donal grant-第79章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


what　had　passed。

〃I　will　go　to　him；〃　said　Donal。

Arctura　said　nothing　more；　thus　leaving　the　matter　entirely　in　his
hands。

Donal　found　him　lying　on　the　couch。

〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　〃you　must　be　aware　of　the　reasons　why　you　should
not　present　yourself　here！〃

The　earl　started　up　in　one　of　his　ready　rages：they　were　real
enough！　With　epithets　of　contemptuous　hatred；　he　ordered　Donal　from
the　room　and　the　house。　Donal　answered　nothing　till　the　rush　of　his
wrath　had　abated。

〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　nothing　I　would　not　do　to　serve　your
lordship。　But　I　have　no　choice　but　tell　you　that　if　you　do　not　walk
out；　you　shall　be　expelled！〃

〃Expelled；　you　dog！〃

〃Expelled；　my　lord。　The　would…be　murderer　of　his　hostess　must　at
least　be　put　out　of　the　house。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　cried　the　earl；　changing　his　tone　with　an　attempted
laugh；　〃has　the　poor；　hysterical　girl　succeeded　in　persuading　a　man
of　your　sense　to　believe　her　childish　fancies？〃

〃I　believe　every　word　my　lady　says；　my　lord。　I　know　that　you　had
nearly　murdered　her。〃

The　earl　caught　up　the　poker　and　struck　at　his　head。　Donal　avoided
the　blow。　It　fell　on　the　marble　chimney…piece。　While　his　arm　was　yet
jarred　by　the　impact；　Donal　wrenched　the　poker　from　him。

〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　〃with　my　own　hands　I　drew　the　staple　of　the
chain　that　fastened　her　to　the　bed　on　which　you　left　her　to　die！　You
were　yet　in　the　house　when　I　did　so。〃

〃You　damned　rascal；　you　stole　the　key。　If　it　had　not　been　for　that　I
should　have　gone　to　her　again。　I　only　wanted　to　bring　her　to
reason！〃

〃But　as　you　had　lost　the　key；　rather　than　expose　your　cruelty；　you
went　away；　and　left　her　to　perish！　You　wanted　her　to　die　unless　you
could　compel　her　to　marry　your　son；　that　the　title　and　property
might　go　together；　and　that　when　with　my　own　ears　I　heard　your
lordship　tell　that　son　that　he　had　no　right　to　any　title！〃

〃What　a　man　may　say　in　a　rage　goes　for　nothing；〃　answered　the　earl；
sulkily　rather　than　fiercely。

〃But　not　what　a　woman　writes　in　sorrow！〃　rejoined　Donal。　〃I　know　the
truth　from　the　testimony　of　her　you　called　your　wife；　as　well　as
from　your　own　mouth！〃

〃The　testimony　of　the　dead；　and　at　second　hand；　will　hardly　be
received　in　court！〃　returned　the　earl。

〃If　after　your　lordship's　death；　the　man　now　called　lord　Forgue
dares　assume　the　title　of　Morven；　I　will　publish　what　I　know。　In
view　of　that；　your　lordship　had　better　furnish　him　with　the　vouchers
of　his　mother's　marriage。　My　lord；　I　again　beg　you　to　leave　the
house。〃

The　earl　cast　his　eyes　round　the　walls　as　if　looking　for　a　weapon。
Donal　took　him　by　the　arm。

〃There　is　no　farther　room　for　ceremony；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　sorry　to　be
rough　with　your　lordship；　but　you　compel　me。　Please　remember　I　am
the　younger　and　the　stronger　man。〃

As　he　spoke　he　let　the　earl　feel　the　ploughman's　grasp：　it　was
useless　to　struggle。　His　lordship　threw　himself　on　the　couch。

〃I　will　not　leave　the　house。　I　am　come　home　to　die；〃　he　yelled。　〃I'm
dying　now；　I　tell　you。　I　cannot　leave　the　house！　I　have　no　money。
Forgue　has　taken　all。〃

〃You　owe　a　large　sum　to　the　estate！〃　said　Donal。

〃It　is　lostall　lost；　I　tell　you！　I　have　nowhere　to　go　to！　I　am
dying！〃

He　looked　so　utterly　wretched　that　Donal's　heart　smote　him。　He　stood
back　a　little；　and　gave　himself　time。

〃You　would　wish　then　to　retire；　my　lord；　I　presume？〃　he　said。

〃Immediatelyto　be　rid　of　you！〃　the　earl　answered。

〃I　fear；　my　lord；　if　you　stay；　you　will　not　soon　be　rid　of　me！　Have
you　brought　Simmons　with　you？〃

〃No；　damn　him！　he　is　like　all　the　rest　of　you：　he　has　left　me！〃

〃I　will　help　you　to　bed；　my　lord。〃

〃Go　about　your　business。　I　will　get　myself　to　bed。〃

〃I　will　not　leave　you　except　in　bed；〃　rejoined　Donal　with　decision；
and　ringing　the　bell；　he　desired　the　servant　to　ask　mistress　Brookes
to　come　to　him。

