df.theedge-第64节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


iling　Mr　Lorrimore　into　letting　you　have　his　horse；　Voting　Right。'
　　'You　can't　prove　any　of　this；'　Filmer　said　defiantly。
　　'We　all　believe；'　said　Bill　Baudelaire's　voice；　'that　with　you；　Mr　Filmer；　it　is　the　urge　to　crush　people　and　make　them　suffer　that　sets　you　going。　We　know　you　could　afford　to　buy　good　horses。　We　know　that　for　you　simply　owning　horses　isn't　enough。'
　　'Save　me　the　sermon；'　Filmer　said。　'And　if　you　can't　put　up；　shut　up。'
　　'Very　well；'　the　Brigadier　said。　'We'll　ask　our　next　visitor　to　e　in；　please。'
　　Daffodil　Quentin；　who　was　standing　beside　George　in　the　pantry　and　had　been　listening　with　parted　mouth　and　growing　anger；　opened　the　dividing　door　dramatically　and　slammed　it　shut　behind　her。
　　'You　unspeakable　toad；'　her　voice　said　vehemently　over　the　loudspeaker。
　　Attagirl；　I　thought。
　　She　was　wearing　a　scarlet　dress　and　a　wide　shiny　black　belt　and　carrying　a　large　shiny　black　handbag。　Under　the　high　curls　and　in　a　flaming　rage；　she　attacked　as　an　avenging　angel　in　full　spate。
　　'I　will　never　give　you　or　sell　you　my　half　of　Laurentide　Ice；'　she　said　forcefully；　'and　you　can　threaten　and　blackmail　until　you're　blue　in　the　face。　You　can　frighten　my　stable　lad　until　you　think　you're　God　Almighty；　but　you　can't　from　now　on　frighten　me…and　I　think　you're　contemptible　and　should　be　put　in　a　zoo。'
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　Twenty…One
　　
　　Bill　Baudelaire；　who　had　persuaded　her　to　e　with　him　to　Vancouver；　cleared　his　throat　and　sounded　as　if　he　were　trying　not　to　laugh。
　　'Mrs　Quentin；'　he　said　to　the　world　at　large；　'is　prepared　to　testify。'
　　'You　bet　I　am；'　Daffodil　interrupted。
　　'。。。　that　you　threatened　to　have　her　prosecuted　for　killing　one　of　her　own　horses　if　she　didn't　give。。。　give　。。。　you　her　remaining　share　of　Laurentide　Ice。'
　　'You　used　me；'　Daffodil　said　furiously。　'You　bought　your　way　on　to　the　train　and　you　were　all　charm　and　smarm　and　all　you　were　aiming　to　do　was　ingratiate　yourself　with　Mercer　Lorrimore　so　you　could　sneer　at　him　and　cause　him　pain　and　take　away　his　horse。　You　make　me　puke。'
　　'I　don't　have　to　listen　to　this；'　Filmer　said。
　　'Yes；　you　damned　well　do。　It's　time　someone　told　you　to　your　face　what　a　slimy　putrid　blob　of　spit　you　are　and　gave　you　back　some　of　the　hatred　you　sow。'
　　'Er；'　Bill　Baudelaire　said。　'We　have　here　a　letter　from　Mrs　Quentin's　insurance　pany；　written　yesterday；　saying　that　they　made　exhaustive　tests　on　her　horse　that　died　of　colic　and　they　are　satisfied　that　they　paid　her　claim　correctly。　We　also　have　here　an　affidavit　from　the　stable　lad；　Lenny　Higgs；　to　the　effect　that　you　learned　about　the　colic　and　the　specially　numbered　feeds　for　Laurentide　Ice　from　him　during　one　of　your　early　visits　to　the　horse　car。　He　goes　on　to　swear　that　he　was　later　frightened　into　saying　that　Mrs　Quentin　gave　him　some　food　to　give　to　her　horse　who　died　of　colic。'　He　cleared　his　throat。　'As　you　have　heard；　the　insurance　pany　are　satisfied　that　whatever　she　gave　her　horse　didn't　cause　its　death。　Lenny　Higgs　further　testifies　that　the　man　who　frightened　him；　by　telling　him　he　would　be　sent　to　prison　where　he　would　catch　AIDS　and　die；　that　man　is　an　ex…baggage　handler　once　employed　by　VIA　Rail；　name　of　Alex　Mitchell　McLachlan。'
