the lodger- 第29部分

〃Why；　Ellen；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　time　you　went　to　the　doctor。　　You　looks　just　as　if　you　was　going　to　a　funeral。　　I'll　come　along　with　you　as　far　as　the　station。　　You're　going　by　train；　ain't　you？　　Not　by　bus；　eh？　　It's　a　very　long　way　to　Ealing；　you　know。〃

〃There　you　go！　　Breaking　your　solemn　promise　to　me　the　very　first　minute！〃　　But　somehow　she　did　not　speak　unkindly；　only　fretfully　and　sadly。

And　Bunting　hung　his　head。　　〃Why；　to　be　sure　I'd　gone　and　clean　forgot　the　lodger！　　But　will　you　be　all　right；　Ellen？　　Why　not　wait　till　to…morrow；　and　take　Daisy　with　you？〃

〃I　like　doing　my　own　business　in　my　own　way；　and　not　in　someone　else's　way！〃　she　snapped　out；　and　then　more　gently；　for　Bunting　really　looked　concerned；　and　she　did　feel　very　far　from　well；　〃I'll　be　all　right；　old　man。　　Don't　you　worry　about　me！〃

As　she　turned　to　go　across　to　the　door；　she　drew　the　black　shawl　she　had　put　over　her　long　jacket　more　closely　round　her。

She　felt　ashamed；　deeply　ashamed；　of　deceiving　so　kind　a　husband。　And　yet；　what　could　she　do？　　How　could　she　share　her　dreadful　burden　with　poor　Bunting？　Why；　'twould　be　enough　to　make　a　man　go　daft。　Even　she　often　felt　as　if　she　could　stand　it　no　longer　…　as　if　she　would　give　the　world　to　tell　someone　…　anyone　…　what　it　was　that　she　suspected；　what　deep　in　her　heart　she　so　feared　to　be　the　truth。

But；　unknown　to　herself；　the　fresh　outside　air；　fog…laden　though　it　was；　soon　began　to　do　her　good。　　She　had　gone　out　far　too　little　the　last　few　days；　for　she　had　had　a　nervous　terror　of　leaving　the　house　unprotected；　as　also　a　great　unwillingness　to　allow　Bunting　to　come　into　contact　with　the　lodger。

When　she　reached　the　Underground　station　she　stopped　short。　　There　were　two　ways　of　getting　to　St。　Pancras　…　she　could　go　by　bus；　or　she　could　go　by　train。　　She　decided　on　the　latter。　　But　before　turning　into　the　station　her　eyes　strayed　over　the　bills　of　the　early　afternoon　papers　lying　on　the　ground。

Two　words；


THE　AVENGER；


stared　up　at　her　in　varying　type。

Drawing　her　black　shawl　yet　a　little　closer　about　her　shoulders；　Mrs。　Bunting　looked　down　at　the　placards。　　She　did　not　feel　inclined　to　buy　a　paper；　as　many　of　the　people　round　her　were　doing。　　Her　eyes　were　smarting；　even　now；　from　their　unaccustomed　following　of　the　close　print　in　the　paper　Bunting　took　in。

Slowly　she　turned；　at　last；　into　the　Underground　station。

And　now　a　piece　of　extraordinary　good　fortune　befell　Mrs。　Bunting。

The　third…class　carriage　in　which　she　took　her　place　happened　to　be　empty；　save　for　the　presence　of　a　police　inspector。　　And　once　they　were　well　away　she　summoned　up　courage；　and　asked　him　the　question　she　knew　she　would　have　to　ask　of　someone　within　the　next　few　minutes。

〃Can　you　tell　me；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃where　death　inquests　are　held　〃　…　she　moistened　her　lips；　waited　a　moment；　and　then　concluded　…　〃　in　the　neighbourhood　of　King's　Cross？〃

The　man　turned　and；　looked　at　her　attentively。　　She　did　not　look　at　all　the　sort　of　Londoner　who　goes　to　an　inquest　…　there　are　many　such　…　just　for　the　fun　of　the　thing。　　Approvingly；　for　he　was　a　widower；　he　noted　her　neat　black　coat　and　skirt；　and　the　plain　Princess　bonnet　which　framed　her　pale；　refined　face。

