Home Categories detective reasoning The Mystery of the Egyptian Cross

Chapter 21 Chapter 20 Two Triangles

When four people, Ellery, Adori, Esham, and Bonn, came from the east side of the main house, Doctor Dunpaolo's voice came from behind. "Have you finished the meeting?" Paul Dun asked. He didn't know where he put the medical kit, so he didn't bring anything now, and he was walking slowly with a pipe in his hand. "Yes!" Ersham replied. At that moment, Jonas Lincolnham came running long around the corner, bumped into Ellery, and stepped aside with an apology. "Dunpaolo!" he cried without looking at anyone around him, "how's Megara?"

"You needn't get excited, Mr. Lincoln," said the sergeant. "Meghalah is all right. It's just a hernia. What are you worried about?" Jona wiped his forehead and gasped: "In short, everything is like a mystery, don't we have the right to know? I heard that after Dr. Deng Paulo left, you also followed the street to the yacht, so I..." "Do you think Megara broke any law?" said Ersham. "That's not the case. Everything is just as the Bonn police officer said." "Really?" Lincoln's mean face faded slightly, and he had calmed down a little.Dr. Paul Dun was smoking a cigarette leisurely, "In short, this place is like a prison!" Yona complained, "My sister had an accident in order to return to Bradoudo, when she returned to the pier from Oista Island... ..."

"Miss Lincoln is back?" asked Bonn. Dr. Paul Dun took the pipe from his mouth, and the original calm expression in his eyes was gone: "When is it?" he asked. "Just now, the detective—" "Is she alone?" "Yes, those detectives—" Lincoln was so pitiful, he couldn't find a place to vent his indignation, he opened his eyes wide and stood there, the other men were also startled, and their whole bodies became stiff. At this time, a woman's laughter, as rude as a scream, came from the main room. "Hayes!" shouted Dr. Paul Dunpale, pushing Jonas down and disappearing around the corner.

"What's going on here?" Esham asked hoarsely, "What happened?" Jonas Lincoln got up from the ground and hurriedly followed the doctor, and the others had to follow. The cry came from the second floor of the house. When everyone reached the corridor of the entrance, the butler Stallings was standing near the landing with blood on his face. loomed. There are bedrooms side by side on the second floor. When everyone ran up the stairs, they saw the thin figure of Dr. Paul Dun rushing towards a door in the bedroom... The shouting has not stopped, the woman is screaming violently, and the hysterical shouting is still incessant .

They saw Dr. Paul Dun holding Hess Lincoln in his arms, stroking her messy hair, and trying to calm her down, but her face was as red as blood, and her eyes had no confidence at all. With a ferocious look; and the corners of his mouth twisted, his shouts were uncontrollably vented again and again. "It's hysteria!" the doctor said over his shoulder. "I'm going to put her in bed, please help." Bonn and Jonas ran up; Hearing quick footsteps in the hallway, looking back, Mrs. Bratt in pajamas was standing there, and Heilin appeared in the doorway behind. "What's the matter?" said Mrs. Bratt breathlessly. "What happened?"

Hei Lin came out in a hurry, and Dr. Paul Dun forced the struggling woman onto the bed, and slapped her fiercely on the cheek. She trembled and screamed, and then returned to calm.Hess lay half up on the bed, staring at Mrs. Bratt's pale face. Judging from her expression, she seemed to have regained consciousness, and at the same time showed a look of cold hatred. "Go away—go away—out of my sight!" she cried. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate everything about you, go away! go away!" Mrs. Bratt's face suddenly flushed, her lips trembled, she panted, her shoulders trembled slightly, and then she let out a low cry, turned around and disappeared.

"Calm down, Hayes!" Blackwood cursed excitedly, "What are you talking about insanely! Now calm down! Isn't this embarrassing?" Hayes rolled her eyes, and at the same time hung her head weakly, her body collapsed on the bed like a discarded bag. "Please get out!" Dr. Paul Dun ordered unceremoniously, "Everyone, please get out!" He let the unconscious woman lie on her back on the bed, and at this time the other people left the room, Jona blushed, Nervously flashing a boastful expression, he gently closed the door. "Why is that?" Esham said, frowning.

