Десять негритят / And Then There Were None

Like the judge, Lombard’s eyes wandered slowly round the room. They rested a minute on the open window, then he shook his head decisively. Suddenly his eyes lighted up. He moved forward swiftly to where a door near the fireplace led into an adjoining room. With a swift gesture, he caught the handle and flung the door open. He passed through and immediately uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.

He said:

«Ah, here we are.»

The others crowded after him. Only Miss Brent remained alone sitting erect in her chair.

Inside the second room a table had been brought up close to the wall which adjoined the drawing-room. On the table was a gramophone – an old-fashioned type with a large trumpet attached. The mouth of the trumpet was against the wall, and Lombard, pushing it aside, indicated where two or three small holes had been unobtrusively bored through the wall.

Adjusting the gramophone he replaced the needle on the record and immediately they heard again:

«You are charged with the following indictments —»

Vera cried: «Turn it off! Turn it off! It’s horrible!»

Lombard obeyed.

Dr. Armstrong said, with a sigh of relief:

«A disgraceful and heartless practical joke, I suppose.»

The small clear voice of Mr. Justice Wargrave murmured:

«So you think it’s a joke, do you?»

The doctor stared at him.

«What else could it be?»

The hand of the judge gently stroked his upper lip. He said:

«At the moment I’m not prepared to give an opinion.»

Anthony Marston broke in. He said: «Look here, there’s one thing you’ve forgotten. Who the devil turned the thing on and set it going?»

Wargrave murmured: «Yes, I think we must inquire into that.»

He led the way back into the drawing-room. The others followed.

Rogers had just come in with a glass of brandy. Miss Brent was bending over the moaning form of Mrs. Rogers. Adroitly Rogers slipped between the two women.

«Allow me, Madam, I’ll speak to her. Ethel – Ethel – it’s all right. All right, do you hear? Pull yourself together.»

Mrs. Rogers’ breath came in quick gasps. Her eyes, staring frightened eyes, went round and round the ring of faces. There was urgency in Rogers’ tone.

«Pull yourself together, Ethel.»

Dr. Armstrong spoke to her soothingly.

«You’ll be all right now, Mrs. Rogers. Just a nasty turn.»

She said: «Did I faint, sir?»

«Yes.»

«It was The Voice – that awful voice – like a judgement —»

Her face turned green again, her eyelids fluttered.

Dr. Armstrong said sharply:

«Where’s that brandy?»

Rogers had put it down on a little table. Some one handed it to the doctor and he bent over the gasping woman with it.

«Drink this, Mrs. Rogers.»

She drank, choking a little and gasping. The spirit did her good. The colour returned to her face. She said:

«I’m all right now. It just – gave me a turn.»

Rogers said quickly:

«Of course it did. It gave me a turn too. Fair made me drop that tray. Wicked lies, it was! I’d like to know —»

He was interrupted. It was only a cough – a dry little cough but it had the effect of stopping him in full cry. He stared at Mr. Justice Wargrave and the latter coughed again. Then he said:

«Who put that record on the gramophone? Was it you, Rogers?»

Rogers cried: «I didn’t know what it was. Before God, I didn’t know what it was, sir. If I had I’d never have done it.»

The judge said drily: «That is probably true. But I think you’d better explain, Rogers.»

The butler wiped his face with a handkerchief. He said earnestly:

«I was just obeying orders, sir, that’s all.»

«Whose orders?»

«Mr. Owen’s.»

Mr. Justice Wargrave said: «Let me get this quite clear. Mr. Owen’s orders were – what exactly?»

Rogers said:

«I was to put a record on the gramophone. I’d find the record in the drawer and my wife was to start the gramophone when I’d gone into the drawing-room with the coffee tray.»

The judge murmured: «A very remarkable story.»

Rogers cried: «It’s the truth, sir. I swear to God it’s the truth. I didn’t know what it was – not for a moment. It had a name on it – 1 thought it was just a piece of music.»

Wargrave looked at Lombard.

«Was there a title on it?»

Lombard nodded. He grinned suddenly, showing his white pointed teeth. He said:

«Quite right, sir. It was entitled Swan Song…»

III

General Macarthur broke out suddenly. He exclaimed:

«The whole thing is preposterous – preposterous! Slinging accusations about like this! Something must be done about it. This fellow Owen whoever he is —»

Emily Brent interrupted. She said sharply:

«That’s just it, who is he?»

The judge interposed. He spoke with the authority that a life-time in the courts had given him. He said:

«That is exactly what we must go into very carefully. I should suggest that you get your wife to bed first of all, Rogers. Then come back here.»

«Yes, sir.»

Dr. Armstrong said: «I’ll give you a hand, Rogers.»

Leaning on the two men, Mrs. Rogers tottered out of the room. When they had gone Tony Marston said:

«Don’t know about you, sir, but I could do with a drink.»

Lombard said: «I agree.»

Tony said: «I’ll go and forage.» He went out of the room.

He returned a second or two later.