the wisdom of father brown-第40章

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Indian　Major　named　Putnam；　and　that　the　Major　had　a　native　cook　from　Malta　who　was　of　his　communion。　　He　also　began　to　remember　that　pistol…shots　are　sometimes　serious　things；　accompanied　with　consequences　with　which　he　was　legitimately　concerned。　　He　turned　back　and　went　in　at　the　garden　gate；　making　for　the　front　door。

　　　　　Half…way　down　one　side　of　the　house　stood　out　a　projection　like　a　very　low　shed；　it　was；　as　he　afterwards　discovered；　a　large　dustbin。　　Round　the　corner　of　this　came　a　figure；　at　first　a　mere　shadow　in　the　haze；　apparently　bending　and　peering　about。　　Then；　coming　nearer；　it　solidified　into　a　figure　that　was；　indeed；　rather　unusually　solid。　　Major　Putnam　was　a　bald…headed；　bull…necked　man；　short　and　very　broad；　with　one　of　those　rather　apoplectic　faces　that　are　produced　by　a　prolonged　attempt　to　combine　the　oriental　climate　with　the　occidental　luxuries。　　But　the　face　was　a　good…humoured　one；　and　even　now；　though　evidently　puzzled　and　inquisitive；　wore　a　kind　of　innocent　grin。　　He　had　a　large　palm…leaf　hat　on　the　back　of　his　head　（suggesting　a　halo　that　was　by　no　means　appropriate　to　the　face）；　but　otherwise　he　was　clad　only　in　a　very　vivid　suit　of　striped　scarlet　and　yellow　pyjamas；　which；　though　glowing　enough　to　behold；　must　have　been；　on　a　fresh　morning；　pretty　chilly　to　wear。　　He　had　evidently　come　out　of　his　house　in　a　hurry；　and　the　priest　was　not　surprised　when　he　called　out　without　further　ceremony：　　〃Did　you　hear　that　noise？〃

　　　　　〃Yes；〃　answered　Father　Brown；　〃I　thought　I　had　better　look　in；　in　case　anything　was　the　matter。〃

　　　　　The　Major　looked　at　him　rather　queerly　with　his　good…humoured　gooseberry　eyes。　　〃What　do　you　think　the　noise　was？〃　he　asked。

　　　　　〃It　sounded　like　a　gun　or　something；〃　replied　the　other；　with　some　hesitation；　〃but　it　seemed　to　have　a　singular　sort　of　echo。〃

　　　　　The　Major　was　still　looking　at　him　quietly；　but　with　protruding　eyes；　when　the　front　door　was　flung　open；　releasing　a　flood　of　gaslight　on　the　face　of　the　fading　mist；　and　another　figure　in　pyjamas　sprang　or　tumbled　out　into　the　garden。　　The　figure　was　much　longer；　leaner；　and　more　athletic；　the　pyjamas；　though　equally　tropical；　were　comparatively　tasteful；　being　of　white　with　a　light　lemon…yellow　stripe。　　The　man　was　haggard；　but　handsome；　more　sunburned　than　the　other；　he　had　an　aquiline　profile　and　rather　deep…sunken　eyes；　and　a　slight　air　of　oddity　arising　from　the　combination　of　coal…black　hair　with　a　much　lighter　moustache。　　All　this　Father　Brown　absorbed　in　detail　more　at　leisure。　　For　the　moment　he　only　saw　one　thing　about　the　man；　which　was　the　revolver　in　his　hand。

　　　　　〃Cray！〃　exclaimed　the　Major；　staring　at　him；　〃did　you　fire　that　shot？〃

　　　　　〃Yes；　I　did；〃　retorted　the　black…haired　gentleman　hotly；　〃and　so　would　you　in　my　place。　　If　you　were　chased　everywhere　by　devils　and　nearly〃

　　　　　The　Major　seemed　to　intervene　rather　hurriedly。　　〃This　is　my　friend　Father　Brown；〃　he　said。　　And　then　to　Brown：　　〃I　don't　know　whether　you've　met　Colonel　Cray　of　the　Royal　Artillery。〃

　　　　　〃I　have　heard　of　him；　of　course；〃　said　the　priest　innocently。　　〃Did　youdid　you　hit　anything？〃

　　　　　〃I　thought　so；〃　answered　Cray　with　gravity。

　　　　　〃Did　he〃　asked　Major　Putnam　in　a　lowered　voice；　〃did　he　fall　or　cry　out；　or　anything？〃

　　　　　Colonel　Cray　was　regarding　his　host　with　a　strange　and　steady　stare。　　〃I'll　tell　you　exactly　what　he　did；〃　he　said。　　〃He　sneezed。〃

　　　　　Father　Brown's　hand　went　half…way　to　his　head；　with　the　gesture　of　a　man　remembering　somebody's　name。　　He　knew　now　what　it　was　that　was　neither　soda…water　nor　the　snorting　of　a　dog。

　　　　　〃Well；〃　ejaculated　the　staring　Major；　〃I　never　heard　before　that　a　service　revolver　was　a　thing　to　be　sneezed　at。〃

　　　　　〃Nor　I；〃　said　Father　Brown　faintly。　　〃It's　lucky　you　didn't　turn　your　artillery　on　him　or　you　might　have　given　him　quite　a　bad　cold。〃　　Then；　after　a　bewildered　pause；　he　said：　　〃Was　it　a　burglar？〃

