the law and the lady-第35章

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was　equally　at　a　loss　to　penetrate　the　cause　which　produced　the
rumbling　and　whistling　sounds。

〃What　can　possibly　be　going　on；〃　I　whispered　to　Mrs。　Macallan；
〃on　the　other　side　of　that　door？〃

〃Step　softly；〃　my　mother…in…law　answered；　〃and　come　and　see。〃

She　arranged　the　tapestry　behind　us　so　as　completely　to　shut　out
the　light　in　the　circular　room。　Then　noiselessly　turning　the
handle；　she　opened　the　heavy　door。

We　kept　ourselves　concealed　in　the　shadow　of　the　recess；　and
looked　through　the　open　doorway。

I　saw　（or　fancied　I　saw；　in　the　ob　scurity）　a　long　room　with　a
low　ceiling。　The　dying　gleam　of　an　ill…kept　fire　formed　the　only
light　by　which　I　could　judge　of　objects　and　distances。　Redly
illuminating　the　central　portion　of　the　room；　opposite　to　which
we　were　standing；　the　fire…light　left　the　extremities　shadowed　in
almost　total　darkness。　I　had　barely　time　to　notice　this　before　I
heard　the　rumbling　and　whistling　sounds　approaching　me。　A　high
chair　on　wheels　moved　by；　through　the　field　of　red　light；
carrying　a　shadowy　figure　with　floating　hair；　and　arms　furiously
raised　and　lowered　working　the　machinery　that　propelled　the　chair
at　its　utmost　rate　of　speed。　〃I　am　Napoleon；　at　the　sunrise　of
Austerlitz！〃　shouted　the　man　in　the　chair　as　he　swept　past　me　on
his　rumbling　and　whistling　wheels；　in　the　red　glow　of　the
fire…light。　〃I　give　the　word；　and　thrones　rock；　and　kings　fall；
and　nations　tremble；　and　men　by　tens　of　thousands　fight　and　bleed
and　die！〃　The　chair　rushed　out　of　sight；　and　the　shouting　man　in
it　became　another　hero。　〃I　am　Nelson！〃　the　ringing　voice　cried
now。　〃I　am　leading　the　fleet　at　Trafalgar。　I　issue　my　commands；
prophetically　conscious　of　victory　and　death。　I　see　my　own
apotheosis；　my　public　funeral；　my　nation's　tears；　my　burial　in
the　glorious　church。　The　ages　remember　me；　and　the　poets　sing　my
praise　in　immortal　verse！〃　The　strident　wheels　turned　at　the　far
end　of　the　room　and　came　back。　The　fantastic　and　frightful
apparition；　man　and　machinery　blended　in　onethe　new　Centaur；
half　man；　half　chairflew　by　me　again　in　the　dying　light。　〃I　am
Shakespeare！〃　cried　the　frantic　creature　now。　〃I　am　writing
'Lear；'　the　tragedy　of　tragedies。　Ancients　and　moderns；　I　am　the
poet　who　towers　over　them　all。　Light！　light！　the　lines　flow　out
like　lava　from　the　eruption　of　my　volcanic　mind。　Light！　light！
for　the　poet　of　all　time　to　write　the　words　that　live　forever！〃
He　ground　and　tore　his　way　back　toward　the　middle　of　the　room。　As
he　approached　the　fire…place　a　last　morsel　of　unburned　coal　（or
wood）　burst　into　momentary　flame；　and　showed　the　open　doorway。　In
that　moment　he　saw　us！　The　wheel…chair　stopped　with　a　shock　that
shook　the　crazy　old　floor　of　the　room；　altered　its　course；　and
flew　at　us　with　the　rush　of　a　wild　animal。　We　drew　back；　just　in
time　to　escape　it；　against　the　wall　of　the　recess。　The　chair
passed　on；　and　burst　aside　the　hanging　tapestry。　The　light　of　the
lamp　in　the　circular　room　poured　in　through　the　gap。　The　creature
in　the　chair　checked　his　furious　wheels；　and　looked　back　over　his
shoulder　with　an　impish　curiosity　horrible　to　see。

〃Have　I　run　over　them？　Have　I　ground　them　to　powder　for　presuming
to　intrude　on　me？〃　he　said　to　himself。　As　the　expression　of　this
amiable　doubt　passed　his　lips　his　eyes　lighted　on　us。　His　mind
instantly　veered　back　again　to　Shakespeare　and　King　Lear。
〃Goneril　and　Regan！〃　he　cried。　〃My　two　unnatural　daughters；　my
she…devil　children　come　to　mock　at　me！〃

〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　my　mother…in…law；　as　quietly　as　if
she　were　addressing　a　perfectly　reasonable　being。　〃I　am　your　old
friend；　Mrs。　Macallan；　and　I　have　brought　Eustace　Macallan's
second　wife　to　see　you。〃

