the law and the lady-第36章

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I　was　really　ashamed　to　answer　him。　Quite　needlessly！　The
impenetrable　young　woman　went　on　with　her　master's　beard。　A
machine　could　not　have　taken　less　notice　of　the　life　and　the　talk
around　it　than　this　incomprehensible　creature。

〃_I_　have　got　at　that　latent　affection；　pride；　fidelity；　and　the
rest　of　it；〃　resumed　Miserrimus　Dexter。　〃_I_　hold　the　key　to　that
dormant　Intelligence。　Grand　thought！　Now　look　at　her　when　I
speak。　（I　named　her；　poor　wretch；　in　one　of　my　ironical　moments。
She　has　got　to　like　her　name；　just　as　a　dog　gets　to　like　his
collar。）　Now；　Mrs。　Valeria；　look　and　listen。Ariel！〃

The　girl's　dull　face　began　to　brighten。　The　girl's　mechanically
moving　hand　stopped；　and　held　the　comb　in　suspense。

〃Ariel！　you　have　learned　to　dress　my　hair　and　anoint　my　beard；
haven't　you？〃

Her　face　still　brightened。　〃Yes！　yes！　yes！〃　she　answered；
eagerly。　〃And　you　say　I　have　learned　to　do　it　well；　don't　you？〃

〃I　say　that。　Would　you　like　to　let　anybody　else　do　it　for　you？〃

Her　eyes　melted　softly　into　light　and　life。　Her　strange　unwomanly
voice　sank　to　the　gentlest　tones　that　I　had　heard　from　her　yet。

〃Nobody　else　shall　do　it　for　me；〃　she　said　at　once　proudly　and
tenderly。　〃Nobody；　as　long　as　I　live；　shall　touch　you　but　me。〃

〃Not　even　the　lady　there？〃　asked　Miserrimus　Dexter；　pointing
backward　with　his　hand…mirror　to　the　place　at　which　I　was
standing。

Her　eyes　suddenly　flashed；　her　hand　suddenly　shook　the　comb　at
me；　in　a　burst　of　jealous　rage。

〃Let　her　try！〃　cried　the　poor　creature；　raising　her　voice　again
to　its　hoarsest　notes。　〃Let　her　touch　you　if　she　dares！〃

Dexter　laughed　at　the　childish　outbreak。　〃That　will　do；　my
delicate　Ariel；〃　he　said。　〃I　dismiss　your　Intelligence　for　the
present。　Relapse　into　your　former　self。　Finish　my　beard。〃

She　passively　resumed　her　work。　The　new　light　in　her　eyes；　the
new　expression　in　her　face；　faded　little　by　little　and　died　out。
In　another　minute　the　face　was　as　vacant　and　as　lumpish　as
before；　the　hands　did　their　work　again　with　the　lifeless
dexterity　which　had　so　painfully　impressed　me　when　she　first　took
up　the　brush。　Miserrimus　Dexter　appeared　to　be　perfectly
satisfied　with　these　results。

〃I　thought　my　little　experiment　might　interest　you；〃　he　said。
〃You　see　how　it　is？　The　dormant　intelligence　of　my　curious　cousin
is　like　the　dormant　sound　in　a　musical　instrument。　I　play　upon
itand　it　answers　to　my　touch。　She　likes　being　played　upon。　But
her　great　delight　is　to　hear　me　tell　a　story。　I　puzzle　her　to　the
verge　of　distraction；　and　the　more　I　confuse　her　the　better　she
likes　the　story。　It　is　the　greatest　fun；　you　really　must　see　it
some　day。〃　He　indulged　himself　in　a　last　look　at　the　mirror。
〃Ha！〃　he　said；　complacently；　〃now　I　shall　do。　Vanish；　Ariel！〃

She　tramped　out　of　the　room　in　her　heavy　boots；　with　the　mute
obedience　of　a　trained　animal。　I　said　〃Good…night〃　as　she　passed
me。　She　neither　returned　the　salutation　nor　looked　at　me：　the
words　simply　produced　no　effect　on　her　dull　senses。　The　one　voice
that　could　reach　her　was　silent。　She　had　relapsed　once　more　into
the　vacant　inanimate　creature　who　had　opened　the　gate　to　us；
until　it　pleased　Miserrimus　Dexter　to　speak　to　her　again。

〃Valeria！〃　said　my　mother…in…law。　〃Our　modest　host　is　waiting　to
see　what　you　think　of　him。〃

