the clue of the twisted candle-第22部分

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John　Lexman　laughed。

〃You　don't　know　how　bad　he　was；〃　he　said。

Towards　the　end　of　the　luncheon　the　waiter　brought　a　note　in　to　T。　X。　which　had　been　sent　on　from　his　office。

〃Dear　Mr。　　Meredith；

〃In。　　answer　to　your　enquiry　I　believe　my　daughter　is　in　London；　but　I　did　not　know　it　until　this　morning。　　My　banker　informs　me　that　my　daughter　called　at　the　bank　this　morning　and　drew　a　considerable　sum　of　money　from　her　private　account；　but　where　she　has　gone　and　what　she　is　doing　with　the　money　I　do　not　know。　　I　need　hardly　tell　you　that　I　am　very　worried　about　this　matter　and　I　should　be　glad　if　you　could　explain　what　it　is　all　about。〃

It　was　signed　〃William　Bartholomew。〃

T。　X。　groaned。

〃If　I　had　only　had　the　sense　to　go　to　the　bank　this　morning；　I　should　have　seen　her；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　going　to　lose　my　job　over　this。〃

The　other　looked　troubled。

〃You　don't　seriously　mean　that〃

〃Not　exactly；〃　smiled　T。　X。；　〃but　I　don't　think　the　Chief　is　very　pleased　with　me　just　now。　　You　see　I　have　butted　into　this　business　without　any　authority　…　it　isn't　exactly　in　my　department。　　But　you　have　not　given　me　your　theory　about　the　candles。〃

〃I　have　no　theory　to　offer；〃　said　the　other；　folding　up　his　serviette；　〃the　candles　suggest　a　typical　Albanian　murder。　　I　do　not　say　that　it　was　so；　I　merely　say　that　by　their　presence　they　suggest　a　crime　of　this　character。〃

With　this　T。　X。　had　to　be　content。

If　it　were　not　his　business　to　interest　himself　in　commonplace　murder　…　though　this　hardly　fitted　such　a　description　…　it　was　part　of　the　peculiar　function　which　his　department　exercised　to　restore　to　Lady　Bartholomew　a　certain　very　elaborate　snuff…box　which　he　discovered　in　the　safe。

Letters　had　been　found　amongst　his　papers　which　made　clear　the　part　which　Kara　had　played。　　Though　he　had　not　been　a　vulgar　blackmailer　he　had　retained　his　hold；　not　only　upon　this　particular　property　of　Lady　Bartholomew；　but　upon　certain　other　articles　which　were　discovered；　with　no　other　object；　apparently；　than　to　compel　influence　from　quarters　likely　to　be　of　assistance　to　him　in　his　schemes。

The　inquest　on　the　murdered　man　which　the　Assistant　Commissioner　attended　produced　nothing　in　the　shape　of　evidence　and　the　coroner's　verdict　of　〃murder　against　some　person　or　persons　unknown〃　was　only　to　be　expected。

T。　X。　spent　a　very　busy　and　a　very　tiring　week　tracing　elusive　clues　which　led　him　nowhere。　　He　had　a　letter　from　John　Lexman　announcing　the　fact　that　he　intended　leaving　for　the　United　States。　　He　had　received　a　very　good　offer　from　a　firm　of　magazine　publishers　in　New　York　and　was　going　out　to　take　up　the　appointment。

Meredith's　plans　were　now　in　fair　shape。　　He　had　decided　upon　the　line　of　action　he　would　take　and　in　the　pursuance　of　this　he　interviewed　his　Chief　and　the　Minister　of　Justice。

〃Yes；　I　have　heard　from　my　daughter；〃　said　that　great　man　uncomfortably；　〃and　really　she　has　placed　me　in　a　most　embarrassing　position。　　I　cannot　tell　you；　Mr。　Meredith；　exactly　in　what　manner　she　has　done　this；　but　I　can　assure　you　she　has。〃

〃Can　I　see　her　letter　or　telegram？〃　asked　T。　X。

〃I　am　afraid　that　is　impossible；〃　said　the　other　solemnly；　〃she　begged　me　to　keep　her　communication　very　secret。　　I　have　written　to　my　wife　and　asked　her　to　come　home。　　I　feel　the　constant　strain　to　which　I　am　being　subjected　is　more　than　human　man　can　endure。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　said　T。　X。　patiently；　〃it　is　impossible　for　you　to　tell　me　to　what　address　you　have　replied？〃

