the lost house(失踪的房子)-第10节
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〃I haven't got any！〃 said the girl。
The knight…errant ran up the fire…escape； pulled himself over the edge
of the roof； and； crossing it； dropped through the trap to the landing of the
kitchen stairs。 Here he expended the greater part of the two minutes he had
allowed himself in cautiously opening the door into the hall。 He
accomplished this without a sound； and in one step crossed the hall to the
door that held Miss Dale a prisoner。
Slowly he drew back the bolts。 Only the spring lock now barred him
from her。 With thumb and forefinger he turned the key； pushed the door
gently open； and ran into the room。
At the same instant from behind him； within six feet of him； he heard
the staircase creak。 A bomb bursting could not have shaken him more
rudely。 He swung on his heel and found； blocking the door； the giant bulk
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of Prothero regarding him over the barrel of his pistol。
〃Don't move！〃 said the Jew。
At the sound of his voice the girl gave a cry of warning； and sprang
forward。
〃Go back！〃 commanded Prothero。 His voice was low and soft； and
apparently calm； but his face showed white with rage。
Ford had recovered from the shock of the surprise。 He； also； was in a
ragea rage of mortification and bitter disappointment。
〃Don't point that gun at me！〃 he blustered。
The sound of leaping footsteps and the voice of Pearsall echoed from
the floor below。
〃Have you got him？〃 he called。
Prothero made no reply； nor did he lower his pistol。 When Pearsall was
at his side； without turning his head； he asked in the same steady tone：
〃What shall we do with him？〃
The face of Pearsall was white； and furious with fear。
〃I told you〃 he stormed。
〃Never mind what you told me；〃 said the Jew。 〃What shall we do with
him？ He knows！〃
Ford's mind was working swiftly。 He had no real fear of personal
danger for the girl or himself。 The Jew； he argued； was no fool。 He would
not risk his neck by open murder。 And； as he saw it； escape with the girl
might still be possible。 He had only to conceal from Prothero his
knowledge of the line of retreat over the house…tops； explain his rain…
soaked condition； and wait a better chance。
To this end he proceeded to lie briskly and smoothly。
〃Of course I know；〃 he taunted。 He pointed to his dripping garments。
〃Do you know where I've been？ In the street； placing my men。 I have this
house surrounded。 I am going to walk down those stairs with this young
lady。 If you try to stop me I have only to blow my police…whistle〃
〃And I will blow your brains out！〃 interrupted the Jew。 It was a most
unsatisfactory climax。
〃You have not been in the street；〃 said Prothero。 〃You are wet because
you hung out of your window signalling to your friend。 Do you know why
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he did not answer your second signal？ Because he is lying in an area； with
a knife in him！〃
〃You lie！〃 cried Ford。
〃YOU lie；〃 retorted the Jew quietly； 〃when you say your men surround
this house。 You are alone。 You are NOT in the police service； you are a
busybody meddling with men who think as little of killing you as they did
of killing your friend。 My servant was placed to watch your window； saw
your signal； reported to me。 And I found your assistant and threw him into
an area； with a knife in him！〃
Ford felt the story was untrue。 Prothero was trying to frighten him。 Out
of pure bravado no sane man would boast of murder。 Butand at the
thought Ford felt a touch of real fearwas the man sane？ It was a most
unpleasant contingency。 Between a fight with an angry man and an insane
man the difference was appreciable。 From this new view…point Ford
regarded his adversary with increased wariness； he watched him as he
would a mad dog。 He regretted extremely he had not brought his revolver。
With his automatic pistol still covering Ford； Prothero spoke to
Pearsall。
〃I found him；〃 he recited； as though testing the story he would tell later；
〃prowling through my house at night。 Mistaking him for a burglar； I killed
him。 The kitchen window will be found open； with the lock broken；
showing how he gained an entrance。 〃Why not？〃 he demanded。
〃Because；〃 protested Pearsall； in terror； 〃the man outside will tell〃
Ford shouted in genuine relief。
Exactly ！〃 he cried。 〃The man outside； who is not down an area with a
knife in him； but who at this moment is bringing the police …he will tell！〃
As though he had not been interrupted； Prothero continued
thoughtfully：
〃What they may say he expected to find here； I can explain away later。
The point is that I found a strange man； hatless； dishevelled； prowling in
my house。 I called on him to halt； he ran； I fired； and unfortunately killed
him。 An Englishman's home is his castle； an English jury〃
〃An English jury；〃 said Ford briskly； 〃is the last thing you want to
meet It isn't a Chicago jury。〃
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The Jew flung back his head as though Ford had struck him in the
face。
〃Ah！〃 he purred； 〃you know that； too； do you？〃 The purr increased to a
snarl。 〃You know too much！〃
For Pearsall； his tone seemed to bear an alarming meaning。 He sprang
toward Prothero； and laid both hands upon his disengaged arm。
〃For God's sake；〃 he pleaded； 〃come away！ He can't hurt you not
alive； but dead； he'll hang youhang us both。 We must go； now； this
moment。〃 He dragged impotently at the left arm of the giant。 〃Come！〃 he
begged。
Whether moved by Pearsall's words or by some thought of his own；
Prothero nodded in assent。 He addressed himself to Ford。
〃I don't know what to do with you；〃 he said； 〃so I will consult with my
friend outside this door。 While we talk； we will lock you in。 We can hear
any move you make。 If you raise the window or call I will open the door
and kill youyou and that woman！〃
With a quick gesture； he swung to the door； and the spring lock
snapped。 An instant later the bolts were noisily driven home。
When the second bolt shot into place； Ford turned and looked at Miss
Dale。
This is a hell of a note！〃 he said
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III
Outside the locked door the voices of the two men rose in fierce
whispers。 But Ford regarded them not at all。 With the swiftness of a
squirrel caught in a cage； he darted on tiptoe from side to side searching
the confines of his prison。 He halted close to Miss Dale and pointed at the
windows。
〃Have you ever tried to loosen those bars？〃 he whispered。
The girl nodded and； in pantomime that spoke of failure； shrugged her
shoulders。
〃What did you see？〃 demanded Ford hopefully。
The girl destroyed his hope with a shake of her head and a swift smile。
〃Scissors；〃 she said； 〃but they found them and took them away。〃 Ford
pointed at the open grate。
〃Where's the poker？〃 he demanded。
〃They took that； too。 I bent it trying to pry the bars。 So they knew。〃
The man gave her a quick； pleased glance； then turned his eyes to the
door that led into the room that looked upon the street。
〃Is that door locked？〃
〃No；〃 the girl told him。 〃But the door from it into the hall is fastened；
like the other； with a spring lock and two bolts。〃
Ford cautiously opened the door into the room adjoining； and； except
for a bed and wash…stand； found it empty。 On tiptoe he ran to the windows。
Sowell Street was deserted。 He returned to Miss Dale； again closing the
door between the two rooms。
〃The nurse；〃 Miss Dale whispered； 〃when she is on duty； leaves that
door open so that she can watch me； when she goes downstairs； she locks
and bolts the door from that room to the hall。 It's locked now。〃
〃What's the nurse like？〃
The girl gave a shudder that seemed to Ford sufficiently descriptive
