Chapter 20 Chapter 19 Leaked

No sooner had the Quinns and Inspector Willey entered the Khalkis home hall than Wegersch reported that all members of the Khalkis home were at home.The sergeant badely ordered Gilbert Sloan to be fetched, and Wegsch hurried towards the stairs at the back of the hall, and the three of them entered Khalkis' study. Immediately, the officer grabbed a phone from the desk, called the prosecutor's office, spoke briefly to Pepper, and told him that the stolen Khalkis will appeared to be in possession.Pepper yelled that he would be here in a minute.The old man called the police headquarters again, asked a few questions, heard a few replies, and hung up angrily.

"That anonymous letter turned up nothing. No fingerprints at all. Jimmy thinks the writer was very careful—come in, Sloane, come in. I want to talk to you." Sloan hesitated at the door: "Officer, is there anything new?" "Come in, man! I'm not going to eat you." Sloane came in and sat on the edge of the chair, with her white and delicate hands folded on her lap. Willie waddled into a corner and threw his coat over the back of a chair; Ellery lit a cigarette and peered at Sloan through the puff of smoke. "Sloane," said the officer straight in, "we've found out about your big lie."

Sloane's face turned pale: "What's going on? I'm sure, I—" "You claimed at the outset that you saw the man Albert Grinshaw for the first time in your life after the coffin of Khalkis was hoisted from the tomb," said the Inspector, "even when Byer, That is, the night clerk at the Pinetti Hotel has recognized you as one of those who went to Greenshaw on the night of September 30th, and you still clenched your teeth and refused to admit it." Sloan murmured, "Of course. Of course. That's not the case." "Isn't it, eh?" said the Inspector, leaning forward and patting him on the knee. "Well, Mr. Gilbert Greenshaw, shall I tell you that we have established that you and Albert Greenshaw Brother?"

Sloane's face paled.He was tongue-tied, staring blankly, unable to speak, beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead, and his hands twitched involuntarily.Twice he tried to control his tongue, but each time he could only produce a few unwritten sounds. "Why, Sloan, you were so determined at that time, right? Now, let's make it clear, sir." The police officer glared, "What's going on?" Sloane finally connected his brain and voice: "How—how did you know?" "Don't worry about how. Just ask yes and no, don't you?" "Yes." Sloane stretched his hand between his eyebrows, wiping the sweat from his hand, "Yes, but I still don't understand how you would—"

"Let's get down to business, Sloane." "Albert and—and I are brothers, as you say. Our parents died many years ago, and we were only two brothers. Albert—he was always making trouble. We fell out. Yes, we broke up." "You changed your last name." "Yes, my original name was Gilbert Greenshaw, that's all right." He swallowed, with tears in his eyes. "Albert's in jail—he's a troublemaker. I—oh, I'm I couldn't stand the disgrace and bad reputation. I took my mother's maiden name, Sloane, and started from scratch. I told Albert then that I would never leave him..." Sloane Embarrassed with embarrassment; uttered each word slowly, always uttering a word as a last resort, "He didn't know—I didn't tell him about the name change. I avoided him as much as I could. I came to New York, in I found an errand here... But I always pay attention to his movements, beware of being discovered by him, coming to trouble me, ripping me off, and publicly announcing his relationship with me... He and I are brothers , but he was a rascal who did all kinds of crimes. Our father was a schoolteacher—taught drawing lessons and painted himself; we were brought up in a cultured and cultured environment. To be so heinous—"

"I don't listen to ancient history. I want present facts. You did go to the hotel to look for Grimshaw that Thursday night, didn't you?" Sloane sighed: "It's useless to deny it now... I have been there. I have been watching him throughout his life, and I have seen him go from bad to worse-although he Didn't know I was spying on him. He went to Sing Sing, I knew. I waited for him to get out. That Tuesday, when he was released, found out where he was staying, and went to the Binedi Hotel on Thursday night Talk to him. I don't want him to hang around in New York. I want him to—well, somewhere else..."

