Chapter 18 Chapter 15 Charges Again
At half-past six that evening, James Bennett sat in an armchair in front of the fireplace in his room, exhausted, dressed for supper.His brain was heavy with exhaustion, the draft creaked and churned in the room, and Catherine Bohun hadn't come back from Dr Wynn, though she called to say that John Bohun would surely be able to recovery.
Phone message: "I am the secretary of His Royal Highness Carney Fest. Due to a heart attack last night, His Highness cannot withstand a bumpy car journey at this moment, so he has to stay in his room. If you call your Highness, if you have any questions, It is recommended to communicate with His Highness's attending doctor..." and so on.
James Bennett looked up at a dark oil painting hanging over the fireplace, and down at the buttonless shirt on his lap.Whether it's murder, suicide, or massacre, it's normal to burn calories and wear a tuxedo.
Maurice Bohun was so in high spirits this evening that he even ordered that some special sherry be served in place of the cocktail for Sir Henry Merrillville's sake.Sir Henry Merrillville agrees to spend the night at White Abbey.In other words (thought Bennett): Whose name is Sir Henry Merrillville having in mind?
The most serious, and most inevitable, question was, was Maurice Bohun right about the murders?
James Bennett returned from the Waterside with Masters and Sir Henry Merrillville, with John Bohun and Jarvis Willard a little behind.Along the way, Sir Henry Merrillville, in a relaxed mood, whispered some remarks about Morris, including his character and habits, in a voice full of force, hissing to the ears of the listeners.But that's all.
Sir Henry Merrillville merely snorted while Maurice Bohun explained his theory of the murder.Under the light of the fake candles in the water pavilion living room, he sat back in the chair with a blank expression and listened to Morris deftly put the reins around Carl Wraig's neck.
Masters was infected, and Jarvis Wella was clearly showing the same expression.James Bennett is more willing to admit: he is not only infected, but also has other feelings.Sir Henry Merrillville, however, was neither.
"You say," growled Sir Henry Merrillville, "Mr. Carl Wraig is still in his room in a deep sleep? . Tell your story?"
Hey? ...James Bennett wondered if he really believed it.But this explanation is clever and delicate, but it is specious, and it gives people the impression that it is more like revenge.When Carl Reig threw an accusation in the footsteps of John Bohun, it was like a snake that would bite back.James Bennett again heard Maurice Bohun speaking softly and methodically, with something warning in his voice.
"I found out this morning that the man Carl Reiger is probably guilty, and I can tell you how he did it," declared Maurice Bohun, his small head with a sinister look , looking at Masters, "You may be able to recall, Mr. Inspector, that I have announced a possibility that can explain this difficult problem that has troubled you? ... Ah, yes, I think you must I remember. Of course, the reason why I didn't say it is obvious."
Masters said without hesitation: "I don't know what you're made of, Mr. Bohun, and that's a fact. Yes, I know why. You want to know if this man's business, Carl Wraig, has Being on track, if it is, will mean that he can give you, offer you a wonderful job, pay you well, so that you will be willing to cover up his murder?"
Maurice Bohun, who looked only slightly puzzled, smiled and said, "Of course it's logical, isn't it?"
"And you're fascinated by Carl Ragg's brazen work?"
"I admit it! . . . " said Morris suddenly harshly. "A moment of acceptance! . . . What will people think? Americans are notorious fools who only succumb to Brother Kong Fang's tyranny, fellow movie theaters They are especially. Besides, if you will allow me to say so, I do not disregard my own worth. Yet when I have the good fortune to overhear you, Sir Henry, and this impudent fellow—Tim Emery All the skepticism I had had melted away during the conversation. He was obviously taking me for a fool! …”
These words made him look like an idiot.Then Maurice Bohun hurriedly changed his tone and regained his composure.
"I was just wondering if Sir Henry was talking loudly to Tim Emery on purpose..."
Sir Henry Merrillville blinked drowsily.There was a sound from deep in his chest.
"Oh, maybe, maybe! My eyesight isn't as good as it looks, but I noticed: there's something gray, ghostly floating outside the door, and I think you've seen it too. How? … ..."
