Chapter 5 Actors and Alibi

Mr. Mendon Mandeville, manager of the theatre, was hurrying at this moment through the aisle behind the stage, which is really the aisle under the curtain.His attire was stylish and festive, a little too festive; the flowers in his buttonholes were festive; his boots were shiny and festive to look at; but there was nothing festive about his face. .He was a big man with a thick neck and thick black eyebrows, which were now darker than usual.A man in his line of work is evidently always plagued by a hundred annoyances; everything big and small, old and new.He was very angry when he walked down the aisle piled with old fairy-tale sets; because when he started, the theaters performed very popular fairy-tale plays, and he made a fortune, but then he couldn't help others. Coax, bet on more serious and classical drama, and spend a lot of money on it.If we have a chance to glimpse the fairyland in our childhood dreams, such as the sapphire blue gate of "Bluebeard's Blue Palace", or the corner of the magic orchard in "Golden Orange Tree", we will definitely have a feeling of returning to nature. But that was no consolation to Mr. Mandeville, and besides the scenery against the walls was already covered with cobwebs or gnawed out of holes by mice.He didn't have time to weep over losing money now, let alone visit Peter Pan's paradise; he was anxiously called to deal with real problems, not old ones but current troubles.This sort of thing is all too common in the little-known behind-the-scenes world; but it's serious enough to be taken seriously.Miss Maroni, a talented young Italian actress, is going to play an important role in a new play. The play will be rehearsed that afternoon and will be performed that night. But at this juncture, she suddenly loses her temper and says nothing. acted.Since the accident, he hasn't seen this maddening lady; judging by the posture, he probably won't be able to see her either, because the actress locked herself in the dressing room and let the outside mess up her Also ignored.Mr. Mendon Mandeville, a true Englishman, was not surprised by this, and murmured under his breath that gringos are all crazy; Like the memories of the past, they couldn't give him the slightest consolation.All this, and perhaps more, were disturbing enough; but a careful observer might feel that there was something wrong with Mr. Mandeville than simply being distracted.

If a rich and healthy man can look emaciated, this is what he looks like now.His face is full, but his eye sockets are deep-set; his lips are twitching constantly, as if he wants to bite the black mustache, but he misses it, and he can't bite it.He's like a first-timer on drugs; but even if that presupposes, he makes it seem justified; and it's not the drugs that cause the tragedy, it's the tragedy that causes the drugs.Whatever his deepest secrets seemed to lie at the dark end of the long passage, where the entrance to his small office was; But business mattered; and he walked to the opposite end of the passage, toward the green windowless door of Miss Maloney's retreat.A group of actors and other relevant personnel had already stood at the door, and they gathered there to discuss, some even thought about whether to use the battering ram in a whimsical way.Among the group was a well-known figure; many had his picture on their mantelpieces, or had his autographs in albums.Although Norman Knight's hero in the show is a bit vulgar, corny, and can only be regarded as the first supporting actor, but one thing is certain, he will have more success in the future.He was handsome, with a wide slit in the middle of his jaw and flaxen hair that fell across his forehead, giving him a resemblance to the tyrant Nero, but his looks didn't quite match his frizzy manner.Ralph Randall was also in the crowd, usually playing older characters, with a comical trowel face, clean-shaven bluish, oil paint covering the natural complexion.Also in the crowd was Mandeville's second supporting actor, a young man named Aubrey with curly black hair and a Jewish look who still hadn't lost the traditional image Dickens portrayed in Our Mutual Friend. Vernon.

There was also Mrs. Mandeville's maid and make-up artist, a stocky-looking woman with thick red hair and a stiff expression.Mrs. Mandeville herself was naturally present. She stood silently in the crowd, her face was pale and a little sick, but the lines of her face did not lose the classical symmetry and solemnity. Against the background, her face became more and more bloodless, and her light yellow hair was tied with two simple belts, like an antique statue of the Virgin Mary.Not everyone is aware that she was a smash hit, starring in Ibsen and other intellectually important plays.But her husband is not interested in dramas that reflect social issues, especially at the moment, when his immediate concern is how to coax the foreign actress out of the locked room; The opposite trick in "Conjure her out."

