the red seal(红印)-第5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！
astound me！〃
〃I was a bit surprised myself；〃 acknowledged the physician。 〃I
thought Rochester … however； that is neither here nor there。 Helen not
only announced she was Jimmie's fiancee but as such demanded that a
post…mortem examination be held to determine the cause of his death。〃
Mrs。 Brewster's pretty color faded and the glance she turned on her
cousin was sharp。 〃Why should Helen suspect foul play？〃 she demanded。
〃For that is what her request hinted。〃
〃True。〃 Stone pulled his beard absentmindedly。 〃Ah； here is Colonel
McIntyre；〃 he exclaimed as the portieres before the hall door parted and a
tall man strode into the library。
McIntyre was a favorite with the old physician； and he welcomed his
arrival with warmth。 Exchanging a word of greeting with Mrs。 Brewster；
McIntyre drew up a chair and dropped into it。
〃I called at your office； doctor；〃 he said。 〃Went there at once on
learning the shocking news about poor Turnbull。 Why in the world didn't
he announce who he was when my daughter had him arrested as a burglar？
He must have realized that prolonged excitement was bad for his weak
heart。〃
Mrs。 Brewster； who had settled herself more comfortably in her corner
of the sofa on McIntyre's arrival； answered his remark。
〃I only knew Jimmie superficially；〃 she said； 〃but he had one
distinguishing trait patent to all； his inordinate fondness for practical jokes。
Probably the predicament he found himself in was highly to his taste …
until his heart failed。〃
Her voice； slightly raised； carried across the room and reached the ears
17
… Page 18…
THE RED SEAL
of a tall； slender girl who had stood hesitating on the threshold of the
dining worn door on beholding the group by the sofa。 All hesitation
vanished； however； as the meaning of Mrs。 Brewster's remark dawned on
her； and she walked over to the sofa。
〃You are very unjust； Margaret；〃 she stated； and at sound of her low
triante voice McIntyre whirled around and frowned slightly。 〃Jimmie was
thinking of the predicament of others； not of himself。〃
〃What do you mean； Helen？〃 her father demanded。
〃Why； how could Jimmie reveal his identity in court without involving
us？〃 she asked。 〃Good afternoon； doctor；〃 recollecting her manners； and
her attention thus diverted； she missed the sudden questioning look which
Mrs。 Brewster and her father exchanged。 〃No；〃 she continued； 〃Jimmie
sacrificed himself for others。〃
〃By becoming a burglar。〃 McIntyre laughed shortly。 〃Don't talk
arrant nonsense； Helen。〃
The girl flushed at his tone； and Dr。 Stone； an interested onlooker；
marveled at the fleeting flash of disdain which lighted her dark eyes。
Stone's interest grew。 The McIntyre family had always been particularly
congenial； and the devotion of Colonel McIntyre （left a widower when the
twins were in short frocks） to his daughters had been commented on
frequently by their wide circle of friends in Washington and by
acquaintances made in their travels abroad。
Colonel McIntyre had married when quite a young man。 Frugality
and industry and a brilliant mind had reaped their reward； and； wiser than
the majority of Americans； he retired early from business and devoted
himself to a life of leisure and the education of his daughters。 Their
debut the previous autumn had been one of the social events of the
Washington season； and the instant popularity the girls had attained proved
a source of pride to Colonel McIntyre。 His chief pleasure consisted in
gratifying their every whim； and Dr。 Stone； knowing the family as he did；
wondered at the faintly discernible air of constraint in the girl's manner。
Usually frank to a sometimes embarrassing degree； she appeared to some
disadvantage as she sat gazing moodily at the tips of her patent…leather
pumps。 Dr。 Stone's attention shifted to Colonel McIntyre and lastly to the
18
… Page 19…
THE RED SEAL
pretty widow at his elbow。 Had Dame Rumor spoken truly in the report；
widely circulated； that the colonel had fallen a victim to the charms of
Margaret Brewster； his daughters' guest？ If so； it might account for the
young girl's manner … however devoted McIntyre's daughters might be to
Mrs。 Brewster as a friend and companion； they might resent having so
young a woman for their step…mother。
Not receiving any reply to his remarks； McIntyre was about to address
his daughter again when she spoke。
〃Jimmie will be justified；〃 she declared stoutly。 〃Has the coroner
held the autopsy yet； Dr。 Stone？〃
〃Autopsy！〃 McIntyre spoke with sharp abruptness。 〃I thought it was
clearly established that Jimmie died from angina pectoris？〃
〃It is so believed；〃 responded Stone。 His mystification was growing；
had not Helen informed her father of the scene which had transpired at the
police court； and of her request to the coroner？ 〃I understand the post…
mortem examination will be made this afternoon； Helen。〃
A heavy paper knife； nicely balanced between McIntyre's well
manicured fingers； dropped to the floor as a step sounded behind him and
the butler； Grimes； stopped by his side。
〃Mr。 Rochester just telephoned that his partner； Mr。 Harry Kent； is out
of town； Miss〃 … bowing to the silent girl。 Grimes always contented
himself with addressing his 〃young ladies〃 by the simple prefix 〃Miss；〃
and never added their given names； because； as he expressed it； 〃them
twins are alike as two peas； and which is which； I dunno。〃 Considering
himself one of the family from his long service with Colonel McIntyre； he
kept a watchful eye on the twins； but their pranks in childhood had often
exasperated him into giving notice； which he generally found it convenient
to forget when the first of a new month came around。
〃Mr。 Kent will be back to…morrow；〃 added the butler； as silence
followed the delivery of his message。 〃Mr。 Rochester wishes to know if
he can transact any business for you。〃
〃Please thank him and say no。〃 The girl's color rose as she caught
her father's disapproving look。 The colonel waited until the butler had
disappeared before addressing her。
19
… Page 20…
THE RED SEAL
〃Why did you send for Harry Kent？〃 he questioned。 〃You know I do
not approve of his attentions to Barbara。 Rochester is well enough …〃
〃Speaking of Rochester 〃… Mrs。 Brewster saw the gathering storm
clouds in the girl's expressive eyes； and broke hastily into the conversation。
〃I see by the paper； Cousin Amos〃 … she turned so as to face Dr。 Stone …〃
that Mr。 Rochester declared positively that Jimmie Turnbull died from
angina pectoris。〃
〃What's Philip's opinion worth？〃 The young girl smiled disdainfully。
〃Philip seems to think that having shared an apartment with Jimmie； gives
him intimate knowledge of Jimmie's health。 Philip is not a medical
man。〃
〃No；〃 acknowledged her father。 〃But here is a medical man who was
on the spot when Jimmie died。 What's your opinion； Stone？〃
Stone； suddenly conscious of the keen attention of his companions；
spoke slowly as was his wont when making a serious statement。
〃Rochester's contention that Jimmie died from angina pectoris would
seem borne out by what transpired；〃 he said。 〃Undoubtedly Jimmie felt
an attack coming on and used the customary remedy to relieve it …〃
〃And what was that remedy？〃 questioned Mrs。 Brewster swiftly。
〃Amy1 nitrite。〃 Stone spoke with decision。 〃I could detect its
presence by the fruity； pleasant odor which always accompanies the drug's
use。〃
