the lost house(失踪的房子)-第6节
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medicine to cure the cocaine habit。 Needham found the cure was no cure；
but cocaine disguised。 He sued for his money； and during the trial the
police brought in Prothero's record。 Needham let me copy it； and it seems
to embrace every crime except treason。 The man is a Russian Jew。 He was
arrested and prosecuted in Warsaw； Vienna； Berlin； Belgrade； all over
Europe； until finally the police drove him to America。 There he was an
editor of an anarchist paper； a blackmailer； a 'doctor' of hypnotism； a
clairvoyant； and a professional bigamist。 His game was to open rooms as a
clairvoyant； and advise silly women how to invest their money。 When he
found out which of them had the most money； he would marry her； take
over her fortune； and skip。 In Chicago； he was tried for poisoning one wife；
and the trial brought out the fact that two others had died under suspicious
circumstances； and that there were three more unpoisoned but anxious to
get back their money。 He was sentenced to ten years for bigamy； but
pardoned because he was supposed to be insane； and dying。 Instead of
dying； he opened a sanatorium in New York to cure victims of the drug
habit。 In reality； it was a sort of high…priced opium…den。 The place was
raided； and he jumped his bail and came to this country。 Now he is running
this private hospital in Sowell Street。 Needham says it's a secret
rendezvous for dope fiends。 But they are very high…class dope fiends； who
are willing to pay for seclusion； and the police can't get at him。 I may add
that he's tall and muscular； with a big black beard； and hands that could
strangle a bull。 In Chicago； during the poison trial； the newspapers called
him 'the Modern Bluebeard。〃'
For a short time Ford was silent。 But； in the dark corner of the cab；
Cuthbert could see that his cigar was burning briskly。
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〃Your friend seems a nice chap；〃 said Ford at last。 〃 Calling on him
will be a real pleasure。 I especially like what you say about his hands。〃
〃I have a plan；〃 began the assistant timidly； 〃a plan to get you into the
house…if you don't mind my making suggestions？〃
〃Not at all！〃 exclaimed his chief heartily。
〃Get me into the house by all means； that's what we're here for。 The
fact that I'm to be poisoned or strangled after I get there mustn't discourage
us。'〃
〃I thought；〃 said Cuthbert； 〃I might stand guard outside； while you got
in as a dope fiend。〃
Ford snorted indignantly。 〃Do I LOOK like a dope fiend？〃 he
protested。
The voice of the assistant was one of discouragement。
〃You certainly do not；〃 he exclaimed regretfulIy。 〃But it's the only plan
I could think of。〃
〃It seems to me；〃 said his chief testily； 〃that you are not so very
healthy…looking yourself。 What's the matter with YOUR getting inside as a
dope fiend and MY standing guard？〃
〃But I wouldn't know what to do after I got inside；〃 complained the
assistant； 〃and you would。 You are so clever。〃
The expression of confidence seemed to flatter Ford。
〃I might do this；〃 he said。 〃I might pretend I was recovering from a
heavy spree； and ask to be taken care of until I am sober。 Or I could be a
very good imitation of a man on the edge of a nervous breakdown。 I
haven't been five years in the newspaper business without knowing all
there is to know about nerves。 That's it！〃 he cried。 〃I will do that！ And if
Mr。 Bluebeard Svengali； the Strangler of Paris person； won't take me in as
a patient； we'll come back with a couple of axes and BREAK in。 But we'll
try the nervous breakdown first； and we'll try it now。 I will be a naval
officer；〃 declared Ford。 〃I made the round…the…world cruise with our fleet
as a correspondent； and I know enough sea slang to fool a medical man。 I
am a naval officer whose nerves have gone wrong。 I have heard of his
sanatorium through〃 〃How；〃 asked Ford sharply； 〃have I heard of his
sanatorium？〃
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〃You saw his advertisement in the DAILY WORLD；〃 prompted
Cuthbert。 〃'Home of convalescents； mental and nervous troubles cured。'〃
〃And；〃 continued Ford； 〃I have come to him for rest and treatment。 My
name is Lieutenant Henry Grant。 I arrived in London two weeks ago on
the MAURETANIA。 But my name was not on the passenger…list； because
I did not want the Navy Department to know I was taking my leave abroad。
I have been stopping at my own address in Jermyn Street； and my
references are yourself； the Embassy； and my landlord。 You will telephone
him at once that； if any one asks after Henry Grant； he is to say what you
tell him to say。 And if any one sends for Henry Grant's clothes； he is to
send MY clothes。〃
〃But you don't expect to be in there as long as that？〃 exclaimed
Cuthbert。
〃I do not；〃 said Ford。 〃But； if he takes me in； I must make a bluff of
sending for my things。 No； either I will be turned out in five minutes； or if
he accepts me as a patient I will be there until midnight。 If I cannot get the
girl out of the house by midnight； it will mean that I can't get out myself；
and you had better bring the police and the coroner。〃
〃Do you mean it？〃 asked Cuthbert。
〃I most certainly do！〃 exclaimed Ford。
Until twelve I want a chance to get this story exclusively for our paper。
If she is not free by then it means I have fallen down on it； and you and the
police are to begin to batter in the doors。〃
The two young men left the cab； and at some distance from each other
walked to Sowell Street。 At the house of Dr。 Prothero； Ford stopped and
rang the bell。 From across the street Cuthbert saw the door open and the
figure of a man of almost gigantic stature block the doorway。 For a
moment he stood there； and then Cuthbert saw him step to one side； saw
Ford enter the house and the door close upon him。 Cuthbert at once ran to
a telephone； and； having instructed Ford's landlord as to the part he was to
play； returned to Sowell Street。 There； in a state nearly approaching a
genuine nervous breakdown； he continued his vigil。
Even without his criminal record to cast a glamour over him； Ford
would have found Dr。 Prothero； a disturbing person。 His size was
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enormous； his eyes piercing； sinister； unblinking； and the hands that could
strangle a bull； and with which as though to control himself； he continually
pulled at his black beard； were gigantic； of a deadly white； with fingers
long and prehensile。 In his manner he had all the suave insolence of the
Oriental and the suspicious alertness of one constantly on guard； but also；
as Ford at once noted； of one wholly without fear。 He had not been over a
moment in his presence before the reporter felt that to successfully lie to
such a man might be counted as a triumph。
Prothero opened the door into a little office leading off the hall； and
switched on the electric lights。 For some short time； without any effort to
conceal his suspicion； he stared at Ford in silence。
〃Well？〃 he said； at last。 His tone was a challenge。
Ford had already given his assumed name and profession； and he now
ran glibly into the story he had planned。 He opened his card…case and
looked into it doubtfully。 〃I find I have no card with me；〃 he said； but I am；
as I told you； Lieutenant Grant； of the United States Navy。 I am all right
physically； except for my nerves。 They've played me a queer trick。 If the
facts get out at home； it might cost me my commission。 So I've come over
here for treatment。〃
〃Why to ME？〃 asked Prothero。
〃I saw by your advertisement；〃 said the reporter； 〃that you treated for
nervous mental troubles。 Mine is an illusion；〃 he went on。 〃I see things； or；
rather； always one thing…a battle…ship coming at us head on。 For the last
year I've been executive officer of the KEARSARGE； and the
responsibility has been too much for me。〃
〃You see a battle…ship
