armadale-第73章

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every　day；　all　through　the　season。　〃　（〃I　will　go　at　once；　dear
madam；　and　be　back　to…morrow。〃）　〃Ah；　nothing　like　the　women　for
helping　one　when　one　is　in　love！　This　is　just　what　my　poor　mother
would　have　done　in　Mrs。　Milroy's　place。〃　（〃On　my　word　of　honor　as
a　gentleman；　I　will　take　the　utmost　care　of　the　letters；　and　keep
the　thing　strictly　private；　as　you　request。〃）　〃I　would　have　given
five　hundred　pounds　to　anybody　who　would　have　put　me　up　to　the
right　way　to　speak　to　Miss　Gwilt；　and　here　is　this　blessed　woman
does　it　for　nothing。〃　（〃Believe　me；　my　dear　madam；　gratefully
yours；　Allan　Armadale。〃）

Having　sent　his　reply　out　to　Mrs。　Milroy's　messenger；　Allan
paused　in　a　momentary　perplexity。　He　had　an　appointment　with　Miss
Gwilt　in　the　park　for　the　next　morning。　It　was　absolutely
necessary　to　let　her　know　that　he　would　be　unable　to　keep　it；　she
had　forbidden　him　to　write；　and　he　had　no　chance　that　day　of
seeing　her　alone。　In　this　difficulty；　he　determined　to　let　the
necessary　intimation　reach　her　through　the　medium　of　a　message　to
the　major；　announcing　his　departure　for　London　on　business；　and
asking　if　he　could　be　of　service　to　any　member　of　the　family。
Having　thus　removed　the　only　obstacle　to　his　freedom　of　action；
Allan　consulted　the　time…table；　and　found；　to　his　disappointment；
that　there　was　a　good　hour　to　spare　before　it　would　be　necessary
to　drive　to　the　railway　station。　In　his　existing　frame　of　mind　he
would　infinitely　have　preferred　starting　for　London　in　a　violent
hurry。

When　the　time　came　at　last；　Allan；　on　passing　the　steward's
office；　drummed　at　the　door；　and　called　through　it　to　Mr。
Bashwood；　〃I'm　going　to　town；　back　to…morrow。〃　There　was　no
answer　from　within；　and　the　servant；　interposing；　informed　his
master　that　Mr。　Bashwood；　having　no　business　to　attend　to　that
day；　had　locked　up　the　office；　and　had　left　some　hours　since。

On　reaching　the　station；　the　first　person　whom　Allan　encountered
was　Pedgift　Junior；　going　to　London　on　the　legal　business　which
he　had　mentioned　on　the　previous　evening　at　the　great　house。　The
necessary　explanations　exchanged；　and　it　was　decided　that　the　two
should　travel　in　the　same　carriage。　Allan　was　glad　to　have　a
companion；　and　Pedgift；　enchanted　as　usual　to　make　himself　useful
to　his　client；　bustled　away　to　get　the　tickets　and　see　to　the
luggage。　Sauntering　to　and　fro　on　the　platform；　until　his
faithful　follower　returned；　Allan　came　suddenly　upon　no　less　a
person　than　Mr。　Bashwood　himself；　standing　back　in　a　corner　with
the　guard　of　the　train；　and　putting　a　letter　（accompanied；　to　all
appearance；　by　a　fee）　privately　into　the　man's　hand。

〃Halloo！〃　cried　Allan；　in　his　hearty　way。　〃Something　important
there；　Mr。　Bashwood；　eh？〃

If　Mr。　Bashwood　had　been　caught　in　the　act　of　committing　murder；
he　could　hardly　have　shown　greater　alarm　than　he　now　testified　at
Allan's　sudden　discovery　of　him。　Snatching　off　his　dingy　old　hat；
he　bowed　bare…headed；　in　a　palsy　of　nervous　trembling　from　head
to　foot。　〃No；　sirno；　sir；　only　a　little　letter；　a　little
letter；　a　little　letter；〃　said　the　deputy…steward；　taking　refuge
in　reiteration；　and　bowing　himself　swiftly　backward　out　of　his
employer's　sight。

Allan　turned　carelessly　on　his　heel。　〃I　wish　I　could　take　to　that
fellow；〃　he　thought；　〃but　I　can't；　he's　such　a　sneak！　What　the
deuce　was　there　to　tremble　about？　Does　he　think　I　want　to　pry
into　his　secrets？〃

Mr。　Bashwood's　secret　on　this　occasion　concerned　Allan　more
nearly　than　Allan　supposed。　The　letter　which　he　had　just　placed
in　charge　of　the　guard　was　nothing　less　than　a　word　of　warning
addressed　to　Mrs。　Oldershaw；　and　written　by　Miss　Gwilt。

