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The Secret Passage
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肩書を与える: The Secret Passage
Author: Fergus Hume
* A 事業/計画(する) Gutenberg of Australia eBook *
eBook No.: 1700041h.html
Language: English
Date first 地位,任命するd:  January 2017
Most 最近の update: January 2017

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The Secret Passage

Fergus Hume


(米)棚上げする/(英)提議する of Contents

一時期/支部 I. The Cottage
一時期/支部 II. The 罪,犯罪
一時期/支部 III. A Mysterious Death
一時期/支部 IV. 詳細(に述べる)s
一時期/支部 V. Lord Caranby's Romance
一時期/支部 VI. A Perplexing 事例/患者
一時期/支部 VII. The 探偵,刑事
一時期/支部 VIII. The Course of True Love
一時期/支部 IX. Another Mystery
一時期/支部 X. The Parlor-Maid's Story
一時期/支部 XI. On the 跡をつける
一時期/支部 XII. Jennings Asks Questions
一時期/支部 XIII. Juliet at Bay
一時期/支部 XIV. Mrs. Octagon Explains
一時期/支部 XV. A Dangerous Admission
一時期/支部 XVI. Juliet's Story
一時期/支部 XVII. Juliet's Story Continued
一時期/支部 XVIII. The 予期しない Happens
一時期/支部 XIX. Susan's 発見
一時期/支部 XX. Basil
一時期/支部 XXI. An 実験
一時期/支部 XXII. The Secret 入り口
一時期/支部 XXIII. A Scamp's History
一時期/支部 XXIV. 復讐
一時期/支部 XXV. Nemesis
一時期/支部 XXVI. Cuthbert's Enemy


一時期/支部 I
The Cottage

“What is your 指名する?”

“Susan 認める, 行方不明になる Loach.”

“Call me ma’am. I am 行方不明になる Loach only to my equals. Your age?”

“Twenty-five, ma’am.”

“Do you know your work as parlor-maid 完全に?”

“Yes, ma’am. I was two years in one place and six months in another, ma’am. Here are my characters from both places, ma’am.”

As the girl spoke she laid two papers before the sharp old lady who questioned her. But 行方不明になる Loach did not look at them すぐに. She 診察するd the applicant with such の近くに attention that a faint color 色合いd the girl’s cheeks and she dropped her 注目する,もくろむs. But, in her turn, by stealthy ちらりと見ることs, Susan 認める tactfully managed to 熟知させる herself with the looks of her possible mistress. The thoughts of each woman ran as follows —

行方不明になる Loach to herself. “Humph! Plain-looking, sallow 肌, rather 罰金 注目する,もくろむs and a slack mouth. Not 不正に dressed for a servant, and 陳列する,発揮するs some taste. She might turn my old dresses at a pinch. Sad 表現, as though she had something on her mind. Honest-looking, but I think a trifle inquisitive, seeing how she 診察するd the room and is stealing ちらりと見ることs at me. 会談 十分に, but in a low 発言する/表明する. 公正に/かなり intelligent, but not too much so. Might be 隠しだてする. Humph!”

The thoughts of Susan 認める. “Handsome old lady, probably nearly sixty. Funny dress for ten o’clock in the morning. She must be rich, to wear purple silk and old lace and lovely (犯罪の)一味s at this hour. A hard mouth, thin nose, very white hair and very 黒人/ボイコット eyebrows. Got a temper I should say, and is likely to 証明する an exacting mistress. But I want a 静かな home, and the salary is good. I’ll try it, if she’ll take me.”

Had either mistress or maid known of each other’s thoughts, a 結論 to do 商売/仕事 might not have been arrived at. As it was, 行方不明になる Loach, after a few more questions, appeared 満足させるd. All the time she kept a pair of very 黒人/ボイコット 注目する,もくろむs piercingly 直す/買収する,八百長をするd on the girl’s 直面する, as though she would read her very soul. But Susan had nothing to 隠す, so far as 行方不明になる Loach could gather, so in the end she 解決するd to engage her.

“I think you’ll do,” she said nodding, and poking up the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, with a shiver, although the month was June. “The 状況/情勢 is a 静かな one. I hope you have no 信奉者s.”

“No, ma’am,” said Susan and 紅潮/摘発するd crimson.

“Ha!” thought 行方不明になる Loach, “she has been in love — jilted probably. All the better, as she won’t bring any young men about my 静かな house.”

“Will you not read my characters, ma’am?”

行方不明になる Loach 押し進めるd the two papers に向かって the applicant. “I 裁判官 for myself,” said she calmly. “Most characters I read are 十分な of lies. Your looks are enough for me. Where were you last?”

“With a Spanish lady, ma’am!”

“A Spanish lady!” 行方不明になる Loach dropped the poker she was 持つ/拘留するing, with a clatter, and frowned so 深く,強烈に that her 黒人/ボイコット eyebrows met over her high nose. “And her 指名する?”

“Senora Gredos, ma’am!”

The 注目する,もくろむs of the old maid glittered, and she made a clutch at her breast as though the reply had taken away her breath. “Why did you leave?” she asked, 回復するing her composure.

Susan looked uncomfortable. “I thought the house was too gay, ma’am.”

“What do you mean by that? Can any house be too gay for a girl of your years?”

“I have been 井戸/弁護士席 brought up, ma’am,” said Susan 静かに; “and my 宗教的な 原則s are dear to me. Although she is an 無効の, ma’am, Senora Gredos was very gay. Many people (機の)カム to her house and played cards, even on Sunday,” 追加するd Susan under her breath. But low as she spoke, 行方不明になる Loach heard.

“I have whist parties here frequently,” she said drily; “nearly every evening four friends of 地雷 call to play. Have you any 反対 to enter my service on that account?”

“Oh, no, ma’am. I don’t mind a game of cards. I play ‘Patience’ myself when alone. I mean 賭事ing — there was a lot of money lost and won at Senora Gredos’ house!”

“Yet she is an 無効の I think you said?”

“Yes, ma’am. She was a ダンサー, I believe, and fell in some way, so as to break her 脚 or 傷つける her 支援する. She has been lying on a couch for two years unable to move. Yet she has herself wheeled into the 製図/抽選-room and watches the gentlemen play cards. She plays herself いつかs!”

行方不明になる Loach again directed one of her piercing looks at the pale 直面する of the girl. “You are too inquisitive and too talkative,” she said suddenly, “therefore you won’t 控訴 me. Good-day.”

Susan was やめる taken aback. “Oh, ma’am, I hope I’ve said nothing wrong. I only answered your questions.”

“You evidently take 公式文書,認める of everything you see, and talk about it.”

“No, ma’am,” said the girl 真面目に. “I really 持つ/拘留する my tongue.”

“When it 控訴s you,” retorted 行方不明になる Loach. “持つ/拘留する it now and let me think!”

While 行方不明になる Loach, 星/主役にするing frowningly into the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, 審議d inwardly as to the advisability of engaging the girl, Susan looked timidly 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the room. Curiously enough, it was placed in the 地階 of the cottage, and was therefore below the level of the garden. Two 公正に/かなり large windows looked on to the area, which had been roofed with glass and turned into a 温室. Here appeared scarlet geraniums and other 有望な-hued flowers, interspersed with ferns and delicate grasses. 借りがあるing to the position of the room and the presence of the glass roof, only a subdued light filtered into the place, but, as the day was brilliant with 日光, the apartment was 公正に/かなり 井戸/弁護士席 illuminated. Still, on a cloudy day, Susan could imagine how dull it would be. In winter time the room must be perfectly dark.

It was luxuriously furnished, in red and gold. The carpet and curtains were of 有望な scarlet, threaded with gold. The furniture, strangely enough, was of white polished 支持を得ようと努めるd upholstered in crimson satin fringed with gold. There were many pictures in large gilded でっちあげる,人を罪に陥れるs and many mirrors 類似して encircled with gilded 支持を得ようと努めるd. The grate, fender and 解雇する/砲火/射撃-アイロンをかけるs were of polished 厚かましさ/高級将校連, and 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the 塀で囲むs were 非常に/多数の electric lamps with yellow shades. The whole room 代表するd a bizarre 外見, flamboyant and rather 熱帯の in looks. 明らかに 行方不明になる Loach was fond of vivid colors. There was no piano, nor were there 調書をとる/予約するs or papers, and the only 証拠 as to how 行方不明になる Loach passed her time 明らかにする/漏らすd itself in a work-basket and a pack of cards. Yet, at her age, Susan thought that needlework would be rather trying, even though she wore no glasses and her 注目する,もくろむs seemed 有望な and keen. She was an 半端物 old lady and appeared to be rich. “I’ll engage you,” said 行方不明になる Loach 突然の; “get your box and be here before five o’clock this afternoon. I am 推定する/予想するing some friends at eight o’clock. You must be ready to 収容する/認める them. Now go!”

“But, ma’am, I—”

“In this house,” interrupted 行方不明になる Loach imperiously, “no one speaks to me, unless spoken to by me. You understand!”

“Yes, ma’am,” replied Susan timidly, and obeyed the finger which pointed to the door. 行方不明になる Loach listened to the girl’s footsteps on the stairs, and sat 負かす/撃墜する when she heard the 前線 door の近くに. But she was up again almost in a moment and pacing the room. 明らかに the conversation with Susan 認める afforded her food for reflection. And not very palatable food either, 裁判官ing from her 表現.

The newly-engaged servant returned that same afternoon to the 郊外の 駅/配置する, which tapped the 地区 of Rexton. A trunk, a bandbox and a 捕らえる、獲得する formed her humble 所持品, and she arranged with a porter that these should be wheeled in a barrow to Rose Cottage, as 行方不明になる Loach’s abode was primly called. Having come to 条件, Susan left the 駅/配置する and 始める,決める out to walk to the place. Apart from the fact that she saved a cab fare, she wished to 得る some idea of her surroundings, and therefore did not hurry herself.

It was a 有望な June day with a warm green earth basking under a blue and cloudless sky. But even the 日光 could not (判決などを)下す Rexton beautiful. It stretched out on all 味方するs from the 駅/配置する new and raw. The roads were finished, with asphalt footpaths and 石/投石する 抑制(する)ing, the lamp-地位,任命するs had 明らかに only been lately 築くd, and lines of white 盗品故買者s divided the roads from gardens yet in their 幼少/幼藍期. 前線ing these were damp-looking red brick 郊外住宅s, belonging to small clerks and petty tradesmen. 負かす/撃墜する one street was a 列/漕ぐ/騒動 of shops filled with the necessaries of civilization; and 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the corner, an 積極性 new church of yellow brick with a tin roof and a 木造の steeple stood in the middle of an untilled space. At the end of one street a glimpse could be caught of the waste country beyond, not yet (人命などを)奪う,主張するd by the フェリー(で運ぶ)-建設業者. A 鉄道 堤防 本体,大部分/ばら積みのd against the horizon, and の近くにd the 見解(をとる) in an unsightly manner. Rexton was as ugly as it was new.

Losing her way, Susan (機の)カム to the ragged fringe of country environing the new 郊外, and paused there, to take in her surroundings. Across the fields to the left she saw an unfinished mansion, large and stately, rising まっただ中に a forest of pines. This was girdled by a high brick 塀で囲む which looked older than the 郊外 itself. Remembering that she had seen this house behind the cottage of 行方不明になる Loach, the girl used it as a 目印, and turning 負かす/撃墜する a 味方する street managed to find the 最高の,を越す of a crooked 小道/航路 at the 底(に届く) of which Rose Cottage was 据えるd. This 小道/航路 showed by its very crookedness that it belonged to the 古代の civilization of the 地区. Here were no paths, no lamps, no 積極性 new 盗品故買者s and raw brick houses. Susan, stepping 負かす/撃墜する the slight incline, passed into やめる an old world, smacking of the Georgian times, leisurely and quaint. On either 味方する of the 小道/航路, old-fashioned cottages, with whitewash 塀で囲むs and thatched roofs, stood まっただ中に gardens filled with unclipped 青葉 and homely flowers. Quickset hedges, ragged and untrimmed, divided these from the roadway, and to 追加する to the 田舎の look one garden 所有するd straw bee-蜂の巣s. Here and there rose 古代の elm-trees and grass grew in the roadway. It was a blind 小道/航路 and 終結させるd in a hedge, which 国境d a field of corn. To the left was a 狭くする path running between hedges past the cottages and into the country.

行方不明になる Loach’s house was a mixture of old and new. 以前は it had been an unpretentious cottage like the others, but she had 追加するd a new wing of red brick built in the most 認可するd style of the jerry-建設業者, and looking like the 郊外住宅s in the more modern parts of Rexton. The crabbed age and the uncultured 青年 of the old and new 部分s, 工場/植物d together cheek by jowl, appeared like ill-coupled clogs and やめる out of harmony. The thatched and tiled roofs did not seem 会合,会う neighbors, and the whitewash 塀で囲むs of the old-world cottage looked dingy beside the glaring redness of the new 郊外住宅. The 前線 door in the new part was reached by a flight of dazzling white steps. From this, a veranda ran across the 前線 of the cottage, its rustic 地位,任命するs supporting rose-trees and ivy. On the cottage 味方する appeared an old garden, but the new wing was surrounded by lawns and decorated with carpet bedding. A gravel walk divided the old from the new, and intersected the garden. At the 支援する, Susan 公式文書,認めるd again the high brick 塀で囲む surrounding the half-完全にするd mansion. Above this rose tall trees, and the 塀で囲む itself was overgrown with ivy. It 明らかに was old and 隠すd an unfinished palace of the sleeping beauty, so ragged and wild appeared the growth which peeped over the 後見人 塀で囲む.

With a quickness of perception unusual in her class, Susan took all this in, then rang the bell. There was no 支援する door, so far as she could see, and she thought it best to enter as she had done in the morning. But the large fat woman who opened the door gave her to understand that she had taken a liberty.

“Of course this morning and before engaging, you were a lady,” said the cook, hustling the girl into the hall, “but now 存在 the housemaid, 行方不明になる Loach won’t be pleased at your touching the 前線 bell.”

“I did not see any other 入り口,” 抗議するd Susan.

“Ah,” said the cook, 主要な the way 負かす/撃墜する a few steps into the thatched cottage, which, it appeared was the servants’ 4半期/4分の1s, “you looked 負かす/撃墜する the area as is natural-like. But there ain’t 非,不,無, it 存在 a conservitery!”

“Why does 行方不明になる Loach live in the 地階?” asked Susan, on 存在 shown into a comfortable room which answered the 目的 of a servants’ hall.

The cook resented this question. “Ah!” said she with a snort, “and why does a miller wear a white ‘at, 行方不明になる 認める, that 存在 your 指名する I take it. Don’t you ask no questions but if you must know, 行方不明になる Loach have weak 注目する,もくろむs and don’t like glare. She lives like a rabbit in a burrow, and though the rooms on the ground 床に打ち倒す are sich as the King might in’abit, she don’t come up often save to eat. She lives in the 地階 room where you saw her, 行方不明になる 認める, and she sleeps in the room orf. When she eats, the dining-room above is at her service. An’ I don’t see why she shouldn’t,” snorted the cook.

“I don’t mean any —”

“No offence 存在 given 非,不,無 is taken,” interrupted cook, who seemed fond of 審理,公聴会 her own wheezy 発言する/表明する. “Emily Pill’s my 指名する, and I ain’t ashamed of it, me having been cook to 行方不明になる Loach for years an’ years and years. But if you had wished to behave like a servant, as you are,” 追加するd she with 強調, “why didn’t you run 一連の会議、交渉/完成する by the veranda and so get to the 支援する where the kitchen is. But you’re one of the new class of servants, 行方不明になる 認める, ‘aughty and upsetting.”

“I know my place,” said Susan, taking off her hat.

“And I know 地雷,” said Emily Pill, “me 存在 cook and その結果 the mistress of this servants’ ‘all. An’ I’m an old-fashioned servant myself, plain in my ‘abits and dress.” This with a disparaging look at the rather smart 衣装 of the newly-arrived housemaid. “I don’t ‘old with cockes feathers and fal-dedals on ‘umble folk myself, not but what I could afford ’em if I liked, 存在 of saving ‘abits and a receiver of good 給料. But I’m a friendly pusson and not ‘ard on a good-lookin’ gal, not that you are what I call ‘andsome.”

Susan seated beside the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する, looked 疲れた/うんざりした and forlorn, and the good-natured heart of the cook was touched, 特に when Susan requested her to 差し控える from the stiff 指名する of 行方不明になる 認める.

“You an’ me will be good friends, I’ve no 疑問,” said Emily, “an’ you can call me Mrs. Pill, that 存在 the 指名する of my late ‘usband, who died of gin in 超過. The other servants is housemaid and page, though to be sure he’s more of a man-of-all-work, 存在 forty if he’s a day, and likewise coachman, when he 運動s out 行方不明になる Loach in her donkey carriage. Thomas is his 指名する, my love.” The cook was 速く becoming more and more friendly, “and the housemaid is called Geraldine, for which ‘eaven 許すs her parents, she bein’ spotty and un’ealthy and by no means a 屈服する—Bell’s ‘eroine, which ‘er 指名する makes you think of. But there’s a dear, I’m talking brilliant, when you’re dying for a cup of tea, and need to get your box unpacked, by which I mean that I sees the porter with the barrer.”

The newly-arrived parlor-maid was pleased by this friendly if ungrammatical 歓迎会, and thought she would like the cook in spite of her somewhat tiresome tongue. For the next hour she was unpacking her box and arranging a pleasant little room at the 支援する. She 株d this with the spotty Geraldine, who seemed to be a good-natured girl. 明らかに 行方不明になる Loach looked after her servants and made them comfortable. Thomas 証明するd to be amiable if somewhat stupid, and welcomed Susan to tea affably but with sheepish looks. As the servants seemed pleasant, the house comfortable, and as the salary was excellent, Susan 結論するd that she had — as the 説 is — fallen on her feet.

The quartette had tea in the servants’ hall, and there was plenty of 井戸/弁護士席-cooked if plain victuals. 行方不明になる Loach dined at half-past six and Susan assumed her dress and cap. She laid the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する in a handsome dining-room, 平等に as garish in color as the apartment below. The (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する 任命s were elegant, and Mrs. Pill served a nice little meal to which 行方不明になる Loach did 十分な 司法(官). She wore the same purple dress, but with the 新規加入 of more jewellery. Her sharp 注目する,もくろむs followed Susan about the room as she waited, and at the end of the dinner she made her first 観察. “You know your work I see,” she said. “I hope you will be happy here!”

“I think I will, ma’am,” said Susan, with a faint sigh.

“You have had trouble?” asked 行方不明になる Loach quickly.

“Yes, ma’am!”

“You must tell me about it tomorrow,” said the old lady rising. “I like to 伸び(る) the 信用/信任 of my servants. Now bring my coffee to the room below. At eight, three people will arrive — a lady and two gentlemen. You will show them into the sitting-room and put out the card-(米)棚上げする/(英)提議する. Then you can go to the kitchen and wait till I (犯罪の)一味. Be sure you don’t come till I do (犯罪の)一味,” and 行方不明になる Loach 強調するd this last order with a flash of her brilliant 注目する,もくろむs.

Susan took the coffee to the sitting-room in the 地階 and then (疑いを)晴らすd the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する. の直前に eight o’clock there was a (犯罪の)一味 at the 前線 door. She opened it to a tall lady, with gray hair, who leaned on an ebony 茎. With her were two men, one a rather rough foolish-looking fellow, and the other tall, dark, and 井戸/弁護士席-dressed in an evening 控訴. A carriage was just 運動ing away from the gate. As the tall lady entered, a breath of strong perfume saluted Susan’s nostrils. The girl started and peered into the 訪問者’s 直面する. When she returned to the kitchen her own was as white as chalk.

一時期/支部 II
The 罪,犯罪

The kitchen was rather spacious, and as neat and clean as the busy 手渡すs of Mrs. Pill could make it. An excellent 範囲 polished to 超過 占領するd one end of the room; a dresser with blue and white 磁器 adorned the other. On the outside 塀で囲む 巡査 マリファナs and pans, glittering redly in the firelight, were 範囲d in a 向こうずねing 列/漕ぐ/騒動. Opposite this 塀で囲む, a door led into the 内部の of the house, and in it was the outer 入り口. A large 取引,協定 (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する stood in the 中心 of the room, and at this with their 議長,司会を務めるs drawn up, Geraldine and the cook worked. The former was trimming a picture-hat of the cheapest and most flamboyant style, and the latter darned a coarse white 在庫/株ing ーするつもりであるd for her own use. By the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 sat Thomas, fair-haired and stupid in looks, who read tit-bits from the Daily Mail for the delectation of Mrs. Pill and Geraldine.

“Gracious ‘eavens, Susan,” cried the cook, when Susan returned, after admitting the 訪問者s, “whatever’s come to you?”

“I’ve had a turn,” said Susan faintly, sitting by the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 and rubbing her white cheeks.

At once Mrs. Pill was alive with curiosity. She questioned the new parlor-maid closely, but was unable to 抽出する (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状). Susan 簡単に said that she had a weak heart, and 始める,決める 負かす/撃墜する her 病弱な 外見 to the heat. “An’ on that accounts you sits by the 解雇する/砲火/射撃,” said Mrs. Pill scathingly. “You’re one of the secret ones you are. 井戸/弁護士席, it ain’t no 商売/仕事 of 地雷, thank ‘eaven, me 存在 above board in everythink. I ‘spose the usual lot arrived, Susan?”

“Two gentlemen and a lady,” replied Susan, glad to see that the cooks thoughts were turning in another direction.

“Gentlemen!” snorted Mrs. Pill, “that Clancy one ain’t. Why the missus should hobnob with sich as he, I don’t know nohow.”

“Ah, but the other’s a real masher,” chimed in Geraldine, looking up from her millinery; “such 黒人/ボイコット 注目する,もくろむs, that go through you like a gimlet, and such a lovely moustache. He dresses elegant too.”

“存在 行方不明になる Loach’s lawyer, he have a 権利 to dress 井戸/弁護士席,” said Mrs. Pill, rubbing her nose with the 在庫/株ing, “and Mr. Clancy, I thinks, is someone Mr. Jarvey Hale’s helpin’, he 存在 good and 肉親,親類d.”

Here Geraldine gave 予期しない (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状).

“He’s a (弁護士の)依頼人 of Mr. Hale’s,” she said indistinctly, with her mouth 十分な of pins, “and has come in for a lot of money. Mr. Hale’s introducing him into good society, to make a gent of him.”

“Silk purses can’t be made out of (種を)蒔くs’ ears,” growled the cook, “an’ who told you all this Geraldine?”

“行方不明になる Loach herself, at different times.”

Susan thought it was strange that a lady should gossip to this extent with her housemaid, but she did not take much 利益/興味 in the conversation, 存在 占領するd with her own sad thoughts. But the next 発言/述べる of Geraldine made her start. “Mr. Clancy’s father was a carpenter,” said the girl.

“My father was a carpenter,” 発言/述べるd Susan, sadly.

“Ah,” cried Mrs. Pill with alacrity, “now you’re speaking sense. Ain’t he alive?”

“No. He was 毒(薬)d!”

The three servants, having the love of horrors peculiar to the lower classes, looked up with 利益/興味. “Lor!” said Thomas, speaking for the first time and in a 厚い 発言する/表明する, “who 毒(薬)d him?”

“No one knows. He died five years ago, and left mother with me and four little brothers to bring up. They’re all doing 井戸/弁護士席 now, though, and I help mother, as they do. They didn’t want me to go out to service, you know,” 追加するd Susan, warming on finding 同情的な listeners. “I could have stopped at home with mother in Stepney, but I did not want to be idle, and took a 状況/情勢 with a 未亡人 lady at Hampstead. I stopped there a year. Then she died and I went as parlor-maid to a Senora Gredos. I was only there six months,” and she sighed.

“Why did you leave?” asked Geraldine.

Susan grew red. “I wished for a change,” she said curtly.

But the housemaid did not believe her. She was a sharp girl and her feelings were not 精製するd. “It’s just like these men —”

“I said nothing about men,” interrupted Susan, はっきりと.

“井戸/弁護士席, then, a man. You’ve been in love, Susan, and —”

“No. I am not in love,” and Susan colored more than ever.

“Why, it’s as plain as cook that you are, now,” tittered Geraldine.

“持つ/拘留する your noise and leave the gal be,” said Mrs. Pill, 感情を害する/違反するd by the allusion to her looks, “if she’s in love she ain’t married, and no more she せねばならない be; if she’d had a husband like 地雷, who drank every day in the week and lived on my 収入s. He’s dead now, an’ I gave ’im a ‘andsome tombstone with the text: ‘Go thou and do likewise’ on it, 存在 a short 発言/述べる, lead letterin’ 存在 expensive. Ah 井戸/弁護士席, as I 静めるs say, ‘Flesh is grass with us all.’”

While the cook maundered on Thomas sat with his dull 注目する,もくろむs 直す/買収する,八百長をするd on the 紅潮/摘発するd 直面する of Susan. “What about the 毒(薬)ing?” he 需要・要求するd.

“It was this way,” said Susan. “Father was working at some house in these parts —”

“What! 負かす/撃墜する here?”

“Yes, at Rexton, which was then just rising into notice as a place for gentlefolks. He had just finished with a house when he (機の)カム home one day with his 給料. He was taken ill and died. The doctor said he had taken 毒(薬), and he died of it. Arsenic it was,” explained Susan to her horrified audience.

“But why did he 毒(薬) himself?” asked Geraldine.

“I don’t know: no one knew. He was gettin’ good 給料, and said he would make us all rich.”

“Ah,” chimed in Thomas suddenly, “in what way, Susan?”

“He had a 計画/陰謀 to make our fortunes. What it was, I don’t know. But he said he would soon be 価値(がある) plenty of money. Mother thought someone must have 毒(薬)d him, but she could not find out. As we had a lot of trouble then, it was thought father had killed himself to escape it, but I know better. If he had lived, we should have been rich. He was on an extra 職業 負かす/撃墜する here,” she ended.

“What was the extra 職業?” asked Thomas curiously.

Susan shook her 長,率いる. “Mother never 設立する out. She went to the house he worked on, which is 近づく the 駅/配置する. They said father always went away for three hours every afternoon by an 協定 with the foreman. Where he went, no one knew. He (機の)カム straight from this extra 職業 home and died of 毒(薬). Mother thought,” 追加するd Susan, looking 一連の会議、交渉/完成する 慎重に, “that someone must have had a wish to get rid of father, he knowing too much.”

“Too much of what, my gal?” asked Mrs. Pill, with open mouth.

“Ah! That’s what I’d like to find out,” said Susan garrulously, “but nothing was ever known, and father was buried as a 自殺. Then mother, having me and my four brothers, married again, and I took the 指名する of her new husband.”

“Then your 指名する ain’t really 認める?” asked Geraldine.

“No! It’s Maxwell, father 存在 Scotch and a clever workman. Susan Maxwell is my 指名する, but after the 自殺 — if it was one — mother felt the 不名誉 so, that she made us all call ourselves 認める. So Susan 認める I am, and my brothers of the old family are 認める also.”

“What do you mean by the old family?”

“Mother has three children by her second husband, and that’s the new family,” explained Susan, “but we are all 認めるs, though me and my four brothers are really Maxwells. But there,” she said, looking 一連の会議、交渉/完成する 静かに and rather pleased at the 利益/興味 with which she was regarded, “I’ve told you a lot. Tell me something!”

Mrs. Pill was unwilling to leave the fascinating 支配する of 自殺, but her 願望(する) to talk got the better of her, and she 開始する,打ち上げるd into a long account of her married life. It seemed she had buried the late Mr. Pill ten years before, and since that time had been with 行方不明になる Loach as cook. She had saved money and could leave service at once, if she so chose. “But I should never be happy out of my kitchen, my love,” said Mrs. Pill, biting a piece of darning-cotton, “so here I stay till missus goes under.”

“And she won’t do that for a long time,” said Thomas. “Missus is strong. A good, 肉親,親類d, healthy lady.”

Geraldine followed with an account of herself, which 関係のある 主として to her good looks and many lovers, and the tyranny of mistresses. “I will say, however, that after 存在 here a year, I have nothing to complain of.”

“I should think not,” grunted Thomas. “I’ve been twenty years with 行方不明になる Loach, and a good ’un she is. I entered her service when I was fifteen, and she could have married an earl — Lord Caranby 手配中の,お尋ね者 to marry her — but she wouldn’t.”

“Lor,” said Mrs. Pill, “and ain’t that his lordship’s 甥 who comes here at times?”

“Mr. Mallow? Yes! That’s him. He’s fond of the old lady.”

“And fond of her niece, too,” giggled Geraldine; “not but what 行方不明になる Saxon is rather 甘い.”

“Rather 甘い,” growled the cook, “why, she’s a lovely gal, sich as you’ll never be, in spite of your 罰金 指名する. An’ her brother, Mr. Basil, is 近づく as ‘andsome as she.”

“He ain’t got the go about him 行方不明になる Juliet have,” said Thomas.

“A lot you know,” was the cook’s retort. “Why Mr. Basil quarrelled with missus a week ago and gave her proper, and missus ain’t no 平易な person to fight with, as I knows. Mr. Basil left the house and ain’t been 近づく since.”

“He’s a fool, then,” said Thomas. “Missus won’t leave him a penny.”

“She’ll leave it to 行方不明になる Juliet Saxon, which is just the same. I never did see brother and sister so fond of one another as those two. I believe she’d put the ‘空気/公表する of ‘er 長,率いる — and lovely ‘空気/公表する it is, too — under his blessed feet to show him she loves him.”

“She’d do the same by Mr. Mallow,” said Geraldine, tittering.

Here Susan interrupted. “Who is the old lady who comes here?”

“Oh, she’s Mrs. Herne,” said the cook. “A cross, ‘aughty old thing, who fights always. She’s been coming here with Mr. Jarvey Hale and Mr. Clancy for the last three years. They play whist every evening and go away 正規の/正選手 about ten. Missus let’s ’em out themselves or else (犯罪の)一味s for me. Why, there’s the bell now,” and Mrs. Pill rose.

“No! I go,” said Susan, rising also. “行方不明になる Loach told me to come when she rang.”

Mrs. Pill nodded and 再開するd her seat and her darning. “Lor bless you, my love, I ain’t jealous,” she said. “My 脚s ain’t as young as they was. ‘Urry, my dear, missus is a bad ’un to be kept waitin’.”

Thus 勧めるd, Susan 急いでd to the 前線 part of the house and 負かす/撃墜する the stairs. The door of the sitting-room was open. She knocked and entered, to find Mr. Clancy, who looked rougher and more foolish than ever, standing by the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する. 行方不明になる Loach, with a pack of cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周, was talking, and Susan heard the 結論するing 宣告,判決 as she entered the room.

“You’re a fool, Clancy,” said 行方不明になる Loach, emphatically. “You know Mrs. Herne doesn’t like to be 否定するd. You’ve sent her away in a 罰金 激怒(する), and she’s taken Hale with her. やめる spoilt our game of — ah, here’s Susan. Off with you, Clancy. I wish to be alone.”

The man would have spoken, but 行方不明になる Loach silenced him with a sharp gesture and pointed to the door. In silence he went upstairs with Susan, and in silence left the house. It was a 罰金 night, and Susan stopped for a moment at the door to drink in the fresh 空気/公表する. She heard the 激しい footsteps of a policeman draw 近づく and he passed the house, to disappear into the path on the opposite 味方する of the road. When Susan returned to the kitchen she 設立する supper ready. Soon the servants were seated at the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する and talking brightly.

“Who does that house at the 支援する belong to?” asked Susan.

“To Lord Caranby,” said Thomas, although not 直接/まっすぐに 演説(する)/住所d. “It’s unfinished.”

“Yes and shut up. Lord Caranby was in love with a lady and built that house for her. Before it was ready the lady died and Lord Caranby left the house as it was and built a high 塀で囲む 一連の会議、交渉/完成する it. He then went travelling and has been travelling ever since. He never married either, and his 甥, Mr. Cuthbert Mallow, is 相続人 to the 肩書を与える.”

“I thought you said Lord Caranby loved 行方不明になる Loach?”

“No, I didn’t. I said she could have married him had she played her cards 適切に. But she didn’t, and Lord Caranby went away. The lady who died was a friend of missus, and they were always together. I think missus and she were jealous of Lord Caranby, both loving him. But 行方不明になる Saul — that was the other lady — died, and Lord Caranby left the house as it stands, to go away.”

“He won’t 許す anyone to 始める,決める a foot in the house or grounds,” said Mrs. Pill, “there ain’t no gate in the 塀で囲む —”

“No gate,” echoed Susan astonished.

“Not a 選び出す/独身 ‘ole as you could get a cat through. 一連の会議、交渉/完成する and 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the place that fifteen-feet 塀で囲む is built, and the park, as they calls it, is running as wild as a cow. Not a soul has 始める,決める foot in that place for the last fifteen years. But I 推定する/予想する when Mr. Mallow comes in for the 肩書を与える he’ll pull it 負かす/撃墜する and build ‘ouses. I’m sure he せねばならない: it’s a shame seeing land wasted like that.”

“Where is Lord Caranby now?”

“He lives in London and never comes 近づく this place,” said Thomas.

“Is 行方不明になる Loach friendly with him now?” “No, she ain’t. He 扱う/治療するd her 不正に. She’d have been a better Lady Caranby than 行方不明になる Saul”— here Thomas started and raised a finger. “Eh! wasn’t that the 前線 door の近くにing?”

All listened, but no sound could be heard. “Perhaps missus has gone to walk in the garding,” said cook, “she do that at times.”

“Did you show ‘ern out?” asked Thomas, looking at Susan.

“Only Mr. Clancy,” she answered, “the others had gone before. I heard what 行方不明になる Loach was 説. Mr. Clancy had quarrelled with Mrs. Herne and she had gone away with Mr. Hale. Then 行方不明になる Loach gave it to him hot and sent him away. She’s all alone.”

“I must have been mistaken about the door then,” said he.

“Not at all,” chimed in Mrs. Pill. “Missus is walking as she do do in the garding, singing and adornin’ self with flowers.”

After this poetic flight of fancy on the part of the cook, the supper ended. Thomas smoked a 麻薬を吸う and the housemaid (疑いを)晴らすd away. Mrs. Pill 占領するd her time in putting her few straggling locks in curl-papers.

While Susan was 補助装置ing Geraldine, the bell rang. All started. “I thought missus had gone to bed,” cried the cook, getting up hurriedly. “She’ll be in a 罰金 激怒(する) if she finds us up. Go to bed, Geraldine, and you, Thomas. Susan, answer the bell. She don’t like us not to be gettin’ our beauty sleep. Bless me it’s eleving.”

The clock had just struck as Susan left the kitchen, and the three servants were bustling about so as to get to bed before their sharp-注目する,もくろむd old mistress 設立する them. Susan went 負かす/撃墜する the stairs. The door of the sitting-room was の近くにd. She knocked but no 発言する/表明する told her to enter. Wondering if the bell had been rung by mistake, Susan knocked again, and again received no answer. She had a mind to 退却/保養地 rather than 直面する the 怒り/怒る of 行方不明になる Loach. But remembering that the bell had rung, she opened the door, 決定するd to explain. 行方不明になる Loach was seated in her usual 議長,司会を務める, but leaning 支援する with a 恐ろしい 直面する. The glare of the electric lamp 直す/買収する,八百長をするd in the 天井, shone 十分な on her white countenance, and also on something else. The bosom of her purple gown was disarranged, and the lace which adorned it was stained with 血. Startled by her looks Susan hurried 今後 and gazed searchingly into the 直面する. There was no 調印する of 承認 in the wide, 星/主役にするing 注目する,もくろむs. Susan, quivering with dread, touched 行方不明になる Loach’s shoulder. Her touch upset the 団体/死体 and it rolled on the 床に打ち倒す. The woman was dead. With a shriek Susan recoiled and fell on her 膝s. Her cry speedily brought the other servants.

“Look!” cried Susan pointing, “she is dead — 殺人d!”

Geraldine and Mrs. Pill shrieked with horror. Thomas 保存するd his stolid look of composure.

一時期/支部 III
A Mysterious Death

To be the husband of a celebrated woman is not an unmixed blessing. Mr. Peter Octagon 設立する it to be so, when he married Mrs. Saxon, the 未亡人 of an 著名な Q.C. She was a 罰金 Junoesque 悲劇の woman, who modelled herself on the portraits of the late Mrs. Siddons. Peter, on the contrary, was a small, meek, light-haired, short-sighted man, who had never done anything in his unromantic life, save 蓄積する a fortune as a 法律-stationer. For many years he lived in 選び出す/独身 blessedness, but when he retired with an 保証するd income of three thousand a year, he thought he would marry. He had no 親族s, having been brought up in a Foundling Hospital, and その結果, 設立する life rather lonely in his 罰金 Kensington house. He really did not care about living in such a mansion, and had 購入(する)d the 所有物/資産/財産 as a 憶測, ーするつもりであるing to sell it at a 利益(をあげる). But having fallen in with Mrs. Saxon, then a hard-up 未亡人, she not only induced him to marry her, but, when married, she 主張するd that the house should be 保持するd, so that she could dispense 歓待 to a literary circle.

Mrs. Octagon was very literary. She had published several novels under the nom-deplume of “Rowena.” She had produced a 容積/容量 of poems; she had written a play which had been produced at a matinee; and finally her 小冊子s on political questions stamped her, in the opinion of her 即座の circle, as a William Pitt in petticoats. She looked upon herself as the George Eliot of the twentieth century, and 時代遅れの events from the time of her first success. “That happened before I became famous,” she would say. “No, it was after I took the public by 嵐/襲撃する.” And her 即座の circle, who 高く評価する/(相場などが)上がるd her cakes and ale, would agree with everything she said. The Kensington house was called “The 神社 of the Muses!” and this 肩書を与える was stamped on her envelopes and 令状ing-paper, to the bewilderment of 無学の postmen. It sounded like the 指名する of a public-house to them.

Peter was やめる lost in the 炎 of his wife’s literary glory. He was a plain, homely, small man, as meek as a rabbit, fond of his garden and fireside, and nervous in society. Had he not committed the 致命的な mistake of wedding Mrs. Saxon, he would have taken a cottage in the country and cultivated flowers. As it was, he dwelt in town and was ordered to 護衛する Mrs. Octagon when she chose to “炎,” as she put it, in her friends’ houses. Also there was a 歓迎会 every Friday when literary London gathered 一連の会議、交渉/完成する “Rowena,” and lamented the 拒絶する/低下する of Art. These people had never done anything to speak of, 非,不,無 of them were famous in any wide sense, but they talked of art with a big “A,” though what they meant was not (疑いを)晴らす even to themselves. So far as could be ascertained Art, with a big “A,” was 関心d with something which did not sell, save to a select circle. Mrs. Octagon’s circle would have shuddered collectively and 個々に at the idea of 令状ing anything 利益/興味ing, likely to be enjoyed by the toilers of modern days. Whatever pictures, songs, 調書をとる/予約するs or plays were written by anyone who did not belong to “The Circle,” these were considered “pretty, but not Tart!” Anything successful was pronounced “Vulgar!” To be artistic in Mrs. Octagon’s sense, a work had to 所有する obscurity, it had to be printed on the finest paper with selected type, and it had to be sold at a prohibitive price. In this way “Rowena” had produced her 作品, and her 指名する was not known beyond her small coterie. All the same, she intimated that her renown was world-wide and that her fame would be 相応した with the 存在 of the Anglo—Saxon race. Mrs. 物陰/風下 Hunter in the Pickwick Papers, also labored under the same delusion.

With Peter lived Mrs. Saxon’s children by the 著名な Q.C. Basil, who was twenty-five, and Juliet age twenty-two. They were both handsome and clever, but Juliet was the more sensible of the two. She detested the sham enthusiasm of The Circle, and 高く評価する/(相場などが)上がるd Peter more than her mother did. Basil had been spoilt by his mother, who considered him a genius, and had produced a 調書をとる/予約する of weak 詩(を作る). Juliet was fond of her brother, but she saw his faults and tried to 訂正する them. She wished to make him more of a man and いっそう少なく of an artistic 詐欺, for the young man really did 所有する talents. But the hothouse atmosphere of “The 神社 of the Muses!” would have 廃虚d anyone 所有するd of genius, unless he had a strong enough nature to withstand the sickly adulation and 誤った judgments of those who (機の)カム there. Basil was not strong. He was pleasant, idle, rather vain, and a little inclined to be dissipated. Mrs. Octagon did not know that Basil was fond of dissipation. She thought him a model young Oxford man, and hoped he would one day be Laureate of England.

Afternoon tea was just ended, and several of Mrs. Octagon’s friends had 出発/死d. Basil and Mr. Octagon were out, but the latter entered with a paper in his 手渡す すぐに after the last 訪問者 took her leave. Mrs. Octagon, in a ruby-colored velvet, looking majestic and self-満足させるd, was enthroned — the word is not too strong — in an arm-議長,司会を務める, and Juliet was seated opposite to her turning over the leaves of a new novel produced by one of The Circle. It was beautifully printed and bound, and beautifully written in “precious” English, but its perusal did not seem to afford her any satisfaction. Her attention wandered, and every now and then she looked at the door as though 推定する/予想するing someone to enter. Mrs. Octagon disapproved of Juliet’s pale cheeks and want of attention to her own fascinating conversation, so, when alone, she took the 適切な時期 to 訂正する her.

“My child,” said Mrs. Octagon, who always spoke in a 悲劇の manner, and in a 肉親,親類d of blank-詩(を作る) way, “to me it seems your cheeks are somewhat pale.”

“I had no sleep last night,” said Juliet, throwing 負かす/撃墜する the 調書をとる/予約する.

“Your thoughts 関心d themselves with Cuthbert’s 直面する, no 疑問, my love,” said her mother 情愛深く.

“No, I was not thinking of him. I was worried about — about — my new dress,” she finished, after vainly casting about for some more sensible 推論する/理由.

“How foolish children are. You trouble about your dress when you should have been thinking of the man who loves you.”

“Does Cuthbert love me?” asked Juliet, 紅潮/摘発するing.

“As Romeo loved your namesake, sweetest child. And a very good match it is too,” 追加するd Mrs. Octagon, relapsing into prose. “He is Lord Caranby’s 相続人, and will have a 肩書を与える and a fortune some day. But I would not 軍隊 you to 結婚する against your will, my dear.”

“I love Cuthbert and Cuthbert loves me,” said Juliet quickly, “we やめる understand one another. I wonder why he did not come today.”

“Ah,” said her mother playfully, “I saw that your thoughts were otherwhere. Your 注目する,もくろむs wandered 絶えず to the door. He may come late. By the way, where is my dearest son?”

“Basil? He went out this morning. I believe he ーするつもりであるd to call on Aunt Selina.”

Mrs. Octagon lost a trifle of her suave manner, and became decidedly more human. “Then I wish he would not call there,” she said はっきりと. “Selina Loach is my own sister, but I do not 認可する of her.”

“She is a poor, lonely dear, mother.”

“Poor, my child, she is not, as I have every 推論する/理由 to believe she is 井戸/弁護士席 endowed with this world’s goods. Lonely she may be, but that is her own fault. Had she behaved as she should have done, Lady Caranby would have been her proud 肩書を与える. As to dear,” Mrs. Octagon shrugged her 罰金 shoulders, “she is not a woman to 勝利,勝つ or 保持する love. Look at the company she keeps. Mr. Hale, her lawyer, is not a nice man. I have 遠くに見つけるd something evil in his 注目する,もくろむ. That Clancy creature is said to be rich. He needs to be, if only to 補償する for his rough way. They visit her 絶えず.”

“You have forgotten Mrs. Herne,” said Juliet, rising, and beginning to pace the room restlessly and watch out of the window.

“I have never met Mrs. Herne. And, indeed, you know, that for 私的な 推論する/理由s I have never visited Selina at that ridiculous house of hers. When were you there last, Juliet, my child?”

The girl started and appeared embarrassed. “Oh, a week ago,” she said hurriedly, then 追加するd restlessly, “I wonder why Basil does not come 支援する. He has been away all day.”

“Do you know why he has called on your aunt, my dear?”

“No,” said Juliet, in a hesitating manner, and turned again to look out of the window. Then she 追加するd, as though to escape その上の 尋問, “I have seen Mrs. Herne only once, but she seemed to me a very nice, clever old woman.”

“Clever,” said Mrs. Octagon, raising her eyebrows, which were as 堅固に 示すd as those of her sister, “no. She does not belong to The Circle.”

“A person can be clever without that,” said Juliet impatiently.

“No. All the clever people in London come here, Juliet. If Mrs. Herne had been brilliant, she would have 設立する her way to our 神社.”

Juliet shrugged her shoulders and curled her pretty lip. She did not 高く評価する/(相場などが)上がる her 特権s in that house. In fact, a word distinctly 似ているing “Bother!” escaped from her mouth. However, she went on talking of Mrs. Herne, as though to keep her mother from 尋問 her その上の.

“There is a mystery about Mrs. Herne,” she said, coming to the 解雇する/砲火/射撃; “for I asked Aunt Selina who she was, and she could not tell me.”

“That is so like Selina,” 再結合させるd Mrs. Octagon tartly, “receiving a person of whom she knows nothing.”

“Oh, she does know a little. Mrs. Herne is the 未亡人 of a Spanish merchant, and she struck me as 存在 foreign herself. Aunt Selina has known her for three years, and she has come almost every week to play whist at Rose Cottage. I believe she lives at Hampstead!”

“It seems to me, Juliet, that your aunt told you a 広大な/多数の/重要な 取引,協定 about this person. Why did you ask?”

Juliet 星/主役にするd into the 解雇する/砲火/射撃. “There is something so strange about Mrs. Herne,” she murmured. “In spite of her gray hair she looks やめる young. She does not walk as an old woman. She 自白するd to 存在 over fifty. To be sure, I saw her only once.”

Mrs. Octagon grew rather cross. “I am over fifty, and I’m sure I don’t look old, you undutiful child. When the soul is young, what 事柄s the house of clay. But, as I was 説,” she 追加するd あわてて, not choosing to talk of her age, which was a tender point with her, “Selina Loach likes low company. I know nothing of Mrs. Herne, but what you say of her does not sound 精製するd.”

“Oh, she is やめる a lady.”

“And as to Mr. Clancy and Mr. Jarvey Hale,” 追加するd Mrs. Octagon, taking no notice, “I 不信 them. That Hale man looked as though he would do a 行為 of 不明瞭 on the slightest 誘発.”

So 悲劇の was her mother’s manner, that Juliet turned even paler than she was. “Whatever do you mean?” she asked quickly.

“I mean 殺人, if I must use so vulgar and melodramatic a word.”

“But I don’t understand —”

“Bless me,” cried Mrs. Octagon, becoming more prosaic than ever, “there is nothing to understand. But Selina lives in やめる a lonely house, and has a lot of money. I never open the papers but what I 推定する/予想する to read of her death by 暴力/激しさ.”

“Oh,” murmured Juliet, again crossing to the window, “you should not talk like that, mother!”

Mrs. Octagon laughed good-naturedly. “Nonsense, child. I am only telling you my thoughts. Selina is such a strange woman and keeps such strange company that she won’t end in the usual way. You may be sure of that. But, after all, if she does die, you will come in for her money and then, can marry Cuthbert Mallow.”

Juliet shuddered. “I hope Aunt Selina will live for many a long day, if that is what you think,” she said はっきりと. “I want 非,不,無 of her money. Cuthbert has money of his own, and his uncle is rich also.”

“I really hope Cuthbert has enough to 正当化する him 賭事ing.”

“He does not 賭事,” said Juliet quickly.

“Yes he does,” 主張するd Mrs. Octagon. “I have heard 噂するs; it is but 権利 you should hear about —”

“I want to hear nothing. I thought you liked Cuthbert.”

“I do, and he is a good match. But I should like to see you 受託する the Poet Arkwright, who will yet be the Shakespeare of England.”

“England has やめる enough glory with the Shakespeare she has,” 再結合させるd Juliet tartly, “and as to Mr. Arkwright, I wouldn’t marry him if he had a million. A silly, ugly, weak —”

“Stop!” cried Mrs. Octagon, rising majestically from her 王位. “Do not malign genius, lest the gods strike you dumb. Child —”

What Mrs. Octagon was about to say その上の must remain ever a mystery, for it was at this moment that her husband hurried into the room with an evening paper in his 手渡す. “My dear,” he said, his scanty hair almost standing on end with horror, “such dreadful news. Your aunt, Juliet, my dear —”

“Selina,” said Mrs. Octagon 静かに, “go on. There is nothing bad I don’t 推定する/予想する to hear about Selina. What is it?”

“She is dead!”

“Dead!” cried Juliet, clasping her 手渡すs nervously. “No!”

“Not only dead, but 殺人d!” cried Mr. Octagon. His wife suddenly dropped into her 王位 and, 存在 a large fleshly woman, her 落ちる shook the room. Then she burst into 涙/ほころびs. “I never liked Selina,” she 匂いをかぐd, “even though she was my own sister, but I am sorry — I am dreadfully — oh, dear me! Poor Selina!”

By this time all the 劇の 提起する/ポーズをとるing of Mrs. Octagon had gone by the 塀で囲む, and she showed herself in her true colors as a 肉親,親類d-hearted woman. Juliet hurried to her mother and took one of her 手渡すs. The 年上の woman started, even in the 中央 of her 涙/ほころびs. “My child, your 手渡す is as 冷淡な as ice,” she said anxiously. “Are you ill.”

“No,” said the girl hurriedly and evidently trying to 抑える her emotion, “but this dreadful news! Do you remember what you said?”

“Yes — but I never 推定する/予想するd I would be a true prophetess,” sobbed Mrs. Octagon. “Peter,” with sudden tartness, “why don’t you give me the 詳細(に述べる)s. Poor Selina dead, and here am I in ruby velvet!”

“There are not many 詳細(に述べる)s to give,” said Peter, reading from the newspaper, “the police are keeping 静かな about the 事柄.”

“Who killed her?”

Juliet rose suddenly and turned on the electric light, so that her step-father could see to read more 明確に. “Yes,” she said in a 会社/堅い 発言する/表明する, belied by the 恐ろしい whiteness of her 直面する, “who killed her?”

“It is not known,” said Mr. Octagon. “Last night she entertained a few friends — to be 正確な, three, and she was 設立する by her new parlor-maid dead in her 議長,司会を務める, stabbed to the heart. The 武器 has not been 設立する, nor has any trace of the 殺害者 been discovered.”

“Entertained friends,” muttered Mrs. Octagon weeping, “the usual lot. Mr. Hale, Mrs. Herne and Mr. Clancy —”

“Yes,” said Peter, somewhat surprised, “how do you know?”

“My soul, whispered me,” said Mrs. Octagon tragically, and becoming melodramatic again, now that the first shock was over. “One of those three killed her. Who struck the 致命的な blow? — the villain Hale I 疑問 not.”

“No,” cried Juliet, “it was not Mr. Hale. He would not 害(を与える) a 飛行機で行く.”

“Probably not,” said her mother tartly, “a 飛行機で行く has no 所有物/資産/財産 — your Aunt Selina had. Oh, my dear,” she 追加するd, darting away at a tangent, “to think that last night you and Basil should have been 証言,証人/目撃するs of a melodrama at the Marlow Theatre, at the very time this real 悲劇 was taking place in the 田舎の country.”

“It’s a most dreadful 事件/事情/状勢,” murmured Peter, laying aside the paper. “Had I not better go 負かす/撃墜する to Rose Cottage and 申し込む/申し出 my services?”

“No,” said Mrs. Octagon はっきりと, “don’t mix yourself up in this dreadful 事件/事情/状勢. Few people know that Selina was my sister, and I don’t want everyone to be condoling with me on this 悲劇.”

“But we must do something,” said Juliet quickly.

“We will wait, my dear. But I don’t want more publicity than is necessary.”

“But I have told some of our friends that Aunt Selina is a 親族.”

“Then you should not have done so,” replied her mother, annoyed. “However, people soon forget 指名するs, and the thing may not be noticed.”

“My dear,” said Octagon, 本気で, “you should not be ashamed of your sister. She may not have your renown nor 階級, still —”

“I know my own knowing,” interrupted the lady rather violently, and 鎮圧するing her meek husband with a look. “Selina and I are strangers, and have been for years. What are the circumstances of the 事例/患者? I have not seen Selina for over fifteen years. I hear nothing about her. She suddenly 令状s to me, asking if my dear children may call and see her — that was a year ago. You 主張するd that they should go, Peter, because 親族s should be friendly. I 同意d, as I heard from Mr. Hale that Selina was rich, and fancied she might leave her money to my children. Juliet has called several times —”

“More than that,” interrupted Juliet in her turn, “both Basil and I have called nearly every month. We いつかs went and did not tell you, mother, as you seemed so annoyed that we should visit her.”

“I 同意d only that you might 保持する her 好意/親善 and get what money she might leave,” said Mrs. Octagon obstinately. “There is nothing in ありふれた between Selina and me.”

“There was nothing in ありふれた,” put in Octagon softly.

“I know she is dead. You need not remind me of that unpleasant fact, sir. And her death is worthy of her strange, and I 恐れる not altogether reputable life.”

“Oh, mother, how can you? Aunt Selina was the most particular —”

“There — there,” said her mother who was much agitated, “I know more than you do. And between ourselves, I believe I know who killed her. Yes! You may look. And this death, Juliet, ends your 約束/交戦 with Cuthbert.”

一時期/支部 IV
詳細(に述べる)s

What Mrs. Octagon meant by her last enigmatic 発言/述べる it is impossible to say. After 配達するing it in her usual 劇の manner, she swept from the room, leaving Juliet and her step-father 星/主役にするing at one another. Peter was the first to break the silence.

“Your mother appears to be very 肯定的な,” said he.

“About my giving up Cuthbert?” asked Juliet はっきりと.

“About the 罪,犯罪. She hinted that she guessed who killed the poor lady. I never knew 行方不明になる Loach myself,” 追加するd Mr. Octagon, seating himself and ruffling his scanty locks, a habit with him when perplexed, “but you said you liked her.”

“Yes, Aunt Selina was always very nice to me. She had strange ways, and, to tell you the truth, father,” Juliet always 演説(する)/住所d Peter thus, to his 広大な/多数の/重要な delight, “she was not so 精製するd as mother —”

“Few people are so 精製するd as my wife, my dear.”

“As to mother knowing who killed her,” 追求するd Juliet, taking no notice of this interpolation, “it’s nonsense. She said she believed Mr. Hale or Mr. Clancy —”

“Surely not,” interposed Mr. Octagon anxiously, “both these gentlemen have 参加するd in the delights of our literary Circle, and I should be loath to credit them with 暴力/激しさ.”

“I don’t believe either has anything to do with the 事柄. Mother doesn’t like them because they were such good friends to Aunt Selina. Can you guess why mother quarrelled with aunt, father?”

“No, my dear. Your mother has some grudge against her. What it is I do not know. She never told me. But for over fifteen years your mother spoke little of your aunt and never called to see her. I was やめる astonished when she 同意d that you and Basil should call. Did your aunt ever speak of your mother?”

“Very little, and then she was 用心深い — what she said. But this is not the question,” continued the girl, leaning her chin on her 手渡す and 星/主役にするing into the 解雇する/砲火/射撃; “why does mother say I must break my 約束/交戦 with Cuthbert on account of this death?”

“Perhaps she will explain.”

“No; she left the room to 避ける an explanation. Cuthbert certainly saw Aunt Selina once or twice, but he did not care for her. But he can have nothing to do with the 事柄. Then again, mother, up till now, was always pleased that I should marry Cuthbert.”

“Yes,” said Octagon, twiddling his thumbs; “she has known Mr. Mallow ever since he was a child. Both your aunt and your mother were 広大な/多数の/重要な friends of Lord Caranby’s in their 青年, over twenty years ago. I believe at one time Selina was engaged to him, but he was in love with a young lady called 行方不明になる Saul, who died 突然に.”

“I know,” said Juliet; “and then Lord Caranby abandoned the house he was building at Rexton, and it has been shut up all these years. Aunt Selina told me the story. When I asked mother for 詳細(に述べる)s, she 辞退するd to speak.”

“Your mother is very 会社/堅い when she likes.”

“Very obstinate, you mean,” said Juliet, undutifully. “However, I am not going to give up Cuthbert. I love him and he loves me. I ーするつもりである to marry him whatever mother may say.”

“But if your mother 辞退するs her 同意?”

“I am over age.”

As she spoke her brother entered the room hurriedly. Basil Saxon was as fair and weak-looking as his sister was dark and strong in 外見. He was smartly dressed, and in a rather 影響する/感情d way. His hair was long, he wore a moustache and a short 皇室の, and talked in a languid way in a somewhat obscure manner. These were the traits Juliet disliked in Basil. She would rather have seen him a spruce 井戸/弁護士席-groomed man about town like Cuthbert. But at the 現在の moment Basil’s 直面する was 紅潮/摘発するd, and he spoke hurriedly, evidently laboring under 広大な/多数の/重要な 強調する/ストレス of emotion.

“Have you heard the news?” he said, dropping into a 議長,司会を務める and casting a 味方する look at the evening paper which Peter still held.

“If you mean about the death —”

“Yes; Aunt Selina has been 殺人d. I called to see her this morning, and 設立する the house in the 所有/入手 of the police. All day I have been 負かす/撃墜する there with Mallow.”

“With Cuthbert,” said Juliet, starting and growing red. “What was he doing there?”

“He (機の)カム 負かす/撃墜する to Rexton to see about the unfinished house. Lord Caranby has returned to England, and he has thoughts of pulling it 負かす/撃墜する. Mallow (機の)カム to have a look at the place.”

“But he can’t get in. There is a 塀で囲む 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the grounds.”

“He climbed over the 塀で囲む,” said Basil, quickly, “and after looking through the house he (機の)カム out. Then he saw me, and I told him what had happened. He appeared dreadfully shocked.”

Juliet shivered in spite of the heat of the day and the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, 近づく which she was seated. “It is strange he should have been there.”

Her brother threw a keen ちらりと見ること at her. “I don’t see that!” he exclaimed. “He gave his 推論する/理由 for 存在 in the 近隣. He (機の)カム up with me, and is coming on here in a few moments. This is why he did not turn up this afternoon.”

Juliet nodded and appeared 満足させるd with this explanation. But she kept her 注目する,もくろむs on her brother when he entered into 詳細(に述べる)s about the 罪,犯罪. Her emotions during the recital betrayed themselves markedly.

“I saw the 探偵,刑事,” said Basil, with quicker speech than usual. “He is a first-率 chap called Jennings, and when he heard I was 行方不明になる Loach’s 甥 he didn’t mind speaking 自由に.”

“What did you learn?” asked Mr. Octagon.

“Enough to make the mystery surrounding the death deeper than ever.”

“What do you mean?” asked his sister, restlessly. “Can’t the 殺害者 be 設立する?”

“Not a trace of him can be discovered.”

“Why do you say ‘him.’ It might have been a woman.”

“No,” 再結合させるd Basil 前向きに/確かに, “no woman could have struck so hard a blow. Aunt Selina was stabbed to the heart. She must have been killed as she was rising from her 議長,司会を務める, and death, so the doctor says, must have been instantaneous.”

“Has the 武器 been 設立する?” asked Juliet in a low 発言する/表明する.

Basil turned quickly in his 議長,司会を務める, and looked at her はっきりと. “No!” he said, “not a 調印する of any 武器 can be 設立する, nor can it be discovered how anyone got into the house. Though to be sure, she might have 認める her 訪問者.”

“Explain! explain,” cried Mr. Octagon, ruffling his hair.

“井戸/弁護士席, to tell the story in 詳細(に述べる),” said his step-son, “the way it happened is this. Aunt Selina had Mr. Hale and Mr. Clancy and Mrs. Herne to their usual game of whist. Clancy, as it appears from the 報告(する)/憶測 of what the new parlor-maid overheard, quarrelled with Hale and Mrs. Herne. They left before ten o’clock. At all events, when she entered the room in answer to my aunt’s 召喚するs, she 設立する only Mr. Clancy, and aunt was scolding him for having 刺激するd Mrs. Herne by 否定するing her. 明らかに Mrs. Herne had gone away under the wing of Hale. Then aunt sent Clancy away at ten o’clock. The parlor-maid returned to the kitchen and there had supper. She heard the bell (犯罪の)一味 at eleven, and 設立する aunt dead in the sitting-room, stabbed to the heart.”

“Heard the bell (犯罪の)一味?” echoed Juliet. “But how could aunt (犯罪の)一味 if she had been killed?”

“She might have rung as she was dying,” said Basil, after a pause. “It seems she was seated 近づく the button of the bell and could have touched it without rising. She might have rung with a last 成果/努力, and then have died before the parlor-maid could get to the room.”

“Or else,” said Mr. Octagon, anxious to 証明する his perspicuity, “the 暗殺者 may have stabbed her and then have touched the bell.”

