the lodger-第20节

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t　him　with　the　remissness　of　the　police。　　More　than　that　one　of　his　pals；　a　man　he'd　always　looked　up　to；　because　the　young　fellow　had　the　gift　of　the　gab；　had　actually　been　among　those　who　had　spoken　at　the　big　demonstration　in　Victoria　Park；　making　a　violent　speech；　not　only　against　the　Commissioner　of　the　Metropolitan　Police；　but　also　against　the　Home　Secretary。

But　Daisy；　like　most　people　who　believe　themselves　blessed　with　the　possession　of　an　accomplishment；　had　no　mind　to　leave　off　reading　just　yet。

〃Here's　another　notion！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Another　letter；　father！〃


〃PARDON　TO　ACCOMPLICES。


〃DEAR　Sir　…　During　the　last　day　or　two　several　of　the　more　Intelligent　of　my　acquaintances　have　suggested　that　The　Avenger；　whoever　he　may　be；　must　be　known　to　a　certain　number　of　persons。　It　is　impossible　that　the　perpetrator　of　such　deeds；　however　nomad　he　may　be　in　his　habits　…　〃

〃Now　I　wonder　what　'nomad'　can　be？〃　Daisy　interrupted　herself；　and　looked　round　at　her　little　audience。

〃I've　always　declared　the　fellow　had　all　his　senses　about　him；〃　observed　Bunting　confidently。

Daisy　went　on；　quite　satisfied：

〃　…　however　nomad　he　may　be　in　his　habit；　must　have　some　habitat　where　his　ways　are　known　to　at　least　one　person。　　Now　the　person　who　knows　the　terrible　secret　is　evidently　withholding　information　in　expectation　of　a　reward；　or　maybe　because；　being　an　accessory　after　the　fact；　he　or　she　is　now　afraid　of　the　consequences。　　My　suggestion；　Sir；　is　that　the　Home　Secretary　promise　a　free　pardon。　The　more　so　that　only　thus　can　this　miscreant　be　brought　to　justice。　Unless　he　was　caught　red…handed　in　the　act；　it　will　be　exceedingly　difficult　to　trace　the　crime　committed　to　any　individual；　for　English　law　looks　very　askance　at　circumstantial　evidence。〃

〃There's　something　worth　listening　to　in　that　letter；〃　said　Joe；　leaning　forward。

Now　he　was　almost　touching　Daisy；　and　he　smiled　involuntarily　as　she　turned　her　gay；　pretty　little　face　the　better　to　hear　what　he　was　saying。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Chandler？〃　she　said　interrogatively。

〃Well；　d'you　remember　that　fellow　what　killed　an　old　gentleman　in　a　railway　carriage？　　He　took　refuge　with　someone　…　a　woman　his　mother　had　known；　and　she　kept　him　hidden　for　quite　a　long　time。　But　at　last　she　gave　him　up；　and　she　got　a　big　reward；　too！〃

〃I　don't　think　I'd　like　to　give　anybody　up　for　a　reward；〃　said　Bunting；　in　his　slow；　dogmatic　way。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　would；　Mr。　Bunting；〃　said　Chandler　confidently。　　〃You'd　only　be　doing　what　it's　the　plain　duty　of　everyone　…　everyone；　that　is；　who's　a　good　citizen。　　And　you'd　be　getting　something　for　doing　it；　which　is　more　than　most　people　gets　as　does　their　duty。〃

〃A　man　as　gives　up　someone　for　a　reward　is　no　better　than　a　common　informer；〃　went　on　Bunting　obstinately。　　〃And　no　man　'ud　care　to　be　called　that！　　It's　different　for　you；　Joe；〃　he　added　hastily。　　〃It's　your　job　to　catch　those　who've　done　anything　wrong。　　And　a　man'd　be　a　fool　who'd　take　refuge　…　like　with　you。　　He'd　be　walking　into　the　lion's　mouth　…　〃　Bunting　laughed。

And　then　Daisy　broke　in　coquettishly：　〃If　I'd　done　anything　I　wouldn't　mind　going　for　help　to　Mr。　Chandler；〃　she　said。

