第 16 节
作者:古诗乐      更新:2022-04-16 12:03      字数:9321
  you!  You bet your life!〃
  〃Thank you; Marty;〃 she said。  〃Well; then; how do you get into Mr。
  Hayden…Bond's house when; for instance; you are out late at night?〃
  〃I've got a key to the garage;〃 he answered。  〃The garage is
  attached to the house; though it opens on the side street。〃
  She held Out her hand。
  The Sparrow fished in his pocket; and extended the key without
  hesitation。
  〃It's for the small door; of course;〃 he explained。
  〃You haven't got a flashlight; I suppose?〃 she smiled。
  〃Sure!  There's plenty of 'em!  Each car's got one with its tools
  under the back seat。〃
  She nodded。
  〃And now; the library;〃 she said。  〃What part of the house is it
  in?  How is it situated?〃
  〃It's on the ground floor at the back;〃 he told her。  〃The little
  short passage from the garage opens on the kitchen; then the pantry;
  and then there's a little cross hallway; and the dining…room is on
  the left; and the library on the right。  But ain't I going with you?〃
  She shook her head again。
  〃You're going home; Marty … after you've sent me a taxicab。  If you
  were seen in that neighborhood now; let alone by any chance seen in
  the house; nothing could save you。  You understand that; don't you?
  Now; listen!  Find a taxi; and send it here。  Tell the chauffeur to
  pick me up; and drive me to the corner of the cross street; one block
  in the rear of Mr。 Hayden…Bond's residence。  Don't mention Hayden…Bond's
  name。  Give the chauffeur simply street directions。  Be careful that
  he is some one who doesn't know you。  Tell him he will be well paid
  … and give him this to begin with。〃 She thrust a banknote into the
  Sparrow's hand。  〃You're sure to find one at some all…night cabaret
  around here。  And remember; when you go home afterward; not a word
  to your mother!  And not a word to…morrow; or ever…to any one!
  You've simply done as you told your employer you were going to do
  … spent the night at home。〃
  〃But you;〃 he burst out; and his words choked a little。  〃I … I
  can't let you go; and …〃
  〃You said you would trust me; Marty;〃 she said。  〃And if you want
  to help me; as well; don't waste another moment。  I shall need every
  second I have got。  Quick!  Hurry!〃
  〃But …〃
  She pushed him toward the street。
  〃Run!〃 she said tensely。  〃Hurry; Marty; hurry!〃
  She drew back into the shadows。  She was alone now。  The Sparrow's
  racing footsteps died away on the pavement。  Her mind reverted to
  the plan that she had dimly conceived。  It became detailed; concrete
  now; as the minutes passed。  And then she heard a car coming along
  the previously deserted street; and she stepped out on the sidewalk。
  It was the taxi。
  〃You know where to go; don't you?〃 she said to the chauffeur; as
  the cab drew up at the curb; and the man leaned out and opened the
  door。
  〃Yes'm;〃 he said。
  〃Please drive fast; then;〃 she said; as she stepped in。
  The taxi shot out from the curb; and rattled forward at a rapid
  pace。  Rhoda Gray settled back on the cushions。  A half whimsical;
  half weary little smile touched her lips。  It was much easier; and
  infinitely safer; this mode of travel; than that of her earlier
  experience that evening; but; earlier that evening; she had had no
  one to go to a cab rank for her; and she had not dared to appear
  in the open and hail one for herself。  The smile vanished; and the
  lips became; pursed and grim。  Her mind was back on that daring;
  and perhaps a little dangerous; plan; that she meant to put into
  execution。  Block after block was traversed。  It was a long way
  uptown; but the chauffeur's initial and generous tip was bearing
  fruit。  The man was losing no time。
  Rhoda Gray calculated that they had been a little under half an
  hour in making the trip; when the taxi finally drew up and stopped
  at a corner; and the chauffeur; again leaning out; opened the door。
  〃Wait for me;〃 she instructed; and handed the man another tip … and;
  with a glance about her to get her location; she hurried around the
  corner; and headed up the cross street。
  She had only a block now to go to reach the Hayden…Bond mansion on
  the corner of Fifth Avenue ahead … less than that to reach the
  garage; which opened on the cross street here。  She had little fear
  of personal identification now。  Here in this residential section
  and at this hour of night; it was like a silent and deserted city;
  even Fifth Avenue; just ahead; for all its lights; was one of the
  loneliest places at this hour in all New York。  True; now and then;
  a car might race up or down the great thoroughfare; or a belated
  pedestrian's footsteps ring and echo hollow on the pavement; where
