the red seal-第18节

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and　could　not　see　any　one。〃　　Kent；　who　had　called　there　on　the　way　to　keep　his　dinner　engagement　with　Clymer；　had　been　met　with　the　same　statement；　to　his　bitter　disappointment。　　He　most　earnestly　desired　to　see　the　twins　and　to　see　them　together；　to　make　one　more　effort　to　induce　them　to　confide　in　him；　for　that　they　had　some　secret　trouble　he　was　convinced；　he　longed　to　be　of　aid；　but　his　hands　were　tied　through　lack　of　information。

〃Don't　imply　motives　to　Miss　McIntyre's　act　until　you　have　verified　them；　Ferguson；〃　he　cautioned。　　〃Go　on　with　your　theories。〃

〃One　moment；〃　Clymer　broke　into　the　conversation。　　〃Did　Rochester　tell　you；　Ferguson；　that　he　had　recognized　Turnbull　in　his　burglar　disguise？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　never　had　an　opportunity　to　ask　him；　for　he　disappeared　Tuesday　night　and　has　not　been　seen　or　heard　of　since；〃　Ferguson　rejoined。

〃Hold　on；〃　Kent　checked　him　with　an　impatient　gesture。　　〃I　had　a　telegram　from　Rochester　this　morning；　stating　he　was　in　Cleveland。〃

〃I　didn't　forget　about　the　telegram；〃　retorted　Ferguson。　　〃It　was　to　consult　you　about　that；　that　I　hunted　you　up　to…night。　　That　telegram　was　bogus。〃

〃What！〃　Kent　half　rose　from　his　chair。

〃Yes。　　After　the　inquest　I　called　Cleveland　on　the　long　distance；　talked　with　the　City　Club　officials　and　with　Police　Headquarters；　all　declared　that　Rochester　was　not　there；　and　no　trace　could　be　found　of　his　having　ever　arrived　in　the　city。〃

Clymer　laid　down　his　half　smoked　cigar　and　stared　at　the　detective。

〃You　think　then　that　Rochester　has　bolted？〃　he　asked。

〃It　looks　that　way；〃　insisted　Ferguson。　　〃How　about　it；　Mr。　Kent？〃　The　question　was　put　with　a　touch　of　arrogance。

Kent　did　not　reply　immediately。　　Every　fact　that　Ferguson　had　brought　out　fitted　the　situation；　and　Rochester's　disappearance　added　color　to　the　detective's　charges。　　Why　was　he　hiding　unless　from　guilty　motives；　and　where　had　he　gone？　　Kent　shook　a　bewildered　head。

〃It　is　plausible；〃　he　conceded；　〃but；　after　all；　only　circumstantial　evidence。〃

〃Well；　circumstantial　evidence　is　good　enough　for　me　to　work　on；〃　retorted　Ferguson。　　〃On　discovering　that　the　telegram　from　Cleveland　was　a　hoax；　I　concluded　Ferguson　might　be　lurking　around　Washington　and　so　sent　a　description　of　him　to　the　different　precincts　and　secured　a　search　warrant。〃

〃You　did？〃

〃Yes。　　　Armed　with　it　I　visited　Mr。　Rochester's　apartment；　but　couldn't　find　a　clew　to　his　present　whereabouts；〃　admitted　Ferguson。　〃So　then　I　went　to　your　office；　Mr。　Kent；　and　ransacked　the　firm's　safe。〃

〃Confound　you！〃　　Kent　leaned　forward　in　his　wrath　and　shook　his　fist　at　the　detective。　　〃What　right　had　you　to　do　such　a　thing？〃

〃The　search　warrant　covered　it；〃　explained　Ferguson。　　〃I　could　look　through　your　safe；　Mr。　Kent；　because　Rochester　was　your　senior　partner　and　you　shared　the　office　together；　I　was　within　the　law。〃

〃Perhaps　you　were；〃　Kent　controlled　his　anger　with　an　effort。　　〃But　I　had　told　you　I　did　not　know　Rochester's　whereabouts　before　I　showed　you　the　Cleveland　telegram；　which　you　claim　is　bogus。〃