〃I'm　going　to　the　Coroner's　Court　myself。〃　he　said　good…naturedly。　〃So　you　can　come　along　of　me。　　You　see　there's　that　big　Avenger　inquest　going　on　to…day；　so　I　think　they'll　have　had　to　make　other　arrangements　for　…　hum；　hum　…　ordinary　cases。〃　　And　as　she　looked　at　him　dumbly；　he　went　on；　〃There'll　be　a　mighty　crowd　of　people　at　The　Avenger　inquest　…　a　lot　of　ticket　folk　to　be　accommodated；　to　say　nothing　of　the　public。〃

〃That's　the　inquest　I'm　going　to；〃　faltered　Mrs。　Bunting。　　She　could　scarcely　get　the　words　out。　　She　realised　with　acute　discomfort；　yes；　and　shame；　how　strange；　how　untoward；　was　that　which　she　was　going　to　do。　　Fancy　a　respectable　woman　wanting　to　attend　a　murder　inquest！

During　the　last　few　days　all　her　perceptions　had　be　come　sharpened　by　suspense　and　fear。　　She　realised　now；　as　she　looked　into　the　stolid　face　of　her　unknown　friend；　how　she　herself　would　have　regarded　any　woman　who　wanted　to　attend　such　an　inquiry　from　a　simple；　morbid　feeling　of　curiosity。　　And　yet　…　and　yet　that　was　just　what　she　was　about　to　do　herself。

〃I've　got　a　reason　for　wanting　to　go　there；〃　she　murmured。　　It　was　a　comfort　to　unburden　herself　this　little　way　even　to　a　stranger。

〃Ah！〃　he　said　reflectively。　　〃A　…　a　relative　connected　with　one　of　the　two　victims'　husbands；　I　presume？〃

And　Mrs。　Bunting　bent　her　head。

〃Going　to　give　evidence？〃　he　asked　casually；　and　then　he　turned　and　looked　at　Mrs。　Bunting　with　far　more　attention　than　he　had　yet　done。

〃Oh；　no！〃　　There　was　a　world　of　horror；　of　fear　in　the　speaker's　voice。

And　the　inspector　felt　concerned　and　sorry。　　〃Hadn't　seen　her　for　quite　a　long　time；　I　suppose？〃

〃Never　had；　seen　her。　　I'm　from　the　country。〃　　Something　impelled　Mrs。　Bunting　to　say　these　words。　　But　she　hastily　corrected　herself；　〃At　least；　I　was。〃

〃Will　he　be　there？〃

She　looked　at　him　dumbly；　not　in　the　least　knowing　to　whom　he　was　alluding。

〃I　mean　the　husband；〃　went　on　the　inspector　hastily。　　〃I　felt　sorry　for　the　last　poor　chap　…　I　mean　the　husband　of　the　last　one　…　he　seemed　so　awfully　miserable。　　You　see；　she'd　been　a　good　wife　and　a　good　mother　till　she　took　to　the　drink。〃

〃It　always　is　so；〃　breathed　out　Mrs。　Bunting。

〃Aye。〃　he　waited　a　moment。　　〃D'you　know　anyone　about　the　court？〃　he　asked。

She　shook　her　head。

〃Well；　don't　you　worry。　　I'll　take　you　in　along　o'　me。　　You'd　never　get　in　by　yourself。〃

They　got　out；　and　oh；　the　comfort　of　being　in　some　one's　charge；　of　having　a　determined　man　in　uniform　to　look　after　one！　　And　yet　even　now　there　was　to　Mrs。　Bunting　something　dream…like；　unsubstantial　about　the　whole　business。

〃If　he　knew　…　if　he　only　knew　what　I　know！〃　she　kept　saying　over　and　over　again　to　herself　as　she　walked　lightly　by　the　big；　burly　form　of　the　police　inspector。

〃'Tisn't　far　…　not　three　minutes；〃　he　said　suddenly。　　〃Am　I　walking　too　quick　for　you；　ma'am？〃'

〃No；　not　at　all。　　I'm　a　quick　walker。〃

And　then　suddenly　they　turned　a　corner　and　came　on　a　mass　of　people；　a　densely　packed　crowd　of　men　and　women；　staring　at　a　mean…looking　little　door　sunk　into　a　high　wall。

〃Better　take　my　arm；〃　the　inspector　suggested。　　〃Make　way　there！　Make　way！〃　he　cried　authoritatively；　and　he　swept　her　through　the　serried　ranks　which　parted　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　at　the　sight　of　his　uniform。

〃Lucky　you　met　me；〃　he　said；　smiling。　　〃You'd　never　have　got　through　alone。　　And　'tain't　a　nice　crowd；　not　by　any　manner　of　means。〃

