the woman in the alcove-第7节

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nterest。

〃Turned　partly　away。　He　was　going　from　me。〃

〃And　you　satwhere？〃

〃Shall　I　show　you？〃

The　inspector　bowed；　then　with　a　low　word　of　caution　turned　to　my　uncle。

〃I　am　going　to　take　this　young　lady　into　the　hall　for　a　moment；　at　her　own　request。　May　I　ask　you　and　Mr。　Durand　to　await　me　here？〃

Without　pausing　for　reply；　he　threw　open　the　door　and　presently　we　were　pacing　the　deserted　supper…room；　seeking　the　place　where　I　had　sat。　I　found　it　almost　by　a　miracle；everything　being　in　great　disorder。　Guided　by　my　bouquet；　which　I　had　left　behind　me　in　my　escape　from　the　table；　I　laid　hold　of　the　chair　before　which　it　lay；　and　declared　quite　confidently　to　the　inspector：

〃This　is　where　I　sat。〃

Naturally　his　glance　and　mine　both　flew　to　the　opposite　wall。　A　window　was　before　us　of　an　unusual　size　and　make。　Unlike　any　which　had　ever　before　come　under　my　observation；　it　swung　on　a　pivot；　and；　though　shut　at　the　present　moment；　might　very　easily；　when　opened；　present　its　huge　pane　at　an　angle　capable　of　catching　reflections　from　some　of　the　many　mirrors　decorating　the　reception…room　situated　diagonally　across　the　hall。　As　all　the　doorways　on　this　lower　floor　were　of　unusual　width；　an　open　path　was　offered；　as　it　were；　for　these　reflections　to　pass；　making　it　possible　for　scenes　to　be　imaged　here　which；　to　the　persons　involved；　would　seem　as　safe　from　any　one's　scrutiny　as　if　they　were　taking　place　in　the　adjoining　house。

As　we　realized　this；　a　look　passed　between　us　of　more　than　ordinary　significance。　Pointing　to　the　window；　the　inspector　turned　to　a　group　of　waiters　watching　us　from　the　other　side　of　the　room　and　asked　if　it　had　been　opened　that　evening。

The　answer　came　quickly。

〃Yes；　sir；just　before　thethe〃

〃I　understand；〃　broke　in　the　inspector；　and；　leaning　over　me；　he　whispered：　〃Tell　me　again　exactly　what　you　thought　you　saw。〃

But　I　could　add　little　to　my　former　description。　〃Perhaps　you　can　tell　me　this；〃　he　kindly　persisted。　〃Was　the　picture；　when　you　saw　it；　on　a　level　with　your　eye；　or　did　you　have　to　lift　your　head　in　order　to　see　it？〃

〃It　was　high　up；in　the　air；　as　it　were。　That　seemed　its　oddest　feature。〃

The　inspector's　mouth　took　a　satisfied　curve。　〃Possibly　I　might　identify　the　door　and　passage；　if　I　saw　them；〃　I　suggested。

〃Certainly；　certainly；〃　was　his　cheerful　rejoinder；　and；　summoning　one　of　his　men；　he　was　about　to　give　some　order；　when　his　impulse　changed；　and　he　asked　if　I　could　draw。

I　assured　him；　in　some　surprise；　that　I　was　far　from　being　an　adept　in　that　direction；　but　that　possibly　I　might　manage　a　rough　sketch；　whereupon　he　pulled　a　pad　and　pencil　from　his　pocket　and　requested　me　to　make　some　sort　of　attempt　to　reproduce；　on　paper；　my　memory　of　this　passage　and　the　door。

My　heart　was　beating　violently；　and　the　pencil　shook　in　my　hand；　but　I　knew　that　it　would　not　do　for　me　to　show　any　hesitation　in　fixing　for　all　eyes　what；　unaccountably　to　myself；　continued　to　be　perfectly　plain　to　my　own。　So　I　endeavored　to　do　as　he　bade　me；　and　succeeded；　to　some　extent；　for　he　uttered　a　slight　ejaculation　at　one　of　its　features；　and；　while　duly　expressing　his　thanks；　honored　me　with　a　very　sharp　look。