"Is she out yet?" he inquired, speaking not to his wife, but to her entourage. "No, sir," the woman--everyone called her Mrs. Sands--answered sadly. "We're all starting to get a little worried," said Randall Sr. "She seemed a little unhinged and we were all afraid that she would do something to hurt herself." "Damn it!" said Mandeville curtly. "This news will definitely cause a sensation, but we don't need to make a big publicity in this way. Are there any friends of hers here? Is there anyone who can persuade her?" "Jarvis thinks only the priest she trusts can persuade her, and that person is nearby," Randall said. "I hope the priest better hurry up before she hangs herself on the coat rack." Come here. Jarvis is looking for him . . . and, in fact, he is already here."

Two more figures appeared in this hidden off-stage passage: walking in front was Ashton Jarvis, a joking fellow who usually played the villain, but whose noble profession temporarily To a curly-haired young man with a big Jewish nose.The other was short, stocky, and swathed in black from head to toe; he was Father Brown, from a neighboring church. He came here to find out why one of his parishioners behaved so strangely, and to see if she was a black sheep or a lost sheep. To this request, Father Brown agreed easily, even a little casually.But he dismissed suggestions that she might kill herself.

"I think she always has a reason for losing her temper like that," he said. "Does anyone know why?" "I think she's not happy with the role," said the veteran actor. "They always do," growled Mendon Mandeville. "I thought my wife would handle the role assignments." "I can only say," said Mrs. Mendon Mandeville feebly, "that the part I have assigned her is probably the best. It is a beautiful heroine, and she will walk among flowers and applause." Going down the promenade and marrying a young, handsome leading man, that's what any little girl who aspires to be on stage would want, wouldn't it? A woman my age would just settle for an older, respectable leading man. Housewife, I was careful not to upstage her."

"Anyway, it's extremely inappropriate to change roles at this juncture," Randall said. "Don't even think about it," declared Norman Knight. "You know, I can't act that way—and besides, it's really too late." Father Brown came to the door and listened. "Is there no sound in there?" The manager asked anxiously; then he added in a low voice, "You said she committed suicide in there, didn't she?" "There is a voice inside," replied Father Brown calmly. "I reckon it was her smashing a window or a mirror, probably kicking her foot. It's all right; I don't think she's in danger of committing suicide. Kicking a mirror isn't a sign of suicide. If she's German, hide Get up and meditate quietly on metaphysics or pessimistic philosophy, and I'll slam that door down. Italians don't kill themselves so easily; they don't kill themselves when they're angry. Maybe -- yes, very Possibly - other people need to pay more attention, maybe she will rush out at any time."

"So you don't think it's necessary to slam the door down?" asked Mandeville. "If you're expecting her to be on stage, don't do it," Father Brown responded. "If you do that, she'll make a fuss and go away; you'll ignore her—perhaps she'll come out of curiosity instead. If I were you, I'd be left alone here, Let's watch the door for her, and then wait for an hour or two and you'll be fine." "In that case," said Mandeville, "we'll have to rehearse the parts she doesn't appear in first. My wife will arrange the stage scenery that is needed now. But fortunately, this fourth act is the main thing. You'd better go on thinking Find a way to get her out."

"There is no costume change for this rehearsal," Mrs. Mandeville told the others. "Great," said Knight, "no need to change costumes. These damn costumes are beautiful, but they're too much of a hassle to put on." "What play are you going to play?" the priest asked a little curiously. "'School of Rumors,'" Mandeville said. "It's quite literary, but what I want is drama. My wife likes her so-called classic comedy. But it's not so funny to focus on the classics." At this moment, the old man who guarded the theater came over tremblingly.His name was Sam, and he was the only one who lived in the theater after it closed.He came up to the manager, handed him a card, and said it was Miss Miriam Madden who wanted to see him.He turned away, while Father Brown blinked for a moment in the direction of the manager's wife, and found a smile on her pale face; but it was not a happy smile.

