登陆注册
5422400000024

第24章

Helen shrugged her shoulders."I cannot answer that question, for I do not know his reason.If he had only confided in me" - her voice shook -" he might have been alive to-day.""How so?" Penfield shot the question at her.

"Because then he would have been spared the additional excitement of his trip to the police station and the scene in court, which brought on his attack of angina pectoris."Penfield regarded her for a moment in silence.

"I have no further questions, Miss McIntyre," he said, and turned to the morgue master."Ask Miss Barbara McIntyre to come to the platform." Turning back to his table and the papers thereon he failed to see the twins pass each other in the aisle.They were identically attired and when Coroner Penfield looked again at the witness chair, he stared in surprise at its occupant.

"I beg pardon, Miss McIntyre, I desire your sister to testify,"he remarked.

"I am Barbara McIntyre." A haunting quality in her voice caught Kent's attention, and he leaned eagerly forward, his eyes following each movement of her nervous fingers, busily twisting her gloves inside and out.

"I beg your pardon," exclaimed the coroner, recovering from his surprise.He had seen the twins at the police court on Tuesday morning for a second only, and then his attention had been entirely centered on Helen.He had heard, but had not realized until that moment, how striking was the resemblance between the sisters.

"Miss McIntyre," the coroner cleared his throat and commenced his examination."Where were you on Monday night?""At a dance given by Mr.and Mrs.Charles Grosvenor.""At what hour did you return?"

"I think it was half past five or a few minutes earlier.""Who let you in?"

"My sister."

"Did you see the burglar?"

"He had left," she answered."My sister told me of her adventure as we went upstairs to our rooms.""Miss McIntyre," Penfield picked up a page of the deputy coroner's closely written notes, and ran his eyes down it."Your sister has testified that James Turnbull went to your house disguised as a burglar on a wager with you.What were the terms of that wager?""I bet him that he could not enter the house after midnight without his presence being detected by our new police dogs," exclaimed Barbara slowly.She had stopped twirling her gloves about, and one hand was firmly clenched over the arm of her chair.

"Did the dogs discover his presence in the house?""Apparently not, or they would have aroused the household," she said.

"I cannot answer that question, though, because I was not at home.""Where are the dogs kept?"

"In the garage in the daytime."

"And at night?" he persisted.

"They roam about our house," she admitted, "or sleep in the boudoir, which is between my sister's bedroom and mine.

"Were the dogs in the house on Monday night?""I did not see them on my return from the dance.""That is not an answer to my question, Miss McIntyre," the coroner pointed out."Were the dogs in the house?"There was a distinct pause before she spoke."I recall hearing our butler, Grimes, say that he found the dogs in the cellar.Mr.

Turnbull's shocking death put all else out of my mind; I never once thought of the dogs.""In spite of the fact that it was a wager over the dogs which brought about the whole situation?" remarked the coroner dryly.

Barbara flushed at his tone, then grew pale.

"I honestly forgot about the dogs," she repeated."Father sent them out to our country place Tuesday afternoon; they annoyed our - our guest, Mrs.Brewster.""In what way?"

"By barking - 'they are noisy dogs."

"And yet they did not arouse the household when Mr.Turnbull broke into the house - Coroner Penfield regarded her sternly."How do you account for that?"Barbara's right hand stole to the arm of her chair and clasped it with the same convulsive strength that she clung to the other chair arm.When she spoke her voice was barely audible.

"I can account for it in two ways," she began."If the dogs were accidentally locked in the cellar they could not possibly hear Mr.

Turnbull moving about the house; if they were roaming about and scented him, they might not have barked because they would recognize him as a friend.""Were the dogs familiar with his step and voice?""Yes.Only last Sunday he played with them for an hour, and later in the afternoon took them for a walk in the country.""I see." Penfield stroked his chin reflectively."When your sister told you of finding the burglar and his arrest, did you not, in the light of your wager, suspect that he might be Mr.Turnbull?""No." Barbara's eyes did not falter before his direct gaze."Isupposed that Mr.Turnbull meant to try and enter the house in his own proper person; it never dawned on me that he would resort to disguise.Besides," as the coroner started to make a remark, "we have had numerous robberies in our neighborhood, and the apartment house two blocks from us has had a regular epidemic of sneak thieves."The coroner waited until Dr.Mayo, who had been writing with feverish haste, had picked up a fresh sheet of paper before resuming his examination.

"You accompanied your sister to the police court," he said."Did you see the burglar there?""Yes."

"Did you realize his identity in the court room?""No.I only awoke to - to the situation when I saw him lying dead with his wig removed.The shock was frightful"- she closed her eyes for a second, for the room and the rows of faces confronting her were mixed in a maddening maze and she raised her hand to her swimming head.When she looked up she found Coroner Penfield by her side.

"That is all," he said kindly."Please remain in the witness room, I may call you again," and he helped her down the step with careful attention.

Back in his corner Kent watched her departure.He was white to the lips.

"Heat too much for you?" asked a kindly-faced stranger, and Kent gave a mumbled "No," as he strove to pull himself together.

What deviltry was afoot? How dared the twins take such risks - to bear false witness was a grave criminal offense.He, alone, among all the spectators, had realized that in testifying before the inquest, the twins had swapped identities.

