the lodger-第29节

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With　a　weak　cry　of　protest　Mrs。　Bunting　suddenly　threw　out　her　arms　as　if　to　bar　the　way；　she　turned　deadly　white　…　but　then；　in　an　instant　the　supposed　stranger's　laugh　rang　out；　with　loud；　jovial；　familiar　sound！

〃There　now；　Mrs。　Bunting！　　I　never　thought　I'd　take　you　in　as　well　as　all　that！〃

It　was　Joe　Chandler　…　Joe　Chandler　dressed　up；　as　she　knew　he　sometimes；　not　very　often；　did　dress　up　in　the　course　of　his　work。

Mrs。　Bunting　began　laughing　…　laughing　helplessly；　hysterically；　just　as　she　had　done　on　the　morning　of　Daisy's　arrival；　when　the　newspaper…sellers　had　come　shouting　down　the　Marylebone　Road。

〃What's　all　this　about？〃　Bunting　came　out

Young　Chandler　ruefully　shut　the　front　door。　　〃I　didn't　mean　to　upset　her　like　this；〃　he　said；　looking　foolish；　〃'twas　just　my　silly　nonsense；　Mr。　Bunting。〃　　And　together　they　helped　her　into　the　sitting…room。

But；　once　there；　poor　Mrs。　Bunting　went　on　worse　than　ever；　she　threw　her　black　apron　over　her　face；　and　began　to　sob　hysterically。

〃'I　made　sure　she'd　know　who　I　was　when　I　spoke；〃　went　on　the　young　fellow　apologetically。　　〃But；　there　now；　I　have　upset　her。　　I　am　sorry！〃

〃It　don't　matter！〃　she　exclaimed；　throwing　the　apron　off　her　face；　but　the　tears　were　still　streaming　from　her　eyes　as　she　sobbed　and　laughed　by　turns。　　〃Don't　matter　one　little　bit；　Joe！　　'Twas　stupid　of　me　to　be　so　taken　aback。　　But；　there；　that　murder　that's　happened　close　by；　it's　just　upset　me　…　upset　me　altogether　to…day。〃

〃Enough　to　upset　anyone　…　that　was；〃　acknowledged　the　young　man　ruefully。　　〃I've　only　come　in　for　a　minute；　like。　　I　haven't　no　right　to　come　when　I'm　on　duty　like　this　…　〃

Joe　Chandler　was　looking　longingly　at　what　remains　of　the　meal　were　still　on　the　table。

〃You　can　take　a　minute　just　to　have　a　bite　and　a　sup；〃　said　Bunting　hospitably；　〃and　then　you　can　tell　us　any　news　there　is；　Joe。　　We're　right　in　the　middle　of　everything　now；　ain't　we？〃　　He　spoke　with　evident　enjoyment；　almost　pride；　in　the　gruesome　fact。

Joe　nodded。　　Already　his　mouth　was　full　of　bread…and…butter。　　He　waited　a　moment；　and　then：　〃Well　I　have　got　one　piece　of　news　…　not　that　I　suppose　it'll　interest　you　very　much。〃

They　both　looked　at　him　…　Mrs。　Bunting　suddenly　calm；　though　her　breast　still　heaved　from　time　to　time。

〃Our　Boss　has　resigned！〃　said　Joe　Chandler　slowly；　impressively。

〃No！　　Not　the　Commissioner　o'　Police？〃　exclaimed　Bunting。

〃Yes；　he　has。　　He　just　can't　bear　what's　said　about　us　any　longer　　…　and　I　don't　wonder！　　He　done　his　best；　and　so's　we　all。　　The　public　have　just　gone　daft　…　in　the　West　End；　that　is；　to…day。　　As　for　the　papers；　well；　they're　something　cruel　…　that's　what　they　are。　　And　the　ridiculous　ideas　they　print！　　You'd　never　believe　the　things　they　asks　us　to　do　…　and　quite　serious…like。〃

〃What　d'you　mean？〃　questioned　Mrs。　Bunting。　　She　really　wanted　to　know。

〃Well；　the　Courier　declares　that　there　ought　to　be　a　house…to…house　investigation　…　all　over　London。　　Just　think　of　it！　　Everybody　to　let　the　police　go　all　over　their　house；　from　garret　to　kitchen；　just　to　see　if　The　Avenger　isn't　concealed　there。　　Dotty；　I　calls　it！　　Why；　'twould　take　us　months　and　months　just　to　do　that　one　job　in　a　town　like　London。〃

