the lodger-第29章

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seen　his　wife　for　two　years；　he　hadn't　had　news　of　her　for　six　months。　　Before　she　took　to　drink　she　had　been　an　admirable　wife；　and　…　and　yes；　mother。

Yet　another　painful　few　minutes；　to　anyone　who　had　a　heart；　or　imagination　to　understand；　was　spent　when　the　father　of　the　murdered　woman　was　in　the　box。　　He　had　had　later　news　of　his　unfortunate　daughter　than　her　husband　had　had；　but　of　course　he　could　throw　no　light　at　all　on　her　murder　or　murderer。

A　barman；　who　had　served　both　the　women　with　drink　just　before　the　public…house　closed　for　the　night；　was　handled　rather　roughly。　　He　had　stepped　with　a　jaunty　air　into　the　box；　and　came　out　of　it　looking　cast　down；　uneasy。

And　then　there　took　place　a　very　dramatic；　because　an　utterly　unexpected；　incident。　　It　was　one　of　which　the　evening　papers　made　the　utmost　much　to　Mrs。　Bunting's　indignation。　　But　neither　coroner　nor　jury　…　and　they；　after　all；　were　the　people　who　mattered　…　　thought　a　great　deal　of　it。

There　had　come　a　pause　in　the　proceedings。　　All　seven　witnesses　had　been　heard；　and　a　gentleman　near　Mrs。　Bunting　whispered；　〃They　are　now　going　to　call　Dr。　Gaunt。　　He's　been　in　every　big　murder　case　for　the　last　thirty　years。　　He's　sure　to　have　something　interesting　to　say。　　It　was　really　to　hear　him　I　came。〃

But　before　Dr。　Gaunt　had　time　even　to　get　up　from　the　seat　with　which　he　had　been　accommodated　close　to　the　coroner；　there　came　a　stir　among　the　general　public；　or；　rather；　among　those　spectators　who　stood　near　the　low　wooden　door　which　separated　the　official　part　of　the　court　from　the　gallery。

The　coroner's　officer；　with　an　apologetic　air；　approached　the　coroner；　and　banded　him　up　an　envelope。　　And　again　in　an　instant；　there　fell　absolute　silence　on　the　court。

Looking　rather　annoyed；　the　coroner　opened　the　envelope。　　He　glanced　down　the　sheet　of　notepaper　it　contained。　　Then　he　looked　up。

〃Mr。　…　〃　then　he　glanced　down　again。　　〃Mr。　…　ah　…　Mr。　…　is　it　Cannot？〃　he　said　doubtfully；　〃may　come　forward。〃

There　ran　a　titter　though　the　spectators；　and　the　coroner　frowned。

A　neat；　jaunty…looking　old　gentleman；　in　a　nice　fur…lined　overcoat；　with　a　fresh；　red　face　and　white　side…whiskers；　was　conducted　from　the　place　where　he　had　been　standing　among　the　general　public；　to　the　witness…box。

〃This　is　somewhat　out　of　order；　Mr。　…　er　…　Cannot；〃　said　the　coroner　severely。　　〃You　should　have　sent　me　this　note　before　the　proceedings　began。　　This　gentleman；〃　he　said；　addressing　the　jury；　〃informs　me　that　he　has　something　of　the　utmost　importance　to　reveal　in　connection　with　our　investigation。〃

〃I　have　remained　silent　…　I　have　locked　what　I　knew　within　my　own　breast〃　…　began　Mr。　Cannot　in　a　quavering　voice；　〃because　I　am　so　afraid　of　the　Press！　　I　knew　if　I　said　anything；　even　to　the　police；　that　my　house　would　be　besieged　by　reporters　and　newspaper　men。　。　。　。　I　have　a　delicate　wife；　Mr。　Coroner。　　Such　a　state　of　things　…　the　state　of　things　I　imagine　…　might　cause　her　death　…　indeed；　I　hope　she　will　never　read　a　report　of　these　proceedings。　　Fortunately；　she　has　an　excellent　trained　nurse　…　〃

〃You　will　now　take　the　oath；〃　said　the　coroner　sharply。　　He　already　regretted　having　allowed　this　absurd　person　to　have　his　say。

Mr。　Cannot　took　the　oath　with　a　gravity　and　decorum　which　had　been　lacking　in　most　of　those　who　had　preceded　him。

〃I　will；　address　myself　to　the　jury；〃　he　began。

〃You　will　do　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　broke　in　the　coroner。　　〃Now；　please　attend　to　me。　　You　assert　in　your　letter　that　you　know　who　is　the　…　the　…　〃

〃The　Avenger；〃　put　in　Mr。　Cannot　promptly。

〃The　perpetrator　of　these　crimes。　　You　further　declare　that　you　met　him　on　the　very　night　he　committed　the　murder　we　are　now　investigating？〃

