the club of queer trades-第4章

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〃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　the　letter。〃

〃I　am　looking　at　the　letter；〃　said　the　mad　judge　calmly；　though；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　he　was　looking　at　the　fire。　〃I　don't　think　it's　the　sort　of　letter　one　criminal　would　write　to　another。〃

〃My　dear　boy；　you　are　glorious；〃　cried　Rupert；　turning　round；　with　laughter　in　his　blue　bright　eyes。　〃Your　methods　amaze　me。　Why；　there　is　the　letter。　It　is　written；　and　it　does　give　orders　for　a　crime。　You　might　as　well　say　that　the　Nelson　Column　was　not　at　all　the　sort　of　thing　that　was　likely　to　be　set　up　in　Trafalgar　Square。〃

Basil　Grant　shook　all　over　with　a　sort　of　silent　laughter；　but　did　not　otherwise　move。

〃That's　rather　good；〃　he　said；　〃but；　of　course；　logic　like　that's　not　what　is　really　wanted。　It's　a　question　of　spiritual　atmosphere。　It's　not　a　criminal　letter。〃

〃It　is。　It's　a　matter　of　fact；〃　cried　the　other　in　an　agony　of　reasonableness。

〃Facts；〃　murmured　Basil；　like　one　mentioning　some　strange；　far…off　animals；　〃how　facts　obscure　the　truth。　I　may　be　sillyin　fact；　I'm　off　my　headbut　I　never　could　believe　in　that　manwhat's　his　name；　in　those　capital　stories？Sherlock　Holmes。　Every　detail　points　to　something；　certainly；　but　generally　to　the　wrong　thing。　Facts　point　in　all　directions；　it　seems　to　me；　like　the　thousands　of　twigs　on　a　tree。　It's　only　the　life　of　the　tree　that　has　unity　and　goes　uponly　the　green　blood　that　springs；　like　a　fountain；　at　the　stars。〃

〃But　what　the　deuce　else　can　the　letter　be　but　criminal？〃

〃We　have　eternity　to　stretch　our　legs　in；〃　replied　the　mystic。　〃It　can　be　an　infinity　of　things。　I　haven't　seen　any　of　themI've　only　seen　the　letter。　I　look　at　that；　and　say　it's　not　criminal。〃

〃Then　what's　the　origin　of　it？〃

〃I　haven't　the　vaguest　idea。〃

〃Then　why　don't　you　accept　the　ordinary　explanation？〃

Basil　continued　for　a　little　to　glare　at　the　coals；　and　seemed　collecting　his　thoughts　in　a　humble　and　even　painful　way。　Then　he　said：

〃Suppose　you　went　out　into　the　moonlight。　Suppose　you　passed　through　silent；　silvery　streets　and　squares　until　you　came　into　an　open　and　deserted　space；　set　with　a　few　monuments；　and　you　beheld　one　dressed　as　a　ballet　girl　dancing　in　the　argent　glimmer。　And　suppose　you　looked；　and　saw　it　was　a　man　disguised。　And　suppose　you　looked　again；　and　saw　it　was　Lord　Kitchener。　What　would　you　think？〃

He　paused　a　moment；　and　went　on：

〃You　could　not　adopt　the　ordinary　explanation。　The　ordinary　explanation　of　putting　on　singular　clothes　is　that　you　look　nice　in　them；　you　would　not　think　that　Lord　Kitchener　dressed　up　like　a　ballet　girl　out　of　ordinary　personal　vanity。　You　would　think　it　much　more　likely　that　he　inherited　a　dancing　madness　from　a　great　grandmother；　or　had　been　hypnotised　at　a　seance；　or　threatened　by　a　secret　society　with　death　if　he　refused　the　ordeal。　With　Baden…Powell；　say；　it　might　be　a　betbut　not　with　Kitchener。　I　should　know　all　that；　because　in　my　public　days　I　knew　him　quite　well。　So　I　know　that　letter　quite　well；　and　criminals　quite　well。　It's　not　a　criminal's　letter。　It's　all　atmospheres。〃　And　he　closed　his　eyes　and　passed　his　hand　over　his　forehead。

Rupert　and　the　Major　were　regarding　him　with　a　mixture　of　respect　and　pity。　The　former　said

〃Well；　I'm　going；　anyhow；　and　shall　continue　to　thinkuntil　your　spiritual　mystery　turns　upthat　a　man　who　sends　a　note　recommending　a　crime；　that　is；　actually　a　crime　that　is　actually　carried　out；　at　least　tentatively；　is；　in　all　probability；　a　little　casual　in　his　moral　tastes。　Can　I　have　that　revolver？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Basil；　getting　up。　〃But　I　am　coming　with　you。〃　And　he　flung　an　old　cape　or　cloak　round　him；　and　took　a　sword…stick　from　the　corner。

〃You！〃　said　Rupert；　with　some　surprise；　〃you　scarcely　ever　leave　your　hole　to　look　at　anything　on　the　face　of　the　earth。〃

Basil　fitted　on　a　formidable　old　white　hat。

〃I　scarcely　ever；〃　he　said；　with　an　unconscious　and　colossal　arrogance；　〃hear　of　anything　on　the　face　of　the　earth　that　I　do　not　understand　at　once；　without　going　to　see　it。〃