And　Joe；　with　eyes　kindling；　cried；　〃No。　　And　if　you　did　you　needn't　be　afraid　I'd　give　you　up；　Miss　Daisy！〃

And　then；　to　their　amazement；　there　suddenly　broke　from　Mrs。　Bunting；　sitting　with　towed　head　over　the　table；　an　exclamation　of　impatience　and　anger；　and；　it　seemed　to　those　listening；　of　pain。

〃Why；　Ellen；　don't　you　feel　well？〃　asked　Bunting　quickly。

〃Just　a　spasm；　a　sharp　stitch　in　my　side；　like；〃　answered　the　poor　woman　heavily。　　〃It's　over　now。　　Don't　mind　me。〃

〃But　I　don't　believe　…　no；　that　I　don't　…　that　there's　anybody　in　the　world　who　knows　who　The　Avenger　is；〃　went　on　Chandler　quickly。　〃It　stands　to　reason　that　anybody'd　give　him　up　…　in　their　own　interest；　if　not　in　anyone　else's。　　Who'd　shelter　such　a　creature？　Why；　'twould　be　dangerous　to　have　him　in　the　house　along　with　one！〃

〃Then　it's　your　idea　that　he's　not　responsible　for　the　wicked　things　he　does？〃　Mrs。　Bunting　raised　her　head；　and　looked　over　at　Chandler　with　eager；　anxious　eyes。

〃I'd　be　sorry　to　think　he　wasn't　responsible　enough　to　hang！〃　said　Chandler　deliberately。　　〃After　all　the　trouble　he's　been　giving　us；　too！〃

〃Hanging'd　be　too　good　for　that　chap；〃　said　Bunting。

〃Not　if　he's　not　responsible；〃　said　his　wife　sharply。　　〃I　never　heard　of　anything　so　cruel　…　that　I　never　did！　　If　the　man's　a　madman；　he　ought　to　be　in　an　asylum　…　that's　where　he　ought　to　be。〃

〃Hark　to　her　now！〃　Bunting　looked　at　his　Ellen　with　amusement。　〃Contrary　isn't　the　word　for　her！　　But　there；　I've　noticed　the　last　few　days　that　she　seemed　to　be　taking　that　monster's　part。　　That's　what　comes　of　being　a　born　total　abstainer。〃

Mrs。　Bunting　had　got　up　from　her　chair。　　〃What　nonsense　you　do　talk！〃　she　said　angrily。　　〃Not　but　what　it's　a　good　thing　if　these　murders　have　emptied　the　public…houses　of　women　for　a　bit。　　England's　drink　is　England's　shame　…　I'll　never　depart　from　that！　　Now；　Daisy；　child；　get　up；　do！　　Put　down　that　paper。　　We've　heard　quite　enough。　　You　can　be　laying　the　cloth　while　I　goes　down　the　kitchen。〃

〃Yes；　you　mustn't　be　forgetting　the　lodger's　supper；〃　called　out　Bunting。　　〃Mr。　Sleuth　don't　always　ring　…　〃　he　turned　to　Chandler。　〃For　one　thing；　he's　often　out　about　this　time。〃

〃Not　often　…　just　now　and　again；　when　he　wants　to　buy'　something；〃　snapped　out　Mrs。　Bunting。　　〃But　I　hadn't　forgot　his　supper。　　He　never　do　want　it　before　eight　o'clock。〃

〃Let　me　take　up　the　lodger's　supper；　Ellen；〃　Daisy's　eager　voice　broke　in。　　She　had　got　up　in　obedience　to　her　stepmother；　and　was　now　laying　the　cloth。

〃Certainly　not！　　I　told　you　he　only　wanted　me　to　wait　on　him。　　You　have　your　work　cut　out　looking　after　things　down　here　…　that's　where　I　wants　you　to　help　me。〃

Chandler　also　got　up。　　Somehow　he　didn't　like　to　be　doing　nothing　while　Daisy　was　so　busy。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　looking　across　at　Mrs。　Bunting；　〃I'd　forgotten　about　your　lodger。　　Going　on　all　right；　eh？〃

〃Never　knew　so　quiet　and　well…behaved　a　gentleman；〃　said　Bunting。　〃He　turned　our　luck；　did　Mr。　Sleuth。〃

