令／行動する on a 検死官's 陪審／陪審員団, and all seemed impressed with the awfulness of the 罪，犯罪, 同様に as imbued with a personal sense of 悲しみ.

Two of the 賠審員s had been について言及するd to me by 指名する, by the coachman who brought me from the 駅／配置する. Horace Hamilton and Lemuel Porter were 近づく-by neighbors of the 殺人d man, and; I 裁判官d from their 発言／述べるs, were rather better 熟知させるd with him than were the others.

Mr. Hamilton was of the short, stout, bald-長，率いるd type, いつかs called aldermanic. It was plainly to be seen that his was a jocund nature, and the awe which he felt in this dreadful presence of death, though 明確に shown on his rubicund 直面する, was evidently a rare emotion with him. He ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room as if 推定する／予想するing to see everything there materially changed, and though he looked toward the 人物／姿／数字 of Mr. Crawford now and then, it was with difficulty, and he 回避するd his 注目する，もくろむs as quickly as possible. He was distinctly nervous, and though he listened to the 発言／述べるs of 検死官 Monroe and the other 賠審員s, he seemed impatient to get away.

Mr. Porter, in 外見, was almost the exact 逆転する of Mr. Hamilton. He was a middle-老年の man with the アイロンをかける gray hair and piercing dark 注目する，もくろむs that go to （不足などを）補う what is perhaps the handsomest type of Americans. He was a tall man, strong, lean and sinewy, with a 耐えるing of dignity and 決定／判定勝ち（する）. Both these men were 井戸／弁護士席-dressed to the point of affluence, and, as 近づく neighbor and intimate friends of the dead man, they seemed to prefer to stand together and a little apart from the 残り／休憩（する）.

Three more of the 賠審員s seemed to me not 特に noticeable in any way. They looked as one would 推定する／予想する 所有物／資産／財産 owners in West Sedgwick to look. They listened attentively to what Mr. Monroe said, asked few or no questions, and seemed appalled at the unusual 仕事 they had before them.

Only one 賠審員 impressed me unpleasantly. That was Mr. Orville, a youngish man, who seemed rather elated at the position in which he 設立する himself. He fingered nearly everything on the desk; he peered carefully into the 直面する of the 犠牲者 of the 罪，犯罪, and he somewhat ostentatiously made 公式文書，認めるs in a small Russia leather memorandum 調書をとる／予約する.

He spoke often to the 検死官, 説 things which seemed to me impertinent, such as, "Have you noticed the blotter, Mr. 検死官? Very often, you know, much may be learned from the blotter on a man's desk."

As the large blotter in question was by no means fresh, indeed was thickly covered with 署名／調印する impressions, and as there was nothing to 示す that Mr. Crawford had been engaged in 令状ing すぐに before his death, Mr. Orville's suggestion was somewhat irrelevant. And, too, the 賠審員s were not 探偵，刑事s 捜し出すing 手がかり（を与える）s, but were now 単に learning the known facts.

However, Mr. Orville fussed around, even looking into the wastebasket, and turning up a corner of a large rug as if ferreting for 証拠.

The others 展示（する）d no such minute curiosity, and, after a few moments, they followed the 検死官 out of the room.

Then the doctor and his assistants （機の）カム to take the 団体／死体 away, and I went in search of 検死官 Monroe, eager for その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） 関心ing the 事例／患者, of which I really, as yet, knew but little.

Parmalee went with me and we 設立する Mr. Monroe in the library, やめる ready to talk with us.

"Mr. Orville seems to 所有する the 探偵，刑事 instinct himself," 観察するd Mr. Parmalee, with what seemed like a 公式文書，認める of jealousy in his トン.

"The true 探偵，刑事 mind," returned Mr. Monroe, with his slow pomposity, "is not 扶養家族 on instinct or intuition."

"Oh, I think it is 大部分は 扶養家族 on that," I said, "or where does it 異なる from the ordinary 問い合わせing mind?"

"I'm sure you will agree with me, Mr. Burroughs," the 検死官 went on, almost as if I had not spoken, "that it depends upon a nicely adjusted mentality that is quick to see the 原因（となる） 支援する of an 影響."

To me this seemed a fair 鮮明度／定義 of intuition, but there was something in the unctuous roll of Mr. Monroe's words that made me 肯定的な he was 引用するing his somewhat erudite speech, and had not himself a perfectly （疑いを）晴らす comprehension of its meaning.

"It's guessing," 宣言するd Parmalee, "that's all it is, guessing. If you guess 権利, you're a famous 探偵，刑事; if you guess wrong, you're a 名付ける／吹き替える. That's all there is about it."

"No, no, Mr. Parmalee,"—and Mr. Monroe slowly shook his finger at the 無分別な 青年—"what you call guessing is really divination. Yes, my dear sir, it is actual divination."

"To my mind," I put in, "探偵，刑事 divination is 単に minute 観察. But why do we quibble over words and 鮮明度／定義s when there is much work to be done? When is the formal 検死 to be held, Mr. Monroe?"

"This afternoon at two o'clock," he replied.

"Then I'll go away now," I said, "for I must find an がまんするing place for myself in West Sedgwick. There is an inn, I suppose."

"They'll probably ask you to stay here," 観察するd 検死官 Monroe, "but I advise you not to do so. I think you'll be freer and いっそう少なく 妨害するd in your work if you go to the inn."

"I やめる agree with you," I replied. "But I see little chance of 存在 招待するd to stay here. Where is the family? Who are in it?"

"Not many. There is 行方不明になる Florence Lloyd, a niece of Mr. Crawford. That is, she is the niece of his wife. Mrs. Crawford has been dead many years, and 行方不明になる Lloyd has kept house for her uncle all that time. Then there is Mrs. Pierce, an 年輩の lady and a distant 親族 of Mr. Crawford's. That is all, except the 長官, Gregory Hall, who lives here much of the time. That is, he has a room here, but often he is in New York or どこかよそで on Mr. Crawford's 商売／仕事."

"Mr. Crawford had an office both here and in New York?" I asked.

"Yes; and of late years he has stayed at home as much as possible. He went to New York only about three or four days in the week, and 行為／行うd his 商売／仕事 from here the 残り／休憩（する） of the time. Young Hall is a clever fellow, and has been Mr. Crawford's righthand man for years."

"Where is he now?"

"We think he's in New York, but 港／避難所't yet been able to 位置を示す him at Mr. Crawford's office there, or at his club. He is engaged to 行方不明になる Lloyd, though I understand that the 約束／交戦 is contrary to Mr. Crawford's wishes."

"And where is 行方不明になる Lloyd,—and Mrs. Pierce?"

"They are both in their rooms. Mrs. Pierce is prostrated at the 悲劇, and 行方不明になる Lloyd 簡単に 辞退するs to make her 外見."

"But she'll have to …に出席する the 検死?"

"Oh, yes, of course. She'll be with us then. I think I won't say anything about her to you, as I'd rather you'd see her first with 完全に unprejudiced 注目する，もくろむs."

"So you, too, think 行方不明になる Lloyd is 巻き込むd?"

"I don't think anything about it, Mr. Burroughs. As 検死官 it is not my place to think along such lines."

"井戸／弁護士席, everybody else thinks so," broke in Parmalee. "And why? Because there's no one else for 疑惑 to light on. No one else who by any 可能性 could have done the 行為."

"Oh, come now, Mr. Parmalee," said I, "there must be others. They may not yet have come to our notice, but surely you must 収容する／認める an 侵入者 could have come into the room by way of those long, open windows."

"These 憶測s are useless, gentlemen," said Mr. Monroe, with his usual 空気／公表する of settling the 事柄. "中止する then, I beg, or at least 延期する them. If you are walking 負かす／撃墜する the avenue, Mr. Parmalee, perhaps you'll be good enough to 行為／行う Mr. Burroughs to the Sedgwick 武器, where he doubtless can find comfortable accommodations."

I thanked Mr. Monroe for the suggestion, but said, straightforwardly enough, that I was not yet やめる ready to leave the Crawford house, but that I would not 拘留する Mr. Parmalee, for I could myself find my way to the inn, having noticed it on my 運動 from the train.

So Parmalee went away, and I was about to return to Mr. Crawford's office where I hoped to 追求する a little 連続する 調査.

But Mr. Monroe 拘留するd me a moment, to 現在の me to a tall, 罰金-looking man who had just come in.

He 証明するd to be Philip Crawford, a brother of Joseph, and I at once 観察するd a strong resemblance between their two 直面するs.

"I am glad to 会合，会う you, Mr. Burroughs," he said. "Mr. Monroe tells me you are a clever and experienced 探偵，刑事, and I 信用 you can help us to avenge this dastardly 罪，犯罪. I am busy with some important 事柄s just now, but later I shall be glad to 会談する with you, and be of any help I can in your 調査."

I looked at Mr. Philip Crawford curiously. Of course I didn't 推定する／予想する him to give way to emotional grief, but it jarred on me to hear him 言及する to his brother's 悲劇の death in such 冷淡な トンs, and with such a 事務的な demeanor.

However, I realized I did not know the man at all, and this 態度 might be 予定 to his 成果／努力 in 隠すing his real feelings.

He looked very like his brother Joseph, and I gathered from the 外見 of both men, and the manner of Philip, that the Crawford nature was one of repression and self-支配（する）／統制する. Moreover, I knew nothing of the 感情s of the two brothers, and it might easily be that they were not 完全に in sympathy.

I thanked him for his 申し込む／申し出 of help, and then as he volunteered no その上の 観察s, I excused myself and proceeded alone to the library.

As I entered the 広大な／多数の／重要な room and の近くにd the door behind me, I was again impressed by the beauty and 高級な of the 任命s. Surely Joseph Crawford must have been a man of 罰金 calibre and 精製するd tastes to enjoy working in such an atmosphere. But I had only two short hours before the 検死, and I had many things to do, so for the moment I 始める，決める myself assiduously to work 診察するing the room again. As in my first examination, I did no microscopic scrutinizing; but I looked over the papers on and in the desk, I 公式文書，認めるd 条件s in the desk of Mr. Hall, the 長官, and I paid special attention to the position of the furniture and windows, my thoughts all directed to an 侵入者 from outside on Mr. Crawford's midnight 孤独.

I stepped through the long French window on to the veranda, and after a 徹底的な examination of the veranda, I went on 負かす／撃墜する the steps to the gravel walk. Against a small rosebush, just off the walk, I saw a small slip of pink paper. I 選ぶd it up, hardly daring to hope it might be a 手がかり（を与える）, and I saw it was a trolley 移転, whose punched 穴を開けるs 示すd that it had been 問題／発行するd the evening before. It might or might not be important as 証拠, but I put it carefully away in my 公式文書，認める-調書をとる／予約する for later consideration.

Returning to the library I took the newspaper which I had earlier discovered from the drawer where I had hidden it, and after one more swift but careful ちらりと見ること 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room, I went away, 確信して that I had not done my work carelessly.

I left the Crawford house and walked along the beautiful avenue to the somewhat pretentious inn 耐えるing the 指名する of Sedgwick 武器.

Here, as I had been led to believe, I 設立する pleasant, even luxurious accommodations. The landlord of the inn was smiling and pleasant, although landlord seems an old-fashioned 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 to 適用する to the very modern and up-to-date man who received me.

His 指名する was Carstairs, and he had the genial, perceptive manner of a man about town.

"Dastardly shame!" he exclaimed, after he had 保証するd himself of my 身元. "Joseph Crawford was one of our best 国民s, one of our finest men. He hadn't an enemy in the world, my dear Mr. Burroughs—not an enemy! generous, kindly nature, affable and friendly with all."

"But I understand he frowned on his 区's love 事件／事情／状勢, Mr. Carstairs."

"Yes; yes, indeed. And who wouldn't? Young Hall is no fit mate for Florence Lloyd. He's a fortune-hunter. I know the man, and his only ambition is the aggrandizement of his own precious self."

"Then you don't consider 行方不明になる Lloyd 関心d in this 罪，犯罪?"

"関心d in 罪，犯罪? Florence Lloyd! why, man, you must be crazy! The idea is 考えられない!"

I was sorry I had spoken, but I remembered too late that the 疑惑s which pointed toward 行方不明になる Lloyd were probably known only to those who had been in the Crawford house that morning. As for the townspeople in general, though they knew of the 悲劇, they knew very little of its 詳細（に述べる）s.

I 急いでd to 保証する Mr. Carstairs that I had never seen 行方不明になる Lloyd, that I had formed no opinions whatever, and that I was 単に repeating what were probably vague and erroneous 疑惑s of 誤った-minded people.

At last, behind my locked door, I took from my pocket the newspaper I had brought from Mr. Crawford's office.

It seemed to me important, from the fact that it was an extra, published late the night before.

An 大西洋 liner had met with a serious 事故, and an extra had been あわてて put 前へ／外へ by one of the most 企業ing of our evening papers. I, myself, had bought one of these extras, about midnight; and the finding of a copy in the office of the 殺人d man might 証明する a 手がかり（を与える） to the 犯罪の.

I then 診察するd carefully the 移転 slip I had 選ぶd up on the Crawford lawn. It had been 問題／発行するd after nine o'clock the evening before. This seemed to me to 証明する that the 支えるもの／所有者 of that 移転 must have been on the Crawford 所有物／資産／財産 and 近づく the library veranda late last night, and it seemed to me that this was plain ありふれた-sense 推論する／理由ing, and not mere intuition or divination. The 移転 might have a simple and innocent explanation, but until I could learn of that, I should 持つ／拘留する it carefully as a possible 手がかり（を与える）.

IV
The 検死

の直前に two o'clock I was 支援する at the Crawford house and 設立する the large library, where the 検死 was to be held, already 井戸／弁護士席 filled with people. I took an inconspicuous seat, and turned my attention first to the group that 構成するd, without a 疑問, the members of Mr. Crawford's 世帯.

行方不明になる Lloyd—for I knew at a ちらりと見ること the 黒人／ボイコット-式服d young woman must be she—was of a striking personality. Tall, large, handsome, she could have 提起する／ポーズをとるd as a model for Judith, Zenobia, or any of the 広大な／多数の／重要な and powerful feminine characters in history. I was impressed not so much by her beauty as by her 影響 of 力／強力にする and ability. I had 絶対 no 推論する／理由, save Parmalee's babblings, to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う this woman of 罪，犯罪, but I could not rid myself of a 有罪の判決 that she had every 外見 of 存在 有能な of it.

Yet her 直面する was 十分な of contradictions. The dark 注目する，もくろむs were haughty, even imperious; but the red, curved mouth had a tender 表現, and the chin, though 会社／堅い and decided-looking, yet gave an impression of gentleness.

On the whole, she fascinated me by the very mystery of her charm, and I 設立する my 注目する，もくろむs involuntarily returning again and again to that beautiful 直面する.

She was dressed in a 黒人／ボイコット, 追跡するing gown of 構成要素 which I think is called 中国 crepe. It fell around her in soft waving 倍のs and lay in little 大波s on the 床に打ち倒す. Her dark hair was dressed high on her 長，率いる, and seemed to form a sort of 栄冠を与える which 井戸／弁護士席 ふさわしい her regal type. She held her 長，率いる high, and the uplift of her chin seemed to be a natural characteristic.

Good birth and 産む／飼育するing spoke in every 段階 of her personality, and in her every movement and gesture. I remembered Parmalee's hint of unworthy ancestors, and cast it aside as impossible of belief. She spoke seldom, but occasionally turned to the lady at her 味方する with a few murmured words that were indubitably those of 慰安 or 激励.

Her companion, a gray-haired, 年輩の lady, was, of course, Mrs. Pierce. She was trembling with the excitement of the occasion, and seemed to depend on Florence Lloyd's strong personality and affectionate sympathy to keep her from utter 崩壊（する）.

Mrs. Pierce was of the old school of gentlewomen. Her 静かな, 黒人／ボイコット gown with its crepe trimmings, gave, even to my masculine 注目する，もくろむ an 影響 of 訂正する and 流行の／上流の, yet 静かな and unostentatious 嘆く／悼むing garb.

She had what seemed to me a puzzling 直面する. It did not 示唆する strength of character, for the soft old cheeks and quivering lips 示すd no strong self-支配（する）／統制する, and yet from her sharp, dark 注目する，もくろむs she now and again darted ちらりと見ることs that were unmistakably those of a keen and 肯定的な personality.

I 結論するd that hers was a strong nature, but shaken to its 創立／基礎 by the 現在の 悲劇. There was, without 疑問, a 広大な／多数の／重要な affection 存在するing between her and 行方不明になる Lloyd, and yet I felt that they were not in each other's 完全にする 信用／信任.

Though, for that 事柄, I felt intuitively that few people 所有するd the 完全にする 信用／信任 of Florence Lloyd. Surely she was a wonderful creature, and as I again 許すd myself to gaze on her beautiful 直面する I was 平等に 納得させるd of the 可能性 of her committing a 罪，犯罪 and the 起こりそうにない事 of her doing so.

近づく these two sat a young man who, I was told, was Gregory Hall, the 長官. He had been reached by telephone, and had come out from New York, arriving すぐに after I had left the Crawford house.

Mr. Hall was what may be 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d the 普通の／平均（する） type of young American 国民s. He was 公正に／かなり good-looking, 公正に／かなり 井戸／弁護士席-groomed, and so far as I could 裁判官 from his demeanor, 公正に／かなり 井戸／弁護士席-bred. His dark hair was commonplace, and parted on the 味方する, while his small, carefully arranged mustache was commonplace also. He looked 正確に／まさに what he was, the 信用d 長官 of a 財政上の 有力者／大事業家, and he seemed to me a man whose dress, manner, and speech would always be made appropriate to the occasion or 状況／情勢. In fact, so 完全に did he 展示（する） just such a demeanor as ふさわしい a confidential 長官 at the 検死 of his 殺人d 雇用者, that I involuntarily thought what a 罰金 undertaker he would have made. For, in my experience, no class of men so perfectly adapt themselves to 変化させるing atmospheres as undertakers.

Philip Crawford and his son, an 運動競技の looking young chap, were also in this group. Young Crawford 相続するd to a degree the 罰金 外見 of his father and uncle, and bade fair to become the same 肉親，親類d of a first-class American 国民 as they.

Behind these people, the ones most nearly 利益／興味d in the 手続き, were gathered the several servants of the house.

Lambert, the butler, was first interviewed.

The man was a somewhat pompous, middle-老年の Englishman, and though of stolid 外見, his 直面する showed what might perhaps be 述べるd as an intelligent stupidity.

After a few formal questions as to his position in the 世帯, the 検死官 asked him to tell his own story of the 早期に morning.

In a more （疑いを）晴らす and concise way than I should have thought the man 有能な of, he 詳細（に述べる）d his 発見 of his master's 団体／死体.

"I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する-stairs at seven this morning," he said, "as I always do. I opened the house, I saw the cook a few moments about 事柄s 付随するing to breakfast, and I …に出席するd to my usual 義務s. At about half-past seven I went to Mr. Crawford's office, to 始める，決める it in order for the day, and as I opened the door I saw him sitting in his 議長，司会を務める. At first I thought he'd dropped asleep there, and been there all night, then in a moment I saw what had happened."

"井戸／弁護士席, what did you do next?" asked the 検死官, as the man paused.

"I went in search of Louis, Mr. Crawford's valet. He was just coming 負かす／撃墜する the stairs. He looked surprised, for he said Mr. Crawford was not in his room, and his bed hadn't been slept in."

"Did he seem alarmed?"

"No, sir. Not knowing what I knew, he didn't seemed alarmed. But he seemed agitated, for of course it was most unusual not finding Mr. Crawford in his own room."

"How did Louis show his agitation?" broke in Mr. Orville.

"井戸／弁護士席, sir, perhaps he wasn't to say agitated,—he looked more blank, yes, as you might say, blank."

"Was he trembling?" 固執するd Mr. Orville, "was he pale?" and the 検死官 frowned わずかに at this 賠審員's repeated inquisitiveness.

"Louis is always pale," returned the butler, seeming to make an 成果／努力 to speak the exact truth.

"Then of course you couldn't 裁判官 of his knowledge of the 事柄," Mr. Orville said, with an 空気／公表する of one 説 something of importance.

"He had no knowledge of the 事柄, if you mean Mr. Crawford's death," said Lambert, looking 乱すd and a little bewildered.

"Tell your own story, Lambert," said 検死官 Monroe, rather crisply. "We'll hear what Louis has to say later."

"井戸／弁護士席, sir, then I took Louis to the office, and we both saw the—the 事故, and we wondered what to do. I was for telephoning 権利 off to Doctor Fairchild, but Louis said first we'd better tell 行方不明になる Florence about it."

"And did you?"

"We went out in the hall, and just then Elsa, 行方不明になる Lloyd's maid, was on the stairs. So we told her, and told her to tell 行方不明になる Lloyd, and ask her for orders. 井戸／弁護士席, her orders was for us to call up Doctor Fairchild, and so we did. He （機の）カム as soon as he could, and he's been in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 ever since, sir."

"A straightforward story, 明確に told," 観察するd the 検死官, and then he called upon Louis, the valet. This 証言，証人／目撃する, a young Frenchman, was far more nervous and excited than the 静める-mannered butler, but the gist of his story 確認するd Lambert's.

Asked if he was not called upon to …に出席する his master at bedtime, he replied,

"非，不，無, M'sieu; when Monsieur Crawford sat late in his library, or his office, he 解任する me and say I may go to bed, or whatever I like. Almost alway he tell me that."

"And he told you this last night?"

"But yes. When I lay out his 着せる／賦与するs for dinner, he then tell me so."

Although the man seemed sure enough of his 声明s he was evidently troubled in his mind. It might have been 単に that his French nature was more excitable than the stolid 無関心／冷淡 of the English butler. But at the same time I couldn't help feeling that the man had not told all he knew. This was 単に surmise on my part, and I could not 説得する myself that there was enough ground for it to call it even an intuition. So I 結論するd it best to ask no questions of the valet at 現在の, but to look into his 事例／患者 later.

Parmalee, however, seemed to have 結論するd 異なって. He looked at Louis with an 意図 gaze as he said, "Had your master said or done anything recently to make you think he was despondent or troubled in any way?"

"No, sir," said the man; but the answer was not spontaneous, and Louis's 注目する，もくろむs rolled around with an 表現 of 恐れる. I was watching him closely myself, and I could not help seeing that against his will his ちらりと見ること sought always Florence Lloyd, and though he quickly 回避するd it, he was unable to 差し控える from furtive, (n)艦隊／(a)素早いing looks in her direction.

"Do you know anything more of this 事柄 than you have told us?" 問い合わせd the 検死官 of the 証言，証人／目撃する.

"No, sir," replied Louis, and this time he spoke as with more certainty. "After Lambert and I （機の）カム out of Mr. Crawford's office, we did just 正確に／まさに as Lambert has tell you."

"That's all, Louis.... But, Lambert, one other 事柄. Tell us all you know of Mr. Joseph Crawford's movements last evening."

"He was at dinner, as usual, sir," said the butler, in his monotonous drawl. "There were no guests, only the family. After dinner Mr. Crawford went out for a time. He returned about nine o'clock. I saw him come in, with his own 重要な, and I saw him go to his office. Soon after Mr. Porter called."

"Mr. Lemuel Porter?" asked the 検死官.

"Yes, sir," said the butler; and Mr. Porter, who was one of the 賠審員s, 厳粛に nodded his 長，率いる in acquiescence.

"He stayed until about ten, I should say," went on the butler, and again Mr. Porter gave an affirmative nod. "I let him out myself," went on Lambert, "and soon after that I went to the library to see if Mr. Crawford had any orders for me. He told me of some 世帯 事柄s he wished me to …に出席する to to-day, and then he said he would sit up for some time longer, and I might go to bed if I liked. A very 肉親，親類d and considerate man, sir, was Mr. Crawford."

"And did you then go to bed?"

"Yes, sir. I locked up all the house, except the office. Mr. Crawford always locks those windows himself, when he sits up late. The ladies had already gone to their rooms; Mr. Hall was away for the night, so I の近くにd up the 前線 of the house, and went to bed. That's all I know about the 事柄, sir—until I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する-stairs this morning."

"You heard no sound in the night—no revolver 発射?"

"No, sir. But my room is on the third 床に打ち倒す, and at the other end of the house, sir. I couldn't hear a 発射 解雇する／砲火／射撃d in the office, I'm sure, sir."

"And you 設立する no 武器 of any sort in the office this morning?"

"No, sir; Louis and I both looked for that, but there was 非，不，無 in the room. Of that I'm sure, sir."

"That will do, Lambert."

"Yes, sir; thank you, sir."

"One moment," said I, wishing to know the exact 条件 of the house at midnight. "You say, Lambert, you の近くにd up the 前線 of the house. Does that mean there was a 支援する door open?"

"It means I locked the 前線 door, sir, and put the chain on. The library door 開始 on to the veranda I did not lock, for, as I said, Mr. Crawford always locks that and the windows in there when he is there late. The 支援する door I left on the night latch, as Louis was spending the evening out."

"Oh, Louis was spending the evening out, was he?" exclaimed Mr. Orville. "I think that should be looked into, Mr. 検死官. Louis said nothing of this in his 証言."

検死官 Monroe turned again to Louis and asked him where he was the evening before.

The man was now decidedly agitated, but by an 成果／努力 he controlled himself and answered 刻々と enough:

"I have tell you that Mr. Crawford say I may go wherever I like. And so, last evening I spend with a young lady."

"At what time did you go out?"

"At half after the eight, sir."

"And what time did you return?"

"I return about eleven."

"And did you then see a light in Mr. Crawford's office?"

Louis hesitated a moment. It could easily be seen that he was pausing only to enable himself to speak 自然に and 明確に, but it was only after one of those darting ちらりと見ることs at 行方不明になる Lloyd that he replied:

"I could not see Mr. Crawford's office, because I go around the other 味方する of the house. I make my entree by the 支援する door; I go straight to my room, and I know nothing of my master until I go to his room this morning and find him not there."

"Then you didn't go to his room last night on your return?"

"As I pass his door, I see it open, and his light low, so I know he is still below stair."

"And you did not pass by the library on your way 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the house?"

Louis's 直面する turned a shade whiter than usual, but he said distinctly, though in a low 発言する／表明する, "No, sir."

An involuntary gasp as of amazement was heard, and though I looked quickly at 行方不明になる Lloyd, it was not she who had made the sound. It was one of the maidservants, a pretty German girl, who sat behind 行方不明になる Lloyd. No one else seemed to notice it, and I realized it was not surprising that the 緊張する of the occasion should thus 乱す the girl.

"You heard Louis come in, Lambert?" asked Mr. Monroe, who was 行為／行うing the whole 調査 in a conversational way, rather than as a formal 検死.

"Yes, sir; he （機の）カム in about eleven, and went 直接／まっすぐに to his room."

The butler stood with 倍のd 手渡すs, a sad 表現 in his 注目する，もくろむs, but with an 空気／公表する of importance that seemed to be inseparable from him, in any circumstances.

Doctor Fairchild was called as the next 証言，証人／目撃する.

He 証言するd that he had been 召喚するd that morning at about ４半期/4分の1 before eight o'clock. He had gone すぐに to Mr. Crawford's house, was 認める by the butler, and taken at once to the office. He 設立する Mr. Crawford dead in his 議長，司会を務める, 発射 through the left 寺 with a thirty-two calibre revolver.

"Excuse me," said Mr. Lemuel Porter, who, with the other 賠審員s, was listening attentively to all the 証言. "If the 武器 was not 設立する, how do you know its calibre?"

"I 抽出するd the 弾丸 from the 負傷させる," returned Doctor Fairchild, "and those who know have pronounced it to be a ball 解雇する／砲火／射撃d from a small ピストル of thirty-two calibre."

"But if Mr. Crawford had committed 自殺, the ピストル would have been there," said Mr. Porter; who seemed to be a more 激烈な／緊急の thinker than the other jurymen.

"正確に／まさに," agreed the 検死官. "That's why we must 結論する that Mr. Crawford did not take his own life."

"Nor would he have done so," 宣言するd Doctor Fairchild. "I have known the 死んだ for many years. He had no 推論する／理由 for wishing to end his life, and, I am sure, no inclination to do so. He was 発射 by an 外国人 手渡す, and the 行為 was probably committed at or 近づく midnight."

"Thus we assume," the 検死官 went on, as the doctor finished his simple 声明 and 再開するd his seat, "that Mr. Crawford remained in his office, 占領するd with his 商売／仕事 事柄s, until midnight or later, when some person or persons （機の）カム into his room, 殺人d him, and went away again, without making 十分な noise or 騒動 to 誘発する the sleeping 世帯."

"Perhaps Mr. Crawford himself had fallen asleep in his 議長，司会を務める," 示唆するd one of the 賠審員s,—the Mr. Orville, who was continually taking 公式文書，認めるs in his little 調書をとる／予約する.

"It is possible," said the doctor, as the 発言／述べる was 事実上 演説（する）／住所d to him, "but not probable. The 態度 in which the 団体／死体 was 設立する 示すs that the 犠牲者 was awake, and in 十分な 所有／入手 of his faculties. 明らかに he made no 抵抗 of any sort."

"Which seems to show," said the 検死官, "that his 加害者 was not a 夜盗，押し込み強盗 or tramp, for in that 事例／患者 he would surely have risen and tried to put him out. The fact that Mr. Crawford was evidently 発射 by a person standing in 前線 of him, seems to 暗示する that that person's 態度 was friendly, and that the 犠牲者 had no 疑惑 of the danger that 脅すd him."

This was （疑いを）晴らす and 論理（学）の 推論する／理由ing, and I looked at the 検死官 in 賞賛, until I suddenly remembered Parmalee's hateful 疑惑 and wondered if 検死官 Monroe was 準備するing for an attack upon 行方不明になる Lloyd.

Gregory Hall was 召喚するd next.

He was self-所有するd and even 冷静な／正味の in his demeanor. There was a frank manner about him that pleased me, but there was also a something which repelled me.

I couldn't やめる explain it to myself, but while he had an 空気／公表する of extreme straightforwardness, there was also an indefinable 影響 of reserve. I couldn't help feeling that if this man had anything to 隠す, he would be やめる 有能な of doing so under a mask of 広大な／多数の／重要な outspokenness.

But, as it turned out, he had nothing either to 隠す or 明らかにする／漏らす, for he had been away from West Sedgwick since six o'clock the night before, and knew nothing of the 悲劇 until he heard of it by telephone at Mr. Crawford's New York office that morning about half-past ten. This made him of no importance as a 証言，証人／目撃する, but Mr. Monroe asked him a few questions.

"You left here last evening, you say?"

"On the six o'clock train to New York, yes."

"For what 目的?"

"On 商売／仕事 for Mr. Crawford."

"Did that 商売／仕事 占領する you last evening?"

Mr. Hall looked surprised at this question, but answered 静かに

"No; I was to …に出席する to the 商売／仕事 to-day. But I often go to New York for several days at a time."

"And where were you last evening?" 追求するd the 検死官.

This time Mr. Hall looked more surprised still, and said

"As it has no 耐えるing on the 事柄 in 手渡す, I prefer not to answer that rather personal question."

Mr. Monroe looked surprised in his turn, and said: "I think I must 主張する upon an answer, Mr. Hall, for it is やめる necessary that we learn the どの辺に of every member of this 世帯 last evening."

"I cannot agree with you, sir," said Gregory Hall, coolly; "my 約束／交戦s for last evening were 完全に personal 事柄s, in no way connected with Mr. Crawford's 商売／仕事. As I was not in West Sedgwick at the time my late 雇用者 met his death, I cannot see that my 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s need be called into question."

"やめる so, やめる so," put in Mr. Orville; but Lemuel Porter interrupted him.

"Not at all so. I agree with Mr. Monroe, that Mr. Hall should 率直に tell us where he spent last evening."

"And I 辞退する to do so," said Mr. Hall, speaking not 怒って, but with 広大な／多数の／重要な 決定／判定勝ち（する）.

"Your 拒絶 may tend to direct 疑惑 toward yourself, Mr. Hall," said the 検死官.

Gregory Hall smiled わずかに. "As I was out of town, your suggestion sounds a little absurd. However, I take that 危険, and 絶対 辞退する to answer any questions save those which relate to the 事柄 in 手渡す."

検死官 Monroe looked rather helplessly at his 賠審員s, but as 非，不，無 of them said anything その上の, he turned again to Gregory Hall.

"The telephone message you received this morning, then, was the first knowledge you had of Mr. Crawford's death?"

"It was."

"And you （機の）カム out here at once?"

"Yes; on the first train I could catch."

"I am sorry you resent personal questions, Mr. Hall, for I must ask you some. Are you engaged to Mr. Crawford's niece, 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"I am."

This answer was given in a low, 静かな トン, 明らかに without emotion of any 肉親，親類d, but 行方不明になる Lloyd showed, a different 態度. At the words of Gregory Hall, she blushed, dropped her 注目する，もくろむs, fingered her handkerchief nervously, and evinced just such 当惑 as might be 推定する／予想するd from any young woman, in the event of a public について言及する of her betrothal. And yet I had not looked for such an 展示 from Florence Lloyd. Her very evident strength of character would seem to 妨げる the 活動／戦闘s of an inexperienced debutante.

"Did Mr. Crawford 認可する of your 約束／交戦 to his niece?" 追求するd Mr. Monroe.

"With all 予定 尊敬（する）・点, Mr. 検死官," said Gregory Hall, in his subdued but 会社／堅い way, "I cannot think these questions are 関連した or pertinent. Unless you can 保証する me that they are, I prefer not to reply."

"They are both 関連した and pertinent to the 事柄 in 手渡す, Mr. Hall; but I am now of the opinion that they would better be asked of another 証言，証人／目撃する. You are excused. I now call 行方不明になる Florence Lloyd."

V
Florence Lloyd

A 動かす was perceptible all through the room as 行方不明になる Lloyd 定評のある by a 屈服する of her beautiful 長，率いる the 召喚するs of the 検死官.

The 賠審員s looked at her with evident sympathy and 賞賛, and I remembered that as they were fellow-townsmen and neighbors they probably knew the young woman 井戸／弁護士席, and she was doubtless a friend of their own daughters.

It seemed as if such social 知識 must prejudice them in her 好意, and perhaps （判決などを）下す them incapable of unbiased judgment, should her 証拠 be 罪を負わせるing. But in my secret heart, I 自白する, I felt glad of this. I was glad of anything that would keep even a 影をつくる／尾行する of 疑惑 away from this girl to whose fascinating charm I had already fallen a 犠牲者.

Nor was I the only one in the room who dreaded the mere thought of 行方不明になる Lloyd's 関係 with this horrible 事柄.

Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter were, I could see, 大いに 関心d lest some mistaken 疑惑 should 示す any 疑問 of the girl. I could see by their kindly ちらりと見ることs that she was a favorite, and was 絶対 解放する／自由な from 疑惑 in their minds.

Mr. Orville had not やめる the same 態度. Though he looked at 行方不明になる Lloyd admiringly, I felt sure he was alertly ready to pounce upon anything that might seem to connect her with a 有罪の knowledge of this 罪，犯罪.

Gregory Hall's 態度 was inexplicable, and I 結論するd I had yet much to learn about that young man. He looked at 行方不明になる Lloyd 批判的に, and though his ちらりと見ること could not be called やめる 冷淡な, yet it showed no 限定された sympathy. He seemed to be coldly 重さを計るing her in his own mental balance, and he seemed to を待つ whatever she might be about to say with the impartial 空気／公表する of a disinterested 裁判官. Though a stranger myself, my heart ached for the young woman who was placed so suddenly in such a painful position, but Gregory Hall 明らかに 欠如（する）d any personal 利益／興味 in the 事例／患者.

I felt sure this was not true, that he was not really so unconcerned as he appeared; but I could not guess why he chose to assume an impassive mask.

行方不明になる Lloyd had not risen as it was not 要求するd of her, and she sat expectant, but with no 調印する of nervousness. Mrs. Pierce, her companion, was 簡単に quivering with agitation. Now and again she would touch 行方不明になる Lloyd's shoulder or 手渡す, or whisper a word of 激励, or perhaps wring her own 手渡すs in futile despair.

Of course these demonstrations were of little avail, nor did it seem as if Florence Lloyd needed 援助 or support.

She gave the impression not only of general 能力 in managing her own 事件／事情／状勢s, but of a special strength in an 緊急.

And an 緊急 it was; for though the two before-について言及するd 賠審員s, who had been intimate friends of her uncle, were doubtless in sympathy with 行方不明になる Lloyd, and though the 検死官 was kindly 性質の／したい気がして toward her, yet the other 賠審員s took little 苦痛s to 隠す their 怪しげな 態度, and as for Mr. Parmalee, he was 公正に／かなり eager with 予期 of the 発覚s about to come.

"Your 指名する?" said the corner 簡潔に, as if 征服する／打ち勝つing his own sympathy by an unnecessarily formal トン.

"Florence Lloyd," was the answer.

"Your position in this house?"

"I am the niece of Mrs. Joseph Crawford, who died many years ago. Since her death I have lived with Mr. Crawford, 占領するing in every 尊敬（する）・点 the position of his daughter, though not 合法的に 可決する・採択するd as such."

"Mr. Crawford was always 肉親，親類d to you?"

"More than 肉親，親類d. He was generous and indulgent, and, though not of an affectionate nature, he was always courteous and gentle."

"Will you tell us of the last time you saw him alive?"

行方不明になる Lloyd hesitated. She showed no 当惑, no trepidation; she 単に seemed to be thinking.

Her gaze slowly wandered over the 直面するs of the servants, Mrs. Pierce, Mr. Philip Crawford, the 賠審員s, and, lastly, dwelt for a moment on the now anxious, worried countenance of Gregory Hall.

Then she said slowly, but in an even, unemotional 発言する／表明する: "It was last night at dinner. After dinner was over, my uncle went out, and before he returned I had gone to my room."

"Was there anything unusual about his 外見 or demeanor at dinner-time?"

"No; I noticed nothing of the sort."

"Was he troubled or annoyed about any 事柄, that you know of?"

"He was annoyed about one 事柄 that has been annoying him for some time: that is, my 約束／交戦 to Mr. Hall."

明らかに this was the answer the 検死官 had 推定する／予想するd, for he nodded his 長，率いる in a 満足させるd way.

The 賠審員s, too, 交流d intelligent ちらりと見ることs, and I realized that the 知識s of the Crawfords were 井戸／弁護士席 知らせるd as to 行方不明になる Lloyd's romance.

"He did not 認可する of that 約束／交戦?" went on the 検死官, though he seemed to be 明言する／公表するing a fact, rather than asking a question.

"He did not," returned 行方不明になる Lloyd, and her color rose as she 観察するd the 激しい 利益／興味 manifest の中で her hearers.

"And the 支配する was discussed at the dinner （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する?"

"It was."

"What was the tenor of the conversation?"

"To the 影響 that I must break the 約束／交戦."

"Which you 辞退するd to do?"

"I did."

Her cheeks were scarlet now, but a 決定するd 公式文書，認める had crept into her 発言する／表明する, and she looked at her betrothed husband with an 空気／公表する of affectionate pride that, it seemed to me, せねばならない 解除する any man into the seventh heaven. But I 公式文書，認めるd Mr. Hall's 表現 with surprise. Instead of gazing adoringly at this girl who was thus 公然と 証明するing her devotion to him, he sat with 注目する，もくろむs cast 負かす／撃墜する, and frowning—前向きに／確かに frowning—while his fingers played nervously with his watch-chain.

Surely this 事例／患者 要求するd my closest attention, for I place far more 信用／信任 in deductions from facial 表現 and トンs of the 発言する／表明する, than from the 発見 of small, inanimate 反対するs.

And if I chose to deduce from facial 表現s I had ample 範囲 in the countenances of these two people.

I was 特に anxious not to jump at an unwarrantable 結論, but the 有罪の判決 was 軍隊d upon me then and there that these two people knew more about the 罪，犯罪 than they 推定する／予想するd to tell. I certainly did not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う either of them to be touched with 犯罪, but I was 平等に sure that they were not ingenuous in their 証言.

While I knew that they were engaged, having heard it from both of them, I could not think that the course of their love 事件／事情／状勢 was running 滑らかに. I 設立する myself drifting into idle 憶測 as to whether this 約束／交戦 was more 願望（する）d by one than the other, and if so, by which.

