the clue of the twisted candle-第19节

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〃I　think　not；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　go　round　and　see　him　to…morrow。　　I　don't　hope　to　succeed　in　extracting　the　confidence　in　the　case　of　Lady　Bartholomew；　which　he　denied　me　over　poor　Lexman。〃

〃I　suppose　you'll　never　give　up　hope　of　seeing　Mr。　Lexman　again；〃　smiled　Mansus；　busily　arranging　a　new　blotting　pad。

Before　T。　X。　could　answer　there　came　a　knock　at　the　door；　and　a　uniformed　policeman；　entered。　　He　saluted　T。　X。

〃They've　just　sent　an　urgent　letter　across　from　your　office；　sir。　I　said　I　thought　you　were　here。〃

Ht　handed　the　missive　to　the　Commissioner。　　T。　X。　took　it　and　glanced　at　the　typewritten　address。　　It　was　marked　〃urgent〃　and　〃by　hand。〃　He　took　up　the　thin；　steel；　paper…knife　from　the　desk　and　slit　open　the　envelope。　　The　letter　consisted　of　three　or　four　pages　of　manuscript　and；　unlike　the　envelope；　it　was　handwritten。

〃My　dear　T。　X。；〃　it　began；　and　the　handwriting　was　familiar。

Mansus；　watching　the　Commissioner；　saw　the　puzzled　frown　gather　on　his　superior's　forehead；　saw　the　eyebrows　arch　and　the　mouth　open　in　astonishment；　saw　him　hastily　turn　to　the　last　page　to　read　the　signature　and　then

〃Howling　apples！〃　gasped　T。　X。　　〃It's　from　John　Lexman！〃

His　hand　shook　as　he　turned　the　closely　written　pages。　　The　letter　was　dated　that　afternoon。　　There　was　no　other　address　than　〃London。〃

〃My　dear　T。　X。；〃　it　began；　〃I　do　not　doubt　that　this　letter　will　give　you　a　little　shock；　because　most　of　my　friends　will　have　believed　that　I　am　gone　beyond　return。　　Fortunately　or　unfortunately　that　is　not　so。　　For　myself　I　could　wish　…　but　I　am　not　going　to　take　a　very　gloomy　view　since　I　am　genuinely　pleased　at　the　thought　that　I　shall　be　meeting　you　again。　　Forgive　this　letter　if　it　is　incoherent　but　I　have　only　this　moment　returned　and　am　writing　at　the　Charing　Cross　Hotel。　　I　am　not　staying　here；　but　I　will　let　you　have　my　address　later。　　The　crossing　has　been　a　very　severe　one　so　you　must　forgive　me　if　my　letter　sounds　a　little　disjointed。　　You　will　be　sorry　to　hear　that　my　dear　wife　is　dead。　　She　died　abroad　about　six　months　ago。　　I　do　not　wish　to　talk　very　much　about　it　so　you　will　forgive　me　if　I　do　not　tell　you　any　more。

〃My　principal　object　in　writing　to　you　at　the　moment　is　an　official　one。　　I　suppose　I　am　still　amenable　to　punishment　and　I　have　decided　to　surrender　myself　to　the　authorities　to…night。　　You　used　to　have　a　most　excellent　assistant　in　Superintendent　Mansus；　and　if　it　is　convenient　to　you；　as　I　hope　it　will　be；　I　will　report　myself　to　him　at　10。15。　　At　any　rate；　my　dear　T。　X。；　I　do　not　wish　to　mix　you　up　in　my　affairs　and　if　you　will　let　me　do　this　business　through　Mansus　I　shall　be　very　much　obliged　to　you。

〃I　know　there　is　no　great　punishment　awaiting　me；　because　my　pardon　was　apparently　signed　on　the　night　before　my　escape。　　I　shall　not　have　much　to　tell　you；　because　there　is　not　much　in　the　past　two　years　that　I　would　care　to　recall。　　We　endured　a　great　deal　of　unhappiness　and　death　was　very　merciful　when　it　took　my　beloved　from　me。

