第 7 节
作者:淋雨      更新:2021-10-16 18:43      字数:9321
  Smith。
  〃Philip    Rochester;     the   well   known      criminal         lawyer;     was
  assigned   by   the   court    to  defend   the      prisoner。     Upon     the  evidence
  submitted      Judge       Mackall      held   the  prisoner   for   trial  by  the  grand
  jury。
  24
  … Page 25…
  THE RED SEAL
  〃It   was   just   after   the   Judge's   announcement       that   'John   Smith;'
  then sitting in the prisoners           cage; was seized with the attack of angina
  pectoris        which   ended   so   fatally   a   few   minutes   later。      It   was   not
  until after he had expired that those              rendering him medical assistance
  became aware            that he was James Turnbull in disguise。
  〃James Turnbull was a native of Washington;                   his father; the late
  Hon     Josiah    Turnbull    of       Connecticut;       having    made     this  city  his
  permanent            home      in  the   early   '90s。    Mr。    Turnbull     was    looked
  upon as one of the rising young men in banking                     circles; he was also
  prominent   socially;   was      a      member   of     the   Alibi;   Metropolitan;    and
  Country          Clubs;    and    until  recently   was    active   in  all  forms       of
  athletics; when his ill…health precluded active               exercise。
  〃Officer     O'Ryan;     who    was    greatly    shocked     by        the    fatal
  termination to Mr。 Turnbull's rash              wager; stated to the representatives
  of   the press       that   Mr。 Turnbull   gave no   hint   of  his   identity       while
  being interrogated   at the  8th Precinct            Station。     Friends   attribute  Mr。
  Turnbull's         disinclination     to  reveal   himself    to  the   court;  to      his
  enjoyment       of   a  practical    joke;   not   realizing         that    the  resultant
  excitement of the scene would              react on his weak heart。
  〃Mr。   Turnbull   is   survived   by   a   great   aunt;   he   had     no   nearer
  relatives    living。     It   is  a  singular         coincidence       that   the   lawyer
  appointed   by   the        court   to   defend   Turnbull   was   his   intimate   friend;
  Philip Rochester; who made his home with the                   deceased。〃
  Kent read the column over and over; then; letting the paper slip to the
  floor; sat back in his chair; too dumb…founded for words。 Jimmie Turnbull
  arrested as a burglar in the home of the girl he loved on charges preferred
  by her; and defended in court by his intimate friend; both of whom were
  unaware of his identity!         Kent rumpled his fair hair until it stood upright。
  And   Jimmie's   death   had   followed   almost   immediately   as   the   result   of
  over…excitement!
  Kent's    eyes   grew    moist;   he   had   been   very   fond    of  the  eccentric;
  lovable     bank   cashier;   whose     knack   of   performing     many   a   kindly   act;
  unsolicited; had endeared him to friends and acquaintances alike。 Kent had
  seen much of him after his return from France; for Jimmie's attention to
  25
  … Page 26…
  THE RED SEAL
  Helen   McIntyre   had   been   only   second   to   Kent's   devotion   to   the   latter's
  sister;   Barbara。     The     two    men    had   one   bond     in  common。      Colonel
  McIntyre disliked them and discouraged their calling; to the secret fury of
  both; but love had found a way … Kent's eyes kindled at the recollection of
  Barbara's half…shy; wholly tender reception of his ardent pleading。
  Turnbull's     courtship    had   met   with   a  set…back    where    he   had   least
  expected it … Philip Rochester had fallen deeply in love with Helen and;
  encouraged       by   her   father;  had   pressed    his   suit  with   ardor。   Frequent
  quarrels between the two close friends had been the outcome; and Jimmie
  had confided to Kent; before the latter left on the business trip to Chicago
  from which he had returned that morning; that the situation had become
  intolerable and he had notified Rochester that he would no longer share his
  apartment with him; and to look for other quarters as quickly as possible。
