the agony column-第13部分
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r arrest the moment he made himself known to the captain。〃
Hughes paused。 Bray still idled with his pile of letters； while the colonel regarded him gravely。
〃Poor Fraser…Freer！〃 Hughes went on。 〃Unfortunately for him； Von der Herts knew almost as soon as did the inspector that a plan was afoot to trap him。 There was but one course open to him： He located the captain's lodgings； went there at seven that night； and killed a loyal and brave Englishman where he stood。〃
A tense silence filled the room。 I sat on the edge of my chair； wondering just where all this unwinding of the tangle was leading us。
〃I had little； indeed； to work on；〃 went on Hughes。 〃But I had this advantage： the spy thought the police； and the police alone； were seeking the murderer。 He was at no pains to throw me off his track； because he did not suspect that I was on it。 For weeks my men had been watching the countess。 I had them continue to do so。 I figured that sooner or later Von der Herts would get in touch with her。 I was right。 And when at last I saw with my own eyes the man who must； beyond all question； be Von der Herts； I was astounded； my dear Inspector； I was overwhelmed。〃
〃Yes？〃 said Bray。
〃I set to work then in earnest to connect him with that night in Adelphi Terrace。 All the finger marks in the captain's study were for some reason destroyed； but I found others outside； in the dust on that seldom…used gate which leads from the garden。 Without his knowing； I secured from the man I suspected the imprint of his right thumb。 A comparison was startling。 Next I went down into Fleet Street and luckily managed to get hold of the typewritten copy sent to the Mail bearing those four messages。 I noticed that in these the letter a was out of alignment。 I maneuvered to get a letter written on a typewriter belonging to my man。 The a was out of alignment。 Then Archibald Enwright； a renegade and waster well known to us as serving other countries； came to England。 My man and he met … at Ye Old Gambrinus； in Regent Street。 And finally； on a visit to the lodgings of this man who； I was now certain； was Von der Herts； under the mattress of his bed I found this knife。〃
And Colonel Hughes threw down upon the inspector's desk the knife from India that I had last seen in the study of Captain Fraser…Freer。
〃All these points of evidence were in my hands yesterday morning in this room；〃 Hughes went on。 〃Still； the answer they gave me was so unbelievable； so astounding； I was not satisfied； I wanted even stronger proof。 That is why I directed suspicion to my American friend here。 I was waiting。 I knew that at last Von der Herts realized the danger he was in。 I felt that if opportunity were offered he would attempt to escape from England； and then our proofs of his guilt would be unanswerable； despite his cleverness。 True enough； in the afternoon he secured the release of the countess； and together they started for the Continent。 I was lucky enough to get him at Dover … and glad to let the lady go on。〃
And now； for the first time； the startling truth struck me full in the face as Hughes smiled down at his victim。
〃Inspector Bray；〃 he said； 〃or Von der Herts； as you choose； I arrest you on two counts： First； as the head of the Wilhelmstrasse spy system in England； second； as the murderer of Captain Fraser…Freer。 And； if you will allow me； I wish to compliment you on your efficiency。〃
Bray did not reply for a moment。 I sat numb in my chair。 Finally the inspector looked up。 He actually tried to smile。
〃You win the hat；〃 he said； 〃but you must go to Homburg for it。 I will gladly pay all expenses。〃
〃Thank you；〃 answered Hughes。 〃I hope to visit your country before long； but I shall not be occupied with hats。 Again I congratulate you。 You were a bit careless； but your position justified that。 As head of the department at Scotland Yard given over to the hunt for spies； precaution doubtless struck you as unnecessary。 How unlucky for poor Fraser…Freer that it was to you he went to arrange or your own arrest！ I got that information from a clerk at the Cecil。 You were quite right； from your point of view； to kill him。 And； as I say； you could afford to be rather reckless。 You had arranged that when the news of his murder came to Scotland Yard you yourself would be on hand to conduct the search for the guilty man。 A happy situation； was it not？〃
〃It seemed so at the time；〃 admitted Bray； and at last I thought I detected a note of bitterness in his voice。
