the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第34节
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had stood on the larboard side of the cabin； had disappeared。
〃It might have been blown into the canal during the storm；〃 suggested
the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop。 All of the crew of the Jasper B。 knew Lady
Agatha's story； and were aware of the importance of the box。
〃It was on the lee side of the cabin；〃 objected Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃and
while it might have been blown flat to the deck； in spite of its protected
position； it would scarcely have been picked up by the wind again and
wafted over the port bulwarks。〃
〃If you was to ask me；〃 said Cap'n Abernethy； who had joined in the
discussion； 〃I'd give it as MY opinion it's a good riddance of bad rubbish。〃
〃Rubbish？〃 said Miss Pringle。 〃Rubbish； indeed！ I am confident
that that box contained my plum preserves！〃
〃It has been stolen！〃 cried Cleggett； with conviction。 〃Fool that I was；
not to have taken it into the cabin！〃
〃But； if you had； you know；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃one would scarcely
have cared to stay in there with it。〃
〃Loge has outgeneraled me；〃 murmured Cleggett； well…nigh frantic
with self…reproach。 〃While he made the attack in front； he sent some of
his men to the rear of the vessel and it was quietly made off with while we
were fighting。〃 Had the disappearance of the box concerned himself
alone Cleggett's sense of disaster might have been less poignant。 But the
thought that his own carelessness had enabled the enemy to get possession
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
of a thing likely to involve Lady Agatha in further trouble was nearly
insupportable。 He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands in impotent
rage。
〃No doubt Loge caught sight of it during the early part of the skirmish；
by a flash of lightning；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃and acted as you suggest；
Mr。 Cleggett。 But does he believe it to be the box which contains the
evidence against him？ Or can he； by any chance； be aware of its real
contents？〃
〃No matter which；〃 groaned Cleggett； 〃no matter which！ For when
he opens it； he will learn what is in it。 Don't you see that he has us now？
If he offers to trade it back to us for the other oblong box； how can I refuse？
If we have his secret； Loge has ours！〃
But Dr。 Farnsworth was not listening。 He had suddenly leaned over
the port rail and was staring down the canal。 The others followed his
gaze。
The house boat Annabel Lee； they perceived； had got under weigh； and
was slowly approaching the Jasper B。 in the moonlight。 They watched
her gradual approach in silence。 She stopped within a few yards of the
Jasper B。； and a voice which Cleggett recognized as that of Wilton
Barnstable； the great detective； sang out：
〃Jasper B。； ahoy！〃
〃Aye； aye！〃 shouted Cleggett。
〃Is Mr。 Cleggett on board？〃
〃He is speaking。〃
〃Mr。 Cleggett； have you lost anything from your canal boat？〃
Cleggett did not answer； and for a moment he did not move。 Then；
tightening his sword belt； and cocking his hat a trifle； he climbed over the
starboard rail and walked along the bank of the canal a few yards until he
was opposite the Annabel Lee。 The great detective； on his part； also
stepped ashore。 They stood and faced each other in the moonlight； silently；
and their followers； also in silence； gathered in the bows of the respective
vessels and watched them。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Finally； Cleggett； with one hand on his hip； and standing with his feet
wide apart； said very incisively：
〃Sir； the Jasper B。 is NOT a canal boat。〃
〃Eh？〃 Wilton Barnstable started at the emphasis。 〃The
Jasper B。；〃 pursued Cleggett； staring steadily at Wilton Barnstable； 〃is a
schooner。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the other。 〃Indeed？〃
〃A schooner；〃 repeated Cleggett； 〃indeed； sir！ Indeed； sir； a schooner！〃
There was another silence； in which neither man would look aside；
they held each other with their eyes； the nervous strain communicated
itself to the crews of the two vessels。 At last； however； the detective；
although he did not lower his gaze； and although he strove to give his new
attitude an effect of ease and jauntiness by twisting the end of his
mustache as he spoke； said to Cleggett：
〃A schooner； then； Mr。 Cleggett； a schooner！ No offense； I hope？〃
〃None at all；〃 said Cleggett； heartily enough； now that the point had
been established。 And the tension relaxed on both ships。
〃You have lost an oblong box； Mr。 Cleggett。〃 The great detective
affirmed it rather than interrogated。
〃How did you know that？〃
The other laughed。 〃We know a great many thingsit is our business
to know things；〃 he said。 Then he dropped his voice to a whisper； and said
rapidly； 〃Mr。 Cleggett； do you know who I am？〃 Before Cleggett could
reply he continued； 〃Brace yourselfdo not make an outcry when I tell
you who I am。 I am Wilton Barnstable。〃
〃I knew you；〃 said Cleggett。 The other appeared disappointed for a
moment。 And then he inquired anxiously； 〃How did you know me？〃
〃Why； from your pictures in the magazines；〃 said Cleggett。
The detective brightened perceptibly。 〃Ah； yesthe magazines！ Yes；
yes； indeed！ publicity is unavoidable； unavoidable； Mr。 Cleggett！ But
this box； now〃
The great detective interrupted himself to laugh again； a trifle
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complacently； Cleggett thought。
〃I will not mystify you； Mr。 Cleggett； about the box。 Mystification is
one of the tricks of the older schools of detection。 I never practice it； Mr。
Cleggett。 With me； the detection of crime is a businessyes； a business。
I will tell you presently how the box came into my possession。〃
〃It IS in your possession？〃 Cleggett felt a dull pang of the heart。 If
the box of Reginal Maltravers were in the hands of Logan Black he could
at least trade the other oblong box to Loge for it； and thus save Lady
Agatha。 But in the possession of Wilton Barnstable； the great detective
！ Cleggett pulled himself together； he thought rapidly； he recognized
that the situation called； above all things else； for diplomacy and
adroitness。 He went on； nonchalantly：
〃I suppose you are aware of the contents of the box？〃
The other laughed again as if Cleggett had made an excellent jest；
there was something urbane and benign in his manner； it appeared as if he
regarded the contents of the box of Reginald Maltravers as anything but
serious； his tone puzzled Cleggett。
〃Suppose I bring the box on board the Jasper B。；〃 suggested the great
detective。 〃It interests me； that box。 I have no doubt it has its story。
And perhaps； while you are telling me some things about it； I may be able
to give you some information in turn。〃
There was no mistaking the fact that the man； whether genuinely
friendly or no； wished to appear so。
〃Have it brought into my cabin；〃 said Cleggett； 〃and we will discuss
it。〃
A few minutes later Wilton Barnstable； Cleggett； Lady Agatha； Miss
Pringle； and two of Wilton Barnstable's men sat in the cabin of the Jasper
B。； with the two oblong boxes before themthe one which had contained
Loge's incriminating diary； and the one which had caused Lady Agatha so
much trouble。
In the light of the cabin the three detectives were revealed as
startlingly alike。 Barton Ward and Watson Bard； Barnstable's two
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
assistants； might； indeed； almost have been taken for Barnstable himself；
at a casual glance。 I