  So   buried   was   Kent   in   his   thoughts   that   he   never   heard   Sylvester's
  knock; and it was not until the clerk stood at his elbow that he awoke from
  his absorption。
  〃A lady to see you; Mr。 Kent;〃 he announced。              〃Shall I show her in?〃
  〃Certainly … her name?〃
  〃She gave none。〃        Sylvester paused on his way back to the door。 〃It is
  one of the Misses McIntyre。〃
  〃Good Lord!〃 Kent was on his feet; straightening his tie and brushing
  his rumpled hair。       〃Here; wait a minute 〃… clutching a whisk broom in a
  frantic endeavor to remove some of the signs of travel which still clung to
  him。     But he had only opportunity for one dab at his left shoulder before
  Barbara entered the office。 All else forgotten; Kent tossed down the whisk
  broom and the next instant he had clasped her hand in both of his; his eyes
  telling   more   eloquently   than   his   stumbling   words;   his   joy   at   seeing   her
  again。
  〃This    is  a   business    call;〃  she   stated   demurely;     on   you   and    Mr。
  Rochester。〃      Her   lovely   eyes   held   a   glint   of   mischief   as   she   mentioned
  Kent's partner; then her expression grew serious。              〃I want legal advice。〃
  〃I am afraid you will have to put up with me;〃 Kent moved his chair
  closer   to   the   one   she   had   selected   by   the   desk。 〃Rochester   is   out   of
  town。〃
  26
  … Page 27…
  THE RED SEAL
  〃What!〃 Barbara sat bolt upright。           〃Where … where's he gone?〃
  〃I don't know 〃… Kent pulled Rochester's letter out of his pocket and re…
  read it。    〃He did not mention where he was going。〃
  Barbara stared at him; she had paled。
  〃When did Philip leave?〃
  〃Last   night;   I   presume。〃    Kent   tipped   back   his   chair   and   pressed   a
  buzzer; a second later Sylvester appeared in the doorway。
  〃Did Mr。 Rochester tell you where he was going?〃 he asked the clerk。
  〃No; sir。    Mr。 Rochester stated that you had his address。
  〃I?〃     Kent    concealed      his  growing     surprise。     〃Did    he   leave    any
  message for me; other than the letter?〃
  〃No; sir。
  〃At what hour did he leave the office?〃
  〃I   can't   say;   sir;   he   was   still   here   when   I   went   away  at   five   o'clock。
  He gave me a key to the office so that I could get in this morning。〃                   Kent
  remained silent; and he added; 〃Is that all; sir?〃
  〃Yes; thanks;〃 and the clerk retired。
  As the door closed Barbara turned to Kent。                〃Have you heard about
  Jimmie Turnbull?〃
  Her   voice   was   a   bit   breathless   as   she   put   the   question;   but   Kent;
  puzzling over his partner's eccentric conduct; hardly noted her agitation。
  〃Yes。     I saw the account just now in the morning paper;〃 he answered。
  〃A shocking affair。        Poor Turnbull!       He was a good fellow。〃
  〃He     was!〃     Barbara      spoke    with    unaccustomed        vehemence;      and
  looking at her Kent saw that her eyes were filled with tears。                 Impulsively
  he threw his arm about her; holding her close。
  〃My   heart's   dearest;〃   he   murmured   fondly。        〃If   there   is   anything   …
  anything I can do …〃
  Barbara straightened up and winked away the tears。                   〃There is;〃 she
  said tersely。     〃Investigate Jimmie's death。〃
  Kent   gazed   at   her   in   astonishment。    〃Please   explain;〃   he   suggested。
  〃The   morning   paper   states   very   plainly   that   the   cause   of   death   was   an
  attack of angina pectoris。〃
  〃Yes;    I  know;    and    that  is  what    Philip   Rochester     contends     also。〃
  27
  … Page 28…
  THE RED SEAL
  Barbara      paused    and   glanced    about    the  office;   they   had   the   room    to
  themselves。       〃B…but Helen believes otherwise。〃
  Kent drew back。        〃What do you mean; Babs?〃 he demanded。
  〃Just that;〃 Barbara spoke wearily; and Kent; giving her close attention;
  grew     aware    of  dark   shadows     under    her  eyes   which     told  plainly   of  a
  sleepless night。      〃I want to engage you as our counsel to help Helen find
  out about Jimmie's death。〃
  〃Find