dh.theglasskey-第22部分

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　His　voice　was　level；　but　his　face　was　suddenly　tired；　spent。
　O'Rory　lit　his　cigarette。　〃Well；〃　he　said　when　he　had　done　that；　〃what　the　hell　does　it　all　amount　to？　It's　our　turn　to　hang　a　big　one　on　you　and　we're　doing　it。　The　girl　came　in　with　the　story　on　her　own　hook。　She　came　here　because　she　wanted　to。　So　did　you。　She　and　you　and　anybody　else　can　go　wherever　they　want　to　go　whenever　they　want　to。〃　He　stood　up。　〃Personally；　I'm　wanting　to　go　to　bed。　Where　do　I　sleep；　Mathews？〃
　Eloise　Mathews　spoke；　to　her　husband：　〃This　is　not　true；　Hal。〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　He　was　slow　taking　his　hands　from　his　face。　He　achieved　dignity　saying：　〃Darling；　there　is　a　dozen　times　enough　evidence　against　Madvig　to　justify　us　in　insisting　that　the　police　at　least　question　him。　That　is　all　we　have　done。〃
　〃I　did　not　mean　that；〃　his　wife　said。
　〃Well；　darling；　when　Miss　Madvig　came〃　He　faltered；　stopped；　a　grey…faced　man　who　shivered　before　the　look　in　his　wife's　eyes　and　put　his　hands　over　his　face　again。
　
　
　5
　
　Eloise　Mathews　and　Ned　Beaumont　were　alone　in　the　large　ground…floor　room；　sitting；　in　chairs　a　few　feet　apart；　with　the　fireplace　in　front　of　them。　She　was　bent　forward；　looking　with　tragic　eyes　at　the　last　burning　log。　His　legs　were　crossed。　One　of　his　arms　was　hooked　over　the　back　of　his　chair。　He　smoked　a　cigar　and　watched　her　surreptitiously。
　The　stairs　creaked　and　her　husband　came　half…way　down　them。　He　was　fully　clothed　except　that　he　had　taken　off　his　collar。　His　necktie；　partially　loosened；　hung　outside　his　vest。　He　said：　〃Darling；　won't　you　e　to　bed？　It's　midnight。〃
　She　did　not　move。
　He　said：　〃Mr。　Beaumont；　will　you？〃
　Ned　Beaumont；　when　his　name　was　spoken；　turned　his　face　towards　the　man　on　the　stairs；　a　face　cruelly　placid。　When　Mathews's　voice　broke；　Ned　Beaumont　returned　his　attention　to　his　cigar　and　Mathews's　wife。
　After　a　little　while　Mathews　went　upstairs　again。
　Eloise　Mathews　spoke　without　taking　her　gaze　from　the　fire。　〃There　is　some　whisky　in　the　chest。　Will　you　get　it？〃
　〃Surely。〃　He　found　the　whisky　and　brought　it　to　her；　then　found　some　glasses。　〃Straight？〃　he　asked。
　She　nodded。　Her　round　breasts　were　moving　the　red　silk　of　her　dress　irregularly　with　her　breathing。
　He　poured　two　large　drinks。
　She　did　not　look　up　from　the　fire　until　he　had　put　one　glass　in　her　hand。　When　she　looked　up　she　smiled；　crookedly；　twisting　her　heavily　rouged　exquisite　thin　lips　sidewise。　Her　eyes；　reflecting　red　light　from　the　fire；　were　too　bright。
　He　smiled　down　at　her。
　She　lifted　her　glass　and　said；　cooing：　〃To　my　husband！〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said；　〃No；〃　casually　and　tossed　the　contents　of　his　glass　into　the　fireplace；　where　it　spluttered　and　threw　dancing　flames　up。
　She　laughed　in　delight　and　jumped　to　her　feet。　〃Pour　another；〃　she　ordered。
　He　picked　the　bottle　up　from　the　floor　and　refilled　his　glass。
　She　lifted　hers　high　over　her　head。　〃To　you！〃
　They　drank。　She　shuddered。
　〃Better　take　something　with　it　or　after　it；〃　he　suggested。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　want　it　that　way。〃　She　put　a　hand　on　his　arm　and　turned　her　back　to　the　fire；　standing　close　beside　him。　〃Let's　bring　that　bench　over　here。〃
　〃That's　an　idea；〃　he　agreed。
　They　moved　the　chairs　from　in　front　of　the　fireplace　and　brought　the　bench　there；　he　carrying　one　end；　she　the　other。　The　bench　was　broad；　low；　backless。
