the clue of the twisted candle-第3节

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Kara　nodded。

〃Well；　I　can　tell　you　he　has　been　very　unpleasant　indeed；〃　said　John；　with　a　frown；　〃I　had　an　interview　with　him　yesterday　in　London　and　it　is　clear　that　he　is　going　to　make　a　lot　of　trouble。　I　depended　upon　the　success　of　my　play　in　town　giving　me　enough　to　pay　him　off；　and　I　very　foolishly　made　a　lot　of　promises　of　repayment　which　I　have　been　unable　to　keep。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Kara；　and　then；　〃does　Mrs。　Lexman　know　about　this　matter？〃

〃A　little；〃　said　the　other。

He　paced　restlessly　up　and　down　the　room；　his　hands　behind　him　and　his　chin　upon　his　chest。

〃Naturally　I　have　not　told　her　the　worst；　or　how　beastly　unpleasant　the　man　has　been。〃

He　stopped　and　turned。

〃Do　you　know　he　threatened　to　kill　me？〃　he　asked。

Kara　smiled。

〃I　can　tell　you　it　was　no　laughing　matter；〃　said　the　other；　angrily；　〃I　nearly　took　the　little　whippersnapper　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck　and　kicked　him。〃

Kara　dropped　his　hand　on　the　other's　arm。

〃I　am　not　laughing　at　you；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　laughing　at　the　thought　of　Vassalaro　threatening　to　kill　anybody。　　He　is　the　biggest　coward　in　the　world。　　What　on　earth　induced　him　to　take　this　drastic　step？〃

〃He　said　he　is　being　hard　pushed　for　money；〃　said　the　other；　moodily；　〃and　it　is　possibly　true。　　He　was　beside　himself　with　anger　and　anxiety；　otherwise　I　might　have　given　the　little　blackguard　the　thrashing　he　deserved。〃

Kara　who　had　continued　his　stroll　came　down　the　room　and　halted　in　front　of　the　fireplace　looking　at　the　young　author　with　a　paternal　smile。

〃You　don't　understand　Vassalaro；〃　he　said；　〃I　repeat　he　is　the　greatest　coward　in　the　world。　　You　will　probably　discover　he　is　full　of　firearms　and　threats　of　slaughter；　but　you　have　only　to　click　a　revolver　to　see　him　collapse。　　Have　you　a　revolver；　by　the　way？〃

〃Oh；　nonsense；〃　said　the　other；　roughly；　〃I　cannot　engage　myself　in　that　kind　of　melodrama。〃

〃It　is　not　nonsense；〃　insisted　the　other；　〃when　you　are　in　Rome；　et　cetera；　and　when　you　have　to　deal　with　a　low…class　Greek　you　must　use　methods　which　will　at　least　impress　him。　　If　you　thrash　him；　he　will　never　forgive　you　and　will　probably　stick　a　knife　into　you　or　your　wife。　　If　you　meet　his　melodrama　with　melodrama　and　at　the　psychological　moment　produce　your　revolver；　you　will　secure　the　effect　you　require。　　Have　you　a　revolver？〃

John　went　to　his　desk　and；　pulling　open　a　drawer；　took　out　a　small　Browning。

〃That　is　the　extent　of　my　armory；〃　he　said；　〃it　has　never　been　fired　and　was　sent　to　me　by　an　unknown　admirer　last　Christmas。〃

〃A　curious　Christmas　present；〃　said　the　other；　examining　the　weapon。

〃I　suppose　the　mistaken　donor　imagined　from　my　books　that　I　lived　in　a　veritable　museum　of　revolvers；　sword　sticks　and　noxious　drugs；〃　said　Lexman；　recovering　some　of　his　good　humour；　〃it　was　accompanied　by　a　card。〃

〃Do　you　know　how　it　works？〃　asked　the　other。

〃I　have　never　troubled　very　much　about　it；〃　replied　Lexman；　〃I　know　that　it　is　loaded　by　slipping　back　the　cover；　but　as　my　admirer　did　not　send　ammunition；　I　never　even　practised　with　it。〃

