the red seal(红印)-第31章
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〃Why did Mr。 Turnbull enter Colonel McIntyre's library on Monday
night disguised as a burglar？〃 he asked。
Grimes； by a twist of his head； managed to regard the detective out of
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the corner of his eye。
〃Aye； why did he？〃 he repeated。 〃That's what I went to the library
last night to find out。〃
〃Did you discover anything？〃 The question shot from McIntyre； and
both Ferguson and Kent watched him as they waited for Grimes' reply。
The butler took his time。
〃No； sir。〃
McIntyre threw himself back in his chair and his eyebrows rose in
interrogation as he touched his forehead significantly and glanced at
Grimes。 That the butler caught his meaning was evident from his
expression； but he said nothing。 The detective was the first to speak。
〃Did you hear any one break into the house when you were prowling
around； Grimes？〃 he asked。
〃No； sir。〃
The detective turned to Colonel McIntyre。 〃After finding Grimes did
you search the house？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes。 The patrolman； O'Ryan； and my new footman； Murray； went
with me through the entire house； and we found all doors and windows to
the front and rear of the house securely locked；〃 responded McIntyre；
〃except the window of the reception room on the ground floor。 That was
closed but unlatched。〃
Kent wondered if the grimace which twisted the butler's face was
meant for a smile。
〃That there window was locked when I went to bed；〃 Grimes stated
with slow distinctness。 〃And I was the last person in this house to go to
my room。〃
McIntyre started to speak when Ferguson stopped him。
〃Just let me handle this case；〃 he said persuasively。 〃You have called
in the police；〃 and as McIntyre commenced some uncomplimentary
remark； he added with sternness。 〃Don't interfere； sir。 Now； Grimes；
your statements imply one of two things … some member of the household
either went downstairs after you had retired； and opened the window in the
reception room to admit the person who afterwards attacked you in the
library； or〃 … Ferguson paused significantly； 〃some member of this
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household knocked you senseless in the library。 Which was it？〃
There was a tense silence。 McIntyre； by an obvious effort； refrained
from speech as they waited for Grimes' answer。
〃I dunno who hit me。〃 Grimes avoided looking at the three men。
〃But some one did； and that window in the reception room was locked
when I went upstairs to my bedroom after every one had retired。 I'm
telling you God's truth； sir。〃
McIntyre eyed him in wrathful silence； then turned to his companions。
〃The blow has knocked Grimes silly；〃 he commented。 〃There is
certainly no motive for any of us to attack Grimes； nor has any trace of a
weapon been found such as must have been used against Grimes。
O'Ryan and I looked particularly for it； after removing Grimes from the
Venetian casket； where my daughter Helen； Mrs。 Brewster and I
discovered him lying unconscious。〃
〃What's this Venetian casket like？〃 asked Ferguson before Kent could
question McIntyre。
〃It is a fine sample of carving of the Middle Ages；〃 replied McIntyre。
〃I purchased the pair when in Venice years ago。 They are over six feet in
length； about three feet wide； and rest on a carved base。 There is a door
at the end through which it was customary in the Middle Ages to slide the
body； after embalming； for the funeral ceremonies； after which the body
was removed； placed in another casket and buried。 There is a square
opening or peep hole on the top of the casket through which you can look
at the body； a cleverly concealed door covers this opening。 In fact；〃
added McIntyre； 〃the door at the end is not at first discernible； and is hard
to open； unless one has the knack of doing so。〃
〃Hum！ It looks as if whoever put Grimes inside the casket was
familiar with it；〃 remarked Ferguson dryly； and McIntyre bit his lip。
〃Guess I'll go and take a look at the casket。 I'll come back； Grimes。〃
Kent rose with the others and started to follow them to the door； but
Grimes beckoned him to approach the bed。 The butler waited until he
heard McIntyre's heavy tread and the lighter footfall of the detective
recede down the hall before speaking。
〃I was only going to say； sir；〃 he whispered as Kent； at a sign from him；
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stooped over the bed； 〃I got a box of aconitine pills for Mrs。 Brewster on
