armadale-第137章

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behind　him；　exclaiming：　〃Can　that　be　Mr。　Bashwood！〃　He　turned　in
eager　expectation；　and　found　himself　face　to　face　with　the　last
man　under　heaven　whom　he　had　expected　to　see。

The　man　was　MIDWINTER。


CHAPTER　II。

IN　THE　HOUSE。


NOTICING　Mr。　Bashwood's　confusion　（after　a　moment's　glance　at　the
change　in　his　personal　appearance）；　Midwinter　spoke　first。

〃I　see　I　have　surprised　you；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　looking；　I
suppose；　for　somebody　else？　Have　you　heard　from　Allan？　Is　he　on
his　way　home　again　already？〃

The　inquiry　about　Allan；　though　it　would　naturally　have　suggested
itself　to　any　one　in　Midwinter's　position　at　that　moment；　added
to　Mr。　Bashwood's　confusion。　Not　knowing　how　else　to　extricate
himself　from　the　critical　position　in　which　he　was　placed；　he
took　refuge　in　simple　denial。

〃I　know　nothing　about　Mr。　Armadaleoh　dear；　no；　sir；　I　know
nothing　about　Mr。　Armadale；〃　he　answered；　with　needless　eagerness
and　hurry。　〃Welcome　back　to　England；　sir；〃　he　went　on；　changing
the　subject　in　his　nervously　talkative　manner。　〃I　didn't　know　you
had　been　abroad。　It's　so　long　since　we　have　had　the
pleasuresince　I　have　had　the　pleasure。　Have　you　enjoyed
yourself；　sir；　in　foreign　parts？　Such　different　manners　from
oursyes；　yes；　yessuch　different　manners　from　ours！　Do　you
make　a　long　stay　in　England；　now　you　have　come　back？〃

〃I　hardly　know；〃　said　Midwinter。　〃I　have　been　obliged　to　alter　my
plans；　and　to　come　to　England　unexpectedly。〃　He　hesitated　a
little；　his　manner　changed；　and　he　added；　in　lower　tones：　〃A
serious　anxiety　has　brought　me　back。　I　can't　say　what　my　plans
will　be　until　that　anxiety　is　set　at　rest。〃

The　light　of　a　lamp　fell　on　his　face　while　he　spoke；　and　Mr。
Bashwood　observed；　for　the　first　time；　that　he　looked　sadly　worn
and　changed。

〃I'm　sorry；　sirI'm　sure　I'm　very　sorry。　If　I　could　be　of　any
use〃　suggested　Mr。　Bashwood；　speaking　under　the　influence　in
some　degr　ee　of　his　nervous　politeness；　and　in　some　degree　of　his
remembrance　of　what　Midwinter　had　done　for　him　at　Thorpe　Ambrose
in　the　by…gone　time。

Midwinter　thanked　him　and　turned　away　sadly。　〃I　am　afraid　you　can
be　of　no　use；　Mr。　Bashwoodbut　I　am　obliged　to　you　for　your
offer；　all　the　same。〃　He　stopped；　and　considered　a　little；
〃Suppose　she　should　_not_　be　ill？　Suppose　some　misfortune　should
have　happened？〃　he　resumed；　speaking　to　himself；　and　turning
again　toward　the　steward。　〃If　she　has　left　her　mother；　some　trace
of　her　_might_　be　found　by　inquiring　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。〃

Mr。　Bashwood's　curiosity　was　instantly　aroused。　The　whole　sex　was
interesting　to　him　now；　for　the　sake　of　Miss　Gwilt。

〃A　lady；　sir？〃　he　inquired。　〃Are　you　looking　for　a　lady？〃

〃I　am　looking；〃　said　Midwinter；　simply；　〃for　my　wife。〃

〃Married；　sir！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Bashwood。　〃Married　since　I　last　had
the　pleasure　of　seeing　you！　Might　I　take　the　liberty　of
asking？〃

Midwinter's　eyes　dropped　uneasily　to　the　ground。

〃You　knew　the　lady　in　former　times；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　married
Miss　Gwilt。〃

The　steward　started　back　as　he　might　have　started　back　from　a
loaded　pistol　leveled　at　his　head。　His　eyes　glared　as　if　he　had
suddenly　lost　his　senses；　and　the　nervous　trembling　to　which　he
was　subject　shook　him　from　head　to　foot。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　Midwinter。　There　was　no　answer。　〃What
is　there　so　very　startling；〃　he　went　on；　a　little　impatiently；
〃in　Miss　Gwilt's　being　my　wife？〃

〃_Your_　wife？〃　repeated　Mr。　Bashwood；　helplessly。　〃Mrs。
Armadale！〃　He　checked　himself　by　a　desperate　effort；　and　said
no　more。

