the law and the lady-第12章

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garret　to　the　kitchen；　consider　it　yours！〃

〃A　thousand　thanks；　Major；　I　will　consider　it　mine　for　the
moment。　You　knoweverybody　knowsthat　one　of　a　woman's　many
weaknesses　is　curiosity。　Suppose　my　curiosity　led　me　to　examine
everything　in　my　new　house？〃

〃Yes？〃

〃Suppose　I　went　from　room　to　room；　and　searched　everything；　and
peeped　in　everywhere？　Do　you　think　there　would　be　any　chance〃

The　quick…witted　Major　anticipated　the　nature　of　my　question。　He
followed　my　example；　he　too　started　to　his　feet；　with　a　new　idea
in　his　mind。

〃Would　there　be　any　chance；〃　I　went　on；　〃of　my　finding　my　own　way
to　my　husband's　secret　in　this　house？　One　word　of　reply；　Major
Fitz…David！　Only　one　wordYes　or　No？〃

〃Don't　excite　yourself！〃　cried　the　Major。

〃Yes　or　No？〃　I　repeated；　more　vehemently　than　ever。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Major；　after　a　moment's　consideration。

It　was　the　reply　I　had　asked　for；　but　it　was　not　explicit　enough；
now　I　had　got　it；　to　satisfy　me。　I　felt　the　necessity　of　leading
him　（if　possible）　into　details。

〃Does　'Yes'　mean　that　there　is　some　sort　of　clew　to　the　mystery？〃
I　asked。　〃Something；　for　instance；　which　my　eyes　might　see　and　my
hands　mig　ht　touch　if　I　could　only　find　it？〃

He　considered　again。　I　saw　that　I　had　succeeded　in　interesting
him　in　some　way　unknown　to　myself；　and　I　waited　patiently　until
he　was　prepared　to　answer　me。

〃The　thing　you　mention；〃　he　said；　〃the　clew　（as　you　call　it）；
might　be　seen　and　might　be　touchedsupposing　you　could　find　it。〃

〃In　this　house？〃　I　asked。

The　Major　advanced　a　step　nearer　to　me；　and　answered

〃In　this　room。〃

My　head　began　to　swim；　my　heart　throbbed　violently。　I　tried　to
speak；　it　was　in　vain；　the　effort　almost　choked　me。　In　the
silence　I　could　hear　the　music…lesson　still　going　on　in　the　room
above。　The　future　prima　donna　had　done　practicing　her　scales；　and
was　trying　her　voice　now　in　selections　from　Italian　operas。　At
the　moment　when　I　first　heard　her　she　was　singing　the　beautiful
air　from　the　_Somnambula；_　〃Come　per　me　sereno。〃　I　never　hear
that　delicious　melody；　to　this　day；　without　being　instantly
transported　in　imagination　to　the　fatal　back…room　in　Vivian
Place。

The　Majorstrongly　affected　himself　by　this　timewas　the　first
to　break　the　silence。

〃Sit　down　again；〃　he　said；　〃and　pray　take　the　easy…chair。　You　are
very　much　agitated；　you　want　rest。〃

He　was　right。　I　could　stand　no　longer；　I　dropped　into　the　chair。
Major　Fitz…David　rang　the　bell；　and　spoke　a　few　words　to　the
servant　at　the　door。

〃I　have　been　here　a　long　time；〃　I　said；　faintly。　〃Tell　me　if　I　am
in　the　way。〃

〃In　the　way？〃　he　repeated；　with　his　irresistible　smile。　〃You
forget　that　you　are　in　your　own　house！〃

The　servant　returned　to　us；　bringing　with　him　a　tiny　bottle　of
champagne　and　a　plateful　of　delicate　little　sugared　biscuits。

〃I　have　had　this　wine　bottled　expressly　for　the　ladies；〃　said　the
Major。　〃The　biscuits　came　to　me　direct　from　Paris。　As　a　favor　to
_me；_　you　must　take　some　refreshment。　And　then〃　He　stopped　and
looked　at　me　very　attentively。　〃And　then；〃　he　resumed；　〃shall　I
go　to　my　young　prima　donna　upstairs　and　leave　you　here　alone？〃

It　was　impossible　to　hint　more　delicately　at　the　one　request
which　I　now　had　it　in　my　mind　to　make　to　him。　I　took　his　hand　and
pressed　it　gratefully。

〃The　tranquillity　of　my　whole　life　to　come　is　at　stake；〃　I　said。
〃When　I　am　left　here　by　myself；　does　your　generous　sympathy
permit　me　to　examine　everything　in　the　room？〃

He　signed　to　me　to　drink　the　champagne　and　eat　a　biscuit　before
he　gave　his　answer。

