beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第25章
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his uncle made no remark； he added： 〃If lack of motive was the only
factor that saved Sebastien from prosecution I fancy this letter will put a
different complexion on matters。〃
〃Have you shown it to anyone else？〃 asked Sir Lulworth； reaching
out his hand for the incriminating piece of paper。
〃No；〃 said Egbert； handing it across the table； 〃I thought I would tell
you about it first。 Heavens； what are you doing？〃
Egbert's voice rose almost to a scream。 Sir Lulworth had flung the
paper well and truly into the glowing centre of the grate。 The small；
neat hand… writing shrivelled into black flaky nothingness。
〃What on earth did you do that for？〃 gasped Egbert。 〃That letter
was our one piece of evidence to connect Sebastien with the crime。〃
〃That is why I destroyed it；〃 said Sir Lulworth。
〃But why should you want to shield him？〃 cried Egbert； 〃the man is
a common murderer。〃
〃A common murderer； possibly； but a very uncommon cook。〃
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DUSK
NORMAN GORTSBY sat on a bench in the Park； with his back to
a strip of bush…planted sward； fenced by the park railings； and the Row
fronting him across a wide stretch of carriage drive。 Hyde Park Corner；
with its rattle and hoot of traffic； lay immediately to his right。 It was
some thirty minutes past six on an early March evening； and dusk had
fallen heavily over the scene； dusk mitigated by some faint moonlight
and many street lamps。 There was a wide emptiness over road and
sidewalk； and yet there were many unconsidered figures moving silently
through the half…light； or dotted unobtrusively on bench and chair；
scarcely to be distinguished from the shadowed gloom in which they sat。
The scene pleased Gortsby and harmonised with his present mood。
Dusk； to his mind； was the hour of the defeated。 Men and women； who
had fought and lost； who hid their fallen fortunes and dead hopes as far
as possible from the scrutiny of the curious； came forth in this hour of
gloaming； when their shabby clothes and bowed shoulders and unhappy
eyes might pass unnoticed； or； at any rate； unrecognised。
A king that is conquered must see strange looks； So bitter a thing is
the heart of man。
The wanderers in the dusk did not choose to have strange looks
fasten on them； therefore they came out in this bat…fashion； taking their
pleasure sadly in a pleasure…ground that had emptied of its rightful
occupants。 Beyond the sheltering screen of bushes and palings came a
realm of brilliant lights and noisy； rushing traffic。 A blazing； many…
tiered stretch of windows shone through the dusk and almost dispersed it；
marking the haunts of those other people； who held their own in life's
struggle； or at any rate had not had to admit failure。 So Gortsby's
imagination pictured things as he sat on his bench in the almost deserted
walk。 He was in the mood to count himself among the defeated。
Money troubles did not press on him； had he so wished he could have
strolled into the thoroughfares of light and noise； and taken his place
among the jostling ranks of those who enjoyed prosperity or struggled
for it。 He had failed in a more subtle ambition； and for the moment he
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was heartsore and disillusionised； and not disinclined to take a certain
cynical pleasure in observing and labelling his fellow wanderers as they
went their ways in the dark stretches between the lamp…lights。
On the bench by his side sat an elderly gentleman with a drooping
air of defiance that was probably the remaining vestige of self…respect in
an individual who had ceased to defy successfully anybody or anything。
His clothes could scarcely be called shabby； at least they passed muster
in the half…light； but one's imagination could not have pictured the
wearer embarking on the purchase of a half…crown box of chocolates or
laying out ninepence on a carnation buttonhole。 He belonged
unmistakably to that forlorn orchestra to whose piping no one dances； he
was one of the world's lamenters who induce no responsive weeping。
As he rose to go Gortsby imagined him returning to a home circle where
he was snubbed and of no account； or to some bleak lodging where his
ability to pay a weekly bill was the beginning and end of the interest he
inspired。 His retreating figure vanished slowly into the shadows； and
his place on the bench was taken almost immediately by a young man；
fairly well dressed but scarcely more cheerful of mien than his
predecessor。 As if to emphasise the fact that the world went badly with
him the new…corner unburdened himself of an angry and very audible
expletive as he flung himself into the seat。
〃You don't seem in a very good temper；〃 said Gortsby； judging that
he was expected to take due notice of the demonstration。
The young man turned to him with a look of disarming frankness
which put him instantly on his guard。
〃You wouldn't be in a good temper if you were in the fix I'm in；〃 he
said； 〃I've done the silliest thing I've ever done in my life。〃
〃Yes？〃 said Gortsby dispassionately。
〃Came up this afternoon； meaning to stay at the Patagonian Hotel in
Berkshire Square；〃 continued the young man； 〃when I got there I found
it had been pulled down some weeks ago and a cinema theatre run up on
the site。 The taxi driver recommended me to another hotel some way
off and I went there。 I just sent a letter to my people； giving them the
address； and then I went out to buy some soap … I'd forgotten to pack any
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and I hate using hotel soap。 Then I strolled about a bit； had a drink at
a bar and looked at the shops； and when I came to turn my steps back to
the hotel I suddenly realised that I didn't remember its name or even
what street it was in。 There's a nice predicament for a fellow who
hasn't any friends or connections in London！ Of course I can wire to
my people for the address； but they won't have got my letter till to…
morrow； meantime I'm without any money； came out with about a
shilling on me； which went in buying the soap and getting the drink； and
here I am； wandering about with twopence in my pocket and