While　my　attention　was　fixed　on　his　cousin　he　had　wheeled　his
chair　around　so　as　to　face　me。　with　the　light　of　the　lamp　falling
full　on　him。　In　mentioning　his　appearance　as　a　witness　at　the
Trial；　I　find　I　have　borrowed　（without　meaning　to　do　so）　from　my
experience　of　him　at　this　later　time。　I　saw　plainly　now　the
bright　intelligent　face　and　the　large　clear　blue　eyes；　the
lustrous　waving　hair　of　a　light　chestnut　color；　the　long　delicate
white　hands；　and　the　magnificent　throat　and　chest　which　I　have
elsewhere　described。　The　deformity　which　degraded　and　destroyed
the　manly　beauty　of　his　head　and　breast　was　hidden　from　view　by
an　Oriental　robe　of　many　colors；　thrown　over　the　chair　like　a
coverlet。　He　was　clothed　in　a　jacket　of　black　velvet；　fastened
loosely　across　his　chest　with　large　malachite　buttons；　and　he
wore　lace　ruffles　at　the　ends　of　his　sleeves；　in　the　fashion　of
the　last　century。　It　may　well　have　been　due　to　want　of　perception
on　my　partbut　I　could　see　nothing　mad　in　him；　nothing　in　any
way　repelling；　as　he　now　looked　at　me。　The　one　defect　that　I
could　discover　in　his　face　was　at　the　outer　corners　of　his　eyes；
just　under　the　temple。　Here　when　he　laughed；　and　in　a　lesser
degree　when　he　smiled；　the　skin　contracted　into　quaint　little
wrinkles　and　folds；　which　looked　strangely　out　of　harmony　with
the　almost　youthful　appearance　of　the　rest　of　his　face。　As　to　his
other　features；　the　mouth；　so　far　as　his　beard　and　mustache
permitted　me　to　see　it；　was　small　and　delicately　formed；　the
noseperfectly　shaped　on　the　straight　Grecian　modelwas　perhaps
a　little　too　thin；　judged　by　comparison　with　the　full　cheeks　and
the　high　massive　forehead。　Looking　at　him　as　a　whole　（and
speaking　of　him；　of　course；　from　a　woman's；　not　a　physiognomist's
point　of　view）；　I　can　only　describe　him　as　being　an　unusually
handsome　man。　A　painter　would　have　reveled　in　him　as　a　model　for
St。　John。　And　a　young　girl；　ignorant　of　what　the　Oriental　robe
hid　from　view；　would　have　said　to　herself；　the　instant　she　looked
at　him；　〃Here　is　the　hero　of　my　dreams！〃

His　blue　eyeslarge　as　the　eyes　of　a　woman；　clear　as　the　eyes　of
a　childrested　on　me　the　moment　I　turned　toward　him；　with　a
strangely　varying　play　of　expression；　which　at　once　interested
and　perplexed　me。

Now　there　was　doubtuneasy；　painful　doubtin　the　look；　and　now
again　it　changed　brightly　to　approval；　so　open　and　unrestrained
that　a　vain　woman　might　have　fancied　she　had　made　a　conquest　of
him　at　first　sight。　Suddenly　a　new　emotion　seemed　to　take
possession　of　him。　His　eyes　sank；　his　head　drooped；　he　lifted　his
hands　with　a　　gesture　of　regret。　He　muttered　and　murmured　to
himself；　pursuing　some　secret　and　melancholy　train　of　thought；
which　seemed　to　lead　him　further　and　further　away　from　present
objects　of　interest；　and　to　plunge　him　deeper　and　deeper　in
troubled　recollections　of　the　past。　Here　and　there　I　caught　some
of　the　words。　Little　by　little　I　found　myself　trying　to　fathom
what　was　darkly　passing　in　this　strange　man's　mind。

〃A　far　more　charming　face；〃　I　heard　him　say。　〃But　nonot　a　more
beautiful　figure。　What　figure　was　ever　more　beautiful　than　hers？
Somethingbut　not　allof　her　enchanting　grace。　Where　is　the
resemblance　which　has　brought　her　back　to　me？　In　the　pose　of　the
figure；　perhaps。　In　the　movement　of　the　figure；　perhaps。　Poor
martyred　angel！　What　a　life！　And　what　a　death！　what　a　death！〃

Was　he　comparing　me　with　the　victim　of　the　poisonwith　my
husband's　first　wife？　His　words　seemed　to　justify　the　conclusion。
If　I　were　right；　the　dead　woman　had　evidently　been　a　favorite
with　him。　There　was　no　misinterpreting　the　broken　tones　of　his
voice　when　he　spoke　of　her：　he　had　admired　her；　living；　he
mourned　her；　dead。　Supposing　that　I　could　prevail　upon　myself　to
admit　this　extraordinary　person　into　my　confidence；　what　would　be
the　result？　Should　I　be　the　gainer　or　the　loser　by　the
resemblance　which　he　fancied　he　had　discovered？　Would　the　sight
of　me　console　him　or　pain　him？　I　waited　eagerly　to　hear　more　on
the　subject　of　the　first　wife。　Not　a　word　more　escaped　his　lips。
A　new　change　came　over　him。　He　lifted　his　head　with　a　start；　and
looked　about　him　as　a　weary　man　might　look　if　he　was　suddenly
disturbed　in　a　deep　sleep。

