the red house mystery-第40章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Ablett met his death and the reasons which made that death necessary。 If
the police have to be told anything； I would rather that they too knew the
whole story。 They； and even you； may call it murder； but by that time I
shall be out of the way。 Let them call it what they like。
〃I must begin by taking you back to a summer day fifteen years ago；
when I was a boy of thirteen and Mark a young man of twenty…five。 His
whole life was make…believe； and just now he was pretending to be a
philanthropist。 He sat in our little drawing…room； flicking his gloves
against the back of his left hand； and my mother； good soul； thought what
a noble young gentleman he was； and Philip and I； hastily washed and
crammed into collars； stood in front of him； nudging each other and
kicking the backs of our heels and cursing him in our hearts for having
interrupted our game。 He had decided to adopt one of us； kind Cousin
Mark。 Heaven knows why he chose me。 Philip was eleven； two years
longer to wait。 Perhaps that was why。
〃Well； Mark educated me。 I went to a public school and to
Cambridge； and I became his secretary。 Well； much more than his
secretary as your friend Beverley perhaps has told you： his land agent； his
financial adviser； his courier； his …but this most of all … his audience。
Mark could never live alone。 There must always be somebody to listen
to him。 I think in his heart he hoped I should be his Boswell。 He told
me one day that he had made me his literary executor … poor devil。 And
he used to write me the absurdest long letters when I was away from him；
168
The Red House Mystery
letters which I read once and then tore up。 The futility of the man！
〃It was three years ago that Philip got into trouble。 He had been
hurried through a cheap grammar school and into a London office； and
discovered there that there was not much fun to be got in this world on
two pounds a week。 I had a frantic letter from him one day； saying that
he must have a hundred at once； or he would be ruined； and I went to
Mark for the money。 Only to borrow it； you understand； he gave me a
good salary and I could have paid it back in three months。 But no。 He
saw nothing for himself in it； I suppose； no applause； no admiration。
Philip's gratitude would be to me； not to him。 I begged； I threatened； we
argued； and while we were arguing； Philip was arrested。 It killed my
mother … he was always her favourite … but Mark； as usual； got his
satisfaction out of it。 He preened himself on his judgment of character in
having chosen me and not Philip twelve years before！
〃Later on I apologized to Mark for the reckless things I had said to him；
and he played the part of a magnanimous gentleman with his accustomed
skill； but； though outwardly we were as before to each other； from that day
forward； though his vanity would never let him see it； I was his bitterest
enemy。 If that had been all； I wonder if I should have killed him？ To
live on terms of intimate friendship with a man whom you hate is
dangerous work for your friend。 Because of his belief in me as his
admiring and grateful protege and his belief in himself as my benefactor；
he was now utterly in my power。 I could take my time and choose my
opportunity。 Perhaps I should not have killed him； but I had sworn to
have my revenge … and there he was； poor vain fool； at my mercy。 I was
in no hurry。
〃Two years later I had to reconsider my position； for my revenge was
being taken out of my hands。 Mark began to drink。 Could I have
stopped him？ I don't think so； but to my immense surprise I found
myself trying to。 Instinct； perhaps； getting the better of reason； or did I
reason it out and tell myself that； if he drank himself to death； I should
lose my revenge？ Upon my word； I cannot tell you； but； for whatever
motive； I did genuinely want to stop it。 Drinking is such a beastly thing；
anyhow。
169
The Red House Mystery
〃I could not stop him； but I kept him within certain bounds； so that
nobody but myself knew his secret。 Yes； I kept him outwardly decent；
and perhaps now I was becoming like the cannibal who keeps his victim in
good condition for his own ends。 I used to gloat over Mark； thinking
how utterly he was mine to ruin as I pleased； financially； morally；
whatever way would give me most satisfaction。 I had but to take my
hand away from him and he sank。 But again I was in no hurry。
〃Then he killed himself。 That futile little drunkard； eaten up with his
own selfishness and vanity； offered his beastliness to the truest and purest
woman on this earth。 You have seen her； Mr。 Gillingham； but you never
knew Mark Ablett。 Even if he had not been a drunkard； there was no
chance for her of happiness with him。 I had known him for many years；
but never once had I seen him moved by any generous emotion。 To have
lived with that shrivelled little soul would have been hell for her； and a
thousand times worse hell when he began to drink。
〃So he had to be killed。 I was the only one left to protect her； for her
mother was in league with Mark to bring about her ruin。 I would have
shot him openly for her sake； and with what gladness； but I had no mind to
sacrifice myself needlessly。 He was in my power； I could persuade him
to almost anything by flattery； surely it would not be difficult to give his
death the appearance of an accident。
〃I need not take up your time by telling you of the many plans I made
and rejected。 For some days I inclined towards an unfortunate boating
accident in the pond … Mark； a very indifferent swimmer； myself almost
exhausted in a gallant attempt to hold him up。 And then he himself gave
me the idea； he and Miss Norris between them； and so put himself in my
hands； without risk of discovery； I should have said； had you not
discovered me。
〃We were talking about ghosts。 Mark had been even more vain；
pompous and absurd than usual； and I could see that Miss Norris was
irritated by it。 After dinner she suggested dressing up as a ghost and
frightening him。 I thought it my duty to warn her that Mark took any
joke against himself badly； but she was determined to do it。 I gave way
reluctantly。 Reluctantly； also； I told her the secret of the passage。
170
The Red House Mystery
（There is an underground passage from the library to the bowling…green。
You should exercise your ingenuity； Mr。 Gillingham； in trying to discover
it。 Mark came upon it by accident a year ago。 It was a godsend to him；
he could drink there in greater secrecy。 But he had to tell me about it。
He wanted an audience； even for his vices。）
〃I told Miss Norris； then； because it was necessary for my plan that
Mark should be thoroughly frightened。 Without the passage she could
never have got close enough to the bowling…green to alarm him properly；
but as I arranged it with her she made the most effective appearance； and
Mark was in just the state of rage and vindictiveness which I required。
Miss Norris； you understand； is a professional actress。 I need not say that
to her I appeared to be animated by no other feeling than a boyish desire to
bring off a good joke … a joke directed as much against the others as
against Mark。
〃He came to me that night； as I expected； still quivering with
indignation。 Miss Norris must never be asked to the house again； I was
to make a special note of it； never again。 It was outrageous。 Had he not a
reputation as a host to keep up； he would pack her off next morning。 As
it was； she could stay； hospitality demanded it； but never again would she
come to the Red House … he was absolutely determined about that。 I was
to make a special note of it。
〃I comforted him； I smoothed down his ruffled feathers。 She had
behaved very badly； but he was quite right； he must try not to show how
much he disapproved of her。 And of course she would never come again
…that was obvious。 And then suddenly I began to laugh。 He looked up
at me indignantly。
〃'Is there a joke？〃 he said coldly。
〃I laughed gently again。
〃'I was just thinking；' I said； 'that it would be rather amusing if you
