加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第13部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃He's　had　plenty　to　drink　already；〃　thought　Molly。　She　smiled　at　him　pleasantly。

〃Oh！　I　e　over　the　heavy　hostess　sometimes；〃　she　said　lightly。　〃Tim　and　I　think　it's　more　polite　not　to　be　too　handy　with　Christian　names。〃

〃Aw！　we　don't　want　any　of　that　stuffedshirt　business。　Now　then；　Molly　my　lovely；　have　a　drink　with　me。〃

〃Ask　me　later；〃　said　Molly。　〃I　have　a　few　things　to　get　on　with。〃

〃Now　don't　run　away。〃　His　arm　fastened　round　her　arm。　〃You're　a　lovely　girl；　Molly。　I　hope　Tim　appreciates　his　good　luck。〃

〃Oh；　I　see　to　it　that　he　does；〃　said　Molly　cheerfully。

〃I　could　go　for　you；　you　know；　in　a　big　way。〃　He　leered　at　her〃though　I　wouldn't　let　my　wife　hear　me　say　so。〃

〃Did　you　have　a　good　trip　this　afternoon？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　Between　you　and　me　I　get　a　bit　fed　up　sometimes。　You　can　get　tired　of　the　birds　and　butterflies。　What　say　you　and　I　go　for　a　little　picnic　on　our　own　one　day？〃

〃We'll　have　to　see　about　that；〃　said　Molly　gaily。　〃I'll　be　looking　forward　to　it。〃

With　a　light　laugh　she　escaped；　and　went　back　into　the　bar。

〃Hallo；　Molly；〃　said　Tim；　〃you　seem　in　a　hurry。　Who's　that　you've　been　with　out　there？〃

He　peered　out。

〃Gregory　Dyson。〃

〃What　does　he　want？〃

〃Wanted　to　make　a　pass　at　me；〃　said　Molly。

〃Blast　him；〃　said　Tim。

〃Don't　worry；〃　said　Molly；　〃I　can　do　all　the　blasting　necessary。〃

Tim　started　to　answer　her；　caught　sight　of　Fernando　and　went　over　to　him　shouting　out　some　directions。　Molly　slipped　away　through　the　kitchen；　out　through　the　kitchen　door　and　down　the　steps　to　the　beach。

Gregory　Dyson　swore　under　his　breath。

Then　he　walked　slowly　back　in　the　direction　of　his　bungalow。　He　had　nearly　got　there　when　a　voice　spoke　to　him　from　the　shadow　of　one　of　the　bushes。　He　turned　his　head；　startled。　In　the　gathering　dusk　he　thought　for　a　moment　that　it　was　a　ghostly　figure　that　stood　there。　Then　he　laughed。　It　had　looked　like　a　faceless　apparition　but　that　was　because；　though　the　dress　was　white；　the　face　was　black。

Victoria　stepped　out　of　the　bushes　on　to　the　path。

〃Mr。　Dyson；　please？〃

〃Yes。　What　is　it？〃

Ashamed　of　being　startled；　he　spoke　with　a　touch　of　impatience。

〃I　brought　you　this；　sir。〃　She　held　out　her　hand。　In　it　was　a　bottle　of　tablets。　〃This　belongs　to　you；　doesn't　it？　Yes？〃

〃Oh；　my　bottle　of　Serenite　tablets。　Yes；　of　course。　Where　did　you　find　it？〃

〃I　found　it　where　it　had　been　put。　In　the　gentleman's　room。〃

〃What　do　you　meanin　the　gentleman's　room？〃

〃The　gentleman　who　is　dead；〃　she　added　gravely。　〃I　do　not　think　he　sleeps　very　well　in　his　grave。〃

〃Why　the　devil　not？〃　asked　Dyson。

Victoria　stood　looking　at　him。

〃I　still　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　You　mean　you　found　this　bottle　of　tablets　in　Major　Palgrave's　bungalow？〃

〃That　is　right；　yes。　After　the　doctor　and　the　Jamestown　people　go　away；　they　give　me　all　the　things　in　his　bathroom　to　throw　away。　The　toothpaste　and　the　lotions；　and　all　the　other　thingsincluding　this。〃

