the man who knew too much-第7章

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〃I　don't　want　to　get　it　anywhere；〃　said　Wilson；　shortly。　〃I　say　I'm　dealing　with　much　simpler　things　than　your　simple　faith；　with　a　table　and　a　chair　and　a　ladder。　Now　what　I　want　to　say　about　them　at　the　start　is　this。　They　are　all　three　made　roughly　enough　of　plain　wood。　But　the　table　and　the　chair　are　fairly　new　and　comparatively　clean。　The　ladder　is　covered　with　dust　and　there　is　a　cobweb　under　the　top　rung　of　it。　That　means　that　he　borrowed　the　first　two　quite　recently　from　some　cottage；　as　we　supposed；　but　the　ladder　has　been　a　long　time　in　this　rotten　old　dustbin。　Probably　it　was　part　of　the　original　furniture；　an　heirloom　in　this　magnificent　palace　of　the　Irish　kings。〃

Again　Fisher　looked　at　him　under　his　eyelids；　but　seemed　too　sleepy　to　speak；　and　Wilson　went　on　with　his　argument。

〃Now　it's　quite　clear　that　something　very　odd　has　just　happened　in　this　place。　The　chances　are　ten　to　one；　it　seems　to　me；　that　it　had　something　specially　to　do　with　this　place。　Probably　he　came　here　because　he　could　do　it　only　here；　it　doesn't　seem　very　inviting　otherwise。　But　the　man　knew　it　of　old；　they　say　it　belonged　to　his　family；　so　that　altogether；　I　think；　everything　points　to　something　in　the　construction　of　the　tower　itself。〃

〃Your　reasoning　seems　to　me　excellent；〃　said　Sir　Walter；　who　was　listening　attentively。　〃But　what　could　it　be？〃

〃You　see　now　what　I　mean　about　the　ladder；〃　went　on　the　detective；　〃it's　the　only　old　piece　of　furniture　here　and　the　first　thing　that　caught　that　cockney　eye　of　mine。　But　there　is　something　else。　That　loft　up　there　is　a　sort　of　lumber　room　without　any　lumber。　So　far　as　I　can　see；　it's　as　empty　as　everything　else；　and；　as　things　are；　I　don't　see　the　use　of　the　ladder　leading　to　it。　It　seems　to　me；　as　I　can't　find　anything　unusual　down　here；　that　it　might　pay　us　to　look　up　there。〃

He　got　briskly　off　the　table　on　which　he　was　sitting　（for　the　only　chair　was　allotted　to　Sir　Walter）　and　ran　rapidly　up　the　ladder　to　the　platform　above。　He　was　soon　followed　by　the　others；　Mr。　Fisher　going　last；　however；　with　an　appearance　of　considerable　nonchalance。

At　this　stage；　however；　they　were　destined　to　disappointment；　Wilson　nosed　in　every　corner　like　a　terrier　and　examined　the　roof　almost　in　the　posture　of　a　fly；　but　half　an　hour　afterward　they　had　to　confess　that　they　were　still　without　a　clew。　Sir　Walter's　private　secretary　seemed　more　and　more　threatened　with　inappropriate　slumber；　and；　having　been　the　last　to　climb　up　the　ladder；　seemed　now　to　lack　the　energy　even　to　climb　down　again。

〃Come　along；　Fisher；〃　called　out　Sir　Walter　from　below；　when　the　others　had　regained　the　floor。　〃We　must　consider　whether　we'll　pull　the　whole　place　to　pieces　to　see　what　it's　made　of。〃

〃I'm　coming　in　a　minute；〃　said　the　voice　from　the　ledge　above　their　heads；　a　voice　somewhat　suggestive　of　an　articulate　yawn。

〃What　are　you　waiting　for？〃　asked　Sir　Walter；　impatiently。　〃Can　you　see　anything　there？〃

〃Well；　yes；　in　a　way；〃　replied　the　voice；　vaguely。　〃In　fact；　I　see　it　quite　plain　now。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Wilson；　sharply；　from　the　table　on　which　he　sat　kicking　his　heels　restlessly。

〃Well；　it's　a　man；〃　said　Horne　Fisher。

Wilson　bounded　off　the　table　as　if　he　had　been　kicked　off　it。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　cried。　〃How　can　you　possibly　see　a　man？〃

〃I　can　see　him　through　the　window；〃　replied　the　secretary；　mildly。　〃I　see　him　coming　across　the　moor。　He's　making　a　bee　line　across　the　open　country　toward　this　tower。　He　evidently　means　to　pay　us　a　visit。　And；　considering　who　it　seems　to　be；　perhaps　it　would　be　more　polite。　if　we　were　all　at　the　door　to　receive　him。〃　And　in　a　leisurely　manner　the　secretary　came　down　the　ladder。

