the lodger-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ht　have　done　that；　don't　you；　Mrs。　Bunting？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said　absently。　　〃Yes；　I　do　think　so。〃

〃But；　there；　I　don't　know　that　I　ought　to　say　that；〃　went　on　Chandler。　〃He　had　me　up　in　his　dressing…room；　and　was　very　considerate…like　to　me　while　I　was　telling　him。〃

〃Have　a　bit　of　something　now？〃　she　said　suddenly。

〃Oh；　no；　I　couldn't　eat　anything；〃　he　said　hastily。　　〃I　don't　feel　as　if　I　could　ever　eat　anything　any　more。〃

〃That'll　only　make　you　ill。〃　　Mrs。　Bunting　spoke　rather　crossly；　for　she　was　a　sensible　woman。　　And　to　please　her　he　took　a　bite　out　of　the　slice　of　bread…and…butter　she　had　cut　for　him。

〃I　expect　you're　right；〃　he　said。　　〃And　I've　a　goodish　heavy　day　in　front　of　me。　　Been　up　since　four；　too　…　〃

〃Four？〃　she　said。　　〃Was　it　then　they　found　…　〃　she　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then　said；　〃it？〃

He　nodded。　　〃It　was　just　a　chance　I　was　near　by。　　If　I'd　been　half　a　minute　sooner　either　I　or　the　officer　who　found　her　must　have　knocked　up　against　that　…　　that　monster。　　But　two　or　three　people　do　think　they　saw　him　slinking　away。〃

〃What　was　he　like？〃　she　asked　curiously。

〃Well；　that's　hard　to　answer。　　You　see；　there　was　such　an　awful　fog。　　But　there's　one　thing　they　all　agree　about。　　He　was　carrying　a　bag　…　〃

〃A　bag？〃　repeated　Mrs。　Bunting；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃Whatever　sort　of　bag　might　it　have　been；　Joe？〃

There　had　come　across　her…just　right　in　her　middle；　like　…　such　a　strange　sensation；　a　curious　kind　of　tremor；　or　fluttering。

　She　was　at　a　loss　to　account　for　it；

〃Just　a　hand…bag；〃　said　Joe　Chandler　vaguely。　　〃A　woman　I　spoke　to　　…　cross…examining　her；　like　…　who　was　positive　she　had　seen　him；　said；　'Just　a　tall；　thin　shadow　…　that's　what　he　was；　a　tall；　thin　shadow　of　a　man　…　with　a　bag。〃'

〃With　a　bag？〃　repeated　Mrs。　Bunting　absently。　　〃How　very　strange　and　peculiar　…　〃

〃Why；　no；　not　strange　at　all。　　He　has　to　carry　the　thing　he　does　the　deed　with　in　something；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　We've　always　wondered　how　he　hid　it。　　They　generally　throws　the　knife　or　fire…arms　away；　you　know。〃

〃Do　they；　indeed？〃　Mrs。　Bunting　still　spoke　in　that　absent；　wondering　way。　　She　was　thinking　that　she　really　must　try　and　see　what　the　lodger　had　done　with　his　bag。　　It　was　possible　…　in　fact；　when　one　came　to　think　of　it；　it　was　very　probable　…　that　he　had　just　lost　it；　being　so　forgetful　a　gentleman；　on　one　of　the　days　he　had　gone　out；　as　she　knew　he　was　fond　of　doing；　into　the　Regent's　Park。

〃There'll　be　a　description　circulated　in　an　hour　or　two；〃　went　on　Chandler。　　〃Perhaps　that'll　help　catch　him。　　There　isn't　a　London　man　or　woman；　I　don't　suppose；　who　wouldn't　give　a　good　bit　to　lay　that　chap　by　the　heels。　　Well；　I　suppose　I　must　be　going　now。〃

〃Won't　you　wait　a　bit　longer　for　Bunting？〃　she　said　hesitatingly。

〃No；　I　can't　do　that。　　But　I'll　come　in；　maybe；　either　this　evening　or　to…morrow；　and　tell　you　any　more　that's　happened。　　Thanks　kindly　for　the　tea。　　It's　made　a　man　of　me；　Mrs。　Bunting。〃

〃Well；　you've　had　enough　to　unman　you；　Joe。〃

〃Aye；　that　I　have；〃　he　said　heavily。

A　few　minutes　later　Bunting　did　come　in；　and　he　and　his　wife　had　quite　a　little　tiff　…　the　first　tiff　they　had　had　since　Mr。　Sleuth　became　their　lodger。

It　fell　out　this　way。　　When　he　heard　who　had　been　there；　Bunting　was　angry　that　Mrs。　Bunting　hadn't　got　more　details　of　the　horrible　occurrence　which　had　taken　place　that　morning；　out　of　Chandler。

〃You　don't　mean　to　say；　Ellen；　that　you　can't　even　tell　me　where　it　happened？〃　he　said　indignantly。　　〃I　suppose　you　put　Chandler　off　　…　that's　what　you　did！　　Why；　whatever　did　he　come　here　for；　excepting　to　tell　us　all　about　it？〃

