the man who knew too much-第10章

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Meanwhile　Horne　Fisher　had　considerably　puzzled　everybody　with　his　new　tone　and　attitude。　He　had　talked　to　the　colonel　about　the　military　and　mechanical　arrangements；　and　displayed　a　remarkable　knowledge　both　of　the　details　of　discipline　and　the　technicalities　of　electricity。　He　had　talked　to　the　clergyman；　and　shown　an　equally　surprising　knowledge　of　the　religious　and　historical　interests　involved　in　the　relic。　He　had　talked　to　the　man　who　called　himself　a　magician；　and　not　only　surprised　but　scandalized　the　company　by　an　equally　sympathetic　familiarity　with　the　most　fantastic　forms　of　Oriental　occultism　and　psychic　experiment。　And　in　this　last　and　least　respectable　line　of　inquiry　he　was　evidently　prepared　to　go　farthest；　he　openly　encouraged　the　magician；　and　was　plainly　prepared　to　follow　the　wildest　ways　of　investigation　in　which　that　magus　might　lead　him。

〃How　would　you　begin　now？〃　he　inquired；　with　an　anxious　politeness　that　reduced　the　colonel　to　a　congestion　of　rage。

〃It　is　all　a　question　of　a　force；　of　establishing　communications　for　a　force；〃　replied　that　adept；　affably；　ignoring　some　military　mutterings　about　the　police　force。　〃It　is　what　you　in　the　West　used　to　call　animal　magnetism；　but　it　is　much　more　than　that。　I　had　better　not　say　how　much　more。　As　to　setting　about　it；　the　usual　method　is　to　throw　some　susceptible　person　into　a　trance；　which　serves　as　a　sort　of　bridge　or　cord　of　communication；　by　which　the　force　beyond　can　give　him；　as　it　were；　an　electric　shock；　and　awaken　his　higher　senses。　It　opens　the　sleeping　eye　of　the　mind。〃

〃I'm　suspectible；〃　said　Fisher；　either　with　simplicity　or　with　a　baffling　irony。　〃Why　not　open　my　mind's　eye　for　me？　My　friend　Harold　March　here　will　tell　you　I　sometimes　see　things；　even　in　the　dark。〃

〃Nobody　sees　anything　except　in　the　dark；〃　said　the　magician。

Heavy　clouds　of　sunset　were　closing　round　the　wooden　hut；　enormous　clouds；　of　which　only　the　corners*　could　be　seen　in　the　little　window；　like　purple　horns　and　tails；　almost　as　if　some　huge　monsters　were　prowling　round　the　place。　But　the　purple　was　already　deepening　to　dark　gray；　it　would　soon　be　night。

〃Do　not　light　the　lamp；〃　said　the　magus　with　quiet　authority；　arresting　a　movement　in　that　direction。　〃I　told　you　before　that　things　happen　only　in　the　dark。〃

How　such　a　topsy…turvy　scene　ever　came　to　be　tolerated　in　the　colonel's　office；　of　all　places；　was　afterward　a　puzzle　in　the　memory　of　many；　including　the　colonel。　They　recalled　it　like　a　sort　of　nightmare；　like　something　they　could　not　control。　Perhaps　there　was　really　a　magnetism　about　the　mesmerist；　perhaps　there　was　even　more　magnetism　about　the　man　mesmerized。　Anyhow；　the　man　was　being　mesmerized；　for　Horne　Fisher　had　collapsed　into　a　chair　with　his　long　limbs　loose　and　sprawling　and　his　eyes　staring　at　vacancy；　and　the　other　man　was　mesmerizing　him；　making　sweeping　movements　with　his　darkly　draped　arms　as　if　with　black　wings。　The　colonel　had　passed　the　point　of　explosion；　and　he　dimly　realized　that　eccentric　aristocrats　are　allowed　their　fling。　He　comforted　himself　with　the　knowledge　that　he　had　already　sent　for　the　police；　who　would　break　up　any　such　masquerade；　and　with　lighting　a　cigar；　the　red　end　of　which；　in　the　gathering　darkness；　glowed　with　protest。

〃Yes；　I　see　pockets；〃　the　man　in　the　trance　was　saying。　〃I　see　many　pockets；　but　they　are　all　empty。　No；　I　see　one　pocket　that　is　not　empty。〃

There　was　a　faint　stir　in　the　stillness；　and　the　magician　said；　〃Can　you　see　what　is　in　the　pocket？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　other；　〃there　are　two　bright　things。　I　think　they　are　two　bits　of　steel。　One　of　the　pieces　of　steel　is　bent　or　crooked。〃

〃Have　they　been　used　in　the　removal　of　the　relic　from　downstairs？〃

〃Yes。〃

There　was　another　pause　and　the　inquirer　added；　〃Do　you　see　anything　of　the　relic　itself？〃

