the lodger-第25章

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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　and　nastily　to　him。　　He　was　used　to　that。　　But　now　she　was　so　up　and　down；　so　different　from　what　she　used　to　be！　　In　old　days　she　had　always　been　the　same；　but　now　a　man　never　knew　where　to　have　her。

And　as　he　went　downstairs　he　pondered　uneasily　over　his　wife's　changed　ways　and　manner。

Take　the　question　of　his　easy　chair。　　A　very　small　matter；　no　doubt；　but　he　had　never　known　Ellen　sit　in　that　chair　…　no；　not　even　once；　for　a　minute；　since　it　had　been　purchased　by　her　as　a　present　for　him。

They　had　been　so　happy；　so　happy；　and　so　…　so　restful；　during　that　first　week　after　Mr。　Sleuth　had　come　to　them。　　Perhaps　it　was　the　sudden；　dramatic　change　from　agonising　anxiety　to　peace　and　security　which　had　been　too　much　for　Ellen　…　yes；　that　was　what　was　the　matter　with　her；　that　and　the　universal　excitement　about　these　Avenger　murders；　which　were　shaking　the　nerves　of　all　London。　　Even　Bunting；　unobservant　as　he　was；　had　come　to　realise　that　his　wife　took　a　morbid　interest　in　these　terrible　happenings。　　And　it　was　the　more　queer　of　her　to　do　so　that　at　first　she　refused　to　discuss　them；　and　said　openly　that　she　was　utterly　uninterested　in　murder　or　crime　of　any　sort。

He；　Bunting；　had　always　had　a　mild　pleasure　in　such　things。　　In　his　time　he　had　been　a　great　reader　of　detective　tales；　and　even　now　he　thought　there　was　no　pleasanter　reading。　　It　was　that　which　had　first　drawn　him　to　Joe　Chandler；　and　made　him　welcome　the　young　chap　as　cordially　as　he　had　done　when　they　first　came　to　London。

But　though　Ellen　had　tolerated；　she　had　never　encouraged；　that　sort　of　talk　between　the　two　men。　　More　than　once　she　had　exclaimed　reproachfully：　〃To　hear　you　two；　one　would　think　there　was　no　nice；　respectable；　quiet　people　left　in　the　world！〃

But　now　all　that　was　changed。　　She　was　as　keen　as　anyone　could　be　to　hear　the　latest　details　of　an　Avenger　crime。　　True；　she　took　her　own　view　of　any　theory　suggested。　　But　there！　　Ellen　always　had　had　her　own　notions　about　everything　under　the　sun。　　Ellen　was　a　woman　who　thought　for　herself　…　a　clever　woman；　not　an　everyday　woman　by　any　manner　of　means。

While　these　thoughts　were　going　disconnectedly　through　his　mind；　Bunting　was　breaking　four　eggs　into　a　basin。　　He　was　going　to　give　Ellen　a　nice　little　surprise　…　to　cook　an　omelette　as　a　French　chef　had　once　taught　him　to　do；　years　and　years　ago。　　He　didn't　know　how　she　would　take　his　doing　such　a　thing　after　what　she　had　said；　but　never　mind；　she　would　enjoy　the　omelette　when　done。　　Ellen　hadn't　been　eating　her　food　properly　of　late。

And　when　he　went　up　again；　his　wife；　to　his　relief；　and；　it　must　be　admitted；　to　his　surprise；　took　it　very　well。　　She　had　not　even　noticed　how　long　he　had　been　downstairs；　for　she　had　been　reading　with　intense；　painful　care　the　column　that　the　great　daily　paper　they　took　in　had　allotted　to　the　one…time　famous　detective。

According　to　this　Special　Investigator's　own　account　he　had　discovered　all　sorts　of　things　that　had　escaped　the　eye　of　the　police　and　of　the　official　detectives。　　For　instance；　owing；　he　admitted；　to　a　fortunate　chance；　he　had　been　at　the　place　where　the　two　last　murders　had　been　committed　very　soon　after　the　double　crime　had　been　discovered　…　in　fact　within　half　an　hour；　and　he　had　found；　or　so　he　felt　sure；　on　the　slippery；　wet　pavement　imprints　of　the　murderer's　right　foot。

The　paper　reproduced　the　impression　of　a　half…worn　rubber　sole。　At　the　same　time；　he　also　admitted　…　for　the　Special　Investigator　was　very　honest；　and　he　had　a　good　bit　of　space　to　fill　in　the　enterprising　paper　which　had　engaged　him　to　probe　the　awful　mystery　…　that　there　were　thousands　of　rubber　soles　being　worn　in　London。　。　。　。

And　when　she　came　to　that　statement　Mrs。　Bunting　looked　up；　and　there　came　a　wan　smile　over　her　thin；　closely…shut　lips。　　It　was　quite　true　…　that　about　rubber　soles；　there　were　thousands　of　rubber　soles　being　worn　just　now。　　She　felt　grateful　to　the　Special　Investigator　for　having　stated　the　fact　so　clearly。

