.切斯特顿

G.K.Chesterton

G.K.切斯特顿（G.K.Chesterton，1874—1936），英国作家。出生于伦敦一个小资产阶级家庭。在校期间，喜欢写诗，并获得弥尔顿奖金。1900年，切斯特顿的第一部诗集《野骑士》出版。后来还出版了《新诗集》（1929），诗意清新隽永，其中以《飞的旅舍》（1914）的《祝酒歌》最为著名。另外，侦探小说集《布朗神父的纯朴》（1911）、《布朗神父的智慧》（1914）、《布朗神父的秘密》（1927）、《布朗神父的丑行》（1935）等，也深受读者欢迎。

AristideValentin,ChiefoftheParisPolice,waslateforhisdinner,andsomeofhisguestsbegantoarrivebeforehim.Thesewere,however,reassuredbyhisconfdentialservant,Ivan,theoldmanwithascar,andafacealmostasgreyashismoustaches,whoalwayssatatatableintheentrancehall-ahallhungwithweaons.Valentinshousewaserhasaseculiarandcelebratedasitsmaster.Itwasanoldhouse,withhighwallsandtallolarsalmostoverhangingtheSeine；buttheoddity-anderhastheolicevalueofitsarchitecturewasthis：thattherewasnoultimateexitatallexcetthroughthisfrontdoor,whichwasguardedbyIvanandthearmoury.Thegardenwaslargeandelaborate,andthereweremanyexitsfromthehouseintothegarden.Buttherewasnoexitfromthegardenintotheworldoutside；allrounditranatall,smooth,unscalablewallwithsecialsikesattheto；nobadgarden,erhas,foramantorefectinwhomsomehundredcriminalshadsworntokill.

AsIvanexlainedtotheguests,theirhosthadtelehonedthathewasdetainedfortenminutes.Hewas,intruth,makingsomelastarrangementsaboutexecutionsandsuchuglythings；andthoughthesedutieswererootedlyreulsivetohim,healwayserformedthemwithrecision.Ruthlessintheursuitofcriminals,hewasverymildabouttheirunishment.SincehehadbeensuremeoverFrench-andlargelyoverEuroean-olicialmethods,hisgreatinfuencehadbeenhonourablyusedforthemitigationofsentencesandtheurifcationofrisons.HewasoneofthegreathumanitarianFrenchfreethinkers；andtheonlythingwrongwiththemisthattheymakemercyevencolderthanjustice.

WhenValentinarrivedhewasalreadydressedinblackclothesandtheredrosette-anelegantfigure,hisdarkbeardalreadystreakedwithgrey.Hewentstraightthroughhishousetohisstudy,whichoenedonthegroundsbehind.Thegardendoorofitwasoen,andafterhehadcarefullylockedhisboxinitsoffciallace,hestoodforafewsecondsattheoendoorlookingoutuonthegarden.Asharmoonwasfghtingwiththefyingragsandtattersofastorm,andValentinregardeditwithawistfulnessunusualinsuchscientifcnaturesashis.Perhassuchscientifcnatureshavesomesychicrevisionofthemosttremendousroblemoftheirlives.Fromanysuchoccultmood,atleast,hequicklyrecovered,forheknewhewaslate,andthathisguestshadalreadybeguntoarrive.

Aglanceathisdrawing-roomwhenheentereditwasenoughtomakecertainthathisrincialguestwasnotthere,atanyrate.Hesawalltheotherillarsofthelittlearty；hesawLordGalloway,theEnglishAmbassador-acholericoldmanwitharussetfacelikeanale,wearingtheblueribbonoftheGarter.HesawLadyGalloway,slimandthreadlike,withsilverhairandafacesensitiveandsuerior.Hesawherdaughter,LadyMargaretGraham,aaleandrettygirlwithanelfshfaceandcoer-colouredhair.HesawtheDuchessofMontSt.Michel,black-eyedandoulent,andwithherhertwodaughters,black-eyedandoulentalso.HesawDr.Simon,atyicalFrenchscientist,withglasses,aointedbrownbeard,andaforeheadbarredwiththosearallelwrinkleswhicharetheenaltyofsuerciliousness,sincetheycomethroughconstantlyelevatingtheeyebrows.HesawFatherBrown,ofCobhole,inEssex,whomhehadrecentlymetinEngland.

