第10章

Red，however，suddenlystraightenedfromthedeskandstoodmotionless，listening。Hemadeaslighthissingnoisethatarrestedtheattentionoftheothersandheldtheminmovelesssilence。 \"Ihearsomething，\"hewhispered。Hewenttothekeyholeofthedoorleadingintothepassage。Thenhewhisperedagain，\"Andit\'scomingthisway。\" Atthewords，Garsonsnappedhisfingers。Theroomwasplungedindarkness。 CHAPTERXVIII。THENOISELESSDEATH。 Therewasabsolutesilenceinthelibraryaftertheturningoftheswitchthatbroughtthepallofdarkness。Longsecondspassed，thenalittlenoise——theknobofthepassagedoorturning。Asthedoorswungopen，therecameagaspingbreathfromMary，forshesawframedinthefaintlightthatcamefromthesingleburnerinthecorridortheslenderformofherhusband，DickGilder。Inthenextinstanthehadsteppedwithintheroomandpulledtothedoorbehindhim。AndinthatsameinstantChicagoRedhadpouncedonhisvictim，thehugehandclappedtightovertheyoungman\'smouth。Evenashispowerfularmheldthenewcomerinaninescapableembrace，therecameasoundofscufflingfeetandthatwasall。Finallythebigman\'svoicecametriumphantly。 \"I\'vegothim。\" \"It\'sDick!\"Thecrycameasawailofdespairfromthegirl。 Atthesamemoment，Garsonflashedhistorch，andthelightfellswiftlyonyoungGilder，bowedtoakneelingposturebeforethecouch，half-throttledbythestrengthofChicagoRed。Closebesidehim，Marylookeddowninwordlessdespairoverthisfinaldisasterofthenight。Therewassilenceamongthemen，allofwhomsavethecaptorhimselfweregatherednearthefireplace。 Garsonretiredastepfartherbeforehespokehiscommand，sothat，thoughheheldthetorchstill，heliketheotherswasinshadow。OnlyMarywasrevealedclearlyasshebentinalarmtowardthemanshehadmarried。Itwasborneinontheforger\'sconsciousnessthatthefaceofthewomanleaningovertheintruderwasstrongertoholdtheprisonerandtopreventanyoutcrythanthemightofChicagoRedhimself，andsohegavetheorder。 \"Getaway，Red。\" Thefellowletgohisgripobedientlyenough，thoughwithatrifleofregret，sincehegloriedinhisphysicalprowess。 Thusfreedofthatstranglingembrace，Dickstumbledblindlytohisfeet。Then，mechanically，hishandwenttothelamponthetablebackofthecouch。InthesamemomentGarsonsnappedhistorchtodarkness。When，afteralittlefutilesearching，Dickfinallyfoundthecatch，andthemellowstreamedforth，heutteredanejaculationofstarkamazement，forhisgazewasrivetedonthefaceofthewomanheloved。 \"GoodGod!\"Itwasacryoftorturewrungfromhissoulofsouls。 Maryswayedtowardhimalittle，palpitantwithfear——fearforherself，forallofthem，mostofallforhim。 \"Hush!hush!\"shepantedwarningly。\"Oh，Dick，youdon\'tunderstand。\" Dick\'shandwasathisthroat。Itwasnoteasyforhimtospeakyet。Hehadsufferedseverelyintheprocessofbeingthrottled，and，too，hewasintheclutchofafrightfulemotion。Tofindher，hiswife，inthisplace，insuchcompany——her，thewomanwhomheloved，whom，inspiteofeverything，hehadhonored，thewomantowhomhehadgivenhisname!Maryhere!Andthus! \"Iunderstandthis，\"hesaidbrokenlyatlast。\"Whetheryoueverdiditbeforeornot，thistimeyouhavebrokenthelaw。\"A suddeninspirationonhisownbehalfcametohim。Forhislove\'ssake，hemustseizeonthisopportunitygivenoffatetohimformastery。Hewentonwithanewvehemenceofboldnessthatbecamehimwell。 \"You\'reinmyhandsnow。Soarethesemenaswell。UnlessyoudoasIsay，Mary，I\'lljaileveryoneofthem。\" Mary\'susualquicknesswasnotlackingevennow，inthisperiodofextremity。Herretortwasgivenwithoutaparticleofhesitation。 \"Youcan\'t，\"sheobjectedwithconviction。\"I\'mtheonlyoneyou\'veseen。\" \"That\'ssoonremedied，\"Dickdeclared。Heturnedtowardthehalldoorasifwiththeintentionoflightingthechandelier。 ButMarycaughthisarmpleadingly。 \"Don\'t，Dick，\"shebegged。\"It\'s——it\'snotsafe。\" \"I\'mnotafraid，\"washisindignantanswer。Hewouldhavegoneon，butsheclungthecloser。Hewasreluctanttouseover-muchforceagainsttheonewhomhecherishedsofondly。 Therecameadiversionfromthemanwhohadmadethecapture，whowasmightilywonderingoverthecourseofevents，whichwaswhollyunlikeanythinginthewholeofhisownratherextensivehousebreakingexperience。 \"Who\'sthis，anyhow？\"ChicagoReddemanded。 Therewasaprimitivepetulanceinhisdrawlingtones。 Dickansweredwithconcisenessenough。 \"I\'mherhusband。Whoareyou？\" Marycalledasoftadmonition。 \"Don\'tspeak，anyofyou，\"shedirected。\"Youmustn\'tlethimhearyourvoices。\" Dickwasexasperatedbythispersistentidentificationofherselfwiththesecriminalsinhisfather\'shouse。 \"You\'refightingmelikeacoward，\"hesaidhotly。Hisvoicewasbitter。Theeyesthathadalwaysbeenwarmintheirglancesonherwerechillnow。Heturnedalittlewayfromher，asifininstinctiverepugnance。\"Youaretakingadvantageofmylove。 YouthinkthatbecauseofitIcan\'tmakeamoveagainstthesemen。Now，listentome，I——\" \"Iwon\'t!\"Marycried。Herwordswereshrillwithmingledemotions。\"There\'snothingtotalkabout，\"shewentonwildly。 \"Therenevercanbebetweenyouandme。\" Theyoungman\'svoicecamewithasonorousfirmnessthatwasnewtoit。Inthesemoments，thestrengthofhim，nourishedbysuffering，wasputtingforthitsflower。Hismannerwasmasterful。 \"Therecanbeandtherewillbe，\"hecontradicted。Heraisedhisvoicealittle，speakingintotheshadowswherewasthegroupofsilentmen。 \"Youmenbackthere!\"hecried。\"IfIgiveyoumywordtoleteveryoneofyougofreeandpledgemyselfnevertorecognizeoneofyouagain，willyoumakeMaryherelistentome？That\'sallI ask。Iwantafewminutestostatemycase。Givemethat。 WhetherIwinorlose，youmengofree，andI\'llforgeteverythingthathashappenedhereto-night。\"TherecameamuffledguffawoflaughterfromthebigchestofChicagoRedatthisextraordinarilyingenuousproposal，whileDaceychuckledmorequietly。 Dickmadeagestureofimpatienceatthisopenderision。 \"TellthemIcanbetrusted，\"hebadeMarycurtly。 ItwasGarsonwhoanswered。 \"Iknowthatyoucanbetrusted，\"hesaid，\"becauseIknowyoulo——\"Hecheckedhimselfwithashiver，andoutofthedarknesshisfaceshowedwhite。 \"Youmustlisten，\"Dickwenton，facingagaintowardthegirl，whowastremblingbeforehim，hereyesbyturnssearchinghisexpressionordowncastinunfamiliarconfusion，whichsheherselfcouldhardlyunderstand。 \"Yoursafetydependsonme，\"theyoungmanwarned。\"SupposeI shouldcallforhelp？\" Garsonsteppedforwardthreateningly。 \"Youwouldonlycallonce，\"hesaidverygently，yetmostgrimly。 Hishandwenttothenoiselessweaponinhiscoat-pocket。 Buttheyoungman\'sanswerrevealedthefactthathe，too，wasdeterminedtotheutmost，thatheunderstoodperfectlythesituation。 \"Oncewouldbequiteenough，\"hesaidsimply。 Garsonnoddedinacceptanceofthedefeat。Itmaybe，too，thatinsomesubtlefashionheadmiredthisyouthsuddenlygrownresolute，competenttocontroladangerousevent。TherewaseventhepossibilitythatsomeinstinctoftendernesstowardMaryherselfmadehimdesirethatthisopportunityshouldbegivenforwipingouttheeffectsofmisfortunewhichfatehithertohadbroughtintoherlife。 \"Youwin，\"Garsonsaid，withahalf-laugh。Heturnedtotheothermenandspokeacommand。 \"Yougetoverbythehalldoor，Red。Andkeepyourearsopeneverysecond。Giveustheofficeifyouhearanything。Ifwe\'rerushed，andhavetomakeaquickget-away，seethatMaryhasthefirstchance。Getthat，allofyou？\" AsChicagoRedtookuphisappointedstation，GarsonturnedtoDick。 \"Makeitquick，remember。\" Hetouchedtheothertwoandmovedbacktothewallbythefireplace，asfaraspossiblefromthehusbandandwifebythecouch。 Dickspokeatonce，withahesitancythatbetrayedthedepthofhisemotion。 \"Don\'tyoucareformeatall？\"heaskedwistfully。 Thegirl\'sanswerwasutteredwithnervouseagernesswhichrevealedherownstressoffear。 \"No，no，no!\"sheexclaimed，rebelliously。 Now，however，theyoungmanhadregainedsomemeasureofreassurance。 \"Iknowyoudo，Mary，\"heasserted，confidently；\"alittle，anyway。Why，Mary，\"hewentonreproachfully，\"can\'tyouseethatyou\'rethrowingawayeverythingthatmakeslifeworthwhile？ Don\'tyouseethat？\" Therewasnowordfromthegirl。Herbreastwasmovingconvulsively。Sheheldherfacesteadfastlyavertedfromthefaceofherhusband。 \"Whydon\'tyouanswerme？\"heinsisted。 Mary\'sreplycamewithallthecoldnessshecouldcommand。 \"Thatwasnotinthebargain，\"Marysaid，indifferently。 Theman\'svoicegrewtenderlywinning，persuasivewiththelongingofalover，persuasivewiththepityoftherighteousforthesinner。 \"Mary，Mary!\"hecried。\"You\'vegottochange。Don\'tbesohard。 Givethewomaninyouachance。\" Thegirl\'sformbecamerigidasshefoughtforself-control。Thepleatouchedtothebottomofherheart，butshecouldnot，wouldnotyield。Herwordsrushedforthwithabitternessthatwasthecoverofherdistress。 \"IamwhatIam，\"shesaidsharply。\"Ican\'tchange。Keepyourpromise，now，andlet\'sgetoutofthis。\" Herassertionwasdisregardedastotheinabilitytochange。 \"Youcanchange，\"Dickwentonimpetuously。\"Mary，haven\'tyoueverwantedthethingsthatotherwomenhave，shelter，andcare，andthebigthingsoflife，thethingsworthwhile？They\'reallreadyforyou，now，Mary……Andwhataboutme？\"Reproachleapedinhistone。\"Afterall，you\'vemarriedme。Nowit\'suptoyoutogivememychancetomakegood。I\'veneveramountedtomuch。 I\'venevertriedmuch。Ishall，now，ifyouwillhaveitso，Mary；ifyou\'llhelpme。Iwillcomeoutallright，Iknowthat——sodoyou，Mary。Only，youmusthelpme。\" \"Ihelpyou!\"Theexclamationcamefromthegirlinanoteofincredulousastonishment。 \"Yes，\"Dicksaid，simply。\"Ineedyou，andyouneedme。Comeawaywithme。\" \"No，no!\"wasthebrokenrefusal。Therewasagreatgriefclutchingatthesoulofthiswomanwhohadbroughtvengeancetoitsfullflower。Shewasgasping。\"No，no!Imarriedyou，notbecauseIlovedyou，buttorepayyourfatherthewronghehaddoneme。Iwouldn\'tletmyselfeventhinkofyou，andthen——I realizedthatIhadspoiledyourlife。\" \"No，notspoiledit，Mary!Blessedit!Wemustprovethatyet。\" \"Yes，spoiledit，\"thewifewentonpassionately。\"IfIhadunderstood，ifIcouldhavedreamedthatIcouldevercare—— Oh，Dick，Iwouldneverhavemarriedyouforanythingintheworld。\" \"Butnowyoudorealize，\"theyoungmansaidquietly。\"Thethingisdone。Ifwemadeamistake，itisforustobringhappinessoutofthaterror。\" \"Oh，can\'tyousee？\"camethestrickenlament。\"I\'majail-bird!\" \"Butyouloveme——youdoloveme，Iknow!\"Theyoungmanspokewithjoyouscertainty，forsomeinflectionofhervoicehadtoldthetruthtohisheart。Nothingelsemattered。\"Butnow，tocomebacktothisholewe\'reinhere。Don\'tyouunderstand，atlast，thatyoucan\'tbeatthelaw？