armadale-第118章

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tried　some　other　way　of　proving　her　guilty　at　the　trial　than　the
way　they　did　try；　what　would　you　and　the　jury　have　done　then？'　Of
course　it　was　quite　impossible　for　the　judge　to　say。　This
comforted　the　Home　Secretary；　to　begin　with。　And；　when　he　got　the
judge's　consent；　after　that；　to　having　the　conflict　of　medical
evidence　submitted　to　one　great　doctor；　and　when　the　one　great
doctor　took　the　merciful　view；　after　expressly　stating；　in　the
first　instance；　that　he　knew　nothing　practically　of　the　merits　of
the　case；　the　Home　Secretary　was　perfectly　satisfied。　The
prisoner's　death…warrant　went　into　the　waste…paper　basket；　the
verdict　of　the　law　was　reversed　by　general　acclamation；　and　the
verdict　of　the　newspapers　carried　the　day。　But　the　best　of　it　is
to　come。　You　know　what　happened　when　the　people　found　themselves
with　the　pet　object　of　their　sympathy　suddenly　cast　loose　on
their　hands？　A　general　impression　prevailed　directly　that　she　was
not　quite　innocent　enough；　after　all；　to　be　let　out　of　prison
then　and　there！　Punish　her　a　littlethat　was　the　state　of　the
popular　feelingpunish　her　a　little；　Mr。　Home　Secretary；　on
general　moral　grounds。　A　small　course　of　gentle　legal　medicine；
if　you　love　us；　and　then　we　shall　feel　perfectly　easy　on　the
subject　to　the　end　of　our　days。〃

〃Don't　joke　about　it！〃　cried　his　father。　〃Don't；　don't；　don't；
Jemmy！　Did　they　try　her　again？　They　couldn't！　They　dursn't！
Nobody　can　be　tried　twice　over　for　the　same　offense。〃

〃Pooh！　pooh！　she　could　be　tried　a　second　time　for　a　second
offense；〃　retorted　Bashwood　the　younger　〃and　tried　she　was。
Luckily　for　the　pacification　of　the　public　mind；　she　had　rushed
headlong　into　redressing　her　own　grievances　（as　women　will）；　when
she　discovered　that　her　husband　had　cut　her　down　from　a　legacy　of
fifty　thousand　pounds　to　a　legacy　of　five　thousand　by　a　stroke　of
his　pen。　The　day　before　the　inquest　a　locked　drawer　in　Mr。
Waldron's　dressing…room　table；　which　contained　some　valuable
jewelry；　was　discovered　to　have　been　opened　and　emptied；　and　when
the　prisoner　was　committed　by　the　magistrates；　the　precious
stones　were　found　torn　out　of　their　settings　and　sewed　up　in　her
stays。　The　lady　considered　it　a　case　of　justifiable
self…compensation。　The　law　declared　it　to　be　a　robbery　committed
on　the　executors　of　the　dead　man。　The　lighter　offensewhich　had
been　passed　over　when　such　a　charge　as　murder　was　brought　against
herwas　just　the　thing　to　revive；　to　save　appearances　in　the
eyes　of　the　public。　They　had　stopped　the　course　of　justice；　in
the　case　of　the　prisoner；　at　one　trial；　and　now　all　they　wanted
was　to　set　the　course　of　justice　going　again；　in　the　case　of　the
prisoner；　at　another！　She　was　arraigned　for　the　robbery；　after
having　been　pardoned　for　the　murder。　And；　what　is　more；　if　her
beauty　and　her　misfortunes　hadn't　made　a　strong　impression　on　her
lawyer。　she　would　not　only　have　had　to　stand　another　trial；　but
would　have　had　even　the　five　thousand　pounds；　to　which　she　was
entitled　by　the　second　will；　taken　away　from　her；　as　a　felon；　by
the　Crown。〃

〃I　respect　her　lawyer！　I　admire　her　lawyer！〃　exclaimed　Mr。
Bashwood。　〃I　should　like　to　take　his　hand；　and　tell　him　so。〃

〃He　wouldn't　thank　you；　if　you　did；〃　remarked　Bashwood　the
younger。　〃He　is　under　a　comfortable　impression　that　nobody　knows
how　he　saved　Mrs。　Waldron's　legacy　for　her　but　himself。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Jemmy；〃　interposed　his　father。　〃But　don't
call　her　Mrs。　Waldron。　Speak　of　her；　please；　by　her　name　when　she
was　innocent；　and　young；　and　a　girl　at　school。　Would　you　mind；
for　my　sake；　calling　her　Miss　Gwilt？〃

