armadale-第133章

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out。　'I'm　beside　myself　when　I　think　of　it！'

〃　'When　you　_can_　speak；'　I　said；　putting　him　into　a　chair；
'speak　out。　I　see　in　your　face　that　you　bring　me　news　I　don't
look　for　from　Thorpe　Ambrose。'

〃He　put　his　hand　into　the　breast…pocket　of　his　coat；　and　drew　out
a　letter。　He　looked　at　the　letter；　and　looked　at　me。
'Newnewnews　you　don't　look　for；'　he　stammered；　'but　not　from
Thorpe　Ambrose！'

〃　'Not　from　Thorpe　Ambrose！'

〃　'No。　From　the　sea！'

〃The　first　dawning　of　the　truth　broke　on　me　at　those　words。　I
couldn't　speakI　could　only　hold　out　my　hand　to　him　for　the
letter。

〃He　still　shrank　from　giving　it　to　me。　'I　daren't！　I　daren't！'　he
said　to　himself；　vacantly。　'The　shock　of　it　might　be　the　death　of
her。'

〃I　snatched　the　letter　from　him。　One　glance　at　the　writing　on　the
address　was　enough。　My　hands　fell　on　my　lap；　with　the　letter　fast
held　in　them。　I　sat　petrified；　without　moving；　without　speaking；
without　hearing　a　word　of　what　Bashwood　was　saying　to　me；　and
slowly　realized　the　terrible　truth。　The　man　whose　widow　I　had
claimed　to　be　was　a　living　man　to　confront　me！　In　vain　I　had
mixed　the　drink　at　Naplesin　vain　I　had　betrayed　him　into
Manuel's　hands。　Twice　I　had　set　the　deadly　snare　for　him；　and
twice　Armadale　had　escaped　me！　〃I　came　to　my　sense　of　outward
things　again；　and　found　Bashwood　on　his　knees　at　my　feet；　crying。

〃　'You　look　angry；'　he　murmured；　helplessly。　'Are　you　angry　with
_me？_　Oh；　if　you　only　knew　what　hopes　I　had　when　we　last　saw　each
other；　and　how　cruelly　that　letter　has　dashed　them　all　to　the
ground！'

〃I　put　the　miserable　old　creature　back　from　me；　but　very　gently。
'Hush！'　I　said。　'Don't　distress　me　now。　I　want　composure；　I　want
to　read　the　letter。'

〃He　went　away　submissively　to　the　other　end　of　the　room。　As　soon
as　my　eye　was　off　him；　I　heard　him　say　to　himself；　with　impotent
malignity；　'If　the　sea　had　been　of　my　mind；　the　sea　would　have
drowned　him！'

〃One　by　one　I　slowly　opened　the　folds　of　the　letter；　feeling；
while　I　did　so；　the　strangest　incapability　of　fixing　my　attention
on　the　very　lines　that　I　was　burning　to　read。　But　why　dwell　any
longer　on　sensations　which　I　can't　describe？　It　will　be　more　to
the　purpose　if　I　place　the　letter　itself；　for　future　reference；
on　this　page　of　my　journal。

'Fiume；　Illyria；　November　21；　1851。

〃MR。　BASHWOODThe　address　I　date　from　will　surprise　you；　and　you
will　be　more　surprised　still　when　you　hear　how　it　is　that　I　come
to　write　to　you　from　a　port　on　the　Adriatic　Sea。

〃I　have　been　the　victim　of　a　rascally　attempt　at　robbery　and
murder。　The　robbery　has　succeeded；　and　it　is　only　through　the
mercy　of　God　that　the　murder　did　not　succeed　too。

〃I　hired　a　yacht　rather　more　than　a　month　ago　at　Naples；　and
sailed　（I　am　glad　to　think　now）　without　any　friend　with　me；　for
Messina。　From　Messina　I　went　for　a　cruise　in　the　Adriatic。　Two
days　out　we　were　caught　in　a　storm。　Storms　get　up　in　a　hurry；　and
go　down　in　a　hurry；　in　those　parts。　The　vessel　behaved　nobly：　I
declare　I　feel　the　tears　in　my　eyes　now；　when　I　think　of　her　at
the　bottom　of　the　sea！　Toward　sunset　it　began　to　moderate；　and　by
midnight；　except　for　a　long；　smooth　swell；　the　sea　was　as　quiet
as　need　be。　I　went　below；　a　little　tired　（having　helped　in
working　the　yacht　while　the　gale　lasted）；　and　fell　asleep　in　five
minutes。　About　two　hours　after；　I　was　woke　by　something　falling
into　my　cabin　through　a　chink　of　the　ventilator　in　the　upper　part
of　the　door。　I　jumped　up；　and　found　a　bit　of　paper　with　a　key
wrapped　in　it；　and　with　writing　on　the　inner　side；　in　a　hand
which　it　was　not　very　easy　to　read。

