pgw.piccadillyjim-第45节

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　His　panion　laughed。　If　Jimmy　had　had　a　more　intimate　acquaintance　with　the　resourceful　individual　whom　the　〃boys〃　called　Gentleman　Jack；　he　would　have　been　disquieted　by　that　laugh。　It　was　an　axiom　among　those　who　knew　him　well；　that　when　Gentleman　Jack　chuckled　in　the　reflective　way；　he　generally　had　something　unpleasant　up　his　sleeve。
　〃It's　your　lucky　night；〃　said　Gentleman　Jack。
　〃It　looks　like　it。〃
　〃Well；　it　isn't　over　yet。〃
　〃Very　nearly。　You　had　better　go　and　put　that　test…tube　back　in　what　is　left　of　the　safe　now。　Did　you　think　I　had　forgotten　it？〃
　〃What　test…tube？〃
　〃e；　e；　old　friend！　The　one　filled　with　Partridge's　explosive；　which　you　have　in　your　breast…pocket。〃
　Gentleman　Jack　laughed　again。　Then　he　moved　towards　the　safe。
　〃Place　it　gently　on　the　top　shelf；〃　said　Jimmy。
　The　next　moment　every　nerve　in　his　body　was　leaping　and　quivering。　A　great　shout　split　the　air。　Gentleman　Jack；　apparently　insane；　was　giving　tongue　at　the　top　of　his　voice。
　〃Help！　Help！　Help！〃
　The　conversation　having　been　conducted　up　to　this　point　in　undertones；　the　effect　of　this　unexpected　uproar　was　like　an　explosion。　The　cries　seemed　to　echo　round　the　room　and　shake　the　very　walls。　For　a　moment　Jimmy　stood　paralysed；　staring　feebly；　then　there　was　a　sudden　deafening　increase　in　the　din。　Something　living　seemed　to　writhe　and　jump　in　his　hand。　He　dropped　it　incontinently；　and　found　himself　gazing　in　a　stupefied　way　at　a　round；　smoking　hole　in　the　carpet。　Such　had　been　the　effect　of　Gentleman　Jack's　unforeseen　outburst　that　he　had　quite　forgotten　that　he　held　the　revolver；　and　he　had　been　unfortunate　enough　at　this　juncture　to　pull　the　trigger。
　There　was　a　sudden　rush　and　a　swirl　of　action。　Something　hit　Jimmy　under　the　chin。　He　staggered　back；　and　when　he　had　recovered　himself　found　himself　looking　into　the　muzzle　of　the　revolver　which　had　nearly　blown　a　hole　in　his　foot　a　moment　back。　The　sardonic　face　of　Gentleman　Jack　smiled　grimly　over　the　barrel。
　〃I　told　you　the　night　wasn't　over　yet！〃　he　said。
　The　blow　under　the　chin　had　temporarily　dulled　Jimmy's　mentality。　He　stood；　swallowing　and　endeavouring　to　pull　himself　together　and　to　get　rid　of　a　feeling　that　his　head　was　about　to　e　off。　He　backed　to　the　desk　and　steadied　himself　against　it。
　As　he　did　so；　a　voice　from　behind　him　spoke。
　〃Whassall　this？〃
　He　turned　his　head。　A　curious　procession　was　filing　in　through　the　open　French　window。　First　came　Mr。　Crocker；　still　wearing　his　hideous　mask；　then　a　heavily　bearded　individual　with　round　spectacles；　who　looked　like　an　automobile　ing　through　a　haystack；　then　Ogden　Ford；　and　finally　a　sturdy；　determined…looking　woman　with　glittering　but　poorly　co…ordinated　eyes；　who　held　a　large　revolver　in　her　unshaking　right　hand　and　looked　the　very　embodiment　of　the　modern　female　who　will　stand　no　nonsense。　It　was　part　of　the　nightmare…like　atmosphere　which　seemed　to　brood　inexorably　over　this　particular　night　that　this　person　looked　to　Jimmy　exactly　like　the　parlour…maid　who　had　e　to　him　in　this　room　in　answer　to　the　bell　and　who　had　sent　his　father　to　him。　Yet　how　could　it　be　she？　Jimmy　knew　little　of　the　habits　of　parlour…maids；　but　surely　they　did　not　wander　about　with　revolvers　in　the　small　hours？
