the innocence of father brown-第6部分

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　Valentin's　study；　he　was　surprised　to　meet　his　daughter；　who　swept　past　with　a　white；　scornful　face；　which　was　a　second　enigma。　　If　she　had　been　with　O'Brien；　where　was　O'Brien！　　If　she　had　not　been　with　O'Brien；　where　had　she　been？　　With　a　sort　of　senile　and　passionate　suspicion　he　groped　his　way　to　the　dark　back　parts　of　the　mansion；　and　eventually　found　a　servants'　entrance　that　opened　on　to　the　garden。　　The　moon　with　her　scimitar　had　now　ripped　up　and　rolled　away　all　the　storm…wrack。　　The　argent　light　lit　up　all　four　corners　of　the　garden。　　A　tall　figure　in　blue　was　striding　across　the　lawn　towards　the　study　door；　a　glint　of　moonlit　silver　on　his　facings　picked　him　out　as　Commandant　O'Brien。　　　　　He　vanished　through　the　French　windows　into　the　house；　leaving　Lord　Galloway　in　an　indescribable　temper；　at　once　virulent　and　vague。　　The　blue…and…silver　garden；　like　a　scene　in　a　theatre；　seemed　to　taunt　him　with　all　that　tyrannic　tenderness　against　which　his　worldly　authority　was　at　war。　　The　length　and　grace　of　the　Irishman's　stride　enraged　him　as　if　he　were　a　rival　instead　of　a　father；　the　moonlight　maddened　him。　　He　was　trapped　as　if　by　magic　into　a　garden　of　troubadours；　a　Watteau　fairyland；　and；　willing　to　shake　off　such　amorous　imbecilities　by　speech；　he　stepped　briskly　after　his　enemy。　　As　he　did　so　he　tripped　over　some　tree　or　stone　in　the　grass；　looked　down　at　it　first　with　irritation　and　then　a　second　time　with　curiosity。　　The　next　instant　the　moon　and　the　tall　poplars　looked　at　an　unusual　sight　an　elderly　English　diplomatist　running　hard　and　crying　or　bellowing　as　he　ran。　　　　　His　hoarse　shouts　brought　a　pale　face　to　the　study　door；　the　beaming　glasses　and　worried　brow　of　Dr。　Simon；　who　heard　the　nobleman's　first　clear　words。　　Lord　Galloway　was　crying：　〃A　corpse　in　the　grassa　blood…stained　corpse。〃　　O'Brien　at　last　had　gone　utterly　out　of　his　mind。　　　　　〃We　must　tell　Valentin　at　once；〃　said　the　doctor；　when　the　other　had　brokenly　described　all　that　he　had　dared　to　examine。　〃It　is　fortunate　that　he　is　here〃；　and　even　as　he　spoke　the　great　detective　entered　the　study；　attracted　by　the　cry。　　It　was　almost　amusing　to　note　his　typical　transformation；　he　had　come　with　the　common　concern　of　a　host　and　a　gentleman；　fearing　that　some　guest　or　servant　was　ill。　　When　he　was　told　the　gory　fact；　he　turned　with　all　his　gravity　instantly　bright　and　businesslike；　for　this；　however　abrupt　and　awful；　was　his　business。　　　　　〃Strange；　gentlemen；〃　he　said　as　they　hurried　out　into　the　garden；　〃that　I　should　have　hunted　mysteries　all　over　the　earth；　and　now　one　comes　and　settles　in　my　own　back…yard。　　But　where　is　the　place？〃　　They　crossed　the　lawn　less　easily；　as　a　slight　mist　had　begun　to　rise　from　the　river；　but　under　the　guidance　of　the　shaken　Galloway　they　found　the　body　sunken　in　deep　grassthe　body　of　a　very　tall　and　broad…shouldered　man。　　He　lay　face　downwards；　so　they　could　only　see　that　his　big　shoulders　were　clad　in　black　cloth；　and　that　his　big　head　was　bald；　except　for　a　wisp　or　two　of　brown　hair　that　clung　to　his　skull　like　wet　seaweed。　　A　scarlet　serpent　of　blood　crawled　from　under　his　fallen　face。　　　　　〃At　least；〃　said　Simon；　with　a　deep　and　singular　intonation；　〃he　is　none　of　our　party。〃　　　　　〃Examine　him；　doctor；〃　cried　Valentin　rather　sharply。　　〃He　may　not　be　dead。〃　　　　　The　doctor　bent　down。　　〃He　is　not　quite　cold；　but　I　am　afraid　he　is　dead　enough；〃　he　answered。　　