James Bennett stood up and moved stiffly around the room as he straightened his clothes, trying to expel these images to the back of his mind.He would put that issue aside until he could find someone to discuss it with, preferably Catherine, since the dispute involved Louise Callaway.Sir Henry insisted on not questioning Louise until the evening, so Maurice Bohun (enthusiastic about his theory) was content to let things go for a while.
The problem is... James Bennetts was straightening his tie and putting on his coat when there was a knock at the door.
"Can I come in? . . . " It was Catherine Bohun's voice. "I know it's a bad time, but I have to see you. It's all right, I just left John. He hasn't regained consciousness, but he's gone There is no danger."
She was hatless and had on a tweed coat with flecks of snow on it.The cold added color to her cheeks.
"Actually, I have good news for everyone, amazing news. I went to see Louise and she was able to get out of bed and walk around and come down for dinner. It was a funny thing, but, I I feel better than I have been in all these years." When she came to the flames, she spread her hands and looked over her shoulders, she tossed her long hair, "By the way, what happened to Uncle Maurice?"
"What's wrong?"
"Emotions run high. That's what I don't like. When I came in," Thompson said, there was an argument about the cold man Reg, and that -- the other guy, the nice guy Tim Emery, spent the whole One afternoon, trying to wake him up. He just couldn't, said Thompson, and he was babbling and crooning around the house, and that's what Uncle Maurice hates," said Catherine Bohun, frowning, "But, when I came in, this Mr. Emery was going downstairs, and Uncle Morris was going out, and he . . . tapped him on the shoulder. I said, it's incredible! … Premise, if you know Morris. And he said, 'Where are you going?' Tim Emery looked sick, I mean really sick. I was going to hold him , asked if there was anything I could do to help, but I didn't know him. However, he said he had booked a room in the nearby Saima Town Hotel, and they would put her there..."
"Calm down! . . . don't put a price on horror," said Sir Henry Merrillville, with a slight gesture, "go on! . . . "
"Only Uncle Morris said, 'Are you a friend of Mr. Reg's?' Emory said, 'Yes, so what?' Uncle Morris said, 'Then you've got to stay for dinner. You'll hear Something very interesting.' Emery looked at him strangely, and I guess something must have been going on in his head, because he said, 'You invited me to dinner? Don't you think about Carniface What are you doing?’ I said, he was so upset! People thought he was—well, he used the word ‘parasite.’ Then Morris said: ‘If you’re a friend of Mr. Reg’s, you’re welcome But that’s all.’ But it just sounds like it doesn’t sound like you like him, that’s all.”
"It's more like him than you think," laughs James Bennett.Catherine Bohun dropped her hands and turned her head completely to look at him.
"I know what you mean," she said, "but I don't understand..."
James Bennett told her, just about the accusation, and added: "Sit down and let me explain because it's about you and it's about Louise. Now you're going to be honest with me to sue?"
"Yes. That... except for one thing, nothing to do with... murder."
This razor-sharp directness hit her head on, even if she tried to hide it.She looked up at him, her head thrown back defiantly, but he noticed her shoulders trembling and her chest heaving.
"No!..." James Bennett took a step forward, but Catherine Bohun suddenly yelled almost hysterically, "that's what I meant when I said I wasn't honest. Not now! . . . not now, you understand I'm a nasty little... little... oh my god, I don't know!..." She hesitated, "but I... I put my feelings on the back burner , until there's nothing else to worry about, especially when everything I care about falls into one... Come on! Tell me what you're going to say about Morris. That's only fair. "
"Morris..." James Bennett almost gleefully spouted the name he hated, "accused Carl Wraig of murdering Martha Tate, I told you already. I want to ask Do you really believe that Louise went to the waterside pavilion, because according to Morris, she did. Sit down. To some extent, this matter has something to do with you. "
"What do you really think of Reg? What does your companion with amazing insight think?"
"That's what I don't understand. He just said one thing to me, and it was serious, that Carl Wraig might have done it. I mean, he might be guilty, but, I don't think he believes...