“What!” cried his step-son derisively, “to 召喚する a 証言,証人/目撃する. I don’t think the 暗殺者 would be such a fool. However, that’s all that can be discovered. Aunt Selina is dead, and no one knows who killed her.”

“Was the house locked up?” “The 前線 door was の近くにd, and the windows were bolted and 閉めだした. Besides, a policeman was walking 負かす/撃墜する Crooked 小道/航路 a few minutes before eleven, and would have seen anyone leaving the house. He 報告(する)/憶測d that all was 静かな.”

“Then the 暗殺者 might have rung the bell at eleven,” said Peter.

“Certainly not, for he could never have escaped すぐに afterwards, without the policeman seeing him.”

“He might have got out by the 支援する,” 示唆するd Juliet.

“My dear girl, what are you thinking of. That 塀で囲む 一連の会議、交渉/完成する Lord Caranby’s mansion 封鎖するs any 出口 at the 支援する. Anyone leaving the house must go up the 小道/航路 or through that part at the 底(に届く). The policeman was 近づく there の直前に eleven and saw no one leaving the house.”

“But, look here,” said Mr. Octagon, who had been ruminating; “if, as the doctor says, death was instantaneous, how could your aunt have rung the bell?”

“Yes,” 追加するd Juliet. “And even had death not taken place at once, it could not have been more than a few minutes before eleven when the blow was struck. Aunt might have had strength to はう to the bell and touch it, but the 暗殺者 could not have escaped from the house, seeing — as you say — the policeman was on guard.”

“Aunt died instantaneously,” 主張するd Basil.

“Then she could not have sounded the bell,” said Juliet triumphantly.

“The 暗殺者 did that,” said Peter.

“And thus called a 証言,証人/目撃する,” cried Basil. “Ridiculous!”

“Then how do you explain the 事柄?”

“I can’t explain. Neither can the 探偵,刑事 Jennings. It’s a mystery.”

“Could any of the servants —” began Peter.

“No,” interrupted Saxon. “The four servants were having supper in the kitchen. They are innocent. 井戸/弁護士席, we’ll see what the 検死 明らかにする/漏らすs. Something may be 設立する before then likely to elucidate the mystery. But here comes Mallow. He questioned Jennings also, so you can question him if you like. Does mother know?”

“Yes. And she doesn’t want the fact of her 関係 to your aunt talked about.”

Basil understood at once. “No wonder,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “It is not a pleasant 事件/事情/状勢 for a woman of mother’s celebrity to be mixed up with.”

合間, Juliet having heard the (犯罪の)一味 at the 前線 door, escaped from the room to see her lover. She met him divesting himself of his overcoat in the hall, and ran to him with outstretched 手渡すs. “But why have you got on an overcoat this warm day?” she asked.

“I have a 冷淡な. I caught one last night,” said Cuthbert, kissing her.

“Where were you last night?” asked Juliet, 製図/抽選 him into a 味方する room. “I thought you were coming to the Marlow Theatre with Basil and me.”

“Yes. But my uncle arrived 突然に in England and sent for me to his hotel in Guelph street — the Avon Hotel, you know. He will 主張する on a 解雇する/砲火/射撃 even in June, and the room was so hot that I caught 冷淡な when I (機の)カム out. I had to go 負かす/撃墜する to Rexton today on his 商売/仕事, and put on a coat so as to 避ける catching その上の 冷淡な. But why this room, Juliet?”

“Father and Basil are in the 製図/抽選-room. They are talking of the 殺人, and I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

“There are pleasanter things to talk about,” said Mallow. “I knew Basil would come crammed with news. Has he told you —”

“He told us everything he could gather from the 探偵,刑事. It seems that the 罪,犯罪 is やめる a mystery.”

“やめる. Why your aunt should be killed, or how the 暗殺者 escaped, after 殺人,大当り her, cannot be discovered. Jennings is in high glee about it. He loves a puzzle of this sort.”

“Do you know him?” asked Juliet anxiously.

“Oh, yes. Jennings is a gentleman. He was at Eton with me. But he ran through his money and took up the 探偵,刑事 商売/仕事. He is very clever, and if anyone will learn the truth, he will. Now, my theory —”

Juliet put her を引き渡す his mouth. “Don’t,” she said. “I have had enough horrors for this afternoon. Let us talk of ourselves.”

“I would rather do this,” said Mallow, and kissed her.

Mallow was a handsome fellow, tall and わずかな/ほっそりした, with a rather 軍の carriage. His 直面する was clean-shaven save for a small straw-colored moustache, which showed up almost white against the bronze of his 直面する. He was more of an 競技者 than a student, and this was one 推論する/理由 why Juliet was fond of him. She had seen so much of literary circles that she always 公約するd she would marry a man who never opened a 調書をとる/予約する. Cuthbert nearly 実行するd this 必要物/必要条件, as he read little, save novels and newspapers. He was 井戸/弁護士席 known in 冒険的な circles, and having a good 私的な income, owned race-horses. He was always irreproachably dressed, good-humored and cheerful. その結果 he was popular, and if not overburdened with brains, managed to make himself agreeable to the world, and to have what the Americans call “a good time.” He had travelled much and was fond of big-game 狙撃. To 完全にする his characterization, it is necessary to について言及する that he had served in the Boer War, and had 伸び(る)d a D.S.O. But that was in the days before he met Juliet or he might not have 危険d a life so precious to her.

Juliet was dark and rather little, not at all like her Junoesque mother. She was 極端に pretty and dressed to perfection. Having more brains and a stronger will than Mallow, she guided him in every way, and had already 後継するd in 改善するing his morals. With so gentle and charming a 助言者, Cuthbert was やめる willing to be led into the paths of virtue. He adored Juliet and she loved him, so it appeared that the marriage would be やめる ideal.

“Much as we love one another,” said Cuthbert when the lovers were seated on the sofa. “I wonder you can talk of anything but this horrid 殺人.”

“Because there is nothing to talk of,” 再結合させるd the girl impatiently; “によれば Basil, the 事例/患者 is most mysterious, so it is useless for us to worry over it until something 有形の is discovered. But I want to speak to you 本気で —” here Juliet hesitated.

“井戸/弁護士席, go on,” said Cuthbert, taking her 手渡す.

“Mother says —” began Juliet, then hesitated again. “約束 me you will keep to yourself what I am about to tell you.”

“Certainly. I never was a fellow to chatter.”

“Then mother says that this 殺人 will put a stop to our marriage.”

Mallow 星/主役にするd, then 紅潮/摘発するd up to his ears. “What on earth does she mean by that?” he asked aghast.

Juliet looked searchingly at him. “Do you know of any 妨害?”

“I? Of course I don’t. I am sorry for the death of your aunt, but I really don’t see what it has to do with you and me.”

Juliet drew a breath of 救済. “Mother hints that she knows who committed the 罪,犯罪, and —”

“What! She knows. How does she know?”

“I can’t say. She 辞退するs to speak. She was not on good 条件 with Aunt Selina and they never saw one another for over fifteen years. But mother is much 乱すd about the 殺人 —”

“That is natural. A sister is a sister however much one may have quarrelled. But why should this death stop our marriage?”

“I know no more than you do. Here is mother. Ask her yourself.”

It was indeed Mrs. Octagon who entered the room. She looked very pale, but さもなければ was perfectly composed. In silence she gave her 手渡す to Cuthbert, and kept her 黒人/ボイコット 注目する,もくろむs 直す/買収する,八百長をするd 刻々と on his 直面する. The young man 紅潮/摘発するd and turned away, whereat Mrs. Octagon sighed. Juliet broke an embarrassed silence.

“Mother,” she said, “I have told Cuthbert what you said.”

“Then you had no 権利 to,” said Mrs. Octagon 厳しく.

“Oh, I think she had,” said Mallow, rather annoyed. “Seeing you hint that this 罪,犯罪 will stop our marriage.”

Mrs. Octagon did not answer. “Is your uncle in town?” she asked.

“Yes. He arrived from the continent a day or two ago.”

“I thought so,” she said, half to herself, and strove to repress her agitation. “Mr. Mallow, my daughter can’t marry you.”

“Why not? Give your 推論する/理由.”

“I have no 推論する/理由 to give.”

“But you must. Is it on account of this 殺人?”

“It is. I told Juliet so. But I cannot explain.”

The lovers looked at one another in a dazed fashion. The woman’s 反対 seemed to be senseless. “Surely you don’t think Cuthbert killed Aunt Selina?” said Juliet, laughing in a 軍隊d manner.

“No. I don’t 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う him.”

“Then whom do you 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う?” 需要・要求するd Mallow.

“That I 拒絶する/低下する to say.”

“Will you 拒絶する/低下する to say it to the police?”

Mrs. Octagon stepped 支援する a pace. “Yes, I should,” she 滞るd.

Cuthbert Mallow looked at her, wondering why she was so agitated, and Juliet stole her 手渡す into his. Then he 演説(する)/住所d her 本気で.

“Mrs. Octagon,” he said, “your 発言/述べる about my uncle leads me to think you 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う him.”

“No I don’t. But you can’t marry Juliet on account of this 罪,犯罪.”

“Then you hear me,” said Mallow, driven into a corner, “from this moment I 充てる myself to finding out who killed your unfortunate sister. When the 暗殺者 is discovered you may 同意 to our marriage.”

But he spoke to empty 空気/公表する. Mrs. Octagon had left the room, almost before the first words left his mouth.

一時期/支部 V
Lord Caranby’s Romance

Cuthbert was かなり perplexed by the 態度 of Juliet’s mother. She had always been more than 肉親,親類d to him. On the 告示 that he wished to marry her daughter, she had 表明するd herself 井戸/弁護士席 pleased, and during the 約束/交戦, which had lasted some six months, she had received him as Juliet’s ーするつもりであるd husband, with almost ostentatious delight. Now, for some inexplicable 推論する/理由, she suddenly changed her mind and 拒絶する/低下するd to explain. But rack his brains as he might, Cuthbert could not see how the death of a sister she had quarrelled with, and to whom she had been a stranger for so long, could 影響する/感情 the 約束/交戦.

However, there was no 疑問 in his mind that the 拒絶 of Mrs. Octagon to 認可する of the marriage lay in the fact that her sister had met with a violent end. Therefore Mallow was 決定するd to see Jennings, and help him to the best of his ability to discover the 暗殺者. When the 犯罪の was brought to 司法(官), either Mrs. Octagon’s 対立 would be at an end, or the true 推論する/理由 for its 存在 would be 明らかにする/漏らすd. 合間, he was sure that she would keep Juliet out of his way, and that in 未来 he would be 辞退するd admittance to the “神社 of the Muses.” This was annoying, but so long as Juliet remained true, Cuthbert thought he could 耐える the 除外. His betrothed — as he still regarded the girl — could 会合,会う him in the Park, at the houses of 相互の friends, and in a thousand and one places which a clever woman like her could think of. And although Cuthbert knew that Mrs. Octagon had frequently regretted the 拒絶 of her daughter to marry Arkwright, and would probably try and induce her to do so now that 事柄s stood thus, yet he was not afraid in his own heart. Juliet was as 信頼できる as steel, and he was 確かな that Mr. Octagon would be on his 味方する. Basil probably would agree with his mother, whose lead he slavishly followed. But Mallow had rather a contempt for Basil, and did not count his 対立 as dangerous.

On leaving the “神社 of the Muses,” the young man’s first 意向 was to 捜し出す out Jennings and see what 進歩 he was making in the 事柄. But on reflection he thought he would call again on his uncle and question him regarding his knowledge of Mrs. Octagon. It seemed to Cuthbert that, from the woman’s question as to whether Lord Caranby had returned from abroad, and her 発言/述べる on 審理,公聴会 that he had, some 疑惑 was in her mind as to his 存在 関心d in the 罪,犯罪. Yet, beyond the fact that the unfinished house stood behind the cottage where the 罪,犯罪 had been committed and belonged to Lord Caranby who had known the dead woman in the past, Cuthbert could not see how Mrs. Octagon could 構成する a latter-day 関係 between her dead sister and her old friend. But Lord Caranby might be induced to talk — no 平易な 事柄 — and from what he said, the mystery of Mr. Octagon’s 態度 might be elucidated. Only in the past — so far as the perplexed young man could conjecture — could be 設立する the 推論する/理由 for her sudden change of 前線.

Cuthbert therefore sent a wire to his uncle, 明言する/公表するing that he wished to see him after eight o’clock on special 商売/仕事, and then went home to dress.

While thus 雇うd, he thought over means and ways to make Caranby open his mouth. The old lord was a silent, 墓/厳粛/彫る/重大な man, who never uttered an unnecessary word, and it was difficult to induce him to be confidential. But invariably he had 認可するd of his 甥’s 約束/交戦, although he had never seen Juliet, so it might be that he would speak out — if there was anything to say — ーするために 除去する any 妨害 to the match. It depended upon what (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) he received as to how Mallow would 行為/法令/行動する.

At half-past eight he drove to the Avon Hotel and was shown up at once to his uncle’s sitting-room. That he should live in an hotel was another of Caranby’s eccentricities. He had a house in town and three in the country, yet for years he had lived — as the 説 is — on his portmanteau. Even the 郊外住宅 at Nice he owned was unoccupied by this strange nobleman, and was usually let to rich Americans. When in England he stopped at the Avon Hotel and when in the country remained at any inn of the 近隣 in which he might chance to find himself wandering. And wandering is an excellent word to 適用する to Lord Caranby’s peregrinations. He was as restless as a gipsy and far more aimless. He never appeared to take an 利益/興味 in anything: he was always moving here, there and everywhere, and had — so far as Cuthbert knew — no 反対する in life. His 推論する/理由 for this Cainlike 行為, Caranby never condescended to explain.

When his 甥 entered the room, looking smart and handsome in his 正確な evening 控訴, Caranby, who was seated 近づく the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, stood up courteously to welcome him, leaning on his 茎. He 苦しむd from sciatica, and could not walk save with the 援助 of his stick. And on this account also, he always 主張するd on the room 存在 heated to an 驚くべき/特命の/臨時の degree. Like a salamander he basked in the heat, and would not 許す either door or window to be opened, even in the 中央 of summer, when a large 解雇する/砲火/射撃 made the apartment almost unendurable. Cuthbert felt as though he were walking into a Turkish bath, and sat as far away from the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 as he could. After saluting him, his uncle sank 支援する into his seat and looked at him inquiringly.

Lord Caranby was tall and thin — almost emaciated — with a lean, sallow, clean-shaven 直面する, and a scanty 刈る of fair hair mixed with gray. His 注目する,もくろむs were sunken but 十分な of vitality, although usually they were 墓/厳粛/彫る/重大な and somewhat sad. His 手渡すs were deformed with gout, but for all that he wore several 高くつく/犠牲の大きい (犯罪の)一味s. He was perfectly dressed, and as 静かな and composed as an artist’s model. When he spoke it was in an unemotional way, as though he had exhausted all 表現 of his feelings 早期に in life. Perhaps he had, for from what Cuthbert had heard from his uncle, the past of that nobleman was not without excitement. But Caranby’s 指名する was rarely について言及するd in London. He remained so much abroad that he had やめる dropped out of the circle to the 入ること/参加(者) of which his 階級 する権利を与えるd him. His age was sixty-five.

“You are surprised at seeing me again to-night,” said Cuthbert.

“I am never surprised at anything,” replied his uncle dryly, “but we exhausted all we had to say to one another before eight o’clock last night, at which time you left. I therefore don’t know why you have come this evening. Our conversation is bound to be dull, and — excuse me — I can’t afford to be bored at my age.”

“I cannot say that our conversation was 特に agreeable last night,” 再結合させるd Mallow, 平等に dryly, “we talked 商売/仕事 and money 事柄s, and about your will.”

“And about your 約束/交戦 also,” said Caranby without a 痕跡 of a smile. “That should 利益/興味 a young man of your ardent temperament. I certainly thought the 支配する amused you.”

“Would you be surprised to learn that my 約束/交戦 has been broken off since our conversation,” said Cuthbert, crossing his 脚s.

“No! Who can account for the whims of a woman. After all, perhaps you are to be congratulated on not marrying a weathercock.”

“Juliet has nothing to do with the breaking of our 約束/交戦. Her mother 反対するs.”

“I understood for the last six months that her mother not only 認可するd, but was delighted.”

“That is the strange part, sir. On 審理,公聴会 of the death of her sister, Mrs. Octagon suddenly changed her mind, and told me that the marriage could not take place.”

“Did she give any 推論する/理由?”

“She 拒絶する/低下するd to do so.”

“The same woman,” muttered Caranby, “always mysterious and unsatisfactory. You say her sister is dead?”

Cuthbert cast a look at the Globe, which lay on a small (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する 近づく Caranby’s 肘. “If you have read the papers, sir —” “Yes! I have read that 行方不明になる Loach has been 殺人d. You went 負かす/撃墜する to Rexton today. I 推定する you heard something more than the 詳細(に述べる)s 始める,決める 前へ/外へ by the 圧力(をかける).”

Cuthbert nodded. “It appears to be a mystery.”

Caranby did not reply, but looked into the 解雇する/砲火/射撃. “Poor Selina!” he said half to himself. “A sad end for such a charming woman.”

“I should hardly 適用する that word to 行方不明になる Loach, sir. She did not appear to be a lady, and was by no means 精製するd.”

“She must have changed then. In her young days she and her sister were the handsomest women in London.”

“I believe you were engaged to one of them,” said Mallow politely.

“Yes,” replied his uncle grimly. “But I escaped.”

“Escaped?”

“A strange word is it not, but a suitable one.”

Cuthbert did not know what to make of this speech. “Have I your 許可 to smoke?” he asked, taking out his 事例/患者.

“Yes! Will you have some coffee?”

“Thank you. I had some before I (機の)カム here. Will you —” he 延長するd the 事例/患者 of cigarettes, which Caranby 拒絶する/低下するd.

“(犯罪の)一味 for Fletcher to get me my chibouque.”

“It is in the corner. We will dispense with Fletcher with your 許可.” And Cuthbert brought the chibouque to his uncle’s 味方する. In another minute the old man was smoking as 厳粛に as any Turk. This method of 消費するing タバコ was another eccentricity. For a few moments neither spoke. Then Caranby broke the silence.

“So you want me to help you to find out Mrs. Octagon’s 推論する/理由?”

“I do,” said Mallow, rather surprised by Caranby’s perspicuity.

“What makes you think I can explain?”

Cuthbert looked at his cigarette. “I asked you on the chance that you may be able to do so,” he said 厳粛に. “The fact is, to be frank, Mrs. Octagon appears to think you might have something to do with the 罪,犯罪.”

Caranby did not seem surprised, but smoked imperturbably. “I don’t やめる understand.”

The young man 関係のある how Mrs. Octagon had 問い合わせd if the Earl was 支援する from the Continent, and her その後の 発言/述べる. “Of course I may be unduly 怪しげな,” said he. “But it 示唆するd —”

“やめる so,” interrupted the old gentleman 厳粛に. “You are quick at putting two and two together. Isabella Octagon hates me so much that she would 喜んで see me on the scaffold. I am not astonished that she 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うs me.”

“But what 動機 can she impute —”

Caranby laid aside the long coil he was 持つ/拘留するing and laughed 静かに to himself. “Oh, she’ll find a 動機 if it 控訴s her. But what I cannot understand is, why she should 告発する/非難する me now. She has had ample 適切な時期 during the past twenty years, since the death of 行方不明になる Saul, for instance.”

“She did not 正確に/まさに 告発する/非難する you.”

“No, a woman like that would not. And then of course, her sister dying only last night affords her the 適切な時期 of getting me into trouble. But I am afraid Mrs. Octagon will be disappointed of her 復讐, long though she has waited.”

“復讐! remember, sir, she is the mother of Juliet.”

“I 心から hope Juliet does not take after her, then,” said Lord Caranby, tartly. “To be perfectly plain with you, Cuthbert, I could never understand why Mrs. Octagon 許可/制裁d your 約束/交戦 with her daughter, considering you are my 甥.”

“I don’t understand,” said Mallow, 星/主役にするing and uneasily.

Caranby did not answer すぐに. He rose and walked painfully up and 負かす/撃墜する the room leaning ひどく on his 茎. Mallow 申し込む/申し出d his arm but was impatiently waved aside. When the old man sat 負かす/撃墜する again he turned a serious 直面する to his 甥. “Do you love this girl?”

“With all my heart and soul.”

“And she loves you?”

“Of course. We were made for one another.”

“But Mrs. Octagon —”

“I don’t like Mrs. Octagon — I never did,” said Mallow, impetuously, “but I don’t care two straws for her 対立. I shall marry Juliet in spite of this 復讐 she seems to be practising on you. Though why she should hope to 悩ます you by 干渉 with my marriage, I cannot understand.”

“I can put the 事柄 in a nutshell,” said Caranby, and 引用するd Congreve —

    “‘Heaven has no 激怒(する) like love to 憎悪 turned
      Nor Hell a fury like a woman 軽蔑(する)d.’”

“Oh,” said Mallow, dropping his cigarette, and a whole story was 明らかにする/漏らすd to him in the quotation.

“A gentleman doesn’t talk of these things,” said Caranby 突然の, “and for years I have held my tongue. Still, as Mrs. Octagon does not hesitate to strike at me through you, and as your happiness is at 火刑/賭ける, and the happiness of the girl you love, I shall tell you — so far as I can guess — why the woman behaves in this way.”

“If you please, sir,” and Cuthbert settled himself to listen.

“About twenty years ago,” said Caranby, 急落(する),激減(する)ing headfirst into his 支配する, “Isabella and Selina Loach were 井戸/弁護士席-known in society. They were the daughters of a country squire — Kent, I remember — and created a sensation with their beauty when they (機の)カム to town. I fell in love with Selina, and Isabella — if you will 容赦 my vanity — fell in love with me. She hated her sister on my account. I would have married Selina, but her father, who was hard up, wished her to marry a 豊富な American. Isabella, to part Selina from me, helped her father. What arguments they used I do not know, but Selina suddenly changed in her manner に向かって me. Out of pique — you may think this weak of me, Cuthbert, but I was a fool in those days — I became engaged to a girl who was a singer. Her 指名する was Emilia Saul, and I believe she was of ユダヤ人の extraction. I liked her in a way, and she had a wonderful 力/強力にする over me. I 提案するd and was 受託するd.”

“But if you had really loved 行方不明になる Loach —”

“I should have worn the willow. I told you I was foolish, and, moreover, 行方不明になる Saul fascinated me. Selina was 冷淡な, Emilia was charming, and I was weak. Therefore, I became engaged to Emilia, and Selina — as I heard, arranged to marry her 豊富な American. I believe she was angry at my 明らかに forgetting her so soon. But she was in fault, not I.”

Cuthbert looked at his smart shoes. “Had I loved Selina,” said he slowly, “I should have remained true to her, and have married her in spite of the 反対 of her father —”

“And of her sister Isabella — Mrs. Octagon that is; don’t forget that, Cuthbert. And I could scarcely run away with a girl who believed stories about me.”

“What sort of stories?” asked Mallow, remembering 確かな 噂するs.

“The sort that one always does tell of an unmarried man,” retorted Caranby. “Scandalous stories, which Isabella 選ぶd up and 小売d to Selina. But I never pretended to be a saint, and had Selina really loved me she would have overlooked 確かな faults. I did love her, Cuthbert. I did all in my 力/強力にする to 証明する my love. For a time I was engaged to her, and when she 表明するd a wish that I should build her a house after her own design, I 同意d.”

“The house at Rexton!” exclaimed the young man.

“正確に/まさに. I got an architect to build it によれば designs 示唆するd by Selina. When our 約束/交戦 was broken and I became — out of pique, remember — engaged to 行方不明になる Saul, I still went on building the house. Selina, I believe, was very angry. One week when I was out of London she went 負かす/撃墜する with her sister to see the house, and there met Emilia.”

“Ah! then there was trouble?”

“No; there was no time for a quarrel, if that is what you mean. When the three met, Emilia was walking across a plank on the unfinished second story. On seeing the Loach girls — this is Isabella’s tale — Emilia lost her 地盤 and fell thirty feet. She was killed almost instantaneously, and her 直面する was much disfigured. This took place during the dinner hour when the workmen were absent. When they returned, the 団体/死体 was 設立する and 認めるd by the 着せる/賦与するs.”

“Did not the girls remain?”

“No. They took fright at the 事故 and returned home. But here a fresh 災害 を待つd them. Mr. Loach was dead. He died suddenly of heart 病気. Selina at once broke her 約束/交戦 with the American, and —”

“And returned to you?”

“Strangely enough she did not. I never saw her again. After the death of the father the girls went to the Continent, and only (機の)カム 支援する after two years abroad. Then Isabella, after vainly trying to get me to marry her, became the wife of Saxon, then a rising barrister. Selina went to Rexton and shut herself up in the house she now has.”

“The house she did have,” 訂正するd Cuthbert, “you forget she is dead.”

“Yes. I tried to see her, but she 辞退するd to look on my 直面する again, 主張するing that I had 扱う/治療するd her 不正に by becoming engaged to 行方不明になる Saul. That poor soul was buried, and then I shut up the house and left it as it is now. I travelled, as you know, for years, and I am travelling still, for the 事柄 of that,” 追加するd Caranby with a sigh, “all Selina’s fault. She was the only woman I ever loved.”

“But was there not an 検死 held on Emilia’s 団体/死体?”

“Oh yes, and Isabella gave 証拠 as to the 事故. Selina was too ill to appear. But there was no need. The 原因(となる) of the death was plain enough. Moreover, Emilia had no 親族s who cared to make 調査s. She left very little money, so those she had, did not trouble themselves.”

“It is a strange story,” said Cuthbert, looking puzzled. “Had you an idea that Emilia may have been 押し進めるd off the plank by Selina?”

“Certainly not,” 再結合させるd Caranby indignantly. “She was a good and 肉親,親類d girl. She would not do such a thing.”

“Humph!” said Mallow, remembering the eagle nose and thin lips of 行方不明になる Loach. “I’m not so sure of that.”

“Isabella, who was 熱烈な, might have done it,” 再開するd Caranby, “often did I wish to speak to her on the 支配する, but I never did. And after all, the 陪審/陪審員団 brought in a 判決 of 偶発の death, so there was no use making trouble.”

“Had Emilia no 親族s who might have made 調査s?”

“I believe she had a brother who was a clerk in an office, but, as I said, she left no money, so he did not bother himself. I saw him after the death, and the sight of him made me glad I had not married his sister. He looked a 徹底的な blackguard, sly and dangerous. But, as I said, Emilia (機の)カム of low people. It was only her 罰金 発言する/表明する and 広大な/多数の/重要な talents that brought her into the society where I met her. I have never heard of her brother since. I 推定する/予想する he is dead by this time. It is over twenty years ago. But you can now understand why Mrs. Octagon 反対するs to the marriage. She has never forgiven me for not making her my wife.”

Cuthbert nodded again. “But I can’t understand why she should have 同意d at all, only to alter her mind when Selina died.”

“I can’t understand that myself. But I 拒絶する/低下する to mix myself up in the 事柄. You will have to learn the 推論する/理由 yourself.”

“I ーするつもりである to,” said Mallow rising, “and the 推論する/理由 I am 確かな is connected with the violent death of her sister!” A speech to which Caranby replied by shaking his 長,率いる. He did not agree with the idea.

“And you see, in spite of Mrs. Octagon’s hint, I had no 推論する/理由 to kill Selina,” said Caranby 厳粛に. “I cannot understand why Isabella should 告発する/非難する me —”

一時期/支部 VI
A Perplexing 事例/患者

The morning after his visit to Lord Caranby, Mallow was 突然に called to Devonshire on account of his mother’s illness. Mrs. Mallow was a fretful hypochondriac, who always imagined herself worse than she really was. Cuthbert had often been 召喚するd to her dying bed, only to find that she was alive and 井戸/弁護士席. He 推定する/予想するd that this 召喚するs would be another 誤った alarm, but 存在 a dutiful son, he tore himself away from town and took the 中央の-day 表明する to Exeter. As he 推定する/予想するd, Mrs. Mallow was by no means so bad as she hinted in her wire, and Cuthbert was 悩ますd that she should have called him 負かす/撃墜する, but she 主張するd that he should remain, and, unwilling to 原因(となる) her 苦痛, he did so. It was four days before he returned to London. But his visit to Exeter was not without results, for he asked his mother about Caranby’s romance. Mrs. Mallow knew all about it, and 高度に disapproved of her brother-inlaw.

“He’s crazy,” she said vigorously, when the 支配する was brought up one evening. “All his life he has been queer. Your father should have had the 肩書を与える, Cuthbert!”

“井戸/弁護士席, I shall have it some day,” said her son soothingly. “Caranby is not likely to marry.”

“Yes, but I’ll never be Lady Caranby,” lamented Mrs. Mallow, who was intensely selfish and egotistical. “And I should have adorned the 肩書を与える. Such an old one as it is, too. But I’m glad that horrid Selina Loach never became his wife. Even that Saul girl would have been better.”

“Don’t speak evil of the dead, mother.”

“I don’t see why we should 賞賛する the bad dead,” snapped Mrs. Mallow. “I never liked either Isabella nor Selina. They were both horrid girls and 絶えず quarrelling. They hardly ever spoke to one another, and how you can 熟視する/熟考する marrying the daughter of Isabella, I really don’t know. Such a slight to me. But there, I’ve said all I had to say on the 支配する.”

To do her 司法(官), Mrs. Mallow certainly had, and never 中止するd nagging at Cuthbert to break the 約束/交戦. Had she known that Mrs. Octagon had forbidden the marriage she would have rejoiced, but to save making ぎこちない explanations to a woman who would not 持つ/拘留する her tongue, Cuthbert said nothing about the 違反.

“Did you like 行方不明になる Saul, mother?” he asked.

“I only saw her on the concert 壇・綱領・公約,” said Mrs. Mallow, 開始 her 注目する,もくろむs, “gracious, Cuthbert, I never associated myself with those sort of people. Caranby was infatuated with her. To be sure, he got engaged to spite Selina, and she really did 扱う/治療する him 不正に, but I believe 行方不明になる Saul — such a horrid Hebrew 指名する, isn’t it — hypnotized him. He forgot her almost as soon as she died, in spite of his ridiculous idea of shutting up that house. And such 価値のある land as there is at Rexton too. 井戸/弁護士席, I hope this violent death of Selina will be a 警告 to Caranby. Not that I wish him any 害(を与える), in spite of your 存在 next 相続人 to the 肩書を与える, and we do need money.”

While Mrs. Mallow rambled on in this diffusive manner, Cuthbert was thinking. When she ended, “Why should this death be a 警告 to Caranby?” he asked quickly.

“Good gracious, Cuthbert, don’t get on my 神経s. Why? — because I believe that Selina 押し進めるd 行方不明になる Saul off that plank and killed her. She was just the 肉親,親類d of violent girl who would do a thing like that. And 行方不明になる Saul’s 親族s have waited all these years to kill Selina, and now she’s dead, they will kill Caranby because he did not marry the wretched girl.”

Cuthbert 星/主役にするd. “Mother, what are you talking about? Caranby told me that 行方不明になる Saul had only one brother, and that probably he was dead.”

“Ah,” said Mrs. Mallow, “he didn’t tell you that 行方不明になる Saul’s father was 逮捕(する)d for coining or passing 誤った money, I forget which. I believe the brother was 伴う/関わるd also, but I can’t be sure. But I only know the girl was dead then, and the Saul family did not move in the 事柄, as the police knew too much about them.

“Good gracious!” shuddered the lady, “to think if she had lived, Caranby would have married into that family and have cheated you of the 肩書を与える.”

“Are you sure of what you say, mother?”

“Of course I am. Look up any old とじ込み/提出する of newspapers and you’ll read all about the 事柄. It’s old history now. But I really won’t talk any more of these things, Cuthbert. If I do, there will be no sleep for me to-night. Oh dear me, such 神経s as I have.”

“Did you ever see 行方不明になる Saul, mother?”

“I told you I did on the 壇・綱領・公約. She was a 罰金, large, big girl, with a hook nose and big 黒人/ボイコット 注目する,もくろむs. Rather like Selina and Isabella, for I’m sure they have ユダヤ人の 血 in their veins. 行方不明になる Saul — if that was her real 指名する — might have passed as a 親族 of those horrid Loach girls.”

“Mrs. Octagon and her sister who died are certainly much alike.”

“Of course they are, and if 行方不明になる Saul had lived they would have been a 肉親,親類d of triplets. I hate that style of beauty myself,” said Mrs. Mallow, who was わずかな/ほっそりした and fair, “so coarse. Everyone called those Loach girls pretty, but I never did myself. I never liked them, and I won’t call on Mrs. Octagon — such a vulgar 指名する — if you marry fifty of her wretched daughters, Cuthbert.”

“Don’t say that, mother. Juliet is an angel!”

“Then she can’t be her mother’s daughter,” said Mrs. Mallow obscurely, and finished the discussion in what she considered to be a 勝利を得た manner. Nor would she 新たにする it, though her son tried to learn more about the Loach and Saul families. However, he was 満足させるd with the knowledge he had acquired.

While returning next day to London, he had ample time to think over what he had been told. 行方不明になる Selina Loach had certainly shut herself up for many years in Rose Cottage, and it seemed as though she was afraid of 存在 傷つける in some way. Perhaps she even 心配するd a violent death. And then Mrs. Octagon hinted that she knew who had killed her sister. It might not have been Caranby after all, whom she meant, but one of the Saul family, as Mrs. Mallow 示唆するd.

“I wonder if it is as my mother thinks,” mused Cuthbert, 星/主役にするing out of the window at the panorama of the landscape moving 速く past. “Perhaps Selina did kill 行方不明になる Saul, and shut herself up to 避ける 存在 殺人d by one of the 親族s. Caranby said that Selina did not go to the 検死, but pretended she was ill. Then she and her sister went to the continent for two years, and finally, when they returned, Selina instead of taking her proper place in society as Isabella did, shut herself up as a recluse in Rose Cottage. The Saul family appear to have been a bad lot. I should like to look up that coining 事例/患者. I wonder if I dare tell Jennings.”

He was doubtful of the 知恵 of doing this. If he told what he knew, and 始める,決める Jennings on the 跡をつける, it might be that a スキャンダル would arise 巻き込むing Mrs. Octagon. Not that Cuthbert cared much for her, but she was Juliet’s mother, and he 手配中の,お尋ね者 to 回避する any trouble likely to 原因(となる) the girl 苦痛. A dozen times on the 旅行 Cuthbert altered his mind. First he thought he would tell Jennings, then he decided to 持つ/拘留する his peace. This 不決断 was not like him, but the 事例/患者 was so perplexing, and such serious 問題/発行するs were 伴う/関わるd, that the young man felt 完全に worried.

Hitherto he had seen nothing new about the 事例/患者 in the papers, but on reaching Swindon he bought a few and looked through them. His search was rewarded by finding an article on the 罪,犯罪. The 検死 had been held, and the 陪審/陪審員団 had brought in a 判決 of “殺人 against some person or persons unknown!” But it was plainly 明言する/公表するd that the police could not find a 手がかり(を与える) to the 暗殺者. The article in question did not pretend to solve the mystery, but collocated the facts so as to put the 事例/患者 in a nutshell.

“The facts are these,” said the 定期刊行物, after a 予選 introduction. “A 静かな maiden lady living at Rose Cottage, Rexton, received three friends to a card-party. Difference arising — and such things will arise amongst the best when cards are in question — two of the friends, Mrs. Herne, an old lady and life-long friend of the 死んだ, and Mr. Hale, a lawyer of repute and the 合法的な 助言者 of 行方不明になる Loach, 出発/死 before ten o’clock. In her 証拠 Mrs. Herne 明言する/公表するd that she and Mr. Hale left at half-past nine, and her 主張 was 確認するd by Mr. Hale himself. Mr. Clancy, the third friend, left at ten, 存在 shown out by the maid Susan 認める, who then returned to the kitchen. She left 行方不明になる Loach seated in her usual 議長,司会を務める 近づく the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, and with a pack of cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周. Probably the 死んだ lady ーするつもりであるd to play a game of ‘Patience’!

“The four servants, three women and a man, had their supper. During the supper the man 主張するd that he heard the 前線 door open, but as 行方不明になる Loach was in the habit of walking in the garden before retiring, it was thought that she had gone out to take her usual stroll. Whether the man heard the door open or shut he was not やめる sure. However, thinking his mistress was walking in the garden as usual, the man paid no その上の attention to the 出来事/事件. At eleven (正確に at eleven, for the kitchen clock struck), the sitting-room bell rang. Susan 認める entered the room, and 設立する 行方不明になる Loach seated in her 議長,司会を務める 正確に/まさに as she had left her, even to the fact that the cards were in her (競技場の)トラック一周. But she had been stabbed to the heart with some sharp 器具 and was やめる dead. The 前線 door was の近くにd and the windows 閉めだした.

“Now it is 確かな that 行方不明になる Loach met her death between the hours of ten and eleven. Susan 認める saw her alive at ten, seated in her usual 議長,司会を務める with the cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周, and at eleven, she there 設立する her dead, still with the cards. It would seem as though すぐに after the servants left the room someone had stabbed the 死んだ to the heart, before she had time to rise or even alter her position. But Susan 認める 主張するs that no one was in the room. There was only one door, out of which she 出発/死d. The bedroom of 行方不明になる Loach on the 地階 床に打ち倒す had a door which opened into the passage, as did the sitting-room door. No one could have entered until the servant 出発/死d. The passage was lighted with electricity, but she did not 観察する anyone about, nor did she hear a sound. She showed out Mr. Clancy and then returned to the kitchen. Certainly the 暗殺者 may have been 隠すd in the bedroom and have stolen into the sitting-room when Susan 認める was showing out Mr. Clancy. Perhaps then he killed the 死んだ suddenly, as we said before. He could have then come up the stairs and have escaped while the servants were at supper. It might have been the 殺害者 who opened the door, and was overheard by Thomas.

“The policeman was on 義務 about ten, as he was seen by Susan 認める when she showed Mr. Clancy to the door. The policeman also 主張するd that he was again on the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す — i.e., in the roadway opposite the cottage — at eleven. At these times the 暗殺者 could not have escaped without 存在 seen. There is no 出口 at the 支援する, as a high 塀で囲む running 一連の会議、交渉/完成する an unfinished house belonging to the eccentric Lord Caranby 封鎖するs the way. Therefore the 暗殺者 must have 投機・賭けるd into the roadway. He could then have walked up the 小道/航路 into the main streets of Rexton, or have taken a path opposite to the gate of Rose Cottage, which leads to the 鉄道 駅/配置する. Probably, after 遂行する/発効させるing the 罪,犯罪, he took this latter way. The path runs between quickset hedges, rather high, for a long distance, past houses, and ends within fifty yards of the 鉄道 駅/配置する. The 犯罪の could take the first train and get to town, there to lose himself in the wilderness of London.

“So far so good. But the strangest thing about this most mysterious 事件/事情/状勢 is that the bell in the sitting-room rang two minutes before Susan 認める entered the room to find her mistress dead. This was some time after the の近くにing of the door overheard by Thomas; therefore the 暗殺者 could not have escaped that way. Moreover, by this time the policeman was standing 封鎖するing the pathway to the 駅/配置する. Again, the alarm was given すぐに by the other servants, who 急ぐd to the sitting-room on 審理,公聴会 Susan’s 叫び声をあげる, and the policeman at once searched the house. No one was 設立する.

“Now what are we to make of all this? The doctor 宣言するs that 行方不明になる Loach when discovered had been dead half an hour, which corresponds with the time the door was heard to open or shut by Thomas. So far, it would seem that the 暗殺者 had escaped then, having committed the 罪,犯罪 and 設立する the coast inside and outside the house (疑いを)晴らす for his flight. But who rang the bell? That is the question we ask. The 死んだ could not have done so, as, によれば the doctor, the poor lady must have died すぐに. Again, the 暗殺者 would not have been so foolish as to (犯罪の)一味 and thus draw attention to his 罪,犯罪, letting alone the question that he could not have escaped at that late hour. We can only 申し込む/申し出 this 解答.

“The 暗殺者 must have been 隠すd in the bedroom, and after Susan 上がるd the stairs to let Mr. Clancy out, he must have stolen into the sitting-room and have killed the old lady before she could even rise. She might have touched the bell, and the button (the bell is an electric one) may have got 直す/買収する,八百長をするd. Later on, the heat of the room, warping the 支持を得ようと努めるd 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the ivory button, may have 原因(となる)d it to slip out, and thus the bell would have rung. Of course our readers may say that when 圧力(をかける)d 負かす/撃墜する the bell would have rung continuously, but an examination has 明らかにする/漏らすd that the wires were out of order. It is not improbable that the sudden 解放(する) of the button may have touched the wires and have 始める,決める them (犯罪の)一味ing. The peal is 述べるd as 存在 short and sharp. This theory is a weak one, we are aware, but the whole 事例/患者 is so mysterious that, weak as it is, we can 申し込む/申し出 no other 解答.

“Mrs. Herne, the servants, and Messrs. Hale and Clancy were 診察するd. All 主張する that 行方不明になる Loach was in her usual health and spirits, and had no idea of committing 自殺, or of 存在 in any danger of sudden death. The 武器 cannot be discovered, nor the means — save as we 示唆する above — whereby the 暗殺者 can have made his escape. The whole 事件/事情/状勢 is one of the most mysterious of late years, and will doubtless be relegated to the 名簿(に載せる)/表(にあげる) of undiscovered 罪,犯罪s. The police have no 手がかり(を与える), and 明らかに despair of finding one. But the 発見 of the mystery lies in the bell. Who rang it? or did it (犯罪の)一味 of itself, as we 示唆する above.”

Cuthbert laid 負かす/撃墜する the paper with a shrug. The article did not commend itself to him, save as the means of making a precis of the 事例/患者. The theory of the bell appeared 過度に weak, and he could not understand a man 存在 so foolish as to put it 今後.

“If the button was 圧力(をかける)d 負かす/撃墜する by 行方不明になる Loach, the bell would have rung at once,” argued Cuthbert; “and when it slipped up, even with the heat, the (犯罪の)一味ing would have stopped. But the bell rang at eleven, and the girl was in the room two minutes later. Someone must have rung it. But why did someone do this, and how did someone escape after (犯罪の)一味ing in so fool-hardy a manner?”

He could not find an answer to this question. The whole 事例/患者 was indeed most perplexing. There seemed 絶対 no answer to the riddle. Even supposing 行方不明になる Loach had been 殺人d out of a long-延期するd 復讐 by a member of the Saul family — and that theory appeared ridiculous to Mallow — the question was how did the 暗殺者 escape? Certainly, having regard to the cards still 存在 on the (競技場の)トラック一周 of the 死んだ, and the の近くにing of the door at a time when the policeman was not in the 周辺, the 暗殺者 may have escaped in that way. But how did he come to be hidden in the bedroom, and how did he kill the old lady before she had time to call out or even rise, seeing that he had the whole length of the room to cross before reaching her? And again, the escape of the 暗殺者 at this hour did not explain the (犯罪の)一味ing of the bell. Cuthbert was 深く,強烈に 利益/興味d, and wondered if the mystery would ever be solved. “I must see Jennings after all,” he thought as the train steamed into Paddington.

And see Jennings he did, sooner than he 推定する/予想するd. That same evening when he was dressing to go out, a card was brought. It was inscribed “Miles Jennings.” Rather surprised that the 探偵,刑事 should 捜し出す him out so 敏速に, Cuthbert entered his sitting-room. Jennings, who was standing with his 支援する to the window, saluted him with a pleasant smile, and spoke to him as to an equal. Of course he had every 権利 to do so since he had been at school with Mallow, but somehow the familiarity irritated Cuthbert.

“井戸/弁護士席, Jennings, what is it?”

“I (機の)カム to ask you a few questions, Mallow.”

“About what?”

“About the 殺人 at Rose Cottage.”

“But, my dear fellow, I know nothing about it.”

“You knew 行方不明になる Loach?”

“Yes. I saw her once or twice. But I did not like her.”

“She is the aunt of the young lady you are engaged to marry?”

Mallow drew himself up stiffly. “As a 事柄 of fact she is,” he said with 示すd coldness. “But I don’t see —”

“You will in a minute,” said Jennings briskly. “容赦 me, but are you in love with another woman?”

Mallow grew red. “What the devil do you mean by coming here to ask me such a question?” he 需要・要求するd.

“Gently, Mallow, I am your friend, and you may need one.”

“What do you mean. Do you 告発する/非難する me of —”

“I 告発する/非難する you of nothing,” said Jennings quickly, “but I ask you, why did you give this photograph, with an inscription, to the servant of the 殺人d woman.”

“I 認める my photograph, but the servant —”

“Susan 認める. The picture was 設立する in her 所有/入手. She 辞退するs to speak,” here the 探偵,刑事 spoke lower, “in 事例/患者 you get into trouble with the police.”

一時期/支部 VII
The 探偵,刑事

The two men looked at one another, Jennings searchingly, and Cuthbert with a look of mingled amazement and indignation. They were rather like in looks, both 存在 tall, わずかな/ほっそりした and fair-haired. But Mallow wore a mustache, 反して the 探偵,刑事, かもしれない for the sake of disguising himself on occasions, was clean-shaven. But although Jennings’ profession was scarcely that of a gentleman, he looked 井戸/弁護士席-bred, and was dressed with the same 静かな taste and refinement as characterized Mallow. The public-school stamp was on both, and they might have been a couple of young men about town discussing sport rather than an officer of the 法律 and a man who (it seemed from Jennings’ hints) was 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd of complicity in a 罪,犯罪.

“Do you mean this for a jest?” said Cuthbert at length.

“I never jest on 事柄s connected with my profession, Mallow. It is too serious a one.”

“自然に. It so often 伴う/関わるs the 問題/発行するs of life and death.”

“In this 事例/患者 I hope it does not,” said Jennings, 意味ありげに.

Cuthbert, who was 回復するing his composure, sat 負かす/撃墜する with a shrug. “I 保証する you, you have 設立する a 損なう’s nest this time. Whatever my follies may have been, I am not a 犯罪の.”

“I never thought you were,” 再結合させるd the other, also taking a seat, “but you may have become 伴う/関わるd with people who are 犯罪のs.”

“I dare say half of those one 会合,会うs in society are worthy of 刑務所,拘置所, did one know what is done under the rose,” returned Cuthbert; “by the way, how did you come so opportunely?”

“I knew you had gone out of town, as I (機の)カム a few days ago to see you about this 事柄, and 問い合わせd. Your servant said you were in Devonshire —”

“I went to see my mother who was ill,” said Mallow quickly.

“I guessed as much. You said something about your mother living in Exeter when we met last. 井戸/弁護士席, I had Paddington watch for your return, and my messenger —”

“Your 秘かに調査する, you mean,” said Mallow 怒って.

“Certainly, if you prefer the 称する,呼ぶ/期間/用語. 井戸/弁護士席, your 秘かに調査する — I mean my 秘かに調査する, 報告(する)/憶測d that you were 支援する, so I (機の)カム on here. Are you going out?”

“I was, but if you wish to 逮捕(する) me —”

“Nonsense, man. I have only come to have a 静かな 雑談(する) with you. Believe me, I wish you 井戸/弁護士席. I have not forgotten the old Eton days.”

“I tell you what, Jennings, I won’t stand this talk from any man. Are you here as a gentleman or as a 探偵,刑事?”

“As both, I hope,” replied the other dryly, “but are we not wasting 価値のある time? If you wish to go out this evening, the sooner we get to 商売/仕事 the better. Will you answer my questions?”

“I must know what they are first,” said Cuthbert defiantly.

Jennings looked irritated. “If you won’t 扱う/治療する me 適切に, I may 同様に leave the 事柄 alone,” he said coldly. “My position is やめる unpleasant enough as it is. I (機の)カム here to an old schoolfellow as a friend —”

“To try and 巻き込む him in a 罪,犯罪. Thanks for nothing.”

Jennings, whose patience appeared to be exhausted, rose. “Very 井戸/弁護士席, then, Mallow. I shall go away and を引き渡す the 事柄 to someone else. I 保証する you the questions must be answered.”

Cuthbert made a 調印する to the other to be seated, which Jennings seemed by no means inclined to obey. He stood stiffly by his 議長,司会を務める as Mallow paced the room reflectively. “After all, I don’t see why we should quarrel,” said the latter at length.

“That’s just what I’ve been 運動ing at for the last ten minutes.”

“Very good,” said Mallow soothingly, “let us sit 負かす/撃墜する and smoke. I have no particular 約束/交戦, and if you will have some coffee —”

“I will have both cigarette and coffee if you will help me to unravel this 事例/患者,” said Jennings, sitting 負かす/撃墜する with a smoother brow.

“But I don’t see what I can —”

“You’ll see すぐに. Will you be open with me?”

“That 要求するs reflection.”

“反映する as long as you like. But if you 拒絶する/低下する, I will 手渡す the 事例/患者 over to the next man on the Scotland Yard 名簿(に載せる)/表(にあげる). He may not を取り引きする you so gently.”

“I don’t care how he 取引,協定s with me,” returned Mallow, haughtily; “having done no wrong, I am not afraid. And, what is more, Jennings, I was coming to see you as soon as I returned. You have only forestalled our interview.”

“What did you wish to see me about?”

“This 事例/患者,” said Cuthbert, getting out a box of cigarettes and touching the bell. “The ジュース!” said Jennings briskly, “then you do know something?”

Cuthbert 手渡すd him the box and gave an order for coffee. “Any liqueur?” he asked in friendly トンs.

“No. I never drink when on — ah — er — 楽しみ,” said the other, 代用品,人ing another word since the servant was in the room. “井戸/弁護士席,” he asked when the door の近くにd, “why did you wish to see me?”

“To ask if you remember a coining 事例/患者 that took place some twenty years ago?”

“No. That was before my time. What 事例/患者 is it?”

“Some people called Saul were mixed up in it.”

“Humph! Never heard of them,” said Jennings, lighting his cigarette, “but it is strange you should talk of coining. I and several other fellows are looking for a 始める,決める of coiners now. There are a lot of 誤った coins 広まる, and they are marvellously made. If I can only lay my 手渡すs on the coiners and their factory, there will be a sensation.”

“And your 評判 will be 高めるd.”

“I hope so,” replied the 探偵,刑事, reddening. “I want a rise in my salary, as I wish to marry. By the way, how is 行方不明になる Saxon?”

“Very 井戸/弁護士席. You met her, did you not?”

“Yes! You took me to that queer house. What do they call it? the —‘神社 of the Muses’— where all the sham art 存在するs. Why do you look so 墓/厳粛/彫る/重大な, old boy?”

The two men, getting more confidential, were dropping into the language of school-days and speaking more familiarly. Mallow did not reply at once, as his servant had just brought in the coffee. But when each gentleman was 供給(する)d with a cup and they were again alone, he looked 厳粛に at Miles. “I want to ask your advice,” he said, “and if you are my friend —”

“I am, of course I am.”

“井戸/弁護士席, then, I am as 利益/興味d in finding out who killed 行方不明になる Loach as you are.”

“Why is that?” 需要・要求するd Jennings, puzzled.

“Before I answer and make a clean breast of it, I should like you to 約束 that you will get no one I know into trouble.”

Jennings hesitated. “That is a difficult 事柄. Of course, if I find the 暗殺者, even if he or she is one of your friends, I must do my 義務.”

“Oh, I don’t 推定する/予想する anything of that sort,” said Mallow easily, “but why do you say ‘he’ or ‘she’?”

“井戸/弁護士席, the person who killed 行方不明になる Loach might be a woman.”

“I don’t see how you make that out,” said Cuthbert reflectively. “I read the 事例/患者 coming up in the train today, and it seems to me from what The 惑星 says that the whole thing is a mystery.”

“One which I mean to dive into and discover,” replied Miles. “I do not care for an ordinary 殺人 事例/患者, but this is one after my own heart. It is a 犯罪の problem which I should like to work out.”

“Do you see your way as yet?” asked Cuthbert.

“No,” 自白するd Jennings, “I do not. I saw the 報告(する)/憶測 you speak of. The writer theorizes without having facts to go on. What he says about the bell is absurd. All the same, the bell did (犯罪の)一味 and the 暗殺者 could not have escaped at the time it sounded. Nor could the 死んだ have rung it. Therein lies the mystery, and I can’t guess how the 商売/仕事 was managed.”

“Do you believe the 暗殺者 rang the bell?”

Miles shrugged his shoulders and sipped his coffee. “It is impossible to say. I will wait until I have more facts before me before I 投機・賭ける an opinion. It is only in 探偵,刑事 novels that the heaven-born Vidocq can guess the truth on a few 逸脱する 手がかり(を与える)s. But what were you going to tell me?”

“Will you keep what I say to yourself?”

“Yes,” said Jennings, readily enough, “so long as it doesn’t mean the escape of the person who is 有罪の.”

“I don’t ask you to betray the 信用/信任 placed in you by the 当局 to that extent,” said Mallow, “just wait a moment.”

He leaned his chin on his 手渡す and thought. If he wished to 伸び(る) the 手渡す of Juliet, it was necessary he should (疑いを)晴らす up the mystery of the death. Unaided, he could not do so, but with the 援助 of his old schoolfellow — に引き続いて his lead in fact — he might get at the truth. Then, when the 指名する of the 暗殺者 of her sister was known, the 推論する/理由 of Mrs. Octagon’s strange 行為 might be learned, and, moreover, the 発見 might 除去する her 反対. On the other 手渡す, Cuthbert could not help feeling uneasy, lest Mrs. Octagon had some secret connected with the death which made her 辞退する her 同意 to the match, and which, if he explained to Jennings what he knew, might become known in a 4半期/4分の1 which she might not 認可する of. However, Mallow was 確かな that, in spite of Mrs. Octagon’s hint, his uncle had nothing to do with the 事柄, and he had already 警告するd her — although she 辞退するd to listen — that he ーするつもりであるd to trace the 暗殺者. Under these circumstances, and also because Jennings was his friend and more likely to 援助(する) him, than get anyone he knew and 尊敬(する)・点d into trouble, the young man made up his mind to tell everything.

“The fact is, I am engaged to Juliet Saxon,” he began, hesitatingly.

“I know that. She is the daughter of that absurd Mrs. Octagon, with the meek husband and the 罰金 opinion of herself.”

“Yes. But Juliet is the niece of 行方不明になる Loach.”

“What!” Jennings sprang from his 議長,司会を務める with a look of surprise; “do you mean to tell me that Mrs. Octagon is 行方不明になる Loach’s sister.”

“I do. They quarrelled many years ago, and have not been friendly for years. Mrs. Octagon would never go and see her sister, but she did not forbid her children 存在 friendly. As you may guess, Mrs. Octagon is much 苦しめるd about the 殺人, but the strange thing is that she 宣言するs this death (判決などを)下すs it impossible for me to marry her daughter.”

Jennings looked searchingly at his friend. “That is strange. Does she give no 推論する/理由?”

“No. But knowing my uncle knew her when she was a girl, I thought I would ask him what he thought. He told me that he had once been engaged to 行方不明になる Loach, and —”

“井戸/弁護士席, go on,” said Miles, seeing Cuthbert hesitating.

“There was another lady in the 事例/患者.”

“There usually is,” said Jennings dryly. “井戸/弁護士席?”

“The other lady’s 指名する was Saul — Emilia Saul.”

“Oh,” Miles sat 負かす/撃墜する again. He had remained standing for a few moments. “Saul was the 指名する you について言及するd in 関係 with the coining 事例/患者 of twenty years ago.”

Cuthbert nodded, and now, 存在 fully 納得させるd that he 不正に needed Jennings’ 援助(する), he told all that he had heard from Caranby, and 詳細(に述べる)d what his mother had said. Also, he touched on the speech of Mrs. Octagon, and repeated the 警告 he had given her. Miles listened 静かに, but made no 発言/述べる till his friend finished.

“You have told me all you know?” he asked.

“Yes. I want you to help me. Not that I think what I have learned has anything to do with the 事例/患者.”

“I’m not so sure of that,” said Jennings musingly, his 注目する,もくろむs on the carpet. “Mrs. Octagon bases her 拒絶 to 許す the marriage on the fact of the death. However, you have 警告するd her, and she must take the consequence.”

“But, my dear Jennings, you don’t think she has anything to do with the 事柄. I 保証する you she is a good, 肉親,親類d woman —”

“With a violent temper, によれば your mother,” finished Jennings dryly. “However, don’t alarm yourself. I don’t think she is 有罪の.”

“I should think not,” cried Mallow, indignantly. “Juliet’s mother!”

“But she may have something to do with the 事柄 all the same. However, you have been plain with me, and I will do all I can to help you. The first thing is for us to follow up the 手がかり(を与える) of the portrait.”

“Ah, yes! I had やめる forgotten that,” said Mallow, casting a look on the photograph which lay 近づく at 手渡す. “Just pass it, will you.”

Miles did so. “You say you 認める it,” he said.

“I 認める my own 直面する. I had several portraits done like this. I think this one —” Mallow looked at the inscription which he read for the first time, and his 直面する grew pale.

“What is it?” asked Miles 熱望して.

“I don’t know,” 滞るd the other uneasily.

“You 認める the inscription?”

“Yes, I certainly wrote that.”

“It is やめる a tender inscription,” said Miles, his 注目する,もくろむs on the 乱すd 直面する of the other. “‘With my dear love,’ it reads.”

Cuthbert laid 負かす/撃墜する the portrait and nodded. “Yes! That is the inscription,” he said in low トンs, and his 注目する,もくろむs sought the carpet.

“You wrote that to a servant.”

“What servant?”

“The new parlor-maid engaged by 行方不明になる Loach on the day of her death — Susan 認める.”

“I remember the 指名する. I saw it in the papers.”

“Do you know the girl 井戸/弁護士席?” asked Jennings.

“I don’t know her at all.”

“Come now. A man doesn’t give a portrait with such an inscription to any unknown girl, nor to one he is not in love with.”

“Jennings,” cried Mallow indignantly, “how can you think —” his 発言する/表明する died away and he clenched his 手渡すs.

“What am I to think then?” 需要・要求するd the 探偵,刑事.

“What you like.”

“That you love this Susan 認める?”

“I tell you I never 始める,決める 注目する,もくろむs on her,” said Cuthbert violently.

“Then how does she come into 所有/入手 of your portrait?” asked the other. Then seeing that Mallow 辞退するd to speak, he laid a persuasive 手渡す on his shoulder. “You must speak out,” he said quickly, “you have told me so much you must tell me all. 事柄s can’t stand as they are. No,” here Jennings looked straight into Mallow’s 注目する,もくろむs, “you did not give that portrait to Susan 認める.”

“I never said so.”

“Don’t be an ass, Mallow. You say you don’t know the girl, therefore you can hardly have given her the photograph. Now the inscription shows that it was given to a woman you are in love with. You told me when you introduced me to 行方不明になる Saxon that she was the only woman you ever loved. Therefore you gave this portrait with its tender inscription to her.”

“I— I can’t say.”

“You mean you won’t 信用 me,” said Jennings.

Cuthbert rose quickly and flung off his friend’s arm. “I wish to Heaven I had never opened my mouth to you,” he said.

“My dear fellow, you should show more 信用/信任 in me. I know やめる 井戸/弁護士席 why you won’t 認める that you gave this photograph to 行方不明になる Saxon. You think it will 巻き込む her in the 事柄.”

“Jennings!” cried Cuthbert, his 直面する growing red and 猛烈な/残忍な.

“Wait a moment,” 再開するd the other calmly and without flinching. “I can explain. You gave the photograph to 行方不明になる Saxon. She gave it to 行方不明になる Loach, and Susan 認める 落ちるing in love with your 直面する, took 所有/入手 of it. It was 設立する in her trunk.”

“Yes — yes, that’s it!” cried Mallow, catching at a straw. “I did give the photograph to Juliet, and no 疑問 she gave it to her aunt. It would be 平易な for this girl to take it. Though why she should steal it,” said Cuthbert perplexed, “I really can’t say!”

“You don’t know her?” asked Jennings.

“No. Really, I don’t. The 指名する is やめる unknown to me. What is the girl like in 外見?” Jennings 述べるd Susan to the best of his ability, but Cuthbert shook his 長,率いる. “No, I never saw her. You say she had this photograph in her trunk?” Then, on receiving an affirmative reply, “She may have 設立する it lying about and have taken it, though why she should I can’t say.”

“So you said before,” said Jennings dryly. “But strange as it may appear, Mallow, this girl is in love with you.”

“How do you know that?”

“井戸/弁護士席, you see,” said Miles, slowly. “After the 殺人 I searched the boxes of the servants in the house for the 武器.”

“But there was no danger of them 存在 (刑事)被告?”

“No. Nor would I have searched their boxes had they not 主張するd. But they were all so afraid of 存在 (刑事)被告, that they wished to exonerate themselves as much as possible. The fact that the whole four were in the kitchen together at the time the 罪,犯罪 was committed やめる (疑いを)晴らすs them. However, they 主張するd, so I looked into their boxes. I 設立する this photograph in the box of the new housemaid. She 辞退するd to 明言する/公表する how it (機の)カム into her 所有/入手, and became so red, and wept so much, that I soon saw that she loved you.”