Ifyou\'recaughthereto-night，wherewouldyougetoff——caughtherewithagangofburglars？ Tellme，dear，whydidyoudoit？Whydidn\'tyouprotectyourself？Whydidn\'tyougotoChicagoasyouplanned？\" \"What？\"TherewasanewqualityinMary\'svoice。Asuddenthrobofshockmaskedinthesurfaceindifferenceofintonation。 Dickrepeatedhisquestion，unobservantofitsfirsteffect。 \"Whydidn\'tyougotoChicagoasyouhadplanned？\" \"Planned？Withwhom？\"Theinterrogationcamewithanabruptforcethatcriedofnewsuspicions。 \"Why，withBurke。\"Theyoungmantriedtobepatientoverherdensityinthistimeofcrisis。 \"WhotoldyouthatIhadarrangedanysuchthing？\"Maryasked。 Nowthetensenessinhermannergotthehusband\'sattention，andherepliedwithasuddengravity，apprehensiveofheknewnotwhat。 \"Burkehimselfdid。\" \"When？\"Marywasstandingrigidnow，andtherarecolorflamedinhercheeks。Hereyeswereblazing。 \"Lessthananhourago。\"Hehadcaughtthecontagionofhermoodandvaguealarmswepthim。 \"Where？\"camethenextquestion，stillwiththatvitalinsistence。 \"Inthisroom。\" \"Burkewashere？\"Mary\'svoicewassuddenlycold，verydangerous。\"Whatwashedoinghere？\" \"Talkingtomyfather。\" Theseeminglysimpleanswerappearedthelaststrawtothegirl\'sburdenoffrenziedsuspicion。Hervoicecutfiercelyintothequietoftheroom，imperious，savage。 \"Joe，turnonthatlight!Iwanttoseethefaceofeverymaninthisroom。\" SomethingfatallysignificantinhervoicesetGarsona-leaptotheswitch，and，inthesamesecond，theblazeofthechandelierflamedbrilliantlyoverall。Theothersstoodmotionless，blinkinginthesuddenradiance——allsaveGriggs，whomovedstealthilyinthatsamemoment，alittlenearerthedoorintothepassage，whichwasnearesttohim。 ButMary\'snextwordscamewhollyasasurprise，seeminglytotallyirrelevanttothisinstantofcrisis。Yettheyranga-throbwithanhystericalanxiety。 \"Dick，\"shecried，\"whatarethosetapestriesworth？\"Withthequestion，shepointedtowardthedraperiesthatshroudedthegreatoctagonalwindow。 Theyoungmanwasplainlyastonished，disconcertedaswellbytheobtrusionofasordiddetailintothetragedyofthetime。 \"Whyintheworlddoyou——？\"hebegan，impatiently。 Marystampedherfootangrilyinprotestagainstthedelay。 \"Tellme——quick!\"shecommanded。Theauthorityinhervoiceandmannerwasnottobegainsaid。 Dickyieldedsullenly。 \"Oh，twoorthreehundreddollars，Isuppose，\"heanswered。 \"Why？\" \"Nevermindthat!\"Maryexclaimed，violently。Andnowthegirl\'svoicecamestinginglikeawhiplash。InGarson\'sface，too，wasgrowingfury，forinaninstantofilluminationheguessedsomethingofthetruth。Mary\'snextquestionconfirmedhisragingsuspicion。 \"Howlonghaveyouhadthem，Dick？\" Bynow，theyoungmanhimselfsensedthefactthatsomethingmysteriouslybanefullaybehindthefranticquestioningonthisseeminglytrivialtheme。 \"EversinceIcanremember，\"hereplied，promptly。 Mary\'svoicecamethenwithanintonationthatbroughtenlightenmentnotonlytoGarson\'sshrewdperceptions，butalsototheheavierintelligencesofDaceyandofChicagoRed。 \"Andthey\'renotfamousmasterpieceswhichyourfatherboughtrecently，fromsomedealerwhosmuggledthemintothiscountry？\" Sosimplewerethewordsofherinquiry，butunderthembeatsomethingevil，deadly。 Theyoungmanlaughedcontemptuously。 \"Ishouldsaynot!\"hedeclaredindignantly，forheresentedtheimplicationagainsthisfather\'shonesty。 \"It\'satrick!Burke\'sdoneit!\"Mary\'swordscamewithaccusingvehemence。 TherewasanothersinglestepmadebyGriggstowardthedoorintothepassage。 