the lost house(失踪的房子)-第8节
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Prothero nodded gravely； and turned to Pearsall。 〃Will you attend her？〃
he asked。
As Pearsall rose and left the room； Prothero rose also。
〃You will come with me；〃 he directed； 〃and I will see you settle in
your apartment。 Your bag has arrived and is already there。〃
The room to which the Jew led him was the front one on the second
story。 It was in no way in keeping with a sanatorium； or a rest…cure。 The
walls were hidden by dark blue hangings； in which sparkled tiny mirrors；
the floor was covered with Turkish rugs； the lights concealed inside lamps
of dull brass bedecked with crimson tassels。 In the air were the odors of
stale tobacco…smoke； of cheap incense； and the sickly； sweet smell of
opium。 To Ford the place suggested a cigar…divan rather than a bedroom；
and he guessed； correctly； that when Prothero had played at palmistry and
clairvoyance this had been the place where he received his dupes。 But the
American expressed himself pleased with his surroundings； and while
Prothero remained in the room； busied himself with unpacking his bag。
On leaving him the Jew halted in the door and delivered himself of a
little speech。 His voice was stern； sharp； menacing。
〃Until you are cured；〃 he said； 〃you will not put your foot outside this
room。 In this house are other inmates who； as you have already learned；
are in a highly nervous state。 The brains of some are unbalanced。 With my
associate and myself they are familiar； but the sight of a stranger roaming
through the halls might upset them。 They might attack you； might do you
bodily injury。 If you wish for anything； ring the electric bell beside your
bed and an attendant will come。 But you yourself must not leave the
room。〃
He closed the door； and Ford； seating himself in front of the coal fire；
hastily considered his position。 He could not persuade himself that；
strategically； it was a satisfactory one。 The girl he sought was on the top or
fourth floor； he on the second。 To reach her he would have to pass through
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Well… lighted halls； up two flights Of stairs and try to enter a door that
would undoubtedly be locked。 On the other hand； instead of wandering
about in the rain outside the house； he was now established on the inside；
and as an inmate。 Had there been time for a siege； he would have been
confident of success。 But there was no time。 The written call for help had
been urgent。 Also； the scream he had heard； while the manner of the two
men had shown that to them it was a commonplace； was to him a spur to
instant action。 In haste he knew there was the risk of failure； but he must
take that risk。
He wished first to assure himself that Cuthbert was within call； and to
that end put out the lights and drew aside the curtains that covered the
window。 Outside； the fog was rolling between the house…fronts； both rain
and snow were falling heavily； and a solitary gas…lamp showed only a
deserted and dripping street。 Cautiously Ford lit a match and for an instant
let the flame flare。 He was almost at once rewarded by the sight of an
answering flame that flickered from a dark doorway。 Ford closed the
window； satisfied that his line of communication with the outside world
was still intact。 The faithful Cuthbert was on guard。
Ford rapidly reviewed each possible course of action。 These were
several； but to lead any one of them to success； he saw that he must
possess a better acquaintance with the interior of the house。 Especially was
it important that he should obtain a line of escape other than the one down
the stairs to the front door。 The knowledge that in the rear of the house
there was a means of retreat by a servants' stairway； or over the roof of an
adjoining building； or by a friendly fire… escape； would at least； lend him
confidence in his adventure。 Accordingly； in spite of Prothero's threat； he
determined at once to reconnoitre。 In case of his being discovered outside
his room； he would explain his electric bell was out of order； that when he
rang no servant had answered； and that he had sallied forth in search of
one。 To make this plausible； he unscrewed the cap of the electric button in
the wall； and with his knife cut off enough of the wire to prevent a proper
connection。 He then replaced the cap and； opening the door； stepped into
the hall。
The upper part of the house was； sunk in silence； but rising from the
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The Lost House
dining…room below； through the opening made by the stairs； came the
voices of Prothero and Pearsall。 And mixed with their voices came also the
sharp hiss of water issuing from a siphon。 The sound was reassuring。
Apparently； over their whiskey…and…soda the two men were still lingering
at the dinner…table。 For the moment； thenso far； at least； as they were
concerned the coast was clear。
Stepping cautiously； and keeping close to the wall； Ford ran lightly up
the stairs to the hall of the third floor。 It was lit brightly by a gas…jet； but no
one was in sight； and the three doors opening upon it were shut。 At the rear
of the hall was a window； the blind was raised； and through the panes；
dripping in the rain； Ford caught a glimpse of the rigid iron rods of a fire…
escape。 His spirits leaped exultantly。 If necessary； by means of this scaling
ladder； he could work entirely from the outside。 Greatly elated； he tiptoed
past the closed doors and mounted to the fourth floor。 This also was lit by
a gas…jet that showed at one end of the hall a table on which were
medicine…bottles and a tray covered by a napkin； and at the other end；
piled upon each other and blocking the hall…window； were three steamer…
trunks。 Painted on each were the initials； 〃D。 D。〃 Ford breathed an
exclamation。
〃Dosia Dale；〃 he muttered； 〃I have found you！〃 He was again
confronted by three closed doors； one leading to a room that faced the
street； another opening upon a room in the rear of the house； and opposite；
across the hallway； still another door。 He observed that the first two doors
were each fastened from the outside by bolts and a spring lock； and that
the key to each lock was in place。 The fact moved him with indecision。 If
he took possession of the keys； he could enter the rooms at his pleasure。
On the other hand； should their loss be discovered； an alarm would be
raised and he would inevitably come under suspicion。 The very purpose he
had in view might be frustrated。 He decided that where they were the keys
would serve him as well as in his pocket； and turned his attention to the
third door。 This was not locked； and； from its position； Ford guessed it
must be an entrance to a servants' stairway。
Confident of this； he opened it； and found a dark； narrow landing； a
flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below； and； to his delight an iron
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ladder leading to a trap…door。 He could hardly forego a cheer。 If the trap…
door were not locked； he had found a third line of retreat； a means of
escape by way of the roof； far superior to any he might attempt by the
main staircase and the street…door。
Ford stepped into the landing； closing the door behind him and though
this left him in complete darkness； he climbed the ladder； and with eager
fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap。 He had feared to find a padlock；
but； to his infinite relief； his fingers closed upon two bolts。 Noiselessly；
and smoothly； they drew back from their sockets。 Under the pressure of his
hand the trap door lifted； and through the opening swept a breath of chill
night air。
Ford hooked one leg over a round of the ladder and； with hands frees
moved the trap to one side。 An instant later he had scrambled to the roof；
and； after carefully replacing the trap； rose and looked about him。 T