Father Brown walked away with the man who called him, who happened to be a friend of his, and a man of the same faith, and there were not a few religious people in the cast.As he was leaving, however, he heard Mrs. Mandeville whispering orders to Mrs. Sands to stand by the closed door. "Mrs. Mandeville seems to be a very intelligent woman," said the priest to his companion, "though she is deliberately restrained." "She was once a very good intellectual woman," said Jarvis lamentingly. "It has been said that her talent was wasted by marrying such an upstart as Mandeville. You know, she had a great sense of theater Ideal; but, of course, she seldom gets her husband to see things that way. Do you know? Her husband wants such a lady to play a little boy in a fairy tale. He admits his own The wife is good at acting, but says she earns more in fairy tales. From that you can gauge her husband's level of insight and sensitivity. But she never complains. She once said to me:' Complaints, after all, reflect back from the ends of the world; but silence makes us strong." Had she married a man who understood her, she would have been a great actress of her day; indeed, tasteful critics still I have high expectations for her. It's a pity that she married such a person."

Jarvis pointed to the huge black figure of Mandeville, who was now turning his back to them, talking to the lady who had beckoned him to the front hall.Lady Miriam was tall, graceful, but somewhat languid, dressed in a more recent style, largely modeled on Egyptian mummies, which gave her a dignified appearance; her thinly cropped black hair She was sharp and sharp, like wearing a helmet, and her lips were painted with rich lipstick, which was extremely conspicuous, and the contemptuous expression was fixed on her face like this.Her companion was an unusually vivacious lady, with an impressively ugly face and powdered hair that was all grey.She was Miss Teresa Talbot, and she talked endlessly, and her companion seemed too tired to open his mouth.However, just as the actor and the priest walked by, Ms. Miriam finally cheered up and said: "The play is boring; but I've never seen a rehearsal without costumes. Maybe it would be fun. I don't know why, these days, I can't find anything new that I haven't seen." "Now, Mr. Mandeville," said Miss Talbot, clapping him on the arm excitedly, "you'll show us the rehearsal. We can't come to-night, and don't really want to come then. We just want to see a bunch of clowns in costumes that don't match their status." "Of course, I can provide you with a box if you wish," Mandeville said hastily. "This way, ladies, please." So the manager led them into another passage. "I wonder," said Jarvis thoughtfully, "whether Mandeville liked that kind of woman." "Then," asked his fellow priest, "what reason do you have for thinking that Mandeville really liked her?" Jarvis stared at him for a moment before answering. "Mandeville is a mystery," he said gravely. "Well, yes, I know he looks just like any normal guy you see anywhere in Piccadilly. Still, he's got a secret. He's haunted and lives in the shadows. Don't know if Because he has an ulterior secret, he will neglect his wife and flirt with others. If that is the case, things are not as simple as they appear. In fact, I happen to know a little more than others, of course this is pure It was accidental. But even if I knew those things, I can't think of a reason, I can only say it's a mystery." He looked around the lobby to make sure no one else was around before adding in a low voice: "I can tell you, because I know you are a tight-lipped type, like a tower of silence. One day a strange thing happened to me that shocked me; there have been many times since that day. You know, Mandeville always works in the little room at the end of the passage, just below the stage. I've passed by there more than once when