the innocence of father brown-第43部分

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less　the　weapon　was　too　small　to　be　noticed。〃　　　　　〃Perhaps　the　weapon　was　too　big　to　be　noticed；〃　said　the　priest；　with　an　odd　little　giggle。　　　　　Gilder　looked　round　at　this　wild　remark；　and　rather　sternly　asked　Brown　what　he　meant。　　　　　〃Silly　way　of　putting　it；　I　know；〃　said　Father　Brown　apologetically。　　〃Sounds　like　a　fairy　tale。　　But　poor　Armstrong　was　killed　with　a　giant's　club；　a　great　green　club；　too　big　to　be　seen；　and　which　we　call　the　earth。　　He　was　broken　against　this　green　bank　we　are　standing　on。〃　　　　　〃How　do　you　mean？〃　asked　the　detective　quickly。　　　　　Father　Brown　turned　his　moon　face　up　to　the　narrow　facade　of　the　house　and　blinked　hopelessly　up。　　Following　his　eyes；　they　saw　that　right　at　the　top　of　this　otherwise　blind　back　quarter　of　the　building；　an　attic　window　stood　open。　　　　　〃Don't　you　see；〃　he　explained；　pointing　a　little　awkwardly　like　a　child；　〃he　was　thrown　down　from　there？〃　　　　　Gilder　frowningly　scrutinised　the　window；　and　then　said：　〃Well；　it　is　certainly　possible。　　But　I　don't　see　why　you　are　so　sure　about　it。〃　　　　　Brown　opened　his　grey　eyes　wide。　　〃Why；〃　he　said；　〃there's　a　bit　of　rope　round　the　dead　man's　leg。　　Don't　you　see　that　other　bit　of　rope　up　there　caught　at　the　corner　of　the　window？〃　　　　　At　that　height　the　thing　looked　like　the　faintest　particle　of　dust　or　hair；　but　the　shrewd　old　investigator　was　satisfied。　〃You're　quite　right；　sir；〃　he　said　to　Father　Brown；　〃that　is　certainly　one　to　you。〃　　　　　Almost　as　he　spoke　a　special　train　with　one　carriage　took　the　curve　of　the　line　on　their　left；　and；　stopping；　disgorged　another　group　of　policemen；　in　whose　midst　was　the　hangdog　visage　of　Magnus；　the　absconded　servant。　　　　　〃By　Jove！　they've　got　him；〃　cried　Gilder；　and　stepped　forward　with　quite　a　new　alertness。　　　　　〃Have　you　got　the　money！〃　he　cried　to　the　first　policeman。　　　　　The　man　looked　him　in　the　face　with　a　rather　curious　expression　and　said：　〃No。〃　　Then　he　added：　〃At　least；　not　here。〃　　　　　〃Which　is　the　inspector；　please？〃　asked　the　man　called　Magnus。　　　　　When　he　spoke　everyone　instantly　understood　how　this　voice　had　stopped　a　train。　　He　was　a　dull…looking　man　with　flat　black　hair；　a　colourless　face；　and　a　faint　suggestion　of　the　East　in　the　level　slits　in　his　eyes　and　mouth。　　His　blood　and　name；　indeed；　had　remained　dubious；　ever　since　Sir　Aaron　had　〃rescued〃　him　from　a　waitership　in　a　London　restaurant；　and　（as　some　said）　from　more　infamous　things。　　But　his　voice　was　as　vivid　as　his　face　was　dead。　Whether　through　exactitude　in　a　foreign　language；　or　in　deference　to　his　master　（who　had　been　somewhat　deaf）；　Magnus's　tones　had　a　peculiarly　ringing　and　piercing　quality；　and　the　whole　group　quite　jumped　when　he　spoke。　　　　　〃I　always　knew　this　would　happen；〃　he　said　aloud　with　brazen　blandness。　　〃My　poor　old　master　made　game　of　me　for　wearing　black；　but　I　always　said　I　should　be　ready　for　his　funeral。〃　　　　　And　he　made　a　momentary　movement　with　his　two　dark…gloved　hands。　　　　　〃Sergeant；〃　said　Inspector　Gilder；　eyeing　the　black　hands　with　wrath；　〃aren't　you　putting　the　bracelets　on　this　fellow；　he　looks　pretty　dangerous。〃　　　　　〃Well；　sir；〃　said　the　sergeant；　with　the　same　odd　look　of　wonder；　〃I　don't　know　that　we　can。〃　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　the　other　sharply。　　〃Haven't　you　arrested　him？〃　　　　　A　faint　scorn　widened　the　slit…like　mouth；　and　the　whistle　of　an　approaching　train　seemed　oddly　to　echo　the　mockery。　　　　　