〃It's　bogus；　all　right；〃　insisted　the　detective。　　〃I　thought　it　just　possible　I　might　find　some　paper　which　would　give　me　a　clew　to　Rochester's　hiding　place；　so　I　went　through　the　safe。〃

〃How　did　you　get　it　open？〃　asked　Kent。

〃I　found　it　open。〃

Kent　leapt　to　his　feet。　　〃You　…　found　…　it　open！　〃…　he　stammered。　〃Why；　man；　I　locked　that　safe　securely　just　before　I　left　the　office　at　six　o'clock。〃

Sure？〃

Absolutely　certain。〃

〃Were　you　alone？〃

〃Yes；　all　alone。　　Sylvester　left　at　five　o'clock〃

〃Who　knew　the　combination　of　the　safe？〃

〃Only　Rochester　and　I。〃

It　was　Ferguson's　turn　to　spring　up　〃By　…！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　thought　the　electric　bulbs　in　the　office　felt　warm；　as　if　they　had　recently　been　burning　…　Rochester　must　have　been　there　just　before　me。〃

〃It　would　seem　that　Rochester　is　still　in　the　city；〃　remarked　Clymer。　〃Do　you　know；　Kent；　whether　he　had　his　office　keys　with　him？〃

〃I　presume　so；〃　Kent　slipped　his　hand　inside　his　pocket　and　took　out　a　bunch　of　keys。　　〃He　left　these　duplicates　in　his　desk　at　the　office。〃

〃Sure　they　are　duplicates？〃　questioned　Ferguson；　and　Kent　flushed。

〃I　know　they　are；〃　he　retorted。　　〃Rochester　had　them　made　over　a　year　ago　as　a　matter　of　convenience；　for　he　was　always　forgetting　his　keys；　and　kept　these　at　our　office。〃

〃He's　a　queer　cuss；〃　was　the　detective's　only　comment　and　Clymer　broke　into　the　conversation。

〃Did　you　find　any　address　or　paper　in　the　safe　which　might　prove　a　clew；　Ferguson？〃　he　inquired。

〃Nothing；　not　even　a　scrap　of　paper；〃　and　the　detective's　tone　was　glum。

〃Did　the　safe　look　as　if　its　contents　had　been　tumbled　about？〃　asked　Kent。

〃No；　everything　seemed　in　order。〃　　Ferguson　thrust　his　hand　inside　his　coat　pocket。　　〃There　was　one　envelope　in　the　right　hand　compartment　which　puzzled　me　…〃

〃Hold　on　…　was　that　compartment　also　unlocked？〃　asked　Kent。

〃It　was；〃　not　giving　Kent　time　to　speak　again　Ferguson　continued　his　remarks。　　〃As　this　was　unaddressed　I　brought　it　to　you；　Mr。　Kent；　to　ask　if　it　was　your　personal　property〃　…　he　drew　out　the　white　envelope　which　Helen　McIntyre　had　brought　Kent　that　morning　and　turned　it　over　so　that　both　men　could　see　the　large　red　seal　bearing　the　letter　〃B。〃

〃It　is　my　property；〃　asserted　Kent　instantly。

〃Would　you　mind　opening　it？〃　asked　Ferguson。

〃I　would；　most　certainly；　it　relates　to　my　personal　affairs。〃

Ferguson　looked　a　trifle　non…plussed。　　〃Would　you　mind　telling　me　its　contents；　Mr。　Kent？〃　he　asked　persuasively。

Kent　regarded　the　detective　squarely。　　He　could　not　betray　Helen；　the　envelope　might　contain　harmless　nonsense；　but　she　had　placed　it　in　his　safe…keeping　…　no；　confound　it；　she　had　left　it　in　the　safe　for　Rochester　…　and　Rochester　was　apparently　a　fugitive　from　justice；　while　circumstantial　evidence　pointed　to　his　having　poisoned　Helen's　lover；　Jimmie。。。

〃If　you　must　know；　Ferguson；〃　Kent　spoke　with　deliberation。　　〃They　are　old　love　letters　of　mine。〃

