armadale-第17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！


and　the　engines　were　stopped　immediately。　The　woman　had　thrown
herself　overboard。

The　passengers　all　rushed　to　the　side　of　the　vessel　to　look。
Arthur　Blanchard　alone；　without　an　instant's　hesitation；　jumped
into　the　river。　He　was　an　excellent　swimmer；　and　he　reached　the
woman　as　she　rose　again　to　the　surface；　after　sinking　for　the
first　time。　Help　was　at　hand；　and　they　were　both　brought　safely
ashore。　The　woman　was　taken　to　the　nearest　police　station；　and
was　soon　restored　to　her　senses；　her　preserver　giving　his　name
and　address；　as　usual　in　such　cases；　to　the　inspector　on　duty；
who　wisely　recommended　him　to　get　into　a　warm　bath；　and　to　send
to　his　lodgings　for　dry　clothes。　Arthur　Blanchard；　who　had　never
known　an　hour's　illness　since　he　was　a　child；　laughed　at　the
caution；　and　went　back　in　a　cab。　The　next　day　he　was　too　ill　to
attend　the　examination　before　the　magistrate。　A　fortnight
afterward　he　was　a　dead　man。

The　news　of　the　calamity　reached　Henry　Blanchard　and　his　son　at
Milan；　and　within　an　hour　of　the　time　when　they　received　it　they
were　on　their　way　back　to　England。　The　snow　on　the　Alps　had
loosened　earlier　than　usual　that　year；　and　the　passes　were
notoriously　dangerous。　The　father　and　son；　traveling　in　their　own
carriage；　were　met　on　the　mountain　by　the　mail　returning；　after
sending　the　letters　on　by　hand。　Warnings　which　would　have
produced　their　effect　under　any　ordinary　circumstances　were　now
vainly　addressed　to　the　two　Englishmen。　Their　impatience　to　be　at
home　again；　after　the　catastrophe　which　had　befallen　their
family；　brooked　no　delay。　Bribes　lavishly　offered　to　the
postilions；　tempted　them　to　go　on。　The　carriage　pursued　its　way；
and　was　lost　to　view　in　the　mist。　When　it　was　seen　again；　it　was
disinterred　from　the　bottom　of　a　precipicethe　men；　the　horses；
and　the　vehicle　all　crushed　together　under　the　wreck　and　ruin　of
an　avalanche。

So　the　three　lives　were　mown　down　by　death。　So；　in　a　clear
sequence　of　events；　a　woman's　suicide…leap　into　a　river　had
opened　to　Allan　Armadale　the　succession　to　the　Thorpe　Ambrose
estates。

Who　was　the　woman？　The　man　who　saved　her　life　never　knew。　The
magistrate　who　remanded　her；　the　chaplain　who　exhorted　her；　the
reporter　who　exhibited　her　in　print；　never　knew。　It　was　recorded
of　her　with　surprise　that；　though　most　respectably　dressed；　she
had　nevertheless　described　herself　as　being　〃in　distress。〃　She
had　expressed　the　deepest　contrition；　but　had　persisted　in　giving
a　name　which　was　on　the　face　of　it　a　false　one；　in　telling　a
commonplace　story；　which　was　manifestly　an　invention；　and　in
refusing　to　the　last　to　furnish　any　clew　to　her　friends。　A　lady
connected　with　a　charitable　institution　（〃interested　by　her
extreme　elegance　and　beauty〃）　had　volunteered　to　take　charge　of
her；　and　to　bring　her　into　a　better　frame　of　mind　。　The　first
day's　experience　of　the　penitent　had　been　far　from　cheering；　and
the　second　day's　experience　had　been　conclusive。　She　had　left　the
institution　by　stealth；　andthough　the　visiting　clergyman；
taking　a　special　interest　in　the　case；　had　caused　special　efforts
to　be　madeall　search　after　her；　from　that　time　forth；　had
proved　fruitless。

While　this　useless　investigation　（undertaken　at　Allan's　express
desire）　was　in　progress；　the　lawyers　had　settled　the　preliminary
formalities　connected　with　the　succession　to　the　property。　All
that　remained　was　for　the　new　master　of　Thorpe　Ambrose　to　decide
when　he　would　personally　establish　himself　on　the　estate　of　which
he　was　now　the　legal　possessor。

