the wisdom of father brown-第20节

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　　　　　〃I'm　afraid　you　neglect　the　fashionable　press　rather；〃　he　said；　〃but　this　cutting　may　interest　you。〃

　　　　　Usher　read　the　headlines；　〃Last…Trick's　Strayed　Revellers：　Mirthful　Incident　near　Pilgrim's　Pond。〃　The　paragraph　went　on：　　〃A　laughable　occurrence　took　place　outside　Wilkinson's　Motor　Garage　last　night。　　A　policeman　on　duty　had　his　attention　drawn　by　larrikins　to　a　man　in　prison　dress　who　was　stepping　with　considerable　coolness　into　the　steering…seat　of　a　pretty　high…toned　Panhard；　he　was　accompanied　by　a　girl　wrapped　in　a　ragged　shawl。　　On　the　police　interfering；　the　young　woman　threw　back　the　shawl；　and　all　recognized　Millionaire　Todd's　daughter；　who　had　just　come　from　the　Slum　Freak　Dinner　at　the　Pond；　where　all　the　choicest　guests　were　in　a　similar　deshabille。　　She　and　the　gentleman　who　had　donned　prison　uniform　were　going　for　the　customary　joy…ride。〃

　　　　　Under　the　pink　slip　Mr　Usher　found　a　strip　of　a　later　paper；　headed；　〃Astounding　Escape　of　Millionaire's　Daughter　with　Convict。　　She　had　Arranged　Freak　Dinner。　　Now　Safe　in〃

　　　　　Mr　Greenwood　Usher　lifted　his　eyes；　but　Father　Brown　was　gone。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SIX


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Head　of　Caesar


THERE　is　somewhere　in　Brompton　or　Kensington　an　interminable　avenue　of　tall　houses；　rich　but　largely　empty；　that　looks　like　a　terrace　of　tombs。　　The　very　steps　up　to　the　dark　front　doors　seem　as　steep　as　the　side　of　pyramids；　one　would　hesitate　to　knock　at　the　door；　lest　it　should　be　opened　by　a　mummy。　　But　a　yet　more　depressing　feature　in　the　grey　facade　is　its　telescopic　length　and　changeless　continuity。　　The　pilgrim　walking　down　it　begins　to　think　he　will　never　come　to　a　break　or　a　corner；　but　there　is　one　exceptiona　very　small　one；　but　hailed　by　the　pilgrim　almost　with　a　shout。　　There　is　a　sort　of　mews　between　two　of　the　tall　mansions；　a　mere　slit　like　the　crack　of　a　door　by　comparison　with　the　street；　but　just　large　enough　to　permit　a　pigmy　ale…house　or　eating…house；　still　allowed　by　the　rich　to　their　stable…servants；　to　stand　in　the　angle。　　There　is　something　cheery　in　its　very　dinginess；　and　something　free　and　elfin　in　its　very　insignificance。　　At　the　feet　of　those　grey　stone　giants　it　looks　like　a　lighted　house　of　dwarfs。

　　　　　Anyone　passing　the　place　during　a　certain　autumn　evening；　itself　almost　fairylike；　might　have　seen　a　hand　pull　aside　the　red　half…blind　which　（along　with　some　large　white　lettering）　half　hid　the　interior　from　the　street；　and　a　face　peer　out　not　unlike　a　rather　innocent　goblin's。　　It　was；　in　fact；　the　face　of　one　with　the　harmless　human　name　of　Brown；　formerly　priest　of　Cobhole　in　Essex；　and　now　working　in　London。　　His　friend；　Flambeau；　a　semi…official　investigator；　was　sitting　opposite　him；　making　his　last　notes　of　a　case　he　had　cleared　up　in　the　neighbourhood。　　They　were　sitting　at　a　small　table；　close　up　to　the　window；　when　the　priest　pulled　the　curtain　back　and　looked　out。　　He　waited　till　a　stranger　in　the　street　had　passed　the　window；　to　let　the　curtain　fall　into　its　place　again。　　Then　his　round　eyes　rolled　to　the　large　white　lettering　on　the　window　above　his　head；　and　then　strayed　to　the　next　table；　at　which　sat　only　a　navvy　with　beer　and　cheese；　and　a　young　girl　with　red　hair　and　a　glass　of　milk。　　Then　（seeing　his　friend　put　away　the　pocket…book）；　he　said　softly：