But though I could not やめる understand these two, it gave me no trouble to know which I admired more. At the moment, 行方不明になる Lloyd seemed to me to 代表する all that was beautiful, noble and charming in womanhood, while Gregory Hall gave me the impression of a man crafty, selfish and undependable. However, I fully realized that I was theorizing without 十分な data, and determinedly I brought my attention 支援する to the 検死官's 目録 of questions.

"Who else heard this conversation, besides yourself, 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"Mrs. Pierce was at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with us, and the butler was in the room much of the time."

The 趣旨 of the 検死官's question was obvious. Plainly he meant that she might 同様に tell the truth in the 事柄, as her 証言 could easily be overthrown or 確認するd.

行方不明になる Lloyd deliberately looked at the two persons について言及するd. Mrs. Pierce was trembling as with nervous 逮捕, but she looked 刻々と at 行方不明になる Lloyd, with 注目する，もくろむs 十分な of 忠義 and devotion.

And yet Mrs. Pierce was a bit mysterious also. If I could read her 直面する aright, it bore the 表現 of one who would stand by her friend whatever might come. If she herself had had 疑問s of Florence Lloyd's 正直さ, but was 決定するd to 抑える them and 断言する to a belief in her, she would look just as she did now.

On the other 手渡す the butler, Lambert, who stood with 倍のd 武器, gazed straight ahead with an inscrutable countenance, but his 始める，決める lips and square jaw betokened 決定／判定勝ち（する）.

As I read it, 行方不明になる Lloyd knew, as she looked, that should she tell an untruth about that talk at the dinner-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, Mrs. Pierce would repeat and 確認する her story; but Lambert would 反駁する her, and would 明言する／公表する veraciously what his master had said. 明確に, it was useless to 試みる／企てる a 誤った 報告（する）／憶測, and, with a little sigh, 行方不明になる Lloyd seemed to 辞職する herself to her 運命／宿命, and calmly を待つd the 検死官's その上の questions.

But though still 静める, she had lost her 宙に浮く to some degree. The 欠如（する） of responsive ちらりと見ることs from Gregory Hall's 注目する，もくろむs seemed to perplex her. The eager 利益／興味 of the six jurymen made her restless and embarrassed. The 検死官's abrupt questions 脅すd her, and I 恐れるd her self-施行するd 静める must sooner or later give way.

And now I noticed that Louis, the valet, was again darting those uncontrollable ちらりと見ることs toward her. And as the agitated Frenchman 努力するd to 支配（する）／統制する his own countenance, I chanced to 観察する that the pretty-直面するd maid I had noticed before, was 星／主役にするing fixedly at Louis. Surely there were wheels within wheels, and the 複雑化s of this 事柄 were not to be solved by the simple questions of the 検死官. But of course this 予選 examination was necessary, and it was from this that I must learn the main story, and 努力する to find out the secrets afterward.

"What was your uncle's 返答 when you 辞退するd to break your 約束／交戦 to Mr. Hall?" was the next 調査.

Again 行方不明になる Lloyd was silent for a moment, while she directed her gaze successively at several individuals. This time she 好意d Mr. Randolph, who was Mr. Crawford's lawyer, and Philip Crawford, the dead man's brother. After looking in turn at these two, and ちらりと見ることing for a moment at Philip Crawford's son, who sat by his 味方する, she said, in a lower 発言する／表明する than she had before used,

"He said he would change his will, and leave 非，不，無 of his fortune to me."

"His will, then, has been made in your 好意?"

"Yes; he has always told me I was to be 単独の heiress to his 広い地所, except for some comparatively small bequests."

"Did he ever 脅す this 訴訟／進行 before?"

"He had hinted it, but not so definitely."

"Did Mr. Hall know of Mr. Crawford's 反対 to his 控訴?"

"He did."

"Did he know of your uncle's hints of disinheritance?"

"He did."

"What was his 態度 in the 事柄?"

Florence Lloyd looked proudly at her lover.

"The same as 地雷," she said. "We both regretted my uncle's 抗議する, but we had no 意向 of letting it stand in the way of our happiness."

Still Gregory Hall did not look at his fiancee. He sat motionless, preoccupied, and seemingly lost in 深い thought, oblivious to all that was going on.

Whether his absence from Sedgwick at the time of the 殺人 made him feel that he was in no way 巻き込むd, and so the 調査 held no 利益／興味 for him; or whether he was looking ahead and wondering whither these 決定的な questions were 主要な Florence Lloyd, I had no means of knowing. Certainly, he was a man of most impassive demeanor and marvellous self-支配（する）／統制する.

"Then, in 影響, you 反抗するd your uncle?"

"In 影響, I suppose I did; but not in so many words. I always tried to 勧める him to see the 事柄 in a different light."

"What was his 反対 to Mr. Hall as your husband?"

"Must I answer that?"

"Yes; I think so; as I must have a （疑いを）晴らす understanding of the whole 事件／事情／状勢."

"井戸／弁護士席, then, he told me that he had no 反対 to Mr. Hall, 本人自身で. But he wished me to make what he called a more brilliant 同盟. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 me to marry a man of greater wealth and social position."

The 軽蔑（する） in 行方不明になる Lloyd's 発言する／表明する for her uncle's ambitions was so unmistakable that it made her whole answer seem a compliment to Mr. Hall, rather than the 逆転する. It 暗示するd that the 英貨の／純銀の 価値（がある） of the young 長官 was far more to be 願望（する）d than the riches and 階級 支持するd by her uncle. This time Gregory Hall looked at the （衆議院の）議長 with a faint smile, that showed 評価, if not adoration.

But I did not gather from his 態度 that he did not adore his beautiful bride-to-be; I only 結論するd that he was not one to show his feelings in public.

However, I couldn't help feeling that I had learned which of the two was more anxious for the 約束／交戦 to continue.

"In what way was your uncle more 限定された in his 脅し last night, than he had been heretofore?" the 検死官 continued.

行方不明になる Lloyd gave a little gasp, as if the question she had been dreading had come at last. She looked at the inexorable 直面する of the butler, she looked at Mr. Randolph, and then flashed a half-timid ちらりと見ること at Hall, as she answered,

"He said that unless I 約束d to give up Mr. Hall, he would go last night to Mr. Randolph's and have a new will drawn up."

"Did he do so?" exclaimed Gregory Hall, an 表現 almost of 恐れる appearing on his commonplace 直面する.

行方不明になる Lloyd looked at him, and seemed startled. 明らかに his sudden question had surprised her.

Mr. Monroe paid no attention to Mr. Hall's 発言／述べる, but said to 行方不明になる Lloyd, "He had made such 脅しs before, had he not?"

"Yes, but not with the same 決意. He told me in so many words, I must choose between Mr. Hall or the 相続物件 of his fortune."

"And your answer to this?"

"I made no direct answer. I had told him many times that I had no 意向 of breaking my 約束／交戦, whatever course he might choose to 追求する."

Mr. Orville was 明確に delighted with the turn things were taking. He already scented a sensation, and he scribbled industriously in his 速く filling 公式文書，認める-調書をとる／予約する.

This habit of his disgusted me, for surely the 賠審員s on this 予選 検死 could come to their 結論s without a 詳細（に述べる）d account of all these conversations.

I also resented the looks of 賞賛 which Mr. Orville cast at the beautiful girl. It seemed to me that with the exception of Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter, who were family friends, the 賠審員s should have 持続するd a formal and impersonal 態度.

Mr. Hamilton spoke 直接／まっすぐに to 行方不明になる Lloyd on the 支配する.

"I am 大いに surprised," he said, "that Mr. Crawford should take such a stand. He has often spoken to me of you as his heiress, and to my knowledge, your 約束／交戦 to Mr. Hall is not of すぐに 最近の date."

"No," said 行方不明になる Lloyd, "but it is only recently that my uncle 表明するd his disapprobation so 堅固に; and last night at dinner was the first time he 前向きに／確かに 明言する／公表するd his 意向 in regard to his will."

At this Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter conversed together in indignant whispers, and it was やめる evident that they did not 認可する of Mr. Crawford's 治療 of his niece.

Mr. Philip Crawford looked astounded, and also 狼狽d, which surprised me, as I had understood that had it not been for 行方不明になる Lloyd, he himself would have been his brother's 相続人.

Mr. Randolph showed only a lawyer-like, 曖昧な 表現, and Gregory Hall, too, looked 絶対 impassive.

The 検死官 grew more 警報, as if he had discovered something of 限定された 輸入する, and asked 熱望して,

"Did he do so? Did he go to his lawyer's and make another will?"

行方不明になる Lloyd's 冷淡な 静める had returned, and seemed to rebuke the 検死官's excited 利益／興味.

"I do not know," she replied. "He went out after dinner, as I have told you, but I retired to my bedroom before he （機の）カム home."

"And you did not come 負かす／撃墜する-stairs again last night?"

"I did not."

The words were spoken in a （疑いを）晴らす, even トン; but something made me 疑問 their truth. It was not the 発言する／表明する or inflection; there was no hesitation or stammer, but a sudden and momentary droop of 行方不明になる Lloyd's eyelids seemed to me to give the 嘘（をつく） to her words.

I wondered if Gregory Hall had the same thought, for he slowly raised his own 注目する，もくろむs and looked at her 刻々と for the first time since her 証言 began.

She did not look at him. Instead, she was 星／主役にするing at the butler. Either she had 推論する／理由 to 恐れる his knowledge, or I was fanciful. With an 努力する to shake off these 影をつくる／尾行するs of 疑惑, I chanced to look at Parmalee. To my disgust, he was やめる evidently gloating over the 公表，暴露s 存在 made by the 証言，証人／目撃する. I felt my 怒り／怒る rise, and I 決定するd then and there that if 疑惑 of 犯罪 or complicity should by any chance 不正に light on that 勇敢に立ち向かう and lovely girl, I would make the 成果／努力 of my life to （疑いを）晴らす her from it.

"You did not come 負かす／撃墜する again," the 検死官 went on pointedly, "to ask your uncle if he had changed his will?"

"No, I did not," she replied, with such a （犯罪の）一味 of truth in her scornful 発言する／表明する, that my 信用／信任 returned, and I truly believed her.

"Then you were not in your uncle's office last evening at all?"

"I was not."

"Nor through the day?"

She 反映するd a moment. "No, nor through the day. It chanced I had no occasion to go in there yesterday at all."

At these 主張s of 行方不明になる Lloyd's, the Frenchman, Louis, looked 大いに 乱すd. He tried very hard to 隠す his agitation, but it was not at all difficult to read on his 直面する an 努力する to look undisturbed at what he heard.

I hadn't a 疑問, myself, that the man either knew something that would 罪を負わせる 行方不明になる Lloyd, or that they two had a 相互の knowledge of some fact as yet 隠すd.

I was surprised that no one else seemed to notice this, but the attention of every one in the room was concentrated on the 検死官 and the 証言，証人／目撃する, and so Louis's 行為 passed unnoticed.

At this juncture, Mr. Lemuel Porter spoke with some dignity.

"It would seem," he said, "that this 結論するs 行方不明になる Lloyd's 証拠 in the 事柄. She has carried the narrative up to the point where Mr. Joseph Crawford went out of his house after dinner. As she herself retired to her room before his return, and did not again leave her room until this morning, she can have nothing その上の to tell us 耐えるing on the 悲劇. And as it is doubtless a most painful experience for her, I 信用, Mr. 検死官, that you will excuse her from その上の 尋問."

"But wait a minute," Parmalee began, when Mr Hamilton interrupted him—"Mr. Porter is やめる 権利," he said; "there is no 推論する／理由 why 行方不明になる Lloyd should be その上の troubled in this 事柄. I feel 解放する／自由な to advise her 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 from the 証人席, because of my 知識 and friendship with this 世帯. Our 検死官 and most of our 賠審員s are strangers to 行方不明になる Lloyd, and perhaps cannot 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる as I do the terrible 緊張する this experience means to her."

"You're 権利 Hamilton," said Mr. Philip Crawford; "I was remiss not to think of it myself. Mr. Monroe, this is not a formal 検死, and in the 利益／興味 of 親切 and humanity, I ask you to excuse 行方不明になる Lloyd from その上の 尋問 for the 現在の."

I was surprised at the requests of these 年輩の gentlemen, for though it seemed to me that 行方不明になる Lloyd's 証言 was 完全にする, yet it also seemed as if Gregory Hall were the one to show 苦悩 that she be spared その上の annoyance.

However, Florence Lloyd spoke for herself.

"I am やめる willing to answer any その上の questions," she said; "I have answered all you have asked, and I have told you 率直に the truth. Though it is far from pleasant to have my individual 事件／事情／状勢s thus brought to notice, I am やめる ready to do anything to 今後 the 原因（となる） of 司法（官） or to 援助（する） in any way the 発見 of my uncle's 殺害者."

"Thank you," said Mr. Monroe; "I やめる 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる the extreme unpleasantness of your position. But, 行方不明になる Lloyd, there are a few more questions I must ask you. 容赦 me if I repeat myself, but I ask you once more if you did not come 負かす／撃墜する to your uncle's office last evening after he had returned from his call on Mr. Randolph."

As I watched Florence Lloyd I saw that her 注目する，もくろむs did not turn toward the 検死官, or toward her fiance, or toward the 陪審／陪審員団, but she looked straight at Louis, the valet, as she replied in （疑いを）晴らす トンs,

"I did not."

VI
The Gold 捕らえる、獲得する

"Is this yours?" asked Mr. Monroe, suddenly 素早い行動ing into sight the gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する.

Probably his 意図 had been to startle her, and thus catch her off her guard. If so, he 後継するd, for the girl was certainly startled, if only at the suddenness of the query.

"N-no," she stammered; "it's—it's not 地雷."

"Are you sure?" the 検死官 went on, a little more gently, doubtless moved by her agitation.

"I'm—I'm やめる sure. Where did you find it?"

"What size gloves do you wear, 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"Number six." She said this mechanically, as if thinking of something else, and her 直面する was white.

"These are number six," said the 検死官, as he took a pair of gloves from the 捕らえる、獲得する. "Think again, 行方不明になる Lloyd. Do you not own a gold-chain 捕らえる、獲得する, such as this?"

"I have one something like that—or, rather, I did have one."

"Ah! And what did you do with it?"

"I gave it to my maid, Elsa, some days ago."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I was tired of it, and as it was a trifle worn, I had 中止するd to care to carry it."

"Is it not a somewhat expensive trinket to turn over to your maid?"

"No; they are not real gold. At least, I mean 地雷 was not. It was gilt over silver, and cost only about twelve or fourteen dollars when new."

"What did you usually carry in it?"

"What every woman carries in such a 捕らえる、獲得する. Handkerchief, some small change, perhaps a vanity-box, gloves, tickets—whatever would be needed on an afternoon's calling or shopping 小旅行する."

"行方不明になる Lloyd, you have enumerated almost 正確に／まさに the articles in this 捕らえる、獲得する."

"Then that is a coincidence, for it is not my 捕らえる、獲得する."

The girl was 完全に self-所有するd again, and even a little 積極的な.

I 収容する／認める that I did not believe her 声明s. Of course I could not be sure she was telling untruths, but her sudden 当惑 at the first sight of the 捕らえる、獲得する, and the way in which she 回復するd her self-所有／入手, made me 疑問 her （疑いを）晴らす 良心 in the 事柄.

Parmalee, who had come over and sat beside me, whispered: "Striking coincidence, isn't it?"

Although his sarcasm 発言する／表明するd my own thoughts, yet it irritated me horribly to hear him say it.

"But ninety-nine women out of a hundred would experience the same coincidence," I returned.

"But the other ninety-eight weren't in the house last night, and she was."

At this moment Mrs. Pierce, whom I had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of feeling far deeper 利益／興味 than she had so far shown, volunteered a 発言／述べる.

"Of course that isn't Florence's 捕らえる、獲得する," she said; "if Florence had gone to her uncle's office last evening, she would have been wearing her dinner gown, and certainly would not carry a street 捕らえる、獲得する."

"Is this a street 捕らえる、獲得する?" 問い合わせd Mr. Monroe, looking with a masculine helplessness at the gilt bauble.

"Of course it is," said Mrs. Pierce, who now that she had 設立する her 発言する／表明する, seemed anxious to talk. "Nobody ever carries a 捕らえる、獲得する like that in the house,—in the evening."

"But," began Parmalee, "such a thing might have occurred, if 行方不明になる Lloyd had had occasion to go to her uncle's office with, we will say, papers or 公式文書，認めるs."

本人自身で I thought this an absurd suggestion, but Mr. Monroe seemed to take it 本気で.

"That might be," he said, and I could see that momentarily the 疑惑s against Florence Lloyd were growing in 軍隊 and were taking 限定された 形態／調整.

As I 公式文書，認めるd the 表現s, on the さまざまな 直面するs, I 観察するd that only Mr. Philip Crawford and the 賠審員s Hamilton and Porter seemed 完全に in sympathy with the girl. The 検死官, Parmalee, and even the lawyer, Randolph, seemed to be willing, almost eager for her to 罪を負わせる herself.

Gregory Hall, who should have been the most 同情的な of all, seemed the most coldly indifferent, and as for Mrs. Pierce, her 活動／戦闘s were so erratic and uncertain, no one could tell what she thought.

"You are やめる 肯定的な it is not your 捕らえる、獲得する?" repeated the 検死官 once more.

"I'm 肯定的な it is not 地雷," returned 行方不明になる Lloyd, without undue 強調, but with an 空気／公表する of 解任するing the 支配する.

"Is your maid 現在の?" asked the 検死官. "Let her be 召喚するd."

Elsa （機の）カム 今後, the pretty, timid young girl, of German 影響s, whom I had already noticed.

"Have you ever seen this 捕らえる、獲得する before?" asked the 検死官, 持つ／拘留するing it up before her.

"Yes, sir."

"When?"

"This morning, sir. Lambert showed it to me, sir. He said he 設立する it in Mr. Crawford's office."

The girl was very pale, and trembled pitiably. She seemed afraid of the 検死官, of Lambert, of 行方不明になる Lloyd, and of the 陪審／陪審員団. It might have been 単に the 不当な 恐れる of an ignorant mind, but it had the 外見 of some more 限定された 逮捕.

特に did she seem afraid of the man, Louis. Though perhaps the 苦しめるd ちらりと見ることs she cast at him were not so much those of 恐れる as of 苦悩.

The 検死官 spoke kindly to her, and really seemed to take more notice of her 当惑, and make more 成果／努力 to put her at her 緩和する than he had done with 行方不明になる Lloyd.

"Is it 行方不明になる Lloyd's 捕らえる、獲得する?"

"I don't think so, sir."

"Don't you know? As her personal maid, you must be 熟知させるd with her 所持品."

"Yes, sir. No, it isn't hers, sir."

But as this 声明 was made after a swift but noticeable ちらりと見ること of 調査 at her mistress, a slight 不信 of Elsa formed in my own mind, and probably in the minds of others.

"She has one like this, has she not?"

"She—she did have, sir; but she—she gave it to me."

"Yes? Then go and get it and let us see it."

"I 港／避難所't it now, sir. I—I gave it away."

"Oh, you gave it away! To whom? Can you get it 支援する?"

"No, sir; I gave it to my cousin, who sailed for Germany last week."

行方不明になる Lloyd looked up in surprise, and that look of surprise told against her. I could see Parmalee's 注目する，もくろむs gleam as he 結論するd in his own mind that the 捕らえる、獲得する story was all 誤った, was made up between mistress and maid, and that the part about the 出発／死ing cousin was an artistic touch 追加するd by Elsa.

The 検死官, too, seemed inclined to disbelieve the 現在の 証言，証人／目撃する, and he sat thoughtfully snapping the catch of the 捕らえる、獲得する.

He turned again to 行方不明になる Lloyd. "Having given away your own 捕らえる、獲得する," he said suavely, "you have perhaps 供給するd yourself with another, have you not?"

"Why, no, I 港／避難所't," said Florence Lloyd. "I have been ーするつもりであるing to do so, and shall get one すぐに, but I 港／避難所't yet selected it."

"And in the 合間 you have been getting along without any?"

"A gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する is not an 不可欠の article; I have several 捕らえる、獲得するs of other styles, and I'm in no especial haste to 購入（する） a new one."

行方不明になる Lloyd's manner had taken on several degrees of hauteur, and her 発言する／表明する was incisive in its トン. 明確に she resented this discussion of her personal 所持品, and as she 完全に repudiated the 所有権 of the 捕らえる、獲得する in the 検死官's 所有／入手, she was annoyed at his questions.

Mr. Monroe looked at her 刻々と.

"If this is not your 捕らえる、獲得する, 行方不明になる Lloyd," he said, with some asperity, "how did it get on Mr. Crawford's desk late last night? The butler has 保証するd me it was not there when he looked in at a little after ten o'clock. Yet this morning it lay there, in plain sight on the desk. Whose 捕らえる、獲得する is it?"

"I have not the slightest idea," said 行方不明になる Lloyd 堅固に; "but, I repeat, it is not 地雷."

"平易な enough to see the 傾向 of Monroe's questions," said Parmalee in my ear. "If he can 証明する this 捕らえる、獲得する to be 行方不明になる Lloyd's, it shows that she was in the office after ten o'clock last night, and this she has 否定するd."

"Don't you believe her?" said I.

"Indeed I don't. Of course she was there, and of course it's her 捕らえる、獲得する. She put that pretty maid of hers up to 否定する it, but any one could see the maid was lying, also."

"Oh, come now, Parmalee, that's too bad! You've no 権利 to say such things!"

"Oh, pshaw! you think the same yourself, only you think it isn't chivalrous to put it into words."

Of course what annoyed me in Parmalee's speech was its inherent truth. I didn't believe Florence Lloyd. Much as I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to, I couldn't; for the 外見, manner and words of both women were not such as to 奮起させる belief in their hearers.

If she and Elsa were in collusion to 否定する her 所有権 of the 捕らえる、獲得する, it would be hard to 証明する the contrary, for the men-servants could not be supposed to know, and I had no 疑問 Mrs. Pierce would 証言する as 行方不明になる Lloyd did on any 事柄.

I was sorry not to put more 信用／信任 in the truth of the 証言 I was 審理，公聴会, but I am, perhaps, 懐疑的な by nature. And, too, if Florence Lloyd were in any way 巻き込むd in the death of her uncle, I felt pretty sure she would not hesitate at untruth.

Her marvellous magnetism attracted me 堅固に, but it did not blind me to the strength of her nature. While I could not, as yet, believe her in any way 巻き込むd in the death of her uncle, I was fully 納得させるd she knew more 関心ing it than she had told and I knew, unless 軍隊d to, she would not tell what she 願望（する）d to keep secret.

My sympathy, of course, was with her, but my 義務 was plain. As a 探偵，刑事, I must 調査／捜査する 公正に／かなり, or give up the 事例／患者.

At this juncture, I knew the point at 問題／発行する was the presence of 行方不明になる Lloyd in the office last night, and the two yellow rose petals I had 選ぶd up on the 床に打ち倒す might 証明する a 手がかり（を与える）.

At any 率 it was my 義務 to 調査／捜査する the point, so taking a card from my pocket I wrote upon it: "Find out if 行方不明になる Lloyd wore any flowers last evening, and what 肉親，親類d."

I passed this over to Mr. Monroe, and rather enjoyed seeing his mystification as he read it.

To my surprise he did not question Florence Lloyd すぐに, but turned again to the maid.

"At what time did your mistress go to her room last evening?"

"At about ten o'clock, sir. I was waiting there for her, and so I am sure."

"Did she at once retire?"

"No, sir. She changed her evening gown for a teagown, and then said she would sit up for an hour or so and 令状 letters, and I needn't wait."

"You left her then?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did 行方不明になる Lloyd wear any flowers at dinner last evening?"

"No, sir. There were no guests—only the family."

"Ah, やめる so. But did she, by chance, pin on any flowers after she went to her room?"

"Why, yes, sir; she did. A box of roses had come for her by a messenger, and when she 設立する them in her room, she pinned one on the lace of her teagown."

"Yes? And what time did the flowers arrive?"

"While 行方不明になる Lloyd was at dinner, sir. I took them from the box and put them in water, sir."

"And what sort of flowers were they?"

"Yellow roses, sir."

"That will do, Elsa. You are excused."

The girl looked bewildered, and a little embarrassed as she returned to her place の中で the other servants, and 行方不明になる Lloyd looked a little bewildered also.

But then, for that 事柄, no 団体／死体 understood the 推論する／理由 for the questions about the flowers, and though most of the 陪審／陪審員団 単に looked preternaturally wise on the 支配する, Mr. Orville scribbled it all 負かす／撃墜する in his little 調書をとる／予約する. I was now glad to see the man keep up his indefatigable 公式文書，認める-taking. If the reporters or stenographers 行方不明になるd any points, I could surely get them from him.

But from the 産業 with which he wrote, I began to think he must be composing an (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する 論題／論文 on yellow roses and their habits.

Mr. Porter, looking 大いに puzzled, 観察するd to the 検死官, "I have listened to your 調査s with 利益／興味; and I would like to know what, if any, special importance is 大（公）使館員d to this 支配する of yellow roses."

"I'm not able to tell you," replied Mr. Monroe. "I asked these questions at the instigation of another, who doubtless has some good 推論する／理由 for them, which he will explain in 予定 time."

Mr. Porter seemed 満足させるd with this, and I nodded my 長，率いる at the 検死官, as if bidding him to proceed.

But if I had been surprised before at the all but spoken 知能 which passed between the two servants, Elsa and Louis, I was more amazed now. They 発射 早い ちらりと見ることs at each other, which were evidently 十分な of meaning to themselves. Elsa was deathly white, her lips trembled, and she looked at the Frenchman as if in terror of her life. But though he ちらりと見ることd at her meaningly, now and then, Louis's 苦悩 seemed to me to be more for Florence Lloyd than for her maid.

But now the 検死官 was talking very 厳粛に to 行方不明になる Lloyd.

"Do you 確認する," he was 説, "the 声明s of your maid about the flowers that were sent you last evening?"

"I do," she replied.

"From whom did they come?"

"From Mr. Hall."

"Mr. Hall," said, the 検死官, turning toward the young man, "how could you send flowers to 行方不明になる Lloyd last evening if you were in New York City?"

"Easily," was the 冷静な／正味の reply. "I left Sedgwick on the six o'clock train. On my way to the 駅／配置する I stopped at a florist's and ordered some roses sent to 行方不明になる Lloyd. If they did not arrive until she was at dinner, they were not sent すぐに, as the florist 約束d."

"When did you receive them, 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"They were in my room when I event up there at about ten o'clock last evening," she replied, and her 直面する showed her wonderment at these explicit questions.

The 検死官's 直面する showed almost as much wonderment, and I said: "Perhaps, Mr. Monroe, I may ask a few questions 権利 here."

"Certainly," he replied.

And thus it was, for the first time in my life, I 直接／まっすぐに 演説（する）／住所d Florence Lloyd.

"When you went up to your room at ten o'clock, the flowers were there?" I asked, and I felt a most uncomfortable 続けざまに猛撃するing at my heart because of the 罠（にかける） I was deliberately laying for her. But it had to be done, and even as I spoke, I experienced a glad 現実化, that if she were innocent, my questions could do her no 害（を与える）.

"Yes," she repeated, and for the first time 好意d me with a look of 利益／興味. I 疑問 if she knew my 指名する or scarcely knew why I was there.

"And you pinned one on your gown?"

"I tucked it in の中で the laces at my throat, yes."

"行方不明になる Lloyd, do you still 固執する in 説 you did not go 負かす／撃墜する-stairs again, to your uncle's office?"

"I did not," she repeated, but she turned white, and her 発言する／表明する was 不十分な more than a whisper.

"Then," said I, "how did two petals of a yellow rose happen to be on the 床に打ち倒す in the office this morning?"

VII
Yellow Roses

If any one 推定する／予想するd to see 行方不明になる Lloyd faint or 崩壊（する） at this 危機 he must have been disappointed, and as I had confidently 推定する／予想するd such a scene, I was 完全に surprised at her quick 回復 of self-所有／入手.

For an instant she had seemed stunned by my question, and her 注目する，もくろむs had wandered ばく然と 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room, as if in a vain search for help.

Her ちらりと見ること returned to me, and in that instant I gave her an answering look, which, やめる involuntarily on my part, meant a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な and serious 申し込む／申し出 of my best and bravest 成果／努力s in her に代わって. Disingenuous she might be, untruthful she might be, yes, even a 犯罪の she might be, but in any 事例／患者 I was her sworn 同盟（する） forever. Not that I meant to 敗北・負かす the ends of 司法（官）, but I was ready to fight for her or with her, until 司法（官） should 敗北・負かす us. Of course she didn't know all this, though I couldn't help hoping she read a little of it as my 注目する，もくろむs looked into hers. If so, she 認めるd it only by a swift 撤退 of her own ちらりと見ること. Again she looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at her さまざまな friends.

Then her 注目する，もくろむs 残り／休憩（する）d on Gregory Hall, and, though he gave her no responsive ちらりと見ること, for some 推論する／理由 her 宙に浮く returned like a flash. It was as if she had been invigorated by a 冷淡な douche.

決意 公正に／かなり shone in her dark 注目する，もくろむs, and her mouth showed a more decided line than I had yet seen in its red curves, as with a 冷淡な, almost hard 発言する／表明する she replied,

"I have no idea. We have many flowers in the house, always."

"But I have learned from the servants that there were no other yellow roses in the house yesterday."

行方不明になる Lloyd was not hesitant now. She replied quickly, and it was with an almost eager haste that she said,

"Then I can only imagine that my uncle had some lady 訪問者 in his office late last evening."

The girl's mood had changed utterly; her トン was almost flippant, and more than one of the 賠審員s looked at her in wonderment.

Mr. Porter, 特に, cast an her a ちらりと見ること of fatherly solicitude, and I was sure that he felt, as I did, that the 緊張する was becoming too much for her.

"I don't think you やめる mean that, Florence," he said; "you and I knew your uncle too 井戸／弁護士席 to say such things."

But the girl made no reply, and her beautiful mouth took on a hard line.

"It is not an impossible conjecture," said Philip Crawford thoughtfully. "If the 捕らえる、獲得する does not belong to Florence, what more probable than that it was left by its feminine owner? The same lady might have worn or carried yellow roses."

Perhaps it was because of my own 願望（する） to help her that these other men had joined their 成果／努力s to 地雷 to 緩和する the way as much as possible.

The 検死官 looked a little uncomfortable, for he began to 公式文書，認める the tide of sympathy turning toward the troubled girl.

"Yellow roses do not やむを得ず 暗示する a lady 訪問者," he said, rather more kindly. "A man in evening dress might have worn one."

To his evident surprise, 同様に as to my own, this 発言／述べる, ーするつもりであるd to be soothing, had やめる the opposite 影響.

"That is not at all probable," said 行方不明になる Lloyd やめる 怒って. "Mr. Porter was in the office last evening; if he was wearing a yellow rose at the time, let him say so."

"I was not," said Mr. Porter 静かに, but looking amazed at the sudden 爆発 of the girl.

"Of course you weren't!" 行方不明になる Lloyd went on, still in the same excited way. "Men don't wear roses nowadays, except perhaps at a ball; and, anyway, the gold 捕らえる、獲得する surely 暗示するs that a woman was there!"

"It seems to," said Mr. Monroe; and then, unable longer to keep up her 勇敢に立ち向かう 抵抗, Florence Lloyd fainted.

Mrs. Pierce wrung her 手渡すs and moaned in a helpless fashion. Elsa started 今後 to …に出席する her young mistress, but it was the two neighbors who were 賠審員s, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter, who carried the unconscious girl from the room.

Gregory Hall looked 関心d, but made no movement to 援助（する）, and I marvelled afresh at such strange 活動／戦闘s in a man betrothed to a 特に beautiful woman.

Several women in the audience hurried from the room, and in a few moments the two 賠審員s returned.

"行方不明になる Lloyd will soon be all 権利, I think," said Mr. Porter to the 検死官. "My wife is with her, and one or two other ladies. I think we may proceed with our work here."

There was something about Mr. Lemuel Porter that made men 受託する his dictum, and without その上の 発言／述べる Mr. Monroe called the next 証言，証人／目撃する, Mr. Roswell Randolph, and a tall man, with an 知識人 直面する, （機の）カム 今後.

While the 検死官 was putting the formal and 予選 questions to Mr. Randolph, Parmalee 静かに drew my attention to a whispered conversation going on between Elsa and Louis.

If this girl had fainted instead of 行方不明になる Lloyd, I should not have been surprised for she seemed on the very 瀬戸際 of nervous 崩壊（する）. She seemed, too, to be 告発する／非難するing the man of something, which he vigorously 否定するd. The girl 利益／興味d me far more than the Frenchman. Though of the simple, rosy-cheeked type of German, she had an 空気／公表する of canniness and subtlety that was at variance with her naive 影響. I soon 結論するd she was far more clever than most people thought, and Parmalee's whispered words showed that he thought so too.

"Something doing in the 事例／患者 of Dutch Elsa, eh?" he said; "she and Johnny Frenchy have cooked up something between them."

"Nothing of any importance, I fancy," I returned, for 行方不明になる Lloyd's swoon seemed to me a 降伏する, and I had little hope now of any other direction in which to look.

But I 再開するd my attention to the 検死官's 調査s of Mr. Randolph.

In answer to a few formal questions, he 明言する／公表するd that he had been Mr. Crawford's 合法的な 助言者 for many years, and had entire 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of all such 事柄s as 要求するd 合法的な attention.

"Did you draw up the late Mr. Crawford's will?" asked the 検死官.

"Yes; after the death of his wife—about twelve years ago."

"And what were the 条件 of that will?"

"Except for some minor bequests, the 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of his fortune was bequeathed to 行方不明になる Florence Lloyd."

"Have you changed that will in any way, or drawn a later one?"

"No."

It was by the merest chance that I was looking at Gregory Hall, as the lawyer gave this answer.

It 要求するd no 罰金 perception to understand the look of 救済 and delight that 公正に／かなり flooded his countenance. To be sure, it was quickly 抑えるd, and his former mask of 無関心／冷淡 and 最大の関心事 assumed, but I knew 同様に as if he had put it into words, that he had trembled lest 行方不明になる Lloyd had been disinherited before her uncle had met his death in the night.

This gave me many new thoughts, but before I could 明確に表す them, I heard the 検死官 going an with his questions.

"Did Mr. Crawford visit you last evening?"

"Yes; he was at my house for perhaps half an hour or more between eight and nine o'clock."

"Did he 言及する to the 支配する of changing his will?"

"He did. That was his errand. He distinctly 明言する／公表するd his 意向 of making a new will, and asked me to come to his office this morning and draw up the 器具."

"But as that cannot now be done, the will in 好意 of 行方不明になる Lloyd still stands?"

"It does," said Mr. Randolph, "and I am glad of it. 行方不明になる Lloyd has been brought up to look upon this 相続物件 as her own, and while I would have used no undue 強調, I should have tried to dissuade Mr. Crawford from changing his will."

"But before we consider the fortune or the will, we must proceed with our 仕事 of bringing to light the 殺害者, and avenging Mr. Crawford's death."

"I 信用 you will do so, Mr. 検死官, and that speedily. But I may say, if allowable, that you are on the wrong 跡をつける when you 許す your 疑惑s to tend に向かって Florence Lloyd."

"As your opinion, Mr. Randolph, of course that 感情 has some 負わせる, but as a man of 法律, yourself, you must know that such an opinion must be 証明するd before it can be really conclusive."

"Yes, of course," said Mr. Randolph, with a 深い sigh. "But let me beg of you to look その上の in search of other 指示，表示する物s before you 圧力（をかける） too hard upon 行方不明になる Lloyd with the seeming 手がかり（を与える）s you now have."

I liked Mr. Randolph very much. Indeed it seemed to me that the men of West Sedgwick were of a 罰金 class as to both intellect and judgment, and though 検死官 Monroe was not a brilliant man, I began to realize that he had some 英貨の／純銀の 質s and was distinctly just and fair in his 決定／判定勝ち（する）s.

As for Gregory Hall, he seemed like a man 解放する／自由な from a 広大な／多数の／重要な 苦悩. Though still 静める and reserved in 外見, he was いっそう少なく nervous, and 静かに を待つd その上の 開発s. His 態度 was not hard to understand. Mr. Crawford had 反対するd to his 長官's 約束／交戦 to his niece, and now Mr. Crawford's 反対s could no longer 事柄. Again, it was not surprising that Mr. Hall should be glad to learn that his fiancee was the heiress she had supposed herself to he. Even though he were marrying the girl 簡単に for love of her, a large fortune in 新規加入 was by no means to be despised. At any 率, I 結論するd that Gregory Hall thought so.

As often happened, Parmalee read my thoughts. "A fortune-hunter," he murmured, with a meaning ちらりと見ること at Hall.

I remembered that Mr. Carstairs, at the inn had said the same thing, and I 完全に believed it myself.

"Has he any means of his own?"

"No," said Parmalee, "except his salary, which was a good one from Mr. Crawford, but of course he's lost that now."

"I don't feel drawn toward him. I suppose one would call him a gentleman and yet he isn't manly."

"He's a cad," 宣言するd Parmalee; "any fortune hunter is a cad, and I despise him."

Although I tried to 持つ／拘留する my mind impartially open regarding Mr. Hall, I was conscious of an inclination to despise him myself. But I was also honest enough to realize that my 主要な／長／主犯 推論する／理由 for despising him was because he had won the 手渡す of Florence Lloyd.

I heard 検死官 Monroe draw a long sigh.

明確に, the man was becoming more and more apprehensive, and really dreaded to go on with the 訴訟／進行s, because he was fearful of what might be 公表する／暴露するd その為に.

The gold 捕らえる、獲得する still lay on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する before him; the yellow rose petals were not yet satisfactorily accounted for; 行方不明になる Lloyd's agitation and sudden loss of consciousness, though not surprising in the circumstances, were a point in her disfavor. And now the 発覚 that Mr. Crawford was 現実に on the point of disinheriting his niece made it impossible to ignore the obvious 関係 between that fact and the event of the night.

But no one had put the thought into words, and 非，不，無 seemed inclined to.

Mechanically, Mr. Monroe called the next 証言，証人／目撃する on his 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）, and Mrs. Pierce answered.

For some 推論する／理由 she chose to stand during her interview, and as she rose, I realized that she was a prim little personage, but of such a decided nature that she might have been stigmatized by the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 stubborn. I had seen such women before; of a 確かな soft, outward 影響, 明らかに pliable and amenable, but in reality, 深い, shrewd and clever.

And yet she was not strong, for the 状況／情勢 in which she 設立する herself made her trembling and unstrung.

When asked by the 検死官 to tell her own story of the events of the evening before, she begged that he would question her instead.

Desirous of making it as 平易な for her as possible, Mr. Monroe acceded to her wishes, and put his questions in a kindly and conversational トン.

"You were at dinner last night, with 行方不明になる Lloyd and Mr. Crawford?"

"Yes," was the almost inaudible reply, and Mrs. Pierce seemed about to break 負かす／撃墜する at the sad recollection.

"You heard the argument between Mr. Crawford and his niece at the dinner （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する?"

"Yes."

"This resulted in high words on both 味方するs?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I don't know 正確に／まさに what you mean by high words. Mr. Crawford rarely lost his temper and Florence never."

"What then did Mr. Crawford say in regard to disinheriting 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"Mr. Crawford said 明確に, but without 頼みの綱 to what may be called high words, that unless Florence would 同意 to break her 約束／交戦 he would 削減（する） her off with a shilling."

"Did he use that 表現?"

"He did at first, when he was speaking more lightly; then when Florence 辞退するd to do as he wished he said he would go that very evening to Mr. Randolph's and have a new will made which should disinherit Florence, except for a small annuity."

"And what did 行方不明になる Lloyd reply to this 脅し?" asked the 検死官.

"She said," replied Mrs. Pierce, in her plaintive トンs, "that her uncle might do as he chose about that; but she would never give up Mr. Hall."

At this moment Gregory Hall looked more manly than I had yet seen him.

Though he modestly dropped his 注目する，もくろむs at this tacit 尊敬の印 to his worthiness, yet he squared his shoulders, and showed a 正当と認められる pride in the love thus evinced for him.

