df.theedge-第42章

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sitting　against　the　far　right…hand　side　wall；　had　his　head　bowed；　not　watching　the　action。　He　couldn't　help　but　hear；　however。　The　actors　were　all　courting　laryngitis；　making　sure　that　those　in　the　furthest　corners　weren't　left　out。
　　Mavis　had　a　go　at　Walter；　first　angry；　then　pleading；　then　saying　she　might　as　well　leave　him；　she　obviously　didn't　count　with　him　any　more。　She　prepared　to　go。　Walter；　stung　beyond　bearing；　muttered　something　to　her　that　stopped　her　dead。
　　'What？'　she　said。
　　Walter　muttered　again。
　　'He　says　he's　being　blackmailed；'　Mavis　said　in　a　high　voice。　'How　can　anyone　blackmail　someone　into　getting　rid　of　a　horse？'
　　Filmer；　pinned　against　the　left…hand　wall　by　the　Unwins　in　the　aisle　seats；　sat　as　if　with　a　rod　up　his　backbone。　Mercer　turned　his　head　to　stare　at　Walter。　Mercer　had　his　back　towards　Filmer；　and　I　wondered　whether　he'd　sat　that　way　round　on　purpose　so　as　not　to　see　his　recent　friend。　He　was　sitting　beside　Sheridan　and　opposite　Bambi。　Xanthe　sat　opposite　her　brother；　both　in　aisle　seats。　I　could　see　both　of　the　female　faces；　where　I　wanted　to　see　the　male。　I　would　have　done　better；　I　supposed；　to　have　watched　from　the　far　end；　but　on　the　other　hand　they　might　have　seen　me　watching：　watching　them　instead　of　the　action。
　　Walter；　under　pressure；　said　loudly　that　yes；　he　was　being　blackmailed；　and　by　the　very　nature　of　blackmail　he　couldn't　say　what　about。。。　he　categorically　refused　to　discuss　it　further。　He　had　good　and　sufficient　reasons　and　he　was　angry　and　upset　enough　about　losing　his　horse　without　everyone　attacking　him。
　　And　who　was　he　losing　it　to？　Zak　asked。　Because　whoever's　name　turned　up　on　the　race…card　at　Vancouver　as　the　owner；　he　or　she　would　be　the　blackmailer。
　　Heads　nodded。　Walter　said　it　wasn't　so。　The　blackmailer　had　just　said　he　must　give　the　horse　away。
　　'Who　to？'　Zak　asked　insistently。　Tell　us。　We'll　soon　know。　We'll　know　at　the　races　on　Tuesday。'
　　Walter；　defeated；　said；　'I'm　giving　the　horse　to　Giles。'
　　General　consternation　followed。　Mavis　objected。　Giles　was　a　very　nice；　forting　fellow；　but　they　hardly　knew　him；　she　said。
　　Raoul　said　bitterly　that　Walter　should　have　given　him　the　horse。　He'd　worked　so　hard。。。
　　Giles　said　that　Walter　had　asked　him；　Giles；　to　have　the　horse；　and　of　course　he'd　said　yes。　After　the　race　on　Tuesday；　he　would　decide　Calculator's　future。
　　Walter　looked　stony。　Giles　was　being　frightfully　nice。
　　Donna　suddenly　detached　herself　from　Pierre　and　said　rather　wildly；　'No；　Daddy；　I　wouldn't　let　you　do　it。　I　understand　what's　happening。。。　I　won't　let　it　happen。'
　　Walter　told　her　thunderously　to　shut　up。　Donna　wouldn't　be　stopped。　It　was　her　fault　that　her　father　was　being　blackmailed　and　she　wouldn't　let　him　give　his　horse　away。
　　'Be　quiet；'　Walter　ordered。
　　'I　stole　Mother's　jewels；'　she　said　miserably　to　everyone。　'I　stole　them　to　pay　Pierre's　debts。　They　said　he　would　be　beaten　up　if　he　didn't　pay。　Those　jewels　were　going　to　be　mine　anyway；　one　day；　they're　in　Mother's　will。。。　so　I　was　only　stealing　from　myself　really。。。　but　then；　he　guessed。。。'
　　'Who　guessed？'　Zak　demanded。
　　'Giles；'　she　said。　'He　saw　me　ing　out　of　Mother's　room。　I　suppose　I　looked　scared。。。　maybe　guilty。　I　had　her　jewels　in　a　tote　bag。　I　suppose　it　was　afterwards；　when　Mother　came　to　say　someone　had　stolen　them；　that　he　guessed。。。。　He　made　me　give　them　to　him。。。　he　said　he'd　have　me　arrested　otherwise；　and　my　parents　wouldn't　like　that。。。'
　　'Stop　him！'　Zak　yelled　peremptorily　as　Giles　made　a　dash　for　the　lobby；　and　Raoul；　a　big　fellow；　intercepted　him　and　twisted　his　arm　up　behind　his　back。　Giles　displayed　pain。
　　Zak　invited　Walter　to　talk。
