the woman in the alcove-第32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！


ey　had　interrupted　was　not　at　an　end；　whether　their　part　in　it　was　or　not。

Mr。　Grey　hesitated；　his　glances　following　those　of　Sweetwater。

〃Let　us　wait；〃　said　he；　in　a　tone　which　surprised　Sweetwater。　〃If　he　is　meditating　an　escape；　I　must　speak　to　him　before　he　reaches　the　launch。　At　all　hazards；〃　he　added　after　another　moment's　thought。

〃All　right；　sirHow　do　you　propose〃

His　words　were　interrupted　by　a　shrill　whistle　from　the　direction　of　the　bank。　Promptly；　and　as　if　awaiting　this　signal；　the　two　men　in　the　rowboat　before　them　dipped　their　oars　and　pulled　for　the　shore；　taking　the　direction　of　the　manufactory。

Sweetwater　said　nothing；　but　held　himself　in　readiness。

Mr。　Grey　was　equally　silent；　but　the　lines　of　his　face　seemed　to　deepen　in　the　moonlight　as　the　boat；　gliding　rapidly　through　the　water；　passed　them　within　a　dozen　boat…lengths　and　slipped　into　the　opening　under　the　manufactory　building。

〃Now　row！〃　he　cried。　〃Make　for　the　launch。　We'll　intercept　them　on　their　return。〃

Sweetwater；　glowing　with　anticipation；　bent　to　his　work。　The　boat　beneath　them　gave　a　bound　and　in　a　few　minutes　they　were　far　out　on　the　waters　of　the　bay。

〃They're　coming！〃　he　whispered　eagerly；　as　he　saw　Mr。　Grey　looking　anxiously　back。　〃How　much　farther　shall　I　go？〃

〃Just　within　hailing　distance　of　the　launch；〃　was　Mr。　Grey's　reply。

Sweetwater；　gaging　the　distance　with　a　glance；　stopped　at　the　proper　point　and　rested　on　his　oars。　But　his　thoughts　did　not　rest。　He　realized　that　he　was　about　to　witness　an　interview　whose　importance　he　easily　recognized。　How　much　of　it　would　he　hear？　What　would　be　the　upshot　and　what　was　his　full　duty　in　the　case？　He　knew　that　this　man　Wellgood　was　wanted　by　the　New　York　police；　but　he　was　possessed　with　no　authority　to　arrest　him；　even　if　he　had　the　power。

〃Something　more　than　I　bargained　for；〃　he　inwardly　commented。　〃But　I　wanted　excitement；　and　now　I　have　got　it。　If　only　I　can　keep　my　head　level；　I　may　get　something　out　of　this；　if　not　all　I　could　wish。〃

Meantime　the　second　boat　was　very　nearly　on　them。　He　could　mark　the　three　figures　and　pick　out　Wellgood's　head　from　among　the　rest。　It　had　a　resolute　air；　the　face　on　which；　to　his　evident　discomfiture；　the　moon　shone；　wore　a　look　which　convinced　the　detective　that　this　was　no　patent…medicine　manufacturer；　nor　even　a　caterer's　assistant；　but　a　man　of　nerve　and　resources；　the　same；　indeed；　whom　he　had　encountered　in　Mr。　Fairbrother's　house；　with　such　disastrous；　almost　fatal；　results　to　himself。

The　discovery；　though　an　unexpected　one；　did　not　lessen　his　sense　of　the　extreme　helplessness　of　his　own　position。　He　could　witness；　but　he　could　not　act；　follow　Mr。　Grey's　orders；　but　indulge　in　none　of　his　own。　The　detective　must　continue　to　be　lost　in　the　valet；　though　it　came　hard　and　woke　a　sense　of　shame　in　his　ambitious　breast。

Meanwhile　Wellgood　had　seen　them　and　ordered　his　men　to　cease　rowing。

〃Give　way；　there；〃　he　shouted。　〃We're　for　the　launch　and　in　a　hurry。〃

〃There's　some　one　here　who　wants　to　speak　to　you；　Mr。　Wellgood；〃　Sweetwater　called　out；　as　respectfully　as　he　could。　〃Shall　I　mention　your　name？〃　he　asked　of　Mr。　Grey。

