Chapter 16 Chapter fifteen

On Friday afternoon, Robert's faith in the triumph of good over evil was challenged. It wasn't the bishop's published letter that shook him.The truth is that another incident that erupted on Friday made the bishop's intervention seem trivial; if someone said on Wednesday morning that he would deeply regret other news that could compete with the public's attention to the bishop, he would never have believed it. The bishop's letter was in his usual style.He wrote that "The Watchman" has always spared no effort to condemn violence, and of course it will not turn to propose pardon now, but we must also weigh some acts of violence as a deep symptom of social instability, resentment, and insecurity.The recent Narabad case is a good illustration. (However, in the Narabad case, the bishop’s so-called “instability, resentment, and insecurity in the depths of society” were verified by two thieves who sneaked into a bungalow late at night in order to steal an opal bracelet. In order to vent his anger, he killed seven people who lived in a bungalow and were sleeping on the bed.) The bishop continued in the article that people in the middle and lower classes of society sometimes feel powerless to correct some obvious wrongdoings, so We should not condemn the enthusiasm of the few who are so passionate about society that they resort to self-help. (Rob thought Bill and Stanley wouldn't agree that Monday night's rednecks were socially enthusiastic, and that their complete smashing of all the first-floor windows in the Franchise was a self-help act. Too partial and unjust.) To such an unstable—( The Watcher favors such seemingly euphemistic terms; terms such as unstable, unprivileged, backward, unfortunate, etc. using direct terms such as violence, poverty, mental retardation, whore; Robert also found that the Ike-Emma and the Watcher had in common the belief that all whores, without exception, were as such. saintly goodness and innocence, only carelessly took the wrong turn) — going back to the bishop's letter, saying that it is not those who may be misguided, but who show so clearly The disgruntled people, but the weak, ignorant, unenthusiastic and unjustly involved police force.As far as British traditional cultural assets are concerned, justice not only needs to be maintained, but also the process of maintaining it should be demonstrated; and the best place to demonstrate the maintenance of facts is public opinion.

"He thinks it's going to go down like this, what will people think of the police going to the trouble of preparing a case they know they're going to lose?" Robert asked Neville, who was reading the report. "People get disproportionately powerful," Neville said. "He doesn't seem to think of it. If the judge acquits the case, then his little bruised and bruised little one will inevitably turn into a liar, won't he? You see the bruised part? " "No." That part is where it ends.The bishop wrote that the young, innocent girl's bloodied body was a crying indictment of the rule of law, which not only failed to protect her when she needed it, but relentlessly failed to defend her now.The public reaction to the whole process of this case has exposed the society's strict requirements for self-reflection in the search behavior of the police.

"That would make the police very happy this morning," said Robert ironically. "This afternoon." Neville corrected. "Why is it afternoon?" "No one in Scotland Yard is going to read such a bogus thing as The Watcher; unless some good-natured man sends it to them this afternoon." However, they did not happen to read this article themselves.Inspector Grant read it on the train.He picked up a few magazines at random from the newsstand.Including "The Watcher"—not because he actually wanted to read it, but as a choice in comparison to color magazines with pictures of beautiful women in baths on the cover.

Robert left the office and went to the Franchise with the current issue of The Watcher and the Ike-Emma morning paper, which had apparently lost interest in following the events of the Franchise .Since that last low-key reader letter on Wednesday, the paper has stopped reporting on the story.It was a joyful day indeed: the lawn of the Milford town garden was extraordinarily green; under the sunshine, the slightly grayish-white front wall of the house reflected a menacing elegance; The dilapidated front hall exudes a gratifying warmth.The three of them sat there, feeling immensely content. The "Ike-Emma" newspaper has given up on continuing to expose them in public; after all, the bishop's letter is not as lethal as they originally thought; Sooner or later, the truth will be unearthed in their favor; summer brings bright sunshine and shortens the night; Stanley everywhere proves that he is a "fine man"

;they were determined to be part of the town scene and went on to Milford for their daily shopping breaks, and there was no trouble yesterday other than the expected stares, looks of disdain and a few audible criticisms .All in all, they sat and discussed in the living room and felt that things were not as bad as they had imagined in advance. "How much damage is this article going to do?" asked Mrs. Sharp, poking at the letters page of The Watcher with her bony forefinger. "Not much. As far as I know, the Bishop is seen as a bit out of the mainstream these days, even among the Warden faction. His support for Mahony became one of his failings."

