the club of queer trades-第3章

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improbable　that　any　one　would　pour　out　money　like　water　for　a　joke　against　him。　Having　no　explanation　whatever　to　offer；　he　admitted　the　fact　to　himself；　like　a　clear…headed　man；　and　waited　as　he　would　have　done　in　the　presence　of　a　man　with　six　legs。

At　this　moment　the　stout　old　man　with　white　whiskers　looked　up；　and　the　watering　can　fell　from　his　hand；　shooting　a　swirl　of　water　down　the　gravel　path。

〃Who　on　earth　are　you？〃　he　gasped；　trembling　violently。

〃I　am　Major　Brown；〃　said　that　individual；　who　was　always　cool　in　the　hour　of　action。

The　old　man　gaped　helplessly　like　some　monstrous　fish。　At　last　he　stammered　wildly；　〃Come　downcome　down　here！〃

〃At　your　service；〃　said　the　Major；　and　alighted　at　a　bound　on　the　grass　beside　him；　without　disarranging　his　silk　hat。

The　old　man　turned　his　broad　back　and　set　off　at　a　sort　of　waddling　run　towards　the　house；　followed　with　swift　steps　by　the　Major。　His　guide　led　him　through　the　back　passages　of　a　gloomy；　but　gorgeously　appointed　house；　until　they　reached　the　door　of　the　front　room。　Then　the　old　man　turned　with　a　face　of　apoplectic　terror　dimly　showing　in　the　twilight。

〃For　heaven's　sake；〃　he　said；　〃don't　mention　jackals。〃

Then　he　threw　open　the　door；　releasing　a　burst　of　red　lamplight；　and　ran　downstairs　with　a　clatter。

The　Major　stepped　into　a　rich；　glowing　room；　full　of　red　copper；　and　peacock　and　purple　hangings；　hat　in　hand。　He　had　the　finest　manners　in　the　world；　and；　though　mystified；　was　not　in　the　least　embarrassed　to　see　that　the　only　occupant　was　a　lady；　sitting　by　the　window；　looking　out。

〃Madam；〃　he　said；　bowing　simply；　〃I　am　Major　Brown。〃

〃Sit　down；〃　said　the　lady；　but　she　did　not　turn　her　head。

She　was　a　graceful；　green…clad　figure；　with　fiery　red　hair　and　a　flavour　of　Bedford　Park。　〃You　have　come；　I　suppose；〃　she　said　mournfully；　〃to　tax　me　about　the　hateful　title…deeds。〃

〃I　have　come；　madam；〃　he　said；　〃to　know　what　is　the　matter。　To　know　why　my　name　is　written　across　your　garden。　Not　amicably　either。〃

He　spoke　grimly；　for　the　thing　had　hit　him。　It　is　impossible　to　describe　the　effect　produced　on　the　mind　by　that　quiet　and　sunny　garden　scene；　the　frame　for　a　stunning　and　brutal　personality。　The　evening　air　was　still；　and　the　grass　was　golden　in　the　place　where　the　little　flowers　he　studied　cried　to　heaven　for　his　blood。

〃You　know　I　must　not　turn　round；〃　said　the　lady；　〃every　afternoon　till　the　stroke　of　six　I　must　keep　my　face　turned　to　the　street。〃

Some　queer　and　unusual　inspiration　made　the　prosaic　soldier　resolute　to　accept　these　outrageous　riddles　without　surprise。

〃It　is　almost　six；〃　he　said；　and　even　as　he　spoke　the　barbaric　copper　clock　upon　the　wall　clanged　the　first　stroke　of　the　hour。　At　the　sixth　the　lady　sprang　up　and　turned　on　the　Major　one　of　the　queerest　and　yet　most　attractive　faces　he　had　ever　seen　in　his　life；　open；　and　yet　tantalising；　the　face　of　an　elf。

〃That　makes　the　third　year　I　have　waited；〃　she　cried。　〃This　is　an　anniversary。　The　waiting　almost　makes　one　wish　the　frightful　thing　would　happen　once　and　for　all。〃

And　even　as　she　spoke；　a　sudden　rending　cry　broke　the　stillness。　From　low　down　on　the　pavement　of　the　dim　street　（it　was　already　twilight）　a　voice　cried　out　with　a　raucous　and　merciless　distinctness：

〃Major　Brown；　Major　Brown；　where　does　the　jackal　dwell？〃

Brown　was　decisive　and　silent　in　action。　He　strode　to　the　front　door　and　looked　out。　There　was　no　sign　of　life　in　the　blue　gloaming　of　the　street；　where　one　or　two　lamps　were　beginning　to　light　their　lemon　sparks。　On　returning；　he　found　the　lady　in　green　trembling。

〃It　is　the　end；〃　she　cried；　with　shaking　lips；　〃it　may　be　death　for　both　of　us。　Whenever〃

But　even　as　she　spoke　her　speech　was　cloven　by　another　hoarse　proclamation　from　the　dark　street；　again　horribly　articulate。

〃Major　Brown；　Major　Brown；　how　did　the　jackal　die？〃

Brown　dashed　out　of　the　door　and　down　the　steps；　but　again　he　was　frustrated；　there　was　no　figure　in　sight；　and　the　street　was　far　too　long　and　empty　for　the　shouter　to　have　run　away。　Even　the　rational　Major　was　a　little　shaken　as　he　returned　in　a　certain　time　to　the　drawing…room。　Scarcely　had　he　done　so　than　the　terrific　voice　came：

