the clue of the twisted candle-第13部分

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〃It　is　very　simply　explained；〃　said　T。　X。　〃You　know　everybody　in　town。　　You　know；　amongst　other　people；　Lady　Bartholomew。〃

〃I　know　the　lady　very　well　indeed；〃　said　Kara；　readily；　…　too　readily　in　fact；　for　the　rapidity　with　which　answer　had　followed　question；　suggested　to　T。　X。　that　Kara　had　anticipated　the　reason　for　the　call。

〃Have　you　any　idea；〃　asked　T。　X。；　speaking　with　deliberation；　〃as　to　why　Lady　Bartholomew　has　gone　out　of　town　at　this　particular　moment？〃

Kara　laughed。

〃What　an　extraordinary　question　to　ask　me　…　as　though　Lady　Bartholomew　confided　her　plans　to　one　who　is　little　more　than　a　chance　acquaintance！〃

〃And　yet；〃　said　T。　X。；　contemplating　the　burning　end　of　his　cigarette；　〃you　know　her　well　enough　to　hold　her　promissory　note。〃

〃Promissory　note？〃　asked　the　other。

His　tone　was　one　of　involuntary　surprise　and　T。　X。　swore　softly　to　himself　for　now　he　saw　the　faintest　shade　of　relief　in　Kara's　face。　　The　Commissioner　realized　that　he　had　committed　an　error　　…　he　had　been　far　too　definite。

〃When　I　say　promissory　note；〃　he　went　on　easily；　as　though　he　had　noticed　nothing；　〃I　mean；　of　course；　the　securities　which　the　debtor　invariably　gives　to　one　from　whom　he　or　she　has　borrowed　large　sums　of　money。〃

Kara　made　no　answer；　but　opening　a　drawer　of　his　desk　he　took　out　a　key　and　brought　it　across　to　where　T。　X。　was　sitting。

〃Here　is　the　key　of　my　safe；〃　he　said　quietly。　　〃You　are　at　liberty　to　go　carefully　through　its　contents　and　discover　for　yourself　any　promissory　note　which　I　hold　from　Lady　Bartholomew。　My　dear　fellow；　you　don't　imagine　I'm　a　moneylender；　do　you？〃　he　said　in　an　injured　tone。

〃Nothing　was　further　from　my　thoughts；〃　said　T。　X。；　untruthfully。

But　the　other　pressed　the　key　upon　him。

〃I　should　be　awfully　glad　if　you　would　look　for　yourself；〃　he　said　earnestly。　　〃I　feel　that　in　some　way　you　associate　Lady　Bartholomew's　illness　with　some　horrible　act　of　usury　on　my　part　…　will　you　satisfy　yourself　and　in　doing　so　satisfy　me？〃

Now　any　ordinary　man；　and　possibly　any　ordinary　detective；　would　have　made　the　conventional　answer。　　He　would　have　protested　that　he　had　no　intention　of　doing　anything　of　the　sort；　he　would　have　uttered；　if　he　were　a　man　in　the　position　which　T。　X。　occupied；　the　conventional　statement　that　he　had　no　authority　to　search　the　private　papers；　and　that　he　would　certainly　not　avail　himself　of　the　other's　kindness。　　But　T。　X。　was　not　an　ordinary　person。　　He　took　the　key　and　balanced　it　lightly　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。

〃Is　this　the　key　of　the　famous　bedroom　safe？〃　he　said　banteringly。

Kara　was　looking　down　at　him　with　a　quizzical　smile。　　〃It　isn't　the　safe　you　opened　in　my　absence；　on　one　memorable　occasion；　Mr。　Meredith；〃　he　said。　　〃As　you　probably　know；　I　have　changed　that　safe；　but　perhaps　you　don't　feel　equal　to　the　task？〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　said　T。　X。；calmly；　and　rising　from　the　chair；　〃I　am　going　to　put　your　good　faith　to　the　test。〃

For　answer　Kara　walked　to　the　door　and　opened　it。

〃Let　me　show　you　the　way；〃　he　said　politely。

He　passed　along　the　corridor　and　entered　the　apartment　at　the　end。　The　room　was　a　large　one　and　lighted　by　one　big　square　window　which　was　protected　by　steel　bars。　　In　the　grate　which　was　broad　and　high　a　huge　fire　was　burning　and　the　temperature　of　the　room　was　unpleasantly　close　despite　the　coldness　of　the　day。

〃That　is　one　of　the　eccentricities　which　you；　as　an　Englishman；　will　never　excuse　in　me；〃　said　Kara。