〃No；　I　will　do　that　myself。〃　And　raising　his　voice；　he　accosted　the　other　with　these　words：　〃I　am　the　man；　Percival　Grey；　of　Darlington　Manor；　England。　I　should　like　to　say　a　word　to　you　before　you　embark。〃

A　change；　quick　as　lightning　and　almost　as　dangerous；　passed　over　the　face　Sweetwater　was　watching　with　such　painful　anxiety；　but　as　the　other　added　nothing　to　his　words　and　seemed　to　be　merely　waiting；　he　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　muttered　an　order　to　his　rowers　to　proceed。

In　another　moment　the　sterns　of　the　two　small　craft　swung　together；　but　in　such　a　way　that；　by　dint　of　a　little　skilful　manipulation　on　the　part　of　Wellgood's　men；　the　latter's　back　was　toward　the　moon。

Mr。　Grey　leaned　toward　Wellgood；　and　his　face　fell　into　shadow　also。

〃Bah！〃　thought　the　detective；　〃I　should　have　managed　that　myself。　But　if　I　can　not　see　I　shall　at　least　hear。〃

But　he　deceived　himself　in　this。　The　two　men　spoke　in　such　low　whispers　that　only　their　intensity　was　manifest。　Not　a　word　came　to　Sweetwater's　ears。

〃Bah！〃　he　thought　again；　〃this　is　bad。〃

But　he　had　to　swallow　his　disappointment；　and　more。　For　presently　the　two　men；　so　different　in　culture；　station　and　appearance；　came；　as　it　seemed；　to　an　understanding；　and　Wellgood；　taking　his　hand　from　his　breast；　fumbled　in　one　of　his　pockets　and　drew　out　something　which　he　handed　to　Mr。　Grey。

This　made　Sweetwater　start　and　peer　with　still　greater　anxiety　at　every　movement；　when　to　his　surprise　both　bent　forward；　each　over　his　own　knee；　doing　something　so　mysterious　he　could　get　no　clue　to　its　nature　till　they　again　stretched　forth　their　hands　to　each　other　and　he　caught　the　gleam　of　paper　and　realized　that　they　were　exchanging　memoranda　or　notes。

These　must　have　been　important；　for　each　made　an　immediate　endeavor　to　read　his　slip　by　turning　it　toward　the　moon's　rays。　That　both　were　satisfied　was　shown　by　their　after　movements。　Wellgood　put　his　slip　into　his　pocket；　and　without　further　word　to　Mr。　Grey　motioned　his　men　to　row　away。　They　did　so　with　a　will；　leaving　a　line　of　silver　in　their　wake。　Mr。　Grey；　on　the　contrary；　gave　no　orders。　He　still　held　his　slip　and　seemed　to　be　dreaming。　But　his　eye　was　on　the　shore；　and　he　did　not　even　turn　when　sounds　from　the　launch　denoted　that　she　was　under　way。

Sweetwater；　looking　at　this　morsel　of　paper　with　greedy　eyes；　dipped　his　oars　and　began　pulling　softly　toward　that　portion　of　the　beach　where　a　small　and　twinkling　light　defined　the　boat…house。　He　hoped　Mr。　Grey　would　speak；　hoped　that　in　some　way；　by　some　means；　he　might　obtain　a　clue　to　his　patron's　thoughts。　But　the　English　gentleman　sat　like　an　image　and　did　not　move　till　a　slight　but　sudden　breeze；　blowing　in…shore；　seized　the　paper　in　his　hand　and　carried　it　away；　past　Sweetwater；　who　vainly　sought　to　catch　it　as　it　went　fluttering　by；　into　the　water　ahead；　where　it　shone　for　a　moment；　then　softly　disappeared。

Sweetwater　uttered　a　cry；　so　did　Mr。　Grey。

〃Is　it　anything　you　wanted？〃　called　out　the　former；　leaning　over　the　bow　of　the　boat　and　making　a　dive　at　the　paper　with　his　oar。