〃Who　it　seems　to　be！〃　repeated　Sir　Walter　in　astonishment。

〃Well；　I　think　it's　the　man　you　call　Prince　Michael；〃　observed　Mr。　Fisher；　airily。　〃In　fact；　I'm　sure　it　is。　I've　seen　the　police　portraits　of　him。〃

There　was　a　dead　silence；　and　Sir　Walter's　usually　steady　brain　seemed　to　go　round　like　a　windmill。

〃But；　hang　it　all！〃　he　said　at　last；　〃even　supposing　his　own　explosion　could　have　thrown　him　half　a　mile　away；　without　passing　through　any　of　the　windows；　and　left　him　alive　enough　for　a　country　walkeven　then；　why　the　devil　should　he　walk　in　this　direction？　The　murderer　does　not　generally　revisit　the　scene　of　his　crime　so　rapidly　as　all　that。〃

〃He　doesn't　know　yet　that　it　is　the　scene　of　his　crime；〃　answered　Horne　Fisher。

〃What　on　earth　do　you　mean？　You　credit　him　with　rather　singular　absence　of　mind。〃

〃Well；　the　truth　is；　it　isn't　the　scene　of　his　crime；　said　Fisher；　and　went　and　looked　out　of　the　window。

There　was　another　silence；　and　then　Sir　Walter　said；　quietly：　〃What　sort　of　notion　have　you　really　got　in　your　head；　Fisher？　Have　you　developed　a　new　theory　about　how　this　fellow　escaped　out　of　the　ring　round　him？〃

〃He　never　escaped　at　all；〃　answered　the　man　at　the　window；　without　turning　round。　〃He　never　escaped　out　of　the　ring　because　he　was　never　inside　the　ring。　He　was　not　in　this　tower　at　all；　at　least　not　when　we　were　surrounding　it。〃

He　turned　and　leaned　back　against　the　window；　but；　in　spite　of　his　usual　listless　manner；　they　almost　fancied　that　the　face　in　shadow　was　a　little　pale。

〃I　began　to　guess　something　of　the　sort　when　we　were　some　way　from　the　tower；〃　he　said。　〃Did　you　notice　that　sort　of　flash　or　flicker　the　candle　gave　before　it　was　extinguished？　I　was　almost　certain　it　was　only　the　last　leap　the　flame　gives　when　a　candle　burns　itself　out。　And　then　I　came　into　this　room　and　I　saw　that。〃

He　pointed　at　the　table　and　Sir　Walter　caught　his　breath　with　a　sort　of　curse　at　his　own　blindness。　For　the　candle　in　the　candlestick　had　obviously　burned　itself　away　to　nothing　and　left　him；　mentally；　at　least；　very　completely　in　the　dark。

〃Then　there　is　a　sort　of　mathematical　question；〃　went　on　Fisher；　leaning　back　in　his　limp　way　and　looking　up　at　the　bare　walls；　as　if　tracing　imaginary　diagrams　there。　〃It's　not　so　easy　for　a　man　in　the　third　angle　to　face　the　other　two　at　the　same　moment；　especially　if　they　are　at　the　base　of　an　isosceles。　I　am　sorry　if　it　sounds　like　a　lecture　on　geometry；　but〃

〃I'm　afraid　we　have　no　time　for　it；〃　said　Wilson；　coldly。　〃If　this　man　is　really　coming　back；　I　must　give　my　orders　at　once。〃

〃I　think　I'll　go　on　with　it；　though；〃　observed　Fisher；　staring　at　the　roof　with　insolent　serenity。

〃I　must　ask　you；　Mr。　Fisher；　to　let　me　conduct　my　inquiry　on　my　own　lines；〃　said　Wilson；　firmly。　〃I　am　the　officer　in　charge　now。〃

〃Yes；〃　remarked　Horne　Fisher；　softly；　but　with　an　accent　that　somehow　chilled　the　hearer。　〃Yes。　But　why？〃

Sir　Walter　was　staring；　for　he　had　never　seen　his　rather　lackadaisical　young　friend　look　like　that　before。　Fisher　was　looking　at　Wilson　with　lifted　lids；　and　the　eyes　under　them　seemed　to　have　shed　or　shifted　a　film；　as　do　the　eyes　of　an　eagle。

〃Why　are　you　the　officer　in　charge　now？〃　he　asked。　〃Why　can　you　conduct　the　inquiry　on　your　own　lines　now？　How　did　it　come　about；　I　wonder；　that　the　elder　officers　are　not　here　to　interfere　with　anything　you　do？〃

Nobody　spoke；　and　nobody　can　say　how　soon　anyone　would　have　collected　his　wits　to　speak　when　a　noise　came　from　without。　It　was　the　heavy　and　hollow　sound　of　a　blow　upon　the　door　of　the　tower；　and　to　their　shaken　spirits　it　sounded　strangely　like　the　hammer　of　doom。

