earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第36节

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　〃Good　lord！〃　John　Quincy　cried。
　〃Can　it　be　you　are　familiar　with　these　Corsicans？〃　inquired　Chan。
　〃Not　at　all。〃
　〃I　am　more　happily　located。　This　afternoon　before　the　swim　I　pause　at　public　library　for　listless　reading。　In　Australian　newspaper　I　encounter　advertising　talk　of　Corsican　cigarette。　It　are　assembled　in　two　distinct　fashions；　one；　labeled　on　tin　222；　holds　Turkish　tobacco。　Note　222　on　tin　of　Brade。　Other　labeled　444　made　up　from　Virginia　weeds。　Is　it　that　you　are　clever　to　know　difference　between　Turkish　and　Virginia　tobacco？〃
　〃Well；　I　think　so　…〃　began　John　Quincy。
　〃Same　with　me；　but　thinking　are　not　enough　now。　The　moment　are　serious。　We　will　interrogate　expert　opinion。　Honor　me　by　a　journey　to　smoking　emporium。〃
　He　took　a　cigarette　from　Brade's　tin；　put　it　in　an　envelope　and　wrote　something　on　the　outside；　then　did　the　same　with　one　from　Egan's　case。　The　two　stubs　were　similarly　classified。
　They　went　in　silence　to　the　street。　John　Quincy；　amazed　by　this　new　turn　of　events；　told　himself　the　idea　was　absurd。　But　Chan's　face　was　grave；　his　eyes　awake　and　eager。
　John　Quincy　was　vastly　more　amazed　when　they　emerged　from　the　tobacco　shop　after　a　brisk　interview　with　the　young　man　in　charge。　Chan　was　jubilant　now。
　〃Again　we　advance！　You　hear　what　he　tells　us。　Cigarette　from　Brade's　tin　and　little　brother　from　Egan's　case　are　of　identical　contents；　both　being　of　Turkish　tobacco。　Stub　found　near　walk　are　of　Virginia　stuff。　So　also　are　remnant　received　by　me　from　the　cordial　hand　of　Captain　Arthur　Temple　Cope！〃
　〃It's　beyond　me；〃　replied　John　Quincy。　〃By　gad　…　that　lets　Egan　out。　Great　news　for　Carlota。　I'll　hurry　to　the　Reef　and　Palm　and　tell　her　…〃
　〃Oh；　no；　no；〃　protested　Chan。　〃Please　to　let　that　happy　moment　wait。　For　the　present；　indulge　only　in　silence。　Before　asking　Captain　Cope　for　statement　we　spy　over　his　every　move。　Much　may　be　revealed　by　the　unsuspecting。　I　go　to　station　to　make　arrangements　…〃
　〃But　the　man's　a　gentleman；〃　John　Quincy　cried。　〃A　captain　in　the　British　Admiralty。　What　you　suggest　is　impossible。〃
　Chan　shook　his　head。　〃Impossible　in　Rear　Bay　at　Boston；〃　he　said；　〃but　here　at　moonly　crossroads　of　Pacific；　not　so　much　so。　Twenty…five　years　of　my　life　are　consumed　in　Hawaii；　and　I　have　many　times　been　witness　when　the　impossible　roused　itself　and　occurred。〃
　
　CHAPTER　XVII　
　Night　Life　In　Honolulu
　
　MONDAY　brought　no　new　developments；　and　John　Quincy　spent　a　restless　day。　Several　times　he　called　Chan　at　the　police　station；　but　the　detective　was　always　out。
　Honolulu；　according　to　the　evening　paper；　was　agog。　This　was　not；　as　John　Quincy　learned　to　his　surprise；　a　reference　to　the　Winterslip　case。　An　American　fleet　had　just　left　the　harbor　of　San　Pedro　bound　for　Hawaii。　This　was　the　annual　cruise　of　the　graduating　class　at　Annapolis；　the　war…ships　were　overflowing　with　future　captains　and　admirals。　They　would　linger　at　the　port　of　Honolulu　for　several　days　and　a　gay　round　of　social　events　impended　…　dinners；　dances；　moonlight　swimming　parties。