The　column　ended　up　with　the　words：

〃And　to…day　will　take　place　the　inquest　on　the　double　crime　of　ten　days　ago。　　To　my　mind　it　would　be　well　if　a　preliminary　public　inquiry　could　be　held　at　once。　　Say；　on　the　very　day　the　discovery　of　a　fresh　murder　is　made。　　In　that　way　alone　would　it　be　possible　to　weigh　and　sift　the　evidence　offered　by　members　of　the　general　public。　　For　when　a　week　or　more　has　elapsed；　and　these　same　people　have　been　examined　and　cross…examined　in　private　by　the　police；　their　impressions　have　had　time　to　become　blurred　and　　hopelessly　confused。　　On　that　last　occasion　but　one　there　seems　no　doubt　that　several　people；　at　any　rate　two　women　and　one　man；　actually　saw　the　murderer　hurrying　from　the　scene　of　his　atrocious　double　crime　…　this　being　so；　to…day's　investigation　may　be　of　the　highest　value　and　importance。　　To…morrow　I　hope　to　give　an　account　of　the　impression　made　on　me　by　the　inquest；　and　by　any　statements　made　during　its　course。〃

Even　when　her　husband　had　come　in　with　the　tray　Mrs。　Bunting　had　gone　on　reading；　only　lifting　up　her　eyes　for　a　moment。　　At　last　he　said　rather　crossly；　〃Put　down　that　paper；　Ellen；　this　minute！　　The　omelette　I've　cooked　for　you　will　be　just　like　leather　if　you　don't　eat　it。〃

But　once　his　wile　had　eaten　her　breakfast　…　and；　to　Bunting's　mortification；　she　left　more　than　half　the　nice　omelette　untouched　　…　she　took　the　paper　up　again。　　She　turned　over　the　big　sheets；　until　she　found；　at　the　foot　of　one　of　the　ten　columns　devoted　to　The　Avenger　and　his　crimes；　the　information　she　wanted；　and　then　uttered　an　exclamation　under　her　breath。

What　Mrs。　Bunting　had　been　looking　for　…　what　at　last　she　had　found　　…　was　the　time　and　place　of　the　inquest　which　was　to　be　held　that　day。　　The　hour　named　was　a　rather　odd　time　…　two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　but；　from　Mrs。　Bunting's　point　of　view；　it　was　most　convenient。

By　two　o'clock；　nay；　by　half…past　one；　the　lodger　would　have　had　his　lunch；　by　hurrying　matters　a　little　she　and　Bunting　would　have　had　their　dinner；　and　…　and　Daisy　wasn't　coming　home　till　tea…time。

She　got　up　out　of　her　husband's　chair。　　〃I　think　you're　right；〃　she　said；　in　a　quick；　hoarse　tone。　　〃I　mean　about　me　seeing　a　doctor；　Bunting。'　I　think　I　will　go　and　see　a　doctor　this　very　afternoon。〃

〃Wouldn't　you　like　me　to　go　with　you？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　that　I　wouldn't。　　In　fact　I　wouldn't　go　at　all　you　was　to　go　with　me。〃

〃All　right；〃　he　said　vexedly。　　〃Please　yourself；　my　dear；　you　know　best。〃

〃I　should　think　I　did　know　best　where　my　own　health　is　concerned。〃

Even　Bunting　was　incensed　by　this　lack　of　gratitude。　　〃'Twas　I　said；　long　ago；　you　ought　to　go　and　see　the　doctor；　'twas　you　said　you　wouldn't！〃　he　exclaimed　pugnaciously。

〃Well；　I've　never　said　you　was　never　right；　have　I？　　At　any　rate；　I'm　going。〃

〃Have　you　a　pain　anywhere？〃　　He　stared　at　her　with　a　look　of　real　solicitude　on　his　fat；　phlegmatic　face。

Somehow　Ellen　didn't　look　right；　standing　there　opposite　him。　　Her　shoulders　seemed　to　have　shrunk；　even　her　cheeks　had　fallen　in　a　little。　　She　had　never　looked　so　bad　…　not　even　when　they　had　been　half　starving；　and　dreadfully；　dreadfully　worded。

〃Yes；〃　she　said　briefly；　〃I've　a　pain　in　my　head；　at　the　back　of　my　neck。　　It　doesn't　often　leave　me；　it　gets　worse　when　anything　upsets　me；　like　I　was　upset　last　night　by　Joe　Chandler。〃

〃He　was　a　silly　ass　to　come　and　do　a　thing　like　that！〃　said　Bunting　crossly。　　〃I'd　a　good　mind　to　tell　him　so；　too。　　But　I　must　say；　Ellen；　I　wonder　he　took　you　in　…　he　didn't　me！〃

