无人生还35
时间：2026-03-19 03:05:27
（单词翻译:单击）
II
Dr Armstrong came out of the dining-room and once more came out on
the terrace.
The judge was sitting in a chair now, gazing placidly out to sea.
Lombard and Blore were over to the left, smoking but not talking.
As before, the doctor hesitated for a moment. His eye rested speculat-
ively on Mr Justice Wargrave. He wanted to consult with someone. He was
conscious of the judge’s acute logical brain. But nevertheless, he wavered.
Mr Justice Wargrave might have a good brain but he was an elderly man.
At this juncture, Armstrong felt what was needed was a man of action.
He made up his mind.
‘Lombard, can I speak to you for a minute?’
Philip started.
‘Of course.’
The two men left the terrace. They strolled down the slope towards the
water. When they were out of earshot Armstrong said:
‘I want a consultation.’
Lombard’s eyebrows went up. He said:
‘My dear fellow, I’ve no medical knowledge.’
‘No, no, I mean as to the general situation.’
‘Oh, that’s different.’
Armstrong said:
‘Frankly, what do you think of the position?’
Lombard reflected a minute. Then he said:
‘It’s rather suggestive, isn’t it?’
‘What are your ideas on the subject of that woman? Do you accept
Blore’s theory?’
Philip puffed smoke into the air. He said:
‘It’s perfectly feasible—taken alone.’
‘Exactly.’
Armstrong’s tone sounded relieved. Philip Lombard was no fool.
The latter went on:
‘That is, accepting the premise that Mr and Mrs Rogers have successfully
got away with murder in their time. And I don’t see why they shouldn’t.
What do you think they did exactly? Poisoned the old lady?’
Armstrong said slowly:
‘It might be simpler than that. I asked Rogers this morning what this
Miss Brady had suffered from. His answer was enlightening. I don’t need
to go into medical details, but in a certain form of cardiac trouble, amyl ni-
trite is used. When an attack comes on an ampoule of amyl nitrite is
broken and it is inhaled. If amyl nitrite were withheld—well, the conse-
quences might easily be fatal.’
Philip Lombard said thoughtfully:
‘As simple as that. It must have been—rather tempting.’
The doctor nodded.
‘Yes, no positive action. No arsenic to obtain and administer—nothing
definite—just—negation! And Rogers hurried through the night to fetch a
doctor and they both felt confident that no one could ever know.’
‘And even if any one knew, nothing could ever be proved against them,’
added Philip Lombard.
He frowned suddenly.
‘Of course—that explains a good deal.’
Armstrong said, puzzled:
‘I beg your pardon.’
Lombard said:
‘I mean — it explains Soldier Island. There are crimes that cannot be
brought home to their perpetrators. Instance the Rogerses’. Another in-
stance, old Wargrave, who committed his murder strictly within the law.’
Armstrong said sharply: ‘You believe that story?’
Philip Lombard smiled.
‘Oh, yes, I believe it. Wargrave murdered Edward Seton all right,
murdered him as surely as if he’d stuck a stiletto through him! But he was
clever enough to do it from the judge’s seat in wig and gown. So in the or-
dinary way you can’t bring his little crime home to him.’
A sudden flash passed like lightning through Armstrong’s mind.
‘Murder in Hospital. Murder on the Operating-table. Safe—yes, safe as
houses!’
Philip Lombard was saying:
‘Hence—Mr Owen—hence—Soldier Island!’
Armstrong drew a deep breath.
‘Now we’re getting down to it. What’s the real purpose of getting us all
here?’
Philip Lombard said:
‘What do you think?’
Armstrong said abruptly:
‘Let’s go back a minute to this woman’s death. What are the possible the-
ories? Rogers killed her because he was afraid she would give the show
away. Second possibility: she lost her nerve and took an easy way out her-
self.’
Philip Lombard said:
‘Suicide, eh?’
‘What do you say to that?’
Lombard said:
‘It could have been—yes—if it hadn’t been for Marston’s death. Two sui-
cides within twelve hours is a little too much to swallow! And if you tell
me that Anthony Marston, a young bull with no nerves and precious little
brains, got the wind up over having mowed down a couple of kids and de-
liberately put himself out of the way—well, the idea’s laughable! And any-
way, how did he get hold of the stuff? From all I’ve ever heard, potassium
cyanide isn’t the kind of stuff you take about with you in your waistcoat
pocket. But that’s your line of country.’
Armstrong said:
‘Nobody in their senses carries potassium cyanide. It might be done by
someone who was going to take a wasps’ nest.’
‘The ardent gardener or landowner, in fact? Again, not Anthony Mar-
ston. It strikes me that that cyanide is going to need a bit of explaining.
Either Anthony Marston meant to do away with himself before he came
here, and therefore came prepared—or else—’
Armstrong prompted him.
‘Or else?’
Philip Lombard grinned.
‘Why make me say it? When it’s on the tip of your own tongue. Anthony
Marston was murdered, of course.’
©2005-2010英文阅读网