同类推荐
  • 养羊法

    养羊法

    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。
  • 今言

    今言

    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。
  • 餐樱庑随笔

    餐樱庑随笔

    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。
  • BILLY BUDD

    BILLY BUDD

    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。
  • THE CONFESSIONS

    THE CONFESSIONS

    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
  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

    The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

    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。
  • 旧时青人

    旧时青人

    幼年暗许芳心。不知是对还是错?心中的那个男人爱的到底是谁,这到底是一场真挚的爱情,还是一场权利的斗争?人心难测。纯洁的爱情之花的绽放,不知会得到怎样的结局……
  • 异世界之武神

    异世界之武神

    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;他是个废物,现在是个废物,没想到穿越了还是不怎么样,看怎样来证明自己不在是个废物,修炼了逆天的功法,但是他却没有成为逆天的人物,他最后得到了什么,请大家关注本书!&nbsp;&nbsp;<br/><br/>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;力量等级分为凝气&nbsp;、固气、化气、这是低级的三个阶段,凝神、养神、铸神、这是中级的三个阶段,金刚不坏体、金身不灭、金魂不灭、三个高级阶段(每一个等级又分为初级、中级、巅峰、三个层次)本书对力量等价描述的不是很多,请读者不要死抠等级这个事谢谢~!本人新书发布连载中。书名:《茅山传说:搜魂使》&nbsp;<br/>
  • 大神家那位又在闹海

    大神家那位又在闹海

    原书名《报告长官:夫人在捉鬼》 第五家女人代代只能活到28岁,是报应也是命。第五念作为第五家87代传人,以收服妖魔为己任,她因为追一只千年的狐狸精,误闯了某个人的梦境,本着救人一命胜造七级浮屠的理念,在妖物的手上救了他一条小命,虽然梦中拜天地不算什么,却是秉承了天地,也算是夫妻了。姑姑哭啼,“第五念,你是蠢货吗?救人就救人,干嘛在梦里与那人拜了天地,你死后如何入得了第五家的祖坟?”第五念没心没肺的问,“为啥?”“你已经是闵家的媳妇儿了,我不管,你赶快给我去求一封休书。”“姑姑,别闹!”拜托,二十一世纪去找人求休书,她不被人笑掉大牙才怪。果不其然,她求也求了,人家根本把她当成了另类引起他注意的不轨女花痴。不仅如此,还大力的表扬了她,说是他有生以来见过最特别的手段。闵御尘冷冷的说道,“休书,可以有,看你的表现。”表现你个球啊!
  • 职工身体健康手册(最新职工职业健康指导丛书)

    职工身体健康手册(最新职工职业健康指导丛书)

    这些知识内容包括了职业健康的各个方面,具有很强的系统性、科学性和实用性,简明扼要,易学好懂,十分便于操作和实践,是广大企事业单位用以指导现代职业健康的良好读物。
  • 姐,我去称霸天下了

    姐,我去称霸天下了

    五姐萧子笙在加冕以后,成功拥有了四个姐姐。为什么要称呼为五姐呢,因为她还有两个妹妹。 萧子笙觉得自从她踏上大姐这条贼船之后,就完全下不来了。 因为某些不好意思说的关系,萧子笙年近五十才开始了报仇之旅。模样还是个少年的她or他,猛然发现当年的伙伴差不多都半截入土了。 于是曾被誉为“一代丞相”的他打算不……好吧,仇还是要报的。 等等,麻烦等我一下,我忘了给我自己收尸了!!! 简单一句话,就是某六个姐妹被大姐带上贼船在黑化这条路上越走越远的故事。无男主文。本文又名:《不管怎么养姐妹都会黑化》,《花式复仇虐渣》,《总有人要挑衅神》
  • 九龙至尊神

    九龙至尊神

    【智谋流NO.1】凌天大帝莫亦寒携《九龙战天决重生》,青龙、蜃龙、火龙、雷龙、黑龙、冰龙、海龙、地龙,五爪金龙!九龙化一神龙至尊,天若压我,我必杀天!
  • 复仇终点站

    复仇终点站

    普天同庆中的灭门惨案今天是一个普天同庆的日子,因为今年是我国有史以来第一次主办奥运会,而这08奥运的开幕式,正是在今天。然而对于我来说,今天却是有生以来最痛苦绝望的一天。今天的经历,彻底改变了我的人生,从此我将行尸走肉,直至生命终结……今天是我十一岁的生日,一大早起床,爸爸和妈妈就送给我一条项链作为生日礼物,吊坠是一只银蟹,而我的星座正是巨蟹座,爸妈的心意别出心裁,我对这份礼物爱不释手。吃过早餐后,爸爸笑着对我说:“我现在要到西饼店取生日蛋糕啰,你要一起去吗?”我手舞足蹈:“我要去!我要去!”
  • 薄欢

    薄欢

    蔻色出生于江南小镇,五岁时父母离异,跟随奶奶在小镇生活,与嘉年就此结识,父亲工作调动,蔻色离开了小镇,与嘉年天各一方。数年后,奶奶病重,蔻色回到小镇,在音乐社团的嘉年却不认得她了,而他身边也已经有了叶绛心。绛心看到追梦疲累的嘉年数次劝说要嘉年陪她出国,一心为了追求梦想的嘉年留在了大陆,与绛心就此分开。那些辛苦的岁月,陪在他身边的是蔻色,兜兜转转,两人终成眷属。继安妮宝贝之后,华丽文风与澄澈情感的最完美结合。一本惘然之书,写给那些在少年时光里被爱珍惜过被亏欠过的人看。
  • 爱伦娜之死

    爱伦娜之死

    我以前从未见过詹姆斯?阿施顿,但我却非常讨厌这个人。他是我一个朋友的丈夫。我的这个朋友叫爱伦娜。爱伦娜每次来上班,眼睛常带着一圈黑,而且她的手腕上还总有淤伤,我就更恨他了。有一段时间没见到爱伦娜了,很有点想她。自她来里德干洗店上班以来,我们性情就很相投。我在前台接活儿,她做修补工作。因为这个店铺很小,所以我们几乎是头顶头。