She　came　instantly。　Before　the　earl　had　time　even　to　look　at　her；
Donal　asked　her　to　get　his　lordship's　bed　ready：if　she　would　not
mind　doing　it　herself；　he　said；　he　would　help　her：　he　must　see　his
lordship　to　bed。

She　looked　a　whole　book　at　him；　but　said　nothing。　Donal　returned　her
gaze　with　one　of　quiet　confidence；　and　she　understood　it。　What　it
said　was；　〃I　know　what　I　am　doing；　mistress　Brookes。　My　lady　must
not　turn　him　out。　I　will　take　care　of　him。〃

〃What　are　you　two　whispering　at　there？〃　cried　the　earl。　〃Here　am　I
at　the　point　of　death；　and　you　will　not　even　let　me　go　to　bed！〃

〃Your　room　will　be　ready　in　a　few　minutes；　my　lord；〃　said　Mrs。
Brookes；　and　she　and　Donal　went　to　work　in　earnest；　but　with　the
door　open　between　the　rooms。

When　it　was　ready；

〃Now；　my　lord；〃　said　Donal；　〃will　you　come？〃

〃When　you　are　gone。　I　will　have　none　of　your　cursed　help！〃

〃My　lord；　I　am　not　going　to　leave　you。〃

With　much　grumbling；　and　a　very　ill　grace；　his　lordship　submitted；
and　Donal　got　him　to　bed。

〃Now　put　that　cabinet　by　me　on　the　table；〃　he　said。

The　cabinet　was　that　in　which　he　kept　his　drugs；　and　had　not　been
touched　since　he　left　it。

Donal　opened　the　window；　took　up　the　cabinet；　and　threw　it　out。

With　a　bellow　like　that　of　a　bull；　the　earl　sprang　out　of　bed；　and
just　as　the　crash　came　from　below；　ran　at　Donal　where　he　stood
shutting　the　window；　as　if　he　would　have　sent　him　after　the　cabinet。
Donal　caught　him　and　held　him　fast。

〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　nurse　you；　serve　you；　do　anything；
everything　for　you；　but　for　the　devil　I'll　be　damned　if　I　move　hand
or　foot！　Not　one　drop　of　hellish　stuff　shall　pass　your　lips　while　I
am　with　you！〃

〃But　I　am　dying！　I　shall　die　of　the　horrors！〃　shrieked　the　earl；
struggling　to　get　to　the　window；　as　if　he　might　yet　do　something　to
save　his　precious　extracts；　tinctures；　essences；　and　compounds。

〃We　will　send　for　the　doctor；〃　said　Donal。　〃A　very　clever　young
fellow　has　come　to　the　town　since　you　left：　perhaps　he　can　help　you。
I　will　do　what　I　can　to　make　you　give　your　life　fair　play。〃

〃Come；　come！　none　of　that　damned　rubbish！　My　life　is　of　no　end　of
value　to　me！　Besides；　it's　too　late。　If　I　were　young　now；　with　a
constitution　like　yours；　and　the　world　before　me；　there　might　be
some　good　in　a　paring　or　two　of　self…denial；　but　you　wouldn't　stab
your　murderer　for　fear　of　the　clasp　knife　closing　on　your　hand！　you
would　not　fire　your　pistol　at　him　for　fear　of　its　bursting　and
blowing　your　brains　out！〃

〃I　have　no　desire　to　keep　you　alive；　my　lord；　but　I　would　give　my
life　to　let　you　get　some　of　the　good　of　this　world　before　you　pass
to　the　next。　To　lengthen　your　life　infinitely；　I　would　not　give　you
a　single　drop　of　any　one　of　those　cursed　drugs！〃

He　rang　the　bell　again。

〃You're　a　friendly　fellow！〃　grunted　his　lordship；　and　went　back　to
his　bed　to　ponder　how　to　gain　the　solace　of　his　passion。

Mrs。　Brookes　came。

〃Will　you　please　send　to　Mr。　Avory；　the　new　surgeon；〃　said　Donal；
〃and　ask　him；　in　my　name；　to　come　to　the　castle。〃

The　earl　was　so　ill；　however；　as　to　be　doubtful；　much　as　he　desired
them；　whether；　while　rendering　him　for　the　moment　less　sensible　to
them；　any　of　his　drugs　would　do　no　other　than　increase　his
sufferings。　He　lay　with　closed　eyes；　a　strange　expression　of　pain
mingled　with　something　like　fear　every　now　and　then　passing　over　his
face。　I　doubt　if　his　conscience　troubled　him。　It　is　in　general
those；　I　think；　who　through　comparatively　small　sins　have　come　to
see　the　true　nature　of　them；　whose　consciences　trouble　them　greatly。
Those　who　have　gone　from　bad　to　worse　through　many　years　of　moral
decay；　are　seldom　troubled　as　other　men；　or　have　any　bands　in　their
death。　His　lordship；　it　is　true；　suffered　terribly　at　times　because
of　the　things　he　had　done；　but　it　was　through　the　medium　of　a　roused
imagination　rather　than　a　roused　conscience：　the　former　deals　with
consequences；　the　latter　with　the　deeds　themselves。

