donal grant-第67章

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the　moment　he　turned　into　it；　the　draught　seemed　to　come　from
beneath；　blowing　upwards。　He　stooped　to　examine；　his　candle　was
again　extinguished。　Once　more　he　relighted　it。　Searching　then　along
the　floor　and　the　foot　of　the　walls；　he　presently　found；　in　the　wall
of　the　chapel　itself；　close　to　the　ground；　a　narrow　horizontal
opening：　it　must　pass　under　the　floor　of　the　chapel！　All　he　saw　was
a　mere　slit；　but　the　opening　might　be　larger；　and　partially　covered
by　the　flooring…slab；　which　went　all　the　length　of　the　slit！　He
would　try　to　raise　it！　That　would　want　a　crowbar！　but　having　got　so
far；　he　would　not　rest　till　he　knew　more！　It　must　be　very　late　and
the　domestics　all　in　bed；　but　what　hour　it　was　he　could　not　tell；
for　he　had　left　his　watch　in　his　room。　It　might　be　midnight　and　he
burrowing　like　a　mole　about　the　roots　of　the　old　house；　or　like　an
evil　thing　in　the　heart　of　a　man！　No　matter！　he　would　follow　up　his
searchafter　what；　he　did　not　know。

He　crept　up；　and　out　of　the　castle　by　his　own　stair；　so　to　the
tool…house。　It　was　locked。　But　lying　near　was　a　half…worn　shovel：
that　might　do！　he　would　have　a　try　with　it！　Like　one　in　a　dream　of
ancient　ruins；　creeping　through　mouldy　and　low…browed　places；　he
went　down　once　more　into　the　entrails　of　the　house。

Inserting　the　sharp　edge　of　the　worn　shovel　in　the　gap　between　the
stone　and　that　next　it；　he　raised　it　more　readily　than　he　had　hoped；
and　saw　below　it　a　small　window；　whose　sill　sloped　steeply　inward。
How　deep　the　place　might　be；　and　whether　it　would　be　possible　to　get
out　of　it　again；　he　must　discover　before　entering。　He　took　a　letter
from　his　pocket；　lighted　it；　and　threw　it　in。　It　revealed　a　descent
of　about　seven　feet；　into　what　looked　like　a　cellar。　He　blew　his
candle　out；　put　it　in　his　pocket；　got　into　the　window；　slid　down　the
slope；　and　reached　his　new　level　with　ease。　He　then　lighted　his
candle；　and　looked　about　him。

His　eye　first　fell　on　a　large　flat　stone　in　the　floor；　like　a
gravestone；　but　without　any　ornament　or　inscription。　It　was　a
roughly　vaulted　place；　unpaved；　its　floor　of　damp　hard…beaten　earth。
In　the　wall　to　the　right　of　that　through　which　he　had　entered；　was
another　opening；　low　down；　like　the　crown　of　an　arch　the　rest　of
which　was　beneath　the　floor。　As　near　as　he　could　judge；　it　was　right
under　the　built…up　door　in　the　passage　above。　He　crept　through　it；
and　found　himself　under　the　spiral　of　the　great　stair；　in　the　small
space　at　the　bottom　of　its　well。　On　the　floor　lay　a　dust…pan　and　a
house…maid's…brushand　there　was　the　tiny　door　at　which　they　were
shoved　in；　after　their　morning's　use　upon　the　stair！　It　was
openinwards；　he　crept　through　it：　he　was　in　the　great　hall　of　the
houseand　there　was　one　of　its　windows　wide　open！　Afraid　of　being
by　any　chance　discovered；　he　put　out　his　light；　and　proceeded　up　the
stair　in　the　dark。

He　had　gone　but　a　few　steps　when　he　heard　the　sound　of　descending
feet。　He　stopped　and　listened：　they　turned　into　the　half…way　room。
When　he　reached　it；　he　heard　sounds　which　showed　that　the　earl　was
in　the　closet　behind　it。　Things　rushed　together　in　his　mind。　He
hurried　up　to　lady　Arctura's　room；　thence　descended；　for　the　third
time　that　nightbut　no　farther　than　the　oak　door；　passed　through
it；　entered　the　little　chamber；　and　hastening　to　the　farther　end　of
it；　laid　his　ear　against　the　wall。　Plainly　enough　he　heard　the
sounds　he　had　expectedthose　of　the　dream…walking　rather　than
sleep…walking　earl；　moaning；　and　calling　in　a　low　voice　of　entreaty
after　some　one　whose　name　did　not　grow　audible　to　the　listener。

〃Ah！〃　thought　Donal；　〃who　would　find　it　hard　to　believe　in　roaming
and　haunting　ghosts；　that　had　once　seen　this　poor　man　roaming　his
own　house；　and　haunting　that　chamber！　How　easily　I　could　punish　him
now；　with　a　lightning　blast　of　terror！〃

