five tales-第2章

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And　seizing　the　journal　that　lay　on　his　bureau；　Keith　read　again　that　paragraph：　〃The　body　of　a　man　was　found　this　morning　under　an　archway　in　Glove　Lane；　Soho。　　From　marks　about　the　throat　grave　suspicions　of　foul　play　are　entertained。　　The　body　had　apparently　been　robbed；　and　nothing　was　discovered　leading　to　identification。〃

It　was　real　earnest；　then。　　Murder！　　His　own　brother！　　He　faced　round　and　said：

〃You　saw　this　in　the　paper；　and　dreamed　it。　　Understandyou　dreamed　it！〃

The　wistful　answer　came：

〃If　only　I　had；　Keithif　only　I　had！〃

In　his　turn；　Keith　very　nearly　wrung　his　hands。

〃Did　you　take　anything　from　thebody？〃

〃This　dropped　while　we　were　struggling。〃；

It　was　an　empty　envelope　with　a　South　American　post…mark　addressed：　〃Patrick　Walenn；　Simon's　Hotel；　Farrier　Street；　London。〃　Again　with　that　twitching　in　his　heart；　Keith　said：

〃Put　it　in　the　fire。〃

Then　suddenly　he　stooped　to　pluck　it　out。　　By　that　commandhe　had　identified　himself　with　thisthis　But　he　did　not　pluck　it　out。　　It　blackened；　writhed；　and　vanished。　　And　once　more　he　said：

〃What　in　God's　name　made　you　come　here　and　tell　me？〃

〃You　know　about　these　things。　　I　didn't　mean　to　kill　him。　　I　love　the　girl。　　What　shall　I　do；　Keith？

〃Simple！　　How　simple！　　To　ask　what　he　was　to　do！　　It　was　like　Larry！　And　he　said：

〃You　were　not　seen；　you　think？〃　　〃It's　a　dark　street。　　There　was　no　one　about。〃

〃When　did　you　leave　this　girl　the　second　time？〃

〃About　seven　o'clock。〃

〃Where　did　you　go？〃

〃To　my　rooms。〃

〃In　Fitzroy　Street？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　anyone　see　you　come　in？〃

〃No。〃

〃What　have　you　done　since？〃

〃Sat　there。〃

〃Not　been　out？〃

〃No。〃

〃Not　seen　the　girl？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　don't　know；　then；　what　she's　done　since？〃

〃No。〃

〃Would　she　give　you　away？〃

〃Never。〃

〃Would　she　give　herself　awayhysteria？〃

〃No。〃

〃Who　knows　of　your　relations　with　her？〃

〃No　one。〃

〃No　one？〃

〃I　don't　know　who　should；　Keith。〃

〃Did　anyone　see　you　going　in　last　night；　when　you　first　went　to　her？〃

〃No。　　She　lives　on　the　ground　floor。　　I've　got　keys。〃

〃Give　them　to　me。　　What　else　have　you　that　connects　you　with　her？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃In　your　rooms？〃

〃No。〃

〃No　photographs。　　No　letters？〃

〃No。〃

〃Be　careful。〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃No　one　saw　you　going　back　to　her　the　second　time？〃

〃No。〃

〃No　one　saw　you　leave　her　in　the　morning？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　were　fortunate。　　Sit　down　again；　man。　　I　must　think。〃

Think！　　Think　out　this　accursed　thingso　beyond　all　thought；　and　all　belief。　　But　he　could　not　think。　　Not　a　coherent　thought　would　come。　And　he　began　again：

〃Was　it　his　first　reappearance　with　her？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃She　told　you　so？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃How　did　he　find　out　where　she　was？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃How　drunk　were　you？〃

〃I　was　not　drunk。〃

〃How　much　had　you　drunk？〃

〃About　two　bottles　of　claretnothing。〃

〃You　say　you　didn't　mean　to　kill　him？〃

〃No…God　knows！〃

〃That's　something。

What　made　you　choose　the　arch？〃

〃It　was　the　first　dark　place。〃

〃Did　his　face　look　as　if　he　had　been　strangled？〃

〃Don't！〃

〃Did　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Very　disfigured？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　you　look　to　see　if　his　clothes　were　marked？〃

〃No。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Why　not？　　My　God！　　If　you　had　done　it！〃

〃You　say　he　was　disfigured。　　Would　he　be　recognisable？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃When　she　lived　with　him　lastwhere　was　that？〃

〃I　don't　know　for　certain。　　Pimlico；　I　think。〃

〃Not　Soho？〃

〃No。〃

〃How　long　has　she　been　at　the　Soho　place？〃

〃Nearly　a　year。〃

〃Always　the　same　rooms？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Is　there　anyone　living　in　that　house　or　street　who　would　be　likely　to　know　her　as　his　wife？〃

