the clue of the twisted candle-第16节

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eturn　to　Kara's　study　and　set　the　papers　in　order　was　natural　and　proper。

That　he　should　conduct　a　rapid　examination　of　all　the　drawers　in　Kara's　desk　might　be　excused　on　the　score　of　diligence；　since　he　was；　to　some　extent；　in　the　confidence　of　his　employer。

Kara　was　given　to　making　friends　of　his　servants　…　up　to　a　point。　In　his　more　generous　moments　he　would　address　his　bodyguard　as　〃Fred；〃　and　on　more　occasions　than　one；　and　for　no　apparent　reason；　had　tipped　his　servant　over　and　above　his　salary。

Mr。　Fred　Fisher　found　little　to　reward　him　for　his　search　until　he　came　upon　Kara's　cheque　book　which　told　him　that　on　the　previous　day　the　Greek　had　drawn　6；000　pounds　in　cash　from　the　bank。　　This　interested　him　mightily　and　he　replaced　the　cheque　book　with　the　tightened　lips　and　the　fixed　gaze　of　a　man　who　was　thinking　rapidly。　　He　paid　a　visit　to　the　library；　where　the　secretary　was　engaged　in　making　copies　of　Kara's　correspondence；　answering　letters　appealing　for　charitable　donations；　and　in　the　hack　words　which　fall　to　the　secretaries　of　the　great。

He　replenished　the　fire；　asked　deferentially　for　any　instructions　and　returned　again　to　his　quest。　　This　time　he　made　the　bedroom　the　scene　of　his　investigations。　　The　safe　he　did　not　attempt　to　touch；　but　there　was　a　small　bureau　in　which　Kara　would　have　placed　his　private　correspondence　of　the　morning。　　This　however　yielded　no　result。

By　the　side　of　the　bed　on　a　small　table　was　a　telephone；　the　sight　of　which　apparently　afforded　the　servant　a　little　amusement。　　This　was　the　private　'phone　which　Kara　had　been　instrumental　in　having　fixed　to　Scotland　Yard　…　as　he　had　explained　to　his　servants。

〃Rum　cove；〃　said　Fisher。

He　paused　for　a　moment　before　the　closed　door　of　the　room　and　smilingly　surveyed　the　great　steel　latch　which　spanned　the　door　and　fitted　into　an　iron　socket　securely　screwed　to　the　framework。　He　lifted　it　gingerly　…　there　was　a　little　knob　for　the　purpose　…　and　let　it　fall　gently　into　the　socket　which　had　been　made　to　receive　it　on　the　door　itself。

〃Rum　cove；〃　he　said　again；　and　lifting　the　latch　to　the　hook　which　held　it　up；　left　the　room；　closing　the　door　softly　behind　him。　　He　walked　down　the　corridor；　with　a　meditative　frown；　and　began　to　descend　the　stairs　to　the　hall。

He　was　less　than　half…way　down　when　the　one　maid　of　Kara's　household　came　up　to　meet　him。

〃There's　a　gentleman　who　wants　to　see　Mr。　Kara；〃　she　said；　〃here　is　his　card。〃

Fisher　took　the　card　from　the　salver　and　read；　〃Mr。　George　Gathercole；　Junior　Travellers'　Club。〃

〃I'll　see　this　gentleman；〃　he　said；　with　a　sudden　brisk　interest。

He　found　the　visitor　standing　in　the　hall。

He　was　a　man　who　would　have　attracted　attention；　if　only　from　the　somewhat　eccentric　nature　of　his　dress　and　his　unkempt　appearance。　He　was　dressed　in　a　well…worn　overcoat　of　a　somewhat　pronounced　check；　he　had　a　top…hat；　glossy　and　obviously　new；　at　the　back　of　his　head；　and　the　lower　part　of　his　face　was　covered　by　a　ragged　beard。　　This　he　was　plucking　with　nervous　jerks；　talking　to　himself　the　while；　and　casting　a　disparaging　eye　upon　the　portrait　of　Remington　Kara　which　hung　above　the　marble　fireplace。　　A　pair　of　pince…nez　sat　crookedly　on　his　nose　and　two　fat　volumes　under　his　arm　completed　the　picture。　　Fisher；　who　was　an　observer　of　some　discernment；　noticed　under　the　overcoat　a　creased　blue　suit；　large　black　boots　and　a　pair　of　pearl　studs。