It　was　but　a　thought；　it　did　not　amount　to　a　temptation；　Donal　knew
he　had　no　right。　Vengeance　belongs　to　the　Lord；　for　he　alone　knows
how　to　use　it。

I　do　not　believe　that　mere　punishment　exists　anywhere　in　the　economy
of　the　highest；　I　think　mere　punishment　a　human　idea；　not　a　divine
one。　But　the　consuming　fire　is　more　terrible　than　any　punishment
invented　by　riotous　and　cruel　imagination。　Punishment　indeed　it
isnot　mere　punishment；　a　power　of　God　for　his　creature。　Love　is
God's　being；　love　is　his　creative　energy；　they　are　one：　God's
punishments　are　for　the　casting　out　of　the　sin　that　uncreates；　for
the　recreating　of　the　things　his　love　made　and　sin　has　unmade。

He　heard　the　lean　hands　of　the　earl　go　slowly　sweeping；　at　the　ends
of　his　long　arms；　over　the　wall：　he　had　seen　the　thing；　else　he
could　hardly　have　interpreted　the　sounds；　and　he　heard　him　muttering
on　and　on；　though　much　too　low　for　his　words　to　be　distinguishable。
Had　they　been；　Donal　by　this　time　was　so　convinced　that　he　had　to　do
with　an　evil　and　dangerous　man；　that　he　would　have　had　little
scruple　in　listening。　It　is　only　righteousness　that　has　a　right　to
secrecy；　and　does　not　want　it；　evil　has　no　right　to　secrecy；　alone
intensely　desires　it；　and　rages　at　being　foiled　of　it；　for　when　its
deeds　come　to　the　light；　even　evil　has　righteousness　enough　left　to
be　ashamed　of　them。　But　he　could　remain　no　longer；　his　very　soul
felt　sick　within　him。　He　turned　hastily　away　to　leave　the　place。　But
carrying　his　light　too　much　in　front；　and　forgetting　the　stool；　he
came　against　it　and　knocked　it　over；　not　without　noise。　A　loud　cry
from　the　other　side　of　the　wall　revealed　the　dismay　he　had　caused。
It　was　followed　by　a　stillness；　and　then　a　moaning。

He　made　haste　to　find　Simmons；　and　send　him　to　his　master。　He　heard
nothing　afterwards　of　the　affair。




CHAPTER　LXIII。

THE　CLOSET。

Tender　over　lady　Arctura；　Donal　would　ask　a　question　or　two　of　the
housekeeper　before　disclosing　what　further　he　had　found。　He　sought
her　room；　therefore；　while　Arctura　and　Davie；　much　together　now；
were　reading　in　the　library。

〃Did　you　ever　hear　anything　about　that　little　room　on　the　stair；
mistress　Brookes？〃　he　asked。

〃I　canna　say；〃　she　answeredbut　thoughtfully；　〃Bide　a　wee：　auld
auntie　did　mention　something　ance　abootbide　a　weeI　hae　a　wullin'
memorymaybe　I'll　min'　upo'　't　i'　the　noo！It　was　something　aboot
biggin'　up　an'　takin'　doonsomething　he　was　to　do；　an'　something　he
never　did！I'm　sure　I　canna　tell！　But　gie　me　time；　an'　I'll　min'
upo'　't！　Ance　is　aye　wi'　meonly　I　maun　hae　time！〃

Donal　waited；　and　said　not　a　word。

〃I　min'　this　much；〃　she　said　at　length；　〃that　they　used　to　be
thegither　i'　that　room。　I　min'　too　that　there　was　something　aboot
buildin'　up　ae　wa'；　an'　pu'in'　doon　anither。It's　comin'it's
comin'　back　to　me！〃

She　paused　again　awhile；　and　then　said：

〃All　I　can　recollec'；　Mr。　Grant；　is　this：　that　efter　her　death；　he
biggit　up　something　no　far　frae　that　room！what　was't　noo？an'
there　was　something　aboot　makin'　o'　the　room　bigger！　Hoo　that　could
be　by　buildin'　up；　I　canna　think！　Yet　I　feel　sure　that　was　what　he
did！〃

〃Would　you　mind　coming　to　the　place？〃　said　Donal。　〃To　see　it　might
help　you　to　remember。〃

〃I　wull；　sir。　Come　ye　here　aboot　half　efter　ten；　an'　we　s'　gang
thegither。〃

As　soon　as　the　house　was　quiet；　they　went。　But　Mistress　Brookes
could　recall　nothing；　and　Donal　gazed　about　him　to　no　purpose。

〃What's　that？〃　he　said　at　last；　pointing　to　the　wall　on　the　other
side　of　which　was　the　little　chamber。

Two　arches；　in　chalk；　as　it　seemed；　had　attracted　his　gaze。　Light
surely　was　about　to　draw　nigh　through　the　darkness！　Chaos　surely　was
settling　a　little　towards　order！

