the red seal(红印)-第4节
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〃Angina pectoris；〃 declared Rochester。 〃Too much excitement
brought on a fatal attack。〃 Barbara nodded dazedly。 〃I knew he had
heart trouble； but …〃 She stepped toward Turnbull and her voice quivered
with feeling。 〃Don't leave Jimmie lying there； take him to his room；
doctor；〃 turning entreatingly to Stone。
The physician looked at her compassionately。 〃I will； just as soon as
the coroner views the body；〃 he promised。 〃But come away now； Babs；
this is no place for you and Helen。〃 He signed to the deputy marshal to
open the door as he walked across the room； Barbara keeping step with
him； and her sister following in their wake。 At the door Barbara paused
and looked back。
〃Will there be an inquest？〃 she asked。
〃That's for the coroner to decide；〃 responded Ferguson。 〃As long as
Mr。 Turnbull entered your house on a wager and died from an attack of
angina pectoris the inquest is likely to be a mere formality。 Ah； here is
the coroner now；〃 as a man paused in the doorway。
Helen McIntyre moved back from the door to make room for Coroner
Penfield。 Having had occasion to attend court that morning； he was
passing the door when attracted by the group just inside the room。
Courteously acknowledging Helen's act； Penfield stepped briskly across
the threshold and stopped abruptly on catching sight of the lonely figure
on the floor。
〃Won't you hold an autopsy； Ferguson？〃 asked Clymer； breaking his
long silence。
〃No； sir； we never do when the cause of death is apparent；〃 the
detective bowed to Coroner Penfield。 〃Isn't that so； Coroner？〃
Penfield nodded。 〃Unless the condition of the body indicates foul
play or the relatives specially request it； we do not perform autopsies；〃 he
answered。 〃What has happened here？〃 and he gazed about with
quickened interest。
〃Mr。 Turnbull； who masqueraded as a burglar on a wager with Miss
McIntyre died suddenly from angina pectoris；〃 explained the deputy
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marshal。
〃Just a case of death from natural causes；〃 broke in Rochester。 〃Please
write out a permit for me to remove Turnbull's body； Dr。 Penfield。〃
Helen McIntyre took a step forward。 Her eyes； twice their
accustomed size； shone brightly； in contrast to her dead white face。
Carefully avoiding her sister's glance she addressed the coroner。
〃I must insist；〃 she began and stopped to control her voice。 〃As Mr。
Turnbull's fiancee； I …〃 she faltered again。 〃I demand that an autopsy be
held to determine the cause of his death。〃
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CHAPTER III
THE ROOM WITH THE SEVEN DOORS
Mrs。 Brewster regarded her surroundings with inward satisfaction。 It
would have taken a far more captious critic than the pretty widow to find
fault with the large； high…ceilinged room in which she sat。 The handsome
carved Venetian furniture； the rich hangings and valuable paintings on the
walls gave evidence of Colonel McIntyre's artistic taste and appreciation
of the beautiful。 Mrs。 Brewster had never failed； during her visit to the
McIntyre twins； to examine the rare curios in the carved cabinets and the
tapestries on the walls； but that afternoon； with one eye on the clock and
the other on her embroidery； she sat waiting in growing impatience for the
interruption she anticipated。
The hands of the clock had passed the hour of five before the buzz of a
distant bell brought her to her feet。 Hurrying to the window she peeped
between the curtains in time to see a stylish roadster electric glide down
the driveway leading from the McIntyre residence and stop at the curb。
As she turned to go back to her chair Dr。 Stone was ushered into the
library by the footman。 Mrs。 Brewster welcomed her cousin with frank
relief。
〃I have waited so impatiently for you；〃 she confessed； making room
for him to sit on the sofa by her side。
〃I was detained； Margaret。〃 Stone's voice was not over…cordial； three
imperative telephone calls from her； coming at a moment when he had
been engaged with a serious case in his office； had provoked him。 〃Do
you wish to see me professionally？〃
〃Indeed； I don't。〃 She laughed frankly。 〃I am the picture of health。〃
Stone； observing her fine coloring and clear eyes； silently agreed with
her。 The widow made a charming picture in her modish tea…gown； and
the physician； watching her with an appraising eye； acknowledged the
beauty which had captivated all Washington。 Mrs。 Brewster had carried
her honors tactfully； a fact which had gained her popularity even among
the dowagers and match…making mothers who take an active part in
Washington's social season。
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〃Then； Margaret； what do you wish to see me about？〃 Stone asked；
after waiting without result for her to continue speaking。
She laughed softly。 〃You are the most practical of men；〃 she said。 〃It
would not have been so difficult to find a companion anxious to spend the
whole afternoon with me for my sake alone。〃
〃Colonel McIntyre； for instance？〃 he teased； and laughed amusedly at
her heightened color。 〃Have a care； Margaret； McIntyre's flirtations are
all very well； but he is the type of man to be deadly in earnest when once
he falls in love。〃
〃Thanks for your warning；〃 Mrs。 Brewster smiled； then grew serious。
〃I sent for you to ask about Jimmie Turnbull's death this morning。 Barbara
told me you accompanied them to the police court。〃
〃Yes。 Why weren't you with the girls？〃
〃Because I was told nothing of their trip to the； police court until they
had returned；〃 she replied。 〃How horribly tragic the whole affair is！〃
And a shiver she could not suppress crept down her spine。
〃It is；〃 agreed Stone。 〃What possessed Jimmie Turnbull to play so
mad a trick？〃
〃His wager with Barbara。〃
Stone leaned a little nearer。 〃Have you learned the nature of that
wager？〃 he asked； lowering his voice。
〃No。 Babs was in so hysterical a condition when she returned from
the police court that she gave a very incoherent account of the whole affair；
and she has kept her room ever since luncheon；〃 explained Mrs。 Brewster。
Stone looked puzzled。 〃I understood that Jimmie was attentive to
Helen McIntyre and not to Barbara；〃 he said。 〃But upon my word；
Barbara appeared more overcome by Jimmie's death than Helen。〃
Mrs。 Brewster did not reply at once； instead； she glanced carefully
around。 The room was generally the rallying place of the McIntyres。 It
stretched across almost the entire width of the house； the diamond…paned
and recessed windows gave it a medieval air in keeping with its antique
furniture； and the seven doors opening from it led； respectively； to the
large dining room beyond； a morning room； billiard room； the front and
back halls； and the Italian loggia which over…looked the stretch of ground
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between the McIntyre residence and its neighbor on the north。
Apparently； she and Dr。 Stone had the room to themselves。
〃I cannot answer your question with positiveness；〃 she stated。 〃Frankly；
Jimmie appeared impartial in his attentions to the twins。 When he wasn't
with Barbara he was with Helen； and vice versa。〃
Stone gazed at her in some perplexity。 〃Are you aware that Helen
stated at the police court this morning that she was Turnbull's fiancee？〃
〃What！〃 Mrs。 Brewster actually bounced in her seat。 〃You … you
astound me！〃
〃I was a bit surprised myself；〃 acknowledged the physic