〃Just　help　me　to　lift　him　up。〃　　　　　They　lifted　him　carefully　an　inch　from　the　ground；　and　all　doubts　as　to　his　being　really　dead　were　settled　at　once　and　frightfully。　　The　head　fell　away。　　It　had　been　entirely　sundered　from　the　body；　whoever　had　cut　his　throat　had　managed　to　sever　the　neck　as　well。　　Even　Valentin　was　slightly　shocked。　　〃He　must　have　been　as　strong　as　a　gorilla；〃　he　muttered。　　　　　Not　without　a　shiver；　though　he　was　used　to　anatomical　abortions；　Dr。　Simon　lifted　the　head。　　It　was　slightly　slashed　about　the　neck　and　jaw；　but　the　face　was　substantially　unhurt。　　It　was　a　ponderous；　yellow　face；　at　once　sunken　and　swollen；　with　a　hawk…like　nose　and　heavy　lidsa　face　of　a　wicked　Roman　emperor；　with；　perhaps；　a　distant　touch　of　a　Chinese　emperor。　　All　present　seemed　to　look　at　it　with　the　coldest　eye　of　ignorance。　　Nothing　else　could　be　noted　about　the　man　except　that；　as　they　had　lifted　his　body；　they　had　seen　underneath　it　the　white　gleam　of　a　shirt…front　defaced　with　a　red　gleam　of　blood。　　As　Dr。　Simon　said；　the　man　had　never　been　of　their　party。　　But　he　might　very　well　have　been　trying　to　join　it；　for　he　had　come　dressed　for　such　an　occasion。　　　　　Valentin　went　down　on　his　hands　and　knees　and　examined　with　his　closest　professional　attention　the　grass　and　ground　for　some　twenty　yards　round　the　body；　in　which　he　was　assisted　less　skillfully　by　the　doctor；　and　quite　vaguely　by　the　English　lord。　Nothing　rewarded　their　grovellings　except　a　few　twigs；　snapped　or　chopped　into　very　small　lengths；　which　Valentin　lifted　for　an　instant's　examination　and　then　tossed　away。　　　　　〃Twigs；〃　he　said　gravely；　〃twigs；　and　a　total　stranger　with　his　head　cut　off；　that　is　all　there　is　on　this　lawn。〃　　　　　There　was　an　almost　creepy　stillness；　and　then　the　unnerved　Galloway　called　out　sharply：　　　　　〃Who's　that！　　Who's　that　over　there　by　the　garden　wall！〃　　　　　A　small　figure　with　a　foolishly　large　head　drew　waveringly　near　them　in　the　moonlit　haze；　looked　for　an　instant　like　a　goblin；　but　turned　out　to　be　the　harmless　little　priest　whom　they　had　left　in　the　drawing…room。　　　　　〃I　say；〃　he　said　meekly；　〃there　are　no　gates　to　this　garden；　do　you　know。〃　　　　　Valentin's　black　brows　had　come　together　somewhat　crossly；　as　they　did　on　principle　at　the　sight　of　the　cassock。　　But　he　was　far　too　just　a　man　to　deny　the　relevance　of　the　remark。　　〃You　are　right；〃　he　said。　　〃Before　we　find　out　how　he　came　to　be　killed；　we　may　have　to　find　out　how　he　came　to　be　here。　　Now　listen　to　me；　gentlemen。　　If　it　can　be　done　without　prejudice　to　my　position　and　duty；　we　shall　all　agree　that　certain　distinguished　names　might　well　be　kept　out　of　this。　　There　are　ladies；　gentlemen；　and　there　is　a　foreign　ambassador。　　If　we　must　mark　it　down　as　a　crime；　then　it　must　be　followed　up　as　a　crime。　　But　till　then　I　can　use　my　own　discretion。　　I　am　the　head　of　the　police；　I　am　so　public　that　I　can　afford　to　be　private。　　Please　Heaven；　I　will　clear　everyone　of　my　own　guests　before　I　call　in　my　men　to　look　for　anybody　else。　Gentlemen；　upon　your　honour；　you　will　none　of　you　leave　the　house　till　tomorrow　at　noon；　there　are　bedrooms　for　all。　　Simon；　I　think　you　know　where　to　find　my　man；　Ivan；　in　the　front　hall；　he　is　a　confidential　man。　　Tell　him　to　leave　another　servant　on　guard　and　come　to　me　at　once。　　Lord　Galloway；　you　are　certainly　the　best　person　to　tell　the　ladies　what　has　happened；　and　prevent　a　panic。　They　also　must　stay。　　Father　Brown　and　I　will　remain　with　the　body。