〃What　have　I　done？〃　he　said。　〃Have　I　been　letting　my　mind　drift
again？〃　He　shuddered　and　sighed。　〃Oh；　that　house　of　Gleninch！〃　he
murmured；　sadly；　to　himself。　〃Shall　I　never　get　away　from　it　in
my　thoughts？　Oh；　that　house　of　Gleninch！〃

To　my　infinite　disappointment；　Mrs。　Macallan　checked　the　further
revelation　of　what　was　passing　in　his　mind。

Something　in　the　tone　and　manner　of　his　allusion　to　her　son's
country…house　seemed　to　have　offended　her。　She　interposed　sharply
and　decisively。

〃Gently；　my　friend；　gently！〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　think　you　quite
know　what　you　are　talking　about。〃

His　great　blue　eyes　flashed　at　her　fiercely。　With　one　turn　of　his
hand　he　brought　his　chair　close　at　her　side。　The　next　instant　he
caught　her　by　the　arm；　and　forced　her　to　bend　to　him；　until　he
could　whisper　in　her　ear。　He　was　violently　agitated。　His　whisper
was　loud　enough　to　make　itself　heard　where　I　was　sitting　at　the
time。

〃I　don't　know　what　I　am　talking　about？〃　he　repeated；　with　his
eyes　fixed　attentively；　not　on　my　mother…in…law；　but　on　me。　〃You
shortsighted　old　woman！　where　are　your　spectacles？　Look　at　her！
Do　you　see　no　resemblancethe　figure；　not　the　face！do　you　see
no　resemblance　there　to　Eustace's　first　wife？〃

〃Pure　fancy！〃　rejoined　Mrs。　Macallan。　〃I　see　nothing　of　the
sort。〃

He　shook　her　impatiently。

〃Not　so　loud！〃　he　whispered。　〃She　will　hear　you。〃

〃I　have　heard　you　both；〃　I　said。　〃You　need　have　no　fear；　Mr。
Dexter；　of　speaking　before　me。　I　know　that　my　husband　had　a　first
wife；　and　I　know　how　miserably　she　died。　I　have　read　the　Trial。〃

〃You　have　read　the　life　and　death　of　a　martyr！〃　cried　Miserrimus
Dexter。　He　suddenly　wheeled　his　chair　my　way；　he　bent　over　me；
his　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃Nobody　appreciated　her　at　her　true
value；〃　he　said；　〃but　me。　Nobody　but　me！　nobody　but　me！〃

Mrs。　Macallan　walked　away　impatiently　to　the　end　of　the　room。

〃When　you　are　ready；　Valeria；　I　am；〃　she　said。　〃We　cannot　keep
the　servants　and　the　horses　waiting　much　longer　in　this　bleak
place。〃

I　was　too　deeply　interested　in　leading　Miserrimus　Dexter　to
pursue　the　subject　on　which　he　had　touched　to　be　willing　to　leave
him　at　that　moment。　I　pretended　not　to　have　heard　Mrs。　Macallan。
I　laid　my　hand；　as　if　by　accident；　on　the　wheel…chair　to　keep　him
near　me。

〃You　showed　me　how　highly　you　esteemed　that　poor　lady　in　your
evidence　at　the　Trial；〃　I　said。　〃I　believe；　Mr。　Dexter；　you　have
ideas　of　your　own　about　the　mystery　of　her　death？〃

He　had　been　looking　at　my　hand；　resting　on　the　arm　of　his　chair；
until　I　ventured　on　my　question。　At　that　he　suddenly　raised　his
eyes；　and　fixed　them　with　a　frowning　and　furtive　suspicion　on　my
face。

〃How　do　you　know　I　have　ideas　of　my　own？〃　he　asked；　sternly。

〃I　know　it　from　reading　the　Trial；〃　I　answered。　〃The　lawyer　who
cross…examined　you　spoke　almost　in　the　very　words　which　I　have
just　used。　I　had　no　intention　of　offending　you；　Mr。　Dexter。〃

His　face　cleared　as　rapidly　as　it　had　clouded。　He　smiled；　and
laid　his　hand　on　mine。　His　touch　struck　me　cold。　I　felt　every
nerve　in　me　shivering　under　it；　I　drew　my　hand　away　quickly。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　have　misunderstood　you。　I
_have_　ideas　of　my　own　about　that　unhappy　lady。　〃He　paused　and
looked　at　me　in　silence　very　earnestly。　〃Have　_you_　any　ideas？〃
he　asked。　〃Ideas　about　her　life？　or　about　her　death？〃

I　was　deeply　interested；　I　was　burning　to　hear　more。　It　might
encourage　him　to　speak　if　I　were　candid　with　him。　I　answered；
〃Yes。〃

〃Ideas　which　you　have　mentioned　to　any　one？〃　he　went　on。

〃To　no　living　creature；〃　I　replied〃as　yet。〃

〃This　very　strange！〃　he　said；　still　earnestly　reading　my　face。