小说园

花园血案之谜 the ecret garden（第1页）

。切斯特顿

G。K。Chesterton

G。K。切斯特顿（G。K。Chesterton，1874—1936），英国作家。出生于伦敦一个小资产阶级家庭。在校期间，喜欢写诗，并获得弥尔顿奖金。1900年，切斯特顿的第一部诗集《野骑士》出版。后来还出版了《新诗集》（1929），诗意清新隽永，其中以《飞的旅舍》（1914）的《祝酒歌》最为著名。另外，侦探小说集《布朗神父的纯朴》（1911）、《布朗神父的智慧》（1914）、《布朗神父的秘密》（1927）、《布朗神父的丑行》（1935）等，也深受读者欢迎。

AristideValentin，ChiefoftheParisPolice，waslateforhisdinner，andsomeofhisguestsbegantoarrivebeforehim。Thesewere，however，reassuredbyhisconfdentialservant，Ivan，theoldmanwithascar，andafacealmostasgreyashismoustaches，whoalwayssatatatableintheentrancehall-ahallhungwithweaons。Valentinshousewaserhasaseculiarandcelebratedasitsmaster。Itwasanoldhouse，withhighwallsandtallolarsalmostoverhangingtheSeine；buttheoddity-anderhastheolicevalueofitsarchitecturewasthis：thattherewasnoultimateexitatallexcetthroughthisfrontdoor，whichwasguardedbyIvanandthearmoury。Thegardenwaslargeandelaborate，andthereweremanyexitsfromthehouseintothegarden。Buttherewasnoexitfromthegardenintotheworldoutside；allrounditranatall，smooth，unscalablewallwithsecialsikesattheto；nobadgarden，erhas，foramantorefectinwhomsomehundredcriminalshadsworntokill。

AsIvanexlainedtotheguests，theirhosthadtelehonedthathewasdetainedfortenminutes。Hewas，intruth，makingsomelastarrangementsaboutexecutionsandsuchuglythings；andthoughthesedutieswererootedlyreulsivetohim，healwayserformedthemwithrecision。Ruthlessintheursuitofcriminals，hewasverymildabouttheirunishment。SincehehadbeensuremeoverFrench-andlargelyoverEuroean-olicialmethods，hisgreatinfuencehadbeenhonourablyusedforthemitigationofsentencesandtheurifcationofrisons。HewasoneofthegreathumanitarianFrenchfreethinkers；andtheonlythingwrongwiththemisthattheymakemercyevencolderthanjustice。

WhenValentinarrivedhewasalreadydressedinblackclothesandtheredrosette-anelegantfigure，hisdarkbeardalreadystreakedwithgrey。Hewentstraightthroughhishousetohisstudy，whichoenedonthegroundsbehind。Thegardendoorofitwasoen，andafterhehadcarefullylockedhisboxinitsoffciallace，hestoodforafewsecondsattheoendoorlookingoutuonthegarden。Asharmoonwasfghtingwiththefyingragsandtattersofastorm，andValentinregardeditwithawistfulnessunusualinsuchscientifcnaturesashis。Perhassuchscientifcnatureshavesomesychicrevisionofthemosttremendousroblemoftheirlives。Fromanysuchoccultmood，atleast，hequicklyrecovered，forheknewhewaslate，andthathisguestshadalreadybeguntoarrive。

Aglanceathisdrawing-roomwhenheentereditwasenoughtomakecertainthathisrincialguestwasnotthere，atanyrate。Hesawalltheotherillarsofthelittlearty；hesawLordGalloway，theEnglishAmbassador-acholericoldmanwitharussetfacelikeanale，wearingtheblueribbonoftheGarter。HesawLadyGalloway，slimandthreadlike，withsilverhairandafacesensitiveandsuerior。Hesawherdaughter，LadyMargaretGraham，aaleandrettygirlwithanelfshfaceandcoer-colouredhair。HesawtheDuchessofMontSt。Michel，black-eyedandoulent，andwithherhertwodaughters，black-eyedandoulentalso。HesawDr。Simon，atyicalFrenchscientist，withglasses，aointedbrownbeard，andaforeheadbarredwiththosearallelwrinkleswhicharetheenaltyofsuerciliousness，sincetheycomethroughconstantlyelevatingtheeyebrows。HesawFatherBrown，ofCobhole，inEssex，whomhehadrecentlymetinEngland。