The　stupor　of　astonishment　which　possessed　the　steward　was
instantly　reflected　in　Midwinter's　face。　The　name　in　which　he　had
secretly　married　his　wife　had　passed　the　lips　of　the　last　man　in
the　world　whom　he　would　have　dreamed　of　admitting　into　his
confidence！　He　took　Mr。　Bashwood　by　the　arm；　and　led　him　away　to
a　quieter　part　of　the　terminus　than　the　part　of　it　in　which　they
had　hitherto　spoken　to　each　other。

〃You　referred　to　my　wife　just　now；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　spoke　of
_Mrs。　Armadale_　in　the　same　breath。　What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

Again　there　was　no　answer。　Utterly　incapable　of　understanding
more　than　that　he　had　involved　himself　in　some　serious
complication　which　was　a　complete　mystery　to　him；　Mr。　Bashwood
struggled　to　extricate　himself　from　the　grasp　that　was　laid　on
him；　and　struggled　in　vain。

Midwinter　sternly　repeated　the　question。　〃I　ask　you　again；〃　he
said；　〃what　do　you　mean　by　it？〃

〃Nothing；　sir！　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor；　I　meant　nothing！〃　He
felt　the　hand　on　his　arm　tightening　its　grasp；　he　saw；　even　in
the　obscurity　of　the　remote　corner　in　which　they　stood；　that
Midwinter's　fiery　temper　was　rising；　and　was　not　to　be　trifled
with。　The　extremity　of　his　danger　inspired　him　with　the　one　ready
capacity　that　a　timid　man　possesses　when　he　is　compelled　by　main
force　to　face　an　emergencythe　capacity　to　lie。　〃I　only　meant　to
say；　sir；〃　he　burst　out；　with　a　desperate　effort　to　look　and
speak　confidently；　〃that　Mr。　Armadale　would　be　surprised〃

〃You　said　_Mrs。_　Armadale！〃

〃No；　siron　my　word　of　honor；　on　my　sacred　word　of　honor；　you
are　mistakenyou　are；　indeed！　I　said　_Mr。_　Armadalehow　could　I
say　anything　else？　Please　to　let　me　go；　sirI'm　pressed　for
time。　I　do　assure　you　I'm　dreadfully　pressed　for　time！〃

For　a　moment　longer　Midwinter　maintained　his　hold；　and　in　that
moment　he　decided　what　to　do。

He　had　accurately　stated　his　motive　for　returning　to　England　as
proceeding　from　anxiety　about　his　wifeanxiety　naturally　caused
（after　the　regular　receipt　of　a　letter　from　her　every　other；　or
every　third　day）　by　the　sudden　cessation　of　the　correspondence
between　them　on　her　side　for　a　whole　week。　The　first　vaguely
terrible　suspicion　of　some　other　reason　for　her　silence　than　the
reason　of　accident　or　of　illness；　to　which　he　had　hitherto
attributed　it；　had　struck　through　him　like　a　sudden　chill　the
instant　he　heard　the　steward　associate　the　name　of　〃Mrs。
Armadale〃　with　the　idea　of　his　wife。　Little　irregularities　in　her
correspondence　with　him；　which　he　had　thus　far　only　thought
strange；　now　came　back　on　his　mind；　and　proclaimed　themselves　to
be　suspicions　as　well。　He　had　hitherto　believed　the　reasons　she
had　given　for　referring　him；　when　he　answered　her　letters；　to　no
more　definite　address　than　an　address　at　a　post…office。　_Now_　he
suspected　her　reasons　of　being　excuses；　for　the　first　time。　He
had　hitherto　resolved；　on　reaching　London；　to　inquire　at　the　only
place　he　knew　of　at　which　a　clew　to　her　could　be　foundthe
address　she　had　given　him　as　the　address　at　which　〃her　mother〃
lived。　_Now_　（with　a　motive　which　he　was　afraid　to　define　even　to
himself；　but　which　was　strong　enough　to　overbear　every　other
consideration　in　his　mind）　he　determined；　before　all　things；　to
solve　the　mystery　of　Mr。　Bashwood's　familiarity　with　a　secret；
which　was　a　marriage　secret　between　himself　and　his　wife。　Any
direct　appeal　to　a　man　of　the　steward's　disposition；　in　the
steward's　present　state　of　mind；　would　be　evidently　useless。　The
weapon　of　deception　was；　in　this　case；　a　weapon　literally　forced
into　Midwinter's　hands。　He　let　go　of　Mr。　Bashwood's　arm；　and
accepted　Mr。　Bashwood's　explanation。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　no　doubt　you　are　right。
Pray　attribute　my　rudeness　to　over…anxiety　and　over…fatigue。　I
wish　you　good…evening。〃

