the lodger-第19节

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tives　attached　to　the　Force　…　were　keenly　on　the　alert；　not　one　but　had　begun　to　feel　that　there　was　nothing　to　be　alert　about。　　Familiarity；　even　with　horror；　breeds　contempt。

But　with　the　public　it　was　far　otherwise。　　Each　day　something　happened　to　revive　and　keep　alive　the　mingled　horror　and　interest　this　strange；　enigmatic　series　of　crimes　had　evoked。　　Even　the　more　sober　organs　of　the　Press　went　on　attacking；　with　gathering　severity　and　indignation；　the　Commissioner　of　Police；　and　at　the　huge　demonstration　held　in　Victoria　Park　two　days　before　violent　speeches　had　also　been　made　against　the　Home　Secretary。

But　just　now　Joe　Chandler　wanted　to　forget　all　that。　　The　little　house　in　the　Marylebone　Road　had　become　to　him　an　enchanted　isle　of　dreams；　to　which　his　thoughts　were　ever　turning　when　he　had　a　moment　to　spare　from　what　had　grown　to　be　a　wearisome；　because　an　unsatisfactory；　job。　　He　secretly　agreed　with　one　of　his　pals　who　had　exclaimed；　and　that　within　twenty…four　hours　of　the　last　double　crime；　〃Why；　'twould　be　easier　to　find　a　needle　in　a　rick　o'　hay　than　this　　…　　bloke！〃

And　if　that　had　been　true　then；　how　much　truer　it　was　now　…　after　nine　long；　empty　days　had　gone　by？

Quickly　he　divested　himself　of　his　great…coat；　muffler；　and　low　hat。　Then　he　put　his　finger　on　his　lip；　and　motioned　smilingly　to　Mrs。　Bunting　to　wait　a　moment。　　From　where　he　stood　in　the　hall　the　father　and　daughter　made　a　pleasant　little　picture　of　contented　domesticity。　　Joe　Chandler's　honest　heart　swelled　at　the　sight。

Daisy；　wearing　the　blue…and…white　check　silk　dress　about　which　her　stepmother　and　she　had　had　words；　sat　on　a　low　stool　on　the　left　side　of　the　fire；　while　Bunting；　leaning　back　in　his　own　comfortable　arm…chair；　was　listening；　his　hand　to　his　ear；　in　an　attitude　…　as　it　was　the　first　time　she　had　caught　him　doing　it；　the　fact　brought　a　pang　to　Mrs。　Bunting　…　which　showed　that　age　was　beginning　to　creep　over　the　listener。

One　of　Daisy's　duties　as　companion　to　her　great…aunt　was　that　of　reading　the　newspaper　aloud；　and　she　prided　herself　on　her　accomplishment。

Just　as　Joe　had　put　his　finger　on　his　lip　Daisy　bad　been　asking；　〃Shall　I　read　this；　father？〃　　And　Bunting　had　answered　quickly；　〃Aye；　do；　my　dear。〃

He　was　absorbed　in　what　he　was　hearing；　and；　on　seeing　Joe　at　the　door；　he　had　only　just　nodded　his　head。　　The　young　man　was　becoming　so　frequent　a　visitor　as　to　be　almost　one　of　themselves。

Daisy　read　out：'

〃The　Avenger：　A　…　〃

And　then　she　stopped　short；　for　the　next　word　puzzled　her　greatly。　Bravely；　however；　she　went　on。　　〃A　the…o…ry。〃

〃Go　in　…　do！〃　whispered　Mrs。　Bunting　to　her　visitor。　　〃Why　should　we　stay　out　here　in　the　cold？　　It's　ridiculous。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　interrupt　Miss　Daisy；〃　whispered　Chandler　back；　rather　hoarsely。

〃Well；　you'll　hear　it　all　the　better　in　the　room。　　Don't　think　she'll　stop　because　of　you；　　bless　you！　　There's　nothing　shy　about　our　Daisy！〃

The　young　man　resented　the　tart；　short　tone。　　〃Poor　little　girl！〃　he　said　to　himself　tenderly。　　〃That's　what　it　is　having　a　stepmother；　instead　of　a　proper　mother。〃　　But　he　obeyed　Mrs。　Bunting；　and　then　he　was　pleased　he　had　done　so；　for　Daisy　looked　up；　and　a　bright　blush　came　over　her　pretty　face。

