the agony column-第8节

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〃Yes　…　indeed！〃　she　replied。　　〃That　is　what　you　will　tell　Inspector　Bray　when　next　you　see　him。　　'It　may　have　been　six…thirty；'　you　will　tell　him。　　'I　have　thought　it　over　and　I　am　not　certain。'〃

〃Even　for　a　very　charming　lady；〃　I　said　〃I　can　not　misrepresent　the　facts　in　a　matter　so　important。　　It　was　after　seven　…　〃

〃I　am　not　asking　you　to　do　a　favor　for　a　lady；〃　she　replied。　　〃I　am　asking　you　to　do　a　favor　for　yourself。　　If　you　refuse　the　consequences　may　be　most　unpleasant。〃

〃I'm　rather　at　a　loss　…　〃　I　began。

She　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　turned　and　I　felt　her　looking　at　me　through　the　veil。

〃Who　was　Archibald　Enwright？〃　she　demanded。　　My　heart　sank。　　I　recognized　the　weapon　in　her　hands。　　〃The　police；〃　she　went　on；　〃do　not　yet　know　that　the　letter　of　introduction　you　brought　to　the　captain　was　signed　by　a　man　who　addressed　Fraser…Freer　as　Dear　Cousin；　but　who　is　completely　unknown　to　the　family。　　Once　that　information　reaches　Scotland　Yard；　your　chance　of　escaping　arrest　is　slim。

〃They　may　not　be　able　to　fasten　this　crime　upon　you；　but　there　will　be　complications　most　distasteful。　　One's　liberty　is　well　worth　keeping　…　and　then；　too；　before　the　case　ends；　there　will　be　wide　publicity　…　〃

〃'Well？〃　said　I。

〃That　is　why　you　are　going　to　suffer　a　lapse　of　memory　in　the　matter　of　the　hour　at　which　you　heard　that　struggle。　　As　you　think　it　over；　it　is　going　to　occur　to　you　that　it　may　have　been　six…thirty；　not　seven。　　Otherwise　…　〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃Otherwise　the　letter　of　introduction　you　gave　to　the　captain　will　be　sent　anonymously　to　Inspector　Bray。〃

〃You　have　that　letter　！〃　I　cried。

〃Not　I；〃　she　answered。　　〃But　it　will　be　sent　to　Bray。　　It　will　be　pointed　out　to　him　that　you　were　posing　under　false　colors。　　You　could　not　escape！〃

I　was　most　uncomfortable。　　The　net　of　suspicion　seemed　closing　in　about　me。　　But　I　was　resentful；　too；　of　the　confidence　in　this　woman'　s　voice。

〃None　the　less；〃　said　I；　〃I　refuse　to　change　my　testimony。　　The　truth　is　the　truth　…　〃

The　woman　had　moved　to　the　door。　　She　turned。

〃To…morrow；〃　she　replied；　〃it　is　not　unlikely　you　will　see　Inspector　Bray。　　As　I　said；　I　came　here　to　give　you　advice。　　You　had　better　take　it。　　What　does　it　matter　…　a　half…hour　this　way　or　that？　　And　the　difference　is　prison　for　you。　　Good　night。〃

She　was　gone。　　I　followed　into　the　hall。　　Below；　in　the　street；　I　heard　the　rattle　of　her　taxi。

I　went　back　into　my　room　and　sat　down。　I　was　upset；　and　no　mistake。　Outside　my　windows　the　continuous　symphony　of　the　city　played　on　　…　the　busses；　the　trains；　the　never…silent　voices。　　I　gazed　out。　What　a　tremendous　acreage　of　dank　brick　houses　and　dank　British　souls！　　I　felt　horribly　alone。　　I　may　add　that　I　felt　a　bit　frightened；　as　though　that　great　city　were　slowly　closing　in　on　me。

Who　was　this　woman　of　mystery？　What　place　had　she　held　in　the　life　　…　and　perhaps　in　the　death　…　of　Captain　Fraser…Freer？　　Why　should　she　come　boldly　to　my　rooms　to　make　her　impossible　demand？

