the red seal-第30节

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〃Yes；　go　on；〃　urged　Kent；　catching　the　man's　excitement。　　〃You　gave　it　to　Mrs。　Brewster　…〃

〃No；　sir；　I　didn't；　I　left　the　box　on　the　hall　table；〃　Grimes　cleared　his　throat　nervously。　　〃I　dunno　who　picked　up　that　box　o'　poison；　Mr。　Kent；　so　help　me　God；　I　dunno！〃

Kent　thought　rapidly。　　〃Have　you　told　any　one　of　this？〃　he　asked。

Grimes　nodded。　　〃Only　one　person；〃　he　admitted。〃　　I　spoke　to　Miss　Barbara　last　night　as　she　was　going　to　bed。〃　　Grimes　laid　a　hot　hand　on　Kent's　and　glanced　fearfully　around　the　room。　　〃Bend　nearer；　sir；　I　don't　want　none　other　to　hear　me。　　Just　before　I　got　that　knockout　blow　in　the　library　last　night；　I　heard　the　swish　o'　skirts　…　and　Miss　Barbara　was　the　only　living　person　who　knew　I　knew　about　the　poison。〃

Kent　stared　in　stupefaction　at　the　butler。　　He　was　aroused　by　a　cold　voice　from　the　doorway。

〃We　are　waiting　for　you；　Kent；〃　and　Colonel　McIntyre　stood　aside　to　let　him　pass　from　the　room　ahead　of　him；　then　without　a　backward　glance　at　the　injured　butler；　he　closed　and　locked　the　bedroom　door。


CHAPTER　XVIII

THE　FATAL　PERIOD

As　Kent　walked　into　the　library　he　found　Colonel　McIntyre　by　his　side；　the　latter's　even　breathing　gave　no　indication　of　the　haste　he　had　made　down　the　staircase　to　catch　up　with　Kent。

Detective　Ferguson　hardly　noted　their　arrival；　his　attention　being　given　wholly　to　the　examination　of　the　Venetian　casket　which　had　played　such　an　important　part　in　the　drama　of　the　night　before。　The　casket　and　its　companion　piece　stood　on　either　side　of　the　room　near　a　window　recess。　　The　long　straight　shape　of　the　high　boxes　on　their　graceful　base　gave　no　indication　of　the　use　to　which　they　had　been　put　in　ancient　days；　but　made　attractive　as　well　as　unique　pieces　of　furniture。

Kent　crossed　the　library　and；　after　looking　inside　the　casket；　examined　the　exterior　with　care。

〃Don't　touch　that　crest；〃　cautioned　Ferguson；　observing　that　Kent's　glance　remained　focused　on　the　blood…stained；　raised　letter　〃B〃　and　the　carving　back　of　it。　　〃In　fact；　don't　touch　any　part　of　the　casket；　I'm　trying　to　get　finger　prints。〃

Kent　barely　heard　the　warning　as　he　turned　to　McIntyre。

〃Haven't　I　seen　that　letter　'B'　design　on　your　stationery；　Colonel？〃　he　asked。

〃Barbara　uses　it；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃She　fancied　the　antique　lettering；　and　copied　the　'B'　for　the　engraver；　she　is　handy　with　her　pen；　you　know。〃

〃Did　she　wish　the　'B'　for　a　seal？〃　inquired　Kent。

〃Yes；　she　had　a　seal　made　like　it　also。〃　　McIntyre　moved　closer　to　the　casket。　　〃Found　anything；　Ferguson？〃

The　detective　withdrew　his　head　from　the　opening　at　the　end　of　the　casket；　and　regarded　the　furniture　vexedly。

〃Not　a　thing；〃　he　acknowledged。　　〃Except　I　am　convinced　that　it　required　dexterity　to　slip　Grimes　inside　the　casket。　　The　butler　is　small　and　slight；　but　he　must　have　been　unconscious　from　that　tap　on　the　forehead　and；　therefore；　a　dead　weight。　　Whoever　picked　him　up　must　have　been　some　athlete；　and〃　…　running　his　eyes　up　and　down　Colonel　McIntyre's　well…knit；　erect　frame　…　〃pretty　familiar　with　the　workings　of　this　casket。〃

