armadale-第105章

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down　again；　and　put　the　question　for　the　second　time。

〃Do　I　think；〃　said　Mr。　Bashwood；　repeating　the　sense；　but　not　the
words　of　the　question；　〃that　Mr。　Armadale　might　be　parted　from
Miss　Gwilt；　if　she　could　be　shown　to　him　as　she　really　is？　Yes；
sir　！　And　do　I　wish　to　be　the　man　who　does　it？　Yes；　sir！　yes；
sir！　！　yes；　sir！　！　！〃

〃It's　rather　strange；〃　remarked　the　lawyer；　looking　at　him　more
and　more　distrustfully；　〃that　you　should　be　so　violently
agitated；　simply　because　my　question　happens　to　have　hit　the
mark。〃

The　question　happened　to　have　hit　a　mark　which　Pedgift　little
dreamed　of。　It　had　released　Mr。　Bashwood's　mind　in　an　instant
from　the　dead　pressure　of　his　one　dominant　idea　of　revenge；　and
had　shown　him　a　purpose　to　be　achieved　by　the　discovery　of　Miss
Gwilt's　secrets　which　had　never　occurred　to　him　till　that　moment。
The　marriage　which　he　had　blindly　regarded　as　inevitable　was　a
marriage　that　might　be　stoppednot　in　Allan's　interests；　but　in
his　ownand　the　woman　whom　he　believed　that　he　had　lost　might
yet；　in　spite　of　circumstances；　be　a　woman　won！　His　brain　whirled
as　he　thought　of　it。　His　own　roused　resolution　almost　daunted
him；　by　its　terrible　incongruity　with　all　the　familiar　habits　of
his　mind；　and　all　the　customary　proceedings　of　his　life。

Finding　his　last　remark　unanswered；　Pedgift　Senior　considered　a
little　before　he　said　anything　more。

〃One　thing　is　clear；〃　reasoned　the　lawyer　with　himself。　〃His　true
motive　in　this　matter　is　a　motive　which　he　is　afraid　to　avow。　My
question　evidently　offered　him　a　chance　of　misleading　me；　and　he
has　accepted　it　on　the　spot。　That's　enough　for　_me。_　If　I　was　Mr。
Armadale's　lawyer；　the　mystery　might　be　worth　investigating。　As
things　are；　it's　no　interest　of　mine　to　hunt　Mr。　Bashwood　from
one　lie　to　another　till　I　run　him　to　earth　at　last。　I　have
nothing　whatever　to　do　with　it；　and　I　shall　leave　him　free　to
follow　his　own　roundabout　courses；　in　his　own　roundabout　way。〃
Having　arrived　at　that　conclusion；　Pedgift　Senior　pushed　back　his
chair；　and　rose　briskly　to　terminate　the　interview。

〃Don't　be　alarmed；　Bashwood；〃　he　began。　〃The　subject　of　our
conversation　is　a　subject　exhausted；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned。　I
have　only　a　few　last　words　to　say；　and　it's　a　habit　of　mine；　as
you　know；　to　say　my　last　words　on　my　legs。　Whatever　else　I　may　be
in　the　dark　about；　I　have　made　one　discovery；　at　any　rate。　I　have
found　out　what　you　really　want　with　meat　last！　You　want　me　to
help　you。〃

〃If　you　would　be　so　very；　very　kind；　sir！〃　stammered　Mr。
Bashwood。　〃If　you　would　only　give　me　the　great　advantage　of　your
opinion　and　advice。〃

〃Wait　a　bit；　Bashwood　We　will　separate　those　two　things；　if　you
please。　A　lawyer　may　offer　an　opinion　like　any　other　man；　but
when　a　lawyer　gives　his　adviceby　the　Lord　Harry；　sir；　it's
Professional！　You're　welcome　to　my　opinion　in　this　matter；　I　have
disguised　it　from　nobody。　I　believe　there　have　been　events　in
Miss　Gwilt's　career　which　（if　they　could　be　discovered）　would
even　make　Mr。　Armadale；　infatuated　as　he　is；　afraid　to　marry
hersupposing；　of　course；　that　he　really　_is_　going　to　marry
her；　for；　though　the　appearances　are　in　favor　of　it　so　far；　it　is
only　an　assumption；　after　all。　As　to　the　mode　of　proceeding　by
which　the　blots　on　this　woman's　character　might　or　might　not　be
brought　to　light　in　timeshe　may　be　married　by　license　in　a
fortnight　if　she　likes_that_　is　a　branch　of　the　question　on
which　I　positively　decline　to　enter。　It　implies　speaking　in　my
character　as　a　lawyer；　and　giving　you；　what　I　decline　positively
to　give　you；　my　professional　advice。〃