Hesaw-erhaswithmoreinterestthananyofthese-atallmaninuniform,whohadbowedtotheGallowayswithoutreceivinganyveryheartyacknowledgment,andwhonowadvancedalonetoayhisresectstohishost.ThiswasCommandantO‘Brien,oftheFrenchForeignLegion.Hewasaslimyetsomewhatswaggeringfigure,clean-shaven,dark-haired,andblue-eyed,and,asseemednaturalinanoffcerofthatfamousregimentofvictoriousfailuresandsuccessfulsuicides,hehadanairatoncedashingandmelancholy.HewasbybirthanIrishgentleman,andinboyhoodhadknowntheGalloways-eseciallyMargaretGraham.Hehadlefthiscountryaftersomecrashofdebts,andnowexressedhiscomletefreedomfromBritishetiquettebyswingingaboutinuniform,sabreandsurs.WhenhebowedtotheAmbassador’sfamily,LordandLadyGallowaybentstiffy,andLadyMargaretlookedaway.

Butforwhateveroldcausessucheolemightbeinterestedineachother,theirdistinguishedhostwasnotseciallyinterestedinthem.Nooneofthematleastwasinhiseyestheguestoftheevening.Valentinwasexecting,forsecialreasons,amanofworld-widefame,whosefriendshihehadsecuredduringsomeofhisgreatdetectivetoursandtriumhsintheUnitedStates.HewasexectingJuliusK.Brayne,thatmulti-millionairewhosecolossalandevencrushingendowmentsofsmallreligionshaveoccasionedsomucheasysuortandeasiersolemnityfortheAmericanandEnglishaers.NobodycouldquitemakeoutwhetherMr.BraynewasanatheistoraMormonoraChristianScientist；buthewasreadytoourmoneyintoanyintellectualvessel,solongasitwasanuntriedvessel.OneofhishobbieswastowaitfortheAmericanShakeseare-ahobbymoreatientthanangling.HeadmiredWaltWhitman,butthoughtthatLukeP.Tanner,ofParis,Pa.，wasmore“rogressive”thanWhitmananyday.Helikedanythingthathethought“rogressive.”HethoughtValentin“rogressive，”therebydoinghimagraveinjustice.

ThesolidaearanceofJuliusK.Brayneintheroomwasasdecisiveasadinnerbell.Hehadthisgreatquality,whichveryfewofuscanclaim,thathisresencewasasbigashisabsence.

Hewasahugefellow,asfatashewastall,cladincomleteeveningblack,withoutsomuchreliefasawatch-chainoraring.HishairwaswhiteandwellbrushedbacklikeaGermans；hisfacewasred,ferceandcherubic,withonedarktuftunderthelowerlithatthrewuthatotherwiseinfantilevisagewithaneffecttheatricalandevenMehistohelean.Notlong,however,didthatsalonmerelystareatthecelebratedAmerican；hislatenesshadalreadybecomeadomesticroblem,andhewassentwithallseedintothedining-roomwithLadyGallowayonhisarm.

ExcetononeointtheGallowaysweregenialandcasualenough.SolongasLadyMargaretdidnottakethearmofthatadventurerOBrien,herfatherwasquitesatisfied；andshehadnotdoneso,shehaddecorouslygoneinwithDr.Simon.Nevertheless,oldLordGallowaywasrestlessandalmostrude.

Hewasdilomaticenoughduringdinner,butwhen,overthecigars,threeoftheyoungermen-Simonthedoctor,BrowntheriestandthedetrimentalO‘Brien，（theexileinaforeignuniform）-allmeltedawaytomixwiththeladiesorsmokeintheconservatory,thentheEnglishdilomatistgrewveryundilomaticindeed.HewasstungeverysixtysecondswiththethoughtthatthescamO’BrienmightbesignallingtoMargaretsomehow；hedidnotattemttoimaginehow.HewasleftoverthecoffeewithBrayne,thehoaryYankeewhobelievedinallreligions,andValentin,thegrizzledFrenchmanwhobelievedinnone.Theycouldarguewitheachother,butneithercouldaealtohim.Afteratimethis“rogressive”logomachyhadreachedacrisisoftedium；LordGallowaygotualsoandsoughtthedrawing-room.Helosthiswayinlongassagesforsomesixoreightminutes：tillheheardthehigh-itched,didacticvoiceofthedoctor,andthenthedullvoiceoftheriest,followedbygenerallaughter.Theyalso,hethoughtwithacurse,wererobablyarguingabout“scienceandreligion.”Buttheinstantheoenedthesalondoorhesawonlyonething-hesawwhatwasnotthere.HesawthatCommandantOBrienwasabsent,andthatLadyMargaretwasabsenttoo.