〃Do　you　ever　see　Kara　in　these　days？

〃Will　you　tell　Mansus　to　expect　me　at　between　ten　and　half…past；　and　if　he　will　give　instructions　to　the　officer　on　duty　in　the　hall　I　will　come　straight　up　to　his　room。

〃With　affectionate　regards；　my　dear　fellow；　I　am；　〃Yours　sincerely；

〃JOHN　LEXMAN。〃

T。　X。　read　the　letter　over　twice　and　his　eyes　were　troubled。

〃Poor　girl；〃　he　said　softly；　and　handed　the　letter　to　Mansus。　　〃He　evidently　wants　to　see　you　because　he　is　afraid　of　using　my　friendship　to　his　advantage。　　I　shall　be　here；　nevertheless。〃

〃What　will　be　the　formality？〃　asked　Mansus。

〃There　will　be　no　formality；〃　said　the　other　briskly。　　〃I　will　secure　the　necessary　pardon　from　the　Home　Secretary　and　in　point　of　fact　I　have　it　already　promised；　in　writing。〃

He　walked　back　to　Whitehall；　his　mind　fully　occupied　with　the　momentous　events　of　the　day。　　It　was　a　raw　February　evening；　sleet　was　falling　in　the　street；　a　piercing　easterly　wind　drove　even　through　his　thick　overcoat。　　In　such　doorways　as　offered　protection　from　the　bitter　elements　the　wreckage　of　humanity　which　clings　to　the　West　end　of　London；　as　the　singed　moth　flutters　about　the　flame　that　destroys　it；　were　huddled　for　warmth。

T。　X。　was　a　man　of　vast　human　sympathies。

All　his　experience　with　the　criminal　world；　all　his　disappointments；　all　his　disillusions　had　failed　to　quench　the　pity　for　his　unfortunate　fellows。　　He　made　it　a　rule　on　such　nights　as　these；　that　if；　by　chance；　returning　late　to　his　office　he　should　find　such　a　shivering　piece　of　jetsam　sheltering　in　his　own　doorway；　he　would　give　him　or　her　the　price　of　a　bed。

In　his　own　quaint　way　he　derived　a　certain　speculative　excitement　from　this　practice。　　If　the　doorway　was　empty　he　regarded　himself　as　a　winner；　if　some　one　stood　sheltered　in　the　deep　recess　which　is　a　feature　of　the　old　Georgian　houses　in　this　historic　thoroughfare；　he　would　lose　to　the　extent　of　a　shilling。

He　peered　forward　through　the　semi…darkness　as　he　neared　the　door　of　his　offices。

〃I've　lost；〃　he　said；　and　stripped　his　gloves　preparatory　to　groping　in　his　pocket　for　a　coin。

Somebody　was　standing　in　the　entrance；　but　it　was　obviously　a　very　respectable　somebody。　　A　dumpy；　motherly　somebody　in　a　seal…skin　coat　and　a　preposterous　bonnet。

〃Hullo；〃　said　T。　X。　in　surprise；　〃are　you　trying　to　get　in　here？〃

〃I　want　to　see　Mr。　Meredith；〃　said　the　visitor；　in　the　mincing　affected　tones　of　one　who　excused　the　vulgar　source　of　her　prosperity　by　frequently　reiterated　claims　to　having　seen　better　days。

〃Your　longing　shall　be　gratified；〃　said　T。　X。　gravely。

He　unlocked　the　heavy　door；　passed　through　the　uncarpeted　passage　…　there　are　no　frills　on　Government　offices　…　and　led　the　way　up　the　stairs　to　the　suite　on　the　first　floor　which　constituted　his　bureau。

He　switched　on　all　the　lights　and　surveyed　his　visitor；　a　comfortable　person　of　the　landlady　type。

〃A　good　sort；〃　thought　T。　X。；　〃but　somewhat　overweighted　with　lorgnettes　and　seal…skin。〃

〃You　will　pardon　my　coming　to　see　you　at　this　hour　of　the　night；〃　she　began　deprecatingly；　〃but　as　my　dear　father　used　to　say；　'Hopi　soit　qui　mal　y　pense。'〃

〃Your　dear　father　being　in　the　garter　business？〃　suggested　T。　X。　humorously。　　〃Won't　you　sit　down；　Mrs。…　〃