"Who is Mahoney?" asked Marion. "Eh, did you forget Mahoney? He was the self-proclaimed Irish 'patriot' who dropped a bomb on a woman's cycle basket on a busy English street, killing four people, including the woman , was confirmed after the fact because of the wedding ring on his hand. The bishop said that Mahoney was not a murderer, he was just misled, he was just fighting for the oppressed minority - the Irish, and we should not let him suffer because of this ...that was more than acceptable even to the readers of The Watcher, and I've heard that the bishop's reputation has not been as good since then."

"Scary not scary! People can be so forgetful when it's none of their business!" says Marion. "Was Mahoney subsequently executed?" "I'm relieved to say yes, and that was an unpleasant surprise for him. Many of those who came before him, benefited from the excuse that we shouldn't torture people, made murder less of a dangerous exchange in their minds. It has become almost as safe as a banking transaction. " "As for the bank," said Mrs. Sharp, "I think it would be best to let you know our financial situation, and you can contact the solicitor in London of old Mr. Clore who handles our affairs. I will write to inform them." To give you full support, so that you can know our income and expenses, and make appropriate arrangements to protect our reputation.

But that really wasn't our original financial spending plan. " "We're relieved we have the money," Marion said. "How about imagining someone with no money involved in a case like this?" Rob honestly said he really didn't know. He took Lawyer Clore's address and went home to lunch with Aunt Lynn, feeling much happier, especially since he saw the front page of the Ike-Emma newspaper for the first time on Bill's desk last Friday. In comparison, he is much more relaxed now.It feels like being in a thunderstorm until the thunder no longer seems to be hitting directly overhead; the clouds may still be dark and the clouds are still very low, but this situation is predictable. The sun is rising.

Even Aunt Lynn seems to have forgotten about the troubles of the Franchise and has gone back to being a little silly and endearing herself - buying a bunch of messy things for the Radith twins in Saskatchewan for their birthday Gift.She prepared him his favorite lunch—cold bacon, poached yams, and thick cream sauce; and gradually he found himself unable to imagine that Friday was the day he dreaded, because "The Watcher" was in Publish articles against them today.It seems that Bishop Rabolo is very much in line with the "sudden wave" described by Radish's husband. The momentum seems to be powerful and amazing, but it is fleeting.Robert began to wonder why he bothered to bother about his intervention in the first place.

He returned to the office in such a relaxed and happy mood, and it was also in such a relaxed and happy mood that he answered the phone call from the local police detective Hallam. "Mr Blair?" said Hallam. "I'm at the Rose and Crown Hotel now. Sorry for the bad news.Inspector Grant is here. ""At the Rose and Crown?" "Yes. And he has a court warrant." Robert's mind suddenly stopped working. "Search form?" he asked stupidly. "No, it's a warrant." "No! " "I'm afraid that's true." "But he can't have!"

