the woman in the alcove-µÚ27½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡with¡¡which¡¡you£»¡¡a¡¡kind¡hearted¡¡enough¡¡little¡¡woman£»¡¡persevere¡¡in¡¡ascribing¡¡the¡¡deepest¡¡guilt¡¡to¡¡one¡¡you¡¡profess¡¡to¡¡admire¡¡and¡¡certainly¡¡would¡¡be¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡find¡¡innocent¡¡of¡¡any¡¡complicity¡¡with¡¡a¡¡great¡¡crime¡£¡¨
I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡justify¡¡myself¡£
¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Durand¡¡has¡¡had¡¡no¡¡such¡¡consideration¡¡shown¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£
¡¨I¡¡know£»¡¡my¡¡child£»¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡cases¡¡differ¡£¡¡Wouldn't¡¡it¡¡be¡¡well¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡see¡¡this¡¡and¡¡be¡¡satisfied¡¡with¡¡the¡¡turn¡¡which¡¡things¡¡have¡¡taken£»¡¡without¡¡continuing¡¡to¡¡insist¡¡upon¡¡involving¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey¡¡in¡¡your¡¡suspicions£¿¡¨
A¡¡smile¡¡took¡¡off¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡this¡¡rebuke£»¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡keenly£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡the¡¡confidence¡¡I¡¡had¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fairness¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man¡¡and¡¡public¡¡official¡¡enabled¡¡me¡¡to¡¡say£º
¡¨But¡¡I¡¡am¡¡talking¡¡quite¡¡confidentially¡£¡¡And¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡so¡¡good¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡so¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡all¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡not¡¡help¡¡but¡¡speak¡¡my¡¡whole¡¡mind¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡my¡¡only¡¡safety¡¡valve¡£¡¡Remember¡¡how¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡this¡¡man¡¡with¡¡my¡¡thoughts¡¡all¡¡choked¡¡up¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡killing¡¡me¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡should¡¡go¡¡back¡¡content¡¡if¡¡you¡¡will¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡one¡¡more¡¡suggestion¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡make¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡my¡¡last¡£¡¨
¡¨Say¡¡it¡¡I¡¡am¡¡nothing¡¡if¡¡not¡¡indulgent¡£¡¨
He¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡the¡¡word¡£¡¡Indulgent£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡let¡¡me¡¡speak£»¡¡probably¡¡had¡¡let¡¡me¡¡speak¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡from¡¡pure¡¡kindness¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡one¡¡little¡¡bit¡¡in¡¡my¡¡good¡¡sense¡¡or¡¡logic¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡deterred¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡empty¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ugly¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡there¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡leave¡¡there¡¡no¡¡miserable¡¡dregs¡¡of¡¡doubt¡¡to¡¡ferment¡¡and¡¡work¡¡their¡¡evil¡¡way¡¡with¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡watches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡face¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡took¡¡him¡¡at¡¡his¡¡word¡£
¡¨I¡¡only¡¡want¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡this¡£¡¡In¡¡case¡¡Sears¡¡is¡¡innocent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crime£»¡¡who¡¡wrote¡¡the¡¡warning¡¡and¡¡where¡¡did¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡get¡¡the¡¡stiletto¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Grey¡¡arms¡¡chased¡¡into¡¡its¡¡handle£¿¡¡And¡¡the¡¡diamond£¿¡¡Still¡¡the¡¡diamond£¡¡¡You¡¡hint¡¡that¡¡he¡¡stole¡¡that£»¡¡too¡£¡¡That¡¡with¡¡some¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡its¡¡proving¡¡useful¡¡to¡¡him¡¡on¡¡this¡¡gala¡¡occasion£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡provided¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡an¡¡imitation¡¡stone£»¡¡setting¡¡and¡¡all£»he¡¡who¡¡has¡¡never¡¡shown£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡we¡¡have¡¡heard£»¡¡any¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Fairbrother's¡¡diamond£»¡¡only¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Fairbrother¡¡herself¡£¡¡If¡¡Wellgood¡¡is¡¡Sears¡¡and¡¡Sears¡¡the¡¡medium¡¡by¡¡which¡¡the¡¡false¡¡stone¡¡was¡¡exchanged¡¡for¡¡the¡¡real£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡made¡¡this¡¡exchange¡¡in¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey's¡¡interests¡¡and¡¡not¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡he¡¡had¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡everything¡¡goes¡¡to¡¡show¡¡that¡¡the¡¡exchange¡¡was¡¡made¡¡by¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey¡¡himself¡£¡¨
