the woman in the alcove-第26节

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ther　half…hour　had　reached　the　window；　which；　fortunately　for　me；　not　only　opened　inward；　but　was　off　the　latch。　It　was　with　a　sense　of　inexpressible　relief　that　I　clambered　through　this　window　and　for　a　brief　moment　breathed　in　the　pungent　odor　of　cedar。　But　it　could　have　been　only　for　a　moment。　It　was　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　before　I　found　myself　again　in　the　outer　air。　The　only　way　I　can　account　for　the　lapse　of　time　is　that　the　strain　to　which　both　body　and　nerve　had　been　subjected　was　too　much　for　even　my　hardy　body　and　that　I　fell　to　the　floor　of　the　cedar　closet　and　from　a　faint　went　into　a　sleep　that　lasted　until　two。　I　can　easily　account　for　the　last　hour　because　it　took　me　that　long　to　cut　the　thick　paneling　from　the　door　of　the　closet。　However；　I　am　here　now；　sir；　and　in　very　much　the　same　condition　in　which　I　left　that　house。　I　thought　my　first　duty　was　to　tell　you　that　I　had　seen　Hiram　Sears　in　that　house　last　night　and　put　you　on　his　track。〃

I　drew　a　long　breath；I　think　the　inspector　did。　I　had　been　almost　rigid　from　excitement；　and　I　don't　believe　he　was　quite　free　from　it　either。　But　his　voice　was　calmer　than　I　expected　when　he　finally　said：

〃I'll　remember　this。　It　was　a　good　night's　work。〃　Then　the　inspector　put　to　him　some　questions；　which　seemed　to　fix　the　fact　that　Sears　had　left　the　house　before　Sweetwater　did；　after　which　he　bade　him　send　certain　men　to　him　and　then　go　and　fix　himself　up。

I　believe　he　had　forgotten　me。　I　had　almost　forgotten　myself。



XV

SEARS　OR　WELLGOOD

Not　till　the　inspector　had　given　several　orders　was　I　again　summoned　into　his　presence。　He　smiled　as　our　eyes　met；　but　did　not　allude；　any　more　than　I　did；　to　what　had　just　passed。　Nevertheless；　we　understood　each　other。

When　I　was　again　seated；　he　took　up　the　conversation　where　we　had　left　it。

〃The　description　I　was　just　about　to　read　to　you；〃　he　went　on；　〃will　you　listen　to　it　now？〃

〃Gladly；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　Wellgood's；　I　believe。〃

He　did　not　answer　save　by　a　curious　glance　from　under　his　brows；　but；　taking　the　paper　again　from　his　desk；　went　on　reading：

〃A　man　of　fifty…five　looking　like　one　of　sixty。　Medium　height；　insignificant　features；　head　bald　save　for　a　ring　of　scanty　dark　hair。　No　beard；　a　heavy　nose；　long　mouth　and　sleepy　half…shut　eyes　capable　of　shooting　strange　glances。　Nothing　distinctive　in　face　or　figure　save　the　depth　of　his　wrinkles　and　a　scarcely　observable　stoop　in　his　right　shoulder。　Do　you　see　Wellgood　in　that？〃　he　suddenly　asked。

〃I　have　only　the　faintest　recollection　of　his　appearance；〃　was　my　doubtful　reply。　〃But　the　impression　I　get　from　this　description　is　not　exactly　the　one　I　received　of　that　waiter　in　the　momentary　glimpse　I　got　of　him。〃