〃I　do　so　declare；〃　said　Mr。　Cannot　confidently。　　〃Though　in　the　best　of　health　myself；〃　…　he　beamed　round　the　court；　a　now　amused；　attentive　court　…　〃it　is　my　fate　to　be　surrounded　by　sick　people；　to　have　only　ailing　friends。　　I　have　to　trouble　you　with　my　private　affairs；　Mr。　Coroner；　in　order　to　explain　why　I　happened　to　be　out　at　so　undue　an　hour　as　one　o'clock　in　the　morning　…　〃

Again　a　titter　ran　through　the　court。　　Even　the　jury　broke　into　broad　smiles。

〃Yes；〃　went　on　the　witness　solemnly；　〃I　was　with　a　sick　friend　…　in　fact；　I　may　say　a　dying　friend；　for　since　then　he　has　passed　away。　I　will　not　reveal　my　exact　dwelling…place；　you；　sir；　have　it　on　my　notepaper。　　It　is　not　necessary　to　reveal　it；　but　you　will　understand　me　when　I　say　that　in　order　to　come　home　I　had　to　pass　through　a　portion　of　the　Regent's　Park；　and　it　was　there　…　to　be　exact；　about　the　middle　of　Prince's　Terrace　…　when　a　very　peculiar…looking　individual　stopped　and　accosted　me。〃

Mrs。　Bunting's　hand　shot　up　to　her　breast。　A　feeling　of　deadly　fear　took　possession　of　her。

〃I　mustn't　faint；〃　she　said　to　herself　hurriedly。　　〃I　mustn't　faint！　Whatever's　the　matter　with　me？〃　　She　took　out　her　bottle　of　smelling…salts；　and　gave　it　a　good；　long　sniff。

〃He　was　a　grim；　gaunt　man；　was　this　stranger；　Mr。　Coroner；　with　a　very　odd…looking　face。　　I　should　say　an　educated　man　…　in　common　parlance；　a　gentleman。　　What　drew　my　special　attention　to　him　was　that　he　was　talking　aloud　to　himself　…　in　fact；　he　seemed　to　be　repeating　poetry。　　I　give　you　my　word；　I　had　no　thought　of　The　Avenger；　no　thought　at　all。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　thought　this　gentleman　was　a　poor　escaped　lunatic；　a　man　who'd　got　away　from　his　keeper。　　The　Regent's　Park；　sir；　as　I　need　hardly　tell　you；　is　a　most　quiet　and　soothing　neighbourhood　…　〃

And　then　a　member　of　the　general　public　gave　a　loud　guffaw。

〃I　appeal　to　you；　sir；〃　the　old　gentleman　suddenly　cried　out　〃to　protect　me　from　this　unseemly　levity！　　I　have　not　come　here　with　any　other　object　than　that　of　doing　my　duty　as　a　citizen！〃

〃I　must　ask　you　to　keep　to　what　is　strictly　relevant〃　said　the　coroner　stiffly。　　〃Time　is　going　on；　and　I　have　another　important　witness　to　call　…　a　medical　witness。　　Kindly　tell　me；　as　shortly　as　possible；　what　made　you　suppose　that　this　stranger　could　possibly　be　…　〃　with　an　effort　he　brought　out　for　the　first　time　since　the　proceedings　began；　the　words；　〃The　Avenger？〃

〃I　am　coming　to　that！〃　said　Mr。　Cannot　hastily。　　〃I　am　coming　to　that！　　Bear　with　me　a　little　longer；　Mr。　Coroner。　　It　was　a　foggy　night；　but　not　as　foggy　as　it　became　later。　　And　just　when　we　were　passing　one　an…other；　I　and　this　man；　who　was　talking　　aloud　to　himself　…　he；　instead　of　going　on；　stopped　and　turned　towards　me。　　That　made　me　feel　queer　and　uncomfortable；　the　more　so　that　there　was　a　very　wild；　mad　look　on　his　face。　　I　said　to　him；　as　soothingly　as　possible；　'A　very　foggy　night；　sir。'　　And　he　said；　'Yes　…　yes；　it　is　a　foggy　night；　a　night　fit　for　the　commission　of　dark　and　salutary　deeds。'　　A　very　strange　phrase；　sir；　that　…　'dark　and　salutary　deeds。'　　He　looked　at　the　coroner　expectantly　…　

〃Well？　　Well；　Mr。　Cannot？　　Was　that　all？　　Did　you　see　this　person　go　off　in　the　direction　of　…　of　King's　Cross；　for　instance？〃

〃No。〃　Mr。　Cannot　reluctantly　shook　his　head。　　〃No；　I　must　honestly　say　I　did　not。　　He　walked　along　a　certain　way　by　my　side；　and　then　he　crossed　the　road　and　was　lost　in　the　fog。〃

〃That　will　do；〃　said　the　coroner。　　He　spoke　more　kindly。　　〃I　thank　you；　Mr。　Cannot；　for　coming　here　and　giving　us　what　you　evidently　consider　important　information。〃

Mr。　Cannot　bowed；　a　funny；　little；　old…fashioned　bow；　and　again　some　of　those　present　tittered　rather　foolishly。

