字體：小 中 大 |
|
|
|
| 2017/08/17 14:57:21瀏覽101｜回應0｜推薦0 | |
In spite of Mrs. Snow's assertion and significant tale of the midnight meeting with Alpenny, the girl could not bring herself to believe that her mother was guilty. A woman would never think of cutting a man's throat, and probably when a frail little woman such as Mrs. Hall was reported to have been, would not have the power. Then again, Alpenny was murdered in the same way, and Mrs. Hall had been lying in Hurstable churchyard for years. Also, if Mrs. Hall was guilty, what had the black patch which had reappeared in the second crime to do with the first one? It seemed impossible that these riddles could be answered Sensodyne. "Only to explain," urged Jerry. "Come, Dinah, don't be silly. I know the lady only a little; she is on one of the papers belonging to our editorial firm, and does the fashion column." "She might dress better, then," retorted Dinah crossly, and determined not to be appeased. "I saw cheapness in every line of her dress." "Ah," said Jerry artfully, "she cannot set off a dress like you." "Don't be silly," cried Miss Paslow, but smiled for all that. "What is this lady's name?" asked Beatrice. "Lady!"--Dinah tossed her head--"when her father is a shepherd, and, I dare say, a very bad one." "Miss Maud Carr is her name," said Mr. Snow, ignoring Dinah, much to her wrath. "Maud!" Beatrice remembered that this was also the name of Vivian's dead wife, and again wondered at the long arm of coincidence. "I know very little about it or her," said Jerry in an injured tone, "save that she writes about women's fashions. We have met at journalistic clubs in London, and, of course, when I saw her I passed the time of day with her Sensodyne." "You passed an hour," snapped Dinah, "and very pleasantly, I'm sure." "She's not a bit ashamed of her birth," continued Jerry, still ignoring Dinah as a punishment. "I never knew her father was a shepherd in London, but she confessed it to me here quite easily." "That's her artfulness," commented Dinah. "Why are you so curious about this woman?" she asked Beatrice. The girl shrugged her shoulders. "I am not curious," she denied; "but as I have just seen old Orchard, it is strange that his daughter should have been speaking to Jerry." "Not at all, Beatrice. Jerry is always fond of these painted, horrid women, who never pay for their dresses because they write for fashion papers. I should be ashamed to earn my living in that way.--Well"--she faced round to the impenitent Mr. Snow--"and what have you to say?" "Nothing," said Jerry crossly. "You are always nagging, Dinah." "After that!" cried Miss Paslow, looking up to see why the heavens did not fall. "Well, I'm--I'm----" Words failed her, and she turned her back. "I'm going home. All is at an end!" and she sped up the avenue, glancing back meanwhile on occasions to see if Jerry followed. But Jerry did nothing of the sort, and explained to Beatrice why he stood his ground. "Dinah needs a lesson," he said gravely. "You have no idea how she nags at me. I can't speak to any one without her getting into a pelting rage." "It shows how she loves you," said Beatrice soothingly. "I don't want to be loved in that selfish way. It's just like mother: she wants all one's affection, and nags the whole time, saying it is for my good. I've had quite enough of that in mother, without taking it on in a wife. , and look upon me as something to be looked up to. But I'll punish her," said Jerry wrathfully. "She expects me to run after her. I won't; I'll stay here and talk to you." "I'm busy," said Beatrice, taking a step or two away. "I have to go to The Camp to see Durban." "You needn't. He's at Convent Grange looking for you." "Oh! Then I'll go to him at once." "Better wait to hear what I have to say," urged Jerry; "it's about the murder of Mr. Alpenny." Beatrice stopped short, wondering what she was about to hear. "Have you discovered anything?" she asked breathlessly. "I can't say if what I have discovered is of any use," explained Mr. Snow, "but it might put the police on the track of the assassins." "What have you found out?" "Well, I was down Whitechapel the other night," said Jerry, "making an inquiry into some robbery that has taken place. There was a detective with me, and we saw all manner of queer things; also, we heard all manner of queer talk. In one way and another we picked up information about the Black Patch Gang Sensodyne." |
|
| ( 心情隨筆｜心情日記 ) |