　　　　　〃If　you've　got　ten　minutes；　I　wish　you'd　follow　that　man　with　the　false　nose。〃

　　　　　Flambeau　looked　up　in　surprise；　but　the　girl　with　the　red　hair　also　looked　up；　and　with　something　that　was　stronger　than　astonishment。　　She　was　simply　and　even　loosely　dressed　in　light　brown　sacking　stuff；　but　she　was　a　lady；　and　even；　on　a　second　glance；　a　rather　needlessly　haughty　one。　　〃The　man　with　the　false　nose！〃　repeated　Flambeau。　　〃Who's　he？〃

　　　　　〃I　haven't　a　notion；〃　answered　Father　Brown。　　〃I　want　you　to　find　out；　I　ask　it　as　a　favour。　　He　went　down　there〃and　he　jerked　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder　in　one　of　his　undistinguished　gestures　〃and　can't　have　passed　three　lamp…posts　yet。　　I　only　want　to　know　the　direction。〃

　　　　　Flambeau　gazed　at　his　friend　for　some　time；　with　an　expression　between　perplexity　and　amusement；　and　then；　rising　from　the　table；　squeezed　his　huge　form　out　of　the　little　door　of　the　dwarf　tavern；　and　melted　into　the　twilight。

　　　　　Father　Brown　took　a　small　book　out　of　his　pocket　and　began　to　read　steadily；　he　betrayed　no　consciousness　of　the　fact　that　the　red…haired　lady　had　left　her　own　table　and　sat　down　opposite　him。　　At　last　she　leaned　over　and　said　in　a　low；　strong　voice：　　〃Why　do　you　say　that？　　How　do　you　know　it's　false？〃

　　　　　He　lifted　his　rather　heavy　eyelids；　which　fluttered　in　considerable　embarrassment。　　Then　his　dubious　eye　roamed　again　to　the　white　lettering　on　the　glass　front　of　the　public…house。　　The　young　woman's　eyes　followed　his；　and　rested　there　also；　but　in　pure　puzzledom。

　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Father　Brown；　answering　her　thoughts。　　〃It　doesn't　say　‘Sela'；　like　the　thing　in　the　Psalms；　I　read　it　like　that　myself　when　I　was　wool…gathering　just　now；　it　says　‘Ales。'〃

　　　　　〃Well？〃　inquired　the　staring　young　lady。　　〃What　does　it　matter　what　it　says？〃

　　　　　His　ruminating　eye　roved　to　the　girl's　light　canvas　sleeve；　round　the　wrist　of　which　ran　a　very　slight　thread　of　artistic　pattern；　just　enough　to　distinguish　it　from　a　working…dress　of　a　common　woman　and　make　it　more　like　the　working…dress　of　a　lady　art…student。　　He　seemed　to　find　much　food　for　thought　in　this；　but　his　reply　was　very　slow　and　hesitant。　　〃You　see；　madam；〃　he　said；　〃from　outside　the　place　lookswell；　it　is　a　perfectly　decent　placebut　ladies　like　you　don'tdon't　generally　think　so。　　They　never　go　into　such　places　from　choice；　except〃

　　　　　〃Well？〃　she　repeated。

　　　　　〃Except　an　unfortunate　few　who　don't　go　in　to　drink　milk。〃

　　　　　〃You　are　a　most　singular　person；〃　said　the　young　lady。　　〃What　is　your　object　in　all　this？〃

　　　　　〃Not　to　trouble　you　about　it；〃　he　replied；　very　gently。　　〃Only　to　arm　myself　with　knowledge　enough　to　help　you；　if　ever　you　freely　ask　my　help。〃

