the queen of hearts-第44章

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booby　has　looked　for　the　thief　in　every　direction　but　the　right
one。　You　can　lay　your　hand　on　the　guilty　person　in　five　minutes；
now。　Settle　the　case　at　once；　forward　your　report　to　me　at　this
place；　and　tell　Mr。　Sharpin　that　he　is　suspended　till　further
notice。

Yours；　FRANCIS　THEAKSTONE。


FROM　SERGEANT　BULMER　TO　CHIEF　INSPECTOR　THEAKSTONE。

London；　July　10th。


INSPECTOR　THEAKSTONEYour　letter　and　inclosure　came　safe　to
hand。　Wise　men；　they　say；　may　always　learn　something　even　from　a
fool。　By　the　time　I　had　got　through　Sharpin's　maundering　report
of　his　own　folly；　I　saw　my　way　clear　enough　to　the　end　of　the
Rutherford　Street　case；　just　as　you　thought　I　should。　In　half　an
hour's　time　I　was　at　the　house。　The　first　person　I　saw　there　was
Mr。　Sharpin　himself。

〃Have　you　come　to　help　me？〃　says　he。

〃Not　exactly；〃　says　I。　〃I've　come　to　tell　you　that　you　are
suspended　till　further　notice。〃

〃Very　good；〃　says　he；　not　taken　down　by　so　much　as　a　single　peg
in　his　own　estimation。　〃I　thought　you　would　be　jealous　of　me。
It's　very　natural　and　I　don't　blame　you。　Walk　in；　pray；　and　make
yourself　at　home。　I'm　off　to　do　a　little　detective　business　on　my
own　account；　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　Regent's　Park。　Tata；
sergeant；　tata！〃

With　those　words　he　took　himself　out　of　the　way；　which　was
exactly　what　I　wanted　him　to　do。

As　soon　as　the　maid…servant　had　shut　the　door；　I　told　her　to
inform　her　master　that　I　wanted　to　say　a　word　to　him　in　private。
She　showed　me　into　the　parlor　behind　the　shop；　and　there　was　Mr。
Yatman　all　alone；　reading　the　newspaper。

〃About　this　matter　of　the　robbery；　sir；〃　says　I。

He　cut　me　short；　peevishly　enough；　being　naturally　a　poor；　weak；
womanish　sort　of　man。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；〃　says　he。　〃You　have　come　to　tell　me　that　your
wonderfully　clever　man；　who　has　bored　holes　in　my　second　floor
partition；　has　made　a　mistake；　and　is　off　the　scent　of　the
scoundrel　who　has　stolen　my　money。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　says　I。　〃That　_is_　one　of　the　things　I　came　to　tell
you。　But　I　have　got　something　else　to　say　besides　that。〃

〃Can　you　tell　me　who　the　thief　is？〃　says　he；　more　pettish　than
ever。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　says　I；　〃I　think　I　can。〃

He　put　down　the　newspaper；　and　began　to　look　rather　anxious　and
frightened。

〃Not　my　shopman？〃　says　he。　〃I　hope；　for　the　man's　own　sake；　it's
not　my　shopman。〃

〃Guess　again；　sir；〃　says　I。

〃That　idle　slut；　the　maid？〃　says　he。

〃She　is　idle；　sir；〃　says　I；　〃and　she　is　also　a　slut；　my　first
inquiries　about　her　proved　as　much　as　that。　But　she's　not　the
thief。〃

〃Then；　in　the　name　of　Heaven；　who　is？〃　says　he。

〃Will　you　please　to　prepare　yourself　for　a　very　disagreeable
surprise；　sir？〃　says　I。　〃And；　in　case　you　lose　your　temper；　will
you　excuse　my　remarking　that　I　am　the　stronger　man　of　the　two；
and　that　if　you　allow　yourself　to　lay　hands　on　me；　I　may
unintentionally　hurt　you；　in　pure　self…defense。〃

He　turned　as　pale　as　ashes；　and　pushed　his　chair　two　or　three
feet　away　from　me。

〃You　have　asked　me　to　tell　you；　sir；　who　has　taken　your　money；〃　I
went　on。　〃If　you　insist　on　my　giving　you　an　answer〃

〃I　do　insist；〃　he　said；　faintly。　〃Who　has　taken　it？〃

〃Your　wife　has　taken　it；〃　I　said；　very　quietly；　and　very
positively　at　the　same　time。

He　jumped　out　of　the　chair　as　if　I　had　put　a　knife　into　him；　and
struck　his　fist　on　the　table　so　heavily　that　the　wood　cracked
again。

〃Steady；　sir；〃　says　I。　〃Flying　into　a　passion　won't　help　you　to
the　truth。〃

〃It's　a　lie！〃　says　he；　with　another　smack　of　his　fist　on　the
table〃a　base；　vile；　infamous　lie！　How　dare　you〃