〃I　don't　think　so。〃

〃What　was　he？〃

〃I　should　think　he　was　a　professional　'bully。'〃

〃I　see。　　Spending　most　of　his　time　abroad；　then？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　know　if　he　was　known　to　the　police？〃

〃I　haven't　heard　of　it。〃

〃Now；　listen；　Larry。　　When　you　leave　here　go　straight　home；　and　don't　go　out　till　I　come　to　you；　to…morrow　morning。　　Promise　that！〃

〃I　promise。〃

〃I've　got　a　dinner　engagement。　　I'll　think　this　out。　　Don't　drink。　Don't　talk！　Pull　yourself　together。〃

〃Don't　keep　me　longer　than　you　can　help；　Keith！〃

That　white　face；　those　eyes；　that　shaking　hand！　　With　a　twinge　of　pity　in　the　midst　of　all　the　turbulence　of　his　revolt；　and　fear；　and　disgust　Keith　put　his　hand　on　his　brother's　shoulder；　and　said：

〃Courage！〃

And　suddenly　he　thought：　'My　God！　　Courage！　　I　shall　want　it　all　myself！'




II

Laurence　Darrant；　leaving　his　brother's　house　in　the　Adelphi；　walked　northwards；　rapidly；　slowly；　rapidly　again。　　For；　if　there　are　men　who　by　force　of　will　do　one　thing　only　at　a　time；　there　are　men　who　from　lack　of　will　do　now　one　thing；　now　another；　with　equal　intensity。　　To　such　natures；　to　be　gripped　by　the　Nemesis　which　attends　the　lack　of　self…control　is　no　reason　for　being　more　self…　controlled。　　Rather　does　it　foster　their　pet　feeling：　〃What　matter？　To…morrow　we　die！〃　　The　effort　of　will　required　to　go　to　Keith　had　relieved；　exhausted　and　exasperated　him。　　In　accordance　with　those　three　feelings　was　the　progress　of　his　walk。　　He　started　from　the　door　with　the　fixed　resolve　to　go　home　and　stay　there　quietly　till　Keith　came。　　He　was　in　Keith's　hands；　Keith　would　know　what　was　to　be　done。　　But　he　had　not　gone　three　hundred　yards　before　he　felt　so　utterly　weary；　body　and　soul；　that　if　he　had　but　had　a　pistol　in　his　pocket　he　would　have　shot　himself　in　the　street。　　Not　even　the　thought　of　the　girlthis　young　unfortunate　with　her　strange　devotion；　who　had　kept　him　straight　these　last　five　months；　who　had　roused　in　him　a　depth　of　feeling　he　had　never　known　beforewould　have　availed　against　that　sudden　black　defection。　　Why　go　ona　waif　at　the　mercy　of　his　own　nature；　a　straw　blown　here　and　there　by　every　gust　which　rose　in　him？　　Why　not　have　done　with　it　for　ever；　and　take　it　out　in　sleep？

He　was　approaching　the　fatal　street；　where　he　and　the　girl；　that　early　morning；　had　spent　the　hours　clutched　together；　trying　in　the　refuge　of　love　to　forget　for　a　moment　their　horror　and　fear。　　Should　he　go　in？　　He　had　promised　Keith　not　to。　　Why　had　he　promised？　　He　caught　sight　of　himself　in　a　chemist's　lighted　window。　　Miserable；　shadowy　brute！　　And　he　remembered　suddenly　a　dog　he　had　picked　up　once　in　the　streets　of　Pera；　a　black…and…white　creaturedifferent　from　the　other　dogs；　not　one　of　their　breed；　a　pariah　of　pariahs；　who　had　strayed　there　somehow。　　He　had　taken　it　home　to　the　house　where　he　was　staying；　contrary　to　all　custom　of　the　country；　had　got　fond　of　it；　had　shot　it　himself；　sooner　than　leave　it　behind　again　to　the　mercies　of　its　own　kind　in　the　streets。　　Twelve　years　ago！　　And　those　sleevelinks　made　of　little　Turkish　coins　he　had　brought　back　for　the　girl　at　the　hairdresser's　in　Chancery　Lane　where　he　used　to　get　shavedpretty　creature；　like　a　wild　rose。　　He　had　asked　of　her　a　kiss　for　payment。　　What　queer　emotion　when　she　put　her　face　forward　to　his　lipsa　sort　of　passionate　tenderness　and　shame；　at　the　softness　and　warmth　of　that　flushed　cheek；　at　her　beauty　and　trustful　gratitude。　　She　would　soon　have　given　herself　to　himthat　one！　　He　had　never　gone　there　again！　　And　to　this　day　he　did　not　know　why　he　had　abstained；　to　this　day　he　did　not　know　whether　he　were　glad　or　sorry　not　to　have　plucked　that　rose。　　He　must　surely　have　been　very　different　then！　　Queer　business；　lifequeer；　queer　business！to　go　through　it　never　knowing　what　you　would　do　next。　　Ah！　to　be　like　Keith；　steady；　buttoned…up　in　success；　a　brass　pot；　a　pillar　of　society！　　Once；　as　a　boy；　he　had　been　within　an　ace　of　killing　Keith；　for　sneering　at　him。　　Once　in　Southern　Italy　he　had　been　near　killing　a　driver　who　was　flogging　his　horse。　　And　now；　that　darkfaced；　swinish　bully　who　had　ruined　the　girl　he　had　grown　to　lovehe　had　done　it！　　Killed　him！　　Killed　a　man！

