the lodger-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


's　finger…tips！　　I　expect　you　know；　Mr。　Bunting；　as　how；　once　we've　got　the　print　of　a　man's　five　finger…tips；　well；　he's　done　for　…　if　he　ever　does　anything　else；　that　is。　　Once　we've　got　that　bit　of　him　registered　he　can't　never　escape　us　…　no；　not　if　he　tries　ever　so。　But　though　there's　nigh　on　a　quarter　of　a　million　records　in　there；　yet　it　don't　take　…　well；　not　half　an　hour；　for　them　to　tell　whether　any　particular　man　has　ever　been　convicted　before！　　Wonderful　thought；　ain't　it？〃

〃Wonderful！〃　said　Bunting；　drawing　a　deep　breath。　　And　then　a　troubled　look　came　over　his　stolid　face。　　〃Wonderful；　but　also　a　very　fearful　thought　for　the　poor　wretches　as　has　got　their　finger…prints　in；　Joe。〃

Joe　laughed。　　〃Agreed！〃　he　said。　　〃And　the　cleverer　ones　knows　that　only　too　well。　　Why；　not　long　ago；　one　man　who　knew　his　record　was　here　safe；　managed　to　slash　about　his　fingers　something　awful；　just　so　as　to　make　a　blurred　impression　…　you　takes　my　meaning？　　But　there；　at　the　end　of　six　weeks　the　skin　grew　all　right　again；　and　in　exactly　the　same　little　creases　as　before！〃

〃Poor　devil！〃　said　Bunting　under　his　breath；　and　a　cloud　even　came　over　Daisy's　bright　eager　face。

They　were　now　going　along　a　narrower　passage；　and　then　again　they　came　to　a　half…open　door；　leading　into　a　room　far　smaller　than　that　of　the　Finger…Print　Identification　Room。

〃If　you'll　glance　in　there；〃　said　Joe　briefly；　〃you'll　see　how　we　finds　out　all　about　any　man　whose　finger…tips　has　given　him　away；　so　to　speak。　　It's　here　we　keeps　an　account　of　what　he's　done；　his　previous　convictions；　and　so　on。　　His　finger…tips　are　where　I　told　you；　and　his　record　in　there　…　just　connected　by　a　number。〃

〃Wonderful！〃　said　Bunting；　drawing　in　his　breath。　　But　Daisy　was　longing　to　get　on　…　to　get　to　the　Black　Museum。　　All　this　that　Joe　and　her　father　were　saying　was　quite　unreal　to　her；　and；　for　the　matter　of　that　not　worth　taking　the　trouble　to　understand。　　However；　she　had　not　long　to　wait。

A　broad…shouldered；　pleasant…looking　young　fellow；　who　seemed　on　very　friendly　terms　with　Joe　Chandler；　came　forward　suddenly；　and；　unlocking　a　common…place…looking　door；　ushered　the　little　party　of　three　through　into　the　Black　Museum。

For　a　moment　there　came　across　Daisy　a　feeling　of　keen　disappointment　and　surprise。　　This　big；　light　room　simply　reminded　her　of　what　they　called　the　Science　Room　in　the　public　library　of　the　town　where　she　lived　with　Old　Aunt。　　Here；　as　there；　the　centre　was　taken　up　with　plain　glass　cases　fixed　at　a　height　from　the　floor　which　enabled　their　contents　to　be　looked　at　closely。

She　walked　forward　and　peered　into　the　case　nearest　the　door。　　The　exhibits　shown　there　were　mostly　small；　shabby…looking　little　things；　the　sort　of　things　one　might　turn　out　of　an　old　rubbish　cupboard　in　an　untidy　house　…　old　medicine　bottles；　a　soiled　neckerchief；　what　looked　like　a　child's　broken　lantern；　even　a　box　of　pills。　。　。

As　for　the　walls；　they　were　covered　with　the　queerest…looking　objects；　bits　of　old　iron；　odd…looking　things　made　of　wood　and　leather；　and　so　on。

It　was　really　rather　disappointing。

Then　Daisy　Bunting　gradually　became　aware　that　standing　on　a　shelf　just　below　the　first　of　the　broad；　spacious　windows　which　made　the　great　room　look　so　light　and　shadowless；　was　a　row　of　life…size　white　plaster　heads；　each　head　slightly　inclined　to　the　right。　There　were　about　a　dozen　of　these；　not　more　…　and　they　had　such　odd；　staring；　helpless；　real…looking　faces。

〃Whatever's　those？〃　asked　Bunting　in　a　low　voice。

Daisy　clung　a　thought　closer　to　her　father's　arm。　　Even　she　guessed　that　these　strange；　pathetic；　staring　faces　were　the　death…masks　of　those　men　and　women　who　had　fulfilled　the　awful　law　which　ordains　that　the　murderer　shall　be；　in　his　turn；　done　to　death。

〃All　hanged！〃　said　the　guardian　of　the　Black　Museum　briefly。　　〃Casts　taken　after　death。〃