〃This　is　serious；〃　he　said。　〃I　wish　you　to　be　in　perfect
possession　of　yourself　。　Restore　your　strengthand　then　I　will
speak　to　you。〃

I　did　as　he　bade　me。　In　a　minute　from　the　time　when　I　drank　it
the　delicious　sparkling　wine　had　begun　to　revive　me。

〃Is　it　your　express　wish；〃　he　resumed；　〃that　I　should　leave　you
here　by　yourself　to　search　the　room？〃

〃It　is　my　express　wish；〃　I　answered。

〃I　take　a　heavy　responsibility　on　myself　in　granting　your
request。　But　I　grant　it　for　all　that；　because　I　sincerely
believeas　you　believethat　the　tranquillity　of　your　life　to
come　depends　on　your　discovering　the　truth。〃　Saying　those　words；
he　took　two　keys　from　his　pocket。　〃You　will　naturally　feel　a
suspicion；〃　he　went　on；　〃of　any　locked　doors　that　you　may　find
here。　The　only　locked　places　in　the　room　are　the　doors　of　the
cupboards　under　the　long　book…case；　and　the　door　of　the　Italian
cabinet　in　that　corner。　The　small　key　opens　the　book…case
cupboards；　the　long　key　opens　the　cabinet　door。〃

With　that　explanation；　he　laid　the　keys　before　me　on　the　table。

〃Thus　far；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　rigidly　respected　the　promise　which
I　made　to　your　husband。　I　shall　continue　to　be　faithful　to　my
promise；　whatever　may　be　the　result　of　your　examination　of　the
room。　I　am　bound　in　honor　not　to　assist　you　by　word　or　deed。　I　am
not　even　at　liberty　to　offer　you　the　slightest　hint。　Is　that
understood？〃

〃Certainly！〃

〃Very　good。　I　have　now　a　last　word　of　warning　to　give　youand
then　I　have　done。　If　you　do　by　any　chance　succeed　in　laying　your
hand　on　the　clew；　remember　this_the　discovery　which　follows
will　be　a　terrible　one。_　If　you　have　any　doubt　about　your
capacity　to　sustain　a　shock　which　will　strike　you　to　the　soul；
for　God's　sake　give　up　the　idea　of　finding　out　your　husband's
secret　at　once　and　forever！〃

〃I　thank　you　for　your　warning；　Major。　I　must　face　the
consequences　of　making　the　discovery；　whatever　they　may　be。〃

〃You　are　positively　resolved？〃

〃Positively。〃

〃Very　well。　Take　any　time　you　please。　The　house；　and　every　person
in　it；　are　at　your　disposal。　Ring　the　bell　once　if　you　want　the
man…servant。　Ring　twice　if　you　wish　the　housemaid　to　wait　on　you。
From　time　to　time　I　shall　just　look　in　myself　to　see　how　you　are
going　on。　I　am　responsible　for　your　comfort　and　security；　you
know；　while　you　honor　me　by　remaining　under　my　roof。〃

He　lifted　my　hand　to　his　lips；　and　fixed　a　last　attentive　look　on
me。

〃I　hope　I　am　not　running　too　great　a　risk；〃　he　saidmore　to
himself　than　to　me。　〃The　women　have　led　me　into　many　a　rash
action　in　my　time。　Have　_you_　led　me；　I　wonder；　into　the　rashest
action　of　all？〃

With　those　ominous　last　words　he　bowed　gravely　and　left　me　alone
in　the　room。


CHAPTER　X。

THE　SEARCH。

　THE　fire　burning　in　the　grate　was　not　a　very　large　one；　and　the
outer　air　（as　I　had　noticed　on　my　way　to　the　house）　had　something
of　a　wintry　sharpness　in　it　that　day。

Still；　my　first　feeling；　when　Major　Fitz…David　left　me；　was　a
feeling　of　heat　and　oppression；　with　its　natural　result；　a
difficulty　in　breathing　freely。　The　nervous　agitation　of　the　time
was；　I　suppose；　answerable　for　these　sensations。　I　took　off　my
bonnet　and　mantle　and　gloves；　and　opened　the　window　for　a　little
while。　Nothing　was　to　be　seen　outside　but　a　paved　courtyard；　with
a　skylight　in　the　middle；　closed　at　the　further　end　by　the　wall
of　the　Major's　stables。　A　few　minutes　at　the　window　cooled　and
refreshed　me。　I　shut　it　down　again；　and　took　my　first　step　on　the
way　of　discovery。　In　other　words；　I　began　my　first　examination　of
the　four　walls　around　me；　and　of　all　that　they　inclosed。

