the illustrious prince- 第14部分

〃Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes；〃　the　Inspector　continued；　〃might　almost　have　been　said　to　have　followed　the　same　occupation。〃

〃Surely　not！〃　Penelope　objected。　〃I　always　understood　that　Mr。　Fynes　was　employed　in　a　Government　office　at　Washington；something　to　do　with　the　Customs；　I　thought；　or　forest　duties。〃

Mr。　Jacks　nodded　thoughtfully。

〃I　am　not　aware；　as　yet；〃　he　said；　〃of　the　precise　nature　of　Mr。　Fynes'　occupation。　I　only　knew　that　it　was；　in　some　shape　or　form；　Government　work。〃

〃You　know　as　much　about　it；〃　she　answered；　〃as　I　do。〃

〃We　have　sent；〃　the　Inspector　continued　smoothly；　〃a　special　man　out　to　Washington　to　make　all　inquiries　that　are　possible　on　the　spot；　and　incidentally；　to　go　through　the　effects　of　the　deceased；　with　a　view　to　tracing　any　complications　in　which　he　may　have　been　involved　in　this　country。〃

Penelope　opened　her　lips；　but　closed　them　again。

〃I　am　not；　however；〃　the　Inspector　continued；　〃very　sanguine　of　success。　In　the　case　of　Mr。　Vanderpole；　for　instance；　there　could　have　been　nothing　of　the　sort。　He　was　too　young；　altogether　too　much　of　a　boy；　to　have　had　enemies　so　bitterly　disposed　towards　him。　There　is　another　explanation　somewhere；　I　feel　convinced；　at　the　root　of　the　matter。〃

〃You　do　not　believe；　then；〃　asked　Penelope；　〃that　robbery　was　really　the　motive？〃

〃Not　ordinary　robbery；〃　Mr。　Jacks　answered。　〃A　man　who　was　capable　of　these　two　crimes　is　capable　of　easier　and　greater　things。　I　mean；〃　he　explained；　〃that　he　could　have　attempted　enterprises　of　a　far　more　remunerative　character；　with　a　prospect　of　complete　success。〃

〃Will　you　forgive　me；〃　she　said；　〃if　I　ask　you　to　go　on　with　your　questions；　providing　you　have　any　more　to　ask　me？　Notwithstanding　the　excellence　of　your　disguise；〃　she　remarked　with　a　faint　curl

of　the　lips；　〃I　might　find　it　somewhat　difficult　to　explain　your　presence　if　my　aunt　or　any　visitors　should　come　in。〃

〃I　am　sorry；　Miss　Morse；〃　the　Inspector　said　quietly；　〃to　find　you　so　unsympathetic。　Had　I　found　you　differently　disposed；　I　was　going　to　ask　you　to　put　yourself　in　my　place。　I　was　going　to　ask　you　to　look　at　these　two　tragedies　from　my　point　of　view　and　from　your　own　at　the　same　time；　and　I　was　going　to　ask　you　whether　any　possible　motive　suggested　itself　to　you；　any　possible　person　or　cause；　which　might　be　benefited　by　the　removal　of　these　two　men。〃

〃If　you　think；　Mr。　Jacks；〃　Penelope　said；　〃that　I　am　keeping　anything　from　you；　you　are　very　much　mistaken。　Such　sympathy　as　I　have　would　certainly　be　with　those　who　are　attempting　to　bring　to　justice　the　perpetrator　of　such　unmentionable　crimes。　What　I　object　to　is　the　unpleasantness　of　being　associated　with　your　inquiries　when　I　am　absolutely　unable　to　give　you　the　least　help；　or　to　supply　you　with　any　information　which　is　not　equally　attainable　to　you。〃

〃As；　for　instance？〃　the　Inspector　asked。

〃You　are　a　detective；〃　Penelope　said　coldly。　〃You　do　not　need　me　to　point　out　certain　things　to　you。　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　was　robbed　and　murderedan　American　citizen　on　his　way　to　London。　Mr。　Richard　Vanderpole　is　also　murdered；　after　a　call　upon　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　the　only　acquaintance　whom　Mr。　Fynes　is　known　to　have　possessed　in　this　country。　Did　Mr。　Fynes　share　secrets　with　Mr。　Coulson？　If　so；　did　Mr。　Coulson　pass　them　on　to　Mr。　Vanderpole；　and　for　that　reason　did　Mr。　Vanderpole　meet　with　the　same　death；　at　the　same　hands；　as　had　befallen　Mr。　Fynes？〃

