Chapter 15 Chapter Fifteen

The situation is not good, and the outlook is not to be seen. I attended Mr. Leavenworth's funeral, but did not see either cousin before or after the funeral.Even so, I chatted with Mr. Harwell for a while, and although we didn't ask any new clues, it gave me a lot of room for imagination.Almost as soon as we met, he asked me if I had seen yesterday's Evening Telegraph, and when I said yes, a sad and pleading expression appeared on his face.I asked him why the newspapers ran such reports, making such horrific accusations against a young woman of high reputation and culture.His answer surprised me.

"In this way, the truly guilty party will be ashamed to bow their heads and confess." He didn't know anything about the murderer, nor did he know his personality, so how could he say such a thing?I originally wanted to ask, but the secretary was originally taciturn, and when I asked, he kept silent.Obviously it was my duty to hook up with Mr. Claflin, or else to meet someone who knew about the cousins' hidden past. I was notified that night that Mr. Willey was home, but it was not a time for me to discuss such painful matters as Mr. Leavenworth's murder.Eleanor also wrote me a letter, giving her address, but asking me not to visit her unless there was something important to communicate.Because she is very unwell, unable to receive guests.In just a few sentences of this letter, I was moved.Uncomfortable, alone, in someone else's house—what a pity!

The next day I went to the Hoffmann Hotel on Mr. Gritz's instructions and took a seat in the reading room.Not long after entering, a gentleman followed.I recognized him immediately as the man I had spoken to on the corner of Thirty-seventh Street and Sixth Avenue.He must have remembered me too, because he seemed a little embarrassed when he saw me.However, he quickly recovered his natural demeanor, picked up the newspaper and pretended to be immersed in reading soon, but I could feel his handsome black eyes staring at me, and carefully scrutinized my facial features, Body, clothes and movements.I was both surprised and flustered by the way he showed interest in me.I sensed that it would be unwise for me to do the same to someone else, even though I was eager to make eye contact and ask him why he was so curious about me, a total stranger.So I got up, walked over to an old friend sitting across from me, and started a casual conversation, at which point I took the opportunity to ask him if he knew who the handsome stranger was.Dick Fulbish was high society, he knew everybody.

"His name is Claflin, and he's a Londoner. That's all I know. But he's been seen everywhere except in private homes. He hasn't been formally introduced into society, probably waiting for a letter of introduction." .” "Is it a gentleman?" "no doubt." "Have you talked to him?" "Yes, I chatted with him, but he didn't talk much." Dick made faces as he spoke, which made me laugh. "That just proves," he went on, "that he's a real gentleman." I laughed again and walked away from him.After a few minutes, I wandered out of the reading room.

When I rejoined the crowds of Broadway, I found myself still thinking about the experience.Is this unknown London gentleman who walks around but never enters a house connected with the case that concerns me?It seemed not only impossible, but downright absurd.For the first time I doubted the wisdom of Mr. Gritz and why he suggested that I should get to know him. The next day I tried my luck again in the reading room, and did not make much progress until Mr. Claflin came in, but he did not linger long after he saw me.I began to understand that it was not easy to get to know him.To assuage my disappointment, I called on Mary Leavenworth in the evening.When she saw me, she welcomed me with the same warmth she would treat a sister.

She first introduced an older woman next to her—who, I believe, had something to do with her family—was here to stay with her for a while.Then she exclaimed, "Ah! Did you come to tell me I found Hannah?" I shook my head, sad to let her down. "No," I said, "haven't found it yet." "However, Mr. Gritz was here today, and he told me he thought he would hear back within twenty-four hours." "Mr. Gritz has come!" "Yeah, he's here to report how the investigation is going. It doesn't seem like there's much going on."

"It won't go so fast. Don't be so easily discouraged." "I can't help it. Every day, every hour, I spend in uncertainty, hanging on my heart like a mountain." She put her trembling hands on her chest, "If I can, I will order the whole world Go find it, and I'll search it up and down the sea. I—" "What do you want?" "Oh, I don't know," she sighed, and her whole attitude changed suddenly. "There's probably nothing I can do." Before I could respond, she immediately went on, "Did you see Eleanor today?"