"It's a response to a strong emotional impulse," Ellery said quietly. "Is this psychological observation correct?" "It was indeed a violent outburst of emotions." Professor Yadori replied. "Why did she leave that island?" Bonn asked. Jonas smiled weakly and said: "It's all over, so I think I can tell you the whole situation. Actually, it's not a big deal. Hathe has a crush on the gangster named Lomin from Oista Island. But judging from the way she hurried back from the island just now, it seems that that man has done something wrong to my sister." His face was gloomy, "That guy owes me another debt. That devil, however, just Somehow I should thank that guy because he brightened my sister's eyes and brought them back to normal."

The police officer said lightly: "Of course it's none of my business! But ah! Your sister thought that man would sing poems for her!" The door opened, and Dr. Paul Dun came out: "She has calmed down, please don't bother her." He said in a serious tone, "Please look at her, Miss Bratt." Heilin nodded , walked in, and quickly closed the door, "No problem, yes! Yes! I let her take a tranquilizer...my purse..." He hurried down the stairs. After watching him go, Jona said: "My sister told me when she came back that she had disowned Luo Min and that vile nudism, and she wanted to leave here and go somewhere else. She wanted to go to New York to have a quiet time." Jing, I think this is better for my sister."

"I see." Esham said, "Where is Luomin?" "Probably on the island! He has never been here before. That beast—" Yona said through gritted teeth, then shrugged and said, "It doesn't matter if Hethe leaves Bradoudo! Mr. Ersham." "Well... what do you think? Bonn." The officer stroked his chin and said, "I don't think it should matter. As long as we can get in touch quickly anytime." "You'll take care of your sister, Mr. Lincoln." Jona nodded vigorously: "I am absolutely responsible, I swear..." "Talk about something else!" said Ellery. "Your sister doesn't seem to understand Mrs. Bratt, Mr. Lincoln."