“But I tell you it’s ridiculous. I don’t know the girl — and a servant, too. Pshaw!”

“井戸/弁護士席, then, I must get her to see you, and かもしれない some explanation may be made. I took 所有/入手 of the photograph —”

“Why? On what grounds should my photograph 利益/興味 you, Jennings?”

“On the grounds that you are a friend of 地雷, and that I knew your 直面する the moment I saw it. I 自然に asked the girl how it (機の)カム into her 所有/入手, as I know your tastes don’t 嘘(をつく) in the way of pretty parlor-maids, however attractive. It was her reply which made me take the portrait and come to ask you for an explanation.”

“What reply did she make?” 需要・要求するd Cuthbert, exasperated by the 誤った position he was placed in.

“She said that she would explain nothing in 事例/患者 you should get into trouble with the police. Can you explain that?”

“No,” said Mallow, perplexed. “I really cannot be 責任がある the vagaries of a parlor-maid. I don’t know the 指名する Susan 認める, and from your description of her 外見, I never 始める,決める 注目する,もくろむs on her. I am やめる sure your explanation is the 訂正する one. Juliet gave it to her aunt, and for some ridiculous 推論する/理由 this girl stole it.”

“But her 発言/述べる about the police.”

Mallow made a gesture of helplessness, and leaned his 肘 on the mantelpiece. “I can’t guess what she means. 井戸/弁護士席, what will you do now, Jennings?”

“First, I shall get the girl to come here and see you. Then I shall ask 行方不明になる Saxon why she gave the photograph to 行方不明になる Loach. You were not a favorite with the old lady, I gather.”

“On the contrary, she liked me much more than I did her.”

“You see. She liked you so much that she 主張するd on having your photograph. I must ask 行方不明になる Saxon when she gave it. Will you let me bring this girl to see you tomorrow?”

“Certainly. But it’s all very unpleasant.”

The 探偵,刑事 rose to go. “Most 事柄s connected with a 罪,犯罪 are, my dear fellow,” said he calmly. “I only hope there will not be any more unpleasantness.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t say what I mean — yet.”

“You are mysterious, Jennings.”

“I am perplexed. I don’t seem to 前進する. However, I ーするつもりである to follow up the 手がかり(を与える) of your photograph, though if the explanation I 示唆する is the true one, there’s nothing more to be said. But the girl, Susan 認める, has not the look of a どろぼう.”

“That means, I gave her the photograph,” said Cuthbert haughtily.

“Not やむを得ず,” 再結合させるd Jennings, putting on his overcoat. “But I will not theorize any more. Wait till I 直面する the girl with you in a few days. Then we may 軍隊 her to speak.”

Cuthbert shrugged his shoulders. “As you please. But I really am at a loss to think what she will say.”

“So am I,” said Jennings, as they walked to the door. “That is why I am anxious to see her and you together. And, after all, I may have 設立する only a 損なう’s nest.”

“You certainly have so far as I am 関心d. By the way, when is the 団体/死体 to be buried?”

“The day after tomorrow. Then the will has to be read. I hope the old lady will leave you some money, Mallow. She was 報告(する)/憶測d to be rich. Oh, by the way, I’ll look up that Saul coining 事例/患者 you speak of.”

“Why?” asked Mallow, bluntly and uneasily.

“It may have some 耐えるing on this 事柄. Only in the past will we find the truth. And 行方不明になる Selina Loach certainly knew 行方不明になる Saul.”

As Jennings 出発/死d the postman (機の)カム up the stairs with the late letters. Cuthbert 設立する one from Juliet and opened it at once. It 含む/封じ込めるd one line —

“Don’t see the police about aunt’s death — JULIET.”

Cuthbert Mallow slept very 不正に that night.

一時期/支部 VIII
The Course of True Love

The most obvious thing for Cuthbert to do was to 捜し出す Juliet and ask for an explanation of her mysterious 公式文書,認める. He went to the “神社 of the Muses” the very next day, but was 知らせるd that 行方不明になる Saxon and her mother had gone out of town and would not be 支援する for a few days. He could not learn where they were, and was leaving the house somewhat disconsolately when he met Basil.

“You here, Mallow,” said that young gentleman, stopping short, “have you been to see my mother?”

“I went to see Juliet,” replied Cuthbert, not sorry that the 会合 had taken place, “but I hear she is out of town.”

“井戸/弁護士席, not 正確に/まさに. The fact is, she and my mother have gone 負かす/撃墜する to Rose Cottage and ーするつもりである to stop there until the funeral is over and the will is read.”

“The will?” echoed Mallow.

“Yes. Aunt Selina is likely to leave a 広大な/多数の/重要な 取引,協定 of money. I 推定する/予想する it will all go to Juliet. She never liked me.”

“Yet you were frequently at her house.”

“I was,” 自白するd Basil candidly. “I tried to make myself as civil as possible, so that she might remember me. Between ourselves, Mallow, I am ジュースd hard up. My mother hasn’t much money, I have 非,不,無 of my own, and old Octagon is as stingy as he 井戸/弁護士席 can be.”

This sounded 井戸/弁護士席 coming from an idler who never did a 一打/打撃 of work, and who lived on the charity of his step-father. But Basil had peculiar 見解(をとる)s as to money. He considered himself a genius, and that Peter should be proud to support him until, as he phrased it, he had “stamped his 指名する on the age”! But the stamping took a long time, and Basil troubled himself very little about the 事柄. He 発言/述べるd that genius should not be 軍隊d, and loafed away the greater 部分 of his days. His mother kept him in pocket-money and 着せる/賦与するs, Peter 供給(する)d board and 宿泊するing, and Basil got through life very pleasantly. He wished to be famous, to have his 指名する in every mouth and his portrait in every paper; but the work that was necessary to 得る these 望ましい things he was unwilling to do. Cuthbert knew that the young fellow had been “born tired”! and although something of an idler himself, liked Basil 非,不,無 the more for his laziness. Had Mallow been poor he would certainly have earned his bread, but he had a good income and did not work. And, after all, he only 追求するd the way of life in which he had been brought up. But Basil was poor and had his career to make, therefore he certainly should have labored. However, for Juliet’s sake, Cuthbert was as polite as possible.

“If I were you, Saxon, I should leave cards alone,” said Mallow.

“Nonsense! I don’t play high. Besides, I have seen you at Maraquito’s also losing a lot.”

“I can afford to lose,” said Cuthbert dryly, “you can’t.”

“No, by Jove, you’re 権利 there. But don’t preach, Mallow, you ain’t such a saint yourself.”

“Can I help you with a cheque?”

Basil had good 産む/飼育するing enough to color.

“No! I didn’t explain myself for that,” he said coldly, “and besides, if Juliet comes in for Aunt Selina’s money, I’ll get some. Juliet and I always 株.”

This meant that Juliet was to give the money and Basil to spend it. Mallow was disgusted with this candid selfishness. However, he did not wish to quarrel with Basil, as he knew Juliet was fond of him, and moreover, in the 現在の 明言する/公表する of 事件/事情/状勢s, he was anxious to have another friend besides Mr. Octagon in the house. “Perhaps 行方不明になる Loach may have left you some money after all,” he 発言/述べるd.

“By Jove, I hope so. I’ll be in a 穴を開ける if she has not. There’s a 法案 —” here he stopped, as though conscious of having said too much. “But that will come into Juliet’s 所有/入手,” he murmured.

“What’s that?” asked Cuthbert はっきりと.

“Nothing — nothing — only a tailor’s 法案. As to getting money by the will, don’t you know I quarrelled with Aunt Selina a week before her death. Yes, she turned me out of the house.” Here Basil’s 直面する assumed what may be 述べるd as an ugly look. “I should like to have got even with the old cat. She 侮辱d me.”

“Gently, old fellow,” said Mallow, seeing that Basil was losing his temper, and having occasionally seen him in fits of uncontrollable passion, “we’re in the public street.”

Basil’s brow (疑いを)晴らすd. “All 権利,” he said, “don’t bother, I’ll be all 権利 when Juliet gets the money. By the way, mother tells me you are not going to marry her.”

“Your mother is mistaken,” 再結合させるd Mallow 厳粛に. “Juliet and I are still engaged. I do not ーするつもりである to give her up.”

“I told mother you would not give in easily,” said Basil, frowning, “but you can’t marry Juliet.”

“Why not?” asked Cuthbert はっきりと; “do you know the 推論する/理由?”

Basil appeared about to say something, then suddenly の近くにd his mouth and shook his 長,率いる.

Cuthbert 圧力(をかける)d him. “If you know the 推論する/理由, tell me,” he said, “and I’ll help you out of your difficulties. You know I love Juliet, and your mother does not seem to have any excuse to forbid the marriage.”

“I would help you if I could, but I can’t. You had better ask Juliet herself. She may tell you the 推論する/理由.”

“How can I find her?”

“Go 負かす/撃墜する to Rose Cottage and ask to see her,” 示唆するd Basil.

“Your mother will not 収容する/認める me.”

“That’s true enough. 井戸/弁護士席, I’ll tell you what, Mallow, I’ll speak to Juliet and get her to make an 任命 to see you.”

“I could 令状 and ask her for one myself.”

“Oh, no, you couldn’t. Mother will 迎撃する all letters.”

“Upon my word —” began Mallow 怒って, then stopped. It was useless to show his wrath before this silly boy, who could do no good and might do a 取引,協定 of 害(を与える). “Very 井戸/弁護士席, then,” he said more mildly, “ask Juliet to 会合,会う me on the other 味方する of Rexton, under the 塀で囲む which runs 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the unfinished house.”

Basil started. “Why that place?” he asked nervously.

“It is as good as any other.”

“You can’t get inside.”

“That’s true enough. But we can 会合,会う outside. I have been inside though, and I made a mess of myself climbing the 塀で囲む.”

“You were inside,” began Basil, then suddenly appeared relieved. “I remember; you were there on the day after Aunt Selina was killed.”

“I have been there before that,” said Cuthbert, wondering why the young man 避けるd his 注目する,もくろむ in so nervous a manner.

“Not at — at night?” murmured Saxon, looking away.

“Once I was there at night. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, nothing — nothing. I was just thinking it’s a wild place in which to find one’s self at night. By the way,” 追加するd Basil, as though anxious to change a disagreeable 支配する, “do you think Jarvey Hale a nice fellow?”

“No, I don’t. I have met him at Maraquito’s, and I don’t like him. He’s a bounder. Moreover, a respectable lawyer has no 権利 to 賭事 to the extent he does. I wonder 行方不明になる Loach 信用d him.”

“Perhaps she didn’t know of his 賭事ing,” said Basil, his 注目する,もくろむs wandering everywhere but to the 直面する of his companion; “but, should you think Hale would be hard on a fellow?”

“Yes, I should. Do you 借りがある him money?”

“A few 続けざまに猛撃するs. He won’t give me time to 支払う/賃金. And I say, Mallow, I suppose all Aunt Selina’s 事件/事情/状勢s will be left in Hale’s 手渡すs?”

“I can’t say. It depends upon the will. If everything is left to Juliet, 無条件に, she may take her 事件/事情/状勢s out of Hale’s 手渡すs. I should certainly advise her to do so. He’s too intimate with Maraquito and her 賭事ing salon to be a decent lawyer.”

“You do seem 負かす/撃墜する on 賭事ing,” said Basil, “yet you 賭事 yourself a lot. But I 推定する/予想する Juliet will change her lawyer. I hope she will.”

“Why?” asked Cuthbert はっきりと.

“Oh,” replied Basil, 混乱させるd, “because I agree with you. A gambler will not make a good lawyer — or a good husband either,” he 追加するd in an abrupt トン. “Good-day. I’ll tell Juliet,” and he was off before Mallow could find words to answer his last 発言/述べる.

Cuthbert, walking 支援する to his rooms, wondered if it was on account of the 賭事ing that Mrs. Octagon 反対するd to the marriage. He really did not 賭事 much, but occasionally he dropped into Maraquito’s house, and there lost or won a few 続けざまに猛撃するs. Here he had often met Basil, and without 疑問 the young man had told his mother. But he could hardly do this without 罪を負わせるing himself. All the same, Basil was a 徹底的な liar, and a 確認するd tattler. He might have blackened Mallow’s character, and yet have told a story to exonerate himself. His friendship appeared feigned, and Cuthbert 疑問d if he would really tell Juliet of the 任命.

“That young man’s in trouble,” thought Mallow, “he is anxious about Hale, and I shouldn’t wonder if that respectable person had lent him a large sum of money. Probably he counts on getting the money from Juliet, should she 相続する the fortune of 行方不明になる Loach. Also he seems annoyed that I should have been in Caranby’s unfinished house at night. I wonder what he would say if he knew my 推論する/理由 for going there. Humph! I must keep that 静かな. The only person I dare tell is Juliet; but I can’t speak to her about the 事柄 just yet. And after all, there is no need to について言及する my visit. It does not 関心 her in the least. I wonder,” here Cuthbert stopped, struck with an idea. “By George! can it be that Basil was 近づく Rose Cottage on the night the 罪,犯罪 was committed? Juliet may know that, and so, fearful lest he should be (刑事)被告 of the 殺人, asked me to stop 訴訟/進行s. Can Basil Saxon be 有罪の? No,” Mallow shook his 長,率いる and 再開するd his walk, “he has not pluck enough to kill a 飛行機で行く.”

After this he 解任するd the 事柄 from his thoughts and waited expectant of a letter from Juliet. 非,不,無 (機の)カム, and he was 納得させるd that Basil had not 配達するd the message. This 存在 the 事例/患者, Cuthbert 決定するd to 行為/法令/行動する for himself, and one afternoon went 負かす/撃墜する to Rexton. That same evening he had an 任命 with Jennings, who was to bring Susan 認める to Mallow’s rooms. But the young man やめる 推定する/予想するd to be 支援する in time to keep the 任命, and 合間 he spent an hour wandering 一連の会議、交渉/完成する Rexton in the 周辺 of Rose Cottage. But afraid lest Mrs. Octagon should see him and keep Juliet within doors, he 棄権するd from passing in 前線 of the house and waited on the path which led to the 駅/配置する.

While watching the cottage, a young woman (機の)カム along the path. She was neatly dressed and looked like a servant. Cuthbert 圧力(をかける)d himself against the quickset hedge to 許す her to pass, as there was very little room. The girl started as she murmured her thanks, and grew crimson on seeing his 直面する. Cuthbert, not thinking, gave a passing thought to her looks and wondered why she had blushed. But when he saw her enter the gate of Rose Cottage — she looked 支援する twice — he 解任するd the description of Jennings.

“By George!” he thought, “that was Susan 認める. I wish I had spoken to her. I wonder why she blushed. She can’t be in love with me, as I never saw her before. All the same, it is strange about the portrait.”

It was now about four o’clock, and Cuthbert fancied that after all it would be best to boldly (犯罪の)一味 at the door and ask admission, in spite of Mrs. Octagon.

But while hesitating to 危険 all his chances of seeing Juliet on one throw of fortune’s dice, the 事柄 was decided for him by the 外見 of Juliet herself. She (機の)カム out of the gate and walked 直接/まっすぐに に向かって the path. It would seem as though she 推定する/予想するd to find Cuthbert, for she walked straight up to him and caught his 手渡す. There was no one about to see their 会合, but Juliet was not 性質の/したい気がして to behave tenderly.

“Why are you here?” she asked. “Susan 認める told me you —”

“Susan 認める!” echoed Cuthbert, 解決するd not to know too much in the presence of Juliet. “I saw her 指名する in the papers. How does she know me?”

“I can’t say,” said Juliet quickly; “come along this way.” She hurried along the 狭くする path, talking all the time. “She (機の)カム in just now and said you were waiting in the by-path. I (機の)カム out at once. I don’t want my mother to see you.”

“Really!” cried Cuthbert, rather nettled. “I don’t see that I have any 推論する/理由 to 避ける Mrs. Octagon.”

“She will not 許す me to see you. If she knew I was 会合 you she would be very angry. We are here only till tomorrow. Now that Aunt Selina is buried and the will read, we return to Kensington at once. Come this way. Let us get into the open. I don’t wish my mother to follow and find me speaking to you.”

They 現れるd into a waste piece of land, distant a 石/投石する-throw from the 鉄道 駅/配置する, but secluded by 推論する/理由 of many trees and shrubs. These, belonging to the old Rexton 広い地所, had not yet been rooted up by the 建設業者, and there ran a path through the heart of the miniature 支持を得ようと努めるd 主要な to the 駅/配置する. When やめる 審査するd from 観察 by the friendly leafage, Juliet turned quickly. She was pale and ill in looks, and there were dark circles under her 注目する,もくろむs which told of sleepless nights. But she was dressed with her usual care and behaved in a composed manner.

“I wish you had not come, Cuthbert,” she said, again taking his 手渡す, “at least not at 現在の. Later on —”

“I 手配中の,お尋ね者 to see you at once,” said Mallow, determinedly. “Did not Basil tell you so?”

Juliet shook her 長,率いる. “He said he met you the other day, but gave me no message.”

“Then he is not the friend I took him to be,” said Mallow 怒って.

“Don’t be angry with Basil,” said Juliet, gently. “The poor boy has やめる enough trouble.”

“Of his own making,” finished Cuthbert, 完全に annoyed. “See here, Juliet, this sort of thing can’t go on. I have done nothing to 令状 my 存在 扱う/治療するd like this. Your mother is mad to behave as she is doing. I 主張する on an explanation.”

Juliet did not 支払う/賃金 attention to this 迅速な speech. “How do you know Basil has troubles?” she asked hurriedly.

“Because I know he’s a dissipated young ass,” returned Mallow 概略で; “and I daresay you know it also.”

“Do you allude to his playing cards?” she asked quickly.

“Yes. He has no 権利 to tell you these things. But I know he is in 負債 to Hale — he hinted as much the other day. I would say nothing of this to you, but that I know he counts on your 支払う/賃金ing his 負債s. I tell you, Juliet, it is wrong for you to do so.”

“How do you know I can?” she asked.

“I know nothing,” said Cuthbert doggedly, “not even if you have 相続するd the money of 行方不明になる Loach.”

“I have 相続するd it. She left everything to me, save 遺産/遺物s to Thomas her servant, and to Emily Pill, the cook. It is a large fortune. The will was read on the day of the funeral. I have now six thousand a year.”

“So much as that? How did your aunt make such a lot of money?”

“Mr. Hale 推測するd a 広大な/多数の/重要な 取引,協定 on her account, and, he is very lucky. At least so he told me. But the money is 井戸/弁護士席 投資するd and there are no 制限s. I can easily 支払う/賃金 the few 負債s Basil 借りがあるs, poor boy. You are too hard on him.”

“Perhaps I am. But he is so foolish, and he doesn’t like me. I believe he puts you against me, Juliet.”

The girl threw her 武器 一連の会議、交渉/完成する his neck. “Nothing in the world would ever put me against you, Cuthbert,” she whispered 熱心に. “I love you — I love you — with all my heart and soul, with every fibre of my 存在 do I love you. I don’t care what mother says, I love you.”

“井戸/弁護士席, then,” said Cuthbert, between kisses, “since you are now rich and your own mistress — not that I care about the money — why not marry me at once?”

Juliet drew 支援する, and her 注目する,もくろむs dilated with 恐れる. “I dare not — I dare not,” she whispered. “You don’t know what you ask.”

“Yes I do. Juliet, what is all this mystery about? I could not understand the meaning of your letter.”

“Did you do what I asked?” she panted.

“It was too late. I had told Jennings the 探偵,刑事 all I knew.”

“You were not afraid?”

“Afraid!” echoed Cuthbert, 開始 his 注目する,もくろむs. “What do you mean?”

She looked into his 注目する,もくろむs. “No,” she said to herself, “he is not afraid.”

Cuthbert lost his temper. “I don’t understand all this,” he 宣言するd, “if you would only speak out. But I can guess why you wish me to stop the 訴訟/進行s — you 恐れる for Basil!”

She stepped 支援する a pace. “For Basil?”

“Yes. From what he hinted the other day I believe he was about this place on the night of the —”

“Where are your proofs?” she gasped, recoiling.

“I have 非,不,無. I am only speaking on chance. But Basil is in 通貨の difficulties — he is in 負債 to Hale — he counted on you 相続するing the money of 行方不明になる Loach to 支払う/賃金 his 負債s. He —”

“Stop! stop!” cried Juliet, the 血 rising to her 直面する, “this is only supposition. You can 証明する nothing.”

“Then why do you wish me to 持つ/拘留する my tongue?”

“There is nothing for you to 持つ/拘留する your tongue about,” she answered evasively. “You know nothing.”

Cuthbert caught her 手渡すs and looked into her troubled 注目する,もくろむs. “Do you, Juliet — do you? Put an end to this mystery and speak out.”

She broke from him and fled. “No,” she cried, “for your sake I keep silent. For your own sake stop the 活動/戦闘 of the 探偵,刑事.”

一時期/支部 IX
Another Mystery

When Jennings arrived that evening によれば 任命, he 設立する Mallow in a 明言する/公表する of desperation. Juliet’s 行為/行う perplexed the young man to such an extent that he felt as though on the point of losing his 推論する/理由. He was やめる delighted when he saw Jennings and thus had someone with a (疑いを)晴らす 長,率いる in whom to confide.

“What’s the 事柄?” asked Jennings, who at once saw that something was wrong from Cuthbert’s anxious 直面する.

“Nothing, save that I am 存在 driven out of my senses. I am glad you have come, Jennings. Things are getting more mysterious every day. I am 決定するd to get to the 底(に届く) of this 殺人 事例/患者 if only for my own peace of mind. I am with you heart and soul. I have the 探偵,刑事 fever with a vengeance. You can count on my 援助 in every way.”

“All 権利, my dear chap,” said the other soothingly, “sit 負かす/撃墜する and let us have a 静かな talk before this girl arrives.”

“Susan 認める. I saw her today.”

“Did you speak to her?”

“No. I only guessed that she was the girl you talked about from your description and from the fact that she entered Rose Cottage.”

“Ah,” said Jennings, taking a seat, “so you have been 負かす/撃墜する there?”

“Yes. I’ll tell you all about it. I don’t know if I’m sane or insane, Jennings. When does this girl arrive?”

The 探偵,刑事 ちらりと見ることd at his watch. “At half-past eight. She’ll be here in half an hour. Go on. What’s up?”

“Read this,” said Cuthbert, and passed along the 公式文書,認める from Juliet. “I received that すぐに after you went the other night.”

Jennings read the 公式文書,認める with a thoughtful look, then laid it aside and 星/主役にするd at his friend. “It is strange that she should 令状 in that way,” said he. “I should have thought she would wish to learn who killed her aunt. What does she mean?”

“I can’t tell you. I met her today,” and Cuthbert gave 詳細(に述べる)s of his visit to Rexton and the interview with Juliet. “Now what does she mean,” he 追加するd in his turn, “talking as though I had something to do with the 事柄?”

“Someone’s been 毒(薬)ing her mind. That brother of hers, perhaps.”

“What do you know of him?” asked Cuthbert quickly.

“Nothing good. He’s an hysterical idiot. 賭事s a lot and 落ちるs into 激怒(する)s when he loses. At times I don’t think he’s 責任がある his 活動/戦闘s.”

Mallow threw himself 支援する in his 議長,司会を務める biting his moustache. Every word Jennings spoke made him more 確信して that Basil had something to do with the 罪,犯罪. But why Juliet should hint at his own 犯罪 Cuthbert could not imagine. Had he been calmer he might have hesitated to tell Jennings about Basil. But, exasperated by Juliet’s half 信用/信任, and anxious to learn the truth, he gave the 探偵,刑事 a 十分な account of his 会合 with the young man. “What do you make of that?” he asked.

“井戸/弁護士席,” said Jennings doubtfully, “there’s nothing much to go upon in what he said. He’s in difficulties with Hale certainly —”

“And he seemed anxious about my having been in Caranby’s grounds at night.” “Were you there?”

“Yes. I did not ーするつもりである to say anything about it, but I must tell you everything so that you can put things straight between me and Juliet. I can’t understand her. But I am sure her mother and Basil are trying to 影響(力) her against me. I should not be surprised to learn that they (刑事)被告 me of this 殺人.”

“But on what grounds?” asked Jennings quickly.

“We’ll come to that presently. But I now see why neither Basil nor his mother want the marriage to take place. By the will of 行方不明になる Loach Juliet comes in for six thousand a year, which is 完全に at her own 処分. Mrs. Octagon and her pet boy want to have the 扱うing of that. They know if Juliet becomes my wife I won’t let them prey on her, so すぐに 行方不明になる Loach died the mother withdrew her 同意 to the marriage, and now she is 存在 支援するd up by Basil.”

“But I thought Mrs. Octagon was 井戸/弁護士席 off?”

“No. Saxon, her late husband, left her very little, and Octagon, for all his meekness, knows how to keep his money. Both mother and son are extravagant, so they hope to make poor Juliet their 銀行業者. In some way they have 巻き込むd me in the 罪,犯罪, and Juliet thinks that I am in danger of the gallows. That is why she wrote that mysterious 公式文書,認める, Jennings. To-day she asked me to stop 訴訟/進行s for my own sake, which shows that she thinks me 有罪の. I could not get a その上の explanation from her, as she ran away. Hang it!” Cuthbert jumped up 怒って, “if she’d only tell me the truth and speak straight out. I can’t understand this silence on her part.”

“I can,” said Jennings 敏速に, “in some way Basil is mixed up in the 事柄, and his 告発する/非難するing you means his 認めるing that he was 近づく Rose Cottage on the night of the 罪,犯罪. He funks making so 損失ing an admission.”

“Ah, I daresay,” said Cuthbert, “特に as he quarrelled with his aunt a week before the death.”

“Did he quarrel with her?”

“Of course. Didn’t I tell you what he said today. He’s in a 罰金 激怒(する) with the dead woman. And you know what an uncontrollable temper he has. I’ve seen him 激怒(する) at Maraquito’s when he lost at baccarat. Silly ass! He can’t play decently and lose his money like a gentleman. How Juliet ever (機の)カム to have such a bounder for a brother I can’t imagine. She’s the soul of 栄誉(を受ける), and Basil — bah!”

“He quarrelled with his aunt,” murmured Jennings, “and he has a violent temper, as we both knew. Humph! He may have something to do with the 事柄. Do you know where he was on that night?”

“Yes. Juliet and he went to the Marlow Theatre to see a melodrama by a new 脚本家.”

“Ha!” said Jennings half to himself, “and the Marlow Theatre is not far from Rexton. I’ll make a 公式文書,認める of that. Had they a box?”

“I believe so. It was sent by the man who wrote the play.”

“Who is he?”

“I can’t say. One of that lot who play at 存在 poets in Octagon House. A 始める,決める of idiots. But what do you make of all this, Jennings?”

“I think with you that Mrs. Octagon and her cub of a son are trying to stop the marriage by bringing you into the 事柄 of the 罪,犯罪. Were you 負かす/撃墜する there on that night?”

“Yes,” said Cuthbert with hesitation, and to Jennings’ surprise, “I did not ーするつもりである to say anything about it, as my uncle asked me to 持つ/拘留する my tongue. But since things have come to this pass, you may 同様に know that I was there — and about the time of the 殺人 too.”

Jennings sat up and 星/主役にするd. “広大な/多数の/重要な heavens! Mallow, why didn’t you tell me this the other night?”

“You might have 逮捕(する)d me then and there,” retorted Cuthbert. “I 約束d my uncle to 持つ/拘留する my tongue. But now —”

“You will tell me all. My dear fellow, make a clean breast of it.”

“残り/休憩(する) 平易な, you shall learn everything. You know that the house at the 支援する of Rose Cottage has been 砂漠d for something like twenty years more or いっそう少なく.”

“Yes. You told me about it the other night.”

“Caranby ran a fifteen-feet 塀で囲む 一連の会議、交渉/完成する it and the inside is a 正規の/正選手 ジャングル. 井戸/弁護士席, the house is supposed to be haunted. Lights have been seen moving about and strange noises have been heard.”

“What 肉親,親類d of noises?”

“Oh, moans and clanking chains and all that sort of thing. I heard 間接に about this, through Juliet.”

“Where did she hear the 報告(する)/憶測?”

“From 行方不明になる Loach’s cook. A woman called Pill. The cook 主張するd that the house was haunted, and 述べるd the noises and the lights. I don’t believe in spooks myself, and thought some tricks were 存在 played, so one day I went 負かす/撃墜する and had a look.”

“That day I was there?” asked Jennings, 解任するing Cuthbert’s presence.

“Before that — a week or two. I saw nothing. The house is rotting and nothing appeared to be 乱すd. I 診察するd the park and 設立する no footmarks. In fact, there wasn’t a 調印する of anyone about.”

“You should have gone at night when the ghost was larking.”

“That’s what Caranby said. I told him when he (機の)カム 支援する to London. He was very annoyed. You know his romance about that house — an absurd thing it is. All the same, Caranby is tender on the point. I advised him to pull the house 負かす/撃墜する and let the land out for building 賃貸し(する)s. He thought he would, but asked me to go at night and 動かす up the ghost. I went on the night of the 殺人, and got into the grounds by climbing the 塀で囲む. There’s no gate, you know.”

“At what time?”

“Some time between ten and eleven. I’m not やめる sure.”

“Good heavens! man, that is the very hour the woman was killed!”

“Yes. And for that 推論する/理由 I held my tongue; 特に as I got over the 塀で囲む 近づく the cottage.”

“Where do you mean?”

“井戸/弁護士席, there’s a field of corn nearly ready to be 削減(する) 近づく the cottage. It’s divided from the garden by a 盗品故買者. I (機の)カム along the foot-path that leads from the 駅/配置する and jumped the 盗品故買者.”

“Did you enter 行方不明になる Loach’s grounds?”

“No. I had no 権利 to. I saw a light in the 地階, but I did not take much notice. I was too anxious to find the ghost. 井戸/弁護士席, I ran along the 盗品故買者 — on the field-of-corn 味方する, remember, and got over the 塀で囲む. Then I dodged through the park, scratching myself a lot. I could find nothing. The house seemed 静かな enough, so after a 4半期/4分の1 of an hour I had enough of it. I got out over the 塀で囲む on the other 味方する and (機の)カム home. I caught a 冷淡な which necessitated my wearing a 広大な/多数の/重要な-coat the next day. So there you have my ghost-追跡(する)ing, and a 罰金 fool I was to go.”

“I wish you had told me this before, Mallow.”

“If I had, you would have thought I’d killed the old woman. But I tell you now, as I want this 事柄 精査するd to the 底(に届く). I 辞退するd to speak before, as I didn’t wish to be dragged into the 事例/患者.”

“Did you see anything in the cottage?”

“Not a thing. I saw no one — I heard no sound.”

“Not even a 叫び声をあげる?”

“Not even a 叫び声をあげる,” said Mallow; “had I heard anything I should have gone to see what was the 事柄.”

“Strange!” murmured Jennings, “can’t you tell the exact time?”

“Not to a minute. It was すぐに after ten. I can’t say how many minutes. Perhaps a 4半期/4分の1 of an hour. But not 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うing anything was going to happen, I didn’t look at my watch.”

Jennings looked thoughtfully at the carpet. “I wonder if the 暗殺者 escaped that way,” he murmured.

“Which way?”

“Over the 塀で囲む and through the park. You see, he could not have gone up the 小道/航路 or through the 鉄道 path without つまずくing against that policeman. But he might have slipped out of the 前線 door at half-past ten and climbed as you did over the 塀で囲む to cross the park and 減少(する) over the other. In this way he would elude the police.”

“Perhaps,” said Cuthbert disbelievingly; “but it was nearly eleven when I left the park. If anyone had been at my heels I would have noticed.”

“I am not so sure of that. The park, as you say, is a 肉親,親類d of ジャングル. The man might have seen you and have taken his 警戒s. Moreover,” 追加するd the 探偵,刑事, sitting up alertly, “he might have written to 行方不明になる Saxon 説 he saw you on that night. And she —”

“Bosh!” interrupted Mallow 概略で, “he would give himself away.”

“Not if the letter was 匿名の/不明の.”

“Perhaps,” said the other again; “but Basil may have been about the place and have (刑事)被告 me.”

“In that 事例/患者 he must explain his 推論する/理由 for 存在 in the 近隣 at that hour. But he won’t, and you may be sure 行方不明になる Saxon, for his sake, will 持つ/拘留する her tongue. No, Mallow. Someone 告発する/非難するs you to 行方不明になる Saxon — Basil or another. If we could only make her speak —”

Cuthbert shook his 長,率いる. “I 恐れる it’s impossible.”

“Why not let me 逮捕(する) you,” 示唆するd Jennings, “and then, if at anytime, she would speak.”

“Hang it, no!” cried Mallow in 狼狽, “that would be too 現実主義の, Jennings. I don’t want it known that I was hanging about the place on that night. My explanation might not be believed. In any 事例/患者, people would throw mud at me, considering I am engaged to the niece of the dead woman.”

“Yes! I can see that. 井戸/弁護士席,” Jennings rose and stretched himself. “I must see what Susan has to say”; he ちらりと見ることd at his watch; “she should be here in a few minutes.”

A silence 続いて起こるd which was broken by Jennings. “Oh, by the way,” he said, taking some papers out of his pocket, “I looked up the Saul 事例/患者.”

“井戸/弁護士席, what about it?” asked Cuthbert indolently

Jennings referred to his 公式文書,認めるs. “The Saul family” he said, “seem to have been a bad lot. There was a mother, a brother and a daughter —”

“Emilia!”

“Just so. They were all coiners. Somewhere in Hampstead they had a 正規の/正選手 factory. Others were mixed up in the 事柄 also, but Mrs. Saul was the 長,率いる of the ギャング(団). Then Emilia grew tired of the life — I 推定する/予想する it told on her 神経s. She went on the concert 壇・綱領・公約 and met Caranby. Then she died, as you know. Afterwards the mother and brother were caught. They bolted. The mother, I believe, died — it was believed she was 毒(薬)d for having betrayed secrets. The brother went to 刑務所,拘置所, got out years afterwards on ticket-of-leave, and then died also. The 残り/休憩(する) of the ギャング(団) were put in 刑務所,拘置所, but I can’t say what became of them.”

Cuthbert shrugged his shoulders. “This does not help us much.”

“No. But it shows you what an escape your uncle had from marrying the woman. I can’t understand —”

“No more can Caranby,” said Mallow, smiling; “he loved 行方不明になる Loach, but Emilia 演習d a 肉親,親類d of hypnotic 影響(力) over him. However, she is dead, and I can see no 関係 between her and this 罪,犯罪.”

“井戸/弁護士席,” said Jennings soberly, “it appears that some other person besides the mother gave a 手がかり(を与える) to the breaking up of the ギャング(団) and the どの辺に of the factory. Supposing that person was Selina Loach, who hated Emilia for having taken Caranby from her. One of the ギャング(団) 解放(する)d lately from 刑務所,拘置所 may have killed the old lady out of 復讐.”

“What! after all these years?”

“復讐 is a passion that grows with years,” said Jennings grimly; “at all events, I ーするつもりである to go on ferreting out 証拠 about this old coining 事例/患者, 特に as there are many 誤った coins 広まる now. I should not be surprised to learn that the factory had been 始める,決める up again; 行方不明になる Loach may have known and —”

“This is all supposition,” cried Mallow. “I can’t see the slightest 関係 between the coiners and this 殺人. Besides, it does not explain why Juliet hints at my 存在 巻き込むd.”

Jennings did not reply. “There’s the bell, too,” he murmured, his 注目する,もくろむs on the ground, “that might be explained.” He looked up briskly. “I tell you what, Mallow, this 事例/患者 may turn out to be a bigger thing than either of us 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う.”

“It’s やめる big enough for me as it is,” retorted Cuthbert, “although I don’t know what you mean. All I 願望(する) is to get to the root of the 事柄 and marry Juliet. Find 行方不明になる Loach’s 暗殺者, Jennings, and don’t bother about this dead-and-gone coining 事例/患者.”

“There’s a 関係 between the two,” said Jennings, obstinately; “it’s impossible to say how the 関係 comes about, but I feel that a 発見 in one 事例/患者 entails a 発見 in the other. If I can 証明する that 行方不明になる Loach was killed by one of the old coiners —”

“What will happen then?”

“I may つまずく on the factory that is in 存在 now.”

He would have gone on to explain himself more fully, but that Mallow’s man entered with the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) that a young person was waiting and asked for Mr. Jennings. Mallow ordered the servant to 収容する/認める her, and すぐに Susan 認める, nervous and blushing, entered the room.

“I am glad to see you,” said Jennings, placing a 議長,司会を務める for her. “This is Mr. Mallow. We wish to ask you a few questions.”

“I have seen Mr. Mallow before,” said Susan, gasping and 紅潮/摘発するing.

“At Rose Cottage?” said Mallow inquiringly.

“No. When I was with Senora Gredos as parlor-maid.”

“Senora Gredos?” said Jennings, before Cuthbert could speak. “Do you mean Maraquito?”

“I have heard that her 指名する was Maraquito, sir,” said Susan calmly. “A lame lady and fond of cards. She lives in-”

“I know where she lives,” said Cuthbert, 紅潮/摘発するing in his turn. “I went there occasionally to play cards. I never saw you.”

“But I saw you, sir,” said the girl fervently. “Often I have watched you when you thought I wasn’t, and —”

“One moment,” said Jennings, interrupting. “Let’s us get to the pith of the 事柄 at once. Where did you get Mr. Mallow’s portrait?”

“I don’t want to say,” murmured the girl.

“But you must say,” said Mallow 怒って. “I order you to 自白する.”

“I kept silent for your sake, sir,” she said, her 注目する,もくろむs filled with 涙/ほころびs, “but if you must know, I took the portrait from Senora Gredos’ dressing-room when I left her house. And I left it on your account, sir,” she finished defiantly.

一時期/支部 X
The Parlor-Maid’s Story

On 審理,公聴会 the 自白 of the girl, both men looked at one another in amazement. How could Cuthbert’s photograph have come into the 所有/入手 of Senora Gredos, and why had Susan 認める stolen it? And again, why did she hint that she had held her tongue about the 事柄 for the sake of Mallow? Jennings at once proceeded to get at the truth. While 存在 診察するd Susan wept, with an 時折の ちらりと見ること at the bewildered Cuthbert.

“You were with Maraquito as parlor-maid?”

“With Senora Gredos? Yes, sir, for six months.”

“Do you know what went on in that house?”

Susan 中止するd her sobs and 星/主役にするd. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, looking puzzled. “It was a gay house, I know; but there was nothing wrong that I ever saw, save that I don’t 持つ/拘留する with cards 存在 played on Sunday.”

“And on every other night of the week,” muttered Jennings. “Did you ever hear Senora Gredos called Maraquito?”

“いつかs the gentlemen who (機の)カム to play cards called her by that 指名する. But she told her maid, who was my friend, that they were old friends of hers. And I think they were sorry for poor Senora Gredos, sir,” 追加するd 行方不明になる 認める, naively, “as she 苦しむd so much with her 支援する. You know, she rarely moved from her couch. It was always wheeled into the room where the 賭事ing took place.”

“Ah. You knew that 賭事ing went on,” said Jennings, snapping her up はっきりと. “Don’t you know that is against the 法律?”

“No, sir. Do you know?”

Cuthbert could not 抑制する a laugh. “That’s one for you, Jennings,” said he, nodding, “you often went to the Soho house.”

“I had my 推論する/理由s for 説 nothing,” replied the 探偵,刑事 あわてて. “You may be sure I could have ended the 事柄 at once had I spoken to my 長,指導者 about it. As it was, I 裁判官d it best to let 事柄s remain as they were, so long as the house was respectably 行為/行うd.”

“I’m sure it was 行為/行うd 井戸/弁護士席, sir,” said Susan, who appeared rather indignant. “Senora Gredos was a most respectable lady.”

“She lived alone always, I believe?”

“Yes, sir.” Then Susan hesitated. “I wonder if she had a mother?”

“Why do you wonder?”

“井戸/弁護士席, sir, the lady who (機の)カム to see 行方不明になる Loach —”

“Mrs. Herne?”

“I heard her 指名する was Mrs. Herne, but she was as like Senora Gredos as two peas, save that she was older and had gray hair.”

“Hum!” said Jennings, pondering. “Did you ever hear Senora Gredos speak of Mrs. Herne?”

“Never, sir. But Mrs. Pill — the cook of 行方不明になる Loach — said that Mrs. Herne lived at Hampstead. But she was like my old mistress. When I opened the door to her I thought she was Senora Gredos. But then the scent may have made me think that.”

Jennings looked up はっきりと. “The scent? What do you mean?”

“Senora Gredos,” explained Susan 静かに, “used a very nice scent — a Japanese scent called Hikui. She used no other, and I never met any lady who did, save Mrs. Herne.”

“Oh, so Mrs. Herne used it.”

“She did, sir. When I opened the door on that night,” Susan shuddered, “the first thing I knew was the smell of Hikui making the passage like a hairdresser’s shop. I leaned 今後 to see if the lady was Senora Gredos, and she turned her 直面する away. But I caught sight of it, and if she isn’t some 親族 of my last mistress, may I never eat bread again.”

“Did Mrs. Herne seem 感情を害する/違反するd when you 診察するd her 直面する?”

“She gave a 肉親,親類d of start —”

“At the sight of you,” said Jennings quickly.

“La, no, sir. She never saw me before.”

“I’m not so sure of that,” muttered the 探偵,刑事. “Did you also 認める Mr. Clancy and Mr. Hale as having visited the Soho house?”

“No, sir. I never 始める,決める 注目する,もくろむs on them before.”

“But as parlor-maid, you must have opened the door to —”

“Just a moment, sir,” said Susan quickly. “I opened the door in the day when few people (機の)カム. After eight the page, Gibber, took my place. And I hardly ever went upstairs, as Senora Gredos told me to keep below. One evening I did come up and saw —” here her 注目する,もくろむs 残り/休憩(する)d on Cuthbert with a look which made him turn crimson. “I wish I had never come up on that night.”

“See here, my girl,” said Mallow irritably, “do you mean to say —”

“持つ/拘留する on, Mallow,” interposed Jennings, “let me ask a question.” He turned to Susan, now weeping again with downcast 注目する,もくろむs. “Mr. Mallow’s 直面する made an impression on you?”

“Yes, sir. But then I knew every line of it before.”

“How was that?”

Susan looked up surprised. “The photograph in Senora Gredos’ dressing-room. I often looked at it, and when I left I could not 耐える to leave it behind. It was stealing, I know,” cried 行方不明になる 認める tearfully, “and I have been brought up respectably, but I couldn’t help myself.”

By this time Cuthbert was the color of an autumn sunset. He was a modest young man, and these barefaced 自白s made him wince. He was about to interpose irritably when Jennings turned on him with a 主要な question. “Why did you give that photograph to —”

“Confound it!” cried Mallow, jumping up, “I did no such thing. I knew Maraquito only as the keeper of the 賭事ing house. There was nothing between —”

“Don’t, sir,” said Susan, rising in her turn with a 紅潮/摘発する of jealousy. “I saw her kissing the photograph.”

“Then she must be crazy,” cried Mallow: “I never gave her any occasion to behave so foolishly. For months I have been engaged, and —” he here became aware that he was 事実上の/代理 foolishly in talking like this to a love-sick servant, and turned on his heel 突然の. “I’ll go in the next room,” said he, “call me when you wish for my presence, Jennings. I can’t かもしれない stay and listen to this rubbish,” and going out, he banged the door, その為に bringing a fresh burst of 涙/ほころびs from Susan 認める. Every word he said pierced her heart.

“Now I’ve made him cross,” she wailed, “and I would lay 負かす/撃墜する my life for him — that I would.”

“See here, my girl,” said Jennings, soothingly and fully 用意が出来ている to make use of the girl’s infatuation, “it is absurd your 存在 in love with a gentleman of Mr. Mallow’s position.”

行方不明になる 認める 投げ上げる/ボディチェックするd her 長,率いる. “I’ve read 屈服する—Bells and the Family 先触れ(する), sir,” she said 前向きに/確かに, “and many a time have I read of a governess, which is no more than a servant, marrying an earl. And that Mr. Mallow isn’t, sir.”

“He will be when Lord Caranby dies,” said Jennings, hardly knowing what to say, “and fiction isn’t truth. Besides, Mr. Mallow is engaged.”

“I know, sir — to 行方不明になる Saxon. 井戸/弁護士席,” poor Susan sighed, “she is a 甘い young lady. I suppose he loves her.”

“Devotedly. He will be married soon.”

“And she’s got 行方不明になる Loach’s money too,” sighed Susan again, “what a lucky young lady. Handsome looks in a husband and gold galore. A poor servant like me has to look on and keep her heart up with the Church Service. But I tell you what, sir,” she 追加するd, 乾燥した,日照りのing her 注目する,もくろむs and 明らかに becoming 辞職するd, “if I ain’t a lady, Senora Gredos is, and she won’t let Mr. Mallow marry 行方不明になる Saxon.”

“But Mr. Mallow is not in love with Senora Gredos.”

“Perhaps not, sir, but she’s in love with him. Yes. You may look and look, Mr. Jennings, but lame as she is and weak in the 支援する and unable to move from that couch, she loves him. She had that photograph in her room and kissed it, as it I saw with my own 注目する,もくろむs. I took it the last thing before I went, as I loved Mr. Mallow too, and I was not going to let that Spanish lady kiss him even in a picture.”

“Upon my word,” murmured Jennings, taken aback by this vehemence, “it is very strange all this.”

“Oh, yes, you gentlemen don’t think a poor girl has a heart. I couldn’t help 落ちるing in love, though he never looked my way. But that 行方不明になる Saxon is a 甘い, 肉親,親類d, young lady put upon by her mother, I wouldn’t give him up even to her. But I can see there’s no chance for me,” wept Susan, “seeing the way he has gone out, banging the door in a temper, so I’ll give him up. And I’ll go now. My heart’s broken.”

But Jennings made her sit 負かす/撃墜する again. “Not yet, my girl,” he said 堅固に, “if you wish to do Mr. Mallow a good turn —”

“Oh, I’ll do that,” she interrupted with sparkling 注目する,もくろむs, “after all, he can’t help giving his heart どこかよそで. It’s just my foolishness to think さもなければ. But how can I help him, sir?”

“He wants to find out who killed 行方不明になる Loach.”

“I can’t help him there, sir. I don’t know who killed her. Mrs. Herne and Mr. Clancy and Mr. Hale were all gone, and when the bell rang she was alone, dead in her 議長,司会を務める with them cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周. Oh,” Susan’s 発言する/表明する became shrill and hysterical, “what a horrible sight!”

“Yes, yes,” said Jennings soothingly, “we’ll come to that すぐに, my girl. But about this photograph. Was it in Senora Gredos’ dressing-room long?”

“For about three months, sir. I saw it one morning when I took up her breakfast and fell in love with the handsome 直面する. Then Gibber told me the gentleman (機の)カム to the house いつかs, and I went up the stairs against orders after eight to watch. I saw him and 設立する him more good-looking than the photograph. Often did I watch him and envy Senora Gredos the picture with them loving words. Sir,” said Susan, sitting up stiffly, “if Mr. Mallow is engaged to 行方不明になる Saxon and doesn’t love Senora Gredos, why did he 令状 those words?”

“He did not 令状 them for her,” said Jennings doubtfully, “at least I don’t think so. It is impossible to say how the photograph (機の)カム into the 所有/入手 of that lady.”

“Will you ask him, sir?”

“Yes, when you are gone. But he won’t speak while you are in the room.”

Susan drooped her 長,率いる and rose dolefully. “My dream is gone,” she said mournfully, “though I was 改善するing myself in (一定の)期間ing and 人物/姿/数字s so that I might go out as a governess and perhaps 会合,会う him in high circles.”

“Ah, that’s all Family 先触れ(する) fiction,” said Jennings, not unkindly.

“Yes! I know now, sir. My delusions are gone. But I will do anything I can to help Mr. Mallow and I hope he’ll always think kindly of me.”

“I’m sure he will. By the way, what are you doing now?”

“I go home to help mother at Stepney, sir, me having no call to go out to service. I have a happy home, though not 流行の/上流の. And after my heart 存在 鎮圧するd I can’t go out again,” sighed Susan sadly.

“Are you sorry to leave Rose Cottage?”

“No, sir,” Susan shuddered, “that dead 団体/死体 with the 血 and the cards will haunt me always. Mrs. Pill, as is going to marry Thomas Barnes and rent the cottage, 手配中の,お尋ね者 me to stay, but I couldn’t.”

Jennings pricked up his ears. “What’s that? How can Mrs. Pill rent so expensive a place.”

“It’s by 協定 with 行方不明になる Saxon, sir. Mrs. Pill told me all about it. 行方不明になる Saxon wished to sell the place, but Thomas Barnes spoke to her and said he had saved money while in 行方不明になる Loach’s service for twenty years —”

“Ah,” said Jennings thoughtfully, “he was that time in 行方不明になる Loach’s service, was he?”

“Yes, sir. And got good 給料. 井戸/弁護士席, sir, 行方不明になる Saxon 審理,公聴会 he wished to marry the cook and take the cottage and keep boarders, let him rent it with furniture as it stands. She and Mrs. Octagon are going 支援する to town, and Mrs. Pill is going to have the cottage cleaned from cellar to attic before she marries Thomas and receives the boarder.”

“Oh. So she has a boarder?”

“Yes, sir. She wouldn’t agree to Thomas taking the cottage as her husband, unless she had a boarder to start with, 存在 afraid she and Thomas could not 支払う/賃金 the rent. So Thomas saw Mr. Clancy and he is coming to stop. He has taken all the part where 行方不明になる Loach lived, and doesn’t want anyone else in the house, 存在 a 静かな man and retired.”

“Ah! Ah! Ah!” said Jennings in three different トンs of 発言する/表明する. “I think Mrs. Pill is very wise. I hope she and Thomas will do 井戸/弁護士席. By the way, what do you think of Mr. Barnes?”

Susan did not leave him long in 疑問 as to her opinion. “I think he is a stupid fool,” she said, “and it’s a good thing Mrs. Pill is going to marry him. He was guided by 行方不明になる Loach all his life, and now she’s dead, he goes about like a gaby. One of those men, sir,” explained Susan, “as needs a woman to look after them. Not like that gentleman,” she cast a tender ちらりと見ること at the door, “who can 保護する the weakest of my sex.”

Jennings having learned all he could, rose. “井戸/弁護士席, 行方不明になる 認める,” he said 静かに, “I am 強いるd to you for your frank speaking. My advice to you is to go home and think no more of Mr. Mallow. You might 同様に love the moon. But you know my 演説(する)/住所, and should you hear of anything likely to lead you to 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う who killed 行方不明になる Loach, Mr. Mallow will make it 価値(がある) your while to come to me with the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状).”

“I’ll do all I can,” said Susan resolutely, “but I won’t take a penny piece, me having my feelings as other and higher ladies.”

“Just as you please. But Mr. Mallow is about to 申し込む/申し出 a reward on に代わって of his uncle, Lord Caranby.”

“He that was in love with 行方不明になる Loach, sir?”

“Yes. On account of that old love, Lord Caranby 願望(する)s to learn who killed her. And Mr. Mallow also wishes to know, for a 私的な 推論する/理由. I 推定する/予想する you will be calling to see Mrs. Pill?”

“When she’s Mrs. Barnes, I think so, sir. I go to the wedding, and me and Geraldine are going to be bridesmaids.”

“Then if you hear or see anything likely to lead to a 発覚 of the truth, you will remember. By the way, you don’t know how Senora Gredos got that photograph?”

“No, sir, I do not.”

“And you think Mrs. Herne is Senora Gredos’ mother?”

“Yes, sir, I do.”

“Thank you, that will do for the 現在の. Keep your 注目する,もくろむs open and your mouth の近くにd, and when you hear of anything likely to 利益/興味 me, call at the 演説(する)/住所 I gave you.”

“Yes, sir,” said Susan, and took her leave, not without another ぐずぐず残る ちらりと見ること at the door behind which Mallow waited impatiently.

When she was gone, Jennings went into the next room to find Cuthbert smoking. He jumped up when he saw the 探偵,刑事. “井戸/弁護士席, has that silly girl gone?” he asked 怒って.

“Yes, poor soul. You needn’t get in a wax, Mallow. The girl can’t help 落ちるing in love with you. Poor people have feelings 同様に as rich.”

“I know that, but it’s ridiculous: 特に as I never saw the girl before, and then I love only Juliet.”

“You are sure of that?”

“Jennings”

“There — there, don’t get angry. We must get to the 底(に届く) of this 事件/事情/状勢 which is getting more 複雑にするd every day. Did you give that photograph to Senora Gredos?”

“To Maraquito. No, I didn’t. I gave it to Juliet.”

“You are 確かな ?”

“肯定的な! I can’t make out how it (機の)カム into Maraquito’s house.”

Jennings pondered. “Perhaps Basil may have given it to her. It is to his 利益/興味 on に代わって of his mother to make trouble between you and 行方不明になる Saxon. Moreover, if it is as I surmise, it shows that Mrs. Octagon ーするつもりであるd to stop the marriage, if she could, even before her sister died.”

“Ah! And it shows that the death of 行方不明になる Loach gave her a chance of 主張するing herself and stopping the marriage.”

“井戸/弁護士席, she might have hesitated to do that before, as 行方不明になる Loach might not have left her fortune to Juliet if the marriage did not take place.”

Cuthbert nodded and spoke musingly: “After all, the old woman liked me, and I was the 甥 of the man who loved her in her 青年. Her heart may have been 始める,決める on the match, and she might have 脅すd to leave her fortune どこかよそで if Mrs. Octagon did not agree. Failing this, Mrs. Octagon, through Basil, gave that photograph to Maraquito in the hope that Juliet would ask questions of me —”

“And if she had asked questions?” asked Jennings quickly.

Cuthbert looked uncomfortable. “Don’t think me a conceited ass,” he said, trying to laugh, “but Maraquito is in love with me. I stayed away from her house because she became too attentive. I never told you this, as no man has a 権利 to 明らかにする/漏らす a woman’s 証拠不十分. But, as 事柄s are so serious, it is 権利 you should know.”

“I am glad I do know. By the way, Cuthbert, what between 行方不明になる Saxon, Susan 認める and Maraquito, you will have a hard time.”

“How absurd!” said Mallow 怒って. “Juliet is the only woman I love and Juliet I ーするつもりである to marry.”

“Maraquito will 妨げる your marriage.”

“If she can,” scoffed Cuthbert.

Jennings looked 墓/厳粛/彫る/重大な. “I am not so sure but what she can make mischief. There’s Mrs. Herne who may or may not be the mother of this Spanish demon —”

“Perhaps the demon herself,” 投機・賭けるd Mallow.

“No!” said the 探偵,刑事 前向きに/確かに. “Maraquito can’t move from her couch. You know that. However, I shall call on Mrs. Herne at Hampstead. She was a 証言,証人/目撃する, you know? Keep 静かな, Mallow, and let me make 調査s. 合間, ask 行方不明になる Saxon when she 行方不明になるd that photograph.”

“Can you see your way now?”

“I have a slight 手がかり(を与える). But it will be a long time before I learn the truth. There is a lot at the 支援する of that 殺人, Mallow.”

一時期/支部 XI
On the 跡をつける

Professor Le Beau kept a school of dancing in Pimlico, and incessantly trained pupils for the 行う/開催する/段階. Many of them had appeared with more or いっそう少なく success in the ballets at the Empire and Alhambra, and he was 広範囲にわたって known amongst 行う/開催する/段階-struck 候補者s as 非難する moderately and teaching in a most painstaking manner. He thus made an income which, if not large, was at least 安全な・保証する, and was 補助装置d in the school by his niece, Peggy Garthorne. She was the 経営者/支配人 of his house and looked after the money, さもなければ the little professor would never have been able to lay aside for the 未来. But when the brother of the late Madame Le Beau — an Englishwoman — died, his sister took 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 of the 孤児. Now that Madame herself was dead, Peggy looked after the professor out of 感謝 and love. She was fond of the excitable little Frenchman, and knew how to manage him to a nicety.

It was to the Dancing 学院 that Jennings turned his steps a few days after the interview with Susan. He had been a constant 訪問者 there for eighteen months and was 深く,強烈に in love with Peggy. On a Bank Holiday he had been fortunate enough to 救助(する) her from a noisy (人が)群がる, half-drunk and indulging in horse-play, and had 護衛するd her home to receive the profuse thanks of the Professor. The 探偵,刑事 was attracted by the quaint little man, and he called again to 問い合わせ for Peggy. A friendship thus 就任するd ripened into a deeper feeling, and within nine months Jennings 提案するd for the 手渡す of the humble girl. She 同意d and so did Le Beau, although he was rather rueful at the thought of losing his 主要な支え. But Peggy 約束d him that she would still look after him until he retired, and with this 約束 Le Beau was content. He was now の近くに on seventy, and could not hope to teach much longer. But, thanks to Peggy’s clever 長,率いる and saving habits, he had — as the French say —“plenty of bread baked” to eat during days of dearth.

The 学院 was 据えるd 負かす/撃墜する a 狭くする street far 除去するd from the main thoroughfares. 静かな houses belonging to poor people stood on either 味方する of this 小道/航路 — for that it was — and at the end appeared the 学院, 封鎖するing the 出口 from that 4半期/4分の1. It stood 権利 in the middle of the street and turned the 小道/航路 into a blind alley, but a 狭くする 権利-of-way passed along the 味方する and 一連の会議、交渉/完成する to the 支援する where the street began again under a new 指名する. The position of the place was quaint, and often it had been ーするつもりであるd to 除去する the obstruction, but the owner, an eccentric person of 広大な/多数の/重要な wealth, had hitherto 辞退するd to 許す it to be pulled 負かす/撃墜する. But the owner was now old, and it was 推定する/予想するd his 相続人s would take away the building and 許す the 小道/航路 to run 自由に through to the other street. Still it would last Professor Le Beau’s time, for his heart would have broken had he been compelled to move. He had taught here for the last thirty years, and had become part and 小包 of the 近隣.

Jennings, 静かに dressed in blue serge with brown boots and a bowler hat, turned 負かす/撃墜する the 小道/航路 and 前進するd に向かって the 二塁打 door of the 学院, which was surmounted by an allegorical group of plaster 人物/姿/数字s designed by Le Beau himself, and 代表するing Orpheus teaching trees and animals to dance. The allusion was not complimentary to his pupils, for if Le Beau 人物/姿/数字d as Orpheus, what were the animals? However, the hot-tempered little man 辞退するd to change his allegory and the group remained. Jennings passed under it and into the building with a smile which the sight of those 人物/姿/数字s always evoked. Within, the building on the ground 床に打ち倒す was divided into two rooms — a large hall for the dancing lessons and a small apartment used indifferently as a 歓迎会-room and an office. Above, on the first story, were the sitting-room, the dining-room and the kitchen; and on the third, under a high conical roof, the two bedrooms of the Professor and Peggy, with an extra one for any stranger who might remain. Where Margot, the French cook and maid-of-all-work, slept, was a mystery. So it will be seen that the accommodation of the house was 極端に 限られた/立憲的な. However, Le Beau, looked after by Peggy and Margot, who was 充てるd to him, was 極端に 井戸/弁護士席 pleased, and 極端に happy in his light airy French way.

In the office was Peggy, making up some accounts. She was a pretty, small maiden of twenty-five, neatly dressed in a clean print gown, and looking like a dewy daisy. Her 注目する,もくろむs were blue, her hair the color of 熟した corn, and her cheeks were of a delicate rose. There was something pastoral about Peggy, smacking of meadow lands and milking time. She should have been a shepherdess looking after her flock rather than a girl toiling in a dingy office. How such a 田舎の flower ever sprung up amongst London houses was a mystery Jennings could not make out. And によれば her own tale, Peggy had never lived in the country. What with the noise of fiddling which (機の)カム from the large hall, and the fact of 存在 吸収するd in her work, Peggy never heard the 入り口 of her lover. Jennings stole 静かに に向かって her, admiring the pretty picture she made with a ray of dusky sunlight making glory of her hair.

“Who is it?” he asked, putting his 手渡すs over her 注目する,もくろむs.

“Oh,” cried Peggy, dropping her pen and 除去するing his 手渡すs, “the only man who would dare to take such a liberty with me. Miles, my darling pig!” and she kissed him, laughing.

“I don’t like the last word, Peggy!”

“It’s Papa Le Beau’s favorite word with his pupils,” said Peggy, who always spoke of the dancing-master thus.

“With the 新規加入 of darling?”

“No, that is an 新規加入 of my own. But I can 除去する it if you like.”

“I don’t like,” said Miles, sitting 負かす/撃墜する and pulling her に向かって him, “come and talk to me, Pegtop.”