I replied no. She seemed satisfied with my answer, but it was inconvenient for her to say anything in front of her friends.Then she asked me seriously, if I knew Eleanor was all right. "I'm afraid it's not very good," I replied. "Eleanor leaving me is a great test for me," she probably noticed my suspicious face, so she continued, "I don't want you to think that I have no responsibility for this embarrassing situation. I would like to tell you that I was the one who first suggested that we should live apart, but that separation did not relieve the pain."

"It's not as painful for you as it is for her," I said. "It wasn't so painful? Why? Just because she left poorer and I richer—do you mean to say that?" She went on, without waiting for an answer, "I wish I could persuade Eleanor to come Divide the property with me! I am willing to give her half of the inheritance, but I am afraid she will not even take a dime." "In this case, it would be better for her not to take it." "That's exactly what I thought. However, if she would take it, it would be a relief to me. This property came to me suddenly, and haunted me like a midnight demon, Mr. Raymond. After listening to the lawyer's will today, I Inheriting a large fortune, but just feeling like a weight has fallen on my shoulders, with blood and fear. Ahhh, it's a far cry from the day I've been looking forward to! Ray Mister Mond, because I..." she went on, a little out of breath, "because, despite the dire circumstances, I have been taught since childhood to look forward to this moment with pride, if not really desire it. Money has always played an important role in my small world. I don’t want to blame anyone, let alone my uncle. It’s just that he accepted us eleven years ago and looked down on our immature faces And said loudly: "I like the blonde one the most. I want her to inherit the property." Since then, I have been cared for. My uncle calls me the little princess, and he is his sweetheart. However, the result of doting on me is that my heart My philanthropic nature was out of place. Yes, I knew from the beginning that his impulsive announcement of my inheritance immediately created a barrier between me and my cousin, a barrier of beauty, wealth, or Achievement is indistinguishable. Eleanor surpasses me in beauty, wealth, and achievement."

She stopped, resisting the sudden lump in her throat, and her self-control made people feel moved and admired immediately.Then, as my eyes stole on her face, she said in a low voice and begging tone: "If I'm wrong, you can see that I have some excuses. Young and happy heir, everyone thinks it should be Be arrogant, vain, and selfish, but many respectable qualities are gone!" She said bitterly, "Money alone has ruined everything for us!" She gradually lowered her voice, "What is falling on me now is The legacy of the devil, and I... I'd give it all up, just to... But it's a sign of weakness to say that! I don't have the right to make you bear my grief. I hope you forget what I said, Raymond Sir, or simply take my complaints as the words of a melancholy girl who is overwhelmed with sorrow and overwhelmed with perplexities and fears."

