登陆注册
5242300000030

第30章 CHAPTER X. MR. COULSON OUTMATCHED(3)

"I am extremely obliged to you," he said. "I am sure I should find it most interesting. Another time I should be very glad indeed to look through those specifications, but just now I have this affair of my own rather on my mind. About this Mr. Richard Vanderpole, Mr. Coulson, then," he added. "Do I understand that this young man came to you as a complete stranger?""Absolutely," Mr. Coulson answered. "I never saw him before in my life. As decent a young chap as ever I met with, all the same,"he went on, "and comes of a good American stock, too. They tell me there's going to be an inquest and that I shall be summoned, but I know nothing more than what I've told you. If I did, you'd be welcome to it."Mr. Jacks leaned back in his chair. Certainly the situation increased in perplexity! The man by his side was talking now of the adaptation of one of his patents to some existing machinery, and Jacks watched him covertly. He considered himself, to some extent, a physiognomist. He told himself it was not possible that this man was playing a part. Mr. James B. Coulson sat there, the absolute incarnation of the genial man of affairs, interested in his business, interested in the great subject of dollar-getting, content with himself and his position,--a person apparently of little imagination, for the shock of this matter concerning which they had been talking had already passed away. He was doing his best to explain with a pencil on the back of an illustrated paper some new system of wool-bleaching.

"Mr. Coulson," the Inspector said suddenly, "do you know a young lady named Miss Penelope Morse?"It was here, perhaps, that Mr. Coulson sank a little from the heights of complete success. He repeated the name, and obviously took time to think before he answered.

"Miss Penelope Morse," the Inspector continued. "She is a young American lady, who lives with an invalid aunt in Park Lane, and who is taken everywhere by the Duchess of Devenham, another aunt, I believe.""I suppose I may say that I am acquainted with her," Mr. Coulson admitted. "She came here the other evening with a young man--Sir Charles Somerfield.""Ah!" the Inspector murmured.

"She'd read that interview of mine with the Comet man," Mr.

Coulson said, "and she fancied that perhaps I could tell her something about Hamilton Fynes.""First time you'd met her, I suppose?" the Inspector remarked.

"Sure!" Mr. Coulson answered. "As a matter of fact, I know very few of my compatriots over here. I am an American citizen myself, and I haven't too much sympathy with any one, man or woman, who doesn't find America good enough for them to live in."The Inspector nodded.

"Quite so," he agreed. "So you hadn't anything to tell this young lady?""Not a thing that she hadn't read in the Comet," Mr. Coulson replied. "What brought her into your mind, anyway?""Nothing particular," the Inspector answered carelessly. "Well, Mr. Coulson, I won't take up any more of your time. I am convinced that you have told me all that you know, and I am afraid that I shall have to look elsewhere to find the loose end of this little tangle.""Stay and have another drink," Mr. Coulson begged. "I've nothing to do. There are one or two boys coming in later who'll like to meet you."The Inspector shook his head.

"I must be off," he said. "I want to get into my office before six o'clock. I dare say I shall be running across you again before you go back."He shook hands and turned away. Then Mr. Coulson made what was, perhaps, his second slight mistake.

"Say, Mr. Jacks," he exclaimed, "what made you mention that young lady's name, anyway? I'm curious to know."The Inspector looked thoughtfully at the end of the fresh cigar which he had just lit.

"Well," he said, "I don't know that there was anything definite in my mind, only it seems a little strange that you and Miss Penelope Morse should both have been acquainted with the murdered man and that you should have come across one another.""Sort of bond between us, eh?" Mr. Coulson replied. "She seemed a very charming young lady. Cut above Fynes, I should think."The detective smiled.

"All your American young ladies who come over here are charming,"he said. "Goodbye, Mr. Coulson, and many thanks!"The Inspector passed out, and the man whom he had come to visit, after a moment's hesitation, resumed his seat.

"These aren't American methods," he muttered to himself. "I don't understand them. That man Jacks is either a simpleton or he is too cunning for me."He crossed to a writing table and scribbled an unnecessary note, addressing it to a firm in the city. Then he rang for a messenger boy and handed it to him for delivery. A few minutes afterwards he strolled out into the hall. The boy was in the act of handing the note to one of the head porters, who carefully copied the address. Mr. Coulson returned to the smoking room, whistling softly to himself.

