the red house mystery-第22节

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

Antony　mustn't　hear。　

And　Antony　didn't　hear。　Indeed；　he　had　played　up　to　Cayley　
splendidly。　Not　only　had　he　called　attention　to　the　open　window；　but　he　
had　carefully　explained　to　Cayley　why　Mark　had　chosen　this　particular　
window　in　preference　to　the　office　window。　And　Cayley　had　agreed　that　
probably　that　was　the　reason。　How　he　must　have　chuckled　to　himself！　
But　he　was　still　a　little　afraid。　Afraid　that　Antony　would　examine　the　
shrubbery。　Why？　Obviously　because　there　was　no　trace　of　anyone　
having　broken　through　the　shrubbery。　No　doubt　Cayley　had　provided　the　
necessary　traces　since；　and　had　helped　the　inspector　to　find　them。　Had　he　
even　gone　as　far　as　footmarks　in　Mark's　shoes？　But　the　ground　was　very　
hard。　Perhaps　footmarks　were　not　necessary。　Antony　smiled　as　he　
thought　of　the　big　Cayley　trying　to　squeeze　into　the　dapper　little　Mark's　
shoes。　Cayley　must　have　been　glad　that　footmarks　were　not　necessary。　

No；　the　open　window　was　enough；　the　open　window　and　a　broken　twig　
or　two。　But　quietly；　quietly。　Antony　mustn't　hear。　And　Antony　had　
not　heard。。。。　But　he　had　seen　a　shadow　on　the　wall。　

They　were　outside　on　the　lawn　again　now；　Bill　and　Antony；　and　Bill　
was　listening　open…mouthed　to　his　friend's　theory　of　yesterday's　
happenings。　It　fitted　in；　it　explained　things；　but　it　did　not　get　them　any　
further。　It　only　gave　them　another　mystery　to　solve。　

〃What's　that？〃　said　Antony。　

〃Mark。　Where's　Mark？　If　he　never　went　into　the　office　at　all；　then　
where　is　he　now？〃　

〃I　don't　say　that　he　never　went　into　the　office。　In　fact；　he　must　have　
gone。　Elsie　heard　him。〃　He　stopped　and　repeated　slowly；　〃She　heard　
him　at　least　she　says　she　did。　But　if　he　was　there；　he　came　out　again　by　
the　door。〃　

〃Well；　but　where　does　that　lead　you？〃　

〃Where　it　led　Mark。　The　passage。〃　

〃Do　you　mean　that　he's　been　hiding　there　all　the　time？〃　Antony　was　
silent　until　Bill　had　repeated　his　question；　and　then　with　an　effort　he　came　
out　of　his　thoughts　and　answered　him。　

〃I　don't　know。　But　look　here。　Here　is　a　possible　explanation。　I　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

don't　know　if　it　is　the　right　one　I　don't　know；　Bill；　I'm　rather　frightened。　
Frightened　of　what　may　have　happened；　of　what　may　be　going　to　happen。　
However；　here　is　an　explanation。　See　if　you　can　find　any　fault　with　it。〃　

With　his　legs　stretched　out　and　his　hands　deep　in　his　pockets；　he　lay　
back　on　the　garden…seat；　looking　up　to　the　blue　summer　sky　above　him；　
and　just　as　if　he　saw　up　there　the　events　of　yesterday　being　enacted　over　
again；　he　described　them　slowly　to　Bill　as　they　happened。　

〃We'll　begin　at　the　moment　when　Mark　shoots　Robert。　Call　it　an　
accident；　probably　it　was。　Mark　would　say　it　was；　anyhow。　He　is　in　a　
panic；　naturally。　But　he　doesn't　lock　the　door　and　run　away。　For　one　
thing；　the　key　is　on　the　outside　of　the　door；　for　another；　he　is　not；　quite　
such　a　fool　as　that。　But　he　is　in　a　horrible　position。　He　is　known　to　be　
on　bad　terms　with　his　brother；　he　has　just　uttered　some　foolish　threat　to　
him；　which　may　possibly　have　been　overheard。　What　is　he　to　do？　He　
does　the　natural　thing；　the　thing　which　Mark　would　always　do　in　such　
circumstances。　He　consults　Cayley；　the　invaluable；　inevitable　Cayley。　

