This Was Ivor Trent полностью

“I went up to Mr. Trent at nine this morning. I passed Lily on the stairs and she said you’d gone out very early. Well, I knocked on his door. No reply. I knocked again several times. Then I got scared, so I went in. The bedroom was empty. The door leading to the study was open. I went through. Empty! Then I looked in the bathroom. Not a sign of him! I tell you I was scared. So back I go to the study. And there I found a note. And what do you think it said?”

“Haven’t an earthly,” Rendell replied.

“It just said he’d gone, thanked me for all I’d done for him—and a cheque for a hundred pounds was enclosed. But that wasn’t all. There was a P.S. which said: ‘Mr. Rendell can have my rooms for his last week—if that would interest him.’”

“What the devil does that mean?” Rendell demanded.

“I’m sure I don’t know. Still, he knew all about you.”

“You mean—he knows what you’ve told him.”

“No, I don’t, sir, I told him weeks ago you were in the house, and he said that he knew of you, though he’d rather I didn’t mention it. Then he went on to say that you had dined with Mr. Marsden on that Sunday he was taken ill.”

“Then Marsden must have seen Trent and told him.”

“Oh no, sir! Mr. Trent’s seen no one.”

“But he must have!”

“I know he’s seen no one. Why, he’s not even opened one of the letters that have come for him. He’s been alone ever since he came here. And that’s eight weeks ago to-day.”

Rendell thought intently for a moment, then asked:

“Did Elsa see him?”

“Oh yes, sometimes. During the last week or so, she’d take in his tray when I was busy.”

“Then Marsden must have told her that he dined with me on that Sunday—and Elsa must have told Trent. That’s the only possible explanation. Well, go on. What did you do after you’d read Trent’s note?”

“I went to Elsa’s room. It was empty, and all her things had gone. You could have knocked me down with a feather.”

“I believe you. But this is what I want to know, Mrs. Frazer. When did Trent cease to be seriously ill?”

“Well, sir, if you ask me, he’s been perfectly well for weeks.”

“What!”

“Ever since I became his nurse. I’m certain of it. And I’m certain of this, too—he’s been working.”

“How do you know that?”

Mrs. Frazer hesitated.

“I wouldn’t have you think I’m the sort that spies on her lodgers, because I’m not. But I got this idea that Mr. Trent was well, and that he was working. So, one night—or early in the morning, rather—I went out into the street. He had not drawn the curtains properly in his study—and I saw a light. That happened more than once. There’s a mystery in all this, Mr. Rendell.”

“There’s a mystery, all right. But tell me this. Did he ask you questions about the people in the house?”

“Yes, he did.”

“About me?”

“Yes.”

“And did he ask about my visitors? Did he know that Mrs. Vivian, Miss Thornton, and Mr. Wrayburn came to see me?”

“Yes, he asked a lot of questions. And I answered them. The doctor told me to encourage rational conversation. I didn’t think there was any harm, and what else could I——”

“And he knew that Mr. Marsden had a room here for some weeks?”

“Yes, sir, he knew that.”

“All very interesting,” Rendell said slowly. “Now, tell me again, will you? the exact wording of that P.S. to his letter.”

“That I can do, for I know that letter by heart. I’ve read it fifty times, I should think. This was the P.S. ‘Mr. Rendell can have my rooms for his last week—if that would interest him.’”

“Well, it does interest him! And I’ll go up now. It’s six o’clock. I’m dining late to-night, so I’ll spend a couple of hours in Trent’s rooms and think things over. Lily can tell anyone who calls for me that I’m out, though I don’t expect anyone will call.”

“But what do you make of it all, Mr. Rendell?”

“I don’t know what to make of it, and if I were you, I would not puzzle my head about it. Why not go and see a friend for a couple of hours and get a change of atmosphere?”

“I think I will. I do, indeed. I’ve plenty to worry about. I suppose I’ll have to get my husband back now.”

“I shouldn’t hurry about that.”

“Oh, I don’t mean till you’re gone, sir. Here’s the key to Mr. Trent’s door. The door at the bottom of the stairs, I mean,” she added, seeing that Rendell did not understand. “He’s got really a flat to himself up there. He spent a lot of money making it quiet and one thing and another. It’s completely cut off, as you’ll see.”

“Right! I’ll go up directly you’ve gone.”

She left him, and a few minutes later the front door closed behind her.

He picked up the key, went into the hall, and began to climb the stairs.

Rendell encountered no one on his ascent. Previously he had not penetrated further than the second floor, consequently on reaching the third he paused and looked round. Then he went on to the foot of the stairs leading to the fourth floor—and found himself confronted by a door.

Trent!