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第6章 花园血案之谜3（第2页）

人的大脑无边无际，那里可以制造一切罪恶，它们在奥布瑞恩的脑袋里迅速滋生。他仿佛看到了很多善男信女混杂在一起，在那里，男人有了不寻常的生育能力。一个神父用苍老的声音说道：“离开这个可怕的花园，那里结着双面果。赶快逃离这个邪恶的花园，那里有一个死人的两颗脑袋。”然而，当这个罪恶的念头闪过他那古老的爱尔兰灵魂时，法国式的智慧最终还是占了上风，于是他和其他人一样满腹狐疑地听着这个古怪神父的言论。

布朗神父最后转了过来，倚窗而立，脸埋在阴影里。尽管如此，大家还是可以看出来，他的脸如死灰一样苍白，但是他说话时还是那么有条不紊。

“各位绅士，”布朗说，“你们在花园里找到的陌生尸体并不是贝克尔，花园里也没有任何陌生人的尸体。这只是西蒙医生的推理，我可以确定，你们看到的只是贝克尔身体的一部分。看这里！”（他指着那个神秘尸体的黑色身躯）“你们有生以来确实没有见过那个人，你们曾经见过这个人吗？”

他迅速地把那个陌生的黄色秃头踢开，然后把旁边那个白头发的脑袋安了上去，完全吻合。毫无疑问，躺着的这个人就是朱利叶斯·布雷恩。

“凶手，”布朗继续平静地说道，“把仇人的头砍下，然后把军刀扔到墙外。但他是个聪明人，不只把军刀扔了出去，也把那颗脑袋扔了出去。随后，他又把另外一颗脑袋匆匆安上，这样（由于他坚持私下调查），你们就把他完全想象成了另外一个人。”

“安上另外一颗脑袋？”奥布瑞恩目不转睛地问，“什么另外一颗脑袋？草地上并不会长脑袋，不是吗？”

“当然不会了，”布朗神父看着他的靴子，声音嘶哑地说，“只有一个地方会长。它就是断头台上的篮子，而它旁边就是警察局局长瓦伦丁，在谋杀前不到一小时的时间里，他就守候在那里。哦，我的朋友，在把我撕成碎片之前，再听我说一分钟。他是个诚实的人，可是由于某种合理的原因，他变得如此疯狂。但是，难道你们没有从他那冷酷、灰色的眼睛里看到一丝疯狂吗？他能干出任何事，真的是任何事，只要是与粉碎他所谓的‘十字架迷信’有关，他就会为之战斗终身。如今，他已经为此去杀人。布雷恩的万贯财产会因此分散到众多教派，如此一来，原有的格局就不会发生太大的变化，平衡也不会被打破。但是，瓦伦丁听说布雷恩对宗教持怀疑态度，并且更倾向于支持我们。如此一来，事情就不同了。布雷恩就会资助穷困而好斗的法国教会，以及包括《断头台》在内的六家民族主义报纸。此时箭已在弦上，这个狂热者不得不铤而走险。于是，瓦伦丁决定干掉这个千万富翁，他真这样干了，正如人们所看到的，这么一个大侦探也能犯一次罪。他利用犯罪学，合理地降罪于贝克尔，并砍下了他的脑袋，之后放在他的公文箱中带回了家。直到最后，他还在和布雷恩辩论，而加洛韦勋爵并没有听完他们的谈话就离开了。随后，瓦伦丁就把布雷恩领到这个密不透风的花园，讨论刀法，并用树枝和军刀来示范，然后……”

面带伤疤的伊万跳起来喊道：“你这个疯子！你应该马上去见我的主人，不然我就……”

“怎么了？我正要过去呢，”布朗郑重其事地说，“我必须让他去坦白交代所有一切。”

人们都跟在一脸严肃的布朗身后，就像挟着一个人质或是祭品。大家涌到瓦伦丁的书房时，突然停了下来。

大侦探瓦伦丁坐在桌边，他显然太专注了，以至于没有听到门口的动静。大家停了一会儿，西蒙医生发现在瓦伦丁笔直优雅的后背上有什么东西，便猛地跑过去碰了他一下。人们看见在瓦伦丁的胳膊肘边有一个小药盒子，瓦伦丁死在了椅子上，而他那毫无表情的脸上还带着比加图还自豪的神情。