"Let him go, okay." The police officer sneered. "Wait a minute, Mr. Sloane," Ellery interrupted.Sloan turned away like a frightened owl. "When's the last time you brothers will be before you find him in his room on Thursday night?" "You mean, meet in person?" "I've never actually met or talked to him since I changed my name to Sloane." "Excellent," Ellery said to himself, concentrating on puffing again. "Did anything unexpected happen between the two of you that night?" Officer Quinn asked. "Nothing happened, I swear! I demanded him, begged him to get out of town. I'd pay him. . . In fact, he hated me from the bottom of his heart, but he felt that there was something gratifying about it... At that time, I felt that I had come to the wrong place, and it would be better not to startle the snake. Because, he told me himself, he didn’t even think about it all these years. Pass me—he has almost forgotten that he has a brother—this is his exact words, please pay attention! But it is too late for me to repent. I propose that as long as he leaves this city and opens another wharf, I will pay Give him five thousand dollars. I brought the money with me, all in cash. He agreed, grabbed the bills, and I left."

"Have you seen him since then, while he was alive?" "No, I haven't seen it! I thought he had gone away. When the coffin was opened, I saw him..." Ellery drawled, "Did you tell him your present name during your conversation with this Albert?" Sloane seemed taken aback: "No, no. Of course I didn't tell him. I took it as a kind of—well, self-defense. I don't think he even suspected that I wasn't called Gilbert Greenshaw. That's why I'm so amazed—the officer says he's found out we're brothers—I just don't know how..."

"You mean," resumed Ellery quickly, "that nobody knows that Gilbert Sloan and Albert Grinshaw are brothers?" "Exactly." Sloane wiped his forehead again. "First of all, I never told anyone that I had a brother, not even my wife. And it was impossible for Albert to tell anyone, because , though he knew he had a brother somewhere, he didn't know my name was Gilbert Sloane at all. In fact, he didn't know my name was Gilbert, even after I went to his room that night. Bo Sloane." "Strange!" the police officer said to himself. "No wonder," said Ellery, "Mr. Sloan, does your brother know of your connection to George Khalkis?"

"Oh, no idea! I'm sure he didn't know. In fact, he asked me about me, in oblique terms, what I was doing, and of course I put it off. I didn't want him to find me. " "One more thing for you. Did you brothers meet somewhere before you went to the hotel with him that Thursday night?" "No. I went alone. I stepped into the front porch almost immediately after Albert and another man who was completely wrapped up..." The police officer gave a slight exclamation. "... so that I could not see the man's face. I did not keep my eyes on Albert, and I wondered where he came from. But when I saw him, I went to the check-in counter to inquire about him." I found out the number of the room, and went upstairs with Albert and his companion. I waited in the porch on the third floor, hoping that after the man left, I could go in and negotiate with Albert. After that, leave immediately..."

