the clue of the twisted candle-第15节

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The　shot　went　home。

The　face　which　was　thrust　into　the　Commissioner's　was　ridged　and　veined　with　passion。　　The　lips　were　turned　back　to　show　the　big　white　even　teeth；　the　eyes　were　narrowed　to　slits；　the　jaw　thrust　out；　and　almost　every　semblance　of　humanity　had　vanished　from　his　face。

〃You　…　you　…　〃　he　hissed；　and　his　clawing　hands　moved　suspiciously　backward。

〃Put　up　your　hands；〃　said　T。　X。　sharply；　〃and　be　damned　quick　about　it！〃

In　a　flash　the　hands　went　up；　for　the　revolver　which　T。　X。　held　was　pressed　uncomfortably　against　the　third　button　of　the　Greek's　waistcoat。

〃That's　not　the　first　time　you've　been　asked　to　put　up　your　hands；　I　think；〃　said　T。　X。　pleasantly。

His　own　left　hand　slipped　round　to　Kara's　hip　pocket。　　He　found　something　in　the　shape　of　a　cylinder　and　drew　it　out　from　the　pocket。　　To　his　surprise　it　was　not　a　revolver；　not　even　a　knife；　it　looked　like　a　small　electric　torch；　though　instead　of　a　bulb　and　a　bull's…eye　glass；　there　was　a　pepper…box　perforation　at　one　end。

He　handled　it　carefully　and　was　about　to　press　the　small　nickel　knob　when　a　strangled　cry　of　horror　broke　from　Kara。

〃For　God's　sake　be　careful！〃　he　gasped。　　〃You're　pointing　it　at　me！　　Do　not　press　that　lever；　I　beg！〃

〃Will　it　explode！〃　asked　T。　X。　curiously。

〃No；　no！〃

T。　X。　pointed　the　thing　downward　to　the　carpet　and　pressed　the　knob　cautiously。　　As　he　did　so　there　was　a　sharp　hiss　and　the　floor　was　stained　with　the　liquid　which　the　instrument　contained。　Just　one　gush　of　fluid　and　no　more。　　T。　X。　looked　down。　　The　bright　carpet　had　already　changed　colour；　and　was　smoking。　　The　room　was　filled　with　a　pungent　and　disagreeable　scent。　　T。　X。　looked　from　the　floor　to　the　white…faced　man。

〃Vitriol；　I　believe；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　head　admiringly。　　〃What　a　dear　little　fellow　you　are！〃

The　man；　big　as　he　was；　was　on　the　point　of　collapse　and　mumbled　something　about　self…defence；　and　listened　without　a　word；　whilst　T。　X。；labouring　under　an　emotion　which　was　perfectly　pardonable；　described　Kara；　his　ancestors　and　the　possibilities　of　his　future　estate。

Very　slowly　the　Greek　recovered　his　self…possession。

〃I　didn't　intend　using　it　on　you；　I　swear　I　didn't；〃　he　pleaded。　〃I'm　surrounded　by　enemies；　Meredith。　　I　had　to　carry　some　means　of　protection。　　It　is　because　my　enemies　know　I　carry　this　that　they　fight　shy　of　me。　　I'll　swear　I　had　no　intention　of　using　it　on　you。　　The　idea　is　too　preposterous。　　I　am　sorry　I　fooled　you　about　the　safe。〃

〃Don't　let　that　worry　you；〃　said　T。　X。　〃I　am　afraid　I　did　all　the　fooling。　　No；　I　cannot　let　you　have　this　back　again；〃　he　said；　as　the　Greek　put　out　his　hand　to　take　the　infernal　little　instrument。　〃I　must　take　this　back　to　Scotland　Yard；　it's　quite　a　long　time　since　we　had　anything　new　in　this　shape。　　Compressed　air；　I　presume。〃

Kara　nodded　solemnly。

〃Very　ingenious　indeed；〃　said　T。　X。　〃If　I　had　a　brain　like　yours；〃　he　paused；　〃I　should　do　something　with　it　…　with　a　gun；〃　he　added；　as　he　passed　out　of　the　room。




