the lost house-第1部分

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The　Lost　House

by　Richard　Harding　Davis





I

It　was　a　dull　day　at　the　chancellery。　His　Excellency　the　American
Ambassador　was　absent　in　Scotland；　unveiling　a　bust　to　Bobby　Burns；
paid　for　by　the　numerous　lovers　of　that　poet　in　Pittsburg；　the
First　Secretary　was　absent　at　Aldershot；　observing　a　sham　battle；
the　Military　Attache　was　absent　at　the　Crystal　Palace；　watching　a
foot…ball　match；　the　Naval　Attache　was　absent　at　the　Duke　of
Deptford's；　shooting　pheasants；　and　at　the　Embassy；　the　Second
Secretary；　having　lunched　leisurely　at　the　Artz；　was　now　alone；　but
prepared　with　his　life　to　protect　American　interests。　Accordingly；
on　the　condition　that　the　story　should　not　be　traced　back　to　him；
he　had　just　confided　a　State　secret　to　his　young　friend；　Austin
Ford；　the　London　correspondent　of　the　New　York　REPUBLIC。

〃I　will　cable　it；〃　Ford　reassured　him；　〃as　coming　from　a　Hungarian
diplomat；　temporarily　residing　in　Bloomsbury；　while　en　route　to　his
post　in　Patagonia。　In　that　shape；　not　even　your　astute　chief　will
suspect　its　real　source。　And　further　from　the　truth　than　that　I
refuse　to　go。〃

〃What　I　dropped　in　to　ask；〃　he　continued；　〃is　whether　the　English
are　going　to　send　over　a　polo　team　next　summer　to　try　to　bring　back
the　cup？〃

〃I've　several　other　items　of　interest；〃　suggested　the　Secretary。

〃The　week…end　parties　to　which　you　have　been　invited；〃　Ford
objected；　〃can　wait。　Tell　me　first　what　chance　there　is　for　an
international　polo　match。〃

〃Polo；〃　sententiously　began　the　Second　Secretary；　who　himself　was
a　crackerjack　at　the　game；　〃is　a　proposition　of　ponies！　Men　can　be
trained　for　polo。　But　polo　ponies　must　be　born。　Without　good
ponies〃

James；　the　page　who　guarded　the　outer　walls；　of　the　chancellery；
appeared　in　the　doorway。

〃Please；　Sir；　a　person；〃　he　announced；　with　a　note　for　the
Ambassador　says　it's　important。〃

〃Tell　him　to　leave　it；　said　the　Secretary。　〃Polo　ponies〃

〃Yes；　Sir；〃　interrupted　the　page。　〃But　'e　won't　leave　it；　not
unless　he　keeps　the　'arf…crown。〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake！〃　protested　the　Second　Secretary；　〃then　let　him
keep　the　half…crown。　When　I　say　polo　ponies；　I　don't　mean〃

James；　although　alarmed　at　his　own　temerity；　refused　to　accept　the
dismissal。　〃But；　please；　Sir；〃　he　begged；　〃I　think　the　'arf…crown
is　for　the　Ambassador。〃

The　astonished　diplomat　gazed　with　open　eyes。

〃You　thinkWHAT！〃　he　exclaimed。

James；　upon　the　defensive；　explained　breathlessly。

〃Because；　Sir；〃　he　stammered；　〃it　was　INSIDE　the　note　when　it　was
thrown　out　of　the　window。〃

Ford　had　been　sprawling　in　a　soft　leather　chair　in　front　of　the
open　fire。　With　the　privilege　of　an　old　school…fellow　and　college
classmate；　he　bad　been　jabbing　the　soft　coal　with　his
walking…stick；　causing　it　to　burst　into　tiny　flames。　His　cigarette
drooped　from　his　lips；　his　hat　was　cocked　over　one　eye；　he　was　a
picture　of　indifference；　merging　upon　boredom。　But　at　the　words　of
the　boy　his　attitude　both　of　mind　and　body　underwent　an　instant
change。　It　was　as　though　he　were　an　actor；　and　the　words　〃thrown
from　the　window　〃　were　his　cue。　It　was　as　though　he　were　a　dozing
fox…terrier；　and　the　voice　of　his　master　had　whispered　in　his　ear：
Sick'em！〃

For　a　moment；　with　benign　reproach；　the　Second　Secretary　regarded
the　unhappy　page；　and　then　addressed　him　with　laborious　sarcasm。