〃To　no　address；〃　answered　the　other　and　corrected　himself　hurriedly；　〃that　is　to　say　I　only　received　the　telegram　…　the　message　this　morning　and　there　is　no　address　…　to　reply　to。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　T。　X。

That　afternoon　he　instructed　his　secretary。

〃I　want　a　copy　of　all　the　agony　advertisements　in　to…morrow's　papers　and　in　the　last　editions　of　the　evening　papers　…　have　them　ready　for　me　tomorrow　morning　when　I　come。〃

They　were　waiting　for　him　when　he　reached　the　office　at　nine　o'clock　the　next　day　and　he　went　through　them　carefully。　Presently　he　found　the　message　he　was　seeking。

B。　M。　You　place　me　awkward　position。　　Very　thoughtless。　　Have　received　package　addressed　your　mother　which　have　placed　in　mother's　sitting…room。　　Cannot　understand　why　you　want　me　to　go　away　week…end　and　give　servants　holiday　but　have　done　so。　　Shall　require　very　full　explanation。　　Matter　gone　far　enough。　　Father。

〃This；〃　said　T。　X。　exultantly；　as　he　read　the　advertisement；　〃is　where　I　get　busy。〃




CHAPTER　XVI


February　as　a　rule　is　not　a　month　of　fogs；　but　rather　a　month　of　tempestuous　gales；　of　frosts　and　snowfalls；　but　the　night　of　February　17th；　19；　was　one　of　calm　and　mist。　　It　was　not　the　typical　London　fog　so　dreaded　by　the　foreigner；　but　one　of　those　little　patchy　mists　which　smoke　through　the　streets；　now　enshrouding　and　making　the　nearest　object　invisible；　now　clearing　away　to　the　finest　diaphanous　filament　of　pale　grey。

Sir　William　Bartholomew　had　a　house　in　Portman　Place；　which　is　a　wide　thoroughfare；　filled　with　solemn　edifices　of　unlovely　and　forbidding　exterior；　but　remarkably　comfortable　within。　　Shortly　before　eleven　on　the　night　of　February　17th；　a　taxi　drew　up　at　the　junction　of　Sussex　Street　and　Portman　Place；　and　a　girl　alighted。　The　fog　at　that　moment　was　denser　than　usual　and　she　hesitated　a　moment　before　she　left　the　shelter　which　the　cab　afforded。

She　gave　the　driver　a　few　instructions　and　walked　on　with　a　firm　step；　turning　abruptly　and　mounting　the　steps　of　Number　173。　　Very　quickly　she　inserted　her　key　in　the　lock；　pushed　the　door　open　and　closed　it　behind　her。　　She　switched　on　the　hall　light。　　The　house　sounded　hollow　and　deserted；　a　fact　which　afforded　her　considerable　satisfaction。　　She　turned　the　light　out　and　found　her　way　up　the　broad　stairs　to　the　first　floor；　paused　for　a　moment　to　switch　on　another　light　which　she　knew　would　not　be　observable　from　the　street　outside　and　mounted　the　second　flight。

Miss　Belinda　Mary　Bartholomew　congratulated　herself　upon　the　success　of　her　scheme；　and　the　only　doubt　that　was　in　her　mind　now　was　whether　the　boudoir　had　been　locked；　but　her　father　was　rather　careless　in　such　matters　and　Jacks　the　butler　was　one　of　those　dear；　silly；　old　men　who　never　locked　anything；　and；　in　consequence；　faced　every　audit　with　a　long　face　and　a　longer　tale　of　the　peculations　of　occasional　servants。

To　her　immense　relief　the　handle　turned　and　the　door　opened　to　her　touch。　　Somebody　had　had　the　sense　to　pull　down　the　blinds　and　the　curtains　were　drawn。　　She　switched　on　the　light　with　a　sigh　of　relief。　　Her　mother's　writing　table　was　covered　with　unopened　letters；　but　she　brushed　these　aside　in　her　search　for　the　little　parcel。　　It　was　not　there　and　her　heart　sank。　　Perhaps　she　had　put　it　in　one　of　the　drawers。　　She　tried　them　all　without　result。

She　stood　by　the　desk　a　picture　of　perplexity；　biting　a　finger　thoughtfully。

〃Thank　goodness！〃　she　said　with　a　jump；　for　she　saw　the　parcel　on　the　mantel　shelf；　crossed　the　room　and　took　it　down。

