the law and the lady-第16章

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room　close　by。〃

I　looked　at　him；　and　recognized　the　stranger　who　had　followed　my
husband　out　of　the　room。　Why　had　he　returned　alone？　Why　was
Eustace　not　with　me；　like　the　rest　of　them？　I　tried　to　raise
myself；　and　get　on　my　feet。　The　stranger　gently　pressed　me　back
again　on　the　pillow。　I　attempted　to　resist　himquite　uselessly；
of　course。　His　firm　hand　held　me　as　gently　as　ever　in　my　place。

〃You　must　rest　a　little；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　take　some　wine。　If
you　exert　yourself　now　you　will　faint　again。〃

Old　Benjamin　stooped　over　me；　and　whispered　a　word　of
explanation。

〃It's　the　doctor；　my　dear。　You　must　do　as　he　tells　you。〃

The　doctor！　They　had　called　the　doctor　in　to　help　them！　I　began
dimly　to　understand　that　my　fainting　fit　must　have　presented
symptoms　far　more　serious　than　the　fainting　fits　of　women　in
general。　I　appealed　to　the　doctor；　in　a　helpless；　querulous　way；
to　account　to　me　for　my　husband's　extraordinary　absence。

〃Why　did　you　let　him　leave　the　room？〃　I　asked。　〃If　I　can't　go　to
him；　why　don't　you　bring　him　here　to　me？〃

The　doctor　appeared　to　be　at　a　loss　how　to　reply　to　me。　He　looked
at　Benjamin；　and　said；　〃Will　you　speak　to　Mrs。　Woodville？〃

Benjamin；　in　his　turn；　looked　at　Major　Fitz…David；　and　said；
〃Will　_you？_〃　The　Major　signed　to　them　both　to　leave　us。　They
rose　together；　and　went　into　the　front　room；　pulling　the　door　to
after　them　in　its　grooves。　As　they　left　us；　the　girl　who　had　so
strangely　revealed　my　husband's　secret　to　me　rose　in　her　corner
and　approached　the　sofa。

〃I　suppose　I　had　better　go　too？〃　she　said；　addressing　Major
Fitz…David。

〃If　you　please；〃　the　Major　answered。

He　spoke　（as　I　thought）　rather　coldly。　She　tossed　her　head；　and
turned　her　back　on　him　in　high　indignation。　〃I　must　say　a　word
for　myself！〃　cried　this　strange　creature；　with　a　hysterical
outbreak　of　energy。　〃I　must　say　a　word；　or　I　shall　burst！〃

With　that　extraordinary　preface；　she　suddenly　turned　my　way　and
poured　out　a　perfect　torrent　of　words　on　me。

〃You　hear　how　the　Major　speaks　to　me？〃　she　began。　〃He　blames
mepoor　Mefor　everything　that　has　happened。　I　am　as　innocent
as　the　new…born　babe。　I　acted　for　the　best。　I　thought　you　wanted
the　book。　I　don't　know　now　what　made　you　faint　dead　away　when　I
opened　it。　And　the　Major　blames　Me！　As　if　it　was　my　fault！　I　am
not　one　of　the　fainting　sort　myself；　but　I　feel　it；　I　can　tell
you。　Yes！　I　feel　it；　though　I　don't　faint　about　it。　I　come　of
respectable　parentsI　do。　My　name　is　HoightyMiss　Hoighty。　I
have　my　own　self…respect；　and　it's　wounded。　I　say　my　self…respect
is　wounded；　when　I　find　myself　blamed　without　deserving　it。　You
deserve　it；　if　anybody　does。　Didn't　you　tell　me　you　were　looking
for　a　book？　And　didn't　I　present　it　to　you　promiscuously；　with
the　best　intentions？　I　think　you　might　say　so　yourself；　now　the
doctor　has　brought　you　to　again。　I　think　you　might　speak　up　for　a
poor　girl　who　is　worked　to　death　with　singing　and　languages　and
what　nota　poor　girl　who　has　nobody　else　to　speak　for　her。　I　am
as　respectable　as　you　are；　if　you　come　to　that。　My　name　is
Hoighty。　My　parents　are　in　business；　and　my　mamma　has　seen　better
days；　and　mixed　in　the　best　of　company。〃

There　Miss　Hoighty　lifted　her　handkerchief　again　to　her　face；　and
burst　modestly　into　tears　behind　it。

It　was　certainly　hard　to　hold　her　responsible　for　what　had
happened。　I　answered　as　kindly　as　I　could；　and　I　attempted　to
speak　to　Major　Fitz…David　in　her　defense。　He　knew　what　terrible
anxieties　were　oppressing　me　at　that　moment；　and；　considerately
refusing　to　hear　a　word；　he　took　the　task　of　consoling　his　young
prima　donna　entirely　on　himself。　What　he　said　to　her　I　neither
heard　nor　cared　to　hear：　he　spoke　in　a　whisper。　It　ended　in　his
pacifying　Miss　Hoighty；　by　kissing　her　hand；　and　leading　her　（as
he　might　have　led　a　duchess）　out　of　the　room。