¡¨A¡¡second¡¡Daniel£»¡¨¡¡muttered¡¡the¡¡inspector¡¡lightly¡£¡¡¡¨Go¡¡on£»¡¡little¡¡lawyer£¡¡¨¡¡But¡¡for¡¡all¡¡this¡¡attempt¡¡at¡¡banter¡¡on¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡I¡¡imagined¡¡that¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡natural¡¡anxiety¡¡to¡¡close¡¡the¡¡conversation¡£¡¡I¡¡therefore¡¡hastened¡¡with¡¡what¡¡I¡¡had¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡cutting¡¡my¡¡words¡¡short¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡stammering¡¡in¡¡my¡¡eagerness¡£
¡¨Remember¡¡the¡¡perfection¡¡of¡¡that¡¡imitation¡¡stone£»¡¡a¡¡copy¡¡so¡¡exact¡¡that¡¡it¡¡extends¡¡to¡¡the¡¡setting¡£¡¡That¡¡shows¡¡plan¡¡forgive¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡repeat¡¡myselfpreparation£»¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡stones£»¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡this¡¡one¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fairbrother's¡¡steward¡¡may¡¡have¡¡had¡¡the¡¡knowledge£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡to¡¡have¡¡used¡¡his¡¡knowledge¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡for¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡valuable¡¡he¡¡could¡¡never¡¡have¡¡found¡¡a¡¡purchaser¡¡for¡¡in¡¡any¡¡market¡£¡¡But¡¡a¡¡fancierone¡¡who¡¡has¡¡his¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡a¡¡unique¡¡and¡¡invaluable¡¡gemah£¡¡¡that¡¡is¡¡different£¡¡¡He¡¡might¡¡risk¡¡a¡¡crimehistory¡¡tells¡¡us¡¡of¡¡several¡£¡¨
Here¡¡I¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡take¡¡breath£»¡¡which¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡inspector¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡say£º
¡¨In¡¡other¡¡words£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡what¡¡you¡¡think¡£¡¡The¡¡Englishman£»¡¡desirous¡¡of¡¡covering¡¡up¡¡his¡¡tracks£»¡¡conceived¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡having¡¡this¡¡imitation¡¡on¡¡hand£»¡¡in¡¡case¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡of¡¡use¡¡in¡¡the¡¡daring¡¡and¡¡disgraceful¡¡undertaking¡¡you¡¡ascribe¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡Recognizing¡¡his¡¡own¡¡inability¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡delegated¡¡the¡¡task¡¡to¡¡one¡¡who¡¡in¡¡some¡¡way£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡led¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¡cherished¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡grudge¡¡against¡¡its¡¡present¡¡possessora¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡had¡¡some¡¡opportunity¡¡for¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡and¡¡studying¡¡the¡¡setting¡£¡¡The¡¡copy¡¡thus¡¡procured£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ball£»¡¡and£»¡¡relying¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own¡¡seemingly¡¡unassailable¡¡position£»¡¡attacked¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Fairbrother¡¡in¡¡the¡¡alcove¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have¡¡carried¡¡off¡¡the¡¡diamond£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡it¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡earlier¡¡blazing¡¡on¡¡her¡¡breast¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡there¡£¡¡The¡¡warning¡¡received¡¡by¡¡hera¡¡warning¡¡you¡¡ascribe¡¡to¡¡his¡¡daughter£»¡¡a¡¡fact¡¡which¡¡is¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡be¡¡provedhad¡¡led¡¡her¡¡to¡¡rid¡¡herself¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jewel¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Durand¡¡describes£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡burdened¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dastardly¡¡crime¡¡and¡¡with¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡show¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡Later£»¡¡however£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡intense¡¡surprise¡¡and¡¡possible¡¡satisfaction£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡diamond¡¡in¡¡my¡¡hands£»¡¡and£»¡¡recognizing¡¡an¡¡opportunity£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡of¡¡yet¡¡securing¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it£»¡¡held¡¡it¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡making¡¡use¡¡of¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡incredible¡¡expedient¡¡for¡¡distracting¡¡attention£»¡¡dropped£»¡¡not¡¡the¡¡real¡¡stone¡¡but¡¡the¡¡false¡¡one£»¡¡retaining¡¡the¡¡real¡¡one¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡This£»¡¡in¡¡plain¡¡English£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡take¡¡it£»¡¡is¡¡your¡¡present¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡situation¡£¡¨
