armadale-第136章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


mine。　I　am　not　afraid。　I　am　（as　you　more　correctly　put　it　in　the
first　instance）　strangely　depressed。　My　nature　is；　as　you　know；
naturally　sanguine；　and　I　only　see　to…day　what　but　for　my
habitual　hopefulness　I　might　have　seen；　and　ought　to　have　seen；　a
week　since。〃

Miss　Gwilt　impatiently　threw　down　her　work。　〃If　words　cost
money；〃　she　said；　〃the　luxury　of　talking　would　be　rather　an
expensive　luxury　in　your　case！〃

〃Which　I　might　have　seen；　and　ought　to　have　seen；〃　reiterated　the
doctor；　without　taking　the　slightest　notice　of　the　interruption；
〃a　week　since。　To　put　it　plainly；　I　feel　by　no　means　so　certain
as　I　did　that　Mr。　Armadale　will　consent；　without　a　struggle；　to
the　terms　which　it　is　my　interest　（and　in　a　minor　degree　yours）
to　impose　on　him。　Observe！　I　don't　question　our　entrapping　him
successfully　into　the　Sanitarium：　I　only　doubt　whether　he　will
prove　quite　as　manageable　as　I　originally　anticipated　when　we
have　got　him　there。　Say；〃　remarked　the　doctor；　raising　his　eyes
for　the　first　time；　and　fixing　them　in　steady　inquiry　on　Miss
Gwilt〃say　that　he　is　bold；　obstinate；　what　you　please；　and　that
he　holds　outholds　out　for　weeks　together；　for　months　together；
as　men　in　similar　situations　to　his　have　held　out　before　him。
What　follows？　The　risk　of　keeping　him　forcibly　in　concealmentof
suppressing　him；　if　I　may　so　express　myselfincreases　at
compound　interest；　and　becomes　Enormous！　My　house　is　at　this
moment　virtually　ready　for　patients。　Patients　may　present
themselves　in　a　week's　time。　Patients　may　communicate　with　Mr。
Armadale；　or　Mr。　Armadale　may　communicate　with　patients。　A　note
may　be　smuggled　out　of　the　house；　and　may　reach　the　Commissioners
in　Lunacy。　Even　in　the　case　of　an　unlicensed　establishment　like
mine；　those　gentlemenno！　those　chartered　despots　in　a　land　of
libertyhave　only　to　apply　to　the　Lord　Chancellor　for　an　order；
and　to　enter　（by　heavens；　to　enter　My　Sanitarium！）　and　search　the
house　from　top　to　bottom　at　a　moment's　notice！　I　don't　wish　to
despond；　I　don't　wish　to　alarm　you；　I　don't　pretend　to　say　that
the　means　we　are　taking　to　secure　your　own　safety　are　any　other
than　the　best　means　at　our　disposal。　All　I　ask　you　to　do　is　to
imagine　the　Commissioners　in　the　houseand　then　to　conceive　the
consequences。　The　consequences！〃　repeated　the　doctor；　getting
sternly　on　his　feet；　and　taking　up　his　hat　as　if　he　meant　to
leave　the　room。

〃Have　you　anything　more　to　say？〃　asked　Miss　Gwilt。

〃Have　you　any　remarks；〃　rejoined　the　doctor；　〃to　offer　on　your
side？〃

He　stood；　hat　in　hand；　waiting。　For　a　full　minute　the　two　looked
at　each　other　in　silence。

Miss　Gwilt　spoke　first。

〃I　think　I　understand　you；〃　she　said；　suddenly　recovering　her
composure。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　returned　the　doctor；　with　his　hand　to　his
ear。　〃What　did　you　say？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃Nothing？〃

〃If　you　happened　to　catch　another　fly　this　morning；〃　said　Miss
Gwilt；　with　a　bitterly　sarcastic　emphasis　on　the　words；　〃I　might
be　capable　of　shocking　you　by　another　'little　joke。'　〃

The　doctor　held　up　both　hands；　in　polite　deprecation；　and　looked
as　if　he　was　beginning　to　recover　his　good　humor　again。

〃Hard；〃　he　murmured；　gently；　〃not　to　have　forgiven　me　that
unlucky　blunder　of　mine；　even　yet！〃

〃What　else　have　you　to　say？　I　am　waiting　for　you；〃　said　Miss
Gwilt。　She　turned　her　chair　to　the　window　scornfully；　and　took　up
her　work　again；　as　she　spoke。

The　doctor　came　behind　her；　and　put　his　hand　on　the　back　of　her
chair。

〃I　have　a　question　to　ask；　in　the　first　place；〃　he　said；　〃and　a
measure　of　necessary　precaution　to　suggest；　in　the　second。　If　you
will　honor　me　with　your　attention；　I　will　put　the　question
first。〃