The　newcomer　glared　round　at　the　valet。

〃Take　these！〃　he　ordered　peremptorily；　pointing　to　the　books　under　his　arm。

Fisher　hastened　to　obey　and　noted　with　some　wonder　that　the　visitor　did　not　attempt　to　assist　him　either　by　loosening　his　hold　of　the　volumes　or　raising　his　hand。　　Accidentally　the　valet's　hand　pressed　against　the　other's　sleeve　and　he　received　a　shock；　for　the　forearm　was　clearly　an　artificial　one。　　It　was　against　a　wooden　surface　beneath　the　sleeve　that　his　knuckles　struck；　and　this　view　of　the　stranger's　infirmity　was　confirmed　when　the　other　reached　round　with　his　right　hand；　took　hold　of　the　gloved　left　hand　and　thrust　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　overcoat。

〃Where　is　Kara？〃　growled　the　stranger。

〃He　will　be　back　very　shortly；　sir；〃　said　the　urbane　Fisher。

〃Out；　is　he？〃　boomed　the　visitor。　　〃Then　I　shan't　wait。　　What　the　devil　does　he　mean　by　being　out？　　He's　had　three　years　to　be　out！〃

〃Mr。　Kara　expects　you；　sir。　　He　told　me　he　would　be　in　at　six　o'clock　at　the　latest。〃

〃Six　o'clock；　ye　gods'。〃　stormed　the　man　impatiently。　　〃What　dog　am　I　that　I　should　wait　till　six？〃

He　gave　a　savage　little　tug　at　his　beard。

〃Six　o'clock；　eh？　　You　will　tell　Mr。　Kara　that　I　called。　　Give　me　those　books。〃

〃But　I　assure　you；　sir；　…　〃　stammered　Fisher。

〃Give　me　those　books！〃　roared　the　other。

Deftly　he　lifted　his　left　hand　from　the　pocket；　crooked　the　elbow　by　some　quick　manipulation；　and　thrust　the　books；　which　the　valet　most　reluctantly　handed　to　him；　back　to　the　place　from　whence　he　had　taken　them。

〃Tell　Mr。　Kara　I　will　call　at　my　own　time　…　do　you　understand；　at　my　own　time。　　Good　morning　to　you。〃

〃If　you　would　only　wait；　sir；〃　pleaded　the　agonized　Fisher。

〃Wait　be　hanged；〃　snarled　the　other。　　〃I've　waited　three　years；　I　tell　you。　　Tell　Mr。　Kara　to　expect　me　when　he　sees　me！〃

He　went　out　and　most　unnecessarily　banged　the　door　behind　him。　Fisher　went　back　to　the　library。　　The　girl　was　sealing　up　some　letters　as　he　entered　and　looked　up。

〃I　am　afraid；　Miss　Holland；　I've　got　myself　into　very　serious　trouble。〃

〃What　is　that；　Fisher！〃　asked　the　girl。

〃There　was　a　gentleman　coming　to　see　Mr。　Kara；　whom　Mr。　Kara　particularly　wanted　to　see。〃

〃Mr。　Gathercole；〃　said　the　girl　quickly。

Fisher　nodded。

〃Yes；　miss；　I　couldn't　get　him　to　stay　though。〃

She　pursed　her　lips　thoughtfully。

〃Mr。　Kara　will　be　very　cross；　but　I　don't　see　how　you　can　help　it。　I　wish　you　had　called　me；〃

〃He　never　gave　a　chance；　miss；〃　said　Fisher；　with　a　little　smile；　〃but　if　he　comes　again　I'll　show　him　straight　up　to　you。〃