〃Not　I！　It　makes　no　difference　to　me　what　name　I　give　her。　Bother
your　sentiment！　let's　go　on　with　the　facts。　This　is　what　the
lawyer　did　before　the　second　trial　came　off。　He　told　her　she
would　be　found　guilty　_again；_　to　a　dead　certainty。　'And　this
time；'　he　said；　'the　public　will　let　the　law　take　its　course。
Have　you　got　an　old　friend　whom　you　can　trust？'　She　hadn't　such　a
thing　as　an　old　friend　in　the　world。　'Very　well；　then；'　says　the
lawyer；　you　must　trust　me。　Sign　this　paper；　and　you　will　have
executed　a　fictitious　sale　of　all　your　property　to　myself。　When
the　right　time　comes；　I　shall　first　carefully　settle　with　your
husband's　executors；　and　I　shall　then　reconvey　the　money　to　you；
securing　it　properly　（in　case　you　ever　marry　again）　in　your　own
possession。　The　Crown；　in　other　transactions　of　this　kind；
frequently　waives　its　right　of　disputing　the　validity　of　the
sale；　and；　if　the　Crown　is　no　harder　on　you　than　on　other　people；
when　you　come　out　of　prison　you　will　have　your　five　thousand
pounds　to　begin　the　world　with　again。'　Neat　of　the　lawyer；　when
she　was　going　to　be　tried　for　robbing　the　executors；　to　put　her
up　to　a　way　of　robbing　the　Crown；　wasn't　it？　Ha！　ha！　what　a　world
it　is！〃

The　last　effort　of　the　son's　sarcasm　passed　unheeded　by　the
father。　〃In　prison！〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃Oh　me；　after　all　that
misery；　in　prison　again！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Bashwood　the　younger；　rising　and　stretching　himself；
〃that's　how　it　ended。　The　verdict　was　Guilty；　and　the　sentence
was　imprisonment　for　two　years。　She　served　her　time；　and　came
out；　as　well　as　I　can　reckon　it；　about　three　years　since。　If　you
want　to　know　what　she　did　when　she　recovered　her　liberty；　and　how
she　went　on　afterward；　I　may　be　able　to　tell　you　something　about
itsay；　on　another　occasion；　when　you　have　got　an　extra　note　or
two　in　your　pocket…book。　For　the　present；　all　you　need　know；　you
do　know。　There　isn't　the　shadow　of　a　doubt　that　this　fascinating
lady　has　the　double　slur　on　her　of　having　been　found　guilty　of
murder；　and　of　having　served　her　term　of　imprisonment　for　theft。
There's　your　money's　worth　for　your　moneywith　the　whole　of　my
wonderful　knack　at　stating　a　case　clearly；　thrown　in　for　nothing。
If　you　have　any　gratitude　in　you；　you　ought　to　do　something
handsome；　one　of　these　days；　for　your　son。　But　for　me；　I'll　tell
you　what　you　would　have　done；　old　gentleman。　If　you　could　have
had　your　own　way；　you　would　have　married　Miss　Gwilt。〃

Mr。　Bashwood　rose　to　his　feet；　and　looked　his　son　steadily　in　the
face。

〃If　I　could　have　my　own　way；〃　he　said；　〃I　would　marry　her　now。〃

Bashwood　the　younger　started　back　a　step。　〃After　all　I　have　told
you？〃　he　asked；　in　the　blankest　astonishment。

〃After　all　you　have　told　me。〃

〃With　the　chance　of　being　poisoned；　the　first　time　you　happened
to　offend　her？〃

〃With　the　chance　of　being　poisoned；〃　answered　Mr。　Bashwood；　〃in
four…and…twenty　hours。〃

The　Spy　of　the　Private　Inquiry　Office　dropped　back　into　his
chair；　cowed　by　his　father's　words　and　his　father's　looks。

〃Mad！〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃Stark　mad；　by　jingo！〃

Mr。　Bashwood　looked　at　his　watch；　and　hurriedly　took　his　hat　from
a　side…table。

〃I　should　like　to　hear　the　rest　of　it；〃　he　said。　〃I　should　like
to　hear　every　word　you　have　to　tell　me　about　her；　to　the　very
last。　But　the　time；　the　dreadful；　galloping　time；　is　getting　on。
For　all　I　know；　they　may　be　on　their　way　to　be　married　at　this
very　moment。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　asked　Bashwood　the　younger；　getting
between　his　father　and　the　door。

〃I　am　going　to　the　hotel；〃　said　the　old　man；　trying　to　pass　him。
〃I　am　going　to　see　Mr。　Armadale。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃To　tell　him　everything　you　have　told　me。〃　He　paused　after　making
that　reply。　The　terrible　smile　of　triumph　which　had　once　already
appeared　on　his　face　overspre　ad　it　again。　〃Mr。　Armadale　is
young；　Mr。　Armadale　has　all　his　life　before　him；〃　he　whispered；
cunningly；　with　his　trembling　fingers　clutching　his　son's　arm。
〃What　doesn't　frighten　_me_　will　frighten　_him！_〃

