earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第20章

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m　on　the　telephone　yesterday　morning。〃
　〃Humph。〃　Hallet　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　spoke　in　a　more　amiable　tone。　〃As　a　younger　man；　I　believe　you　traveled　a　lot？〃
　〃I　drifted　about　a　bit；〃　Egan　admitted。　〃I　was　just　eighteen　when　I　left　England　…〃
　〃At　your　family's　suggestion；〃　smiled　the　captain。
　〃What's　that　to　you？〃　Egan　flared。
　〃Where　did　you　go？〃
　〃Australia。　I　ranched　it　for　a　time　…　and　later　I　worked　in　Melbourne。〃
　〃What　doing？〃　persisted　Hallet。
　〃In　…　in　a　bank。〃
　〃A　bank；　eh？　And　then　…〃
　〃The　South　Seas。　Just　…　wandering　about　…　I　was　restless　…〃
　〃Beach…bing；　eh？〃
　Egan　flushed。　〃I　may　have　been　on　my　uppers　at　times；　but　damn　it　…〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Hallet　cut　in。　〃What　I　want　to　know　is　…　those　years　you　were　drifting　about　…　did　you　by　any　chance　run　into　Dan　Winterslip？〃
　〃I　…　I　might　have。〃
　〃What　sort　of　an　answer　is　that！　Yes　or　no？〃
　〃Well；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　I　did；〃　Egan　admitted。　〃Just　once　…　in　Melbourne。　But　it　was　a　quite　unimportant　meeting。　So　unimportant　Winterslip　had　pletely　forgotten　it。〃
　〃But　you　hadn't。　And　yesterday　morning；　after　twenty…three　years'　silence　between　you；　you　called　him　on　the　telephone。　On　rather　sudden　business。〃
　〃I　did。〃
　Hallet　came　closer。　〃All　right；　Egan。　We've　reached　the　important　part　of　your　story。　What　was　that　business？〃
　A　tense　silence　fell　in　the　little　office　as　they　awaited　Egan's　answer。　The　Englishman　looked　Hallet　calmly　in　the　eye。　〃I　can't　tell　you　that；〃　he　said。
　Hallet's　face　reddened。　〃Oh；　yes；　you　can。　And　you're　going　to。〃
　〃Never；〃　answered　Egan；　without　raising　his　voice。
　The　captain　glared　at　him。　〃You　don't　seem　to　realize　your　position。〃
　〃I　realize　it　perfectly。〃
　〃If　you　and　I　were　alone　…〃
　〃I　won't　tell　you　under　any　circumstances；　Hallet。〃
　〃Maybe　you'll　tell　the　prosecutor　…〃
　〃Look　here；〃　cried　Egan　wearily。　〃Why　must　I　say　it　over　and　over？　I'll　tell　nobody　my　business　with　Winterslip。　Nobody；　understand？〃　He　crushed　the　half…smoked　cigarette　savagely　down　on　to　a　tray　at　his　side。
　John　Quincy　saw　Hallet　nod　to　Chan。　He　saw　Chan's　pudgy　little　hand　go　out　and　seize　the　remnant　of　cigarette。　A　happy　grin　spread　over　the　Oriental's　fat　face。　He　handed　the　stub　to　his　chief。
　〃Corsican　brand！〃　he　cried　triumphantly。
　〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Hallet。　〃This　your　usual　smoke？〃
　A　startled　look　crossed　Egan's　tired　face。　〃No；　it's　not；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　a　make　that's　not　on　sale　in　the　Islands；　I　believe？〃
　〃No；　I　fancy　it　isn't。〃
　Captain　Hallet　held　out　his　hand。　〃Give　me　your　cigarette　case；　Egan。〃　The　Englishman　passed　it　over；　and　Hallet　opened　it。　〃Humph；〃　he　said。　〃You've　managed　to　get　hold　of　a　few；　haven't　you？〃