〃I'd　like　to　see　them　dare　come　into　my　house！〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　angrily。

〃It's　all　along　of　them　blarsted　papers　that　The　Avenger　went　to　work　a　different　way　this　time；〃　said　Chandler　slowly。

Bunting　had　pushed　a　tin　of　sardines　towards　his　guest；　and　was　eagerly　listening。　　〃How　d'you　mean？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　don't　take　your　meaning；　Joe。〃

〃Well；　you　see；　it's　this　way。　　The　newspapers　was　always　saying　how　extraordinary　it　was　that　The　Avenger　chose　such　a　peculiar　time　to　do　his　deeds　…　I　mean；　the　time　when　no　one's　about　the　streets。　　Now；　doesn't　it　stand　to　reason　that　the　fellow；　reading　all　that；　and　seeing　the　sense　of　it；　said　to　himself；　'I'll　go　on　another　tack　this　time'？　　Just　listen　to　this！〃　　He　pulled　a　strip　of　paper；　part　of　a　column　cut　from　a　newspaper；　out　of　his　pocket：


〃'AN　EX…LORD　MAYOR　OF　LONDON　ON　THE　AVENGER


〃'Will　the　murderer　be　caught？　　Yes；'　replied　Sir　John；　'he　will　certainly　be　caught　…　probably　when　he　commits　his　next　crime。　　A　whole　army　of　bloodhounds；　metaphorical　and　literal；　will　be　on　his　track　the　moment　he　draws　blood　again。　　With　the　whole　community　against　him；　he　cannot　escape；　especially　when　it　be　remembered　that　he　chooses　the　quietest　hour　in　the　twenty…four　to　commit　his　crimes。

〃'Londoners　are　now　in　such　a　state　of　nerves　…　if　I　may　use　the　expression；　in　such　a　state　of　funk　…　that　every　passer…by；　however　innocent；　is　looked　at　with　suspicion　by　his　neighbour　if　his　avocation　happens　to　take　him　abroad　between　the　hours　of　one　and　three　in　the　morning。'

〃I'd　like　to　gag　that　ex…Lord　Mayor！〃　concluded　Joe　Chandler　wrathfully。

Just　then　the　lodger's　bell　rang。

〃Let　me　go　up；　my　dear；〃　said　Bunting。

His　wife　still　looked　pale　and　shaken　by　the　fright　she　had　had。

〃No；　no；〃　she　said　hastily。　　〃You　stop　down　here；　and　talk　to　Joe。　I'll　look　after　Mr。　Sleuth。　　He　may　be　wanting　his　supper　just　a　bit　earlier　than　usual　to…day。〃

Slowly；　painfully；　again　feeling　as　if　her　legs　were　made　of　cotton　wool；　she　dragged　herself　up　to　the　first　floor；　knocked　at　the　door；　and　then　went　in。

〃You　did　ring；　sir？〃　she　said；　in　her　quiet；　respectful　way。

And　Mr。　Sleuth　looked　up。

She　thought　…　but；　as　she　reminded　herself　afterwards；　it　might　have　been　just　her　idea；　and　nothing　else　…　that　for　the　first　time　the　lodger　looked　frightened　…　frightened　and　cowed。

〃I　heard　a　noise　downstairs；〃　he　said　fretfully；　〃and　I　wanted　to　know　what　it　was　all　about。　　As　I　told　you；　Mrs。　Bunting；　when　I　first　took　these　rooms；　quiet　is　essential　to　me。〃。

〃It　was　just　a　friend　of　ours；　sir。　　I'm　sorry　you　were　disturbed。　Would　you　like　the　knocker　taken　off　to…morrow？　　Bunting'll　be　pleased　to　do　it　if　you　don't　like　to　hear　the　sound　of　the　knocks。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　wouldn't　put　you　to　such　trouble　as　that。〃　　Mr。　Sleuth　looked　quite　relieved。　　〃Just　a　friend　of　yours；　was　it；　Mrs。　Bunting？　　He　made　a　great　deal　of　noise。〃

