the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第8节
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〃I should imagine so。 The strain and shock must have been intense。
But please don't disturb her if she is resting。 I merely called to see if I
could do anything。〃
〃Thank you so much。 We are waiting for the doctors' report。 It was
necessary to have an autopsy； I understand？〃 she questioned。
〃Yes。 The law requires it in all cases of sudden and mysterious death。〃
〃Mysterious death； Captain Poland！〃
Mary Carwell seemed to swell up like a fretful turkey。
〃Well； by that I mean unexplained。 Mr。 Carwell dropped dead
suddenly and from no apparent cause。〃
〃But it was heart disease … or apoplexy … of course！ What else could
it be？〃
〃It must have been one or the other of those； Miss Carwell； I am sure；〃
the captain murmured sympathetically。 〃But the law requires that such a
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fact be established to the satisfaction of the county physician。〃
〃And who is he？〃
〃Dr。 Rowland。〃
〃Will there be a coroner's inquest； such as I have read about？ I
couldn't hear anything like that。〃
〃It is not at all necessary； Miss Carwell；〃 went on the captain。 〃The
law of New Jersey does not demand that in cases of sudden and
unexplained death； unless the county physician is not satisfied with his
investigation。 In that matter New Jersey differs from some of the other
states。 The county physician will make an autopsy to determine the
cause of death。 If he is satisfied that it was from natural causes he gives
a certificate to that effect； and that ends the matter。〃
〃Oh； then it will be very simple。〃
〃Yes； I imagine so。 Dr。 Rowland will state that your brother came to
his death from heart disease； or from apoplexy； or whatever it was； and
then you may proceed with the funeral arrangements。 I shall be glad to
help you in any way I can。〃
〃It is very kind of you。 This has been so terrible … so sudden and
unexpected。 It has perfectly unnerved both poor Viola and myself； and
we are the only ones to look after matters。〃
〃Then； let me help；〃 urged Captain Poland。 〃I shall only be too glad。
The members of the golf club； too； will do all in their power。 We had a
meeting this morning and passed resolutions of sympathy。 I have also
called a meeting of our yacht club； of which your brother was a member。
We will take suitable action。〃
〃Thank you。 And when do you think we may expect the certificate
from Dr。 Rowland ？〃
〃Very soon。 He is performing the autopsy now； at the club。 Dr。
Lambert and Dr。 Baird are with him。 It was thought best to have it there；
rather than at the undertaking rooms。〃
〃I shall be glad when matters can proceed as they ought to proceed。
This publicity is very distasteful to me。〃
〃I can readily believe that； Miss Carwell。 And now； if you will ask
Miss Viola if I may be of any service to her； I shall … 〃
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〃Before I call her； there is one matter I wish to ask you about；〃 said Mr。
Carwell's sister。 〃You are familiar with business； I know。 I was going
to ask Mr。 Bartlett； as this seemed more in his line； but perhaps you can
advise me。〃
〃I shall do my best； Miss Carwell。 What is it？〃
〃One of the clerks came from my brother's office this morning with a
note from the bank。 It seems that Horace borrowed a large sum for some
business transaction； and put up as collateral certain bonds。 He often
does that； as I have heard him mention here time and again to Mr。 Blossom；
when they sat in consultation in the library。
〃But now it appears； according to the note from the bank； that more
securities are needed。 There has been a depreciation； or something … I am
not familiar with the terms。 At any rate the bank sends word that it wants
more bonds。 I was wondering what I had better do。 Of course I have
securities in my own private box that I might send； but … 〃
〃Why didn't Mr。 Blossom attend to this？〃 asked Captain Poland； a bit
sharply； it would have seemed to a casual listener。 〃That was his place。
He knows all about Mr。 Carwell's affairs。〃
〃I asked the clerk from the office why Mr。 BIossom … did you ever hear
such an absurd name as he has？ … LeGrand Blossom … I asked the clerk
why the matter was not attended to；〃 went on Miss Carwell； 〃and he said
Mr。 Blossom must have forgotten it。〃
〃Rather odd；〃 commented the captain。 〃However； I'll look after it for
you。 If necessary； I'll loan the bank enough additional securities as
collateral to cover the loan。 Don't let it disturb you； Miss Carwell。 It is
merely a small detail of business that often crops up。 Securities in these
days so often fluctuate that banks are forced to call for more； and different
ones； to cover loans secured by them。 I'll attend to the matter for you。〃
〃Thank you so much。 And now I believe I may safely call Viola。
She would not forgive me if she knew you had been here and she had not
seen you to thank you for your care of her yesterday。〃
〃Oh； that was nothing。 I was very glad … 〃
Captain Poland was interrupted by a ring at the door。
〃Perhaps that is a message from the doctors now；〃 suggested Miss
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Carwell。
〃It is Dr。 Lambert himself；〃 announced the captain； looking from a
window that gave a view of the front porch。 〃Dr。 Baird is with him。 They
must have completed the autopsy。 Shall I see them for you？〃
〃Please do。 And please tell me at once that everything is all right；
and that we may proceed with the funeral arrangements；〃 begged the sister
of the dead man。
〃I will do so； Miss Carwell。〃
Captain Poland； anticipating the maid； went into the hall and himself
opened the door for the medical men。
〃Oh！ I'm glad you're here！〃 exclaimed the rather gruff voice of Dr。
Lambert。 〃Yes； I'm glad you're here。〃
The captain was on the point of asking why； when Dr。 Lambert
motioned to him to step into a little reception room off the main hall。
Somewhat wonderingly； Captain Poland obeyed； and when the door had
closed； shutting him in with the two doctors； he turned to the older
physician and asked：
〃Is anything the matter？〃
〃Well； we have completed the autopsy；〃 said Dr。 Lambert。
〃That's good。 Then you are ready to sign a certificate； or at least get
Dr。 Rowland to； so that we can proceed with the arrangements。 Miss
Mary Carwell is anxious to have … 〃
〃Well； I suppose the funeral will have to be held；〃 said Dr。 Lambert
slowly。 〃That can't be held up very long； even if it was worse than it is；〃
〃Worse than it is！ What do you mean？〃 cried Captain Poland sharply。
〃Is there any suspicion … 〃
〃There is more than suspicion； my dear sir；〃 went on Dr。 Lambert； as
he sank into a chair as though very； very tired。 〃There is； I regret to say；
certainty。〃
〃Certainty of what？〃
〃Certainty that my old friend； Horace Carwell； committed suicide！〃
〃Suicide！〃
〃By poisoning；〃 added Dr。 Baird； who had been anxious to get in a
word。 〃We found very plain evidences of it when we examined the
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stomach and viscera。〃
〃Poison！〃 cried Captain Poland。 〃A suicide？ I don't believe it！
Why should Horace Carwell kill himself？ He hadn't a reason in the
world for it！ There must be some mistake！ Why did he do it？ Why？
Why？〃
And then suddenly he became strangely thoughtful。
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