And　he　led　the　way　out　into　the　purple　night。

We　four　swung　along　the　flaring　Lambeth　streets；　across　Westminster　Bridge；　and　along　the　Embankment　in　the　direction　of　that　part　of　Fleet　Street　which　contained　Tanner's　Court。　The　erect；　black　figure　of　Major　Brown；　seen　from　behind；　was　a　quaint　contrast　to　the　hound…like　stoop　and　flapping　mantle　of　young　Rupert　Grant；　who　adopted；　with　childlike　delight；　all　the　dramatic　poses　of　the　detective　of　fiction。　The　finest　among　his　many　fine　qualities　was　his　boyish　appetite　for　the　colour　and　poetry　of　London。　Basil；　who　walked　behind；　with　his　face　turned　blindly　to　the　stars；　had　the　look　of　a　somnambulist。

Rupert　paused　at　the　corner　of　Tanner's　Court；　with　a　quiver　of　delight　at　danger；　and　gripped　Basil's　revolver　in　his　great…coat　pocket。

〃Shall　we　go　in　now？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　get　police？〃　asked　Major　Brown；　glancing　sharply　up　and　down　the　street。

〃I　am　not　sure；〃　answered　Rupert；　knitting　his　brows。　〃Of　course；　it's　quite　clear；　the　thing's　all　crooked。　But　there　are　three　of　us；　and〃

〃I　shouldn't　get　the　police；〃　said　Basil　in　a　queer　voice。　Rupert　glanced　at　him　and　stared　hard。

〃Basil；〃　he　cried；　〃you're　trembling。　What's　the　matterare　you　afraid？〃

〃Cold；　perhaps；〃　said　the　Major；　eyeing　him。　There　was　no　doubt　that　he　was　shaking。

At　last；　after　a　few　moments'　scrutiny；　Rupert　broke　into　a　curse。

〃You're　laughing；〃　he　cried。　〃I　know　that　confounded；　silent；　shaky　laugh　of　yours。　What　the　deuce　is　the　amusement；　Basil？　Here　we　are；　all　three　of　us；　within　a　yard　of　a　den　of　ruffians〃

〃But　I　shouldn't　call　the　police；〃　said　Basil。　〃We　four　heroes　are　quite　equal　to　a　host；〃　and　he　continued　to　quake　with　his　mysterious　mirth。

Rupert　turned　with　impatience　and　strode　swiftly　down　the　court；　the　rest　of　us　following。　When　he　reached　the　door　of　No。　14　he　turned　abruptly；　the　revolver　glittering　in　his　hand。

〃Stand　close；〃　he　said　in　the　voice　of　a　commander。　〃The　scoundrel　may　be　attempting　an　escape　at　this　moment。　We　must　fling　open　the　door　and　rush　in。〃

The　four　of　us　cowered　instantly　under　the　archway；　rigid；　except　for　the　old　judge　and　his　convulsion　of　merriment。

〃Now；〃　hissed　Rupert　Grant；　turning　his　pale　face　and　burning　eyes　suddenly　over　his　shoulder；　〃when　I　say　‘Four'；　follow　me　with　a　rush。　If　I　say　‘Hold　him'；　pin　the　fellows　down；　whoever　they　are。　If　I　say　‘Stop'；　stop。　I　shall　say　that　if　there　are　more　than　three。　If　they　attack　us　I　shall　empty　my　revolver　on　them。　Basil；　have　your　sword…stick　ready。　Nowone；　two　three；　four！〃

With　the　sound　of　the　word　the　door　burst　open；　and　we　fell　into　the　room　like　an　invasion；　only　to　stop　dead。

The　room；　which　was　an　ordinary　and　neatly　appointed　office；　appeared；　at　the　first　glance；　to　be　empty。　But　on　a　second　and　more　careful　glance；　we　saw　seated　behind　a　very　large　desk　with　pigeonholes　and　drawers　of　bewildering　multiplicity；　a　small　man　with　a　black　waxed　moustache；　and　the　air　of　a　very　average　clerk；　writing　hard。　He　looked　up　as　we　came　to　a　standstill。

〃Did　you　knock？〃　he　asked　pleasantly。　〃I　am　sorry　if　I　did　not　hear。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃

There　was　a　doubtful　pause；　and　then；　by　general　consent；　the　Major　himself；　the　victim　of　the　outrage；　stepped　forward。

The　letter　was　in　his　hand；　and　he　looked　unusually　grim。

〃Is　your　name　P。　G。　Northover？〃　he　asked。

〃That　is　my　name；〃　replied　the　other；　smiling。

〃I　think；〃　said　Major　Brown；　with　an　increase　in　the　dark　glow　of　his　face；　〃that　this　letter　was　written　by　you。〃　And　with　a　loud　clap　he　struck　open　the　letter　on　the　desk　with　his　clenched　fist。　The　man　called　Northover　looked　at　it　with　unaffected　interest　and　merely　nodded。

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　the　Major；　breathing　hard；　〃what　about　that？〃

〃What　about　it；　precisely；〃　said　the　man　with　the　moustache。

〃I　am　Major　Brown；〃　said　that　gentleman　sternly。

Northover　bowed。　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　sir。　What　have　you　to　say　to　me？〃

〃Say！〃　cried　the　Major；　loosing　a　sudden　tempest；　〃why；　I　want　this　confounded　thing　settled。　I　w