the lodger-第9章

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ere　she　fixed　her　mind　obstinately；　determinedly　on　Bunting　and　on　the　problem　of　Bunting。　She　wondered　what　she'd　better　do　to　get　him　into　good　ways　again。

Thanks　to　Mr。　Sleuth；　their　outlook　was　now　moderately　bright。　　A　week　ago　everything　had　seemed　utterly　hopeless。　　It　seemed　as　if　nothing　could　save　them　from　disaster。　　But　everything　was　now　changed！

Perhaps　it　would　be　well　for　her　to　go　and　see　the　new　proprietor　of　that　registry　office；　in　Baker　Street；　which　had　lately　changed　hands。　　It　would　be　a　good　thing　for　Bunting　to　get　even　an　occasional　job　…　for　the　matter　of　that　he　could　now　take　up　a　fairly　regular　thing　in　the　way　of　waiting。　　Mrs。　Bunting　knew　that　it　isn't　easy　to　get　a　man　out　of　idle　ways　once　he　has　acquired　those　ways。

When；　at　last；　she　went　upstairs　again　she　felt　a　little　ashamed　of　what　she　had　been　thinking；　for　Bunting　had　laid　the　cloth；　and　laid　it　very　nicely；　too；　and　brought　up　the　two　chairs　to　the　table。

〃Ellen？〃　he　cried　eagerly；　〃here's　news！　　Daisy's　coming　to…morrow！　There's　scarlet　fever　in　their　house。　　Old　Aunt　thinks　she'd　better　come　away　for　a　few　days。　　So；　you　see；　she'll　be　here　for　her　birthday。　　Eighteen；　that's　what　she　be　on　the　nineteenth！　　It　do　make　me　feel　old　…　that　it　do！〃

Mrs。　Bunting　put　down　the　tray。　　〃I　can't　have　the　girl　here　just　now；〃　she　said　shortly。　　〃I've　just　as　much　to　do　as　I　can　manage。　The　lodger　gives　me　more　trouble　than　you　seem　to　think　for。〃

〃Rubbish！〃　he　said　sharply。　　〃I'll　help　you　with　the　lodger。　　It's　your　own　fault　you　haven't　had　help　with　him　before。　　Of　course；　Daisy　must　come　here。　　Whatever　other　place　could　the　girl　go　to？〃

Bunting　felt　pugnacious　…　so　cheerful　as　to　be　almost　light…hearted。　But　as　he　looked　across　at　his　wife　his　feeling　of　satisfaction　vanished。　　Ellen's　face　was　pinched　and　drawn　to…day；　she　looked　ill　　…　ill　and　horribly　tired。　　It　was　very　aggravating　of　her　to　go　and　behave　like　this　…　just　when　they　were　beginning　to　get　on　nicely　again。

〃For　the　matter　of　that；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃Daisy'll　be　able　to　help　you　with　the　work；　Ellen；　and　she'll　brisk　us　both　up　a　bit。〃

Mrs。　Bunting　made　no　answer。　　She　sat　down　heavily　at　the　table。　And　then　she　said　languidly；　〃You　might　as　well　show　me　the　girl's　letter。〃

He　handed　it　across　to　her；　and　she　read　it　slowly　to　herself。

〃DEAR　FATHER　（it　ran）　…　I　hope　this　finds　you　as　well　at　it　leaves　me。　　Mrs。　Puddle's　youngest　has　got　scarlet　fever；　and　Aunt　thinks　I　had　better　come　away　at　once；　just　to　stay　with　you　for　a　few　days。　　Please　tell　Ellen　I　won't　give　her　no　trouble。　　I'll　start　at　ten　if　I　don't　hear　nothing。　…　Your　loving　daughter；


〃Yes；　I　suppose　Daisy　will　have　to　come　here；〃　Mrs。　Bunting　slowly。　〃It'll　do　her　good　to　have　a　bit　of　work　to　do　for　once　in　her　life。〃

And　with　that　ungraciously　worded　permission　Bunting　had　to　content　himself。

******

Quietly　the　rest　of　that　eventful　day　sped　by。　　When　dusk　fell　Mr。　Sleuth's　landlady　heard　him　go　upstairs　to　the　top　floor。　　She　remembered　that　this　was　the　signal　for　her　to　go　and　do　his　room。

He　was　a　tidy　man；　was　the　lodger；　he　did　not　throw　his　things　about　as　so　many　gentlemen　do；　leaving　them　all　over　the　place。　No；　he　kept　everything　scrupulously　tidy。　　His　clothes；　and　the　various　articles　Mrs。　Bunting　had　bought　for　him　during　the　first　two　days　he　had　been　there；　were　carefully　arranged　in　the　chest　of　drawers。　　He　had　lately　purchased　a　pair　of　boots。　　Those　he　had　arrived　in　were　peculiar…looking　footgear；　buff　leather　shoes　with　rubber　soles；　and　he　had　told　his　landlady　on　that　very　first　day　that　he　never　wished　them　to　go　down　　to　be　cleaned。

