the lodger-第10章

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She　answered　in　a　whisper；　a　whisper　thrilling　with　a　strange　gladness；　〃No；　nothing；　Bunting　…　nothing　the　matter！　　Go　to　sleep　again；　my　dear。〃

They　got　up　an　hour　later；　both　in　a　happy；　cheerful　mood。　　Bunting　rejoiced　at　the　thought　of　his　daughter's　coming；　and　even　Daisy's　stepmother　told　herself　that　it　would　be　pleasant　having　the　girl　about　the　house　to　help　her　a　bit。

About　ten　o'clock　Bunting　went　out　to　do　some　shopping。　　He　brought　back　with　him　a　nice　little　bit　of　pork　for　Daisy's　dinner；　and　three　mince…pies。　　He　even　remembered　to　get　some　apples　for　the　sauce。


CHAPTER　VII

Just　as　twelve　was　striking　a　four…wheeler　drew　up　to　the　gate。

It　brought　Daisy　…　pink…cheeked；　excited；　laughing…eyed　Daisy　…　a　sight　to　gladden　any　father's　heart。

〃Old　Aunt　said　I　was　to　have　a　cab　if　the　weather　was　bad；〃　she　cried　out　joyously。

There　was　a　bit　of　a　wrangle　over　the　fare。　　King's　Cross；　as　all　the　world　knows；　is　nothing　like　two　miles　from　the　Marylebone　Road；　but　the　man　clamoured　for　one　and　sixpence；　and　hinted　darkly　that　he　had　done　the　young　lady　a　favour　in　bringing　her　at　all。

While　he　and　Bunting　were　having　words；　Daisy；　leaving　them　to　it；　walked　up　the　flagged　path　to　the　door　where　her　stepmother　was　awaiting　her。

As　they　were　exchanging　a　rather　frigid　kiss；　indeed；　'twas　a　mere　peck　on　Mrs。　Bunting's　part；　there　fell；　with　startling　suddenness；　loud　cries　on　the　still；　cold　air。　　Long…drawn　and　wailing；　they　sounded　strangely　sad　as　they　rose　and　fell　across　the　distant　roar　of　traffic　in　the　Edgware　Road。

〃What's　that？〃　exclaimed　Bunting　wonderingly。　　〃Why；　whatever's　that？〃

The　cabman　lowered　his　voice。　　〃Them's　'a…crying　out　that　'orrible　affair　at　King's　Cross。　　He's　done　for　two　of　'em　this　time！　　That's　what　I　meant　when　I　said　I　might　'a　got　a　better　fare。　　I　wouldn't　say　nothink　before　little　missy　there；　but　folk　'ave　been　coming　from　all　over　London　the　last　five　or　six　hours；　plenty　of　toffs；　too　…　but　there；　there's　nothing　to　see　now！〃

〃What？　　Another　woman　murdered　last　night？〃

Bunting　felt　tremendously　thrilled。　　What　had　the　five　thousand　constables　been　about　to　let　such　a　dreadful　thing　happen？

The　cabman　stared　at　him；　surprised。　　〃Two　of　'em；　I　tell　yer　…　　within　a　few　yards　of　one　another。　　He　'ave　…　got　a　nerve　…　　But；　of　course；　they　was　drunk。　　He　are　got　a　down　on　the　drink！〃

〃Have　they　caught　him？〃　asked　Bunting　perfunctorily。

〃Lord；　no！　　They'll　never　catch　'im！　　It　must　'ave　happened　hours　and　hours　ago　…　they　was　both　stone　cold。　　One　each　end　of　a　little　passage　what　ain't　used　no　more。　　That's　why　they　didn't　find　'em　before。〃

The　hoarse　cries　were　coming　nearer　and　nearer　…　two　news　vendors　trying　to　outshout　each　other。

〃'Orrible　discovery　near　King's　Cross！〃　they　yelled　exultingly。　〃The　Avenger　again！〃

And　Bunting；　with　his　daughter's　large　straw　hold…all　in　his　hand；　ran　forward　into　the　roadway　and　recklessly　gave　a　boy　a　penny　for　a　halfpenny　paper。

He　felt　very　much　moved　and　excited。　　Somehow　his　acquaintance　with　young　Joe　Chandler　made　these　murders　seem　a　personal　affair。　　He　hoped　that　Chandler　would　come　in　soon　and　tell　them　all　about　it；　as　he　had　done　yesterday　morning　when　he；　Bunting；　had　unluckily　been　out。

As　be　walked　back　into　the　little　hall；　he　heard　Daisy's　voice　…　　high；　voluble；　excited　…　giving　her　stepmother　a　long　account　of　the　scarlet　fever　case；　and　how　at　first　Old　Aunt's　neighbours　had　thought　it　was　not　scarlet　fever　at　all；　but　just　nettlerash。

But　as　Bunting　pushed　open　the　door　of　the　sitting…room；　there　came　a　note　of　sharp　alarm　in　his　daughter's　voice；　and　he　heard　her　cry；　〃Why；　Ellen；　whatever　is　the　matter？　　You　do　look　bad！〃　and　his　wife's　muffled　answer；　〃Open　the　window　…　do。〃