I　resolved　that；　even　at　the　risk　of　my　own　comfort；　I　would　stick　to　the　truth。　　And　to　that　resolve　I　would　have　clung　had　I　not　shortly　received　another　visit　…　this　one　far　more　inexplicable；　far　more　surprising；　than　the　first。

It　was　about　nine　o'clock　when　Walters　tapped　at　my　door　and　told　me　two　gentlemen　wished　to　see　me。　　A　moment　later　into　my　study　walked　Lieutenant　Norman　Fraser…Freer　and　a　fine　old　gentleman　with　a　face　that　suggested　some　faded　portrait　hanging　on　an　aristocrat's　wall。　　I　had　never　seen　him　before。

〃I　hope　it　is　quite　convenient　for　you　to　see　us；〃　said　young　Fraser…Freer。

I　assured　him　that　it　was。　　The　boy's　face　was　drawn　and　haggard；　there　was　terrible　suffering　in　his　eyes；　yet　about　him　hung；　like　a　halo；　the　glory　of　a　great　resolution。

〃May　I　present　my　father？〃　he　said。　　〃General　Fraser…Freer；　retired。　We　have　come　on　a　matter　of　supreme　importance　…　〃

The　old　man　muttered　something　I　could　not　catch。　　I　could　see　that　he　had　been　hard　hit　by　the　loss　of　his　elder　son。　　I　asked　them　to　be　seated；　the　general　complied；　but　the　boy　walked　the　floor　in　a　manner　most　distressing。

〃I　shall　not　be　long；〃　he　remarked。　　〃Nor　at　a　time　like　this　is　one　in　the　mood　to　be　diplomatic。　　I　will　only　say；　sir；　that　we　have　come　to　ask　of　you　a　great　…　a　very　great　favor　indeed。　　You　may　not　see　fit　to　grant　it。　　If　that　is　the　case　we　can　not　well　reproach　you。　　But　if　you　can　…　〃

〃It　is　a　great　favor；　sir！〃　broke　in　the　general。　　〃And　I　am　in　the　odd　position　where　I　do　not　know　whether　you　will　serve　me　best　by　granting　it　or　by　refusing　to　do　so。〃

〃Father　…　please　…　if　you　don't　mind　…　〃　　The　boy's　voice　was　kindly　but　determined。　　He　turned　to　me。

〃Sir　…　you　have　testified　to　the　police　that　it　was　a　bit　past　seven　when　you　heard　in　the　room　above　the　sounds　of　the　struggle　which　…　which　…　You　understand。〃

In　view　of　the　mission　of　the　caller　who　had　departed　a　scant　hour　previously；　the　boy's　question　startled　me。

〃Such　was　my　testimony；〃　I　answered。　　〃It　was　the　truth。〃

〃Naturally；〃　said　Lieutenant　Fraser…Freer。　　〃But　…　er　…　as　a　matter　of　fact；　we　are　here　to　ask　that　you　alter　your　testimony。　　Could　you；　as　a　favor　to　us　who　have　suffered　so　cruel　a　loss　…　a　favor　we　should　never　forget　…　could　you　not　make　the　hour　of　that　struggle　half　after　six？''

I　was　quite　overwhelmed。

〃Your　…　reasons？〃　　I　managed　at　last　to　ask。

〃I　am　not　able　to　give　them　to　you　in　full；〃　the　boy　answered。　　〃I　can　only　say　this：　It　happens　that　at　seven　o'clock　last　Thursday　night　I　was　dining　with　friends　at　the　Savoy　…　friends　who　would　not　be　likely　to　forget　the　occasion。〃

The　old　general　leaped　to　his　feet。

〃Norman；〃　he　cried；　〃I　can　not　let　you　do　this　thing！　　I　simply　will　not　…　〃

〃Hush；　father；〃　said　the　boy　wearily。　　〃We　have　threshed　it　all　out。　　You　have　promised　…　〃

The　old　man　sank　back　into　the　chair　and　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。