　John　Quincy　had　not　seen　Barbara　all　day；　the　girl　had　not　appeared　at　breakfast　and　had　lunched　with　a　friend　down　the　beach。　They　met　at　dinner；　however；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　she　looked　more　tired　and　wan　than　ever。　She　spoke　about　the　ing　of　the　warships。
　〃It's　always　such　a　happy　time；〃　she　said　wistfully。　〃The　town　simply　blooms　with　handsome　boys　in　uniform。　I　don't　like　to　have　you　miss　all　the　parties；　John　Quincy。　You're　not　seeing　Honolulu　at　its　best。〃
　〃Why　…　that's　all　right；〃　John　Quincy　assured　her。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Not　with　me。　You　know；　we're　not　such　slaves　to　convention　out　here。　If　I　should　get　you　a　few　invitations　…　what　do　you　think；　Cousin　Minerva？〃
　〃I'm　an　old　woman；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。　〃According　to　the　standards　of　your　generation；　I　suppose　it　would　be　quite　the　thing。　But　it's　not　the　sort　of　conduct　I　can　view　approvingly。　Now；　in　my　day　…〃
　〃Don't　you　worry；　Barbara；〃　John　Quincy　broke　in。　〃Parties　mean　nothing　to　me。　Speaking　of　old　women；　I'm　an　old　man　myself　…　thirty　my　next　birthday。　Just　my　pipe　and　slippers　by　the　fire　…　or　the　electric　fan　…　that's　all　I　ask　of　life　now。〃
　She　smiled　and　dropped　the　matter。　After　dinner；　she　followed　John　Quincy　to　the　lanai。　〃I　want　you　to　do　something　for　me；〃　she　began。
　〃Anything　you　say。〃
　〃Have　a　talk　with　Mr。　Brade；　and　tell　me　what　he　wants。〃
　〃Why；　I　thought　that　Jennison　…〃　said　John　Quincy。
　〃No；　I　didn't　ask　him　to　do　it；〃　she　replied。　For　a　long　moment　she　was　silent。　〃I　ought　to　tell　you　…　I'm　not　going　to　marry　Mr。　Jennison；　after　all。〃
　A　shiver　of　apprehension　ran　down　John　Quincy's　spine。　Good　lord　…　that　kiss！　Had　she　misunderstood？　And　he　hadn't　meant　a　thing　by　it。　Just　a　cousinly　salute　…　at　least；　that　was　what　it　had　started　out　to　be。　Barbara　was　a　sweet　girl；　yes；　but　a　relative；　a　Winterslip；　and　relatives　shouldn't　marry；　no　matter　how　distant　the　connection。　Then；　too；　there　was　Agatha。　He　was　bound　to　Agatha　by　all　the　ties　of　honor。　What　had　he　got　himself　into；　anyhow？
　〃I'm　awfully　sorry　to　hear　that；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　to　blame　…〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　protested。
　〃But　surely　Mr。　Jennison　understood。　He　knows　we're　related；　and　that　what　he　saw　last　night　meant　…　nothing。〃　He　was　rather　proud　of　himself。　Pretty　neat　the　way　he'd　got　that　over。
　〃If　you　don't　mind；〃　Barbara　said；　〃I'd　rather　not　talk　about　it　any　more。　Harry　and　I　will　not　be　married　…　not　at　present；　at　any　rate。　And　if　you'll　see　Mr。　Brade　for　me　…〃
　〃I　certainly　will；〃　John　Quincy　promised。　〃I'll　see　him　at　once。〃　He　was　glad　to　get　away；　for　the　moon　was　rising　on　that　〃spot　of　heart…breaking　charm。〃
　A　fellow　ought　to　be　more　careful；　he　reflected　as　he　walked　along　the　beach。　Fit　upon　himself　the　armor　of　preparation；　as　Chan　had　said。　Strange　impulses　came　to　one　here　in　this　far　tropic　land；　to　yield　to　them　was　weak。　plications　would　follow；　as　the　night　the　day。　Here　was　one　now；　Barbara　and　Jennison　estranged；　and　the　cause　was　clear。　Well；　he　was　certainly　going　to　watch　his　step　hereafter。