"Was the 支配する discussed その上の?" 追求するd the 検死官.

"No; nothing more was said about it after that."

"Will the making of a new will by Mr. Crawfard 影響する／感情 yourself in any way, Mrs. Pierce?"

"No," she replied, "Mr. Crawford left me a small bequest in his earlier will and I had 推論する／理由 to think he would do the same in a later will, even though he changed his 意向s regarding Florence."

"行方不明になる Lloyd 完全に believed that he ーするつもりであるd to carry out his 脅し last evening?"

"She didn't say so to me, but Mr. Crawford spoke so decidedly on the 事柄, that I think both she and I believed he was really going to carry out his 脅し at last."

"When Mr. Crawford left the house, did you and 行方不明になる Lloyd know where he was going?"

"We knew no more than he had said at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. He said nothing when he went away."

"How did you and 行方不明になる Lloyd spend the 残りの人，物 of the evening?"

"It was but a short evening. We sat in the music-room for a time, but at about ten o'clock we both went up to our rooms."

"Had Mr. Crawford returned then?"

"Yes, he （機の）カム in perhaps an hour earlier. We heard him come in at the 前線 door, and go at once to his office."

"You did not see him, or speak to him?"

"We did not. He had a 報知係 during the evening. It was Mr. Porter, I have since learned."

"Did 行方不明になる Lloyd 表明する no 利益／興味 as to whether he had changed his will or not?"

"行方不明になる Lloyd didn't について言及する the will, or her 約束／交戦, to me at all. We talked 完全に of other 事柄s."

"Was 行方不明になる Lloyd in her usual mood or spirits?"

"She seemed a little 静かな, but not at all what you might call worried."

"Was not this strange when she was fully 推定する／予想するing to be 奪うd of her entire fortune?"

"It was not strange for 行方不明になる Lloyd. She rarely 会談 of her own 事件／事情／状勢s. We spent an evening 類似の in all 尊敬（する）・点s to our usual evening when we do not have guests."

"And you both went upstairs at ten. Was that 異常に 早期に for you?"

"井戸／弁護士席, unless we have guests, we often go at ten or half-past ten."

"And did you see 行方不明になる Lloyd again that night?"

"Yes; about half an hour later, I went to her room for a 調書をとる／予約する I 手配中の，お尋ね者."

"行方不明になる Lloyd had not retired?"

"No; she asked me to sit 負かす／撃墜する for awhile and 雑談（する）."

"Did you do so?"

"Only for a few moments. I was 利益／興味d in the 調書をとる／予約する I had come for, and I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to take it away to my own room to read."

"And 行方不明になる Lloyd, then, did not seem dispirited or in any way in an unusual mood?"

"Not that I noticed. I wasn't quizzing her or looking into her 注目する，もくろむs to see what her thoughts were, for it didn't occur to me to do so. I knew her uncle had dealt her a 厳しい blow, but as she didn't open the 支配する, of course I couldn't discuss it with her. But I did think perhaps she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be by herself to consider the 事柄, and that was one 推論する／理由 why I didn't stay and 雑談（する） as she had asked me to."

"Perhaps she really 手配中の，お尋ね者 to discuss the 事柄 with you."

"Perhaps she did; but in that 事例／患者 she should have said so. Florence knows 井戸／弁護士席 enough that I am always ready to discuss or sympathize with her in any 事柄, but I never obtrude my opinions. So as she said nothing to lead me to think she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to talk to me 特に, I said good-night to her."

VIII
その上の 調査

"Did you happen to notice, Mrs. Pierce, whether 行方不明になる Lloyd was wearing a yellow rose when you saw her in her room?"

Mrs. Pierce hesitated. She looked decidedly embarrassed, and seemed disinclined to answer. But she might have known that to hesitate and show 当惑 was almost 同等（の） to an affirmative answer to the 検死官's question. At last she replied,

"I don't know; I didn't notice."

This might have been a true 声明, but I think no one in the room believed it. The 検死官 tried again.

"Try to think, Mrs. Pierce. It is important that we should know if 行方不明になる Lloyd was wearing a yellow rose."

"Yes," ゆらめくd out Mrs. Pierce 怒って, "so that you can 証明する she went 負かす／撃墜する to her uncle's office later and dropped a piece of her rose there! But I tell you I don't remember whether she was wearing a rose or not, and it wouldn't 事柄 if she had on forty roses! If Florence Lloyd says she didn't go 負かす／撃墜する-stairs, she didn't."

"I think we all believe in 行方不明になる Lloyd's veracity," said Mr. Monroe, "but it is necessary to discover where those rose petals in the library （機の）カム from. You saw the flowers in her room, Mrs. Pierce?"

"Yes, I believe I did. But I paid no attention to them, as Florence nearly always has flowers in her room."

"Would you have heard 行方不明になる Lloyd if she had gone 負かす／撃墜する-stairs after you left her?"

"I don't know," said Mrs. Pierce, doubtfully.

"Is your room next to hers?"

"No, not next."

"Is it on the same 回廊（地帯）?"

"No."

"Around a corner?"

"Yes."

"And at some distance?"

"Yes." Mrs. Pierce's answers became more hesitating as she saw the drift of Mr. Monroe's questions. 明確に, she was trying to 保護物，者 Florence, if necessary, at the expense of actual truthfulness.

"Then," went on Mr. Monroe, inexorably, "I understand you to say that you think you would have heard 行方不明になる Lloyd, had she gone 負かす／撃墜する-stairs, although your room is at a distance and around a corner and the hall and stairs are thickly carpeted. Unless you were listening 特に, Mrs. Pierce, I think you would scarcely have heard her descend."

"井戸／弁護士席, as she didn't go 負かす／撃墜する, of course I didn't hear her," snapped Mrs. Pierce, with the feminine way of settling an argument by an unprovable 声明.

Mr. Monroe began on another tack.

"When you went to 行方不明になる Lloyd's room," he said, "was the maid, Elsa, there?"

"行方不明になる Lloyd had just 解任するd her for the night."

"What was 行方不明になる Lloyd doing when you went to her room?"

"She was looking over some gowns that she 提案するd sending to the cleaner's."

The 検死官 公正に／かなり jumped. He remembered the newspaper clipping of a cleaner's 宣伝, which was even now in the gold 捕らえる、獲得する before him. Though all the 賠審員s had seen it, it had not been referred to in the presence of the women.

回復するing himself at once, he said 静かに "Was not that rather work for 行方不明になる Lloyd's maid?"

"Oh, Elsa would pack and send them, of course," said Mrs. Pierce carelessly. "行方不明になる Lloyd was 単に deciding which ones needed きれいにする."

"Do you know where they were to be sent?"

Mrs. Pierce looked a little surprised at this question.

"行方不明になる Lloyd always sends her things to Carter & Brown's," she said.

Now, Carter & Brown was the 会社／堅い 指名する on the 宣伝, and it was evident at once that the 検死官 considered this a 損失ing admission.

He sat looking 大いに troubled, but before he spoke again, Mr. Parmalee made an 観察 that decidedly raised that young man in my estimation.

"井戸／弁護士席," he said, "that's pretty good proof that the gold 捕らえる、獲得する doesn't belong to 行方不明になる Lloyd."

"How so?" asked the 検死官, who had thought やめる the contrary.

"Why, if 行方不明になる Lloyd always sends her goods to be cleaned to Carter & Brown, why would she need to 削減（する） their 演説（する）／住所 from a newspaper and save it?"

At first I thought the young man's deduction distinctly clever, but on second thought I wasn't so sure. 行方不明になる Lloyd might have 手配中の，お尋ね者 that 演説（する）／住所 for a dozen good 推論する／理由s. To my mind, it 証明するd neither her 所有権 of the gold 捕らえる、獲得する, nor the contrary.

In fact, I thought the most important 指示，表示する物 that the 捕らえる、獲得する might be hers lay in the story Elsa told about the cousin who sailed to Germany. Somehow that sounded untrue to me, but I was more than willing to believe it if I could.

I longed for Fleming 石／投石する, who, I felt sure, could learn from the 捕らえる、獲得する and its contents the whole truth about the 罪，犯罪 and the 犯罪の.

But I had been called to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 事例／患者, and my pride forbade me to call on any one for help.

I had 軽蔑（する）d deductions from inanimate 反対するs, but I 解決するd to 熟考する／考慮する that 捕らえる、獲得する again, and 熟考する／考慮する it more minutely. Perhaps there were some threads or shreds caught in its meshes that might point to its owner. I remembered a 探偵，刑事 story I read once, in which the whole 発見 of the 犯罪の depended on identifying a few dark blue woollen threads which were 設立する in a small pool of candle grease on a veranda roof. As it turned out, they were from the trouser 膝 of a man who had knelt there to open a window. The 特許 absurdity of leaving threads from one's trouser 膝, amused me very much, but the 融通するing 犯罪のs in fiction almost always leave threads or shreds behind them. And surely a gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する, with its thousands of links would be a 罰金 罠（にかける） to catch some threads of 証拠, however minute they might be.

その上に I decided to 調査（する） その上の into that yellow rose 商売／仕事. I was not at all sure that those petals I 設立する on the 床に打ち倒す had anything to do with 行方不明になる Lloyd's roses, but it must be a question possible of 解決／入植地, if I went about it in the 権利 way. At any 率, though I had 限定された work ahead of me, my 義務 just now was to listen to the 来たるべき 証拠, though I could not help thinking I could have put questions more to the point than Mr. Monroe did.

Of course the 検死官's 検死 was not 正式に 行為／行うd as a 裁判，公判 by 陪審／陪審員団 would be, and so any one spoke, if he chose, and the 検死官 seemed really glad when suggestions were 申し込む／申し出d him.

At this point Philip Crawford rose.

"It is impossible," he said, "not to see whither these questions are tending. But you are on the wrong tack, Mr. 検死官. No 事柄 how 証拠 may seem to point toward Florence Lloyd's 協会 with this 罪，犯罪, it is only seeming. That gold 捕らえる、獲得する might have been hers and it might not. But if she says it isn't, why, then it isn't! Notwithstanding the 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s between my brother and his niece, there is not the 影をつくる／尾行する of a 可能性 that the young woman is 巻き込むd in the slightest degree, and the sooner you leave her 指名する out of consideration, and turn your search into other channels, the sooner you will find the real 犯罪の."

It was not so much the words of Philip Crawford, as the sincere way in which they were spoken, that impressed me. Surely he was 権利; surely this beautiful girl was neither 主要な／長／主犯 nor 従犯者 in the awful 罪，犯罪 which, by a strange coincidence, gave to her her fortune and her lover.

"Mr. Crawford's 権利," said Lemuel Porter. "If this 陪審／陪審員団 許すs itself to be misled by a gold purse and two petals of a yellow rose, we are unworthy to sit on this 事例／患者. Why, Mr. 検死官, the long French windows in the office were open, or, at least, unfastened all through the night. We have that from the butler's 証言. He didn't lock them last night; they were 設立する 打ち明けるd this morning. Therefore, I 持つ／拘留する that an 侵入者, either man or woman, may have come in during the night, 遂行するd the 致命的な 行為, and 出発／死d without any one 存在 the wiser. That this 侵入者 was a woman, is 証拠d by the 捕らえる、獲得する she left behind her. For, as Mr. Crawford has said, if 行方不明になる Lloyd 否定するs the 所有権 of that 捕らえる、獲得する, it is not hers."

After all, these 宣言s were proof, of a sort. If Mr. Porter and Mr. Philip Crawford, who had known Florence Lloyd for years, spoke thus 前向きに／確かに of her innocence, it could not be 疑問d.

And then the 発言する／表明する of Parmalee again sounded in my ears.

"Of course Mr. Porter and Mr. Crawford would stand up for 行方不明になる Lloyd; it would be strange if they didn't. And of course, Mrs. Pierce will do all she can to コースを変える 疑惑. But the 証拠s are against her."

"They only seem to be," I 訂正するd. "Until we 証明する the gold 捕らえる、獲得する and the yellow rose to be hers; there is no 証拠 against her at all."

"She also had 動機 and 適切な時期. Those two points are of やめる as much importance as 証拠."

"She had 動機 and 適切な時期," I agreed, "but they were not 排除的. As Mr. Porter pointed out, the open windows gave 適切な時期 that was world wide; and as to 動機, how are we to know who had or who hadn't it."

"You're 権利, I suppose. Perhaps I am too 肯定的な of 行方不明になる Lloyd's 関わりあい／含蓄 in the 事柄, but I'm やめる willing to be 納得させるd to the contrary."

The 発言／述べるs of Mr. Parmalee were of course not audible to any one save myself. But the speeches which had been made by Mr. Crawford and Mr. Porter, and which, strange to say, 量d to an （被告の）罪状否認 and a vindication almost in the same breath, had a decided 影響 upon the 議会.

Mrs. Pierce began to weep silently. Gregory Hall looked startled, as if the mere idea of 行方不明になる Lloyd's 関わりあい／含蓄 was a new thought to him. Lawyer Randolph looked かなり 乱すd, and I at once 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that his 合法的な mind would not 許す him to place too much dependence on the 声明s of the girl's 同情的な friends.

Mr. Hamilton, another of the 賠審員s whom I liked, seemed to be thoughtfully 重さを計るing the 証拠. He was not so 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with 行方不明になる Lloyd as the two men who had just spoken in her に代わって, and he made a 発言／述べる somewhat diffidently.

"I agree," he said, "with the 感情s just 表明するd; but I also think that we should 努力する to find some その上の 手がかり（を与える）s or 証拠. Had Mr. Crawford any enemies who would come at night to kill him? Or are there any 価値のあるs 行方不明の? Could 強盗 have been the 動機?"

"It does not seem so," replied the 検死官. "Nothing is known to be 行方不明の. Mr. Crawford's watch and pocket money were not 乱すd."

"The absence of the 武器 is a strange factor in the 事例／患者," put in Mr. Orville, 明らかに desirous of having his 発言する／表明する heard as 井戸／弁護士席 as those of the other 賠審員s.

"Yes," agreed Mr. Monroe; "and yet it is not strange that the 犯罪の carried away with him what might have been a proof of his 身元."

"Does 行方不明になる Lloyd own a ピストル?" blurted out Mr. Parmalee.

Gregory Hall gave him an indignant look, but 検死官 Monroe seemed rather glad to have the question raised—probably so that it could be settle at once in the 消極的な.

And it was.

"No," replied Mrs. Pierce, when the query was put to her. "Both Florence and I are 猛烈に afraid of 小火器. We wouldn't dream of owning a ピストル—either of us."

Of course, this was 重要な, but in no way 決定的な. 認めるing that 行方不明になる Lloyd could have been the 犯罪の, it would have been possible for her 内密に to procure a revolver, and 内密に to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of it afterward. Then, too, a small revolver had been used. To be sure, this did not やむを得ず 暗示する that a woman had used it, but, taken in 関係 with the 捕らえる、獲得する and the rose petals, it gave food for thought.

But the 検死官 seemed to think Mrs. Pierce's 主張s 大いに in 行方不明になる Lloyd's 好意, and, 存在 at the end of his 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of 証言，証人／目撃するs, he 問い合わせd if any one else in the room knew of anything that could throw light on the 事柄.

No one 答える／応じるd to this 招待, and the 検死官 then directed the 陪審／陪審員団 to retire to find a 判決. The six men passed into another room, and I think no one who を待つd their return apprehended any other result than the somewhat unsatisfactory one of "person or persons unknown."

And this was what the foreman 発表するd when the 陪審／陪審員団 returned after their short collocation.

Then, as a 陪審／陪審員団, they were 解任するd, but from that moment the mystery of Joseph Crawford's death became the 吸収するing thought of all West Sedgwick.

"The 殺害者 of my brother shall be 設立する and brought to 司法（官）!" 宣言するd Philip Crawford, and all 現在の seemed to echo his 公約する.

Then and there, Mr. Crawford 保持するd Lawyer Randolph to help him in running 負かす／撃墜する the villain, and, turning to me, asked to engage my services also.

To this, I readily agreed, for I 大いに 願望（する）d to go on with the 事柄, and cared little whether I worked for an individual or for the 明言する／公表する.

Of course Mr. Crawford's 決意 to find the 殺害者 証明するd もう一度 his 有罪の判決 that Florence Lloyd was above all 疑惑, but in the 直面する of 確かな 詳細（に述べる）s of the 証拠 so far, I could not feel so 絶対 確かな of this.

However, it was my 商売／仕事 to follow up every 手がかり（を与える）, or 明らかな 手がかり（を与える）, and every bit of 証拠, and this I made up my mind to do, 関わりなく consequences.

I 自白する it was difficult for me to feel 関わりなく consequences, for I had a haunting 恐れる that the 未来 was going to look dark for Florence Lloyd. And if it should be 証明するd that she was in any way 責任がある or 従犯者 to this 罪，犯罪, I knew I should wish I had had nothing to do with discovering that fact. But 支援する of this was an undefined but insistent 有罪の判決 that the girl was innocent, and that I could 証明する it. This may have been an inordinate 約束 in my own 力／強力にするs, or it may have been a hope born of my 賞賛 for the young woman herself. For there is no 疑問, that for the first time in my life I was taking a serious 利益／興味 in a woman's personality. Heretofore I had been a general admirer of womankind, and I had 自然に 扱う／治療するd them all with chivalry and 尊敬（する）・点. But now I had met one whom I 願望（する）d to 扱う／治療する in a far tenderer way, and to my chagrin I realized that I had no 権利 to entertain such thoughts toward a girl already betrothed.

So I 結論するd to try my best to leave Florence Lloyd's personality out of the question, to leave my feelings toward her out of the question, and to 充てる my energies to real work on the 事例／患者 and 証明する by intelligent 成果／努力 that I could learn facts from 証拠 without 訴える手段／行楽地ing to the microscopic methods of Fleming 石／投石する. I purposely ignored the fact that I would have been only too glad to use these methods had I the 力／強力にする to do so!

IX
The Twelfth Rose

For the next day or two the Crawford house 現在のd the 外見 usual in any home during the days すぐに 先行する a funeral.

By tacit 同意, all 言及／関連 to the 暴力／激しさ of Mr. Crawford's death was 避けるd, and a rigorous 形式順守 was the 基本方針 of all the 儀式s. The servants were garbed in 訂正する 嘆く／悼むing, the ladies of the house 辞退するd to see anybody, and all personal 報知係s were met by Philip Crawford or his wife, while 商売／仕事 知識s were received by Gregory Hall.

As 私的な 長官, of course Mr. Hall was in 十分な 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of Mr. Crawford's papers and personal 影響s. But, in 新規加入 to this, as the 見込みのある husband of the heiress, he was 事実上 the 長，率いる of the house.

He showed no elation or ostentation at this 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s, but carried himself with an 空気／公表する of 静かな dignity, tinged with a suggestion of sadness, which, if 単に 従来の, seemed 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく sincere.

I soon learned that the whole social atmosphere of West Sedgwick was one of extreme 形式順守, and everything was done in 一致 with the most 認可するd 条約s. Therefore, I 設立する I could get no chance for a personal conversation with 行方不明になる Lloyd until after the funeral.

I had, however, more or いっそう少なく talk with Gregory Hall, and as I became 熟知させるd with him, I liked him いっそう少なく.

He was of a 冷淡な and calculating disposition, and when we were alone, he did not hesitate to gloat 率直に over his 有望な prospects.

"Terrible thing, to be put out of 存在 like that," he said, as we sat in Mr. Crawford's office, looking over some papers; "but it solved a big problem for Florence and me. However, we'll be married as soon as we decently can, and then we'll go abroad, and forget the 悲劇の part of it all."

"I suppose you 港／避難所't a 微光 of a 疑惑 as to who did it," I 投機・賭けるd.

"No, I 港／避難所't. Not the faintest notion. But I wish you could find out. Of course, nobody 持つ／拘留するs up that 捕らえる、獲得する 商売／仕事 as against Florence, but—it's uncomfortable all the same. I wish I'd been here that night. I'm 'most sure I'd have heard a 発射, or something."

"Where were you?" I said, in a careless トン.

Hall drew himself up stiffly. "Excuse me," he said. "I 拒絶する／低下するd to answer that question before. Since I was not in West Sedgwick, it can 事柄 to no one where I was."

"Oh, that's all 権利," I returned affably, for I had no 願望（する） to get his ill will. "But of course we 探偵，刑事s have to ask questions. By the way, where did you buy 行方不明になる Lloyd's yellow roses?"

"See here," said Gregory Hall, with a petulant 表現, "I don't want to be questioned. I'm not on the 証言，証人／目撃する-stand, and, as I've told you, I'm uncomfortable already about these いわゆる `手がかり（を与える）s' that seem to 巻き込む 行方不明になる Lloyd. So, if you please, I'll say nothing."

"All 権利," I 答える／応じるd, "just as you like."

I went away from the house, thinking how foolish people could be. I could easily discover where he bought the roses, as there were only three florists' shops in West Sedgwick and I 解決するd to go at once to 追跡（する） up the florist who sold them.

Assuming he would 自然に go to the shop nearest the 鉄道／強行採決する 駅／配置する, and which was also on the way from the Crawford house, I went there first, and 設立する my 仮定／引き受けること 訂正する.

The florist was more than willing to talk on the 支配する.

"Yes, sir," he said; "I sold those roses to Mr. Hall—sold 'em to him myself. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 something extra nice, and I had just a dozen of those big yellow beauties. No, I don't raise my own flowers. I get 'em from the city. And so I had just that dozen, and I sent 'em 権利 up. 井戸／弁護士席, there was some 延期する, for two of my boys were out to supper, and I waited for one to get 支援する."

"And you had no other roses just like these in 在庫／株?"

"No, sir. Hadn't had for a week or more. 港／避難所't any now. May not get any more at all. They're a 不十分な sort, at best, and 特に so this year."

"And you sent 行方不明になる Lloyd the whole dozen?"

"Yes, sir; twelve. I like to put in an extra one or two when I can, but that time I couldn't. There wasn't another rose like them short of New York City."

I thanked the florist, and, guessing that he was not above it, I gave him a more 構成要素 記念品 of my 感謝 for his （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, and then walked slowly 支援する to my room at the inn.

Since there were no other roses of that sort in West Sedgwick that evening, it seemed to me as if Florence Lloyd must have gone 負かす／撃墜する to her uncle's office after having pinned the blossom on her bodice. The only other 可能性 was that some 侵入者 had entered by way of the French window wearing or carrying a 類似の flower, and that this 侵入者 had come from New York, or at least from some place other than West Sedgwick. It was too absurd. 殺害者s don't go about decked with flowers, and yet at midnight a man in evening dress was not impossible, and evening dress might easily 暗示する a boutonniere.

井戸／弁護士席, this 井戸／弁護士席-dressed man I had conjured up in my mind must have come from out of town, or else whence the flower, after all?

And then I bethought myself of that late newspaper. An extra, printed probably as late as eleven o'clock at night, must have been brought out to West Sedgwick by a traveller on some late train. Why not Gregory Hall, himself? I let my imagination run 暴動 for a minute. Mr. Hall 辞退するd to say where he was on the night of the 殺人. Why not assume that he had come out from New York, in evening dress, at or about midnight? This would account for the newspaper and the yellow rose petals, for, if he bought a boutonniere in the city, how probable he would select the same flower he had just sent his fiancee.

I rather fancied the idea of Gregory Hall as the 犯罪の. He had the same 動機 as 行方不明になる Lloyd. He knew of her uncle's 反対 to their union, and his 脅し of disinheritance. How 平易な for him to come out late from New York, on a night when he was not 推定する／予想するd, and 除去する forever the 障害 to his 未来 happiness!

I drew myself up with a start. This was not 探偵，刑事 work. This was mere idle 憶測. I must shake it off, and 始める，決める about collecting some real 証拠.

But the thought still clung to me; mere 憶測 it might be, but it was 設立するd on the same facts that already threw 疑惑 on Florence Lloyd. With the exception of the gold 捕らえる、獲得する—and that she disclaimed—such 証拠 as I knew of pointed toward Mr. Hall 同様に as toward 行方不明になる Lloyd.

However at 現在の I was on the 追跡する of those roses, and I 決定するd to follow that 追跡する to a 限定された end. I went 支援する to the Crawford house and as I did not like to ask for 行方不明になる Lloyd, I asked for Mrs. Pierce.

She （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to the 製図／抽選 room, and 迎える／歓迎するd me rather more cordially than I had dared to hope. I had a feeling that both ladies resented my presence there, for so many women have a prejudice against 探偵，刑事s.

But though nervous and agitated, Mrs. Pierce spoke to me kindly.

"Did you want to see me for anything in particular, Mr. Burroughs?" she asked.

"Yes, I do, Mrs. Pierce," I replied; "I may 同様に tell you 率直に that I want to find out all I can about those yellow roses."

"Oh, those roses! Shall I never hear the last of them? I 保証する you, Mr. Burroughs, they're of no importance whatever."

"That is not for you to decide," I said 静かに, and I began to see that perhaps a 独裁的な 態度 might be the best way to manage this lady. "Are the 残り／休憩（する） of those flowers still in 行方不明になる Lloyd's room? If so I wish to see them."

"I don't know whether they are or not; but I will find out, and if so I'll bring them 負かす／撃墜する."

"No," I said, "I will go with you to see them."

"But Florence may be in her room."

"So much the better. She can tell me anything I wish to know."

"Oh, please don't interview her! I'm sure she wouldn't want to talk with you."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, then ask her to vacate the room, and I will go there with you now."

Mrs. Pierce went away, and I began to wonder if I had gone too far or had overstepped my 当局. But it was surely my 義務 to learn all I could about Florence Lloyd, and what so 約束ing of suggestions as her own room?

Mrs. Pierce returned in a few moments, and affably enough she asked me to …を伴って her to 行方不明になる Lloyd's room.

I did so, and after entering 充てるd my whole attention to the bunch of yellow roses, which in a glass vase stood on the window seat. Although somewhat wilted, they were still beautiful, and without the slightest 疑問 were the 肉親，親類d of rose from which the two tell-tale petals had fallen.

事実上の／代理 upon a sudden thought, I counted them. There were nine, each one seemingly with its 十分な complement of petals, though of this I could not be perfectly 確かな .

"Now, Mrs.—Pierce," I said, turning to her with an 空気／公表する of 当局 which was becoming difficult to 持続する, "where are the roses which 行方不明になる Lloyd 収容する／認めるs having pinned to her gown?"

"Mercy! I don't know," exclaimed Mrs. Pierce, looking bewildered. "I suppose she threw them away."

"I suppose she did," I returned; "would she not be likely to throw them in the waste basket?"

"She might," returned Mrs. Pierce, turning toward an ornate 事件／事情／状勢 of wicker-work and pink 略章s.

Sure enough, in the basket, の中で a few 捨てるs of paper, were two exceedingly withered yellow roses. I 選ぶd them out and 診察するd them, but in their 現在の 明言する／公表する it was impossible to tell whether they had lost any petals or not, so I threw them 支援する in the basket.

Mrs. Pierce seemed to care nothing for 証拠 or deduction in the 事柄, but began to lament the carelessness of the chambermaid who had not emptied the waste basket the day before.

But I 内密に blessed the delinquent servant, and began pondering on this new 開発 of the rose question. The nine roses in the vase and the two in the basket made but eleven, and the florist had told me that he had sent a dozen. Where was the twelfth?

The thought occurred to me that 行方不明になる Lloyd might have put away one as a sentimental souvenir, but to my mind she did not seem the 肉親，親類d of a girl to do that. I knew my 推論する／理由ing was absurd, for what man can predicate what a woman will do? but at the same time I could not seem to imagine the statuesque, 皇室の 行方不明になる Lloyd tenderly 保存するing a rose that her lover had given her.

But might not Gregory Hall have taken one of the dozen for himself before sending the 残り／休憩（する）? This was 単に surmise, but it was a 可能性, and at any 率 the twelfth rose was not in 行方不明になる Lloyd's room.

Therefore the twelfth rose was a factor to be reckoned with, a bit of 証拠 to be 設立する; and I 決定するd to find it.

I asked Mrs. Pierce to arrange for me an interview with 行方不明になる Lloyd, but the 年上の lady seemed doubtful.

"I'm やめる sure she won't see you," she said, "for she has 宣言するd she will see no one until after the funeral. But if you want me to ask her anything for you, I will do so."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席," I said, surprised at her 乗り気; "please ask 行方不明になる Lloyd if she knows what became of the twelfth yellow rose; and beg her to 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる the fact that it is a 決定的な point in the 事例／患者."

Mrs. Pierce agreed to do this, and as I went 負かす／撃墜する the stairs she 約束d to join me in the library a few moments later.

She kept her 約束, and I waited 熱望して her 報告（する）／憶測.

"行方不明になる Lloyd 企て，努力，提案s me tell you," she said, "that she knows nothing of what you call the twelfth rose. She did not count the roses, she 単に took two of them to pin on her dress, and when she retired, she carelessly threw those two in the waste basket. She thinks it probable there were only eleven in the box when it arrived. But at any 率 she knows nothing more of the 事柄."

I thanked Mrs. Pierce for her 儀礼 and patience, and feeling that I now had a real problem to consider, I started 支援する to the inn.

It could not be that this rose 事柄 was of no importance. For the florist had 保証するd me he had sold 正確に／まさに twelve flowers to Mr. Gregory Hall, and of these, I could account for only eleven. The twelfth rose must have been separated from the others, either by Mr. Hall, at the time of 購入（する）, or by some one else later. If the petals 設立する on the 床に打ち倒す fell from that twelfth rose, and if Florence Lloyd spoke the truth when she 宣言するd she knew nothing of it, then she was 解放する／自由な from 疑惑 in that direction.

But until I could make some その上の 成果／努力 to find out about the 行方不明の rose I 結論するd to say nothing of it to anybody. I was not bound to tell Parmalee any points I might discover, for though 同僚s, we were working 独立して of each other.

But as I was anxious to gather any 味方する lights possible, I 決定するd to go for a short 会議／協議会 with the 検察官, in whose 手渡すs the 事例／患者 had been put after the 検死官's 検死.

He was a man 指名するd Goodrich, a 静かな mannered, untalkative person, and as might be 推定する／予想するd he had made little or no 進歩 as yet.

He said nothing could be done until after the funeral and the reading of the will, which 儀式s would occur the next afternoon.

I talked but little to Mr. Goodrich, yet I soon discovered that he 堅固に 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd 行方不明になる Lloyd of the 罪，犯罪, either as 主要な／長／主犯 or 従犯者.

"But I can't believe it," I 反対するd. "A girl, delicately brought up, in 精製するd and luxurious surroundings, does not deliberately commit an atrocious 罪，犯罪."

"A woman 妨害するd in her love 事件／事情／状勢 will do almost anything," 宣言するd Mr. Goodrich. "I have had more experience than you, my boy, and I advise you not to bank too much on the 精製するd and luxurious surroundings. いつかs such things foster 罪，犯罪 instead of 妨げるing it. But the truth will come out, and soon, I think. The 証拠 that seems to point to 行方不明になる Lloyd can be easily 証明するd or disproved, once we get at the work in earnest. That 検死官's 陪審／陪審員団 was made up of men who were friends and neighbors of Mr. Crawford. They were so prejudiced by sympathy for 行方不明になる Lloyd, and indignation at the unknown 犯罪の, that they couldn't give unbiased judgment. But we will yet see 司法（官） done. If 行方不明になる Lloyd is innocent, we can 証明する it. But remember the 誘発 she was under. Remember the 適切な時期 she had, to visit her uncle alone in his office, after every one else in the house was asleep. Remember that she had a 動機—a strong 動機—and no one else had."

"Except Mr. Gregory Hall," I said meaningly.

"Yes; I 認める he had the same 動機. But he is known to have left town at six that evening, and did not return until nearly noon the next day. That lets him out."

"Yes, unless he （機の）カム 支援する at midnight, and then went 支援する to the city again."

"Nonsense!" said Mr. Goodrich. "That's fanciful. Why, the 最新の train—the theatre train, as we call it—gets in at one o'clock, and it's always 十分な of our society people returning from gayeties in New York. He would have been seen had he come on that train, and there is no later one."

I didn't stay to discuss the 事柄 その上の. Indeed, Mr. Goodrich had made me feel that my theories were fanciful.

But whatever my theories might be there were still facts to be 調査／捜査するd.

Remembering my 決意 to 診察する that gold 捕らえる、獲得する more 完全に I asked Mr. Goodrich to let me see it, for of course, as 検察官, it was now in his 所有／入手.

He gave it to me with an 認可するing nod. "That's the way to work," he said. "That 捕らえる、獲得する is your 証拠. Now from that, you 探偵，刑事s must go ahead and learn the truth."

"Whose 捕らえる、獲得する is it?" I said, with the 意向 of 製図／抽選 him out.

"It's 行方不明になる Lloyd's 捕らえる、獲得する," he said 厳粛に. "Any woman in the world would 否定する its 所有権, in the 存在するing circumstances, and I am not surprised that she did so. Nor do I 非難する her for doing so. Self 保護 is a mighty strong impulse in the human heart, and we've all got a 権利 to obey it."

As I took the gold 捕らえる、獲得する from his 手渡す, I didn't in the least believe that Florence Lloyd was the owner of it, and I 解決するd もう一度 to 証明する this to the satisfaction of everybody 関心d.

Mr. Goodrich turned away and busied himself about other 事柄s, and I 充てるd myself to 深い 熟考する／考慮する.

The contents of the 捕らえる、獲得する 証明するd as blank and unsuggestive as ever. The most exhaustive examination of its chain, its clasp and its thousands of links gave me not the tiniest thread or shred of any sort.

But as I poked and 調査するd around in its lining I 設立する a card, which had slipped between the main lining and an inside pocket.

I drew it out as carefully as I could, and it 証明するd to be a small plain visiting card 耐えるing the engraved 指名する, "Mrs. Egerton Purvis."

I sat 星／主役にするing at it, and then furtively ちらりと見ることd at Mr. Goodrich. He was not 観察するing me, and I instinctively felt that I did not wish him to know of the card until I myself had given the 事柄 その上の thought.

I returned the card to its hiding place and returned the 捕らえる、獲得する to Mr. Goodrich, after which I went away.

I had not copied the 指名する, for it was indelibly photographed upon my brain. As I walked along the street I tried to 建設する the personality of Mrs. Egerton Purvis from her card. But I was able to make no 合理的な／理性的な deductions, except that the 指名する sounded aristocratic, and was やめる in keeping with the general 影響 of the 捕らえる、獲得する and its contents.

To be sure I might have deduced that she was a lady of 普通の／平均（する） 高さ and size, because she wore a number six glove; that she was careful of her personal 外見, because she 所有するd a vanity 事例／患者; that she was of tidy habits, because she evidently 推定する／予想するd to send her gowns to be cleaned. But all these things seemed to me puerile and even ridiculous, as such 特徴 would 適用する to thousands of woman all over the country.

Instead of this, I went straight to the telegraph office and wired to （警察，軍隊などの）本部 in a cipher code. I 教えるd them to learn the 身元 and どの辺に of Mrs. Egerton Purvis, and advise me as soon as possible.

Then I returned to the Sedgwick 武器, feeling decidedly 井戸／弁護士席 満足させるd with my morning's work, and content to wait until after Mr. Crawford's funeral to do any その上の real work in the 事柄.

X
The Will

I went to the Crawford house on the day of the funeral; but as I reached there somewhat earlier than the hour 任命するd, I went into the office with the idea of looking about for その上の 手がかり（を与える）s.

In the office I 設立する Gregory Hall; looking decidedly 乱すd.

"I can't find Mr. Crawford's will," he said, as he successively looked through one drawer after another.

"What!" I 答える／応じるd. "Hasn't that been 位置を示すd already?"

"No; it's this way: I didn't see it here in this office, or in the New York office, so I assumed Mr. Randolph had it in his 所有／入手. But it seems he thought it was here, all the time. Only this morning we discovered our 相互の error, and Mr. Randolph 結論するd it must be in Mr. Crawford's safety deposit box at the bank in New York. So Mr. Philip Crawford hurried through his 行政 papers—he is to be executor of the 広い地所—and went in to get it from the bank. But he has just returned with the word that it wasn't there. So we've no idea where it is."

"Oh, 井戸／弁護士席," said I, "since he hadn't yet made the new will he had in mind, everything belongs to 行方不明になる Lloyd."

"That's just the point," said Hall, his 直面する taking on a despairing look. "If we don't find that will, she gets nothing!"

"How's that?" I said.

"Why, she's really not 関係のある to the Crawfords. She's a niece of Joseph Crawford's wife. So in the absence of a will his 所有物／資産／財産 will all go to his brother Philip, who is his 合法的な 相続人."

"Oho!" I exclaimed. "This is a new 開発. But the will will turn up."

"Oh, yes, I'm sure of it," returned Hall, but his anxious 直面する showed anything but 信用／信任 in his own words.

"But," I went on, "didn't Philip Crawford 反対する to his brother's giving all his fortune to 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"It didn't 事柄 if he did. Nobody could move Joseph Crawford's 決意. And I fancy Philip didn't make any 広大な／多数の／重要な 騒動 about it. Of course, Mr. Joseph had a 権利 to do as he chose with his own, and the will gave Philip a nice little sum, any way. Not much, compared to the whole fortune, but, still, a generous bequest."

"What does Mr. Randolph say?"

"He's 完全に baffled. He doesn't know what to think."

"Can it have been stolen?"

"Why, no; who would steal it? I only 恐れる he may have destroyed it because he 推定する／予想するd to make a different one. In that 事例／患者, Florence is penniless, save for such bounty as Philip Crawford chooses to bestow on her."

I didn't like the トン in which Hall said this. It was distinctly aggrieved, and gave the impression that Florence Lloyd, penniless, was of far いっそう少なく importance than 行方不明になる Lloyd, the heiress of her uncle's millions.

"But he would doubtless 供給する 適切に for her," I said.

"Oh, yes, 適切に. But she would find herself in a very different position, 扶養家族 on his generosity, from what she would be as 単独の 相続人 to her uncle's fortune."

I looked 刻々と at the man. Although not 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with him, I couldn't resist giving 表現 to my thought.

"But since you are to marry her," I said, "she need not long be 扶養家族 upon her uncle's charity."

"Philip Crawford isn't really her uncle, and no one can say what he will do in the 事柄."

Gregory Hall was evidently 大いに 乱すd at the new 状況／情勢 brought about by the 見えなくなる of Mr. Crawford's will. But 明らかに the main 推論する／理由 for his 騒動 was the 差し迫った poverty of his fiancee. There was no 疑問 that Mr. Carstairs and others who had called this man a fortune-hunter had 裁判官d him rightly.

However, without その上の words on the 支配する, I waited while Hall locked the door of the office, and then we went together to the 広大な／多数の／重要な 製図／抽選-room, where the funeral services were about to take place.

I purposely selected a position from which I could see the 直面するs of the group of people most nearly connected with the dead man. I had a strange feeling, as I looked at them, that one of them might be the 器具 of the 罪，犯罪 which had brought about this funeral occasion.

During the services I looked closely and in turn at each 直面する, but beyond the natural emotions of grief which might be 推定する／予想するd, I could read nothing more.

The brother, Philip Crawford, the 近づく neighbors, Mr. Porter and Mr. Hamilton, the lawyer, Mr. Randolph, all sat looking 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な and solemn as they heard the last words spoken above their dead friend. The ladies of the 世帯, 静かに controlling their emotions, sat 近づく me, and next to Florence Lloyd Gregory Hall had seated himself.

All of these people I watched closely, half hoping that some inadvertent 調印する might tell me of someone's knowledge of the secret. But when the clergyman referred to the 天罰 that would sooner or later 追いつく the 犯罪の. I could see an 表現 of 恐れる or 逮捕 on no 直面する save that of Florence Lloyd. She turned even whiter than before, her pale lips compressed in a straight line, and her small 黒人／ボイコット gloved 手渡す softly crept into that of Gregory Hall. The movement was not 一般に noticeable, but it seemed to me pathetic above all things. Whatever her position in the 事柄, she was surely 控訴，上告ing to him for help and 保護.

Without 直接／まっすぐに 撃退するing her, Hall was far from responsive. He 許すd her 手渡す to 残り／休憩（する） in his own but gave her no answering 圧力, and looked distinctly relieved when, after a moment, she withdrew it.

