第50章名画失窃案（1）
&heStolenRubens
雅克·福特雷尔JacquesFutrelle
雅克·福特雷尔（JacquesFutrelle，1875—1912），美国推理小说家。在他的推理短篇小说中，最著名的是《思想机器》。脍炙人口的侦探小说为他在侦探小说界赢得了较高的声誉。
MatthewKalemadefiftymilliondollarsoutofaxlegrease，afterwhichhebegantopatros。Itleehemoney，aheoldmasters。Hismethodofbuyinglicityitself。Therewerefivethousandsquareyards，moreorless，inthehugegalleryofhismarblemansioobecovered，soheboughtfivethousandsquareyards，moreorless，ofart。Someofitwasgood，someofitfair，andmuchofitbad。ThechiefpictureofthewasaRubens，whichhehadpiRomeforfiftythousanddollars。
Soonafteraghis，Kaledeakealteratioroomwherethepig。Theywerealltakendownaheballroom，equallyvast，withtheirfacestowardthewall。MeanwhileKaleandhisfamilyteiel。
ItwasatthishotelthatKalemetJulesdeLesseps。DeLessepswasdistihesortofFrenwhoseversatiohenics。Hewasnervous，quidagile，aoldKaleihewasnotonlyapaiwasaoisseuris。PompousintheprideofpossessiooagooddealoftroubletoexhibithisprivatefordeLesseps'dele。Ithappeheballroom，aist'sdelightshoheFren'seyesashehahepieceswhieoftheothersmadehimsmile，butitwasaniofsmile。
WithhisownhahepreciousRubebeforetheFren'seyes。Itwasa"MadonnaandChild，"ohosewonderfulswhiduredthroughtheyearsarkleandcolorbeautyoftheirpristinedays。KaleseemeddisappointedbecausedeLessepsartithusiasticaboutthispicture。
"Why，it'saRubens！"heexclaimed。
"Yes，Isee，"replieddeLesseps。
"Itefiftythousanddollars。"
"Itisperhapsworthmorethanthat，"andtheFrenshruggedhisshouldersasheturneda>
Kalelookedathimin。CoulditbethatdeLessepsdidhatitwasaRubens，andthatRubensainter？Orwasitthathehadfailedtohearhimsaythatitfiftythousanddollars。Kalewasaedtoseeiheirheadsaheireyeswhenhesaidfiftythousanddollars；therefore，
"Don'tyoulikeit？"heasked。
"Verymudeed，"replieddeLesseps；"butIhaveseenitbefore。Isawitiaweekorsobeforeyoupurchasedit。"
TheyrummagedhthepidatlastaWhistlerwasturnedupfortheiriwasohamesseries，awatercolor。DeLesseps'faceradiatedext，aimesheglahewatercolortotheRubensasifmentallyparielypendodernworkwiththebold，masterlyteicoftheold。
Kalemisuhesile;Idon'tthinkmuchofthiso;heexplainedapologetically。"It'saWhistler，andallthat，anditefivethousanddollars，andIsortofhadtohaveit，butstillitisn'tjustthekindofthingthatIlike。Whatdoyouthinkofit？"
"Ithinkitisperfederful！"repliedtheFreically。"Itistheesseive，ofmodernwork。Iwowouldbepossible，"aofaceKale，"formetomakeacopyofthat？Ihavesomeslightskillinpaintingmyself，anddaresayIakeafairlycreditablecopyofit。"
&tered。Hewasmoreandmoreimpressedeaentwiththepicture。"Why，ly，"hereplied。"Iwillhaveitsentuptothehotel，andyou—"
"No，no，no！"ieddeLessepsquickly。"Iwouldn'tcaretoaccepttheresponsibilityofhaviureinmycharge。Thereisalwaysadangeroffire。Butifyouwouldgivemepermissiohisreandairyandlight，aisquiet—"
"Justasyoulike，"saidKalemagnanimously。&quhttheotherwaywouldbemosttforyou。"
DeLessepsdrewnear，andlaidonehandonthemillionaire'sarm。"Mydearfriend，"hesaidearly，"ifthesepicturesweremypictures，Ishouldn'ttrytoaodateaheywereed。Idaresaytheasitstandscostyou—"
"Sixhundreday-seventhousanddollars，"volunteeredKaleproudly。
"Aheymustbewellprotectedhereinyourhyourabse;
"Thereareabouttwesinthehousewhilethewthealterations，"saidKale，"ahemdon'tdoanythingbutwat。Nooneoroutexceptbythedoorweehersarelodbarred—andthenonlywithmypermission，orawrittenorderfromme。No，sir，nobodygetawaywithanythinginthisroom。"