There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。

〃That　is　the　post；〃　explained　John。

The　maid　had　one　letter　on　the　salver　and　the　author　took　it　up　with　a　frown。

〃From　Vassalaro；〃　he　said；　when　the　girl　had　left　the　room。

The　Greek　took　the　letter　in　his　hand　and　examined　it。

〃He　writes　a　vile　fist；〃　was　his　only　comment　as　he　handed　it　back　to　John。

He　slit　open　the　thin；　buff　envelope　and　took　out　half　a　dozen　sheets　of　yellow　paper；　only　a　single　sheet　of　which　was　written　upon。　　The　letter　was　brief：

　　〃I　must　see　you　to…night　without　fail；〃　ran　the　scrawl；　〃meet　me　　　　at　the　crossroads　between　Beston　Tracey　and　the　Eastbourne　Road。　　I　shall　be　there　at　eleven　o'clock；　and；　if　you　want　to　preserve　your　life；　you　had　better　bring　me　a　substantial　instalment。〃

It　was　signed　〃Vassalaro。〃

John　read　the　letter　aloud。　　〃He　must　be　mad　to　write　a　letter　like　that；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　meet　the　little　devil　and　teach　him　such　a　lesson　in　politeness　as　he　is　never　likely　to　forget。〃

He　handed　the　letter　to　the　other　and　Kara　read　it　in　silence。

〃Better　take　your　revolver；〃　he　said　as　he　handed　it　back。

John　Lexman　looked　at　his　watch。

〃I　have　an　hour　yet；　but　it　will　take　me　the　best　part　of　twenty　minutes　to　reach　the　Eastbourne　Road。〃

〃Will　you　see　him？〃　asked　Kara；　in　a　tone　of　surprise。

〃Certainly；〃　Lexman　replied　emphatically：　〃I　cannot　have　him　coming　up　to　the　house　and　making　a　scene　and　that　is　certainly　what　the　little　beast　will　do。〃

〃Will　you　pay　him？〃　asked　Kara　softly。

John　made　no　answer。　　There　was　probably　10　pounds　in　the　house　and　a　cheque　which　was　due　on　the　morrow　would　bring　him　another　30　pounds。　　He　looked　at　the　letter　again。　　It　was　written　on　paper　of　an　unusual　texture。　　The　surface　was　rough　almost　like　blotting　paper　and　in　some　places　the　ink　absorbed　by　the　porous　surface　had　run。　　The　blank　sheets　had　evidently　been　inserted　by　a　man　in　so　violent　a　hurry　that　he　had　not　noticed　the　extravagance。

〃I　shall　keep　this　letter；〃　said　John。

〃I　think　you　are　well　advised。　　Vassalaro　probably　does　not　know　that　he　transgresses　a　law　in　writing　threatening　letters　and　that　should　be　a　very　strong　weapon　in　your　hand　in　certain　eventualities。〃

There　was　a　tiny　safe　in　one　corner　of　the　study　and　this　John　opened　with　a　key　which　he　took　from　his　pocket。　　He　pulled　open　one　of　the　steel　drawers；　took　out　the　papers　which　were　in　it　and　put　in　their　place　the　letter；　pushed　the　drawer　to；　and　locked　it。

All　the　time　Kara　was　watching　him　intently　as　one　who　found　more　than　an　ordinary　amount　of　interest　in　the　novelty　of　the　procedure。

He　took　his　leave　soon　afterwards。

〃I　would　like　to　come　with　you　to　your　interesting　meeting；〃　he　said；　〃but　unfortunately　I　have　business　elsewhere。　　Let　me　enjoin　you　to　take　your　revolver　and　at　the　first　sign　of　any　bloodthirsty　intention　on　the　part　of　my　admirable　compatriot；　produce　it　and　click　it　once　or　twice；　you　won't　have　to　do　more。〃