The　one　arch　was　drawn　opposite　the　hidden　chamber；　the　other
against　the　earl's　closet；　as　it　had　come　to　be　called　in　the
housemost　of　the　domestics　thinking　he　there　said　his　prayers。　It
looked　as　if　there　had　been　an　intention　of　piercing　the　wall　with
such　arches；　to　throw　the　two　small　rooms　on　the　other　side　as
recesses　into　the　larger。　But　if　that　had　been　the　intent；　what
could　the　building　of　a　wall；　vaguely　recollected　by　mistress
Brookes；　have　been　for？　That　a　wall　had　been　built　he　did　not　doubt；
for　he　believed　he　knew　the　wall；　but　why？

〃What's　that？〃　said　Donal。

〃What？〃　returned　Mrs。　Brookes。

〃Those　two　arches。〃

The　housekeeper　looked　at　them　thoughtfully　for　a　few　moments。

〃I　canna　help　fancyin'；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃yes；　I'm　sure　that's
the　varra　thing　my　aunt　told　me　aboot！　That's　the　twa　places　whaur
he　was　goin'　to　tak　the　wall　doon；　to　mak　the　room　lairger。　But　I'm
sure　she　said　something　aboot　buildin'　a　wall　as　weel！〃

〃Look　here；〃　said　Donal；　〃I　will　measure　the　distance　from　the　door
to　the　other　side　of　this　first　arch。Now　come　into　the　closet
behind。　Look　here！　This　same　measurement　takes　us　right　up　to　the
end　of　the　place！　So　you　see　if　we　were　to　open　the　other　arch；　it
would　be　into　something　behind　this　wall。〃

〃Then　this　may　be　the　varra　wa'　he　biggit？〃

〃I　don't　doubt　it；　but　what　could　he　have　had　it　built　for；　if　he
was　going　to　open　the　other　wall？　I　must　think　it　all　over！It　was
after　his　wife's　death；　you　say？〃

〃Yes；　I　believe　so。〃

〃One　might　have　thought　he　would　not　care　about　enlarging　the　room
after　she　was　gone！〃

〃But；　sir；　he　wasna　jist　sic　a　pattren　o'　a　guidman；〃　said　the
housekeeper。　〃An'　what　for　mak　this　room　less？〃

〃May　it　not　have　been　for　the　sake　of　shutting　out；　or　hiding
something？〃　suggested　Donal。

〃I　do　remember　a　certain　thing！Curious！But　what　then　as　to　the
openin'　o'　't　efter？〃

〃He　has　never　done　it！〃　said　Donal　significantly。　〃The　thing　takes
shape　to　me　in　this　way：that　he　wanted　to　build　something　out　of
sightto　annihilate　it；　but　in　order　to　prevent　speculation；　he
professed　the　intention　of　casting　the　one　room　into　the　other；　then
built　the　wall　across；　on　the　pretence　that　it　was　necessary　for
support　when　the　other　was　broken　throughor　perhaps　that　two
recesses　with　arches　would　look　better；　but　when　he　had　got　the　wall
built；　he　put　off　opening　the　arches　on　one　pretext　or　another；　till
the　thing　should　be　forgotten　altogetheras　you　see　it　is　already；
almost　entirely！I　have　been　at　the　back　of　that　wall；　and　heard
the　earl　moaning　and　crying　on　this　side　of　it！〃

〃God　bless　me！〃　cried　the　good　woman。　〃I'm　no　easy　scaret；　but
that's　fearfu'　to　think　o'！〃

〃You　would　not　care　to　come　there　with　me？〃

〃No　the　nicht；　sir。　Come　to　my　room　again；　an'　I　s'　mak　ye　a　cup　o'
coffee；　an'　tell　ye　the　storyit's　a'　come　back　to　me　noothe
thing　'at　made　my　aunt　tell　me　aboot　the　buildin'　o'　this　wa'。
'Deed；　sir；　I　hae　hardly　a　doobt　the　thing　was　jist　as　ye　say！〃

They　went　to　her　room：　there　was　lady　Arctura　sitting　by　the　fire！

〃My　lady！〃　cried　the　housekeeper。　〃I　thoucht　I　left　ye　soon'
asleep！〃

〃So　I　was；　I　daresay；〃　answered　Arctura；　〃but　I　woke　again；　and
finding　you　had　not　come　up；　I　thought　I　would　go　down　to　you。　I　was
certain　you　and　Mr。　Grant　would　be　somewhere　together！　Have　you　been
discovering　anything　more？〃

Mrs。　Brookes　gave　Donal　a　look：　he　left　her　to　tell　as　much　or　as
little　as　she　pleased。

〃We　hae　been　prowlin'　aboot　the　hoose；　but　no　doon　yon'er；　my　lady。
I　think　you　an'　me　wad　do　weel　to　lea'　that　to　Mr。　Grant！〃

〃When　your　ladyship　is　quite　ready　to　have　eve