〃Just　a　young　fellow；〃　she　said　apologetically。　　〃The　son　of　one　of　Bunting's　old　friends。　　He　often　comes　here；　sir；　but　he　never　did　give　such　a　great　big　double　knock　as　that　before。　　I'll　speak　to　him　about　it〃

〃Oh；　no；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　I　would　really　prefer　you　did　nothing　of　the　kind。　　It　was　just　a　passing　annoyance　…　nothing　more！〃

She　waited　a　moment。　　How　strange　that　Mr。　Sleuth　said　nothing　of　the　hoarse　cries　which　had　made　of　the　road　outside　a　perfect　Bedlam　every　hour　or　two　throughout　that　day；　But　no；　Mr。　Sleuth　made　no　allusion　to　what　might　well　have　disturbed　any　quiet　gentleman　at　his　reading。

〃I　thought　maybe　you'd　like　to　have　supper　a　little　earlier　to…night；　sir？〃

〃Just　when　you　like；　Mrs。　Bunting　…　just　when　it's　convenient。　　I　do　not　wish　to　put　you　out　in　any　way。〃

She　felt　herself　dismissed；　and　going　out　quietly；　closed　the　door。

As　she　did　'so；　she　heard　the　front　door　banging　to。　　She　sighed　　…　Joe　Chandler　was　really　a　very　noisy　young　fellow。


CHAPTER　XVII

Mrs。　Bunting　slept　well　the　night　following　that　during　which　the　lodger　had　been　engaged　in　making　his　mysterious　experiments　in　her　kitchen。　　She　was　so　tired；　so　utterly　exhausted；　that　sleep　came　to　her　the　moment　she　laid　her　head　upon　her　pillow。

Perhaps　that　was　why　she　rose　so　early　the　next　morning。　　Hardly　giving　herself　time　to　swallow　the　tea　Bunting　had　made　and　brought　her；　she　got　up　and　dressed。

She　had　suddenly　come　to　the　conclusion　that　the　hall　and　staircase　required　a　thorough　〃doing　down；〃　and　she　did　not　even　wait　till　they　had　eaten　their　breakfast　before　beginning　her　labours。　　It　made　Bunting　feel　quite　uncomfortable。　　As　he　sat　by　the　fire　reading　his　morning　paper　…　the　paper　which　was　again　of　such　absorbing　interest　…　he　called　out；　〃There's　no　need　for　so　much　hurry；　Ellen。　Daisy'll　be　back　to…day。　　Why　don't　you　wait　till　she's　come　home　to　help　you？〃

But　from　the　hall　where　she　was　busy　dusting；　sweeping；　polishing；　his　wife's　voice　came　back：　〃Girls　ain't　no　good　at　this　sort　of　work。　　Don't　you　worry　about　me。　　I　feel　as　if　I'd　enjoy　doing　an　extra　bit　of　cleaning　to…day。　　I　don't　like　to　feel　as　anyone　could　come　in　and　see　my　place　dirty。〃

〃No　fear　of　that！〃　Bunting　chuckled。　　And　then　a　new　thought　struck　him。　　〃Ain't　you　afraid　of　waking　the　lodger？〃　he　called　out。

〃Mr。　Sleuth　slept　most　of　yesterday；　and　all　last　night；〃　she　answered　quickly。　　〃As　it　is；　I　study　him　over…much；　it's　a　long；　long　time　since　I've　done　this　staircase　down。〃

All　the　time　she　was　engaged　in　doing　the　hall；　Mrs。　Bunting　left　the　sitting…room　door　wide　open。

That　was　a　queer　thing　of　her　to　do；　but　Bunting　didn't　like　to　get　up　and　shut　her　out；　as　it　were。　　Still；　try　as　he　would；　he　couldn't　read　with　any　comfort　while　all　that　noise　was　going　on。　　He　had　never　known　Ellen　make　such　a　lot　of　noise　before。　　Once　or　twice　he　looked　up　and　frowned　rather　crossly。

There　came　a　sudden　silence；　and　he　was　startled　to　see　that。　　Ellen　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　staring　at　him；　doing　nothing。

〃Com