Mary\'seyecaughtthemovement，andherlipssoundlesslyformedthename: \"Griggs!\" Themanstrovetocarryoffthesituation，thoughheknewwellthathestoodinmortalperil。Hecamealittletowardthegirlwhohadaccusedhimoftreachery。Hewasverydapperinhiseveningclothes，withhisratherhandsome，well-groomedfacesetinlinesofinnocence。 \"He\'slyingtoyou!\"hecriedforcibly，withascornfulgesturetowardDickGilder。\"Itellyou，thosetapestriesareworthamillioncold。\" Mary\'sanswerwasvirulentinitssuddenburstofhate。Foronce，themusicofhervoicewaslostinadiscordantcryofdetestation。 \"Youstool-pigeon!YoudidthisforBurke!\" Griggssoughtstilltomaintainhisairofinnocence，andhestrovewell，sinceheknewthathefoughtforhislifeagainstthosewhomhehadoutraged。Ashespokeagain，histonesweretremulouswithsincerity——perhapsthattremulousnesswasbornchieflyoffear，yettotheearhiswordscamestoutlyenoughfortruth: \"IswearIdidn\'t!Iswearit!\" Maryregardedtheprotestingmanwithabhorrence。Theperjuredwretchshrankbeforetheloathinginhereyes。 \"Youcametomeyesterday，\"shesaid，withmoreofrestraintinhervoicenow，butstillwithinexorablerancor。\"Youcametometoexplainthisplan。Andyoucamefromhim——fromBurke!\" \"IswearIwasonthelevel。Iwastippedofftothestorybyapal，\"Griggsdeclared，butatlasttheassurancewasgoneoutofhisvoice。Hefeltthehostilityofthoseabouthim。 Garsonbrokeinferociously。 \"It\'saframe-up!\"hesaid。Histonescameinadeadenedroarofwrath。 Ontheinstant，awarethatfurthersubterfugecouldbeofnoavail，Griggsswaggereddefiance。 \"Andwhatifitistrue？\"hedrawled，witharesumptionofhisaristocraticmanner，whilehiseyessweptthegroupbalefully。 Hepluckedthepolicewhistlefromhiswaistcoat-pocket，andraisedittohislips。 Hemovedtooslowly。Inthesamemomentofhisaction，Garsonhadpulledthepistolfromhispocket，hadpressedthetrigger。 Therecamenospurtofflame。Therewasnosound——saveperhapsafaintclickingnoise。Butthemanwiththewhistleathislipssuddenlyceasedmovement，stoodabsolutelystillforthespaceofabreath。Then，hetrembledhorribly，andinthenextinstantcrashedtothefloor，wherehelayrigid，dead。 \"Damnyou——I\'vegotyou!\"Garsonsneeredthroughclenchedteeth。 Hiseyeswerelikeballsoffire。Therewasafrightfulgrinoftriumphtwistinghismouthinthisminuteofpunishment。 Inthefirstsecondofthetragedy，Dickhadnotunderstood。 Indeed，hewasstilldazedbythesuddennessofitall。ButthefallingofGriggsbeforetheleveledweaponoftheotherman，theretolieinthatghastlyimmobility，madehimtounderstand。 HeleapedtowardGarson——wouldhavewrenchedthepistolfromtheother\'sgrasp。Inthestruggle，itfelltothefloor。 Beforeeithercouldpickitup，therecameaninterruption。Eveninthestressofthisscene，ChicagoRedhadneverrelaxedhisprofessionalcaution。Aslightnoisehadcaughthisear，hehadstooped，listening。Now，hestraightened，andcalledhiswarning。 \"Somebody\'sopeningthefrontdoor!\" Garsonforgothisweaponinthisnewalarm。Hesprangtotheoctagonalwindow，evenasDicktookpossessionofthepistol。 \"Thestreet\'sempty!Wemustjumpforit!\"Hishatewasforgottennowinanemotionstilldeeper，andheturnedtoMary。Hisfacewasallgentlenessagain，wherejustbeforeithadbeenevilincarnate，aflamewiththelusttodestroy。\"Comeon，Mary，\"hecried。 AlreadyChicagoRedhadsnappedoffthelightsofthechandelier，hadsprungtothewindow，thrownopenapanelofit，andhadvanishedintothenight，withDaceyathisheels。