the red house mystery-第37节
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〃You will say that it was impossible so do the thing thoroughly enough。
I answer again that you never knew Mark。 He was being what he wished
most to be … an artist。 No Othello ever blacked himself all over with such
enthusiasm as did Mark。 His beard was going anyhow … possible a
chance remark of Miss Norbury's helped here。 She did not like beards。
But it was important for me that the dead man's hands should not be the
hands of a manicured gentleman。 Five minutes playing upon the vanity
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of the artist settled his hands。 He let the nails grow and then cut them
raggedly。 'Miss Norris would notice your hands at once；' I had said。
'Besides； as an artist …'
〃So with his underclothes。 It was hardly necessary to warn him that
his pants might show above the edge of his socks； as an artist he had
already decided upon Robertian pants。 I bought them； and other things；
in London for him。 Even if I had not cut out all trace of the maker's
name； he would instinctively have done it。 As an Australian and an artist；
he could not have an East London address on his underclothes。 Yes； we
were doing the thing thoroughly； both of us； he as an artist； I as a … well；
you may say murderer； if you like。 I shall not mind now。
〃Our plans were settled。 I went to London on the Monday and wrote
him a letter from Robert。 （The artistic touch again。） I also bought a
revolver。 On the Tuesday morning he announced the arrival of Robert at
the breakfast…table。 Robert was now alive … we had six witnesses to
prove it； six witnesses who knew that he was coming that afternoon。 Our
private plan was that Robert should present himself at three o'clock； in
readiness for the return of the golfing…party shortly afterwards。 The maid
would go to look for Mark； and having failed to find him； come back to
the office to find me entertaining Robert in Mark's absence。 I would
explain that Mark must have gone out somewhere； and would myself
introduce the wastrel brother to the tea…table。 Mark's absence would not
excite any comment； for it would be generally felt … indeed Robert would
suggest it … that he had been afraid of meeting his brother。 Then Robert
would make himself amusingly offensive to the guests； particularly； of
course； Miss Norris； until he thought that the joke had gone far enough。
〃That was our private plan。 Perhaps I should say that it was Mark's
private plan。 My own was different。
〃The announcement at breakfast went well。 After the golfing…party
had gone off； we had the morning in which to complete our arrangements。
What I was chiefly concerned about was to establish as completely as
possible the identity of Robert。 For this reason I suggested to Mark that；
when dressed； he should go out by the secret passage to the bowling…green；
and come back by the drive； taking care to enter into conversation with the
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The Red House Mystery
lodge…keeper。 In this way I would have two more witnesses of Robert's
arrival … first the lodge…keeper； and secondly one of the gardeners whom I
would have working on the front lawn。 Mark； of course； was willing
enough。 He could practise his Australian accent on the lodge…keeper。 It
was really amusing to see how readily he fell into every suggestion which
I made。 Never was a killing more carefully planned by its victim。
〃He changed into Robert's clothes in the office bedroom。 This was
the safest way … for both of us。 When he was ready； he called me in； and
I inspected him。 It was extraordinary how well he looked the part。 I
suppose that the signs of his dissipation had already marked themselves on；
his face； but had been concealed hitherto by his moustache and beard； for
now that he was clean…shaven they lay open to the world from which we
had so carefully hidden them； and he was indeed the wastrel which he was
pretending to be。
〃'By Jove； you're wonderful；' I said。
〃He smirked； and called my attention to the various artistic touches
which I might have missed。
〃'Wonderful；' I said to myself again。 'Nobody could possibly guess。'
〃I peered into the hall。 It was empty。 We hurried across to the
library； he got into the passage and made off。 I went back to the
bedroom； collected all his discarded clothes； did them up in a bundle and
returned with them to the passage。 Then I sat down in the hall and
waited。
〃You heard the evidence of Stevens； the maid。 As soon as she was on
her way to the Temple in search of Mark； I stepped into the office。 My