Astonished¡¡at¡¡the¡¡clearness¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡read¡¡my¡¡mind£»¡¡I¡¡answered£º¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡Inspector£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡what¡¡was¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mind¡£¡¨
¡¨Good£¡¡¡then¡¡it¡¡is¡¡just¡¡as¡¡well¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡out¡£¡¡Your¡¡mind¡¡is¡¡now¡¡free¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡give¡¡it¡¡entirely¡¡to¡¡your¡¡duties¡£¡¨¡¡Then£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door¡knob£»¡¡he¡¡added£º¡¡¡¨In¡¡studying¡¡so¡¡intently¡¡your¡¡own¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view£»¡¡you¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡forgotten¡¡that¡¡the¡¡last¡¡thing¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey¡¡would¡¡be¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡under¡¡those¡¡circumstances£»¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡call¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡falsity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gem¡¡upon¡¡whose¡¡similarity¡¡to¡¡the¡¡real¡¡stone¡¡he¡¡was¡¡depending¡£¡¡Not¡¡even¡¡his¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡position£»¡¡as¡¡an¡¡honored¡¡and¡¡highly¡esteemed¡¡guest£»¡¡would¡¡lead¡¡him¡¡to¡¡do¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¨Not¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡a¡¡well¡known¡¡connoisseur£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡faltered£»¡¡¡¨with¡¡the¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡one¡¡who¡¡has¡¡handled¡¡the¡¡best¡¡gems£¿¡¡He¡¡would¡¡know¡¡that¡¡the¡¡deception¡¡would¡¡be¡¡soon¡¡discovered¡¡and¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡do¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡fail¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡it¡¡for¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡make¡believe¡¡was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hands¡£¡¨
¡¨Forced£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡child£»¡¡forced£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡chimerical¡¡as¡¡all¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¡It¡¡can¡¡not¡¡stand¡¡putting¡¡into¡¡words¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡further£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡a¡¡good¡¡girl¡¡and¡¡can¡¡bear¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡your¡¡theory£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡nor¡¡have¡¡any¡¡of¡¡my¡¡men£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡your¡¡ideas¡¡are¡¡true¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey¡¡is¡¡involved¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡find¡¡that¡¡there¡¡has¡¡been¡¡more¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hitch¡¡about¡¡that¡¡diamond¡¡than¡¡you£»¡¡in¡¡your¡¡simplicity£»¡¡believe¡£¡¡If¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey¡¡were¡¡in¡¡actual¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡this¡¡valuable£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡show¡¡less¡¡care¡¡than¡¡you¡¡say¡¡he¡¡does¡£¡¡So¡¡would¡¡he¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡in¡¡Wellgood's¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡his¡¡consent¡¡and¡¡a¡¡good¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡its¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡near¡¡future¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡in¡¡Wellgood's¡¡hands¡¡without¡¡his¡¡consent£»¡¡or¡¡any¡¡near¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡his¡¡regaining¡¡it£»¡¡then¡¡we¡¡can¡¡easily¡¡understand¡¡his¡¡present¡¡apprehensions¡¡and¡¡the¡¡growing¡¡uneasiness¡¡he¡¡betrays¡£¡¨
¡¨True£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡murmured¡£
