the law and the lady-第20章

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superstitious　than　ever。　This　miserable　business　doesn't　surprise
her　a　bit。　She　says　it　all　began　with　your　making　that　mistake
about　your　name　in　signing　the　church　register。　You　remember？　Was
there　ever　such　stuff？　Ah；　she's　a　foolish　woman；　that　wife　of
mine！　But　she　means　wella　good　soul　at　bottom。　She　would　have
traveled　all　the　way　here　along　with　me　if　I　would　have　let　her。
I　said；　'No；　you　stop　at　home；　and　look　after　the　house　and　the
parish；　and　I'll　bring　the　child　back。'　You　shall　have　your　old
bedroom；　Valeria；　with　the　white　curtains；　you　know；　looped　up
with　blue！　We　will　return　to　the　Vicarage　（if　you　can　get　up　in
time）　by　the　nine…forty　train　to…morrow　morning。〃

Return　to　the　Vicarage！　How　could　I　do　that？　How　could　I　hope　to
gain　what　was　now　the　one　object　of　my　existence　if　I　buried
myself　in　a　remote　north…country　village？　It　was　simply
impossible　for　me　to　accompany　Doctor　Starkweather　on　his　return
to　his　own　house。

〃I　thank　you；　uncle；　with　all　my　heart；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　am　afraid
I　can't　leave　London　for　the　present。〃

〃You　can't　leave　London　for　the　present？〃　he　repeated。　〃What　does
the　girl　mean；　Mr。　Benjamin？〃　Benjamin　evaded　a　direct　reply。

〃She　is　kindly　welcome　here；　Doctor　Starkweather；〃　he　said；　〃as
long　as　she　chooses　to　stay　with　me。〃

〃That's　no　answer；〃　retorted　my　uncle；　in　his　rough…and…ready
way。　He　turned　to　me。　〃What　is　there　to　keep　you　in　London？〃　he
asked。　〃You　used　to　hate　London。　I　suppose　there　is　some　reason？〃

It　was　only　due　to　my　good　guardian　and　friend　that　I　should　take
him　into　my　confidence　sooner　or　later。　There　was　no　help　for　it
but　to　rouse　my　courage；　and　tell　him　frankly　what　I　had　it　in　my
mind　to　do。　The　vicar　listened　in　breathless　dismay。　He　turned　to
Benjamin；　with　distress　as　well　as　surprise　in　his　face；　when　I
had　done。

〃God　help　her！〃　cried　the　worthy　man。　〃The　poor　thing's　troubles
have　turned　her　brain！〃

〃I　thought　you　would　disapprove　of　it；　sir；〃　said　Benjamin；　in
his　mild　and　moderate　way。　〃I　confess　I　disapprove　of　it　myself。〃

〃'Disapprove　of　it'　isn't　the　word；〃　retorted　the　vicar。　〃Don't
put　it　in　that　feeble　way；　if　you　please。　An　act　of
madnessthat's　what　it　is；　if　she　really　mean　what　she　says。〃　He
turned　my　way；　and　looked　as　he　used　to　look　at　the　afternoon
service　when　he　was　catechising　an　obstinate　child。　〃You　don't
mean　it；〃　he　said；　〃do　you？〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　forfeit　your　good　opinion；　uncle；〃　I　replied。　〃But
I　must　own　that　I　do　certainly　mean　it。〃

〃In　plain　English；〃　retorted　the　vicar；　〃you　are　conceited　enough
to　think　that　you　can　succeed　where　the　greatest　lawyers　in
Scotland　have　failed。　_They_　couldn't　prove　this　man's　innocence；
all　working　together。　And　_you_　are　going　to　prove　it
single…handed？　Upon　my　word；　you　are　a　wonderful　woman；〃　cried　my
uncle；　suddenly　descending　from　indignation
　to　irony。　〃May　a　plain　country　parson；　who　isn't　used　to　lawyers
in　petticoats；　be　permitted　to　ask　how　you　mean　to　do　it？〃

〃I　mean　to　begin　by　reading　the　Trial；　uncle。〃

〃Nice　reading　for　a　young　woman！　You　will　be　wanting　a　batch　of
nasty　French　novels　next。　Well；　and　when　you　have　read　the
Trialwhat　then？　Have　you　thought　of　that？〃

〃Yes；　uncle；　I　have　thought　of　that。　I　shall　first　try　to　form
some　conclusion　（after　reading　the　Trial）　as　to　the　guilty　person
who　really　committed　the　crime。　Then　I　shall　make　out　a　list　of
the　witnesses　who　spoke　in　my　husband's　defense。　I　shall　go　to
those　witnesses；　and　tell　them　who　I　am　and　what　I　want。　I　shall
ask　all　sorts　of　questions　which　grave　lawyers　might　think　it
beneath　their　dignity　to　put。　I　shall　be　guided；　in　what　I　do
next；　by　the　answers　I　receive。　And　I　shall　not　be　discouraged；
no　matter　what　difficulties　are　thrown　in　my　way。　Those　are　my
plans；　uncle；　so　far　as　I　know　them　now。〃

