the clue of the twisted candle-第25节

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careless　in　such　matters　and　Jacks　the　butler　was　one　of　those　dear；　silly；　old　men　who　never　locked　anything；　and；　in　consequence；　faced　every　audit　with　a　long　face　and　a　longer　tale　of　the　peculations　of　occasional　servants。

To　her　immense　relief　the　handle　turned　and　the　door　opened　to　her　touch。　　Somebody　had　had　the　sense　to　pull　down　the　blinds　and　the　curtains　were　drawn。　　She　switched　on　the　light　with　a　sigh　of　relief。　　Her　mother's　writing　table　was　covered　with　unopened　letters；　but　she　brushed　these　aside　in　her　search　for　the　little　parcel。　　It　was　not　there　and　her　heart　sank。　　Perhaps　she　had　put　it　in　one　of　the　drawers。　　She　tried　them　all　without　result。

She　stood　by　the　desk　a　picture　of　perplexity；　biting　a　finger　thoughtfully。

〃Thank　goodness！〃　she　said　with　a　jump；　for　she　saw　the　parcel　on　the　mantel　shelf；　crossed　the　room　and　took　it　down。

With　eager　hands　she　tore　off　the　covering　and　came　to　the　familiar　leather　case。　　Not　until　she　had　opened　the　padded　lid　and　had　seen　the　snuffbox　reposing　in　a　bed　of　cotton　wool　did　she　relapse　into　a　long　sigh　of　relief。

〃Thank　heaven　for　that；〃　she　said　aloud。

〃And　me；〃　said　a　voice。

She　sprang　up　and　turned　round　with　a　look　of　terror。

〃Mr。　…　Mr。　Meredith；〃　she　stammered。

T。　X。　stood　by　the　window　curtains　from　whence　he　had　made　his　dramatic　entry　upon　the　scene。

〃I　say　you　have　to　thank　me　also；　Miss　Bartholomew；〃　he　said　presently。

〃How　do　you　know　my　name？〃　she　asked　with　some　curiosity。

〃I　know　everything　in　the　world；〃　he　answered；　and　she　smiled。　Suddenly　her　face　went　serious　and　she　demanded　sharply

〃Who　sent　you　after　me　…　Mr。　Kara？〃

〃Mr。　Kara？〃　he　repeated；　in　wonder。

〃He　threatened　to　send　for　the　police；〃　she　went　on　rapidly；　〃and　I　told　him　he　might　do　so。　　I　didn't　mind　the　police　…　it　was　Kara　I　was　afraid　of。　　You　know　what　I　went　for；　my　mother's　property。〃

She　held　the　snuff…box　in　her　outstretched　hand。

〃He　accused　me　of　stealing　and　was　hateful；　and　then　he　put　me　downstairs　in　that　awful　cellar　and　…　〃

〃And？〃　suggested　T。　X。

〃That's　all；〃　she　replied　with　tightened　lips；　〃what　are　you　going　to　do　now？〃

〃I　am　going　to　ask　you　a　few　questions　if　I　may；〃　he　said。　　〃In　the　first　place　have　you　not　heard　anything　about　Mr。　Kara　since　you　went　away？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　have　kept　out　of　his　way；〃　she　said　grimly。

〃Have　you　seen　the　newspapers？〃　he　asked。

She　nodded。

〃I　have　seen　the　advertisement　column　…　I　wired　asking　Papa　to　reply　to　my　telegram。〃

〃I　know　…　I　saw　it；〃　he　smiled；　〃that　is　what　brought　me　here。〃

〃I　was　afraid　it　would；〃　she　said　ruefully；　〃father　is　awfully　loquacious　in　print　…　he　makes　speeches　you　know。　　All　I　wanted　him　to　say　was　yes　or　no。　　What　do　you　mean　about　the　newspapers？〃　she　went　on。　　〃Is　anything　wrong　with　mother？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃So　far　as　I　know　Lady　Bartholomew　is　in　the　best　of　health　and　is　on　her　way　home。〃

〃Then　what　do　you　mean　by　asking　me　about　the　newspapers！〃　she　demanded；　〃why　should　I　see　the　newspapers　…　what　is　there　for　me　to　see？〃

