the lost house(失踪的房子)-第4节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
At the same moment Ford walked quickly to the piano and laid a half…
11
… Page 12…
The Lost House
crown on top of it。
〃Follow me to Harley Street；〃 he commanded。 〃Don't hurry。 Take your
time。 I want you to help me in a sort of practical joke。 It's worth a
sovereign to you。〃
He passed on quickly。 When he glanced behind him； he saw the two
men； fearful lest the promised fortune might escape them； pursuing him at
a trot。 At Harley Street they halted； breathless。
〃How long；〃 Ford demanded of the one who played the piano； 〃will it
take you to learn the accompaniment to a new song？〃
〃While you're whistling it；〃 answered the man eagerly。
〃And I'm as quick at a tune as him；〃 assured the other anxiously。 〃I can
sing〃
〃You cannot；〃 interrupted Ford。 〃I'm going to do the singing myself。
Where is there a public…house near here where we can hire a back room；
and rehearse？〃
Half an hour later； Ford and the piano…player entered Sowell Street
dragging the piano behind them。 The amateur detective still wore his rain…
coat； but his hat he had exchanged for a cap； and； instead of a collar； he
had knotted around his bare neck a dirty kerchief。 At the end of the street
they halted； and in some embarrassment Ford raised his voice in the
chorus of a song well known in the music…halls。 It was a very good voice；
much too good for 〃open…air work；〃 as his companion had already assured
him； but； what was of chief importance to Ford； it carried as far as he
wished it to go。 Already in Wimpole Street four coins of the realm； flung
to him from the highest windows； had testified to its power。 From the end
of Sowell Street Ford moved slowly from house to house until he was
directly opposite the three in one of which he believed the girl to be。 〃We
will try the NEW songs here；〃 he said。
Night had fallen； and； except for the gas…lamps； the street was empty；
and in such darkness that even without his disguise Ford ran no risk of
recognition。 His plan was not new。 It dated from the days of Richard the
Lion…hearted。 But if the prisoner were alert and intelligent； even though
she could make no answer； Ford believed through his effort she would
gain courage； would grasp that from the outside a friend was working
12
… Page 13…
The Lost House
toward her。 All he knew of the prisoner was that she came from Kentucky。
Ford fixed his eyes on the houses opposite； and cleared his throat。 The
man struck the opening chords； and in a high barytone； and in a cockney
accent that made even the accompanist grin； Ford lifted his voice。
〃The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home；〃 he sang； 〃'tis
summer； and the darkies are gay。〃
He finished the song； but there was no sign。 For all the impression he
had made upon Sowell Street； he might have been singing in his chambers。
〃And now the other；〃 commanded Ford。
The house…fronts echoed back the cheering notes of 〃Dixie。〃 Again
Ford was silent； and again The silence answered him。 The accompanist
glared disgustedly at the darkened windows。
〃They don't know them songs；〃 he explained professionally。 〃Give 'em；
'Mollie Married the Marquis。'〃
〃I'll sing the first one again；〃 said Ford。 Once more he broke into the
pathetic cadences of the 〃Old Kentucky Home。〃 But there was no response。
He was beginning to feel angry； absurd。 He believed he bad wasted
precious moments； and； even as he sang； his mind was already working
upon a new plan。 The song ceased； unfinished。
〃It's no use！〃 he exclaimed。 Remembering himself； he added： 〃We'll
try the next street。〃
But even as he spoke he leaped forward。 Coming apparently from
nowhere； something white sank through the semi…darkness and fell at his
feet。 It struck the pavement directly in front of the middle one of the three
houses。 Ford fell upon it and clutched it in both hands。 It was a woman's
glove。 Ford raced back to the piano。
〃Once more；〃 he cried； 〃play 'Dixie'！〃
He shouted out the chorus exultantly； triumphantly。 Had he spoken it
in words； the message could not have carried more clearly。
Ford now believed he had found the house； found the woman； and was
eager only to get rid of his companion and； in his own person； return to
Sowell Street。 But； lest the man might suspect there was in his actions
something more serious than a practical joke； he forced himself to sing the
new songs in three different streets。 Then； pretending to tire of his prank；
13
… Page 14…
The Lost House
he paid the musician and left him。 He was happy； exultant； tingling with
excitement。 Good…luck had been with him； and； hoping that Gerridge's
might yet yield some clew to Pearsall； he returned there。 Calling up the
London office of the REPUBLIC； he directed that one of his assistants； an
English lad named Cuthbert； should at once join him at that hotel。
Cuthbert was but just out of Oxford。 He wished to become a writer of
fiction； and； as a means of seeing many kinds of life at first hand； was in
training as a 〃Pressman。〃 His admiration for Ford amounted to almost
hero…worship； and he regarded an 〃assignment〃 with his chief as a joy and
an honor。 Full of enthusiasm； and as soon as a taxicab could bring him； he
arrived at Gerridge's； where； in a corner of the deserted coffee…room； Ford
explained the situation。 Until he could devise a way to enter the Sowell
Street house。 Cuthbert was to watch over it。
〃The number of the house is forty；〃 Ford told him； 〃the name on the
door…plate； Dr。 Prothero。 Find out everything you can about him without
letting any one catch you at it。 Better begin at the nearest chemist's。 Say
you are on the verge of a nervous breakdown； and ask the man to mix you
a sedative； and recommend a physician。 Show him Prothero's name and
address on a piece of paper； and say Prothero has been recommended to
you as a specialist on nervous troubles。 Ask what he thinks of him。 Get
him to talk。 Then visit the trades…people and the public…houses in the
neighborhood； and say you are from some West End shop where Prothero；
wants to open an account。 They may talk； especially if his credit is bad。
And； if you find out enough about him to give me a working basis； I'll try
to get into the house to…night。 Meanwhile； I'm going to make another
quick search of this hotel for Pearsall。 I'm not satisfied he has not been
here。 For why should Miss Dale； with all the hotels in London to choose
from； have named this particular one； unless she had good reason for it？
Now； go； and meet me in an hour in Sowell Street。〃
Cuthbert was at the door when he remembered he had brought with
him from the office Ford's mail and cablegrams。 Among the latter was the
one for which Ford had asked。
〃Wait；〃 he commanded。 〃This is about the girl。 You had better know
what it says。〃 The cable read：
14
… Page 15…
The Lost House
〃Girl orphan； Dalesville named after her family； for three generations
mill…owners； father died four years ago； Pearsall brother…in…law until she is
twenty…one； which will be in three months。 Girl well known； extremely
popular； lived Dalesville until last year； when went abroad with uncle；
since then reports of melancholia and nervous prostration； before that
health excellentno signs insanitynone in family。 Be careful how handle
Pearsall； was doctor； gave up practice to look after estate； is prominent in
local business and church circles； best reputation； beware libel。〃
For the benefit of Cuthbert； Ford had been reading the cable aloud。
The last paragraph seemed especially to interest him； and he read it twice；
the second time slowly； and emphasizing the word 〃doctor。〃
〃A doctor！〃 he repeated。 〃Do you see where