The　instant　she　pronounced　those　last　words；　〃Eustace　Macallan's
second　wife；〃　the　man　in　the　chair　sprang　out　of　it　with　a　shrill
cry　of　horror；　as　if　she　had　shot　him。　For　one　moment　we　saw　a
head　and　body　in　the　air；　absolutely　deprived　of　the　lower　limbs。
The　moment　after；　the　terrible　creature　touched　the　floor　as
lightly　as　a　monkey；　on　his　hands。　The　grotesque　horror　of　the
scene　culminated　in　his　hopping　away　on　his　hands；　at　a
prodigious　speed；　until　he　reached　the　fire…place　in　the　long
room。　There　he　crouched　over　the　dying　embers；　shuddering　and
shivering；　and　muttering；　〃Oh；　pity　me；　pity　me！〃　dozens　and
dozens　of　times　to　himself。

This　was　the　man　whose　advice　I　had　come　to　askwho　assistance　I
had　confidently　counted　on　in　my　hour　of　need。



CHAPTER　XXV。

MISERRIMUS　DEXTERSECOND　VIEW

　THOROUGHLY　disheartened　and　disgusted；　and　（if　I　must　honestly
confess　it）　thoroughly　frightened　too；　I　whispered　to　Mrs。
Macallan；　〃I　was　wrong；　and　you　were　right。　Let　us　go。〃

The　ears　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　must　have　been　as　sensitive　as　the
ears　of　a　dog。　He　heard　me　say；　〃Let　us　go。〃

〃No！〃　he　called　out。　〃Bring　Eustace　Macallan's　second　wife　in
here。　I　am　a　gentlemanI　must　apologize　to　her。　I　am　a　student
of　human　characterI　wish　to　see　her。〃

The　whole　man　appeared　to　have　undergone　a　complete
transformation。　He　spoke　in　the　gentlest　of　voices；　and　he　sighed
hysterically　when　he　had　done；　like　a　woman　recovering　from　a
burst　of　tears。　Was　it　reviving　courage　or　reviving　curiosity？
When　Mrs。　Macallan　said　to　me；　〃The　fit　is　over　now；　do　you　still
wish　to　go　away？〃　I　answered；　〃No；　I　am　ready　to　go　in。〃

〃Have　you　recovered　your　belief　in　him　already？〃　asked　my
mother…in…law；　in　her　mercilessly　satirical　way。

〃I　have　recovered　from　my　terror　of　him；〃　I　replied。

〃I　am　sorry　I　terrified　you；〃　said　the　soft　voice　at　the
fire…place。　〃Some　people　think　I　am　a　little　mad　at　times。　You
came；　I　suppose；　at　one　of　the　timesif　some　people　are　right。　I
admit　that　I　am　a　visionary。　My　imagination　runs　away　with　me；
and　I　say　and　do　strange　things。　On　those　occasions；　anybody　who
reminds　me　of　that　horrible　Trial　throws　me　back　again　into　the
past；　and　causes　me　unutterable　nervous　suffering。　I　am　a　very
tender…hearted　man。　As　the　necessary　consequence　（in　such　a　world
as　this）；　I　am　a　miserable　wretch。　Accept　my　excuses。　Come　in；
both　of　you。　Come　in　and　pity　me。〃

A　child　would　not　have　been　frightened　of　him　now。　A　child　would
have　gone　in　and　pitied　him。

The　room　was　getting　darker　and　darker。　We　could　just　see　the
crouching　figure　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　at　the　expiring　fireand
that　was　all。

〃Are　we　to　have　no　light？〃　asked　Mrs。　Macallan。　〃And　is　this　lady
to　see　you；　when　the　light　comes；　out　of　your　chair？〃

He　lifted　something　bright　and　metallic；　hanging　round　his　neck；
and　blew　on　it　a　series　of　shrill；　trilling；　bird…like　notes。
After　an　interval　he　was　answered　by　a　similar　series　of　notes
sounding　faintly　in　some　distant　region　of　the　house。

〃Ariel　is　coming；〃　he　said。　〃Compose　yourself；　Mamma　Macallan；
Ariel　with　make　me　presentable　to　a　lady's　eyes。〃

He　hopped　away　on　his　hands　into　the　darkness　at　the　end　of　the
room。　〃Wait　a　little；　said　Mrs。　Macallan；　〃and　you　will　have
another　surpriseyou　will　see　the　'delicate　Ariel。'〃

We　heard　heavy　footsteps　in　the　circular　room。

〃Ariel！〃　sighed　Miserrimus　Dexter　out　of　the　darkness；　in　his
softest　notes。

To　my　astonishment　the　coarse；　masculine　voice　of　the　cousin　in
the　man's　hatthe　Caliban's；　rather　than　the　Ariel's
voiceanswered；　〃Here！〃

