the woman in the alcove-第19节

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〃You　acknowledge；　then；　that　it　lies　between　these　two？〃

〃I　see　no　third；〃　said　he。

I　drew　a　breath　of　relief。

〃Don't　deceive　yourself；　Miss　Van　Arsdale；　it　is　not　among　the　possibilities　that　Mr。　Grey　has　had　any　connection　with　this　crime。　He　is　an　eccentric　man；　that's　all。〃

〃Butbut〃

〃I　shall　do　my　duty。　I　shall　satisfy　you　and　myself　on　certain　points；　and　if〃　I　hardly　breathed　〃there　is　the　least　doubt；　I　will　see　you　again　and〃

The　change　he　saw　in　me　frightened　away　the　end　of　his　sentence。　Turning　upon　me　with　some　severity；　he　declared：　〃There　are　nine　hundred　and　ninety…nine　chances　in　a　thousand　that　my　next　word　to　you　will　be　to　prepare　yourself　for　Mr。　Durand's　arraignment　and　trial。　But　an　infinitesimal　chance　remains　to　the　contrary。　If　you　choose　to　trust　to　it；　I　can　only　admire　your　pluck　and　the　great　confidence　you　show　in　your　unfortunate　lover。〃

And　with　this　half…hearted　encouragement　I　was　forced　to　be　content；　not　only　for　that　day；　but　for　many　days；　when



XI

THE　INSPECTOR　ASTONISHES　ME


But　before　I　proceed　to　relate　what　happened　at　the　end　of　those　two　weeks；　I　must　say　a　word　or　two　in　regard　to　what　happened　during　them。

Nothing　happened　to　improve　Mr。　Durand's　position；　and　nothing　openly　to　compromise　Mr。　Grey's。　Mr。　Fairbrother；　from　whose　testimony　many　of　us　hoped　something　would　yet　be　gleaned　calculated　to　give　a　turn　to　the　suspicion　now　centered　on　one　man；　continued　ill　in　New　Mexico；　and　all　that　could　be　learned　from　him　of　any　importance　was　contained　in　a　short　letter　dictated　from　his　bed；　in　which　he　affirmed　that　the　diamond；　when　it　left　him；　was　in　a　unique　setting　procured　by　himself　in　France；　that　he　knew　of　no　other　jewel　similarly　mounted；　and　that　if　the　false　gem　was　set　according　to　his　own　description；　the　probabilities　were　that　the　imitation　stone　had　been　put　in　place　of　the　real　one　under　his　wife's　direction　and　in　some　workshop　in　New　York；　as　she　was　not　the　woman　to　take　the　trouble　to　send　abroad　for　anything　she　could　get　done　in　this　country。　The　description　followed。　It　coincided　with　the　one　we　all　knew。

This　was　something　of　a　blow　to　me。　Public　opinion　would　naturally　reflect　that　of　the　husband；　and　it　would　require　very　strong　evidence　indeed　to　combat　a　logical　supposition　of　this　kind　with　one　so　forced　and　seemingly　extravagant　as　that　upon　which　my　own　theory　was　based。　Yet　truth　often　transcends　imagination；　and；　having　confidence　in　the　inspector's　integrity；　I　subdued　my　impatience　for　a　week；　almost　for　two；　when　my　suspense　and　rapidly　culminating　dread　of　some　action　being　taken　against　Mr。　Durand　were　suddenly　cut　short　by　a　message　from　the　inspector；　followed　by　his　speedy　presence　in　my　uncle's　house。

We　have　a　little　room　on　our　parlor　floor；　very　snug　and　secluded；　and　in　this　room　I　received　him。　Seldom　have　I　dreaded　a　meeting　more　and　seldom　have　I　been　met　with　greater　kindness　and　consideration。　He　was　so　kind　that　I　feared　he　had　only　disappointing　news　to　communicate；　but　his　first　words　reassured　me。　He　said：