Hesaw-erhaswithmoreinterestthananyofthese-atallmaninuniform，whohadbowedtotheGallowayswithoutreceivinganyveryheartyacknowledgment，andwhonowadvancedalonetoayhisresectstohishost。ThiswasCommandantO‘Brien，oftheFrenchForeignLegion。Hewasaslimyetsomewhatswaggeringfigure，clean-shaven，dark-haired，andblue-eyed，and，asseemednaturalinanoffcerofthatfamousregimentofvictoriousfailuresandsuccessfulsuicides，hehadanairatoncedashingandmelancholy。HewasbybirthanIrishgentleman，andinboyhoodhadknowntheGalloways-eseciallyMargaretGraham。Hehadlefthiscountryaftersomecrashofdebts，andnowexressedhiscomletefreedomfromBritishetiquettebyswingingaboutinuniform，sabreandsurs。WhenhebowedtotheAmbassador’sfamily，LordandLadyGallowaybentstiffy，andLadyMargaretlookedaway。

Butforwhateveroldcausessucheolemightbeinterestedineachother，theirdistinguishedhostwasnotseciallyinterestedinthem。Nooneofthematleastwasinhiseyestheguestoftheevening。Valentinwasexecting，forsecialreasons，amanofworld-widefame，whosefriendshihehadsecuredduringsomeofhisgreatdetectivetoursandtriumhsintheUnitedStates。HewasexectingJuliusK。Brayne，thatmulti-millionairewhosecolossalandevencrushingendowmentsofsmallreligionshaveoccasionedsomucheasysuortandeasiersolemnityfortheAmericanandEnglishaers。NobodycouldquitemakeoutwhetherMr。BraynewasanatheistoraMormonoraChristianScientist；buthewasreadytoourmoneyintoanyintellectualvessel，solongasitwasanuntriedvessel。OneofhishobbieswastowaitfortheAmericanShakeseare-ahobbymoreatientthanangling。HeadmiredWaltWhitman，butthoughtthatLukeP。Tanner，ofParis，Pa。，wasmore“rogressive”thanWhitmananyday。Helikedanythingthathethought“rogressive。”HethoughtValentin“rogressive，”therebydoinghimagraveinjustice。

ThesolidaearanceofJuliusK。Brayneintheroomwasasdecisiveasadinnerbell。Hehadthisgreatquality，whichveryfewofuscanclaim，thathisresencewasasbigashisabsence。

Hewasahugefellow，asfatashewastall，cladincomleteeveningblack，withoutsomuchreliefasawatch-chainoraring。HishairwaswhiteandwellbrushedbacklikeaGermans；hisfacewasred，ferceandcherubic，withonedarktuftunderthelowerlithatthrewuthatotherwiseinfantilevisagewithaneffecttheatricalandevenMehistohelean。Notlong，however，didthatsalonmerelystareatthecelebratedAmerican；hislatenesshadalreadybecomeadomesticroblem，andhewassentwithallseedintothedining-roomwithLadyGallowayonhisarm。

ExcetononeointtheGallowaysweregenialandcasualenough。SolongasLadyMargaretdidnottakethearmofthatadventurerOBrien，herfatherwasquitesatisfied；andshehadnotdoneso，shehaddecorouslygoneinwithDr。Simon。Nevertheless，oldLordGallowaywasrestlessandalmostrude。

Hewasdilomaticenoughduringdinner，butwhen，overthecigars，threeoftheyoungermen-Simonthedoctor，BrowntheriestandthedetrimentalO‘Brien，（theexileinaforeignuniform）-allmeltedawaytomixwiththeladiesorsmokeintheconservatory，thentheEnglishdilomatistgrewveryundilomaticindeed。HewasstungeverysixtysecondswiththethoughtthatthescamO’BrienmightbesignallingtoMargaretsomehow；hedidnotattemttoimaginehow。HewasleftoverthecoffeewithBrayne，thehoaryYankeewhobelievedinallreligions，andValentin，thegrizzledFrenchmanwhobelievedinnone。Theycouldarguewitheachother，butneithercouldaealtohim。Afteratimethis“rogressive”logomachyhadreachedacrisisoftedium；LordGallowaygotualsoandsoughtthedrawing-room。Helosthiswayinlongassagesforsomesixoreightminutes：tillheheardthehigh-itched，didacticvoiceofthedoctor，andthenthedullvoiceoftheriest，followedbygenerallaughter。Theyalso，hethoughtwithacurse，wererobablyarguingabout“scienceandreligion。”Buttheinstantheoenedthesalondoorhesawonlyonething-hesawwhatwasnotthere。HesawthatCommandantOBrienwasabsent，andthatLadyMargaretwasabsenttoo。