"I know this is scary news for you. I must admit it didn't even occur to me." "You mean he actually found a witness—a real witness?" "He has two witnesses like that. The case has reached a stage where it can be moved to court." "I can't believe it." "Are you coming over here, or are we coming to your office? I just thought you might prefer to come here and meet us." "Where? Yes, of course I'll go. I'll be at the Rose and Crown in a minute. Where are you? The lobby?" "No, in Grant's room.Room five.There is a window facing the street. " "Okay. I'll come right away. One more thing!" "what? " "A warrant against two persons?" "Yes. Two." "Okay, thank you, I'll be there soon." He sat for a while, trying to calm his rapid breathing and calm himself.Neville is away on business, but even if he were, it wouldn't help the news much.He got up, took his hat, and walked directly to the "office" in the firm. "Mr. Hasseltine, please," he said, with his usual politeness to the young clerk; the old clerk followed him to the sunlit door. "Timmy," said Robert, "we've got trouble. Inspector Grant is here from Police Headquarters with a warrant for the Franchise man." It can't happen, and it really shouldn't be true. And Mr. Hesoutine obviously couldn't accept it either.He stared straight ahead, unable to speak, his eyes filled with horror. "Somewhat shocking, isn't it, Timmy?" He shouldn't have thought he could count on support from the fragile old clerk. But for all Mr. Hasseltine's age, fragility and shock, he had been a legal assistant for a long time, and his support would surely appear, it was only a matter of time. However, it still seemed like a lifetime before he finally came to his senses. "A warrant of arrest," he said. "Why arrest ticket?" "Because they can't arrest anybody without it," said Robert hastily, meaninglessly.Is old Timmy almost out of his job?" "That's not what I mean. I mean they committed misdemeanors, not felonies. They could issue a summons, Mr. Robert? They didn't have to arrest them, did they?" It was a misdemeanor." Rob hadn't thought of that yet. "They were issued a subpoena for their presence," he said. "Yeah, why not? But of course if they decide to arrest them, there's nothing stopping them." "But why would they do it? People like the Sharpes are not going to get away and do real harm to society. Who issued the arrest warrants and did they explain it?" "No, they didn't. Thank you, Timmy, you're a real hit. I'm going to the Rose and Crown to face reality - Inspector Grant is there with Hallam. There's no way to inform the people in the Franchise right now. , their phone was cut and not fixed yet. I have to squeeze my neck to see Grant and Hallam. Just this morning we thought there was a ray of light in the dark clouds, alas! You'll tell Neville when he comes back, yes And please find a way to stop him from doing stupid things on the spur of the moment." "You know, Mr Robert, I've never been able to stop Mr Neville from doing whatever he wants. But he's been surprisingly lucid and composed for the past week. " "Hope that lasts," said Robert, stepping down the sunlit street. It was the quietest afternoon of the day at the Rose and Crown Hotel, and he crossed the hall and up the wide, shallow staircase, meeting no one; he came to room five and knocked on the door.Grant, maintaining his usual steadiness, opened the door for him politely.Inside, Hallam leaned sullenly against a dressing-table by the window. "I know you haven't thought of this, Mr. Blair," said Grant. "Yeah, I didn't. Honestly, this is amazing news." "Sit down, please," Grant said. "I don't want to rush you." "Detective Hallam says you have new evidence." "Yes, and it is conclusive evidence for us." "May I know what kind of evidence it is?" "Of course. We have an eyewitness who says he saw Betty Kane being picked up at the bus stop by that limousine—" "By 'a' car," said Robert. "Okay, 'a' sedan, as you said - but the description fits the Sharps' car." "There are tens of thousands of people in Britain who can do that. And what else?" "There was a girl from the farm who used to come