"Missy," said Durban, pointing to the seat in front of the mahogany desk, "sit down and let us talk. I have much to tell you, for the time has come when you must know what I know."
"Why have you kept information from me all this time?" said Beatrice, sitting down, while Durban stood at the door, his bulky form blocking up all exit.
"Yuss, Major," said Waterloo meekly.
Ruck wheeled sharply. "Tell this young lady what you saw of Alpenny's murder," he commanded.
"Why, lor' bless me, I sawr very little, sir," whined the tramp.
"Tell what you did see, and how Vivian Paslow killed the man."
"I don't believe it--I can't believe it!" muttered Beatrice, twisting her hands in agony.
"Wait till you hear what Waterloo has to say," said Ruck grimly.
"It wos this waiy, miss," said the tramp, addressing himself to the pale girl. "The Alpenny cove, he set me to watch you an' Mr. Paslow seein' as you loved one another."
"And do still, in spite of all," murmured Beatrice, while the Major raised his eyebrows superciliously.
"I wos awatchin' the pair of you on thet night," went on Waterloo in a cringing way, "and follered you, miss, to th' oak."
"You were the man crouching near the gates of The Camp?"
"Yuss, miss. I guessed you sawr me. I follered y'; and then wen Mr. Paslow sawr me, he follered me. He got 'old of me and kicked me, and I tuck out my knife to stab him. But he went away and back to the oak; I pulled myself together, and follered to knife him if I could. You had gone, miss, and Mr. Paslow he went to The Camp to see if you wos back, miss. I didn't keep quiet enough in the follering, and Mr. Paslow he caught me agin near The Camp and kicked me 'ard. I tried to use my knife," said Waterloo with a venomous look, "but he took it off me, and climbed over the big gates. I follered."
"Why did Mr. Paslow enter The Camp?" questioned Beatrice.
"To see if you wos back, miss," explained the tramp, . "I follered to git back me knife. I sawr the door of the counting-house open, an' the ole cove Alpenny come out hollering Thieves!' He was dressed in his hat an' cloak to go away----"
"That," interpolated the Major, "will be explained later."
"Wen he sawr Mr. Paslow he made for him, and Mr. Paslow held out my knife--unthinking, like. Alpenny fell on it, and then he struck Mr. Paslow. I never sawr any cove go so mad es Mr. Paslow did. He fair raged, and got the ole man down an' cut his throat."
阅读(136) | 评论(0) | 转发(0) |