“I won’t be called Pegtop, and as to talking, I have far too much work to do. The lesson will soon be over, and some of the pupils have to take these accounts home. Then dejeuner will soon be ready, and you know how Margot hates having her 井戸/弁護士席-cooked dishes spoilt by waiting. But why are you here instead of at work?”

“Hush!” said Miles, laying a finger on her lips. “Papa will hear you.”

“Not he. Hear the noise his fiddle is making, and he is scolding the poor little wretches like a game-cock.”

“Does a game-cock scold?” asked Jennings 厳粛に. “I hope he is not in a bad temper, Peggy. I have come to ask him a few questions.”

“About your own 商売/仕事?” asked she in a lower トン.

Jennings nodded. Peggy knew his 占領/職業, but as yet he had not been able to tell Le Beau.

The Frenchman 心にいだくd all the 伝統的な 憎悪 of his race for the profession of “mouchard,” and would not be able to understand that a 探偵,刑事 was of a higher standing. Miles was therefore supposed to be a gentleman of 独立した・無所属 fortune, and both he and Peggy decided to 知らせる Le Beau of the truth when he had retired from 商売/仕事. 一方/合間, Miles often talked over his 商売/仕事 with Peggy, and usually 設立する her (疑いを)晴らす way of looking at things of infinite 援助 to him in the いつかs difficult 事例/患者s which he dealt with. Peggy knew all about the 殺人 in Crooked 小道/航路, and how Miles was 取引,協定ing with the 事柄. But even she had not been able to 示唆する a 手がかり(を与える) to the 暗殺者, although she was in 十分な 所有/入手 of the facts. “It’s about this new 事例/患者 I wish to speak,” said Jennings. “By the way, Peggy, you know that woman Maraquito I have talked of?”

“Yes. The 賭事ing-house. What of her?”

“井戸/弁護士席, she seems to be 巻き込むd in the 事柄.”

“In what way?”

Jennings 関係のある the episode of the photograph, and the 出来事/事件 of the same perfume 存在 used by Mrs. Herne and Maraquito. Peggy nodded.

“I don’t see how the photograph connects her with the 事例/患者,” she said at length, “but the same perfume certainly is strange. All the same, the scent maybe 流行の/上流の. Hikui! Hikui! I never heard of it.”

“It is a Japanese perfume, and Maraquito got it from some foreign admirer. It is strange, as you say.”

“Have you seen Mrs. Herne?”

“I saw her at the 検死. She gave 証拠. But I had no conversation with her myself.”

“Why don’t you look her up? You について言及するd you had her 演説(する)/住所.”

“I 港/避難所’t it now,” said Jennings gloomily. “I called at the Hampstead house, and learned that Mrs. Herne had received such a shock from the death of her friend, 行方不明になる Loach, that she had gone abroad and would not return for an 不明確な/無期限の time. So I can do nothing in that 4半期/4分の1 just now. It is for this 推論する/理由 that I have come here to ask about Maraquito.”

“From Papa Le Beau,” said Peggy, wrinkling her pretty brows. “What can he know of this woman?”

“She was a ダンサー until she had an 事故. Le Beau may have had her through his 手渡すs.”

“Maraquito, Maraquito,” murmured Peggy, and shook her 長,率いる. “No, I do not remember her. How old is she?”

“About thirty, I think; a 罰金, handsome woman like a 熱帯の flower for coloring.”

“Spanish. The 指名する is Spanish.”

“I think that is all the Spanish about her. She 会談 English without the least accent. Hush! here is papa.”

It was indeed the little Professor, who 急ぐd into the room and threw himself, blowing and panting, on the dingy sofa. He was small and 乾燥した,日照りの, with 黒人/ボイコット 注目する,もくろむs and a wrinkled 直面する. He wore a blonde wig which did not match his yellow complexion, and was neatly dressed in 黒人/ボイコット, with an old-fashioned swallow-tail coat of blue. He carried a small fiddle and spoke volubly without regarding the presence of Miles.

“Oh, these cochons of English, my dear,” he exclaimed to Peggy, “so steef — so 支持を得ようと努めるd-steef in the 四肢s. Wis ’em I 肉親,親類 do noozzn’, no, not a leetle bit. Zey would make ze angils 断言する. Ah, mon Dieu, quel dommage I haf to teach zem.”

“I must see about these accounts,” said Peggy, 選ぶing up a sheaf of papers and running out. “Stay to dejeuner, Miles.”

“Eh, mon ami,” cried papa, rising. “My excuses, but ze pigs make me to be mooch enrage. Zey are ze steef dolls on the Strasburg clock. You are 隠す — ah, yis — やめる 隠す cheerup.”

The Professor had 選ぶd up a number of English slang words with which he interlarded his conversation. He meant to be 肉親,親類d, and indeed liked Miles 大いに. In proof of his 回復するd temper, he 申し込む/申し出d the young man a pinch of 消す. Jennings hated 消す, but to keep Papa Le Beau in a good temper he 受託するd the 申し込む/申し出 and sneezed violently.

“Professor,” he said, when somewhat better, “I have come to ask you about a lady. A friend of 地雷 has fallen in love with her, and he thought you might know of her.”

“Eh, wha-a-at, mon cher? I understands nozzin’. Ze lady, quel nom?”

“Maraquito Gredos.”

“Espagnole,” murmured Le Beau, shaking his wig. “非,不,無. I do not know ze 指名する. ダンサーs of Spain. Ah, yis — I haf had miny — zey are not steef like ze cochon Englees. 述べる ze looks, mon ami.”

Jennings did so, to the best of his ability, but the old man still appeared 決めかねて. “But she has been ill for three years,” 追加するd Jennings. “She fell and 傷つける her 支援する, and —”

“Eh — wha-a-at Celestine!” cried Le Beau excitedly. “She did 落ちる and 傷つける hersilf — eh, yis — mos’ dredfil. Conceive to yoursilf, my frien’, she slip on orange peels in ze streets and whacks comes she 負かす/撃墜する. Tree year 支援する — yis — tree year. Celestine Durand, mon fil.”

Jennings wondered. “But she says she is Spanish.”

Le Beau flipped a pinch of 消す in the 空気/公表する. “Ah, bah! She no Spain.”

“So she is French,” murmured Jennings to himself.

“Ah, 非,不,無; by no means,” cried the Frenchman 突然に. “She no French. She Englees — yis — I remembers. A ver’ 罰金 and big demoiselle. She wish to come out at de オペラ. But she too large — mooch too large. Englees — yis — La Juive.”

“A Jewess?” cried Jennings in his turn.

“I 断言する to you, mon ami. Englees Jewess, mais oui! For ten months she dance here, tree year gone. Zen zee orange peels and pouf! I see her no mores. But never dance — no — too large, une grande demoiselle.”

“Do you know where she (機の)カム from?”

“No. I know nozzin’ but what I tell you.”

“Did you like her?”

Le Beau shrugged his shoulders. “I am too old, mon ami. Les femmes like me not. I haf had mes 事件/事情/状勢s — ah, yis. Conceive —” and he 動揺させるd out an adventure of his 青年 which was more amusing than moral.

But Jennings paid very little attention to him. He was thinking that Maraquito—Celestine was a more mysterious woman than he had thought her. While Jennings was wondering what use he could make of the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) he had received, Le Beau suddenly 紅潮/摘発するd crimson. A new thought had occurred to him. “Do you know zis one — zis Celestine Durand? Tell her I vish money —”

“Did she not 支払う/賃金 you?”

Le Beau 掴むd Jennings’ arm and shook it violently. “Yis. Tree 続けざまに猛撃する; やめる raight; oh, certainly. But ze four piece of gold, a louis — 非,不,無 — ze Englees sufferin —”

“The English 君主. Yes.”

“It was bad money — ver bad.”

“Have you got it?” asked Jennings, feeling that he was on the brink of a 発見.

“非,不,無. I pitch him far off in 激怒(する)s. I know now, Celestine Durand. I admire her; oh, yis. 罰金 womans — a viecked 注目する,もくろむ. Mais une — no, not zat. Bad, I tell you. If your frien’ love, haf nozzin’ wis her. She gif ze bad money, one piece —” he held up a lean finger, and then, “Aha! ze bell for ze (米)棚上げする/(英)提議するs. Allons, marchons. We dine — we eat,” and he dashed out of the room as 速く as he had entered it.

But Jennings did not follow him. He scribbled a 公式文書,認める to Peggy, 明言する/公表するing that he had to go away on 商売/仕事, and left the 学院. He felt that it would be impossible to sit 負かす/撃墜する and talk of trivial things — as he would have to do in the presence of Le Beau — when he had made such a 発見. The 事例/患者 was beginning to take 形態/調整. “Can Maraquito have anything to do with the coiners?” he asked himself. “She is English — a Jewess — Saul is a ユダヤ人の 指名する. Can she be of that family? It seems to me that this 事例/患者 is a bigger one than I imagine. I wonder what I had better do?”

It was not 平易な to say. However, by the time Jennings reached his home — he had 議会s in Duke Street, St. James’— he decided to see Maraquito. For this 目的 he arrayed himself in 正確な evening dress. Senora Gredos thought he was a mere idler, a man-about-town. Had she known of his real profession she might not have welcomed him so 自由に to her house. Maraquito, for obvious 推論する/理由s, had no 願望(する) to come into touch with the 当局.

But it must not be thought that she 侵害する/違反するd the 法律 in any very 極悪の way. She was too clever for that. Her house was 行為/行うd in a most respectable manner. It was 据えるd in Golden Square, and was a 罰金 old mansion of the days when that locality was 流行の/上流の. Her servants were all neat and demure. Maraquito received a few friends every evening for a 静かな game of cards, so on the surface no one could 反対する to that. But when the doors were の近くにd, high play went on and 井戸/弁護士席-known people 投機・賭けるd large sums on the chances of baccarat. Also, people not やめる so respectable (機の)カム, and it was for that 推論する/理由 Scotland Yard left the house alone. When any member of the 探偵,刑事 staff wished to see anyone of a shady description, the person could be 設立する at Maraquito’s. Certainly, only the aristocracy of 罪,犯罪 (機の)カム here, and never a woman. Maraquito did not appear to love her own sex. She received only gentlemen, and as she was an 無効の and …に出席するd 絶えず by a duenna in the form of a nurse, no one could say anything. The police knew in an underhand way that the Soho house was a 賭事ing saloon, but the knowledge had not come 公式に, therefore no notice was taken. But Maraquito’s servants 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd nothing, neither did the gossips of the 近隣. Senora Gredos was 簡単に looked upon as an 無効の fond of entertaining because of her weariness in 存在 限定するd to her couch.

Jennings had 任命するd a 会合 with Mallow in this 半分-respectable 設立, and looked 一連の会議、交渉/完成する when he entered the room. It was a large apartment, decorated in the Adams style and furnished as a luxurious 製図/抽選-room. At the 味方する 近づく the window there was a long (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する covered with green baize. 一連の会議、交渉/完成する this several gentlemen in evening dress were standing. Others played games of their own at separate small (米)棚上げする/(英)提議するs, but most of them 充てるd themselves to baccarat. Maraquito held the bank. Her couch was drawn up against the 塀で囲む, and the red silk curtains of the window made a vivid background to her dark beauty.

She was, indeed, a handsome woman — so much of her as could be seen. Half-sitting, half-reclining on her couch, the lower part of her でっちあげる,人を罪に陥れる was 列d in eastern stuffs sparkling with gold threads. She wore a yellow silk dress trimmed about the shoulders with 黒人/ボイコット lace and glittering with 価値のある jewels. Her neck and 武器 were finely moulded and of a dazzling whiteness. Her small 長,率いる was proudly 始める,決める on her shoulders, and her magnificent 黒人/ボイコット hair 滑らかに coiled in lustrous tresses above her white forehead. Her lips were 十分な and rich, her 注目する,もくろむs large and 黒人/ボイコット, and her nose was thin and high. The most 示すd feature of her 直面する were the eyebrows, which almost met over her nose. She had delicate 手渡すs and beautiful 武器 which showed themselves to advantage as she manipulated the cards. From the gorgeous coverlet her 破産した/(警察が)手入れする rose like a splendid flower, and for an 無効の she had a surprising color. She was indeed, as Jennings had 発言/述べるd, like a 熱帯の flower. But there was something sensual and evil about her exuberance. But not a whisper had been heard against her 評判. Everyone, sorry for the misfortune which 非難するd this lovely woman to a sickbed, 扱う/治療するd her with 尊敬(する)・点. Maraquito, as some people said, may have been wicked, but no anchorite could have led, on the 直面する of it, a more 厳格な,質素な life. Her smile was alluring, and she looked like the Lurline 製図/抽選 men to 破壊. Fortunes had been lost in that 静かな room.

When Jennings entered, Maraquito was 開始 a fresh pack of cards, while the players counted their losses or winnings and fiddled with the red 半導体素子s used in the game. On seeing the newcomer, Senora Gredos gave him a gracious smile, and said something to the pale, thin woman in 黒人/ボイコット who stood at the 長,率いる of her couch. The nurse, or duenna — she served for both — crossed to Jennings as he 前進するd に向かって the buffet, on which stood glasses and decanters of ワイン.

“Madame wishes to know why you have not brought Mr. Mallow.”

“Tell madame that he will be here soon. I have to 会合,会う him in this place,” said the 探偵,刑事 to the duenna, and watched the 影響 of the message on Maraquito.

Her 直面する 紅潮/摘発するd, her 注目する,もくろむs brightened, but she did not look again in Jennings’ direction. On the contrary, she gave all her attention to the game which was now in 進歩, but Jennings guessed that her thoughts were with Mallow, and occasionally he caught her looking for his 外見 at the door. “How that woman loves him,” he thought, “I wonder I never noticed it before. やめる an infatuation.” For a time he watched the players 火刑/賭けるing large 量s, and saw the pile of gold at Maraquito’s 肘 刻々と 増加するing. She seemed to have all the luck. The bank was winning and its 対抗者s losing, but the play went on 刻々と for at least half an hour. At the end of that time a newcomer entered the room. Jennings, who had ちらりと見ることd at his watch, やめる 推定する/予想するd to see Cuthbert. But, to his surprise, he (機の)カム 直面する to 直面する with Lord Caranby.

“I did not 推定する/予想する to see you here,” said the 探偵,刑事.

“I come in place of my 甥. He is unwell,” said Caranby; “現在の me to Senora Gredos, if you please, Mr. Jennings.”

一時期/支部 XII
Jennings Asks Questions

“Will you play, Lord Caranby?” asked Maraquito, when the introduction had been 遂行するd.

“容赦 me, not at 現在の: in a little time,” said the old nobleman, with a polite 屈服する and his 注目する,もくろむs on the beautiful 直面する.

“As you like,” she answered carelessly; “everyone who comes here does just as he pleases. Is your 甥 coming?”

“I 恐れる not. He is unwell.”

Maraquito started. “Unwell. Nothing serious, I hope?”

“A slight 冷淡な.”

“Ah! Everyone has 冷淡なs just now. 井戸/弁護士席, Lord Caranby, I hope to have a conversation with you later when someone else takes the bank.”

Caranby 屈服するd and moved away slowly, leaning on his 茎. Jennings, who was beside him, threw a ちらりと見ること over his shoulder at Senora Gredos.

Maraquito’s 直面する was pale, and there was a 脅すd look in her 注目する,もくろむs. Catching Jennings’ inquisitive look she frowned and again 演説(する)/住所d herself to the game. Wondering why Lord Caranby should produce such an 影響, Jennings 再結合させるd him at the end of the room, where they sat on a sofa and smoked. “Have you been here before?” asked the 探偵,刑事.

“No,” answered the other, lighting his cigar, “and it is improbable that I shall come again. My 推論する/理由 for coming —” he broke off —“I can tell you that later. It is 十分な to say that it has to do with your 行為/行う of this 事例/患者.”

“Hush!” whispered Jennings quickly, “my profession is not known here.”

“I 恐れる it will be if these two have tongues in their 長,率いるs.”

The 探偵,刑事 ちらりと見ることd に向かって the door and saw Hale enter with Clancy at his heels. Jennings had not seen them since the 検死 on the 団体/死体 of 行方不明になる Loach, when they had given their 証拠 with 広大な/多数の/重要な grief and frankness. He was annoyed at 会合 them here, for although he had seen them in Maraquito’s salon before, yet at that time they had not known his profession. But since the 検死 the knowledge was ありふれた 所有物/資産/財産, and doubtless they would tell Senora Gredos if they had not done so already. Jennings’ chances of learning what he wished would therefore be slight, as everyone is not willing to speak 自由に before an officer of the 法律.

“It can’t be helped,” said Jennings with a shrug; “and, in any 事例/患者, Maraquito is too anxious to stand 井戸/弁護士席 with the police to make any trouble about my coming here.”

Caranby did not reply, but looked 刻々と at the two men who were walking slowly up the room. Hale was slender, tall, and dark in color, with a nose like the beak of an eagle. He was perfectly dressed and had even an elegant 外見. His age might have been forty, but in the 人工的な light he looked even younger. Clancy, on the other 手渡す, wore his 着せる/賦与するs with the 空気/公表する of a man unaccustomed to evening dress. He was light in color, with weak blue 注目する,もくろむs and a foolish 表現 about his slack mouth. Jennings wondered why a man like Hale should connect himself with such a creature. The men nodded to Senora Gredos, who took little notice of them, and then 修理d to the buffet. 借りがあるing to the position of the 探偵,刑事 and Caranby, the new arrivals did not see them. Nor for the 現在の was the 探偵,刑事 anxious to attract their notice. Indeed, he would have stolen away unperceived, but that he wished to question Hale as to the どの辺に of Mrs. Herne.

“It is a long time since I have seen you,” said Caranby, 除去するing his 注目する,もくろむs from the newcomers, and 演説(する)/住所ing the 探偵,刑事; “you were not an — er — an 公式の/役人 when we last met.”

“It is three years ago,” said Jennings; “no. I had money then, but circumstances over which I had no 支配(する)/統制する soon 減ずるd me to the necessity of 収入 my living. As all professions were (人が)群がるd, I thought I would turn my talents of 観察 and deduction to this 商売/仕事.”

“Do you find it lucrative?”

Jennings smiled and shrugged his shoulders again. “I do very 井戸/弁護士席,” he said, “but I have not yet made a fortune.”

“Ah! And Cuthbert told me you wished to marry.”

“I do. But when my fortune will 許す me to marry, I don’t know.”

Caranby, without raising his 発言する/表明する or looking at his companion, 供給(する)d the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状). “I can tell you that,” said he, “when you learn who killed 行方不明になる Loach.”

“How is that?”

“On the day you lay your 手渡す on the 暗殺者 of that poor woman I shall give you five thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs.”

Jennings’ breath was taken away. “A large sum,” he murmured.

“She was very dear to me at one time,” said Caranby with emotion. “I would have married her but for the machinations of her sister.”

“Mrs. Octagon?”

“Yes! She 手配中の,お尋ね者 to become my wife. The story is a long one.”

“Cuthbert told it to me.”

“やめる 権利,” said Caranby, nodding, “I asked him to. It seems to me that in my romance may be 設立する the 動機 for the death of Selina Loach.”

The 探偵,刑事 thought over the story. “I don’t やめる see —”

“Nor do I. All the same —” Caranby waved his 手渡す and 突然の changed the 支配する. “Do you know why I (機の)カム here to-night?”

“No. I did not know you ever (機の)カム to such places.”

“Nor do I. My life is a 静かな one now. I (機の)カム to see this woman you call Maraquito.”

“What do you call her?” asked Jennings alertly.

“Ah, that I can’t tell you. But she is no Spaniard.”

“Is she a Jewess by any chance?”

Caranby turned to look 直接/まっすぐに at his companion. “You せねばならない be able to tell that from her 直面する,” he said, “can you not see the 調印(する) of Jacob impressed there — that strange look which stamps a Hebrew?”

“No,” 自白するd Jennings, “that is, I can see it now, but I (機の)カム here for many a long day before I did guess she was a Jewess. And then it was only because I learned the truth.”

“How did you learn it?”

The 探偵,刑事 関係のある 詳細(に述べる)s of his visit to Monsieur Le Beau and the 発見 that Maraquito Gredos was one and the same as Celestine Durand. Caranby listened attentively. “Yes, that is all 権利,” he said, “but her 指名する is Bathsheba Saul.”

“What?” said Jennings, so loud that several people turned to look.

“Hush!” said Caranby, 沈むing his 発言する/表明する, “you attract notice. Yes, I made Cuthbert 述べる the 外見 of this woman. His description ばく然と 示唆するd Emilia Saul. I (機の)カム here to-night to 満足させる myself, and I have no 疑問 but what she is the niece of Emilia — the daughter of Emilia’s brother.”

“Who was connected with the coining ギャング(団)?”

“Ah, you heard of that, did you? 正確に/まさに. Her father is dead, I believe, but there sits his daughter. You see in her the image of Emilia as I loved her twenty years ago.”

“Loved her?” echoed Jennings, 意味ありげに.

“You are 権利,” 答える/応じるd Caranby with a keen look. “I see Cuthbert has told you all. I never did love Emilia. But she hypnotized me in some way. She was one of those women who could make a man do what pleased her. And this Bathsheba — Maraquito — Celestine, can do the same. It is a pity she is an 無効の, but on the whole, as she looks rather wicked, mankind is to be congratulated. Were she able to move about like an ordinary woman, she would 始める,決める the world on 解雇する/砲火/射撃 after the fashion of Cleopatra. You need not について言及する this.”

“I know how to 持つ/拘留する my tongue,” said Jennings, rather 感情を害する/違反するd by the imputation that he was a chatterer, “can I come and see you to talk over this 事柄?”

“By all means. I am at the Avon Hotel.”

“Oh, and by the way, will you 許す me to go over that house of yours at Rexton?”

“If you like. Are you a ghost-hunter also?”

“I am a 探偵,刑事!” whispered Jennings 静かに, and with such a look that Caranby became suddenly attentive.

“Ah! You think you may discover something in that house likely to lead to the 発見 of the 暗殺者.”

“Yes I do. I can’t explain my 推論する/理由s now. The explanation would take too long. However, I see Senora Gredos is beckoning to you. I will speak to Hale and Clancy. Would you mind telling me what she says to you?”

“A difficult question to answer,” said Caranby, rising, “as a gentleman, I am not in the habit of repeating conversations, 特に with women. Besides, she can have no 関係 with this 事例/患者.”

“On the 直面する of it — no,” replied Jennings doubtfully, “but there is a link —”

“Ah, you mean that she is Emilia’s niece.”

“Not 正確に/まさに that,” answered Jennings, thinking of the photograph. “I will tell you what I mean when we next 会合,会う.”

At this moment, in 返答 to the imperative beckoning of Maraquito’s fan, Caranby was compelled to go to her. The couch had been wheeled away from the green (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する, and a gentleman had taken 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 of the bank. Maraquito with her couch 退却/保養地d to a 静かな corner of the room, and had a small (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する placed beside her. Here were served シャンペン酒 and cakes, while Lord Caranby, after 屈服するing in his old-fashioned way, took a seat 近づく the beautiful woman. She gazed smilingly at Lord Caranby, yet there was a nervous look in her 注目する,もくろむs.

“I have heard of you from Mr. Mallow,” she said 紅潮/摘発するing.

“My 甥. He comes here at times. Indeed,” said Caranby gallantly, “it was his 報告(する)/憶測 of your beauty that brought me here to-night.”

Maraquito sighed. “The 難破させる of a beauty,” said she 激しく, “three years ago indeed — but I met with an 事故.”

“So I heard. A piece of orange peel.”

The woman started. “Who told you that?”

“I heard it 間接に from a professor of dancing. You were a ダンサー, I believe?”

“Scarcely that,” said Senora Gredos, nervously playing with her fan; “I was learning. It was Le Beau who told you?”

“間接に,” 答える/応じるd Caranby.

“I should like to know,” said Maraquito deliberately, “who has taken the trouble to tell you this. My life — the life of a 粉々にするd 無効の — can scarcely 利益/興味 anyone.”

“I really forget to whom I am indebted for the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状),” said Lord Caranby mendaciously, “and a lady of your beauty must always 利益/興味 men while they have 注目する,もくろむs to see. I have seen ladies like you in Andalusia, but no one so lovely. Let me see, was it in Andalusia or Jerusalem?” mused Lord Caranby.

“I am a Spanish Jewess,” said Maraquito, quickly and uneasily, “I have only been in London five years.”

“And met with an 事故 a year or two after you arrived,” murmured Caranby; “how very sad.”

Maraquito did not know what to make of the ironical old gentleman. It seemed to her that he was 敵意を持った, but she could take no offence at what he said. Moreover, as he was Mallow’s uncle, she did not wish to quarrel with him. With a graceful gesture she 示すd a glass of シャンペン酒. “Will you not drink to our better 知識?”

“Certainly,” said Caranby without emotion, and sipped a few 減少(する)s of the golden-colored ワイン. “I hope to see much of you.”

“I 報いる the hope,” said Maraquito radiantly, “and I’ll tell you a secret. I have been 協議するing specialists, and I find that in a few months I shall be able to walk 同様に as ever I did.”

“Excellent news,” said Caranby, “I hope you will.”

“And, moreover,” 追加するd Maraquito, looking at him from behind her fan; “I shall then give up this place. I have plenty of money, and —”

“You will go 支援する to Spain?”

“That depends. Should I leave my heart in England —”

“How I envy the man you leave it with.”

Maraquito looked 負かす/撃墜する moodily. “He doesn’t care for my heart.”

“What a 石/投石する he must be. Now I— upon my word I feel inclined to marry and 削減(する) my 甥 out of the 肩書を与える.”

“Your 甥,” stammered Maraquito, with a flash of her big 注目する,もくろむs.

“You know him 井戸/弁護士席, he tells me,” chatted Caranby garrulously, “a handsome fellow is Cuthbert. I am sure the lady he is engaged to thinks as much, and very rightly too.”

“行方不明になる Saxon!” cried Maraquito, breaking her fan and looking furious.

“Ah!” said Caranby coolly, “you know her?”

“I know of her,” said Maraquito 激しく. “Her brother Basil comes here いつかs, and said his sister was engaged to — but they will never marry — never!” she said 熱心に.

“How can you tell that?”

“Because the mother 反対するs to the match.”

“Ah! And who told you so? Mr. Basil Saxon?”

“Yes. He does not 認可する of it either.”

“I 恐れる that will make little difference. Mallow is 始める,決める on the marriage. He loves 行方不明になる Saxon with all his heart.”

Maraquito uttered a low cry of 激怒(する), but managed to 支配(する)/統制する herself with an 成果/努力. “Do you?” she asked.

Caranby shrugged his thin shoulders. “I am 中立の. So long as Cuthbert marries the woman he loves, I do not mind.”

“And what about the woman who loves him?”

“行方不明になる Saxon? Oh, I am sure —”

“I don’t mean 行方不明になる Saxon, and he will never marry her — never. You know that Mr. Mallow is poor. 行方不明になる Saxon has no money —”

“容赦 me. I hear her aunt, 行方不明になる Loach, who was unfortunately 殺人d at Rexton, has left her six thousand a year.”

Senora Gredos turned やめる pale and clenched her 手渡すs, but she managed to 支配(する)/統制する herself again with a powerful 成果/努力 and masked the 激怒(する) she felt under a bland, 誤った smile.

“Oh, that makes a difference,” she said calmly. “I hope they will be happy — if they marry,” she 追加するd 意味ありげに.

“Oh, that is やめる settled,” said Caranby.

“There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip,” said Maraquito viciously. “Yonder is Mr. Saxon. Tell him to come to me.”

Caranby 屈服するd and crossed the room to where Basil was talking with a frowning 直面する to Hale. “Don’t bother me,” he was 説, “it will be all 権利 now that the will has been read.”

“For your own sake I hope it will be all 権利,” replied Hale, and Caranby caught the words as he (機の)カム up. After giving his message, he sauntered 一連の会議、交渉/完成する, watching the play, and seemingly listened to no one. But all the time he kept his ears open to hear what Hale and Clancy were talking about.

The two men were in a corner of the room, and Clancy was expostulating 怒って with Hale. They held their peace when Caranby drifted 近づく them, he saw that they were on their guard. Looking 一連の会議、交渉/完成する, he 遠くに見つけるd Jennings playing at a 味方する (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する, and crossed to him.

“許す me to take your place,” said Caranby, and 追加するd in a low トン, “watch Hale and Clancy!”

Jennings 掴むd the idea at once and 降伏するd the 議長,司会を務める to the old nobleman. Then he lighted a cigarette and by degrees strolled across the room to where the two were again talking vigorously. “I tell you if Basil is 圧力(をかける)d too hard he will —” Clancy was 説, but shut his mouth as he saw Jennings at his 肘. The 探偵,刑事 (機の)カム 今後 with a smile, inwardly 悩ますd that he had not been able to hear more. As he 前進するd he saw Clancy touch Hale on the arm.

“How are you?” said Jennings, taking the 率先, “we met at that 検死, I believe.”

“Yes,” said Hale, polite and smiling, “I remember, Mr. Jennings! I had seen you here before, but I never knew your calling.”

“I don’t tell it to everyone,” said Jennings, “How do you do, Mr. Clancy? I hope you are 井戸/弁護士席. An amusing place this.”

“I need amusement,” said Clancy, again assuming his silly smile, “since the death of my dear friend. By the way, have you 設立する out who killed her, Mr. Jennings?”

“No. I 恐れる the 暗殺者 will never be discovered.” Here the two men 交流d a ちらりと見ること. “I am engaged on other 事例/患者s. There was only one point I wished to learn in 関係 with 行方不明になる Loach’s death.”

“What is that?” asked Hale calmly.

“Was Mrs. Herne in 行方不明になる Loach’s bedroom on that night?”

“I forget,” said Clancy before Hale could speak.

“That’s a pity,” 再開するd Jennings. “You see from the fact of the bell having been sounded, it struck me that the 暗殺者 may have been 隠すd in the bedroom. Now if Mrs. Herne was in that room, she might have noticed something.”

“I don’t think she did,” said Hale あわてて. “Mrs. Herne and I left 早期に, 借りがあるing to Clancy here having 感情を害する/違反するd her. Besides, Mrs. Herne told all she knew at the 検死.”

“All save that point.”

“The question was not asked,” said Clancy.

“No. I should like to ask Mrs. Herne now, but it seems she has gone away from Hampstead.”

“I don’t care if she has,” 不平(をいう)d Clancy, “I hated Mrs. Herne. She was always quarrelling. Did you call to see her?”

“Yes, but I could not learn where she was. Now, as you are her lawyer, Mr. Hale, you may know.”

“She is at Brighton,” replied Hale readily, “at the 主要都市の Hotel, but she returns to Hampstead in a week.”

Jennings was 内密に astonished at his question 存在 thus answered, as he was inclined to 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う the men. However, he took a 公式文書,認める of the 演説(する)/住所, and said he would …に出席する to the 事柄. “But, to tell you the truth, it is useless,” he said. “The 暗殺者 will never be discovered. Moreover, there is no reward, and I should only work for no 給料. You stay at Rose Cottage now, I believe, Mr. Clancy?”

“I do. Mrs. Pill has taken the place. Who told you?”

“I heard from Susan 認める. She was 証言,証人/目撃する, if you remember. And has Mrs. Pill married Barnes yet?”

“I can’t say,” said Clancy, looking 熱心に at the 探偵,刑事. “I am not yet a boarder. I move in after a fortnight. I 推定する/予想する the marriage will take place before then. Susan 認める told you that also?”

“She did. But I don’t 推定する/予想する I’ll see her again. 井戸/弁護士席, gentlemen, I must go away. I hope you will be lucky.”

Jennings moved away and saw from the eager manner in which the two men began to converse that he was the 支配する of the conversation. He looked 一連の会議、交渉/完成する for Caranby, but could not see him. When he was out of the house, however, and on the pavement lighting a cigarette, he felt a touch on his arm and 設立する Caranby waiting for him. The old gentleman pointed with his 茎 to a brougham! “Get in,” he said, “I have been waiting to see you. There is much to talk about.”

“Maraquito?” asked Jennings 熱望して.

“She has something to do with the 事柄. Love for Cuthbert has made her 伴う/関わる herself. How far or in what way I do not know. And what of Clancy and Hale?”

“Oh, I have put them off the scent. They think I have given up the 事例/患者. But they and Maraquito are connected with the 事柄 somehow. I can’t for the life of me see in what way though.”

“There is another woman connected with the 事柄 — Mrs. Octagon.”

“What do you mean?” asked Jennings quickly.

“I saw her enter Maraquito’s house a few moments before you (機の)カム 負かす/撃墜する.”

一時期/支部 XIII
Juliet at Bay

Caranby’s reply took away Jennings’ breath. The 事例/患者 was one of surprises, but he was not やめる 用意が出来ている for such an 告示. He was in the brougham and 運動ing に向かって the Avon Hotel with the old nobleman before he 設立する his tongue.

“What can Mrs. Octagon have to do with Maraquito?” he asked amazed.

“Ah! that is the question,” replied Caranby, affording no 手がかり(を与える).

“I did not even know she was 熟知させるd with her.”

“Perhaps she 賭事s.”

“Even if she did, Maraquito’s salon would hardly be the place she would choose for her amusement. Moreover, Maraquito does not receive ladies. She has no love for her own sex.”

“What woman has?” murmured Caranby, ironically. Then he 追加するd after a pause, “You know that Mrs. Octagon was 現在の when Emilia fell from the plank in the Rexton house?”

“Yes. She gave 証拠 at the 検死 I understand. But Selina did not, if Cuthbert 知らせるd me rightly.”

“Selina was ill in bed. She could not come. Afterwards she went abroad. I have often wondered,” 追加するd Caranby, “why Selina didn’t 捜し出す me out when death broke my 約束/交戦 to Emilia. She loved me, and her father 存在 dead, there would have been no 妨げる/法廷,弁護士業 to our marriage. As it was, she threw over her American and 献身的な herself to a hermit’s life at Rexton.”

“You never saw her again?”

“Never. I started to travel, and (機の)カム to London only at rare intervals. I did 令状 to Selina, asking her to see me, but she always 辞退するd, so I became philosophic and took to celibacy also.”

“Very strange,” murmured Jennings, his thoughts どこかよそで, “but this does not explain Mrs. Octagon’s visit to the house.”

“I am not so sure of that, if you mean Maraquito’s house. Mrs. Octagon may know, as I do, that Maraquito is the niece of Emilia.”

“Are you sure of that?” asked the 探偵,刑事 熱望して.

“As sure as I am that she is no Spaniard, nor even a Spanish Jewess, as she (人命などを)奪う,主張するs to be. She doesn’t even know the language. Her 指名する, to fit a woman, should 終結させる in a feminine manner. She should be called Maraquita, not Maraquito. That little grammatical error doubtless escaped her notice. But as I was 説, Maraquito — we will still call her so — may have sent for Mrs. Octagon.”

“Mrs. Octagon, so far as I have seen, is not the woman to obey such a call,” said Jennings grimly.

“Maraquito may have compelled her to come.”

“For what 推論する/理由?”

“井戸/弁護士席, you see, Emilia was said by Isabella Loach — Mrs. Octagon that is — to have fallen from the plank. But Mrs. Octagon may have 押し進めるd her off.”

“May have 殺人d her in fact.”

“やめる so. Isabella loved me, and was, and is, a very violent woman. It may be that she 押し進めるd Emilia off the plank, and Maraquito, through her dead father, may have learned the truth. This would give her a 持つ/拘留する over Mrs. Octagon.”

“But Selina may have killed Emilia. That would explain her hermit life, inexplicable in any other way.”

“No,” said Caranby in a shaking 発言する/表明する, “I am sure the woman I loved would never have behaved in that way. Isabella killed Emilia — if it was a 殺人 — and then 脅すd to 公然と非難する Selina unless she gave up the idea of marrying me. And that,” 追加するd Caranby, as though struck with a new idea, “may be the 原因(となる) why Selina never answered my letter, and always 辞退するd to see or marry me. She may have been — no, I am sure she was — under the thumb of Isabella. Now that Selina is dead, Isabella is under the thumb of Maraquito.”

“This is all theory,” said Jennings impatiently.

“We can only theorize in our 現在の 明言する/公表する of 不確定,” was the reply of the nobleman. “But my explanation is a reasonable one.”

“I do not 否定する that. But why should Maraquito send for Mrs. Octagon?”

“Why?” echoed Caranby in surprise, “ーするために stop the marriage with Cuthbert. Maraquito loves Cuthbert and hates Juliet. I daresay this is the 解答 of Mrs. Octagon’s strange 行為 since the death. It is Maraquito who is stopping the marriage by 脅すing to 公然と非難する Mrs. Octagon for the 殺人 of her aunt. Juliet knows this, and hence her reticence.”

“It might be so,” murmured Jennings, more and more perplexed. “But 行方不明になる Saxon won’t be reticent with me. I’ll see her tomorrow.”

“What means will you use to make her speak?”

“I’ll tell her that Cuthbert may be 逮捕(する)d for the 罪,犯罪. You know he was about the place on the night of the 殺人.”

“Yes. He went 負かす/撃墜する to look after a possible ghost. But I hope you will not bring Cuthbert into the 事柄 unless it is 絶対 necessary. I don’t want a スキャンダル.”

“残り/休憩(する) 平易な, Lord Caranby. I have the 完全にする 支配(する)/統制する of this 事件/事情/状勢, and I’ll only use Cuthbert’s presence at Rexton to make 行方不明になる Saxon speak out. But then, she may not be keeping silence for Cuthbert’s sake, as she can’t かもしれない know he was at Rexton on that night. My own opinion is that she is 保護物,者ing her brother.”

“Do you 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う him?” asked Caranby quickly.

“He may not be 有罪の of the 罪,犯罪, but he knows something about it, I am sure.” Here Jennings 関係のある how Clancy had said Basil would speak out if 圧力(をかける)d too hard. “Now Basil, for some 推論する/理由, is in difficulties with Hale, who is a scoundrel. But Basil knows something which Hale and Clancy wish to be kept silent. Hale has been using 脅しs to Basil, and the young man has turned restive. Clancy, who is by no means such a fool as he looks, 警告するd Hale to-night. Therefore I take it, that Basil has some (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) about the 殺人. 行方不明になる Saxon knows he has, and she is 保護物,者ing him.”

“But Clancy, Hale and Mrs. Herne were all out of the house when the woman was stabbed,” said Caranby, “they cannot have anything to do with it.”

“やめる so, on the 直面する of it. But that bell —” Jennings broke off. “I don’t think those three are so innocent as appears. However, Mrs. Herne is coming 支援する to her Hampstead house next week; I’ll see her and put questions.”

“Which she will not answer,” said Caranby drily. “Besides, you should have put them at the 検死.”

“The 事例/患者 had not developed so far. I had not so much (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) as I have now,” argued Jennings.

“Did you 診察する Mrs. Herne at the 検死?”

“No; she gave her 証拠.” Jennings hesitated. “She also wore a 隠す when she spoke, and 辞退するd to raise it on account of weak 注目する,もくろむs. By the way, do you notice that Maraquito uses a strong scent?”

“Yes. Clancy and Hale also use it.”

“Ha!” said Jennings, surprised. “I never knew that. Decidedly, I am growing stupid. 井戸/弁護士席, Mrs. Herne uses that scent also. It is a rare scent.” Then Jennings told what Susan 認める had said. “Now I think there is some significance in this scent which is connected with the 協会 of Clancy, Hale, Maraquito and Mrs. Herne.”

“But Mrs. Herne doesn’t know Maraquito.”

“I am not so sure of that. Susan 認める thinks she may be Maraquito’s mother, she is so like her in an 年輩の way. Did you know this Mrs. Saul?”

“No. I knew the brother who (機の)カム to speak to me after the death of his sister, and who afterwards was put in 刑務所,拘置所 for coining. His wife I never met. I never even heard of her. But Maraquito takes after her father in looks and he was like Emilia.”

“It is a difficult 事柄 to unravel,” said Jennings. “I think Mrs. Herne 辞退するd to raise her 隠す at the 検死 so that the likeness between her and Maraquito might not be 観察するd. I was there, and if Mrs. Herne is what I say, she would have been put on her guard by Maraquito. Though to be sure,” 追加するd Jennings in a 悩ますd トン, “Maraquito did not know then, and perhaps does not know now, that I am a 探偵,刑事.”

“Clancy and Hale will enlighten her,” said Caranby, as the 乗り物 stopped, “will you not come in?”

“Not to-night. I will do myself the 栄誉(を受ける) of calling on you later, when I have more to say. At 現在の I am going to sort out what 証拠 I have. To-morrow I’ll call on 行方不明になる Saxon.”

“Call on Mrs. Octagon,” were Caranby’s parting words, “believe me, she knows the truth, but I’ll tell you one thing. Maraquito did not kill 行方不明になる Loach, for the death of Selina has given Juliet enough money to marry Cuthbert, 独立した・無所属 of Mrs. Octagon’s wishes, and Maraquito would never have brought that about.”

“Yet all the same 行方不明になる Saxon will not marry.”

Caranby made a gesture to show that the 事柄 was beyond his comprehension, and 上がるd the steps of the hotel. Jennings, 深い in thought, walked away, wondering how he was to disentangle the skein which 運命/宿命 had placed in his 手渡す to unravel.

That night the 探偵,刑事 調査するd the 状況/情勢. So far as he could see, he seemed no その上の 前進するd than he had been at the 検死. Certainly he had 蓄積するd a 集まり of 証拠, but it threw no light on the 事例/患者. From Caranby’s romance, it seemed that the dead woman had been connected with the Saul family. That seemed to link her with Maraquito, who appeared to be the 単独の 生き残るing member. In her turn, Maraquito was connected in some underhand way with Mrs. Octagon, seeing that the 年上の woman (機の)カム by stealth to the Soho house. Mrs. Octagon was connected with the late Emilia Saul by a 罪,犯罪, if what Caranby surmised was 訂正する, and her daughter was forbidden to marry Mallow, who was the 甥 of the man who had been the lover both of 行方不明になる Loach and Emilia Saul. Hale and Clancy were playing some game with Basil Saxon, who was the son of Mrs. Octagon, and he was associated with Maraquito. Thus it would seem that all these people were connected in さまざまな ways with the dead woman. But the questions were: Had one of them struck the 致命的な blow, and if so, who had been daring enough to do so?

“Again,” murmured Jennings, “who touched that bell? Not the 暗殺者, who would scarcely have been fool enough to call anyone to 診察する his work before he had time to escape. Certainly it may have been a woman! Yes! I believe a man killed 行方不明になる Loach, for some 推論する/理由 I have yet to learn, and a woman, out of jealousy, wishing to get him into the 支配する of the 法律, touched the bell so that 証言,証人/目撃するs might appear before the 暗殺者 could escape. But who struck the blow?”

This was a difficult question. It could not have been Basil Saxon, for he was at the Marlow Theatre on that night with his sister. Cuthbert had no 動機, and Jennings やめる believed his explanation as to his 探検 of the park between the hours of ten and eleven. Hale, Clancy and Mrs. Herne were all out of the house before the blow had been struck, and, moreover, there was no 推論する/理由 why they should 殺人 a 害のない old lady. Maraquito 限定するd to her couch could not かもしれない have anything to do with the 罪,犯罪. Mrs. Octagon did hate her sister, but she certainly would not 危険 殺人,大当り her. In fact, Jennings 診察するing into the 動機s and movements of those について言及するd, could find no 手がかり(を与える) to the 権利 person. He began to believe that the 罪,犯罪 had been committed by someone who had not yet appeared — someone whose 動機 might be 設立する in the past of the dead woman. Say a member of the Saul family.

But Maraquito was the 単独の 生き残るing member, and on the 直面する of it was innocent. As yet Jennings did not know whether Mrs. Herne was her mother, in spite of the resemblance which Susan (人命などを)奪う,主張するd to have seen. Also, Caranby said that Maraquito 似ているd her father, and the features of the Saul family were so 堅固に 示すd that it was impossible the 年上の Saul could have married a woman 似ているing him. “Though, to be sure, he might have married a 親族,” said Jennings, and went to bed more perplexed than ever.

Next day, before calling at the “神社 of the Muses,” he went to Scotland Yard, and there made 調査s about the 噂する of 誤った coins 存在 in 循環/発行部数. These appeared to be 非常に/多数の and were admirably made. Also from フラン and Russia and Italy (機の)カム 報告(する)/憶測s that 誤った money was 存在 scattered about. The 長,指導者 of the 探偵,刑事 staff 所有するd these coins of all sorts, and Jennings was 軍隊d to own that they were admirable imitations. He went away, wondering if this 罪,犯罪 could be connected in any way with the 循環/発行部数 of 誤った money. “Maraquito is a member of the Saul family, who appear to have been 専門家 coiners,” said Jennings, on his way to Kensington, “and, によれば Le Beau, she gave him a 誤った 君主. I wonder if she keeps up the 商売/仕事, and if Clancy and Hale, together with Mrs. Herne, this supposititious mother, have to do with the 事柄. That unfinished house would make an admirable factory, and the presence of the ghosts would be accounted for if a ギャング(団) of coiners was discovered there. But there is a fifteen-feet 塀で囲む 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the house, and the park is a 正規の/正選手 ジャングル. Cuthbert 診察するd the place by day and night and could see nothing 怪しげな. I wonder if 行方不明になる Loach, living 近づく the place, learned that a ギャング(団) was there. If so, it is やめる 考えられる that she might have been 殺人d by one of them. But how the ジュース did anyone enter the house? The door certainly opened at half-past ten o’clock, either to let someone in or someone out. But the bell did not sound for half an hour later. Can there be any 出口 to that house, and is it connected with the unfinished mansion of Lord Caranby, used as a factory?”

This was all theory, but Jennings could deduce no other explanation from the 証拠 he had collected. He 決定するd to search the unfinished house, since Caranby had given him 許可, and also to make an 査察 of Rose Cottage, though how he was to enter on a plausible excuse he did not know. But 運命/宿命 gave him a chance which he was far from 推定する/予想するing. On arriving at the “神社 of the Muses” he was 知らせるd that 行方不明になる Saxon had gone to Rexton. This was natural enough, since she owned the cottage, but Jennings was inclined to 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う Juliet from her 拒絶 to marry Cuthbert or to explain her 推論する/理由, and saw something 怪しげな in all she did. He therefore took the 地下組織の 鉄道 at once to Rexton, and, alighting at the 駅/配置する, went to Crooked 小道/航路 through the by-path, which ran through the small 支持を得ようと努めるd of pines. On looking at the cottage he saw that the windows were open, that carpets were spread on the lawn, and that the door was ajar. It seemed that Mrs. Pill was indulging in the spring きれいにする alluded to by Susan 認める.

At the door Jennings met Mrs. Pill herself, with her 武器 明らかにする and a large coarse apron 保護するing her dress. She was dusty and untidy and cross. Nor did her temper grow better when she saw the 探偵,刑事, whom she 認めるd as having been 現在の at the 検死.

“Whyever ‘ave you come ’ere, sir?” asked she. “I’m sure there ain’t no more 死体s for you to discover.”

“I wish to see 行方不明になる Saxon. I was told she was here.”

“井戸/弁護士席, she is,” 認める Mrs. Pill, placing her red 武器 akimbo, “not as I feel bound to tell it, me not 存在 in the 証言,証人/目撃する-box. She ‘ave come to see me about my rent. An’ you, sir?”

“I wish to speak to 行方不明になる Saxon,” said Jennings 根気よく.

Mrs. Pill rubbed her nose and 不平(をいう)d. “She’s up in the attics,” said she, “lookin’ at some dresses left by pore 行方不明になる Loach, and there ain’t a room in the ’ouse fit to let you sit 負かす/撃墜する in, by 推論する/理由 of no 議長,司会を務めるs 存在 about. ‘Ave you come to tell me who killed mistress?”

“No! I don’t think the 暗殺者 will ever be discovered.”

“Ah, 井戸/弁護士席. We’re all grass,” wailed Mrs. Pill; “but if you wish to see 行方不明になる Saxon, see her you will. Come this way to the lower room, an’ I’ll go up to the attics.”

“Let me go, too, and it will save 行方不明になる Saxon coming 負かす/撃墜する,” said Jennings, wishing to take Juliet unawares.

“Ah, now you speaks sense. 脚s is 脚s when stairs are about, whatever you may say,” said Mrs. Pill, 主要な the way, “an’ you’ll excuse me, Mr. Policeman, if I don’t stop, me ‘avin’ a lot of work to do, as Susan’s gone and Geraldine with ‘er, not to speak of my ‘usbin’ that is to be, he havin’ gone to see Mrs. Herne, drat her!”

“Why has he gone to see Mrs. Herne?” asked Jennings quickly.

“Arsk me another,” said the cook querulously, “he’s a secret one is Thomas Barnes, whatever you may say. He comes and he goes and makes money by ‘is doin’s, whatever they may be. For not a word do I ‘ear of ‘is いたずらs. I’ve a good mind to remain Pill to the end of my days, seein’ as he keeps secrets.”

Jennings said no more, but 内密に wondered why Thomas had gone to visit Mrs. Herne. He 決定するd to call on that lady at once and see if he could learn what message Thomas had taken her and from whom. But he had not much time for thought as Mrs. Pill opened a door to the 権利 of a 狭くする passage and 押し進めるd him in. “An’ now I’ll go 支援する to my dustin’,” said the cook, hurrying away.

Jennings 設立する himself 直面する to 直面する with Juliet. She was standing on a 議長,司会を務める with her 手渡す up on the cornice. As soon as she saw him she (機の)カム 負かす/撃墜する with rather a white 直面する. The room was filled with trunks and large 取引,協定 boxes, and some were open, 明らかにする/漏らすing 着せる/賦与するs. Dust lay 厚い on others 明らかに locked, and untouched for many years. The light filtered into the dusty attic through a dirty window, and the 床に打ち倒す was strewn with straw and other rubbish. 行方不明になる Saxon did not know the 探偵,刑事 and her 直面する 再開するd its normal color and 表現.

“Who are you and what do you want?” she asked, casting a nervous look at the cornice.

Jennings 除去するd his hat. “I beg your 容赦,” he said politely. “Mrs. Pill showed me up here when I asked to see you.”

“She had no 権利,” said Juliet, looking at her dress, which was rather dusty, “come downstairs and tell me who you are.”

She appeared anxious to get him out of the room, and walked before him out of the door. As she passed through Jennings contrived to shut it as though her dress had caught the lower part. Then he lightly turned the 重要な. He could hear Juliet fumbling at the lock. “What is the 事柄?” she called through.

“The lock has got 妨害するd in some way,” said Jennings, 動揺させるing the 重要な, “one moment, I’ll look at it carefully.”

As he said this he made one bound to the 議長,司会を務める upon which she had been standing and reached his 手渡す to the cornice at which she had looked. Passing his 手渡す 速く along it (機の)カム into 接触する with an 反対する long and sharp. He drew it 負かす/撃墜する. It was a brand-new knife of the sort called bowie. Jennings started on seeing this 反対する, but having no time to think (for he did not wish to rouse her 疑惑s), he slipped the knife in his vest and ran again to the door. After a lot of ostentatious fumbling he managed to turn the 重要な again and open the door. Juliet was 紅潮/摘発するd and looked at him 怒って. But she cast no second look at the cornice, which showed Jennings that she did not 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う his ruse.

“Your dress caught the door and shut it,” he explained, “the lock seems to be out of order.”

“I never knew it was,” said Juliet, 診察するing it; “it always locked 平易な enough before.”

“Hum,” thought Jennings, “so you have been here before and you have kept the door locked on account of the knife probably,” but he looked smilingly at the girl all the time.

“I am sorry,” he said, when she desisted from her examination.

“It’s my fault,” said Juliet unsuspiciously, and の近くにd the door. She led the way along the passage and 負かす/撃墜する the stairs. “Who are you?” she asked, turning 一連の会議、交渉/完成する half way 負かす/撃墜する.

“I am a friend of Mallow’s,” said the 探偵,刑事.

“I have never met you?”

“Yet I have been to your house, 行方不明になる Saxon. Perhaps my 指名する, Miles Jennings, may —”

The girl started with a cry. “You are a 探偵,刑事!” she gasped.

一時期/支部 XIV
Mrs. Octagon Explains

The young girl leaned against the 塀で囲む, white, and with の近くにd 注目する,もくろむs. Alarmed by her 外見, Jennings would have 補助装置d her, but she waved him off and staggered 負かす/撃墜する the stairs. By a powerful 成果/努力 she managed to subdue her feelings, and when in the hall turned to him with a sickly smile. “I am glad to see you,” she said. “Mr. Mallow has often spoken to you of me. You are his friend, I know.”

“His best friend, in spite of the difference in our position.”

“Oh,” Juliet waved that 反対 aside, “I know you are a gentleman and took up this work 単に as a hobby.”

“I 恐れる not,” smiled Jennings. “To make money.”

“Not in a very pleasant way. However, as you are Mr. Mallow’s friend, I am glad you have this 事例/患者 in 手渡す,” she 直す/買収する,八百長をするd her 注目する,もくろむs on the 探偵,刑事. “Have you discovered anything?” she asked anxiously.

“Nothing much,” replied Jennings, who 速く decided to say nothing about his 発見 of the knife. “I 恐れる the truth will never be 設立する out, 行方不明になる Saxon. I suppose you have no idea?”

“I,” she said, coloring, “what put such a thing into your 長,率いる? I am 絶対 ignorant of the truth. Did you come to ask me about —”

“That amongst other things,” interrupted Jennings, seeing Mrs. Pill’s bulky 人物/姿/数字 at the door. “Can we not talk in some quieter place?”

“Come downstairs,” said Juliet, moving, “but the rooms are unfurnished as Mrs. Pill is きれいにする them. The house is 静かな enough.”

“So I see,” said the 探偵,刑事, に引き続いて his companion 負かす/撃墜する to the 地階, “only yourself and Mrs. Pill.”

“And my mother,” she answered. “We (機の)カム here to see about some 商売/仕事 connected with the letting of the cottage. My mother is lying 負かす/撃墜する in the old part of the house. Do you wish to see her?”

“No. I wish to see you.”

By this time they had entered the sitting-room in which the 罪,犯罪 had been committed. The carpets were up, the furniture had been 除去するd, the 塀で囲むs were 明らかにする. Jennings could have had no better 適切な時期 of 捜し出すing for any secret 入り口, the 存在 of which he 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd by 推論する/理由 of the untimely sounding of the bell. But everything seemed to be in order. The 床に打ち倒す was of oak, and there was — strangely enough — no hearth-石/投石する. The French windows opened into the 温室, now denuded of its flowers, and stepping into this Jennings 設立する that the glass roof was 完全に の近くにd, save for a space for ventilation. The 暗殺者 could not have entered or escaped in that way, and there was no 出口 from the room save by the door.

“Would you like to see the bedroom?” asked Juliet sarcastically. “I see you are 診察するing the place, though I should have thought you would have done so before.”

“I did at the time,” replied Jennings calmly, “but the place was then 十分な of furniture and the carpets were 負かす/撃墜する. Let me see the bedroom by all means.”

Juliet led the way into the next room, which was also 明らかにする. There was one window 密封して 調印(する)d and with アイロンをかける shutters. This looked out on to a 肉親,親類d of 井戸/弁護士席, and light was 反映するd from above by means of a sheet of silvered tin. No one could have got out by the window, and even then, it would have been difficult to have climbed up the 井戸/弁護士席 which led to the surface of the ground. The 床に打ち倒す and 塀で囲むs had no 示すs of 入り口s, and Jennings returned to the sitting-room 完全に baffled. Then Juliet spoke again. “I cannot help wondering what you 推定する/予想する to find,” she 観察するd.

“I thought there might be a secret 入り口,” said Jennings, looking at her 熱心に, “but there seems to be 非,不,無.”

行方不明になる Saxon appeared genuinely astonished and looked 一連の会議、交渉/完成する. “I never heard of such a thing,” she said, puzzled. “And what would a 静かな old lady like my aunt need with a secret 入り口?”

“井戸/弁護士席, you see, the 暗殺者 could not have sounded that bell and have escaped by the 前線 door. Had he done so, he would have met Susan 認める answering the call. Therefore, he must have escaped in some other way. The windows of both rooms are out of the question.”

“Yes. But I understood that the 暗殺者 escaped at half-past ten.”

“(許可,名誉などを)与えるing to the 証拠 it looks like that. But who then sounded the bell?”

Juliet shook her 長,率いる. “I can’t say,” she said with a sigh. “The whole 事例/患者 is a mystery to me.”

“You don’t know who killed 行方不明になる Loach? Please do not look so indignant, 行方不明になる Saxon. I am only doing my 義務.”

The girl 軍隊d a smile. “I really do not know, nor can I think what 動機 the 暗殺者 can have had. He must have had some 推論する/理由, you know, Mr. Jennings.”

“You say ‘he.’ Was the 暗殺者 then a man?”

“I suppose so. At the 検死 the doctor said that no woman could have struck such a blow. But I am really ignorant of all, save what appeared in the papers. I am the worst person in the world to 適用する to for (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状), sir.”

“Perhaps you are, so far as the 罪,犯罪 is 関心d. But there is one question I should like to ask you. An impertinent one.”

“What is it?” 需要・要求するd the girl, visibly nervous.

“Why do you 辞退する to marry Mallow?”

“That is very impertinent,” said Juliet, controlling herself; “so much so that I 辞退する to reply.”

“As a gentleman, I take that answer,” said Jennings mildly, “but as a 探偵,刑事 I ask again for your 推論する/理由.”

“I fail to see what my 私的な 事件/事情/状勢s have to do with the 法律.”

Jennings smiled at this answer and thought of the knife which he had 設立する. A いっそう少なく 用心深い man would have produced it at once and have 主張するd on an explanation. But Jennings wished to learn to whom the knife belonged before he 投機・賭けるd. He was sure that it was not the 所有物/資産/財産 of Juliet, who had no need for such a dangerous article, and he was 平等に sure that as she was 保護物,者ing someone, she would 認める that she had bought the 武器. He was treading on egg-爆撃するs, and it behooved him to be 用心深い. “Very good,” he said at length, “we will pass that question for the 現在の, though as Mallow’s friend I am sorry. Will you tell me to whom you gave the photograph of Mallow which he 現在のd to you?”

“How do you know about that?” asked 行方不明になる Saxon quickly. “And why do you ask?”

“Because I have seen the photograph.”

“That is impossible,” she answered coldly; “unless you were in this house before the death of my aunt.”

“Ah! then it was to 行方不明になる Loach you gave it,” said Jennings, wondering how Maraquito had become 所有するd of it.

“It was; though I do not 認める your 権利 to ask such a question, Mr. Jennings. My late aunt was very 充てるd to Mr. Mallow and anxious that our marriage should take place. He gave me the photograph —”

“With an inscription,” put in the 探偵,刑事.

“Certainly,” she 再結合させるd, 紅潮/摘発するing, “with an inscription ーするつもりであるd for me alone. I was unwilling to part with the photograph, but my aunt begged so 熱望して for it that I could not 辞退する it.”

“How did she see it in the first instance?”

“I brought it to show her after Mr. Mallow gave it to me. May I ask where you saw it?”

Jennings looked at her with 示すd significance. “I saw it in the house of a woman called Maraquito.”

“And how did it get there?”

“I can’t tell you. Do you know this woman?”

“I don’t even know her 指名する. Who is she?”

“Her real 指名する is Senora Gredos and she (人命などを)奪う,主張するs to be a Spanish Jewess. She keeps a 肉親,親類d of 賭事ing salon. To be plain with you, 行方不明になる Saxon, I really did not see the photograph in her house. But a girl called Susan 認める —”

“I know. My late aunt’s parlor-maid.”

“井戸/弁護士席, the photograph was in her box. I 設立する it when the servants 主張するd on their boxes 存在 searched. She 自白するd that she had taken it from her last mistress, who was Senora Gredos. As you gave it to 行方不明になる Loach, I should be glad to know how it (機の)カム into the 所有/入手 of this woman.”

“I really can’t tell you, no more than I can say why Susan took it. What was her 推論する/理由?”

“Mr. Mallow is a handsome man —” began Jennings, when she stopped him with a gesture.

“Do you mean to say — no, I’ll never believe it.”

“I was not going to say anything against Mallow’s character. But this foolish girl 心にいだくd a foolish infatuation for Mallow. She saw him at Senora Gredos’ house —”

“Ah!” said Juliet, turning pale. “I remember now. Basil について言及するd that Cuthbert 賭事d, but he did not say where.”

“Mallow 賭事d a little at Maraquito’s, as did your brother. The only difference is that Mallow could afford to lose and your brother could not. Are you sure you never heard the 指名する of Maraquito?”

“やめる sure,” said Juliet, 会合 his gaze so calmly that he saw she was speaking the truth. “井戸/弁護士席, I understand how you got the photograph, but how did this woman get it? I never heard my aunt について言及する her, either as Maraquito or as Senora Gredos.”

“Was your aunt open with you?”

“Perfectly open. She had nothing in her life to 隠す.”

