登陆注册
5269400000043

第43章 CHAPTER XII ON THE LIDO(2)

He had chosen a good place. To the right and to the left were high sand dunes, before him was the broad surface of the ocean, and at his back was rising ground, bare sand with here and there a scraggly bush or a group of high thistles. Herbert Thorne believed himself to be alone here ... as far as a man can be alone over whom hangs the shadow of a crime. He groaned aloud and hid his pale face in his hands.

In his own distress he did not hear the deep sigh - which, just above him on the edge of the knoll, broke from the breast of a woman who was suffering scarcely less than he; he did not know that two pair of sad eyes looked down upon him. And now into the eyes of the watching woman there shot a gleam of terror. For Herbert Thorne had taken a revolver from his pocket and laid it quietly beside him.

Then he took out a notebook and a pencil and placed them beside the weapon. Then slowly, reluctantly, he opened one of the papers.

A light breeze from the shining sea before him carried off the wrapping. The paper which he opened shook in his trembling hands, as his eyes sought the reports of the murder. He gave a sudden start and a tremor ran through his frame. He had come to the spot which told of the arrest of another man, who was under shadow of punishment for the crime which he himself had committed. When he had read this report through, he turned to the other papers. He was quite calm now, outwardly calm at least.

When he had finished reading the papers he laid them in a heap beside him and reached out for his notebook. As he opened it the two watchers saw that between its first pages there was a sealed and addressed letter. Two other envelopes were contained in the notebook, envelopes which were also addressed although still open.

Muller's sharp eyes could read the addresses as Thorne took them up in turn, looking long at each of them. One envelope was addressed in Italian to the Chief of Police of Venice, the other to the Chief of Police in Vienna.

The two watchers leaned forward, scarcely three yards above the man in whom they were interested. Thorne tore out two leaves of his notebook and wrote several lines on each of them. One note, he placed in the envelope addressed to the Viennese police and sealed it carefully. Then he put the sealed letter with the second note in the other envelope, the one addressed to the Italian police. He put all the letters back in his notebook, holding it together with a rubber strap, and replaced it in his pocket.

Then he stretched out his hand toward the revolver.

The sand came rattling down upon him, the thistles bent over creakingly and two figures appeared beside him.

"There's time enough for that yet, Mr. Thorne," said the man at whom the painter gazed up in bewilderment. And then this man took the revolver quietly from his hand and hid it in his own pocket.

Thorne pressed his teeth down on his lips until the blood came. He could not speak; he looked first at the stranger who had mastered him so completely, and then, in dazed astonishment, at the woman who had sunk down beside him in the sand, clasping his hand in both of hers.

"Adele! Adele! 'Why are you here?" he stammered finally.

"I want to be with you - in this hour," she answered, looking at him with eyes of worship. "I want to be with my dear lady - to comfort her - to protect her when - when - ""When they arrest me?" Thorne finished the sentence himself. Then turning to Muller he continued: "And that is why you are here?""Yes, Mr. Thorne. I have a warrant for your arrest in my pocket.

But I think it will be unnecessary to make use of it in the customary official way through the authorities here. I see that you have written to both police stations - confessing your deed.

This will amount to a voluntary giving up of yourself to the authorities, therefore all that is necessary is that I return with you in the same train which takes you to Vienna. But I must ask you for those two letters, for until you yourself give them to the police authorities in my presence, it is my duty to keep them."Muller had seldom found his official duty as difficult as it was now. His words came haltingly and great drops stood out on his forehead.

The painter rose from the sand and he too wiped his face, which was drawn in agony.

"Herbert, Herbert!" cried Adele Bernauer suddenly. "Oh, Herbert, you will live, you will! Promise me, you will not think of suicide, it would kill your wife - "She lay on her knees before him in the sand. He looked down at her gently and with a gesture which seemed to be a familiar one of days long past, he stroked the face that had grown old and worn in these hours of fear for him.

"Yes, you dear good soul, I will live on, I will take upon myself my punishment for killing a scoundrel. The poor man whom they have arrested in my place must not linger in the fear of death. I am ready, sir.

"My name is Muller - detective Muller."

"Joseph Muller, the famous detective Muller?" asked Thorne with a sad smile. "I have had little to do with the police but by chance I have heard of your fame. I might have known; they tell me you are one from whom the truth can never remain hidden.""My duty is not always an easy one," said Muller.

"Thank you. Dispose of me as you will. I do not wish any privileges that others would not have, Mr. Muller. Here is my written confession and here am I myself. Shall we go. now?"Herbert Thorne handed the detective his notebook with its important contents and then walked slowly back along the road he had come.

