the woman in the alcove-第9节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The inspector's voice was hard。 I clung a little more tightly to my uncle； and Mr。 Durand； after one agonizing glance my way； drew himself up as if quite conscious that he had entered upon the most serious part of the struggle。
〃I had forgotten the gloves in my hurried departure； but presently I remembered them； and grew very uneasy。 I did not like carrying this woman's property about with me。 I had engaged myself； an hour before； to Miss Van Arsdale； and was very anxious to rejoin her。 The gloves worried me； and finally； after a little aimless wandering through the various rooms； I determined to go back and restore them to their owner。 The doors of the supper…room had just been flung open； and the end of the hall near the alcove was comparatively empty； save for a certain quizzical friend of mine； whom I saw sitting with his partner on the yellow divan。 I did not want to encounter him just then； for he had already joked me about my admiration for the lady with the diamond； and so I conceived the idea of approaching her by means of a second entrance to the alcove； unsuspected by most of those present； but perfectly well…known to me； who have been a frequent guest in this house。 A door； covered by temporary draperies； connects； as you may know； this alcove with a passageway communicating directly with the hall of entrance and the up…stairs dressing…rooms。 To go up the main stairs and come down by the side one； and so on； through a small archway； was a very simple matter for me。 If no early…departing or late arriving guests were in that hall； I need fear but one encounter； and that was with the servant stationed at the carriage entrance。 But even he was absent at this propitious instant； and I reached the door I sought without any unpleasantness。 This door opened out instead of in；this I also knew when planning this surreptitious intrusion； but； after pulling it open and reaching for the curtain； which hung completely across it； I found it not so easy to proceed as I had imagined。 The stealthiness of my action held back my hand； then the faint sounds I heard within advised me that she was not alone； and that she might very readily regard with displeasure my unexpected entrance by a door of which she was possibly ignorant。 I tell you all this because； if by any chance I was seen hesitating in face of that curtain； doubts might have been raised which I am anxious to dispel。〃 Here his eyes left my face for that of the inspector。
〃It certainly had a bad look；that I don't deny； but I did not think of appearances then。 I was too anxious to complete a task which had suddenly presented unexpected difficulties。 That I listened before entering was very natural； and when I heard no voice； only something like a great sigh； I ventured to lift the curtain and step in。 She was sitting； not where I had left her； but on a couch at the left of the usual entrance； her face toward me； andyou know how； Inspector。 It was her last sigh I had heard。 Horrified； for I had never looked on death before； much less crime； I reeled forward； meaning； I presume； to rush down the steps shouting for help； when； suddenly； something fell splashing on my shirt…front； and I saw myself marked with a stain of blood。 This both frightened and bewildered me； and it was a minute or two before I had the courage to look up。 When I did do so； I saw whence this drop had come。 Not from her； though the red stream was pouring down the rich folds of her dress； but from a sharp needle…like instrument which had been thrust； point downward； in the open work of an antique lantern hanging near the doorway。 What had happened to me might have happened to any one who chanced to be in that spot at that special moment； but I did not realize this then。 Covering the splash with my hands； I edged myself back to the door by which I had entered； watching those deathful eyes and crushing under my feet the remnants of some broken china with which the carpet was bestrewn。 I had no thought of her； hardly any of myself。 To cross the room was all； to escape as secretly as I came； before the portiere so nearly drawn between me and the main hall should stir under the hand of some curious person entering。 It was my first sight of blood； my first contact with crime； and that was what I did； I fled。〃
The last word was uttered with a gasp。 Evidently he was greatly affected by this horrible experience。
〃I am ashamed of myself；〃 he muttered； 〃but nothing can now undo the fact。 I slid from the presence of this murdered woman as though she had been the victim of my own rage or cupidity； and； being fortunate enough to reach the dressing…room before the alarm had spread beyond the immediate vicinity of the alcove； found and put on the handkerchief； which made it possible for me to rush down and find Miss Van Arsdale； who； somebody told me； had fainted。 Not till I stood over her in that remote corner beyond the supper…room did I again think of the gloves。 What I did when I happened to think of them； you already know。 I could have shown no greater cowardice if I had known that the murdered woman's diamond was hidden inside them。 Yet； I did not know this； or even suspect it。 Nor do I understand； now； her reason for placing it there。 Why should Mrs。 Fairbrother risk such an invaluable gem to the custody of one she knew so little？ An unconscious custody； too？ Was she afraid of being murdered if she retained this jewel？〃
The inspector thought a moment； and then said：
〃You mention your dread of some one entering by the one door before you could escape by the other。 Do you refer to the friend you left sitting on the divan opposite？〃
〃No； my friend had left that seat。 The portiere was sufficiently drawn for me to detect that。 If I had waited a minute longer；〃 he bitterly added； 〃I should have found my way open to the regular entrance； and so escaped all this。〃
〃Mr。 Durand； you are not obliged to answer any of my questions； but； if you wish； you may tell me whether； at this moment of apprehension； you thought of the danger you ran of being seen from outside by some one of the many coachmen passing by on the driveway？〃
〃No；I did not even think of the window；I don't know why； but； if any one passing by did see me； I hope they saw enough to substantiate my story。〃
The inspector made no reply。 He seemed to be thinking。 I heard afterward that the curtains； looped back in the early evening； had been found hanging at full length over this window by those who first rushed in upon the scene of death。 Had he hoped to entrap Mr。 Durand into some damaging admission？ Or was he merely testing his truth？ His expression afforded no clue to his thoughts； and Mr。 Durand； noting this； remarked with some dignity：
〃I do not expect strangers to accept these explanations； which must sound strange and inadequate in face of the proof I carry of having been with that woman after the fatal weapon struck her heart。 But； to one who knows me； and knows me well； I can surely appeal for credence to a tale which I here declare to be as true as if I had sworn to it in a court of justice。〃
〃Anson！：〃 I passionately cried out； loosening my clutch upon my uncle's arm。 My confidence in him had returned。
And then； as I noted the inspector's businesslike air； and my uncle's wavering look and unconvinced manner； I felt my heart swell； and； flinging all discretion to the wind； I bounded eagerly forward。 Laying my hands in those of Mr。 Durand； I cried fervently：
〃I believe in you。 Nothing but your own words shall ever shake my confidence in your innocence。〃
The sweet； glad look I received was my best reply。 I could leave the room； after that。
But not the house。 Another experience awaited me； awaited us all； before this full； eventful evening came to a close。
V
SUPERSTITION
I had gone up stairs for my wrapsmy uncle having insisted on my withdrawing from a scene where my very presence seemed in some degree to compromise me。
Soon prepared for my departure； I was crossing the hall to the small door communicating with the side staircase where my uncle had promised to await me； when I felt myself seized by a desire to have another look below before leaving the place in which were centered all my deepest interests。
A wide landing； breaking up the main flight of stairs some few feet from the top； offered me an admirable point of view。 With but little thought of possible consequences； and no thought at all of my poor； patient uncle； I slipped down to this landing； and； protected by the unusual height of its balustrade； allowed myself a parting glance at the scene with which my most poignant memories were henceforth to be connected。
Before me lay the large square of the central hall。 Opening out from this was the corridor leading to the front door； and incidentally to the library。 As my glance ran down this corridor； I beheld； approaching from the room just mentioned； the tall figure of the Englishman。
He halted as he reached the main hall and stood gazing eagerly at a group of men and women clustered near the fireplacea group on which I no sooner cast my own eye than my attention also became fixed。
The inspector had come from the room where I had left him with Mr。 Durand and was showing to these people the ext