〃Oh；　sir；　don't　say　that！〃　pleaded　Mr。　Bashwood。　〃Don't　deny　me
the　great　favor；　the　inestimable　advantage　of　your　advice！　I　have
such　a　poor　head；　Mr。　Pedgift！　I　am　so　old　and　so　slow；　sir；　and
I　get　so　sadly　startled　and　worried　when　I'm　thrown　out　of　my
ordinary　ways。　It's　quite　natural　you　should　be　a　little
impatient　with　me　for　taking　up　your　timeI　know　that　time　is
money；　to　a　clever　man　like　you。　Would　you　excuse　me　would　you
please　excuse　me；　if　I　venture　to　say　that　I　have　saved　a　little
something；　a　few　pounds；　sir；　and　being　quite　lonely；　with　nobody
dependent　on　me；　I'm　sure　I　may　spend　my　savings　as　I　please？〃
Blind　to　every　consideration　but　the　one　consideration　of
propitiating　Mr。　Pedgift；　he　took　out　a　dingy；　ragged　old
pocket…book；　and　tried；　with　trembling　fingers；　to　open　it　on　the
lawyer's　table。

〃Put　your　pocket…book　back　directly；〃　said　Pedgift　Senior。
〃Richer　men　than　you　have　tried　that　argument　with　me；　and　have
found　that　there　is　such　a　thing　（off　the　stage）　as　a　lawyer　who
is　not　to　be　bribed。　I　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　case；
under　existing　circumstances。　If　you　want　to　know　why；　I　beg　to
inform　you　that　Miss　Gwilt　ceased　to　be　professionally
interesting　to　me　on　the　day　when　I　ceased　to　be　Mr。　Armadale's
lawyer。　I　may　have　other　reasons　besides；　which　I　don't　think　it
necessary　to　mention。　The　reason　already　given　is　explicit
enough。　Go　your　own　way；　and　take　your　responsibility　on　your　own
shoulders。　You　_may_　venture　within　reach　of　Miss　Gwilt's　claws
and　come　out　again　without　being　scratched。　Time　will　show。　In
the　meanwhile；　I　wish　you　good…morningand　I　own；　to　my　shame；
that　I　never　knew　till　today　what　a　hero　you　were。〃

This　time；　Mr。　Bashwood　felt　the　sting。　Without　another　word　of
expostulation　or　entreaty；　without　even　saying　〃Good…morning〃　on
his　side；　he　walked　to　the　door；　opened　it；　softly；　and　left　the
room。

The　parting　look　in　his　face；　and　the　sudden　silence　that　had
fallen　on　him；　were　not　lost　on　Pedgift　Senior。　〃Bashwood　will
end　badly；〃　said　the　lawyer；　shuffling　his　papers；　and　returning
impenetrably　to　his　interrupted　work。

The　change　in　Mr。　Bashwood's　face　and　manner　to　something　dogged
and　self…contained　was　so　startlingly　uncharacteristic　of　him；
that　it　even　forced　itself　on　the　notice　of　Pedgift　Junior　and
the　clerks　as　he　passed　through　the　outer　office。　Accustomed　to
make　the　old　man　their　butt；　they　took　a　boisterously　comic　view
of　the　marked　alteration　in　him。　Deaf　to　the　merciless　raillery
with　which　he　was　assailed　on　all　sides；　he　stopped　opposite
young　Pedgift；　and；　looking　him　attentively　in　the　face；　said；　in
a　quiet；　absent　manner；　like　a　man　thinking　aloud；　〃I　wonder
whether　_you_　would　help　me？〃

〃Open　an　account　instantly；〃　said　Pedgift　Junior　to　the　clerks；
〃in　the　name　of　Mr。　Bashwood。　Place　a　chair　for　Mr。　Bashwood；
with　a　footstool　close　by；　in　case　he　wants　it。　Supply　me　with　a
quire　of　extra　double…wove　satin　paper；　and　a　gross　of　picked
quills；　to　take　notes　of　Mr。　Bashwood's　case；　and　inform　my
father　instantly　that　I　am　going　to　leave　him　and　set　up　in
business　for　myself；　on　the　strength　of　Mr。　Bashwood's　patronage。
Take　a　seat；　sir；　pray　take　a　seat；　and　express　your　feelings
freely。〃

Still　impenetrably　deaf　to　the　raillery　of　which　he　was　the
object；　Mr。　Bashwood　waited　until　Pedgift　Junior　had　exhausted
himself；　and　then　turned　quietly　away。

〃I　ought　to　have　known　better；〃　he　said；　in　the　same　absent
manner　as　before。　〃He　is　his　father's　son　all　overhe　would　make
game　of　me　on　my　death…bed。〃　He　paused　a　moment　at　the　door；
mechanically　brushing　his　hat　with　his　hand；　and　went　out　into
the　street。

The　bright　sunshine　dazzled　his　eyes；　the　passing　vehicles　and
foot…passengers　startled　and　bewildered　him。　He　shrank　into　a
by…street；　and　put　his　hand　over　his　eyes。　〃I'd　better　go　home；〃
he　thought；　〃and　shut　myself　up；　and　think　about　it　in　my　own
room。〃

