°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > armadale >

µÚ8ÕÂ

armadale-µÚ8ÕÂ

С˵£º armadale ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



weatherhe¡¡was¡¡not¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡crews¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡boats¡¡were
questioned¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡first¡¡crew¡¡could¡¡say¡¡was¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡pulled
away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡wreck¡¡when¡¡the¡¡rush¡¡into¡¡their¡¡boat¡¡took¡¡place£»¡¡and
that¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡let¡¡in¡¡or¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡kept¡¡out¡£
All¡¡the¡¡second¡¡crew¡¡could¡¡say¡¡was¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡back¡¡to
the¡¡yacht¡¡every¡¡living¡¡soul¡¡left¡¡by¡¡the¡¡first¡¡boat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡of
the¡¡timber¡­ship¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡blaming¡¡anybody£»¡¡but£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same
time£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡resisting¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡missing¡£

¡¨All¡¡through¡¡that¡¡day¡¡the¡¡storm£»¡¡raging¡¡unabatedly£»¡¡never¡¡gave¡¡us
even¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡returning¡¡and¡¡searching¡¡the¡¡wreck¡£
The¡¡one¡¡hope¡¡for¡¡the¡¡yacht¡¡was¡¡to¡¡scud¡£¡¡Toward¡¡evening¡¡the¡¡gale£»
after¡¡having¡¡carried¡¡us¡¡to¡¡the¡¡southward¡¡of¡¡Madeira£»¡¡began¡¡at
last¡¡to¡¡breakthe¡¡wind¡¡shifted¡¡againand¡¡allowed¡¡us¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡up
for¡¡the¡¡island¡£¡¡Early¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡we¡¡got¡¡back¡¡into¡¡port¡£¡¡Mr¡£
Blanchard¡¡and¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡were¡¡taken¡¡ashore£»¡¡the¡¡sailing¡­master
accompanying¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡warning¡¡us¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡something
to¡¡say¡¡on¡¡his¡¡return¡¡which¡¡would¡¡nearly¡¡concern¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡crew¡£

¡¨We¡¡were¡¡mustered¡¡on¡¡deck£»¡¡and¡¡addressed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sailing¡­master¡¡as
soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡came¡¡on¡¡board¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard's¡¡orders¡¡to
go¡¡back¡¡at¡¡once¡¡to¡¡the¡¡timber¡­ship¡¡and¡¡to¡¡search¡¡for¡¡the¡¡missing
man¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this¡¡for¡¡his¡¡sake£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of
his¡¡wife£»¡¡whose¡¡reason¡¡was¡¡despaired¡¡of¡¡by¡¡the¡¡doctors¡¡if
something¡¡was¡¡not¡¡done¡¡to¡¡quiet¡¡her¡£¡¡We¡¡might¡¡be¡¡almost¡¡sure¡¡of
finding¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡still¡¡afloat£»¡¡for¡¡her¡¡ladling¡¡of¡¡timber¡¡would
keep¡¡her¡¡above¡¡water¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡her¡¡hull¡¡held¡¡together¡£¡¡If¡¡the
man¡¡was¡¡on¡¡boardliving¡¡or¡¡deadhe¡¡must¡¡be¡¡found¡¡and¡¡brought
back¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡be¡¡moderate£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no
reason¡¡why¡¡the¡¡men£»¡¡with¡¡proper¡¡assistance£»¡¡should¡¡not¡¡bring¡¡the
ship¡¡back£»¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡£¨their¡¡master¡¡being¡¡quite¡¡willing£©¡¡earn¡¡their
share¡¡of¡¡the¡¡salvage¡¡with¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡yacht¡£

¡¨Upon¡¡this¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡gave¡¡three¡¡cheers£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡to¡¡work¡¡forthwith
to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡schooner¡¡to¡¡sea¡¡again¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡who
drew¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡enterprise¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡them¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡had¡¡upset
meI¡¡was¡¡ill£»¡¡and¡¡wanted¡¡rest¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡looked¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡as
I¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡them¡¡on¡¡my¡¡way¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡yacht£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡a¡¡man
of¡¡them¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡me¡£