〃Well；　why　didn't　you　throw　it　away？〃

〃Because　these　are　yours。　You　missed　them。　You　remember；　you　asked　about　them？〃

〃Yeswellyes；　I　did。　II　thought　I'd　just　mislaid　them。〃

〃No；　you　did　not　mislay　them。　They　were　taken　from　your　bungalow　and　put　in　Major　Palgrave's　bungalow。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　He　spoke　roughly。

〃I　know　I　saw。〃　She　smiled　at　him　in　a　sudden　flash　of　white　teeth。　〃Someone　put　them　in　the　dead　gentleman's　room。　Now　I　give　them　back　to　you。〃

〃Herewait。　What　do　you　mean？　Whatwho　did　you　see？〃

She　hurried　away；　back　into　the　darkness　of　the　bushes。　Greg　made　as　to　move　after　her　and　then　stopped。　He　stood　stroking　his　chin。

〃What's　the　matter；　Greg？　Seen　a　ghost？〃　asked　Mrs。　Dyson；　as　she　came　along　the　path　from　their　bungalow。　〃Thought　I　had　for　a　minute　or　two。〃

〃Who　was　that　you　were　talking　to？〃

〃The　coloured　girl　who　does　our　place。　Victoria；　her　name　is；　isn't　it？〃

〃What　did　she　want？　Making　a　pass　at　you？〃

〃Don't　be　stupid。　Lucky。　That　girl's　got　some　idiotic　idea　into　her　head。〃

〃Idea　about　what？〃

〃You　remember　I　couldn't　find　my　Serenite　the　other　day？〃

〃You　said　you　couldn't。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　'I　said　I　couldn't'？〃

〃Oh；　for　heck's　sake；　have　you　got　to　take　me　up　on　everything？〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Greg。　〃Everybody　goes　about　being　so　damn　mysterious。〃

He　held　out　his　hand　with　the　bottle　in　it。

〃That　girl　brought　them　back　to　me。〃

〃Had　she　pinched　them？〃

〃No。　Shefound　them　somewhere　I　think。〃

〃Well；　what　of　it？　What's　the　mystery　about？〃

〃Oh　nothing；〃　said　Greg。　〃She　just　riled　me；　that's　all。〃

〃Look　here；　Greg；　what　is　this　stuff　all　about？　e　along　and　have　a　drink　before　dinner。〃



II



Molly　had　gone　down　to　the　beach。　She　pulled　out　one　of　the　old　basket　chairs；　one　of　the　more　rickety　ones　that　were　seldom　used。　She　sat　in　it　for　a　while　looking　at　the　sea；　then　suddenly　she　dropped　her　head　in　her　hands　and　burst　into　tears。　She　sat　there　sobbing　unrestrainedly　for　some　time。　Then　she　heard　a　rustle　by　her　and　glanced　up　sharply　to　see　Mrs。　Hillingdon　looking　down　at　her。

〃Hallo；　Evelyn；　I　didn't　hear　you。　II'm　sorry。〃

〃What's　the　matter；　child？〃　said　Evelyn。　〃Something　gone　wrong？〃　She　pulled　another　chair　forward　and　sat　down。　〃Tell　me。〃

〃There's　nothing　wrong；〃　said　Molly。　〃Nothing　at　all。〃

〃Of　course　there　is。　You　wouldn't　sit　and　cry　here　for　nothing。　Can't　you　tell　me？　Is　itsome　trouble　between　you　and　Tim？〃

〃Oh　no！〃

〃I'm　glad　of　that。　You　always　look　so　happy　together。〃

〃Not　more　than　you　do；〃　said　Molly。　〃Tim　and　I　always　think　how　wonderful　it　would　be　for　the　children　you　know；〃　she　said。　〃Children　whom　we're　both　very　fond　of。　They're　at　school　in　England。　We　didn't　want　to　break　up　the　home。　And　then　of　course；　Lucky　didn't　want　a　divorce　either。　Greg's　a　very　rich　man。　His　first　wife　left　a　lot　of　money。　So　we　agreed　to　live　and　let　live。　Edward　and　Lucky　in　happy　immorality；　Greg　in　blissful　ignorance；　and　Edward　and　I　just　good　friends。〃　She　spoke　with　scalding　bitterness。