〃Well；　you　had　no　chance　he　should　…　you　knew　who　it　was；〃　she　said　slowly。

And　Bunting　remained　silent；　for　Ellen　was　right。　　Joe　Chandler　had　already　spoken　when　he；　Bunting；　came　out　into　the　hall；　and　saw　their　cleverly　disguised　visitor。

〃Those　big　black　moustaches；〃　he　went　on　complainingly；　〃and　that　black　wig　…　why；　'twas　too　ridic'lous　…　that's　what　I　call　it！〃

〃Not　to　anyone　who　didn't　know　Joe；〃　she　said　sharply。

〃Well；　I　don't　know。　　He　didn't　look　like　a　real　man　…　nohow。　　If　he's　a　wise　lad；　he　won't　let　our　Daisy　ever　see　him　looking　like　that！〃　and　Bunting　laughed；　a　comfortable　laugh。

He　had　thought　a　good　deal　about　Daisy　and　young　Chandler　the　last　two　days；　and；　on　the　whole；　he　was　well　pleased。　　　It　was　a　dull；　unnatural　life　the　girl　was　leading　with　Old　Aunt。　　And　Joe　was　earning　good　money。　　They　wouldn't　have　long　to　wait；　these　two　young　people；　as　a　beau　and　his　girl　often　have　to　wait；　as　he；　Bunting；　and　Daisy's　mother　had　had　to　do；　for　ever　so　long　before　they　could　be　married。　　No；　there　was　no　reason　why　they　shouldn't　be　spliced　quite　soon　…　lf　so　the　fancy　took　them。　　And　Bunting　had　very　little　doubt　that　so　the　fancy　would　take　Joe；　at　any　rate。

But　there　was　plenty　of　time。　　Daisy　wouldn't　be　eighteen　till　the　week　after　next。　　They　might　wait　till　she　was　twenty。　　By　that　time　Old　Aunt　might　be　dead；　and　Daisy　might　have　come　into　quite　a　tidy　little　bit　of　money。

〃What　are　you　smiling　at？〃　said　his　wife　sharply。

And　he　shook　himself。　　〃I　…　smiling？　　At　nothing　that　I　knows　of。〃　Then　he　waited　a　moment。　　〃Well；　if　you　will　know；　Ellen；　I　was　just　thinking　of　Daisy　and　that　young　chap　Joe　Chandler。　　He　is　gone　on　her；　ain't　he？〃

〃Gone？〃　And　then　Mrs。　Bunting　laughed；　a　queer；　odd；　not　unkindly　laugh。　　〃Gone；　Bunting？〃　she　repeated。　　〃Why；　he's　out　o'　sight　　…　right；　out　of　sight！〃

Then　hesitatingly；　and　looking　narrowly　at　her　husband；　she　went　on；　twisting　a　bit　of　her　black　apron　with　her　fingers　as　she　spoke：　…　〃I　suppose　he'll　be　going　over　this　afternoon　to　fetch　her？　　Or　…　or　d'you　think　he'll　have　to　be　at　that　inquest；　Bunting？〃

〃Inquest？　　What　inquest？〃　　He　looked　at　her　puzzled。

〃Why；　the　inquest　on　them　bodies　found　in　the　passage　near　by　King's　Cross。〃

〃Oh；　no；　he'd　have　no　call　to　be　at　the　inquest。　For　the　matter　o'　that；　I　know　he's　going　over　to　fetch　Daisy。　　He　said　so　last　night　　…　just　when　'you　went　up　to　the　lodger。〃

〃That's　just　as　well。〃　　Mrs。　Bunting　spoke　with　considerable　satisfaction。　　〃Otherwise　I　suppose　you'd　ha'　had　to　go。　　I　wouldn't　like　the　house　left　…　not　with　us　out　of　it。　　Mr。　Sleuth　would　be　upset　if　there　came　a　ring　at　the　door。〃

〃Oh；　I　won't　leave　the　house；　don't　you　be　afraid；　Ellen　…　not　while　you're　out〃

〃Not　even　if　I'm　out　a　good　while；　Bunting。〃

〃No　fear。　　Of　course；　you'll　be　a　long　time　if　it's　your　idea　to　see　that　doctor　at　Ealing？〃

He　looked　at　her　questioningly；　and　Mrs。　Bunting　nodded。　　Somehow　nodding　didn't　seem　as　bad　as　speaking　a　lie。


CHAPTER　XVIII

Any　ordeal　is　far　less　terrifying；　far　easier　to　meet　with　courage；　when　it　is　repeated；　than　is　even　a　milder　experience　which　is　entirely　novel。

Mrs。　Bunting　had　already　attended　an　inquest；　in　the　character　of　a　witness；　and　it　was　one　of　the　few　happenings　of　her　life　which　was　sharply　etched　against　the　somewhat　blurred　screen　of　her　memory。

In　a　country　house　where　the　then　Ellen　Green　had　been　staying　for　a　fortnight　with　her　elderly　mistress；　there　had　occurred　one　of　those　sudden；　pitiful　trag