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肩書を与える: The Spider Author: Fergus Hume * A 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBook * eBook No.: 1701191h.html Language: English Date first 地位，任命するd: November 2017 Most 最近の update: November 2017 This eBook was produced by: Walter Moore 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed 版s which are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright notice is 含むd. We do NOT keep any eBooks in 同意／服従 with a particular paper 版. Copyright 法律s are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright 法律s for your country before downloading or redistributing this とじ込み／提出する. This eBook is made 利用できる at no cost and with almost no 制限s どれでも. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the 条件 of the 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia Licence which may be 見解（をとる）d online.
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一時期／支部 1. - A Possible 共同
一時期／支部 2. - A Confidential Communication
一時期／支部 3. - How The 罠（にかける） Was 始める，決める
一時期／支部 4. - Who Was Caught In The 罠（にかける）
一時期／支部 5. - After The 悲劇
一時期／支部 6. - Two Conversations
一時期／支部 7. - Lady Corsoon's 控訴，上告
一時期／支部 8. - The Grief Of Ida
一時期／支部 9. - Witchcraft
一時期／支部 10. - Mystery
一時期／支部 11. - The Needle In The Haystack
一時期／支部 12. - A Tempting 申し込む／申し出
一時期／支部 13. - The Bazaar
一時期／支部 14. - Run To Earth
一時期／支部 15. - 直面する To 直面する
一時期／支部 16. - The Search
一時期／支部 17. - In The Train
一時期／支部 18. - At Bowderstyke
一時期／支部 19. - A Bold 申し込む／申し出
一時期／支部 20. - Gerby Hall
一時期／支部 21. - 司法（官）
一時期／支部 22. - The End Of It All
The exterior of The Athenian Club, 棺／かげり 商店街, 代表するs an ordinary twentieth century mansion, which it is; but within, the 指名する is 正当化するd by a Græco-Roman architecture of 広大な spaces, marble 床に打ち倒すs, painted 天井s, and 中心存在d 塀で囲むs, adapted, more or いっそう少なく 首尾よく, to the chilly British 気候. The さまざまな rooms are called by Latin 指名するs, and the use of these is rigidly 施行するd. Standing outside the mansion, you know that you are in London; enter, and you behold Athens—say, the abode of Alcibiades; listen, and 捨てるs of speech 示唆する 皇室の Rome. Thus, the tastes of all the members, whether old and pedantic, or young and frivolous, are 協議するd and gratified. Modern slang, 同様に as the stately tongue of Virgil, is heard in The Athenian, for the club, like St. Paul, is all things to all men. For that 推論する／理由 it is a 商業の success.
Strangers—they come 熱望して with members to behold rumoured glories—enter the club-house, through imitation bronze gates, into the vestibulum, and pass through an inner door into the atrium. This means that they leave the 入り口 room for the general conversation apartment. To the 権利 of this, looking from the doorway, is the tablinum, which answers—perhaps not very 正確に as regards the 指名する—the 目的s of a library; to the left a lordly portal gives admittance into the triclinium, that is, to the dining-room. At the end of the atrium, which is the 中立の ground of the club, where members and strangers 会合，会う, swing-doors shut in the pinacotheca. 適切に this should be a picture-gallery, but, in deference to modern 必要物／必要条件s, it is used as a smoking-room. These three rooms, spacious, ornate, and lofty, open under a colonnade, or peristyle, on to a glass-roofed winter garden, which runs like a 狭くする passage 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the three 味方するs of the building. The viridarium, as the members call this cultivated （土地などの）細長い一片 of land, 延長するs only twenty feet from the marble pavement of the peristyle, and is bounded by the 味方する-塀で囲むs and 後部-塀で囲むs of 隣接する houses. It is filled with palms and 熱帯の 工場／植物s, with foreign and native flowers, and, 借りがあるing to a skilful concealment of its 制限s by the use of enormous mirrors, festooned with creepers and ivy, it really 似ているs 広大な 楽しみ-gardens 延長するing to 広大な／多数の／重要な distances. The 見通し from tablinum, pinacotheca, and triclinium is a 勝利 of 視野.
Below the 明言する／公表する apartments on the ground 床に打ち倒す are the kitchens, the 国内の offices, and the servants’ rooms; above them, the cubicles are to be 設立する, where members, both 居住（者） or 非，不，無-居住（者）, sleep when 性質の／したい気がして on beds more comfortable than classical. Finally, on the 最高の，を越す 床に打ち倒す, and reached by a 解除する, are billiard-rooms, card-rooms, and a small 体育館 for those who 要求する 演習. The whole 計画／陰謀 is modelled on a larger 規模 from the House of Glaucus, as 述べるd by Bulwer Lytton in “The Last Days of Pompeii.” A perusal of this famous story 示唆するd the novelty to an 企業ing 建設業者, and the Athenian Club is the successful result.
The members of such a club should have been classical scholars, but these were in the 少数，小数派. The greater 部分 of those who patronised this 最新の London freak were 極端に up-to-date, and defended their insistent modernity まっただ中に 古代の 人工的な 環境 by 行為／法令／行動するs xvii. 21: “For the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing!” And certainly they 行為／法令／行動するd 井戸／弁護士席 up to the text, for all the スキャンダル and novelty of the metropolis seemed to flow from this pseudo-classical source. Plays were discussed in manuscript, novels on the eve of 出版（物）; inventors （機の）カム here to 示唆する 計画（する）s for airships, or to explain how the earth could signal to 火星. Some members had brand new ideas for the 改良 of モーター 機械装置, others 願望（する）d to 発展させる colour from sound, 詳細（に述べる）ing with many words how music could be made 明白な. As to politics, the Athenians knew everything which was going on behind the scenes, and could foretell 平等に truthfully a war, a change of 政府, the abdication of a 君主, or the 反乱 of an 抑圧するd people. If any traveller arrived from the Land-at-the-支援する-of-Beyond with an account of a newly-discovered island, or an 完全に new animal, he was sure to be a member of the club. Thus, although the 内部の of the 棺／かげり 商店街 mansion 示唆するd Greece and Rome, Nero and Pericles, the 任命s for 慰安, for the quick 派遣（する） of 商売／仕事 or 楽しみ, and the ideas, conversation, and dress of the members, were, if anything, six months ahead of the 現在の year of grace. The Athenian Club was really a mixture or blending of two far-apart 時代s, the very 古代の and the very modern; but the dark ages were left out, as the members had no use for mediæval ignorance.
Over the mosaic dog with his 警告 lettering, “洞穴 Canem,” strolled, one warm evening in June, a young man of twenty-four, whose physical 外見 was more in keeping with the classical surroundings than were his faultlessly fitting dress-着せる／賦与するs. His oval, clean-shaven 直面する was that of a pure-血d Hellene, his curly golden hair and large blue 注目する，もくろむs like the sky of Italy at noon, 示唆するd the Sun-god, and his 人物／姿／数字, limber, active, and slender, 似ているd the Hermes of the Palestra. He was almost 積極性 handsome, and 明らかに knew that he was, for he swaggered in with a haughty lord-of-the-world 空気／公表する, 完全に 確信して of himself and of his 能力s. His exuberant vitality was as pronounced as were his good looks, and there was a finish about his toilette which hinted at a 決意 to make the most of his 外見. He assuredly 後継するd in accentuating what Nature had done for him, since even the attendant, who approached to 除去する the young man’s light overcoat, appeared to be struck by this splendid 見通し of perfect health, perfect beauty, and perfect lordship of 存在. All the fairies must have come to the cradle of this fortunate young gentleman with profuse gifts. He seemed to be the embodiment of joyous life.
“Is Mr. Arthur Vernon here?” he asked, settling his waistcoat, touching the flower in his button-穴を開ける, and pulling a handkerchief out of his left sleeve.
“In the pinacotheca, sir,” was the reply, for all the attendants were carefully 教えるd in 訂正する pronunciation. “Shall I tell him you are here, Mr. Maunders?”
The gentleman thus 指名するd yawned lazily. “Thanks, I shall see him myself;” and with a nod to the man, he walked lightly through the atrium, looking like one of Flaxman’s 創造s, only he was more 着せる／賦与するd.
Throwing keen ちらりと見ることs 権利 and left to see who was 現在の and who was not, Mr. Maunders entered the pinacotheca. This was an oblong apartment with marble 塀で囲むs on three 味方するs and a lordly 範囲 of 中心存在s on the fourth, which was 完全に open to the gardens. Beyond could be seen the luxuriant vegetation of the undergrowth, whence sprang tall palms, duplicated in the background of mirrors. The mosaic pavement of the smoking-room was strewn with Persian praying-mats, whose vivid colouring matched the pictured 床に打ち倒す. There were 深い armchairs and softly-cushioned sofas, all upholstered in dark red leather, which contrasted pleasantly with the 雪の降る，雪の多い 塀で囲むs. Many small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs of white metal and classical 形態／調整s were dotted here, there, and everywhere. As it was 中央の-June and 極端に の近くに, the fireplace—looking somewhat incongruous in such a place—was filled with ferns and white flowers, in red マリファナs of earthenware, thus repeating the general 計画／陰謀 of colour. Red and white, snow and 解雇する／砲火／射撃, with a spread of green in the viridarium—nothing could have been more artistic.
Under the peristyle, and 近づく a fountain whence water sprang from the conch of a Triton to 落ちる into a shallow marble 水盤／入り江 with prismatic hues, were several 巡査-topped （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs. 近づく them, basket 議長，司会を務めるs draped with brightly-hued rugs, were scattered in picturesque disorder. One of them was 占領するd by a long, わずかな／ほっそりした man of thirty. With a cigarette between his lips and a cup of coffee at his 肘, he 星／主役にするd straight in 前線 of him, but looked up 速く when he heard Maunders’ springy steps.
“Here you are at last!” he 発言／述べるd somewhat coolly, and ちらりと見ることd at his watch. “Why didn’t you turn up to dinner as arranged? It’s の近くに on nine o’clock.”
“Couldn’t get away from my aunt,” replied Maunders, slipping leisurely into an 隣接する 議長，司会を務める. “She seemed to have the blues about something, and wouldn’t let me go. Never was there so affectionate an aunt as Mrs. Bedge, and never one so tryingly attentive.”
“Considering that she has brought you up in the past, 供給（する）s you with money at 現在の, and ーするつもりであるs to make you her 相続人 in the 未来, you might talk more kindly of her.”
Maunders shrugged his shoulders. “Oh, the Eton-Oxford education was all 権利; she did 井戸／弁護士席 by me there. But I don’t get much money from her now, and 裁判官ing from that, I may be 相続人 to very little.”
“You せねばならない be glad that you are an 相続人 to anything,” said Vernon frowning, for his friend’s light トンs jarred.
“Why?” asked the other. “My parents are dead long since. Aunt Emily is my only 親族, and has neither chick nor child. If she didn’t ーするつもりである to leave me her money she should not have brought me up to 高級な and idleness.”
“It would certainly be better if she had made you work,” assented the host contemptuously; “but you were always lazy and extravagant.”
“I was born sitting 負かす／撃墜する; I am a lily of the field and a rose of Sharon.”
“Likewise an ass.”
“You think so?” said Maunders drily. “井戸／弁護士席, I hope to change your opinion on that point before we part.”
“It will take a 取引，協定 of changing. But all this talk is beside the 目的 of our 会合. You made this 任命 with me, and—”
“Didn’t keep it to the minute. I’m nearly two hours late. 井戸／弁護士席, what does it 事柄?”
“Everything to me. I am a busy man,” snapped the other はっきりと.
“So you say.” Maunders looked very 直接／まっすぐに at his host. “Some fellows don’t think so. Your 商売／仕事—”
Vernon interrupted. “I have no 商売／仕事; I am an 独立した・無所属 man.”
“And yet a busy one,” 再結合させるd Maunders softly; “strange.”
There was that significance in his トン which made Vernon colour, although he remained motionless. He certainly was about to make a 迅速な 観察, but his guest looked at him so straightly and smilingly, that he bit his lip and 差し控えるd from 即座の speech. Maunders, still smiling, took a cigarette from a golden 事例／患者 and lighted up. “You might 申し込む／申し出 me a cup of coffee.”
Vernon signalled to a passing attendant. “A cup of coffee for Mr. Maunders.”
“With a vanilla bean,” directed the other man. “I don’t like coffee さもなければ. And hurry up, please!” Then, when the servant 出発／死d, he turned suavely to his host. “I forget what we were talking about.”
“So do I,” retorted Vernon coolly.
Maunders, smoking delicately, 残り／休憩（する）d his wrists on the 巡査 辛勝する／優位 of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and looked searchingly into his friend’s strong 直面する. And Vernon’s 直面する was strong—much stronger than that of his companion. He likewise had blue 注目する，もくろむs, but of a 深い-sea blue, いっそう少なく shallow and more piercing than those of Maunders. His 直面する was also oval, with finely 削減（する） features, but more 得点する／非難する／２０d with thought-示すs; and his hair was as dark, smooth, and short-cropped as that of the other’s was golden, curly, and—半端物 adjective to use in 関係 with a man—fluffy. Both were clean-shaven, but Vernon’s mouth was 会社／堅い, while the lips of Maunders were いっそう少なく compressed and betrayed 不決断. The former had the more 運動競技の 人物／姿／数字, the latter a more graceful one, and although both were 井戸／弁護士席 groomed and 井戸／弁護士席 dressed, Vernon was いっそう少なく of the dandy in his attention to 詳細（に述べる）. Poetically speaking, one man was Night and the other Day; but a keen 観察者／傍聴者 would have read that the first used strength of 団体／死体 and brain to 達成する his ends, while the last relied more on cunning. And from the looks of the twain, cunning and strength were about to try 結論s. Yet they had been child-friends, school-friends, and—so far as their paths ran 平行の—were life-friends, with 確かな 保留（地）／予約s.
“You were always as 深い as a 井戸／弁護士席, Arty,” said Maunders, finally 除去するing his 注目する，もくろむs from the other’s 直面する and turning to take his cup of coffee.
“Don’t call me Arty!” snapped Vernon irritably.
“You were Arty at Eton, when we were boys, tall and short.”
“We are not at Eton now. I always think that there is something weak in a man 存在 called by his Christian 指名する outside his family—much いっそう少なく 存在 ticketed with a confounded diminutive.”
“You can call me Conny if you like, as you used to.”
“I shan’t, or even Constantine. Maunders is good enough for me.”
“Oh is he?” The fair man ちらりと見ることd shrewdly over the coffee-cup he was 持つ／拘留するing to his lips. “You 持つ／拘留する to that.”
“I 持つ／拘留する to the 指名する, not to the individual,” said Vernon curtly.
“You don’t 信用 me.”
“I don’t. I see no 推論する／理由 to 信用 you.”
“Ah, you will when I explain why I asked you to 会合，会う me here,” said Maunders in his frivolous manner.
“I daresay; go on.”
His friend sighed. “What a laconic beast you are, Arty.”
“My 指名する is Vernon, if you please.”
“Always Vernon?” asked Maunders in silky トンs.
The other man sat up alertly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I want you to take me into 共同.”
“共同!” Vernon’s 直面する grew an angry red. “What the devil do you know?”
“Softly! softly! I know many things, although there is no need to 断言する. It’s bad form, Vernon, ジュースd bad form. The fact is,” he went on gracefully, “my aunt keeps me short of money, and I want all I can get to enjoy life. I thought as I am pretty good in finding out things about people that you might 招待する me to become a partner in your 探偵，刑事 商売／仕事.”
Vernon cast a 迅速な ちらりと見ること around. Fortunately, there were no guests under the peristyle, and only two men, out of earshot, in the pinacotheca. “You are talking rubbish,” he said 概略で, yet apprehensively.
“I don’t think so. Your father died three years ago and left you with next to nothing. Having no profession you did not know what to do, and, ashamed to beg, borrow, or steal, you turned your 力／強力にするs of 観察 to account on the 味方する of the 法律 against the 犯罪の.” Maunders took a card from his waistcoat pocket and passed it along. “‘Nemo, 私的な Enquiry スパイ／執行官, 22, Fenella Street, Covent Garden,’ is inscribed on that card. Nemo means Nobody, I believe; yet Nemo, as I know, means Arthur Vernon of The Athenian Club.”
The man 演説（する）／住所d tore the card to pieces and threw them amongst the flowers. “You talk rubbish,” he said again, and still 概略で. “How do you connect me with this 私的な enquiry スパイ／執行官?”
“Ah, that’s too long a story to tell you just now.” Maunders ちらりと見ることd at his watch. “I am 予定 at a ball in an hour, and want the 事柄 settled before I leave here.”
“What 事柄?”
“The 共同 事柄.” There was a pause. “井戸／弁護士席?”
“I have nothing to say,” said Vernon 堅固に.
Maunders rose. “In that 事例／患者 I’ll 削減（する） along and go earlier than I 推定する／予想するd to Lady Corsoon’s ball.”
“Lady Corsoon!” Vernon changed colour and bit his lip.
“Yes. She didn’t ask you to her ball, did she? She wouldn’t, of course, seeing that you are in love with her daughter Lucy. That young lady is to marry money, and you 港／避難所’t any but what you make out of your 探偵，刑事 商売／仕事. Perhaps if I tell her that you are doing 井戸／弁護士席 as Nemo, she might—”
By this time Vernon was on his feet. “Don’t you dare, don’t you dare!” he panted hoarsely, and the perspiration beaded his brow.
“Oh!” Maunders raised his eyebrows. “Then it is true, after all.”
“Sit 負かす／撃墜する,” 命令（する）d Vernon savagely, 再開するing his own seat. “We must talk this 事柄 out, if you please.”
“I （機の）カム here for that 目的. Only don’t keep me too late. I am engaged to Lucy for the third waltz, and must not disappoint her.”
Vernon winced. “You have no 権利 to call 行方不明になる Corsoon by her Christian 指名する.”
“Why not? She’s not engaged to you. I love her, and, as yet—as yet, mind you, Vernon—I have as good a 権利 as you to 削減（する） in.”
“I understood that you were as good as engaged to 行方不明になる Dimsdale.”
“Oh!” Maunders lightly flipped away a cigarette ash. “The shoe’s on the other foot there. She loves me, but I don’t love her. Still, there’s money in the 商売／仕事 if Ida becomes Mrs. Maunders. Old Dimsdale’s got no end of cash, and Ida 相続するs everything as his only child. But he wants her to marry 陸軍大佐 Towton—you know, the chap who did so 井戸／弁護士席 in some hill-tribe extermination in India. But Ida loves me, and Towton’s got no chance, unless I marry Lucy Corsoon and give him a look in.”
“You’re a 冷笑的な, conceited, feather-長，率いるd young ass,” said Vernon with 冷淡な, self-抑制するd fury, “and I forbid you to speak of 行方不明になる Corsoon in that 商業の way, much いっそう少なく call her by her Christian 指名する. She loves me and I love her, and we ーするつもりである to marry, if—”
“If Lady Corsoon 許すs the match,” finished Maunders, stretching out his long 脚s. “It’s no go, my dear fellow. She doesn’t think you rich enough for the girl.”
“I never heard that Constantine Maunders was a millionaire,” retorted the other man 激しく.
“My 直面する is my fortune, old chap, and there are さまざまな ways of getting Lady Corsoon’s 同意.”
“What ways?” asked Vernon suddenly and searchingly looking at his friend.
“Ah, you ask too much. I am not your partner yet.”
“That means you have some knowledge about Lady Corsoon which you can use to 軍隊 her to 同意.”
“Perhaps. I know a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 about most people. Every one has his or her secrets 同様に as her or his price.”
“Are you a 私的な enquiry スパイ／執行官 also?” sneered Vernon, leaning 支援する.
“Ah!” Maunders 掴むd upon the half admission. “Then you are Nemo?”
“Yes,” assented the dark man reluctantly, “although I can’t guess how you （機の）カム to know about my 商売／仕事. I wish the fact kept dark, as it would be 悲惨な for me in Society.”
“Probably,” 認める Maunders lazily. “One doesn’t like to hob-nob with an Asmodeus who goes in for unroofing houses.”
“Yet you 提案する to join Asmodeus,” chafed Vernon uneasily.
“Oh yes; I think it’s a 支払う／賃金ing 商売／仕事, you see, and I want money. How I learned about the 事柄 is of no 広大な／多数の／重要な consequence, and I don’t think any one else will connect you with this Nemo abstraction. And when in 共同, I shall, of course, keep it dark for my own sake.”
“I daresay,” sneered Vernon, 内密に furious at having to 服従させる／提出する. “And on what 条件 do you 提案する to join in the 商売／仕事 you despise?”
“Half 利益（をあげる）s,” said Maunders 敏速に.
“Really. You seem to 始める，決める some value on yourself.”
“No one else will if I don’t,” replied Maunders good-humouredly. “See here, Arty—oh, then, Vernon if you will—your 商売／仕事 as a 私的な enquiry スパイ／執行官 is to find out things about people, and—”
“I beg your 容赦, but you talk through your hat,” interrupted Vernon acidly. “My 商売／仕事 is to 補助装置 people to settle 商売／仕事 which the general public is not supposed to know. I don’t find out people’s 商売／仕事. They come to me with difficult 事例／患者s, and I settle them to the best of my ability.”
“Yes, yes,” said Maunders leniently, “you put the best complexion on it, old man, but it’s dirty work all the same.”
“It is nothing of the sort,” almost shouted Vernon; then sank his 発言する／表明する to a furious whisper; “my 商売／仕事 is perfectly honest and clean. The nature of it 要求するs secrecy, but I （問題を）取り上げる nothing the doing of which would 反映する on my honour. I have precious little money and also a 論理（学）の way of looking at things. For that 推論する／理由 I 貿易（する） as Nemo.”
“Under the rose, of course,” laughed Maunders. “You don’t put your goods in the shop window. However, I understand perfectly, and I am willing to come in with you. Oh, make no mistake, my dear chap, I am 価値（がある） having as a partner, as I know heaps about Tom, 刑事, and Harry, which they would rather were kept out of the newspapers.”
“I don’t run a ゆすり，恐喝ing 商売／仕事,” said Vernon passionately.
“What a 汚い word, and wholly unnecessary. I never 示唆するd ゆすり，恐喝ing any one, that I know of. All I say is, that, having a goodish 知識 with the seamy 味方する of Society life, I can earn my half of the Nemo 利益（をあげる）s by 補助装置ing you.”
“And if I 辞退する?”
“I shall hint—mind you I shan’t say anything straight out—but I shall hint that you are a professionally inquisitive person.”
“I don’t know if you are aware of it,” said Vernon slowly, “but you are a scoundrel.”
“Oh, dear me, no; not at all,” 再結合させるd the other airily, “I am 簡単に a young man with the tastes of a duke and the income of a pauper. 自然に I wish to 補足（する） that income, and your secret 商売／仕事 seems to 申し込む／申し出 advantages in the way of 収入 即座の cash.”
“And if I don’t 同意 you will do your best to 廃虚 me socially?”
“That’s 商売／仕事,” said Maunders 敏速に. “Get a man into a corner and 肌 him at your leisure. 井戸／弁護士席, do you 同意?”
“I can’t do anything else, that I can see,” said the other 激しく. “However, you must give me a week to come to a 決定／判定勝ち（する）.”
“Take a month,” answered the 訪問者 generously. “I’m not in a hurry to 肌 you, old man. You can’t get out of the corner, you know. And see here, if we make a fortune out of this 商売／仕事, I’ll give you a chance with Lucy, and take Ida Dimsdale with her ten thousand a year.”
“Will she have that much?”
“Oh, certainly. I made 調査s,” said Maunders coolly. “It’s no use jumping in the dark you know. Old Dimsdale—his Christian 指名する’s ツバメ—was a Police Commissioner in Burmah some years ago, and shook the pagoda-tree to some 目的. Now he’s retired, and lives in a gorgeously glorified bungalow, which he built at Hampstead. He’s not a bad chap, and Ida is uncommonly good-looking. I might do worse.”
“What about 陸軍大佐 Towton?”
“I’ll 削減（する） him out. He’s a very young 陸軍大佐 of forty-five, handsome and smart, but with precious little brain about him. He’s got an 古代の country house in Yorkshire, and—but here, I’ll be talking all the night.” Maunders jumped up. “And Lucy is waiting for me. You can take a month.”
“Thank you,” said Vernon frigidly. “I shall give you my answer then.”
“It will be ‘yes,’ of course; you can’t say anything else. I say”—Maunders threw a laughing ちらりと見ること over his shoulder—“by this time you must have changed your opinion as to my 存在 an ass,” and he 出発／死d still laughing.
Vernon ran after him and touched his shoulder. “Not an ass, but a scoundrel,” he breathed with 抑えるd passion, and Maunders’ laughter 増加するd.
When Maunders passed into the atrium, Vernon returned slowly to his seat under the peristyle. Here he ordered a fresh cup of strong coffee to （疑いを）晴らす his brain, lighted another cigarette, and sat 負かす／撃墜する to 解任する the late conversation. As a 予選 to a 徹底的な consideration of the 状況／情勢, he ran over in his mind what he knew of the man who wished to become his partner. His memories showed Maunders to be an exceedingly unscrupulous person, who was ready to do anything to gratify his appetite for 楽しみ.
Vernon’s recollections carried him 支援する to a Berkshire village of which his father had been the squire. Mrs. Bedge, the 未亡人 of a Levantine merchant, had taken a house in the neighbourhood, and there had settled with her 甥, Constantine Maunders. It seemed that her sister had married a naturalised Greek, hence the boy’s Christian 指名する. As the parents were dead, Mrs. Bedge, 存在 without offspring, had 可決する・採択するd the 孤児. From what Vernon remembered, Maunders had always been a handsome and charming little boy, who usually got his own way by sheer amiability and good looks. But he had 相続するd more from his Greek father than a classical 直面する and a Christian 指名する which smacked of old Constantinople, for he was crafty and clever, and utterly without moral 原則. He could 隠す his feelings admirably, he could 計画／陰謀 for his wants very dexterously, and he told a 嘘（をつく） or the truth with the 最大の 公平さ when either ふさわしい the end to be 伸び（る）d. 提起する／ポーズをとるing as an innocent angel-child, he deceived everyone, and although outwardly he appeared to be an unsophisticated babe, he was in reality a little monster of egotism. Even when they were children together, Vernon—from bitter experience—had always 不信d Constantine, and had 裁判官d his character more 正確に than grown-up people. Those were invariably taken in by the brat’s cherubic 面.
At Eton, Constantine fared いっそう少なく happily. He was ten years of age when his aunt sent him there, and, as Vernon then was fifteen, she had asked him to look after her darling. But all Vernon’s chivalry could not save Constantine from 井戸／弁護士席-deserved kicks and thrashings. Schoolboys are not to be taken in by angel-children, so Constantine did not have a happy time. However, he was so 外交の and unscrupulous that he managed to 緊急発進する through school life 公正に／かなり 井戸／弁護士席. At Oxford—whither he went some years after Vernon—he got on better, and became a general favourite because of his general pliancy of disposition. By means of that same pliancy he usually 安全な・保証するd his selfish ends, under a guise of 一貫した amiability. 存在 quick-brained and clever, if somewhat shallow, he 安全な・保証するd his degree, and left the University with an excellent character. Since then he had been a man about town, supported by his aunt’s money. Mrs. Bedge had settled in London at Constantine’s request, and could 辞退する him nothing. Yet—as Vernon 裁判官d from what the young man had said—even Mrs. Bedge’s generosity could not 供給（する） Maunders with 十分な money to gratify the selfish 願望（する） he had always had for 楽しみ. Only the income of a Rothschild could have 完全に 満足させるd his cravings for the delights of 存在.
Vernon had been いっそう少なく lucky in life. His father had 推測するd rashly, and three years 事前の to the 会合 of the young men at the Athenian Club had died a comparative pauper. Thrown on his own 資源s and without a profession, Vernon had utilised his observant and 論理（学）の faculties to 始める，決める up in 私的な practice as a 探偵，刑事. For two years he had carried on the 貿易（する） with success and without having been 設立する out. But now that Constantine had come on the scene, Vernon felt that there would be trouble. Of course, by taking him as a partner an （危険などに）さらす could be 避けるd, but only 一時的に. Maunders was so ready to make mischief that Vernon felt he would take all he could get out of the 商売／仕事, and when 繁栄する by marriage with Ida Dimsdale, would not hesitate to tell the truth. The 単独の 保護（する）／緊急輸入制限 lay in the fact that, 存在 tarred with the same 小衝突, Maunders for his own social sake might 持つ／拘留する his tongue. He was always clever enough to 避ける the 出版（物） of any facts to his disadvantage. It really seemed, on these grounds, that it would be judicious to 収容する／認める him as a partner. But Vernon shivered at the prospect. At the best, such a 商売／仕事 as he was engaged in, was a delicate one and decidedly 人気がない. With Maunders’ unscrupulous methods it might degenerate into a 一連の shady 処理／取引s.
“But I’ll take the month and think it over,” thought Vernon, when he had finished his coffee and cigarette. “Much may happen in thirty days which may enable me to get out of the difficulty.” Then he took out his watch and 公式文書，認めるd that it was ten o’clock. “Just time to see Dimsdale,” he yawned.
When putting on his light overcoat in the vestibulum, Vernon thought it was a strange coincidence that Maunders should have について言及するd—incidentally, of course—the 指名する of the man with whom he had an 任命 at half-past ten o’clock. Earlier in the day Vernon had received a 圧力（をかける）ing 公式文書，認める asking him to 会合，会う the writer at 陸軍大佐 Towton’s 議会s, Ralph Street, St. James’s, at that hour. So, as a 事柄 of fact, two 指名するs pertinent to the 状況／情勢 had been について言及するd, Dimsdale and Towton. Vernon wondered as he walked along 棺／かげり 商店街 what the 推論する／理由 could be. He did not believe in coincidence, and had 十分な experience of life to 疑問 the 存在 of chance, so the について言及する of the 指名するs taken in 合同 with the 任命 must point to some problem 存在 worked out. Vernon believed—as every thoughtful man must believe—that everything was worked out in the unseen world before it became a factor in the 明白な 計画（する）, and he was やめる 用意が出来ている to find, on this 仮定／引き受けること, that the 会合 with Dimsdale in Towton’s 議会s was more important than it appeared to be on the surface. その後の events 証明するd that he was 権利 in his conjecture.
一方／合間—as he was a one-thing-at-a-time man—he sauntered leisurely along に向かって his 目的地, wondering what Dimsdale wished to see him about. The ex-police-commissioner was one of the very few people who knew of the 商売／仕事 in Covent Garden. Dimsdale had been a life-long friend of Vernon’s father, and had welcomed the young man with open 武器 to his home. It was 半端物 that Vernon had not fallen in love with Ida, as nothing would have pleased Dimsdale better than to have given his daughter and her money to his old friend’s son. But Fortune in her freakish way had decided that Vernon should 落ちる in love with Lucy Corsoon, where every 障害 would be placed in the way of a successful 支持を得ようと努めるing, so Ida and Arthur had settled contentedly 負かす／撃墜する into a brother and sister 関係.
Dimsdale was annoyed that his pet 事業／計画（する） of a marriage could not come to pass, but there was no help for it, as he could not 治める／統治する the young man’s affections. Also he was annoyed because Vernon, when the death of his father occurred, would not let the 年上の man 補助装置 him. However, he told him his 計画（する）s about the 私的な 調査 office, and although the ex-police commissioner did not wholly 認可する, he 裁判官d from his knowledge of the young man’s 探偵，刑事 力／強力にするs, that it was the best use he could put his talents to. More than this, he managed to bring him （弁護士の）依頼人s, and to spread the fame of Nemo by dexterous allusions. Vernon therefore was doing very 井戸／弁護士席 in the line he had struck out for himself, and felt duly 感謝する to Dimsdale for his 援助. He thought as he walked along Ralph Street that probably the old gentleman had 設立する him a fresh （弁護士の）依頼人. But it was 半端物 that 陸軍大佐 Towton’s 議会s should have been chosen as the 会合 place, since Dimsdale belonged to several clubs. And the 事柄, whatever it was, must be very important, else Dimsdale would have waited until Vernon paid his 週刊誌 visit to the Hampstead bungalow.
It was only a ４半期/4分の1-past ten o’clock when Vernon arrived, and he thought that he would have to wait. But Towton’s servant intimated that Mr. Dimsdale was watching for his 訪問者 in the 陸軍大佐’s particular sanctum, and 勧めるd the young man into the room, after relieving him of his coat and hat. The 陸軍大佐 himself did not appear to be 現在の, but ツバメ Dimsdale was smoking in a 深い arm-議長，司会を務める, and jumped up in his boyish way to shake 手渡すs 温かく. He always had a 広大な／多数の／重要な regard for Arthur Vernon.
The room was an ordinary apartment, comfortably furnished, but in a 厳密に bachelor fashion. The 計画／陰謀 of colour was 深い green and 深い red, so that it appeared somewhat sombre. トロフィーs of Towton’s 冒険的な instincts in the 形態／調整 of 肌s and 長，率いるs appeared on the 塀で囲むs and on the 床に打ち倒す. There were many 軍の portraits and groups about, reminiscent of the 陸軍大佐’s army life. The two windows were open and the curtains were pulled 支援する, so that the room was 公正に／かなり 冷静な／正味の, while on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する stood a syphon, some glasses and a decanter of whisky, together with a box of cigars. These were at Mr. Dimsdale’s 肘. He had evidently been passing the time in smoking and drinking 未解決の his young friend’s arrival.
“I’m glad to see you, boy,” said the ex-police commissioner, pointing to a 議長，司会を務める. “Sit 負かす／撃墜する and make yourself at home. Towton gives me 十分な 許可 to play in this yard. Have a peg and a cigar.”
“Not too strong, please,” 警告するd Vernon, 受託するing a cigar and 沈むing into the 示すd 議長，司会を務める. “I 港／避難所’t so 安定した a 長，率いる as yours.”
“It’s a cleverer 長，率いる,” said Dimsdale, squirting in the potash. “Else I should not have asked you to 会合，会う me here—Nemo.”
“Oh!” Vernon placed the glass beside him. “I thought it was a 事例／患者. But why did you ask me to 会合，会う you in Towton’s rooms, and where is Towton?”
“At my sister’s ball along with Ida and 行方不明になる Hest.”
“Lady Corsoon’s ball?”
Dimsdale sat 負かす／撃墜する and nodded. “Yes. It’s a swell 事件／事情／状勢, as Sir Julius wants to make an impression on some Australian people he 願望（する）s to rope into his 計画／陰謀s for making money. Something to do with 地雷s, I believe. I didn’t feel inclined to go, although I daresay I’ll have to look in later to fetch Ida and 行方不明になる Hest home. I wished 特に to see you.” His manner assumed a portentous gravity. “So I asked Towton if I could come here and make the 任命.”
“But at your club—”
“What I have to say is sacred and secret,” interrupted the old gentleman. “A club has many 注目する，もくろむs and many ears. Better be on the 安全な 味方する. Oh, that’s all 権利,” he 追加するd with a nod, on seeing Vernon’s 注目する，もくろむs 逸脱する to the open window. “Those only look out over the roofs of houses. No one can hear us. Whisky all 権利; cigar 製図／抽選 井戸／弁護士席? Very good. Now then!” He settled himself for an exhaustive talk.
The old Indian officer had certainly not been 乾燥した，日照りのd up by the hot 気候 where he had spent the greater part of his life. He was a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, tubby, rosy-直面するd little man, all curves and gracious contentment. His 直面する was clean-shaven and his 長，率いる was bald, while his sharp grey 注目する，もくろむs twinkled behind golden-rimmed pince-nez, balanced on an unimportant nose. With his 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 長，率いる and 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 団体／死体—sphere 最高の 課すd on sphere—and short 脚s, he looked like the 人物／姿／数字 of a Chinese 蜜柑, and nodded his 長，率いる like one when he wished to 強調 a point. There was nothing 軍の about him in any way, and Vernon wondered how so natty and neat an old gentleman ever （機の）カム to have 命令（する） of men 任命するd to 追跡（する） 負かす／撃墜する Dacoits in the ジャングルs of Burmah. Yet Dimsdale’s 公式の／役人 career had been a stirring one, and he had done good service in pacifying the country after the war. Now he had beaten his sword into a plough-株, and, with a かなりの fortune, was spending his amiable old age under his own fig-tree. When Vernon looked at the rotund little man with the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する rosy 直面する, he saw before him a perfectly contented human 存在, and a very 肉親，親類d-hearted one その上.
“井戸／弁護士席, sir,” he said, leaning 支援する comfortably, “we’re tiled in, as masons say, so I shall be glad to hear what you have to tell me. Also, I am 強いるd to you for 捜し出すing out this especial 事例／患者 for me.”
“Two special 事例／患者s, my boy, two special 事例／患者s,” said Mr. Dimsdale, wagging his 長，率いる and looking more like a Chinese 蜜柑 than ever. “One has to do with me—I’ll tell you about it later; the other has to do with Mrs. Bedge and her 可決する・採択するd son.”
“Maunders!” cried Vernon, astonished to find that his premonition was coming true. “You don’t mean Constantine?”
“Yes, I do, Arthur; of course I do. Young Maunders. I never did like that boy somehow in spite of his good looks and polite manners. After all, he’s half a Greek, and I don’t like the Greeks either. They’re nearly as tricky as the Armenians, and that’s 説 a lot. All the same, I’m sorry for the sake of Emily. I’m an old friend of Emily. Ha, ha! I was in love with her before she married Bedge. He was a Levantine merchant, you know, dealt in currants and cherry jam and all the 残り／休憩（する） of it. Not a bad chap, from what I remember of him, but far too old a husband for Emily—”
“Do you mean Mrs. Bedge?” asked Vernon, vainly endeavouring to 茎・取り除く the flow of the old man’s speech.
“Of course I mean Mrs. Bedge. I call her Emily because—ha! ha!—I was in love with her. She was a handsome girl in those years, and a good one. Why, look how she 可決する・採択するd that rascal—I can’t help thinking young Maunders a rascal, though he does want to marry Ida, which is not to be thought of. Yes, yes! Emily always was good. I don’t believe a word of it, not a word.” And Mr. Dimsdale, bringing his 握りこぶし 負かす／撃墜する on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, glared at his companion through his pince-nez.
“You don’t believe a word of what?” asked Vernon soothingly.
“I’m coming to that; I’m coming to that. Don’t worry me and hurry me.” Mr. Dimsdale rubbed his nose in a 悩ますd manner. “Young Maunders, now. Eh, what? Have you seen young Maunders lately?”
“It’s 半端物 you should ask that,” said Vernon slowly, “because I have just parted from him at the Athenian Club.”
“Don’t have anything to do with him, Arthur; he’s a bad lot, a very bad lot indeed. Oh, it’s nothing that he has done. I wouldn’t say to anyone else what I am 説 to you. But I can read character, and I have 観察するd Master Constantine. He’s so selfish that he would boil Emily for his own gratification, if it pleased him. And she would let herself be boiled, too; she’s as silly over the scamp as he is selfish に向かって her. Why do you cultivate his society? Eh, what? It’s wrong and stupid; yes, yes, stupid and wrong.”
“I 港／避難所’t seen so very much of him since we left Oxford,” 反対するd Arthur, “and certainly I don’t cultivate him, as you put it, for I admire his character as little as you do.”
“And on more 有形の grounds, perhaps? Eh, what? Tell me.”
“No; I have not much to go on. At school and at college, and when we were children together in Berkshire, I never wholly liked Constantine. He’s too selfish and too unscrupulous, although he always keeps on the 権利 味方する of the 法律. Still, if he could do anything for his own 利益 against the 法律 without 存在 設立する out and made to 支払う／賃金 the 刑罰，罰則, I believe he would have little hesitation in doing it.”
“I daresay; no 疑問 you speak the exact truth from intuition. He’s a snake that young man, a pretty, curly, insinuating snake; he’s 毒（薬） in a 井戸／弁護士席-形態／調整d and 井戸／弁護士席-coloured 瓶／封じ込める. Poor Emily! poor Emily! silly woman, but goodness itself. She’s a Mrs. Lear with a thankless 可決する・採択するd child, 詐欺師 than a serpent’s tooth. Bless her, and damn him for a rogue, though, bless me, I can’t bring any actual 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 against the young beast. Ha, no! but when one sees smoke, one guesses 解雇する／砲火／射撃.”
“Did you tell him that I was Nemo?” asked Vernon bluntly.
Dimsdale grew furiously red and furiously angry, so angry indeed that he rose to stamp about the room. “How the devil can you ask me such a question, and how dare you, if it comes to that? Am I an ass, an idiot, a babbler? I wouldn’t tell Maunders that I had eaten my dinner, much いっそう少なく 知らせる him of a secret which it is to your advantage to keep. Why do you ask? Hang you, for thinking me a 反逆者 and a gossip.”
“許す me,” said Vernon with an apologetic 空気／公表する. “I am やめる sure that you have 保存するd the secret of how I earn my money. But I know that Constantine haunts your house, and thought you might have let 減少（する） a casual hint, which he is clever enough, as we both know, to take advantage of. But the fact is he had 設立する out about Nemo, and 脅すs unless I take him into 共同—he has given me a month to turn over the proposition—that he will make Society too hot to 持つ／拘留する me.”
“The young rascal, the young ゆすり，恐喝ing scoundrel,” cried Dimsdale, stamping again. “It’s just what he would do. He haunts my house to make love to Ida, and I would rather see her dead than as his wife, 特に now that I know what I am about to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Later on I shall explain. 一方／合間, don’t （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 about the bush, but tell me 正確に／まさに what Maunders 脅すs.”
Vernon 詳細（に述べる）d the conversation, and Dimsdale returned to his seat to hear the narrative. When it was ended he nodded with compressed lips. “Very clever on the part of Master Snake. He has you in his 力／強力にする 権利 enough, since he is ready to betray you if you don’t obey his 命令（する）s. 井戸／弁護士席, then, I am going—to a 確かな extent—to put him in your 力／強力にする.”
“What? Have you 設立する out—”
“I have 設立する out nothing,” said Dimsdale testily. “Don’t interrupt. Do you know of a blackmailer called The Spider?”
Vernon half rose and then sat 負かす／撃墜する again with an 成果／努力 at self-支配（する）／統制する. “I have come across his work on several occasions, and so has Scotland Yard. No one knows what he is or where he lives or anything about him. He gets his 指名する from the fact that he always 調印するs his ゆすり，恐喝ing letters with the stamped 代表 of a spider.”
“Go on,” said Dimsdale, やめる calmly for him, “tell me more.”
“There is little to tell, sir. The Spider learns people’s secrets somehow, and in a way which no one can discover. He then 令状s to this or that person and 脅すs unless a 確かな sum of money is paid to publish the secret by means of postcards sent to the 私的な 演説（する）／住所 and いつかs to the club of his 犠牲者. Of course, there is no 戦闘ing this 方式 of 手続き, so most people 支払う／賃金 静かに, although some have kicked.”
“Why isn’t the reptile 逮捕（する）d when he comes for his money? Tell me that, sir. Tell me that.”
“いつかs the money is sent to a given 演説（する）／住所, and at other times The Spider, masked and cloaked, 会合，会うs his 犠牲者 本人自身で. He is not 逮捕（する）d because he always tells his 犠牲者 that if the police are brought into the question, and he is 刑務所，拘置所d, the especial secret will be published all the same to the world by a hidden 共犯者 by means of postcards. So you can see, Mr. Dimsdale, that if any person wishes his or her secret to be 保存するd they cannot 危険 an 逮捕（する）. Still, I have been 雇うd by one or two 犠牲者s to learn the truth, and I have failed. I can’t lay 手渡すs on The Spider, nor can any of the 公式の／役人 探偵，刑事s.”
Mr. Dimsdale nodded. “He’s a clever animal,” said he grimly. “You have 述べるd his 方式 of 手続き 極端に 井戸／弁護士席, my boy. It’s just the way in which he is tormenting Emily.”
“Mrs. Bedge. Is he ゆすり，恐喝ing her?”
“Of course he is. Don’t I tell you so?” said Dimsdale crossly. “She asked me to come and see her yesterday, and showed me three letters, with the 人物／姿／数字 of a spider at the foot of the 令状ing. The reptile wants five thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, else he will send cards to her 私的な 演説（する）／住所 and to her friends 明言する／公表するing that Constantine is her 非合法の son.”
“What?” Vernon leaped from his 議長，司会を務める aghast.
“Of course, it’s an infernal 嘘（をつく）,” said Dimsdale 温かく. “Emily is a good woman, even though she jilted me to marry a man old enough to be her father. She was true to him; I 断言する she was true to him, and 簡単に 可決する・採択するd the son of his partner Maunders—his real 指名する was Constantine Mavrocordato—because the boy’s father and mother were dead.”
“There is no grounds for this 主張 on the part of The Spider?”
“絶対 非，不，無. Confound it, sir, you know Emily,” 激怒（する）d Dimsdale. “Can you know her and 疑問 for a moment but that this viper has made a most iniquitous 告訴，告発? She has the boy’s 証明書 of birth, and can 証明する the truth, and moreover can call 証拠 on the part of friends who knew about the 採択 when it took place. But you know that mud sticks, Arthur, however innocent a person may be. Emily 簡単に can’t stand up against this blackguard 試みる／企てる. If she 辞退するs to send the five thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs to the 演説（する）／住所 given within a fortnight, The Spider says he will send cards making his lying 主張 to all her friends. Even if she rebutted it—as she can—there would always be shrugged shoulders and raised eyebrows and 冷淡な looks, and no-smoke-without-解雇する／砲火／射撃 発言／述べるs.”
“True!” Vernon looked thoughtfully at his cigar tip. “Plenty of innocent people do not care to 直面する publicity on that account. Human nature is so 傾向がある to believe the worst, even in the 直面する of the very plainest 証拠. What does Mrs. Bedge 提案する to do?”
“She 手配中の，お尋ね者 to send the money, but I 示唆するd that she should let me place the 事柄 in your 手渡すs.”
“Thank you. I’ll do my best. But it’s a difficult 事例／患者, as The Spider is so hard to find.”
“On this occasion I don’t think he will be,” said Dimsdale with grim humour, “since I 提案する to work with you.”
“I don’t understand—”
“Don’t I speak plainly?” asked Dimsdale tartly. “I said there were two 事例／患者s, didn’t I? Answer me, sir; answer me?”
“Yes, but—”
“There is no but about the 事柄, Arthur. I shall make a 十分な explanation after I have asked a simple question.”
“And the question?”
“You see, don’t you, how this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） places Maunders, young beast, in your 力／強力にする?”
“No, I don’t,” answered Vernon very plainly and somewhat 積極性; “if you mean that I am to use my knowledge of his 誤って 存在 （刑事）被告 of illegitimacy as a 脅し to keep him from worrying me into a 共同.”
“I don’t mean that in the least,” cried Dimsdale 温かく. “Confound you, sir, would you make me out to be no better than this spider reptile. What I mean is that you can say to Maunders that you will receive him into 共同 if he 追跡（する）s 負かす／撃墜する The Spider and （疑いを）晴らすs the character of his 可決する・採択するd mother. Not that Emily’s character 要求するs （疑いを）晴らすing in my 注目する，もくろむs, mind you. But we must consider the 制限s of human nature, my boy, and place Emily, like Cæsar’s wife, above 疑惑. Now do you understand? Eh, what? Reply, sir.”
Arthur nodded. “I understand. And if Maunders 追跡（する）s 負かす／撃墜する The Spider he will be 価値（がある） engaging as a partner.”
“No, I don’t mean that. But you are setting him to 達成する an impossibility, and unless he fulfils your wish he cannot hope to be a partner. In the 合間, you and I 追跡（する） 負かす／撃墜する The Spider. Then when we have him 刑務所，拘置所d, Maunders, not having done what you asked of him, can’t 推定する／予想する to become a partner.”
“I think he will in any 事例／患者?” said Vernon grimly.
“I think not, sir,” said Dimsdale very distinctly. “Of course, Emily is all 権利, and this ゆすり，恐喝ing 告訴，告発 is a 嘘（をつく）. All the same, Maunders, who is anxious to 安全な・保証する a position in Society and marry Ida—confound him, he never shall with my 同意—will not wish the slightest breath of his 存在 a possible natural child to get about.”
“I should say nothing,” said Vernon stiffly.
“やめる so. I never 推定する／予想するd you would. But the mere probability of the 商売／仕事 becoming known will make Maunders careful. He won’t worry you again, as, 裁判官ing you by his own iniquitous self, he will think you 有能な of betraying him. Now can you see?”
“Yes. But Constantine knows that I would never speak.”
“I daresay, because he thinks the 賄賂 isn’t enough. He believes as Peel did—or Walpole was it?—that every man has his price. He won’t worry you, I tell you, if you give the merest hint to him of the 事柄. Not that you need to, for he will know about this ゆすり，恐喝ing letter to-morrow.”
Vernon 解任するd how Maunders had said that his aunt had 拘留するd him, and how he had 示唆するd that she had something on her mind. “He doesn’t know it at 現在の, anyhow.”
“No. Emily saw me before speaking to him. However, listen to the 計画／陰謀 I have in my mind to catch this Spider wretch. He is trying to ゆすり，恐喝 me.”
“Oh!” Vernon sat up and laughed. “How ridiculous. You of all men cannot be ゆすり，恐喝d, since your life is so open.”
“No man’s life is open,” said Dimsdale drily; “and 地雷 has its dark pages as everyone else’s has. I have a secret; not a 特に bad one, it is true. Still, one that I should prefer to keep to myself.”
“What is it?”
“I shan’t tell you or any man,” snapped the ex-police commissioner. “It is 十分な to say that it is not a very bad secret, and that even if it were told to the world it would 事柄 little. However, The Spider—hang him, I think he must have some 知識 with my life in the East—has learned something I thought no one but myself knew anything about. He asks one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, which is 穏健な compared with his 需要・要求する on Emily. Shows that he knows my secret isn’t so very deadly, or it would be 価値（がある） more.”
“Did he 令状 to you?” asked Vernon alertly.
“Of course he did, making the usual 脅し of （危険などに）さらす by postcards to self and friends. Now I am going to 同意 to his 需要・要求するs.”
“And 支払う／賃金 the money?”
“I didn’t say that,” 訂正するd Dimsdale はっきりと, “but I am 令状ing asking him to 会合，会う me in my library, and receive the money; also for him to を引き渡す any 文書s to me which even hint at my secret. When he comes, you can be 隠すd in the room and we’ll take him in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金.”
“But then your secret will become known,” 反対するd Vernon. “The Spider always 供給するs against 逮捕（する） by leaving the 証拠 in the 手渡すs of others to publish.”
“He can publish what he likes about me,” said Mr. Dimsdale coolly; “don’t I tell you that the secret is of little value. The Spider in his letter to me embroidered upon actual fact, and can make things unpleasant; but I can 証明する the exact truth of what he 明言する／公表するs, and so can save my bacon. There may be a few 冷淡な shoulders, but I shan’t care for that, 特に when my own 良心 is （疑いを）晴らす. Now, don’t ask me to tell you my secret, for I shan’t. It has nothing to do with you or anyone else. All you have to do is to come to-morrow or the next day to my house at Hampstead, and I’ll sketch out the 計画（する） of （選挙などの）運動をする.”
“What about Mrs. Bedge?”
“She has a fortnight to consider the 支払い（額）. We shall catch the scoundrel before then—you understand. Eh, what? Good! Now I must be off to Julia’s ball. Are you coming?—not asked! Of course; you love Lucy, and that will never do for Julia, who wants her to make a 肩書を与えるd match. Good-night! Ha, ha! You have plenty to think about. Don’t get brain fever. Good night!”
Then the oddly-assorted pair parted for the time 存在.
As ツバメ Dimsdale had spent the greater part of his sixty years in Burmah, he 自然に 保持するd an affectionate remembrance of that most fantastic country. This he showed by calling his house “Rangoon;” and, as a その上の 譲歩 to what might almost be 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d his native land, the house was built after the fashion, more or いっそう少なく 正確な, of a bungalow. On arriving some ten years 以前 in England, Mr. Dimsdale had 購入（する）d an 古代の Grange with its few remaining acres, 据えるd on the 瀬戸際 of Hampstead ヒース／荒れ地. In spite of the fact that the mansion was historic and famous, this Vandal pulled it 負かす／撃墜する, まっただ中に the 抗議するs and to the grief of さまざまな antiquarians. On the （疑いを）晴らすd ground he 築くd the rambling one-storey building which reminded him of the Far East. It was not an 完全に Indian house, nor a wholly Burmese house, nor an 絶対 English house, but a bastard mixture of all three, as the chilly northern 気候 had to be taken into consideration. But Dimsdale looked upon it as a 本物の 再建 of the bungalows to which he had been accustomed, and would hear no argument to the contrary. This was just 同様に for those who 異なるd from his 見解（をとる）s, as he was a peppery little man, voluble in speech.
From the wide road, which 側面に位置するd this corner of the ヒース／荒れ地, the grounds were divided by a tall and 厚い-始める，決める laurel hedge, which must have taken years to 達成する its 現在の stately beauty. At 権利 angles to this, red-brick 塀で囲むs, old and mellow, ran 支援する for a かなりの distance to 終結させる in another hedge of mingled holly and oak saplings and sweetbriar and hawthorn. A gate in the centre of this gave admittance to a 井戸／弁護士席-cultivated kitchen-garden of two acres. Beyond, and divided from the garden by a low 石／投石する 塀で囲む, stretched the meadows, encircled by 積極的な barbed-wire 盗品故買者s. The whole, consisting of eight acres, belonged to the man who had built the bungalow, and was a very 望ましい freehold for a 井戸／弁護士席-to-do middle-class gentleman.
In the first square between the hedges and brick 塀で囲むs stood the house, looking やめる dazzling in the 日光 by 推論する／理由 of its white-tiled 塀で囲むs and the raw hue of its red-tiled roof. 一連の会議、交渉／完成する three 味方するs ran a 深い verandah, and the fourth 味方する—at the 支援する—国境d the cobble-石／投石する yard, at the 味方するs of which were the stables and outhouses. Everything here was neat and 削減する and 甘い-smelling, as Mr. Dimsdale would 許容する no litter, and was fidgety about the drainage. This was just 同様に, seeing that the stables were over-近づく the dwelling. Some judicious person had earlier pointed out to Mr. Dimsdale that it would be advisable to 築く them beyond the kitchen-gardens and in the meadows, but the little man, out of sheer obstinacy, 辞退するd to entertain the idea, and built them cheek by jowl with the house.
On either 味方する of the bungalow, trellis work covered with creepers shut off the yard from the 前線 garden. This last, consisting of smooth lawns 国境d by brilliantly coloured flowerbeds, stretched to a rustic-looking, white-painted gate 始める，決める in the laurel hedge. To this, a 幅の広い walk, sanded to a 深い yellow 色合い, ran from the shallow steps 主要な up to the 前線 verandah. Two noble elms—the 単独の 生存者s of a once 井戸／弁護士席-wooded park—sprang one on each 味方する of the path, from the 削減する lawns.
The building itself looked most unsuitable to the chilly English 気候, with its spotless 塀で囲むs and French windows. These, of which there were many, opened 直接／まっすぐに on to the verandah, which was 覆うd 温かく with red bricks, rectangular and thin. Each window was 供給するd with green shutters, fastened 支援する during the day and tightly の近くにd every night at dusk. On entering the 前線 door Mr. Dimsdale’s 訪問者s beheld a square hall, and the first 反対する which struck the 注目する，もくろむ was a large gong, held shoulder high by two 猛烈な／残忍な-looking Burmese 軍人s carved in unpainted 支持を得ようと努めるd. Darkly blue Eastern draperies, glittering with tiny 一連の会議、交渉／完成する looking-glasses, 隠すd the left door, which led into the library, and the 権利 door, through which the dining-room was entered. Passing between curtains of 類似の texture and style, hanging straightly from the 天井, the 訪問者 （機の）カム into a spacious room with a slippery polished 床に打ち倒す and a high glass roof, which lighted the apartment, since, 占領するing the centre of the bungalow, there could be no 味方する windows. 倍のing 弁s of carved sandalwood on either 味方する gave 入り口 into two long 狭くする passages, broken by many bedroom doors. The bedrooms themselves looked on to the 味方する verandahs through French windows, as has been 述べるd.
At the end of the middle apartment—which, like the Athenian Club antrium, was the general 会合 place of those in the house, and served the 目的 of a 製図／抽選-room—was another draped portal, admitting Mr. Dimsdale’s male guests into a large billiard-room and a comfortable smoking-room; also his lady guests into a boudoir and a music-room. Beyond these, and shut off by another 狭くする passage at 権利 angles to those at the 味方するs, were the kitchen, the servants’ ４半期/4分の1s, and the 国内の offices. As the stables, in the opinion of many people, were too 近づく the house, the kitchen was too far distant from the dining-room. But Mr. Dimsdale, who was fond of delicate fare, 妨げるd the 冷静な／正味のing of the food in 輸送 by having it brought to the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in hot-water dishes. He 内密に 定評のある to himself that he was wrong as regards both stables and kitchen, but would never 収容する／認める any oversight to his friends. As he had been his own architect, he believed “Rangoon” to be almost perfect in construction, design, beauty, and in its blending of Indian charm and English 慰安. And in the main he was not far wrong.
The house was filled with quaint Eastern curios, and draperies and contrivances and furniture, although of this last there was comparatively little, since Mr. Dimsdale did not care to overcrowd his rooms, as is the English fashion; perhaps it was this sparseness which gave the house its foreign look. The library was furnished with （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs and couches and 議長，司会を務めるs and bookcases of 黒人／ボイコット teak, elaborately carved, while the central apartment 含む／封じ込めるd nothing but bamboo 議長，司会を務めるs and tiny bamboo （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs, all of which were covered with brightly-hued draperies. The dining-room was the most English-looking part of the house, as it was decorated and furnished in the Jacobean manner, and looked massively British. But the French windows—three in the 前線 and three at the 味方する—uncurtained and pronouncedly 明らかにする, 認める too 広大な／多数の／重要な a glare into an apartment sacred to eating, which, for some 伝統的な 推論する／理由, is always supposed to have rather a twilight atmosphere. But Mr. Dimsdale loved plenty of light and fresh 空気／公表する and all the 日光 he could get, hence the many windows of the bungalow. It would have been easier to have 除去するd the 塀で囲むs dividing the rooms from the verandah, and to have given them the 十分な publicity of Eastern shops. And perhaps only the 気候 妨げるd Mr. Dimsdale from going this length. He was a fanatic in many ways, and had the 十分な courage of his cranky 有罪の判決s.
As a police commissioner, Mr. Dimsdale had been 内密に in 共同 with a Chinese merchant, who 貿易（する）d from Singapore to Yokohama, and from Canton to Thursday Island; that is, he 供給（する）d the 資本／首都 and Quong 物陰／風下 managed the 投資s. Thus the astute Englishman was enabled to return to England with an ample income, and 提案するd to spend the 残り／休憩（する） of his earthly life in enjoying it. The bungalow was his hobby, and he never grew 疲れた／うんざりした of 改善するing its beauties or of showing them to admiring friends. As he was a widower—Mrs. Dimsdale 占領するd a lonely 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な in the Shan 明言する／公表するs—he had no one to coerce him into spending his money in any other way. It is true that Ida, his only child, was handsome and marriageable and light-hearted; but, having comparatively simple tastes, she did not yearn over-much for a 流行の／上流の life. Certainly she knew many in the 広大な／多数の／重要な world, and sought society to some extent during the season, created by man; but, for the most part, she preferred the home-life of “Rangoon,” which was assuredly lively enough and not wanting in 利益／興味 even to the insatiable appetite of the young for 楽しみ. Her father, like many Anglo-Indians, had been accustomed, save when he had been 駅／配置するd in lonely places, to much society, and was also gregarious by instinct. He 招待するd Far East friends to sit at his hospitable board in the Jacobean dining-room, and made many new ones, who were ready enough to welcome an amusing, experienced old traveller for the sake of his society if not of his money. Dimsdale knew many people in the neighbourhood of Hampstead, and also a かなりの number in the West End. His sister, Lady Corsoon, and her husband, Sir Julius, were his sponsors as regards this last locality. Besides, Mr. Dimsdale belonged to several clubs, took an 利益／興味 in politics and the doings of the younger 世代, which had 円熟したd during his 追放する, spent his money 自由に, and was always an amusing, chatty companion. With such 資格s it was no wonder that he 所有するd a large circle of friends, and was everywhere welcome. It must be 認める, however, that some frivolous people thought he was rather a bore, 特に when he held 前へ／外へ about Rangoon.
Then there was 行方不明になる Hest—フランs Hest—who was so frequently staying in the bungalow, and was so sisterly with Ida that she might almost be regarded as another daughter of the jolly ex-police-commissioner. Her brother, Francis Hest, of Gerby Hall, Bowderstyke, Yorkshire, was a comparatively rich and superlatively far-descended north-country squire, who was やめる a 田舎の king in his own parochial way. But as his sister 設立する the rustic life somewhat dull, she had come to London, after quarrelling with her brother, who did not 認可する of her leaving home. To 軍隊 her to return he 許すd her next to nothing to live on, and, not having a 私的な income, she had earlier been in 広大な／多数の／重要な 海峡s. But 存在 a clever girl of twenty-five, and gifted with the 劇の instinct, she had turned her talents to account very speedily. A retired actor with the 半端物 指名する of Garrick Gail, who 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d himself a professor, had polished her elocutionary 力／強力にするs, and she had 得るd 約束／交戦s to recite at さまざまな “At Homes.” During the three years she had been in London, she had 改善するd her chances so much that she made やめる a good income. She was seen everywhere and knew everyone, and 存在 a handsome, 井戸／弁護士席-dressed girl of good family—no one could 否定する that—she made the most of her 適切な時期s. Of course, Francis Hest resented her behaviour; but, always mindful that she was his sister, he 延長するd a grudging 歓待 to her for six months of the year, if she chose to 受託する it. 行方不明になる Hest did, but not in its entirety, and 簡単に ran 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall when she felt inclined. She also had a flat in Westminster, but for the most part spent her days and nights at “Rangoon” in the company of Ida Dimsdale. The two girls, who had met by chance at a 流行の／上流の “At Home” two years 以前, had struck up a sincere friendship, and saw as much of each other as possible.
Some few days after the conversation between Vernon and Dimsdale in 陸軍大佐 Towton’s 議会s, the two girls were together on the verandah of the bungalow, busily engaged in sending out 招待s for a ball. In honour of her birthday—she was now twenty-three—Ida had 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるd upon her father to 許す her to give a masquerade in the central apartment. That was to be （疑いを）晴らすd for dancing—not that it needed much （疑いを）晴らすing, so sparsely was it furnished—and all those 推定する／予想するd were told to wear masks and 支配s. At midnight all the guests were to unmask, and supper was to take place. Ida 限られた／立憲的な her guests to the number of one hundred, and, with the 援助 of 行方不明になる Hest, she was weeding out 望ましくない people. With a bamboo （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する between them and a 審査する to keep off the hot 日光—it was now the end of June and 極端に 蒸し暑い—the young ladies were too 意図 on their agreeable work to notice that a stranger was 前進するing up the yellow-sanded path. And yet, as the newcomer was Arthur Vernon, he could scarcely be called a stranger, seeing that he was a friend of the house and a 週刊誌 訪問者.
On this special occasion he had called to 再開する with Mr. Dimsdale the conversation about The Spider, and, in his 苦悩 to 完全にする the 商売／仕事—which 含むd the setting of a 罠（にかける） for the blackmailer—would have passed by the girls ーするために interview his old friend. But フランs, who seemed to have 注目する，もくろむs at the 支援する of her 長，率いる—as Vernon had noticed on several occasions—drew Ida’s attention to him at once. “Here is Mr. Vernon, dear,” she said, 押し進めるing 支援する her 議長，司会を務める and straightening her tall, 皇室の form. “Let us ask him to 示唆する someone.”
“Good-day, 行方不明になる Hest; good-day, Ida,” said Vernon 前進するing easily, and looking very smart in his 社債 Street 道具. “Someone for what?”
Ida shook 手渡すs in her friendly, sisterly way and explained. “In a week we are giving a masked ball in honour of my birthday, and just now フランs and I are making out the 招待s. Only a hundred people, Arthur, as the house won’t 持つ／拘留する any more comfortably. Here is the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）—ninety-five 指名するs, as you see. So we thought—”
“That you might 示唆する a few other people,” finished 行方不明になる Hest, leaning gracefully on the 支援する of her 議長，司会を務める. “We want gentlemen more than ladies.”
“Isn’t a week’s notice rather a short one to give for an entertainment of this sort?” asked Vernon, running his 注目する，もくろむs over the submitted 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）.
“Why should it be?” 需要・要求するd Ida, 開始 her 注目する，もくろむs. “There is no fancy dress to get ready, and I don’t 推定する／予想する that everyone will be engaged on that particular night.”
“It’s the 中央の-season, you know, Ida.”
行方不明になる Hest nodded her 是認. “I told Ida that. Everyone may be engaged.”
“井戸／弁護士席, I can’t change the date of my birthday, dear, and I didn’t think of a masked ball until yesterday. If we send out 招待s for one hundred and fifty guests, that number will be 十分な. Everyone can’t have other 約束／交戦s on that especial night.”
“I don’t know so much about that,” said フランs in her 深い 発言する／表明する, which was of the contralto 種類. “People work 猛烈に hard during the season.”
Vernon laughed and 手渡すd 支援する the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）. “Who was it said that life would be endurable if it were not for its festivals?” he 発言／述べるd, smiling. “I never see the 疲れた／うんざりした 直面するs of 楽しみ-探検者s during the season but what I think of that 説.”
“井戸／弁護士席, never mind.” Ida tapped her white teeth with the pencil she was using, and cast her 注目する，もくろむs over the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of guests. “Can you 示唆する four gentlemen, Arthur?”
“There are two who would certainly come, and whose 指名するs you have unaccountably omitted.”
行方不明になる Hest raised her 堅固に 示すd eyebrows. “Why unaccountably?”
“I am thinking of 陸軍大佐 Towton and Mr. Maunders.”
“There,” said フランs, turning 厳粛に to her friend, “I told you everyone would notice that you had left them out.”
“Am I supposed to be everyone?” asked Vernon, smiling again. “But why have you left Maunders and Towton out, may I ask? I thought they were such friends.”
Ida sat 負かす／撃墜する and coloured through her fair 肌. “I wished to ask Conny Maunders, but my father won’t hear of it. Why, I don’t know.”
Vernon 反映するd that he knew very 井戸／弁護士席, since Dimsdale 反対するd to Maunders 支払う／賃金ing undue attentions to his daughter. But he kept this knowledge to himself, and 問い合わせd about 陸軍大佐 Towton. “Your father and he are such 広大な／多数の／重要な friends.”
“Of course,” said Ida petulantly, “and as they’ve both been in the East and are both of an age, they should be friends.”
“There’s a difference between forty-five and sixty 半端物, dear,” said フランs mildly.
“And between twenty-three and forty-five,” retorted 行方不明になる Dimsdale, whose cheeks were growing even more scarlet. “And 陸軍大佐 Towton is such a nuisance. He’s always—don’t laugh, Arthur.”
“I beg your 容赦, but I guessed what you were about to say,” said Vernon with mock gravity. “But why do you 反対する to 陸軍大佐 Towton, who does not look more than thirty and who is a distinguished 兵士, to say nothing of his 存在 井戸／弁護士席-off and handsome.”
“I don’t know that he is so very 井戸／弁護士席 off,” retorted Ida, defending herself; “he has only that old place in Yorkshire.”
“I know,” nodded フランs wisely, “it’s a Grange at Bowderstyke, three miles from my brother’s place. 陸軍大佐 Towton is of a very old family, and I know for a fact that he has at least one thousand a year. You might do worse, Ida.”
“I don’t wish to marry money,” said Ida in 悩ますd トンs; “and I don’t love 陸軍大佐 Towton, who is old enough to be my father.”
“He is 価値（がある） a dozen of Maunders,” put in Vernon pointedly.
Ida stamped. “You take the 特権 of our friendship to be rude and 推定するing,” she said 怒って. “My 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s have nothing to do with you.”
“Ida! Ida!” reproved 行方不明になる Hest, “don’t—”
“I will,” said the young lady crossly; “and I shan’t ask 陸軍大佐 Towton to the ball, when father won’t let me ask Conny.”
“You call him that?” asked Arthur, with a shrug. Ida looked at him indignantly, evidently with a 良心 ill at 緩和する. “I shall never speak to you again,” she said in an 感情を害する／違反するd トン.
“Not if I get your father to let Maunders come to the ball?”
“Oh, can you; can you?” she asked, in a girlish, delighted トン on this occasion. “I wish you would. Father likes you so much. And you can tell him,” she 追加するd handsomely, “that if he will let me ask Conny I shall 招待する 陸軍大佐 Towton. There—that’s fair.”
“You are playing with 解雇する／砲火／射撃,” 警告するd フランs 厳粛に. “Better not 招待する Mr. Maunders. You can never marry him.”
“It’s indelicate to speak of my marriage in the presence of a stranger,” said Ida with some heat.
“I am not a stranger, I hope,” 発言／述べるd Vernon quickly.
“Yes, you are, when you are horrid,” and with a rosy 直面する of sheer annoyance she flitted to the end of the verandah. Ida was rather like Titania, 存在 sylph-like, golden-haired, and blue-注目する，もくろむd, 反して 行方不明になる Hest 似ているd Judith with her 堅固に-示すd handsome 直面する and 黒人／ボイコット eyebrows.
“Who is horrid?” asked a 発言する／表明する at this juncture, and Mr. Dimsdale appeared on the threshold of the French window, which was behind the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. “Ah, Arthur, is that you? I have been 推定する／予想するing to see you. Come into the library.”