　　'　What？'　For　the　first　time　there　was　fear　in　Filmer's　voice；　and　I　found　it　sweet。
　　'Lenny　Higgs　positively　identifies　him　from　this　photograph。'　There　was　a　pause　while　Bill　Baudelaire　handed　it　over。　'This　man　travelled　in　the　racegoers'　part　of　the　train　under　the　name　of　Johnson。　During　yesterday；　the　photograph　was　shown　widely　to　VIA　employees　in　Toronto　and　Montreal；　and　he　was　several　times　identified　as　Alex　McLachlan。'
　　There　was　silence　where　Filmer　might　have　spoken。
　　'You　were　observed　to　be　speaking　to　McLachlan。。。'
　　'You　bet　you　were；'　Daffodil　interrupted。　'You　were　talking　to　him。。。　arguing　with　him。。。　at　Thunder　Bay；　and　I　didn't　like　the　look　of　him。　This　is　his　picture。　I　identify　it　too。　You　used　him　to　frighten　Lenny；　and　you　told　me　Lenny　would　give　evidence　against　me；　and　I　didn't　know　you'd　frightened　the　poor　boy　with　such　a　terrible　threat。　You　told　me　he　hated　me　and　would　be　glad　to　tell　lies　about　me。。。'　The　enormity　of　it　almost　choked　her。　'I　don't　know　how　you　can　live　with　yourself。　I　don't　know　how　anyone　can　be　so　full　of　sin。'
　　Her　voice　resonated　with　the　full　old　meaning　of　the　word：　an　offence　against　God。　It　was　powerful；　I　thought；　and　it　had　silenced　Filmer　pletely。
　　'It　may　e　as　an　anti…climax；'　the　Brigadier　said　after　a　pause；　'but　we　will　now　digress　to　another　matter　entirely。　One　that　will　be　the　subject　of　a　full　Stewards'　enquiry　at　the　Jockey　Club；　Portland　Square；　in　the　near　future。　I　refer　to　the　ownership　of　a　parcel　of　land　referred　to　in　the　Land　Registry　as　SF90155。'
　　The　Brigadier　told　me　later　that　it　was　at　that　point　that　Filmer　turned　grey　and　began　to　sweat。
　　'This　parcel　of　land；'　his　military　voice　went　on；　'is　known　as　West　Hillside　Stables；　Newmarket。　This　was　a　stables　owned　by　Ivor　Horfitz　and　run　by　his　paid　private　trainer　in　such　a　dishonest　manner　that　Ivor　Horfitz　was　barred　from　racing…and　racing　stables…for　life。　He　was　instructed　to　sell　West　Hillside　Stables；　as　he　couldn't　set　foot　there；　and　it　was　presumed　that　he　had。　However；　the　new　owner　in　his　turn　wants　to　sell　and　has　found　a　buyer；　but　the　buyer's　lawyers'　searches　have　been　very　thorough；　and　they　have　discovered　that　the　stables　were　never　Horfitz's　to　sell。　They　belonged；　and　they　still　do　legally　belong；　to　you；　Mr　Filmer。'
　　There　was　a　faint　sort　of　groan　which　might　have　e　from　Filmer。
　　'That　being　so；　we　will　have　to　look　into　your　relationship　with　Ivor　Horfitz　and　with　the　illegal　matters　that　were　carried　on　for　years　at　West　Hillside　Stables。　We　also　have　good　reason　to　believe　that　Ivor　Horfitz's　son；　Jason；　knows　you　owned　the　stables　and　were　concerned　in　its　operation；　and　that　Jason　let　that　fact　out　to　his　friend；　the　stable　lad　Paul　Shacklebury　who；　as　you　will　remember；　was　the　subject　of　your　trial　for　conspiracy　to　murder；　which　took　place　earlier　this　year。'