〃Cayley　is　just　outside；　Cayley　must　have　heard　the　shot；　Cayley　will　
tell　him　what　to　do。　He　opens　the　door　just　as　Cayley　is　coming　to　see　
what　is　the　matter。　He　explains　rapidly。　'What's　to　be　done；　Cay？　
what's　to　be　done？。　It　was　an　accident。　I　swear　it　was　an　accident。　He　
threatened　me。　He　would　have　shot　me　if　I　hadn't。　Think　of　something；　
quick！'　

〃Cayley　has　thought　of　something。　'Leave　it　to　me；'　he　says。　'You　
clear　out　altogether。　I　shot　him；　if　you　like。　I'll　do　all　the　explaining。　
Get　away。　Hide。　Nobody　saw　you　go　in。　Into　the　passage；　quick。　I'll　
come　to　you　there　as　soon　as　I　can。'　

〃Good　Cayley。　Faithful　Cayley！　Mark's　courage　comes　back。　
Cayley　will　explain　all　right。　Cayley　will　tell　the　servants　that　it　was　an　
accident。　He　will　ring　up　the　police。　Nobody　will　suspect　Cayley　…
Cayley　has　no　quarrel　with　Robert。　And　then　Cayley　will　come　into　the　
passage　and　tell　him　that　it　is　all　right；　and　Mark　will　go　out　by　the　other　
end；　and　saunter　slowly　back　to　the　house。　He　will　be　told　the　news　by　
one　of　the　servants。　Robert　accidentally　shot？　Good　Heavens！　

〃So；　greatly　reassured；　Mark　goes　into　the　library。　And　Cayley　goes　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

to　the　door　of　the　office。。。。　and　locks　it。　And　then　he　bangs　on　the　door　

and　shouts；　'Let　me　in！'　

Antony　was　silent。　Bill　looked　at　him　and　shook　his　head。　

〃Yes；　Tony；　but　that　doesn't　make　sense。　What's　the　point　of　Cayley　
behaving　like　that？〃　

Antony　shrugged　his　shoulders　without　answering。　

〃And　what　has　happened　to　Mark　since？〃　

Antony　shrugged　his　shoulders　again。　

〃Well；　the　sooner　we　go　into　that　passage；　the　better；〃　said　Bill。　

〃You're　ready　to　go？〃　

〃Quite；〃　said　Bill；　surprised。　

〃You're　quite　ready　for　what　we　may　find？〃　

〃You're　being　dashed　mysterious；　old　boy。〃　

〃I　know　I　am。〃　He　gave　a　little　laugh；　and　went　on；　〃Perhaps　I'm　
being　an　ass；　just　a　melodramatic　ass。　Well；　I　hope　I　am。〃　He　looked　at　
his　watch。　

〃It's　safe；　is　it？　They're　still　busy　at　the　pond？〃　

〃We'd　better　make　certain。　Could　you　be　a　sleuthhound；　Bill　…　one　of　
those　that　travel　on　their　stomachs　very　noiselessly？　I　mean；　could　you　
get　near　enough　to　the　pond　to　make　sure　that　Cayley　is　still　there；　without　
letting　him　see　you？〃　

〃Rather！〃　He　got　up　eagerly。　〃You　wait。〃　

Antony's　head　shot　up　suddenly。　〃Why；　that　was　what　Mark　said；〃　he　
cried。　

〃Mark？〃　

〃Yes。　What　Elsie　heard　him　say。〃　

〃Oh；　that。〃　

〃Yes　I　suppose　she　couldn't　have　made　a　mistake；　Bill？　She　did　hear　
him？〃　

〃She　couldn't　have　mistaken　his　voice；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　

〃Oh？〃　

〃Mark　had　an　extraordinary　characteristic　voice。〃　

〃Oh！〃　

〃Rather　high…pitched；　you　know；　and　well；　one　can't　explain；　but　…〃　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

