±´¿Çµç×ÓÊé > Ó¢ÎÄÔ­Öøµç×ÓÊé > the cruise of the jasper b. >

µÚ15ÕÂ

the cruise of the jasper b.-µÚ15ÕÂ

С˵£º the cruise of the jasper b. ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




strength£»¡¡he¡¡perceived¡¡subtly¡¡that¡¡Lady¡¡Agatha¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nature

to¡¡appreciate¡¡this¡¡compliment¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡her¡¡fortunes

were¡¡at¡¡a¡¡low¡¡ebb¡¡what¡¡could¡¡more¡¡cheer¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡and¡¡hearten¡¡her

than¡¡such¡¡a¡¡mark¡¡of¡¡consideration£¿¡¡¡¡Already¡¡Cleggett¡¡found

himself¡¡asking¡¡what¡¡would¡¡please¡¡Lady¡¡Agatha¡£¡¡





CHAPTER¡¡VIII



A¡¡FLAME¡¡LEAPS¡¡OUT¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡DARK



Kuroki¡¡announced¡¡dinner£»¡¡Cleggett¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡captain's¡¡mess¡¡room

of¡¡the¡¡cabin£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡cloth¡¡was¡¡laid£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡lady

Agatha¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡stateroom¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡with¡¡a

smile¡£



If¡¡he¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡her¡¡beautiful¡¡before£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡wore¡¡her¡¡plain

traveling¡¡suit£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡her¡¡radiant¡¡now£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡true¡¡sense¡¡of

that¡¡much¡¡abused¡¡word¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡she¡¡flung¡¡forth¡¡her¡¡charm¡¡in¡¡vital

radiations¡£¡¡If¡¡Cleggett¡¡had¡¡possessed¡¡a¡¡common¡¡mind¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have

phrased¡¡it¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡she¡¡hit¡¡a¡¡man¡¡squarely¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡

Her¡¡beauty¡¡had¡¡that¡¡direct¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡aggressive¡¡quality¡¡that¡¡is

like¡¡a¡¡challenge£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡sophisticated¡¡feminine¡¡art¡¡she¡¡had

contrived¡¡that¡¡the¡¡dinner¡¡gown¡¡she¡¡chose¡¡for¡¡that¡¡evening¡¡should

sound¡¡the¡¡keynote¡¡of¡¡her¡¡personality¡¡like¡¡a¡¡leitmotif¡¡in¡¡an

opera¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡costume¡¡was¡¡a¡¡creation¡¡of¡¡white¡¡satin£»¡¡the¡¡folds

caught¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡with¡¡strings¡¡of¡¡pearls¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡single

large¡¡rose¡¡of¡¡pink¡¡velvet¡¡among¡¡the¡¡draperies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡skirt£»¡¡a

looped¡¡girdle¡¡of¡¡blue¡¡velvet¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡other¡¡splash¡¡of¡¡color¡£¡¡

But¡¡the¡¡full¡­leaved£»¡¡expanded¡¡and¡¡matured¡¡rose¡¡became¡¡the¡¡vivid

epitome¡¡and¡¡illustration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡rope¡¡of¡¡pearls

that¡¡hung¡¡down¡¡to¡¡her¡¡waist¡¡added¡¡the¡¡touch¡¡of¡¡soft¡¡luster

essential¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡from¡¡the¡¡reproach¡¡of¡¡being¡¡too

obvious¡¡an¡¡assault¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡senses£»¡¡Cleggett¡¡reflected¡¡that

another¡¡woman¡¡might¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡too¡¡far¡¡and¡¡spoiled¡¡it¡¡all¡¡by

wearing¡¡diamonds¡£¡¡¡¡Lady¡¡Agatha¡¡always¡¡knew¡¡where¡¡to¡¡stop¡£



¡¨I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡so¡¡hungry¡¡since¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Holloway¡¡Jail£»¡¨¡¡said

Lady¡¡Agatha¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡she¡¡ate¡¡with¡¡a¡¡candid¡¡gusto¡¡that¡¡pleased

Cleggett£»¡¡who¡¡loathed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡a¡¡finical¡¡affectation¡¡of

indifference¡¡to¡¡food¡£



When¡¡Kuroki¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡coffee¡¡she¡¡took¡¡up¡¡her¡¡own¡¡story¡¡again¡£¡¡

There¡¡was¡¡little¡¡more¡¡to¡¡¡¡tell¡£



Dopey¡¡Eddie¡¡and¡¡Izzy¡¡the¡¡Cat£»¡¡it¡¡appeared£»¡¡had¡¡mistaken¡¡their

instructions¡£¡¡¡¡Two¡¡nights¡¡after¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡engaged¡¡they¡¡had

appeared¡¡at¡¡Lady¡¡Agatha's¡¡apartment¡¡with¡¡the¡¡oblong¡¡box¡£



¡¨The¡¡horrid¡¡creatures¡¡brought¡¡it¡¡into¡¡my¡¡sitting¡­room¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡it

on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡before¡¡I¡¡could¡¡prevent¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lady¡¡Agatha¡£