〃I　have　come　to　you　on　a　matter　of　importance。　We　have　found　enough　truth　in　the　suppositions　you　advanced　at　our　last　interview　to　warrant　us　in　the　attempt　you　yourself　proposed　for　the　elucidation　of　this　mystery。　That　this　is　the　most　risky　and　altogether　the　most　unpleasant　duty　which　I　have　encountered　during　my　several　years　of　service；　I　am　willing　to　acknowledge　to　one　so　sensible　and　at　the　same　time　of　so　much　modesty　as　yourself。　This　English　gentleman　has　a　reputation　which　lifts　him　far　above　any　unworthy　suspicion；　and　were　it　not　for　the　favorable　impression　made　upon　us　by　Mr。　Durand　in　a　long　talk　we　had　with　him　last　night；　I　would　sooner　resign　my　place　than　pursue　this　matter　against　him。　Success　would　create　a　horror　on　both　sides　the　water　unprecedented　during　my　career；　while　failure　would　bring　down　ridicule　on　us　which　would　destroy　the　prestige　of　the　whole　force。　Do　you　see　my　difficulty；　Miss　Van　Arsdale？　We　can　not　even　approach　this　haughty　and　highly　reputable　Englishman　with　questions　without　calling　down　on　us　the　wrath　of　the　whole　English　nation。　We　must　be　sure　before　we　make　a　move；　and　for　us　to　be　sure　where　the　evidence　is　all　circumstantial；　I　know　of　no　better　plan　than　the　one　you　were　pleased　to　suggest；　which；　at　the　time；　I　was　pleased　to　call　quixotic。〃

Drawing　a　long　breath　I　surveyed　him　timidly。　Never　had　I　so　realized　my　presumption　or　experienced　such　a　thrill　of　joy　in　my　frightened　yet　elated　heart。　They　believed　in　Anson's　innocence　and　they　trusted　me。　Insignificant　as　I　was；　it　was　to　my　exertions　this　great　result　was　due。　As　I　realized　this；　I　felt　my　heart　swell　and　my　throat　close。　In　despair　of　speaking　I　held　out　my　hands。　He　took　them　kindly　and　seemed　to　be　quite　satisfied。

〃Such　a　little；　trembling；　tear…filled　Amazon！〃　he　cried。　〃Shall　you　have　courage　to　undertake　the　task　before　you？　If　not〃

〃Oh；　but　I　have；〃　said　I。　〃It　is　your　goodness　and　the　surprise　of　it　all　which　unnerves　me。　I　can　go　through　what　we　have　planned　if　you　think　the　secret　of　my　personality　and　interest　in　Mr。　Durand　can　be　kept　from　the　people　I　go　among。〃

〃It　can　if　you　will　follow　our　advice　implicitly。　You　say　that　you　know　the　doctor　and　that　he　stands　ready　to　recommend　you　in　case　Miss　Pierson　withdraws　her　services。〃

〃Yes；　he　is　eager　to　give　me　a　chance。　He　was　a　college　mate　of　my　father's。〃

〃How　will　you　explain　to　him　your　wish　to　enter　upon　your　duties　under　another　name？〃

〃Very　simply。　I　have　already　told　him　that　the　publicity　given　my　name　in　the　late　proceedings　has　made　me　very　uncomfortable；　that　my　first　case　of　nursing　would　require　all　my　self…possession　and　that　if　he　did　not　think　it　wrong　I　should　like　to　go　to　it　under　my　mother's　name。　He　made　no　dissent　and　I　think　I　can　persuade　him　that　I　would　do　much　better　work　as　Miss　Ayers　than　as　the　too　well…known　Miss　Van　Arsdale。〃

〃You　have　great　powers　of　persuasion。　But　may　you　not　meet　people　at　the　hotel　who　know　you？〃