Vernon obeyed at once, as フランs had hurried after the petulant girl to pacify her. 行方不明になる Hest 扱う／治療するd Ida as a wilful child, and by scolding and 説得するing and cajoling managed to get her to behave like a reasonable 存在. It must be 自白するd that Dimsdale had spoiled his golden-haired darling, and even the 搭乗-school she had …に出席するd could not 供給（する） the place of the mother, who was dead. The old man turned to Vernon when they entered the 製図／抽選-room through the French window. “Who is horrid?” he asked again.
Vernon laughed and slipped into a 議長，司会を務める. “It’s a 嵐／襲撃する in a tea-cup,” he explained easily, and 受託するing a cigar. “行方不明になる Hest advised Ida to give up Maunders, and I supported her. Then Ida—”
“I know, I know,” broke in Dimsdale sadly. “She is wilful and is やめる infatuated with the scamp. Arthur, Arthur, I should have married again, so that Ida could be trained by a good woman. I can’t manage her.”
“I think 行方不明になる Hest can,” said Vernon 意味ありげに; “and she has sense enough for two. A most masculine young person. But do you think you are wise forbidding Maunders to come to this masked ball?”
“Yes, I do. Ida is crazy about him.”
“対立 will only make her more crazy,” 警告するd Vernon, shaking his sleek 長，率いる. “It would be better to let them come together, and then she would get sick of him. Maunders is so shallow that she would find him out sooner or later, for Ida has plenty of ありふれた sense if it was not obscured by this 執拗な frivolity, which, after all, is only a youthful fault.”
“But if Maunders wants to marry her—”
“He doesn’t, Mr. Dimsdale. I can vouch for that. He wants to marry your niece.”
“What!” Dimsdale, who was lighting a cigar, wheeled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する with an astonished 空気／公表する. “Why, I thought you loved Lucy?”
“So I do,” replied Vernon 真面目に, “and she loves me. But Maunders is a fascinating fellow and a dangerous, unscrupulous 競争相手.”
“I やめる believe it. Eh, what? The fellow’s a scoundrel,” grunted Mr. Dimsdale crossly. “He should be tarred and feathered. Still, if things are as you say, I don’t mind Ida asking him to the ball. But she must ask Towton also,” he 追加するd with sudden 決意.
“She will do so, although she dreads his love-making. However, she may grow sick of Maunders when she finds he is running after Lucy Corsoon, and Towton may catch her heart in the recoil.”
“Hope so; hope so,” muttered Dimsdale, turning his cigar in his lips. “I want to see my little girl 安全に married to Towton, who is as good a fellow as ever breathed.”
“But not a young fellow. However, it is wiser to let events take their course for the 現在の, Mr. Dimsdale. 対立, as I say, will only make Ida more wilful, since she is filled with romance natural at her age.”
“Ouf,” breathed the old man, wiping his brow with a bandanna handkerchief. “What a handful women are! But there,” he 解任するd the 支配する with a wave of his 手渡す, “let us leave these trivialities and talk 商売／仕事. Have you heard anything more about The Spider?”
“井戸／弁護士席, I made enquiries at Scotland Yard, and find that he is very much 手配中の，お尋ね者 by the police.”
Mr. Dimsdale grunted. “Humph! The police are always wanting and never getting.”
“The Spider is too clever for them,” 抗議するd Vernon anxiously.
“He won’t be too clever for me,” said the 年上の man with sudden ferocity, and slapping his 手渡す on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. “Eh, what? Am I to be ゆすり，恐喝d by an infernal scoundrel who 断言するs that he will tell a 小包 of lies if I don’t 支払う／賃金 him one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs. Hang him.”
“If it is 単に lies, why 支払う／賃金?” asked Vernon drily.
“There is a 穀物 of truth in the lies,” 認める Dimsdale crossly. “The 絶対の truth I can 直面する, but the lies make me out to be a very queer person indeed. I shall tell you all when we 安全な・保証する this man.”
Vernon looked up astonished. “How do you 提案する to 安全な・保証する him? If you 逮捕（する） him, his 共犯者 will spread the lies you talk of, by postcard amongst your 知識s, as is usually the 事例／患者 in The Spider’s 商売／仕事.”
“I’ll 危険 that, sir; I’ll 危険 that,” said Dimsdale with a 反抗的な 空気／公表する; “but I’m hanged if he’ll get a penny out of me. I shall 始める，決める the 罠（にかける）, and you will be in this room behind a 審査する to 急ぐ out and 掴む him when I give the signal. Understand? Eh, what? Understand? Come, come! Speak up.”
“What sort of 罠（にかける） do you 提案する to lay?” asked Arthur 慎重に.
“井戸／弁護士席,” Dimsdale leaned 支援する, 新たな展開ing his half-smoked cigar between his fingers. “It was the masked ball—this silly form of entertainment, which Ida 主張するs upon having for her birthday—which gave me the idea. You see, with the chance of 存在 masked and mingling amongst my guests, The Spider will be the more ready to come, and will 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う nothing. I am 令状ing to him to-morrow, telling him about this ball, and am 示唆するing that he should come wearing a mask to enjoy it. Then, at eleven o’clock, say, he can 内密に 会合，会う me in this room to receive the money.”
“Cash?” echoed Vernon 意味ありげに.
“Of course. The fellow’s too clever to 危険 cheques. They would put the police on his 跡をつける; would put the police on his 跡をつける, my boy.”
“But do you ーするつもりである to 支払う／賃金 the money?”
“No, no, no, no! How stupid you are, Arthur. Use your brains, use your brains, boy. I shall 申し込む／申し出 to 支払う／賃金 the money, and then you, 隠すd behind the 審査する—that Japanese one up in the corner—can 急ぐ out and—”
“But I have no 当局 to 逮捕（する） him,” interrupted Vernon impatiently. “Why not 地位，任命する a policeman, or a plain-着せる／賦与するs 探偵，刑事, to catch the beast?”
“I don’t want any policeman in my house,” retorted Dimsdale gruffly; “and you are 探偵，刑事 enough for me. If he ゆすり，恐喝s me, you will be the 証言，証人／目撃する, and we will have every 権利 to 持つ／拘留する him. Then you can take him away and 手渡す him over to the Hampstead police.”
“He may show fight.”
“Then have a revolver with you,” snapped the old man. “I don’t want a スキャンダル and a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 on Ida’s birthday, and in my house.”
“It seems to me that you are going the best way to have one,” said Vernon deliberately; “much better let me 知らせる the police and have the thing done in an 整然とした fashion.”
“No, I tell you.” Dimsdale again slapped the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. “I’ll do it my own way or not at all. If I catch the beast by laying this 罠（にかける）, both myself and Mrs. Bedge and many other people will be 安全な. But if we call in the police, however 内密に, The Spider—who seems to have ears and 注目する，もくろむs all over him—will get 勝利，勝つd of the 待ち伏せ／迎撃する.”
Vernon nodded. “There’s something in that,” he assented. “Perhaps on those grounds it will be better that we should engineer the 職業 together. 井戸／弁護士席,” he stood up straight and わずかな／ほっそりした, “I shall come here on the night of the ball—by the way, when does it take place?”
“Monday week. It’s a short notice, but Ida only thought yesterday of this way to celebrate her birthday.”
“Are you やめる sure,” asked Vernon, taking up his tall hat, “that it is advisable to lay this 罠（にかける） on the night of the ball?”
“Yes, I do; yes, I do,” said Dimsdale in a fussy manner. “The mere idea of masks, which will enable the scoundrel to hide his infernal 直面する without comment, will recommend itself to him. He will think that he is exceptionally 安全な, not dreaming that I ーするつもりである to fight.”
“You will fight, then?”
“Am I not laying a 罠（にかける） into which he will walk?” 問い合わせd Dimsdale with much exasperation. “Of course I fight, as my secret is not such a very bad one. I can defend myself, and I am willing to 危険 that 存在 known which I had rather were kept silent, for the sake of saving other people from 存在 ゆすり，恐喝d by the beast. Eh, what? Am I not 権利?”
“Yes, I think you are. But I wish you would tell me your secret.”
“After we have 逮捕（する）d this scamp I shall do so, and then I shall tell you the 絶対の truth together with his embroideries. Don’t look so 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, boy. I 港／避難所’t committed a 殺人 or stolen from the till.”
“I never thought of such a thing,” said Vernon あわてて, “but—”
Dimsdale good-humouredly 押し進めるd him に向かって the window. “I know your 疑問s, my boy, but later I can 満足させる them. 一方／合間 let us settle that I am a scoundrel, and look on this 罠（にかける） as one 始める，決める by a どろぼう to catch a どろぼう. By the way, does Maunders know of the 脅し made by The Spider against his mother. She ーするつもりであるd to tell him, you know.”
“I am not aware, sir. Maunders has not been 近づく me since that night at the Athenian Club—the same night when I met you at Towton’s rooms. 井戸／弁護士席, I shall come to the ball. 合間, let me know—”
“I’ll advise you if I hear from The Spider. There, get out. Good-bye, unless you’ll have a cup of tea or a glass of ワイン.”
Vernon 拒絶する／低下するd and 出発／死d. The girls were no longer on the verandah or even in the garden.
Vernon had his 疑問s as to the success of Mr. Dimsdale’s 計画／陰謀. The Spider, as the 当局 very 井戸／弁護士席 knew, was a 用心深い individual, and in all 取引 with his 犠牲者s had been careful to 供給する for his own safety. He certainly met them at duly-任命するd places, disguised as an old woman or a young man, as a navvy or as a foreigner; but 非，不，無 of those he 脅迫してさせるd dared to call in the police. The 推論する／理由 was that The Spider invariably advised them beforehand by letter that his 共犯者 held the 証拠 of the secrets for which they were 存在 ゆすり，恐喝d, and that any 訴訟／進行s 存在 taken would result in the 出版（物） of these by cards 存在 sent to their friends and 親族s and 知識s. It therefore can easily be guessed that no one had the courage to lay the rogue by the heels.
But, as it appeared, The Spider had, in Mr. Dimsdale, つまずくd on a man who was not averse to his secret 存在 known. Vernon wondered what the ex-police-commissioner had done that he should have one at all, and looked 今後 熱望して to 存在 told. Dimsdale was such a very respectable old gentleman, and so very open in his speech and 活動／戦闘s and entire life, that it seemed incredible he should 隠す anything. However, as The Spider had learned in some 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の way, he did 所有する some secret, and therefore was 存在 脅すd. It was lucky for Dimsdale in particular and the public 捕まらないで that he cared so little for the 発覚 of whatever shady doings he had been 関心d in, since by trapping The Spider an end would be put to the dangerous career of this social pest. Whatever Mr. Dimsdale’s secret might be, he 井戸／弁護士席 deserved to be forgiven for the service which he was （判決などを）下すing to everyone.
But it was 疑わしい, in Vernon’s opinion, if The Spider would 会合，会う his 犠牲者 in a house filled with company, where there was every chance of a hue and cry 存在 raised. Certainly the scamp, 井戸／弁護士席 保護するd by mask and 支配, would be able to mingle with the company unobserved. Even if unmasked, he could not be discovered, other than as an uninvited guest, since no one knew his actual 外見. And then he might choose to come as a cabman or a chauffeur or as a waiter at the supper. Of course, if he kept the 任命 in the library his 身元 would be 証明するd beyond all 疑問 when he made his ゆすり，恐喝ing 需要・要求する. This, The Spider, although 確信して, for the usual 推論する／理由, of the silence of Dimsdale, might not choose to 危険, since many people 存在 in the bungalow, he might be overheard. Vernon looked at the whole 事件／事情／状勢 as a somewhat forlorn hope, until he, three or four days later, received a letter from Mr. Dimsdale.
The old gentleman wrote that The Spider had agreed to 会合，会う him in the library at “Rangoon” at eleven o’clock in the evening, and requested he, Vernon, to enter the room earlier, so that he could be 隠すd behind the 審査する. “I have not,” Mr. Dimsdale went on to say, “advised the police, as it is unnecessary for us to talk until we have 罠にかける our bird. But once he is in your 支配する he will see the folly of 抵抗, and will probably agree to walk 静かに to the Hampstead Police 駅／配置する. Failing that, we can shout for 援助, of which, it is obvious, there will be plenty to 手渡す. But, you will understand that I wish to 影響 the 逮捕（する） as 静かに as possible, so as not to alarm my guests.”
In the latter part of his letter Dimsdale 明言する／公表するd that Maunders had been calling at the bungalow during his—the writer’s—last interview with Vernon. He was, in fact, 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner of the house, nearest to the library when Vernon stepped out of the French window. Dimsdale had 設立する him there on the verandah in the company of the girls, and had 敏速に told him that he was not 手配中の，お尋ね者, in his usual peppery way. There had been a 列／漕ぐ／騒動, as Maunders had been grossly insolent, but 行方不明になる Hest—a very 有能な girl, as Mr. Dimsdale wrote—had induced him to 出発／死. 確定／確認 of this 報告（する）／憶測 was received by Vernon from Maunders himself, when the two met by chance in Piccadilly.
“The old man was most insolent,” complained Maunders indignantly; “There is no 罪，犯罪 in loving Ida, so far as I can see.”
“Since you love 行方不明になる Corsoon, and only run after Ida for her money, I think Mr. Dimsdale has every 推論する／理由 to forbid you the house,” said Vernon drily.
“Oh, rot. I know what I’m about. As to forbidding me the house, I received an 招待 to the masked ball on Monday, and I’m going.”
“Ida only だまし取るd 許可 from her father to ask you. If you’re a gentleman you will not go to be received on sufferance.”
Maunders chuckled coolly. “Ida won’t receive me in that way,” said he with superb insolence, “as she really loves me, and the old gentleman doesn’t 事柄. I love Lucy, but she has no money, so I 推定する／予想する I shall have to sacrifice myself by marrying Ida.”
“If Mr. Dimsdale will 許す you,” chafed Vernon.
“Oh, he won’t; but Ida can 反抗する him.”
“If she does she will lose her fortune.”
“That remains to be seen,” said Maunders airily. “Hang old Dimsdale, what 反対 can he have to me?”
“Your aunt might tell you,” said Vernon 意味ありげに. The 血 急ぐd to Maunders’ cheek, and he looked searchingly at his friend, but not agreeably. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I can only 同意 to take you into 共同 if you 後継する in 逮捕（する）ing The Spider,” said Vernon slowly and somewhat evasively.
“Who is The Spider?”
“I think you know, if not from the newspapers, then from Mrs. Bedge.”
Maunders looked at the ground. “So old Dimsdale told you?”
“Yes. He wished to enlist my services on に代わって of your aunt to 逮捕（する） this ゆすり，恐喝ing beast.”
“Oh; and do you ーするつもりである to?”
“No. I ーするつもりである to leave the 逮捕（する） to you.”
Maunders opened his 注目する，もくろむs. “But, my dear chap, I know nothing about The Spider, as you call this man, to say nothing of 探偵，刑事 商売／仕事.”
“Yet you wish to become Nemo’s partner,” said Vernon, very drily. “See here, Maunders, it’s no use （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing about the bush. I shan’t take you as my partner unless you catch this man and so 証明する your 能力.”
“And suppose I tell everyone who Nemo is?” asked Maunders with an ugly look.
“You can do so if you like,” 再結合させるd Vernon coolly, “for then there will be no Nemo. I shall 簡単に leave England and 捜し出す my fortune in Africa. And, after all, I don’t see why you should 辞退する this 実験（する）. It’s to your own advantage that he should be caught, unless you want your aunt to 支払う／賃金 five thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs.”
“Bosh! What The Spider says is a 嘘（をつく）.”
“I daresay; but it won’t be pleasant for Mrs. Bedge to know that her friends receive cards 明言する／公表するing you are her natural son.”
“It’s an infernal 嘘（をつく）,” 激怒（する）d Maunders, the 血 紅潮／摘発するing his cheek and making him look handsomer than ever. “I am not a bit like my aunt in any way. It is true that her sister was my mother, but I take after my father.”
“Constantine Mavrocordato!”
“Dimsdale told you that; he seems to have imparted a lot of my 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s to you,” 観察するd Maunders acidly.
“They are やめる 安全な with me as Nemo. I don’t use my 私的な 発見s to ゆすり，恐喝 people.”
“Do you believe this 嘘（をつく） of The Spider’s?”
“No, I don’t, for one moment. Mrs. Bedge is a good, 肉親，親類d woman, far too good for you, Maunders. She has brought you up and educated you, and 許すs you money, and altogether has behaved like a trump. For her sake, if not for the sake of becoming my partner in a 支払う／賃金ing 商売／仕事, you せねばならない 追跡（する） out this brute who asperses her fair fame.”
The other man 星／主役にするd again at his neat boots. “I’m not such a rotter as you think, Vernon,” he said, in a 発言する／表明する filled with feeling; “and, of course, I 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる my aunt’s 親切. We’ll let the 共同 商売／仕事 stand over for the 現在の. I give you my word that I shan’t tell a soul you are Nemo. Also, I’ll go to work on my own, and see if I can’t catch The Spider. He’s not going to get five thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs of my money if I can help it.”
“Your aunt’s money,” 訂正するd Vernon gently.
“It will be 地雷 some day,” said Maunders with a shrug; “but you can see that I have some 良心, 不正に though you think of me.”
“I don’t think so very 不正に of you,” replied Vernon hurriedly and somewhat untruthfully, “you have your good points, Constantine, but you are so given over to 楽しみ that you stop at nothing to gratify it.”
“I stop on the 権利 味方する of the 法律, however,” retorted Maunders, again becoming his callous self, after the momentary 軟化するing. “There will be no chance of Nemo catching me. 井戸／弁護士席, good-day. I’ll do what I say, and perhaps when I 会合，会う you at the ball, I’ll have something to tell you.”
“You ーするつもりである to go, then, in spite of Dimsdale’s behaviour?”
“Yes, I do,” said Maunders doggedly; “and I ーするつもりである to marry Ida with her thousands a year. So now you know.” And he walked off 突然の, leaving Vernon to congratulate himself that he no longer had a dangerous 競争相手 in the affections of Lucy Corsoon.
“Though I don’t believe old Dimsdale will 同意 to the marriage with Ida,” thought Vernon, as he 再開するd his interrupted walk.
During the few days that still remained until the night of the masked ball, Vernon saw nothing of Maunders or of ツバメ Dimsdale. But on the Monday morning, when having 昼食 in the triclinium of the Athenian Club, 陸軍大佐 Towton made his 外見. He ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room, and catching sight of Vernon, walked up to his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.
“‘Day,” he said in his sharp, 軍の way. “I’ll join you here, if you have no 反対s.”
“Delighted, 陸軍大佐,” replied Vernon, and passed along the menu. He wondered why Towton was making such a palpable 前進する に向かって friendship, for, as a 支配する, he was somewhat stiff, with a reserved manner, after the way of army men.
The 陸軍大佐 seemed to be in no hurry to explain, but 直す／買収する，八百長をするd his eyeglass to 診察する the card, and order his 昼食. He was a tall, わずかな／ほっそりした, 乾燥した，日照りの-looking man, perfectly groomed and perfectly dressed and perfectly master of himself. In spite of his forty-five years, his の近くに-cropped hair and smartly-新たな展開d moustache were without a grey hair. Dark and knightly-looking, with 警報 注目する，もくろむs of Irish blue, he looked as juvenile as any of his subalterns. He was one of those men who ripen young, so to speak, and who remain in that 条件 for the 残り／休憩（する） of their lives. Towton was an admirable 兵士, with several letters after his 指名する, and it was a pity—as everyone said—that he had retired so 早期に from the army. He should certainly have remained ーするために 達成する to the 階級 of a general. But it was 一般に known that family 推論する／理由s connected with the 相続物件 of a Yorkshire 広い地所 had necessitated the 陸軍大佐 sending in his papers. Outside his profession he was not talented, but had a かなりの 基金 of ありふれた sense, which is a rarer 商品／必需品 than people imagine.
“I want to have a 私的な talk with you, Vernon,” said the 陸軍大佐, after he had selected his dish. “Luckily there’s no one within earshot.” He ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room to 公式文書，認める that he and his companion were 孤立するd in a secluded corner. “You don’t mind my having a 私的な talk, do you?” he jerked, 星／主役にするing through his eyeglass and 新たな展開ing his moustache.
“I am at your service,” said Vernon, wondering what was coming.
“I am going to be rather personal, both as regards your 事件／事情／状勢s and my own,” went on Towton very 直接／まっすぐに and honestly. “Rather 半端物 in a man who is a mere 知識, eh?”
“Not at all,” said Vernon politely; “I can only repeat that I am at your service, 陸軍大佐.”
“Fact is, I wouldn’t say a word, but that I know you’re a good sort; plenty of chaps say that. And again,” Towton 広げるd his napkin rather nervously, for him, “you are a 広大な／多数の／重要な friend of the Dimsdales.”
“Yes, I am,” 定評のある Vernon, guessing somewhat of the 商売／仕事 which had brought the 陸軍大佐 to his （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.
“And a friend of young Maunders.”
“We were at school together.”
“And a friend of the Corsoons,” 追求するd Towton, distinctly ill at 緩和する, as if he felt that he was taking a liberty.
“See here, 陸軍大佐,” 発言／述べるd his companion straightly; “I guess what you are 運動ing at from your coupling of those 指名するs. May I speak out?”
“Yes.” Towton nodded away the waiter who had brought his soup.
“You are in love with 行方不明になる Dimsdale, and Maunders is 支払う／賃金ing her attentions.”
“やめる so. May I 追加する, on my part, that you are in love with 行方不明になる Corsoon, and that the same gentleman is your 競争相手?”
Vernon nodded and 押し進めるd away his empty plate. “I think we have （疑いを）晴らすd the ground for 活動／戦闘,” he said 意味ありげに.
“I am 強いるd to you for your candour,” said Towton courteously; “and I knew from your 評判 that you would 会合，会う me half-way. It is not 平易な for an 年輩の man, such as I am, to speak of his love for a young girl. But as I am 充てるd to her, and you are 充てるd to 行方不明になる Corsoon, it seemed to me that we might join 軍隊s against that handsome young scamp, who is playing 急速な／放蕩な and loose with the affections of both the girls. On this ground, I 投機・賭けるd to take the liberty of speaking to you on so 私的な a 支配する.”
“I am very glad that you did so, 陸軍大佐. Our 部隊d 活動／戦闘s may be of 広大な／多数の／重要な service to the ladies in question. Maunders—” He hesitated generously.
“I know,” interrupted Towton 突然の, “that young gentleman’s 評判 is as bad as yours is good. Even if I did not love 行方不明になる Dimsdale, I should feel 正当化するd in doing my best to save her from that scamp. You can tell him that I said so, if you like.”
“What? Give our 計画（する）s away to our ありふれた enemy,” said Vernon jokingly. “That would scarcely be wise. Maunders is as clever as the devil.”
“And as unscrupulous. But let us be frank. Which of these girls does he love, in your opinion?”
“What love he can spare from himself he gives to 行方不明になる Corsoon; but he is after 行方不明になる Dimsdale’s fortune.”
“I thought so. She is infatuated with him, worse luck. And 行方不明になる Corsoon?”
“She and I understand one another,” said Vernon with some reserve. “I am not afraid of Maunders in that ４半期/4分の1, although he has good looks and a 広大な／多数の／重要な charm of manner. We are talking of very delicate 事柄s, 陸軍大佐.”
“I know we are; I know we are.” Towton flicked his napkin irritably. “Ladies’ 指名するs shouldn’t be について言及するd between gentlemen. I am rather a Turk in that 尊敬（する）・点; but as this young gentleman will make both of them 哀れな, and is a thorn in your flesh as in 地雷, we must between ourselves put delicacy on one 味方する. What do you 提案する to do?”
“I don’t know,” said Vernon, 崩壊するing his bread dismally. “Lady Corsoon certainly will not let her daughter marry a poor man such as I am. What are your 計画（する）s, 陸軍大佐?”
“I don’t know,” repeated Towton, 平等に dismally. “行方不明になる Dimsdale is crazy about Maunders, and will not cast a ちらりと見ること at me. The father is on my 味方する, however, so I have some chance.”
“You may take it as 確かな ,” said Vernon with 決定／判定勝ち（する）, “that Dimsdale will never 同意 to his daughter becoming Mrs. Maunders.”
“She may 反抗する him.”
“There is that 可能性, certainly.”
“Hang him,” muttered Towton, referring to Maunders. “Why can’t he marry 行方不明になる Hest and have done with it.”
“行方不明になる Hest has neither the money nor the looks to attract such a gay 誘発する.”
“Oh, come now, she’s a handsome girl.”
“Not in Maunders’ way. He likes a weak woman, whom he can いじめ（る）; and 行方不明になる Hest is much too 会社／堅い and managing a wife for him to 危険. By the way, are you going to the ball to-night?”
“Yes.” Towton’s 直面する lighted up with ridiculous 楽しみ. “It may give me a chance to—”
“No, don’t 提案する, 陸軍大佐. You will only be 辞退するd. Take my advice, and wait for a week or so. Maunders may be out of your way by that time!”
“What do you mean, 正確に／まさに?”
“I am not at liberty to say. But I advise you to wait.”
Towton played with his bread and cheese. “All 権利,” he said at length. “I place myself in your 手渡すs, although I am hanged if I can see what you mean.”
“井戸／弁護士席,” 自白するd Vernon, rising, “to tell you the truth, I am not very sure myself what I do mean. But I have a 肉親，親類d of instinct that if both of us play a waiting game, Maunders will get the 冷淡な shoulder.”
“From Ida—I mean from 行方不明になる Dimsdale?”
“Yes, and from 行方不明になる Corsoon. Come into the pinacotheca and smoke.”
The two conspirators went there and discussed the 事柄 その上の. As Vernon had 自白するd, he had no （疑いを）晴らす idea in his mind as to why he advised the 陸軍大佐 to wait. But, in some vague way, he fancied that this 商売／仕事 of The Spider might 占領する Maunders’ time and 妨げる his 支払う／賃金ing his usual attentions to Lucy and Ida. In that 事例／患者 both the girls would probably feel 感情を害する／違反するd. Then Vernon ーするつもりであるd to bring them together in some as yet unthought-of way, so that they might 相互に discover how Maunders was 法廷，裁判所ing both of them indiscriminately. Lucy, of course, in any 事例／患者 would have nothing to do with the young man; but Ida’s pride, taking 解雇する／砲火／射撃, might induce her, on making this 発見, to listen to the 陸軍大佐’s 支持を得ようと努めるing. Everything in Vernon’s brain was vague and 決めかねて, but he faintly felt that if events happened in some such way Maunders might be 除去するd as a つまずくing 封鎖する. All these 可能性s, however, 存在 still in the clouds, he did not 明らかにする／漏らす them to Towton. The conversation in the pinacotheca 解決するd itself into the two men consoling one another regarding their doubtful love 事件／事情／状勢s. Arranging to 会合，会う at the masked ball, they parted on more than friendly 条件 and with やめる a feeling of intimacy. This was natural, considering what they had been discussing.
But the 提案するd 会合 at “Rangoon” never （機の）カム off. The 予期しない happened, as Vernon might have guessed it would. But, with all his experience of life, he was never so much astonished as when a 電報電信 was 手渡すd in at his rooms with the 指名する of Lucy Corsoon 大（公）使館員d. “Come to No. 34, Waller Street, West Kensington,” ran the wire, “at nine o’clock. Trouble with M.—L. Corsoon.”
“Now what the ジュース does this mean?” Vernon asked himself.
Undoubtedly the letter “M.” referred to Maunders, since there was no one else with that 初期の to 原因（となる） trouble. But what the trouble might be, or why carefully-guarded Lucy Corsoon should be in West Kensington it was hard to say. Lady Corsoon rarely let her daughter out of her sight, and on this night both were 予定 at “Rangoon” to enjoy the masked ball. But, as Vernon 速く 反映するd, there could be only one reply to so 緊急の a wire, and that was to stand on the doorstep of No. 34, Waller Street, West Kensington, at the 任命するd hour. He ちらりと見ることd at his watch. It was after eight, so he had only time to 運動 from Bloomsbury to his 目的地. Vernon, for obvious 推論する／理由s connected with his income, lived in old-fashioned rooms in that middle-class 地区, and was more comfortable than if he had lived in Mayfair, both as regards space and rent.
His 支配 and mask were lying on a 議長，司会を務める, ready to be slipped into a brown leather 捕らえる、獲得する. He had ーするつもりであるd to 運動 in a taxi to Hampstead, because of the 捕らえる、獲得する, as it was too much trouble to carry it by train, since in that 事例／患者 his 旅行 would be broken. As he was thinking what was best to be done, the landlady’s husband, who 行為／法令／行動するd as his valet, （機の）カム with the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that the cab was at the door. Vernon made up his mind at once to 行為／法令／行動する the part of a knight-errant, in spite of 存在 予定 at the ball, and, without troubling about the 支配 and mask, put on his overcoat. Unless something serious was wrong—and the 電報電信 gave little （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）—he could return, get the 捕らえる、獲得する and 運動 on to the ball. But if Lucy was in 悲惨な trouble he would not go at all to “Rangoon.” Mr. Dimsdale would have to manage with The Spider as best he could. Always 供給するd that that astute individual walked into the 罠（にかける）, which was doubtful.
All the way to West Kensington Vernon puzzled his brains as to what could be the 事柄, and why Lucy Corsoon should be in a West Kensington house. Ridiculous as it seemed, he entertained the idea that she might have been kidnapped by Maunders, and had contrived to send the wire to the lover upon whom she could rely. But then Maunders—as he had said—always kept on the 権利 味方する of the 法律, and kidnapping was an indictable offence. But if he had 行為／法令／行動するd thus rashly, as Vernon 反映するd with a thrill, he was 簡単に playing into his 競争相手’s 手渡すs. “If I 救助（する） Lucy, Lady Corsoon will certainly let me marry her out of 感謝,” thought the young man.
However, the whole 事件／事情／状勢 was so mysterious that until he saw Lucy there was little chance of a reasonable explanation. He therefore 所有するd his soul in patience until he arrived in Waller Street. Here he sprang out, and telling the cabman to wait, ran up the steps of a 半分-detached house of the 郊外の 郊外住宅 住居 style. The night was brilliant with moonlight, so he easily saw the number on the glass over the door, and also the long, dull street of 類似の houses. It was some minutes before the 任命するd time, but that 事柄d very little. There seemed to be no light in the house, and Vernon wondered more than ever why Lucy should be in so unusual a locality.
すぐに the sound of light footsteps was heard, and a light appeared, against which the numerals on the glass above the door stood out 黒人／ボイコット and 際立った. Then the door itself was opened 慎重に, and the white 直面する of a woman looked out. “Is 行方不明になる Corsoon here?” asked Vernon 突然の.
“Are you Mr. Vernon?” questioned the woman in a 脅すd whisper. “Yes. I received a wire from—”
“Come in, come in,” breathed the woman, and held the door open 十分に for Vernon to slip in. “I am so glad you’ve come,” she went on, still below her breath, and 明らかに much afraid. “It’s as much as my life’s 価値（がある） to 収容する／認める you. But the poor young lady—”
“Is she here?”
“Yes. They’ve got her in the cellar below. Only because she cried so much did I dare to send that 電報電信 to you, and—”
“What the devil does it all mean?” 需要・要求するd Vernon ひどく and gruffly.
“Hush, hush! Don’t raise your 発言する／表明する. Follow me on tip-toe. They will hear.”
“Who are they?” asked Vernon softly, and obeying.
But all the woman said was “Hush, hush!” So, wondering at this strange adventure, which seemed 本物の enough, the young man went after the woman 負かす／撃墜する some 木造の stairs which led from the hall to the 地階. As he followed he saw by the light of the candle which his guide carried that the hall was dusty and unfurnished. She led him along a dark passage and opened an end door with an 空気／公表する of mystery. “The young lady there,” she said softly, and 手渡すing him the light. “Take the candle, and for heaven’s sake don’t say that I betrayed them.”
“Them? Who?” asked Vernon imperatively.
She clutched his arm. “They’ll hear you,” she whispered, pointing 上向き, and 押し進めるd him に向かって the open door. “She’s drugged—in there.”
Vernon uttered a loud ejaculation, which made his guide shiver, and stepped into the dark room, 持つ／拘留するing the candle above his 長，率いる. The next moment the door の近くにd quickly behind him. He turned はっきりと, but already the 重要な had clicked crisply in the lock. He was a 囚人. “And it’s a 工場／植物; a 工場／植物,” cried Vernon in a 冷淡な fury. “I’m 罠にかける.”
He certainly was, for there was no 調印する of the girl who had been supposed to send the 電報電信. All the terror and whispering of the woman had been a comedy to inveigle him into his 刑務所，拘置所. The place was a small kitchen, dusty and forlorn and unfurnished. There were no plates on the rack or on the 棚上げにするs of the open cupboard, and no 解雇する／砲火／射撃 in the rusty grate. The room had not been 占領するd for many a long day, as the roof and corners were 厚い with dust and cobwebs. An アイロンをかける-閉めだした window 微光d straight before Vernon, and there was a small door 近づく it. Through this he went, to find himself in a tiny scullery also lighted dimly by an アイロンをかける-閉めだした window. The door through which he had entered was 急速な／放蕩な locked, and he had no means of 開始 it. There was no 疑問 that he was a 囚人, おとりd to this lonely, unfurnished house by means of the 誤った 電報電信.
“What the ジュース does it all mean?” Vernon asked himself, and sat 負かす／撃墜する on the dusty 床に打ち倒す to think out his position. To save his dress 着せる／賦与するs he made a cushion of his light overcoat, and sat on it, hugging his 膝s, with the candle beside him. The position was dismal enough, and decidedly mysterious, as he 自白するd. “What does it mean?” he repeated mentally.
The next instant the obvious answer flashed into his mind. “The Spider,” cried Vernon, leaping to his feet and 演説（する）／住所ing the 明らかにする 塀で囲むs. “Yes, this must be The Spider’s trickery.”
And the more he thought of it the more 確かな he felt that he had, at the first blow, 攻撃する，衝突する the 権利 nail on the 長，率いる. In some way The Spider had learned of the arranged 罠（にかける）, and had sent the wire 趣旨ing to come from Lucy Corsoon as a おとり. It had 証明するd only too successful, and now here he was 安全に locked up in an 地下組織の room with no chance of escape, while Mr. Dimsdale, at “Rangoon,” was left to 直面する the ingenious scoundrel alone. “But that’s all 権利,” Vernon soliloquised, as he sat 負かす／撃墜する again. “If I am not on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す other people are, and when The Spider makes his 需要・要求する, Mr. Dimsdale will probably raise the alarm. The Spider is not so clever as I thought.”
This was poor 慰安. The Spider, at all events, had been clever enough to ensnare a 私立探偵 who prided himself on his astuteness. One 罠（にかける） had been 始める，決める by Mr. Dimsdale, and here was another 始める，決める by The Spider, out of which it was impossible to escape. The 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s of the windows were too strong to 新たな展開, the door was too stout to break 負かす／撃墜する, so there was nothing for it but to wait. It was impossible that he could be kept in his dungeon for ever, and sooner or later he would be 解放（する）d. Besides, someone would have to bring him food, and if it was the white-直面するd woman who had so cleverly led him into the 罠（にかける）, Vernon 約束d himself grimly that he would 掴む her at the first 適切な時期 and make her 援助（する） his escape. Finally, the taxi was still at the door, and the driver might become 十分に alarmed if his fare did not 再現する to speak to the nearest policeman. It was ridiculous that a man should be 逮捕（する）d in guarded London in such a way. Vernon was angry with himself for having been tricked. But until the abrupt の近くにing of the door he had never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that anything was wrong.
一方／合間, he guessed that The Spider, having got him out of the way, was keeping his 任命 with Dimsdale in the library. It was not probable that the ゆすり，恐喝ing would 後継する, as Dimsdale was quick-tempered, and as likely as not would 簡単に 掴む the creature when he 需要・要求するd his money, shouting 一方／合間 for 援助. Vernon wished that he was at his 任命するd 地位，任命する behind the 審査する; but he 慰安d with the reflection that Dimsdale would be able to を取り引きする the 事柄 unassisted. So far as he was 関心d, 存在 helpless, he could do nothing but wait.
For the next hour or so—he did not 支払う／賃金 much attention to the time—Vernon wondered how The Spider （機の）カム to know of Dimsdale’s 罠（にかける）, and how he had so cleverly laid his own. The blackmailer seemed to know everybody’s 商売／仕事, as his profession 要求するd, so in some way he had managed to learn of Vernon’s love for 行方不明になる Corsoon. Only such a message from such a girl would have 誘惑するd the lover into such a predicament, and The Spider had not only been clever enough to know this, but had been clever enough to 利用する his knowledge. For the moment—it was a wild thought, and passed in a flash—Vernon wondered if Constantine Maunders had anything to do with the 事柄. But the idea was ridiculous, since The Spider was 試みる／企てるing to ゆすり，恐喝 Mrs. Bedge, which Maunders certainly would not countenance. But if not Maunders, who could it be? Certainly Dimsdale might have talked to someone else about the 提案するd 罠（にかける）, since he was 極端に frank and injudicious in his speech. Vernon 解決するd to question him on this point when next they met, and hoped from his reply to learn who had 誘惑するd him to No. 34, Waller Street, West Kensington. Having arrived at this 結論, he 残り／休憩（する）d his 長，率いる on the overcoat and tried to sleep, since it was foolish to waste his strength in （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing his wings against the 刑務所，拘置所 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s. After a time, so tired was his brain with hard thinking, that he 現実に fell asleep.
How long the sleep lasted he did not know, but he woke from a troubled dream with the idea that he heard soft 退却／保養地ing footsteps. The candle was burnt to the socket and the room was 極端に dark, so Vernon sat up in a 混乱させるd way, trying to 解任する his position. With 警報 ears he hearkened for the 推定するd footsteps, but as there was no sound save his own 労働d breathing, he decided that he had been dreaming. It was lucky that he had a box of lucifers in his pocket, for the lighting of one enabled him to see the time. His watch 明らかにする／漏らすd that it was one o’clock in the morning, and as he had arrived at nine he must have been 拘留するd for four hours. His 四肢s felt stiff as he rose to his feet, and with a yawn he stretched himself.
“I can’t stay here all night,” he muttered 猛烈に. “I’ll try what shouting will do;” and shout he did with all the 力／強力にする of his 肺s, only to receive no 返答.
Feeling that he was losing both time and temper, Vernon groped his way in the 厚い 不明瞭 に向かって the door. Gripping the 扱う he gave it an angry, despairing 新たな展開. To his surprise the door 証明するd to be open. 明らかに the footsteps he had thought dream-sounds were real, and his 刑務所，拘置所 door had been 静かに 打ち明けるd at the moment of his awakening. 選ぶing up his overcoat, he felt his way along the passage and up the stairs and into the 前線 hall—slow work in the gloom of an unknown locality. There was no noise to be heard, although he held his breath to listen. So far as he could 裁判官, the house was empty. Finally, 意図 upon getting 援助, he tried the 扱う of the 前線 door, and 設立する that there was no difficulty in getting （疑いを）晴らす. In two minutes he was in the 静かな street, looking up and 負かす／撃墜する for a policeman.
The road 存在 孤立するd and the hour late, there was neither 乗り物 nor 歩行者 to be seen, nor did any light gleam from the windows of the silent houses. Vernon shivered in the 冷淡な breath of the night, then walked 速く up the street to 捜し出す 援助. すぐに he 設立する a burly constable at the corner, and breathlessly 詳細（に述べる）d all that had happened to that somewhat 懐疑的な officer. A shrill whistle brought another policeman to the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, and with the two Vernon returned to No. 34, the door of which he had left ajar. This somewhat 納得させるd the officers, and they took his 指名する and 演説（する）／住所, 約束ing to search the house, and also to watch it. Vernon himself, on 解雇する／砲火／射撃 to reach Hampstead and to learn what had occurred, could not wait to see what 発見s might be made. The policemen wished to 拘留する him, but finally he got away, and raced に向かって the more public part of West Kensington to find a cab.
As luck would have it, he 選ぶd up a belated taxi that had just taken home a fare. The chauffeur demurred about 運動ing out so far as Hampstead, but a treble price 敏速に 申し込む／申し出d overcame his scruples, and in a short time Vernon was spinning に向かって his much-wished-for 目的地. All the way he was trying to conjecture how The Spider had contrived to overhear the arranging of the 罠（にかける）, for he must have done so, else there would have been no 推論する／理由 for the 監禁，拘置. But by this time Vernon’s brain was 疲れた／うんざりした, and he fell into a dose. When he woke the taxi had pulled up with a jerk, and he 設立する himself on the ヒース／荒れ地 before the gate of “Rangoon.” With a sudden spasm of 恐れる he 公式文書，認めるd that a policeman was standing at the 入り口, 明らかに on guard.
つまずくing out of the cab, Vernon staggered に向かって the man. “I have come to Mr. Dimsdale’s ball,” he said hurriedly.
“It’s over, sir,” said the policeman, touching his helmet.
“Over—so 早期に!”
“早期に in the morning, sir, you mean. But the fact is, there’s trouble.”
“Trouble!” Again a 冷淡な 冷気／寒がらせる struck Vernon.
“Yes, sir, and the ball （機の）カム to an end.”
“Mr. Dimsdale?”
“Dead, sir. 殺人d, as you might say.”
“Dead!” echoed Vernon, やめる dazed.
“Strangled,” said the policeman bluntly.
The news was as horrible as it was 予期しない. Vernon had 心配するd ゆすり，恐喝, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight. But he had never dreamed that 殺人 would take place, as such a 罪，犯罪 was 完全に contrary to The Spider’s methods. With a gasp he pulled himself together.
“Have they caught the man?” he 需要・要求するd anxiously.
“What man?” questioned the constable suspiciously.
“The 殺害者.”
“No, sir; it’s not known who killed Mr. Dimsdale. He was 設立する strangled in his library, some time after eleven o’clock. The alarm was given, the police were called in, and the ball （機の）カム to an end. Now, sir,” 追加するd the man in a friendly way, “I 港／避難所’t any 権利 to tell you more, and as what I have told you will be in the papers to-morrow, no 害（を与える）’s done. You go home now, sir, and you’ll learn all about your friend when the 検死 takes place.”
Vernon thought for a second. “Is your 視察官 in the house?”
“Yes, sir, but you can’t see him.”
“I must see him, and at once. I believe I know who killed Mr. Dimsdale.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” said the policeman with a subtle change of manner. “Then you come along with me.”
“Wait till I 支払う／賃金 my cabman,” muttered Vernon, and, the policeman making no 反対 to this, he gave the chauffeur the 約束d fare. When the 乗り物 had disappeared 負かす／撃墜する the road, 減らすing blackly in the moonlight, he returned, to find that the constable was 持つ／拘留するing open the gate.
“What 指名する am I to give?” asked the man gruffly, for it was evident that he regarded Vernon with 疑惑 借りがあるing to what he had 認める.
“My 指名する doesn’t 事柄; the 視察官 does not know me,” said Vernon impatiently. “Hurry up, man! hurry up! Every moment is of value.”
Impressed by his imperious manner, the policeman knocked at the の近くにd 前線 door, which was すぐに thrown open by a second constable on guard in the hall. By this individual Vernon was introduced into the Jacobean dining-room, after a few hurried words of explanation. 視察官 Drench—the constable had 知らせるd Vernon of the 指名する—was seated at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する taking 公式文書，認めるs, and 行方不明になる Hest, looking pale and anxious, stood at his 肘. She was the first to speak.
“Mr. Vernon,” she exclaimed hoarsely, “you have come at last. Poor Mr. Dimsdale was asking for you all the night. And now—” she broke 負かす／撃墜する.
“How did you get in, sir?” questioned 視察官 Drench imperiously, and nodding to the policeman that he should leave the room. “I gave orders that nobody was to be 認める.”
“I 主張するd upon seeing you,” said Vernon quickly. “This evening—or rather yesterday evening—I had an 任命 with Mr. Dimsdale in his library, but I was おとりd to an empty house in West Kensington, and have only managed to get away.”
視察官 Drench 星／主役にするd. “What do you mean by all this, sir?”
“What I say,” 再結合させるd Vernon tartly, for his 神経s worried him. “I understand that Mr. Dimsdale is dead.”
“Mr. Dimsdale has been 殺人d,” cried 行方不明になる Hest, clasping her 手渡すs and speaking in a 厚い, emotional 発言する／表明する. “殺人d in his library. No one knows who strangled him.”
“I know.”
“You!” Drench stood up alertly. “Take care, sir. Anything you say now will be 公式文書，認めるd,” and he shuffled his papers like a pack of cards. “Who is 有罪の?”
“The Spider.”
“The Spider!” echoed 行方不明になる Hest. “Who is The Spider, or what is The Spider?”
She looked puzzled, but the 視察官, better 知らせるd, looked open-mouthed at the young man. “Do you mean to say that The Spider （罪などを）犯すd this 罪，犯罪, sir?” he asked, scarcely able to speak from sheer amazement.
Vernon, 完全に worn out from what he had undergone, dropped into a 議長，司会を務める listlessly. “Yes.”
“But this Spider?” broke in 行方不明になる Hest volubly; “I don’t know who he is or what he is. Tell me if—”
“許す me,” interrupted Drench はっきりと. He was a 軍の-looking man, something after the style of 陸軍大佐 Towton, and spoke 積極性. “許す me, for I am in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 here, 行方不明になる. The Spider is the 指名する—if you may call it so—of a 井戸／弁護士席-known blackmailer, for whom the police have been looking, and are still looking. Perhaps, Mr. Vernon—I think you said that this gentleman’s 指名する is Vernon—will explain how he comes to be 所有するd of such 正確な （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）.”
“There is no difficulty in explaining,” retorted Vernon, annoyed by the 怪しげな looks of the officer. “Listen!” and he 速く 詳細（に述べる）d all that he knew, all that had taken place from his interview with Dimsdale in Towton’s 議会s to the moment when he leapt from the taxicab to be met by the constable at the gate with the news of the 殺人. As the recital proceeded Drench tried to 隠す his amazement, but scarcely managed to do so, while フランs Hest, for once startled out of her self-支配（する）／統制する, uttered ejaculations. It may be 公式文書，認めるd that Vernon 抑えるd for the moment the fact that The Spider was ゆすり，恐喝ing Mrs. Bedge, as he did not wish to spread スキャンダル. But 視察官 Drench and the lady were put in 所有／入手 of all other facts.
“What was Mr. Dimsdale’s secret?” asked フランs curiously.
“I can’t tell you, as I don’t know. After the 逮捕（する） of The Spider he 約束d that I should be told. Now I shall never know.”
“This comes,” said the 視察官 激しく, “this comes of amateur 探偵，刑事 商売／仕事. If I had been 知らせるd of the 任命 I should have made 手はず／準備 to 逮捕（する） The Spider.”
“If you had been 知らせるd,” retorted Vernon heatedly, “The Spider would never have kept the 任命.”
“Why not? He was ignorant of my 計画（する）s?”
“He learned 地雷 easily enough, and would have learned yours. You seem to forget, Mr. 視察官, that we are 取引，協定ing with a genius in the way of criminality. The Spider, whomsoever he may be, seems to know everything. I believe that he is the 長，率いる of a ギャング（団） and has his 秘かに調査するs all over London. No one person could be so 井戸／弁護士席 地位，任命するd up in secret 手はず／準備 さもなければ.”
“How did he come to know of the secret 協定 between yourself and Mr. Dimsdale?” asked Drench 突然の.
“I can’t say, unless Mr. Dimsdale, who had rather a loose tongue, 明らかにする／漏らすd his 計画（する） of the 罠（にかける） to someone else. I said nothing.”
“Mr. Dimsdale gave no （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） to anyone in this house,” said フランs decisively; “if he had, either I or Ida would have known. As it is, he 明らかに met this dreadful person in the library at the agreed time. And, now that I think of it,” she mused, “I wonder that I did not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う something of the sort. Mr. Dimsdale told Ida and myself that we could have all the rooms for the ball save the library, as he wished that to himself.”
“There’s nothing unusual in such a wish,” 発言／述べるd Drench easily. “When a house is upset by a party a man 自然に wishes one of his rooms left undisturbed so that he can have peace.”
“What happened 正確に／まさに?” asked Vernon with an 空気／公表する of 疲労，（軍の）雑役.
視察官 Drench 調印するd that 行方不明になる Hest should explain, and ちらりと見ることd at his 公式文書，認めるs as she spoke, to be 確かな that she was repeating what she had already told him 事前の to Vernon’s 入り口.
“It is hard to tell what took place to a minute,” 抗議するd the lady. “Our guests arrived just before ten o’clock, and everything was going splendidly.”
“Everyone was masked, I suppose,” said Vernon 静かに.
“Oh, yes. But Mr. Dimsdale stood in the Hall until nearly eleven, receiving our guests, and made everyone unmask before they entered the ballroom.”
“Why did he do that?” asked Drench suddenly.
“Can’t you guess?” put in Vernon impatiently. “Mr. Dimsdale 推定する／予想するd The Spider, and wished to see if he would come.”
“But he didn’t know what The Spider was like. No one knows.”
“I daresay. But Mr. Dimsdale knew those whom his daughter had 招待するd to the ball. If an unknown person had unmasked he would have jumped to the 結論, and perhaps truly, that he was The Spider. 井戸／弁護士席, 行方不明になる Hest?”
“Everyone who unmasked were people we knew,” she continued, “for I stood with Ida 近づく Mr. Dimsdale, receiving the guests. At a ４半期/4分の1 to eleven Mr. Dimsdale went to the library.”
“Alone?”
“Certainly. No one, to my knowledge, entered the library during the whole of that evening until Ida, in search of her father, 主張するd upon going in, notwithstanding the 禁止, at a ４半期/4分の1 to twelve. Then she 設立する Mr. Dimsdale seated in his 議長，司会を務める, やめる dead.”
“Were the windows open?”
視察官 Drench arose. “Come and see the room, Mr. Vernon,” he said, moving に向かって the door. “Nothing has been 乱すd, not even the 死体. Everything remains as 行方不明になる Dimsdale 設立する it at a ４半期/4分の1 to twelve.”
“And Ida fainted,” whispered フランs in Vernon’s ear as the trio crossed the hall to enter the library. “Poor child! It was no wonder, when the sight was so horrid. She’s in bed now, crying her heart out. 視察官,” 追加するd 行方不明になる Hest, raising her 発言する／表明する, “you won’t want me any longer? Let me return to 行方不明になる Dimsdale, as she needs every attention.”
“Very good, 行方不明になる. I shall continue your examination in the morning.”
“I have told you everything I know.”
“One moment,” said Vernon, laying his 手渡す on her sleeve as she moved away. “I want to know if any guest arrived after Mr. Dimsdale went into the library.”
“Two. But Ida and I made them unmask. We knew them やめる 井戸／弁護士席. Mr. and Mrs. Horner from Finchley. And I may tell you, Mr. Vernon, that Mr. Dimsdale （機の）カム out of the library at five minutes to eleven for a 選び出す／独身 moment to ask if you had arrived.”
“I wish I had arrived,” said Vernon 激しく, “I might have 妨げるd this 悲劇. Are you sure, 行方不明になる Hest, that no strangers were at the ball?”
“井戸／弁護士席,” she said thoughtfully, “it is difficult to say, since all were masked. But no stranger was there to my knowledge, and when the 罪，犯罪 was discovered everyone unmasked. We knew all the guests, as we had known them when they arrived; still, some stranger might have slipped in. But I must go to Ida. I’ll tell you anything else you wish to know in the morning.”
Vernon nodded and 解放（する）d his 支配する of her sleeve. She flitted away into the central room on her way to Ida’s bedroom. Vernon mused for a moment, then followed Drench into the library, where the 視察官, indeed, had already に先行するd him. The first ちらりと見ること Vernon threw around showed him that one of the French windows was open.
“I thought so,” he said pointing out this to the 視察官. “The Spider did not come as a guest, but watched his 適切な時期 and slipped in at the window. At what time is Mr. Dimsdale supposed to have been strangled?”
“The doctor we called in says—so far as the 明言する／公表する of the 団体／死体 shows—that the 罪，犯罪 was committed about a ４半期/4分の1 past eleven. 行方不明になる Dimsdale discovered it at a ４半期/4分の1 to twelve, thirty minutes later.”
“The 任命 was for eleven,” said Vernon nodding, “so The Spider was fifteen minutes late. But he （機の）カム in there”—he pointed to the French window—“and he escaped in the same way.”
“With the thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs?” asked Drench drily. He did not like to be shown his 商売／仕事 by this young man.
“I don’t think so,” replied Vernon musingly, and 慎重に feeling his way, as it were, to a 決定／判定勝ち（する）. “You see, Dimsdale never ーするつもりであるd to 支払う／賃金 the money, and therefore was not 用意が出来ている with the specie from the bank. The Spider, for once, went without his booty, and did worse work for nothing than he ever did for reward.”
“Yes,” said the 視察官 carelessly; “I believe this is the first time 殺人 has been connected with his 指名する—公然と, that is. Who knows what 暗殺s he may not have to answer for 個人として? However, here is the room and the 死体. What do you make of both?”
The other man looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する slowly. The room 炎d with the 十分な 力／強力にする of the many electric lights, which the 視察官 had turned on; also, as the apartment was square and sparsely furnished, there was no nook or cranny that could not be seen at a ちらりと見ること. The three windows had neither blinds nor curtains, in 一致 with Mr. Dimsdale’s craze for fresh 空気／公表する; but 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the desk, which was on the 権利 味方する of the room, 近づく the fireplace, a high 審査する was drawn, the same which the girls had used on that morning when they were selecting the guests for the 致命的な ball. In a 議長，司会を務める, turned sideways from the desk, drooped the form of the dead man. He was arrayed in evening dress, but his shirt-前線 was crumpled, and his 直面する was swollen and discoloured. There was no disorder 一連の会議、交渉／完成する about the desk; the Persian mat had not even been kicked out of the way.
“Yes,” said Drench in answer to a look from Vernon, “there could not have been any struggle, since all is in order. In my opinion The Spider—if it was that chap, as you seem to think—must have come silently behind his 犠牲者, and strangled him with the handkerchief before he had time to call out. He （機の）カム to kill 同様に as to 略奪する.”
“A handkerchief?” asked Vernon 利益／興味d. “I thought he did it with his 手渡すs, Mr. 視察官?”
Drench shook his アイロンをかける-grey 長，率いる. “There are no 示すs of 手渡すs on the throat, Mr. Vernon; only a cruel 黒人／ボイコット line, which shows that a cord or handkerchief must have been used—and used with 広大な／多数の／重要な 軍隊. Though, to be sure,” 追加するd the 視察官 reflectively, “Mr. Dimsdale was so short and fat in the neck that a slight 圧力 must have 原因（となる）d apoplexy.”
“Did he die of that?”
“And 絞殺; a mixture of both. But it’s 半端物, Mr. Vernon, that with those uncurtained windows he should have been 殺人d without anyone seeing the 業績／成果. There must have been many guests in the 前線 garden, as people always do wander outside between the dances to get fresh 空気／公表する.”
Vernon pointed to the 審査する. “That served the 目的s of both curtain and blind, Mr. 視察官. Behind that the 罪，犯罪 could be committed without anyone 存在 the wiser, even if anyone had been on the verandah.”
“供給するd there was no noise,” 主張するd Drench.
“正確に／まさに; so that makes me believe that your surmise is 訂正する. The Spider, for some 推論する／理由, may have come to kill, 同様に as to ゆすり，恐喝. Perhaps, as he learned about the 罠（にかける）—which he must have done to arrange for my absence—he dreaded lest Dimsdale should 証明する a dangerous person, and so got rid of him. If that mirror”—Vernon pointed to a long, 幅の広い looking-glass which covered one 味方する of the fireplace, and which 反映するd desk and 議長，司会を務める and 審査する and seated 人物／姿／数字—“could speak it would tell how the 罪，犯罪 was committed. I can guess myself,” he ended.
“Perhaps you will let me hear your guess,” said Drench sceptically.
“The Spider, I fancy, stole in 静かに through the French window, which was open, and （機の）カム suddenly upon Dimsdale seated at his desk waiting to keep the 任命. Before the old man could turn The Spider had the handkerchief or cord 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck and 静かに choked him. There would be no noise and no struggle. Then he looked for the money”—Vernon pointed to the desk, several drawers of which were pulled open—“but not finding any he stole out again through the window.”
“The guests in the garden would have seen him leave the room.”
“What if they did? No one 心配するd a 罪，犯罪, and no one but 行方不明になる Hest and 行方不明になる Dimsdale knew that the library was forbidden 領土. Moreover, The Spider may have chosen his time to escape when another dance was in 進歩, the chances 存在 that everyone would return to the ballroom. And you may be sure,” 追加するd Vernon with 強調, “that The Spider made use both of mask and 支配, so that he might be taken for a guest, and might escape notice.”
“But 行方不明になる Hest said that everyone unmasked—”
“Who entered the house as a guest,” followed on Vernon quickly; “just so, Mr. 視察官. But The Spider entered as a stranger by the window, not wishing, perhaps, to take any chances. And, of course, we are agreed that he is infernally clever, and 井戸／弁護士席 地位，任命するd in necessary 詳細（に述べる）s.”
“I’m with you there,” murmured Drench mournfully, “but it’s a pity you and Mr. Dimsdale did not 警告する me of your 罠（にかける）. I should have caught the man easier than you amateurs.”
“I am not an amateur,” said Vernon 突然に; then, when the 視察官 looked at him interrogatively, he 追加するd, “I 貿易（する） as Nemo, of Covent Garden.”
“Ah, yes; I’ve heard of you,” replied Drench in a いっそう少なく supercilious トン. “So you are Nemo, are you, Mr. Vernon? I was told that you had solved several mysteries. In fact, a friend of 地雷 at the Yard said you’d a 長，率いる on your shoulders.”
“I’ll need it,” said Vernon with a shrug, “to unravel this mystery.”
“It’s no mystery,” said Drench quickly, “since you say that The Spider 殺人d this poor chap.”
“The Spider himself is a mystery, and one which the police would give much to solve. I ーするつもりである to 追跡（する） him 負かす／撃墜する—not alone on account of my poor dead friend here, but because he so cleverly おとりd me out of the way.”
“Ah, your pride is up in 武器?”
“井戸／弁護士席, yes; I suppose you can put it that way. But I wish to ask you two things, Mr. 視察官: first, that you will not 明らかにする／漏らす my 貿易（する） as Nemo to anyone in society.”
“Oh, I 約束 that easily, 特に as I don’t go into society, and I can guess that you want it kept 静かな. And the second thing?”
“Will you 許す me to place my services at your 処分?”
The dexterous way in which Vernon put his request as a favour to be 認めるd pleased the 視察官, 特に as he knew from what he had heard of Nemo that such services would be of value. “I shall be very pleased to let you work with me, Mr. Vernon,” he said cordially. “What do you 提案する to do first, may I ask?”
“This house in West Kensington is an empty one, and must have been taken by The Spider for my 一時的な 刑務所，拘置所. I must ascertain from the landlord who took it, and thus we may learn something about the looks of The Spider.”
“You think he took the house himself: 適用するd to the landlord, that is?”
“Yes, and no; he may have done so, or one of his ギャング（団） may have rented the house. But if we can catch the person who did see the landlord, we may learn something about The Spider, if indeed the tenant was not the man himself.”
“井戸／弁護士席”—Drench scratched his 長，率いる thoughtfully—“there is something in that, Mr. Vernon. But The Spider is so clever that you may be sure he has made himself 安全な. You think he 長，率いるs a ギャング（団）?”
“I am 確かな , and the woman who played such a clever comedy to inveigle me into the kitchen is one of the ギャング（団）.”
“Perhaps The Spider himself, in disguise?”
“You may be 権利, as, of course, since I was 逮捕（する）d about nine o’clock, there was plenty of time for him to change and get to Hampstead by eleven.”
“Moreover, he was a ４半期/4分の1 of an hour late,” 示唆するd Drench, “but it puzzles me, sir, to think how your 罠（にかける） 商売／仕事 （機の）カム to his ears.”
Vernon looked 残念に at the dead man in the 議長，司会を務める. “Perhaps Mr. Dimsdale may have talked,” he 発言／述べるd. “I said nothing. But we shall never know now—”
“Until we lay 手渡すs on The Spider and 軍隊 him to 自白する,” ended Drench, nodding. “By the way, I suppose some reward will be 申し込む／申し出d for his 逮捕 by 行方不明になる Dimsdale? I understand she is rich.”
“It’s very probable, as she 相続するs her father’s money—about ten thousand a year, it must be.”
The 視察官 whistled. “That’s a tidy fortune,” he said meditatively. “I 推定する／予想する the reward will be a large one.”
“I 推定する／予想する so also,” 再結合させるd Vernon, understanding 明確に what was meant, “and if we learn the truth about this 罪，犯罪 and 逮捕（する） The Spider you can have the reward all to yourself.”
“But you’re a professional, Mr. Vernon, and have to make your money.”
“I don’t want it in this 事例／患者. The Spider made use of a 確かな lady’s 指名する to inveigle me to West Kensington, and I mean to be even with him.”
“行方不明になる Corsoon. I think you について言及するd 行方不明になる Corsoon.”
“Yes, only you needn’t talk about it outside your office,” said Vernon あわてて. “I don’t want her to be mixed up in this 商売／仕事. Also, I am not very proud of having been 罠にかける in this way.”
“Only the police will know,” Drench 保証するd him, and led the way out of the room, after turning out the lights. “You’d better go home now, Mr. Vernon, as you have done やめる enough to-night, and look worn out.”
Vernon nodded. “When will the 検死 take place?”
“To-morrow; the sooner it’s over the better. We can work on the 手がかり（を与える） of The Spider which you have 供給（する）d. We’ll catch him.”
Vernon shrugged his shoulders. He was いっそう少なく 確信して of success than Drench, since for nearly two years The Spider had 完全に baffled the police.
The 検死 duly took place, but no 証拠 was 来たるべき likely to lead to the 逮捕（する） of the 暗殺者. That he was The Spider there, of course, could be no 疑問, since the 宣言 of Vernon went to show that the late Mr. Dimsdale had made an 任命 with the blackmailer. 自然に, the whole story had to be told at the 検死, and the public became aware, through the medium of the newspapers, that the dead man had a secret. It could not have been a dishonourable secret, was the general opinion, else Mr. Dimsdale would scarcely have 危険d a 発覚. Using it, whatever it might be, as a おとり to 誘惑する The Spider into a 罠（にかける）, he had lost his life in the 試みる／企てる to 逮捕（する） the famous 犯罪の. And if The Spider had been celebrated before, he was still more celebrated now, and in a more 悪意のある way. 以前は the police had 手配中の，お尋ね者 him as an extortioner; now he was 問い合わせd for as a 殺害者.
The “Rangoon” 罪，犯罪—as it （機の）カム to be called—made a mighty sensation, as there was that about it which 控訴，上告d to the somewhat jaded taste of the public. That a man should be strangled in his own library, and in the very house where nearly one hundred people were dancing, was truly wonderful, when the sequel was that the 暗殺者 had escaped. The windows of the library had neither blinds nor curtains; guests had been talking and walking in the garden; on the other 味方する of the tall laurel hedge cabs and carriages with attendants had been waiting in the road, yet The Spider had come and gone like a 影をつくる／尾行する. Behind the frail concealment of the 審査する a terrible 罪，犯罪 had taken place, and, far from hurrying his 出発, the 犯罪の had 現実に ぐずぐず残るd to search for the money he hoped to get. It was 証明するd at the 検死 that he did not get his plunder, for enquiries at Mr. Dimsdale’s bank showed that the thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs had not been drawn. Undoubtedly, since the dead man had ーするつもりであるd to 反抗する the blackmailer, the secret could not have been one to be ashamed of. But what the secret was the public never knew.
Vernon, as he had 明言する／公表するd to 視察官 Drench, was not proud that he had been so cleverly tricked into 一時的な 監禁，拘置 by The Spider, and would fain have kept that episode to himself. But for the 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing off of the 事例／患者, it was necessary that it should be told, and thus sensation was piled upon sensation. Vernon, however, contrived to keep the 指名する of 行方不明になる Corsoon to himself and Drench, and it was ばく然と 明言する／公表するd in the papers that Vernon had been inveigled to West Kensington on the 嘆願 of helping a woman. 調査s 証明するd that the landlord had never been 適用するd to as regards the letting of Number 34. The Spider had 簡単に seen that the house was empty and had 伸び（る）d 接近 thereto by means of a 骸骨／概要 重要な. For one 選び出す／独身 evening he had utilised the house as a 刑務所，拘置所; and when the police searched the same, which they did from cellar to attic, they 設立する no trace of The Spider or of the white-直面するd woman who had played so clever a comedy. The daring evinced in 関係 with the West Kensington house was amazing; the escape of the 暗殺者 from “Rangoon” scarcely いっそう少なく so; and the whole formed a 事例／患者 unexampled in the annals of 罪，犯罪 for 冷静な／正味の audacity. And the 結果 of the 事件／事情／状勢 was 極端に unsatisfactory.
Nothing could be discovered 関心ing the どの辺に of The Spider, and whether he belonged to a ギャング（団） or worked 選び出す／独身-手渡すd no one could say. The man 反抗するd both 探偵，刑事 and policeman, and laughed at the 試みる／企てるs of the 法律 to lay him by the heels. Letters were written to the papers and 主要な articles appeared, clamouring that 即座の 活動／戦闘 should be taken against The Spider, who was a menace to civilisation. The police did all that was possible, and 追跡（する）d London in the vain endeavour to lay 手渡すs on the rascal, but without success. The Spider left no 跡をつけるs behind him, and could not be followed to his lair. A 判決 of “Wilful 殺人” was brought against him, and a reward of one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs was 申し込む／申し出d at the instance of the 殺人d man’s daughter for his 逮捕, but nothing その上の （機の）カム of the 事柄. The 罪，犯罪 was a nine-days’ wonder, but as the days grew into weeks and weeks into months, public 利益／興味 dwindled. It seemed likely that the 殺人 of ツバメ Dimsdale would have to be relegated to the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of undiscovered 罪，犯罪s. Even 視察官 Drench despaired of success, and gloomily shook his 長，率いる. Only Vernon remained 会社／堅い in his 意向 to solve the mysteries of the 殺人 and The Spider, and he said as much to Mrs. Bedge two months after Dimsdale had been laid in his 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な.
Maunders’ aunt was a thin, aristocratic, pale-直面するd old lady, prim in her dress and manners. She 占領するd a 静かな, unpretentious house at Hampstead, not far from “Rangoon.” A 公式文書，認める from her had brought Vernon to see her, and now the two were seated in a pointedly 古風な 製図／抽選-room, talking 真面目に. Everything about the house and its owner was prim, and the whole atmosphere 示唆するd 早期に Victorian days. It seemed strange that so dismal and old-fashioned a house should be the home of an intensely modern young man like Constantine Maunders. But, as Mrs. Bedge 知らせるd Vernon, her 甥 gave her very little of his society, as he had engaged rooms in town and lived in them the greater part of the week.
“He only comes from a Saturday to a Monday to stop here,” sighed Mrs. Bedge, 倍のing her lean mittened 手渡すs on her 淡褐色-hued dress, “yet he knows how fond I am of his company.”
“Constantine was always selfish,” 発言／述べるd Vernon bluntly.
Mrs. Bedge 抗議するd with the foolish fondness of an old woman. “Oh, indeed, you must not say that. Constantine is high-spirited, and I daresay that he thinks this place somewhat dull. But when he is here I invariably find him thoughtful and affectionate.”
This was very probable, since Mrs. Bedge had money, and Maunders 推定する／予想するd to be her 相続人. It was not likely that so astute a person would 危険 the loss of a fortune. Something of this sort must have 明らかにする／漏らすd itself in Vernon’s 注目する，もくろむs, for Mrs. Bedge, with the swift instinct of a woman, guessed what he was thinking about.
“No,” she said in her plaintive way, “it is not greed of money that makes Constantine love me, but his own 甘い nature which gives affection, unasked. Constantine knows that I have spent a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 on his education and in fitting him out in life. Now I have very little money left: this house, the furniture, and a few hundreds a year. When I die he will receive very little, poor boy. I thought it best that he should enjoy the money while he was young, and without waiting for my death.”
“Constantine せねばならない work,” said Vernon, wondering at the blindness which could 述べる Maunders as unselfishly affectionate.
“He ーするつもりであるs to, when he can find something to his mind. And then, he is so handsome that he may make a rich marriage. I thought Ida Dimsdale would have taken him,” sighed the old lady; “she has ten thousand a year and is also a very charming girl. But there is no hope for Constantine there.”
“You astonish me,” said Vernon, and meant what he said. “I understood from Mr. Dimsdale himself that his daughter was in love with Constantine.”
“She was; she seemed to be やめる crazy about him, but that was before the terrible death of her father two months ago. Since then she has shut herself up with 行方不明になる Hest at ‘Rangoon,’ and when Constantine has seen her, she has been やめる different. She loves him no longer, and as good as told the poor boy so. It nearly broke his heart.”
“I don’t think Constantine’s heart is so easily broken,” said Vernon grimly, and relapsed into silence. It struck him as strange that Ida should 中止する to love the handsome scamp, considering how infatuated she had been with him for months. But, if things were as Mrs. Bedge 明言する／公表するd, there was a chance that 陸軍大佐 Towton’s warm devotion would be 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd; there was also the chance—and Vernon winced when he thought of it—that, having no 適切な時期 of marrying Ida, the 楽しみ-loving Maunders would 起訴する his 支持を得ようと努めるing of 行方不明になる Corsoon with 新たにするd vigour; in which 事例／患者, and in spite of Lucy’s pronounced liking for him, Vernon thought dismally that there would be little 見込み of his own success. A more dangerous 競争相手 than Maunders, when he really put his heart into love-making, can scarcely be imagined. Mrs. Bedge broke in upon these meditations.