〃'Orrible　discovery　near　King's　Cross　…　a　clue　at　last！〃　yelled　the　newspaper…boys　triumphantly。

And　then；　helplessly；　Mrs。　Bunting　began　to　laugh。　　She　laughed；　and　laughed；　and　laughed；　rocking　herself　to　and　fro　as　if　in　an　ecstasy　of　mirth。

〃Why；　father；　whatever's　the　matter　with　her？〃

Daisy　looked　quite　scared。

〃She's　in　'sterics　…　that's　what　it　is；〃　he　said　shortly。　〃I'll　just　get　the　water…jug。　　Wait　a　minute！〃

Bunting　felt　very　put　out。　　Ellen　was　ridiculous　…　that's　what　she　was；　to　be　so　easily　upset。

The　lodger's　bell　suddenly　pealed　through　the　quiet　house。　　Either　that　sound；　or　maybe　the　threat　of　the　water…jug；　had　a　magical　effect　on　Mrs。　Bunting。　　She　rose　to　her　feet；　still　shaking　all　over；　but　mentally　composed。

〃I'll　go　up；〃　she　skid　a　little　chokingly。　　〃As　for　you；　child；　just　run　down　into　the　kitchen。　　You'll　find　a　piece　of　pork　roasting　in　the　oven。　　You　might　start　paring　the　apples　for　the　sauce。〃

As　Mrs。　Bunting　went　upstairs　her　legs　felt　as　if　they　were　made　of　cotton　wool。　　She　put　out　a　trembling　hand；　and　clutched　at　the　banister　for　support。　　But　soon；　making　a　great　effort　over　herself；　she　began　to　feel　more　steady；　and　after　waiting　for　a　few　moments　on　the　landing；　she　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　drawing…room。

Mr。　Sleuth's　voice　answered　her　from　the　bedroom。　　〃I'm　not　well；〃　he　called　out　querulously；　〃I　think　I've　caught　a　chill。　　I　should　be　obliged　if　you　would　kindly　bring　me　up　a　cup　of　tea；　and　put　it　outside　my　door；　Mrs。　Bunting。〃

〃Very　well；　sir。〃

Mrs。　Bunting　turned　and　went　downstairs。　　She　still　felt　queer　and　giddy；　so　instead　of　going　into　the　kitchen；　she　made　the　lodger　his　cup　of　tea　over　her　sitting…room　gas…ring。

During　their　midday　dinner　the　husband　and　wile　had　a　little　discussion　as　to　where　Daisy　should　sleep。　　It　had　been　settled　that　a　bed　should　be　made　up　for　her　in　the　top　back　room；　but　Mrs。　Bunting　saw　reason　to　change　this　plan。　　〃I　think　'twould　be　better　if　Daisy　were　to　sleep　with　me；　Bunting；　and　you　was　to　sleep　upstairs。〃

Bunting　felt　and　looked　rather　surprised；　but　he　acquiesced。　　Ellen　was　probably　right；　the　girl　would　be　rather　lonely　up　there；　and；　after　all；　they　didn't　know　much　about　the　lodger；　though　he　seemed　a　respectable　gentleman　enough。

Daisy　was　a　good…natured　girl；　she　liked　London；　and　wanted　to　make　herself　useful　to　her　stepmother。　　〃I'll　wash　up；　don't　you　bother　to　come　downstairs；〃　she　said　cheerfully。

Bunting　began　to　walk　up　and　down　the　room。　　His　wife　gave　him　a　furtive　glance；　she　wondered　what　he　was　thinking　about。

〃Didn't　you　get　a　paper？〃　she　said　at　last。

〃Yes；　of　course　I　did；〃　he　answered　hastily。　　〃But　I've　put　it　away。　I　thought　you'd　rather　not　look　at　it；　as　you're　that　nervous。〃

Again　she　glanced　at　him　quickly；　furtively；　but　he　seemed　just　as　usual　…　he　evidently　meant　just　what　he　said　and　no　more。

〃I　thought　they　was　shouting　something　in　the　street　…　I　mean　just　before　I　was　took　bad。〃

It　was　now　Bunting's　turn　to　stare　at　his　wife　quickly　and　rather　furtively。　　He　had　felt　sure　that　her　sudden　attack　of　queerness；　　of　hysterics　…　call　it　what　you　might　…　had　been　due　to　the　shouting　outside。　　She　was　not　the　only　woman　in　London　who　had　got　the　Avenger　murders　on　her　nerves。　　His　morning　paper　said　quite　a　lot　of　women　were　afraid　to　go　out　alone。　　Was　it　possible　that　the　curious　way　she　had　been　taken　just　now　had　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　shouts　and　excitement　outside？

〃Don't　you　know　what　it　was　they　were　calling　out？〃　he　asked　slowly。

Mrs。　Bunting　looked　across　at　him。　　She　would　have　given　a　very　great　deal　to　be　able　to　lie；　to　pretend　that　she　did　not　know　what　those　dreadful　cries　had　portended。　　But　when　it　came　to　the　point　she　found　she　could　not　do　so。

