the woman in the alcove-第6部分

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〃Inspector；　I　am　obliged　to　throw　myself　on　your　mercy。　I　have　no　such　witness　to　my　innocence　as　you　call　for。　Innocent　people　seldom　have。　It　is　only　the　guilty　who　take　the　trouble　to　provide　for　such　contingencies。〃

This　was　all　very　well；　if　it　had　been　uttered　with　a　straightforward　air　and　in　a　clear　tone。　But　it　was　not。　I　who　loved　him　felt　that　it　was　not；　and　consequently　was　more　or　less　prepared　for　the　change　which　now　took　place　in　the　inspector's　manner。　Yet　it　pierced　me　to　the　heart　to　observe　this　change；　and　I　instinctively　dropped　my　face　into　my　hands　when　I　saw　him　move　toward　Mr。　Durand　with　some　final　order　or　word　of　caution。

Instantly　（and　who　can　account　for　such　phenomena？）　there　floated　into　view　before　my　retina　a　reproduction　of　the　picture　I　had　seen；　or　imagined　myself　to　have　seen；　in　the　supper…room；　and　as　at　that　time　it　opened　before　me　an　unknown　vista　quite　removed　from　the　surrounding　scene；　so　it　did　now；　and　I　beheld　again　in　faint　outlines；　and　yet　with　the　effect　of　complete　distinctness；　a　square　of　light　through　which　appeared　an　open　passage　partly　shut　off　from　view　by　a　half…lifted　curtain　and　the　tall　figure　of　a　man　holding　back　this　curtain　and　gazing；　or　seeming　to　gaze；　at　his　own　breast；　on　which　he　had　already　laid　one　quivering　finger。

What　did　it　mean？　In　the　excitement　of　the　horrible　occurrence　which　had　engrossed　us　all；　I　had　forgotten　this　curious　experience；　but　on　feeling　anew　the　vague　sensation　of　shock　and　expectation　which　seemed　its　natural　accompaniment；　I　became　conscious　of　a　sudden　conviction　that　the　picture　which　had　opened　before　me　in　the　supper…room　was　the　result　of　a　reflection　in　a　glass　or　mirror　of　something　then　going　on　in　a　place　not　otherwise　within　the　reach　of　my　vision；　a　reflection；　the　importance　of　which　I　suddenly　realized　when　I　recalled　at　what　a　critical　moment　it　had　occurred。　A　man　in　a　state　of　dread　looking　at　his　breast；　within　five　minutes　of　the　stir　and　rush　of　the　dreadful　event　which　had　marked　this　evening！

A　hope；　great　as　the　despair　in　which　I　had　just　been　sunk；　gave　me　courage　to　drop　my　hands　and　advance　impetuously　toward　the　inspector。

〃Don't　speak；　I　pray；　don't　judge　any　of　us　further　till　you　have　heard　what　I　have　to　say。〃

In　great　astonishment　and　with　an　aspect　of　some　severity；　he　asked　me　what　I　had　to　say　now　which　I　had　not　had　the　opportunity　of　saying　before。　I　replied　with　all　the　passion　of　a　forlorn　hope　that　it　was　only　at　this　present　moment　I　remembered　a　fact　which　might　have　a　very　decided　bearing　on　this　case；　and；　detecting　evidences；　as　I　thought；　of　relenting　on　his　part；　I　backed　up　this　statement　by　an　entreaty　for　a　few　words　with　him　apart；　as　the　matter　I　had　to　tell　was　private　and　possibly　too　fanciful　for　any　ear　but　his　own。

He　looked　as　if　he　apprehended　some　loss　of　valuable　time；　but；　touched　by　the　involuntary　gesture　of　appeal　with　which　I　supplemented　my　request；　he　led　me　into　a　corner；　where；　with　just　an　encouraging　glance　toward　Mr。　Durand；　who　seemed　struck　dumb　by　my　action；　I　told　the　inspector　of　that　momentary　picture　which　I　had　seen　reflected　in　what　I　was　now　sure　was　some　window…pane　or　mirror。