〃Mrs。　Cassley；〃　beamed　the　lady　as　she　seated　herself。　　〃He　was　in　the　paper　hanging　business。　　But　needs　must；　when　the　devil　drives；　as　the　saying　goes。〃

〃What　particular　devil　is　driving　you；　Mrs。　Cassley？〃　asked　T。　X。；　somewhat　at　a　loss　to　understand　the　object　of　this　visit。

〃I　may　be　doing　wrong；〃　began　the　lady；　pursing　her　lips；　〃and　two　blacks　will　never　make　a　white。〃

〃And　all　that　glitters　is　not　gold；〃　suggested　T。　X。　a　little　wearily。　　〃Will　you　please　tell　me　your　business；　Mrs。　Cassley？　I　am　a　very　hungry　man。〃

〃Well；　it's　like　this；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Cassley；　dropping　her　erudition；　and　coming　down　to　bedrock　homeliness；　〃I've　got　a　young　lady　stopping　with　me；　as　respectable　a　gel　as　I've　had　to　deal　with。　　And　I　know　what　respectability　is；　I　might　tell　you；　for　I've　taken　professional　boarders　and　I　have　been　housekeeper　to　a　doctor。〃

〃You　are　well　qualified　to　speak；〃　said　T。　X。　with　a　smile。　　〃And　what　about　this　particular　young　lady　of　yours！　　By　the　way　what　is　your　address？〃

〃86a　Marylebone　Road；〃　said　the　lady。

T。　X。　sat　up。

〃Yes？〃　he　said　quickly。　　〃What　about　your　young　lady？〃

〃She　works　as　far　as　I　can　understand；〃　said　the　loquacious　landlady；　〃with　a　certain　Mr。　Kara　in　the　typewriting　line。　　She　came　to　me　four　months　ago。〃

〃Never　mind　when　she　came　to　you；〃　said　T。　X。　impatiently。　　〃Have　you　a　message　from　the　lady？〃

〃Well；　it's　like　this；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Cassley；　leaning　forward　confidentially　and　speaking　in　the　hollow　tone　which　she　had　decided　should　accompany　any　revelation　to　a　police　officer；　〃this　young　lady　said　to　me；　'If　I　don't　come　any　night　by　8　o'clock　you　must　go　to　T。　X。　and　tell　him　…　'！〃

She　paused　dramatically。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　T。　X。　quickly；　〃for　heaven's　sake　go　on；　woman。〃

〃'Tell　him；'〃　said　Mrs。　Cassley；　　〃'that　Belinda　Mary　…　'　〃

He　sprang　to　his　feet。

〃Belinda　Mary！〃　he　breathed；　〃Belinda　Mary！〃　　In　a　flash　he　saw　it　all。　　This　girl　with　a　knowledge　of　modern　Greek；　who　was　working　in　Kara's　house；　was　there　for　a　purpose。　　Kara　had　something　of　her　mother's；　something　that　was　vital　and　which　he　would　not　part　with；　and　she　had　adopted　this　method　of　securing　that　some　thing。　Mrs。　Cassley　was　prattling　on；　but　her　voice　was　merely　a　haze　of　sound　to　him。　　It　brought　a　strange　glow　to　his　heart　that　Belinda　Mary　should　have　thought　of　him。

〃Only　as　a　policeman；　of　course；〃　said　the　still；　small　voice　of　his　official　self。　　〃Perhaps！〃　said　the　human　T。　X。；　defiantly。

He　got　on　the　telephone　to　Mansus　and　gave　a　few　instructions。

〃You　stay　here；〃　he　ordered　the　astounded　Mrs。　Cassley；　〃I　am　going　to　make　a　few　investigations。〃

Kara　was　at　home；　but　was　in　bed。　　T。　X。　remembered　that　this　extraordinary　man　invariably　went　to　bed　early　and　that　it　was　his　practice　to　receive　visitors　in　this　guarded　room　of　his。　　He　was　admitted　almost　at　once　and　found　Kara　in　his　silk　dressing…gown　lying　on　the　bed　smoking。