the lodger-第7章

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But　odd　he　certainly　was。

The　second　evening　he　had　been　with　them　Mr。　Sleuth　had　brought　in　a　book　of　which　the　queer　name　was　Cruden's　Concordance。　　That　and　the　Bible　…　Mrs。　Bunting　had　soon　discovered　that　there　was　a　relation　between　the　two　books　…　seemed　to　be　the　lodger's　only　reading。　　He　spent　hours　each　day；　generally　after　he　had　eaten　the　breakfast　which　also　served　for　luncheon；　poring　over　the　Old　Testament　and　over　that；　strange　kind　of　index　to　the　Book。

As　for　the　delicate　and　yet　the　all…important　question　of　money；　Mr。　Sleuth　was　everything　…　everything　that　the　most　exacting　landlady　could　have　wished。　　Never　had　there　been　a　more　confiding　or　trusting　gentleman。　　On　the　very　first　day　he　had　been　with　them　　he　had　allowed　his　money　…　the　considerable　sum　of　one　hundred　and　eighty…four　sovereigns　…　to　lie　about　wrapped　up　in　little　pieces　of　rather　dirty　newspaper　on　his　dressing…table。　　That　had　quite　upset　Mrs。　Bunting。　　She　had　allowed　herself　respectfully　to　point　out　to　him　that　what　he　was　doing　was　foolish；　indeed　wrong。　　But　as　only　answer　he　had　laughed；　and　she　had　been　startled　when　the　loud；　unusual　and　discordant　sound　had　issued　from　his　thin　lips。

〃I　know　those　I　can　trust；〃　he　had　answered；　stuttering　rather；　as　was　his　way　when　moved。　　〃And　…　and　I　assure　you；　Mrs。　Bunting；　that　I　hardly　have　to　speak　to　a　human　being　…　especially　to　a　woman〃　（and　he　had　drawn　in　his　breath　with　a　hissing　sound）　〃before　I　know　exactly　what　manner　of　person　is　before　me。〃

It　hadn't　taken　the　landlady　very　long　to　find　out　that　her　lodger　had　a　queer　kind　of　fear　and　dislike　of　women。　　When　she　was　doing　the　staircase　and　landings　she　would　often　hear　Mr。　Sleuth　reading　aloud　to　himself　passages　in　the　Bible　that　were　very　uncomplimentary　to　her　sex。　　But　Mrs。　Bunting　had　no　very　great　opinion　of　her　sister　woman；　so　that　didn't　put　her　out。　　Besides；　where　one's　lodger　is　concerned；　a　dislike　of　women　is　better　than　…　well；　than　the　other　thing。

In　any　case；　where　would　have　been　the　good　of　worrying　about　the　lodger's　funny　ways？　　Of　course；　Mr。　Sleuth　was　eccentric。　　If　he　hadn't　been；　as　Bunting　funnily　styled　it；　〃just　a　leetle　touched　upstairs；〃　he　wouldn't　be　here；　living　this　strange；　solitary　life　in　lodgings。　　He　would　be　living　in　quite　a　different　sort　of　way　with　some　of　his　relatives；　or　with　a　friend　of　his　own　class。

There　came　a　time　when　Mrs。　Bunting；　looking　back　　…　as　even　the　least　imaginative　of　us　are　apt　to　look　back　to　any　part　of　our　own　past　lives　which　becomes　for　any　reason　poignantly　memorable　　…　wondered　how　soon　it　was　that　she　had　discovered　that　her　lodger　was　given　to　creeping　out　of　the　house　at　a　time　when　almost　all　living　things　prefer　to　sleep。

She　brought　herself　to　believe　…　but　I　am　inclined　to　doubt　whether　she　was　right　in　so　believing　…　that　the　first　time　she　became　aware　of　this　strange　nocturnal　habit　of　Mr。　Sleuth's　happened　to　be　during　the　night　which　preceded　the　day　on　which　she　had　observed　a　very　curious　circumstance。　　This　very　curious　circumstance　was　the　complete　disappearance　of　one　of　Mr。　Sleuth's　three　suits　of　clothes。

It　always　passes　my　comprehension　how　people　can　remember；　over　any　length　of　time；　not　every　moment　of　certain　happenings；　for　that　is　natural　enough；　but　the　day；　the　hour；　the　minute　when　these　happenings　took　place！　　Much　as　she　thought　about　it　afterwards；　even　Mrs。　Bunting　never　quite　made　up　her　mind　whether　it　was　during　the　fifth　or　the　sixth　night　of　Mr。　Sleuth's　stay　under　her　roof　that　she　became　aware　that　he　had　gone　out　at　two　in　the　morning　and　had　only　come　in　at　five。

But　that　there　did　come　such　a　night　is　certain　…　as　certain　as　is　the　fact　that　her　discovery　coincided　with　various　occurrences　which　were　destined　to　remain　retrospectively　memorable。

