earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第44部分

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ced　through　some　papers　on　his　desk　while　John　Quincy；　Hallet　and　Chan　found　chairs。　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you；　this　thing　has　knocked　me　all　in　a　heap。　Harry　Jennison　and　I　are　old　friends；　I　had　lunch　with　him　at　the　club　only　yesterday。　I'm　going　to　proceed　a　little　differently　than　I　would　with　an　ordinary　criminal。〃
　John　Quincy　half　rose　from　his　chair。　〃Don't　get　excited；〃　Greene　smiled。　〃Jennison　will　get　all　that's　ing　to　him；　friendship　or　no　friendship。　What　I　mean　is　that　if　I　can　save　the　territory　the　expense　of　a　long　trial　by　dragging　a　confession　out　of　him　at　once；　I　intend　to　do　it。　He's　ing　in　here　in　a　moment；　and　I　propose　to　reveal　my　whole　hand　to　him；　from　start　to　finish。　That　may　seem　foolish；　but　it　isn't。　For　I　hold　aces；　all　aces；　and　he'll　know　it　as　quickly　as　any　one。〃
　The　door　opened。　Spencer　ushered　Jennison　into　the　room；　and　then　withdrew。　The　accused　man　stood　there；　proud；　haughty；　defiant；　a　viking　of　the　tropics；　a　blond　giant　at　bay　but　unafraid。
　〃Hello；　Jennison；〃　Greene　said。　〃I'm　mighty　sorry　about　this　…〃
　〃You　ought　to　be；〃　Jennison　replied。　〃You're　making　an　awful　fool　of　yourself。　What　is　this　damned　nonsense；　anyhow　…〃
　〃Sit　down；〃　said　the　prosecutor　sharply。　He　indicated　a　chair　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　desk。　He　had　already　turned　the　shade　on　his　desk　lamp　so　the　light　would　shine　full　in　the　face　of　any　one　sitting　there。　〃That　lamp　bother　you；　Harry？〃　he　asked。
　〃Why　should　it？〃　Jennison　demanded。
　〃Good；〃　smiled　Greene。　〃I　believe　Captain　Hallet　served　you　with　a　warrant　on　the　boat。　Have　you　looked　at　it；　by　any　chance？〃
　〃I　have。〃
　The　prosecutor　leaned　across　the　desk。　〃Murder；　Jennison！〃
　Jennison's　expression　did　not　change。　〃Damned　nonsense；　as　I　told　you。　Why　should　I　murder　any　one？〃
　〃Ah；　the　motive；〃　Greene　replied。　〃You're　quite　right；　we　should　begin　with　that。　Do　you　wish　to　be　represented　here　by　counsel？〃
　Jennison　shook　his　head。　〃I　guess　I'm　lawyer　enough　to　puncture　this　silly　business；〃　he　replied。
　〃Very　well。〃　Greene　turned　to　his　stenographer。　〃Get　this。〃　The　man　nodded；　and　the　prosecutor　addressed　Miss　Minerva。　〃Miss　Winterslip；　we'll　start　with　you。〃
　Miss　Minerva　leaned　forward。　〃Mr。　Dan　Winterslip's　house　on　the　beach　has；　as　I　told　you；　been　offered　for　sale　by　his　daughter。　After　dinner　this　evening　a　gentleman　came　to　look　at　it　…　a　prominent　lawyer　named　Hailey。　As　we　went　over　the　house；　Mr。　Hailey　mentioned　that　he　had　met　Dan　Winterslip　on　the　street　a　week　before　his　death；　and　that　my　cousin　had　spoken　to　him　about　ing　in　shortly　to　draw　up　a　new　will。　He　did　not　say　what　the　provisions　of　the　will　were　to　be；　nor　did　he　ever　carry　out　his　intention。〃
　〃Ah　yes；〃　said　Greene。　〃But　Mr。　Jennison　here　was　your　cousin's　lawyer？〃
　〃He　was。〃
　〃If　he　wanted　to　draw　a　new　will；　he　wouldn't　ordinarily　have　gone　to　a　stranger　for　that　purpose。〃
　〃Not　ordinarily。　Unless　he　had　some　good　reason。〃
　〃Precisely。　Unless；　for　instance；　the　will　had　some　connection　with　Harry　Jennison。〃
　〃I　object；〃　Jennison　cried。　〃This　is　mere　conjecture。〃
　〃So　it　is；〃　Greene　answered。　〃But　we're　not　in　court。　We　can　conjecture　if　we　like。　Suppose；　Miss　Winterslip；　the　will　was　concerned　with　Jennison　in　some　way。　What　do　you　imagine　the　connection　to　have　been？〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　imagine；〃　replied　Miss　Minerva。　〃I　know。〃