"Have you been watching the door of Room 314?" Ellery pressed. "Well, it counts as watching, but I suspect that Albert's companion slipped away when I didn't see it. I waited for a while, then went to the door of room 314 and knocked on the door. .It was a little while before Albert came to open the door for me—” "Is there no one in the room?" "Yes, Albert did not mention that there was a guest just now. I guess this person must have been acquainted with him at the hotel. Before I came in, while I was waiting outside, this person had left." Slot Ann sighed, "I was really anxious to get this annoying matter over and to leave, so I didn't have time to ask. Then we started negotiating. I've already talked about it. After the talk, I will Gone. At that time, I felt a stone in my heart fall to the ground." The officer said suddenly, "That's all." Sloane jumped up: "Thank you, officer, thank you for being very thoughtful. Thank you too, Mr. Quinn. I really never expected-this interrogation and..." He touched Tie around his neck, Willie shook his shoulders like a volcanic eruption shaking the hillside, "I reckon I—I can still make it," he said weakly, "I'm going to do some errands at the Collections General Depository. Well..." Everyone looked at him in silence; Sloane said a few words to himself, and as he spoke, he let out a startling smirk, and slipped out of the study.After a while, they heard the front door banging. "Thomas," said Inspector Quinn, "go and bring me the whole set of passenger registers at the Penedy Hotel, and I'll look up Thursday and Friday, that is, the thirtieth and one day, and some of the guests staying at the hotel." who." "Do you really believe Sloane's story," said Ellery, after Willie had left the study, with interest, "that Grimshaw's companion was a hotel resident?" The police officer's pale face turned red: "Why don't you believe it? Don't you think so?" At this moment, Pepper rushed in, the hem of his coat fluttering, his rosy face was reddened by the wind, his eyes were piercing, and he wanted to see what they had drawn in the stove in the next house. Fragments of wills. While Pepper and the officer huddled together to examine the shredded paper by the bright light on the desk, Ellery sat aside, lost in thought. "Very difficult," said Pepper. "At first glance, there is no reason to think that this is not a fragment of the original will. The handwriting appears to be the same." "Let's test it out." "Of course." Pepper took off his coat. "If we determine that this is indeed Khalkis' last will," he continued to musing, "I'm afraid that in connection with Mr. Knox's plot. We have the most troublesome problem of wills, and that's what the magistrate who examines wills can worry about." "What do you mean by that?" "No, unless we can prove that this will was signed by the testator under duress, then the Khalkis Collection will become the property of the late Albert Grimshaw!" They looked at each other.The police officer said slowly, "I understand. And that Sloane may be Greenshaw's closest relative..." "It raises a lot of doubts," Ellery said to himself. "You mean, in your opinion, Sloane should think it safer to inherit through his wife?" asked Pepper. "Pepper, if you were Sloan, wouldn't you think about it this way?" "There's something odd about it," said the inspector in a low voice.He shrugged and recounted the gist of Sloane's testimony; Pepper nodded.Then, they looked at the little burnt piece of paper again, as if they were helpless. Pepper said: "The first thing to do is to go to Wuzhuofu and compare this fragment with the manuscript in his office. After comparing the handwriting, we should be able to confirm..." At this time, there was a sound of light footsteps in the hall outside the study door, and they quickly turned around.It was Mrs. Freeland, standing in the doorway in a shining black dress.Pepper hurriedly stuffed the paper into his pocket, and the police officer said nonchalantly, "Come in, Mrs. Freeland. Are you going to find me?" "Yes," she answered, almost in a grinning voice. She stood outside and looked around the hall.Then she quickly stepped into the study and closed the door behind her.There was something furtive in her manner--with an aggrieved look.Exactly what kind of mind, these men can't tell.Anyway, the look made her cheeks burn, her large eyes sparkle, and her breasts heave with the panting.For some reason, that face always seemed to be full of ulterior motives—there was a