everyone thought he was the only one in there; The ladies here, and all the women who might have been involved with him, were either absent or at their usual posts." "All the women?" asked Father Brown curiously. "There's another woman with him," Jarvis almost whispered. "There was a woman who was always looking for him; a woman we didn't know. I don't even know how she got in, because no one went through the passage to the manager's door; but one evening, I seemed to see Once a person came out of the back door of a theater with a veil or a cloak and disappeared like a ghost. But she was definitely not a ghost. And I don't believe that this is just a normal affair between men and women at all. I think it is not an affair, but blackmail." "Why do you think that?" asked another. "Because," said Jarvis, his expression changing from serious to grim, "I once heard what seemed to be a quarrel; and then heard the strange woman say coldly and menacingly: 'I am your wife.'" "You think he committed bigamy," thought Father Brown. "Of course, bigamy is often associated with blackmail. But she could be blackmailing, or she could be bluffing. Maybe she's crazy. People in these theater circles always get bigoted. You might be right, It's just that I shouldn't jump to conclusions... Speaking of drama circles, rehearsals are about to begin, aren't you an actor?" "I didn't have a part in that scene," Jarvis said with a laugh. "You know, they'll have to rehearse that scene until your Italian friends come to their senses." "Speaking of my Italian friend," said the priest, "I want to see if she has calmed down." "Let's go back together, if you like," said Jarvis; and they were back again in the long narrow passage below the stage, between Mandeville's office at one end and Ms. Maroney's closed door at the other. .The door seemed to be still closed; Mrs. Sands sat sternly outside, as motionless as a wooden statue. They were near the other end of the aisle when they saw a few rehearsal performers going up the stairs to the stage just above.Vernon and old Randall walked ahead, running quickly up the steps; but Mrs. Mandeville moved relatively slowly, maintaining a dignified and dignified posture, while Norman Knight seemed to slow down on purpose, apparently To talk to her.When the priest and Jarvis passed by, they had no intention of eavesdropping, but a few words of the conversation still drifted to their ears. "I tell you, a woman came to him," Knight said angrily. "Shh!" The lady's voice was sweet, but soft and firm. "You shouldn't say that. Remember, he's my husband." "I wish I could forget about it," said Knight, and he ran up the steps to the stage. The lady walked behind him, still composed, and went to play her part. "Others know about it," the priest said calmly, "but I feel that it has nothing to do with us." "Yeah," Jarvis murmured, "it seems like everyone knows, but no one really understands what's going on." They came to the other end of the passage, where the rigid squire sat just outside the Italian's door. "No; she hasn't come out yet," said the woman with a dark face. "She's still alive, because I hear her walking up and down now and then. I don't know what tricks she's playing." "Ma'am, do you know," asked Father Brown, politely but a little stiffly, "where is Mr. Mandeville?" "Yes," she replied instantly. "A minute or two ago, I saw him go into the little room down the passage; just before the prompter spoke and the curtain went up—must still be there, I didn't see him come out." "You mean, there's no other door to his office," said Father Brown casually. "Well, I guess, even if Miss Italy is still sulking, rehearsals are in full swing." "Yeah," said Jarvis after a moment of silence, "I can hear the stage from here. Old Randall has a good voice." At that moment, both of them put their ears to listen, and they could vaguely hear the deep and