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VII
Mr. Justice Wargrave thought to himself:
“Armstrong? Remember him in the witness-box. Very correct and cautious. All doctors are
damned fools. Harley Street ones are the worst of the lot.” And his mind dwelt malevolently on
a recent interview he had had with a suave personage in that very street.
Aloud he grunted:
“Drinks are in the hall.”
Dr. Armstrong said:
“I must go and pay my respects to my host and hostess.”
Mr. Justice Wargrave closed his eyes again, looking decidedly reptilian, and said:
“You can’t do that.”
Dr. Armstrong was startled.
“Why not?”
The judge said:
“No host and hostess. Very curious state of affairs. Don’t understand this place.”
Dr. Armstrong stared at him for a minute. When he thought the old gentleman had actually
gone to sleep, Wargrave said suddenly:
“D’you know Constance Culmington?”
“Er—no, I’m afraid I don’t.”
“It’s of no consequence,” said the judge. “Very vague woman—and practically unreadable
handwriting. I was just wondering if I’d come to the wrong house.”
Dr. Armstrong shook his head and went on up to the house.
Mr. Justice Wargrave reflected on the subject of Constance Culmington. Undependable
like all women.
His mind went on to the two women in the house, the tight-lipped old maid and the girl. He
didn’t care for the girl, cold-blooded young hussy. No, three women, if you counted the Rogers
woman. Odd creature, she looked scared to death. Respectable pair and knew their job.
Rogers coming out on the terrace that minute, the judge asked him:
“Is Lady Constance Culmington expected, do you know?”
Rogers stared at him.
“No, sir, not to my knowledge.”
The judge’s eyebrows rose. But he only grunted.
He thought:
“Soldier Island, eh? There’s a fly in the ointment.”
7
瓦格雷夫法官先生暗自思量：
阿姆斯特朗？我当然记得！我在证人席上见过他。他是个很能装腔作势的人，那副谨
小慎微的样子简直别提有多夸张了。医生都是无赖，哈里街的医生是无赖中的无赖。他想
到前不久才见过那条街上一个阿谀奉承的医生，一口恶气涌上心头。
他含含糊糊地说：
“客厅里面有酒水。”
阿姆斯特朗医生说：
“我得去和岛主夫妇打声招呼，以示致意。”
瓦格雷夫法官先生又闭上了眼，表情神秘兮兮的。
“恐怕不行。”
阿姆斯特朗医生惊讶地问：
“为什么？”
法官说：
“这儿没有男主人，也没有女主人。这地方奇怪得很。”
阿姆斯特朗医生盯着他看了足有一分钟。正当他以为这个半天没出声的老家伙睡着了
的时候，瓦格雷夫突然又说：
“你听说过康斯坦斯·卡尔明顿吗？”
“呃……没有，我好像没听说过。”
“那也无所谓，”法官说，“这个女人身份不明，她的笔迹其实也辨认不清。我正在怀疑
自己是不是来错了地方。”
阿姆斯特朗医生摇摇头，向房子里走去。
瓦格雷夫法官先生脑子里盘算着康斯坦斯·卡尔明顿到底是什么人。这个女人和所有的
女人都一样，不可靠。
他又想到房子里的两个女人，一个嘴巴闭得死死的老小姐和另一个冷冰冰的姑娘。不
对，算上罗杰斯夫人，一共是三个女人。罗杰斯夫人很奇怪，看起来害怕得要死。不过他
们两个倒是一对挺体面的夫妻，服务也算周到。
这时，罗杰斯走到露台上。法官问他：
“你知道他们邀请了康斯坦斯·卡尔明顿夫人吗？”
罗杰斯盯着他说：
“不知道，先生，我不清楚。”
法官扬起眉毛，轻声咕哝了一句。他想：士兵岛，嗯？必定大有文章！
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