hint of murderous intent in his eyes. The officer asked her to sit down, but she would not sit down, preferring to stand with her back against the closed door, vigilant in her air—as if she was trying her best to hear what was going on in the hall outside.The officer narrowed his eyes, Pepper frowned, and even Ellery watched her with interest. "Well, Mrs. Freeland, what's the matter?" "Well, Officer Quinn," she said softly, "I have been hiding something..." "I have a case to report--a case that must amuse you very much." Her moist black lashes drew together over her eyes; when they were raised again they were as hard as ebony. "It was Wednesday night, a week ago—" "The day after the funeral?" asked the officer immediately. "Yes, last Wednesday night, it was late, and I couldn't sleep;" ​​she murmured, "Insomnia--I often have insomnia. I got out of bed and went to the window. From my bedroom window I could see That back yard behind this house. I just happened to see a man go from the back yard to the cemetery, dodging all the way. Officer Quinn, he walked into the cemetery!" "Mrs. Freeland," said the Inspector calmly, "is very interesting indeed. Who is this person?" "Gilbert Sloane!" These few words were said through gritted teeth - there is no doubt - with deep-seated hatred.She rolled her black eyes and looked at everyone present, with a smirk that could almost be called wanton.At this moment, this woman is hideous and frightening—and she is sincere.The officer blinked, and Pepper clenched a fist in ecstasy.Ellery alone was unimpressed—studying the woman like bacteria under a microscope. "Gilbert Sloane. Are you sure, Mrs. Freeland?" "Absolutely." She said firmly. The inspector raised his thin shoulders high. "Now, as you say it, Mrs. Freeland, this is a very serious matter. You must be careful and accurate. Tell me what you saw-- But don't overdo it, and don't cut it off. When did you look out of the window? Where did you see Mr. Sloane come from?" "He came out of the shadows under my window. I can't tell if he came out of the shadows of this house, but I guess he came out of the Khalkis basement. At least, I Have that impression." "What is he wearing?" "Wearing a felt hat and a coat." "Mrs. Freeland." Ellery's voice turned her around. "Is it late at night?" "Yes. I can't tell the exact hour. But it must have been well past midnight." "It's dark in the back yard," Ellery said calmly. "It's the middle of the night." Two veins bulged in her neck: "Oh, I see what you mean! You don't think I know exactly who this man is! But, let me tell you, it's him!" "Mrs. Freeland, did you really see his face?" "No, I didn't see it. But it was Gilbert Sloan--I'd recognize him anywhere, at any time, under any circumstances..." She bit her lip.Pepper nodded knowingly, and the officer looked serious. "You will swear, then, if necessary," said the old man, "that you did see Gilbert Sloane walk from the backyard to the grave that night." "Yeah, I swear to it." She squinted at Ellery. "Did you still stand at the window after he disappeared in the graveyard?" Pepper asked. "Yes. About twenty minutes later he reappeared. He walked briskly, looking here and there, as if afraid of being seen, and then, with a bound, leaped into the shadows under my window. I thought he must have walked in take this house." "Did you see anything else?" Pepper pressed. "My God," she said bitterly, "isn't that enough?" The inspector moved, looking directly at her chest. "When you first saw him walk into the graveyard, Mrs. Freeland—was he carrying anything?" The officer turned away, not wanting to be seen as disappointed.Ellery asked leisurely: "Mrs. Freeland, why didn't you come to report such an important matter before?" She looked at him again, and she could hear his suspicions in his detached, reasonable, and slightly sarcastic tone: "I don't think it's such a big deal!" "Oh, it's a matter of business, Mrs. Freeland." "Hmm - I didn't remember until now." "Well," said the sergeant, "Mrs. Freeland, have you finished?" "Then please don't tell anyone, anyone. Now you can go." It was as if the iron frame inside her body had been loosened all of a sudden—her stiffness suddenly disappeared, and she suddenly appeared old.She walked slowly towards the door--in a low voice: "So, what are you going to do about this?" "You go now, Mrs. Freeland." She twisted the croquet lazily and walked out without looking back.The officer closed the door, and rubbed his hands in a fancy way of