Detective and mystery stories; Trent, Philip (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
“Tell me,” said Trent, as the other stopped to light a new cigarette,
“why you took the risk of going through Mrs. Manderson’s room to escape
from the house. I could see when I looked into the thing on the spot
why it had to be on that side of the house; there was a danger of being
seen by Martin, or by some servant at a bedroom window, if you got out
by a window on one of the other sides. But there were three unoccupied
rooms on that side; two spare bedrooms and Mrs. Manderson’s
sitting-room. I should have thought it would have been safer, after you
had done what was necessary to your plan in Manderson’s room, to leave
it quietly and escape through one of those three rooms.... The fact
that you went through her window, you know,” he added coldly, “would
have suggested, if it became known, various suspicions in regard to the
lady herself. I think you understand me.”
Marlowe turned upon him with a glowing face. “And I think you will
understand me, Mr. Trent,” he said in a voice that shook a little,
“when I say that if such a possibility had occurred to me then, I would
have taken any risk rather than make my escape by that way.... Oh
well!” he went on more coolly, “I suppose that to any one who didn’t
know her, the idea of her being privy to her husband’s murder might not
seem so indescribably fatuous. Forgive the expression.” He looked
attentively at the burning end of his cigarette, studiously unconscious
of the red flag that flew in Trent’s eyes for an instant at his words
and the tone of them.
That emotion, however, was conquered at once. “Your remark is perfectly
just,” Trent said with answering coolness. “I can quite believe, too,
that at the time you didn’t think of the possibility I mentioned. But
surely, apart from that, it would have been safer to do as I said; go
by the window of an unoccupied room.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account