〃Joe　begs　you　won't　stop　yet　awhile。　　Go　on　with　your　reading；〃　commanded　Mrs。　Bunting　quickly。　　〃Now；　Joe；　you　can　go　and　sit　over　there；　close　to　Daisy；　and　then　you　won't　miss　a　word。〃

There　was　a　sarcastic　inflection　in　her　voice；　even　Chandler　noticed　that；　but　he　obeyed　her　with　alacrity；　and　crossing　the　room　he　went　and　sat　on　a　chair　just　behind　Daisy。　　From　there　he　could　note　with　reverent　delight　the　charming　way　her　fair　hair　grew　upwards　from　the　nape　of　her　slender　neck。

〃The　AVENGER：　A　THE…O…RY〃

began　Daisy　again；　clearing　her　throat。　　

〃DEAR　Sir　…　I　have　a　suggestion　to　put　forward　for　which　I　think　there　is　a　great　deal　to　be　said。　　It　seems　to　me　very　probable　that　The　Avenger　…　to　give　him　the　name　by　which　he　apparently　　wishes　to　be　known　…　comprises　in　his　own　person　the　peculiarities　of　Jekyll　and　Hyde；　Mr。　Louis　Stevenson's　now　famous　hero。

〃The　culprit；　according　to　my　point　of　view；　is　a　quiet；　pleasant…looking　gentleman　who　lives　somewhere　in　the　West　End　of　London。　　He　has；　however；　a　tragedy　in　his　past　life。　　He　is　the　husband　of　a　dipsomaniac　wife。　　She　is；　of　course；　under　care；　and　is　never　mentioned　in　the　house　where　he　lives；　maybe　with　his　widowed　mother　and　perhaps　a　maiden　sister。　　They　notice　that　he　has　become　gloomy　and　brooding　of　late；　but　he　lives　his　usual　life；　occupying　himself　each　day　with　some　harmless　hobby。　　On　foggy　nights；　once　the　quiet　household　is　plunged　in　sleep；　he　creeps　out　of　the　house；　maybe　between　one　and　two　o'clock；　and　swiftly　makes　his　way　straight　to　what　has　become　The　Avenger's　murder　area。　Picking　out　a　likely　victim；　he　approaches　her　with　Judas…like　gentleness；　and　having　committed　his　awful　crime；　goes　quietly　home　again。　　After　a　good　bath　and　breakfast；　he　turns　up　happy；　once　more　the　quiet　individual　who　is　an　excellent　son；　a　kind　brother；　esteemed　and　even　beloved　by　a　large　circle　of　friends　and　acquaintances。　　Meantime；　the　police　are　searching　about　the　scene　of　the　tragedy　for　what　they　regard　as　the　usual　type　of　criminal　lunatic。

〃I　give　this　theory；　Sir；　for　what　it　is　worth；　but　I　confess　that　I　am　amazed　the　police　have　so　wholly　confined　their　inquiries　to　the　part　of　London　where　these　murders　have　been　actually　committed。　I　am　quite　sure　from　all　that　has　come　out　…　and　we　must　remember　that　full　information　is　never　given　to　the　newspapers　…　The　Avenger　should　be　sought　for　in　the　West　and　not　in　the　East　End　of　London　　…　Believe　me　to　remain；　Sir；　yours　very　truly　…　〃

Again　Daisy　hesitated；　and　then　with　an　effort　she　brought　out　the　word　〃Gab…o…ri…you；〃　said　she。

〃What　a　funny　name！〃　said　Bunting　wonderingly。

And　then　Joe　broke　in：　〃That's　the　name　of　a　French　chap　what　wrote　detective　stories；〃　he　said。　　〃Pretty　good；　some　of　them　are；　too！〃

〃Then　this　Gaboriyou　has　come　over　to　study　these　Avenger　murders；　I　take　it？〃　said　Bunting。

〃Oh；　no；〃　Joe　spoke　with　confidence。　　〃Whoever's　written　that　silly　letter　just　signed　that　name　for　fun。〃