The　wooden　door　of　the　tower　moved　on　its　rusty　hinges　under　the　hand　that　struck　it　and　Prince　Michael　came　into　the　room。　Nobody　had　the　smallest　doubt　about　his　identity。　His　light　clothes；　though　frayed　with　his　adventures；　were　of　fine　and　almost　foppish　cut；　and　he　wore　a　pointed　beard；　or　imperial；　perhaps　as　a　further　reminiscence　of　Louis　Napoleon；　but　he　was　a　much　taller　and　more　graceful　man　that　his　prototype。　Before　anyone　could　speak　he　had　silenced　everyone　for　an　instant　with　a　slight　but　splendid　gesture　of　hospitality。

〃Gentlemen；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　a　poor　place　now；　but　you　are　heartily　welcome。〃

Wilson　was　the　first　to　recover；　and　he　took　a　stride　toward　the　newcomer。

〃Michael　O'Neill；　I　arrest　you　in　the　king's　name　for　the　murder　of　Francis　Morton　and　James　Nolan。　It　is　my　duty　to　warn　you〃

〃No；　no；　Mr。　Wilson；〃　cried　Fisher；　suddenly。　〃You　shall　not　commit　a　third　murder。〃

Sir　Walter　Carey　rose　from　his　chair；　which　fell　over　with　a　crash　behind　him。　〃What　does　all　this　mean？〃　he　called　out　in　an　authoritative　manner。

〃It　means；〃　said　Fisher；　〃that　this　man；　Hooker　Wilson；　as　soon　as　he　had　put　his　head　in　at　that　window；　killed　his　two　comrades　who　had　put　their　heads　in　at　the　other　windows；　by　firing　across　the　empty　room。　That　is　what　it　means。　And　if　you　want　to　know；　count　how　many　times　he　is　supposed　to　have　fired　and　then　count　the　charges　left　in　his　revolver。〃

Wilson；　who　was　still　sitting　on　the　table；　abruptly　put　a　hand　out　for　the　weapon　that　lay　beside　him。　But　the　next　movement　was　the　most　unexpected　of　all；　for　the　prince　standing　in　the　doorway　passed　suddenly　from　the　dignity　of　a　statue　to　the　swiftness　of　an　acrobat　and　rent　the　revolver　out　of　the　detective's　hand。

〃You　dog！〃　he　cried。　〃So　you　are　the　type　of　English　truth；　as　I　am　of　Irish　tragedyyou　who　come　to　kill　me；　wading　through　the　blood　of　your　brethren。　If　they　had　fallen　in　a　feud　on　the　hillside；　it　would　be　called　murder；　and　yet　your　sin　might　be　forgiven　you。　But　I；　who　am　innocent；　I　was　to　be　slain　with　ceremony。　There　would　belong　speeches　and　patient　judges　listening　to　my　vain　plea　of　innocence；　noting　down　my　despair　and　disregarding　it。　Yes；　that　is　what　I　call　assassination。　But　killing　may　be　no　murder；　there　is　one　shot　left　in　this　little　gun；　and　I　know　where　it　should　go。〃

Wilson　turned　quickly　on　the　table；　and　even　as　he　turned　he　twisted　in　agony；　for　Michael　shot　him　through　the　body　where　he　sat；　so　that　he　tumbled　off　the　table　like　lumber。

The　police　rushed　to　lift　him；　Sir　Walter　stood　speechless；　and　then；　with　a　strange　and　weary　gesture；　Horne　Fisher　spoke。

〃You　are　indeed　a　type　of　the　Irish　tragedy；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　entirely　in　the　right；　and　you　have　put　yourself　in　the　wrong。〃

The　prince's　face　was　like　marble　for　a　space　then　there　dawned　in　his　eyes　a　light　not　unlike　that　of　despair。　He　laughed　suddenly　and　flung　the　smoking　pistol　on　the　ground。

〃I　am　indeed　in　the　wrong；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　committed　a　crime　that　may　justly　bring　a　curse　on　me　and　my　children。〃

Horne　Fisher　did　not　seem　entirely　satisfied　with　this　very　sudden　repentance；　he　kept　his　eyes　on　the　man　and　only　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃What　crime　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　have　helped　English　justice；〃　replied　Prince　Michael。　〃I　have　avenged　your　king's　officers；　I　have　done　the　work　of　his　hangman。　For　that　truly　I　deserve　to　be　hanged。〃

And　he　turned　to　the　police　with　a　gesture　that　did　not　so　much　surrender　to　them；　but　rather　command　them　to　arrest　him。

This　was　the　story　that　Horne　Fisher　told　to　Harold　March；　the　journalist；　many　years　after；　in　a　little；　but　luxurious；　restaurant　near　Picca　dilly。　He　had　invited　March　to　dinner　some　time　after　the　affair　he　called　〃The　Face　in　the　Target；〃　and　the　conversation　had　naturally　turned　on　that　mystery　and　afterward　on　earlier　memories　of　Fisher's　life　and　the　way