〃　　　　　When　this　spirit　of　the　captain　spoke　in　Valentin　he　was　obeyed　like　a　bugle。　　Dr。　Simon　went　through　to　the　armoury　and　routed　out　Ivan；　the　public　detective's　private　detective。　　Galloway　went　to　the　drawing…room　and　told　the　terrible　news　tactfully　enough；　so　that　by　the　time　the　company　assembled　there　the　ladies　were　already　startled　and　already　soothed。　　Meanwhile　the　good　priest　and　the　good　atheist　stood　at　the　head　and　foot　of　the　dead　man　motionless　in　the　moonlight；　like　symbolic　statues　of　their　two　philosophies　of　death。　　　　　Ivan；　the　confidential　man　with　the　scar　and　the　moustaches；　came　out　of　the　house　like　a　cannon　ball；　and　came　racing　across　the　lawn　to　Valentin　like　a　dog　to　his　master。　　His　livid　face　was　quite　lively　with　the　glow　of　this　domestic　detective　story；　and　it　was　with　almost　unpleasant　eagerness　that　he　asked　his　master's　permission　to　examine　the　remains。　　　　　〃Yes；　look；　if　you　like；　Ivan；〃　said　Valentin；　〃but　don't　be　long。　　We　must　go　in　and　thrash　this　out　in　the　house。〃　　　　　Ivan　lifted　the　head；　and　then　almost　let　it　drop。　　　　　〃Why；〃　he　gasped；　〃it'sno；　it　isn't；　it　can't　be。　　Do　you　know　this　man；　sir？〃　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Valentin　indifferently；　〃we　had　better　go　inside。〃　　　　　Between　them　they　carried　the　corpse　to　a　sofa　in　the　study；　and　then　all　made　their　way　to　the　drawing…room。　　　　　The　detective　sat　down　at　a　desk　quietly；　and　even　without　hesitation；　but　his　eye　was　the　iron　eye　of　a　judge　at　assize。　　He　made　a　few　rapid　notes　upon　paper　in　front　of　him；　and　then　said　shortly：　〃Is　everybody　here？〃　　　　　〃Not　Mr。　Brayne；〃　said　the　Duchess　of　Mont　St。　Michel；　looking　round。　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Lord　Galloway　in　a　hoarse；　harsh　voice。　　〃And　not　Mr。　Neil　O'Brien；　I　fancy。　　I　saw　that　gentleman　walking　in　the　garden　when　the　corpse　was　still　warm。〃　　　　　〃Ivan；〃　said　the　detective；　〃go　and　fetch　Commandant　O'Brien　and　Mr。　Brayne。　　Mr。　Brayne；　I　know；　is　finishing　a　cigar　in　the　dining…room；　Commandant　O'Brien；　I　think；　is　walking　up　and　down　the　conservatory。　　I　am　not　sure。〃　　　　　The　faithful　attendant　flashed　from　the　room；　and　before　anyone　could　stir　or　speak　Valentin　went　on　with　the　same　soldierly　swiftness　of　exposition。　　　　　〃Everyone　here　knows　that　a　dead　man　has　been　found　in　the　garden；　his　head　cut　clean　from　his　body。　　Dr。　Simon；　you　have　examined　it。　　Do　you　think　that　to　cut　a　man's　throat　like　that　would　need　great　force？　　Or；　perhaps；　only　a　very　sharp　knife？〃　　　　　〃I　should　say　that　it　could　not　be　done　with　a　knife　at　all；〃　said　the　pale　doctor。　　　　　〃Have　you　any　thought；〃　resumed　Valentin；　〃of　a　tool　with　which　it　could　be　done？〃　　　　　〃Speaking　within　modern　probabilities；　I　really　haven't；〃　said　the　doctor；　arching　his　painful　brows。　　〃It's　not　easy　to　hack　a　neck　through　even　clumsily；　and　this　was　a　very　clean　cut。　　It　could　be　done　with　a　battle…axe　or　an　old　headsman's　axe；　or　an　old　two…handed　sword。〃　　　　　〃But；　good　heavens！〃　cried　the　Duchess；　almost　in　hysterics；　〃there　aren't　any　two…handed　swords　and　battle…axes　round　here。〃　　　　　Valentin　was　still　busy　with　the　paper　in　front　of　him。　　〃Tell　me；〃　he　said；　still　writing　rapidly；　〃could　it　have　been　done　with　a　long　French　cavalry　sabre？〃　　　　　A　low　knocking　came　at　the　door；　which；　for　some　unreasonable　reason；　curdled　everyone's　blood　like　the　knocking　in　Macbeth。　Amid　that　frozen　silence　Dr。　Simon　managed　to　say：　〃A　sabre　yes；　I　suppose　it　could。〃　　　　　〃Thank　you；