〃It　was　at　a　time　coincident；　or　very　nearly　coincident；　with　the　perpetration　of　the　crime　you　are　now　investigating；〃　I　concluded。　〃Within　five　minutes　afterward　came　the　shout　which　roused　us　all　to　what　had　happened　in　the　alcove。　I　do　not　know　what　passage　I　saw　or　what　door　or　even　what　figure；　but　the　latter；　I　am　sure；　was　that　of　the　guilty　man。　Something　in　the　outline　（and　it　was　the　outline　only　I　could　catch）　expressed　an　emotion　incomprehensible　to　me　at　the　moment；　but　which；　in　my　remembrance；　impresses　me　as　that　of　fear　and　dread。　It　was　not　the　entrance　to　the　alcove　I　beheldthat　would　have　struck　me　at　oncebut　some　other　opening　which　I　might　recognize　if　I　saw　it。　Can　not　that　opening　be　found；　and　may　it　not　give　a　clue　to　the　man　I　saw　skulking　through　it　with　terror　and　remorse　in　his　heart？〃

〃Was　this　figure；　when　you　saw　it；　turned　toward　you　or　away？〃　the　inspector　inquired　with　unexpected　interest。

〃Turned　partly　away。　He　was　going　from　me。〃

〃And　you　satwhere？〃

〃Shall　I　show　you？〃

The　inspector　bowed；　then　with　a　low　word　of　caution　turned　to　my　uncle。

〃I　am　going　to　take　this　young　lady　into　the　hall　for　a　moment；　at　her　own　request。　May　I　ask　you　and　Mr。　Durand　to　await　me　here？〃

Without　pausing　for　reply；　he　threw　open　the　door　and　presently　we　were　pacing　the　deserted　supper…room；　seeking　the　place　where　I　had　sat。　I　found　it　almost　by　a　miracle；everything　being　in　great　disorder。　Guided　by　my　bouquet；　which　I　had　left　behind　me　in　my　escape　from　the　table；　I　laid　hold　of　the　chair　before　which　it　lay；　and　declared　quite　confidently　to　the　inspector：

〃This　is　where　I　sat。〃

Naturally　his　glance　and　mine　both　flew　to　the　opposite　wall。　A　window　was　before　us　of　an　unusual　size　and　make。　Unlike　any　which　had　ever　before　come　under　my　observation；　it　swung　on　a　pivot；　and；　though　shut　at　the　present　moment；　might　very　easily；　when　opened；　present　its　huge　pane　at　an　angle　capable　of　catching　reflections　from　some　of　the　many　mirrors　decorating　the　reception…room　situated　diagonally　across　the　hall。　As　all　the　doorways　on　this　lower　floor　were　of　unusual　width；　an　open　path　was　offered；　as　it　were；　for　these　reflections　to　pass；　making　it　possible　for　scenes　to　be　imaged　here　which；　to　the　persons　involved；　would　seem　as　safe　from　any　one's　scrutiny　as　if　they　were　taking　place　in　the　adjoining　house。

As　we　realized　this；　a　look　passed　between　us　of　more　than　ordinary　significance。　Pointing　to　the　window；　the　inspector　turned　to　a　group　of　waiters　watching　us　from　the　other　side　of　the　room　and　asked　if　it　had　been　opened　that　evening。

The　answer　came　quickly。

〃Yes；　sir；just　before　thethe〃

〃I　understand；〃　broke　in　the　inspector；　and；　leaning　over　me；　he　whispered：　〃Tell　me　again　exactly　what　you　thought　you　saw。〃

But　I　could　add　little　to　my　former　description。　〃Perhaps　you　can　tell　me　this；〃　he　kindly　persisted。　〃Was　the　picture；　when　you　saw　it；　on　a　level　with　your　eye；　or　did　you　have　to　lift　your　head　in　order　to　see　it？〃

〃It　was　high　up；in　the　air；　as　it　were。　That　seemed　its　oddest　feature。〃

The　inspector's　mouth　took　a　satisfied　curve。　〃Possibly　I　might　identify　the　door　and　passage；　if　I　saw　them；〃　I　suggested。

〃Certainly；　certainly；〃　was　his　cheerful　rejoinder；　and；　summoning　one　of　his　men；　he　was　about　to　give　some　order；　when　his　impulse　changed；　and　he　asked　if　I　could　draw。

I　assured　him；　in　some　surprise；　that　I　was　far　from　being　an　adept　in　that　direction；　but　that　possibly　I　might　manage　a　rough　sketch；　whereupon　he　pulled　a　pad　and　pencil　from　his　pocket　and　requested　me　to　make　some　sort　of　attempt　to　reproduce；　on　paper；　my　memory　of　this　passage　and　the　door。