Left　necessarily　to　his　own　guidance　in　this　matter；　Allan
settled　it　for　himself　in　his　usual　hot…headed；　generous　way。　He
positively　declined　to　take　possession　until　Mrs。　Blanchard　and
her　niece　（who　had　been　permitted　thus　far；　as　a　matter　of
courtesy；　to　remain　in　their　old　home）　had　recovered　from　the
calamity　that　had　befallen　them；　and　were　fit　to　decide　for
themselves　what　their　future　proceedings　should　be。　A　private
correspondence　followed　this　resolution；　comprehending；　on
Allan's　side；　unlimited　offers　of　everything　he　had　to　give　（in　a
house　which　he　had　not　yet　seen）；　and；　on　the　ladies'　side；　a
discreetly　reluctant　readiness　to　profit　by　the　young　gentleman's
generosity　in　the　matter　of　time。　To　the　astonishment　of　his
legal　advisers；　Allan　entered　their　office　one　morning；
accompanied　by　Mr。　Brock；　and　announced；　with　perfect　composure；
that　the　ladies　had　been　good　enough　to　take　his　own　arrangements
off　his　hands；　and　that；　in　deference　to　their　convenience；　he
meant　to　defer　establishing　himself　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　till　that
day　two　months。　The　lawyers　stared　at　Allan；　and　Allan；　returning
the　compliment；　stared　at　the　lawyers。

〃What　on　earth　are　you　wondering　at；　gentlemen？〃　he　inquired；
with　a　boyish　bewilderment　in　his　good…humored　blue　eyes。　〃Why
shouldn't　I　give　the　ladies　their　two　months；　if　the　ladies　want
them？　Let　the　poor　things　take　their　own　time；　and　welcome。　My
rights？　and　my　position？　Oh；　pooh！　pooh！　I'm　in　no　hurry　to　be
squire　of　the　parish；　it's　not　in　my　way。　What　do　I　mean　to　do
for　the　two　months？　What　I　should　have　done　anyhow；　whether　the
ladies　had　stayed　or　not；　I　mean　to　go　cruising　at　sea。　That's
what　_I_　like！　I've　got　a　new　yacht　at　home　in　Somersetshirea
yacht　of　my　own　building。　And　I'll　tell　you　what；　sir；〃　continued
Allan；　seizing　the　head　partner　by　the　arm　in　the　fervor　of　his
friendly　intentions；　〃you　look　sadly　in　want　of　a　holiday　in　the
fresh　air；　and　you　shall　come　along　with　me　on　the　trial　trip　of
my　new　vessel。　And　your　partners；　too；　if　they　like。　And　the　head
clerk；　who　is　the　best　fellow　I　ever　met　with　in　my　life。　Plenty
of　roomwe'll　all　shake　down　together　on　the　floor；　and　we'll
give　Mr。　Brock　a　rug　on　the　cabin　table。　Thorpe　Ambrose　be
hanged！　Do　you　mean　to　say；　if　you　had　built　a　vessel　yourself
（as　I　have）；　you　would　go　to　any　estate　in　the　three　kingdoms；
while　your　own　little　beauty　was　sitting　like　a　duck　on　the　water
at　home；　and　waiting　for　you　to　try　her？　You　legal　gentlemen　are
great　hands　at　argument。　What　do　you　think　of　that　argument？　I
think　it's　unanswerableand　I'm　off　to　Somersetshire　to…morrow。〃

With　those　words；　the　new　possessor　of　eight　thousand　a　year
dashed　into　the　head　clerk's　office；　and　invited　that　functionary
to　a　cruise　on　the　high　seas；　with　a　smack　on　the　shoulder　which
was　heard　distinctly　by　his　masters　in　the　next　room。　The　firm
looked　in　interrogative　wonder　at　Mr。　Brock。　A　client　who　could
see　a　position　among　the　landed　gentry　of　England　waiting　for
him；　without　being　in　a　hurry　to　occupy　it　at　the　earliest
possible　opportunity；　was　a　client　of　whom　they　possessed　no
previous　experience。

〃He　must　have　been　very　oddly　brought　up；〃　said　the　lawyers　to
the　rector。

〃Very　oddly；〃　said　the　rector　to　the　lawyers。

A　last　leap　over　one　month　more　brought　Mr。　Brock　to　the　present
timeto　the　bedroom　at　Castletown；　in　which　he　was　sitting
thinking；　and　to　the　anxiety　which　was　obstinately　intruding
itself　between　him　and　his　night's　rest。　That　anxiety　was　no
unfamiliar　enemy　to　the　rector's　peace　of　mind。　It　had　first
found　him　out　in　Somersetshire　six　months　since；　and　it　had　now
followed　him　to　the　Isle　of　Man　under　the　inveterately　obtrusive
form　of　Ozias　Midwinter。

The　change　in　Allan's　future　prospects　had　worked　no
corresponding　alteration　in　his　perverse　fancy　for　the　castaway
at　the　village　inn。　In　the　midst　of　the　consultations　with　the
lawyers　he　had　found　time　to　visit　Midwinter；　and　on　the　journey
back　with　the　rector　there　was　Allan's　friend　in　the　carriage；
returning　with　them　to　Somersetshire　by　Allan's　own　invitation。