　On　the　far　end　of　the　Reef　and　Palm's　first　floor　balcony；　Brade　and　his　wife　sat　together　in　the　dusk。　John　Quincy　went　up　to　them。
　〃May　I　speak　with　you；　Mr。　Brade？〃　he　said。
　The　man　looked　up　out　of　a　deep　reverie。　〃Ah；　yes　…　of　course　…〃
　〃I'm　John　Quincy　Winterslip。　We've　met　before。〃
　〃Oh；　surely；　surely　sir。〃　Brade　rose　and　shook　hands。　〃My　dear　…〃　he　turned　to　his　wife；　but　with　one　burning　glance　at　John　Quincy；　the　woman　had　fled。　The　boy　tingled　…　in　Boston　a　Winterslip　was　never　snubbed。　Well；　Dan　Winterslip　had　arranged　it　otherwise　in　Hawaii。
　〃Sit　down；　sir；〃　said　Brade；　somewhat　embarrassed　by　his　wife's　action。　〃I've　been　expecting　some　one　of　your　name。〃
　〃Naturally。　Will　you　have　a　cigarette；　sir。〃　John　Quincy　proffered　his　case；　and　when　the　cigarettes　were　lighted；　seated　himself　at　the　man's　side。　〃I'm　here；　of　course；　in　regard　to　that　story　you　told　Saturday　night。〃
　〃Story？〃　flashed　Brade。
　John　Quincy　smiled。　〃Don't　misunderstand　me。　I'm　not　questioning　the　truth　of　it。　But　I　do　want　to　say　this；　Mr。　Brade　…　you　must　be　aware　that　you　will　have　considerable　difficulty　establishing　your　claim　in　a　court　of　law。　The　'eighties　are　a　long　time　back。〃
　〃What　you　say　may　be　true；〃　Brade　agreed。　〃I'm　relying　more　on　the　fact　that　a　trial　would　result　in　some　rather　unpleasant　publicity　for　the　Winterslip　family。〃
　〃Precisely；〃　nodded　John　Quincy。　〃I　am　here　at　the　request　of　Miss　Barbara　Winterslip；　who　is　Dan　Winterslip's　sole　heir。　She's　a　very　fine　girl；　sir　…〃
　〃I　don't　question　that；〃　cut　in　Brade　impatiently。
　〃And　if　your　demands　are　not　unreasonable　…〃　John　Quincy　paused；　and　leaned　closer。　〃Just　what　do　you　want；　Mr。　Brade？〃
　Brade　stroked　those　gray　mustaches　that　drooped　〃in　saddened　mood。〃　〃No　money；〃　he　said；　〃can　make　good　the　wrong　Dan　Winterslip　did。　But　I'm　an　old　man；　and　it　would　be　something　to　feel　financially　secure　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　I'm　not　inclined　to　be　grasping　…　particularly　since　Dan　Winterslip　has　passed　beyond　my　reach。　There　were　twenty　thousand　pounds　involved。　I'll　say　nothing　about　interest　for　more　than　forty　years。　A　settlement　of　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　would　be　acceptable。〃
　John　Quincy　considered。　〃I　can't　speak　definitely　for　my　cousin；〃　he　said；　〃but　to　me　that　sounds　fair　enough。　I　have　no　doubt　Barbara　will　agree　to　give　you　that　sum〃　…　he　saw　the　man's　tired　old　eyes　brighten　in　the　semidarkness　…　〃the　moment　the　murderer　of　Dan　Winterslip　is　found；〃　he　added　quickly。
　〃What's　that　you　say？〃　Brade　leaped　to　his　feet。
　〃I　say　she'll　very　likely　pay　you　when　this　mystery　is　cleared　up。　Surely　you　don't　expect　her　to　do　so　before　that　time？〃　John　Quincy　rose　too。
　〃I　certainly　do！〃　Brade　cried。　〃Why；　look　here；　this　thing　may　drag　on　indefinitely。　I　want　England　again　…　the　Strand；　Piccadilly　…　it's　twenty…five　years　since　I　saw　London。　Wait！　Damn　it；　why　should　I　wait！　What's　this　murder　to　me　…　by　gad；　sir　…〃　He　came　close；　erect；　flaming；　the　son　of　Tom　Brade；　the　blackbirder；　now。　〃Do　you　mean　to　insinuate　that　I　…〃
　John　Quincy　faced　him　calmly。　〃I　know　you　can't　prove　where　you　were　early