"Well, that's the way it is. Reg molested you last night and Martha Tate noticed. She doesn't like it. She likes to have his men line up and dance for him if one of them turns away and she'd pounce on it, you admit it yourself. You remember telling us what Martha said to him, and he said, 'Are you serious?' Morris said: That was an invitation for him to go to the Water Pavilion last night."
Catherine Bohun's eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed again, and a blush passed across her cheeks.
"Well," she said suddenly, "I saw Carl Wraig come upstairs at one-thirty and he said 'You can forget what I said tonight, I've got better business,' actually referring to his late I will go to the water pavilion sometime. Is that right?"
"Yeah. And Maurice went further, because he provided a reason that explained everything! … She didn't invite Reg to go there and have a love affair, it was actually quite the opposite, but Carl Reg didn't know That's all. She invited him so that she and your Uncle John - calm down now, I don't mean to speak ill of him - could corner him and, if necessary, break his neck ..."
"But why?" asked Catherine Bohun in amazement.
"Because Tim Emery told Carneyfest about this marriage, Carl Reg was the driving force behind it. She knew she could manipulate Emery, but when Reg played Emory , put him on the nerves, and send him to Carnifest, and tell the whole thing, and she can't do anything! . . . " sighed Sir Henry Merivale, "from the Italian, Carl Wragg, Behind those slender hands, you can see the whole story, whether you will charge him with murder or not. Martha heard the chicken-and-egg rumor, and that's why John went to see Carneyfest."
He hesitated, but she gestured violently for him to continue.
"Well, frankly, John may know that Martha and Emory are married, but he may not. Emery doesn't think he does, but anyway, from Carneyfest, he's about It's bad enough that this great dream of the show fell apart. And, John knows, who inspired Tim Emery to say it. This morning, when he was chatting with Jarvis Willa and me, He suddenly said in a fit of anger that Reg was behind the scenes.
"You see? . . . Both he and Martha had heard rumors of this. So, last night, Martha Tate invited Carl Wragg to the Waterside, because she hoped that when John brought back bad news, The two of them can get Reg to face it."
"But they don't! . . . They can't, because . . . " said Catherine Bohun passionately.
"Not really, that's what it is."
He wondered if she knew about the troubles that had been going on between John and Carneyfest, and decided that the best course of action was not to mention it.
"Because John was stuck in town for something, and she tried to keep Carl Reg, hoping that John would come back, during this time, she could only face Reg alone.
"Damn it, it fits almost exactly! . . . even on Miss Louise Carraway's part. Miss Louise Carraway, unknowingly, entered into the plot. Thompson It was Louise who saw the mysterious woman crossing the lawn and causing the dogs to bark at half past one. She went to the waterside to make final negotiations with Martha. If Martha Tate was not going to follow her advice, she would not do it either. Killing, your quiet friend, you will just raise the whip and slap her in the face, beating her out of shape..."
Catherine Bohun turned pale.James Bennett felt dizzy, and instinct told him that was right.Catherine bit her lip, hesitated, wavered...
"Uncle Maurice," she cried suddenly, "how is it possible to know of such a thing? . . . No one ever mentioned that whip! I never told anyone. I tried to hide it..."
"Yes, I know. It's Mr. Morris' bad taste to eavesdrop at the door. He's overheard anything that's said in the house. If he hears what we're saying now, I don't think so." It's weird."
James Bennett noticed that the slightly squinting, cold, pale face, the large forehead, and the black needle-like eyes seemed to be everywhere.This impression was so strong that he could not help but open the door and look out.Confirming that the corridor was empty, he turned around.
"Also, he pointed out something we've overlooked: No woman would use the heavy end of a whip as a weapon to kill. It has another meaning. As a weapon, it's like mean words or a horsewhip, used to hurt people Face, it's as clear as the blue sky."
said James Bennett in place of Henry Merivale, looking at Miss Catherine Bohun.
"Very well, she went to the waterside at half past one. On the other hand, Carl Reg thought that the barking of the dog meant that John had gone home. He went back to his room, waited for a few minutes, let John go back to his room and was ready to go. Understand?"
