the red seal-第15节

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Penfield　consulted　a　list　of　names。　　〃Call　Grimes；　the　McIntyre　butler；〃　he　said。　　〃We　will　hear　him　while　waiting　for　the　Colonel。〃

Grimes；　small　and　thin；　with　the　stolid　countenance　of　the　well…trained　servant；　was　exceedingly　short　in　his　replies　to　the　coroner's　questions。　　Yes；　he　had　lived　with　the　McIntyre　during　their　residence　in　Washington；　something　like　five　years；　he　couldn't　quite　remember　the　exact　dates。　　No；　there　was　never　any　quarreling；　upstairs　or　down；　it　was　a　well…ordered　household　until　this。

〃Exactly；〃　remarked　the　coroner　dryly。　　〃What　about　Monday　night？　Tell　us；　Grimes；　what　occurred　in　that　house　between　midnight　Monday　and　five　o'clock　Tuesday　morning。〃

〃Haven't　much　to　tell；〃　was　the　grumpy　response。　　〃I　went　upstairs　about　half…past　eleven　and　got　down　the　next　morning　at　the　usual　hour；　seven　o'clock。〃

〃And　you　heard　no　disturbing　sounds　in　the　night？〃

〃No；　sir。　　We　wouldn't　be　likely　to；　the　servants'　rooms　are　all　at　the　top　of　the　house　and　the　staircase　leading　to　them　has　a　brick　wall　on　either　side；　like　stairs　leading　to　an　ordinary　attic；　and　there's　a　door　at　the　bottom　which　shuts　off　all　sound　from　below。〃　　It　was　the　longest　sentence　the　butler　had　indulged　in　and　he　paused　for　breath。

〃Who　closes　the　house　at　night。　　Grimes？〃

〃I　do；　sir。

〃Why　did　you　leave　the　window　in　the　reception　room　open？〃

〃I　didn't；　sir；〃　was　the　prompt　denial。　　〃I　had　just　locked　it　when　Mrs。　Brewster　came　in；　along　with　Colonel　McIntyre　and　Mr。　Clymer；　and　they　sat　down　to　talk。　　When　I　left　the　room　the　window　was　locked　fast；　and　so　was　every　door　and　window　in　the　place；〃　he　declared　aggressively。　　〃　I'll　take　my　dying　oath　to　it；　sir。〃　Penfield　looked　at　Grimes；　that　he　was　telling　the　truth　was　unmistakable。

〃Who　sits　up　to　let　in　the　young　ladies　when　they　go　to　balls？〃　he　asked。

〃Generally　no　one；　sir；　because　Colonel　McIntyre　accompanies　them　or　calls　for　them；　and　he　has　his　latch…key。　　Lately；〃　added　Grimes　as　an　after…thought；　〃Miss　Helen　has　been　using　a　duplicate　latch…key。〃

〃Has　Miss　Barbara　McIntyre　a　latch…key；　also？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃No；　sir；　I　believe　not；〃　the　butler　looked　dubious。　　〃I　recall　that　Colonel　McIntyre　gave　Miss　Helen　her　key　at　the　luncheon　table；　and　he　said；　then；　to　Miss　Barbara　that　he　couldn't　trust　her　with　one　because　she　would　be　sure　to　lose　it；　she　is　that　careless。〃

The　coroner　asked　the　next　question　with　such　abruptness　that　the　butler　started。

〃When　did　you　last　see　Mr。　Turnbull　at　the　house？〃

〃Sunday　afternoon。〃　Grimes'　reply　was　spoken　with　more　than　his　accustomed　quickness　of　speech。　　〃Mr。　Turnbull　called　twice；　after　a　long　time　in　the　drawing　room；　he　went　away　taking　the　police　dogs　with　him；　and　later　called　to　bring　them　back。〃

〃Where　were　these　dogs　on　Monday　night？〃

〃I　last　saw　them　in　the　library；〃　replied　Grimes　shortly。

〃And　where　did　you　find　them　the　next　morning？〃　prompted　the　coroner。

〃In　the　cellar；〃　laconically。

〃And　what　were　they　doing　in　the　cellar？〃

〃Hunting　rats。〃

〃And　how　did　the　dogs　get　in　the　cellar？〃　inquired　the　coroner　patiently。　　Grimes　was　not　volunteering　information；　even　if　he　could　not　be　accused　of　holding　it　back。