The　small　door　opened　just　a　little　way；　and　they　found　themselves　on　a　narrow　stone…flagged　path；　leading　into　a　square　yard。　　A　few　men　were　out　there；　smoking。

Before　preceding　her　into　the　building　which　rose　at　the　back　of　the　yard；　Mrs。　Bunting's　kind　new　friend　took　out　his　watch。　〃There's　another　twenty　minutes　before　they'll　begin；〃　he　said。　〃There's　the　mortuary〃　…　he　pointed　with　his　thumb　to　a　low　room　built　out　to　the　right　of　the　court。　　〃Would　you　like　to　go　in　and　see　them？〃　he　whispered。

〃Oh；　no！〃　she　cried；　in　a　tone　of　extreme　horror。　　And　he　looked　down　at　her　with　sympathy；　and　with　increased　respect。　　She　was　a　nice；　respectable　woman；　she　was。　　She　had　not　come　here　imbued　with　any　morbid；　horrible　curiosity；　but　because　she　thought　it　her　duty　to　do　so。　　He　suspected　her　of　being　sister…in…law　to　one　of　The　Avenger's　victims。

They　walked　through　into　a　big　room　or　hall；　now　full　of　men　talking　in　subdued　yet　eager；　animated　tones。

〃I　think　you'd　better　sit　down'　here；〃　he　said　considerately；　and；　leading　her　to　one　of　the　benches　that　stood　out　from　the　whitewashed　walls　…　〃unless　you'd　rather　be　with　the　witnesses；　that　is。〃

But　again　she　said；　〃Oh；　no！〃　　And　then；　with　an　effort；　〃Oughtn't　I　to　go　into　the　court　now；　if　it's　likely　to　be　so　full？〃

〃Don't　you　worry；〃　he　said　kindly。　　〃I'll　see　you　get　a　proper　place。　I　must　leave　you　now　for　a　minute；　but　I'll　come　back　in　good　time　and　look　after　you。〃

She　raised　the　thick　veil　she　had　pulled　down　over　her　face　while　they　were　going　through　that　sinister；　wolfish…looking　crowd　outside；　and　looked　about　her。

Many　of　the　gentlemen　…　they　mostly　wore　tall　hats　and　good　overcoats　　…　standing　round　and　about　her　looked　vaguely　familiar。　　She　picked　out　one　at　once。　　He　was　a　famous　journalist；　whose　shrewd；　animated　face　was　familiar　to　her　owing　to　the　fact　that　it　was　widely　advertised　in　connection　with　a　preparation　for　the　hair　…　the　preparation　which　in　happier；　more　prosperous　days　Bunting　had　had　great　faith　in；　and　used；　or　so　he　always　said；　with　great　benefit　to　himself。　　This　gentleman　was　the　centre　of　an　eager　circle；　half　a　dozen　men　were　talking　to　him；　listening　deferentially　when　he　spoke；　and　each　of　these　men；　so　Mrs。　Bunting　realised；　was　a　Somebody。

How　strange；　how　amazing；　to　reflect　that　from　all　parts　of　London；　from　their　doubtless　important　avocations；　one　unseen；　mysterious　beckoner　had　brought　all　these　men　here　together；　to　this　sordid　place；　on　this　bitterly　cold；　dreary　day。　　Here　they　were；　all　thinking　of；　talking　of；　evoking　one　unknown；　mysterious　personality　　…　that　of　the　shadowy　and　yet　terribly　real　human　being　who　chose　to　call　himself　The　Avenger。　　And　somewhere；　not　so　very　far　away　from　them　all　The　Avenger　was　keeping　these　clever；　astute；　highly　trained　minds　…　aye；　and　bodies；　too　…　at　bay。

Even　Mrs。　Bunting；　sitting　here　unnoticed；　realised　the　irony　of　her　presence　among　them。


CHAPTER　XIX

It　seemed　to　Mrs。　Bunting　that　she　had　been　sitting　there　a　long　time　…　it　was　really　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour　…　when　her　official　friend　came　back。

〃Better　come　along　now；〃　he　whispered；　〃it'll　begin　soon。〃

She　followed　him　out　into　a　passage；　up　a　row　of　steep　stone　steps；　and　so　into　the　Coroner's　Court。

The　court　was　big；　well…lighted　room；　in　some　ways　not　unlike　a　chapel；　the　more　so　that　a　kind　of　gallery　ran　half…way　round；　a　gallery　evidently　set　aside　for　the　general　public；　for　it　was　now　crammed　to　its　utmost　capacity。

Mrs。　Bunting　glanced　timidly　towards　the　serr