to Franchise once a week as a sweeper and swear she heard screams coming from the attic." "'was' once a week? Does she stop going?" "I didn't go back after the Ken incident became a neighborhood rumor." "Oh." "There are other pieces of evidence that are of no value in themselves, but are helpful in proving the truth of the girl's story. For example, she did miss the bus from Rabolo to London. We have a witness who said he saw the bus in the Half a mile away. The girl didn't get to the bus stop until he was within sight of it for a while. It was a long, straight road..." "I know. I know it." "Yes, when he was still some distance away from the girl, he saw the car pull up beside her, saw her get in the car, and she was picked up." "But didn't see anyone driving?" "No, the distance is too far." "And the girl from the farm—did she voluntarily say the scream?" "Not to us. She mentioned to her friends that we found her after we found out; she would love to testify in court." "Did she mention it to her friends before it broke?" "yes." This was quite unexpected news, and Robert was lost in thought.If that was true—the girl from the farm mentioned the screams before the Sharpes had their troubles—then the evidence would be quite a headache.Robert got up and walked uneasily to the window and back.He thought of Ben Kali jealously.Ben doesn't hate the scene as much as he does now, feeling so inappropriate and hesitant.Squad would concentrate, rejoice in the challenge, and ponder how to fight back to outwit the powers that be.Robert didn't quite understand that his old deep-seated respect for authority was now not an asset but a hindrance, that the authority he now needed from Ben was a natural belief to be challenged to stop. "Thank you, then, for telling the truth," he said at last. "Now, I'm not trying to extenuate the person you're accusing, but that's a misdemeanor, not a felony - why did you bring a warrant? I'm sure a summons is enough for a case like this, no? ?” "Subpoenas will be prepared, of course," said Grant evenly. "But to prevent further aggravation of the crime - and my superiors had such concerns - a warrant was issued." Robert couldn't help wondering how much the distasteful reporting in the Ike-Emma tabloid had affected the calm professionalism of the police.He looked Grant directly in the eye, knowing that Grant understood the doubt in his mind. "The girl has been missing for a full month—not a day or two," Grant said, "and has clearly been brutally beaten. That is not to be taken lightly." "But what good will it do you to arrest them?" asked Robert, remembering Mr. Hasseltine's opinion. "These people are bound to appear in court to face prosecution and in the meantime they won't commit similar crimes. By the way, when do you want them to show up?" "I plan to deport them to the prosecutor's court on Monday." "Then I suggest you use subpoenas instead." "My boss has already decided to use a warrant." Grant said blankly. "But you can make your own judgment. For example, your boss doesn't know much about the local people here. If the building in Franchise had been left vacant, it would surely be in ruins within a week.Did your boss think about this? And if you arrest these two women, you can only hold them until Monday, because I will release them on bail.It seemed unnecessary under the circumstances to make Franchise the target of a rogue mob in order to complete the gesture of arrest.I know the Hallam detectives don't have the extra manpower to protect it. " This trade-off made both of them pause for a moment.Respect for industry is surprisingly embedded in the culture of British society, and the reminder of the house's potential ruins provoked Grant's look of pity.Robert could not help thanking those brusque country folks whom he had never expected to be thankful for, who backed up the excuse.As for Harlem, apart from feeling weak about his limited police force, he also doesn't want that kind of atrocity to happen again in his jurisdiction, and he doesn't want to have new criminals have to be traced by them. After a long silence, Hallam tentatively