|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 106
"Well, I guessed it was. So then I began to see an x which would
fit just this part of the problem--the clothes part. I saw Mark
changing his clothes; I saw him instinctively dropping the collar
in the linen-basket, just as he had always dropped every collar
he had ever taken off, but leaving the rest of the clothes on a
chair in the ordinary way; and I saw Cayley collecting all the
clothes afterwards--all the visible clothes--and not realizing
that the collar wasn't there."
"Go on," said Bill eagerly.
"Well, I felt pretty sure about that, and I wanted an explanation
of it. Why had Mark changed down there instead of in his
bedroom? The only answer was that the fact of his changing had
to be kept secret. When did he change? The only possible time
was between lunch (when he would be seen by the servants) and the
moment of Robert's arrival. And when did Cayley collect the
clothes in a bundle? Again, the only answer was 'Before Robert's
arrival.' So another x was wanted--to fit those three
conditions."
"And the answer was that a murder was intended, even before
Robert arrived?"
"Yes. Well now, it couldn't be intended on the strength of that
letter, unless there was very much more behind the letter than we
knew. Nor was it possible a murder could be intended without any
more preparation than the changing into a different suit in which
to escape. The thing was too childish. Also, if Robert was to
be murdered, why go out of the way to announce his existence to
you all--even, at the cost of some trouble, to Mrs. Norbury?
What did it all mean? I didn't know. But I began to feel now
that Robert was an incident only; that the plot was a plot of
Cayley's against Mark--either to get him to kill his brother, or
to get his brother to kill him--and that for some inexplicable
reason Mark seemed to be lending himself to the plot." He was
silent for a little, and then said, almost to himself, "I had
seen the empty brandy bottles in that cupboard."
"You never said anything about them" complained Bill.
"I only saw them afterwards. I was looking for the collar, you
remember. They came back to me afterwards; I knew how Cayley
would feel about it .... Poor devil!"
"Go on," said Bill.
"Well, then, we had the inquest, and of course I noticed, and I
suppose you did too, the curious fact that Robert had asked his
way at the second lodge and not at the first. So I talked to
Amos and Parsons. That made it more curious. Amos told me that
Robert had gone out of his way to speak to him; had called to
him, in fact. Parsons told me that his wife was out in their
little garden at the first lodge all the afternoon, and was
certain that Robert had never come past it. He also told me that
Cayley had put him on to a job on the front lawn that afternoon.
So I had another guess. Robert had used the secret passage--the
passage which comes out into the park between the first and
second lodges. Robert, then, had been in the house; it was a
put-up job between Robert and Cayley. But how could Robert be
there without Mark knowing? Obviously, Mark knew too. What
did it all mean?"
"When was this?" interrupted Bill. "Just after the inquest--after
you'd seen Amos and Parsons, of course?"
"Yes. I got up and left them, and came to look for you. I'd got
back to the clothes then. Why did Mark change his clothes so
secretly? Disguise? But then what about his face? That was
much more important than clothes. His face, his beard--he'd have
to shave off his beard--and then--oh, idiot! I saw you looking
at that poster. Mark acting, Mark made-up, Mark disguised. Oh,
priceless idiot! Mark was Robert .... Matches, please."
Bill passed over the matches again, waited till Antony had relit
his pipe, and then held out his hand for them, just as they were
going into the other's pocket.
"Yes," said Bill thoughtfully. "Yes .... But wait a moment.
What about the 'Plough and Horses'?" Antony looked comically at
him.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|