the lodger-第24章

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〃'I　made　sure　she'd　know　who　I　was　when　I　spoke；〃　went　on　the　young　fellow　apologetically。　　〃But；　there　now；　I　have　upset　her。　　I　am　sorry！〃

〃It　don't　matter！〃　she　exclaimed；　throwing　the　apron　off　her　face；　but　the　tears　were　still　streaming　from　her　eyes　as　she　sobbed　and　laughed　by　turns。　　〃Don't　matter　one　little　bit；　Joe！　　'Twas　stupid　of　me　to　be　so　taken　aback。　　But；　there；　that　murder　that's　happened　close　by；　it's　just　upset　me　…　upset　me　altogether　to…day。〃

〃Enough　to　upset　anyone　…　that　was；〃　acknowledged　the　young　man　ruefully。　　〃I've　only　come　in　for　a　minute；　like。　　I　haven't　no　right　to　come　when　I'm　on　duty　like　this　…　〃

Joe　Chandler　was　looking　longingly　at　what　remains　of　the　meal　were　still　on　the　table。

〃You　can　take　a　minute　just　to　have　a　bite　and　a　sup；〃　said　Bunting　hospitably；　〃and　then　you　can　tell　us　any　news　there　is；　Joe。　　We're　right　in　the　middle　of　everything　now；　ain't　we？〃　　He　spoke　with　evident　enjoyment；　almost　pride；　in　the　gruesome　fact。

Joe　nodded。　　Already　his　mouth　was　full　of　bread…and…butter。　　He　waited　a　moment；　and　then：　〃Well　I　have　got　one　piece　of　news　…　not　that　I　suppose　it'll　interest　you　very　much。〃

They　both　looked　at　him　…　Mrs。　Bunting　suddenly　calm；　though　her　breast　still　heaved　from　time　to　time。

〃Our　Boss　has　resigned！〃　said　Joe　Chandler　slowly；　impressively。

〃No！　　Not　the　Commissioner　o'　Police？〃　exclaimed　Bunting。

〃Yes；　he　has。　　He　just　can't　bear　what's　said　about　us　any　longer　　…　and　I　don't　wonder！　　He　done　his　best；　and　so's　we　all。　　The　public　have　just　gone　daft　…　in　the　West　End；　that　is；　to…day。　　As　for　the　papers；　well；　they're　something　cruel　…　that's　what　they　are。　　And　the　ridiculous　ideas　they　print！　　You'd　never　believe　the　things　they　asks　us　to　do　…　and　quite　serious…like。〃

〃What　d'you　mean？〃　questioned　Mrs。　Bunting。　　She　really　wanted　to　know。

〃Well；　the　Courier　declares　that　there　ought　to　be　a　house…to…house　investigation　…　all　over　London。　　Just　think　of　it！　　Everybody　to　let　the　police　go　all　over　their　house；　from　garret　to　kitchen；　just　to　see　if　The　Avenger　isn't　concealed　there。　　Dotty；　I　calls　it！　　Why；　'twould　take　us　months　and　months　just　to　do　that　one　job　in　a　town　like　London。〃

〃I'd　like　to　see　them　dare　come　into　my　house！〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　angrily。

〃It's　all　along　of　them　blarsted　papers　that　The　Avenger　went　to　work　a　different　way　this　time；〃　said　Chandler　slowly。

Bunting　had　pushed　a　tin　of　sardines　towards　his　guest；　and　was　eagerly　listening。　　〃How　d'you　mean？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　don't　take　your　meaning；　Joe。〃

〃Well；　you　see；　it's　this　way。　　The　newspapers　was　always　saying　how　extraordinary　it　was　that　The　Avenger　chose　such　a　peculiar　time　to　do　his　deeds　…　I　mean；　the　time　when　no　one's　about　the　streets。　　Now；　doesn't　it　stand　to　reason　that　the　fellow；　reading　all　that；　and　seeing　the　sense　of　it；　said　to　himself；　'I'll　go　on　another　tack　this　time'？　　Just　listen　to　this！〃　　He　pulled　a　strip　of　paper；　part　of　a　column　cut　from　a　newspaper；　out　of　his　pocket：


〃'AN　EX…LORD　MAYOR　OF　LONDON　ON　THE　AVENGER


〃'Will　the　murderer　be　caught？　　Yes；'　replied　Sir　John；　'he　will　certainly　be　caught　…　probably　when　he　commits　his　next　crime。　　A　whole　army　of　bloodhounds；　metaphorical　and　literal；　will　be　on　his　track　the　moment　he　draws　blood　again。　　With　the　whole　community　against　him；　he　cannot　escape；　especially　when　it　be　remembered　that　he　chooses　the　quietest　hour　in　the　twenty…four　to　commit　his　crimes。

〃'Londoners　are　now　in　such　a　state　of　nerves　…　if　I　may　use　the　expression；　in　such　a　state　of　funk　…　that　every　passer…by；　however　innocent；　is　looked　at　with　suspicion　by　his　neighbour　if　his　avocation　happens　to　take　him　abroad　between　the　hours　of　one　and　three　in　the　morning。'