Risingimatientlyfromthedrawing-room,ashehadfromthedining-room,hestamedalongtheassageoncemore.HisnotionofrotectinghisdaughterfromtheIrish-Algerianer-do-weelhadbecomesomethingcentralandevenmadinhismind.Ashewenttowardsthebackofthehouse,wherewasValentin‘sstudy,hewassurrisedtomeethisdaughter,whoswetastwithawhite,scornfulface,whichwasasecondenigma.IfshehadbeenwithO’Brien,wherewasO‘Brien！IfshehadnotbeenwithO’Brien,wherehadshebeen?Withasortofsenileandassionatesusicionhegroedhiswaytothedarkbackartsofthemansion,andeventuallyfoundaservants‘entrancethatoenedontothegarden.Themoonwithherscimitarhadnowrieduandrolledawayallthestorm-wrack.Theargentlightlituallfourcornersofthegarden.Atallfgureinbluewasstridingacrossthelawntowardsthestudydoor；aglintofmoonlitsilveronhisfacingsickedhimoutasCommandantO’Brien.

HevanishedthroughtheFrenchwindowsintothehouse,leavingLordGallowayinanindescribabletemer,atoncevirulentandvague.Theblue-and-silvergarden,likeasceneinatheatre,seemedtotaunthimwithallthattyrannictendernessagainstwhichhisworldlyauthoritywasatwar.ThelengthandgraceoftheIrishmansstrideenragedhimasifhewerearivalinsteadofafather；themoonlightmaddenedhim.Hewastraedasifbymagicintoagardenoftroubadours,aWatteaufairyland；and,willingtoshakeoffsuchamorousimbecilitiesbyseech,hesteedbrisklyafterhisenemy.Ashedidsohetriedoversometreeorstoneinthegrass；lookeddownatitfrstwithirritationandthenasecondtimewithcuriosity.Thenextinstantthemoonandthetallolarslookedatanunusualsight-anelderlyEnglishdilomatistrunninghardandcryingorbellowingasheran.

Hishoarseshoutsbroughtaalefacetothestudydoor,thebeamingglassesandworriedbrowofDr.Simon,whoheardthenoblemansfrstclearwords.LordGallowaywascrying：“Acorseinthegrass-ablood-stainedcorse.”OBrienatlasthadgoneutterlyoutofhismind.

“WemusttellValentinatonce，”saidthedoctor,whentheotherhadbrokenlydescribedallthathehaddaredtoexamine.“Itisfortunatethatheishere”；andevenashesokethegreatdetectiveenteredthestudy,attractedbythecry.Itwasalmostamusingtonotehistyicaltransformation；hehadcomewiththecommonconcernofahostandagentleman,fearingthatsomeguestorservantwasill.Whenhewastoldthegoryfact,heturnedwithallhisgravityinstantlybrightandbusinesslike；forthis,howeverabrutandawful,washisbusiness.

“Strange,gentlemen，”hesaidastheyhurriedoutintothegarden，“thatIshouldhavehuntedmysteriesallovertheearth,andnowonecomesandsettlesinmyownback-yard.Butwhereisthelace?”Theycrossedthelawnlesseasily,asaslightmisthadbeguntorisefromtheriver；butundertheguidanceoftheshakenGallowaytheyfoundthebodysunkenindeegrass-thebodyofaverytallandbroad-shoulderedman.Helayfacedownwards,sotheycouldonlyseethathisbigshoulderswerecladinblackcloth,andthathisbigheadwasbald,excetforawisortwoofbrownhairthatclungtohisskulllikewetseaweed.Ascarletserentofbloodcrawledfromunderhisfallenface.

“Atleast，”saidSimon,withadeeandsingularintonation，“heisnoneofourarty.”