He　declared　he　would　see　no　doctor　but　his　old　attendant　Dowster；
yet　all　the　time　was　longing　for　the　young　man　to　appear：　he
mightwho　could　tell？save　him　from　the　dreaded　jaws　of　death！

He　came。　Donal　went　to　him。　He　had　summoned　him；　he　said；　without
his　lordship's　consent；　but　believed　he　would　see　him；　the　earl　had
been　long　in　the　habit　of　using　narcotics　and　stimulants；　though　not
alcohol；　he　thought；　he　trusted　Mr。　Avory　would　give　his　sanction　to
the　entire　disuse　of　them；　for　they　were　killing　him；　body　and　soul。

〃To　give　them　up　at　once　and　entirely　would　cost　him　considerable
suffering；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃He　knows　that；　and　does　not　in　the　least　desire　to　give　them　up。　It
is　absolutely　necessary　he　should　be　delivered　from　the　passion。〃

〃If　I　am　to　undertake　the　case；　it　must　be　after　my　own　judgment；〃
said　the　doctor。

〃You　must　undertake　two　things；　or　give　up　the　case；〃　persisted
Donal。

〃I　may　as　well　hear　what　they　are。〃

〃One　is；　that　you　make　his　final　deliverance　from　the　habit　your
object；　the　other；　that　you　will　give　no　medicine　into　his　own
hands。〃

〃I　agree　to　both；　but　all　will　depend　on　his　nurse。〃

〃I　will　be　his　nurse。〃

The　doctor　went　to　see　his　patient。　The　earl　gave　one　glance　at　him；
recognized　firmness；　and　said　not　a　word。　But　when　he　would　have
applied　to　his　wrist　an　instrument　recording　in　curves　the　motions
of　the　pulse；　he　would　not　consent。　He　would　have　no　liberties　taken
with　him；　he　said。

〃My　lord；　it　is　but　to　inquire　into　the　action　of　your　heart；〃　said
Mr。　Avory。

〃I'll　have　no　spying　into　my　heart！　It　acts　just　like　other
people's！〃

The　doctor　put　his　instrument　aside；　and　laid　his　finger　on　the
pulse　instead：　his　business　was　to　help；　not　to　conquer；　he　said　to
himself：　if　he　might　not　do　what　he　would；　he　would　do　what　he
could。

While　he　was　with　the　earl；　Donal　found　lady　Arctura；　and　told　her
all　he　had　done。　She　thanked　him　for　understanding　her。




CHAPTER　LXXIX。

A　SLOW　TRANSITION。

A　dreary　time　followed。　Sometimes　the　patient　would　lie　awake　half
the　night；　howling　with　misery；　and　accusing　Donal　of　heartless
cruelty。　He　knew　as　well　as　he　what　would　ease　his　pain　and　give　him
sleep；　but　not　a　finger　would　he　move　to　save　him！　He　was　taking　the
meanest　of　revenges！　What　did　it　matter　to　him　what　became　of　his
soul！　Surely　it　was　worse　to　hate　as　he　made　him　hate　than　to
swallow　any　amount　of　narcotics！

〃I　tell　you；　Grant；〃　he　said　once；　〃I　was　never　so　cruel　to　those　I
treated　worst。　There's　nothing　in　the　Persian　hells；　which　beat　all
the　rest；　to　come　up　to　what　I　go　through　for　want　of　my　comfort。
Promise　to　give　it　me；　and　I　will　tell　you　where　to　find　some。〃

As　often　as　Donal　refused　he　would　break　out　in　a　torrent　of　curses；
then　lie　still　for　a　space。

〃How　do　you　think　you　will　do　without　it；〃　Donal　once　rejoined；
〃when　you　find　yourself　bodiless　in　the　other　world？〃

〃I'm　not　there　yet！　When　that　comes；　it　will　be　under　new
conditions；　if　not　unconditioned　altogether。　We'll　take　the　world　we
have。　So；　my　dear　boy；　just　go　and　get　me　what　I　want。　There　are　the
keys！〃

〃I　dare　not。〃

〃You　wish　to　kill　me！〃

〃I　wouldn't　keep　you　alive　to　eat　opium。　I　have　other　work　than
that。　Not　a　finger　would　I　move　to　save　a　life　for　such　a　life。　But
I　would　willingly　risk　my　own　to　make　you　able　to　do　without　it。
Ther