The　station　was　by　this　time　almost　a　solitude；　the　passengers　by
the　train　being　assembled　at　the　examination　of　their　luggage　in
the　custom…house　waiting…room。　It　was　no　easy　matter；　ostensibly
to　take　leave　of　Mr。　Bashwood；　and　really　to　keep　him　in　view。
But　Midwinter's　early　life　with　the　gypsy　master　had　been　of　a
nature　to　practice　him　in　such　stratagems　as　he　was　now　compelled
to　adopt。　He　walked　away　toward　the　waiting…room　by　the　line　of
empty　carriages；　opened　the　door　of　one　of　them；　as　if　to　look
after　something　that　he　had　left　behind；　and　detected　Mr。
Bashwood　making　for　the　cab…rank　on　the　opposite　side　of　the
platform。　In　an　instant　Midwinter　had　crossed；　and　had　passed
through　the　long　row　of　vehicles；　so　as　to　skirt　it　on　the　side
furthest　from　the　platform。　He　entered　the　second　cab　by　the
left…hand　door　the　moment　after　Mr。　Bashwood　had　entered　the
first　cab　by　the　right…hand　door。　〃Double　your　fare；　whatever　it
is；〃　he　said　to　the　driver；　〃if　you　keep　the　cab　before　you　in
view；　and　follow　it　wherever　it　goes。〃　In　a　minute　more　both
vehicles　were　on　their　way　out　of　the　station。

The　clerk　sat　in　the　sentry…box　at　the　gate；　taking　down　the
destinations　of　the　cabs　as　they　passed。　Midwinter　heard　the　man
who　was　driving　him　call　out　〃Hampstead！〃　as　he　went　by　the
clerk's　window。

〃Why　did　you　say　'Hampstead'？〃　he　asked；　when　they　had　left　the
station。

〃Because　the　man　before　me　said　'Hampstead；'　sir；〃　answered　the
driver。

Over　and　over　again；　on　the　wearisome　journey　to　the　northwestern
suburb；　Midwinter　asked　if　the　cab　was　still　in　sight。　Over　and
over　again；　the　man　answered；　〃Right　in　front　of　us。〃

It　was　between　nine　and　ten　o'clock　when　the　driver　pulled　up　his
horse　at　last。　Midwinter　got　out；　and　saw　the　cab　before　them
waiting　at　a　house　door。　As　soon　as　he　had　satisfied　himself　that
the　driver　was　the　man　whom　Mr。　Bashwood　had　hired；　he　paid　the
promised　reward；　and　dismissed　his　own　cab。

He　took　a　turn　backward　and　forward　before　the　door。　The　vaguely
terrible　suspicion　which　had　risen　in　his　mind　at　the　terminus
had　forced　itself　by　this　time　into　a　definite　form　which　was
abhorrent　to　him。　Without　the　shadow　of　an　assignable　reason　for
it；　he　found　himself　blindly　distrusting　his　wife's　fidelity；　and
blindly　suspecting　Mr。　Bashwood　of　serving　her　in　the　capacity　of
go…between。　In　sheer　horror　of　his　own　morbid　fancy；　he
determined　to　take　down　the　number　of　the　house；　and　the　name　of
the　street　in　which　it　stood；　and　then；　in　justice　to　his　wife；
to　return　at　once　to　the　address　which　she　had　given　him　as　the
address　at　which　her　mother　lived。　He　had　taken　　out　his
pocket…book；　and　was　on　his　way　to　the　corner　of　the　street；　when
he　observed　the　man　who　had　driven　Mr。　Bashwood　looking　at　him
with　an　express　ion　of　inquisitive　surprise。　The　idea　of
questioning　the　cab…driver；　while　he　had　the　opportunity；
instantly　occurred　to　him。　He　took　a　half…crown　from　his　pocket
and　put　it　into　the　man's　ready　hand。

〃Has　the　gentleman　whom　you　drove　from　the　station　gone　into　that
house？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Did　you　hear　him　inquire　for　anybody　when　the　door　was　opened？〃

〃He　asked　for　a　lady；　sir。　Mrs。〃　The　man　hesitated。　〃It　wasn't
a　common　name；　sir；　I　should　know　it　again　if　I　heard　it。〃

〃Was　it　'Midwinter'？〃

〃No；　sir。

〃Armadale？〃

〃That's　it；　sir。　Mrs。　Armadale。〃

〃Are　you　sure　it　was　'Mrs。'　and　not　'Mr。'？〃

〃I'm　as　sure　as　a　man　can　be　who　hasn't　taken　any　particular
notice；　sir。

The　doubt　implied　in　that　last　answer　decided　Midwinter　to
investigate　the　matter　on　the　spot。　He　ascended　the　house　steps。
As　he　raised　his　hand　to　the　bell　at　the　side　of　the　door；　the
violence　of　his　agitation　mastered　him　physically　for　the　moment。
A　strange　sensation；　as　of　something　leaping　up　from　his　heart　to
his　brain；　turned　his　head　wildly　gi