Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

At two-thirty all were assembled in the chamber; Bundo, Virginia, the Chief Inspector of Combat, Mr. Lemon, and Anthony Cade. "We must wait for Mr. Lomax," said the Inspector-General. "It's the kind of thing that has to be moved on quickly." "If you have the idea that Prince Michael came in this way, you are wrong." Bando said. "It can't be done. The other end is blocked." "That's not the question, Mademoiselle," said Lemon quickly. "What we're looking for is completely different." "You're looking for something, aren't you?" said Bundo quickly.

"Isn't it something of that historical value?" Lemon showed an inexplicable look. "Speak your words clearly, Bodo." Virginia encouraged, "If you are willing to try, you will be able to explain." "What is that Dongyou," Bundo said. "When I was ignorant and ignorant, someone stole that purple prince's long-standing and priceless diamond?" "Who told you that, Miss Erin?" said the Inspector. "I always knew. A manservant told me; I was twelve then." "A manservant," said Battle. "Why, I wish Mr. Lomax would have heard!"

"Is this a well-kept secret by George?" Bundo asked. "How amazing! I never thought it was true. George has always been a fool—he must know that servants know everything." She walked up to the portrait of Holban on the opposite side, and pressed a spring hidden in a place next to it. Suddenly, there was a creak, and a part of the panel opened inward, revealing a dark hole. "Entrez, messieurs et mesdames (Gentlemen and ladies, come in)," she said in French, as if in a play. "Go on, go on, go on, dear. It's the best show of the season, and it's only sixpence."

Both Lemon and the Inspector General had flashlights.They went into that dark hole first.The rest followed closely behind him. "The air here is very good and fresh," said the battle. "There must be a place for ventilation." He moves forward.The ground is rough and rough here, but the walls are made of brick.Bando is right, this secret passage can only pass a hundred yards.Then, they suddenly found that there were bricks, tiles and cement sunken above blocking the way.The Inspector-General did not feel relieved until he found out that there was no exit ahead.Then he turned back and said:

"Let's go back. I could just say I was just scouting the terrain." In a few minutes they were back at the entrance to the movable panel. "Here's where we start," the inspector general said. "Seven straight, eight left, three right. Let's take the first number as a step." He took seven steps carefully, then bent down to check the situation underground. "I think it's probably right. Someone drew a chalk mark here before. Now look at 'eight left'. That's a step. In any case, the width of this secret passage can only allow us to walk one after the other. .”

"Let's just assume it's bricks," Anthony suggested. "That's right, Mr. Cade. Count eight bricks from the bottom, or eight bricks from the top. Try it from the bottom first—it's easier that way." He counted eight bricks up. "Now go back here and count three bricks to the right. One, two, three—hello—hello—what's this?" The Inspector was digging out the brick with his knife, and his experienced eye soon saw that it was very different from the rest.After digging for a minute or two, he was able to pull the brick out.There is a small black hole behind it.The Inspector put his hand in.

Everyone waited with bated breath and anticipation. The Inspector took his hand away again. He let out a cry of surprise and anger. The rest crowded around him, staring inexplicably at the three objects he was holding.In an instant, they felt as if they were delusional. It turned out to be a beaded button attached to cardboard, a square of thick braid, and a note with a row of capital Es on it. "Ah!" said the Inspector. "This—this is killing me! What does that mean?" "Lord!" murmured the Frenchman. "It's a little difficult." "But what does that mean?" Virginia exclaimed in bewilderment.

"What do you mean?" Anthony said. "There can only be one meaning. The late Lord Stiptitch must have had a sense of humor. That's an example of that sense of humor. I don't personally find it particularly funny, though." "Sir, can you explain more clearly what you mean?" said the Combat Inspector-General. "Certainly. It was a little joke of the count's. He must have guessed that his hint in the note had been seen. When the thieves came for the jewels, let them find the jewels and find this Extremely clever witty riddles. It's the kind of thing you wear when you're a kid playing a game of guessing who you are. "

"So, there is always a meaning to this kind of thing?" "There's no doubt about it. If the count wanted to slap you in the face, he'd wear a card on him that said 'SOLD', or draw a donkey, or something like that. Crude stuff." "A piece of braid, some capital E's, and lots of buttons," Battle muttered dissatisfied. "Strange!" Lemon said angrily: "It's code number two," Anthony said. "I wonder if Professor Winwood can solve this one?" "Miss Marquis, when was this secret passage used?" the French detective asked Bunduo.