　〃Yes。　They　were　…　given　me。〃
　〃Is　that　so？　Who　gave　them　to　you？〃
　Egan　considered。　〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　tell　you　that；　either；〃　he　said。
　Hallet's　eyes　glittered　angrily。　〃Let　me　give　you　a　few　facts；〃　he　began。　〃You　called　on　Dan　Winterslip　last　night；　you　entered　and　left　by　the　front　door；　and　you　didn't　go　back。　Yet　just　outside　the　door　leading　directly　into　the　living…room；　we　have　found　a　partly　smoked　cigarette　of　this　unusual　brand。　Now　will　you　tell　me　who　gave　you　these　Corsicans？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Egan；　〃I　won't。〃
　Hallet　slipped　the　silver　cigarette　case　into　his　pocket；　and　stood　up。　〃Very　well；〃　he　remarked。　〃I've　wasted　all　the　time　I　intend　to　here。　The　district　court　prosecutor　will　want　to　talk　to　you　…〃
　〃Of　course；〃　agreed　Egan；　〃I'll　e　and　see　him　…　this　afternoon　…〃
　Hallet　glared　at　him。　〃Quit　kidding　yourself　and　get　your　hat！〃
　Egan　rose　too。　〃Look　here；〃　he　cried；　〃I　don't　like　your　manner。　It's　true　there　are　certain　matters　in　connection　with　Winterslip　that　I　can't　discuss；　and　that's　unfortunate。　But　surely　you　don't　think　I　killed　the　man。　What　motive　would　I　have　…〃
　Jennison　rose　quickly　from　his　seat　on　the　window…ledge　and　stepped　forward。　〃Hallet；〃　he　said；　〃there's　something　I　ought　to　tell　you。　Two　or　three　years　ago　Dan　Winterslip　and　I　were　walking　along　King　Street；　and　we　passed　Mr。　Egan　here。　Winterslip　nodded　toward　him。　'I'm　afraid　of　that　man；　Harry；'　he　said。　I　waited　to　hear　more；　but　he　didn't　go　on；　and　he　wasn't　the　sort　of　client　one　would　prompt。　'I'm　afraid　of　that　man；　Harry。'　Just　that；　and　nothing　further。〃
　〃It's　enough；〃　remarked　Hallet　grimly。　〃Egan；　you're　going　with　me。〃
　Egan's　eyes　flashed。　〃Of　course；〃　he　cried　bitterly。　〃Of　course　I'm　going　with　you。　You're　all　against　me；　the　whole　town　is　against　me；　I've　been　sneered　at　and　belittled　for　twenty　years。　Because　I　was　poor。　An　outcast；　my　daughter　humiliated；　not　good　enough　to　associate　with　these　New　England　blue…bloods　…　these　thin…lipped　Puritans　with　a　touch　of　sun　…〃
　At　sound　of　that　familiar　phrase；　John　Quincy　sat　up。　Where；　where　…　oh；　yes；　on　the　Oakland　ferry　…
　〃Never　mind　that；〃　Hallet　was　saying。　〃I'll　give　you　one　last　chance。　Will　you　tell　me　what　I　want　to　know？〃
　〃I　will　not；〃　cried　Egan。
　〃All　right。　Then　e　along。〃
　〃Am　I　under　arrest？〃　asked　Egan。
　〃I　didn't　say　that；〃　replied　Hallet；　suddenly　cautious。　〃The　investigation　is　young　yet。　You　are　withholding　much　needed　information；　and　I　believe　that　after　you've　spent　a　few　hours　at　the　station；　you'll　change　your　mind　and　talk。　In　fact；　I'm　sure　of　it。　I　haven't　any　warrant；　but　your　position　will　be　a　lot　more　dignified　if　you　e　willingly　without　one。〃
