登陆注册
5192000000011

第11章

"I take it you are aware, Inspector," I said, "that for the past two years Captain Fraser-Freer was stationed at Rangoon."Still he said nothing; just looked at me with those foxy little eyes that I was coming to detest.At last he spoke sharply:

"Just how," he demanded, "did you happen to discover those messages?

You were not in this room last night after I left?" He turned angrily to the constable."I gave orders - ""No," I put in; "I was not in this room.I happened to have on file in my rooms copies of the Mail, and by the merest chance - "I saw that I had blundered.Undoubtedly my discovery of those messages was too pat.Once again suspicion looked my way.

"Thank you very much," said Bray."I'll keep this in mind.""Have you communicated with my friend at the consulate?" I asked.

"Yes.That's all.Good morning."

So I went.

I had been back in my room some twenty minutes when there came a knock on the door, and Colonel Hughes entered.He was a genial man, in the early forties I should say, tanned by some sun not English, and gray at the temples.

"My dear sir," he said without preamble, "this is a most appalling business!""Decidedly," I answered."Will you sit down?""Thank you." He sat and gazed frankly into my eyes."Policemen,"he added meaningly, "are a most suspicious tribe - often without reason.I am sorry you happen to be involved in this affair, for I may say that I fancy you to be exactly what you seem.May I add that, if you should ever need a friend, I am at your service?"I was touched; I thanked him as best I could.His tone was so sympathetic and before I realized it I was telling him the whole story - of Archie and his letter; of my falling in love with a garden; of the startling discovery that the captain had never heard of his cousin; and of my subsequent unpleasant position.He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"I suppose," he said, "that no man ever carries an unsealed letter of introduction without opening it to read just what praises have been lavished upon him.It is human nature - I have done it often.

May I make so bold as to inquire - "

"Yes," said I."It was unsealed and I did read it.Considering its purpose, it struck me as rather long.There were many warm words for me - words beyond all reason in view of my brief acquaintance with Enwright.I also recall that he mentioned how long he had been in Interlaken, and that he said he expected to reach London about the first of August.""The first of August," repeated the colonel."That is to-morrow.

Now - if you'll be so kind - just what happened last night?"Again I ran over the events of that tragic evening - the quarrel;the heavy figure in the hall; the escape by way of the seldom-used gate.

"My boy," said Colonel Hughes as he rose to go, "the threads of this tragedy stretch far - some of them to India; some to a country Iwill not name.I may say frankly that I have other and greater interest in the matter than that of the captain's friend.For the present that is in strict confidence between us; the police are well-meaning, but they sometimes blunder.Did I understand you to say that you have copies of the Mail containing those odd messages?""Right here in my desk," said I.I got them for him.

"I think I shall take them - if I may," he said."You will, of course, not mention this little visit of mine.We shall meet again.

Good morning."

And he went away, carrying those papers with their strange signals to Rangoon.

Somehow I feel wonderfully cheered by his call.For the first time since seven last evening I begin to breathe freely again.

And so, lady who likes mystery, the matter stands on the afternoon of the last day of July, nineteen hundred and fourteen.

同类推荐
  • 孝经

    孝经

    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。
  • 明伦汇编皇极典圣学部

    明伦汇编皇极典圣学部

    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。
  • 琉球国志略

    琉球国志略

    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。
  • 元丰类稿

    元丰类稿

    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。
  • 黄帝八十一难经注义图序论

    黄帝八十一难经注义图序论

    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
  • 致安情书

    致安情书

    这不仅是一百零一封情书,这还是一个爱情故事,所谓的爱,只不过以悲情的形式结束,仅此而已!
  • 十诵律毗尼序

    十诵律毗尼序

    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。
  • 抗日之浴血战神

    抗日之浴血战神

    林锐,共和国有史以来最强大的单兵作战机器!意外魂穿1937年上海,成为一个名扬江南的纨绔子弟,同时还是税警总团的一个连长!值此国家危亡,民族危难之际,他拿起了枪,开始了一段浴血传奇!阔别三载,再铸热血,三郎出品,必属精品!
  • 异界火影战记

    异界火影战记

    星辰大陆,一个庞大的异世界,数十万年以来一直修炼的都是魔法与斗气。然而,当一个少年携逆天的火影兑换系统穿越而来,星辰大陆还能否保持以往的平静呢?魔法与忍术、斗气与体术、血脉之力与血继限界之间又能擦出怎样的火花?一切尽在《异界火影战记》。PS:本文保证不太监,无虐主情节,适当yy,情感为主……*^_^*QQ书友群:1035998942欢迎大家进群聊天聊火影~
  • 今天也要用心生活

    今天也要用心生活

    《今天也要用心生活》是一本真实面对自我的书。这里有作者对“如何与这个世界相处”的观察,和对“生活可以是每个人的,都请用心对待”的思考。这里有许多真实发生的小故事,但这些不仅是过去式的故事以及相逢的人,也是我们每个人一段不可回避的人生。生活其实很简单,用心对待每一天就好。写给努力奋斗的年轻人,房子或许是租的,但生活不是,你配得起所有的用心对待。
  • 超预期:小米的产品设计和营销方法

    超预期:小米的产品设计和营销方法

    雷军从看似厚实坚硬的产业壁垒上找到了裂缝,凭借新时代的商业逻辑,依托于互联网蕴含的巨大能量,在极短时间内把裂缝撬成了金碧辉煌的大门。4年400亿美金估值的狂飙速度,不但让实业界人士侧目,也让怀有“颠覆”梦想的草根热血喷张!口碑,自古就是极为重要的资产。不过,从用户单纯说“好”到他们愿意投入大量时间积极助推产品的传播,是一个光谱式阶梯结构!用户选择站在哪个台阶,取决于“产品体验-用户预期”的差值,也就是“超预期”的幅度!小米通过互联网工具低成本聚集大量人群,利用这个群落筛选用户最有代表性“痛点”,然后集中资源搞定“痛点”,并运用“外包”的方式以最低成本的把成果转化为产品。
  • 锦上添香:倾城小妖休想逃

    锦上添香:倾城小妖休想逃

    第一次见面,她是小白兔,他是大灰狼,他步步紧逼,将她拆分入腹。小白兔在大灰狼的压迫下终于学会反抗,学会逃跑。她跑,他追,追上,压倒,直到她跑不动为止。错过多年后,再重逢。小白兔已经成长为小狐狸,聪明狡诈,步步为营。
  • 306号秘密

    306号秘密

    单身公寓305号的房客肖子是一名游戏开发人员,居家办公的日子既充实又枯躁,隔壁房间306号新来的女房客素未谋面,却在一个夜里突然敲开了他的房门。
  • 金刚寿命陀罗尼经法

    金刚寿命陀罗尼经法

    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。
  • 网络与安全常识手册(校园安全常识手册)

    网络与安全常识手册(校园安全常识手册)

    中小学生的人身安全是关系家庭、学校和社会稳定的一件大事。中小学生作为一个特殊的群体, 他们的健康成长涉及千家万户, 保护中小学生的安全是我们全社会的共同责任。