the lodger-第38章

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〃Yes；　sir。　　We'll　come　in　a　minute；〃　she　said　dully。


CHAPTER　XXVI

Madame　Tussaud's　had　hitherto　held　pleasant　memories　for　Mrs。　Bunting。　In　the　days　when　she　and　Bunting　were　courting　they　often　spent　there　part　of　their　afternoon…out。

The　butler　had　an　acquaintance；　a　man　named　Hopkins；　who　was　one　of　the　waxworks　staff；　and　this　man　had　sometimes　given　him　passes　for　〃self　and　lady。〃　　But　this　was　the　first　time　Mrs。　Bunting　had　been　inside　the　place　since　she　had　come　to　live　almost　next　door；　as　it　were；　to　the　big　building。

They　walked　in　silence　to　the　familiar　entrance；　and　then；　after　the　ill…assorted　trio　had　gone　up　the　great　staircase　and　into　the　first　gallery；　Mr。　Sleuth　suddenly　stopped　short。　　The　presence　of　those　curious；　still；　waxen　figures　which　suggest　so　strangely　death　in　life；　seemed　to　surprise　and　affright　him。

Daisy　took　quick　advantage　of　the　lodger's　hesitation　and　unease。

〃Oh；　Ellen；〃　she　cried；　〃do　let　us　begin　by　going　into　the　Chamber　of　Horrors！　　I've　never　been　in　there。　　Old　Aunt　made　father　promise　he　wouldn't　take　me　the　only　time　I've　ever　been　here。　　But　now　that　I'm　eighteen　I　can　do　just　as　I　like；　besides；　Old　Aunt　will　never　know。〃

Mr。　Sleuth　looked　down　at　her；　and　a　smile　passed　for　a　moment　over　his　worn；　gaunt　face。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃let　us　go　into　the　Chamber　of　Horrors；　that's　a　good　idea；　Miss　Bunting。　　I've　always　wanted　to　see　the　Chamber　of　Horrors。〃

They　turned　into　the　great　room　in　which　the　Napoleonic　relics　were　then　kept；　and　which　led　into　the　curious；　vault…like　chamber　where　waxen　effigies　of　dead　criminals　stand　grouped　in　wooden　docks。

Mrs。　Bunting　was　at　once　disturbed　and　relieved　to　see　her　husband's　old　acquaintance；　Mr。　Hopkins；　in　charge　of　the　turnstile　admitting　the　public　to　the　Chamber　of　Horrors。

〃Well；　you　are　a　stranger；〃　the　man　observed　genially。　　〃I　do　believe　that　this　is　the　very　first　time　I've　seen　you　in　here；　Mrs。　Bunting；　since　you　was　married！〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃that　is　so。　　And　this　is　my　husband's　daughter；　Daisy；　I　expect　you've　heard　of　her；　Mr。　Hopkins。　　And　this〃　…　she　hesitated　a　moment　…　〃is　our　lodger；　Mr。　Sleuth。〃

But　Mr。　Sleuth　frowned　and　shuffled　away。　　Daisy；　leaving　her　stepmother's　side；　joined　him。

Two；　as　all　the　world　knows；　is　company；　three　is　none。　　Mrs。　Bunting　put　down　three　sixpences。

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　Hopkins；　〃you　can't　go　into　the　Chamber　of　Horrors　just　yet。　　But　you　won't　have　to　wait　more　than　four　or　five　minutes；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　It's　this　way；　you　see；　our　boss　is　in　there；　showing　a　party　round。〃　He　lowered　his　voice。　　〃It's　Sir　John　Burney　…　I　suppose　you　know　who　Sir　John　Burney　is？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered　indifferently；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　ever　heard　of　him。〃

She　felt　slightly　…　oh；　very　sightly　…　uneasy　about　Daisy。　　She　would　have　liked　her　stepdaughter　to　keep　well　within　sight　and　sound；　but　Mr。　Sleuth　was　now　taking　the　girl　down　to　the　other　end　of　the　room。

〃Well；　I　hope　you　never　will　know　him　…　not　in　any　personal　sense；　Mrs。　Bunting。〃　　The　man　chuckled。　　〃He's　the　Commissioner　of　Police　　…　the　new　one　…　that's　what　Sir　John　Burney　is。　　One　of　the　gentlemen　he's　showing　round　our　place　is　the　Paris　Police　boss　…　　whose　job　is　on　all　fours；　so　to　speak；　with　Sir　John's。　　The　Frenchy　has　brought　his　daughter　with　him；　and　there　are　several　other　ladies。　　Ladies　always　likes　horrors；　Mrs。　Bunting；　that's　our　experience　here。　　'Oh；　take　me　to　the　Chamber　of　Horrors　'　…　　that's　what　they　say　the　minute　they　gets　into　this　here　building！〃

