Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-Four

Arthur.It was twilight again when Cagli arrived at Sunny Point, as it had been the first time he had been here.Serpent Point, he thought as he rang the bell. It's like history repeating itself.It was Hester again who opened the door.There was the same provocative look on her face, the same tragic look of despair.In the hall behind her, as he'd seen him before, was an alert, suspicious Cody.Lynch Chu. Then the scene began to shake and change.The look of doubt and despair faded from Hester's face into a lovely, welcoming smile. you, she said.Oh, I'm so glad you're here! He took her hands.

I want to see your father, Hester.Is he upstairs in the study? Yes, yes, he was there with Gwendy. Cody.Lin Sichu walked towards them. Why are you here again?she asked.Look at the trouble you caused last time!Look what happened to us.Hester's life ruined, Mr. Argyle's life ruined, and two lives, two!Philip.Durant and Little Tina.These are all good things you did, all good things you did! Tina isn't dead yet, Cagli said, and I'm here because I have to do something. Is there anything you must do?Cody was still standing blocking his way upstairs. I have to finish what I started, Cagli said.

Very gently, he put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her away slightly.He went up the stairs, Hester following him.He turned to Cody and said: Come too, Miss Lindstrom, I want you all to be there. In the study, Leo.Argyle was sitting in a chair by the desk.Guan Dai.Feng En knelt in front of the fire, staring at the remaining flames.They looked up in a little surprise. Sorry to intrude like that, Cagli said, but like I just said to these two, I finish what I started.He looks around.Is Mrs. Durant still in the house?I thought she'd better be there. She lay down to rest, I think, said Leo.She can't bear it.

I still want her here, he looked at Cody.Maybe you'd like to find her over here. She probably doesn't want to come, Cody said sullenly. Tell her, Cagli said, about her husband's death, that there is something she might like to hear. Oh, go, Cody, said Hester.Don't be so suspicious, so protective of us.I don't know what Dr. Calgary is going to say, but we should all be there. Then do what you want, Cody said. She goes out the door. Sit down, Leo said. He pointed to a chair on the other side of the fireplace, and Cagli sat down. You'll have to forgive me, Dr. Caglieri, if I say, said Leo, I wish you hadn't been here in the first place.

It's not fair, said Hester vehemently.It's not fair to say that. I know how you feel, Cagli said, and I think I would feel the same way if I were there.Maybe for a while I even felt the same way as you, but after thinking it over, I can't think of any other options I could have. Cody came back into the room. Here comes Mary, she said. They sat and waited in silence, Mary.Durant came in immediately.Cagli looked at her with interest because it was the first time he had seen her.She looked calm, collected, well-groomed and her hair was well-groomed.But one of her faces was as expressionless as a mask, and that of a sleepwalking woman.

Leo made an introduction.She nodded slightly. It's good of you to come, Mrs. Durant, said Cagry.I think you should hear what I have to say. Whatever you want, Mary said.Nothing you say or anyone say will bring Philip back from the dead anyway. She walked a short distance from them and sat down in a chair by the window.Cagli looked around him. Let me start by saying this: I was baffled by your reaction when I first came here and told you I could clear Jack.I understand now.But what struck me the most was the child he looked at Hester, what she said to me as I was leaving.She said that what matters is not justice, but what happens to innocent people.The latest translation of the book of Job has a line that describes it like this: the disaster of the innocent.I bring news that results in suffering for all of you.Innocent people don't deserve to suffer, they shouldn't suffer, and what I'm here to say now is to end the suffering of innocent people.

He paused for a minute or two, but no one spoke.Arthur.Cagli continued in his calm, scholarly tone: When I first came here, the situation did not bring you the wave of joy that I thought it would, so to speak.You all accept that Jack is guilty.You all are acceptable if I may say so.In the case of Mrs. Argyle's murder, that might be the best solution. Isn't that kind of ugly?Leo asked. No, Cagli said, it's true.It is acceptable to all of you that Jack is the murderer, because it cannot be done by an outsider.Also, because it's Jack, you can find some plausible excuses.He is an unfortunate man, a mental patient, he is not responsible for his actions, he is a problem character or bad boy!All terms that we can happily use to get rid of crimes nowadays can be used.You said that his mother, the victim, would not blame him.You said, Mr. Argyle, that you did not blame him.Only one person blamed him and he looked at Cody.Lynch Chu.You blamed him, you justly said he was evil, and you were right.Evil Jack, you say.

