armadale-第126章

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either　with　me　or　with　that　other　gentleman　whom　you　saw　with　me
at　the　theater'

〃　'And　suppose　I　say　no？'　he　interposed。　'In　that　case；　what　will
you　do？'

〃　'In　that　case；'　I　answered；　'I　shall　say　two　words　in　private
to　the　rich　young　Englishman；　and　you　will　find　yourself　back
again　among　the　chorus　at　the　opera。'

〃　'You　are　a　bold　woman　to　take　it　for　granted　that　I　have　my
designs　on　the　Englishman　already；　and　that　I　am　certain　to
succeed　in　them。　How　do　you　know？'

〃　'I　know　_you；_'　I　said。　'And　that　is　enough。'

〃There　was　a　moment's　silence　between　us。　He　looked　at　me；　and　I
looked　at　him。　We　understood　each　other。

〃He　was　the　first　to　speak。　The　villainous　smile　died　out　of　his
face；　and　his　voice　dropped　again　distrustfully　to　its　lowest
tones。

〃　'I　accept　your　terms；'　he　said。　'As　long　as　your　lips　are
closed；　my　lips　shall　be　closed　tooexcept　in　the　event　of　my
finding　that　you　have　deceived　me；　in　which　case　the　bargain　is
at　an　end；　and　you　will　see　me　again。　I　shall　present　myself　to
the　Englishman　to…morrow；　with　the　necessary　credentials　to
establish　me　in　his　confidence。　Tell　me　his　name？'

〃I　told　it。

〃　'Give　me　his　address？'

〃I　gave　it；　and　turned　to　leave　him。　Before　I　had　stepped　out　of
the　shelter　of　the　boats；　I　heard　him　behind　me　again。

〃　'One　last　word；'　he　said。　'Accidents　sometimes　happen　at　sea。
Have　you　interest　enough　in　the　Englishmanif　an　accident
happens　in　his　caseto　wish　to　know　what　has　become　of　him？'

〃I　stopped；　and　considered　on　my　side。　I　had　plainly　failed　to
persuade　him　that　I　had　no　secret　to　serve　in　placing　Armadale's
money　and　（as　a　probable　consequence）　Armadale's　life　at　his
mercy。　And　it　was　now　equally　clear　that　he　was　cunningly
attempting　to　associate　himself　with　my　private　objects　（whatever
they　might　be）　by　opening　a　means　of　communication　between　us　in
the　future。　There　could　be　no　hesitation　about　how　to　answer　him
under　such　circumstances　as　these。　If　the　'accident'　at　which　he
hinted　did　really　happen　to　Armadale；　I　stood　in　no　need　of
Manuel's　intervention　to　give　me　the　intelligence　of　it。　An　easy
search　through　the　obituary　columns　of　the　English　papers　would
tell　me　the　newswith　the　great　additional　advantage　that　the
papers　might　be　relied　on；　in　such　a　matter　as　this；　to　tell　the
truth。　I　formally　thanked　Manuel；　and　declined　to　accept　his
proposal。　'Having　no　interest　in　the　Englishman；'　I　said；　'I　have
no　wish　whatever　to　know　what　becomes　of　him。'

〃He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　with　steady　attention；　and　with　an
interest　in　me　which　he　had　not　shown　yet。

〃　'What　the　game　you　are　playing　may　be；'　he　rejoined；　speaking
slowly　and　significantly；　'I　don't　pretend　to　know。　But　I　venture
on　a　prophecy；　nevertheless_you　will　win　it！_　If　we　ever　meet
again；　remember　I　said　that。'　He　took　off　his　hat；　and　bowed　to
me　gravely。　'Go　your　way；　madam。　And　leave　me　to　go　mine！'

〃With　those　words；　he　released　me　from　the　sight　of　him。　I　waited
a　minute　alone；　to　recover　myself　in　the　air；　and　then　returned
to　the　house。

〃The　first　object　that　met　my　eyes；　on　entering　the　sitting…room；
wasArmadale　himself！

〃He　was　waiting　on　the　chance　of　seeing　me；　to　beg　that　I　would
exert　my　influence　with　his　friend。　I　made　the　needful　inquiry　as
to　what　he　meant；　and　found　that　Midwinter　had　spoken　as　he　had
warned　me　he　would　speak　when　he　and　Armadale　next　met。　He　had
announced　that　he　was　unable　to　finish　his　work　for　the　newspaper
as　soon　as　he　had　hoped；　and　he　had　advised　Armadale　to　find　a
crew　for　the　yacht　without　waiting　for　any　assistance　on　his
part。