Mrs。　Bunting　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　　It　occurred　to　Mr。　Hopkins　that　she　was　very　wan　and　tired；　she　used　to　look　better　in　the　old　days；　when　she　was　still　in　service；　before　Bunting　married　her。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃that's　just　what　my　stepdaughter　said　just　now。　'Oh；　take　me　to　the　Chamber　of　Horrors'　…　that's　exactly　what　she　did　say　when　we　got　upstairs。〃

******

A　group　of　people；　all　talking　and　laughing　together；　were　advancing；　from　within　the　wooden　barrier；　toward　the　turnstile。

Mrs。　Bunting　stared　at　them　nervously。　　She　wondered　which　of　them　was　the　gentleman　with　whom　Mr。　Hopkins　had　hoped　she　would　never　be　brought　into　personal　contact；　she　thought　she　could　pick　him　out　among　the　others。　　He　was　a　tall；　powerful；　handsome　gentleman；　with　a　military　appearance。

Just　now　he　was　smiling　down　into　the　face　of　a　young　lady。　〃Monsieur　Barberoux　is　quite　right；〃　he　was　saying　in　a　loud；　cheerful　voice；　〃our　English　law　is　too　kind　to　the　criminal；　especially　to　the　murderer。　　If　we　conducted　our　trials　in　the　French　fashion；　the　place　we　have　just　left　would　be　very　much　fuller　than　it　is　to…day。　　A　man　of　whose　guilt　we　are　absolutely　assured　is　oftener　than　not　acquitted；　and　then　the　public　taunt　us　with　'another　undiscovered　crime！〃'

〃D'you　mean；　Sir　John；　that　murderers　sometimes　escape　scot…free？　Take　the　man　who　has　been　committing　all　these　awful　murders　this　last　month？　　I　suppose　there's　no　doubt　he'll　be　hanged　…　if　he's　ever　caught；　that　is！〃

Her　girlish　voice　rang　out；　and　Mrs。　Bunting　could　hear　every　word　that　was　said。

The　whole　party　gathered　round；　listening　eagerly。　　〃Well；　no。〃　He　spoke　very　deliberately。　　〃I　doubt　if　that　particular　murderer　ever　will　be　hanged。〃

〃You　mean　that　you'll　never　catch　him？〃　the　girl　spoke　with　a　touch　of　airy　impertinence　in　her　clear　voice。

〃I　think　we　shall　end　by　catching　him　…　because〃　…　he　waited　a　moment；　then　added　in　a　lower　voice　…　〃now　don't　give　me　away　to　a　newspaper　fellow；　Miss　Rose　…　because　now　I　think　we　do　know　who　the　murderer　in　question　is　…　〃

Several　of　those　standing　near　by　uttered　expressions　of　surprise　and　incredulity。

〃Then　why　don't　you　catch　him？〃　cried　the　girl　indignantly。

〃I　didn't　say　we　knew　where　he　was；　I　only　said　we　knew　who　he　was；　or；　rather；　perhaps　I　ought　to　say　that　I　personally　have　a　very　strong　suspicion　of　his　identity。〃

Sir　John's　French　colleague　looked　up　quickly。　　〃De　Leipsic　and　Liverpool　man？〃　he　said　interrogatively。

The　other　nodded。　　〃Yes；　I　suppose　you've　had　the　case　turned　up？〃

Then；　speaking　very　quickly；　as　if　he　wished　to　dismiss　the　subject　from　his　own　mind；　and　from　that　of　his　auditors；　he　went　on：

〃Four　murders　of　the　kind　were　committed　eight　years　ago　…　two　in　Leipsic；　the　others；　just　afterwards；　in　Liverpool；　…　and　there　were　certain　peculiarities　connected　with　the　crimes　which　made　it　clear　they　were　committed　by　the　same　hand。　　The　perpetrator　was　caught；　fortunately　for　us；　red…handed；　just　as　he　was　leaving　the　house　of　his　last　victim；　for　in　Liverpool　the　murder　was　committed　in　a　house。　　I　myself　saw　the　unhappy　man　…　I　say　unhappy；　for　there　is　no　doubt　at　all　that　he　was　mad　〃　…　he　hesitated；　and　added　in　a　lower　tone…〃　suffering　from　an　acute　form　of　religious　mania。　I　myself　saw　him；　as　I　say；　at　some　length。　　But　now　comes　the　really　interesting　point。　　I　have　just　been　informed　that　a　month　ago　this　criminal　lunatic；　as　we　must　of　course　regard　him；　made　his　escape　from　the　asylum　where　he　was　confined。　　He　arranged　the　whole　thing　with　extraordinary　cunning　and　intelligence；　and　we　should　probably　have　caught　him　long　ago；　were　it　not　that　he　managed；　when　on　his　way　out　of　the　place；　to　annex　a　considerable　sum　of　money　in　gold；　with　which　the　wages　of　the　asylum　staff　were　about　to　be　paid。　　It　is　owing　to　that　fact　that　his　escape　was。　very　wrongly；　concealed　…　〃

He　stopped　abruptly；　as　if　sorry　he　had　said　so　much；　and　a　moment　later　the　party　were　walking　in　Indian　file　through　the　turnstile；　Sir　John　Burney　leading　the　way。