resonant voices of the actors on the stage floating down the stairs and through the passage.Before they could resume talking or regain their composure, another voice entered their ears.The sound was muffled but distinctly heavy, and came from behind the closed door of Mendon Mandeville's private chamber. Father Brown rushed through the passage like an arrow from the string, and twisted the doorknob hard. Jarvis shuddered, came to his senses, and hurriedly followed. "The door is locked," the priest said, turning his pale face. "I'm now firmly in favor of banging the door open." "You mean," Jarvis asked, distraught, "that the unidentified visitor has gone in again? Are you serious?" After a moment, he added: "I might be able to turn the deadbolt; I know how these doors work." locked." He took out a pocket knife with a long steel blade, knelt by the door and tinkered with it for a while, and the door of the manager's office opened.As soon as they entered, they noticed that there were no other doors or even windows in the room, and it was all lit by a single electric lamp on the table.But it wasn't that that really caught their eyes first, because before that they saw Mandeville lying face down in the middle of the room, with blood spilling from under his face like a nest of scarlet vipers Creeping, glowing sinister in the dim lights of the claustrophobic space. The two looked at each other, and after an unknown amount of time, Jarvis finally spoke, as if he couldn't hold back, he vomited out in one breath: "If the stranger got in a certain way, she got out the same way." "Maybe we're too obsessed with strangers," Father Brown said. "There are so many strange things in this weird theater that you will naturally overlook some things." "What is it, what do you mean?" asked his friend at once. "There are many," said the priest. "For example, there is another closed door." "But that door is still locked," Jarvis shouted, staring. "But you forgot about it," said Father Brown.After a moment, he said, as if thinking carefully: "Mrs. Sands is a typical bad-tempered and always sullen person." "You mean," another whispered, "she's lying and the Italian is out?" "No," said the priest calmly, "I'm just saying that it objectively reflects a person's character." "You're not going to say," exclaimed the actor, "that Mrs. Sands did it?" "I mean it doesn't reflect her character," Father Brown said. While they were having this confusing exchange, Father Brown knelt down and confirmed that the man was completely hopeless.Next to the body, there was a theatrical dagger, but it was impossible to see it at a glance from the doorway; it fell to the ground as if it had fallen off a wound, or the killer dropped it there by mistake.Jarvis recognized it, and, according to him, it was useless to wait for forensic experts to take fingerprints.It was a prop dagger; that is to say, it belonged to no one; it had been in the troupe for a long time, and everybody might have taken it.Then the priest stood up and scanned the room earnestly. "We've got to send for the police," he said, "and a doctor, though it's too late. By the way, from this room, I can't imagine how our Italian friends did it." .” "That Italian!" cried his friend, "I don't think she did it. If anyone had an alibi, I think she's the one. The two separate rooms, both locked and They are at the two ends of a long and narrow passage, and there is a witness standing there all the time." "No," said Father Brown. "Not really. The trouble is how she got in this way. I think she might have gone out that way." "How come?" asked another. "I told you," said Father Brown, "that she seemed to be smashing glass--a mirror or a window. I'm such a fool not to remember things I know; she's very superstitious. She doesn't Probably broke the mirror; so I deduce she broke the window. It's all underground here; but there must be