　〃Ah；　that's　good。　You　know。　Go　on。〃
　〃Before　I　came　down　here　to…night；　I　had　a　talk　with　my　niece。　She　admitted　that　her　father　knew　she　and　Jennison　were　in　love；　and　that　he　had　bitterly　opposed　the　match。　He　had　even　gone　so　far　as　to　say　he　would　disinherit　her　if　she　went　through　with　it。〃
　〃Then　the　new　will　Dan　Winterslip　intended　to　make　would　probably　have　been　to　the　effect　that　in　the　event　his　daughter　married　Jennison；　she　was　not　to　inherit　a　penny　of　his　money？〃
　〃There　isn't　any　doubt　of　it；〃　said　Miss　Minerva　firmly。
　〃You　asked　for　a　motive；　Jennison；〃　Greene　said。　〃That's　motive　enough　for　me。　Everybody　knows　you're　money　mad。　You　wanted　to　marry　Winterslip's　daughter；　the　richest　girl　in　the　Islands。　He　said　you　couldn't　have　her　…　not　with　the　money　too。　But　you're　not　the　sort　to　make　a　penniless　marriage。　You　were　determined　to　get　both　Barbara　Winterslip　and　her　father's　property。　Only　one　person　stood　in　your　way　…　Dan　Winterslip。　And　that's　how　you　happened　to　be　on　his　lanai　that　Monday　night　…〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Jennison　protested。　〃I　wasn't　on　his　lanai。　I　was　on　board　the　President　Tyler；　and　everybody　knows　that　ship　didn't　land　its　passengers　until　nine　the　following　morning　…〃
　〃I'm　ing　to　that；〃　Greene　told　him。　〃Just　now　…　by　the　way；　what　time　is　it？〃
　Jennison　took　from　his　pocket　a　watch　on　the　end　of　a　slender　chain。　〃It's　a　quarter　past　nine。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　Is　that　the　watch　you　usually　carry？〃
　〃It　is。〃
　〃Ever　wear　a　wrist　watch？〃
　Jennison　hesitated。　〃Occasionally。〃
　〃Only　occasionally。〃　The　prosecutor　rose　and　came　round　his　desk。　〃Let　me　see　your　left　wrist；　please。〃
　Jennison　held　out　his　arm。　It　was　tanned　a　deep　brown；　but　on　the　wrist　was　etched　in　white　the　outline　of　a　watch　and　its　encircling　strap。
　Greene　smiled。　〃Yes；　you　have　worn　a　wrist　watch　…　and　you've　worn　it　pretty　constantly；　from　the　look　of　things。〃　He　took　a　small　object　from　his　pocket　and　held　it　in　front　of　Jennison。　〃This　watch；　perhaps？〃　Jennison　regarded　it　stonily。　〃Ever　see　it　before？〃　Greene　asked。　〃No？　Well；　suppose　we　try　it　on；　anyhow。〃　He　put　the　watch　in　position　and　fastened　it。　〃I　can't　help　noting；　Harry；〃　he　continued；　〃that　it　fits　rather　neatly　over　that　white　outline　on　your　wrist　And　the　prong　of　the　buckle　falls　naturally　into　the　most　worn　of　the　holes　on　the　strap。〃
　〃What　of　that？〃　asked　Jennison。
　〃Oh；　coincidence；　probably。　You　have　abnormally　large　wrists；　however。　Surf…boarding；　swimming；　eh？　But　that's　something　else　I'll　speak　of　later。〃　He　turned　to　Miss　Minerva。　〃Will　you　please　e　over　here；　Miss　Winterslip。〃
　She　came；　and　as　she　reached　his　side；　the　prosecutor　suddenly　bent　over　and　switched　off　the　light　on　his　desk。　Save　for　a　faint　glimmer　through　a　transom；　the　room　was　in　darkness。　Miss　Minerva　was　conscious　of　dim　huddled　figures；　a　circle　of　white　faces；　a　tense　silence。　The　prosecutor　was　lifting　something　slowly　toward　her　startled　eyes。　A　watch；　worn　on　a　human　wrist　…　a　watch　with　an　illuminated　dial　on　which　the　figure　two　was　almost　obliterated。
　〃Look　at　that　and　tell　me；〃　came　the　prosecutor's　voice。　〃You　have　seen　it　before？〃
　〃I　have；〃　she　answered　firmly。
　〃Where？〃
　〃In　the　dark　in　Dan　Winterslip's　living…room　just　after　midnight　the　thirtieth　of　June。〃
　Greene　flashed　on　the　light。　〃Thank　you；　Miss　Winterslip。〃　He　retired　behind　his　desk　and　pressed　a　button。　〃You　identify　it　by　some　distinguishing　mark；　I　presume？〃
