the innocence of father brown-第16章

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　this　‘Smythe's　Silent　Service'？　　Or　you　must　be　the　only　person　that　hasn't。　　Oh；　I　don't　know　much　about　it；　it's　some　clockwork　invention　for　doing　all　the　housework　by　machinery。　　You　know　the　sort　of　thing：　‘Press　a　ButtonA　Butler　who　Never　Drinks。'　　‘Turn　a　HandleTen　Housemaids　who　Never　Flirt。'　　You　must　have　seen　the　advertisements。　　Well；　whatever　these　machines　are；　they　are　making　pots　of　money；　and　they　are　making　it　all　for　that　little　imp　whom　I　knew　down　in　Ludbury。　　I　can't　help　feeling　pleased　the　poor　little　chap　has　fallen　on　his　feet；　but　the　plain　fact　is；　I'm　in　terror　of　his　turning　up　any　minute　and　telling　me　he's　carved　his　way　in　the　world　as　he　certainly　has。〃　　　　　〃And　the　other　man？〃　repeated　Angus　with　a　sort　of　obstinate　quietude。　　　　　Laura　Hope　got　to　her　feet　suddenly。　　〃My　friend；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　you　are　a　witch。　　Yes；　you　are　quite　right。　　I　have　not　seen　a　line　of　the　other　man's　writing；　and　I　have　no　more　notion　than　the　dead　of　what　or　where　he　is。　　But　it　is　of　him　that　I　am　frightened。　　It　is　he　who　is　all　about　my　path。　　It　is　he　who　has　half　driven　me　mad。　　Indeed；　I　think　he　has　driven　me　mad；　for　I　have　felt　him　where　he　could　not　have　been；　and　I　have　heard　his　voice　when　he　could　not　have　spoken。〃　　　　　〃Well；　my　dear；〃　said　the　young　man；　cheerfully；　〃if　he　were　Satan　himself；　he　is　done　for　now　you　have　told　somebody。　　One　goes　mad　all　alone；　old　girl。　　But　when　was　it　you　fancied　you　felt　and　heard　our　squinting　friend？〃　　　　　〃I　heard　James　Welkin　laugh　as　plainly　as　I　hear　you　speak；〃　said　the　girl；　steadily。　　〃There　was　nobody　there；　for　I　stood　just　outside　the　shop　at　the　corner；　and　could　see　down　both　streets　at　once。　　I　had　forgotten　how　he　laughed；　though　his　laugh　was　as　odd　as　his　squint。　　I　had　not　thought　of　him　for　nearly　a　year。　　But　it's　a　solemn　truth　that　a　few　seconds　later　the　first　letter　came　from　his　rival。〃　　　　　〃Did　you　ever　make　the　spectre　speak　or　squeak；　or　anything？〃　asked　Angus；　with　some　interest。　　　　　Laura　suddenly　shuddered；　and　then　said；　with　an　unshaken　voice；　〃Yes。　　Just　when　I　had　finished　reading　the　second　letter　from　Isidore　Smythe　announcing　his　success。　　Just　then；　I　heard　Welkin　say；　‘He　shan't　have　you；　though。'　　It　was　quite　plain；　as　if　he　were　in　the　room。　　It　is　awful；　I　think　I　must　be　mad。〃　　　　　〃If　you　really　were　mad；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃you　would　think　you　must　be　sane。　　But　certainly　there　seems　to　me　to　be　something　a　little　rum　about　this　unseen　gentleman。　　Two　heads　are　better　than　oneI　spare　you　allusions　to　any　other　organs　and　really；　if　you　would　allow　me；　as　a　sturdy；　practical　man；　to　bring　back　the　wedding…cake　out　of　the　window〃　　　　　Even　as　he　spoke；　there　was　a　sort　of　steely　shriek　in　the　street　outside；　and　a　small　motor；　driven　at　devilish　speed；　shot　up　to　the　door　of　the　shop　and　stuck　there。　　In　the　same　flash　of　time　a　small　man　in　a　shiny　top　hat　stood　stamping　in　the　outer　room。　　　　　Angus；　who　had　hitherto　maintained　hilarious　ease　from　motives　of　mental　hygiene；　revealed　the　strain　of　his　soul　by　striding　abruptly　out　of　the　inner　room　and　confronting　the　new…comer。　　A　glance　at　him　was　quite　sufficient　to　confirm　the　savage　guesswork　of　a　man　in　love。　　This　very　dapper　but　dwarfish　figure；　with　the　spike　of　black　beard　carried　insolently　forward；　the　clever　unrestful　eyes；　the　neat　but　very　nervous　fingers；　could　be　none　other　than　the　man　just　described　to　him：　Isidore　Smythe；　who　made　dolls　out　of　banana　skins　and　match…boxes；　Isidore　Smythe；　who　made　millions　out　of　undrinking　butlers　and　unflirting　housemaids　of　metal。　　