the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第36节
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anybody and everybody elsehis peculiar genius for being the average
man。
The front which he presented to the world was； in reality； his cleverest
creation。 The magazine and newspaper articles which were written about
him； the many pictures which were printed every month； presented the
mental and physical portrait of a knowing； bustling； extraordinarily candid
personality。 A personality with a touch of smugness in it。 This was
very generally thought to be the real Wilton Barnstable。 It was a fiction
which he had succeeded in establishing。 When he addressed meetings；
talked with reporters； wrote articles about himself； or came into touch with
the public in any manner； he assumed this personality。 When he did not
wish to be known he laid it aside。 When he desired to pass incognito；
therefore； it was not necessary for him to assume a disguise。 He simply
dropped one。
The two men with him； Barton Ward and Watson Bard； were his
cleverest agents。 They were learning from the master detective the art of
looking like other people； and were at present practicing by looking like
the popular conception of Wilton Barnstable。 They were clever men。
But Barton Ward and Watson Bard were； as Cleggett had felt at once； only
men of extraordinary talent； while Wilton Barnstable was a genius。
As Cleggett talked he was given a rather startling proof of Wilton
Barnstable's gift。 He was astonished to find a change stealing over
Wilton Barnstable's features。 Subtly the detective began to look like
someone else。 The expression of the face； the turn of the eyes； the lines
about the mouth； began to suggest someone whom Cleggett knew。 It was
rather a suggestion； an impression； than a likeness； it was rather the spirit
of a personality than a definite resemblance。 It was a psychic thing。
Barnstable was disguising himself from the inside out； he had assumed the
mental and spiritual clothing of someone else。
Cleggett could not think at first who it was that Wilton Barnstable
suggested。 But presently he saw that it was himself。 He glanced at
Barton Ward and Watson Bard； they still resembled the popular conception
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of Wilton Barnstable。
Gradually the look of Cleggett faded from Wilton Barnstable's face。
It changed； it shifted； that look did； Cleggett almost cried out as he saw the
face of Wilton Barnstable become an impressionistic portrait of the soul of
Logan Black。 He looked at Barton Ward。 Barton Ward was now
looking like Wilton Barnstable's conception of Cleggett。 But Watson
Bard； less facile and less creative； still clung stolidly to the popular
conception of Wilton Barnstable。
But； even as Cleggett looked； this remarkable exhibition ceased； the
Wilton Barnstable look dominated the faces again。 Plump； yet dignified；
smiling easily and kindly； three plain business men looked at him；
respectable citizens； commonplace citizens； a little smug； faces that spoke
of comfort； method； regularity； eyes that seemed to wink with the pressure
of platitudes in the minds behind them； platitudes that desired to force
their way to the lips and out into the world。
Yes； such was the genius of Wilton Barnstable that he could at will
impose himself upon people as the apotheosis of the commonplace。 He
did it often。 It was almost second nature to him now。 His urbane smile
was the only visible sign of his own enjoyment of this habitual feat。 He
knew his own genius； and smiled to think how easy it was to pass for an
average man！
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CHAPTER XXI
THE THIRD OBLONG BOX
ARRIVES
〃I think；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； when Cleggett had finished； 〃that I
may be able to clear up a few points for you。
〃The two men whom you saw me hazing up and down the bank of the
blue silk pajamas； were Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat！〃
〃The wretches！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
〃Wretches indeed；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； Barton Ward； and Watson
Bard； in unison； and with conviction。
〃And the man in the baby blue silk pajamas； was〃 the great
detective paused； as if to make his revelation more effective。 And while
he paused； Miss Genevieve Pringle； with pursed lips and averted face；
signified that the very idea of introducing a man in baby blue silk pajamas
into the conversation was intensely displeasing to her。
〃The man in pajamas was Reginald Maltravers；〃 finished the great
detective。
〃Reginald Maltravers！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
She opened her mouth again as if to say something more； but words
failed her； and she only stared at the detective； with parted lips and round
eyes。
Cleggett went to her and touched her on the arm； and with the touch
she gave a sob of emotion and found her tongue again。
〃Reginald Maltravers；〃 she said； 〃is not dead then！ Not dead after
all！〃
She endeavored to control herself； but for a moment or two she
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trembled。 It was evident that it was all she could do to keep from crying
hysterically with relief。 The nightmare that had haunted her for days had
vanished almost too suddenly。 Presently she began to be herself again。
〃You are sure that he is not dead？〃 she said with a voice that still
shook。
〃Sure；〃 said Wilton Barnstable。
And as if quietly satisfied with the sensation they had produced； the
three detectives smiled at each other urbanely and contentedly。
Barnstable continued：
〃Reginald Maltravers came to my agency some days ago and
requested a bodyguard。 Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat had attacked him；
no doubt intending to earn the money which Elmer had promised them。
He beat them off。 In fact； he caned them soundly。 But they still
continued to dog him。
〃Mr。 Ward here； who handled the case； soon reported to me that he
believed Reginald Maltravers to be insane。〃
〃Insane he was；〃 cried Lady Agatha。 〃I have seen the light of
insanity in his eye； gleaming through his accursed monocle。〃 She spoke
with vehemence。 Now that she knew the man to be alive； her hatred of
him had flared up again。
〃Insane he was；〃 agreed Wilton Barnstable。 〃And shortly after that
discovery was made； he disappeared。 The next day after his
disappearance； Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat were liberally supplied with
money。
〃Of course they got the money； Lady Agatha； through the clever trick
they worked upon you。〃
〃A great many people have got money from me since I have been in
America；〃 said Lady Agatha。
〃Ah！ Yes？〃 The great detective went on with his masterly summing
up。 〃Of course they got the money from the trick they worked on Lady
Agatha。 But at the time I thought it possible that they had robbed Reginald
Maltravers and then put him out of the way。 They are well…known
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gunmen。
〃I took them into custody and determined to hold them until such time
as Reginald Maltravers would be found； or his fate discovered。
Eventually I brought them with me on my house boat。 I was really holding
them without due legal warrant； but I am forced to do that； sometimes。
They complained of lack of exercise； so I gave them exercise in the
manner which you