washing his hands: "Well," he said lightly, "don't make a fool of yourself. It sounds like this woman is telling the truth! It looks like—" "It should be observed," said Ellery, "that the lady does not actually see that the gentleman's face is long and short." "Do you think she's lying?" Pepper asked. "I think what she thinks she's saying is the truth. It's just a subtle thing about women's psychology." "But you have to admit," said the Inspector, "that it's quite possible that it was Sloane, isn't it?" "Well, yes," Ellery said wearily, shaking his hand. "There is one thing we should do immediately," Pepper said confidently, "and that is, go upstairs and search Mr. Sloane's room." "I'm all for that," said the sergeant gravely. "Come on, Ellery?" Ellery sighed and followed the officer and Pepper out of the study, seemingly without much hope. As they entered the gallery, they caught a glimpse of the slender figure of Tefina Sloane, hurrying past the hall, looking behind her, flushed and worried.She went into the living room and closed the door behind her. The officer paused. "She's not eavesdropping," he said, startled.Then, he shook his head, walked along the corridor to the stairs, and a group of people went upstairs with him as the capital.Going up the stairs, the old man stopped, looked around, and walked along the railing of the stairs to the left.He knocks on the door.Mrs. Freeland responded. "Please, ma'am," said the sergeant softly, "please go downstairs into the drawing room and try to hold Mrs. Sloane there until we return." He winked, and she held her breath a little. nodded.She closed the door of her room and ran downstairs. "At least," said the old man with satisfaction, "we shall not be disturbed. Come on, lad." Upstairs, the Sloanes' apartment consisted of two rooms—a living room and a bedroom. Ellery didn't bother to take part in the search; he stood by and watched the officer and Pepper search the bedrooms—watch them rummaging through the boxes.The police officer was very careful, he didn't put anything in; he didn't hesitate to hurt his old knees, he crawled up and lifted the carpet to inspect it; he knocked on the wall, and explored the interior of the small apartment.But nothing can be found.Nothing that either he or Pepper thought was worth a second look. So they went back to the living room, intending to rummage through it.Ellery leaned against the wall, watching coldly; he took a cigarette from his pack, thrust it between his thin lips, struck a match—and then extinguished the flame again without lighting the cigarette. .This is not a place to smoke!He carefully put the cigarettes and the burnt matches into his pockets. Seeing that nothing has been accomplished and nothing has been gained, but there has been a discovery.The very inquisitive Pepper was tinkering with an old carved table in the corner of the room.He rummaged through every square, and could find nothing of value; but, as he scanned the tabletop, staring hypnotically at it, a huge Borun cigarette case seemed Catching his attention, he lifted the lid of the box.The box is full of shredded tobacco. "This is a good place," he said to himself... He reached into the wet tobacco and felt something cold and metallic, and he stopped for a moment. "My God!" he exclaimed softly.The police officer who was busy at the fireplace raised his head, wiped the ashes from his cheeks, and ran to the table.Ellery's nonchalant demeanor was gone too, and he came running right after the officer. In Pepper's trembling hand, he was carrying a key, and there were still a few shreds of tobacco on his hand. The police officer snatched the key from the deputy public prosecutor: "It looks like—" He just started talking, then closed his mouth, and stuffed the key into his vest pocket, "I think this is enough. Well, Pepper. Let's go. If the key doesn't unlock the place as I reckon, it's going to be a show!" The group left the living room neatly.Go downstairs and meet Inspector Willie. "I sent someone to the Pinedy Hotel to get the passenger book," Willie murmured, "and it's time to come—" "Not now, Thomas," said the inspector, taking Willie by the hand.The old man looked around and saw that there was no one in the corridor.He took out the key from his vest pocket, pressed it in Willy's palm, and whispered something in the inspector's ear.Willie nodded and stepped out the door through the hall; a moment later he had left the house. "Well, gentlemen," said the Inspector