Пробный камень
XII
ButformypartI’veneverseen,Inevershallsee,anyreasonfornotpublishingtheletters.”
“That’sjustit!”
“What—?”
“Thecertaintyofyournotseeingwaswhatmademegotoyou.Whenaman’sgotstolengoodstopawnhedoesn’ttakethemtothepolice-station.”
“Stolen?”Flamelechoed.“Theletterswerestolen?”
Glennardburstintoacoarselaugh.“Howmuchlongerdoyouexpectmetokeepupthatpretenceabouttheletters?Youknewwellenoughtheywerewrittentome.”
Flamellookedathiminsilence.“Werethey?”hesaidatlength.“Ididn’tknowit.”
“Anddidn’tsuspectit,Isuppose,”Glennardsneered.
Theotherwasagainsilent;thenhesaid,“Imayremindyouthat,supposingIhadfeltanycuriosityaboutthematter,Ihadnowayoffindingoutthattheletterswerewrittentoyou.Younevershowedmetheoriginals.”
“Whatdoesthatprove?Therewerefiftywaysoffindingout.It’sthekindofthingonecaneasilydo.”
Flamelglancedathimwithcontempt.“Ourideasprobablydifferastowhatamancaneasilydo.Itwouldnothavebeeneasyforme.”
Glennard’sangerventeditselfinthewordsuppermostinhisthought.“Itmay,then,interestyoutohearthatmywifedoesknowabouttheletters—hasknownforsomemonths....”
“Ah,”saidtheother,slowly.Glennardsawthat,inhisblindclutchataweapon,hehadseizedtheonemostapttowound.Flamel’smuscleswereundercontrol,buthisfaceshowedtheundefinablechangeproducedbytheslowinfiltrationofpoison.