Grace　rose　from　the　piano　as　Kara　entered　the　little　drawing…room　and　murmured　a　few　conventional　expressions　of　regret　that　the　visitor's　stay　had　been　so　short。　　That　there　was　no　sincerity　in　that　regret　Kara；　for　one；　had　no　doubt。　　He　was　a　man　singularly　free　from　illusions。

They　stayed　talking　a　little　while。

〃I　will　see　if　your　chauffeur　is　asleep；〃　said　John；　and　went　out　of　the　room。〃

There　was　a　little　silence　after　he　had　gone。

〃I　don't　think　you　are　very　glad　to　see　me；〃　said　Kara。　　His　frankness　was　a　little　embarrassing　to　the　girl　and　she　flushed　slightly。

〃I　am　always　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。　Kara；　or　any　other　of　my　husband's　friends；〃　she　said　steadily。

He　inclined　his　head。

〃To　be　a　friend　of　your　husband　is　something；〃　he　said；　and　then　as　if　remembering　something；　〃I　wanted　to　take　a　book　away　with　me　…　I　wonder　if　your　husband　would　mind　my　getting　it？〃

〃I　will　find　it　for　you。〃

〃Don't　let　me　bother　you；〃　he　protested；　〃I　know　my　way。〃

Without　waiting　for　her　permission　he　left　the　girl　with　the　unpleasant　feeling　that　he　was　taking　rather　much　for　granted。　　He　was　gone　less　than　a　minute　and　returned　with　a　book　under　his　arm。

〃I　have　not　asked　Lexman's　permission　to　take　it；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　rather　interested　in　the　author。　　Oh；　here　you　are；〃　he　turned　to　John　who　came　in　at　that　moment。　　〃Might　I　take　this　book　on　Mexico？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　will　return　it　in　the　morning。〃

They　stood　at　the　door；　watching　the　tail　light　of　the　motor　disappear　down　the　drive；　and　returned　in　silence　to　the　drawing　room。

〃You　look　worried；　dear；〃　she　said；　laying　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。

He　smiled　faintly。

〃Is　it　the　money〃　she　asked　anxiously。

For　a　moment　he　was　tempted　to　tell　her　of　the　letter。　　He　stifled　the　temptation　realizing　that　she　would　not　consent　to　his　going　out　if　she　knew　the　truth。

〃It　is　nothing　very　much；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　to　go　down　to　Beston　Tracey　to　meet　the　last　train。　　I　am　expecting　some　proofs　down。〃

He　hated　lying　to　her；　and　even　an　innocuous　lie　of　this　character　was　repugnant　to　him。

〃I'm　afraid　you　have　had　a　dull　evening；〃　he　said；　〃Kara　was　not　very　amusing。〃

She　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。

〃He　has　not　changed　very　much；〃　she　said　slowly。

〃He's　a　wonderfully　handsome　chap；　isn't　he？〃　he　asked　in　a　tone　of　admiration。　　〃I　can't　understand　what　you　ever　saw　in　a　fellow　like　me；　when　you　had　a　man　who　was　not　only　rich；　but　possibly　the　best…looking　man　in　the　world。〃

She　shivered　a　little。

〃I　have　seen　a　side　of　Mr。　Kara　that　is　not　particularly　beautiful；〃　she　said。　　〃Oh；　John；　I　am　afraid　of　that　man！〃

He　looked　at　her　in　astonishment。

〃Afraid？〃　he　asked。　　〃Good　heavens；　Grace；　what　a　thing　to　say！　Why　I　believe　he'd　do　anything　for　you。〃

〃That　is　exactly　what　I　am　afraid　of；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。

She　had　a　reason　which　she　did　not　reveal。　　She　had　first　met　Remington　Kara　in　Salonika　two　years　before。　　She　had　been　doing　a　tour　through　the　Balkans　with　her　father　…　it　was　the　last　tour　the　famous　archeologist　made　…　and　had　met　the　man　who　was　fated　to　have　such　an　influence　upon　her　life　at　a　dinner　given　by　the　American　Consul。

M