Risingimatientlyfromthedrawing-room，ashehadfromthedining-room，hestamedalongtheassageoncemore。HisnotionofrotectinghisdaughterfromtheIrish-Algerianer-do-weelhadbecomesomethingcentralandevenmadinhismind。Ashewenttowardsthebackofthehouse，wherewasValentin‘sstudy，hewassurrisedtomeethisdaughter，whoswetastwithawhite，scornfulface，whichwasasecondenigma。IfshehadbeenwithO’Brien，wherewasO‘Brien！IfshehadnotbeenwithO’Brien，wherehadshebeen?Withasortofsenileandassionatesusicionhegroedhiswaytothedarkbackartsofthemansion，andeventuallyfoundaservants‘entrancethatoenedontothegarden。Themoonwithherscimitarhadnowrieduandrolledawayallthestorm-wrack。Theargentlightlituallfourcornersofthegarden。Atallfgureinbluewasstridingacrossthelawntowardsthestudydoor；aglintofmoonlitsilveronhisfacingsickedhimoutasCommandantO’Brien。

HevanishedthroughtheFrenchwindowsintothehouse，leavingLordGallowayinanindescribabletemer，atoncevirulentandvague。Theblue-and-silvergarden，likeasceneinatheatre，seemedtotaunthimwithallthattyrannictendernessagainstwhichhisworldlyauthoritywasatwar。ThelengthandgraceoftheIrishmansstrideenragedhimasifhewerearivalinsteadofafather；themoonlightmaddenedhim。Hewastraedasifbymagicintoagardenoftroubadours，aWatteaufairyland；and，willingtoshakeoffsuchamorousimbecilitiesbyseech，hesteedbrisklyafterhisenemy。Ashedidsohetriedoversometreeorstoneinthegrass；lookeddownatitfrstwithirritationandthenasecondtimewithcuriosity。Thenextinstantthemoonandthetallolarslookedatanunusualsight-anelderlyEnglishdilomatistrunninghardandcryingorbellowingasheran。

Hishoarseshoutsbroughtaalefacetothestudydoor，thebeamingglassesandworriedbrowofDr。Simon，whoheardthenoblemansfrstclearwords。LordGallowaywascrying：“Acorseinthegrass-ablood-stainedcorse。”OBrienatlasthadgoneutterlyoutofhismind。

“WemusttellValentinatonce，”saidthedoctor，whentheotherhadbrokenlydescribedallthathehaddaredtoexamine。“Itisfortunatethatheishere”；andevenashesokethegreatdetectiveenteredthestudy，attractedbythecry。Itwasalmostamusingtonotehistyicaltransformation；hehadcomewiththecommonconcernofahostandagentleman，fearingthatsomeguestorservantwasill。Whenhewastoldthegoryfact，heturnedwithallhisgravityinstantlybrightandbusinesslike；forthis，howeverabrutandawful，washisbusiness。

“Strange，gentlemen，”hesaidastheyhurriedoutintothegarden，“thatIshouldhavehuntedmysteriesallovertheearth，andnowonecomesandsettlesinmyownback-yard。Butwhereisthelace?”Theycrossedthelawnlesseasily，asaslightmisthadbeguntorisefromtheriver；butundertheguidanceoftheshakenGallowaytheyfoundthebodysunkenindeegrass-thebodyofaverytallandbroad-shoulderedman。Helayfacedownwards，sotheycouldonlyseethathisbigshoulderswerecladinblackcloth，andthathisbigheadwasbald，excetforawisortwoofbrownhairthatclungtohisskulllikewetseaweed。Ascarletserentofbloodcrawledfromunderhisfallenface。

“Atleast，”saidSimon，withadeeandsingularintonation，“heisnoneofourarty。”

“Examinehim，doctor，”criedValentinrathersharly。“Hemaynotbedead。”

Thedoctorbentdown。“Heisnotquitecold，butIamafraidheisdeadenough，”heanswered。“Justhelmetolifthimu。”

Theyliftedhimcarefullyaninchfromtheground，andalldoubtsastohisbeingreallydeadweresettledatonceandfrightfully。Theheadfellaway。Ithadbeenentirelysunderedfromthebody；whoeverhadcuthisthroathadmanagedtosevertheneckaswell。EvenValentinwasslightlyshocked。“Hemusthavebeenasstrongasagorilla，”hemuttered。