　While　he　endeavoured　feverishly　to　find　reason　in　this　chaos；　the　door　opened　and　a　motley　crowd；　roused　from　sleep　by　the　cries；　poured　in。　Jimmy；　turning　his　head　back　again　to　attend　to　this　invasion；　perceived　Mrs。　Pett；　Ann；　two　or　three　of　the　geniuses；　and　Willie　Partridge；　in　various　stages　of　negligee　and　babbling　questions。
　The　woman　with　the　pistol；　assuming　instant　and　unquestioned　domination　of　the　assembly；　snapped　out　an　order。
　〃Shutatdoor！〃
　Somebody　shut　the　door。
　〃Now；　whassall　this？〃　she　said；　turning　to　Gentleman　Jack。
　
　CHAPTER　XXIII
　STIRRING　TIMES　FOR　THE　PETTS
　
　GENTLEMAN　Jack　had　lowered　his　revolver；　and　was　standing　waiting　to　explain　all；　with　the　insufferable　look　of　the　man　who　is　just　going　to　say　that　he　has　only　done　his　duty　and　requires　no　thanks。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　he　said。
　〃Nev'　min'　who　I　am！〃　said　Miss　Trimble　curtly。　〃Siz　Pett　knows　who　I　am。〃
　〃I　hope　you　won't　be　offended；　Lord　Wisbeach；〃　said　Mrs。　Pett　from　the　group　by　the　door。　〃I　engaged　a　detective　to　help　you。　I　really　thought　you　could　not　manage　everything　by　yourself。　I　hope　you　do　not　mind。〃
　〃Not　at　all；　Mrs。　Pett。　Very　wise。〃
　〃I'm　so　glad　to　hear　you　say　so。〃
　〃An　excellent　move。〃
　Miss　Trimble　broke　in　on　these　amiable　exchanges。
　〃Whassall　this？　Howjer　meanhelp　me？〃
　〃Lord　Wisbeach　most　kindly　offered　to　do　all　he　could　to　protect　my　nephew's　explosive；〃　said　Mrs。　Pett。
　Gentleman　Jack　smiled　modestly。
　〃I　hope　I　have　been　of　some　slight　assistance！　I　think　I　came　down　in　the　nick　of　time。　Look！〃　He　pointed　to　the　safe。　〃He　had　just　got　it　open！　Luckily　I　had　my　pistol　with　me。　I　covered　him；　and　called　for　help。　In　another　moment　he　would　have　got　away。〃
　Miss　Trimble　crossed　to　the　safe　and　inspected　it　with　a　frown；　as　if　she　disliked　it。　She　gave　a　grunt　and　returned　to　her　place　by　the　window。
　〃Made　good　job　'f　it！〃　was　her　ment。
　Ann　came　forward。　Her　face　was　glowing　and　her　eyes　shone。
　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　found　Jimmy　breaking　into　the　safe？　I　never　heard　anything　so　absurd！〃
　Mrs。　Pett　intervened。
　〃This　is　not　James　Crocker；　Ann！　This　man　is　an　impostor；　who　came　into　the　house　in　order　to　steal　Willie's　invention。〃　She　looked　fondly　at　Gentleman　Jack。　〃Lord　Wisbeach　told　me　so。　He　only　pretended　to　recognise　him　this　afternoon。〃
　A　low　gurgle　proceeded　from　the　open　mouth　of　little　Ogden。　The　proceedings　bewildered　him。　The　scene　he　had　overheard　in　the　library　between　the　two　men　had　made　it　clear　to　him　that　Jimmy　was　genuine　and　Lord　Wisbeach　a　fraud；　and　he　could　not　understand　why　Jimmy　did　not　produce　his　proofs　as　before。　He　was　not　aware　that　Jimmy's　head　was　only　just　beginning　to　clear　from　the　effects　of　the　blow　on　the　chin。　Ogden　braced　himself　for　resolute　lying　in　the　event　of　Jimmy　calling　him　as　a　witness。　But　he　did　not　intend　to　have　his　little　business　proposition　dragged　into　the　open。
