armadale-第74章

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without　even　leaving　an　address　at　which　letters　could　be　sent　to
her。　There！　it's　out　at　last。　And　what　do　you　think　of　it　now？〃

〃Tell　me　first；　sir；〃　said　the　wary　Pedgift；　〃what　inquiries　you
made　when　you　found　this　lady　had　vanished？〃

〃Inquiries！〃　repeated　Allan。　〃I　was　utterly　staggered；　I　didn't
say　anything。　What　inquiries　ought　I　to　have　made？〃

Pedgift　Junior　cleared　his　throat；　and　crossed　his　legs　in　a
strictly　professional　manner。

〃I　have　no　wish；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　he　began；　〃to　inquire　into　your
business　with　Mrs。　Mandeville〃

〃No；〃　interposed　Allan；　bluntly；　〃I　hope　you　won't　inquire　into
that。　My　business　with　Mrs。　Mandeville　must　remain　a　secret。〃

〃But；〃　pursued　Pedgift；　laying　down　the　law　with　the　forefinger
of　one　hand　on　the　outstretched　palm　of　the　other；　〃I　may；
perhaps；　be　allowed　to　ask　generally　whether　your　business　with
Mrs。　Mandeville　is　of　a　nature　to　interest　you　in　tracing　her
from　Kingsdown　Crescent　to　her　present　residence？〃

〃Certainly！〃　said　Allan。　〃I　have　a　very　particular　reason　for
wishing　to　see　her。〃

〃In　that　case；　sir；〃　returned　Pedgift　Junior；　〃there　were　two
obvious　questions　which　you　ought　to　have　asked；　to　begin
withnamely；　on　what　date　Mrs。　Mandeville　left；　and　how　she
left。　Having　discovered　this；　you　should　have　ascertained　next
under　what　domestic　circumstances　she　went　awaywhether　there
was　a　misunderstanding　with　anybody；　say　a　difficulty　about　money
matters。　Also；　whether　she　went　away　alone；　or　with　somebody
else。　Also；　whether　the　house　was　her　own；　or　whether　she　only
lodged　in　it。　Also；　in　the　latter　event〃

〃Stop！　stop！　you're　making　my　head　swim；〃　cried　Allan。　〃I　don't
understand　all　these　ins　and　outs。　I'm　not　used　to　this　sort　of
thing。〃

〃I've　been　used　to　it　myself　from　my　childhood　upward；　sir；〃
remarked　Pedgift。　〃And　if　I　can　be　of　any　assistance；　say　the
word。〃

〃You're　very　kind；〃　returned　Allan。　〃If　you　could　only　help　me　to
find　Mrs。　Mandeville；　and　if　you　wouldn't　mind　leaving　the　thing
afterward　entirely　in　my　hands？〃

〃I'll　leave　it　in　your　hands；　sir；　with　all　the　pleasure　in
life；〃　said　Pedgift　Junior。　（〃And　I'll　lay　five　to　one；〃　he
added；　mentally；　〃when　the　time　comes；　you'll　leave　it　in　mine！〃）
〃We'll　go　to　Bayswater　together；　Mr。　Armadale；　tomorrow　morning。
In　the　meantime。　here's　the　soup。　The　case　now　before　the　court
is；　Pleasure　versus　Business。　I　don't　know　what　you　say；　sir；　I
say；　without　a　moment's　hesitation；　Verdict　for　the　plaintiff。
Let　us　gather　our　rosebuds　while　we　may。　Excuse　my　high　spirits；
Mr。　Armadale。　Though　buried　in　the　country；　I　was　made　for　a
London　life；　the　very　air　of　the　metropolis　intoxicates　me。〃　With
that　avowal　the　irresistible　Pedgift　placed　a　chair　for　his
patron；　and　issued　his　orders　cheerfully　to　his　viceroy；　the
head…waiter。　〃Iced　punch；　William；　after　the　soup。　I　answer　for
the　punch；　Mr。　Armadale；　it's　made　after　a　recipe　of　my
great…uncle's。　He　kept　a　tavern；　and　founded　the　fortunes　of　the
family。　I　don't　mind　telling　you　the　Pedgifts　have　had　a　publican
amon　g　them；　there's　no　false　pride　about　me。　'Worth　makes　the
man　（as　Pope　says）　and　want　of　it　the　fellow；　the　rest　is　all　but
leather　and　prunella。'　I　cultivate　poetry　as　well　as　music；　sir；
in　my　leisure　hours；　in　fact；　I'm　more　or　less　on　familiar　terms
with　the　whole　of　the　nine　Muses。　Aha！　here's　the　punch！　The
memory　of　my　great…uncle；　the　publican；　Mr。　Armadaledrunk　in
solemn　silence！〃

