the law and the lady-第11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！


listen　to　me；　as　he　had　refused　to　listen　to　his　mother；　and　he
held　me　at　the　same　time　to　my　promise　to　keep　his　secret。　When
Starkweather　wrote　to　me；　I　had　no　choice　but　to　involve　myself
in　a　deception　of　which　I　thoroughly　disapproved；　or　to　answer　in
a　tone　so　guarded　and　so　brief　as　to　stop　the　correspondence　at
the　outset。　I　chose　the　last　alternative；　and　I　fear　I　have
offended　my　good　old　friend。　You　now　see　the　painful　position　in
which　I　am　placed。　To　add　to　the　difficulties　of　that　situation；
Eustace　came　here　this　very　day　to　warn　me　to　be　on　my　guard；　in
case　of　your　addressing　to　me　the　very　request　which　you　have
just　made！　He　told　me　that　you　had　met　with　his　mother；　by　an
unlucky　accident；　and　that　you　had　discovered　the　family　name。　He
declared　that　he　had　traveled　to　London　for　the　express　purpose
of　speaking　to　me　personally　on　this　serious　subject。　'I　know
your　weakness；'　he　said；　'where　women　are　concerned。　Valeria　is
aware　that　you　are　my　old　friend。　She　will　certainly　write　to
you；　she　may　even　be　bold　enough　to　make　her　way　into　your　house。
Renew　your　promise　to　keep　the　great　calamity　of　my　life　a
secret；　on　your　honor　and　on　your　oath。　'Those　were　his　words；　as
nearly　as　I　can　remember　them。　I　tried　to　treat　the　thing
lightly；　I　ridiculed　the　absurdly　theatrical　notion　of　'renewing
my　promise；'　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　Quite　useless！　He　refused　to
leave　me；　he　reminded　me　of　his　unmerited　sufferings；　poor
fellow；　in　the　past　time。　It　ended　in　his　bursting　into　tears。
You　love　him；　and　so　do　I。　Can　you　wonder　that　I　let　him　have　his
way？　The　result　is　that　I　am　doubly　bound　to　tell　you　nothing；　by
the　most　sacred　promise　that　a　man　can　give。　My　dear　lady；　I
cordially　side　with　you　in　this　matter；　I　long　to　relieve　your
anxieties。　But　what　can　I　do？〃

He　stopped；　and　waitedgravely　waitedto　hear　my　reply。

I　had　listened　from　beginning　to　end　without　interrupting　him。
The　extraordinary　change　in　his　manner；　and　in　his　way　of
expressing　himself；　while　he　was　speaking　of　Eustace；　alarmed　me
as　nothing　had　alarmed　me　yet。　How　terrible　（I　thought　to　myself）
must　this　untold　story　be；　if　the　mere　act　of　referring　to　it
makes　light…hearted　Major　Fitz…David　speak　seriously　and　sadly；
never　smiling；　never　paying　me　a　compliment；　never　even　noticing
the　singing　upstairs！　My　heart　sank　in　me　as　I　drew　that
startling　conclusion。　For　the　first　time　since　I　had　entered　the
house　I　was　at　the　end　of　my　resources；　I　knew　neither　what　to
say　nor　what　to　do　next。

And　yet　I　kept　my　seat。　Never　had　the　resolution　to　discover　what
my　husband　was　hiding　from　me　been　more　firmly　rooted　in　my　mind
than　it　was　at　that　moment！　I　cannot　account　for　the
extraordinary　inconsistency　in　my　character　which　this　confession
implies。　I　can　only　describe　the　facts　as　they　really　were。

The　singing　went　on　upstairs。　Major　Fitz…David　still　waited
impenetrably　to　hear　what　I　had　to　sayto　know　what　I　resolved
on　doing　next。

Before　I　had　decided　what　to　say　or　what　to　do；　another　domestic
incident　happened。　In　plain　words；　another　knocking　announced　a
new　visitor　at　the　house　door。　On　this　occasion　there　was　no
rustling　of　a　woman's　dress　in　the　hall。　On　this　occasion　only
the　old　servant　entered　the　room；　carrying　a　magnificent　nosegay
in　his　hand。　〃With　Lady　Clarinda's　kind　regards。　To　remind　Major
Fitz…David　of　his　appointment。〃　Another　lady！　This　time　a　lady
with　a　title。　A　great　lady　who　sent　her　flowers　and　her　messages
without　condescending　to　concealment。　The　Majorfirst
apologizing　to　mewrote　a　few　lines　of　acknowledgment；　and　sent
them　out　to　the　messenger。　When　the　door　was　closed　again　he
carefully　selected　one　of　the　choicest　flowers　in　the　nosegay。
〃May　I　ask；〃　he　said；　presenting　the　flower　to　me　with　his　best
grace；　〃whether　you　now　understand　the　delicate　position　in　which
I　am　placed　between　your　husband　and　yourself？〃