Maybe, Cody.Lin Sichu said.Maybe yes, maybe I said it, and it's true. Yes, it is true.He is evil.This would not have happened if he hadn't been evil.But you know very well, said Cagli, that my testimony clears him of the crime. Cody said: Testimony may not be trusted.You've had a concussion, and I know all too well what a concussion does to a person.The patient's memory will be blurred. That said, you still think that way?Cagli said.You think Jack did it, and he managed to make up an alibi, don't you? I don't know the details.But yes, that's the case.I'm still going to say he did it.All the misery here, and two lives, yes, all these horrible deaths, all because of him, all because of Jack!

cried Hester: But Cody, you've always loved Jack dearly. Maybe, said Cody, yes, maybe.But I still have to say he is evil by nature. I think you're right on one side, Cagli said, but you're wrong on the other.Concussion or not, my memory is crystal clear.The night Mrs. Argyle died, I gave Jack a ride for the time I said.Impossible I solemnly repeat Jack.Argyle couldn't have killed his adoptive mother that night.His alibi was correct. Leo stirred a little uneasily.Cagli continued: You think I'm just going to reiterate again?not completely.There are several other points to consider.One of them is that I heard Director Hu Xun say that Jack was very smooth and very sure when he came up with the alibi.He spoke clearly, time and place, as if he knew he might need it.This fits with what I have said of Dr. Moxter about him, and that he has a very wide experience of ill-defined cases of bad character.He said he wasn't surprised that Jack had the seeds of murder in his heart, but he was surprised that he would actually kill someone.He said the type of murder he was comfortable with was Jack encouraging people to kill.So I asked myself, did Jack know there was going to be a murder that night?Did he know he needed an alibi?And did he make a copy for himself on purpose?If so, then someone else killed Mrs. Argyle, but Jack knew she would be killed, so it's fair to say he abetted the killing.

He to Coty.Lynch said: That's how you feel, isn't it?Do you still feel that way, or do you want to feel that way?You think it was Jack who killed her, not you. You think you killed her on his orders and under his influence.So you want to put all the blame on him! I?Cody.Lin Sichu said.I?what are you saying? I said, and Cagliere said, there was only one person in the room who was most likely in every way to be Jack.Argyle conspires to kill.That's you, Miss Lindstrom.Jack has a criminal record, a record of being able to arouse middle-aged women.He's using that ability on purpose.He has a talent for making people believe in him.He leaned forward.He made love to you, didn't he?he said gently.He makes you believe that he loves you, that he wants to marry you; and after that, he's more in control of his mother's money, and you're going to get married and go somewhere.That's right?

