a simpleton-第58章

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The　sagacious　Philip　looked　at　her　gravely。　　He　thought　to　himself
how　piteous　it　was　to　see　so　young　and　lovely　a　creature；　that　had
given　up　all　hope　of　happiness　for　herself。　　These　being　his　real
thoughts；　he　expressed　himself　as　follows：　〃We　had　better　drop　this
subject；　sir。　　This　young　lady　will　take　us　potent；　grave；　and
reverend　seignors　out　of　our　depth；　if　we　don't　mind。〃

But　the　moment　he　got　her　alone　he　kissed　her　paternally；　and　said；
〃Rosa；　it　is　not　lost　on　me；　your　fidelity　to　the　dead。　　As　years
roll　on；　and　your　deep　wound　first　closes；　then　skins；　then　heals〃

〃Ah；　let　me　die　first〃

〃Time　and　nature　will　absolve　you　from　that　vow；　but　bless　you　for
thinking　this　can　never　be。　　Rosa；　your　folly　of　this　day　has　made
you　my　heir；　so　never　let　money　tempt　you；　for　you　have　enough；　and
will　have　more　than　enough　when　I　go。〃

He　was　as　good　as　his　word；　altered　his　will　next　day；　and　made
Rosa　his　residuary　legatee。　　When　he　had　done　this；　foreseeing　no
fresh　occasion　for　his　services；　he　prepared　for　a　long　visit　to
Italy。　　He　was　packing　up　his　things　to　go　there；　when　he　received
a　line　from　Lady　Cicely　Treherne；　asking　him　to　call　on　her
professionally。　　As　the　lady's　servant　brought　it；　he　sent　back　a
line　to　say　he　no　longer　practised　medicine；　but　would　call　on　her
as　a　friend　in　an　hour's　time。

He　found　her　reclining；　the　picture　of　lassitude。　　〃How　good　of　you
to　come；〃　she　drawled。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　he　brusquely。

〃I　wish　to　cawnsult　you　about　myself。　　I　think　if　anybody　can
brighten　me　up；　it　is　you。　　I　feel　such　a　languawsuch　a　want　of
spirit；　and　I　get　palaa；　and　that　is　not　desiwable。〃

He　examined　her　tongue　and　the　white　of　her　eye；　and　told　her；　in
his　blunt　way；　she　ate　and　drank　too　much。

〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　said　she　stiffly。

〃I　mean　too　often。　　Now；　let's　see。　　Cup　of　tea　in　bed；　of　a
morning？〃

〃Yaas。〃

〃Dinner　at　two？〃

〃We　call　it　luncheon。〃

〃Are　you　a　ventriloquist？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　it　is　only　your　lips　call　it　luncheon。　　Your　poor　stomach；
could　it　speak；　would　call　it　dinner。　　Afternoon　tea？〃

〃Yaas。〃

〃At　seven…thirty　another　dinner。　　Tea　after　that。　　Your　afflicted
stomach　gets　no　rest。　　You　eat　pastry？〃

〃I　confess　it。〃

〃And　sugar　in　a　dozen　forms？〃

She　nodded。

〃Well；　sugar　is　poison　to　your　temperament。　　Now　I'll　set　you　up；
if　you　can　obey。　　Give　up　your　morning　dram。〃

〃What　dwam？〃

〃Tea　in　bed；　before　eating。　　Can't　you　see　that　is　a　dram？　　Animal
food　twice　a　day。　　No　wine　but　a　little　claret　and　water；　no
pastry；　no　sweets；　and　play　battledore　with　one　of　your　male
subjects。〃

〃Battledaw！　won't　a　lady　do　for　that？〃

〃No：　you　would　get　talking；　and　not　play　ad　sudorem。〃

〃Ad　sudawem！　what　is　that？〃

〃In　earnest。〃

〃And　will　sudawem　and　the　west　put　me　in　better　spiwits；　and　give
me　a　tinge？〃

〃It　will　incarnadine　the　lily；　and　make　you　the　happiest　young　lady
in　England；　as　you　are　the　best。〃

〃I　should　like　to　be　much　happier　than　I　am　good；　if　we　could
manage　it　among　us。〃

〃We　will　manage　it　AMONG　us；　for　if　the　diet　allowed　should　not
make　you　boisterously　gay；　I　have　a　remedy　behind；　suited　to　your
temperament。　　I　am　old…fashioned；　and　believe　in　the　temperaments。〃

〃And　what　is　that　wemedy？〃

〃Try　diet；　and　hard　exercise；　first。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　but　let　me　know　that　wemedy。〃

〃I　warn　you　it　is　what　we　call　in　medicine　an　heroic　one。〃

〃Never　mind。　　I　am　despewate。〃

〃Well；　then；　the　heroic　remedyto　be　used　only　as　a　desperate
resort；　mindyou　must　marry　an　Irishman。〃