I saw that Parmalee also had 観察するd this, and I could see that to him it was an 指示，表示する物 of the girl's perturbed spirit. To me it seemed that it might 平等に 井戸／弁護士席 mean many other things. For instance it might mean her 逮捕 for Gregory Hall, who, I couldn't help thinking was far more likely to be a wrongdoer than the girl herself.

With a little sigh I gave up trying to glean much （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from the 現在の 適切な時期, and contented myself with the melancholy 楽しみ it gave me 簡単に to look at the sad 甘い 直面する of the girl who was already enshrined in my heart.

After the solemn and rather (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する obsequies were over, a little 議会 gathered in the library to hear the reading of the will.

As, until then, no one had known of the 見えなくなる of the will, except the lawyer and the 長官, it （機の）カム as a thunderbolt.

"I have no explanation to 申し込む／申し出," said Mr. Randolph, looking 大いに 関心d, but 解放する／自由な of all personal 責任／義務. "Mr. Crawford always kept the will in his own 所有／入手. When he （機の）カム to see me, the last evening he was alive, in regard to making a new will, he did not bring the old one with him. We arranged to 会合，会う in his office the next morning to draw up the new 器具, when he doubtless 推定する／予想するd to destroy the old one.

"He may have destroyed it on his return home that evening. I do not know. But so far it has not been 設立する の中で his papers in either of his offices or in the bank. Of course it may appear, as the search, though 徹底的な, has not yet been exhaustive. We will, therefore, 持つ／拘留する the 事柄 in （一時的）停止 a few days, hoping to find the 行方不明の 文書."

His hearers were variously 影響する／感情d by this news. Florence Lloyd was 簡単に dazed. She could not seem to しっかり掴む a 状況／情勢 which so suddenly changed her prospects. For she 井戸／弁護士席 knew that in the event of no will 存在 設立する, Joseph Crawford's brother would be his rightful 相続人, and she would be 合法的に する権利を与えるd to nothing at all.

Philip Crawford sat with an utterly expressionless 直面する. やめる able to 支配（する）／統制する his emotion, if he felt any, he made no 調印する that he welcomed this 可能性 of a 広大な／多数の／重要な fortune 突然に coming to him.

Lemuel Porter, who, with his wife, had remained because of their の近くに friendship with the family, spoke out rather 突然の,

"Find it! Of course it must be 設立する! It's absurd to think the man destroyed one will before the other was drawn."

"I agree with you," said Philip Crawford.

"Joseph was very methodical in his habits, and, besides, I 疑問 if he would really have changed his will. I think he 単に 脅すd it, to see if Florence 固執するd in keeping her 約束／交戦."

This was a generous speech on the part of Philip Crawford. To be sure, generosity of speech couldn't 影響する／感情 the 処分 of the 広い地所. If no will were 設立する, it must by 法律 go to the brother, but 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく the hearty, whole-souled way in which he spoke of 行方不明になる Lloyd was 大いに to his credit as a man.

"I think so, too," agreed Mr. Porter. "As you know, I called on Mr. Joseph Crawford during the—the last evening of his life."

The （衆議院の）議長 paused, and indeed it must have been a sad remembrance that pictured itself to his mind.

"Did he then 言及する to the 事柄 of the will?" asked Mr. Randolph, in gentle トンs.

"He did. Little was said on the 支配する, but he told me that unless Florence 同意d to his wishes in the 事柄 of her 約束／交戦 to Mr. Hall, he would make a new will, leaving her only a small bequest."

"In what manner did you 答える／応じる, Mr. Porter?"

"I didn't 推定する to advise him definitely, but I 勧めるd him not to be too hard on the girl, and, at any 率, not to make a new will until he had thought it over more deliberately."

"What did he then say?"

"Nothing of any 限定された 輸入する. He began talking of other 事柄s, and the will was not again referred to. But I can't help thinking he had not destroyed it."

At this, 行方不明になる Lloyd seemed about to speak, but, ちらりと見ることing at Gregory Hall, she gave a little sigh, and remained silent.

"You know of nothing that can throw any light on the 事柄 of the will, Mr. Hall?" asked Mr. Randolph.

"No, sir. Of course this whole 状況／情勢 is very embarrassing for me. I can only say that I have known for a long time the 条件 of Mr. Crawford's 存在するing will; I have known of his 脅しs of changing it; I have known of his 態度 toward my 約束／交戦 to his niece. But I never spoke to him on any of these 支配するs, nor he to me, though several times I have thought he was on the point of doing so. I have had 接近 to most of his 私的な papers, but of two or three small boxes he always 保持するd the 重要なs. I had no curiosity 関心ing the contents of these boxes, but I 自然に assumed his will was in one of them. I have, however, opened these boxes since Mr. Crawford's death, in company with Mr. Randolph, and we 設立する no will. Nor could we discover any in the New York office or in the bank. That is all I know of the 事柄."

Gregory Hall's demeanor was dignified and 静める, his 発言する／表明する even and, indeed, 冷淡な. He was like a bystander, with no 決定的な 利益／興味 in the 支配する he talked about.

Knowing, as I did, that his 利益／興味 was 決定的な, I （機の）カム to the 結論 that he was a man of unusual self-支配（する）／統制する, and an ability to mask his real feelings 完全に. Feeling that nothing more could be learned at 現在の, I left the group in the library discussing the loss of the will, and went 負かす／撃墜する to the 地区 弁護士／代理人／検事's office.

He was, of course, surprised at my news, and agreed with me that it gave us new fields for conjecture.

"Now, we see," he said 熱望して, "that the 動機 for the 殺人 was the 窃盗 of the will."

"Not やむを得ず," I replied. "Mr. Crawford may have destroyed the will before he met his death."

"But that would leave no 動機. No, the will 供給（する）s the 動機. Now, you see, this 解放する／自由なs 行方不明になる Lloyd from 疑惑. She would have no 推論する／理由 to kill her uncle and then destroy or 抑える a will in her own 好意."

"That 推論する／理由ing also 解放する／自由なs Mr. Hall from 疑惑," said I, 逆戻りするing to my former theories.

"Yes, it does. We must look for the one who has 利益d by the 除去 of the will. That, of course, would be the brother, Mr. Philip Crawford."

I looked at the 弁護士／代理人／検事 a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"My dear Mr. Goodrich," I said, "don't be absurd! A man would hardly shoot his own brother, but aside from that, why should Philip Crawford kill Joseph just at the moment he is about to make a new will in Philip's 好意? Either the 破壊 of the old will or the 製図／抽選 of the new would result in Philip's 落ちるing 相続人 to the fortune. So he would hardly precipitate 事柄s by a 犯罪の 行為／法令／行動する. And, too, if he had been keen about the money, he could have 勧めるd his brother to disinherit Florence Lloyd, and Joseph would have willingly done so. He was on the very point of doing so, any way."

"That's true," said Mr. Goodrich, looking chagrined but unconvinced. "However, it 解放する／自由なs 行方不明になる Lloyd from all 疑問s, by 除去するing her 動機. As you say, she wouldn't 抑える a will in her 好意, and その為に turn the fortune over to Philip. And, as you also said, this lets Gregory Hall out, too, though I never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd him for a moment. But, of course, his 利益／興味s and 行方不明になる Lloyd's are 同一の."

"Wait a moment," I said, for new thoughts were 速く に引き続いて one another through my brain. "Not so 急速な／放蕩な, Mr. 地区 弁護士／代理人／検事. The 見えなくなる of the will does not 除去する 動機 from the 可能性 of 行方不明になる Lloyd's complicity in this 罪，犯罪—or Mr. Hall's either."

"How so?"

"Because, if Florence Lloyd thought her uncle was in 所有／入手 of that will, her 動機 was identically the same as if he had 所有するd it. Now, she certainly thought he had it, for her surprise at the news of its loss was as unfeigned as my own. And of course Hall thought the will was の中で Mr. Crawford's 影響s, for he has been searching 絶えず since the question was raised."

"But I thought that yesterday you were so sure of 行方不明になる Lloyd's innocence," 反対するd Mr. Goodrich.

"I was," I said slowly, "and I think I am still. But in the light of 絶対の 証拠 I am only 宣言するing that the 非，不，無-外見 of that will in no way 干渉するs with the 動機 行方不明になる Lloyd must have had if she is in any way 有罪の. She knew, or thought she knew, that the will was there, in her 好意. She knew her uncle ーするつもりであるd to 取り消す it and make another in her disfavor. I do not 告発する／非難する her—I'm not sure I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う her—I only say she had 動機 and 適切な時期."

As I walked away from Mr. Goodrich's office, those words rang in my mind, 動機 and 適切な時期. Truly they 適用するd to Mr. Hall as 井戸／弁護士席 as to 行方不明になる Lloyd, although of course it would mean Hall's coming out from the city and returning during the night. And though this might have been a difficult thing to do 内密に, it was by no means impossible. He might not have come all the way to West Sedgwick 駅／配置する, but might have dropped off the train earlier and taken the trolley. The trolley! that thought reminded me of the 移転 I had 選ぶd up on the grass 陰謀（を企てる） 近づく the office veranda. Was it possible that slip of paper was a 手がかり（を与える）, and pointing toward Hall?

Without 限定された hope of seeing Gregory Hall, but 希望に満ちた of learning something about him, I strolled 支援する to the Crawford house. I went 直接／まっすぐに to the office, and by good luck 設立する Gregory Hall there alone. He was still searching の中で the papers of Mr. Crawford's desk.

"Ah, Mr. Burroughs," he said, as I entered, "I'm glad to see you. If 探偵，刑事s （悪事，秘密などを）発見する, you have a 罰金 chance here to do a bit of good work. I wouldn't mind 申し込む／申し出ing you an honorarium myself, if you could 明らかにする the will that has so mysteriously disappeared."

Hall's whole manner had changed. He had laid aside 完全に the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な demeanor which he had shown at the funeral, and was again the 警報 商売／仕事 man. He was more than this. He was eager,—offensively so,—in his search for the will. It needed no 探偵，刑事 instinct to see that the fortune of Joseph Crawford and its bestowment were 事柄s of 決定的な 利益／興味 to him.

But though his personal feelings on the 支配する might be distasteful to me, it was certainly part of my 義務 to 援助（する） in the search, and so with him I looked through the さまざまな drawers and とじ込み／提出するing 閣僚s. The papers 代表するing or connected with the 財政上の 利益／興味s of the late millionaire were neatly とじ込み／提出するd and labelled; but in some parts of the desk we 設立する the hodge-podge of personal 半端物s and ends which 蓄積するs with nearly everybody.

Hall seemed little 利益／興味d in those, but to my mind they showed a 可能性 of casting some light on Mr. Crawford's personal 事件／事情／状勢s.

But の中で old letters, photographs, programs, newspaper clippings, and such things, there was nothing that seemed of the slightest 利益／興味, until at last I chanced upon a photograph that 逮捕（する）d my attention.

"Do you know who this is?" I 問い合わせd.

"No," returned Hall, with a careless ちらりと見ること at it; "a friend of Mr. Crawford's, I suppose."

"More than a friend, I should 裁判官," and I turned the 支援する of the picture toward him. Across it was written, "with loving Christmas greetings, from M.S.P."; and it was 時代遅れの as recently as the Christmas previous.

"井戸／弁護士席," said Hall, "Mr. Crawford may have had a lady friend who cared enough about him to send an affectionate 迎える／歓迎するing, but I never heard of her before, and I 疑問 if she is in any way 責任がある the 見えなくなる of this will."

He went on searching through the desks, giving no serious 注意する to the photograph. But to me it seemed important. I alone knew of the visiting card in the gold 捕らえる、獲得する. I alone knew that that 捕らえる、獲得する belonged to a lady 指名するd Purvis. And here was a photograph 初期のd by a lady whose surname began with P, and who was unmistakably on affectionate 条件 with Mr. Crawford. To my mind the links began to form a chain; the lady who had sent her photograph at Christmas, and who had left her gold 捕らえる、獲得する in Mr. Crawford's office the night he was killed, surely was a lady to be questioned.

But I had not yet had a reply to my 電報電信 to （警察，軍隊などの）本部, so I said nothing to Hall on this 支配する, and putting the photograph in my pocket continued to 補助装置 him to look for the will, but without success. However, the 発見 of the photograph had in a 手段 コースを変えるd my 疑惑s from Gregory Hall; and though I 努力するd to draw him into general conversation, I did not ask him any 限定された questions about himself.

But the more I talked with him, the more I disliked him: He not only showed a mercenary, fortune-追跡（する）ing spirit, but he showed himself in many ways devoid of the finer feelings and chivalrous nature that せねばならない belong to the man about to marry such a perfect flower of womanhood as Florence Lloyd.

XI
Louis's Story

After spending an evening in thinking over the 状況／情勢 and piecing together my 手がかり（を与える）s, I decided that the next thing to be done was to trace up that 移転. If I could fasten that upon Gregory Hall, it would indeed be a starting point to work from. Although this seemed to 除去する Mrs. Purvis, who had already become a living （独立の）存在 in my mind, I still had haunting 疑惑s of Hall; and then, too, there was a 可能性 of collusion between these two. It might be fanciful, but if Hall and the Purvis woman were both 巻き込むd, Hall was やめる enough a clever villain to 扱う／治療する the photograph lightly as he had done.

And so the next morning, I started for the office of the trolley car company.

I learned without difficulty that the 移転 I had 設立する, must have been given to some 乗客 the night of Mr. Crawford's death, but was not used. It had been 問題／発行するd after nine o'clock in the evening, somewhere on the line between New York and West Sedgwick. It was a 移転 which する権利を与えるd a 乗客 on that line to a trip on the 支店 line running through West Sedgwick, and the fact that it had not been used, 暗示するd either a negligent conductor or a 決定／判定勝ち（する） on the part of the 乗客 not to take his ーするつもりであるd ride.

All this was plausible, though a far from 限定された 指示，表示する物 that Hall might have come out from New York by trolley, or part way by trolley, and though 受託するing a 移転 on the West Sedgwick 支店, had 結論するd not to use it. But the whole theory pointed 平等に 同様に to Mrs. Purvis, or indeed to the unknown 侵入者 主張するd upon by so many. I 努力するd to learn something from 確かな conductors who brought their cars into West Sedgwick late at night, but it seemed they carried a 広大な／多数の／重要な many 乗客s and of course could not identify a 移転, of which 得点する／非難する／２０s of duplicates had been 問題／発行するd.

Without much hope I interviewed the conductors of the West Sedgwick 支店 Line. Though I could learn nothing 限定された, I fell into conversation with one of them, a young Irishman, who was 利益／興味d because of my 関係 with the mystery.

"No, sir," he said, "I can't tell you anythin' about a 逸脱する 移転. But one thing I can tell you. That 'ere 殺人 was committed of a Toosday night, wasn't it?"

"Yes," I returned.

"井戸／弁護士席, that 'ere parlyvoo vally of Mr. Crawford's, he's rid, on my car 'most every Toosday night fer weeks and weeks. It's his night off. And last Toosday night he didn't ride with me. Now I don't know's that means anything, but agin it might."

It didn't seem to me that it meant much, for certainly Louis was not under the slightest 疑惑. And yet as I （機の）カム to think about it, if that had been Louis's 移転 and if he had dropped it 近づく the office veranda, he had lied when he said that he went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the other 味方する of the house to reach the 支援する 入り口.

It was all very vague, but it 狭くするd itself 負かす／撃墜する to the point that if that were Louis's 移転 it could be 証明するd; and if not it must be 調査／捜査するd その上の. For a trolley 移転, 問題／発行するd at a 限定された hour, and dropped just outside the scene of the 罪，犯罪 was certainly a 手がかり（を与える） of importance.

I proceeded to the Crawford house, and though I ーするつもりであるd to have a talk with Louis later, I asked first for 行方不明になる Lloyd. Surely, if I were to carry on my 調査 of the 事例／患者, in her 利益／興味s, I must have a talk with her. I had not intruded before, but now that the funeral was over, the real work of 跡をつけるing the 犯罪の must be 開始するd, and as one of the 主要な／長／主犯 characters in the sad 演劇, 行方不明になる Lloyd must play her part.

Until I 設立する myself in her presence I had not 現実に realized how much I 手配中の，お尋ね者 this interview.

I was sure that what she said, her manner and her facial 表現, must either blot out or 強化する whatever shreds of 疑惑 I held against her.

"行方不明になる Lloyd," I began, "I am, as you know, a 探偵，刑事; and I am here in Sedgwick for the 目的 of discovering the 臆病な／卑劣な 暗殺者 of your uncle. I assume that you wish to 援助（する） me in any way you can. Am I 権利 in this?"

Instead of the unhesitating affirmative I had 推定する／予想するd, the girl spoke irresolutely. "Yes," she said, "but I 恐れる I cannot help you, as I know nothing about it."

The fact that this reply did not sound to me as a rebuff, for which it was doubtless ーするつもりであるd, I can only account for by my growing 評価 of her wonderful beauty.

Instead of funereal 黒人／ボイコット, 行方不明になる Lloyd was 覆う？ all in white, and her simple wool gown gave her a statuesque 外見; which, however, was 否定するd by the pathetic weariness in her 直面する and the sad droop of her lovely mouth. Her helplessness 控訴，上告d to me, and, though she assumed an 空気／公表する of composure, I 井戸／弁護士席 knew it was only assumed, and that with some difficulty.

解決するing to make it as 平易な as possible for her, I did not ask her to repeat the main facts, which I already knew.

"Then, 行方不明になる Lloyd," I said, in 返答 to her disclaimer, "if you cannot help me, perhaps I can help you. I have 推論する／理由 to think that かもしれない Louis, your late uncle's valet, did not tell the truth in his 証言 at the 検死官's 検死. I have 推論する／理由 to think that instead of going around the house to the 支援する 入り口 as he 述べるd, he went around the other 味方する, thus passing your uncle's office."

To my surprise this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） 影響する／感情d 行方不明になる Lloyd much more 本気で than I supposed it would.

"What?" she said, and her 発言する／表明する was a 脅すd whisper. "What time did he come home?"

"I don't know," I replied; "but you surely don't 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う Louis of anything wrong. I was 単に hoping, that if he did pass the office he might have looked in, and so could tell us of your uncle's 井戸／弁護士席-存在 at that time."

"At what time?"

"At whatever time he returned home. 推定では rather late. But since you are 利益／興味d in the 事柄, will you not call Louis and let us question him together?"

The girl 公正に／かなり shuddered at this suggestion. She hesitated, and for a moment was unable to speak. Of course this 行為 on her part filled my soul with awful 逮捕. Could it be possible that she and Louis were in collusion, and that she dreaded the Frenchman's 公表，暴露s? I remembered the strange looks he had cast at her while 存在 questioned by the 検死官. I remembered his vehement 否定 of having passed the office that evening,—too vehement, it now seemed to me. However, if I were to learn anything 損失ing to Florence Lloyd's 正直さ, I would rather learn it now, in her presence, than どこかよそで. So I again asked her to send for the valet.

With a despairing look, as of one 軍隊d to 会合，会う an 差し迫った 運命／宿命, she rose, crossed the room and rang a bell. Then she returned to her seat and said 静かに, "You may ask the man such questions as you wish, Mr. Burroughs, but I beg you will not 含む me in the conversation."

"Not unless it should be necessary," I replied coldly, for I did not at all like her making this 規定. To me it savored of a sort of cowardice, or at least a presumption on my own chivalry.

When the man appeared, I saw at a ちらりと見ること he was やめる as much agitated as 行方不明になる Lloyd. There was no longer a 可能性 of a 疑問 that these two knew something, had some secret in ありふれた, which bore 直接／まっすぐに on the 事例／患者, and which must be exposed. A sudden hope flashed into my mind that it might be only some trifling secret, which seemed of importance to them, but which was 単に a 味方する 問題／発行する of the 広大な／多数の／重要な question.

I considered myself 正当化するd in taking advantage of the man's perturbation, and without 予選 speech I drew the 移転 from my pocket and 公正に／かなり flashed it in his 直面する.

"Louis," I said 厳しく, "you dropped this 移転 when you （機の）カム home the night of Mr. Crawford's death."

The suddenness of my 発言／述べる had the 影響 I 願望（する）d, and 公正に／かなり 脅すd the truth out of the man.

"Y-yes, sir," he stammered, and then with a 脅すd ちらりと見ること at 行方不明になる Lloyd, he stood nervously interlacing his fingers.

I ちらりと見ることd at 行方不明になる Lloyd myself, but she had 回復するd entire self-所有／入手, and sat looking straight before her with an 空気／公表する that seemed to say, "Go on, I'm 用意が出来ている for the worst."

As I paused myself to 熟視する／熟考する the 態度s of the two, I lost my ground of vantage, for when I again spoke to the man, he too was more composed and ready to reply with 警告を与える. Doubtless he was 影響（力）d by 行方不明になる Lloyd's demeanor, for he imitatively assumed a receptive 空気／公表する.

"Where did you get the 移転?" I went on.

"On the trolley, sir; the main line."

"To be used on the 支店 Line through West Sedgwick?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why did you not use it?"

"As I tell you, sir, and as I tell monsieur, the 検死官, I have spend that evening with a young lady. We went for a trolley ride, and as we returned I take a 移転 for myself, but not for her, as she live 近づく where we alight."

"Oh, you left the main line and took the young lady home, ーするつもりであるing then yourself to come by trolley through West Sedgwick?"

"Yes, sir; it was just that way."

At this point Louis seemed to forget his 当惑, his gaze 逸脱するd away, and a happy 表現 （機の）カム into his 注目する，もくろむs. I felt sure I was reading his volatile French nature aright, when I assumed his mind had turned 支援する to the pleasant evening he had spent with his young lady 知識. Somehow this went far to 納得させる me of the fellow's innocence for it was やめる evident the 殺人 and its mystery were not uppermost in his thoughts at that moment. But my next question brought him beck to 現実化 of the 現在の 状況／情勢.

"And why didn't you use your 移転?"

"Only that the night, he was so pleasant, I 願望（する）d to walk."

"And so you walked through the village, 持つ／拘留するing, perhaps, the 移転 in your 手渡す?"

"I think, yes; but I do not remember the 移転 in my 手渡す, though he may have been there."

And now the man's unquiet had returned. His lips twitched and his dark 注目する，もくろむs rolled about, as he 努力するd in vain to look anywhere but at 行方不明になる Lloyd. She, too, was controlling herself by a 明白な 成果／努力.

Anxious to bring the 事柄 to a 危機, I said at once, and 直接／まっすぐに:

"And then you entered the gates of this place, you walked to the house, you walked around the house to the 支援する by way of the path which leads around by the library veranda, and you accidentally dropped your 移転 近づく the veranda step."

I spoke 静かに enough, but Louis すぐに burst into voluble 否定.

"No, no!" he exclaimed; "I do not go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する by the office, I go the other 味方する of the house. I have tell you so many times."

"But I myself 選ぶd up your 移転 近づく the office veranda."

"Then he blow there. The 勝利，勝つd blow that night, oh, something fearful! He blow the paper around the house, I think."

"I don't think so," I retorted; "I think you went around the house that way, I think you paused at the office window—"

Just here I made a 劇の pause myself, hoping thus to 控訴，上告 to the emotional nature of my 犠牲者. And I 後継するd. Louis almost shrieked as he 圧力（をかける）d his 手渡すs against his 注目する，もくろむs, and cried out: "No! no! I tell you I did not go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する that way! I go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the other way, and the 勝利，勝つd—the 勝利，勝つd, he blow my 移転 all about!"

I tried a more 静かな manner, I tried persuasive arguments, I finally 訴える手段／行楽地d to severity and even 脅しs, but no admission could I get from Louis, except that he had not gone 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the house by way of the office. I was 肯定的な the man was lying, and I was 平等に 肯定的な that 行方不明になる Lloyd knew he was lying, and that she knew why, but the 事柄 seemed to me at a 行き詰まる. I could have questioned her, but I preferred to do that when Louis was not 現在の. If she must 苦しむ ignominy it need not be before a servant. So I 解任するd Louis, perhaps rather curtly, and turning to 行方不明になる Lloyd, I asked her if she believed his 主張 that he did not pass by the office that night.

"I don't know what I believe," she answered, wearily 製図／抽選 her 手渡す across her brow. "And I can't see that it 事柄s anyway. Supposing he did go by the office, you certainly don't 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う him of my uncle's 殺人, do you?"

"It is my 義務, 行方不明になる Lloyd," I said gently, for the girl was pitiably nervous, "to get the 証言 of any one who was in or 近づく the office that night. But of course 証言 is useless unless it is true."

I looked her straight in the 注目する，もくろむs as I said this, for I was 完全に 納得させるd that her own 証言 at the 検死 had not been 完全に true.

I think she understood my ちらりと見ること, for she arose at once, and said with extreme dignity: "I cannot see any necessity for 長引かせるing this interview, Mr. Burroughs. It is of course your work to discover the truth or falsity of Louis's story, but I cannot see that it in any way 巻き込むs or even 利益／興味s me."

The girl was superb. Her beauty was 高めるd by the sudden spirit she showed, and her flashing dark 注目する，もくろむs 示唆するd a baited animal at bay. 明らかに she had reached the 限界 of her endurance, and was unwilling to be questioned その上の or drawn into その上の admissions. And yet, some inexplicable idea （機の）カム to me that she was angry, not with me, but with the 絡まる in which I had remorselessly enmeshed her. Of a high order of 知能, she knew perfectly 井戸／弁護士席 that I was conscious of the fact that there was a secret of some sort between her and the valet. Her haughty disdain, I felt sure, was to 伝える the impression that though there might be a secret between them, it was no collusion or working together, and that though her understanding with the man was mysterious, it was in no way beneath her dignity. Her imperious 空気／公表する as she 静かに left the room thrilled me もう一度, and I began to think that a woman who could assume the haughty demeanor of an 皇后 might have chosen, as 皇后s had done before her, to commit 罪，犯罪.

However, she went away, and the dark and stately library seemed to have lost its only 位置／汚点／見つけ出す of light and charm. I sat for a few minutes pondering over it all, when I saw passing through the hall, the maid, Elsa. It suddenly occurred to me, that having failed with the mistress of the house, I might 後継する better with her maid, so I called the girl in.

She （機の）カム willingly enough, and though she seemed timid, she was not embarrassed or afraid.

"I'm in 当局 here," I said, "and I'm going to ask you some questions, which you must answer truthfully."

"Yes, sir," she said, without any show of 利益／興味.

"Have you been with 行方不明になる Lloyd long?"

"Yes, sir; about four years, sir."

"Is she a 肉親，親類d mistress?"

"Indeed she is, sir. She is the loveliest lady I ever worked for. I'd do anything for 行方不明になる Lloyd, that I would."

"井戸／弁護士席, perhaps you can best serve her by telling all you know about the events of Tuesday night."

"But I don't know anything, sir," and Elsa's 注目する，もくろむs opened wide in 絶対 unfeigned wonderment.

"Nothing about the actual 殺人; no, of course not. But I just want you to tell me a few things about some minor 事柄s. Did you take the yellow flowers from the box that was sent to 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"Yes, sir; I always untie her 小包s. And as she was at dinner, I arranged the flowers in a vase of water."

"How many flowers were there?"

For some 推論する／理由 this simple query 乱すd the girl 大いに. She 紅潮／摘発するd scarlet, and then she turned pale. She 新たな展開d the corner of her apron in her nervous fingers, and then said, only half audibly, "I don't know, sir."

"Oh, yes, you do, Elsa," I said in kindly トンs, 存在 anxious not to 脅す her; "tell me how many there were. Were there not a dozen?"

"I don't know, sir; truly I don't. I didn't count them at all."

It was impossible to disbelieve her; she was plainly telling the truth. And, too, why should she count the roses? The natural thing would be not to count them, but 単に to put them in the vase as she had said. And yet, there was something about those flowers that Elsa knew and wouldn't tell. Could it be that I was on the 跡をつける of that 行方不明の twelfth rose? I knew, though perhaps Elsa did not, how many roses the florist had sent in that box. And unless Gregory Hall had abstracted one at the time of his 購入（する）, the twelfth rose had been taken by some one else after the flowers reached the Crawford House. Could it have been Elsa, and was her perturbation only because of a 有罪の 良心 over a こそどろ of a flower? But I realized I must question her adroitly if I would find out these things.

"Is 行方不明になる Lloyd fond of flowers?" I asked, casually.

"Oh, yes, sir, she always has some by her."

"And do you love flowers too, Elsa?"

"Yes, sir." But the 静かに spoken answer, …を伴ってd by a natural and straightforward look 約束d little for my new theory.

"Does 行方不明になる Lloyd いつかs give you some of her flowers?"

"Oh, yes, sir, やめる often."

"That is, if she's there when they arrive. But if she isn't there, and you open the box yourself, she wouldn't mind if you took one or two blossoms, would she?"

"Oh, no, sir, she wouldn't mind. 行方不明になる Lloyd's awful 肉親，親類d about such things. But I wouldn't often do it, sir."

"No; of course not. But you did happen to take one of those yellow roses, didn't you, though?"

I breathlessly を待つd the answer, but to my surprise, instead of 当惑 the girl's 注目する，もくろむs flashed with 怒り／怒る, though she answered 静かに enough, "井戸／弁護士席, yes, I did, sir."

Ah, at last I was on the 追跡する of that twelfth rose! But from the frank way in which the girl 認める having taken the flower, I 大いに 恐れるd that the 追跡する would lead to a commonplace ending.

"What did you do with it?" I said 静かに, 努力するing to make the question sound of little importance.

"I don't want to tell you;" and the pout on her scarlet lips seemed more like that of a wilful child than of one guarding a 有罪の secret.

"Oh, yes, tell me, Elsa;" and I even descended to a 説得するing トン, to 勝利，勝つ the girl's 信用／信任.

"井戸／弁護士席, I gave it to that Louis."

"To Louis? and why do you call him that Louis?"

"Oh, because. I gave him the flower to wear because I thought he was going to take me out that evening. He had 約束d he would, at least he had sort of 約束d, and then,—and then—"

"And then he took another young lady," I finished for her in トンs of such sympathy and indignation that she seemed to think she had 設立する a friend.

"Yes," she said, "he went and took another girl riding on the trolley, after he had said he would take me."

"Elsa," I said suddenly, and I 恐れる she thought I had lost 利益／興味 in her broken heart, "did Louis wear that rose you gave him that night?"

"Yes, the horrid man! I saw it in his coat when he went away."

"And did he wear it home again?"

"How should I know?" Elsa 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd her 長，率いる with what was meant to be a haughty 空気／公表する, but which was belied by the blush that mantled her cheek at her own prevarication.

"But you do know," I 主張するd, gently; "did he wear it when he （機の）カム home?"

"Yes, he did."

"How do you know?"

"Because I looked in his room the next day, and I saw it there all withered. He had thrown it on the 床に打ち倒す!"

The 悲劇 in Elsa's 注目する，もくろむs at this awful relation of the cruelty of the sterner sex called for a spoken sympathy, and I said at once, and heartily: "That was horrid of him! If I were you I'd never give him another flower."

In 一致 with the natural impulses of her sex, Elsa seemed pleased at my 不賛成 of Louis's 行為, but she by no means looked as if she would never again bestow her 好意 upon him. She smiled and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd her 長，率いる, and seemed willing enough for その上の conversation, but for the moment I felt that I had enough food for thought. So I 解任するd Elsa, having first admonished her not to repeat our conversation to any one. ーするために make sure that I should be obeyed in this 事柄, I 脅すd her with some unknown terrors which the 法律 would bring upon her if she disobeyed me. When I felt sure she was 完全に 脅すd into secrecy 関心ing our interview, I sent her away and began to cogitate on what she had told me.

If Louis （機の）カム to the house late that night, as by his own admission he did; if he went around the house on the 味方する of the office, as the 逸脱するing 移転 seemed to me to 証明する; and if, at the time, he was wearing in his coat a yellow rose with petals 類似の to those 設立する on the office 床に打ち倒す the next morning, was not one 正当化するd in looking more 深く，強烈に into the 記録，記録的な／記録する of Louis the valet?

XII
Louis's 自白

Elsa had been gone but a few moments when Florence Lloyd returned to the library. I arose to 迎える／歓迎する her and marvelled at the change which had come over her. Surely here was a girl of a thousand moods. She had left me with an 影響 of hauteur and disdain; she returned, gentle and charming, almost humble. I could not understand it, and remained standing after she had seated herself, を待つing 開発s.

"Sit 負かす／撃墜する, Mr. Burroughs," she said, and her low, 甘い 発言する／表明する seemed 十分な of cordial 招待. "I'm afraid I was rude to you, when I went away just now; and I want to say that if I can tell you anything you wish to know, I should be glad to do so."

I drew up a 議長，司会を務める and seated myself 近づく her. My heart was 続けざまに猛撃するing with excitement at this new 段階 of the girl's nature. For an instant it seemed as if she must have a personal kindly feeling toward me, and then my 推論する／理由 returned, and with a suddenly 落ちるing heart and slowing pulses, I realized that I was a fool, and that after thinking over the 公表，暴露s Louis had made, 行方不明になる Lloyd had shrewdly 結論するd it was to her best advantage to curry 好意 with the 探偵，刑事. This knowledge （機の）カム to me instinctively, and so I 不信d her gentle 発言する／表明する and winning smile, and hardening my heart against her, I 解決するd to turn this new mood of hers to my own advantage, and learn what I could while she was willing to converse:

"I'm glad of this 適切な時期, 行方不明になる Lloyd," I said, "for there are some 段階s of this 事件／事情／状勢 that I want to discuss with you alone. Let us talk the 事柄 over 静かに. It is 同様に that you should know that there are some 疑問s felt as to the entire truth of the story you told at the 検死. I do not say this to 脅す you," I 追加するd, as the poor girl clasped her 手渡すs and gave me a look of dumb alarm; "but, since it is so, I want to do all I can to 始める，決める the 事柄 権利. Do you remember 正確に／まさに all that took place, to your knowledge, on the night of your uncle's death?"

"Yes," she replied, looking more 脅すd still. It was evident that she knew more than she had yet 明らかにする／漏らすd, but I almost forgot my 調査, so 吸収するd was I in watching her lovely 直面する. It was even more exquisite in its terrified pallor than when the (n)艦隊／(a)素早いing pink showed in her cheeks.

"Then," I said, "let us go over it. You heard your uncle go out at about eight o'clock and return about nine?"

"Yes, I heard the 前線 door open and の近くに both times."

"You and Mrs. Pierce 存在 in the music-room, of course. Then, later, you heard a 訪問者 enter, and again you heard him leave?"

"Yes—Mr. Porter."

"Did you know it was Mr. Porter, at the time he was here?"

"No; I think not. I didn't think at all who it might be. Uncle Joseph often had men to call in the evening."

"About what time did Mr. Porter leave?"

"A few minutes before ten. I heard Lambert say, `Good-night, sir,' as he の近くにd the door after him."

"And soon after, you and Mrs. Pierce went upstairs?"

"Yes; only a few minutes after."

"And, later, Mrs. Pierce （機の）カム to your room?"

"Yes; about half-past ten, I should say; she （機の）カム to get a 調書をとる／予約する. She didn't stay two minutes."

"And after that, you went 負かす／撃墜する-stairs again to speak to your uncle?" For the merest instant 行方不明になる Lloyd's 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd and she swayed as if about to faint, but she 回復するd her composure at once, and answered with some asperity,

"I did not. I have told you that I did not leave my room again that night."

Her dark 注目する，もくろむs 炎d, her cheeks 紅潮／摘発するd, and though her 十分な lower lip quivered it was with 怒り／怒る now, not 恐れる.

As I watched her, I wondered how I could have thought her more beautiful when pale. Surely with this glowing color she was at her glorious best.

"Then when did you 減少（する） the two rose petals there?" I went on, calmly enough, though my own heart was （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing 急速な／放蕩な.

"I did not 減少（する） them. They were left there by some 侵入者."

"But, 行方不明になる Lloyd," and I 観察するd her closely, "the petals were from a rose such as those Mr. Hall sent you that evening. The florist 保証するs me there were no more such blossoms in West Sedgwick at that time. The fallen petals, then, were from one of your own roses, or—"

"Or?" asked 行方不明になる Lloyd, her 手渡すs 圧力（をかける）d against the laces at her throbbing bosom. "Or?"

"Or," I went on, "from a rose worn by some one who had come out from New York on a late train."

For the moment I chose to ignore Louis's rose for I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to learn anything 行方不明になる Lloyd could tell me. And, too, the yellow petals might have fallen from a flower in Hall's coat after all. I thought it possible by 示唆するing this idea, to surprise from her some hint as to whether she had any 疑惑 of him.

She gave a gasp, and, leaning 支援する in her 議長，司会を務める, she の近くにd her 注目する，もくろむs, as if spent with a useless struggle.

"Wait a moment," she said, putting out her 手渡す with an imploring gesture. "Wait a moment. Let me think. I will tell you all, but—wait—"

With her 注目する，もくろむs still の近くにd, she lay 支援する against the satin 議長，司会を務める cushion, and I gazed at her, fascinated.

I knew it! Then and there the knowledge （機の）カム to me! Not her 犯罪, not her innocence. The 罪，犯罪 seemed far away then, but I knew like a flash not only that I loved this girl, this Florence Lloyd, but that I should never love any one else. It 事柄d not that she was betrothed to another man; the love that had suddenly sprung to life in my heart was such pure devotion that it asked no return. 有罪の or innocent, I loved her. 有罪の or innocent, I would （疑いを）晴らす her; and if the 願望（する） of her heart were toward another, she should ever know or 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う my adoration for her.

I gazed at her lovely 直面する, knowing that when her 注目する，もくろむs opened I must 慎重に turn my ちらりと見ること aside, but blessing every instant of 適切な時期 thus given me.

Her countenance, though troubled and drawn with 苦悩, was so pure and 甘い that I felt sure of her innocence. But it should be my work to 証明する that to the world.

Suddenly her 注目する，もくろむs flashed open; again her mood had changed.

"Mr. Burroughs," she said, and there was almost a challenge in her トン, "why do you ask me these things? You are a 探偵，刑事, you are here to find out for yourself, not to ask others to find out. I am innocent of my uncle's death, of course, but when you cast 疑惑 on the man to whom I am betrothed, you cannot 推定する／予想する me to help you 確認する that 疑惑. You have made me think by your 発言／述べる about a man on a late train that you 言及する to Mr. Hall. Do you?"

This was a change of base, indeed. I was 存在 questioned instead of doing the catechising myself. Very 井戸／弁護士席; if it were my lady's will to challenge me, I would 会合，会う her on her own ground.

"You took the hint very quickly," I said. "Had you thought of such a 可能性 before?"

"No, nor do I now. I will not." Again she was the 感情を害する／違反するd queen. "But since you have breathed the suggestion, you may not count on any help from me."

"Could you have helped me さもなければ?" I said, 拘留するing her as she swept by.

To this she made no answer, but again her 直面する wore a troubled 表現, and as she went slowly from the room, she left me with a strong 有罪の判決 that she knew far more about Gregory Hall's 関係 with the 事柄 than she had told me.

I sat alone for a few moments wondering what I had better do next.

I had about decided to go in search of Parmalee, and talk things over with him, but I thought it would be better to see Louis first, and settle up the 事柄 of his rose more definitely. Accordingly I rang the bell, and when the parlor maid answered it, I asked her to send both Louis and Elsa to me in the library.

I could see at once that these two were not friendly toward each other, and I hoped this fact would 援助（する） me in learning the truth from them.

"Now, Louis," I began, "you may 同様に tell me the truth about your home coming last Tuesday night. In the first place, you must 収容する／認める that you were wearing in your coat one of the yellow roses which had been sent to 行方不明になる Lloyd."

"No, no, indeed!" 宣言するd Louis, giving Elsa a 脅すing ちらりと見ること, as if forbidding her to 否定する him.

"Nonsense, man," I said; "don't stand there and tell useless lies. It will not help you. The best thing you can do for yourself and for all 関心d is to tell the truth. And, moreover, if you don't tell it to me now, you will have to tell it to Mr. Goodrich, later. Elsa gave you a yellow rose and you wore it away that evening when you went to see your young lady. Now what became of that rose?"

"I—I lost it, sir."