〃Some　one　must　have　let　them　down　the　back　stairs；〃　the　butler　admitted。　　〃I　don't　know　who　it　was。〃

〃Which　servant　got　downstairs　ahead　of　you　on　Tuesday　morning？〃

〃No　one；　sir；　the　cook　over…slept；　and　she　and　the　maids　came　down　in　a　bunch　ten　minutes　later。〃

〃And　who　told　you　of　the　attempted　burglary　and　the　burglar's　arrest？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃Miss　Barbara。　　She　asked　us　to　hurry　breakfast　for　her　and　Miss　Helen　'cause　they　had　to　go　at　once　to　the　police　court；　she　didn't　give　any　particulars；　or　nothing；〃　added　Grimes　in　an　injured　tone。　〃'Twarn't　'til　Thomas　and　I　saw　the　afternoon　papers　that　we　knew　what　had　been　going　on　in　our　own　house。〃

〃That　is　all；　Grimes；〃　announced　Penfield；　and　the　butler　left　the　platform　with　the　same　stolid　air　he　wore　when　he　arrived。　　He　was　followed　in　the　witness　chair　by　the　other　McIntyre　servants　in　succession。　　Their　testimony　added　nothing　to　what　he　had　said　but　simply　confirmed　his　statements。

Kent；　who　had　grown　restless　during　the　servants'　monotonous　testimony；　forgot　the　oppressive　atmosphere　of　the　room　on　seeing　Mrs。　Brewster　enter　under　the　escort　of　the　morgue　master。　　Spying　a　vacant　seat　several　rows　ahead　of　where　he　was　sitting；　Kent；　with　a　muttered　apology　to　the　people　over　whom　he　crawled　in　his　efforts　to　get　out；　hurried　into　it　just　as　the　vivacious　widow　had　finished　taking　the　oath　to　〃tell　the　truth　and　nothing　but　the　truth；〃　and　seated　herself；　with　much　rustling　of　silk　skirts　in　the　witness　chair。

〃State　your　full　name；　madam；〃　directed　Coroner　Penfield；　eyeing　her　dainty　beauty　with　admiration。

〃Margaret　Perry　Brewster；〃　she　answered。　　〃Widow　of　Louis　C。　Brewster。　　Both　I　and　my　late　husband　were　born　and　lived　in　Los　Angeles；　California。〃

〃Are　you　visiting　the　Misses　McIntyre？〃

〃Yes。〃　　Mrs。　Brewster　spoke　in　a　chatty　impersonal　manner。　　〃I　have　been　with　them　since　the　first　of　the　month。〃

〃Did　you　attend　the　Grosvenor　dance？〃　asked　the　coroner。

〃No；　the　affair　was　only　given　for　the　debutantes　of　last　fall　and　did　not　include　married　people；〃　she　explained。　　〃It　was　a　warm　night　and　Colonel　McIntyre　asked　Mr。　Benjamin　Clymer；　who　was　dining　with　him；　and　me；　to　go　for　a　motor　ride；　leaving　Barbara　at　the　Grosvenors'　en　route。　　We　did　so；　returning　to　the　house　about　eleven　o'clock；　and　sat　talking　until　about　midnight　in　the　reception　room；　then　Colonel　McIntyre　drove　Mr。　Clymer　home；　and　I　went　to　my　room。〃

〃Were　you　awakened　by　any　noises　during　the　night？〃　inquired　Penfield。

〃No；　I　heard　no　noises。〃　　Mrs。　Brewster's　charming　smile　was　infectious。

〃When　did　you　first　learn　of　the　supposed　burglary　and　the　death　of　James　Turnbull？〃

〃The　McIntyre　twins　told　me　about　the　tragedy　on　their　return　from　the　police　court；〃　answered　Mrs。　Brewster；　and　settled　herself　a　little　more　comfortably　in　the　witness　chair。