said, "Mr. Blair has reminded you of an important point. The country's reaction is very violent. If the house is vacant, there is no guarantee that they will not attack it. Especially after they are arrested After the news leaked." However, it took Robert almost half an hour to convince Grant.Grant seemed to have a personal emotional involvement with the case that Robert could hardly imagine, and wondered what it could be. "Well," said the Inspector at last, "I don't think I'll have to apply for a subpoena either. Sounds like a surgeon who's been teased and scorned for being asked to open a pot of boiling water," thought Robert. , and suddenly relaxed and happy." That was handed over to Hallam, and I went back to the city.But I will be in court on Monday.I know the Assizes will be sitting soon, so if the case is not remanded, it will go straight to the Assizes.Do you think you'll be able to have your defense ready by Monday?" "Officer, with the amount of defense my client currently has, we can have it ready before tea this afternoon. said Robert wryly. To his surprise, the corners of Grant's mouth turned up and gave him a very gentle smile. "Mr. Blair," He said, "I have nothing against you for preventing me from making an arrest this afternoon. On the contrary, I will say that your clients are lucky to have an attorney like you. I will pray that they are less lucky in court, or I will may be persuaded to support them instead." So there was no "Grant and Hallam pinching his neck" when Robert went to Franchise: no warrant.He left Grant and went into Hallam's car with Hallam, and saw the summons emerge from a bag; he thought bitterly of the time they had had to flee, and still more disapprovingly of the embarrassment they had found themselves in. "Inspector Grant appears to have had a personal emotional involvement in carrying out the arrest," he asked Hallam in the moving car. "You think it's the influence of the Ike-Emma tabloid?" "Well, no," said Hallam. "Grant is as indifferent to that kind of reporting as anyone else." "Why is that?" "Well, here's what I thought--you don't want to spread the word--he couldn't get over being teased by them. I mean the Sharp mother and daughter.You know, at Scotland Yard he was famous for his good judgment of people; and, again, I have to remind you that this was only between us, he didn't particularly care about Kean's girl and her story; Having met the people of the Franchise, he furthered his lack of interest in them.But now he feels that he was fooled and tricked at that time, and he is not willing to ignore it anymore.I thought it would be a great relief to him to show them the arrest warrant in their living room. " They came to the driveway iron gate in Franchise, and Robert took out his spare key, and Hallam said, "If you open the iron gate all the way, I can drive right in. Even if it's just for a short stay Time, and there is no need to advertise to the public that we are here." Robert opened the iron gate completely, thinking that the police in this place are really kind and benevolent.He got back in the car, and Hallam drove down the driveway to the front door of the house.Robert got out of the car, and immediately saw Marion coming out of the house, wearing garden gloves and a very old skirt.The hair on her forehead was blown back by the wind, making her face soft and gentle instead of severe.The first rays of early summer had darkened her complexion, and she looked more like a gypsy girl now.Robert came so suddenly that she didn't have time to arm herself, and the relaxed and unrestrained expression on her face made his heart tremble. "Hello!" she said. "Mother's still on her lunch break, but she should be coming downstairs soon, we can have tea together. I—" Then she saw Hallam, and the joy in her voice seemed to fade. "Good afternoon, officer." "Good afternoon, Miss Sharp. I'm sorry to interrupt your mother when she is resting, but I may be troubled to ask her to come downstairs. I have something important to report." She hesitated for a moment, then turned and led them into the house. "Yes, of course. Is there