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！
There was a step in the passage outside； and he turned round； to see
Cayley in the doorway。 He remained looking at him for a moment；
asking himself a question。 It was rather a curious question。 He was
asking himself why the door was open。
Well； not exactly why the door was open； that could be explained
easily enough。 But why had he expected the door to be shut？ He did
not remember shutting it； but somehow he was surprised to see it open
now； to see Cayley through the doorway； just coming into the room。
Something working sub…consciously in his brain had told him that it was
surprising。 Why？
He tucked the matter away in a corner of his mind for the moment； the
answer would come to him later on。 He had a wonderfully retentive
mind。 Everything which he saw or heard seemed to make its
corresponding impression somewhere in his brain； often without his being
conscious of it； and these photographic impressions were always there
23
The Red House Mystery
ready for him when he wished to develop them。
Cayley joined him at the window。
〃I've telephoned；〃 he said。 〃They're sending an inspector or some
one from Middleston； and the local police and doctor from Stanton。〃 He
shrugged his shoulders。 〃We're in for it now。〃
〃How far away is Middleston？〃 It was the town for which Antony
had taken a ticket that morning … only six hours ago。 How absurd it
seemed。
〃About twenty miles。 These people will be coming back soon。
〃Beverley； and the others？〃
〃Yes。 I expect they'll want to go away at once。〃
〃Much better that they should。〃
〃Yes。〃 Cayley was silent for a little。 Then he said； 〃You're staying
near here？〃
〃I'm at 'The George；' at Waldheim。〃
〃If you're by yourself； I wish you'd put up here。 You see；〃 he went on
awkwardly； 〃you'll have to be here … for the … the inquest and … and so on。
If I may offer you my cousin's hospitality in his … I mean if he doesn't … if
he really has …〃
Antony broke in hastily with his thanks and acceptance。
〃That's good。 Perhaps Beverley will stay on； if he's a friend of yours。
He's a good fellow。〃
Antony felt quite sure； from what Cayley had said and had hesitated to
say； that Mark had been the last to see his brother alive。 It didn't follow
that Mark Ablett was a murderer。 Revolvers go off accidentally； and
when they have gone off； people lose their heads and run away； fearing
that their story will not be believed。 Nevertheless； when people run away；
whether innocently or guiltily； one can't help wondering which way they
went。
〃I suppose this way；〃 said Antony aloud； looking out of the window。
〃Who？〃 said Cayley stubbornly。
〃Well； whoever it was；〃 said Antony； smiling to himself。 〃The
murderer。 Or； let us say； the man who locked the door after Robert Ablett
was killed。〃
24
The Red House Mystery
〃I wonder。〃
〃Well； how else could he have got away？ He didn't go by the
windows in the next room； because they were shut。〃
〃Isn't that rather odd？〃
〃Well； I thought so at first； but …〃 He pointed to the wall jutting out
on the right。 〃You see； you're protected from the rest of the house if you
get out here； and you're quite close to the shrubbery。 If you go out at the
French windows； I imagine you're much more visible。 All that part of the
house …〃 he waved his right hand … 〃the west； well； north…west almost；
where the kitchen parts are … you see； you're hidden from them here。
Oh； yes！ he knew the house； whoever it was； and he was quite right to
come out of this window。 He'd be into the shrubbery at once。〃
Cayley looked at him thoughtfully。
〃It seems to me； Mr。 Gillingham； that you know the house pretty well；
considering that this is the first time you've been to it。〃
Antony laughed。
〃Oh； well； I notice things； you know。 I was born noticing。 But I'm
right； aren't I； about why he went out this way？〃
〃Yes； I think you are。〃 Cayley looked away …towards the shrubbery。
〃Do you want to go noticing in there now？〃 He nodded at it。
〃I think we might leave that to the police；〃 said Antony gently。 〃It's
well； there's no hurry。〃
Cayley gave a little sigh； as if he had been holding his breath for the
answer； and could now breathe again。
〃Thank you； Mr。 Gillingham；〃 he said。
25
The Red House Mystery
CHAPTER IV
The Brother from Australia
Guests at the Red House were allowed to do what they liked within
reason … the reasonableness or otherwise of it being decided by Mark。 But
when once they （or Mark） had made up their minds as to what they wanted
to do； the plan had to be kept。 Mrs。 Calladine； who knew this little
weakness of their host's； resisted； therefore； the suggestion of Bill that they
should have a second round in the afternoon； and drive home comfortably
after tea。 The other golfers were willing enough； but Mrs。 Calladine；
without actually saying that Mr。 Ablett wouldn't like it； was firm on the
point that； having arranged to be back by four； they should be back by
four。
〃I really don't think Mark wants us； you know；〃 said the Major。 Having
played badly in the morning； he wanted to prove to himself in the
afternoon that he was really better than that。 〃With this brother of his
coming； he'll be only too glad to have us out of the way。〃
〃Of course he will； Major。〃 This from Bill。 〃You'd like to play；
wouldn't you； Miss Norris？〃
Miss Norris looked doubtfully at the hostess。
〃Of course； if you want to get back； dear； we mustn't keep you here。
Besides； it's so dull for you； not playing。〃
〃Just nine holes； mother；〃 pleaded Betty。
〃The car could take you back； and you could tell them that we were
having another round； and then it could come back for us；〃 said Bill
brilliantly。
〃It's certainly much cooler here than I expected；〃 put in the Major。
Mrs。 Calladine fell。 It was very pleasantly cool outside the golf…
house； and of course Mark would be rather glad to have them out of the
way。 So she consented to nine holes； and the match having ended all…
square； and everybody having played much better than in the morning；
they drove back to The Red House； very well pleased with themselves。
〃Halo；〃 said Bill to himself； as they approached the house； 〃isn't that
old Tony？〃
26
The Red House Mystery
Antony was standing in front of the house； waiting for them。 Bill
waved； and he waved back。 Then as the car drew up； Bill； who was in
front with the chauffeur； jumped down and greeted him eagerly。
〃Hallo； you madman； have you come to stay； or what？〃 He had a
sudden idea。 〃Don't say you're Mark Ablett's long…lost brother from
Australia； though I could quite believe it of you。〃 He laughed boyishly。
〃Hallo； Bill；〃 said Antony quietly。 〃Will you introduce me？ I'm
afraid I've got some bad news。〃
Bill； rather sobered by this； introduced him。 The Major and Mrs。
Calladine were on the near side of the car； and Antony spoke to them in a
low voice。
〃I'm afraid I'm going to give you rather a shock；〃 he said。 〃Robert
Ablett； Mr。 Mark Ablett's brother； has been killed。〃 He jerked a thumb
over his should