the lost house(失踪的房子)-第2节
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〃But；〃 retorted his friend； 〃you didn't forget to cable the State
Department that you all went in your evening clothes to bow to the new
King？ You didn't neglect to cable that； did you？〃
〃The State Department；〃 returned the Secretary； with withering reproof；
〃does not expect us to crawl over the roofs of houses and spy down
chimneys to see if by any chance an American citizen is being murdered。〃
〃Well；〃 exclaimed Ford； leaping to his feet and placing his notes in his
pocket； 〃fortunately； my paper expects me to do just that； and if it didn't；
I'd do it anyway。 And that is exactly what I am going to do now！ Don't tell
the others in the Embassy； and； for Heaven's sake； don't tell the police。
Jimmy； get me a taxi。 And you；〃 he commanded； pointing at the one who
had brought the note； are coming with me to Sowell Street； to show me
where you picked up that paper。〃
On the way to Sowell Street Ford stopped at a newspaper agency； and
paid for the insertion that afternoon of the same advertisement in three
newspapers。 It read： 〃If hansom…cab driver who last week carried note；
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found in street； to American Embassy will mail his address to X。 X。 X。；
care of GLOBE； he will be rewarded。〃
From the nearest post…office he sent to his paper the following cable：
〃Query our local correspondent； Dalesville； Kentucky； concerning Dosia
Pearsall Dale。 Is she of sound mind； is she heiress。 Who controls her
money； what her business relations with her uncle Charles Ralph Pearsall；
what her present address。 If any questions； say inquiries come from
solicitors of Englishman who wants to marry her。 Rush answer。
Sowell Street is a dark； dirty little thoroughfare； running for only one
block； parallel to Harley Street。 Like it； it is decorated with the brass plates
of physicians and the red lamps of surgeons； but； just as the medical men
in Harley Street； in keeping with that thoroughfare； are broad； open； and
with nothing to conceal； so those of Sowell Street； like their hiding…place；
shrink from observation； and their lives are as sombre； secret； and dark as
the street itself。
Within two turns of it Ford dismissed the taxicab。 Giving the soiled
person a half…smoked cigarette； he told him to walk through Sowell Street；
and when he reached the place where he had picked up the paper； to drop
the cigarette as near that spot as possible。 He then was to turn into
Weymouth Street and wait until Ford joined him。 At a distance of fifty feet
Ford followed the man； and saw him； when in the middle of the block；
without apparent hesitation； drop the cigarette。 The house in front of
which it fell was marked； like many others； by the brass plate of a doctor。
As Ford passed it he hit the cigarette with his walking…stick； and drove it
into an area。 When he overtook the man； Ford handed him another
cigarette。 〃To make sure；〃 he said； C4 go back and 〃 drop this in the place
you found the paper。 For a moment the man hesitated。
〃I might as well tell you；〃 Ford continued； 〃that I knocked that last
cigarette so far from where you dropped it that you won't be able to use it
as a guide。 So； if you don't really know where you found the paper； you'll
save my time by saying so。〃 Instead of being confused by the test； the man
was amused by it。 He laughed appreciatively admitted。 〃You've caught me
out fair； governor；〃 〃I Want the 'arf…crown； and I dropped the cigarette as
near the place as I could。 But I can't do it again。 It was this way；〃 he
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explained。 〃I wasn't taking notice of the houses。 I was walking along
looking into the gutter for stumps。 I see this paper wrapped about
something round。 'It's a copper；' I thinks； 'jucked out of a winder to a
organ…grinder。' I snatches it； and runs。 I didn't take no time to look at the
houses。 But it wasn't so far from where I showed you； about the middle
house in the street and on the left 'and side。〃
Ford had never considered the man as a serious element in the problem。
He believed him to know as little of the matter as he professed to know。
But it was essential he should keep that little to himself。
〃No one will pay you for talking；〃 Ford pointed out； 〃and I'll pay you
to keep quiet。 So； if you say nothing concerning that note； at the end of
two weeks； I'll leave two pounds for you with James； at the Embassy。〃
The man； who believed Ford to be an agent of the police； was only too
happy to escape on such easy terms。 After Ford had given him a pound on
account； they parted。
From Wimpole Street the amateur detective went to the nearest public
telephone and called up Gerridge's Hotel。 He considered his first step
should be to discover if Mr。 Pearsall was at that hotel； or had ever stopped
there。 When the 'phone was answered； he requested that a message be
delivered to Mr。 Pearsall。
〃Please tell him；〃 he asked； 〃that the clothes he ordered are ready to try
on。〃
He was informed that no one by that name was at the hotel。 In a voice
of concern Ford begged to know when Mr。 Pearsall had gone away； and
had he left any address。
He was with you three weeks ago；〃 Ford insisted。 〃He's an American
gentleman； and there was a lady with him。 She ordered a riding…habit of us：
the same time he was measured for his clothes。〃
After a short delay； the voice from the hotel replied that no one of the
name of Pearsall had been at the hotel that winter。
In apparent great disgust Ford rang off； and took a taxicab to his rooms
in Jermyn Street。 There he packed a suit…case and drove to Gerridge's。 It
was a quiet； respectable； 〃old… established〃 house in Craven Street； a
thoroughfare almost entirely given over to small family hotels much
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frequented by Americans。
After he had registered and had left his bag in his room； Ford returned
to the office； and in an assured manner asked that a card on which he had
written 〃Henry W。 Page； Dalesville； Kentucky；〃 should be taken to Mr。
Pearsall。
In a tone of obvious annoyance the proprietor returned the card； saying
that there was no one of that name in the hotel； and added that no such
person had ever stopped there。 Ford expressed the liveliest distress。
〃He TOLD me I'd find him here；〃 he protested。； 〃he and his niece。〃
With the garrulousness of the American abroad； he confided his troubles to
the entire staff of the hotel。 〃We're from the same town；〃 he explained。
〃That's why I must see him。 He's the only man in London I know； and I've
spent all my money。 He said he'd give me some he owes me； as soon as I
reached London。 If I can't get it； I'll have to go home by Wednesday's
steamer。 And； complained bitterly； 〃I haven't seen the nor the Tower； nor
Westminster Abbey。〃
In a moment； Ford's anxiety to meet Mr。 Pearsall was apparently lost
in a wave of self…pity。 In his disappointment he appealing； pathetic figure。
Real detectives and rival newspaper men； even while they admitted
Ford obtained facts that were denied them； claimed that they were given
him from charity。 Where they bullied； browbeat； and administered a third
degree； Ford was embarrassed； deprecatory； an earnest； ingenuous； wide…
eyed child。 What he called his 〃working〃 smile begged of you not to be
cross with him。 His simplicity was apparently so hopeless； his confidence
in whomever he addressed so complete； that often even the man he was
pursuing felt for him a pitying contempt。 Now as he stood uncertainly in
the hall of the hotel； his helplessness moved the proud lady clerk to shake
her cylinders of false hair sympathetically； the German waiters to regard
his predicament with respect； even the proprietor； Mr。 Gerridge himself；
was ill at ease。 Ford returned to his room； on the second floor of the hotel；
and sat down on the edge of the bed。
In connecting Pearsall with