〃Up　to　this　time　I　had　not　had　the　ghost　of　a　suspicion　that　I
was　alone　at　sea　with　a　gang　of　murderous　vagabonds　（excepting
one　only）　who　would　stick　at　nothing。　I　had　got　on　very　well　with
my　sailing…master　（the　worst　scoundrel　of　the　lot）；　and　better
still　with　his　English　mate。　The　sailors；　being　all　foreigners；　I
had　very　little　to　say　to。　They　did　their　work；　and　no　quarrels
and　nothing　unpleasant　happened。　If　anybody　had　told　me；　before　I
went　to　bed　on　the　night　after　the　storm；　that　the　sailing…master
and　the　crew　and　the　mate　（who　had　been　no　better　than　the　rest
of　them　at　starting）　were　all　in　a　conspiracy　to　rob　me　of　the
money　I　had　on　board；　and　then　to　drown　me　in　my　own　vessel
afterward；　I　should　have　laughed　in　his　face。　Just　remember　that；
and　then　fancy　for　yourself　（for　I'm　sure　I　can't　tell　you）　what
I　must　have　thought　when　I　opened　the　paper　round　the　key；　and
read　what　I　now　copy　（from　the　mate's　writing）；　as　follows：


〃　'SIRStay　in　your　bed　till　you　hear　a　boat　shove　off　from　the
starboard　side；　or　you　are　a　dead　man。　Your　money　is　stolen；　and
in　five　minutes'　time　the　yacht　will　be　scuttled；　and　the　cabin
hatch　will　be　nailed　down　on　you。　Dead　men　tell　no　tales；　and　the
sailing…master's　notion　is　to　leave　proofs　afloat　that　the　vessel
has　foundered　with　all　on　board。　It　was　his　doing；　to　begin　with；
and　we　were　all　in　it。　I　can't　find　it　in　my　heart　not　to　give
you　a　chance　for　your　life。　It's　a　bad　chance；　but　I　can　do　no
more。　I　should　be　murdered　myself　if　I　didn't　seem　to　go　with　the
rest。　The　key　of　your　cabin　door　is　thrown　back　to　you；　inside
this。　Don't　be　alarmed　when　you　hear　the　hammer　above。　I　shall　do
it；　and　I　shall　have　short　nails　in　my　hand　as　well　as　long；　and
use　the　short　ones　only。　Wait　till　you　hear　the　boat　with　all　of
us　shove　off；　and　then　pry　up　the　cabin　hatch　with　your　back。　The
vessel　will　float　a　quarter　of　an　hour　after　the　holes　are　bored
in　her。　Slip　into　the　sea　on　the　port　side；　and　keep　the　vessel
between　you　and　the　boat。　You　will　find　plenty　of　loose　lumber；
wrenched　away　on　purpose；　drifting　about　to　hold　on　by。　It's　a
fine　night　and　a　smooth　sea；　and　there's　a　chance　that　a　ship　may
pick　you　up　while　there's　life　left　in　you。　I　can　do　no
more。Yours　truly；　J。　M。'


〃As　I　came　to　those　last　words；　I　heard　the　hammering　down　of　the
hatch　over　my　head。　I　don't　suppose　I'm　more　of　a　coward　than
most　people；　but　there　was　a　moment　when　the　sweat　poured　down　me
like　rain。　I　got　to　be　my　own　man　again　before　the　hammering　was
done；　and　found　myself　thinking　of　somebody　very　dear　to　me　in
England。　I　said　to　myself：　'I'll　have　a　try　for　my　life；　for　her
sake；　though　the　chances　are　dead　against　me。'

〃I　put　a　letter　from　that　person　I　have　mentioned　into　one　of　the
stoppered　bottles　of　my　dressing…case；　along　with　the　mate's
warning；　in　case　I　lived　to　see　him　again。　I　hung　this；　and　a
flask　of　whisky；　in　a　sling　round　my　neck；　and；　after　first
dressing　myself　in　my　confusion；　thought　better　of　it；　and
stripped；　again；　for　swimming；　to　my　shirt　and　drawers。　By　the
time　I　had　done　that　the　hammering　was　over　and　there　was　such　a
silence　that　I　could　hear　the　water　bubbling　into　the　scuttled
vessel　amidships。　The　next　noise　was　the　noise　of　the　boat　and
the　villains　in　her　（always　excepting　my　friend；　the　mate）
shoving　off　from　the　starboard　side。　I　waited　for　the　splash　of
the　oars　in　the　water；　and　then　got　my　back　under　the　hatch。　The
mate　had　kept　his　promise。　I　lifted　it　easilycrept　across　the
deck；　under　cover　of　the　bulwarks；　on　all　foursand　slipped　into
the　sea　on　the　port　side。　Lots　of　things　were　floating　about。　I
took　the　first　thing　I　came　toa　hen…coopand　swam　away　with　it
about　a　couple　of　hundred　yards；　keeping　the　yacht　between　me　and
the　boat。　Having　got　that　distance；　I　was　seized　with　a　shivering
fit；　and　I　stopped　（fearing　the　cramp　next）　to　take　a　pull　at　my
flask。　When　I　had　closed　the　flask　again；　I　turned　for　a　moment
to　look　back；　and　saw　the　yacht　in　the　act　of　sinking。　In　a
minute　more　there　was　nothing　between　me　and　the　boat　but　the
pieces　of　wreck　that　had　been　purposely　thrown　out　to　float。　The
moon　was　shining；　and；　if　they　had　had　a　glass　in　the　boat；　I
believe　they　might　have　seen　my　head；　though　I　carefully　kept　the
hen…coop　between　me　and　them。