The　ex…usher's　hair　had　grown　again　on　his　shaven　skull；　and　his
dress　showed　the　renovating　influence　of　an　accession　of
pecuniary　means；　but　in　all　other　respects　the　man　was　unchanged。
He　met　Mr。　Brock's　distrust　with　the　old　uncomplaining
resignation　to　it；　he　maintained　the　same　suspicious　silence　on
the　subject　of　his　relatives　and　his　early　life；　he　spoke　of
Allan's　kindness　to　him　with　the　same　undisciplined　fervor　of
gratitude　and　surprise。　〃I　have　done　what　I　could；　sir；〃　he　said
to　Mr。　Brock；　while　Allan　was　asleep　in　the　railway　carriage。　〃I
have　kept　out　of　Mr。　Armadale's　way；　and　I　have　not　even　answered
his　last　letter　to　me。　More　than　that　is　more　than　I　can　do。　I
don't　ask　you　to　consider　my　own　feeling　toward　the　only　human
creature　who　has　never　suspected　and　never　ill…treated　me。　I　can
resist　my　own　feeling；　but　I　can't　resist　the　young　gentleman
himself。　There's　not　another　like　him　in　the　world。　If　we　are　to
be　parted　again；　it　must　be　his　doing　or　yoursnot　mine。　The
dog's　master　has　whistled；〃　said　this　strange　man；　with　a
momentary　outburst　of　the　hidden　passion　in　him；　and　a　sudden
springing　of　angry　tears　in　his　wild　brown　eyes；　〃and　it　is　hard；
sir；　to　blame　the　dog　when　the　dog　comes。〃

Once　more　Mr。　Brock's　humanity　got　the　better　of　Mr。　Brock's
caution。　He　determined　to　wait；　and　see　what　the　coming　days　of
social　intercourse　might　bring　forth。

The　days　passed；　the　yacht　was　rigged　and　fitted　for　sea；　a
cruise　was　arranged　to　the　Welsh　coastand　Midwinter　the　Secret
was　the　same　Midwinter　still。　Confinement　on　board　a　little
vessel　of　five…and…thirty　tons　offered　no　great　attraction　to　a
man　of　Mr。　Brock's　time　of　life。　But　he　sailed　on　the　trial　trip
of　the　yacht　nevertheless；　rather　than　trust　Allan　alone　with　his
new　friend。

Would　the　close　companionship　of　the　three　on　their　cruise　tempt
the　man　into　talking　of　his　own　affairs？　No；　he　was　ready　enough
on　other　subjects；　especially　if　Allan　led　the　way　to　them。　But
not　a　word　escaped　him　about　himself。　Mr。　Brock　tried　him　with
questions　about　his　recent　inheritance；　and　was　answered　as　he
had　been　answered　once　already　at　the　Somersetshire　inn。　It　was　a
curious　coincidence；　Midwinter　admitted；　that　Mr。　Armadale's
prospects　and　his　own　prospects　should　both　have　unexpectedly
changed　for　the　better　about　the　same　time。　But　there　the
resemblance　ended。　It　was　no　large　fortune　that　had　fallen　into
his　lap；　though　it　was　enough　for　his　wants。　It　had　not
reconciled　him　with　his　relations；　for　the　money　had　not　come　to
him　as　a　matter　of　kindness；　but　as　a　matter　of　right。　As　for　the
circumstance　which　had　led　to　his　communicating　with　his　family；
it　was　not　worth　mentioning；　seeing　that　the　temporary　renewal　of
intercourse　which　had　followed　had　produced　no　friendly　results。
Nothing　had　come　of　it　but　the　moneyand；　with　the　money；　an
anxiety　which　troubled　him　sometimes；　when　he　woke　in　the　small
hours　of　the　morning。

At　those　last　words　he　became　suddenly　silent；　as　if　for　once　his
well…guarded　tongue　had　betrayed　him。

Mr。　Brock　seized　the　opportunity；　and　bluntly　asked　him　what　the
nature　of　the　anxiety　might　be。　Did　it　relate　to　money？　No；　it
related　to　a　Letter　which　had　been　waiting　for　him　for　many
years。　Had　he　received　the　letter？　Not　yet；　it　had　been　left
under　charge　of　one　of　the　partners　in　the　firm　which　had　man
aged　the　business　of　his　inheritance　for　him；　the　partner　had
been　absent　from　England；　and　the　letter；　locked　up　among　his　own
private　papers；　could　not　be　got　at　ti