the clue of the twisted candle-第5部分

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use　in　Cadogan　Square；　who　has　no　particular　position　in　London　society　and　therefore　has　no　reason　for　coming　here；　who　openly　expresses　his　detestation　of　the　climate；　who　has　a　magnificent　estate　in　some　wild　place　in　the　Balkans；　who　is　an　excellent　horseman；　a　magnificent　shot　and　a　passable　aviator。〃

T。　X。　nodded　to　Mansus　and　with　something　of　gratitude　in　his　eyes　the　inspector　took　his　leave。

〃Now　Mansus　has　departed；〃　said　T。　X。；　sitting　himself　on　the　edge　of　his　desk　and　selecting　with　great　care　a　cigarette　from　the　case　he　took　from　his　pocket；　〃let　me　know　something　of　the　reason　for　this　sudden　interest　in　the　great　ones　of　the　earth。〃

Sir　George　smiled　grimly。

〃I　have　the　interest　which　is　the　interest　of　my　department；〃　he　said。　　〃That　is　to　say　I　want　to　know　a　great　deal　about　abnormal　people。　　We　have　had　an　application　from　him；〃　he　went　on；　〃which　is　rather　unusual。　　Apparently　he　is　in　fear　of　his　life　from　some　cause　or　other　and　wants　to　know　if　he　can　have　a　private　telephone　connection　between　his　house　and　the　central　office。　　We　told　him　that　he　could　always　get　the　nearest　Police　Station　on　the　'phone；　but　that　doesn't　satisfy　him。　　He　has　made　bad　friends　with　some　gentleman　of　his　own　country　who　sooner　or　later；　he　thinks；　will　cut　his　throat。〃

T。　X。　nodded。

〃All　this　I　know；〃　he　said　patiently；　〃if　you　will　further　unfold　the　secret　dossier；　Sir　George；　I　am　prepared　to　be　thrilled。〃

〃There　is　nothing　thrilling　about　it；〃　growled　the　older　man；　rising；　〃but　I　remember　the　Macedonian　shooting　case　in　South　London　and　I　don't　want　a　repetition　of　that　sort　of　thing。　　If　people　want　to　have　blood　feuds；　let　them　take　them　outside　the　metropolitan　area。〃

〃By　all　means；〃　said　T。　X。；　〃let　them。　　Personally；　I　don't　care　where　they　go。　　But　if　that　is　the　extent　of　your　information　I　can　supplement　it。　　He　has　had　extensive　alterations　made　to　the　house　he　bought　in　Cadogan　Square；　the　room　in　which　he　lives　is　practically　a　safe。〃

Sir　George　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃A　safe；〃　he　repeated。

T。　X。　nodded。

〃A　safe；〃　he　said；　〃its　walls　are　burglar　proof；　floor　and　roof　are　reinforced　concrete；　there　is　one　door　which　in　addition　to　its　ordinary　lock　is　closed　by　a　sort　of　steel　latch　which　he　lets　fall　when　he　retires　for　the　night　and　which　he　opens　himself　personally　in　the　morning。　　The　window　is　unreachable；　there　are　no　communicating　doors；　and　altogether　the　room　is　planned　to　stand　a　siege。〃

The　Chief　Commissioner　was　interested。

〃Any　more？〃　he　asked。

〃Let　me　think；〃　said　T。　X。；　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。　　〃Yes；　the　interior　of　his　room　is　plainly　furnished；　there　is　a　big　fireplace；　rather　an　ornate　bed；　a　steel　safe　built　into　the　wall　and　visible　from　its　outer　side　to　the　policeman　whose　beat　is　in　that　neighborhood。〃

〃How　do　you　know　all　this？〃　asked　the　Chief　Commissioner。

〃Because　I've　been　in　the　room；〃　said　T。　X。　simply；　〃having　by　an　underhand　trick　succeeded　in　gaining　the　misplaced　confidence　of　Kara's　housekeeper；　who　by　the　way〃　…　he　turned　round　to　his　desk　and　scribbled　a　name　on　the　blotting…pad　…　〃will　be　discharged　to…morrow　and　must　be　found　a　place。〃

〃Is　there　any　…er　…？〃　began　the　Chief。

〃Funny　business？〃　interrupted　T。　X。；　〃not　a　bit。　　House　and　man　are　quite　normal　save　for　these　eccentricities。　　He　has　announced　his　intention　of　spending　three　months　of　the　year　in　England　and　nine　months　abroad。　　He　is　very　rich；　has　no　relations；　and　has　a　passion　for　power。〃