〃If　you　are　willing　to　change　your　testimony；〃　young　Fraser…Freer　went　on　to　me；　〃I　shall　at　once　confess　to　the　police　that　it　was　I　who　…　who　murdered　my　brother。　　They　suspect　me。　　They　know　that　late　last　Thursday　afternoon　I　purchased　a　revolver；　for　which；　they　believe；　at　the　last　moment　I　substituted　the　knife。　　They　know　that　I　was　in　debt　to　him；　that　we　had　quarreled　about　money　matters；　that　by　his　death　I；　and　I　alone；　could　profit。〃

He　broke　off　suddenly　and　came　toward　me；　holding　out　his　arms　with　a　pleading　gesture　I　can　never　forget。　　

〃Do　this　for　me！〃　he　cried。　　〃Let　me　confess！　　Let　me　end　this　whole　horrible　business　here　and　now。〃

Surely　no　man　had　ever　to　answer　such　an　appeal　before。

〃Why？〃　I　found　myself　saying；　and　over　and　over　I　repeated　it　…　〃Why？　Why？〃

The　lieutenant　faced　me；　and　I　hope　never　again　to　see　such　a　look　in　a　man's　eyes。

〃I　loved　him！〃　he　cried。　　〃That　is　why。　　For　his　honor；　for　the　honor　of　our　family；　I　am　making　this　request　of　you。　　Believe　me；　it　is　not　easy。　　I　can　tell　you　no　more　than　that。　　You　knew　my　brother？〃

〃Slightly。〃

〃Then；　for　his　sake　…　do　this　thing　I　ask。〃

〃But　…　murder　…　〃

〃You　heard　the　sounds　of　a　struggle。　　I　shall　say　that　we　quarreled　　…　that　I　struck　in　self…defense。〃　　He　turned　to　his　father。　　〃It　will　mean　only　a　few　years　in　prison　…　I　can　bear　that！〃　he　cried。　〃For　the　honor　of　our　name！〃

The　old　man　groaned；　but　did　not　raise　his　head。　　The　boy　walked　back　and　forth　over　my　faded　carpet　like　a　lion　caged。　　I　stood　wondering　what　answer　I　should　make。

〃I　know　what　you　are　thinking；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　　〃You　can　not　credit　your　ears。　　But　you　have　heard　correctly。　　And　now　…　as　you　might　put　it　…　it　is　up　to　you。　　I　have　been　in　your　country。〃　　He　smiled　pitifully。　　〃I　think　I　know　you　Americans。　　You　are　not　the　sort　to　refuse　a　man　when　he　is　sore　beset　…　as　I　am。〃

I　looked　from　him　to　the　general　and　back　again。

〃I　must　think　this　over；〃　I　answered；　my　mind　going　at　once　to　Colonel　Hughes。　　〃Later　…　say　to…morrow　…　you　shall　have　my　decision。〃

〃To…morrow；〃　said　the　boy；　〃we　shall　both　be　called　before　Inspector　Bray。　　I　shall　know　your　answer　then　…　and　I　hope　with　all　my　heart　it　will　be　yes。〃

There　were　a　few　mumbled　words　of　farewell　and　he　and　the　broken　old　man　went　out。　　As　soon　as　the　street　door　closed　behind　them　I　hurried　to　the　telephone　and　called　a　number　Colonel　Hughes　had　given　me。　　It　was　with　a　feeling　of　relief　that　I　heard　his　voice　come　back　over　the　wire。　　I　told　him　I　must　see　him　at　once。　　He　replied　that　by　a　singular　chance　he　had　been　on　the　point　of　starting　for　my　rooms。

In　the　half…hour　that　elapsed　before　the　coming　of　the　colonel　I　walked　about　like　a　man　in　a　trance。　　He　was　barely　inside　my　door　when　I　began　pouring　out　to　him　the　story　of　those　two　remarkable　visits。　　He　made　little　comment　on　the　woman's　call　beyond　asking　me　whether　I　could　describe　her；　and　he　smiled　when　I　mentioned　lilac　perfume。　　At　mention　of　young　Fraser…Freer's　preposterous　request　he　whistled。

〃By　gad！〃　he　said。　　〃Interesting　…　most　interesting！　　I　am　not　surprised；　however。　　That　boy　has　the　stuff　in　him。〃

〃But　what　shall　I　do？〃　I　demanded。

Colonel　Hughes　smiled。

〃It　makes　little　difference　what　you　d