“And what we have been speaking about brings me to the 推論する／理由 why I asked you to come and see me,” she said, smoothing her dress and arranging the old-fashioned bracelets she wore. “You see, as I tell you, I am not rich, and as I have 知らせるd you, Ida does not love Constantine as she used to. Now, I want you to consider if it could かもしれない be arranged that I could become Ida’s companion.”
Vernon started with astonishment. He did not think that Mrs. Bedge would 証明する a very cheerful companion to a young girl, and moreover it seemed strange that, at her age, she should wish for such a position. She must be poor indeed, and considering how Constantine had drained her, this was scarcely to be wondered at. “行方不明になる Hest 行為／法令／行動するs more or いっそう少なく as 行方不明になる Dimsdale’s companion,” 発言／述べるd Vernon with some hesitation.
“I think she is a most dangerous woman,” said Mrs. Bedge, a warm colour 紅潮／摘発するing her faded cheeks; “she is a public reciter. I may be old-fashioned, but I do not think it is 権利 that a young girl like Ida should be so friendly with a woman who appears on the 行う／開催する／段階.”
Vernon laughed at this echo of 早期に Victorian prudery.
“行方不明になる Hest only recites at concerts and ‘At Homes,’“ He explained; “she can scarcely be called an actress.”
“I look upon her as such,” said Mrs. Bedge primly. “I have known Ida for years: when her father was in Burmah he sent her to school in England, and she always spent her holidays with me. That is how Constantine （機の）カム to 落ちる in love with her. It has been the dream of my life to see them married, 特に as Ida is rich and needs a man to look after her money. I wish to become Ida’s companion, not only because I am one of her oldest friends and need to 補足（する） my income, but because I hope to 影響（力） her again in my boy’s favour.”
“I understand.” Vernon smiled 静かに as he thought that if Maunders looked after Ida’s money there would be little of it left in a few years. But he やめる understood, as he had 定評のある, the affectionate 計画／陰謀 of the fond old woman, who was a slave to her 可決する・採択するd son. “I can scarcely advise you, Mrs. Bedge. 行方不明になる Hest is a lady—there can be no 疑問 on that point—and her character is above reproach; also, she is clever and strong-minded, the 肉親，親類d of companion 行方不明になる Dimsdale wants. For I should not think,” he 追加するd after a pause, “that 行方不明になる Dimsdale was 有能な of managing her large fortune. I have seen very little of her since the funeral. I suppose the will was 証明するd and she is in 所有／入手 of her money?”
“There was no will,” said Mrs. Bedge 突然に. “Constantine learned that from Ida herself. She 単に 相続するd as next of 肉親，親類, which is the same thing. Why poor ツバメ—I call Mr. Dimsdale, ツバメ, because I knew him for years and years,” she explained in parentheses—“why poor ツバメ never made a will I can’t say, but he did not.”
“Strange,” 反映するd Vernon musingly; “so 商売／仕事-like a man would certainly have made a will, I should have thought. However, as 行方不明になる Dimsdale has 相続するd as next-of-肉親，親類 it doesn’t 事柄; failing her, the money, I 推定する, would have gone to Lady Corsoon?”
“Certainly; but Ida, as a daughter of poor ツバメ, takes 優先 of Julia as the sister. But think of all that money, Mr. Vernon, 存在 at the mercy of an adventuress like 行方不明になる Hest.”
“I don’t think she is an adventuress, Mrs. Bedge, and I can’t see how the money is at her mercy.”
“I see it very plainly,” said Mrs. Bedge with asperity. “行方不明になる Hest has a most 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の 影響（力） over Ida, and not a healthy one, since she has permitted her to shut herself up for weeks.”
“The natural grief of 行方不明になる Dimsdale—”
“There are bounds to grief,” interrupted the old lady はっきりと, “and the young 回復する from 悲しみ quicker than do the 老年の. Poor ツバメ was a good father, and Ida does 権利 to 嘆く／悼む him; but not to the ridiculous extent of shutting herself up for two months with that woman.”
“You don’t seem to like 行方不明になる Hest.”
“No, I don’t. Oh, I 港／避難所’t a word to say against her character. I daresay she is a lady and perfectly 訂正する in her behaviour: but she is not the companion for Ida. Besides, she comes and goes from ‘Rangoon’ at her will, and is not a 正規の／正選手 companion, such as the girl should have. 行方不明になる Hest, so Constantine tells me, lives at Isleworth with a horrid old retired actor and his wife.”
“Professor Garrick Gail. Yes; she told me that herself.”
“So brazen,” 匂いをかぐd Mrs. Bedge, more prim than ever; “it’s not 権利, I tell you, Mr. Vernon. Someone should 干渉する.”
“No one can, Mrs. Bedge. 行方不明になる Dimsdale is her own mistress, 存在 over age, and has her own money. She has a 権利 to live as she pleases.”
“Not in my opinion, Mr. Vernon; it’s not respectable. Could you not see her and 示唆する that she should sell or let, ‘Rangoon’ and come here to live with me as her paid companion? Also, she could help to keep up this house.”
Vernon almost laughed, so selfish was the proposition, and thought it very ありそうもない that Ida would 降伏する the charming 住居 of “Rangoon” and the 知識人 society of 行方不明になる Hest, to shut herself up with a buckram old dame in a stuffy, second-率 dwelling. “I am not intimate enough with 行方不明になる Dimsdale to 示唆する such a thing.”
“But you are searching for the 暗殺者 of her father,” 固執するd Mrs. Bedge with the dogged obstinacy of age; “out of 感謝 she should 可決する・採択する your suggestion. Besides, you would be glad to see your old schoolfellow Constantine settled for life.”
It was on Vernon’s lips to say that he would be sorry to see any woman, let alone Ida Dimsdale, tied to a selfish creature like Mr. Maunders, but out of pity for the infatuated old lady he 差し控えるd. Besides, since she believed Constantine to be an angel, no one would ever be able to argue her out of that fancy. “Other people are searching for The Spider also,” he said gently, “so 行方不明になる Dimsdale has no particular 推論する／理由 to show me any 感謝, 特に as she has 申し込む／申し出d the reward of one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs.”
“I know. Constantine is trying to earn it.”
“The ジュース he is?” sprang from Vernon’s lips.
Mrs. Bedge drew up her spare form and 倍のd her 手渡すs. “I do not like slang, Mr. Vernon.” Then, when he apologised, she continued: “Constantine wants to earn the money, and also, if he catches The Spider, Ida will surely marry him out of sheer 感謝.”
“I think he has a stronger 推論する／理由 to catch The Spider,” said Vernon drily.
Mrs. Bedge coloured and looked aside. “I guess what you mean, as I asked poor ツバメ to speak to you on the 支配する of that 試みる／企てるd ゆすり，恐喝. It was scandalous, was it not? However, I have heard no more from the wicked creature, and I don’t think I shall. After committing this 罪，犯罪, it is not likely that The Spider will dare to continue in his wickedness.”
“井戸／弁護士席,” said Vernon, standing up to take his leave. “I certainly have not heard of anyone 存在 ゆすり，恐喝d lately. Perhaps The Spider thinks that he has gone too far, and is afraid. I 示唆するd myself to Constantine that he should 逮捕（する） The Spider if he wished to become my partner in—that is,” broke off Vernon in some 混乱, “he might—”
“I understand,” said Mrs. Bedge 静かに; “I know that you are Nemo. Poor ツバメ 明らかにする／漏らすd your 私的な 商売／仕事 when he 示唆するd that he should 協議する you about The Spider’s 試みる／企てる to ゆすり，恐喝 me. But you can be perfectly 満足させるd. I shall not betray your secret, having,” she smiled faintly, “one of my own.”
He looked at her inquiringly. “I don’t understand.”
“I 言及する to the 告訴，告発 The Spider brought against me,” went on Mrs. Bedge, her 注目する，もくろむs glittering feverishly and her breath coming and going in gasps. “Oh, it was shameful that a man should dare to 告発する／非難する me of immorality—yes, there is no need for us to mince words, Mr. Vernon—of immorality. Why, the only man I ever loved was ツバメ himself. Then he went to India and I was worried by my family into marrying Mr. Bedge; my sister married his partner, Constantine Mavrocordato.”
“Maunders, I understood the 指名する was.”
“That was the English 指名する he took, and that is why his son—my 可決する・採択するd boy, but really my 甥—comes to be called so. I never liked Mavrocordato, and to think that this Spider should 告発する／非難する me—me—” She clenched her thin 手渡す and all the primness fled. She was no longer a 正確な old lady of a 正確な 時代, but an angry and 侮辱d woman. “If I could find this man, Mr. Vernon, I should strike him across the lips. I 勧めるd Constantine to 追跡（する） him 負かす／撃墜する, both to 伸び（る） the 感謝 of Ida by punishing the 殺害者 of her father and because I wish The Spider to be punished for the 侮辱 he put upon me. Should you find him, Mr. Vernon, don’t spare him.”
“I can 約束 you that,” said Vernon very grimly, for the おとりing still rankled in his breast. “Still, as yet we can find out nothing about him. If he ゆすり，恐喝s you again, let me know. Then we can arrange a 罠（にかける）.”
“So that I may be 殺人d like poor ツバメ. No, thank you.”
“I’ll see that such a thing doesn’t occur a second time. But I fancy you can 始める，決める your mind at 残り／休憩（する）, Mrs. Bedge. The Spider is too much 手配中の，お尋ね者 for him to continue his little games: the 危険 is too 広大な／多数の／重要な. I daresay he’ll turn his attention to America or to the 植民地s.”
Mrs. Bedge followed him to the door. “Then you think that he has left England?” she 問い合わせd 熱望して.
“I don’t think so; I think—井戸／弁護士席, I scarcely know what to think. Leave things as they are, Mrs. Bedge, and sooner or later I hope to 逮捕（する） the rascal. Now I must leave you.”
“Will you see Ida and 示唆する my 計画／陰謀 to be her companion?”
“I don’t know her 井戸／弁護士席 enough to 示唆する it bluntly. But I shall see her some day and hint at your idea.”
“And please keep your 注目する，もくろむ on Constantine. I 恐れる he is 廃虚ing his health with society.”
“I see very little of Constantine, Mrs. Bedge, and I 恐れる he would not take any 井戸／弁護士席-meant advice I might 申し込む／申し出 him.”
Finally he got away from the prim house, although Mrs. Bedge was anxious to keep him in conversation. When on the ヒース／荒れ地, breathing the 広範囲にわたって-blown 空気／公表する, he drew a long breath to refresh his 肺s. He did not wonder that Maunders remained as little as possible in that tomb, for it was nothing else. To a 楽しみ-loving, lively young man, accustomed to be petted by pretty women and welcomed by monied men, the society of his aunt and the atmosphere of her stuffy house would 自然に be abhorrent. And Constantine was not the individual likely to 否定する himself a merry life for the sake of …に出席するing on the woman to whom he 借りがあるd so much. He had 絶対 no idea of the meaning of the word “感謝.” Most people—and Maunders was one of them—do not know that there is such a word in the dictionaries.
Walking along musingly, Vernon remembered how Dimsdale had spoken of Emily Bedge, and how he also had 明言する／公表するd, as she had done, that they were in love when young. Now Dimsdale was dead, and the girl he had so admired was a faded old woman, 心にいだくing a foolish affection for one who would never return the same, and who had no 意向 of returning it. Considering the lonely life and sad history and dismal 現在の position of Mrs. Bedge, the young man began to think that, after all, it would be a charity to 説得する Ida Dimsdale to take her as a companion. In the society of the girl Mrs. Bedge might grow youthful again. Of course, her presence might be dangerous, as she would certainly do her best to 説得する Ida into marrying Constantine, and assuredly the infatuation of Ida might 生き返らせる. Vernon wondered how it had died away, and what 原因（となる）s had been at work to make Ida regard with 無関心／冷淡 the handsome 直面する of the scamp. From the hint given by Mrs. Bedge, he began to believe that this was the work of 行方不明になる Hest. If so, it was no wonder that the old woman spoke ill of her. Of course, Mrs. Bedge was biassed, for Vernon himself believed フランs Hest to be a clever, 有能な woman, who was likely to 証明する a tower of strength to Ida, since the girl’s character, although 甘い, was not 特に 会社／堅い. But then there was always the chance that 行方不明になる Hest might become a tyrant.
Thinking in this way, Vernon suddenly つまずくd against a man coming from the opposite direction, also 深い in thought. They looked up with a 相互の 陳謝 and both burst out laughing. The newcomer was 陸軍大佐 Towton, and he explained himself as they shook 手渡すs.
“I have just been to see 行方不明になる Dimsdale,” said the 陸軍大佐 crisply, “and she gave me so much to think about that I was in a brown 熟考する／考慮する.”
“And I have come from Mrs. Bedge, who also made me think,” 観察するd Vernon with a smile, “hence I ran into you. Where are you going, 陸軍大佐?”
“支援する to town,” said the 軍の man 敏速に, “but I am walking. I always walk as much as possible in London for the sake of necessary 演習. Perhaps you would rather 運動?”
“No. I prefer to walk. I am glad to have met you, Towton, as I wished to speak with you 個人として.”
“Curious,” said the 陸軍大佐, screwing his glass into his 注目する，もくろむ. “I had you in my mind when I ran into you. Let us walk 負かす／撃墜する the hill and talk: there is more privacy in the open 空気／公表する than anywhere else. 井戸／弁護士席?”
“井戸／弁護士席,” echoed Vernon, as they turned their 直面するs に向かって London, “what do you wish to say?”
“I’ll come to the point circuitously,” retorted the 陸軍大佐 smartly. “So you have been to see Mrs. Bedge? Poor old Dimsdale told me about her. My 競争相手’s aunt, I believe?”
“Yes. A quaint old lady of the Albert period.”
Towton shuddered. “I know the style, Vernon. Stiff and prudish and dowdy. H’m! rather a contrast to our young friend. He’s devilish handsome and infernally modern. I suppose the old lady gives him plenty of money: he always seems to be in the 最前部 of things. Yet I don’t like him somehow: his 発言する／表明する doesn’t （犯罪の）一味 true; but there, perhaps I am prejudiced, since he 法廷，裁判所s 行方不明になる Dimsdale. I’m a man, and not a saint, so I feel jealous.”
“You have no need to be, 陸軍大佐.”
“Eh! what?” The 陸軍大佐 stopped 突然の and his 注目する，もくろむs sparkled. “Do you mean to say that he has 中止するd to 法廷，裁判所 行方不明になる Dimsdale? 井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席,” he went on, without waiting for a reply, “I shouldn’t wonder. I might have guessed as much, for three or four times I have been to the Corsoons, and Maunders was always there, making furious love to that pretty Lucy of theirs. You had better look after her, if you ーするつもりである to make her your wife, Vernon.”
“Lady Corsoon always receives me so coldly, that I scarcely dare call,” 自白するd the young man dismally. “I daresay Maunders has put a spoke in my wheel in that ４半期/4分の1.”
“Yes; but, hang it, he can’t mean to marry both girls?”
“You forget what I hinted just now, Towton. Mrs. Bedge 保証するd me, and with 広大な／多数の／重要な grief, as she wants the marriage to take place, that 行方不明になる Dimsdale has 中止するd to care for her 甥.”
Only 軍の self-支配（する）／統制する 妨げるd the 陸軍大佐 from throwing his tall hat in the 空気／公表する. “I thought she was kinder to me to-day,” he said jubilantly, “and she never について言及するd Maunders’ 指名する, now I think of it. Do you believe that I have a chance, Vernon?”
“A better one than ever you had,” replied Vernon heartily, “and you may be sure I shall endeavour to 援助（する） you in every way. But, by the way, how is 行方不明になる Dimsdale? I have seen her only once since the burial of her father, and, of course, then she was 打ち勝つ with grief.”
Towton thought for a moment before replying. “To tell you the truth, Vernon, I don’t think that dark-browed young woman is a good companion for her in any way.”
“Why not?” Vernon was rather struck that Mrs. Bedge and the 陸軍大佐 should unknowingly agree on this point. “She is clever?”
“Oh, I daresay, and, if you ask me, a sight too clever,” 不平（をいう）d the 陸軍大佐, shouldering his thin umbrella like a gun. “Ida—井戸／弁護士席, I can call her Ida to you, since we have become so friendly—Ida is a charming girl, but not strong-minded. I shouldn’t 捜し出す her for my wife if she were, as I hate masterful women. 行方不明になる Hest is of that sort, and she seems to have too much 支配（する）／統制する over Ida. In fact—I may be wrong, and I wouldn’t say this to anyone but yourself—but it’s a 肉親，親類d of hypnotism.”
“H’m. Do you remember what the Concini woman said about her supposed magical 影響（力） over Marie de Medici: that she only used the 影響（力） of a strong mind over a weak one?”
“Oh, I don’t think Ida is weak-minded,” said the 陸軍大佐 あわてて; “she is a 甘い, loving, delightful girl, who would make any man happy. But 行方不明になる Hest is what I call a cat: yes, an amiable cat, so long as things go to her liking, but I’m sure she could show her claws if necessary.”
“Does she support Maunders?”
“She supports no one but herself. It seems to me that she finds that the reciting doesn’t 支払う／賃金, and so hopes to become Ida’s companion for life. If Ida married she’d be nowhere. I fancy for that 推論する／理由 she wishes to keep Ida 選び出す／独身, and so doesn’t countenance either Maunders or myself.”
Vernon mused. He remembered how he had fancied that 行方不明になる Hest might have been the person to 土台を崩す Maunders’ chances. Now Towton was 説 the same thing. However, he said nothing, while the 陸軍大佐, walking and talking vigorously, continued his speech.
“Besides,” said Towton, “there’s a queer 緊張する in the family. Gerby Hall, where the brother lives, is three miles from my place. Brother and sister are twins and 正確に／まさに like one another, but they don’t 攻撃する，衝突する it off together. Gerby Hall is supposed to be haunted, and people think the Hests to be mad, or queer, or—the ジュース knows what.”
“フランs Hest doesn’t seem to be mad,” said Vernon drily.
“井戸／弁護士席, I don’t know. Her 長，率いる seems to be screwed on all 権利, but she believes in occultism and all that sort of thing. Her 影響（力） is unhealthy, for she induced Ida to go to Diabella, who—”
Vernon nodded. “I know. Diabella is a fortune-teller in 社債 Street and is supposed to be very clever. What did she tell 行方不明になる Dimsdale?”
“Ah, that I couldn’t find out. But it made her ill; gave her a 頭痛 or something. Ida said very little; seemed averse to speaking about her visit, and 行方不明になる Hest 供給（する）d all the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）. She was 十分な of the wonderful things which Diabella had told Ida.”
“What wonderful things?”
“I can’t say. I told you that Ida 辞退するd to speak about the 事柄. But I ーするつもりである to find out something about this Diabella, and therefore I am going to call on her. I have an 任命 in three days.”
“She’ll tell you nothing about 行方不明になる Dimsdale.”
“Of course not. But I shall be able to see what 肉親，親類d of a woman she is. I don’t want Ida to get under another bad 影響（力）. That of 行方不明になる Hest is やめる enough. I am clever enough to read this Diabella’s character, and if possible, I shall try and 妨げる Ida from seeing her again.”
“It’s just 同様に. Tell me what you hear from this fortune-teller.”
Towton shrugged his shoulders. “Oh, it will be the same old rubbish about love and money and marriage. I don’t believe in these mercenary occult people myself, although I have every 約束 in the 本物の sort I have met with in India. Now, one of those, Vernon, would soon 位置／汚点／見つけ出す this damned Spider.”
“Why not ask Diabella?”
“I shall do so. Gad! it’s an idea. But, then, I don’t think occultists who take money are the real truth-tellers. However, it can do no 害（を与える） asking her, so I shall do so. By the way, Vernon, have you heard if the police have つまずくd on the 跡をつける of that rogue?”
“Not yet. Drench tells me that nothing has been discovered. I am trying to 追跡（する） him 負かす／撃墜する myself.”
“You? Pooh! Pooh! Pooh!” said Towton good-humouredly. “Why, it needs a trained man to do that. The Spider is as clever as the devil, hang him. To think that I was at the ball, and in the next room, when our poor old friend was 存在-strangled by that beast. I tell you what, sir, the strangling put me in mind of the 凶漢s.”
“What do you mean?” asked Vernon quickly.
“It’s only an idea. But this Spider strangled the old man so cleverly and so 静かに that I wondered if he was some nigger who had known Dimsdale in India or Burmah and so had learned his secret, whatever it might be.”
“It’s a queer way of looking at it,” murmured Vernon thoughtfully, “and Dimsdale’s secret has to do with the East, I fancy. There may be something in what you say. I’ll think it over.”
“Do,” said Towton cordially, “and I’ll come to your rooms to 報告（する）／憶測 on my 提案するd interview with this 社債 Street Witch of Endor.”
On this understanding they parted, having had a most 利益／興味ing conversation on important 支配するs.
“There may be something in Towton’s idea,” thought Vernon.
Since the 悲劇の death of Dimsdale, Vernon had seen very little of Maunders. Certainly—since even London is parochial in bringing the same people in the same 始める，決める 絶えず together—he had met him casually at the houses of 相互の 知識s, but beyond a few careless words, nothing had passed between them. It seemed as though Maunders, after deciding to leave the 共同 with Nemo in （一時的）停止, had drifted knowingly apart from his old schoolfellow. Vernon did not care much, as he 不信d a man who was willing to sacrifice everything and everyone to his greed for 楽しみ.
Maunders reminded Vernon in many ways of Lucien de Rubempré in “Lost Illusions.” Egotism was the 基本方針 of the real person as of the fictitious; but where Balzac’s hero drifted weakly with the tide, Maunders struck out against it for a 上陸 of his own choosing. As Lucien was drawn, handsome, clever, and unscrupulous, so was Maunders in actual life, and an insatiable love of 楽しみ was ありふれた to both. Overindulgence might 井戸／弁護士席 難破させる Mrs. Bedge’s darling, as it had 難破させるd the lover of Madame de Bargeton.
It was the conversation with 陸軍大佐 Towton which sent Vernon in 追求（する），探索（する） of the man whom he would さもなければ have 避けるd like 毒（薬）. He wished to learn 明確に the 態度 of Maunders with regard to the two ladies he was so audaciously 支持を得ようと努めるing. Much as the man loved Lucy Corsoon—and Maunders’ love in this ４半期/4分の1 really seemed to be the most honest part of him—he loved himself more; and it seemed incredible to Vernon that so egotistic a person would 危険 losing the world of 楽しみ for a 本物の passion. Sir Julius Corsoon was 豊富な and Lucy was an heiress, but if she married Maunders, who was no favourite with the baronet, her father would probably 削減（する） her off with the proverbial shilling. It really seemed wiser for Maunders to stick to Ida and the ten thousand a year of which she was 単独の mistress. But then, if Ida had truly 打ち勝つ her infatuation, Maunders had little chance of success in that ４半期/4分の1. A 願望（する） to learn the true 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s brought Vernon to Maunders’ 議会s in 惑星 Street, Piccadilly, at eleven o’clock in the morning, two or three days after that enlightening conversation with 陸軍大佐 Towton.
Vernon 自然に 推定する／予想するd to find the sybarite housed like Solomon-in-all-his-glory, and he was not disappointed. The rooms were beautifully decorated and sumptuously furnished. No expense had been spared to make them worthy of this fastidious young gentleman, who was only content with the very best which civilisation could afford. He received his friend in a delightful Pompadour apartment, airy and 有望な, and gracefully frivolous. 解任するing the sombre, shabby house at Hampstead, and Mrs. Bedge’s 発覚s regarding a 減らすing income which made her anxious to 捜し出す at her age the 地位，任命する of a paid companion, Vernon could not think how Maunders managed to 供給する himself with such gorgeous surroundings. He had no settled income, and, like the lilies of the field, he neither toiled nor spun. But he welcomed Vernon in a maroon-coloured velvet smoking-控訴 which must have cost a かなりの sum in 社債 Street, and asked him to partake of a delightfully tempting breakfast, 始める，決める out with all the delicacies of the season.
“Though, I daresay,” said the handsome scamp in his languid, insolent manner, “that you breakfasted at cock-crow. You were always 積極性 virtuous.”
“I certainly have been up some hours,” replied Vernon coldly. “While you eat I can smoke, with your 許可.” He sat 負かす／撃墜する and lighted a cigarette carefully. “I have called to see you—”
“An 予期しない 楽しみ,” murmured Maunders, 注ぐing himself out a second cup of coffee. “Yes?”
“To ask you if you are engaged to 行方不明になる Dimsdale,” finished Vernon pointedly.
“Perhaps I am.”
“In that 事例／患者 you will have given up all 追跡 of 行方不明になる Corsoon?”
“Perhaps I have.”
“Oh, hang your 回避s. What do you mean?”
“I don’t recognise your 権利 to ask me questions about my 事件／事情／状勢s.”
“They are 地雷 also, confound you,” snapped Vernon energetically. “I love 行方不明になる Corsoon, and if you would leave her alone she would probably 受託する me.”
“What good would that do?” asked Maunders lightly; “Her mother wouldn’t.”
“Would Lady Corsoon 受託する you? After all, you have nothing but your good looks to 申し込む／申し出 the girl.”
“Ah, but the girl has a fortune to 申し込む／申し出 me.”
“You aren’t 価値（がある） it. And let me remind you that however much 行方不明になる Corsoon may be taken up with your looks, her mother will certainly disapprove of the match.”
Maunders shrugged his shoulders. “You can’t be sure of that.”
“I am sure of one thing, that Sir Julius will 削減（する） his daughter off with a shilling if she marries you.”
“Now that’s very clever of you, my dear boy,” said Maunders gracefully, “for Sir Julius is the つまずくing-封鎖する. He’s a purse with a gaping mouth, which goes about on two 脚s, and has no sympathy with romance.”
“Romance! Why, you don’t know what it means,” said Vernon scornfully. “You want to marry money, and either 行方不明になる Corsoon or 行方不明になる Dimsdale will serve your turn. The last is in 所有／入手 of her money, 反して the first may not 相続する her 推定する／予想するd fortune, which will certainly be taken away from her if she marries you. Why not stick to 行方不明になる Dimsdale?”
Maunders rose and went to the window. “Because I really love 行方不明になる Corsoon, much as you may 疑問 it,” he said impetuously. “I have a heart—”
“Which is for sale to the highest 入札者. See here, Conny—”
“Conny?” Maunders 解除するd his eyebrows. “I thought you 閉めだした pet 指名するs?”
“I am 控訴，上告ing, not to the man-of-the-world, but to my old schoolfellow, if you put it in that way. See here, I love Lucy Corsoon, and, if you would only （疑いを）晴らす out of the gangway, she would really love me. She does—I have seen it in many ways.”
“Bosh! If she really loved you she wouldn’t listen to me.”
“I don’t know. You have good looks and a 肉親，親類d of 磁石の 力／強力にする which 影響（力）s women against their will: hard women of the world, too, much いっそう少なく an innocent girl such as Lucy is. It’s a 広大な／多数の／重要な 力／強力にする to have, and you make bad use of it.”
“Just because I happen to cross your 跡をつける. Thanks.”
“Oh, hang your dodging. I （機の）カム here to receive a plain answer to a plain question. Are you going to marry 行方不明になる Corsoon or 行方不明になる Dimsdale?”
“I 港／避難所’t made up my mind.”
“You would if 行方不明になる Dimsdale would listen to you,” snarled Vernon.
“If I asked her to be my wife she would 受託する at once,” retorted Maunders.
“No, she wouldn’t. Your aunt told me that she had lost all love for you since the death of her father.”
Maunders’ 直面する grew 黒人／ボイコット. “I wish the old lady would keep her ideas to herself,” he said 怒って, “for it is an idea and nothing more. 自然に, as her father （機の）カム by his death in so terrible a manner, Ida is grieved and can’t think eternally of me. All the same, she loves me.”
“I 疑問 that.”
“On what grounds?”
“On what Mrs. Bedge said.”
“Pooh! Pooh! Pooh! What does my aunt know about it?” said Maunders lightly and with superb insolence. “She’s a dear old thing, but several centuries behind the age. Ida is 地雷 if I choose to have her, and I would have her if my silly heart did not stand in the way.”
Vernon jumped up in a 王室の 激怒（する）. “I forbid you to make 誤った love to 行方不明になる Corsoon. I love her and she loves me, and it is only your infernally 磁石の personality that draws her heart away from me. If you meant 井戸／弁護士席 by her, and I thought she would be happy, I would 身を引く; but you only mean to marry her for her money, which she may never get.”
“I love her, I tell you; I love her,” said Maunders as violently as Vernon had spoken, “and money or no money I shall marry her if I choose. You have no chance. Lady Corsoon hates you.”
“I don’t believe it. She shows 調印するs of 産する／生じるing, and has asked me to go to tea at her house this afternoon. If she hated me she would not ask me in so friendly a way.”
An almost imperceptible smile passed over the 十分な lips of Maunders, and he shrugged his shoulders. “Go to her house by all means and hear what she has to say,” he sneered. “I’ll 危険 your visit.”
Vernon was baffled by all this 盗品故買者ing and 回避. The man would neither say “yea” nor “nay,” and it was impossible to tell what he ーするつもりであるd to do. “If you will leave the field （疑いを）晴らす for me with 行方不明になる Corsoon I will take you into 共同,” he said at last, entreatingly.
“I am not sure if I wish to be taken in,” retorted Maunders contemptuously; “it is not a respectable 商売／仕事.”
“You are a liar! My 商売／仕事 is perfectly respectable, and I earn my money honestly.” Vernon caught up his hat and looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the elegant room. “I 疑問 if you can say the same.”
“What do you mean by that?” 需要・要求するd Maunders furiously.
“I mean that you 港／避難所’t a sixpence, that your aunt can’t 許す you much, and that you are living far beyond your means. Where do you get the money?”
“That’s my 商売／仕事,” said Maunders coolly, “and my aunt is 豊富な.”
“So 豊富な that she 願望（する）s the 地位，任命する of a paid companion to 行方不明になる Dimsdale,” sneered Vernon, making for the door. “She told me so herself, although I’m bound to say that she 願望（する）s to その上の your 利益／興味s by inducing 行方不明になる Dimsdale to love you again.”
“I can manage all that for myself,” said Maunders decisively; “my aunt has no 商売／仕事 to 干渉する with my 事件／事情／状勢s.”
“She brought you up, and—”
“And I am to be her slave for the 残り／休憩（する） of my life. Nonsense! All that filial feeling is out of date,” said Maunders lightly. “However, I shall tell my aunt what I think of her talking to you in this way. As to the 残り／休憩（する） of it, you keep out of my way, Vernon, or it will be the worse for you.”
“Ah!” Vernon 直面するd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at the door. “Now you speak 明確に. Is it to be peace or war between us?”
“War,” snapped Maunders. “You can’t 傷つける me and—”
“War let it be,” interrupted Vernon, 開始 the door. “Good-day,” and he walked out smartly, leaving his friend, or, rather, his enemy, now that war had been 宣言するd, rather surprised by his abrupt 出発. But when the door の近くにd Maunders’ 直面する grew 黒人／ボイコット and his brow wrinkled.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have driven Arty to such a 宣言,” murmured the young man thoughtfully. “He’s a fool, but a clever fool. After all, although I love Lucy it will be better for me to marry Ida since she has the money. I wonder how Aunt Emily 設立する out about Ida’s change に向かって me? It can’t last, however, if I only take trouble to see her often enough. It’s Lucy who 持つ／拘留するs me 支援する. I’m a fool, as I know that Lucy doesn’t care for me as she does for Arty. I wish I hadn’t fought him now; but he can’t 害（を与える） me, he can’t.” Maunders ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the luxurious room. “He shan’t. There’s too much to lose. Damn him, I’ll fight him and （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 him. There!”
While Maunders was coming to this 結論 Vernon was walking 速く along Piccadilly, in the direction of Covent Garden, as he ーするつもりであるd to go to the office wherein he carried on 商売／仕事 as Nemo. Now that Maunders had 率直に 宣言するd himself as an enemy the 状況／情勢 was somewhat adjusted, and Vernon felt that he could を取り引きする it. He made up his mind to 取り組む Lady Corsoon that very day and ask if he might be permitted to 支払う／賃金 attentions to Lucy. Then in an interview with the girl herself he might manage to 小衝突 aside this 半分-hypnotic 影響（力） which Maunders’ fascinating personality seemed to 演習 over her. If he could only get the mother on his 味方する all would be 井戸／弁護士席. Lady Corsoon did not know that he was Nemo, which was just 同様に; but she did not know also that he had 期待s from a bachelor uncle who could leave him a 肩書を与える and a fortune of three thousand a year. If this were 始める，決める before her she might be induced to welcome him as a suitor, although both Sir Julius and Lady Corsoon were said to 願望（する） nothing いっそう少なく than a duke for their only child. But if this was the 事例／患者, Vernon wondered why the lady 許容するd Maunders, who was poor and without position. However, when he called that afternoon he might be able to learn the 推論する／理由. At all events, his 期待s, against Maunders’ mere good looks, would probably carry the day.
At the office a surprise を待つd him. His clerk, a 乾燥した，日照りの-as-dust, lean old fellow, as silent and wise-looking as an フクロウ, met him in the outer room with a mysterious 直面する and 知らせるd him that a lady had been waiting an hour for the 外見 of Nemo. She had 辞退するd to give any 指名する, and had 宣言するd her 意向 of remaining until she saw the 探偵，刑事. Vernon, in his 商売／仕事 capacity, was used to people who （機の）カム and went without giving 指名するs, as their 商売／仕事 was 一般に shady, so he did not 支払う／賃金 much attention to the 事柄. Hanging up his coat and hat and laying aside his gloves and 茎, he passed into the inner room. Then he received the surprise aforesaid. His （弁護士の）依頼人 was 非，不，無 other than Lady Corsoon herself.
She arose, perfectly self-所有するd, and did not appear to be surprised to see the young man. “How are you, Mr. Vernon?” she asked, 持つ／拘留するing out a gracious 手渡す, “or perhaps I should call you Nemo here—Mr. Nemo.”
Vernon, violently red and inwardly 大いに upset by this 承認, 受託するd the gloved 手渡す timidly. “How did you find out that I—”
“Oh, your enemy told me,” finished Lady Corsoon, sitting 負かす／撃墜する.
“My enemy?” stammered the unfortunate man nervously.
“Mr. Constantine Maunders, who—”
Vernon interrupted her and struck a hard blow on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. His 注目する，もくろむs flashed 危険に. “Then, in spite of his 約束, he told you what I so much 願望（する）d to keep secret?”
“Yes,” said Lady Corsoon drily. “It was his 願望（する） to put me against you, so that he could philander with my daughter. But his 発射 failed to 攻撃する，衝突する the 示す. I was delighted to hear that you were Nemo; I have heard something of Nemo’s doings and cleverness, and so the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） brought me here, as you see.”
“To forbid me your house?”
“I asked you to afternoon tea to-day, and that 招待 was 問題／発行するd after your enemy betrayed you. Sit 負かす／撃墜する, Mr. Nemo, and become 商売／仕事-like. We have much to talk about.”
かなり surprised by this 態度, Vernon sank into his 議長，司会を務める before the desk and 星／主役にするd at Lady Corsoon in the 薄暗い light which filtered through the dingy window of the room. She was 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） looking at, in spite of her age, as her dress was perfect and her looks still 陳列する，発揮するd the remains of かなりの beauty. She was somewhat stout, it is true, but her complexion—whether 予定 to art or nature—was that of a young girl, and her sparkling brown 注目する，もくろむs 明らかにする／漏らすd an intellect of no mean order. A clever woman was Lady Corsoon, within 制限s, and she would have been even more a 力／強力にする in the 流行の／上流の world than she was had she not been so 支配するd by the powerful personality of her husband. Sir Julius was of long 降下／家系, but in his 青年 of 廃虚d fortunes, 借りがあるing to a spendthrift father. 存在 an inborn financier, however, he had built up an Aladdin’s palace of gold on the 廃虚s, and was 極端に 豊富な. Yet he had the heart of a miser, and 許すd his wife and daughter only 十分な to keep up their position with care and difficulty. This mean behaviour explains the 推論する／理由 of Lady Corsoon’s visit to Vernon in his avatar of Nemo, as he speedily understood. But as yet he had not 打ち勝つ his surprise at thus finding his mask torn off.
“Come! Come!” said Lady Corsoon, （電話線からの）盗聴 his arm with her sunshade. “I have come to see a 商売／仕事 man and not a dreamer. Wake up, Mr. Nemo.”
Vernon winced on 審理，公聴会 her pronounce his 貿易（する） 指名する. “I am at your service,” he said in a low 発言する／表明する.
“And in my 手渡すs,” 再結合させるd Lady Corsoon briskly. “What would the world say if it knew that Arthur Vernon was a 私的な 調査 スパイ／執行官, making his money out of people’s secrets?”
“You take me for The Spider, 明らかに,” said Vernon with spirit, and anxious, through pride, to repel the 嫌悪すべき 告訴，告発. “I make money by helping people to keep their secrets, not by betraying them. I am on the 味方する of the 法律, not of the 犯罪の. Upon my word, I can’t see that a man who carries on an honest 商売／仕事 to 保存する secrets and to save unfortunate people from ゆすり，恐喝 is worse than—if indeed as bad as—a City rogue who 貿易（する）s unscrupulously on people’s 証拠不十分 for 賭事ing.”
Lady Corsoon changed colour at the last words, and evidently was about to make a 発言／述べる thereon. However, she checked herself はっきりと and replied with feigned carelessness, “Very 井戸／弁護士席 argued, Mr. Vernon. But people are prejudiced against those who 捜し出す to know secrets.”
“Because everyone has a turned-負かす／撃墜する page in his or her 調書をとる／予約する of Life,” cried the young man. “I—in my 商売／仕事—妨げる that page 存在 read by those who wish to be paid for the reading. I don’t want my 商売／仕事 known, but I am not ashamed of it.”
“Why did you take it up?
“Because my father lost all his money, and I had scarcely enough to live upon,” retorted the young man quickly and proudly.
“You have 期待s?”
Vernon started. “How do you know that?” he 需要・要求するd はっきりと.
Lady Corsoon tapped his arm again. “In my own way I have been doing a little 探偵，刑事 商売／仕事. You were so 執拗な in に引き続いて Lucy from house to house, and so decidedly 辞退するd to receive my ‘No’ for her answer, that I made 調査s to see why you could have the courage to 申し込む／申し出 a young girl a 廃虚d fortune. I learned, indeed, that you were 廃虚d by your father, but I learned also that Sir Edward Vernon, of Slimthorp, in Worcestershire, is your uncle. He has a good income and no wife and is eighty years of age. The chances are that you will 後継する him.”
“He cannot keep me out of the 肩書を与える,” said Vernon 激しく, “but you should have 伸び（る）d more （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, Lady Corsoon. My uncle hated my father because my father married the woman he loved, and he hates me because I am the son of that woman. I do not hope to 相続する the money, and what is a 肩書を与える without money? I did not explain what you have discovered, else I should have done so, since it seemed useless to put 今後 all that as a 嘆願 for an 約束／交戦 to your daughter.”
“My dear man, a 肩書を与える is better than nothing. You are too modest. Besides, Lucy will have plenty of money.”
“I know, if she marries as you and her father wish. But I hear,” Vernon smiled 激しく, “that you want a duke.”
“I want an honest man, upon whom I can depend,” said Lady Corsoon with energy, “and for that 推論する／理由 I have come to see you.”
“In spite of the fact that I am Nemo?”
“For the very 推論する／理由 that you are Nemo,” she retorted with a 雷 ちらりと見ること. “My dear boy, Mr. Maunders thought to do you a bad turn by telling me of your secret 商売／仕事, and thought that I would certainly forbid you my house and finally end your dangling after my daughter. As it is, he has done you a good turn, as you are the man I want.”
“For Lucy?”
“And for myself. If you can carry out 安全に the 商売／仕事 I have come to see you about I shall encourage your 演説（する）／住所s to Lucy, and, so far as I can 影響（力） so アイロンをかける-natured a man, I shall 勝利，勝つ Sir Julius to your 味方する. Come, is it a 取引?”
“Oh,” Vernon caught her 手渡す joyfully, “of course it is; I never dreamed of such happiness. But now I know why Maunders smiled when I told him that I was 予定 at your house this afternoon.”
“When did you see him?”
“すぐに before I （機の）カム here. I went to ask whether he wished to marry 行方不明になる Corsoon or 行方不明になる Dimsdale, but he 辞退するd to say. But he smiled—ah! he thought that, having told you I was Nemo, you ーするつもりであるd to 解任する me for ever from your house when I called this afternoon.”
“I daresay, but he will learn that instead of enemies we are friends, and that instead of his marrying Lucy, you shall. It is just 同様に,” 追加するd Lady Corsoon 静かに, “as she loves you, although she is more or いっそう少なく fascinated by that—that—that gentleman, shall we say?”
“But you are fascinated yourself, Lady Corsoon, else you would scarcely have 許容するd a penniless man dangling after your daughter.”
“I 許容するd it, as you say, because Mr. Maunders knows my secret.”
“Your secret?” In a flash Vernon 解任するd the conversation with the young man under the peristyle, in which Maunders had hinted that he knew something which would enable him to manage Lady Corsoon.
“What is your secret?”
“I have come to tell you, so don’t interrupt until I have finished,” said Lady Corsoon coolly. “I come to you because I know in a hundred ways that you are, what Mr. Maunders is not, an honest gentleman, and also the 私立探偵 that I need. I have one 広大な／多数の／重要な 副／悪徳行為, Mr. Vernon, I am a gambler, and for the last two years I have lost a heap of money at 橋（渡しをする）. To 支払う／賃金 my 負債s, since Sir Julius kept me always very short of money, I pawned 確かな family jewels. If Sir Julius finds that out he is 有能な of 原因（となる）ing a スキャンダル by 軍隊ing a 分離. For Lucy’s sake, 同様に as for my own, I don’t want such a thing to take place.”
“But how can he find out?”
Lady Corsoon fished in a green and gold 捕らえる、獲得する which was slung on her arm and produced an elegant sheet of 令状ing paper. “Read that,” she said 静かに.
Vernon started, and 抑えるd a cry. At the foot of the 令状ing he saw a purple spider impressed 明確に—the 井戸／弁護士席-known 調印する 手動式の of the scoundrel who had 殺人d Mr. Dimsdale. ちらりと見ることing his 注目する，もくろむs over the pages, he read that The Spider had learned about the pawning of 確かな family jewels and, moreover, had managed, by (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むd tickets, to get the same into his 所有／入手. He was willing to sell them 支援する for two thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, to be paid in gold on a 確かな date and at a 確かな place, to be arranged when he received Lady Corsoon’s reply. The reply was to be put in the agony column of the Daily Telegraph, when その上の 手はず／準備 would be made for the 支払い（額） of the sum and the 手渡すing over of the jewels. Failing 同意, The Spider ーするつもりであるd to 適用する to Sir Julius and to 明らかにする／漏らす Lady Corsoon’s 賭事ing propensities. The whole of this precious epistle, written very elegantly, ended with the ideograph of the purple spider.
“What do you think of it?” asked Lady Corsoon when Vernon finished reading.
“What can I think of it, but that the man is a blackguard. You want me to を取り引きする this?”
“Yes. I can’t 支払う／賃金 the two thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, as I have not got it. My husband keeps me very short. You see that I am candid; but then I 信用 you, as I 疑問 Mr. Maunders.”
“Why do you 疑問 him?” asked Vernon suddenly.
“Because he followed me one day to a pawnshop and learned my secret. Not in so many words, but by unmistakable hints he gave me to understand that my open house to him and my encouraging of his love for Lucy was the price of his silence. Things have gone from bad to worse, and I feel that I am under his thumb, until the jewels are got 支援する again and all proof of my madness is destroyed. I am keeping a 勇敢に立ち向かう 直面する, Mr. Vernon, but I am truly in despair. Sir Julius is a hard man, and the 発覚 of what I have done means 不名誉. My husband will not spare me.”
“For his daughter’s sake?”
“No. He would 除去する Lucy from my care and cast me off with a small income to live on. He can’t get a 離婚, but he will 主張する upon a 分離, as I feel 確かな . You alone can save me, and, if you can, I agree to your marriage with my daughter. Oh,” she cried, struck by a strange look in Vernon’s 注目する，もくろむs, “don’t think I am selling Lucy to you. But she loves you, and now that I know you will some day have a 肩書を与える, the money doesn’t 事柄, as Sir Julius may be 説得するd into 受託するing you as his son-in-法律. At all events, if you will be my friend I shall be yours. Is it a 取引?”
“Yes,” said Vernon, gripping the 手渡す she held out; “for more 推論する／理由s than this one do I wish to 跡をつける this ゆすり，恐喝ing beast to his lair. Agree, by a line in the Daily Telegraph, to 支払う／賃金 the money in a month. That will give me time to turn 一連の会議、交渉／完成する.”
Lady Corsoon drew a long breath of 救済. “Thank God I （機の）カム to you. As for Mr. Maunders, I really believe—” She hesitated.
“What?” asked Vernon looking up quickly.
“That he is The Spider himself.”
Vernon was not the man to let the grass grow under his feet when there was anything to 伸び（る） by hurry. And in this 事例／患者 the happiness of his whole life was at 火刑／賭ける. The visit of Lady Corsoon to enlist him on her 味方する with the 賄賂 of supporting his 控訴 for her daughter was one of those 予期しない cards which 運命／宿命 取引，協定s us to 勝利，勝つ in the game of life. It was a veritable エース, with which Vernon hoped to trump Maunders’ trick. Hitherto the handsome scamp had had everything his own way. Now he was to find serious 障害s in his path. With Lucy’s love and her mother’s support, the course of true affection might run smoother. The father might be 伸び（る）d over by playing on his 直感的に dislike to Maunders and by the news, which Vernon had hitherto not thought 価値（がある） imparting, すなわち, that he had a chance of becoming a baronet.
Moreover, since war had been 宣言するd between the two schoolfellows, Maunders would undoubtedly make himself disagreeable in any 事例／患者. Already, 事実上の／代理 treacherously, he had 知らせるd Lady Corsoon of the way in which Vernon earned his money, and it was probable that now he would 知らせる others. Of course, the young man wished to 妨げる this, for, in spite of his defence of his profession, he was aware that the world does not look amiably on one who lives by learning the secrets of weak humanity, even when the 目的（とする） is to 保存する those same secrets from use by villains. But the difficulty was to 調印（する） Maunders’ mouth, as the moment he noticed—and he certainly would, speedily—that Vernon was favoured by Lady Corsoon, he would spread the スキャンダル with a zeal born of the knowledge that his empire was slipping from him. Also, he would 努力する／競う to 脅迫してさせる Lady Corsoon more 率直に, and it could not be 否定するd but what her position に向かって her 積極性 upright husband was a delicate one. Thus Maunders was the enemy both of Lady Corsoon and of Vernon: to 鎮圧する him they therefore formed a secret 共同. In this まとまり lay their strength.
The 武器 Vernon 提案するd to use に向かって his dangerous 敵 was that 供給（する）d by the chance 発言／述べる of Lady Corsoon that Maunders might be The Spider. When she 出発／死d with the 保証／確信 that there was nothing to be afraid of for at least one month, Vernon sat silently in his 議長，司会を務める, thinking over what had been said. After all, it did not seem impossible that Maunders should be this arch-scoundrel, for whom the police were so 熱望して 捜し出すing. To Vernon’s own knowledge, the young man did not receive large sums from Mrs. Bedge, and he had no other source of income. Yet, as Vernon had seen, he contrived to live like a prince on nothing a year. Perhaps, like the amiable and talented Mrs. Rawdon Crawley, he managed to keep up his princely 外見 by spending other people’s money—that is, by getting 深く，強烈に into 負債. But Vernon knew that Maunders did not 借りがある one penny.
He （機の）カム by the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） by having, at the request of the late Mr. Dimsdale, searched into Maunders’ 私的な life some months 以前. The old ex-police-commissioner, seeing that his daughter was infatuated with the young man, hoped to learn something to his discredit, and so asked Vernon—whom he knew already as Nemo—to make an examination. Of course, Vernon did not guess at the time that Mr. Dimsdale wished to find something to the discredit of an 望ましくない suitor, and 単に thought that the old man was anxious to learn if Maunders was a fit husband for his daughter. In fact, Vernon believed that he was doing his old schoolfellow a good turn in 調査（する）ing his life. He certainly learned that Maunders 借りがあるd nothing and always settled his 負債s scrupulously—推定では on money 許すd by Mrs. Bedge; so he 現在のd his 報告（する）／憶測 to Dimsdale with the 発言／述べる that Maunders, at all events, was an honest man. Now the 事例／患者 assumed a different 面 with Mrs. Bedge’s 自白 of poverty—a 自白 which was supported as true by her 苦悩 to become Ida’s paid companion. Since Maunders paid his 負債s and lived like a millionaire in embryo, how did he manage to fill his purse? Lady Corsoon had 供給するd a very reasonable reply to this serious question. He was The Spider.
“But, hang him, he’s not clever enough,” muttered Vernon, rising to pace the 狭くする 限定するs of his office at this point of his meditations. “He’s cunning and smart and observant and unscrupulous. But The Spider is a genius and manages his 事件／事情／状勢s in a far-seeing way, which does not 示唆する Maunders. Conny is shallow in many ways, and for the 現在の would sacrifice the 未来. No, The Spider never does that. He waits and 計画（する）s and arranges his 操作／手術s in such a way that he can never be 逮捕（する）d. No, feasible though it seems, I can’t see Constantine as that master-犯罪の.”
But again Vernon 反映するd that when the 罠（にかける） had been arranged between him and the dead man the window of the library had been open, and, as Mr. Dimsdale had について言及するd in his その後の letter, with wrath, Maunders had called at the moment. In fact, he had been 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner of the bungalow nearest to the library with the two ladies. Now, it was not impossible that in passing the library, light-footed as he was (and Maunders trod like a cat), he might have ぐずぐず残るd at the sound of 発言する／表明するs. Thus he might have 伸び（る）d the necessary knowledge of the 罠（にかける）, which he had afterwards 利用するd to inveigle Vernon to the West Kensington house. That is, 推定するing he was The Spider; and the 指名する of Lucy Corsoon used in the wire was the very 指名する which Maunders, knowing Vernon’s love for the girl, would 雇う. Finally, Maunders had been at the ball, and it would have been 平易な for him, masked and cloaked as he was, to steal into the library and commit the 罪，犯罪, afterwards mingling with the guests in all 明らかな innocence. On these grounds Vernon began to believe that Lady Corsoon might be 訂正する in her 仮定／引き受けること. But always there （機の）カム the 疑問 that Maunders was too shallow to be the arch-rogue. He was clever, but certainly not a genius, 反して The Spider was a Napoleon amongst the 犯罪の fraternity.
“In one way I can 証明する something,” said Vernon to himself. “If Maunders did enter the library he must have been absent from the ballroom for some time. I shall go to ‘Rangoon’ and ask questions without letting it be seen why I ask them. Then I can learn for 確かな about his movements on that night. Moreover, I can interview 行方不明になる Dimsdale and learn how she is 性質の／したい気がして に向かって the 陸軍大佐. Finally, I’ll see if he is 権利 in thinking that 行方不明になる Hest’s 影響（力） is harmful to her in any way.”
Having come to this 決定／判定勝ち（する）, he 修理d the 続いて起こるing day to Hampstead, fully 決定するd to 始める，決める his 疑問s at 残り／休憩（する）. A ちらりと見ること at the agony column of the Daily Telegraph had 保証するd him that Lady Corsoon had carried out his suggestion. Under the 初期の “X,” she asked for one month’s time to consider the 事柄 of “S.” This undoubtedly would be （許可，名誉などを）与えるd to her, as it was The Spider’s 政策 never to hurry his 犠牲者s. He robbed them in a most graceful and 平易な-going fashion, and so dexterously, that his 犠牲者s rather congratulated themselves that they had so honest a 犯罪の tradesman to を取り引きする. So Lady Corsoon’s secret was 安全な for a month. Before the 満期 of that period Vernon hoped to lay 手渡すs on the rogue who had baffled the police for so long. But in his heart he did not 推定する／予想する to find Maunders in the 支配する of the 法律.
At first Vernon was 辞退するd admittance by the butler, but on 主張するing and on sending in his card he was shown into the central hall. すぐに 行方不明になる Hest made her 外見 with a smiling but somewhat serious 直面する. She looked 極端に tall and handsome in a 黒人／ボイコット-browed way as she 前進するd に向かって the 訪問者.
“How are you, Mr. Vernon,” she said, shaking 手渡すs politely; “is your 商売／仕事 with 行方不明になる Dimsdale very important? She is not 井戸／弁護士席 to-day. I have just been bathing her forehead with eau-de-cologne.”
“Oh, I have just come to make an afternoon call,” replied Vernon easily. “I am sorry to hear that 行方不明になる Dimsdale is ill.”
フランs sighed. “She has never been the same since her poor father’s terrible death. She loved him as dearly as he loved her, you know, Mr. Vernon, so the shock was 広大な／多数の／重要な.”
“I やめる understand. Still, after two months’ more or いっそう少なく of 静かな she surely must be 回復するing. At her age one does not remember for ever.”
“No. At our age one has longer memories, Mr. Vernon. But it is 肉親，親類d of you to call. Ida likes you very much, 特に as you were such a friend of poor Mr. Dimsdale’s. I think you might come in for a ４半期/4分の1 of an hour.”
Vernon hesitated. “I don’t wish to 乱す Ida,” he said doubtfully, “if she wants to be 静かな.”
“Oh, she left the 決定／判定勝ち（する） to me when we got your card. I am 事実上の／代理 as a 肉親，親類d of nurse to the poor darling. Ida is just like my sister, you know.”
“But your professional 約束／交戦s?”
“They don’t 事柄. I have made a good 取引，協定 of money in one way and another, Mr. Vernon, you know. I can afford to take a 残り／休憩（する）. I want Ida to come 負かす／撃墜する to Bowderstyke with me and stop at the Hall.”
It flashed into Vernon’s 怪しげな mind that perhaps フランs wished Ida to 落ちる in love with her brother. Ten thousand a year would be very 許容できる to Mr. Hest, if 陸軍大佐 Towton’s story was to be believed. によれば him the brother was not a millionaire, and what money he had he spent lavishly in helping the parish. He 発言／述べるd about this to フランs as she led him through the door at the end of the hall and into the boudoir, where Ida was lying.
“I hear from 陸軍大佐 Towton that your brother is やめる a philanthropist.”
フランs laughed. “Oh, the 陸軍大佐 has been talking, has he? My brother would be やめる annoyed, as he never liked to be 賞賛するd.”
“Then he’s not human,” said Vernon bluntly.
“He’s human enough to be annoyed with me because I chose to earn my own living,” said フランs 激しく. “However, let us see Ida, and then I’ll tell you all about my brother. In fact, I want to ask your advice.”
“Why should you think I was 有能な of giving advice, 行方不明になる Hest?”
“Oh, you are so 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な,” she replied with a smile and 停止（させる）ing at the door of the boudoir, “and Mr. Dimsdale, poor man, always said that you were so clever in making suggestions. Besides, you don’t know the opinion Ida has of you. Ida, dear,” she passed into the room, “here is Mr. Vernon.”
“Arthur,” said the girl, who was lying on a couch 近づく the window, “oh, I am so glad to see you. I’m glad フランs did not send you away. She’s such a tyrant as my nurse.”
“Perhaps you need a tyrant to manage you, Ida. You were always too impulsive and 無謀な of your health.”
“I think I have changed since poor papa’s death. I don’t feel 無謀な in any way now. I shall never get over it; never.”
フランs, who had taken some knitting to sit in a 近づく 議長，司会を務める, frowned as the girl spoke. “That’s the way she goes on, Mr. Vernon. Isn’t it foolish? I want her to go out and enjoy herself.”
“As if I could when poor papa is dead only two months,” cried Ida sighing.
“Oh, I don’t mean you to lead a gay life. But you shouldn’t stay here day after day without 日光.”
“I think 行方不明になる Hest is 権利, Ida,” said Vernon, 厳粛に scrutinising the pale 直面する of the girl; “you are not looking 井戸／弁護士席.”
“I don’t feel at all 井戸／弁護士席,” she replied peevishly.
“There’s nothing organically wrong,” put in フランs quickly. “The doctor said that Ida was perfectly healthy, and only needed to go out and lead a happy life to become やめる strong.”
“I shall never be happy again,” said Ida with 決意. 訪問者 and nurse—as フランs might be called—looked at one another. The girl evidently had made up her mind to be 哀れな.
This was not a sensible 態度 to 可決する・採択する, but then Ida was not a 特に sensible girl. She assuredly was not brilliantly clever, although she 所有するd a 確かな 量 of brains. Pretty in a doll-like way, with her golden hair and blue 注目する，もくろむs and creamy-pink complexion, she was an excellent type of a charming, modest, playful English girl, who would make a good wife and a 充てるd mother. But there was nothing 初めの about her, and, 存在 the spoilt darling of an 年輩の father, she was 支配する to moods. She was sick or 井戸／弁護士席, merry or sad, just as the fit took her. At one time she would 疲労，（軍の）雑役 herself with theatres and dances and tennis-tournaments, and again, with a revulsion of feeling, would 嘘（をつく） on the sofa all day, reading novels. Poets would have called her an April lady, of 日光 and rain, but an ordinary human 存在 would have 設立する her trying. It said a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 for 行方不明になる Hest’s true affection that she put up with so whimsical a 存在. A weathercock was nothing in comparison with Ida Dimsdale.
Why a sober, 年輩の, 軍の man like 陸軍大佐 Towton should 願望（する） to make such a featherhead his wife was a problem which Vernon was trying to solve as he 星／主役にするd at the girl on the sofa. Ida’s mood since the death of her father had been to play the 無効の. Certainly she had 苦しむd a shock, as was natural; but time had 軟化するd the memory of the 悲劇の death, and Vernon 認可するd of 行方不明になる Hest’s 願望（する） to get the girl away to Yorkshire.
“You せねばならない go to Gerby Hall, Ida,” he 発言／述べるd after a momentary silence; “a few weeks in the open 空気／公表する would do you all the good in the world.”
“That’s what I tell her,” said フランs 厳しく; “but she won’t come 負かす／撃墜する to Yorkshire, as I 示唆する. I shall end in going away altogether.”
Ida stretched out a pretty 手渡す and caught that of 行方不明になる Hest. “Oh, no, フランs, darling; you know that I cannot live without you. I must have a companion.”
Vernon thought that this was a good 適切な時期 to 前進する Mrs. Bedge’s request which he had 約束d to 耐える in mind. “There is a charming old lady who 申し込む／申し出s to become your companion,” he said gently. Ida 星／主役にするd and shuddered.
“I don’t like old ladies. Who is she?”
“Mrs. Bedge. She asked me to speak to you because she has lost a lot of money, and is therefore willing to 受託する a salary as your companion.”
フランs laid 負かす／撃墜する her work and clasped her 手渡すs.
“Why, Ida, it’s the very thing for you, dear. Mrs. Bedge is so old and so sedate. Then I can …に出席する to my 商売／仕事, knowing you are all 権利.”
“フランs,” Ida sat up on the sofa and looked reproachfully at her friend, “how can you talk so? I like Mrs. Bedge, who has always been very 肉親，親類d to me, but there is no 否定するing that she is 極端に dull. Besides, I have told you that you can have whatever salary you like to ask to （不足などを）補う for losing all your 約束／交戦s.”
“And I replied that I wished to be 独立した・無所属,” said 行方不明になる Hest stiffly; “I don’t like living on anyone. That is why I left Gerby Hall. But about Mrs. Bedge, dear; it is really a 資本／首都 idea.”
“I shan’t entertain it for one moment, and when Mrs. Bedge comes I shall tell her so—with thanks, of course,” 追加するd Ida as an afterthought. “Why couldn’t she speak to me direct?”
“井戸／弁護士席,” Vernon laughed, “it is rather a delicate 支配する. However, if you won’t have her you won’t, so there’s no more to be said. And might I 示唆する, Ida, as you really are looking better with the colour that has come into your cheeks at the suggestion, that you should pull up the blind and make the room look more cheerful.”
Ida jumped up lightly and did as he asked. Her mood had changed with the advent of this tactful young man. “Is there anything more your lordship 要求するs?” she asked with a saucy curtsey.
“I should like a cup of tea; you are not hospitable,” replied Vernon, delighted by the change in her manner.
Ida touched the button of the bell. “You were always greedy, Arthur.” Then, when the footman appeared, she gave the necessary orders. “I believe you called いっそう少なく to see me than to get your tea,” she ended, laughing やめる in her old girlish fashion.
“Ida, I don’t believe you are ill at all,” said Vernon, scrutinising her.
“Her imagination makes her ill,” put in フランs, who was knitting industriously. “She believes that she is sick, and therefore she is sick.”
“That is Christian Science,” laughed Ida, sitting in a 議長，司会を務める instead of returning to lounge on the sofa. “Perhaps you are 権利, dear. Of course, I have fretted a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 over poor papa’s death, but fretting will not bring him 支援する,” she ended with a sigh, and her 直面する clouded over again.
“What you want is 有望な society,” Vernon 保証するd her hurriedly.
“And you 示唆する Mrs. Bedge,” was Ida’s ironical retort.
“No. I never thought that she was the 権利 companion for you, as she is too staid and solemn; but I have 発射する／解雇するd my 良心 by putting her request to you. I never for one moment thought that you would entertain it.”
Ida looked at him inquiringly. “You think that I am 権利?”
“Yes, I do. 行方不明になる Hest is a much better companion.” 行方不明になる Hest 屈服するd to the compliment with a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な smile.
“Oh, I mean what I say, my dear lady. Take Ida 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall and play the tyrant as much as possible by 軍隊ing her to keep in the open 空気／公表する all day. She will return やめる cured.”
“I don’t think I should mind going to Yorkshire,” said Ida pensively, as the tea was brought in; “and from what フランs says Gerby Hall must be a delightful old place. But then, my sojourn would be disagreeable, as フランs is not on good 条件 with her brother.”
“Say that he is not on good 条件 with me,” said 行方不明になる Hest coolly. “I have nothing against Francis, save that he 反対するs to my 存在 独立した・無所属. But he is very just, and does not wish me to remain always absent from the Hall. I can go 負かす／撃墜する, and can take any one 負かす／撃墜する, on 条件s.”
“What are they?” asked Vernon, 受託するing a cup of tea.
“That I, and anyone I bring, bother Francis as little as possible. In fact, when I am at the Hall Francis usually goes to York while I remain; and even when he returns he sees almost nothing of me, as I keep out of his way. He isn’t a bad fellow, and of course I should speak 井戸／弁護士席 of my twin brother.”
“Are you very like one another, フランs, dear?”
“極端に, in 直面する and form. We can mystify anyone when we are seen together, but in disposition we are やめる unlike one another. I am more egotistic than Francis. He is a philanthropist and 充てるs all his money to 改善するing the parish. Six or seven villages 借りがある everything to him.”
“He keeps them all going, you mean?” 示唆するd Vernon, idly leaning 支援する.
“Not 正確に／まさに. But two years ago there was a 広大な／多数の／重要な dearth of water, which has frequently occurred during the 乾燥した，日照りの 天候. Francis 決定するd that it should not occur again, so he 得るd 許可 and engaged a clever engineer to 建設する a 貯蔵所 at the 最高の，を越す of Bowderstyke Valley.”
“That was a big work to 請け負う, and must have cost heaps of money.”
“Francis can afford it,” said 行方不明になる Hest indifferently. “Our grandmother, from whom he 相続するs the 広い地所s, left a lot of ready money, and Francis is a clever 相場師. He 作品 hard at 在庫／株s and 株 and is always in touch with his 仲買人 in London. But all the money he makes he spends in 改善するing the parishes around. He has 修理d several churches, and has built a poorhouse, and also a small hall for entertainments. He and the vicar work 手渡す in 手渡す. Then, of course, this 貯蔵所 is his 栄冠を与えるing work, as it 供給（する）d water to at least six villages.”
“Oh, what a good man he must be,” said Ida thoughtfully. “Here am I, with all my money, doing nothing.”
耐えるing in mind that he fancied 行方不明になる Hest wished to marry Ida to her brother, Vernon やめる 推定する／予想するd to hear her 是認する this 賞賛する. 行方不明になる Hest, however, received the 尊敬の印 very coolly. “Francis is vain,” she 発言／述べるd, “and 願望（する）s public 賞賛. Perhaps that is why he spends all his money in public charity.”
“Does he never take any 楽しみ in other ways?” asked Vernon.
“I think he finds his 楽しみ in his home and surroundings. Still, he goes away to York and London and Paris for weeks at a time, and enjoys himself in some dull way. I am sure it is dull, as Francis hasn’t got any spirit for a lively life. However, if Ida comes 負かす／撃墜する she can 裁判官 him for herself. But I don’t think we’ll see much of him, and for my part I’m very glad. I always escape from Francis’s society whenever I can. We don’t get on 井戸／弁護士席 together at all; rather 半端物, isn’t it, considering we are twins?”
“Oh, I don’t know, 行方不明になる Hest. Twins often are the opposite in disposition as they are the replica of each other in looks.”
フランs looked up with an 認可するing smile. “You have 述べるd my brother and I to the life,” she said nodding.
“陸軍大佐 Towton has a place 近づく Gerby Hall, I believe?”
“Yes. The Grange, it is called, a quaint old mansion, three miles distant from my brother’s 所有物／資産／財産. Higher up the valley, in fact, and on a rise to the 権利 of the 貯蔵所. 陸軍大佐 Towton wasn’t pleased with the construction of the dam, as it spoilt the 見解（をとる） from his house, and then he always 宣言するs that if the dam broke the valley would be swept from end to end by the 軍隊 of the water. But I don’t think any 事故 of that sort will happen,” ended フランs emphatically; “The dam is 極端に solidly built and will last for many a long day.”
“I think I should like to go to Bowderstyke, if only to see 陸軍大佐 Towton’s house,” said Ida 突然に; “He told me such a lot about it.”
“I thought you didn’t like 陸軍大佐 Towton?” said Vernon smiling.
“There!” exclaimed フランs, dropping her knitting, while Ida 紅潮／摘発するd. “Didn’t I say that Mr. Vernon would 発言／述べる how fickle you are, Ida?”
“Fickle?” echoed the young man, looking puzzled.
“You know that Ida was in love with Mr. Maunders,” went on 行方不明になる Hest, while Ida still blushed and appeared embarrassed. “She never gave her poor father any peace and always 手配中の，お尋ね者 to marry him. 井戸／弁護士席, since the death she has taken a 肯定的な dislike to him and can only find good in the 陸軍大佐.”
“Ah!” said Vernon meaningly, “that would have pleased poor Mr. Dimsdale. He 大いに 願望（する）d to see Ida the 陸軍大佐’s wife.”
“I begin to think papa was 権利,” said Ida in a low トン and turning away her 直面する. “I did like Mr. Maunders very much. I suppose I really was in love with him in a way. But since papa’s death he has scarcely been to see me and has not 行為／法令／行動するd at all sympathetically. Now, the 陸軍大佐 has called 絶えず, and has been so 肉親，親類d and so 甘い that I—I—”
“That you love him,” ended 行方不明になる Hest coolly.
“I’m not sure. He’s awfully nice and is 充てるd to me. I daresay if I saw much of him I might—I might—”
“井戸／弁護士席,” 行方不明になる Hest interrupted again, “I hope you will, as I am sure 陸軍大佐 Towton would make you an excellent husband. He is handsome and distinguished and sensible enough to guide you. My dear,” フランs laid her 手渡す on Ida’s 膝, “I shall be glad when you become Mrs. Towton, as then I shall be 解放する／自由な to go 支援する to my work. People are sure to say, if I stay with you, that I am actuated by mercenary 動機s.”
“What nonsense,” said Ida quickly; “why, you will not even let me give you a 現在の.”
“I can buy 現在のs for myself,” said フランs obstinately, “and, since I left Gerby Hall to be 独立した・無所属, I certainly don’t ーするつもりである to play the part of a 賄賂d or paid companion.”
Ida’s 注目する，もくろむs filled with ready 涙／ほころびs. “How cruel you are, フランs,” she wailed.
“I am sensible and reasonable,” said フランs 堅固に, knitting with an obstinate mouth. “I really love you, dear, but I can’t sacrifice my independence to be a hanger-on. All the same, until you have a husband I don’t feel 正当化するd in leaving you, so feather-長，率いるd, to your own 装置s.”
“I am not so weak-minded as you think,” 紅潮／摘発するd Ida crossly.
“Yes, you are, my dear. You can’t say whether you love 陸軍大佐 Towton or Mr. Maunders. You don’t know your own feelings.”
“Yes, I do. I really believe I love 陸軍大佐 Towton. I know that I did before Constantine appeared. Then I took a fancy to him. Now that fancy has gone, and I again love the 陸軍大佐. Yes,” Ida paused meditatively, “I am sure that I love the 陸軍大佐.”
“Pooh! Pooh! Just what I said: you don’t know your own mind.”
“I wish you would carry out your first impulse, Ida, and marry 陸軍大佐 Towton. He’s a good man and Maunders isn’t.” This （機の）カム from Vernon.
“I feel that,” muttered Ida, “but he fascinates me. And, after all, he is trying to learn who killed my father.”
“So am I,” said Vernon drily, “yet you don’t love me. Not that I want you to,” he 追加するd hurriedly and colouring. “But about Maunders; has he ever said anything to you likely to 明らかにする／漏らす the 指名する of the 暗殺者?”
“No. Why do you ask?” 問い合わせd Ida, and even フランs stopped knitting to look 刻々と at Vernon.
“Do you 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that Mr. Maunders knows more than he 収容する／認めるs?” asked 行方不明になる Hest.