〃Major　Brown；　Major　Brown；　where　did〃

Brown　was　in　the　street　almost　at　a　bound；　and　he　was　in　timein　time　to　see　something　which　at　first　glance　froze　the　blood。　The　cries　appeared　to　come　from　a　decapitated　head　resting　on　the　pavement。

The　next　moment　the　pale　Major　understood。　It　was　the　head　of　a　man　thrust　through　the　coal…hole　in　the　street。　The　next　moment；　again；　it　had　vanished；　and　Major　Brown　turned　to　the　lady。　〃Where's　your　coal…cellar？〃　he　said；　and　stepped　out　into　the　passage。

She　looked　at　him　with　wild　grey　eyes。　〃You　will　not　go　down；〃　she　cried；　〃alone；　into　the　dark　hole；　with　that　beast？〃

〃Is　this　the　way？〃　replied　Brown；　and　descended　the　kitchen　stairs　three　at　a　time。　He　flung　open　the　door　of　a　black　cavity　and　stepped　in；　feeling　in　his　pocket　for　matches。　As　his　right　hand　was　thus　occupied；　a　pair　of　great　slimy　hands　came　out　of　the　darkness；　hands　clearly　belonging　to　a　man　of　gigantic　stature；　and　seized　him　by　the　back　of　the　head。　They　forced　him　down；　down　in　the　suffocating　darkness；　a　brutal　image　of　destiny。　But　the　Major's　head；　though　upside　down；　was　perfectly　clear　and　intellectual。　He　gave　quietly　under　the　pressure　until　he　had　slid　down　almost　to　his　hands　and　knees。　Then　finding　the　knees　of　the　invisible　monster　within　a　foot　of　him；　he　simply　put　out　one　of　his　long；　bony；　and　skilful　hands；　and　gripping　the　leg　by　a　muscle　pulled　it　off　the　ground　and　laid　the　huge　living　man；　with　a　crash；　along　the　floor。　He　strove　to　rise；　but　Brown　was　on　top　like　a　cat。　They　rolled　over　and　over。　Big　as　the　man　was；　he　had　evidently　now　no　desire　but　to　escape；　he　made　sprawls　hither　and　thither　to　get　past　the　Major　to　the　door；　but　that　tenacious　person　had　him　hard　by　the　coat　collar　and　hung　with　the　other　hand　to　a　beam。　At　length　there　came　a　strain　in　holding　back　this　human　bull；　a　strain　under　which　Brown　expected　his　hand　to　rend　and　part　from　the　arm。　But　something　else　rent　and　parted；　and　the　dim　fat　figure　of　the　giant　vanished　out　of　the　cellar；　leaving　the　torn　coat　in　the　Major's　hand；　the　only　fruit　of　his　adventure　and　the　only　clue　to　the　mystery。　For　when　he　went　up　and　out　at　the　front　door；　the　lady；　the　rich　hangings；　and　the　whole　equipment　of　the　house　had　disappeared。　It　had　only　bare　boards　and　whitewashed　walls。

〃The　lady　was　in　the　conspiracy；　of　course；〃　said　Rupert；　nodding。　Major　Brown　turned　brick　red。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃I　think　not。〃

Rupert　raised　his　eyebrows　and　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　but　said　nothing。　When　next　he　spoke　he　asked：

〃Was　there　anything　in　the　pockets　of　the　coat？〃

〃There　was　sevenpence　halfpenny　in　coppers　and　a　threepenny…bit；〃　said　the　Major　carefully；　〃there　was　a　cigarette…holder；　a　piece　of　string；　and　this　letter；〃　and　he　laid　it　on　the　table。　It　ran　as　follows：

Dear　Mr　Plover；

I　am　annoyed　to　hear　that　some　delay　has　occurred　in　the　arrangements　re　Major　Brown。　Please　see　that　he　is　attacked　as　per　arrangement　tomorrow　The　coal…cellar；　of　course。

Yours　faithfully；　P。　G。　Northover。

Rupert　Grant　was　leaning　forward　listening　with　hawk…like　eyes。　He　cut　in：

〃Is　it　dated　from　anywhere？〃

〃Nooh；　yes！〃　replied　Brown；　glancing　upon　the　paper；　〃14　Tanner's　Court；　North〃

Rupert　sprang　up　and　struck　his　hands　together。

〃Then　why　are　we　hanging　here？　Let's　get　along。　Basil；　lend　me　your　revolver。〃

Basil　was　staring　into　the　embers　like　a　man　in　a　trance；　and　it　was　some　time　before　he　answered：

〃I　don't　think　you'll　need　it。〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　said　Rupert；　getting　into　his　fur　coat。　〃One　never　knows。　But　going　down　a　dark　court　to　see　criminals〃

〃Do　you　think　they　are　criminals？〃　asked　his　brother。

Rupert　laughed　stoutly。　〃Giving　orders　to　a　subordinate　to　strangle　a　harmless　stranger　in　a　coal…cellar　may　strike　you　as　a　very　blameless　experiment；　but〃

〃Do　you　think　they　wanted　to　strangle　the　Major？〃　asked　Basil；　in　the　same　distant　and　monotonous　voice。

〃My　dear　fellow；　you've　been　asleep。　Look　at