the lost house-第3部分

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postman　made　his　rounds；　and　delivered　comic　postal…cards；　a
policeman；　shedding　water　from　his　shining　cape；　halted；　gazed
severely　at　the　sky；　and；　unconscious　of　the　crime　that　was　going
forward　within　the　sound　of　his　own　footsteps；　continued　stolidly
into　Wimpole　Street。

A　hundred　plans　raced　through　Ford's　brain；　he　would　arouse　the
street　with　a　false　alarm　of　fire　and　lead　the　firemen；　with　the
tale　of　a　smoking　chimney；　to　one　of　the　three　houses；　he　would
feign　illness；　and；　taking　refuge　in　one　of　them；　at　night　would
explore　the　premises；　he　would　impersonate　a　detective；　and　insist
upon　his　right　to　search　for　stolen　property。　As　he　rejected　these
and　a　dozen　schemes　as　fantastic；　his　brain　and　eyes　were　still
alert　for　any　chance　advantage　that　the　street　might　offer。　But　the
minutes　passed　into　an　hour；　and　no　one　had　entered　any　of　the
three　houses；　no　one　had　left　them。　In　the　lower　stories；　from
behind　the　edges　of　the　blinds；　lights　appeared；　but　of　the　life
within　there　was　no　sign。　Until　he　hit　upon　a　plan　of　action；　Ford
felt　there　was　no　longer　anything　to　be　gained　by　remaining　in
Sowell　Street。　Already　the　answer　to　his　cable　might　have　arrived
at　his　rooms；　at　Gerridge's　he　might　still　learn　something　of
Pearsall。　He　decided　to　revisit　both　these　places；　and；　while　so
engaged；　to　send　from　his　office　one　of　his　assistants　to　cover　the
Sowell　Street　houses。　He　cast　a　last；　reluctant　look　at　the　closed
blinds；　and　moved　away。　As　he　did　so；　two　itinerant　musicians
dragging　behind　them　a　small　street　piano　on　wheels　turned　the
corner；　and；　as　the　rain　had　now　ceased；　one　of　them　pulled　the
oil…cloth　covering　from　the　instrument　and；　seating　himself　on　a
camp…　stool　at　the　curb；　opened　the　piano。　After　a　discouraged
glance　at　the　darkened　windows；　the　other；　in　a　hoarse；　strident
tenor；　to　the　accompaniment　of　the　piano；　began　to　sing。　The　voice
of　the　man　was　raucous；　penetrating。　It　would　have　reached　the
recesses　of　a　tomb。

〃She　sells　sea…shells　on　the　sea…shore；〃　the　vocalist　wailed。　〃The
shells　she　sells　are　sea…shells；　I'm　sure。〃

The　effect　was　instantaneous。　A　window　was　flung　open；　and　an
indignant　householder　with　one　hand　frantically　waved　the　musicians
away；　and　with　the　other　threw　them　a　copper　coin。

At　the　same　moment　Ford　walked　quickly　to　the　piano　and　laid　a
half…crown　on　top　of　it。

〃Follow　me　to　Harley　Street；〃　he　commanded。　〃Don't　hurry。　Take　your
time。　I　want　you　to　help　me　in　a　sort　of　practical　joke。　It's　worth
a　sovereign　to　you。〃

He　passed　on　quickly。　When　he　glanced　behind　him；　he　saw　the　two
men；　fearful　lest　the　promised　fortune　might　escape　them；　pursuing
him　at　a　trot。　At　Harley　Street　they　halted；　breathless。

〃How　long；〃　Ford　demanded　of　the　one　who　played　the　piano；　〃will　it
take　you　to　learn　the　accompaniment　to　a　new　song？〃

〃While　you're　whistling　it；〃　answered　the　man　eagerly。

〃And　I'm　as　quick　at　a　tune　as　him；〃　assured　the　other　anxiously。
〃I　can　sing〃

〃You　cannot；〃　interrupted　Ford。　〃I'm　going　to　do　the　singing
myself。　Where　is　there　a　public…house　near　here　where　we　can　hire
a　back　room；　and　rehearse？〃