Sunday … the stuff that poisoned Mr。 Turnbull；〃 he paused to explain。
〃Yes； go on；〃 urged Kent； catching the man's excitement。 〃You gave
it to Mrs。 Brewster …〃
〃No； sir； I didn't； I left the box on the hall table；〃 Grimes cleared his
throat nervously。 〃I dunno who picked up that box o' poison； Mr。 Kent；
so help me God； I dunno！〃
Kent thought rapidly。 〃Have you told any one of this？〃 he asked。
Grimes nodded。 〃Only one person；〃 he admitted。〃 I spoke to Miss
Barbara last night as she was going to bed。〃 Grimes laid a hot hand on
Kent's and glanced fearfully around the room。 〃Bend nearer； sir； I don't
want none other to hear me。 Just before I got that knockout blow in the
library last night； I heard the swish o' skirts … and Miss Barbara was the
only living person who knew I knew about the poison。〃
Kent stared in stupefaction at the butler。 He was aroused by a cold
voice from the doorway。
〃We are waiting for you； Kent；〃 and Colonel McIntyre stood aside to
let him pass from the room ahead of him； then without a backward glance
at the injured butler； he closed and locked the bedroom door。
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CHAPTER XVIII
THE FATAL PERIOD
As Kent walked into the library he found Colonel McIntyre by his side；
the latter's even breathing gave no indication of the haste he had made
down the staircase to catch up with Kent。
Detective Ferguson hardly noted their arrival； his attention being given
wholly to the examination of the Venetian casket which had played such
an important part in the drama of the night before。 The casket and its
companion piece stood on either side of the room near a window recess。
The long straight shape of the high boxes on their graceful base gave no
indication of the use to which they had been put in ancient days； but made
attractive as well as unique pieces of furniture。
Kent crossed the library and； after looking inside the casket； examined
the exterior with care。
〃Don't touch that crest；〃 cautioned Ferguson； observing that Kent's
glance remained focused on the blood…stained； raised letter 〃B〃 and the
carving back of it。 〃In fact； don't touch any part of the casket； I'm trying
to get finger prints。〃
Kent barely heard the warning as he turned to McIntyre。
〃Haven't I seen that letter 'B' design on your stationery； Colonel？〃 he
asked。
〃Barbara uses it；〃 was the reply。 〃She fancied the antique lettering；
and copied the 'B' for the engraver； she is handy with her pen； you know。〃
〃Did she wish the 'B' for a seal？〃 inquired Kent。
〃Yes； she had a seal made like it also。〃 McIntyre moved closer to the
casket。 〃Found anything； Ferguson？〃
The detective withdrew his head from the opening at the end of the
casket； and regarded the furniture vexedly。
〃Not a thing；〃 he acknowledged。 〃Except I am convinced that it
required dexterity to slip Grimes inside the casket。 The butler is small
and slight； but he must have been unconscious from that tap on the
forehead and； therefore； a dead weight。 Whoever picked him up must
have been some athlete； and〃 … running his eyes up and down Colonel
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McIntyre's well…knit； erect frame … 〃pretty familiar with the workings of
this casket。〃
〃Pooh！ It's not so difficult a feat；〃 McIntyre shrugged his shoulders
disdainfully。 〃My daughters； as children； used to play hide and seek
inside the casket with each new governess。〃
Ferguson stepped forward briskly。 〃Mr。 Kent； let me see if I can lift
you inside the casket； make yourself limp … that's it！〃 as Kent； entering into
the investigation heart and soul； relaxed his muscles and fell back against
the detective。
A moment later he was swung upward and pushed head…first inside the
casket and the door closed。 The air； though close； was not unpleasant and
Kent； his eyes growing gradually accustomed to the dark interior； tried to
discover the trap door at the top of the box but without success。 Putting
out his hands he felt along the top。 The height of the casket did not
permit him to sit up； so he was obliged to slide his body down toward his
feet to feel along the sides of the casket。 This maneuver soon brought his
knees in violent contact with the top； and at the sound Ferguson opened
the door and assisted him out。
〃Had enough of it？〃 he asked； viewing Kent's reddened cheeks with
faint amusement。 〃I wonder if Grimes could breathe in there for any
lengthy period。 If so； it would help establish the time which elapsed
between his being incarcerated