¡¨'What¡¡is¡¡this£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡them£»¡¡in¡¡bewilderment¡£



¡¨They¡¡replied¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡Reginald¡¡Maltravers¡¡ACCORDING

TO¡¡ORDERS£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡to¡¡me¡£



¡¨'Orders£¡'¡¡I¡¡cried¡£¡¡¡¡'You¡¡had¡¡no¡¡such¡¡orders¡£'¡¡¡¡Elmer£»¡¡who¡¡lived

on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡floor£»¡¡was¡¡absent¡¡temporarily£»¡¡having¡¡taken¡¡Teddy¡¡out

for¡¡an¡¡airing¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡distracted¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£

'Your¡¡orders£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡'were¡¡toto'¡¨



She¡¡broke¡¡off¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡was¡¡it¡¡that¡¡Elmer¡¡told¡¡them¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡what

was¡¡it¡¡that¡¡they¡¡did£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡mused£»¡¡perplexed¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡called¡¡Elmer

into¡¡the¡¡cabin¡£



¡¨Elmer£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨exactly¡¡what¡¡was¡¡it¡¡that¡¡you¡¡told¡¡your

friends¡¡to¡¡do¡¡to¡¡him£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡what¡¡was¡¡it¡¡that¡¡they¡¡did£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡can

never¡¡remember¡¡the¡¡words¡£¡¨



¡¨Poke¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Elmer£»¡¡addressing¡¡Cleggett¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡tells¡¡these

ginks¡¡to¡¡poke¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡these¡¡ginks¡¡tells¡¡th'¡¡little¡¡dame¡¡here

they¡¡t'inks¡¡I¡¡has¡¡said¡¡to¡¡croak¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡they¡¡goes¡¡an'¡¡croaks

him¡£¡¡¡¡D'¡¡youse¡¡get¡¡me£¿¡¨



Being¡¡assured¡¡that¡¡they¡¡got¡¡him£»¡¡Elmer¡¡downheartedly¡¡withdrew¡£



¡¨At¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Lady¡¡Agatha£»¡¡¡¨there¡¡was¡¡that¡¡terrible

box¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡sitting¡­room¡¡floor£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡those¡¡two¡¡degraded

wretches¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡callous¡¡beasts¡¡stood¡¡above¡¡the¡¡box¡¡apparently

quite¡¡insensible¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ethical¡¡enormity¡¡of¡¡their¡¡crime¡£¡¡But¡¡they

were¡¡keen¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡used¡¡as¡¡a¡¡lever¡¡with

which¡¡to¡¡force¡¡more¡¡money¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡when¡¡I¡¡demanded¡¡that¡¡they

take¡¡the¡¡box¡¡away¡¡with¡¡them¡¡and¡¡dispose¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡they¡¡only¡¡laughed

at¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡said¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡had¡¡enough¡¡of¡¡that¡¡box¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had

delivered¡¡the¡¡goodsthat¡¡was¡¡the¡¡phrase¡¡they¡¡usedand¡¡they

wanted¡¡more¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡they¡¡said¡¡they¡¡would¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡until¡¡they

got¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡threatened£»¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡the¡¡money¡¡at¡¡once£»

to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡place¡¡and¡¡get¡¡word¡¡to¡¡the¡¡police¡¡of¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of

the¡¡box¡¡in¡¡my¡¡apartment¡£



¡¨I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡no¡¡mental¡¡condition¡¡to¡¡combat¡¡and¡¡get¡¡the¡¡better¡¡of

them¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡entirely¡¡in¡¡their¡¡power¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡only

the¡¡weakness¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡position¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡see

the¡¡weak¡¡spots¡¡in¡¡theirs¡£¡¡¡¡Elmer¡¡might¡¡have¡¡advised¡¡mebut¡¡he

was¡¡not¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡miserable¡¡episode¡¡ended¡¡with¡¡my¡¡giving¡¡them¡¡a

thousand¡¡dollars¡¡each£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡left¡£



¡¨Alone¡¡with¡¡that¡¡box£»¡¡my¡¡panic¡¡increased¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡Elmer¡¡returned

with¡¡Teddy£»¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡open¡¡the

box£»¡¡having¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡perhaps¡¡after¡¡all¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡really

contain¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡said¡¡was¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡bear¡¡the

thought¡¡of¡¡its¡¡being¡¡opened¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡Elmer¡¡to¡¡look

into¡¡it¡£



¡¨I¡¡determined¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡ship¡¡the¡¡box¡¡at¡¡once¡¡to¡¡some

fictitious¡¡personage£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡take¡¡the¡¡next¡¡ship¡¡back¡¡to