〃Then　he'll　be　hung；〃　said　the　Chief；　rising。

〃I　doubt　it；〃　said　the　other；　〃people　with　lots　of　money　seldom　get　hung。　　You　only　get　hung　for　wanting　money。〃

〃Then　you're　in　some　danger；　T。　X。；〃　smiled　the　Chief；　〃for　according　to　my　account　you're　always　more　or　less　broke。〃

〃A　genial　libel；〃　said　T。　X。；　〃but　talking　about　people　being　broke；　I　saw　John　Lexman　to…day　…　you　know　him！〃

The　Chief　Commissioner　nodded。

〃I've　an　idea　he's　rather　hit　for　money。　　He　was　in　that　Roumanian　gold　swindle；　and　by　his　general　gloom；　which　only　comes　to　a　man　when　he's　in　love　（and　he　can't　possibly　be　in　love　since　he's　married）　or　when　he's　in　debt；　I　fear　that　he　is　still　feeling　the　effect　of　that　rosy　adventure。〃

A　telephone　bell　in　the　corner　of　the　room　rang　sharply；　and　T。　X。　picked　up　the　receiver。　　He　listened　intently。

〃A　trunk　call；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder　to　the　departing　commissioner；　〃it　may　be　something　interesting。〃

A　little　pause；　then　a　hoarse　voice　spoke　to　him。　　〃Is　that　you；　T。　X。？〃

〃That's　me；〃　said　the　Assistant　Commissioner；　commonly。

〃It's　John　Lexman　speaking。〃

〃I　shouldn't　have　recognized　your　voice；〃　said　T。　X。；　〃what　is　wrong　with　you；　John；　can't　you　get　your　plot　to　went？〃

〃I　want　you　to　come　down　here　at　once；〃　said　the　voice　urgently；　and　even　over　the　telephone　T。　X。　recognized　the　distress。　　〃I　have　shot　a　man；　killed　him！〃

T。　X。　gasped。

〃Good　Lord；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　silly　ass！〃




CHAPTER　III


In　the　early　hours　of　the　morning　a　tragic　little　party　was　assembled　in　the　study　at　Beston　Priory。　　John　Lexman；　white　and　haggard；　sat　on　the　sofa　with　his　wife　by　his　side。　　Immediate　authority　as　represented　by　a　village　constable　was　on　duty　in　the　passage　outside；　whilst　T。　X。　sitting　at　the　table　with　a　writing　pad　and　a　pencil　was　briefly　noting　the　evidence。

The　author　had　sketched　the　events　of　the　day。　　He　had　described　his　interview　with　the　money…lender　the　day　before　and　the　arrival　of　the　letter。

〃You　have　the　letter！〃　asked　T。　X。

John　Lexman　nodded。

〃I　am　glad　of　that；〃　said　the　other　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　〃that　will　save　you　from　a　great　deal　of　unpleasantness；　my　poor　old　chap。　　Tell　me　what　happened　afterward。〃


〃I　reached　the　village；〃　said　John　Lexman；　〃and　passed　through　it。　There　was　nobody　about；　the　rain　was　still　falling　very　heavily　and　indeed　I　didn't　meet　a　single　soul　all　the　evening。　　I　reached　the　place　appointed　about　five　minutes　before　time。　　It　was　the　corner　of　Eastbourne　Road　on　the　station　side　and　there　I　found　Vassalaro　waiting。　　I　was　rather　ashamed　of　myself　at　meeting　him　at　all　under　these　conditions；　but　I　was　very　keen　on　his　not　coming　to　the　house　for　I　was　afraid　it　would　upset　Grace。　　What　made　it　all　the　more　ridiculous　was　this　infernal　pistol　which　was　in　my　pocket　banging　against　my　side　with　every　step　I　took　as　though　to　nudge　me　to　an　understanding　of　my　folly。〃

〃Where　did　you　meet　Vassalaro？〃　asked　T。　X。

〃He　was　on　the　other　side　of　the　Eastbourne　Road　and　crossed　the　road　to　meet　me。　　At　first　he　was　very　pleasant　though　a　little　agitated　but　afterward　he　began　to　behave　in　a　most　extraordinary　manner　as　though　he　was　lashing　himself　up　into　a　fury　which　he　didn't　feel。　　I　promised　him　a　substantial　amount　on　account；　but　he　grew　worse　and　worse　and　then；　suddenly；　before　I　realised　what　he　was　doing；　he　was　brandishing　a　revolver　in　my　face　and　uttering　the　most　extraordinary　threats。　　Then　it　was　I　remembered　Kara's　warning。〃