CHAPTER　IX


　　〃My　dear　Mr。　Meredith；

　　〃I　cannot　tell　you　how　unhappy　and　humiliated　I　feel　that　my　　　　little　joke　with　you　should　have　had　such　an　uncomfortable　　　ending。　　As　you　know；　and　as　I　have　given　you　proof；　I　have　the　　　greatest　admiration　in　the　world　for　one　whose　work　for　humanity　has　won　such　universal　recognition。

　　〃I　hope　that　we　shall　both　forget　this　unhappy　morning　and　that　　　you　will　give　me　an　opportunity　of　rendering　to　you　in　person；　　　the　apologies　which　are　due　to　you。　　I　feel　that　anything　less　　　will　neither　rehabilitate　me　in　your　esteem；　nor　secure　for　me　　　the　remnants　of　my　shattered　self…respect。

　　〃I　am　hoping　you　will　dine　with　me　next　week　and　meet　a　most　interesting　man；　George　Gathercole；　who　has　just　returned　from　Patagonia；　…　I　only　received　his　letter　this　morning　…　having　made　most　remarkable　discoveries　concerning　that　country。

　　〃I　feel　sure　that　you　are　large　enough　minded　and　too　much　a　man　　　　of　the　world　to　allow　my　foolish　fit　of　temper　to　disturb　a　relationship　which　I　have　always　hoped　would　be　mutually　pleasant。　　If　you　will　allow　Gathercole；　who　will　be　unconscious　of　the　part　he　is　playing；　to　act　as　peacemaker　between　yourself　and　myself；　I　shall　feel　that　his　trip；　which　has　cost　me　a　large　sum　of　money；　will　not　have　been　wasted。

　　　　　　　　〃I　am；　dear　Mr。　Meredith；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Yours　very　sincerely；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃REMINGTON　KARA。〃

Kara　folded　the　letter　and　inserted　it　in　its　envelope。　　He　rang　a　bell　on　his　table　and　the　girl　who　had　so　filled　T。　X。　with　a　sense　of　awe　came　from　an　adjoining　room。

〃You　will　see　that　this　is　delivered；　Miss　Holland。〃

She　inclined　her　head　and　stood　waiting。　　Kara　rose　from　his　desk　and　began　to　pace　the　room。

〃Do　you　know　T。　X。　Meredith？〃　he　asked　suddenly。

〃I　have　heard　of　him；〃　said　the　girl。

〃A　man　with　a　singular　mind；〃　said　Kara；　〃a　man　against　whom　my　favourite　weapon　would　fail。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　interest　in　her　eyes。

〃What　is　your　favourite　weapon；　Mr。　Kara？〃　she　asked。

〃Fear；〃　he　said。

If　he　expected　her　to　give　him　any　encouragement　to　proceed　he　was　disappointed。　　Probably　he　required　no　such　encouragement；　for　in　the　presence　of　his　social　inferiors　he　was　somewhat　monopolizing。

〃Cut　a　man's　flesh　and　it　heals；〃　he　said。　　〃Whip　a　man　and　the　memory　of　it　passes；　frighten　him；　fill　him　with　a　sense　of　foreboding　and　apprehension　and　let　him　believe　that　something　dreadful　is　going　to　happen　either　to　himself　or　to　someone　he　loves　…　better　the　latter　…　and　you　will　hurt　him　beyond　forgetfulness。　　Fear　is　a　tyrant　and　a　despot；　more　terrible　than　the　rack；　more　potent　than　the　stake。　　Fear　is　many…eyed　and　sees　horrors　where　normal　vision　only　sees　the　ridiculous。〃

〃Is　that　your　creed？〃　she　asked　quietly。

〃Part　of　it；　Miss　Holland；〃　he　smiled。

She　played　idly　with　the　letter　she　held　in　her　hand；　balancing　it　on　the　edge　of　the　desk；　her　eyes　downcast。