〃I'd　like　to　gag　that　ex…Lord　Mayor！〃　concluded　Joe　Chandler　wrathfully。

Just　then　the　lodger's　bell　rang。

〃Let　me　go　up；　my　dear；〃　said　Bunting。

His　wife　still　looked　pale　and　shaken　by　the　fright　she　had　had。

〃No；　no；〃　she　said　hastily。　　〃You　stop　down　here；　and　talk　to　Joe。　I'll　look　after　Mr。　Sleuth。　　He　may　be　wanting　his　supper　just　a　bit　earlier　than　usual　to…day。〃

Slowly；　painfully；　again　feeling　as　if　her　legs　were　made　of　cotton　wool；　she　dragged　herself　up　to　the　first　floor；　knocked　at　the　door；　and　then　went　in。

〃You　did　ring；　sir？〃　she　said；　in　her　quiet；　respectful　way。

And　Mr。　Sleuth　looked　up。

She　thought　…　but；　as　she　reminded　herself　afterwards；　it　might　have　been　just　her　idea；　and　nothing　else　…　that　for　the　first　time　the　lodger　looked　frightened　…　frightened　and　cowed。

〃I　heard　a　noise　downstairs；〃　he　said　fretfully；　〃and　I　wanted　to　know　what　it　was　all　about。　　As　I　told　you；　Mrs。　Bunting；　when　I　first　took　these　rooms；　quiet　is　essential　to　me。〃。

〃It　was　just　a　friend　of　ours；　sir。　　I'm　sorry　you　were　disturbed。　Would　you　like　the　knocker　taken　off　to…morrow？　　Bunting'll　be　pleased　to　do　it　if　you　don't　like　to　hear　the　sound　of　the　knocks。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　wouldn't　put　you　to　such　trouble　as　that。〃　　Mr。　Sleuth　looked　quite　relieved。　　〃Just　a　friend　of　yours；　was　it；　Mrs。　Bunting？　　He　made　a　great　deal　of　noise。〃

〃Just　a　young　fellow；〃　she　said　apologetically。　　〃The　son　of　one　of　Bunting's　old　friends。　　He　often　comes　here；　sir；　but　he　never　did　give　such　a　great　big　double　knock　as　that　before。　　I'll　speak　to　him　about　it〃

〃Oh；　no；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　I　would　really　prefer　you　did　nothing　of　the　kind。　　It　was　just　a　passing　annoyance　…　nothing　more！〃

She　waited　a　moment。　　How　strange　that　Mr。　Sleuth　said　nothing　of　the　hoarse　cries　which　had　made　of　the　road　outside　a　perfect　Bedlam　every　hour　or　two　throughout　that　day；　But　no；　Mr。　Sleuth　made　no　allusion　to　what　might　well　have　disturbed　any　quiet　gentleman　at　his　reading。

〃I　thought　maybe　you'd　like　to　have　supper　a　little　earlier　to…night；　sir？〃

〃Just　when　you　like；　Mrs。　Bunting　…　just　when　it's　convenient。　　I　do　not　wish　to　put　you　out　in　any　way。〃

She　felt　herself　dismissed；　and　going　out　quietly；　closed　the　door。

As　she　did　'so；　she　heard　the　front　door　banging　to。　　She　sighed　　…　Joe　Chandler　was　really　a　very　noisy　young　fellow。


CHAPTER　XVII

Mrs。　Bunting　slept　well　the　night　following　that　during　which　the　lodger　had　been　engaged　in　making　his　mysterious　experiments　in　her　kitchen。　　She　was　so　tired；　so　utterly　exhausted；　that　sleep　came　to　her　the　moment　she　laid　her　head　upon　her　pillow。

Perhaps　that　was　why　she　rose　so　early　the　next　morning。　　Hardly　giving　herself　time　to　swallow　the　tea　Bunting　had　made　and　brought　her；　she　got　up　and　dressed。

She　had　suddenly　come　to　the　conclusion　that　the　hall　and　staircase　required　a　thorough　〃doing　down；〃　and　she　did　not　even　wait　till　they　had　eaten　their　breakfast　before　beginning　her　labours。　　It　made　Bunting　feel　quite　uncomfortable。　　As　he　sat　by　the　fire　reading　his　morning　paper　…　the　paper　which　was　again　of　such　absorbing　interest　…　he　called　out；　〃There's　no　need　for　so　much　hurry；　Ellen。　Daisy'll　be　back　to…day。　　Why　don't　you　wait　till　she's　come　home　to　help　you？〃

But　from　the　hall　where　she　was　busy　dusting；　sweeping；　polishing；　his　wife's　voice　came　back：　〃Girls　ain't　no　good　at　this　sort　of　work。　　Don't　you　worry　about　me。　　I　feel　as　if　I'd　enjoy　doing　an　extra　bit　of　cleaning　to…day。　　I　don't　like　to　feel　as　anyone　could　come　in　and　see　my　place　dirty。〃

〃No　fear　of　that！〃　Bunting　chuckled。　　And　then　a　new　thought　struck　him。　　〃Ain't　you　afraid　of　waking　the　lodger？〃　he　called　out。