He　who　did　not　want　to　hurt　a　fly。　　The　chemist's　window　comforted　him　with　the　sudden　thought　that　he　had　at　home　that　which　made　him　safe；　in　case　they　should　arrest　him。　　He　would　never　again　go　out　without　some　of　those　little　white　tablets　sewn　into　the　lining　of　his　coat。　　Restful；　even　exhilarating　thought！　　They　said　a　man　should　not　take　his　own　life。　　Let　them　taste　horrorthose　glib　citizens！　　Let　them　live　as　that　girl　had　lived；　as　millions　lived　all　the　world　over；　under　their　canting　dogmas！　　A　man　might　rather　even　take　his　life　than　watch　their　cursed　inhumanities。

He　went　into　the　chemist's　for　a　bromide；　and；　while　the　man　was　mixing　it；　stood　resting　one　foot　like　a　tired　horse。　　The　〃life〃　he　had　squeezed　out　of　that　fellow！　　After　all；　a　billion　living　creatures　gave　up　life　each　day；　had　it　squeezed　out　of　them；　mostly。　And　perhaps　not　one　a　day　deserved　death　so　much　as　that　loathly　fellow。　　Life！　a　breathaflame！　　Nothing！　　Why；　then；　this　icy　clutching　at　his　heart？

The　chemist　brought　the　draught。

〃Not　sleeping；　sir？〃

〃No。〃

The　man's　eyes　seemed　to　say：　'Yes！　　Burning　the　candle　at　both　ends…　I　know！'　Odd　life；　a　chemist's；　pills　and　powders　all　day　long；　to　hold　the　machinery　of　men　together！　　Devilish　odd　trade！

In　going　out　he　caught　the　reflection　of　his　face　in　a　mirror；　it　seemed　too　good　altogether　for　a　man　who　had　committed　murder。　　There　was　a　sort　of　brightness　underneath；　an　amiability　lurking　about　its　shadows；　howhow　could　it　be　the　face　of　a　man　who　had　done　what　he　had　done？　　His　head　felt　lighter　now；　his　feet　lighter；　he　walked　rapidly　again。

Curious　feeling　of　relief　and　oppression　all　at　once！　　Frightfulto　long　for　company；　for　talk；　for　distraction；　andto　be　afraid　of　it！　The　girlthe　girl　and　Keith　were　now　the　only　persons　who　would　not　give　him　that　feeling　of　dread。　　And；　of　those　twoKeith　was　not。。。！　Who　could　consort　with　one　who　was　never　wrong；　a　successful；　righteous　fellow；　a　chap　built　so　that　he　knew　nothing　about　himself；　wanted　to　know　nothing；　a　chap　all　solid　actions？　　To　be　a　quicksand　swallowing　up　one's　own　resolutions　was　bad　enough！　　But　to　be　like　Keithall　willpower；　marching　along；　treading　down　his　own　feelings　and　weaknesses！　　No！　　One　could　not　make　a　comrade　of　a　man　like　Keith；　even　if　he　were　one's　brother？　　The　only　creature　in　all　the　world　was　the　girl。　　She　alone　knew　and　felt　what　he　was　feeling；　would　put　up　with　him　and　love　him　whatever　he　did；　or　was　done　to　him。　　He　stopped　and　took　shelter　in　a　doorway；　to　light　a　cigarette。　He　had　suddenly　a　fearful　wish　to　pass　the　archway　where　he　had　placed　the　body；　a　fearful　wish　that　had　no　sense；　no　end　in　view；　no　anything；　just　an　insensate　craving　to　see　the　dark　place　again。　　He　crossed　Borrow　Street　to　the　little　lane。　　There　was　only　one　person　visible；　a　man　on　the　far　side　with　his　shoulders　hunched　against　the　wind；　a　short；　dark　figure　which　crossed　and　came　towards　him　in　the　flickering　lamplight。　　What　a　face！　　Yellow；　ravaged；　clothed　almost　to　the　eyes　in　a　stubbly　greyish　growth　of　beard；　with　blackish　teeth；　and　haunting　bloodshot　eyes。　　And　what　a　figure　of　ragsone　shoulder　higher　than　the　other；　one　leg　a　little　lame；　and　thin！　　A　surge　of　feeling　came　up　in　Laurence　for　this　creature；　more　unfortunate　than　himself。　　There　were　lower　depths　than　his！

〃Well；　brother；〃　he　said；　〃you　don't　look　too　pro