His　lodging　was　in　a　small　house；　in　the　poor　quarter　of　the
town。　He　let　himself　in　with　his　key；　and　stole　softly　upstairs
The　one　little　room　he　possessed　met　him　cruelly；　look　round　it
where　he　might；　with　silent　memorials　of　Miss　Gwilt。　On　the
chimney…piece　were　the　flowers　she　had　given　him　at　various
times；　all　withered　long　since；　and　all　preserved　on　a　little
china　pedestal；　protected　by　a　glass　shade。　On　the　wall　hung　a
wretched　colored　print　of　a　woman；　which　he　had　caused　to　be
nicely　framed　and　glazed；　because　there　was　a　look　in　it　that
reminded　him　of　her　face。　In　his　clumsy　old　mahogany　writing…desk
were　the　few　letters；　brief　and　peremptory；　which　she　had　written
to　him　at　the　time　when　he　was　watching　and　listening　meanly　at
Thorpe　Ambrose　to　please　_her。_　And　when；　turning　his　back　on
these；　he　sat　down　wearily　on　his　sofa…bedsteadthere；　hanging
over　one　end　of　it；　was　the　gaudy　cravat　of　blue　satin；　which　he
had　bought　because　she　had　told　him　she　liked　bright　colors；　and
which　he　had　never　yet　had　the　courage　to　wear；　though　he　had
taken　it　out　morning　after　morning　with　the　resolution　to　put　it
on！　Habitually　quiet　in　his　actions；　habitually　restrained　in　his
language；　he　now　seized　the　cravat　as　if　it　was　a　living　thing
that　could　feel；　and　flung　it　to　the　other　end　of　the　room　with
an　oath。

The　time　passed；　and　still；　though　his　resolution　to　stand
between　Miss　Gwilt　and　her　marriage　remained　unbroken；　he　was　as
far　as　ever　from　discovering　the　means　which　might　lead　him　to
his　end。　The　more　he　thought　and　thought　of　it；　the　darker　and
the　darker　his　course　in　the　future　looked　to　him。

He　rose　again；　as　wearily　as　he　had　sat　down；　and　went　to　his
cupboard。　〃I'm　feverish　and　thirsty；〃　he　said；　〃a　cup　of　tea　may
help　me。〃　He　opened　his　canister；　and　measured　out　his　small
allowance　of　tea；　less　carefully　than　usual。　〃Even　my　own　hands
won't　serve　me　to…day！〃　he　thought；　as　he　scraped　together　the
few　grains　of　tea　that　he　had　spilled；　and　put　them　carefully
back　in　the　canister。

In　that　fine　summer　weather；　the　one　fire　in　the　house　was　the
kitchen　fire。　He　went　downstairs　for　the　boiling　water；　with　his
teapot　in　his　hand。

Nobody　but　the　landlady　was　in　the　kitchen。　She　was　one　of　the
many　English　matrons　whose　path　through　this　world　is　a　path　of
thorns；　and　who　take　a　dismal　pleasure；　whenever　the　opportunity
is　afforded　them；　in　inspecting　the　scratched　and　bleeding　feet
of　other　people　in　a　like　condition　with　themselves。　Her　one　vice
was　of　the　lighter　sortthe　vice　of　curiosity；　and　among　the
many　counterbalancing　virtues　she　possessed　was　the　virtue　of
greatly　respecting　Mr。　Bashwood；　as　a　lodger　whose　rent　was
regularly　paid；　and　whose　ways　were　always　quiet　and　civil　from
one　year's　end　to　another。

〃What　did　you　please　to　want；　sir？〃　asked　the　landlady。　〃Boiling
water；　is　it？　Did　you　ever　know　the　water　boil；　Mr。　Bashwood；
when　you　wanted　it？　Did　you　ever　see　a　sulkier　fire　than　that？
I'll　put　a　stick　or　two　in；　if　you'll　wait　a　little；　and　give　me
the　chance。　Dear；　dear　me；　you'll　excuse　my　mentioning　it；　sir；
but　how　poorly　you　do　look　to…day！〃

The　strain　on　Mr。　Bashwood's　mind　was　beginning　to　tell。
Something　of　the　helplessness　which　he　had　shown　at　the　station
appeared　again　in　his　face　and　manner　as　he　put　his　teapot　on　the
kitchen　table　and　sat　down。

〃I'm　in　trouble；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　quietly；　〃and　I　find　trouble
gets　harder　to　bear　than　it　used　to　be。〃

〃Ah；　you　may　well　say　that！〃　groaned　the　landlady。　〃_I'm_　ready
for　the　undertaker；　Mr。　Bashwood；　when　_my_　time　comes；　whatever
you　may　be。　You're　too　lonely；　sir。　When　you're