A　funny　idea　…　a　funny　habit　that；　of　going　out　for　a　walk　after　midnight　in　weather　so　cold　and　foggy　that　all　other　folk　were　glad　to　be　at　home；　snug　in　bed。　　But　then　Mr。　Sleuth　himself　admitted　that　he　was　a　funny　sort　of　gentleman。

After　she　had　done　his　bedroom　the　landlady　went　into　the　sitting…room　and　gave　it　a　good　dusting。　　This　room　was　not　kept　quite　as　nice　as　she　would　have　liked　it　to　be。　　Mrs。　Bunting　longed　to　give　the　drawing…room　something　of　a　good　turn　out；　but　Mr。　Sleuth　disliked　her　to　be　moving　about　in　it　when　he　himself　was　in　his　bedroom；　and　when　up　he　sat　there　almost　all　the　time。　Delighted　as　he　had　seemed　to　be　with　the　top　room；　he　only　used　it　when　making　his　mysterious　experiments；　and　never　during　the　day…time。

And　now；　this　afternoon；　she　looked　at　the　rosewood　chiffonnier　with　longing　eyes　…　she　even　gave　that　pretty　little　piece　of　furniture　a　slight　shake。　　If　only　the　doors　would　fly　open；　as　the　locked　doors　of　old　cupboards　sometimes　do；　even　after　they　have　been　securely　fastened；　how　pleased　she　would　be；　how　much　more　comfortable　somehow　she　would　feel！

But　the　chiffonnier　refused　to　give　up　its　secret。

******

About　eight　o'clock　on　that　same　evening　Joe　Chandler　came　in；　just　for　a　few　minutes'　chat。　　He　had　recovered　from　his　agitation　of　the　morning；　but　he　was　full　of　eager　excitement；　and　Mrs。　Bunting　listened　in　silence；　intensely　interested　in　spite　of　herself；　while　he　and　Bunting　talked。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　as　right　as　a　trivet　now！　　I've　had　a　good　rest　　…　laid　down　all　this　afternoon。　　You　see；　the　Yard　thinks　there's　going　to　be　something　on　to…night。　　He's　always　done　them　in　pairs。〃

〃So　he　has；〃　exclaimed　Hunting　wonderingly。　　〃So　he　has！　　Now；　I　never　thought　o'　that。　　Then　you　think；　Joe；　that　the　monster'll　be　on　the　job　again　to…night？〃

Chandler　nodded。　　〃Yes。　　And　I　think　there's　a　very　good　chance　of　his　being　caught　too　…　〃

〃I　suppose　there'll　be　a　lot　on　the　watch　to…night；　eh？〃

〃I　should　think　there　will　be！　　How　many　of　our　men　d'you　think　there'll　be　on　night　duty　to…night；　Mr。　Bunting？〃

Bunting　shook　his　head。　　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　helplessly。

〃I　mean　extra；〃　suggested　Chandler；　in　an　encouraging　voice。〃

〃A　thousand？〃　ventured　Bunting。

〃Five　thousand；　Mr。　Bunting。

〃Never！〃　exclaimed　Bunting；　amazed。

And　even　Mrs。　Bunting　echoed　〃Never！〃　incredulously。

〃Yes；　that　there　will。　　You　see；　the　Boss　has　got　his　monkey　up！〃　Chandler　drew　a　folded…up　newspaper　out　of　his　coat　pocket。　　〃Just　listen　to　this：

〃'The　police　have　reluctantly　to　admit　that　they　have　no　clue　to　the　perpetrators　of　these　horrible　crimes；　and　we　cannot　feel　any　surprise　at　the　information　that　a　popular　attack　has　been　organised　on　the　Chief　Commissioner　of　the　Metropolitan　Police。　　There　is　even　talk　of　an　indignation　mass　meeting。'

〃What　d'you　think　of　that？　　That's　not　a　pleasant　thing　for　a　gentleman　as　is　doing　his　best　to　read；　eh？〃

〃Well；　it　does　seem　queer　that　the　police　can't　catch　him；　now　doesn't　it？〃　said　Bunting　argumentatively。

〃I　don't　think　it's　queer　at　all；〃　said　young　Chandler　crossly。　〃Now　you　just　listen　again！　　Here's　a　bit　of　the　truth　for　once　…　　in　a　newspaper。〃　　And　slowly　he　read　out：

〃'The　detection　of　crime　in　London　now　resembles　a　game　of　blind　man's　buff；　in　which　the　detective　has　his　hands　tied　and　his　eyes　bandaged。　　Thus　is　he　turned　loose　to　hunt　the　murderer　through　the　slums　of　a　great　city。〃'

〃Whatever　does　that　mean？〃　said　Bunting。　　〃Your　hands　aren't　tied；　and　your　eyes　aren't　bandaged；　Joe？〃

〃It's　metaphorical…like　that　it's　intended；　Mr。　Bunting。　　We　haven't　got　the　same　facilities　…　no；　not　a　quarter　of　them　…　that　the　French　'tecs　have。〃