"No, you didn't lose it. You wore it home again, and when you retired, you threw it on the 床に打ち倒す, in your own room."

"No, sir. You make mistake. I look for him next day in my room, but cannot find him."

I almost laughed at the man's ingenuousness. He 否定するd his own story so unconsciously, that I began to think he was more of a simpleton than a villain.

"Of course you couldn't find it," I 知らせるd him, "for it was taken from your room next day; and of course you didn't look for it until after you had heard yellow roses discussed at the 検死."

Louis's easily read 直面する 証明するd my 声明 訂正する, but he glowered at Elsa, as he said: "Who take him away? who take my rose from my room."

"But you 否定するd having a rose, Louis. Now you're asking who took it away. Once again, let me advise you to tell the truth. You're not at all successful in telling falsehoods. Now answer me this: When you （機の）カム home Tuesday night, did you or did you not walk around the house past the office window?"

"No, sir. I walked around the other 味方する. I—"

"Stop, Louis! You're not telling the truth. You did walk around by the office, and you dropped your 移転 there. It never blew all around the house, as you have said it did."

A look of dogged obstinacy （機の）カム into the man's 注目する，もくろむs, but he did not look at me. He 転換d his gaze uneasily, as he repeated almost in a singsong way, "go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the other 味方する of the house."

It was a sort of 行き詰まる. Without a 証言，証人／目撃する to the fact, I could not 証明する that he had gone by the office windows, though I was sure he had.

But help （機の）カム from an 予期しない ４半期/4分の1.

Elsa had been very 静かな during the foregoing conversation, but now she spoke up suddenly, and said: "He did go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する by the office, Mr. Burroughs, and I saw him."

I half 推定する／予想するd to see Louis turn on the girl in a 激怒（する）, but the 影響 of her speech on him was やめる the 逆転する. He almost 崩壊（する）d; he trembled and turned white, and though he tried to speak, he made no sound. Surely this man was too 臆病な／卑劣な for a 犯罪の; but I must learn the secret of his knowledge.

"Tell me about it, Elsa," I said, 静かに.

"I was looking out at my window, sir, at the 支援する of the house; and I saw Louis come around the house, and he （機の）カム around by the office 味方する."

"You're 肯定的な of this, Elsa? you would 断言する to it? Remember, you are making an important 主張."

"I am telling the truth, sir. I saw him plainly as he （機の）カム around and entered at the 支援する door."

"You hear, Louis?" I said 厳しく. "I believe Elsa's 声明 rather than yours, for she tells a straight story, while you are 動揺させるd and agitated, and have all the 外見 of 隠すing something."

Louis looked helpless. He didn't dare 否定する Elsa's story, but he would not 確認する it. At last he said, with a ちらりと見ること of 憎悪 at the girl, "Elsa, she tell that story to make the trouble for me."

There was something in this. Elsa, I knew, was jealous, and her pride had been 傷つける because Louis had taken the rose she gave him, and then had gone to call on another girl. But I had no 推論する／理由 to 疑問 Elsa's 声明, and I had every 推論する／理由 to 疑問 Louis's. I tried to imagine what Louis's experience had really been, and it suddenly occurred to me, that though innocent himself of real wrong, he had seen something in the office, or through the office windows that he wished to keep secret. I did not for a moment believe that the man had killed his master, so I 結論するd he was 努力するing to 保護物，者 someone else.

"Louis," I said, suddenly, "I'll tell you what you did. You went around by the office, you saw a light there late at night, and you 自然に looked in. You saw Mr. Crawford there, and he was perhaps already killed. You stepped inside and discovered this, and then you （機の）カム away, and said nothing about it, lest you yourself be 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of the 罪，犯罪. Incidentally you dropped two petals from the rose Elsa had given you."

Louis's answer to this 告訴，告発 was a perfect 嵐／襲撃する of 否定s, 表明するd in voluble French and broken English, but all to the 影響 that it was not true, and that if he had seen his master dead, he would have raised an alarm.

I saw that I had not yet struck the 権利 idea, so I tried again. "Then, Louis, you must have passed the office before Mr. Crawford was killed, which is really more probable. Then as you passed the window, you saw something or someone in the office, and you're not willing to tell about it. Is this it?"

This again brought 前へ／外へ only incoherent 否定, and I could see that the man was becoming so 動揺させるd, it was difficult for him to speak 明確に, had he 願望（する）d to do so.

"Elsa," I said, suddenly, "you took that rose from Louis's room. What did you do with it?"

"I kept,—I mean, I don't know what I did with it," stammered the girl, blushing rosy red, and looking shyly at Louis.

I felt sorry to 公表する／暴露する the poor girl's little romance, for it was 平易な enough to see that she was in love with the fickle Frenchman, who evidently did not 報いる her 利益／興味. He looked at her disdainfully, and she 現在のd a pathetic picture of 当惑.

But the 状況／情勢 was too serious for me to consider Elsa's 感情s, and I said, rather 厳しく: "You do know where it is. You 保存するd that rose as a souvenir. Go at once and fetch it."

It was a chance 発射, for I was not at all 確かな that she had kept the withered flower, but 支配するd by my superior will she went away at once. She returned in a moment with the flower.

Although withered, it was still in 公正に／かなり good 条件; やめる enough so for me to see at a ちらりと見ること that no petals had been detached from it. The green calyx leaves clung around the bud in such a manner as to 証明する 前向きに／確かに that the 広げるing flower had lost no petal. This settled the twelfth rose. Wherever those tell-tale petals had come from, they were not from Louis's rose. I gave the flower 支援する to Elsa, and I said, "take your flower, my girl, and go away now. I don't want to question you any more for the 現在の."

A little bewildered at her sudden 解雇／（訴訟の）却下, Elsa went away, and I turned my attention to the Frenchman.

"Louis," I began, "this must be settled here and now between us. Either you must tell me what I want to know, or you must be taken before the 検察官, and be made to tell him. I have 証明するd to my own satisfaction that the rose petals in the office were not from the flower you wore. Therefore I 結論する that you did not go into the office that night, but as you passed the window you did see someone in there with Mr. Crawford. The hour was later than Mr. Porter's visit, for he had already gone home, and Lambert had locked the 前線 door and gone to bed. You （機の）カム in later, and what you saw, or whom you saw through the office window so surprised you, or 利益／興味d you, that you paused to look in, and there you dropped your 移転."

Though Louis didn't speak, I could see at once that I was on the 権利 跡をつける at last. The man was 保護物，者ing somebody. He was unwilling to tell what he had seen, lest it inculpate someone. Could it be Gregory Hall? If Hall had come out on a late train, and Louis had seen him there, he might, perhaps under Hall's coercion, be keeping the fact secret. Again, if a strange woman with the gold 捕らえる、獲得する had been in the office, that also would have attracted Louis's attention. Again, and here my heart almost stopped （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing, could he have seen Florence Lloyd in there? But a second thought put me at 緩和する again. Surely to have seen Florence in there would have been so usual and natural a sight that it could not have 原因（となる）d him 苦悩. And yet, again, for him to have seen Florence in her uncle's office, would have 証明するd to him that the story she told at the 検死 was 誤った. I must get out of him the knowledge he 所有するd, if I had to 訴える手段／行楽地 to a sort of third degree. But I might manage it by adroit 尋問.

"I やめる understand, Louis, that you are 保護物，者ing some person. But let me tell you that it is useless. It is much wiser for you to tell me all you know, and then I can go to work intelligently to find the man who 殺人d Mr. Crawford. You want me to find him, do you not?"

Louis seemed to have 設立する his 発言する／表明する again. "Yes, sir, of course he must be 設立する. Of course I want him 設立する,—the miscreant, the villain! but, Mr. Burroughs, sir, what I have see in the office makes nothing to your search. I 簡単に see Mr. Crawford alive and 井戸／弁護士席. And I pass by. That fool girl Elsa, she tell you that I pass by, so I may say so. But I see nothing in the office to alarm me, and if I 減少（する） my 移転 there, it is but because I think of him as no consequence, and I let him go."

"Louis," and I looked him straight in the 注目する，もくろむ, "all that sounds straightforward and true. But, if you saw nothing in the office to surprise or alarm you, why did you at first 否定する having passed by the office at all?"

The man had no answer for this. He was not ingenious in inventing falsehood, and he stood looking helpless and despairing. I perceived I should have to go on with my 尋問.

"Was it a man or a woman you saw in there with Mr. Crawford?"

"I see nobody, sir, nobody but my master."

That wouldn't do, then. As long as I asked him direct questions he could answer 誤って. I must trip him up in some roundabout way.

"Yes," I said pleasantly, "I understand that. And what was Mr. Crawford doing?"

"He sat at his desk;" and Louis spoke slowly, and 選ぶd his words with care.

"Was he 令状ing?"

"No; that is, yes, sir, he was 令状ing."

I now knew he was not 令状ing, for the truth had slipped out before the man could でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる up his 嘘（をつく）. I believed I was going to learn something at last, if I could make the man tell. Surely the 証言 of one who saw Joseph Crawford late that night was of value, and though that 証言 was difficult to 得る, it was 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） the 成果／努力.

"And was Mr. Hall at his desk also?"

Louis 星／主役にするd at me. "Mr. Hall, he was in New York that night." This was said so 簡単に and unpremeditatedly, that I was 絶対 確かな it was not Hall whom Louis had seen there.

"Oh, yes, of course, so he was," I said lightly; "and Mr. Crawford was 令状ing, was he?"

"Yes, sir," spoken with the dogged scowl which I was beginning to learn always …を伴ってd Louis's untruthful 声明s.

And now I decided to put my worst 恐れる to the 実験（する） and have it over with. It must be done, and I felt sure I could do it, but oh, how I dreaded it!

"Did Mr. Crawford look up or see you?"

"No, sir."

"And didn't 行方不明になる Florence see you, either?"

"No, sir."

It was out. The mere fact that Louis answered that question so calmly and unconsciously 証明するd he was telling the truth. But what a truth! for it told me at the same time that Florence Lloyd was in the office with her uncle, that Louis had seen her, but that she had not seen him. I had learned the truth from my reading of the man's 表現 and demeanor, and though it made my heart 沈む, I didn't for a moment 疑問 that it was the truth.

Of course Louis realized the next instant what he had done, and again he began his stammering 否定s. "Of course, 行方不明になる Lloyd do not see me for she is not there. How can she see me, then? I tell you my master was alone!"

Had I been the least uncertain, this would have 納得させるd me that I was 権利. For Louis's 発言する／表明する rose almost to a shriek, so angry was he with himself for having made the slip.

"Give it up, Louis," I said; "you have let out the truth, now be 静かな. You couldn't help it, man, you were bound to trip yourself up sooner or later. You put up a good fight for 行方不明になる Florence, and now that I understand why you told your falsehoods, I can't help admiring your chivalry. You saw 行方不明になる Lloyd there that evening, you heard her next day at the 検死 否定する having been in the office in the evening. So, in a way, it was very commendable on your part to 避ける 否定するing her 証言s, with your own. But you are not clever enough, Louis, to carry out that deceit to the end. And now that you have 認める that you saw 行方不明になる Lloyd there, you can best help her 原因（となる）, and best help me to help her 原因（となる）, by telling me all about it. For 残り／休憩（する） 保証するd, Louis, that I am やめる as anxious to 証明する 行方不明になる Lloyd's innocence as you can かもしれない be, and the only way to 遂行する that end, is to learn as much of the truth as I かもしれない can. Now, tell me what she was doing."

"Only talking to her uncle, sir." Louis had the 空気／公表する of a 敗北・負かすd man. He had tried to 保護物，者 行方不明になる Lloyd's 指名する and had failed. Now he spoke sullenly, and as if his whole 原因（となる） were lost.

"And Mr. Crawford was talking to her?"

"Yes, sir."

"He was not 令状ing, then?"

"No, sir."

"Did they seem to be having an 友好的な conversation?"

Louis hesitated, and his hesitation was 十分な answer.

"Never mind," I said, "you need not tell me more. In fact, I would prefer to get the 残り／休憩（する） of the story from 行方不明になる Lloyd, herself."

Louis looked startled. "Don't tell 行方不明になる Lloyd I told you this," he begged; "I have try very hard not to tell you."

"I know you tried hard, Louis, not to tell me, and it was not your fault that I wrung the truth from you. I will not tell 行方不明になる Lloyd that you told me, unless it should become necessary, and I do not think it will. Go away now, Louis, and do not discuss this 事柄 with anybody at all. And, also, do not think for a moment that you have been disloyal in telling me that you saw 行方不明になる Lloyd. As I say, you couldn't help it. I should 簡単に have kept at you until I made you tell, so you need not 非難する yourself in the 事柄 at all."

Louis went away, and though I could see that he believed what I said, he had a dejected 空気／公表する, and I couldn't help feeling sorry for the man who had so inadvertently given me the knowledge that must be used against the beautiful girl who had herself given untrue 証言.

XIII
行方不明になる Lloyd's 信用／信任

After Louis left me, I felt as if a dead 負わせる had fallen on my heart. Florence Lloyd had gone 負かす／撃墜する to her uncle's office late that night, and yet at the 検死 she had 証言するd that she had not done so. And even to me, when talking 静かに and alone, she had repeated her 誤った 主張. This much I knew, but why she had done if, I did not know. Not until I was 軍隊d to do so, would I believe that even her falsehood in the 事柄 meant that she herself was 有罪の. There must be some other 推論する／理由 for her mendacity.

井戸／弁護士席, I would find out this 推論する／理由, and if it were not a creditable one to her, I would still 努力する to do all I could for her. I longed to see her, and try if perhaps 肉親，親類d and gentle 勧めるing might not elicit the truth. But she had left me with such an 空気／公表する of haughty disdain, I hesitated to send for her again just now. And as it was nearly dinner time, I 解決するd to go 支援する to my hotel.

On the way, I （機の）カム to the 結論 that it would do no 害（を与える） to have a talk with Parmalee.

I had not much 信用／信任 in his 探偵，刑事 ability, but he knew the people better than I did, and might be able to give me （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） of some sort.

After I reached the Sedgwick 武器 I telephoned Parmalee to come over and dine with me, and he readily 同意d.

During dinner I told him all that I had learned from Elsa and Louis. Of course I had no 権利 to keep this knowledge to myself, and, too, I 手配中の，お尋ね者 Parmalee's opinion on the 状況／情勢 as it stood at 現在の.

"It doesn't really surprise me," he said, "for I thought all along, 行方不明になる Lloyd was not telling the truth. I'm not yet ready to say that I think she killed her uncle, although I must say it seems 極端に probable. But if she didn't commit the 行為, she knows perfectly 井戸／弁護士席 who did."

"Meaning Hall?"

"No, I don't mean Hall. In fact I don't mean any one in particular. I think 行方不明になる Lloyd was the instigator of the 罪，犯罪, and 事実上 carried out its （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限, but she may have had an 補助装置ing スパイ／執行官 for the actual 行為."

"Oh, how you talk! It やめる gives me the shivers even to think of a beautiful young woman 存在 有能な of such thoughts or 行為s."

"But, you see, Burroughs, that's because you are prejudiced in 好意 of 行方不明になる Lloyd. Women are 有能な of 罪，犯罪 同様に as men, and いつかs they're even more clever in the perpetration of it. And you must 収容する／認める if ever a woman were 有能な of 罪，犯罪, 行方不明になる Lloyd is of that type."

"I have to agree to that, Parmalee," I 認める; "she certainly shows 広大な／多数の／重要な strength of character."

"She shows more than that; she has indomitable will, unflinching courage, and lots of pluck. If, for any 推論する／理由, she made up her mind to kill a man, she'd find a way to do it."

This talk made me cringe all over, but I couldn't 否定する it, for so far as I knew Florence Lloyd, Parmalee's words were やめる true.

"All 権利," I said, "I'll 認める her 能力, but that doesn't 証明する a thing. I don't believe that girl is 有罪の, and I hope to 証明する her innocence."

"But look at the 証拠, man! She 否定するd her presence in the room, yet we now know she was there. She 否定するd the 所有権 of the gold 捕らえる、獲得する, yet probably she was also untruthful in that 事柄. She is a woman of a コンビナート／複合体 nature, and though I admire her in many ways, I shouldn't care to have much to do with her."

"Let us leave out the personal 公式文書，認める, Parmalee," I said, for I was angry at his 態度 toward Florence.

"All 権利. Don't you think for a moment that I don't see where you stand with regard to the haughty beauty, but that's neither here nor there."

"Indeed it isn't," I returned; "and whatever may be my personal feeling toward 行方不明になる Lloyd, I can 保証する you it in no way 影響（力）s my work on this 事例／患者."

"I believe you, old man; and so I'm sure you will agree with me that we must follow up the 調査 as to 行方不明になる Lloyd's presence in the office that night. She must be made to talk, and perhaps it would be best to tell Goodrich all about it, and let him 押し進める the 事柄."

"Oh, no," I cried involuntarily. "Don't 始める，決める him on the 跡をつける of the poor girl. That is, Parmalee, let me talk to her again, first. Now that I know she was 負かす／撃墜する there that night, I think I can question her in a little different manner, and 説得する her to own the truth. And, Parmalee, perhaps she was 負かす／撃墜する there because Hall was there."

"Hall! He was in New York."

"So he says, but why should he speak the truth any more than 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"You, mean they may both be 巻き込むd?"

"Yes; or he may have used her as a 道具."

"Not Florence Lloyd. She's nobody's 道具."

"Any woman might be a 道具 at the 命令（する） of the man she loves. But," I went on, with an 空気／公表する of 有罪の判決 which was not 完全に 本物の, "行方不明になる Lloyd doesn't love Mr. Hall."

"I don't know about that," returned Parmalee; "you can't tell about a woman like Florence Lloyd. If she doesn't love him, she's at least putting up a bluff of doing so."

"I believe it is a bluff, though I'm sure I don't know why she should do that."

"On the other 手渡す, why shouldn't she? For some 推論する／理由 she's dead 始める，決める on marrying him, ready to give up her fortune to do so, if necessary. He must have some sort of a pretty strong 持つ／拘留する on her."

"I 収容する／認める all that, and yet I can't believe she loves him. He's such a commonplace man."

"Commonplace doesn't やめる 述べる him. And yet Gregory Hall, with all the money in the world, could never make himself distinguished or 価値（がある） while in any way."

"No; and what would 行方不明になる Florence Lloyd see in a man like that, to make her so 決定するd to marry him?"

"I don't think she is 決定するd, except that Hall has some sort of 持つ／拘留する over her,—a 約束 or something,—that she can't escape."

My heart rejoiced at the idea that Florence was not in love with Hall, but I did not 許す myself to dwell on that point, for I was 決定するd to go on with the work, irrespective of my feelings toward her.

"You see," Parmalee went on, "you 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う Hall, only because you're prejudiced against him."

"Good gracious!" I exclaimed; "that's an awful thing to say, Parmalee. The idea of a 探偵，刑事 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うing a man, 単に because he doesn't admire his personality! And besides, it isn't true. If I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う Hall, it's because I think he had a strong 動機, a possible 適切な時期, and more than all, because he 辞退するs to tell where he was Tuesday night."

"But that's just the point, Burroughs. A man who'll commit 殺人 would 直す／買収する，八百長をする up his アリバイ first of all. He would know that his 拒絶 to tell his どの辺に would be 極端に 怪しげな. No, to my mind it's Hall's 拒絶 to tell that stamps him as innocent."

"Then, in that 事例／患者, it's the cleverest 肉親，親類d of an アリバイ he could invent, for it stamps him innocent at once."

"Oh, come, now, that's going pretty far; but I will say, Burroughs, that you 港／避難所't the least shred of proof against Hall, and you know it. Prejudice and unfounded 疑惑 and even a strong 願望（する） that he should be the villain, are all very 井戸／弁護士席. But they won't go far as 証拠 in a 法廷，裁判所 of 法律."

I was 軍隊d to 収容する／認める that Parmalee was 権利, and that so far I had no proof whatever that Gregory Hall was at all 巻き込むd in Mr. Crawford's death. To be sure he might have worn a yellow rose, and he might have brought the late newspaper, but there was no 証拠 to connect him with those 手がかり（を与える）s, and too, there was the gold 捕らえる、獲得する. It was 高度に improbable that that should have been brought to the office and left there by a man.

However, I 説得するd Parmalee to agree not to carry the 事柄 to Mr. Goodrich until I had had one more interview with 行方不明になる Lloyd, and I 約束d to 請け負う that the next morning.

After Parmalee had gone, I indulged in some very 暗い／優うつな reflections. Everything seemed to point one way. Every proof, every 疑惑 and every hint more or いっそう少なく 巻き込むd 行方不明になる Lloyd.

But the more I realized this, the more I 決定するd to do all I could for her, and as to do this, I must 伸び（る） her 信用／信任, and even liking, I 解決するd to approach the 支配する the next day with the 最大の tactfulness and kindliness, hoping by this means to induce the truth from her.

The next morning I started on my 使節団 with 新たにするd hopefulness. Reaching the Crawford house, I asked for 行方不明になる Lloyd, and I was shown into a small parlor to wait for her. It was a sort of morning room, a pretty little apartment that I had not been in before; and it was so much more cheerful and pleasant than the stately library, I couldn't help hoping that 行方不明になる Lloyd, too, would 証明する more amenable than she had yet been.

She soon （機の）カム in, and though I was beginning to get accustomed to the fact that she was a creature of variable moods, I was unprepared for this one. Her hauteur had disappeared; she was 明らかに in a 甘い and gentle でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる of mind. Her large dark 注目する，もくろむs were soft and gentle, and though her red lips quivered, it was not with 怒り／怒る or disdain as they had done the day before. She wore a plain white morning gown, and a long 黒人／ボイコット necklace of small beads. The 簡単 of this 衣装 ふさわしい her 井戸／弁護士席, and threw into 救済 her own rich coloring and striking beauty.

She 迎える／歓迎するd me more pleasantly than she had ever done before, and I couldn't help feeling that the cheerful sunny little room had a better 影響 on her moods than the darker furnishings of the library.

"I wish," I began, "that we had not to talk of anything unpleasant this morning. I wish there were no such thing as untruth or 罪，犯罪 in the world, and that I were calling on you, as an 知識, as a friend might call."

"I wish so, too," she 答える／応じるd, and as she flashed a ちらりと見ること at me, I had a glimpse of what it might mean to be friends with Florence Lloyd without the ugly 影をつくる／尾行する between us that now was spoiling our tête-á-tête.

Just that (n)艦隊／(a)素早いing ちらりと見ること held in it the 約束 of all that was attractive, charming and delightful in femininity. It was as if the 隠す of the 広大な／多数の／重要な, 暗い／優うつな 悲しみ had been 解除するd for a moment, and she was again an untroubled, merry girl. It seemed too, as if she wished that we could be together under pleasanter circumstances and could converse on 支配するs of いっそう少なく dreadful 輸入する. However, all these thoughts that tumultuously raced through my mind must be thrust aside in 好意 of the 商売／仕事 in 手渡す.

So though I hated to, I began at once.

"I am sorry, 行方不明になる Lloyd, to 疑問 your word, but I want to tell you myself rather than to have you learn it from others that I have a 証言，証人／目撃する who has 証言するd to your presence in your uncle's office that fateful Tuesday night, although you have said you didn't go 負かす／撃墜する there."

As I had 恐れるd, the girl turned white and shivered as if with a dreadful 逮捕.

"Who is the 証言，証人／目撃する?" she said.

I seemed to read her mind, and I felt at once that to her, the importance of what I had said depended 大部分は on my answer to this question, and I paused a moment to think what this could mean. And then it flashed across me that she was afraid I would say the 証言，証人／目撃する was Gregory Hall. I became more and more 納得させるd that she was 保護物，者ing Hall, and I felt sure that when she learned it was not he, she would feel relieved. However, I had 約束d Louis not to let her know that he had told me of seeing her, unless it should be necessary.

"I think I won't tell you that; but since you were seen in the office at about eleven o'clock, will you not tell me,—I 保証する you it is for your own best 利益／興味s,—what you were doing there, and why you 否定するd 存在 there?"

"First tell me the 指名する of your 密告者;" and so 広大な／多数の／重要な was her agitation that she scarcely breathed the words.

"I prefer not to do so, but I may say it is a reliable 証言，証人／目撃する and one who gave his 証拠 most unwillingly."

"井戸／弁護士席, if you will not tell me who he was, will you answer just one question about him? Was it Mr. Hall?"

"No; it was not Mr. Hall."

As I had 心配するd, she showed distinctly her 救済 at my answer. Evidently she dreaded to hear Hall's 指名する brought into the conversation.

"And now, 行方不明になる Lloyd, I ask you 真面目に and with the best 意図, please to tell me the 詳細（に述べる）s of your visit to Mr. Crawford that night in his office."

She sat silent for a moment, her 注目する，もくろむs cast 負かす／撃墜する, the long dark 攻撃するs lying on her pale cheeks. I waited 根気よく, for I knew she was struggling with a strong emotion of some sort, and I 恐れるd if I hurried her, her gentle mood would disappear, and she might again become angry or haughty of demeanor.

At last she spoke. The dark 攻撃するs slowly raised, and she seemed even more gentle than at first.

"I must tell you," she said. "I see I must. But don't repeat it, unless it is necessary. 探偵，刑事s have to know things, but they don't have to tell them, do they?"

"We never repeat 信用／信任s, 行方不明になる Lloyd," I replied, "except when necessary to その上の the 原因（となる） of 権利 and 司法（官）."

"Truly? Is that so?"

She brightened up so much that I began to hope she had only some trifling 事柄 to tell of.

"井戸／弁護士席, then," she went on, "I will tell you, for I know it need not be repeated in the furtherance of 司法（官）. I did go 負かす／撃墜する to my uncle's office that night, after Mrs. Pierce had been to my room; and it was I—it must have been I—who dropped those rose petals."

"And left the 捕らえる、獲得する," I 示唆するd.

"No," she said, and her 直面する looked perplexed, but not 混乱させるd. "No, the 捕らえる、獲得する is not 地雷, and I did not leave it there. I know nothing of it, 絶対 nothing. But I did go to the office at about eleven o'clock. I had a talk with my uncle, and I left him there a half-hour later—alive and 井戸／弁護士席 as when I went in."

"Was your conversation about your 約束／交戦?"

"Yes."

"Was it 友好的な?"

"No, it was not! Uncle Joseph was more angry than I had ever before seen him. He 宣言するd he ーするつもりであるd to make a new will the next morning, which would 供給する only a small income for me. He said this was not 復讐 or 罰 for my 忠義 to Mr. Hall, but—but—"

"But what?" I 勧めるd gently.

"It scarcely seems loyal to Mr. Hall for me to say it," she returned, and the 涙／ほころびs were in her 注目する，もくろむs. "But this is all confidential. 井戸／弁護士席, Uncle Joseph said that Gregory only 手配中の，お尋ね者 to marry me for my fortune, and that the new will would 証明する this. Of course I 否定するd that Mr. Hall was so mercenary, and then we had a good 取引，協定 of an altercation. But it was not very different from many discussions we had had on the same 支配する, only Uncle was more decided, and said he had asked Mr. Randolph to come the next morning and draw up the new will. I left him still angry—he wouldn't even say good-night to me—and now I 非難する myself for not 存在 more gentle, and trying harder to make peace. But it annoyed me to have him call Gregory mercenary—"

"Because you knew it was true," I said 静かに.

She turned white to the very lips. "You are unnecessarily impertinent," she said.

"I am," I agreed. "I beg your 容赦." But I had discovered that she did realize her lover's true nature.

"And then you went to your room, and stayed there?" I went on, with a meaning 強調 on the last 条項.

"Yes," she said; "and so, you see, what I have told you casts no light on the mystery. I only told you so as to explain the bits of the yellow rose. I 恐れるd, from what you said, that Mr. Hall's 指名する might かもしれない be brought into discussion."

"Why, he was not in West Sedgwick that night," I said.

"Where was he?" she 反対するd quickly.

"I don't know. He 辞退するs to tell. Of course you must see that his 絶対の 拒絶 to tell where he was that night is, to say the least, an unwise 訴訟／進行."

"He won't even tell me where he was," she said, sighing. "But it doesn't 事柄. He wasn't here."

"That's just it," I 再結合させるd. "If he was not here, it would be far better for him to tell where he really was. For the 拒絶 to tell raises a question that will not be 負かす／撃墜するd, except by an アリバイ. I don't want to be cruel, 行方不明になる Lloyd, but I must make you see that as the 調査 proceeds, the 活動／戦闘s of both Mr. Hall and yourself will be 支配するd to very の近くに scrutiny, and though perhaps undue attention will be paid to trifles, yet the trifles must be explained."

I was so sorry for the girl, that, in my 成果／努力 not to divulge my too 広大な／多数の／重要な sympathy, I probably used a sterner トン than I realized.

At any 率, I had wakened her at last to a sense of the danger that 脅すd her and her lover, and now, if she would let me, I would do all in my 力／強力にする to save them both. But I must know all she could tell me.

"When did Mr. Hall leave you?" I asked.

"You mean the day—last Tuesday?"

"Yes?"

"He left here about half-past five. He had been in the office with Uncle Joseph all the afternoon, and at five o'clock he （機の）カム in here for a cup of tea with me. He almost always comes in at tea-time. Then he left about half-past five, 説 he was going to New York on the six o'clock train."

"For what 目的?"

"I never ask him questions like that. I knew he was to …に出席する to some 商売／仕事 for Uncle the next day, but I never ask him what he does evenings when he is in the city, or at any time when he is not with me."

"But surely one might ask such questions of the man to whom she is betrothed."

行方不明になる Lloyd again put on that little 空気／公表する of hauteur which always effectually stopped my "impertinence."

"It is not my habit," she said. "What Gregory wishes me to know he tells me of his own （許可，名誉などを）与える."

XIV
Mr. Porter's 見解（をとる）s

I began on a new tack.

"行方不明になる Lloyd, why did you tell an untruth, and say you did not come 負かす／撃墜する-stairs again, after going up at ten o'clock?"

Her hauteur disappeared. A 脅すd, 控訴，上告ing look （機の）カム into her 注目する，もくろむs, and she looked to me like a lovely child afraid of unseen dangers.

"I was afraid," she 自白するd. "Yes, truly, I was afraid that they would think I had something to do with the—with Uncle Joseph's death. And as I didn't think it could do any good to tell of my little visit to him, I just said I didn't come 負かす／撃墜する. Oh, I know it was a 嘘（をつく）—I know it was wicked—but I was so 脅すd, and it was such an 平易な way out of it, just to 否定する it."

"And why have you 自白するd it to me now?"

Her 注目する，もくろむs opened wide in astonishment.

"I told you why," she said: "so you would know where the rose leaves （機の）カム from, and not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う Gregory."

"Do you 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う him?"

"N-no, of course not. But others might."

It is impossible to 述べる the 狼狽 that smote my heart at the hesitation of this answer. It was more than hesitation. It was a 衝突 of unspoken impulses, and the words, when they were uttered, seemed to carry hidden meanings, and to my mind they carried the worst and most 悪意のある meaning 考えられる.

To me, it seemed to point unmistakably to collusion between Florence Lloyd, whom I already loved, and Gregory Hall, whom I already 不信d and disliked. 有罪の collusion between these two would explain everything. Theirs the 動機, theirs the 適切な時期, theirs the 否定s and 誤った 証言，証人／目撃するing. The gold 捕らえる、獲得する, as yet, remained unexplained, but the yellow rose petals and the late newspaper could be accounted for if Hall had come out on the midnight train, and Florence had helped him to enter and leave the house unseen.

Bah! it was impossible. And, any way, the gold 捕らえる、獲得する remained as proof against this horrid theory. I would pin my 約束 to the gold 捕らえる、獲得する, and through its presence in the room, I would 反抗する 疑惑s of the two people I had 解決するd to 保護する.

"What do you think about the gold 捕らえる、獲得する?" I asked.

"I don't know what to think. I hate to 告発する／非難する Uncle Joseph of such a thing, but it seems as if some woman friend of his must have come to the office after I left. The long French windows were open—it was a warm night, you know—and any one could have come and gone unseen."

"The 捕らえる、獲得する wasn't there when you were there?"

"I'm sure it was not! That is, not in sight, and Uncle Joseph was not the sort of man to have such a thing put away in his desk as a souvenir, or for any other 推論する／理由."

"許す the insinuation, but of course you could not know 前向きに／確かに that Mr. Crawford would not have a feminine souvenir in his desk."

She looked up surprised. "Of course I could not be 肯定的な," she said, "but it is difficult to imagine anything sentimental connected with Uncle Joseph."

She almost smiled as she said this, for 明らかに the mere idea was amusing, and I had a flashing glimpse of what it must be to see Florence Lloyd smile! 井戸／弁護士席 it should not be my fault, or 予定 to my 欠如（する） of exertion, if the day did not come when she should smile again, and I 約束d myself I should be there to see it. But stifling these thoughts, I brought my mind 支援する to 義務. 製図／抽選 from my pocket the photograph I had 設立する in Mr. Crawford's desk, I showed it to her.

"In Uncle's desk!" she exclaimed. "This does surprise me. I had no idea Uncle Joseph had received a photograph from a lady with an affectionate message, too. Are you やめる sure it belonged to him?"

"I only know that we 設立する it in his desk, hidden beneath some old letters and papers."

"Were the letters from this lady?"

"No; in no 事例／患者 could we find a 署名 that agreed with these 初期のs."

"Here's your chance, Mr. Burroughs," and again Florence Lloyd's dimples nearly escaped the bondage which held them during these sad days. "If you're a 探偵，刑事, you せねばならない gather at once from this photograph and 署名 all the 詳細（に述べる）s about this lady; who she is, and what she had to do with Uncle Joseph."

"I wish I could do so," I replied, "but you see, I'm not that 肉親，親類d of 探偵，刑事. I have a friend, Mr. 石／投石する, who could do it, and would tell you, as you say, everything about that lady, 単に by looking at her picture."

As a 事例／患者 in point, I told her then and there the story of Fleming 石／投石する's wonderful deductions from the pair of muddy shoes we had seen in a hotel one morning.

"But you never 証明するd that it was true?" she asked, her dark 注目する，もくろむs sparkling with 利益／興味, and her 直面する alight with 活気／アニメーション.

"No, but it wasn't necessary. 石／投石する's deductions are always 権利, and if not, you know it is the exception that 証明するs the 支配する."

"井戸／弁護士席, let us try to deduce a little from this picture. I don't believe for a moment, that Uncle Joseph had a romantic attachment for any lady, though these words on the 支援する of the picture do seem to 示す it."

"井戸／弁護士席, go on," said I, so carried away by the fascination of the girl, when she had for a moment seemed to forget her troubles, that I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 長引かせる the moment. "Go ahead, and see what inferences you can draw from the photograph."

"I think she is about fifty years old," Florence began, "or perhaps fifty-five. What do you think?"

"I wouldn't 推定する to guess a lady's age," I returned, "and beside, I want you to try your 力／強力にするs on this. You may be better at deductions than I am. I have already 自白するd to you my 無（不）能 in that direction."

"井戸／弁護士席," she went on, "I think this lady is rather good-looking, and I think she 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるs the fact."

"The first is evident on the 直面する of it, and the second is a 全世界の／万国共通の truth, so you 港／避難所't really deduced much as yet."

"No, that's so," and she pouted a little. "But at any 率, I can deduce more about her dress than you can. The picture was taken, or at least that 衣装 was made, about a year ago, for that is the style that was worn then."

"Marvellous, Holmes, marvellous!"

She flashed me a ちらりと見ること of understanding and 評価, but undaunted, went on: "The gown also was not made by a competent modiste, but was made by a dressmaker in the house, who （機の）カム in by the day. The lady is of an economical turn of mind, because the lace yoke of the gown is an old one, and has even been darned to make it presentable to use in the new gown."

"Now that is deduction," I said admiringly; "the only trouble is, that it doesn't do us much good. Somehow I can't seem to fancy this good-looking, economical, middle-老年の lady, who has her dressmaking done at home, coming here in the middle of the night and 殺人，大当り Mr. Crawford."

"No, I can't, either," said Florence 厳粛に; "but then, I can't imagine any one else doing that, either. It seems like a horrible dream, and I can't realize that it really happened to Uncle Joseph."

"But it did happen, and we must find the 有罪の person. I think with you, that this photograph is of little value as a 手がかり（を与える）, and yet it may turn out to be. And yet I do think the gold 捕らえる、獲得する is a 手がかり（を与える）. You are やめる sure it isn't yours?"

Perhaps it was a mean way to put the question, but the look of indignation she gave me helped to 納得させる me that the 捕らえる、獲得する was not hers.

"I told you it was not," she said, "but," and her 注目する，もくろむs fell, "since I have 自白するd to one falsehood, of course you cannot believe my 声明."

"But I do believe it," I said, and I did, 完全に.

"At any 率, it is a sort of proof," she said, smiling sadly, "that any one who knows anything about women's fashions can tell you that it is not customary to carry a 捕らえる、獲得する of that sort when one is in the house and in evening dress. Or rather, in a negligee 衣装, for I had taken off my evening gown and wore a tea-gown. I should not think of going anywhere in a tea-gown, and carrying a gold 捕らえる、獲得する."

The girl had seemingly grown almost lighthearted. Her speech was punctuated by little smiles, and her half sad, half gay demeanor bewitched me. I felt sure that what little suggestion of lightheartedness had come into her mood had come because she had at last 自白するd the falsehood she had told, and her 解放する／自由なd 良心 gave her a little buoyancy of heart.

But there were still important questions to be asked, so, though unwillingly, I returned to the old 支配する.

"Did you see your uncle's will while you were there?"

"No; he talked about it, but did not show it to me."

"Did he talk about it as if it were still in his 所有／入手?"

"Why, yes; I think so. That is, he said he would make a new one unless I gave up Gregory. That 暗示するd that the old one was still in 存在, though he didn't 正確に／まさに say so."

"行方不明になる Lloyd, this is important 証拠. I must tell you that I shall be 強いるd to repeat much of it to the 検察官. It seems to me to 証明する that your uncle did not himself destroy the will."

"He might have done so after I left him."

"I can't think it, for it is not in 捨てるs in the waste-basket, nor are there any paper-ashes in the grate."

"井戸／弁護士席, then," she 再結合させるd, "if he didn't destroy it, it may yet be 設立する."

"You wish that very much?" I said, almost involuntarily.

"Oh, I do!" she exclaimed, clasping her 手渡すs. "Not so much for myself as—"

She paused, and I finished the 宣告，判決 for her "For Mr. Hall."

She looked angry again, but said nothing.

"井戸／弁護士席, 行方不明になる Lloyd," I said, as I rose to go, "I am going to do everything in my 力／強力にする in your に代わって and in に代わって of Mr. Hall. But I tell you 率直に, unless you will both tell me the truth, and the whole truth, you will only 敗北・負かす my 成果／努力s, and work your own undoing."

I had to look away from her as I said this, for I could not look on that 甘い 直面する and say anything even seemingly 厳しい or 独裁的な.

Her lip quivered. "I will do my best," she said tremblingly. "I will try to make Mr. Hall tell where he was that night. I will see you again after I have talked with him."

More collusion! I said good-by rather curtly, I 恐れる, and went quickly away from that perilous presence.

Truly, a nice 探偵，刑事, I! Bowled over by a fair 直面する, I was unable to think 明確に, to 裁判官 論理（学）上, or to work honestly!

井戸／弁護士席, I would go home and think it out by myself. Away from her 影響（力） I surely would 回復する my 冷静な／正味の-長，率いるd methods of thought.

When I reached the inn, I 設立する Mr. Lemuel Porter there waiting for me.

"How do you do, Mr. Burroughs?" he said pleasantly. "Have you time for a half-hour's 雑談（する）?"

It was just what I 手配中の，お尋ね者. A talk with this （疑いを）晴らす-thinking man would help me, indeed, and I 決定するd to get his opinions, even as I was ready to give him 地雷.

"井戸／弁護士席, what do you think about it all?" I 問い合わせd, after we were comfortably settled at a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する on the shaded veranda, which was a popular 集会-place at this hour. But in our corner we were in no danger from listening ears, and I を待つd his reply with 利益／興味.