〃I　am　listening。〃

〃You　know　that　Mr。　Armadale　is　alive；〃　pursued　the　doctor；　〃and
you　know　that　he　is　coming　back　to　England。　Why　do　you　continue
to　wear　your　widow's　dress？〃

She　answered　him　without　an　instant's　hesitation；　steadily　going
on　with　her　work。

〃Because　I　am　of　a　sanguine　disposition；　like　you。　I　mean　to
trust　to　the　chapter　of　accidents　to　the　very　last。　Mr。　Armadale
may　die　yet；　on　his　way　home。〃

〃And　suppose　he　gets　home　alivewhat　then？〃

〃Then　there　is　another　chance　still　left。〃

〃What　is　it；　pray？〃

〃He　may　die　in　your　Sanitarium。〃

〃Madam！〃　remonstrated　the　doctor；　in　the　deep　bass　which　he
reserved　for　his　outbursts　of　virtuous　indignation。　〃Wait！　you
spoke　of　the　chapter　of　accidents；〃　he　resumed；　gliding　back　into
his　softer　conversational　tones。　〃Yes！　yes！　of　course。　I
understand　you　this　time。　Even　the　healing　art　is　at　the　mercy　of
accidents；　even　such　a　Sanitarium　as　mine　is　liable　to　be
surprised　by　Death。　Just　so！　just　so！〃　said　the　doctor；　conceding
the　question　with　the　utmost　impartiality。　〃There　_is_　the
chapter　of　accidents；　I　admit　if　you　choose　to　trust　to　it。
Mind！　I　say　emphatically；　_if_　you　choose　to　trust　to　it。〃

There　was　another　moment　of　silencesilence　so　profound　that
nothing　was　audible　in　the　room　but　the　rapid　_click_　of　Miss
Gwilt's　needle　through　her　work。

〃Go　on；〃　she　said；　〃you　haven't　done　yet。〃

〃True！〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Having　put　my　question；　I　have　my
measure　of　precaution　to　impress　on　you　next。　You　will　see；　my
dear　madam；　that　I　am　not　disposed　to　trust　to　the　chapter　of
accidents　on　my　side。　Reflection　has　convinced　me　that　you　and　I
are　not　（logically　speaking）　so　conveniently　situated　as　we　might
be　in　case　of　emergency。　Cabs　are；　as　yet；　rare　in　this　rapidly
improving　neighborhood。　I　am　twenty　minutes'　walk　from　you；　you
are　twenty　minutes'　walk　from　me。　I　know　nothing　of　Mr。
Armadale's　character；　you　know　it　well。　It　might　be
necessaryvitally　necessaryto　appeal　to　your　superior
knowledge　of　him　at　a　moment's　notice。　And　how　am　I　to　do　that
unless　we　are　within　easy　reach　of　each　other；　under　the　same
roof？　In　both　our　interests；　I　beg　to　invite　you；　my　dear　madam；
to　become　for　a　limited　period　an　inmate　of　My　Sanitarium。〃

Miss　Gwilt's　rapid　needle　suddenly　stopped。　〃I　understand　you；〃
she　said　again；　as　quietly　as　before。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　another　attack　of
deafness；　and　with　his　hand　once　more　at　his　ear。

She　laughed　to　herselfa　low；　terrible　laugh；　which　startled
even　the　doctor　into　taking　his　hand　off　the　back　of　her　chair。

〃An　inmate　of　your　Sanitarium？〃　she　repeated。　〃You　consult
appearances　in　everything　else；　do　you　propose　to　consult
appearances　in　receiving　me　into　your　house？〃

〃Most　assuredly！〃　replied　the　doctor；　with　enthusiasm。　〃I　am
surprised　at　your　asking　me　the　question！　Did　you　ever　know　a　man
of　any　eminence　in　my　profession　who　set　appearances　at　defiance？
If　you　honor　me　by　accepting　my　invitation；　you　enter　My
Sanitarium　in　the　most　unimpeachable　of　all　possible
charactersin　the　character　of　a　Patient。〃

〃When　do　you　want　my　answer？〃

〃Can　you　decide　to…day？〃

〃To…morrow？〃

〃Yes。　Have　you　anything　more　to　say？〃

''Nothing　more。〃

〃Leave　me；　then。　_I_　don't　keep　up　appearances。　I　wish　to　be
alone；　and　I　say　so。　Good…morning。〃

〃Oh；　the　sex！　the　sex！〃　said　the　doctor；　with　his　excellent
temper　in　perfect　working　order　again。　〃So　delightfully
impulsive！　so　charmingly　reckless　of　what　they　say　or　how　they
say　it！　'Oh；　woman；　in　our　hours　of　ease；　uncertain；　coy；　and
hard　to　please！'　There！　there！　there！　Good…morning！〃