a skylight or something opening somewhere. But there's nothing like that in here." He stared intently at the ceiling Been looking for it for a while. Suddenly, he was angry again. "We've got to go upstairs and make a phone call and tell everybody about it. It's such a pain... My Lord! Can you hear that? Are the actors upstairs still yelling? The rehearsal is still going on. I guess this is what they call tragic irony." This theater is destined to become a hall of mourning, and this is an opportunity for actors to demonstrate the many true virtues that are inherent in them and in the industry.They were, as it is often said, gentlemanly; not just acting.While not everyone liked and trusted Mandeville, they knew what to say on the occasion; they not only showed sympathy for the manager's widow, they wanted to comfort her.In this new and different scene, she is the heroine of tragedy—her slightest word is considered law, and while she ambles with grief, others are willing to run for her rear. "She's always been strong," said old Randall hoarsely, "and she's got more brains than the rest of us. Poor Mandeville, of course, isn't as educated and in many ways; but she's been doing her best. , very well done. Sometimes she talks about how she really wanted to live a cultured life, and it hurts to think of the way she said it; but Mandeville- well, as they say, dead Don’t say it.” Then the old man shook his head and walked away with a sigh. "That's right, death is nothing," Jarvis said coldly. "I don't think Randall has ever heard the story of the strange female visitor. By the way, don't you think that's what the strange woman did?" "That depends," said the priest, "who you mean by the strange woman." "Oh! I didn't mean the Italian woman," Jarvis argued hastily. "But, to be honest, you were quite right about her. They entered the room and found it empty, except for the smashed skylight; but from what the police have found so far, She just went home and didn't hurt anyone. No, I mean the woman who secretly met with the manager and blackmailed him; the woman who claimed to be his wife. Do you think she was really the manager's wife?" "It's possible," said Father Brown, his eyes becoming blank and empty, "that she really is the manager's wife." "We can assume that the manager's bigamy aroused her jealousy, which was the motive," Jarvis responded, "and that the deceased was not robbed. There is no need to investigate dirty servants or penniless actors. But That being the case, have you noticed the weirdness of this case?" "I've noticed several oddities," said Father Brown. "Which one are you referring to?" "I mean the collective alibi," Jarvis said gravely. "It is not often that the whole troupe has a public alibi like this; all are on a brightly lit stage and can testify to each other's alibi. Our friends should be thankful that poor Mandeville arranged Two unsuspecting socialites watched the rehearsal from the box. They can attest that there was no break in the act and that the actors were on stage at all times. When Mandeville was last seen entering the room, the rehearsal had already begun ...after you and I found his body, they continued for at least five or ten minutes. And, again, by a lucky coincidence, all the characters happened to be on stage when we heard the sound of the manager collapsing. " "Yes, that's really important, and it makes everything simpler," Father Brown nodded in agreement. "Let's take an inventory of those who have an alibi. Randall first: I can imagine how much Randall hates the manager, even though he just hid his feelings well just now. But he's ruled out; because He was responsible for the thunderous roar we heard from the stage. Then our young hero, Mr. Knight: I have every reason to believe that he loves Mandeville's wife, and he doesn't try to hide it This affection; but he was also excluded because he was also