Near　the　foot　of　the　bed；　let　into；　and　flush　with；　the　wall；　was　a　big　green　door　of　the　safe。

〃Here　you　are；　Mr。　Meredith；〃　said　Kara。　　〃All　the　precious　secrets　of　Remington　Kara　are　yours　for　the　seeking。〃

〃I　am　afraid　I've　had　my　trouble　for　nothing；〃　said　T。　X。；　making　no　attempt　to　use　the　key。

〃That　is　an　opinion　which　I　share；〃　said　Kara；　with　a　smile。

〃Curiously　enough；〃　said　T。　X。　〃I　mean　just　what　you　mean。〃

He　handed　the　key　to　Kara。

〃Won't　you　open　it？〃　asked　the　Greek。

T。　X。　shook　his　head。

〃The　safe　as　far　as　I　can　see　is　a　Magnus；　the　key　which　you　have　been　kind　enough　to　give　me　is　legibly　inscribed　upon　the　handle　'Chubb。'　　My　experience　as　a　police　officer　has　taught　me　that　Chubb　keys　very　rarely　open　Magnus　safes。〃

Kara　uttered　an　exclamation　of　annoyance。

〃How　stupid　of　me！〃　he　said；　〃yet　now　I　remember；　I　sent　the　key　to　my　bankers；　before　I　went　out　of　town　…　I　only　came　back　this　morning；　you　know。　　I　will　send　for　it　at　once。〃

〃Pray　don't　trouble；〃　murmured　T。　X。　politely。　　He　took　from　his　pocket　a　little　flat　leather　case　and　opened　it。　　It　contained　a　number　of　steel　implements　of　curious　shape　which　were　held　in　position　by　a　leather　loop　along　the　centre　of　the　case。　　From　one　of　these　loops　he　extracted　a　handle；　and　deftly　fitted　something　that　looked　like　a　steel　awl　to　the　socket　in　the　handle。　　Looking　in　wonder；　and　with　no　little　apprehension；　Kara　saw　that　the　awl　was　bent　at　the　head。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　he　asked；　a　little　alarmed。

〃I'll　show　you；〃　said　T。　X。　pleasantly。

Very　gingerly　he　inserted　the　instrument　in　the　small　keyhole　and　turned　it　cautiously　first　one　way　and　then　the　other。　　There　was　a　sharp　click　followed　by　another。　　He　turned　the　handle　and　the　door　of　the　safe　swung　open。

〃Simple；　isn't　it！〃　he　asked　politely。

In　that　second　of　time　Kara's　face　had　undergone　a　transformation。　The　eyes　which　met　T。　X。　Meredith's　blazed　with　an　almost　insane　fury。　　With　a　quick　stride　Kara　placed　himself　before　the　open　safe。

〃I　think　this　has　gone　far　enough；　Mr。　Meredith；〃　he　said　harshly。　〃If　you　wish　to　search　my　safe　you　must　get　a　warrant。〃

T。　X。　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　carefully　unscrewing　the　instrument　he　had　employed　and　replacing　it　in　the　case；　he　returned　it　to　his　inside　pocket。

〃It　was　at　your　invitation；　my　dear　Monsieur　Kara；〃　he　said　suavely。　　〃Of　course　I　knew　that　you　were　putting　a　bluff　up　on　me　with　the　key　and　that　you　had　no　more　intention　of　letting　me　see　the　inside　of　your　safe　than　you　had　of　telling　me　exactly　what　happened　to　John　Lexman。〃

The　shot　went　home。

The　face　which　was　thrust　into　the　Commissioner's　was　ridged　and　veined　with　passion。　　The　lips　were　turned　back　to　show　the　big　white　even　teeth；　the　eyes　were　narrowed　to　slits；　the　jaw　thrust　out；　and　almost　every　semblance　of　humanity　had　vanished　from　his　face。

〃You　…　you　…　〃　he　hissed；　and　his　clawing　hands　moved　suspiciously　backward。

〃Put　up　your　hands；〃　said　T。　X。　sharply；　〃and　be　damned　quick　about　it！〃

In　a　flash　the　hands　went　up；　for　the　revolver　which　T。　X。　held　was　pressed　uncomfortably　against　the　third　button　of　the　Greek's　waistcoat。

〃That's　not　the　first　time　you've　been　asked　to　put　up　your　hands；　I　think；〃　said　T。　X。　pleasantly。