　　Walter；　distressed；　said　that　Giles　had　threatened　to　prove　publicly　that　Donna　had　stolen　the　jewels　if　Walter　wouldn't　give　him　the　horse。　Even　if　Walter　refused　to　press　charges　against　his　daughter；　Giles　had　said；　everyone　would　know　she　was　a　thief。　Walter　confessed　that　Giles　had　said；　'What　is　one　horse　against　your　daughter's　reputation？'　Walter　thought　he'd　had　no　choice。
　　Donna　wept。　Mavis　wept。　Half　the　audience　wept。
　　Filmer　was　rigid。　Also　Mercer；　Bambi　and　Sheridan；　all　unmoving　in　their　seats。
　　'It　wasn't　sensible　to　love　your　daughter　so　much；'　Raoul　said。　'She　stole　the　jewels。　You　shouldn't　cover　up　for　her。　Look　where　it　got　you。　Into　the　hands　of　a　blackmailer；　and　losing　the　horse　you　love。　And　did　you　think　it　would　stop　there；　with　just　one　horse？　You've　got　two　more　in　my　care；　don't　forget。'
　　'Stop　it；'　Mavis　said；　defending　Walter　now。　'He's　a　wonderful　man　to　give　up　his　dearest　possession　to　save　his　daughter。'
　　'He's　a　fool；'　Raoul　said。
　　During　this　bit；　Zak　came　to　the　lobby　as　if　to　receive　a　message　and　went　back　into　the　centre　of　the　dining　car　opening　an　envelope　and　reading　the　contents。
　　He　said　the　letter　was　from　Ben；　who　had　begged　for　money；　did　they　remember？　They　remembered。
　　Ben；　Zak　said；　had　run　away　off　the　train　because　he　　was　frightened；　but　he　had　left　this　letter　to　be　opened　after　he'd　gone。　Zak　read　the　letter　portentously　aloud。
　　'I　know　who　killed　Ricky。　I　know　who　threw　him　off　the　train。　Ricky　told　me　he　knew　who　killed　that　lady；　Angelica　someone。　Ricky　saw　the　murderer　with　a　lot　of　plastic　rolled　into　a　ball。　He　didn't　know　he　was　a　murderer　then；　like。　This　man　came　up　the　train　into　the　part　where　the　grooms　are　and　he　was　in　the　join　part　between　two　sleeping　cars　and　he　pushed　the　plastic　out　through　one　of　the　gaps；　until　it　fell　the　train；　and　then　he　saw　Ricky　looking　at　him。　Ricky　didn't　think　much　of　it　until　we　were　told　about　Angelica　someone；　and　the　plastic　with　her　blood　on；　and　then　he　was　afraid；　and　told　me。　And　then　he　was　thrown　off　the　train。　I　know　who　it　was；　I　knew　who　must　have　did　it；　but　I　wasn't　saying。　I　didn't　want　to　end　up　dead　beside　the　railway　tracks。　But　now　I'm　safe　out　of　here　I'll　tell　you；　and　it's　that　good…looking　one　they　was　calling　Giles　on　Toronto　station。　I　saw　him　there　too；　same　as　Ricky。　It　was　him。'
　　Zak　stopped　reading　and　Giles；　struggling　in　Raoul's　grip；　shouted　that　it　was　rubbish。　Lies。　All　made　up。
　　Raoul　showed　signs　of　breaking　Gile's　arm　on　account　of　him　having　killed　Angelica；　who　was　his　wife；　even　if　they　had　separated。
　　How　could　a　groom　like　Ben　make　up　anything　like　this？　Zak　said；　waving　the　note。　He　said　it　was　time　someone　searched　Gile's　room　on　the　train　for　the　jewels；　and　for　anything　else　incriminating。
　　'You've　no　right。　You've　no　search　warrant。　And　this　man　is　breaking　my　arm。'
　　'You　murdered　his　wife；　what　do　you　expect？'　Zak　said；　'and　I　don't　need　a　search　warrant。　I'm　chief　of　the　railway　detectives；　don't　forget。　On　trains；　I　investigate　and　search　where　I　like。'　He　marched　off　past　me　and　went　swaying　down　the　corridor；　pausing　down　at　the　end　of　the　kitchen　wall　where　he'd　left　a　sports　bag　full　of　props；　and　soon　came　marching　back。　The　other　actors；　meanwhile；　had　been　emoting　in　character　over　the　disclosure　of　Giles　as　murderer　as　well　as　blackmailer。　Zak　took　the　sports　bag；　it　seemed　to　me　by　accident；　to　the　table　across　from　the　Lorrimores。　The　people　sitting　at　the　table　cleared　the　glasses　and　empty　plates　into　a　stack　and　Zak；　dumping　the　bag　on　the　pink　cloth；　unfastened　a　few　zips。
　　To　no　one's　surprise；　he　produced　the　jewels。　Mavis　was　reunited　with　them；　with　joy　slightly　dampened　by　knowing　who　had　stolen　them。　Reproachful　looks；　and　so　on。
