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which Robert had undoubtedly come from London。 A witness; however; 
would state that he noticed a man resembling Mark Ablett at the station at 

3。53 p。m。 that afternoon; and this man caught the 3。55 up train to town。 
There was a pond in the grounds of the Red House。 He had dragged 
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this; but without result。。。。 

Antony listened to him carelessly; thinking his own thoughts all the 
time。 Medical evidence followed; but there was nothing to be got from 
that。 He felt so close to the truth; at any moment something might give 
his brain the one little hint which it wanted。 Inspector Birch was just 
pursuing the ordinary。 Whatever else this case was; it was not ordinary。 
There was something uncanny about it。 

John Borden was giving evidence。 He was on the up platform seeing 
a friend off by the 3。55 on Tuesday afternoon。 He had noticed a man on 
the platform with coat collar turned up and a scarf round his chin。 He 
had wondered why the man should do this on such a hot day。 The man 
seemed to be trying to escape observation。 Directly the train came in; he 
hurried into a carriage。 And so on。 

〃There's always a John Borden at every murder case; said Antony to 
himself。 

〃Have you ever seen Mark Ablett?〃 

〃Once or twice; sir。〃 

〃Was it he?〃 

〃I never really got a good look at him; sir; what with his collar turned 
up and the scarf and all。 But directly I heard of the sad affair; and that 
Mr。 Ablett was missing; I said to Mrs。 Borden; 'Now I wonder if that was 
Mr。 Ablett I saw at the station?' So then we talked it over and decided 
that I ought to come and tell Inspector Birch。 It was just Mr。 Ablett's 
height; sir。〃 

Antony went on with his thoughts。。。。 

The Coroner was summing up。 The jury; he said; had now heard all 
the evidence and would have to decide what had happened in that room 
between the two brothers。 How had the deceased met his death? The 
medical evidence would probably satisfy them that Robert Ablett had died 
from the effects of a bullet…wound in the head。 Who had fired that bullet? 
If Robert Ablett had fired it himself; no doubt they would bring in a 
verdict of suicide; but if this had been so; where was the revolver which 
had fired it; and what had become of Mark Ablett? If they disbelieved in 
this possibility of suicide; what remained? Accidental death; justifiable。 

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homicide; and murder。 Could the deceased have been killed accidentally? 
It was possible; but then would Mark Ablett have run away? The 
evidence that he had run away from the scene of the crime was strong。 
His cousin had seen him go into the room; the servant Elsie Wood had 
heard him quarrelling with his brother in the room; the door had been 
locked from the inside; and there were signs that outside the open window 
some one had pushed his way very recently through the shrubbery。 Who; if 
not Mark? They would have then to consider whether he would have run 
away if he had been guiltless of his brother's death。 No doubt innocent 
people lost their heads sometimes。 It was possible that if it were proved 
afterwards that Mark Ablett had shot his brother; it might also be proved 
that he was justified in so doing; and that when he ran away from his 
brother's corpse he had really nothing to fear at the hands of the Law。 In 
this connexion he need hardly remind the jury that they were not the final 
tribunal; and that if they found Mark Ablett guilty of murder it would not 
prejudice his trial in any way if and when he was apprehended。。。。 The 
jury could consider their verdict。 

They considered it。 They announced that the deceased had died as 
the result of a bullet…wound; and that the bullet had been fired by his 
brother Mark Ablett。 

Bill turned round to Antony at his side。 But Antony was gone。 Across 
the room he saw Andrew Amos and Parsons going out of the door together; 
and Antony was between them。 

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The Red House Mystery 

CHAPTER XX 

Mr。 Beverley is Tactful 

The inquest had been held at the 〃Lamb〃 at Stanton; at Stanton 
Robert Ablett was to be buried next day。 Bill waited about outside for his 
friend; wondering where he had gone。 Then; realizing that Cayley would 
be coming out to his car directly; and that a farewell talk with Cayley 
would be a little embarrassing; he wandered round to the yard at the back 
of the inn; lit a cigarette; and stood surveying a torn and weather…beaten 
poster on the stable wall。 〃GRAND THEATRICAL ENTER〃 it announced; 
to take place on 〃Wednesday; Decem。〃 Bill smiled to himself as he 
looked at it; for the part of Joe; a loquacious postman; had been played by 
〃William B。 Beverl;〃 as the remnants of the poster still maintained; and he 
had been much less loquacious than the author had intended; having 
forgotten his words completely; but it had all been great fun。 And then he 
stopped smiling; for there would be no more fun now at the Red House。 