"Understood, but..." Catherine Bohun shook her head in disbelief.
"Wait a minute. At about forty one, Reg came downstairs--he was still in his evening dress--and left by the back door, happily heading for the Waterside for an evening of love.
"It was still snowing hard when he got there, and he heard the argument. It was quite violent. Louise Carraway somehow mustered up her courage, and then she went to Martha with a whip. Tate. Someone got hit and there was a little blood. But Tate was stronger physically and mentally, and she drove Louise away before Carl Wraig showed up to intervene. out.
"You see, Tate didn't know yet that Louise's father, refusing to back their show, wanted to keep the trouble as low as possible. Louise, riding whip still in hand, staggered away from there crying and stumbling away, all courage It's all gone, Martha Tate is just laughing, she's enjoying that kind of thing."
Repeating Maurice Bohun's language, James Bennett understood why this man could write a wonderful script.James Bennett could not imitate Morris's ability to become a cold and precise probe directly into her brain, and then recombine a wounded woman's helplessness into an interesting plot.Again he thought he saw Maurice Bohun leaning forward, clasping his cane with both hands, smiling suavely.
"According to him, you can guess what happened to Louise," said James Bennett. "The courage she slowly built up has disappeared. Not later than four past one." At fifteen, she returned to the main house and fell into a state of hysteria. She did not take off her coat or other clothing, only her wet shoes. She lay in the dark thinking about it until she had a nervous breakdown. Then she decided to go find You confide. Do you think there was a more plausible motive than waking someone up at that time of the morning? ... On the way to your room, she got lost in the dark ...
"Perhaps it was only a shadow that tore the last of her sanity--she cried out, and when she opened her eyes she found you and Jarvis Wella bent over her. She could tell you, But she wouldn't tell Willa. She was the neat, uptight Miss Louise Carraway again. But she saw the blood on her hand, and a girl like her would naturally think that there was a love affair with a virgin. The 'mysterious man' who has a special liking accosted her, so she immediately screamed..."
Catherine Bohun said calmly: "No...impossible, but that doesn't matter, it has nothing to do with Carl Wraig going to the waterside. Now I know what the so-called 'impossible situation' is all about , Doctor Wynn explained to me carefully. If Reg killed her, how could he do it? "
"If that's the case, it's really the simplest trick so far. Did Dr. Wynn tell you what's going on at the scene? What do the things in the water pavilion look like? "
"I know all that. Go on. I want to know what's next! . . . " cried Catherine Bohun.
"Okay. Carl Reiger rushing off to the date while the snow was still falling heavily. She's admiring the baboon now... well, Martha Tate until John brings back certainty Nor did she want to offend him; perhaps she thought Carl Reg was a worthy friend, perhaps she was a little afraid of Reg's cleverness and roughness. When John had not taken her place and attacked, she used her own The charming side treats him kindly. But..."
"As time went on, the situation became more and more tense; at two o'clock, at two-thirty, John hadn't come back...
"The big eruption happened at about three o'clock. At that time, Carl Reg finally began to doubt, and Martha Tate suddenly realized that if it was good news, John should have returned at that time. In other words , the plan was aborted, and John didn't dare to come back and tell her. It's all Carl Wraig's fault, it's the fault of this pudgy boy who barks at her..."
"Stop it! . . . " said Catherine Bohun, trembling all over.
"I'm afraid," said James Bennett uncomfortably, "you're just proving Morris' point. You can imagine afterwards, what did she say to him? . . . It's an interesting thing, this morning, at Carl Wraig said he had fantasized about a meeting between Martha and John before John killed her, using the phrase 'she told him for the first time how she actually thought of him'. few words.
"God, what a blow it would be to say that back on himself, wouldn't it? . . . Everything he said about John was probably what was in his head, about himself. Even though he was furious— Morris said——in his mind, there is still a sliver of reason, which is the cunning he has never lacked. He realized that if he smashed Martha's head and attacked Miss Louise, he would most likely be directly condemned .