Muller walked a little behind him, while Mrs. Bernauer was at his side. As in days long past, they walked hand in hand.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 老子注

    老子注

    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。
  • 武侠大乱斗

    武侠大乱斗

    万年前,殷商纣王撕扯天际,带动浩劫降临。万年后,尘世已鲜有谈及,对于古史更是不知。五千年来,敢在世间称长生不死者,唯有女帝武曌,镇压古今,建立王朝安居一方。不死的女帝,神秘莫测的东皇,大教之中的底蕴。长生之局,不死之妙,黄泉有路,地狱无门,剑痴心狂,旁左伴道真。熟悉的名,不一样的人,掀起江湖风云变幻。欢迎加入武侠大乱斗粉丝群,群聊号码:734307199
  • 生死轮盘

    生死轮盘

    游龙城的云家,因为镇族之宝生死轮盘而引得燕天帝国之内的各方势力觊觎。生死轮盘,据说有起死回生之功效,晃生晃死皆在一念之间。云家族长之中云风天,亲眼看着家族被外来力量摧毁,自身被流浪在外。他要怎么才能够找出真凶复得大仇?
  • 家庭笑话精品

    家庭笑话精品

    此书精选和收集了中外幽默小品和各类笑话几百篇。内容言简意赅,寓意深刻,富于哲理,格调高雅。情趣动人,启发性强。雅俗共赏,男女老幼皆可阅读。
  • 总裁的女佣甜心

    总裁的女佣甜心

    她,某国的得宠公主,和小哥哥打赌自己一定能养活自己,毅然甩了保镖,离家出走。一纸女佣招聘显眼地贴在街上,舍她其谁?他,Z市的黑帮老大,全能女佣辞职嫁人,他的生活受到影响,断然让人找个女佣过来!女佣终于送上门!【工作版】"我吸!"她有模有样地晃动吸尘器。"什么破机器,居然不能吸废纸。"丢了。"我拖!"她很勤奋地拿着拖把拖地。"咦?怎么会越拖越黑?奇怪啊…."跑了。【甜蜜版】"亲爱的,为什么家里又要招聘女佣了?"她好奇地看着招聘广告。"因为我舍不得你累着啊。"他真的不想半夜起来偷偷搞卫生了…"可是你招聘了女佣,我做什么啊?""做我一生的妻子就好。"【诱拐篇】"阿姨,请问你是要诱拐我吗?"六岁大的金金一脸害怕。一时不慎躲进了一家豪宅,蓝曦彤愣愣地反问,"我有那么老吗?"金金先是点头接着摇头,"你要躲人的话,这里一下就被发现了哦,要我领路吗?""好~"蓝曦彤以为自己遇到了天使,结果半个小时之后,她惊觉自己遇到了恶魔。对着铁笼外的金金,蓝曦彤失声大叫:"小弟弟,你在诱拐我吗?"【甜蜜一对一,票票多多留言多多二更多多~群么一个~】★★帅哥/美女领养名单★★【孤独夜羽】由彤彤领养~(我们家的彤彤订的男主~~~~~)【蓝曦彤】由宝领养~【蓝曦于】由659195227领养~【蓝米米】由芷芷领养~【推荐】甜心系列一之《总裁的杀手甜心》"你是坠入人间的天使,是上天赐予我最珍贵的礼物。"男人用迷惑的眼神看着她,她为了这句话,脸红了。怀抱自己发誓要守护一生一世的爱人,男人相信爱情可以永永远远。她嘟着嘴,"如果我是一个杀手呢?"甜心系列三之《狼少的通缉军火妻》
  • 伊索寓言(语文新课标课外读物)

    伊索寓言(语文新课标课外读物)

    现代中、小学生不能只局限于校园和课本,应该广开视野,广长见识,广泛了解博大的世界和社会,不断增加丰富的现代社会知识和世界信息,才有所精神准备,才能迅速地长大,将来才能够自由地翱翔于世界蓝天。否则,我们将永远是妈妈怀抱中的乖宝宝,将永远是温室里面的豆芽菜,那么,我们将怎样走向社会、走向世界呢?
  • 沙弥威仪

    沙弥威仪

    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。
  • 开心心理学600问

    开心心理学600问

    本书摒弃了以往心理学书籍中那些长篇大论,而是将心理学知识精妙地融汇在一道道题目中,通过答题的形式让你在开心问答中不知不觉地学到心理学知识。读完本书,你就会具备一定程度的心理学知识,就可以了解人们每个行为的背后,究竟表达了什么意义。
  • 名人传记丛书:斯文·赫定

    名人传记丛书:斯文·赫定

    名人传记丛书——斯文·赫定——掀开楼兰美女面纱的西域骑士:“立足课本,超越课堂”,以提高中小学生的综合素质为目的,让中小学生从课内受益到课外,是一生的良师益友。
  • 宇宙大冒险(科学大探险)

    宇宙大冒险(科学大探险)

    乐乐淘和小猴搭乘着宇宙光神2号先来到离地球最近的月球上,与嫦娥1号比赛谁探寻的信息多,之后他们又来到金星、木星和土星等等,每个星球都有它不一样的神秘……