The　vicar　and　Benjamin　looked　at　each　other　as　if　they　doubted
the　evidence　of　their　own　senses。　The　vicar　spoke。

〃Do　you　mean　to　tell　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　are　going　roaming
about　the　country　to　throw　yourself　on　the　mercy　of　strangers；
and　to　risk　whatever　rough　reception　you　may　get　in　the　course　of
your　travels？　You！　A　young　woman！　Deserted　by　your　husband！　With
nobody　to　protect　you！　Mr。　Benjamin；　do　you　hear　her？　And　can　you
believe　your　ears？　I　declare　to　Heaven　_I_　don't　know　whether　I
am　awake　or　dreaming。　Look　at　herjust　look　at　her！　There　she
sits　as　cool　and　easy　as　if　she　had　said　nothing　at　all
extraordinary；　and　was　going　to　do　nothing　out　of　the　common　way！
What　am　I　to　do　with　her？that's　the　serious　questionwhat　on
earth　am　I　to　do　with　her？〃

〃Let　me　try　my　experiment；　uncle；　rash　as　it　may　look　to　you；〃　I
said。　〃Nothing　else　will　comfort　and　support　me；　and　God　knows　I
want　comfort　and　support。　Don't　think　me　obstinate。　I　am　ready　to
admit　that　there　are　serious　difficulties　in　my　way。〃

The　vicar　resumed　his　ironical　tone。

〃Oh！〃　he　said。　〃You　admit　that；　do　you？　Well；　there　is　something
gained；　at　any　rate。〃

〃Many　another　woman　before　me；〃　I　went　on；　〃has　faced　serious
difficulties；　and　has　conquered　themfor　the　sake　of　the　man　she
loved。〃

Doctor　Starkweather　rose　slowly　to　his　feet；　with　the　air　of　a
person　whose　capacity　of　toleration　had　reached　its　last　limits。

〃Am　I　to　understand　that　you　are　still　in　love　with　Mr。　Eustace
Macallan？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　I　answered。

〃The　hero　of　the　great　Poison　Trial？〃　pursued　my　uncle。　〃The　man
who　has　deceived　and　deserted　you？　You　love　him？〃

〃I　love　him　more　dearly　than　ever。〃

〃Mr。　Benjamin；〃　said　the　vicar；　〃if　she　recover　her　senses
between　this　and　nine　o'clock　to…morrow　morning；　send　her　with
her　luggage　to　Loxley's　Hotel；　where　I　am　now　staying。
Good…night；　Valeria。　I　shall　consult　with　your　aunt　as　to　what　is
to　be　done　next。　I　have　no　more　to　say。〃

〃Give　me　a　kiss；　uncle；　at　parting。〃

〃Oh　yes；　I'll　give　you　a　kiss。　Anything　you　like；　Valeria。　I
shall　be　sixty…five　next　birthday；　and　I　thought　I　knew　something
of　women；　at　my　time　of　life。　It　seems　I　know　nothing。　Loxley's
Hotel　is　the　address；　Mr。　Benjamin。　Good…night。〃

Benjamin　looked　very　grave　when　he　returned　to　me　after
accompanying　Doctor　Starkweather　to　the　garden　gate。

〃Pray　be　advised；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　ask　you　to　consider
_my_　view　of　this　matter；　as　good　for　much。　But　your　uncle's
opinion　is　surely　worth　considering？〃

I　did　not　reply。　It　was　useless　to　say　any　more。　I　made　up　my
mind　to　be　misunderstood　and　discouraged；　and　to　bear　it。
〃Good…night；　my　dear　old　friend；〃　was　all　I　said　to　Benjamin。
Then　I　turned　awayI　confess　with　the　tears　in　my　eyesand　took
refuge　in　my　bedroom。

The　window…blind　was　up；　and　the　autumn　moonlight　shone
brilliantly　into　the　little　room。

As　I　stood　by　the　window；　looking　out；　the　memory　came　to　me　of
another　moonlight　night；　when　Eustace　and　I　were　walking　together
in　the　Vicarage　garden　before　our　marriage。　It　was　the　night　of
which　I　have　written；　many　pages　back；　when　there　were　obstacles
to　our　union；　and　when　Eustace　had　offered　to　release　me　from　my
engagement　to　him。　I　saw　the　dear　face　again　looking　at　me　in　the
moonlight；　I　heard　once　more　his　words　and　mine。　〃Forgive　me；〃　he
had　said；　〃for　having　loved　youpassionately；　devotedly　loved
you。　Forgive　me；　and　let　me　go。〃

And　I　had　answered；　〃Oh；　Eustace；　I　am　only　a　womandon't　madden
me！　I　can't　live　without　you。　I　must　and　will　be　your　wife！〃　And
now；　after　marriage　had　united　us；　we　were　parted！　Parted；　still
loving　each　as　passionately　as　ever。　And　why？　Because　he　had　been
accused　of　a　crime　that　he　had　never　committed；　and　because　a
Scotch　jury　had　failed　to　see　that　he　was　an　innocent　man。