〃I'm very sorry … really；〃 said Hughes。 〃To…day； or to…morrow at the latest； England will enter the war。 You know what that means； Von der Herts。 The Tower of London … and a firing squad！〃
Deliberately he walked away from the inspector； and stood facing the window。 Von der Herts was fingering idly that Indian knife which lay on his desk。 With a quick hunted look about the room； he raised his hand； and before I could leap forward to stop him he had plunged the knife into his heart。
Colonel Hughes turned round at my cry； but even at what met his eyes now that Englishman was imperturbable。
〃Too bad！〃 he said。 〃Really too bad！ The man had courage and； beyond all doubt； brains。 But … this is most considerate of him。 He has saved me such a lot of trouble。〃
The colonel effected my release at once； and he and I walked down Whitehall together in the bright sun that seemed so good to me after the bleak walls of the Yard。 Again he apologized for turning suspicion my way the previous day； but I assured him I held no grudge for that。
〃One or two things I do not understand；〃 I said。 〃That letter I brought from Interlaken … 〃
〃Simple enough；〃 he replied。 〃Enwright … who； by the way； is now in the Tower … wanted to communicate with Fraser…Freer； who he supposed was a loyal member of the band。 Letters sent by post seemed dangerous。 With your kind assistance he informed the captain of his whereabouts and the date of his imminent arrival in London。 Fraser…Freer； not wanting you entangled in his plans； eliminated you by denying the existence of this cousin … the truth； of course。〃
〃Why；〃 I asked； 〃did the countess call on me to demand that I alter my testimony？〃
〃Bray sent her。 He had rifled Fraser…Freer's desk and he held that letter from Enwright。 He was most anxious to fix the guilt upon the young lieutenant's head。 You and your testimony as to the hour of the crime stood in the way。 He sought to intimidate you with threats … 〃
〃But … 〃
〃I know … you are wondering why the countess confessed to me next day。 I had the woman in rather a funk。 In the meshes of my rapid…fire questioning she became hopelessly involved。 This was because she was suddenly terrified she realized I must have been watching her for weeks； and that perhaps Von der Herts was not so immune from suspicion as he supposed。 At the proper moment I suggested that I might have to take her to Inspector Bray。 This gave her an idea。 She made her fake confession to reach his side； once there； she warned him of his danger and they fled together。〃
We walked along a moment in silence。 All about us the lurid special editions of the afternoon were flaunting their predictions of the horror to come。 The face of the colonel was grave。
〃How long had Von der Herts held his position at the Yard？〃 I asked。
〃For nearly five years；〃 Hughes answered。
〃It seems incredible；〃 I murmured。
〃So it does；〃 he answered； 〃but it is only the first of many incredible things that this war will reveal。 Two months from now we shall all have forgotten it in the face of new revelations far more unbelievable。〃 He sighed。 〃If these men about us realized the terrible ordeal that lies ahead！ Misgoverned； unprepared … I shudder at the thought of the sacrifices we must make； many of them in vain。 But I suppose that somehow； some day； we shall muddle through。〃
He bade me good…by in Trafalgar Square； saying that he must at once seek out the father and brother of the late captain； and tell them the news … that their kinsman was really loyal to his country。
〃It will come to them as a ray of light in the dark … my news；〃 he said。 〃And now； thank you once again。〃
We parted and I came back here to my lodgings。 The mystery is finally solved； though in such a way it is difficult to believe that it was anything but a nightmare at any time。 But solved none the less； and I should be at peace； except for one great black fact that haunts me； will not let me rest。 I must tell you； dear lady … And yet I fear it means the end of everything。 If only I can make you understand！
I have walked my floor； deep in thought； in puzzlement； in indecision。 Now I have made up my mind。 There is no other way … I must tell you the truth。
Despite the fact that Bray was Von der Herts； despite the fact that he killed himself at the discovery … despite this and that； and everything … Bray did not kill Captain Fraser…Freer！
On last Thursday evening； at a little after seven o'clock； I myself climbed the stairs； entered the captain's rooms； picked up that knife from his desk； and stabbed him just above the heart！
What provocation I was under； what stern necessity moved me … all this you must w