Cody stared at him with wide eyes.She didn't speak, she seemed paralyzed. It was done so cruelly, heartlessly, with intent to kill, Arthur, Cagry said.He came here that night, desperately begging his mother for money, and the shadow of arrest and imprisonment hung over him.Mrs. Argyle refused to give him money.When he is rejected by her, he turns to you for help. What do you think, Cody.Lindstrom said I'd give him Mrs. Argyle's money instead of my own? No, said Cagli, you'd give him your own money, if you had it.But I don't think you have a pension income that Mrs. Argyle bought for you, but I think he has sucked it dry.That's why he was so desperate that night, and when Mrs. Argyle went upstairs to her husband in the study, you went out and met him who was waiting outside, and he told you what to do.First you must give him the money, and you must kill Mrs. Argyle before the money is found missing.Because she won't hide something stolen.He says it's easy, you just pull out a few drawers to make it look like you've been robbed; and, hit her on the back of the head, it won't hurt, he says, she won't feel anything.He'll set up the alibi himself, so you'll have to be careful to get this done in a limited time, between seven and seven-thirty. It's not true, Cody said, and she began to tremble.You are crazy to say such a thing. Yet there was no indignation in her voice.Oddly enough, it was just a mechanical, tired sound. Even if what you say is true, she said, do you think I'll let him be charged with murder? Oh yes, said Cagli.After all, he's already told you he'll have an alibi.Perhaps you thought that after he was arrested, he could be proved innocent immediately.It's part of the whole plan. But when he couldn't prove his innocence, Cody said.Will I not rescue him? Maybe not, Cagli said, maybe if it wasn't for an incident.That is, the morning after the murder, Jack's wife appeared here.And you didn't know he was married.That girl has to say it two or three times before you believe her.At that time your whole world shattered.You see Jack for what he is, ruthless and sinister, with no special affection for you; you see what he has instigated you to do. Suddenly Cody.Lin Sichu spoke.The words are not coherent and come out surging. I love him. I love him with all my heart.I'm a fool, a gullible, doting, middle-aged fool.He made me think he made me believe he loved me.He said he never liked young girls, he said I can't tell you all the things he said.I love him, I tell you, I love him.Then that ridiculous, contrived little girl came here, the vulgar little thing. I finally understood that everything was a lie, everything was evil, and the evil was his evil, not me. The night I came here, Cagli said, you're scared, aren't you?You are afraid that something is about to happen.You are afraid of other people.Hester, you love her, Leo, you love him.Maybe you see the effect this might have on them.But you're mostly scared for yourself.And you know what fear can lead to. As a result, you cost two more lives. You said I killed Tina and Philip? Of course you killed them, Cagli said.Tina regained consciousness. Cody's shoulders drooped in despair. Turns out she already said I killed her and I didn't even think she knew.I was crazy, of course I was crazy, crazy scared.The truth is so close so close. Shall I tell you what Tina said when she regained consciousness?Cagli said.She said: "The coffee cup was empty.I know what that means.You pretend to bring coffee up to Philip.Durant, but in fact, you have already assassinated him, and you were coming out of that room when you heard Tina's footsteps coming.So you turn around and pretend to go in with the tray.Later, although she was almost unconscious when she found him dead, she still instinctively noticed that the cup that fell to the floor was empty, and there was no trace of coffee. cried Hester: But Cody couldn't have assassinated her!Tina looked perfectly fine as she walked down the stairs, out the door, and threw herself at Michael! My dear boy, said Cagli, a man has walked the whole street after being assassinated and didn't know what happened to him!Under the extreme shock, Tina hardly felt anything.Maybe it's just like being pricked by a needle, a little pain.He looked at Cody again.Later, he said, you sneaked that knife into Michael's pocket.That was the most despicable move. Cody threw up his hands imploringly. I can't, I can't get this close and they're all starting to find out.Philip was about to find out, and Tina I think Tina must have overheard what Jack said to me outside the kitchen that night.They are all starting to know that I want to get out safely, I want people who can never escape safely!Her hands dropped.I don't want to kill Tina.as for philip Mary.Durant stood up.She walked over slowly, but her mind became more and more determined. You killed Philip?she says.You killed Philip! Suddenly, she sprang at her like a tigress.Guan Dai, who reacted quickly, jumped up and grabbed her, and Cagli and her worked together to stop her. you you!Mary.exclaimed Durant. Cody.Lin Sichu looked at her. What's the matter with him?she asked.Why does he have to spy everywhere and ask people questions?He was never threatened.For him, it wasn't a matter of life or death at all.That's just a pastime. She turned and walked slowly towards the door, walking out without even looking at them. Stop her, cried Hester.Oh, we have to stop her. Leo.Argyle said: Let her go, Hester. But she will kill herself I doubt it, Cagli said. She has been our faithful friend for so long, said Leo.Loyalty, devotion, but now it has become like this! Do you think she will turn herself in?Guan Dai said. More likely, Caglieri said, was that she would have gone to the nearest station to catch a train to London.But, of course, she cannot escape, she will be tracked down. Dear Cody, said Leo, his voice trembling.She was so faithful and kind to us. Guan Dai held his arm and shook it. How can you say that, Leo, how can you say that?Think of what she did to all of us she made us all miserable! I know, Leo said, but she suffers too, you know.I think what we felt was her suffering. We may suffer forever, said Guan Dai, because of her!If it weren't for Dr. Cagliere she turned to him gratefully. So, Cagli said, I was able to help, albeit a bit late. It's too late, Mary said bitterly.Too late!Oh why don't we know why don't we guess?She turned to Hester accusingly.I thought it was you, I always thought it was you. He doesn't think so, said Hester. She looked at Calgary. Mary.Durant said calmly: I wish I could die too. My dear boy, said Leo, I hope I can help you. No one can help me, Mary said.It was all Philip's own fault for wanting to be here, for wanting to be involved in this.In the end, he himself was killed.She looks at them.None of you can understand. She goes out the door. Calgary and Hester follow her.Cagli turned back as they passed through the door.Seeing Li Ao's arms hugging Guan Dai's shoulders. She warned me, you know, said Hester, her eyes wide with terror.She told me from the beginning not to trust her, to be afraid of her like everyone else Forget about these things, my dear, Caglier said.This is what you must do now, to forget.Now you are all free and innocent people are no longer under the shadow of evil. What about Tina?Will she get better?she won't die, will she? I don't think she's going to die, Cagli said, she's in love with Michael, isn't she? I think it may be, said Hester in surprise.I never thought of it.They're brother and sister, of course.But they are not actually siblings. By the way, Hesta, do you know what Tina meant when she said those words: doves on the mast? Pigeons on the mast?Hester frowned.Wait a moment.Sounds very familiar.Like a dove on a mast, when we sail fast, weep and weep and weep, don't we? Possibly, Cagli said. It was a song, said Hester.It's a lullaby that Cody often sings to us.I only remember a few: my lover, he stood on my left.What else.Oh my dearest girl, I'm not here.I have no hometown, no place to live, neither on the sea nor on the shore, I am only in your heart. I get it, Cagliere said.yes yes i understand Maybe they'll marry, Hester said, when Tina recovered.Then she could go to Kuwait with him.Tina always wanted to be somewhere warm.It's warm in the Persian Gulf, isn't it? Too warm, I think, Cagli said. Nothing was too warm for Tina, Hester assured him. And you'll be happy now, dear," Cagli took her hand, trying to smile.You'd marry your young doctor boyfriend and settle down, free of wild imaginations and horrific desperations. Marry Don?said Hester in a tone of surprise.Of course I will not marry Don. But you love him. No, I don't think so, really I just thought I loved him.But he doesn't trust me, he doesn't know I'm innocent.He should know.She looked at Calgary.And you know!I think I'm going to marry you. But, Hester, I am many years older than you, and you cannot really That is, if you want me, said Hester suddenly suspiciously. Oh I want you!Arthur.Cagli said. (End of the book)