〃So　others　have　told　me　before；'　he　remarked；　looking　very　disappointed。　〃The　description　is　of　Sears　given　me　by　a　man　who　knew　him　well；　and　if　we　could　fit　the　description　of　the　one　to　that　of　the　other；　we　should　have　it　easy。　But　the　few　persons　who　have　seen　Wellgood　differ　greatly　in　their　remembrance　of　his　features；　and　even　of　his　coloring。　It　is　astonishing　how　superficially　most　people　see　a　man；　even　when　they　are　thrown　into　daily　contact　with　him。　Mr。　Jones　says　the　man's　eyes　are　gray；　his　hair　a　wig　and　dark；　his　nose　pudgy；　and　his　face　without　much　expression。　His　land…lady；　that　his　eyes　are　blue；　his　hair；　whether　wig　or　not；　a　dusty　auburn；　and　his　look　quick　and　piercing；a　look　which　always　made　her　afraid。　His　nose　she　don't　remember。　Both　agree；　or　rather　all　agree；　that　he　wore　no　beardSears　did；　but　a　beard　can　be　easily　taken　offand　all　of　them　declare　that　they　would　know　him　instantly　if　they　saw　him。　And　so　the　matter　stands。　Even　you　can　give　me　no　definite　description；one；　I　mean；　as　satisfactory　or　unsatisfactory　as　this　of　Sears。〃

I　shook　my　head。　Like　the　others；　I　felt　that　I　should　know　him　if　I　saw　him；　but　I　could　go　no　further　than　that。　There　seemed　to　be　so　little　that　was　distinctive　about　the　man。

The　inspector；　hoping；　perhaps；　that　all　this　would　serve　to　rouse　my　memory；　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　put　the　best　face　he　could　on　the　matter。

〃Well；　well；〃　said　he；　〃we　shall　have　to　be　patient。　A　day　may　make　all　the　difference　possible　in　our　outlook。　If　we　can　lay　hands　on　either　of　these　men〃

He　seemed　to　realize　he　had　said　a　word　too　much；　for　he　instantly　changed　the　subject　by　asking　if　I　had　succeeded　in　getting　a　sample　of　Miss　Grey's　writing。　I　was　forced　to　say　no；　that　everything　had　been　very　carefully　put　away。　〃But　I　do　not　know　what　moment　I　may　come　upon　it；〃　I　added。　〃I　do　not　forget　its　importance　in　this　investigation。〃

〃Very　good。　Those　lines　handed　up　to　Mrs。　Fairbrother　from　the　walk　outside　are　the　second　most　valuable　clue　we　possess。〃

I　did　not　ask　him　what　the　first　was。　I　knew。　It　was　the　stiletto。

〃Strange　that　no　one　has　testified　to　that　handwriting；〃　I　remarked。

He　looked　at　me　in　surprise。

〃Fifty　persons　have　sent　in　samples　of　writing　which　they　think　like　it；〃　he　observed。　〃Often　of　persons　who　never　heard　of　the　Fairbrothers。　We　have　been　bothered　greatly　with　the　business。　You　know　little　of　the　difficulties　the　police　labor　under。〃

〃I　know　too　much；〃　I　sighed。

He　smiled　and　patted　me　on　the　hand。

〃Go　back　to　your　patient；〃　he　said。　〃Forget　every　other　duty　but　that　of　your　calling　until　you　get　some　definite　word　from　me。　I　shall　not　keep　you　in　suspense　one　minute　longer　than　is　absolutely　necessary。〃

He　had　risen。　I　rose　too。　But　I　was　not　satisfied。　I　could　not　leave　the　room　with　my　ideas　（I　might　say　with　my　convictions）　in　such　a　turmoil。

〃Inspector；〃　said　I；　〃you　will　think　me　very　obstinate；　but　all　you　have　told　me　about　Sears；　all　I　have　heard　about　him；　in　fact；〃this　I　emphasized；〃does　not　convince　me　of　the　entire　folly　of　my　own　suspicions。　Indeed；　I　am　afraid　that；　if　anything；　they　are　strengthened。　This　steward；　who　is　a　doubtful　character；　I　acknowledge；　may　have　had　his　reasons　for　wishing　Mrs。　Fairbrother's　death；　may　even　have　had　a　hand　in　the　matter；　but　what　evidence　have　you　to　show　that　he；　himself；　entered　the　alcove；　struck　the　blow　or　stole　the　diamond？　I　have　listened　eagerly　for　some　such　evidence；　but　I　have　listened　in　vain。〃