For　a　moment　the　two　men；　instinctively　understanding　each　other's　air　of　possession；　looked　at　each　other　with　that　curious　cold　generosity　which　is　the　soul　of　rivalry。　　　　　Mr。　Smythe；　however；　made　no　allusion　to　the　ultimate　ground　of　their　antagonism；　but　said　simply　and　explosively；　〃Has　Miss　Hope　seen　that　thing　on　the　window？〃　　　　　〃On　the　window？〃　repeated　the　staring　Angus。　　　　　〃There's　no　time　to　explain　other　things；〃　said　the　small　millionaire　shortly。　　〃There's　some　tomfoolery　going　on　here　that　has　to　be　investigated。〃　　　　　He　pointed　his　polished　walking…stick　at　the　window；　recently　depleted　by　the　bridal　preparations　of　Mr。　Angus；　and　that　gentleman　was　astonished　to　see　along　the　front　of　the　glass　a　long　strip　of　paper　pasted；　which　had　certainly　not　been　on　the　window　when　he　looked　through　it　some　time　before。　　Following　the　energetic　Smythe　outside　into　the　street；　he　found　that　some　yard　and　a　half　of　stamp　paper　had　been　carefully　gummed　along　the　glass　outside；　and　on　this　was　written　in　straggly　characters；　〃If　you　marry　Smythe；　he　will　die。〃　　　　　〃Laura；〃　said　Angus；　putting　his　big　red　head　into　the　shop；　〃you're　not　mad。〃　　　　　〃It's　the　writing　of　that　fellow　Welkin；〃　said　Smythe　gruffly。　〃I　haven't　seen　him　for　years；　but　he's　always　bothering　me。　　Five　times　in　the　last　fortnight　he's　had　threatening　letters　left　at　my　flat；　and　I　can't　even　find　out　who　leaves　them；　let　alone　if　it　is　Welkin　himself。　　The　porter　of　the　flats　swears　that　no　suspicious　characters　have　been　seen；　and　here　he　has　pasted　up　a　sort　of　dado　on　a　public　shop　window；　while　the　people　in　the　shop〃　　　　　〃Quite　so；〃　said　Angus　modestly；　〃while　the　people　in　the　shop　were　having　tea。　　Well；　sir；　I　can　assure　you　I　appreciate　your　common　sense　in　dealing　so　directly　with　the　matter。　　We　can　talk　about　other　things　afterwards。　　The　fellow　cannot　be　very　far　off　yet；　for　I　swear　there　was　no　paper　there　when　I　went　last　to　the　window；　ten　or　fifteen　minutes　ago。　　On　the　other　hand；　he's　too　far　off　to　be　chased；　as　we　don't　even　know　the　direction。　　If　you'll　take　my　advice；　Mr。　Smythe；　you'll　put　this　at　once　in　the　hands　of　some　energetic　inquiry　man；　private　rather　than　public。　I　know　an　extremely　clever　fellow；　who　has　set　up　in　business　five　minutes　from　here　in　your　car。　　His　name's　Flambeau；　and　though　his　youth　was　a　bit　stormy；　he's　a　strictly　honest　man　now；　and　his　brains　are　worth　money。　　He　lives　in　Lucknow　Mansions；　Hampstead。〃　　　　　〃That　is　odd；〃　said　the　little　man；　arching　his　black　eyebrows。　　〃I　live；　myself；　in　Himylaya　Mansions；　round　the　corner。　　Perhaps　you　might　care　to　come　with　me；　I　can　go　to　my　rooms　and　sort　out　these　queer　Welkin　documents；　while　you　run　round　and　get　your　friend　the　detective。〃　　　　　〃You　are　very　good；〃　said　Angus　politely。　　〃Well；　the　sooner　we　act　the　better。〃　　　　　Both　men；　with　a　queer　kind　of　impromptu　fairness；　took　the　same　sort　of　formal　farewell　of　the　lady；　and　both　jumped　into　the　brisk　little　car。　　As　Smythe　took　the　handles　and　they　turned　the　great　corner　of　the　street；　Angus　was　amused　to　see　a　gigantesque　poster　of　〃Smythe's　Silent　Service；〃　with　a　picture　of　a　huge　headless　iron　doll；　carrying　a　saucepan　with　the　legend；　〃A　Cook　Who　is　Never　Cross。〃　　　　　〃I　use　them　in　my　own　flat；〃　said　the　little　black…bearded　man；　laughing；　〃partly　for　advertisements；　and　partly　for　real　convenience。　　Honestly；　and　all　above　board；　those　big　clockwork　dolls　of　mine　do　bring　your　coals　or　claret　or　a　timetable　quicker　than　any　live　servants　I've　ever　known；　if　you　know　which　knob　to　press。　　But　I'll　never　deny；　between　ourselves；　that　such　servants　have　their　disadvantages；　too。　　　　　〃Indeed？〃　said　Angus；　〃is　there　something　they　can't　do？〃　　　　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Smythe　coolly；　〃they　can't　tell　me　who　left　those　threatening　letters　at　my　flat。