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

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

WhenValentinarrivedhewasalreadydressedinblackclothesandtheredrosette-anelegantfigure，hisdarkbeardalreadystreakedwithgrey。Hewentstraightthroughhishousetohisstudy，whichoenedonthegroundsbehind。Thegardendoorofitwasoen，andafterhehadcarefullylockedhisboxinitsofficiallace，hestoodforafewsecondsattheoendoorlookingoutuonthegarden。Asharmoonwasfightingwiththeflyingragsandtattersofastorm，andValentinregardeditwithawistfulnessunusualinsuchscientificnaturesashis。Perhassuchscientificnatureshavesomesychicrevisionofthemosttremendousroblemoftheirlives。Fromanysuchoccultmood，atleast，hequicklyrecovered，forheknewhewaslate，andthathisguestshadalreadybeguntoarrive。

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

Hesaw-erhaswithmoreinterestthananyofthese-atallmaninuniform，whohadbowedtotheGallowayswithoutreceivinganyveryheartyacknowledgment，andwhonowadvancedalonetoayhisresectstohishost。ThiswasCommandantOBrien，oftheFrenchForeignLegion。Hewasaslimyetsomewhatswaggeringfigure，clean-shaven，dark-haired，andblue-eyed，and，asseemednaturalinanofficerofthatfamousregimentofvictoriousfailuresandsuccessfulsuicides，hehadanairatoncedashingandmelancholy。HewasbybirthanIrishgentleman，andinboyhoodhadknowntheGalloways-eseciallyMargaretGraham。Hehadlefthiscountryaftersomecrashofdebts，andnowexressedhiscomletefreedomfromBritishetiquettebyswingingaboutinuniform，sabreandsurs。WhenhebowedtotheAmbassadorsfamily，LordandLadyGallowaybentstiffly，andLadyMargaretlookedaway。

Butforwhateveroldcausessucheolemightbeinterestedineachother，theirdistinguishedhostwasnotseciallyinterestedinthem。Nooneofthematleastwasinhiseyestheguestoftheevening。Valentinwasexecting，forsecialreasons，amanofworld-widefame，whosefriendshihehadsecuredduringsomeofhisgreatdetectivetoursandtriumhsintheUnitedStates。HewasexectingJuliusK。Brayne，thatmulti-millionairewhosecolossalandevencrushingendowmentsofsmallreligionshaveoccasionedsomucheasysuortandeasiersolemnityfortheAmericanandEnglishaers。NobodycouldquitemakeoutwhetherMrBraynewasanatheistoraMormonoraChristianScientist；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，fierceandcherubic，withonedarktuftunderthelowerlithatthrewuthatotherwiseinfantilevisagewithaneffecttheatricalandevenMehistohelean。Notlong，however，didthatsalonmerelystareatthecelebratedAmerican；hislatenesshadalreadybecomeadomesticroblem，andhewassentwithallseedintothedining-roomwithLadyGallowayonhisarm。

ExcetononeointtheGallowaysweregenialandcasualenough。SolongasLadyMargaretdidnottakethearmofthatadventurerOBrien，herfatherwasquitesatisfied；andshehadnotdoneso，shehaddecorouslygoneinwithDrSimon。Nevertheless，oldLordGallowaywasrestlessandalmostrude。

Hewasdilomaticenoughduringdinner，butwhen，overthecigars，threeoftheyoungermen-Simonthedoctor，BrowntheriestandthedetrimentalOBrien（theexileinaforeignuniform）-allmeltedawaytomixwiththeladiesorsmokeintheconservatory，thentheEnglishdilomatistgrewveryundilomaticindeed。HewasstungeverysixtysecondswiththethoughtthatthescamOBrienmightbesignallingtoMargaretsomehow；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，andthatLadyMargaretwasabsent，too。

Risingimatientlyfromthedrawing-room，ashehadfromthedining-room，hestamedalongtheassageoncemore。HisnotionofrotectinghisdaughterfromtheIrish-Algerianer-do-weelhadbecomesomethingcentralandevenmadinhismind。Ashewenttowardsthebackofthehouse，wherewasValentinsstudy，hewassurrisedtomeethisdaughter，whoswetastwithawhite，scornfulface，whichwasasecondenigma。IfshehadbeenwithOBrien，wherewasOBrien！IfshehadnotbeenwithOBrien，wherehadshebeen？Withasortofsenileandassionatesusicionhegroedhiswaytothedarkbackartsofthemansion，andeventuallyfoundaservantsentrancethatoenedontothegarden。Themoonwithherscimitarhadnowrieduandrolledawayallthestorm-wrack。Theargentlightlituallfourcornersofthegarden。Atallfigureinbluewasstridingacrossthelawntowardsthestudydoor；aglintofmoonlitsilveronhisfacingsickedhimoutasCommandantOBrien。

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

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