“I am not so sure of that,” murmured the 探偵,刑事. “井戸/弁護士席, I cannot say how Maraquito became 所有するd of this photograph.”

Juliet shrugged her shoulders. “In that 事例/患者 we may 解任する the 事柄,” she said, wiping her 乾燥した,日照りの lips; “and I can’t see what the photograph has to do with this 罪,犯罪.”

“I can’t see it myself, but one never knows.”

“Do you 告発する/非難する Mr. Mallow?”

“Supposing I did. I know Mr. Mallow was 近づく this place on the night of the 殺人 and about the hour.”

Juliet leaned against the 塀で囲む and turned away her 直面する. “It is not true. What should bring him there?”

“He had 商売/仕事 connected with the unfinished house at the 支援する owned by Lord Caranby. But I don’t suppose anyone saw him.”

“How do you know he was here then?” asked Juliet, gray and agitated.

“He 自白するd to me that he had been here. But we can talk of that later —”

Juliet interposed. “One moment,” she cried, “do you 告発する/非難する him?”

“As yet I 告発する/非難する no one. I must get more facts together. By the way, 行方不明になる Saxon, will you tell the where you were on that night?”

“Certainly,” she replied in a muffled 発言する/表明する, “at the Marlow Theatre with my brother Basil.”

“やめる so. But I don’t think the play was to your liking.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“井戸/弁護士席,” said Jennings slowly, and watching the changing color of her 直面する, “in your house you do not 好意 melodrama. I wonder you went to see this one at the Marlow Theatre.”

“The writer is a friend of ours,” said Juliet defiantly.

“In that 事例/患者, you might have paid him the compliment of remaining till the 落ちる of the curtain.”

Juliet trembled violently and clung to the 塀で囲む. “Go on,” she said faintly.

“You had a box, as I learned from the 商売/仕事 経営者/支配人. But すぐに after eight your brother left the theatre: you 出発/死d after nine.”

“I went to see an old friend in the 近隣,” stammered Juliet.

“Ah, and was that 近隣 this one, by any chance? In a hansom — which I believe you drove away in-one can reach this place from the Marlow Theatre in a 4半期/4分の1 of an hour.”

“I— I— did not come here.”

“Then where did you go?”

“I 拒絶する/低下する to say.”

“Where did your brother go?”

“He did not tell me. Did the 経営者/支配人 知らせる you of anything else?”

“He 単に told me that you and your brother left the theatre as I 明言する/公表するd. You 拒絶する/低下する to 明らかにする/漏らす your movements.”

“I do,” said Juliet, clenching her 手渡すs and looking pale but 反抗的な. “My 私的な 商売/仕事 can have nothing to do with you. As you 捜し出す to connect me with this 事例/患者, it is your 商売/仕事 to 証明する what you say. I 辞退する to speak.”

“Will your brother 辞退する?”

“You had better ask him,” said 行方不明になる Saxon carelessly, but with an 成果/努力 to appear light-hearted. “I don’t 問い合わせ into my brother’s doings, Mr. Jennings.”

“Yet you heard about his 賭事ing.”

“I don’t see what that has to do with the 事柄 in 手渡す. Do you 告発する/非難する me and Basil of having killed my aunt?”

“I 告発する/非難する no one, as yet,” said Jennings, chagrined at her reticence, “I said that before. Did you not speak with your aunt on that night?”

“No,” said Juliet 前向きに/確かに. “I certainly did not.”

Jennings changed his 策略, and became 明らかに friendly. “井戸/弁護士席, 行方不明になる Saxon, I won’t bother you any more. I am sure you have told me all you know.” Juliet winced. “Have you any idea if the 武器 with which the 罪,犯罪 was committed has been discovered?”

“That is a strange question for a 探偵,刑事 to ask.”

“A very necessary one. 井戸/弁護士席?”

“I know nothing about it,” she said in an almost inaudible 発言する/表明する.

“Do you know Mrs. Herne?”

“I have met her once or twice here.”

“Did you like her?”

“I can hardly say. I did not take much notice of her. She appeared to be agreeable, but she was over-dressed and used a perfume which I disliked.”

“Had you ever met anyone using such a perfume before?”

“No. It was strong and 激しい. やめる a new scent to me. The odor gave me a 頭痛!”

“Was Mrs. Herne a 広大な/多数の/重要な friend of your aunt’s?”

“I believe so. She (機の)カム here with Mr. Hale and Mr. Clancy to play.”

“Hale,” said Jennings, “I forgot Hale. Does he still 保持する your 商売/仕事, 行方不明になる Saxon?”

“No. I have given over the 管理/経営 of my 所有物/資産/財産 to our own lawyer. Mr. Hale was やめる willing.”

“Does your brother Basil still make a friend of Mr. Hale?”

“I don’t know,” said Juliet, changing color again. “I do not ask about Basil’s doings. I said that before. Hark,” she 追加するd, anxious to put an end to the conversation, “my mother is coming.”

“I should like to see Mrs. Octagon,” said Jennings.

“She will be here in a few minutes. I shall tell her,” and Juliet, without a look, left the room, evidently glad to get away.

Jennings frowned and took out the knife at which he looked. “She knows a good 取引,協定 about this 事件/事情/状勢,” he murmured. “Who is she 保護物,者ing? I 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う her brother. さもなければ she would not have hidden the knife. I wonder to whom it belongs. Here are three notches 削減(する) in the 扱う — there is a stain on the blade — 血, I suppose.”

He got no その上の in his soliloquy, for Mrs. Octagon swept into the room in her most impressive manner. She was 静める and 冷静な/正味の, and her 直面する wore a smile as she 前進するd to the 探偵,刑事. “My dear Mr. Jennings,” she said, shaking him 温かく by the 手渡す, “I am so glad to see you, though I really せねばならない be angry, seeing you (機の)カム to my house so often and never told me what you did.”

“You mightn’t have welcomed me had you known,” said he dryly.

“I am above such vulgar prejudices,” said Mrs. Octagon, waving her 手渡す airily, “and I am sure your profession is an arduous one. When Juliet told me that you were looking into this 悲劇の death of my poor sister I was delighted. So consoling to have to do with a gentleman in an unpleasant 事柄 like this. Why have you come?”

This last question was put はっきりと, and Mrs. Octagon fastened her big 黒人/ボイコット 注目する,もくろむs on the 静める 直面する of the 探偵,刑事. “Just to have a look at the house,” he said readily, for he was 確かな Juliet would not 報告(する)/憶測 their conversation to her mother.

Mrs. Octagon shrugged her shoulders. “A very nice little house, though rather commonplace in its decoration; but my poor sister never did have much taste. Have you discovered anything likely to lead to the 発見 of her 暗殺者?”

“I am ashamed to say I am やめる in the dark,” replied Jennings. “I don’t suppose the truth will ever be discovered.”

The woman appeared relieved, but tried to assume a sad 表現. “Oh, how very dreadful,” she said, “she will 嘘(をつく) in her untimely 墓/厳粛/彫る/重大な, unavenged. 式のs! 式のs!”

But Jennings was not mystified by her 悲劇の 空気/公表するs.

He was 確かな she knew something and 恐れるd lest it should come to his knowledge. Therefore he 解決するd to startle her by a blunt question. “I never knew you were 熟知させるd with Maraquito!”

Mrs. Octagon was not at all taken aback. “I don’t know such creatures as a 支配する,” she said calmly. “What makes you think I do?”

“I saw you enter her house one night.”

“Last night,” said Mrs. Octagon coolly. “Yes. Maraquito, or Senora Gredos, or whatever she calls herself, told me you had just gone. I saw her in a little room off the salon where the play went on.”

The 探偵,刑事 was surprised by this ready admission, and at once became 怪しげな. It would seem that Mrs. Octagon, 推定する/予想するing such a question, was uncommonly ready to answer it. “May I ask why you went to see this woman?” he 需要・要求するd.

An innocent woman would have resented this question, but Mrs. Octagon ostentatiously 掴むd the 適切な時期 to (疑いを)晴らす herself, and その為に 増加するd Jennings’ 疑惑s. “Certainly,” she said in an open manner and with a rather theatrical 空気/公表する, “I went to beg my son’s life from this fair サイレン/魅惑的な.”

“What on earth do you mean?”

“Basil,” said Mrs. Octagon, in her 深い, rich 発言する/表明する, “is too fond of this fair stranger — Spanish, is she not?”

“She says she is,” said the 用心深い Jennings.

Mrs. Octagon 発射 a ちらりと見ること of 疑惑 at him, but at once 再開するd her engaging manner. “The foolish boy loves her,” she went on, clasping her 手渡すs and becoming poetical, “his heart is 逮捕(する)d by her starry 注目する,もくろむs and he would 結婚する her for her loveliness. But I can’t have that sort of thing,” she 追加するd, becoming prosaic, “so I went and told her I would 公然と非難する her 賭事ing salon to the police if she did not 降伏する my son. She has done so, and I am happy. Ah, Mr. Jennings, had you a mother’s heart,” she laid her 手渡す on her own, “you would know to what lengths it will lead a woman!”

“I am glad your son is 安全な,” said Jennings, with 明らかな 真心, though he wondered how much of this was true. “Maraquito is not a good wife for him. Besides, she is a 手足を不自由にする/(物事を)損なう.”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Octagon tragically, “she is a 手足を不自由にする/(物事を)損なう.”

Something in the トン of her 発言する/表明する made Jennings look up and created a new 疑惑 in his heart. However, he said no more, having learned as much as was possible from this tricky woman. “I must go now,” he said, “I have 診察するd the house.”

Mrs. Octagon led the way upstairs. “And have you any 手がかり(を与える)?”

“非,不,無! 非,不,無! I wish you could 補助装置 me.”

“I?” she exclaimed indignantly, “no, my sister and I were not friends, and I will have nothing to do with the 事柄. Good-day,” and Mrs. Octagon sailed away, after 勧めるing the 探偵,刑事 out of the door.

Jennings 出発/死d, wondering at this change of 前線. As he passed through the gate a fair, stupid-looking man entered. He nodded to Jennings, touching his hat, and at the same time a strong perfume saluted the 探偵,刑事’s nostrils. “Thomas Barnes uses Hikui also,” murmured Jennings, walking away. “Humph! Is he a member of the ギャング(団)?”

一時期/支部 XV
A Dangerous Admission

Jennings had once 証言,証人/目撃するd a 演劇 by Victorien Sardou, する権利を与えるd — in the English 見解/翻訳/版 — 外交. Therein a woman was unmasked by means of a scent. It seemed to him that perfume also played a part in this 事例/患者. Why should Clancy, Mrs. Herne, Hale, Maraquito and Thomas use a special odor? “I wonder if they 会合,会う in the dark?” thought the 探偵,刑事, “and 認める each other by the scent. It seems very improbable, yet I can’t see why they use it さもなければ. That women should use perfumes, even the same perfume, is 権利 enough. They love that sort of thing, but why should men do so, 特に a man in the position of Thomas? I’ll follow up this 手がかり(を与える), if 手がかり(を与える) it is!”

The conversation with Juliet 納得させるd Jennings that she knew of something connected with the 事柄, but was 決定するd to 持つ/拘留する her tongue. The fact that this knife was in her 所有/入手 showed that she was aware of some fact likely to lead to the (犯罪,病気などの)発見 of the 暗殺者. She might have 設立する it when she (機の)カム after the death to Rose Cottage, but in that 事例/患者, had she nothing to 隠す, she would have shown it to the police. Instead of this, she hid it in the attic. Jennings congratulated himself on his dexterity in 安全な・保証するing this piece of 証拠. There was no 疑問 in his mind that this was the very knife with which 行方不明になる Loach had been stabbed.

“And by a man,” thought Jennings. “No woman would have such a 武器 in her 所有/入手; and if she bought one to 遂行する a 罪,犯罪, she would 購入(する) a stiletto or a ピストル. It would take a かなりの 演習 of muscle to 運動 this 激しい knife home.”

Jennings considered that the only person who could make Juliet speak was Cuthbert. It was true that she already had 拒絶する/低下するd to make a confidant of him, but now, when there was a chance of his 存在 逮捕(する)d — as Jennings had hinted — she might be inclined to 自白する all, 特に if it was Cuthbert she was 保護物,者ing. But the 探偵,刑事 fancied her brother might be the 犯人. On the night of the 殺人, both had left the Marlow Theatre, which was 近づく Rexton, and Juliet 拒絶する/低下するd to say where they went. It might be that both had been on the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す about the time of the (売買)手数料,委託(する)/委員会/権限 of the 罪,犯罪. Again, unless 行方不明になる Loach had 認める her 加害者, he must have had a latch-重要な to let himself in. From the fact that the poor woman had been 設立する with the cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周 in the same position in which Susan had left her, Jennings was inclined to think that the 暗殺者 had struck the blow at once, and then had left the house at the half hour. But how had he entered? There did not appear to be any secret 入り口, and no one could enter by the windows; nor by the door either without a latch-重要な. The その上の Jennings 診察するd into the 事柄, the more he was puzzled. Never had he undertaken so difficult a 事例/患者. But the very difficulty made him the more resolute to unravel the mystery.

For two or three days he went about, asking for (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) 関心ing the coining, and reading up 詳細(に述べる)s in old newspapers about the 偉業/利用するs of the Saul family. Also, he went occasionally to the salon of Senora Gredos. There he 絶えず met Hale and Clancy. Also Basil (機の)カム at times. That young man now 可決する・採択するd a somewhat insolent demeanor に向かって the pair, which showed that he was now out of their clutches and no longer had 原因(となる) to 恐れる them. Jennings felt sure that Basil could explain much, and he half 決定するd to get a 令状 out for his 逮捕(する) in the hope that 恐れる might make him 自白する. But, unfortunately, he had not 十分な (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) to procure such a thing, and was 強いるd to content himself with keeping a watch on young Saxon. But the man sent to 秘かに調査する 報告(する)/憶測d nothing 怪しげな about Basil’s doings.

In this perplexity of mind Jennings thought he would see Cuthbert and relate what he had discovered. Also he hoped that Mallow might interview Juliet and learn the truth from her. But an 調査 at Mallow’s rooms showed that he had gone out of town for a few days with his uncle, and would not be 支援する for another two. 未解決の this return, Jennings sorted his 証拠.

Then he was surprised to receive a letter from Mrs. Herne, 明言する/公表するing that she had returned to her place at Hampstead, and asking him to call. “I understand from Mr. Clancy,” wrote Mrs. Herne, “that you wish to see me in 関係 with the death of my poor friend. I shall (警官の)巡回区域,受持ち区域 home tomorrow at four.” Then followed the 署名, and Jennings put away the 公式文書,認める with a rather disappointed feeling. If he was 権利 in 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うing Mrs. Herne, she certainly felt little 恐れる, else she would have 拒絶する/低下するd to see him. After all, his supposition that the two women and the four men formed a ギャング(団) of coiners, who worked in the unfinished house, might turn out to be wrong. “But I’ll see Mrs. Herne and have a long talk with her,” said Jennings to himself. “And then I’ll show the knife to Cuthbert Mallow. Also I may 診察する the unfinished house. If coiners have been there, or are there, I’ll soon find out. Mallow 追跡(する)ing for ghosts, probably, made only a cursory examination. And I’ll take Drudge to Hampstead with me.”

Drudge was a 探偵,刑事 who adored Jennings and thought him the very greatest man in England. He was usually 雇うd in watching those whom his superior 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd, and Jennings could always rely on his orders 存在 honestly 遂行する/発効させるd. In this instance Drudge was to wait some distance from the house of Mrs. Herne until Jennings (機の)カム out again. Then on the conversation which had taken place would depend その上の orders. The man was silent and lean, with a pair of sad 注目する,もくろむs. He followed Jennings like a dog and never spoke unless he was 要求するd to answer a question.

Mrs. Herne did not 所有する a house of her own, which struck the 探偵,刑事 as strange, considering she appeared to be a 豊富な woman. She always wore 高くつく/犠牲の大きい dresses and much jewellery, yet she was content with two rooms, one to sit in and the other to sleep in. Certainly the sitting-room (which was all Jennings saw) was 井戸/弁護士席 furnished, and she 明らかに 完全に 高く評価する/(相場などが)上がるd the 高級なs of life. There was a 屈服する-window which 命令(する)d a 罰金 prospect of the ヒース/荒れ地, and here Mrs. Herne was seated. The blinds were half-way 負かす/撃墜する, so that the brilliant sunlight could not 侵入する into the somewhat dusky room. When the 探偵,刑事 entered Mrs. Herne excused the 半分-不明瞭. “But my 注目する,もくろむs are somewhat weak,” she said, 動議ing him to a seat. “However, if you wish for more light —” she laid her 手渡す on the blind-cord.

“Not on my account,” said Jennings, who did not wish to appear unduly 怪しげな. “I am やめる 満足させるd.”

“Very 井戸/弁護士席, then,” replied Mrs. Herne, 再開するing her seat and crossing her delicate 手渡すs on her (競技場の)トラック一周. “We can talk. I am at your orders.”

She was arrayed in a blue silk dress of a somewhat vivid hue, but 軟化するd with 黒人/ボイコット lace. She had a brooch of diamonds at her throat, a diamond necklace 一連の会議、交渉/完成する it, bracelets 始める,決める with the same gems and many 高くつく/犠牲の大きい (犯罪の)一味s. Such a 集まり of 宝石類 looked rather out of place in the daylight, but the twilight of the room made the glitter いっそう少なく pronounced. Jennings thought that Mrs. Herne must have ユダヤ人の 血 in her veins, seeing she was so fond of gems. Certainly she was very like Maraquito, even to having eyebrows almost 会合 over her thin high nose. But these, as was her hair, were gray, and her 肌 欠如(する)d the rich coloring of the younger woman. Jennings 速く took in the resemblance, and 開始するd the conversation, more 納得させるd than ever that there was some 社債 of 血 between Mrs. Herne and Senora Gredos. This belief helped him not a little.

“I daresay Mr. Clancy told you why I wished to see you?”

Mrs. Herne nodded in a stately way. “Yes. You wish to know if I was in the bedroom of my friend on that evening. 井戸/弁護士席, I was. I went in for a few minutes to take off my cloak and hat, and then I went in again to 再開する them.”

“Did you see anyone in the room?”

“No. Had there been anyone I should certainly have seen the person. But there is no place where anyone could hide.”

“Not even a cupboard?”

“There was a wardrobe, for 行方不明になる Loach disliked cupboards, as she thought 着せる/賦与するs did not get 十分に 空気/公表するd in them. A wardrobe, and of course anyone might have hid under the bed, but I did not look. And I don’t think,” 追加するd Mrs. Herne, 診察するing her (犯罪の)一味s, “that anyone was about. 行方不明になる Loach was always very 怪しげな, and searched the house 定期的に.”

“Did she, then, 心配する anyone hiding — a 夜盗,押し込み強盗, for instance?”

“Yes, I think she did. Her nature was warped from 確かな events which happened in her 早期に life, and she 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd everyone.”

“Was she on bad 条件 with anyone?”

“No. She never quarrelled. I am the quarrelsome person,” said the lady, smiling. “I quarrelled with Mr. Clancy, who is a rude man. But we have made it up since, as he has わびるd. It was Mr. Clancy who told me of your wish to see me. Do you want to ask anything else?”

“If you do not mind.”

“On the contrary, I am anxious to afford you all the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) in my 力/強力にする. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than to see the 殺害者 of my dear friend brought to 司法(官).”

She spoke with 広大な/多数の/重要な feeling, and there was an unmistakable (犯罪の)一味 of truth about her speech. Jennings began to think he must be wrong in 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うing her to have anything to do with the death. All the same, he was on his guard. It would not do to let Mrs. Herne, clever as she was, pull wool over his 注目する,もくろむs. “Have you any idea who killed 行方不明になる Loach?” he asked.

“No. She was やめる 井戸/弁護士席 on that evening, and did not 心配する death in any way — least of all in a violent form. Mr. Hale, Mr. Clancy and myself would have been with her till nearly midnight had I not quarrelled with Mr. Clancy. As it was, Mr. Hale 護衛するd me home about half-past nine, and I understand Mr. Clancy left about ten. When 行方不明になる Loach was not playing whist or 橋(渡しをする) she never cared about having anyone in her house. She was rather a misanthrope.”

“Did she 推定する/予想する anyone that evening?”

“No. At all events, she said nothing about 推定する/予想するing anyone.”

“Did she 推定する/予想する her 甥?”

“Mr. Basil Saxon?” said Mrs. Herne, looking surprised. “Not that I am aware of. She did not について言及する his 指名する. To be sure, they were on bad 条件, and she had forbidden him the house. No, I do not think she 推定する/予想するd him.”

“Do you know the 原因(となる) of the quarrel?”

“It had something to do with money. I believe 行方不明になる Loach helped Mr. Saxon, who was rather extravagant, but she grew 疲れた/うんざりした of his 需要・要求するs and 辞退するd to help him その上の. He lost his temper and said things which 軍隊d her to order him out of the house.”

“Did he utter any 脅しs?”

“行方不明になる Loach never said that he did. Mr. Jennings,” 発言/述べるd the old lady, bending her brows, “is it possible you 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う that young man?”

“No. I 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う no one at 現在の. But I am bound to make 調査s in every direction, and of course, if Mr. Saxon is of a 熱烈な temper, he might wish to avenge himself for 存在 forbidden the house.”

“He has a temper,” said Mrs. Herne, thoughtfully, “but I never saw it 展示(する)d, though I met him once at 行方不明になる Loach’s. She said he had a lot of bad 血 in him, but that may have been because she hated her sister, Isabella Octagon.”

“Did she hate her?”

“Yes. And I think she had 原因(となる). Mrs. Octagon behaved very 不正に in 関係 with some romantic episode of the past.”

“I fancy I know about that,” said Jennings quickly, then 追加するd, “You are fond of perfumes?”

“What a strange question,” laughed Mrs. Herne. “Yes, I am. Do you like this scent. It is called Hikui, and was given to me by a dear friend who received it from a Japanese 大(公)使館員.”

“From a friend or 親族?”

Mrs. Herne frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Jennings shrugged his shoulders. “Oh, nothing. Only you are very like a lady called Senora Gredos.”

“Maraquito,” said Mrs. Herne 突然に. “Of course I am. Her father was my brother.”

“You are then her aunt?”

“自然に. But the fact is, I do not 布告する the 関係, as I do not 認可する of Maraquito’s 賭事ing. Of course the poor thing is 限定するd to her couch and must have something to amuse her. All the same, 賭事ing on a large 規模 is against my 原則s. But, if asked, I do not disown the 関係. Now you understand why I am like Maraquito.”

“I understand,” hesitated Jennings, “you belong to a Spanish family?”

“Spanish Jews. I am a Jewess, so is Maraquito.”

“Do you speak Spanish?”

“Yes. Do you wish to speak it with me?”

“Unfortunately I do not know the language,” said Jennings, profoundly regretting the fact. “And your niece?”

“She does not speak it. She was brought up in England.”

“In that 事例/患者 she should ask you if her 指名する is masculine or feminine, Mrs. Herne?”

The old lady started. “I should like to know what you mean?”

“Senora Gredos’ Christian 指名する should be Maraquita, not Maraquito!”

“Really. I never gave the 事柄 a thought. I will tell her about it if you like. I said she did not speak Spanish! She has led a strange life. At one time she wished to dance and took the 指名する of Celestine Durand. She was taught by a professor of dancing called Le Beau, who lives in Pimlico, but while learning she slipped in the street and became the 難破させる you see her.”

Certainly Mrs. Herne was very frank, and spoke the truth, as all this bore out the 声明s of Le Beau and Lord Caranby. “Her maiden 指名する was Saul, I believe,” said Jennings, thinking Mrs. Herne would 否定する this 敏速に.

To his astonishment she did nothing of the sort. “My maiden 指名する is Saul,” she said 厳粛に. “But as Maraquito is the daughter of my unfortunate brother, her true 指名する is the same — not her maiden 指名する, you understand. I do not know how you learned this, but —”

“Lord Caranby paid a visit to Maraquito’s salon and 認めるd that she was a Saul from her likeness to Emilia, with whom —”

“With whom he was in love,” finished Mrs. Herne, crossing her 手渡すs; “that painful story is 井戸/弁護士席 known to me. Emilia was my sister.”

“Lord Caranby never told me she had one,” said Jennings.

“Lord Caranby does not know the history of our family.”

“Save what appeared in the papers,” put in the 探偵,刑事.

Mrs. Herne 紅潮/摘発するd through her sallow 肌. “It is not 井戸/弁護士席 bred of you to 言及する to the misfortunes of my family,” she said; “my mother and brother were unlucky. They were innocent of this 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 of coining, brought against them by an enemy.”

“The 証拠 was very plain, Mrs. Herne.”

“Ah!” she flashed out, “you have been looking up the 事例/患者. Why?”

“From what Lord Caranby said —”

“He has no 権利 to say anything,” cried Mrs. Herne, rising and speaking 熱心に; “he loved my sister, and she lost her life at that dreadful house. I was abroad at the time, and had only just married. My husband was a jeweller. We 削減(する) ourselves off from the family when the misfortune (機の)カム. Only of late years did I 認める Maraquito when she (機の)カム to me for 援助. Her father died and she had no money. I helped her to 支払う/賃金 for her dancing —”

“Oh,” said Jennings, 解任するing the 誤った money, “you paid.”

“Have you anything to say on that point?” she asked haughtily.

“No! No! I 単に congratulate you on your generosity.”

“I could not 許す my own niece to 餓死する. I helped her, and then she met with the 事故. After that —”

“You 補助装置d her to start this 賭事ing-house.”

“By no means. Mr. Hale 設立する the money for that. He is in love with Maraquito. But you can understand why I do not 布告する my 関係 with her. The past of our family is too painful. I became 熟知させるd with 行方不明になる Loach through Mrs. Octagon — she was then the wife of Mr. Saxon — when I went to 問い合わせ into my sister’s death. I liked 行方不明になる Loach and frequently went to see her. Now that she is dead I shall leave England. I have arranged to do so next week, and you will not see me here again. That is why I gave you this chance of making 調査s.”

“I am much 強いるd,” said Jennings やめる believing her story, since she told it so 真面目に: “but does Maraquito love Hale?”

“No. She loves Mr. Mallow, Lord Caranby’s 甥.”

“She has a 競争相手 in 行方不明になる Saxon,” said the 探偵,刑事.

Mrs. Herne turned red. “My niece 恐れるs no 競争相手,” she said haughtily. “行方不明になる Saxon shall never be the wife of Mr. Mallow.”

Jennings shrugged his shoulders. “I do not see how she can stop the 事件/事情/状勢.”

“Oh yes, she can. The mother is on her 味方する.”

“Ah! I thought there was some work of that 肉親,親類d.”

“Hear me!” cried Mrs. Herne, 課すing silence with a gesture. “Basil Saxon is in love with Maraquito and she can 新たな展開 the poor fool 一連の会議、交渉/完成する her finger. She agrees to send him away if Mrs. Octagon stops this most absurd marriage.”

“Which she has done.”

“And which she will continue to do,” said Mrs. Herne decisively; “the mother does not wish Basil to marry my niece, though she is やめる as good as they if not better.”

“井戸/弁護士席,” drawled Jennings, rising, “I now know why Mrs. Octagon has 行為/法令/行動するd in this way. There’s no more to be said.”

“Are there any その上の questions you wish to ask me? Remember I go abroad forever next week. You will never see me again.”

“I think I have asked you everything. By the why,” Jennings balanced his hat between two forefingers, “I suppose your niece’s (民事の)告訴 is incurable?”

“She thought so until lately. But she has 協議するd a specialist, who tells her she will walk again in a few months.”

“Then I suppose since she has made money through Hale’s 賭事ing-house she will marry him out of 感謝.”

“She will marry Mallow,” said Mrs. Herne, の近くにing her mouth 堅固に.

“Lord Caranby may 反対する.”

“His 反対s will be 打ち勝つ,” she replied, with a crafty smile.

“In what way? I am not curious, but —”

“I have my own opinion of that, Mr. Jennings.”

“井戸/弁護士席, I should like to know how the obstinate 反対s of a 会社/堅い old man like Caranby are to be 打ち勝つ.”

“Ah, now you wish to know too much,” said Mrs. Herne, laughing and moving に向かって the 中心 of the room. “I 辞退する to tell you that. But if you are friendly with 行方不明になる Saxon, tell her to give up Mr. Mallow. さもなければ —”

“さもなければ,” echoed Jennings, curious to know why she paused.

“She will lose what is dearest to her.”

“Humph! I wonder what that can be. Had you not better 脅す 行方不明になる Saxon 本人自身で, Mrs. Herne?”

“I have no need to, Maraquito will do that. With my niece as an enemy, 行方不明になる Saxon has no chance of 伸び(る)ing the prize she 願望(する)s.”

“But you reckon without the feelings of Mr. Mallow. He loves —”

“He does not — he does not!” cried Mrs. Herne, 圧力(をかける)ing one 手渡す to her heart and speaking ひどく; “he loves Maraquito. And is she not worthy to be loved? Is she — go — go.” Mrs. Herne waved her 手渡す. “I have told you everything you asked, and more. Should you 要求する その上の (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) about Maraquito’s love, I 言及する you to herself.”

“Oh, I am not 利益/興味d enough in the 事柄 to ask her,” said the 探偵,刑事, and 屈服するing to the lady who had sunk on the sofa, took his 出発. A strange idea occurred to him, 示唆するd by the agitation of Mrs. Herne.

When he met Drudge, who was partaking of a glass of gin, he gave him 指示/教授/教育s to watch the Hampstead house and follow Mrs. Herne when she (機の)カム out. Then having 地位,任命するd his 秘かに調査する — for Drudge was nothing else — Jennings hurried 支援する to town. That same evening he sent a wire to Cuthbert to the 演説(する)/住所 given by the servant, asking him to come up to town next morning.

At eleven Jennings 現在のd himself and 設立する Cuthbert waiting for him, rather surprised and agitated. “Why did you wire me in so peremptory a manner?” asked Mallow; “have you discovered anything?”

“Yes! I am sorry to break your holiday. By the way, you have been at Brighton. Did you stop at the 主要都市の?”

“Yes. I and Uncle Caranby have been there for a few days.”

“Did you see Mrs. Herne there?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“For a 推論する/理由 I’ll tell you later.” Jennings ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the room and his 注目する,もくろむs became 直す/買収する,八百長をするd on a トロフィー of 武器. “You are fond of these sort of things?” he 需要・要求するd.

“Yes, in a way. Yonder are war-spears, revolvers, swords, and —”

“I see — I see. Here is an empty space. What was here?”

“By Jove, I never noticed that before. I forget!”

“Perhaps this will 供給(する) the gap,” said Jennings, and held out the knife. “Do you 認める this?”

“Certainly. There are three notches in the 扱う. It is my knife. Did you take it off the 塀で囲む?”

一時期/支部 XVI
Juliet’s Story

Instead of answering, Jennings looked at Mallow. “It was the merest chance I ちらりと見ることd at the 塀で囲む and saw that one of the 武器 which form that トロフィー was 行方不明の. It was also a chance that I 示唆するd the blank space might be filled up with this knife. Are you sure it is your 所有物/資産/財産?”

Mallow with a puzzled 表現 took the 武器 in his 手渡す and 診察するd it closely. “It is 地雷,” he 認める, “on the butts of my revolvers you will find I carve these notches. I also did so on this bowie, which I bought in New York when I went on my last big-game shoot to the Rockies. I 示すd my things in this way so that the other fellows should not use them by mistake. I brought 支援する this knife, and although it is not a pretty ornament, I 直す/買収する,八百長をするd it up on the 塀で囲む yonder. I used it to 削減(する) up game. But if you did not take it off the 塀で囲む — and I 自白する I never 行方不明になるd it until you drew my attention to the fact that it was 行方不明の — where did you get it?”

Jennings scarcely knew what to say. Cuthbert talked of the 事柄 in so 平易な a manner that it was impossible to think he had killed 行方不明になる Loach. Also he was not the sort of man to 殺人 an inoffensive old woman, the more 特に as he — on the 直面する of it — had no 動機 to commit so 残虐な an 行為/法令/行動する, or to 危険にさらす his neck. Struck by his friend’s silence, Mallow looked up suddenly. Whether he read the truth in Jennings’ 注目する,もくろむs or the recollection of Jennings’ profession brought the Crooked 小道/航路 罪,犯罪 into his mind, it is impossible to say. But he suddenly grew pale and dropped the knife with a look of abhorrence.

“Yes,” said Jennings, in reply to his mute 調査, “that is the knife that was used to を刺す 行方不明になる Loach.”

“This knife?” said Mallow, with a gasp, “but how the dickens,” he used a stronger word, “did my knife come to be used in that way?”

“I should like you to explain that,” said the 探偵,刑事 icily.

“Good heavens, Jennings, you don’t think —”

“What am I to think,” said Jennings coldly, “I 断言する I never 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd you, Mallow. To own the truth, I don’t 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う you now, but for your own sake — for your own safety, explain how that knife (機の)カム to be in 行方不明になる Loach’s house.”

“I can’t say,” cried Cuthbert, 熱心に, “really I can’t. I 断言する I never 行方不明になるd it until you drew my attention to the blank left in the トロフィー of 武器 yonder.” He flung himself into a seat, and passed his 手渡す through his hair with a bewildered 空気/公表する. “Surely, Jennings, you do not think me 有罪の of 殺人,大当り that poor wretch?”

Jennings stretched out his 手渡す, which Mallow しっかり掴むd. “There is my answer,” said the 探偵,刑事, “of course I don’t 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う you. The mere fact that you own the knife is yours shows me that you are innocent. But the fact that this particular 武器 was used 明らかにする/漏らすs to me the strange 行為 of 行方不明になる Saxon — her 動機, I mean.”

Cuthbert jumped up. “What has Juliet to do with this?” he asked.

“I went to see her,” explained Jennings 速く, “and was shown up to the attic of Rose Cottage by Mrs. Pill. 行方不明になる Saxon was standing on a 議長,司会を務める with her 手渡す on the cornice. I managed to place my 手渡す in the same place — it 事柄s not how — and there I 設立する that.”

“This knife?” Cuthbert, still bewildered, took up the formidable 武器. “But how did she become 所有するd of it?”

“You must ask her that.”

“I? Why did you not ask her yourself?”

“She would have lied to me — for your sake.”

“For my sake? Do you mean to say she thinks I am 有罪の?”

“Yes, I do,” said Jennings decisively.

“It’s an infernal 嘘(をつく)! I don’t believe Juliet would think me such a blackguard unless she did not love me — and she does love me.”

“Of course,” interposed Jennings 速く, “so much so that she has 隠すd this knife so as to — as she thinks — save you. Now, can you not see why she asked you to proceed no その上の in the 事例/患者 for your — own sake. I thought she was 保護物,者ing her brother. It is you she believes 有罪の —”

“And therefore will not marry me?”

“No. I don’t think for one moment she cares about that. When a woman loves a man she will stick to him through 厚い and thin. If he is a 正規の/正選手 Cain, she will marry him. Bless the whole sex, they are the staunchest of friends when they love. No, Mallow, in some way Mrs. Octagon has learned that you have killed her —”

“But I never did — I never did. I told you everything.”

“What you told me may have been told to Mrs. Octagon with 新規加入s. She thinks you 有罪の, and therefore has 脅すd to 公然と非難する you unless Juliet gives you up. She has done so, therefore Mrs. Octagon 持つ/拘留するs her bitter tongue.”

“But her 推論する/理由 for wishing to break off the marriage.”

“We discussed that before. In the first place, you are Caranby’s 甥 and she hates him. In the second, she and Basil want the fingering of the six thousand a year left by 行方不明になる Loach. Should you marry 行方不明になる Saxon, they know 井戸/弁護士席 you will look after her 利益/興味s, therefore they don’t wish the match to take place. I am not やめる sure if this is Basil’s 計画(する), or if he knows so much, but I am やめる 確かな that the 計画/陰謀 is of Mrs. Octagon’s concoction. But now you can see why 行方不明になる Saxon behaved so strangely.”

“She has no 権利 to (問題を)取り上げる such a position,” cried Cuthbert, with a 猛烈な/残忍な look. “She should have been plain with me and have (刑事)被告 me to my 直面する.”

“Do you think a woman cares to 告発する/非難する the man she loves? Besides, Mrs. Octagon may have 軍隊d her to keep silence, so as to make the 事柄 more difficult for you. The only way in which you can (疑いを)晴らす up 事柄s is to see 行方不明になる Saxon and 主張する on an explanation.”

“And if she won’t give it?”

“I think she will this time,” said Jennings with a grim smile. “By now she must have discovered her loss, and she knows 井戸/弁護士席 enough that the knife is in my 所有/入手. Already she knows that I 脅すd to 逮捕(する) you —”

“But you would never do that.”

“I would if it meant the (疑いを)晴らすing of your character. I tell you, Mallow, you are in danger. There is a 共謀 against you, and the using of your knife to kill that old woman 証明するs it. To 準備する the ground for an 告訴,告発, someone stole it. You must fight, man, or your enemies may bring about your 逮捕(する), in spite of all I can do.”

Mallow dropped into his seat, 紅潮/摘発するd and angry.

“I have no enemies,” he muttered, trying to collect his wits.

“Yes, you have, and of the worst 肉親,親類d. Two women are against you.”

“Two women? Mrs. Octagon, I know, hates me as Caranby’s 甥 and because she wants to 扱う this money. But the other?”

“Maraquito Gredos.”

“Bosh! She loves me. I am sure she has worried me enough.”

“Of course she loves,” said Jennings satirically. “She loves you so 深く,強烈に that she would see you on the scaffold rather than let you marry 行方不明になる Saxon. That is why Mrs. Octagon went the other night to see her. Mrs. Herne gave a different 見解/翻訳/版, but —”

“How do you know Mrs. Octagon went to see Maraquito?”

“Your uncle saw her. Sit 負かす/撃墜する, Mallow.” Jennings gently 押し進めるd 支援する the astonished man into his seat. “Listen while I tell you all I have discovered lately.”

Mallow listened in silence, and saw very truly that Maraquito would stick at nothing to 伸び(る) her ends. However, he made no 発言/述べる. “Now,” went on Jennings, “it may be that Maraquito 雇うd someone to kill 行方不明になる Loach and is trying to put the 非難する on you so that she may entangle you in her 逮捕する. It will be either the gallows or marriage with you. Of course she could not kill the woman herself, but her aunt, Mrs. Herne —”

“She was out of the house an hour before the blow was struck.”

“やめる so,” 再結合させるd Jennings dryly, “but she may have come 支援する again. However, the main point is, that Maraquito in some way is working with Mrs. Octagon on this basis to 妨げる your marriage. In this way they have impressed 行方不明になる Saxon that you are 有罪の, and they have shown her this knife. This 証拠 she 保持するd ーするために save you and at the price of her marriage.”

“It might be so,” said Mallow, dazed with this 見解(をとる) of the 事例/患者. “I certainly seem to be in a 穴を開ける. If I could see Juliet — but her mother 妨げるs me.”

“I have a 計画(する) to bring you together. I am engaged to a girl called 行方不明になる Garthorne. She is the niece of an old dancing master who taught Maraquito —”

“Le Beau?”

“The same. 井戸/弁護士席, I learn from Peggy — that is 行方不明になる Garthorne’s 指名する — that she was at school for a few months with 行方不明になる Saxon. Peggy, in spite of her poverty, has had a good education, thanks to Le Beau, who loves her like a father. Hence, in spite of the difference in 階級, she was brought into 接触する with 行方不明になる Saxon.”

“Yes! Yes! I see. But the 計画/陰謀?”

“井戸/弁護士席, Peggy must 令状 to 行方不明になる Saxon and ask her to come and see her at the Pimlico 学院. As 行方不明になる Saxon was 広大な/多数の/重要な friends with Peggy, she will come. Then you can talk to her there and learn the truth. Find out who gave her the knife. She will answer, 特に if you tell her that, 借りがあるing to my finding the knife, I am inclined to have you 逮捕(する)d. You understand?”

“Yes,” said Cuthbert, a new 解雇する/砲火/射撃 in his 注目する,もくろむs, and 製図/抽選 himself up 堅固に. “I’ll get at the truth somehow, and Juliet will not leave that 学院 until I learn it. I have had more than enough of this 肉親,親類d of thing. But how did the knife leave my rooms?”

“Who has called to see you within the last month?”

“Oh, dozens of people.”

“Has Mrs. Octagon?”

“No. She never liked me enough to 支払う/賃金 me a visit. But Basil —”

“Ha!” cried Jennings, slapping his 膝. “I believe Basil may have taken it. He is working with his mother to stop the marriage, and —”

“Stop — stop!” interposed Mallow, coloring, “you are 告発する/非難するing Juliet’s mother and brother of 存在 共犯者s to a 罪,犯罪. Basil is a fool and Mrs. Octagon is not a nice woman, but I don’t think either would kill a woman in 冷淡な 血.”

Jennings had his own opinion about this. Mrs. Octagon — as was 証明するd by her 早期に history — was 有能な of doing much, when number one was in question, and Basil was an irresponsible, hysterical fool. In a moment of 激怒(する) he might have —“But no,” said Jennings, breaking off this train of thought. “I can’t see the truth. 行方不明になる Saxon knows it. You must ask her. Be careful, for your life may depend upon it.”

“Bunkum!” said Mallow 概略で, “I am not afraid.”

“Then you せねばならない be,” said Jennings quickly, “you were 負かす/撃墜する at Rose Cottage on that night and the knife is yours. Certainly you have no 動機, but Mrs. Octagon and Maraquito will soon find one, if you don’t 落ちる in with their wishes. However, you know what you have to do,” and Jennings rose to take his leave, first slipping the knife into his pocket.

“Wait a bit,” said Cuthbert, rising. “I’ll do what you say. Just 減少(する) me a line when the 会合 is to be. But I want to tell you — At the 主要都市の Hotel at Brighton I met with my bank 経営者/支配人.”

“What of that?”

“He happens to be the 経営者/支配人 of the bank where 行方不明になる Loach kept her money and where Juliet keeps it now.”

“井戸/弁護士席,” said Jennings, becoming suddenly attentive.

“He didn’t tell secrets,” went on Mallow, “but we got talking of Basil, and the 経営者/支配人 hinted that Basil had had a lucky escape.”

“From what?”

“I can’t say. The 経営者/支配人 — French, his 指名する is — 辞退するd to speak more 率直に, and of course he couldn’t. But if 行方不明になる Loach had not died, Basil would have got into trouble. He didn’t put the 事柄 正確に/まさに in these words, but I gathered as much.”

“Humph!” said Jennings, his 注目する,もくろむs on the carpet, “that 供給(する)s a 動機 for Basil 殺人,大当り the old woman.”

“Nonsense, Basil would not kill anything. He is a coward.”

“When a ネズミ is in the corner it fights,” said the 探偵,刑事 意味ありげに. “Basil may have been between the devil, 代表するd by 行方不明になる Loach, and the 深い sea, which we may call Hale. He may have —”

“No! No! No!” said Mallow, “nothing will ever 説得する me that Basil is 有罪の.”

Jennings looked doubtful. He had his own opinion as to young Saxon’s 能力 for 罪,犯罪. “However, the whole 事例/患者 is so perplexing that I 恐れる to 指名する any particular person,” said he, taking his hat. “Now I shall see 行方不明になる Garthorne and get her to 令状 to 行方不明になる Saxon.”

明らかに there was no difficulty about this, for in three days he wrote to Mallow, telling him to come to Pimlico on Friday at four o’clock. Juliet was surprised when she received an 招待 from an old schoolfellow of whom she had lost sight for years. However, 借りがあるing to her troubles, she felt the need of some 同情的な soul in whom she could 安全に confide, and knowing Peggy was one of those rare friends who could keep her own counsel, Juliet readily agreed to 支払う/賃金 the visit. She arrived at the 学院 の直前に three o’clock, and the two girls had a long talk of their old days. Also Juliet told some of her difficulties — but not all — to Peggy. “And I don’t know how things will turn out,” said 行方不明になる Saxon disconsolately, “everything seems to be wrong.”

“They will continue to be wrong unless you 行為/法令/行動する wisely,” said Peggy.

“In what way should I 行為/法令/行動する?”

“Stick to Mr. Mallow. He loves you and you love him. I do not see why you should 降伏する your life’s happiness for the sake of your family. Of course you have not told me all,” and Peggy looked at her inquiringly.

Juliet shuddered. “I dare not tell you all,” she said faintly. “I have to think of other people.”

“Think of Mr. Mallow first.”

“I am thinking of him.”

“Then it is on his account you keep silence.”

Juliet nodded. “I must 持つ/拘留する my tongue. If you could advise me —”

“My dear,” said (疑いを)晴らす-長,率いるd 行方不明になる Garthorne, rather impatiently, “I can’t advise unless I know all, and you will not 信用 me.”

“I have to consider others,” repeated Juliet obstinately; “if Cuthbert knew what I feel —”

“Why don’t you tell him? See here, Juliet, you are keeping something 支援する from me. On my part, I have kept something 支援する from you. But I see it is necessary to speak plainly. Juliet, I am engaged.”

“Oh, I am so glad,” cried 行方不明になる Saxon, embracing her friend. “Is he nice?”

“I think so; but I am not sure if you will be of that opinion.”

“Do I know him?” asked Juliet, 開始 her 注目する,もくろむs 広範囲にわたって.

“You do. Not very 井戸/弁護士席, perhaps, but you know him.”

“What is his 指名する?”

“I’ll tell you that after you have seen Mr. Mallow.”

行方不明になる Saxon rose with rather an 感情を害する/違反するd look. “I have no 意向 of seeing Mr. Mallow.”

“Supposing he was here, would you 同意 to an interview?”

“I don’t dare — I dare not! If he asked questions! — what do you mean?”

“Nothing,” said Peggy briskly. “We have joined 問題/発行する, as the lawyers say. I advise you to speak out and you 辞退する.”

“I don’t understand all this. Is Cuthbert here?”

“Yes. To be plain with you, Juliet, a person I know arranged that I should 令状 to you and that Mr. Mallow should 会合,会う you here.”

Juliet looked annoyed. “Who is 干渉するing with my 私的な 商売/仕事?”

“Someone who can help you.”

“No one can help me,” retorted Juliet.

“Oh, yes, and the advice of this person is that you should tell the truth to Mr. Mallow.”

“Who is this person?”

“I’ll tell you that after you have seen Mr. Mallow. He is in the room below.”

“This 干渉するing person you 言及する to?”

“No, Mr. Mallow. Will you come downstairs and see him?”

Juliet drew 支援する as Peggy opened the door. “I dare not.”

“In that 事例/患者 you will have to 同意 to the 逮捕(する) of Mr. Mallow.”

Juliet shrieked. “Cuthbert 逮捕(する)d! For what?”

“For the 殺人 of 行方不明になる Loach.”

“It is not true — it is not true,” gasped Juliet. “Oh, Peggy, what does it all mean? How do you come to know —?”

“Because I’m engaged to Miles Jennings.”

“The 探偵,刑事! The man who behaved so 不正に to me?”

“I don’t know what you call behaving 不正に,” said 行方不明になる Garthorne in an 感情を害する/違反するd way. “Miles wishes to help you out of your difficulties, and you will not 許す him. No! Don’t ask questions. I 辞退する to answer. Miles told me all about the 事例/患者 and I know everything —”

“Then you know that he (機の)カム the other day to Rose Cottage and —”

“I know everything,” said Peggy, leaving the room; “and if you are wise you will come with me.”

When Peggy disappeared, Juliet hesitated. She really could not speak to Cuthbert, and 解決するd to steal out of the 罠(にかける) into which she had been inveigled by the 背信の Peggy. On the other 手渡す, things were becoming so serious that she knew she would have to speak out sooner or later, 特に as Cuthbert was in danger of 逮捕(する). But even if she 自白するd all, could she save him? “I should only make 事柄s worse,” thought Juliet, descending the stairs, “he’ll thank me some day for 持つ/拘留するing my tongue. I’ll go.”

So she arranged, but 合間 Peggy had 知らせるd the waiting Mallow of Juliet’s strange 行為. 決定するd to make her speak, and anxious to arrive at some understanding, Cuthbert waited at the foot of the stairs. Juliet, coming 負かす/撃墜する, ran straight into his 武器, and turned white.

“You!” she gasped, 退却/保養地ing, “you are here after all.”

“Did you not hear 行方不明になる Garthorne tell you so?” asked Cuthbert.

“Peggy is behaving very wickedly.”

“It is you who are behaving 不正に,” said Mallow bluntly, “you know much about this 事例/患者 and you are keeping me in the dark.”

“It is for your own good,” murmured Juliet.

“You should 許す me to be the best 裁判官 of that. Come in here,” and Cuthbert drew her に向かって the open door of the dancing-room, “tell me what you know and how it 影響する/感情s me.”

The room was large and 明らかにする and empty. At one end there was a 肉親,親類d of 演壇 on which was placed a few 議長,司会を務めるs. The young man walked up to this and turned to beckon Juliet, for whom he placed a 議長,司会を務める. She still ぐずぐず残るd at the door and seemed 性質の/したい気がして to 飛行機で行く.

“Juliet, if you go now, all is over,” he said determinedly.

“Cuthbert, how can you?”

“Because I mean what I say. Things can’t go on like this. You think of your brother — of your mother. You never give a thought to me.”

Juliet (機の)カム up the room hurriedly. “I am thinking of you all the time, Cuthbert,” she said 怒って, “I keep silence for your good.”

“In what way?”

“This 殺人 —” she began. Then her 発言する/表明する died away, “you know —”

“I know that 行方不明になる Loach was 殺人d, but who did it I don’t know.”

“Oh,” Juliet dropped into a 議長,司会を務める, “are you innocent?”

“Surely you never thought me 有罪の?”

“I— I— don’t think you are, and yet —”

“You are going to 告発する/非難する me of having been on the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す?”

Juliet could 抑制する herself no longer. “I saw you myself,” she burst out; “I was there also.”

一時期/支部 XVII
Juliet’s Story Continued

Cuthbert was so surprised by this admission that astonishment held him silent for a moment. He never 推定する/予想するd to hear that Juliet herself had been on the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す. Seeing this, she went on quickly. “Now you can understand why I held my tongue. You were at Rose Cottage on that night. You have enemies who know you were there. I have been 脅すd should I 主張する on our 約束/交戦 存在 実行するd that you will be 逮捕(する)d. Therefore I kept away and held my tongue.”

“But if you had told me this long ago —”

“How could I?” she cried 熱心に. “Could I come and say to you, I believe you are a 殺害者?”

“Did you believe that, Juliet?” he asked in a grieved トン.

“Yes and no,” she 滞るd. “Oh, Cuthbert, you know how I love you. I could not bring myself to think you were 有罪の — and yet the proofs are so strong. You were at Rose Cottage at a 4半期/4分の1 to eleven —”

“No. I was there at a 4半期/4分の1 past ten.”

“I tell you I saw you at a 4半期/4分の1 to eleven. You were getting over the 塀で囲む into the park. Then there was the knife — your knife.”

“How did you know it was 地雷?”

“By the notches. You told me you always 削減(する) three notches on the 扱う of any 武器 you 所有するd. One day when mother and I (機の)カム to afternoon tea at your place you showed me some of your 武器s — the knife amongst them. One knife is much like another, and I would not have noticed but for the notches and for the fact that I saw you on that night. I hid the knife and Mr. Jennings —”

“He 設立する it,” said Mallow. “やめる so. He told me he did. When you left the attic he contrived to —”

“Then the の近くにing of the door was a trick,” said Juliet in an agitated トン. “I might have guessed that. He took the knife. He has 脅すd to 逮捕(する) you, so 行方不明になる Garthorne says.”

“She says rightly,” replied Mallow, thinking it best to make use of all he knew, so as to 軍隊 her to speak 自由に. “But of course, if you can explain —”

“Explain!” she cried wildly and 沈むing into a 議長,司会を務める. “What can I explain? That I saw you climbing that 塀で囲む, running away 明らかに from the scene of your 罪,犯罪. That I 設立する the knife by the 団体/死体?”

“What!” Cuthbert started up and looked at her. “You saw the 団体/死体?”

“Yes. I was in the house — in the room. I 設立する my aunt dead in her 議長,司会を務める, with the cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周, 正確に/まさに as the parlor-maid saw her. 近づく her on the 床に打ち倒す was the knife. There was 血 on the blade. I 選ぶd it up — I saw the 扱う was notched in three places, and then —”

“Then you 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd me.”

“No. Not till I saw you outside.”

Cuthbert took a turn up and 負かす/撃墜する the 演壇 much perplexed. “Juliet,” he said. “I 断言する to you I never killed this woman.”

Juliet flew to him and 倍のd him in her 武器. “I knew it — I knew it,” she said, “in spite of the letter —”

“What letter?”

“That 告発する/非難するing you and 脅すing to tell the police about you if I did not break the 約束/交戦.”

“Who wrote it?”

“I can’t say, save that it must have been some enemy.”

“自然に,” replied Mallow cynically. “A friend does not 令状 in that way. Have you the letter with you.”

“No. It is at home. I never thought of bringing it. But I will show it to you soon. I wish now I had spoken before.”

“I wish to heaven you had!”

“I thought it best to be silent,” said Juliet, trying to argue. “I 恐れるd lest if I spoke to you, this enemy, whosoever he is, might carry out the 脅し in the letter.”

“Is the letter written by a man or a woman?”

“I can’t say. Women 令状 in so masculine a way nowadays. It might be either. But why were you at the cottage —”

“I was not. I went to 調査する the unfinished house on に代わって of Lord Caranby. I was ghost-追跡(する)ing. Do you remember how you asked me next day why I wore an overcoat and I explained that I had a 冷淡な —”

“Yes. You said you got it from sitting in a hot room.”

“I got it from 追跡(する)ing 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the unfinished house at Rexton. I did not think it necessary to explain その上の.”

Juliet put her 手渡す to her 長,率いる. “Oh, how I 苦しむd on that day,” she said. “I was watching for you all the afternoon. When you (機の)カム I thought you might 任意に explain why you were at Rexton on the previous night. But you did not, and I believed your silence to be a 有罪の one. Then, when the letter arrived —”

“When did it arrive?”

“A week after the 罪,犯罪 was committed.”

“井戸/弁護士席,” said Cuthbert, rather 苦痛d, “I can hardly 非難する you. But if you loved me —”

“I do love you,” she said with a 熱烈な cry. “Have I not 証明するd my love by 耐えるing — as I thought — your 重荷(を負わせる)? Could I do more? Would a woman who loves as I do 告発する/非難する the man she loves of a horrible 罪,犯罪? I strove to 保護物,者 you from your enemies.”

“I thought you were 保護物,者ing Basil. Jennings thought so also.”

Juliet drew 支援する, looking paler than ever. “What do you know of him.”

“Very little,” said Cuthbert quickly. “Was he at Rose Cottage on the night in question?”

“No. He was not there. I did not see him.”

“Yet he was at the Marlow Theatre with you.”

“Yes. He left the theatre before I did.”

“Sit 負かす/撃墜する, Juliet, and tell me 正確に/まさに how you (機の)カム to be at Rose Cottage on that night and why you went.”

行方不明になる Saxon seated herself and told all she knew. “It was this way,” she said, with more calmness than she had hitherto shown. “Basil and I went to see this new melodrama written by Mr. Arkwright —”

“What? The man Mrs. Octagon wishes you to marry?”

“Yes. He has written a play to make money. My mother was angry, as she thought such a thing was not worthy of him. He sent her a box. She 辞退するd to go, so Basil and I went. But the play was so dull that Basil left 早期に, 説 he would come 支援する for me.”

“Do you know where he went?”

“No. He did not say. 井戸/弁護士席, the play became worse instead of better. I was 疲れた/うんざりした to death, so I thought as the theatre was 近づく Rexton, that I would go and see Aunt Selina. Then I hoped to return to the box and 会合,会う Basil. I was told the play, 存在 a long one, would not be over till midnight. I left the theatre at a 4半期/4分の1 past ten. It took fifteen minutes to 運動 to the cottage. Then I entered 静かに to give aunt a surprise.”

“Ah! It was you 開始 the door that Thomas heard.”

“Yes! At half-past ten; I had a latch-重要な. Aunt Selina loved me very much and 手配中の,お尋ね者 me to come and see her whenever I could. So that I could come and go at 楽しみ without troubling the servants, she gave me a latch-重要な. I happened to have it in my pocket. I really wished to see her about this quarrel she had with Basil.”

“What was this quarrel about?”

Juliet 審議する/熟考するd before replying. “It was a small thing,” she said at length. “Aunt Selina was fond of Basil and often gave him money. Mr. Octagon doesn’t 許す Basil much, and mother has enough to do to make both ends 会合,会う. Basil is, I 恐れる, extravagant. I know he 賭事s, though he never told me where he went —”

“To Maraquito’s,” said Cuthbert. “I have met him there.”

“I know,” said Juliet in rather a reproachful トン. “I wish you would not 賭事, Cuthbert.”

“I have given it up now. I only played for the excitement, but since our 約束/交戦 I have hardly touched a card. I shall not play for money again. My visits to Maraquito’s now are 純粋に in the 利益/興味s of this 事例/患者.”

“Does she know anything about it?” asked Juliet, astonished.

“Yes,” replied Mallow, wondering if the girl knew that Mrs. Octagon had paid a visit to Senora Gredos. “Mrs. Herne, who was your aunt’s friend, is the aunt of Senora Gredos.”

“I never knew that. But about this quarrel. Basil spent more money than he could afford, poor boy —”

“Young scamp,” murmured Cuthbert.

“Don’t 非難する him. He means 井戸/弁護士席,” expostulated Juliet. “井戸/弁護士席, aunt gave him a lot of money, but he always 手配中の,お尋ね者 more. Then she 辞退するd. About a week before Aunt Selina died, Basil 手配中の,お尋ね者 money, and she 拒絶する/低下するd. They had words and she ordered Basil out of the house. It was to try and make it up between them that I called on that night.”

“Are you sure Basil did not go also?”

“I don’t think so,” said Juliet doubtfully. “He was on bad 条件 with Aunt Selina and knew he would not be welcomed. Besides, he had not a latch-重要な. 井戸/弁護士席, Cuthbert, I reached Rose Cottage at half-past ten and let myself in. I went downstairs 静かに. I 設立する Aunt Selina seated in her 議長,司会を務める 近づく the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 with the cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周, as though she had been playing ‘Patience.’ I saw that she was dead.”

“Why did you not give the alarm?”

Juliet hesitated. “I thought it best not to,” she said faintly.

It seemed to Mallow that she was keeping something 支援する. However, she was very frank as it was, so he thought it best not to say anything. “井戸/弁護士席, you saw she was dead?”

“Yes. She had been stabbed to the heart. There was a knife on the 床に打ち倒す. I 選ぶd it up and saw it was yours. Then I thought —”

“That I had killed her. Thank you, Juliet.”

“No, no!” she 抗議するd. “Really, I did not believe that at the time. I could not think why you should kill Aunt Selina. I was bewildered at the time and then —” here Juliet turned away her 長,率いる, “I fancied someone else might have killed her.”

“Who?”

“Don’t ask me. I have no grounds on which to 告発する/非難する anyone. Let me tell you what I can. Then you may think — but that’s impossible. Cuthbert, ask me no more questions.”

Mallow thought her demeanor strangely 怪しげな, and wondered if she was 保護物,者ing her mother. Mrs. Octagon, who hated Selina Loach, might have struck the blow, but there was 絶対 no proof of this. Mallow decided to ask nothing, as Juliet requested. “Tell me what you will, my dear,” he said, “so long as you don’t believe me 有罪の.”

“I don’t — I don’t — really I don’t. I 選ぶd up the knife and left the room after ten minutes. I stole up the stairs and shut the door so 静かに that no one heard. You see, the first time I did not trouble to do that, but when I 設立する that aunt was dead I was afraid lest the servants should come and find me there. I fancied, as I had the knife in my 手渡す and had entered by means of the latch-重要な, that I might be 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd. Besides, it would have been difficult to account for my 予期しない presence in the house at that hour.”

“I やめる comprehend!” said Mallow grimly. “We can’t all keep our 長,率いるs in these difficult 状況/情勢s. 井戸/弁護士席?”

“I (機の)カム out into the garden. I heard the policeman coming 負かす/撃墜する the 小道/航路, and knew I could not escape unobserved that way. Then if I took the path to the 駅/配置する I fancied he might see me in the moonlight. I ran across the garden by the 塀で囲む and got over the 盗品故買者 amongst the corn, where I lay 隠すd. Then I saw you coming 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the corner. You climbed the 塀で囲む and went into the park. After that I waited till after eleven, when the policeman entered the house, 召喚するd by the servants. I then ran 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the field, 避難所d from 観察 by the corn, which, as you know, was then high, and I got out at the その上の 味方する. I walked to Keighley, the next place to Rexton, and took a cab home. I went straight to bed, and did not see Basil till the next morning. He told me he had come home later, but he did not say where he had been, nor did I ask him.”