〃He　came　to　have　something　to　eat　and　drink；〃　snapped　out　Mrs。　Bunting。　　〃That's　what　the　poor　lad　came　for；　if　you　wants　to　know。　He　could　hardly　speak　of　it　at　all　…　he　felt　so　bad。　　In　fact；　he　didn't　say　a　word　about　it　until　he'd　come　right　into　the　room　and　sat　down。　　He　told　me　quite　enough！〃

〃Didn't　he　tell　you　if　the　piece　of　paper　on　which　the　murderer　had　written　his　name　was　square　or　three…cornered？〃　demanded　Bunting。

〃No；　he　did　not。　　And　that　isn't　the　sort　of　thing　I　should　have　cared　to　ask　him。〃

〃The　more　fool　you！〃　　And　then　he　stopped　abruptly。　　The　newsboys　were　coming　down　the　Marylebone　Road；　shouting　out　the　awful　discovery　which　had　been　made　that　morning　…　that　of　The　Avenger's　fifth　murder。　　Bunting　went　out　to　buy　a　paper；　and　his　wife　took　the　things　he　had　brought　in　down　to　the　kitchen。

The　noise　the　newspaper…sellers　made　outside　had　evidently　wakened　Mr。　Sleuth；　for　his　landlady　hadn't　been　in　the　kitchen　ten　minutes　before　his　bell　rang。


CHAPTER　VI

Mr。　Sleuth's　bell　rang　again。

Mr。　Sleuth's　breakfast　was　quite　ready；　but　for　the　first　time　since　he　had　been　her　lodger　Mrs。　Bunting　did　not　answer　the　summons　at　once。　　But　when　there　came　the　second　imperative　tinkle　…　for　electric　hells　had　not　been　fitted　into　that　old…fashioned　house　…　　she　made　up　her　mind　to　go　upstairs。

As　she　emerged　into　the　hall　from　the　kitchen　stairway；　Bunting；　sitting　comfortably　in　their　parlour；　heard　his　wile　stepping　heavily　under　the　load　of　the　well…laden　tray。

〃Wait　a　minute！〃　he　called　out。　　〃I'll　help　you；　Ellen；〃　and　he　came　out　and　took　the　tray　from　her。

She　said　nothing；　and　together　they　proceeded　up　to　the　drawing…room　floor　landing。

There　she　stopped　him。　　〃Here；〃　she　whispered　quickly；　〃you　give　me　that；　Bunting。　　The　lodger　won't　like　your　going　in　to　him。〃　　And　then；　as　he　obeyed　her；　and　was　about　to　turn　downstairs　again；　she　added　in　a　rather　acid　tone；　〃You　might　open　the　door　for　me；　at　any　rate！　　How　can　I　manage　to　do　it　with　this　here　heavy　tray　on　my　hands？〃

She　spoke　in　a　queer；　jerky　way；　and　Bunting　felt　surprised　…　rather　put　out。　　Ellen　wasn't　exactly　what　you'd　call　a　lively；　jolly　woman；　but　when　things　were　going　well　…　as　now　…　she　was　generally　equable　enough。　　He　supposed　she　was　still　resentful　of　the　way　he　had　spoken　to　her　about　young　Chandler　and　the　new　Avenger　murder。

However；　he　was　always　for　peace；　so　he　opened　the　drawing…room　door；　and　as　soon　as　he　had　started　going　downstairs　Mrs。　Bunting　walked　into　the　room。

And　then　at　once　there　came　over　her　the　queerest　feeling　of　relief；　of　lightness　of　heart。

As　usual；　the　lodger　was　sitting　at　his　old　place；　reading　the　Bible。

Somehow　…　she　could　not　have　told　you　why；　she　would　not　willingly　have　told　herself　…　she　had　expected　to　see　Mr。　Sleuth　looking　different。　　But　no；　he　appeared　to　be　exactly　the　same　…　in　fact；　as　he　glanced　up　at　her　a　pleasanter　smile　than　usual　lighted　up　his　thin；　pallid　face。

〃Well；　Mrs。　Bunting；〃　he　said　genially；　〃I　overslept　myself　this　morning；　but　I　feel　all　the　better　for　the　rest。〃

〃I'm　glad　of　that；　sir；〃　she　answered；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃One　of　the　ladies　I　once　lived　with　used　to　say；　'Rest　is　an　old…fashioned　remedy；　but　it's　the　best　remedy　of　all。〃

Mr。　Sleuth　himself　removed　the　Bible　and　Cruden's　Concordance　off　the　table　out　of　her　way；　and　then　he　stood　watching　his　landlady　laying　the　cloth。

Suddenly　he　spoke　again。　　He　was　not　often　so　talkative　in　the　morning。　　〃I　think；　Mrs。　Bunting；　that　there　was　someone　with　you　outside　the　door　just　now？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　Bunting　helped　me　up　with　the　tray。〃

〃I'm　afraid　I　give　you　a　good　deal　of　trouble；〃　he　said　hesitatingly。

But　she　answered　quickly；　〃Oh；　no；　sir！　　Not　at　all；　sir！　　I　was　only　saying　yesterday　that　we've　never　had　a　lodger　that　gave　us　as　little　trouble　as　you　do；　sir。〃

