the lost house-第6部分

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polite；　he　was　obviously　greatly　ill　at　ease。　He　had　the　abrupt；
inattentive　manners；　the　trembling　fingers　and　quivering　lips；　of
one　who　had　long　been　a　slave　to　the　drug　habit；　and　who　now；　with
difficulty；　was　holding　himself　in　hand。

Throughout　the　dinner；　speaking　to　him　as　though；　interested　only
as　his　medical　advisers；　the　Jew；　and　occasionally　the　American；
sharply　examined　and　cross…examined　their　visitor。　But　they　were
unable　to　trip　him　in　his　story；　or　to　suggest　that　he　was　not　just
what　he　claimed　to　be。

When　the　dinner　was　finished；　the　three　men；　for　different　reasons；
were　each　more　at　his　ease。　Both　Pearsall　and　Prothero　believed
from　the　new　patient　they　had　nothing　to　fear；　and　Ford　was
congratulating　himself　that　his　presence　at　the　house　was　firmly
secure。

〃I　think；〃　said　Pearsall；　〃we　should　warn　Mr。　Grant　that　there　are
in　the　house　other　patients　who；　like　himself；　are　suffering　from
nervous　disorders。　At　times　some　silly　neurotic　woman　becomes
hysterical；　and　may　make　an　outcry　or　scream。　He　must　not　think
〃

〃That's　all　right！〃　Ford　reassured　him　cheerfully。　〃　I　expect　that。
In　a　sanatorium　it　must　be　unavoidable。〃

As　he　spoke；　as　though　by　a　signal　prearranged；　there　came　from　the
upper　portion　of　the　house　a　scream；　long；　insistent。

It　was　the　voice　of　a　woman；　raised　in　appeal　；　in　protest；　shaken
with　fear。　Without　for　an　instant　regarding　it；　the　two　men
fastened　their　eyes　upon　the　visitor。　The　hand　of　the　Jew　dropped
quickly　from　his　beard；　and　slid　to　the　inside　pocket　of　his　coat。
With　eyes　apparently　unseeing；　Ford　noted　the　movement。

〃He　carries　a　gun；〃　was　his　mental　comment；　〃and　he　seems　perfectly
willing　to　use　it。〃　Aloud；　he　said：　〃That；　I　suppose　is　one　of
them？〃

Prothero　nodded　gravely；　and　turned　to　Pearsall。　〃Will　you　attend
her？〃　he　asked。

As　Pearsall　rose　and　left　the　room；　Prothero　rose　also。

〃You　will　come　with　me；〃　he　directed；　〃and　I　will　see　you　settle　in
your　apartment。　Your　bag　has　arrived　and　is　already　there。〃

The　room　to　which　the　Jew　led　him　was　the　front　one　on　the　second
story。　It　was　in　no　way　in　keeping　with　a　sanatorium；　or　a
rest…cure。　The　walls　were　hidden　by　dark　blue　hangings；　in　which
sparkled　tiny　mirrors；　the　floor　was　covered　with　Turkish　rugs；　the
lights　concealed　inside　lamps　of　dull　brass　bedecked　with　crimson
tassels。　In　the　air　were　the　odors　of　stale　tobacco…smoke；　of　cheap
incense；　and　the　sickly；　sweet　smell　of　opium。　To　Ford　the　place
suggested　a　cigar…divan　rather　than　a　bedroom；　and　he　guessed；
correctly；　that　when　Prothero　had　played　at　palmistry　and
clairvoyance　this　had　been　the　place　where　he　received　his　dupes。
But　the　American　expressed　himself　pleased　with　his　surroundings；
and　while　Prothero　remained　in　the　room；　busied　himself　with
unpacking　his　bag。

On　leaving　him　the　Jew　halted　in　the　door　and　delivered　himself　of
a　little　speech。　His　voice　was　stern；　sharp；　menacing。

〃Until　you　are　cured；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　not　put　your　foot　outside
this　room。　In　this　house　are　other　inmates　who；　as　you　have　already
learned；　are　in　a　highly　nervous　state。　The　brains　of　some　are
unbalanced。　With　my　associate　and　myself　they　are　familiar；　but　the
sight　of　a　stranger　roaming　through　the　halls　might　upset　them。
They　might　attack　you；　might　do　you　bodily　injury。　If　you　wish　for
anything；　ring　the　electric　bell　beside　your　bed　and　an　attendant
will　come。　But　you　yourself　must　not　leave　the　room。〃