〃Yes？〃　

〃Well；　rather　like　this；　you　know；　or　even　more　so　if　anything。〃　He　
rattled　these　words　off　in　Mark's　rather　monotonous；　high…pitched　voice；　
and　then　laughed；　and　added　in　his　natural　voice；　〃I　say；　that　was　really　
rather　good。〃　

Antony　nodded　quickly。　〃That　was　like　it？〃　he　said。　

〃Exactly。〃　

〃Yes。〃　He　got　up　and　squeezed　Bill's　arm。　〃Well　just　go　and　see　
about　Cayley；　and　then　we'll　get　moving。　I　shall　be　in　the　library。〃　

〃Right。〃　

Bill　nodded　and　walked　off　in　the　direction　of　the　pond。　This　was　
glorious　fun；　this　was　life。　The　immediate　programme　could　hardly　be　
bettered。　First　of　all　he　was　going　to　stalk　Cayley。　There　was　a　little　
copse　above　the　level　of　the　pond；　and　about　a　hundred　yards　away　from　it。　
He　would　come　into　this　from　the　back；　creep　cautiously　through　it；　taking　
care　that　no　twigs　cracked；　and　then；　drawing　himself　on　his　stomach　to　
the　edge；　peer　down　upon　the　scene　below　him。　People　were　always　
doing　that　sort　of　thing　in　books；　and　he　had　been　filled　with　a　hopeless　
envy　of　them；　well；　now　he　was　actually　going　to　do　it　himself。　What　
fun！　

And　then；　when　he　had　got　back　unobserved　to　the　house　and　reported　
to　Antony；　they　were　going　to　explore　the　secret　passage！　Again；　what　
fun！　Unfortunately　there　seemed　to　be　no　chance　of　buried　treasure；　but　
there　might　be　buried　clues。　Even　if　you　found　nothing；　you　couldn't　get　
away　from　the　fact　that　a　secret　passage　was　a　secret　passage；　and　
anything　might　happen　in　it。　But　even　that　wasn't　the　end　of　this　exciting　
day。　They　were　going　to　watch　the　pond　that　night；　they　were　going　to　
watch　Cayley　under　the　moonlight；　watch　him　as　he　threw　into　the　silence　
of　the　pond　what？　The　revolver？　Well；　anyhow；　they　were　going　to　
watch　him。　What　fun！　

To　Antony；　who　was　older　and　who　realized　into　what　deep　waters　
they　were　getting；　it　did　not　seem　fun。　But　it　was　amazingly　interesting。　
He　saw　so　much；　and　yet　somehow　it　was　all　out　of　focus。　It　was　like　
looking　at　an　opal；　and　discovering　with　every　movement　of　it　some　new　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

colour；　some　new　gleam　of　light　reflected；　and　yet　never　really　seeing　the　
opal　as　a　whole。　He　was　too　near　it；　or　too　far　away；　he　strained　his　eyes　
and　he　relaxed　his　eyes；　it　was　no　good。　His　brain　could　not　get　hold　of　it。　

But　there　were　moments　when　he　almost　had　it。。。。　and　then　turned　
away　from　it。　He　had　seen　more　of　life　than　Bill；　but　he　had　never　seen　
murder　before；　and　this　which　was　in　his　mind　now；　and　to　which　he　was　
afraid　to　listen；　was　not　just　the　hot…blooded　killing　which　any　man　may　
come　to　if　he　lose　control。　It　was　something　much　more　horrible。　Too　
horrible　to　be　true。　Then　let　him　look　again　for　the　truth。　He　looked　
again　but　it　was　all　out　of　focus。　

〃I　will　not　look　again；〃　he　said　aloud；　as　he　began　to　walk　towards　the　
house。　〃Not　yet；　anyway。〃　He　would　go　on　collecting　facts　and　
impressions。　Perhaps　the　one　fact　would　come　along；　by　itself　which　
would　make　everything　clear。　

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The　Red　House　Mystery　

CHAPTER　XIV　

Mr。　B