the queen of hearts-第43章

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pains　to　destroy　all　traces　of　the　natural　slovenliness　of　his
appearance。　This　was　precisely　what　I　expected。　A　vagabond　like
Mr。　Jay　knows　the　importance　of　giving　himself　a　respectable　look
when　he　is　going　to　run　the　risk　of　changing　a　stolen　bank…note。
At　five　minutes　past　ten　o'clock　he　had　given　the　last　brush　to
his　shabby　hat　and　the　last　scouring　with　bread…crumb　to　his
dirty　gloves。　At　ten　minutes　past　ten　he　was　in　the　street；　on
his　way　to　the　nearest　cab…stand；　and　I　and　my　subordinates　were
close　on　his　heels。

He　took　a　cab　and　we　took　a　cab。　I　had　not　overheard　them　appoint
a　place　of　meeting　when　following　them　in　the　Park　on　the
previous　day；　but　I　soon　found　that　we　were　proceeding　in　the　old
direction　of　the　Avenue　Road　gate。　The　cab　in　which　Mr。　Jay　was
riding　turned　into　the　Park　slowly。　We　stopped　outside；　to　avoid
exciting　suspicion。　I　got　out　to　follow　the　cab　on　foot。　Just　as
I　did　so；　I　saw　it　stop；　and　detected　the　two　confederates
approaching　it　from　among　the　trees。　They　got　in；　and　the　cab　was
turned　about　directly。　I　ran　back　to　my　own　cab　and　told　the
driver　to　let　them　pass　him；　and　then　to　follow　as　before。

The　man　obeyed　my　directions；　but　so　clumsily　as　to　excite　their
suspicions。　We　had　been　driving　after　them　about　three　minutes
（returning　along　the　road　by　which　we　had　advanced）　when　I　looked
out　of　the　window　to　see　how　far　they　might　be　ahead　of　us。　As　I
did　this；　I　saw　two　hats　popped　out　of　the　windows　of　their　cab；
and　two　faces　looking　back　at　me。　I　sank　into　my　place　in　a　cold
sweat；　the　expression　is　coarse；　but　no　other　form　of　words　can
describe　my　condition　at　that　trying　moment。

〃We　are　found　out！〃　I　said；　faintly；　to　my　two　subordinates。　They
stared　at　me　in　astonishment。　My　feelings　changed　instantly　from
the　depth　of　despair　to　the　height　of　indignation。

〃It　is　the　cabman's　fault。　Get　out；　one　of　you；〃　I　said；　with
dignity〃get　out；　and　punch　his　head。〃

Instead　of　following　my　directions　（I　should　wish　this　act　of
disobedience　to　be　reported　at　headquarters）　they　both　looked　out
of　the　window。　Before　I　could　pull　them　back　they　both　sat　down
again。　Before　I　could　express　my　just　indignation；　they　both
grinned；　and　said　to　me：　〃Please　to　look　out；　sir！〃

I　did　look　out。　Their　cab　had　stopped。

Where？

At　a　church　door！

What　effect　this　discovery　might　have　had　upon　the　ordinary　run
of　men　I　don't　know。　Being　of　a　strong　religious　turn　myself；　it
filled　me　with　horror。　I　have　often　read　of　the　unprincipled
cunning　of　criminal　persons；　but　I　never　before　heard　of　three
thieves　attempting　to　double　on　their　pursuers　by　entering　a
church！　The　sacrilegious　audacity　of　that　proceeding　is；　I　should
think；　unparalleled　in　the　annals　of　crime。

I　checked　my　grinning　subordinates　by　a　frown。　It　was　easy　to　see
what　was　passing　in　their　superficial　minds。　If　I　had　not　been
able　to　look　below　the　surface；　I　might；　on　observing　two　nicely
dressed　men　and　one　nicely　dressed　woman　enter　a　church　before
eleven　in　the　morning　on　a　week　day；　have　come　to　the　same　hasty
conclusion　at　which　my　inferiors　had　evidently　arrived。　As　it
was；　appearances　had　no　power　to　impose　on　_me_。　I　got　out；　and；
followed　by　one　of　my　men；　entered　the　church。　The　other　man　I
sent　round　to　watch　the　vestry　door。　You　may　catch　a　weasel
asleep；　but　not　your　humble　servant；　Matthew　Sharpin！

We　stole　up　the　gallery　stairs；　diverged　to　the　organ…loft；　and
peered　through　the　curtains　in　front。　There　they　were；　all　three；
sitting　in　a　pew　belowyes；　incredible　as　it　may　appear；　sitting
in　a　pew　below！


