登陆注册
5192000000010

第10章

It is hardly necessary to intimate that this letter came as something of a shock to the young woman who received it.For the rest of that day the many sights of London held little interest for her - so little, indeed, that her perspiring father began to see visions of his beloved Texas; and once hopefully suggested an early return home.The coolness with which this idea was received plainly showed him that he was on the wrong track; so he sighed and sought solace at the bar.

That night the two from Texas attended His Majesty's Theater, where Bernard Shaw's latest play was being performed; and the witty Irishman would have been annoyed to see the scant attention one lovely young American in the audience gave his lines.The American in question retired at midnight, with eager thoughts turned toward the morning.

And she was not disappointed.When her maid, a stolid Englishwoman, appeared at her bedside early Saturday she carried a letter, which she handed over, with the turned-up nose of one who aids but does not approve.Quickly the girl tore it open.

DEAR Texas LADY: I am writing this late in the afternoon.The sun is casting long black shadows on the garden lawn, and the whole world is so bright and matter-of-fact I have to argue with myself to be convinced that the events of that tragic night through which I passed really happened.

The newspapers this morning helped to make it all seem a dream; not a line - not a word, that I can find.When I think of America, and how by this time the reporters would be swarming through our house if this thing had happened over there, I am the more astonished.

But then, I know these English papers.The great Joe Chamberlain died the other night at ten, and it was noon the next day when the first paper to carry the story appeared - screaming loudly that it had scored a beat.It had.Other lands, other methods.

It was probably not difficult for Bray to keep journalists such as these in the dark.So their great ungainly sheets come out in total ignorance of a remarkable story in Adelphi Terrace.Famished for real news, they begin to hint at a huge war cloud on the horizon.

Because tottering Austria has declared war on tiny Serbia, because the Kaiser is to-day hurrying, with his best dramatic effect, home to Berlin, they see all Europe shortly bathed in blood.A nightmare born of torrid days and tossing nights!

But it is of the affair in Adelphi Terrace that you no doubt want to hear.One sequel of the tragedy, which adds immeasurably to the mystery of it all, has occurred, and I alone am responsible for its discovery.But to go back:

I returned from mailing your letter at dawn this morning, very tired from the tension of the night.I went to bed, but could not sleep.More and more it was preying on my mind that I was in a most unhappy position.I had not liked the looks cast at me by Inspector Bray, or his voice when he asked how I came to live in this house.

I told myself I should not be safe until the real murderer of the poor captain was found; and so I began to puzzle over the few clues in the case - especially over the asters, the scarab pin and the Homburg hat.

It was then I remembered the four copies of the Daily Mail that Bray had casually thrown into the waste-basket as of no interest.

I had glanced over his shoulder as he examined these papers, and had seen that each of them was folded so that our favorite department - the Agony Column - was uppermost.It happened I had in my desk copies of the Mail for the past week.You will understand why.

I rose, found those papers, and began to read.It was then that I made the astounding discovery to which I have alluded.

For a time after making it I was dumb with amazement, so that no course of action came readily to mind.In the end I decided that the thing for me to do was to wait for Bray's return in the morning and then point out to him the error he had made in ignoring the Mail.

Bray came in about eight o'clock and a few minutes later I heard another man ascend the stairs.I was shaving at the time, but Iquickly completed the operation and, slipping on a bathrobe, hurried up to the captain s rooms.The younger brother had seen to the removal of the unfortunate man's body in the night, and, aside from Bray and the stranger who had arrived almost simultaneously with him, there was no one but a sleepy-eyed constable there.

Bray's greeting was decidedly grouchy.The stranger, however - a tall bronzed man - made himself known to me in the most cordial manner.He told me he was Colonel Hughes, a close friend of the dead man; and that, unutterably shocked and grieved, he had come to inquire whether there was anything he might do."Inspector," said I, "last night in this room you held in your hand four copies of the Daily Mail.You tossed them into that basket as of no account.

May I suggest that you rescue those copies, as I have a rather startling matter to make clear to you?" Too grand an official to stoop to a waste-basket, he nodded to the constable.The latter brought the papers; and, selecting one from the lot, I spread it out on the table."The issue of July twenty-seventh," I said.

I pointed to an item half-way down the column of Personal Notices.

You yourself, my lady, may read it there if you happen to have saved a copy.It ran as follows:

"RANGOON: The asters are in full bloom in the garden at Canterbury.

They are very beautiful - especially the white ones."Bray grunted, and opened his little eyes.I took up the issue of the following day - the twenty-eighth:

"RANGOON: We have been forced to sell father's stick-pin - the emerald scarab he brought home from Cairo."I had Bray's interest now.He leaned heavily toward me, puffing.

Greatly excited, I held before his eyes the issue of the twenty-ninth:

"RANGOON: Homburg hat gone forever - caught by a breeze - into the river.""And finally," said I to the inspector, "the last message of all, in the issue of the thirtieth of July - on sale in the streets some twelve hours before Fraser-Freer was murdered.See!""RANGOON: To-night at ten.Regent Street.- Y.0.G."Bray was silent.