AsGarsonwouldhavecalledouttothegirlagaininmadanxietyforhaste，hewasinterruptedbyDick: \"Shecouldn\'tmakeit，Garson，\"hedeclaredcoollyandresolutely。\"Yougo。It\'llbeallright，youknow。I\'lltakecareofher!\" \"Ifshe\'scaught——!\"Therewasanindescribablemenaceintheforger\'shalf-utteredthreat。 \"Shewon\'tbe。\"ThequalityofsincerityinDick\'svoicewasmoreconvincingthananyvowmighthavebeen。 \"Ifsheis，I\'llgetyou，that\'sall，\"Garsonsaidgravely，asonestatingasimplefactthatcouldnotbedisputed。 Thenheglanceddownatthebodyofthemanwhomhehaddonetodeath。 \"AndyoucantellthattoBurke!\"hesaidviciouslytothedead。 \"Youdamnedsquealer!\"Therewasasupremelymalevolentcontentinhissneer。 CHAPTERXIX。WITHINTHETOILS。 ThegoingofGarsonlefttheroomdeathlystill。Dickstaredforamomentatthespaceofwindowleftuncoveredbythedraperiesnow，sincethemanhadhurriedpastthem，withoutpausingtodrawthemafterhim。Then，presently，theyoungmanturnedagaintoMary，andtookherhandinhis。Theshockoftheeventhadsomehowsteadiedhim，sinceithaddrawnhisthoughtsfromthatothermoreengrossingmoodofconcernoverthecrisisinhisownlife。Afterall，whatmatteredthedeathofthiscrook？hisfancyran。Theonethingofrealworthinalltheworldwasthelifethatremainedtobelivedbetweenhimandher……Then，violently，theselfishnessofhismoodwasmadeplaintohim。 Forthehandheheldwasshakinglikesomeslender-stalkedlilyintheclutchofthesirocco。Evenashefirstperceivedthefact，hesawthegirlstagger。Hisarmsweptaboutherinavirileprotectingembrace——justintime，orshewouldhavefallen。 Awhispercamefromherquiveringlips。Herfacewasclosetohis，elsehecouldnothavecaughttheuncertainmurmuring。Thatfacenowwasbecomeghastlypale。Thevioleteyeswerewidenedanddull。Themusclesofherfacetwitched。Sherestedsupinelyagainsthim，asifbereftofanystrengthofbodyorofsoul。 Yet，intheintensityofherutterance，thefeeblewhisperstrucklikeashriekofhorror。 \"I——I——neversawanyonekilledbefore!\" Thesimple，grislytruthofthewords——wordsthathemighthavespokenaswell——stirredthemantothedeepsofhisbeing。Heshuddered，asheturnedhiseyestoavoidseeingthethingthatlaysoverynear，mercifullymergedwithintheshadowsbeyondthegentleradiancefromthesinglelamp。Withapangofinfinitepityforthewomaninhisarms，heapprehendedinsomedegreethetorturethiseventmusthaveinflictedonher。Frightfultohim，itmustintruthbevastlyworsetoher。Therewasherwomanlysensitivenesstoenhancetheinnatehideousnessofthethingthathadbeendoneherebeforetheireyes。Therewas，too，thefactthatthemurdererhimselfhadbeenthemantowhomsheowedherlife。Yes，forhim，Dickrealizedwithpoignantsympathy，thehappeningthatnightwasterribleindeed:forher，asheguessednowatlast，thetorturemustbesomethingeasilytooverwhelmallherstrength。Histouchonhergrewtenderbeyondtheordinarytendernessoflove，madegentlerbyagreatunderlyingcompassionforhermisery。 DickdrewMarytowardthecouch，therelethersinkdowninahuddledattitudeofdespair。 \"Ineversawaman——killedbefore!\"shesaidagain。Therewasanoteofhalf-hysterical，almostchildishcomplaintinhervoice。 Shemovedherheadalittle，asiftolookintotheshadowswhere*ITlay，thencheckedherselfviolently，andlookedupatherhusbandwiththepatheticsimplicityofterror。 \"Youknow，Dick，\"sherepeateddully，\"Ineversawamankilledbefore。\" Beforehecouldutterthesoothingwordsthatrosetohislips，Dickwasinterruptedbyaslightsoundatthedoor。Instantly，hewasallalerttomeettheexigenciesofthesituation。Hestoodbythecouch，bendingforwardalittle，asifinapostureofintimatefondness。