　　There　was　a　long　long　silence。
　　Daffodil's　voice　said；　murmuring；　'I　don't　understand　any　of　this；　do　you？'
　　Mercer；　as　quietly；　answered：　'They've　found　a　way　of　warning　him　off　for　life。'
　　'Oh　good；　but　it　sounds　so　dull。'
　　'Not　to　him；'　Mercer　murmured。
　　'We'll　now　return；'　Bill　Baudelaire's　voice　said　more　loudly；　'to　the　matter　of　your　attempt　to　wreck　the　train。'　He　coughed。　'Will　you　please　e　in；　Mr　Burley。'
　　I　smiled　at　George　who　had　been　listening　to　the　Horfitz　part　in　non…prehension　and　the　rest　in　horrified　amazement。
　　'We're　on；'　I　said；　removing　my　raincoat　and　laying　it　on　a　serving　counter。　'After　you。'
　　He　and　I；　the　last　in　the　pantry；　went　through　the　door。　He　was　wearing　his　grey　uniform　and　carrying　his　Conductor's　cap。　I　was　revealed　in　Tommy's　grey　trousers；　grey　and　white　shirt；　deep　yellow　waistcoat　and　tidy　striped　tie。　Polished；　pressed；　laundered；　brushed：　a　credit　to　VIA　Rail。
　　Julius　Filmer　saw　the　Conductor　and　a　waiter　he'd　hardly　noticed　in　his　preoccupation　with　his　own　affairs。　The　Brigadier　and　Bill　Baudelaire　saw　the　waiter　for　the　first　time；　and　there　was　an　awakening　and　realization　on　each　of　their　faces。　Although　I'd　told　them　by　now　that　I'd　worked　with　the　crew；　they　hadn't　truly　understood　how　perfect　had　been　the　bright　camouflage。
　　'Oh；　that's　who　you　are！'　exclaimed　Daffodil　who　was　sitting　now　in　one　of　the　chairs　round　the　conference　table。　'I　couldn't　place　you；　outside。'
　　Mercer　patted　her　hand　which　lay　on　the　table；　and　gave　me　the　faintest　of　smiles　over　her　head。　The　three　Vancouver　big…wigs　took　me　at　face　value；　knowing　no　different。
　　'Would　you　e　forward；　please；'　Bill　Baudelaire　said。
　　George　and　I　both　advanced　past　the　conference　table　until　we　were　nearer　the　desk。　The　two　Directors　were　seated　behind　the　desk；　Filmer　in　the　chair　in　front　of　it。　Filmer's　neck　was　rigid；　his　eyes　were　dark；　and　the　sweat　ran　down　his　temples。
　　'The　Conductor；　George　Burley；'　Bill　Baudelaire　said；　'yesterday　gave　VIA　Rail　an　account　of　three　acts　of　sabotage　against　the　race　train。　Disaster　was　fortunately　averted　on　all　three　occasions；　but　we　believe　that　all　these　dangerous　situations　were　the　work　of　Alex　McLachlan　who　was　acting　on　your　instructions　and　was　paid　by　you。'
　　'No；'　Filmer　said　dully。
　　'Our　enquiries　are　not　yet　plete；'　Bill　Baudelaire　said；　'but　we　know　that　the　VIA　Rail　offices　in　Montreal　were　visited　three　or　four　weeks　ago　by　a　man　answering　in　general　to　your　description　who　said　he　was　researching　for　a　thesis　on　the　motivations　of　industrial　sabotage。　He　asked　for　the　names　of　any　railroad　saboteurs　so　that　he　could　interview　them　and　see　what　made　them　tick。　He　was　given　a　short　list　of　people　no　longer　to　be　employed　on　the　railroads　in　any　capacity。'
　　Heads　would　roll；　the　VIA　Rail　executive　had　said。　That　list；　although　to　be　found　in　every　railway　station　office　in　the　country；　should　never　have　been　given　to　an　outsider。
　　'McLachlan's　name　is　on　that　list；'　Bill　Baudelaire　observed。
　　Filmer　said　nothi