〃What　would　justify　the　use　of　such　an　awful　weapon？〃　she　asked。

〃It　is　amply　justified　to　secure　an　end；〃　he　said　blandly。　　〃For　example　…　I　want　something　…　I　cannot　obtain　that　something　through　the　ordinary　channel　or　by　the　employment　of　ordinary　means。　　It　is　essential　to　me；　to　my　happiness；　to　my　comfort；　or　my　amour…propre；　that　that　something　shall　be　possessed　by　me。　　If　I　can　buy　it；　well　and　good。　　If　I　can　buy　those　who　can　use　their　influence　to　secure　this　thing　for　me；　so　much　the　better。　　If　I　can　obtain　it　by　any　merit　I　possess；　I　utilize　that　merit；　providing　always；　that　I　can　secure　my　object　in　the　time；　otherwise〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃I　see；〃　she　said；　nodding　her　head　quickly。　　〃I　suppose　that　is　how　blackmailers　feel。〃

He　frowned。

〃That　is　a　word　I　never　use；　nor　do　I　like　to　hear　it　employed；〃　he　said。　　〃Blackmail　suggests　to　me　a　vulgar　attempt　to　obtain　money。〃

〃Which　is　generally　very　badly　wanted　by　the　people　who　use　it；〃　said　the　girl；　with　a　little　smile；　〃and；　according　to　your　argument；　they　are　also　justified。〃

〃It　is　a　matter　of　plane；〃　he　said　airily。　　〃Viewed　from　my　standpoint；　they　are　sordid　criminals　…　the　sort　of　person　that　T。　X。　meets；　I　presume；　in　the　course　of　his　daily　work。　　T。　　X。；　he　went　on　somewhat　oracularly；　〃is　a　man　for　whom　I　have　a　great　deal　of　respect。　　You　will　probably　meet　him　again；　for　he　will　find　an　opportunity　of　asking　you　a　few　questions　about　myself。　　I　need　hardly　tell　you　…　〃

He　lifted　his　shoulders　with　a　deprecating　smile。

〃I　shall　certainly　not　discuss　your　business　with　any　person；〃　said　the　girl　coldly。

〃I　am　paying　you　3　pounds　a　week；　I　think；〃　he　said。　　〃I　intend　increasing　that　to　5　pounds　because　you　suit　me　most　admirably。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　girl　quietly；　〃but　I　am　already　being　paid　quite　sufficient。〃

She　left　him；　a　little　astonished　and　not　a　little　ruffled。

To　refuse　the　favours　of　Remington　Kara　was；　by　him；　regarded　as　something　of　an　affront。　　Half　his　quarrel　with　T。　X。　was　that　gentleman's　curious　indifference　to　the　benevolent　attitude　which　Kara　had　persistently　adopted　in　his　dealings　with　the　detective。

He　rang　the　bell；　this　time　for　his　valet。

〃Fisher；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　expecting　a　visit　from　a　gentleman　named　Gathercole　…　a　one…armed　gentleman　whom　you　must　look　after　if　he　comes。　　Detain　him　on　some　pretext　or　other　because　he　is　rather　difficult　to　get　hold　of　and　I　want　to　see　him。　　I　am　going　out　now　and　I　shall　be　back　at　6。30。　　Do　whatever　you　can　to　prevent　him　going　away　until　I　return。　　He　will　probably　be　interested　if　you　take　him　into　the　library。〃

〃Very　good；　sir；〃　said　the　urbane　Fisher；　〃will　you　change　before　you　go　out？〃

Kara　shook　his　head。

〃I　think　I　will　go　as　I　am；〃　he　said。　　〃Get　me　my　fur　coat。　　This　beastly　cold　kills　me；〃　he　shivered　as　he　glanced　into　the　bleak　street。　　〃Keep　my　fire　going；　put　all　my　private　letters　in　my　bedroom；　and　see　that　Miss　Holland　has　her　lunch。〃

Fisher　followed　him　to　his　car；　wrapped　the　fur　rug　about　his　legs；　closed　the　door　carefully　and　returned　to　the　house。　　From　thence　onward　his　behaviour　was　somewhat　extraordinary　for　a　well…bred　servant。　　That　he　should　return　to　Kara's　study　an