Then，withanewthought，hegotouthiscigarette-caseandlightedacigarette，afterwhichheresumedhisformerleaningoverthewomanaswouldtheardentlover。Heheardthenoiseagainpresently，nowsonearthathemadesureofbeingoverheard，soatoncehespokewithaforcedcheerfulnessinhisinflection。 \"Itellyou，Mary，\"hedeclared，\"everything\'sgoingtobeallrightforyouandme。Itwasbullyofyoutocomeheretomelikethis。\" Thegirlmadenoresponse。Shelivedstillinthenightmareofmurder——thatnightmarewhereinshehadseenGriggsfalldeadtothefloor。 Dick，innervousapprehensionastotheissue，soughttobringhertorealizationofthenewneedthathadcomeuponthem。 \"Talktome，\"hecommanded，verysoftly。\"They\'llbehereinaminute。Whentheycomein，pretendyoujustcamehereinordertomeetme。Try，Mary。Youmust，dearest!\"Then，again，hisvoicerosetoloudness，ashecontinued。\"Why，I\'vebeentryingalldaytoseeyou。And，now，herewearetogether，justasI wasbeginningtogetreallydiscouraged……Iknowmyfatherwilleventually——\" Hewasinterruptedbytheswiftswingingopenofthehallwaydoor。Burkestoodjustwithinthelibrary，arevolverpointedmenacingly。 \"Handsup!——allofyou!\"TheInspector\'svoicefairlyroaredthecommand。 Thebelligerentexpressionofhisfacevanishedabruptly，ashiseyesfellonDickstandingbythecouchandMaryrecliningthereinlimphelplessness。Hissurprisewouldhavebeenludicrousbutfortheseriousnessofthesituationtoallconcerned。Burke\'sglancerovedtheroomsharply，andhewasquicklyconvincedthatthesetwowereinfacttheonlypresentspoilofhiscarefulplotting。Hisfacesetgrimly，forthedisappointmentofthisminutesurgedfiercelywithinhim。Hestartedtospeak，hiseyesloweringasheregardedthetwobeforehim。 ButDickforestalledhim。Hespokeinavoicecoldlyrepellent。 \"Whatareyoudoinginthishouseatthistimeofnight？\"hedemanded。Hismannerwasoneofsterndisapproval。\"Irecognizeyou，InspectorBurke。Butyoumustunderstandthattherearelimitseventowhatyoucando。Itseemstome，sir，thatyouexceedyourauthoritybysuchanintrusionasthis。\" Burke，however，wasnotawhitdismayedbytherebukeandtheairofrathercontemptuousdisdainwithwhichitwasuttered。HewavedhisrevolvertowardMary，merelyasagestureofinquisitiveness，withoutanythreat。 \"What\'sshedoinghere？\"heasked。Therewaswrathinhisroughvoice，forhecouldnotavoidthesurmisethathisshrewdlyconcoctedschemetoentrapthiswomanhadsomehowbeensetawry。 \"What\'sshedoinghere，Isay？\"herepeatedheavily。Hiskeeneyesweredartingoncemoreabouttheroom，questingsomecluetothisdisturbingmystery，sohatefultohispride。 Dick\'smannerbecamethatofthedevotedhusbandoffendedbyimpertinentobtrusion。 \"Youforgetyourself，Inspector，\"hesaid，icily。\"Thisismywife。Shehastherighttobewithme——herhusband!\" TheInspectorgrinnedsceptically。HewasmovednomoreeffectivelybyMary\'salmosthystericalefforttorespondtoherhusband\'sleading。 \"Whyshouldn\'tIbehere？Why？Why？I——\" Burkebrokeinonthegirl\'spitifulhistrionicsruthlessly。Hewasnotintheleastdeceived。Hewasawarethatsomethinguntoward，ashedeemedit，hadoccurred。Itseemedtohim，infact，thathisfinicalmechanismsfortheundoingofMaryTurnerwereinafairwaytobethwarted。Buthewouldnotgiveupthecausewithoutastruggle。Again，headdressedhimselftoDick，disregardingcompletelythealoofmanneroftheyoungman。 \"Where\'syourfather？\"hequestionedroughly。 \"Inbed，naturally，\"wastheanswer。\"Iaskyouagain:Whatareyoudoinghereatthistimeofnight？