the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第39章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the box of Reginal Maltravers were in the hands of Logan Black he could
at least trade the other oblong box to Loge for it； and thus save Lady
Agatha。 But in the possession of Wilton Barnstable； the great detective
！ Cleggett pulled himself together； he thought rapidly； he recognized
that the situation called； above all things else； for diplomacy and
adroitness。 He went on； nonchalantly：
〃I suppose you are aware of the contents of the box？〃
The other laughed again as if Cleggett had made an excellent jest；
there was something urbane and benign in his manner； it appeared as if he
regarded the contents of the box of Reginald Maltravers as anything but
serious； his tone puzzled Cleggett。
〃Suppose I bring the box on board the Jasper B。；〃 suggested the great
detective。 〃It interests me； that box。 I have no doubt it has its story。
And perhaps； while you are telling me some things about it； I may be able
to give you some information in turn。〃
There was no mistaking the fact that the man； whether genuinely
friendly or no； wished to appear so。
〃Have it brought into my cabin；〃 said Cleggett； 〃and we will discuss
it。〃
A few minutes later Wilton Barnstable； Cleggett； Lady Agatha； Miss
Pringle； and two of Wilton Barnstable's men sat in the cabin of the Jasper
B。； with the two oblong boxes before themthe one which had contained
Loge's incriminating diary； and the one which had caused Lady Agatha so
much trouble。
In the light of the cabin the three detectives were revealed as
startlingly alike。 Barton Ward and Watson Bard； Barnstable's two
134
… Page 135…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
assistants； might； indeed； almost have been taken for Barnstable himself；
at a casual glance。 In height； in bulk； in dress； in facial expression； they
seemed Wilton Barnstable all over again。 But； looking intently at the
three men； Cleggett began to perceive a difference between the real Wilton
Barnstable and his two counterfeits。 It was the difference between the face
which is informed of genius； and the countenance which is indicative of
mere talent。
〃Mr。 Cleggett；〃 began Wilton Barnstable； 〃as I said before； I will make
no attempt to mystify you。 I was a witness to the attack upon your vessel。
Mr。 Ward； Mr。 Bard； and myself； in fact； had determined to assist you； had
we seen that the combat was going against you。 We lay； during the
struggle； in the lee of youryourer； schooner！in the lee of your
schooner； armed； and ready to bear a hand。 We have our own little matter
to settle with Logan Black。 Why Logan Black should desire possession
of this particular box； I am unable to state。 Nevertheless； at the moment
when he was leading his assault upon your starboard bow； two of his men；
who had made a detour to the stern of your vessel； had clambered
stealthily aboard； and were quietly pushing the box over the side into the
canal。 They let themselves down into the water； and swam towards the
mouth of the canal； pushing it ahead of them。 We followed in our
rowboat； Mr。 Ward； Mr。 Bard； and myself； at a discreet distance。 We let
them push the box as far south as the Annabel Lee。 And then〃
He paused a moment； and smiled reminiscently。 Barton Ward and
Watson Bard also smiled reminiscently； and the three detectives
exchanged crafty glances。
〃Then； to be brief； we took the box away from them。 They were so
ill…advised as to struggle。 They are in irons； now； on board the Annabel
Lee。
〃But what I cannot understand； Mr。 Cleggett； is why these men should
risk so much to make off with an empty box。〃
〃An empty box！〃 cried Cleggett。
〃Empty！〃 echoed Lady Agatha and Miss Pringle； in concert。
135
… Page 136…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
The detective wrenched the cover from the box of Reginald
Maltravers。
〃Practically empty； at any rate；〃 he said。
And； indeed； except for a few wads of wet excelsior； there was nothing
in the box of Reginald Maltravers。
〃Where； then；〃 cried Lady Agatha； 〃is Reginald Maltravers？〃
〃Where； indeed；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； 〃is Reginald Maltravers？〃
〃Where； then；〃 cried Miss Pringle； 〃are my plum preserves？〃
〃Where； indeed？〃 repeated Wilton Barnstable。 And Barton Ward and
Watson Bard； although they did not speak aloud； stroked their mustaches
and their lips formed the ejaculation； 〃Where； indeed？〃
〃We will tell you everything；〃 said Cleggett。 And beginning with his
purchase of the Jasper B。 he recounted rapidly； but with sufficient detail；
all the facts with which the reader is already familiar； weaving into his
story the tale of Lady Agatha and the adventures of Miss Pringle。 Wilton
Barnstable listened attentively。 So did Barton Ward and Watson Bard。
The benign smile which was so characteristic of Wilton Barnstable never
left the three faces； but it was evident to Cleggett that these trained
intelligences grasped and weighed and ticketed every detail。
While Cleggett narrates； and Wilton Barnstable and his men listen； a
word to the reader concerning this great detective。
136
… Page 137…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XX
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
DETECTIVE
Wilton Barnstable was the inventor of a new school of detection of
crime。 The system came in with him； and it may go out with him for lack
of a man of his genius to perpetuate it。 He insisted that there was nothing
spectacular or romantic in the pursuit of the criminal； or； at least； that there
should be nothing of the sort。 And he was especially disgusted when
anyone referred to him as 〃a second Sherlock Holmes。〃
〃I am only a plain business man；〃 he would insist； urbanely； with a
wave of his hand。 〃I have merely brought order； method； system；
business principles； logic； to the detection of crime。 I know nothing of
romance。 Romance is usually all nonsense in my estimation。 The real
detective； who gets results in real life； is NOT a Sherlock Holmes。〃
The enemies of Wilton Barnstable sometimes said of him that he was
jealous of Sherlock Holmes。 When this was reported to Barnstable he
invariably remarked： 〃How preposterous！ The idea of a man being
envious of a literary creation！〃
Perhaps his denial of the existence of romance was merely one of
those poses which geniuses so often permit themselves。 Perhaps he saw
it and was thrilled with it even while he denied it。 At any rate； he lived in
the midst of it。 The realism which was his metier was that sort of realism
into which are woven facts and incidents of the most bizarre and startling
nature。
And； certainly； behind the light blue eyes that could look with such
apparent ingenuousness out of his plump； bland face there was the su
