the lamp that went out-第13部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


the　matter　with　the　electric　wiring　in　our　place。　　The　bell　in　the
master's　room　keeps　ringing。　　I　wrote　to　Siemens　&　Halske　to　send　us
a　man　out　to　fix　it。　　He's　likely　to　come　any　minute　now。〃　　The　two
men　rose；　paid　their　checks；　and　went　out　together。　　Outside　the
caf？Muller　hesitated　a　moment。　　〃You　go　on　ahead；〃　　he　said　to　Franz。
〃I　want　to　go　in　here　and　get　a　cigar。〃

While　buying　his　cigar　and　lighting　it；　he　asked　for　several
newspapers；　choosing　those　which　his　quick　eye　had　told　him　were　no
longer　among　the　piles　on　the　counter。　　〃I'm　very　sorry；　sir；〃　　said
the　clerk；　〃we　have　only　a　few　of　those　papers；　just　two　or　three
more　than　we　need　for　our　regular　customers；　and　this　morning　they
are　all　sold。　　The　housekeeper　from　the　Thorne　mansion　took　the　very
last　ones。〃

This　was　exactly　what　Muller　wanted　to　know。　　He　left　the　store　and
caught　up　with　the　old　butler　as　the　latter　was　opening　the　handsome
iron　gate　that　led　from　the　Thorne　property　out　onto　the　street。

〃Well；　where's　our　little　patient？〃　　asked　the　detective　as　he
walked　through　the　courtyard　with　Franz。

〃You'll　see　him　in　a　minute；〃　　answered　the　old　servant。　　He　led
the　way　through　a　light　roomy　corridor　furnished　with　handsome　old
pieces　in　empire　style；　and　opened　a　door　at　its　further　end。

〃This　is　my　room。〃

It　was　a　large　light　room　with　two　windows　opening　on　the　garden。
Muller　was　not　at　all　pleased　that　the　journey　through　the　hall　had
been　such　a　short　one。　　However　he　was　in　the　house；　that　was
something；　and　he　could　afford　to　trust　to　chance　for　the　rest。
Meanwhile　he　would　look　at　the　dog。　　The　little　terrier　lay　in　a
corner　by　the　stove　and　it　did　not　take　Muller　more　than　two　or
three　minutes　to　discover　that　there　was　nothing　the　matter　with
the　small　patient　but　a　simple　case　of　over…eating。　　But　he　put　on
a　very　wise　expression　as　he　handled　the　little　dog　and　looking　up；
asked　if　he　could　get　some　chamomile　tea。

〃I'll　go　for　it；　I　think　there's　some　in　the　house。　　Do　you　want　it
made　fresh？〃　　said　Franz。

〃Yes；　that　will　be　better；　about　a　cupful　will　do；〃　was　Muller's
answer。　　He　knew　that　this　harmless　remedy　would　be　likely　to　do
the　dog　good　and　at　the　present　moment　he　wanted　to　be　left　alone
in　the　room。　　As　soon　as　Franz　had　gone；　the　detective　hastened　to
the　window；　placing　himself　behind　the　curtain　so　that　he　could
not　be　seen　from　outside。　　He　himself　could　see　first　a　wide
courtyard　lying　between　the　two　wings　of　the　house；　then　beyond　it
the　garden；　an　immense　square　plot　of　ground　beautifully　cultivated。
The　left　wing　of　the　house　was　about　six　windows　longer　than　the
other；　and　from　the　first　story　of　it　it　would　be　quite　easy　to　look
out　over　the　vacant　lot　where　the　old　shed　stood　which　had　served
as　a　night's　lodging　for　Johann　Knoll。

There　was　not　the　slightest　doubt　in　Muller's　mind　that　this　part
of　the　tramp's　story　was　true；　for　by　a　natural　process　of
elimination　he　knew　there　was　nothing　to　be　gained　by　inventing　any
such　tale。　　Besides　which　the　detective　himself　had　been　to　look　at
the　shed。　　His　well…known　pedantic　thoroughness　would　not　permit
him　to　take　any　one's　word　for　anything　that　he　might　find　out　for
himself；　In　his　investigations　on　Tuesday　morning　he　had　already
seen　the　half…ruined　shed；　now　he　knew　that　it　contained　a　broken
bench。