“No! No! No! Of course I don’t,” answered Vernon あわてて and 主要な 慎重に up to the 目的 of his visit; “but he was in the house when the 殺人 took place and might have seen some stranger 現在の who would be The Spider.”
“I don’t think so, and I don’t see how he could, seeing that everyone was masked. If he had seen any 怪しげな character I certainly should have known of it at once.”
“Why you, rather than anyone else?” asked Vernon quickly.
“井戸／弁護士席, you see, Ida was in one of her freakish moods on the night of the ball and gave Mr. Maunders the 冷淡な shoulder, consoling herself with the 陸軍大佐 all the evening.”
“I did so because papa did not wish me to pass my time with Constantine.”
“I daresay, Ida,” 答える／応じるd 行方不明になる Hest rather acidly, “but you asked him to the ball notwithstanding your father 反対するd. At all events, Mr. Vernon, as Mr. Maunders was 冷淡な-shouldered he （機の）カム to me and I had the 重荷（を負わせる） of him from ten o’clock up to the time Ida discovered the 殺人, at a ４半期/4分の1 to midnight. Mr. Maunders never left me alone all that time, so if he had seen anyone 怪しげな he would have told me.”
“やめる so, やめる so,” murmured Vernon absently and thinking that here was a very good アリバイ for Maunders, and the stronger since it was given unconsciously by one who did not know the 推論する／理由 for putting it 今後. “I daresay The Spider （機の）カム in by the window,” he 発言／述べるd in louder トンs.
行方不明になる Hest made a 重要な gesture. “I don’t know how he （機の）カム or how he went,” she said, nodding に向かって Ida, who had grown pale, “and the police seem to be able to discover nothing. But you might see Mr. Maunders and learn if he had any 疑惑s that a stranger was 現在の.”
“That would be useless in the 直面する of what you tell me. He would have spoken to you had he been doubtful,” said Vernon courteously, “and—”
“There, there! Don’t say anything more. Don’t you see that Ida is on the 瀬戸際 of fainting?”
行方不明になる Hest caught Ida’s 手渡すs. “Poor child, they are やめる 冷淡な. You had better go, Mr. Vernon.”
“Yes.” He rose 敏速に. “I am sorry that I spoke of the 殺人. Don’t think anything more about it, Ida, but go to Yorkshire and 回復する your health.”
Ida nodded faintly. “Yes; I shall go. It is best for me to get away from this 悲劇の house.” And Vernon やめる agreed with her.
While Vernon was having his interview with Ida and her companion 陸軍大佐 Towton went on a little 探検隊／遠征隊 of his own. Ever since the 発見 that Ida had been to Diabella, Towton had been anxious, in his turn, to 支払う／賃金 a visit to the famous 社債 Street fortune-teller. Ida, as the 陸軍大佐 had told Vernon, 明らかに was 苦しむing from the 影響s of what she had been told by this 流行の／上流の Witch of Endor, although what had been said Towton could not find out. 行方不明になる Hest and the girl had both held their peace on the 支配する, notwithstanding that the former had talked 一般に on the wonderful 力／強力にするs of the woman. In fact, she had 本気で advised 陸軍大佐 Towton to interview Diabella and search out the 未来 for himself. The 兵士 had laughed, as he was not given to dabble in occultism. にもかかわらず, he had made up his mind to 捜し出す out the seeress, if only to discover 間接に what those methods of devilry were which had so 堅固に impressed 行方不明になる Dimsdale. Towton, to put it plainly, went いっそう少なく as a （弁護士の）依頼人 than as a 秘かに調査する.
Considering that Ida had no very 堅固に-示すd personality, it was wonderful that the 陸軍大佐 should be so 深く，強烈に in love with her. He was clever in his own way, and not without brain-力／強力にする inside and outside his own particular 軍の profession. His bravery was 否定できない, his tact かなりの, and he had left the Army on account of family 事件／事情／状勢s with the 指名する of one who had 削減（する） short a brilliant career unnecessarily. Towton assuredly would have risen to be a general had he not retired when the family 広い地所s （機の）カム into his 所有／入手. But now that he had abandoned his profession his one 目的（とする） was to marry and lead a 静かな 国内の life. He did not wish for a clever wife, or a 豊富な wife, or a 特に lovely wife, as he was too 事柄-of-fact to be romantic. His dream was of a 平和的な hearth and a house perfectly managed by a gentle wife. In Ida he believed that he saw the helpmate he so 大いに 願望（する）d: one who would make her husband’s will her 法律, and who would be a cheerful companion. Her moods he believed to be the result of 欠如（する） of 指導／手引, and he flattered himself that when she became Mrs. Towton he would be able to （判決などを）下す her いっそう少なく freakish. Ida’s nature was so impressionable that he thought it could be easily moulded, and in this he no 疑問 was 権利. Many of the girl’s faults were 予定 to the over-indulgence of her father, and to the 欠如（する） of a 会社／堅い 手渡す to lead her in the 権利 way. She would have welcomed a master, having one of those natures responsive to suggestion. And, in an unconscious way, the 陸軍大佐 控訴，上告d to her as a strong, 肉親，親類d-hearted man, who could 避難所 her from the 嵐／襲撃するs of life better than any one else could. In point of fact, the two were made for one another, and, but for the 侵入占拠 of Maunders, their course of true love would have run smooth.
However, 陸軍大佐 Towton was 極端に obstinate, and, having decided that Ida was the very wife he 願望（する）d to 統括する over his dinner-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, he was 決定するd not to let her be snatched from him by any 競争相手. He 認める with some dread that Maunders was a formidable wooer, and moreover guessed, with the keen instinct of a man in love, that フランs Hest had too much 支配（する）／統制する over the girl. For one thing, she had induced Ida to go to Diabella, a thing Towton would never have permitted had he been able to help it. He knew from his Indian experience only too 井戸／弁護士席 that there is truth in occultism, and that an impressionable 存在—such as Ida truly was—could easily be obsessed by strong suggestion. He had no 推論する／理由 to 疑問 行方不明になる Hest, and did not think for one moment that she was his enemy in any way: but, with the 援助 of suggestions from Diabella, she might lead Ida into unhealthy ways. And all those 取引 with the unseen with which psychics have to do were unhealthy in the 陸軍大佐’s very 構成要素 注目する，もくろむs. Already, as he had seen for himself, the visit to Diabella had upset Ida; so, whatever the 害（を与える） done might be, it was necessary to undo it by 証明するing the woman to be a 詐欺. Towton therefore 上がるd the stairs to the 協議するing-room of Diabella with the 意向 of learning if the fortune-teller was a humbug. Once 保証するd of that, he 解決するd to explain her methods to 行方不明になる Dimsdale and so 妨げる her 信用ing as truth whatever the woman had said. Then Ida’s indignation at 存在 duped, as the 陸軍大佐 believed she had been, would probably shake 行方不明になる Hest’s position. Towton felt 確かな that フランs was more friendly to Maunders than to himself, and at one sweep he hoped to get rid of both. Afterwards Ida would be more willing to become his wife.
Diabella’s offices, as they might be called, consisted of two rooms: a small outer one entered 直接／まっすぐに from the passage, and a spacious inner one which overlooked the street. As Towton tapped at the door of the prophetess his thoughts suddenly flew 支援する to his many years of sojourn in the Far East. For the moment he could not think what had detached him so 突然に from England until, on stepping across the threshold of the now open door, he became aware of a strong, pungent scent, impossible to 述べる. At once he 公式文書，認めるd it as that smell of the bazaars, which runs without a break from Port Said to Hong Kong. Perfume is the strongest of 援助（する）s to memory, therefore Towton’s thoughts had flashed 支援する over many years to さまざまな Indian experiences. His 団体／死体 was in England, but his soul was in the East: nor did the sight which met his 注目する，もくろむs 追い散らす the illusion. The room he entered and the attendant who welcomed him were both Egyptian in looks.
The small apartment 似ているd an 古代の tomb, as the 塀で囲むs and 天井 were painted vividly with hieroglyphics, glowing in crimson and blue and yellow and emerald green. Through a stained-glass skylight 総計費 a 薄暗い, coloured light streamed just 十分に to 明らかにする／漏らす the weird looks of the room. It was 偽のd, of course, but very cleverly 偽のd, as the 陸軍大佐 内密に 認める; even to the attendant, who, 明らかに a true Eastern, was attired in a garb which one of Pharaoh’s fan-持参人払いのs might have worn 適切な. The 床に打ち倒す was covered with linoleum painted to 似ている marble, and there was a quaintly-形態／調整d （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する of ebony, two or three antique and uncomfortable 議長，司会を務めるs, copied from furniture of the XIX. 王朝, and a weird-looking teak sofa, covered with 有望な yellow cushions. What with the grotesquely-painted 塀で囲むs, the sparsity of furniture, the 薄暗い light, the scented atmosphere, and the strangely-dressed attendant, who salaamed profusely, 陸軍大佐 Towton felt as though he had stepped at one stride across the Mediterranean to a resuscitated Memphis.
The man was a わずかな／ほっそりした, straight native, with handsome, haughty features of the Brahmin type, and Towton wondered that he had broken caste to cross the 黒人／ボイコット Water. He had keen, 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs, which took in the looks of the English sahib in a 選び出す／独身 flash, notwithstanding that he stood with crossed 武器 and downcast 注目する，もくろむs. Towton wondered if he spoke English, and, for the sake of an 実験, 演説（する）／住所d him in Tamil. The dark-skinned man replied in very fair English, with an inquisitive ちらりと見ること at this stranger who spoke the Indian dialect so glibly.
“Is your mistress in?” enquired the 陸軍大佐, speaking Tamil.
“Within, sahib, and she waits,” was the reply in Anglo-Saxon.
すぐに に引き続いて these few words Towton was led into the inner room, and the attendant の近くにd the door after him, leaving the （弁護士の）依頼人 alone with Diabella. The room was decorated much in the same tomb-like fashion as the other one, but there were mummies standing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 塀で囲む at intervals in their richly adorned 棺s, and the two windows looking on to 社債 Street were draped with rich Eastern stuffs to 完全に 除外する the light of day. But several lamps, 燃やすing perfumed oil, dangled from the 天井, and the room was filled with a mellow radiance, eminently ふさわしい to the 反対する for which it was used. Towton shrewdly surmised that the peculiar decorations, the 除外 of daylight for the use of 人工的な 照明, and the 高度に-scented atmosphere which 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるd even more 堅固に here than it had done in the outer room, were all meant to daze the senses of Diabella’s （弁護士の）依頼人s so that they might more readily credit her 主張s. It was all cleverly conceived and carried out.
The woman herself was seated at the end of the room under a 肉親，親類d of canopy on an uncomfortable ebony-支持を得ようと努めるd 議長，司会を務める inlaid with ivory. Before her was a tiny square （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する of the same sombre 支持を得ようと努めるd, with 新たな展開d 脚s, and on this stood a large 水晶 the size of a small orange. Diabella was seated in a hieratical 態度 with her 手渡すs on her 膝s, like some 石／投石する god, and wore a stiff straight 式服 of mingled 黒人／ボイコット and yellow, which made her 似ている a viper. But her 直面する struck Towton most, as she 明らかに wore an entire mask modelled in wax from some actual Egyptian mummy. This was surmounted by the 井戸／弁護士席-known 長，率いる-dress of 厳しい 黒人／ボイコット ringlets, 徹底的に捜すd straightly to the shoulders. The mouth of the mask was 部分的に／不公平に open, so that the fortune-teller could speak easily behind it. With her dead-looking 直面する and motionless 態度, Diabella looked 正確に／まさに like the mummies which 側面に位置するd her 権利 and left. And 権利 and left also, in tall アイロンをかける tripods, 炎上d some spirits, which cast weird lights on her uncanny 外見. Nothing better could have been designed to impress the weak-minded; and in that 寺 of Illusion and from the lips of such a strange creature the boldest might be excused for believing the impossible. Even 陸軍大佐 Towton felt an unaccustomed shudder, as though he were in the presence of the Unseen.
“You wish to 協議する those who dwell in 不明瞭 about the 未来?” asked the sorceress in a strange, metallic 発言する／表明する, as unhuman as were her looks.
Towton smiled scornfully and 新たな展開d his moustache. He had やめる 回復するd his momentary obsession by that perfumed atmosphere, and sat 負かす／撃墜する with a 冷静な／正味の 空気／公表する. “You should speak Egyptian to be perfect,” he scoffed.
Diabella disdained to notice the jeer. “Would you have me look in the 水晶, or （一定の）期間 the cards, or read the 手渡す.”
“非，不，無 of the three, thank you,” said Towton drily. “Do you really 所有する the 力／強力にする of reading things?”
“I can read the past, the 現在の, and the 未来;’ I can tell all that is permitted to be told by the 力／強力にするs. You are an unbeliever.”
The 陸軍大佐 chuckled. “Wrong, first 発射. Having seen a good 取引，協定 of this sort of thing; although,” he ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room, “scarcely so dressy a place, I believe that some gifted people have 確かな senses at 命令（する）, if not under 支配（する）／統制する, with which they can foretell things. I やめる 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる your 発言／述べる about the 力／強力にするs permitting and forbidding, as I am aware that such is the 事例／患者.”
“I did not say that you were an unbeliever 一般に,” said Diabella, trying to 回復する her lost ground, “but that you did not believe in me.”
“You did not put it 正確に in that fashion,” retorted Towton. “However, I may 同様に have my guinea’s 価値（がある）. Is there any 推論する／理由 why I should believe in you?” he 需要・要求するd contemptuously.
The 静かな 発言する／表明する replied indifferently. “Yes. I have not held your 手渡す nor have I 接触するd your atmosphere closely. Still, I am 十分に in touch with you to 明言する／公表する that you bring a woman in your aura.”
“In my what?” asked the 陸軍大佐, wilfully dense.
“The aura of your magnetism streams from you radiant as a rainbow. In it is standing the thought-form of a girl. She is not very tall, she has blue 注目する，もくろむs and golden hair, and you love her. Am I 権利?”
“I shan’t say,” replied the 陸軍大佐, 内密に surprised to hear this description of Ida and the 声明 of his feelings に向かって her. “Humph!” He made a half unwilling admission, “you have some psychic 力／強力にするs, after all. Tell me more.”
“Give me your （犯罪の）一味,” 命令（する）d Diabella imperiously. “It is impregnated with your magnetism and will thus 示唆する your colour.”
“My colour?” repeated the 陸軍大佐 interrogatively and 除去するing his signet （犯罪の）一味 to place it on the ebony （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.
Diabella 選ぶd it up and held it in the hollow of her 権利 手渡す. “Every human 存在 in the unseen world around has a colour which is the 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるing hue of the kamic 団体／死体, 色合いd by 願望（する）. I can thus recognise you as you appear on the astral 計画（する）, and so can read your karma of the past, which appears in the astral 記録，記録的な／記録するs. Thence I can deduce your 未来 for good or evil, in a 広大な／多数の／重要な 手段 正確に.”
“Then you can’t be 確かな that what you tell me is true?”
“No. Under 確かな circumstances, when the High Ones 許す, the 未来 is 明らかにする／漏らすd beyond all 疑問, but those circumstances are connected only with spiritual enlightenment. さもなければ those who have the sight 単に deduce what will happen by reading the karma of the past, which can be discerned in the astral light.”
“Your （人命などを）奪う，主張するs are certainly more modest than I 推定する／予想するd,” said Towton somewhat 利益／興味d, “and if you can tell me my past life 正確に I shall credit more or いっそう少なく your prophecies. You know my 指名する?”
“Richard Towton.”
“Ah—you got that from my letter asking for an 任命. But I have a middle 指名する which I don’t use. What is it?”
“Richard Henry Towton is your 十分な 指名する.”
“訂正する. Where was I educated?”
“At Wimperly Public School, and then at Sandhurst.”
Towton nodded. “You might be 確かな of Sandhurst, as I am a 兵士, but Wimperly is good. Go on.”
“You joined your 連隊 twenty-five years ago, and すぐに after joining it was ordered to India. You were 駅／配置するd at Bombay, afterwards at Travancore. You fought in Burmah, where you met ツバメ Dimsdale, and became intimate with him. You won a D.S.O. in the Vikram 探検隊／遠征隊, and—”
“All that,” interrupted the 陸軍大佐 politely, “with the exception of my 会合 with Dimsdale, you might have read in the newspapers. Why did I retire from the army?”
“Your cousin died and left you The Grange at Bowderstyke, in Yorkshire. You gave up your profession so as to get the 広い地所s in order: they had been sadly neglected by your cousin, who was a drunkard.”
“That is impolite, but true,” said Towton with a grimace. “Go on.”
“You wish to marry.”
The 陸軍大佐 shrugged his shoulders. “Every man wishes to marry.”
“You wish to marry a girl called Ida Dimsdale,” went on the passionless 発言する／表明する, and Diabella 差し控えるd from making any comment on the 発言／述べる.
“Ah! Now you are becoming 利益／興味ing. Why do I wish to marry Ida Dimsdale?” The reply was 予期しない. “You 願望（する） to get her money ーするために 回復する 確かな lands sold by your late cousin.”
“That is a 嘘（をつく）.” Towton grew a trifle red and spoke はっきりと. “I love 行方不明になる Dimsdale, and would take her without a penny.”
“That is how you will have to take her,” replied Diabella coldly and without 主張するing upon the truth of her previous 声明.
“Nonsense! 行方不明になる Dimsdale has a large fortune.”
“You think she has ten thousand a year. She has nothing.”
Towton felt an astonishment which he could scarcely 隠す, and wondered if Diabella had spoken in this way to Ida. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that this girl is not the daughter of ツバメ Dimsdale.”
“What!” Towton rose in his surprise; “How dare you say that?”
“I am only reading what I see,” said Diabella wearily. “Your fortune and this girl’s is connected, therefore I know of her past.”
“Past! Past!” ガス／煙d the 陸軍大佐, sitting 負かす／撃墜する again. “She has no past in the sense you mean. She was born in Burmah, and her mother died すぐに afterwards. Dimsdale sent her home to 親族s, and afterwards she went to school at Hampstead. Five years ago he returned to settle in England and she has been with him ever since.”
“やめる true; but you are foolish to tell me so much, as now you will say that I 単に echo what you have について言及するd.”
“I have certainly not について言及するd that she is not Dimsdale’s daughter.”
“No. Yet it is true. Her 指名する is Ida Menteith, and her father was a major in a native 連隊. Menteith was with his wife in Burmah at a hill 駅／配置する called—called—wait until I get the 指名する.” Diabella stopped for one moment, then spoke out triumphantly, “It was called Goorkah 駅／配置する, and was 包囲するd by the Dacoits?”
“Yes. I remember the 駅／配置する, but not a man called Menteith.”
“This happened before you went to India.”
“What happened?” asked Towton bluntly.
“What I am about to tell you. Dimsdale was then a police-commissioner. He loved Mrs. Menteith, who returned his love, and hated the husband.”
“I don’t believe that for one moment. Dimsdale was a good fellow, who would never make love to another man’s wife.”
“Many good fellows do that,” said Diabella sarcastically; “and Dimsdale did love Mrs. Menteith: so 深く，強烈に that he did not save the husband’s life when he could have done so.”
“That’s an 絶対の 嘘（をつく）,” 主張するd Towton 怒って. “How dare you malign a dead man who cannot defend himself!”
“ツバメ Dimsdale’s friend, George Venery, who is a merchant at Singapore, can 証明する the truth of what I say.”
“Rubbish! How do you know?”
“I read all I am telling you in the astral light,” said Diabella. “If it displeases you I need tell no more.”
“It does not so much displease me as make me wonder at your imagination.”
Diabella still 保存するd her immobility. “令状 to George Venery and you will find that I have spoken the truth.”
“It seems incredible,” muttered Towton doubtfully. “Of course, I know that there is 広大な／多数の／重要な truth in occult 事柄s. But what you say is too 正確な to be anything but what you must have learned—perhaps from this man.”
“No,” replied the fortune-teller. “I never heard the 指名する of Venery before, and I have never been to Singapore or even to Burmah. I only read what I see. How else should I know?”
The 陸軍大佐 made a gesture of 不信. Although he believed in the unseen, from さまざまな Indian experiences, he could not credit the story of this masked woman. “Go on, and tell me more,” he said at length; “later I can 令状 to Mr. Venery and 立証する your 声明s.”
“Ida Dimsdale is Menteith’s daughter,” said Diabella 静かに. “She was born in Rangoon when her father was 存在 包囲するd in Goorkah 駅／配置する. Dimsdale was in the neighbourhood with a 軍隊 and 急いでd to relieve his friend. But he purposely 延期するd his approach so that the 駅／配置する might be taken and Menteith killed.”
“I don’t believe that for one moment. Dimsdale would not 行為／法令／行動する so wickedly.”
“He did 行為／法令／行動する in that way, as Venery can tell you. It was his behaviour that 原因（となる）d a 違反 between them. Dimsdale hoped to get rid of Menteith and so marry the wife. His 計画（する） of 延期する was successful, and the 駅／配置する was taken by the Dacoits. Menteith was crucified and his perfidious friend arrived when he was dying. Menteith was buried at Goorkah 駅／配置する and Dimsdale returned to Rangoon, hoping to marry Mrs. Menteith now that the 障害 was 除去するd. Mrs. Menteith, however, weak after the birth of her child, died in a few days. Then Dimsdale was stricken with 悔恨 and brought up the child as his own. She has passed for his daughter and, as his next-of-肉親，親類, 相続するs the money. But she is no relation, since Dimsdale did not leave a will and—”
“How do you know that Dimsdale left no will?”
“I might have seen it in the papers,” said Diabella coolly; “but I did not, for to my sight the hidden things of Dimsdale’s life are 明らかにする／漏らすd. But you can understand that if you marry Ida you will get no money with her. The truth will be made known and Lady Corsoon will 相続する it, as it is but 権利 she should do.”
Towton rose so hurriedly that he knocked over his 議長，司会を務める. “I can’t stand any more of this,” he 宣言するd impetuously; “all your occult 商売／仕事 is a sham, and you are making up lies. I 主張する upon your 除去するing that mask so that I may know who you are.”
Diabella rose, tall and straight and stiff, but did not seem 乱すd. “Beware, 陸軍大佐 Towton. If you 前進する a step it will be the worse for you.”
The 軍の man laughed and stepped 今後. “I must know who you are, as I ーするつもりである to make you 支払う／賃金 for telling these falsehoods.”
“They are true.”
“They are lies. Now I know why 行方不明になる Dimsdale was agitated because of her visit to you. You told her this story also.”
“What if I did? The truth—” she flung up a 手渡す as the 陸軍大佐 took another step 今後. “Stand 支援する, I tell you.”
“Take your mask off,” he 主張するd, and stretched out his 手渡す.
Diabella swerved to one 味方する and 避けるd his しっかり掴む. Then she dropped into her 議長，司会を務める, 圧力（をかける）ing the 武器 of the same hard. すぐに from the mummies 始める，決める 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room （機の）カム a most unearthly crying, which confounded the 陸軍大佐, not 推定する／予想するing such a tumult. The weird room rang with thin wailings and dismal cries. It was evident that some 機械装置 connected with the 議長，司会を務める produced these noises. The place was filled with clever contrivances to 脅迫してさせる nervous people. But 陸軍大佐 Towton was not nervous, and after his first startled pause he sprang 今後 again to 掴む the seated 人物／姿／数字. At all costs he was 決定するd to unmask the sorceress and learn who she was. Then he might hope to find out how she had become 所有するd of these facts 関心ing Dimsdale’s past life, or whether those same facts were 簡単に lies designed to perplex and mystify.
Diabella never moved as Towton （機の）カム に向かって her, and the 陸軍大佐 soon knew why she was thus 確かな of her safety. Before he could reach the hither 味方する of the ebony （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, 速く as he moved, he was gripped from behind by two gigantic 手渡すs and 新たな展開d 一連の会議、交渉／完成する はっきりと to 直面する a tall and burly Hindoo arrayed in a white 式服 and wearing a white turban. “Let me go, you dog!” muttered Towton in the Tamil dialect, and 始める，決める his teeth.
Diabella clapped her 手渡すs and the two men の近くにd in a 猛烈な／残忍な struggle. As they swayed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room the ebony （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する was upset and the woman cried out a 宣告，判決 in an unknown language in her metallic 発言する／表明する. The next moment the native unloosened his 支配する on the Englishman and stepped 支援する.
“Will you go now?” 需要・要求するd Diabella 静かに and 演説（する）／住所ing Towton.
“No,” he cried ひどく. “I want your mask 除去するd.”
Whether Diabella gave a 調印する or not Towton was never able to say, but she must have given a signal, for just as the words left his mouth the native sprang 今後 with the leap of a tiger and the next moment Towton 設立する a silk handkerchief 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck. It flashed across him that in this way had Dimsdale been killed, and then, with the 強化するing of the handkerchief, （機の）カム almost insensibility, or, rather, a dazed feeling, which bewildered his brain.
He had a faint feeling of 存在 led out of the room and of 審理，公聴会 a door の近くにd. When he 回復するd his senses he 設立する himself seated on the 床に打ち倒す of the passage やめる alone. His first thought was to tell the police what had occurred, his second to 隠す the adventure.
“I shall 協議する with Vernon,” he thought, and walked unsteadily 負かす／撃墜する the stairs, feeling his neck somewhat sore, but さもなければ uninjured.
It was やめる three days before 陸軍大佐 Towton was enabled to have an interview with Vernon. He certainly wrote to him at once, but on receiving no reply he telephoned, only to learn that his friend had been 突然に called from town on the same evening. Towton therefore had to 所有する his soul in patience, and remained in his rooms 回復するing from the 強襲，強姦. And this took some little time.
The 試みる／企てる at 絞殺 by the burly Hindoo—who was a different person to the わずかな／ほっそりした doorkeeper—had 原因（となる）d the 陸軍大佐’s neck to swell, as the flesh was bruised and chafed. His windpipe also felt painful 借りがあるing to the strong compression, and for twenty-four hours he had 設立する it difficult to swallow with 緩和する. Towton recognised only too uneasily that he had been within a short distance of actual death, and perhaps would have been strangled 完全な had not Diabella, as he verily believed, stopped her too 熱心な servant. 自然に, she did not wish for a （弁護士の）依頼人’s death lest the police should 干渉する and put an end to her lucrative 貿易（する）, which was assuredly a very 支払う／賃金ing one.
一方／合間 the 陸軍大佐 received a letter from Ida 説 that on the 続いて起こるing day she was going 負かす／撃墜する to Yorkshire with 行方不明になる Hest. There, breathing 空気／公表する like シャンペン酒, and enjoying perfect 残り／休憩（する）, undisturbed by 報知係s, she hoped to 回復する her spirits and health within a month, the time of her 提案するd stay. But what pleased Towton most in the letter, and what 原因（となる）d him to blush like a girl, was the hope Ida 表明するd that he would come 負かす／撃墜する to his country seat while she stayed at the Hall. “You have often told me of your beautiful home,” wrote Ida amiably, “and one of my 推論する／理由s for staying at Gerby Hall is to see The Grange. If you should take a fancy to run 負かす／撃墜する, perhaps you will show it to me yourself, as I hear from フランs that the house is 十分な of historical 利益／興味.” There were a few lines more to the same 影響, and it really seemed as though Ida wished to become 熟知させるd with her 未来 home. At least, Towton looked at the 事柄 in this way and his spirits rose accordingly. Maunders 明らかに was out of favour, and Ida had returned to her first love. Without 存在 unduly conceited Towton was very 井戸／弁護士席 満足させるd that the girl had loved him before the handsome scamp had come on the scene. Then the latter’s looks and charm of manner had infatuated her to an alarming extent. Now, and the 陸軍大佐 心から hoped that such was the 事例／患者, her momentary aberration, as it might be called, had passed away, and she was 持つ／拘留するing out the olive 支店 of 完全にする 仲直り.
But that Towton still felt unwell after his rough and 宙返り／暴落する 遭遇（する） with the Hindoo, and but that he wished to 協議する Vernon about the 事柄, he would have gone 負かす／撃墜する to Yorkshire at once so as to bask in the 日光 of Ida’s 注目する，もくろむs. But he put a 抑制 on his feelings and decided, not without a struggle, to remain where he was. In 関係 with さまざまな ideas which had occurred to him since his visit to the 社債 Street fortune-teller, it was imperative that he should 協議する with someone and ventilate さまざまな theories, which might, or might not, elucidate さまざまな mysteries. Therefore Towton read and smoked and played patience in his comfortable rooms, watching the passing of time with open 切望.
On the third evening, and that was a Saturday, Vernon made his 外見 at eight o’clock. He entered with perfect coolness, and 設立する himself 直面するing a very impatient man.
“Did you wish to see me, 陸軍大佐?” he asked 静かに. “I 設立する a 公式文書，認める at my 議会s requesting me to call at once.”
“Do I wish to see you?” echoed Towton jumping to his feet and wringing Vernon’s 手渡す heartily. “Why, my dear fellow, I have been sitting here on pins and needles for the last few days. What the ジュース took you out of town so 突然に? I beg your 容赦, I should not enquire into your 私的な 商売／仕事. Sit 負かす／撃墜する and have a cigar. The whisky and potash is on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at your 肘.”
“Oh, my 商売／仕事 is not 私的な,” replied Vernon, taking a comfortable 議長，司会を務める and a very excellent cigar. “All the world will know in a week or so.”
“Know what?”
“That my uncle, Sir Edward Vernon, is dead, and that I am a 肩書を与えるd, 井戸／弁護士席-to-do man, 価値（がある） knowing.”
“I never knew you had an uncle,” said Towton 星／主役にするing.
“It’s not unusual for men to have uncles,” said Vernon drily. “I didn’t buck about the 関係, as we were not the best of friends. A family quarrel between my father and Sir Edward, you understand? However, when I returned from a visit to 行方不明になる Dimsdale I 設立する a letter from my uncle asking me to come to Slimthorp, 近づく Worcester, as he was very ill. I packed up and went by the evening train, and there I have been for the last three days.”
“Humph! I suppose I せねばならない congratulate you?”
“井戸／弁護士席, you may. Sir Edward can’t last more than a week, and he leaves me 相続人 to his 肩書を与える, his mansion, and a few thousands a year. He’s not a bad old fellow, either,” went on Vernon meditatively, “and I am sorry he is dying. I don’t 否定する, however, that his death will make a 広大な／多数の／重要な change in my fortunes for the better, as is obvious.”
“It will enable you to marry 行方不明になる Corsoon,” said the 陸軍大佐 nodding.
“Yes.” Vernon thought of his interview with Lady Corsoon and replied 簡潔に. “Uncle Edward is eighty years of age,” he 追加するd apologetically, “so he can’t be said to have been 削減（する） off when he was green.”
“He’s not 削減（する） off yet,” answered Towton with a shrug. “I don’t want to throw 冷淡な water on your prospects, Vernon, but these old fellows have wonderful recuperative 力／強力にする.”
“I shall be glad if he gets better,” said Vernon emphatically; “and now that we are friends I may be able to make his life more cheerful. He has a dismal time all alone in that barrack of a house. But I don’t see why I should bore you with all this family history.”
“I do,” said the 陸軍大佐 unhesitatingly. “It’s because you and I have been drawn into closer friendship by our ありふれた 知識 with Maunders, who is playing 急速な／放蕩な and loose with the two girls we love. We have had to make ありふれた 原因（となる） against the enemy, and so are 軍隊d to speak 自由に. Besides, you are a good chap, Vernon, and I don’t wish to work と一緒に a better man,” and, leaning 今後, the 陸軍大佐 gave his friend’s 手渡す a 支配する.
“Would you do that, would you say that, if you knew that I was a 私立探偵, or, to 軟化する the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語, a 私的な enquiry スパイ／執行官?”
“What!” Towton nearly jumped out of his 議長，司会を務める.
“As I had no money when my father died,” explained the young man 刻々と, “and my uncle would have nothing to do with me, I turned my 力／強力にするs of 観察 to account by setting up as Nemo, of Covent Garden, to 追跡（する） 負かす／撃墜する 犯罪のs and to help people to keep their secrets when 脅すd by blackmailers. 地雷 is a perfectly honourable profession, I 保証する you, 陸軍大佐, but you may have your prejudices.”
“井戸／弁護士席,” said Towton after a pause, “I don’t 否定する that I care little for 探偵，刑事s, who are too much the bloodhounds of the 法律. But I am やめる sure that you were driven to （問題を）取り上げる the 商売／仕事, and I am also やめる sure,” 追加するd Towton emphatically, “that the 商売／仕事 as 行為／行うd by you is all that can be 願望（する）d in the way of honour. Why did you tell me?”
“If I hadn’t, probably Maunders, when he 設立する that we were working together, would have told you. It struck me as a wise thing to take the 勝利，勝つd out of his sails.”
“There’s something in that,” 認める the 陸軍大佐, 新たな展開ing his moustache. “And I am glad that I heard of your profession from yourself. But how did your friend Maunders find out what you kept secret?”
Vernon shrugged his shoulders. “Who knows? He seems to have a wonderful nose for smelling out things to his advantage.”
“To his advantage? Come, now!”
“I 保証する you, 陸軍大佐, it is so. He wished to become my partner. Lately, however, he has changed his mind and he 約束d to 持つ／拘留する his tongue. To my cost,” went on Vernon slowly, “I 設立する that he has not done so, as he told Lady Corsoon.”
“The devil he did! Then good-bye to your chances of the daughter.”
“Do you think so, when I shall soon be Sir Arthur Vernon, with an 適格の country seat and three thousand a year, more or いっそう少なく?”
“No. That alters the 事例／患者; it whitewashes you, as it were. 売春婦! 売春婦!” Towton laughed maliciously, “that will be one in the 注目する，もくろむ for Mr. Constantine Maunders. And serve him 権利! Why the ジュース does he play the lover with two women at once? I congratulate you, Sir Arthur—”
“陸軍大佐, you are premature.”
“Never mind. It’s just 同様に to take the bull by the horns and time by the forelock. I congratulate you, Sir Arthur, for you will marry 行方不明になる Corsoon and wipe our friend’s 注目する，もくろむ. He won’t have either girl.”
“Certainly not Lucy, if I can help it,” said Vernon hotly; “but what about 行方不明になる Dimsdale? I rather think, from what I saw at our interview of three days ago, that she inclines to you, 陸軍大佐.”
“Ah! 行方不明になる Dimsdale.” Towton nursed his chin in the cup of his 手渡す. “It is about 行方不明になる Dimsdale, amongst other things, that I wish to see you.”
“What other things?” 需要・要求するd Vernon bluntly.
“Diabella for one.”
“The fortune-teller? Have you seen her?”
Towton put his 手渡す to his neck with a wry smile. “Yes, the jade. She nearly had me strangled.”
Vernon dropped his cigar. “Strangled!”
“Yes.” The 陸軍大佐 unloosened the white silk scarf he wore 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his throat and leaned 今後 to show a fading 黒人／ボイコット 示す 一連の会議、交渉／完成する it. “You see! I 保証する you I have scarcely been able to swallow since I saw you last. That damned Hindoo nearly did for me.”
“Hindoo! Did a Hindoo 試みる／企てる to kill you?”
“Rather, and jolly nearly 後継するd.”
“But why?”
“Because I wished to 涙／ほころび off the 誤った 直面する worn by Diabella: a waxen or papier-mache sort of 直面する, which makes her look like an Egyptian, so as to be in keeping with her room, I suppose.”
“Why did you wish to 涙／ほころび it off?”
“Because she—井戸／弁護士席, she said 確かな things, and—” Towton stopped as Vernon rose quickly and began to walk about the room. “What’s up, now?”
“陸軍大佐, do you remember how you gave it as your opinion that Dimsdale had been strangled by a 凶漢?”
“Ah!” said Towton drily, “the same idea strikes you also, I see. 井戸／弁護士席, Diabella may have something to do with the 事柄. I asked you to see me in order that we might thresh it out. Now that I know you are Nemo I am all the better pleased, as your professional knowledge may link this and that together.”
“This and that?”
“社債 Street and Hampstead,” said the 陸軍大佐 impatiently; “that is, you may see a connecting link between this beastly nigger 試みる／企てるing to strangle me and the actual 絞殺 of poor Dimsdale in his library.”
“I can’t see the link,” said Vernon thoughtfully. “Diabella knows nothing about Dimsdale.”
“On the contrary, she knows a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定. By the way, didn’t you tell me that Dimsdale was 存在 ゆすり，恐喝d by that confounded Spider?”
“Yes.” Vernon 星／主役にするd and wondered why the question was asked. “He had a secret, which The Spider learned, and ーするつもりであるd to tell it to me after the 逮捕（する） of the beast. But The Spider killed him, and so—” Vernon shrugged.
“I wonder if what Diabella told was the secret,” muttered Towton, 一打／打撃ing his chin. “Did Dimsdale ever give you to understand that his secret, whatever it might have been, was a disgraceful one?”
“On the contrary, he said that he didn’t mind any one knowing what it was,” said Vernon 敏速に; “only he 追加するd that The Spider had embroidered actual facts and so might make things hot for him were the 追加するd facts to become known to the world 捕まらないで.”
Towton nodded. “I thought so.”
“Thought what?” asked Vernon impatiently.
“That Diabella and this mysterious Spider are in league.”
Vernon dropped into his 議長，司会を務める, placed his 手渡すs on his 膝s and 星／主役にするd very hard at the lean, brown 直面する of the 兵士. “What do you mean?”
“Listen, and I’ll tell you. I am やめる sure that you will come to the same 結論,” and Towton in an incisive manner 関係のある what had taken place in the fortune-teller’s weird apartments.
The 影響 on Vernon was to produce an 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の emotion of mingled dread and 救済: dread, because he saw 深い and dangerous villainy at work, and 救済 as now he 遠くに見つけるd a gleam of light in the 不明瞭 surrounding the “Rangoon” 罪，犯罪. He made no 発言／述べる either during Towton’s recital or after it, so that the 陸軍大佐 grew impatient.
“井戸／弁護士席, what do you make of it?” he asked はっきりと.
“I agree with you that Diabella and The Spider are in league. Perhaps,” he rose, much agitated, “perhaps Diabella is The Spider all by herself.”
“The Spider I always understood to be a man.”
“It is 推定するd so, but who knows. Diabella may be the real originator of these 罪，犯罪s and may 雇う men to collect her 料金s. Then, of course, as a popular fortune-teller, she has every 適切な時期 of learning people’s secrets, for those who 協議する such creatures always give themselves away. A few skilfully put questions and a few dexterous prophecies would make people 緩和する their tongues. Then a clever woman, putting two and two together, would soon make the four, which means ゆすり，恐喝.”
“But how the ジュース could she learn this secret of Dimsdale’s?”
“井戸／弁護士席, the secret is connected with the Far East and you say that Diabella 雇うs two Indians in her fortune-telling 商売／仕事. She may have learned it from them since the older man, the one who 試みる／企てるd to strangle you, may have been a 兵士 in the Burmese War and so may have been connected with Dimsdale. Then, again, Diabella may herself have been in the East and may have learned about Ida not 存在 Dimsdale’s daughter.”
“Do you think it is true?”
“I 恐れる so, as the secret of her birth and 採択 by Dimsdale is not one that any man would mind 存在 made known. But the embroidery to which our poor dead friend alluded consists of this 主張: that he wilfully 延期するd coming to the 援助 of Menteith and for the sake of the man’s wife 行為／法令／行動するd in a David-and-Uriah-the-Hittite manner. That embroidery is indeed 価値（がある） ゆすり，恐喝. But it isn’t true. I believe Dimsdale’s 主張 rather than Diabella’s story. She knew the facts, and 改善するd upon them in the way I have について言及するd.”
陸軍大佐 Towton nodded. “Then Ida, not 存在 Dimsdale’s daughter, and there 存在 no will, cannot 相続する her 推定するd father’s money as next of 肉親，親類?”
“I think not. It will go to Lady Corsoon, as Diabella 主張するd. She is Dimsdale’s sister and only 親族. It will be a good thing for Lady Corsoon,” murmured Vernon, thinking of the 賭事ing 負債s, “as it will make her 独立した・無所属 of her miserly husband.”
“There is another thing to be thought of,” said the 陸軍大佐 厳粛に, “and that is the ゆすり，恐喝ing of Ida.”
“Oh. Do you think that her health is 苦しむing from that?”
“Yes, I do. She went to the fortune-teller, and what she heard has made her ill. She probably was told the same story as I heard and knows that she is keeping the ten thousand a year wrongfully from Lady Corsoon. This 存在 the 事例／患者, and Ida 存在 a 極度の慎重さを要する girl, it is no wonder that she is 乱すd and ill. Her 良心 is fighting between keeping the money and giving it up. Then 行方不明になる Hest may be 軍隊ing her to keep silence; さもなければ, as she is the sweetest girl in the world, I feel sure she would speak out and give up the fortune.”
“She may not believe the story.”
“Certainly she may not; but it must have sown 疑問s in her breast, and if left to herself she would perhaps come to me or to you, asking us to 解決する these 疑問s. But 行方不明になる Hest—”
“陸軍大佐! 陸軍大佐! I don’t think you are altogether just to 行方不明になる Hest. She is really a 肉親，親類d-hearted, decent woman, and is not after Ida’s money, as you imagine. She wants Mrs. Bedge to become Ida’s companion, or for Ida to marry you, so that she can go 支援する to her reciting.”
“Does she want Ida to marry Maunders?” asked Towton shrewdly.
“No. I think she fancies you will make Ida a better husband. No, 陸軍大佐, 行方不明になる Hest’s 行為／行う is above reproach, and if she knows about this wild story told by Diabella she will advise Ida for the best.”
“In what way?”
“井戸／弁護士席, it is no use Ida telling you, or I, or anyone else the tale, unless she is sure of the truth. によれば Diabella, this man Venery, in Singapore, can 立証する the story, so, under the 指導／手引 of 行方不明になる Hest, 供給するd, mind you, she knows the story, Ida may have written to Venery. If Venery says that Ida is not Dimsdale’s daughter I daresay the girl will see her supposed aunt and 降伏する the fortune. 行方不明になる Hest, undoubtedly, as you say, 演習s a 確かな 量 of 支配（する）／統制する over Ida’s 女性 mind, but she is a good woman and assuredly is not a fortune-hunter.”
“It may be as you say,” assented the 陸軍大佐 grudgingly. “However, it is plain that Diabella knows something of The Spider and something of the 殺人, since she is aware of Dimsdale’s secret.”
“You don’t think she read it in the astral light? I know you believe in occult 事柄s.”
“To a 確かな extent,” said Towton drily, “but I don’t believe that the Unseen ever furnished so 詳細（に述べる）d a story. Communications from the next world are apt to be scrappy. What’s to be done?”
Vernon quickly decided. “We’ll divide the 重荷（を負わせる）,” he said 敏速に. “You 令状 to-night or to-morrow to George Venery, of Singapore, asking how much of this yarn is true, and I shall call on Diabella.”
“Why not 協議する 視察官 Drench and have her 逮捕（する）d.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea,” pondered Vernon, “and yet it is not wise to 行為／法令／行動する with too much haste. After all, we can’t get a 家宅捜査令状, as you have no 証言，証人／目撃する to your 強襲，強姦, and the woman can easily 否定する the story of Dimsdale which seems to connect her with The Spider. I shall go on my own and 安全な・保証する more 証拠 upon which to get a 令状, if not for her 逮捕（する） at all events for a search through those rooms of hers. Some 証拠 regarding The Spider—if indeed she is connected with him, as seems 極端に probable—may be 設立する 隠すd there. I’ll call to-morrow morning,” ended Vernon rising, “in the character of a superstitious （弁護士の）依頼人.”
“And I’ll 令状 the letter to Venery, of Singapore.”
In this way the 事柄 was decided and the 重荷（を負わせる） was divided. Vernon went away with the 有罪の判決 that by chance the 陸軍大佐 had struck upon the much-wished-for 手がかり（を与える） which would lead to the 身元確認，身分証明 of the famous Spider. Certainly, he might be jumping to a 結論, but, taking all that was known into account it looked 極端に probable. And if it was true it behoved him to 行為／法令／行動する 慎重に lest The Spider at the eleventh hour should slip through the fingers of the police. For this 推論する／理由, and until he was 肯定的な, Vernon did not think it wise to call in the 援助 of the 法律. First it was necessary to 証明する the collusion of Diabella and The Spider, so that if she were not the scoundrel herself she would at least be able to identify him beyond all 疑問. Second, even if his 身元 were 証明するd it would be no 平易な 仕事 to 逮捕（する） so slippery a 犯罪の. Like the celebrated fox in the fable, The Spider had a thousand tricks, which he could use to better advantage than the animal. The fox in the story of Æsop was caught, but it was probable, unless the very greatest care were used, that The Spider would escape. Already the police had experienced his subtlety, and regarded the arch-scoundrel as a very 用心深い and dangerous bird who was not to be caught by putting salt on his tail.
陸軍大佐 Towton, 存在 いっそう少なく experienced in the trickery of the 犯罪の classes, was more 希望に満ちた of success, and next morning settled 負かす／撃墜する to 令状 the letter to Venery, of Singapore, やめる 確信して that all the mysteries were on the eve of 解答. He やめる 推定する／予想するd to hear from his 特派員 that Ida was not Dimsdale’s daughter, but he was やめる sure that the embroidered facts of the pointed 延期する in the 救助（する） of Menteith were 誤った. 保証するd of this, he was やめる willing to marry Ida, as the daughter of a poor 兵士, and to を引き渡す the fortune to Lady Corsoon. Love was everything to the 陸軍大佐 at this moment, and nothing else 事柄d.
But just as he reached the second page of his letter Vernon burst into the room with a half-悩ますd and half-勝利を得た 空気／公表する. He told his news without any 延期する. “I believe you are 権利 about Diabella 存在 connected with The Spider, 陸軍大佐,” he said; “she has shut up her rooms and has （疑いを）晴らすd out 捕らえる、獲得する and baggage.”
It was big news, which meant more than at first sight appeared, since the 関わりあい／含蓄 was of depths below depths and 隠すs behind 隠すs. To be やめる plain, the 予期しない flight of the fortune-teller, for it was nothing else, hinted at the truth of Towton’s 疑惑s. Had there been nothing but the mere 強襲，強姦 Diabella could have 直面するd that and could have even counted upon the 陸軍大佐 doing nothing, since an unbiassed 証言，証人／目撃する was 欠如（する）ing. The flight was not 原因（となる）d by the 出来事/事件 which had taken place in the 社債 Street rooms, but by the 恐れる that something dangerous might peep out from behind it. And what could this something be—on the grounds of Diabella’s story and the Hindoo’s 試みる／企てるd strangling—but a dread lest The Spider should be traced?
“I am perfectly 確かな that you are 権利, Towton,” said Vernon, sitting sideways on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and swinging his 脚s. “Only the 恐れる of her 関係 with that ゆすり，恐喝ing scoundrel 存在 traced could have 脅すd her into 見えなくなる.”
“She has really gone?”
“Really and truly. Remember, she had three days to make herself 不十分な, but so afraid was she lest you should take 活動／戦闘 that she decamped on the morning of the second day.”
“How decamped?” questioned Towton, laying 負かす／撃墜する his pen.
“She sent the Hindoo to 降伏する the 賃貸し（する）. Bahadur his 指名する is.”
“The native who tried to choke me?”
“No; the doorkeeper. I was 正確な to ask if he was lean or stout. The lean one （機の）カム to 降伏する the 賃貸し（する）.”
“And his 指名する is Bahadur. 井戸／弁護士席, that’s something 価値（がある） knowing. But how did you get your informant to talk, and how did you find any person in 当局 to explain 事柄s?”
“That was 平易な.” Vernon slipped off the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and into a 議長，司会を務める. “I called on the 嘆願 of wanting my fortune told by Diabella. Instead of Bahadur 開始 the door a neat little maid-servant made her 外見 and 知らせるd me that Diabella had retired from the 商売／仕事, which had been taken over by a 確かな American prophetess. I asked to see the lady, and I did.”
“You don’t think she was Diabella unmasked?”
“Not from your description. You told me Diabella was tall; this woman was short, and the 発言する／表明する, instead of 存在 metallic, as you 述べるd it, was rather musical, although disfigured by a Yankee twang. This new sorceress, from New York City, as she told me she was, could never have spoken English without the twang.”
“It might have been assumed.”
“Not it. I can tell the true from the 誤った,” said Vernon emphatically. “Mrs. Hiram G. Slowcomb is a 本物の American, sure enough. Besides, her ideas of surroundings and those of Diabella 異なる. The last 願望（する）d weird decoration and furniture, a mask, an Egyptian dress, Oriental attendants, and so 前へ／外へ. Mrs. Slowcomb’s idea is that people should not be 脅すd, but should have their 未来 told in a motherly, old-fashioned way まっただ中に 田舎の-fireside-granny-scenery. She ーするつもりであるs, so she told me, to transform the Egyptian rooms into the 外見 of a rustic cottage 内部の, with a cat and a humming tea-kettle, rafters with strings of onions, and flower-マリファナs on the ledges of 社債 Street windows turned into casements. It’s rather a clever dodge,” 反映するd Vernon, “as people will be at their 緩和する 直接／まっすぐに and so will talk 自由に and listen comfortably.”
“And Mrs. Hiram G. Slowcomb herself?”
“A motherly old thing in a 暴徒 cap and a stuff dress with a voluminous apron and a woollen shawl over her shoulders. I daresay she has dressed for the old cottage 内部の part, for she was seated in a 木造の 議長，司会を務める which didn’t fit in with the Memphis decorations, and knitted a homely 在庫／株ing.”
“What did she tell you about Diabella?”
“Very little, because she knew very little.”
“Do you believe that?” asked the 高度に 怪しげな 陸軍大佐.
Vernon shrugged his shoulders. “Everyone tells such lies nowadays that I never believe anyone. But Mrs. Slowcomb seemed to be 本物の enough. However, I’ll soon 証明する that, as I ーするつもりである to have her watched by a man upon whom I can depend. I shall learn in that way if she has 商売／仕事 relations with our masked friend.”
“What did she tell you?” asked Towton again.
“井戸／弁護士席, it seemed that she heard about Diabella wishing to retire from 商売／仕事 and went to see her. Diabella 否定するd that the rumour was true, but 約束d Mrs. Slowcomb the first 拒絶 of the rooms and 好意／親善, though how one can 移転 fortune-telling （弁護士の）依頼人s （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域s me. However, Mrs. Slowcomb retired and left her 演説（する）／住所—somewhere in Pimlico, where she was wasting her talents on maid-servants and 郊外の people. Diabella sent Bahadur to her there and the 賃貸し（する） was duly transferred for a sum of money. I believe Bahadur took Mrs. Slowcomb to the City and interviewed the landlord’s lawyer. However, it was all done fair and square.”
“But Diabella must have 調印するd the 同意 to the 移転?”
“So she did, under the 指名する of Isabella Hopkins, which may or may not be her real 指名する. At all events, she took the rooms as 行方不明になる Hopkins and 調印するd that 指名する on the 移転. Mrs. Slowcomb never saw her—at least, without the mask. She was as you saw her when Mrs. Slowcomb called at the rooms, and didn’t show in the lawyer’s office.”
“But the lawyer must have seen her?”
“井戸／弁護士席, he did, and I went to see him. He’s a stiff old buckram creature, who 拒絶する／低下するd to impart anything about 行方不明になる Isabella Hopkins as he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know why I wished to know; and, of course, on the 直面する of it, you can see, Towton, that I couldn’t gratify his very natural curiosity.”
“But why not, if we are to catch Diabella?”
“We 港／避難所’t got enough grounds to go upon,” said Vernon, shaking his 長，率いる. “I think it is best to let her fancy we don’t 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う anything and then we may be able to 逮捕（する） her unawares. She’s connected with The Spider, if not that gentleman himself, I am sure, and your visit and behaviour, which led to the strangling 試みる／企てる, have given her a fright. But if we keep silent her 疑惑s will be なぎd and she may 再現する.”
“Surely not.”
“Oh, I think so. Fortune-telling is an invaluable way of learning secrets, and Diabella must be very useful to The Spider, or to herself, if she is him. She won’t 降伏する her position without a struggle. It’s too 支払う／賃金ing all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, my dear fellow.”
“But she did 降伏する it.”
“Only because she lost her 長，率いる for the moment and thought you might bring the police on the scene for the 強襲，強姦. That would lead to unpleasant questions 存在 asked, which might result in heaven knows what 発覚s. Fortune-tellers are not in good odour since the （選挙などの）運動をする of a 確かな halfpenny paper against them.”
The 陸軍大佐 leaned 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める, 反映するing, while Vernon rose to walk up and 負かす／撃墜する the room for the 目的 of stretching his long 脚s. He lighted a cigar and went on talking lightly.
“You never saw such a heap of clever dodges as this Diabella has to impress the weak-minded. Those mummies—they are all 偽のd, by the way—have reeds inside them 主要な to their mouths, and Diabella, by 圧力（をかける）ing on the 武器 of her 明言する／公表する 議長，司会を務める, could send a stream of 勝利，勝つd along to make them squall.”
“And they did squall,” said Towton musingly. “I never heard such a devilish 列／漕ぐ／騒動 in my life. What else?”
“Oh, some 協定 by which when the room was darkened the 内部の of the painted 塀で囲むs were illuminated to 明らかにする／漏らす the Egyptian 人物／姿／数字s as walking and sitting 骸骨／概要s. Then there’s an apparatus to make 雷鳴, and flashlights for 雷, to say nothing of ingeniously arranged draughts calculated to make anyone’s hair rise in the necessary 不明瞭 when he or she felt a 冷淡な breath fanning him or her. I wonder Diabella didn’t send her （弁護士の）依頼人s stark, 星／主役にするing mad.”
“It sounds like a fraudulent spiritualistic medium, Vernon, and only 確認するs my 疑惑s that Diabella was not a 本物の occultist.”
“But do you really believe anyone has such 力／強力にするs?” asked Vernon curiously.
“I really do,” said the 陸軍大佐 敏速に, “strange as it may appear. In India I have seen too much of the Unseen to 疑問. There are 確かな gifted people who can see and who can 支配（する）／統制する 軍隊s of which the 普通の／平均（する） person knows nothing. Oh, yes, I believe, and—but what’s the use of talking? I can never make you believe, and I don’t want to.”
Vernon shrugged his shoulders again and buttoned up his coat. “As you say, it doesn’t 事柄,” he answered. “However, Diabella has 消えるd with her two 衛星s, so there’s nothing more to be done at 現在の.”
“You give up the 追跡（する）?”
“I said, at 現在の. No. I shall 嘘（をつく） 静かな until Diabella 再現するs.”
“She won’t, if she’s wise.”
“She will—if she’s daring, and I shrewdly 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that she is.”
“Do you believe her to be this Spider?”
“I do, and I don’t. I really can’t say. But if not the rose, she is 近づく the rose. All I can 主張する with safety, 陸軍大佐, is that if we can lay 手渡すs on this witch in 穀物 we’ll learn who 殺人d poor Dimsdale.”
“God 認める that.”
“Amen! to that pious 祈り,” was Vernon’s reply as he left the room. Towton duly finished his letter of 調査 to Venery, of Singapore, and having 地位，任命するd it went cheerfully about his usual 商売／仕事 of 楽しみ—that is, as cheerfully as a man in love 井戸／弁護士席 could do. At the 陸軍大佐’s age love was rather a serious 事柄, since he had taken the 病気 不正に, as is invariably the 事例／患者 with middle 老年の men. Some individuals 絶えず let their emotions trickle out to expend themselves in trifling love 事件／事情／状勢s, amusing for the moment; others dam up the passions for years until they burst through the 障壁, to sweep everything before them irresistibly. 陸軍大佐 Towton was one of the latter. But, not 存在 完全に blinded by his late-born infatuation, he did not みなす Ida perfection, as a hot-長，率いるd 青年 would have done, and he foresaw that, as Mrs. Towton, she would need 指導／手引 and 会社／堅い 支配（する）／統制する. Hitherto, for want of both, she had run wild; but the 構成要素s were there, out of which, as Towton put it to himself, he could build a model wife. That she was frivolous, rather than strong-minded, was a point in her favour, as the 陸軍大佐 願望（する）d to mould wax rather than to 大打撃を与える アイロンをかける. So if Ida only 同意d to marry him he hoped for a 静める and contented 国内の 存在, undisturbed by 積極的な romance. And with his home-loving, self-controlled nature, Towton infinitely preferred the 見通し from an unemotional point of 見解（をとる）.
As to the money, he cared little for the possible loss of that, although he could not 否定する but what Ida’s 年一回の thousands would have come at the 権利 moment to 影響 改良s on the Bowderstyke 広い地所. Towton was too prosaic and level-長，率いるd to despise the 力／強力にする of the purse, but on the other 手渡す he was not at all しっかり掴むing, and was やめる 満足させるd to marry a girl with no dowry but her beauty and 甘い nature. All the same, he ーするつもりであるd to 知らせる himself fully of the truth by 問い合わせing, as he had done, from the man Diabella had について言及するd as her 当局. The 陸軍大佐 had no notion of letting Ida’s money 利益 Lady Corsoon if he could help it. Of course, if it was 証明するd to be 合法的に hers he would be the first to see that she had her 権利s. On the other 手渡す, should Ida turn out to be Dimsdale’s daughter, Towton made up his mind that the ten thousand a year would be joyfully used for the 改良 of his family 所有物／資産／財産. With these thoughts to 雇う his mind he waited very 根気よく in London, considering that he was a man of 活動／戦闘s rather than a dreamer of dreams. Later on, when Vernon had 説得するd Diabella from her hiding-place, Towton ーするつもりであるd to travel to Bowderstyke to see his beloved. He had every belief that during his absence Vernon could manage the 事件／事情／状勢 which 利益／興味d them both so 大いに.
For the next few days the 陸軍大佐 saw nothing of Vernon, but, while in the tablinum of the Athenian Club, he 突然に （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する with Mr. Maunders. The scamp looked singularly handsome, and was dressed carefully, as usual; but the sight of a snake would have been more pleasing to the worthy 陸軍大佐. He did not like Maunders, and, moreover, resented him as a somewhat dishonourable 競争相手, for no one could 尊敬（する）・点 a man who pointedly 支持を得ようと努めるd two women at one and the same time. Towton therefore nodded coolly and crossed to the central （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to 選ぶ up a Service Magazine. As he did so Maunders sauntered to his 味方する and slipped into a 議長，司会を務める 近づく to that one which the 陸軍大佐 had taken.
“Have you had any news of 行方不明になる Dimsdale?” asked Maunders amiably.
“No,” retorted Towton, 開始 his magazine as a hint that he wished to be left alone.
“She is still in Yorkshire with 行方不明になる Hest,” 固執するd Maunders.
“So I understand,” was the stiff reply.
“I believe she will remain there for one month.”
“かもしれない she will.”
Maunders was not discouraged. “Have you any message for her,” he asked.
“Why do you ask?” 需要・要求するd the 陸軍大佐, sitting up 突然の.
“Because Francis Hest—you know, the brother of 行方不明になる Dimsdale’s friend—has asked me 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall. I am going there at the end of the week for a few days. I thought you might have a message for 行方不明になる Dimsdale.”
“There is such a thing as the 地位，任命する,” said Towton, exasperated by the young man’s 冷静な／正味の 保証／確信. He took up the magazine again, then hesitated and threw it on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Averse as the 陸軍大佐 was to discuss his 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s with anyone, and least of all with Maunders, whom he so 率直に hated, he felt that he せねばならない take advantage of this chance to learn 正確に／まさに what was Maunders’ 態度 に向かって Ida. “Am I to understand that you are engaged to 行方不明になる Dimsdale?” he asked はっきりと.
“Why should you think that?” asked Constantine negligently.
“Why, indeed! Considering that one day you profess to be 支払う／賃金ing attentions to 行方不明になる Corsoon and the next 支払う／賃金 your 演説（する）／住所s to 行方不明になる Dimsdale. But as you are going 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall it looks as though you inclined to marry the latter young lady.”
“No,” said Maunders indolently and looking at Towton through half-の近くにd eyelids. “I am going to see Francis Hest, who is a friend of 地雷. But I daresay 行方不明になる Hest and 行方不明になる Dimsdale find it dull, so I may be able to amuse them a trifle.”
“I am やめる sure of that,” said Towton sarcastically; “your social 資格s are 井戸／弁護士席 known. But I asked you if you were engaged to 行方不明になる Dimsdale.”
“No, I am not, nor am I likely to be.”
This was good news, but Towton could not be sure if Maunders was speaking honestly. “Then you ーするつもりである to marry 行方不明になる Corsoon?” said the 陸軍大佐.
“I do. But I don’t see why you should trouble yourself about my 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s,” said Maunders, insolently 冷静な／正味の.
“It was not I who sought this interview. But as you chose to speak to me I have every 権利 to について言及する a 支配する which 関心s us both.”
“And 関心s Vernon also.”
“正確に,” said Towton with 広大な／多数の／重要な 強調. “It is useless to disguise the fact, Mr. Maunders, that we are 競争相手s, and—”
“容赦 me, no,” interrupted the young man quickly. “I have been 辞退するd by 行方不明になる Dimsdale, so the field is open to you.”
“Ida 辞退するd you?” muttered the 陸軍大佐 stupefied.
“Strange, is it not?” replied Maunders lightly, “but such is the 事例／患者. I asked her to marry me and she hinted at a previous attachment. I 推定する she meant—”
Towton threw up his 手渡す and coloured through his bronzed 肌. “We will not について言及する 指名するs, if you please.”
“I don’t mind. But you know how the land lies—so far as I am 関心d, that is. But you will have to reckon with Francis Hest.”
“行方不明になる Hest’s brother?”
“The same. Francis and フランs—twins, with twin 指名するs, you might say. She is 充てるd to this more than brother, and wishes him to marry money.”
“Do you mean to say that 行方不明になる Hest has taken 行方不明になる Dimsdale 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall so that she may 会合，会う Mr. Hest?”
“Yes. He’s not a bad-looking fellow: 正確に／まさに like his sister, who is handsome in an 皇室の way, as you have seen. In fact, if you see フランs you have seen Francis. The brother isn’t very 井戸／弁護士席 off, as he has spent all his 利用できる cash in philanthropic 作品, and 建設するing some confounded dam to 供給（する） water to several villages has nearly 廃虚d him. 行方不明になる Dimsdale’s money will therefore come in very acceptably. But I 恐れる Hest will waste it in helping the poor; he’s ridiculously crazy about doing what he calls good.”
“It’s ridiculous,” muttered the 陸軍大佐 crossly. “行方不明になる Dimsdale doesn’t know this man Hest.”
“フランs will see to that. Now that 行方不明になる Dimsdale is at the Hall she will have every 適切な時期 of seeing him. 行方不明になる Hest will throw them together on every occasion. Upon my word,” Maunders rose and stretched himself, “were I you, 陸軍大佐, I should go 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall and look after 事柄s.”
“Thanks for your advice,” said Towton 選ぶing up the magazine again, “and good-day to you, Mr. Maunders.”
“This is what comes of my trying to help you,” 観察するd the young man with a shrug. “I do what I can and you throw my philanthropy in my 直面する.”
“No! no!” Towton’s 良心 smote him, for really Maunders had done him a 際立った service, and also he had 発表するd that Ida had 辞退するd him, which was excellent news. “I thank you for what you have told me. It is probable that I shall go 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall at the end of the week.”
Maunders nodded. “I may 会合，会う you there,” he yawned, and sauntered away with a bored 空気／公表する, which was rather overdone. As a 支配する he was 警報 and 十分な of life, so it looked as though this languor was assumed for some 目的, and not a good one, if the man’s selfish nature was to be taken into account.
It 手配中の，お尋ね者 three days to the week-end, so Towton really ーするつもりであるd to take the northern 旅行. He had never 信用d 行方不明になる Hest, and it was やめる probable that as she had discouraged the 支持を得ようと努めるing of both himself and Maunders her 意向 was to 安全な・保証する the heiress for her too philanthropic brother.
Of course, if Towton could 証明する to the twins that Ida had no money it was possible that no その上の 計画（する）s would be laid to entrap her. Money was what Francis Hest 要求するd for his lord-of-the-manor 計画／陰謀s, and money was what the sister 願望（する）d to 安全な・保証する for him. But, considering that フランs did not get on 井戸／弁護士席 with her brother and that they rarely met, it was strange that she should be so anxious to serve him; unless, indeed, the two had come to an 協定 that if Francis married the supposed heiress フランs should 株 the income. On the whole Towton thought it would be just 同様に to go 負かす／撃墜する to The Grange for a week or so and 支払う／賃金 a neighbourly visit to Gerby Hall. He would at least learn how much of Maunders’ tale was true, and perhaps might induce Ida to 受託する him, since she had 辞退するd his handsome 競争相手.
“Gad! I’ll go 負かす／撃墜する on Saturday,” decided the 陸軍大佐.
And it happened that before Saturday he received a letter which made him even more anxious to visit his family seat. It （機の）カム from Ida, and she pointedly asked him to come 負かす／撃墜する and see her. Amongst other things, she wrote that Francis Hest had gone away and that she had only seen him twice at Gerby Hall. “フランs and her brother don’t get on 井戸／弁護士席 together,” went on Ida in her letter, “and are rarely together. When he is in she is out, and 副／悪徳行為 versâ, like the little old man and woman in the 天候 cottage. I only saw Francis for a few minutes each time and I don’t like him much, although he 大いに 似ているs フランs. But he is more 暗い／優うつな and is やめる a misanthrope. Nor do I like フランs so much as I did, as she seems inclined to take the upper 手渡す with me, and wants me to do 正確に／まさに as she wishes. Lately she has been 勧めるing me to marry Mr. Maunders, and told me that he was coming 負かす／撃墜する to stop for a time. Besides, there is a housekeeper, 行方不明になる Jewin, who is a 二塁打-直面するd woman, I am sure, and looks やめる dangerous. She fell in ecstacies over a photograph of Mr. Maunders, which he gave フランs, and told me, presumptuously, that she thought we made a handsome couple. In fact, I don’t like this place at all, and I wish you would come 負かす／撃墜する and stand by me.”
At this point the 陸軍大佐 laid 負かす／撃墜する the letter to think. 明らかに Maunders was lying when he 明言する／公表するd that he did not wish to marry 行方不明になる Dimsdale, and that フランs wished to 安全な・保証する the heiress for her brother. He told one story, and Ida another; and of the two Towton preferred to believe that of the girl. The letter went into general 詳細（に述べる）s about the beauty of the country and the dismal gloom of the Hall. Towton gathered 間接に that 行方不明になる Hest was keeping a の近くに watch on Ida, and that the girl was beginning to resent this over-emphatic 影響（力）. In fact, throughout the letter there sounded a 公式文書，認める of alarm, as though Ida was both uncomfortable and uneasy. She certainly pointedly asked Towton 負かす／撃墜する to stand by her, and when he had finished the epistle he was やめる decided about travelling by the Saturday train as he had arranged. But the contradictory stories told by Ida and Maunders puzzled him 大いに. More than ever he 不信d 行方不明になる Hest, who seemed to be playing a 深い game for the winning of Ida’s fortune. But the 陸軍大佐 chuckled to think of her 失望 when she learned that Ida was not する権利を与えるd to the money, always 供給するd that Diabella had spoken the truth.
As two 長，率いるs are better than one, and as Towton was working in consort with Vernon, he 敏速に sought out his friend and laid the letter before him. Also he 詳細（に述べる）d what had taken place in the tablinum of the Athenian Club between himself and Maunders. Vernon heard the 陸軍大佐’s narrative with 広大な／多数の／重要な attention, then gave his opinion after some reflection.
“There is some devilry under all this,” he said, laying a finger on the letter, “and 行方不明になる Hest seems to be working in 合同 with Maunders. He says one thing and Ida another, so it is difficult to know 正確に／まさに how 事柄s stand.”
“I believe Ida.”
“井戸／弁護士席, on the whole, so do I. I think,” Vernon paused, then 追加するd 突然の, “I don’t 信用 Maunders, you know.”
“Neither do I.”
“In that 事例／患者, let us 行為／法令／行動する 正確に／まさに opposite to the way in which he 示唆するs.”
“How do you mean?” questioned the 陸軍大佐 doubtfully. “Maunders wants you to go to Yorkshire. As he is going himself he would 自然に want a （疑いを）晴らす field, if indeed 行方不明になる Hest is supporting him in this design on Ida’s fortune. Therefore he has some 推論する／理由—and you may be sure that it is a bad one—to get you 負かす／撃墜する.”
“I can look after myself,” said Towton sturdily.
“やめる so; but we have to look after Ida. Don’t go to Yorkshire.”
“But Ida wants me to go. See how 緊急の her letter is.”
“I understand. All the same, I think it wiser for you to remain.”
“Until when?”
“Until I can corner Diabella,” replied Vernon, and ended the conversation.
自然に, under the 圧力 of Ida’s imploring letter, 陸軍大佐 Towton was not anxious to remain inactive in London. He wished to go to Bowderstyke himself and learn the exact truth. Maunders said one thing and Ida another, so if the two were 直面するd the 絶対の facts of the 事例／患者 would certainly come to light. Towton assuredly believed Ida rather than Maunders, but it seemed strange to him that 行方不明になる Hest should 支持する／優勝者 Constantine, and strange also that Maunders should wish him to come 負かす／撃墜する to Gerby Hall, where, if Ida spoke 正確に, his presence would not be welcome either to 行方不明になる Hest or her co-conspirator. And Maunders was far too clever a man to do anything without having some 反対する in 見解（をとる）. What that 反対する might be 陸軍大佐 Towton as yet could not fathom.