〃I　shall　try　to　avoid　people；　and；　if　my　identity　is　discovered；　its　effect　or　non…effect　upon　one　we　find　it　difficult　to　mention　will　give　us　our　clue。　If　he　has　no　guilty　interest　in　the　crime；　my　connection　with　it　as　a　witness　will　not　disturb　him。　Besides；　two　days　of　unsuspicious　acceptance　of　me　as　Miss　Grey's　nurse　are　all　I　want。　I　shall　take　immediate　opportunity；　I　assure　you；　to　make　the　test　I　mentioned。　But　how　much　confidence　you　will　have　to　repose　in　me！　I　comprehend　all　the　importance　of　my　undertaking；　and　shall　work　as　if　my　honor；　as　well　as　yours；　were　at　stake。〃

〃I　am　sure　you　will。〃　Then　for　the　first　time　in　my　life　I　was　glad　that　I　was　small　and　plain　rather　than　tall　and　fascinating　like　so　many　of　my　friends；　for　he　said：　〃If　you　had　been　a　triumphant　beauty；　depending　on　your　charms　as　a　woman　to　win　people　to　your　will；　we　should　never　have　listened　to　your　proposition　or　risked　our　reputation　in　your　hands。　It　is　your　wit；　your　earnestness　and　your　quiet　determination　which　have　impressed　us。　You　see　I　speak　plainly。　I　do　so　because　I　respect　you。　And　now　to　business。〃

Details　followed。　After　these　were　well　understood　between　us；　I　ventured　to　say：　〃Do　you　objectwould　it　be　asking　too　muchif　I　requested　some　enlightenment　as　to　what　facts　you　have　discovered　about　Mr。　Grey　which　go　to　substantiate　my　theory？　I　might　work　more　intelligently。〃

〃No；　Miss　Van　Arsdale；　you　would　not　work　more　intelligently；　and　you　know　it。　But　you　have　the　natural　curiosity　of　one　whose　very　heart　is　bound　up　in　this　business。　I　could　deny　you　what　you　ask　but　I　won't；　for　I　want　you　to　work　with　quiet　confidence；　which　you　would　not　do　if　your　mind　were　taken　up　with　doubts　and　questions。　Miss　Van　Arsdale；　one　surmise　of　yours　was　correct。　A　man　was　sent　that　night　to　the　Ramsdell　house　with　a　note　from　Miss　Grey。　We　know　this　because　he　boasted　of　it　to　one　of　the　bell…boys　before　he　went　out；　saying　that　he　was　going　to　have　a　glimpse　of　one　of　the　swellest　parties　of　the　season。　It　is　also　true　that　this　man　was　Mr。　Grey's　valet；　an　old　servant　who　came　over　with　him　from　England。　But　what　adds　weight　to　all　this　and　makes　us　regard　the　whole　affair　with　suspicion；　is　the　additional　fact　that　this　man　received　his　dismissal　the　following　morning　and　has　not　been　seen　since　by　any　one　we　could　reach。　This　looks　bad　to　begin　with；　like　the　suppression　of　evidence；　you　know。　Then　Mr。　Grey　has　not　been　the　same　man　since　that　night。　He　is　full　of　care　and　this　care　is　not　entirely　in　connection　with　his　daughter；　who　is　doing　very　well　and　bids　fair　to　be　up　in　a　few　days。　But　all　this　would　be　nothing　if　we　had　not　received　advices　from　England　which　prove　that　Mr。　Grey's　visit　here　has　an　element　of　mystery　in　it。　There　was　every　reason　for　his　remaining　in　his　own　country；　where　a　political　crisis　is　approaching；　yet　he　crossed　the　water；　bringing　his　sickly　daughter　with　him。　The　explanation　as　volunteered　by　one　who　knew　him　well　was　this：　That　only　his　desire　to　see　or　acquire　some　precious　object　for　his　collection　could　have　taken　him　across　the　ocean　at　this　time；　nothing　else　rivaling　his　interest　in