She　nodded。

〃Is　there　anything　you　want；　miss？〃　he　asked　as　he　stood　at　the　door。

〃What　time　did　Mr。　Kara　say　he　would　be　back？〃

〃At　six　o'clock；　miss；〃　the　man　replied。

〃There　is　rather　an　important　letter　here　which　has　to　be　delivered。〃

〃Shall　I　ring　up　for　a　messenger？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　that　would　be　advisable。　　You　had　better　take　it　yourself。〃

Kara　was　in　the　habit　of　employing　Fisher　as　a　confidential　messenger　when　the　occasion　demanded　such　employment。

〃I　will　go　with　pleasure；　miss；〃　he　said。

It　was　a　heaven…sent　opportunity　for　Fisher；　who　had　been　inventing　some　excuse　for　leaving　the　house。　　She　handed　him　the　letter　and　he　read　without　a　droop　of　eyelid　the　superscription

〃T。　X。　Meredith；　Esq。；　Special　Service　Dept。；　Scotland　Yard；　Whitehall。〃

He　put　it　carefully　in　his　pocket　and　went　from　the　room　to　change。　　Large　as　the　house　was　Kara　did　not　employ　a　regular　staff　of　servants。　　A　maid　and　a　valet　comprised　the　whole　of　the　indoor　staff。　　His　cook；　and　the　other　domestics；　necessary　for　conducting　an　establishment　of　that　size；　were　engaged　by　the　day。

Kara　had　returned　from　the　country　earlier　than　had　been　anticipated；　and；　save　for　Fisher；　the　only　other　person　in　the　house　beside　the　girl；　was　the　middle…aged　domestic　who　was　parlour…maid；　serving…maid　and　housekeeper　in　one。

Miss　Holland　sat　at　her　desk　to　all　appearance　reading　over　the　letters　she　had　typed　that　afternoon　but　her　mind　was　very　far　from　the　correspondence　before　her。　　She　heard　the　soft　thud　of　the　front　door　closing；　and　rising　she　crossed　the　room　rapidly　and　looked　down　through　the　window　to　the　street。　　She　watched　Fisher　until　he　was　out　of　sight；　then　she　descended　to　the　hall　and　to　the　kitchen。

It　was　not　the　first　visit　she　had　made　to　the　big　underground　room　with　its　vaulted　roof　and　its　great　ranges　…　which　were　seldom　used　nowadays；　for　Kara　gave　no　dinners。

The　maid　…　who　was　also　cook　…　arose　up　as　the　girl　entered。

〃It's　a　sight　for　sore　eyes　to　see　you　in　my　kitchen；　miss；〃　she　smiled。

〃I'm　afraid　you're　rather　lonely；　Mrs。　　Beale；〃　said　the　girl　sympathetically。

〃Lonely；　miss！〃　cried　the　maid。　　〃I　fairly　get　the　creeps　sitting　here　hour　after　hour。　　It's　that　door　that　gives　me　the　hump。〃

She　pointed　to　the　far　end　of　the　kitchen　to　a　soiled　looking　door　of　unpainted　wood。

〃That's　Mr。　Kara's　wine　cellar　…　nobody's　been　in　it　but　him。　　I　know　he　goes　in　sometimes　because　I　tried　a　dodge　that　my　brother　…　who's　a　policeman　…　taught　me。　　I　stretched　a　bit　of　white　cotton　across　it　an'　it　was　broke　the　next　morning。〃

〃Mr。　Kara　keeps　some　of　his　private　papers　in　there；〃　said　the　girl　quietly；　〃he　has　told　me　so　himself。〃

〃H'm；〃　said　the　woman　doubtfully；　〃I　wish　he'd　brick　it　up　…　the　same　as　he　has　the　lower　cellar　…　I　get　the　horrors　sittin'　here　at　night　expectin'　the　door　to　open　an'　the　ghost　of　the　mad　lord　to　come　out　…　him　that　was　killed　in　Africa。〃

Miss　Holland　laughed。

〃I　want　you　to　go　out　now；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　no　stamps。〃

Mrs。　Beale　obeyed　with　alacrity　and　whilst　she　was　assuming　a　hat　…　being　desirous　of　maintaining　her　prestige　as　housekeeper　in　the　eyes　of　Cadogan　Square；　the　girl　ascended　to　the　upp