Jonas's smile was about to disappear, and finally froze in the depths of his eyes: "I can't think what's wrong!" he said flatly, "Please ignore my sister, because she herself doesn't know what she's saying something." "That's strange!" said Ellery. "I think she was quite sober at the time, and she made it very clear, Sergeant. I think I should speak to Mrs. Bratt." "Well, I—" Just as Lincoln was about to say it, there were footsteps downstairs, and everyone turned their heads in unison. One of Bonn's men stood there. "The man named Luo Min and the old man came to the pier. They want to talk to you, officer." The police officer rubbed his hands: "Wow! Isn't this great? Okay, I'll go right away, Mr. Quinn, let's postpone the chat with Mrs. Bratt, let's talk again when we have time!" "May I go with you?" Jonas said quietly, his right hand already clenched into a fist. "Yeah!" The police officer smiled when he saw Xu clenched his fists, "Okay, let's go together." We lived at the pier together and walked near the tennis court, and met Dr. Paul Dun who was rushing here with a black leather bag in his arms.Smiling, as if lost in thought, he brushed past them, taking a short cut from the east side from the direction of the forest, so he probably didn't notice the two men visiting from Oista Island. Jonas walked silently. Paul Lomin's huge body was standing on the pier, and the tall and thin body of the Egyptologist Harakett was sitting tremblingly on the motorboat at the pier.Both of them are fully dressed today.Harakett, who claims to be immortal, specially brought his sacred walking stick and wore snow-white clothes for this visit. He seemed to realize that it is better to be a mortal than to come here as a god. Can achieve the purpose.The police motorboat hovered around, and there were several criminal policemen standing beside Luo Min. Lomin's feet were firmly planted on the dock floor, and the green trees of Oista Island and the slowly moving hull of the Black Forest seemed to be his background.Regardless of who he is, he does give people the impression that he is the son of nature with a broad sea and sky, but there is a shadow of hesitation on his face, and the smile that seems to be made to please the other party immediately reveals his true nature. state of mind. He said at once: "Sergeant, we don't want to disturb you for too long, we just want to discuss something with you." His tone of voice was cooperative, but he deliberately ignored Jonah Lincoln and looked only at Bonn.Yona breathed calmly and observed Luo Min curiously. "Say it!" said the police officer in a displeased tone, "what do you want from me?" Luo Min looked back at the old man who was huddled in the small motorboat and said, "Master and my business have been messed up because of your relationship. Our customers are all left on the island by you and cannot move." "Well, isn't that great for you?" "That's right!" Luo Min said patiently, "But in this way, we can't stand it, everyone is trembling like children, they really want to go home, but you don't let them go back. However, I don't It’s not about these people, I’m worried about other people because we can’t get anyone else to come.” "so what?" "I want you to get us out of here." At this moment the old man stood up suddenly on the small motorboat and said: "This is persecution!" He shouted in his high-pitched voice, "Prophet has never been respected in his own hometown; Harak has the right to ask for evangelism... ..." "Be quiet!" Luo Min scolded him roughly, and the lunatic sat down again after being startled. "His thoughts are disordered." Professor Yadoli said.His face was pale, "His thinking is really messed up, he is a lunatic, yes, he quoted Matthew, and confused Egyptian and Christian theology..." "No, I can't allow you to leave." Officer Bonn said in a calm voice. Luo Min's handsome face quickly turned menacing, he clenched his hands and took a step forward.The detectives sitting nearby immediately leaned over.He wanted to deal with this matter as gently as possible, so he suppressed the sudden impulse and relaxed his strength again. "Why?" He swallowed and asked, "You don't suspect us, do you! Officer, we have always been good citizens who keep our own laws!" "As I said just now, I can't promise you and Grandpa Goat sitting there, I won't allow you to leave - it won't be long, neither of you has done anything wrong, but in my eyes , both of you are dangerous people. Luomin, where were you when Thomas Bratt was killed?" "Didn't I say it before? I'm on the island!" "Oh!" said the inspector, seeming pleased. I thought Luo Min would become impulsive again, but unexpectedly, he began to think, and the police officer's nostrils moved.Ersham was about to speak, but Bonn touched his hand, so Ersham fell silent again. "How?" Bonn snarled. "I can't spend all day here, so talk!" "If—" Luo Min said slowly, "if we can produce absolutely reliable evidence and witnesses about where we went that day, will we be able to get rid of the suspicion?" "Ah, yes!" said Ersham, "if it is possible, it would be the best!" There was an uproar behind them, and Ellery was the only one paying attention.Jonas Lincoln lost his composure, a strange noise came from his throat, and he kept trying to get ahead.Ellery's fingertips gripped Lincoln's muscles, and Lincoln struggled, but soon fell silent. "Okay." Luo Min suddenly became a little timid, "I didn't want to say this at first, it was because of others. No, I thought, someone would think this matter in a bad way, but because now we want to leave here ,So I……" "Luo Min!" Yona yelled his name, "If you say another word, be careful, I will kill you..." Bonn looked back and shouted, "Hey! Hey!" He scolded loudly, "Don't be so arrogant, Lincoln!" "Understood? Luo Min." Jona said. Lomin shook his big head