Before　I　could　determine　what　to　do；　a　clergyman　made　his
appearance　in　full　canonicals　from　the　vestry　door；　followed　by　a
clerk。　My　brain　whirled　and　my　eyesight　grew　dim。　Dark
remembrances　of　robberies　committed　in　vestries　floated　through
my　mind。　I　trembled　for　the　excellent　man　in　full　canonicalsI
even　trembled　for　the　clerk。

The　clergyman　placed　himself　inside　the　altar　rails。　The　three
desperadoes　approached　him。　He　opened　his　book　and　began　to　read。
What？　you　will　ask。

I　answer；　without　the　slightest　hesitation；　the　first　lines　of
the　Marriage　Service。

My　subordinate　had　the　audacity　to　look　at　me；　and　then　to　stuff
his　pocket…handkerchief　into　his　mouth。　I　scorned　to　pay　any
attention　to　him。　After　I　had　discovered　that　the　man　〃Jack〃　was
the　bridegroom；　and　that　the　man　Jay　acted　the　part　of　father；
and　gave　away　the　bride；　I　left　the　church；　followed　by　my　men；
and　joined　the　other　subordinate　outside　the　vestry　door。　Some
people　in　my　position　would　now　have　felt　rather　crestfallen；　and
would　have　begun　to　think　that　they　had　made　a　very　foolish
mistake。　Not　the　faintest　misgiving　of　any　kind　troubled　me。　I
did　not　feel　in　the　slightest　degree　depreciated　in　my　own
estimation。　And　even　now；　after　a　lapse　of　three　hours；　my　mind
remains；　I　am　happy　to　say；　in　the　same　calm　and　hopeful
condition。

As　soon　as　I　and　my　subordinates　were　assembled　together　outside
the　church；　I　intimated　my　intention　of　still　following　the　other
cab　in　spite　of　what　had　occurred。　My　reason　for　deciding　on　this
course　will　appear　presently。　The　two　subordinates　appeared　to　be
astonished　at　my　resolution。　One　of　them　had　the　impertinence　to
say　to　me：

〃If　you　please；　sir；　who　is　it　that　we　are　after？　A　man　who　has
stolen　money；　or　a　man　who　has　stolen　a　wife？〃

The　other　low　person　encouraged　him　by　laughing。　Both　have
deserved　an　official　reprimand；　and　both；　I　sincerely　trust；　will
be　sure　to　get　it。

When　the　marriage　ceremony　was　over；　the　three　got　into　their　cab
and　once　more　our　vehicle　（neatly　hidden　round　the　corner　of　the
church；　so　that　they　could　not　suspect　it　to　be　near　them）
started　to　follow　theirs。

We　traced　them　to　the　terminus　of　the　Southwestern　Railway。　The
newly…married　couple　took　tickets　for　Richmond；　paying　their　fare
with　a　half　sovereign；　and　so　depriving　me　of　the　pleasure　of
arresting　them；　which　I　should　certainly　have　done　if　they　had
offered　a　bank…note。　They　parted　from　Mr。　Jay；　saying：　〃Remember
the　address14　Babylon　Terrace。　You　dine　with　us　to…morrow
week。〃　Mr。　Jay　accepted　the　invitation；　and　added；　jocosely；　that
he　was　going　home　at　once　to　get　off　his　clean　clothes；　and　to　be
comfortable　and　dirty　again　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　I　have　to
report　that　I　saw　him　home　safely；　and　that　he　is　comfortable　and
dirty　again　（to　use　his　own　disgraceful　language）　at　the　present
moment。

Here　the　affair　rests；　having　by　this　time　reached　what　I　may
call　its　first　stage。

I　know　very　well　what　persons　of　hasty　judgment　will　be　inclined
to　say　of　my　proceedings　thus　far。　They　will　assert　that　I　have
been　deceiving　myself　all　through　in　the　most　absurd　way；　they
will　declare　that　the　suspicious　conversations　which　I　have
reported　referred　solely　to　the　difficulties　and　dangers　of
successfully　carrying　out　a　runaway　match；　and　they　will　appeal
to　the　scene　in　the　church　as　offering　undeniable　proof　of　the
correctness　of　their　assertions。　So　let　it　be。　I　dispute　nothing
up　to　this　point。　But　I　ask　a　question；　out　of　the　depths　of　my
own　sagacity　as　a　man　of　the　world；　which　the　bitterest　of　my
enemies　will　not；　I　think；　find　it　particularly　easy　to　answer。