His 注目する，もくろむs smiled a little, as he said,

"You know the old story of the man who said he wouldn't 雇う a dog and then do his own barking. 井戸／弁護士席, though I 港／避難所't '雇うd' you, I would be やめる ready to 支払う／賃金 your honorarium if you can ferret out our West Sedgwick mystery. And so, as you are the 探偵，刑事 in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 事例／患者, I ask you, what do you think about it all?"

But I was pretty 完全に on my guard now.

"I think," I began, "that much hinges on the 所有権 of that gold 捕らえる、獲得する."

"And you do not think it is 行方不明になる Lloyd's?"

"I do not."

"It need not 罪を負わせる her, if it were hers," said Mr. Porter, meditatively knocking the ash from said his cigar. "She might have left it in the office at any time previous to the day of the 罪，犯罪. Women are always leaving such things about. I 自白する it does not seem to me important."

"Was it on Mr. Crawford's desk when you were there?" I asked suddenly.

He looked up at me quickly, and again that half-smile （機の）カム into his 注目する，もくろむs.

"Am I to be questioned?" he said. "井戸／弁護士席, I've no 反対s, I'm sure. No, I do not think it was there when I called on Mr. Crawford that evening. But I couldn't 断言する to this, for I am not an observant man, and the thing might have lain there in 前線 of me and never caught my 注目する，もくろむ. If I had noticed it, of course I should have thought it was Florence's."

"But you don't think so now, do you?"

"No; I can't say I think so. And yet I can imagine a girl untruthfully 否定するing 所有権 under such circumstances."

I started at this. For hadn't 行方不明になる Lloyd untruthfully 否定するd coming 負かす／撃墜する-stairs to talk to her uncle?

"But," went on Mr. Porter, "if the 捕らえる、獲得する is not Florence's, then I can think of but one explanation for its presence there."

"A lady 訪問者, late at night," I said slowly.

"Yes," was the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な reply; "and though such an occurrence might have been an innocent one, yet, taken in 関係 with the 罪，犯罪, there is a dreadful 可能性."

"認めるing this," I 示唆するd, "we せねばならない be able to trace the owner of the 捕らえる、獲得する."

"Not likely. If the owner of that 捕らえる、獲得する—a woman, 推定では—is the slayer of Joseph Crawford, and made her escape from the scene undiscovered, she is not likely to stay around where she may be 設立する. And the 捕らえる、獲得する itself, and its contents, are hopelessly unindividual."

"They are that," I agreed. "Not a thing in it that mightn't be in any woman's 捕らえる、獲得する in this country. To me, that cleaner's 宣伝 means nothing in 関係 with 行方不明になる Lloyd."

"I am glad to hear you say that, Mr. Burroughs. I 自白する I have had a half-恐れる that your 疑惑s had a 傾向 in Florence's direction, and I 保証する you, sir, that girl is incapable of the slightest impulse toward 罪，犯罪."

"I'm sure of that," I said heartily, my 血 bounding in my veins at an 適切な時期 to speak in 弁護 of the woman I loved. "But how if her impulses were directed, or even coerced, by another?"

"Just what do you mean by that?"

"Oh, nothing. But いつかs the best and sweetest women will 行為／法令／行動する against their own good impulses for those they love."

"I cannot pretend to misunderstand you," said Mr. Porter. "But you are wrong. If the one you have in mind—I will say no 指名する—was in any way guiltily 巻き込むd, it was without the knowledge or 黙認 of Florence Lloyd. But, man, the idea is absurd. The individual in question has a perfect アリバイ."

"He 辞退するs to give it."

"辞退するs the 詳細（に述べる）s, perhaps. And he has a 権利 to, since they 関心 no one but himself. No, my friend, you know the French 支配する; 井戸／弁護士席, follow that, and search for the lady with the gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する."

"The lady without it, at 現在の," I said, with an apologetic smile for my rather grim jest.

"Yes; and that's the difficulty. As she hasn't the 捕らえる、獲得する, we can't discover her. So as a 手がかり（を与える） it is worthless."

"It seems to be," I agreed.

I thought best not to tell Mr. Porter of the card I had 設立する in the 捕らえる、獲得する, for I hoped soon to hear from （警察，軍隊などの）本部 関心ing the lady whose 指名する it bore. But I told him about the photograph I had 設立する in Mr. Crawford's desk, and showed it to him. He did not 認める it as 存在 a portrait of any one he had ever seen. Nor did he take it very 本気で as a 手がかり（を与える）.

"I'm やめる sure," he said, "that Joseph Crawford has not been 利益／興味d in any woman since the death of his wife. He has always seemed 充てるd to her memory, and as one of his nearest friends, I think I would have known if he had formed any other attachment. Of course, in a 事柄 like this, a man may 井戸／弁護士席 have a secret from his nearest friends, but I cannot think this 穏やかな and gentle-looking lady is at all 関心d in the 悲劇."

As a 事柄 of fact, I agreed with Mr. Porter, for nothing I had discovered の中で the late Mr. Crawford's 影響s led me to think he had any secret romance.

After Mr. Porter's 出発 I 熟考する／考慮するd long over my puzzles, and I （機の）カム to the 結論 that I could do little more until I should hear from （警察，軍隊などの）本部.

XV
The Photograph Explained

That evening I went to see Philip Crawford. As one of the executors of his late brother's 広い地所, and as probable 相続人 to the same, he was an important personage just now.

He seemed glad to see me, and glad to discuss ways and means of running 負かす／撃墜する the 暗殺者. Like Mr. Porter, he 大（公）使館員d little importance to the gold 捕らえる、獲得する.

"I can't help thinking it belongs to Florence," he said. "I know the girl so 井戸／弁護士席, and I know that her horrified 恐れる of 存在 in any way connected with the 悲劇 might easily lead her to, disown her own 所有物／資産／財産, thinking the occasion 正当化するd the untruth. That girl has no more 有罪の knowledge of Joseph's death than I have, and that is 絶対 非，不，無. I tell you 率直に, Mr. Burroughs, I 港／避難所't even a 微光 of a 疑惑 of any one. I can't think of an enemy my brother had; he was the most 平易な-going of men. I never knew him to quarrel with anybody. So I 信用 that you, with your 探偵，刑事 talent, can at least find a 手がかり（を与える） to lead us in the 権利 direction."

"You don't 収容する／認める the gold 捕らえる、獲得する as a 手がかり（を与える）, then?" I asked.

"Nonsense! No! If that were a 手がかり（を与える）, it would point to some woman who （機の）カム 内密に at night to visit Joseph. My brother was not that sort of man, sir. He had no feminine 知識s that were unknown to his 親族s."

"That is, you suppose so."

"I know it! We have been brothers for sixty years or more, and whatever Joseph's faults, they did not 嘘（をつく） in that direction. No, sir; if that 捕らえる、獲得する is not Florence's, then there is some other 合理的な／理性的な and commonplace explanation of its presence there."

"I'm glad to hear you speak so 前向きに／確かに, Mr. Crawford, as to your brother's feminine 知識s. And in 関係 with the 支配する, I would like to show you this photograph which I 設立する in his desk."

I 手渡すd the card to Mr. Crawford, whose features broke into a smile as he looked at it.

"Oh, that," he said; "that is a picture, of Mrs. Patton." He looked at the picture with a ちらりと見ること that seemed to be of admiring reminiscence, and he 熟考する／考慮するd the gentle 直面する of the photograph a moment without speaking.

Then he said, "She was beautiful as a girl. She used to be a school friend of both Joseph and myself."

"She wrote rather an affectionate message on the 支援する," I 観察するd.

Mr. Crawford turned the picture over.

"Oh, she didn't send this picture to Joseph. She sent it to my wife last Christmas. I took it over to show it to Joseph some months ago, and left it there without thinking much about it. He probably laid it in his desk without thinking much about it, either. No, no, Burroughs, there is no romance there, and you can't connect Mrs. Patton with any of your 探偵，刑事 調査s."

"I rather thought that, Mr. Crawford; for this is evidently a 甘い, simple-minded lady, and more over nothing has turned up to 示す that Mr. Crawford had a romantic 利益／興味 of any 肉親，親類d."

"No, he didn't. I knew Joseph as I know myself. No; whoever killed my brother, was a man; some villain who had a 動機 that I know nothing about."

"But you were intimately 熟知させるd with your brother's 事件／事情／状勢s?"

"Yes, that is what 証明するs to me that whoever this 暗殺者 was, it was some one of whose 動機 I know nothing. The fact that my brother was 殺人d, 証明するs to me that my brother had an enemy, but I had never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd it before."

"Do you know a Mrs. Egerton Purvis?"

I flung the question at him, suddenly, hoping to catch him unawares. But he only looked at me with the blank 表現 of one who hears a 指名する for the first time.

"No," he answered, "I never heard of her. Who is she?"

"井戸／弁護士席, when I was 追跡（する）ing through that gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する, I discovered a lady's visiting card with that 指名する on it. It had slipped between the linings, and so had not been noticed before."

To my surprise, this piece of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） seemed to annoy Mr. Crawford 大いに.

"No!" he exclaimed. "In the 捕らえる、獲得する? Then some one has put it there! for I looked over all the 捕らえる、獲得する's contents myself."

"It was between the pocket and the lining," said I; "it is there still, for as I felt sure no one else would discover it, I left it there. Mr. Goodrich has the 捕らえる、獲得する."

"Oh, I don't want to see it," he exclaimed 怒って. "And I tell you anyway, Mr. Burroughs, that 捕らえる、獲得する is worthless as a 手がかり（を与える）. Take my advice, and 支払う／賃金 no その上の attention to it."

I couldn't understand Mr. Crawford's decided 態度 against the 捕らえる、獲得する as a 手がかり（を与える）, but I dropped the 支配する, for I didn't wish to tell him I had made 計画（する）s to trace up that visiting card.

"It is difficult to find anything that is a real 手がかり（を与える）," I said.

"Yes, indeed. The whole 事件／事情／状勢 is mysterious, and, for my part, I cannot form even a conjecture as to who the villain might have been. He certainly left no trace."

"Where is the revolver?" I said, picturing the scene in imagination.

Philip Crawford started as if caught unawares.

"How do I know?" he cried, almost 怒って. "I tell you, I have no 疑惑s. I wish I had! I 願望（する）, above all things, to bring my brother's 殺害者 to 司法（官）. But I don't know where to look. If the 武器 were not 行方不明の, I should think it a 自殺."

"The doctor 宣言するs it could not have been 自殺, even if the 武器 had been 設立する 近づく him. This they learned from the position of his 武器 and 長，率いる."

"Yes, yes; I know it. It was, without 疑問, 殺人. But who—who would have a 動機?"

"They say," I 観察するd, "動機s for 殺人 are usually love, 復讐, or money."

"There is no question of love or 復讐 in this instance. And as for money, as I am the one who has 利益（をあげる）d financially, 疑惑 should 残り／休憩（する） on me."

"Absurd!" I said.

"Yes, it is absurd," he went on, "for had I 願望（する）d Joseph's fortune, I need not have killed him to acquire it. He told me the day before he died that he ーするつもりであるd to disinherit Florence, and make me his 相続人, unless she broke with that 長官 of his. I tried to dissuade him from this step, for we are not a mercenary lot, we Crawfords, and I thought I had made him 再考する his 決定／判定勝ち（する）. Now, as it turns out, he 固執するd in his 解決する, and was only 妨げるd from carrying it out by this midnight 暗殺者. We must find that villain, Mr. Burroughs! Do not consider expense; do anything you can to 跡をつける him 負かす／撃墜する."

"Then, Mr. Crawford," said I, "if you do not mind the 支出, I advise that we send for Fleming 石／投石する. He is a 探偵，刑事 of 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の 力／強力にするs, and I am やめる willing to 降伏する the 事例／患者 to him."

Philip Crawford 注目する，もくろむd me 熱心に.

"You give up easily, young man," he said banteringly.

"I know it seems so," I replied, "but I have my 推論する／理由s. One is, that Fleming 石／投石する makes important deductions from seemingly unimportant 手がかり（を与える）s; and he 持つ／拘留するs that unless these 手がかり（を与える）s are followed すぐに, they are lost sight of and 広大な／多数の／重要な 適切な時期s are gone."

"H'm," mused Philip Crawford, 一打／打撃ing his strong, square chin. "I don't care much for these みごたえのある 探偵，刑事s. Your man, I suppose, would ちらりと見ること at the gold 捕らえる、獲得する, and at once 発表する the age, sex, and previous 条件 of servitude of its owner."

"Just what I have thought, Mr. Crawford. I'm sure he could do just that."

"And that's all the good it would do! That 捕らえる、獲得する doesn't belong to the 犯罪の."

"How do you know?"

"By ありふれた-sense. No woman （機の）カム to the house in the dead of night and 発射 my brother, and then 出発／死d, taking her revolver with her. And again, 認めるing a woman did have 神経 and strength enough to do that, such a woman is not going off leaving her gold 捕らえる、獲得する behind her as 証拠!"

This speech didn't 影響する／感情 me much. It was pure conjecture. Women are uncertain creatures, at best; and a woman 有能な of 殺人 would be 平等に 有能な of losing her 長，率いる afterward, and leaving 状況証拠 behind her.

I was sorry Mr. Crawford didn't seem to take to the notion of sending for 石／投石する. I wasn't 弱めるing in the 事例／患者 so far as my 信用／信任 in my own ability was 関心d; but I could see no direction to look except toward Florence Lloyd or Gregory Hall, or both. And so I was ready to give up.

"What do you think of Gregory Hall?" I said suddenly.

"As a man or as a 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う?" 問い合わせd Mr. Crawford.

"Both."

"井戸／弁護士席, as a man, I think he's about the 普通の／平均（する）, ordinary young American, of the 長官 type. He has little real ambition, but he has had a good 寝台／地位 with Joseph, and he has worked 公正に／かなり hard to keep it. As a 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う, the notion is absurd. He wasn't even in West Sedgwick."

"How do you know?"

"Because he went away at six that evening, and was in New York until nearly noon the next day."

"How do you know?"

Philip Crawford 星／主役にするd at me.

"He says so," I went on; "but no one can 証明する his 声明. He 辞退するs to say where he was in New York, or what he did. Now, 単に as a supposition, why couldn't he have come out here—say on the midnight train—called on Mr. Joseph Crawford, and returned to New York before daylight?"

"Absurd! Why, he had no 動機 for 殺人，大当り Joseph."

"He had the same 動機 Florence would have. He knew of Mr. Crawford's 反対 to their union, and he knew of his 脅し to change his will. Mr. Hall is not blind to the advantages of a fortune."

"権利 you are, there! In fact, I always felt he was marrying Florence for her money. I had no real 推論する／理由 to think this, but somehow he gave me that impression."

"Me, too. Moreover, I 設立する a late extra of a New York paper in Mr. Crawford's office. This wasn't on sale until about half past eleven that night, so whoever left it there must have come out from the city on that midnight train, or later."

A change （機の）カム over Philip Crawford's 直面する. 明らかに he was brought to see the whole 事柄 in a new light.

"What? What's that?" he cried excitedly, しっかり掴むing his 議長，司会を務める-武器 and half rising. "A late newspaper! An extra!"

"Yes; the liner 事故, you know."

"But—but—Gregory Hall! Why man, you're crazy! Hall is a good fellow. Not remarkably clever, perhaps, and a fortune-hunter, maybe, but not—surely not a 殺害者!"

"Don't take it so hard, Mr. Crawford," I broke in. "Probably. Mr. Hall is innocent. But the late paper must have been left there by some one, after, say, one o'clock."

"This is awful! This is terrible!" groaned the poor man, and I couldn't help wondering if he had some other 証拠 against Hall that this seemed to 確認する.

Then, by an 成果／努力, he 回復するd himself, and began to talk in more normal トンs.

"Now, don't let this new idea run away with you, Mr. Burroughs," he said. "If Hall had an interview with my brother that night, he would have learned from him that he ーするつもりであるd to make a new will, but hadn't yet done so."

"正確に／まさに; and that would 構成する a 動機 for putting Mr. Crawford out of the way before he could 遂行する his 目的."

"But Joseph had already destroyed the will that 好意d Florence."

"We don't know that," I 答える／応じるd 厳粛に. "And, anyway, if he had done so, Mr. Hall didn't know it. This leaves his 動機 不変の."

"But the gold 捕らえる、獲得する," said Mr. Crawford, 明らかに to get away—from the 支配する of Gregory Hall.

"If, as you say," I began, "that is Florence's 捕らえる、獲得する—"

I couldn't go on. A strange sense of 義務 had 軍隊d those words from me, but I could say no more.

Fleming 石／投石する might take the 事例／患者 if they 手配中の，お尋ね者 him to; or they might get some one else. But I could not go on, when the only 手がかり（を与える）s discoverable pointed in a way I dared not look.

Philip Crawford was 恐ろしい now. His 直面する was working and he breathed quickly.

"Nonsense, Dad!" cried a strong, young 発言する／表明する, and his son, Philip, Jr., bounded into the room and しっかり掴むd his father's 手渡すs. "I overheard a few of your last words, and you two are on the wrong 跡をつける. Florrie's no more mixed up in that horrible 商売／仕事 than I am. Neither is Hall. He's a fool chap, but no villain. I heard what you said about the late newspaper, but lots of people come out on that midnight train. You may 同様に 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う some peaceable 国民 coming home from the theatre, as to 選ぶ out poor Hall, without a 捨てる of 証拠 to point to him."

I was relieved beyond all words at the hearty 保証／確信 of the boy, and I plucked up new courage. 逮捕 had made me faint-hearted, but if he could show such flawless 信用／信任 in Florence and her betrothed, surely I could do as much.

"Good for you, young man!" I cried, shaking his 手渡す. "You've 元気づけるd me up a lot. I'll take a fresh start, and surely we'll find out something. But I'd like to send for 石／投石する."

"Wait a bit, wait a bit," said Mr. Crawford. "Phil's 権利; there's no 可能性 of Florrie or Hall in the 事柄. Leave the gold 捕らえる、獲得する, the newspapers, and the yellow posies out of consideration, and go to work in some sensible way."

"How about Mr. Joseph's 財政／金融s?" I asked. "Are they in 満足な 形態／調整?"

"Never finer," said Philip Crawford. "Joseph was a very rich man, and all 予定 to his own clever and careful 投資s. A bit of a 相場師, but always on the 権利 味方する of the market. Why, he 公正に／かなり had a corner in X.Y. 在庫／株. Just that 取引，協定—and it will go through in a few days—means a fortune in itself. I shall settle that on Florence."

"Then you think the will will never be 設立する?" I said.

Mr. Crawford looked a little ashamed, 同様に he might, but he only said,

"If it is, no one will be more glad than I to see Florrie 復帰させるd in her own 権利. If no will turns up, Joe's 広い地所 is 合法的に 地雷, but I shall see that Florence is amply 供給するd for."

He spoke with a proud dignity, and I was rather sorry I had caught him up so はっきりと.

I went 支援する to the inn, and, after vainly racking my brain over it all for a time, I turned in, but to a miserably broken night's 残り／休憩（する）.

XVI
A Call On Mrs. Purvis

The next morning I received （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from （警察，軍隊などの）本部. It was a long-code 電報電信, and I 熱望して deciphered it, to learn that Mrs. Egerton Purvis was an English lady who was spending a few months in New York City. She was staying at the Albion Hotel, and seemed to be in every way above 疑惑 of any sort.

Of course I started off at once to see Mrs. Purvis.

Parmalee （機の）カム just as I was leaving the inn, and was of course anxious and inquisitive to know where I was going, and what I was going to do.

At first I thought I would take him into my 信用／信任, and I even thought of taking him with me. But I felt sure I could do better work alone. It might be that Mrs. Egerton Purvis should turn out to be an important factor in the 事例／患者, and I suppose it was really an instinct of vanity that made me prefer to look her up without Parmalee by my 味方する.

So I told him that I was going to New York on a 事柄 in 関係 with the 事例／患者, but that I preferred to go alone, but I would tell him the entire result of my 使節団 as soon as I returned. I think he was a little disappointed, but he was a good-natured chap, and bade me a cheerful goodby, 説 he would 会合，会う me on my return.

I went to New York and went straight to the Albion Hotel.

Learning at the desk that the lady was really there, I sent my card up to her with a request for an 即座の audience, and very soon I was 召喚するd to her apartment.

She 迎える／歓迎するd me with that 空気／公表する of frigid reserve typical of an English woman. Though not unattractive to look at, she 所有するd the high cheekbones and 目だつ teeth which are almost 全世界の／万国共通の in the women of her nation. She was perhaps between thirty and forty years old, and had the 空気／公表する of a grande dame.

"Mr. Burroughs?" she said, looking through her lorgnon at my card, which she held in her 手渡す.

"Yes," I assented, and 裁判官ing from her 外見 that she was a woman of a decided and straightforward nature I （機の）カム at once to the point.

"I'm a 探偵，刑事, madam," I began, and the 発言／述べる startled her out of her 静める.

"A 探偵，刑事!" she cried out, with much the same トン as if I had said a rattlesnake.

"Do not be alarmed, I 単に 明言する／公表する my profession to explain my errand."

"Not be alarmed! when a 探偵，刑事 comes to see me! How can I help it? Why, I've never had such an experience before. It is shocking! I've met many queer people in the 明言する／公表するs, but not a 探偵，刑事! Reporters are bad enough!"

"Don't let it 乱す you so, Mrs. Purvis. I 保証する you there is nothing to trouble you in the fact of my presence here, unless it is trouble of your own making."

"Trouble of my own making!" she almost shrieked. "Tell me at once what you mean, or I shall （犯罪の）一味 the bell and have you 解任するd."

Her 恐れる and excitement made me think that perhaps I was on the 跡をつける of new 開発s, and lest she should carry out her 脅し of （犯罪の）一味ing the bell, I 急落（する），激減（する）d at once into the 支配する.

"Mrs. Purvis, have you lost a gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する?" I said bluntly.

"No, I 港／避難所't," she snapped, "and if I had, I should take means to 回復する it, and not wait for a 探偵，刑事 to come and ask me about it."

I was terribly disappointed. To be sure she might be telling a falsehood about the 捕らえる、獲得する, but I didn't think so. She was angry, annoyed, and a little 脅すd at my 侵入占拠, but she was not at all embarrassed at my question.

"Are you やめる sure you have not lost a gold-link 捕らえる、獲得する?" I 主張するd, as if in idiotic 努力する to 説得する her to have done so.

"Of course I'm sure," she replied, half laughing now; "I suppose I should know it if I had done so."

"It's a rather 価値のある 捕らえる、獲得する," I went on, "with a gold でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる-work and gold chain."

"井戸／弁護士席, if it's 価値（がある） a whole fortune, it isn't my 捕らえる、獲得する," she 宣言するd; "for I never owned such a one."

"井戸／弁護士席," I said, in desperation, "your visiting card is in it."

"My visiting card!" she said, with an 表現 of blank wonderment. "井戸／弁護士席, even if that is true, it doesn't make it my 捕らえる、獲得する. I frequently give my cards to other people."

This seemed to 約束 light at last. Somehow I couldn't 疑問 her 主張 that it was not her 捕らえる、獲得する, and yet the thought suddenly occurred to me if she were clever enough to be 巻き込むd in the Crawford 悲劇, and if she had left her 捕らえる、獲得する there, she would be 推定する／予想するing this 調査, and would probably be clever enough to have a story 用意が出来ている.

"Mrs. Purvis, since you say it is not your 捕らえる、獲得する, I'm going to ask you, in the 利益／興味s of 司法（官）, to help me all you can."

"I'm やめる willing to do so, sir. What is it you wish to know?"

"A 罪，犯罪 has been committed in a small town in New Jersey. A gold-link 捕らえる、獲得する was afterward discovered at the scene of the 罪，犯罪, and though 非，不，無 of its other contents betokened its owner, a visiting card with your 指名する on it was in the 捕らえる、獲得する."

Becoming 利益／興味d in the story, Mrs. Purvis seemed to get over her fright, and was exceedingly sensible for a woman.

"It certainly is not my 捕らえる、獲得する, Mr. Burroughs, and if my card is in it, I can only say that I must have given that card to the lady who owns the 捕らえる、獲得する."

This seemed distinctly plausible, and also 約束d その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）.

"Do you remember giving your card to any lady with such a 捕らえる、獲得する?"

Mrs. Purvis smiled. "So many of your American women carry those 捕らえる、獲得するs," she said; "they seem to be almost 全世界の／万国共通の this year. I have probably given my card to a 得点する／非難する／２０ of ladies, who すぐに put it into just such a 捕らえる、獲得する."

"Could you tell me who they are?"

"No, indeed;" and Mrs. Purvis almost laughed 完全な, at what was doubtless a foolish question.

"But can't you help me in any way?" I pleaded.

"I don't really see how I can," she replied. "You see I have so many friends in New York, and they make little parties for me, or afternoon teas. Then I 会合，会う a 広大な／多数の／重要な many American ladies, and we often 交流 cards. But we do it so often that of course I can't remember every particular instance. Have you the card you speak of?"

I thanked my 星／主役にするs that I had been thoughtful enough to 得る the card before leaving West Sedgwick, and taking it from my pocket-調書をとる／予約する, I gave it to her.

"Oh, that one!" she said; "perhaps I can help you a little, Mr. Burroughs. That is an old-fashioned card, one of a few left over from an old lot. I have been using them only lately, because my others gave out. I have really gone much more into society in New York than I had 心配するd, and my cards seemed 公正に／かなり to melt away. I ordered some new ones here, but before they were sent to me I was 強いるd to use a few of these old-fashioned ones. I don't know that this would help you, but I think I can tell pretty nearly to whom I gave those cards."

It seemed a 不安定な sort of a chance, but as I talked with Mrs. Purvis, I felt more and more 肯定的な that she herself was not 巻き込むd in the Crawford 事例／患者. However, it was just 同様に to make 確かな . She had gone to her 令状ing-desk, and seemed to be looking over a diary or 約束／交戦 調書をとる／予約する.

"Mrs. Purvis," I said, "will you tell me where you were on Tuesday evening of last week?"

"Certainly;" and she turned 支援する the leaves of the 調書をとる／予約する. "I went to a theatre party with my friends, the Hepworths; and afterward, we went to a little supper at a restaurant. I returned here about midnight. Must I 証明する this?" she 追加するd, smiling; "for I can probably do so, by the hotel clerk and by my maid. And, of course, by my friends who gave the party."

"No, you needn't 証明する it," I answered, 確かな now that she knew nothing of the Crawford 事柄; "but I hope you can give me more （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about your card."

"Why, I remember that very night, I gave my cards to two ladies who were at the theatre with us; and I remember now that at that time I had only these old-fashioned cards. I was rather ashamed of them, for Americans are punctilious in such 事柄s; and now that I think of it, one of the ladies was carrying a gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する."

"Who was she?" I asked, hardly daring to hope that I had really struck the 追跡する.

"I can't seem to remember her 指名する, but perhaps it will come to me. It was rather an English type of 指名する, something like Coningsby."

"Where did she live?"

"I 港／避難所't the slightest idea. You see I 会合，会う these ladies so casually, and I really never 推定する／予想する to see any of them again. Our 交流 of cards is a mere bit of formal 儀礼. No, I can't remember her 指名する, or where she was from. But I don't think she was a New Yorker."

Truly it was hard to come so 近づく getting what might be 決定的な （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, and yet have it beyond my しっかり掴む! It was やめる evident that Mrs. Purvis was honestly trying to remember the lady's 指名する, but could not do so.

And then I had what seemed to me an inspiration. "Didn't she give you her card?" I asked.

A light broke over Mrs. Purvis's 直面する. "Why, yes, of course she did! And I'm sure I can find it."

She turned to a card-tray, and 速く running over the bits of pasteboard, she selected three or four.

"Here they are," she exclaimed, "all here together. I mean all the cards that were given me on that particular evening. And here is the 指名する I couldn't think of. It is Mrs. Cunningham. I remember distinctly that she carried a gold 捕らえる、獲得する, and no one else in the party did, for we were admiring it. And here is her 演説（する）／住所 on the card; マラソン Park, New Jersey."

I almost fainted, myself, with the suddenness of the 発見. Had I really 設立する the 指名する and 演説（する）／住所 of the owner of the gold 捕らえる、獲得する? Of course there might be a slip yet, but the 証拠 seemed （疑いを）晴らす that Mrs. Cunningham, of マラソン Park, owned the 捕らえる、獲得する that had been the 支配する of so much 憶測.

I had no idea where マラソン Park might be, but that was a mere 詳細（に述べる）. I thanked Mrs. Purvis 心から for the help she had given me, and I was glad I had not told her that her casual 知識 was perhaps 巻き込むd in a 殺人 mystery.

I made my adieux and returned at once to West Sedgwick.

As he had 約束d, Parmalee met me at the 駅／配置する, and I told him the whole story, for I thought him する権利を与えるd to the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） at once.

"Why, man alive!" he exclaimed, "マラソン Park is the very next 駅／配置する to West Sedgwick!"

"So it is!" I said; "I knew I had a 煙霧のかかった idea of having seen the 指名する, but the trains I have taken to and from New York have been 表明するs, which didn't stop there, and I paid no attention to it."

"It's a small park," went on Parmalee, "of swagger 住居s; very 排除的 and reserved, you know. You've certainly 明らかにするd startling news, but I can't help thinking that it will be a wild goose chase that leads us to look for our 犯罪の in マラソン Park!"

"What do you think we'd better do?" said I. "Go to see Mrs. Cunningham?"

"No, I wouldn't do that," said Parmalee, who had a sort of plebeian hesitancy at the thought of intruding upon aristocratic strangers. "Suppose you 令状 her a letter and just ask her if she has lost her 捕らえる、獲得する."

"All 権利," I 譲歩するd, for truth to tell, I 大いに preferred to stay in West Sedgwick than to go out of it, for I had always the undefined hope of seeing Florence Lloyd.

So I wrote a letter, not 正確に／まさに curt, but 厳密に formal, asking Mrs. Cunningham if she had recently lost a gold-mesh 捕らえる、獲得する, 含む／封じ込めるing her gloves and handkerchief.

Then Parmalee and I agreed to keep the 事柄 a secret until we should get a reply to this, for we 結論するd there was no use in stirring up public curiosity on the 事柄 until we knew ourselves that we were on the 権利 追跡する.

XVII
The Owner of the Gold 捕らえる、獲得する

The next day I received a letter 演説（する）／住所d in modish, angular penmanship, which, before I opened it, I felt sure had come from Mrs. Cunningham. It ran as follows,

Mr. HERBERT Burroughs,

Dear Sir: Yes, I have lost a gold 捕らえる、獲得する, and I have known all along that it is the one the newspapers are talking so much about in 関係 with the Crawford 事例／患者. I know, too, that you are the 探偵，刑事 on the 事例／患者, and though I can't imagine how you did it, I think it was awfully clever of you to trace the 捕らえる、獲得する to me, for I'm sure my 指名する wasn't in it anywhere. As I say, the 捕らえる、獲得する is 地雷, but I didn't kill Mr. Crawford, and I don't know who did. I would go straight to you, and tell you all about it, but I am afraid of 探偵，刑事s and lawyers, and I don't want to be mixed up in the 事件／事情／状勢 anyway. But I am going to see 行方不明になる Lloyd, and explain it all to her, and then she can tell you. Please don't let my 指名する get in the papers, as I hate that sort of prominence.

Very truly yours,

ELIZABETH CUNNINGHAM.

I smiled a little over the femininity of the letter, but as Parmalee had prophesied, マラソン Park was evidently no place to look for our 犯罪の.

The foolish little woman who had written that letter, had no 有罪の secret on her 良心, of that I was sure.

I telephoned for Parmalee and showed him the letter.

"It doesn't help us in one way," he said, "for of course, Mrs. Cunningham is not 巻き込むd. But the 捕らえる、獲得する is still a 手がかり（を与える）, for how did it get into Mr. Crawford's office?"

"We must find out who Mr. Cunningham is," I 示唆するd.

"He's not the 犯罪の, either. If he had left his wife's 捕らえる、獲得する there, he never would have let her send this letter."

"Perhaps he didn't know she wrote it."

"Oh, perhaps lots of things! But I am anxious to learn what Mrs. Cunningham tells 行方不明になる Lloyd."

"Let us go over to the Crawford house, and tell 行方不明になる Lloyd about it."

"Not this morning; I've another 約束／交戦. And besides, the little lady won't get around so soon."

"Why a little lady?" I asked, smiling.

"Oh, the whole トン of the letter seems to 暗示する a little yellow-haired バタフライ of a woman."

"Just the 逆転する of Florence Lloyd," I said musingly.

"Yes; no one could imagine 行方不明になる Lloyd 令状ing a letter like that. There's lots of personality in a woman's letter. Much more than in a man's."

Parmalee went away, and 誘発するd by his suggestions, I 熟考する／考慮するd the letter I had just received. It was 単に an idle fancy, for if Mrs. Cunningham was going to tell 行方不明になる Lloyd her story, it made little difference to me what might be her stature or the color of her hair. But, probably because of Parmalee's suggestion, I pictured her to myself as a pretty young woman with that 空気／公表する of half innocence and half ignorance which so 井戸／弁護士席 becomes the plump blonde type.

The 幅の広い veranda of the Sedgwick 武器 was a pleasant place to sit, and I had mused there for some time, when Mr. Carstairs （機の）カム out to tell me that I was asked for on the telephone. The call 証明するd to be from Florence Lloyd asking me to come to her at once.

Only too glad to obey this 召喚するs, I went 直接／まっすぐに to the Crawford house, wondering if any new 証拠 had been brought to light.

Lambert opened the door for me, and 勧めるd me into the library, where Florence was receiving a lady 報知係.

"Mrs. Cunningham," said Florence, as I entered, "may I 現在の Mr. Burroughs—Mr. Herbert Burroughs. I sent for you," she 追加するd, turning to me, "because Mrs. Cunningham has an important story to tell, and I thought you せねばならない hear it at once."

I 屈服するd politely to the stranger, and を待つd her 公表，暴露s.

Mrs. Cunningham was a pretty, frivolous-looking woman, with 控訴，上告ing blue 注目する，もくろむs, and a manner half-childish, half-apologetic.

I smiled involuntarily to see how nearly her 外見 同時に起こる／一致するd with the picture in my mind, and I 迎える／歓迎するd her almost as if she were a previous 知識.

"I know I've done very wrong," she began, with a nervous little ぱたぱたする of her pretty 手渡すs; "but I'm ready now to 'fess up, as the children say."

She looked at me, so sure of an answering smile, that I gave it, and said,

"Let us hear your 自白, Mrs. Cunningham; I 疑問 if it's a very dreadful one."

"井戸／弁護士席, you see," she went on, "that gold 捕らえる、獲得する is 地雷."

"Yes," I said; "how did it get here?"

"I've no idea," she replied, and I could see that her shallow nature 公正に／かなり exulted in the sensation she was creating. "I went to New York that night, to the theatre, and I carried my gold 捕らえる、獲得する, and I left it in the train when I got out at the 駅／配置する."

"West Sedgwick?" I asked.

"No; I live at マラソン Park, the next 駅／配置する to this."

"Next on the way to New York?"

"Yes. And when I got out of the train—I was with my husband and some other people—we had been to a little theatre party—I 行方不明になるd the 捕らえる、獲得する. But I didn't tell Jack, because I knew he'd scold me for 存在 so careless. I thought I'd get it 支援する from the Lost and 設立する Department, and then, the very next day, I read in the paper about the—the—awful 事故, and it told about a gold 捕らえる、獲得する 存在 設立する here."

"You 認めるd it as yours?"

"Of course; for the paper 述べるd everything in it—even to the cleaner's 宣伝 that I'd just 削減（する） out that very day."

"Why didn't you come and （人命などを）奪う，主張する it at once?"

"Oh, Mr. Burroughs, you must know why I didn't! Why, I was 脅すd 'most to death to read the accounts of the terrible 事件／事情／状勢; and to mix in it, myself—ugh! I couldn't dream of anything so horrible."

It was absurd, but I had a 願望（する） to shake the silly little bundle of femininity who told this really important story, with the twitters and simpers of a silly school-girl.

"And you would not have come, if I had not written you?"

She hesitated. "I think I should have come soon, even without your letter."

"Why, Mrs. Cunningham?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I kept it secret as long as I could, but yesterday Jack saw that I had something on my mind. I couldn't fool him any longer."

"As to your having a mind!" I said to myself, but I made no comment aloud.

"So I told him all about it, and he said I must come at once and tell 行方不明になる Lloyd, because, you see, they thought it was her 捕らえる、獲得する all the time."

"Yes," I said 厳粛に; "it would have been better if you had come at first, with your story. Have you any one to 立証する it, or any proofs that it is the truth?"

The blue 注目する，もくろむs regarded me with an 負傷させるd 表現. Then she brightened again.

"Oh, yes, I can `証明する 所有物／資産／財産'; that's what you mean, isn't it? I can tell you which glove finger is ripped, and just how much money is in the 捕らえる、獲得する, and—and here's a handkerchief 正確に／まさに like the one I carried that night. Jack said if I told you all these things, you'd know it's my 捕らえる、獲得する, and not 行方不明になる Lloyd's."

"And then, there was a card in it."

"A card? My card?"

"No, not your card; a card with another 指名する on it. Don't you know whose?"

Mrs. Cunningham thought for a moment. Then, "Oh, yes!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Purvis gave me her card, and I tucked it in the pocket of the 捕らえる、獲得する. Was that the way you discovered the 捕らえる、獲得する was 地雷? And how did that make you know it."

"I'll tell you about that some other time if you wish, Mrs. Cunningham; but just now I want to get at the important part of your story. How did your gold 捕らえる、獲得する get in Mr. Crawford's office?"

"Ah, how did it?" The laughing 直面する was sober now and she seemed appalled at the question. "Jack says some one must have 設立する it in the car-seat where I left it, and he"—she lowered her 発言する／表明する—"he must be the—"

"The 殺害者," I 供給（する）d calmly. "It does look that way. You have 証言，証人／目撃するs, I suppose, who saw you in that train?"

"Mercy, yes! Lots of them. The train reaches マラソン Park at 12: 50, and is 予定 here at one o'clock. Ever so many people got out at our 駅／配置する. There were six in our own party, and others besides. And the conductor knows me, and everybody knows Jack. He's Mr. John Le Roy Cunningham."

It was impossible to 疑問 all this. その上の corroboration it might be 井戸／弁護士席 to get, but there was not the slightest question in my mind as to the little lady's truthfulness.

"I thank you, Mrs. Cunningham," I said, "for coming to us with your story. You may not be able to get your 捕らえる、獲得する to-day, but I 保証する you it will, be sent to you as soon as a few 調査s can be made. These are 単に for the sake of 形式順守s, for, as you say, your fellow townspeople can certify to your presence on the train, and your leaving it at the マラソン Park 駅／配置する."

"Yes," she replied; "and"—she 手渡すd me a paper—"there's my husband's 演説（する）／住所, and his lawyer's 演説（する）／住所, and the 演説（する）／住所s of all the people that were in our party that night. Jack said you might like to have the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）. He would have come himself to-day, only he's fearfully busy. And I said I didn't mind coming alone, just to see 行方不明になる Lloyd. I wouldn't have gone to a 陪審／陪審員団 会合, though. And I'm in no hurry for the 捕らえる、獲得する. In fact, I don't care much if I never get it. It wasn't the value of the thing that made me come at all, but the 恐れる that my 捕らえる、獲得する might make trouble for 行方不明になる Lloyd. Jack said it might. I don't see how, myself, but I'm a foolish little thing, with no 長，率いる for 商売／仕事 事柄s." She shook her 長，率いる, and gurgled an absurd little laugh, and then, after a loquacious leave-taking, she went away.

"井戸／弁護士席?" I said to Florence, and then, "井戸／弁護士席?" Florence said to me.

It was astonishing how 速く our 知識 had 進歩d. Already we had laid aside all 形式順守 of speech and manner, and if the girl had not really discovered my mental 態度 toward her, at least I think she must have 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd it.

"Of course," I began, "I knew it wasn't your 捕らえる、獲得する, because you said it wasn't. But I did incline a little to the `woman 訪問者' theory, and now that is destroyed. I think we must 結論する that the 捕らえる、獲得する was brought here by the person who 設立する it on that midnight train."