a new development? Come in, please take a seat." She ushered them into the drawing room, which he knew so well--elegant mirrors, majestic and majestic fireplace, beaded chairs , interesting decorations, the old pink carpet almost faded to dirty gray; she stood there, watching their faces, smelling the new menace in the air. "What's the matter?" she asked Robert. But Hallam said: "I think if you ask Mrs. Sharp to come down, it's better for me to talk to you both at once." "Yes, yes, of course." She agreed, then turned and left.But there was no need for that, Mrs. Sharp had come in; as when Hallam and Robert first visited together she had appeared as unnoticed; With the pillow pushed aside, her seagull-like eyes were still bright and full of question marks. "There are only two kinds of people," she said, "that come in noisy cars; millionaires and cops. Yet we don't know anyone who belongs to the former, and lately we seem to have a sudden affinity with the latter— —I guessed someone we knew was coming." "I think I'm even less welcome here, Mrs. Sharp. I've come to serve you and Miss Sharp." "Subpoena?" Marianne said in horror. "You are called to attend Monday morning to hear the summons for the abduction and assault charge." Hallam's displeasure was evident as he read these out. "I can't believe it," Marianne said slowly. "I really can't believe it. Are you saying you're suing us for that?" "Yes, Miss Sharp. " "But how? Why now?" She turned to Robert. "The police think they have the solid evidence they need," Rob said. "What evidence?" asked Mrs. Sharp, responding for the first time. "I think it's best to let Detective Hallam deliver the subpoena to you first, and then we can discuss the research after he leaves." "You mean we have to take it?" Marion said. "To attend an open court--my mother will be present--to answer a--to accept a charge like that?" "I'm afraid I have no other choice." She seemed alarmed by his curt answer and exasperated at his lack of support.And when Hallam handed her the papers, he felt only her anger, and felt wronged for Robert. "I thought I should tell you, lest he say it himself, that if it hadn't been for Mr Blair, you wouldn't be served a summons, but a warrant - and you'd be in jail tonight instead of your beds. Don't bother, Miss Sharp, I'll go out by myself." Robert watched him go, remembering Mrs. Sharp's snub to him the first time he showed up in the drawing room, and maybe this time they all got each other's way. "Is that true?" asked Mrs. Sharp. "Yes," said Robert, and told them that Grant had come to arrest them. "But the object of thanks is not me, but the old Mr. Hessoutin in the office." He described to them how the old staff responded to such legal affairs reflexively and wittily. "What is the new evidence they say?" "They do," said Robert, slightly sarcastically. "There's nothing we can do about that." He recounted that the girl was seen being picked up on the bus route to London. "But in fact, that only proves what we've been guessing; that when she left her aunt's house, ostensibly to go home, she had other engagements with someone else. But the other piece of evidence is more troublesome. You told I once had a woman -- or a girl -- come down to the farm once a week to do some cleaning." "Rose Green, yes." "As far as I know she stopped coming when the rumors were flying." "Since the rumors—you mean the Betty Kane story? Well, she was fired before then." "Fired?" said Rob in surprise. "Yes. Why are you so surprised? In our experience, it is not surprising that domestic helpers are fired." "No, but in this case that might provide some explanation. Why did you fire her?" "Stealing. said Mrs. Sharp. "She's always stealing a shilling or two out of our random purses," added Marianne, "but since we really need help, we pretend we don't know and just keep our purses, and some Things that are easy to steal, like stockings, etc. But then she took away my watch that I had for twenty years. I put it aside for the wash--the soap scum gets on your arms, you know--and when I looked back, it was gone.I asked her and of course