the red seal(红印)-第14节
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up Fifteenth Street。
The limousine had turned into Massachusetts Avenue before Barbara
switched on the electric lamp in the car and opened the note so
mysteriously given to her。 She read feverishly the few lines it contained
Dear Helen： The coroner will call an inquest。 Secrete letter 〃B。〃
The note was unsigned but it was in the handwriting of Philip
Rochester。
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THE RED SEAL
CHAPTER VII
THE RED SEAL
The gloomy morning； with leaden skies and intermittent rain； reflected
Harry Kent's state of mind。 He could not fix his attention on the business
letters which Sylvester placed before him； instead； his thoughts reverted to
the scene in Rochester's and Turnbull's apartment the night before； the
elusive visitor he had found there on his arrival； his interview with
Detective Ferguson； and above all the handkerchief； saturated with amyl
nitrite； and bearing the small embroidered letter 〃B〃 … the initial；
insignificant in size； but fraught with dire possibilities if； as Ferguson
hinted； Turnbull had been put to death by an over…dose of the drug。 〃B 〃
… Barbara； Barbara … 〃B〃 … his mind rang the changes； pshaw！ other names
than Barbara began with 〃B。〃
〃Shall I transcribe your notes； Mr。 Kent？〃 asked Sylvester； and Kent
awakened from his reverie； discovered that he had scrawled the name
Barbara and capital 〃Bs〃 on the writing pad。 He tore off the sheet and
crumpled it into a small ball。 〃No； my notes are unimportant 〃 Kent
unlocked his desk and took some manuscript from one of the drawers。
〃Make four copies of this brief； then call up the printer and ask how soon
he will complete the work on hand。 Has Mr。 Clymer telephoned？
〃Not this morning。〃 Sylvester rose； papers in hand。 〃There has
been a Mr。 Parker of the Post who telephones regularly once an hour to
ask for Mr。 Rochester's address and when he is expected at the office。〃 He
paused and looked inquiringly at Kent。 〃What shall I say the next time
he calls？〃
〃Switch him on my phone；〃 briefly。 〃That is all now； Sylvester。 I
must be in court by noon； so have the brief copied by eleven。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 and Sylvester departed； only to return a second later。 〃Miss
McIntyre to see you；〃 he announced； and stood aside to allow the girl to
enter。
It was the first time Kent had seen Helen since the tragedy of Tuesday；
and as he advanced to greet her he noted with concern her air of distress
and the troubled look in her eyes。 Her composed manner was obviously
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THE RED SEAL
only maintained by the exertion of self…control； for the hand she offered
him was unsteady。
〃You are so kind；〃 she murmured as he placed a chair for her。 〃Babs
told me you have promised your aid； and so I have come …〃 she pressed
one hand to her side as if she found breathing difficult and Kent； reaching
for his pitcher of ice water which stood near at hand； filled a tumbler and
gave it to her。
〃Take a little；〃 he coaxed as she moved as if to refuse the glass。 〃Why
didn't you telephone and I would have called on you； in fact； I planned to
run in and see you this afternoon。
〃It is wiser to have our talk here；〃 she replied。 Setting down the
empty glass she gazed about the office and her face brightened at sight of
a safe standing in one corner。 〃Is that yours or Philip's？〃 she asked；
pointing to it。
〃The safe？ Oh； it's for our joint use； owned by the firm； you know；〃
explained Kent； somewhat puzzled by her eagerness。
〃Do you keep your private papers there； as well as the firm's？〃 '
〃Oh； yes； Philip has retained one section and I the other。〃 Kent
walked over and threw open the massive door which he had unlocked on
entering the office and left ajar。 〃Would you like to see the arrangements
of the compartments？〃
Without answering Helen crossed the room and stood by his side。
〃Which is Philip's section？〃 she asked。
〃This；〃 and Kent touched the side of the safe。
Helen turned around and inspected the office； the outer door through
which she had entered was closed； as were also the private door leading
directly into the outside corridor； and the one opening into the closet。
Convinced that they were really alone； she took from her leather hand…bag
a white envelope and handed it to Kent。
〃Please put this in Philip's compartment；〃 she said； and as he hesitated；
she added pleadingly； 〃Please do it； Harry； and ask no questions。〃
Kent looked at her wonderingly； the girl was obviously laboring under
intense excitement of some sort； which might at any moment break into
hysteria。 Bottling up his curiosity； he stooped down in front of the safe。
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〃Certainly I will put the envelope away for you；〃 he agreed cheerily。
〃Wait； though； I must find if Philip left the key of the compartment on his
bunch。〃 He took from his pocket the keys he had found so useful the
night before； and selected one that resembled the key to his own
compartment； and inserted it in the lock。 To his surprise he discovered
the compartment was already unlocked。 Without comment he pulled
open the inside drawer and started to lay the white envelope on top of the
papers already there； when he hesitated。
〃The envelope is unaddressed； Helen；〃 he remarked； extending it
toward her。 She waved it back。
〃It is sealed with red wax；〃 she stated。 〃That is all that is necessary
for identification。〃
Kent turned over the envelope … the flap was held down securely with
a large red seal which bore the one letter 〃B。〃 He dropped the envelope
inside the drawer； locked the compartment； and closed the door of the safe。
〃Let us talk；〃 he suggested and led the way back to their chairs。
〃Helen；〃 he began； after she was seated。 〃There is nothing I will not do
for your sister Barbara；〃 his manner grew earnest。 〃I …〃 he flushed；
baring his feelings to another； no matter how sympathetic that other was；
was foreign to his reserved nature。 〃I love her beyond words to express。
I tell you this to … to … gain your trust。〃
〃You already have it； Harry！〃 Impulsively Helen extended her hand；
and he held it in a firm clasp for a second。 〃Babs and I have come at
once to you in our trouble。〃
〃Yes； but you have only hinted what that trouble； was；〃 he reminded
her gently。 〃I cannot really aid you until you give me your full
confidence。〃
Helen looked away from him and out of the window。 The relief；
which had lighted her face a moment before； had vanished。 It was some
minutes before she answered。
〃Babs told you that I suspected Jimmie did not die from angina
pectoris …〃 She spoke with an effort。
〃Yes。〃
She waited a second before continuing her remarks。 〃I have asked
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the coroner to make an investigation。〃 She paused again； then added
with more animation； 〃He is the one to tell us if a crime has been
committed。〃
〃He can tell if death has been accelerated by a weapon； or a drug；〃
responded Kent； he was weighing his words carefully so that she might
understand him fully。 〃But to constitute a crime； it has to be proved first；
that the act has been committed； and second； that a guilty mind or malice
prompted it。 Can you furnish a clew to establish either of the last
mentioned facts in connection with Jimmie's death？〃
Kent wondered if she had heard him； she was so long in replying； and
he was about to repeat his question
