第 3 节
作者:淋雨      更新:2021-10-16 18:43      字数:9316
  when   a   man   has   angina   pectoris   he   knows   the   end   may   come   at   any
  moment and in any place。         Turnbull made no secret of suffering from that
  disease。〃    Rochester turned toward Clymer。           〃You knew it。〃
  Benjamin   Clymer;   who   had   been   gazing   alternately  at   the   dead   man
  and vaguely about the room; looked startled at the abrupt question。
  〃I knew Turnbull had   bad   attacks   of the   heart;   we   all   knew  it   at   the
  bank;〃    he   stated。   〃But    I  understood     the  disease    had   responded     to
  treatment。〃
  〃There    is  no  cure   for  angina   pectoris;〃   declared    Rochester。    〃No
  permanent      cure;〃   amended     Stone;   and   would    have    added   more;    but
  Rochester stopped him。
  〃Now   that   you   know   Turnbull   died   of   angina   pectoris   there   is   no
  necessity of sending for the coroner;〃 Rochester spoke in haste; his words
  tumbling over each other。         〃I will go at once and communicate with an
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  undertaker。〃      But   before   he   could   rise   from   his   chair   the   sandy…haired
  man;     who    had   conducted      a  whispered     conversation      with   the  deputy
  marshal; advanced toward the group。
  〃Just   a   moment;   gentlemen;〃   he   said;   and   turned   back   a   lapel   of   his
  coat and displayed a metal badge。            〃I am Ferguson of the Central Office。
  Do you know the deceased?〃
  〃He     was    my    intimate    friend;〃    announced      Rochester     before    his
  companions could reply to the detective's question; which was addressed
  to all。   〃Mr。 Clymer; here; can tell you that Jimmie Turnbull; cashier of
  his bank; was well known in financial and social Washington。〃
  〃How came he here in this fix?〃 asked Ferguson with more force than
  grammatic clarity。
  〃A sudden heart attack … angina pectoris; you know;〃 replied Rochester
  glibly; 〃with fatal results。〃
  〃I wasn't alluding to what killed him;〃 Ferguson explained。                〃But why
  was     the    cashier    of   the    Metropolis      Trust    Company;〃       he   looked
  questioningly at Clymer whom he knew quite well by sight; 〃and a social
  high…light; decked out in these clothes and a wig; too?〃 leaning down; the
  better to examine the clothing on the dead man。
  〃He   had   just   been   held   for   the   Grand   Jury   on   a   charge   of   house…
  breaking;〃 volunteered the deputy marshal。              〃I reckon that brought on his
  heart…attack。〃
  〃True;   true;〃   agreed   Rochester。     〃The   excitement   was   too   much   for
  him。〃
  〃House…breaking〃   ejaculated   the   detective。         〃Dangerous   sport   for   a
  man     suffering    with   angina    pectoris;    aside   from    anything    else。   Who
  preferred charges?〃
  〃The   Misses   McIntyre;〃   answered   the   deputy   marshal;   to   whom   the
  question was addressed。          〃Like to interview them?〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃No;     no!〃    Rochester      was    on   his  feet   instantly。    〃There     is  no
  necessity to bring the twins out here … it's too tragic!〃
  〃Tragic?〃 echoed Ferguson。           〃Why?〃
  〃Why   …   why   …   Turnbull   was   arrested   in   their   house;〃   Rochester   was
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  commencing to stutter。         〃He was their friend …〃
  〃Caught burglarizing; heh?〃 Ferguson's eyes glowed; the case already
  whetted his remarkably keen inquisitorial instinct which had gained him
  place   and   certain   fame   in   the   Washington   police   force。   〃Are   the   Misses
  McIntyre still in the building?〃
  〃They were in the court room just before we brought Turnbull's body
  here;〃 responded the deputy marshal。             〃I guess they are still waiting; eh;
  doctor?〃
  Stone;   thus   appealed   to;   nodded。    〃I   agree   with   Mr。   Rochester;〃   he
  said; and the gravity of his manner impressed Ferguson。                 〃It is better for
  me to break the news of Mr。 Turnbull's death to the young ladies before
  bringing   them   here。     Therefore;   with   your   permission;   Ferguson   …      He