England¡£



¡¨I¡¡hastily¡¡wrote¡¡a¡¡card£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡tacked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡box£»¡¡consigning¡¡it

to¡¡Miss¡¡Genevieve¡¡Pringle£»¡¡Newark£»¡¡N¡£¡¡J¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡name¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first

invention¡¡that¡¡came¡¡into¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡Newark¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡of¡£¡¡I¡¡knew

vaguely¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡west¡¡of¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡but¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡twenty

miles¡¡west¡¡or¡¡two¡¡thousand¡¡miles£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡stop¡¡to¡¡think¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am

ignorant¡¡of¡¡American¡¡geography¡£



¡¨But¡¡no¡¡sooner¡¡had¡¡the¡¡box¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡away¡¡than¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be

uneasy¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡more¡¡frightened¡¡with¡¡it¡¡gone¡¡than¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡with

it¡¡present¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡imagined¡¡it¡¡being¡¡dropped¡¡and¡¡broken£»¡¡and

revealing¡¡everything¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡even¡¡if¡¡I

should¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡was¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡be

discovered¡¡some¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡why¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡thought¡¡of

that¡¡beforebut¡¡I¡¡was¡¡distracted¡£¡¡¡¡Having¡¡got¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡box£»¡¡I

was¡¡already¡¡wild¡¡to¡¡get¡¡it¡¡into¡¡my¡¡possession¡¡again¡£



¡¨I¡¡confided¡¡my¡¡fears¡¡to¡¡Elmer£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡from

him¡¡that¡¡Newark¡¡is¡¡very¡¡near¡¡New¡¡York¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡took¡¡a¡¡taxicab¡¡at

once£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡waiting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡freight¡¡depot¡¡in¡¡Newark¡¡when¡¡the

thing¡¡arrived¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡I¡¡claimed¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Miss¡¡Genevieve

Pringle¡£



¡¨It¡¡became¡¡apparent¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡manage¡¡its¡¡final

disposition¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡Elmer¡¡hired¡¡for¡¡me¡¡the¡¡vehicle¡¡in¡¡which¡¡we

arrived¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡started¡¡back¡¡to¡¡New¡¡York¡£



¡¨But¡¡the¡¡driver£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡was¡¡suspicious¡¡of¡¡the¡¡box¡£¡¡¡¡His

suspicions¡¡were¡¡increased¡¡when£»¡¡upon¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡my¡¡apartment

hotel£»¡¡where¡¡I¡¡now¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡box¡¡until¡¡I¡¡could¡¡think

out¡¡a¡¡coherent¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡action£»¡¡the¡¡manager¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡made

inquiries¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡manager¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡box¡¡brought¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡taken

out¡¡again£»¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡return¡¡struck¡¡him¡¡as¡¡odd¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡offered¡¡to

store¡¡it¡¡for¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡basement¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡took¡¡alarm¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡

Naturally£»¡¡he¡¡questioned¡¡me¡¡more¡¡closely¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡unready¡¡in¡¡my

answers¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡inquiries¡¡excited¡¡and¡¡alarmed¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡any

instant¡¡I¡¡might¡¡do¡¡something¡¡to¡¡betray¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡manager

short£»¡¡paid¡¡my¡¡bill£»¡¡got¡¡my¡¡luggage£»¡¡and¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡chauffeur¡¡to

drive¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Grand¡¡Central¡¡Station¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡when¡¡we¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡three

or¡¡four¡¡blocks£»¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡him£º¡¡'Stop£¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the

Grand¡¡Central¡¡Station¡£¡¡¡¡Drive¡¡me¡¡to¡¡Poughkeepsie£¡'¡¡¡¡I¡¡wished¡¡a

chance¡¡to¡¡think¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡Poughkeepsie¡¡was¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡New¡¡York

City£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡supposed¡¡it¡¡was¡¡far¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡give¡¡me¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to

determine¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡next¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡we¡¡arrived¡¡there¡£



¡¨But¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡think¡¡coherently¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡only¡¡feel¡¡and¡¡fear¡£¡¡

The¡¡drive¡¡was¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡I¡¡had¡¡expected£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡we¡¡arrived¡¡at

Poughkeepsie¡¡and¡¡the¡¡chauffeur¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡again¡¡what¡¡disposition¡¡to

make¡¡of¡¡the¡¡box£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡him¡£¡¡Thereupon¡¡he

insolently¡¡demanded¡¡an¡¡enormous¡¡fare¡£



¡¨I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡choose¡¡but¡¡pay¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡four¡¡days¡¡we¡¡went¡¡from¡¡place

to¡¡place£»¡¡in¡¡and¡¡about¡¡New¡¡York¡¡City's¡¡suburbsnow¡¡in¡¡town¡¡and

now¡¡in¡¡the¡¡countrycrossing¡¡rivers¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again¡¡on

ferryboats

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