the lodger-第34章

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The　outside　gate　swung　to；　making　a　noisy　clatter　in　the　still　air。

〃Is　that　someone　coming　in　here？〃　asked　Mr。　Sleuth；　drawing　a　quick；　hissing　breath。　　〃Perhaps　you　will　oblige　me　by　going　to　the　window　and　telling　me　who　it　is；　Mrs。　Bunting？〃

And　his　landlady　obeyed　him。

〃It's　only　Bunting；　sir　…　Bunting　and　his　daughter。〃

〃Oh！　　Is　that　all？〃

Mr。　Sleuth　hurried　after　her；　and　she　shrank　back　a　little。　　She　had　never　been　quite　so　near　to　the　lodger　before；　save　on　that　first　day　when　she　had　been　showing　him　her　rooms。

Side　by　side　they　stood；　looking　out　of　the　window。　　And；　as　if　aware　that　someone　was　standing　there；　Daisy　turned　her　bright　face　up　towards　the　window　and　smiled　at　her　stepmother；　and　at　the　lodger；　whose　face　she　could　only　dimly　discern。

〃A　very　sweet…looking　young　girl；〃　said　Mr。　Sleuth　thoughtfully。　And　then　he　quoted　a　little　bit　of　poetry；　and　this　took　Mrs。　Bunting　very　much　aback。

〃Wordsworth；〃　he　murmured　dreamily。　　〃A　poet　too　little　read　nowadays；　Mrs。　Bunting；　but　one　with　a　beautiful　feeling　for　nature；　for　youth；　for　innocence。〃

〃Indeed；　sir？〃　Mrs。　Bunting　stepped　back　a　little。　　〃Your　breakfast　will　be　getting　cold；　sir；　if　you　don't　have　it　now。〃

He　went　back　to　the　table；　obediently；　and　sat　down　as　a　child　rebuked　might　have　done。；

And　then　his　landlady　Left　him。

〃Well？〃　said　Bunting　cheerily。　　〃Everything　went　off　quite　all　right。　And　Daisy's　a　lucky　girl　…　that　she　is！　Her　Aunt　Margaret　gave　her　five　shillings。〃

But　Daisy　did　not　look　as　pleased　as　her　father　thought　she　ought　to　do。

〃I　hope　nothing's　happened　to　Mr。　Chandler；〃　she　said　a　little　disconsolately。　　〃The　very　last　words　he　said　to　me　last　night　was　that　he'd　be　there　at　ten　o'clock。　　I　got　quite　fidgety　as　the　time　went　on　and　he　didn't　come。〃

〃He's　been　here；〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　slowly。

〃Been　here？〃　cried　her　husband。　　〃Then　why　on　earth　didn't　he　go　and　fetch　Daisy；　if　he'd　time　to　come　here？〃

〃He　was　on　the　way　to　his　job；〃　his　wife　answered。　　〃You　run　along；　child；　downstairs。　　Now　that　you　are　here　you　can　make　yourself　useful。〃

And　Daisy　reluctantly　obeyed。　　She　wondered　what　it　was　her　stepmother　didn't　want　her　to　hear。

〃I've　something　to　tell　you；　Bunting。〃

〃Yes？〃　He　looked　across　uneasily。　　〃Yes；　Ellen？〃

〃There's　been　another　o'　those　murders。　　But　the　police　don't　want　anyone　to　know　about　it　…　not　yet。　　That's　why　Joe　couldn't　go　over　and　fetch　Daisy。　　They're　all　on　duty　again。〃

Bunting　put　out　his　hand　and　clutched　hold　of　the　edge　of　the　mantelpiece。　　He　had　gone　very　red；　but　his　wife　was　far　too　much　concerned　with　her　own　feelings　and　sensations　to　notice　it。

There　was　a　long　silence　between　them。　　Then　he　spoke；　making　a　great　effort　to　appear　unconcerned。

〃And　where　did　it　happen？〃　he　asked。　　〃Close　to　the　other　one？〃

She　hesitated；　then：　〃I　don't　know。　　He　didn't　say。　　But　hush！〃　she　added　quickly。　　〃Here's　Daisy！　　Don't　let's　talk　of　that　horror　in　front　of　her…like。　　Besides；　I　promised　Chandler　I'd　be　mum。〃

And　he　acquiesced。

〃You　can　be　laying　the　cloth；　child；　while　I　go　up　and　clear　away　the　lodger's　breakfast。〃　　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　she　hurried　upstairs。

Mr。　Sleuth　had　left　the　greater　part　of　the　nice　lemon　sole　untouched。　〃I　don't　feel　well　to…day；〃　he　said　fretfully。　　〃And；　Mrs。　Bunting？　I　should　be　much　obliged　if　your　husband　would　lend　me　that　paper　I　saw　in　his　hand。　　I　do　not　often　care　to　look　at　the　public　prints；　but　I　should　like　to　do　so　now。

She　flew　downstairs。　　〃Bunting；〃　she　said　a　little　breathlessly；　〃the　lodger　would　like　you　just　to　lend　him　the　Sun。〃