  got no further。
  Through the outer entrance of the room came Helen McIntyre and her
  sister Barbara; conducted by the same bowing patrolman who had ushered
  them into the court room an hour before。
  〃My God!        Too late!〃 stammered Rochester under his breath; and he
  turned in desperation to Benjamin Clymer。               The bank president's state of
  mind at the extraordinary masquerade and sudden death of his popular and
  trusted cashier bordered on shocked horror; which had made him a passive
  witness   of   the   rapidly   shifting   scene。   Rochester   clutched   his   arm   in   his
  agitation。     〃Get the twins out of here … do something; man!                 Don't you
  know that Turnbull was in love with …〃
  His fervid whisper penetrated further than he realized and one of the
  McIntyre      twins   looked    inquiringly     in  their  direction。    Clymer;      more
  startled    than   his  demeanor     indicated;    wondered     if  she   had   overheard
  Rochester's ejaculations; but whatever action the banker contemplated in
  response to the lawyer's appeal was checked by a scream from the girl on
  his right。    With ashen face and trembling finger she pointed to Turnbull's
  body which suddenly confronted her as she walked forward。
  〃Who   is   it?〃   she   gasped。   〃Babs;   tell   me!〃   And   she   held   out   her
  hand imploringly。
  Her   sister   stepped   to   her   side   and   bent   over   Turnbull。 When   she
  looked up her lips alone retained their color。
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  〃Hush!〃 she  implored; giving   her  sister a slight shake。             〃Hush!   It   is
  Jimmie Turnbull。        Can you not see for yourself; dear?〃
  It seemed doubtful if Helen heard her; with attention wholly centered
  on the dead man she swayed on her feet; and Dr。 Stone; thinking she was
  about to fall; placed a supporting arm about her。
  〃Do     you   not   know    Jimmie?〃      asked    her  sister。   〃Don't     stare  so;
  dearest。〃     Her tone was pleading。
  〃Perhaps      the  young     lady   has   some    difficulty   in  recognizing      Mr。
  Turnbull in his disguise;〃 suggested Ferguson; who stood somewhat in the
  background but closely observing the scene。
  〃Disguise!〃      Helen raised her eyes and Ferguson; hardened as he had
  become to tragic scenes; felt a throb of pity as he caught the pent…up agony
  in her mute appeal。
  〃Yes;   Miss;〃   he   said   awkwardly。      〃The   burglar   you   caught   in   your
  house was Mr。 Turnbull in disguise。
  Barbara McIntyre released her grasp of her sister's arm and collapsed
  on a chair。     Stone; still supporting Helen; felt her muscles grow taut and
  an instant later she stepped back from his side and stood by her sister。                As
  the   two   girls   faced   the   circle   of   men;   the   likeness   between   them   was
  extraordinary。      Each   had   the   same   slight   graceful   figure;   equal   height;
  and   feature   for   feature;   coloring   matching   coloring;   they   were   identical;
  their gowns; even; were cut on similar lines; only their hats varied in shape
  and color。
  〃Do   I   understand;   gentlemen;〃   Helen   began;   and   her   voice   gained
  steadiness as she proceeded; 〃that the burglar whom Officer O'Ryan and I
  caught lurking in our house was James Turnbull?〃
  〃He was;〃 answered Ferguson; and Stone; as the twins looked dumbly
  at him; confirmed the detective's statement with a brief; 〃Yes。〃
  The silence that ensued was broken by Barbara rising to her feet。
  〃Jimmie   won   his   wager;〃   she   announced。        Her   gaze   did   not   waver
  before the concentrated regard of the men facing her。                〃He broke into our
  house … but; oh; how can I pay my debt to him now that he is dead!〃
  〃Hush!〃 Helen laid a cautioning hand on her sister's arm as the latter's
  voice gained in shrillness; the shrillness of approaching hysteria。
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  〃I am all right; Helen。〃       Barbara waved her away impatiently。 〃What
  caused Jimmie's death?〃
  〃Angina      pectoris;〃    declared    Rochester。      〃Too     much     excitement
  brought   on   a   fatal   attack。〃 Barbara   nodded   dazedly。