〃If　you　can　hurry　your　business〃　（wrote　the　major's　governess）
〃do　so；　and　come　back　to　London　immediately。　Things　are　going
wrong　here；　and　Miss　Milroy　is　at　the　bottom　of　the　mischief。
This　morning　she　insisted　on　taking　up　her　mother's　breakfast；
always　on　other　occasions　taken　up　by　the　nurse。　They　had　a　long
confabulation　in　private；　and　half　an　hour　later　I　saw　the　nurse
slip　out　with　a　letter；　and　take　the　path　that　leads　to　the　great
house。　The　sending　of　the　letter　has　been　followed　by　young
Armadale's　sudden　departure　for　Londonin　the　face　of　an
appointment　which　he　had　with　me　for　tomorrow　morning。　This　looks
serious。　The　girl　is　evidently　bold　enough　to　make　a　fight　of　it
for　the　position　of　Mrs。　Armadale　of　Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　she　has
found　out　some　way　of　getting　her　mother　to　help　her。　Don't
suppose　I　am　in　the　least　nervous　or　discouraged；　and　don't　do
anything　till　you　hear　from　me　again。　Only　get　back　to　London；
for　I　may　have　serious　need　of　your　assistance　in　the　course　of
the　next　day　or　two。

〃I　send　this　letter　to　town　（to　save　a　post）　by　the　midday　train；
in　charge　of　the　guard。　As　you　insist　on　knowing　every　step　I
take　at　Thorpe　Ambrose；　I　may　as　well　tell　you　that　my　messenger
（for　I　can't　go　to　the　station　myself）　is　that　curious　old
creature　whom　I　mentioned　to　you　in　my　first　letter。　Ever　since
that　time　he　has　been　perpetually　hanging　about　here　for　a　look
at　me。　I　am　not　sure　whether　I　frighten　him　or　fascinate　him；
perhaps　I　do　both　together。　All　you　need　care　to　know　is　that　I
can　trust　him　with　my　trifling　errands；　and　possibly；　as　time
goes　on；　with　something　more。　L。　G。〃


Meanwhile　the　train　had　started　from　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　station；
and　the　squire　and　his　traveling　companion　were　on　their　way　to
London。

Some　men；　finding　themselves　in　Allan's　company　under　present
circumstances；　might　have　felt　curious　to　know　the　nature　of　his
business　in　the　metropolis。　Young　Pedgift's　unerring　instinct　as
a　man　of　the　world　penetrated　the　secret　without　the　slightest
difficulty。　〃The　old　story；〃　thought　this　wary　old　head；　wagging
privately　on　its　lusty　young　shoulders；　〃There's　a　woman　in　the
case；　as　usual。　Any　other　business　would　have　been　turned　　over　to
me。〃　Perfectly　satisfied　with　this　conclusion；　Mr。　Pedgift　the
younger　proceeded；　with　an　eye　to　his　professional　interest；　to
make　himself　agreeable　to　his　client　in　the　capacity　of　volunteer
courier。　He　seized　on　the　whole　administrative　business　of　the
journey　to　London；　as　he　had　seized　on　the　whole　administrative
business　of　the　picnic　at　the　Broads。　On　reaching　the　terminus；
Allan　was　ready　to　go　to　any　hotel　that　might　be　recommended。　His
invaluable　solicitor　straight…way　drove　him　to　a　hotel　at　which
the　Pedgift　family　had　been　accustomed　to　put　up　for　three
generations。