〃I　see　something　shining　on　the　floor；　like　the　shadow　or　the　ghost　of　it。　It　is　over　there　in　the　corner　beyond　the　desk。〃

There　was　a　movement　of　men　turning　and　then　a　sudden　stillness；　as　of　their　stiffening；　for　over　in　the　corner　on　the　wooden　floor　there　was　really　a　round　spot　of　pale　light。　It　was　the　only　spot　of　light　in　the　room。　The　cigar　had　gone　out。

〃It　points　the　way；〃　came　the　voice　of　the　oracle。　〃The　spirits　are　pointing　the　way　to　penitence；　and　urging　the　thief　to　restitution。　I　can　see　nothing　more。〃　His　voice　trailed　off　into　a　silence　that　lasted　solidly　for　many　minutes；　like　the　long　silence　below　when　the　theft　had　been　committed。　Then　it　was　broken　by　the　ring　of　metal　on　the　floor；　and　the　sound　of　something　spinning　and　falling　like　a　tossed　halfpenny。

〃Light　the　lamp！〃　cried　Fisher　in　a　loud　and　even　jovial　voice；　leaping　to　his　feet　with　far　less　languor　than　usual。　〃I　must　be　going　now；　but　I　should　like　to　see　it　before　I　go。　Why；　I　came　on　purpose　to　see　it。〃

The　lamp　was　lit；　and　he　did　see　it；　for　St。　Paul's　Penny　was　lying　on　the　floor　at　his　feet。

〃Oh；　as　for　that；〃　explained　Fisher；　when　he　was　entertaining　March　and　Twyford　at　lunch　about　a　month　later；　〃I　merely　wanted　to　play　with　the　magician　at　his　own　game。〃

〃I　thought　you　meant　to　catch　him　in　his　own　trap；〃　said　Twyford。　〃I　can't　make　head　or　tail　of　anything　yet；　but　to　my　mind　he　was　always　the　suspect。　I　don't　think　he　was　necessarily　a　thief　in　the　vulgar　sense。　The　police　always　seem　to　think　that　silver　is　stolen　for　the　sake　of　silver；　but　a　thing　like　that　might　well　be　stolen　out　of　some　religious　mania。　A　runaway　monk　turned　mystic　might　well　want　it　for　some　mystical　purpose。〃

〃No；〃　replied　Fisher；　〃the　runaway　monk　is　not　a　thief。　At　any　rate　he　is　not　the　thief。　And　he's　not　altogether　a　liar；　either。　He　said　one　true　thing　at　least　that　night。〃

〃And　what　was　that？〃　inquired　March。

〃He　said　it　was　all　magnetism。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　it　was　done　by　means　of　a　magnet。〃　Then；　seeing　they　still　looked　puzzled；　he　added；　〃It　was　that　toy　magnet　belonging　to　your　nephew；　Mr。　Twyford。〃

〃But　I　don't　understand；〃　objected　March。　〃If　it　was　done　with　the　schoolboy's　magnet；　I　suppose　it　was　done　by　the　schoolboy。〃

〃Well；〃　replied　Fisher；　reflectively；　〃it　rather　depends　which　schoolboy。〃

〃What　on　earth　do　you　mean？〃

〃The　soul　of　a　schoolboy　is　a　curious　thing；〃　Fisher　continued；　in　a　meditative　manner。　〃It　can　survive　a　great　many　things　besides　climbing　out　of　a　chimney。　A　man　can　grow　gray　in　great　campaigns；　and　still　have　the　soul　of　a　schoolboy。　A　man　can　return　with　a　great　reputation　from　India　and　be　put　in　charge　of　a　great　public　treasure；　and　still　have　the　soul　of　a　schoolboy；　waiting　to　be　awakened　by　an　accident。　And　it　is　ten　times　more　so　when　to　the　schoolboy　you　add　the　skeptic；　who　is　generally　a　sort　of　stunted　schoolboy。　You　said　just　now　that　things　might　be　done　by　religious　mania。　Have　you　ever　heard　of　irreligious　mania？　I　assure　you　it　exists　very　violently；　especially　in　men　who　like　showing　up　magicians　in　India。　But　here　the　skeptic　had　the　temptation　of　showing　up　a　much　more　tremendous　sham　nearer　home。〃

A　light　came　into　Harold　March's　eyes　as　he　suddenly　saw；　as　if　afar　off；　the　wider　implication　of　the　suggestion。　But　Twyford　was　still　wrestling　with　one　problem　at　a　time。

〃Do　you　really　mean；〃　he　said；　〃that　Colonel　Morris　took　the　relic？〃

〃He　was　the　only　person　who　could　use　the　magnet；〃　replied　Fisher。　〃In　fact；　your　obliging　nephew　left　him　a　number　of　things　he　could　use。　He　had　a　ball　of　string；　and　an　instrument　for　making　a　hole　in　the　wooden　floorI　made　a　little　play　with　that　hole　in　the　floor　in　my　trance；　by　the　way；　with　the　lights　left　on　below；　it　shone　like　a　new　shilling。〃　Twyford　suddenly　bounded　on　his　chair。　〃But　in　that　case；〃　he　cried；　in　a　new　and　altered　voice；　〃why　then　of　courseYou　said　a　piece　of　steel？〃