〃It　is　a　silly　letter；〃　Mrs。　Bunting　had　broken　in　resentfully。　　〃I　wonder　a　respectable　paper　prints　such　rubbish。〃

〃Fancy　if　The　Avenger　did　turn　out　to　be　a　gentleman　cried　Daisy；　in　an　　awe…struck　voice。　　〃There'd　be　a　how…to…do！〃

〃There　may　be　something　in　the　notion；〃　said　her　father　thoughtfully。　〃After　all；　the　monster　must　be　somewhere。　　This　very　minute　he　must　be　somewhere　a…hiding　of　himself。〃

〃Of　course　he's　somewhere；〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　scornfully。

She　had　just　heard　Mr。　Sleuth　moving　overhead。　　'Twould　soon　be　time　for　the　lodger's　supper。

She　hurried　on：　〃But　what　I　do　say　is　that　…　that　…　he　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　West　End。　　Why；　they　say　it's　a　sailor　from　the　Docks　　…　that's　a　good　bit　more　likely；　I　take　it。　　But　there；　I'm　fair　sick　of　the　whole　subject！　　We　talk　of　nothing　else　in　this　house。　The　Avenger　this　…　　The　Avenger　that　…　〃

〃I　expect　Joe　has　something　to　tell　us　new　to…night；〃　said　Bunting　cheerfully。　　〃Well；　Joe；　is　there　anything　new？〃

〃I　say；　father；　just　listen　to　this！〃　Daisy　broke　in　excitedly。　She　read　out：


〃BLOODHOUNDS　TO　BE　SERIOUSLY　CONSIDERED〃


〃Bloodhounds？〃　repeated　Mrs。　Bunting；　and　there　was　terror　in　her　tone。　　〃Why　bloodhounds？　　That　do　seem　to　me　a　most　horrible　idea！〃

Bunting　looked　across　at　her；　mildly　astonished。　　〃Why；　'twould　be　a　very　good　idea；　if　'twas　possible　to　have　bloodhounds　in　a　town。　But；　there；　how　can　that　be　done　in　London；　full　of　butchers'　shops；　to　say　nothing　of　slaughter…yards　and　other　places　o'　that　sort？〃

But　Daisy　went　on；　and　to　her　stepmother's　shrinking　ear　there　seemed　a　horrible　thrill　of　delight；　of　gloating　pleasure；　in　her　fresh　young　voice。　　　

〃Hark　to　this；〃　she　said：

〃A　man　who　had　committed　a　murder　in　a　lonely　wood　near　Blackburn　was　traced　by　the　help　of　a　bloodhound；　and　thanks　to　the　sagacious　instincts　of　the　animal；　the　miscreant　was　finally　convicted　and　hanged。〃

〃La；　now　I　Who'd　ever　have　thought　of　such　a　thing？〃　　Bunting　exclaimed；　in　admiration。　　〃The　newspapers　do　have　some　useful　hints　in　sometimes；　Joe。〃

But　young　Chandler　shook　his　head。　　〃Bloodhounds　ain't　no　use；〃　he　said；　〃no　use　at　all！　　If　the　Yard　was　to　listen　to　all　the　suggestions　that　the　last　few　days　have　brought　in　…　well；　all　I　can　say　is　our　work　would　be　cut　out　for　us　…　not　but　what　it's　cut　out　for　us　now；　if　it　comes　to　that！〃　　He　sighed　ruefully。　　He　was　beginning　to　feel　very　tired；　if　only　he　could　stay　in　this　pleasant；　cosy　room　listening　to　Daisy　Bunting　reading　on　and　on　for　ever；　instead　of　having　to　go　out；　as　he　would　presently　have　to　do；　into　the　cold　and　foggy　night！

Joe　Chandler　was　fast　becoming　very　sick　of　his　new　job。　　There　was　a　lot　of　unpleasantness　attached　to　the　business；　too。　　Why；　even　in　the　house　where　he　lived；　and　in　the　little　cook…shop　where　he　habitually　took　his　meals；　the　people　round　him　had　taken　to　taunt　him　with　the　remissness　of　the　police。　　More　than　that　one　of　his　pals；　a　man　he'd　always　looked　u