“Examinehim,doctor，”criedValentinrathersharly.“Hemaynotbedead.”

Thedoctorbentdown.“Heisnotquitecold,butIamafraidheisdeadenough，”heanswered.“Justhelmetolifthimu.”

Theyliftedhimcarefullyaninchfromtheground,andalldoubtsastohisbeingreallydeadweresettledatonceandfrightfully.Theheadfellaway.Ithadbeenentirelysunderedfromthebody；whoeverhadcuthisthroathadmanagedtosevertheneckaswell.EvenValentinwasslightlyshocked.“Hemusthavebeenasstrongasagorilla，”hemuttered.

Notwithoutashiver,thoughhewasusedtoanatomicalabortions,Dr.Simonliftedthehead.Itwasslightlyslashedabouttheneckandjaw,butthefacewassubstantiallyunhurt.Itwasaonderous,yellowface,atoncesunkenandswollen,withahawk-likenoseandheavylids-afaceofawickedRomanemeror,with,erhas,adistanttouchofaChineseemeror.Allresentseemedtolookatitwiththecoldesteyeofignorance.Nothingelsecouldbenotedaboutthemanexcetthat,astheyhadliftedhisbody,theyhadseenunderneathitthewhitegleamofashirt-frontdefacedwitharedgleamofblood.AsDr.Simonsaid,themanhadneverbeenoftheirarty.Buthemightverywellhavebeentryingtojoinit,forhehadcomedressedforsuchanoccasion.

Valentinwentdownonhishandsandkneesandexaminedwithhisclosestrofessionalattentionthegrassandgroundforsometwentyyardsroundthebody,inwhichhewasassistedlessskillfullybythedoctor,andquitevaguelybytheEnglishlord.Nothingrewardedtheirgrovellingsexcetafewtwigs,snaedorchoedintoverysmalllengths,whichValentinliftedforaninstantsexaminationandthentossedaway.

“Twigs，”hesaidgravely，“twigs,andatotalstrangerwithhisheadcutoff；thatisallthereisonthislawn.”

Therewasanalmostcreeystillness,andthentheunnervedGallowaycalledoutsharly：“Who‘sthat！Who’sthatovertherebythegardenwall！”

Asmallfgurewithafoolishlylargeheaddrewwaveringlyneartheminthemoonlithaze；lookedforaninstantlikeagoblin,butturnedouttobetheharmlesslittleriestwhomtheyhadleftinthedrawing-room.

“Isay，”hesaidmeekly，“therearenogatestothisgarden,doyouknow.”

Valentinsblackbrowshadcometogethersomewhatcrossly,astheydidonrincileatthesightofthecassock.Buthewasfartoojustamantodenytherelevanceoftheremark.“Youareright，”hesaid.“Beforewefndouthowhecametobekilled,wemayhavetofndouthowhecametobehere.Nowlistentome,gentlemen.Ifitcanbedonewithoutrejudicetomyositionandduty,weshallallagreethatcertaindistinguishednamesmightwellbeketoutofthis.Thereareladies,gentlemen,andthereisaforeignambassador.Ifwemustmarkitdownasacrime,thenitmustbefolloweduasacrime.ButtillthenIcanusemyowndiscretion.Iamtheheadoftheolice；IamsoublicthatIcanaffordtoberivate.PleaseHeaven,IwillcleareveryoneofmyownguestsbeforeIcallinmymentolookforanybodyelse.Gentlemen,uonyourhonour,youwillnoneofyouleavethehousetilltomorrowatnoon；therearebedroomsforall.Simon,Ithinkyouknowwheretofndmyman,Ivan,inthefronthall；heisaconfdentialman.Tellhimtoleaveanotherservantonguardandcometomeatonce.LordGalloway,youarecertainlythebestersontotelltheladieswhathashaened,andreventaanic.Theyalsomuststay.FatherBrownandIwillremainwiththebody.”

WhenthissiritofthecatainsokeinValentinhewasobeyedlikeabugle.Dr.SimonwentthroughtothearmouryandroutedoutIvan,theublicdetectivesrivatedetective.Gallowaywenttothedrawing-roomandtoldtheterriblenewstactfullyenough,sothatbythetimethecomanyassembledtheretheladieswerealreadystartledandalreadysoothed.Meanwhilethegoodriestandthegoodatheiststoodattheheadandfootofthedeadmanmotionlessinthemoonlight,likesymbolicstatuesoftheirtwohilosohiesofdeath.