And　then；　for　the　first　time；　Mrs。　Bunting　spoke：　〃What　was　that　word；　Joe　…　'perpetrators'？　　I　mean　that　first　bit　you　read　out。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　turning　to　her　eagerly。

〃Then　do　they　think　there's　more　than　one　of　them？〃　she　said；　and　a　look　of　relief　came　over　her　thin　face。

〃There's　some　of　our　chaps　thinks　it's　a　gang；〃　said　Chandler。　〃They　say　it　can't　be　the　work　of　one　man。〃

〃What　do　you　think；　Joe？〃

〃Well；　Mrs。　Bunting；　I　don't　know　what　to　think。　　I'm　fair　puzzled。〃

He　got　up。　　〃Don't　you　come　to　the　door。　　I'll　shut　it　all　right。　So　long！　　See　you　to…morrow；　perhaps。〃　　As　he　had　done　the　other　evening；　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Bunting's　visitor　stopped　at　the　door。　　〃Any　news　of　Miss　Daisy？〃　he　asked　casually。

〃Yes；　she's　coming　to…morrow；〃　said　her　father。　　〃They've　got　scarlet　fever　at　her　place。　　So　Old　Aunt　thinks　she'd　better　clear　out。〃


The　husband　and　wife　went　to　bed　early　that　night；　but　Mrs。　Bunting　found　she　could　not　sleep。　　She　lay　wide　awake；　hearing　the　hours；　the　half…hours；　the　quarters　chime　out　from　the　belfry　of　the　old　church　close　by。

And　then；　just　as　she　was　dozing　off　…　it　must　have　been　about　one　o'clock　…　she　heard　the　sound　she　had　half　unconsciously　been　expecting　to　hear；　that　of　the　lodger's　stealthy　footsteps　coming　down　the　stairs　just　outside　her　room。

He　crept　along　the　passage　and　let　himself　out　very；　very　quietly。

But　though　she　tried　to　keep　awake；　Mrs。　Bunting　did　not　hear　him　come　in　again；　for　she　soon　fell　into　a　heavy　sleep。

Oddly　enough；　she　was　the　first　to　wake　the　next　morning；　odder　still；　it　was　she；　not　Bunting；　who　jumped　out　of　bed；　and　going　out　into　the　passage；　picked　up　the　newspaper　which　had　just　been　pushed　through　the　letter…box。

But　having　picked　it　up；　Mrs。　Bunting　did　not　go　back　at　once　into　her　bedroom。　　Instead　she　lit　the　gas　in　the　passage；　and　leaning　up　against　the　wall　to　steady　herself；　for　she　was　trembling　with　cold　and　fatigue；　she　opened　the　paper。

Yes；　there　was　the　heading　she　sought：

The　AVENGER　Murders〃

But；　oh；　how　glad　she　was　to　see　the　words　that　followed：

〃Up　to　the　time　of　going　to　press　there　is　little　new　to　report　concerning　the　extraordinary　series　of　crimes　which　are　amazing；　and；　indeed；　staggering　not　only　London；　hut　the　whole　civilised　world；　and　which　would　seem　to　be　the　work　of　some　woman…hating　teetotal　fanatic。　　Since　yesterday　morning；　when　the　last　of　these　dastardly　murders　was　committed；　no　reliable　clue　to　the　perpetrator；　or　perpetrators；　has　been　obtained；　though　several　arrests　were　made　in　the　course　of　the　day。　　In　every　case；　however；　those　arrested　were　able　to　prove　a　satisfactory　alibi。〃

And　then；　a　little　lower　down

〃The　excitement　grows　and　grows。　　It　is　not　too　much　to　say　that　even　a　stranger　to　London　would　know　that　something　very　unusual　was　in　the　air。　　As　for　the　place　where　the　murder　was　committed　last　night　…　〃

〃Last　night！〃　thought　Mrs。　Bunting；　startled；　and　then　she　realised　that　〃last　night；〃　in　this　connection；　meant　the　night　before　last。

She　began　the　sentence　again：

〃As　for　the　place　where　the　murder　was　committed　last　night；　all　approaches　to　it　were　still　blocked　up　to　a　late　hour　by　hundreds　of　onlookers；　though；　of　course；　nothing　now　remains　in　the　way　of　traces　of　the　tragedy。〃

Slowly　and　carefully　Mrs。　Bunting　folded　the　paper　up　again　in　its　original　creases；　and　then　she　stooped　and　put　it　back　down　on　the　mat　where　she　had　found　it。　　She　then　turned　out　the　gas；　and　going　back　into　bed　she　lay　down　by　her　still　sleeping　husband。

〃Anything　the　matter？〃　Bunting　murmured；　and　stirred　uneasily。　〃Anything　the　matter；　Ellen？〃

She　answered　in　a　whisper；　a　whisper　thrilling　with　a　strange　gladness；　〃No；　nothing；　Bunting　…　nothing　the　matter！　　Go　to　sleep　again；　my　dear。〃

They　got　up　an　hour　later；　both　in　a　h