and laughed—a laugh that would have terrified even Ellery, a short barking laugh. "Fool!" he said, "I threw you over the bay, and now you want to try? I don't care if it's you or anybody, I'll tell you officer, ten to ten-thirty that night . . . " Yona rushed forward waving his arms wordlessly. Ellery yelled, "What!", put an arm around his neck, and pulled it back. A detective ran over and grabbed Jonas. He strangled him by the collar and struggled for a short time, before Jona calmed down, he was panting, and there was a strong murderous intent in those fiery eyes. Luo Min said quickly: "I am on Oista Island with Mrs. Bratt." Jonas pushed Ellery's arm away: "Okay, Mr. Quinn." He said coldly, "It's all over, now he can say whatever he likes." "What—on Oista Island with Mrs. Bratt?" asked the officer, his eyes narrowed. "Are there only two?" "Don't be kidding, I'm not a child." Luo Min said, "I said this, the two of us were under a tree near the coast, and there was only the two of us together for about an hour." "Why did Mrs. Bratt go to the island that night?" "We made an appointment in advance. I drove the boat to the pier to wait for her. My wife just arrived. It was about half past ten." Police officer Bonn took out a tattered cigar from his pocket and put it in his mouth: "Go back to the island! I want to investigate what you said just now, and bring the lunatic back too! ... And, Lincoln," he seemed to be thinking, Then he turned his back to Luo Min and said, "If you want to beat this despicable beast like a hungry ghost, then you can beat it! I'm going back to the main house." Luo Min blinked and stood on the pier. The detectives had gradually left. Jona took off his shirt, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and walked forward. "The first is..." Jona said, "You played with my sister; the second is that you made those stupid women crazy... Do you understand? Luomin!" The lunatic grabbed the side of the boat and screamed, "Come on, Luo Min!" Luo Min quickly looked around with hostile eyes: "Huh! You want to teach me a lesson? It's still too early!" He shrugged his shoulders swaggeringly, and turned half sideways. Yona's iron fist hit the opponent's chin, it was angled, it was a fierce punch, and behind the punch was the resentment and anger he had received for the past few months.If it was a man of ordinary physical strength, he would definitely be knocked unconscious by him, but Luo Min - like a bull, this punch only made him shake a few times.He blinked again, let out a shrill laugh like a cat, and his handsome face disappeared into nowhere.With his right fist clenched like a club, he gave Yona a hard uppercut (the uppercut in boxing), and Yona's body flew out, and he lay on the dock floor, passed out. The happy face of Police Officer Bonn disappeared, and he said to his subordinates: "Follow me!" Then he ran towards the pier like a gust of wind, and Luo Min lightly jumped onto the boat, using his big fan-like hand Push the boat hard, and soon the sound of the motor sounded, and the boat flew out like an arrow, heading towards the island. "I'll take the motorboat!" said the sergeant mildly. "You take the poor man back to Braddow, and I'll be back in two or three minutes, and I'm going to fix that guy up a bit." When the launch left the pier to chase the launch, Ellery squatted beside him, gently patted his bloodless cheek, and Professor Adori bowed and cupped the water of the bay with both hands. The officers on shore cheered Constable Bonn loudly, and he stood on the prow of the motorboat with his coat off. Ellery sprinkled water on Jonah's face and said, "This is a rare exception in the triumph of justice." He said to the professor flatly, and then said, "Wake up, Lincoln, the war is over." Fifteen minutes later, as they were sitting in the corner outside the room, Inspector Bonn appeared; Jona Lincoln sat in the rocking chair, with his chin in his hands, as if finding it very strange that the chin was still on his face.Ellery, Esham, and Ardori smoked leisurely with their backs turned to him with relaxed expressions. The officer's face--bleeding from the nose, a scar under one eye, so it can't be described as an angelic descent, but it's clear that he's tried his hand at the grand race of knights, and the results show in his face. "Hello!" A cheerful voice came, and he strode on the stairs beside the corridor and walked upstairs with a bang. "Oh! Lincoln, your agent has knocked that guy down. Looks like a hell of a fight, but now the womanizer won't be able to look in the mirror for at least a month." Jonas groaned, "Me! Damn, I'm short-armed, I'm no coward, but that guy, he--he's Goliath, and I'm playing David." Bonn licked his injured fist: "I thought that crazy old man would faint because I knocked down his big apprentice. Professor, will I be condemned by God? Lincoln, I think you should go back and wash your face for comparison." Good." He suddenly spoke with a serious expression, "Go back to work now! Have you met Mrs. Bratt?" Lincoln stood up suddenly and walked into the room. "Ma'am seems to be on the second floor," Esham said. "Okay!" The police officer strode behind Lincoln and said as he walked, "I want to see my wife before Lincoln meets her. She has always appeared as a lady in the past, so we can't do anything about it, but It's business, so I can't time it or ask people for facts." Heilin seems to be still in Hayes Lincoln's room. According to what Stallings said, Dr. Dunpaolo seems to be on the second floor. He said that the doctor just took the bag upstairs, but he hasn't shown up yet. Jonas had just returned to his room when they went up to the second floor.Stallings led the way, and they were taken to the last bedroom, where Sergeant Bonn knocked. Mrs. Bratt said in a trembling voice, "Who is it?" "It's