the lodger- 第41部分

In　the　middle　of　the　birthday　morning　Bunting　went　out　to　buy　himself　some　more　tobacco。　　He　had　never　smoked　so　much　as　in　the　last　four　days；　excepting；　perhaps；　the　week　that　had　followed　on　his　leaving　service。　　Smoking　a　pipe　had　then　held　all　the　exquisite　pleasure　which　we　are　told　attaches　itself　to　the　eating　of　forbidden　fruit。

His　tobacco　had　now　become　his　only　relaxation；　it　acted　on　his　nerves　as　an　opiate；　soothing　his　fears　and　helping　him　to　think。　But　he　had　been　overdoing　it；　and　it　was　that　which　now　made　him　feel　so　〃jumpy；〃　so　he　assured　himself；　when　he　found　himself　starting　at　any　casual　sound　outside；　or　even　when　his　wife　spoke　to　him　suddenly。

Just　now　Ellen　and　Daisy　were　down　in　the　kitchen；　and　Bunting　didn't　quite　like　the　sensation　of　knowing　that　there　was　only　one　pair　of　stairs　between　Mr。　Sleuth　and　himself。　　So　he　quietly　slipped　out　of　the　house　without　telling　Ellen　that　he　was　going　out。

In　the　last　four　days　Bunting　had　avoided　his　usual　haunts；　above　all；　he　had　avoided　even　passing　the　time　of　day　to　his　acquaintances　and　neighbours。　　He　feared；　with　a　great　fear；　that　they　would　talk　to　him　of　a　subject　which；　because　it　filled　his　mind　to　the　exclusion　of　all　else；　might　make　him　betray　the　knowledge　…　no；　not　knowledge；　rather　the　…　the　suspicion　…　that　dwelt　within　him。

But　to…day　the　unfortunate　man　had　a　curious；　instinctive　longing　for　human　companionship　…　companionship；　that　is；　other　than　that　of　his　wife　and　of　his　daughter。

This　longing　for　a　change　of　company　finally　led　him　into　a　small；　populous　thoroughfare　hard　by　the　Edgeware　Road。　　There　were　more　people　there　than　usual　just　now；　for　the　housewives　of　the　neighbourhood　were　doing　their　Saturday　marketing　for　Sunday。　　The　ex…butler　turned　into　a　small　old…fashioned　shop　where　he　generally　bought　his　tobacco。

Bunting　passed　the　time　of　day　with　the　tobacconist；　and　the　two　fell　into　desultory　talk；　but　to　his　customer's　relief　and　surprise　the　man　made　no　allusion　to　the　subject　of　which　all　the　neighbourhood　must　still　be　talking。

And　then；　quite　suddenly；　while　still　standing　by　the　counter；　and　before　he　had　paid　for　the　packet　of　tobacco　he　held　in　his　hand；　Bunting；　through　the　open　door；　saw　with　horrified　surprise　that　Ellen；　his　wife；　was　standing；　alone；　outside　a　greengrocer's　shop　just　opposite。

Muttering　a　word　of　apology；　he　rushed　out　of　the　shop　and　across　the　road。

〃Ellen！〃　he　gasped　hoarsely；　〃you've　never　gone　and　left　my　little　girl　alone　in　the　house　with　the　lodger？

Mrs。　Bunting's　face　went　yellow　with　fear。　　〃I　thought　you　was　indoors；〃　she　cried。　　〃You　was　indoors！　　Whatever　made　you　come　out　for；　without　first　making　sure　I'd　stay　in？〃

Bunting　made　no　answer；　but；　as　they　stared　at　each　other　in　exasperated　silence；　each　now　knew　that　the　other　knew。

They　turned　and　scurried　down　the　crowded　street。　　〃Don't　run；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃we　shall　get　there　just　as　quickly　if　we　walk　fast。　People　are　noticing　you；　Ellen。　　Don't　run。〃

He　spoke　breathlessly；　but　it　was　breathlessness　induced　by　fear　and　by　excitement；　not　by　the　quick　pace　at　which　they　were　walking。

At　last　they　reached　their　own　gate；　and　Bunting　pushed　past　in　front　of　his　wife。

After　all；　Daisy　was　his　child；　Ellen　couldn't　know　how　he　was　feeling。

He　seemed　to　take　the　path　in　one　leap；　then　fumbled　for　a　moment　with　his　latchkey。

Opening　wide　the　door；　〃Daisy！〃　he　called　out；　in　a　wailing　voice；　〃Daisy；　my　dear！　　where　are　you？〃