This　took　the　lady's　breath　away。

〃Mawwy　a　nice　man？〃

〃A　nice　man；　no。　　That　means　a　fool。　　Marry　scientificallya
precaution　eternally　neglected。　　Marry　a　Hibernian　gentleman；　a
being　as　mercurial　as　you　are　lymphatic。〃

〃Mercurial！lymphatic！〃

〃Oh；　hard　words　break　no　bones；　ma'am。〃

〃No；　sir。　　And　it　is　very　curious。　　No；　I　won't　tell　you。　　Yes；　I
will。　　Hem　II　think　I　have　noticed　one。〃

〃One　what？〃

〃One　Iwishmandangling　after　me。〃

〃Then　your　ladyship　has　only　to　tighten　the　cordand　HE'S　done
for。〃

Having　administered　this　prescription；　our　laughing　philosopher
went　off　to　Italy；　and　there　fell　in　with　some　countrymen　to　his
mind；　so　he　accompanied　them　to　Egypt　and　Palestine。

His　absence；　and　Lord　Tadcaster's；　made　Rosa　Staines's　life
extremely　monotonous。　　Day　followed　day；　and　week　followed　week；
each　so　unvarying；　that；　on　a　retrospect；　three　months　seemed　like
one　day。

And　I　think　at　last　youth　and　nature　began　to　rebel；　and　secretly
to　crave　some　little　change　or　incident　to　ruffle　the　stagnant
pool。　　Yet　she　would　not　go　into　society；　and　would　only　receive
two　or　three　dull　people　at　the　villa；　so　she　made　the　very
monotony　which　was　beginning　to　tire　her；　and　nursed　a　sacred　grief
she　had　no　need　to　nurse；　it　was　so　truly　genuine。

She　was　in　this　forlorn　condition；　when；　one　morning；　a　carriage
drove　to　the　door；　and　a　card　was　brought　up　to　her〃Mr。　Reginald
Falcon。〃

Falcon's　history；　between　this　and　our　last　advices；　is　soon
disposed　of。

When；　after　a　little　struggle　with　his　better　angel；　he　rode　past
his　wife's　gate；　he　intended；　at　first；　only　to　go　to　Cape　Town；
sell　the　diamonds；　have　a　lark；　and　bring　home　the　balance：　but；　as
he　rode　south；　his　views　expanded。　　He　could　have　ten　times　the　fun
in　London；　and　cheaper；　since　he　could　sell　the　diamonds　for　more
money；　and　also　conceal　the　true　price。　　This　was　the　Bohemian's
whole　mind　in　the　business。　　He　had　no　designs　whatever　on　Mrs。
Staines；　nor　did　he　intend　to　steal　the　diamonds；　but　to　embezzle　a
portion　of　the　purchase…money；　and　enjoy　the　pleasures　and　vices　of
the　capital　for　a　few　months；　then　back　to　his　milch　cow；　Phoebe；
and　lead　a　quiet　life　till　the　next　uncontrollable　fit　should　come
upon　him　along　with　the　means　of　satisfying　it。

On　the　way；　he　read　Staines's　letter　to　Mrs。　Falcon；　very
carefully。　　He　never　broke　the　seal　of　the　letter　to　Mrs。　Staines。
That　was　to　be　given　her　when　he　had　broken　the　good　news　to　her；
and　this　he　determined　to　do　with　such　skill；　as　should　make　Dr。
Staines　very　unwilling　to　look　suspiciously　or　ill…naturedly　into
money　accounts。

He　reached　London；　and　being　a　thorough　egotist；　attended　first　to
his　own　interests；　he　never　went　near　Mrs。　Staines　until　he　had
visited　every　diamond　merchant　and　dealer　in　the　metropolis；　he
showed　the　small　stones　to　them　all　but　he　showed　no　more　than　one
large　stone　to　each。

At　last　he　got　an　offer　of　twelve　hundred　pounds　for　the　small
stones；　and　the　same　for　the　large　yellow　stone；　and　nine　hundred
pounds　for　the　second　largest　stone。　　He　took　this　nine　hundred
pounds；　and　instantly　wrote　to　Phoebe；　telling　her　he　had　a　sudden
inspiration　to　bring　the　diamonds　to　England；　which　he　could　not
regret；　since　he　had　never　done　a　wiser　thing。　　He　had　sold　a
single　stone　for　eight　hundred　pounds；　and　had　sent　the　doctor's
four　hundred　pounds　to　her　account　in　Cape　Town；　and　as　each　sale
was　effected；　the　half　would　be　so　remitted。　　She　would　see　by
that；　he　was　wiser　than　in　former　days。　　He　should　only　stay　so
long　as　might　be　necessary　to　sell　them　all　equally　well。　　His　own
share　he　would　apply　to　paying　off　mortgages　on　the　family　estate；
of　which　he　hoped　some　day　to　see　her　the　mistress；　or　he　would
send　it　direct　to　her；　whichever　she　might　prefer。