　　　　　〃But　why　should　I　need　help？〃

　　　　　He　continued　his　dreamy　monologue。　　〃You　couldn't　have　come　in　to　see　protegees；　humble　friends；　that　sort　of　thing；　or　you'd　have　gone　through　into　the　parlour。。。and　you　couldn't　have　come　in　because　you　were　ill；　or　you'd　have　spoken　to　the　woman　of　the　place；　who's　obviously　respectable。。。besides；　you　don't　look　ill　in　that　way；　but　only　unhappy。。。。　　This　street　is　the　only　original　long　lane　that　has　no　turning；　and　the　houses　on　both　sides　are　shut　up。。。。　　I　could　only　suppose　that　you'd　seen　somebody　coming　whom　you　didn't　want　to　meet；　and　found　the　public…house　was　the　only　shelter　in　this　wilderness　of　stone。。。。　　I　don't　think　I　went　beyond　the　licence　of　a　stranger　in　glancing　at　the　only　man　who　passed　immediately　after。。。。　　And　as　I　thought　he　looked　like　the　wrong　sort。。。and　you　looked　like　the　right　sort。。。。　　I　held　myself　ready　to　help　if　he　annoyed　you；　that　is　all。　　As　for　my　friend；　he'll　be　back　soon；　and　he　certainly　can't　find　out　anything　by　stumping　down　a　road　like　this。。。。　　I　didn't　think　he　could。〃

　　　　　〃Then　why　did　you　send　him　out？〃　she　cried；　leaning　forward　with　yet　warmer　curiosity。　　She　had　the　proud；　impetuous　face　that　goes　with　reddish　colouring；　and　a　Roman　nose；　as　it　did　in　Marie　Antoinette。

　　　　　He　looked　at　her　steadily　for　the　first　time；　and　said：　　〃Because　I　hoped　you　would　speak　to　me。〃

　　　　　She　looked　back　at　him　for　some　time　with　a　heated　face；　in　which　there　hung　a　red　shadow　of　anger；　then；　despite　her　anxieties；　humour　broke　out　of　her　eyes　and　the　corners　of　her　mouth；　and　she　answered　almost　grimly：　　〃Well；　if　you're　so　keen　on　my　conversation；　perhaps　you'll　answer　my　question。〃　　After　a　pause　she　added：　　〃I　had　the　honour　to　ask　you　why　you　thought　the　man's　nose　was　false。〃

　　　　　〃The　wax　always　spots　like　that　just　a　little　in　this　weather；〃　answered　Father　Brown　with　entire　simplicity；

　　　　　〃But　it's　such　a　crooked　nose；〃　remonstrated　the　red…haired　girl。

　　　　　The　priest　smiled　in　his　turn。　　〃I　don't　say　it's　the　sort　of　nose　one　would　wear　out　of　mere　foppery；〃　he　admitted。　　〃This　man；　I　think；　wears　it　because　his　real　nose　is　so　much　nicer。〃

　　　　　〃But　why？〃　she　insisted。

　　　　　〃What　is　the　nursery…rhyme？〃　observed　Brown　absent…mindedly。　　〃There　was　a　crooked　man　and　he　went　a　crooked　mile。。。。　　That　man；　I　fancy；　has　gone　a　very　crooked　roadby　following　his　nose。〃

　　　　　〃Why；　what's　he　done？〃　she　demanded；　rather　shakily。

　　　　　〃I　don't　want　to　force　your　confidence　by　a　hair；〃　said　Father　Brown；　very　quietly。　　〃But　I　think　you　could　tell　me　more　about　that　than　I　can　tell　you。〃

　　　　　The　girl　sprang　to　her　feet　and　stood　quite　quietly；　but　with　clenched　hands；　like　one　about　to　stride　away；　then　her　hands　loosened　slowly；　and　she　sat　down　again。　　〃You　are　more　of　a　mystery　than　all　the　others；〃　she　said　desperately；　〃but　I　feel　there　might　be　a　heart　in　your　mystery。〃

　　　　　〃What　we　all　dread　most；〃　said　the　priest　in　a　low　voice；　〃is　a　maze　with　no　centre。　　That　is　why　atheism　is　only　a　nightmare。〃　〃I　will　tell　you　everything；〃　said　the　red…haired　girl　doggedly；　〃except　why　I　am　telling　you；　and　that　I　don'