Clymer　glanced　down　at　the　envelope　which　the　detective　still　held；　the　red　seal　making　a　distinct　blotch　of　color　on　the　white；　glazed　surface。

〃Ah；　Kent；〃　he　said　in　amusement。　　〃So　rumor　is　right　in　predicting　your　engagement　to　Barbara　McIntyre。　　Good　luck　to　you！〃

Through　the　open　doorway　to　the　dining　room　where　the　dancing　had　ceased　for　the　moment；　came　a　soft　laugh　and　Mrs。　Brewster　looked　in　at　them。　　McIntyre；　standing　like　her　shadow；　gazed　in　curiosity　over　her　shoulder　at　the　three　men。

〃How　jolly　to　find　you；〃　cooed　Mrs。　Brewster。　　〃And　what　a　charming　retreat！　　It's　much　too　nice　to　be　occupied　by　men；　only。〃　　She　inclined　her　head　in　a　little　gracious　bow　to　Ferguson　and　stepped　inside。

〃Have　my　chair；〃　suggested　Clymer　hospitably　as　the　pretty　widow　raised　her　lorgnette　and　scanned　the　Oriental　hangings　and　lamps；　and　lastly；　the　white　envelope　which　lay　on　the　table；　red　seal　uppermost；　where　Ferguson　had　placed　it　on　her　entrance。

〃Are　your　daughters　here；　Colonel　McIntyre？〃　asked　Kent　as　he　took　a　step　toward　the　table。　　McIntyre's　answer　was　drowned　in　an　outburst　of　cheering　in　the　dining　room　and　the　rush　of　many　feet。　On　common　impulse　Kent　and　the　others　turned　toward　the　doorway　and　looked　inside　the　dining　room。　　Two　officers　of　the　French　High　Commission　were　being　held　on　the　shoulders　of　comrades　and　were　delivering；　as　best　they　could　amidst　cheers　and　applause；　their　farewell　to　hospitable　Washington。

As　his　companions　brushed　by　him　to　join　the　gay　throng　in　the　center　of　the　room；　Kent　turned　back　to　pick　up　the　envelope　he　had　left　lying　on　the　table。　　It　was　gone。

In　feverish　haste　Kent　looked　under　the　table；　under　the　chairs；　the　lounge　and　its　cushions；　behind　the　draperies；　and　even　under　the　rugs　which　covered　the　floor　of　the　porch；　and　then　rose　and　stared　into　the　dining　room。　　Which　one　of　his　companions　had　taken　the　envelope？

Outside　the　porch　the　beautiful　trumpet　vine；　its　sturdy　trunk　and　thick　branches　reaching　almost　to　the　roof　of　the　club　building；　rustled　as　in　a　high　wind；　and　the　branches　swayed　this　way　and　that　as　a　figure　climbed　swiftly　down　from　the　porch　until；　reaching　the　fence　separating　the　club　property　from　its　neighbor's；　the　man　swung　across　it；　no　mean　athletic　feet；　and　taking　advantage　of　each　sheltering　shadow；　darted　into　the　alley　and　from　there　down　silent；　deserted　Nineteenth　Street。


CHAPTER　XI

HALF　A　TRUTH

Dancing　was　being　resumed　in　the　dining　room　as　Kent　appeared　again　in　the　doorway　and　he　made　his　way　as　quickly　as　possible　among　the　couples；　going　into　all　the　rooms　on　that　floor；　but　nowhere　could　he　find　Detective　Ferguson。　　On　emerging　from　the　drawing　room；　he　encountered　the　steward　returning　from　downstairs。

〃Have　you　seen　Mr。　Clymer？〃　he　asked　hurriedly。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Kent；　he　just　left　the　club；　taking　Detective　Ferguson　with　him　in　his　motor。　　Is　there　anything　I　can　do？〃　added　the　steward　observing　Kent's　agitation。

〃No；　no；　thanks。　　Say；　where　is　Colonel　McIntyre？〃　　Kent　gave　up　further　pursuit　of　the　detective；　he　could　find　him　later　at　Headquarters。　　The　steward　looked　among　the　dancers。　　〃I　don't　see　him；〃　he　said；　〃But　there　is　Mrs。　Brewste