I　looked　at　the　lovely　moonlight；　pursuing　these　remembrances　and
these　thoughts。　A　new　ardor　burned　in　me。　〃No！〃　I　said　to　myself。
〃Neither　relations　nor　friends　shall　prevail　on　me　to　falter　and
fail　in　my　husband's　cause。

The　assertion　of　his　innocence　is　the　work　of　my　life；　I　will
begin　it　to…night。〃

I　drew　down　the　blind　and　lighted　the　candles。　In　the　quiet
night；　alone　and　unaided；　I　took　my　first　step　on　the　toilsome
and　terrible　journey　that　lay　before　me。　From　the　title…page　to
the　end；　without　stopping　to　rest　and　without　missing　a　word；　I
read　the　Trial　of　my　husband　for　the　murder　of　his　wife。




PART　II。

PARADISE　REGAINED。




CHAPTER　XV。

THE　STORY　OF　THE　TRIAL。　THE　PRELIMINARIES。

　LET　me　confess　another　weakness；　on　my　part；　before　I　begin　the
Story　of　the　Trial。　I　cannot　prevail　upon　myself　to　copy；　for　the
second　time；　the　horrible　title…page　which　holds　up　to　public
ignominy　my　husband's　name。　I　have　copied　it　once　in　my　tenth
chapter。　Let　once　be　enough。

Turning　to　the　second　page　of　the　Trial；　I　found　a　Note；　assuring
the　reader　of　the　absolute　correctness　of　the　Report　of　the
Proceedings。　The　compiler　described　himself　as　having　enjoyed
certain　special　privileges。　Thus；　the　presiding　Judge　had　himself
revised　his　charge　to　the　jury。　And；　again；　the　chief　lawyers　for
the　prosecution　and　the　defense；　following　the　Judge's　example；
had　revised　their　speeches　for　and　against　the　prisoner。　Lastly；
particular　care　had　been　taken　to　secure　a　literally　correct
report　of　the　evidence　given　by　the　various　witnesses。　It　was
some　relief　to　me　to　discover　this　Note；　and　to　be　satisfied　at
the　outset　that　the　Story　of　the　Trial　was；　in　every　particular；
fully　and　truly　given。

The　next　page　interested　me　more　nearly　still。　It　enumerated　the
actors　in　the　Judicial　Dramathe　men　who　held　in　their　hands　my
husband's　honor　and　my　husband's　life。　Here　is　the　List：

THE　LORD　JUSTICE　CLERK；｝
　　　　　LORD　DRUMFENNICK；　｝Judges　on　the　Bench。
　　　　　　　LORD　NOBLEKIRK；　｝

　　　　　　　　　　THE　LORD　ADVOCATE　（Mintlaw）；　｝　DONALD　DREW；　Esquire
（Advocate…Depute）。｝　Counsel　for　the　Crown。

MR。　JAMES　ARLISS；　W。　S。；　Agent　for　the　Crown。

　　　　THE　DEAN　OF　FACULTY　（Farmichael）；　｝　Counsel　for　the　Panel
ALEXANDER　CROCKET；　Esquire　（Advocate）；｝　（otherwise　the　Prisoner）

MR。　THORNIEBANK；　W。　S。；｝
　　MR。　PLAYMORE；　W。　S。；　｝　Agents　for　the　Panel。

The　Indictment　against　the　prisoner　then　followed。　I　shall　not
copy　the　uncouth　language；　full　of　needless　repetitions　（and；　if
I　know　anything　of　the　subject；　not　guiltless　of　bad　grammar　as
well）；　in　which　my　innocent　husband　was　solemnly　and　falsely
accused　of　poisoning　his　first　wife。　The　less　there　is　of　that
false　and　hateful　Indictment　on　this　page；　the　better　and　truer
the　page　will　look；　to　_my_　eyes。

To　be　brief；　then；　Eustace　Macallan　was　〃indicted　and　accused；　at
the　instance　of　David　Mintlaw；　Esquire；　Her　Majesty's　Advocate；
for　Her　Majesty's　interest；〃　of　the　Murder　of　his　Wife　by　poison；
at　his　residence　called　Gleninch；　in　the　county　of　Mid…Lothian。
The　poison　was　alleged　to　have　been　wickedly　and　feloniously
given　by　the　prisoner　to　his　wife　Sara；　on　two　occasions；　in　the
form　of　arsenic；　administered　in　tea；　medicine；　〃or　other　article
or　articles　of　food　or　drink；　to　the　prosecutor　unknown。〃　It　was
further　declared　that　the　prisoner's　wife　had　died　of　the　poison
thus　administered　b　y　her　husband；　on　one　or　other；　or　both；　of
the　stated　occasions；　and　that　she　was　thus　murdered　by　her
husband。　The　next　paragraph