〃Kara；〃　said　T。　X。　quickly。

〃A　man　I　know　and　who　was　responsible　for　introducing　me　to　Vassalaro。　　He　is　immensely　wealthy。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　T。　X。；　〃go　on。〃

〃I　remembered　this　warning；〃　the　other　proceeded；　〃and　I　thought　it　worth　while　trying　it　out　to　see　if　it　had　any　effect　upon　the　little　man。　　I　pulled　the　pistol　from　my　pocket　and　pointed　it　at　him；　but　that　only　seemed　to　make　it　…　and　then　I　pressed　the　trigger　。　。　。　。

〃To　my　horror　four　shots　exploded　before　I　could　recover　sufficient　self…possession　to　loosen　my　hold　of　the　butt。　　He　fell　without　a　word。　　I　dropped　the　revolver　and　knelt　by　his　side。　　I　could　tell　he　was　dangerously　wounded；　and　indeed　I　knew　at　that　moment　that　nothing　would　save　him。　　My　pistol　had　been　pointed　in　the　region　of　his　heart　。　。　。　。　〃

He　shuddered；　dropping　his　face　in　his　hands；　and　the　girl　by　his　side；　encircling　his　shoulder　with　a　protecting　arm；　murmured　something　in　his　ear。　　Presently　he　recovered。

〃He　wasn't　quite　dead。　　I　heard　him　murmur　something　but　I　wasn't　able　to　distinguish　what　he　said。　　I　went　straight　to　the　village　and　told　the　constable　and　had　the　body　removed。〃

T。　X。　rose　from　the　table　and　walked　to　the　door　and　opened　it。

〃Come　in；　constable；〃　he　said；　and　when　the　man　made　his　appearance；　〃I　suppose　you　were　very　careful　in　removing　this　body；　and　you　took　everything　which　was　lying　about　in　the　immediate　ate　vicinity'？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　the　man；　〃I　took　his　hat　and　his　walkingstick；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃

〃And　the　revolver！〃　asked　T。　X。

The　man　shook　his　head。

〃There　warn't　any　revolver；　sir；　except　the　pistol　which　Mr。　Lexman　had。〃

He　fumbled　in　his　pocket　and　pulled　it　out　gingerly；　and　T。　X。　took　it　from　him。

〃I'll　look　after　your　prisoner；　you　go　down　to　the　village；　get　any　help　you　can　and　make　a　most　careful　search　in　the　place　where　this　man　was　killed　and　bring　me　the　revolver　which　you　will　discover。　　You'll　probably　find　it　in　a　ditch　by　the　side　of　the　road。　　I'll　give　a　sovereign　to　the　man　who　finds　it。〃

The　constable　touched　his　hat　and　went　out。

〃It　looks　rather　a　weird　case　to　me；〃　said　T。　X。；　as　he　came　back　to　the　table；　〃can't　you　see　the　unusual　features　yourself；　Lexman！　　It　isn't　unusual　for　you　to　owe　money　and　it　isn't　unusual　for　the　usurer　to　demand　the　return　of　that　money；　but　in　this　case　he　is　asking　for　it　before　it　was　due；　and　further　than　that　he　was　demanding　it　with　threats。　　It　is　not　the　practice　of　the　average　money　lender　to　go　after　his　clients　with　a　loaded　revolver。　　Another　peculiar　thing　is　that　if　he　wished　to　blackmail　you；　that　is　to　say；　bring　you　into　contempt　in　the　eyes　of　your　friends；　why　did　he　choose　to　meet　you　in　a　dark　and　unfrequented　road；　and　not　in　your　house　where　the　moral　pressure　would　be　greatest？　　Also；　why　did　he　write　you　a　threatening　letter　which　would　certainly　bring　him　into　the　grip　of　the　law　and　would　have　saved　you　a　great　deal　of　unpleasantness　if　he　had　decided　upon　taking　action！〃

He　tapped　his　white　teeth　with　the　end　of　his　pencil　and　then　suddenly；

〃I　think　I'll　see　that　letter；〃　he　said。

John　Lexman　rose　from　the　sofa；　crossed　to　the　safe；　unlocked　it　and　was　unlocking　the　steel　d