Ivan,theconfidentialmanwiththescarandthemoustaches,cameoutofthehouselikeacannonball,andcameracingacrossthelawntoValentinlikeadogtohismaster.Hislividfacewasquitelivelywiththeglowofthisdomesticdetectivestory,anditwaswithalmostunleasanteagernessthatheaskedhismastersermissiontoexaminetheremains.

“Yes,look,ifyoulike,Ivan，”saidValentin，“butdontbelong.Wemustgoinandthrashthisoutinthehouse.”

Ivanliftedthehead,andthenalmostletitdro.

“Why，”hegased，“it‘s-no,itisn’t；itcantbe.Doyouknowthisman,sir?”

“No，”saidValentinindifferently；“wehadbettergoinside.”

Betweenthemtheycarriedthecorsetoasofainthestudy,andthenallmadetheirwaytothedrawing-room.

Thedetectivesatdownatadeskquietly,andevenwithouthesitation；buthiseyewastheironeyeofajudgeatassize.Hemadeafewraidnotesuonaerinfrontofhim,andthensaidshortly：“Iseverybodyhere?”

“NotMr.Brayne，”saidtheDuchessofMontSt.Michel,lookinground.

“No，”saidLordGallowayinahoarse,harshvoice.“AndnotMr.NeilOBrien,Ifancy.Isawthatgentlemanwalkinginthegardenwhenthecorsewasstillwarm.”

“Ivan，”saidthedetective，“goandfetchCommandantO‘BrienandMr.Brayne.Mr.Brayne,Iknow,isfnishingacigarinthedining-room；CommandantO’Brien,Ithink,iswalkinguanddowntheconservatory.Iamnotsure.”

Thefaithfulattendantfashedfromtheroom,andbeforeanyonecouldstirorseakValentinwentonwiththesamesoldierlyswiftnessofexosition.

“Everyonehereknowsthatadeadmanhasbeenfoundinthegarden,hisheadcutcleanfromhisbody.Dr.Simon,youhaveexaminedit.Doyouthinkthattocutamansthroatlikethatwouldneedgreatforce?Or,erhas,onlyaverysharknife?”

“Ishouldsaythatitcouldnotbedonewithaknifeatall，”saidthealedoctor.

“Haveyouanythought，”resumedValentin，“ofatoolwithwhichitcouldbedone?”

“Seakingwithinmodernrobabilities,Ireallyhavent，”saidthedoctor,archinghisainfulbrows.“It‘snoteasytohackaneckthroughevenclumsily,andthiswasaverycleancut.Itcouldbedonewithabattle-axeoranoldheadsman’saxe,oranoldtwo-handedsword.”

“But,goodheavens！”criedtheDuchess,almostinhysterics，“therearentanytwo-handedswordsandbattle-axesroundhere.”

Valentinwasstillbusywiththeaerinfrontofhim.“Tellme，”hesaid,stillwritingraidly，“couldithavebeendonewithalongFrenchcavalrysabre?”

Alowknockingcameatthedoor,which,forsomeunreasonablereason,curdledeveryonesbloodliketheknockinginMacbeth.AmidthatfrozensilenceDr.Simonmanagedtosay：“Asabre-yes,Isuoseitcould.”

“Thankyou，”saidValentin.“Comein,Ivan.”

TheconfidentialIvanoenedthedoorandusheredinCommandantNeilOBrien,whomhehadfoundatlastacingthegardenagain.

TheIrishoffcerstoodudisorderedanddefantonthethreshold.“Whatdoyouwantwithme?”hecried.

“Pleasesitdown，”saidValentininleasant,leveltones.“Why,youarentwearingyoursword.Whereisit?”

“Ileftitonthelibrarytable，”saidOBrien,hisbroguedeeeninginhisdisturbedmood.“Itwasanuisance,itwasgetting-”

“Ivan，”saidValentin，“leasegoandgettheCommandantsswordfromthelibrary.”Then,astheservantvanished，“LordGallowaysayshesawyouleavingthegardenjustbeforehefoundthecorse.Whatwereyoudoinginthegarden?”