〃I　hope　that　foolish　girl　has　not　annoyed　youat　such　a　time　as
this；〃　he　said；　very　earnestly；　when　he　returned　to　the　sofa。　〃I
can't　tell　you　how　grieved　I　am　at　what　has　happened。　I　was
careful　to　warn　you；　as　you　may　remember。　Still；　if　I　could　only
have　foreseen〃

I　let　him　proceed　no　further。　No　human　forethought　could　have
provided　against　what　had　happened。　Besides；　dreadful　as　the
discovery　had　been；　I　would　rather　have　made　it；　and　suffered
under　it；　as　I　was　suffering　now；　than　have　been　kept　in　the
dark。　I　told　him　this。　And　then　I　turned　to　the　one　subject　that
was　now　of　any　interest　to　methe　subject　of　my　unhappy　husband。

〃How　did　he　come　to　this　house？〃　I　asked。

He　came　here　with　Mr。　Benjamin　shortly　after　I　returned；〃　the
Major　replied。

〃Long　after　I　was　taken　ill？〃

〃No。　I　had　just　sent　for　the　doctorfeeling　seriously　alarmed
about　you。〃

〃What　brought　him　here？　Did　he　return　to　the　hotel　and　miss　me？〃

〃Yes。　He　returned　earlier　than　he　had　anticipated；　and　he　felt
uneasy　at　not　finding　you　at　the　hotel。〃

〃Did　he　suspect　me　of　being　with　you？　Did　he　come　here　from　the
hotel？〃

〃No。　He　appears　to　have　gone　first　to　Mr。　Benjamin　to　inquire
about　you。　What　he　heard　from　your　old　friend　I　cannot　say。　I
only　know　that　Mr。　Benjamin　accompanied　him　when　he　came　here。〃

This　brief　explanation　was　quite　enough　for　meI　understood　what
had　happened。　Eustace　would　easily　frighten　simple　old　Benjamin
about　my　absence　from　the　hotel；　and；　once　alarmed；　Benjamin
would　be　persuaded　without　difficulty　to　repeat　the　few　words
which　had　passed　between　us　on　the　subject　of　Major　Fitz…David。
My　husband's　presence　in　the　Major's　house　was　perfectly
explained。　But　his　extraordinary　conduct　in　leaving　the　room　at
the　very　time　when　I　was　just　recovering　my　senses　still　remained
to　be　accounted　for。　Major　Fitz…David　looked　seriously
embarrassed　when　I　put　the　question　to　him。

〃I　hardly　know　how　to　explain　it　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃Eustace　has
surprised　and　disappointed　me。〃

He　spoke　very　gravely。　His　looks　told　me　more　than　his　words：　his
looks　alarmed　me。

〃Eustace　has　not　quarreled　with　you？〃　I　said。

〃Oh　no！〃

〃He　understands　that　you　have　not　broken　your　promise　to　him？〃

〃Certainly。　My　youn　g　vocalist　（Miss　Hoighty）　told　the　doctor
exactly　what　had　happened；　and　the　doctor　in　her　presence
repeated　the　statement　to　your　husband。〃

〃Did　the　doctor　see　the　Trial？〃

〃Neither　the　doctor　nor　Mr。　Benjamin　has　seen　the　Trial。　I　have
locked　it　up；　and　I　have　carefully　kept　the　terrible　story　of
your　connection　with　the　prisoner　a　secret　from　all　of　them。　Mr。
Benjamin　evidently　has　his　suspicions。　But　the　doctor　has　no
idea；　and　Miss　Hoighty　has　no　idea；　of　the　true　cause　of　your
fainting　fit。　They　both　believe　that　you　are　subject　to　serious
nervous　attacks；　and　that　your　husband's　name　is　really
Woodville。　All　that　the　truest　friend　could　do　to　spare　Eustace　I
have　done。　He　persists；　nevertheless；　in　blaming　me　for　letting
you　enter　my　house。　And　worse；　far　worse　than　this；　he　persists
in　declaring　the　event　of　to…day　has　fatally　estranged　you　from
him。　'There　is　an　end　of　our　married　life；'　he　said　to　me；　'now
she　knows　that　I　am　the　man　who　was　tried　at　Edinburgh　for
poisoning　my　wife！〃'

I　rose　from　the　sofa　in　horror。

〃Good　God！〃　I　cried；　〃does　Eustace　suppose　that　I　doubt　his
innocence？〃

〃He　denies　that　it　is　possible　for　you　or　for　anybody　to　believe
in　his　innocence；〃　the　Major　replied。