Think more about it. "I don't think anyone has been in it for more than two years. That priest's cottage is for Americans and general visitors when the exhibition is open." "Strange," said the French detective in a low voice. "Why is it strange?" Lemon bent down and picked up something from the ground. "For this," he said. "The match hasn't been on the ground for two years - not even two days." "Is there any lady or gentleman among you who threw this match?" he asked. The answers he got were all in the negative.

"Well, then," said the Combat Inspector-General, "we've seen everything we can. Let's get out." Everyone agrees with his suggestion.The paneled door was closed.But Bundo told them how they could be bolted from the inside.She turned the latch, and the door swung open without a sound.She jumped out from the entrance of the secret passage, so she jumped into the meeting hall with a 'plop'. "Damn it!" Marquis Jadhan was startled in the easy chair.He seemed to be dozing off. "Poor old papa," said Bundo, "did I scare you?" "I don't understand," said Lord Judham. "Why doesn't anyone sit quietly after dinner these days. It's a lost art of living. God knows how big Chimney House is. But even here there doesn't seem to be a house I can be sure of A moment of peace. Why, how many of you are there? Seeing you reminds me of the pantomime I saw as a kid.Often in that pantomime there are many monsters emerging from trapdoors. " "Monster number seven," said Virginia, walking up to him and stroking his head with her hand. "Don't worry, we are just exploring the secret passage, nothing else." "Secret passages seem to be popular again now," muttered the Marquis of Juddham, his anger still not seeming to die down. "And I had to show that Fish around this morning." "When did that happen?" asked the Inspector quickly. "Just before lunch. He seemed to have heard about the secret passage here. I took him to see the secret passage, then took him upstairs to the White Gallery, and finally we went to see the priest's cottage. But, in the end, his His interest is gone, and he looks bored to death. However, I still encourage him to read it." Marquis Judhan giggled unconsciously when he thought about it. Anthony put his hand on Lemon's shoulder. "Come outside," he said softly. "I want to talk to you." Where did the two of them go from the landing officer?When they were quite far from the house, Antony took out of his pocket the slip of paper that Boris had given him that morning. "Look," he said, "did you lose this?" Lemona went over to look carefully. "No," he said, "I haven't seen this before. What?" "Are you sure?" "Absolutely sure, sir." "That would be strange." He repeated what Boris had said to Lemon.Lemon listened very attentively. "No, I didn't lose it. Did he say he found it in the bushes?" "Well, I guessed so. But he didn't really say so." "It probably fell out of Mr. Ershastein's suitcase. You ask Boris again. He handed the paper to Anthony. After a minute or two he said: "What do you really know about this Boris man?" " Anthony shrugged. "I only know that he is a trusted servant of Prince Michael." "Perhaps. But... you'll have to do some serious research. Ask someone he knows. Like Lord Laura Priege. Maybe this one was just hired a few weeks ago. Personally, I've always thought he was honest." Yes. But who knows? King Victor, if asked to do so, can in a moment be a very trustworthy servant. " "Do you really think..." Lemon interrupted him. "To tell you the truth. For my part, I can't keep King Victor out of my head. I seem to see him everywhere. Even at this moment, I'm thinking—this man I'm talking to, this man. Cade, perhaps he is King Victor?" "Gee," Anthony said. "You are too obsessed." "What do I care about that diamond? What do I care about finding Prince Michael's murderer? I'll leave that to the people in the Metropolitan Police Department. That's their job. I've come to England for a purpose, and There is only one purpose. That is to arrest King Victor, and he must be caught on the spot, nothing else matters. " "You think you can do it?" Anthony asked, lighting a cigarette. "How should I know?" said Lemon, suddenly deflated. "Yeah!" Anthony said. They are now back in the corridor.Fighting was standing dumbfounded near the French landing palace. "Look at poor old battle," Anthony said. "Let's go cheer him on," he hesitated, then said. "You know that, Mr. Lemon? You're an oddity in some ways." "Where is it, Mr. Cade?" "This..." Anthony said. "If I were you, I'd take down the address on that piece of paper I just showed you. That might not be important. -- that's likely to come to mind. On the other hand, it might be really important. important." Lemon looked at him calmly for a minute or two.Then, with a slight smile, he turned the left cuff of his jacket over.On the cuff of the white shirt had already been penciled these words: "Port Dover, Hearst City, Langley Road." "I apologize to you," Anthony said. "Then, I'm going to lose." He went to be with the Chief Inspector of Combat. "Battle, you look like you've got something on your