〃Sorry to keep you waiting;〃 said the voice of Antony behind him。 
〃My old friends Amos and Parsons insisted on giving me a drink。〃 

He slipped his hand into the crook of Bill's arm; and smiled happily at 
him。 

〃Why were you so keen about them?〃 asked Bill a little resentfully。 〃I 
couldn't think where on earth you had got to。〃 

Antony didn't say anything。 He was staring at the poster。 

〃When did this happen?〃 he asked。 

〃What?〃 

Antony waved to the poster。 

〃Oh; that? Last Christmas。 It was rather fun。〃 

Antony began to laugh to himself。 

〃Were you good?〃 

〃Rotten。 I don't profess to be an actor。〃 

〃Mark good?〃 

〃Oh; rather。 He loves it。〃 

〃Rev。 Henry Stutters … Mr。 Matthew Cay;〃 read Antony。 

〃Was that our friend Cayley?〃 

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〃Yes。〃 

〃Any good?〃 

〃Well; much better than I expected。 He wasn't keen; but Mark made 
him。〃 

〃Miss Norris wasn't playing; I see。〃 

〃My dear Tony; she's a professional。 Of course she wasn't。〃 

Antony laughed again。 

〃A great success; was it?〃 

〃Oh。 rather!〃 

〃I'm a fool; and a damned fool;〃 Antony announced solemnly。 〃And 
a damned fool;〃 he said again under his breath; as he led Bill away from 
the poster; and out of the yard into the road。 〃And a damned fool。 Even 
now …〃 He broke off and then asked suddenly; 〃Did Mark ever have 
much trouble with his teeth?〃 

〃He went to his dentist a good deal。 But what on earth …〃 

Antony laughed a third time。 

〃What luck!〃 he chuckled。 〃But how do you know?〃 

〃We go to the same man; Mark recommended him to me。 Cartwright; 
in Wimpole Street。〃 

〃Cartwright in Wimpole Street;〃 repeated Antony thoughtfully。 〃Yes; 
I can remember that。 Cartwright in Wimpole Street。 Did Cayley go to 
him too; by any chance?〃 

〃I expect so。 Oh; yes; I know he did。 But what on earth …〃 

〃What was Mark's general health like? Did he see a doctor much?〃 

〃Hardly at all; I should think。 He did a lot of early morning exercises 
which were supposed to make him bright and cheerful at breakfast。 They 
didn't do that; but they seemed to keep him pretty fit。 Tony; I wish you'd 
…〃 

Antony held up a hand and hushed him into silence。 

〃One last question;〃 he said。 〃Was Mark fond of swimming?〃 

〃No; he hated it。 I don't believe he could swim。 Tony; are you mad; 
or am I? Or is this a new game?〃 

Antony squeezed his arm。 

〃Dear old Bill;〃 he said。 〃It's a game。 What a game! And the 

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answer is Cartwright in Wimpole Street。〃 

They walked in silence for half a mile or so along the road to 
Waldheim。 Bill tried two or three times to get his friend to talk; but 
Antony had only grunted in reply。 He was just going to make another 
attempt; when Antony came to a sudden stop and turned to him anxiously。 
〃I wonder if you'd do something for me;〃 he said; looking at him with 
some doubt。 

〃What sort of thing?〃 

〃Well; it's really dashed important。 It's just the one thing I want now。 

Bill was suddenly enthusiastic again。 

〃I say; have you really found it all out?〃 

Antony nodded。 

〃At least; I'm very nearly there; Bill。 There's just this one thing I 
want now。 It means your going back to Stanton。 Well; we haven't come 
far; it won't take you long。 Do you mind?〃 

〃My dear Holmes; I am at your service。〃 

Antony gave him a smile and was silent for a little; thinking。 

〃Is there another inn at Stanton…fairly close to the station?〃 

〃The 'Plough and Horses' … just at the corner where the road goes up to 
the station … is that the one you mean?〃 

〃That would be the one。 I suppose you could do with a drink; 
couldn't you?〃 

〃Rather!〃 said Bill; with a grin。 

〃Good。 Then have one at the 'Plough and Horses。' Have two; if you 
like; and talk to the landlord; or landlady; or whoever serves you。 I want 
you to find out if anybody stayed there on Monday night。〃 

〃Robert?〃 said Bill eagerly。 

〃I didn't say Robert;〃 said Antony; smiling。 〃I just want you to find 
out if they had a visitor who slept there on Monday night。 A stranger。 If 
so; then any particulars you can get of him; without letting the landlord 
know that 

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