同类推荐
  • 修真十书玉隆集

    修真十书玉隆集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北齐书

    北齐书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 尚书

    尚书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大乘起信论内义略探记

    大乘起信论内义略探记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 伤寒来苏集

    伤寒来苏集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 王子公主事件簿

    王子公主事件簿

    **‘蓝色深雪’系列之一**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“如果没有相等的爱,那就让我爱多一些吧。”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~婚礼上,丈夫的“旧情人”故去,留给她一个便宜儿子。父亲病逝、家族风波、商战、扑朔迷离的恋情……这一切的一切,假若不是遇到了他,她还会面对这样繁乱的人生吗?当一切都不再值得信任,唯一庆幸的是,她的手中,还握着、他对她永恒不变的爱情。******************************************更新时间:每晚6点-8点,周末偶尔会提前至中午12点。每天一更。******************************************嗯嗯、票票、长评……偶都要~~~
  • 隐婚厚爱:江少的神秘丑妻

    隐婚厚爱:江少的神秘丑妻

    她是见不得人的丑女,一朝受人设计,奉子成婚,嫁入豪门。婆婆不疼,老公不爱,一纸书约,扫地出门。“南湘,你影响了我的食欲!孩子留下,你滚!”好,滚就滚,可是她滚远了,这个不惜千里追来的男人是怎么回事?“老婆,没有你我吃不下饭,只有你能治好我...”她微笑拒绝,“不好意思,江先生,我们已经离婚了。”...
  • 隋唐五代史(下册)

    隋唐五代史(下册)

    《隋唐五代史》分上、下两部,上部是政治史,包括王朝兴亡盛衰、各种重大历史事件的前因后果、政治设施的成败得失,以及与少数民族的关系等;下部是社会经济、文化史,分社会经济、政治制度、民族疆域、文化学术等方面的发展情况。本书从多角度呈现了隋唐五代这段纷繁历史期间的社会、文化、政治等风貌。
  • 荒舞之冰血幻影

    荒舞之冰血幻影

    《荒舞之冰血幻影》不能说是一部纯粹意义上的武侠小说,里面包含了很多的元素,诸如:言情、悬疑、都市、侦探、校园等。初始,武侠成分较大,但伴随着男主角的出现,故事情节的发展,都市、校园和言情的成分逐渐增加,大有和武侠成分并驾齐驱之势,故而,大胆的定性为现代武侠小说或者都市校园武侠。这是一个仇恨层层重叠的故事,一场贯穿了四代人的仇恨,层层沉淀,不断添加,最终意外地落在了几个人身上:韩彧翯、苏征帆、魏青衫和几个隐身人……他们同故事里的其他人一样,生活在两个不同的世界里,在现实生活中,他们是朋友、亲人、爱人;可在另一个世界里,一旦他们戴上了面具,一旦进入了他们的江湖,仇恨、阴谋便充斥在他们中间,杀戮和反击无情地蹂躏着他们的灵魂,太多的责任和牵挂把他们一次次地推向绝地。伴随着爱情花朵的凋谢,友谊之杯的破碎,亲情之水的枯竭,一次次灵与肉的对抗让人窒息,让人心碎,让人反思。所有的一切都在不知情中发生,所有的一切又在知情中毁灭,是尊重自己的抉择,还是拯救破碎的灵魂?是自己把谁推向了祭坛?又是谁已经站在了祭坛上?当情与法不能统一的时候,当欲望和理想不能挂钩的时候,当真相跟信仰背道而驰的时候,他们又会上演怎样的疯狂?在这个圈子中,有绝世神功未必就真的所向披靡;有付出未必就会得到等值的回报;有真情未必就能有情人终成眷属,就因为他们已经无法停下,决定他们命运的已经不再是自己,而是这荒诞的悲凉的窒息的世道……第三卷《白羽黑斑》完毕,第四卷《荒原漫舞》盛大开启!这一卷是大结局!所有谜团即将解开!血魂经历数十载最终倒在谁的手里?一直不敢爱的韩彧翯会找到真爱吗?那个人会是杨欣欣吗?韩彧翯与陈辘这种畸形的友谊会有怎样的发展?韩彧翯、魏青衫、苏征帆的最终的命运将会是怎样?一切尽在《荒舞》第四卷《荒原漫舞》!不要走开,因为下面的内容更精彩!希望朋友们多多批评指正,如果收藏推荐,不胜感激,最后祝读者幸福快乐。
  • 异能狂妃之凉凉盛夏

    异能狂妃之凉凉盛夏

    月影只身一人靠着要守护的戒指进入了空间乱流,看到这陌生的世界,月影一心只想找回妹妹。在途中逐渐拨开自己迷雾重重的身世。不料与此同时还被某王爷闯进了心里。快来看甜蜜夫妇的日常。(本文不虐,欢迎入坑)
  • 说话说到点子上

    说话说到点子上

    说话似乎很简单,也确实很简单,张口便可以说。但却会带来巨大影响。说话是一门学问,更是一门艺术;它是社交本领,也是生存基础。《说话说到点子上》通过一系列丰富、真实、生动的故事,分析古今中外的幽默,教给你如何埋下伏笔、营造气氛、引爆笑点,成为一个交际能手。
  • 盛宠七王妃

    盛宠七王妃

    吃货一枚,盗贼一枚……想窃你的玉,却被你盗去了心。想要生生世世不负卿,奈何国恨家仇如山顶。若干年后,南洛靖无奈扶额:“何时你能戒了梁上君子这毛病?”巧笑倩兮,莺声绕耳:“奴家区区小女子,如何做得了君子?!”
  • 一贯别传

    一贯别传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 计算机实用技术

    计算机实用技术

    本书以教与学的形式对常用计算机技术进行了由浅至深的讲解,内容包括四章。
  • 爱情手枪

    爱情手枪

    为了追求大城市少女,他用上了子弹、手榴弹、手枪等军火。后来,他又为了一个村姑大动干戈。把盲目视作孤勇,把时代的病态审美当作个人英雄主义,爱情让谁成疯成魔?我终于鼓起勇气问姐姐:“这人是谁啊,总往家里给你来信?邮递员这礼拜来三次了。”此前,我们姐弟间有约定:不偷看对方日记,不拆封对方书信,不打听对方私事,简称“三不主义”。这是姐姐从外国小说里学来的,当然主要是苏联小说。