同类推荐
  • Master Humphrey S Clock

    Master Humphrey S Clock

    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。
  • 文殊支利普超三昧经

    文殊支利普超三昧经

    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。
  • 白救度佛母赞

    白救度佛母赞

    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。
  • 采芹录

    采芹录

    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。
  • Work and Wealth

    Work and Wealth

    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
  • 解学士诗话

    解学士诗话

    《解学士诗话》分下上层,佚著者。本书主要叙及明名士解缙的轶事,解缙的事迹在民间流传甚广,后也各有关于他的小说传世。
  • 乾达婆城

    乾达婆城

    传说中有一种叫做乾达婆的乐神,不吃凡间食物,唯用香气作为滋养,“乾达婆”在梵语中有“变幻莫测”的意思,香气和音乐都是隐约缥缈,难以捉摸的,所以人们把海市蜃楼也称为乾达婆城。那高跟鞋落在地面的声音,活像一只妖冶的小手在轻佻地拍着鼓,一步一声,都是为了魅惑众生。萧左始终与那女子保持着相当的距离,他尽量让自己看上去如一个路人而非一个跟踪者,他不敢靠得太近,直觉告诉他,前面的女孩拥有如兔子般敏感的神经,如果她逃出他的视线,也许从此以后就再也见不到她。
  • 金达莱花开满山岗

    金达莱花开满山岗

    逃避真的可耻吗?并不可耻!现实虽然残酷但人活在这世上有那么多可以选择的机会唯有不辜负自己的人生才是最正确的当“北漂女”遇上“深票男”两个经历相似的青年人因为缘分走到一起
  • 灼灼如镜花

    灼灼如镜花

    【1V1独宠治愈】开始,木槿以为是自己撞鬼了,后来发现这些都是误会,人家不是鬼,是自己的第二人格?就在木槿与这位超级学神修大人共同携手征霸高考的时候,阴翳的毒牙开始朝他们张开血盆大口......修也发现,眼前这位学渣小迷糊似乎不是看到那般简单可爱。
  • 笨妻,宠你成瘾

    笨妻,宠你成瘾

    一个手机,将她带到他身边。一份假婚契约,把他们的命运牢牢绑定。她和他,各取所需默契配合。明明只是一场游戏,她和他却情不自禁地深情演绎,浑然不觉自己早已是别人棋盘上的一颗棋子,成为伤害彼此的利器。
  • 89°摩天轮

    89°摩天轮

    触动心底的柔软,难以言说的感动。十七岁的夏天,盛大而苍白的爱情,在我微薄的青春中,呼啸而过。
  • 隐秘花园

    隐秘花园

    本书收录《井底之蓝》《角色》《萤火虫》《甜酒酿》《炖生敲》《五脚黑旋风》《隐秘花园》《抄表记》八篇小说。苏童说王啸峰的苏州屋檐下的故事,多少有些湿气。真真假假的苏州传说、神鬼故事,通过王啸峰特有的穿插式叙事,交错跃于纸上,茫茫然不知所处,更不知这是真实还是虚幻的城市。小说中的湿气,表面上凉至肺腑,读后却能心生暖意。这是属于他的梦,属于他的苏州,属于他的探索和表述。精美中的粗陋、平和中的执拗、完美中的缺陷,人和景都是矛盾综合体,这种矛盾始终贯穿在作品中。
  • boss凶猛:野蛮娇妻不好惹

    boss凶猛:野蛮娇妻不好惹

    彭炎菲很想知道,自己到底是倒了多少辈子血霉,才会撞上这样一个恶霸。时冷时热,时黑时白,狡猾得像只狐狸,在她的心理烙下了一个又一个印子,始终叫人捉摸不透,而他却对她说:“我看得透你就够了,从上到下,从里到外……”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 文化名言(当代教育丛书·现代名言妙语全集)

    文化名言(当代教育丛书·现代名言妙语全集)

    这些名言警句句句经典,字字珠玑,精辟睿智,闪耀着智慧的光芒和精神的力量,具有很强的鼓舞性、哲理性和启迪性。具有成功心理暗示和潜在力量开发的功能,不仅可以成为我们的座右铭,还能增进自律的能力。
  • 冷王绝宠:神医大小姐

    冷王绝宠:神医大小姐

    她是二十一世纪全球最大医药世家继承人,享有天才神医名号,一根银针,一枚戒指,妙手回春。一朝穿越,竟成为千年之前古喻国将军府孤女,身陷囚车遭人辱骂,未婚夫居然还派人划破了她的脸。本是天才神医,怎能被迂腐的古人给欺负?本领在手,疑难杂症不是事。可偏偏,有人想要强娶她。“你别忘了,你的病,只有我能治!”她看着面前那受万人敬仰的人,露出一抹邪笑。冰冷的手掐上细脖,“墨十舞,别以为本王不敢动你!你最好别给本王耍花样!”开玩笑,打不过可以跑,这可是千年下来人类总结下的经验,且看她如何让他乖乖就范!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】