she said 'never seen'.That's just too much.The watch had become a part of me, like my hair, like my nails, and it was gone, and we, since there was absolutely no way to prove that she took it, could do nothing.After she left that day, we discussed it, and the next morning we walked to the farm to say that she was no longer needed to help with the housework.It was Tuesday—she always came on Monday—and then that afternoon when my mother went upstairs to rest, Inspector Grant came with Betty Kane. "Well, that's right.When you guys went to tell her the news of the firing, was there anyone nearby?" "I don't remember. I don't think so. She wasn't from the farm--I don't mean the Staples, they're lovely folks, and she was a workman's daughter over there. I just remember We met her outside their farmhouse and simply told her not to come again." "How did she react then?" "She blushed and walked away." "She was as red as a beetroot and as angry as a bull turkey," Mrs. Sharp added. "Why are you asking this?" "Because she's going to swear she heard screams from the attic while she was working here." "She would," said Mrs. Sharp thoughtfully. "To make matters worse, there is evidence that she said this before the Betty Kane incident broke out." After saying this, everyone fell silent.Again Robert noticed how quiet the house was, a dead stillness.Even the French clock on the mantelpiece was silent.The curtains sway back and forth with the wind and there is no sound.It's like watching a pantomime. "That," said Marianne at last, "is what people call 'a bolt from the blue.'" "Not bad at all." "It's also an unexpected blow to you." "For our firm, yes." "I don't mean a professional hit." "No? What's that?" "You also face the possibility that we've been lying all along." "Really, Marianne!" he said impatiently, apparently not noticing, for the first time addressing her by her first name instead of her surname. "If I had to face it, I would have to choose between your words and the words of my friend Rose Green." But she didn't seem to hear what he said. "I wish," she said expectantly, "well, how I wish we'd have a little, just a little piece of evidence in our favor! She's all right—that girl is all right. We Keep saying 'that's not true' but we don't have a shred of evidence that it's not true. The evidence for us is all negative and we just keep repeating the weak denials to no avail. Everything All rallying to support her lies without a shred of evidence to help us prove we're telling the truth. None!" "Sit down, Marianne," said her mother. "It's no good losing your temper." "I could kill that girl, I could literally kill her. My God, I could torture her twice a day for a year and start all over again in the new year. When I think about the damage she's done to us, I— " "Don't think so," interrupted Robert. "You might as well imagine the day she's proven to be a liar. The human nature of good over evil can hurt Miss Kean far worse than the beating she's received." "You still believe that's possible?" Marianne said suspiciously. "Yeah. I just don't quite know how we're going to do it yet. But I really believe we're going to do it." "Even if we have no evidence, none; and all the evidence—is it like a flower blooming for her?" "Yes, even so." "Is that your natural optimism, Mr. Blair," Mrs. Sharp asked, "or your own belief in the triumph of good over evil, or what?" "I don't know. I believe truth speaks for itself in its legitimacy." "Dreyfus was not indebted by it; and there are many instances on record in some histories showing a contrary experience." she said grimly. (Dreyfus, Drevfus, a Jewish officer of the French army at the end of the 19th century, was accused of providing military secrets to Germany and was court-martialed. This case aroused anti-Semitic sentiment in French society.) "History finally reversed the case for them." "Honestly, I don't particularly like and don't look forward to the idea of ​​being in jail for a long time waiting for the facts to justify it with time." "I don't think it's going to get that bad - jail time, I mean. You're going to be there on