　〃I　do。　The　numeral　two；　which　is　pretty　well　obscured。〃
　Spencer　appeared　at　the　door。　〃Send　the　Spaniard　in；〃　Greene　ordered。　〃That　is　all　for　the　present；　Miss　Winterslip。〃
　Cabrera　entered；　and　his　eyes　were　frightened　as　they　looked　at　Jennison。　At　a　nod　from　the　prosecutor；　Chan　removed　the　wrist　watch　and　handed　it　to　the　Spaniard。
　〃You　know　that　watch；　Jose？〃　Greene　asked。
　〃I　…　I　…　yes；〃　answered　the　boy。
　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　Greene　urged。　〃Nobody's　going　to　hurt　you。　I　want　you　to　repeat　the　story　you　told　me　this　afternoon。　You　have　no　regular　job。　You're　a　sort　of　confidential　errand　boy　for　Mr。　Jennison　here。〃
　〃I　was。〃
　〃Yes　…　that's　all　over　now。　You　can　speak　out。　On　the　morning　of　Wednesday；　July　second；　you　were　in　Mr。　Jennison's　office。　He　gave　you　this　wrist　watch　and　told　you　to　take　it　out　and　get　it　repaired。　Something　was　the　matter　with　it。　It　wasn't　running。　You　took　it　to　a　big　jewelry　store。　What　happened？〃
　〃The　man　said　it　is　very　badly　hurt。　To　fix　it　would　cost　more　than　a　new　watch。　I　go　back　and　tell　Mr。　Jennison。　He　laugh　and　say　it　is　mine　as　a　gift。〃
　〃Precisely。〃　Greene　referred　to　a　paper　on　his　desk。　〃Late　in　the　afternoon　of　Thursday；　July　third；　you　sold　the　watch。　To　whom？〃
　〃To　Lau　Ho；　Chinese　jeweler　in　Maunakea　Street。　On　Saturday　evening　maybe　six　o'clock　Mr。　Jennison　telephone　my　home；　much　excited。　Must　have　watch　again；　and　will　pay　any　price。　I　speed　to　Lau　Ho's　store。　Watch　is　sold　once　more；　now　to　unknown　Japanese。　Late　at　night　I　see　Mr。　Jennison　and　he　curse　me　with　anger。　Get　the　watch；　he　says。　I　have　been　hunting；　but　I　could　not　find　it。〃
　Greene　turned　to　Jennison。　〃You　were　a　little　careless　with　that　watch；　Harry。　But　no　doubt　you　figured　you　were　pretty　safe　…　you　had　your　alibi。　Then；　too；　when　Hallet　detailed　the　clues　to　you　on　Winterslip's　lanai　the　morning　after　the　crime；　he　forgot　to　mention　that　some　one　had　seen　the　watch。　It　was　one　of　those　happy　accidents　that　are　all　we　have　to　count　on　in　this　work。　By　Saturday　night　you　realized　your　danger　…　just　how　you　discovered　it　I　don't　know　…〃
　〃I　do；〃　John　Quincy　interrupted。
　〃What！　What's　that？〃　said　Greene。
　〃On　Saturday　afternoon；〃　John　Quincy　told　him；　〃I　played　golf　with　Mr。　Jennison。　On　our　way　back　to　town；　we　talked　over　the　clues　in　this　case；　and　I　happened　to　mention　the　wrist　watch。　I　can　see　now　it　was　the　first　he　had　heard　of　it。　He　was　to　dine　with　us　at　the　beach；　but　he　asked　to　be　put　down　at　his　office　to　sign　a　few　letters。　I　waited　below。　It　must　have　been　then　that　he　called　up　this　young　man　in　an　effort　to　locate　the　watch。〃
　〃Great　stuff；〃　said　Greene　enthusiastically。　〃That　finishes　the　watch；　Jennison。　I'm　surprised　you　wore　it；　but　you　probably　knew　that　it　would　be　vital　to　you　to　keep　track　of　the　time；　and　you　figured；　rightly；　that　it　would　not　be　immediately　affected　by　the　salt　water　…〃
　〃What　the　devil　are　you　talking　about？〃　demanded　Jennison。
　Again　Greene　pressed　a　button　on　his　desk。　Spencer　appeared　at　once。　〃Take　this　Spaniard；〃　the　prosecutor　directed；　〃and　bring　in　Hepworth　and　the　quartermaster。〃　He　turned　again　to　Jennison。　〃I'll　show　you　what　I'm　talking　about　in　just　a　minute。　On　the　night　of　June　thirtieth　you　were　a　passenger　on　the　President　Tyler；　which　was　lying　by　until　dawn　out　near　the　channel　entrance？〃
　〃I　was。〃
　〃No　passengers　were　landed　from　that　ship　until　the　following　mor