〃Here　I　am；　father。　　What　is　it？〃

〃She's　all　right　〃　Bunting　turned　a　grey　face　to　his　wife。　　〃She's　all　right　Ellen。〃

He　waited　a　moment；　leaning　against　the　wall　of　the　passage。　　〃It　did　give　me　a　turn；〃　he　said；　and　then；　warningly；　〃Don't　frighten　the　girl；　Ellen。〃

Daisy　was　standing　before　the　fire　in　their　sitting　room；　admiring　herself　in　the　glass。

〃Oh；　father；〃　she　exclaimed；　without　turning　round；　〃I've　seen　the　lodger！　　He's　quite　a　nice　gentleman；　though；　to　be　sure；　he　does　look　a　cure。　　He　rang　his　bell；　but　I　didn't　like　to　go　up；　and　so　he　came　down　to　ask　Ellen　for　something。　　We　had　quite　a　nice　little　chat　…　that　we　had。　　I　told　him　it　was　my　birthday；　and　he　asked　me　and　Ellen　to　go　to　Madame　Tussaud's　with　him　this　afternoon。〃　　She　laughed；　a　little　self…consciously。　　〃Of　course；　I　could　see　he　was　'centric；　and　then　at　first　he　spoke　so　funnily。　'And　who　be　you？'　he　says；　threatening…like。　　And　I　says　to　him；　'I'm　Mr。　Bunting's　daughter；　sir。'　　'Then　you're　a　very　fortunate　girl　'　…　that's　what　he　says；　Ellen　…　'to　'ave　such　a　nice　step…mother　as　you've　got。　　That's　why；'　he　says；　'you　look　such　a　good；　innocent　girl。'　　And　then　he　quoted　a　bit　of　the　Prayer　Book。　　'Keep　innocency；'　he　says；　wagging　his　head　at　me。　　Lor'！　It　made　me　feel　as　if　I　was　with　Old　Aunt　again。〃

〃I　won't　have　you　going　out　with　the　lodger　…　that's　flat。〃

Bunting　spoke　in　a　muffled；　angry　tone。　　He　was　wiping　his　forehead　with　one　hand；　while　with　the　other　he　mechanically　squeezed　the　little　packet　of　tobacco；　for　which；　as　he　now　remembered；　he　had　forgotten　to　pay。

Daisy　pouted。　　〃Oh；　father；　I　think　you　might　let　me　have　a　treat　on　my　birthday！　　I　told　him　that　Saturday　wasn't　a　very　good　day　…　　at　least；　so　I'd　heard　…　for　Madame　Tussaud's。　　Then　he　said　we　could　go　early；　while　the　fine　folk　are　still　having　their　dinners。〃　She　turned　to　her　stepmother；　then　giggled　happily。　　〃He　particularly　said　you　was　to　come；　too。　　The　lodger　has　a　wonderful　fancy　for　you；　Ellen；　if　I　was　father；　I'd　feel　quite　jealous！〃

Her　last　words　were　cut　across　by　a；　tap…tap　on　the　door。

Bunting　and　his　wife　looked　at　each　other　apprehensively。　　Was　it　possible　that；　in　their　agitation；　they　had　left　the　front　door　open；　and　that　someone；　some　merciless　myrmidon　of　the　law；　had　crept　in　behind　them？

Both　felt　a　curious　thrill　of　satisfaction　when　they　saw　that　it　was　only　Mr。　Sleuth　…　Mr。　Sleuth　dressed　for　going　out；　the　tall　hat　he　had　worn　when　he　had　first　come　to　them　was　in　his　hand；　but　he　was　wearing　a　coat　instead　of　his　Inverness　cape。

〃I　heard　you　come　in　〃　…　he　addressed　Mrs。　Bunting　in　his　high；　whistling；　hesitating　voice　…　〃and　so　I've　come　down　to　ask　you　if　you　and　Miss　Bunting　will　come　to　Madame　Tussaud's　now。　　I　have　never　seen　those　famous　waxworks；　though　I've　heard　of　the　place　all　my　life。〃

As　Bunting　forced　himself　to　look　fixedly　at　his　lodger；　a　sudden　doubt　bringing　with　it　a　sense　of　immeasurable　relief；　came　to　Mr。　Sleuth's　landlord。

Surely　it　was　inconceivable　that　this　gentle；　mild…mannered　gentleman　could　be　the　monster　of　cruelty　and　cunning　that　Bunting　had　now　for　the　terrible　space　of　four　days　believed　him　to　be！

