the lost house(失踪的房子)-第11节
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〃What's the nurse like？〃
The girl gave a shudder that seemed to Ford sufficiently descriptive。
Her lips tightened in a hard； straight line。
〃She's not human；〃 she said。 〃I begged her to help me； appealed to her
in every way； then I tried a dozen times to get past her to the stairs。〃
〃Well？〃
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The girl frowned； and with a gesture signified her surroundings。
〃I'm still here；〃 she said。
She bent suddenly forward and； with her hand on his shoulder； turned
the man so that he faced the cot。
〃The mattress on that bed；〃 she whispered； rests on two iron rods。
They are loose and can be lifted。 I planned to smash the lock； but the noise
would have brought Prothero。 But you could defend yourself with one of
them。〃
Ford had already run to the cot and dropped to his knees。 He found the
mattress supported on strips of iron resting loosely in sockets at the head
and foot。 He raised the one nearer him； and then； after a moment of
hesitation； let it drop into place。
〃That's fine！〃 he whispered。 〃Good as a crowbar。'〃 He shook his head
in sudden indecision。 〃But I don't just know how to use it。 His automatic
could shoot six times before I could swing that thing on him once。 And if I
have it in my hands when he opens the door； he'll shoot； and he may hit
you。 But if I leave it where it is； he won't know I know it's there； and it
may come in very handy later。〃
In complete disapproval the girl shook her head。 Her eyes filled with
concern。 〃You must not fight him；〃 she ordered。 I mean； not for me。 You
don't know the danger。 The man's not sane。 He won't give you a chance。
He's mad。 You have no right to risk your life for a stranger。 I'll not permit
it〃
Ford held up his hand for silence。 With a jerk of his head he signified
the door。 〃They've stopped talking；〃 he whispered。
Straining to hear； the two leaned forward； but from the hall there came
no sound。 The girl raised her eyebrows questioningly。
〃Have they gone？〃 she breathed。
〃If I knew that；〃 protested Ford； 〃we wouldn't be here！〃
In answer to his doubt a smart rap； as though from the butt of a
revolver； fell upon the door。 The voice of Prothero spoke sharply：
〃You； who call yourself Grant！〃 he shouted。
Before answering； Ford drew Miss Dale and himself away from the
line of the door； and so placed the girl with her back to the wall that if the
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door opened she would be behind it。 〃Yes；〃 he answered。
〃Pearsall and I〃 called Prothero； 〃have decided how to dispose of you…
…of both of you。 He has gone below to make preparations。 I am on guard。
If you try to break out or call for help； I'll shoot you as I warned you！〃
〃And I warn you；〃 shouted Ford； 〃if this lady and I do not instantly
leave this house； or if any harm comes to her； you will hang for it！〃
Prothero laughed jeeringly。
〃Who will hang me？〃 he mocked。
〃My friends；〃 retorted Ford。 〃They know I am in this house。 They
know WHY I am here。 Unless they see Miss Dale and myself walk out of
it in safety； they will never let you leave it。 Don't be a fool； Prothero！〃 he
shouted。 〃You know I am telling the truth。 You know your only chance for
mercy is to open that door and let us go free。〃
For over a minute Ford waited； but from the hall there was no answer。
After another minute of silence； Ford turned and gazed inquiringly at
Miss Dale。
〃Prothero！〃 he called。
Again for a full minute he waited and again called； and then； as there
still was no reply； he struck the door sharply with his knuckles。 On the
instant the voice of the Jew rang forth in an angry bellow。
〃Keep away from that door！〃 he commanded。
Ford turned to Miss Dale and bent his head close to hers。
〃Now； why the devil didn't he answer？〃 he whispered。 〃Was it because
he wasn't there； or is he planning to steal away and wants us to think that
even if he does not answer； he's still outside？〃 The girl nodded eagerly。
〃This is it；〃 she whispered。 〃My uncle is a coward or rather he is very
wise； and has left the house。 And Prothero means to follow； but he wants
us to think he's still on guard。 If we only KNEW！〃 she exclaimed。
As though in answer to her thought； the voice of Prothero called to
them。
〃Don't speak to me again；〃 he warned。 〃If you do； I'll not answer； or I'll
shoot！〃
Flattened against the wall； close to the hinges of the door； Ford replied
flippantly and defiantly：
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〃That makes conversation difficult； doesn't it？〃 he called。
There was a bursting report； and a bullet splintered the panel of the
door； flattened itself against the fireplace； and fell tinkling into the grate。
〃I hope I hit you！〃 roared the Jew。
Ford pressed his lips tightly together。 Whatever happy retort may have
risen to them was forever lost。 For an exchange of repartee； the moment
did not seem propitious。
〃Perhaps now；〃 jeered Prothero； 〃you'll believe I'm in earnest！〃
Ford still resisted any temptation to reply。 He grinned apologetically at
the girl and shrugged his shoulders。 Her face was white； but it was white
from excitement； not from fear。
〃What did I tell you？〃 she whispered。 〃He IS madquite mad！〃
Ford glanced at the bullet…hole in the panel of the door。 It was on a line
with his heart。 He looked at Miss Dale； her shoulder was on a level with
his own； and her eyes were following his。
〃In case he does that again；〃 said Ford； 〃we would be more
comfortable sitting down。〃
With their shoulders against the wall； the two young people sank to the
floor。 The position seemed to appeal to them as humorous； and； when their
eyes met； they smiled。
〃To a spectator；〃 whispered Ford encouragingly； 〃we MIGHT appear
to be getting the worst of this。 But； as a matter of fact； every minute
Cuthbert does not come means that the next minute may bring him。〃
〃You don't believe he was hurt？〃 asked the girl。
〃No；〃 said Ford。 〃I believe Prothero found him； and I believe there
may have been a fight。 But you heard what Pearsall said： 'The man outside
will tell。' If Cuthbert's in a position to tell； he is not down an area with a
knife in him。〃
He was interrupted by a faint report from the lowest floor； as though
the door to the street had been sharply slammed。 Miss Dale showed that
she also had heard it。
〃My uncle；〃 she said； 〃making his escape ！〃
〃It may be；〃 Ford answered。
The report did not suggest to him the slamming of a door； but he saw
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no reason for saying so to the girl。
With his fingers locked across his knees； Ford was leaning forward； his
eyes frowning； his lips tightly shut。 At his side the girl regarded him
covertly。 His broad shoulders； almost touching hers； his strong jaw
projecting aggressively； and the alert； observant eyes gave her confidence。
For three weeks she had been making a fight single…handed。 But she was
now willing to cease struggling and relax。 Quite happily she placed herself
and her safety in the keeping of a stranger。 Half to herself； half to the man；
she murmured： 〃It is like 'The Sieur de Maletroit's Door。〃'
Without looking at her； Ford shook his head and smiled。
〃No such luck；〃 he corrected grimly。 〃That young man was given a
choice。 The moment he was willing to marry the girl he could have walked
out of the room free。 I do not recall Prothero's saying I can escape death
by any such charming alternative。〃 The girl interrupted quickly。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃you are not at all like that young man。 He stumbled in
by chance。 You came on purpose to help me。 It was fine； unselfish。〃
〃It was not；〃 returned Ford。 〃My motive was absolutely selfish。 It was
not to help you I came； but to be able to tell about it later。 It is my business
to do that。 And before I saw you； it was all in the day's work。 But after I
saw you it was no longer a part of the day'