“But I am sure — unless my watch was wrong, that I climbed the 塀で囲む at a 4半期/4分の1 past ten,” 主張するd Mallow.

“You might have climbed it again at a 4半期/4分の1 to eleven.”

“No! I climbed it only once. Which way did I come?”

“Along the path from the 駅/配置する. Then you walked beside the 盗品故買者 on the corn 味方する, and jumping over, you climbed the 塀で囲む.”

“Certainly I did that,” murmured Mallow, remembering what he had told Jennings. “Did you see my 直面する?”

“No! But I knew you by your 高さ and by the light overcoat you wore. That long, 冒険的な overcoat which is 負かす/撃墜する to your heels. Oh, Cuthbert, what is the 事柄?”

She might 井戸/弁護士席 ask this question, for Mallow had started and turned pale. “Nothing! nothing,” he said irritably. “I certainly did wear such an overcoat. I was with Caranby before I went to Rexton, and knowing his room would be heated like a furnace, I took every 警戒 against 冷淡な.”

Juliet 疑問d this, as she knew Mallow did not coddle himself in any way. However, she had seen the overcoat too often to mistake to whom it belonged. Moreover, Cuthbert did not 否定する that he had jumped the 塀で囲む in the way she explained. “井戸/弁護士席, now you know all, what will you do?” she asked.

“I really can’t say,” said Mallow, who was trying to 隠す his agitation. “I can’t think who took the knife out of my room. It was in a トロフィー of 武器 on the 塀で囲む, and I never noticed that it was 行方不明の, till Jennings drew my attention to the loss. Certainly 行方不明になる Loach was killed with that knife.”

“I am 肯定的な of that,” said Juliet. “There is 血 on the 扱う. But you understand why I kept silence?”

“Yes. But there was really no need. I shall call and see your mother and 主張する on her giving her 同意 to our marriage. She has no 推論する/理由 to 辞退する. Do you know why she 反対するs?”

“No. She 簡単に says she does not wish me to marry you.”

“Did you not tell her what you have told me?”

“I did not. What was the use? It was because of my 発見 of the knife and seeing you, and receiving that letter, that I 辞退するd to marry, and so fell in with my mother’s 計画(する)s.”

“Juliet, you are not engaged to Arkwright?”

“No. I am engaged to you and you only. I mean I only pretended that I would not marry you. My mother thought I was obeying her, but I was really 保護物,者ing you on account of that letter.”

“Give me the letter, love, and I’ll show it to Jennings.”

“No,” said 行方不明になる Saxon, 縮むing 支援する; “get him to 減少(する) the 事例/患者.”

“Why?” asked Cuthbert dryly. “I could understand that request when you thought me 有罪の, but now that you know I am innocent, and that Jennings is aware I was at Rose Cottage on that night, surely there is no 妨げる/法廷,弁護士業 to his 訴訟/進行 with the 事例/患者.”

“I do not wish it,” 滞るd Juliet.

Cuthbert looked at her 刻々と and turned away with a sigh. “You are keeping something from me,” he said.

“And you from me,” she retorted. “Why did you start when I spoke of the overcoat?”

“Juliet, my own,” Cuthbert took her 手渡すs 真面目に, “there are circumstances in this 事例/患者 which are very strange. Innocent persons may be sacrificed. It is best for you and me to have nothing more to do with the 事柄. 行方不明になる Loach is dead. Who killed her will never be known. Let us marry, dear heart, and leave the 事例/患者 alone.”

“I am やめる willing. But my mother?”

“I shall 説得する her to 同意.”

“I hope so; but I 恐れる she hates you because you are Lord Caranby’s 甥. She hinted as much. I don’t know the 推論する/理由.”

“I do,” said Mallow calmly, “and I think I may be able to 説得する her to see 推論する/理由. I shall meddle no more with the 事例/患者.”

“What about Mr. Jennings?”

“I will tell him what I have told you, and what you have told me. Then I will point out the futility of looking for a needle in a haystack. He may be inclined to let the 事例/患者 減少(する). He せねばならない be 疲れた/うんざりした of it by this time.”

Juliet looked wistfully at him. “Can’t we be plain with one another?”

“No,” said Mallow, shaking his 長,率いる, “you have your 疑惑s and I 地雷. Let us 差し控える from talking about the 事柄.”

行方不明になる Saxon drew a breath of 救済. “I think that is best,” she said, and her 表現 was 反映するd in the 注目する,もくろむs of her lover. “When will you come and see mother?”

“Next week. If her 反対 is a question of money, you can を引き渡す the whole of that income you have 相続するd.”

“Aunt Selina’s six thousand a year! Why?”

“Because I have enough money for us both, and when Caranby dies I shall be almost a millionaire. I don’t like you having this money.”

“But your 推論する/理由?”

“I have 非,不,無 that I can tell you. Besides, if we can buy Mrs. Octagon’s 同意 with even six thousand a year —”

“I do not mind,” said Juliet. “But now that I know you are really innocent, and I take shame to myself for having 疑問d you, I am willing to marry you, even though my mother 保留するs her 同意.”

“My darling!” Cuthbert 倍のd the girl in his 武器 and kissed her. “I now know that you truly love me. Indeed, I never 疑問d you.”

“But I 疑問d myself,” said Juliet tearfully. “I should never have 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd you, even though the 証拠 was so strong.”

“You lost your 長,率いる for the moment,” said her lover, “but don’t let us talk any more about the 事柄. I shall pacify Jennings and get him to 減少(する) the 事例/患者. Then we will marry and take a 小旅行する 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the world so as to forget these unpleasant 事柄s.”

“Yes, that is best,” said Juliet, and the two walked に向かって the door.

They should have been 完全に happy now that all 誤解s were (疑いを)晴らすd up, but each wore a 暗い/優うつな 表現. 明らかに the 影をつくる/尾行する of 行方不明になる Loach’s death still clouded the 日光 of their lives.

一時期/支部 XVIII
The 予期しない Happens

Jennings was at breakfast in his rooms, considering what he should do next in 関係 with the 事例/患者. As yet he had not heard from Cuthbert with regard to the interview with Juliet. The 探偵,刑事 waited upstairs in Le Beau’s sitting-room for the 結論 of the 会合, but when Mallow never appeared he went 負かす/撃墜する. Then he learned from Peggy, who was in the office, that the lovers had been gone for some time “I thought you knew,” said 行方不明になる Garthorne.

“No,” replied Jennings, “I did not know,” and then, since he had no その上の 推論する/理由 to remain, he took his 出発 also, wondering why Mallow had not come to 報告(する)/憶測 the 事柄.

That same evening he sought out Mallow, but was unable to find him at his accustomed haunts. More perplexed than ever, Jennings, leaving a 公式文書,認める at Mallow’s rooms, had returned to his own. He could make no new move until he heard from Mallow, and the young man did not appear inclined to give any 援助. Next morning, while at breakfast, he 推定する/予想するd his friend, but still there was no 外見 of the 訪問者. A (犯罪の)一味 (機の)カム to the door and Jennings thought that this was Cuthbert at last. He was distinctly disappointed when Drudge made his 外見.

“井戸/弁護士席,” said Jennings はっきりと, “what is it?”

“I followed the lady you saw, sir.”

“Mrs. Herne? Yes.”

“She left her house in Hampstead and walked 負かす/撃墜する the hill. There she took a cab. I followed in another. Her cab stopped at the house of Maraquito in Soho. Since then I have been watching the house, but I have not seen Mrs. Herne again.”

“She is Senora Gredos’ aunt,” explained Jennings, “so I 推定する/予想する she is stopping with her.”

“No, sir, she isn’t. I made friends with a boy called Gibber —”

“Yes. He is a page in the house. 井戸/弁護士席?”

“I gave him a drink or two,” said Drudge, “and a few stamps, as he is a collector. He become friendly with me, and I asked him about the house. He was very frank, but he said nothing about the 賭事ing.”

“Humph! I 推定する/予想する he has been told to 持つ/拘留する his tongue. 井戸/弁護士席, did you hear anything at all?”

“I heard that Gibber had never seen Mrs. Herne. He did not even know her 指名する. Now, sir,” went on Drudge, laying a finger in the palm of his 手渡す, “if Mrs. Herne was stopping at the Soho house, Gibber would have seen her.”

A flash of joy passed across the countenance of Jennings, but he turned away from his underling so that he might not betray the satisfaction he felt. “Mrs. Herne is Maraquito’s aunt,” he said again.

“No, sir, 容赦 me. Maraquito hasn’t got an aunt. Leastways the aunt, if there is such a person, has never 始める,決める foot in the house.”

“Perhaps Maraquito sees her 内密に.”

“井戸/弁護士席,” said Drudge pensively, “she certainly went in by a 味方する door, Mr. Jennings. Do you want me to watch その上の, sir?”

“Yes. Keep your 注目する,もくろむ on the Soho house, and should Mrs. Herne 再現する, follow her. Anything else?”

“Yes, sir. Mrs. Herne when walking 負かす/撃墜する the hill dropped a small 捕らえる、獲得する.”

“Ah! Have you got it?”

“No. She was too sharp for me. I was 選ぶing it up when she 行方不明になるd it and (機の)カム to (人命などを)奪う,主張する it. But before she reached me I had opened it. Only her handkerchief was inside. I gave it 支援する, and she gave me a shilling. But the queer thing, sir, is the scent.”

“What scent?” asked Jennings, looking 熱心に at the man.

“Oh, a strange strong scent, fit to knock you 負かす/撃墜する, sir.”

“井戸/弁護士席, and why shouldn’t a lady use scent. It is customary.”

“It is, sir. My wife uses scent. But this was a queer smell. And then a man shouldn’t use scent,” burst out Drudge.

“Some men are effeminate enough to do so,” said Jennings drily. “But I don’t やめる understand all this.”

“I can tell you what puzzled me at once,” said the underling, “after watching Maraquito’s house for some time, I put another fellow on, and went to the office. I had to go to see the police about some 事柄, and I spoke to 視察官 Twining of the Rexton 地区. He had on his desk a handkerchief and a few articles which had just been taken from a man who had been 逮捕(する)d for passing 誤った coins.”

“Oh!” Jennings looked very 利益/興味d, “go on.”

“This man was in one of the 独房s, and he is to be brought before the 治安判事 this morning. They searched him and took his handkerchief from him.”

“It is not customary to do that?”

“No, Sir. But this man — I don’t know his 指名する — had two handkerchiefs. The 捜査員 thought that was one too many,” said Drudge, with the 微光 of a smile, “and took one.”

“Why do you tell me all this?” asked Jennings impatiently.

“Because the handkerchief was scented with the same perfume as the handkerchief of Mrs. Herne I 選ぶd up. The moment I smelt it I thought of her coming 支援する for the 捕らえる、獲得する. The scent is so strange and strong that I thought it just 同様に to について言及する it to you. You are 利益/興味d in Mrs. Herne, sir, so if this man uses the same scent —”

“やめる so. You have 行為/法令/行動するd very wisely. Where was the man 逮捕(する)d?”

“At a place 近づく Rexton. He was trying to get a drink and gave a shilling — it was 誤った. The 視察官 will show it to you, sir. And another queer thing, Mr. Jennings, this man had some rags and a 瓶/封じ込める of 石油 on him.”

“Humph! Perhaps he ーするつもりであるd to 始める,決める 解雇する/砲火/射撃 to some place. Have you heard of any 解雇する/砲火/射撃?”

“No, sir, not 近づく Rexton.”

“At what time was the man 逮捕(する)d?”

“At nine last night. He is in 刑務所,拘置所 now, and will be brought up this morning on a 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 of passing 誤った money.”

“I’ll look into it, Drudge. It is strange about the scent: but there may be nothing in the 事柄. The man could easily buy scent of the 肉親,親類d Mrs. Herne uses. Go 支援する to Soho and watch the house. Let me know if Mrs. Herne comes out, and where she goes.”

“Yes, sir,” said Drudge, and 屈服するd himself out.

When the man was gone Jennings walked up and 負かす/撃墜する his room in a 広大な/多数の/重要な 明言する/公表する of excitement. He was beginning to see the end of the 事柄. That the scent should be used by a man who was passing 誤った coins 確認するd his idea that it was some peculiar 調印する whereby the members of the ギャング(団) 認めるd one another. If Mrs. Herne really was the aunt of Maraquito, this 事柄 巻き込むd her as 井戸/弁護士席 as the niece. And Mrs. Herne had been accustomed to go to Rose Cottage, which hinted that 行方不明になる Loach had perhaps learned of the 存在 of the ギャング(団) and had 苦しむd for her indiscreet curiosity.

“I believe 行方不明になる Loach 脅すd to 公表する/暴露する what she knew. She may have learned that the ギャング(団) worked in that house from the fact of the ghosts, in which so strongminded an old lady would not believe. I daresay she 脅すd (危険などに)さらす, and someone killed her. Perhaps Mrs. Herne herself. No, confound it, she was out of the house. 井戸/弁護士席, I’ll see this man now in 刑務所,拘置所. I may be able to 軍隊 him to tell. And I’ll call on Lord Caranby today, and get 許可 to search the unfinished house. I am やめる sure there is a factory there. I wish Mallow would come and tell me if he has learned anything.”

Again there was a (犯罪の)一味 at the door, and this time Jennings, 推定する/予想するing no one else, certainly hoped to see Cuthbert. But, to his surprise, the servant showed in Lord Caranby. The old gentleman was 静める and composed as usual, but Jennings thought he looked ill and frail. The dark circles 一連の会議、交渉/完成する his 注目する,もくろむs were more pronounced than ever, and he leaned ひどく on his 茎. He was perfectly dressed as usual, and seemed 性質の/したい気がして to be friendly.

“I am glad to see you, Lord Caranby,” said the 探偵,刑事, when the old gentleman was 融通するd with the 議長,司会を務める, “have you had breakfast?”

“Thank you, yes. But I could not eat any,” said Caranby, breathing ひどく. “Those stairs of, yours are trying, Mr. Jennings. I am not so young or so strong as I was.”

“You don’t look the picture of health, my lord.”

“Can you 推定する/予想する a dying man to?”

“Dying — oh, no, you —”

“Dying,” 主張するd Caranby, rapping his stick on the ground. “I know that I have not many months to live, and I sha’n’t be sorry when the end comes. I have had a hard time. Cuthbert will soon be standing in my shoes. I を煩う an incurable (民事の)告訴, Mr. Jennings, and my doctor tells me I shall die soon.”

“I am sure Mallow will be sorry,” said Jennings, wondering why Caranby, ordinarily the most reticent of men, should tell him all this.

“Yes — yes, Cuthbert is a good fellow. I should like to see him happy and settled with 行方不明になる Saxon before I die. But Maraquito will do her best to 妨げる the match.”

“She may soon have enough to do to look after herself,” said Jennings grimly. “I shall see that she gets her 砂漠s.”

“What do you 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う her of?” asked Caranby あわてて.

“I can’t tell you yet. I have no proofs. But I am 怪しげな.”

“She is a bad woman,” said the old man. “I am 確かな of that. And she will stop at nothing to marry Cuthbert. But this is not what I (機の)カム to see you about, Mr. Jennings. You asked my 許可 to go over my house at Rexton?”

“I did. And I was coming today to get the 許可 確認するd.”

“Then I am sorry to say you cannot go over it.”

“Why not?” asked Jennings, wondering why Lord Caranby had changed his mind — a thing he rarely did. “I only want to —”

“Yes! Yes!” Caranby waved his 手渡す impatiently, “but the fact is, the house has been burnt 負かす/撃墜する.”

“Burnt 負かす/撃墜する — at Rexton!” cried Jennings, jumping from his seat.

“Yes. It caught 解雇する/砲火/射撃 in some way last night, about eight o’clock. There was a high 勝利,勝つd blowing, and the house has been burnt to the ground. Not only that, but, as the 天候 has been 乾燥した,日照りの, the whole of the trees and shrubs and undergrowth in the park have gone likewise. I am 知らせるd that everything within the circle of that 塀で囲む is a heap of ashes. やめる a 燃やすing of Rome,” chuckled Caranby.

“Do you 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う the house was 始める,決める on 解雇する/砲火/射撃?”

“Of course I do. Even though the 天候 is hot, I don’t think this can be a 事例/患者 of spontaneous 燃焼. Probably some tramp —”

“No,” said Jennings decisively, “it is strange you should come to me with this news. One of my men has lately been here, and he tells me that a man was 逮捕(する)d 近づく Rexton last night for passing 誤った money. He had on him a 瓶/封じ込める of 石油 and some rags.”

“Ah!” said Caranby, やめる serene, “so you think —”

“There can be no 疑問 about it, my lord. This man 始める,決める 解雇する/砲火/射撃 to the house. People don’t carry 瓶/封じ込めるs of 石油 about for nothing.”

“But why should he 始める,決める 解雇する/砲火/射撃 deliberately to my house?”

“At the instance of the Saul family?”

Lord Caranby sat bolt upright. “What do you mean?”

“Humph! It is rather a long story. But this man who was caught used a particular 肉親,親類d of scent called Hikui. Maraquito uses it also, and her aunt, Mrs. Herne.”

“Mrs. Herne? She is not Maraquito’s aunt.”

“She told me herself that she was.”

“And I tell you that Emilia, who is dead, was the only aunt Maraquito ever had. Why does Mrs. Herne say this?”

“That is what I am trying to find out. She said that you did not know the whole history of the Saul family.”

“I know やめる enough,” said Caranby gloomily, “the members were abominably wicked. Maraquito’s father died after he was 発射する/解雇するd from 刑務所,拘置所 for coining; and the mother also.”

“井戸/弁護士席, my lord, this man, who 明らかに 解雇する/砲火/射撃d your house, was trying to pass 誤った coins. He uses the same scent as Maraquito does, leaving mysterious Mrs. Herne out of the question.”

“井戸/弁護士席, and what do you deduce from that?”

“I believe that there is a ギャング(団) of coiners in 存在, of which this man, Clancy, Hale, Maraquito and Mrs. Herne are members. All use the scent Hikui, which probably is a 調印する amongst them. In what way it is 利用するd I cannot say, unless they 会合,会う one another in the dark, and 認める their confreres by the scent.”

“I see. It might be so. But why should this man 燃やす my house?”

Jennings shrugged his shoulders. “I can hardly say. I think the coiners used that house as a factory. But since it is burnt 負かす/撃墜する, that seems impossible. This man may have 解雇する/砲火/射撃d it out of 復讐, on account of some 列/漕ぐ/騒動 with the ギャング(団).”

“Or else,” said Caranby deliberately, “knowing that you were going to search the house, perhaps it was 解雇する/砲火/射撃d to destroy all traces of the factory. Do you connect this with Selina’s death?”

“I do. I believe that she learned of the 存在 of the factory, and that she 脅すd to 公然と非難する Clancy, Hale and Mrs. Herne. Then, to silence her, she was stabbed.”

“But the three you について言及する were out of the house before the death.”

“I know that, and they gave their 証拠 自由に enough at the 検死. I have not yet fitted the pieces of the puzzle into one another, but I am 確かな the lot are connected from their use of the perfume. Also, as this man who has been caught was passing 誤った money, and as Maraquito and probably Mrs. Herne are 生き残るing members of the Saul family who practised coining, I should not be surprised to find that my theories are 訂正する. But how could anyone know that I ーするつもりであるd to go, over your house?”

“You asked me in Maraquito’s salon. Clancy and Hale were about.”

“Humph!” said Jennings, “you see the さまざまな parts of the puzzle are fitting together excellently. Probably one of those two overheard.”

“Probably. That Hale looks a sly creature and 有能な of much. I wonder if he is 関係のある to the Saul family. He has the same nose.”

“And the same eyebrows 会合 over the nose,” said Jennings. “Mrs. Herne has a 類似の 示す. I am sure she is a 親族 of Maraquito’s.”

“If she is her aunt, I give you leave to call me a fool,” said Caranby, rising. “I know that Emilia told me she had no sister. What will you do next, Jennings?”

“I shall see this man who 解雇する/砲火/射撃d the house and try to get at the truth. Then I am having Mrs. Herne watched —”

“And Maraquito?”

“She can’t move from her couch, so there is no danger of her escaping. But now that the coining factory is destroyed, I shall find it difficult to bring home the 罪,犯罪 to anyone. I wish Cuthbert would come.”

“Do you 推定する/予想する him?”

“Yes. Listen, Lord Caranby,” and Jennings 関係のある the episode of the knife, and how he had brought Mallow and Juliet together. “And it seems to me,” went on the 探偵,刑事, “that Cuthbert learned something from 行方不明になる Saxon which he does not wish to tell me.”

“Something to do with Mrs. Octagon.”

“Why with her?” 需要・要求するd Jennings suddenly.

“Oh, because I think Isabella 有能な of much. She is a 致命的な woman!”

“What do you mean by that phrase?”

“Isabella 演習d a bad 影響(力) on my life. But for her I should have married Selina and should not have fallen in with Emilia Saul. I should have been happy, and probably Selina would not have met with her 悲劇の death.”

“Do you think the sister has anything to do with it?”

“I can’t say. All I know is that whomsoever Isabella (機の)カム into 接触する with had trouble. I do 井戸/弁護士席 to call her a 致命的な woman.”

“Humph!” said Jennings, “I would rather call Maraquito a 致命的な woman, as I believe she brought about the death in some way for the 二塁打 目的 of silencing 行方不明になる Loach regarding the factory of coins and of stopping the marriage of her 競争相手 with Cuthbert.”

Curiously enough, Cuthbert was shown into the room at this moment. So 利益/興味d had Caranby and Jennings been in their conversation that they had not heard the bell. Mallow looked in good health, but his 直面する wore a worried 表現. Without preamble, and after 迎える/歓迎するing his uncle, he walked up to his friend.

“Jennings,” he said calmly, “I have seen Juliet, and she agrees with me that this 事例/患者 should not be gone on with.”

“Ah! does she, and on what grounds?”

“Because she has 同意d to marry me. She ーするつもりであるs, at my request, to make over 行方不明になる Loach’s money to her mother. We have had やめる enough dabbling in 罪,犯罪, and we are both sick of it.”

“I think you are very wise,” said Caranby 突然に, “let the 事例/患者 be, Mr. Jennings.”

“What did 行方不明になる Saxon tell you?” asked the 探偵,刑事 irrelevantly.

Mallow sat 負かす/撃墜する and in a 静める 発言する/表明する 詳細(に述べる)d all that he had learned from Juliet. “So you see it throws no light on the 支配する.” Had Mallow について言及するd the time at which Juliet 主張するd she saw him climb over the 塀で囲む a new light would certainly have been thrown. But he purposely omitted this, and 簡単に said that Juliet had seen him. “I told you I was there, Jennings,” he 追加するd. “やめる so,” said the 探偵,刑事. “Certainly, nothing new has come out.”

“井戸/弁護士席, then leave the 事例/患者 alone.”

“I 恐れる I shall have to, now that the Rexton house has been burnt 負かす/撃墜する,” and Jennings 関係のある in his turn what had taken place.

Cuthbert listened moodily. “You see,” he said, “everything is against us. I only 手配中の,お尋ね者 the mystery (疑いを)晴らすd up so that Juliet might marry me, but now that she wishes to do so, without searching その上の, I am not going to do anything else.”

“Nor I,” said Jennings sadly, “nothing is to be learned. The 事例/患者 will remain a mystery to the end of time.”

Caranby rose and took Cuthbert’s arm. “You young men are faint-hearted,” he said, with a shrug.

“If you want my opinion, Mrs. Octagon killed her sister. A 致命的な woman, I tell you both — a 致命的な woman.”

“And a clever one,” said Jennings gloomily, “she has baffled me.”

一時期/支部 XIX
Susan’s 発見

Although Jennings appeared to acquiesce in Mallow’s suggestion that the 事例/患者 should be abandoned, he had not the slightest 意向 of leaving the 事柄 alone. His professional pride was irritated by the difficulties, and he swore that he would in some way learn the truth. Moreover, the 事柄 did not only を取り引きする the death of 行方不明になる Loach, but with the 発見 of a coining ギャング(団). From さまざまな obvious facts connected with the Crooked 小道/航路 罪,犯罪, Jennings made sure that such a ギャング(団) was in 存在, and that the factory had been in the unfinished house. Now that the house was burnt 負かす/撃墜する, it would seem that the coiners had lost their city of 避難, and would probably give up their nefarious 貿易(する). As the ギャング(団) — 裁判官ing from the number of 誤った coins 循環させるd during the past five years — had been in 存在 for a long time, it was probable that the members had made 十分な money to retire from so dangerous a 商売/仕事.

“I wonder if the house was 始める,決める on 解雇する/砲火/射撃 by this 逮捕(する)d man, out of 復讐,” thought Jennings, as he dressed to go out, “or whether the ギャング(団), finding things were growing dangerous since the death of 行方不明になる Loach, ordered him to destroy the factory? I can hardly think that, as to 保存する the secret, 行方不明になる Loach was assassinated. It is not likely that after 支払う/賃金ing so terrible a price, such 破壊 would be agreed upon. Certainly the factory may be 除去するd to another place. Humph! I wonder if I can trace it. The best thing for me to do will be to go to Rexton and look at the 廃虚s.”

So to Rexton the 探偵,刑事 went, and 設立する a large (人が)群がる 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the 塀で囲む of the park. This had been broken 負かす/撃墜する in several places so as to 収容する/認める the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 engines, and Jennings 設立する a policeman on 義務 who had been one of the first to see the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, and who had indeed 召喚するd the 旅団. On telling his 指名する and position, the man was willing to 明言する/公表する all he knew.

“I was on 義務 about eight o’clock,” he said 公式に. “There was a high 勝利,勝つd blowing, but the night was 罰金 and 乾燥した,日照りの. While walking 負かす/撃墜する Crooked 小道/航路, ーするつもりであるing to take the path to the 駅/配置する, I saw a light behind the 塀で囲む of the park. Then a tongue of 炎上 発射 up, and it didn’t need much cleverness to see that the old house was on 解雇する/砲火/射撃. Almost before I could collect my wits, sir, the place was in a 炎. You see the 乾燥した,日照りの 天候, the heat and the high 勝利,勝つd, made everything 炎 finely. I signalled for the 旅団, and it (機の)カム up as soon as possible. But as there is no gate in the 塀で囲む, we had to break it 負かす/撃墜する to get the engines in. There was a large (人が)群がる by this time, and we had all the help we needed. By this time the whole house was 炎上ing like a bonfire. When we got the 塀で囲む 負かす/撃墜する the most part of the house was gone, and the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 had caught the surrounding shrubs, so all we could do was to 停止(させる) on the 辛勝する/優位 of the 集まり and squirt water, in the hope of putting out the 炎上s. But, Lord bless you!” said the officer with good-humored contempt, “you might 同様に have tried with a child’s squirt. As you see, sir, everything is gone within the 塀で囲む. Leastways, all but that big oak 近づく the 塀で囲む.”

It was as the man said. House, trees, shrubs, even the grass had been swept away by the 猛烈な/残忍な 炎上s. Within the 塀で囲むs which had secluded the place from the world was a blackened space covered with 破片. Where the house had stood was a 塚 of 新たな展開d アイロンをかける girders, charred beams and broken 予定するs. And everywhere the 勝利,勝つd was 解除するing the 罰金 gray ashes and scattering them abroad, as though in 悲しみ for the 破壊 of the previous night. Jennings took all this in at a ちらりと見ること. Policemen were on guard at the さまざまな gaps in the 塀で囲む, as no one was 許すd to enter. But the 探偵,刑事, by virtue of his office, walked across the 明らかにする expanse with the 視察官, and trod under foot the 黒人/ボイコット ashes. There was nothing to be 伸び(る)d, however, by this 査察. All that could be seen were the destroyed park and the 塚 where the house had been. “What of the cellars?” asked Jennings.

“井戸/弁護士席,” said 視察官 Twining genially, “I suppose there are cellars, but there’s nothing in them. The house was shut up for years by a queer nobleman.”

“By Lord Caranby,” replied the 探偵,刑事. “I know. I suppose the cellars are under that heap. I must get Lord Caranby to 許す me to (疑いを)晴らす it away.”

“I 推定する/予想する that will be done, whether or no. Lord Caranby (機の)カム 負かす/撃墜する and told one of our men that he ーするつもりであるd to throw 負かす/撃墜する the 塀で囲む and let the place as a building 場所/位置. So when the building begins the heap will soon be (疑いを)晴らすd away and the cellars laid 明らかにする. But there’s nothing there,” said the 視察官 again.

“I am not so sure of that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. I have an idea,” answered the 探偵,刑事, who did not wish to tell the man how he now began to fancy that the factory for safety had been placed in the cellars. “By the way, did this man who was 逮捕(する)d give his 指名する?”

“No. He 辞退するs to answer any questions. He was, as you know, Mr. Jennings, 逮捕(する)d for trying to pass a bad shilling, but there is no 疑問 he 解雇する/砲火/射撃d the place. The 瓶/封じ込める of 石油 he had in his 所有/入手 was empty, and —”

“Yes! I heard all that. Where is he now?”

The 視察官 指名するd a place 近づく Rexton where the man had been incarcerated, 未解決の 存在 brought before the 治安判事. “I am going that way,” said the 視察官. “If you like to come —”

“I’ll come,” said Jennings. “I ーするつもりであるd to see this man. There has been a lot of talk about 誤った coins 存在 passed lately.”

Mr. Twining nodded, and began to tell of さまざまな 事例/患者s which had taken place in the 地区. The two took the train to the place where the police 駅/配置する to which the 視察官 belonged was 据えるd. It was now after twelve o’clock, and Jennings thought he would have some 昼食 before going to the 駅/配置する. But, 突然に, a constable seeing the 視察官, (機の)カム hurriedly に向かって him, saluting as he spoke.

“Please, sir, you’re 手配中の,お尋ね者 at the 駅/配置する,” he said. “A message was sent to Rexton.”

“I have just come from Rexton. What is it?”

“That man who was 逮捕(する)d for coining, sir?”

“What about him?” asked the 視察官, while Jennings listened with all his ears. He was far from 推定する/予想するing to hear the reply.

“He is dead, sir,” said the policeman.

“Dead! What do you mean? He was 井戸/弁護士席 enough this morning.”

“井戸/弁護士席, sir, he’s dead now — 毒(薬)d!”

“毒(薬)d!” echoed Jennings, and thought —“Ha! here’s an 望ましくない 証言,証人/目撃する got out of the way.” Then he followed in the wake of the 視察官, who on 審理,公聴会 the news, hurriedly walked に向かって the police 駅/配置する. Here they 設立する that the news was true. The constable left in 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 of the office was 大いに agitated, as it seemed he had been lax in doing his 義務. But he made a faithful 報告(する)/憶測.

“It was this way, sir,” he said, trying to speak calmly. “A boy of fifteen, very 貧しく dressed — in rags almost — (機の)カム crying and asking for the 囚人. He said the 囚人 was his father.”

“How did he know that, when the 囚人 gave no 指名する and was 逮捕(する)d only last night?”

“The boy — Billy Tyke his 指名する is, so I suppose the father is called Tyke also — says his father went out last night. He was always a drunkard, and left the boy to 餓死する. The boy followed him later, and knowing he would be on the burst, went to the public-house, where the man was 逮捕(する)d for passing the bad shilling. There, he was told that his father was in 刑務所,拘置所, and (機の)カム here to ask us to let him see him.”

“You should have 辞退するd and have 拘留するd the boy. 井戸/弁護士席?”

“I was moved by the little chap’s 涙/ほころびs,” said the constable, abashed, “so I let him go into the 独房.”

“Were you with him?” asked the 視察官 はっきりと.

“No, sir. We left them alone for a few minutes. As the boy was so sad and 削減(する) up, I thought there would be no 害(を与える) in doing that. 井戸/弁護士席, sir, the boy (機の)カム out again in ten minutes, still crying, and said he would get a lawyer to defend his father. He did not believe his father had passed the money. Then he went away. Later — about half an hour later, we went into the 独房 and 設立する the man lying groaning, with an empty 瓶/封じ込める of whisky beside him. The doctor (機の)カム and said he thought the man had been 毒(薬)d. The man groaned and said the young shaver had done for him. Then he became unconscious and died.”

Jennings listened to this 声明 calmly. He saw again the 手渡す of the coiners. The person who controlled the members evidently thought that the man would blab, and accordingly took 予防の 対策 to silence him. Without 疑問, the man had been 毒(薬)d, and the boy had been sent to do it. “What is the boy like?” he asked.

“Billy Tyke, sir?” said the constable, replying on a nod from his 長,指導者, to whom he looked for 指示/教授/教育s, “a thin boy, fair and with red 縁s 一連の会議、交渉/完成する his 注目する,もくろむs — looks half 餓死するd, sir, and has a scarred mouth, as though he had been 削減(する) on the upper lip with a knife.”

Jennings started, but 抑えるd his emotion under the keen 注目する,もくろむs of the observant Twining. He had an idea that he knew who the boy was, but as yet could not be sure. “I’ll 削減(する) along to the public-house where this man was 逮捕(する)d,” said Jennings, “I suppose you’ll 持つ/拘留する an 検死.”

“Certainly, seeing the man has been 毒(薬)d.” Then the 視察官 proceeded to rebuke the constable who had 成し遂げるd his 義務 so ill, and 脅すd him with 解雇/(訴訟の)却下. Jennings left in the 中央 of the trouble, after getting the 視察官 to 約束 that, he would 報告(する)/憶測 the result of the 検死.

At the public-house — it was the “White Horse,” Keighley, an 隣接するing 郊外 — Jennings learned that the man who called himself — or rather who was called by his 推定するd son — Tyke, was not an habitue of the place. Therefore, the boy could not have known that his supposed father was there. 明らかに some (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) had reached the lad, whereby he was able to trace Tyke to the 刑務所,拘置所, and had carried to him there the 瓶/封じ込める of 毒(薬)d whisky. Jennings returned to town やめる 満足させるd that he had another 手がかり(を与える) to the 存在 of the coiners. Also, he 決定するd to 満足させる himself on a point 関心ing Maraquito, about which he had long been in 疑問.

For the next few days Jennings did nothing. He kept away from Mallow, as he did not wish that young man to know that he was still going on with the 事例/患者. いつかs he went to Maraquito’s place, and learned incidentally that, as there was a chance of her 存在 cured, she was about to give up the 賭事ing salon. Jennings やめる 推定する/予想するd this (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状), and 保証するd Hale, who gave it to him, that it was the best thing Maraquito could do. “Sooner or later the police will pounce 負かす/撃墜する on this place,” he said.

“As you are a 探偵,刑事, I wonder you 港/避難所’t stopped it before,” said Hale, with an unpleasant smile.

“I had my 推論する/理由s,” said Jennings calmly, “besides, Maraquito has 行為/行うd the place やめる respectably. I suppose,” he 追加するd idly, “you will go abroad also?”

“What do you mean by that?” 需要・要求するd Hale in silky トンs.

“Mrs. Herne has gone to the Continent,” said Jennings 静かに, “and if Senora Gredos gives up this very dangerous 商売/仕事, she may go also. As you will be 奪うd of two of your friends, Mr. Hale, doubtless you will go also.”

“I might. One never knows,” replied Hale coolly.

“By the way?” asked Jennings, looking 一連の会議、交渉/完成する, “I was 認める by a parlor-maid this evening. Where is Gibber?”

“I believe Senora Gredos has 解任するd him for dishonesty.”

“Ah, really,” replied the 探偵,刑事, who had his own opinion. “So it seems Senora Gredos is getting rid of her 世帯 already.”

Hale winced under the 注目する,もくろむ of Jennings and turned away with a shrug. He was 明らかに glad to get away. Jennings looked after him with a smile. “I’ll catch the whole ギャング(団),” he murmured, and took his 出発, having learned what he wished to know — to wit, that Gibber had disappeared.

“Without 疑問 he was the boy who 毒(薬)d Tyke,” said Jennings, as he walked home with a cigar for company. “I believe Maraquito is the 長,率いる of the ギャング(団), and the 致命的な woman that Caranby 会談 about. She heard that Tyke had been 逮捕(する)d, and sent the boy to 毒(薬) him lest he should blab. I wonder if it was by her direction that the house was 解雇する/砲火/射撃d. 井戸/弁護士席, I’ll wait. As yet I cannot get a 令状, having nothing but theory to go on. But the 逮捕するs are 存在 spread, and unless Maraquito and her friends (疑いを)晴らす out with Mrs. Herne, they will be caught. When they are all in 刑務所,拘置所 there may be some chance of learning who 殺人d that unfortunate woman in Rose Cottage.”

Later on, Jennings received the 報告(する)/憶測 of the 検死, which appeared also that evening in the newspapers. It seemed that Tyke had been 毒(薬)d with arsenic, 治めるd in the whisky 瓶/封じ込める. From his 外見 he was a hard drinker, and doubtless the boy had no difficulty in inducing him to drink. Tyke had drank 自由に — indeed the doctor said he had taken enough to kill three men — and therefore he had died almost すぐに the boy left, and before he had time to speak. The 視察官, who wrote to Jennings, 明言する/公表するd that the constable who had 認める the boy had been 解任するd the 軍隊, but the boy himself could not be traced. “I shouldn’t be surprised if he had taken 避難 in the cellars of the house,” said Jennings, “that is, if the factory is there. I must see Caranby and get his 許可 to 除去する the rubbish. Only when I have searched the 創立/基礎 of that house, will my 疑惑s be 始める,決める at 残り/休憩(する).”

予期しない 援助(する) (機の)カム to help him in this 4半期/4分の1, as Caranby sent a 公式文書,認める, 明言する/公表するing that the rubbish and 破片 of the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 would be 除去するd next week, and 招待するing Jennings to be 現在の. Caranby 追加するd that Mallow had 再開するd his visits to the “神社 of the Muses,” but that Mrs. Octagon still continued 敵意を持った. Basil, however, was more friendly. “I daresay,” commented Jennings, on reading this last 宣告,判決, “he has his own axe to grind over that money.”

It was about this time that the 探偵,刑事 received a visit from Susan 認める. She looked as neat and timid as usual, and appeared at his rooms one morning with a request for an interview. “I said I would help Mr. Mallow if I could,” she said when seated.

“Oh, and have you anything likely to help him,-”

“Not 正確に/まさに,” said Susan, “but I 設立する some old papers of father’s.”

“I don’t やめる understand,” said the 探偵,刑事, who did not see what the girl’s father had to do in the 事柄.

“井戸/弁護士席, it’s this way, sir. Father was 毒(薬)d five years ago.”

“Who 毒(薬)d him?”

“That we never knew,” explained Susan. “Father’s 指名する was Maxwell, but when mother married Mr. 認める she made me take that 指名する. It was supposed that father committed 自殺, and mother felt the 不名誉 dreadful. That was why she married and changed the 指名する. But I don’t believe father, when on the point of making us rich, would swallow so much arsenic as he did.”

“What’s that — arsenic?” said Jennings, 解任するing the death of Tyke.

“Yes, sir. It was this way. Father was working at Rexton —”

“At Rexton?” said Jennings impatiently, “yes, yes, go on.”

“At a house 近づく the 鉄道 駅/配置する which I can point out, mother having seen it when she went to 問い合わせ.”

“問い合わせ about what?”

“About father’s secret 職業. He had one he used to go to for three hours every day by 協定 with the foreman. Father was very clever and could do all sorts of things. Mother never knew what the 職業 was, but father said it would make us all rich.”

“Yes, go on.” Jennings looked at her, nursing his chin.

“The other day I (機の)カム across some papers,” said Susan, taking a roll out of her pocket. “And it 証明するd to be 計画(する)s of father’s secret 職業. And you might have knocked me 負かす/撃墜する with a feather, Mr. Jennings, when I saw on the 計画(する)s the 指名する of Rose Cottage.”

The 探偵,刑事 jumped up, 大いに excited. “Rose Cottage!” he cried, 持つ/拘留するing out his 手渡すs. “The 計画(する)s — the 計画(する)s!”

“I brought them, as I know 行方不明になる Saxon who now has Rose Cottage, is engaged to Mr. Mallow —”

“港/避難所’t you got over that nonsense yet?” said Jennings, who was looking 熱望して at the 計画(する)s.

“Yes, I have,” replied 行方不明になる 認める, confidentially. “I am engaged to a rising young パン職人 who is just a foreman just now, but we hope to save and start a shop. Still, I 約束d to help Mr. Mallow, and I thought he would like to see those 計画(する)s. You see, sir, they have to do with Rose Cottage.”

“Yes, I do see,” almost shouted Jennings, “and I’ll 捕らえる、獲得する the whole lot.”

“What are you talking about, sir?”

“Ah, I forgot you don’t know,” said the 探偵,刑事 沈下するing, “I’ll tell you later. But you have made a 発見, Susan. This 計画(する) shows a secret 入り口 into Rose Cottage.”

“I know it does, sir, and I thought 行方不明になる Saxon would like to see it. I don’t know what 行方不明になる Loach 手配中の,お尋ね者 with a secret 入り口, though.”

“I fancy I do,” said Jennings, rolling up the 計画(する)s. “Your father was a very clever man, Susan. Too clever for some people. He made this secret 入り口 when the new wing of the cottage was built five years ago, and those who 雇うd him gave him arsenic by way of a reward. Tyke died of arsenic also, so they are carrying on the same game.”

“Oh dear, oh dear!” wept Susan, not 審理,公聴会 the latter part of the 宣告,判決. “So father was 毒(薬)d after all. Who did it, sir?”

“I can’t tell you that,” said Jennings, becoming 用心深い. “You had better say nothing about this, Susan, till I give you leave. You have done Mr. Mallow a 広大な/多数の/重要な service. These 計画(する)s may lead to a 発見 of the 殺害者.”

“And then 行方不明になる Saxon will marry Mr. Mallow.”

“Yes. Will you be sorry?”

“No, Mr. Jennings. I am やめる 満足させるd with my パン職人.”

“Then I tell you what, Susan. Lord Caranby has 申し込む/申し出d a reward for the (犯罪,病気などの)発見 of the 殺害者. If these 計画(する)s lead to his (犯罪,病気などの)発見, you will receive a 十分な sum to 始める,決める up in 商売/仕事.”

一時期/支部 XX
Basil

While Jennings was thus working at the 事例/患者, and hoping to bring it to a successful 問題/発行する, Cuthbert was 残り/休憩(する)ing in the happy belief that no その上の steps were 存在 taken. The 探偵,刑事 had appeared so despondent when Mallow called with Caranby that the former thought with some show of 推論する/理由 that he meant what he said. Had he known that Jennings was still active he would have been much 乱すd.

Agreeably to Cuthbert’s suggestion, Juliet had 申し込む/申し出d the money of 行方不明になる Loach to her mother. But Mrs. Octagon 辞退するd to be 賄賂d — as she put it — into 同意ing to the match. In the presence of Mallow himself, she 表明するd the greatest detestation for him and for his uncle, and told Juliet she would never 認める her as a daughter if she married the young man. The poor girl was thus between two 解雇する/砲火/射撃s — that of her love for Cuthbert, and that of her mother’s hearty 憎悪 for the Earl and his 甥. Under the circumstances Cuthbert thought it best to remain away from the “神社 of the Muses” for a time until Mrs. Octagon could be brought to see 推論する/理由. But she was so obstinate a woman that it was doubtful if she would ever behave in, an agreeable manner. Cuthbert returned to his rooms in a rather low 明言する/公表する of mind. He knew that Juliet, whatever happened, would remain true to him, and had やめる hoped to 賄賂 Mrs. Octagon into 同意ing by means of the 相続するd money. But now things seemed more hopeless than ever. Juliet, although not very fond of her mother, was a 充てるd daughter from a sense of 義務, and it would be difficult to bring her to 同意 to a match against which the 年上の woman so obstinately 始める,決める her 直面する.

Certainly Juliet had said she would marry with or without her mother’s 同意, but now that the 同意 was withheld with violent words, she seemed inclined to wait. However, if she did not marry Mallow, he knew 井戸/弁護士席 that she would marry no one else, least of all the objectionable Arkwright, Cuthbert derived some degree of 慰安 from this small fact. He wondered if there was any chance of 軍隊ing Mrs. Octagon into giving her 同意, but after 調査するing the 状況/情勢 could see no 適切な時期.

After dinner that night, Cuthbert was thinking of going to see his uncle, who still stopped at the Avon Hotel when Hale was 発表するd. Mallow was surprised. The lawyer was not a friend of his, and he had no liking for his company. However, he felt a 確かな curiosity as to the 推論する/理由 of this 予期しない visit and welcomed the man with civility. But he did not ask him to have any coffee though it was on the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する. Cuthbert held to the traditions of the East regarding bread and salt, and he wished to leave himself 解放する/自由な to を取り引きする Hale as an enemy, should occasion arise, as it might. Hale was far too intimate with Maraquito to please the young man. And Maraquito’s attentions were far too 圧力(をかける)ing to make Cuthbert feel comfortable in her presence.

“井戸/弁護士席, Mr. Hale,” said Mallow coldly, “why have you come?”

The lawyer, who was in an evening 控訴 and dressed with taste and care, took a seat, although not 招待するd to do so. He looked 冷淡な and 静める, but there was an excited gleam in his large 注目する,もくろむs which showed that his calmness masked some emotion, the 原因(となる) of which Cuthbert could not fathom. “I have come to see you about young Saxon,” he said.

“Really,” answered Mallow coolly, although surprised, “what can you have to say to me about him.”

“He is your friend —”

“容赦 me. I can hardly call him so. We are 知識s only.”

“But you are engaged to his sister,” 固執するd Hale.

Mallow threw away the cigarette he was lighting and jumped up. “I see no 推論する/理由 why 行方不明になる Saxon’s 指名する should be について言及するd, Mr. Hale.”

“Don’t you, Mr. Mallow? I do.”

“Then I 反対する to your について言及するing it. 明言する/公表する your 商売/仕事 and go, Mr. Hale. I have no 知識 with you.”

“I can’t 明言する/公表する my 商売/仕事 unless I について言及する 行方不明になる Saxon’s 指名する.”

“Then you will please to take yourself off,” said Mallow.

Hale smiled coldly, though evidently annoyed. “I think it is to your 利益/興味 to hear me,” he said deliberately, “and to the 利益/興味 of the lady whom you hope to call your wife.”

“Does this 商売/仕事 関心 行方不明になる Saxon?”

“間接に it does. But it rather has to do with her brother.”

Mallow frowned. The conversation was taking a turn of which he did not 認可する. However, he knew 井戸/弁護士席 the dangerous ground upon which he stood with regard to the 事例/患者, and thought it best to hear what his 予期しない 訪問者 had to say. “明言する/公表する your 商売/仕事,” he said curtly.

“Very good,” replied Hale, nursing his silk hat on his 膝. “I see you don’t 申し込む/申し出 me coffee or a cigarette.”

“We are not friends, sir. And let me remind you that you thrust yourself uninvited on me.”

“To do you a service,” said Hale quickly. “I think, therefore, that I deserve a better 歓迎会.”

“Will you please come to the point?” said Mallow coldly, “whatever the service may be, I am やめる sure it is two for you if one for me. You are not the man to go out of your way, Mr. Hale, to help anyone.”

Hale nodded and smiled grimly. “You are やめる 権利. Now, then, Mr. Mallow, do you know that Basil Saxon was to have 相続するd the money of my late (弁護士の)依頼人, 行方不明になる Loach?”

“No, I never knew that. I understood that 行方不明になる Loach always ーするつもりであるd to leave the money to 行方不明になる Saxon.”

Hale shook his 井戸/弁護士席-oiled 長,率いる. “On the contrary, Mr. Saxon was her favorite. In spite of his wild ways she liked him. However, she was also fond of 行方不明になる Saxon, and you may thank 行方不明になる Loach, Mr. Mallow, for having been the means of 今後ing your 約束/交戦.”

“What do you mean by that?” asked Cuthbert 怒って.

“Mrs. Octagon,” went on the lawyer deliberately, “would never have 同意d to 行方不明になる Saxon becoming engaged to you had not 行方不明になる Loach 主張するd that she should agree.”

“Seeing that Mrs. Octagon hated her sister and was not likely, to be 影響(力)d by her, I do not see how that can be.”

“Perhaps not. にもかかわらず, such is the 事例/患者. You saw how, when 行方不明になる Loach died, Mrs. Octagon 掴むd the first 適切な時期 to place 障害s in the way of your marriage.”

“I believe she did that on Maraquito’s account, Mr. Hale. I know perfectly 井戸/弁護士席 that Mrs. Octagon called on Maraquito.”

“やめる so — to ask Maraquito not to let Basil Saxon play beyond his means. Certainly, Maraquito having a strange fancy for you, agreed, on 条件 that Mrs. Octagon 辞退する to let 行方不明になる Saxon marry you. But, in any 事例/患者, Mrs. Octagon hates your uncle too much to 許す her daughter to become your wife. You will never get Mrs. Octagon’s 同意 unless I help you.”

“You!” echoed Mallow, astonished and annoyed. “What possible 影響(力) can you have with Mrs. Octagon. I have certainly seen you at her house, but I scarcely think you know her 井戸/弁護士席 enough —”

“Oh, yes, I do.” Hale rose in his earnestness. “See here, sir; I love Maraquito and I wish to marry her.”

“You can, so far as I am 関心d,”

“So you say,” said Hale 激しく, “but you cannot be ignorant that Maraquito loves you.”

“I don’t see what that has to do with our conversation,” replied Mallow, growing red and restless.

“It has everything to do with the 事柄. I want to marry Maraquito, as I am rich and 深く,強烈に in love with her. She would have become my wife long ago but that you crossed her path. Lord knows why she should love a commonplace man like you, but she does.”

“Isn’t that rather personal?” said Mallow dryly.

“I beg your 容赦. But what I wish to say is this. If you marry 行方不明になる Saxon and place yourself beyond Maraquito’s reach, I will be able to induce her to marry me. Our 利益/興味s are bound up together. Now, to do this you must have Mrs. Octagon’s 同意. I can get it.”

“In what way?”

“She loves Basil, her son, more than she does herself,” went on Hale, 支払う/賃金ing no attention to the 発言/述べる. “To save him she would do much.”

“To save him from what?”

“Basil;” continued the lawyer, still not noticing the interruption, “is a young fool. He thought himself sure of 行方不明になる Loach’s money — and he was until a week before she died. Then he (機の)カム to Rose Cottage and 侮辱d her —”

“I have heard that. She ordered him out of the house.”

“She did. 行方不明になる Loach was a bitter, acrid old woman when the fit took her. However, Basil 侮辱d her so grossly that she made a new will and left all the money to 行方不明になる Saxon. Now it happens that Basil, to 供給(する) himself with 基金s, when his aunt 辞退するd to 援助(する) his extravagance その上の, (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd her 指名する to a 法案 — What’s the 事柄?”

“Nothing,” said Mallow, who had started from his 議長,司会を務める, “only your 知能 is 十分に unpleasant.”

“I can understand that,” sneered the lawyer, “since you wish to marry his sister. You don’t want a forger for a brother-inlaw.”

“Who does?” said Cuthbert, not telling that he was thinking of Basil in 関係 with a still darker 罪,犯罪. “Go on, Mr. Hale.”

“The 法案 fell into my 手渡すs. When 行方不明になる Saxon got the money she transferred the 商売/仕事 to her own lawyer. I had to give the 法案 up.”

“Ah!” said Mallow meaningly, “I see now the 持つ/拘留する you had over Basil.”

“Yes, that was my 持つ/拘留する. I did not want to give up the 法案. But it had been met, and as 行方不明になる Loach is dead, there was a difficulty in 証明するing the 署名 to be a 偽造. I therefore gave the 法案 to 行方不明になる Saxon. She knew of her brother’s 犯罪 —”

“I see — I see,” murmured Cuthbert, wondering if she had been 保護物,者ing Basil as 井戸/弁護士席 as him. “My poor girl!”

“She is a 勇敢に立ち向かう girl,” said Hale, in a 発言する/表明する of 気が進まない 賞賛. “She met me and fought for her brother. I gave way, as I did not wish to make trouble. Why, it doesn’t 事柄. However, you see how things stand. Basil is a forger. If his mother knew that he was in danger of 存在 逮捕(する)d she would 同意 to your marriage, and then I might marry Maraquito. I have come here to tell you this.”

“But if 行方不明になる Saxon has the 法案, and there is a difficulty of 証明するing the 署名, 借りがあるing to 行方不明になる Loach’s death, I don’t see —”

“Ah, not in this 事例/患者. But Basil Saxon (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd my 指名する also. I 持つ/拘留する a (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd check. I met it and said nothing about it. Basil, thinking because his sister held the 法案 that he was out of my 力/強力にする, was most insolent. But I said nothing of the check which he thought I never (悪事,秘密などを)発見するd. The more fool he. He must have a 罰金 opinion of my 商売/仕事 capacity. However, as the check is only for fifty hounds, he probably thought that it would escape my notice. 井戸/弁護士席, you see how I can 軍隊 Mrs. Octagon’s 手渡す. What do you say?”

Mallow put his 手渡すs to his 長,率いる やめる bewildered by the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状).

“You must give me time to think,” he said, “but if I 同意 —”

“You marry 行方不明になる Saxon. I ask no reward for my services. All I want is to get you out of my way as regards Maraquito. I will give you the (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd check on the day you 結婚する 行方不明になる Saxon. I can see,” 追加するd Hale, rising, “that you are somewhat upset with this news, and no wonder. You never thought Basil was such a scoundrel.”

“I thought him a fool, never a knave.”

“My dear sir, he is a 完全に bad man,” said Hale cynically, “though I daresay other people are just as bad. However, I will give you a week to think over the 事柄. Good-night.”

“Good-night,” said Mallow, touching the bell, but without 会合 the gaze of Hale, “I will think over what you have said.”

“You will find it to your advantage to do so,” replied Hale, and went out of the room at the heels of the servant.

Mallow remained where he was in 深い thought. It was terrible to think that the brother of Juliet should be such a scamp. A forger and perhaps something else. Here, indeed, was a 動機 for 行方不明になる Loach to 会合,会う with her death at her 甥’s 手渡す. Probably on the night in question she 脅すd to let the 法律 take its course, and then Basil — but at this point of his meditations a (犯罪の)一味 (機の)カム at the door. In a few moments Cuthbert heard a step he knew and rose with an agitated 空気/公表する. Basil entered the room.

The young man was carefully dressed as usual in his rather 影響する/感情d way, but his 直面する was pale and he seemed uneasy. “I see you have had a visit from Hale,” he said, trying to appear at his 緩和する.

“How do you know that?” asked Mallow 突然の, and 拒絶する/低下するing to see the proffered 手渡す.

“I saw Hale enter a cab as I (機の)カム up the stairs,” said Basil, 製図/抽選 支援する; “and even had I not seen him I would know that he has been telling you a lot of lies because you 辞退する to shake 手渡すs.”

“Are they lies?”

“Ah, then, he has been talking. He is my enemy. He comes here to do me 害(を与える),” said Basil, his 注目する,もくろむs flashing.

“He (機の)カム here as your friend,” replied Mallow 突然の, “Hale wishes me to marry your sister. He 申し込む/申し出s to を引き渡す to me a 確かな check if I marry her.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” cried Basil petulantly, and threw himself into a 議長,司会を務める, very pale.

“I think you know very 井戸/弁護士席. Why have you come here?”

Basil looked sullen. “I want you to marry Juliet also. And I (機の)カム to say that I thought I could get my mother to take that money and to 身を引く her 対立.”

“So that you may have the fingering of the money?”

“Oh, I suppose she will give me some,” said Basil airily, and began to roll a cigarette with deft fingers.

Mallow was enraged at this coolness. “Basil, you are a scoundrel!”

“Am I, indeed? Nice words to use to your 未来 親族.”

“How do you know I will ever be your 親族. Suppose I 辞退する Hale’s 需要・要求する, and let him proceed on this check?”

Basil’s cigarette dropped our of his 手渡す. “I don’t know what check you mean,” he 宣言するd with alarm, “there was a 法案 — I couldn’t help myself. My aunt —”

“Gave you a lot of money and you repaid her by (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むing her 指名する. But you also (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd Hale’s 指名する.”

“Ah, I know what you mean now. It was only for fifty 続けざまに猛撃するs.”

“Had it been for fifty pence the 罪,犯罪 is the same,” said Mallow 熱心に, “why did you not let me help you? I 申し込む/申し出d to. But you preferred to commit a 罪,犯罪.”

“Such a fuss to make,” muttered the 青年 discontentedly, “the 法案 is in the 所有/入手 of Juliet, and no steps can be taken on that. If mother 受託するs this six thousand a year, she will buy the check 支援する from Hale. He’s a scoundrel and will do anything for money. Then you can marry Juliet, and I can go abroad for a few years on an income of three thousand. Mother will 許す me that.”

The coolness of this speech almost took Mallow’s breath away. The man did not seem to be at all 影響する/感情d by his 罪,犯罪. So long as he was not 設立する out he appeared to think nothing about the 事柄. “And I know you will marry Juliet,” proceeded Basil, “you love her too 井戸/弁護士席 to give her up.”

“That is true enough,” said Cuthbert, who, having already spared him too long, now 決定するd to punish him, “but I may love her so 井戸/弁護士席 that I may not wish to buy her.”

“What do you mean by buying her?” 需要・要求するd Basil sulkily.

“What I say. Is it only to save you that I am to marry Juliet? My marriage must be one of love —”

“She does love you. And I don’t see,” 追加するd Basil complainingly, “why you should jump on a chap for wishing for your happiness —”

“And your own safety.”

“Oh, bosh! The 法案 is destroyed. Juliet put it into the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, and Hale will sell the check at his own price.”

“His price is that I am to marry Juliet.”

“So that he can marry Maraquito, I suppose. I know that she loves you and that Hale is crazy about her. It’s very hard on me,” whined the egotistical 青年, “for I want to marry her myself, only mother put her spoke in my wheel.”

“Dare you 申し込む/申し出 yourself to Maraquito, bad as she is, knowing what you are?” cried Mallow, 公正に/かなり disgusted.

“Oh, the 偽造s. What of them? It’s nothing.” Basil snapped his fingers. “Maraquito won’t mind. But I suppose I’ll have to give her up on account of that infernal check. Such a small one as it was too. I wish I had made it one hundred and fifty. I could have done so.”

In the 直面する of this callous 行為 it was sheer 悪事を働くこと to spare the man. “I do not allude to the 偽造, though that is bad enough,” said Cuthbert, ちらりと見ることing 一連の会議、交渉/完成する to see that the door was の近くにd, “but to the 殺人 of your aunt. You killed her.”

Basil leaped from his 議長,司会を務める with 広大な/多数の/重要な indignation. “I did not. How dare you 告発する/非難する me?” he panted.

“Because I have proofs.”

“Proofs?” Basil dropped 支援する as though he had been 発射.

“Yes. I learned from my man that you took the bowie knife which used to hang on the 塀で囲む yonder. He saw you take it, and thought you had received my 許可. You went to the Marlow Theatre with your sister. You left her in the box and went out after eight o’clock. You went to Rexton to Rose Cottage. After Clancy left the house your aunt 認める you and you killed her —”

“I 断言する I did not!” said Basil, perfectly white and trembling.

“You did, you liar! Juliet followed you to the cottage.”

“Juliet? She did not know I had gone.”

“Ah! you see, you were there. Yes, she said she went ーするために try and make it up between your aunt and you. But I believe now she went to see if you were committing a 罪,犯罪. I am not aware how much Juliet knows of your wickedness, Basil, but —”

“She knows only about the 偽造. I was not at the cottage.”

Mallow made a 疲れた/うんざりした gesture. “Why do you tell these falsehoods?” he said with 軽蔑(する). “Juliet entered the cottage by means of her latch-重要な. She 設立する 行方不明になる Loach dead and the knife on the 床に打ち倒す. You dropped it there. She (機の)カム out and saw a man of my 高さ — which you are, and of my 外見 (you are not unlike me at a distance) climbing the 塀で囲む into the park. He had on alight overcoat — my overcoat. Juliet thought I was the man. I did not say no. But the moment she について言及するd the coat I knew it was you. You borrowed the coat from me, and returned it the other day. Now then —”

“Stop! stop!” cried Basil, rising with pale lips and shaking 手渡すs, “I 収容する/認める that I went to Rexton on that night, but I 断言する I am innocent.”

“Pah!” cried Mallow, thinking this was another 嘘(をつく), and a weak one too.

Basil 掴むd him by the arm. “Mallow, I 断言する by all that I 持つ/拘留する most sacred that I did not kill Aunt Selina. I own I took the knife. I wished to 脅す her into giving me money. I left the theatre ーするために go to Rexton. I thought I might be spotted if I (機の)カム by the 小道/航路. I climbed the 塀で囲む of the park on the other 味方する after nine, some time after nine. I was crossing when a man chased me. I don’t know who it was. I could not see in the bushes, and the night was rather dark at the moment, though (疑いを)晴らす later. I dropped the knife, it fell out of my pocket, and I 緊急発進するd over the 塀で囲む and bolted.”