\" Burkeshookhisshouldersponderouslyinamovementofimpatienceoverthisprolongingofthefarce。 \"Oh，callyourfather，\"hedirecteddisgustedly。 Dickremonstratedwithanexcellentshowofdignity。 \"It\'slate，\"heobjected。\"I\'drathernotdisturbhim，ifyoudon\'tmind。Really，theideaisabsurd，youknow。\"Suddenly，hesmiledverywinningly，andspokewithagoodassumptionofingenuousness。 \"Inspector，\"hesaidbriskly，\"Isee，I\'llhavetotellyouthetruth。It\'sthis:I\'vepersuadedmywifetogoawaywithme。 She\'sgoingtogiveallthatothersortofthingup。Yes，we\'regoingawaytogether。\"Therewasgenuinetriumphinhisvoicenow。\"So，yousee，we\'vegottotalkitover。Now，then，Inspector，ifyou\'llcomebackinthemorning——\" Theofficialgrinnedsardonically。Hecouldnotintheleastguessjustwhathadinverydeedhappened，buthewasfartoocleveramantobebamboozledbyDick\'smaunderings。 \"Oh，that\'sit!\"heexclaimed，withobviousincredulity。 \"Ofcourse，\"Dickrepliedbravely，thoughheknewthattheInspectordisbelievedhispretenses。Still，forhisownpart，hewasinclinedasyettobeangryratherthanalarmedbythisfailuretoimpresstheofficer。\"Yousee，Ididn\'tknow——\" Andeveninthemomentofhissaying，thewhitebeamoftheflashingsearchlightfromtheTowerfellbetweentheundrawndraperiesoftheoctagonalwindow。ThelightstartledtheInspectoragain，asithaddoneoncebeforethatsamenight。Hisgazefolloweditinstinctively。So，withinthesecond，hesawthestillformlyingthereonthefloor——lyingwherehadbeenshadows，wherenow，forthepassingofaninstant，wasbrilliantradiance。 Therewasnomistakingthatawful，motionless，crumpledposture。 TheInspectorknewinthissingleinstantofviewthatmurderhadbeendonehere。EvenasthebeamoflightfromtheTowershiftedandvanishedfromtheroom，heleapedtotheswitchbythedoor，andturnedonthelightsofthechandelier。Inthenextmoment，hehadreachedthedoorofthepassageacrosstheroom，andhiswhistlesoundedshrill。Hisvoicebellowedreinforcementtotheblast。 \"Cassidy!Cassidy!\" AsDickmadeasteptowardhiswife，fromwhomhehadwithdrawnalittleinhiscolloquywiththeofficial，Burkevoicedhiscommandviciously: \"Staywhereyouare——bothofyou!\" Cassidycamerushingin，withtheotherdetectives。Hewasplainlysurprisedtofindtheroomsonearlyempty，wherehehadexpectedtobeholdagangofrobbers。 \"Why，what\'sitallmean，Chief？\"hequestioned。HispeeringeyesfellonDick，standingbesideMary，andtheyroundedinamazement。 \"They\'vegotGriggs!\"Burkeanswered。Therewasexceedingrageinhisvoice，ashespokefromhiskneelingposturebesidethebody，towhichhehadhurriedafterthesummonstohisaides。Hegloweredupintothebewilderedfaceofthedetective。\"I\'llbreakyouforthis，Cassidy，\"hedeclaredfiercely。\"Whydidn\'tyougethereontherunwhenyouheardtheshot？\" \"Buttherewasn\'tanyshot，\"theperplexedandalarmeddetectiveexpostulated。Hefairlystutteredintheearnestnessofhisself-defense。\"Itellyou，Chief，therehasn\'tbeenasound。\" Burkerosetohisfeet。Hisheavyfacewassetinitssternestmold。 \"Youcoulddriveahearsethroughtheholethey\'vemadeinhim，\" herumbled。HewheeledonMaryandDick。\"So!\"heshouted，\"nowit\'smurder!……Well，handitover。Where\'sthegun？\" Followedamoment\'spause。ThentheInspectorspokeharshlytoCassidy。Hestillfelthimselfsomewhatdazedbythisextraordinaryevent，buthewasabletocopewiththesituation。 HenoddedtowardDickashegavehisorder:\"Searchhim!\" Beforethedetectivecouldobeythedirection，Dicktooktherevolverfromhispocketwherehehadbestowedit，andhelditout。