"But anyway, he didn't check himself. He killed her with silver or bronze vases that were everywhere in the house, and those vases had sharp edges, just the right shape for the wound on her head. He washed the murder weapon afterward. , put it back on top of the Japanese cabinet—then, Louise's whip would be blamed for the murder.
"And there, my girl," said James Bennett suddenly, "that's what Morris said, where it sounded reasonable. That's why he said he knew Louise was in the dark, murdered in blood." The story of the man's capture is fictional. Why didn't this stupid murderer wash his hands first after returning from the water pavilion? There is water over there. Even if he is not familiar with the water pavilion, he will go to find water first."
After a pause, Catherine Bohun dazedly wiped her forehead with her hand.
"And that little spot of blood," she murmured, "from Louise's attempted murder...but what about Carl Wraig? He's got to come back from the waterside, doesn't he? . . . The snow has stopped by then! … …Let's not talk about how he did it, but if he knew, Louise would be suspected, so why did he accuse John?"
"Because, don't you see, he had to! He's going to change his plans so suddenly, for the same reason that we disagree, and everyone accused is guilty. The snow stopped, completely to his surprise. It must have been a hell of a blow, as he prepared himself to hold a perfect situation in his hands, only to find that the whole plan was ruined by the fact that the snow had stopped an hour earlier. If found, only his footprints Leaving the waterside, there's no chance of accusing anyone. That's why—a man less intelligent than Reg would never have the courage to let himself off the hook. He did it, brilliantly. Look..."
Catherine Bohun protested: "Wait a minute! . . . Dr. Wynn told me his accusations against John . . . Why doesn't a man trapped in a waterside leave footprints and then blur them so that no one can identify them? Reg replied that it would take too long, and the dogs would bark and wake up the whole house. But that kind of It doesn't apply to Carl Wraig. He knows Storm is locked in the kennel, he listens to Uncle Maurice's orders. Blurred footprints will put the case on Louise, and he's got plenty of time, no ?"
James Bennett fumbled for a cigarette and lit it hastily.He said: "Good girl! . . . That's exactly what Masters told your uncle. But Reg was in an even worse situation in the diabolical setting. He couldn't risk it either." Take your time. He knows dogs are nothing to be afraid of, but..."
"What?..." Catherine Bohun opened her eyes wide, staring at James Bennett earnestly, eyes full of surprise and confusion.
"He expects John Bohun to be back from town any moment! . . . Naturally, Martha will say that she's expecting John before she breaks out in a burst of abuse. She tells him that whatever time he gets home, John Bohun They're all going to the waterside." James Bennett sighed, "Carl Wragg knows John hasn't come back, otherwise he would have heard the sound of the car. So if he tried to run long distances, to obscure his We met John halfway on the lawn...do you understand?"
"I said, this is—this is your twist of the matter...but what did he do? What could he do?"
James Bennett took a deep breath: "Let's get on with it. Now, according to Morris, John Bohun's absence inspired Carl Reiger. John would be at the Watershed at the hour, or early next morning. He would either go to the Watershed as soon as he returned from London, or, by Martha Tate's order, go for a ride early in the morning. Carl Wragg should have a long wait, But in the morning, Mr. John Bohun would be the first person to appear next to Martha Tate, and that was very likely. If not John, then someone else would.
"He heard Mr. John Bohun's car pull into the yard at about three forty-five. John's failure to come immediately may only mean that he is going to the main house for a while. If he tries to venture out of the waterside, Karl Reg will always be in a crisis of not knowing when John will come. So his inspiration keeps growing until he comes up with a whole plan to create a perfect alibi for himself... You saw Ray this morning grid?"
Catherine Bohun looked at James Bennett strangely, nodded, and said, "Yes, it was about half-past eight. He was standing in the doorway of his room, wearing a dreadful-looking dressing gown. I think He also patted one of the maids—yes, Beryl—on the head and said, 'Good girl, good girl.' I don't know if he was drunk."