　Ann　was　looking　at　Jimmy　with　horror…struck　eyes。　For　the　first　time　it　came　to　her　how　little　she　knew　of　him　and　how　very　likely　it　wasin　the　face　of　the　evidence　it　was　almost　certainthat　he　should　have　e　to　the　house　with　the　intention　of　stealing　Willie's　explosive。　She　fought　against　it；　but　a　voice　seemed　to　remind　her　that　it　was　he　who　had　suggested　the　idea　of　posing　as　Jimmy　Crocker。　She　could　not　help　remembering　how　smoothly　and　willingly　he　had　embarked　on　the　mad　scheme。　But　had　it　been　so　mad？　Had　it　not　been　a　mere　cloak　for　this　other　venture？　If　Lord　Wisbeach　had　found　him　in　this　room；　with　the　safe　blown　open；　what　other　explanation　could　there　be？　　And　then；　simultaneously　with　her　conviction　that　he　was　a　criminal；　came　the　certainty　that　he　was　the　man　she　loved。　It　had　only　needed　the　spectacle　of　him　in　trouble　to　make　her　sure。　She　came　to　his　side　with　the　vague　idea　of　doing　something　to　help　him；　of　giving　him　her　support。　Once　there；　she　found　that　there　was　nothing　to　do　and　nothing　to　say。　She　put　her　hand　on　his；　and　stood　waiting　helplessly　for　she　knew　not　what。
　It　was　the　touch　of　her　fingers　which　woke　Jimmy　from　his　stupor。　He　came　to　himself　almost　with　a　jerk。　He　had　been　mistily　aware　of　what　had　been　said；　but　speech　had　been　beyond　him。　Now；　quite　suddenly；　he　was　a　whole　man　once　more。　He　threw　himself　into　the　debate　with　energy。
　〃Good　Heavens！〃　he　cried。　〃You're　all　wrong。　I　found　him　blowing　open　the　safe！〃
　Gentleman　Jack　smiled　superciliously。
　〃A　likely　story；　what！　I　mean　to　say；　it's　a　bit　thin！〃
　〃Ridiculous！〃　said　Mrs。　Pett。　She　turned　to　Miss　Trimble　with　a　gesture。　〃Arrest　that　man！〃
　〃Wait　a　mom'nt；〃　replied　that　clear…headed　maiden；　picking　her　teeth　thoughtfully　with　the　muzzle　of　her　revolver。　〃Wait　mom'nt。　Gotta　look　'nto　this。　Hear　both　these　guys'　st'ries。〃
　〃Really；〃　said　Gentleman　Jack　suavely；　〃it　seems　somewhat　absurd〃
　〃Ney'　mind　how　'bsurd　't　sounds；〃　returned　the　fair　Trimble　rebukingly。　〃You　close　y'r　face　'n　lissen　t'　me。　Thass　all　you've　gotta　do。〃
　〃I　know　you　didn't　do　it！〃　cried　Ann；　tightening　her　hold　on　Jimmy's　arm。
　〃Less　'f　it；　please。　Less　'f　it！〃　Miss　Trimble　removed　the　pistol　from　her　mouth　and　pointed　it　at　Jimmy。　〃What've　you　to　say？　Talk　quick！〃
　〃I　happened　to　be　down　there〃
　〃Why？〃　asked　Miss　Trimble；　as　if　she　had　touched　off　a　bomb。
　Jimmy　stopped　short。　He　perceived　difficulties　in　the　way　of　explanation。
　〃I　happened　to　be　down　there；〃　he　resumed　stoutly；　〃and　that　man　came　into　the　room　with　an　electric　torch　and　a　blowpipe　and　began　working　on　the　safe〃
　The　polished　tones　of　Gentleman　Jack　cut　in　on　his　story。
　〃Really　now；　is　it　worth　while？〃　He　turned　to　Miss　Trimble。　〃I　came　down　here；　having　heard　a　noise。　I　did　not　happen　to　be　here　for　some　unexplained　purpose。　I　was　lying　awake　and　something　attracted　my　attention。　As　Mrs。　Pett　knows；　I　was　suspicious　of　this　worthy　and　expected　him　to　make　an　attempt　on　the　explosive　at　any　moment：　so　I　took　my　pistol　and　crept　downstairs。　When　I　got　here；　the　safe　wa