the law and the lady-第34章

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mixed　up　sense　and　nonsense　in　the　strangest　confusion；　he　was
called　to　order　over　and　over　again；　he　was　even　threatened　with
fine　and　imprisonment　for　contempt　of　Court。　In　short；　he　was
just　like　himselfa　mixture　of　the　strangest　and　the　most
opposite　qualities；　at　one　time　perfectly　clear　and　reasonable；
as　you　said　just　now；　at　another　breaking　out　into　rhapsodies　of
the　most　outrageous　kind；　like　a　man　in　a　state　of　delirium。　A
more　entirely　unfit　person　to　advise　anybody；　I　tell　you　again；
never　lived。　You　don't　expect　Me　to　introduce　you　to　him；　I
hope？〃

〃I　did　think　of　such　a　thing；〃　I　answered。　〃But　after　what　you
have　said；　dear　Mrs。　Macallan；　I　give　up　the　idea；　of　course。　It
is　not　a　great　sacrificeit　only　obliges　me　to　wait　a　week　for
Major　Fitz…David's　dinner…party。　He　has　promised　to　ask
Miserrimus　Dexter　to　meet　me。〃

〃There　is　the　Major　all　over！〃　cried　the　old　lady。　〃If　you　pin
your　faith　on　that　man；　I　pity　you。　He　is　as　slippery　as　an　eel。
I　suppose　you　asked　him　to　introduce　you　to　Dexter？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Exactly！　Dexter　despises　him；　my　dear。　He　knows　as　well　as　I　do
that　Dexter　won't　go　to　his　dinner。　And　he　takes　that　roundabout
way　of　keeping　you　apart；　instead　of　saying　No　to　you　plainly；
like　an　honest　man。

This　was　bad　news。　But　I　was；　as　usual；　too　obstinate　to　own
myself　defeated。

〃If　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst；〃　I　said；　〃I　can　but　write　to
Mr。　Dexter；　and　beg　him　to　grant　me　an　interview。〃

〃And　go　to　him　by　yourself；　if　he　does　grant　it？〃　inquired　Mrs。
Macallan。

〃Certainly。　By　myself。〃

〃You　really　mean　it？〃

〃I　do；　indeed。〃

〃I　won't　allow　you　to　go　by　yourself。〃

〃May　I　venture　to　ask；　ma'am　how　you　propose　to　prevent　me？〃

〃By　going　with　you；　to　be　sure；　you　obstinate　hussy！　Yes；　yesI
can　be　as　headstrong　as　you　are　when　I　like。　Mind！　I　don't　want
to　know　what　your　plans　are。　I　don't　want　to　be　mixed　up　with
your　plans。　My　son　is　resigned　to　the　Scotch　Verdict。　I　am
resigned　to　the　Scotch　Verdict。　It　is　you　who　won't　let　matters
rest　as　they　are。　You　are　a　vain　and　foolhardy　young　person。　But；
somehow；　I　have　taken　a　liking　to　you；　and　I　won't　let　you　go　to
Miserrimus　Dexter　by　yourself。　Put　on　your　bonnet！〃

〃Now？〃　I　asked。

〃Certainly！　My　carriage　is　at　the　door。　And　the　sooner　it's　over
the　better　I　shall　be　pleased。　Get　readyand　be　quick　about　it！〃

I　required　no　second　bidding。　In　ten　minutes　more　we　were　on　our
way　to　Miserrimus　Dexter。

Such　was　the　result　of　my　mother…in…law's　visit！



CHAPTER　XXIV。

MISERRIMUS　DEXTERFIRST　VIEW。

　WE　had　dawdled　over　our　luncheon　before　Mrs。　Macallan　arrived　at
Benjamin's　cottage。　The　ensuing　conversation　between　the　old　lady
and　myself　（of　which　I　have　only　presented　a　brief　abstract）
lasted　until　quite　late　in　the　afternoon。　The　sun　was　setting　in
heavy　clouds　when　we　got　into　the　carriage；　and　the　autumn
twilight　began　to　fall　around　us　while　we　were　still　on　the　road。

The　direction　in　which　we　drove　took　us　（as　well　as　I　could
judge）　toward　the　great　northern　suburb　of　London。

For　more　than　an　hour　the　carriage　threaded　its　way　through　a
dingy　brick　labyrinth　of　streets；　growing　smaller　and　smaller　and
dirtier　and　dirtier　the　further　we　went。　Emerging　from　the
labyrinth；　I　noticed　in　the　gathering　darkness　dreary　patches　of
waste　ground　which　seemed　to　be　neither　town　nor　country。
Crossing　these；　we　passed　some　forlorn　outlying　groups　of　houses
with　dim　little　scattered　shops　among　them；　looking　like　lost
country　villages　wandering　on　the　way　to　London；　disfigured　and
smoke…dried　already　by　their　journey。　Darker　and　darker　and
drearier　and　drearier　the　prospect　drew；　until　the　carriage
stopped　at　last；　and　Mrs。　Macallan　announced；　in　her　sharply
satirical　way；　that　we　had　reached　the　end　of　our　journey。
〃Prince　Dexter's　Palace；　my　dear；〃　she　said。　〃What　do　you　think
of　it？〃