〃We　arrested　him；〃　replied　the　sergeant　gravely；　〃just　as　he　was　coming　out　of　the　police　station　at　Highgate；　where　he　had　deposited　all　his　master's　money　in　the　care　of　Inspector　Robinson。〃　　　　　Gilder　looked　at　the　man…servant　in　utter　amazement。　　〃Why　on　earth　did　you　do　that？〃　he　asked　of　Magnus。　　　　　〃To　keep　it　safe　from　the　criminal；　of　course；〃　replied　that　person　placidly。　　　　　〃Surely；〃　said　Gilder；　〃Sir　Aaron's　money　might　have　been　safely　left　with　Sir　Aaron's　family。〃　　　　　The　tail　of　his　sentence　was　drowned　in　the　roar　of　the　train　as　it　went　rocking　and　clanking；　but　through　all　the　hell　of　noises　to　which　that　unhappy　house　was　periodically　subject；　they　could　hear　the　syllables　of　Magnus's　answer；　in　all　their　bell…like　distinctness：　〃I　have　no　reason　to　feel　confidence　in　Sir　Aaron's　family。〃　　　　　All　the　motionless　men　had　the　ghostly　sensation　of　the　presence　of　some　new　person；　and　Merton　was　scarcely　surprised　when　he　looked　up　and　saw　the　pale　face　of　Armstrong's　daughter　over　Father　Brown's　shoulder。　　She　was　still　young　and　beautiful　in　a　silvery　style；　but　her　hair　was　of　so　dusty　and　hueless　a　brown　that　in　some　shadows　it　seemed　to　have　turned　totally　grey。　　　　　〃Be　careful　what　you　say；〃　said　Royce　gruffly；　〃you'll　frighten　Miss　Armstrong。〃　　　　　〃I　hope　so；〃　said　the　man　with　the　clear　voice。　　　　　As　the　woman　winced　and　everyone　else　wondered；　he　went　on：　〃I　am　somewhat　used　to　Miss　Armstrong's　tremors。　　I　have　seen　her　trembling　off　and　on　for　years。　　And　some　said　she　was　shaking　with　cold　and　some　she　was　shaking　with　fear；　but　I　know　she　was　shaking　with　hate　and　wicked　angerfiends　that　have　had　their　feast　this　morning。　　She　would　have　been　away　by　now　with　her　lover　and　all　the　money　but　for　me。　　Ever　since　my　poor　old　master　prevented　her　from　marrying　that　tipsy　blackguard〃　　　　　〃Stop；〃　said　Gilder　very　sternly。　　〃We　have　nothing　to　do　with　your　family　fancies　or　suspicions。　　Unless　you　have　some　practical　evidence；　your　mere　opinions〃　　　　　〃Oh！　I'll　give　you　practical　evidence；〃　cut　in　Magnus；　in　his　hacking　accent。　　〃You'll　have　to　subpoena　me；　Mr。　Inspector；　and　I　shall　have　to　tell　the　truth。　　And　the　truth　is　this：　An　instant　after　the　old　man　was　pitched　bleeding　out　of　the　window；　I　ran　into　the　attic；　and　found　his　daughter　swooning　on　the　floor　with　a　red　dagger　still　in　her　hand。　　Allow　me　to　hand　that　also　to　the　proper　authorities。〃　　He　took　from　his　tail…pocket　a　long　horn…hilted　knife　with　a　red　smear　on　it；　and　handed　it　politely　to　the　sergeant。　　Then　he　stood　back　again；　and　his　slits　of　eyes　almost　faded　from　his　face　in　one　fat　Chinese　sneer。　　　　　Merton　felt　an　almost　bodily　sickness　at　the　sight　of　him；　and　he　muttered　to　Gilder：　〃Surely　you　would　take　Miss　Armstrong's　word　against　his？〃　　　　　Father　Brown　suddenly　lifted　a　face　so　absurdly　fresh　that　it　looked　somehow　as　if　he　had　just　washed　it。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　radiating　innocence；　〃but　is　Miss　Armstrong's　word　against　his？〃　　　　　The　girl　uttered　a　startled；　singular　little　cry；　everyone　looked　at　her。　　Her　figure　was　rigid　as　if　paralysed；　only　her　face　within　its　frame　of　faint　brown　hair　was　alive　with　an　appalling　surprise。　　She　stood　like　one　of　a　sudden　lassooed　and　throttled。　　　　　〃This　man；〃　said　Mr。　Gilder　gravely；　〃actually　says　that　you　were　found　grasping　a　knife；　insensible；　after　the　murder。〃　　　　　〃He　says　the　truth；〃　answered　Alice。　　　　　