¡¨I¡¡waited¡¡through¡¡that¡¡day¡¡at¡¡a¡¡tavern¡¡on¡¡the¡¡port¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first
news¡¡from¡¡the¡¡wreck¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡toward¡¡night¡­fall¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of
the¡¡pilot¡­boats¡¡which¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡enterprisea
successful¡¡enterprise£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡event¡¡provedfor¡¡saving¡¡the
abandoned¡¡ship¡£¡¡_La¡¡Grace¡¡de¡¡Dieu_¡¡had¡¡been¡¡discovered¡¡still
floating£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of¡¡Ingleby¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found¡¡on¡¡board£»
drowned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cabin¡£¡¡At¡¡dawn¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡man¡¡was
brought¡¡back¡¡by¡¡the¡¡yacht£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡day¡¡the¡¡funeral¡¡took
place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Protestant¡¡cemetery¡£¡¨


¡¨Stop£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡could¡¡turn
to¡¡a¡¡new¡¡leaf¡¡and¡¡begin¡¡the¡¡next¡¡paragraph¡£

There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡change¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡changes¡¡in¡¡the
audience£»¡¡since¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡had¡¡last¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡narrative¡£¡¡A
ray¡¡of¡¡sunshine¡¡was¡¡crossing¡¡the¡¡death¡­bed£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child£»
overcome¡¡by¡¡drowsiness£»¡¡lay¡¡peacefully¡¡asleep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡golden
light¡£¡¡The¡¡father's¡¡countenance¡¡had¡¡altered¡¡visibly¡£¡¡Forced¡¡into
action¡¡by¡¡the¡¡tortured¡¡mind£»¡¡the¡¡muscles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡face£»¡¡which
had¡¡never¡¡moved¡¡yet£»¡¡were¡¡moving¡¡distortedly¡¡now¡£¡¡Warned¡¡by¡¡the
damps¡¡gathering¡¡heavily¡¡on¡¡his¡¡forehead£»¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡to
revive¡¡the¡¡sinking¡¡man¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡the¡¡wife's
chair¡¡stood¡¡empty¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡had¡¡interrupted
the¡¡reading£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡drawn¡¡back¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡head£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his
sight¡£¡¡Supporting¡¡herself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡she¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡in
hiding£»¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡fastened¡¡in¡¡hungering¡¡suspense¡¡on¡¡the¡¡manuscript
in¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal's¡¡hand¡£

In¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡more¡¡the¡¡silence¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡again¡¡by¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Armadale¡£

¡¨Where¡¡is¡¡she£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked£»¡¡looking¡¡angrily¡¡at¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡empty
chair¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡choice¡¡but¡¡to
come¡¡forward¡£¡¡She¡¡came¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡him¡£

¡¨You¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡go¡¡when¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Go¡¡now¡£¡¨

Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡tried¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡control¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡as¡¡it¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡place
between¡¡the¡¡leaves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manuscripts¡¡but¡¡it¡¡trembled¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of
him¡£¡¡A¡¡suspicion¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡slowly¡¡forcing¡¡itself¡¡on¡¡¡¡his¡¡mind
£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡was¡¡reading£»¡¡became¡¡a¡¡certainty¡¡when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡those
words¡£¡¡From¡¡one¡¡revelation¡¡to¡¡another¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡on£»
until¡¡it¡¡had¡¡now¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡of¡¡a¡¡last¡¡disclosure¡¡to¡¡come¡£
At¡¡that¡¡brink¡¡the¡¡dying¡¡man¡¡had¡¡predetermined¡¡to¡¡silence¡¡the
reader's¡¡voice£»¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡permitted¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the
narrative¡¡read¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡which¡¡the¡¡son¡¡was¡¡to¡¡know¡¡in
after¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡was¡¡never¡¡to¡¡approach¡£¡¡From
that¡¡resolution£»¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡tenderest¡¡pleadings¡¡had¡¡never¡¡moved
him¡¡an¡¡inchand¡¡now£»¡¡from¡¡his¡¡own¡¡lips£»¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡knew¡¡it¡£