My　heart　was　beating　violently；　and　the　pencil　shook　in　my　hand；　but　I　knew　that　it　would　not　do　for　me　to　show　any　hesitation　in　fixing　for　all　eyes　what；　unaccountably　to　myself；　continued　to　be　perfectly　plain　to　my　own。　So　I　endeavored　to　do　as　he　bade　me；　and　succeeded；　to　some　extent；　for　he　uttered　a　slight　ejaculation　at　one　of　its　features；　and；　while　duly　expressing　his　thanks；　honored　me　with　a　very　sharp　look。

〃Is　this　your　first　visit　to　this　house？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　I　have　been　here　before。〃

〃In　the　evening；　or　in　the　afternoon？〃

〃In　the　afternoon。〃

〃I　am　told　that　the　main　entrance　is　not　in　use　to…night。〃

〃No。　A　side　door　is　provided　for　occasions　like　the　present。　Guests　entering　there　find　a　special　hall　and　staircase；　by　which　they　can　reach　the　upstairs　dressing…rooms；　without　crossing　the　main　hall。　Is　that　what　you　mean？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　what　I　mean。〃

I　stared　at　him　in　wonder。　What　lay　back　of　such　questions　as　these？

〃You　came　in；　as　others　did；　by　this　side　entrance；〃　he　now　proceeded。　〃Did　you　notice；　as　you　turned　to　go　up　stairs；　an　arch　opening　into　a　small　passageway　at　your　left？〃

〃I　did　not；〃　I　began；　flushing；　for　I　thought　I　understood　him　now。　〃I　was　too　eager　to　reach　the　dressing…room　to　look　about　me。〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　replied；　〃I　may　want　to　show　you　that　arch。〃

The　outline　of　an　arch；　backing　the　figure　we　were　endeavoring　to　identify；　was　a　marked　feature　in　the　sketch　I　had　shown　him。

〃Will　you　take　a　seat　near　by　while　I　make　a　study　of　this　matter？〃

I　turned　with　alacrity　to　obey。　There　was　something　in　his　air　and　manner　which　made　me　almost　buoyant。　Had　my　fanciful　interpretation　of　what　I　had　seen　reached　him　with　the　conviction　it　had　me？　If　so；　there　was　hope；hope　for　the　man　I　loved；　who　had　gone　in　and　out　between　curtains；　and　not　through　any　arch　such　as　he　had　mentioned　or　I　had　described。　Providence　was　working　for　me。　I　saw　it　in　the　way　the　men　now　moved　about；　swinging　the　window　to　and　fro；　under　the　instruction　of　the　inspector；　manipulating　the　lights；　opening　doors　and　drawing　back　curtains。　Providence　was　working　for　me；　and　when；　a　few　minutes　later；　I　was　asked　to　reseat　myself　in　my　old　place　at　the　supper…table　and　take　another　look　in　that　slightly　deflected　glass；　I　knew　that　my　effort　had　met　with　its　reward；　and　that　for　the　second　time　I　was　to　receive　the　impression　of　a　place　now　indelibly　imprinted　on　my　consciousness。

〃Is　not　that　it？〃　asked　the　inspector；　pointing　at　the　glass　with　a　last　look　at　the　imperfect　sketch　I　had　made　him；　and　which　he　still　held　in　his　hand。

〃Yes；〃　I　eagerly　responded。　〃All　but　the　man。　He　whose　figure　I　see　there　is　another　person　entirely；　I　see　no　remorse；　or　even　fear；　in　his　looks。〃

〃Of　course　not。　You　are　looking　at　the　reflection　of　one　of　my　men。　Miss　Van　Arsdale；　do　you　recognize　the　place　now　under　your　eye？〃

〃I　do　not。　You　spoke　of　an　arch　in　the　hall；　at　the　left　of　the　carriage　entrance；　and　I　see　an　arch　in　the　window…pane　before　me；　but〃

〃You　are　looking　straight　through　the　alcove；perhaps　you　did　not　know　that　another　door　opened　at　its　back；into　the　passage　which　runs　behind　it。　Farther　on　is　the　arch；　and　beyond　that　arch　the　side　hall　and　staircase　leading　to　the　dressing…rooms。　This　door；　the　one　in　the　rear　of　the　alcove；　I