¡¨If£»¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡inspector¡¡pursued£»¡¡giving¡¡me¡¡a¡¡parting¡¡glance¡¡not¡¡without¡¡its¡¡humor£»¡¡probably¡¡not¡¡without¡¡something¡¡really¡¡serious¡¡underlying¡¡its¡¡humor£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡should¡¡find£»¡¡in¡¡following¡¡up¡¡our¡¡present¡¡clue£»¡¡that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grey¡¡has¡¡had¡¡dealings¡¡with¡¡this¡¡Wellgood¡¡or¡¡this¡¡Sears£»¡¡or¡¡if¡¡you£»¡¡with¡¡your¡¡advantages¡¡for¡¡learning¡¡the¡¡fact£»¡¡should¡¡discover¡¡that¡¡he¡¡shows¡¡any¡¡extraordinary¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡either¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡will¡¡take¡¡on¡¡a¡¡different¡¡aspect¡£¡¡But¡¡we¡¡have¡¡not¡¡got¡¡that¡¡far¡¡yet¡£¡¡At¡¡present¡¡our¡¡task¡¡is¡¡to¡¡find¡¡one¡¡or¡¡the¡¡other¡¡of¡¡these¡¡men¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡are¡¡lucky£»¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡discover¡¡that¡¡the¡¡waiter¡¡and¡¡the¡¡steward¡¡are¡¡identical£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡their¡¡seemingly¡¡different¡¡appearance¡£¡¡A¡¡rogue£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡this¡¡Sears¡¡has¡¡shown¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡would¡¡be¡¡an¡¡adept¡¡at¡¡disguise¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡are¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡acknowledged¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡has¡¡certainly¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡a¡¡criminal¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Fairbrother's¡¡murder£»¡¡he¡¡came¡¡near¡¡having¡¡one¡¡in¡¡that¡¡of¡¡your¡¡detective¡£¡¡You¡¡know¡¡what¡¡I¡¡mean¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡hearing£»¡¡Inspector¡£¡¨
He¡¡smiled£»¡¡looked¡¡me¡¡steadfastly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡bowed¡¡me¡¡out¡£
The¡¡inspector¡¡told¡¡me¡¡afterward¡¡that£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cavalier¡¡manner¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡treated¡¡my¡¡suggestions£»¡¡he¡¡spent¡¡a¡¡very¡¡serious¡¡half¡hour£»¡¡head¡¡to¡¡head¡¡with¡¡the¡¡district¡¡attorney¡£¡¡The¡¡result¡¡was¡¡the¡¡following¡¡order¡¡to¡¡Sweetwater£»¡¡the¡¡detective¡£
¡¨You¡¡are¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡St¡£¡¡Regis£»¡¡make¡¡yourself¡¡solid¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡gradually£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡can¡¡manage¡¡it£»¡¡work¡¡yourself¡¡into¡¡a¡¡position¡¡for¡¡knowing¡¡all¡¡that¡¡goes¡¡on¡¡in¡¡Room¡¡¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡gentleman¡¡£¨mind¡¡you£»¡¡the¡¡gentleman£»¡¡we¡¡care¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡the¡¡women£©¡¡should¡¡go¡¡out£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡if¡¡it¡¡takes¡¡you¡¡to¡£¡¡We¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡¡his¡¡secret£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡must¡¡never¡¡know¡¡our¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡it¡¡and¡¡you¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡as¡¡silent¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡as¡¡if¡¡possessed¡¡of¡¡neither¡¡ear¡¡nor¡¡tongue¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡add¡¡memory£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡you¡¡find¡¡this¡¡secret¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡in¡¡which¡¡we¡¡have¡¡no¡¡lawful¡¡interest£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡it¡¡absolutely¡¡and¡¡for¡¡ever¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡understand¡¡why¡¡when¡¡you¡¡consult¡¡the¡¡St¡¡Regis¡¡register¡£¡¨
But¡¡they¡¡expected¡¡nothing¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡absolutely¡¡nothing¡£
XVI
DOUBT
I¡¡prayed¡¡uncle¡¡that¡¡we¡¡might¡¡be¡¡driven¡¡home¡¡by¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡Eighty¡sixth¡¡Street¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Fairbrother¡¡house¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡many¡¡times£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡see¡¡it¡¡with¡¡new¡¡eyes¡¡after¡¡the¡¡story¡¡I¡¡had¡¡just¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡the¡¡inspector's¡¡office¡£¡¡That¡¡an¡¡adventure¡¡of¡¡this¡¡nature¡¡could¡¡take¡¡place¡¡in¡¡a¡¡New¡¡York¡¡house¡¡taxed¡¡my¡¡credulity¡£¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡believed¡¡it¡¡of¡¡Paris£»¡¡wicked£»¡¡mysterious¡¡Paris£»¡¡the¡¡home¡¡of¡¡intrigue¡¡and¡¡every¡¡redoubtable¡¡crime£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡our¡¡own¡¡homely£»¡¡commonplace¡¡