〃Is　this　your　first　visit　to　this　house？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　I　have　been　here　before。〃

〃In　the　evening；　or　in　the　afternoon？〃

〃In　the　afternoon。〃

〃I　am　told　that　the　main　entrance　is　not　in　use　to…night。〃

〃No。　A　side　door　is　provided　for　occasions　like　the　present。　Guests　entering　there　find　a　special　hall　and　staircase；　by　which　they　can　reach　the　upstairs　dressing…rooms；　without　crossing　the　main　hall。　Is　that　what　you　mean？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　what　I　mean。〃

I　stared　at　him　in　wonder。　What　lay　back　of　such　questions　as　these？

〃You　came　in；　as　others　did；　by　this　side　entrance；〃　he　now　proceeded。　〃Did　you　notice；　as　you　turned　to　go　up　stairs；　an　arch　opening　into　a　small　passageway　at　your　left？〃

〃I　did　not；〃　I　began；　flushing；　for　I　thought　I　understood　him　now。　〃I　was　too　eager　to　reach　the　dressing…room　to　look　about　me。〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　replied；　〃I　may　want　to　show　you　that　arch。〃

The　outline　of　an　arch；　backing　the　figure　we　were　endeavoring　to　identify；　was　a　marked　feature　in　the　sketch　I　had　shown　him。

〃Will　you　take　a　seat　near　by　while　I　make　a　study　of　this　matter？〃

I　turned　with　alacrity　to　obey。　There　was　something　in　his　air　and　manner　which　made　me　almost　buoyant。　Had　my　fanciful　interpretation　of　what　I　had　seen　reached　him　with　the　conviction　it　had　me？　If　so；　there　was　hope；hope　for　the　man　I　loved；　who　had　gone　in　and　out　between　curtains；　and　not　through　any　arch　such　as　he　had　mentioned　or　I　had　described。　Providence　was　working　for　me。　I　saw　it　in　the　way　the　men　now　moved　about；　swinging　the　window　to　and　fro；　under　the　instruction　of　the　inspector；　manipulating　the　lights；　opening　doors　and　drawing　back　curtains。　Providence　was　working　for　me；　and　when；　a　few　minutes　later；　I　was　asked　to　reseat　myself　in　my　old　place　at　the　supper…table　and　take　another　look　in　that　slightly　deflected　glass；　I　knew　that　my　effort　had　met　with　its　reward；　and　that　for　the　second　time　I　was　to　receive　the　impression　of　a　place　now　indelibly　imprinted　on　my　consciousness。

〃Is　not　that　it？〃　asked　the　inspector；　pointing　at　the　glass　with　a　last　look　at　the　imperfect　sketch　I　had　made　him；　and　which　he　still　held　in　his　hand。

〃Yes；〃　I　eagerly　responded。　〃All　but　the　man。　He　whose　figure　I　see　there　is　another　person　entirely；　I　see　no　remorse；　or　even　fear；　in　his　looks。〃

〃Of　course　not。　You　are　looking　at　the　reflection　of　one　of　my　men。　Miss　Van　Arsdale；　do　you　recognize　the　place　now　under　your　eye？〃

〃I　do　not。　You　spoke　of　an　arch　in　the　hall；　at　the　left　of　the　carriage　entrance；　and　I　see　an　arch　in　the　window…pane　before　me；　but〃