  but a few hours before the traffic…squad struggled valiantly; and
  sometimes vainly; with the congestion … but that was all。
  She could make out the Hayden…Bond mansion on the corner ahead of
  her now; and now she was abreast of the rather ornate and attached
  little building; that was obviously the garage。  She drew the key
  from her pocket; and glanced around her。  There was no one in sight。
  She stepped swiftly to the small door that flanked the big double
  ones where the cars went in and out; opened it; closed it behind
  her; and locked it。
  For a moment; her eyes unaccustomed to the darkness; she could see
  nothing; and then a car; taking the form of a grotesque; looming
  shadow; showed in front of her。  She moved toward it; felt her way
  into the tonneau; lifted up the back seat; and; groping around;
  found a flashlight。  She meant to hurry now。  She did not mean to
  let that nervous dread; that fear; that was quickening her pulse
  now; have time to get the better of her。  She located the door that
  led to the house; and in another moment; the short passage behind
  her; she was in the kitchen; the flashlight winking cautiously
  around her。  She paused to listen here。  There was not a sound。
  She went on again … through a swinging pantry door with extreme
  care; and into a small hall。  〃On the right;〃 the Sparrow had said。
  Yes; here it was; a door that opened on the rear of the library;
  evidently。  She listened again。  There was no sound … save the
  silence; that seemed to grow loud now; and palpitate; and make great
  noises。  And now; in spite of herself; her breath was coming in
  quick; hard little catches; and the flashlight's ray; that she sent
  around her; wavered and was not steady。  She bit her lips; as she
  switched off the light。  Why should she be afraid of this; when in
  another five minutes she meant to invite attention!
  She pushed the door in front of her open; found it hung with a heavy
  portiere inside; brushed the portiere aside; stepped through into
  the room; stood still and motionless to listen once more; and then
  the flashlight circled inquisitively about her。
  It was the library。  Her eyes widened a little。  At her left; over
  against the wall; the mangled door of a safe stood wide open; and
  the floor for a radius of yards around was littered with papers and
  documents。  The flashlight's ray lifted; and she followed it with
  her eyes as it made the circuit of the walls。  Opposite the safe;
  and quite near the doorway in which she stood; was a window recess;
  portiered; diagonally across from her was another door that led;
  presumably; into the main hall of the house; the walls were
  tapestried; and hung here and there with clusters of ancient
  trophies; great metal shields; and swords; and curious arms; that
  gave a sort of barbaric splendor to the luxurious furnishings of
  the apartment。
  She worked quickly now。  In a moment she was at the window portieres;
  and; drawing these aside; she quietly raised the window; and looked
  out。  The window was on the side of the house away from the cross
  street; and she nodded her head reassuringly to herself as she noted
  that it gave on a narrow strip of grass; it could not be called lawn;
  that separated the Hayden…Bond mansion from the house next door; that
  the window was little more than shoulder…high from the ground; and
  that the Avenue was within easy and inviting reach along that little
  strip of grass between the two houses。
  She left the window open; and retraced her steps across the room;
  going now to the littered mass of papers on the floor near the safe。
  She began to search carefully amongst them。  She smiled a little
  curiously as she came across the plush…lined jeweler's case that
  had contained the necklace; and which had evidently been
  contemptuously discarded by the Cricket and his confederates; but
  it took her longer to find the paper for which she was searching。
  And then she came upon it … a grease…smeared advertisement for some
  automobile appliances; a well…defined greasy finger…print at one
  edge … and thrust the paper into her pocket。
  And now suddenly her heartbeat began to quicken again until its
  thumping became tumultuous。  She was ready now。  She looked around
  her; using the flashlight; and her eyes rested appraisingly on one
  of the great clusters of shields and arms that hung low down on the
  wall between the window and the door by which she had entered。  Yes;
  that would do。  Her lips tightened。  It would have been so easy if
  there had not been that cash to account for!  She could replace
  the necklace; but she could not replace the cash …