　〃Now　turn　off　the　lights；〃　she　said。
　He　did　so。　When　he　returned　to　the　bench　she　was　sitting　on　it　pouring　whisky　into　their　glasses。
　〃To　you；　this　time；〃　he　said　and　they　drank　and　she　shuddered。
　He　sat　beside　her。　They　were　rosy　in　the　glow　from　the　fireplace。
　The　stairs　creaked　and　her　husband　came　down　them。　He　halted　on　the　bottom　step　and　said：　〃Please；　darling！〃
　She　whispered　in　Ned　Beaumont's　ear；　savagely：　〃Throw　something　at　him。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　chuckled。
　She　picked　up　the　whisky…bottle　and　said：　〃Where's　your　glass？〃
　While　she　was　filling　their　glasses　Mathews　went　upstairs。
　She　gave　Ned　Beaumont　his　glass　and　touched　it　with　her　own。　Her　eyes　were　wild　in　the　red　glow。　A　lock　of　dark　hair　had　e　loose　and　was　down　across　her　brow。　She　breathed　through　her　mouth；　panting　softly。　〃To　us！〃　she　said。
　They　drank。　She　let　her　empty　glass　fall　and　came　into　his　arms。　Her　mouth　was　to　his　when　she　shuddered。　The　fallen　glass　broke　noisily　on　the　wooden　floor。　Ned　Beaumont's　eyes　were　narrow；　crafty。　Hers　were　shut　tight。
　They　had　not　moved　when　the　stairs　creaked。　Ned　Beaumont　did　not　move　then。　She　tightened　her　thin　arms　around　him。　He　could　not　see　the　stairs。　Both　of　them　were　breathing　heavily　now。
　Then　the　stairs　creaked　again　and；　shortly　afterwards；　they　drew　their　heads　apart；　though　they　kept　their　arms　about　one　another。　Ned　Beaumont　looked　at　the　stairs。　Nobody　was　there。
　Eloise　Mathews　slid　her　hand　up　the　back　of　his　head；　running　her　fingers　through　his　hair；　digging　her　nails　into　his　scalp。　Her　eyes　were　not　now　altogether　closed。　They　were　laughing　dark　slits。　〃Life's　like　that；〃　she　said　in　a　small　bitter　mocking　voice；　leaning　back　on　the　bench；　drawing　him　with　her；　drawing　his　mouth　to　hers。
　They　were　in　that　position　when　they　heard　the　shot。
　Ned　Beaumont　was　out　of　her　arms　and　on　his　feet　immediately。　〃His　room？〃　he　asked　sharply。
　She　blinked　at　him　in　dumb　terror。
　〃His　room？〃　he　repeated。
　She　moved　a　feeble　hand。　〃In　front；〃　she　said　thickly。
　He　ran　to　the　stairs　and　went　up　in　long　leaps。　At　the　head　of　the　stairs　he　came　face　to　face　with　the　apish　Jeff；　dressed　except　for　his　shoes；　blinking　sleep　out　of　his　swollen　eyes。　Jeff　put　a　hand　to　his　hip；　put　the　other　hand　out　to　stop　Ned　Beaumont；　and　growled：　〃Now　what's　all　this？〃
　Ned　avoided　the　outstretched　hand；　slid　past　it；　and　drove　his　left　fist　into　the　apish　muzzle。　Jeff　staggered　back　snarling。　Ned　Beaumont　sprang　past　him　and　ran　towards　the　front　of　the　building。　O'Rory　came　out　of　another　room　and　ran　behind　him。
　From　downstairs　came　Mrs。　Mathews's　scream。
　Ned　Beaumont　flung　a　door　open　and　stopped。　Mathews　lay　on　his　back　on　the　bedroom…floor　under　a　lamp。　His　mouth　was　open　and　a　little　blood　had　trickled　from　it。　One　of　his　arms　was　thrown　out　across　the　floor。　The　other　lay　on　his　chest。　Over　against　the　wall；　where　the　outstretched　arm　seemed　to　be　pointing　at　it；　was　a　dark　revolver。　On　a　table　by　the　window　was　a　bottle　of　inkits　stopper　upside　down　beside　ita　pen；　and　a　sheet　of　paper。　A　chair　stood　close　to　the　table；　facing　it。
　Shad　O'Rory　pushed　past　Ned　Beaumont　and　knelt　beside　the　man　on　the　floor。　While　he　was　there　Ned　Beaumont；　behind　him；　swiftly　glanced　at　the　paper　on　the　table；　then　thrust　it　into　his　pocket。
　Jeff　came　in；　followed　by　Rusty；　naked。