〃All　that　it　was　necessary　for　me　to　do；　on　hearing　this；　was　to
perform　the　promise　I　had　made　to　Midwinter；　when　he　gave　me　my
directions　how　to　act　in　the　matter。　Armadale's　vexation　on
finding　me　resolved　not　to　interfere　expressed　itself　in　the　form
of　all　others　that　is　most　personally　offensive　to　me。　He
declined　to　believe　my　reiterated　assurances　that　I　possessed　no
influence　to　exert　in　his　favor。　'If　I　was　married　to　Neelie；'　he
said；　'she　could　do　anything　she　liked　with　me；　and　I　am　sure；
when　you　choose；　you　can　do　anything　you　like　with　Midwinter。'　If
the　infatuated　fool　had　actually　tried　to　stifle　the　last　faint
struggles　of　remorse　and　pity　left　stirring　in　my　heart；　he　could
have　said　nothing　more　fatally　to　the　purpose　than　this！　I　gave
him　a　look　which　effectually　silenced　him；　so　far　as　I　was
concerned。　He　went　out　of　the　room　grumbling　and　growling　to
himself。　'It's　all　very　well　to　talk　about　manning　the　yacht。　I
don't　speak　a　word　of　their　gibberish　here；　and　the　interpreter
thinks　a　fisherman　and　a　sailor　means　the　same　thing。　Hang　me　if
I　know　what　to　do　with　the　vessel；　now　I　have　got　her！'

〃He　will　probably　know　by　to…morrow。　And　if　he　only　comes　here　as
usual；　I　shall　know　too！


〃October　25th。Ten　at　night。Manuel　has　got　him！

〃He　has　just　left　us；　after　staying　here　more　than　an　hour；　and
talking　the　whole　time　of　nothing　but　his　own　wonderful　luck　in
finding　the　very　help　he　wanted；　at　the　time　when　he　needed　it
most。

〃At　noon　to…day　he　was　on　the　Mole；　it　seems；　with　his
interpreter；　trying　vainly　to　make　himself　understood　by　the
vagabond　population　of　the　water…side。　Just　as　he　was　giving　it
up　in　despair；　a　stranger　standing　by　（Manuel　had　followed　him；　I
suppose；　to　the　Mole　from　his　hotel）　kindly　interfered　to　put
things　right。　He　said；　'I　speak　your　language　and　their　language；
sir。　I　know　Naples　well；　and　I　have　been　professionally
accustomed　to　the　sea。　Can　I　help　you？'　The　inevitable　result
followed。　Armadale　shifted　all　his　difficulties　on　to　the
shoulders　of　the　polite　stranger；　in　his　usual　helpless；　headlong
way。　His　new　friend；　however；　insisted；　in　the　most　honorable
manner；　on　complying　with　the　customary　formalities　before　he
would　consent　to　take　the　matter　into　his　own　hands。　He　begged
leave　to　wait　on　Mr。　Armadale；　with　his　testimonials　to　character
and　capacity。　The　same　afternoon　he　had　come　by　appointment　to
the　hotel；　with　all　his　papers；　and　with　'the　saddest　story'　of
his　sufferings　and　privations　as　'a　political　refugee'　that
Armadale　had　ever　heard。　The　interview　was　decisive。　Manuel　left
the　hotel；　commissioned　to　find　a　crew　for　the　yacht；　and　to　fill
the　post　of　sailing…master　on　the　trial　cruise。

〃I　watched　Midwinter　anxiously；　while　Armadale　was　telling　us
these　particulars；　and　afterward；　when　he　produced　the　new
sailing…master's　testimonials；　which　he　had　brought　with　him　for
his　friend　to　see。

〃For　the　moment；　Midwinter's　superstitious　misgivings　seemed　to
be　all　lost　in　his　natural　anxiety　for　his　friend。　He　examined
the　stranger'　s　papersafter　having　told　me　that　the　sooner
Armadale　was　in　the　hands　of　strangers　the　better！with　the
closest　scrutiny　and　the　most　business…like　distrust。　It　is
needless　to　say　that　the　credentials　were　as　perfectly　regular
and　satisfactory　as　credentials　could　be。　When　Midwinter　handed
them　back；　his　color　rose：　he　seemed　to　feel　the　inconsistency　of
his　conduct；　and　to　observe　for　the　first　time　that　I　was　present
noticing　it。　'There　is　nothing　to　object　to　in　the　testimonials；
Allan：　I　am　glad　you　have　got　the　help　you　want　at　last。'　That
was　all　he　said　at　parting。　As　soon　as　Armadale's　back　was
turned；　I　saw　no　more　of　him。　He　has　locked　himself　up　again　for
the　night；　in　his　own　room。

〃There　is　nowso　far　as　I　am　concernedbut　one　anxiety　left。
When　the　yacht　is　ready　for　sea；　and　when　I　decline　to　occupy　the
lady's　cabin；　will　Midwinter　hold　to　his　resolution；　and　refuse
to　sail　without　me？