〃You　don't　object　to　vegetables；　sir？〃　said　the　cheerful　Pedgift；
as　the　cab　stopped　at　a　hotel　in　Covent　Garden　Market。　〃Very
good；　you　may　leave　the　rest　to　my　grandfather；　my　father；　and
me。　I　don't　know　which　of　the　three　is　most　beloved　and　respected
in　this　house。　How　d'ye　do；　William？　（Our　head…waiter；　Mr。
Armadale。）　Is　your　wife's　rheumatism　better；　and　does　the　little
boy　get　on　nicely　at　school？　Your　master's　out；　is　he？　Never
mind；　you'll　do。　This；　William；　is　Mr。　Armadale　of　Thorpe
Ambrose。　I　have　prevailed　on　Mr。　Armadale　to　try　our　house。　Have
you　got　the　bedroom　I　wrote　for？　Very　good。　Let　Mr。　Armadale　have
it　instead　of　me　（my　grandfather's　favorite　bedroom；　sir；　No。　57；
on　the　second　floor）；　pray　take　it；　I　can　sleep　anywhere。　Will
you　have　the　mattress　on　the　top　of　the　feather…bed？　You　hear；
William？　Tell　Matilda；　the　mattress　on　the　top　of　the
feather…bed。　How　is　Matilda？　Has　she　got　the　toothache；　as　usual？
The　head…chambermaid；　Mr。　Armadale；　and　a　most　extraordinary
woman；　she　will　_not_　part　with　a　hollow　tooth　in　her　lower　jaw。
My　grandfather　says；　'Have　it　out；'　my　father　says；　'Have　it
out；'　I　say；　'Have　it　out；'　and　Matilda　turns　a　deaf　ear　to　all
three　of　us。　Yes；　William；　yes；　if　Mr。　Armadale　approves；　this
sitting…room　will　do。　About　dinner；　sir？　Shall　we　say；　in　that
case；　half…past　seven？　William；　half…past　seven。　Not　the　least
need　to　order　anything；　Mr。　Armadale。　The　head…waiter　has　only　to
give　my　compliments　to　the　cook；　and　the　best　dinner　in　London
will　be　sent　up；　punctual　to　the　minute；　as　a　necessary
consequence。　Say；　Mr。　Pedgift　Junior；　if　you　please；　William；
otherwise；　sir；　we　might　get　my　grandfather's　dinner　or　my
father's　dinner；　and　they　_might_　turn　out　a　little　too　heavy　and
old…fashioned　in　their　way　of　feeding　for　you　and　me。　As　to　the
wine；　William。　At　dinner；　_my_　Champagne；　and　the　sherry　that　my
father　thinks　nasty。　After　dinner；　the　claret　with　the　blue
sealthe　wine　my　innocent　grandfather　said　wasn't　worth　sixpence
a　bottle。　Ha！　ha！　poor　old　boy！　You　will　send　up　the　evening
papers　and　the　play…bills；　just　as　usual；　andthat　will　do？　I
think；　William；　for　the　present。　An　invaluable　servant；　Mr。
Armadale；　they're　all　invaluable　servants　in　this　house。　We　may
not　be　fashionable　here；　sir；　but　by　the　Lord　Harry　we　are　snug！
A　cab？　you　would　like　a　cab？　Don't　stir！　I've　rung　the　bell
twicethat　means；　Cab　wanted　in　a　hurry。　Might　I　ask；　Mr。
Armadale；　which　way　your　business　takes　you？　Toward　Bayswater？
Would　you　mind　dropping　me　in　the　park？　It's　a　habit　of　mine　when
I'm　in　London　to　air　myself　among　the　aristocracy。　Yours　truly；
sir；　has　an　eye　for　a　fine　woman　and　a　fine　horse；　and　when　he's
in　Hyde　Park　he's　quite　in　his　native　element。〃　Thus　the
all…accomplished　Pedgift　ran　on；　and　by　these　little　arts　did　he
recommend　himself　to　the　good　opinion　of　his　client。

When　the　dinner　hour　united　the　traveling　companions　again　in
their　sitting…room　at　the　hotel；　a　far　less　acute　observer　than
young　Pedgift　must　have　noticed　the　marked　change　that　appeared
in　Allan's　manner。　He　looked　vexed　and　puzzled；　and　sat　drumming
with　his　fingers　on　the　dining…table　without　uttering　a　word。

〃I'm　afraid　something　has　happened　to　annoy　you；　sir；　since　we
parted　company　in　the　Park？〃　said　Pedgift　Junior。　〃Excuse　the
question；　I　only　ask　it　in　case　I　can　be　of　any　use。〃

〃Something　that　I　never　expected　has　happened；〃　returned　Allan；
〃I　don't　know　what　to　make　of　it。　I　should　like　to　have　your
opinion；〃　he　added；　after　a　little　hesitation；　〃that　is　to　say；
if　you　will　excuse　my　not　entering　into　any　particulars？〃

〃Certainly！〃　assented　young　Pedgift。　〃Sketch　it　in　outline；　sir。
The　merest　hint　will　do；　I　wasn't　born　yesterday。〃　（〃Oh；　these
women！〃　thought　the　youthful　philosopher；　in　parenthesis。）

〃Well；〃　began　Allan；　〃you　know　what　I　said　when　we　got　to　this
hotel；　I　said　I　had　a　place　to　go　to　in　Bayswater〃　（Pedgift
mentally　checked　off　the　first　point：　Case　in　the　suburbs；
Bayswater）；　〃and　a　personthat　is　to　saynoas　I　said　before；
a　person　to　inquire　after。〃　（Pedgift　checked　off　the　next　point：
Person　in　the　case。　She…person；　or　he…person　？　She…person；
unquestionably！）　〃Well；　I　went　to　the　house；　and　when　I　asked　for
herI　mean　the　personshethat　is　to　say；　the　personoh；
confound　it！〃　cried　Allan；　〃I　shall　drive　myself　mad；　and　you；
too；　if　I　try　to　tell　my　story　in　this　roundabout　way。　Here　it　is
in　two　words。　I　went　to　No。　18　Kingsdown　Crescent；　to　see　a　lady
named　Mandeville；　and；　when　I　asked　for　her；　the　servant　said
Mrs。　Mandeville　had　gone　away；　without　telling　anybody　where；　and
without　even　leaving　an　address　at　which　letters　could　be　sent　to
her。　There！　it's　out　at　last。　And　wh