the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第38节
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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 this matter。
No one； for many years； had paid any attention to the Jasper B。； with the
exception of the old truck farmer； Abernethy； who used sometimes to fish
from her deck； and〃
〃Truck farmer！〃 cried Cleggett。 〃Abernethy？〃
〃Truck farmer；〃 repeated Wilton Barnstable。
〃Is not Abernethy an old sea captain？〃 asked Cleggett。
〃Why； no； I believe not；〃 said Barnstable。 〃At least I never heard so。
He is well known as a small truck gardener in this neighborhood。 It is
true that he comes of a seafaring familyindeed； it is his boast。 But； in a
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
community where nearly everyone knows a little about boats； I believe
that Abernethy is remarkable for an indisposition to venture far from
shore。〃
〃I can scarcely believe it；〃 breathed Cleggett。
〃He does not understand boats；〃 said Barnstable。 〃That is the reason； I
take it； why he has always fished in the canal from the deck of the Jasper
B。 〃
〃Abernethy is a gallant man；〃 said Cleggett； rather sternly。 〃And
even although he may have had little actual seafaring experience； the
instinct is in him！ The inherited love of a nautical life has been latent in
him all along。 And at the first opportunity it has come out。 He has
shown his mettle aboard the Jasper B。 〃
〃I do not doubt it； if you insist upon it；〃 said Wilton Barnstable；
politely。 And from revolving his thumbs benignly towards himself he
began to revolve them urbanely from himself。 The reversal was imitated
at once by Barton Ward； but Watson Bard was slower in putting this new
coup into execution。
〃The resemblance between the two oblong boxes evidently fooled
Logan Black；〃 continued Barnstable； 〃and his men stole the wrong one。
but he knows by this time that his plan to get the box has failed。〃
〃He knows it？〃 said Cleggett。
〃From the bank of the canal he witnessed our capture of the box； and
of the two men who were making off with it。 After you had beaten off
his assault upon the ship； he turned his attention to the canal； to see if the
men whom he had assigned to the job of creeping over the stern of the
Jasper B。 had by any chance succeeded in purloining the box。 He was
alone； but he attempted to come to the assistance of his two followers even
as we made them prisoners。 In fact； we exchanged shots。〃
The great detective made little of the danger he had encountered。
Indeed； his smile became one of amusement as he removed his coat；
rolled up his shirt sleeves； and exhibited a bandaged wound in the fleshy
part of his arm。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃It is only a slight wound；〃 he said； beaming on it as if wounds were
quite delightful affairs； 〃and scarcely inconveniences me。〃
Barton Ward and Watson Bard； with their sleeves rolled up； were also
smiling placidly and indulgently at bandages about their left arms。
Whether there were real wounds beneath their bandages also； Cleggett
could not determine。 The bandage of Barton Ward was slightly stained
with red； but the bandage of Watson Bard was quite white。 All three
replaced their coats at the same time； and Wilton Barnstable went on：
〃Our course of procedure is plain； Mr。 Cleggett。 We have the evidence
against Logan Black。 We must have the man himself。 I depend upon
you to cooperate with me。 I think；〃 he said； beaming at Barton Ward and
Watson Bard with an air of modest triumph； 〃that the case of Logan Black
is going to prove one of my really GREAT cases。
〃There is only one point which I have not yet made clear to you； I
believeand that is how Logan Black's men were able to enter and leave
the hold of your vessel so mysteriously。 But I am shaping up my theory
about that！ I am shaping it up！〃
〃Would it be indescreet to inquire just what your theory is？〃 asked
Cleggett。
And Lady Agatha murmured：
〃For my part； I can make nothing of it； and I should be glad to hear
your theory。〃
〃It would；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； soberly； 〃it would be premature； if
I told you my theory at the present moment。 You must pardon mebut it
WOULD。 In my line of businessand I insist； Mr。 Cleggett； that I am a
plain business man； nothing moreI find it absolutely necessary not to
communicate all my information to the layman until the case is quite
perfect in all its points。 But do not get the notion； Mr。 Cleggett； that I
underestimate the part that you have taken in the case of Logan Black。
You have helped me； Mr。 Cleggett。 When I have my secretary prepare
the case of Logan Black for magazine and newspaper publication I shall
have your name mentioned as that of a person who has helped me。 Yes；
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
you have helped me。〃
As he spoke he picked from a reading table a magazine； on the cover
of which appeared his own portraitor rather； the portrait of the popular
conception of Wilton Barnstableand began to make motions about it with
his finger。 He appeared to be marking off the space beside the portrait
into an arrangement of letters and spaces。 His lips moved as he did so；
he murmured： 〃The Case of Logan Blackthe Case of Logan Black！〃
He seemed to see； with the eye of a typographical expert； the legend
printed there。 Barton Ward and Watson Bard； slightly flushed and a little
excited in spite of themselves； seemed also to see it there。
It might have occurred to a person more critical than Cleggett that it
was he himself who had furnished nearly all the real evidence upon which
Wilton Barnstable was constructing this Case of Logan Black。 But
Cleggett looked for the gold in men； not the dross； the great qualities of
Wilton Barnstable appealed to his imagination； the best in Cleggett
responded to the best in Wilton Barnstable； if the detective possessed a
certain amount of vanity； Cleggett preferred to overlook it。
〃Decidedly；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； laying down the magazine； and
looking at Cleggett kindly and serenely； 〃I shall see to it that your name is
mentioned in connection with the Case of Logan Black。〃 And Barton
Ward and Watson Bard also bent upon him their bland and friendly regard。
Cleggett was about to thank them； but at that moment there was a
commotion of some sort on deck。
Two female voices； one of which they all recognized as that of Miss
Genevieve Pringle； were mingling in a babble of greeting； expostulation；
interjection； and explanation； and presently Miss Pringle entered the cabin；
followed by a younger lady who； except for her youth； looked much like
her。
〃My niece； Miss Henrietta Pringle； of Flatbush；〃 said Miss Pringle；
primly presenting her prim relation。 〃She has just arrived〃
〃With the plum preserves！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
〃With the plum preserves；〃 confirmed Miss Genevieve Pringle。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
And Captain Abernethy and George the Greek bore into the cabin a
third oblong box； exactly similar in appearance to the box of Reginald
Maltravers and the box which contained the evidence against Logan Black；
and set it on the floor。
The three detectives stood and looked at the three boxes with an air of
great satisfaction。
〃With this addition to our oblong boxes；〃 said Wilton Barnstable；
〃their number is now complete。 Miss Henrietta Pringle； we will listen to
your story。〃
There was little to tell； and Miss Henrietta Pringle told