The　next　fact　of　which　they　were　conscious　was　that　Patrick　Royce　strode　with　his　great　stooping　head　into　their　ring　and　uttered　the　singular　words：　〃Well；　if　I've　got　to　go；　I'll　have　a　bit　of　pleasure　first。〃　　　　　His　huge　shoulder　heaved　and　he　sent　an　iron　fist　smash　into　Magnus's　bland　Mongolian　visage；　laying　him　on　the　lawn　as　flat　as　a　starfish。　　Two　or　three　of　the　police　instantly　put　their　hands　on　Royce；　but　to　the　rest　it　seemed　as　if　all　reason　had　broken　up　and　the　universe　were　turning　into　a　brainless　harlequinade。　　　　　〃None　of　that；　Mr。　Royce；〃　Gilder　had　called　out　authoritatively。　〃I　shall　arrest　you　for　assault。〃　　　　　〃No；　you　won't；〃　answered　the　secretary　in　a　voice　like　an　iron　gong；　〃you　will　arrest　me　for　murder。〃　　　　　Gilder　threw　an　alarmed　glance　at　the　man　knocked　down；　but　since　that　outraged　person　was　already　sitting　up　and　wiping　a　little　blood　off　a　substantially　uninjured　face；　he　only　said　shortly：　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　　　　〃It　is　quite　true；　as　this　fellow　says；〃　explained　Royce；　〃that　Miss　Armstrong　fainted　with　a　knife　in　her　hand。　　But　she　had　not　snatched　the　knife　to　attack　her　father；　but　to　defend　him。〃　　　　　〃To　defend　him；〃　repeated　Gilder　gravely。　　〃Against　whom？〃　　　　　〃Against　me；〃　answered　the　secretary。　　　　　Alice　looked　at　him　with　a　complex　and　baffling　face；　then　she　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃After　it　all；　I　am　still　glad　you　are　brave。〃　　　　　〃Come　upstairs；〃　said　Patrick　Royce　heavily；　〃and　I　will　show　you　the　whole　cursed　thing。〃　　　　　The　attic；　which　was　the　secretary's　private　place　（and　rather　a　small　cell　for　so　large　a　hermit）；　had　indeed　all　the　vestiges　of　a　violent　drama。　　Near　the　centre　of　the　floor　lay　a　large　revolver　as　if　flung　away；　nearer　to　the　left　was　rolled　a　whisky　bottle；　open　but　not　quite　empty。　　The　cloth　of　the　little　table　lay　dragged　and　trampled；　and　a　length　of　cord；　like　that　found　on　the　corpse；　was　cast　wildly　across　the　windowsill。　　Two　vases　were　smashed　on　the　mantelpiece　and　one　on　the　carpet。　　　　　〃I　was　drunk；〃　said　Royce；　and　this　simplicity　in　the　prematurely　battered　man　somehow　had　the　pathos　of　the　first　sin　of　a　baby。　　　　　〃You　all　know　about　me；〃　he　continued　huskily；　〃everybody　knows　how　my　story　began；　and　it　may　as　well　end　like　that　too。　I　was　called　a　clever　man　once；　and　might　have　been　a　happy　one；　Armstrong　saved　the　remains　of　a　brain　and　body　from　the　taverns；　and　was　always　kind　to　me　in　his　own　way；　poor　fellow！　　Only　he　wouldn't　let　me　marry　Alice　here；　and　it　will　always　be　said　that　he　was　right　enough。　　Well；　you　can　form　your　own　conclusions；　and　you　won't　want　me　to　go　into　details。　　That　is　my　whisky　bottle　half　emptied　in　the　corner；　that　is　my　revolver　quite　emptied　on　the　carpet。　　It　was　the　rope　from　my　box　that　was　found　on　the　corpse；　and　it　was　from　my　window　the　corpse　was　thrown。　　You　need　not　set　detectives　to　grub　up　my　tragedy；　it　is　a　common　enough　weed　in　this　world。　　I　give　myself　to　the　gallows；　and；　by　God；　that　is　enough！〃　　　　　At　a　sufficiently　delicate　sign；　the　police　gathered　round　the　large　man　to　lead　him　away；　but　their　unobtrusiveness　was　somewhat　staggered　by　the　remarkable　appearance　of　Father　Brown；　who　was　on　his　hands　and　knees　on　the　carpet　in　the　doorway；　as　if　engaged　in　some　kind　of　undignified　prayers。　　Being　a　person　utterly　insensible　to　the　social　figure　he　cut；　he　remained　in　this　posture；　but　turned　a　bright　round　face　up　at　the　company；　presenting　the　appearance　of　a　quadruped　with　a　very　comic　human　head。　　　　　〃I