〃Howhow　can　you　bear　it？〃

〃One　gets　used　to　anything。　But　sometimes〃

〃Yes？〃　said　Molly。

〃Sometimes　I'd　like　to　kill　that　woman。〃

The　passion　behind　her　voice　startled　Molly。

〃Don't　let's　talk　any　more　about　me；〃　said　Evelyn。　〃Let's　talk　about　you。　I　want　to　know　what's　the　matter。〃

Molly　was　silent　for　some　moments　and　than　she　said；　〃It's　onlyit's　only　that　I　think　there's　something　wrong　about　me。〃

〃Wrong？　What　do　you　mean？〃

Molly　shook　her　head　unhappily。　〃I'm　frightened；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　terribly　frightened。〃

〃Frightened　of　what？〃

〃Everything；〃　said　Molly。　〃It'sgrowing　on　me。　Voices　in　the　bushes；　footstepsor　things　that　people　say。　As　though　someone　were　watching　me　all　the　time；　spying　on　me。　Somebody　hates　me。　That's　what　I　keep　feeling。　Somebody　hates　me。〃

〃My　dear　child；〃　Evelyn　was　shocked　and　startled。　〃How　long　has　this　been　going　on？〃

〃I　don't　know。　It　cameit　started　by　degrees。　And　there　have　been　other　things　too。〃

〃What　sort　of　things？〃

〃There　are　times；〃　said　Molly　slowly；　〃that　I　can't　account　for；　that　I　can't　remember。〃

〃Do　you　mean　you　have　blackoutsthat　sort　of　thing？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　I　mean　sometimes　it'soh；　say　it's　five　o'clockand　I　can't　remember　anything　since　about　half　past　one　or　two。〃

〃Oh　my　dear；　but　that's　just　that　you've　been　asleep。　Had　a　doze。〃

〃No；〃　said　Molly；　〃it's　not　like　that　at　all。　Because　you　see；　at　the　end　of　the　time　it's　not　as　though　I'd　just　dozed　off。　I'm　in　a　different　place。　Sometimes　I'm　wearing　different　clothes　and　sometimes　I　seem　to　have　been　doing　thingseven　saying　things　to　people；　talking　to　someone；　and　not　remembering　that　I've　done　so。〃

Evelyn　looked　shocked。　〃But；　Molly；　my　dear；　if　this　is　so；　then　you　ought　to　see　a　doctor。〃

〃I　won't　see　a　doctor！　I　don't　want　to。　I　wouldn't　go　near　a　doctor。〃

Evelyn　looked　sharply　down　into　her　face；　then　she　took　the　girl's　hand　in　hers。　〃You　may　be　frightening　yourself　for　nothing；　Molly。　You　know　there　are　all　kinds　of　nervous　disorders　that　aren't　really　serious　at　all。　A　doctor　would　soon　reassure　you。〃

〃He　mightn't。　He　might　say　that　there　was　something　really　wrong　with　me。〃

〃Why　should　there　be　anything　wrong　with　you？〃

〃Because〃　Molly　spoke　and　then　was　silent。　〃no　reason；　I　suppose；〃　she　said。

〃Couldn't　your　familyhaven't　you　any　family　any　mother　or　sisters　or　someone　who　could　e　out　here？〃

〃I　don't　get　on　with　my　mother。　I　never　have。　I've　got　sisters。　They're　married　but　I　supposeI　suppose　they　could　e　if　I　wanted　them。　But　I　don't　want　them。　I　don't　want　anyoneanyone　except　Tim。〃

〃Does　Tim　know　about　this？　Have　you　told　him？〃

〃Not　really；〃　said　Molly。　〃But　he's　anxious　about　me　and　he　watches　me。　It's　as　though　he　were　trying　toto　help　me　or　to　shield　me。　But　if　he　does　that　it　means　I　want　shielding；　doesn't　it？〃

〃I　think　a　lot　of　it　may　be　imagination　but　I　still　think　you　ought　to　see　a　doctor。〃

〃Old　Dr。　Graham？　He　wouldn't　be　any　good。〃

〃There　are　other　doctors　on　the　island。〃

〃It's　all　right；　really；〃　said　Molly。　〃I　just　mustn't　think　of　it。　I　expect；　as　you　say；　it's　all　imagination。　Good　gracious；　it's　getting　frightfully　late。　I　ought　to　be　on　duty　now　in　the