〃Yes；　but　if　it's　gone；　it's　gone；〃　returned　the　other　with　some　feeling。　〃Careless　of　me；　very　careless；but　I　was　thinking　of　〃

He　stopped；　he　was　greatly　agitated；　but　he　did　not　encourage　Sweetwater　in　any　further　attempts　to　recover　the　lost　memorandum。　Indeed；　such　an　effort　would　have　been　fruitless；　the　paper　was　gone；　and　there　was　nothing　left　for　them　but　to　continue　their　way。　As　they　did　so　it　would　have　been　hard　to　tell　in　which　breast　chagrin　mounted　higher。　Sweetwater　had　lost　a　clue　in　a　thousand；　and　Mr。　Greywell；　no　one　knew　what　he　had　lost。　He　said　nothing　and　plainly　showed　by　his　changed　manner　that　he　was　in　haste　to　land　now　and　be　done　with　this　doubtful　adventure。

When　they　reached　the　boat…house　Mr。　Grey　left　Sweetwater　to　pay　for　the　boat　and　started　at　once　for　the　hotel。

The　man　in　charge　had　the　bow　of　the　boat　in　hand；　preparatory　to　pulling　it　up　on　the　boards。　As　Sweetwater　turned　toward　him　he　caught　sight　of　the　side　of　the　boat；　shining　brightly　in　the　moonlight。　He　gave　a　start　and；　with　a　muttered　ejaculation；　darted　forward　and　picked　off　a　small　piece　of　paper　from　the　dripping　keel。　It　separated　in　his　hand　and　a　part　of　it　escaped　him；　but　the　rest　he　managed　to　keep　by　secreting　it　in　his　palm；　where　it　still　clung；　wet　and　possibly　illegible；　when　he　came　upon　Mr。　Grey　again　in　the　hotel　office。

〃Here's　your　pay；〃　said　that　gentleman；　giving　him　a　bill。　〃I　am　very　glad　I　met　you。　You　have　served　me　remarkably　well。〃

There　was　an　anxiety　in　his　face　and　a　hurry　in　his　movements　which　struck　Sweetwater。

〃Does　this　mean　that　you　are　through　with　me？〃　asked　Sweetwater。　〃That　you　have　no　further　call　for　my　services？〃

〃Quite　so；〃　said　the　gentleman。　〃I'm　going　to　take　the　train　to…night。　I　find　that　I　still　have　time。〃

Sweetwater　began　to　look　alive。

Uttering　hasty　thanks；　he　rushed　away　to　his　own　room　and；　turning　on　the　gas；　peeled　off　the　morsel　of　paper　which　had　begun　to　dry　on　his　hand。　If　it　should　prove　to　be　the　blank　end！　If　the　written　part　were　the　one　which　had　floated　off！　Such　disappointments　had　fallen　to　his　lot！　He　was　not　unused　to　them。

But　he　was　destined　to　better　luck　this　time。　The　written　end　had　indeed　disappeared；　but　there　was　one　word　left；　which　he　had　no　sooner　read　than　he　gave　a　low　cry　and　prepared　to　leave　for　New　York　on　the　same　train　as　Mr。　Grey。

The　word　wasdiamond。



XXI

GRIZEL！　GRIZEL！

I　indulged　in　some　very　serious　thoughts　after　Mr。　Grey's　departure。　A　fact　was　borne　in　upon　me　to　which　I　had　hitherto　closed　my　prejudiced　eyes；　but　which　I　could　no　longer　ignore；　whatever　confusion　it　brought　or　however　it　caused　me　to　change　my　mind　on　a　subject　which　had　formed　one　of　the　strongest　bases　to　the　argument　by　which　I　had　sought　to　save　Mr。　Durand。　Miss　Grey　cherished　no　such　distrust　of　her　father　as　I；　in　my　ignorance　of　their　relations；　had　imputed　to　her　in　the　early　hours　of　my　ministrations。　This　you　have　already