〃James；〃　he　said；　〃people　do　not　communicate　with　ambassadors　in
notes　wrapped　around　half…crowns　and　hurled　from　windows。　That　is
the　way　one　corresponds　with　an　organ…grinder。〃　Ford　sprang　to　his
feet。

〃And　meanwhile；〃　he　exclaimed　angrily；　〃the　man　will　get　away。〃

Without　seeking　permission；　he　ran　past　James；　and　through　the
empty　outer　offices。　In　two　minutes　he　returned；　herding　before　him
an　individual；　seedy　and　soiled。　In　appearance　the　man　suggested
that　in　life　his　place　was　to　support　a　sandwich…board。　Ford
reluctantly　relinquished　his　hold　upon　a　folded　paper　which　he　laid
in　front　of　the　Secretary。

〃This　man；〃　he　explained；　〃picked　that　out　of　the　gutter　in　Sowell
Street；　It's　not　addressed　to　any　one；　so　you　read　it！〃

I　thought　it　was　for　the　Ambassador！〃　said　the　Secretary。

The　soiled　person　coughed　deprecatingly；　and　pointed　a　dirty　digit
at　the　paper。　〃On　the　inside；〃　he　suggested。　The　paper　was　wrapped
around　a　half…crown　and　folded　in　at　each　end。　The　diplomat　opened
it　hesitatingly；　but　having　read　what　was　written；　laughed。

〃There's　nothing　in　THAT；〃　he　exclaimed。　He　passed　the　note　to
Ford。　The　reporter　fell　upon　it　eagerly。

The　note　was　written　in　pencil　on　an　unruled　piece　of　white　paper。
The　handwriting　was　that　of　a　woman。　What　Ford　read　was：

〃I　am　a　prisoner　in　the　street　on　which　this　paper　is　found。　The
house　faces　east。　I　think　I　am　on　the　top　story。　I　was　brought　here
three　weeks　ago。　They　are　trying　to　kill　me。　My　uncle；　Charles
Ralph　Pearsall；　is　doing　this　to　get　my　money。　He　is　at　Gerridge's
Hotel　in　Craven　Street；　Strand。　He　will　tell　you　I　am　insane。　My
name　is　Dosia　Pearsall　Dale。　My　home　is　at　Dalesville；　Kentucky；　U。
S。　A。　Everybody　knows　me　there；　and　knows　I　am　not　insane。　If　you
would　save　a　life　take　this　at　once　to　the　American　Embassy；　or　to
Scotland　Yard。　For　God's　sake；　help　me。〃

When　he　had　read　the　note；　Ford　continue　to　study　it。　Until　he　was
quite　sure　his　voice　would　not　betray　his　interest；　he　did　not
raise　his　eyes。

〃Why；〃　he　asked；　〃did　you　say　that　there's　nothing　in　this？〃

〃Because；〃　returned　the　diplomat　conclusively；　〃we　got　a　note　like
that；　or　nearly　like　it；　a　week　ago；　and〃

Ford　could　not　restrain　a　groan。　〃And　you　never　told　me！〃

〃There　wasn't　anything　to　tell；〃　protested　the　diplomat。　〃We　handed
it　over　to　the　police；　and　they　reported　there　was　nothing　in　it。
They　couldn't　find　the　man　at　that　hotel；　and；　of　course；　they
couldn't　find　the　house　with　no　more　to　go　on　than〃

〃And　so；〃　exclaimed　Ford　rudely；　〃they　decided　there　was　no　man；
and　no　house！〃

〃Their　theory；〃　continued　the　Secretary　patiently；　〃is　that　the
girl　is　confined　in　one　of　the　numerous　private　sanatoriums　in
Sowell　Street；　that　she　is　insane；　that　because　she's　under
restraint　she　IMAGINES　the　nurses　are　trying　to　kill　her　and　that
her　relatives　are　after　her　money。　Insane　people　are　always
thinking　that。　It's　a　very　common　delusion。〃

Ford's　eyes　were　shining　with　a　wicked　joy。　〃So；〃　he　asked
indifferently；　〃you　don't　intend　to　do　anything　further？〃

〃What　do　you　want　us　to　do？〃　cried　his　friend。　〃Ring　every
door…bell　in　Sowell　Street　and　ask　the　parlor…maid　if　they're
murdering　a　lady　on　the　top　story？〃

〃Can　I　keep　the　paper？〃　demanded　Ford。　〃You　can　keep　a　copy　of　it；〃
consented　the　Secretary。　〃But　if　you　think　you're　on　the　track　of
a　big　newspaper　sensation；　I　can　tell　you　now　you're　not。　That's
the　work　of　a　crazy　woman；　or　it's　a　hoax。　You　amateur
detectives〃