Bunting　handed　it　over　to　her。　　〃I've　read　it　through；〃　he　observed。　〃You　can　tell　him　that　I　don't　want　it　back　again。〃

On　her　way　up　she　glanced　down　at　the　pink　sheet。　　Occupying　a　third　of　the　space　was　an　irregular　drawing；　and　under　it　was　written；　in　rather　large　characters：

〃We　are　glad　to　be　able　to　present　our　readers　with　an　authentic　reproduction　of　the　footprint　of　the　half…worn　rubber　sole　which　was　almost　certainly　worn　by　The　Avenger　when　he　committed　his　double　murder　ten　days　ago。〃

She　went　into　the　sitting…room。　　To　her　relief　it　was　empty。

〃Kindly　put　the　paper　down　on　the　table；〃　came　Mr。　Sleuth's　muffled　voice　from　the　upper　landing。

She　did　so。　　〃Yes；　sir。　　And　Bunting　don't　want　the　paper　back　again；　sir。　　He　says　he's　read　it。〃　　And　then　she　hurried　out　of　the　room。


CHAPTER　XXIII

All　afternoon　it　went　on　snowing；　and　the　three　of　them　sat　there；　listening　and　waiting　…　Bunting　and　his　wife　hardly　knew　for　what；　Daisy　for　the　knock　which　would　herald　Joe　Chandler。

And　about　four　there　came　the　now　familiar　sound。

Mrs。　Bunting　hurried　out　into　the　passage；　and　as　she　opened　the　front　door　she　whispered；　〃We　haven't　said　anything　to　Daisy　yet。　Young　girls　can't　keep　secrets。〃

Chandler　nodded　comprehendingly。　　He　now　looked　the　low　character　he　had　assumed　to　the　life；　for　he　was　blue　with　cold；　disheartened；　and　tired　out。

Daisy　gave　a　little　cry　of　shocked　surprise；　of　amusement；　of　welcome；　when　she　saw　how　cleverly　he　was　disguised。

〃I　never！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃What　a　difference　it　do　make；　to　be　sure！　　Why；　you　looks　quite　horrid；　Mr。　Chandler。〃

And；　somehow；　that　little　speech　of　hers　amused　her　father　so　much　that　he　quite　cheered　up。　　Bunting　had　been　very　dull　and　quiet　all　that　afternoon。

〃It　won't　take　me　ten　minutes　to　make　myself　respectable　again；〃　said　the　young　man　rather　ruefully。

His　host　and　hostess；　looking　at　him　eagerly；　furtively；　both　came　to　the　conclusion　that　he　had　been　unsuccessful　…　that　he　had　failed；　that　is；　in　getting　any　information　worth　having。　　And　though；　in　a　sense；　they　all　had　a　pleasant　tea　together；　there　was　an　air　of　constraint；　even　of　discomfort；　over　the　little　party。

Bunting　felt　it　hard　that　he　couldn't　ask　the　questions　that　were　trembling　on　his　lips；　he　would　have　felt　it　hard　any　time　during　the　last　month　to　refrain　from　knowing　anything　Joe　could　tell　him；　but　now　it　seemed　almost　intolerable　to　be　in　this　queer　kind　of　half　suspense。　　There　was　one　important　fact　he　longed　to　know；　and　at　last　came　his　opportunity　of　doing　so；　for　Joe　Chandler　rose　to　leave；　and　this　time　it　was　Bunting　who　followed　him　out　into　the　hall。

〃Where　did　it　happen？〃　he　whispered。　　〃Just　tell　me　that；　Joe？〃

〃Primrose　Hill；〃　said　the　other　briefly。　　〃You'll　know　all　about　it　in　a　minute　or　two；　for　it'll　be　all　in　the　last　editions　of　the　evening　papers。　　That's　what's　been　arranged。〃

〃No　arrest　I　suppose？〃

Chandler　shook　his　head　despondently。　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　inclined　to　think　the　Yard　was　on　a　wrong　tack　altogether　this　time。　　But　one　can　only　do　one's　best。　I　don't　know　if　Mrs。　Bunting　told　you　I'd　got　to　question　a　barmaid　about　a　man　who　was　in　her　place　just　before　closing…time。　　Well；　she's　said　all　she　knew；　and　it's　as　clear　as　daylight　to　me　that　the　eccentric　old　gent　she　talks　about　was　only　a　harmless　luny。　　He　gave　her　a　sovereign　just　because　she　told　him　she　was　a　teetotaller！〃　　He　laughed　ruefully。

Even　Bunting　was　diverted　at　the　notion。　　〃Well；　that's　a　queer　thing　for　a　barmaid　to　be！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃She's　niece　to　the　people　what　keeps　the　public；〃　explained　Chandler；　and　then　he　went　out　of　the　front　door　with　a　cheerful　〃So　long！〃

When　Bunting　went　back　into　the　sitting…room　Daisy　had　disappeared。　She　had　gone　downstairs　with　the　tray。　　〃Where's　my　girl？〃　he　said　irritably。