mind," he said. "Mr. Cade, I have a lot to think about." "Yes, I expected that." "These facts don't fit. They don't fit at all." "It's painful," Anthony said sympathetically. "It's all right, fight, it's gotten so bad you can always arrest me. Remember, you'll still have my incriminating footprints at the end of the day." However, the Inspector General was not smiling. "Mr. Cade, do you know anyone here who has a grudge against you?" he asked. "I think the third of the servants in the restaurant doesn't like me," Anthony said lightly. "He always tries to forget to pass me the best vegetables. Why?" "I'm starting to get anonymous letters," said the inspector general. "To be more correct, I should say that I have received an anonymous letter." "Does the letter say something about me?" The Inspector didn't answer, but took out a piece of rough letter paper from his pocket, which was scrawled in uneducated handwriting: Mention [defense] Mr. Cade.He is not as good as he looks. Anthony smiled softly and returned the letter to him. "That's it? Be happy. I'm a pretend king, you know." He entered the building, whistling softly as he went.However, when he walked into his room and closed the door behind him, his face changed, became solemn and rigid.He sat on the edge of the bed and stared sullenly at the door. "It's getting serious," thought Anthony. "Something has to be done. It's an embarrassing situation..." He sat there for a moment, then walked slowly to the window.He stood there looking out the window aimlessly. After a minute or two, his eyes suddenly focused on one spot, and then his face brightened. "Of course," he thought. "Rose Garden! By the way, Rose Garden." He hurried downstairs and walked out into the garden through a side door.He walked a long way to the rose garden.There are gates at both ends of this rose garden.He came in from the far end and walked in the direction of the sundial.The sundial is on a hill, in the middle of the rose garden. As soon as Anthony got there, he stopped suddenly and stared intently at another person in the rose garden.The man seemed equally startled to see him. "I didn't know you were interested in roses, Mr. Fish," said Anthony politely. "Sir," said Mr. Fish. "I am quite interested in roses." They looked at each other warily, like enemies meeting each other, wanting to gauge each other's strength. "Me too," Anthony said. "Really?" "As a matter of fact, I dote on roses," said Anthony comfortably. A smile played on Mr. Fish's lips, and Anthony smiled at the same time.Now the tense atmosphere seems to be relaxed. "Now look at this beautiful variety," said Mr. Fish, leaning over and pointing to a particularly handsome flower. "I think the name of this flower is 'Masème (French for 'Madame') Abbe Chardney." "Yes, you are right. Before the war this white rose was called 'Furro ('Madame' in German) Karl Juski'." I thought. They changed its name.Perhaps too sensitive, but, it is very patriotic.That French variety is always a favourite.Do you like red roses? Mr Cade?Now, a bright red rose… Mr. Fish's slow, drawn-out voice was suddenly interrupted.Bundo was poking his head out of a window on the second floor. "Want to go for a drive in London, Mr. Fish? I'm starting." "Thank you, Miss Erin, I'm fine here." "Are you sure you won't change your mind, Mr. Cade?" Anthony laughed and shook his head.So, Bundo disappeared. "Sleep is better for me now," Anthony yawned. "Take a nice nap!" He pulled out a cigarette. "You don't have any matches, do you?" Mr. Fish handed him a matchbox.Anthony pulled one out, and handed him the matchbox, thanking him. "Roses," said Anthony, "are very nice, but I don't particularly feel like studying gardening this afternoon." In order to avoid the other party's suspicion, he nodded with a smile on his face. At this time, there was a thunderous sound outside. "She has a powerful engine in this car," Anthony said. "Okay, she's gone." They saw the car speeding down the long driveway. Anthony yawned again and walked toward the building. He went in by the front door.Once inside the building, his movements completely changed.He quickly crossed the hall, exited through a floor-to-ceiling window on the far side, and crossed the mansion garden.He knew that Bundo had to pass through the village through the gate of the gatekeeper's hut and make a big circle. He ran desperately, which can be said to be a race against time.He ran to the wall of the adjacent garden, just in time to hear the sound of a car outside.He climbed over the wall and jumped onto the road;" "Hi! cried Anthony. Pan Duo was taken aback, crossed half of the road, and turned outside the wall.Trying to avoid accidents, she stopped the car.Anthony rushed over from the back of the car, opened the door, jumped, and sat next to Bundo. "I'm going to London with you," he said. "I've always meant to go." "What a special man!" Bundo said. "What is that in your hand?" "Just a match," said Anthony. He looked at the match thoughtfully.It was pink with a yellow head.He threw away the cigarette and carefully put the match in his pocket.