the lodger-第14节

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Being　at　ordinary　times　an　exceptionally　sensible；　well…balanced　woman；　she　had　never；　in　old　days；　allowed　her　mind　to　dwell　on　certain　things　she　had　learnt　as　to　the　aberrations　of　which　human　nature　is　capable　…　even　well…born；　well…nurtured；　gentle　human　nature　…　as　exemplified　in　some　of　the　households　where　she　had　served。　　It　would；　indeed；　be　unfortunate　if　she　now　became　morbid　or　…　or　hysterical。

So　it　was　in　a　sharp；　cheerful　voice；　almost　the　voice　in　which　she　had　talked　during　the　first　few　days　of　Mr。　Sleuth's　stay　in　her　house；　that　she　exclaimed；　〃Well；　sir；　I'll　be　up　again　to　clear　away　in　about　half　an　hour。　　And　if　you'll　forgive　me　for　saying　so；　I　hope　you　will　stay　in　and　have　a　rest　to…day。　　Nasty；　muggy　weather　　…　that's　what　it　is！　　If　there's　any　little　thing　you　want；　me　or　Bunting　can　go　out　and　get　it。〃

******

It　must　have　been　about　four　o'clock　when　there　came　a　ring　at　the　front　door。

The　three　were　sitting　chatting　together；　for　Daisy　had　washed　up　　…　she　really　was　saving　her　stepmother　a　good　bit　of　trouble　…　and　the　girl　was　now　amusing　her　elders　by　a　funny　account　of　Old　Aunt's　pernickety　ways。

〃Whoever　can　that　be？〃　said　Bunting；　looking　up。　　〃It's　too　early　for　Joe　Chandler；　surely。〃

〃I'll　go；〃　said　his　wife；　hurriedly　jumping　up　from　her　chair。　〃I'll　go！　　We　don't　want　no　strangers　in　here。〃

And　as　she　stepped　down　the　short　bit　of　passage　she　said　to　herself；　〃A　clue？　　What　clue？〃

But　when　she　opened　the　front　door　a　glad　sigh　of　relief　broke　from　her。　　〃Why；　Joe？　　We　never　thought　'twas　you！　　But　you're　very　welcome；　I'm　sure。　　Come　in。〃

And　Chandler　came　in；　a　rather　sheepish　look　on　his　good…looking；　fair　young　face。　　　　〃I　thought　maybe　that　Mr。　Bunting　would　like　to　know　…　〃　he　began；　in　a　loud；　cheerful　voice；　and　Mrs。　Bunting　hurriedly　checked　him。　She　didn't　want　the　lodger　upstairs　to　hear　what　young　Chandler　might　be　going　to　say。

〃Don't　talk　so　loud；〃　she　said　a　little　sharply。　　〃The　lodger　is　not　very　well　to…day。　　He's　had　a　cold；〃　she　added　hastily；　〃and　during　the　last　two　or　three　days　he　hasn't　been　able　to　go　out。〃

She　wondered　at　her　temerity；　her　…　her　hypocrisy；　and　that　moment；　those　few　words；　marked　an　epoch　in　Ellen　Bunting's　life。　　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　told　a　bold　and　deliberate　lie。　　She　was　one　of　those　women　…　there　are　many；　many　such　…　to　whom　there　is　a　whole　world　of　difference　between　the　suppression　of　the　truth　and　the　utterance　of　an　untruth。

But　Chandler　paid　no　heed　to　her　remarks。　　〃Has　Miss　Daisy　arrived？〃　he　asked；　in　a　lower　voice。

She　nodded。　　And　then　he　went　through　into　the　room　where　the　father　and　daughter　were　sitting。

〃Well？〃　said　Bunting；　starting　up。　　〃Well；　Joe？　　Now　you　can　tell　us　all　about　that　mysterious　clue　I　suppose　it'd　be　too　good　news　to　expect　you　to　tell　us　they've　caught　him？〃

〃No　fear　of　such　good　news　as　that　yet　awhile。　　If　they'd　caught　him；〃　said　Joe　ruefully；　〃well；　I　don't　suppose　I　should　be　here；　Mr。　Bunting。　　But　the　Yard　are　circulating　a　description　at　last。　And　…　well；　they've　found　his　weapon！〃