******

It　was　intensely　dark；　intensely　quiet　…　the　darkest　quietest　hour　of　the　night；　when　suddenly　Mrs。　Bunting　was　awakened　from　a　deep；　dreamless　sleep　by　sounds　at　once　unexpected　and　familiar。　　She　knew　at　once　what　those　sounds　were。　　They　were　those　made　by　Mr。　Sleuth；　first　coming　down　the　stairs；　and　walking　on　tiptoe　…　she　was　sure　it　was。　　on　tiptoe　…　past　her　door；　and　finally　softly　shutting　the　front　door　behind　him。

Try　as　she　would；　Mrs。　Bunting　found　it　quite　impossible　to　go　to　sleep　again。　　There　she　lay　wide　awake；　afraid　to　move　lest　Bunting　should　waken　up　too；　till　she　heard　Mr。　Sleuth；　three　hours　later；　creep　back　into　the　house　and　so　up　to　bed。

Then；　and　not　till　then；　she　slept　again。　　But　in　the　morning　she　felt　very　tired；　so　tired　indeed；　that　she　had　been　very　glad　when　Bunting　good…naturedly　suggested　that　he　should　go　out　and　do　their　little　bit　of　marketing。

The　worthy　couple　had　very　soon　discovered　that　in　the　matter　of　catering　it　was　not　altogether　an　easy　matter　to　satisfy　Mr。　Sleuth；　and　that　though　he　always　tried　to　appear　pleased。　　This　perfect　lodger　had　one　serious　fault　from　the　point　of　view　of　those　who　keep　lodgings。　　Strange　to　say；　he　was　a　vegetarian。　　He　would　not　eat　meat　in　any　form。　　He　sometimes；　however；　condescended　to　a　chicken；　and　when　he　did　so　condescend　he　generously　intimated　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Bunting　were　welcome　to　a　share　in　it。

Now　to…day　…　this　day　of　which　the　happenings　were　to　linger　in　Mrs。　Bunting's　mind　so　very　long；　and　to　remain　so　very　vivid；　it　had　been　arranged　that　Mr。　Sleuth　was　to　have　some　fish　for　his　lunch；　while　what　he　left　was　to　be　〃done　up〃　to　serve　for　his　simple　supper。

Knowing　that　Bunting　would　be　out　for　at　least　an　hour；　for　he　was　a　gregarious　soul；　and　liked　to　have　a　gossip　in　the　shops　he　frequented；　Mrs。　Bunting　rose　and　dressed　in　a　leisurely　manner；　then　she　went　and　〃did〃　her　front　sitting…room。

She　felt　languid　and　dull；　as　one　is　apt　to　feel　after　a　broken　night；　and　it　was　a　comfort　to　her　to　know　that　Mr。　Sleuth　was　not　likely　to　ring　before　twelve。

But　long　before　twelve　a　loud　ring　suddenly　clanged　through　the　quiet　l1ouse。　　She　knew　it　for　the　front　door　bell。

Mrs。　Bunting　frowned。　　No　doubt　the　ring　betokened　one　of　those　tiresome　people　who　come　round　for　old；　bottles　and　such…like　fal…lals。

She　went　slowly；　reluctantly　to　the　door。　　And　then　her　face　cleared；　for　it　was　that　good　young　chap；　Joe　Chandler；　who　stood　waiting　outside。

He　was　breathing　a　little　hard；　as　if　he　had　walked　over…quickly　through　the　moist；　foggy　air。

〃Why；　Joe？〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　wonderingly。　　〃Come　in　…　do！　　Bunting's　out；　but　he　won't　be　very　long　now。　　You've　been　quite　a　stranger　these　last　few　days。〃

〃Well；　you　know　why；　Mrs。　Bunting　…　〃

She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　wondering　what　he　could　mean。　　Then；　suddenly　she　remembered。　　Why；　of　course；　Joe　was　on　a　big　job　just　now　…　the　job　of　trying　to　catch　The　Avenger！　　Her　husband　had　alluded　to　the　fact　again　and　again　when　reading　out　to　her　little　bits　from　the　halfpenny　evening　paper　he　was　taking　again。

She　led　the　way　to　the　sitting…room。　　It　was　a　good　thing　Bunting　had　insisted　on　lighting　the　fire　before　he　went　out；　for　now　the　room　was　nice　and　warm　…　and　it　was　just　horrible　outside。　　She　had　felt　a　chill　go　right　through　her　as　she　had　stood；　even　for　that　second；　at　the　front　door。

And　she　hadn't　been　alone　to　feel　it；　for；　〃I　say；　it　is　jolly　to　be　in　here；　out　of　that　awful　cold！〃　exclaimed　Chandler；　sitting　down　heavily　in　Bunting's　easy　chair。

And　then　Mrs。　Bunting　bethought　herself　that　the　young　man　was　tired；　as　well　as　cold。　　He　was　pale；　almost　pallid　under　his　usual　healthy；　tanned　complexion　…　the　complexion　of　the　man　who　lives　much　out　of　doors。