Bunting　smiled　nervously。　　〃They　don't　look　dead　somehow。。　　They　looks　more　as　if　they　were　listening；〃　he　said。

〃That's　the　fault　of　Jack　Ketch；〃　said　the　man　facetiously。　　〃It's　his　idea　…　that　of　knotting　his'　patient's　necktie　under　the　left　ear！　　That's　what　he　does　to　each　of　the　gentlemen　to　whom　he　has　to　act　valet　on　just　one　occasion　only。　　It　makes　them　lean　just　a　bit　to　one　side。　　You　look　here　…　？〃

Daisy　and　her　father　came　a　little　closer；　and　the　speaker　pointed　with　his'　finger　to　a　little　dent　imprinted　on　the　left　side　of　each　neck；　running　from　this　indentation　was　a　curious　little　furrow；　well　ridged　above；　showing　how　tightly　Jack　Ketch's　necktie　had　been　drawn　when　its　wearer　was　hurried　through　the　gates　of　eternity。

〃They　looks　foolish…like；　rather　than　terrified；　or　…　or　hurt；〃　said　Bunting　wonderingly。

He　was　extraordinarily　moved　and　fascinated　by　those　dumb；　staring　faces。

But　young　Chandler　exclaimed　in　a　cheerful；　matter…of…fact　voice；　〃Well；　a　man　would　look　foolish　at　such　a　time　as　that；　with　all　his　plans　brought　to　naught　…　and　knowing　he's　only　got　a　second　to　live　　…　now　wouldn't　he？〃

〃Yes；　I　suppose　he　would；〃　said　Bunting　slowly。

Daisy　had　gone　a　little　pale。　　The　sinister；　breathless　atmosphere　of　the　place　was　beginning　to　tell　on　her。　　She　now　began　to　understand　that　the　shabby　little　objects　lying　there　in　the　glass　case　close　to　her　were　each　and　all　links　in　the　chain　of　evidence　which；　in　almost　every　case；　had　brought　some　guilty　man　or　woman　to　the　gallows。

〃We　had　a　yellow　gentleman　here　the　other　day；〃　observed　the　guardian　suddenly；　〃one　of　those　Brahmins　…　so　they　calls　themselves。　　Well；　you'd　a　been　quite　surprised　to　see　how　that　heathen　took　on！　　He　'declared　…　what　was　the　word　he　used？　〃　…　he　turned　to　Chandler。

〃He　said　that　each　of　these　things；　with　the　exception　of　the　casts；　mind　you　…　queer　to　say；　he　left　them　out　…　exuded　evil；　that　was　the　word　he　used！　　Exuded　…　squeezed　out　it　means。　　He　said　that　being　here　made　him　feel　very　bad。　　And　twasn't　all　nonsense　either。　He　turned　quite　green　under　his　yellow　skin；　and　we　had　to　shove　him　out　quick。　　He　didn't　feel　better　till　he'd　got　right　to　the　other　end　of　the　passage！〃

〃There　now！　　Who'd　ever　think　of　that？〃　said　Bunting。　　〃I　should　say　that　man　'ud　got　something　on　his　conscience；　wouldn't　you？〃

〃Well；　I　needn't　stay　now；〃　said　Joe's　good…natured　friend。　　〃You　show　your　friends　round；　Chandler。　　You　knows　the　place　nearly　as　well　as　I　do；　don't　you？〃

He　smiled　at　Joe's　visitors；　as　if　to　say　good…bye；　but　it　seemed　that　he　could　not　tear　himself　away　after　all。

〃Look　here；〃　he　said　to　Bunting。　　〃In　this　here　little　case　are　the　tools　of　Charles　Peace。　　I　expect　you've　heard　of　him。〃

〃I　should　think　I　have！〃　cried　Bunting　eagerly。

〃Many　gents　as　comes　here　thinks　this　case　the　most　interesting　of　all。　　Peace　was　such　a　wonderful　man！　　A　great　inventor　they　say　he　would　have　been；　had　he　been　put　in　the　way　of　it。　　Here's　his　ladder；　you　see　it　folds　up　quite　compactly；　and　makes　a　nice　little　bundle　…　just　like　a　bundle　of　old　sticks　any　man　might　have　been　seen　carrying　about　London　in　those　days　without　attracting　any　attention。　　Why；　it　probably　helped　him　to　look　like　an　honest　working　man　time　and　time　again；　for　on　being　arrested　he　declared　most　solemnly　he'd　always　carried　that　ladder　openly　under　his　arm。〃

