Chapter 19 Chapter 18 Fox's Interpretation

Ellery and Ersham left on Friday night and hadn't returned on Saturday.During this time, the enigmatic trip of the Bonn police officer and Megara attracted the attention of everyone in Bradoudo, and everyone talked about it.Hayes Lincoln also went to Oista to ask Mr. Kegam why. But until Bonn and Megara returned, Bradoudo looked remarkably peaceful in the peaceful sunshine.Professor Yaduoli followed the instructions and rested in the fantastic mansion. Around noon—as Ellery and Ersham were speeding between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, that is, toward Arroyo in Southern Pennsylvania—the stately caravan returned to Bradoudo.There are still four motorcycles guarding the avant-garde and on both sides, and the police cars full of policemen are behind.The car drove off the road and stopped with a loud noise. After the door opened, Bonn jumped out, followed by Stephen Megara. He got out of the car slowly, his sharp eyes scanned everywhere like crystal beads, Then, the guards came down, and the group walked towards the bay. The police boat was waiting at the pier. After Megara got on it, she started the main engine of the police boat and gradually disappeared in the direction of the Black Forest. The yacht was still patrolling around.

Outside the colonial mansion, a policeman was swaying and breathing in the fresh air. When he saw Bonn approaching, he immediately handed him a letter.Bonn's originally listless expression suddenly changed, and he lifted the discouraged expression on his face as if he was saved, and he looked extremely serious. "It was sent by the special envoy thirty minutes ago," said the criminal policeman. At this moment Miss Herring Blatt appeared at the door, and the Inspector quickly pocketed the letter. "What happened?" Black Forest asked, "Where is Stephen? Mr. Inspector, I think you should explain to me the details of this mysterious trip!"

"Mr. Megara is on the yacht," Bonn replied. "No! I don't need to tell you anything at the moment. I hope you will understand—" "No! I don't agree." Hei Lin said angrily, her eyes were full of tears, "I think you are too cruel, where did you and Stephen go?" "I'm sorry I can't tell you, miss..." "However, I don't think he's in good health. It's not like you tortured him with third-world torture!" Bonn laughed and said, "What did you say? It was just a deliberate exaggeration in the newspaper and it was groundless. You said that he was not feeling well, but it was true. He had pain in his waist."

Hei Lin paced around and shouted, "You guys are so ruthless! I'll ask Dr. Paul Dun to check it out." "Okay, I don't care at all." He watched the lady go by the totem path, so he breathed a sigh of relief, and shouted: "Johnny, come here! I have something to explain!" The police officer took the detective named Johnny to the forest to the west - the wooden cabin where Fox, the driver and gardener, was imprisoned soon loomed in the woods, and there were policemen in police uniforms sitting outside the door. "Is there anything unusual?" Bonn asked.

"No." Bonn entered the hut as if nothing had happened. The thin and slightly dark Fox had a black beard that hadn't been shaved for a while, and there were black circles around his eyes. He seemed to be pacing back and forth in the house unsteadily.As soon as the door was opened, Fox looked back, knowing that someone was coming, so he continued to pace the room, keeping his mouth shut and silent. "I'm here to give you one last chance! Do you want to talk?" the officer asked. Fox continued walking without change. "Well, don't you want to tell the truth that you went to see Batosi Malone?"

The other party did not answer. "Good!" continued Bonn, sitting down, "then—you're finished, Banduruton!" The young man stopped, but after a while he returned to his indifferent expression. "Admirable!" said Bonn mockingly. "You are so bold, and now I know all about you." Fox murmured, "I don't understand what you're talking about." "You must have been bitten!" "I have no idea what you're talking about." "How can anyone who has served time in prison not know the meaning of the phrase 'bitten'? Well! Well!" said the police officer with a smile, "But Bandhu Luton, what you are doing now is really outrageous." Silly, I am not prejudiced against you just because you have slept in a room with iron bars." The smile has disappeared, "I am talking to you seriously! Bandhu Luton, deny it again and again It's not doing you any favors, you're in a quagmire now - you've got a record, and at a time like this, you'd better tell it all."