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　Bashwood　the　younger。　〃Are　you　as　certain
as　ever　that　Mr。　Armadale　is　the　man？〃

〃What　man？〃

〃The　man　who　is　going　to　marry　her。〃

〃Yes！　yes！　yes！　Let　me　go；　Jemmylet　me　go。〃

The　spy　set　his　back　against　the　door；　and　considered　for　a
moment。　Mr。　Armadale　was　richMr。　Armadale　（if　_he_　was　not
stark　mad　too）　might　be　made　to　put　the　right　money…value　on
information　that　saved　him　from　the　disgrace　of　marrying　Miss
Gwilt。　〃It　may　be　a　hundred　pounds　in　my　pocket　if　I　work　it
myself；〃　thought　Bashwood　the　younger。　〃And　it　won't　be　a
half…penny　if　I　leave　it　to　my　father。〃　He　took　up　his　hat　and
his　leather　bag。　〃Can　you　carry　it　all　in　your　own　addled　old
head；　daddy？〃　he　asked；　with　his　easiest　impudence　of　manner。
〃Not　you！　I'll　go　with　you　and　help　you。　What　do　you　think　of
that？〃

The　father　threw　his　arms　in　an　ecstasy　round　the　son's　neck。　〃I
can't　help　it；　Jemmy；〃　he　said；　in　broken　tones。　〃You　are　so　good
to　me。　Take　the　other　note；　my　dearI'll　manage　without　ittake
the　other　note。〃

The　son　threw　open　the　door　with　a　flourish；　and　magnanimously
turned　his　back　on　the　father's　offered　pocket…book。　〃Hang　it；
old　gentleman；　I'm　not　quite　so　mercenary　as　_that！_〃　he　said；
with　an　appearance　of　the　deepest　feeling。　〃Put　up　your
pocket…book；　and　let's　be　off。If　I　took　my　respected　parent's
last　five…pound　note；〃　he　thought　to　himself；　as　he　led　the　way
downstairs；　〃how　do　I　know　he　mightn't　cry　halves　when　he　sees
the　color　of　Mr。　Armadale's　money？Come　along；　dad！〃　he　resumed。
〃We'll　take　a　cab　and　catch　the　happy　bridegroom　before　he　starts
for　the　church！〃

They　hailed　a　cab　in　the　street；　and　started　for　the　hotel　which
had　been　the　residence　of　Midwinter　and　Allan　during　their　stay
in　London。　The　instant　the　door　of　the　vehicle　had　closed；　Mr。
Bashwood　returned　to　the　subject　of　Miss　Gwilt。

〃Tell　me　the　rest；〃　he　said；　taking　his　son's　hand；　and　patting
it　tenderly。　〃Let's　go　on　talking　about　her　all　the　way　to　the
hotel。　Help　me　through　the　time；　Jemmyhelp　me　through　the
time。〃

Bashwood　the　younger　was　in　high　spirits　at　the　prospect　of
seeing　the　color　of　Mr。　Armadale's　money。　He　trifled　with　his
father's　anxiety　to　the　very　last。

〃Let's　see　if　you　remember　what　I've　told　you　already；〃　he　began。
〃There's　a　character　in　the　story　that's　dropped　out　of　it
without　being　accounted　for。　Come！　can　you　tell　me　who　it　is？〃

He　had　reckoned　on　finding　his　father　unable　to　answer　the
question。　But　Mr。　Bashwood's　memory；　for　anything　that　related　to
Miss　Gwilt；　was　as　clear　and　ready　as　his　son's。　〃The　foreign
scoundrel　who　tempted　her；　and　let　her　screen　him　at　the　risk　of
her　own　life；〃　he　said；　without　an　instant's　hesitation。　〃Don't
speak　of　him；　Jemmydon't　speak　of　him　again！〃

〃I　_must_　speak　of　him；〃　retorted　the　other。　〃You　want　to　know
what　became　of　Miss　Gwilt　when　she　got　out　of　prison；　don't　you？
Very　goodI'm　in　a　position　to　tell　you。　She　became　Mrs。　Manuel。
It's　no　use　staring　at　me；　old　gentleman。　I　know　it　officially。
At　the　latter　part　of　last　year；　a　foreign　lady　came　to　our
place；　with　evidence　to　prove　that　she　had　been　lawfully　married
to　Captain　Manuel；　at　a　former　period　of　his　career；　when　he　had
visited　England　for　the　first　time。　She　had　only　lately
discovered　that　he　had　been　in　this　country　again；　and　she　had
reason　to　believe　that　he　had　married　another　woman　in　Scotland。
Our　people　were　employed　to　make　the　necessary　inquiries。
Comparison　of　dates　showed　that　the　Scotch　marriageif　it　was　a
marriage　at　all；　and　not　a　shamhad　taken　place　j