on stage at the time, and he was under the scolding of Randall. Then there was Aubrey Vernon, the affable Jew, who was also excluded; then Mander Mrs. Vail, she too was excluded. Their collective alibi, as you say, was chiefly from Lady Miriam and her friends in the box; but the scene was done in one go, the routine of the theatre. It has not been interrupted, which is accepted as common-sense corroboration. However, the legal witnesses are Miss Miriam and her friend Miss Talbot. I suppose you are sure they are all right?" "Miss Miriam?" said Jarvis, startled. "Oh, yes . . . I think you see her as a temptress. You don't know how even ladies dress up these days. Besides, do you have any particular reason for questioning their proof?" "It's nothing special, it's just that this is going to get us into trouble," Father Brown said. "Haven't you noticed? This collective alibi covers everyone. There were only those four actors in the theater at the time; except for old Sam who guarded the only entrance to the theater, and the woman who guarded Miss Maroney's door, there is no There are no other servants either. You and I are the only possible perpetrators. Of course we could be charged with a crime, especially since we found the body. It doesn't look like there is anyone else to charge. I think you You won't kill him while I'm not paying attention, will you?" Jarvis couldn't help moving, raised his head, and was stunned for a while, then he grinned, and a smile appeared on his dark face.He shook his head. "You didn't do it," said Father Brown. "Then, for the sake of discussion, we may as well assume that I didn't do it either. The people on the stage are eliminated, so there is only Miss Italy who stays behind closed doors, and her." The sentry at the door, and then there's old Sam. Or do you think the two ladies in the box should be counted too? Of course they might slip out of the box." "No," said Jarvis, "I think the mysterious woman who came and said she was Mandeville's wife should be counted." "Perhaps she is his wife," said the priest; and this time something in the calm voice of the priest seemed to irritate his companion, who stood up abruptly and leaned across the table. "May we say," he said eagerly, lowering his voice, "that the first wife was jealous of the other wife." "No," said Father Brown. "She might be jealous of the Italian girl, and she might be jealous of Lady Miriam Madden. But she's not jealous of the other wife." "Why not?" "Because there is no other wife," said Father Brown. "In my opinion, Mr. Mandeville is not only not guilty of bigamy, but is also a very specific person. His wife is so important to him; so important that you all take her for granted. But I don't understand." How she went up to him and killed him, because we all agree that she's been performing at the footlights. And it's an important role, it's so..." "Do you really think," cried Jarvis, "that the strange woman haunting the manager like a ghost is the Mrs. Mandeville we all know?" But he got no answer; The expression is like a nerd.His dumbest moments are also his most intelligent. The next moment, he got up in a hurry, looking tired and anxious. "It was horrible," he said. "I don't know if this is the worst case I've ever had; but I must find out. Would you please ask Mrs. Mandeville if I could speak to her in private?" "Oh, of course," Jarvis said, turning to the door. "What's wrong with you?" "Just hating myself for being stupid," said Father Brown. "It's a common complaint in this world of misery. I was so foolish as to forget that the play was The School of Rumors." He walked around the room restlessly, until Jarvis appeared at the door again with a strange expression and even a little panic. "I can't find her anywhere," he said. "No one seems to have seen her." "They haven't seen Norman Knight, have they?" asked Father Brown dryly. "Okay, save