The　little　interruption　caused　by　the　appearance　of　the　nosegay
had　given　a　new　impulse　to　my　thoughts；　and　had　thus　helped；　in
some　degree；　to　r　estore　me　to　myself。　I　was　able　at　last　to
satisfy　Major　Fitz…David　that　his　considerate　and　courteous
explanation　had　not　been　thrown　away　upon　me。

〃I　thank　you；　most　sincerely；　Major；〃　I　said　〃You　have　convinced
me　that　I　must　not　ask　you　to　forget；　on　my　account；　the　promise
which　you　have　given　to　my　husband。　It　is　a　sacred　promise；　which
I　too　am　bound　to　respectI　quite　understand　that。〃

The　Major　drew　a　long　breath　of　relief；　and　patted　me　on　the
shoulder　in　high　approval　of　what　I　had　said　to　him。

〃Admirably　expressed！〃　he　rejoined；　recovering　his　light…hearted
looks　and　his　lover…like　ways　all　in　a　moment。　〃My　dear　lady；　you
have　the　gift　of　sympathy；　you　see　exactly　how　I　am　situated。　Do
you　know；　you　remind　me　of　my　charming　Lady　Clarinda。　_She_　has
the　gift　of　sympathy；　and　sees　exactly　how　I　am　situated。　I
should　so　enjoy　introducing　you　to　each　other；〃　said　the　Major；
plunging　his　long　nose　ecstatically　into　Lady　Clarinda's　flowers。

I　had　my　end　still　to　gain；　and；　being　（as　you　will　have
discovered　by　this　time）　the　most　obstinate　of　living　women；　I
still　kept　that　end　in　view。

〃I　shall　be　delighted　to　meet　Lady　Clarinda；〃　I　replied。　〃In　the
meantime〃

〃I　will　get　up　a　little　dinner；〃　proceeded　the　Major；　with　a
burst　of　enthusiasm。　〃You　and　I　and　Lady　Clarinda。　Our　young
prima　donna　shall　come　in　the　evening；　and　sing　to　us。　Suppose　we
draw　out　the　_menu？_　My　sweet　friend；　what　is　your　favorite
autumn　soup？〃

〃In　the　meantime；〃　I　persisted；　〃to　return　to　what　we　were
speaking　of　just　now〃

The　Major's　smile　vanished；　the　Major's　hand　dropped　the　pen
destined　to　immortalize　the　name　of　my　favorite　autumn　soup。

〃_Must_　we　return　to　that？〃　he　asked；　piteously。

〃Only　for　a　moment；〃　I　said。

〃You　remind　me；〃　pursued　Major　Fitz…David；　shaking　his　head
sadly；　〃of　another　charming　friend　of　minea　French
friendMadame　Mirliflore。　You　are　a　person　of　prodigious
tenacity　of　purpose。　Madame　Mirliflore　is　a　person　of　prodigious
tenacity　of　purpose。　She　happens　to　be　in　London。　Shall　we　have
her　at　our　little　dinner？〃　The　Major　brightened　at　the　idea；　and
took　up　the　pen　again。　〃Do　tell　me；〃　he　said；　〃what　_is_　your
favorite　autumn　soup？〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　I　began；　〃we　were　speaking　just　now〃

〃Oh；　dear　me！〃　cried　Major　Fitz…David。　〃Is　this　the　other
subject？〃

〃Yesthis　is　the　other　subject。〃

The　Major　put　down　his　pen　for　the　second　time；　and　regretfully
dismissed　from　his　mind　Madame　Mirliflore　and　the　autumn　soup。

〃Yes？〃　he　said；　with　a　patient　bow　and　a　submissive　smile。　〃You
were　going　to　say〃

〃I　was　going　to　say；〃　I　rejoined；　〃that　your　promise　only　pledges
you　not　to　tell　the　secret　which　my　husband　is　keeping　from　me。
You　have　given　no　promise　not　to　answer　me　if　I　venture　to　ask
you　one　or　two　questions。〃

Major　Fitz…David　held　up　his　hand　warningly；　and　cast　a　sly　look
at　me　out　of　his　bright　little　gray　eyes。

〃Stop！〃　he　said。　〃My　sweet　friend；　stop　there！　I　know　where　your
questions　will　lead　me；　and　what　the　result　will　be　if　I　once
begin　to　answer　them。　When　your　husband　was　here　to…day　he　took
occasion　to　remind　me　that　I　was　as　weak　as　water　in　the　hands　of
a　pretty　woman。　He　is　quite　right。　I　_am_　as　weak　as　water；　I　can
refuse　nothing　to　a　pretty　woman。　Dear　and　admirable　lady；　don't
abuse　your　influence！　don't　make　an　old　soldier　false　to　his　word
of　honor！〃

I　tried　to　say　something　here　in　defense　of　my　motives。　The　Major
clasped　his　hands　entreatingly；　and　looked　at　me　with　a　pleading
simplicity　wonderful　to　see。

