the red seal(红印)-第37节
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court just prior to his death； while you were sitting a few feet away？〃
〃I？〃 Mrs。 Brewster turned and regarded him steadfastly。 She was
deadly white under her rouge。 〃Mr。 Kent； are you crazy？〃
〃Yes； crazy to know why you kept your presence in the police court on
Tuesday morning a secret；〃 replied Kent。 In their earnestness neither
noticed Kent's absent…minded clutch on a small folded paper which he had
picked up from the floor of the limousine。 〃Mrs。 Brewster； why did you
laugh when Dr。 Stone carried Jimmie Turnbull out of the court room？〃
Mrs。 Brewster sat still in her corner of the car； so still that Kent；
observing her closely； feared that she had fainted。 She had dropped her
eyes； and her face； set like marble； gave him no key to her thoughts。
The door of the limousine was jerked open almost before the car came
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to a full stop in front of the McIntyre residence； and Colonel McIntyre
offered his hand to help Mrs。 Brewster out。 On the step she turned to
Kent； who had lifted his hat to McIntyre in silent greeting。
〃Your forte lies as a romancer rather than a lawyer； Mr。 Kent；〃 she said；
and not giving him time for a reply； almost ran inside the house。
〃Glad you could get here so soon； Kent；〃 remarked McIntyre； signing
to his chauffeur to drive on before he led the way into the house。 〃Grimes
has worked himself almost into a fever asking for you。〃
〃Grimes？〃
〃Yes。 Grimes was attacked in our library early this morning by some
unknown person； and is in bed with a bad wound on his temple and a
tendency to hysteria；〃 McIntyre explained。
〃Come upstairs。〃
Kent handed his cane and hat to the footman and followed Colonel
McIntyre； who stalked ahead without another word。 As they mounted the
stairs Kent glanced at the folded paper which he still held； and was
surprised to see that it was a check。 The signature showed him that he
had unintentionally walked off with Mrs。 Brewster's property。 His
decision to hand it to Colonel McIntyre was checked by the Colonel
disappearing inside a bedroom； with a muttered injunction to 〃wait there；〃
and Kent stuffed the check inside his vest pocket。 It would serve as an
excuse to interview Mrs。 Brewster again before leaving the house。 He
was determined to have an answer to the question he had put to her in the
limousine。 Why had she gone to the police court； and why kept her
presence there a secret？
When Colonel McIntyre reappeared in the hall he was accompanied by
Detective Ferguson。 〃Sorry to keep you standing； Kent；〃 he said。 〃I have
sent for you and Ferguson； first because Grimes insists on seeing you； and
second； because I am determined that this midnight house…breaking shall
be thoroughly investigated and put an end to。 This way；〃 and he led them
into a large airy bedroom on the third floor； to which Grimes had been
carried unconscious that morning； instead of to his own bedroom in the
servants' quarters。
Grimes； with his head swathed in bandages； was a woe…begone object。
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He greeted Colonel McIntyre and the detective with a sullen glare； but his
eyes brightened at sight of Kent； and he moved a feeble hand in welcome。
〃Sit down； sirs；〃 he mumbled。 〃There's chairs for all。〃
〃Don't worry about us；〃 remarked McIntyre cheerily。 〃Just tell us
how you got that nasty knock on the head。〃
〃I dunno； sir； it came like a clap o' thunder；〃 Grimes tried to lift his
head； but gave over the attempt as excruciating pain followed the effort。
〃What hour of the morning was it？〃 asked Ferguson。
〃About one o'clock； as near as I can tell； sir。〃
〃And what were you doing in the library at that hour； Grimes？〃
demanded McIntyre。
〃Trying to find out what your household was up to； sir；〃 was Grimes'
unexpected answer； and McIntyre started。
〃Explain your meaning； Grimes；〃 he commanded sternly。
〃You can do it better than I can； sir；〃 retorted Grimes。 〃You know the
reason every one's searching the room with the seven doors。〃
〃The room with the seven doors！〃 echoed Ferguson。 〃Which is that？〃
〃Grimes means the library。〃 McIntyre's tone was short。 〃I have no
idea； Grimes； what your allegations mean。 Be more explicit。〃
The butler eyed him in no friendly fashion。 〃Wasn't Mr。 Turnbull
arrested in that very room？〃 he demanded。 〃And what was he looking
for？〃
〃Mr。 Turnbull's presence has been explained；〃 replied McIntyre。 〃He
came here disguised as a burglar on a wager with my daughter； Miss
Barbara。〃
〃Ah； did he now？〃 Grimes' rising inflection indicated nervous
tension。 〃Did a man with a bad heart come here in the dead of night for
nothing but that foolishness？〃 Grimes glared at his three visitors。 〃You
bet he didn't。〃
Ferguson； who had followed the dialogue between McIntyre and his
servant with deep attention； addressed the excited man。
〃Why did Mr。 Turnbull enter Colonel McIntyre's library on Monday
night disguised as a burglar？〃 he asked。
Grimes； by a twist of his head； managed to regard the detective out of
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the corner of his eye。
〃Aye； why did he？〃 he repeated。 〃That's what I went to the library
last night to find out。〃
〃Did you discover anything？〃 The question shot from McIntyre； and
both Ferguson and Kent watched him as they waited for Grimes' reply。
The butler took his time。
〃No； sir。〃
McIntyre threw himself back in his chair and his eyebrows rose in
interrogation as he touched his forehead significantly and glanced at
Grimes。 That the butler caught his meaning was evident from his
expression； but he said nothing。 The detective was the first to speak。
〃Did you hear any one break into the house when you were prowling
around； Grimes？〃 he asked。
〃No； sir。〃
The detective turned to Colonel McIntyre。 〃After finding Grimes did
you search the house？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes。 The patrolman； O'Ryan； and my new footman； Murray； went
with me through the entire house； and we found all doors and windows to
the front and rear of the house securely locked；〃 responded McIntyre；
〃except the window of the reception room on the ground floor。 That was
closed but unlatched。〃
Kent wondered if the grimace which twisted the butler's face was
meant for a smile。
〃That there window was locked when I went to bed；〃 Grimes stated
with slow distinctness。 〃And I was the last person in this house to go to
my room。〃
McIntyre started to speak when Ferguson stopped him。
〃Just let me handle this case；〃 he said persuasively。 〃You have called
in the police；〃 and as McIntyre commenced some uncomplimentary
remark； he added with sternness。 〃Don't interfere； sir。 Now； Grimes；
your statements imply one of two things … some member of the household
either went downstairs after you had retired； and opened the window in the
reception room to admit the person who afterwards attacked you in the
library； or〃 … Ferguson paused significantly； 〃some member of this
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household knocked you senseless in the library。 Which was it？〃
There was a tense silence。 McIntyre； by an obvious effort； refrained
from speech as they waited for Grimes' answer。
〃I dunno who hit me。〃 Grimes avoided looking at the three men。
〃But some one did； and t