〃I　said　there　were　two　pieces　of　steel；〃　said　Fisher。　〃The　bent　piece　of　steel　was　the　boy's　magnet。　The　other　was　the　relic　in　the　glass　case。〃

〃But　that　is　silver；〃　answered　the　archaeologist；　in　a　voice　now　almost　unrecognizable。

〃Oh；〃　replied　Fisher；　soothingly；　〃I　dare　say　it　was　painted　with　silver　a　little。〃

There　was　a　heavy　silence；　and　at　last　Harold　March　said；　〃But　where　is　the　real　relic？〃

〃Where　it　has　been　for　five　years；〃　replied　Horne　Fisher；　〃in　the　possession　of　a　mad　millionaire　named　Vandam；　in　Nebraska。　There　was　a　playful　little　photograph　about　him　in　a　society　paper　the　other　day；　mentioning　his　delusion；　and　saying　he　was　always　being　taken　in　about　relics。〃

Harold　March　frowned　at　the　tablecloth；　then；　after　an　interval；　he　said：　〃I　think　I　understand　your　notion　of　how　the　thing　was　actually　done；　according　to　that；　Morris　just　made　a　hole　and　fished　it　up　with　a　magnet　at　the　end　of　a　string。　Such　a　monkey　trick　looks　like　mere　madness；　but　I　suppose　he　was　mad；　partly　with　the　boredom　of　watching　over　what　he　felt　was　a　fraud；　though　he　couldn't　prove　it。　Then　came　a　chance　to　prove　it；　to　himself　at　least；　and　he　had　what　he　called　'fun'　with　it。　Yes；　I　think　I　see　a　lot　of　details　now。　But　it's　just　the　whole　thing　that　knocks　me。　How　did　it　all　come　to　be　like　that？〃

Fisher　was　looking　at　him　with　level　lids　and　an　immovable　manner。

〃Every　precaution　was　taken；〃　he　said。　〃The　Duke　carried　the　relic　on　his　own　person；　and　locked　it　up　in　the　case　with　his　own　hands。〃

March　was　silent；　but　Twyford　stammered。　〃I　don't　understand　you。　You　give　me　the　creeps。　Why　don't　you　speak　plainer？〃

〃If　I　spoke　plainer　you　would　understand　me　less；〃　said　Horne　Fisher。

〃All　the　same　I　should　try；〃　said　March；　still　without　lifting　his　head。

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　replied　Fisher；　with　a　sigh；　〃the　plain　truth　is；　of　course；　that　it's　a　bad　business。　Everybody　knows　it's　a　bad　business　who　knows　anything　about　it。　But　it's　always　happening；　and　in　one　way　one　can　hardly　blame　them。　They　get　stuck　on　to　a　foreign　princess　that's　as　stiff　as　a　Dutch　doll；　and　they　have　their　fling。　In　this　case　it　was　a　pretty　big　fling。〃

The　face　of　the　Rev。　Thomas　Twyford　certainly　suggested　that　he　was　a　little　out　of　his　depth　in　the　seas　of　truth；　but　as　the　other　went　on　speaking　vaguely　the　old　gentleman's　features　sharpened　and　set。

〃If　it　were　some　decent　morganatic　affair　I　wouldn't　say；　but　he　must　have　been　a　fool　to　throw　away　thousands　on　a　woman　like　that。　At　the　end　it　was　sheer　blackmail；　but　it's　something　that　the　old　ass　didn't　get　it　out　of　the　taxpayers。　He　could　only　get　it　out　of　the　Yank；　and　there　you　are。〃

The　Rev。　Thomas　Twyford　had　risen　to　his　feet。

〃Well；　I'm　glad　my　nephew　had　nothing　to　do　with　it；〃　he　said。　〃And　if　that's　what　the　world　is　like；　I　hope　he　will　never　have　anything　to；　do　with　it。〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　answered　Horne　Fisher。　〃No　one　knows　so　well　as　I　do　that　one　can　have　far　too　much　to　do　with　it。〃

For　Summers　Minor　had　indeed　nothing　to　do　with　it；　and　it　is　part　of　his　higher　significance　that　he　has　really　nothing　to　do　with　the　story；　or　with　any　such　stories。　The　boy　went　like　a　bullet　through　the　tangle　of　this　tale　of　crooked　politics　and　crazy　mockery　and　came　out　on　the　other　side；　pursuing　his　own　unspoiled　purposes。　From　the　top　of　the　chimney　he　climbed　he　had　caught　sight　of　a　new　omnibus；　whose　color　and　name　he　had　never　known；　as　a　natur