the red house mystery-第32章
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so long as the household was really inside the house。 But if he wished to
reassure himself about his guests； he would have to wait until they were
far enough on their way to sleep not to be disturbed by him as he came up
to reassure himself。 So it amounted to the same thing； really。 He would
wait until they were asleep。。。。 until they were asleep 。。。。 asleep。。。。
With a great effort Bill regained the mastery over his wandering
thoughts and came awake again。 This would never do。 It would be
fatal if he went to sleep。。。。 if he went to sleep。。。。 to sleep。。。。 And then； in an
instant； he was intensely awake。 Suppose Cayley never came at all！
Suppose Cayley was so unsuspicious that； as soon as they had gone
upstairs； he had dived down into the passage and set about his business。
Suppose； even now； he was at the pond； dropping into it that secret of his。
Good heavens； what fools they had been！ How could Antony have taken
such a risk？ Put yourself in Cayley's place； he had said。 But how was it
possible？ They weren't Cayley。 Cayley was at the pond now。 They
would never know what he had dropped into it。
Listen！。。。。 Somebody at the door。 He was asleep。 Quite naturally
now。 Breathe a little more loudly； perhaps。 He was asleep。。。。 The door
was opening。 He could feel it opening behind him。。。。 Good Lord；
suppose Cayley really was a murderer！ Why； even now he might be … no；
he mustn't think of that。 If he thought of that； he would have to turn
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round。 He mustn't turn round。 He was asleep； just peacefully asleep。
But why didn't the door shut？ Where was Cayley now？ Just behind
him？ And in his hand no； he mustn't think of that。 He was asleep。 But
why didn't the door shut？
The door was shutting。 There was a sigh from the sleeper in the bed；
a sigh of relief which escaped him involuntarily。 But it had a very
natural sound a deep breath from a heavy sleeper。 He added another one
to it to make it seem more natural。 The door was shut。
Bill counted a hundred slowly and then got up。 As quickly and as
noiselessly as possible he dressed himself in the dark。 He put the dummy
figure in the bed； arranged the clothes so that just enough but not too much
of it was showing； and stood by the door looking at it。 For a casual
glance the room was just about light enough。 Then very quietly； very
slowly he opened the door。 All was still。 There was no light from
beneath the door of Cayley's room。 Very quietly； very carefully he crept
along the passage to Antony's room。 He opened the door and went in。
Antony was still in bed。 Bill walked across to wake him up； and then
stopped rigid； and his heart thumped against his ribs。 There was
somebody else in the room。
〃All right； Bill；〃 said a whispering voice； and Antony stepped out from
the curtains。
Bill gazed at him without saying anything。
〃Rather good； isn't it？〃 said Antony； coming closer and pointing to the
bed。 〃Come on； the sooner we get out now； the better。〃
He led the way out of the window； the silent Bill following him。 They
reached the ground safely and noiselessly； went quickly across the lawn
and so； over the fence； into the park。 It was not until they were out of
sight of the house that Bill felt it safe to speak。
〃I quite thought it was you in bed；〃 he said。
〃I hoped you would。 I shall be rather disappointed now if Cayley
doesn't call again。 It's a pity to waste it。〃
〃He came all right just now？〃
〃Oh； rather。 What about you？〃
Bill explained his feelings picturesquely。
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〃There wouldn't have been much point in his killing you；〃 said Antony
prosaically。 〃Besides being too risky。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Bill。 And then； 〃I had rather hoped that it was his love for
me which restrained him。〃
Antony laughed。
〃I doubt it。。。。 You didn't turn up your light when you dressed？〃
〃Good Lord； no。 Did you want me to？〃
Antony laughed again and took him by the arm。
〃You're a splendid conspirator； Bill。 You and I could take on
anything together。〃
The pond was waiting for them； more solemn in the moonlight。 The
trees which crowned the sloping bank on the far side of it were
mysteriously silent。 It seemed that they had the world very much to
themselves。
Almost unconsciously Antony spoke in a whisper。
〃There's your tree； there's mine。 As long as you don't move； there's
no chance of his seeing you。 After he's gone； don't come out till I do。
He won't be here for a quarter of an hour or so； so don't be impatient。〃
〃Righto；〃 whispered Bill。
Antony gave him a nod and a smile； and they walked off to their posts。
The minutes went by slowly。 To Antony； lying hidden in the
undergrowth at the foot of his tree； a new problem was presenting itself。
Suppose Cayley had to make more than one journey that night？ He might
come back to find them in the boat； one of them； indeed； in the water。
And if they decided to wait in hiding； on the chance of Cayley coming
back again； what was the least time they could safely allow？ Perhaps it
would be better to go round to the front of the house and watch for his
return there； the light in his bedroom； before conducting their experiments
at the pond。 But then they might miss his second visit in this way； if he
made a second visit。 It was difficult。
His eyes were fixed on the boat as he considered these things； and
suddenly； as if materialized from nowhere； Cayley was standing by the
boat。 In his hand was a small brown bag。
Cayley put the bag in the bottom of the boat； stepped in； and using an
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oar as a punt…pole； pushed slowly off。 Then； very silently； he rowed
towards the middle of the pond。
He had stopped。 The oars rested on the water。 He picked up the bag
from between his feet； leant over the nose of the boat； and rested it lightly
on the water for a moment。 Then he let go。 It sank slowly。 He waited
there； watching； afraid； perhaps； that it might rise again。 Antony began to
count。。。。
And now Cayley was back at his starting…place。 He tied up the boat；
looked carefully round to see that he had left no traces behind him； and
then turned to the water again。 For a long time； as it seemed to the
watchers； he stood there； very big； very silent； in the moonlight。 At last
he seemed satisfied。 Whatever his secret was； he had hidden it； and so
with a gentle sigh； as unmistakable to Antony as if he had heard it； Cayley
turned away and vanished again as quietly as he had come。
Antony gave him three minutes； and stepped out from the trees。 He
waited there for Bill to join him。
〃Six；〃 whispered Bill。
Antony nodded。
〃I'm going round to the front of the house。 You get back to your tree
and watch； in case Cayley comes again。 Your bedroom is the left…hand
end one； and Cayley's the end but one？ Is that right？〃
Bill nodded。
〃Right。 Wait in hiding till I come back。 I don't know how long I
shall be； but don't be impatient。 It will seem longer than it is。〃 He
patted Bill on the shoulder； and with a smile and a nod of the head he left
him there。
What was in the bag？ What could Cayley want to hide other than a
key or a revolver？ Keys and revolvers sink of themselves； no need to put
them in a bag first。 What was in the bag？ Something which wouldn't
sink of itself； something which needed to be helped with stones before it
would hide itself safely in the mud。
Well； they would find that out。 There was no object in worrying
about it now。 Bill had a dirty night's work in front of him。 But where
was the body which Antony had expected so confidently or； if there were
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no body； where was Mark？
More immediately； however； where was Cayley？ As quickly as he
could Antony had got to the front of the house and was now lying in the
shrubbery which bordered the lawn； waiting for the light to go up in
Cayley's window。 If it went up in Bill's window； then they were
discovered。 It would mean that Cayley had glanced into Bill's room； had
been suspicious of the dummy figure in the bed； and ha