Granted　the　fact　of　the　marriage；　what　proof　does　it　afford　me　of
the　innocence　of　the　three　persons　concerned　in　that　clandestine
transaction？　It　gives　me　none。　On　the　contrary；　it　strengthens　my
suspicions　against　Mr。　Jay　and　his　confederates；　because　it
suggests　a　distinct　motive　for　their　stealing　the　money。　A
gentleman　who　is　going　to　spend　his　honeymoon　at　Richmond　wants
money；　and　a　gentleman　who　is　in　debt　to　all　his　tradespeople
wants　money。　Is　this　an　unjustifiable　imputation　of　bad　motives？
In　the　name　of　outraged　Morality；　I　deny　it。　These　men　have
combined　together；　and　have　stolen　a　woman。　Why　should　they　not
combine　together　and　steal　a　cash…box？　I　take　my　stand　on　the
logic　of　rigid　Virtue；　and　I　defy　all　the　sophistry　of　Vice　to
move　me　an　inch　out　of　my　position。

Speaking　of　virtue；　I　may　add　that　I　have　put　this　view　of　the
case　to　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Yatman。　That　accomplished　and　charming　woman
found　it　difficult　at　first　to　follow　the　close　chain　of　my
reasoning。　I　am　free　to　confess　that　she　shook　her　head；　and　shed
tears；　and　joined　her　husband　in　premature　lamentation　over　the
loss　of　the　two　hundred　pounds。　But　a　little　careful　explanation
on　my　part；　and　a　little　attentive　listening　on　hers；　ultimately
changed　her　opinion。　She　now　agrees　with　me　that　there　is　nothing
in　this　unexpected　circumstance　of　the　clandestine　marriage　which
absolutely　tends　to　divert　suspicion　from　Mr。　Jay；　or　Mr。　〃Jack；〃
or　the　runaway　lady。　〃Audacious　hussy〃　was　the　term　my　fair
friend　used　in　speaking　of　her；　but　let　that　pass。　It　is　more　to
the　purpose　to　record　that　Mrs。　Yatman　has　not　lost　confidence　in
me；　and　that　Mr。　Yatman　promises　to　follow　her　example；　and　do
his　best　to　look　hopefully　for　future　results。

I　have　now；　in　the　new　turn　that　circumstances　have　taken；　to
await　advice　from　your　office。　I　pause　for　fresh　orders　with　all
the　composure　of　a　man　who　has　got　two　strings　to　his　bow。　When　I
traced　the　three　confederates　from　the　church　door　to　the　railway
terminus；　I　had　two　motives　for　doing　so。　First；　I　followed　them
as　a　matter　of　official　business；　believing　them　still　to　have
been　guilty　of　the　robbery。　Secondly；　I　followed　them　as　a　matter
of　private　speculation；　with　a　view　of　discovering　the　place　of
refuge　to　which　the　runaway　couple　intended　to　retreat；　and　of
making　my　information　a　marketable　commodity　to　offer　to　the
young　lady's　family　and　friends。　Thus；　whatever　happens；　I　may
congratulate　myself　beforehand　on　not　having　wasted　my　time。　If
the　office　approves　of　my　conduct；　I　have　my　plan　ready　for
further　proceedings。　If　the　office　blames　me；　I　shall　take　myself
off；　with　my　marketable　information；　to　the　genteel　villa
residence　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　Regent's　Park。　Anyway；　the
affair　puts　money　into　my　pocket；　and　does　credit　to　my
penetration　as　an　uncommonly　sharp　man。

I　have　only　one　word　more　to　add；　and　it　is　this：　If　any
individual　ventures　to　assert　that　Mr。　　Jay　and　his　confederates
are　innocent　o　f　all　share　in　the　stealing　of　the　cash…box；　I；　in
return；　defy　that　individualthough　he　may　even　be　Chief
Inspector　Theakstone　himselfto　tell　me　who　has　committed　the
robbery　at　Rutherford　Street；　Soho。

Strong　in　that　conviction；　I　have　the　honor　to　be　your　very
obedient　servant；

MATTHEW　SHARPIN。


FROM　CHIEF　INSPECTOR　THEAKSTONE　TO　SERGEANT　BULMER。

Birmingham；　July　9th。


SERGEANT　BULMERThat　empty…headed　puppy；　Mr。　Matthew　Sharpin；
has　made　a　mess　of　the　case　at　Rutherford　Street；　exactly　as　I
expected　he　would。　Business　keeps　me　in　this　town；　so　I　write　to
you　to　set　the　matter　straight。　I　inclose　with　this　the　pages　of
feeble　scribble…scrabble　which　the　creature　Sharpin　calls　a
report。　Look　them　over；　and　when　you　have　made　your　way　through
all　the　gabble；　I　think　you　will　agree　with　me　that　the　conceited
booby　has　looked　for　the　thief　in　every　direction　but　the　right
one。　You　can　lay　your　hand　on　the　guil