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！
furniture was all piled together and veiled with sheets； the carpet
and felt curtain were gone； there were new brooms about。 As I
peered around； a voice close at my ear made me jumpLady
Carwitchet's！
〃I tell you I have nothing； not a penny！ I shall have to borrow my
train fare before I can leave this。 They'll be glad enough to lend
it。〃
Not only had the portiere been removed； but the door behind it had
been unlocked and left open for convenience of dusting behind the
wardrobe。 I might as well have been in the bedroom。
〃Don't tell me；〃 I recognized Carwitchet's growl。 〃You've not been
here all this time for nothing。 You've been collecting for a
Kilburn cot or getting subscriptions for the distressed Irish
landlords。 I know you。 Now I'm not going to see myself ruined for
the want of a paltry hundred or so。 I tell you the colt is a dead
certainty。 If I could have got a thousand or two on him last week；
we might have ended our dog days millionaires。 Hand over what you
can。 You've money's worth； if not money。 Where's that sapphire
you stole？〃
〃I didn't。 I can show you the receipted bill。 All I possess is
honestly come by。 What could you do with it； even if I gave it
you？ You couldn't sell it as the Valdez； and you can't get it cut
up as you might if it were real。〃
〃If it's only bogus； why are you always in such a flutter about it？
I'll do something with it； never fear。 Hand over。〃
〃I can't。 I haven't got it。 I had to raise something on it before
I left town。〃
〃Will you swear it's not in that wardrobe？ I dare say you will。 I
mean to see。 Give me those keys。〃
I heard a struggle and a jingle； then the wardrobe door must have
been flung open； for a streak of light struck through a crack in
the wood of the back。 Creeping close and peeping through； I could
see an awful sight。 Lady Carwitchet in a flannel wrapper； minus
hair； teeth； complexion； pointing a skinny forefinger that quivered
with rage at her son； who was out of the range of my vision。
〃Stop that； and throw those keys down here directly； or I'll rouse
the house。 Sir Thomas is a magistrate； and will lock you up as
soon as look at you。〃 She clutched at the bell rope as she spoke。
〃I'll swear I'm in danger of my life from you and give you in
charge。 Yes； and when you're in prison I'll keep you there till
you die。 I've often thought I'd do it。 How about the hotel
robberies last summer at Cowes； eh？ Mightn't the police be
grateful for a hint or two？ And how about〃
The keys fell with a crash on the bed； accompanied by some bad
language in an apologetic tone； and the door slammed to。 I crept
trembling to bed。
This new and horrible complication of the situation filled me with
dismay。 Lord Carwitchet's wolfish glance at my rubies took a new
meaning。 They were safe enough； I believedbut the sapphire！ If
he disbelieved his mother； how long would she be able to keep it
from his clutches？ That she had some plot of her own of which the
bishop would eventually be the victim I did not doubt； or why had
she not made her bargain with him long ago？ But supposing she took
fright； lost her head； allowed her son to wrest the jewel from her；
or gave consent to its being mutilated； divided！ I lay in a cold
perspiration till morning。
My terrors haunted me all day。 They were with me at breakfast time
when Lady Carwitchet； tripping in smiling； made a last attempt to
induce me to accompany her and keep her 〃bad； bad boy〃 from getting
among 〃those horrid betting men。〃
They haunted me through the long peaceful day with Leta and the
tete…a…tete dinner； but they swarmed around and beset me sorest
when； sitting alone over my sitting…room fire； I listened for the
return of the drag party。 I read my newspaper and brewed myself
some hot strong drink； but there comes a time of night when no fire
can warm and no drink can cheer。 The bishop's despairing face kept
me company； and his troubles and the wrongs of the future heir took
possession of me。 Then the uncanny noises that make all old houses
ghostly during the small hours began to make themselves heard。
Muffled footsteps trod the corridor； stopping to listen at every
door； door latches gently clicked； boards creaked unreasonably；
sounds of stealthy movements came from the locked…up bathroom。 The
welcome crash of wheels at last； and the sound of the front…door
bell。 I could hear Lady Carwitchet making her shrill adieux to her
friends and her steps in the corridor。 She was softly humming a
little song as she approached。 I heard her unlock her bedroom door
before she enteredan odd thing to do。 Tom came sleepily
stumbling to his room later。 I put my head out。 〃Where is Lord
Carwitchet？〃
〃Haven't you seen him？ He left us hours ago。 Not come home； eh？
Well； he's welcome to stay away。 I don't want to see more of him。〃
Tom's brow was dark and his voice surly。 〃I gave him to understand
as much。〃 Whatever had happened； Tom was evidently too disgusted
to explain just then。
I went back to my fire unaccountably relieved； and brewed myself
another and a stronger brew。 It warmed me this time； but excited
me foolishly。 There must be some way out of the difficulty。 I
felt now as if I could almost see it if I gave my mind to it。 Why
supposethere might be no difficulty after all！ The bishop was a
nervous old gentleman。 He might have been mistaken all through；
Bogaerts might have been mistaken； I mightno。 I could not have
been mistakenor I thought not。 I fidgeted and fumed and argued
with myself till I found I should have no peace of mind without a
look at the stone in my possession； and I actually went to the safe
and took the case out。
The sapphire certainly looked different by lamplight。 I sat and
stared； and all but over…persuaded my better judgment into giving
it a verdict。 Bogaerts's markI suddenly remembered it。 I took
my magnifier and held the pendant to the light。 There； scratched
upon the stone； was the Greek Beta！ There came a tap on my door；
and before I could answer； the handle turned softly and Lord
Carwitchet stood before me。 I whipped the case into my dressing…
gown pocket and stared at him。 He was not pleasant to look at；
especially at that time of night。 He had a disheveled； desperate
air； his voice was hoarse； his red…rimmed eyes wild。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he began civilly enough。 〃I saw your light
burning； and thought； as we go by the early train to…morrow； you
might allow me to consult you now on a little business of my
mother's。〃 His eyes roved about the room。 Was he trying to find
the whereabouts of my safe？ 〃You know a lot about precious stones；
don't you？〃
〃So my friends are kind enough to say。 Won't you sit down？ I have
unluckily little chance of indulging the taste on my own account；〃
was my cautious reply。
〃But you've written a book about them； and know them when you see