　　　　　〃Let　us　go　inside；〃　said　Major　Putnam；　rather　sharply；　and　led　the　way　into　his　house。

　　　　　The　interior　exhibited　a　paradox　often　to　be　marked　in　such　morning　hours：　　that　the　rooms　seemed　brighter　than　the　sky　outside；　even　after　the　Major　had　turned　out　the　one　gaslight　in　the　front　hall。　　Father　Brown　was　surprised　to　see　the　whole　dining…table　set　out　as　for　a　festive　meal；　with　napkins　in　their　rings；　and　wine…glasses　of　some　six　unnecessary　shapes　set　beside　every　plate。　　It　was　common　enough；　at　that　time　of　the　morning；　to　find　the　remains　of　a　banquet　over…night；　but　to　find　it　freshly　spread　so　early　was　unusual。

　　　　　While　he　stood　wavering　in　the　hall　Major　Putnam　rushed　past　him　and　sent　a　raging　eye　over　the　whole　oblong　of　the　tablecloth。　　At　last　he　spoke；　spluttering：　　〃All　the　silver　gone！〃　he　gasped。　　〃Fish…knives　and　forks　gone。　　Old　cruet…stand　gone。　　Even　the　old　silver　cream…jug　gone。　　And　now；　Father　Brown；　I　am　ready　to　answer　your　question　of　whether　it　was　a　burglar。〃

　　　　　〃They're　simply　a　blind；〃　said　Cray　stubbornly。　　〃I　know　better　than　you　why　people　persecute　this　house；　I　know　better　than　you　why〃

　　　　　The　Major　patted　him　on　the　shoulder　with　a　gesture　almost　peculiar　to　the　soothing　of　a　sick　child；　and　said：　　〃It　was　a　burglar。　　Obviously　it　was　a　burglar。〃

　　　　　〃A　burglar　with　a　bad　cold；〃　observed　Father　Brown；　〃that　might　assist　you　to　trace　him　in　the　neighbourhood。〃

　　　　　The　Major　shook　his　head　in　a　sombre　manner。　　〃He　must　be　far　beyond　trace　now；　I　fear；〃　he　said。

　　　　　Then；　as　the　restless　man　with　the　revolver　turned　again　towards　the　door　in　the　garden；　he　added　in　a　husky；　confidential　voice：　　〃I　doubt　whether　I　should　send　for　the　police；　for　fear　my　friend　here　has　been　a　little　too　free　with　his　bullets；　and　got　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　law。　　He's　lived　in　very　wild　places；　and；　to　be　frank　with　you；　I　think　he　sometimes　fancies　things。〃

　　　　　〃I　think　you　once　told　me；〃　said　Brown；　〃that　he　believes　some　Indian　secret　society　is　pursuing　him。〃

　　　　　Major　Putnam　nodded；　but　at　the　same　time　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃I　suppose　we'd　better　follow　him　outside；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　want　any　moreshall　we　say；　sneezing？〃

　　　　　They　passed　out　into　the　morning　light；　which　was　now　even　tinged　with　sunshine；　and　saw　Colonel　Cray's　tall　figure　bent　almost　double；　minutely　examining　the　condition　of　gravel　and　grass。　　While　the　Major　strolled　unobtrusively　towards　him；　the　priest　took　an　equally　indolent　turn；　which　took　him　round　the　next　corner　of　the　house　to　within　a　yard　or　two　of　the　projecting　dustbin。

　　　　　He　stood　regarding　this　dismal　object　for　some　minute　and　a　half；　then　he　stepped　towards　it；　lifted　the　lid　and　put　his　head　inside。　　Dust　and　other　discolouring　matter　shook　upwards　as　he　did　so；　but　Father　Brown　never　observed　his　own　appearance；　whatever　else　he　observed。　　He　remained　thus　for　a　measurable　period；　as　if　engaged　in　some　mysterious　prayers。　　Then　he　came　out　again；　with　some　ashes　on　his　hair；　and　walked　unconcernedly　away。

　　　　　By　the　time　he　came　round　to　the　garden　door　again　he　found　a　group　there　which　seemed　to　roll　away　morbidities　as　the　sunlight　had　already　rolled　away　the　mists。　　It　was　in　no　way　rationally　reassuring；　it　was　simply　broadly　comic；　like　a　cluster　of　Dickens's　characters。　　Major　Putnam　had　managed　to　slip　inside　and　plunge　into　a　proper　shirt　and　trousers；　with　a　crimson　cummerbund；　and　a　light　square　jacket　over　all；　thus　normally　set　off；　his　red　festive　face　seemed　bursting　with　a　commonplace　cordiality。　　He　was　indeed　emphatic；　but　then　he　was　talking　to　his　cookthe　swarthy　son　of　Malta；　whose　lean；　yellow　and　rather　careworn　face　contrasted　quaintly　with　his　snow…white　cap　and　costume。　　The　cook　might　well　be　careworn；　for　cookery　was　the　Major's　hobby。　　He　was　one　of　those　amateurs　who　always　know　more　than　the　professional。　　The　only　other　person　he　even　admitted　to　be　a　judge　of　an　omelette　was　his　friend　Crayand　as　Brown　remembered　this；　he　turned　to　look　for　the　other　officer。　　In　the　new　presence　of　daylight　and　people　clothed　and　in　their　right　mind；　the　sight　of　him　was　rather　a　shock。　　The　taller　and　more　elegant　man　was　still　in　his　night…garb；　with　tousled　black　hair；　and　now　crawling