Monday, and as we don't have enough defence, the case will undoubtedly go to court. And we'll ask for bail, so you're going to Can stay here until the Assizes in Norton. Until then, I hope Alec Lunsden has found the girl. Remember, we don't have to know much about the girl's whereabouts in those days Clearly, we just need to know what exactly she said she was doing on the day she was picked up by you. If you take the beginning of her story away like this, the whole lie will be self-defeating. My current The ambition is to get the facts out there." "Exposing her before the public like the Ike-Emma newspaper exposed us? Do you think she would mind?" Marianne said, "Mind like us?" "After being the headline heroine of the newspapers, the center of a loving and loving home, and being exposed in the public eye as a liar, a cheat, and a libertine, will she Mind? I think so. And there's another special reason. She's doing this in order to win back the attention of Leslie Uyin - the one she lost when he got engaged to someone else. attention. As long as that lie lasts, she will be surrounded by that attention; once we reveal the truth, she will be lost forever." "I never knew that tender kindness flowing in your veins could stagnate and be replaced by radical ferocity, Mr. Blair," commented Mrs. Sharp. "If she was heartbroken about the boy's engagement - and she probably was - then I should only feel pity and sympathy for her. She was at an unstable age, and his engagement was a great shock But I don't think that's what started the whole thing. I think it's because she's her mother's daughter, except that she went down this path earlier than her mother did. They're the same selfishness, the same self-centeredness ，一样的贪心和看似可信，这是从血液里传续下来的。现在我得走了。我告诉伦斯登如果他想同我联络，我五点后都会在家。另外我也要打电话给凯文．麦克德默，听取他对这案子的意见。” “我必须为我们——其实主要是我——的不知好歹向你道歉，”玛莉安说。“你为我们做了这么多，而且还继续费心。但整件事实在匪夷所思。请你一定要原谅我的……” “没什么要原谅的。我倒觉得你们两人把消息消化得很好。你们找到替换那个不诚实又有成见的帮手罗丝没有? 我不能想像你们如何自己整理这么大的一栋房子。” “这个嘛，本地没有人愿意来，毋庸置疑。而斯坦利——没有斯坦利我们不知该怎么办呢? ——斯坦利认识一位拉伯洛的妇人，可能可以被说服一星期搭公车来帮忙一次。你知道，当那女孩的故事让我受不了时，我对斯坦利的感谢就更深。” “是的，”罗勃微笑地说。“他是地球上的一个瑰宝。” “他甚至教我做菜。我现在知道煎蛋时怎样完整地将它翻面。'你做菜时一定要像指挥交响乐那般来吗? '他问我。而我问他怎能如此干净利落时，他说'因为习惯在窄小的空间里弄饭'。” “你要怎样回米尔佛德镇? ”夏普太太问。 “我可以搭从拉伯洛下午开来的公车。我猜你们的电话还是没有进一步消息? ” 她们两人把那句话当评述，而不是询问。夏普太太在客厅跟他道别，玛莉安陪他走到车道铁门。当他们踏上被分岔车道围绕的草坪时，他谈及：“幸好你们家人口不多，要不然这草坪中间就会被践踏出直达房屋门口的路径。” “事实上已经有了，”她说，看着不是很平整的草坪上一条颜色较深的痕迹。 “不走不需要的弯路，恐怕是人的天性。” 无关痛痒的对话，他想；这真是不重要的谈话题目，用无意义的字眼来掩盖严酷的现实状况恐怕是人类的另一项本能。在提到真实的合法适当性时他听起来非常的理直气壮，但是其中有多少部分的勇气仅仅只能表现在壮大的语气中? 伦斯登能在星期一之前及时提供有效证据的机率有多大? 能否赶上巡回法庭? 实在无可预期，是吗? 而且他最好多多的这样告诉自己。 五点半，伦斯登打电话给他；但提供的却是再一次的失败。他无法在弥德兰住客名单中找到那名男子，于是那条线完全断了；然后当然他开始找那女孩的蛛丝马迹，但是却怎么也打听不出一点消息。他的人员都已拿到女孩的照片，而且持着照片询问了飞机场、火车站、旅行社、旅馆等等。没有人见过她。他自己则在拉伯洛彻底搜查过，所获得的消息只是有一两个人见过照片上的她，而稍稍确定贝蒂·肯恩的确到过这些地方。比如说，有两家戏院的卖票小姐说，她一直都是一个人；还有公车站女士衣帽问的工作人员。他试问过修车厂，但是一无所获。 “是的，”罗勃说。“他在往伦敦路上的公车站牌下接走她——她通常在那儿搭回家的公车。”然后他告诉伦斯登最新的发展。“所以事情现在变得很紧急。她们被传在星期一出席。但是只要我们能证明那第一个傍晚她究竟做了什么，她的整篇谎言就会被摧毁。” “那是怎样的车子? ”伦斯登问。 罗勃描述了它，伦斯登在电话那头叹了口气。 “是的，”罗勃也同意。“符合那种描述的车光在卡索到伦敦间就大约有上万辆。好吧，我让你继续你的工作。 我要打个电话给凯文·麦克德默，告诉他我们的灾祸。“凯文不在会议场，也还未回到圣保罗路上教堂区的住所里，最后罗勃在他位于维桥的家找到他。他听起来亲切而且轻松，在听到警方已经得到他们要的证据时变得专注起来。当罗勃侃侃而谈，如珠炮般的把事情经过数出来时，他静静一声不出地聆听着。 “所以你看，凯文，”罗勃最后说，“我们陷进可怕的困境中了。” “好一篇小学生的报告，”凯文说，“但异常精准。我的建议是在检调庭让步，集中精力在巡回法庭上。” “凯文，你能不能周末到这儿来一趟，让我再好好的同你谈一谈? 昨天琳姨还在说，自你上回在这儿待一晚，已经经过六年了，所以你早该再来的。好吗? ” “我答应史恩，礼拜天带他到纽伯利选匹小马。” “可是，你能不能延期? 我相信史恩如果知道是为了件重要的事，他不会抱怨的。” “史恩，”这溺爱孩子的父亲说，“对与他自己利益无关的事情从不放一点点心思，跟他爸爸一个样。如果我来，你会介绍我认识你的那些巫婆吗? ” "Of course." “还有克丽丝汀娜会做奶油糕点给我吃吗? ” "no problem." “我可以睡在那特别的房间吗? ” “凯文，你会来吧? ” “老实说米尔佛德镇是个平凡无聊的乡村，冬天除外，”——这指的是打猎，凯文对乡村只有在有机会上马背时才有兴趣——“而我满期待星期天到马场骑一回马的。但是巫婆、奶油糕点，特别的房间也不是可以轻易拒绝的。” 当他正要挂断电话时，凯文停了一会儿说：“嗯，我说，罗勃? ” “怎么? ”罗勃说，等着。 “你可想过警察的举动也许是有根据的? ” “你是说那女孩的怪异故事可能是真的? ” “是的。你曾将这个可能性放在脑子里吗? ” “如果我有的话，那我不应该……”罗勃开始生气，但接着笑起来。“当你来这儿自己看了她们后再说。”他说。 “我来，我来。”凯文保证，然后挂断。 罗勃打电话到修车厂，比尔来接听时，他问斯坦利是不是还在。 “奇怪你居然没有在那头听到他的声音。”比尔说。 “发生什么事了? ” “我们刚把麦特·伊利斯的红色小马从我们的检查场救出来。你是要找斯坦利是吧? ” “不是要跟他在电话中谈。你可不可以帮我转告，请他下班回法兰柴思时绕到我这儿来拿封短笺给夏普太太? ” “好的，没问题。我说，布莱尔先生，法兰柴思的事情真的有大麻烦啦——我是不是不该问这个? ” 米尔佛德镇! 罗勃想着。他们为什么要这样? 是有传递讯息的花粉被风吹散了吗? “是的，恐怕是的，”他说。“我想她们今晚会告诉斯坦利。请不要忘了要他过来一趟，好吗? ” "OK." 他于是写了封信给法兰柴思，说明凯文·麦克德默会来度周末，问星期天下午他回去前可否到她们家拜访?