the red seal(红印)-第28节
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night as you saw them； but the coroner's questions were put to you under
the impression that you were Helen。〃 Kent scrutinized her keenly。
〃Would Helen have been able to give the same answers that you did
without perjuring herself？〃
Barbara started and her face paled。 〃Are you insinuating that Helen
killed Jimmie？〃 she cried。
〃No；〃 his emphatic denial was prompt。 〃But I do believe that she
knows more of what transpired Monday night than she is willing to admit。
Is that not so； Barbara？〃
〃Yes；〃 she acknowledged reluctantly。
〃Does she know who poisoned Jimmie？〃
〃No … no！〃 Barbara rested a firm hand on his shoulder。 〃I swear
Helen does not know。 You must believe me； Harry。〃
〃She may not know；〃 Kent spoke slowly。 〃But are you sure she does
not suspect some one？〃
〃Well； what if I do？〃 asked Helen quietly； and Kent； looking around；
found her standing just inside the door。 Her entrance had been noiseless。
〃You should tell the authorities； Helen。〃 Kent rose as she passed him
and selected a seat which brought her face somewhat in shadow。 〃If you
do not you may retard justice。〃
〃But if I speak I may involve the innocent；〃 she retorted。 〃I …〃 her
eyes shifted from him to Barbara and back again。 〃I cannot undertake
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that responsibility。〃
〃Better that than let the guilty escape through your silence；〃 protested
Kent。 〃Possibly the theories of the police may coincide with yours。
〃What are they？〃 asked Barbara impetuously。
Kent considered before replying。 If Detective Ferguson had gone so
far as to secure a search warrant to go through Rochester's apartment and
office it would not be long before the fact of his being a 〃suspect〃 would
be common property； there could； therefore； be no harm in his repeating
Ferguson's conversation to the twins。 In fact； as their legal representative；
they were entitled to know the latest developments from him。
〃Detective Ferguson believes that the poison was administered by
Philip Rochester；〃 he said finally； and watched to see how the
announcement would affect them。 Barbara's eyes opened to their widest
extent； and back in her corner； into which she had gradually edged her
chair； Helen emitted a long； long breath as her taut muscles relaxed。
〃What makes Ferguson think Philip guilty？〃 demanded Barbara。
〃It is known that he and Jimmie were not on good terms；〃 replied Kent。
〃Then Rochester's disappearance after Jimmie's death lends color to the
theory。〃
〃Has Philip really disappeared？〃 asked Helen。 〃You showed me a
telegram …〃
〃Apparently the telegram was a fake；〃 admitted Kent。 〃The
Cleveland police report that he is not at the address given in the telegram。〃
〃But who could have an object in sending such a telegram？〃 asked
Barbara slowly。
〃Rochester； in the hope of throwing the police off his track； if he really
killed Jimmie。〃 Kent looked straight at Helen。 〃It was while searching
our office safe for trace of Rochester's present address that Ferguson
obtained possession of your sealed envelope。〃
Helen plucked nervously at the ribbon on her gown。 〃Did the
detective open the envelope〃 she asked。
〃No。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Positive； the red seal was unbroken。〃
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〃Tell us how the envelope came to be stolen from you；〃 coaxed
Barbara。
〃We were in the little smoking porch off the dining room at the Club
de Vingt。〃 Barbara smiled her remembrance of it； and motioned Kent to
continue。 〃Ferguson had just put down the envelope on the table and I
started to pick it up when cheering in the dining room distracted my
attention and I； with the others； went to see what it was about。 When I
returned to the porch the envelope was no longer on the table。〃
〃Who were with you？〃 questioned Helen。
〃Your father； Mrs。 Brewster …〃
〃Of course；〃 murmured Barbara。 〃Go on； Harry。〃
〃Detective Ferguson and Ben Glymer；〃 Barbara made a wry face；
〃and〃 … went on Kent； not heeding her； 〃each of these persons deny any
further knowledge of the envelope； except they declare it was lying on the
table when we all made a dash for the dining room。
〃Who was the last to leave the porch？〃 asked Helen。
〃Ben Clymer。〃
〃And he saw no one take the envelope？〃
〃He declares that he had his back to the table； part of the time； but to
the best of his knowledge no one took the envelope。〃
〃One of them must have；〃 insisted Barbara。
〃The envelope hadn't legs or wings。〃
〃One of them did take it；〃 agreed Kent。
〃But which one is the question。 Frankly； to find the answer； I must
know the contents of the envelope； Helen。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because then I will have some idea who would be enough interested
in the envelope to steal it。〃
Helen considered him long and thoughtfully。 〃I cannot answer your
question；〃 she announced finally。 She saw his face harden； and hastened
to explain。 〃Not through any lack of confidence in you； Harry； b…b…but；〃
she stumbled in her speech。 〃I … I do not know what the envelope
contains。〃
Kent stared at her open…mouthed。 〃Then who requested you to lock
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the envelope in Rochester's safe？〃 he demanded； and receiving no reply；
asked suddenly： 〃Was it Rochester？〃
〃I am not at liberty to tell you；〃 she responded； her mouth set in
obstinate lines and before he could press his request a second time； she
asked： 〃Philip Rochester defended Jimmie in court when every one
thought him a burglar； why then； should Philip have picked him out to
attack … he is not a homicidal maniac？〃
〃No； but the police contend that Rochester recognized Jimmie in his
make…up and decided to kill him； hoping his death would be attributed to
angina pectoris； and no post…mortem held；〃 wound up Kent。
〃I don t quite understand〃 … Helen raised her handkerchief to her
forehead and removed a drop of moisture。 〃How did Philip kill Jimmie
there in court before us all？〃
〃Ferguson believes that he put the dose of aconitine in the glass of
water which Jimmie asked for；〃 explained Kent； and would have
continued his remarks； but a scream from Barbara startled him。
〃There； look at the window；〃 she cried。 〃I saw a face peering in。
Look quick； Harry； look！〃
Kent needed no second bidding； but although he craned his head far
outside the open window and gazed both up and down the street and along
the path to the kitchen door； he failed to see any one。 〃Was it a man or
woman？〃 he asked； turning back to the room。
〃I … I couldn't tell； it was just a glimpse。〃 Barbara stood resting one
hand on the table； her weight leaning upon it。 Not for words would she
have had Kent know that her knees were shaking under her。
〃Did you see the face； Helen？〃 As he put the question Kent looked
around at the silent girl in the corner； she had slipped back in her chair and；
with closed eyes； lay white…lipped and limp。 With a leap Kent gained her
side and his hand sought her pulse。
〃Ring for brandy and water；〃 he directed as Barbara came to his aid。
〃Helen has fainted。〃
Twenty minutes later Kent hastened out of the McIntyre house and；
turning into Connecticut Avenue； boarded a street car headed south。 After
carrying Helen to the twins' sitting room he had assisted Barbara in
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reviving her。 He had wondered at the time why Barbar