Mrs。　Bunting　looked　straight　before　her。　　She　felt　…　　so　she　expressed　it　to　her　husband　later　…　as　if　she　had　been　turned　to　stone。

Even　had　she　wished　to　do　so；　she　had　neither　the　time　nor　the　power　to　warn　her　lodger　of　his　danger；　for　Daisy　and　her　companion　were　now　coming　down　the　room；　bearing　straight　for　the　Commissioner　of　Police。　　In　another　moment　Mrs。　Bunting's　lodger　and　Sir　John　Burney　were　face　to　face。

Mr。　Sleuth　swerved　to　one　side；　there　came　a　terrible　change　over　his　pale；　narrow　face；　it　became　discomposed；　livid　with　rage　and　terror。

But；　to　Mrs。　Bunting's　relief　…　yes；　to　her　inexpressible　relief　　…　Sir　John　Burney　and　his　friends　swept　on。　　They　passed　Mr。　Sleuth　and　the　girl　by　his　side；　unaware；　or　so　it　seemed　to　her；　that　there　was　anyone　else　in　the　room　hut　themselves。

〃Hurry　up；　Mrs。　Bunting；〃　said　the　turnstile…keeper；　〃you　and　your　friends　will　have　the　place　all　to　yourselves　for　a　bit。〃　　From　an　official　he　had　become　a　man；　and　it　was　the　man　in　Mr。　Hopkins　that　gallantly　addressed　pretty　Daisy　Bunting：　〃It　seems　strange　that　a　young　lady　like　you　should　want　to　go　in　and　see　all　those　'orrible　frights；〃　he　said　jestingly。

〃Mrs。　Bunting；　may　I　trouble　you　to　come　over　here　for　a　moment？〃

The　words　were　hissed　rather　than　spoken　by　Mr。　Sleuth's　lips。

His　landlady　took　a　doubtful　step　towards　him。

〃A　last　word　with　you；　Mrs。　Bunting。〃　The　lodger's　face　was　still　distorted　with　fear　and　passion。　　〃Do　not　think　to　escape　the　consequences　of　your　hideous　treachery。　　I　trusted　you；　Mrs。　Bunting；　and　you　betrayed　me！　　Put　I　am　protected　by　a　higher　power；　for　I　still　have　much　to　do。〃　　Then；　his　voice　sinking　to　a　whisper；　he　hissed　out　〃Your　end　will　be　bitter　as　wormwood　and　sharp　as　a　two…edged　sword。　　Your　feet　shall　go　down　to　death；　and　your　steps　take　hold　on　hell。〃

Even　while　Mr。　Sleuth　was　muttering　these　strange；　dreadful　words；　he　was　looking　round；　glancing　this　way　and　that；　seeking　a　way　of　escape。

At　last　his　eyes　became　fixed　on　a　small　placard　placed　above　a　curtain。　　〃Emergency　Exit〃　was　written　there。　　Mrs。　Bunting　thought　he　was　going　to　make　a　dash　for　the　place；　but　Mr。　Sleuth　did　something　very　different。　　Leaving　his　landlady's　side；　he　walked　over　to　the　turnstile；　he　fumbled　in　his　pocket　for　a　moment；　and　then　touched　the　man　on　the　arm。　　〃I　feel　ill；〃　he　said；　speaking　very　rapidly；　〃very　ill　indeed！　　It　is　the　atmosphere　of　this　place。　I　want　you　to　let　me　out　by　the　quickest　way。　　It　would　be　a　pity　for　me　to　faint　here　…　especially　with　ladies　about。〃　

His　left　hand　shot　out　and　placed　what　he　had　been　fumbling　for　in　his　pocket　on　the　other's　bare　palm。　　〃I　see　there's　an　emergency　exit　over　there。　　Would　it　be　possible　for　me　to　get　out　that　way？〃

〃Well；　yes；　sir；　I　think　so。〃

The　man　hesitated；　he　felt　a　slight；　a　very　sight；　feeling　of　misgiving。　　He　looked　at　Daisy；　flushed　and　smiling；　happy　and　unconcerned；　and　then　at　Mrs。　Bunting。　　She　was　very　pale；　but　surely　her　lodger's　sudden　seizure　was　enough　to　make　her　feel　worried。　　Hopkins　felt　the　half　…sovereign　pleasantly　tickling　his　palm。　　The　Paris　Prefect　of　Police　had　given　him　only　half…a…crown　　…　mean；　shabby　foreigner！

〃Yes；　sir；　I　can　let　you　out　that　way；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃and　p'raps　when　you're　standing　out　in　the　air；　on　the　iron　balcony；　you'll　feel　better。　　But　then；　you　know；　sir；　you'll　have　to　come　round　to　the　front　if　you　wants　to　come　in　again；　for　those　emergency　doors　only　open　outward。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Mr。　Sleuth　hurriedly。　　〃I　quite　understand！　　If　I　feel　better　I'll　come　in　by　the　front　way；　and　pay　another　shi