　　Zak　then　discovered　a　folder　of　papers。
　　'A…HAH！'　he　said。
　　Giles　struggled；　to　no　avail。
　　Zak　said；　'Here　we　have　the　motive　for　Angelica's　murder。　Here's　a　letter　to　Giles　from　Steven；　Angelica's　lover　and　business　partner；　plaining　accusingly　that　he　has　been　checking　up；　and　Giles；　in　his　capacity　of　bloodstock　agent；　has　not　bought　the　horses　that　he　says　he　has；　that　Angelica　and　Steve　have　given　him　the　money　for。　Steve　is　saying　that　unless　Giles　es　up　with　a　very　good　explanation　he　is　going　to　the　police。'
　　'Lies；'　Giles　shouted。
　　'It's　all　here。'　Zak　waved　the　letter；　which　everyone　later　inspected；　along　with　Ben's　note。　They　were　accurately　written：　Zak's　props　were　thorough。　'Giles　embezzled　Angelica　and　Steve's　money；'　he　said；　'and　when　they　threatened　him　with　disgrace；　he　killed　them。　Then　he　killed　the　groom　who　knew　too　much。　Then　he　blackmailed　Walter　Bricknell；　who　was　too　fond　of　his　daughter。　This　man　Giles　is　beneath　contempt。　I　will　get　the　conductor　of　the　train　to　arrange　for　him　to　be　arrested　and　taken　away　in　Revelstoke；　where　we　stop　in　two　hours。'
　　He　walked　towards　the　lobby　again。
　　Giles；　finally　breaking　free　of　Raoul；　snatched　a　gun　that　Zak　was　wearing　in　a　holster　on　his　hip　and　waved　it　about。　Zak　warned；　'Put　it　down。　This　gun　is　loaded。'
　　Giles　shouted　at　Donna；　'It's　all　your　fault；　you　shouldn't　have　confessed。　You　spoiled　it　all。　And　I'll　spoil　you。'
　　He　pointed　the　gun　at　Donna。　Pierre　leapt　in　front　of　her　to　save　her。　Giles　shot　Pierre；　who　had；　it　transpired；　chosen　a　romantic　shoulder　for　the　affected　part。　He　clapped　a　hand　to　his　snow…white　shirt　which　suddenly　blossomed　bright　red。　He　fell　artistically。
　　The　audience　truly　gasped。　Donna　knelt　frantically　beside　Pierre；　having　a　grand　dramatic　time。　Giles　tried　to　escape　and　was　subdued；　none　too　gently；　by　Zak　and　Raoul。　George　Burley　appeared　on　the　scene；　chuckling　non…stop；　waving　a　pair　of　stage　handcuffs。　As　Zak　later　said；　it　was　a　riot。
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　Seventeen
　　
　　Emil　said　there　was　enough　champagne　for　everyone　to　have　half　a　glass　more；　so　he　and　I　went　around　pouring　while　Oliver　and　Cathy　cleared　the　hors…d'oeuvre　plates；　straightened　the　cloths　and　began　setting　the　places　for　the　banquet。
　　I　glanced　very　briefly　at　Filmer。　He　looked　exceeding　pale；　with　sweat　on　his　forehead。　One　hand；　lying　on　the　tablecloth；　was　tightly　clenched。　Beside　him；　the　Redi…Hots　were　enthusing　over　Zak　who　was　standing　beside　their　table　agreeing　that　Pierre　was　a　redeemable　character　who　would　make　good。　Zak　gave　me　a　smile　and　stepped　to　one　side　to　let　me　fill　the　Redi…Hots'　glasses。
　　Filmer　said；　in　a　harsh　croaking　voice；　'Where　did　you　get　that　story？'
　　As　if　accepting　a　pliment；　Zak　answered；　'Made　it　up。'
　　'You　must　have　got　it　from　somewhere。'　He　was　positive；　and　angry。　The　Redi…Hots　looked　at　him　in　surprise。
　　'I　always　make　them　up；'　Zak　said　lightly。　'Why。。。　didn't　you　enjoy　it？'
　　'Champagne；　sir？'　I　said　to　Filmer。　I'd　grown　very　bold；　I　thought。
　　Filmer　didn't　hear。　Mrs　Redi…Hots　passed　me　his　glass　which　I　replenished。　She　passed　it　back。　He　didn't　notice。
　　'I　thought　it　a　great　story；'　she　said。　'What　a　wicked　revolting　murderer。　And　he　was　so　nice　all　along。。。'
　　I　stepped　around　with　Zak　with　a　glimmer　of　eye　contact　in　which　I　gave　him　my　devout　thanks　for　his　discretion；　and　he　accepted　them　with　amusement。
　　At　the　next　table　Rose　Young　was　protesting　to　Cumber　that　it　had　to　have　been　a　coincidence　about　mitting　suicide　after　getting　rid　of　your　best　horse。。。　and　Ezra　had　sold　his　horse；　she　said；　not　given　it　away　because　he　was　being　blackmailed。
　　'How　do　we　know　he　wasn't？'　Cumber　demanded。