〃Why　press　it？〃　he　asked。　〃I　offer　no　resistance。　I　am　a
lambwhy　sacrifice　me？　I　acknowledge　your　power；　I　throw　myself
on　your　mercy。　All　the　misfortunes　of　my　youth　and　my　manhood
have　come　to　me　through　women。　I　am　not　a　bit　better　in　my　ageI
am　just　as　fond　of　the　women　and　just　as　ready　to　be　misled　by
them　as　ever；　with　one　foot　in　the　grave。　Shocking；　isn't　it？　But
how　true！　Look　at　this　mark！〃　He　lifted　a　curl　of　his　beautiful
brown　wig；　and　showed　me　a　terrible　scar　at　the　side　of　his　head。
〃That　wound　（supposed　to　be　mortal　at　the　time）　was　made　by　a
pistol　bullet；〃　he　proceeded。　〃Not　received　in　the　service　of　my
countryoh　dear；　no！　Received　in　the　service　of　a　much…injured
lady；　at　the　hands　of　her　scoundrel　of　a　husband；　in　a　duel
abroad。　Well；　she　was　worth　it。〃　He　kissed　his　hand
affectionately　to　the　memory　of　the　dead　or　absent　lady；　and
pointed　to　a　water…color　drawing　of　a　pretty　country…house
hanging　on　the　opposite　wall。　〃That　fine　estate；〃　he　proceeded；
〃once　belonged　to　me。　It　was　sold　years　and　years　since。　And　who
had　the　money？　The　womenGod　bless　them　all！the　women。　I　don't
regret　it。　If　I　had　another　estate；　I　have　no　doubt　it　would　go
the　same　way。　Your　adorable　sex　has　made　its　pretty　playthings　of
my　life；　my　time；　and　my　moneyand　welcome！　The　one　thing　I　have
kept　to　myself　is　my　honor。　And　now　_that_　is　in　danger。　Yes；　if
you　put　your　clever　little　questions；　with　those　lovely　eyes　and
with　that　gentle　voice；　I　know　what　will　happen。　You　will　deprive
me　of　the　last　and　best　of　all　my　possessions。　Have　I　deserved　to
be　treated　in　that　way；　and　by　you；　my　charming　friend？by　you；
of　all　people　in　the　world？　Oh；　fie！　fie！〃

He　paused　and　looked　at　me　as　beforethe　picture　of　artless
entreaty；　with　his　head　a　little　on　one　side。　I　made　another
attempt　to　speak　of　the　matter　in　dispute　between　us；　from　my　own
point　of　view。　Major　Fitz…David　instantly　threw　himself　prostrate
on　my　mercy　more　innocently　than　ever。

〃Ask　of　me　anything　else　in　the　wide　world；〃　he　said；　〃but　don't
ask　me　to　be　false　to　my　friend。　Spare　me　_that_and　there　is
nothing　I　will　not　do　to　satisfy　you。　I　mean　what　I　say；　mind！〃
he　went　on；　bending　closer　to　me；　and　speaking　more　seriously
than　he　had　spoken　yet　〃I　think　you　are　very　hardly　used。　It　is
monstrous　to　expect　that　a　woman；　placed　in　your　situation；　will
consent　to　be　left　for　the　rest　of　her　life　in　the　dark。　No！　no！
if　I　saw　you；　at　this　moment；　on　the　point　of　finding　out　for
yourself　what　Eustace　persists　in　hiding　from　you；　I　should
remember　that　my　promise；　like　all　other　promises；　has　its　limits
and　reserves。　I　should　consider　myself　bound　in　honor　not　to　help
youbut　I　would　not　lift　a　finger　to　prevent　you　from
discovering　the　truth　for　yourself。〃

At　last　he　was　speaking　in　good　earnest：　he　laid　a　strong
emphasis　on　his　closing　words。　I　laid　a　stronger　emphasis　on　them
still　by　suddenly　leaving　my　chair。　The　impulse　to　spring　to　my
feet　was　irresistible。　Major　Fitz…David　had　started　a　new　idea　in
my　mind。

〃Now　we　understand　each　other！〃　I　said。　〃I　will　accept　your　own
terms；　Major。　I　will　ask　nothing　of　you　but　what　you　have　just
offered　to　me　of　your　own　accord。〃

〃What　have　I　offered？〃　he　inquired；　looking　a　little　alarmed。

〃Nothing　that　you　need　repent　of；〃　I　answered；　〃nothing　which　is
not　easy　for　you　to　grant。　May　I　ask　a　bold　question？　Suppose
this　house　was　mine　instead　of　yours？〃

〃Consider　it　yours；〃　cried　the　gallant　old　gentleman。　〃From　the
garret　to　the　kitchen；　consider　it　yours！〃

〃A　thousand　thanks；　Major；　I　will　consider　it　mine　for　the
mo