〃October　26th。Warnings　already　of　the　coming　ordeal。　A　letter
from　Armadale　to　Midwinter；　which　Midwinter　has　just　sent　in　to
me。　Here　it　is：

〃　'DEAR　MIDI　am　too　busy　to　come　to…day。　Get　on　with　your　work；
for　Heaven's　sake！　The　new　sailing…master　is　a　man　of　ten
thousand。　He　has　got　an　Englishman　whom　he　knows　to　serve　as　mate
on　board　already；　and　he　is　positively　certain　of　getting　the
crew　together　in　three　or　four　days'　time。　I　am　dying　for　a　whiff
of　the　sea；　and　so　are　you；　or　you　are　no　sailor。　The　rigging　is
set　up；　the　stores　are　coming　on　board；　and　we　shall　bend　the
sails　to…morrow　or　next　day。　I　never　was　in　such　spirits　in　my
life。　Remember　me　to　your　wife；　and　tell　her　she　will　be　doing　me
a　favor　if　she　will　come　at　once；　and　order　everything　she　wants
in　the　lady's　cabin。　Yours　affectionately；　A。　A。'

〃Under　this　was　written；　in　Midwinter's　hand：　'Remember　what　I
told　you。　Write　（it　will　break　it　to　him　more　gently　in　that
way）；　and　beg　him　to　accept　your　apologies；　and　to　excuse　you
from　sailing　on　the　trial　cruise。'

〃I　have　written　without　a　moment's　loss　of　time。　The　sooner
Manuel　knows　（which　he　is　certain　to　do　through　Armadale）　that
the　promise　not　to　sail　in　the　yacht　is　performed　already；　so　far
as　I　am　concerned；　the　safer　I　shall　feel。


〃October　27th。A　letter　from　Armadale；　in　answer　to　mine。　He　is
full　of　ceremonio　us　regrets　at　the　loss　of　my　company　on　the
cruise；　and　he　politely　hopes　that　Midwinter　may　yet　induce　me　to
alter　my　mind。　Wait　a　little；　till　he　finds　that　Midwinter　won't
sail　with　him　either！　。　。　。　。

〃October　30th。Nothing　new　to　record　until　to…day。　To…day　the
change　in　our　lives　here　has　come　at　last！

〃Armadale　presented　himself　this　morning；　in　his　noisiest　high
spirits；　to　announce　that　the　yacht　was　ready　for　sea；　and　to　ask
when　Midwinter　would　be　able　to　go　on　board。　I　told　him　to　make
the　inquiry　himself　in　Midwinter's　room。　He　left　me；　with　a　last
request　that　I　would　consider　my　refusal　to　sail　with　him。　I
answered　by　a　last　apology　for　persisting　in　my　resolution；　and
then　took　a　chair　alone　at　the　window　to　wait　the　event　of　the
interview　in　the　next　room。

〃My　whole　future　depended　now　on　what　passed　between　Midwinter
and　his　friend！　Everything　had　gone　smoothly　up　to　this　time。　The
one　danger　to　dread　was　the　danger　of　Midwinter's　resolution；　or
rather　of　Midwinter's　fatalism；　giving　way　at　the　last　moment。　If
he　allowed　himself　to　be　persuaded　into　accompanying　Armadale　on
the　cruise；　Manuel's　exasperation　against　me　would　hesitate　at
nothinghe　would　remember　that　I　had　answered　to　him　for
Armadale's　sailing　from　Naples　alone；　and　he　would　be　capable　of
exposing　my　whole　past　life　to　Midwinter　before　the　vessel　left
the　port。　As　I　thought　of　this；　and　as　the　slow　minutes　followed
each　other；　and　nothing　reached　my　ears　but　the　hum　of　voices　in
the　next　room；　my　suspense　became　almost　unendurable。　It　was　vain
to　try　and　fix　my　attention　on　what　was　going　on　in　the　street。　I
sat　looking　mechanically　out　of　the　window；　and　seeing　nothing。

〃SuddenlyI　can't　say　in　how　long　or　how　short　a　timethe　hum
of　voices　ceased；　the　door　opened；　and　Armadale　showed　himself　on
the　threshold；　alone。

〃　'I　wish　you　good…by；'　he　said；　roughly。　'And　I　hope；　when　I　am
married；　my　wife　may　never　cause　Midwinter　the　disappointment
that　Midwinter's　wife　has　caused　_me！_'

〃He　gave　me　an　angry　look；　and　made　me　an　angry　bow；　and；　turning
sharply；　left　the　room。

〃I　saw　the　people　in　the　street　again！　I　saw　the　calm　sea；　and
the　masts　of　the　shipping　in　the　harbor　where　th