〃I　know；〃　he　murmured；　〃I　know。　But　it　will　come；　at　least　I　think　so。〃

This　should　have　reassured　me；　no　doubt；　and　sent　me　away　quiet　and　happy。　But　somethingthe　tenacity　of　a　deep　conviction；　possiblykept　me　lingering　before　the　inspector　and　finally　gave　me　the　courage　to　say：

〃I　know　I　ought　not　to　speak　another　word；　that　I　am　putting　myself　at　a　disadvantage　in　doing　so；　but　I　can　not　help　it；　Inspector；　I　can　not　help　it　when　I　see　you　laying　such　stress　upon　the　few　indirect　clues　connecting　the　suspicious　Sears　with　this　crime；　and　ignoring　the　direct　clues　we　have　against　one　whom　we　need　not　name。〃

Had　I　gone　too　far？　Had　my　presumption　transgressed　all　bounds　and　would　he　show　a　very　natural　anger？　No；　he　smiled　instead；　an　enigmatical　smile；　no　doubt；　which　I　found　it　difficult　to　understand；　but　yet　a　smile。

〃You　mean；〃　he　suggested；　〃that　Sears'　possible　connection　with　the　crime　can　not　eliminate　Mr。　Grey's　very　positive　one；　nor　can　the　fact　that　Wellgood's　hand　came　in　contact　with　Mr。　Grey's；　at　or　near　the　time　of　the　exchange　of　the　false　stone　with　the　real；　make　it　any　less　evident　who　was　the　guilty　author　of　this　exchange？〃

The　inspector's　hand　was　on　the　door…knob；　but　he　dropped　it　at　this；　and　surveying　me　very　quietly　said：

〃I　thought　that　a　few　days　spent　at　the　bedside　of　Miss　Grey　in　the　society　of　so　renowned　and　cultured　a　gentleman　as　her　father　would　disabuse　you　of　these　damaging　suspicions。〃

〃I　don't　wonder　that　you　thought　so；〃　I　burst　out。　〃You　would　think　so　all　the　more；　if　you　knew　how　kind　he　can　be　and　what　solicitude　he　shows　for　all　about　him。　But　I　can　not　get　over　the　facts。　They　all　point；　it　seems　to　me；　straight　in　one　direction。〃

〃All？　You　heard　what　was　said　in　this　roomI　saw　it　in　your　eyehow　the　man；　who　surprised　the　steward　in　his　own　room　last　night；　heard　him　talking　of　love　and　death　in　connection　with　Mrs。　Fairbrother。　'To　kiss　what　I　hate！　It　is　almost　as　bad　as　to　kill　what　I　love'he　said　something　like　that。〃

〃Yes；　I　heard　that。　But　did　he　mean　that　he　had　been　her　actual　slayer？　Could　you　convict　him　on　those　words？〃

〃Well；　we　shall　find　out。　Then；　as　to　Wellgood's　part　in　the　little　business；　you　choose　to　consider　that　it　took　place　at　the　time　the　stone　fell　from　Mr。　Grey's　hand。　What　proof　have　you　that　the　substitution　you　believe　in　was　not　made　by　him？　He　could　easily　have　done　it　while　crossing　the　room　to　Mr。　Grey's　side。〃

〃Inspector！〃　Then　hotly；　as　the　absurdity　of　the　suggestion　struck　me　with　full　force：　〃He　do　this！　A　waiter；　or　as　you　think；　Mr。　Fairbrother's　steward；　to　be　provided　with　so　hard…to…come…by　an　article　as　this　counterpart　of　a　great　stone？　Isn't　that　almost　as　incredible　a　supposition　as　any　I　have　myself　presumed　to　advance？〃

〃Possibly；　but　the　affair　is　full　of　incredibilities；　the　greatest　of　which；　to　my　mind；　is　the　persistence　with　which　you；　a　kind…hearted　enough　little　woman；　persevere　in　ascribing　the　deepest　guilt　to　one