His　own　left　hand　slipped　round　to　Kara's　hip　pocket。　　He　found　something　in　the　shape　of　a　cylinder　and　drew　it　out　from　the　pocket。　　To　his　surprise　it　was　not　a　revolver；　not　even　a　knife；　it　looked　like　a　small　electric　torch；　though　instead　of　a　bulb　and　a　bull's…eye　glass；　there　was　a　pepper…box　perforation　at　one　end。

He　handled　it　carefully　and　was　about　to　press　the　small　nickel　knob　when　a　strangled　cry　of　horror　broke　from　Kara。

〃For　God's　sake　be　careful！〃　he　gasped。　　〃You're　pointing　it　at　me！　　Do　not　press　that　lever；　I　beg！〃

〃Will　it　explode！〃　asked　T。　X。　curiously。

〃No；　no！〃

T。　X。　pointed　the　thing　downward　to　the　carpet　and　pressed　the　knob　cautiously。　　As　he　did　so　there　was　a　sharp　hiss　and　the　floor　was　stained　with　the　liquid　which　the　instrument　contained。　Just　one　gush　of　fluid　and　no　more。　　T。　X。　looked　down。　　The　bright　carpet　had　already　changed　colour；　and　was　smoking。　　The　room　was　filled　with　a　pungent　and　disagreeable　scent。　　T。　X。　looked　from　the　floor　to　the　white…faced　man。

〃Vitriol；　I　believe；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　head　admiringly。　　〃What　a　dear　little　fellow　you　are！〃

The　man；　big　as　he　was；　was　on　the　point　of　collapse　and　mumbled　something　about　self…defence；　and　listened　without　a　word；　whilst　T。　X。；labouring　under　an　emotion　which　was　perfectly　pardonable；　described　Kara；　his　ancestors　and　the　possibilities　of　his　future　estate。

Very　slowly　the　Greek　recovered　his　self…possession。

〃I　didn't　intend　using　it　on　you；　I　swear　I　didn't；〃　he　pleaded。　〃I'm　surrounded　by　enemies；　Meredith。　　I　had　to　carry　some　means　of　protection。　　It　is　because　my　enemies　know　I　carry　this　that　they　fight　shy　of　me。　　I'll　swear　I　had　no　intention　of　using　it　on　you。　　The　idea　is　too　preposterous。　　I　am　sorry　I　fooled　you　about　the　safe。〃

〃Don't　let　that　worry　you；〃　said　T。　X。　〃I　am　afraid　I　did　all　the　fooling。　　No；　I　cannot　let　you　have　this　back　again；〃　he　said；　as　the　Greek　put　out　his　hand　to　take　the　infernal　little　instrument。　〃I　must　take　this　back　to　Scotland　Yard；　it's　quite　a　long　time　since　we　had　anything　new　in　this　shape。　　Compressed　air；　I　presume。〃

Kara　nodded　solemnly。

〃Very　ingenious　indeed；〃　said　T。　X。　〃If　I　had　a　brain　like　yours；〃　he　paused；　〃I　should　do　something　with　it　…　with　a　gun；〃　he　added；　as　he　passed　out　of　the　room。




CHAPTER　IX


　　〃My　dear　Mr。　Meredith；

　　〃I　cannot　tell　you　how　unhappy　and　humiliated　I　feel　that　my　　　　little　joke　with　you　should　have　had　such　an　uncomfortable　　　ending。　　As　you　know；　and　as　I　have　given　you　proof；　I　have　the　　　greatest　admiration　in　the　world　for　one　whose　work　for　humanity　has　won　such　universal　recognition。

　　〃I　hope　that　we　shall　both　forget　this　unhappy　morning　and　that　　　you　will　give　me　an　opportunity　of　rendering　to　you　in　person；　　　the　apologies　which　are　due　to　you。　　I　feel　that　anything　less　　　will　neither　rehabilitate　me　in　your　esteem；　nor　secure　for　me　　　the　remnants　of　my　shattered　self…respect。

　　〃I　am　hoping　you　will　dine　with　me　next　week　and　meet　a　most　interesting　man；　George　Gathercole；　who　has　just　returned　from　Patagonia；　…　I　only　received　his　letter　this　morning　…　having　made　most　remarkable　discoveries　concerning　that　country。

　　〃I　feel　sure　that　you　are　large　enough　minded　and　too　much　a　man　　　　of　the　world　to　allow　my　foolish　fit　of　temper　to　disturb　a　relationship　which　I　have　always　hoped　would　be　mutually　pleasant。　　If　you　will　allow　Gathercole；　who　will　be　unconscious　of　the　par