〃Yes；〃　she　said　dully。　　〃I　heard　a　word　here　and　there。　　There's　been　another　murder；　hasn't　there？〃

〃Two　other　murders；〃　he　said　soberly。　　

〃Two？　　That's　worse　news！〃　　She　turned　so　pale　…　a　sallow　greenish…white　…　that　Bunting　thought　she　was　again　going　queer。

〃Ellen？〃　he　said　warningly；　〃Ellen；　now　do　have　a　care！　　I　can't　think　what's　come　over；　you　about　these　murders。　　Turn　your　mind　away　from　them；　do！　　We　needn't　talk　about　them　…　not　so　much；　that　is　〃

〃But　I　wants　to　talk　about　them；〃　cried　Mrs。　Bunting　hysterically。

The　husband　and　wife　were　standing；　one　each　side　of　the　table；　the　man　with　his　back　to　the　fire；　the　woman　with　her　back　to　the　door。

Bunting；　staring　across　at　his　wife；　felt　sadly　perplexed　and　disturbed。　　She　really　did　seem　ill；　even　her　slight；　spare　figure　looked　shrunk。　　For　the　first　time；　so　he　told　himself　ruefully；　Ellen　was　beginning　to　look　her　full　age。　　Her　slender　hands　…　she　had　kept　the　pretty；　soft　white　hands　of　the　woman　who　has　never　done　rough　work　…　grasped　the　edge　of　the　table　with　a　convulsive　movement。

Bunting　didn't　at　all　like　the　look　of　her。　　〃Oh；　dear；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　do　hope　Ellen　isn't　going　to　be　ill！　　That　would　be　a　to…do　just　now。〃

〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　she　commanded；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃　Can't　you　see　I'm　waiting　to　hear？　　Be　quick　now；　Bunting！〃

〃There　isn't　very　much　to　tell；〃　he　said　reluctantly。　　〃There's　precious　little　in　this　paper；　anyway。　　But　the　cabman　what　brought　Daisy　told　me　…　〃

〃Well？〃

〃What　I　said　just　now。　　There's　two　of　'em　this　time；　and　they'd　both　been　drinking　heavily；　poor　creatures。〃

〃Was　it　where　the　others　was　done？〃　she　asked　looking　at　her　husband　fearfully。

〃No；〃　he　said　awkwardly。　　〃No；　it　wasn't；　Ellen。　　It　was　a　good　bit　farther　West　…　in　fact；　not　so　very　far　from　here。　　Near　King's　Cross　　…　that's　how　the　cabman　knew　about　it；　you　see。　　They　seems　to　have　been　done　in　a　passage　which　isn't　used　no　more。〃　　And　then；　as　he　thought　his　wife's　eyes　were　beginning　to　look　rather　funny；　he　added　hastily。　　〃There；　that's　enough　for　the　present！　　We　shall　soon　be　hearing　a　lot　more　about　it　from　Joe　Chandler。　　He's　pretty　sure　to　come　in　some　time　to…day。〃

〃Then　the　five　thousand　constables　weren't　no　use？〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　slowly。

She　had　relaxed　her　grip　of　the　table；　and　was　standing　more　upright。

〃No　use　at　all；〃　said　Bunting　briefly。　　〃He　is　artful　and　no　mistake　about　it。　　But　wait　a　minute　…　〃　he　turned　and　took　up　the　paper　which　he　had　laid　aside；　on　a　chair。　　〃Yes　they　says　here　that　they　has　a　clue。〃

〃A　clue；　Bunting？〃　　Mrs。　Bunting　spoke　in　a　soft；　weak；　die…away　voice；　and　again；　stooping　somewhat；　she　grasped　the　edge　of　the　table。

But　her　husband　was　not　noticing　her　now。　　He　was　holding　the　paper　close　up　to　his　eyes；　and　he　read　from　it；　in　a　tone　of　considerable　satisfaction：

〃'It　is　gratifying　to　be　able　to　state　that　the　police　at　last　believe　they　are　in　possession　of　a　clue　which　will　lead　to　the　arrest　of　the　…　'〃　and　then　Bunting　dropped　the　paper　and　rushed　round　the　table。

His　wife；　with　a　curious　sighing　moan；　had　slipped　down　on　to　the　floor；　taking　with　her　the　tablecloth　as　she　went。　　She　lay　there　in　what　appeared　to　be　a　dead　faint。　　And　Bunting；　scared　out　of　his　wits；　opened　the　door　and　screamed　out；　〃Daisy！　　Daisy！　　Come　up；　child。　　Ellen's　took　bad　again。〃

And　Daisy；　hurrying　in；　showed　an　amount　of　sense　and　resource　which　even　at　this　anxious　moment　roused　her　fond　father's　admiration。

〃Get　a　wet　sponge；　Dad　…　quick！〃　she　cried；　〃a　sponge；　…　and；　if　you've　got　such　a　thing；　a　drop　o'　brandy。　　I'll　see　after　her！〃　And　then；　after　he　had　got　the　lit