〃About　Kara？〃　he　suggested。

She　shook　her　head　in　bewilderment。

〃I　know　and　want　to　know　nothing　about　Kara。　　Why　do　you　say　this　to　me？〃

〃Because；〃　said　T。　X。　slowly；　〃on　the　night　you　disappeared　from　Cadogan　Square；　Remington　Kara　was　murdered。〃

〃Murdered；〃　she　gasped。

He　nodded。

〃He　was　stabbed　to　the　heart　by　some　person　or　persons　unknown。〃

T。　X。　took　his　hand　from　his　pocket　and　pulled　something　out　which　was　wrapped　in　tissue　paper。　　This　he　carefully　removed　and　the　girl　watched　with　fascinated　gaze；　and　with　an　awful　sense　of　apprehension。　　Presently　the　object　was　revealed。　　It　was　a　pair　of　scissors　with　the　handle　wrapped　about　with　a　small　handkerchief　dappled　with　brown　stains。　　She　took　a　step　backward；　raising　her　hands　to　her　cheeks。

〃My　scissors；〃　she　said　huskily；　〃you　won't　think　…　〃

She　stared　up　at　him；　fear　and　indignation　struggling　for　mastery。

〃I　don't　think　you　committed　the　murder；〃　he　smiled；　〃if　that's　what　you　mean　to　ask　me；　but　if　anybody　else　found　those　scissors　and　had　identified　this　handkerchief　you　would　have　been　in　rather　a　fix；　my　young　friend。〃

She　looked　at　the　scissors　and　shuddered。

〃I　did　kill　something；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃an　awful　dog　。。。　I　don't　know　how　I　did　it；　but　the　beastly　thing　jumped　at　me　and　I　just　stabbed　him　and　killed　him；　and　I　am　glad；〃　she　nodded　many　times　and　repeated；　〃I　am　glad。〃

〃So　I　gather　…　I　found　the　dog　and　now　perhaps　you'll　explain　why　I　didn't　find　you？〃

Again　she　hesitated　and　he　felt　that　she　was　hiding　something　from　him。

〃I　don't　know　why　you　didn't　find　me；〃　she　said；　〃I　was　there。〃

〃How　did　you　get　out？〃

〃How　did　you　get　out？〃　she　challenged　him　boldly。

〃I　got　out　through　the　door；〃　he　confessed；　〃it　seems　a　ridiculously　commonplace　way　of　leaving　but　that's　the　only　way　I　could　see。〃

〃And　that's　how　I　got　out；〃　she　answered；　with　a　little　smile。

〃But　it　was　locked。〃

She　laughed。

〃I　see　now；〃　she　said；　〃I　was　in　the　cellar。　　I　heard　your　key　in　the　lock　and　bolted　down　the　trap；　leaving　those　awful　scissors　behind。　　I　thought　it　was　Kara　with　some　of　his　friends　and　then　the　voices　died　away　and　I　ventured　to　come　up　and　found　you　had　left　the　door　open。　　So　…　so　I　…　〃

These　queer　little　pauses　puzzled　T。　X。　　There　was　something　she　was　not　telling　him。　　Something　she　had　yet　to　reveal。

〃So　I　got　away　you　see；〃　she　went　on。　　〃I　came　out　into　the　kitchen；　there　was　nobody　there；　and　I　passed　through　the　area　door　and　up　the　steps　and　just　round　the　corner　I　found　a　taxicab；　and　that　is　all。〃

She　spread　out　her　hands　in　a　dramatic　little　gesture。

〃And　that　is　all；　is　it？〃　said　T。　X。

〃That　is　all；〃　she　repeated；　〃now　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

T。　X。　looked　up　at　the　ceiling　and　stroked　his　chin。

〃I　suppose　that　I　ought　to　arrest　you。　　I　feel　that　something　is　due　from　me。　　May　I　ask　if　you　were　sleeping　in　the　bed　downstairs？〃

〃In　the　lower　cellar？〃　she　demanded；　…　a　little　pause　and　then；　〃Yes；　I　was　sleeping　in　the　cellar　downstairs。〃