I　looked　around　me；　not　knowing　what　to　think　of　it；　if　the　truth
must　be　told。

We　had　got　out　of　the　carriage；　and　we　were　standing　on　a　rough
half…made　gravel…path。　Right　and　left　of　me；　in　the　dim　light；　I
saw　the　half…completed　foundations　of　new　houses　in　their　first
stage　of　existence。　Boards　and　bricks　were　scattered　about　us。　At
places　gaunt　scaffolding　poles　rose　like　the　branchless　trees　of
the　brick　desert。　Behind　us；　on　the　other　side　of　the　high…road；
stretched　another　plot　of　waste　ground；　as　yet　not　built　on。　Over
the　surface　of　this　second　desert　the　ghostly　white　figures　of
vagrant　ducks　gleamed　at　intervals　in　the　mystic　light。　In　front
of　us；　at　a　distance　of　two　hundred　yards　or　so　as　well　as　I
could　calculate；　rose　a　black　mass；　which　gradually　resolved
itself；　as　my　eyes　became　accustomed　to　the　twilight；　into　a
long；　low；　and　ancient　house；　with　a　hedge　of　evergreens　and　a
pitch…black　paling　in　front　of　it。　The　footman　led　the　way　toward
the　paling　through　the　boards　and　the　bricks；　the　oyster　shells
and　the　broken　crockery；　that　strewed　the　ground。　And　this　was
〃Prince　Dexter's　Palace！〃

There　was　a　gate　in　the　pitch…black　paling；　and　a
bell…handlediscovered　with　great　difficulty。　Pulling　at　the
handle；　the　footman　set　in　motion；　to　judge　by　the　sound
produced；　a　bell　of　prodigious　size；　fitter　for　a　church　than　a
house。

While　we　were　waiting　for　admission；　Mrs。　Macallan　pointed　to　the
low；　dark　line　of　the　old　building。

〃There　is　one　of　his　madnesses；〃　she　said。　〃The　speculators　in
this　new　neighborhood　have　offered　him　I　don't　know　how　many
thousand　pounds　for　the　ground　that　house　stands　on。　It　was
originally　the　manor…house　of　the　district。　Dexter　purchased　it
many　years　since　in　one　of　his　freaks　of　fancy。　He　has　no　old
family　associations　with　the　place；　the　walls　are　all　but
tumbling　about　his　ears；　and　the　money　offered　would　really　be　of
use　to　him。　But　no！　He　refused　the　proposal　of　the　enterprising
speculators　by　letter　in　these　words：　'My　house　is　a　standing
monument　of　the　picturesque　and　beautiful；　amid　the　mean；
dishonest；　and　groveling　constructions　of　a　mean；　dishonest；　and
groveling　age。　I　keep　my　house；　gentlemen；　as　a　useful　lesson　to
you。　Look　at　it　while　you　are　building　around　me；　and　blush；　if
you　can；　for　your　work。'　Was　there　ever　such　an　absurd　letter
written　yet？　Hush！　I　hear　footsteps　in　the　garden。　Here　comes　his
cousin。　His　cousin　is　a　woman。　I　may　as　well　tell　you　that；　or
you　might　mistake　her　for　a　man　in　the　dark。〃

A　rough；　deep　voice；　which　I　should　certainly　never　have　supposed
to　be　the　voice　of　a　woman；　hailed　us　from　the　inner　side　of　the
paling。

〃Who's　there？〃

〃Mrs。　Macallan；〃　answered　my　mother…in…law。

〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃We　want　to　see　Dexter。〃

〃You　can't　see　him。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃What　did　you　say　your　name　was？〃

〃Macallan。　Mrs。　Macallan。　Eustace　Macallan's　mother。　_Now_　do　you
understand？〃

The　voice　muttered　and　grunted　behind　the　paling；　and　a　key
turned　in　the　lock　of　the　gate。

Admitted　to　the　garden；　in　the　deep　shadow　of　the　shrubs；　I　could
see　nothing　distinctly　of　the　woman　with　the　rough　voice；　except
that　she　wore　a　man's　hat。　Closing　the　gate　behind　us；　without　a
word　of　welcome　or　explanation；　she　led　the　way　to　the　house。
Mrs。　Macallan　followed　her　easily；　knowing　the　place；　and　I
walked　in　Mrs。　Macallan's　footsteps　as　closely　as　I　could。　〃This
is　a　nice　family；〃　my　mother…in…law　whispered　to　me。　〃Dexter's
cousin　is　the　only　woman　in　the　houseand　Dexter's　cousin　is　an
idiot。〃

