the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第38章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 130…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
moment； and then said； with a sigh； 〃Well； then； let us open the box！〃
〃I think it best； Agatha；〃 said Cleggett。 〃I shall have it brought
down。〃
But even as he turned upon his heel to go on deck and give the order；
Dr。 Farnsworth and the Rev。 Simeon Calthrop ran excitedly down the
cabin companionway。
〃The box of Reginald Maltravers；〃 cried the Doctor； who was in
Cleggett's confidence； 〃is gone！〃
130
… Page 131…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XIX
TWO GREAT MEN MEET
〃Gone！〃 Lady Agatha； who had emerged from her stateroom； turned
pale and caught at her heart。
They rushed on deck。 The young Doctor was right； the box； which
had stood on the larboard side of the cabin； had disappeared。
〃It might have been blown into the canal during the storm；〃 suggested
the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop。 All of the crew of the Jasper B。 knew Lady
Agatha's story； and were aware of the importance of the box。
〃It was on the lee side of the cabin；〃 objected Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃and
while it might have been blown flat to the deck； in spite of its protected
position； it would scarcely have been picked up by the wind again and
wafted over the port bulwarks。〃
〃If you was to ask me；〃 said Cap'n Abernethy； who had joined in the
discussion； 〃I'd give it as MY opinion it's a good riddance of bad rubbish。〃
〃Rubbish？〃 said Miss Pringle。 〃Rubbish； indeed！ I am confident
that that box contained my plum preserves！〃
〃It has been stolen！〃 cried Cleggett； with conviction。 〃Fool that I was；
not to have taken it into the cabin！〃
〃But； if you had； you know；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃one would scarcely
have cared to stay in there with it。〃
〃Loge has outgeneraled me；〃 murmured Cleggett； well…nigh frantic
with self…reproach。 〃While he made the attack in front； he sent some of
his men to the rear of the vessel and it was quietly made off with while we
were fighting。〃 Had the disappearance of the box concerned himself
alone Cleggett's sense of disaster might have been less poignant。 But the
thought that his own carelessness had enabled the enemy to get possession
131
… Page 132…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
of a thing likely to involve Lady Agatha in further trouble was nearly
insupportable。 He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands in impotent
rage。
〃No doubt Loge caught sight of it during the early part of the skirmish；
by a flash of lightning；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃and acted as you suggest；
Mr。 Cleggett。 But does he believe it to be the box which contains the
evidence against him？ Or can he； by any chance； be aware of its real
contents？〃
〃No matter which；〃 groaned Cleggett； 〃no matter which！ For when
he opens it； he will learn what is in it。 Don't you see that he has us now？
If he offers to trade it back to us for the other oblong box； how can I refuse？
If we have his secret； Loge has ours！〃
But Dr。 Farnsworth was not listening。 He had suddenly leaned over
the port rail and was staring down the canal。 The others followed his
gaze。
The house boat Annabel Lee； they perceived； had got under weigh； and
was slowly approaching the Jasper B。 in the moonlight。 They watched
her gradual approach in silence。 She stopped within a few yards of the
Jasper B。； and a voice which Cleggett recognized as that of Wilton
Barnstable； the great detective； sang out：
〃Jasper B。； ahoy！〃
〃Aye； aye！〃 shouted Cleggett。
〃Is Mr。 Cleggett on board？〃
〃He is speaking。〃
〃Mr。 Cleggett； have you lost anything from your canal boat？〃
Cleggett did not answer； and for a moment he did not move。 Then；
tightening his sword belt； and cocking his hat a trifle； he climbed over the
starboard rail and walked along the bank of the canal a few yards until he
was opposite the Annabel Lee。 The great detective； on his part； also
stepped ashore。 They stood and faced each other in the moonlight； silently；
and their followers； also in silence； gathered in the bows of the respective
vessels and watched them。
132
… Page 133…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Finally； Cleggett； with one hand on his hip； and standing with his feet
wide apart； said very incisively：
〃Sir； the Jasper B。 is NOT a canal boat。〃
〃Eh？〃 Wilton Barnstable started at the emphasis。 〃The
Jasper B。；〃 pursued Cleggett； staring steadily at Wilton Barnstable； 〃is a
schooner。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the other。 〃Indeed？〃
〃A schooner；〃 repeated Cleggett； 〃indeed； sir！ Indeed； sir； a schooner！〃
There was another silence； in which neither man would look aside；
they held each other with their eyes； the nervous strain communicated
itself to the crews of the two vessels。 At last； however； the detective；
although he did not lower his gaze； and although he strove to give his new
attitude an effect of ease and jauntiness by twisting the end of his
mustache as he spoke； said to Cleggett：
〃A schooner； then； Mr。 Cleggett； a schooner！ No offense； I hope？〃
〃None at all；〃 said Cleggett； heartily enough； now that the point had
been established。 And the tension relaxed on both ships。
〃You have lost an oblong box； Mr。 Cleggett。〃 The great detective
affirmed it rather than interrogated。
〃How did you know that？〃
The other laughed。 〃We know a great many thingsit is our business
to know things；〃 he said。 Then he dropped his voice to a whisper； and said
rapidly； 〃Mr。 Cleggett； do you know who I am？〃 Before Cleggett could
reply he continued； 〃Brace yourselfdo not make an outcry when I tell
you who I am。 I am Wilton Barnstable。〃
〃I knew you；〃 said Cleggett。 The other appeared disappointed for a
moment。 And then he inquired anxiously； 〃How did you know me？〃
〃Why； from your pictures in the magazines；〃 said Cleggett。
The detective brightened perceptibly。 〃Ah； yesthe magazines！ Yes；
yes； indeed！ publicity is unavoidable； unavoidable； Mr。 Cleggett！ But
this box； now〃
The great detective interrupted himself to laugh again； a trifle
133
… Page 134…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
complacently； Cleggett thought。
〃I will not mystify you； Mr。 Cleggett； about the box。 Mystification is
one of the tricks of the older schools of detection。 I never practice it； Mr。
Cleggett。 With me； the detection of crime is a businessyes； a business。
I will tell you presently how the box came into my possession。〃
〃It IS in your possession？〃 Cleggett felt a dull pang of the heart。 If
the box of Reginal Maltravers were in the hands of Logan Black he could
at least trade