"Why didn't that person turn it over to the conductor?" she said, more as if thinking to herself than speaking to me.

"Yes, why, indeed?" I echoed. "And if he brought it here, and committed a 犯罪の 行為／法令／行動する, why go away and leave it here?"

I think it was at the same moment that the minds of both of us turned to Gregory Hall. Her 注目する，もくろむs fell, and as for me, I was nearly stunned with the thoughts that （機の）カム 急ぐing to my brain.

If the late newspaper had seemed to point to Hall's coming out on that late train, how much more so this 捕らえる、獲得する, which had been left on that very train.

We were silent for a time, and then, 解除するing her 甘い 注目する，もくろむs bravely to 地雷, Florence said,

"I have something to tell you."

"Yes," I replied, 鎮圧するing 負かす／撃墜する the longing to take her in my 武器 and let her tell it there.

"Mr. Hall had a talk with me this morning. He says that he and the others have searched everywhere possible for the will, and it cannot be 設立する. He says Uncle Joseph must have destroyed it, and that it is 事実上 settled that Uncle Philip is the 合法的な 相続人. Of course, Mr. Philip Crawford isn't my uncle, but I have always called him that, and Phil and I have been just like cousins."

"What else did Mr. Hall say?" I asked, for I divined that the difficult part of her recital was yet to come.

"He said," she went on, with a rising color, "that he wished me to break our 約束／交戦."

I will do myself the 司法（官） to say that although my first uncontrollable thought was one of pure joy at this 発覚, yet it was 即時に followed by sympathy and consideration for her.

"Why?" I asked in a 発言する／表明する that I tried to keep from 存在 hard.

"He says," she continued, with a 公式文書，認める of weariness in her 発言する／表明する, "that he is not a rich man, and cannot give me the 慰安s and 高級なs to which I have been accustomed, and that therefore it is only 権利 for him to 解放（する） me."

"Of course you didn't 受託する his generous sacrifice," I said; and my own hopes ran 暴動 as I listened for her answer.

"I told him I was willing to 株 poverty with him," she said, with a 静かな dignity, as if telling an impersonal tale, "but he 主張するd that the 約束／交戦 should be broken."

"And is it?" I asked 熱望して, almost breathlessly.

She gave me that look which always rebuked me—always put me 支援する in my place—but which, it seemed to me, was a little いっそう少なく 厳しい than ever before. "It's left 決めかねて for a day or two," she said. Then she 追加するd hurriedly,

"I must see if he needs me. Do you suppose this story of Mrs. Cunningham's will in any way—井戸／弁護士席, 影響する／感情 him?"

"It may," I replied truthfully. "At any 率, he must be made to tell where he was and what he was doing Tuesday night. You have no idea, have you?"

Florence hesitated a moment, looked at me in a way I could not fathom, and then, but only after a little choking sound in her throat, she said,

"No, I have no idea."

It was impossible to believe her. No one would show such emotion, such difficulty of speech, if telling a simple truth. Yet when I looked in her troubled 注目する，もくろむs, and read there 苦悩, 不確定, and 悲惨, I only loved her more than ever. Truly it was time for me to give up this 事例／患者. Whatever turn it took, I was no fit person to 扱う 手がかり（を与える）s or 証拠 which filled me with deadly 恐れる lest they turn against the one I loved.

And yet that one, already 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd by many, had been 証明するd to have both 動機 and 適切な時期.

And I, I who loved her, knew that, in one instance, at least, she had been untruthful.

Yes, it was high time for me to give this 事例／患者 into other 手渡すs.

I looked at her again, 刻々と but with a meaning in my ちらりと見ること that I hoped she would understand. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 her to know, that though of course 司法（官） was my end and 目的（とする）, yet I was sure the truth could not 巻き込む her, and if it did 巻き込む Mr. Hall, the sooner we discovered it the better.

I think she 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd my meaning, for the troubled look in her own 注目する，もくろむs disappeared, and she seemed suddenly almost willing to give me her 十分な 信用／信任.

I 解決するd to make the most of my 適切な時期.

"Of course you know," I said gently, "that I want to believe all you say to me. But, 行方不明になる Lloyd, your 自然に truthful nature so 反逆者／反逆するs at your unveracity, that it is only too plain to be seen when you are not telling the truth. Now, I do not 勧める you, but I ask you to tell me, confidentially if you choose, what your surmise is as to Mr. Hall's strange reticence."

"It is only a surmise," she said, and though the troubled look （機の）カム 支援する to her 注目する，もくろむs, she looked 刻々と at me. "And I have no real 推論する／理由 even to think it, but I can't help feeling that Gregory is 利益／興味d in some other woman beside myself."

Again I felt that uncontrollable impulse of satisfaction at this 公表，暴露, and again I stifled it. I 努力するd to 扱う／治療する the 事柄 lightly. "Is that all?" I asked; "do you mean that perhaps Mr. Hall was calling on some other lady 知識 that evening?"

"Yes, that is what I do mean. And, as I say, I have no real 推論する／理由 to think it. But still, Mr. Burroughs, if it were true, I cannot agree with you that it is unimportant. Surely a man is not 推定する／予想するd to call on one woman when he is betrothed to another, or at least, not to make a secret of it."

I 完全に agreed with her, and my opinion that Hall was a cad received decided 確定／確認.

"My 扱う／治療するing it as a light 事柄, 行方不明になる Lloyd, was not やめる sincere. Indeed, I may 同様に 自白する that it was partly to cover the too serious 利益／興味 I take in the 事柄."

She looked up, startled at this, but as my 注目する，もくろむs told her a 確かな truth I made no 成果／努力 to 隠す, she looked 負かす／撃墜する again, and her lip quivered.

I pulled myself together. "Don't think I am taking advantage of your 信用／信任," I said gently; "I want only to help you. Please consider me an impersonal factor, and let me do all I can for you. For the moment, let us suppose your surmise is 訂正する. This would, of course, 解放する／自由な Mr. Hall from any 関わりあい／含蓄 of 罪，犯罪."

"Yes, and while I can't 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う him of anything like 罪，犯罪, I hate, also, to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う him of disloyalty to me."

Her 長，率いる went up with a proud gesture, and I suddenly knew that the thought of Hall's 利益／興味 in another woman, 影響する／感情d her pride and her sense of what was 予定 her, far more than it did her heart. Her 恐れる was not so much that Hall loved another woman, as that his secrecy in the 事柄 meant a slight to her own dignified position.

"I understand, 行方不明になる Lloyd, and I hope for the sake of all 関心d, your surmise is not 訂正する. But, with your 許可, I feel it my 義務 to discover where Mr. Hall was that evening, even if to do this it is necessary to have professional 援助 from （警察，軍隊などの）本部."

She shuddered at this. "It is so horrid," she said, "to 秘かに調査する upon a gentleman's movements, if he is only engaged in his personal 事件／事情／状勢s."

"If we were sure of that, we need not 秘かに調査する upon him. But to the 注目する，もくろむ of 司法（官） there is always the 可能性 that he was not about his personal 事件／事情／状勢s that evening, but was here in West Sedgwick."

"You don't really 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う him, do you?" she said; and she looked at me as if trying to read my very soul.

"I'm afraid I do," I answered 厳粛に; "but not so much from 証拠 against him, as because I don't know where else to look. Do you?"

"No," said Florence Lloyd.

XVIII
In Mr. Goodrich's Office

As was my 義務 I went next to the 検察官's office to tell him about Mrs. Cunningham and the gold 捕らえる、獲得する, and to find out from him anything I could 関心ing Gregory Hall. I 設立する Mr. Porter calling there, and both he and Mr. Goodrich welcomed me as a possible bringer of fresh news. When I said that I did know of new 開発s, Mr. Porter half rose from his 議長，司会を務める.

"I dare say I've no 商売／仕事 here," he said; "but you know the 深い 利益／興味 I take in this whole 事柄. Joseph Crawford was my lifelong friend and 近づく neighbor, and if I can be in any way instrumental in 解放する／自由なing Florence from this web of 疑惑—"

I turned on him 怒って, and interrupted him by 説,

"Excuse me, Mr. Porter; no one has as yet 発言する／表明するd a 疑惑 against 行方不明になる Lloyd. For you to put such a thought into words, is starting a 地雷 of trouble."

The older man looked at me indulgently, and I think his shrewd perceptions told him at once that I was more 利益／興味d in 行方不明になる Lloyd than a mere 探偵，刑事 need be.

"You are 権利," he said; "but I considered this a confidential 開会／開廷／会期."

"It is," broke in Mr. Goodrich, "and if you will stay, Mr. Porter, I shall be glad to have you listen to whatever Mr. Burroughs has to tell us, and then give us the 利益 of your advice."

I 事実上 echoed the 検察官's words, for I knew Lemuel Porter to be a （疑いを）晴らす-長，率いるd and 井戸／弁護士席-balanced 商売／仕事 man, and his opinions 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） having.

So it was to two very 利益／興味d hearers that I 関係のある first the story of Florence's coming downstairs at eleven o'clock on the 致命的な night, for a final 努力する to 伸び（る） her uncle's 同意 to her betrothal.

"Then it was her 捕らえる、獲得する!" exclaimed Mr. Porter. "I thought so all the time."

I said nothing at the moment and listened for Mr. Goodrich's comment.

"To my mind," said the 検察官 slowly, "this story, told now by 行方不明になる Lloyd, is in her 好意. If the girl were 有罪の, or had any 有罪の knowledge of the 罪，犯罪, she would not have told of this 事柄 at all. It was not 軍隊d from her; she told it 任意に, and I, for one, believe it."

"She told it," said I, "because she wished to take the 責任／義務 of the fallen rose petals upon herself. Since we are speaking plainly, I may 保証する you, gentlemen, that she told of her later visit to the office because I hinted to her that the yellow leaves might 巻き込む Gregory Hall."

"Then," said Mr. Goodrich triumphantly, "she herself 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs Mr. Hall, which 証明するs that she is innocent."

"It doesn't 証明する her innocent of collusion," 観察するd Mr. Porter.

"Nor does it 証明する that she 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs Mr. Hall," I 追加するd. "It 単に shows that she 恐れるs others may 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う him."

"It is very 複雑にするd," said the 検察官.

"It is," I agreed, "and that is why I wish to send for the famous 探偵，刑事, Fleming 石／投石する."

"石／投石する! Nonsense!" exclaimed Mr. Goodrich. "I have every 信用／信任 in your 技術, Mr. Burroughs; I would not 侮辱 you by calling in another 探偵，刑事."

"Surely not," agreed Mr. Porter. "If you need help, Mr. Burroughs, 会談する with our 地元の man, Mr. Parmalee. He's a pretty clever chap, and I don't know why you two don't work more together."

"We do work together," said I. "Mr. Parmalee is both clever and congenial, and we have done our best in the 事柄. But the days are going by and little of real importance has been discovered. However, I 港／避難所't told you as yet, the story of the gold 捕らえる、獲得する. I have 設立する its owner."

Of course there were exclamations of surprise at this, but realizing its importance they 静かに listened to my story.

With scarcely a word of interruption from my hearers, I told them how I had 設立する the card in the 捕らえる、獲得する, how I had learned about Mrs. Purvis from （警察，軍隊などの）本部, how I had gone to see her, and how it had all resulted in Mrs. Cunningham's visit to 行方不明になる Lloyd that morning.

"井戸／弁護士席!" exclaimed Mr. Porter, as I 結論するd the narrative. "井戸／弁護士席! Of all things! 井戸／弁護士席, I am amazed! Why, this gives a wide 範囲 of 可能性s. 得点する／非難する／２０s of our people come out on that theatre train every night."

"But not 得点する／非難する／２０s of people would have a 動機 for putting Joseph Crawford out of the way," said Mr. Goodrich, who sat perplexedly frowning.

Then, by way of a trump card, I told them of the "extra" 版 of the evening paper I had 設立する in the office.

The 検察官 星／主役にするd at me, but still sat frowning and silent.

But Mr. Porter 表明するd his wonderment.

"How it all fits in!" he cried. "The 捕らえる、獲得する, known to be from that late train; the paper, known to have been bought late in New York! Burroughs, you're a wonder! Indeed, we don't want any Fleming 石／投石する, when you can do such clever sleuthing as this."

I 星／主役にするd at him. Nothing I had done seemed to me "clever sleuthing," nor did my simple 発見s seem to me of any 広大な／多数の／重要な significance.

"I don't like it," said Mr. Goodrich, at last. "Everything so far known, both 早期に and late （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, seems to me to point to Gregory Hall and Florence Lloyd in collusion."

"But you said," I interrupted, "that 行方不明になる Lloyd's 自白 that she did go 負かす／撃墜する-stairs late at night was in her 好意."

"I said that before I knew about this 捕らえる、獲得する story. Now I think the 事例／患者 is altered, and the two who had real 動機 are undoubtedly the 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs."

"But they had no 動機," said Mr. Porter, "since Florence doesn't 相続する the fortune."

"But they thought she did," explained the 検察官, "and so the 動機 was just as strong. Mr. Burroughs, I wish you would 会談する with Mr. Parmalee, and both of you 始める，決める to work on the suggestions I have 前進するd. It is a painful 見通し, to be sure, but 司法（官） is inexorable. You agree with me, Mr. Porter?"

Mr. Porter started, as if he, too, had been in a brown 熟考する／考慮する.

"I do and I don't," he said. "本人自身で, I think both those young people are innocent, but if I am 訂正する, no 害（を与える） will be done by a その上の 調査 of their movements on Tuesday night. I think Mr. Hall せねばならない tell where he was that night, if only in self-弁護. If he 証明するs he was in New York, and did not come out here, it will not only （疑いを）晴らす him, but also Florence. For I think no one 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs her of anything more than collusion with him."

Of course I had no mind to tell these men what Florence had told me confidentially about Mr. Hall's possible 占領／職業 Tuesday evening. They were 決定するd to 調査／捜査する that very question, and so, if her surmise were 訂正する, it would 公表する／暴露する itself.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席," I said, after listening to a little その上の discussion, which was really nothing but repetition, "then I will 協議する with Mr. Parmalee, and we will try to make その上の 調査 of Mr. Hall's doings. But I'm ready to 収容する／認める that it does not look 平易な to me to discover anything of importance. Mr. Hall is a 隠しだてする man, and unless we have a 限定された 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 against him it is difficult to make him talk."

"井戸／弁護士席, you can certainly learn something," said Mr. Goodrich. "At any 率 充てる a few days to the 成果／努力. I have 信用／信任 in you, Mr. Burroughs, and I don't think you need call in a man whom you consider your superior. But if you'll excuse me for making a suggestion, let me ask you to remember that a theory of Hall's 犯罪 also かもしれない 巻き込むs 行方不明になる Lloyd. You will probably discover this for yourself, but don't let your natural chivalry toward a woman, and perhaps a personal element in this 事例／患者, blind you to the facts."

Although he put it delicately, I やめる understood that he had noticed my personal 利益／興味 in Florence Lloyd, and so, as it was my 義務 to 無視（する） that 利益／興味 in my work, I 事実上 約束d to remember his （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令.

It was then that I 認める to myself the true 明言する／公表する of my mind. I felt sure Florence was innocent, but I knew 外見s were 堅固に against her, and I 恐れるd I should bungle the 事例／患者 because of the very intensity of my 願望（する） not to. And I thought that Fleming 石／投石する, in spite of 証拠, would be able to 証明する what I felt was the truth, that Florence was guiltless of all knowledge of or complicity in her uncle's death.

However, I had 約束d to go on with the 追求（する），探索（する）, and I 勧めるd myself on, with the hope that その上の 開発s might （疑いを）晴らす Florence, even if they more 深く，強烈に 巻き込むd Gregory Hall.

I went 支援する to the inn, and spent some time in thinking over the 事柄, and methodically 記録，記録的な／記録するing my 結論s. And, while I thought, I became more and more 納得させるd that, whether Florence connived or not, Hall was the villain, and that he had 現実に 殺害された his 雇用者 because he had 脅すd to disinherit his niece.

Perhaps when Hall （機の）カム to the office, late that night, Mr. Crawford was already engaged in 製図／抽選 up the new will, and in order to purloin it Hall had killed him, not knowing that the other will was already destroyed. And destroyed it must be, for surely Hall had no 推論する／理由 to steal or 抑える the will that 好意d Florence.

As a next move, I decided to interview Mr. Hall.

Such 会談 as I had had with him so far, had been interrupted and unsatisfactory. Now I would see him alone, and learn something from his manner and 外見.

I 設立する him, as I had 推定する／予想するd, in the office of his late 雇用者. He was surrounded with papers, and was evidently very busy, but he 迎える／歓迎するd me with a fair show of 真心, and 申し込む／申し出d me a 議長，司会を務める.

"I want to talk to you plainly, Mr. Hall," I said, "and as I see you're busy, I will be as 簡潔な／要約する as possible."

"I've been 推定する／予想するing you," said he calmly. "In fact, I'm rather surprised that you 港／避難所't been here before."

"Why?" said I, 注目する，もくろむing him closely.

"Only because the 調査s made at the 検死 量d to very little, and I assumed you would question all the members of the 世帯 again."

"I'm not sure that's necessary," I 答える／応じるd, に引き続いて his example in 可決する・採択するing a light, casual トン. "I have no 推論する／理由 to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that the servants told other than the exact truth. I have talked to both the ladies, and now I've only a few questions to put to you."

He looked up, surprised at my self-満足させるd 空気／公表する.

"Have you nailed the 犯罪の?" he asked, with a greater show of 利益／興味 than he had before evinced.

"Not 正確に／まさに nailed him, perhaps. But we fancy we are on the scent."

"Resent what?" he asked, looking blank.

"I didn't say `resent.' I said, we are on the scent."

"Oh, yes. And in what direction does it lead you?"

"In your direction," I said, willing to try what 影響 bluntness might have upon this composed young man.

"I beg your 容赦?" he said, as if he hadn't heard me.

"証拠s are pointing toward you as the 犯罪の," I said, 決定するd to 乱す his composure if I could.

Instead of showing surprise or 怒り／怒る, he gave a slight smile, as one would at an idea too ridiculous to be entertained for an instant. Somehow, that smile was more 納得させるing to me than any 言葉の protestation could have been.

Then I realized that the man was doubtless a consummate actor, and he had carefully 重さを計るd the value of that supercilious smile against asseverations of innocence. So I went on:

"When did you first learn of the 事故 to the 大西洋 liner, the North America?"

"I suppose you mean that question for a 罠（にかける）," he said coolly; "but I 港／避難所't the least 反対 to answering it. I bought a late 'extra' in New York City the night of the 災害."

"At what hour did you buy it?"

"I don't know 正確に／まさに. It was some time after midnight."

Really, there was little use in 尋問 this man. If he had bought his paper at half-past eleven, as I felt 肯定的な he did, and if he had come out to Sedgwick on the twelve o'clock train, he was やめる 有能な of answering me in this casual way, to throw me off the 跡をつける.

井戸／弁護士席, I would try once again.

"Excuse me, Mr. Hall, but I am 強いるd to ask you some personal questions now. Are you engaged to 行方不明になる Lloyd?"

"I beg your 容赦?"

His continued requests for me to repeat my questions irritated me beyond endurance. Of course it was a bluff to 伸び（る） time, but he did it so politely, I couldn't rebuke him.

"Are you engaged to 行方不明になる Lloyd?" I repeated.

"No, I think not," he said slowly. "She wants to break it off, and I, as a poor man, should not stand in the way of her making a brilliant marriage. She has many 適切な時期s for such, as her uncle often told me, and I should be selfish indeed, now that she herself is poor, to 持つ／拘留する her to her 約束 to me."

The hypocrite! To lay on Florence the 責任／義務 for breaking the 約束／交戦. Truly, she was 井戸／弁護士席 rid of him, and I hoped I could 納得させる her of the fact.

"But she is not so poor," I said. "Mr. Philip Crawford told me he ーするつもりであるs to 供給する for her amply. And I'm sure that means a fair-sized fortune, for the Crawfords are generous people."

Gregory Hall's manner changed.

"Did Philip Crawford say that?" he cried. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure, as he said it to me."

"Then Florence and I may be happy yet," he said; and as I looked him straight in the 注目する，もくろむ, he had the grace to look ashamed of himself, and, with a rising color, he continued: "I hope you understand me, Mr. Burroughs. No man could ask a girl to marry him if he knew that meant 非難するing her to comparative poverty."

"No, of course not," said I sarcastically. "Then I assume that, so far as you are 関心d, your 約束／交戦 with 行方不明になる Lloyd is not broken?"

"By no means. In fact, I could not 砂漠 her just now, when there is a—井戸／弁護士席, a sort of a cloud over her."

"What do you mean?" I 雷鳴d. "There is no cloud over her."

"井戸／弁護士席, you know, the gold 捕らえる、獲得する and the yellow rose leaves..."

"Be silent! The gold 捕らえる、獲得する has been （人命などを）奪う，主張するd by its owner. But you are 責任がある its presence in this room! You, who brought it from the midnight train, and left it here! You, who also left the late city newspaper here! You, who also dropped two yellow petals from the rose in your buttonhole."

Gregory Hall seemed to turn to 石／投石する as he listened to my words. He became white, then ashen gray. His 手渡すs clinched his 議長，司会を務める-武器, and his 注目する，もくろむs grew glassy and 直す／買収する，八百長をするd.

I 押し進めるd home my advantage. "And therefore, traced by these 否定できない 証拠s, I know that you are the slayer of Joseph Crawford. You killed your friend, your benefactor, your 雇用者, in order that he might not disinherit the girl whose fortune you wish to acquire by marrying her!"

Though I had spoken in low トンs, my own 激しい emotion made my words emphatic, and as I finished I was perhaps the more excited of the two.

For Hall's composure had returned; his 直面する 再開するd its natural color; his 注目する，もくろむs their normal 表現—that of 冷淡な 無関心／冷淡.

"Mr. Burroughs," he said 静かに, "you must be insane."

"That is no answer to my 告訴，告発s," I 嵐／襲撃するd. "I tell you of the most conclusive 証拠 against yourself, and instead of any 試みる／企てる to 反駁する it you mildly 発言／述べる, `you are insane.' It is you who are insane, Mr. Hall, if you think you can escape 逮捕（する） and 裁判，公判 for the 殺人 of Joseph Crawford."

"Oh, I think I can," was his only answer, with that maddening little smile of his.

"Then where were you on Tuesday night?"

"Excuse me?"

"Where were you on Tuesday night?"

"That I 辞退する to tell—as I have 辞退するd before, and shall always 辞退する."

"Because you were here, and because you have too much 知恵 to try to 証明する a 誤った アリバイ."

He looked at me half admiringly. "You are 権利 in that," he said. "It is 極端に foolish for any one to 偽の an アリバイ, and I certainly never should try to do so."

"That's how I know you were here," I replied triumphantly.

"You do, do you? 井戸／弁護士席, Mr. Burroughs, I don't pretend to misunderstand you—for 行方不明になる Lloyd has told me all about Mrs. Cunningham and her 捕らえる、獲得する that she left in the train. But I will say this if you think I （機の）カム out on that midnight train, go and ask the conductor. He knows me, and as I often do come out on that train, he may remember that I was not on it that night. And while you're about it, and since you consider that late newspaper a 手がかり（を与える）, also ask him who was on the train that might have come here afterward."

If this was bluffing, it was a very clever bluff, and magnificently carried out. Probably his hope was that the conductor could not say definitely as to Hall's presence on the late train, and any other 指名するs he might について言及する would only 複雑にする 事柄s.

But before I left I made one more 試みる／企てる to get at this man's secret.

"Mr. Hall," I began, "I am not unfriendly. In fact, for 行方不明になる Lloyd's sake 同様に as your own, I should like to 除去する every 影をつくる／尾行する of 疑惑 that hovers 近づく either or both of you."

"I know that," he said quickly. "Don't think I can't see through your `friendliness' to 行方不明になる Lloyd! But be careful there, Mr. Burroughs. A man does not 許す too many `friendly' ちらりと見ることs toward the girl he is engaged to."

So he had discovered my secret! 井戸／弁護士席, perhaps it was a good thing. Now I could fight for Florence more 率直に if necessary.

"You are 権利, Mr. Hall," I went on. "I 持つ／拘留する 行方不明になる Lloyd in very high esteem, and I 保証する you, as man to man, that so long as you and she are betrothed, neither of you will have 原因（となる） to look on me as other than a 探偵，刑事 earnest in his work in your に代わって."

"Thank you," said Hall, a little taken aback by my frankness.

I went away soon after that, and without quizzing him any その上の, for, though I still 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd him, I realized that he would never say anything to 罪を負わせる himself.

The theory that the 犯罪の was some one who （機の）カム in on that midnight train was plausible indeed; but what a 範囲 it 申し込む／申し出d!

Why, a total stranger to Sedgwick might have come and gone, 完全に unobserved, in the （人が）群がる.

It was with little hope, therefore, that I arranged for an interview with the conductor of the train.

He lived in Hunterton, a few 駅／配置するs from West Sedgwick, and, after ascertaining by telephone that he could see me the next day, I went to his house.

"井戸／弁護士席, no," he replied, after thinking over my query a bit; "I don't think Mr. Hall （機の）カム out from New York that night. I'm 'most sure he didn't, because he usually gives me his newspaper as he steps off the train, and I didn't get any `extra' that night."

Of course this wasn't 肯定的な proof that Hall wasn't there, so I asked him to tell me all the West Sedgwick people that he did remember as 存在 on his train that night.

He について言及するd a dozen or more, but they were nearly all 指名するs unknown to me.

"Do you remember the Cunninghams 存在 on the train?" I asked.

"Those マラソン Park people? Oh, yes. They were a gay party,—coming 支援する from a theatre supper, I suppose. And that reminds me: Philip Crawford sat 権利 behind the Cunninghams. I forgot him before. 井戸／弁護士席, I guess that's all the West Sedgwick people I can remember."

I went away not much the wiser, but with a growing thought that buzzed in my brain.

It was absurd, of course. But he had said Philip Crawford had sat 権利 behind Mrs. Cunningham. How, then, could he help seeing the gold 捕らえる、獲得する she left behind, when she got out at the 駅／配置する just before West Sedgwick? Indeed, who else could have seen it but the man in the seat 直接／まっすぐに behind? Even if some one else had 選ぶd it up and carried it from the car, Mr. Crawford must have seen it.

Moreover, why hadn't he said he was on that train? Why 隠す such a simple 事柄? Again, who had 利益（をあげる）d by the whole 事件／事情／状勢? And why had Gregory Hall said: "Ask the conductor who did get off that train?"

The rose petals were already explained by Florence. If, then, Philip Crawford had, much later, come to his brother's with the gold 捕らえる、獲得する and the late newspaper, and had gone away and left them there, and had never told of all this, was there not a new direction in which to look?

But Philip Crawford! The dead man's own brother!

XIX
The Midnight Train

The enormity of 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うing Philip Crawford was so 広大な／多数の／重要な, to my mind, that I went at once to the 検察官's office for 協議 with him.

Mr. Goodrich listened to what I had to say, and then, when I waited for comment, said 静かに:

"Do you know, Mr. Burroughs, I have thought all along that Philip Crawford was 隠すing something, but I didn't think, and don't think now, that he has any 有罪の secret of his own. I rather fancied he might know something that, if told, would be detrimental to 行方不明になる Lloyd's 原因（となる）."

"It may be so," I returned, "but I can't see how that would make him 隠す the fact of his having been on that late train Tuesday night. Why, I discussed with him the 可能性 of Hall's coming out on it, and it would have been only natural to say he was on it, and didn't see Hall."

"Unless he did see him," 発言／述べるd the 検察官.

"Yes; there's that 可能性. He may be 保護物，者ing Hall for 行方不明になる Lloyd's sake—and—"

"Let's go to see him," 示唆するd Mr. Goodrich. "I believe in the 即座の に引き続いて up of any idea we may have."

It was about five in the afternoon, an hour when we were likely to find Mr. Crawford at home, so we started off at once, and on reaching his house we were told that Mr. Randolph was with him in the library, but that he would see us. So to the library we went, and 設立する Mr. Crawford and his lawyer hard at work on the papers of the Joseph Crawford 広い地所.

Perhaps it was imagination, but I thought I （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd a look of 逮捕 on Philip Crawford's 直面する, as we entered, but he 迎える／歓迎するd us in his pleasant, simple way, and asked us to be seated.

"To come 権利 to the point, Mr. Crawford," said the 地区 弁護士／代理人／検事, "Mr. Burroughs and I are still searching for new light on the 悲劇 of your brother's death. And now Mr. Burroughs wants to put a few questions to you, which may help him in his 追求（する），探索（する）."

Philip Crawford looked straight at me with his piercing 注目する，もくろむs, and it seemed to me that he straightened himself, as for an 推定する／予想するd blow.

"Yes, Mr. Burroughs," he said courteously. "What is it you want to ask?"

So plain and straightforward was his manner, that I decided to be 平等に direct.

"Did you come out in that midnight train from New York last Tuesday night?" I began.

"I did," he replied, in even トンs.

"While on the train did you sit behind a lady who left a gold 捕らえる、獲得する in the seat when she got out?"

"I did."

"Did you 選ぶ up that 捕らえる、獲得する and take it away with you?"

"I did."

"Then, Mr. Crawford, as that is the gold 捕らえる、獲得する that was 設立する in your brother's office, I think you 借りがある a more 詳細（に述べる）d explanation."

To say that the lawyer and the 検察官, who heard these questions and answers, were astounded, is putting it too mildly. They were almost 麻ひさせるd with surprise and 狼狽.

To hear these 非難するing 主張s straight from the lips of the man they 罪を負わせるd was startling indeed.

"You are 権利," said Philip Crawford. "I do 借りがある an explanation, and I shall give it here and now."

Although what he was going to say was doubtless a 自白, Mr. Crawford's 直面する showed an unmistakable 表現 of 救済. He seemed like a man who had borne a terrible secret around with him for the past week, and was now glad that he was about to impart it to some one else.

He spoke very 厳粛に, but with no 滞るing or hesitation.

"This is a solemn 自白," he said, turning to his lawyer, "and is made to the 検察官, with yourself and Mr. Burroughs as 証言，証人／目撃するs."

Mr. Randolph 屈服するd his 長，率いる, in acknowledgment of this formal 声明.

"I am a 犯罪の in the 注目する，もくろむs of the 法律," said Mr. Crawford, in an impersonal トン, which I knew he 可決する・採択するd to hide any emotion he might feel. "I have committed a dastardly 罪，犯罪. But I am not the 殺害者 of my brother Joseph."

We all felt our hearts lightened of a 広大な／多数の／重要な 負担, for it was impossible to disbelieve that 静める 声明 and the （疑いを）晴らす gaze of those truthful, unafraid 注目する，もくろむs.

"The story I have to tell will sound as if I might have been my brother's slayer, and this is why I 主張する the contrary at the 手始め."

Pausing here, Mr. Crawford 打ち明けるd the drawer of a desk and took out a small ピストル, which he laid on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"That," he said, "is my revolver, and it is the 武器 with which my brother was killed."

I felt a choking sensation. Philip Crawford's manner was so far 除去するd from a sensational—or melodramatic 影響, that it was doubly impressive. I believed his 声明 that he did not kill his brother, but what could these その上の 発覚s mean? Hall? Florence? Young Philip? Whom would Philip Crawford thus 保護物，者 for a whole week, and then, when 軍隊d to do so, expose?

"You are making strange 宣言s, Mr. Crawford," said Lawyer Randolph, who was already white-直面するd and trembling.

"I know it," went on Philip Crawford, "and I 信用 you three men will hear my story through, and then take such 対策 as you see fit.

"This ピストル, as I said, is my 所有物／資産／財産. Perhaps about a month ago, I took it over to my brother Joseph. He has always been careless of danger, and as he was in the habit of sitting in his office until very late, with the long windows open on a dark veranda, I often told him he せねばならない keep a 武器 in his desk, by way of general 保護. Then, after there had been a number of 押し込み強盗s in West Sedgwick, I took this ピストル to him, and begged him as a 好意 to me to let it stay in his desk drawer as a 予防の 手段. He laughed at my solicitude, but put it away in a drawer, the upper 権利-手渡す one, の中で his 商売／仕事 papers. So much for the ピストル.

"Last Tuesday night I （機の）カム out from New York on that midnight train that reaches West Sedgwick 駅／配置する at one o'clock. In the train I did not notice 特に who sat 近づく me, but when I reached our 駅／配置する and started to leave the car, I noticed a gold 捕らえる、獲得する in the seat ahead. I 選ぶd it up, and, with a half-formed 意向 of 手渡すing it to the conductor, I left the train. But as I stepped off I did not see the conductor, and, though I looked about for him, he did not appear, and the train moved on. I looked in the 駅／配置する, but the ticket スパイ／執行官 was not 明白な, and as the hour was so late I slipped the 捕らえる、獲得する into my pocket, ーするつもりであるing to 手渡す it over to the 鉄道／強行採決する 当局 next morning. In fact, I thought little about it, for I was very much perturbed over some 財政上の considerations. I had been reading my newspaper all the way out, from the city. It was an `extra,' with the account of the steamship 事故."

Here Mr. Crawford looked at me, as much as to say, "There's your precious newspaper 手がかり（を与える）," but his manner was indicative only of sadness and grief; he had no cringing 空気／公表する as of a 殺害者.

"However, I 単に skimmed the news about the steamer, so 利益／興味d was I in they 株式市場 報告（する）／憶測s. I needn't now tell the 詳細（に述べる）s, but I knew that Joseph had a `corner' in X.Y. 在庫／株. I was myself a 激しい 投資家 in it, and I began to realize that I must see Joseph at once, and learn his ーするつもりであるd 活動／戦闘s for the next day. If he threw his 在庫／株 on the market, there would be a 減少（する） of perhaps ten points and I should be a large loser, if, indeed, I were not 完全に wiped out. So I went from the train straight to my brother's home. When I reached the gate, I saw there was a low light in his office, so I went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する that way, instead of to the 前線 door. As I 近づくd the veranda, and went up the steps, I drew from my overcoat pocket the newspaper, and, feeling the gold 捕らえる、獲得する there also, I drew that out, thinking to show it to Joseph. As I look 支援する now, I think it occurred to me that the 捕らえる、獲得する might be Florence's; I had seen her carry one like it. But, as you can readily understand, I gave no coherent thought to the 捕らえる、獲得する, as my mind was 十分な of the 商売／仕事 事柄. The French window was open, and I stepped inside."

Mr. Crawford paused here, but he gave way to no 明白な emotion. He was like a man with an inexorable 義務 to 成し遂げる, and no wish to stop until it was finished.

But truth was stamped unmistakably in every word and every look.

"Only the desk light was turned on, but that gave light enough for me to see my brother sitting dead in his 議長，司会を務める. I 満足させるd myself that he was really dead, and then, in a sort of daze, I looked about the room. Though I felt benumbed and half unconscious, 肉体的に, my thoughts worked 速く. On the desk before him I saw his will."

An irrepressible exclamation from Mr. Randolph was the only sound that 迎える／歓迎するd this astonishing 声明.

"Yes," and Mr. Crawford took a 文書 from the same drawer whence he had taken the ピストル; "there is Joseph Crawford's will, leaving all his 所有物／資産／財産 to Florence Lloyd."

Mechanically, Mr. Randolph took the paper his （弁護士の）依頼人 passed to him, and, after a ちらりと見ること at it, laid it on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in 前線 of him.

"That was my 罪，犯罪," said Philip Crawford solemnly, "and I thank God that I can 自白する it and make restitution. I must have been suddenly 所有するd of a devil of greed, for the moment I saw that will, I knew that if I took it away the 所有物／資産／財産 would be 地雷, and I would then run no danger of 存在 廃虚d by my 在庫／株 憶測s. I had a 薄暗い feeling that I should 結局 give all, or a large part, of the fortune to Florence, but at the moment I was obsessed by evil, and I—I stole my brother's will."

It was an honest 自白 of an awful 罪，犯罪. But under the （一定の）期間 of that strong, low 発言する／表明する, and the upright 耐えるing of that impressive 人物／姿／数字, we could not, at the moment, 非難する; we could only listen and wait.

"Then," the （衆議院の）議長 proceeded, "I was 掴むd with the terrific, unreasoning 恐れる that I dare say always besets a malefactor. I had but one thought, to get away, and leave the 殺人 to be discovered by some one else. In a sort of subconscious 成果／努力 at 警告を与える, I took my ピストル, lest it 証明する 罪を負わせるing 証拠 against me, but in my mad frenzy of 恐れる, I gave no thought to the gold 捕らえる、獲得する or the newspaper. I （機の）カム home, secreted the will and the revolver, and ever since I have had no 疑問s as to the 存在 of a hell. A thousand times I have been on the point of making this 自白, and even had it not been brought about as it has, I must have given way soon. No mortal could stand out long under the 圧力 of 悔恨 and 悔いる that has been on me this past week. Now, gentlemen, I have told you all. The 活動／戦闘 you may take in this 事柄 must be of your own choosing. But, except for the stigma of past sin, I stand again before the world, with no unconfessed 罪，犯罪 upon my 良心. I stole the will; I have 回復するd it. But my 手渡すs are clean of the 血 of my brother, and I am now 解放する／自由な to 追加する my 成果／努力s to yours to find the 犯罪の and avenge the 罪，犯罪."

He had not raised his 発言する／表明する above those low, even トンs in which he had started his recital; he had made no 企て，努力，提案 for leniency of judgment; but, to a man, his three hearers rose and held out friendly 手渡すs to him as he finished his story.

"Thank you," he said 簡単に, as he 受託するd this mute 記念品 of our belief in his word. "I am gratified at your kindly 態度, but I realize, 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく, what this will all mean for me. Not only myself but my innocent family must 株 my 不名誉. However, that is part of the wrongdoer's 罰—that results 落ちる not only on his own 長，率いる, but on the 長，率いるs and hearts of his loved ones."

"Mr. Goodrich," said Mr. Randolph, "I don't know how you look upon this 事柄 from your 公式の／役人 viewpoint, but unless you みなす it necessary, I should think that this 信用／信任 of Mr. Crawford's need never be given to the public. May we not 簡単に 明言する／公表する that the 行方不明の will has been 設立する, without any その上の 公表，暴露s?"

"I am not asking for any such consideration," said Philip Crawford. "If you decide upon such a course, it will be 完全に of your own volition."

The 検察官 hesitated.

"Speaking 本人自身で," he said, at last, "I may say that I place 十分な credence in Mr. Crawford's story. I am 完全に 納得させるd of the 絶対の truth of all his 声明s. But, speaking 公式に, I may say that in a 法廷，裁判所 of 司法（官） 証言，証人／目撃するs would be 要求するd, who could 確認する his words."

"But such 証言，証人／目撃するs are manifestly impossible to procure," said Mr. Randolph.

"Certainly they are," I agreed, "and I should like to make this suggestion: Believing, as we do, in Mr. Crawford's story, it becomes important 証言 in the 事例／患者. Now, if it were made public, it would lose its importance, for it would 始める，決める ignorant tongues wagging, and give rise to absurd and untrue theories, and result in 封鎖するing our best-meant 成果／努力s. So I 提案する that we keep the 事柄 to ourselves for a time—say a week or a fortnight—keeping Mr. Crawford under 監視, if need be. Then we can work on the 事例／患者, with the 利益 of the suggestions 申し込む／申し出d by Mr. Crawford's 発覚s; and I, for one, think such 利益 of 巨大な importance."

"That will do," said Mr. Goodrich, whose troubled 直面する had （疑いを）晴らすd at my suggestion. "You are やめる 権利, Mr. Burroughs. And the `監視' will be a mere empty 形式順守. For a man who has 自白するd as Mr. Crawford has done, is not going to run away from the consequences of his 自白."

"I am not," said Mr. Crawford. "And I am 感謝する for this 一時的休止，執行延期 from unpleasant publicity. I will take my 罰 when it comes, but I feel with Mr. Burroughs that more 進歩 can be made if what I have told you is not at once 一般に known."

"Where now does 疑惑 point?"

It was Mr. Randolph who spoke. His 合法的な mind had already gone ahead of the 現在の occasion, and was 適用するing the new facts to the old theories.

"To Gregory Hall," said the 検察官.