The man's eyes looked painful: "I don't have anything to explain." "Really? No, let's talk! Let's say I catch a New York black market gangster and a gem dealer's vault happens to be broken into...and the guy says there's nothing to explain, Is it possible to pass this way? Think about it again." The tall young man stopped and clenched his white-knuckle fists on the black table. "Please, Mr. Inspector!" , but I have nothing to do with this case, I am innocent, I have always wanted to live an honest life, but—" "Well!" said the sergeant, "it seems that you have reconsidered, and now we can talk about it. You are Phil Banduruton, who was sentenced to five years for robbery in Bandarria, Illinois. Served in state prison. You heroically saved the warden's life when you escaped last year. The Governor of Illinois commuted your sentence. Your previous convictions are - assault in California and home invasion in Michigan , you've been sentenced for all of this... so if you didn't do anything, I don't want to hold you accountable, but if you did, I can help you as much as you can, how about you? Did you kill Thomas Bratt?"

The man known as Fox in Brado Udo sat limply in a chair: "I didn't do it!" he whispered, "I swear to God, officer." "How did you find your previous job?" He didn't even look up, just said slowly, "I wish I could be a man again, and he—didn't ask me anything. Then he failed in business and I was fired, that's all." "Do you have any intention of being both a gardener and a driver?" "No! Because both jobs are outdoors and pay well..." "Okay! I get it. If you want me to believe what you just said, you'd better tell me about Malone. If you really want to start a new life and live a decent life, why did you go to What about the lair of local ruffians like Malone?"

Fox was silent for a long time, then slowly stood up, and said with menacing eyes: "I have the right to live a free life..." "Of course, Bandhu Luton." The police officer said thoughtfully, "It should be so, we will help you." Fox quickly continued: "I don't know why, but my former prison mate found me a place to live. The first time, on a Tuesday morning, the man asked me to meet him. I refused. I said I Washed his hands and quit, but the guy threatened me and said: 'You must not want me to tell your master about your previous criminal record!' So I went."

Bonn nodded, and he listened attentively: "And then? Tell me what happens next." "He only told me where to meet, and he gave me the address in New York. I dropped Stallings and Mrs. Bacusta out of the car on Tuesday night, and I went there. I parked the car in the next street. Go to that person, I don’t know who it is, anyway, a gangster let me in—I saw that person and discussed with me one thing, I refused—I said I swore I would never do bad things again, then People want me to think that the next day, if I still don't agree, he will tell Mr. Bratt what I really am, so I left. You already know what happened after that."

"Of course nothing will happen when you hear there's been a murder," said Bonn. "That fellow is Bartosi Malone!" "I...no...I can't say." Bonn looked at him with sharp eyes: "Didn't you say that you are unwilling to submit? What did he discuss with you?" Fox shook his head: "I can't say any more, Mr. Police Officer! Although you can help me, once I leak the information, they will find me to settle the score." The police officer stood up: "I understand! That's right, this is your business, I won't force you, what you said just now sounds reasonable... But, Fox..." Fox raised his head, expressing surprise and gratitude Eyes fixed on Bonn, "Where were you last Christmas?" "In New York, I was looking for a job. I saw Mr. Blatter's job advertisement. I applied and was hired on January 2." "It fits perfectly!" said the officer with a sigh of relief. "For your own sake, I hope you have not lied to me. I am very busy at the moment, and you must stay here. Now, I am no longer watching you or imprisoning you. Do you understand? But you can't run away!" "I'm not going to run away! Officer..." Fox shouted, his face showing renewed hope. "You have to pretend like nothing happened. As long as you keep your head down, I won't tell Mrs. Bratt about these things, or tell your experiences." Fox heard his lenient words, and stood there silently. , The police officer recruited his subordinates and left the hut. Fox followed slowly. He stood at the door and watched the police officer and the two detectives disappear down the forest path.His heart is full of gratitude.He took a deep breath of warm air. The officer encounters Herring Blatt outside the Blatt mansion. "You're bullying Fox again!" She said as if smelling something. "You don't have to worry about Fox!" the police officer said frankly, with a tired and uneasy feeling on his face, "Have you met Dun Paulo?" "Dr. Dunpaolo is not at home. He has gone out in his motorboat. I left a note asking him to see Stephen as soon as he comes back." "Going out? Hmm!" Bonn looked in the direction of Oista Island and nodded lazily.