cheerfully, snuffing vigorously, "well, gentlemen--whew! Choo! Looks like the real thing. Come on, let's wait in the study. " He led Ellery and Pepper into the study, where he stood at the door, leaving the door a little ajar. Everyone waited in silence; Ellery had a look of hopelessness on his thin face.Suddenly, the old man opened the door straight and pulled Willie in with a jerk. He immediately closed the door.Willie was all smiles, knowing it was worth the trip: "Why, Thomas—what, what's the matter?" "It's the key, all right!" "My God!" cried the sergeant. "The key found in Sloane's Borun box will open the basement door of Knox's empty house!" The old man chirped like an old robin.Willie stood behind the closed door, like a vulture, with sparkling eyes.Pepper is like a hopping sparrow.And Ellery, it was easy to imagine, was a dark, silent, sullen crow. "The matter of the key says two things," said the police officer, laughing so hard that his face burst into two parts. "I'll imitate your accent, my son...it says: Strongly motivated to steal a will, Gilbert Sloan was number one, who hid a duplicate key capable of unlocking the door to the basement in which fragments of the will were found. This means that : He must be the one who destroyed the will in the furnace. Think about it, on the day of the funeral, he stole the will from the safe next to the wall of this study, and stuffed it in the coffin ingeniously—maybe he didn’t put the iron in it at all. The box had been opened--taken out again on Wednesday or Thursday night. "Secondly, the incriminating evidence. The smelly old chest, and the key to the cellar door - proving that Grimshaw's body was hidden there before it was buried in Khalkis' coffin. The empty cellar next door , is indeed a foolproof place... Oh my God, I'm really ashamed of Li De, he is such a waste! How could he not find that scrap of paper in the stove!" "Things are looking fascinating," Pepper said, rubbing his chin. "Very interesting. There's one thing I obviously should do—I've got to find Woodruff right away and take this burnt piece of paper to the guy in his office." Compare the copy to make sure this fragment is real." He walked to the desk and dialed the number. "Busy signal," he said, hanging up the phone for a moment. It doesn't smell bad. We can only be sure..." He dialed the number again and got through to Wu Tuofu's house.Woodover's valet said apologetically that the lawyer was out, but would probably be back in half an hour.Pepper told the valet to tell Wuzoff to wait for him at home, and then hung up the phone with a bang. "You'd better do it fast," the officer blinked, "or you're going to lose your chance. Anyway, let's make sure this fragment is real. We'll wait here and then—as soon as you figure it out , notify me immediately, Pepper." "Okay! It seems that I have to go to Woodroff's office and check the copy. But I will be back as soon as possible." Pepper grabbed his hat and coat and hurried out. "This is going too well, Sergeant," Ellery commented.His face had lost its sense of humor and had a worried look on it. "Why didn't it go well?" The old man sighed contentedly while sitting in Khalkis' swivel chair. "It seems that the road has come to an end--we have finished the road, and Gilbert Sloane has gone." Ellery snorted. "In this case," said the Inspector, laughing, "there's no use for your high-level deduction. In the old decency, it's straight-forward thinking— — Don't dream too much, my son." Ellery snorted again. "What's wrong with you," said the sergeant, "is that you always think every case is a battle of wits. You think the old man has no common sense at all. Hey hey, but anyway, All a detective needs is—common sense. You're too ambitious, boy." "Now look at the case of Gilbert Sloan," the old man went on, "and it's very simple. Motive? There was enough of it. Sloan killed Grimshaw for two reasons: One, Greenshaw posed a threat to him, and, as far as we know, might have tried to rip him off. But that was not the main motive. Greenshaw, because of Khalkis' new will, The collection general library has been obtained, and Sloane, the heir to the estate, has been squeezed out. Therefore, the reason for getting rid of Grimshaw and destroying the will is that you have already pointed out-Sloan does not want to be known that he and Grimshaw It's brother, unwilling to inherit in a precarious situation - well, just destroy the will, Khalkis will die intestate, and Sloane can share the inheritance