Thus　far；　therefore；　Knoll's　story　was　proved　to　be　true…but　there
was　something　that　didn't　quite　hitch　in　another　way。　　The　tramp　had
said　that　he　had　seen　first　a　woman　and　then　a　man　come　from　the　main
house　and　go　in　the　direction　of　the　smaller　house　which　he　took　to
be　the　gardener's　dwelling。　　This　Muller　discovered　now　was　quite
impossible。　　A　tall　hedge；　fully　seven　or　eight　feet　high　and　very
thick；　stretched　from　the　courtyard　far　down　into　the　garden　past
the　gardener's　little　house。　　There　was　a　broad　path　on　the　right
and　the　left　of　this　green　wall。　　From　his　position　in　the　shed；
Knoll　could　have　seen　people　passing　only　when　they　were　on　the
right　side　of　the　hedge。　　But　to　reach　the　gardener's　house　from
the　main　dwelling；　the　shortest　way　would　be　on　the　left　side　of
the　hedge。　　This　much　Muller　saw；　then　he　heard　the　butler's　steps
along　the　hall　and　he　went　back　to　the　corner　where　the　dog　lay。

Franz　was　not　alone。　　There　was　some　one　else　with　him；　the
housekeeper；　Mrs。　Bernauer。　　Just　as　they　opened　the　door；　Muller
heard　her　say：　〃If　the　gentleman　is　a　veterinary；　then　we'd　better
ask　him　about　the　parrot…　〃

The　sentence　was　never　finished。　　Muller　never　found　out　what　was
the　matter　with　the　parrot；　for　as　he　looked　up　with　a　polite　smile
of　interest；　he　looked　into　a　pale　face；　into　a　pair　of　eyes　that
opened　wide　in　terror；　and　heard　trembling　lips　frame　the　words：
〃There　he　is　again！〃

A　moment　later　Mrs。　Bernauer　would　have　been　glad　to　have　recalled
her　exclamation；　but　it　was　too　late。

Muller　bowed　before　her　and　asked：　〃'There　he　is　again；'　you　said；
have　you　ever　seen　me　before？〃

The　woman　looked　at　him　as　if　hypnotised　and　answered　almost　in　a
whisper：　〃I　saw　you　Tuesday　morning　for　the　first　time；　Tuesday
morning　when　the　family　were　going　away。　　Then　I　saw　you　pass
through　our　street　twice　again　that　same　day。　　This　morning　you　went
past　the　garden　gate　and　now　I　find　you　here。　　What…what　is　it　you
want　of　us？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　what　I　want；　Mrs。　Bernauer；　but　first　I　want　to
speak　to　you　alone。　　Mr。　Franz　doesn't　mind　leaving　us　for　a　while；
does　he？〃

〃But　why？〃　　said　the　old　man　hesitatingly。　　He　didn't　understand
at　all　what　was　going　on　and　he　would　much　rather　have　remained。

〃Because　I　came　here　for　the　special　purpose　of　speaking　to　Mrs。
Bernauer；〃　　replied　Muller　calmly。

〃Then　you　didn't　come　on　account　of　the　dog？〃

〃No；　I　didn't　come　on　account　of　the　dog。〃

〃Then　you　…　you　lied　to　me？〃

〃Partly。〃

〃And　you're　no　veterinary？〃

〃No　…　I　can　help　your　dog；　but　I　am　not　a　veterinary　and　never　have
been。〃

〃What　are　you　then？〃

〃I　will　tell　Mrs。　Bernauer　who　and　what　I　am　when　you　are　outside　
…　outside　in　the　courtyard　there。　　You　can　walk　about　in　the　garden
if　you　want　to；　or　else　go　and　get　some　simple　purgative　for　this
dog。　　That　is　all　he　needs；　he　has　been　over…fed。〃

Franz　was　quite　bewildered。　　These　new　developments　promised　to　be
interesting　and　he　was　torn　between　his　desire　to　know　more；　and
his　doubts　as　to　the　propriety　of　leaving　the　housekeeper　with　this
queer　stranger。　　He　hesitated　until　the　woman　herself　motioned　to
him　to　go。　　He　went　out　into　the　hall；　then　into　the　courtyard；
watched　by　the　two　in　the　room　who　stood　silently　in　the　window
until　they　saw　the　butler　pass　down　into　the　garden。　　Then　they
looked　at　each　other。