〃Wouldn't　you　like　me　just　to　make　you　a　cup　of　tea？〃　she　said　solicitously。

〃Well；　to　tell　truth；　I　should　be　right　down　thankful　for　one；　Mrs。　Bunting！〃　　Then　he　looked　round；　and　again　he　said　her　name；　〃Mrs。　Bunting　…　？〃　　

He　spoke　in　so　odd；　so　thick　a　tone　that　she　turned　quickly。　　〃Yes；　what　is　it；　Joe？〃　she　asked。　　And　then；　in　sudden　terror；　〃You've　never　come　to　tell　me　that　anything's　happened　to　Bunting？　　He's　not　had　an　accident？〃

〃Goodness；　no！　　Whatever　made　you　think　that？　　But　…　but；　Mrs。　Bunting；　there's　been　another　of　them！〃

His　voice　dropped　almost　to　a　whisper。　　He　was　staring　at　her　with　unhappy；　it　seemed　to　her　terror…filled；　eyes。

〃Another　of　them？〃　　She　looked　at　him；　bewildered　　…　at　a　loss。　And　then　what　he　meant　flashed　across　her　…　〃　another　of　them〃　meant　another　of　these　strange；　mysterious；　awful　murders。

But　her　relief　for　the　moment　was　so　great　…　for　she　really　had　thought　for　a　second　that　he　had　come　to　give　her　ill　news　of　Bunting　…　that　the；　feeling　that　she　did　experience　on　hearing　this　piece　of　news　was　actually　pleasurable；　though　she　would　have　been　much　shocked　had　that　fact　been　brought　to　her　notice。

Almost　in　spite　of　herself；　Mrs。　Bunting　had　become　keenly　interested　in　the　amazing　series　of　crimes　which　was　occupying　the　imagination　of　the　whole　of　London's　nether…world。　　Even　her　refined　mind　had　busied　itself　for　the　last　two　or　three　days　with　the　strange　problem　so　frequently　presented　to　it　by　Bunting　…　for　Bunting；　now　that　they　were　no　longer　worried；　took　an　open；　unashamed；　intense　interest　in　〃The　Avenger〃　and　his　doings。

She　took　the　kettle　off　the　gas…ring。　　〃It's　a　pity　Bunting　isn't　here；〃　she　said；　drawing　in　her　breath。　　〃He'd　a…liked　so　much　to　hear　you　tell　　all　about　it；　Joe。〃

As　she　spoke　she　was　pouring　boiling　water　into　a　little　teapot。

But　Chandler　said　nothing；　and　she　turned　and　glanced　at　him。　　〃Why；　you　do　look　bad！〃　she　exclaimed。

And；　indeed；　the　young　fellow　did　look　bad　…　very　bad　indeed。

〃I　can't　help　it；〃　he　said；　with　a　kind　of　gasp。　　〃It　was　your　saying　that　about　my　telling　you　all　about　it　that　made　me　turn　queer。　　You　see；　this　time　I　was　one　of　the　first　there；　and　it　fairly　turned　me　sick　…　that　it　did。　　Oh；　it　was　too　awful；　Mrs。　Bunting！　　Don't　talk　of　it。〃

He　began　gulping　down　the　hot　tea　before　it　was　well　made。

She　looked　at　him　with　sympathetic　interest。　〃Why；　Joe；〃　she　said；　〃I　never　would　have　thought；　with　all　the　horrible　sights　you　see；　that　anything　could　upset　you　like　that。〃

〃This　isn't　like　anything　there's　ever　been　before；〃　he　said。　　〃And　then　…　then　…　oh；　Mrs。　Bunting；　'twas　I　that　discovered　the　piece　of　paper　this　time。〃

〃Then　it　is　true；〃　she　cried　eagerly。　　〃It　is　The　Avenger's　bit　of　paper！　　Bunting　always　said　it　was。　　He　never　believed　in　that　practical　joker。〃

〃I　did；〃　said　Chandler　reluctantly。　　〃You　see；　there　are　some　queer　fellows　even　…　even　…　〃　（he　lowered　his　voice；　and　looked　round　him　as　if　the　walls　had　ears）　…　〃even　in　the　Force；　Mrs。　Bunting；　and　these　murders　have　fair　got　on　our　nerves。〃

〃No；　never！〃　she　said。　　〃D'you　think　that　a　Bobby　might　do　a　thing　like　that？〃

He　nodded　impatiently；　as　if　the　question　wasn't　worth　answering。　Then；　〃It　was　all　along　of　that　bit　of　paper　and　my　finding　it　while　the　poor　soul　was　still　warm　he　shuddered　…　〃　that　brought　me　out　West　this　morning。　　One　of　our　bosses　lives　close　by；　in　Prince　Albert　Terrace；　and　I　had　to　go　and　tell　him　all　about　it。　　They　never　offered　me　a　bit　or　a　sup　…　I　think　they　might　have　done　that；　don't　you；　Mrs。　Bunting？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said