〃Pooh！　　It's　not　so　difficult　a　feat；〃　McIntyre　shrugged　his　shoulders　disdainfully。　　〃My　daughters；　as　children；　used　to　play　hide　and　seek　inside　the　casket　with　each　new　governess。〃

Ferguson　stepped　forward　briskly。　　〃Mr。　Kent；　let　me　see　if　I　can　lift　you　inside　the　casket；　make　yourself　limp　…　that's　it！〃　as　Kent；　entering　into　the　investigation　heart　and　soul；　relaxed　his　muscles　and　fell　back　against　the　detective。

A　moment　later　he　was　swung　upward　and　pushed　head…first　inside　the　casket　and　the　door　closed。　　The　air；　though　close；　was　not　unpleasant　and　Kent；　his　eyes　growing　gradually　accustomed　to　the　dark　interior；　tried　to　discover　the　trap　door　at　the　top　of　the　box　but　without　success。　　Putting　out　his　hands　he　felt　along　the　top。　　The　height　of　the　casket　did　not　permit　him　to　sit　up；　so　he　was　obliged　to　slide　his　body　down　toward　his　feet　to　feel　along　the　sides　of　the　casket。　　This　maneuver　soon　brought　his　knees　in　violent　contact　with　the　top；　and　at　the　sound　Ferguson　opened　the　door　and　assisted　him　out。

〃Had　enough　of　it？〃　he　asked；　viewing　Kent's　reddened　cheeks　with　faint　amusement。　　〃I　wonder　if　Grimes　could　breathe　in　there　for　any　lengthy　period。　　If　so；　it　would　help　establish　the　time　which　elapsed　between　his　being　incarcerated　and　your　finding　him；　Colonel。〃

〃How　so？〃　demanded　McIntyre。

〃Well；　if　he　couldn't　get　air　and　you　hadn't　discovered　him　at　once；　he'd　have　died；〃　explained　Ferguson。　　〃If　you　did　find　him　immediately　the　person　who　knocked　him　down　must　have　made　a　lightning　escape。〃

〃Air　does　get　in　the　casket　in　some　way；〃　broke　in　Kent。　　〃It　wasn't　so　bad　inside。　　Colonel　McIntyre；〃　Kent　stopped　a　moment　to　remove　a　piece　of　red　sealing　wax　clinging　to　the　cuff　of　his　suit。　　It　had　not　been　there　when　he　entered　the　casket。　　Kent　dropped　the　wax　in　his　vest　pocket　as　he　again　addressed　his　host。　　〃Who　first　discovered　Grimes　in　the　casket？〃

〃Mrs。　Brewster。〃

〃And　what　was　Mrs。　Brewster　doing　in　the　library　at　that　hour？〃　glancing　keenly　at　McIntyre　as　he　put　the　question。

〃She　could　not　sleep　and　came　down　for　a　book；〃　explained　the　Colonel。

Ferguson；　who　had　walked　several　times　around　the　library；　looking　behind　first　one　and　then　the　other　of　the　seven　doors；　paused　to　ask：

〃What　attracted　Mrs。　Brewster's　attention　to　the　casket？〃

〃The　blood　stain　on　its　side；〃　McIntyre　answered。

〃What　…　that！〃　　Ferguson　eyed　McIntyre　incredulously。　　〃Come；　sir；　do　you　mean　to　tell　me　she　noticed　that　little　bit　of　a　stain　in　a　dark　room？〃

〃She　had　an　electric　torch；〃　shortly。

〃But　why　should　she　turn　the　torch　on　this　casket？〃　persisted　the　detective。　　〃She　came　to　the　library　for　a　book；　and　the　bookcases　are　in　another　part　of　the　room。〃

〃Quite　so；　but　the　book　she　wished　was　lying　on　the　top　of　this　casket；〃　replied　McIntyre；　meeting　their　level　looks　with　one　equally　steadfast。　　〃I　know　because　I　left　the　book　there。〃

Ferguson　glanced　from　McIntyre　to　Kent　and　back　again　at　the　Colonel　in　non…plussed　silence。　　The　explanation　was　pat。

