the red house mystery-第12章
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entirely。〃
〃You mean that it makes it seem more deliberate？〃
〃Yes； that； certainly。 But it also seems to make Mark out an absolute
idiot。 Just suppose for a moment that； for urgent reasons which neither
of you know anything about； he had wished to get rid of his brother。
Would he have done it like that？ Just killed him and then run away？
Why； that's practically suicide … suicide whilst of unsound mind。 No。 If
you really wanted to remove an undesirable brother； you would do it a
little bit more cleverly than that。 You'd begin by treating him as a friend；
so as to avoid suspicion； and when you did kill him at last； you would try
to make it look like an accident； or suicide； or the work of some other man。
Wouldn't you？〃
〃You mean you'd give yourself a bit of a run for your money？〃
〃Yes； that's what I mean。 if you were going to do it deliberately； that
is to say and lock yourself in before you began。〃 Cayley had been silent；
apparently thinking over this new idea。 With his eyes still on the ground；
he said now： 〃I hold to my opinion that it was purely accidental； and that
Mark lost his head and ran away。
〃But what about the key？〃 asked Bill。
〃We don't know yet that the keys were outside。 I don't at all agree
with Mr。 Gillingham that the keys of the down…stairs rooms are always
outside the doors。 Sometimes they are； no doubt； but I think we shall
probably find that these are inside。〃
〃Oh； well； of course； if they are inside； then your original theory is
probably the correct one。 Having often seen them outside； I just
wondered that's all。 You asked me to be quite frank； you know； and tell
you what I thought。 But no doubt you're right； and we shall find them
inside； as you say。
〃Even if the key was outside；〃 went on Cayley stubbornly； 〃I still think
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The Red House Mystery
it might have been accidental。 He might have taken it in with him；
knowing that the interview would be an unpleasant one； and not wishing
to be interrupted。〃
〃But he had just told you to stand by in case he wanted you； so why
should he lock you out？ Besides； I should think that if a man were going
to have an unpleasant interview with a threatening relation； the last thing
he would do would be to barricade himself in with him。 He would want to
open all the doors and say； 'Get out of it'〃
Cayley was silent； but his mouth looked obstinate。 Antony gave a
little apologetic laugh and stood up。
〃Well； come on； Bill；〃 he said； 〃we ought to be stepping。〃 He held
out a hand and pulled his friend up。 Then； turning to Cayley； he went on；
〃You must forgive me if I have let my thoughts run on rather。 Of course；
I was considering the matter purely as an outsider； just as a problem； I
mean； which didn't concern the happiness of any of my friends。〃
〃That's all right； Mr。 Gillingham；〃 said Cayley； standing up too。 〃It is
for you to make allowances for me。 I'm sure you will。 You say that
you're going up to the inn now about your bag？〃
〃Yes。〃 He looked up at the sun and then round the parkland
stretching about the house。 〃Let me see； it's over in that direction； isn't
it？〃 He pointed southwards。 〃Can we get to the village that way； or
must we go by the road？〃
〃I'll show you； my boy；〃 said Bill。
〃Bill will show you。 The park reaches almost as far as the village。
Then I'll send the car round in about half an hour。〃
〃Thanks very much。〃
Cayley nodded and turned to go into the house。 Antony took hold of
Bill's arm and walked off with him in the opposite direction。
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The Red House Mystery
CHAPTER VII
Portrait of a Gentleman
They walked in silence for a little； until they had left the house and
gardens well behind them。 In front of them and to the right the park
dipped and then rose slowly； shutting out the rest of the world。 A thick
belt of trees on the left divided them from the main road。
〃Ever been here before？〃 said Antony suddenly。
〃Oh； rather。 Dozens of times。〃
〃I meant just here where we are now。 Or do you stay indoors and
play billiards all the time？〃
〃Oh lord； no！〃
〃Well； tennis and things。 So many people with beautiful parks never
by any chance use them； and all the poor devils passing by on the dusty
road think how lucky the owners are to have them； and imagine them
doing all sorts of jolly things inside。〃 He pointed to the right。 〃Ever
been over there？〃
Bill laughed； as if a little ashamed。
〃Well； not very much。 I've often been along here； of course； because
it's the short way to the village。〃
〃Yes。。。。 All right； now tell me something about Mark。〃
〃What sort of things？〃
〃Well； never mind about his being your host； or about your being a
perfect gentleman； or anything like that。 Cut out the Manners for Men；
and tell me what you think of Mark； and how you like staying with him；
and how many rows your little house…party has had this week； and how
you get on with Cayley； and all the rest of it。〃
Bill looked at him eagerly。
〃I say； are you being the complete detective？〃
〃Well； I wanted a new profession；〃 smiled the other。
〃What fun！ I mean；〃 he corrected himself apologetically； 〃one
oughtn't to say that； when there's a man dead in the house； and one's host 〃
He broke off a little uncertainly； and then rounded off his period by saying
again； 〃By Jove； what a rum show it is。 Good Lord！〃
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The Red House Mystery
〃Well？〃 said Antony。 〃Carry on； Mark〃
〃What do I think of him？〃
〃Yes。〃
Bill was silent； wondering how to put into words thoughts which had
never formed themselves very definitely in his own mind。 What did he
think of Mark？ Seeing his hesitation； Antony said：
〃I ought to have warned you that nothing that you say will be taken
down by the reporters； so you needn't bother about a split infinitive or two。
Talk about anything you like； how you like。 Well； I'll give you a start。
Which do you enjoy more a week…end here or at the Barrington's； say？〃
〃Well； of course； that would depend …〃
〃Take it that she was there in both cases。〃
〃Ass；〃 said Bill； putting an elbow into Antony's ribs。 〃It's a little
difficult to say；〃 he went on。 〃Of course they do you awfully well here。〃
〃Yes。 I don't think I know any house where things are so comfortable。
One's room …the food … drinks … cigars …the way everything's arranged：
All that sort of thing。 They look after you awfully well。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Yes。〃 He repeated it slowly to himself； as if it had given him a new
idea： 〃They look after you awfully well。 Well； that's just what it is about
Mark。 That's one of his little ways。 Weaknesses。 Looking after you。〃
〃Arranging things for you？〃
〃Yes。 Of course； it's a delightful house； and there's plenty to do； and
opportunities for every game or sport that's ever been invented； and； as I
say； one gets awfully well done； but with it all； Tony； there's a faint sort of
feeling that well； that one is on parade； as it were。 You've got to do as
you're told。〃
〃How do you mean？〃
〃Well； Mark fancies himself rather at arranging things。 He arranges
things； and it's understood that the guests fall in with the arrangement。
For instance； Betty … Miss Calladine … and I were going to play a single
just before tea； the other day。 Tennis。 She's frightfully hot stuff at tennis；
and backed herself to take me on level。 I'm rather erratic； you know。
Mark saw us going out with our rackets and asked us what we were going
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The Red House Mystery
to do。 Well； he'd got up a little tournament for us after tea … handicaps all
arranged by him； and everything ruled out neatly in red and black ink
prizes and all … quite decent ones； you know。 He'd had the lawn specially
cut and marked for it。 Well； of course Betty and I wouldn't have spoilt
the court； and we'd have been quite ready to play again after tea … I had to
give her half…fifteen according to his handicap …but somehow〃 Bill
stopped and shrugged his shoulders。
〃It didn't quite fit in？〃
〃No。 It spoilt the effect of his tournament。 Took the edge off it just
a little； I suppose he felt。 S
