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the wisdom of father brown-第29章

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se。  Anyhow; I was looking blankly; but rather pleasantly than otherwise; at another window; uncurtained; but by this time black as a slate with the final night…fall。  It seemed to me that something like a snail was on the outside of the window…pane。  But when I stared harder; it was more like a man's thumb pressed on the pane; it had that curled look that a thumb has。  With my fear and courage re…awakened together; I rushed at the window and then recoiled with a strangled scream that any man but Arthur must have heard。

     〃For it was not a thumb; any more than it was a snail。  It was the tip of a crooked nose; crushed against the glass; it looked white with the pressure; and the staring face and eyes behind it were at first invisible and afterwards grey like a ghost。  I slammed the shutters together somehow; rushed up to my room and locked myself in。  But; even as I passed; I could swear I saw a second black window with something on it that was like a snail。

     〃It might be best to go to Arthur after all。  If the thing was crawling close all around the house like a cat; it might have purposes worse even than blackmail。  My brother might cast me out and curse me for ever; but he was a gentleman; and would defend me on the spot。  After ten minutes' curious thinking; I went down; knocked on the door and then went in:  to see the last and worst sight。

     〃My brother's chair was empty; and he was obviously out。  But the man with the crooked nose was sitting waiting for his return; with his hat still insolently on his head; and actually reading one of my brother's books under my brother's lamp。  His face was composed and occupied; but his nose…tip still had the air of being the most mobile part of his face; as if it had just turned from left to right like an elephant's proboscis。  I had thought him poisonous enough while he was pursuing and watching me; but I think his unconsciousness of my presence was more frightful still。

     〃I think I screamed loud and long; but that doesn't matter。  What I did next does matter:  I gave him all the money I had; including a good deal in paper which; though it was mine; I dare say I had no right to touch。  He went off at last; with hateful; tactful regrets all in long words; and I sat down; feeling ruined in every sense。  And yet I was saved that very night by a pure accident。  Arthur had gone off suddenly to London; as he so often did; for bargains; and returned; late but radiant; having nearly secured a treasure that was an added splendour even to the family Collection。  He was so resplendent that I was almost emboldened to confess the abstraction of the lesser gem; but he bore down all other topics with his over…powering projects。  Because the bargain might still misfire any moment; he insisted on my packing at once and going up with him to lodgings he had already taken in Fulham; to be near the curio…shop in question。  Thus in spite of myself; I fled from my foe almost in the dead of nightbut from Philip also。。。。  My brother was often at the South Kensington Museum; and; in order to make some sort of secondary life for myself; I paid for a few lessons at the Art Schools。  I was coming back from them this evening; when I saw the abomination of desolation walking alive down the long straight street and the rest is as this gentleman has said。

     〃I've got only one thing to say。  I don't deserve to be helped; and I don't question or complain of my punishment; it is just; it ought to have happened。  But I still question; with bursting brains; how it can have happened。  Am I punished by miracle? or how can anyone but Philip and myself know I gave him a tiny coin in the middle of the sea?〃

     〃It is an extraordinary problem;〃 admitted Flambeau。

     〃Not so extraordinary as the answer;〃 remarked Father Brown rather gloomily。  〃Miss Carstairs; will you be at home if we call at your Fulham place in an hour and a half hence?〃

     The girl looked at him; and then rose and put her gloves on。 〃Yes;〃 she said; 〃I'll be there〃; and almost instantly left the place。

     That night the detective and the priest were still talking of the matter as they drew near the Fulham house; a tenement strangely mean even for a temporary residence of the Carstairs family。

     〃Of course the superficial; on reflection;〃 said Flambeau; 〃would think first of this Australian brother who's been in trouble before; who's come back so suddenly and who's just the man to have shabby confederates。  But I can't see how he can come into the thing by any process of thought; unless

     〃Well?〃 asked his companion patiently。

     Flambeau lowered his voice。  〃Unless the girl's lover comes in; too; and he would be the blacker villain。  The Australian chap did know that Hawker wanted the coin。  But I can't see how on earth he could know that Hawker had got it; unless Hawker signalled to him or his representative across the shore。〃

     〃That is true;〃 assented the priest; with respect。

     〃Have you noted another thing?〃 went on Flambeau eagerly。  〃this Hawker hears his love insulted; but doesn't strike till he's got to the soft sand…hills; where he can be victor in a mere sham…fight。  If he'd struck amid rocks and sea; he might have hurt his ally。〃

     〃That is true again;〃 said Father Brown; nodding。

     〃And now; take it from the start。  It lies between few people; but at least three。  You want one person for suicide; two people for murder; but at least three people for blackmail〃

     〃Why?〃 asked the priest softly。

     〃Well; obviously;〃 cried his friend; 〃there must be one to be exposed; one to threaten exposure; and one at least whom exposure would horrify。〃

     After a long ruminant pause; the priest said:  〃You miss a logical step。  Three persons are needed as ideas。  Only two are needed as agents。〃

     〃What can you mean?〃 asked the other。

     〃Why shouldn't a blackmailer;〃 asked Brown; in a low voice; 〃threaten his victim with himself?  Suppose a wife became a rigid teetotaller in order to frighten her husband into concealing his pub…frequenting; and then wrote him blackmailing letters in another hand; threatening to tell his wife!  Why shouldn't it work?  Suppose a father forbade a son to gamble and then; following him in a good disguise; threatened the boy with his own sham paternal strictness!  Supposebut; here we are; my friend。〃

     〃My God!〃 cried Flambeau; 〃you don't mean〃

     An active figure ran down the steps of the house and showed under the golden lamplight the unmistakable head that resembled the Roman coin。  〃Miss Carstairs;〃 said Hawker without ceremony; 〃wouldn't go in till you came。〃

     〃Well;〃 observed Brown confidently; 〃don't you think it's the best thing she can do to stop outsidewith you to look after her?  You see; I rather guess you have guessed it all yourself。〃

     〃Yes;〃 said the young man; in an undertone; 〃I guessed on the sands and now I know; that was why I let him fall soft。〃

     Taking a latchkey from the girl and the coin from Hawker; Flambeau let himself and his friend into the empty house and passed into the outer parlour。  It was empty of all occupants but one。  The man whom Father Brown had s
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