〃I'd　like　to　talk　with　Mrs。　Brewster；〃　he　remarked　dryly。

〃Certainly。〃　　McIntyre　pressed　an　electric　button。　　The　summons　was　answered　immediately　by　the　new　servant；　Murray。　　〃Ask　Mrs。　Brewster　if　she　can　see　Detective　Ferguson　in　the　library；　Murray；〃　McIntyre　directed。

〃Beg　pardon；　sir；　but　Mrs。　　Brewster　has　just　gone　out；〃　and　with　a　bow　Murray　withdrew。

Kent；　who　had　drawn　forward　a　chair　preparatory　to　sitting　down　and　participating　in　the　interview　with　the　widow；　changed　his　mind。

〃I　must　leave　at　once；〃　he　said；　after　consulting　his　watch。　〃Please　inform　Mrs。　　Brewster；　Colonel；　that　I　will　be　in　my　office　this　afternoon；　and　I　expect　her　to　make　me　the　visit　she　postponed　this　morning。　　Ferguson；〃　turning　back　to　address　the　detective；　〃you'll　find　me　at　the　Saratoga　for　the　next　hour。　　Good　morning；〃　and　paying　no　attention　to　Colonel　McIntyre's　request　to　remain；　he　left　the　room。

There　was　no　one　in　the　hall　and　Kent　debated　a　moment　whether　or　not　to　ring　for　the　servant　and　ask　to　see　Barbara；　but；　at　sight　of　the　hall　table；　Grimes'　confidences　recurred　to　him　and　drove　everything　else　out　of　his　mind。　　Stopping　before　the　table　he　contemplated　its　smooth　surface　before　moving　the　few　ornaments　it　held。　　Satisfied　that　no　pillbox　stood　behind　any　of　them；　he　pulled　open　the　two　drawers　and　tumbled　their　contents　about。　　His　efforts　only　brought　to　light　some　half…empty　cigarette　boxes；　matches；　a　scratch　pad　or　two；　and　old　visiting　cards。

Kent　shut　the　drawers；　picked　up　his　hat；　and　took　his　cane　from　the　tall　china　umbrella…stand　by　the　hall　table。　　As　he　stepped　through　the　front　doorway　he　caught　sight　of　the　end　of　his　cane；　which　he　was　carrying　tucked　under　his　arm。　　Fastened　to　the　ferule　of　the　cane　was　the　round　top　of　a　paste…board　pill　box。

Kent　backed　so　swiftly　into　the　house　again　that　his　figure　blocked　the　closing　of　the　front　door；　which　he　had　started　to　pull　shut　after　him。　　Letting　the　door　close　gently　he　walked　back　to　the　umbrella　stand。　　　It　was　a　tall　heavy　affair；　and　he　had　some　difficulty　in　tipping　it　over　and　letting　its　contents　spill　on　the　floor。　　A　soft　exclamation　escaped　him　as　three　little　pellets　rolled　past　him；　and　then　came　the　bottom　of　a　box。

With　hasty　fingers　Kent　picked　them　up；　placed　them　in　the　box；　and　fitted　on　the　top；　first　carefully　smoothing　over　the　hole　made　by　his　cane　when　thrust　into　the　umbrella　stand　by　the　footman。　Replacing　the　stand　he　wrapped　the　box　containing　the　pills　in　his　handkerchief　and　hurried　from　the　house。

Kent　found　the　operative　from　Detective　Headquarters　sitting　on　duty　in　Rochester's　living　room　when　he　entered　that　apartment　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later。

〃Any　one　called　here？〃　he　asked；　as　the　man；　whom　he　had　met　the　night　before；　greeted　him。

〃Not　a　soul；　Mr。　Kent。〃　　Nelson　suppressed　a　yawn；　his　relief　was　late　in　coming；　and　he　had　had　little　sleep　the　night　before。　〃There's　been　no　disturbance　of　any　kind；　not　even　a　ring　at　the　telephone。〃

Kent　considered　a　moment；　then　sat　down　by　the　telephone　and　gave　a　number　to　Central。