〃As　it　was；　they　laid　on　their　oars；　and　I　heard　loud　voices
among　them　disputing。　After　what　seemed　an　age　to　me；　I
discovered　what　the　dispute　was　about。　The　boat's　head　was
suddenly　turned　my　way。　Some　cleverer　scoundrel　than　the　rest
（the　sailing…master；　I　dare　say）　had　evidently　persuaded　them　to
row　back　over　the　place　where　the　yacht　had　gone　down；　and　make
quite　sure　that　I　had　gone　down　with　her。

〃They　were　more　than　half…way　across　the　distance　that　separated
us；　and　I　had　given　myself　up　for　lost；　when　I　heard　a　cry　from
one　of　them；　and　saw　the　boat's　progress　suddenly　checked。　In　a
minute　or　two　more　the　boat's　head　was　turned　again；　and　they
rowed　straight　away　from　me　like　men　rowing　for　their　lives。

〃I　looked　on　one　side　toward　the　land；　and　saw　nothing。　I　looked
on　the　other　toward　the　sea；　and　discovered　what　the　boat's　crew
had　discovered　before　mea　sail　in　the　distance；　growing
steadily　brighter　and　bigger　in　the　moonlight　the　longer　I　looked
at　it。　In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　more　the　vessel　was　within　hail　of
me；　and　the　crew　had　got　me　on　board。

〃They　were　all　foreigners；　and　they　quite　deafened　me　by　their
jabber。　I　tried　signs；　but　before　I　could　make　them　understand　me
I　was　seized　with　another　shivering　fit；　and　was　carried　below。
The　vessel　held　on　her　course；　I　have　no　doubt；　but　I　was　in　no
condition　to　know　anything　about　it。　Before　morning　I　was　in　a
fever；　and　from　that　time　I　can　remember　nothing　clearly　till　I
came　to　my　senses　at　this　place；　and　found　myself　under　the　care
of　a　Hungarian　merchant；　the　consignee　（as　they　call　it）　of　the
coasting　vessel　that　had　picked　me　up。　He　speaks　English　as　well
or　better　than　I　do；　and　he　has　treated　me　with　a　kindness　which
I　can　find　no　words　to　praise。　When　he　was　a　young　man　he　was　in
England　himself；　learning　business；　and　he　says　he　has
remembrances　of　our　country　which　make　his　heart　warm　toward　an
Englishman。　He　has　fitted　me　out　with　clothes；　and　has　lent　me
the　money　to　travel　with；　as　soon　as　the　doctor　allows　me　to
start　for　home。　Supposing　I　don't　get　a　relapse；　I　shall　be　fit
to　travel　in　a　week's　time　from　this。　If　I　can　catch　the　mail　at
Trieste；　and　stand　the　fatigue；　I　shall　be　back　again　at　Thorpe
Ambrose　in　a　week　or　ten　days　at　most　after　you　get　my　letter。
You　will　agree　with　me　that　it　is　a　terribly　long　letter。　But　I
can't　help　that。　I　seem　to　have　lost　my　old　knack　at　putting
things　short；　and　finishing　on　the　first　page。　However；　I　am　near
the　end　now；　for　I　have　nothing　left　to　mention　but　the　reason
why　I　write　about　what　has　happened　to　me；　instead　of　waiting
till　I　get　home；　and　telling　it　all　by　word　of　mouth。

〃I　fancy　my　head　is　still　muddled　by　my　illness。　At　any　rate；　it
only　struck　me　this　morning　that　there　is　barely　a　chance　of　some
vessel　having　passed　the　place　where　the　yacht　foundered；　and
having　picked　up　the　furniture；　and　other　things　wrenched　out　of
her　and　left　to　float。　Some　false　report　of　my　being　drowned　may；
in　that　case；　have　reached　England。　If　this　has　happened　（which　I
hope　to　God　may　be　an　unfounded　fear　on　my　part）；　go　directly　to
Major　Milroy　at　the　cottage。　Show　him　this　letterI　have　written
it　quite　as　much　for　his　eye　as　for　yoursand　then　give　him　the
inclosed　note