We　entered　a　spacious　hall　with　a　low　ceiling；　dimly　lighted　at
its　further　end　by　one　small　oil…lamp。　I　could　see　that　there
were　pictures　on　the　grim；　brown　walls；　but　the　subjects
represented　were　invisible　in　the　obscure　and　shadowy　light。

Mrs。　Macallan　addressed　herself　to　the　speechless　cousin　with　the
man's　hat。

〃Now　tell　me；〃　she　said。　〃Why　can't　we　see　Dexter？〃

The　cousin　took　a　sheet　of　paper　off　the　table；　and　handed　it　to
Mrs。　Macallan。

〃The　Master's　writing；〃　said　this　strange　creature；　in　a　hoarse
whisper；　as　if　the　bare　idea　of　〃the　Master〃　terrified　her。　〃Read
it。　And　stay　or　go；　which　you　please。〃

She　opened　an　invisible　side　door　in　the　wall；　masked　by　one　of
the　picturesdisappeared　through　it　like　a　ghostand　left　us
together　alone　in　the　hall。

Mrs。　Macallan　approached　the　oil…lamp；　and　looked　by　its　light　at
the　sheet　of　paper　which　the　woman　had　given　to　her。　I　followed
and　peeped　over　her　shoulder　without　ceremony。　The　paper
exhibited　written　characters；　traced　in　a　wonderfully　large　and
firm　handwriting。　Had　I　caught　the　infection　of　madness　in　the
air　of　the　house？　Or　did　I　really　see　before　me　these　words？

　〃NOTICE。My　immense　imagination　is　at　work。　Visions　of　heroes
unroll　themselves　before　me。　I　reanimate　in　myself　the　spirits　of
the　departed　great。　My　brains　are　boiling　in　my　head。　Any　persons
who　disturb　me；　under　existing　circumstances；　will　do　it　at　the
peril　of　their　lives。DEXTER。〃

　Mrs。　Macallan　looked　around　at　me　quietly　with　her　sardonic
smile。

〃Do　you　still　persist　in　wanting　to　be　introduced　to　him？〃　she
asked。

The　mockery　in　the　tone　of　the　question　roused　my　pride。　I
determined　that　I　would　not　be　the　first　to　give　way。

〃Not　if　I　am　putting　you　in　peril　of　your　life；　ma'am；〃　I
answered；　pertly　enough；　pointing　to　the　paper　in　her　hand。

My　mother…in…law　returned　to　the　hall　table；　and　put　the　paper
back　on　it　without　condescending　to　reply。　She　then　led　the　way
to　an　arched　recess　on　our　right　hand；　beyond　which　I　dimly
discerned　a　broad　flight　of　oaken　stairs。

〃Follow　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Macallan；　mounting　the　stairs　in　the　dark。
〃I　know　where　to　find　him。〃

We　groped　our　way　up　the　stairs　to　the　first　landing。　The　next
flight　of　steps；　turning　in　the　reverse　direction；　was　faintly
illuminated；　like　the　hall　below；　by　one　oil…lamp；　placed　in　some
invisible　position　above　us。　Ascending　the　second　flight　of
stairs　and　crossing　a　short　corridor；　we　discovered　the　lamp；
through　the　open　door　of　a　quaintly　shaped　circular　room；　burning
on　the　mantel…piece。　Its　light　illuminated　a　strip　of　thick
tapestry；　hanging　loose　from　the　ceiling　to　the　floor；　on　the
wall　opposite　to　the　door　by　which　we　had　entered。

Mrs。　Macallan　drew　aside　the　strip　of　tapestry；　and；　signing　me
to　follow　her；　passed　behind　it。

〃Listen！〃　she　whispered。

Standing　on　the　inner　side　of　the　tapestry；　I　found　myself　in　a
dark　recess　or　passage；　at　the　end　of　which　a　ray　of　light　from
the　lamp　showed　me　a　closed　door。　I　listened；　and　heard　on　the
other　side　of　the　door　a　shouting　voice；　accompanied　by　an
extraordinary　rumbling　and　whistling　sound；　traveling　backward
and　forward；　as　well　as　I　could　judge；　over　a　great　space。　Now
the　rumbling　and　the　whistling　would　reach　their　climax　of
loudness；　and　would　overcome　the　resonant　notes　of　the　shouting
voice。　Then　again　those　louder　sounds　gradually　retreated　into
distance；　and　the　shouting　voice　made　itself　heard　as　the　more
audible　sound　of　the　two。　The　door　must　have　been　of　prodigious
solidity。　Listen　as　intently　as　I　might；　I　failed　to　catch　the
articulate　words　（if　any）　which　the　voice　was　pronouncing；　and　I
was　equally　at　a　loss　to　penetrate　the　cause　which　produced　the
rumbling　and　whistling　sounds。

〃What