　O'Rory　stood　up　and　spread　his　hands　apart　in　a　little　gesture　of　finality。　〃Shot　himself　through　the　roof　of　the　mouth；〃　he　said。　〃Finis。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　turned　and　went　out　of　the　room。　In　the　hall　he　met　Opal　Madvig。
　〃What；　Ned？〃　she　asked　in　a　frightened　voice。
　〃Mathews　has　shot　himself。　I'll　go　down　and　stay　with　her　till　you　get　some　clothes　on。　Don't　go　in　there。　There's　nothing　to　see。〃　He　went　downstairs。
　Eloise　Mathews　was　a　dim　shape　lying　on　the　floor　beside　the　bench。
　He　took　two　quick　steps　towards　her；　halted；　and　looked　around　the　room　with　shrewd　cold　eyes。　Then　he　walked　over　to　the　woman；　went　down　on　a　knee　beside　her；　and　felt　her　pulse。　He　looked　at　her　as　closely　as　he　could　in　the　dull　light　of　the　dying　fire。　She　gave　no　sign　of　consciousness。　He　pulled　the　paper　he　had　taken　from　her　husband's　table　out　of　his　pocket　and　moved　on　his　knees　to　the　fireplace；　where；　in　the　red　embers'　glow；　he　read：
　
　I；　Howard　Keith　Mathews；　being　of　sound　mind　and　memory；　declare　this　to　be　my　last　will　and　testament：
　I　give　and　bequeath　to　my　beloved　wife；　Eloise　Braden　Mathews；　her　heirs　and　assigns；　all　my　real　and　personal　property；　of　whatever　nature　or　kind。
　I　hereby　appoint　the　State　Central　Trust　pany　the　sole　executor　of　this　will。
　In　witness　whereof　I　have　hereunto　subscribed　my　name　this　。
　
　Ned　Beaumont；　smiling　grimly；　stopped　reading　and　tore　the　will　three　times　across。　He　stood　up；　reached　over　the　fire…screen；　and　dropped　the　torn　pieces　of　paper　into　the　glowing　embers。　The　fragments　blazed　brightly　a　moment　and　were　gone。　With　the　wrought…iron　shovel　that　stood　beside　the　fire　he　mashed　the　paper…ash　into　the　wood…coals。
　Then　he　returned　to　Mrs。　Mathews's　side；　poured　a　little　whisky　into　the　glass　he　had　drunk　from；　raised　her　head；　and　forced　some　of　the　liquor　between　her　lips。　She　was　partly　awake；　coughing；　when　Opal　Madvig　came　downstairs。
　
　
　6
　
　Shad　O'Rory　came　down　the　stairs。　Jeff　and　Rusty　were　behind　him。　All　of　them　were　dressed。　Ned　Beaumont　was　standing　by　the　door；　in　raincoat　and　hat。
　〃Where　are　you　going；　Ned？〃　Shad　asked。
　〃To　find　a　phone。〃
　O'Rory　nodded。　〃That's　a　good　enough　idea；〃　he　said；　〃but　there's　something　I　want　to　ask　you　about。〃　He　came　the　rest　of　the　way　down　the　stairs；　his　followers　close　behind　him。
　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃Yes？〃　He　took　his　hand　out　of　his　pocket。　The　hand　was　visible　to　O'Rory　and　the　men　behind　him；　but　Ned　Beaumont's　body　concealed　it　from　the　bench　where　Opal　sat　with　arms　around　Eloise　Mathews。　A　square　pistol　was　in　the　hand。　〃Just　so　there　won't　be　any　foolishness。　I'm　in　a　hurry。〃
　O'Rory　did　not　seem　to　see　the　pistol；　though　he　came　no　nearer。　He　said；　reflectively：　〃I　was　thinking　that　with　an　open　ink…bottle　and　a　pen　on　the　table　and　a　chair　up　to　it　it's　kind　of　funny　we　didn't　find　any　writing　up　there。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　smiled　in　mock　astonishment。　〃What；　no　writing？〃　He　took　a　step　backwards；　towards　the　door。　〃That's　a　funny　one；　all　right。　I'll　discuss　it　with　you　for　hours　when　I　e　back　from　phoning。〃
　〃Now　would　be　better；〃　O'Rory　said。
　〃Sorry。〃　Ned　Beaumont　backed　swiftly　to　the　door；　felt　behind　him　for　the　knob；　found　it；　and　had　the　door　open。　〃I　won't　be　gone　long。〃　He　jumped　out　and　slammed　the　door。
　The　rain　had　stopped。　He　left　the　path　and　ran　through　tall　grass　around　the　other　side　of　the　house。　From　the　house　came　the　sound　of　another　door　slamming　in　the　rear。　The　river　was　audible　not　fa