〃　　　　　The　man's　motor　was　small　and　swift　like　himself；　in　fact；　like　his　domestic　service；　it　was　of　his　own　invention。　　If　he　was　an　advertising　quack；　he　was　one　who　believed　in　his　own　wares。　The　sense　of　something　tiny　and　flying　was　accentuated　as　they　swept　up　long　white　curves　of　road　in　the　dead　but　open　daylight　of　evening。　　Soon　the　white　curves　came　sharper　and　dizzier；　they　were　upon　ascending　spirals；　as　they　say　in　the　modern　religions。　For；　indeed；　they　were　cresting　a　corner　of　London　which　is　almost　as　precipitous　as　Edinburgh；　if　not　quite　so　picturesque。　　Terrace　rose　above　terrace；　and　the　special　tower　of　flats　they　sought；　rose　above　them　all　to　almost　Egyptian　height；　gilt　by　the　level　sunset。　　The　change；　as　they　turned　the　corner　and　entered　the　crescent　known　as　Himylaya　Mansions；　was　as　abrupt　as　the　opening　of　a　window；　for　they　found　that　pile　of　flats　sitting　above　London　as　above　a　green　sea　of　slate。　　Opposite　to　the　mansions；　on　the　other　side　of　the　gravel　crescent；　was　a　bushy　enclosure　more　like　a　steep　hedge　or　dyke　than　a　garden；　and　some　way　below　that　ran　a　strip　of　artificial　water；　a　sort　of　canal；　like　the　moat　of　that　embowered　fortress。　　As　the　car　swept　round　the　crescent　it　passed；　at　one　corner；　the　stray　stall　of　a　man　selling　chestnuts；　and　right　away　at　the　other　end　of　the　curve；　Angus　could　see　a　dim　blue　policeman　walking　slowly。　　These　were　the　only　human　shapes　in　that　high　suburban　solitude；　but　he　had　an　irrational　sense　that　they　expressed　the　speechless　poetry　of　London。　　He　felt　as　if　they　were　figures　in　a　story。　　　　　The　little　car　shot　up　to　the　right　house　like　a　bullet；　and　shot　out　its　owner　like　a　bomb　shell。　　He　was　immediately　inquiring　of　a　tall　commissionaire　in　shining　braid；　and　a　short　porter　in　shirt　sleeves；　whether　anybody　or　anything　had　been　seeking　his　apartments。　　He　was　assured　that　nobody　and　nothing　had　passed　these　officials　since　his　last　inquiries；　whereupon　he　and　the　slightly　bewildered　Angus　were　shot　up　in　the　lift　like　a　rocket；　till　they　reached　the　top　floor。　　　　　〃Just　come　in　for　a　minute；〃　said　the　breathless　Smythe。　　〃I　want　to　show　you　those　Welkin　letters。　　Then　you　might　run　round　the　corner　and　fetch　your　friend。〃　　He　pressed　a　button　concealed　in　the　wall；　and　the　door　opened　of　itself。　　　　　It　opened　on　a　long；　commodious　ante…room；　of　which　the　only　arresting　features；　ordinarily　speaking；　were　the　rows　of　tall　half…human　mechanical　figures　that　stood　up　on　both　sides　like　tailors'　dummies。　　Like　tailors'　dummies　they　were　headless；　and　like　tailors'　dummies　they　had　a　handsome　unnecessary　humpiness　in　the　shoulders；　and　a　pigeon…breasted　protuberance　of　chest；　but　barring　this；　they　were　not　much　more　like　a　human　figure　than　any　automatic　machine　at　a　station　that　is　about　the　human　height。　They　had　two　great　hooks　like　arms；　for　carrying　trays；　and　they　were　painted　pea…green；　or　vermilion；　or　black　for　convenience　of　distinction；　in　every　other　way　they　were　only　automatic　machines　and　nobody　would　have　looked　twice　at　them。　　On　this　occasion；　at　least；　nobody　did。　　For　between　the　two　rows　of　these　domestic　dummies　lay　something　more　interesting　than　most　of　the　mechanics　of　the　world。　　It　was　a　white；　tattered　scrap　of　paper　scrawled　with　red　ink；　and　the　agile　inventor　had　snatched　it　up　almost　as　soon　as　the　door　flew　open。　　He　handed　it　to　Angus　without　a　word。　The　red　ink　on　it　actually　was　not　dry；　and　the　message　ran；　〃If　you　have　been　to　see　her　today；　I　shall　kill　you。〃　　　　　There　was　a　short　silence；　and　then　Isidore　Smythe　said　quietly；　〃Would　you　like　a　little　whiskey？　　I　rather　feel　as　if　I　should。〃　　　　　〃Thank　you；　I　should　like　a　little　Flambeau；〃　said　Angus；　gloomily。　　〃This　business　seems　to　me　to　be　getting　rather　grave。　I'm　going　round　at　once　to　fetch　him。〃　　　　　〃Right　you　are；〃　said　the　other；　with　admi