Now　the　main　object　of　this　artful　letter　was　to　keep　Phoebe　quiet；
and　not　have　her　coming　after　him；　of　which　he　felt　she　was　very
capable。

The　money　got　safe　to　Cape　Town；　but　the　letter　to　Phoebe
miscarried。　　How　this　happened　was　never　positively　known；　but　the
servant　of　the　lodging…house　was　afterwards　detected　cutting　stamps
off　a　letter；　so　perhaps　she　had　played　that　game　on　this　occasion。

By　this　means；　matters　took　a　curious　turn。　　Falcon；　intending　to
lull　his　wife　into　a　false　security；　lulled　himself　into　that　state
instead。

When　he　had　taken　care　of　himself；　and　got　five　hundred　pounds　to
play　the　fool　with；　then　he　condescended　to　remember　his　errand　of
mercy；　and　he　came　down　to　Gravesend；　to　see　Mrs。　Staines。

On　the　road；　he　gave　his　mind　seriously　to　the　delicate　and
dangerous　task。　　It　did　not；　however；　disquiet　him　as　it　would　you；
sir；　or　you；　madam。　　He　had　a　great　advantage　over　you。　　He　was　a
liara　smooth；　ready；　accomplished　liarand　he　knew　it。

This　was　the　outline　he　had　traced　in　his　mind：　he　should　appear
very　subdued　and　sad；　should　wear　an　air　of　condolence。　　But；　after
a　while；　should　say；　〃And　yet　men　have　been　lost　like　that；　and
escaped。　　A　man　was　picked　up　on　a　raft　in　those　very　latitudes；
and　brought　into　Cape　Town。　　A　friend　of　mine　saw　him；　months
after；　at　the　hospital。　　His　memory　was　shakencould　not　tell　his
name；　but　in　other　respects　he　was　all　right　again。〃

If　Mrs。　Staines　took　fire　at　this；　he　would　say　his　friend　knew　all
the　particulars；　and　he　would　ask　him；　and　so　leave　that　to　rankle
till　next　visit。　　And　having　planted　his　germ　of　hope；　he　would
grow　it；　and　water　it；　by　visits　and　correspondence；　till　he　could
throw　off　the　mask；　and　say　he　was　convinced　Staines　was　alive：　and
from　that；　by　other　degrees；　till　he　could　say；　on　his　wife's
authority；　that　the　man　picked　up　at　sea；　and　cured　at　her　house；
was　the　very　physician　who　had　saved　her　brother's　life：　and　so　on
to　the　overwhelming　proof　he　carried　in　the　ruby　ring　and　the　letter。

I　am　afraid　the　cunning　and　dexterity；　the　subtlety　and　tact
required；　interested　him　more　in　the　commission　than　did　the
benevolence。　　He　called；　sent　up　his　card；　and　composed　his
countenance　for　his　part；　like　an　actor　at　the　Wing。

〃Not　at　home。〃

He　stared　with　amazement。

The　history　of　a　〃Not　at　home〃　is　not；　in　general；　worth　recording：
but　this　is　an　exception。

On　receiving　Falcon's　card；　Mrs。　Staines　gave　a　little　start；　and
colored　faintly。　　She　instantly　resolved　not　to　see　him。　　What！　the
man　she　had　flirted　with；　almost　jilted；　and　refused　to　marryhe
dared　to　be　alive　when　her　Christopher　was　dead；　and　had　come　there
to　show　her　HE　was　alive！

She　said　〃Not　at　home〃　with　a　tone　of　unusual　sharpness　and
decision；　which　left　the　servant　in　no　doubt　he　must　be　equally
decided　at　the　hall　door。

Falcon　received　the　sudden　freezer　with　amazement。　　〃Nonsense；〃
said　he。　　〃Not　at　home　at　this　time　of　the　morningto　an　old
friend！〃

〃Not　at　home；〃　said　the　man　doggedly。

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　Falcon　with　a　bitter　sneer；　and　returned　to
London。

He　felt　sure　she　was　at　home；　and　being　a　tremendous　egotist；　he
said；　〃Oh！　all　right。　　If　she　would　rather　not　know　her　husband　is
alive；　it　is　all　one　to　me；〃　and　he　actually　took　no　more　notice　of
her　for　a　full　week；　and　never　thought　of　her；　except　to　chuckle
over　the　penalty　she　was　paying　for　daring　to　affront　his　vanity。

However；　Sunday　came；　he　saw　a　dull　day　before　him；　and　so　he
relented；　and　thought　he　would　give　her　another　trial。

He　went　down　to　Gravesend　by　boat；　and　strolled　towards　the　villa。

When　he　was　about　a　hundred　yards　from　the　villa；　a　lady；　all　in
black；　came　out　with　a　nurse　and　child。

Falcon　knew　her　figure　all　that　way　off；　and　it　gave　him　a　curious
thrill　th