As　he　was　stepping　down　from　the　witness…box；　he　turned　and　looked　up　at　the　coroner；　opening　his　lips　as　he　did　so。　　There　was　a　murmur　of　talking　going　on；　but　Mrs。　Bunting；　at　any　rate；　heard　quite　distinctly　what　it　was　that　he　said：

〃One　thing　I　have　forgotten；　sir；　which　may　be　of　importance。　　The　man　carried　a　bag　…　a　rather　light…coloured　leather　bag；　in　his　left　hand。　　It　was　such　a　bag；　sir；　as　might　well　contain　a　long…handled　knife。〃

Mrs。　Bunting　looked　at　the　reporters'　table。　　She　remembered　suddenly　that　she　had　told　Bunting　about　the　disappearance　of　Mr。　Sleuth's　bag。　And　then　a　feeling　of　intense　thankfulness　came　over　her；　not　a　single　reporter　at　the　long；　ink…stained　table　had　put　down　that　last　remark　of　Mr。　Cannot。　　In　fact；　not　one　of　them　had　heard　it。

Again　the　last　witness　put　up　his　hand　to　command　attention。　　And　then　silence　did　fall　on　the　court。

〃One　word　more；〃　he　said　in　a　quavering　voice。　　〃May　I　ask　to　be　accommodated　with　a　seat　for　the　rest　of　the　proceedings？　　I　see　there　is　some　room　left　on　the　witnesses'　bench。〃　　And；　without　waiting　for　permission；　he　nimbly　stepped　across　and　sat　down。

Mrs。　Bunting　looked　up；　startled。　　Her　friend；　the　inspector；　was　bending　over　her。

〃Perhaps　you'd　like　to　come　along　now；〃　he　said　urgently。　　…　〃I　don't　suppose　you　want　to　hear　the　medical　evidence。　　It's　always　painful　for　a　female　to　hear　that。　　And　there'll　be　an　awful　rush　when　the　inquest's　over。　　I　could　get　you　away　quietly　now。〃

She　rose；　and；　pulling　her　veil　down　over　her　pale　face；　followed　him　obediently。

Down　the　stone　staircase　they　went；　and　through　the　big；　now　empty；　room　downstairs。

〃I'll　let　you　out　the　back　way；〃　he　said。　　〃I　expect　you're　tired；　ma'am；　and　will　like　to　get　home　to　a　cup　o'　tea。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you！〃　　There　were　tears　in　her　eyes。　She　was　trembling　with　excitement　and　emotion。　　〃You　have　been　good　to　me。〃

〃Oh；　that's　nothing；〃　he　said　a　little　awkwardly。　　〃I　expect　you　went　though　a　pretty　bad　time；　didn't　you？〃

〃Will　they　be　having　that　old　gentleman　again？〃　she　spoke　in　a　whisper；　and　looked　up　at　him　with　a　pleading；　agonised　look。

〃Good　Lord；'　no！　　Crazy　old　fool！　　We're　troubled　with　a　lot　of　those　sort　of　people；　you　know；　ma'am；　and　they　often　do　have　funny　names；　too。　　You　see；　that　sort　is　busy　all　their　lives　in　the　City；　or　what　not；　then　they　retires　when　they　gets　about　sixty；　and　they're　fit　to　hang　themselves　with　dulness。　　Why；　there's　hundreds　of　lunies　of　the　sort　to　be　met　in　London。　　You　can't　go　about　at　night　and　not　meet　'em。　　Plenty　of　'em！〃

〃Then　you　don't　think　there　was　anything　in　what　he　said？〃　she　ventured。

〃In　what　that　old　gent　said？　　Goodness　…　no！〃　he　laughed　good…naturedly。　　〃But　I'll　tell　you　what　I　do　think。　　If　it　wasn't　for　the　time　that　had　gone　by；　I　should　believe　that　the　second　witness　had　seen　that　crafty　devil　…　〃　he　lowered　his　voice。　　〃But；　there；　Dr。　Gaunt　declares　most　positively　…　so　did　two　other　medical　gentlemen　…　that　the　poor　creatures　had　been　dead　hours　when　they　was　found。　　Medical　gentlemen　are　always　very　positive　about　their　evidence。　　They　have　to　be　…　　otherwise　who'd　believe　'em？　　If　we'd　time　I　could　tell　you　of　a　case　in　which　…　well；　'twas　all　because　of　Dr。　Gaunt　that　the　murderer　escaped。　　We　all　knew　perfectly　well　the　man　we　caught　did　it；　but　he　was　able　to　prove　an　alibi　as　to　the　time　Dr。　　Gaunt　said　the　poor　soul　was　killed。　　


CHAPTER　XX

It　was　not　late　even　now；　for　the　inquest　had　begun　very　punctually；　but　Mrs。　Bunting　felt　that　no　power　on　earth　should　force　her　to　go　to　Ealing。　　She　felt　quite　tired　out　and　as　if　she　could　think　of　nothing。

Pacing　along　very　slowly；　as　if　she　were　an　old；　old　woman；　she　began　listlessly　turning　her　steps　towards　home。　　So