〃The　daring　of　that！〃　cried　Bunting。

〃Yes；　and　when　the　ladder　was　opened　out　it　could　reach　from　the　ground　to　the　second　storey　of　any　old　house。　　And；　oh！　how　clever　he　was！　　Just　open　one　section；　and　you　see　the　other　sections　open　automatically；　so　Peace　could　stand　on　the　ground　and　force　the　thing　quietly　up　to　any　window　he　wished　to　reach。　　Then　he'd　go　away　again；　having　done　his　job；　with　a　mere　bundle　of　old　wood　under　his　arm！　　My　　word；　he　was　artful！　　I　wonder　if　you've　heard　the　tale　of　how　Peace　once　lost　a　finger。　　Well；　he　guessed　the　constables　were　instructed　to　look　out　for　a　man　missing　a　finger；　so　what　did　he　do？〃

〃Put　on　a　false　finger；〃　suggested　Bunting。

〃No；　indeed！　　Peace　made　up　his　mind　just　to　do　without　a　hand　altogether。　　Here's　his　false　stump：　you　see；　it's　made　of　wood　　…　wood　and　black　felt？　　Well；　that　just　held　his　hand　nicely。　Why；　we　considers　that　one　of　the　most　ingenious　contrivances　in　the　whole　museum。〃

Meanwhile；　Daisy　had　let　go　her　hold　of　her　father。　　With　Chandler　in　delighted　attendance；　she　bad　moved　away　to　the　farther　end　of　the　great　room；　and　now　she　was　bending　over　yet　another　glass　case。　〃Whatever　are　those　little　bottles　for？〃　she　asked　wonderingly。

There　were　five　small　phials；　filled　with　varying　quantities　of　cloudy　liquids。

〃They're　full　of　poison；　Miss　Daisy；　that's　what　they　are。　　There's　enough　arsenic　in　that　little　whack　o'　brandy　to　do　for　you　and　me　　…　aye；　and　for　your　father　as　well；　I　should　say。〃

〃Then　chemists　shouldn't　sell　such　stuff；〃　said　Daisy；　smiling。　Poison　was　so　remote　from　herself；　that　the　sight　of　these　little　bottles　only　brought　a　pleasant　thrill。

〃No　more　they　don't。　　That　was　sneaked　out　of　a　flypaper；　that　was。　Lady　said　she　wanted　a　cosmetic　for　her　complexion；　but　what　she　was　really　going　for　was　flypapers　for　to　do　away　with　her　husband。　She'd　got　a　bit　tired　of　him；　I　suspect。〃

〃Perhaps　he　was　a　horrid　man；　and　deserved　to　be　done　away　with；〃　said　Daisy。　　The　idea　struck　them　both　as　so　very　comic　that　they　began　to　laugh　aloud　in　unison。

〃Did　you　ever　hear　what　a　certain　Mrs。　Pearce　did？〃　asked　Chandler；　becoming　suddenly　serious。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Daisy；　and　she　shuddered　a　little。　　〃That　was　the　wicked；　wicked　woman　what　killed　a　pretty　little　baby　and　its　mother。　They've　got　her　in　Madame　Tussaud's。　　But　Ellen；　she　won't　let　me　go　to　the　Chamber　of　Horrors。　　She　wouldn't　let　father　take　me　there　last　time　I　was　in　London。　　Cruel　of　her；　I　called　it。　　But　somehow　I　don't　feel　as　if　I　wanted　to　go　there　now；　after　having　been　here！〃

〃Well；〃　said　Chandler　slowly；　〃we've　a　case　full　of　relics　of　Mrs。　Pearce。　　But　the　pram　the　bodies　were　found　in；　that's　at　Madame　Tussaud's　…　at　least　so　they　claim；　I　can't　say。　　Now　here's　something　just　as　curious；　and　not　near　so　dreadful。　　See　that　man's　jacket　there？！'

〃Yes；〃　said　Daisy　falteringly。　　She　was　beginning　to　feel　oppressed；　frightened。　　She　no　longer　wondered　that　the　Indian　gentleman　had　been　taken　queer。

〃A　burglar　shot　a　man　dead　who'd　disturbed　him；　and　by　mistake　he　went　and　left　that　jacket　behind　him。　　Our　people　noticed　that　one　of　the　buttons　was　broken　in　two。　　Well；　that　don't　seem　much　of　a　clue；　does　it；　Miss　Daisy？　　Will　you　believe　me　when　I　tells　you　that　that　other　bit　of　button　was　discovered；　and　that　it　hanged　the　fellow？　　And　'twas　the　more　wonderful　because　all　three　buttons　was　different！〃

Daisy　stared　wonderingly；　down　at　the　little　broken　button　which　had　hung　a　man。　　〃And　　whatever's　that！〃　she　asked；　pointing　to　a　piece　of　dirty…looking　stuff。

〃Well；〃　said　Chandler　reluctantly；　〃that's　rather　a　horrible　thing　　…　that　is。　　That's　a　bit　o'　shirt　that　was　buried　with　a　woman　…　　buried　in　the　ground；　I　mean　…　after　her　husband　had　cut　her　up　and　tried；　to　burn　her。　　Twas　that　bit　o'　shirt　that　brought　him　to　the　gallows。〃

〃I　considers　your　museum's　a　very　horrid　place！〃　said　Daisy　pettishly；　turning　away