〃No？〃　cried　Bunting　excitedly。　　〃You　don't　say　so！　　Whatever　sort　of　a　thing　is　it？　　And　are　they　sure　'tis　his？〃

〃Well；　'tain't　sure；　but　it　seems　to　be　likely。〃

Mrs。　Bunting　had　slipped　into　the　room　and　shut　the　door　behind　her。　But　she　was　still　standing　with　her　back　against　the　door；　looking　at　the　group　in　front　of　her。　　None　of　them　were　thinking　of　her　　…　she　thanked　God　for　that！　　She　could　hear　everything　that　was　said　without　joining　in　the　talk　and　excitement。

〃Listen　to　this！〃　cried　Joe　Chandler　exultantly。　　〃'Tain't　given　out　yet　…　not　for　the　public；　that　is　…　but　we　was　all　given　it　by　eight　o'clock　this　morning。　　Quick　work　that　eh？〃　He　read　out：


〃WANTED

A　man；　of　age　approximately　28；　slight　in　figure；　height　　approximately　5　ft。　　'8　in。　　Complexion　dark。　　No　beard　or　whiskers。　　Wearing　a　black　diagonal　coat　hard　felt　hat；　high　white　collar；　and　tie。　　Carried　a　newspaper　parcel。　　Very　respectable　appearance。〃


Mrs。　Bunting　walked　forward。　　She　gave　a　long；　fluttering　sigh　of　unutterable　relief。

〃There's　the　chap！〃　said　Joe　Chandler　triumphantly。　　〃And　now；　Miss　Daisy〃　…　he　turned　to　her　jokingly；　but　there　was　a　funny　little　tremor　in　his　frank；　cheerful…sounding　voice　…　〃if　you　knows　of　any　nice；　likely　young　fellow　that　answers　to　that　description　…　well；　you've　only　got　to　walk　in　and　earn　your　reward　of　five　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Five　hundred　pounds！〃　cried　Daisy　and　her　father　simultaneously。

〃Yes。　　That's　what　the　Lord　Mayor　offered　yesterday。　　Some　private　bloke　…　nothing　official　about　it。　　But　we　of　the　Yard　is　barred　from　taking　that　reward；　worse　luck。　　And　it's　too　bad；　for　we　has　all　the　trouble；　after　all〃

〃Just　hand　that　bit　of　paper　over；　will　you？〃　said　Bunting。　　〃I'd　like　to　con　it　over　to　myself。〃

Chandler　threw　over　the　bit　of　flimsy。

A　moment　later　Bunting　looked　up　and　handed　it　back。　　〃Well；　it's　clear　enough；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes。　　And　there's　hundreds　…　nay；　〃thousands　…　of　young　fellows　that　might　be　a　description　of；〃　said　Chandler　sarcastically。　　〃As　a　pal　of　mine　said　this　morning；　'There　isn't　a　chap　will　like　to　carry　a　newspaper　parcel　after　this。'　And　it　won't　do　to　have　a　respectable　appearance　…　eh？〃

Daisy's　voice　rang　out　in　merry；　pealing　laughter。　　She　greatly　appreciated　Mr。　Chandler's　witticism。

〃Why　on　earth　didn't　the　people　who　saw　him　try　and　catch　him？〃　asked　Bunting　suddenly。

And　Mrs。　Bunting　broke　in；　in　a　lower　voice；　〃Yes；　Joe　…　that　seems　odd；　don't　it？〃

Joe　Chandler　coughed。　　〃Well；　it's　this　way；〃　he　said。　　〃No　one　person　did　see　all　that。　　The　man　who's　described　here　is　just　made　up　from　the　description　of　two　different　folk　who　think　they　saw　him。　　You　see；　the　murders　must　have　taken　place　…　well；　now；　let　me　see　…　perhaps　at　two　o'clock　this　last　time。　　Two　o'clock　…　　　that's　the　idea。　　Well；　at　such　a　time　as　that　not　many　people　are　about；　especially　on　a　foggy　night。　　Yes；　one　woman　declares　she　saw　a　young　chap　walking　away　from　the　spot　where　'twas　done；　and　another　one　…　but　that　was　a　good　bit　later　…　says　The　Avenger　passed　by　her。　　It's　mostly　her　they're　following　in　this　'ere　description。　　And　then　the　boss　who　has　charge　of　that　sort　of　thing　looked　up　what　other　people　had　said　…　I　mean　when　the　other　crimes　was　committed。　　That's　how　he　made　up　this　'Wanted。〃'