〃Help　me　to　the　door；〃　I　said。　〃Where　is　he？　I　must　and　will　see
him！〃

I　dropped　back　exhausted　on　the　sofa　as　I　said　the　words。　Major
Fitz…David　poured　out　a　glass　of　wine　from　the　bottle　on　the
table；　and　insisted　on　my　drinking　it。

〃You　shall　see　him；〃　said　the　Major。　〃I　promise　you　that。　The
doctor　has　forbidden　him　to　leave　the　house　until　you　have　seen
him。　Only　wait　a　little！　My　poor；　dear　lady；　wait；　if　it　is　only
for　a　few　minutes；　until　you　are　stronger。〃

I　had　no　choice　but　to　obey　him。　Oh；　those　miserable；　helpless
minutes　on　the　sofa！　I　cannot　write　of　them　without　shuddering　at
the　recollectioneven　at　this　distance　of　time。

〃Bring　him　here！〃　I　said。　〃Pray；　pray　bring　him　here！〃

〃Who　is　to　persuade　him　to　come　back？〃　asked　the　Major；　sadly。
〃How　can　I；　how　can　anybody；　prevail　with　a　mana　madman　I　had
almost　said！who　could　leave　you　at　the　moment　when　you　first
opened　your　eyes　on　him？　I　saw　Eustace　alone　in　the　next　room
while　the　doctor　was　in　attendance　on　you。　I　tried　to　shake　his
obstinate　distrust　of　your　belief　in　his　innocence　and　of　my
belief　in　his　innocence　by　every　argument　and　every　appeal　that
an　old　friend　could　address　to　him。　He　had　but　one　answer　to　give
me。　Reason　as　I　might；　and　plead　as　I　might；　he　still　persisted
in　referring　me　to　the　Scotch　Verdict。〃

〃The　Scotch　Verdict？〃　I　repeated。　〃What　is　that？〃

The　Major　looked　surprised　at　the　question。

〃Have　you　really　never　heard　of　the　Trial？〃　he　said。

〃Never。〃

〃I　thought　it　strange；〃　he　went　on；　〃when　you　told　me　you　had
found　out　your　husband's　true　name；　that　the　discovery　appeared
to　have　suggested　no　painful　association　to　your　mind。　It　is　not
more　than　three　years　since　all　England　was　talking　of　your
husband。　One　can　hardly　wonder　at　his　taking　refuge；　poor　fellow；
in　an　assumed　name。　Where　could　you　have　been　at　the　time？〃

〃Did　you　say　it　was　three　years　ago？〃　I　asked。

〃Yes。〃

〃I　think　I　can　explain　my　strange　ignorance　of　what　was　so　well
known　to　every　one　else。　Three　years　since　my　father　was　alive。　I
was　living　with　him　in　a　country…house　in　Italyup　in　the
mountains；　near　Sienna。　We　never　saw　an　English　newspaper　or　met
with　an　English　traveler　for　weeks　and　weeks　together。　It　is　just
possible　that　there　might　have　been　some　reference　made　to　the
Trial　in　my　father's　letters　from　England。　If　there　were；　he
never　told　me　of　it。　Or；　if　he　did　mention　the　case；　I　felt　no
interest　in　it；　and　forgot　it　again　directly。　Tell　mewhat　has
the　Verdict　to　do　with　my　husband's　horrible　doubt　of　us？　Eustace
is　a　free　man。　The　Verdict　was　Not　Guilty；　of　course？〃

Major　Fitz…David　shook　his　head　sadly。

〃Eustace　was　tried　in　Scotland；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　a　verdict
allowed　by　the　Scotch　law；　which　（so　far　as　I　know）　is　not
permitted　by　the　laws　of　any　other　civilized　country　on　the　face
of　the　earth。　When　the　jury　are　in　doubt　whether　to　condemn　or
acquit　the　prisoner　brought　before　them；　they　are　permitted；　in
Scotland；　to　express　that　doubt　by　a　form　of　compromise。　If　there
is　not　evidence　enough；　on　the　one　hand；　to　justify　them　in
finding　a　prisoner　guilty；　and　not　evidence　enough；　on　the　other
hand；　to　thoroughly　convince　them　that　a　prisoner　is　innocent；
they　extricate　themselves　from　the　difficulty　by　finding　a
verdict　of　Not　Proven。〃

〃Was　that　the　Verdict　when　Eustace　was　tried？〃　I　asked。

〃Yes。〃

〃The　jury　were　not　quite　satisfied　that　my　husband　was　guilty？
and　not　quite　satisfied　that　my　husband　was　innocent？　Is　that
what　the　Scotch　Verdict　means？〃

〃That　is　what　the　Scotch　Verdict　means。　For　three　years　that
doubt　about　him　in　the　minds　of　the　jury　who　tried　him　has　stood
on　public　record。〃

Oh；　my　poor　darling！　my　innocent　martyr！　I　understood　it　at　last。
The　false　name　in　which　he　had　married　me；　the　terrible　words　he
had　spoken　when　he　had　warned　me　to　respect　hi