the red seal(红印)-第33节
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prisoner was vacant。 The man had disappeared。
With one accord Ferguson and Kent advanced close to the chair； and
an oath broke from。 the detective。 On the cushion of the chair； still
bearing the impress of a human body； lay a pair of shining new handcuffs。
Dazedly Ferguson stooped over and examined them。 They were still
securely locked。 Wheeling around Kent dashed through the door to his
right and Ferguson； collecting his wits； searched the rest of the apartment
with minute care。 Five minutes later he came face to face with Kent in
the living room。 〃Not a trace of any kind；〃 declared Kent。 〃It's the
same as the other night； the man's gone。 It's … it's positively uncanny。〃
Ferguson's face was red from mortification and his exertions
combined。
〃The fellow must have slipped from the room by that other door and
out through the living room as we came down the hail；〃 he said。 〃Did you
shut the door of the apartment； Mr。 Kent； before coming down here to look
at the prisoner？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kent led the way back to the dining room。 〃Did you
recognize the man； Ferguson？〃
〃No。〃 The detective swore softly as he stared about the room。 〃The
lights went out just as I tackled him。〃
〃It was beastly luck that the fuse burned out at that second；〃 groaned
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Kent。 〃Fortune was with him in that； but how did the man get free of the
handcuffs？〃 pointing to them still lying in the chair。 〃We can't attribute
that to luck； unless〃 … staring keenly at Ferguson …〃 unless you did not snap
them on the man's wrists； after all。〃
〃I did； I swear it；〃 declared Ferguson。 〃I'm no novice at that business。
Here； don't touch them； Mr。 Kent；〃 as his companion bent toward the chair。
〃There may be finger marks on the steel； if so〃 … he drew out his
handkerchief； and taking care not to handle the burnished metal； he folded
the handcuffs carefully in it and put them in his coat pocket。 〃There's no
use lingering here； Mr。 Kent； this apartment is vacant now except for us。
I must get to Headquarters。〃
〃Hadn't you better telephone for an operative and station him here？〃
suggested Kent。
〃I did so while you were searching the back rooms；〃 replied Ferguson。
〃There；〃 as the gong sounded。 〃That's Nelson； now。〃
But the person who stood in the outer corridor when they opened the
front door was not Nelson； the operative； but Dr。 Stone。
〃Can I see Mr。 Rochester？〃 he asked； then catching sight of Kent
standing just back of the detective； he added； 〃Hello； Kent； I thought I
heard some one walking about in here from my apartment next door； and
concluded Rochester had returned。 Can I see him？〃
〃N…no；〃 Kent spoke slowly； with a side…glance at the silent detective。
〃Rochester has been here … and left。〃
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CHAPTER XVI
THE CRIMSON OUTLINE
Barbara McIntyre made the round of the library for the fifth time；
testing each of the seven doors opening into it to see that they ere closed
behind their portieres； then she turned back to her sister； who sat cross…
logged before a small safe。
〃Any luck？〃 she asked
Instead of replying Helen removed the key from the lock of the steel
door and regarded it attentively。 The safe was of an obsolete pattern and
in place of the customary combination lock； was opened by means of a
key； unique in appearance。
〃It is certainly the key which father mislaid six months ago；〃 she
declared。 〃Grimes found it just after father had a new key made and gave
it to me。 And yet I can't get the door open。〃
〃Let me try。〃 Barbara crouched down by her sister and inserted the key
again in the lock； but her efforts met with no results； and after five
minutes' steady manipulation she gave up the attempt。 〃I am afraid it is
impossible；〃 she admitted。 〃Seems to me I have heard that the lost key
will not open a safe after a new key has been supplied。〃
Helen rose slowly to her feet； stretching her cramped limbs carefully
as she did so； and sank down in the nearest chair。 Her attitude indicated
dejection。
〃Then we can't find the envelope；〃 she muttered。 〃Hurry； Babs； and
close the outer door； father may return at any moment。〃
Barbara obeyed the injunction with such alacrity that the door；
concealing the space in the wall where stood the safe； flew to with a bang
and the twins jumped nervously。
〃Take care！〃 exclaimed Helen sharply。 〃Do you wish to arouse the
household？〃
〃No danger of that。〃 But Barbara glanced apprehensively about the
library in spite of her reassuring statement。 〃The servants are either out
or upstairs； and Margaret Brewster is writing letters in our sitting room。〃
〃Hadn't you better go upstairs and join her？〃 Helen suggested。 〃Do；
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Babs；〃 as her sister hesitated。 〃I cannot feel sure that she will not
interrupt us。〃
〃But my joining her won't keep Margaret upstairs；〃 objected Barbara。
〃No； but you can call and warn me if she is on her way down； and that
will give me time to … to straighten father's papers；〃 going over to a large
carved table littered with magazines； letters； and silver ornaments。 Her
sister did not move； and she glanced at her with an irritated air； very
foreign to her customary manner。 〃Go； Barbara。〃
The curt command brought a stare from Barbara； but it did not
accelerate her halting footsteps； instead she moved with even greater
slowness toward the hall door； her active brain tormented with an
unspoken and unanswered question。 Why was Helen so anxious for her
departure？ She had accepted her offer of assistance in her search of the
library with such marked reluctance that Barbara had marveled at the time；
and now。。。
〃Are you quite sure； Helen； that father had the envelope in his pocket
this morning？〃 she asked for the third time since the search began。
〃He had an envelope … I caught a glimpse of the red seal；〃 answered
Helen。 〃Then； just before dinner he was putting some papers in the safe。
Oh； if Grimes had only come in a moment sooner to announce dinner； I
might have had a chance to look in the safe before father closed the door。〃
Whatever reply Barbara intended making was checked by the rattling
of the knob of the hall door； it turned slowly； the door opened and； pushing
aside the portieres drawn across the entrance； Margaret Brewster glided in。
〃So glad to find you；〃 she cooed。 〃But why have you closed up the room
and turned on all the lights？〃
〃To see better；〃 retorted Barbara promptly as the widow's eyes roved
around the large room； taking silent note of the drawn curtains and
portieres； and the somewhat disarranged furniture。 〃Come inside；
Margaret； and help us in our search。〃
〃For what？〃 The widow tried to keep her tone natural； but a certain
shrill alertness crept into it and Barbara； who was watching her closely；
was quick to detect the change。 Helen's color altered at the question； and
she observed the widow's entrance with veiled hostility。
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〃For my seal；〃 Barbara answered。 〃The one with the big letter 'B。'
Have you seen it？〃
〃I？ … No。〃 The widow took a chair uninvited near Helen。 〃You look
tired； Helen dear； why don't you go to bed？〃
〃I could not sleep if I did。〃 Helen passed a nervous finger across her
eyes。 〃But don't let me keep you and Babs up； it won't take me long to
arrange to…morrow's market order for Grimes。〃
Under pretense of searching for pencil and paper Helen contrived to