“Then how did Juliet see you の直前に eleven?”

“I (機の)カム 支援する for the knife. I thought it might be traced to you and that you might get into trouble. Really I did,” said Basil, seeing Mallow make a gesture of dissent. “I (機の)カム 支援する by the 鉄道 path, and along by the corn. Where Juliet could have been, I don’t know. I climbed the 塀で囲む and crossed the park. I could not find the knife where I thought I had dropped it, 近づく the house. I then climbed the opposite 塀で囲む and got away home. Next day I heard of the death and went 負かす/撃墜する to look for the knife again. I never thought she had been killed with that knife, as no 武器 was 設立する. Juliet said nothing to me about the 事柄 —”

“No. Because she thought the knife was 地雷, as it is, and that I was the man who climbed the 塀で囲む. I was on the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す. I remember telling you that, when we met in the street, and you were afraid. I see now why you asked me if I had been in the park at night.”

“I thought you might have spotted me. When were you there?”

“About twenty minutes past ten.”

“井戸/弁護士席, then, I was there at ten or a few minutes later. I got away from the man who chased me some time before you (機の)カム. It was, as you say, at a 4半期/4分の1 to eleven when I (機の)カム 支援する, and by that time I suppose you had gone.”

“I went over the opposite 塀で囲む as you did,” said Cuthbert, “we must have run each other very の近くに.”

“I 推定する/予想する we were in different parts of the park,” said Basil, “but I 断言する that I am telling you the truth. I said nothing about this, as I was afraid of 存在 逮捕(する)d. But, if you like, I’ll tell that 探偵,刑事 Jennings what I told you. He will help me.”

“My advice to you is to 持つ/拘留する your tongue and keep silent.”

“But if I am traced?” stammered Basil.

“I shall say nothing,” said Mallow, “and Jennings has dropped the 事例/患者. I shall get the check from Hale, and you must go abroad. I believe you are innocent.”

“Oh, thank you — thank you —”

“But you are a scoundrel for all that. When I get you sent abroad and marry your sister, neither she nor I will have anything to do with you. And if you come 支援する to England, look out.”

一時期/支部 XXI
An 実験

Next day Cuthbert received a letter from Jennings. It intimated that Maraquito wished to see him that evening. “If you will call at nine o’clock,” wrote the 探偵,刑事, “she will be alone. The police have decided to の近くに the 賭事ing-house, and she is making 準備s to leave England. I understand she has something to tell you in 関係 with the death of 行方不明になる Loach, which it is 同様に you should hear. A 自白 on her part may save you a lot of trouble in the 未来.”

Mallow hesitated to obey this 召喚するs. He thought it was strange that Maraquito should get the 探偵,刑事 to 令状 to him, as he knew she 不信d the man. And, apart from this, he had no wish to see Senora Gredos again. Things were now smooth between him and Juliet — comparatively so — and it would not do to rouse the girl’s jealousy. Maraquito was a dangerous woman, and if he paid her a 独房監禁 visit, he might 落ちる into some snare which she was やめる 有能な of laying. Such was her infatuation, that he knew she would stop at nothing to 伸び(る) her ends.

On the other 手渡す, Maraquito, to all 外見s, knew of something in 関係 with the 事例/患者 which it behooved him to learn if he wished for peace in the 未来. So far as Mallow knew, the 事柄 was at an end. He believed that Jennings had 棚上げにするd the 事件/事情/状勢, and that no その上の 調査s would be made. This belief 静めるd his 苦悩, as he 大いに 願望(する)d to save Basil Saxon from 逮捕(する). Certainly, the young scamp 抗議するd his innocence, and told a plausible tale, but he was such a liar that Mallow could not be 満足させるd. He might be innocent as he said, yet the facts of the visit to the cottage, the 所有/入手 of the knife and of the overcoat which he wore when seen by Juliet, hinted at his 犯罪. Also the (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd 法案 and check might 巻き込む him in the 事柄. Did Jennings learn of these things, he would certainly 逮捕(する) Saxon on 疑惑, and, for Juliet’s sake, Cuthbert did not wish such a thing to happen.

It struck Mallow that Hale might have confided in Maraquito, with whom he was in love. 存在 unscrupulous, she would probably use this (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状), and might 脅す to 公然と非難する Basil, to the その後の 不名誉 of Juliet, if Cuthbert 辞退するd to marry her. Taking these things into consideration, Mallow decided that it would be best to 支払う/賃金 the visit and learn what Maraquito had to say.

It was a wild, blustering evening, 雨の and damp. When Mallow stepped out of the door he shivered as the keen 勝利,勝つd whistled 負かす/撃墜する the street. Few people were abroad, as they preferred, very sensibly, the 慰安 of a fireside to the 風の強い, gleaming thoroughfares. Wishing his visit to be as secret as possible, Mallow walked to Soho and turned into Golden Square の直前に the 任命するd hour. He did not 推定する/予想する a pleasant interview, as Maraquito was an 野蛮な sort of woman with little 支配(する)/統制する over her very violent emotions. Altogether, he 心配するd a disagreeable 4半期/4分の1 of an hour.

He was 認める smilingly by a woman, and noticed with some surprise that Gibber the page was not at his accustomed 地位,任命する. But he put this 負かす/撃墜する to the fact that there was no 賭事ing on this particular evening. The windows of the 広大な/多数の/重要な salon were dark, and Senora Gredos received him in a small apartment which she used as a sitting-room. Her couch was drawn up の近くに to the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, and she appeared to be in better health than usual. Standing at the door, Mallow thought she made a pretty picture. She had on a white wrapper trimmed with gold lace, and as usual, wore a profusion of 宝石類. Across the lower part of the couch was flung a gorgeous purple coverlet of eastern 製造(する), and what with the brilliant colors and the glitter of precious 石/投石するs, she looked remarkably eastern herself. Mallow noticed 特に how ユダヤ人の she was in 外見, and wondered how he could have been so blind as not to have 発言/述べるd it before. The room looked cheerful and warm, and was welcome after the chilly, dreary streets. Mallow, having taken off his overcoat in the hall, (機の)カム 今後 and 屈服するd somewhat 正式に, but Maraquito was not to be put off with so frigid a 迎える/歓迎するing. 持つ/拘留するing out both 手渡すs, she shook his 温かく and pointed to a 議長,司会を務める 近づく her couch. It was now a few minutes after nine.

“How good of you to come and see me,” she said in her 深い, rich 発言する/表明する. “The evening was so dull.”

“You are not having any play this evening?”

Maraquito shrugged her 罰金 shoulders and unfurled a やめる unnecessary fan, which, to keep up her fiction of 存在 a Spanish lady, she always carried. “Some idiot told the police what was going on and I received a notice to の近くに.”

“But the police knew long ago.”

“Not 公式に. The police can be silent when it 控訴s. And I always kept things very 静かな here. I can’t understand why any 反対 should be made. I 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う that man Jennings told.”

“I thought you liked him.”

“Oh, I fancied he was a friend of yours and so I made the best of him. But, to tell you the truth, Mr. Mallow, I always 不信d him. He is much too fond of asking questions for my taste. Then Mr. Hale told me that the man was a 探偵,刑事, so I understood his unwarrantable curiosity. I shall have nothing to do with him in 未来.”

“In that 事例/患者,” said Mallow, anxious to arrive at the truth, “I wonder you 雇う him to 令状 letters for you.”

The woman raised herself on one 一連の会議、交渉/完成するd 肘 and looked surprised at this speech. “Really, I don’t think I am so foolish,” said she dryly. “Why do you say that?”

Mallow looked puzzled. “Jennings wrote me a letter, asking me to come here this evening at nine. He said you wished to see me.”

Maraquito’s 注目する,もくろむs flashed. “I always wish to see you,” she said, 沈むing her 発言する/表明する to a tender トン, “and I am much 強いるd that Mr. Jennings’ 公式文書,認める should have brought you here. But I gave him no 当局 to 令状 it.”

“Have you seen Jennings lately?” asked Cuthbert, more and more puzzled.

“A few nights ago. But he said nothing about you. He 簡単に played cards for a time and then took himself off.”

“Are you leaving England?”

“I am. 存在 an 無効の as you see, I have no amusement but card-playing. Now that the Puritan 当局 have stopped that, I cannot stay in this dull country to be bored. But who told you?”

“Jennings said you were making 準備s to leave.”

“In this letter he wrote you?” asked Maraquito, frowning.

“Yes. I am sorry I did not bring the letter with me. But I can show it to you on another occasion. He also said you had something to tell me.”

Maraquito fastened her brilliant 注目する,もくろむs on his 直面する. “Mr. Jennings seems to know much about my 事件/事情/状勢s and to take a 深い 利益/興味 in them. But I 保証する you, I never gave him any 当局 to meddle.”

“Then why did he 令状 and bring me here?”

Senora Gredos frowned and then her 直面する (疑いを)晴らすd. “The man is such a 隠しだてする creature that I don’t 信用 him,” she said; “and yet he 宣言するd himself to be my friend. He knows I like you, and hinted that he should be glad to bring us together.”

“Jennings is a gentleman in spite of his profession,” said Mallow in cutting トンs. “I scarcely think he would take so 広大な/多数の/重要な a liberty.”

“Is it a liberty?” asked Maraquito softly.

“I consider it to be one. Jennings knows that I am engaged.”

“Stop!” she cried, gripping her fan so tightly that her knuckles grew white. “Do you dare to tell me this?”

“Senora — Maraquito — don’t let us have a scene. I told you before that I could not give you the love you asked.”

“And I told you that I would have that love in spite of your 不本意,” said the woman doggedly. “You have 軽蔑(する)d me, and I せねばならない have 十分な pride to let you go your own way. But I am such an infatuated fool that I am content to let you tread on me.”

“I have no wish to do that, but —”

“You do — you do — you do!” she said, 熱心に. “Why can you not love me? I would be a better wife than that doll you —”

“減少(する) that, Maraquito. Leave 行方不明になる Saxon’s 指名する out of the question.”

“I shall talk of 行方不明になる Saxon as long as I like,” cried Maraquito, snapping the fan and growing 紅潮/摘発するd. “You 軽蔑(する) me because I am an 無効の —”

“I do not. If you were perfectly 回復するd to health I would give you the same answer.” Mallow was on his feet by this time. “I think it would be wise of me to go.”

But Senora Gredos, stretching out her 手渡す, caught him by the coat convulsively. “No! no! no!” she muttered ひどく. “I did not ask you to come here. I did not send for you. But now that you are here, you will stop. We must understand one another.”

“We do understand one another,” said Cuthbert, who was growing angry at this 不当な 態度. “You must know that I am engaged to 行方不明になる Saxon!”

“You will never marry her — never!” cried Maraquito passionately; “oh, cruel man, can you not see that I am dying of love for you.”

“Maraquito —”

“If I were not chained to this couch,” she said between her teeth, “I should go after her and throw vitriol in her 直面する. I would give her 原因(となる) to repent having 誘惑するd you from me with her 哀れな doll’s 直面する. Pah! the minx!”

Cuthbert grew really angry. “How dare you speak like this?” he said. “If you were able to attack 行方不明になる Saxon in the vile way you say, I should show you no mercy.”

“What would you do — what would you do?” she panted.

“Put you in 刑務所,拘置所. That sort of thing may do abroad but we don’t 許す it here. I thought you were 単に a foolish woman. Now I know you are bad and wicked.”

“Cuthbert — Cuthbert.”

“My 指名する is Mallow to you, Senora Gredos. I’ll go now and never see you again. I was foolish to come here.”

“Wait — wait,” she cried savagely, “it is just 同様に that you are here — just as 井戸/弁護士席 that we should come to an understanding.”

“There can be no understanding. I marry 行方不明になる Saxon and —”

“Never, never, never! Listen, I can 廃虚 her —”

“What do you mean?”

“Her brother —”

“Oh, Basil, I know all about that.”

Maraquito threw herself 支援する on her couch, evidently baffled. “What do you know?” she 需要・要求するd sullenly.

“That you are about to 告発する/非難する him of the death of 行方不明になる Loach.”

“Yes, I do. He killed her. There is a (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd 法案 in-”

“I know all about that also,” said Cuthbert, making a gesture for her to be silent. “If you hope to stop my marriage with 行方不明になる Saxon by such means, you have wasted your time,” he moved again に向かって the door. “It is time this interview ended,” he said.

“Why did you 捜し出す it then?” she flashed out.

“I did not. Jennings wrote, asking me to call and see you. I understood that you had something to say to me.”

“I have much — though how that detestable man knew I can’t think. But I can 不名誉 that doll of a girl through her brother.”

“No, you cannot. Basil is perfectly innocent of 殺人.”

“You have to 証明する that,” she sneered, her features quivering and one white 手渡す clutching the purple drapery, “and you know — so you say, that Basil is a forger.”

“He is a fool. I don’t 容赦する his folly, but his sister shall not 苦しむ on his account. The 法案 to which 行方不明になる Loach’s 指名する was (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進むd is in the 所有/入手 of 行方不明になる Saxon — in fact I may tell you that Basil himself 保証するd me it had been destroyed.”

“Of course he would say that,” scoffed Maraquito, her 注目する,もくろむs flashing, “but the check to which Hale’s 指名する is affixed is not destroyed, and Hale shall proceed on that.”

“Hale shall not do so,” said Cuthbert resolutely. He did not wish to betray Hale’s 信用/信任, as a 自白 would entail the man’s loss of the woman he loved. But it was necessary to stop Maraquito somehow; and Cuthbert 試みる/企てるd to do so in his next words, which 伝えるd a 際立った 脅し. “And you will not move in the 事柄.”

Maraquito laughed in an evil manner. “Won’t I?” she taunted. “I just will. Hale will do what I want, and he will have Basil 逮捕(する)d unless you 約束 to give up this girl and marry me.”

“Hale will do nothing, neither will you,” retorted Cuthbert. “I don’t care about 脅すing a woman, but you must not think that you are able to play 急速な/放蕩な and loose with me.”

“How can you 傷つける me?” asked Maraquito with a scornful smile, although her lips quivered at his トン.

“I can tell Jennings that you are Bathsheba Saul!”

She turned やめる pale. “I? My 指名する is Maraquito Gredos.”

“It is nothing of the sort. My uncle Lord Caranby (機の)カム here and 認めるd you from your likeness to the woman Emilia he was once engaged to. He can 明言する/公表する that in 法廷,裁判所.”

“Where is his proof?”

“Proof will be 来たるべき when necessary.”

“Not to 証明する that I am Bathsheba Saul. I know nothing of the 指名する.”

Cuthbert shrugged his shoulders. He had said what was necessary and, unwilling to speak その上の, 用意が出来ている to go. Maraquito saw him slipping from her しっかり掴む. Once gone, she knew he would never come 支援する. With a cry of despair she stretched out her 手渡すs. “Cuthbert, do not leave me!” she cried in anguish.

“I must leave you. I was foolish to come. But you know now, that if you move in this 事柄 I can move too. I 疑問 very much, madam, if your past life will 耐える looking into.”

“You coward!” she moaned.

“I know I am a coward,” said Mallow uncomfortably; “it is not my way to 脅す a woman — I said that before. But I love Juliet so much that at any cost I must 保護する her.”

“And my love counts for nothing.”

“I am sorry, Maraquito, but I cannot 答える/応じる. A man’s heart is not his own to give.”

“Nor a woman’s,” she moaned 激しく; “oh, heaven, how I 苦しむ. Help!”

Cuthbert heard footsteps 上がるing the stairs — the light footsteps of a 迅速な man. But Maraquito’s 長,率いる had fallen 支援する, her 直面する was as white as snow and her mouth was 新たな展開d in an 表現 of anguish. She seemed to be on the point of death, and moved by her 苦痛 — for she really appeared to be 苦しむing, he sprang 今後 to catch her in his 武器. Had he not done so she would have fallen from the sofa. But hardly had he 掴むd her form when she flung her 武器 一連の会議、交渉/完成する his neck and 圧力(をかける)d her mouth to his. Then she threw 支援する her 長,率いる, not now white, but 紅潮/摘発するd with color and 勝利. “I have you now,” she said breathlessly. “I love you — I love you — I will not let you go!”

What Cuthbert would have done it is hard to say. 明らかに Maraquito was 決定するd to 持つ/拘留する him there. But at this moment Jennings appeared at the door. On seeing him arrive so 突然に, Maraquito uttered a cry of 激怒(する) and 狼狽, and 解放(する)d Mallow. “Send him away — send him away!” she cried, pointing to Jennings, who looked 冷淡な and 厳しい. “How dare he come here.”

“I come on an unpleasant errand,” said Jennings, stepping 今後. “I want you, Mallow!”

Cuthbert, who had moved 今後, stopped. “Why do you want me?”

Jennings placed his 手渡す on the young man’s shoulder. “I 逮捕(する) you on the 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 of 殺人ing Selina Loach!”

Maraquito uttered a shriek, and Cuthbert’s 直面する grew red. The latter spoke first. “Is this a jest?” he asked 厳しく.

“You will not find it so.”

“Let me pass. I 辞退する to 許す you to 逮捕(する) me.”

Jennings still continued to keep his 手渡す on Cuthbert’s shoulder, その結果 the young man flung it aside. At the same moment Jennings の近くにd with him, and a 手渡す-to-手渡す struggle 続いて起こるd. Maraquito, with 緊張するing 注目する,もくろむs, watched the fight. With 強化するd muscles the two reeled across the room. Cuthbert was almost too amazed to fight. That Jennings should 告発する/非難する him and attack him in this way was incredible. But his 血 was up and he 格闘するd with the 探偵,刑事 vigorously. He was an excellent 競技者, but Jennings was a west-country-man and knew all that was to be known about 格闘するing. With a quick 新たな展開 of his foot he tripped up his 対抗者, and in a minute Cuthbert was lying on his 支援する with Jennings over him. The two men breathed hard. Cuthbert struggled to rise, but Jennings held him 負かす/撃墜する until he was suddenly dragged away by Maraquito, who was watching the fight 熱望して. There she stood in the centre of the room which she had reached with a bound.

“I thought so,” said Jennings, 解放(する)ing Mallow and rising quickly.

Maraquito threw a small knife at Cuthbert’s feet. “Kill him — kill him!” she said with hysterical 軍隊.

“There is no need to,” said the 探偵,刑事, feeling his 武器, which were rather sore. “Mallow, I beg your 容赦 for having fought you, but I knew you would not lend yourself to a deception, and the only way in which I could 軍隊 this lady to show that she was able to walk was by a feigned fight.”

“Then you don’t ーするつもりである to 逮捕(する) me?” said Mallow, rising and 星/主役にするing.

“Never had any idea of doing so,” 再結合させるd Jennings coolly. “I wished to learn the truth about Mrs. Herne.”

“Mrs. Herne!”

“Or Maraquito Gredos or Bathsheba Saul. She has a variety of 指名するs, my dear fellow. Which one do you prefer?” he asked, turning to the discovered woman.

Maraquito looked like the goddess of war. Her 注目する,もくろむs flashed and her 直面する was red with 怒り/怒る. Standing in a striking 態度, with one foot thrust 今後, her active brain was searching for some means of escape. “I don’t know what you mean by calling me these 指名するs!”

“I mean that you are to be 逮捕(する)d. You are Mrs. Herne. Your 事故 was 単に a sham to 回避する 疑惑.”

“Mrs. Herne is my aunt.”

“容赦 me, no. The only aunt you ever had was Emilia Saul, who died in Caranby’s house. In our interview at Hampstead you betrayed yourself when we talked of Mallow. I had you watched. You were seen to enter this house, and out of it Mrs. Herne never (機の)カム. Your servants do not know Mrs. Herne — only their 無効の mistress.”

Maraquito, seeing her danger, panted with 激怒(する), and looked like a 罠にかける animal. “Even if this is true, which I 否定する,” she said in a 発言する/表明する tremulous with 激怒(する), “how dare you 逮捕(する) me, and for what?”

“For setting that boy Gibber to 毒(薬) the man who called himself Tyke. The lad has left your service — which means he is in hiding.”

“I know nothing about this,” said Maraquito, suddenly becoming 冷静な/正味の. “Do you mean to 逮捕(する) me now?”

“I have the 令状 and a couple of plain-dress 探偵,刑事s below. You can’t escape.”

“I have no wish to escape,” she retorted, moving に向かって a door which led into an inner room. “I can 会合,会う and 配置する/処分する/したい気持ちにさせる of this ridiculous 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金. The doctor told me that a sudden shock might bring 支援する my strength. And that it has done. I am not Mrs. Herne — I am not Bathsheba Saul. I am Maraquito Gredos, a Spanish lady —”

“Who doesn’t know her own language,” said Jennings.

“I pass over your 侮辱s,” said the woman with dignity. “But as you ーするつもりである to take me away, will you please let me enter my bedroom to change my dress?”

Jennings drew aside and permitted her to pass. “I am not afraid you will escape,” he said politely. “If you 試みる/企てる to leave you will 落ちる into the 手渡すs of my men. They watch every door.”

Maraquito winced, and with a last look at the astounded Mallow, passed into the room. When she shut the door Mallow looked at Jennings. “I don’t know what all this means,” he said.

“I have told you,” replied Jennings, rather impatiently, “the letter I sent you was to bring you here. The struggle was a feigned one on my 味方する to make Maraquito defend you. I knew she would never let you be worsted if she could help; 正確に/まさに as I knew you would never 同意 to play such a trick on her.”

“Certainly not. With all her faults, she loves me.”

“So 井戸/弁護士席 that she will kill Juliet Saxon rather than see her in your 武器. Don’t frown, Mallow, Maraquito is a dangerous woman, and it is time she was laid by the heels. You don’t know what I have 設立する out.”

“Have you learned who killed 行方不明になる Loach?”

“No. But I am on the way to learn it. I’ll tell you everything another time. 一方/合間, I must get this woman 安全に locked up. Confound her, she is a long time.”

“She may have escaped,” said Mallow, as Jennings knocked at the door.

“I don’t see how she can. There are men at the 前線 door and at a secret 入り口 she used to enter as Mrs. Herne.” He knocked again, but there was no reply. Finally Jennings grew exasperated and tried to open the door. It was locked. “I believe she is escaping,” he said, “help me, Mallow.”

The two men put their shoulders to the door and burst it in. When they entered the bedroom it was empty. There was no 調印する of Maraquito anywhere, and no 調印する, either, of how she had managed to 避ける the 法律.

一時期/支部 XXII
The Secret 入り口

AS may be guessed, Jennings was very 悩ますd that Maraquito had escaped. He had 地位,任命するd his men at the 前線 and 支援する doors and also at the 味方する 入り口 through which Senora Gredos in her disguise as Mrs. Herne had entered. He never considered for the moment that so clever a woman might have some way of escape other than he had guessed. “Yet I might have thought it,” he said, when Cuthbert and he left the house. “I 推定する/予想する that place is like a rabbit-burrow. Maraquito always 推定する/予想するd to be taken some day in spite of her clever 仮定/引き受けること of helplessness. That was a smart dodge.”

“How did you learn that she was shamming?”

“I only guessed so. I had no proof. But when I interviewed the pseudo Mrs. Herne at her Hampstead lodgings, she betrayed so much emotion when speaking of you that I guessed it was the woman herself. I only tried that 実験 to see if she was really ill. If she had not moved I should have been done.”

“It seems to me that you are done now,” said Cuthbert 怒って. He was not very pleased at the use Jennings had made of him.

“By no means. Maraquito will take 避難 in a place I know of. She does not fancy I am aware of its 存在. But I am on my way there now. You can come also if you like.”

“No,” said Mallow decisively, “so far as I am 関心d, I have no その上の 利益/興味 in these 事柄s. I told you so the other day.”

“Don’t you wish to know who killed 行方不明になる Loach?”

Mallow hesitated, and wondered how much the 探偵,刑事 knew. “Have you any 手がかり(を与える) to the 暗殺者?” he asked.

Jennings shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t say that. But I 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う the coiners have something to do with the 事柄.”

“The coiners?”

“Ah! I know you have not learned much about them. I have no time now to talk, but you will see everything in the papers すぐに. I can tell you, Mallow, there’s going to be a 列/漕ぐ/騒動.”

Mallow, like all young Englishmen, was fond of fighting, and his 血 was at once afire to join in, but, on second thoughts, he 解決するd to stick to his 初めの 決意 and stay away. It would be better, he thought, to let Jennings carry out his 計画(する)s unhampered. In order, therefore, to 保存する Basil’s secret, Mallow nodded to the 探偵,刑事 and went home. That night he spent wondering what had become of Maraquito.

合間, Jennings, with a dozen men, was on his way to Rexton. It was now after eleven, and the clock struck the half hour as they landed at Rexton 駅/配置する. The police 軍隊 of the 郊外 had been 通知するd of the (警察の)手入れ,急襲 about to be made, and 視察官 Twining was on the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す. He guided the party through the 味方する path which 終結させるd 近づく Rose Cottage. The night was dark and 雨の, but there were 時折の gleams of moonlight. There was no light in the windows of Rose Cottage, and everything appeared to be 静かな. Behind ぼんやり現れるd the 廃虚s of the unfinished house beneath which was the coining factory.

On the way to the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す Jennings conversed with Twining in low トンs and 詳細(に述べる)d his experience with Maraquito.

“I am やめる sure that she has gone to the factory,” he said; “she does not think that I know about it. I fancy she will tell her pals that the game is up and the lot will light out for America.”

“They may have gone by this time,” 示唆するd the 視察官.

“I don’t think so. Maraquito must have just arrived, if indeed she has come here. Besides, she will never guess that I know how to get into the place, or indeed think that I know of its 存在.”

“How did you guess?”

“Guess is a good word. I just did guess, Twining. From さまざまな facts which there is no time to tell you, I became 納得させるd that there was a factory in 存在. Also I fancied that the death of that old lady was connected with the 保護 of the secret. But I only got at the hard facts the other day, when a girl called 認める —”

“I remember. She gave 証拠 at the 検死.”

“正確に. 井戸/弁護士席, she brought me some 計画(する)s belonging to her father which she 設立する. He was engaged in a 静かな 職業 hereabouts five years ago, and died when it was finished. He was 毒(薬)d with arsenic.”

“What! like that man Tyke?”

“Yes. The person who runs this show — Maraquito, I think — evidently has a partiality for that 極端に painful 毒(薬). 井戸/弁護士席, this workman having 建設するd the secret 入り口, was got out of the way by death, so that the secret might be 保存するd. And I guess 行方不明になる Loach was settled also in 事例/患者 she might give the alarm.”

“But if the secret 入り口 is in the cottage,” said Twining, “this old woman may have been aware of its 存在.”

“Certainly, and was about to 分裂(する) when she was killed. At least, that is my theory.”

“She must have been in with the ギャング(団).”

“I have never been able to 直す/買収する,八百長をする that,” said Jennings thoughtfully. “I know she was a lady and of good birth. Also she had money, although she 非難するd herself to this 存在 as a hermit. Why she should let Maraquito and her lot 建設する a secret 入り口 I can’t understand. However, we’ll know the truth to-night. But you can now guess, Twining, how the bell (機の)カム to be sounded.”

“No, I can’t,” said the 視察官, 敏速に.

“I forgot. You don’t know that the secret 入り口 is in the room where 行方不明になる Loach was 殺人d. 井戸/弁護士席, one of the ギャング(団), after the death, sounded the bell to call attention to the 死体, and then slipped away before Susan 認める could get to the room.”

“But why should this person have sounded the bell?”

“That is what I have to find out. There’s a lot to learn here.”

“Have you any idea who killed 行方不明になる Loach?”

“Maraquito, under the disguise of Mrs. Herne.”

“Was she Mrs. Herne?”

“Yes. She masqueraded as an 無効の who could not leave her couch, but I managed to get at the truth to-night.”

“But from the 証拠 at the 検死, Mrs. Herne was out of the house when the blow was struck.”

“やめる so: But we did not know of this secret 入り口 then. I fancy she (機の)カム 支援する —”

“But how can you —”

“There’s no more time to talk,” interrupted Jennings. “We must get to work as soon as possible. Order your men to surround the house.”

“And the park also?”

“We have not enough men for that. And I don’t think there’s any other 出口 from the factory save that through Rose Cottage. If there was, Maraquito and her two friends would not have played whist so 断固としてやる with 行方不明になる Loach every night.”

“It was three times a week, I think.”

“井戸/弁護士席, it doesn’t 事柄. Here we are.” Jennings opened the garden gate and walked boldly up the path に向かって the silent house. The men, under the low-spoken directions of Twining, spread themselves 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the house so as to 逮捕(する) any coiner who might 試みる/企てる escape. Then the 探偵,刑事 rang the bell. There was no answer for a few minutes. He rang again.

A window in the cottage was opened 慎重に, and the 長,率いる of Mrs. Pill, in a frilled nightcap of gigantic size, was thrust out. “Is that you, Thomas, coming home at this late hour the worse for drink, you idle wretch, and me almost dead with want of sleep.”

“It’s a message from your husband, Mrs. Barnes,” said Jennings, 調印 to Twining to keep out of sight. “Come and open the door, and I’ll tell you what has happened.”

“Oh, lor! is Thomas gone the way of flesh?” wailed Mrs. Barnes, 以前は Pill. “Come to the cottage door.”

“No. Open this one,” said Jennings, who had his own 推論する/理由s for this particular 入り口 存在 made use of. “You know me —”

“Mr. Jennings, as was in the 事例/患者 of my pore, dear, dead lady. Of course I knows you, sir, and the fact as you are police makes me shudder to think as Thomas is 刑務所,拘置所d for drink. Wait one moment, sir. I’ll hurry on a petticoat and shawl. How good of you to come, sir.”

When the window shut 負かす/撃墜する, Jennings bent に向かって the 視察官, who was crouching on the other 味方する of the steps. “This woman is innocent,” he whispered. “She knows nothing, else she would not 収容する/認める us so quickly.”

“It may be a blind, Jennings. She may have gone to give the ギャング(団) 警告, you know.”

“I don’t know,” retorted the 探偵,刑事 はっきりと. “I am やめる sure that Mrs. Barnes doesn’t even know her husband Thomas is one of the lot. I don’t care if she does give 警告 either, if your surmise is 訂正する. All our men are 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the house, and if any of the ギャング(団) escape we can collar them.”

“That is supposing there isn’t another 出口 from the unfinished house,” muttered Twining, anxious to have the last word.

Mrs. Barnes appeared at the door in a brilliant red petticoat, a white woollen shawl, and the cap aforesaid. Her feet were thrust into carpet slippers and she carried a candle. “An’ it is good of you, sir, to come ’ere and tell me that Thomas is in 刑務所,拘置所, he 存在-”

“We can talk of that inside,” said the 探偵,刑事, 押し進めるing past her. “I suppose you don’t mind my friend coming in.”

Mrs. Barnes almost dropped when she saw the second person, 特に when she 公式文書,認めるd the uniform. “It must be 殺人 at least,” she wailed, almost dropping the candle in her fright; “lor! do tell me, sir, that Thomas have not 殺人d anyone.”

“Lead us 負かす/撃墜する to the sitting-room and we’ll tell you, Mrs. Barnes.”

“I can’t do that, sir, Mr. Clancy may be ‘ome any moment”

“Isn’t he at home now?”

“Bless you, no, Mr. Jennings, he 存在 fond of goin’ out, not that he’s an old man, and why shouldn’t he enjoy hisself. Not that a woman could wish for a better lodger, though he only 貯蔵所 ’ere a week or so, he givin’ no trouble and havin’ a latch-重要な.”

“I want to see Mr. Clancy also,” said Jennings impatiently, while Twining turned on the electric light in the hall. “Take us 負かす/撃墜する to the 地階.”

The woman would have 反対するd again, but from the 厳しい 表現 on her 訪問者s’ 直面するs she 裁判官d that it would be wiser to obey. She descended, candle in 手渡す, turning on the lights as she went 負かす/撃墜する. In the sitting-room she paused and 直面するd the 探偵,刑事. “Do tell me what’s wrong, sir?” she asked. “Thomas is a fool, but we’re newly 結婚する and I shouldn’t like anything to ‘appen to ’im, though he do take 情愛深く-like to the 瓶/封じ込める.”

“When did Thomas go out?”

“At eight, and Mr. Clancy at nine, though Mr. Clancy havin’ a latch-重要な, don’t give me trouble lettin’ him in which Thomas does.”

“Ah!” said Jennings, with a 味方する-ちらりと見ること at the 視察官, “so your husband goes out often?”

“He do, sir. Three times a week. I ‘ave tried to break ’im of these larky ‘abits but he won’t do what I arsks him. I wish I’d stopped at bein’ Pill,” wailed Mrs. Barnes, wiping her 注目する,もくろむs. “An’ if Thomas is drunk and 保釈(金) bein’ 要求するd —”

“I don’t know if your husband is drunk or sober,” interrupted Jennings. “We are on a different errand. Tell me, Mrs. Barnes, do you know if 行方不明になる Loach had a secret 入り口 to this room?”

“Lor no, sir,” cried the woman, casting a surprised ちらりと見ること 一連の会議、交渉/完成する, “whatever would she ‘ave that for, pore dear?”

“The furniture is oddly placed,” said Twining.

And indeed it was. (米)棚上げする/(英)提議するs and 議長,司会を務めるs and sofa were 範囲d in two lines on either 味方する of the room, leaving the middle 部分 明らかにする. The 床に打ち倒す was covered with a Turkey carpet 負かす/撃墜する the centre, but the 味方するs of the 床に打ち倒す were without covering. Mrs. Barnes explained this.

“行方不明になる Loach liked to ‘ave things straight this way for the night, bein’ of tidy ‘abits. She thought the 床に打ち倒す bein’ (疑いを)晴らす left the ‘ousemaid, who was Geraldine, room to sweep and dust 完全に. Mr. Clancy ‘ave the same fancy, though 存在 a man as tidy as ever was.”

“Strange Mr. Clancy should be tidy,” said Jennings drily. “He certainly is not so in his dress. Now the best thing you can do, Mrs. Barnes, is to go to bed.”

“An’ leave you ’ere,” screeched the cook indignantly. “Why, whatever would Mr. Clancy say, he 存在 respectable.”

“Very good then, you can stop here. Stand on one 味方する, Twining, and you, Mrs. Barnes. Both of you stand on the 明らかにする 床に打ち倒す 近づく the 塀で囲む.”

かなり surprised, Mrs. Barnes did as she was told, and uttered a cry when she saw the 床に打ち倒す begin to move. Jennings, who was 圧力(をかける)ing a button at the end of the room, stopped. “Take her upstairs, Twining. She will alarm the ギャング(団)!”

“Alarm who?” cried the cook, struggling with the 視察官. “Whatever do you mean? Shame — shame to ‘old a defenceless lady. ‘Elp!”

But her cries for help were unheeded. Twining bore her up the stairs and 召喚するd one of his men. In a few minutes Mrs. Barnes was 安全に locked up in her own bedroom in the cottage, a prey to terrors. Poor woman, 存在 innocent, she could not understand the meaning of this midnight visit, nor indeed the mysterious moving of the 床に打ち倒す. It had never happened so before within her recollection.

Twining (機の)カム 負かす/撃墜する with six men, leaving the others to guard the 出口s from the house and garden. At the door of the sitting-room he stopped at the 長,率いる of those he was bringing. At his feet yawned a 湾 in which steps appeared. The whole of the centre of the 床に打ち倒す had disappeared into the 塀で囲む opposite to the fireplace, and the rough steps led 負かす/撃墜する into a 肉親,親類d of passage that ran in the direction of the unfinished house. “This is the 入り口,” said Jennings, “it 作品 from a 隠すd button on the 塀で囲む. Electricity is used. You see why the 味方するs of the 床に打ち倒す are left 明らかにする; the carpet has やめる disappeared. But we have no time to lose,” he jumped 負かす/撃墜する lightly. “Come along men, hurry up.”

“As we will be at a disadvantage, we may 同様に get our barkers out,” said the 視察官, and the men produced revolvers. Then they went into the burrow at the tail of the intrepid Jennings.

That gentleman stole along the 狭くする passage: It ran straightly for a few yards and then took a turn to the 権利. The ground continued to slope for some distance until it 終結させるd in a 激しい door of 支持を得ようと努めるd. Jennings fancied this might be locked, and felt a pang of 失望. But it 証明するd to be 単に の近くにd to. 明らかに the coiners were so sure of their safety that they did not trouble to keep the door locked. The 探偵,刑事 opened it gently, and with the men の近くに at his heels stole 今後. He held his revolver lightly in his 権利 手渡す, ready for 緊急s. The passage was やめる dark, but 存在 狭くする, the men had no hesitation in going 今後. Some way 負かす/撃墜する, after leaving the door, the passage 支店d into two ways, for Jennings (機の)カム against a 塀で囲む 直接/まっすぐに ahead. Wondering what this meant, he struck a match, and the blue light 明らかにする/漏らすd one passage running 負かす/撃墜する to the left and another 開始 up to the 権利. While the 探偵,刑事 hesitated which to take, the 不明瞭 was suddenly illuminated with the glare of lamps. From a dozen electric lights at the 味方するs of the passage sprang a white glow. At the その上の end of the sloping passage appeared the 人物/姿/数字 of a man. He gave a shout when the 人物/姿/数字s of the police were 明らかにする/漏らすd in the sudden 照明 and 消えるd suddenly. There was not a moment to be lost. Jennings, crying to his men, dashed ahead. As he 近づくd the end of the burrow, for it was nothing else, a ピストル 発射 rang out and he felt as though his shoulder had been pierced with a red-hot アイロンをかける. But the 負傷させる did not stop him.

“Quick, men — quick! Some stop and guard the 二塁打 way. They will try and escape that way.”

His orders were obeyed with precision, and two men stopped behind, while the 残り/休憩(する), with Twining at their 長,率いる, 圧力(をかける)d 今後. They ran against another door, but it also was open, as the watching man had not had time to の近くに it. Through this the police 注ぐd, and 設立する themselves in a large, 乾燥した,日照りの cellar, brilliantly lighted. On every 手渡す were the 証拠s of the 追跡s of the ギャング(団). But no one had time to take in 詳細(に述べる)s. The startled and infuriated coiners were fighting for their liberty. In a moment the lights were out, but not before Jennings saw Clancy and Hale at the far end of the cellar, with white 直面するs and levelled revolvers. There were other men also. 発射s rang out, but in the 不明瞭 everyone 解雇する/砲火/射撃d at 無作為の. The coiners strove to 軍隊 their way to the door, evidently anxious to 伸び(る) the forked passage, so that they could escape by one of the two 出口s. Twining 暴露するd his lantern and flashed the light 一連の会議、交渉/完成する. It 変えるd him into a 的 and he fell, 発射 through the heart by Hale. The other men made a dash for liberty, but the police also producing their lights, managed to 掴む them. At last Hale, 明らかに seeing there was no chance of escaping in the gloom, turned on the electric lights again, and the 照明 明らかにする/漏らすd a cellar filled with struggling men. Jennings made for Clancy, as it struck him that this man, in spite of the foolish look on his 直面する, was the prime スパイ/執行官. Clancy 解雇する/砲火/射撃d and 行方不明になるd. Then he strove to の近くに with Jennings. The latter 大打撃を与えるd him over the 長,率いる with the butt of his revolver. Shouts and 誓いs (機の)カム from the infuriated thieves, but the police fought like bulldogs, with tenacious courage, silent and grim.

“持つ/拘留する them — 持つ/拘留する them!” cried Jennings, as he went 負かす/撃墜する.

“I’ll do for you this time,” said Hale between his teeth, and flung himself 今後, but Jennings struggled valiantly. The coiner was over him, and trying to get at his revolver which had fallen in the fight. Jennings waited till he stretched, then 解雇する/砲火/射撃d 上向き. Hale gave a yell of agony, and throwing up his 武器, fell on one 味方する. 負傷させるd, and in 広大な/多数の/重要な 苦痛, Jennings rose. He had just time to see Clancy in the 支配する of two policemen, fighting 猛烈に, when his senses left him and he fainted. The shouts and 誓いs and 発射s rang out wildly and confusedly as he lost consciousness.

一時期/支部 XXIII
A Scamp’s History

When Jennings (機の)カム to himself he was lying on a sofa in the dining-room on the ground-床に打ち倒す of the 郊外住宅. His shoulder 傷つける him a trifle, but さもなければ he felt 井戸/弁護士席, though わずかに weak. The doctor was at his 味方する. It was the same man who had …に出席するd to the 団体/死体 of the late occupant of the house.

“Are you feeling better?” said Doctor Slane, when he saw the 注目する,もくろむs of the 探偵,刑事 open. “You had better remain here for a time. Your men have 安全な・保証するd the rascals — all five of them.”

“And Twining?” asked Jennings, trying to sit up.

“He is dead — 発射 through the heart. Clancy killed him.”

“Then he’ll swing for it,” said Jennings in a stronger トン, “we lose a good man in poor Twining. And Hale?”

“You have 負傷させるd him 厳しく in the 肺s. I 恐れる he will die. We have put him in Mrs. Barnes’ room on her bed. The poor woman is wild with grief and terror. I suppose you know her husband was amongst those rascals.”

“I thought as much. His going out was 単に a blind. But I must get up and look at the factory. Send Atkins to me.”

Atkins was the man next in 命令(する) now that the 視察官 was dead.

The doctor tried to keep Jennings on his 支援する, but the 探偵,刑事 would not listen. “There is much to do,” he said, rising unsteadily. “You have bound up my shoulder. I won’t lose any more 血.”

“You have lost a good 取引,協定 already.”

“It’s my 商売/仕事. We 探偵,刑事s have our 戦う/戦いs to fight 同様に as 兵士s have theirs. Give me some brandy and send Atkins.”

Seeing that the man was 解決するd, Slane gave him the drink and went out. In a few minutes Atkins entered and saluted. Jennings, after drinking the fiery spirit, felt much better, and was 公正に/かなり 安定した on his 脚s. “Did you see any women amongst the men we took?” he asked.

“No, sir,” replied the other, “there were five men. Two are 負傷させるd — one わずかに, and the other — Hale — 厳しく. He wants to make a 自白 to you, and I have sent to the office for a clerk to take 負かす/撃墜する his words. Dr. Slane says he will not live till morning.”

“He will cheat the 法律, I suppose,” said Jennings, “give me your arm, Atkins. I want to visit the factory.”

“Are you strong enough, sir?”

“やめる strong enough. Don’t bother,” replied the other as a twinge of 苦痛 made him wince. “We’ve made a good 運ぶ/漁獲高 this time.”

“You’ll say that, sir, when you see the factory. It is the most 完全にする thing of its 肉親,親類d.”

“Tell the clerk when he arrives not to take 負かす/撃墜する Hale’s 自白 till I arrive. I won’t be more than a 4半期/4分の1 of an hour. Give me your arm when you return.”

Atkins 出発/死d on his errand, and Jennings sat 負かす/撃墜する, wondering what had become of Maraquito. He made sure she would go to the factory, as 存在 a place of 避難 which the police would find hard to discover. But, 明らかに, she had taken earth in some other crib belonging to the ギャング(団). However, he would have all the ports watched, and she would find it hard to escape abroad. Maraquito was so striking a woman that it was no 平易な 事柄 for her to disguise herself. And Jennings swore that he would 逮捕(する) her, for he truly believed that she had killed 行方不明になる Loach, and was the prime mover in the whole 商売/仕事. Hitherto she had baffled him by her dexterity, but when they next met he hoped to get the upper 手渡す.

His underling returned and, 残り/休憩(する)ing on his arm, Jennings with some difficulty managed to get 負かす/撃墜する the stairs. The whole house now 炎d with light. 以前は the 探偵,刑事 had wondered why 行方不明になる Loach had been so fond of electric lamps, thinking that as an old lady she would have preferred a softer glow. But now he knew that she 要求するd the electricity for the 照明 of the factory, and for manipulating the metals 要求するd in the 製造(する) of coins. There was no 疑問 that she was one of the ギャング(団) also, but Jennings could not conceive why she should take to such a 商売/仕事. However, the woman was dead and the ギャング(団) 逮捕(する)d, so the 探偵,刑事 moved along the 狭くする passage with a sense of 勝利. He never thought that he would be so lucky as to make this 発見, and he knew 井戸/弁護士席 that such a 勝利 meant 賞賛する and reward. “I’ll be able to marry Peggy now,” he thought.

The coiners had been 除去するd to the Rexton 独房s, and only Hale remained under the 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 of Mrs. Barnes and Dr. Slane. The 団体/死体 of Twining lay in the dining-room of the 郊外住宅. A policeman was on guard at the door of the 郊外住宅, and two remained at the forked passage. When Jennings arrived here he felt inclined to turn off to the 権利 and 調査する the other passage, but he was also anxious to see the factory and 保証する himself of the value of his 発見. He therefore painfully hobbled along, 粘着するing to Atkins, but 支えるd in his 成果/努力s by an indomitable spirit.

“Here you are, sir,” said Atkins, turning on the light and 明らかにする/漏らすing the workshop. “A 罰金 工場/植物, isn’t it?”

“It is, indeed,” said Jennings, ちらりと見ることing up to the rough roof where five or six lamps 炎d like suns, “and a nice hiding-place they 設立する. I’ll sit here and look 一連の会議、交渉/完成する, Atkins.”

He dropped into a 議長,司会を務める 近づく the (法廷の)裁判 and 星/主役にするd at the cellar. It was large, and built of rough 石/投石するs, so that it looked like a 刑務所,拘置所 独房 of the Bastille. The 床に打ち倒す was of beaten earth, the roof of brick, built in the form of an arch, and the door was of 激しい 支持を得ようと努めるd clamped with アイロンをかける. The brilliant 照明 enabled Jennings to see everything, even to the minutest 詳細(に述べる) of the place.

In one corner were three large dynamos, and in another a smelting マリファナ, and many sheets of silver and 巡査. Also, there were moulds of gutta-percha arranged to 持つ/拘留する coins in immersion. On a (法廷の)裁判 were a number of delicate 道具s and a strong 副/悪徳行為. Jennings also saw さまざまな 器具s for making coins. On rough 取引,協定 棚上げにするs 範囲d 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the 塀で囲むs stood flasks and jars 含む/封じ込めるing 砕くs, with 道具s and a 広大な/多数の/重要な many 化学製品s. Also there were piles of 誤った money, gold and silver and 巡査, and 装置s for sweating 君主s. In a 安全な were lumps of gold and silver. Beside it, a bath filled with some particular liquid used in the 貿易(する). Electric 独房s, 酸性のs, 木造の clips to 持つ/拘留する the coins could also be seen. In fact the whole factory was 行為/行うd on the most 科学の 原則s, and Jennings could understand how so many cleverly-用意が出来ている coins (機の)カム to be in 循環/発行部数. There were even moulds for the 製造(する) of フランs and louis.

“I daresay the ギャング(団) have other places,” he said to Atkins, “but this is their (警察,軍隊などの)本部, I fancy. If I can only get some of them to tell the truth we might find the other places.”

“Hale wants to 自白する.”

“Yes. But I fancy it is about the 殺人 of 行方不明になる Loach. She was 明らかに killed to 確実にする the safety of this den. We must root the coiners out, Atkins. Maraquito, who is the 長,率いる of the 商売/仕事, is 捕まらないで, and unless we can take her, she will continue to make 誤った money in some other place. However, I have seen enough for the time 存在. Keep guard over this place till we hear from the Yard tomorrow.”

“You’ll go home and 嘘(をつく) 負かす/撃墜する, sir.”

“No. I ーするつもりである to hear Hale’s 自白. By tomorrow it will be too late. I wouldn’t 行方不明になる 審理,公聴会 what he has to say for anything.”

“But can you keep up, sir?”

“Yes, yes — don’t bother,” said Jennings, rising, the 苦痛 making him testy, “give me your arm, Atkins. By the way, where does the other passage lead to? I have not enough strength to 調査する.”

“It leads to the 最高の,を越す of the ground, sir, and comes out into the trunk of a tree.”

“What do you mean?”

“井戸/弁護士席, sir, it’s very clever. There’s an old oak 近づく the 塀で囲む, and the trunk is hollow. All anyone has to do is to climb up through the trunk by means of stairs and 減少(する) over the 塀で囲む. The coiners were making for that when we 逮捕(する)d them.”

“Humph! Have that place watched. Maraquito may come here to-night after all. It is now one o’clock.”

“I don’t think she’ll come, Mr. Jennings. But we have every point watched. No one can come or go unless we know.”

“Come along then,” said Jennings, who was growing weak, “let us see Hale. The sooner his 自白 is written and 調印するd the better.”

Not another word did Jennings say till he got on to the ground 床に打ち倒す of the 郊外住宅. But he had been thinking, for when there he turned to the man who supported him. “How is it the oak with the hollow trunk still stands?” he asked.

“Oh, it escaped the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, sir. Some of the boughs were burnt off but the trunk itself is all 権利. It is の近くに to the 塀で囲む too.”

“Humph!” said Jennings, setting his teeth with the 苦痛, “give me a sup of brandy out of your flask, Atkins. Now for Hale.”

When he arrived in the bedroom where Hale was lying groaning, Jennings had the factitious strength of the spirit. A sleepy-注目する,もくろむd clerk was seated at the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する with sheets of paper before him. A lamp was on the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する. Mrs. Barnes was crouching in a 議長,司会を務める 近づく the bed. When she saw Jennings she flung herself 負かす/撃墜する weeping.

“Oh, sir, I knew no more of this than a babe unborn,” she wailed, “I never thought my second was a villing. To think that Thomas —”

“That’s all 権利, Mrs. Barnes, I やめる acquit you.”

“Not Barnes. Pill I am again, and Mrs. Pill I’ll be to the end of my days. To think Thomas should be a blackguard. Pill drank, I don’t 否定する, but he didn’t (1)偽造する/(2)徐々に進む and coin, and —”

“Wasn’t clever enough, perhaps,” said Hale from the bed in a weak 発言する/表明する, “oh, there you are, Jennings. Get that fool out of the room and listen to what I have to tell you. I 港/避難所’t much time. I am going 急速な/放蕩な.”

Jennings induced Mrs. Pill, as she now 主張するd on 存在 called, to leave the room. Then he sat 負かす/撃墜する on the bed beside the dying man. Atkins remained at the door, and the doctor seated himself by Hale’s 長,率いる with a glass of brandy. It might be needed for the 復活 of Hale, who, having lost much 血, was terribly weak. But the poor wretch was bent upon 自白, and even told his story with pride.

“You had a 職業 to take us, Jennings,” he said with a weak chuckle. “I don’t know how you 設立する us out though.”

“It’s too long a story to tell. But, first of all, tell me did Maraquito come here to-night?”

“No. Are you after her?”

“Yes, I know she isn’t an 無効の.”

“Ah, she diddled you there,” said Hale with another chuckle, “a very clever woman is Maraquito. I wished to marry her, but now I’m done for. After all, I’m not sorry, since my pals are taken. But I did think I’d have been able to go to South America and marry Maraquito. I’ve made plenty of money by this game. いつかs we sweated four hundred 君主s a day. The factory has been here for five years, Jennings —”

“I know. The man Maxwell, who was Susan 認める’s father, made the secret 入り口, and you had him killed.”

“No, I didn’t. 行方不明になる Loach did that. I thought she was a fool at the time. I told her so. We could have taken Maxwell as a pal. He was willing to come. But she thought death was best.”

“And Maraquito killed Tyke?”

“No. I did that. I sent Gibber to 直す/買収する,八百長をする him up. Tyke was a drunkard and made a fool of himself in 存在 逮捕(する)d. He would have given the show away, so I sent Gibber with a 毒(薬)d 瓶/封じ込める of whisky. I knew Tyke couldn’t resist a drink. He died, and —”

“Did you kill 行方不明になる Loach also?” interrupted Jennings, casting a ちらりと見ること over his shoulder to make sure that the clerk was 公式文書,認めるing all this.

Hale laughed weakly.

“No!” he said. “I fancied you would ask that. I tell you honestly that 非,不,無 of us know who killed her.”

“That’s rubbish. You do know.”

“I 断言する I don’t. Neither does Maraquito. You 港/避難所’t caught her yet and you never will. I’m not going to 分裂(する) on the pals I have left, Jennings. You have nabbed some, but there are others, and other factories also. I won’t tell you about those.”

“Clancy is 逮捕(する)d — he will.”

“Don’t you make any mistake. Clancy is not the fool he looks. He has the cleverest 長,率いる of the lot of us. But I’d better get on with my 自白, though it won’t do you much good.”

“So long as you say who killed 行方不明になる Loach —”

“行方不明になる Loach,” sneered Hale, “why not Emilia Saul?”

Jennings was almost too surprised to speak. “Do you mean to say —”

“Yes, I do. All the time you and 行方不明になる Saxon and that idiot of a brother thought she was Selina Loach. She wasn’t, but she was very like her. Emilia met Selina in the house that is now burnt and 押し進めるd her off the plank. The 直面する was disfigured and Selina was buried as Emilia.”

“Then Mrs. Octagon must know —”

“She knows a good 取引,協定. You’d better ask her for 詳細(に述べる)s. Give me a sup of brandy, doctor. Yes,” went on Hale, when he felt better, “I laughed in my sleeve when I thought how Emilia tricked you all. She was Maraquito’s aunt. Her 指名する —”

“Maraquito’s 指名する is Bathsheba Saul.”

“Yes. I 推定する/予想する Caranby told you that. He was too clever, that old man. I was always afraid that he would find out about the factory. A long while ago I wished Maraquito to give up the 商売/仕事 and marry me. Then we would have gone to South America and have lived in peace on no end of money. Emilia left six thousand a year, so you may guess that Maraquito and I made money also. But she was in love with Mallow, and would not come away. I 恐れるd Caranby should take it into his 長,率いる to search the house —”

“Was that why you had it burnt?”

“No. Tyke did that out of 復讐, because Maraquito 示すd him with a knife. Do you think I would have been such a fool as to 燃やす the house. Why, Caranby would have probably let out the land, and 創立/基礎s would have been dug for new 郊外住宅s, when our 工場/植物 would have been discovered.”

“Who are you, Hale?”

“Who do you think?” asked the dying man, chuckling.

“One of the Saul family. You have the same eyebrows as Maraquito.”

“And as Mrs. Herne, who really was Maraquito.”

“Yes, I know that. But who are you?”

“My real 指名する is Daniel Saul.”

“Ah! I thought you were a member of the family. There is a likeness to Maraquito —”

“Nose and eyebrows and Hebrew looks. But I am only a distant cousin. My father married a Christian, but I 保持する a 確かな look of his people. He died when I was young. Emilia’s mother brought me up. I knew a lot about the coining in those days, and I was always in love with Bathsheba, who is my cousin —”

“Bathsheba?”

“You know her best as Maraquito, so by that 指名する I shall speak of her. Jennings,” said Hale, his 発言する/表明する growing 女性, “I have little time left, so you had better not interrupt me.” He took another sup of brandy and the doctor felt his pulse. Then he began to talk so 急速な/放蕩な that the clerk could hardly keep pace with his speech. Evidently he was afraid lest he should die before his recital ended.

“When old Mrs. Saul lost Emilia —” he began.

“But she didn’t lose Emilia,” interrupted Jennings.

“She thought she had. She never knew that Emilia took the 指名する of Selina Loach. You had better ask Mrs. Octagon for 詳細(に述べる)s on that 支配する. Don’t interrupt. 井戸/弁護士席, when Mrs. Saul lost Emilia, she took more and more to coining. So did her son, Bathsheba’s father. They were caught and put in 刑務所,拘置所. I was taken in 手渡す by a benevolent gentleman who brought me up and gave me the profession of a lawyer. I chose that because I thought it might be handy. Then Mrs. Saul (機の)カム out of 刑務所,拘置所 and her son also. Both died. Maraquito tried さまざまな professions and finally went in for dancing. She 傷つける her foot, and that 試みる/企てる to 伸び(る) a living failed. I was in practice then and we started the 賭事ing-house together. But by this time I had 設立する Emilia living here as Selina Loach. Mrs. Octagon can tell you how we met. Emilia 説得するd me and Maraquito to go in for the coining. She already had Clancy 利益/興味d. He was a good man at getting the proper (犯罪の)一味 of the coins. 井戸/弁護士席, we managed to make a tunnel to the cellars of the unfinished house, and then Emilia built the extra wing to the 郊外住宅. The secret 入り口s were made by —”

“By Maxwell. I know that. Go on.”

“井戸/弁護士席, we started the 関心. I 港/避難所’t time to tell you in 詳細(に述べる) how lucky we were. We 偽造のd foreign coins also. We all made plenty of money. Emilia 示唆するd Maraquito feigning to be an 無効の, so as to make things 安全な. 誤った coins were passed at the 賭事ing-house. Maraquito (機の)カム here as Mrs. Herne and had a house — or rather lodgings — at Hampstead. We (機の)カム here three times a week, and while supposed to be playing whist, we were at the factory. Emilia kept guard. いつかs we went out by the door of this house and at times by another way —”

“I know. Up the tree-trunk.”

“Ah, you have 設立する that out,” said Hale in a weak 発言する/表明する; “what a place it is,” he murmured 残念に, “no one will ever get such another. I can’t understand how you (機の)カム to find us out.”

“Tell me what happened on that night?” asked Jennings, seeing that the man was growing 女性, and fearful lest he should die without telling the secret of the death.

“On that night,” said the dying scamp, rousing himself; “井戸/弁護士席, Maraquito quarrelled with Clancy, and went with me to the factory.”

“Then you were not out of the house?”

“No. We went by the 地下組織の passage to work. Clancy went away, as he had 商売/仕事 どこかよそで. The moment he had gone I (機の)カム up from the passage. Emilia was seated with the cards on her (競技場の)トラック一周. She (機の)カム with me to the factory, and thinking Clancy might come 支援する, she went out by the tree-trunk way.”

“What, that old lady?”

“She wasn’t so very old, and as active as a cat. Besides, she did not want Clancy to come 負かす/撃墜する, as she was afraid there might be a fight between him and Maraquito. They had quarrelled about the 分割 of some money, and Maraquito can use a knife on occasions.”

“She did on that night.”

“No. 行方不明になる Loach — I mean Emilia — never (機の)カム 支援する. We became alarmed, as we knew people had been 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the house of late —”

“Mr. Mallow —”

“Yes, the fool. We knew he had come prowling after ghosts. But he 設立する nothing. 井戸/弁護士席, I—” here Hale’s 発言する/表明する died away. The doctor gave him some more brandy and looked 意味ありげに at Jennings.

“Get him to tell all at once,” he whispered, “he’s going.”

“Yes, I’m going,” murmured Hale. “I don’t mind, though I am sorry to leave Maraquito. 井戸/弁護士席,” he 追加するd, in a stronger 発言する/表明する. “I went out to see what was up. We 設立する Emilia lying dead 近づく the tree. She had been stabbed to the heart. A bowie knife was 近づく. In 広大な/多数の/重要な alarm I got Maraquito to come out, as the 団体/死体 could not be left there. We dropped it 負かす/撃墜する the tree-trunk and got it into the factory. Then we wondered what was to be done. Maraquito 示唆するd we should take it 支援する to the sitting-room, and then, people 存在 ignorant of the passage, no one would know how Emilia had met with her death. I thought there was nothing else to be done. We carried the 団体/死体 through the passage and placed it in the 議長,司会を務める. I arranged the cards on the (競技場の)トラック一周, knowing the servant had seen Emilia in that position, and that it would still その上の throw 調査するing people”— here Hale ちらりと見ることd at Jennings —“off the scent. Hardly had we arranged this and の近くにd the 床に打ち倒す, over us when we heard that someone was in the room. It was a woman, and we heard her speaking to the 死体, ignorant that the woman was dead. Then we heard a 抑えるd shriek. We guessed it was a woman, at least I did, but Maraquito was quicker and knew more. She said it was 行方不明になる Saxon, and at once became anxious to 直す/買収する,八百長をする the 非難する on her. But I was afraid lest things should be discovered, so I dragged Maraquito 支援する to the factory. I believe 行方不明になる Saxon 設立する the knife and then ran out, 存在 afraid lest she should be discovered and (刑事)被告. This was what Maraquito 手配中の,お尋ね者. She suddenly escaped from me and ran 支援する to the secret 入り口. By 転換ing the 床に打ち倒す a little she saw into the room. It was then eleven. She saw also that the knife was gone, and it struck her that 行方不明になる Saxon could not be far off.”

“She was not,” said Jennings, “she was hidden in the field of corn.”

“Ah. I thought so. 井戸/弁護士席, Maraquito fancied that if she was 逮捕(する)d with the knife before she could leave the 近隣 she would be 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金d with the 殺人.”

“But would Maraquito have let her 苦しむ?” asked Jennings, horrified.

“Of course she would,” said Hale weakly, “she hated 行方不明になる Saxon because she was engaged to Mallow, the fool. To get her caught, Maraquito jumped up into the sitting-room and rang the bell.”

“At eleven o’clock?”