He　closed　the　door；　and　Ford；　seating　himself　in　front　of　the　coal
fire；　hastily　considered　his　position。　He　could　not　persuade
himself　that；　strategically；　it　was　a　satisfactory　one。　The　girl　he
sought　was　on　the　top　or　fourth　floor；　he　on　the　second。　To　reach
her　he　would　have　to　pass　through　Well…　lighted　halls；　up　two
flights　Of　stairs　and　try　to　enter　a　door　that　would　undoubtedly　be
locked。　On　the　other　hand；　instead　of　wandering　about　in　the　rain
outside　the　house；　he　was　now　established　on　the　inside；　and　as　an
inmate。　Had　there　been　time　for　a　siege；　he　would　have　been
confident　of　success。　But　there　was　no　time。　The　written　call　for
help　had　been　urgent。　Also；　the　scream　he　had　heard；　while　the
manner　of　the　two　men　had　shown　that　to　them　it　was　a　commonplace；
was　to　him　a　spur　to　instant　action。　In　haste　he　knew　there　was　the
risk　of　failure；　but　he　must　take　that　risk。

He　wished　first　to　assure　himself　that　Cuthbert　was　within　call；
and　to　that　end　put　out　the　lights　and　drew　aside　the　curtains　that
covered　the　window。　Outside；　the　fog　was　rolling　between　the
house…fronts；　both　rain　and　snow　were　falling　heavily；　and　a
solitary　gas…lamp　showed　only　a　deserted　and　dripping　street。
Cautiously　Ford　lit　a　match　and　for　an　instant　let　the　flame　flare。
He　was　almost　at　once　rewarded　by　the　sight　of　an　answering　flame
that　flickered　from　a　dark　doorway。　Ford　closed　the　window；
satisfied　that　his　line　of　communication　with　the　outside　world　was
still　intact。　The　faithful　Cuthbert　was　on　guard。

Ford　rapidly　reviewed　each　possible　course　of　action。　These　were
several；　but　to　lead　any　one　of　them　to　success；　he　saw　that　he
must　possess　a　better　acquaintance　with　the　interior　of　the　house。
Especially　was　it　important　that　he　should　obtain　a　line　of　escape
other　than　the　one　down　the　stairs　to　the　front　door。　The　knowledge
that　in　the　rear　of　the　house　there　was　a　means　of　retreat　by　a
servants'　stairway；　or　over　the　roof　of　an　adjoining　building；　or
by　a　friendly　fire…　escape；　would　at　least；　lend　him　confidence　in
his　adventure。　Accordingly；　in　spite　of　Prothero's　threat；　he
determined　at　once　to　reconnoitre。　In　case　of　his　being　discovered
outside　his　room；　he　would　explain　his　electric　bell　was　out　of
order；　that　when　he　rang　no　servant　had　answered；　and　that　he　had
sallied　forth　in　search　of　one。　To　make　this　plausible；　he
unscrewed　the　cap　of　the　electric　button　in　the　wall；　and　with　his
knife　cut　off　enough　of　the　wire　to　prevent　a　proper　connection。　He
then　replaced　the　cap　and；　opening　the　door；　stepped　into　the　hall。

The　upper　part　of　the　house　was；　sunk　in　silence；　but　rising　from
the　dining…room　below；　through　the　opening　made　by　the　stairs；　came
the　voices　of　Prothero　and　Pearsall。　And　mixed　with　their　voices
came　also　the　sharp　hiss　of　water　issuing　from　a　siphon。　The　sound
was　reassuring。　Apparently；　over　their　whiskey…and…soda　the　two　men
were　still　lingering　at　the　dinner…table。　For　the　moment；　thenso
far；　at　least；　as　they　were　concerned　the　coast　was　clear。