Miss　Gwilt　rose　and　looked　after　him　contemptuously　from　the
window；　when　the　street　door　had　closed；　and　he　had　left　the
house。

〃Armadale　himself　drove　me　to　it　the　first　time；〃　she　said。
〃Manuel　drove　me　to　it　the　second　time。You　cowardly　scoundrel！
shall　I　let　_you_　drive　me　to　it　for　the　third　time；　and　the
last？〃

She　turned　from　the　window；　and　looked　thoughtfully　at　her
widow's　dress　in　the　glass。

The　hours　of　the　day　passedand　she　decided　nothing。　The　night
cameand　she　hesitated　still。　The　new　morning　dawnedand　the
terrible　question　was　still　unanswered。

By　the　early　post　there　came　a　letter　for　her。　It　was　Mr。
Bashwood's　usual　report。　Again　he　had　watched　for　Allan's
arrival；　and　again　in　vain。

〃I'll　have　more　time！〃　she　determined；　passionately。　〃No　man
alive　shall　hurry　me　faster　than　I　like！〃

At　breakfast　that　morning　（the　morning　of　the　9th）　the　doctor　was
surprised　in　his　study　by　a　visit　from　Miss　Gwilt。

〃I　want　another　day；〃　she　said；　the　moment　the　servant　had　closed
the　door　on　her。

The　doctor　looked　at　her　before　he　answered；　and　saw　the　danger
of　driving　her　to　extremities　plainly　expressed　in　her　face。

〃The　time　is　getting　on；〃　he　remonstrated；　in　his　most　persuasive
manner。　〃For　all　we　know　to　the　contrary；　Mr。　Armadale　may　be
here　to…night。〃

〃I　want　another　day！〃　she　repeated；　loudly　and　passionately。

〃Granted！〃　said　the　doctor；　looking　nervously　toward　the　door。
〃Don't　be　too　loudthe　servants　may　hear　you。　Mind！〃　he　added；
〃I　depend　on　your　honor　not　to　press　me　for　any　further　delay。〃

〃You　had　better　depend　on　my　despair；〃　she　said；　and　left　him。

The　doctor　chipped　the　shell　of　his　egg；　and　laughed　softly。

〃Quite　right；　my　dear！〃　he　thought。　〃I　remember　where　your
despair　led　you　in　past　times；　and　I　think　I　may　trust　it　to　lead
you　the　same　way　now。〃


At　a　quarter　to　eight　o'clock　that　night　Mr。　Bashwood　took　up　his
post　of　observation；　as　usual；　on　the　platform　of　the　terminus　at
London　Bridge。　He　was　in　the　highest　good　spirits；　he　smiled　and
smirked　in　irrepressible　exultation。　The　sense　that　he　held　in
reserve　a　means　of　influence　over　Miss　Gwilt；　in　virtue　of　his
knowledge　of　her　past　career；　had　had　no　share　in　effecting　the
transformation　that　now　appeared　in　him。　It　had　upheld　his
courage　in　his　forlorn　life　at　Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　it　had　given
him　that　increased　confidence　of　manner　which　Miss　Gwilt　herself
had　noticed；　but；　from　the　moment　when　he　had　regained　his　old
place　in　her　favor；　it　had　vanished　as　a　motive　power　in　him；
annihilated　by　the　electric　shock　of　her　touch　and　her　look。　His
vanitythe　vanity　which　in　men　at　his　age　is　only　despair　in
disguisehad　now　lifted　him　to　the　seventh　heaven　of　fatuous
happiness　once　more。　He　believed　in　her　again　as　he　believed　in
the　smart　new　winter　overcoat　that　he　woreas　he　believed　in　the
dainty　little　cane　（appropriate　to　the　dawning　dandyism　of　lads
in　their　teens）　that　he　flourished　in　his　hand。　He　hummed！　The
worn…out　old　creature；　who　had　not　sung　since　his　childhood；
hummed；　as　he　paced　the　platform；　the　few　fragments　he　could
remember　of　a　worn…out　old　song。

The　train　was　due　as　early　as　eight　o'clock　that　night。　At　five
minutes　past　the　hour　the　whistle　sounded。　In　less　than　five
minutes　more　the　passengers　were　getting　out　on　the　platform。

Following　the　instructions　that　had　been　given　to　him；　Mr。
Bashwood　made　his　way；　as　well　as　the　crowd　would　let　him；　along
the　line　of　carriages；　and；　discovering　no　familiar　face　on　that
first　investigation；　joined　the　passengers　for　a　second　search
among　them　in　the　custom…house　waiting…room　next。

He　had　looked　round　the　room；　and　had　satisfied　himself　that　the
persons　occupying　it　were　all　strangers；　when　he　heard　a　voice
behind　him；　exclaiming：　〃Can　that　be　Mr。　Bashwood！〃　He　turned　in
eager　expectation；　and　found　himself　face　to　face