For this last 推論する／理由, and because his 競争相手 so pointedly advised him to go to Gerby Hall, the 陸軍大佐 remained in London. Whatever Maunders’ 計画（する）s might be, they would assuredly be 妨害するd by the absence of Towton, and, later, the 陸軍大佐 決定するd to go, even before Vernon 誘惑するd Diabella from her hiding-place. 一方／合間, as Maunders had 明言する／公表するd that he was himself going to Gerby Hall on the 招待 of 行方不明になる Hest, the 陸軍大佐 sought the young man’s rooms on Sunday afternoon ーするために see if he had kept his 約束, as he fancied that the 提案するd visit might be some trick. On 調査, however, the 陸軍大佐 learned that Constantine had 出発／死d on the previous day and had left notice with the 管理人 of his 議会s that he would not return until an entire week had elapsed. Evidently he had meant what he said, すなわち, to 受託する 行方不明になる Hest’s 歓待.
This knowledge, however, only made Towton the more anxious to go also, as the idea that Maunders was having it all his own way and was 支配するing Ida to 迫害 made him restless. He wished to ride 前へ／外へ like a knight of old to 救助（する） his lady-love, who certainly, if her letter was to be believed, seemed to be in 広大な／多数の／重要な 危険，危なくする. It said a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 for Towton’s disciplinarian instincts that he obeyed Vernon, as one more professionally clever at such 事例／患者s, rather than his own 願望（する）s. In the 合間, having 満足させるd himself with regard to Maunders’ どの辺に, the 陸軍大佐 took up his usual life for, at all events, a week. He relieved his mind by 令状ing to Ida 説 that he would come 負かす／撃墜する to The Grange at the termination of that period.
Vernon had not thought fit to impart to Towton how he 提案するd to inveigle Diabella into the open for the very simple 推論する／理由 that he was puzzled himself how to 行為／法令／行動する. Several times he had been to the 社債 Street rooms, only to find that they were in the 手渡すs of decorators, 速く transforming the weird Egyptian hall into a cosy English cottage. Mrs. Hiram G. Slowcomb was already advertising that “Granny!” would foretell the 未来 after the fashion of the renowned Mother Shipton, and already had seen several of Diabella’s old （弁護士の）依頼人s, desirous of novelty. To these she told wonderful things in a strong American accent, which did not 控訴 the thrum cap or the tartan shawl or the general looks of an 古代の rustic dame. However, she was 後継するing very 井戸／弁護士席, and there was no 疑問 that when her mise-en-scene was 用意が出来ている that she would become the fashion for a few months. She professed to know nothing of Diabella, and as she was やめる frank in answering questions Vernon saw no 推論する／理由 why he should not believe a story which certainly appeared, on the 直面する of it, to be true. The lawyer of the landlord still 辞退するd to say anything about Isabella Hopkins since Vernon 拒絶する／低下するd to 明言する／公表する why the knowledge was 要求するd. And, of course, as he was 怪しげな rather than 確かな he could say 絶対 nothing.
In this 窮地, and wondering how he was to come 直面する to 直面する with the woman, Vernon decided, on the Sunday when Towton went to 捜し出す Maunders, to 支払う／賃金 an afternoon call. This errand took him into the luxurious 製図／抽選-room of Lady Corsoon. By this time the month of grace 許すd by The Spider was 近づくing its end, and Vernon, having 遂行するd nothing 限定された, considered it necessary to 安心させる the millionaire’s wife. 自然に, he 推定する／予想するd to find her haggard and hysterical, but was truly surprised to behold a perfectly composed person, comely and content. Her brown 注目する，もくろむs sparkled when the footman 発表するd the newcomer, and she swept 今後—the word is necessary to 正確に／まさに 述べる Lady Corsoon’s 課すing gait—to welcome him with ill-隠すd 切望.
“How are you, Mr. Vernon?” she asked in her best society manner, and then dropped her 発言する／表明する to a confidential whisper, “I should have called at your office to-morrow had you not come.”
“I am やめる 井戸／弁護士席, thank you,” replied Vernon, for the 利益 of the surrounding guests, and lowered his 発言する／表明する likewise: “Any news, good or bad?”
“Yes; both. Wait till everyone goes,” she said softly, and again spoke gracefully in her character of hostess. “You poor man, you really must have a cup of tea. Go to Lucy and ask nicely.”
Vernon needed no second 命令（する）, but thrust his way through a （人が）群がる of 井戸／弁護士席-dressed people to find a bamboo （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する covered with tea-things, over which a pretty, fresh-coloured damsel 統括するd. She received him with a shy blush, which made her look like a dewy rose. Lucy Corsoon could not be called lovely, nor would she have attracted attention in any 示すd degree. A 有望な, 甘い English girl was all she （人命などを）奪う，主張するd to be, and, having the bloom of 青年, she really appeared more charming than she really was. In a very plain white frock and without a 選び出す／独身 ornament, she looked like a modest violet, almost hidden by its leaves. The ardent gaze in her lover’s dark 注目する，もくろむs made her blush more than ever as she 手渡すd him a cup of tea.
“Without sugar,” she said in a gentle 発言する／表明する; “I know your tastes.”
“Who else should?” 問い合わせd Vernon smiling, and sipped his Bohea. “This tea is delightful and 正確に／まさに what a thirsty man 要求するs.”
“I hope you are hungry also. Mr. Hest, please pass the cakestand to Mr. Vernon.”
The lover wheeled when the 指名する was について言及するd, to find himself 直面するing the 相当するもの of Ida’s companion. He would have guessed the 関係 even if Lucy had held her peace. Mr. Hest smiled at the amazed look of the young man, and swung 今後 the bamboo cakestand with a soft laugh.
“Don’t say what you are going to say, Mr. Vernon,” he 発言／述べるd pleasantly. “I know 正確に／まさに how astonished you are to see that I am so like my sister.”
“You are indeed,” breathed Vernon, mechanically taking bread and butter. “I should have taken you for 行方不明になる Hest in disguise but for—” he hesitated.
“But for this scar?” finished Hest, laying a finger on a cicatrice which ran in a thin crimson line from the 権利 寺 to the corner of the mouth. “I got that in Paris years ago; the knife of an Apache 得点する／非難する／２０d me in this way. It is just 同様に, if only to distinguish me from フランs. I rarely come to London, but when I do everyone 星／主役にするs at me, as you did.” Mr. Hest shrugged his shoulders. “It’s rather a nuisance 存在 a twin.”
“You are not so tall as your sister,” 投機・賭けるd Vernon, while Lucy laughed at the idle jest of the Yorkshire squire.
“There’s very little difference. フランs looks taller because she wears petticoats. If I dressed in her 着せる／賦与するs and could hide this,” he laid his finger again on the scar, “you would not be able to tell the difference.”
“Your 発言する／表明するs are different,” said Vernon after a pause.
“I really begin to think you must be a 探偵，刑事, Mr. Vernon, since you are so very observant. Yes, our 発言する／表明するs are different and in the wrong way.”
“The wrong way?”
“Ah, you are not so observant as I thought. Yes; フランs has a 深い contralto 発言する／表明する, somewhat 激しい for a woman, 反して my 発言する／表明する, as you hear, is rather thin in 質. Nature mixed up the 発言する／表明するs as we are twins, maybe.”
It was as he said. Hest’s 発言する／表明する had not the 容積／容量 or the richness of his sister’s, but it certainly had a いっそう少なく serious 公式文書，認める. Vernon, 解任するing what Towton had told him of Ida’s 発言／述べる in her letter as to Francis 存在 dismal and misanthropic, wondered that she could have been so mistaken. He was really more cheerful than フランs, and did not seem to 扱う／治療する life in her 積極性 sober manner. Besides, that he was a philanthropist was in itself an argument against his 存在 of a 暗い／優うつな disposition. Vernon 裁判官d that Mr. Hest was much more of an 楽天主義者 than was his sister, and that he 欠如（する）d in some 手段 that 英貨の／純銀の ありふれた sense which, to put it plainly, made her company rather dull. If フランs had been the man and Francis had been the woman their temperaments would have ふさわしい the change of sex ever so much better. But, perhaps, as Mr. Hest had just 観察するd, since the two were twins nature had got mixed.
Vernon would rather have spoken to Lucy, but could not do so, and every now and then fresh guests （機の）カム to be served. He was therefore left to the society of Hest, and took advantage of the 適切な時期 to learn if the man was in love with Ida. “Did you leave 行方不明になる Dimsdale in good health?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. She is ever so much brighter, Mr. Vernon. The 空気／公表する of our Yorkshire moors has 選ぶd her up wonderfully and has brought colour to her cheeks.”
“And your sister?”
Hest shrugged his shoulders again. “Oh, フランs is always in 強健な health, Mr. Vernon. I find her company too exhausting for my health. She always wants me to be doing something or 説 something, and is never at 残り／休憩（する）.”
“You do a good 取引，協定 yourself in the way of philanthropy?”
“井戸／弁護士席, I do,” said Hest, his dark 直面する lighting up, “but it is really selfish on my part. There is nothing I love so 井戸／弁護士席 as to help the unfortunate. I have やめる changed the parish of Bowderstyke, and instead of 存在 a 引き裂く 先頭 Winkle sort of place it is now in lively touch with the twentieth century. If you are ever 負かす／撃墜する our way, Mr. Vernon, come and stop at the Hall and you shall see my opus magnus—the Bolly 貯蔵所. 行方不明になる Dimsdale was やめる amazed when she beheld the strength of the dam.”
“I have heard of that 広大な／多数の／重要な work from your sister. She was やめる enthusiastic over the 企業.”
“What! フランs enthusiastic over anything of that sort? You surprise me, Mr. Vernon, you do, indeed. フランs cares nothing about such things. Poetry and society and a general aimless life is her idea of living, But then she is a woman, and we must not be hard on women.”
“It’s strange,” said Vernon, musingly, with his 注目する，もくろむs on Hest.
“What is, if I may ask?”
“The life you について言及する would 控訴 your nature rather than hers, I should think, considering what I have seen of both of you. You are not so serious as 行方不明になる Hest, so far as I can 裁判官.”
Hest laughed. “井戸／弁護士席, you see, フランs takes her 楽しみs 本気で and in a very ponderous manner. I take my work lightly and as a hobby. That is all the difference, save that I am sure I get more amusement out of life than she does. Wait till you hear us argue.”
“You are stopping in town long?”
“Only for a few days. I may go to Paris or I may return to Gerby Hall. It all depends upon 行方不明になる Dimsdale.”
Vernon looked surprised. “On 行方不明になる Dimsdale? In what way?”
“井戸／弁護士席,” Hest hesitated, “it’s rather a 私的な 事柄 to—”
“Oh, I beg your 容赦.”
“Not at all. You know フランs and 行方不明になる Dimsdale so very 井戸／弁護士席 that I don’t mind telling you. The fact is my sister thinks that I せねばならない be married at my age—I shan’t tell you how old I am because that would give away フランs, who, like all women, doesn’t want her age to be known. But the long and short of it is that she wants me to marry 行方不明になる Dimsdale. I saw very plainly that 行方不明になる Dimsdale didn’t want to marry me, so I ran away.”
This explanation appeared to be （疑いを）晴らす enough, and Vernon drew a long breath of 救済. Ida had been 権利; フランs had wished her brother to marry the girl and 安全な・保証する the fortune. Now that Francis 拒絶する／低下するd to entertain the idea 行方不明になる Hest had 招待するd Maunders 負かす／撃墜する to try his luck. But Vernon could not see what 利益／興味 the former could have in bringing about the marriage with the latter. He 解除するd his 注目する，もくろむs from the carpet to again 演説（する）／住所 his companion, but 設立する that Mr. Hest had slipped away to talk to an old lady with an ear-trumpet.
“You might speak to me,” hinted a low 発言する／表明する at his ear, and he turned to smile at Lucy’s 負傷させるd 直面する.
“You are so busy.”
“There is a なぎ now in the tea-drinking. Why 港／避難所’t you been to see me lately, Arthur?”
“I have been very busy, also I have been out of town.”
“You should be with me—always,” pouted 行方不明になる Corsoon.
“What would your mother say to that?” he asked, smiling 概して.
“She would be annoyed,” returned Lucy 敏速に.
Vernon started. “Surely you are mistaken,” he said anxiously, stopping to almost whisper in her ear. “Your mother gave her 同意, and when I was last here she said in your presence that she did not mind my—”
Lucy interrupted with a 紅潮／摘発する. “I think she has another opinion now. For some time she appeared to be pleased that we should marry, but the day before yesterday she hinted that there might be 障害s.”
“Ah, your father?”
“No. Mother can manage father in any way not connected with money. Mother has changed her mind on her own account.”
“But for what 推論する／理由?” asked Vernon, much perplexed.
“I wish you could find out,” 嘆く／悼むd 行方不明になる Corsoon. “She 辞退するs to tell me in any way. But I love you, and I won’t give you up. I’d run away with you if you were not so poor.”
“すぐに I’ll be poor no longer,” said Vernon quickly, “and then we can run away whenever you like.”
“You will be poor no longer?” questioned Lucy doubtfully.
“No, dear. My uncle, Sir Edward Vernon, of whom we spoke when I was here last, has become reconciled to me and has made me his 相続人. I shall have the 肩書を与える and something like three thousand a year.”
“Oh, how delightful. But perhaps it’s wrong to say that since it means your uncle’s death.”
“I think Sir Edward will be glad to go,” replied Vernon candidly. “He has lived a long life, and the latter part of it is very 疲れた／うんざりした and dreary. He told me himself that he was looking 今後 to the 広大な／多数の／重要な 解放（する）.”
“And then you will be rich?”
“Yes; and you will be Lady Vernon.”
“It seems too good to be true.”
“I don’t think so, dear. Even your father can scarcely 反対する to our marriage when I have an 保証するd position.”
Lucy looked 負かす／撃墜する at the tea-cups. “It’s mother I’m thinking about.”
“I shall see Lady Corsoon before I leave,” said Vernon compressing his lips, and sending a ちらりと見ること in the direction of his hostess. She caught his 注目する，もくろむ and smiled graciously: so graciously indeed that he bent again 負かす／撃墜する to Lucy.
“You must be mistaken, darling,” he whispered. “Your mother is やめる friendly, and I am sure will not 反対する in any way.”
“She has changed her mind,” answered 行方不明になる Corsoon obstinately, “at least, she told me not to count on marrying you.”
“Strange. She gave no explanation?”
“非，不，無, and was やめる cross when I asked for one.”
This 見解（をとる） of Lady Corsoon’s 態度 was supported by the fact that on seeing Vernon conversing so 真面目に with Lucy she called to the girl to come to her. 表面上は this was to 現在の her daughter to a 流行の／上流の countess who had lately arrived, but Vernon guessed that she really wished to end the tête-à-tête. This was curious, considering the conversation which he had held with his 提案するd mother-in-法律 at the office of Nemo. It was evident that she had changed her mind once more, and as Lady Corsoon was not a weathercock, Vernon wondered what powerful 原因（となる） could have brought about the alteration. However, he gave up 憶測 as he wandered about the room, speaking to his friends, and 約束d himself a 十分な explanation when the company 出発／死d. As Lady Corsoon had asked him to remain it was evident that she ーするつもりであるd to let him know what was the 事柄. And Vernon 決定するd not to leave the house until he did know. すぐに the young man was 逮捕（する）d by a flippant lady, voluble and somewhat silly, who gave him a surprising piece of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）. “Oh, Mr. Vernon, I am so glad to see you,” she babbled gushingly, “you really must come to the—the bazaar—the 広大な／多数の／重要な bazaar.”
“Never heard of it, Mrs. Crimer.”
“You silly man; don’t you read the papers? One of the Princesses is to have a 立ち往生させる, and no end of actresses and society people. It’s to be held at The Georgian Hall in 援助（する） of Homeless Hindoos.”
“Really!” said Vernon idly, “why are they homeless?”
“Oh, I don’t 正確に／まさに know,” 噴出するd Mrs. Crimer ばく然と; “it’s a flood, or a 解雇する／砲火／射撃, or a blizzard.”
“I don’t think they have blizzards in India.”
“Perhaps they don’t; how clever you are, Mr. Vernon. But all I do know is that the poor things want money, and we hope to make heaps by this bazaar. There will be lovely things sold, and games and flower 立ち往生させるs and 甘いs and fortune-telling,” babbled the flippant lady incoherently.
“Fortune-telling?” Vernon, 支払う／賃金ing little attention, only caught the last word with any degree of clearness. “Of course. What would bazaars be without fortune-telling? And this time it’s really 本物の. Diabella—”
“What!” Vernon spoke so loudly that several people jumped, and the flippant Mrs. Crimer put her gloved 手渡すs to her ears with a pretty gesture of 苦痛.
“You dreadful man, how you bellow! Yes; Diabella has a テント in the grounds at the 支援する of The Georgian Hall—we hope it will be a sunny afternoon, you know—and ーするつもりであるs to 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 everyone ten shillings. You know, she usually 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金s a guinea, but we think we’ll get more by asking いっそう少なく.”
“But I thought,” Vernon carefully 命令（する）d his 発言する／表明する, “I thought, that Diabella had retired from 商売／仕事?”
“So she has. That delightful Granny has taken her 商売／仕事. I’m going to see her and ask about my Affinity.”
“Your husband?”
“Oh, no,” said Mrs. Crimer airily; “he’s only my husband, you know. But I must have an Affinity: someone who is a spiritual lover. And Granny—”
Vernon ruthlessly 削減（する） her short. “How did you get Diabella?”
“Really, I don’t know,” murmured Mrs. Crimer ばく然と. “Someone asked her, or she asked herself. I don’t know which. But she is to be there in her Egyptian dress and wearing an Egyptian mask and in an Egyptian テント. Do go and have your fortune told.”
“I shall,” said Vernon grimly, and inwardly rejoicing over the chance that was placing Diabella in his 力／強力にする. “And do you—”
“No.” Mrs. Crimer spread out her 手渡すs with a shrug. “I really can’t talk to you any more. Everyone is going and I have heaps and heaps of dear, delightful people to see. Good-bye! so glad you will come to the bazaar. やめる angelic it will be—やめる—やめる.” And the flippant lady babbled her way to the hostess, who was now taking 早い leave of her さまざまな guests. Lucy had disappeared, as Vernon soon learned by a ちらりと見ること 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room, so he sat 負かす／撃墜する and waited until Lady Corsoon could give him her 約束d ten minutes’ explanation. He would have liked to have had a 雑談（する） with Sir Julius, if only to enlist him in favour of the marriage by dropping a hint regarding the 推定する／予想するd 相続物件. But the financier rarely put in an 外見 at his wife’s “At Homes,” finding them far too frivolous for a man of his capacity. So Vernon decided that if Lady Corsoon’s explanation did not 証明する 満足な he would interview Sir Julius and 正式に ask for the 手渡す of Lucy. With the 信任状 of a soon-coming 肩書を与える, a lordly mansion and three thousand a year, he hoped to have his 提案s 井戸／弁護士席 received. At a former interview the baronet had scoffed at his pretensions; but now things were changed for the better, and the chances were that all would go 井戸／弁護士席.
“Now, Mr. Vernon,” said Lady Corsoon, when the last guest had shaken 手渡すs and 出発／死d, “we are alone and can have a talk. What news of your search?”
“I have no news,” replied Vernon placing a 議長，司会を務める for the lady. “The Spider cannot be 設立する.”
“Only seven days remain and I must give my answer then, Mr. Vernon. You know the 条件: either I 支払う／賃金 two thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs or my husband,” she winced, “is 知らせるd that I sold those family jewels to 支払う／賃金 my 橋（渡しをする） 負債s.”
“I am sorry, Lady Corsoon, but as yet I have not caught the man.”
She made a gesture of despair. “Oh, what is the good of 存在 sorry? I （機の）カム to you as a practised 探偵，刑事,” this time it was Vernon who winced; “at least, Mr. Maunders 保証するd me that you were,” she 急いでd to say.
“Very 肉親，親類d of Mr. Maunders,” said Vernon sarcastically. “Go on.”
“井戸／弁護士席, I （機の）カム to you for 援助, and you have done nothing.”
“I have done everything that I could do,” said Vernon drily, “but The Spider is too clever for me. As he has baffled the entire police 軍隊 it is no shame for me to 自白する as much.”
“What do you ーするつもりである to do?”
“I can’t say,” said Vernon, thinking of a possible 会合 with Diabella at The Homeless Hindoos’ Bazaar. “In a few days I may have news.”
Lady Corsoon shook her 長，率いる. “I can’t afford to wait, since the time is so short. Of course, you know that your marriage with Lucy depends upon your getting me out of this unpleasant position?”
Vernon felt inclined to say that she had placed herself in the said position, but he 抑制するd himself, as it was useless to make an enemy of her, and 単に 屈服するd.
“Very good,” went on the lady はっきりと, “if you don’t catch this Spider and の近くに his mouth and 回復する those jewels which he got from the pawnshop you don’t marry Lucy. In any 事例／患者 you are not a good match.”
“I am now, Lady Corsoon. My uncle has been reconciled to me and has made me his 相続人. Soon I shall be Sir Arthur Vernon, with a good income.”
“Oh, my dear man,” Lady Corsoon waved a jewelled 手渡す impatiently, “there are plenty of baronets and knights with 穏健な incomes who would be glad to marry Lucy for herself, let alone her 期待s from her father. My 条件s are that you should get me out of this trouble. Can you?”
“I shall try; I can say no more.”
“Then listen to me,” said the lady 堅固に. “A few days ago I received a letter from The Spider.”
“Ah!” Vernon nursed his chin and swung his 脚. “So that is why you have changed your mind with regard to my 支持を得ようと努めるing of Lucy?”
“Who told you that I had changed my mind, sir?” she asked 突然の.
“Lucy hinted something, and then I saw that you separated us in—”
“There, there! I understand.” Lady Corsoon waved her 手渡す again. “You are 権利. I have changed my mind, as The Spider has given me another chance; but, of course, if you can catch him and make him 持つ／拘留する his peace and can 回復する the family jewels I pawned, I am willing to keep to my 協定 with you and support you in marrying my daughter.”
“The Spider has given you another chance,” repeated Vernon sitting up. “And what may that be? Have you the letter?”
“It’s locked away. As I did not 推定する／予想する you to-day I did not put it in my pocket. But I can tell you what he says.”
“The Spider?”
“Yes, of course,” said Lady Corsoon quickly. “He tells me that if I will 支払う／賃金 him ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs in twelve months he will place me in 領収書 of that 量 a year by 証明するing that I am する権利を与えるd to my late brother’s money. Strange, is it not, since my niece Ida is ツバメ’s daughter?”
“Very strange,” replied Vernon mechanically. This news 証明するd to him more conclusively than ever that Diabella was connected with The Spider, and, if not the blackmailer herself, worked in concert with him. But until he could lay 手渡すs on the woman he 決定するd to say nothing to Lady Corsoon about the 事柄. “How long does he give you to answer this new 需要・要求する?”
“Two months,” said Lady Corsoon, triumphantly; “so at least I have 伸び（る）d time, and much may happen.”
“As you say, much may happen. How does he 提案する to place you in 所有／入手 of this income. Does he say?”
“No.” Lady Corsoon wrinkled her brows. “He 簡単に makes the 申し込む／申し出. Certainly Ida 相続するs as next-of-肉親，親類, but it may be that this Spider—who seems to know everything—has 設立する a will giving the income to me. Then,” she hesitated, “there is another 条件.”
“What is it?”
“One you won’t like. If I get this money I am to 同意 to the marriage of Lucy with—with—”
“With whom?” asked Vernon jumping up. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“With Constantine Maunders,” said Lady Corsoon coolly.
For the next few days Vernon vainly grappled with the new problem which Lady Corsoon’s （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） had 供給（する）d. That The Spider should 申し込む／申し出 the millionaire’s wife a fortune of ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs per 年 on 条件 of receiving the income for the first year scarcely surprised the young man, for he already 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd The Spider to be connected with Diabella, if, indeed, the creature was not that famous individual herself. But it seemed 半端物 that the arch-犯罪の should 利益／興味 himself in Maunders’ 事件／事情／状勢s, even to 補助装置ing to bring about the marriage with Lucy. Could it be possible that Maunders was one of the ギャング（団）?
Vernon 解任するd that after Mrs. Bedge’s 自白 of poverty he had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd Maunders in this 尊敬（する）・点, since the young man 明らかに contrived to live like a prince on nothing a year. He did not receive much from his aunt and he did not earn an income, so it was possible that in some shady way he managed to become 所有するd of 十分な money to gratify his extravagant tastes. Maunders also 存在 in the 周辺 of the library on the occasion of the conversation with the late Mr. Dimsdale, must have heard the 示唆するd 協定 of the 罠（にかける）. But then, as Vernon 解任するd, 行方不明になる Hest had 明言する／公表するd in やめる an innocent way how Maunders had been with her all the evening and could not thus have had anything to do with the 罪，犯罪 at “Rangoon.” Vernon’s 疑惑s had been banished by 行方不明になる Hest’s 主張s, but they now 生き返らせるd in 十分な 軍隊 after Lady Corsoon’s communication. He had made her show him the letter, and it 証明するd to be 類似の to the earlier epistle of The Spider, even to the ideograph at the end. 明らかに it was 本物の enough, and, if 本物の, Maunders must be connected in some way with the blackmailer. No other explanation was feasible.
Had Maunders been in London Vernon would have gone straight to 税金 him with his possible complicity, but the young man was at Bowderstyke and so, for the moment, could not be questioned. But, sooner or later, he would return to London, and then Vernon ーするつもりであるd to 軍隊 him to explain. 一方／合間 it seemed best to 捜し出す out Diabella at the Bazaar for the Homeless Hindoos and 脅す her with 逮捕（する） unless she explained how she had come to let The Spider know ツバメ Dimsdale’s secret. Also, she might 供給（する） the connecting link between The Spider and Maunders. Vernon was rather surprised at Diabella’s daring in thus making a public 外見, but he supposed that his ruse had been successful, and that the fortune-teller, not having been 率直に searched for, 推定するd that 陸軍大佐 Towton had taken no steps. If she had learned that Towton was to be at the fête she might have 拒絶する／低下するd to 危険 演習ing her profession; but she had no 推論する／理由 to believe that he would be 現在の, and thus dared the danger. But, never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うing Vernon, he could enter the テント and 涙／ほころび off her mask, which was what he ーするつもりであるd to do at the first 適切な時期.
The young man hesitated whether to tell 視察官 Drench or to remain silent until more 満足させるd as to the hidden 関係 between Diabella and The Spider. After reflection, he decided to carry through the 事柄 himself. By 除去するing the waxen mask he would at least learn what Diabella was like, and perhaps, if brought to bay, she would speak out to save her 肌. Then, when he knew more, he might 投機・賭ける to call in the 援助（する） of the police. It was a dangerous 商売／仕事, and perhaps Vernon would have been better advised had he taken more 警戒s against the woman’s escape; but the 証拠 against her was so vague, and there appeared to be so much to （疑いを）晴らす up, that he 疑問d if Drench would be able to 逮捕（する） her on the 明らかにする 疑惑. At all events, after turning the 事柄 over in his mind Vernon started by himself for the bazaar, 解決するd to 行為／法令／行動する on his own 率先. He told no one of the second letter from The Spider to Lady Corsoon, not even 陸軍大佐 Towton. So that 軍の gentleman, ignorant of what was taking place, ぐずぐず残るd in his 議会s or idled at the Athenian Club, fretting over his inaction and longing for some chance to 陳列する，発揮する his generalship. A very natural feeling, considering the 陸軍大佐’s active mind.
The Georgian Hall was a 抱擁する repository of Hanoverian 遺物s in South Kensington, and consisted of many moderately large apartments encircling a spacious central room. This was used for concerts, balls, 会合s, fêtes, and such-like entertainments 要求するing ample 範囲 for their 祝賀. The minor halls were 献身的な to the 陳列する，発揮する of 反対するs connected with the 支配する of the House of Brunswick, and dating from the 統治する of the first 君主 of the 王朝. 記念のs of 戦争 on land and at sea were here, together with pictures of famous events, and collections of old-world things 取引，協定ing with social life of the さまざまな 時代s. One room was filled with 人物／姿／数字s 代表するing the male and 女性（の） garbs of the different 統治するs; another 陳列する，発揮するd 磁器 and silver and glass of the several periods; and a third room held quaint furniture, 解任するing the tales of Jane Austen. The political and social and 軍の history of England was 含む／封じ込めるd in the museums, and from this fact the hall took its 指名する, since the 反対するs 時代遅れの only from The 行為／法令／行動する of Succession. It was an 利益／興味ing place and 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） the patronage which it received from the idle public.
On this occasion the central room was filled with gaily-decorated 立ち往生させるs in divers colours, on which were 陳列する，発揮するd modern 高級なs likely to 控訴，上告 to the purses of the self-indulgent. Society beauties, charming actresses, and celebrated lady 小説家s 統括するd over the booths of this Vanity Fair, and did a large 貿易（する） by their fascinating personality alone. Vernon, 正確に dressed, as became a young man about town, managed to elude these サイレン／魅惑的なs, who would have cajoled every shilling out of his pocket, and walked into the grounds at the 支援する of the Hall, where, Mrs. Crimer had 知らせるd him, the テント of Diabella was to be 設立する. It was a sunny afternoon, as the flippant lady had 願望（する）d, and the spacious gardens looked 極端に pretty with 旗s and テントs and flowers and general 青葉. Games of all 肉親，親類d were going on, and the place 似ているd a fair with its （人が）群がる of laughing people, who were enjoying themselves 完全に. So far as could be 裁判官d, the Homeless Hindoos would 利益 大部分は by the bazaar, as it 明らかに was a 広大な／多数の／重要な success. No prettier 機能（する）／行事 had taken place during the season.
Vernon saw endless friends and 知識s, as many 流行の／上流の folk were 現在の, but, taken up with his own anxious thoughts, he spoke to no one. However, someone spoke to him as he threaded his way amongst the throng, for a friendly touch on his shoulder wheeled him 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, to behold Francis Hest. He looked more like his sister than ever, and decidedly handsome in his immaculate frock-coat, grey trousers, 特許 leather boots, and silk hat. The only fault which Vernon—always rather fastidious—could find in his general 外見 was that he wore his hair much too long, which gave him the look of a poet or of a 流行の／上流の musician. And the 十分な 黒人／ボイコット locks 追加するd still more to his resemblance to フランs.
“I did not 推定する／予想する to find you here, Vernon,” said Hest after a handshake. “Why not? It’s one of the entertainments of the season, and everyone who is anyone is bound to patronise it.”
“I should have thought it was too frivolous for you.”
“Oh, I 保証する you I am a very frivolous person,” said Vernon 滑らかに.
“Is 陸軍大佐 Towton?” asked the other smiling; “and is he here?”
Vernon wondered why the question was asked. “Really, I can’t say. Towton is certainly not frivolous, but he enjoys society and is usually to be 設立する everywhere, enjoying himself. Do you know him?”
“No. I am an innocent 同国人, who knows no one in the 流行の／上流の world except Lady Corsoon, who is a host in herself. I asked out of curiosity, as, having heard 行方不明になる Dimsdale speak of the 陸軍大佐, I should like to 会合，会う him.”
“Oh! She spoke of 陸軍大佐 Towton, did she?”
“Is that strange?” asked Hest, smiling again and showing his white teeth. “I rather think 行方不明になる Dimsdale admires the 陸軍大佐.”
“He admires her and wants to marry her,” said Vernon bluntly.
“So I should imagine. Another 推論する／理由 why I did 権利 in running away from Gerby Hall and in 拒絶する／低下するing my sister’s help in marrying me to the lady. I think, however,” 追加するd Hest 意味ありげに, “that unless the 陸軍大佐 looks to his bride he will find she is likely to become Mrs. Maunders.”
“I should be sorry to see that.”
“Why? Don’t you like Maunders?”
“Oh, yes. We were at school together. But I believe that 行方不明になる Dimsdale is in love with the 陸軍大佐. You know, of course, that Maunders has gone 負かす／撃墜する to your place?”
“Certainly. フランs wrote me that he arrived on Sunday morning. That is why I advise 陸軍大佐 Towton to look after 行方不明になる Dimsdale.”
“Why does your sister wish 行方不明になる Dimsdale to marry Maunders?” asked Vernon in a pointedly blunt way.
Hest raised his 厚い, dark eyebrows. “Ask me another,” he said lightly. “All I can say is that フランs is a 広大な／多数の／重要な matchmaker. Failing me, she 示唆するs Maunders as a suitor. He is younger than the 陸軍大佐, I believe.”
“And much handsomer. But he has not Towton’s 英貨の／純銀の character. By the way, have you met Maunders?”
“Twice. Once in town and once at my own place. I 自白する that he doesn’t attract me 大いに. Handsome, yes; but there is something dangerous about him.”
“Dangerous?” Vernon looked straightly at the （衆議院の）議長, wondering how he had chanced to 攻撃する，衝突する on the very defect which spoilt Maunders’ charm.
“It’s the only word I can think of which 述べるs him. But perhaps I am wrong. フランs would think so.”
“I always thought that 行方不明になる Hest did not like Maunders.
“It may be so,” said Hest indifferently. “Still, he is handsome, and フランs is a woman. It seems to me, however, that the word 残り／休憩（する）s with 行方不明になる Dimsdale. If she loves 陸軍大佐 Towton she will marry him, if Maunders, he will 勝利，勝つ her. A wilful woman will have her way.”
“I do not think that 行方不明になる Dimsdale is wilful,” said Vernon stiffly, then with an afterthought that Hest might help the 陸軍大佐 to 妨害する the 計画（する）s which フランs certainly appeared to entertain, he 追加するd, “Would you like to 会合，会う Towton?”
“Oh, yes. I shall be in town for a week before going to Paris. I have few friends here and like to be amused.”
“Where are you staying?”
“At Professor Garrick Gail’s, Isleworth.”
“Oh!” Vernon could scarcely 隠す his surprise. “I thought that you did not 認可する of your sister appearing as a reciter?”
“Nor do I,” 再結合させるd the other man with a frown, “but フランs asked me to 配達する a message to Professor Gail, whom I met before and whom I like. He asked me to 受託する his 歓待 while in London, so I did so, as I hope to induce him to get フランs to abandon this 計画／陰謀 of 収入 money by her talents—which by the way I don’t 否定する—so that she may 再開する her proper place in society as my sister.”
Vernon shook his 長，率いる. “行方不明になる Hest is of too active a mind to 耐える tamely the life of an ordinary country lady.”
“She is singularly obstinate, if that is what you mean,” said Hest with a curling lip. “However, that is my 演説（する）／住所, so if you can arrange a dinner with 陸軍大佐 Towton I shall be glad to 会合，会う him and to give him the 最新の news of 行方不明になる Dimsdale.”
“Thank you!” Vernon 調書をとる／予約するd the dinner. “Say next Wednesday?”
“That will 控訴 me capitally. The day after to-morrow? 井戸／弁護士席, and what are you going to do now?”
“Just wander 一連の会議、交渉／完成する,” replied Vernon evasively. He did not wish to 公表する／暴露する his 計画（する）s regarding Diabella to the Yorkshire squire. “Good-day.”
“Good-day,” said the other in a friendly トン, and the two were soon separated by the ever-moving （人が）群がる.
It was growing late by this time and the gardens were not nearly so filled as they had been. Already there was a shade of twilight in the 静める sky and several lamps had been lighted. It was necessary to see Diabella at once, for it might be that she would not be 現在の in the evening. Vernon therefore went to 捜し出す for the Egyptian テント and soon 設立する it standing in an 孤立するd position at the far end of the ground. With some 技術 the canvas had been 築くd into the square form of a Memphis 寺, and this, coloured like 石／投石する and adorned with gaudy hieroglyphics, looked a striking 反対する in the 病弱なing light. Two imitation sphinxes guarded the doorway, and beside these on either 味方する stood two men like bronze statues with 倍のd 武器. One was slender and the other burly, and both were natives of India in spite of their 古代の Egyptian array. Vernon, knowing what he did know, had no difficulty in recognising Bahadur and the heavier man who had 試みる／企てるd to strangle the 陸軍大佐, until 妨げるd by his mistress.
“Can I see Diabella?” he asked, approaching slowly and 演説（する）／住所ing Bahadur as the more amiable-looking of the two.
“One, two, three,” said the man, showing his teeth and throwing up ３倍になる fingers. “Three to see mistress. Then you.”
Vernon nodded and, 残り／休憩（する）ing on his 茎, 星／主役にするd at the merry scene in an idle manner. But his thoughts were taken up with the probable scene which would 続いて起こる when he tore the mask from the woman’s 直面する. He wondered if she would make an 激しい抗議 and would 召喚する her attendants, and if so, would the sullen-looking レスラー 試みる／企てる to choke him? But Vernon 解決するd at the moment he 除去するd the mask to intimate that he knew of the 強襲，強姦 on 陸軍大佐 Towton, and so hoped that the woman would not 危険 unpleasant 発見s by making an 激しい抗議 but would be willing to talk calmly. If so, then he hoped to induce her to 明言する／公表する how she （機の）カム to be 所有するd of ツバメ Dimsdale’s secret. And here again, as it always did, （機の）カム the thought that Diabela might be a disguise for The Spider, in which 事例／患者 she would surely 拒絶する／低下する to 罪を負わせる herself. If she did and 辞退するd to be frank there would be nothing for it but to see Drench and procure her 逮捕（する）. For the moment, and now that he was on the very eve of the 企業, Vernon regretted that he had not brought the 視察官 with him so that he might be 合法的に supported by the arm of the 法律. But it was too late for such 悔いるs, and when he arrived at this point of his meditations Bahadur 解除するd the curtain which formed the door of the canvas 寺 to intimate that the stranger might enter.
The 内部の of the テント was adorned as an Egyptian Hall, much in the same way as the 社債 Street rooms, save that the mummies were absent. Diabella, in the weird dress 述べるd by Towton, sat stiffly in a 議長，司会を務める, with a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at her 肘. The cards and the 水晶 and さまざまな charts 耐えるing astrological 人物／姿／数字s were on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, together with a boat-形態／調整d lamp. This gave out a 公正に／かなり strong light, and Vernon could see plainly the expressionless waxen mask which covered the 直面する of the fortune-teller. She looked like a sphinx, solemn, 静める, and passionless. Yet below that 非，不，無-committing mask Vernon guessed was the 直面する of the true woman, alive with passion and intrigue. He saw two glittering 注目する，もくろむs scanning him curiously from the 影をつくる／尾行する of a 黒人／ボイコット 隠す which the seeress wore draped over her Egyptian 長，率いる-dress, and shivered a trifle at the uncanny look.
The sorceress saw the （軽い）地震. “Are you afraid?” she asked in her metallic 発言する／表明する, which was as expressionless as her mask.
“I am afraid of nothing,” replied Vernon boldly and coldly; “but the night 空気／公表する strikes 冷気／寒がらせる.”
He thought that he heard a sarcastic laugh, but it was so soft that he 井戸／弁護士席 might have been mistaken. However, thinking that the prophetess was sneering at him he might have 投機・賭けるd on some angry 発言／述べる, but that he recollected his 意向 and drew 支援する with a grim smile. The laugh would be on his 味方する when the mask was torn off.
“You wish to have your fortune told?” asked Diabella coldly and stretched out her 手渡す. “Let me read your palm.”
This was just what Vernon 願望（する）d, as the 支配する brought him within snatching distance of the mask. There was a stool 近づく at 手渡す, upon which Diabella 動議d that he should be seated; so すぐに he was sitting, so to speak, at her feet, with his 手渡す in hers. 影をつくる／尾行するs filled the corners of the テント and 高めるd the grotesque looks of the 人物／姿／数字s painted on the canvas. The laughter and chatter of the 減らすing （人が）群がる without had died away into a faint and 混乱させるd murmur, and in the vivid circle of the lamplight sat the two 人物／姿／数字s. Diabella, 持つ／拘留するing 支援する her 隠す, bent over Vernon’s 手渡す in silence.
“You are coming into good fortune,” she said thinly. “Yes. Here is the line which foretells money and position. One 近づく to you, if not dear, is on his death-bed and you 利益 by his decease. Am I 権利?”
She raised her glittering 注目する，もくろむs again to peer into his 直面する. “If you are 確かな of your （手先の）技術, there is no need for you to ask if you are 権利,” said Vernon composedly. He was 井戸／弁護士席 aware of how fortune-tellers 伸び（る） more knowledge than they impart by such dexterously-put questions.
Diabella gave a very modern shrug やめる out of keeping with her dress and mien. However, she made no reply and continued her reading. “There is marriage here”, she continued in a low 発言する／表明する; “but you have a 競争相手.”
“Will he be successful?”
“If he chooses to be.”
“That is untrue,” 否定するd Vernon nettled; “The lady loves me.”
“It is 疑わしい—疑わしい,” muttered the woman あわてて. “Your 競争相手 is a formidable one and not easily turned from his 目的. Look at the break in the line yourself.” She 手渡すd him a magnifying glass. “That means trouble before you 達成する your heart’s 願望（する）.”
“Can you tell me what my heart’s 願望（する） is?” asked Vernon after a ちらりと見ること through the glass.
“A lovely, 豊富な wife and a happy home.”
“やめる so; but I have a stronger 願望（する）.”
“To do what?”
“Ah!” said Vernon sarcastically, “that is for you to say. But my second 願望（する）, which is marriage, is 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 on my first 存在 realised.”
“I see, I see,” said Diabella raising her 発言する／表明する, which whistled shrilly like the 勝利，勝つd through a 割れ目. “You have to save someone from 不名誉 before you can marry the girl you love?”
“Is the someone a woman or a man?”
“A woman, and closely connected with the girl you wish to marry.”
“Is there any chance of success?”
“非，不，無! 非，不，無!”
“Then I shall not marry the—”
“You may marry, for the line of Venus is 堅固に 示すd,” interrupted Diabella はっきりと. “The girl loves you, and may 反抗する the person with whom she is so closely connected.”
“And my 競争相手 also?”
Diabella shook her 長，率いる. “He is too strong for her. He can 軍隊 her to marry him when he chooses.”
“Perhaps he may be 軍隊d to defend himself,” said Vernon incautiously.
Diabella looked up quickly. “What’s that?”
“Never mind. If you can read events you must guess what I mean.”
“I can only read what is in your 手渡す, and all that a man 計画（する）s and thinks may not be written there. Still, you will be wise to leave your 競争相手 alone, for he is too strong for you.”
“I don’t think so, knowing what I know.”
“What do you know?” Diabella’s metallic 発言する／表明する sounded somewhat nervous, and she dropped Vernon’s 手渡す to clasp her own on her （競技場の）トラック一周.
“I know,” said Vernon, bending closely に向かって her, “I know that my 競争相手 will marry neither Ida Dimsdale nor Lucy Corsoon.”
Diabella shrank 支援する and gripped the 武器 of her 議長，司会を務める. “The 指名するs are not familiar to me,” she breathed in a low 発言する／表明する.
“Think again. The first 指名する is familiar, surely?” mocked Vernon.
“Why should it be?”
“陸軍大佐 Towton might be able to answer that.”
Diabella rose suddenly, tall and straight, from her 議長，司会を務める and threw out her 武器 with a repellant gesture. “I do not know the 指名する of 陸軍大佐 Towton.”
Vernon rose slowly and 手段d his distance carefully. “You seem to forget a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定, madame,” he said softly, his fingers itching to 涙／ほころび off the expressionless mask.
“I never ask the 指名するs of my （弁護士の）依頼人s,” she mumbled.
“How do you know that 陸軍大佐 Towton was a （弁護士の）依頼人 of yours? I never told you.”
“I guessed—that is— Ah! Help!”
She shrieked loudly and with good 推論する／理由. Vernon’s 手渡す had 発射 out while he kept her attention engaged, and in a moment he had ripped the mask from her 直面する. 長，率いる-dress and all （機の）カム away in his 支配する, and Diabella covered her 直面する with her 手渡すs. At her shriek the 倍の of the テント door was torn open and the burly Indian appeared. Vernon flung aside the mask and 隠す and 長，率いる-dress and 掴むd Diabella’s wrists as the Indian ran 今後 to 援助（する） her. “I must see who you are,” cried Vernon and pulled her 手渡すs away. “Maunders!”
He fell 支援する a step and into the 武器 of the Hindoo. It was indeed Maunders whom he beheld, 縮むing 支援する into the 影をつくる／尾行するs with a furious, shameful 直面する, startled as a 罠にかける animal. Vernon had no time to see more, for the Hindoo made a clutch at his throat, silent and venomous. Mindful of how 陸軍大佐 Towton had been 強襲，強姦d and Dimsdale killed, the young man turned ひどく to grapple with his 加害者. As the two men の近くにd in what 約束d to be a deadly struggle Maunders 回復するd his presence of mind 十分に to dash over the lamp, and the テント became pitchy dark.
In that Cimmerian gloom the combatants swayed and swung and fought with silent earnestness. But the Hindoo was the stronger of the two, and Vernon felt the lean, long fingers 支配する his throat with vicious strength. He faintly heard Maunders, now at the door, hurriedly call to the native in an unknown tongue, and, fearful lest the two villains should escape, he tore himself away with a violent 成果／努力, crying as loudly as he could for 援助. The next moment his 対抗者 flung himself 今後 and, 選ぶing him up as though he were a child, dashed him with gigantic 軍隊 to the ground. His 長，率いる struck the turf with a thud, and everything was swallowed up in blank insensibility.
In half an hour, more or いっそう少なく, Vernon （機の）カム to himself slowly, and opened his 注目する，もくろむs in a bewildered manner. He was in 完全にする 不明瞭, and for the moment could not remember where he was or what had taken place. 徐々に memory returned to him and he sat up painfully to 解任する 詳細（に述べる）s. His 長，率いる throbbed with the 暴力／激しさ of the 落ちる, and the short, sharp struggle had 始める，決める his 神経s jangling like ill-tuned bells. Rising to his feet with an 成果／努力 he wondered why the Indian had not finished him off, then recollected the 早い words of Maunders in an unknown tongue. Probably he had been speaking Tamil and had ordered the man not to go to extremities. As in the 事例／患者 of 陸軍大佐 Towton, when the creature had been 警告するd by Diabella, or, rather, by Maunders, as in this instance, the native had stopped short of actual 殺人. In Maunders’ desperate 企業 it was necessary that he should remain on the 権利 味方する of the 法律.
Striking a match, Vernon ascertained that he was still in the テント, for its blue 微光 showed the 人物／姿／数字s and hieroglyphics weirdly flickering on the canvas 塀で囲むs. 明らかに the 犯罪のs, for they were nothing else, had fled, leaving him insensible, and Vernon wondered that he had not been discovered. But when he walked outside he saw on the door a notice 明言する／公表するing that the booth was の近くにd for an hour, and guessed that in this way Maunders had 供給するd time for flight. So 警告するd, no one would enter the テント, and evidently both the noise of the struggle and his cry for 援助 had passed unheeded. Vernon drew a long breath and stood where he was, watching the （人が）群がる of people merry-making under hundreds of coloured lamps, やめる oblivious to the fact that a 悲劇 had nearly taken place under their very noses. He wondered what was best to be done.
It was useless to go to those in 当局 at The Georgian Hall as no one would credit his wild tale, although the flight of Diabella and her 共犯者s might lend colour to his narrative. Moreover, Vernon decided that more than ever was it necessary to 追跡（する） 負かす／撃墜する Maunders in secrecy, as he wished for a 十分な explanation from him before calling in Drench to 補助装置. Likewise, for the sake of Ida, of Mrs. Bedge, and Lady Corsoon, Vernon wished if possible to 避ける publicity, since any スキャンダル would certainly bring their 指名するs into unpleasant notoriety. For these 推論する／理由s the young man left The Georgian Hall without telling anyone what had happened. But he chuckled as he went to think how the public would be disappointed to find the テント of the sorceress empty. Also, how amazed those managing the bazaar would be to discover that Diabella had 消えるd with her takings for the day, which would be かなりの. Vernon felt やめる sure that a man so unscrupulous as Maunders would not hesitate to 掴む the till seeing that, having been exposed, and doubtful if his old schoolfellow would 持つ／拘留する his tongue, he would want all the money he could get to 補助装置 his flight.
The question was to learn whither he had fled and what 跡をつける to follow ーするために 追跡（する） him 負かす／撃墜する. It was の近くに upon seven o’clock, and outside The Georgian Hall Vernon hesitated as to his next step. He wondered whether it would be better to go home and retire to bed, since he felt shaken by the struggle, or to 捜し出す out 陸軍大佐 Towton and enlist him as a fellow-pursuer in the man-追跡（する）. Finally he decided to take a taxi to the 陸軍大佐’s 議会s and relate what had happened, for he knew that unless he discussed the 事柄 he would only worry the whole night over the 大災害. He therefore 防備を堅める／強化するd himself with a stiff brandy and soda at a 近づく hotel and pulled himself together for a serious conversation. And serious enough it would be for Constantine Maunders, who could not be permitted to continue in his nefarious career.
As it happened, Towton, late in dressing for dinner, had not yet left his rooms for the Athenian Club. Vernon arrived at a ４半期/4分の1 to eight, just as the 陸軍大佐 opened the door. The two （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する with 相互の joy at 会合.
“My dear Vernon, I am glad to see you. I am 簡単に dying to have a talk, as I can do nothing but think of the entanglement in which we find ourselves.”
“You can’t be more pleased than I am at having 設立する you, 陸軍大佐. I have had an adventure with Diabella.”
“The ジュース. Have you learned who she is?”
“Who he is, you mean. Yes. That mask 隠すd Constantine Maunders.”
Towton sat 負かす／撃墜する on one of the hall 議長，司会を務めるs and 星／主役にするd. “Do you mean to say that the young scamp has been masquerading as a woman?”
Vernon nodded and sat 負かす／撃墜する wearily, for his bones ached. “I 推定する he thought that there would be いっそう少なく danger of 発見 if he changed his sex. I 推定する／予想する he wore those long Egyptian 式服s over his ordinary 着せる／賦与するs. When discarding them he would 再現する as Maunders, and could easily escape without 存在 noticed in the （人が）群がる. He’s clever, is Constantine, and yet not clever enough.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Towton gruffly and rising to his feet. “Suppose you come with me to the Athenian and tell me all about the 事柄.”
“I’m not in evening 道具.”
“Oh, the ジュース take that,” said the 陸軍大佐 cheerfully.
“And I’m rather knocked up with my fight.”
“Fight? Did Maunders show fight?”
“No. Your Hindoo did. He 強襲，強姦d me as he did you and left his 職業 unfinished in the same way. It’s a long story and I want your 援助. Go and have your dinner, 陸軍大佐, and I’ll 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する on the sofa in your sitting-room until you return.”
“Pooh! pooh! I can’t eat with such news as this exciting me.” Towton threw off his coat and hung his silk hat on a peg. “Come into the sitting-room and I’ll send my man to the nearest restaurant for a meal. 一方／合間 you’d better have a peg, for you look as white as a winter’s day.”
“No, thank you, 陸軍大佐. I had a brandy and soda just after leaving The Georgian Hall,” said Vernon as they entered the sitting-room.
“Have you been there—at the bazaar?”
“Yes. Diabella had 始める，決める up her テント there and was telling fortunes. I heard of this at Lady Corsoon’s the other day, and so 投機・賭けるd to 耐えるd the lioness in her den.”
“And the lioness turned out to be a lion,” chuckled Towton throwing himself into a 議長，司会を務める after making the sofa comfortable with cushions for his guest. “井戸／弁護士席, we’ll have the whole story after a 一時しのぎの物，策 dinner, for, hang it, your 公表，暴露 has taken away a very excellent appetite. Bendham!” The 陸軍大佐 turned to the retired 兵士 who 行為／法令／行動するd as his valet and who had just entered the room, “go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the nearest restaurant and tell them to send in the best small dinner they have, for two. Look sharp, now. You can lay the cloth in the smoking-room; we’ll make 転換 there.”
Bendham saluted 軍の fashion and took a 迅速な 出発, while his master turned his 長，率いる in the direction of Vernon. “Tell me all that has happened to you now,” he said easily; “it will be some time before the dinner makes its 外見, and I’m on tenterhooks. The ジュース, to think that our blackguard friend—for he is that, I 断言する—should be 収入 his money as a fortune-teller. It’s worse than—” Towton hesitated.
“Than my profession of a 探偵，刑事, you would say, 陸軍大佐,” finished Vernon languidly. “I should rather think so. I 補助装置 the 法律, and Maunders breaks it. But neither profession is tempting to a gentleman.”
“Oh, hang your profession,” said Towton impatiently. “You will soon enter into your kingdom when Sir Edward gives up the ghost. And it’s just 同様に that you have some experience in どろぼう-catching seeing what scoundrels we have to を取り引きする. Maunders, by jove! Now we’ll be able to find out how he （機の）カム to know that Ida wasn’t Dimsdale’s daughter. No wonder he decided to give her up, seeing that he was after the money. What did he say?”
“Nothing. He （疑いを）晴らすd out of the テント as soon as I discovered his 身元.”
“Where is he now?” 需要・要求するd the 陸軍大佐 はっきりと.
“I don’t know. That’s what I wish to speak to you about. And, to make things やめる （疑いを）晴らす, as I want your opinion, you had better hear the whole story.”
Towton intimated his 願望（する） to be 知らせるd of what had taken place, and listened attentively while Vernon 詳細（に述べる）d all that had happened since Mrs. Crimer had 知らせるd him of Diabella’s 提案するd 外見 at the bazaar. He ended with a description of his 回復するing from insensibility in the 砂漠d テント and his その後の 決定／判定勝ち（する） to 協議する the 陸軍大佐 before-taking any steps. “And my 推論する／理由 for wishing to move 静かに is obvious,” was the 結論するing 発言／述べる of the young man.
“Yes! yes! I やめる understand. We must keep 行方不明になる Corsoon’s 指名する and that of 行方不明になる Dimsdale out of the papers. By the way, what did this fellow mean by hinting in his confounded fortune-telling at 不名誉 to someone closely connected with 行方不明になる Corsoon? Does he mean her mother or her father?”
Vernon felt a trifle 混乱させるd. In his 利益／興味 in the recital he had unconsciously let slip more than he had been 用意が出来ている to impart. Both as a 探偵，刑事 and as a gentleman he was bound to keep Lady Corsoon’s secret, and as the 公表，暴露 of it was not 特に pertinent to the 事柄 in 手渡す he 小衝突d aside Towton’s question with a scornful laugh. “Oh, I daresay that was all patter. Maunders knows that I love Lucy and thought to 脅迫してさせる me by a 脅し that he had 力／強力にする to 軍隊 the mother to support his preposterous （人命などを）奪う，主張する to marry the girl. But after this （危険などに）さらす he will scarcely dare to come 今後.”
“The blackguard,” cried the honest 陸軍大佐 heatedly; “he blackens the character of both man and woman in his endeavours to earn his dirty money. But I thought he was supposed to be at Gerby Hall?”
“Oh, he doubtless arranged that so as to 供給する himself with an アリバイ.”
“Why the ジュース should he 供給する himself with an アリバイ?”
“Can’t you see that Maunders must be The Spider?” said Vernon impatiently. Towton leaped to his feet and began to walk to and fro much perturbed. “Oh, impossible! I don’t like Maunders; all the same, it seems incredible that he should be a 殺害者.”
“I can’t see that myself,” said Vernon drily. “Maunders is half a Greek and is as wily a bird as ever had salt put on its tail. Whether he gets it from his Greek father or from his English mother I can’t say, but he certainly has that strong 犯罪の taint, which induces him to get money for his whims by 違法な methods rather than by honest toil. Besides, we can’t say if he killed Dimsdale, even though, as is 明らかな, he is The Spider. 行方不明になる Hest 宣言するd to me in all innocence, and not with any 意向 of defending him, that Maunders was with her nearly all the evening.”
“Then he can’t be The Spider,” 主張するd the 陸軍大佐, “for undoubtedly The Spider killed poor old Dimsdale.”
“So we thought; so everyone thinks; and yet—井戸／弁護士席, of course, it’s not impossible that Maunders ordered this nameless native to get the money, and the man may have 遂行する／発効させるd the 殺人 without 指示／教授／教育s.”
“Or else,” said Towton emphatically, “Maunders may have had his mask torn off by Dimsdale when he （機の）カム for the money and 殺人d the old man to 妨げる 発見. It 削減（する）s both ways.”
“容赦 me, no, if 行方不明になる Hest is to be believed.”
“I don’t 信用 that woman,” said the 陸軍大佐 突然の. “She is 計画／陰謀ing to get Ida to marry her brother.”
“I think she will fail there, as the brother is in London.”
“What?”
“Yes. I met him both at Lady Corsoon’s and at the Bazaar. He said that his sister did wish to bring about the match, but that, not 存在 desirous of marrying Ida, he ran away from the Hall.”
“Leaving the field （疑いを）晴らす for Maunders?”
“You forget that Maunders is in town masquerading as Diabella.”
“He may have come up for that 目的.”
“井戸／弁護士席, we can ascertain that from Mr. Hest. He 宣言するs that he left him at Gerby Hall, or that Maunders was 推定する／予想するd, I forget which. But we’ll see him to-morrow and ask.”
Towton shook his 長，率いる wisely. “He won’t know of Maunders’ movements.”
“You never can tell. At all events, it will do no 害（を与える） to ask him. Now I come to think of it,” said Vernon musingly and searching his memory, “Hest told me to-day at the bazaar that he had received a letter from his sister 説 that Maunders had arrived on Sunday morning. That was yesterday, so it is impossible to believe that Maunders went 負かす／撃墜する and （機の）カム up in such a hurry. It’s my opinion that he never went to Gerby Hall at all.”
“And I say, by jove!” cried the 陸軍大佐 大いに excited, “Hest told a 嘘（をつく） if he said that he received a letter 説 that Maunders had arrived. Even if 地位，任命するd in Bowderstyke last evening it could not reach him before to-night, and you say he gave you the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） this afternoon?”
“He may have received it at 中央の-day.”
“No,” said Towton decidedly. “Our 地位，任命する at Bowderstyke is very uncertain, as I know to my cost. This evening or to-morrow morning is the very earliest that Hest could receive a letter 地位，任命するd on Sunday, and as Maunders did not arrive until then 行方不明になる Hest could not have written before.”
“I don’t believe that he arrived at all, and I can’t conceive why 行方不明になる Hest should tell a falsehood.”
“I can. She is 計画／陰謀ing for this money. However, I shall go with you to-morrow and we’ll have it out with Hest. Where is he to be 設立する?”
“He is staying with Professor Garrick Gail, at Isleworth.”
“The ジュース! Ida told me that he did not 認可する of his sister’s reciting.”
“Nor does he. But she asked him to give some message, and the Professor asked him to stop at Isleworth while he was in town. He did so, as he explained to me, so that he could 説得する the Professor to induce 行方不明になる Hest to give up her career.”
“A very lame explanation,” said the 陸軍大佐 grimly. “Gentlemen don’t stay at such places for such weak 目的s. I tell you, Vernon, that I don’t believe in those Hests. I never did, although you defended the sister. They had a bad 指名する at Bowderstyke as a wild family.”
“Oh, I thought that Francis Hest was looked upon as a benefactor?”
“He is,” 認める the 陸軍大佐 reluctantly, “he’s a crazy philanthropist, with his parish school-houses and Bolly 貯蔵所. All the same, there’s a queer taint about them, and they live queer lives.”
“I can’t see that. フランs recites in London in a perfectly open and honest way, and Francis 行為／法令／行動するs in a noble manner as a philanthropist.”
“I daresay. All the same, I don’t 信用 either brother or sister: they quarrel like mad, too.”
“Most families do,” retorted Vernon drily as he swung himself off the sofa, “and フランs is certainly trying to その上の her brother’s 利益／興味 by 安全な・保証するing him an heiress. That doesn’t look as though they quarrelled.”
“Humph!” said Towton disbelievingly. “Probably the sister has learned that Ida isn’t an heiress and wants to do her brother a bad turn. However, it’s no use talking, as we get no その上の. Let us see Hest to-morrow, and then learn, if we can, the どの辺に of Maunders. All depends upon the 自白 of that scamp. But, I tell you what, Vernon, if our young friend is this poisonous beast of a Spider he will have left England by to-night’s mail.”
“Perhaps. But I could not stop him without 協議するing Drench, and that means the 干渉，妨害 of the police, which we wish to 避ける.”
“It’s a damned 絡まる altogether,” muttered Towton savagely, “and—but here comes Bendham to 発表する dinner. Come and eat. To-morrow we can talk その上の.”
Vernon was やめる willing to 減少（する） the 支配する for the time 存在, as his 長，率いる and 四肢s still ached with the struggle, and he felt more inclined to go to bed than to sit discussing 犯罪の trickery, which 要求するd a very （疑いを）晴らす brain. Even at the 一時しのぎの物，策 dinner, which after all was dainty and tempting, he was unable to eat much, and excused himself to his host as speedily as he could 終始一貫して with politeness. After arranging to 会合，会う the 陸軍大佐 next day at three o’clock at Waterloo 駅／配置する he went home. A warm bath took the 苦痛s 部分的に／不公平に away, and he was so tired that almost as soon as his 長，率いる 残り／休憩（する）d on the pillow he dropped into a 深遠な sleep. Not a 選び出す／独身 dream broke his 残り／休憩（する）, which was 長引かせるd to ten o’clock the next morning.
While at breakfast, which he devoured with an excellent appetite, Vernon recollected that he had not Professor Garrick Gail’s exact 演説（する）／住所. It was at Isleworth that he lived, but it was necessary to find the street and the number of the house. This was quickly learned from an 時代, which he sent his servant to buy, and he ascertained that the retired actor dwelt in Siddons 郊外住宅, Petterby Road. Vernon rather regretted that he had not made the 任命 with 陸軍大佐 Towton earlier, since Mr. Hest might have gone out for the day. However, he 慰安d himself with the reflection that in any 事例／患者 Hest and Towton would 会合，会う at dinner on Wednesday. 一方／合間, there was always the chance that the Yorkshire squire might be at Isleworth, and in any 事例／患者 Vernon felt curious to see where 行方不明になる Hest lived when in town. Like the 陸軍大佐, he was beginning to 不信 that young lady.
Punctual to the moment Vernon arrived at Waterloo 駅／配置する, but 設立する Towton before him. They 迎える／歓迎するd one another cordially, and Towton congratulated his friend on his 改善するd looks. And certainly a night’s 残り／休憩（する） had done wonders for the young man. He felt, as the 説 goes, as fit as a fiddle, and やめる looked 今後 to the visit. “And I 心から 信用 that Mr. Hest is at home,” he said anxiously.
“We can wait for him if he is not,” said the 陸軍大佐, shouldering his umbrella in 兵士 fashion. “I don’t leave until I have seen him, that’s all. In one way or another I ーするつもりである to have these infernal mysteries （疑いを）晴らすd up. Upon my soul, sir,” said the 陸軍大佐 bluffly, “I feel as though I were bathing in dirty water.”
“You are not used to the seamy 味方する of life as I am,” replied Vernon as they passed the 障壁 and stepped into the train.
“No, by jove, sir, I’m not. And once I am married to Ida I shall take care to leave all this sort of thing alone. Not the thing for a gentleman by any means. You chuck it also, Vernon.”
“I ーするつもりである to when my uncle dies. Once let Sir Arthur Vernon come into 存在 with a good income and Nemo 消えるs for ever.”
The 陸軍大佐 nodded his approbation, and the two chatted about their errand on the way to Isleworth. But all they could do in the absence of 肯定的な fact was to theorise, which was unsatisfactory. But they hoped when they laid 手渡すs on Maunders—no very 平易な 事柄, since the scamp had taken the alarm—to have everything （疑いを）晴らすd up. Vernon still held that his former friend was The Spider, but 陸軍大佐 Towton 同意しないd. “No! No! No!” said he decisively, “Maunders may be bad, but he isn’t a 殺害者.”
“He’s anything that 控訴s his 目的, so long as he isn’t 設立する out,” was Vernon’s retort. “He’s clever—”
“And cunning, but he isn’t bold, and would be sure not to bring himself within reach of the 手渡すs of 司法（官） by 流血／虐殺.”
“He has brought himself やめる の近くに enough in other ways,” replied Vernon.
In this way they talked, and in 予定 time arrived at the charming 郊外 of Isleworth, which looked やめる countrified. The two descended the steps and passed along a 狭くする path which led out of the 駅／配置する into the road. An 調査 from a passing butcher-boy on a bicycle soon advised them of the どの辺に of Petterby Road, and すぐに they 設立する themselves 直面するing a 二塁打-前線d house with a small and neglected garden between it and the 静かな 味方する-road.
“The sluggard’s domain,” said Towton with disgust, for, like most 軍の men, he was 過度に tidy. “Might be made pretty if …に出席するd to, by jove.”
“I don’t think retired actors go in much for gardening,” said Vernon with a smile, as he reached for the knocker.
A stout woman, with the remains of 激しい good looks, opened the door with the 空気／公表する of a 悲劇 queen, although her dress was scarcely regal. Vernon asked if he could see Mr. Hest and received a reply in the 消極的な, as it seemed that Mr. Hest was absent. “But I 心配する that he will return at a comparatively 早期に hour,” said the lady grandiloquently.
“Can we see Professor Gail?” asked Vernon, 決定するd to enter the house and wait for hours if necessary.
“Professor Garrick Gail,” said the lady, giving him the entire 指名する with the 空気／公表する of a Siddons, “is 残り／休憩（する）ing 事前の to going later to the Curtain Theatre. But if your errand is 圧力（をかける）ing—”
“Yes, it is. Please give the Professor my card.”
“I am Mrs. Garrick Gail, 以前は 行方不明になる Hettie Montgomery,” said the lady in haughty トンs, “and I do not 伝える messages. Maria!” she beckoned to a small servant whose not very clean 直面する peeped under her 相当な arm, “伝える this intimation to your master. Gentlemen,” she flung open the door grandly, “enter, and repose yourselves in the 製図／抽選-room.”
Vernon smiled at the tinsel majesty of the actress, but the 陸軍大佐, without moving a muscle of his good-looking 直面する, marched in stiffly. すぐに they 設立する themselves in a tawdry room of no 広大な／多数の／重要な size, crammed with theatrical photographs and furnished in a poor, pretentious manner, which 明らかにする／漏らすd poverty, while it aped the genteel. Mrs. Garrick Gail, 以前は 行方不明になる Hettie Montgomery, 行為／行うd them in with the 空気／公表する of one accustomed to the centre of the 行う／開催する／段階 and then 出発／死d 明言する／公表するing that her husband would すぐに do himself the honour of waiting on them.
“What 空気／公表するs!” murmured Towton, 解任するing his Shakespeare indistinctly; “an intolerable 量 of 解雇（する） to a pennyworth of bread.”
“These actors and actresses are always in the glare of the footlights,” said Vernon, sitting 負かす／撃墜する 慎重に on a 不安定な 議長，司会を務める. “By the way, 陸軍大佐, if I do a little 商売／仕事 with the Professor don’t look more surprised than you can help.”
“商売／仕事? What 商売／仕事?”
“I ーするつもりである to ask if 行方不明になる フランs Hest is open to an 約束／交戦. It is necessary, since both you and I are beginning to 不信 that young lady, to be 外交の.”
“That means you 不信 this actor also and wish to throw him off the scent?”
Vernon nodded. “正確に／まさに, and—hush—” He stopped and composed his features as the door opened and Professor Gail stalked into the room, like the Ghost of Hamlet’s father.
Anyone could see at a ちらりと見ること that the man was an actor. He was tall, and lean, and solemn, yet with a twinkle in his 深い-sunken 注目する，もくろむs, which showed that he could play comedy 同様に as 悲劇. His bluish jowl, from たびたび（訪れる） の近くに shaving, his long hair, his 手段d gestures, and his lordly gait all 明らかにする／漏らすd one who was used to the world behind the curtain. His 発言する／表明する was 深い and sonorous and his enunciation almost too perfect; nor did he clip his words colloquially, but gave them their 十分な length and 十分な meaning. Finally, he had a 確かな dignity, habitual to one who had played many a kingly part in his time, and who in ordinary life 設立する it difficult not to relapse into blank 詩（を作る）.
“陸軍大佐 Towton—Arthur Vernon,” he read from the pencilled card. “These are your 指名するs, I take it? And your 商売／仕事, gentlemen?”
“井戸／弁護士席, we are 殺人，大当り two birds with one 石／投石する,” said Vernon easily, as the actor sat 負かす／撃墜する in a regal manner as though the arm-議長，司会を務める were a 王位. “My friend here wishes to see Mr. Hest.”
“He is absent for the moment, sir, but will return anon. Will you wait or will you leave a message.”
“I prefer to wait,” said Towton stiffly, as he did not like the atmosphere or the company. “When do you 推定する／予想する Mr. Hest 支援する?”
“井戸／弁護士席, sir, he may return in twenty minutes or in sixty, which is to say, on the hour. As my guest he has 十分な freedom to go and return when he 願望（する）s. I am content that you should remain, and if any refreshment—”
“Thank you, no,” interrupted the 陸軍大佐 あわてて but politely.
“It is 井戸／弁護士席. And you, sir?” The Professor turned to Vernon. “Nothing for me, thank you. I have called both to see Mr. Hest and yourself, sir, as I wish to engage 行方不明になる Hest to recite at the ‘At Home’ of a friend of 地雷. Lady Brankworth. Perhaps you know her?”
“井戸／弁護士席. I know her 井戸／弁護士席. I have superintended amateur plays in her 製図／抽選-room on more than one occasion. Ah! so she 願望（する）s the services of my talented pupil? And on what date?”
“Thursday week, I think. But I am not sure. I shall have to see her again and then can let you know. 行方不明になる Hest is away, I fancy.”
“In her ancestral home in Yorkshire,” said the actor rolling his words out grandly, “but she returns すぐに and will be delighted to 受託する of the 約束／交戦 供給するd the 料金s—”
“Those will be all 権利, Professor. Lady Brankworth 支払う／賃金s liberally.”