She¡¡made¡¡him¡¡no¡¡answer¡£¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡looked
her¡¡last¡¡entreatyperhaps¡¡her¡¡last¡¡farewell¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡gave¡¡her
back¡¡no¡¡answering¡¡glance£º¡¡they¡¡wandered¡¡from¡¡her¡¡mercilessly¡¡to
the¡¡sleeping¡¡boy¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡speechless¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡Without¡¡a
look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡childwithout¡¡a¡¡word¡¡to¡¡the¡¡two¡¡strangers
breathlessly¡¡watching¡¡hershe¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡promise¡¡she¡¡had¡¡given£»
and¡¡in¡¡dead¡¡silence¡¡left¡¡the¡¡room¡£

There¡¡was¡¡something¡¡in¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡her¡¡departure¡¡which¡¡shook
the¡¡self¡­possession¡¡of¡¡both¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡witnessed¡¡it¡£¡¡When¡¡the
door¡¡closed¡¡on¡¡her£»¡¡they¡¡recoiled¡¡instinctively¡¡from¡¡advancing
further¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor's¡¡reluctance¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to
express¡¡itself¡£¡¡He¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡the¡¡patient's¡¡permission
to¡¡withdraw¡¡until¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡was¡¡completed¡£¡¡The¡¡patient¡¡refused¡£

Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡spoke¡¡next¡¡at¡¡greater¡¡length¡¡and¡¡to¡¡more¡¡serious
purpose¡£

¡¨The¡¡doctor¡¡is¡¡accustomed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡profession£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡began£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡am
accustomed¡¡in¡¡mine£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡secrets¡¡of¡¡others¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡our
keeping¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡my¡¡duty£»¡¡before¡¡we¡¡go¡¡further£»¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡if¡¡you
really¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡extraordinary¡¡position¡¡which¡¡we¡¡now¡¡occupy
toward¡¡one¡¡another¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡just¡¡excluded¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale£»¡¡before
our¡¡own¡¡eyes£»¡¡from¡¡a¡¡place¡¡in¡¡your¡¡confidence¡£¡¡And¡¡you¡¡are¡¡now
offering¡¡that¡¡same¡¡place¡¡to¡¡two¡¡men¡¡who¡¡are¡¡total¡¡strangers¡¡to
you¡£¡¨

¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Armadale£»¡¡¡¨_because_¡¡you¡¡are¡¡strangers¡£¡¨

Few¡¡as¡¡the¡¡words¡¡were£»¡¡the¡¡inference¡¡to¡¡be¡¡drawn¡¡from¡¡them¡¡was
not¡¡of¡¡a¡¡nature¡¡to¡¡set¡¡distrust¡¡at¡¡rest¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡put¡¡it¡¡plainly
into¡¡words¡£

¡¨You¡¡are¡¡in¡¡urgent¡¡need¡¡of¡¡my¡¡help¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡doctor's¡¡help£»¡¨¡¡he
said¡£¡¡¡¨Am¡¡I¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡£¨so¡¡long¡¡as¡¡you¡¡secure¡¡our¡¡assistance£©
that¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡which¡¡the¡¡closing¡¡passages¡¡of¡¡this¡¡letter¡¡may
produce¡¡on¡¡us¡¡is¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡indifference¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¨

¡¨Yes¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡spare¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡spare¡¡myself¡£¡¡I¡¡_do_¡¡spare¡¡my
wife¡£¡¨