Inspector　Jacks　moved　his　head　thoughtfully。

〃It　is　admirably　put；〃　he　assented；　〃and　to　continue？〃

〃It　is　not　my　place　to　make　suggestions　to　you；〃　Penelope　said。　〃If　you　are　able　to　connect　Mr。　Fynes　with　the　American　Government；　you　arrive　at　the　possibility　of　these　murders　having　been　committed　for　some　political　end。　I　presume　you　read　your　newspapers？〃

Inspector　Jacks　smiled；　picked　up　his　hat　and　bowed；　while　Penelope；　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　moved　over　to　the　bell。

〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　he　said；　〃you　do　not　understand　how　important　even　the　point　of　view　of　another　person　is　to　a　man　who　is　struggling　to　build　up　a　theory。　Whether　you　have　helped　me　as　much　as　you　could；〃　he　added；　looking　her　in　the　face；　〃you　only　can　tell；　but　you　have　certainly　helped　me　a　little。〃

The　footman　had　entered。　The　Inspector　turned　to　follow　him。　Penelope　remained　as　she　had　been　standing；　the　hand　which　had　touched　the　bell　fallen　to　her　side；　her　eyes　fixed　upon　him　with　a　new　light　stirring　their　quiet　depths。

〃One　moment；　Morton；〃　she　said。　〃Wait　outside。　Mr。　Jacks；〃　she　added；　as　the　door　closed；　〃what　do　you　mean？　What　can　I　have　told　you？　How　can　I　have　helped　you？〃

The　Inspector　stood　very　still　for　a　brief　space　of　time；　very　still　and　very　silent。　His　face；　too；　was　quite　expressionless。　Yet　his　tone；　when　he　spoke；　seemed　to　have　taken　to　itself　a　note　of　sternness。

〃If　you　had　chosen；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃to　have　become　my　ally　in　this　matter；　to　have　ranged　yourself　altogether　on　the　side　of　the　law；　my　answer　would　have　been　ready　enough。　What　you　have　told　me；　however；　you　have　told　me　against　your　will　and　not　in　actual　words。　You　have　told　me　in　such　a　way；　too；〃　he　added；　〃that　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　doubt　your　intention　to　mislead　me。　I　am　forced　to　conclude　that　we　stand　on　opposite　sides　of　the　way。　I　shall　not　trouble　you　any　more；　Miss　Morse。〃

He　turned　to　the　door。　Penelope　remained　motionless　for　several　moments；　listening　to　his　retreating　footsteps。



CHAPTER　X。　MR。　COULSON　OUTMATCHED

Mr。　James　B。　Coulson　settled　down　to　live　what　was；　to　all　appearance；　a　very　inoffensive　and　ordinary　life。　He　rose　a　little　earlier　than　was　customary　for　an　Englishman　of　business　of　his　own　standing；　but　he　made　up　for　this　by　a　somewhat　prolonged　visit　to　the　barber；　a　breakfast　which　bespoke　an　unimpaired　digestion；　and　a　cigar　of　more　than　ordinary　length　over　his　newspaper。　At　about　eleven　o'clock　he　went　down　to　the　city；　and　returned　sometimes　to　luncheon；　sometimes　at　varying　hours；　never　later；　however；　than　four　or　five　o'clock。　From　that　time　until　seven；　he　was　generally　to　be　found　in　the　American　bar；　meeting　old　friends　or　making　new　ones。

On　the　sixth　day　of　his　stay　at　the　Savoy　Hotel　the　waiter　who　looked　after　the　bar　smoking　room　accosted　him　as　he　entered　at　his　usual　time；　a　little　after　half　past　four。

〃There's　a　gentleman　here；　Mr。　Coulson；　been　asking　after　you；〃　he　announced。　〃I　told　him　that　you　generally　came　in　about　this　time。　You'll　find　him　sitting　over　there。〃

Mr。　Coulson　glanced　in　the　direction　indicated。　It　was　Mr。　Jacks　who　awaited　him　in　the　cushioned　easy　chair。　For　a　single　moment；　perhaps；　his　lips　tightened　and　the　light　of　battle　flashed　in　his　face。　Then　he　crossed　the　room　apparently　himself　again；an　undistinguished；　perfectly　natural　figure。

〃It's　Mr。　Jacks；　isn't　it？〃　he　asked；　holding　out　his　hand。　〃I　thought　I　recognized　you。〃