Notwithoutashiver，thoughhewasusedtoanatomicalabortions，Dr。Simonliftedthehead。Itwasslightlyslashedabouttheneckandjaw，butthefacewassubstantiallyunhurt。Itwasaonderous，yellowface，atoncesunkenandswollen，withahawk-likenoseandheavylids-afaceofawickedRomanemeror，with，erhas，adistanttouchofaChineseemeror。Allresentseemedtolookatitwiththecoldesteyeofignorance。Nothingelsecouldbenotedaboutthemanexcetthat，astheyhadliftedhisbody，theyhadseenunderneathitthewhitegleamofashirt-frontdefacedwitharedgleamofblood。AsDr。Simonsaid，themanhadneverbeenoftheirarty。Buthemightverywellhavebeentryingtojoinit，forhehadcomedressedforsuchanoccasion。

Valentinwentdownonhishandsandkneesandexaminedwithhisclosestrofessionalattentionthegrassandgroundforsometwentyyardsroundthebody，inwhichhewasassistedlessskillfullybythedoctor，andquitevaguelybytheEnglishlord。Nothingrewardedtheirgrovellingsexcetafewtwigs，snaedorchoedintoverysmalllengths，whichValentinliftedforaninstantsexaminationandthentossedaway。

“Twigs，”hesaidgravely，“twigs，andatotalstrangerwithhisheadcutoff；thatisallthereisonthislawn。”

Therewasanalmostcreeystillness，andthentheunnervedGallowaycalledoutsharly：“Who‘sthat！Who’sthatovertherebythegardenwall！”

Asmallfgurewithafoolishlylargeheaddrewwaveringlyneartheminthemoonlithaze；lookedforaninstantlikeagoblin，butturnedouttobetheharmlesslittleriestwhomtheyhadleftinthedrawing-room。

“Isay，”hesaidmeekly，“therearenogatestothisgarden，doyouknow。”

Valentinsblackbrowshadcometogethersomewhatcrossly，astheydidonrincileatthesightofthecassock。Buthewasfartoojustamantodenytherelevanceoftheremark。“Youareright，”hesaid。“Beforewefndouthowhecametobekilled，wemayhavetofndouthowhecametobehere。Nowlistentome，gentlemen。Ifitcanbedonewithoutrejudicetomyositionandduty，weshallallagreethatcertaindistinguishednamesmightwellbeketoutofthis。Thereareladies，gentlemen，andthereisaforeignambassador。Ifwemustmarkitdownasacrime，thenitmustbefolloweduasacrime。ButtillthenIcanusemyowndiscretion。Iamtheheadoftheolice；IamsoublicthatIcanaffordtoberivate。PleaseHeaven，IwillcleareveryoneofmyownguestsbeforeIcallinmymentolookforanybodyelse。Gentlemen，uonyourhonour，youwillnoneofyouleavethehousetilltomorrowatnoon；therearebedroomsforall。Simon，Ithinkyouknowwheretofndmyman，Ivan，inthefronthall；heisaconfdentialman。Tellhimtoleaveanotherservantonguardandcometomeatonce。LordGalloway，youarecertainlythebestersontotelltheladieswhathashaened，andreventaanic。Theyalsomuststay。FatherBrownandIwillremainwiththebody。”

WhenthissiritofthecatainsokeinValentinhewasobeyedlikeabugle。Dr。SimonwentthroughtothearmouryandroutedoutIvan，theublicdetectivesrivatedetective。Gallowaywenttothedrawing-roomandtoldtheterriblenewstactfullyenough，sothatbythetimethecomanyassembledtheretheladieswerealreadystartledandalreadysoothed。Meanwhilethegoodriestandthegoodatheiststoodattheheadandfootofthedeadmanmotionlessinthemoonlight，likesymbolicstatuesoftheirtwohilosohiesofdeath。

Ivan，theconfidentialmanwiththescarandthemoustaches，cameoutofthehouselikeacannonball，andcameracingacrossthelawntoValentinlikeadogtohismaster。Hislividfacewasquitelivelywiththeglowofthisdomesticdetectivestory，anditwaswithalmostunleasanteagernessthatheaskedhismastersermissiontoexaminetheremains。

“Yes，look，ifyoulike，Ivan，”saidValentin，“butdontbelong。Wemustgoinandthrashthisoutinthehouse。”

Ivanliftedthehead，andthenalmostletitdro。

“Why，”hegased，“it‘s-no，itisn’t；itcantbe。Doyouknowthisman，sir?”

“No，”saidValentinindifferently；“wehadbettergoinside。”

Betweenthemtheycarriedthecorsetoasofainthestudy，andthenallmadetheirwaytothedrawing-room。

Thedetectivesatdownatadeskquietly，andevenwithouthesitation；buthiseyewastheironeyeofajudgeatassize。Hemadeafewraidnotesuonaerinfrontofhim，andthensaidshortly：“Iseverybodyhere?”