Ford　was　already　seated　at　the　table；　scribbling　a　copy　of　the
message；　and　making　marginal　notes。

〃Who　brought　the　FIRST　paper　？〃　he　interrupted。

〃A　hansom…cab　driver。〃

〃What　became　of　HIM？　〃　snapped　the　amateur　detective。

The　Secretary　looked　inquiringly　at　James。　〃He　drove　away；〃　said
James。

〃He　drove　away；　did　he？〃'　roared　Ford。　〃And　that　was　a　week　ago！　Ye
gods！　What　about　Dalesville；　Kentucky？　Did　you　cable　any　one
there？〃

The　dignity　of　the　diplomat　was　becoming　ruffled。

〃We　did　not！〃　he　answered。　〃If　it　wasn't　true　that　her　uncle　was　at
that　hotel；　it　was　probably　equally　untrue　that　she　had　friends　in
America。〃

〃But；〃　retorted　his　friend；　〃you　didn't　forget　to　cable　the　State
Department　that　you　all　went　in　your　evening　clothes　to　bow　to　the
new　King？　You　didn't　neglect　to　cable　that；　did　you？〃

〃The　State　Department；〃　returned　the　Secretary；　with　withering
reproof；　〃does　not　expect　us　to　crawl　over　the　roofs　of　houses　and
spy　down　chimneys　to　see　if　by　any　chance　an　American　citizen　is
being　murdered。〃

〃Well；〃　exclaimed　Ford；　leaping　to　his　feet　and　placing　his　notes
in　his　pocket；　〃fortunately；　my　paper　expects　me　to　do　just　that；
and　if　it　didn't；　I'd　do　it　anyway。　And　that　is　exactly　what　I　am
going　to　do　now！　Don't　tell　the　others　in　the　Embassy；　and；　for
Heaven's　sake；　don't　tell　the　police。　Jimmy；　get　me　a　taxi。　And
you；〃　he　commanded；　pointing　at　the　one　who　had　brought　the　note；
are　coming　with　me　to　Sowell　Street；　to　show　me　where　you　picked　up
that　paper。〃

On　the　way　to　Sowell　Street　Ford　stopped　at　a　newspaper　agency；　and
paid　for　the　insertion　that　afternoon　of　the　same　advertisement　in
three　newspapers。　It　read：　〃If　hansom…cab　driver　who　last　week
carried　note；　found　in　street；　to　American　Embassy　will　mail　his
address　to　X。　X。　X。；　care　of　GLOBE；　he　will　be　rewarded。〃

From　the　nearest　post…office　he　sent　to　his　paper　the　following
cable：　〃Query　our　local　correspondent；　Dalesville；　Kentucky；
concerning　Dosia　Pearsall　Dale。　Is　she　of　sound　mind；　is　she
heiress。　Who　controls　her　money；　what　her　business　relations　with
her　uncle　Charles　Ralph　Pearsall；　what　her　present　address。　If　any
questions；　say　inquiries　come　from　solicitors　of　Englishman　who
wants　to　marry　her。　Rush　answer。

Sowell　Street　is　a　dark；　dirty　little　thoroughfare；　running　for
only　one　block；　parallel　to　Harley　Street。　Like　it；　it　is　decorated
with　the　brass　plates　of　physicians　and　the　red　lamps　of　surgeons；
but；　just　as　the　medical　men　in　Harley　Street；　in　keeping　with　that
thoroughfare；　are　broad；　open；　and　with　nothing　to　conceal；　so
those　of　Sowell　Street；　like　their　hiding…place；　shrink　from
observation；　and　their　lives　are　as　sombre；　secret；　and　dark　as　the
street　itself。

Within　two　turns　of　it　Ford　dismissed　the　taxicab。　Giving　the
soiled　person　a　half…smoked　cigarette；　he　told　him　to　walk　through
Sowell　Street；　and　when　he　reached　the　place　where　he　had　picked　up
the　paper；　to　drop　the　cigarette　as　near　that　spot　as　possible。　He
then　was　to　turn　into　Weymouth　Street　and　wait　until　Ford　joined
him。　At　a　distance　of　fifty　feet　Ford　followed　the　man；　and　saw
him；　when　in　the　middle　of　the　block；　without　apparent　hesitation；
drop　the　cigarette。　The　house　in　front　of　which　it　fell　was　marked；
like　many　others；　by　the　brass　plate　of　a　doctor。　As　Ford　pa