the red seal(红印)-第16节
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meeting in twenty minutes。〃
McIntyre； who had been swinging his walking stick from one hand to
the other in marked impatience； turned to Kent； his manner more
conciliatory。
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〃Pleasant quarters you have；〃 he remarked。 〃Does Rochester share
his room with you？〃
〃No； Colonel； his is across the ante…room where you waited a few
minutes ago；〃 explained Kent as he accompanied his visitors to the door。
〃This is my office。〃
〃Ah； yes； I thought as much on seeing only one desk；〃 McIntyre's
manner grew more cordial。 〃Does Rochester's furniture duplicate yours；
safe and all？〃
〃Safe … no； he has none； that is the firm's safe。〃 Kent was becoming
restless under so many personal questions。 〃Good…by； Mr。 Clymer。〃
〃Don't forget to…night at eight；〃 the banker reminded him before
stepping into the corridor。 〃We'll dine at the Club de Vingt。 Come along；
McIntyre。〃
Sylvester stopped Kent on his way back to his office and handed him
the neatly typewritten copies of his brief； and with a word of thanks the
lawyer went over to his desk and； gathering such papers as he required at
the court house； he thrust them and the brief into his leather bag； but
instead of hurrying on his way； he stood still to consider the events of the
morning。
Helen McIntyre； during their interview； had not responded to his
appeal for her confidence； nor vouchsafed any reason for her belief that
Jimmie Turnbull had been the victim of foul play。 And Colonel McIntyre
had given him only until Saturday night to solve the problem！ Kent's
overwrought feelings found vent in an emphatic oath。
〃Excuse me；〃 exclaimed Sylvester mildly from the doorway。 〃I
knocked and understood you to say come in。
〃Well； what is it？〃 Kent's nerves were getting a bit raw； a glance at
his watch showed him he had a slender margin only in which to reach the
court house in time for his appointment。 Not even waiting for the clerk's
reply he snatched up his brief case and made for the private door leading
into the corridor。 But he was destined not to get away without another
interruption。
As Sylvester was hastily explaining； 〃Two gentlemen to see you； Mr。
Kent；〃 the clerk was thrust aside and Detective Ferguson entered；
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accompanied by a deputy marshal。
〃Sorry to detain you； Mr。 Kent；〃 exclaimed the detective。 〃I came to
tell you that Coroner Penfield has just called an inquest for this afternoon
to inquire into Jimmie Turnbull's death。 Where's your partner； Mr。
Rochester？〃 looking around inquiringly。
〃In Cleveland。 Won't I do？〃 replied Kent； his appointment forgotten
in the news that Ferguson had just given him。
〃No； we didn't come for legal advice；〃 Ferguson smiled； then grew
serious。 〃What's Mr。 Rochester's address？〃
Kent walked over to his desk and picked up the telegram。 〃The City
Club； Cleveland；〃 he stated。
〃Thanks；〃 Ferguson jotted down the address in his note…book。 〃Jones；
here；〃 placing his hand on his companion； 〃came to serve Mr。 Rochester
with a subpoena； he's wanted at the Turnbull inquest as a material
witness。〃
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CHAPTER VIII
THE INQUEST
Coroner Penfield adjusted his eyeglasses and scanned the spectators
gathered for the Turnbull inquest。 The room was crowded with both men
and women； the latter predominating； and the coroner decided that； while
some had come from a personal interest in the dead man； the majority had
been attracted by morbid curiosity。 There was a stir among the spectators
as an inner door opened and the jury； led by the morgue master filed into
the room and took their places。 Coroner Penfield rose and addressed the
foreman。
〃Have you viewed the body？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes； doctor；〃 and the man sat down。
Coroner Penfield then concisely stated the reason for the inquest and
summoned Officer O'Ryan to the witness stand。 The policeman stood；
cap in hand； while being sworn by the morgue master； and then took his
place on the platform in the chair reserved for the witnesses。
His answer to Coroner Penfield's questions relative to his name；
residence in Washington； and length of service in the city Police Force
were given with brevity and a rich Irish brogue。
〃Where were you on Tuesday morning at about five o'clock？〃 asked
Penfield； first consulting some memoranda on his desk。
〃On my way home；〃 explained O'Ryan。 My relief had just come。〃
〃Does your beat take in the McIntyre residence？ 〃
〃It does； sir。〃
〃Did you observe any one loitering in the vicinity of the residence
prior to five o'clock； Tuesday morning？〃
〃No； sir。 It was only when the lady called to me that I was attracted
to the house。〃
〃Did she state what was the matter？〃 〃Yes； sir。 She said that she
had locked a burglar in a closet； and to come and get him； and I did so；〃
and O'Ryan expanded his chest with an air of satisfaction as be glanced
about the morgue。
〃Did the burglar resist arrest？〃
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〃No； sir； he came very peaceably and not a word out of him。〃
〃Had you any idea that the burglar was not what he seemed？〃
〃Devil an idea； begging your pardon … O'Ryan remembered hastily
where he was。 〃The burglar looked the part he was masquerading； and
his make…up was perfect；〃 ended O'Ryan with relish。 〃Never gave me a
hint he was a gentleman and a bank cashier in disguise。〃
Kent； who had arrived at the morgue a few minutes before the
policeman commenced his testimony； smiled in spite of himself。 He was
feeling exceedingly low spirited； and had come to the inquest with inward
foreboding as to its result。 On what developed there； he Was convinced；
hung Jimmie Turnbull's good name。 After his interview with Detective
Ferguson that morning； he had wired Philip Rochester to return to
Washington at once。 He had requested an immediate reply； and had fully
expected to find a telegram at his office when he stopped there on his way
to the morgue； but none had come。
〃Whom did you see in the McIntyre house？〃 the coroner asked
O'Ryan。
〃No one sir； except the burglar and Miss McIntyre。〃
〃Did you find any doors or windows unlocked？〃
〃No； sir； I never looked to see。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because the young lady said that she had been over the house and
everything was then fastened。〃 O'Ryan looked anxiously at the coroner。
Would he make him out derelict in his duty？ It would seriously affect his
standing on the Force。 〃I took Miss McIntyre's word for the house； for I
had the burglar safe under arrest。〃
〃How did Miss McIntyre appear？〃
〃Appear？ Sure； she looked very sweet in her blue wrapper and her
hair down her back；〃 answered O'Ryan with emphasis。
〃She was not fully dressed then？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Was Miss McIntyre composed in manner or did she appear
frightened？〃 asked Penfield。 It was one of the questions which Kent had
expected； and he waited with intense interest for the policeman's reply。
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〃She was very pale and … and breathless like。〃 O'Ryan flapped his
arms about vaguely in his endeavor to demonstrate his meaning。 〃She
kept begging me to hurry and get the burglar out of the house； and after
telling her that she would have to appear in the Police Court first thing that
morning； I went off with the prisoner。〃