“And so she ought, to 安全な・保証する the services of 行方不明になる Hest. I 保証する you, sir, that I have rarely come across a lady who recites so nobly. If she would only 支払う／賃金 attention to her art instead of indulging in social frivolity with that unfortunate young lady who lost her father at Hampstead, she would become one of our greatest actresses.”
“I fancy her brother does not wish her to go on the 行う／開催する／段階,” said Vernon.
Professor Garrick Gail waved his 手渡す and then thrust it into his coat in Napoleonic fashion. “He is prejudiced, prejudiced. I would he were on the 行う／開催する／段階 himself, if only because he 似ているs his sister, my talented pupil, so closely. As Viola and Sebastian in ‘Twelfth Night,’ they would take the town by 嵐／襲撃する. Always 供給するd,” said the old actor with another wave, “that Mr. Hest has the same talent in 手段 as his sister has: a fact I am by no means sure of.”
“They are very like one another,” broke in Towton coldly.
“For that 推論する／理由 I wish both were on the 行う／開催する／段階 to play in twin parts,” replied the Professor in his most stately manner. “They are as like as two eggs, as you 観察する, sir. But Mr. Hest thinks little of our glorious profession, and is staying here in the vain hope of inducing me to 説得する his sister, my talented pupil, to 降伏する the laurel 花冠 of the 行う／開催する／段階. Needless to say, I 拒絶する／低下する to commit so 広大な／多数の／重要な a 罪，犯罪.”
How long the Professor would have gone on descanting on the histrionic 能力s of フランs Hest it is hard to say, but his eloquence was 削減（する） short by the 入り口 of Mrs. Gail, who swept an apologetic curtsey to the gentlemen for her sudden 外見. She then whispered to her husband, and Vernon caught a word or two about “a 法案—man at the 支援する door—must have his money,” etc. Gail looked perturbed and rose quickly.
“A small 国内の 関心, gentlemen,” he said, stalking to the door followed by his wife. “Excuse me while I adjust 事柄s. I shall return soon,” and he made his 出口 with Mrs. Gail in a most 認可するd 行う／開催する／段階 fashion.
When they were alone the 陸軍大佐 asked a question: “Can you get this 約束／交戦 for 行方不明になる Hest?”
“Oh, yes. Lady Brankworth is a 広大な／多数の／重要な friend of 地雷 and is always giving parties. There will be no difficulty in my making good my word. The old man seems to be all 権利 and his wife also. Whatever devilry the Hests may be up to, that worthy couple know nothing about it.”
Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the door opened quickly and a man entered the room in 広大な／多数の／重要な haste. Vernon sprang to his feet.
“Maunders once more!” He cried; “The very man I wish to see.”
And Maunders it was, looking like a 罠にかける tiger, furious and despairing.
Maunders recognised his 危険，危なくする in a moment and すぐに turned to 退却／保養地. But Vernon was too quick for him and leaped between him and the door. When it was の近くにd and Vernon had his 支援する against it Maunders ちらりと見ることd 猛烈に at the one window of the room. Here 陸軍大佐 Towton, now on his feet, 閉めだした his way, so there was nothing for it but to 降伏する to a strength he could not fight against. With 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の self-支配（する）／統制する the scamp pulled himself together and 需要・要求するd in a surly トン what his captors meant by behaving に向かって him in this way.
“Sit 負かす／撃墜する,” said Vernon without deigning to reply 直接／まっすぐに; “you have to explain 事柄s before you leave this room.”
“I have nothing to explain,” muttered Maunders doggedly, but にもかかわらず 裁判官d it wise to obey. “You had better take care what you are about.”
“I’ll take care of myself and of you also,” replied Vernon composedly.
“I ask you, 陸軍大佐 Towton, if this is the way for one gentleman to 扱う／治療する another?” 需要・要求するd the 罠にかける rogue.
“Two gentlemen,” 訂正するd the 陸軍大佐 coldly, “who are 取引，協定ing with a confounded scoundrel.”
“I’ll make you 支払う／賃金 for those words,” 脅すd Maunders, biting his lips.
“I don’t recognise your 権利 to 需要・要求する satisfaction as I only を取り引きする gentlemen. Mr. Vernon and myself have run you to earth, and—”
“How did you find out that I was here?” interrupted Maunders curiously.
“We did not 推定する／予想する to find you here,” said Vernon, still with his 支援する to the door and keeping a watchful 注目する，もくろむ on his former friend. “We （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する on other 商売／仕事, connected with Mr. Hest.”
“With Hest?” Maunders appeared perturbed.
“What do you know about him?” asked Towton はっきりと, and noticing the change of 表現.
“I know nothing, save that he is stopping here.”
“And how do you come to be in this house?”
“That’s my 商売／仕事,” retorted Maunders doggedly.
“Your 商売／仕事 is our 商売／仕事,” interposed Vernon 静かに.
“I fail to see that.”
“You fail to see a good many things; but don’t be afraid, I shall make everything （疑いを）晴らす to you in good time.”
“Are you here as my old school friend?” said Maunders, whining sentimentally, “or as Nemo, the 探偵，刑事?”
“You will soon learn. But of one thing you may be 確かな , that I am no friend of yours. Can you wonder at it, seeing what I discovered yesterday?”
“I can explain everything.”
“Good! 陸軍大佐 Towton and I を待つ your explanation.”
Maunders again cast a look at door and window and again saw that there was no hope of escape. “What do you wish to know?” was his sullen request.
“In the first place, how you come to be here.”
“That’s 平易な. I started on Saturday to go 負かす／撃墜する to Yorkshire, as I told you how I ーするつもりであるd to go. But news （機の）カム that my aunt was ill and wished to see me at once. I turned 支援する at the 駅／配置する and went to Hampstead. Then I met Hest at the bazaar yesterday—”
“Does he know that you are Diabella?” interrupted Vernon quickly.
“No, he doesn’t. I met him before I went into the テント to do 商売／仕事. He asked me why I had not gone to Yorkshire, and when I explained he asked me 負かす／撃墜する here. I （機の）カム last night and remained the night. It’s all fair, square, and above-board with me.”
“That’s a 嘘（をつく）,” said Vernon impulsively, “and Hest told me another one at the bazaar. He could not have seen you between the time I parted from him and （機の）カム to you when you were masquerading as Diabella, yet he told me that he had received a letter from his sister 説 you were in Yorkshire. And you didn’t come 負かす／撃墜する here, I take it, to talk Shakespeare and musical glasses. There is something between you and this man Hest, and between you and Professor Gail, no 疑問.”
Maunders rose suddenly and spoke with 広大な／多数の／重要な earnestness. “I 保証する you that Gail knows nothing more than that Hest asked me to stay as his guest. He will be here soon, and I beg of you to say nothing to him of what you have discovered. I shall explain everything to your satisfaction before you leave this house.”
“On that 条件,” said Vernon, making a 調印する that Towton should be silent, “we will say nothing to the Professor. I believe I hear footsteps, so no 疑問 he is coming.” Vernon moved away from the door. “If you try to escape, Maunders, I’ll break your 脚 with a 弾丸,” and he pulled out a neat revolver which he kept 隠すd in his hip pocket.
“Rather melodramatic,” sneered Maunders with a shrug; “However, you need not be afraid. I’ll sit here 静かに enough.”
“You have more 原因（となる） to be afraid than I have. Hush! Here is the Professor coming,” and as he spoke the door opened to 収容する／認める the old actor. “Mr. Maunders has just come in to keep us company while we wait for Mr. Hest,” said Vernon in an 平易な トン.
“Yes,” said Maunders, who by this time had 回復するd his composure. “We are old friends and have much to talk about, so don’t let us keep you from your afternoon sleep, Professor.”
“If you will not think me 欠如（する）ing in 儀礼,” said Gail in his stately manner, “I shall certainly retire. The brain,” he tapped his forehead, “needs 残り／休憩（する）, and I have invariably 設立する that sleep, as Shakespeare says, ‘knits up the ravelled sleeve of care.’ Wil you have any refreshment, gentlemen?”
“No, thank you,” replied Vernon politely; “but it is growing dark, so perhaps you will order lights.”
“Yonder lamp is ready for use,” said the Professor, pointing to the corner 近づく the fireplace, “and certainly it is growing 異常に dark, although it is scarcely five o’clock. A 霧 is descending on the verdant earth.” He went to the window and looked out. “Yes, a dense 霧. Have you 公式文書，認めるd, Mr. Maunders, how 速く these autumnal 霧s descend on London?”
“Yes. But I should have thought that you were too far away to have them here,” replied Maunders in an 平易な conversational トン, which did 広大な／多数の／重要な credit to his 力／強力にするs of self-支配（する）／統制する.
“No, sir; no. The fuliginous 煙霧 does not spare even our 田舎の 郊外, if I may so 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 it.” He swept aside the curtain with a 悲劇の gesture. “示す how the cloudy もやs, darkened with smoke, swallow up house after house and road after road; 示す how a brown 棺／かげり is drawn over the fair green looks of earth and how the—”
“One would have to be in a balloon to see all that,” said Maunders rudely. “I hope you won’t mind, Professor, but I have 私的な 商売／仕事 to discuss with my friends here. If Mr. Hest comes in, please tell him I shall see him in his bedroom as soon as my friends go.”
“Do nothing of the sort, Professor,” snapped the 陸軍大佐. “I have come here to see Mr. Hest, and he must 会合，会う me in this room.”
But the speech of Maunders had 感情を害する／違反するd the touchy old actor. “I have nothing to do with these things,” he said, stalking に向かって the door, “and, in the good old English fashion, my guests are at liberty to 行為／法令／行動する as they please. Mr. Hest need be told nothing, and when he returns he will certainly enter this room, as is his custom.”
“But—” began Maunders, only to be 削減（する） short by the indignant Professor.
“You are not my guest, sir, but the guest of Mr. Hest,” he said in his deepest トンs, “and you have told me to leave my own room. These manners are ふさわしい to the Hyperboreans of the Far North.”
“I wish to explain—”
“Explain nothing, sir,” cried Gail in the ponderous manner of Dr. Samuel Johnson. “You may have a 前線 like 火星 to 脅す and 命令（する）, but I am no menial to be so 圧力をかけて脅す（悩ます）d.” He swept an imaginary mantle over his left shoulder and mouthed blank 詩（を作る）:
“We must not stint
Our necessary 活動／戦闘s in the 恐れる
To 対処する malicious censurers.”
“Therefore,” ended Mr. Gail, returning to prose, “I shall retire to my couch, and so good-day to one and all.”
When he had made his 出口, for it could scarcely be said that he took his 出発 in a 従来の manner, Maunders gave vent to a weak, tittering laugh, doubtless to cloak the real nervousness he felt. “The old fool,” he 観察するd with his characteristic shrug.
“Let us hope you will not 証明する to be a young one by 保留するing from us the truth of this shady 商売／仕事 you have been engaged in,” said 陸軍大佐 Towton in a caustic manner, for his sympathies were with the retired actor.
“Thank you, I don’t wish to receive any compliments,” sneered Maunders, “and, for heaven’s sake, let us get this 商売／仕事 over at once. I have more to do than to explain my 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s to interlopers.”
Vernon laughed as he saw that under his 空気／公表する of bravado Maunders was intensely anxious about his position. “That cock won’t fight,” he said coolly. “You must be aware that you are in a very dangerous position.”
“I am aware of nothing of the sort. I can 正当化する myself—”
“Do so, as regards your masquerading.”
“Is it a 罪，犯罪 to earn an honest 暮らし?”
“Honest!” said Towton with 軽蔑（する）, “but let that pass.”
“Fortune-telling is as honest as your 探偵，刑事 商売／仕事,” said Maunders insolently to Vernon. “I am Diabella. Why should I 否定する it?”
“You can’t, or you would. But to dress up as a woman—”
“I didn’t,” 否定するd Maunders with a scowl. “I 簡単に wore those Egyptian 式服s over my ordinary 着せる／賦与するs and the waxen mask to 隠す my 直面する. Also, all that rotten paraphernalia seems to be necessary to the 商売／仕事.”
“I daresay, to deceive people,” said Vernon drily. “Why did you 行為／法令／行動する in this way, may I ask?”
“Because I couldn’t get my mother to 許す me 十分な money to live on.”
“I thought that Mrs. Bedge was your aunt?” put in the 陸軍大佐 quickly.
“So she is, but I am likewise her 可決する・採択するd son. She kept me short, and I had to earn my money somehow. For three years I have masqueraded as Diabella, and, although I don’t want it known, I don’t mind if you do tell, as no one can say a word against me.”
“I can,” said Towton grimly. “You 雇うd your servant to strangle me.”
Maunders shook his 長，率いる violently. “I did nothing of the sort. Hokar—”
“Is that the native’s 指名する?” interposed Vernon suddenly.
“Yes. I had two native servants. Hokar and Bahadur, and they are both 充てるd to me. When you, 陸軍大佐, tried to pull off my mask 自然に Hokar 介入するd to 妨げる your doing so. In the same way, Vernon, he punished you for using 暴力／激しさ に向かって me. And I 妨げるd the faithful fellow from strangling you both, so you have your lives to thank me for.”
“Why didn’t you 妨げる him from strangling Dimsdale?” asked Towton.
“I 断言する that Hokar had nothing to do with that 殺人, nor had I.”
“Of course, you would say that for your own safety,” said Vernon contemptuously; “but how was it that you became 所有するd of Dimsdale’s secret?”
Maunders hesitated. “I am not bound to answer that,” he said defiantly.
“If you don’t answer me you will answer Drench,” 脅すd Vernon 堅固に.
“Drench? You would not dare to bring him into this 事柄?”
“Why not? Dimsdale was ゆすり，恐喝d on account of a 確かな secret, and, because he would not 支払う／賃金, 死なせる／死ぬd by 暴力／激しさ. You know this secret, so the inference is that you—”
“That I ordered him to be strangled?” finished Maunders calmly. “How can that be when Hokar was never 近づく Dimsdale’s bungalow in his life, and certainly, as I was with 行方不明になる Hest nearly all the evening, I could not have committed the 殺人 myself.”
“That remains to be 証明するd,” 再結合させるd Vernon, 抑えるing what 行方不明になる Hest had told him of the young man’s movements on the 致命的な night. “And even 推定するing you are innocent of the actual 罪，犯罪, and that Hokar was not 近づく the house, The Spider, who （機の）カム to ゆすり，恐喝, must have learned from you the secret which he 脅すd to 公表する／暴露する.”
Maunders was silent for a moment. “You can’t 証明する that I knew about this secret,” he said doggedly.
“陸軍大佐 Towton can 断言する that he heard it from Diabella, and I can 証明する that you are the fortune-teller. These facts only 収容する／認める of one 解釈／通訳, Maunders. Either you are an 共犯者 of The Spider or you are The Spider himself.”
“It’s a 嘘（をつく）, it’s an infernal 嘘（をつく）,” cried Maunders 大いに agitated.
“It’s the truth, and you know it. Your 直面する 明らかにする／漏らすs the truth.”
“How can you tell that when we are nearly in 不明瞭 with this 霧?” asked Maunders between his teeth.
“I can see 井戸／弁護士席 enough, and the 不明瞭 is easily 治療（薬）d. 陸軍大佐, will you please light the lamp while I keep an 注目する，もくろむ on our friend here.”
Maunders 悪口を言う／悪態d his former schoolfellow ardently, while Towton 静かに lighted the tall lamp which stood in the corner. The light soon glowed through a rosy shade, adorned in a tawdry manner with 人工的な flowers, and Vernon stepped up to Maunders. The scamp met his scrutiny unflinchingly, and 陳列する，発揮するd a courage worthy of a better 原因（となる）. He was pale with 逮捕, for he 井戸／弁護士席 knew, in spite of his bravado, that he was in a tight place. But the crimson hue of the light filtering through the shade threw a delicate glow on his finely-削減（する） 直面する. 直面するing the two gentlemen, who knew him past all 否定 to be a scoundrel, he looked as handsome a lad as ever stepped in shoe-leather. It seemed a terrible pity that so fair an outside should mask such 内部の evil. Something of this sort occurred to Vernon as he stepped 支援する with a sigh.
“I wish you were as decent a fellow as you look,” he said in a regretful 発言する／表明する. “In heaven’s 指名する, Maunders, why can’t you be an honest man? You have a handsome 直面する, a 罰金 人物／姿／数字, you have had the best education England can afford, and you 持つ／拘留する a good position in the social world. Finally, your aunt, Mrs. Bedge, who 可決する・採択するd you as her son, loves you dearly, and if you have not 十分な self-尊敬（する）・点 to keep straight for your own sake you might behave like an honest gentleman for hers.”
Maunders might have been moved by this discourse, or he might not. At all events, he showed little 調印するs of feeling on his classic 直面する. “It’s all very 井戸／弁護士席 your talking,” he said sullenly and looking 負かす／撃墜する, a trifle ashamed, if indeed he could be said to 陳列する，発揮する any emotion, “but I have been brought up to live like a prince. I have the tastes of a duke and the income of a pauper, so I must gratify my fancies somehow. I am no more proud of having had to take to fortune-telling for my bread and butter than you are in setting up as a 私立探偵. Neither 商売／仕事 is respectable, but the 法律 can say nothing to you or me.”
“Nothing to me, certainly,” Vernon 保証するd him coldly, “since I am, and always have been, on the 味方する of 司法（官）. Your fortune-telling may be innocent enough in the main, since you prefer wringing money from silly people instead of taking up a good 商売／仕事. But it’s your 関係 with The Spider that is dangerous to you.”
“I am not The Spider, and I have no 関係 with the beast.”
“In that 事例／患者 how comes it that The Spider 申し込む／申し出s to place Lady Corsoon in 所有／入手 of her niece’s fortune on 条件 that she 許すs you to marry 行方不明になる Corsoon?”
The 陸軍大佐 uttered an ejaculation of mingled wrath and horror, and Maunders grew a shade paler. “Is that true?” Towton 需要・要求するd with a look of loathing at Maunders and then an 問い合わせing ちらりと見ること at Vernon.
“Perfectly true,” was the 返答. “I did not ーするつもりである to say anything to you, 陸軍大佐, since the 事件／事情／状勢 is a 私的な one of Lady Corsoon’s. But it seems necessary to be frank even at the 危険 of exposing a lady’s secrets, much as I hate to do so. Lady Corsoon received an 申し込む／申し出 from The Spider to return 確かな jewels which she pawned to 支払う／賃金 her 橋（渡しをする） losses, and which he 得るd 所有／入手 of by means of (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むd pawntickets, on 条件 that she should 支払う／賃金 one thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs. Afterwards another letter was received 説 that he would take ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs—a 選び出す／独身 year’s income of 行方不明になる Dimsdale’s—and would place Lady Corsoon in 所有／入手 of the fortune. She was to 支払う／賃金 the money and 同意 to the marriage of our friend here with 行方不明になる Corsoon. How do you explain this 利益／興味 which The Spider takes in you, Maunders, if you don’t know him?”
The 犯人 moistened his 乾燥した，日照りの lips and replied with insolent boldness: “I wrote that letter to Lady Corsoon myself—that is, the second letter. I know nothing about the first.”
“Then you are The Spider?” cried Towton ひどく.
“No. Don’t run your 長，率いる against a 塀で囲む,” retorted Maunders coolly, and fighting for every インチ of the 論争d ground. “Lady Corsoon told me about the first letter and the 脅し. I advised her to 協議する Vernon in his character of Nemo, and did him a good turn.”
“And yourself a better,” said Vernon scornfully. “You hoped that Lady Corsoon on learning my 雇用 would forbid me to think of her daughter.”
“Yes, I did. However, I sent her to you to do 商売／仕事. Then I thought as she was committed so far with The Spider that there would be no 害（を与える） in my trying to get her on my 味方する so that I might marry Lucy. I knew that Ida was not する権利を与えるd to the fortune, as there was no will and she was not old Dimsdale’s daughter. I knew also that Lady Corsoon was kept short by her husband and would like to have her own money, if only to 支払う／賃金 The Spider and 回復する the jewels so as to hide her fault from Sir Julius. For this 推論する／理由 I wrote the letter asking that Lady Corsoon should 援助（する） me to marry her daughter.”
“And you asked for ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs also,” said Towton wrathfully.
“Only one year’s income of the Dimsdale 投資s,” retorted Maunders with 広大な／多数の／重要な coolness; “a man must have some money for his honeymoon.”
“And when Lady Corsoon died you guessed that your wife—which she never will be, you can 残り／休憩（する） 保証するd—would 相続する the whole Dimsdale fortune?”
“やめる so. I thought of everything. I suppose Lady Corsoon showed you the second letter 同様に as the first in your character of Nemo?”
“You are 訂正する,” replied Vernon with 広大な／多数の／重要な composure, “and I 公式文書，認めるd that the second letter, like the first, was 調印するd with the ideograph of The Spider.”
“自然に, it would be,” said Maunders with a shrug. “I easily had an india-rubber stamp made. The thing, if done, had to be 井戸／弁護士席 done.”
“You are a blackguard,” said 陸軍大佐 Towton, much disgusted.
“And may I ask,” requested Vernon with irony, “how many other people you have ゆすり，恐喝d by using this stamp?”
“非，不，無; nor did I ゆすり，恐喝 Lady Corsoon. I 簡単に made a suggestion.”
“On the 脅し of telling her husband about her 賭事ing and sale of the family jewels.”
“The Spider used that argument first,” said Maunders sullenly; “I 簡単に 是認するd it.”
“I heartily believe that you are the scoundrel himself,” snapped Towton.
“I 断言する I am not. Why, even my mother was ゆすり，恐喝d—my 可決する・採択するd mother, that is—on the 嘆願 that she is my real mother. Would I have done such a thing as that?
“You would do anything to 伸び（る） your own ends,” said Vernon coldly, “always 供給するd your villainy was not discovered.”
Maunders grew furiously scarlet. “At least I would have spared my aunt. Mrs. Bedge would give me her last sixpence in my character as her 可決する・採択するd son. There was no need for me to 試みる／企てる ゆすり，恐喝.”
“Perhaps there was not. But all this does not explain how you （機の）カム to communicate the secret of Dimsdale to The Spider.”
“I didn’t communicate it, and how he managed to learn it I can’t say.”
“How did you become 所有するd of it?” asked Towton very 直接／まっすぐに.
“I shan’t tell you. And I’m not going to be ragged any longer. If I’d guessed for one moment that you were in this house I would not have put in an 外見.”
“I can 井戸／弁護士席 believe that,” said Vernon coolly.
“It’s not that I’m afraid,” Maunders あわてて 保証するd him. “As Diabella I have done nothing to which the 法律 can take exception. The 強襲，強姦s on you and the 陸軍大佐 were brought about by your own damned 干渉 and by the fidelity of Hokar. But I have given up playing Diabella—”
“Because you 恐れるd lest we should have you 逮捕（する）d,” said Towton shrewdly.
“No. Had I been afraid I should never have appeared at the bazaar.”
“Oh, yes, you would. You pretended to leave London so as to 供給する an アリバイ in 事例／患者 of danger,” said Vernon 静かに, “and you did not think that 陸軍大佐 Towton would be at the bazaar. Seeing me didn’t 事柄, as you did not know that Towton and myself were working together. And when I think of the infernal rubbish you told me—”
“It was your own fault,” said Maunders sulkily, “and I’ve had enough of this so, I’m off.”
He moved に向かって the door, but Towton sprang 今後 and caught his arm. “If you leave this room you will be 手渡すd over to the police,” he 宣言するd.
“He will be 手渡すd over in any 事例／患者,” said Vernon decisively.
Maunders turned 恐ろしい pale and his 膝s shook. He was beginning to lose the courage which had carried him so far 首尾よく. “Vernon, you would not 不名誉 your old friend,” he pleaded piteously.
“You are no friend of 地雷,” was the 厳しい reply, “and your 単独の chance of escape from 逮捕（する） is to 明らかにする／漏らす how you learned this secret of Dimsdale’s.”
“If I tell it will you let me leave this house 解放する／自由な?”
“No, I shan’t. I ーするつもりである to keep an 注目する，もくろむ on you until this mystery of The Spider is （疑いを）晴らすd up. You are his jackal.”
“I am not; I know nothing. I 辞退する to speak.”
“陸軍大佐, go out and fetch a policeman.”
“No! No! No! No!” almost shrieked the wretched man, and flung himself on his 膝s. “Arthur, don’t, don’t. I 断言する I am innocent. I know nothing of Dimsdale’s 殺人.”
“Stand up, you cur, and speak out,” said Vernon, more enraged by this 展示 of 証拠不十分 than he had been by the man’s insolence. “How did you learn this secret of Dimsdale’s? Is it true or a 嘘（をつく）?”
“It is true. It is true. I 断言する it is true. Oh, don’t call in the police.”
Maunders still grovelled and clung to the 膝s of Vernon with such 軍隊 that the young man could not get away. Outside, the 霧 had rolled 権利 up to the 選び出す／独身 window of the apartment, and the livid look of the atmosphere ふさわしい the 状況／情勢 much better than did the 静める, rosy light of the lamp. 近づく the door knelt Maunders, weeping piteously and begging that the police might not be called in. Vernon stood silent, but Towton gave vent to an 誓い at the unmanly demeanour of the （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd scoundrel.
“Who told you the secret?” he 需要・要求するd ひどく. “I 主張する upon knowing, and if you don’t tell I’ll call in the police myself. A cur such as you are should be under lock and 重要な.”
“Come, Maunders,” said Vernon 厳しく, “who told you?”
“行方不明になる Jewin. She knew Dimsdale in India and Burmah,” snuffled the ひさまづくing man, 猛烈に afraid.
“Who is 行方不明になる Jewin?”
“Hest’s housekeeper at Gerby—”
“What!” Both men uttered the ejaculation 同時に and looked at one another. Then 続いて起こるd a silence, while the 霧 の近くにd in 厚い and darker, and only the weeping of Maunders could be heard. Suddenly from the hall （機の）カム the sound of the door 開始, and then a 会社／堅い footstep. Maunders gave a wild cry and clung 熱心に to Vernon’s 脚s.
“It’s Hest! It’s Hest! He’ll kill me for telling.”
“Then Hest is The—”
“Yes! Yes! He’s The Spider and—”
The door was flung open as the footsteps paused, and Francis Hest, wrapped in a 激しい overcoat, stood on the threshold smiling. Maunders （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 the ground with his 手渡すs and はうd to the newcomer’s feet.
“I couldn’t help it; I couldn’t help it. I had to tell you were—”
“The Spider,” cried Vernon, whipping out his revolver. “I 逮捕（する） you in—”
He got no その上の. At the words of Maunders the villain’s 直面する had changed with the rapidity of 雷 from smiles to desperate 怒り／怒る. He cast a furious look on his 共犯者 then suddenly lowered his 長，率いる so as to get under the line of 解雇する／砲火／射撃. The next moment Vernon felt Hest 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 him 長，率いる downward in the stomach. The revolver 発射 harmlessly to the roof, while the young man, taken by surprise, was dashed against the 陸軍大佐. Both men fell in a 混乱させるd heap.
“Follow! Follow, you devil!” cried Hest kicking Maunders, still on his 膝s, and then he 急ぐd out of the door. Maunders leaped up to race for his liberty and の近くにd the door behind him. When the 陸軍大佐 and Vernon got on their feet again they 急ぐd into the hall to find it empty. The 前線 door had 衝突，墜落d to with a noise like 雷鳴, and they heard it 存在 locked on the outside, to the accompaniment of a triumphal laugh.
“We’ve lost them,” cried Vernon, tugging vainly at the door. “They’ll get away easily in the 霧.”
While Vernon 猛烈に tried to wrench open the 前線 door Towton, with the quick foresight of an old 兵士, ran 支援する into the 製図／抽選-room and 解除するd the window sash. In いっそう少なく than two minutes he was outside and 急いでd to 解放（する） his companion. Luckily, in his hurry Hest had been unable to 抽出する the 重要な from the lock, so a swift turn of the wrist soon 除去するd the 障壁. Vernon and the 陸軍大佐 始める，決める off hot-footed in 追跡 of the 逃亡者／はかないものs, and as they 急落（する），激減（する）d into the 霧 caught a glimpse of Gail and his wife hurrying into the hall with 脅すd 直面するs, doubtless attracted by the ominous sound of the ピストル-発射. But there was no time to explain as every moment was of value, and the two men put their hearts into the chase.
The sudden autumnal 霧 which had so 突然に descended had turned the atmosphere to 厚い wool, so that it was difficult to breathe, let alone to see. On all 味方するs the 暗い／優うつな もやs shut in the prospect, and after racing ばく然と for some minutes 負かす／撃墜する the silent road, the pursuers 停止（させる）d by 相互の 同意 to listen for possible 飛行機で行くing footsteps. Not a sound struck on their ears; it might have been the middle of the night, so dense was the 不明瞭 and so silent the whole neighbourhood. They could not tell in which direction the two scoundrels had fled, and on the 直面する of it 追跡 was 絶対 useless.
“We might make for the 鉄道 駅／配置する,” 示唆するd the 陸軍大佐; “They may have gone there.”
Vernon shook his 長，率いる. “I 疑問 it. Maunders is too cunning and Hest too desperate to think of taking the train to Waterloo. But, in any 事例／患者, I’ll send a wire to the stationmaster asking him to 拘留する them. Maunders can be recognised from having no hat.”
“There are many men who wear no hat nowadays,” said Towton dismally, “it is not a distinguishing 示す 価値（がある） much. But how the dickens are we to find a telegraph office in this 霧?”
Vernon looked around and 公式文書，認めるd a weak ゆらめく of light illuminating the 不明瞭. Followed by his companion, he walked に向かって it and 設立する that it （機の）カム from the windows of a grocer’s shop at the corner of the road. Entering quickly, he asked for the nearest telegraph office, and learned to his 広大な／多数の／重要な satisfaction that it was at the 化学者／薬剤師’s two or three doors 負かす／撃墜する. The worthy grocer looked somewhat alarmed at the 入り口 of two gentlemen without hats, for, in their haste, Vernon and his friend had forgotten to take them. But they gave the tradesmen no time to ask questions, and by closely skirting the shops 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner managed to find that of the 化学者／薬剤師. Here Vernon sent a wire to the stationmaster at Waterloo 教えるing him to 拘留する two men, one dark and one fair, without a hat, who might かもしれない arrive by an 早期に train. He 追加するd a meagre description of their dress, so that the 電報電信 証明するd to be somewhat 非常に長い.
“But I 恐れる it is useless,” said Vernon as they left the shop and had 手渡すd the wire to the startled 化学者／薬剤師. “They won’t take the train, I’m 確かな , and even if they do my description is not （疑いを）晴らす enough, unless the Waterloo stationmaster happens to be singularly intelligent.”
“We can but hope for the best, and we have done all we can,” said Towton in a decided トン. “What’s to be done now?”
“We must return to Siddons 郊外住宅, both to get our hats and to see Gail.”
“How are we to retrace our steps in this 霧?”
“Petterby Road is just 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner, and by keeping to the railings of the gardens we are bound to find the house.”
It was as Vernon said. They had raced in a straight line 負かす／撃墜する to the grocer’s shop at the corner and had not left Petterby Road until they went to the telegraph office. On 回復するing the bearings of the first shop they carefully felt their way up the road, reading on every gate the 任命 of each house. In this way, and after some ten or twelve minutes had elapsed, they managed to strike Siddons 郊外住宅 and again 設立する themselves at the 前線 door. It was の近くにd, as also was the window.
“I hope Gail has not run away also,” said Vernon （犯罪の）一味ing the bell.
“Do you 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う he has anything to do with the 商売／仕事?”
“Who knows? On the 直面する of it he looks innocent, and Maunders certainly swore that the old man was ignorant. But Maunders is a liar and—”
Here the door was 慎重に opened, and the white 直面する of Professor Gail became 明白な. “Who is there?” he asked in a trembling 発言する／表明する.
“Mr. Vernon and 陸軍大佐 Towton,” said the latter gentleman; “we have returned to get our hats and to explain.”
“You won’t 解雇する／砲火／射撃 any more ピストルs? My wife is almost fainting, and I don’t like this sort of 商売／仕事. What does it—”
“Open the door, open the door!” cried the 陸軍大佐 testily; “you shall have a 十分な explanation.”
Mr. Gail still seemed 気が進まない, as he 明らかに took them for robbers and dangerous rogues, so Vernon, losing patience, 軍隊d the door 支援する and the old actor along with it. They 直面するd the Professor in the hall and saw that he was 持つ／拘留するing an old-fashioned blunderbuss—probably a 行う／開催する／段階 所有物／資産／財産 used in “The Miller and His Men” and other out-of-date plays. In the distance, and 避難所ing herself behind her husband, was Mrs. Gail しっかり掴むing a poker in her trembling 手渡す. The pair seemed to be 完全に 脅すd, and, considering the circumstances, it was small wonder that they were.
“I have sent Maria for a policeman,” quavered Mrs. Gail, “and both my husband and myself are 武装した.”
“I hope Maria won’t lose herself in the 霧,” said Vernon good-humouredly, and in spite of his vexation at the escape of The Spider and his jackal.
“In heaven’s 指名する, what does it mean?” 需要・要求するd the Professor somewhat 回復するing his dignity.
“Come into the 製図／抽選-room and we will explain,” said Towton with some impatience, for he had small leniency for cowardice; “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Mr. Vernon and I are honest men: you have got rid of the villains.”
“The villains?” shrieked Mrs. Gail, trembling violently and dropping the poker.
“Maunders and Hest,” said Vernon carelessly; “come in.”
He に先行するd his friend and the Gails into the 製図／抽選-room, やめる 確かな , from the way in which they had behaved, that they knew nothing of the wicked doings of Hest and Maunders. When the door was の近くにd and everyone was seated Vernon proceeded to 診察する the actor and actress. The 状況／情勢, as Professor Gail said afterwards, was 高度に 劇の.
“You must answer my questions 率直に,” said Vernon 演説（する）／住所ing the couple; “if you do not, the police may 干渉する.”
“The police?” shrieked Mrs. Gail, turning as white as chalk.
The Professor silenced her with a gesture and spoke to Vernon with 広大な／多数の／重要な dignity. “Young man,” he said, 努力する／競うing to keep his 発言する／表明する from trembling, “I 支払う／賃金 my 率s and 税金s, my 法案s to my tradesmen, and my rent for our home. Under these circumstances I cannot see why you should talk of the police.”
“I speak of them in 関係 with what has taken place.”
“And you may 井戸／弁護士席 do so, young man. To 解雇する／砲火／射撃 a ピストル in a 私的な house—”
“That was an 事故,” Vernon 急いでd to explain. “My revolver went off when Mr. Hest 強襲，強姦d me.”
“Why should Mr. Hest 強襲，強姦 you?” 需要・要求するd Mrs. Gail, much astonished.
“That’s a long story. Tell me,” Vernon turned に向かって the Professor while Towton held his peace and nursed his hat, “what do you know of Maunders?”
“Know of him?” said the amazed Gail, looking 完全に puzzled. “I know no more than that he is a friend of Mr. Hest’s who called last night and who was requested, by Mr. Hest and not by me, to stay the night. I have never 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on him before.”
“Did 行方不明になる Hest ever について言及する him?”
“Yes, she did,” broke in Mrs. Gail, who was listening intently. “She told me that he was a friend of hers in love with 行方不明になる Dimsdale, and について言及するd that he was the only man she had ever seen handsome enough to play Romeo as Romeo should be played.”
Professor Gail nodded his 長，率いる graciously. “I agree with 行方不明になる Hest there,” he said 厳粛に; “Mr. Maunders is indeed handsome. But she never told us anything about him, Mr. Vernon, save what my wife has 関係のある.”
“And Mr. Hest? What do you know of him?”
“Nothing more than that he is the brother of my talented pupil. He （機の）カム with the message from his sister, who is at her ancestral halls in Yorkshire, to the 影響 that she would return in a month, or perchance earlier, to fulfil 確かな 約束／交戦s which I have procured her. I 招待するd him to stay here during his stay in town.”
“Why did you?” asked the 陸軍大佐, speaking for the first time. Gail looked embarrassed, but Mrs. Gail spoke for him. “Mr. Hest, we know, is very rich,” she said 率直に, “and both my husband and myself wish to have a theatre of our own. We thought that if we showed him some 歓待 he might 財政／金融 us. I must say,” she 追加するd, looking puzzled, “that I wondered that such a rich man was content to 受託する our humble lodgings instead of going to a swell hotel. But he seems to be easily pleased.”
“It was not that, Hettie,” said the Professor quickly. “Mr. Hest 簡単に remained here so that he could 説得する me to induce my talented pupil to give up reciting, as he dreaded lest she should go on the 行う／開催する／段階. And she せねばならない be an actress, in my humble opinion, for her 能力s are of a very high order. As Lady Macbeth, or in any of Sardou’s characters, such as La Tosca, Fedora, and the 残り／休憩（する）, she would produce a sensation.”
The speech of both man and wife seemed frank enough, and they appeared to be a couple of simple people 充てるd to their profession and やめる ignorant of evil. Vernon ちらりと見ることd at Towton and saw from the 表現 of the 陸軍大佐’s 直面する that he 完全に believed them. Still, so as to be やめる sure of his ground, he asked another question: “行方不明になる Hest as a reciter or an actress may be all that can be 願望（する）d, but do you and Mrs. Gail like her 本人自身で; do you think she is what we call—井戸／弁護士席—er—straight?”
“Yes,” cried the woman 強制的に; “行方不明になる Hest is one in a thousand. She is a 肉親，親類d-hearted lady who sympathises with those who struggle.”
“Hettie is やめる 権利,” said the Professor with dignity. “Many a time has 行方不明になる Hest 補助装置d us when tradespeople have worried. I am sure that she would have 説得するd her brother to enable us to enter into 管理／経営 in the long run, as she has every 信用／信任 in my 能力s.”
“And in 地雷,” said Mrs. Gail jealously. “She said that my Emilia in ‘Othello’ was the best 業績／成果 she had ever seen. But now, gentlemen,” the actress rose to give 影響 to her words, “may I 問い合わせ why you ask these questions, and why you come here to 解雇する／砲火／射撃 ピストルs in a 平和的な home?”
At the beginning it had been in Vernon’s mind to tell the whole story 権利 out and to 税金 the couple with complicity. But they really seemed to be 完全に ignorant of Hest’s true character, and evidently had only lately met Maunders. He therefore did not think it wise to 明らかにする／漏らす what he and the 陸軍大佐 knew lest the Gails should gossip about the 事柄. And until he had 協議するd Drench the young man did not 願望（する） that this last unusual 事件／事情／状勢 should become public. He therefore 発射 a 警告 ちらりと見ること at the 陸軍大佐 and answered 慎重に:
“It is only a 私的な 事柄, Mrs. Gail, which is not 価値（がある） explaining. The ピストル-発射 was an 事故.”
“But you said that Mr. Maunders and Mr. Hest were villains,” she 固執するd.
“Ah, I spoke somewhat 厳しく, 存在 a trifle excited. They have 扱う／治療するd me and my friend here very 不正に and we （機の）カム for 是正する. How their 良心s smote them you can 裁判官 from the fact of their flight. You will かもしれない never see them again. But if they do chance to return you must wire to me at once to the Athenian Club, 棺／かげり 商店街.”
“I don’t like these hints and suggestions of evil, sir,” said Gail, restlessly, “and certainly I should never think of telegraphing to you unless Mr. Maunders and Mr. Hest give me leave. And why, sir, should they not return?”
“Don’t 捜し出す to know any more, Mr. Gail, but do as you are told,” said Vernon in a peremptory トン, “and also it will be wise if you and your wife 持つ／拘留する your tongues over what has happened and stop the servant from talking.”
“Suppose we don’t?” 需要・要求するd Mrs. Gail 積極性.
“In that 事例／患者 you will get into trouble.”
“How dare you—how dare—”
“See here!” 陸軍大佐 Towton rose 怒って. “We have 推論する／理由 to believe that these men are connected with The Spider.”
Mrs. Gail shrieked and the Professor turned pale. Both knew that terrible 指名する which was so 自由に について言及するd in the papers. “Do you mean to say—”
“We say nothing,” said Vernon はっきりと, “and my friend here has perhaps said too much. But it is 同様に that you should know the necessity of keeping silent tongues in your 長，率いるs.”
“We, knowing nothing of these 事柄s, cannot be 推定する／予想するd to—”
“I am やめる aware that you are innocent of complicity,” interrupted Towton, “but you both must 約束 to be silent until you have leave to speak.”
“And if not?”
“Already I have told you that the police will 干渉する,” 観察するd Vernon coldly. “This 商売／仕事 is 関心d with The Spider, so, for your own sakes, 持つ／拘留する your confounded tongues.”
The Gails, however, were not so easily 命令（する）d. They wished to know how Hest and Maunders were connected with The Spider, and if they were in any way （刑事）被告 of 存在, as they 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語d it, “in the know.” But the arguments and 命令（する）s of Towton, together with those of Vernon, 徐々に induced the worthy couple to listen to 推論する／理由. In fact, at the end of half an hour both were 完全に terrified into thinking that their 評判 might be 廃虚d were it known that men connected with The Spider had been under their roof. Neither Gail nor his wife were averse to 存在 について言及するd in the papers or to 安全な・保証するing an 宣伝 so as to 追加する to their theatrical fame, but the publicity likely to be procured from the late episode was not the sort they 願望（する）d. They therefore finally agreed to keep silence about the strange interview and the flight of their guests, and also 宣言するd that they would make Maria 持つ／拘留する her tongue. にもかかわらず, their curiosity remained unabated, and Vernon had to 約束 them that it would some day be 満足させるd.
“You shall know all when the time comes,” he said when taking leave, “but keep silence until the 任命するd hour lest you get into trouble.”
This speech, 存在 somewhat stagey, sounded pleasantly in the ears of the couple, and Towton left the house with his friend, やめる 満足させるd that Professor Gail and his wife and their servant would say nothing of what had taken place. “And now,” said the 陸軍大佐, “let us grope our way to the 駅／配置する. After we reach town we can see Drench.”
Vernon agreed, and by に引き続いて the line of houses they finally managed, but with some difficulty, to get to the 鉄道. Here they had to wait for a かなりの time for a train, as the ordinary traffic was somewhat 複雑にするd by 霧. It was eight o’clock before they reached Waterloo, and they learned from the stationmaster that nothing had been seen of the two men alluded to in the 電報電信, although each train and the 障壁 of the 壇・綱領・公約 it arrived at had been watched by the police. Vernon was not surprised at this 知能.
“I thought both Hest and Maunders were too clever to 危険 a wire to Waterloo 駅／配置する, as they knew I would send it.”
“What’s to be done now?”
“Let us go to your rooms and send a 電報電信 to Drench at Hampstead asking him to come 負かす／撃墜する.”
“The 霧 is still 厚い,” said Towton as they stepped into a taxi; “perhaps he won’t come. Hang it, every possible 障害 seems to be placed in our way. The blackguards will escape.”
“Not out of England, at all events,” said Vernon grimly. “When we explain everything to Drench he will have all the 駅／配置するs and all the ports watched. We’ll catch them sooner or later.”
But the young man spoke with more 信用／信任 than he 現実に felt, as he knew that Hest was extraordinarily clever in 隠すing himself. As The Spider he had baffled the police for years, and, 存在 an arch-犯罪の, would be dexterous enough to escape even out of this tight corner. He began to consider what was best to be done after sending a wire to 視察官 Drench, when his meditations were broken in upon by the 陸軍大佐.
“Do you really believe that Hest is The Spider?”
“Of course. Didn’t you see his 直面する change when Maunders spoke, and didn’t he 削減（する） and run when he saw that the game was up?”
“It certainly looks like 犯罪. And yet it seems incredible. The man always has lived in Yorkshire, 反して The Spider is supposed to live in town.”
“No one has ever known the どの辺に of The Spider,” said Vernon coolly, “and it is as 平易な to 令状 ゆすり，恐喝ing letters in Yorkshire and 地位，任命する them in London as to live in town altogether for that 目的. Besides, his sister told me herself that Hest frequently went away for days and weeks at a time. Doubtless he was …に出席するing to his nefarious 商売／仕事 in London.”
“How do you reconcile this devilry with his philanthropy?”
“It seems 半端物, doesn’t it? But we know that the worst 犯罪のs have their good points. There lives some soul of good in all things evil, you know.”
“I rather think,” said the 陸軍大佐 grimly, “that Hest looks upon himself as a 肉親，親類d of modern コマドリ Hood, who takes from the rich to give to the poor. He ゆすり，恐喝d 豊富な folk ーするために build his Bolly 貯蔵所 and his confounded school-houses. Robbed Peter to 支払う／賃金 Paul, as you might put it.”
“略奪する Dives to help デモs is the way he would put it,” said Vernon with a shrug. “However, we have made a 広大な／多数の／重要な 発見 and one which the police will thank us for making. When Hest is 逮捕（する）d many a rich man will sleep the easier.”
“Yes, when he is 逮捕（する）d; but that won’t be 平易な.”
“I agree with you. The Spider is as clever as his father—the devil. Humph!” 追加するd Vernon thoughtfully, “I wonder if his sister knows anything about his infernal doings.”
“No,” said the 陸軍大佐 decidedly. “I don’t like 行方不明になる Hest, as I think she is too imperious and masterful and wants her own way too much. All the same, I don’t believe she would have countenanced her brother’s behaviour. Besides, she was always away from him, and he doubtless carried on his いたずらs without her knowledge.”
“You defend her. I thought you didn’t like her?”
“I 認める only a moment ago that I did not,” snapped the 陸軍大佐 as the taxi 慎重に felt its way up Whitehall, “but I must be just to her. The poor woman will 苦しむ as it is when her brother’s criminality becomes known. It will 廃虚 her reciting 商売／仕事.”
“That’s true, and there is no chance of keeping the 事柄 静かな. Hest must be 逮捕（する）d and 拘留するd.”
“Hanged, you mean. Remember, he 殺人d ツバメ Dimsdale.”
Vernon shuddered. “I suppose he did,” was his 気が進まない admission. “I am sorry for 行方不明になる Hest, as, contrary to your opinion, I think 高度に of her. She may be masterful, as you say, but Ida is so weak that it is just 同様に that she should have someone to lead her in the 権利 way.”
“Oh, 行方不明になる Hest has led her in the 権利 way, no 疑問,” retorted the 陸軍大佐; “but I prefer to be the guide myself. See here, Vernon, come 負かす／撃墜する with me next week to my place at Bowderstyke.”
“What for? We have to 追跡（する） 負かす／撃墜する Hest and Maunders.”
“We can 安全に leave that to Drench and his underlings. I want to get Ida away from Gerby Hall. Sorry as I am for 行方不明になる Hest in having such a brother, I don’t want Ida to continue under her 保護 any longer, 特に as she wants to marry her to Maunders.”
“Maunders will have no chance now,” said Vernon with a grim chuckle. “But you are a bachelor, Towton, so Ida will scarcely be able to come to The Grange.”
“I shall ask her aunt 負かす／撃墜する as chaperon.”
“Lady Corsoon? Good! And ask Lucy also, for my sake.”
“With 広大な／多数の／重要な 楽しみ. I think that the 除去 of Maunders from my path and yours will result in the courses of our love running smoother. Ah, here we are, and I’m glad, as I want drink and victuals.”
After the long, 用心深い creeping through the 霧 the two gentlemen arrived at the 陸軍大佐’s rooms, and Bendham was sent out for food. Having dined, they smoked and talked while waiting for 視察官 Drench. But he never （機の）カム. A 電報電信 arrived instead 明言する／公表するing that the 霧 妨げるd his keeping the 任命. And it also 妨げるd Vernon getting 支援する to his own ４半期/4分の1s, so the 陸軍大佐 put him up for the night. Next day the 追跡（する） for the 犯罪のs began in earnest.
Before Drench arrived, which he did at eleven o’clock, Professor Gail （機の）カム to the Athenian Cub, where the gentlemen were waiting, and produced a wire which had arrived for Hest on that morning. He had not opened it, 存在 afraid, but brought it 損なわれていない to Vernon. That young man had no compunction under the circumstances in reading it, and 設立する that it was from フランs Hest to her brother asking him to return home as divers 事柄s connected with the 広い地所 要求するd his attention.
“Sent first thing this morning,” said Vernon passing the wire to the 陸軍大佐. “Poor woman! she doesn’t know that her brother has been 設立する out.”
The wire was shown to 視察官 Drench when he duly arrived, and he was exhaustively 知らせるd of all that had taken place. He was 自然に both astonished and 利益／興味d, but にもかかわらず 表明するd himself annoyed that 非軍事のs should have proceeded so far without invoking the police. Drench gave both the 陸軍大佐 and Vernon to understand that if he had been on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す Hest and his 共犯者 would not have escaped so easily, a 見解（をとる） with which they 個人として 異なるd, although they did not think it wise to say so. But Towton did intimate to the 視察官 that he was a 軍の man and not a 非軍事の, whatever Vernon might be. Drench 拒絶する／低下するd to take any notice of this 発言／述べる.
The 視察官 also questioned Gail closely, but could learn nothing from him of any moment, since the old actor knew nothing and was 大いに agitated over the whole 事件／事情／状勢. Finally, bidding all three 持つ／拘留する their tongues, Drench sallied 前へ／外へ to search for the 行方不明の pair. He saw the Scotland Yard 当局 and wired to all the ports and 鉄道 駅／配置するs in the kingdom. As yet, and because he 願望（する）d to keep the 事件／事情／状勢 out of the newspapers, Drench did not advertise in the 定期刊行物s, or by handbills. さもなければ, in every way he strove to find the 逃亡者／はかないものs.
He might 同様に have 試みる／企てるd to find a 爆撃する at the 底（に届く） of the 大西洋. Day after day went by and no news was heard of Hest or Maunders, and from the moment they had been swallowed up by the 霧 at Isleworth nothing had been seen of them. They had not, so far as could be ascertained, passed out of the kingdom, and certainly they were not to be 設立する in the kingdom itself. Like Macbeth’s witches, they had made themselves thin 空気／公表する: like the children of Korah and Dathan, they 明らかに had been swallowed up by the earth. But, thanks to Drench, the 発見 of the 身元 of The Spider and his その後の escape had not yet been made public, and the 圧力（をかける） knew nothing of what was taking place. But the time had now come when publicity was 絶対 necessary.
“There’s nothing else for it,” said Drench, and Vernon in spite of his wish to keep things 静かな, agreed with him.
Within a week of the episode at Isleworth 陸軍大佐 Towton took Vernon with him to Yorkshire. 視察官 Drench was still searching for the 逃亡者／はかないものs and was still unable to find them. True to his 評判, The Spider had covered up his 跡をつけるs in a most 熟達した manner, and there was not the slightest 手がかり（を与える） to 示す his どの辺に. 推定では Maunders was with him, as he had not returned to his rooms in 惑星 Street, nor had he been seen in any of his usual haunts about town. This was to be 推定する／予想するd, as Maunders had, as the 説 goes, “gone under,” and the society wherein he had glittered so gaily would henceforth know him no more. It seemed a pity that a young man with talents and good looks and social position should have 廃虚d his life at the very 手始め of a 約束ing career. But there must have been some 犯罪の 緊張する in Maunders, which （機の）カム to the surface in 繁栄 instead of 存在 明らかにする／漏らすd by poverty. He was, as Coleridge says about people with such natures, “a fool in a circumbendibus.”
However, it was useless for Vernon to 嘆く／悼む over his old school friend’s downfall. He had done his best to keep him in the straight path and had failed to 妨げる his feet from 逸脱するing. He therefore, as there was nothing else to be done at this eleventh hour, washed his 手渡すs of him and left him, together with Hest, to the tender mercies of the 法律 as 代表するd by the 視察官. Now that Drench had all the threads in his own 手渡すs he resented anyone else weaving them into ropes for the necks of the 犯罪のs, as he 明らかに wished to 安全な・保証する all the glory and honour of the 逮捕（する） to himself. Both Towton and Vernon were rather glad that the 視察官 took this 見解（をとる）, as they wished to have nothing more to do with the 事柄. And, before leaving London for Bowderstyke, Vernon shut up his Covent Garden office and 正式に 放棄するd his pseudonym of Nemo. As by this time he was 公式に recognised as his uncle’s 相続人 he could 井戸／弁護士席 afford to do so. Sir Edward, however, still ぐずぐず残るd between life and death, so it was doubtful when Vernon would enter into his kingdom.
While the train was 飛行機で行くing through the autumnal landscape Towton and his guest made themselves comfortable in a first-class compartment, which they had 安全な・保証するd to themselves, for the 目的 of 連続する conversation. They were still 深く，強烈に 利益／興味d in the 事例／患者 and looked 今後 anxiously to the 逮捕（する） of The Spider. It was only 権利 that he should 苦しむ for his dastardly 罪，犯罪 in 殺人ing an old and inoffensive man. As to Maunders, he was evidently 手渡す in glove with the cleverer rascal, and would undoubtedly be given a long 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 of 監禁，拘置. Thus society would be rid of two dangerous people, and those with secrets would sleep the easier, knowing that one Asmodeus was dead and the other 安全に locked up.
“But I don’t know what poor Mrs. Bedge will do,” said Vernon looking dolefully out of the window.
“Does she know anything?” asked the 陸軍大佐, throwing 負かす／撃墜する the morning paper which he had been reading and settling himself for a talk.
Vernon nodded. “I saw her yesterday. She sent to ask me what had become of Constantine. I was 強いるd to tell her.”
“Do you think that was 肉親，親類d or wise?”
“I think so, decidedly. It was better that Mrs. Bedge should learn the truth from a friend than see it crudely printed in the daily papers. And there it is bound to appear sooner or later.”
“Drench will have to catch The Spider first,” said the 陸軍大佐 coolly. “No 平易な 仕事, as we know. What did she say?”
“At first she 拒絶する／低下するd to believe it, 不正に as Maunders has 扱う／治療するd her. She kept 主張するing that it was all a mistake and that Constantine would appear to put 事柄s 権利.”
“What wonderful 約束 these women have, Vernon.”
“Bless them, yes. They go by their hearts 完全に.”
“In that 事例／患者,” 発言／述べるd Towton drily, “Mrs. Bedge must have known that Maunders is not the saint she tries to make him out to be.”
“I did not say that she went by her instinct,” replied Vernon 平等に drily; “there is a difference between that and heart-love. Because Constantine is her sister’s child and her 可決する・採択するd son Mrs. Bedge’s heart, which he has almost broken, 心にいだくs him 情愛深く; but her instinct must have told her long ago that the fellow is a scamp of the worst sort.”
“He’s a 徹底的な-paced scoundrel,” said the 陸軍大佐 vigorously.
“Mrs. Bedge 拒絶する／低下するd to take that 見解（をとる） of him. She wailed that he had a tender heart and was led away because he had a weak nature. In fact, her defence was that of a man 存在 his own worst enemy.”
“Maunders certainly was. He had all the gifts of the gods, yet—”
“Yet fell because the greatest gift of honest 目的 was not given,” finished Vernon. “Hang it all, Towton, scamp as the fellow is, I am sorry for him.”
“I’m not,” growled Towton savagely.
“Ah, you did not play with him as a child, nor did you go to school with him, my friend. Although I’m bound to say that Constantine was always a selfish chap—what you would call a rotter.”
“I would call him nothing of the sort, Vernon. I detest slang.”
“That’s a mistake. Slang frequently 攻撃する，衝突するs the nail on the 長，率いる when the King’s English 行方不明になるs it altogether. Slang 伝えるs much in little, and—”
“Oh, the ジュース take your philology. Go on talking about Mrs. Bedge.”
“There’s no more to say. Maunders has pretty 井戸／弁護士席 drained her, but she has enough to live on, and the Hampstead house is her own. に向かって the end of our conversation, however, she let out that she was not surprised at Conny’s behaviour, as she rather 推定する／予想するd it.”
“H’m! Somewhat contradictory. Why?”
“井戸／弁護士席, it seems that Maunders’ father, the Greek, Mavrocordato, you know, was rather a bad egg himself. He worried his wife—Mrs. Bedge’s sister, that is—into her 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, and 搾取するd his partner before he committed 自殺.”
“I never heard that before.”
“No. Mrs. Bedge always kept it 静かな for the boy’s sake until she let it out to me in her grief yesterday. Mavrocordato—he took the English 指名する of Maunders—bolted with a heap of his partner’s money, and 発射 himself at Corfu, whither he was traced by 探偵，刑事s. Mrs. Bedge 可決する・採択するd the son, and did her best to train him up as an honest man. She tried her hardest, I’m 確かな , but what’s bred in the bone, you know.”
陸軍大佐 Towton 倍のd his 武器 and 星／主役にするd straightly before him. “Poor devil. He was かなり handicapped by such a father. I wonder, Vernon, for how many of our 行為s we are responsible, when you take 遺伝 into consideration. Some sin because they like it, but many because they can’t help it.”
“Let us give Maunders the 利益 of the 疑問, and say that the sins of his father were visited on him. And, of course, we must not forget that Hest is an 極端に clever and strong-minded man, who could, and did, easily 支配（する）／統制する Maunders’ 女性 nature.”
“There’s something to be said there,” assented the 陸軍大佐 thoughtfully. “I daresay Hest entangled the poor wretch in 罪，犯罪 before he 井戸／弁護士席 knew what he was about, and once committed he would be compelled to remain in the mud. But Hest himself, Vernon. What do you make of him?”
“I don’t know enough about him to give an opinion. Perhaps when we see the sister she may tell us something.”
“Oh, by the way, I received a letter from her two days ago, about which I ーするつもりであるd to speak to you, Vernon. All this bother and worry put it out of my 長，率いる. I left it at home, unfortunately, but I can tell you the gist of it.”
Vernon looked 利益／興味d. “What did she 令状 about, and why to you?” “She wrote to me because she wants me to marry Ida.”
“I really don’t see what she has to do with that,” 発言／述べるd Vernon with a shrug; “for Ida is surely of an age to choose for herself.”
“I always told you, Vernon,” said Towton, deliberately crossing one 脚 over the other, “that Ida, 存在 いっそう少なく masterful than 行方不明になる Hest, is usually guided by her, and that I 反対するd to the 指導／手引. Ida liked me more than anyone else before that handsome scamp （機の）カム along. Then she became infatuated with him, and 行方不明になる Hest did her best to induce her to marry him. But the sad death of Dimsdale took Ida’s thoughts off Maunders, and—as I 裁判官 from the letter Ida wrote me from Gerby Hall—行方不明になる Hest tried to get her to love the man again. Failing that, she 試みる／企てるd to get Ida to marry her brother, only he （機の）カム up to London, not feeling 性質の／したい気がして to 落ちる in with his sister’s 見解（をとる）s. You can therefore see that 行方不明になる Hest sways Ida a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定, and for that 推論する／理由 I have come to get her away from such dangerous company—doubly dangerous now that we know Francis Hest is The Spider.”
Vernon shrugged his shoulders. “It’s rather hard to 非難する the sister for the brother’s delinquencies,” he said judicially. “And now that he and Maunders are out of the running she will place her 負わせる in your 規模. In fact, from your late 観察, she has already done so. You should be very pleased, 陸軍大佐, 反して you seem to me to be ungrateful.”
“I don’t want Ida to be induced to marry me by 行方不明になる Hest’s 代表s, Vernon,” said Towton hotly. “It’s a liberty on her part to 干渉する with my 支持を得ようと努めるing. Lady Corsoon comes 負かす／撃墜する to-morrow with her daughter, and I shall ask her to go to Gerby Hall and bring Ida 支援する with her. Then we will have finished with these shady people, and Ida will marry me of her own 解放する／自由な will.”
“井戸／弁護士席, 陸軍大佐,” replied Vernon pacifically, “I hope things will turn out as you 推定する／予想する. But what did 行方不明になる Hest 令状 about?”
“About her brother. She asked me if I had seen him, and what was the 事柄 with him.” Vernon looked puzzled. “I don’t understand. Does she 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う—”
“She 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs nothing,” broke in Towton impetuously. “But she 明言する／公表するd that she had received a letter from her brother four or five days ago 説 that he ーするつもりであるd to leave England for ever, as he was tired of civilisation. He enclosed a 行為 of Gift, making over Gerby Hall and its acres to her, as he ーするつもりであるd—so he said—to earn his own living when abroad. 自然に, 行方不明になる Hest could not understand this, and wrote asking me what was the 事柄.”
“Did you explain?”
“No. I wrote 説 that I was coming 負かす／撃墜する to my own place, and would tell her all I knew when I arrived. But you can see, Vernon, that Hest is still in London.”
“He was, six or seven days ago, but he may have gone away since,” said Vernon 慎重に. “Who drew up the 行為 of Gift?”
“I can’t say. 行方不明になる Hest did not explain that. Why?”
“Because if it was some lawyer we might be able to question him regarding Hest’s 最新の movements. Humph! So Hest has bolted. 井戸／弁護士席, I’m not surprised at that. But I am rather astonished he should 降伏する his 所有物／資産／財産.”
“Oh, 井戸／弁護士席. I 推定する／予想する his 商売／仕事 as The Spider has made him やめる a rich man. Remember, the blackguard has been ゆすり，恐喝ing 首尾よく for three or four years. He knows that his sister has nothing save what she makes by her reciting, so perhaps his 良心 smote him, and so he made his 行為 of Gift. It’s a lucky thing for her, as Gerby Hall is a 罰金 old place, although rather 暗い／優うつな, and there is a decent income of one thousand a year 大（公）使館員d to it, farms, village rents, and all that sort of thing, you know.”
“It’s queer Hest should have behaved so 井戸／弁護士席, when he is such a scoundrel, Towton. You told me that he quarrelled with his sister, and certainly from the 発言／述べるs she made about him to me, she did not seem over fond of him.”
“血 is 厚い than water,” said the 陸軍大佐 sententiously, “and dog does not eat dog.”
“I agree with your first proverb, but not with the second, Towton. 行方不明になる Hest is not of the same 産む／飼育する, morally speaking, as her brother, and no 疑問 will be horrified when she learns of his wickedness.”
“Probably. You always defend her.”
“I am just,” said Vernon coldly. “So far as I can see, she is a clever woman of good 原則s, although, I 収容する／認める, rather masterful. Her brother has done a wise thing in 手渡すing her over the 所有物／資産／財産, whatever his 推論する／理由s may be. She will be an admirable mistress.”
“Oh, as to that, Hest was a 広大な／多数の／重要な benefactor to all the villages around, and the people 断言する by them. If he has bolted with Maunders, Drench will have to let the 事柄 減少（する）. But, if he is 逮捕（する）d, no one here will believe that he is a 殺害者 and a blackmailer. They know him only as a good landlord and a 肉親，親類d friend.”
“And we know him as a 犯罪の. Strange that two such diverse natures can 存在する 味方する by 味方する.”
“I daresay Hest hoped that his good 行為s would 支払う／賃金 for his bad ones,” said the 陸軍大佐 carelessly. “I shall be glad if he escapes, richly as he deserves to be hanged for 殺人ing Dimsdale. It will be just 同様に if the whole thing is buried in oblivion. Then I shall marry Ida, you 行方不明になる Corsoon, and 行方不明になる Hest can play the lady of the manor here, as she pleases.”
“What about the Dimsdale 所有物／資産／財産?”
“If it belongs to Lady Corsoon she must have it; if Maunders’ story is a 嘘（をつく）, which it may be, I shall stick to it on に代わって of my wife. However, we may hear from Venery of Singapore in a few weeks. My letter must have nearly reached him by this time.”
“You can learn the truth of the story nearer home,” said Vernon after a pause. “行方不明になる Jewin, the housekeeper at Gerby Hall, told the story to Maunders, によれば his own account.”
“I shall question her, you may be sure,” said the 陸軍大佐 grimly; “but I want to hear from Venery also. Oh, I’m sick of talking about these things,” he 追加するd with a yawn. “It’s time for forty winks.” And forthwith he の近くにd his 注目する，もくろむs, after settling himself comfortably in his seat. Vernon, not inclined to 残り／休憩（する）, lighted a fresh cigar and buried himself in a 調書をとる／予約する.
It was five o’clock when the travellers reached Bradmoor, the nearest 駅／配置する to Bowderstyke. It was ten miles to the valley, but the road was excellent, and Towton’s モーター-car を待つd them. In ten minutes the baggage was packed away, and Vernon with his host was 安全に ensconced in the 支援する part of the machine, which was covered with a hood. Towton asked Vernon if he would care to 運動, but as the 申し込む／申し出 was 辞退するd and the 陸軍大佐 himself did not feel in a 冒険的な humour, the 行為／行う of the 旅行 was left to the smart chauffeur. He appeared to be 井戸／弁護士席 熟知させるd with the country, and as the road was somewhat lonely, the モーター travelled に向かって Bowderstyke at a 広大な／多数の／重要な 率 of 速度(を上げる）. The 動議 was exhilarating, and the 見解（をとる） on either 味方する of the roadway 極端に picturesque, so Vernon enjoyed himself 大いに in the fresh 空気／公表する, after the の近くに atmosphere and the monotony of the train. With the 勝利，勝つd blowing in his 直面する and the smooth, 平易な gliding 動議, he felt like a 飛行機で行くing bird, or at all events as though 機動力のある on one.
The country was wild and barren, consisting おもに of interminable stretches of moorland, 開始するing up on either 味方する of the road to かなりの 高さs. Occasionally there was a 下落する covered with green grass and trees, already beginning to shed their leaves, but for the most part the sombre moors, darkening in the failing light, spread solemnly to 権利 and left. It was rarely that a house or a village was passed, and only every now and then could Vernon catch a glimpse of cattle or human 存在s.
“This country would get on my 神経s,” he said to his companion. “It is like the weird landscape 述べるd by Browning in his Childe Roland poem. Those telegraph 政治家s are the 単独の 調印するs of civilisation.”
“Oh, we’ll come to a more cheery 面 すぐに,” said Towton smiling; “for my part, I love the gloom and the loneliness of our moors. Many a time in the garish Indian days, with a 燃やすing sun in the hateful blue sky, have I longed for dear old Yorkshire.”
“Everyone to his taste,” said Vernon with a shrug. “I prefer something much more cheerful.”
“You are a cockney at heart, Vernon.”
“I daresay. London is good enough for me.”
に向かって the end of the ten mile stretch from the 駅／配置する 調印するs of civilisation became more たびたび（訪れる）. Here and there was a village with cultivated fields around it. Cattle were pastured in enclosed paddocks, and men and women with laughing children trudged along the high road, looking after the モーター with 広大な／多数の／重要な curiosity, for the machine was yet a novelty in that lonely 地区. Twice the road ran 直接／まっすぐに through a village, and Vernon had an 適切な時期 of seeing the solid grey 石／投石する houses, which were ふさわしい to the Calvinistic looks of the country. And the people themselves appeared to be what the Scotch call “dour.”
And now the moors began to grow higher and to の近くに in on the white road with a 漸進的な menace. Leaving the comparatively 幅の広い lands, the モーター glided into a valley, which grew even more 狭くする as they proceeded. A babbling stream prattled 負かす／撃墜する the centre of this, over a stony bed, and beside it the road 新たな展開d along like a white serpent, 保護するd by a parapet of rough 石／投石するs. Already the crimson light of the sunset had died out of the western sky, but the moon was 十分な, and, 急に上がるing high in the dark blue ドーム of the firmament, 注ぐd floods of light into the gully, to use a 植民地の 表現—for by this time it was little else. And looking 上向き, Vernon could see 星／主役にする after 星／主役にする peep out to …に出席する on the majestic orb.
“What do you call this place?” he asked 突然の. Towton ちらりと見ることd at him in surprise. “Didn’t I tell you? It’s Bowderstyke.”
“広大な／多数の／重要な Scott, 陸軍大佐, is your house 据えるd in this 孤立するd, damp 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. I should think you never saw the sun from one year’s end to the other, save when it was 直接／まっすぐに 総計費.”
“Oh, the valley broadens out その上の on. This is 単に the 入り口.”
“What the ジュース do the inhabitants live on? It’s like living in a drain.”
“Oh, confound you, Vernon,” said the 陸軍大佐 half annoyed. “It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you were a Yorkshire tyke you would 収容する／認める that. There is only the village of Bowderstyke a mile away, and the inhabitants live by pasturing their cattle on the moors on the 高さs above. Also there is a weaving and spinning 産業, the mills 存在 driven by water 力／強力にする, of which there is no 欠如（する）.”
“This stream doesn’t seem to have much water,” said Vernon disdainfully.
“You should see it in winter when the snows melt on the moors,” advised the 陸軍大佐. “Besides, the water from the mills comes from Hest’s new 貯蔵所, and there is a never-failing 供給（する）. This stream used to be much broader, and its bed 含む／封じ込めるd much more water, but when the Bolly Dam was 建設するd, of course the 供給（する） dwindled. 麻薬を吸うs run under this road to 供給（する） the several villages you saw just before we entered the valley.”
“Where is the dam which our 犯罪の friend built?”
Towton pointed straight ahead. “一連の会議、交渉／完成する the next corner you could see it, but we do not go so far. There was a small lake there up on the moors which fed this stream. Hest 簡単に got engineers to dam the lake and 妨げる too much water going to waste 負かす／撃墜する the bed of this 激流. The dam runs 権利 across the valley a mile and a half beyond my house.”
“But isn’t that dangerous. If it burst this valley would be flooded from end to end, and everybody would be 溺死するd, to say nothing of the way in which the village would be 粉砕するd up.”
“井戸／弁護士席, yes.” Towton pinched his nether lip uneasily. “I’ve thought of that myself many a time. But I was abroad when the dam was 建設するd. There certainly—as I have often said—should be an 出口 for the water other than the 麻薬を吸うs which 供給（する） Bowderstyke and the villages outside the valley, capacious as those same 麻薬を吸うs undoubtedly are. Assuredly, if the 貯蔵所 burst there would be 広大な／多数の／重要な loss of life and 破壊 of 所有物／資産／財産. But the Bolly Dam is very 堅固に built, so I have no 恐れる of anything happening. You can see it from my house, and we’ll 支払う／賃金 it a visit in a day or two. 合間, this is Bowderstyke village.”