Half　an　hour　later；　Ford　and　the　piano…player　entered　Sowell　Street
dragging　the　piano　behind　them。　The　amateur　detective　still　wore
his　rain…coat；　but　his　hat　he　had　exchanged　for　a　cap；　and；　instead
of　a　collar；　he　had　knotted　around　his　bare　neck　a　dirty　kerchief。
At　the　end　of　the　street　they　halted；　and　in　some　embarrassment
Ford　raised　his　voice　in　the　chorus　of　a　song　well　known　in　the
music…halls。　It　was　a　very　good　voice；　much　too　good　for　〃open…air
work；〃　as　his　companion　had　already　assured　him；　but；　what　was　of
chief　importance　to　Ford；　it　carried　as　far　as　he　wished　it　to　go。
Already　in　Wimpole　Street　four　coins　of　the　realm；　flung　to　him
from　the　highest　windows；　had　testified　to　its　power。　From　the　end
of　Sowell　Street　Ford　moved　slowly　from　house　to　house　until　he　was
directly　opposite　the　three　in　one　of　which　he　believed　the　girl　to
be。　〃We　will　try　the　NEW　songs　here；〃　he　said。

Night　had　fallen；　and；　except　for　the　gas…lamps；　the　street　was
empty；　and　in　such　darkness　that　even　without　his　disguise　Ford　ran
no　risk　of　recognition。　His　plan　was　not　new。　It　dated　from　the
days　of　Richard　the　Lion…hearted。　But　if　the　prisoner　were　alert
and　intelligent；　even　though　she　could　make　no　answer；　Ford
believed　through　his　effort　she　would　gain　courage；　would　grasp
that　from　the　outside　a　friend　was　working　toward　her。　All　he　knew
of　the　prisoner　was　that　she　came　from　Kentucky。　Ford　fixed　his
eyes　on　the　houses　opposite；　and　cleared　his　throat。　The　man　struck
the　opening　chords；　and　in　a　high　barytone；　and　in　a　cockney　accent
that　made　even　the　accompanist　grin；　Ford　lifted　his　voice。

〃The　sun　shines　bright　on　my　old　Kentucky　home；〃　he　sang；　〃'tis
summer；　and　the　darkies　are　gay。〃

He　finished　the　song；　but　there　was　no　sign。　For　all　the　impression
he　had　made　upon　Sowell　Street；　he　might　have　been　singing　in　his
chambers。　〃And　now　the　other；〃　commanded　Ford。

The　house…fronts　echoed　back　the　cheering　notes　of　〃Dixie。〃　Again
Ford　was　silent；　and　again　The　silence　answered　him。　The
accompanist　glared　disgustedly　at　the　darkened　windows。

〃They　don't　know　them　songs；〃　he　explained　professionally。　〃Give
'em；　'Mollie　Married　the　Marquis。'〃

〃I'll　sing　the　first　one　again；〃　said　Ford。　Once　more　he　broke　into
the　pathetic　cadences　of　the　〃Old　Kentucky　Home。〃　But　there　was　no
response。　He　was　beginning　to　feel　angry；　absurd。　He　believed　he
bad　wasted　precious　moments；　and；　even　as　he　sang；　his　mind　was
already　working　upon　a　new　plan。　The　song　ceased；　unfinished。

〃It's　no　use！〃　he　exclaimed。　Remembering　himself；　he　added：　〃We'll
try　the　next　street。〃

But　even　as　he　spoke　he　leaped　forward。　Coming　apparently　from
nowhere；　something　white　sank　through　the　semi…darkness　and　fell　at
his　feet。　It　struck　the　pavement　directly　in　front　of　the　middle
one　of　the　three　houses。　Ford　fell　upon　it　and　clutched　it　in　both
hands。　It　was　a　woman's　glove。　Ford　raced　back　to　the　piano。

〃Once　more；〃　he　cried；　〃play　'Dixie'！〃

He　shouted　out　the　chorus　exultantly；　triumphantly。　Had　he　spoken
it　in　words；　the　message　could　not　have　carried　more　clearly。

