the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第37节
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They complained of lack of exercise； so I gave them exercise in the
manner which you saw the other morning； Mr。 Cleggett。
〃One of my agents； shortly after this； picked up the trail of Reginald
Maltravers again。 When I learned that he was alive my first impulse was
to release Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat。 But I learned that the two
gunmen could； if they would； give me a tip as to certain of the activities of
Logan Black； against whom I have been collecting evidence for nearly a
year。 So I kept them on my boat。
〃Reginald Maltravers； most of the time that you were riding about the
country； Lady Agatha； with the box that you thought contained him； was
really following you。 He would lose your trail and find it again； but he
was always some hours behind you。 Of course； he knew nothing of the
oblong box。 He thought that you were running away from him。 And all
the time that Reginald Maltravers was following you； agents of mine were
following Reginald Maltravers。〃
〃Lady Agatha；〃 interrupted Cleggett； 〃was also being pursued by Miss
Pringle here。〃
Wilton Barnstable carefully made a note in a little book which he drew
from his waistcoat pocket。 Barton Ward also made a note in a little book；
Watson Bard started to make a note； and then paused； in fact； Watson Bard
did not complete his note until he had gotten a peep into the notebook of
Barton Ward。 The notes made； the three detectives once more smiled
craftily at each other； and Wilton Barnstable resumed：
〃We knew； of course； that another lady was also following Lady
Agatha。 But； until the present moment； we had not identified her with
Miss Pringle。 And I should not be at all surprised； not at ALL surprised；
if still another person had been following Miss Pringle。〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃With what object？〃 asked Miss Pringle； looking alarmed at the idea。
〃The motive； my dear lady； I must for the present withhold；〃 said
Wilton Barnstable。 And again the three detectives exchanged knowing
glances。
〃Reginald Maltravers' pursuit of you； Lady Agatha； led him to
Fairport；〃 went on the great sleuth。 〃No doubt he met the driver of the
vehicle which brought you hither； and learned that you and Elmer had
been set down in this neighborhood； just as Miss Pringle learned it。 No
doubt it was well after dark when he arrived in the vicinity of the Jasper B。
And it is to be supposed that； once out here； he went to Morris's road
house； thinking it quite likely that you and Elmer would stop there； as he
had been tracking you from road house to road house。 Logan Black；
knowing that the authorities were on his trail； mistook Reginald
Maltravers for a detective； and held him prisoner at Morris's。 Logan
Black's men took away his clothes in order to minimize the possibility of
his escape。〃
〃And the Earl of Claiborne's signet ring〃 began Cleggett。
〃Of course； Reginald Maltravers was wearing it； and of course they
took his valuables from him；〃 said Barnstable。 〃One of the ruffians was
wearing the ring as he approached your vessel with a bomb。 But； Mr。
Cleggett； there are points about that bomb explosion which I do not
understand。〃
〃Nor I；〃 admitted Cleggett。
〃We will clear them up later；〃 said the great detective； smiling
benignly at his thumbs； which he was revolving slowly about each other as
he reconstructed the case。
〃Later！〃 smiled Barton Ward。 〃Later！〃 murmured Watson Bard。
With their hands clasped over their stomachs； they； too； benignly twirled
their thumbs。
〃Tonight；〃 pursued Barnstable； 〃having finally got all the information I
wished from Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat with regard to Logan Black； I
tossed them the key to their irons and told them to unlock themselves and
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
clear out。 It was just before the storm began； and they were sitting on the
bank of the canal at the time。 I allowed them to sit there in the evenings
and get the fresh air。
〃But before they could unlock themselves Reginald Maltravers； who
had； we must suppose； escaped from Morris's through the carelessness of
one of Logan Black's subordinates； crawled up the bank of the canal；
which he had swum； and made for the two gunmen； with the water
dripping from his eyeglass。 He had recognized them as the men who had
dogged and assaulted him； and every other idea was obliterated in his
desire for vengeance。
〃They fled。 He pursued。 He caught them； and they fought。 They
succeeded in dropping one of the iron balls on his footon his bunion foot；
Mr。 Cleggettcrippling him。〃
As this mention of the bunion； Miss Genevive Pringle arose with
dignity； and； flinging a shawl about her shoulders； left the cabin； chin in
air。 She did not vouchsafe so much as one backward glance at Cleggett
or the three detectives or lady Agatha as she left； but outraged propriety
was expressed in every line of her figure。
〃H'm；〃 mused the detective； flushing slightly； and Watson Bard and
Barton Ward also colored a little； and looked hacked。 They glanced
furtively at Lady Agatha； to see if she too might be offended。
〃Proceed； Mr。 Barnstable；〃 she said a little impatiently。 〃Bunions
don't bother me； either mentally or physically。 I am familiar with the
idea of bunions。 There are many bunions in the Claiborne family。〃
〃On his bunion foot； crippling him；〃 resumed the detective； reassured。
〃The storm came up； and still the gunmen fled； and still Reginald
Maltravers pursued。 I suppose； since you saw them on the west side of
the canal； Mr。 Cleggett； that they had run around the north end of it。
Probably； while you and Logan Black were fighting； they were running up
and down in the neighborhood； in the storm； intent only upon their own
feud。〃
〃They certainly seemed exhausted when I saw them；〃 said Cleggett；
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃all three of them。 But if you will permit me to say so； the astuteness
with which you are reconstructing this case compels my admiration。〃
Wilton Barnstable bowed； and Barton Ward and Watson Bard slightly
inclined their heads。
〃Your skill；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃is equal to that of Sherlock Holmes。〃
At the name of Sherlock Holmes a shade passed over the face of
Wilton Barnstable。 He slightly compressed his lips； and his eyebrows
went up a fraction of an inch。 This shade was reflected on the faces of
Barton Ward and Watson Bard。 There was a moment of silence； but
presently Wilton Barnstable continued； repressing a sigh：
〃I thought at first； Mr。 Cleggett； that you were an ally of Logan Black's；
just as you believed me to be his ally； and as he believed you and me to be
working together。 It may interest you to know that smuggling has been
one of his side lines。 There is； somewhere hereabouts； a cave in which
smuggled goods are stored。 These coasts have a sinister history； Mr。
Cleggett。 It is possible that your canal boatI beg your pardon； your
schooner； Mr。 Cleggettplayed some part in their smuggling operations。
At any rate it is evident that Logan Black transferred to the hold of this
vessel the incriminating evidence against him； contained in that oblong
box； when he learned that my agents were watching Morris's。 The Jasper
B。 has been lying in her present position for a long time。 In the event that
a sudden get…away from Morris's became necessary； it was an advantage to
Logan Black to be able to leave without being hampered with thi