By this time they were passing through やめる a number of small houses, from the windows of which lights gleamed cheerfully. The モーター soon left these behind, then swerved to the 権利—looking up from the 入り口 to the valley—and すぐに began to climb a winding road. At this point, as the 陸軍大佐 had foretold, the vale broadened 突然の, and the high moors stood away so as to form a 肉親，親類d of 深い cup. Up the 味方する of this, the road along which they were travelling sloped 上向き for some distance, then turned on itself and sloped still higher. すぐに the モーター 達成するd the highest level, and in the moonlight Vernon could see the moors stretching for miles, lonely and romantic. A straight road ran 平行の with the upper 部分 of the valley for の近くに upon half a mile. Then appeared a miniature forest, encircled by a high 石／投石する 塀で囲む. This was undoubtedly 人工的な, as the moorlands were treeless, and the 予期しない woodland looked out of place まっただ中に its 荒涼とした surroundings.
The モーター soon arrived at two tall 石／投石する 中心存在s crested with heraldic monsters, and passing through these, spun up a short avenue to stop before a large white house, brilliantly lighted up. Spacious lawns opened up before the mansion, interspersed with flowerbeds, now bloomless, and the whole was shut in by the fairy forest, as Vernon called it in his own mind.
“Here we are,” said 陸軍大佐 Towton jumping from the car. “許す me to welcome you to The Grange, my friend.”
“Thank heaven the 旅行’s at an end,” said Vernon.
“I hope you slept 井戸／弁護士席, Vernon,” said the 陸軍大佐 to his guest the next morning when they were at breakfast.
“Like a 最高の，を越す,” was the 返答. “That 旅行 tired me out, and your moorland 空気／公表する is so strong that I slept the moment my 長，率いる was on the pillow.”
“You will eat 井戸／弁護士席 also, Vernon,” 発言／述べるd Towton, regarding with satisfaction the attention paid by his 訪問者 to the appetising meal. “Our 空気／公表する is famous as a tonic. You will return to town a 巨大（な） refreshed.”
“There is lots to be done before I leave here,” said Vernon passing his cup for a fresh 供給（する） of coffee. “What is your first step?”
“We will call on 行方不明になる Hest this afternoon, and I can show you the village at the same time. Lady Corsoon and her daughter will come to-day, and will arrive to dinner. That is the programme.”
“I’m at your 処分. And to-morrow I suppose you will get Lady Corsoon to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of Ida?”
“If 行方不明になる Hest will let her go,” said the 陸軍大佐 慎重に.
“She can’t 拘留する her, surely.”
“Not by outward 軍隊; but she may use her 影響（力） to keep her. 行方不明になる Hest won’t lose the chance of swaying the mind of a girl with ten thousand a year. You may be sure of that.”
“H’m,” said Vernon finishing the last of his coffee. “If Ida learned the secret of Dimsdale from Maunders, disguised as Diabella, you may be sure that she told 行方不明になる Hest. In that 事例／患者, Ida is not 価値（がある） keeping.”
陸軍大佐 Towton nodded and 押し進めるd 支援する his 議長，司会を務める to rise. “There’s something in that, I’ll 収容する／認める. However, we can say nothing until we interview 行方不明になる Hest. I have already sent her a 公式文書，認める 説 that we have arrived and will see her to-day.”
事柄s having been thus arranged, the two men lighted their 麻薬を吸うs and strolled out into the grounds. It was a 有望な autumnal morning with a cloudless blue sky and a radiant sun; the moorland 空気／公表する was keen, and Vernon drew long invigorating breaths into his 肺s. Notwithstanding the somewhat 荒涼とした surroundings, The Grange was a remarkably comfortable house, and the 初めの Towton who had built the same had striven to （判決などを）下す it as 有望な as possible, so as to contrast with the sombre moors. The Grange, indeed, was more like an Italian 郊外住宅 than a Yorkshire mansion, as it was 建設するd of white 石／投石する and every window had green shutters, while the roof was formed of cheerful red tiles. Both rooms and 回廊（地帯）s were spacious and decorated in brilliant 色合いs, and the furniture was of the most modern description.
“It isn’t at all like an ancestral home, is it?” said Towton cheerfully. “And all the better for that, since the word 示唆するs oak parlours, comfortable gloom, and cumbersome furniture.”
“Those would 控訴 the 状況／情勢 better,” said Vernon, ちらりと見ることing at the pines and モミ-trees, which formed a 審査する to keep away the too keen moorland 勝利，勝つd. “Your brilliant 塀で囲むs and red roofs look out of place in these 厳しい 孤独s, where Nature seems to be 事実上の／代理 the anchorite.”
“I love the scenery and 孤独 and all that, Vernon, but I like to be comfortably housed. My 広大な／多数の／重要な-grand-father left the 初めの family seat, which is in the valley almost below the Bolly Dam, and built this place after a long sojourn in Italy. My cousin, from whom I 相続する, （疑いを）晴らすd out all the old Victorian furniture and redecorated the house as you see it. It’s all very modern, and perhaps, in contrast with the grandeur of the moors, somewhat frivolous. But, at all events, it is cheerful and comfortable. I could scarcely ask Ida to 相続する a 肉親，親類d of Ogre’s 城 like Gerby Hall.”
“Where is that?”
“You will see すぐに. It’s a real old Yorkshire Manor House, dating, I believe, from the Wars of the Roses. There was a lot of fighting went on during those days in Yorkshire, and the 初めの Hest procured a 認める of Bowderstyke Valley from Edward IV. But my ancestors （機の）カム along later and 掴むd a 部分 of it and built the mansion 近づく the dam. I understand that the Hests and the Towtons fought like cat and dog over the valley. However, the most of the 所有物／資産／財産 belongs to me, and I live in this very up-to-date Grange, while they’ still 粘着する to the 残余s of their lands and to Gerby Hall.”
“From whom does our 犯罪の friend 相続する?”
“His grandfather. Hest’s father was an officer in the Indian army, and had quarrelled with the old man. Then he died, together with his wife, some spinster he had married at Simla. The twin children were sent home to the grandfather, who brought them up and left the 広い地所s to Francis. Now that he has been shown up, he has had the sense, as I told you yesterday, to 手渡す them over to his sister. Perhaps she’ll marry and carry on the family.”
“And Hest?”
The 陸軍大佐 shook his 長，率いる. “Who knows. He may be caught; on the other 手渡す, he may bolt to South America and become one of those 独裁者s we read so much about. As The Spider, we know that he has heaps of brains, and a piratical life of that description would 控訴 him 正確に／まさに.”
Talking thus, Towton showed Vernon over his small kingdom, and after 昼食 the two gentlemen strolled out of the grounds with the 意向 of taking the winding road to Gerby Hall. On the 瀬戸際 of the moorland they stood for some time looking 負かす／撃墜する into the cup, and Vernon thus procured a bird’s-注目する，もくろむ 見解（をとる） of the valley in the 十分な 炎 of the noonday sun.
“It’s like a bead on a string, Towton,” he said after a pause.
The description was an apt one, for the hollow into which they were looking was the bead, and the 狭くする valley, running like an 不規律な 割れ目 to 権利 and left, might be easily compared to a string. From the cup 上向き to Bolly Dam the valley stretched for a mile and a half, and downward it ran for two miles in a somewhat crooked fashion, to 終結させる on the 瀬戸際 of the undulating plain, which stretched the その上の ten miles to the 鉄道 駅／配置する. At the end of the valley—as Towton 知らせるd his guest—was a village called, from its 状況／情勢, Gatehead, and there were four other hamlets beyond, all of which belonged to him. The Hests were 減ずるd to Bowderstyke village alone and to a かなりの 部分 of the moorland on the hither 味方する.
“It puts me in mind somewhat of Blackmore’s description of Doon Valley,” was Vernon’s 発言／述べる when in 所有／入手 of these facts. “I daresay in the Middle Ages it was やめる a robbers’ 要塞／本拠地.”
“With the Hests and the Towtons as robbers. 正確に／まさに. Their 手渡す was against every man, and likewise against each other for the mastery of Bowderstyke. At the upper end the valley is 封鎖するd by a small lake, now turned by the Bolly Dam into a very large 貯蔵所, so they were 安全な in that direction. Gatehead was where their vassals lived to guard the 出口, so you can see in troublesome times everything was 極端に 安全な. From this valley the Hests and the Towtons went 前へ／外へ （警察の）手入れ，急襲ing, and いつかs, when not quarrelling between themselves, formed a 肉親，親類d of league. They struggled for centuries, but in the end my ancestors got the upper 手渡す, and most of the 所有物／資産／財産. I believe the 反目，不和 and the （警察の）手入れ，急襲ing continued 負かす／撃墜する to the termination of George the Third’s 統治する, for the King’s 令状 did not run in these wilds.”
“Where is Gerby Hall?”
Towton pointed 直接／まっすぐに downward. “Under that cliff, where the moorland rises so 突然の. Like The Grange, there is a 肉親，親類d of 人工的な forest 一連の会議、交渉／完成する it, so that it is 隠すd. But, as you can see, it is almost within the village itself.”
“権利 in line of the flood, should the dam break.”
“I 恐れる so; but I hope there is no chance of the dam breaking. You see,” 追加するd the 陸軍大佐 pointing out the topography of the valley, “the village is divided by the 古代の bed of the 激流, now comparatively 乾燥した，日照りの since the construction of the Bolly 貯蔵所. A 石／投石する 橋（渡しをする） connects the two 部分s of the village, and on this 味方する nearest to ourselves the ground begins to rise 徐々に. The other 部分 of the village and Gerby Hall 嘘（をつく） in the hollow, and are 削減（する） off from the sunlight. I often wondered,” said Towton musingly, “why the Hests, when lords of the entire valley, should have chosen to build their manor house in such a 状況／情勢; for, when the 激流 was in 十分な 軍隊 from the melting of the moorland snows, they must have been exposed to many an inundation.”
“And now,” said Vernon ちらりと見ることing northward to where the cyclopean 塀で囲む of the dam frowned in the sunlight, “if that 広大な／多数の／重要な 団体／死体 of water were let loose both the village and the Hall would be swept away.”
“They are certainly 直接／まっすぐに in the line of flood,” replied Towton unhesitatingly; “but both the Hall and the village houses are 堅固に built of dark 石／投石する. It would take some 軍隊 to 粉砕する them.”
“If that dam broke, 陸軍大佐, they would be swept away like straws on the surface of a whirlpool. I can’t understand what the engineers were thinking about to 危険 such a 大災害.”
Towton laughed. “Pooh, pooh! Nothing is likely to happen. But now that I 支配する here I ーするつもりである to see if some 出口 cannot be arranged other than 負かす／撃墜する the valley, so that all 危険 may be done away with. I 反対するd to the dam from the first, although I 収容する／認める that it is a work which is of 広大な／多数の／重要な public 公共事業（料金）／有用性 and 供給（する）s Bowderstyke, Gatehead, and the other villages. But it spoils my 見解（をとる） and also is dangerous, as you 観察する. However, we have talked enough on this dull 支配する. Let us descend and 支払う／賃金 a visit to Gerby Hall. 行方不明になる Hest will be 推定する／予想するing us.”
“And Ida,” laughed Vernon with a 味方する ちらりと見ること at the suddenly-紅潮／摘発するd cheek of the 兵士.
They descended by the winding road into the valley, and after pausing to ちらりと見ること up the valley, where the 大規模な 塀で囲む of the dam 削減（する） short the 見解（をとる）, proceeded slowly に向かって the village. It was a collection of small dark houses built of moss-着せる／賦与するd grey 石／投石するs, and looked like a 植民地 of dwarf buildings. But the men and women who dwelt therein were tall and burly enough, and the children seemed to be 井戸／弁護士席-grown. Besides the dwellings there were also two mills, the wheels of which were driven by water in a very powerful fashion. The few shops were dark and uninviting, and the 長，指導者 street 狭くする and crooked. Secluded as it was from the sun—which never warmed the village with its beams save at noonday—it did not appear to be a 望ましい 住居. But the inhabitants seemed cheerful enough, and frequently 迎える／歓迎するd the 陸軍大佐 with gruff amiability, although he was not their landlord. That position, as Towton had 知らせるd his guest, belonged to Hest, or rather—since he had 国外追放／海外移住d himself—to his sister.
Crossing the curved 石／投石する 橋（渡しをする） which arched the dwindling 激流, the 陸軍大佐 led his friend through several dismal streets until they 現れるd into an open space, to see before them a high 塀で囲む built of 不規律な 封鎖するs of 石／投石する, covered with mosses and grasses and lichen. The 大規模な 木造の gates, which afforded 入り口 into the domain, stood wide open, 示すing, like the doors of the Janus 寺, that the Hests were at peace with their 隣人s. Passing through these the 訪問者s walked up a 暗い／優うつな avenue, where the 支店s of the trees met 総計費, and （機の）カム 突然に upon a square 石／投石する house, the 外見 of which was 類似の to that of the encircling 塀で囲む. There were 絶対 no pretensions to architectural beauty, and the mansion looked as though it had grown out of the damp, fecund ground, where 階級 grasses grew in profusion. Above was the わずかに sloping bank of the moorland, which here was almost perpendicular, and it threw a 激しい shade over the frowning dwelling, which ふさわしい its grim looks. It was two storey, with twelve windows in the 前線, six on either 味方する, and three in each storey. In the centre was the door, without a porch and without steps. Only a 幅の広い flagstone formed the threshold. The trees grew up nearly to this, and there was 単に a 狭くする gravelled path between the luxuriant grasses and the 塀で囲むs of the house. So amazingly dismal a dwelling Vernon had never 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on, and he uttered an exclamation when he beheld the desolation.
“It’s the very worst place Ida could have come to,” he said in high displeasure. “What could 行方不明になる Hest have been thinking of, to ask her to live in this 丸天井.”
“Ah, she will be better up on the 高さs in my Italian 郊外住宅, Vernon.”
“That is if she will come,” 発言／述べるd the other gloomily, for the sombre 状況／情勢 and ascetic looks of the Hest mansion made his spirits 沈む to 無.
Their approach had been seen, for scarcely had they 始める，決める foot on the flagstone, and before they had time to raise a 手渡す to the 大規模な アイロンをかける knocker, which was covered with rust, than the door was opened by a fat-直面するd, stupid girl dressed in brown but with a tolerably neat cap and apron.
Without 問い合わせing their 商売／仕事 and without speaking she 調印するd that the two gentlemen should enter, and 行為／行うd them to a room to the left of the cheerless hall. Here she intimated that they were to wait and that the mistress would soon come to them, after which she retired sullenly and の近くにd the door after her. What with her looks and the gloom of the room and the の近くにing of the door, the 訪問者s felt as though they had been bestowed in a dungeon. Anything more dismal can scarcely be conceived.
“Oh, Lord!” ejaculated Vernon with 狼狽, looking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at the old-fashioned furniture and the grimly-red colouring of the decorations, somewhat faded, it is true. “Within is worse than without. I should commit 自殺 in such a place. No wonder Francis Hest 設立する ゆすり，恐喝ing a more cheerful 追跡. He せねばならない have—”
“Hush!” said Towton はっきりと, and 逮捕（する）d Vernon’s speech as the door opened to 収容する／認める the mistress of the mansion. 行方不明になる Hest looked graver than she had done at “Rangoon,” and more handsome than ever in her 皇室の, masterful way. Vernon marvelled to see how much she 似ているd her brother, although the disfiguring cicatrice was absent. In her plain 黒人／ボイコット dress, 削除するd with 深い orange, 行方不明になる Hest looked like a Spanish beauty, and in the damp, secluded mansion she seemed to 繁栄する as healthily as though she dwelt in perpetual 日光. With a smile she （機の）カム 今後 and 迎える／歓迎するd her 訪問者s in a most cordial manner.
“I am very glad to see you both,” said フランs, sitting 負かす／撃墜する when formal greetings had passed, “and 特に you, 陸軍大佐 Towton, as I am anxiously waiting for your 約束d 言葉の answer to my letter.”
“I shall explain why I did not 令状 you with 楽しみ,” said the 陸軍大佐 厳粛に, “although my explanation is painful. You may even 辞退する to believe me, 行方不明になる Hest.”
She looked alarmed and her lips twitched nervously.
“Francis is all 権利, I hope?” she 問い合わせd apprehensively. “His letter and the 行為 of Gift alarmed me. I think he must be crazy.”
“I don’t think so,” 再結合させるd Towton drily, “but before explaining, may I ask how 行方不明になる Dimsdale is keeping?”
フランs shook her 長，率いる dejectedly. “The death of her father is still preying on her mind, and nothing I can say or do will make her cheerful.”
“Perhaps this house—” began Vernon.
She 削減（する） him short quickly. “I やめる agree with you, and I know what you are about to say. It is too damp and too dismal for Ida. She is a flower who ought always to live in the 日光.”
“Lady Corsoon is coming 負かす／撃墜する to stay with me to-day,” 投機・賭けるd Towton anxiously, “so 行方不明になる Dimsdale might come and stay at The Grange.”
“It’s a 資本／首都 idea. You can ask her for yourself, and as I know she thinks a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of you, 陸軍大佐, I hope you will be able to 説得する her to 支払う／賃金 the visit. She will be here すぐに, but before she comes do tell me the meaning of my brother’s 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の 行為／行う.”
“What makes you think the 陸軍大佐 can explain?” asked Vernon 突然に.
フランs looked at him in surprise. “Why, I wrote after I received the 行為 of Gift, asking if he had seen Francis. The 陸軍大佐 replied that he would explain 口頭で when he （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する. I have no 推論する／理由 to think that he knows anything of my brother’s 私的な 商売／仕事 and I was astonished to hear that he could tell me anything. I only wrote because I wished the 陸軍大佐 to see Ida, and as an afterthought asked about my brother. I thought you,” she 演説（する）／住所d the 陸軍大佐, “might have seen him in London.”
“I did,” replied Towton 厳粛に; “at Professor Gail’s.”
“I know that; he went there to 配達する a message from me. But why has he made over his 所有物／資産／財産 to me without a line of explanation save that he was going abroad? Did he tell you?”
“No. But I am not surprised that he has done so.” フランs looked from one man to the other and, seeing their 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 直面するs, she grew white and anxious looking. “What do you mean?”
“We saw Constantine Maunders,” put in Vernon.
“井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席! What of that?”
“He was masquerading as Diabella.”
行方不明になる Hest started to her feet. “As the fortune-teller? Surely you must be mistaken? It’s impossible! Why should he do that?”
“Why should he do many things,” said Towton grimly. “But he has been 主要な a 二塁打 life.”
“Oh, that’s impossible. Why, he was always as open as the day. I asked him 負かす／撃墜する here a week or so ago and he was coming. At the eleventh hour he put me off, 説 that Mrs. Bedge was ill. I fancied that something might be wrong then, but—but—oh!” she burst out, clasping her 手渡すs, “you really must be mistaken. He is such a nice young fellow.”
“He’s a nice scoundrel,” said Vernon heatedly. “Spare your 賞賛するs of him, 行方不明になる Hest. You won’t think him so nice when I tell you that he 告発する／非難するs your brother of 存在 The Spider.”
“The Spider? Who is The—ah!” She started to her feet as she suddenly remembered all that the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） 伝えるd. “You mean that wretch who 殺人d poor Mr. Dimsdale?” Her brows grew 黒人／ボイコット and she clenched her 手渡すs in a 冷淡な fury. “What do you mean by connecting my brother with—”
“It is not Vernon or I who connect your brother with The Spider. Maunders made the 告訴，告発 and your brother 是認するd it by his flight.”
“Flight! flight! My brother,” she drew herself up proudly, “has not fled.”
“Why has he gone abroad, then?” asked Vernon あわてて; “Why has he made over his 所有物／資産／財産 to you? Believe me, 行方不明になる Hest, both the 陸軍大佐 and myself would be glad to spare you such a blow, but there is no 疑問 that your brother is 非，不，無 other than this famous blackmailer for whom the police are searching so ardently.”
The woman dropped 支援する into her 議長，司会を務める and clutched at her breast as though she felt a cruel 苦痛 in her heart. Her 直面する looked grey in the 薄暗い light of the room, and she suddenly seemed to have 老年の. Even her 確信して 耐えるing fell away from her and she crouched as though smitten to the earth. Never was there so 早い or so terrible a 変形. “Oh, for God’s sake,” she moaned brokenly, “for—for—my brother. Heaven knows we did not get on over 井戸／弁護士席 together, but that he—he—that he should—It’s a 嘘（をつく）. I tell you, it’s a 嘘（をつく）. Why, Francis has given up all his life to doing good. Everyone 一連の会議、交渉／完成する here blesses his 指名する; he was generous to a fault. And you dare to—dare to—oh!” She leaped to her feet again and strove to 回復する her proud 審理，公聴会. “I don’t believe it. Liars! both of you.”
“Maunders is the liar and not us, then,” said Vernon 静かに.
“I never 信用d him, I never liked him,” moaned 行方不明になる Hest; “he is—” Then she 突然に fell 支援する again into her 議長，司会を務める, utterly unstrung and broken 負かす／撃墜する, an old, grey woman, 哀れな beyond belief. “Francis—my brother—our good 指名する—oh! oh! Say that it isn’t true,” and she wept piteously.
“I 悔いる to say that it is,” said the 陸軍大佐, 極端に sorry to dash her hopes to the ground, and he 速く 関係のある all that had been discovered. As he proceeded 行方不明になる Hest 解除するd her 直面する, which grew more composed.
“And is this all the 証拠 you have to go upon?” she 問い合わせd with 軽蔑（する）; “The word of a man whom you 収容する／認める to be a scoundrel?”
“You forget,” said Vernon 厳粛に, “that your brother 是認するd the 告訴，告発 by flight and by taking his 共犯者 with him.”
“Such an 告訴，告発 might 井戸／弁護士席 make a man fail to stand his ground,” said the woman resolutely, “and on the 刺激（する） of the moment Francis may have lost his wits. But he will return to repel this 告訴，告発.”
“From what you say of a 行為 of Gift, 行方不明になる Hest, that does not seem likely to happen. If your brother is innocent let him 降伏する himself to the police and stand his 裁判，公判.”
“I shall advise him to do that at once. Where is he to be 設立する?”
“No one knows, and the police would give much to learn. But you heard last from him, since he sent the 行為 of Gift and 知らせるd you of his 計画（する）s.”
“There was no 演説（する）／住所 on the letter,” said フランs, wringing her 手渡すs helplessly, “and he did not even 約束 to 令状 when he went abroad. For all I know he may have 消えるd for ever.”
Vernon made an 観察: “That looks like 犯罪.”
“Until Francis 収容する／認めるs with his own lips that he is The Spider I 拒絶する／低下する to believe it,” said 行方不明になる Hest, making a violent 成果／努力 to 回復する her composure. “You forget that you 間接に 告発する／非難する him of 殺人ing poor Mr. Dimsdale. How can I, his sister, 耐える to hear that?”
“Your feelings do you credit,” said Towton sadly; “にもかかわらず—”
“Stop!” she interrupted, 持つ／拘留するing up her finger. “Ida is coming. Not a word to her, if you please.”
“Certainly not. Neither Vernon nor I shall say anything until—”
“Say nothing until I see you again,” said フランs 速く. “I shall call at The Grange and hear more. When in 所有／入手 of the facts I shall go to town and—Silence! silence! Here is Ida.”
Just as the 指名する left her lips the door slowly opened and 行方不明になる Dimsdale entered. Both the gentlemen uttered exclamations of astonishment and pity at the sight of her altered 外見. From 存在 a 有望な and laughing girl, rather plump than さもなければ, she had become thin and careworn, and 前進するd with a 縮むing 空気／公表する, やめる at variance with her known character. The 黒人／ボイコット dress she wore 高めるd the melancholy of her 外見, and the 陸軍大佐, 存在 very much the lover, grew darkly red at the sight.
“How is it that 行方不明になる Dimsdale looks so ill?” he asked フランs furiously.
“She is worried over something, and the 空気／公表する of this house doesn’t 控訴 her at all,” said 行方不明になる Hest, who was trying to subdue her emotion. “Again and again I have 手配中の，お尋ね者 her to return with me to London, but—”
“But I won’t go, I won’t go,” said Ida in her soft 発言する／表明する. “Don’t look so angry, Richard.” It was the first time she had uttered his Christian 指名する, and Towton 紅潮／摘発するd with 楽しみ. “I am やめる 井戸／弁護士席.”
“You look 極端に ill,” he replied bluntly. Ida sat 負かす／撃墜する with a sigh. “It’s not the fault of フランs. She has been like a sister to me ever since the death of my dear father.”
“Ida, come and stay at The Grange. Lady Corsoon is coming 負かす／撃墜する this evening. I am sure you will be happier there.”
“I can’t leave フランs.”
“Nonsense!” said 行方不明になる Hest with something of her old vigour; “you will be much better with your own people, Ida. If you stay here they will think that I am after your money.”
“Oh, フランs, when you know—”
“It’s all nonsense, dear. The 陸軍大佐 here 宣言するs that Diabella is, or rather was, Constantine Maunders, masquerading as a fortune-teller.”
“Then what he said is—”
“Are you talking of a secret of your father’s, Ida?” asked Vernon quickly.
“Was Mr. Dimsdale my father?” she 需要・要求するd 直面するing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する anxiously. “Diabella—that is, Constantine, if what you say is true—told me that I was not his daughter. If so, I have no 権利 to the 所有物／資産／財産, and—and—” She put her 手渡す to her forehead, “Oh, my poor 長，率いる!”
Towton crossed over and took her 手渡す. “Ida, is it this which has been so troubling you?” he asked tenderly.
“Yes! Yes! I wondered if what Diabella said was true. I could not be 確かな , although I did want to see the lawyer and give up the 所有物／資産／財産. But フランs said—”
“フランs advised 延期する until the truth was known beyond all 疑問,” said 行方不明になる Hest, now やめる composed. “For this did I send for you, 陸軍大佐 Towton. Ida is fonder of you than of anyone else, so you are the person who せねばならない marry her. Then you can look into the 事柄.”
“But, フランs,” cried Ida much astonished, “I thought that you 手配中の，お尋ね者 me to marry Constantine or your brother.”
“Both of them are bad matches now if what Mr. Vernon says is true,” replied 行方不明になる Hest 激しく; “better （問題を）取り上げる with your old love.”
“What has been said?” questioned Ida anxiously looking into the 乱すd 直面する of her friend.
“Better not ask,” muttered the woman, and cast a 警告 ちらりと見ること at the two 訪問者s; “least said, soonest mended. Ida, will you go to The Grange and stay with your aunt?”
Ida ran to フランs and, 落ちるing on her 膝s, threw her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her neck 情愛深く. “What! Would you have me leave you when I see you so sad? Something is wrong? What is it? You have 慰安d me, so let me 慰安 you.”
“Nothing can 慰安 me,” said 行方不明になる Hest in melancholy トンs; “it’s nothing, my dear, nothing at all. I wish—oh, I wish—” She rose suddenly and ran に向かって the door. “I can’t stand any more.”
Vernon was not surprised at 行方不明になる Hest’s sudden 出発. Strong-minded as she was, the terrible news that her twin brother was a robber and a 殺害者 and was 存在 追跡（する）d 負かす／撃墜する by the police had やめる broken 負かす／撃墜する her strength of character for the time 存在. He pitied her 極端に, as he had always liked her more than Towton had done. So far as he could see, she was a 肉親，親類d-hearted woman: masterful, it is true, but 所有するd of 英貨の／純銀の 質s which that very trait enabled her to make good use of. To one of her inflexible honesty the 発見 of her brother’s sin must have been gall and wormwood.
一方／合間, the 陸軍大佐, 持つ／拘留するing Ida’s 手渡す within his own, was pleading anxiously that she should visit The Grange and 回復する her health in the cheerful society of her aunt and cousin. “And I can explain all about the story told by Maunders, masquerading as Diabella,” 説得するd Towton softly.
But Ida was in no mood to listen to her lover or to 産する／生じる to his wiles. She pulled her 手渡すs away hurriedly and spoke with pettish haste. “How can you bother me about such things when フランs is so ill? I must go to her at once.” And she glided 速く に向かって the door, 避けるing Towton, who would have 拘留するd her.
“Ida, Ida! do listen to me.”
“No! No! No! On another occasion, when I see you again—to-morrow, or the next day. But フランs is ill: フランs wants me.” She opened the door quickly. “Coming, dear; coming!” and without a ちらりと見ること at the 訪問者s 消えるd from the room. Her heart seemed to be rather with 行方不明になる Hest than with the lover who so ardently adored her.
The gentlemen looked at one another in 狼狽; this did not seem a propitious moment for Towton’s 支持を得ようと努めるing, as Ida appeared to be 完全に infatuated with her friend. There was nothing left for them to do but to take a 迅速な 出発 and to return on a more fitting occasion. 行方不明になる Hest, 存在 自然に troubled in her mind, was not likely to 再現する, and Ida undoubtedly would 拒絶する／低下する to leave her friend’s 味方する. Not unreasonably, the 陸軍大佐 felt very cross.
“Ida seems to be crazy about that infernal woman,” he snapped irritably.
“She is very faithful to those she loves and therefore will make you the better wife,” said Vernon 厳粛に.
“I want her to be faithful to me and not to 行方不明になる Hest,” retorted Towton. “It is ridiculous that she should behave in this manner. What’s to be done now?”
“We must wait until Lady Corsoon comes. She has plenty of good sense and may be able to talk Ida into a reasonable でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる of mind.”
“I can’t see where Lady Corsoon’s good sense comes in, seeing that she is a gambler and has 危険d her husband’s displeasure in pawning family jewels, Vernon. However, only one woman can talk 一連の会議、交渉／完成する another, so your suggestion is a good one. 一方／合間, just （犯罪の）一味 the bell for someone to show us out of this 非難するd 丸天井.”
Vernon pulled the old-fashioned bell-rope and すぐに—as though she had been listening on the outside of the door—a tall, lean woman with a white 直面する and a prim, pinch-lipped smile, made her 外見. Without waiting to be 演説（する）／住所d she introduced herself to the 訪問者s. “行方不明になる Jewin, gentlemen,” she said with a stiff curtsey; “What can I do for you?”
At the sound of her 発言する／表明する Vernon started and looked at her closely, but whatever he saw he said nothing at the moment, 単に intimating that he and his friend 願望（する）d to 出発／死.
“And tell 行方不明になる Hest we will call to-morrow with Lady Corsoon,” said the 陸軍大佐 積極性, and stalked out に先行するd by 行方不明になる Jewin, still primly smiling, and looking like a white cat.
Not until they were in the village did Vernon explain why he had started at the sound of the housekeeper’s 発言する／表明する. “That woman,” he said 静かに, “is the very one who 認める me into the empty house in West Kensington and who locked me in the kitchen.”
Lady Corsoon duly arrived and duly complained of the length of the 旅行. The 緊張する to which her 神経s were 支配するd on account of the suspense she 苦しむd regarding The Spider’s ゆすり，恐喝ing, （判決などを）下すd her somewhat irritable, and those around felt the 影響s of her temper. But Lucy, having a singularly placid nature, invariably contrived to soothe 負かす／撃墜する her mother’s ruffled plumes, while the two men, knowing what Lady Corsoon felt, paid her every attention. The next morning, therefore, she felt somewhat better and 定評のある that The Grange was endurable. But she resolutely 辞退するd to call straightway at Gerby Hall.
“I shall go to-morrow,” she said when Towton 勧めるd the visit. “My 神経s must have time to 回復する from the 旅行 into these wilds. Besides, Ida should call and see me, since I am the 年上の.”
“But I wish you to 説得する Ida to （問題を）取り上げる her ４半期/4分の1s here while you remain,” pleaded the 陸軍大佐. “She is infatuated with 行方不明になる Hest and will, I am 確かな , not come here of her own （許可，名誉などを）与える.”
“I’m sure I never could understand what Ida saw in that woman,” said Lady Corsoon fretfully. “行方不明になる Hest is nice enough and やめる agreeable, but nothing out of the ordinary. When my poor, dear brother died Ida should have 受託するd my guardianship. I 申し込む／申し出d twice to look after her, but she 辞退するd—because of this Hest woman, I 推定する.”
“You must remember, Lady Corsoon, that Ida is a spoilt child—”
“Spoilt!” interrupted the lady; “I should think so. Many a time have I implored ツバメ not to 廃虚 her; but I might 同様に have spoken to a 封鎖する of 石／投石する. You will have no 平易な 仕事 to manage her when you make her your wife, 陸軍大佐.”
“I am やめる 確かな that when Ida is 除去するd from the companionship of 行方不明になる Hest I shall be able to manage her with the greatest 緩和する,” said Towton emphatically; “but the question is how to get her away. I look to you to use your 影響（力）, dear lady.”
“地雷? Why, I never had the least 影響（力） with that headstrong girl, my dear 陸軍大佐. I’ll go to-morrow and give her a talking to, and perhaps I may be able to induce her to return with me to London. But while she is the mistress of ten thousand a year she can 反抗する me. Now, if The Spider can give me that fortune, as he 宣言するs, I shall soon bring Ida to see that she must behave like a sensible human 存在. I suppose Mr. Vernon told you of the letter I received? He hinted as much to me, though I think he should have held his tongue.”
“He did 持つ／拘留する his tongue about your 商売／仕事, more or いっそう少なく, Lady Corsoon. It was Mr. Maunders who let slip the secret.”
“And what 商売／仕事 is it of Mr. Maunders’, I should like to know?” asked Lady Corsoon, putting up her lorgnette and looking haughtily at Towton.
“This much—that he wrote the letter.”
“What!” Lady Corsoon bounded from her seat. “Then he is The Spider?”
“No,” said the 陸軍大佐 prudently, who did not ーするつもりである to tell his companion more than he could help, as he placed no 依存 on her tongue; “but, knowing from yourself about the first letter you received from The Spider, and anxious to marry your daughter, he made use of the blackmailer’s 計画／陰謀 to 安全な・保証する his own ends.”
“What audacity! Can he—Mr. Maunders, I mean—really place me in 所有／入手 of ツバメ’s money?”
“I can’t answer that for the moment,” replied the 陸軍大佐 carefully, “but at any 率 by 約束ing to do so he hoped to marry 行方不明になる Lucy.”
“He shall never do that,” cried Lady Corsoon energetically; “unless, of course, he keeps his 約束. Lucy must save me from—” She hesitated.
“Mr. Maunders told me about your losses at 橋（渡しをする）, and—”
“And that I pawned 確かな family jewels,” finished the lady. “井戸／弁護士席, I never! To think he should discuss my 事件／事情／状勢s in this way. I have been a fool: I don’t 否定する that I have been a fool, but there was no need for Mr. Maunders to let the whole world know.”
“The world is only 代表するd by myself and Vernon,” said the 陸軍大佐 drily, “and your secret is 安全な with us.”
“But Mr. Maunders—”
“He has his 手渡すs 十分な. You won’t see him again.”
“But in that 事例／患者 his 約束—”
“My dear Lady Corsoon, I do not think he will be able to keep his 約束, for 確かな 推論する／理由s which I need not tell you now. Better give your 同意 to the marriage of Vernon and 行方不明になる Lucy. They love one another and he will soon have a 肩書を与える and an income.”
“Did you 招待する me 負かす／撃墜する with Lucy to 今後 that marriage?” asked Lady Corsoon with sudden 疑惑.
“Partly,” answered Towton coolly, “and partly because I wished to enlist you on my 味方する as regards Ida.”
“Oh, I am willing to help you, but as to Mr. Vernon—he is with Lucy now?”
“Yes. They have gone for a walk.”
Lady Corsoon frowned. “Lucy could make a much better match,” she said hesitating.
“With Constantine Maunders, for instance.”
“At all events, he 約束s me ten thousand a year.”
“On what grounds?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then, believe me, he is only bluffing.”
“But he knows about my pawning of the jewels, and even if this horrid Spider creature 持つ／拘留するs his tongue Mr. Maunders may tell Sir Julius. Then heaven only knows what would happen; Julius is so impossible.”
“I shall engage that Maunders remains silent if you will give your 同意 to the marriage. After all, 行方不明になる Lucy would be Lady Vernon.”
“She could be a countess if she played her cards 井戸／弁護士席. I really don’t know what to say; I am in the dark, so to speak. Wait until I see Ida and then I may form an opinion.”
“How can Ida help you to do so?”
“She may be able to tell me if there was a will in my favour. I really believe from that letter of The Spider’s—井戸／弁護士席, of Mr. Maunders’, since you say he wrote it—that ツバメ left the money to me and that Ida destroyed the will. I’m sure she’s 有能な of it.”
“許す me to remind you, Lady Corsoon,” said the 陸軍大佐 厳しく, “that 行方不明になる Dimsdale is to be my wife and that I shall not 許す anyone to cast a 中傷する on her character. If the money is left to you she will 手渡す it over.”
“What, ten thousand a year?” said Lady Corsoon beaming. “Oh, she would be a good girl if she did that. 井戸／弁護士席, I shall wait and see. In the 合間 I do not mind Mr. Vernon 存在 with Lucy.”
陸軍大佐 Towton shrugged his square shoulders. He thought that the lady was making a virtue of necessity, as the young couple had taken French leave after breakfast and had 消えるd. And had Lady Corsoon been gifted with supernatural sight she would scarcely have been pleased had she seen the two sitting by Bolly Dam with their 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する one another. Also Lucy, the meek, the amiable, the 井戸／弁護士席-行為／行うd, was kissing Vernon in the boldest manner and 断言するing that she would marry him and him only.
“Mother wants me to marry Mr. Maunders,” said Lucy, snuggling up の近くに to her lover, “and papa 願望（する）s me to become the wife of Lord Stratham. But I shall only marry you, darling, you. Arthur,” she 圧力（をかける）d her cheek against his breast and looked up into his 注目する，もくろむs, “run away with me.”
“Would you elope if I asked you?”
“I have just 申し込む／申し出d to elope without your asking me,” she replied nodding. “I can’t speak plainer, can I? Oh, dear me,” she sighed, 残り／休憩（する）ing her 長，率いる on her lover’s shoulder, “how 疲れた／うんざりした I am of everything. Papa is always busy in the City and has hardly a word to say to me; mamma has some secret worry about which she will not speak, and I am left to find my own amusements. Do take me away, Arthur. Isn’t Gretna Green somewhere about these parts? Let us go there and get married.”
“No, dear. I don’t think there will be any need for a runaway match, unless it is the romance of the thing that you 願望（する）. 陸軍大佐 Towton has 約束d to speak to your mother, and I have an idea that he will 伸び（る） her 同意 to our marriage.”
“She 同意d before,” pouted 行方不明になる Corsoon, “and then changed her mind. Why, I’m sure I don’t know. It’s much better to get married 静かに and then she would have to 許す us.”
“My dear,” said Vernon 堅固に, “I prefer to 行為／法令／行動する honourably and 率直に. From a letter I received this morning it seems that my poor uncle cannot live much longer. In a month at the 最新の I shall be in 所有／入手 of the 所有物／資産／財産 and the 肩書を与える; then I shall see your father and 需要・要求する your 手渡す. He likes me, and when he learns of my new circumstances I am sure he will 同意. With him on our 味方する your mother will be やめる willing to 受託する me as her son-in-法律.”
“I’ll do whatever you say, dearest,” whispered Lucy 情愛深く, “only I’ll never marry anyone but you. So there!” and she gave him a kiss which her lover 敏速に returned. Then they sat 手渡す in 手渡す, looking at the 見解（をとる）, and too happy to speak その上の. Love’s silence is more eloquent than Love’s speech.
Before them the 貯蔵所 rippled under the breath of a gentle 勝利，勝つd, and spread like a 広大な blue lake toward the purple of the moorlands. すぐに in 前線 of the lovers the 大規模な 塀で囲む of the dam stretched from 味方する to 味方する of the valley, which here was 極端に 狭くする. Looking at that 広大な 団体／死体 of water, Vernon could not help 疑問ing the strength of the 保護するing 塀で囲む as the wavelets almost lipped its 最高の，を越す. There was a channel on the hither 味方する with flood-gates, but it seemed too small to carry off much superfluous water. In summer time the dam was no 疑問 all that could be 願望（する）d in the way of strength, but when the winter snows melted on the moorlands it appeared probable—at least, Vernon, knowing nothing of 工学, thought so—that the water would 洪水 the dam. In that 事例／患者 it might break 負かす／撃墜する the 塀で囲む, and then the young man shuddered to think of what would happen. The whole contents of the lake, 狭くするd by the gorge, would shoot 負かす／撃墜する the three 半端物 miles of the valley with the 軍隊 and condensation of a 靴下／だます, and assuredly would sweep it clean from end to end.
“To make things 安全な,” said Vernon aloud and giving speech to his thoughts, “there should be two channels for waste water, each broader than the 選び出す／独身 one over there. I’m sure there will be a 大災害 some winter or spring.”
“Oh!” Lucy pouted again. “I speak of love and you bother yourself over this silly old puddle.”
“It would 証明する to be anything but a puddle if the dam broke,” said Vernon doubtfully. “I hope Towton will take steps to make things safer. Bowderstyke Village and Gerby Hall would be 粉砕するd to pieces if this 広大な 団体／死体 of water 発射する／解雇するd itself without leave.”
And he 星／主役にするd anxiously at the placid lake.
行方不明になる Corsoon, rather annoyed by this unlover-like 行為／行う, rose quickly and 協議するd a tiny jewelled watch pinned to her blouse. “It’s nearly 昼食-time,” she said with an affectation of 無関心／冷淡, “and I am so hungry.”
“Hungry?” Vernon caught her 手渡すs, “when we are together.”
“I can’t live on love, and you keep talking of this stupid waterworks. We really must go home, Arthur, as mamma will be wondering what has become of us. You don’t wish to get me scolded?”
“I’ll 耐える half of the scolding. Hullo! Who is this?”
He shaded his 注目する，もくろむs with his 手渡す and looked across the 貯蔵所 to where a tall 人物／姿／数字 appeared on the 幅の広い parapet of the dam. The 人物／姿／数字—it was that of a man—（機の）カム 速く across, but 中途の caught sight of the lovers. For one minute the stranger 星／主役にするd as if thunderstruck, and then 退却／保養地d as quickly as he had appeared. Lucy caught 持つ／拘留する of her lover’s coat to 妨げる his に引き続いて.
“Where are you going, Arthur? Who is it?”
“Hokar,” said Vernon, 大いに excited but pausing for a moment. “It’s the Hindoo who tried to strangle me and the 陸軍大佐.”
“What?” Lucy’s 発言する／表明する sounded so terrified that he turned at once to apologise and excuse himself. “Nothing, dear; nothing. But this Hokar is a dangerous native of India whom I wish to get 持つ／拘留する of. He went 負かす／撃墜する into the valley on the other 味方する, so I must—”
“Don’t leave me! don’t leave me!” wailed Lucy, 猛烈に 拘留するing him. “I wish you wouldn’t 脅す me, Arthur. Come home at once.”
“But I want to follow Hokar. It is necessary—”
“It is necessary to see me home,” 主張するd 行方不明になる Corsoon 堅固に. “I won’t be left alone with wild Indians and strangling people.”
Vernon was torn between his 願望（する） to stay with Lucy and a feeling that it was his 義務 to follow Hokar. He wished to 会合，会う the Hindoo 直面する to 直面する and 軍隊 him to speak. As he was the servant of Maunders—masquerading as Diabella—he probably knew something, if not indeed a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定, about Hest, and a few questions might intimate the villain’s どの辺に. But the man had already 消えるd and it would be difficult to trace him, although Vernon had a shrewd 疑惑 that he was to be 設立する at Gerby Hall. For a moment the young man hesitated between 義務 and 楽しみ, then, under the reproachful gleam of Lucy’s 注目する，もくろむs, 楽しみ 伸び（る）d the victory. Vernon 護衛するd 行方不明になる Corsoon 支援する to The Grange, 慰安ing himself with the reflection that it was necessary to 協議する 陸軍大佐 Towton before taking any steps to bring Hokar to 調書をとる／予約する. All the way home Lucy chatted in a lively manner, but, preoccupied with his own thoughts, Vernon was somewhat absentminded, a 原因（となる） of offence to the girl. But how could any man give way to the 判決，裁定 passion of love when one of the villains 関心d in a dangerous 共謀 against society was in the neighbourhood? Vernon wondered how Hokar had come to these 孤独s and how Hest had 後継するd in なぎing his sister’s 疑惑s, so that she might receive the man. For, on the 直面する of it, Hokar must be staying at Gerby Hall.
After a merry 昼食, during which Lady Corsoon, 耐えるing in mind her late conversation with her host, was very gracious to Vernon, the ladies 出発／死d to their boudoir, the mother to 残り／休憩（する） and the daughter to 令状 letters. Lucy, indeed, wished to call and see Ida, but Lady Corsoon 辞退するd to let her go alone, and again 表明するd her 決意 not to 支払う／賃金 a visit until the next day. Lucy, always anxious to keep her parent in a good temper, was 強いるd to 落ちる in with this 協定, and followed Lady Corsoon out of the room.
It could be easily seen that the wily wife of the millionaire was unwilling to leave her daughter in the too fascinating society of Vernon, and evidently had made up her mind not to 同意 to the match until she was 確かな that her late brother’s fortune would not come into her 手渡すs.
Left alone with the 陸軍大佐, the young man 関係のある how 突然に Hokar had appeared and disappeared on the dam. Towton listened frowningly and considered awhile before 表明するing his opinion.
“There’s something 怪しげな about all this,” he said at length. “Here is 行方不明になる Jewin, the very woman who tricked you into becoming a 囚人 at that West Kensington house, and here also is Hokar, the Hindoo, so closely connected with Maunders, and, for all we know, with Hest.”
“What do you make of it all?”
“It’s a ギャング（団） of thieves,” said Towton unhesitatingly. “Hokar, Bahadur, 行方不明になる Jewin, Maunders, and Hest are all banded together under the leadership of the last as The Spider. He has 消えるd, and so has Maunders, so I 推定する／予想する he sent 負かす／撃墜する the Hindoos here in order that they might be out of the way.”
“And 行方不明になる Jewin?”
“She has always been the housekeeper at Gerby Hall, Vernon. But I daresay Hest got her to come to London to be used as a 道具, knowing that he could 信用 her. She is a very old and faithful woman, and I believe was the nurse of both Hest and his sister. The people hereabouts call her an old witch, and she is credited with all manner of occult 力／強力にするs.”
“I can understand 行方不明になる Hest not 存在 怪しげな of 行方不明になる Jewin,” said Vernon thoughtfully, “as she may have gone to London 表面上は for a trip and then would have returned in the ordinary course of things. But 行方不明になる Hest must surely wonder at the presence of Hokar. I am bound to say that I did not see Bahadur.”
“He may be here, or he may not,” 再結合させるd the 陸軍大佐; “We’ll soon find out. To-morrow I go with Lady Corsoon to see Ida, and then I can 警告する 行方不明になる Hest of the character of the man. If, indeed, she doesn’t know it.”
“Towton, you surely don’t 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う 行方不明になる Hest of knowing anything about her brother’s wickedness?”
“No, I don’t say that. And yet it is strange the Hindoo should be there. And why should he be lurking about the Bolly Dam? I shall go myself to-morrow, after I have seen 行方不明になる Hest, to make an examination.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that a crafty devil like Hokar doesn’t take walks for the 利益 of his health, and that he may be tampering with the dam—perhaps by order of Francis Hest.”
“In that 事例／患者, why not have the dam 診察するd to-day?”
“There is no 即座の hurry. Hokar will find it no 平易な 仕事 to break 負かす／撃墜する that gigantic 塀で囲む, if that is his 目的（とする）. Besides, the Vicar is calling this afternoon to 支払う／賃金 his 尊敬（する）・点s to Lady Corsoon. I wish to have a 雑談（する） with him on the 支配する of Hest, and to learn what he thinks of him.”
“What can he think, but that Hest is a 本物の philanthropist?”
“I daresay Hest is one person here and another in London. However, it will do no 害（を与える） to collect what （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） we can 関心ing him. To-morrow you can come with Lady Corsoon and her daughter to see Ida, and I shall go also. Afterwards you can 検査／視察する the dam.”
“Won’t you come, too?” asked Vernon.
“No. The fact is, I ーするつもりである to ride to Gatehead to-morrow afternoon. I shall leave you and the ladies at Gerby Hall. My steward wants to see me about some 所有物／資産／財産 which 要求するs looking after in one of the 近づく villages. It will be 平易な for me to ride there and look into the 事柄 myself. I can 信用 you to amuse my guests.”
Thus it was arranged, and Vernon put all questions 関心ing Hokar and Bolly Dam out of his 長，率いる. Lucy managed to 避ける the watchfulness of her mother when that good lady fell asleep, and the lovers had a stolen half hour all to themselves until the arrival of the vicar. After that （機の）カム tea and gossip, and a very pleasant afternoon ended gleefully. But the most important event of the next twelve hours happened after dinner, when the 陸軍大佐 was called out of the 製図／抽選-room to see a 訪問者. He left Vernon to amuse Lady Corsoon and her daughter and took his way to the library, where the 訪問者—who had not sent in any 指名する—was waiting for him. To Towton’s surprise, the stranger 証明するd to be フランs Hest.
“My dear lady, why did you not join us in the 製図／抽選-room?” he asked hospitably. “I’m sure the surprise would be a pleasant one.”
“Not to Lady Corsoon,” said フランs 静かに. “She is not over fond of me. Besides, I have come to see you 個人として and on a most important 事柄.”
“Ida,” cried the 陸軍大佐 anxiously. “Is she ill?”
“No, no! 始める，決める your mind at 残り／休憩（する） about Ida. She has not changed since you saw her yesterday. She doesn’t know that I am here, nor does any one else; not even your servant, as I gave no 指名する when I was 認める. Is the door の近くにd?” and she cast a searching, nervous look around.
“This room is perfectly 私的な,” said Towton, 公式文書，認めるing that she looked anxious and haggard. “Nothing について言及するd here can be heard. I hope nothing is wrong.”
フランs sat 負かす／撃墜する and sighed ひどく. “This much is wrong,” she said with a 暗い／優うつな look, “that I have learned the truth about my brother.”
“The truth—”
“What you told me yesterday is the truth,” said 行方不明になる Hest 激しく. “He is a scoundrel and—as it seems probable—a 殺害者. Yet I had no 疑惑s of him, not even when he sent that Indian 負かす／撃墜する here.”
“Hokar?” said Towton, 内密に pleased that his 疑問s on this point were about to be 解決するd.
“Yes. Some time ago he （機の）カム here with a letter from Francis, 説 that he was to remain here for a time. I gave him house-room and did not 支払う／賃金 much attention to the man, as I thought it was only another of my brother’s philanthropic 計画／陰謀s. But, from what you said yesterday, this Hokar is connected with Mr. Maunders and my brother in their wickedness. Oh,” フランs struck the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with her clenched 手渡すs, “to think that our 指名する should be so 不名誉d by my brother!”
“What have you discovered?”
“That he is The Spider. Yes; there can be no 疑問 of that. See!”
She took a long blue envelope from her pocket and opened it to 陳列する，発揮する a paper. “This is a mortgage on Gerby Hall and on all the 所有物／資産／財産,” she explained. “The 行為 of Gift to me is 価値（がある） nothing. 利益／興味 is 予定 on the mortgage, and unless it is paid, the man to whom the money is 借りがあるing will foreclose. No wonder Francis 現在のd me with the 広い地所s. They are 価値（がある） nothing and いっそう少なく than nothing. I am 現実に a pauper.”
“Oh, I am 極端に sorry to hear that, 行方不明になる Hest. But how does this paper 証明する that your brother is The Spider?”
“It 証明するs that I am a pauper and nothing more. But I discovered amongst my brother’s papers the will of poor Mr. Dimsdale.”
Towton started to his feet. “What! is there a will?”
“Yes. It is 調印するd by ツバメ Dimsdale and 証言，証人／目撃するd by George Venery, of Singapore, and Walter Smith, of Hong-Kong. After what you said yesterday, I made up my mind that I would no longer be in the dark regarding my brother’s doings. I therefore broke open his desk, which he always kept 安全に locked, and 設立する a written 声明 regarding Ida not 存在 Mr. Dimsdale’s daughter, but the child of a 確かな Mr. Menteith.”
“Your brother must have learned that story from 行方不明になる Jewin,” said the 陸軍大佐. “For Maunders 宣言するd that she knew the history.”
“I やめる believe it,” replied 行方不明になる Hest. “For the 声明 was 調印するd by Sarah Jewin. I have not spoken to her yet, but I shall do so to-morrow. She was in India with my father and mother and afterwards in Burmah. I 推定する／予想する she heard the story there, and 関係のある it to Francis. He 追加するd to it.”
“Oh!” Towton remembered about the embroidery to the tale. “Then Mr. Dimsdale did not purposely 延期する the 救済 探検隊／遠征隊 which was to 救助（する） Menteith?”
“No. He 圧力（をかける）d on with all 速度(を上げる）. But Francis invented that wicked 嘘（をつく） so as to get money from Mr. Dimsdale. How Francis got the will I can’t say. He certainly called at ‘Rangoon’ once or twice when he was in London, but I scarcely think Mr. Dimsdale would have given him the will.”
“Probably he stole it. I am sorry to 傷つける your feelings, 行方不明になる Hest,” 追加するd the 陸軍大佐 あわてて on seeing her wince. “But your brother is 極端に clever in a 犯罪の way, and nothing he does surprises me. I やめる believe he was clever enough to get this will. Where is it?”
“I have left it at home, and if you will call to-morrow I shall give it to you. But I must make 条件s.”
“条件s?” The 陸軍大佐 looked puzzled.
“Ah, don’t think 不正に of me,” said フランs in an imploring manner. “But consider my position. I am without a penny, for the 所有物／資産／財産 must certainly be 手渡すd over to the man to whom it is mortgaged. Listen, 陸軍大佐. This will 明言する／公表するs that Ida is not the testator’s daughter, and leaves everything to Ida Menteith, so there can be no 疑問 that she 相続するs. Now, Ida loves you, and although I wished her to marry my brother or Mr. Maunders, she always 願望（する）d to be your wife. I am glad now that she did not 産する／生じる to my 説得／派閥s, since both Francis and Constantine are 犯罪のs and 追放するs. So I want you to take her away to-morrow and marry her and enter into 所有／入手 of the Dimsdale 所有物／資産／財産.”
“You are very good, 行方不明になる Hest,” said Towton, who could not but 認める that she was 事実上の／代理 most generously. “But your 条件?”
“It is scarcely that, 陸軍大佐; 単に a suggestion. I shall give you the will if you can arrange with Ida to give me eight or nine or ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, so that I can have something to live on.”
Towton hesitated at this bold 申し込む／申し出. “I can’t say anything about that; it is for 行方不明になる Dimsdale to decide.”
“陸軍大佐, if I chose, Ida would remain with me altogether, as she loves me.”
“Say rather,” said Towton, somewhat 不正に, “that you have a 広大な／多数の／重要な 影響（力） over her, 行方不明になる Hest.”
“And if I have,” cried フランs, rising to the 高さ of her tall 人物／姿／数字, “has that 影響（力） been used for さもなければ but good? Instead of misusing it, as I could, to keep Ida beside me and 保持する 命令（する） of her money, I wish her to marry you and take her fortune 完全に to yourself. All I ask is for a sum to save me from begging my bread in the street. Think of my position and do not be too hard on me, 陸軍大佐.”
“I 収容する／認める that you have some （人命などを）奪う，主張する,” said the 陸軍大佐 politely; “and doubtless 行方不明になる Dimsdale will 同意 to your 需要・要求する. But I can say nothing. It will be better to wait.”
“Until when?”
“Until to-morrow. Then, with Ida, we can talk over the 事柄.” 行方不明になる Hest’s lip curled. “You are a strange man, 陸軍大佐. I 申し込む／申し出 you a pretty wife and a handsome fortune, yet you hesitate to do me 司法（官）.”
“I see no 司法（官） in giving you ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs,” retorted Towton はっきりと.
“井戸／弁護士席,” said フランs, 抑えるing her rising 怒り／怒る, for she felt that she was 事実上の／代理 generously and the 陸軍大佐 churlishly, “perhaps 司法（官） is not やめる the word which should be used. But you spoke now of my 影響（力） over Ida as 存在 広大な／多数の／重要な, and you spoke truly. She is very fond of me, and I am perfectly 井戸／弁護士席 able to induce her to give up all idea of becoming your wife, and to get her to remain with me. Then I should 扱う the sum I ask for every year instead of only once, for Ida knows nothing of 商売／仕事.”
“See here, 行方不明になる Hest,” said Towton roundly, “I love Ida and I wish her to be my wife. But she shall 受託する me of her own 解放する／自由な will and without 存在 圧力（をかける）d in any way. Your 影響（力） can scarcely be so 広大な／多数の／重要な as you think, since Ida 拒絶する／低下するd both to marry Maunders or your brother, although—as you 収容する／認める—you 勧めるd her to do so. I am coming to-morrow with Lady Corsoon and her daughter to see Ida, and I hope 行方不明になる Dimsdale will return with her aunt to this house—”
“Not if I can 妨げる it,” said フランs, her colour rising as she あわてて wrapped her cloak 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her and moved に向かって the door. “Ida remains with me as a 人質 until I get this money, to which I am する権利を与えるd.”
“I fail to see that.”
“Because you have an ungenerous nature,” she retorted. “Were I in 所有／入手 of an unencumbered 広い地所 I should ask nothing. But, as it is, I must have money, and if you are wise you will buy this will and your wife with a sincere 約束—I do not even ask for it to be in 令状ing, so 確信して am I in your honour—to give me ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs on the wedding-day.”
But Towton was singularly obstinate. “Wait until to-morrow,” he said dourly. “What Ida says I 持つ／拘留する by.”
“In that 事例／患者 I have the money,” retorted フランs, and left the room 敏速に with a 乾燥した，日照りの smile and a light step, fully 満足させるd that she had won.
Contrary to his usual custom, 陸軍大佐 Towton did not について言及する the conversation or the visit of 行方不明になる Hest to his co-労働者. And he 観察するd this reticence for two 推論する／理由s. Firstly, he 公式文書，認めるd that Vernon was too much engrossed in the society of Lucy to give 分割されない attention to those anxious 事柄s 取引，協定ing with The Spider and his machinations. Secondly, the 申し込む／申し出 of フランs 特に 関心d himself and Ida, therefore it was useless to ask advice which probably would not be taken. As Vernon had always supported 行方不明になる Hest, he undoubtedly would 勧める that she should be paid if she 実行するd the 条件s which she herself had laid 負かす／撃墜する. Nine men out of ten would have clinched the 事柄 at the price, so that the Gordian knot might be 削減（する） instead of unravelled. But Towton was no Alexander to 可決する・採択する so 迅速な a course, and did not see his way to 降伏する a large sum for help which, in his opinion, should be 自由に （判決などを）下すd.
Moreover, as he scrupulously regarded Ida’s fortune as belonging 完全に to herself, Towton infinitely preferred to leave the 決定／判定勝ち（する） to her judgment. In spite of the 勝利を得た smile with which フランs had 終結させるd her visit, the 陸軍大佐 did not feel sure that she would 伸び（る） her ends, and 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that her 誇るd 影響（力） over 行方不明になる Dimsdale was いっそう少なく powerful than she pretended it to be. If she could 新たな展開 Ida 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her finger—and she intimated as much—there was no need for her to 適用する to Towton in any way, as all she had to do was to give the will to Ida and receive in return a cheque for the 続いて起こるing year’s income. But this she had not done, and her very 活動／戦闘 in 捜し出すing him made Towton 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that she felt her 影響（力） with Ida to be 病弱なing. The girl, therefore, would no 疑問 be glad to leave Gerby Hall and come to The Grange; and it might be—but the 陸軍大佐 could not be 確かな on this point—that フランs was 拘留するing her by 脅しs, although what such 脅しs might be Towton could not conjecture. And certainly, 裁判官ing by the visit of the previous day, Ida was 情愛深く 大（公）使館員d to フランs, and was remaining of her own 解放する／自由な will under the 暗い／優うつな roof of her friend. Towton was perplexed how to reconcile Ida’s evident 願望（する） to remain at the Hall with the unnecessary visit of 行方不明になる Hest.
“I can come to no 決定／判定勝ち（する） about the 事柄 until I have seen Ida by herself,” thought the 陸軍大佐 when he returned to the 製図／抽選-room. “In the presence of this woman the poor girl may be 脅迫してさせるd, or perhaps fascinated as is a bird by a snake. When we are alone she will open her heart to me, as I know that she loves me, in spite of what 行方不明になる Hest says. To-morrow, if she 辞退するs to return with Lady Corsoon, I shall remain behind when the others have taken their 出発, and perhaps may get a word or two alone with Ida. I wish I could 除去する her from the society of that woman; I am sure it is harmful.”
When 再結合させるing his guests, Towton 単に intimated that his 訪問者 had come on 商売／仕事, and gave the company to understand that it was of small consequence. Then he proceeded to make himself agreeable to Lady Corsoon, so that Vernon and Lucy could have each other’s company without the uncomfortable presence of a third party. He taught his 年輩の guest a new game of patience; but, as this 証明するd to be somewhat dull, the young couple were called in to form a 橋（渡しをする） party. They （機の）カム unwillingly, and playing the game with but faint 利益／興味, 許すd Towton and Lady Corsoon to 勝利，勝つ. As the latter individual retired to bed the 勝利者 of a 穏健な sum, she was in high good humour, and 差し控えるd from scolding Lucy for her philandering with the 望ましくない lover. And 望ましくない he was, so long as Lady Corsoon hoped to 得る the fortune of her niece. If Maunders failed to fulfil his 約束, then the 計画／陰謀ing wife of the financier was perfectly willing to 許す her daughter to marry Sir Arthur Vernon, it 存在 of course understood that he was to have the 肩書を与える before becoming Lucy’s bridegroom. Certainly she would have preferred her daughter to be Lady Stratham, but as Lady Vernon, with her husband’s 階級 and her father’s money, she would 向こうずね no inconsiderable 惑星 amongst the 星／主役にするs of London society, and Lady Corsoon could bask in the 反映するd glory. Finally, as the ambitious mother fell asleep, she 反映するd that Lucy 存在 rather obstinate, it was just 同様に to humour her in this instance, as she was やめる 有能な of running away with the man of her choice if 許可 were 辞退するd. Lady Corsoon would not have been 特に astonished had she heard that Lucy had already made the audacious 提案 of flight.
Next morning, however, to 高める the value of the prize, she kept her daughter beside her, and remained in her own room on the 嘆願 of looking after 確かな 事柄s connected with feminine adornment. Towton, on his part, had to …に出席する to his correspondence; so Vernon was left to his own 装置s. He thought that he could not 占領する his time better than by taking a walk to the Bolly Dam in the hope of つまずくing on Hokar. For this 目的 he strolled leisurely along the moorland path, enjoying the 有望な 日光 and the keen freshness of the morning 空気／公表する. It was a perfect day, and had Lucy been prattling by his 味方する it would have been more perfect still. But his beloved was absent, so Vernon could only 料金d his hungry heart by 解任するing 詳細（に述べる）s of the delicious conversation which had taken place between them on the previous day.
He duly arrived at the dam, but could see no 調印する of the Hindoo. It was still 早期に, however, so Vernon sat 負かす／撃墜する on the 大規模な stonework of the 塀で囲む to wait for his possible arrival. While in this position he became aware to his astonishment that he could hear sounds 極端に plainly from the mile-distant village. The clacking of the mills, the subdued murmur of the 激流 宙返り／暴落するing under the arched 橋（渡しをする）, the lowing of cattle, and even—but more faintly—the shrill cries of children at play; all these struck on his ear with amazing clearness, considering the distance. Certainly, a gentle 勝利，勝つd was blowing from the village, but even that did not wholly explain the 現象, since the さまざまな noises were so markedly 際立った. Finally, Vernon 結論するd, and no 疑問 was 訂正する in his conjecture, that the 狭くする gorge 行為／法令／行動するd as a 肉親，親類d of telephone, which, with the 援助（する） of the 安定した 勝利，勝つd blowing up its length, 行為／行うd the sounds 正確に. The 発見 amused the young man, and he sat where he was for a かなりの time trying to distinguish between the several noises. Later in the day he decided to get Lucy to sit on the dam and then from the 底（に届く） of the gorge a mile away to call out and see if she could understand what he was 説. The 実験 would be both 科学の and 利益／興味ing.
For やめる an hour Vernon waited, but no Hokar put in an 外見. He then spent another hour in walking slowly 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 貯蔵所, and finally, without having seen a 選び出す／独身 person, he returned to 昼食. At the meal 陸軍大佐 Towton について言及するd that he had written a 公式文書，認める to 行方不明になる Hest 明言する／公表するing that the visit would be paid at three o’clock. “And I have given orders for a room to be got ready for Ida next to yours, Lady Corsoon,” said the 陸軍大佐.
“I 疑問 if Ida will come,” sighed his guest. “She is singularly obstinate in having her own way. What she can see in that woman is a puzzle to me.”
“行方不明になる Hest is very clever,” 発言／述べるd Lucy, “but there is something about her that I do not like.”
“For instance?” queried Vernon bending 今後.
“I can hardly say,” said the girl thoughtfully. “She is clever and agreeable and やめる 井戸／弁護士席-bred. Yet she seems to be—be—dangerous.”
“I think that word 適用するs more to Maunders than to 行方不明になる Hest,” 観察するd Towton, “although I am bound to say that 行方不明になる Hest does not 満足させる me in many ways. She is too masterful. Dangerous, no. I should not 述べる her as dangerous, 行方不明になる Corsoon.”
“I should, and I do, 陸軍大佐. I may be wrong, but the first time I met 行方不明になる Hest at ‘Rangoon’ she gave me that impression.”
“One should never go against impressions,” said Vernon 厳粛に; “They are the instincts of the soul.”
“Nonsense,” 否定するd Lady Corsoon vigorously. “I’m sure when I first met my husband I could not 耐える him, and my mother had 簡単に to 運動 me to the altar. Yet I married him, and I’m sure we are a most 大（公）使館員d pair.”
The gentlemen were too 井戸／弁護士席-bred to smile at this 声明, yet it 内密に amused both. Everyone knew that the 否定できない good feeling which 存在するd between Sir Julius and his wife was おもに 予定 to their diverse 利益／興味s in life, which kept them more or いっそう少なく apart. Lady Corsoon was always ぱたぱたするing about as a society バタフライ, while Sir Julius remained 絶えず in the City, 収入 money for her to spend. It was little credit to either that they were civil to one another on the rare occasions when they met. Cain and Abel themselves would not have quarrelled when only 会合—as the 説 goes—once in a blue moon But Lady Corsoon felt やめる 確かな that she was a model wife and a typical British matron (new style), and prattled on about her 国内の happiness until it was time to start for Gerby Hall.
“Vernon will 護衛する you two ladies,” said Towton, who was in riding 道具, and 展示（する）d a more youthful 空気／公表する than usual. “I can follow.”
“You won’t ride to Gatehead until you have called at the Hall,” 勧めるd Lady Corsoon; “for I may need you to 主張する upon Ida coming to The Grange.”
“I shall assuredly be at Gerby Hall in half an hour, more or いっそう少なく,” replied the 陸軍大佐 静かに. “But I should not think of 主張するing upon Ida becoming my guest unless she honours me of her own 解放する／自由な will with a visit.”
“Oh, nonsense,” said Lady Corsoon pettishly. “When you know how infatuated she is with this woman Hest.” And all the way 負かす／撃墜する the winding road she lamented that Ida was so impossible, and the owner of Gerby Hall so second-率. “For she is second-率,” finished Lady Corsoon triumphantly. “I always said so, and would say so with my dying breath.”
In 予定 time the trio arrived at the 暗い／優うつな Hall, and were shown by the fat maid into the dingy 製図／抽選-room. It was いっそう少なく 冷気／寒がらせる and dismal on this occasion, as the windows were wide open and the warm breath of the day stole in to ameliorate the damp atmosphere, as did the 日光 to lighten the 不明瞭. In the glare of day the furniture looked やめる faded, and the hangings 極端に shabby; but there was something dignified about the 古代の room which impressed even Lady Corsoon.
“A very quaint old place,” she said 調査するing it through her lorgnette; “but damp. They せねばならない have a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 in the grate.”
“They couldn’t very 井戸／弁護士席 have it anywhere else, mamma,” giggled Lucy.
“My dear, pray do not afflict me with your cheap wit. You perfectly 井戸／弁護士席 understand my meaning. I shall take this 議長，司会を務める, as the light tries my 注目する，もくろむs.”
So 説 she selected a seat with its 支援する to the windows, but いっそう少なく to 保存する her eyesight than to 妨げる 行方不明になる Hest from seeing too plain 証拠 of her age. She 王位d herself in the spacious 議長，司会を務める with the 空気／公表する of a queen, and assumed a dignified mein as the door opened to 収容する／認める Ida and her hostess. Lady Corsoon’s first 発言／述べる was scarcely polite.
“You do look ill, Ida,” she said submitting her cheek to a kiss, “and more than twice your age. 行方不明になる Hest, what have you been doing with her?”
“Trying to 慰安 her,” replied フランs drily. “But you can scarcely 推定する／予想する an affectionate girl like Ida to lose her father and not show some 調印するs of grief.”
“調印するs of fiddlestick, if you will excuse the 表現. It’s want of food and cheerful company, to say nothing of living in this 丸天井.”
“Thank you, Lady Corsoon. I find the house of my ancestors very comfortable.”
“I think not,” replied the 訪問者 rudely. “Quaint, as I have already 観察するd, old-world and 利益／興味ing to an antiquarian, but I don’t think anyone could call this comfortable. However, this 明言する／公表する of things, so far as Ida is 関心d, can be easily 治療（薬）d. Ida, child, I have come to take you to the Grange, which stands in a much more healthy position.”