〃Then　The　Avenger　may　be　quite　a　different　sort　of　man？〃　said　Bunting　slowly；　disappointedly。

〃Well；　of　course　he　may　be。　　But；　no；　I　think　that　description　fits　him　all　right；〃　said　Chandler；　but　he　also　spoke　in　a　hesitating　voice。

〃You　was　saying；　Joe；　that　they　found　a　weapon？〃　observed　Bunting　insinuatingly。

He　was　glad　that　Ellen　allowed　the　discussion　to　go　on　…　in　fact；　that　she　even　seemed　to　take　an　intelligent　interest　in　it。　　She　had　come　up　close　to　them；　and　now　looked　quite　her　old　self　again。

〃Yes。　　They　believe　they've　found　the　weapon　what　he　does　his　awful　deeds　with；〃　said　Chandler。　　〃At　any　rate；　within　a　hundred　yards　of　that　little　dark　passage　where　they　found　the　bodies　…　one　at　each　end；　that　was　…　there　was　discovered　this　morning　a　very　peculiar　kind　o'　knife　…　'keen　as　a　razor；　pointed　as　a　dagger'　…　　that's　the　exact　words　the　boss　used　when　he　was　describing　it　to　a　lot　of　us。　　He　seemed　to　think　a　lot　more　of　that　clue　than　of　the　other　…　I　mean　than　of　the　description　people　gave　of　the　chap　who　walked　quickly　by　with　a　newspaper　parcel。　　But　now　there's　a　pretty　job　in　front　of　us。　　Every　shop　where　they　sell　or　might　a'　sold；　such　a　thing　as　that　knife；　including　every　eating…house　in　the　East　End；　has　got　to　be　called　at！〃

〃Whatever　for？〃　asked　Daisy。

〃Why；　with　an　idea　of　finding　out　if　anyone　saw　such　a　knife　fooling　about　there　any　time；　and；　if　so；　in　whose　possession　it　was　at　the　time。　　But；　Mr。　Bunting〃　…　　Chandler's　voice　changed；　it　became　businesslike；　official　　…　〃they're　not　going　to　say　anything　about　that　…　not　in　newspapers　…　till　to…morrow；　so　don't　you　　go　and　tell　anybody。　　You　see；　we　don't　want　to　frighten　the　fellow　off。　If　he　knew　they'd　got　his　knife　…　well；　he　might　just　make　himself　scarce；　and　they　don't　want　that！　　If　it's　discovered　that　any　knife　of　that　kind　was　sold；　say　a　month　ago；　to　some　customer　whose　ways　are　known；　then　…　then　…　〃

〃What'll　happen　then？〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting；　coming　nearer。

〃Well；　then；　nothing'll　be　put　about　it　in　the　papers　at　all；〃　said　Chandler　deliberately。　　〃The　only　objec'　of　letting　the　public　know　about　it　would　be　if　nothink　was　found　…　I　mean　if　the　search　of　the　shops；　and　so　on；　was　no　good。　　Then；　of　course；　we　must　try　and　find　out　someone　…　some　private　person…like；　who's　watched　that　knife　in　the　criminal's　possession。　　It's　there　the　reward　…　the　five　hundred　pounds　will　come　in。

〃Oh；　I'd　give　anything　to　see　that　knife！〃　exclaimed　Daisy；　clasping　her　hands　together。

〃You　cruel；　bloodthirsty；　girl！〃　cried　her　stepmother　passionately。

They　all　looked　round　at　her；　surprised。

〃Come；　come；　Ellen！〃　said　Bunting　reprovingly。

〃Well；　it　is　a　horrible　idea！〃　said　his　wife　sullenly。　　〃To　go　and　sell　a　fellow…being　for　five　hundred　pounds。〃