Ford　now　believed　he　had　found　the　house；　found　the　woman；　and　was
eager　only　to　get　rid　of　his　companion　and；　in　his　own　person；
return　to　Sowell　Street。　But；　lest　the　man　might　suspect　there　was
in　his　actions　something　more　serious　than　a　practical　joke；　he
forced　himself　to　sing　the　new　songs　in　three　different　streets。
Then；　pretending　to　tire　of　his　prank；　he　paid　the　musician　and
left　him。　He　was　happy；　exultant；　tingling　with　excitement。
Good…luck　had　been　with　him；　and；　hoping　that　Gerridge's　might　yet
yield　some　clew　to　Pearsall；　he　returned　there。　Calling　up　the
London　office　of　the　REPUBLIC；　he　directed　that　one　of　his
assistants；　an　English　lad　named　Cuthbert；　should　at　once　join　him
at　that　hotel。　Cuthbert　was　but　just　out　of　Oxford。　He　wished　to
become　a　writer　of　fiction；　and；　as　a　means　of　seeing　many　kinds　of
life　at　first　hand；　was　in　training　as　a　〃Pressman。〃　His　admiration
for　Ford　amounted　to　almost　hero…worship；　and　he　regarded　an
〃assignment〃　with　his　chief　as　a　joy　and　an　honor。　Full　of
enthusiasm；　and　as　soon　as　a　taxicab　could　bring　him；　he　arrived　at
Gerridge's；　where；　in　a　corner　of　the　deserted　coffee…room；　Ford
explained　the　situation。　Until　he　could　devise　a　way　to　enter　the
Sowell　Street　house。　Cuthbert　was　to　watch　over　it。

〃The　number　of　the　house　is　forty；〃　Ford　told　him；　〃the　name　on　the
door…plate；　Dr。　Prothero。　Find　out　everything　you　can　about　him
without　letting　any　one　catch　you　at　it。　Better　begin　at　the
nearest　chemist's。　Say　you　are　on　the　verge　of　a　nervous　breakdown；
and　ask　the　man　to　mix　you　a　sedative；　and　recommend　a　physician。
Show　him　Prothero's　name　and　address　on　a　piece　of　paper；　and　say
Prothero　has　been　recommended　to　you　as　a　specialist　on　nervous
troubles。　Ask　what　he　thinks　of　him。　Get　him　to　talk。　Then　visit
the　trades…people　and　the　public…houses　in　the　neighborhood；　and
say　you　are　from　some　West　End　shop　where　Prothero；　wants　to　open
an　account。　They　may　talk；　especially　if　his　credit　is　bad。　And；　if
you　find　out　enough　about　him　to　give　me　a　working　basis；　I'll　try
to　get　into　the　house　to…night。　Meanwhile；　I'm　going　to　make
another　quick　search　of　this　hotel　for　Pearsall。　I'm　not　satisfied
he　has　not　been　here。　For　why　should　Miss　Dale；　with　all　the　hotels
in　London　to　choose　from；　have　named　this　particular　one；　unless
she　had　good　reason　for　it？　Now；　go；　and　meet　me　in　an　hour　in
Sowell　Street。〃

Cuthbert　was　at　the　door　when　he　remembered　he　had　brought　with　him
from　the　office　Ford's　mail　and　cablegrams。　Among　the　latter　was
the　one　for　which　Ford　had　asked。

〃Wait；〃　he　commanded。　〃This　is　about　the　girl。　You　had　better　know
what　it　says。〃　The　cable　read：

〃Girl　orphan；　Dalesville　named　after　her　family；　for　three
generations　mill…owners；　father　died　four　years　ago；　Pearsall
brother…in…law　until　she　is　twenty…one；　which　will　be　in　three
months。　Girl　well　known；　extremely　popular；　lived　Dalesville　until
last　year；　when　went　abroad　with　uncle；　since　then　reports　of
melancholia　and　nervous　prostration；　before　that　health
excellentno　signs　insanitynone　in　family。　Be　careful　how　handle
Pearsall；　was　doctor；　gave　up　practice　to　look　after　estate；　is
prominent　in　local　business　and　church　circles；　best　reputation；
beware　libel。〃

For　the　benefit　of　Cuthbert；　Ford　had　been　reading　the　cable　aloud。
The　last　paragraph　seemed　especially　to　interest　him；　and　he　read
it　twice；　the　second　time　slowly；　and　emphasizing　the　word
〃doctor。〃

〃A　doctor！〃　he　repeated。　〃Do　you　see　where　that　leads　us？　It　may
explain　several　things。　The　girl　was　in　good　health　until　went
abroad　with　her　uncle；　and　he　is　a　medical　man。〃

The　eyes　of　Cuthbert　grew　wide　with　excitement。

〃You　mean　poison！〃　he　whispered。　〃Slow　poison！〃

〃Beware　libel；〃　laughed　Ford　nervously；　his　own　eyes　lit　with
excitement。　〃Suppose；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃he　has　been　using　arsenic？　He
would　have　many　opportunities；　and　it's　colorless；　ta