the red seal(红印)-第24节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Outside the porch the beautiful trumpet vine； its sturdy trunk and thick
branches reaching almost to the roof of the club building； rustled as in a
high wind； and the branches swayed this way and that as a figure climbed
swiftly down from the porch until； reaching the fence separating the club
property from its neighbor's； the man swung across it； no mean athletic
feet； and taking advantage of each sheltering shadow； darted into the alley
and from there down silent； deserted Nineteenth Street。
88
… Page 89…
THE RED SEAL
CHAPTER XI
HALF A TRUTH
Dancing was being resumed in the dining room as Kent appeared
again in the doorway and he made his way as quickly as possible among
the couples； going into all the rooms on that floor； but nowhere could he
find Detective Ferguson。 On emerging from the drawing room； he
encountered the steward returning from downstairs。
〃Have you seen Mr。 Clymer？〃 he asked hurriedly。
〃Yes； Mr。 Kent； he just left the club； taking Detective Ferguson with
him in his motor。 Is there anything I can do？〃 added the steward
observing Kent's agitation。
〃No； no； thanks。 Say； where is Colonel McIntyre？〃 Kent gave up
further pursuit of the detective； he could find him later at Headquarters。
The steward looked among the dancers。 〃I don't see him；〃 he said； 〃But
there is Mrs。 Brewster dancing in the front room； the Colonel must be
somewhere around。 If I meet him； Mr。 Kent； shall I tell him you are
looking for him？〃
〃I will be greatly obliged if you will do so；〃 replied Kent； and
straightening his tie； he went in quest of the pretty widow。 He had found
her a merry chatter…box in the past； possibly he could gain valuable
information from her。 He found Mrs。 Brewster just completing her dance
with a fine looking Italian officer whose broad breast bore many military
decorations。
〃Dance the encore with me〃 … Kent could be very persuasive when he
wished； and Mrs。 Brewster dimpled with pleasure； but there was a faint
indecision in her manner which he was quick to note。 What prompted it？
He had been on friendly terms with her； in fact； she had openly
championed his cause； so Barbara had once told him； when Colonel
McIntyre had made caustic remarks about his frequent calls at the
McIntyre house。
〃Just one turn；〃 she said； as the foreigner bowed and withdrew。 〃I am
feeling a little weary to…night … the strain of the inquest；〃 she； added in
explanation。
89
… Page 90…
THE RED SEAL
〃Perhaps you would rather sit out the dance；〃 he suggested。 〃There is
an alcove in that window； oh； pshaw！〃 as a man and a girl took possession
of the chairs。
〃Never mind； we can roost on the stairs；〃 Mrs。 Brewster preceded
him to the staircase leading to the third floor； and sat down； bracing her
back very comfortably against the railing； while Kent seated himself at her
feet on the lower step。 〃Extraordinary developments at the inquest this
afternoon；〃 he began； as she volunteered no remark。 〃To think of Jimmie
Turnbull being poisoned！〃
〃It is unbelievable；〃 she said； and her vehemence was a surprise to
Kent； he knew her as all froth and bubble。 What had brought the dark
circles under her eyes and the unwonted seriousness in her manner？
〃Unbelievable； yes；〃 he agreed gravely。 〃But true； the autopsy ended
all doubt。〃
〃You mean it developed doubt；〃 she corrected； and a sigh accompanied
the words。 〃Have the police any clew to the guilty man？〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure；〃 Kent spoke with caution。
〃You don't？〃 Her voice was a little sharp。 〃Didn't Detective
Ferguson give you any news when talking to you on the porch？〃
〃So you recognized the detective？〃
〃I？ No； I have never seen him before〃 … she nodded gayly to an
acquaintance passing through the hall。 〃Colonel McIntyre told me his
name。 It was so odd to meet a man here not in evening clothes that I had
to ask who he was。〃
〃Ferguson came to bring me some papers about a personal matter；〃
explained Kent。 He turned so as to face her。 〃Did you see a white
envelope lying on the table when you walked out on the porch？〃
She bowed her head absently； her foot keeping time to the inspiring
music played by the orchestra stationed on the stair landing just above
where they sat。 〃You left it lying on the table。〃
〃Yes； so I did；〃 replied Kent。 〃And I believe I was so ungallant as to
bolt into the dining room in front of you。 Please accept my apologies。〃
Behind her fan； which she used with languid grace； the widow watched
him。
90
… Page 91…
THE RED SEAL
〃We all bolted together；〃 she responded； 〃and are equally guilty …〃
〃Of what？〃 questioned a voice from the background； and looking up
Kent saw Colonel McIntyre standing on the step above Mrs。 Brewster。 The
music had ceased and in the lull their conversation had been distinctly
audible。
〃Guilty of curiosity；〃 finished the widow。
〃Colonel de Geofroy's farewell speech was very amusing； did you not
think so？〃
〃I did not stay to hear it；〃 Kent confessed。 〃I had to return to the
porch and get my envelope。〃
〃You were a long time about it；〃 commented McIntyre； sitting down
by Mrs。 Brewster and possessing himself of her fan。 〃I waited to tell you
that Helen and Barbara were worn out after the inquest and so stayed at
home to…night； but you didn't show up。〃
〃Neither did the envelope；〃 retorted Kent； and as his companions
looked at him； he added。 〃It had disappeared off the table。〃
〃Probably blew away；〃 suggested McIntyre。 〃I noticed a strong
current of air from the dining room； and two of the windows inclosing the
porch were open。
〃That's hardly possible；〃 Kent replied skeptically。 〃The envelope
weighed at least two ounces； it would have taken quite a gale to budge it。〃
McIntyre turned red。 〃Are you insinuating that one of us walked off
with your envelope； Kent？〃 he demanded angrily。 Mrs。 Brewster stayed
him as he was about to rise。
〃Did you not say that Detective Ferguson brought you the envelope；
Mr。 Kent？〃 she asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Then what more likely than that he carried it off again？〃 She smiled
amusedly as Kent's expression altered。 〃Why not ask the detective？〃
Her suggestion held a grain of truth。 Suppose Ferguson had not
believed his statement that the papers in the envelope were his personal
property and had taken the envelope away to examine it at his leisure？
The thought brought Kent to his feet。
〃Good night； Mrs。 Sherlock Holmes；〃 he said jestingly； 〃I'll follow
91
… Page 92…
THE RED SEAL
your advice … There was no opportunity to say more； for several men had
discovered the widow's perch on the stairs and came to claim their dances。
Over their heads McIntyre watched Kent stride downstairs； then stooping
over he picked up Mrs。 Brewster's fan and sat down to patiently await her
return。
Kent's pursuit of the detective took longer than he had anticipated； and
it was after midnight before he finally located him at the office of the
Chief of Detectives in the District Building。 〃I've called for the envelope
you took from my safe early this evening；〃 he began without preface；
hardly waiting for the latter's surprised greeting。
〃Why； Mr。 Kent； I left it lying on the porch table at the club；〃 declared
Ferguson。