"I don't intend to forget," I replied, "that you have said some good things, and shown nobility of character. It will be a blessing to you if you inherit this fortune in this manner." However, she quickly continued: "Impossible! Wealth can't bring happiness at all." She seemed to be taken aback by what she said, biting her lip and hastily added an explanation. "Extreme wealth is by no means happiness. Now," she said, with a complete change of attitude, "though the timing is not right, I would like to speak to you about one thing, because I hope it can be settled as soon as possible. You know, my Before his death, my uncle was writing a book about Chinese customs and personal views. He hoped to publish this book, and I naturally hoped to fulfill his wish. In order to achieve his wish, I not only had to make myself Interest in this matter and the search for the right person to oversee the job. Mr Harwell is currently writing and I hope he leaves soon. I have been told that you are the right person. We were a week ago I don't know you at all, and it's hard, if not rude, for me to make such a request to you now. But if you can agree to read his manuscript and tell me what else I can do, I will be grateful to you .” She said this with a tone of humility, which proved that she really had a heart.And I couldn't help but wonder that what she made was exactly what I wanted.I've always wanted to be free to come and go from this house.I didn't know at the time that Mr. Gritz was the one who recommended me to her.However, no matter how satisfied I am, I also feel a little apprehensive, because I don't know if I can do this job because there are so many different lines.I also wanted to recommend someone more competent than me, but she didn't listen. "Mr. Harwell has a lot of notes and memorandums," she said, "that will give you the information you need. You'll have no difficulty, really, no difficulty." "Can't Mr. Harwell do it himself? He looks bright and capable as a young man." She shook her head. "He thinks he's good at it, but I know that my uncle never trusted him and wouldn't let him write a single sentence." "However, he himself would probably be displeased—oh, Mr. Harwell, I mean—to have a stranger take over his job." Her eyes widened in surprise. "It's no different," she exclaimed. "Mr. Harwell takes my salary, and he has nothing to say. He won't object anyway. I've talked to him, and he says he's happy with the arrangement." "Okay," I said, "I promise you'll think about it. I'll at least read the manuscript and report back to you." "Then thank you in advance," she replied with satisfaction, "you are really nice, I don't know how to repay you. Would you like to meet Mr. Harwell?" She walked towards the door, but suddenly stopped Come down, shiver slightly as if remembering something, then whisper, "He's in the library, don't you mind?" I replied that I didn't mind, and the weird atmosphere caused by her mention of the library just now dissipated. "All the papers are in the library, and he says it's better to work in the old place. But if you want me to call him down, I'll do it." I didn't listen, but led the way down the stairs myself. "Sometimes I want to just lock the room," she said quickly, "but I can't. It's like I can't leave the house. I feel a powerful force , forcing me to face all these horrific events. And I've been terrified. Sometimes, at night, when I can't see my fingers -- just don't make you sad by telling this. I've said too much. Come with me. She looked up suddenly and walked up the stairs. Mr. Harwell was seated when we entered.His seat is the only one I think should be vacant.I looked at his thin figure when he bowed his head to read, and in the place in front of his eyes, his employer had just suffered a catastrophe not long ago.This man really lacks imagination, I couldn't help thinking to myself.The tragedy was still fresh in his memory, not only was he able to take the same seat as his own, but he was also able to carry out his work so calmly and meticulously.It didn't take me long, however, to discover that the lighting in this room made that location the best place to work.Immediately my bewilderment turned into admiration, because he quietly suppressed his personal feelings to match the overall conditions of the venue. As we entered, he raised his head mechanically, but did not get up.His expression is focused, revealing that he is thinking deeply. "He's completely out of his mind," Mary whispered. "That's what he is. Who or what made him so out of his mind, I guess he doesn't even know." We walked into the room and she walked away from him. However, as if hoping to attract his attention, he said: "I brought Mr. Raymond upstairs to you, Mr. Harwell. He accepted my request and agreed to take over and finish the manuscript before you." Mr. Harwell got up slowly, wiped the pen, and put it aside, showing that he did not like to be disturbed.I saw all of this, so I picked up the pile of manuscripts without waiting for him to speak, arranged them into a pile on the table, and then said: "It seems to be written very clearly. Excuse me first to get an overview." He bowed, said a word or two of agreement, and then awkwardly re-seated after Mary had left the room, picked up his pen. The manuscript and related matters immediately disappeared from my mind without a trace.Eleanor and the fog that hung over the home not only returned to me, but deepened.I stared into the secretary's face and said, "It's a pleasure to have this opportunity to be alone with you, Mr. Harwell, I want to say to you—" "Something about the murder?" "Yes." I said. "I'm sorry," he replied politely, but firmly. "This is an uncomfortable topic, and it's unbearable to think about, let alone discuss." Discouraged, and convinced that nothing could be gleaned from this man, I gave up.I picked up the manuscript again, trying to at least figure out what it was about.It turned out to be simpler than I thought, so I briefly discussed the content with Harwell, and finally I believed that I was up to Miss Leavenworth's commission, so I bid him farewell and went downstairs to the reception room. About an hour later, I left the Leavenworth house and felt that a boulder had been removed from the road.If my mission cannot be completed, it must not be because I have not had the opportunity to study the inhabitants of this house.