There　was　that　interval　of　hesitation　almost　between　each　word。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　she　asked　again。

She　was　feeling　more　sure　of　herself　and　had　suppressed　the　panic　which　his　sudden　appearance　had　produced　in　her。　　He　rumpled　his　hair；　a　gross　imitation；　did　she　but　know　it；　of　one　of　his　chief's　mannerisms　and　she　observed　that　his　hair　was　very　thick　and　inclined　to　curl。　　She　saw　also　that　he　was　passably　good　looking；　had　fine　grey　eyes；　a　straight　nose　and　a　most　firm　chin。

〃I　think；〃　she　suggested　gently；　〃you　had　better　arrest　me。〃

〃Don't　be　silly；〃　he　begged。

She　stared　at　him　in　amazement。

〃What　did　you　say？〃　she　asked　wrathfully。

〃I　said　'don't　be　silly；'〃　repeated　the　calm　young　man。

〃Do　you　know　that　you're　being　very　rude？〃　she　asked。

He　seemed　interested　and　surprised　at　this　novel　view　of　his　conduct。

〃Of　course；〃　she　went　on　carefully　smoothing　her　dress　and　avoiding　his　eye；　〃I　know　you　think　I　am　silly　and　that　I've　got　a　most　comic　name。〃

〃I　have　never　said　your　name　was　comic；〃　he　replied　coldly；　〃I　would　not　take　so　great　a　liberty。〃

〃You　said　it　was　'weird'　which　was　worse；〃　she　claimed。

〃I　may　have　said　it　was　'weird；〃'　he　admitted；　〃but　that's　rather　different　to　saying　it　was　'comic。'　　There　is　dignity　in　weird　things。　　For　example；　nightmares　aren't　comic　but　they're　weird。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　pointedly。

〃Not　that　I　mean　your　name　is　anything　approaching　a　nightmare。〃　He　made　this　concession　with　a　most　magnificent　sweep　of　hand　as　though　he　were　a　king　conceding　her　the　right　to　remain　covered　in　his　presence。　　〃I　think　that　Belinda　Ann　…　〃

〃Belinda　Mary；〃　she　corrected。

〃Belinda　Mary；　I　was　going　to　say；　or　as　a　matter　of　fact；〃　he　floundered；　〃I　was　going　to　say　Belinda　and　Mary。〃

〃You　were　going　to　say　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　she　corrected　him。

〃Anyway；　I　think　Belinda　Mary　is　a　very　pretty　name。〃

〃You　think　nothing　of　the　sort。〃

She　saw　the　laughter　in　his　eyes　and　felt　an　insane　desire　to　laugh。

〃You　said　it　was　a　weird　name　and　you　think　it　is　a　weird　name；　but　I　really　can't　be　bothered　considering　everybody's　views。　　I　think　it's　a　weird　name；　too。　　I　was　named　after　an　aunt；〃　she　added　in　self…defence。

〃There　you　have　the　advantage　of　me；〃　he　inclined　his　head　politely；　〃I　was　named　after　my　father's　favourite　dog。〃

〃What　does　T。　X。　stand　for？〃　she　asked　curiously。

〃Thomas　Xavier；〃　he　said；　and　she　leant　back　in　the　big　chair　on　the　edge　of　which　a　few　minutes　before　she　had　perched　herself　in　trepidation　and　dissolved　into　a　fit　of　immoderate　laughter。

〃It　is　comic；　isn't　it？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh；　I　am　sorry　I'm　so　rude；〃　she　gasped。　　〃Fancy　being　called　Tommy　Xavier　…　I　mean　Thomas　Xavier。〃

〃You　may　call　me　Tommy　if　you　wish　…　most　of　my　friends　do。〃

〃Unfortunately　I'm　not　your　friend；〃　she　said；　still　smiling　and　wiping　the　tears　from　her　eyes；　〃so　I　shall　go　on　calling　you　Mr。　Meredith　if　you　don't　mind。〃

She　looked　at　her　watch。

〃If　you　are　not　going　to　arrest　me　I'm　going；〃　she　said。

〃I　have　certainly　no　intention　of　arresti