〃I'm　glad　of　that。　　I　am　aware　that　my　habits　are　somewhat　peculiar。〃

He　looked　at　her　fixedly；　as　if　expecting　her　to　give　some　sort　of　denial　to　this　observation。　　But　Mrs。　Bunting　was　an　honest　and　truthful　woman。　　It　never　occurred　to　her　to　question　his　statement。　Mr。　Sleuth's　habits　were　somewhat　peculiar。　　Take　that　going　out　at　night；　or　rather　in　the　early　morning；　for　instance？　　So　she　remained　silent。

After　she　had　laid　the　lodger's　breakfast　on　the　table　she　prepared　to　leave　the　room。　　〃I　suppose　I'm　not　to　do　your　room　till　you　goes　out；　sir？〃

And　Mr。　Sleuth　looked　up　sharply。　　〃No；　no！〃　he　said。　　〃I　never　want　my　room　done　when　I　am　engaged　in　studying　the　Scriptures；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　But　I　am　not　going　out　to…day。　　I　shall　be　carrying　out　a　somewhat　elaborate　experiment　…　upstairs。　　If　I　go　out　at　all〃　he　waited　a　moment；　and　again　he　looked　at　her　fixedly　〃　…　I　shall　wait　till　night…time　to　do　so。〃　　And　then；　coming　back　to　the　matter　in　hand；　he　added　hastily；　〃Perhaps　you　could　do　my　room　when　I　go　upstairs；　about　five　o'clock　…　if　that　time　is　convenient　to　you；　that　is？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　sir！　　That'll　do　nicely！〃

Mrs。　Bunting　went　downstairs；　and　as　she　did　so　she　took　herself　wordlessly；　ruthlessly　to　task；　but　she　did　not　face　…　even　in　her　inmost　heart　…　the　strange　tenors　and　tremors　which　had　so　shaken　her。　　She　only　repeated　to　herself　again　and　again；　〃I've　got　upset　　…　that's　what　I've　done；〃　and　then　she　spoke　aloud；　〃I　must　get　myself　a　dose　at　the　chemist's　next　time　I'm　out。　　That's　what　I　must　do。〃

And　just　as　she　murmured　the　word　〃do；〃　there　came　a　loud　double　knock　on　the　front　door。

It　was　only　the　postman's　knock；　but　the　postman　was　an　unfamiliar　visitor　in　that　house；　and　Mrs。　Bunting　started　violently。　　She　was　nervous；　that's　what　was　the　matter　with　her；　…　so　she　told　herself　angrily。　　No　doubt　this　was　a　letter　for　Mr。　Sleuth；　the　lodger　must　have　relations　and　acquaintances　somewhere　in　the　world。　　All　gentlefolk　have。　　But　when　she　picked　the　small　envelope　off　the　hall　floor；　she　saw　it　was　a　letter　from　Daisy；　her　husband's　daughter。

〃Bunting！〃　she　called　out　sharply。　　〃Here's　a　letter　for　you。〃

She　opened　the　door　of　their　sitting…room　and　looked　in。　　Yes；　there　was　her　husband；　sitting　back　comfortably　in　his　easy　chair；　reading　a　paper。　　And　as　she　saw　his　broad；　rather　rounded　back；　Mrs。　Bunting　felt　a　sudden　thrill　of　sharp　irritation。　　There　he　was；　doing　nothing　…　in　fact；　doing　worse　than　nothing　…　wasting　his　time　reading　all　about　those　horrid　crimes。

She　sighed　…　a　long；　unconscious　sigh。　　Bunting　was　getting　into　idle　ways；　bad　ways　for　a　man　of　his　years。　　But　how　could　she　prevent　it？　　He　had　been　such　an　active；　conscientious　sort　of　man　when　they　had　first　made　acquaintance。　。　。

She　also　could　remember；　even　more　clearly　than　Bunting　did　himself；　that　first　meeting　of　theirs　in　the　dining…room　of　No。　90　Cumberland　Terrace。　　As　she　had　stood　there；　pouring　out　her　mistress's　glass　of　port　wine；　she　had　not　been　too　much　absorbed　in　her　task　to　have　a　good　out…of…her…eye　look　at　the　spruce；　nice；　respectable…looking　fellow　who　was　standing　over　by　the　window。　　How　superior　he　had　appeared　even　then　to　the　man　she　already　hoped　he　would　succeed　as　butler！

To…day；　perhaps　because　she　was　not　feeling　quite　herself；　the　past　rose　before　her　very　vividly；　and　a　lump　came　into　her　throat。

Putting　the　letter　addressed　to　her　husband　on　the　table；　she　closed　the　door　softly；　and　went　down　into　the　kitchen；　there　were　various　little　things　to　put　away　and　clean　up；　as　well　as　their　dinner　to　cook。　　And　all　the　time　she　was　down　there　she　fixed　her　mind　obstinately；　determinedly　on　Bunting　and　on　the　problem　of　Bunting。　She　wonde