He　stopped；　and　fell　back　into　the　chair　again；　looked　about　him
in　a　bewildered　way；　and　ended　by　bursting　out　crying。

〃When　your　better　sense　comes　back　to　you；　sir；〃　says　I；　〃I　am
sure　you　will　be　gentleman　enough　to　make　an　apology　for　the
language　you　have　just　used。　In　the　meantime；　please　to　listen；
if　you　can；　to　a　word　of　explanation。　Mr。　Sharpin　has　sent　in　a
report　to　our　inspector　of　the　most　irregular　and　ridiculous
kind；　setting　down　not　only　all　his　own　foolish　doings　and
sayings；　but　the　doings　and　sayings　of　Mrs。　Yatman　as　well。　In
most　cases；　such　a　document　would　have　been　fit　only　for　the
waste　paper　basket；　but　in　this　particular　case　it　so　happens
that　Mr。　Sharpin's　budget　of　nonsense　leads　to　a　certain
conclusion；　which　the　simpleton　of　a　writer　has　been　quite
innocent　of　suspecting　from　the　beginning　to　the　end。　Of　that
conclusion　I　am　so　sure　that　I　will　forfeit　my　place　if　it　does
not　turn　out　that　Mrs。　Yatman　has　been　practicing　upon　the　folly
and　conceit　of　this　young　man；　and　that　she　has　tried　to　shield
herself　from　discovery　by　purposely　encouraging　him　to　suspect
the　wrong　persons。　I　tell　you　that　confidently；　and　I　will　even
go　further。　I　will　undertake　to　give　a　decided　opinion　as　to　why
Mrs。　Yatman　took　the　money；　and　what　she　has　done　with　it；　or
with　a　part　of　it。　Nobody　can　look　at　that　lady；　sir；　without
being　struck　by　the　great　taste　and　beauty　of　her　dress〃

As　I　said　those　last　words；　the　poor　man　seemed　to　find　his
powers　of　speech　again。　He　cut　me　short　directly　as　haughtily　as
if　he　had　been　a　duke　instead　of　a　stationer。

〃Try　some　other　means　of　justifying　your　vile　calumny　against　my
wife；〃　says　he。　〃Her　milliner's　bill　for　the　past　year　is　on　my
file　of　receipted　accounts　at　this　moment。〃

〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　says　I；　〃but　that　proves　nothing。　Milliners；　I
must　tell　you；　have　a　certain　rascally　custom　which　comes　within
the　daily　experience　of　our　office。　A　married　lady　who　wishes　it
can　keep　two　accounts　at　her　dressmaker's；　one　is　the　account
which　her　husband　sees　and　pays；　the　other　is　the　private
account；　which　contains　all　the　extravagant　items；　and　which　the
wife　pays　secretly；　by　installments；　whenever　she　can。　According
to　our　usual　experience；　these　installments　are　mostly　squeezed
out　of　the　housekeeping　money。　In　your　case；　I　suspect；　no
installments　have　been　paid；　proceedings　have　been　threatened；
Mrs。　Yatman；　knowing　your　altered　circumstances；　has　felt　herself
driven　into　a　corner；　and　she　has　paid　her　private　account　out　of
your　cash…box。〃

〃I　won't　believe　it；〃　says　he。　〃Every　word　you　speak　is　an
abominable　insult　to　me　and　to　my　wife。〃

〃Are　you　man　enough；　sir；〃　says　I；　taking　him　up　short；　in　order
to　save　time　and　words；　〃to　get　that　receipted　bill　you　spoke　of
just　now　off　the　file；　and　come　with　me　at　once　to　the　milliner's
shop　where　Mrs。　Yatman　deals？〃

He　turned　red　in　the　face　at　that；　got　the　bill　directly；　and　put
on　his　hat。　I　took　out　of　my　pocket…book　the　list　containing　the
numbers　of　the　lost　notes；　and　we　left　the　house　together
immediately。

Arrived　at　the　milliner's　（one　of　the　expensive　West…End　houses；
as　I　expected）；　I　asked　for　a　private　interview；　on　important
business；　with　the　mistress　of　the　concern。　It　was　not　the　first
time　that　she　and　I　had　met　over　the　same　delicate　investigation。
The　moment　she　set　eyes　on　me　she　sent　for　her　husband。　I
mentioned　who　Mr。　Yatman　was；　and　what　we　wanted。

〃This　is　strictly　private？〃　inquires　the　husband。　I　nodded　my
head。

〃And　confidential？〃　says　the　wife。　I　nodded　again。

〃Do　you　see　any　objection；　dear；　to　obliging　the　sergeant　with　a
sight　of　the　books？〃　says　the　husband。

〃None　in　the　world；　love；　if　you　approve　of　it；〃　says　the　wife。

All　this　while　poor　Mr。　Yatman　sat　looking　the　picture　of
astonishment　and　distress；　q　uite　out　of　place　at　our　polite
conference。　The　books　were　brought；　and　one　minute's　look　at　the
pages　in　which　Mrs。　Yatman's　name　figured　was　enough；　and　more
than　enough；　to　prove　the　truth　of　every　word　that　I　had　spoken。