hand was in my side…pocket； and in my hand was the revolver。
〃He began at once in his character of Robert … some rigmarole about
working his passage over from Australia； a little private performance for
my edification。 Then in his natural voice； gloating over his well…planned
retaliation on Miss Norris； he burst out； 'It's my turn now。 You wait。' It
was this which Elsie heard。 She had no business to be there and she
might have ruined everything； but as it turned out it was the luckiest thing
which could have happened。 For it was the one piece of evidence which I
wanted； evidence； other than my own； that Mark and Robert were in the
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room together。
〃I said nothing。 I was not going to take the risk of being heard to
speak in that room。 I just smiled at the poor little fool； and took out my
revolver； and shot him。 Then I went back into the library and waited
just as I said in my evidence。
〃Can you imagine； Mr。 Gillingham； the shock which your sudden
appearance gave me？ Can you imagine the feelings of a 'murderer' who
has （as he thinks） planned for every possibility； and is then confronted
suddenly with an utterly new problem？ What difference would your
coming make？ I didn't know。 Perhaps none； perhaps all。 And I had
forgotten to open the window！
〃I don't know whether you will think my plan for killing Mark a clever
one。 Perhaps not。 But if I do deserve any praise in the matter； I think I
deserve it for the way I pulled myself together in the face of the
unexpected catastrophe of your arrival。 Yes； I got a window open； Mr。
Gillingham； under your very nose； the right window too； you were kind
enough to say。 And the keys … yes； that was clever of you； but I think I
was cleverer。 I deceived you over the keys； Mr。 Gillingham； as I learnt
when I took the liberty of listening to a conversation on the bowling…green
between you and your friend Beverley。 Where was I？ Ah； you must
have a look for that secret passage； Mr。 Gillingham。
〃But what am I saying？ Did I deceive you at all？ You have found
out the secret … that Robert was Mark … and that is all that matters。 How
have you found out？ I shall never know now。 Where did I go wrong？
Perhaps you have been deceiving me all the time。 Perhaps you knew
about the keys； about the window； even about the secret passage。 You are
a clever man； Mr。 Gillingham。
〃I had Mark's clothes on my hands。 I might have left them in the
passage； but the secret of the passage was now out。 Miss Norris knew it。
That was the weak point of my plan； perhaps； that Miss Norris had to
know it。 So I hid them in the pond； the inspector having obligingly
dragged it for me first。 A couple of keys joined them； but I kept the
revolver。 Fortunate； wasn't it； Mr。 Gillingham？
〃I don't think that there is any more to tell you。 This is a long letter；
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but then it is the last which I shall write。 There was a time when I hoped
that there might be a happy future for me； not at the Red House； not alone。
Perhaps it was never more than an idle day…dream； for I am no more
worthy of her than Mark was。 But I could have made her happy； Mr。
Gillingham。 God； how I would have worked to make her happy！ But
now that is impossible。 To offer her the hand of a murderer would be as
bad as to offer her the hand of a drunkard。 And Mark died for that。 I
saw her this morning。 She was very sweet。 It is a difficult world to
understand。
〃Well； well； we are all gone now … the Abletts and the Cayleys。 I
wonder what old Grandfather Cayley thinks of it all。 Perhaps it is as well
that we have died out。 Not that there was anything wrong with Sarah
except her temper。 And she had the Ablett nose … you can't do much with
that。 I'm glad she left no children。
〃Good…bye； Mr。 Gillingham。 I'm sorry that your stay with us was not
of a pleasanter nature； but you understand the difficulties in which I was
placed。 Don't let Bill think too badly of me。 He is a good fellow； look
after him。 He will he surprised。 The young are always surprised。 And
thank you for letting me end my own way。 I expect you did sympathize a
little； you know。 We might have been friends in another world … you and
I； and I and she。 Tell her what you like。 Everything or nothing。 You
will know what is best。 Good…bye； Mr。 Gillingham。
〃MATTH
EW CAYLEY。
〃I am lonely to…night without Mark。 That's funny； isn't it？〃
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CHAPTER XXII
Mr。 Beverley Moves On
〃Good Lord！〃 said Bill； as he put down the letter。
〃I thought you'd say th