by his wife. How cunning !" "Oh, very cunning." The police officer smiled: "Don't be a fool, sir... I bet if you investigate the situation of this man, Sloan, you will find that he is not doing well financially. He needs money urgently. All right. That's the motive." . Now let's analyze another point. "When you analyzed why Khalkis was regarded as a criminal, you pointed out that the person who killed Greenshaw would undoubtedly create false clues to blame Khalkis, so that person must know Knox has the painting in his hand so he knows he won't say anything. This analysis is good. However, as you also said, it is possible to create false leads and know that Knox bought Leonardo The only outsider of the work is Greenshaw's elusive 'fellow'. Right?" "Besides," went on the old man.He frowned as if with original insight, and put his fingertips together, "—Thomas, don't be so fidgety!—Besides, in this case, Sloane, as the murderer, must be Grimshaw's 'unnamed' accomplice--I don't see it difficult to understand from the fact that they are brethren." Ellery hummed. "Yes, I understand," said the Inspector freely, "that means that Sloane lied on two important points in all that nonsense just now. First, if he is Green Shaw's accomplice, then Greenshaw must know that Sloane is his brother, and of course he also knows Sloane's position in the Khalkis business. Second, Sloane must be the one who followed Grimshaw to Binai The person who went to the hotel, and not the one who followed closely behind as he told us. This also means that, since Sloane is Grimshaw's unknown companion, he is the only one who has not been identified as yet. The hotel visitor identified must be the second visitor—as for how he made up this number, only God knows, as long as he can make it up." "Anything goes," Ellery said. "Don't you understand, eh?" laughed the Inspector. "I'm quite satisfied with that, my son! Anyway, if Sloane is the murderer, and Greenshaw's associate, then the rest of the The main motive is the will, the secondary motive is to uproot Greenshaw as the bane, and the third motive is to monopolize Knox's illegal purchase of Leonardo's works so that Knox engage in extortion." "This is very important," Ellery expressed himself. "We must pay special attention to this. Now, since you have calculated everything perfectly, I would like to hear you recount the crime. To me , this is also a clinical practice class, I am eager to learn more." "What's so hard about it? It's as simple as A, B, C, D. Last Wednesday night, Sloane buried Greenshaw in his coffin—the night Mrs. Freeland saw him go into the backyard." What did he do. I reckon he went a second time when she saw him, and that's why she didn't see him with the body. He must have dragged it to the cemetery." Ellery shook his head. "What you said is absolutely flawless, Dad—but I don't always feel very sure." "Nonsense. You can be as stubborn as a mule at times. I feel safe. When Sloane buried Grimshaw, there was of course no reason to suppose that the coffin would ever be reopened by judicial authorities. When he dug it up, stuffed it When the body was brought in, the will was probably taken out casually, so that it could be destroyed without fail. It didn't take much extra risk, he said--the coffin was opened anyway--you get the point Is it? When Sloane killed Lingshaw, he must have taken the guaranteed promissory note from him, and then destroyed the promissory note to preserve the inheritance that he could always get indirectly, so as not to delay If someone gets the ticket, they will come to ask for payment. My child, everything is in order!" "Do you think so?" "I'm sure it is, hey! Look, there's a copy of the cellar key in Sloane's cigarette case--that's the proof. There's a burnt-out will in the next fireplace--that's the proof. Much better than that." The solid evidence is--the fact that Grimshaw and Sloane are brothers. . . . Come to your senses, son. Don't lose sight of such obvious facts." “令人遗憾啊，但却千真万确。”埃勒里叹息道，“然而请准许我置身事外吧，爸爸。对于这样一个结论，我一点也不想参预其事。我是上过一次当了，自以为抓住了线索，结果却原来是人家故意安下的钉子。” “钉子！”警官嗤之以鼻，“你是说，你认为有什么人把钥匙塞在史洛安的保润烟盒里，打算陷害他吗？” “还没到我作回答的时候呢。然而，请注意，我把两眼睁得大大的，不会熟视无睹的，”埃勒里说着就站起身来，“尽管我还无法看清下文如何，但我祈求老天爷保佑，让我享受一下拉丰田所谓的'双重乐趣'吧，拉丰田说得好啊：对付骗子，就给他来个将计就计，这乃是双重的乐趣……de tromper letrompeur.” “一派胡言！”警官大喝道，同时从卡吉士的转椅上蹦了起来。 “托马斯，你快穿上大衣，戴上帽子，去集合一批小伙子。咱们到卡吉士收藏品总库去跑一趟吧。” “你凭着手头现有的这些材料，就打算去跟史洛安接触吗？”埃勒里阴阳怪气地问道。 “是的，先生，”警官说道，“而且，只要佩珀拿来了对遗嘱残片的鉴定报告，那么，史洛安先生今天晚上就得按照杀人的罪名，去尝尝纽约市警察总部美妙的铁窗风味！” “可惜，”维利嘟噜着说，“这风味并不美妙。”