"Wait," said I. "If Mr. Crawford left the 捕らえる、獲得する and the newspaper in the office, we have no 証拠 whatever that Mr. Hall （機の）カム out on that late train."

"Nor did he need to," said Mr. Goodrich, who was thinking 速く. "He might have come on an earlier train, or, for that 事柄, not by train at all. He may have come out from town in a モーター car."

This was possible; but it did not seem to me probable. A モーター car was a 目だつ way for a man to come out from New York and return, if he wished to keep his visit secret. Still, he could have left the car at some distance from the house, and walked the 残り／休憩（する） of the way.

"Did Mr. Hall know that a revolver was kept in Mr. Crawford's desk drawer?" I asked.

"He did," replied Philip Crawford. "He was 現在の when I took my ピストル over to Joseph."

"Then," said Mr. Goodrich, "the 事例／患者 looks to me very serious against Mr. Hall. We have 証明するd his 動機, his 適切な時期, and his method, or, rather, means, of committing the 罪，犯罪. 追加する to this his 不本意 to tell where he was on Tuesday night, and I see 十分な justification for 問題／発行するing a 令状 for his 逮捕（する）."

"I don't know," said Philip Crawford, "whether such 即座の 対策 are advisable. I don't want to 影響（力） you, Mr. Goodrich, but suppose we see Mr. Hall, and question him a little. Then, if it seems to you best, 逮捕（する） him."

"That is a good suggestion, Mr. Crawford," said the 地区 弁護士／代理人／検事. "We can have a sort of 法廷，裁判所 of 調査 by ourselves, and perhaps Mr. Hall will, by his own words, 正当化する or relieve our 疑惑s."

I went away from Mr. Crawford's house, and went straight to Florence Lloyd's. I did this almost involuntarily. Perhaps if I had stopped to think, I might have realized that it did not devolve upon me to tell her of Philip Crawford's 自白. But I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to tell her myself, because I hoped that from her manner of 審理，公聴会 the story I could learn something. I still believed that in trying to 保護物，者 Hall, she had not yet been 完全に frank with me, and at any 率, I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be the one to tell her of the important 最近の 発見.

When I arrived, I 設立する Mr. Porter in the library talking with Florence. At first I hesitated about telling my story before him, and then I remembered that he was one of the best of Florence's friends and 助言者s, and moreover a man of sound judgment and 広大な／多数の／重要な perspicacity. Needless to say, they were both amazed and almost stunned by the recital, and it was some time before they could take in the 状況／情勢 in all its bearings. We had a long, 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な conversation, for the three of us were not 影響（力）d so much by the sensationalness of this new 開発, as by the question of whither it led. Of course the secret was as 安全な with these two, as with those of us who had heard it 直接／まっすぐに from Philip Crawford's lips.

"I understand Philip Crawford's 活動／戦闘," said Mr. Porter, very 本気で. "In the first place he was not やめる himself, 借りがあるing to the sudden shock of seeing his brother dead before his 注目する，もくろむs. Also the sight of his own ピストル, with which the 行為 had evidently been committed, unnerved him. It was an almost unconscious nervous 活動／戦闘 which made him take the ピストル, and it was a sort of subconscious mental working that resulted in his abstracting the will. Had he been in 十分な 所有／入手 of his brain faculty, he could not have done either. He did wrong, of course, but he has made 十分な restitution, and his wrong-doing should not only be forgiven but forgotten."

I looked at Mr. Porter in unfeigned 賞賛. Truly he had 表明するd noble 感情s, and his must be a 概して noble nature that could show such a spirit toward his fellow man.

Florence, too, gave him an appreciative ちらりと見ること, but her mind seemed to be working on the 可能性s of the new 証拠.

"Then it would seem," she said slowly, "that as I, myself, was in Uncle's office at about eleven o'clock, and as Uncle Philip was there a little after one o'clock, whoever killed Uncle Joseph （機の）カム and went away between those hours."

"Yes," I said, and I knew that her thoughts had flown to Gregory Hall. "But I think there are no trains in and out again of West Sedgwick between those hours."

"He need not have come in a train," said Florence slowly, as if 簡単に 発言する／表明するing her thoughts.

"Don't 試みる／企てる to solve the mystery, Florence," said Mr. Porter in his decided way. "Leave that for those who make it their 商売／仕事. Mr. Burroughs, I am sure, will do all he can, and it is not for you to trouble your already sad heart with these 苦悩s. Give it up, my girl, for it means only useless exertion on your part."

"And on my part too, I 恐れる, Mr. Porter," I said. "Without wishing to shirk my 義務, I can't help feeling I'm up against a problem that to me is insoluble. It is my 願望（する）, since the 事例／患者 is baffling, to call in talent of a higher order. Fleming 石／投石する, for instance."

Mr. Porter gave me a sudden ちらりと見ること, and it was a ちらりと見ること I could not understand. For an instant it seemed to me that he showed 恐れる, and this thought was 即時に followed by the impression that he 恐れるd for Florence. And then I chid myself for my foolish heart that made every thought that entered my brain lead to Florence Lloyd. With my mind in this commotion I scarcely heard Mr. Porter's words.

"No, no," he was 説, "we need no other or cleverer 探偵，刑事 than you, Mr. Burroughs. If, as Florence says, the 殺害者 was clever enough to come between those two hours, and go away again, leaving no 調印する, he is probably clever enough so to 隠す his coming and going that he may not be traced."

"But, Mr. Porter," I 観察するd, "they say 殺人 will out."

Again that strange look （機の）カム into his 注目する，もくろむs. Surely it was an 表現 of 恐れる. But he only said, "Then you're the man to bring that result about, Mr. Burroughs. I have 広大な／多数の／重要な 信用／信任 in your 力／強力にするs as a 探偵，刑事."

He took his leave, and I was not sorry, for I 手配中の，お尋ね者 an 適切な時期 to see Florence alone.

"I am so sorry," she said, and for the first time I saw 涙／ほころびs in her dear, beautiful 注目する，もくろむs, "to hear that about Uncle Philip. But Mr. Porter was 権利, he was not himself, or he never could have done it."

"It was an awful thing for him to find his brother as he did, and go away and leave him so."

"Awful, indeed! But the Crawfords have always been strange in their ways. I have never seen one of them show emotion or 感情 upon any occasion."

"Now you are again an heiress," I said, suddenly realizing the fact.

"Yes," she said, but her トン 示すd that her fortune brought in its train many perplexing troubles and many 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な questions.

"許す me," I began, "if I am unwarrantably intrusive, but I must say this. 事件／事情／状勢s are so changed now, that new dangers and troubles may arise for you. If I can help you in any way, will you let me do so? Will you confide in me and 信用 me, and will you remember that in so doing you are not putting yourself under the slightest 義務?"

She looked at me very 真面目に for a moment, and then without replying 直接／まっすぐに to my questions, she said in a low トン, "You are the very best friend I have ever had."

"Florence!" I cried; but even as she had spoken, she had gone softly out of the room, and with a 静かな joy in my heart, I went away.

That afternoon I was 召喚するd to Mr. Philip Crawford's house to be 現在の at the informal 法廷，裁判所 of 調査 which was to interrogate Gregory Hall.

Hall was 召喚するd by telephone, and not long after he arrived. He was 冷静な／正味の and collected, as usual, and I wondered if even his 逮捕（する） would 乱す his 静める.

"We are 追求するing the 調査 of Mr. Joseph Crawford's death, Mr. Hall," the 検察官 began, "and we wish, in the course of our 調査s, to ask some questions of you."

"Certainly, sir," said Gregory Hall, with an 空気／公表する of polite 無関心／冷淡.

"And I may 同様に tell you at the 手始め," went on Mr. Goodrich, a little irritated at the young man's 態度, "that you, Mr. Hall, are under 疑惑."

"Yes?" said Hall interrogatively. "But I was not here that night."

"That's just the point, sir. You say you were not here, but you 辞退する to say where you were. Now, wherever you may have been that night, a frank admission of it will do you いっそう少なく 害（を与える） than this 罪を負わせるing concealment of the truth."

"In that 事例／患者," said Hall easily, "I suppose I may 同様に tell you. But first, since you 事実上 告発する／非難する me, may I ask if any new 開発s have been brought to light?"

"One has," said Mr. Goodrich. "The 行方不明の will has been 設立する."

"What?" cried Hall, unable to 隠す his satisfaction at this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）.

"Yes," said Mr. Goodrich coldly, disgusted at the plainly 明らかな mercenary spirit of the man; "yes, the will of Mr. Joseph Crawford, which bequeaths the 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of his 広い地所 to 行方不明になる Lloyd, is 安全な in Mr. Randolph's 所有／入手. But that fact in no way 影響する／感情s your 関係 with the 事例／患者, or our 願望（する） to learn where you were on Tuesday night."

"容赦 me, Mr. Goodrich; I didn't hear all that you said."

Bluffing again, thought I; and, truly, it seemed to me rather a clever way to 伸び（る） time for consideration, and yet let his answers appear spontaneous.

The 検察官 repeated his question, and now Gregory Hall answered deliberately,

"I still 辞退する to tell you where I was. It in no way 影響する／感情s the 事例／患者; it is a 私的な 事柄 of my own. I was in New York City from the time I left West Sedgwick at six o'clock on Monday, until I returned the next morning. その上の than that I will give no account of my doings."

"Then we must assume you were engaged in some 占領／職業 of which you are ashamed to tell."

Hall shrugged his shoulders. "You may assume what you choose," he said. "I was not here, I had no 手渡す in Mr. Crawford's death, and knew nothing of it until my return next day."

"You knew Mr. Crawford kept a revolver in his desk. You must know it is not there now."

Hall looked troubled.

"I know nothing about that revolver," he said. "I saw it the day Mr. Philip Crawford brought it there, but I have never seen it since."

This sounded honest enough, but if he were the 犯罪の, he would, of course, make these same avowals.

"井戸／弁護士席, Mr. Hall," said the 検察官, with an 空気／公表する of finality, "we 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う you. We 持つ／拘留する that you had 動機, 適切な時期, and means for this 罪，犯罪. Therefore, unless you can 証明する an アリバイ for Tuesday night, and bring 証言，証人／目撃するs to grove where you, were, we must 逮捕（する） you, on 疑惑, for the 殺人 of Joseph Crawford."

Gregory Hall 審議する／熟考するd silently for a few moments, then he said:

"I am innocent. But I 固執する in my 拒絶 to 許す 侵入占拠 on my 私的な and personal 事件／事情／状勢s. 逮捕（する） me if you will, but you will yet learn your mistake."

I can never explain it, even to myself, but something in the man's トン and manner 納得させるd me, even against my own will, that he spoke the truth.

XX
Fleming 石／投石する

The news of Gregory Hall's 逮捕（する） flew through the town like wildfire.

That evening I went to call on Florence Lloyd, though I had little hope that she would see me.

To my surprise, however, she welcomed me almost 熱望して, and, though I knew she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see me only for what 合法的な help I might give her, I was glad even of this.

And yet her manner was far from impersonal. Indeed, she showed a slight 当惑 in my presence, which, if I had dared, I should have been glad to think meant a growing 利益／興味 in our friendship.

"You have heard all?" I asked, knowing from her manner that she had.

"Yes," she replied; "Mr. Hall was here for dinner, and then—then he went away to—"

"To 刑務所，拘置所," I finished 静かに. "Florence, I cannot think he is the 殺害者 of your uncle."

If she noticed this, my first use of her Christian 指名する, she 申し込む／申し出d no remonstrance, and I went on,

"To be sure, they have 証明するd that he had 動機, means, 適切な時期, and all that, but it is only 不明確な／無期限の 証拠. If he would but tell where he was on Tuesday night, he could so easily 解放する／自由な himself. Why will he not tell?"

"I don't know," she said, looking thoughtful. "But I cannot think he was here, either. When he said good-by to me to-night, he did not seem at all apprehensive. He only said he was 逮捕（する）d wrongfully, and that he would soon be 始める，決める 解放する／自由な again. You know his way of taking everything casually."

"Yes, I do. And now that you are your uncle's heiress, I suppose he no longer wishes to break the 約束／交戦 between you and him."

I said this 激しく, for I loathed the nature that could thus turn about in 一致 with the wheel of fortune.

To my surprise, she too spoke 激しく.

"Yes," she said; "he 主張するs now that we are engaged, and that he never really 手配中の，お尋ね者 to break it. He has shown me 前向きに／確かに that it is my money that attracts him, and if it were not that I don't want to seem to 砂漠 him now, when he is in trouble—"

She paused, and my heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 速く. Could it be that at last she saw Gregory Hall as he really was, and that his mercenary spirit had killed her love for him? At least, she had intimated this, and, 軍隊ing myself to be content with that for the 現在の, I said:

"Would you, then, if you could, get him out of this trouble?"

"喜んで. I do not think he killed Uncle Joseph, but I'm sure I do not know who did. Do you?"

"I 港／避難所't the least idea," I answered honestly, for there, in Florence Lloyd's presence, gazing into the depths of her （疑いを）晴らす 注目する，もくろむs, my last, faint 疑惑 of her wrong-doing faded away. "And it is this total 欠如（する） of 疑惑 that makes the 事例／患者 so simple, and therefore so difficult. A more 複雑にするd 事例／患者 申し込む／申し出s some points on which to build a theory. I do not 非難する Mr. Goodrich for 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うing Mr. Hall, for there seems to be no one else to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う."

Just then Mr. Lemuel Porter dropped in for an evening call. Of course, we talked over the events of the day, and Mr. Porter was almost vehement in his denunciation of the sudden move of the 検察官.

"It's absurd," he said, "utterly absurd. Gregory Hall never did the thing. I've known Hall for years, and he isn't that sort of a man. I believe Philip Crawford's story, of course, but the 殺害者, who （機の）カム into the office after Florence's visit to her uncle, and before Philip arrived, was some stranger from out of town—some man whom 非，不，無 of us know; who had some grievance against Joseph, and who deliberately （機の）カム and went during that midnight hour."

I agreed with Mr. Porter. I had thought all along it was some one unknown to the Sedgwick people, but some one 井戸／弁護士席 known to Joseph Crawford. For, had it been an ordinary 夜盗，押し込み強盗, the 犠牲者 would at least have raised a 保護するing 手渡す.

"Of course Hall will be 始める，決める 解放する／自由な at once," continued Mr. Porter, "but to 逮捕（する） him was a foolish thing to do."

"Still, he せねばならない 証明する his アリバイ," I said.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, then; make him 証明する it. Give him the third degree, if necessary, and find out where he was on Tuesday night."

"I 疑問 if they could get it out of him," I 観察するd, "if he continues 決定するd not to tell."

"Then he deserves his 運命／宿命," said Mr. Porter, a little petulantly. "He can 解放する／自由な himself by a word. If he 辞退するs to do so it's his own 商売／仕事."

"But I'd like to help him," said Florence, almost timidly. "Is there no way I can do so, Mr. Burroughs?"

"Indeed there is," I said. "You are a rich woman now; use some of your wealth to 雇う the services of Fleming 石／投石する, and I can 保証する you the truth will be discovered."

"Indeed I will," said Florence. "Please send for him at once."

"Nonsense!" said Mr. Porter. "It isn't necessary at all. Mr. Burroughs here, and young Parmalee, are all the 探偵，刑事s we need. Get Hall to 解放する／自由な himself, as he can easily do, and then 始める，決める to work in earnest to run 負かす／撃墜する the real villain."

"No, Mr. Porter," said Florence, with firmness; "Gregory will not tell his secret, whatever it is. I know his stubborn nature. He'll stay in 刑務所，拘置所 until he's 解放する／自由なd, as he is sure he will be, but he won't tell what he has 決定するd not to divulge. No, I am glad I can do something 限定された at last toward avenging Uncle Joseph's death. Please send for Mr. 石／投石する, Mr. Burroughs, and I will 喜んで 支払う／賃金 his 料金s and expenses." Mr. Porter expostulated その上の, but to no avail. Florence 主張するd on sending for the 広大な／多数の／重要な 探偵，刑事.

So I sent for him.

He （機の）カム two days later, and in the interval nothing その上の had been learned from Gregory Hall. The man was an enigma to me. He was 静める and impassive as ever. Courteous, though never cordial, and 明らかに without the least 逮捕 of ever 存在 罪人／有罪を宣告するd for the 罪，犯罪 which had 原因（となる）d his 逮捕（する）.

Indeed, he 行為／法令／行動するd just as an innocent man would 行為／法令／行動する; innocent of the 殺人, that is, but 解決するd to 隠す his どの辺に of Tuesday night, whatever that 解決する might 暗示する.

To me, it did not 暗示する 罪，犯罪. Something he wished to 隠す, certainly; but I could not think a 犯罪の would 行為／法令／行動する so. A 犯罪の is usually ready with an アリバイ, whether it can be 証明するd or not.

When Fleming 石／投石する arrived I met him at the 駅／配置する and took him at once to the inn, where I had engaged rooms for him.

We first had a long conversation alone, in which I told him, everything I knew 関心ing the 殺人.

"When did it happen?" he asked, for, though he had read some of the newspaper accounts, the date had escaped him.

I told him, and 追加するd, "Why, I was called here just after I left you at the Metropolis Hotel that morning. Don't you remember, you deduced a lot of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from a pair of shoes which were waiting to be cleaned?"

"Yes, I remember," said 石／投石する, smiling a little at the recollection.

"And I tried to make 類似の deductions from the gold 捕らえる、獲得する and the newspaper, but I couldn't do it. I bungled 事柄s every time. My deductions are mostly from the 証言，証人／目撃するs' looks or トンs when giving 証拠."

"On the stand?"

"Not やむを得ず on the stand. I've learned much from talking to the 主要な／長／主犯s 非公式に."

"And where do your 疑惑s point?"

"Nowhere. I've 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd Florence Lloyd and Gregory Hall, in turn, and in collusion; but now I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う neither of them."

"Why not Hall?"

"His manner is too frank and unconcerned."

"A good bluff for a 犯罪の to use."

"Then he won't tell where he was that night."

"If he is the 殺害者, he can't tell. A 誤った アリバイ is so easily riddled. It's rather clever to keep doggedly silent; but what does he say is his 推論する／理由?"

"He won't give any 推論する／理由. He has 決定するd to keep up that 静める, indifferent 提起する／ポーズをとる, and though it is 悪化させるing, I must 収容する／認める it serves his 目的 井戸／弁護士席."

"How did they find him the morning after the 殺人?"

"Let me see; I believe the 検死官 said he telephoned first to Hall's club. But the steward said Hall didn't stay there, as there was no 空いている room, and that he had stayed all night at a hotel."

"What hotel?"

"I don't know. The 検死官 asked the steward, but he didn't know."

"Didn't he find out from Hall, afterward?"

"I don't know, 石／投石する; perhaps the 検死官 asked him, but if he did, I 疑問 if Hall told. It didn't seem to me important."

"Burroughs, my son, you should have learned every 詳細（に述べる） of Hall's doings that night."

"But if he were not in West Sedgwick, what difference could it かもしれない make where he was?"

"One never knows what difference anything will make until the difference is made. That's oracular, but it means more than it sounds. However, go on."

I went on, and I even told him what Florence had told me 関心ing the 可能性 of Hall's 利益／興味 in another woman.

"At last we are getting to it," said 石／投石する; "why in the 指名する of all good 探偵，刑事s, didn't you 追跡（する） up that other woman?"

"But she is perhaps only a figment of 行方不明になる Lloyd's brain."

"Figments of the brains of engaged young ladies are apt to have a solid 創立／基礎 of flesh and 血. I think much could be learned 関心ing Mr. Hall's 逸脱するing fancy. But tell me again about his 態度 toward 行方不明になる Lloyd, in the 連続する 開発s of the will question."

Fleming 石／投石する was 深く，強烈に 利益／興味d as I rehearsed how, when Florence was supposed to be penniless, he wished to break the 約束／交戦. When Philip Crawford 申し込む／申し出d to 供給する for her, Mr. Hall was uncertain; but when the will was 設立する, and Florence was known to 相続する all her uncle's 所有物／資産／財産, then Gregory Hall not only held her to the 約束／交戦, but said he had never wished to break it.

"H'm," said 石／投石する. "Pretty （疑いを）晴らす that the young man is a fortune-hunter."

"He is," I agreed. "I felt sure of that from the first."

"And he is now under 逮捕（する）, calmly waiting for some one to 証明する his innocence, so he can marry the heiress."

"That's about the size of it," I said. "But I don't think Florence is やめる as much in love with him as she was. She seems to have realized his mercenary spirit."

Perhaps an undue 利益／興味 in my 発言する／表明する or manner 公表する／暴露するd to this astute man the 明言する／公表する of my own affections, for he gave me a quizzical ちらりと見ること, and said, "O-売春婦! sits the 勝利，勝つd in that ４半期/4分の1?"

"Yes," I said, 決定するd to be frank with him. "It does. I want you, to 解放する／自由な Gregory Hall, if he's innocent. Then if, for any 推論する／理由, 行方不明になる Lloyd sees fit to 解任する him, I shall most certainly try to 勝利，勝つ her affections. As I （機の）カム to this 決意 when she was supposed to be penniless, I can scarcely be （刑事）被告 of fortune-追跡（する）ing myself."

"Indeed, you can't, old chap. You're not that sort. 井戸／弁護士席, let's go to see your 検察官 and his precious 囚人, and see what's to be done."

We went to the 検察官's office, and, later, …を伴ってd by him and by Mr. Randolph, we visited Gregory Hall.

As I had 推定する／予想するd, Mr. Hall wore the same unperturbed manner he always showed, and when Fleming 石／投石する was introduced, Hall 迎える／歓迎するd him coldly, with 絶対 no show of 利益／興味 in the man or his work.

Fleming 石／投石する's own kindly 直面する took on a slight 表現 of hauteur, as he noticed his 歓迎会, but he said, pleasantly enough,

"I am here in an 成果／努力 to 援助（する） in 設立するing your innocence, Mr. Hall."

"I beg your 容赦?" said Hall listlessly.

I wondered whether this asking to have a 発言／述べる repeated was 単に a foolish habit of Hall's, or whether, as I had heretofore guessed, it was a ruse to 伸び（る） time.

Fleming 石／投石する looked at him a little more はっきりと as he repeated his 発言／述べる in （疑いを）晴らす, even トンs.

"Thank you," said Hall, pleasantly enough. "I shall be glad to be 解放する／自由な from this 不正な 疑惑."

"And as a bit of friendly advice," went on 石／投石する, "I 堅固に 勧める that you, 明らかにする／漏らす to us, confidentially, where you were on Tuesday night."

Hall looked the （衆議院の）議長 straight in the 注目する，もくろむ.

"That," he said, "I must still 辞退する to do."

Fleming 石／投石する rose and walked toward the window.

"I think," he said, "the proof of your innocence may depend upon this point."

Gregory Hall turned his 長，率いる, and followed 石／投石する with his 注目する，もくろむs.

"What did you say, Mr. 石／投石する?" he asked 静かに.

The 探偵，刑事 returned to his seat.

"I said," he replied, "that the proof of your innocence might depend on your telling this secret of yours. But I begin to think now you will be 解放する／自由なd from 疑惑 whether you tell it or not."

Instead of looking glad at this 保証／確信, Gregory Hall gave a start, and an 表現 of 恐れる （機の）カム into his 注目する，もくろむs.

"What do you mean?" he said,

"Have you any letters in your pocket, Mr. Hall?" went on Fleming 石／投石する in a suave 発言する／表明する.

"Yes; several. Why?"

"I do not ask to read them. 単に show me the lot."

With what seemed to be an unwilling but 施行するd movement, Mr. Hall drew four or five letters from his breast pocket and 手渡すd them to Fleming 石／投石する.

"They've all been looked over, Mr. 石／投石する," said the 地区 弁護士／代理人／検事; "and they have no 耐えるing on the 事柄 of the 罪，犯罪."

"Oh, I don't want to read them," said the 探偵，刑事.

He ran over the lot carelessly, not taking the sheets from the envelopes, and returned them to their owner.

Gregory Hall looked at him as if fascinated. What 発覚 was this man about to make?

"Mr. Hall," Fleming 石／投石する began, "I've no 意向 of 軍隊ing your secret from you. But I shall ask you some questions, and you may do as you like about answering them. First, you 辞退する to tell where you were during the night last Tuesday. I take it, you mean you 辞退する to tell how or where you spent the evening. Now, will you tell us where you 宿泊するd that night?"

"I fail to see any 推論する／理由 for telling you," answered Hall, after a moment's thought. "I have said I was in New York City, that is enough."

"The 推論する／理由 you may 同様に tell us," went on Mr. 石／投石する, "is because it is a very simple 事柄 for us to find out. You doubtless were at some hotel, and you went there because you could not get a room at your club. In fact, this was 明言する／公表するd when the 検死官 telephoned for you, the morning after the 殺人. I mean, it was 明言する／公表するd that the club bed-rooms were all 占領するd. I assume, therefore, that you 宿泊するd at some hotel, and, as a canvass of the city hotels would be a simple 事柄, you may 同様に save us that trouble."

"Oh, very 井戸／弁護士席," said Gregory Hall sullenly; "then I did spend the night at a hotel. It was the Metropolis Hotel, and you will find my 指名する duly on the 登録（する）."

"I have no 疑問 of it," said 石／投石する pleasantly. "Now that you have told us this, have you any 反対 to telling us at what time you returned to the hotel, after your evening's 占領／職業, whatever it may have been?"

"Eh?" said Hall abstractedly. He turned his 長，率いる as he spoke, and Fleming 石／投石する threw me a quizzical smile which I didn't in the least understand.

"You may 同様に tell us," said 石／投石する, after he had repeated his question, "for if you 保留する it, the night clerk can give us this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）."

"井戸／弁護士席," said Hall, who now looked distinctly sulky, "I don't remember 正確に／まさに, but I think I turned in somewhere between twelve and one o'clock."

"And as it was a late hour, you slept rather late next morning," 示唆するd 石／投石する.

"Oh, I don't know. I was at Mr. Crawford's New York office by half-past ten."

"A strange coincidence, Burroughs," said Fleming 石／投石する, turning to me.

"Eh? Beg 容赦?" said Hall, turning his 長，率いる also.

"Mr. Hall," said 石／投石する, suddenly 直面するing him again, "are you deaf? Why do you ask to have 発言／述べるs repeated?"

Hall looked わずかに apologetic. "I am a little deaf," he said; "but only in one ear. And only at times—or, rather, it's worse at times. If I have a 冷淡な, for instance."

"Or in damp 天候?" said 石／投石する. "Mr. Hall, I have questioned you enough. I will now tell these gentlemen, since you 辞退する to do so, where you were on the night of Mr. Crawford's 殺人. You were not in West Sedgwick, or 近づく it. You are 絶対 innocent of the 罪，犯罪 or any part in it."

Gregory Hall straightened up perceptibly, like a man exonerated from all 非難する. But he quailed again, as Fleming 石／投石する, looking straight at him, continued: "You left West Sedgwick at six that evening, as you have said. You 登録（する）d at the Metropolis Hotel, after learning that you could not get a room at your club. And then—you went over to Brooklyn to 会合，会う, or to call on, a young woman living in that borough. You took her 支援する to New York to the theatre or some such entertainment, and afterward 護衛するd her 支援する to her home. The young woman wore a street 衣装, by which I mean a cloth gown without a train. You did not have a cab, but, after leaving the car, you walked for a rather long distance in Brooklyn. It was raining, and you were both under one umbrella. Am I 訂正する, so far?"

At last Gregory Hall's 静める was 乱すd. He looked at Fleming 石／投石する as at a supernatural 存在. And small wonder. For the truth of 石／投石する's 声明s was evident from Hall's amazement at them.

"You—you saw us!" he gasped.

"No, I didn't see you; it is 単に a 事柄 of 観察, deduction, and memory. You recollect the muddy shoes?" he 追加するd, turning to me.

Did I recollect! 井戸／弁護士席, rather! And it certainly was a coincidence that we had chanced to 診察する those shoes that morning at the hotel.

As for Mr. Randolph and the 検察官, they were やめる as much surprised as Hall.

"Can you 証明する this astonishing story, Mr. 石／投石する?" asked Mr. Goodrich, with an incredulous look.

"Oh, yes, in lots of ways," returned 石／投石する. "For one thing, Mr. Hall has in his pocket now a letter from the young lady. The whole 事柄 is of no 広大な／多数の／重要な importance except as it 証明するs Mr. Hall was not in West Sedgwick that night, and so is not the 殺害者."

"But why 隠す so simple a 事柄? Why 辞退する to tell of the episode?" asked Mr. Randolph.

"Because," and now Fleming 石／投石する looked at Hall with 告訴，告発 in his ちらりと見ること—"because Mr. Hall is very anxious that his fiancee shall not know of his attentions to the young lady in Brooklyn."

"O-売春婦!" said Mr. Goodrich, with sudden enlightenment. "I see it all now. Is it the truth, Mr. Hall? Did you go to Brooklyn and 支援する that night, as Mr. 石／投石する has 述べるd?"

Gregory Hall fidgeted in an embarrassed way. But, unable to escape the piercing gaze of 石／投石する's 注目する，もくろむs, he 認める grudgingly that the 探偵，刑事 had told the truth, 追加するing, "But it's wizardry, that's what it is! How could he know?"

"I had 推論する／理由 for 疑惑," said 石／投石する; "and when I 設立する you were deaf in your 権利 ear, and that you had in your pocket a letter 演説（する）／住所d in a feminine 手渡す, and postmarked `Brooklyn,' I was sure."

"It's all true," said Hall slowly. "You have the facts all 権利. But, unless you have had me 影をつくる／尾行するd, will you tell me how you knew it all?"

And then Fleming 石／投石する told of his 観察s and deductions when we noticed the muddied shoes at the Metropolis Hotel that morning.

"But," he said, as he 結論するd, "when I あわてて adjudged the young lady to be deaf in the left ear, I see now I was mistaken. As soon as I realized Mr. Hall himself is deaf in the 権利 ear, 特に so in damp or wet 天候, I saw that it fitted the 事例／患者 同様に as if the lady had been deaf in her left ear. Then a 公式文書，認める in his pocket from a lady in Brooklyn made me やめる sure I was 権利."

"But, Mr. 石／投石する," said Lawyer Randolph, "it is very astonishing that you should make those deductions from those shoes, and then come out here and 会合，会う the owner of the shoes."

"It seems more remarkable than it really is, Mr. Randolph," was the 返答; "for I am continually 観察するing whatever comes to my notice. Hundreds of my deductions are never 立証するd, or even thought of again; so it is not so strange that now and then one should 証明する of use in my work."

"井戸／弁護士席," said the 検察官, "it seems wonderful to me. But now that Mr. Hall has 証明するd his アリバイ, or, rather, Mr. 石／投石する has 証明するd it for him, we must begin もう一度 our search for the real 犯罪の."

"One moment," said Gregory Hall. "As you know, gentlemen, I 努力するd to keep this little 事柄 of my going to Brooklyn a secret. As it has no possible 耐えるing on the 事例／患者 of Mr. Crawford, may I ask of you to 尊敬（する）・点 my 願望（する） that you say nothing about it?"

"For my part," said the 検察官, "I am やめる willing to 認める Mr. Hall's request. I have put him to unnecessary trouble and 当惑 by having him 逮捕（する）d, and I shall be glad to do him this 好意 that he asks, by way of 修正するs."

But Mr. Randolph seemed 気が進まない to make the 要求するd 約束, and Fleming 石／投石する looked at Hall, and said nothing.

Then I spoke out, and, perhaps with scant 儀礼, I said:

"I, for one, 辞退する to keep this 発覚 a secret. It was discovered by the 探偵，刑事 engaged by 行方不明になる Lloyd. Therefore, I think 行方不明になる Lloyd is する権利を与えるd to the knowledge we have thus 伸び（る）d."

Mr. Randolph looked at me with 是認. He was a good friend of Florence Lloyd, and he was of no mind to hide from her something which it might be better for her to know.

Gregory Hall 始める，決める his lips together in a way which argued no pleasant feelings toward me, but he said nothing then. He was forthwith 解放（する）d from 保護／拘留, and the 残り／休憩（する） of us separated; having arranged to 会合，会う that evening at 行方不明になる Lloyd's home to discuss 事柄s.

XXI
The 公表，暴露

Except the half-hour 要求するd for a 迅速な dinner, Fleming 石／投石する 充てるd the 介入するing time to looking over the 報告（する）／憶測s of the 検死官's 検死, and in asking me questions about all the people who were connected with the 事件／事情／状勢.

"Burroughs," he said at last, "every one who is 利益／興味d in Joseph Crawford's death has 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd Gregory Hall, except one person. Not everybody said they 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd him, but they did, all the same. Even 行方不明になる Lloyd wasn't sure that Hall wasn't the 犯罪の. Now, there's just one person who 宣言するs that Hall did not do it, and that he is not 巻き込むd. Why should this person feel so sure of Hall's innocence? And, その上に, my boy, here are a few more important questions. In which drawer of the desk was the revolver kept?"

"The upper 権利-手渡す drawer," I replied.

"I mean, what else was in that drawer?"

"Oh, important, 価値のある 覚え書き of Mr. Crawford's 在庫／株s and 社債s."

"Do you mean 在庫／株 証明書s and actual 社債s?"

"No; 単に 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）s and 確かな data referring to them. The 証明書s themselves were in the bank."

"And the will—where had that been kept?"

"In a drawer on the other 味方する of the desk. I know all these things, because with the lawyer and Mr. Philip Crawford, I have been through all the papers of the 広い地所."

"井戸／弁護士席, then, Burroughs, let us build up the scene. Mr. Joseph Crawford, after returning from his lawyer's that night, goes to his office. 自然に, he takes out his will, that he thinks of changing, and—we'll say—it is lying on his desk when Mr. Lemuel Porter calls. He 会談 of other 事柄s, and the will still lies there unheeded. It is there when 行方不明になる Lloyd comes 負かす／撃墜する later. She has said so. It remains there until much later—when Philip Crawford comes, and, after discovering that his brother is dead, sees the will still on the desk and takes it away with him, and also sees the ピストル on the desk, and takes that, too. Now, 認めるing that the 殺害者 （機の）カム between the time 行方不明になる Lloyd left the office and the time Philip Crawford （機の）カム there, then it was while the 殺害者 was 現在の that the drawer which held the ピストル was opened, the ピストル taken out, and the 殺人 committed, Since Mr. Joseph Crawford showed no 調印する of 恐れる of 暴力／激しさ, the 殺害者 must have been, not a 夜盗，押し込み強盗 or an unwelcome 侵入者, but a friend, or an 知識, at least. His visit must have been the 推論する／理由 for 開始 that drawer, and that not to get the ピストル, but to look at or discuss the papers 含む／封じ込めるd in that drawer. The ピストル, thus 公表する／暴露するd, was temptingly 近づく the 手渡す of the 訪問者, and, for some 推論する／理由 connected with the papers in that drawer, the ピストル was used by the 訪問者—suddenly, unpremeditatedly, but with deadly 意図 at the moment."

"But who—" I began.

"Hush," he said, "I see it all now—or almost all. Let us go to Philip Crawford's at once—before it is time to go to 行方不明になる Lloyd's."

We did so, and Fleming 石／投石する, in a short 商売／仕事 talk with Mr. Crawford, learned all that he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know. Then we three went over to Florence Lloyd's home.

を待つing us were several people. The 検察官, of course, and Lawyer Randolph. Also Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter, who had been asked to be 現在の. Gregory Hall was there, too, and from his crestfallen 表現, I couldn't help thinking that he had had an unsatisfactory interview with Florence.

As we all sat 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the library, Fleming 石／投石する was the 主要な／長／主犯 （衆議院の）議長.

He said: "I have come here at 行方不明になる Lloyd's request, to discover, if possible, the 殺害者 of her uncle, Mr. Joseph Crawford. I have learned the 身元 of the 暗殺者, and, if you all wish me to, I will now divulge it."

"We do wish you to, Mr. 石／投石する," said Mr. Goodrich, and his 発言する／表明する trembled a little, for he knew not where the blow might 落ちる. But after Fleming 石／投石する's wonderful 探偵，刑事 work in the 事例／患者 of Gregory Hall, the 検察官 felt 十分な 信用／信任 in his 力／強力にするs.

Sitting 静かに by the library （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, with the 注目する，もくろむs of all the company upon him, Fleming 石／投石する said, in 影響, to them just what he had said to me. He told of the revolver in the drawer with the 財政上の papers. He told how the midnight 訪問者 must have been some friend or neighbor, whose coming would in no way startle or alarm Mr. Crawford, and whose 利益／興味 in the question of 在庫／株s was desperate.

And then Fleming 石／投石する turned suddenly to Lemuel Porter, and said: "Shall I go on, Mr. Porter, or will you 自白する here and now?"

It was as if a thunderbolt had fallen. Hitherto unsuspected, the 犯罪 of Lemuel Porter was now 明らかな beyond all 疑問. White-直面するd and shaking, his 燃やすing 注目する，もくろむs glared at Fleming 石／投石する.

"What are you?" he whispered, in hoarse, hissing トンs. "I 恐れるd you, and I was 権利 to 恐れる you. I have heard of you before. I tried to 妨げる your coming here, but I could not. And I knew, when you （機の）カム, that I was doomed—doomed!

"Yes," he went on, looking around at the startled 直面するs. "Yes, I killed Joseph Crawford. If I had not, he would have 廃虚d me financially. Randolph knows that—and Philip Crawford, too. I had no thought of 殺人 in my heart. I （機の）カム here late that night to 新たにする the request I had made in my earlier visit that evening—that Joseph Crawford would 荷を降ろす his X.Y. 在庫／株 徐々に, and in that way save me. I had overtraded; I had pyramided my paper 利益（をあげる）s until my 事件／事情／状勢s were in such a 明言する／公表する that a sudden 減少（する） of ten points would wipe me out 完全に. But Joseph Crawford was 毅然とした to my entreaties. He said he would see to it that at the 開始 of the market the next morning X.Y. 在庫／株 should be 大打撃を与えるd 負かす／撃墜する out of sight. 詳細（に述べる）s are unnecessary. You lawyers and 財政上の men understand. It was in his 力／強力にする to 廃虚 or to save me and he chose to 廃虚 me. I know, why, but that 関心s no one here. Then, as by chance, he moved a paper in the drawer, and I saw the ピストル. In a moment of blind 激怒（する） I しっかり掴むd it and 発射 him. Death was instantaneous. Like one in a dream, I laid 負かす／撃墜する the ピストル, and （機の）カム away. I was saved, but at what a cost! No one, I think, saw me come or go. I was afterward puzzled to know what became of the ピストル, and of the will which lay on the desk when I was there. These 事柄s have since been explained. Philip Crawford is as much a 犯罪の as I. I 発射 a man, but he robbed the dead. He has 自白するd and made restitution, so he 長所s no 罰. In the nature of things, I cannot do that, but I can at least cheat the gallows."

With these words, Mr. Porter put something into his mouth and swallowed it.

Several people started toward him in 狼狽, but he waved them 支援する, 説:

"Too late. Good-by, all. If possible, do not let my wife know the truth. Can't you tell her—I died of heart 失敗—or—something like that?"

The 毒（薬） he had taken was of quick 影響. Though a doctor was telephoned for at once, Mr. Porter was dead before he （機の）カム.

Everything was now made （疑いを）晴らす, and Fleming 石／投石する's work in West Sedgwick was done.

I was chagrined, for I felt that all he had discovered, I ought to have 設立する out for myself.

But as I ちらりと見ることd at Florence, and saw her lovely 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on me, I knew that one 推論する／理由 I had failed in my work was because of her distracting 影響（力） on it.

"Take me away from here," she said, and I gently led her from the library.

We went into the small 製図／抽選-room, and, unable to 抑制する my 切望, I said,

"Tell me, dear, have you broken with Hall?"

"Yes," she said, looking up shyly into my 直面する. "I learned from his own lips the story of the Brooklyn girl. Then I knew that he really loves her, but 手配中の，お尋ね者 to marry me for my fortune. This knowledge was enough for me. I realize now that I never loved Gregory, and I have told him so."

"And you do love somebody else?" I whispered ecstatically. "Oh, Florence! I know this is not the time or the place, but just tell me, dear, if you ever love any one, it will be—"

"You" she murmured softly, and I was content.

THE END

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