the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第27节
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vicinity？ This manof world…wide fame； and reputed to possess an
almost miraculous instinct in the unraveling of criminal mysteriesmight
be even now on the trail of Lady Agatha。 If so； he was Cleggett's enemy。
When it came to a choice between the championship of Lady Agatha and
the defiance of Wilton Barnstable； and all that he represented； Cleggett did
not hesitate for an instant。
There were still some aspects of the situation in which he found
himself that were as puzzling as ever to Cleggett。 It is true that he now
knew why Loge's men had been in the hold of the vessel； they had been
there； no doubt； in an attempt to get possession of the oblong； unpainted
box which had caused Loge's explosion of wrath； the box which was the
real thing Loge had tried to buy from Cleggett when he dickered for the
purchase of the Jasper B。 But why this box should have been in the hold
of the vessel； Cleggett could not understand。 And how Loge's men had
been able to get into and out of the hold without his knowledge still
perplexed him。
The motive behind the attempt to dynamite the vessel was clear。
Having failed to purchase it； having failed to recover the box from it； Loge
had sought to destroy it with all on board。 But the strange character of
this explosion still defied his powers of analysis。 And then there was the
tenth Earl of Claiborne's signet ring on the dead hand。 Beyond the fact that
it was a circumstance which connected his fortunes with those of Lady
Agatha； he could make nothing at all of the signet ring。 What； he asked
himself again and again； was the connection of the criminal gang at
Morris's with the proudest Earl in England？
Loge himself was a puzzle to Cleggett。 The man was a counterfeiter。
That he knew。 The 〃queer〃 twenty…dollar bill； which he had practically
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
acknowledged； left no doubt of that。 But he was more than a
counterfeiter。 Cleggett believed him to be also an anarchist。 At least he
was associated with anarchists。
But counterfeiting and anarchy are not ordinarily found together。 The
anarchist is not a criminal in the more sordid sense。 He is the enemy of
society as at present organized。 He considers society to be built on a
thieving basis； he is not himself a thief。 He scorns and hates society；
wishes to see it overturned； and believes himself superior to it。 He will
commit the most savage atrocities for the cause and cheerfully die for his
principles。 The anarchist is not a crook。 He is an idealist。
Convinced that the unpainted oblong box would furnish a clew to the
man's real personality； Cleggett； assisted by Lady Agatha and Dr。
Farnsworth； opened it in the cabin。
They first took out a number of plates； some broken； some intact； for
the manufacture of counterfeit notes of various denominations。 There
was some of the fibrous paper used in this process。 There was a quantity
of the apparatus essential to engraving the plates。 This stuff more than
half filled the box。 Then there were a number of books。
〃Elementary textbooks；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； glancing at them。 On
the flyleaf of one of them was written in a bold； firm hand： 〃Logan
Black。〃
〃Logeor Logan Black；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃has been giving
himself an education in the manufacture of high explosives。〃
〃But THESE aren't textbooks；〃 said Lady Agatha； who had pulled out
three long； narrow volumes from the pile。 〃They're in manuscript； and
they look more like account books。〃
The first of them； in Loge's handwriting； contained a series of notes；
mostly unintelligible to Cleggett； dealing with experiments in two sorts of
manufacture： first； the preparation of counterfeit money； second； the
production of dynamite bombs。
The second of the manuscript books was in cipher。 Cleggett might
have deciphered it without assistance； for he was skilled in these matters；
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
but the labor was not necessary。 The book was for Loge's own eye。 A
loose sheet of paper folded between the leaves gave the key。
The book showed that Loge had been employed as an expert operator；
in the pay of a certain radical organization； to pull off dynamiting jobs in
various parts of the country。 This was his account book with the
organization。 He had done his work and taken his pay as methodically as
a plumber might。 And he had been paid well。 Cleggett guessed that
Loge was not particularly interested in the work in its relationship to the
revolutionary cause； it was the money to be made in this way； and not any
particular sympathy with his employers； which attracted Loge； so Cleggett
divined。 Cleggett was astonished at the number of jobs which Loge had
engineered。 The book threw light on mysterious explosions which had
occurred throughout a period of five years。
But it was the third manuscript book which displayed the real Logan
Black。
This was also in cipher。 Dr。 Farnsworth and Cleggett had translated
but a few lines of it when they perceived that it was a diary。 With a
vanity almost inconceivable to those who have not reflected upon the
criminal nature； Loge had written here the tale of his own life； for his own
reading。 He had written it in loving detail。 It was； in fact； the book in
which he looked when he wished to admire himself。
〃It is odd；〃 said Cleggett； 〃that so clever a man should write down his
own story in this way。〃
〃This book；〃 said Farnsworth； 〃would be a boon to a psychologist
interested in criminology。 You say it is odd。 But with a certain type of
criminal； it is almost usual。 The human soul is full of strange impulses。
One of the strangest is towards just this sort of record。 Cunning； and the
vanity which destroys cunning； often exist side by side。 The criminal of
a certain type almost worships himself； he is profoundly impressed with
his own cleverness。 He is a braggart； he swaggers； he defeats himself。 A
strange idiocy mingles with his cleverness。〃
〃Even people who are not criminals do just that sort of thing；〃 said
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Lady Agatha。 〃Look at Samuel Pepys。 He was one of the most timid of
beings。 And he valued his place in the world mightily。 But he wrote
down the story of his own disgrace in his diaryit had to come out of him！
And then； timid and cautious as he was； he did not destroy the book！ He
let it get out of his possession。〃
It was an evil； a monstrous personality which leered out of Logan
Black's diary。 Boastful of his own iniquity； swaggering in his wickedness；
fatuous with self…love； he recounted his deeds with gusto and with
particularity。 They did not read a quarter of this terrible autobiography at
the time； but they read enough to see the man in the process of building up
a criminal organization of his own； with ramifications of the most
surprising nature。
〃This man；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； with a shudder； 〃actually has the
ambition to be the head of nothing less than a crime trust。〃
〃It seems to be something more than an ambition；〃 said Cleggett。 〃It
seems to be almost an accomplished fact。〃
〃Ugh！〃 said Lady Agatha； with a gesture of disgust； 〃he's like a great
horrid spider spinning webs！〃
Interested in anarchy only on its practical side； as the paid dynamiter
of the inner circle of radicals； Logan Black in his diary jeered at and
mocked the cause he served。 And more than that； the man seemed to take
a perverted