　Egan　considered　a　moment。　〃I　fancy　you're　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　certain　orders　to　give　the　servants；　if　you　don't　mind　…〃
　Hallet　nodded。　〃Make　it　snappy。　Charlie　will　go　with　you。〃
　Egan　and　Chan　disappeared。　The　captain；　John　Quincy　and　Jennison　went　out　and　sat　down　in　the　public　room。　Five　minutes　passed；　ten；　fifteen　…
　Jennison　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃See　here；　Hallet；〃　he　said。　〃The　man's　making　a　monkey　of　you　…〃
　Hallet　reddened；　and　stood　up。　At　that　instant　Egan　and　Chan　came　down　the　big…open　stairway　at　one　side　of　the　room。　Hallet　went　up　to　the　Englishman。
　〃Say；　Egan　…　what　are　you　doing？　Playing　for　time？〃
　Egan　smiled。　〃That's　precisely　what　I'm　doing；〃　he　replied。　〃My　daughter's　ing　in　this　morning　on　the　Matsonia　…　the　boat　ought　to　be　at　the　dock　now。　She's　been　at　school　on　the　mainland；　and　I　haven't　seen　her　for　nine　months。　You've　done　me　out　of　the　pleasure　of　meeting　her；　but　in　a　few　minutes　…〃
　〃Nothing　doing；〃　cried　Hallet。　〃Now　you　get　your　hat。　I'm　pau。〃
　Egan　hesitated　a　moment；　then　slowly　took　his　battered　old　straw　hat　from　the　desk。　The　five　men　walked　through　the　blooming　garden　toward　Hallet's　car。　As　they　emerged　into　the　street；　a　taxi　drew　up　to　the　curb。　Egan　ran　forward；　and　the　girl　John　Quincy　had　last　seen　at　the　gateway　to　San　Francisco　leaped　out　into　the　Englishman's　arms。
　〃Dad　…　where　were　you？〃　she　cried。
　〃Cary；　darling；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　so　frightfully　sorry　…　I　meant　to　be　at　the　dock　but　I　was　detained。　How　are　you；　my　dear？〃
　〃I'm　fine；　dad　…　but　…　where　are　you　going？〃　She　looked　at　Hallet；　John　Quincy　remained　discreetly　in　the　background。
　〃I've　…　I've　a　little　business　in　the　city；　my　dear；〃　Egan　said。　〃I'll　be　home　presently；　I　fancy。　If　…　if　I　shouldn't　be；　I　leave　you　in　charge。〃
　〃Why；　dad　…〃
　〃Don't　worry；〃　he　added　pleadingly。　〃That's　all　I　can　say　now；　Cary。　Don't　worry；　my　dear。〃　He　turned　to　Hallet。　〃Shall　we　go；　Captain？〃
　The　two　policemen；　Jennison　and　Egan　entered　the　car。　John　Quincy　stepped　forward。　The　girl's　big　perplexed　eyes　met　his。
　〃You？〃　she　cried。
　〃ing；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　inquired　Hallet。
　John　Quincy　smiled　at　the　girl。　〃You　were　quite　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　haven't　needed　that　hat。〃
　She　looked　up　at　him。　〃But　you're　not　wearing　any　at　all。　That's　hardly　wise　…〃
　〃Mr。　Winterslip！〃　barked　Hallet。
　John　Quincy　turned。　〃Oh；　pardon　me；　Captain；〃　he　said。　〃I　forgot　to　mention　it；　but　I'm　leaving　you　here。　Good…by。〃
　Hallet　grunted　and　started　his　car。　While　the　girl　paid　for　her　taxi　out　of　a　tiny　purse；　John　Quincy　picked　up　her　suit…case。
　〃This　time；〃　he　said；　〃I　insist　on　carrying　it。〃　They　stepped　through　the　gateway　into　the　garden　that　might　have　been　Eden　on　one　of　its　better　days。　〃You　didn't　tell　me　we　might　meet　in　Honolulu；〃　the　boy　remarked。
　〃I　wasn't　s