〃You　are　looking　straight　through　the　alcove；perhaps　you　did　not　know　that　another　door　opened　at　its　back；into　the　passage　which　runs　behind　it。　Farther　on　is　the　arch；　and　beyond　that　arch　the　side　hall　and　staircase　leading　to　the　dressing…rooms。　This　door；　the　one　in　the　rear　of　the　alcove；　I　mean；　is　hidden　from　those　entering　from　the　main　hall　by　draperies　which　have　been　hung　over　it　for　this　occasion；　but　it　is　quite　visible　from　the　back　passageway；　and　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　it　was　by　its　means　the　man；　whose　reflected　image　you　saw；　both　entered　and　left　the　alcove。　It　is　an　important　fact　to　establish；　and　we　feel　very　much　obliged　to　you　for　the　aid　you　have　given　us　in　this　matter。〃

Then；　as　I　continued　to　stare　at　him　in　my　elation　and　surprise；　he　added；　in　quick　explanation：

〃The　lights　in　the　alcove；　and　in　the　several　parlors；　are　all　hung　with　shades；　as　you　must　perceive；　but　the　one　in　the　hall；　beyond　the　arch；　is　very　bright；　which　accounts　for　the　distinctness　of　this　double　reflection。　Another　thing；and　it　is　a　very　interesting　point；it　would　have　been　impossible　for　this　reflection　to　be　noticeable　from　where　you　sit；　if　the　level　of　the　alcove　flooring　had　not　been　considerably　higher　than　that　of　the　main　floor。　But　for　this　freak　of　the　architect；　the　continual　passing　to　and　fro　of　people　would　have　prevented　the　reflection　in　its　passage　from　surface　to　surface。　Miss　Van　Arsdale；　it　would　seem　that　by　one　of　those　chances　which　happen　but　once　or　twice　in　a　lifetime；　every　condition　was　propitious　at　the　moment　to　make　this　reflection　a　possible　occurrence；　even　the　location　and　width　of　the　several　doorways　and　the　exact　point　at　which　the　portiere　was　drawn　aside　from　the　entrance　to　the　alcove。〃

〃It　is　wonderful；〃　I　cried；　〃wonderful！〃　Then；　to　his　astonishment；　perhaps；　I　asked　if　there　was　not　a　small　door　of　communication　between　the　passageway　back　of　the　alcove　and　the　large　central　hall。

〃Yes；〃　he　replied。　〃It　opens　just　beyond　the　fireplace。　Three　small　steps　lead　to　it。〃

〃I　thought　so；〃　I　murmured；　but　more　to　myself　than　to　him。　In　my　mind　I　was　thinking　how　a　man；　if　he　so　wished；　could　pass　from　the　very　heart　of　this　assemblage　into　the　quiet　passageway；　and　so　on　into　the　alcove；　without　attracting　very　much　attention　from　his　fellow　guests。　I　forgot　that　there　was　another　way　of　approach　even　less　noticeable　that　by　the　small　staircase　running　up　beyond　the　arch　directly　to　the　dressing…rooms。

That　no　confusion　may　arise　in　any　one's　mind　in　regard　to　these　curious　approaches；　I　subjoin　a　plan　of　this　portion　of　the　lower　floor　as　it　afterward　appeared　in　the　leading　dailies。

〃And　Mr。　Durand？〃　I　stammered；　as　I　followed　the　inspector　back　to　the　room　where　we　had　left　that　gentleman。　〃You　will　believe　his　statement　now　and　look　for　this　second　intruder　with　the　guiltily…hanging　head　and　frightened　mien？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　stopping　me　on　the　threshold　of　the　door　and　taking　my　hand　kindly　in　his；　〃if（don't　start；　my　dear；　life　is　full　of　trouble　for　young　and　old；　and　youth　is　the　best　time　to　face　a　sad　experience）　if　he　is　not　himself　the　man　you　saw　staring　in　frightened　horror　at　his　breast。　Have　you　not　noticed　that　he　is　not　dressed　in　all　respects　like　the　other　gentlemen　present？　That；　though　he　has　not　donned　his　overcoat；　he　has　put　on；　somewhat　prematurely；　one　might　say；　the　large　silk　handkerchief　lie　p