〃My　chair；　Ariel！〃

The　person　thus　strangely　misnamed　drew　aside　the　tapestry；　so　as
to　let　in　more　light；　then　entered　the　room；　pushing　the　wheeled
chair　before　her。　She　stooped　and　lifted　Miserrimus　Dexter　from
the　floor；　like　a　child。　Before　she　could　put　him　into　the　chair；
he　sprang　out　of　her　arms　with　a　little　gleeful　cry；　and　alighted
on　his　seat；　like　a　bird　alighting　on　its　perch！

〃The　lamp；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter；　〃and　the
looking…glass。Pardon　me；〃　he　added；　addressing　us；　〃for　turning
my　back　on　you。　You　mustn't　see　me　until　my　hair　is　set　to
rights。Ariel！　the　brush；　the　comb；　and　the　perfumes！〃

Carrying　the　lamp　in　one　hand；　the　looking…glass　in　the　other；
and　the　brush　（with　the　comb　stuck　in　it）　between　her　teeth；
Ariel　the　Second；　otherwise　Dexter's　cousin；　presented　herself
plainly　before　me　for　the　first　time。　I　could　now　see　the　girl's
round；　fleshy；　inexpressive　face；　her　rayless　and　colorless　eyes；
her　coarse　nose　and　heavy　chin。　A　creature　half　alive；　an
imperfectly　developed　animal　in　shapeless　form　clad　in　a　man's
pilot　jacket；　and　treading　in　a　man's　heavy　laced　boots；　with
nothing　but　an　old　red…flannel　petticoat；　and　a　broken　comb　in
her　frowzy　flaxen　hair；　to　tell　us　that　she　was　a　womansuch　was
the　inhospitable　person　who　had　received　us　in　the　darkness　when
we　first　entered　the　house。

This　wonderful　valet；　collecting　her　materials　for　dressing　her
still　more　wonderful　master's　hair；　　gave　him　the　looking…glass　（a
hand　…mirror）；　and　addressed　herself　to　her　work。

She　combed；　she　brushed；　she　oiled；　she　perfumed　the　flowing
locks　and　the　long　silky　beard　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　with　the
strangest　mixture　of　dullness　and　dexterity　that　I　ever　saw。　Done
in　brute　silence；　with　a　lumpish　look　and　a　clumsy　gait；　the　work
was　perfectly　well　done　nevertheless。　The　imp　in　the　chair
superintended　the　whole　proceeding　critically　by　means　of　his
hand…mirror。　He　was　too　deeply　interested　in　this　occupation　to
speak　until　some　of　the　concluding　touches　to　his　beard　brought
the　misnamed　Ariel　in　front　of　him；　and　so　turned　her　full　face
toward　the　part　of　the　room　in　which　Mrs。　Macallan　and　I　were
standing。　Then　he　addressed　us；　taking　especial　care；　however；
not　to　turn　his　head　our　way　while　his　toilet　was　still
incomplete。

〃Mamma　Macallan；〃　he　said；　〃what　is　the　Christian　name　of　your
son's　second　wife？〃

〃Why　do　you　want　to　know？〃　asked　my　mother…in…law。

〃I　want　to　know　because　I　can't　address　her　as　'Mrs。　Eustace
Macallan。'〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃It　recalls　_the　other_　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan。　If　I　am　reminded
of　those　horrible　days　at　Gleninch　my　fortitude　will　give　wayI
shall　burst　out　screaming　again。〃

Hearing　this；　I　hastened　to　interpose。

〃My　name　is　Valeria；〃　I　said。

〃A　Roman　name；〃　remarked　Miserrimus　Dexter。　〃I　like　it。　My　mind
is　cast　in　the　Roman　mold。　My　bodily　build　would　have　been　Roman
if　I　had　been　born　with　legs。　I　shall　call　you　Mrs。　Valeria；
unless　you　disapprove　of　it。〃

I　hastened　to　say　that　I　was　far　from　disapproving　of　it。

〃Very　good；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter　〃Mrs。　Valeria；　do　you　see　the
face　of　this　creature　in　front　of　me？〃

He　pointed　with　the　hand…mirror　to　his　cousin　as　unconcernedly　as
he　might　have　pointed　to　a　dog。　His　cousin；　on　her　side；　took　no
more　notice　than　a　dog　would　have　taken　of　the　contemptuous
phrase　by　which　he　had　designated　her。　She　went　on　combing　and
oiling　his　beard　as　composedly　as　ever。

〃It　is　the　face　of　an　idiot；　isn't　it？〃　pursued　Miserrimus
Dexter！　〃Look　at　her！　She　is　a　mere　vegetable。　A　cabbage　in　a
garden　has　as　much　life　and　expression　in　it　as　that　girl
exhibits　at　the　present　moment。　Would　you　believe　there　was
latent　intelligence；　affection；　pride；　fidelity；　in　such　a
half…developed　being　as　this？〃

I　was　really　ashamed　to　answer　him。　Quite　needlessly！　The
impenetrable　young　woman　went　on　with　her　master's　beard。　A
machine　could　n