[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
might simulate unconsciousness and innocence up to the end. But he wouldn t
begin by making things worse for himself and then give a great jump and begin
furiously denying the notion he had himself helped to suggest. That could only
come by his having really failed to realize what he was suggesting. The
self-consciousness of a murderer would always be at least morbidly vivid
enough to prevent him first forgetting his relation with the thing and then
remembering to deny it. So I ruled you both out and others for other reasons I
needn t discuss now. For instance, there was the secretary
But I m not talking about that just now. Look here, I ve just heard from
Wilton on the phone, and he s given me permission to tell you some rather
serious news. Now I suppose you all know by this time who Wilton was, and what
he was after.
I know he was after Daniel Doom and wouldn t be happy till he got him,
answered Peter Wain; and I ve heard the story that he s the son of old
Horder, and that s why he s the avenger of blood. Anyhow, he s certainly
looking for the man called Doom.
Well, said Father Brown, he has found him.
Peter Wain sprang to his feet in excitement.
The murderer! he cried. Is the murderer in the lock-up already?
No, said Father Brown, gravely; I said the news was serious, and it s more
serious than that. I m afraid poor Wilton has taken a terrible responsibility.
I m afraid he s going to put a terrible responsibility on us. He hunted the
criminal down, and just when he had him cornered at last well, he has taken
the law into his own hands.
You mean that Daniel Doom began the lawyer.
I mean that Daniel Doom is dead, said the priest. There was some sort of
wild struggle, and Wilton killed him.
Serve him right, growled Mr. Hickory Crake.
Can t blame Wilton for downing a crook like that, especially considering the
feud, assented Wain; it was like stepping on a viper.
I don t agree with you, said Father Brown. I suppose we all talk romantic
stuff at random in defense of lynching and lawlessness; but I have a suspicion
that if we lose our laws and liberties we shall regret it. Besides, it seems
to me illogical to say there is something to be said for Wilton committing
Page 26
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
murder, without even inquiring whether there was anything to be said for Doom
committing it. I rather doubt whether Doom was merely a vulgar assassin; he
may have been a sort of outlaw with a mania about the cup, demanding it with
threats and only killing after a struggle; both victims were thrown down just
outside their houses. The objection to Wilton s way of doing it is that we
shall never hear Doom s side of the case.
Oh, I ve no patience with all this sentimental whitewashing of worthless,
murderous blackguards, cried Wain, heatedly. If Wilton croaked the criminal
he did a jolly good day s work, and there s an end of it.
Quite so, quite so, said his uncle, nodding vigorously.
Father Brown s face had a yet heavier gravity as he looked slowly round the
semicircle of faces. Is that really what you all think? he asked. Even as he
did so he realized that he was an Englishman and an exile. He realized that he
was among foreigners, even if he was among friends. Around that ring of
foreigners ran a restless fire that was not native to his own breed; the
fiercer spirit of the western nation that can rebel and lynch, and above all,
combine. He knew that they had already combined.
Well, said Father Brown, with a sigh, I am to understand, then, that you
do definitely condone this unfortunate man s crime, or act of private justice,
or whatever you call it. In that case it will not hurt him if I tell you a
little more about it.
He rose suddenly to his feet; and though they saw no meaning in his movement,
it seemed in some way to change or chill the very air in the room.
Wilton killed Doom in a rather curious way, he began.
How did Wilton kill him? asked Crake, abruptly.
With an arrow, said Father Brown.
Twilight was gathering in the long room, and daylight dwindling to a gleam
from the great window in the inner room, where the great millionaire had died.
Almost automatically the eyes of the group turned slowly towards it, but as
yet there was no sound. Then the voice of Crake came cracked and high and
senile in a sort of crowing gabble.
What you mean? What you mean? Brander Merton killed by an arrow. This crook
killed by an arrow
By the same arrow, said the priest, and at the same moment.
Again there was a sort of strangled and yet swollen and bursting silence, and
young Wain began: You mean
I mean that your friend Merton was Daniel Doom, said Father Brown firmly;
and the only Daniel Doom you ll ever find. Your friend Merton was always crazy
after that Coptic Cup that he used to worship like an idol every day; and in
his wild youth he had really killed two men to get it, though I still think
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]