Allan　tried　hard　to　emulate　his　companion's　gayety　and　good
humor；　but　with　very　indifferent　success。　His　visit　to　Kingsdown
Crescent　recurred　ominously　again　and　again　to　his　memory　all
through　the　dinner；　and　all　through　the　public　amusements　to
which　he　and　his　legal　adviser　repaired　at　a　later　hour　of　the
evening。　When　Pedgift　Junior　put　out　his　candle　that　night；　he
shook　his　wary　head；　and　regretfully　apostrophized　〃the　women〃
for　the　second　time。

By　ten　o'clock　the　next　morning　the　indefatigable　Pedgift　was　on
the　scene　of　action。　To　Allan's　great　relief；　he　proposed　making
the　necessary　inquiries　at　Kingsdown　Crescent　in　his　own　person；
while　his　patron　waited　near　at　hand；　in　the　cab　which　had
brought　them　from　the　hotel。　After　a　delay　of　little　more　than
five　minutes；　he　reappeared；　in　full　possession　of　all　attainable
particulars。　His　first　proceeding　was　to　request　Allan　to　step
out　of　the　cab；　and　to　pay　the　driver。　Next；　he　politely　offered
his　arm；　and　led　the　way　round　the　corner　of　the　crescent；　across
a　square；　and　into　a　by…street；　which　was　rendered　exceptionally
lively　by　the　presence　of　the　local　cab…stand。　Here　he　stopped；
and　asked　jocosely　whether　Mr。　Armadale　saw　his　way　now；　or
whether　it　would　be　necessary　to　test　his　patience　by　making　an
explanation。

〃See　my　way？〃　repeated　Allan；　in　bewilderment。　〃I　see　nothing　but
a　cab…stand。〃

Pedgift　Junior　smiled　compassionately；　and　entered　on　his
explanation。　It　was　a　lodging…house　at　Kingsdown　Crescent；　he
begged　to　state　to　begin　with。　He　had　insisted　on　seeing　the
landlady。　A　very　nice　person；　with　all　the　remains　of　having　been
a　fine　girl　about　fifty　years　ago；　quite　in　Pedgift's　styleif
he　had　only　been　alive　at　the　beginning　of　the　present
centuryquite　in　Pedgift's　style。　But　perhaps　Mr。　Armadale　would
prefer　hearing　about　Mrs。　Mandeville？　Unfortunately；　there　was
nothing　to　tell。　There　had　been　no　quarreling；　and　not　a　farthing
left　unpaid：　the　lodger　had　gone；　and　there　wasn't　an　explanatory
circumstance　to　lay　hold　of　anywhere。　It　was　either　Mrs。
Mandeville's　way　to　vanish；　or　there　was　something　under　the
rose；　quite　undiscoverable　so　far。　Pedgift　had　got　the　date　on
which　she　left；　and　the　time　of　day　at　which　she　left；　and　the
means　by　which　she　left。　The　means　might　help　to　trace　her。　She
had　gone　away　in　a　cab　which　the　servant　had　fetched　from　the
nearest　stand。　The　stand　was　now　before　their　eyes；　and　the
waterman　was　the　first　person　to　apply　togoing　to　the　waterman
for　information　being　clearly　（if　Mr。　Armadale　would　excuse　the
joke）　going　to　the　fountain…head。　Treating　the　subject　in　this
airy　manner；　and　telling　Allan　that　he　would　be　back　in　a　moment；
Pedgift　Junior　sauntered　down　the　street；　and　beckoned　the
waterman　confidentially　into　the　nearest　public…house。

In　a　little　while　the　two　re…appeared；　the　waterman　taking
Pedgift　in　succession　to　the　first；　third；　fourth；　and　sixth　of
the　cabmen　whose　vehicles　were　on　the　stand。　The　longest
conference　was　held　with　the　sixth　man；　and　it　ended　in　the
sudden　approach　of　the　sixth　cab　to　the　part　of　the　street　where
Allan　was　waiting。

〃Get　in；　sir；〃　said　Pedgift；　opening　the　door；　〃I've　found　the
man。　He　remembers　the　lady；　and；　though　he　has　forgotten　the　name
of　the　street；　he　believes　he　can　find　the　place　he　drove　her　to
when　he　once　gets　back　into　the　neighborhood。　I　am　charmed　to
inform　you；　Mr。　Armadale；　that　we　are　in　luck's　way　so　far。　I
asked　the　waterman　to　show　me　the　regular　men　on　the　stand；　and
it　turns　out　that　one　of　the　regular　men　drove　Mrs。　Mandeville。
The　waterman　vouches　for　him；　he's　quite　an　anomalya
respectable　cabman；　drives　his　own　horse；　and　has　never　been　in
any　trouble。　These　are　the　sort　of　men；　sir；　who　sustain　one's
belief　in　human　nature。　I've　had　a　look　at　our　friend；　and　I
agree　with　the　waterman；　I　think　we　can　depend　on　him。〃