Ida, who had saluted her cousin and Vernon, turned even paler than she already was and looked sideways at フランs. “I think that I prefer to remain in this house,” she said timidly.
“Oh, you must not 重荷（を負わせる） 行方不明になる Hest any longer,” said her aunt coolly.
“Ida’s company is no 重荷（を負わせる） to me,” snapped 行方不明になる Hest, who seemed to be trying to keep her temper, “but if she chooses to leave me, she can.”
“I should think so; as she is 解放する／自由な to come and go as she wishes. Ida?”
“I would rather stop with フランs,” said Ida faintly, and again sought the 注目する，もくろむ of her friend, as if 捜し出すing direction. “We are very happy here.”
“行方不明になる Hest, I 控訴，上告 to you,” cried Lady Corsoon, looking important. “You can see for yourself that the dear child is like a 工場／植物, she wants 空気／公表する and sunlight and every attention.”
“Ida is 解放する／自由な to go and come as she chooses,” repeated フランs with a stealthy ちらりと見ること at the girl. “And perhaps it is just 同様に she should go. I am returning to London in a week or so.”
“フランs!” Ida started to her feet, and a faint hue tinged her cheek. “You never told me of this.”
“I never arrived at any 決定／判定勝ち（する） until last night,” replied フランs coldly, 除去するing the arm which the girl had thrown 情愛深く 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her neck. “But a search amongst my brother’s papers has shown me that my position financially speaking is not so 安全な・保証する as I thought it was. As it is necessary for me to earn my living I must go 支援する to Professor Gail’s at Isleworth, and probably I shall agree to his 提案 that I should appear on the 行う／開催する／段階.”
“But, フランs, I have plenty of money. 株 with me.”
“Ida,” said Lady Corsoon はっきりと, “you must let older and wiser 長，率いるs guide you as regards the disposition of your fortune. Besides, it may not be so 安全な・保証する as you think.”
“What?” Ida turned to 直面する her aunt. “Then you already know that I am not Mr. Dimsdale’s daughter.”
“I know something about it,” said Lady Corsoon, 隠すing her exact knowledge and 決定するd to appear surprised at nothing. “I received a letter 明言する／公表するing that on 確かな 条件s I could get the money of my brother. Whether you are my niece or not I can’t say, but assuredly if the money is 地雷 I must enter into 所有／入手 of it. Of course, you may rely on my doing my best to help you.”
“I want nothing,” said Ida, proudly 解除するing her 長，率いる. “If the money is yours you shall certainly have it. Am I not 権利, フランs?”
“Perfectly 権利. But Lady Corsoon’s fortune—to use her own words with regard to you—may not be so 安全な・保証する as she thinks.”
“If Ida is not ツバメ’s daughter, and there is no will, I should certainly 相続する,” cried Lady Corsoon やめる ひどく. “And I 自白する that I am surprised to hear that my brother is not the father of the girl I have always supposed to be my niece. I should like an explanation.”
“You will have one to-morrow,” said 行方不明になる Hest coolly.
“I want one to-day,” said the 年上の woman rapping her knuckles with her lorgnette. “What have you to do with this 事柄, may I ask?”
“More than you suppose. But, after I have seen 陸軍大佐 Towton, you shall be enlightened as to my exact position.”
“フランs, do you mean to say that the money is really 地雷?” 需要・要求するd Ida with a look of breathless 利益／興味.
“If it was, what would you do?” asked 行方不明になる Hest doubtfully.
“I should give you all the money you 要求するd.”
フランs hesitated, then （機の）カム 今後 and kissed the girl 静かに. “You are a good child, Ida. I thought that I had lost your 信用／信任.”
行方不明になる Dimsdale did not 否定する this 声明. “I shall always remember how 肉親，親類d you have been to me,” she said, 縮むing a trifle from her friend’s caress. “Nothing can make me forget the past.”
“Come, come,” said Lady Corsoon, rising in a fussy manner. “This sort of thing will not do at all. I must understand plainly what this means. In the 合間, I request my niece to follow me to The Grange.”
“I am not your niece, if all I have learned is true, and I 拒絶する／低下する to be dictated to,” said Ida quickly. “To-morrow I shall come to The Grange.”
“Will you leave me, Ida?” asked フランs quickly and with a look of 苦痛.
“For a time only,” muttered the girl 回避するing her 長，率いる. “But I wish to go to 陸軍大佐 Towton’s to-morrow.”
“Many things seem about to happen to-morrow,” 観察するd Lady Corsoon walking に向かって the door in her most stately manner. “And as Ida 辞退するs to obey me, I wash my 手渡すs of her. Come, Lucy. Come, Mr. Vernon. We must 出発／死.”
“But the 陸軍大佐 will be here すぐに,” 抗議するd Vernon, and Lucy took Ida’s 手渡す kindly between her own.
“The 陸軍大佐 may do what he pleases,” said Lady Corsoon loftily. “I am not bound by his 活動／戦闘s. Ida, I learn, is not my niece, and therefore I shall 教える my lawyer—since there is no will—to 需要・要求する a 降伏する of ツバメ’s 所有物／資産／財産. Now that 行方不明になる Dimsdale—no, not that—what is your 指名する, may I ask?” And she hoisted the lorgnette again.
Ida shrank 支援する before that 厳しい look, and broken 負かす／撃墜する in health as she was with all she had gone through, burst into 涙／ほころびs. フランs stepped between her and Lady Corsoon. “You are a cruel woman,” she said indignantly, “and you shall leave my house at once.”
“Only too willingly, only too willingly,” cried Lady Corsoon swelling with pompous indignation. “But I call everyone to 証言，証人／目撃する that I shall have these 事柄s 診察するd into, and ーするつもりである to （人命などを）奪う，主張する my 権利s. Ida, you are no niece of 地雷 by your own showing, so I have finished with you. Lucy! Mr. Vernon!” and she sailed out of the room and out of the house in a high 明言する／公表する of indignation. The fact is, the good lady was 大いに perplexed over the 予期しない （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that she had received. She had believed that her brother had made a will in her favour which Ida had destroyed; but she had never 推定する／予想するd to hear that the girl was not Dimsdale’s daughter. In her hurry she left Vernon and Lucy behind, while she 簡単に 急ぐd 負かす／撃墜する the short avenue and （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する with 陸軍大佐 Towton, who was riding in at the gate.
“What is the 事柄?” asked the 陸軍大佐 surprised at seeing his guest alone.
“事柄!” Lady Corsoon 停止（させる）d, breathing hard with 怒り／怒る. “I really don’t know, save that the Hest woman has 侮辱d me. Also I have heard that Ida is not my niece, and therefore I am sure the 所有物／資産／財産 belongs to me. I 拒絶する／低下する to stay longer in that house, and so I am returning home. Perhaps, 陸軍大佐, you will 需要・要求する an explanation. If I don’t receive a 満足な one to-night, I 令状 to my lawyer. So there!”
Towton tried to 茎・取り除く the 激流 of this speech, but without any result. Still talking of the way in which she had been 扱う／治療するd, Lady Corsoon babbled her way out of the gate and disappeared. The 陸軍大佐 棒 up to the door, and, alighting from his horse, bound the bridle to a （犯罪の）一味 in the 塀で囲む. As he stepped inside, Vernon appeared in 出席 on Lucy. They had stayed behind to 慰安 Ida, who was weeping over the 厳しい 治療 she had received from her 推定するd aunt.
“What on earth is the 事柄?” asked Towton, putting the same question to the couple as he had put to Lady Corsoon. “行方不明になる Lucy, I have met your mother 急ぐing home in a high 明言する／公表する of 怒り／怒る.”
“行方不明になる Hest and mother have fallen out,” said Lucy, hesitating how much to say, for she knew how Towton loved Ida.
“And Lady Corsoon has learned that Ida is not her niece,” put in Vernon. “Go in and 慰安 her, 陸軍大佐. I shall go after Lady Corsoon with Lucy.”
“That is the best thing to be done,” cried フランs, overbearing, and putting her 長，率いる out of the window. “陸軍大佐 Towton, I 願望（する） a 私的な conversation.”
“Do you wish me to remain?” Vernon asked his friend in a low 発言する／表明する.
“No, no. I must see 行方不明になる Hest alone. I understand what she wants. Go with 行方不明になる Lucy. She has already reached the gate.”
“But if you want me—”
“I don’t. When I return you shall know everything.”
“What do you mean?” 需要・要求するd Vernon anxiously.
“陸軍大佐, 陸軍大佐,” called out 行方不明になる Hest again.
“I must go. Follow 行方不明になる Corsoon and pacify the old lady,” said Towton hurriedly, and 急いでd into the house, leaving Vernon much astonished by his behaviour. Had the young man known of 行方不明になる Hest’s visit on the previous evening, he might not have been so perplexed. As it was, he 急いでd after Lucy, who by this time was 速く 伸び（る）ing on her indignant mother, with a feeling that Towton knew more than he did 関心ing the 現在の 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s. Which as he afterwards learned, was 正確に the 事例／患者.
The 陸軍大佐 entered the 暗い／優うつな 製図／抽選-room to find Ida weeping on the sofa and フランs 慰安ing her. Before he could say a word, the latter turned on him indignantly. “Why did you send that 侮辱ing woman here?”
“She （機の）カム of her own （許可，名誉などを）与える,” explained Towton frowning at the speech, “and surely Lady Corsoon has not 侮辱d Ida.”
“And me. She has 侮辱d us both,” cried 行方不明になる Hest 怒って. “I should have had her turned out of the house had she not gone.”
“It was my fault by telling her that I was not her niece,” said Ida in an agitated トン. “As if I could help that. But I won’t trouble her in any way; she has never been 肉親，親類d to me. I shall not 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on her again.”
“But, Ida,” said Towton, taking her 手渡す and 努力する／競うing to speak cheerfully, “I want you to come to the Grange.”
“Not while Lady Corsoon is there, Richard.”
フランs drew a long breath of 救済, which annoyed the 陸軍大佐. “Are you 拘留するing 行方不明になる Dimsdale here?” he asked snappishly, for late events had tried his temper 大いに.
“Oh, no,” cried Ida before her friend could speak. “As if フランs would do such a thing! But Lady Corsoon has been so rude.”
“You speak of her as Lady Corsoon?”
“自然に, since I am not her niece,” said Ida 簡単に. “When she leaves The Grange I shall be delighted to come.”
陸軍大佐 Towton 紅潮／摘発するd through his tan. “I am a bachelor, Ida,” he said in stiff トンs. “You can’t come to my house without a lady is staying there. That is unless you will marry me at once.”
Ida placed her two 手渡すs on his shoulders and looked at him kindly through her 涙／ほころびs. “If you will take a girl without a sixpence, I shall marry you as soon as you please, Richard.”
“Don’t put his chivalry to the 実験（する）, Ida,” 発言／述べるd フランs in somewhat acrid トンs. “陸軍大佐 Towton knows that you have ten thousand a year.”
“But if this story is true—”
“It’s やめる true, only there is a will.”
“A will?” Ida 星／主役にするd and 紅潮／摘発するd with 楽しみ. “Then poor Mr. Dimsdale did not 完全に forget me.”
“He did not forget you at all. I 設立する this will—井戸／弁護士席 it doesn’t 事柄 where, since I explained everything to our friend here last night. But you 相続する the Dimsdale 所有物／資産／財産 as Ida Menteith, so Lady Corsoon will not be able to （土地などの）細長い一片 you of your worldly goods.”
“Oh!”—Ida grew even more scarlet—“then, Richard—”
He caught her 手渡すs and 圧力（をかける）d them to his breast.
“My dear, I would take you without a 選び出す／独身 penny.”
“And that is the way in which you will have to take her,” said フランs drily, “unless you 同意 to my 需要・要求するs.”
“I leave that to Ida,” said Towton, once more stiff and 軍の. “Leave what to me?” asked Ida, looking from one to the other. フランs turned to her in a 商売／仕事-like way. “The 所有物／資産／財産 my brother has made over to me is mortgaged and I am penniless. If you marry the 陸軍大佐 I lose your society and also the chance of 存在 your companion at a 確かな 行う. To make 修正するs I ask for ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs.”
“You shall have it, of course,’ said Ida 敏速に.
“Will you 調印する this 文書 giving it to me?” asked 行方不明になる Hest pulling a sheet of paper out of her pocket.
“At once, if you will give me pen and 署名／調印する.”
The two women went に向かって a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する upon which stood what was 要求するd. 明らかに フランs had made all necessary 準備s to get the money. “You can give me a cheque also. Here is the 調書をとる／予約する,” she said 熱望して.
“Ida, Ida! Are you wise in doing this?” 警告するd the 陸軍大佐, に引き続いて.
“Yes,” said the girl 速く 調印 her 指名する and without even reading the 文書. “I want to marry you and be rid of フランs.”
行方不明になる Hest sneered, while Towton started 支援する, utterly astonished by the change of トン. “I thought—I fancied—I believed,” he stuttered, “that you were 深く，強烈に 大（公）使館員d to 行方不明になる Hest.”
“I was, but—there are circumstances—”
“Oh, let us have the truth,” interposed フランs はっきりと. “You liked me 井戸／弁護士席 enough and I liked you until you 設立する that I was too clever for you, so—”
Ida caught at her lover’s 手渡す and made an 成果／努力 to pull herself together in the 直面する of 行方不明になる Hest’s contemptuous 注目する，もくろむs. “You 扱う／治療するd me shamefully, フランs,” she said in トンs of reproach. “I loved you dearly until you began to いじめ（る） me and to make my life a 重荷（を負わせる）. You got me 負かす／撃墜する here ーするために 伸び（る） 所有／入手 of my money, and have been trying to 影響（力） me into giving up not only my 所有物／資産／財産 but Richard also. I saw what you were ever since we （機の）カム to this house, but, to deceive you, I played my part, and led you to believe that I still loved—”
“Oh, rubbish,” said 行方不明になる Hest, whose 注目する，もくろむs were as hard as jade. “You played your part very 不正に. I saw through your weak tricks. You were afraid of me, you know you were.”
“Yes, I was,” said Ida, 粘着するing to the amazed 陸軍大佐. “Because I believe if you could have got me to 調印する away my 所有物／資産／財産 that you would have killed me. I am willing to give you ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs, as I once had some affection for you; but now that you have got your 続けざまに猛撃する of flesh I shall leave this house with Richard.”
“To go to Lady Corsoon?”
“Richard will 保護する me. And, heaven help me!” said Ida, putting her 手渡す to her 長，率いる piteously. “I feel so dazed that I scarcely know what I am 説.”
“You are not too dazed to 調印する a cheque.”
Ida without a word stepped to the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and began to 令状 in the cheque-調書をとる／予約する. Towton 抗議するd. “You shall not do this,” he 宣言するd. “While I fancied you loved 行方不明になる Hest, I was willing you should make her a 現在の of this large sum. But since she has 扱う／治療するd you 不正に—”
“If Ida does not 調印する the cheque she does not get the will,” said フランs imperiously. “You can save your breath, 陸軍大佐.”
“You may を引き渡す a 誤った will?”
“If I did that I should not get the ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs,” retorted フランs. “Don’t be a fool. I am 事実上の／代理 straightforwardly enough.”
“Here is the money,” said Ida 涙／ほころびing out the 調印するd cheque and passing it to her quondam friend.
“And here is the will,” replied 行方不明になる Hest, 申し込む／申し出ing a paper, which Ida took and gave to the 陸軍大佐.
Towton ちらりと見ることd 速く at the 文書. It certainly seemed to be a 本物の will 調印するd by ツバメ Dimsdale and also by Venery and Smith. He felt sure that there was no trickery about the paper, since 行方不明になる Hest—now that Lady Corsoon knew the truth—would not be able to get the money unless the testament of ツバメ Dimsdale was above reproach. “It’s all 権利,” he 発言／述べるd, slipping the precious paper into the breast pocket of his coat. “But you, 行方不明になる Hest, are little else than a blackmailer. You are the worthy sister of your confounded brother.”
The woman laughed after a 批判的な ちらりと見ること at the cheque and 調印するd 文書 to make sure that both were in order. “I am able to 耐える all your hard 指名するs since I have 安全な・保証するd the money. But that Ida 辞退するd to obey me and kicked over the traces you would never have had the will.”
“I thought that the money did not belong to me,” 抗議するd Ida, 避難所ing herself under the wing of her lover, “and 手配中の，お尋ね者 to return it to Lady Corsoon.”
フランs nodded with a sneer. “Oh, I know how tender your 良心 is. You have whimpered enough about it. Only because of your silly 態度 did I make this 協定, which is the best I can do for myself. But I must say one thing, Ida, and you can take it as a compliment. Clever as I am, you with your soft over-scrupulous nature have been too many for me. Few people can say that. And now that all is over between us, you can leave my house, as I hate the sight of your insipid 直面する.”
Ida shrank 支援する into the 陸軍大佐’s 武器, and he 演説（する）／住所d 行方不明になる Hest in a 発言する／表明する （判決などを）下すd hoarse with indignation. “You are a 完全に bad woman. I never did 認可する of you, and now that I see you, as Ida does, in your true colours, I tell you—”
“My true colours,” scoffed the other contemptuously. “No one knows what they are. You least of all, you 狭くする-minded idiot.”
“What do you mean?” 需要・要求するd Towton, taken aback by the malignant look on her hard white 直面する.
“Don’t ask her,” implored Ida, 努力する／競うing to pull her lover to the door, “she will only 嘘（をつく）. Let us leave this wicked house, as I am 確かな that there is something terrible 隠すd here.”
“Something terrible,” echoed Towton looking startled.
“Don’t talk rubbish,” muttered フランs, with a dangerous 表現 in her 注目する，もくろむs. “陸軍大佐, you had better take away that fool, or it will be the worse for her. I 警告する you.”
“I have heard strange noises,” went on Ida feverishly. “People have been coming and going in the dead of night. Then that Hindoo—”
“Hokar!” cried the 陸軍大佐. “行方不明になる Hest, how do you explain Hokar?”
“I explain nothing,” snapped フランs, marching to the door in an imperious way and throwing it open. “Out you go, both of you,” She recoiled. “Ah! you dare to!”—with a gasp she tried to の近くに the door again, but Towton dashed 今後 and caught her arm.
“I have seen; it is too late,” he almost shouted. “Maunders. Come in!”
It was indeed Maunders who stood on the threshold. He looked the ghost of his former handsome, insolent, 繁栄する self. Thin and haggard and worn, with his 着せる／賦与するs hanging loosely on his 人物／姿／数字, he 現在のd a woeful spectacle. “What have you been doing to yourself? How did you come here?” asked Towton, stepping 支援する much startled, with Ida on his arm.
“Ask that woman how I （機の）カム here; ask her how she has 扱う／治療するd me. But I escaped from the room she locked me in by climbing out of the window. Now I shall show her the mercy she has shown me. She is—”
フランs darted 今後 and clapped her 手渡す on his mouth. “I’ll kill you if you say the word. You 悪口を言う／悪態d fool. Be silent or I give you up.”
Maunders, with a strength which his frail looks scarcely 示唆するd, threw her off and staggered against the door. “I give you up,” he shrieked, wild with 怒り／怒る, “you どろぼう, you blackmailer, you murderess!”
“What?” cried Towton 熱望して, and しっかり掴むing ばく然と at the terrible truth.
“Yes.” Maunders pointed an 告発する／非難するing finger at フランs Hest. “There is The Spider. A woman; a devil! 逮捕（する） her; 拘留する her; hang her on the gallows,” and he sank 負かす／撃墜する on the 床に打ち倒す, his 支援する to the door, with 憎悪 written on his white and 恐ろしい 直面する.
There was a long pause, a 悪意のある なぎ in the tempest of passion which was 激怒（する）ing in that 静かな, prosaic room. Gasping with impotent passion, Maunders lay, 残り／休憩（する）ing his 長，率いる against the door, an 障害 which 妨げるd the 有罪の woman from escaping. Not that she 試みる／企てるd to escape. With a deadly white 直面する, with 安定した, 冷淡な, malignant 注目する，もくろむs, like those of a snake, and with a contemptuous smile on her thin lips. The Spider, 明白な at last in all her brazen wickedness, stood defiantly at bay. Towton, with Ida 粘着するing to his arm almost terrified out of her senses, 星／主役にするd aghast at the evil 存在 who had been such a 悪口を言う／悪態 to many. The ominous silence was like the year-long moment before the bursting of a 爆弾.
Ida, with chattering teeth and trembling 四肢s, was the first to 回復する the use of her tongue; but she could scarcely form the words. “Oh, God! oh, God!” she whimpered, hiding her 直面する on her lover’s breast; “it’s too awful. I never thought—I never thought—oh—oh—oh!” She broke 負かす／撃墜する with a strange, hysterical, choking cry, and would have fallen to the ground but that the 陸軍大佐 placed her gently in a 近づく 議長，司会を務める.
Then he turned with 軍の precision to 直面する 行方不明になる Hest. “You are The Spider?” he asked in 乾燥した，日照りの, 正確な トンs, and now 完全に master of himself.
“Yes,” she replied coolly, and her mouth の近くにd with a 勝利を得た snap.
“You infernal fiend—”
“Gently! Gently! Hard 指名するs break no bones, 陸軍大佐. You should be more of a man than to throw words at a woman.”
“Are you a woman?”
“Yes,” gasped Maunders, raising himself on his 肘 and wiping the froth from his pale lips; “she is フランs Hest 権利 enough. Her brother is a myth invented by herself to mask her devilries. But フランs or Francis—she is The Spider!”
“I did not mean that 正確に／まさに,” said Towton in his hard 発言する／表明する; “but I asked if one 有能な of the enormities credited to The Spider can かもしれない be a woman.”
“I am The Spider,” said 行方不明になる Hest with a shrug. “There is your answer.”
“You are a demon.”
“More 指名するs! Really, 陸軍大佐 Towton, you are very childish. You 沈む to the level of that fool,” and she pointed scornfully to Ida, who was weeping in the 議長，司会を務める as though her heart would break.
“To think that I should have been her friend,” moaned Ida with a fresh burst of 涙／ほころびs and hiding her 直面する.
“You little fool,” said フランs in a gentle, dangerous 発言する／表明する. “I have been a better friend to you than you think. But that I pitied you as 存在 a poor, weak, silly worm, I would have 殺人d you long ago.”
“You 殺人d my father,” shivered Ida, not daring to 会合，会う the 冷淡な 注目する，もくろむs which 残り／休憩（する）d on her prostrate form.
“ツバメ Dimsdale was not your father.”
“You—you—you 殺人d him.”
“Yes, I did.”
“What!” Towton could scarcely believe his ears. “You 収容する／認める the 罪，犯罪?”
フランs yawned ostentatiously. “If I 収容する／認める that I am The Spider it follows that I must have 殺人d Dimsdale.”
“井戸／弁護士席, no,” replied Towton, truthfully and 正確に，正当に. “You may have 雇うd Hokar to strangle him.”
“That is very good of you,” said フランs satirically, “but I don’t place my own sins on the shoulders of others. Hokar taught me how to strangle in the 凶漢 fashion certainly, but he did not kill Dimsdale. I did.”
“Still, I don’t believe that the 殺人 was premeditated,” 主張するd Towton.
“Upon my word,” said 行方不明になる Hest good-humouredly and as coolly as though she were gossiping over a cup of tea, “one would think you were counsel for the defence. No, you are 権利. I did not ーするつもりである to 殺人 Dimsdale. Having got you out of the way—”
“You mean that you got Vernon out of the way?”
“Of course,” assented フランs, sitting 負かす／撃墜する and crossing her 脚s in a gentlemanly fashion; “but you must excuse my bad memory, as I have so much to think of. I got Vernon out of the way, as I overheard, and Maunders there overheard, the 協定 for a 罠（にかける）. We were both on the verandah.”
“And I was with you,” wailed Ida, shivering again. “So you were,” said 行方不明になる Hest raising her eyebrows, “but you heard nothing. Maunders caught a word or two through the open window of the library and 警告するd me. While you, my dear Ida, were talking to him I stole 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner and listened. Knowing all about the 罠（にかける）, I had Vernon おとりd to the Kensington house, and at the 任命するd time I went into the library, masked and cloaked, as were the other guests at the ball. Dimsdale was waiting for me. I stole up behind him and slipped a handkerchief 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck.”
“Oh!” The 陸軍大佐 was 反乱d. “And you say that the 罪，犯罪 was not premeditated?”
“I say truly. I 簡単に 用意が出来ている to strangle him わずかに should he have made an 激しい抗議. Remember, I was in a dangerous position and could not stand on 儀式. Had Dimsdale given me the money and permitted me to leave by the window I would have spared his life. As it was, he saw me in the mirror, which was 直接／まっすぐに in 前線 of him.”
“But you were masked: he could not recognise you?”
“I am coming to that. He waited for a moment, until I made my 需要・要求する for the money, then suddenly threw 支援する his 手渡す, and before I guessed his 意向 he tore the mask from my 直面する. When he recognised me I was 強いるd, for my own safety, to strangle him. As the handkerchief was in position I 簡単に 強化するd it, and he was soon dead. Then I searched for the money, but, not 存在 able to find it, I 再開するd my mask and returned to the ballroom. Maunders, of course, was with me all the time, and を待つd my return.”
“I did not know that you had committed a 殺人,” said Maunders gloomily.
“No, I did not tell you at the time: it would have spoilt your 楽しみ. But when Ida learned the truth by entering the library you guessed what had taken place. I kept you with me for your own sake, to 供給する an アリバイ should you be 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd, as I 恐れるd Vernon might be clever enough to guess that you had something to do with it. As a 事柄 of fact, he did hint at it when he called many days later, but I was enabled to say that you were with me all the time, and so he was put off the scent.”
“I remember,” murmured the 陸軍大佐 to himself, but not so low as not to be overheard by 行方不明になる Hest’s marvellously sharp ears. “Vernon was やめる 満足させるd when you 供給するd the アリバイ for Maunders. He never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd you.”
“No one ever 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd me,” said フランs coolly. “There is no need for me to speak of my own cleverness. Anyone who can baffle the police as I have done has no need to 誇る.”
“But why, in heaven’s 指名する, with your abilities, did you 乗る，着手する on such an evil course?” asked Towton amazed at her sang-froid.
“運命／宿命, Fortune, 運命: what 指名する you will,” said 行方不明になる Hest carelessly. “But you have tried to exonerate me, 陸軍大佐, and because of that you shall hear the whole story,” and, leaning 今後, she pulled the bell-rope.
“Remember, I shall repeat all you say to the police,” 警告するd Towton.
“I am not afraid of the police,” retorted フランs with a shrug; “all my 計画（する）s are made—to escape. As that fool,” she pointed to Maunders lying sullenly on the 床に打ち倒す, “has betrayed me twice I give him to you as a sacrifice. But I shall never stand in the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる, you may be sure.”
“Will you kill yourself?” cried Ida, terrified at this strength of mind.
“No, my dear. I am too much in love with life. You shall know my 計画（する） presently. 合間, you shall hear how I （機の）カム to be a blackmailer, as you have already heard why I 殺人d Dimsdale, to my misfortune.”
“To your misfortune, indeed! はっきりと.
“You may 井戸／弁護士席 say so, 陸軍大佐. I never ーするつもりであるd to 国／地域 my 手渡すs with 血, least of all with that of a man whom I liked and who was 肉親，親類d to me. Don’t sigh, Ida; after all, I did not shed his 血, as I 単に strangled him. But that death brought you and Vernon in chase of me, 陸軍大佐, and so I am 追跡（する）d 負かす／撃墜する. Still, had Maunders been true, I should have been 安全な. You knew Francis Hest as the 犯罪の, thanks to Maunders. I 合併するd the brother in the sister and made everything 安全な. Now,” she shrugged her shoulders, “I must flit.”
“You shall go to 刑務所，拘置所 with me,” panted Maunders furiously.
“I think not,” 再結合させるd 行方不明になる Hest contemptuously. “Don’t you know me 井戸／弁護士席 enough yet to be aware that I 供給する against all contingencies. Come in!” she 追加するd, raising her 発言する／表明する, and, when the door opened, looked at Towton. “I shall ask my old nurse, 行方不明になる Jewin, to relate the beginning of my career; at a later time I can （問題を）取り上げる the tale, and then our 宙返り／暴落するd-負かす／撃墜する friend yonder can finish the story. Sarah, enter and の近くに the door.”
行方不明になる Sarah Jewin was 頂点（に達する）d-直面するd and white, with thin lips, scanty grey hair and 冷淡な grey 注目する，もくろむs. She was thin and bony and very tall, so that in her plain 黒人／ボイコット dress she looked like a line—length without breadth. As she entered Maunders with a groan hoisted himself into a 議長，司会を務める. 行方不明になる Jewin had already 押し進めるd him aside when she entered the room and, in place of replying to her mistress, stood looking at his scowling, haggard 直面する with a look of びっくり仰天. Maunders replied to the look with petty 勝利.
“Yes, I got out,” he said, rubbing the ragged 耐えるd which disfigured his 井戸／弁護士席-moulded chin. “I wrenched a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 out of the window and climbed 負かす／撃墜する by the ivy. Now the 殺人’s out, and you and your hellish mistress are about to be brought to 調書をとる／予約する.”
“Don’t mind him, Sarah,” said フランs lazily and leaning 支援する in her 議長，司会を務める to light a cigarette; “you are 安全な and so am I. Let the fool talk. In the 合間, tell 陸軍大佐 Towton here how I （機の）カム to England and how you knew that Ida was 単に Dimsdale’s 可決する・採択するd daughter.”
“I thought you 手配中の，お尋ね者 these things kept secret,” said 行方不明になる Jewin in 狼狽 and turning pale with dread at the 状況／情勢 in which she 設立する herself.
“The time for secrets is past, Sarah. すぐに, thanks to your having 許すd Maunders to escape and to 陸軍大佐 Towton’s sense of 司法（官）, the hue and cry will be out against the whole of us. Is Hokar at his 地位，任命する?”
“Yes. He went away when you gave orders.”
“That’s all 権利. I’ll escape, sure enough, and so will you. We’ll leave Maunders behind to 直面する 司法（官）: he can 宣言する himself to be The Spider instead of me if he chooses.”
“Oh!” 行方不明になる Jewin started 支援する looking terrified. “Do they know—”
“Maunders has told them, you dear old idiot. But there’s no time to be lost, Sarah; tell your story.”
“And be frank,” broke in the 陸軍大佐, who was truly amazed at 行方不明になる Hest’s 冷静な／正味の composure. “If you turn King’s 証拠 you may receive a short 宣告，判決 for your complicity.”
Sarah Jewin 倍のd her 武器 primly. “Begging your 容赦, sir, but I won’t receive any 宣告，判決 at all. I am やめる sure that 行方不明になる フランs will save me from going to 刑務所，拘置所.”
“I fail to see how she can save herself, let alone you,” said Towton coldly. “My horse is at the door. After placing 行方不明になる Dimsdale in safety I shall ride to Gatehead and send for the police. You needn’t chuckle, 行方不明になる Hest, and think you will escape 合間. I shall raise the village and you will be carefully watched.”
“You can 行為／法令／行動する as you please,” said フランs coolly. “I am not The Spider for nothing, and I shall baffle you as I have baffled others. 合間 since you were so just to me, I shall 満足させる your curiosity, which I am sure is very 広大な／多数の／重要な. Sarah, tell your story.”
“One moment,” said Towton, turning to the prim woman, “you 誘惑するd Vernon into the kitchen of that empty Kensington house?”
She dropped an ironical curtsey. “Yes, sir. 行方不明になる フランs was pleased that I managed so cleverly.”
Ida 星／主役にするd wide-注目する，もくろむd at the shameless looks and speech of the housekeeper, and Towton frowned. That these creatures should so audaciously 自白する their 罪，犯罪s when they knew he would すぐに 召喚する the police puzzled him 大いに. Also, remembering the wonderful （手先の）技術 of The Spider, he felt uneasy as to what might happen, but he could not conjecture in what way she could extricate herself and her 共犯者 from the 罠（にかける） in which they were 安全に caught. However, he made no comment on 行方不明になる Jewin’s insolence, but 単に ordered her to proceed.
“About thirty-five years ago,” said 行方不明になる Jewin, 急落（する），激減（する）ing into her story without any 予選 explanation, “I was in India and nurse to Mrs. Hest, who was the wife of Captain Theodore Hest, 駅／配置するd at Bombay. The Captain’s father, who lived here, was angry when his son went into the Army, and 削減（する） him off with a shilling, but my master believed that if a son were born to 相続する the 広い地所s his father would relent. When my mistress’s baby 証明するd to be a girl he was much disappointed. However, as his father was old and might die before he 設立する out the trick, he sent home news that the baby was a boy, and had her baptised Francis.”
“So you see,” broke in 行方不明になる Hest who was smoking 静かに, “that my real 指名する is Francis, and by 法律 I am a man. As a woman I am フランs, so there is 単に the difference of one letter. Go on, Sarah.”
“She,” said 行方不明になる Jewin, pointing to her mistress, “was dressed as a boy and brought up as a boy, so that the 広い地所s might come to her. My master’s father relented when he heard that he had, as he supposed, a grandson, and made a will in the boy’s favour.”
“The boy, you understand, 陸軍大佐, 存在 a girl—myself,” said フランs for the sake of clearness.
“I やめる understand,” said the 陸軍大佐 frowning. “Go on.”
“Then my master and mistress were carried off within a month of one another by fever,” continued 行方不明になる Jewin. “They died in Burmah, where the Captain had gone with his 連隊. I then took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 行方不明になる Hest, who was always called Master Francis, and （機の）カム to Gerby Hall. Old Mr. Hest, the grandfather, just lived six months longer, but he died under the impression that his grand-daughter was a grandson. 行方不明になる フランs thus became 所有するd of the 所有物／資産／財産.”
“Didn’t the lawyer know that she was a girl?” asked Towton surprised.
“No. As she had always been brought up as a boy the deception was 完全にする, sir,” said 行方不明になる Jewin, using the word with shameless 審議. “The lawyer （機の）カム here and saw 行方不明になる フランs in her boy’s 着せる／賦与するs.”
“And in this way,” explained 行方不明になる Hest, “it became 現在の gossip in the village that I had a twin brother.”
“A twin sister, you mean?” said the 陸軍大佐 doubtfully.
“井戸／弁護士席, you might put it that way. At all events, everyone in Bowderstyke believes to this day that there is a boy and a girl, or, rather, a man and a woman Hest. I alternately wore male and 女性（の） 着せる／賦与するs.”
“Why was there any need for you to wear 女性（の） 着せる／賦与するs at all?”
“That was my fault,” said 行方不明になる Jewin quickly. “When the succession to the 広い地所s was settled I could not 耐える that 行方不明になる フランs should masquerade any longer as a boy. I therefore dressed her in girl’s 着せる／賦与するs, to which she was する権利を与えるd, and invented the twin story. いつかs she was a boy, so that the lawyers should not learn the truth, and いつかs a girl to please me. There’s the whole story.”
“Now it’s my turn,” said フランs, throwing away her cigarette. “When I grew up and learned how Sarah had muddled my sex in the 注目する，もくろむs of the world I decided to make use of it ーするために earn money.”
“Why did you need money when you had the 広い地所s?” asked Towton 簡潔に.
“Oh, those were mortgaged up to the hilt, my dear sir. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be rich and to 回復する the Hest family to their old position For this 推論する／理由 I 提起する／ポーズをとるd as a philanthropist and spent the money I did. What with the sums I have given in charity and the buildings I have 建設するd, and the dam, which is my work, I think, 陸軍大佐, that the Hests can 持つ／拘留する their own with the Towtons. I hated to think that my family was 負かす／撃墜する while yours was up.”
“Oh,” said the 陸軍大佐 with contempt, “so it’s a 事例／患者 of jealousy 単に. All your philanthropy was a 詐欺?”
For the first time フランs coloured and rose out of her 議長，司会を務める to reply with more 強調. “No; you must not say that. I really have a mixed nature, and like to help people. My good 質s are the 結果 of my evil ones. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to aggrandize the Hests, certainly, since they were lords of Bowderstyke Valley, until your family robbed them of their 所有物／資産／財産. But also I really wished to do good and help people. I think I 後継するd.”
“At the cost of 殺人,” said Ida resentfully.
“That was a mistake,” replied フランs glibly, “as I never ーするつもりであるd to 殺人 Dimsdale. When I went to London in my woman’s dress, with very little money in my pocket, I 簡単に ーするつもりであるd to earn my fortune on the 行う／開催する／段階, and by reciting to make Francis Hest—my other self, who was supposed to live here—豊富な and popular. I 設立する that the reciting did not 支払う／賃金 and cast about for some better means of making money. Alternately I lived in London as フランs, and in Bowderstyke as Francis. But I could not 伸び（る） my ends by honest means, and so was 強いるd to take to dishonest ways. If you wish to know the devil who tempted me to eat of the Tree of Knowledge, he is before you,” and she pointed deliberately to Constantine.
“It’s a 嘘（をつく）,” cried Maunders, starting to his feet with a 罰金 外見 of indignation. “I met you three or four years ago in London and you discovered that I earned my living by telling fortunes as Diabella. That was all, except,” he 追加するd, scowling, “that you ゆすり，恐喝d me.”
“やめる so,” said 行方不明になる Hest 静かに. “I tried my ‘prentice 手渡す on you, and the means of making money in this way was so 平易な that I took it up as a 貿易（する） and 可決する・採択するd you as a partner. Go on, Maunders, you tell the 残り／休憩（する） of the story so that everything may be made （疑いを）晴らす.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” said Maunders doggedly, and casting 負かす／撃墜する his 注目する，もくろむs as he met Ida’s sorrowful look, for he was not so 完全に lost to all sense of shame as were the other two 法律-breakers. “You made me find out all manner of secrets from my （弁護士の）依頼人s by hinting at things and asking questions and by—”
“I know,” interrupted Towton waving his 手渡す. “I am aware of how fortune-tellers hint at a 可能性 and so find out the actual truth from their too credulous （弁護士の）依頼人s. No wonder The Spider learned much that people would fain have kept to themselves. Who told you about Dimsdale?”
“You know,” said Maunders sullenly, “that woman there.”
“Yes,” said 行方不明になる Jewin, still prim and shameless. “When in Burmah with my master I heard about Mr. Dimsdale’s love for Mrs. Menteith and how, when her husband died, he 可決する・採択するd the child. But I never said that Mr. Dimsdale 延期するd any 探検隊／遠征隊 so as to get Mr. Menteith killed.”
“No. I invented that and made Maunders tell it to you, Ida, and to you, 陸軍大佐, with the 新規加入s,” put in 行方不明になる Hest, with 広大な／多数の／重要な coolness. “Also, on finding out that Ida was not Dimsdale’s daughter, I became alarmed as to the disposition of the 所有物／資産／財産, therefore I made myself a friend of the family and 安全な・保証するd the 解放する／自由な run of the house.”
“You ーするつもりであるd to get my money?” asked Ida reproachfully.
“Certainly, my dear,” replied フランs, raising her eyebrows. “Ten thousand a year was far too much for a chit like you to 扱う. I ーするつもりであるd to get 命令（する） of the whole lot. First I 追跡（する）d in the dead of night for the will, and 設立する it in the library desk. Then I made Maunders tell you that you were not Dimsdale’s daughter, after the 殺人, so that you might be 扶養家族 on me, since I knew a secret which could 略奪する you of the money. I had the secret told also to the 陸軍大佐 so that he might learn he would only have a penniless wife should he marry you, my dear Ida.”
“Did you think so meanly of me as that?” 需要・要求するd Towton, colouring indignantly.
行方不明になる Hest raised her eyebrows. “My dear sir, my experience of human nature has shown me that there is no mean trick which the 大多数 of men will not commit for money. You, however, were in the 少数，小数派, and so was Ida, as you both were honest. This upset my 計算／見積りs, as I could not 供給する against the unseen in human nature. You, 陸軍大佐, still 主張するd upon marrying Ida, and she wished to を引き渡す the money to Lady Corsoon. For this 推論する／理由 I was 軍隊d to play my last card and produce the will.”
“But you did not ーするつもりである to be 設立する out as The Spider?”
“No, I did not,” 自白するd フランs calmly. “When Maunders betrayed me at Isleworth you thought that The Spider was a man, which was 正確に／まさに what I 手配中の，お尋ね者 and what I counted upon should such an event as 予期しない betrayal happen. In the 霧 I dragged Maunders away, and we went to the house of a friend of 地雷 whose 指名する I don’t ーするつもりである you to know. I wired in cypher to 行方不明になる Jewin here to send a 電報電信 to Francis Hest at Professor Gail’s.”
“We got that,” said the 陸軍大佐 quickly, “and it threw us off the scent.”
“I thought it would,” said 行方不明になる Hest coolly. “So while you were 追跡（する）ing for The Spider as a man in London I went 負かす／撃墜する with Maunders—he was disguised as an old gentleman and I 再開するd my womanly dress. Then I wrote you on the 嘆願 of talking about Ida and asked after my pretended brother to still その上の puzzle you.”
“You certainly 後継するd,” retorted Towton, trying to 隠す his wonder at all this clever trickery; “but Ida was here and must have known that you were absent from the house as Francis.”
“Oh, no. I appeared before her twice in this room, which is, as you see, not very 井戸／弁護士席 lighted, in my male disguise and with the painted scar on my 直面する. She was 完全に taken in.”
“The very 簡単 of your disguise took me in,” said Ida 怒って and wincing at having been so blinded. “Had you worn a 耐えるd or a wig I should have recognised you.”
“I think not,” said 行方不明になる Hest 静かに and with an amused smile. “As the man I wore my hair somewhat long—”
“I 公式文書，認めるd that,” said the 陸軍大佐 quickly.
“How clever of you. 井戸／弁護士席, then, as a woman I 単に knitted in 誤った hair. I couldn’t wear 誤った hair as a man since Ida would then have been sharp enough to have recognised me. But plenty of women wear 誤った plaits, so I was 安全な on that 得点する／非難する／２０: she never 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd me. My 単独の disguise was the cicatrice, skilfully painted, and the success of the whole 商売／仕事 lay—as Ida has submitted—in its boldness and in the belief that I had a twin brother. I have always 設立する,” 追加するd 行方不明になる Hest musingly, “that the bolder one is the safer it is: audacity always 得点する／非難する／２０s. At all events, I so closely 似ているd my own true self that no one thought I was anyone else but what I 代表するd myself to be. As Francis I told Ida that I was taking my sister away for a week, and so slipped up to London to 会合，会う Vernon at Lady Corsoon’s and to be nearly 罠にかける at Isleworth.”
“What about Hokar and Bahadur?” asked the 陸軍大佐 突然の.
“Hokar,” said 行方不明になる Jewin, making the explanation instead of フランs, “was an old servant of Captain Hest’s and （機の）カム to England with me and the child. Later he sent for his 甥, who was Bahadur.”
“Yes. And I gave them both to Maunders when I 始める，決める him up in those splendid Egyptian rooms in 社債 Street,” 観察するd her mistress. “They were not engaged to strangle people, as you may think, 陸軍大佐, but I 単に wished them to 追加する to the fantastical look of the place when fortunes were 存在 told. That you were so nearly strangled, and Vernon also, was your own fault and his own. You should mind your own 商売／仕事, my friend.”
“I am going to mind it now,” said Towton with a frown; “but first tell me, since you are so frank, what about Lady Corsoon’s jewels?”
“They are in this house. I gave them into 行方不明になる Jewin’s 所有／入手.”
“And Lady Corsoon can have them for one hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs,” said 行方不明になる Jewin.
“A very modest 需要・要求する, Sarah,” said 行方不明になる Hest approvingly, “but as the game is up I don’t think you will get more. I shall leave you to arrange about getting the money and 手渡すing 支援する the jewels. Lady Corsoon will be 安全な, and at a small loss. But I am glad to think that she will not get your money, Ida, dear.”
“Don’t speak to me,” cried Ida starting to her feet. “The more you say the more I see how shamefully you have 扱う／治療するd me.”
“I have spared you,” said 行方不明になる Hest coolly. “I could have stripped you 完全に 明らかにする had I so chosen.”
“No. By your own showing I was too clever for you.”
“Why, that is true, and 簡単に because you were honest. I always wished to keep on the 権利 味方する of the 法律, or I could have got you to make a will in my favour, and then you would have been 毒（薬）d.”
“How dare you?” shouted Towton, while Ida gave a faint cry.
“You have learned how much I dare,” said フランs with an unpleasant look. “So, now the story is told, perhaps you will leave my house.”
陸軍大佐 Towton walked に向かって the door with Ida on his arm and 概略で 押し進めるd 行方不明になる Jewin aside. “I shall place 行方不明になる Dimsdale—”
“行方不明になる Menteith,” sneered フランs.
“In safety,” continued Towton without noticing the interruption, “and then I shall ride for the police.”
“I shall come, too,” cried Maunders starting to his feet. “She will lock me up again and perhaps may kill me.”
“Stay where you are,” 命令（する）d フランs はっきりと. “I ーするつもりである to—”
Maunders did not wait to hear the end of the 宣告，判決. Seeing that Towton and Ida 封鎖するd the door he made a 急ぐ at the nearest window and sprang out of it with a dexterity begotten of sheer 恐れる. Whether フランs ーするつもりであるd to take him with her when she fled, or whether she ーするつもりであるd to 殺人 him he could not say, but he preferred to 信用 in the mercy of the 法律 rather than in that of the woman who had been his evil genius. Crazy with terror, he 宙返り／暴落するd to the ground, and Towton, along with Ida, ran to the 前線 door, to see him スピード違反 across the grass. A moment later and フランs, with a revolver in her 手渡す, leaped from the window in 追跡. From the 表現 on her 直面する she evidently ーするつもりであるd nothing いっそう少なく than 殺人.
Towton あわてて unbuckled the bridle from the （犯罪の）一味 and flung himself on his horse. “Place your foot on my toe, Ida,” he 命令（する）d; “up you get. There,” he 追加するd, 集会 up the reins as she sat on his saddle-屈服する and placed her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck; “now let us alarm the village. That poor devil will be 発射 if this fiendish woman is not 逮捕（する）d.” And he 棒 今後 at a moderately 急速な／放蕩な pace.
“She’ll catch him,” chuckled Sarah Jewin, who had come to the door and was looking out from under the palm of her 手渡す. “Shoot, 行方不明になる フランs. Shoot!”
Maunders, finding that he was 存在 chased, could not make 直接／まっすぐに for the gate and dodged behind some shrubs. フランs sighted him and 解雇する／砲火／射撃d a 発射. It winged him, for he gave a yell of 恐れる and ran 直接／まっすぐに に向かって her in the open. She 解雇する／砲火／射撃d another 発射, which struck him in the breast, and he pitched 今後 at her feet. Just as she 解雇する／砲火／射撃d a third 発射 into his prostrate 団体／死体 there （機の）カム a noise like 雷鳴 and a terrible cry from 行方不明になる Jewin.
“The signal! The signal! The dam’s burst!” and she bolted into the house.
In a flash Towton comprehended and 始める，決める 刺激（する）s to his horse. フランs strove to 飛行機で行く, but Maunders with a last 成果／努力 caught at her foot and she fell ひどく, fighting for freedom like a wild cat. The next moment he had her by the throat. And in the distance a mighty roaring struck the ears of all as the flood （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する gigantically.
Towton could not やめる understand the 状況／情勢, as there was no time to consider 事柄s. All he knew was that the Bolly Dam had burst, and even had 行方不明になる Jewin not spoken, the appalling noise would have 知らせるd him of the 大災害. With Ida in his 武器 he spurred his horse frantically out of the gate and across the village 橋（渡しをする）. He 設立する the crooked street filled with people, called out by the 予期しない 雷鳴.
“The dam’s burst: get on the high ground,” shouted Towton, and with a yell of 恐れる men, women, and children began to run wildly in the direction of the gorge and to disappear amongst the houses in the hope of 伸び（る）ing some level beyond the 高さ of the 負かす／撃墜する-coming flood. But there was scanty time for safety. The hollow にわか景気ing sound of the waters 急落（する），激減（する）ing through the 狭くするs sounded ever nearer and nearer with terrible distinctness: it seemed as though the waters were bellowing for their prey. In a moment the 陸軍大佐 comprehended that it was too late to skirt the village and 伸び（る） the winding road, where they would be 安全な. Ida gave a cry of alarm as he wrenched 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the now startled horse and clattered through the village street on his way 負かす／撃墜する the valley. It seemed the only chance.
“I’ll save you yet, my darling,” muttered Towton, setting his teeth. “We must make for Gatehead,” and he drove his 刺激（する）s into the animal, which now was becoming unmanageable with the roaring of the flood. Ida, almost insensible with terror, clung to her lover’s neck, and the horse, making no more of the 二塁打 重荷（を負わせる） than if it had been a feather, tore at 最高の，を越す 速度(を上げる） along the road between the 激流 and the precipice. There was no safety on either 味方する, as the precipice could not be climbed, and the 乾燥した，日照りの bed of the stream 単に 申し込む／申し出d a deeper 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. Fortunately, the road sloped 徐々に to the mouth of the valley, some two miles away, therefore the downward 傾向 申し込む／申し出d extra means to escape the 追求するing greedy waters. A backward ちらりと見ること showed Towton that a tremendous flood was 狙撃 out of the 瓶／封じ込める-mouth of the upper gorge with terrific rapidity. The whole of the 抱擁する lake, 人工的な 同様に as natural, was emptying itself in one 広大な outpour, and 借りがあるing to the narrowness of the valley the concentrated 軍隊 was gigantic. If the flood caught them they would either be dashed to pieces against the 激しく揺するs or would be borne onward—horse and maid and man—to be expelled at Gatehead, as if 解雇する／砲火／射撃d from the mouth of a 大砲.
“Oh, God, save us! Oh, God, save us!” was all that Ida could moan.
“He will; He will,” cried Towton, riding under 刺激（する） and whip with a mad joy in the adventure, perilous as it was. “He will save the innocent and punish the 有罪の. Never 恐れる, never 恐れる, my darling.”
On roared the enormous 団体／死体 of water, curling like a mighty wave crested with 泡，激怒すること and glistening like a colossal jewel in the serene 日光. It passed with a hoarse 勝利を得た 叫び声をあげるing over the 運命／宿命d village, and in a 選び出す／独身 moment Bowderstyke was not. 耐えるing débris and 団体／死体s of cattle and men, women and children on its breast, the water rolled majestically on its destroying way. Like a 塀で囲む of steel it stood up, stretching from 塀で囲む to 塀で囲む of the valley, and before it tore the terrified horse, 警告するd by its instinct of 速く approaching danger.
“We are lost! we are lost!” 叫び声をあげるd Ida, hiding her 直面する on Towton’s shoulder. “We can never escape. It’s a mile その上の.”
“There’s a 割れ目—a path—a break in the precipice,” panted the man, almost despairing of saving what he loved best in the world. “If we can 伸び（る） that we can 緊急発進する up, and—and— 広大な／多数の／重要な God! How it travels!”
From the 味方するs of the valley trees were 存在 wrenched up by their roots, and even the 石／投石するs lying in the bed of the 激流 were 存在 解除するd and swept onward like pieces of straw. 借りがあるing to the 増加するing breadth of the valley the shouting and the level of the flood had somewhat 少なくなるd, but the hoarse, 安定した murmur with which it 滑らかに 前進するd seemed to be even more terrible than its 勝利を得た 叫び声をあげるing. Nearer and nearer it rolled, 非常に高い, as it seems to the desperate 逃亡者／はかないものs, 権利 up to the high heavens. The horse raced onward furiously, but there seemed to be no chance of escaping that 速く approaching death-wave, which swept along with relentless 速度(を上げる）. The man and woman were both silent, and both prayed inwardly, as they 直面するd the eleventh hour of death.
And it was the eleventh hour, for there was still hope. 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing a corner 速く Towton rose in his stirrups and sent 前へ／外へ a cry almost as hoarse as that of the flood. A short distance ahead he saw a streak of green grass 場内取引員／株価 the ruddy 石／投石する 直面する of the precipice, and knew that here was the 割れ目 to which he had referred. It was a mere chink in the 塀で囲む, of no 広大な／多数の／重要な width, 原因（となる）d, no 疑問, by the 火山の 活動／戦闘 which had formed the valley in far distant ages. Many a time as a lad had Towton climbed up that 狭くする natural staircase to the moors above, but never had he 推定する／予想するd to find it a means of 保存するing his own life and the life he valued dearer than his own. Setting his teeth, he ちらりと見ることd backward and then 勧めるd the horse to 新たにするd 成果／努力s. The 塀で囲む of water was almost upon them, 前進するing with terrible and 安定した persistence. The last moment seemed to be at 手渡す.
Suddenly the 陸軍大佐 wrenched at the horse’s bit and pulled the animal up with a jerk. As it fell 支援する on its haunches he slipped off with the almost insensible girl in his 武器 and ran 猛烈に に向かって the sloping green bank, which showed itself like a port of safety between the 明らかにする, 荒涼とした 石／投石するs. As he 伸び（る）d it the horse, having 回復するd itself, 急ぐd past with a loose bridle and with the stirrups 攻撃するing its 味方するs. But Towton paid no 注意する. Almost in a dream he 緊急発進するd up the bank, 耐えるing Ida as though she were a feather-負わせる. With 緊張するing 注目する，もくろむs and bursting 寺s, and with his heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing furiously, he clambered 猛烈に, dragging the girl rather than carrying her, as he needed at least one 手渡す 解放する／自由な to 支配する the 堅い grasses. Fortunately the slope was 漸進的な, and had it not been there would have been no hope of escape. As it was, when they were a かなりの way up the mighty wave 殺到するd majestically past, and its waters 発射 up the crevice with gigantic 軍隊. This was rather a help than a hindrance, as it 補助装置d the almost broken man to 開始する higher. But to the end of his days 陸軍大佐 Towton never knew how he saved his wife. All he could remember was 緊張するing 上向き, dragging the now insensible woman with aching 四肢s and a 血-red もや before his 注目する，もくろむs. When his brain was somewhat clearer he 設立する himself bending over Ida in a turfy nook, while barely three feet below him the grey water gurgled and sang and 泡d as if in a witch’s cauldron.
“安全な! 安全な!” muttered Towton, and dropped insensible across the inanimate 団体／死体 of the woman he had so miraculously saved from a terrible death.
* * * * * *
Nine months later, when the cuckoo had brought summer to the land, and the earth was gay with flowers, two married men met 突然に in the viridarium of the Athenian Club. They （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する under the peristyle, and after 相互の ちらりと見ることs of surprise and congratulation burst out laughing. Then followed a warm handshake and merry speech.
“井戸／弁護士席, married man,” said Vernon, as he sat opposite his friend at a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and ordered a half-pint of シャンペン酒 to signalise the happy 会合. “So you are 支援する from your honeymoon?”
“As you see,” said the 軍の benedict; “and you have returned with Lady Vernon from the classic shores of Italy.”
“We （機の）カム 支援する last week, and are staying in town for a few days before going to Slimthorp.”
“Welcome by the tenantry, triumphal arches, 演説（する）／住所s, dinners and speeches, and what not, I suppose?” 観察するd the 陸軍大佐 smiling.
“Oh, yes. The tenants are delighted to have a master who will take an 利益／興味 in their doings and a mistress who can 行為／法令／行動する the Lady Bountiful. Lucy and I are about to enter into our kingdom, so we ーするつもりである to take 十分な advantage of the satisfaction of our loving 支配するs.”
“You are devilish lucky, Vernon. I have scarcely a loving 支配する left, and Bowderstyke Valley has been swept clean from end to end.”
“As I saw,” replied Sir Arthur with a shudder at the recollection. “By jove! 陸軍大佐, you don’t know what I 苦しむd that afternoon when I thought that you and Ida were 粉砕するd to pieces. Do you remember how Lucy fainted when you appeared coming across the moorland with Ida hanging half dead on your arm? It was a 会合 of the living and the dead.”
“Any woman いっそう少なく 勇敢な than Ida would have died,” said Towton, his 直面する lighting up with a fond smile. “When we got beyond the highest level of the water she had fainted, and then I did. It was Ida who 回復するd first, and, by Jupiter, sir, she brought me 一連の会議、交渉／完成する! How we climbed to the 最高の，を越す of the moor I don’t know, but she was as 勇敢な as a man, bless her!”
“How is she now, 陸軍大佐?”
“As happy as the day is long, although I don’t 否定する that we both feel sad when we look at our 難破させるd 所有物／資産／財産. However, with her money we ーするつもりである to 再構築する Bowderstyke Village and to 再建する Gatehead, which was also destroyed, if you remember. I daresay we’ll be able to inveigle people to live in the valley by 申し込む／申し出ing land at low 条件. In a year or two we will have plenty of tenants to give you and Lady Vernon a rousing welcome when you 支払う／賃金 us a visit.”
“That won’t be for some time, 陸軍大佐, as we have to look after our own kingdom. I am glad to see that you are looking so 井戸／弁護士席. When was it that we last met?”
Towton laughed and his 注目する，もくろむs twinkled. “You must be happy to have lost your memory so 完全に,” he said with a jolly laugh. “Why, after our 相互の wedding breakfast at Lady Corsoon’s; don’t you recollect? Weren’t we married in 広大な／多数の／重要な style on the same day, and didn’t you go to Italy and Greece for a honeymoon while Ida and I returned to The Grange?”
“It all seems like a dream,” said Vernon absently, and a cloud passed over his 直面する, “and in my newly-設立する happiness I have tried to forget these sad memories. We never had an exhaustive talk over things, 陸軍大佐, and now that our wives are not here I should like to ask a few questions.”
“Ask away. It’s just 同様に we are alone. Ida doesn’t care to talk of that dreadful day or of her 協会 with 行方不明になる Hest.”
“Nor does Lucy. That dreadful woman! What a dare-devil she was, and as clever as they make them.”
“She was a sight too clever,” replied Towton drily, “as she burnt her fingers at the last. I suppose you know that 行方不明になる Jewin was caught?”
“You wrote me something about it.”
“Didn’t Lady Corsoon tell you anything?”
“No. Why should she?” said Vernon with a look of surprise.
“井戸／弁護士席, as you knew the secret of her pawning those jewels, I thought she would have told you of their 回復.”
“What! Were they 回復するd? Who had them?”
“行方不明になる Jewin. She escaped, but Drench caught her. She sent for me before she committed 自殺.”
Vernon looked horrified. “Did she kill herself, poor wretch?”
“Yes. She hanged herself by her garters in her 独房. I 推定する／予想する she knew that she would get a long 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 of 監禁，拘置, and so preferred to get out of the world. But, as I said, she sent for me and told me where the jewels were. She also threw a light on the 大災害 of the Bolly Dam breaking.”
“We knew that Hokar 爆発するd a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of dynamite,” said Vernon looking inquiringly at his friend. “Don’t you remember how he could not get away in time, and 自白するd when dying that he had been ordered by 行方不明になる Hest to 爆発する the dam when she gave the signal by 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing a revolver.”
“Oh, yes. I remember that as it all （機の）カム out in the papers,” said Towton with a shrug; “and that’s just the point. Listen, and— Oh, here’s the ワイン.”
Vernon sent away the waiter after he filled their glasses, and the two gentlemen drank to their dear wives and to a happy 未来 for themselves as married men. When this 儀式 was ended, the 陸軍大佐 関係のある what he had learned from unfortunate 行方不明になる Jewin before she passed away.
“I, dragged him 負かす／撃墜する in disguise to Gerby Hall, and there locked him in an upper room. 行方不明になる Jewin 行為／法令／行動するd as gaoler, but in spite of her vigilance the wretched man managed to break one of his 刑務所，拘置所 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s and escape. He then appeared in the 製図／抽選-room and 公然と非難するd 行方不明になる Hest. Always 用意が出来ている for その上の treachery on the part of Maunders, and never 存在 in the habit of leaving anything to chance, フランs had arranged that she should have the dam broken 負かす／撃墜する in the event of the police coming to 逮捕（する） her, and so they would be destroyed.”
“But she would be destroyed with them,” said Vernon at this point, “and as a 事柄 of fact she was. Don’t you remember how her 団体／死体 and that of Maunders clutching one another in a death-支配する were 設立する when the flood 沈下するd? She 心配するd her death.”
“She did nothing of the sort, sir, as 行方不明になる Jewin told me. The betrayal of her 身元 with Francis Hest and with The Spider （機の）カム 突然に because of Maunders’ escape. But, always making things sure, she had already 地位，任命するd Hokar at the dam, where he had placed a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of dynamite under the 塀で囲む. 行方不明になる Hest didn’t 推定する／予想する trouble, as she thought she had thrown dust in my 注目する，もくろむs by the clever way in which she had 行為／法令／行動するd.”
“I think she did, 陸軍大佐, and very 首尾よく,” 発言／述べるd Vernon smiling.
“I 収容する／認める it. She was a wonderfully clever woman and 極端に unscrupulous. However, on the chance that some danger might come along she 地位，任命するd Hokar at Bolly Dam and told him to 解雇する／砲火／射撃 the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 when he heard the 報告（する）／憶測 of a revolver.”
Vernon nodded. “I remember on that day how the 勝利，勝つd was blowing up the gorge and how 明確に the sounds （機の）カム up from the village. Hokar heard the 発射s very easily.”
“He heard two or three, and might have guessed that his infernal mistress was not giving the agreed signal. She was 狙撃 Maunders, if you remember. It was her 意向 after we left to have escaped by a 類似の 割れ目 up the 味方する of the precipice behind Gerby Hall to that which saved Ida and myself. But she didn’t ーするつもりである to give the signal until she was on the 上向き 旅行 with 行方不明になる Jewin; Maunders was to be left behind to 溺死する in the house. But 行方不明になる Hest forgot for the moment and let her temper get the better of her. By 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing the 発射s she gave the signal, and Hokar blew up the dam 未熟に.”
“I see. But if 行方不明になる Jewin escaped why didn’t 行方不明になる Hest?”
“Ah, that’s where her Nemesis （機の）カム in. Maunders caught her by the 脚 and 倒れるd her over, then he gripped her throat, and they were both 溺死するd.”
“Serve her 権利, and him also,” said Vernon coolly.
“I agree with you. They were a dangerous couple, and it seems like retributive 司法（官） that Maunders should bring all her carefully-laid 計画（する）s of escape to grief. 行方不明になる Jewin at the first alarm caught up the box of Lady Corsoon’s jewels and fled out of the 支援する way and up the crevice, as arranged. She 隠すd herself for a time, and was 警告するd by the exhaustive 報告（する）／憶測s in the papers of what was going on.”
“That’s the worst of those papers,” said Vernon with disgust, “as I 設立する out when I was a 探偵，刑事. They 警告する the 犯罪のs of everything. I suppose 行方不明になる Jewin saw how the whole story of The Spider was 始める，決める 前へ／外へ and 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd the sensation it 原因（となる）d.”
“Of course she did. I was angry at the papers myself, for The Grange was 簡単に infested with reporters and 新聞記者／雑誌記者s and photographers. However, after the 検死 the sensation died away. Everybody has, more or いっそう少なく, forgotten the 事柄 by this time. It’s just 同様に, as neither I nor you, Vernon, wished to be bothered with questions.”
“やめる so. That was why I remained abroad with my wife for such a time.”
“And that was why I went 支援する with Ida to Bowderstyke,” said the 陸軍大佐. “However, to continue. Drench caught 行方不明になる Jewin and she hanged herself in her 独房, as I have told you. I 設立する the box of jewels and returned them to your mother-in-法律. Thus her husband has never 設立する out how she pawned them; so that’s all 権利.”
“I hope it has been a lesson to her.”
“Not a bit of it. I dined with her a week ago, and so did Ida. Afterwards we went to a 橋（渡しをする） 運動 and Lady Corsoon played furiously. She’s a born gambler. But Sir Julius does not know, and never will know, how she pawned his much-prized family jewels.”
“I wonder 行方不明になる Jewin didn’t sell them?”
“She had enough money to live on in a small way, and, of course, lived plainly to 回避する 疑惑. The jewels she kept as a peace-申し込む／申し出ing in 事例／患者 she should be 逮捕（する）d. She hoped to make 条件 by 脅すing to 公然と非難する Lady Corsoon. However, her heart failed her, and she 手渡すd them over to me.”
“Poor woman. By the way, 陸軍大佐, what was your wife’s real opinion of 行方不明になる Hest? I could never やめる understand.”
Towton was silent for a few minutes. “It is hard to say. Ida told me that she really liked 行方不明になる Hest for a long time, and thought that she was a 本物の friend. But 行方不明になる Hest showed the cloven foot by trying to get Ida married to Maunders, and—”
“Why to Maunders?”
“Because he was under 行方不明になる Hest’s thumb, and if he 得るd 所有／入手 of Ida’s fortune by marriage 行方不明になる Hest undoubtedly would have had the spending of it.”
“But this marriage to Francis. How could that be when Francis didn’t 存在する?”
“Oh, I think that was a mere blind to make Ida fancy Francis was a real person and not 行方不明になる Hest in disguise. I can never understand,” 追加するd the 陸軍大佐 with a thoughtful look, “how it was that Ida didn’t （悪事，秘密などを）発見する the woman under the man. Women are so quick in these 事柄s.”
“It was the very boldness of the disguise,” said Vernon emphatically. “I was taken in myself at that Georgian Hall Bazaar. A いっそう少なく clever woman than 行方不明になる Hest would have made herself look utterly different to her natural self. As it was, she scarcely changed her looks at all save by wearing a man’s dress and 絵 that cicatrice on her 直面する. Anyone would have said that the supposed brother was the sister dressed up. Such 現実に was the 事例／患者, and—井戸／弁護士席, you know that everyone was taken in. A thousand pities, 陸軍大佐, that 行方不明になる Hest did not 適用する her splendid faculties to better 目的. She was undeniably very clever.”
“A 犯罪の genius, as we have often said when we talked of The Spider. I must say that Professor Gail, although he admired her talents, was staggered when he 設立する out from the papers that she was the renowned Spider. I believe he had a fit. However, he has now made up endless romantic stories about her, and 現実に got an 約束／交戦 with his wife on the strength of having known her. It’s an ill 勝利，勝つd which blows no one any good.”
“If フランs Hest had lived and could have escaped hanging and 監禁，拘置, 陸軍大佐, she would have been engaged at a music-hall to appear at a salary of hundreds a week. This age likes romantic criminality.”
“I think 行方不明になる Hest’s criminality was prosaic in the extreme,” said the 陸軍大佐 very drily. “She couldn’t earn money honestly and therefore took the left-手渡すd path. All her philanthropy was a sham, and I really believe that she had the Bolly Dam built いっそう少なく to 供給（する） the villages with water than to 保護する herself from 逮捕（する）.”
“But the human lives—”
“Pooh! She thought nothing of human life, and was a 肉親，親類d of 女性（の） Napoleon in that way. She wrung Dimsdale’s neck as though he had been a chicken the moment she 設立する her personal safety was in danger. Had he not torn off her mask and thus recognised her she would have spared him. A marvellously clever woman: she やめる took me in. I never 推定する／予想するd to find The Spider in her, and had not Maunders escaped to betray her I would have believed that the 非，不，無-存在するing Francis was the blackguard. And more, she would have got ten thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs from Ida, and perhaps in America would have started on a new career of roguery. However, I 回復するd the 調印するd 文書 and the cheque from the 団体／死体, so nothing was said about that 事柄 in the papers. I was glad for my wife’s sake.”
“What became of Bahadur?”
“He bolted from the country and has never been heard of. His uncle, Hokar, as you know, died after the 爆発.”
“And Mrs. Bedge?”
“She buried all memory of Constantine with his bones, but I think she regards him as a 殉教者 who was led astray by 行方不明になる Hest. Yet from the lips of The Spider herself I learned that it was Maunders who induced that very clever lady to become a 犯罪の.”
“Do you think Maunders himself ゆすり，恐喝d his aunt?”
“He was やめる 有能な of it. But I think 行方不明になる Hest did that to 保護する Maunders from possible 疑惑. For no one would think that the man had anything to do with the 事柄 of The Spider, who ゆすり，恐喝d his 可決する・採択するd mother. 簡単に a smart trick of 行方不明になる Hest’s, Vernon, that’s all.”
“Have some more シャンペン酒, 陸軍大佐?”
“Thank you, no more. Come along and see my wife.”
“I have to 会合，会う Lucy at Swan & Edgar’s,” said Vernon ちらりと見ることing at his watch.
“I’ll go with you there first and then we can have afternoon tea together.”
“権利 you are, 陸軍大佐, on 条件 that you dine with Lucy and myself at our hotel and come to the theatre afterwards.”
Towton nodded. “井戸／弁護士席, Ida and I are up in town for a frolic, so we’ll come.”
“When do you return to Bowderstyke?”
“In two or three days. I’m seeing about the re-building of the Bolly Dam.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?” asked Vernon as they left the club.
“No. I am arranging for large channels to carry off the water. Besides, had not the dam been blown up by that Indian beast the 大災害 would not have taken place. Any more questions?”
“No,” said Sir Arthur after a pause. “I think you have enlightened me on every point. We’ll talk no more of the 事柄.”
“Not in the presence of our wives, at all events,” said the 陸軍大佐 bluffly, and stepping out smartly along 棺／かげり 商店街. “But when I think of all the mystery and devilish cantrips we have had to do with, and how 辛うじて Ida and I escaped a dreadful death, I can only thank God that we are happily married. There’s one small 国内の animal, if it can be called so, Vernon, on which I can never look without a shudder.”
“What’s that?” asked Sir Arthur, not に引き続いて his friend’s train of thought.
“What, sir! What, have you forgotten the past already?”
“Oh!” Vernon laughed, but somewhat 本気で. “You mean a spider.”
“Yes,” snapped the 陸軍大佐 はっきりと, “I mean a spider.”
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