¡¨You¡¡force¡¡me¡¡to¡¡a¡¡conclusion£»¡¡sir£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡a¡¡very¡¡serious¡¡one£»¡¨
said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡this¡¡letter¡¡under¡¡your
dictation£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡claim¡¡permissionhaving¡¡read¡¡aloud¡¡the¡¡greater
part¡¡of¡¡it¡¡alreadyto¡¡read¡¡aloud¡¡what¡¡remains£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hearing¡¡of
this¡¡gentleman£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡witness¡£¡¨

¡¨Read¡¡it¡£¡¨

Gravely¡¡doubting£»¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡resumed¡¡his¡¡chair¡£¡¡Gravely¡¡doubting£»
Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡leaf£»¡¡and¡¡read¡¡the¡¡next¡¡words£º


¡¨There¡¡is¡¡more¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡before¡¡I¡¡can¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡man¡¡to¡¡his
rest¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡described¡¡the¡¡finding¡¡of¡¡his¡¡body¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not
described¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡under¡¡which¡¡he¡¡met¡¡his¡¡death¡£

¡¨He¡¡was¡¡known¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡on¡¡deck¡¡when¡¡the¡¡yacht's¡¡boats¡¡were
seen¡¡approaching¡¡the¡¡wreck£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡afterward¡¡missed¡¡in¡¡the
confusion¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡the¡¡panic¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crew¡£¡¡At¡¡that¡¡time¡¡the¡¡water
was¡¡five¡¡feet¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cabin£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡rising¡¡fast¡£¡¡There¡¡was
little¡¡doubt¡¡of¡¡his¡¡having¡¡gone¡¡down¡¡into¡¡that¡¡water¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own
accord¡£¡¡The¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡jewel¡¡box£»¡¡close¡¡under¡¡him£»
on¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡explained¡¡his¡¡presence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cabin¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡known
to¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡help¡¡approaching£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡likely¡¡that¡¡he
had¡¡thereupon¡¡gone¡¡below¡¡to¡¡make¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡at¡¡saving¡¡the¡¡box¡£¡¡It
was¡¡less¡¡probablethough¡¡it¡¡might¡¡still¡¡have¡¡been¡¡inferredthat
his¡¡death¡¡was¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡some¡¡accident¡¡in¡¡diving£»¡¡which¡¡had
for¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡deprived¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡senses¡£¡¡But¡¡a¡¡discovery¡¡made
by¡¡the¡¡yacht's¡¡crew¡¡pointed¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡a¡¡conclusion¡¡which¡¡struck
the¡¡men£»¡¡one¡¡and¡¡all£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡horror¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of
their¡¡search¡¡brought¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cabin£»¡¡they¡¡found¡¡the¡¡scuttle
bolted£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡door¡¡locked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡outside¡£¡¡Had¡¡some¡¡one¡¡closed
the¡¡cabin£»¡¡not¡¡knowing¡¡he¡¡was¡¡there£¿¡¡Setting¡¡the¡¡panic¡­stricken
condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡question£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡motive
for¡¡closing¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡before¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡wreck¡£¡¡But¡¡one¡¡other
conclusion¡¡remained¡£¡¡Had¡¡some¡¡murderous¡¡hand¡¡purposely¡¡locked¡¡the
man¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡him¡¡to¡¡drown¡¡as¡¡the¡¡water¡¡rose¡¡over¡¡him£¿

¡¨Yes¡£¡¡A¡¡murderous¡¡hand¡¡had¡¡locked¡¡him¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡him¡¡to¡¡drown¡£
That¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¨


The¡¡Scotchman¡¡started¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡shrank¡¡from
the¡¡bedside¡£¡¡The¡¡two¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dying¡¡wretch£»¡¡mastered¡¡by¡¡the
same¡¡loathing£»¡¡chilled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡same¡¡dread¡£¡¡He¡¡lay¡¡there£»¡¡with¡¡his
child's¡¡head¡¡on¡¡his¡¡breast£»¡¡abandoned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sympathies¡¡of¡¡man£»
accursed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡justice¡¡of¡¡Godhe¡¡lay¡¡there£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡isolation¡¡of
Cain£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡at¡¡them¡£

At¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡the¡¡door
leading¡¡into¡¡the¡¡next¡¡room¡¡was¡¡shaken¡¡heavily¡¡on¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡side£»
and¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡like¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fall£»¡¡striking¡¡dull¡¡on¡¡their
ears£»¡¡silenced¡¡them¡¡both¡£¡¡Standing¡¡nearest¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡the
doctor¡¡opened¡¡it£»¡¡passed¡¡through£»¡¡and¡¡closed¡¡it¡¡instantly¡£¡¡Mr¡£
Neal¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡and¡¡waited¡¡the¡¡event¡¡in¡¡silence¡£
The¡¡sound£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡awaken¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡also
to¡¡attract¡¡the¡¡father's¡¡notice¡£¡¡His¡¡own¡¡words¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡him¡¡far
from¡¡all¡¡that¡¡was¡¡passing¡¡at¡¡his¡¡deathbed¡£¡¡His¡¡helpless¡¡body¡¡was
back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wreck£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ghost¡¡of¡¡his¡¡lifeless¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡turning
the¡¡lock¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡door¡£

A¡¡bell¡¡rang¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡roomeager¡¡voices¡¡talked£»¡¡hurried
footsteps¡¡moved¡¡in¡¡itan¡¡interval¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡doctor
returned¡£¡¡¡¨Was¡¡she¡¡listening£¿¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal£»¡¡in¡¡German¡£
¡¨The¡¡women¡¡are¡¡restoring¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡whispered¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¨She
has¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡all¡£¡¡In¡¡God's¡¡name£»¡¡what¡¡are¡¡we¡¡to¡¡do¡¡next£¿¡¨¡¡Before
it¡¡was¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡reply£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡spoke¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor's¡¡return
had¡¡roused¡¡him¡¡to¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡present¡¡things¡£

¡¨Go¡¡on£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡nothing¡¡had¡¡happened¡£

¡¨I¡¡refuse¡¡to¡¡meddle¡¡further¡¡with¡¡your¡¡infamous¡¡secret£»¡¨¡¡returned
Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡a¡¡murderer¡¡on¡¡your¡¡own¡¡confession¡£¡¡If¡¡that
letter¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡finished£»¡¡don't¡¡ask¡¡_me_¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡the¡¡pen¡¡for
you¡£¡¨

¡¨You¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡your¡¡promise£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡the¡¡reply£»¡¡spoken¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same
immovable¡¡self¡­possession¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡must¡¡write¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡or¡¡break¡¡your
word¡£¡¨

For¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡was¡¡silenced¡£¡¡There¡¡the¡¡man
laysheltered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡execration¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fellow¡­creatures£»¡¡under
the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡Deathbeyond¡¡the¡¡reach¡¡of¡¡all¡¡human¡¡condemnation£»
beyond¡¡the¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡all¡¡mortal¡¡laws£»¡¡sensitive¡¡to¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡his
one¡¡last¡¡resolution¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡son¡£

Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡drew¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡aside¡£¡¡¡¨A¡¡word¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡in
German¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡persist¡¡in¡¡asserting¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡be¡¡speechless
before¡¡we¡¡can¡¡send¡¡to¡¡Stuttgart£¿¡¨

¡¨Look¡¡at¡¡his¡¡lips£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡doctor£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡judge¡¡for¡¡yourself¡£¡¨

His¡¡lips¡¡answered¡¡for¡¡him£º¡¡the¡¡reading¡¡of¡¡the¡¡narrative¡¡had¡¡left
its¡¡mark¡¡on¡¡them¡¡already¡£¡¡A¡¡distortion¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corners¡¡of¡¡his
mouth£»¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