The　investigation　required　some　exercise　of　patience　at　the
outset。　It　was　not　till　the　cab　had　traversed　the　distance
between　Bayswater　and　Pimlico　that　the　driver　began　to　slacken
his　pace　and　look　about　him。　After　once　or　twice　retracing　its
course；　the　vehicle　entered　a　quiet　by…street；　ending　in　a　dead
wall；　with　a　door　in　it；　and　stopped　at　the　last　house　on　the
left…hand　side；　the　house　next　to　the　wall。

〃Here　it　is；　gentlemen；〃　said　the　man；　opening　the　cab　door。

Allan　and　Allan's　adviser　both　got　out；　and　both　looked　at　the
house；　with　the　same　feeling　of　instinctive　distrust。

Buildings　have　their　physiognomyespecially　buildings　in　great
citiesand　the　face　of　this　house　was　essentially　furtive　in　its
expression。　The　front　windows　were　all　shut；　and　the　front　blinds
were　all　drawn　down。　It　looked　no　larger　than　the　other　houses　in
the　street；　seen　in　front；　but　it　ran　back　deceitfully　and　gained
its　greater　accommodation　by　means　of　its　greater　depth。　It
affected　to　be　a　shop　on　the　ground…floor；　but　it　exhibited
absolutely　nothing　in　the　space　that　intervened　between　the
window　and　an　inner　row　of　red　curtains；　which　hid　the　interior
entirely　from　view。　At　one　side　was　the　shop　door；　having　more
red　curtains　behind　the　glazed　part　of　it；　and　bearing　a　brass
plate　on　the　wooden　part　of　it；　inscribed　with　the　name　of
〃Oldershaw。〃　On　the　other　side　was　the　private　door；　with　a　bell
marked　Professional；　and　another　brass　plate；　indicating　a
medical　occupant　on　this　side　of　the　house；　for　the　name　on　it
was；　〃Doctor　Downward。〃　If　ever　brick　and　mortar　spoke　yet；　the
brick　and　mortar　here　said　plainly；　〃We　have　got　our　secrets
inside；　and　we　mean　to　keep　them。〃

〃This　can't　be　the　place；〃　said　Allan；　〃there　must　be　some
mistake。〃

'You　know　best；　sir；〃　remarked　Pedgift　Junior；　with　his　sardonic
gravity。　〃You　know　Mrs。　Mandeville's　habits。〃

〃I！〃　exclaimed　Allan。　〃You　may　be　surprised　to　hear　it；　but　Mrs。
Mandeville　is　a　total　stranger　to　me。〃

〃I'm　not　in　the　least　surprised　to　hear　it；　sir；　the　landlady　at
Kingsdown　Crescent　informed　me　that　Mrs。　Mandeville　was　an　old
woman。　Suppose　we　inquire？〃　added　the　impenetrable　Pedgift；
looking　at　the　red　curtains　in　the　shop　window　with　a　strong
suspicion　that　Mrs。　Mandeville's　granddaughter　might　possibly　be
behind　them。

They　tried　the　shop　door　first。　It　was　locked。　They　rang。　A　lean
and　yellow　young　woman；　with　a　tattered　French　novel　in　her　hand；
opened　it。

〃Good…morning；　miss；〃　said　Pedgift。　〃Is　Mrs。　Mandeville　at　home？〃

The　yellow　young　woman　stared　at　him　in　astonishment。　〃No　person
of　that　name　is　known　here；〃　she　answered；　sharply；　in　a　foreign
accent。

〃Perhaps　they　know　her　at　the　private　door？〃　suggested　Pedgift
Junior。

〃Perhaps　they　do；〃　said　the　yellow　young　woman；　and　shut　the　door
in　his　face。

〃Rather　a　quick…tempered　young　person　that；　sir；〃　said　Pedgift。
〃I　congratulate　Mrs。　Mandeville　on　not　being　acquainted　with
her。〃　He　led　the　way；　as　he　spoke；　to　Doctor　Downward's　side　of
the　premises；　and　rang　the　bell。

The　door　was　opened　this　time　by　a　man　in　a　shabby　livery。　He；
too；　stared　when　Mrs。　Mandeville's　name　was　mentioned；　and　he；
too；　knew　of　no　such　person　in　the　house。

〃Very　odd；〃　said　Pedgift；　appealing　to　Allan。

〃What　is　odd？〃　asked　a　softly　stepping；　softly　speaking　gentleman
in　black；　suddenly　appearing　on　the　threshold　of　the　parlor　door。

Pedgift　Junior　politely　explained　the　circumstances；　and　begged
to　know　whether　he　had　the　pleasure　of　speaking　to　Doctor
Downward。

The　doctor　bowed。　If　the　expression　may　be　pardoned；　he　was　one
of　those　carefully　constructed　physicians　in　whom　the
publicespecially　the　female　publicimplicitly　trust。　He　had
the　necessary　bald　head；　the　necessary　double　eyeglass；　the
necessary　black　clothes；　and　the　necessary　blandness　of　manner；
all