“Yes, I believe — I believe —” Hale’s 発言する/表明する was getting 女性 and 女性. “She did (犯罪の)一味 — bell — then の近くにd 床に打ち倒す. Servant (機の)カム — I— I—” he stopped and his 長,率いる fell 支援する. Suddenly he half rose and looked wildly into blank space. “Maraquito,” he cried 堅固に, “the game’s at an end. 飛行機で行く, my love, 飛行機で行く. We have fought and — and — lost. Maraquito, oh my —” his 発言する/表明する died away. He stretched out his 手渡す, fell 支援する and died with a look of tender love on his pallid 直面する.

“Poor wretch!” said Slane pityingly, “at least he loved truly.”

一時期/支部 XXIV
復讐

The 逮捕(する) of the coiners 原因(となる)d an 巨大な sensation, and the papers were filled with descriptions of the (警察の)手入れ,急襲. Jennings (機の)カム in for much congratulation, and his feat かなり 改善するd his position with the 当局. He was 限定するd to his bed for some days by his 負傷させる and, 一方/合間, events transpired in which he would have been かなり 利益/興味d had he heard of them. They had to do with Maraquito.

Since her flight from the Soho house nothing had been heard of her, although every 調査 had been made. Guessing that Jennings knew much more than was 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd, she was wise enough not to go to the Rexton factory, and congratulated herself on her foresight when she read the accounts of the (警察の)手入れ,急襲 in the papers. But she was furiously angry at losing all, when on the point of realizing her 願望(する)s. She had sent her money to be banked abroad; she hoped, by means of 脅しs to induce Mallow to give up Juliet, and she had 信用d to 勝利,勝つ his love by assiduous attentions. But the trick played by Jennings which 明らかにする/漏らすd her deception, and the (警察の)手入れ,急襲 on the factory and the consequent death of Hale, upset her 計画(する)s, and 原因(となる)d her to take 避難 in hiding. She did not 恐れる 存在 逮捕(する)d, 特に as her arch-enemy, the 探偵,刑事, was 限定するd to bed, so she had time to make her 計画(する)s. Maraquito 特に wished to 復讐 herself on Mallow and Juliet. She still loved the young man as much as ever, にもかかわらず his contemptuous 拒絶 of her 控訴. But she 非難するd Juliet Saxon for the hardening of his heart, and it was on the girl that she 決定するd to 復讐 herself. At first she ーするつもりであるd to call at the “神社 of the Muses,” but thinking she would 会合,会う with 対立 from Mrs. Octagon, likely to 妨げる the 現実化 of her malignant wishes, she changed her mind. It was no use visiting Mallow, as with him she could do nothing. Therefore she 解決するd to 令状 to Lord Caranby and arrange a 会合 with Juliet at his rooms in the Avon Hotel. Then, when in the presence of the girl, she hoped to 復讐 herself in a way likely to 原因(となる) Mallow exquisite 苦痛.

Thus it happened that Lord Caranby, who was very ill and 限定するd to his rooms, received a letter from Maraquito, asking him to 招待する 行方不明になる Saxon to a 会合 with the writer. “I see that the game is up,” wrote the artful Maraquito, “and I am willing to put things straight. I know much which will be of service in (疑いを)晴らすing up 事柄s, as I was a partner with Hale and Clancy in the coining. I do not mind admitting this, as I am not afraid of the police 逮捕(する)ing me. I can look after myself, and I am やめる sure that you will not betray me when I call at your rooms. I also have something to tell you about my dead Aunt Emilia whom you so 深く,強烈に loved. Therefore, if you will arrange for me to 会合,会う 行方不明になる Saxon, and 許す me to make a clean breast of it, all will be 井戸/弁護士席.”

When Caranby received this letter his first idea was to send for Mallow. But he 反映するd that Cuthbert was 激しく 怒り/怒るd against Maraquito, and would probably 手渡す her over to the police. Caranby, from a remembrance of his love for Emilia, did not wish this to happen; therefore, he 差し控えるd from letting Mallow learn of Maraquito’s 決意. He hoped to get the 完全にする truth from her and arrange 事柄s once and for all. Also, there was another 推論する/理由, and a very strong one, which 妨げるd the old gentleman from having his 甥 現在の at the 事業/計画(する)d interview.

Maraquito soon received an answer to her letter. It 明言する/公表するd that Lord Caranby would be pleased to receive her on Sunday afternoon at three o’clock, and that 行方不明になる Saxon would be 現在の. When Maraquito read this she smiled an evil smile and went out to make a 確かな 購入(する) which had to do with her visit. Had Lord Caranby known of her wicked 意向 he would rather have 削減(する) off his 権利 arm than have 支配するd Juliet to the danger she was about to を受ける. But he never credited Maraquito with such calculated wickedness.

On Sunday afternoon the old gentleman was seated 近づく the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, carefully dressed as usual, but looking very ill. He 苦しむd, as he had told Jennings, from an incurable (民事の)告訴, and there was no chance of his 回復するing. But he 辞退するd to take to his bed, and 主張するd on keeping his feet. Cuthbert often (機の)カム to see him, but on this particular afternoon Caranby had manoeuvred him out of the way by sending him to see an old friend with a message about his illness. Cuthbert never 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd what was in the 勝利,勝つd or he certainly would not have gone. Afterwards, he 激しく regretted that he had not told Caranby of Maraquito’s 脅し against Juliet. Had he done so, Caranby would never have received her. As it was, the old lord waited 根気よく for the woman who was about to bring 災害 in her train. 正確に at three o’clock his servant showed up a lady. “Madame Durand,” he 発表するd, and then retired, leaving his master alone with a bent, crooked old woman who walked with the 援助(する) of a 茎, and seemed very ill.

“I should never have known you,” said Caranby, admiring Maraquito’s talent for disguise.

“Necessity has made me clever,” she replied in a croaking 発言する/表明する, and ちらりと見ることd at the door.

Caranby 解釈する/通訳するd the look and 発言する/表明する. “You can speak 自由に,” he said ironically, “I have no police 隠すd hereabouts.”

“And 行方不明になる Saxon?” asked Maraquito, speaking in her natural 発言する/表明する.

“She will be here at half-past three. I wish to have a talk with you first, 行方不明になる Saul.”

The woman darted a terrible look at her host. In spite of the mask of age which she had assumed, her 注目する,もくろむs filled with youthful vigor and 解雇する/砲火/射撃 betrayed her. They shone brilliantly from her wrinkled 直面する. Her hair was 隠すd under a の近くに cap, above which she wore a 幅の広い-brimmed hat. This 長,率いる-dress would have been remarkable a few years 支援する, but now that ladies are 逆戻りするing to the fashions of their grandmothers, it passed unnoticed. With a plain 黒人/ボイコット dress, a 黒人/ボイコット cloak trimmed profusely with beads, mittened 手渡すs and an ebony 茎, she looked やめる funereal. To 完全にする the oddity of her dress a 黒人/ボイコット satin 捕らえる、獲得する dangled by 略章s from her left arm. In this she carried her handkerchief and — something else. As usual, she was perfumed with the Hikui scent. Caranby noticed this, and when she did not reply to his 発言/述べる, pointed out its danger to her.

“If you wish to escape the police, you must stop using so unusual a perfume, 行方不明になる Saul —”

“Call me Maraquito; I am used to that 指名する,” she said 厳しく, and seated herself 近づく the 解雇する/砲火/射撃, shivering to keep up a character of old age, with slowly 広まる 血.

“Let us say Maraquita,” answered Caranby, smiling, “we may 同様に be grammatical. But this perfume betrays you. Jennings knows that your friends use it as a 調印する.”

“やめる so,” she answered, “it was clever of Jennings to have guessed its meaning. I invented the idea. But he is ill, and I don’t think he has told anyone else about it. He is fond of keeping his 発見s to himself. He wants all the glory.”

“Surely he has had enough by this time, Maraquita. But the scent —”

“You are やめる 権利, I shall not use it for the 未来. But what do you think of my disguise? Would anyone know me?”

“Certainly not. But I wonder you have the courage to show yourself so disfigured to the woman who is your 競争相手.”

“Oh, as to that, she is my 競争相手 no longer,” said Maraquito, with a gesture of disdain, “your 甥 is not worthy of me. I 降伏する him from this moment.”

“That is very wise of you. I 推定する/予想する you will go abroad and marry a millionaire.”

“I might. But I have plenty of money of my own.”

“The way in which you made it is not creditable,” said Caranby.

“Bah!” she sneered. “I did not come here to hear you talk morality, Lord Caranby. You were no saint in your young days. I have heard all about you.”

“From whom?”

“From my Aunt Emilia.”

“I scarcely think that. You were but a child when she died.”

“She did not die,” said Maraquito coldly. “I have come to tell you that she lived as 行方不明になる Loach at Rose Cottage.”

Caranby started to his feet. “What is this you tell me?”

“The truth. Emilia is dead now, but she lived alone for many a long day. I knew that Selina Loach was my aunt, and,” Maraquito looked at him with piercing 注目する,もくろむs, “Mrs. Octagon knew also.”

By this time Caranby had 回復するd from his emotion. “There is nothing bad I don’t 推定する/予想する to hear of Isabella Octagon,” he said, “so this then was why she visited you?”

“Yes. I ordered her to come by 脅すing to 明らかにする/漏らす what she knew to the police. I could have done so by an 匿名の/不明の letter. She (機の)カム and then I 軍隊d her to 約束 to stop the marriage. I may 同様に 追加する that I wrote 主張するing on the marriage 存在 stopped as soon as Emilia died.”

“Ah! And I thought along with Cuthbert that it was 憎悪 of me that made Mrs. Octagon —”

“Oh, she hates you sure enough. But are you not astonished by my news?”

“Very much astonished,” 答える/応じるd Caranby thoughtfully, “how (機の)カム it that Selina died and Isabella lived?”

“The three met in the unfinished house,” explained Maraquito. “I had the story from Emilia myself. There was a quarrel. All three were in love with you. Selina was standing on a plank at a かなりの 高さ from the ground. In a 激怒(する) Emilia 押し進めるd her off. Isabella held her tongue as she hated Selina.”

“But the substitution?”

“井戸/弁護士席. In the 落ちる Selina’s 直面する was much mutilated. I believe,” 追加するd Maraquito, in a coldblooded manner, “that Emilia made it worse”— here Caranby shuddered and Maraquito laughed —“oh, my aunt was not a woman to stick at trifles. She 主張するd on changing dresses with the dead. It was the workmen’s dinner-hour and no one was about. She 軍隊d Isabella to 補助装置 her by 脅すing to tell the police that Isabella had 殺人d her sister. As the sisters were on bad 条件, Isabella knew that she might be (刑事)被告, and so she held her tongue.”

“But she could have (刑事)被告 Emilia.”

“Emilia would have 否定するd the 告訴,告発. Moreover, Isabella was 脅迫してさせるd by the 猛烈な/残忍な nature of my aunt.”

“A 猛烈な/残忍な nature, indeed, that would mutilate the dead. But I do not see how Emilia hoped that the substitution would pass undiscovered by Selina’s friends, to say nothing of her father.”

“The idea was that Emilia, as Selina, should go abroad and return to England in a few years. 借りがあるing to the 予期しない death of Mr. Loach, the father, the substitution was 平易な. You know how Isabella alone appeared at the 検死, and how Selina — really my aunt — pretended to be sick. Then the two went abroad and (機の)カム 支援する; Emilia as 行方不明になる Loach went to Rose Cottage, and Isabella married Mr. Saxon.”

“But why did Emilia take Selina’s 指名する and —”

“Because Emilia was in danger of 存在 逮捕(する)d along with her mother and brother for coining. You could not have saved her. The 事故 of Selina’s death —”

“The 殺人 of Selina, you mean.”

Maraquito made a gesture of 無関心/冷淡. “Call it what you like. It happened opportunely however. It gave Emilia safety, and by 脅すing to 公然と非難する Isabella, she stopped her from marrying you.”

Caranby looked up. “Ah! Now I see why Isabella left me alone. She made one 試みる/企てる, however.”

“And did not 後継する in inducing you to marry her. But had she 後継するd, Emilia would have stopped the marriage. Emilia loved you.”

“No,” said Caranby coldly, “she loved my 肩書を与える and my 指名する and wealth. I never loved her nor she me. She 演習d a 肉親,親類d of hypnotic 影響(力) over me, and I dare say I would have married her. But her heart I am sure was always in the coining 商売/仕事.”

“You are やめる 権利,” said Maraquito, looking 熱心に at him, “though I can’t guess how you (機の)カム to think so, seeing you thought my aunt dead. Yes, she loved coining. When I grew up she sent for me and for Daniel Saul —”

“Who is he? Another of your precious family.”

“A distant cousin. You know him best as Hale the lawyer.”

“Oh, indeed,” said Caranby, かなり surprised, “and what did Emilia do with you two?”

“She got us to help her to coin. We made use of your house. I need not tell you how we dug the tunnel and arranged the factory. Emilia knew that you would not 乱す the house —”

“I was a sentimental fool. If I had been wiser you would not have carried on your wickedness for so long.”

“Oh, we have other factories,” said Maraquito coolly, “Jennings has not discovered everything. But your house was certainly an ideal place. I can’t understand how Jennings learned about the secret —”

“The 入り口. He learned that from 計画(する)s left by Maxwell who designed the same. Emilia 毒(薬)d him.”

“She did — to 保存する her secret. Hale and I thought it was unwise; he would have joined us. But it was all for the best.”

“明らかに you think so,” returned Caranby, looking at her with abhorrence, “seeing you 毒(薬)d Tyke in the same way.”

“Hale did that and I agreed. It was necessary,” said the woman coldly, “but you appear to know all about the 事柄.”

“Jennings has told me everything. Even to the fact, which he learned from Hale that you rang that bell.”

“I did. I knew Juliet Saxon was in the room, and I wished to get her 逮捕(する)d. She left the house and I rang the bell as soon as I could get away from Hale, who did not wish me to draw attention to the 殺人. But Juliet was too far away by that time to be caught.”

“Why did you wish to hang the poor girl?”

“Because I loved Cuthbert. I would have hanged her with 楽しみ,” said Maraquito vindictively. “I hate her!”

“Then why do you wish to see her today?”

“To tell her that I give up your 甥.”

“That is not in 一致 with the 感情s you 表明するd now.”

Maraquito made a gesture of 無関心/冷淡 and made no reply. Caranby now began to 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う that she ーするつもりであるd 害(を与える) to Juliet, and wondered if she had any 武器 about her. That dangling 捕らえる、獲得する could easily carry a stout knife or a neat little revolver. And Maraquito, as was evident from the deaths of Maxwell and Tyke, had no idea of the sacredness of life. Caranby wished he had kept Cuthbert at 手渡す to 回避する any 大災害. He was about to (犯罪の)一味 and order his servant not to bring 行方不明になる Saxon into the room when Maraquito roused herself from her reverie.

“Do you wish to know anything その上の?” she asked.

“No. I think you have told me everything.”

She smiled scornfully. “I have told you very little. But for the 残り/休憩(する) of the (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) you must 適用する to Mrs. Octagon.”

“Ah! Supposing I wish to learn who killed Emilia?”

“Mrs. Octagon can tell you!” said the woman 意味ありげに.

“Do you mean to say —”

“I say nothing. Emilia (機の)カム to the factory and went out into the open 空気/公表する by another 出口 to see if anyone was about. She never returned and Hale and I went in search of her. We 設立する her dead, and —”

“I know all this. Hale 自白するd it. But he does not know who killed her. Do you?”

“I can’t say for 確かな . But I 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑う Mrs. Octagon stabbed her.”

“But how could Mrs. Octagon get the knife?”

“Basil got that from Mallow’s room. He gave it to his mother, and —”

“This is all theory,” said Caranby 怒って, “you have no grounds.”

“非,不,無 at all,” replied Maraquito calmly, “but if anyone had a wish to kill my aunt, Mrs. Octagon had. Emilia kept a tight 持つ/拘留する over that woman, and made her do what she wished.”

“About the marriage?”

“Yes, and other things. I have never been able to understand why Aunt Emilia took such a fancy to Cuthbert and that girl. But she certainly wished to see them married. She asked Juliet for a photograph of your 甥, and Juliet gave her one. I took it, and that girl Susan 認める stole it from me. It was strange that the photograph should have gone 支援する to the cottage. Aunt and I quarrelled over the marriage. She knew I loved Cuthbert, but she would never help me to marry him. It was all Juliet with her — pah! I detest the girl. I could do nothing while Emilia lived. She knew too much. But after her death I made Mrs. Octagon stop the marriage.”

“I think Mrs. Octagon will 同意 now,” said Caranby, calmly.

“I 疑問 it. She hates you too much. However, she can, for all I care, Lord Caranby. I have done with Cuthbert.”

The old man hoped she had done with Juliet also, for he was still uneasy. The 表現 of her 直面する was most malignant. More than ever 説得するd that she ーするつもりであるd 害(を与える), Caranby again was about to 召喚する his servant and forbid the 入り口 of the 推定する/予想するd girl, when suddenly the door opened and Juliet; looking 有望な and happy, entered. She started 支援する when she saw the supposed old woman, who rose. Caranby jumped off the sofa with an activity he had not shown for years, and got between Juliet and her enemy. Maraquito burst into 涙/ほころびs. “Ah, you will be happy with Cuthbert,” she wailed, “while I-” a fresh burst of 涙/ほころびs stopped her speech and she groped in the satin 捕らえる、獲得する for her handkerchief.

Juliet looked amazed. “Who is this, Lord Caranby?”

“Senora Gredos.”

“Maraquito!” cried Juliet, starting 支援する with an indignant look. “I never 推定する/予想するd to 会合,会う that woman —”

“You call me that?” cried Maraquito, flashing, up into a passion. “I am the woman Cuthbert loves.”

“He does not. He loves me. You, so old and —”

“Old!” shrieked Maraquito, snatching off her hat and cap. “I am young and much more beautiful than you. Look at my hair.” It (機の)カム streaming 負かす/撃墜する in a glorious 集まり on her shoulders. “My 直面する is as beautiful as yours. I disguised myself to see you. I hate you! — I loathe you! I forbid you to marry Cuthbert.”

“How dare you — how dare —”

“I dare all things — even this.” Maraquito raised her arm, and in her 手渡す Caranby saw a small 瓶/封じ込める she had taken out of the 捕らえる、獲得する. “What will Cuthbert say to your beauty now?”

She flung the 瓶/封じ込める straight at Juliet. It would have struck her in the 直面する, but Caranby, throwing himself between the two, received it fair on his cheek. It 粉砕するd, and he uttered a cry. “Vitriol! Vitriol!” he shrieked, his 手渡すs to his 直面する, and fell 傾向がある on the hearth-rug. His 長,率いる struck against the 妨げる/法廷,弁護士業s of the grate, and a spurt of 炎上 caught his hair. Juliet 掴むd him and dragged him away, calling loudly for help.

“You devil — you devil!” cried Maraquito, striking the girl on the 直面する. “I dare not stay now. But I’ll spoil your beauty yet. Wait — wait!”

She あわてて put on her hat and ran out of the room. The servant of Lord Caranby burst into the room, followed by some waiters. “Send for the doctor,” cried Juliet, trying to raise Caranby —“and that woman-”

“She has left the hotel,” said a waiter, but at this moment there was a loud shout in the street, followed by a shriek and a 衝突,墜落.

一時期/支部 XXV
Nemesis

In the 中央 of the 混乱 原因(となる)d by Maraquito’s wickedness Cuthbert arrived. Juliet flew to him at once and flung herself sobbing into his 武器.

“Oh, Cuthbert — Cuthbert!” she cried, her 長,率いる on his shoulder, “that woman has been here. She tried to throw vitriol at me, and the 瓶/封じ込める broke on Lord Caranby’s 直面する. He has burnt his 長,率いる also; he is dying.”

“Good heavens!” cried Mallow, 圧力(をかける)ing her to his heart, “thank God you are 安全な! How did Maraquito come here?”

“I don’t know — I don’t know,” sobbed Juliet, 完全に unstrung; “he asked me to see him, and she arrived disguised as an old woman. Oh, where is the doctor!”

“He has just arrived, 行方不明になる. Here he comes,” said an excited waiter.

While the doctor 診察するd Caranby’s 傷害s, Cuthbert, very pale, led Juliet out of the room, and taking her into an 隣接するing apartment, made her drink a glass of port ワイン. “An old woman,” he repeated, “it must have been the disguised Maraquito then who was killed.”

“Killed! She is not killed. She (機の)カム here and —”

Juliet began to tell the story over again, for she was 不正に 脅すd. Mallow interrupted her gently.

“Maraquito is dead,” he said, “she was run over by a モーター-car a 4半期/4分の1 of an hour ago.”

“Was that her cry we heard?”

“I don’t know,” replied Cuthbert gloomily. “I was coming 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the corner of the street and saw a woman 飛行機で行くing along the pavement. A car was 涙/ほころびing に向かって me. I had just time to see the woman as she passed and 公式文書,認める that she was old. She caught a glimpse of my 直面する, and with a cry ran into the centre of the street. I never thought she was Maraquito, and could not understand why she 行為/法令/行動するd as she did. I cried out in alarm, and ran 今後 to drag her 支援する from before the approaching モーター. But it was too late, the car went over her and she shrieked when 鎮圧するd under the wheels. The 妨害 made the car swerve and it ran into a lamp-地位,任命する. The occupants were thrown out. I fancy someone else is 傷つける also. Maraquito is dead. I heard a policeman say so. I then saw a waiter gesticulating at the door of the hotel, and fancied something was wrong; I ran along and up the stairs. But I never 推定する/予想するd to find you here, Juliet, much いっそう少なく to 証言,証人/目撃する the death of that wretched woman.”

“I am sorry,” 滞るd Juliet, as she sat with his 武器 一連の会議、交渉/完成する her, “I don’t know why she 手配中の,お尋ね者 to throw vitriol at me. She failed to 傷つける me, and I think she has killed Lord Caranby, and —”

“I must see to my uncle,” said Mallow, rising, “stay here, Juliet.”

“No! no,” she said, 粘着するing to him, “let me go home. Get a cab. I dare not stop. That terrible woman —”

“She will never 傷つける you again. She is dead.”

“I wish to go home — I wish to go home.”

Mallow saw that the poor girl was やめる ill with fright; and small wonder, considering the 大災害 of the last half hour. To have vitriol thrown is bad enough, but when the 行為/法令/行動する leads to two deaths — for Maraquito was already dead, and it seemed probable that Lord Caranby would follow — it is enough to shake the 神経s of the strongest. Mallow took Juliet 負かす/撃墜する and placed her in a cab. Then he 約束d to see her that same evening, and to tell her of Lord Caranby’s 進歩. When the cab drove away he went again upstairs. As he went he could not help shuddering at the thought of the danger from which Juliet had escaped. He remembered how Maraquito had 脅すd to spoil the beauty of the girl, but he never thought she would have held to her devilish 目的. Moreover, he could not understand how Maraquito in disguise (機の)カム to see Caranby. The disguise itself was an obvious necessity to escape the police. But why should she have been with his uncle and why should Juliet have come also? It was to 伸び(る) an answer to these questions that Cuthbert hurried to the sitting-room.

Lord Caranby was no longer there. The doctor had ordered him to be taken to his bedroom, and when Mallow went thither he met him at the door, “He is still unconscious,” said the doctor, “I must send for his 正規の/正選手 医療の attendant, as I was only called in as an 緊急 内科医.”

“Is he very ill?”

“I think the shock will kill him. He is 極端に weak, and besides the shock of the vitriol 存在 thrown, he has 支えるd 厳しい 傷害s about the 長,率いる from 解雇する/砲火/射撃. I don’t think he will live. To whom am I speaking?” asked the young man.

“My 指名する is Mallow. I am Lord Caranby’s 甥.”

“And the next 相続人 to the 肩書を与える. I fancy you will be called ‘my lord’ before midnight.”

Mallow did not 陳列する,発揮する any 楽しみ on 審理,公聴会 this. He valued a 肩書を与える very little and, so far as money was 関心d, had ample for his needs. Besides, he was really fond of his uncle who, although 終始一貫して eccentric, had always been a 肉親,親類d, good friend. “Will he 回復する consciousness?”

“I think so,” said the doctor doubtfully, “I am not やめる sure. His own 医療の attendant, knowing his 憲法 and its resisting 力/強力にする, will be able to speak more assuredly. How did this happen?”

Cuthbert, for obvious 推論する/理由s, explained as little as he could. “Some old woman (機の)カム to see my uncle and threw vitriol at 行方不明になる Saxon, the young lady who was with him. He 迎撃するd the stuff and fell into the 解雇する/砲火/射撃.”

“What a demon! I hope she will be caught.”

“She is dead,” and Cuthbert 関係のある the 事故 in the street. The doctor had strong 神経s, but he shuddered when he heard the dreadful story. Nemesis had been いっそう少なく leaden-footed than usual.

In 予定 time Dr. Yeo, who usually …に出席するd Caranby, made his 外見 and 明言する/公表するd that his 患者 would not live many hours. “He was always weak,” said Yeo, “and of late his 証拠不十分 増加するd. The two 厳しい shocks he has 支えるd would almost kill a stronger man, let alone an old man of so delicate an organization. He will die.”

“I hope not,” said Cuthbert, impulsively.

The 内科医 looked at him benignly. “I 異なる from you,” he 宣言するd, “death will come as a happy 解放(する) to Lord Caranby. For years he has been 苦しむing from an incurable (民事の)告訴 which gave him 広大な/多数の/重要な 苦痛. But that he had so much courage, he would have killed himself.”

“He never complained.”

“A 勇敢に立ち向かう man like that never does complain. Besides, he took 広大な/多数の/重要な care of himself. When he (機の)カム 支援する to London he was 公正に/かなり 井戸/弁護士席. I think he must have done something 無分別な to bring on a 再発 of his illness. Within a few days of his arrival he grew sick again. In some way he over-発揮するd himself.”

“I don’t think he ever did,” said Mallow, doubtfully.

“But I am 確かな of it. Within a week of his arrival here he had a relapse. I 税金d him with going out too much and with over-exertion, but he 拒絶する/低下するd to answer me.”

“Will he become conscious again?”

“I think so, in a few hours, but I cannot be sure. However, you need not be alarmed, Mr. Mallow. His 事件/事情/状勢s are all 権利. In 見解(をとる) of his illness I advised him to make his will. He said that he had done so, and that everything was in apple-pie order.”

“It is not that, doctor. I wish to ask him some questions. Will you remain here?”

“Till the end,” replied Yeo, 意味ありげに; “but it will not take place for a few hours, so far as I can see.”

“I wish to go out for an hour. Can I, with safety?”

“Certainly. Lord Caranby will live for some time yet.”

Mallow nodded and left the bedroom, while Yeo returned to the bed upon which lay the unconscious form of the old man. Cuthbert took a walk to the end of the street where the 難破 of the モーター car had now been 除去するd, and asked the policeman what had become of the 犠牲者s. He was 知らせるd that the chauffeur, in a dying 条件, had been 除去するd to the Charing Cross Hospital, and that the 団体/死体 of the old woman — so the constable spoke — had been taken to the police 駅/配置する 近づく at 手渡す. “She’s やめる dead and very much 粉砕するd up,” was the man’s 報告(する)/憶測.

Mallow thanked him with half-a-栄冠を与える and, having learned the どの辺に of the police 駅/配置する, he went there. He introduced himself to the 視察官 and, as the 甥 of Lord Caranby, received every attention, 特に when he 述べるd how the vitriol had been thrown. Cuthbert thought it 同様に to say this, as the waiters at the Avon Hotel would certainly 知らせる the police if he did not. He looked at the 団体/死体 of the 哀れな woman in its strange mask of age. “She went to see Lord Caranby in disguise,” said the 視察官, “you can see her 直面する is made up. Does his lordship know who she is?”

“Yes. And Mr. Jennings, the 探偵,刑事, knows also.”

“Perhaps you do yourself, Mr. Mallow?”

Cuthbert nodded. “She is Maraquito, the —”

“What! the 賭事ing-house coiner we have been looking for?”

“The same. Jennings can tell you more about the 事柄 than I can.”

“I’ll get Mr. Jennings to come here as soon as he is on his feet, and that will be tomorrow most probably. But why did Maraquito throw vitriol at Lord Caranby?”

“Jennings can tell you that,” said Mallow, 抑えるing the fact that the vitriol had been meant for Juliet. “Perhaps it had something to do with the (警察の)手入れ,急襲 made on the unfinished house which, you know, belonged to my uncle.”

“Bless me, so it did. I 推定する/予想する, enraged by the factory 存在 discovered, Maraquito wished to 復讐 herself on your uncle. She may have thought that he gave (警察などへの)密告,告訴(状) to Jennings about the place.”

“She might have thought so,” said Mallow. “I am returning to the Avon Hotel. If you want to see me you can send for me there. But Jennings knows everything.”

“What about his lordship?”

“He will die,” said Cuthbert 突然の, and 出発/死d, leaving the 視察官 十分な of 悔いるs that Maraquito had not lived to 人物/姿/数字 in the police 法廷,裁判所. He looked at the 事柄 純粋に from a professional 見地, and would have liked the sensation such an 事件/事情/状勢 would have 原因(となる)d.

When Mallow (機の)カム 支援する to the hotel he 設立する that his uncle had 回復するd consciousness and was asking for him. Yeo would not 許す his 患者 to talk much, so Cuthbert sat by the 病人の枕元 持つ/拘留するing the 手渡す of the dying man. Caranby had been 不正に burnt about the 寺s, and the sight of one 注目する,もくろむ was 完全に gone. Occasionally Yeo gave him a 生き返らせるing cordial which made him feel better. に向かって evening Caranby 表明するd a wish to talk. The doctor would have 妨げるd him, but the dying man 無視(する)d these orders.

“I must talk,” he whispered faintly. “Cuthbert, get a sheet of paper.”

“But you have made your will,” said Yeo, rebukingly.

“This is not a will. It is a 自白. Cuthbert will 令状 it out and you will 証言,証人/目撃する my 署名 along with him, Yeo.”

“A 自白!” murmured Cuthbert, going out of the room to get pen, 署名/調印する and paper. “What about?”

He soon knew, for when he was 設立するd by the 味方する of the bed with his 令状ing 構成要素s on a small (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する, Caranby laughed to himself 静かに. “Do you know what I am about to say?” he gasped.

“No. If it is nothing important you had better not exhaust yourself.”

“It is most important, as you will hear. I know who 殺人d the supposed 行方不明になる Loach.”

Cuthbert nearly dropped the pen. “Who was it?” he asked, 推定する/予想するing to hear the 指名する of Mrs. Octagon.

“I did!” said Caranby, 静かに.

“You! — that’s impossible.”

“Unfortunately it is true. It was an 事故, though. Yeo, give me more drink; I must tell everything.”

Yeo was やめる 静める. He had known Caranby for many years, and was not at all 性質の/したい気がして to 縮む from him because he 自白するd to having committed a 殺人. He knew that the Earl was a 肉親,親類d-hearted man and had been shamefully 扱う/治療するd by three women. In fact, he was 内密に glad to hear that Emilia Saul had met her death at the 手渡す of a man she had 負傷させるd. But he kept these 感情s to himself, and after giving his 患者 a strong tonic to 生き返らせる his energies, he sat by the 病人の枕元 with his fingers on the pulse of the dying man. Caranby 決起大会/結集させるd かなり, and when he began his recital spoke in stronger トンs.

Cuthbert dipped his pen in the 署名/調印する, but did not dare even to think. He was wondering how the death of Emilia had come about, and also how his uncle had gone to the unfinished house on the same night as he had done. Remembering how Basil 明言する/公表するd he had been chased by someone unknown, Cuthbert began to fancy he saw light. However, at this moment Caranby began to speak, and as every moment was precious, both men forbore to interrupt him unless desirous to have a clearer understanding on 確かな points.

“When I (機の)カム 支援する to England,” said Caranby, “I never thought that Emilia was alive. 借りがあるing to the clever way in which the substitution was 影響d by Isabella, I always thought Selina lived at Rose Cottage. Several times I tried to see her, hoping she would marry me. But she always 辞退するd. I was puzzled at the time, but now I know the 推論する/理由. I never thought of looking at the unfinished house. It was a piece of sentimental folly my shutting it up, but afterwards, as time slipped by, I never troubled about looking into the 事柄. As Cuthbert will tell you, Yeo, laziness is a 副/悪徳行為 with me.”

“Go on with the story and save your strength,” said Yeo softly.

“Yes.” Caranby heaved a sigh. “I 港/避難所’t much left. 井戸/弁護士席, Cuthbert, you told me about the ghosts supposed to be haunting the house. I asked you to go 負かす/撃墜する and see. You (機の)カム here one night and left at eight o’clock to go 負かす/撃墜する to Rexton.”

“I never 推定する/予想するd you to follow. Why did you not come with me?”

“Because I was keeping something 支援する from you. On the previous day I received a letter. There was no 指名する to it, and the 令状ing was disguised. It advised me to see Selina Loach, and said I would be surprised when she spoke to me.”

“Because then you would 認める the woman you believed to be dead.”

“正確に/まさに,” said Caranby faintly, “but at the time I knew nothing, and was much puzzled with the letter. On that night I ーするつもりであるd to tell you, but I did not. Then I thought I would go 負かす/撃墜する to Rose Cottage and 証明する the truth of the letter. I went almost すぐに after you, Cuthbert.”

“What, in your 明言する/公表する of health?”

“Yes. I was stronger then.”

“And have been いっそう少なく strong since,” murmured Yeo. “I understand now why you 辞退するd to tell me how you had over-発揮するd yourself.”

“I had my secret to keep,” said Caranby coldly, “some more drink, please.” Then, when he felt better, he continued “Yes! I was wonderfully 井戸/弁護士席 and strong on that night. I climbed the 塀で囲む —”

“Impossible!” said Mallow, “I can’t believe that.”

“にもかかわらず it is the truth. I 推定する/予想する the excitement made me unnaturally strong. I 苦しむd 大いに when it was over.”

“You were a 難破させる,” said the 内科医 bluntly.

“When what was over?” asked Mallow, anxiously.

“The event of the night to which I am coming. It took me some time to get to Rexton, and a long time to walk to the unfinished house. I did not go 負かす/撃墜する Crooked 小道/航路, but 一連の会議、交渉/完成する by the 塀で囲む.”

“Did you come by, the 鉄道 駅/配置する path?”

“I did not. I took a wide detour and arrived at the unfinished house on the 味方する opposite to where Rose Cottage stood.”

“Ah!” murmured the young man. “No wonder I 行方不明になるd you. But I thought you were calling on 行方不明になる Loach.”

“I ーするつもりであるd to, but first I thought I would 保証する myself about the ghosts. Certainly I had 始める,決める you to 成し遂げる that 仕事, but, as I was on the 位置/汚点/見つけ出す, I 決定するd to see for myself. I climbed the 塀で囲む, not without difficulty, and 設立する myself in the park —”

“About what time was this?”

“After ten. I can’t say how long. But I really cannot be 正確な as to the time. I wandered aimlessly about the park, threading my way amongst the trees and shrubs and undergrowth. I was astonished to find paths, and it struck me that someone used the park.”

“I believe 行方不明になる Loach did — that is, Emilia,” said Cuthbert. “Jennings learned that in some way. She always was on the watch for anyone coming into the park and learning the secret of the factory.”

“I did not know that at the time,” said Caranby, his 発言する/表明する growing 女性. “井戸/弁護士席, I walked about. いつかs it was moonlight and at other times the moon would be obscured by clouds. I struggled to get 近づく the house and 後継するd. Then I saw a man standing in the 影をつくる/尾行する. At once I went up to him — he fled. I don’t know who it was?”

“I can tell you,” said Mallow, 静かに, “young Saxon.”

“Then why did he 飛行機で行く?”

“He was there with no very good 目的 and his 良心 smote the 哀れな creature,” said Cuthbert, “go on — or will you wait?”

“No! no! no!” said Caranby, 熱心に; “if I stop now you will never know the truth. I don’t want anyone else to be (刑事)被告 of the 罪,犯罪. I know Maraquito hinted that Isabella Octagon was 有罪の, but she is not. I don’t want even Isabella to 苦しむ, though she has been a 致命的な woman to me and 難破させるd my life’s happiness.”

His 発言する/表明する was growing so weak that Yeo gave him more cordial. After a pause Caranby 再開するd with a last 成果/努力, and very 速く, as though he thought his strength would fail him before he reached the end of his dismal story.

“I followed the man, though I did not know who he was, and wondered why he should be trespassing. He fled 速く and I soon lost him. But when the moonlight was 有望な I saw that he had dropped a knife from his pocket. In stooping to 選ぶ it up I lost sight of the man.”

“Basil crossed the park and ran away. But he (機の)カム 支援する for the knife afterwards,” explained Mallow. “Juliet saw him. He had on my coat. I wonder you didn’t think Basil was me, as Juliet did.”

“I am not 熟知させるd with your 着せる/賦与するs,” said Caranby, dryly, “as I have been absent from England for so long. But no wonder Saxon did not find the knife. I 選ぶd it up. It was a bowie —”

“Belonging to me, which Basil had stolen.”

“I didn’t know that either. 井戸/弁護士席, I went again に向かって the 塀で囲む surrounding the park. I thought I might 会合,会う you.”

“I wonder you didn’t. I was about at that time.”

“The park was so thickly filled with trees and shrubs that we 行方不明になるd one another I suppose. Don’t interrupt — I am going. 令状 quickly, Cuthbert.” Then with a gasp Caranby 再開するd: “I 停止(させる)d to get breath 近づく the large oak which the 解雇する/砲火/射撃 spared. I heard a rustling, and a woman (機の)カム out of the 影をつくる/尾行する of the tree. I wondered who she was and where she had come from. The moon then (機の)カム out brightly, and I 認めるd her 直面する with a sensation almost of terror. It was Emilia.”

“How did you 認める her after all these years?”

“By her ユダヤ人の look, and 特に by the eyebrows. Moreover, she 明らかにする/漏らすd herself to me when dying.”

“What happened?” asked Yeo, はっきりと.

“I was standing with the knife in my 手渡す. Emilia, seeing that I was an 侵入者, (機の)カム 速く に向かって me. She had a revolver in her 手渡す but did not 解雇する/砲火/射撃. She cried out something and 急ぐd at me. In doing this she (機の)カム straight against the knife. I was 持つ/拘留するing it instinctively in an 態度 of defence, with the point outward. She 急ぐd at me to 耐える me 負かす/撃墜する by the 負わせる and 軍隊 of her 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金, and the next moment she dropped to the ground dying.”

“She was not dead then?”

“No! not for the moment. I knelt beside her and whispered ‘Emilia!’ She opened her 注目する,もくろむs and smiled. Then she replied, ‘Emilia — yes!’ and died. I did not know what to do. Then it struck me that I might be 逮捕(する)d for the 罪,犯罪, though it really was no 罪,犯罪. Had she not 急ぐd at me, had I not been 持つ/拘留するing the knife, she would not have met with her death. I wonder she did not 解雇する/砲火/射撃, seeing she had a ピストル.”

“Perhaps she 認めるd you,” said Yeo, ちらりと見ることing at Cuthbert, who was 令状ing 速く.

“No. Had she done so, she would never have 試みる/企てるd to 傷つける me. She thought I was some 秘かに調査する searching for the factory, and without giving herself time to think dashed 今後, believing I would give way and 飛行機で行く. It was all over in a second. I made up my mind to go at once. I did not even wait to 選ぶ up the knife, but climbed the 塀で囲む and (機の)カム home here. What happened then I don’t know.”

“I can tell you,” said Mallow. “Maraquito and Hale (機の)カム to look for 行方不明になる Loach and took her 団体/死体 into the 郊外住宅 sitting-room. They placed the knife at her feet and the cards in her (競技場の)トラック一周, thinking it would be thought she had been stabbed in the room, and —”

“調印する, 調印する!” said Caranby, 突然に, and Mallow あわてて brought him the written 文書 and the 署名/調印する. He 調印するd feebly, and the two men 調印するd as 証言,証人/目撃するs. Yeo then turned to his 患者, but he drew 支援する. Death was stamped on the 直面する.

Cuthbert called in the servant. “Lord Caranby is dead,” he said 静かに.

“Yes, my lord,” replied the servant, and Mallow started on 審理,公聴会 the 肩書を与える. But he was now Lord Caranby and his uncle was dead.

一時期/支部 XXVI
Cuthbert’s Enemy

Before leaving the death-議会, Mallow — now Lord Caranby — 調印(する)d the 自白 in the presence of Yeo, and went with him into the sitting-room. “What will you do with that?” asked the doctor, 示すing the envelope with a nod.

“I shall place it in the 手渡す of my lawyers to be put with family papers,” replied Cuthbert. “I am sure you agree with me, Yeo, that it is unnecessary to make the contents public. My uncle is dead.”

“Even were he still alive, I should advise you to say nothing,” replied Yeo, grimly; “the woman deserved her 運命/宿命, even though it was an 事故. She destroyed Caranby’s life. He would have married Selina Loach and have been a happy man but for her.”

“There I think you wrong her. It is Isabella Octagon who is to 非難する. She has indeed been a 致命的な woman to my poor uncle. But for her, he would not have been 妨げるd from marrying Selina and thus have fallen into the toils of Emilia. Emilia would not have 殺人d Selina, and the result would not have come out after all these years in the death of my uncle at the 手渡すs of Bathsheba Saul.”

“Who is she?”

“Maraquito. But you don’t know the whole story, nor do I think there is any need to repeat the sordid 悲劇. I will put this paper away and say nothing about it to anyone save to Jennings.”

“The 探偵,刑事!” said Yeo, surprised and startled. “Do you think that is wise? He may make the 事柄 public.”

“No, he won’t. He has traced the coiners to their lair, and that is enough glory for him. When he knows the truth he will stop searching その上の into the 事例/患者. If I 持つ/拘留する my tongue, he may go on, and make ぎこちない 発見s.”

“Yes, I see it is best you should tell him. But 行方不明になる Saxon?”

“She shall never know. Let her think Maraquito killed Emilia. Only you, I and Jennings will know the truth.”

“You can depend upon my silence,” said Yeo, shaking Cuthbert by the 手渡す; “井戸/弁護士席, and what will you do now?”

“With your 許可, I shall ask you to stop here and arrange about necessary 事柄s in 関係 with the laying-out of the 団体/死体. I wish to interview Mrs. Octagon this evening. To-morrow I shall see about Caranby’s remains 存在 taken 負かす/撃墜する to our family seat in Essex.”

“There will be an 検死 first.”

“I don’t mind. Maraquito is dead and nothing detrimental to the 栄誉(を受ける) of the Mallows can transpire. You need say nothing at the 検死 as to the 瓶/封じ込める 存在 thrown at Juliet.”

“I’ll do my best. But she will be questioned.”

“I ーするつもりである to see her this evening myself.”

“What about Mrs. Octagon?”

“Oh,” said the new Lord Caranby with a grim smile, “I ーするつもりである to settle Mrs. Octagon once and for all.”

“Surely you don’t ーするつもりである to tell her of the 殺人.”

“Certainly not. She would make the 事柄 public at once. But her knowledge of the real 指名する of Emilia, and her hushing up of the 殺人 of her sister, will be やめる enough to bring her to her 膝s. I don’t ーするつもりである that Juliet shall have anything more to do with her mother. But I’ll say very little.”

After this Cuthbert 出発/死d and took a hansom to the “神社 of the Muses.” He arrived there at ten o’clock, and was 知らせるd by the butler that 行方不明になる Saxon was in bed with a 頭痛, and that Mrs. Octagon had given orders that Mr. Mallow was not to be 認める. Basil was out, and Mr. Octagon likewise. Cuthbert listened 静かに, and then gave the man, whom he knew 井戸/弁護士席, half a 君主. “Tell Mrs. Octagon that Lord Caranby wishes to see her.”

“Yes, sir, but I don’t —”

“I am Lord Caranby. My uncle died this evening.”

The butler opened his 注目する,もくろむs. “Yes, m’lord,” he said 敏速に, and 認める Cuthbert into the hall. “I suppose I needn’t say it is really you, m’lord,” he 発言/述べるd, when the 訪問者 was seated in the 製図/抽選-room, “I am afraid the mistress will be angry.”

“Don’t trouble about that, Somes. Tell her Lord Caranby is here,” and the butler, bursting to tell the news in the servants’ hall, went away in a 広大な/多数の/重要な hurry.

Cuthbert remained seated 近づく the (米)棚上げする/(英)提議する on which stood an electric lamp. He had the 自白 in his pocket, and smiled to think how glad Mrs. Octagon would be to read it. However, he had やめる enough 証拠 to 軍隊 her into decent 行為. He did not ーするつもりである to leave that room till he had Mrs. Octagon’s 解放する/自由な 同意 to the marriage and a 約束 that she would go abroad for an 不明確な/無期限の period with her 希望に満ちた son, Basil. In this way Cuthbert hoped to get rid of these 望ましくない 親族s and to start his married life in peace. “Nothing いっそう少なく than 追放する will settle 事柄s,” he muttered.

Mrs. Octagon, in a gorgeous tea-gown, swept into the room with a frown on her 堅固に-示すd 直面する. She looked rather like Maraquito, and 明らかに was in a bad temper. Mallow could see that she was surprised when she entered, as, thinking Lord Caranby was incapacitated by the 事故 述べるd by Juliet, she did not know how he (機の)カム to call at so late an hour. Moreover, Lord Caranby had never visited her before. However, she 明らかに was bent on receiving him in a 悲劇の manner, and swept 今後 with the mien of a Siddons. When she (機の)カム into the room she caught sight of Cuthbert’s 直面する in the 炎 of the lamp and stopped short. “How —” she said in her deepest トン, and then became prosaic and very angry. “What is the meaning of this, Mr. Mallow? I hoped to see —”

“My uncle. I know you did. But he is dead.”

Mrs. Octagon caught at a 議長,司会を務める to stop herself from 落ちるing, and wiped away a 涙/ほころび. “Dead!” she muttered, and dropped on to the sofa.

“He died two hours ago. I am now Lord Caranby.”

“You won’t grace the position,” said Mrs. Octagon viciously, and then her 直面する became 暗い/優うつな. “Dead! — Walter Mallow. Ah! I loved him so.”

“You had a strange way of showing it then,” said Cuthbert, calmly, and he also took a seat.

Mrs. Octagon すぐに rose. “I forbid you to sit 負かす/撃墜する in my house, Lord Caranby. We are strangers.”

“Oh, no, we aren’t, Mrs. Octagon. I (機の)カム here to arrange 事柄s.”

“What 事柄s?” she asked disdainfully, and 明らかに 確かな he had nothing against her.

“事柄s connected with my marriage with Juliet.”

“行方不明になる Saxon, if you please. She shall never marry you.”

“Oh, yes, she will. What is your 反対 to the marriage?”

“I 辞退する to tell you,” said Mrs. Octagon violently, and then somewhat inconsistently went on:

“If you must know, I hated your uncle.”

“You said you loved him just now.”

“And so I did,” cried the woman, spreading out her 武器, “I loved him intensely. I would have placed the hair of my 長,率いる under his feet. But he was never worthy of me. He loved Selina, a poor, weak, silly fool. But I stopped that marriage,” she ended triumphantly, “as I will stop yours.”

“I don’t think you will stop 地雷,” replied Cuthbert tranquilly, “I am not to be coerced, Mrs. Octagon.”

“I don’t 捜し出す to coerce you,” she retorted, “but my daughter will obey me, and she will 辞退する your 手渡す. I don’t care if you are fifty times Lord Caranby. Juliet should not marry you if you had all the money in the world. I hated Walter Mallow, your uncle. He 扱う/治療するd me shamefully, and I swore that never would any child of 地雷 be connected with him. Selina wished it, and 軍隊d me to agree while she was alive. But she is dead and Lord Caranby is dead, and you can do nothing. I 反抗する you — I 反抗する you!”

“We may 同様に 行為/行う this interview reasonably.”

“I shall not let you remain here any longer. Go.”

She pointed to the door with a 劇の gesture. Cuthbert took up his hat.

“I shall go if you 主張する,” he said, moving に向かって the door, “and I shall return with a policeman.”

Mrs. Octagon gave a gasp and went gray. “What do you mean?”

“You know 井戸/弁護士席 what I mean. Am I to go?”

“You have nothing against me,” she said violently, “stop, if you will, and tell me the 推論する/理由 of that speech.”

“I think you understand what I mean perfectly 井戸/弁護士席,” said Mallow again, and returning to his seat. “I know that your sister died years ago,” Mrs. Octagon gasped, “and that Emilia feigned to be Selina Loach. And perhaps, Mrs. Octagon, you will remember how your sister died.”

“I didn’t touch her,” gasped Mrs. Octagon, trembling.

“No, but Emilia Saul did, and you 容赦するd the 罪,犯罪.”

“I 否定する everything! Go and get a policeman if you like.”

Cuthbert walked to the door and there turned. “The 声明 of Emilia will make pleasant reading in 法廷,裁判所,” he said.

Mrs. Octagon bounded after him and pulled him 支援する by the coat-tails into the centre of the room. Then she locked the door and sat 負かす/撃墜する. “We won’t be 乱すd,” she said, wiping her 直面する upon which the perspiration stood, “what do you know?”

“Everything, even to that letter you wrote to my uncle, 明言する/公表するing he should see the pretended Selina Loach.”

This was a chance 発射 on Mallow’s part, but it told, for he saw her 直面する change. In fact, Mrs. Octagon was the only woman who could have sent the letter. She did not 試みる/企てる to 否定する it. “I sent that letter, as I was 疲れた/うんざりした of that woman’s tyranny. I thought it would get her into trouble.”

“She would have got you into trouble also. Suppose she had lived and had told the story of Selina’s death.”

“She would have put the rope 一連の会議、交渉/完成する her own neck,” said Mrs. Octagon in a hollow トン, all her theatrical 空気/公表するs gone. “I was a fool to wait so long. For twenty years that woman has held me under her thumb. It was Emilia that made me 同意 to your 約束/交戦 to Juliet. さもなければ,” she 追加するd malevolently, “I should have died rather than have 同意d. Oh,” she shook her 手渡すs in the 空気/公表する, “how I hate you and your uncle and the whole of the Mallows.”

“A woman 軽蔑(する)d, I see,” said Cuthbert, rather cruelly, “井戸/弁護士席, you must be aware that I know everything.”

“You don’t know who killed Emilia?”

“Maraquito said it was you.”

“I” shrieked Mrs. Octagon, “how dare she? But that she is dead, as Juliet told me, I would have her up for 名誉き損. Maraquito herself killed the woman. I am sure of it. That coining factory —”

“Did you know of its 存在?”

“No, I didn’t,” snapped Mrs. Octagon. “I knew nothing of Emilia’s 犯罪の doings. I let her 耐える the 指名する of my sister —”

“Why?” asked Mallow, quickly, and not knowing what Maraquito had said to Caranby.

“I don’t know,” replied Mrs. Octagon, sullenly, “Emilia was in some trouble with the 法律. Her brother and mother were afterwards 逮捕(する)d for coining. She might have been 逮捕(する)d also, but that I agreed to 持つ/拘留する my tongue. Emilia 押し進めるd Selina off the plank. Then she turned and (刑事)被告 me. As it was known that I was on bad 条件 with Selina, I might have been (刑事)被告 of the 罪,犯罪, and Emilia would have sworn the rope 一連の会議、交渉/完成する my neck. Emilia made me help her to change the dress, and said that as the 直面する of the dead was disfigured, and she was rather like Selina — which she certainly was, she could arrange. I did not know how she ーするつもりであるd to blind my father. But my father died 突然に. Had he not done so, the deception could not have been kept up. As it was, I went to the 検死, and Emilia as Selina pretended to be ill. I saw after her and we had a strange doctor. Then we went abroad, and she (機の)カム 支援する to shut herself up in Rose Cottage. I tried to marry Caranby, but Emilia stopped that.”

“Why did she?”

“Because she loved Caranby in her tiger way. That was why she 主張するd you should marry Juliet. She always 脅すd to tell that I had killed Selina, though I was innocent.”

“If you were, why need you have been afraid?”

“Circumstances were too strong for me,” said Mrs. Octagon, wiping her 乾燥した,日照りの lips and glaring like a demon. “I had to give in. Had I known of that factory I would have spoken out. As it was, I wrote to Caranby when in a fit of 激怒(する); but afterwards I was afraid of what I had done, as I thought Emilia would tell.”

“She certainly would have done so had she not died so opportunely.”

“Do you mean to say that I killed her? I tell you, Maraquito did so.”

“What makes you think that?” asked Mallow, delighted at the mistake.

“Because she was always fighting with Emilia about you. Maraquito wished to marry you, and Emilia would not let her. After Emilia died, Maraquito saw me, and we arranged to stop the marriage, and —”

“I know all about that. I saw you — or rather my uncle saw you — enter Maraquito’s Soho house.”

“I went on Basil’s account also,” said Mrs. Octagon, sullenly, “however, I have told you all. What do you wish to do?”

“I wish to marry Juliet.”

“Then I 辞退する,” said Mrs. Octagon, savagely.

“In that 事例/患者 I’ll tell.”

“You will 不名誉 Juliet. Besides, the 法律 can’t touch me.”

“I am not so sure of that. You were an 従犯者 after the fact. And if the public knew that you had acquiesced in the death of your sister and had held your tongue for years, you would not be popular. I 恐れる your 調書をとる/予約するs would not sell then.”

Mrs. Octagon saw all this, and glared savagely at Cuthbert. She would have liked to kill him, but he was the stronger of the two, and knew much which she wished kept silent. Mallow saw the impression he was making and went on persuasively. “And think, Mrs. Octagon, Juliet can give you up the six thousand a year —”

“Not she,” laughed Mrs. Octagon, sneering.

“She will, at my request. I don’t want my wife to 所有する money made out of coining. The income will be made over to you by 行為 of gift.”

“Six thousand a year,” mused the lady, “and you will 持つ/拘留する your tongue?”

“Of course, for Juliet’s sake 同様に as for yours. But I think it will be advisable for you to travel for a few years.”

“I’ll (問題を)取り上げる my abode in America forever,” said Mrs. Octagon, rising, “do you think I’ll stop here and see you my daughter’s husband? Not for all the money in the world. Besides, Mr. Octagon has been insolent over money, and I sha’n’t stay with him. Basil and myself will go to America and there we will become famous.”

“It is certainly better than becoming famous in another way,” said Mallow, dryly, “you will, of course be やめる amiable to Juliet. Also to me, in public.”

“Oh,” she replied, with a short laugh, “I’ll kiss you if you like.”

“There is no need to go so far. I am sorry for you.”

“And I hate you — hate you! Leave me now at least. You can come tomorrow, and I’ll 同意 公然と to the marriage. But I hope you will both be 哀れな. Juliet does not love me or she would despise you. I wish you had died along with your uncle.”

She was becoming so wild in her looks that Cuthbert thought it best to leave the room. The 重要な was in the door, so he 出発/死d, やめる sure that Mrs. Octagon, to 避ける スキャンダル about her shady doings, would be most agreeable に向かって him in public, however much of a demon she might be in 私的な. Thus ended the interview.

Next morning Mallow drove to Jennings and 関係のある everything, 含むing the 自白 of Caranby regarding the 事故, and 追加するd 詳細(に述べる)s of the interview with Mrs. Octagon. Jennings listened, astonished.

“I am glad you told me,” he said, “of course I don’t want you to make all this public. The general impression is the same as that of Mrs. Octagon, that Maraquito 殺人d 行方不明になる Loach. It need not be known that Emilia was masquerading under a 誤った 指名する. She need not be brought into the 事例/患者 at all. What a wonderful 事例/患者, Mallow.”

Cuthbert assented. “It’s more like fiction than fact.”

“Fact is always like fiction,” said Jennings epigrammatically, “however, we’ve got a 自白 from Clancy about the other factories. The whole ギャング(団) will be caught sooner or later. And, by the way, Mallow, on second thoughts, I think it will be best to 明言する/公表する the real 指名する of Emilia.”

“I think so too. If she is pilloried as 行方不明になる Loach, everyone will know that she is the aunt of Juliet. Tell the truth, Jennings.”

“We’ll tell everything, save that Lord Caranby inadvertently 殺人d that woman. She was the 致命的な woman —”

“No,” said the new Lord Caranby, “Mrs. Octagon is the 致命的な woman. She was at the 底(に届く) of everything.”

“And has been rewarded with six thousand a year. I don’t suppose the 明言する/公表する can 掴む that money. However, I’ll see. I should like to punish Isabella Octagon in some way. And Susan 認める?”

“You can give her a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs on my に代わって, and she can marry her パン職人. Then there’s Mrs. Barnes — Mrs. Pill that was. She is やめる innocent. Thomas her husband will be punished, so you had better tell her, I’ll 供給する for her. As to yourself —”

“That’s all 権利, Mallow, this coining 事例/患者 means a rise of salary.”

“All the same, I ーするつもりである to give you a few thousands on に代わって of myself and Juliet. Without you I would probably have been (刑事)被告 of the 罪,犯罪. And, in any 事例/患者, things would have been ぎこちない. There might have been a スキャンダル.”

“There won’t be one now,” said Jennings. “I’ll settle everything. Mrs. Octagon will go to the 明言する/公表するs with that young cub, and you can make 行方不明になる Saxon Lady Caranby. It is good of you giving me a reward. I can now marry Peggy.”

“We all seem to be bent on marriage,” said Mallow, rising to take his leave. “How’s the shoulder?”

“All 権利,” said the 探偵,刑事, “and it’s 価値(がある) the 負傷させる to have Peggy nursing me. She is the dearest —”

“No, 容赦 me,” said Cuthbert, “by no means. Juliet is the dearest girl in the wide world,” and he 出発/死d laughing.

Needless to say, under the careful 監督 of Jennings, all スキャンダル was 回避するd. The ギャング(団) with Clancy at its 長,率いる were 宣告,判決d to years of 監禁,拘置, likely to put a stop to all いたずらs. Maraquito was buried 静かに and Mallow 築くd a gravestone to her, in spite of her wicked designs against Juliet. In six months Jennings married Peggy and took a house at Gunnersbury, where Peggy and he live in the congenial company of Le Beau, who has become やめる reconciled to Jennings’ profession. The old professor teaches dancing to the children of the 近隣. Susan 認める also married her パン職人, and the two now 所有する one of the finest shops in Stepney. Mrs. Octagon went to America almost すぐに. She managed to keep the six thousand a year, in spite of Jennings. No one knows how she managed to do this, but envious people hinted at 政府 影響(力). However, with Basil she 出発/死d to the 明言する/公表するs, as she 自白するd to 存在 疲れた/うんざりした of constant 勝利s in England. Mrs. Octagon now has a literary salon in Boston, and is regarded as one of the 主要な spirits of the age. Basil married an heiress. Peter, 疲れた/うんざりした of playing the part of husband to a celebrity, remained in England but not in London. He sold the “神社 of the Muses” and took a cottage on an 広い地所 in Kent belonging to Lord Caranby. Here he cultivates flowers and calls frequently on his step-daughter and her husband, when they are in the 近隣. Peter never knew the true history of his wife. He always 言及するs to Mrs. Octagon with 尊敬(する)・点, but shows no disposition to join her in America. Peter has had やめる enough of sham art and sham enthusiasm.

And Cuthbert was married to Juliet within the year. The wedding was 静かな on account of his uncle’s death, and then Lord Caranby took his bride for a 小旅行する 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the world. To this day Lady Caranby believes that Maraquito 殺人d 行方不明になる Loach, and knows also from newspaper 報告(する)/憶測s that the pretended aunt was really Emilia Saul. Mrs. Octagon also 表明するd surprise at the 悪名高い imposture, and やめる deceived Juliet, who never learned what part her mother had taken in the 商売/仕事. In fact Juliet thought her mother was やめる glad she had married Cuthbert.

“Mother really liked you all the time,” she said to her husband when they 始める,決める off on their honeymoon.

“I 疑問 that,” replied Lord Caranby, dryly.

“She told me that it was always the dream of her life to see me your wife, but that Maraquito had 脅すd to 廃虚 Basil if —”

“Oh, that is the story, is it? 井戸/弁護士席, Juliet, I am much 強いるd to Mrs. Octagon for loving me so much, but, with your 許可, we will not see more of her than we can help.”

“As she is in America we will see very little of her,” sighed Lady Caranby, “besides, she loves Basil more than me. Poor boy, I hope he will get on in America.”

“Of course he will. He will marry an heiress —” And Cuthbert’s prophecy 証明するd to be 訂正する —“Don’t let us talk of these things any more, Juliet. This dreadful 殺人 nearly 難破させるd our life. My poor uncle talked of a 致命的な woman. Maraquito was that to us.”

“And I?” asked Juliet, nestling to her husband.

“You are the dearest and sweetest angel in the world.”

“And you are the greatest goose,” said she, kissing her husband 情愛深く, “we have had enough of 致命的な women. Let us never について言及する the 支配する again.”

And they never did.


THE END

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