With　eager　hands　she　tore　off　the　covering　and　came　to　the　familiar　leather　case。　　Not　until　she　had　opened　the　padded　lid　and　had　seen　the　snuffbox　reposing　in　a　bed　of　cotton　wool　did　she　relapse　into　a　long　sigh　of　relief。

〃Thank　heaven　for　that；〃　she　said　aloud。

〃And　me；〃　said　a　voice。

She　sprang　up　and　turned　round　with　a　look　of　terror。

〃Mr。　…　Mr。　Meredith；〃　she　stammered。

T。　X。　stood　by　the　window　curtains　from　whence　he　had　made　his　dramatic　entry　upon　the　scene。

〃I　say　you　have　to　thank　me　also；　Miss　Bartholomew；〃　he　said　presently。

〃How　do　you　know　my　name？〃　she　asked　with　some　curiosity。

〃I　know　everything　in　the　world；〃　he　answered；　and　she　smiled。　Suddenly　her　face　went　serious　and　she　demanded　sharply

〃Who　sent　you　after　me　…　Mr。　Kara？〃

〃Mr。　Kara？〃　he　repeated；　in　wonder。

〃He　threatened　to　send　for　the　police；〃　she　went　on　rapidly；　〃and　I　told　him　he　might　do　so。　　I　didn't　mind　the　police　…　it　was　Kara　I　was　afraid　of。　　You　know　what　I　went　for；　my　mother's　property。〃

She　held　the　snuff…box　in　her　outstretched　hand。

〃He　accused　me　of　stealing　and　was　hateful；　and　then　he　put　me　downstairs　in　that　awful　cellar　and　…　〃

〃And？〃　suggested　T。　X。

〃That's　all；〃　she　replied　with　tightened　lips；　〃what　are　you　going　to　do　now？〃

〃I　am　going　to　ask　you　a　few　questions　if　I　may；〃　he　said。　　〃In　the　first　place　have　you　not　heard　anything　about　Mr。　Kara　since　you　went　away？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　have　kept　out　of　his　way；〃　she　said　grimly。

〃Have　you　seen　the　newspapers？〃　he　asked。

She　nodded。

〃I　have　seen　the　advertisement　column　…　I　wired　asking　Papa　to　reply　to　my　telegram。〃

〃I　know　…　I　saw　it；〃　he　smiled；　〃that　is　what　brought　me　here。〃

〃I　was　afraid　it　would；〃　she　said　ruefully；　〃father　is　awfully　loquacious　in　print　…　he　makes　speeches　you　know。　　All　I　wanted　him　to　say　was　yes　or　no。　　What　do　you　mean　about　the　newspapers？〃　she　went　on。　　〃Is　anything　wrong　with　mother？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃So　far　as　I　know　Lady　Bartholomew　is　in　the　best　of　health　and　is　on　her　way　home。〃

〃Then　what　do　you　mean　by　asking　me　about　the　newspapers！〃　she　demanded；　〃why　should　I　see　the　newspapers　…　what　is　there　for　me　to　see？〃

〃About　Kara？〃　he　suggested。

She　shook　her　head　in　bewilderment。

〃I　know　and　want　to　know　nothing　about　Kara。　　Why　do　you　say　this　to　me？〃

〃Because；〃　said　T。　X。　slowly；　〃on　the　night　you　disappeared　from　Cadogan　Square；　Remington　Kara　was　murdered。〃

〃Murdered；〃　she　gasped。

He　nodded。

〃He　was　stabbed　to　the　heart　by　some　person　or　persons　unknown。〃

T。　X。　took　his　hand　from　his　pocket　and　pulled　something　out　which　was　wrapped　in　tissue　paper。　　This　he　carefully　removed　and　the　girl　watched　with　fascinated　gaze；　and　with　an　awful　sense　of　apprehension。　　Presently　the　object　was　revealed。　　It　was　a　pair　of　scissors　with　the　handle　wrapped　about　with　a　small　handkerchief　dappled　with　brown　stains。　　She　took　a　step　backward；　raising　her　hands　to　her　cheeks。

〃My　scissors；〃　she　said　huskily；　〃you　won't　think　…　〃

She　stared　up　at　him；　fear　and　indignation　struggling　for　mastery。

〃I　don't　think　you　committed　the　murder；〃　he　smiled；　〃if　that's　what　you　mean　to　ask　me；　but　if