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1、Chapter 1In the corner of a first-class smoking carriage, Mr. Justice Wargrave, lately retired from the bench, puffed at a cigar and ran an interested eye through the political news in the Times.He laid the paper down and glanced out of the window. They were running now through Somerset. He glanced
2、at his watch - another two hours to go.He went over in his mind all that had appeared in the papers about Indian Island. There had been its original purchase by an American millionaire who was crazy about yachting - and an account of the luxurious modern house he had built on this little island off
3、the Devon coast. The unfortunate fact that the new third wife of the American millionaire was a bad sailor had led to the subsequent putting up of the house and island for sale. Various glowing advertisements of it had appeared in the papers. Then came the first bald statement that it had been bough
4、t - by a Mr. Owen. After that the rumours of the gossip writers had started. Indian Island had really been bought by Miss Gabrielle Turl, the Hollywood film star! She wanted to spend some months there free from all publicity! Busy Bee had hinted delicately that it was to be an abode for Royalty?! Mr
5、. Merryweather had had it whispered to him that it had been bought for a honeymoon - Young Lord L. had surrendered to Cupid at last! Jones knew for a fact that it had been purchased by the Admiralty with a view to carrying out some very hush hush experiments!Definitely, Indian Island was news!From h
6、is pocket Mr. Justice Wargrave drew out a letter. The handwriting was practically illegible but words here and there stood out with unexpected clarity. Dearest Lawrence. such years since I heard anything of you. must come to Indian Island. the most enchanting place. so much to talk over. old days. c
7、ommunion with Nature. bask in sunshine. 12:40 from Paddington. meet you at Oakbridge. and his correspondent signed herself with a flourish his ever Constance Culmington.Mr. Justice Wargrave cast back in his mind to remember when exactly he had last seen Lady Constance Culmington. It must be seven -
8、no, eight years ago. She had then been going to Italy to bask in the sun and be at one with Nature and the contadini. Later, he had heard, she had proceeded to Syria where she proposed to bask in yet stronger sun and live at one with Nature and the bedouin.Constance Culmington, he reflected to himse
9、lf, was exactly the sort of woman who would buy an island and surround herself with mystery! Nodding his head in gentle approval of his logic, Mr. Justice Wargrave allowed his head to nod. He slept.IIVera Claythorne, in a third-class carriage with five other travellers in it, leaned her head back an
10、d shut her eyes. How hot it was travelling by train today! It would be nice to get to the sea! Really a great piece of luck getting this job. When you wanted a holiday post it nearly always meant looking after a swarm of children - secretarial holiday posts were much more difficult to get. Even the
11、agency hadnt held out much hope.And then the letter had come.I have received your name from the Skilled Womens Agency together with their recommendation. I understand they know you personally. I shall be glad to pay you the salary you ask and shall expect you to take up your duties on August 8th. Th
12、e train is the 12:40 from Paddington and you will be met at Oakbridge station. I enclose five pound notes for expenses.Yours truly,Una Nancy Owen.And at the top was the stamped address Indian Island. Sticklehaven. Devon.Indian Island! Why, there had been nothing else in the papers lately! All sorts
13、of hints and interesting rumours. Though probably that was mostly untrue. But the house had certainly been built by a millionaire and was said to be absolutely the last word in luxury.Vera Claythorne, tired by a recent strenuous term at school, thought to herself - Being a games mistress in a third-
14、class school isnt much of a catch. If only I could get a job at some decent school.And then, with a cold feeling round her heart, she thought: But Im lucky to have even this. After all, people dont like a Coroners Inquest, even if the Coroner did acquit me of all blame!He had even complimented her o
15、n her presence of mind and courage, she remembered. For an inquest it couldnt have gone better. And Mrs. Hamilton had been kindness itself to her - only Hugo - (but she wouldnt think of Hugo!)Suddenly, in spite of the heat in the carriage she shivered and wished she wasnt going to the sea. A picture
16、 rose clearly before her mind. Cyrils head, bobbing up and down, swimming to the rock. Up and down - up and down. And herself, swimming in easy practised strokes after him - cleaving her way through the water but knowing, only too surely, that she wouldnt be in time.The sea - its deep warm blue morn
17、ings spent lying out on the sands - Hugo - Hugo who had said he loved her.She must not think of Hugo.She opened her eyes and frowned across at the man opposite her. A tall man with a brown face, light eyes set rather close together and an arrogant almost cruel mouth.She thought to herself:I bet hes
18、been to some interesting parts of the world and seen some interesting things.IIIPhilip Lombard, summing up the girl opposite in a mere flash of his quick moving eyes thought to himself:Quite attractive - a bit schoolmistressy perhaps.A cool customer, he should imagine - and one who could hold her ow
19、n - in love or war. Hed rather like to take her on.He frowned. No, cut out all that kind of stuff. This was business. Hed got to keep his mind on the job.What exactly was up, he wondered? That little Jew had been damned mysterious.Take it or leave it, Captain Lombard.He had said thoughtfully:A hundr
20、ed guineas, eh?He had said it in a casual way as though a hundred guineas was nothing to him. A hundred guineas when he was literally down to his last square meal! He had fancied, though, that the little Jew had not been deceived - that was the damnable part about Jews, you couldnt deceive them abou
21、t money - they knew!He had said in the same casual tone:And you cant give me any further information?Mr. Isaac Morris had shaken his little bald head very positively.No, Captain Lombard, the matter rests there. It is understood by my client that your reputation is that of a good man in a tight place
22、. I am empowered to hand you one hundred guineas in return for which you will travel to Sticklehaven, Devon. The nearest station is Oakbridge, you will be met there and motored to Sticklehaven where a motor launch will convey you to Indian Island. There you will hold yourself at the disposal of my c
23、lient.Lombard had said abruptly:For how long?Not longer than a week at most.Fingering his small moustache, Captain Lombard said:You understand I cant undertake anything - illegal?He had darted a very sharp glance at the other as he had spoken. There had been a very faint smile on the thick Semitic l
24、ips of Mr. Morris as he answered gravely:If anything illegal is proposed, you will, of course, be at perfect liberty to withdraw.Damn the smooth little brute, he had smiled! It was as though he knew very well that in Lombards past actions legality had not always been a sine qua non.Lombards own lips
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