He　tried　to　catch　his　wife's　eye；　but　Mrs。　Bunting　was　looking　away；　staring　into　vacancy。　　She　still；　of　course；　wore　the　bonnet　and　cloak　in　which　she　had　just　been　out　to　do　her　marketing。　　Daisy　was　already　putting　on　her　hat　and　coat。

〃Well？〃　said　Mr。　Sleuth。　　Then　Mrs。　Bunting　turned；　and　it　seemed　to　his　landlady　that　he　was　looking　at　her　threateningly。　　〃Well？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　We'll　come　in　a　minute；〃　she　said　dully。


CHAPTER　XXVI

Madame　Tussaud's　had　hitherto　held　pleasant　memories　for　Mrs。　Bunting。　In　the　days　when　she　and　Bunting　were　courting　they　often　spent　there　part　of　their　afternoon…out。

The　butler　had　an　acquaintance；　a　man　named　Hopkins；　who　was　one　of　the　waxworks　staff；　and　this　man　had　sometimes　given　him　passes　for　〃self　and　lady。〃　　But　this　was　the　first　time　Mrs。　Bunting　had　been　inside　the　place　since　she　had　come　to　live　almost　next　door；　as　it　were；　to　the　big　building。

They　walked　in　silence　to　the　familiar　entrance；　and　then；　after　the　ill…assorted　trio　had　gone　up　the　great　staircase　and　into　the　first　gallery；　Mr。　Sleuth　suddenly　stopped　short。　　The　presence　of　those　curious；　still；　waxen　figures　which　suggest　so　strangely　death　in　life；　seemed　to　surprise　and　affright　him。

Daisy　took　quick　advantage　of　the　lodger's　hesitation　and　unease。

〃Oh；　Ellen；〃　she　cried；　〃do　let　us　begin　by　going　into　the　Chamber　of　Horrors！　　I've　never　been　in　there。　　Old　Aunt　made　father　promise　he　wouldn't　take　me　the　only　time　I've　ever　been　here。　　But　now　that　I'm　eighteen　I　can　do　just　as　I　like；　besides；　Old　Aunt　will　never　know。〃

Mr。　Sleuth　looked　down　at　her；　and　a　smile　passed　for　a　moment　over　his　worn；　gaunt　face。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃let　us　go　into　the　Chamber　of　Horrors；　that's　a　good　idea；　Miss　Bunting。　　I've　always　wanted　to　see　the　Chamber　of　Horrors。〃

They　turned　into　the　great　room　in　which　the　Napoleonic　relics　were　then　kept；　and　which　led　into　the　curious；　vault…like　chamber　where　waxen　effigies　of　dead　criminals　stand　grouped　in　wooden　docks。

Mrs。　Bunting　was　at　once　disturbed　and　relieved　to　see　her　husband's　old　acquaintance；　Mr。　Hopkins；　in　charge　of　the　turnstile　admitting　the　public　to　the　Chamber　of　Horrors。

〃Well；　you　are　a　stranger；〃　the　man　observed　genially。　　〃I　do　believe　that　this　is　the　very　first　time　I've　seen　you　in　here；　Mrs。　Bunting；　since　you　was　married！〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃that　is　so。　　And　this　is　my　husband's　daughter；　Daisy；　I　expect　you've　heard　of　her；　Mr。　Hopkins。　　And　this〃　…　she　hesitated　a　moment　…　〃is　our　lodger；　Mr。　Sleuth。〃

But　Mr。　Sleuth　frowned　and　shuffled　away。　　Daisy；　leaving　her　stepmother's　side；　joined　him。

Two；　as　all　the　world　knows；　is　company；　three　is　none。　　Mrs。　Bunting　put　down　three　sixpences。

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　Hopkins；　〃you　can't　go　into　the　Chamber　of　Horrors　just　yet。　　But　you　won't　have　to　wait　more　than　four　or　five　minutes；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　It's　this　way；　you　see；　our　boss　is　in　there；　showing　a　party　round。〃　He　lowered　his　voice。　　〃It's　Sir　John　Burney　…　I　suppose　you　know　who　Sir　John　Burney　is？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered　indifferently；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　ever　heard　of　him。〃

She　felt　slightly　…　oh；　very　sightly　…　uneasy　about　Daisy。　　She　would　have　liked　her　stepdaughter　to　keep　well　within　sight　and　sound；　but　Mr。　Sleuth　was　now　taking　the　girl　down　to　the　other　end　of　the　room。

〃Well；　I　hope　you　never　will　know　him　…　not　in　any　personal　sense；　Mrs。　Bunting。〃　　The　man　chuckled。　　〃He's　the　Commissioner　of　Police　　…　the　new　one　…　that's　what　Sir　John　Burney　is。　　On