〃You　belong　to　the　police？〃　　asked　Adele　Bernauer　finally　with　a
deep　sigh。

〃That　was　a　good　guess；〃　　replied　Muller　with　an　ironic　smile；
adding：　〃All　who　have　any　reason　to　fear　us　are　very　quick　in
recognising　us。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　　she　exclaimed　with　a　start。　　〃What
are　you　thinking　of？〃

〃I　am　thinking　about　the　same　thing　that　you　are　thinking　of　…　that
I　have　proved　you　are　thinking　of　…　the　same　thing　that　drove　you
out　into　the　street　yesterday　and　this　morning　to　buy　the　papers。
These　papers　print　news　which　is　interesting　many　people　just　now；
and　some　people　a　great　deals。　　I　am　thinking　of　the　same　thing
that　was　evidently　in　your　thoughts　as　you　peered　out　of　the　garden
gate　this　morning；　although　you　would　not　come　out　into　the　street。
I　know　that　you　do　not　read　even　one　newspaper　regularly。　　I　know
also　that　yesterday　and　today　you　bought　a　great　many　papers；
apparently　to　get　every　possible　detail　about　a　certain　subject。
Do　you　deny　this？〃

She　did　not　deny　it；　she　did　not　answer　at　all。　　She　sank　down　on
a　chair；　her　wide　staring　eyes　looking　straight　ahead　of　her；　and
trembling　so　that　the　old　chair　cracked　underneath　her　weight。　　But
this　condition　did　not　last　long。　　The　woman　had　herself　well　under
control。　　Muller's　coming；　or　something　else；　perhaps；　may　have
overwhelmed　her　for　a　moment；　but　she　soon　regained　her　usual
self…possession。

〃Still　you　have　not　told　me　what　you　want　here；〃　she　began　coldly；
and　as　he　did　not　answer　she　continued：　〃I　have　a　feeling　that　you
are　watching　us。　　I　had　this　feeling　when　I　saw　you　the　first　time
and　noticed　then　…　pardon　my　frankness　…　that　you　stared　at　us
sharply　while　we　were　saying　goodbye　to　our　master　and　mistress。
Then　I　saw　you　pass　twice　again　through　the　street　and　look　up　at
our　windows。　　This　morning　I　find　you　at　our　garden　gate　and　
now　…　you　will　pardon　me　if　I　tell　the　exact　truth　…　now　you　have
wormed　yourself　in　here　under　false　pretenses　because　you　have　no
right　whatever　to　force　an　entrance　into　this　house。　　And　I　ask
you　again；　what　do　you　want　here？〃

Muller　was　embarrassed。　　That　did　not　happen　very　often。　　Also　it
did　not　happen　very　often　that　he　was　in　the　wrong　as　he　was　now。
The　woman　was　absolutely　right。　　He　had　wormed　himself　into　the
house　under　false　pretenses　to　follow　up　the　new　clue　which　almost
unconsciously　as　yet　was　leading　him　on　with　a　stronger　and　stronger
attraction。　　He　could　not　have　explained　it　and　he　certainly　was　not
ready　to　say　anything　about　it　at　police　headquarters；　even　at　the
risk　of　being　obliged　to　continue　to　enter　this　mysterious　house
under　false　pretenses　and　to　be　told　that　he　was　doing　so。　　Of
course　this　sort　of　thing　was　necessary　in　his　business；　it　was
the　only　way　in　which　he　could　follow　up　the　criminals。

But　there　was　something　in　this　woman's　words　that　cut　into　a
sensitive　spot　and　drove　the　blood　to　his　cheeks。　　There　was
something　in　the　bearing　and　manner　of　this　one…time　nurse　that
impressed　him；　although　he　was　not　a　man　to　be　lightly　impressed。
He　had　a　feeling　that　be　had　made　a　fool　of　himself　and　it　bothered
him。　　For　a　moment　he　did　not　know　what　he　should　say　to　this　woman
who　stood　before　him　with　so　much　quiet　energy　in　her　bearing。　　But
the　something　in　his　brain；　the　something　that　made　him　what　he　was；
whispered　to　him　that　he　had　done　right；　and　that　he　must　follow
up　the　trail　he　had　found。　　That　gave　him　b