〃She's　just　taken　the　tray　downstairs。〃

He　went　out　to　the　top　of　the　kitchen　stairs；　and　called　out　sharply；　〃Daisy！　　Daisy；　child！　　Are　you　down　there？〃

〃Yes；　father；〃　came　her　eager；　happy　voice。

〃Better　come　up　out　of　that　cold　kitchen。〃

He　turned　and　came　back　to　his　wife。　　〃Ellen；　is　the　lodger　in？　　I　haven't　heard　him　moving　about。　　Now　mind　what　I　says；　please！　　I　don't　want　Daisy　to　be　mixed　up　with　him。〃

〃Mr。　Sleuth　don't　seem　very　well　to…day；〃　answered　Mrs。　Bunting　quietly。　　〃'Tain't　likely　I　should　let　Daisy　have　anything　to　do　with　him。　　Why；　she's　never　even　seen　him。　　'Tain't　likely　I　should　allow　her　to　begin　waiting　on　him　now。〃

But　though　she　was　surprised　and　a　little　irritated　by　the　tone　in　which　Bunting　had　spoken；　no　glimmer　of　the　truth　illumined　her　mind。　So　accustomed　had　she　become　to　bearing　alone　the　burden　of　her　awful　secret；　that　it　would　have　required　far　more　than　a　cross　word　or　two；　far　more　than　the　fact　that　Bunting　looked　ill　and　tired；　for　her　to　have　come　to　suspect　that　her　secret　was　now　shared　by　another；　and　that　other　her　husband。

Again　and　again　the　poor　soul　had　agonised　and　trembled　at　the　thought　of　her　house　being　invaded　by　the　police；　but　that　was　only　because　she　had　always　credited　the　police　with　supernatural　powers　of　detection。　　That　they　should　come　to　know　the　awful　fact　she　kept　hidden　in　her　breast　would　have　seemed　to　her；　on　the　whole；　a　natural　thing；　but　that　Bunting　should　even　dimly　suspect　it　appeared　beyond　the　range　of　possibility。

And　yet　even　Daisy　noticed　a　change　in　her　father。　　He　sat　cowering　over　the　fire　…　saying　nothing；　doing　nothing。

〃Why；　father；　ain't　you　well？〃　the　girl　asked　more　than　once。

And；　looking　up；　he　would　answer；　〃Yes；　I'm　well　enough；　nay　girl；　but　I　feels　cold。　　It's　awful　cold。　　I　never　did　feel　anything　like　the　cold　we've　got　just　now。〃


At　eight　the　now　familiar　shouts　and　cries　began　again　outside。

〃The　Avenger　again！〃　〃Another　horrible　crime！〃　　〃Extra　speshul　edition！〃　…　such　were　the　shouts；　the　exultant　yells；　hurled　through　the　clear；　cold　air。　　They　fell；　like　bombs　into　the　quiet　room。

Both　Bunting　and　his　wife　remained　silent；　but　Daisy's　cheeks　grew　pink　with　excitement；　and　her　eye　sparkled。

〃Hark；　father！　　Hark；　Ellen！　　D'you　hear　that？〃　she　exclaimed　childishly；　and　even　clapped　her　hands。　　〃I　do　wish　Mr。　Chandler　had　been　here。　　He　would　'a　been　startled！〃

〃Don't；　Daisy！〃　and　Bunting　frowned。

Then；　getting　up；　he　stretched　himself。　　〃It's　fair　getting　on　my　mind；〃　he　said；　〃these　horrible　things　happening。　　I'd　like　to　get　right　away　　from　London；　just　as　far　as　I　could　…　that　I　would！〃

〃Up　to　John…o'…Groat's？〃　said　Daisy；　laughing。　　And　then；　〃Why；　father；　ain't　you　going　out　to　get　a　paper？〃

〃Yes；　I　suppose　I　must。〃

Slowly　he　went　out　of　the　room；　and；　lingering　a　moment　in　the　hall；　he　put　on　his　greatcoat　and　hat。　　Then　he　opened　the　front　door；　and　walked　down　the　flagged　path。　　Opening　the　iron　gate；　he　stepped　out　on　the　pavement；　then　crossed　the　road　to　where　the　newspaper…boys　now　stood。

The　boy　nearest　to　him　only　had　the　Sun　…　a　late　edition　of　the　paper　he　had　already　read。　　It　annoyed　Bunting　to　give　a　penny　for　a　ha'penny　rag　of　which　he　already　knew　the　main　contents。　　But　there　was　nothing　else　to　do。

Standing　under　a　lamp…post；　he　opened　out　the　newspaper。　　It　was　bitingly　cold；　that；　perhaps；　was　why　his　hand　shook　as　he　looked　down　at　the　big　headlines。　　For　Bunting　had　been　very　unfair　to　the　enterprise　of　the　editor　of　his　favourite　evening　paper。　　This　special　edition　was　full　of　new　matter　…　new　matter　concerning　The　Avenger。

First；　in　huge　type　right　across　the　page；　was　the　brief　statement　that　The　Avenger　had　now　committ