the red seal(红印)-第38章
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〃And the note； Sylvester； which you saw Miss McIntyre give me in
court；〃 concluded Rochester； as Helen paused； 〃told me to hand the
capsules to the burglar and to defend him in court。 I did both； although
badly puzzled by the request。〃 Rochester hesitated。 〃I carried out your
wishes； Helen； without question； but when the burglar's identity was
revealed； I jumped to the conclusion that you had used me as an
instrument to kill him； for I knew something of the effects of amyl nitrite。〃
〃Great Heavens！〃 exclaimed Helen； aghast。
Rochester looked at her and bit his lip； he knew of her affection for
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Jimmie and her attachment to his memory； but he could not kill the hope
that when Time had healed the loss； his devotion might some day win her
for his own。
〃I did you great injustice；〃 he admitted humbly。 〃But I was fearfully
shocked by the scene。 I strove to divert suspicion by insisting that
Jimmie died from angina pectoris； and then you came； Helen； and
demanded an autopsy。
〃I had to；〃 Helen broke in。 〃I could not believe that Jimmie's death
was due to natural causes；〃 her voice quivered。 〃He had been so loyal …
so faithful … I could not be less true to him； even if； as I feared； my own
dear father was guilty of the crime。
Kent turned and faced Sylvester； who had made a few shuffling steps
toward the door。
〃You have done incalculable harm by your criminal acts；〃 he said
sternly。 〃But for your lying and trickery Jimmie Turnbull would be alive
to…day。 I trust the Court will give you the maximum sentence。〃
Sylvester eyed him insolently。 〃I've had a run for my money； and I
stood to win large sums if things had only gone right；〃 he announced； then
addressed Helen directly。 〃What did you do with the securities？〃
〃I put the envelope back in the open safe when I was here early this
afternoon；〃 she explained。
An oath ripped from Sylvester。 〃I mistook you for your sister；〃 he
snarled。 〃Had I known it was you； I'd have wrung the securities from
you。〃
Helen stared at his suddenly contorted face。 〃Ah； you are the man
who looked in at the window of the reception room yesterday morning
when I was talking to Mr。 Kent；〃 she cried。 〃I recognize you now。〃
He continued to glare at her。 〃I also sent you a note by your sister
outside the Caf St。 Marks to secrete the letter 'B'；〃 his voice rose almost
into a shout in his ungovernable rage。 〃I heard Turnbull tell you to take
the envelope to Rochester； and I banked on your bringing it here or to his
apartment。 D…mn you！ You've thwarted me at every turn。〃
Rochester's powerful hand was clapped across his mouth with such
force that the clerk staggered against Ferguson。
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〃Here you； out you go。〃 The detective shoved the struggling man
toward the door leading into the corridor and Clymer sprang to his
assistance； a second later Rochester closed the door on their receding
figures and found Helen standing by his elbow。
〃I must go；〃 she said； turning back to look at her father and his bride。
〃Wait a minute。〃 Kent held up an envelope with its fateful red seal。
〃This was delivered empty at Rochester's apartment last night … it is
addressed to him。 Who wrote it？〃
〃I did；〃 exclaimed Mrs。 McIntyre。 〃I felt I must consult either you；
Mr。 Kent； or Mr。 Rochester； so I sent the note to his apartment； but the
messenger boy hurried me； and it was not until hours later that I found the
note lying on the desk in the reception room and realized I had sent an
empty envelope。〃
〃I see。〃 Kent held up another envelope； the red seal broken at the
corner。 〃This is yours； Helen。〃
Helen hesitated perceptibly before taking the envelope and tearing it
open。 She handed the securities to her father。
〃Here is father's forged confession；〃 she said as she took the remaining
paper from the envelope。
〃It is a marvelous imitation of my handwriting；〃 declared McIntyre；
looking at it carefully； then tearing it into tiny bits he flung them into the
scrap…basket and pocketed the securities。
〃And to think that I aided Sylvester's plot to gain the securities by
engaging him as our clerk；〃 groaned Rochester。
〃It was clever of him to seek employment here；〃 agreed Kent。 〃But
like many crooks he over…reached himself through over…confidence。 Must
you go； Colonel McIntyre？〃
〃Yes。〃 McIntyre walked over to Helen。
〃My dear little girl；〃 he began and his voice was husky with feeling。
〃How can I show my appreciation of your loyalty to me？〃
〃By being kind to Harry and Barbara。〃 Helen smiled bravely；
although her lips were trembling and for a moment she could not trust
herself to speak。 〃My romance is over； Barbara's is just beginning。
And； father； will you and Margaret come home with me … I am so lonely；〃
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then turning blindly away she fairly ran out of the office。
〃Go with her；〃 said Rochester； a trifle unsteadily。 〃It has been a
terrible ordeal； God help her to forget！〃 His voice failed and he swept his
hand across his eyes as he held open the door into the corridor and
followed McIntyre and his wife outside。
Kent turned impulsively to Barbara； and his arms closed around her as
she raised her eyes to meet his； for she knew that the promise they spoke
would be loyally fulfilled； and that her haven of love and happiness was
reached at last。
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