TheCommandantfunghimselfrecklesslyintoachair.“Oh，”hecriedinureIrish，“admiringthemoon.CommuningwithNature,me?”

Aheavysilencesankandendured,andattheendofitcameagainthattrivialandterribleknocking.Ivanreaeared,carryinganemtysteelscabbard.“ThisisallIcanfnd，”hesaid.

“Putitonthetable，”saidValentin,withoutlookingu.

Therewasaninhumansilenceintheroom,likethatseaofinhumansilenceroundthedockofthecondemnedmurderer.TheDuchess‘sweakexclamationshadlongagodiedaway.LordGalloway’sswollenhatredwassatisfedandevensobered.Thevoicethatcamewasquiteunexected.

“IthinkIcantellyou，”criedLadyMargaret,inthatclear,quiveringvoicewithwhichacourageouswomanseaksublicly.“IcantellyouwhatMr.OBrienwasdoinginthegarden,sinceheisboundtosilence.Hewasaskingmetomarryhim.Irefused；IsaidinmyfamilycircumstancesIcouldgivehimnothingbutmyresect.Hewasalittleangryatthat,hedidnotseemtothinkmuchofmyresect.Iwonder，”sheadded,withratherawansmile，“ifhewillcareatallforitnow.ForIofferithimnow.Iwillswearanywherethatheneverdidathinglikethis.”

LordGallowayhadedgedutohisdaughter,andwasintimidatingherinwhatheimaginedtobeanundertone.“Holdyourtongue,Maggie，”hesaidinathunderouswhiser.“Whyshouldyoushieldthefellow?Where‘shissword?Where’shisconfoundedcavalry-”

Hestoedbecauseofthesingularstarewithwhichhisdaughterwasregardinghim,alookthatwasindeedaluridmagnetforthewholegrou.

“Youoldfool！”shesaidinalowvoicewithoutretenceofiety，“whatdoyousuoseyouaretryingtorove?Itellyouthismanwasinnocentwhilewithme.Butifhewasntinnocent,hewasstillwithme.Ifhemurderedamaninthegarden,whowasitwhomusthaveseen-whomustatleasthaveknown?DoyouhateNeilsomuchastoutyourowndaughter-”

LadyGallowayscreamed.Everyoneelsesattinglingatthetouchofthosesatanictragediesthathavebeenbetweenloversbeforenow.Theysawtheroud,whitefaceoftheScotcharistocratandherlover,theIrishadventurer,likeoldortraitsinadarkhouse.Thelongsilencewasfullofformlesshistoricalmemoriesofmurderedhusbandsandoisonousaramours.

Inthecentreofthismorbidsilenceaninnocentvoicesaid：“Wasitaverylongcigar?”

Thechangeofthoughtwassosharthattheyhadtolookroundtoseewhohadsoken.

“Imean，”saidlittleFatherBrown,fromthecorneroftheroom，“ImeanthatcigarMr.Brayneisfnishing.Itseemsnearlyaslongasawalking-stick.”

DesitetheirrelevancetherewasassentaswellasirritationinValentinsfaceasheliftedhishead.

“Quiteright，”heremarkedsharly.“Ivan,goandseeaboutMr.Brayneagain,andbringhimhereatonce.”

Theinstantthefactotumhadclosedthedoor,Valentinaddressedthegirlwithanentirelynewearnestness.

“LadyMargaret，”hesaid，“weallfeel,Iamsure,bothgratitudeandadmirationforyouractinrisingaboveyourlowerdignityandexlainingtheCommandantsconduct.Butthereisahiatusstill.LordGalloway,Iunderstand,metyouassingfromthestudytothedrawing-room,anditwasonlysomeminutesafterwardsthathefoundthegardenandtheCommandantstillwalkingthere.”

“Youhavetoremember，”reliedMargaret,withafaintironyinhervoice，“thatIhadjustrefusedhim,soweshouldscarcelyhavecomebackarminarm.Heisagentleman,anyhow,andheloiteredbehind-andsogotchargedwithmurder.”

“Inthosefewmoments，”saidValentingravely，“hemightreally-”

Theknockcameagain,andIvanutinhisscarredface.

“Begardon,sir，”hesaid，“butMr.Braynehasleftthehouse.”

“Left！”criedValentin,androseforthefrsttimetohisfeet.