There；　in　one　book；　was　the　husband's　account　which　Mr。　Yatman
had　settled；　and　there；　in　the　other；　was　the　private　account；
crossed　off　also；　the　date　of　settlement　being　the　very　day　after
the　loss　of　the　cash…box。　This　said　private　account　amounted　to
the　sum　of　a　hundred　and　seventy…five　pounds；　odd　shillings；　and
it　extended　over　a　period　of　three　years。　Not　a　single
installment　had　been　paid　on　it。　Under　the　last　line　was　an　entry
to　this　effect：　〃Written　to　for　the　third　time；　June　23d。〃　I
pointed　to　it；　and　asked　the　milliner　if　that　meant　〃last　June。〃
Yes；　it　did　mean　last　June；　and　she　now　deeply　regretted　to　say
that　it　had　been　accompanied　by　a　threat　of　legal　proceedings。

〃I　thought　you　gave　good　customers　more　than　three　years'
credit？〃　says　I。

The　milliner　looks　at　Mr。　Yatman；　and　whispers　to　me；　〃Not　when　a
lady's　husband　gets　into　difficulties。〃

She　pointed　to　the　account　as　she　spoke。　The　entries　after　the
time　when　Mr。　Yatman's　circumstances　became　involved　were　just　as
extravagant；　for　a　person　in　his　wife's　situation；　as　the　entries
for　the　year　before　that　period。　If　the　lady　had　economized　in
other　things；　she　had　certainly　not　economized　in　the　matter　of
dress。

There　was　nothing　left　now　but　to　examine　the　cash…book；　for
form's　sake。　The　money　had　been　paid　in　notes；　the　amounts　and
numbers　of　which　exactly　tallied　with　the　figures　set　down　in　my
list。

After　that；　I　thought　it　best　to　get　Mr。　Yatman　out　of　the　house
immediately。　He　was　in　such　a　pitiable　condition　that　I　called　a
cab　and　accompanied　him　home　in　it。　At　first　he　cried　and　raved
like　a　child；　but　I　soon　quieted　him；　and　I　must　add；　to　his
credit；　that　he　made　me　a　most　handsome　apology　for　his　language
as　the　cab　drew　up　at　his　house　door。　In　return；　I　tried　to　give
him　some　advice　about　how　to　set　matters　right　for　the　future
with　his　wife。　He　paid　very　little　attention　to　me；　and　went
upstairs　muttering　to　himself　about　a　separation。　Whether　Mrs。
Yatman　will　come　cleverly　out　of　the　scrape　or　not　seems
doubtful。　I　should　say　myself　that　she　would　go　into　screeching
hysterics；　and　so　frighten　the　poor　man　into　forgiving　her。　But
this　is　no　business　of　ours。　So　far　as　we　are　concerned；　the　case
is　now　at　an　end；　and　the　present　report　may　come　to　a　conclusion
along　with　it。

I　remain；　accordingly；　yours　to　command；

THOMAS　BULMER。

_P。S_。I　have　to　add　that；　on　leaving　Rutherford　Street；　I　met
Mr。　Matthew　Sharpin　coming　to　pack　up　his　things。

〃Only　think！〃　says　he；　rubbing　his　hands　in　great　spirits；　〃I've
been　to　the　genteel　villa　residence；　and　the　moment　I　mentioned
my　business　they　kicked　me　out　directly。　There　were　two　witnesses
of　the　assault；　and　it's　worth　a　hundred　pounds　to　me　if　it's
worth　a　farthing。〃

〃I　wish　you　joy　of　your　luck；〃　says　I。

〃Thank　you；〃　says　he。　〃When　may　I　pay　you　the　same　compliment　on
finding　the　thief？〃

〃Whenever　you　like；〃　says　I；　〃for　the　thief　is　found。〃

〃Just　what　I　expected；〃　says　he。　〃I've　done　all　the　work；　and　now
you　cut　in　and　claim　all　the　creditMr。　Jay；　of　course。〃

〃No；〃　says　I。

〃Who　is　it　then？〃　says　he。

〃Ask　Mrs。　Yatman；〃　says　I。　〃She's　waiting　to　tell　you。〃

〃All　right！　I'd　much　rather　hear　it　from　that　charming　woman　than
from　you；〃　says　he；　and　goes　into　the　house　in　a　mighty　hurry。

What　do　you　think　of　that；　Inspector　Theakstone？　Would　you　like
to　stand　in　Mr。　Sharpin's　shoes？　I　shouldn't；　I　can　promise　you。

FROM　CHIEF　INSPECTOR　THEAKSTONE　TO　MR。　MATTHEW　SHARPIN。

July　12th。

SIRSergeant　Bulmer　has　alre