〃When　you　were　in　the　reception　room；　Mrs。　Brewster　〃　…　Penfield　paused　and　studied　his　notes　a　second　…〃　did　you　observe　if　the　window　was　open　or　closed？〃

〃It　was　not　open　when　we　entered；〃　she　responded。　　〃But　the　air　in　the　room　was　stuffy　and　at　my　request　Mr。　Clymer　raised　the　window。〃

〃Did　he　close　it　later？〃

She　considered　the　question。　　〃I　really　do　not　recall；〃　she　admitted　finally。　　Her　eyes　strayed　toward　the　door　through　which　she　had　entered；　and　Penfield　answered　her　unspoken　thought。

〃Just　one　more　question；〃　he　said　hurriedly。　　〃Did　you　see　the　dogs　on　Monday　night？〃

〃Yes。　　I　heard　them　scratching　at　the　door　leading　to　the　basement　as　I　went　upstairs；　and　so　I　turned　around　and　went　down　and　opened　the　door　and　let　them　run　down　into　the　cellar。〃

Penfield　snapped　shut　his　notebook。　　〃I　am　greatly　obliged；　Mrs。　Brewster；　we　will　not　detain　you　longer。〃

The　morgue　master　stepped　forward　and　helped　the　pretty　widow　down　from　the　platform。

〃Colonel　McIntyre　is　here　now；〃　he　told　the　coroner。

〃Ah；　then　bring　him　in；〃　and　Penfield；　while　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　new　witness；　straightened　the　papers　on　his　desk。

McIntyre　looked　straight　ahead　of　him　as　he　walked　down　the　room　and　stood　frowning　heavily　while　the　oath　was　being　administered；　but　his　manner；　when　the　coroner　addressed　him；　had　regained　all　the　suavity　and　polish　which　had　first　captivated　Washington　society。

〃I　have　been　a　resident　of　Washington　for　about　five　years；〃　he　said　in　answer　to　the　coroner's　question。　　〃My　daughters　attended　school　here　after　their　return　from　Paris；　where　they　were　in　a　convent　for　four　years。　　They　made　their　debut　last　November　at　our　home　in　this　city。〃

〃Were　you　aware　of　the　wager　between　your　daughter　Barbara　and　James　Turnbull？〃　asked　Penfield。

〃I　heard　of　it　Sunday　afternoon　but　paid　little　attention；〃　admitted　McIntyre。　　〃My　daughter　Barbara's　vagaries　I　seldom　take　seriously。〃

〃Was　Mr。　Turnbull　a　frequent　visitor　at　your　house？〃

〃Oh；　yes。〃

〃Was　he　engaged　to　your　daughter　Helen？〃

〃No。〃　　McIntyre's　denial　was　prompt　and　firmly　spoken。　　Penfield　and　Kent；　from　his　new　seat　nearer　the　platform；　watched　the　colonel　narrowly；　but　learned　nothing　from　his　expression。

〃I　have　heard　otherwise；〃　observed　the　coroner　dryly。

〃You　have　been　misinformed；〃　McIntyre's　manner　was　short。　　〃I　would　suggest；　Mr。　Coroner；　that　you　confine　your　questions　and　conjectures　to　matters　pertinent　to　this　inquiry。〃

Penfield　flushed　as　one　of　the　jurors　snickered；　but　he　did　not　repeat　his　previous　question；　asking　instead；　〃Was　there　good　feeling　between　you　and　Mr。　Turnbull？〃

〃I　never　quarreled　with　him；〃　replied　McIntyre。　　〃I　really　saw　little　of　him　as；　whenever　he　called　at　the　house；　he　came　to　see　one　or　the　other　of　my　daughters；　or　both。〃

〃When　did　you　last　see　Mr。　Turnbull？〃　inquired　Penfield。

〃He　was　at　the　house　on　Sunday　and　I　had　quite　a　talk　with　him；〃　McIntyre　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　regarded　the　neat　crease　in　his　trousers　with　critical　eyes。　　〃I　last　saw　Turnbull　going　out　of　the　street　door。〃

〃Were　you　disturbed　by　the　burglar's　entranc