Stepping　cautiously；　and　keeping　close　to　the　wall；　Ford　ran
lightly　up　the　stairs　to　the　hall　of　the　third　floor。　It　was　lit
brightly　by　a　gas…jet；　but　no　one　was　in　sight；　and　the　three　doors
opening　upon　it　were　shut。　At　the　rear　of　the　hall　was　a　window；
the　blind　was　raised；　and　through　the　panes；　dripping　in　the　rain；
Ford　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　rigid　iron　rods　of　a　fire…escape。　His
spirits　leaped　exultantly。　If　necessary；　by　means　of　this　scaling
ladder；　he　could　work　entirely　from　the　outside。　Greatly　elated；　he
tiptoed　past　the　closed　doors　and　mounted　to　the　fourth　floor。　This
also　was　lit　by　a　gas…jet　that　showed　at　one　end　of　the　hall　a
table　on　which　were　medicine…bottles　and　a　tray　covered　by　a
napkin；　and　at　the　other　end；　piled　upon　each　other　and　blocking
the　hall…window；　were　three　steamer…　trunks。　Painted　on　each　were
the　initials；　〃D。　D。〃　Ford　breathed　an　exclamation。

〃Dosia　Dale；〃　he　muttered；　〃I　have　found　you！〃　He　was　again
confronted　by　three　closed　doors；　one　leading　to　a　room　that　faced
the　street；　another　opening　upon　a　room　in　the　rear　of　the　house；
and　opposite；　across　the　hallway；　still　another　door。　He　observed
that　the　first　two　doors　were　each　fastened　from　the　outside　by
bolts　and　a　spring　lock；　and　that　the　key　to　each　lock　was　in
place。　The　fact　moved　him　with　indecision。　If　he　took　possession　of
the　keys；　he　could　enter　the　rooms　at　his　pleasure。　On　the　other
hand；　should　their　loss　be　discovered；　an　alarm　would　be　raised　and
he　would　inevitably　come　under　suspicion。　The　very　purpose　he　had
in　view　might　be　frustrated。　He　decided　that　where　they　were　the
keys　would　serve　him　as　well　as　in　his　pocket；　and　turned　his
attention　to　the　third　door。　This　was　not　locked；　and；　from　its
position；　Ford　guessed　it　must　be　an　entrance　to　a　servants'
stairway。

Confident　of　this；　he　opened　it；　and　found　a　dark；　narrow　landing；
a　flight　of　steps　mounting　from　the　kitchen　below；　and；　to　his
delight　an　iron　ladder　leading　to　a　trap…door。　He　could　hardly
forego　a　cheer。　If　the　trap…door　were　not　locked；　he　had　found　a
third　line　of　retreat；　a　means　of　escape　by　way　of　the　roof；　far
superior　to　any　he　might　attempt　by　the　main　staircase　and　the
street…door。

Ford　stepped　into　the　landing；　closing　the　door　behind　him　and
though　this　left　him　in　complete　darkness；　he　climbed　the　ladder；
and　with　eager　fingers　felt　for　the　fastenings　of　the　trap。　He　had
feared　to　find　a　padlock；　but；　to　his　infinite　relief；　his　fingers
closed　upon　two　bolts。　Noiselessly；　and　smoothly；　they　drew　back
from　their　sockets。　Under　the　pressure　of　his　hand　the　trap　door
lifted；　and　through　the　opening　swept　a　breath　of　chill　night　air。

Ford　hooked　one　leg　over　a　round　of　the　ladder　and；　with　hands
frees　moved　the　trap　to　one　side。　An　instant　later　he　had　scrambled
to　the　roof；　and；　after　carefully　replacing　the　trap；　rose　and
looked　about　him。　To　his　satisfaction；　he　found　that　the　roof　upon
which　he　stood　ran　level　with　the　roofs　adjoining　its　to　as　far　as
Devonshire　Street；　where　they　encountered　the　wall　of　an　apartment
house。　This　was　of　seven　stories。　On　the　fifth　story　a　row　of
windows；　brilliantly　lighted；　opened　upon　the　roofs　over　which　he
planned　to　make　his　retreat。　Ford　chuckled　with　nervous　excitement。

〃Before　long；〃　he　assured　himself；　I　will　be　visiting　the　man　who
owns　that　flat。　He　will　think　I　am　a　burglar。　He　will　send　for　the
police。　There　is　no　one　in　the　world　I　shall　be　so　glad　to　see！〃

Ford　considered　that　running　over　roofs；　even　when　their　pitfalls
were　not　concealed　by　a　yellow　fog；　was　an　awkward　exercise；　and
decided　that　before　he　made　his　dash　for　freedom；　the　part　of　a
carefu