"That's right!... Let's go back to Morris' theory again. Berrill just told him that the girl who didn't sleep in Mr. John's bed last night. The bed was not slept because John didn't go to bed at all. He Walked up and down the floor all night after being in the room; turned on the lights, wondering if he had the guts to confront Martha Tate with the bad news! … Do you understand? … ...and Carl Wragg, as I told you, still dared not venture out of the waterside...because he saw the light in John's room was on.
"Morris asked an important question: 'Why did Carl Reg ask if there was any sign of sleeping in John's bed at the beginning of the incident, before anyone knew the specific situation? What was it that made him Thinking of that?' replied Morris, 'because Reg saw that room with the light on all the time, and he was plotting to put the crime on John.'" James Bennett looked at Catherine Bohun said defiantly, "But, this morning, did you see that fellow Carl Raig? He's still wearing a tux, isn't he? At least he's wearing a shirt and trousers?"
"Yeah, I think so. I don't remember..." Catherine Bohun nodded hesitantly.
"He's dressed the same as he was when he spoke to us in the library. Did you notice those black stains on his shoulders? . . . There's a lot on his shirt too."
"Yes, I noticed, but I thought he'd be more scruffy..." said Catherine Bohun, blushing.
James Bennett got to his feet, and slowly put his hand under the fireplace lid, stroked it gently, and withdrew his soot-covered hand.
"Like this? . . . " he asked, "yes, I saw the marks myself. Well, the fires in the waterside are all out. The chimney is big, and there are iron steps inside for climbing while cleaning. Go While trying to see if he could climb up, Carl Raig took off his coat so he could move more freely. He found he could, so he waited patiently for Mr. John to come. He had to turn off the lights before dawn For a long time, lest anyone in the stables be curious to see the lights kept on all night. However, he had to keep striking matches in the dark, one after another, to read the watch. He let the front door of the water pavilion Open. When you hear John's footsteps approaching, it's time to act.
"You don't know? . . . Carl Raig was hiding in the chimney when John found the body. A search of the house was inevitable, but he knew he was safe. There was a search, and John and I went Searched. While we were behind the house..."
"But, he still has to leave the water pavilion!"
Maurice Bohun raised his cane, pointed at Sir Henry Merrillville, and delivered the final blow to his accusation, with a look of terrified, repressed triumph, and now, James Bennett Remembered.
"You forgot..." James Bennett said suddenly, hearing the voice echo, "Are Carl Wraig's feet as small as a woman's? We noticed it in the library this morning. You also forgot Don't you have your Uncle John in the biggest men's shoes?... Don't you think you could, say, be able to walk back to the main house in John's footsteps while two fools searched the other side of the waterside?... Have you forgotten: As long as you cross the lake, the evergreen tree-lined road will cover you completely? Wearing size 6 shoes and a pair of size 10 shoes, you can walk back as usual, Go back to the main house by the door John left; and, perhaps, you have doubts about some vague trace in those footprints, but it can also be explained later in the same way that Carl Wraig used to frame John Bohun. "
There was a long silence in the room.The end of James Bennett's cigarette, curled and drooping, he flung into the fire.
He added thoughtfully: "I wouldn't call it an ill-fated conspiracy, or a special case of poor personnel. What I'm going to say is this: I'll be very careful when I'm on a jury in the future. Here There are two convincing and excellent examples, each based on the exact same material, but pointed to a different person, and explaining the same impossible situation in markedly different ways. In the chaotic nightmare, we still have a third way to explain it, and I have to retreat into the ward. The accusation against John has failed, and if the accusation against Mr. Carl Wraig also fails...you What do you think?"
"But that's exactly what I'm going to tell you! . . . " said Catherine Bohun passionately. "I was too engrossed to say it just now. Do you remember me saying that I have good news for you? It has nothing to do with whether Carl Reg is guilty, nothing to do with Reg, but . . . "
In a state of already overtired nerves, she turned her head, almost screaming.On the expressway outside, under the courtyard driveway, the cold engine made churning and backfiring sounds, mixed with the loud roar of Officer Porter, driving the few journalists who stayed behind to protest towards the main road go.But that's not what they're hearing that makes them tense and staring.
"It sounds like..." Catherine Bohun opened her mouth, but could not continue.
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