I　was　amazed　at　my　own　calmness。　My　interview　with　Major
Fitz…David　had；　perhaps；　exhausted　my　capacity　for　feeling　any
strong　emotion；　for　the　time　at　least。　It　was　a　relief　to　me　to
be　alone；　it　was　a　relief　to　me　to　begin　the　search。　Those　were
my　only　sensations　so　far。

The　shape　of　the　room　was　oblong。　Of　the　two　shorter　walls；　one
contained　the　door　in　grooves　which　I　have　already　mentioned　as
communicating　with　the　front　room；　the　other　was　almost　entirely
occupied　by　the　broad　window　which　looked　out　on　the　courtyard。

Taking　the　doorway　wall　first；　what　was　there；　in　the　shape　of
furniture；　on　either　side　of　it？　There　was　a　card…table　on　either
side。　Above　each　card…table　stood　a　magnificent　china　bowl　placed
on　a　gilt　and　carved　bracket　fixed　to　the　wall。

I　opened　the　card…tables。　The　drawers　beneath　contained　nothing
but　cards；　and　the　usual　counters　and　markers。　With　the　exception
of　one　pack；　the　cards　in　both　tables　were　still　wrapped　in　their
paper　covers　exactly　as　they　had　come　from　the　shop。　I　examined
the　loose　pack；　card　by　card。　No　writing；　no　mark　of　any　kind；
was　visible　on　any　one　of　them。　Assisted　by　a　library　ladder
which　stood　against　the　book…case；　I　looked　next　into　the　two
china　bowls。　Both　were　perfectly　empty。　Was　there　anything　more
to　examine　on　that　side　of　the　room？　In　the　two　corners　there
were　two　little　chairs　of　inlaid　wood；　with　red　silk　cushions。　I
turned　them　up　and　looked　under　the　cushions；　and　still　I　made　no
discoveries。　When　I　had　put　the　chairs　back　in　their　places　my
search　on　one　side　of　the　room　was　complete。　So　far　I　had　found
nothing。

I　crossed　to　the　opposite　wall；　the　wall　which　contained　the
window。

The　window　（occupying；　as　I　have　said；　almost　the　entire　length
and　height　of　the　wall）　was　divided　into　three　compartments；　and
was　adorned　at　their　extremity　by　handsome　curtains　of　dark　red
velvet。　The　ample　heavy　folds　of　the　velvet　left　just　room　at　the
two　corners　of　the　wall　for　two　little　upright　cabinets　in　buhl；
containing　rows　of　drawers；　and　supporting　two　fine　bronze
productions　（reduced　in　size）　of　the　Venus　Milo　and　the　Venus
Callipyge。　I　had　Major　Fitz…David's　permission　to　do　just　what　I
pleased。　I　opened　the　si　x　drawers　in　each　cabinet；　and　examined
their　contents　without　hesitation。

Beginning　with　the　cabinet　in　the　right…hand　corner；　my
investigations　were　soon　completed。　All　the　six　drawers　were
alike　occupied　by　a　collection　of　fossils；　which　（judging　by　the
curious　paper　inscriptions　fixed　on　some　of　them）　were　associated
with　a　past　period　of　the　Major's　life　when　he　had　speculated；
not　very　successfully　in　mines。　After　satisfying　myself　that　the
drawers　contained　nothing　but　the　fossils　and　their　inscriptions；
I　turned　to　the　cabinet　in　the　left…hand　corner　next。

Here　a　variety　of　objects　was　revealed　to　view；　and　the
examination　accordingly　occupied　a　much　longer　time。

The　top　drawer　contained　a　complete　collection　of　carpenter's
tools　in　miniature；　relics　probably　of　the　far…distant　time　when
the　Major　was　a　boy；　and　when　parents　or　friends　had　made　him　a
present　of　a　set　of　toy　tools。　The　second　drawer　was　filled　with
toys　of　another　sortpresents　made　to　Major　Fitz…David　by　his
fair　friends。　Embroidered　braces；　smart　smoking…caps；　quaint
pincushions；　gorgeous　slippers；　glittering　purses；　all　bore
witness　to　the　popularity　of　the　friend　of　the　women。　The
contents　of　the　third　drawer　were　of　a　less　interesting　sort：　the
entire　space　was　filled　with　old　account…books；　ranging　over　a
period　of　many　years。　After　looking　into　each　book；　and　opening
and　shaking　it　uselessly；　in　search　of　any　loose　papers　which
might　be　hidden　between　the　leaves；　I　came　to　the　fourth　drawer；
and　found　more　relics　of　past　pecuniary　transactions　in　the　shape
of　receipted　bills；　neatly　tied　together；　and　each　inscribed　at
the　back。　Among　the　bills　I　found　nearly　a　dozen　loose　papers；
all　equally　unimportant。　The　fifth　drawer　was　in　sad　confusion。　I
took　out　first　a　loo