His　wife　left　the　room；　and　after　she　had　gone　Daisy　laughed。　〃You'll　hardly　believe　it；　Mr。　Chandler；　but　I've　never　seen　this　wonderful　lodger。　　Ellen　keeps　him　to　herself；　that　she　does！　　If　I　was　father　I'd　be　jealous！〃

Both　men　laughed。　　Ellen？　　No；　the　idea　was　too　funny。


CHAPTER　XII

〃All　I　can　say　is；　I　think　Daisy　ought　to　go。　　One　can't　always　do　just　what　one　wants　to　do　…　not　in　this　world；　at　any　rate！〃

Mrs。　Bunting　did　not　seem　to　be　addressing　anyone　in　particular；　though　both　her　husband　and　her　stepdaughter　were　in　the　room。　　She　was　standing　by　the　table；　staring　straight　before　her；　and　as　she　spoke　she　avoided　looking　at　either　Bunting　or　Daisy。　　There　was　in　her　voice　a　tone　of　cross　decision；　of　thin　finality；　with　which　they　were　both　acquainted；　and　to　which　each　listener　knew　the　other　would　have　to　bow。

There　was　silence　for　a　moment；　then　Daisy　broke　out　passionately；　〃I　don't　see　why　I　should　go　if　I　don't　want　to！〃　she　cried。　〃You'll　allow　I've　been　useful　to　you；　Ellen？　　'Tisn't　even　as　if　you　was　quite　well。〃

〃I　am　quite　well　…　perfectly　well！〃　snapped　out　Mrs。　Bunting；　and　she　turned　her　pale；　drawn　face；　and　looked　angrily　at　her　stepdaughter。

〃'Tain't　often　I　has　a　chance　of　being　with　you　and　father。〃　　There　were　tears　in　Daisy's　voice；　and　Bunting　glanced　deprecatingly　at　his　wife。

An　invitation　had　come　to　Daisy　…　an　invitation　from　her　own　dead　mother's　sister；　who　was　housekeeper　in　a　big　house　in　Belgrave　Square。　　〃The　family〃　had　gone　away　for　the　Christmas　holidays；　and　Aunt　Margaret　…　Daisy　was　her　godchild　…　had　begged　that　her　niece　might　come　and　spend　two　or　three　days　with　her。

But　the　girl　had　already　had　more　than　one　taste　of　what　life　was　like　in　the　great　gloomy　basement　of　100　Belgrave　Square。　　Aunt　Margaret　was　one　of　those　old…fashioned　servants　for　whom　the　modern　employer　is　always　sighing。　　While　〃the　family〃　were　away　it　was　her　joy　…　she　regarded　it　as　a　privilege　…　to　wash　sixty…seven　pieces　of　very　valuable　china　contained　in　two　cabinets　in　the　drawing…room；　she　also　slept　in　every　bed　by　turns；　to　keep　them　all　well　aired。　These　were　the　two　duties　with　which　she　intended　her　young　niece　to　assist　her；　and　Daisy's　soul　sickened　at　the　prospect。

But　the　matter　had　to　be　settled　at　once。　　The　letter　had　come　an　hour　ago；　containing　a　stamped　telegraph　form；　and　Aunt　Margaret　was　not　one　to　be　trifled　with。

Since　breakfast　the　three　had　talked　of　nothing　else；　and　from　the　very　first　Mrs。　Bunting　had　said　that　Daisy　ought　to　go　…　that　there　was　no　doubt　about　it；　that　it　did　not　admit　of　discussion。　　But　discuss　it　they　all　did；　and　for　once　Bunting　stood　up　to　his　wife。　But　that；　as　was　natural；　only　made　his　Ellen　harder　and　more　set　on　her　own　view。

〃What　the　child　says　is　true；〃　he　observed。　　〃It　isn't　as　if　you　was　quite　well。　　You've　been　took　bad　twice　in　the　last　few　days　　…　you　can't　deny　of　it；　Ellen。　　Why　shouldn't　I　just　take　a　bus　and　go　over　and　see　Margaret？　　I'd　tell　her　just　how　it　is。　　She'd　understand；　bless　you！