me, Officer Bonn, may I go in?" "Who? Ah! Please wait a moment!" The woman's voice revealed a sense of panic.After waiting for a while, the door slowly opened ajar, and Mrs. Bratt's pretty face appeared, her eyes were moist with a disturbed expression. "What's the matter? Officer—I'm a little sick." Bonn gently pushed the door open and said, "I know, but this is very important." She backed away, so everyone walked in, it was a room full of femininity, scents, lace, and a makeup table full of cosmetics, she kept pulling her collar tightly and stepped back. "Mrs. Bratt!" Esham said, "Where were you from half past ten to half past eleven on the night your husband was killed?" She stopped pulling the collar of her pajamas and stopped walking. It seemed that she had stopped breathing: "What are you talking about? What are you talking about?" She managed to force out her voice and asked, "I was in the theater with my daughter, and -" "Paul Lomin—" said Inspector Bonn mildly, "said he was with you on Oista." She couldn't help blurting out: "Paul, he..." Her big eyes looked around uneasily, "He, did he say that?" "Yes, Mrs. Bratt!" Ersham said heavily, "We understand that this matter is extremely painful to you, if it is nothing more than that, please tell us the truth, we promise absolutely not Will bring it up again." "That's not true!" she cried, sitting down suddenly in the calico-covered chair. "No! Ma'am, that's not a lie, it's true, it's completely consistent with the facts! Although you went to the Park Theater with Miss that night, only Miss and Mr. Lincoln came back by taxi, and the Park Theater The waiter said that he saw you leave the theater at around nine o'clock, which is halfway through the second act, which is also consistent with the facts... Luo Min said that he made an appointment with you to meet at the pier." The lady covered her ears: "Please stop talking!" She struggled, "I'm crazy, I don't know why I became like that..."——Everyone looked at each other——"Hess hates me because I Likes Paul, and so does my daughter, so I suppose she can do no wrong..."—the age is irresistible, the lines of her face looming clearly—"that man is the most nasty animal." "That guy probably won't be able to do that kind of bad thing again for a while! Ma'am." Bonn said with a dull expression, "No one is going to judge you, your body is your own, and because of your own stupidity and that kind Hooligans have sex, but you've paid for it. You've been very distressed, haven't you? But what we want to know is—how did you get home that day? And what happened that night—that's all." She clasped her hands on her thighs, sobbing with tears, her throat choked: "I—I went out shortly after the play started, and I told Heilin that I was not feeling well, and told her not to leave the theater until Jona came ...I sneaked up to Penn Station to catch the first train coming south...When I first arrived at the station, the train was very lucky. I got off at the previous stop and took a taxi to Brunswick Radoudo came, and after that, I walked to the pier, but I didn't seem to be seen, so, so..." "I see, you must not want to let Mr. Blatter know that you are back!" Esham said, "I understand that!" "Yes!" whispered Madam, her face dyed an unhealthy red, "we have an appointment to meet on the pier." "What time was it?" "About half past ten!" "Did you see or hear anything? Did you meet anyone?" "No." There was pain in her eyes.She looked up and went on, "If I had seen anyone, I would have told you. And—and when I got back, I just sneaked inside and went straight to my room." Just as Ersham was about to ask the next question, the door suddenly opened, and Hering Bratt appeared.She stood there looking at her mother's miserable face, and then inspecting the faces of the men. "What's wrong?" she said, staring closely at her mother. Mrs. Bratt put her head in her hands and began to cry. "Then, did they know about it?" Hei Lin asked in a low voice, and she slowly closed the door and continued, "Mom is too cowardly, so she couldn't hide it until the end." She looked at Bonn and Esham with slanderous eyes , and then walked to the side of the crying mother lying on the bed, "Don't cry anymore, since the matter has been exposed, forget it, there are still many people who want to catch the second love but unfortunately fail! Who wants to... " "Let's get this over with!" said Bonn. "We're as sorry as you are. How did you and Lincoln know where your mother was that day?" Hei Lin sat beside his mother, patted the crying mother on the back: "Okay! Mom, when you left us that night - yes, I knew it, but you didn't know that I already knew it, In fact, I am also very cowardly." She lowered her head, "I waited for Jona to come, and Jona had already noticed something, I waited for him to come, told him everything, and then went back together, when I came When you were in your room, you were already sleeping on the bed... when the body was found..." "Did she tell you?" "yes." "May I interrupt you on this point?" Ellery said in a deep tone, and Miss Bratt, who has the same eyes as her mother, looked up at him, "For the first time, you see a clue , when did it happen? Miss." "Well!" she said, shaking her head as if in great pain, "that was a few weeks ago." "Do you think your stepfather knew about it?" Mrs. Bratt looked up suddenly, her face smudged with tears and lipstick. "No!" she cried, "he doesn't know, absolutely not." Helin said in a small voice, "I don't believe he knows." "I think that's enough," Esham District Attorney said. After he finished curtly, he walked to the door and said, "Come on!" before walking out into the hallway. Officer Bonn, Ellery, and Professor Ardori obediently followed behind, and the group walked out of the room.
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