The　Inspector　rose　to　his　feet。

〃I　am　sorry　to　trouble　you　again；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃but　if　you　could　spare　me　just　a　minute　or　two；　I　should　be　very　much　obliged。〃

Mr。　Coulson　laughed　pleasantly。

〃You　can　have　all　you　want　of　me　from　now　till　midnight；〃　he　declared。　〃My　business　doesn't　take　very　long；　and　I　can　only　see　the　people　I　want　to　see　in　the　middle　of　the　day。　After　that；　I　don't　mind　telling　you　that　I　find　time　hangs　a　bit　on　my　hands。　Try　one　of　these；〃　he　added；　producing　a　cigar　case。

The　Inspector　thanked　him　and　helped　himself。　Mr。　Coulson　summoned　the　waiter。

〃Highball　for　me；〃　he　directed。　〃What's　yours；　Mr。　Jacks？〃

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　the　Inspector　said。　〃I　will　take　a　little　Scotch　whiskey　and　soda。〃

The　two　men　sat　down。　The　corner　was　a　retired　one；　and　there　was　no　one　within　earshot。

〃Say；　are　you　still　on　this　Hamilton　Fynes　business？〃　Mr。　Coulson　asked。

〃Partly；〃　the　Inspector　replied。

〃You　know；　I'm　not　making　reflections；〃　Mr。　Coulson　said；　sticking　his　cigar　in　a　corner　of　his　mouth　and　leaning　back　in　a　comfortable　attitude；　〃but　it　does　seem　to　me　that　you　are　none　too　rapid　on　this　side　in　clearing　up　these　matters。　Why；　a　little　affair　of　that　sort　wouldn't　take　the　police　twenty　minutes　in　New　York。　We　have　a　big　city；　full　of　alien　quarters；　full　of　hiding　places；　and　chock　full　of　criminals；　but　our　police　catch　em；　all　the　same。　There's　no　one　going　to　commit　murder　in　the　streets　of　New　York　without　finding　himself　in　the　Tombs　before　he's　a　week　older。　No　offence；　Mr。　Jacks。〃

〃I　am　not　taking　any；　Mr。　Coulson；〃　the　Inspector　answered。　〃I　must　admit　that　there's　a　great　deal　of　truth　in　what　you　say。　It　is　rather　a　reflection　upon　us　that　we　have　not　as　yet　even　made　an　arrest；　but　I　think　you　will　also　admit　that　the　circumstances　of　those　murders　were　exceedingly　curious。〃

Mr。　Coulson　knocked　the　ash　from　his　cigar。

〃Well；　as　to　that；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　we　are　to　judge　only　by　what　we　read　in　the　papers；　they　are　curious；　without　a　doubt。　But　I　am　not　supposing　for　one　moment　that　you　fellows　at　Scotland　Yard　don't　know　more　than　you've　let　on　to　the　newspapers。　You　keep　your　discoveries　out　of　the　Press　over　here；　and　a　good　job；　too；　but　you　wouldn't　persuade　me　that　you　haven't　some　very　distinct　theory　as　to　how　that　crime　was　worked；　and　the　sort　of　person　who　did　it。　Eh；　Mr。　Jacks？〃

〃We　are　perhaps　not　quite　so　ignorant　as　we　seem；〃　the　Inspector　answered；　〃and　of　course　you　are　right　when　you　say　that　we　have　a　few　more　facts　to　go　by　than　have　appeared　in　the　newspapers。　Still；　the　affair　is　an　extremely　puzzling　one；as　puzzling；　in　its　way；〃　Mr。　Jacks　continued；　〃as　the　murder　on　the　very　next　evening　of　this　young　American　gentleman。〃

Mr。　Coulson　nodded　sympathetically。　The　drinks　were　brought；　and　he　raised　his　glass　to　his　guest。

〃Here's　luck！〃　he　said〃luck　to　you　with　your　game　of　human　chess；　and　luck　to　me　with　my　woollen　machinery　patents！　You　were　speaking　of　that　second　murder；〃　he　remarked；　setting　down　his　glass。　〃I　haven't　noticed　the　papers　much　this　morning。　Has　any　arrest　been　made　yet？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　the　Inspector　admitted。　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　we　find　it　almost　as　puzzling　an　affair　as　the　one　in　which　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　was　concerned。〃

Mr。　Coulson　nodded。　He　seemed　content；　at　this　stage　in　their　conversa