what may have been the most painful interview of my life. Thank God, I was almost afraid of that woman. But she was also afraid of me; afraid of what I saw and said. Knight always Begged her to elope with him. And now she does; I feel so sorry for Nate." "Sorry for him?" Jarvis asked. "Yeah, running off with a murderer is not a good thing," said another flatly. "But in reality, her crime was worse than murder." "What is that?" "An egoist," said Father Brown. "She is the kind of person who would rather look at herself in the mirror than look out of the window. This is the greatest disaster in the world. The mirror brought her bad luck; but her bad luck came from the mirror being unbroken." .” "I don't understand what the hell you're talking about," Jarvis said. "Everyone thinks she's someone with high ideals, almost reaching a spiritual level that transcends all of us..." "She's made a brilliant image of herself," said another, "and knows how to hypnotize everyone into believing that image. Maybe I haven't known her long enough for me to be mesmerized by her. But not long after I saw her, I knew who she was." "Oh, come on," exclaimed Jarvis, "I'm sure she treated the Italian well." "Her behavior has always been beautiful," said another. "Everyone I've met has been raving about her, saying how refined she is, how sharp, and how far above poor Mandeville in spirit. But it seems to me that all of her sharpness and spirituality make her他们昏了头，只能得出一个结论，她确实是个淑女，而她丈夫确实不是个绅士。可是，你知道吗，我从来都不是很肯定，天堂的守门人圣彼得会把这一套当做衡量人是否有资格升入天国的唯一标准。 “此外，”他继续说道，人也更为活跃了，“当我听到她的第一句话时，我就觉得她没有真正善待那个可怜的意大利人，她的好意是通过冷冰冰的慷慨表现出来的。等我知道那出戏是《造谣学校》时，我就全明白了。” “你说的太快，我有点跟不上了，”贾维斯有些困惑地说。“跟演哪出戏有什么关系吗？” “好吧，”神父说，“她说过她让那女孩扮演美丽的女主人公，而自己退居其后演一个年岁大一些的女监护人。这个说法几乎适用于任何一出戏；但在这一出特别的戏里，则是歪曲事实。她的意思只能是，她提供给另一位女演员的角色是玛利亚，那几乎算不上是个角色。而那位无足轻重、不出风头的已婚女士的角色，恕我直言，肯定是梯泽尔太太，在这出戏里，她是任何女演员都想演的角色。如果那个意大利人真是一流演员，并事先得到承诺让她出演一流角色，那么她大发雷霆的理由，或者至少是原因就很清楚了。一般来说，意大利人的狂怒不是无缘无故的：拉丁人是讲逻辑的，发怒总会有理由。这件小事给了我启示，明白了曼德维尔太太所谓的慷慨。另外，还有一件事。我说桑兹夫人阴沉的相貌是其性格的反映，你当时还笑话我；其实反映出的不是桑兹夫人的性格。可这是真的。要是你想了解一位女士的真实面目，别在她身上找；因为你可能不够聪明，看不穿她的伪装。也别从她周围的男士那里找线索，因为他们也许都被她愚弄了。但是你可以去看一看总是在她身边的其他女士，尤其是她的下人。从那里你会发现她的真实面目，而从桑兹夫人那里映照出来的是一张丑陋的脸。 “她还给人留有许多其他的印象，又该如何解释呢？我听了不少说法，都说可怜的老曼德维尔与她不般配；但是都在说老经理配不上她，我敢肯定这些都是间接从她那边传出来的。即使这样，谣言终究会露馅。很明显，大家都说听过她的倾诉，说自己在精神上感到多么困惑和孤独。你亲口说过她从不抱怨；并且引用她的话，说她如何默默地承受，使她的灵魂变得坚强。这是值得注意的；这种风格明确无误。喜欢抱怨的人其实是快乐的，只不过从天主教的角度看有一些人性上的小缺点；我倒是对他们并不介意。但是那些标榜自己从不抱怨的人就像魔鬼一样。他们真的很邪恶；就好比表面上自诩清心寡欲，本质上却在搞拜伦式的撒旦崇拜，难道不是这样吗？她的事我都听说了；但我从来没听到过值得她抱怨的任何事。之前没有人提到她丈夫酗酒，或者虐待她，或者不给她生活费，更不用说不忠的行为，直到出现了秘密会面的传言，其实那不过是她的一种戏剧化的癖好，在他办公室里用一种夫妻间的方式纠缠他。如果有人只看事实，不去理会她四处诉苦，刻意营造受苦受难的印象，就会发现实际情况完全相反。为了取悦妻子，曼德维尔不惜放弃赚钱的童话剧；为了哄妻子开心，他在古典戏剧上赔了不少钱。曼德维尔太太可以任意安排布景与家具。她想要演出谢立丹的戏剧，她如愿以偿；她想得到梯泽尔太太这个角色，她也得到了满足；她在那时提出不穿戏服排演，她也实现了。今天这一连串不寻常的事件说不定正是她所期望的。” “可是你这一番长篇大论又能证明什么呢？”演员问，他还从没听自己的教士朋友发表过如此宏论。“我们在这里探讨的心理学问题似乎与谋杀的事离题千里了。她可能和奈特私奔了；她可能愚弄了兰德尔；她也可能愚弄了我。可她还是没法杀害她丈夫——每个人都确信她在整幕戏中都在舞台上。她或许是个坏女人；但她又不是女巫。” “呃，我可不那么确定，”布朗神父微笑着说。“但是在这个案子里，她不需要施展巫术。我现在知道确实是她干的，手法真的很简单。” “你凭什么这么肯定？”贾维斯满脸困惑地问。 “因为这出戏是《造谣学校》，”布朗神父回答说，“而且排演的是其中特定的一幕。我要提醒你，我刚才说过，她可以随意选择家具的摆放方式。我还要提醒你，这个舞台是为了上演童话剧而建的；那上面自然少不了暗门与密道之类的。你说证人们可以证实她们看到所有的演出者都在台上。我要再次提醒你，在《造谣学校》最重要的一幕中，一位主要演员要在台上待很久，但没人能看到。从技术上讲，她'在'舞台上，但实际上她又'不在'。这就是梯泽尔太太的屏风与曼德维尔太太的不在场证明。” 一阵沉寂过后，演员说：“你认为她躲在屏风后面，钻过暗门，去了舞台下面，也就是经理室里？” “她一定是以某种方式离开的；而那是最可行的方式，”对方说。“我想，这种可能性很大，因为她可以利用便服排演这个机会，她甚至刻意作出了这种安排。这只是一个猜测；但是我可以想象，要是穿上戏服去排演的话，想穿着18世纪带裙撑的裙子穿过暗门要困难得多。当然，还有其他一些小麻烦，不过我想它们都已被逐个解决了。” “还有一个重要的问题我想不明白，”贾维斯说着，一边哀叹一边用手托着脑袋。“我只是无法相信，那么光彩照人又宁静祥和的人会有如此不端的行为，可以这样说，她在道德上是无可指摘的。她有那么强烈的动机吗？她就那么爱奈特吗？” “我希望是那样，”他的同伴回答说：“那可算是最具人性的借口了。可很遗憾的是我对此持怀疑态度。她是想摆脱她丈夫，因为那人既守旧又粗鄙，还挣不到大钱。她想要与一个有才华的名声鹊起的演员在一起，扮演一个出色妻子的角色。但她本来没想借着《造谣学校》的这一幕下手。要不是万不得已，她不会与别的男人远走高飞。她不具备那种激情，她只是为顾及她可憎的体面。她一直暗地里恳求并纠缠着丈夫，要对方同意离婚，或者说不要再挡道了；可是对方拒绝了，并最终为此付出了代价。还有一件事你应该记住。你说那些文化人有更高的艺术品位，喜欢更具哲理的戏剧。但是别忘了那都是些什么样的哲学！记清楚那群文化人把什么样的行为奉为圭臬！什么权力意志、生存权和体验权——纯粹是些废话，比该死的废话还要糟——全都是要命的废话。” 布朗神父皱起眉头，这是很少见的；在他戴好帽子，没入夜色的时候，他眉间的阴霾还没有散去。