〃Mr。　Sleuth　slept　most　of　yesterday；　and　all　last　night；〃　she　answered　quickly。　　〃As　it　is；　I　study　him　over…much；　it's　a　long；　long　time　since　I've　done　this　staircase　down。〃

All　the　time　she　was　engaged　in　doing　the　hall；　Mrs。　Bunting　left　the　sitting…room　door　wide　open。

That　was　a　queer　thing　of　her　to　do；　but　Bunting　didn't　like　to　get　up　and　shut　her　out；　as　it　were。　　Still；　try　as　he　would；　he　couldn't　read　with　any　comfort　while　all　that　noise　was　going　on。　　He　had　never　known　Ellen　make　such　a　lot　of　noise　before。　　Once　or　twice　he　looked　up　and　frowned　rather　crossly。

There　came　a　sudden　silence；　and　he　was　startled　to　see　that。　　Ellen　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　staring　at　him；　doing　nothing。

〃Come　in；〃　he　said；　〃do！　　Ain't　you　finished　yet？〃

〃I　was　only　resting　a　minute；〃　she　said。　　〃You　don't　tell　me　nothing。　I'd　like　to　know　if　there's　anything　…　I　mean　anything　new　…　in　the　paper　this　morning。〃

She　spoke　in　a　muffled　voice；　almost　as　if　she　were　ashamed　of　her　unusual　curiosity；　and　her　look　of　fatigue；　of　pallor；　made　Bunting　suddenly　uneasy。　　〃Come　in　　…　do！〃　he　repeated　sharply。　　〃You've　done　quite　enough　…　and　before　breakfast；　too。　　'Tain't　necessary。　Come　in　and　shut　that　door。〃

He　spoke　authoritatively；　and　his　wife；　for　a　wonder；　obeyed　him。

She　came　in；　and　did　what　she　had　never　done　before　…　brought　the　broom　with　her；　and　put　it　up　against　the　wall　in　the　corner。

Then　she　sat　down。

〃I　think　I'll　make　breakfast　up　here；〃　she　said。　　〃I　…　I　feel　cold；　Bunting。〃　　And　her　husband　stared　at　her　surprised；　for　drops　of　perspiration　were　glistening　on　her　forehead。

He　got　up。　　〃All　right。　　I'll　go　down　and　bring　the　eggs　up。　　Don't　you　worry。　　For　the　matter　of　that；　I　can　cook　them　downstairs　if　you　like。〃

〃No；〃　she　said　obstinately。　　〃I'd　rather　do　my　own　work。　　You　just　bring　them　up　here　…　that'll　be　all　right。　　To…morrow　morning　we'll　have　Daisy　to　help　see　to　things。〃

〃Come　over　here　and　sit　down　comfortable　in　my　chair；〃　he　suggested　kindly。　　〃You　never　do　take　any　bit　of　rest；　Ellen。　　I　never　see'd　such　a　woman！〃

And　again　she　got　up　and　meekly　obeyed　him；　walking　across　the　room　with　languid　steps。

He　watched　her；　anxiously；　uncomfortably。

She　took　up　the　newspaper　he　had　just　laid　down；　and　Bunting　took　two　steps　towards　her。

〃I'll　show　you　the　most　interesting　bit〃　he　said　eagerly。　　〃It's　the　piece　headed；　'Our　Special　Investigator。'　You　see；　they've　started　a　special　investigator　of　their　own；　and　he's　got　hold　of　a　lot　of　little　facts　the　police　seem　to　have　overlooked。　　The　man　who　writes　all　that　…　I　mean　the　Special　Investigator　…　was　a　famous　'tec　in　his　time；　and　he's　just　come　back　out　of　his　retirement　o'　purpose　to　do　this　bit　of　work　for　the　paper。　　You　read　what　he　says　…　I　shouldn't　be　a　bit　surprised　if　he　ends　by　getting　that　reward！　　One　can　see　he　just　loves　the　work　of　tracking　people　down。〃

〃There's　nothing　to　be　proud　of　in　such　a　job；〃　said　his　wife　listlessly。

〃He'll　have　something　to　be　proud　of　if　he　catches　The　Avenger！〃　cried　Bunting。　　He　was　too　keen　about　this　affair　to　be　put　off　by　Ellen's　contradictory　remarks。　　〃You　just　notice　that　bit　about　the　rubber　soles。　　Now；　no　one's　thought　o'　that。　　I'll　just　tell　Chandler　…　he　don't　seem　to　me　to　be　half　awake；　that　young　man　don't。〃

〃He's　quite　wide　awake　enough　without　you　saying　things　to　him！　How　about　those　eggs；　Bunting？　　I　feel　quite　ready　for　my　breakfast　even　if　you　don't　…　〃

Mrs。　Bunting　now　spoke　in　what　her　husband　sometimes　secretly　described　to　himself　as　〃Ellen's　snarling　voice。

He　turned　away　and　left　the　room；　feeling　oddly　troubled。　　There　was　something　queer　about　her；　and　he　couldn't　make　it　out。　　He　didn't　mind　it　when　she　spoke　sharply　an