the law and the lady-第40章

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her　from　the　dead　when　you　fetched　the　chair　and　the　screen。
Pardon　me　for　making　use　of　you：　the　idea　was　innocent；　the
motive　was　sacred。　You　have　distressedand　delighted　me。　My
heart　bleedsand　thanks　you。〃

He　paused　for　a　moment；　he　let　his　head　droop　on　his　breast；　then
suddenly　raised　it　again。

〃Surely　we　were　talking　about　her　last　night？〃　he　said。　〃What　did
I　say？　what　did　you　say？　My　memory　is　confused；　I　half　remember；
half　forget。　Please　remind　me。　You're　not　offended　with　meare
you？〃

I　might　have　been　offended　with　another　man。　Not　with　him。　I　was
far　too　anxious　to　find　my　way　into　his　confidencenow　that　he
had　touched　of　his　own　accord　on　the　subject　of　Eustace's　first
wifeto　be　offended　with　Miserrimus　Dexter。

〃We　were　speaking；〃　I　answered；　〃of　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan's
death；　and　we　were　saying　to　one　another〃

He　interrupted　me；　leaning　forward　eagerly　in　his　chair。

〃Yes！　yes！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃And　I　was　wondering　what　interest
_you_　could　have　in　penetrating　the　mystery　of　her　death。　Tell
me！　Confide　in　me！　I　am　dying　to　know！〃

〃Not　even　you　have　a　stronger　interest　in　that　subject　than　the
interest　that　I　feel；〃　I　said。　〃The　happiness　of　my　whole　life　to
come　depends　on　my　clearing　up　the　mystery。〃

〃Good　Godwhy？〃　he　cried。　〃Stop！　I　am　exciting　myself。　I　mustn't
do　that。　I　must　have　all　my　wits　about　me；　I　mustn't　wander。　The
thing　is　too　serious。　Wait　a　minute！〃

An　elegant　little　basket　was　hooked　on　to　one　of　the　arms　of　his
chair。　He　opened　it；　and　drew　out　a　strip　of　embroidery　partially
finished；　with　the　necessary　materials　for　working；　a　complete。
We　looked　at　each　other　across　the　embroidery。　He　noticed　my
surprise。

〃Women；〃　he　said；　〃wisely　compose　their　minds；　and　help
themselves　to　think　quietly；　by　doing　needle…work。　Why　are　men
such　fools　as　to　deny　themselves　the　same　admirable　resourcethe
simple　and　soothing　occupation　which　keeps　the　nerves　steady　and
leaves　the　mind　calm　and　free？　As　a　man；　I　follow　the　woman's
wise　example。　Mrs。　Valeria；　permit　me　to　compose　myself。〃

Gravely　arranging　his　embroidery；　this　extraordinary　being　began
to　work　with　the　patient　and　nimble　dexterity　of　an　accomplished
needle…woman。

〃Now；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter；　〃if　you　are　ready；　I　am。　You
talkI　work。　Please　begin。〃

I　obeyed　him；　and　began。



CHAPTER　XXVIII。

IN　THE　DARK。

　WITH　such　a　man　as　Miserrimus　Dexter；　and　with　such　a　purpose　as
I　had　in　view；　no　half…confidences　were　possible。　I　must　either
risk　the　most　unreserved　acknowledgment　of　the　interests　that　I
really　had　at　stake；　or　I　must　make　the　best　excuse　that　occurred
to　me　for　abandoning　my
　contemplated　experiment　at　the　last　moment。　In　my　present
critical　situation；　no　such　refuge　as　a　middle　course　lay　before
meeven　if　I　had　been　inclined　to　take　it。　As　things　were；　I　ran
risks；　and　plunged　headlong　into　my　own　affairs　at　starting。

〃Thus　far；　you　know　little　or　nothing　about　me；　Mr。　Dexter；〃　I
said。　〃You　are；　as　I　believe；　quite　unaware　that　my　husband　and　I
are　not　living　together　at　the　present　time。〃

〃Is　it　necessary　to　mention　your　husband？〃　he　asked；　coldly；
without　looking　up　from　his　embroidery；　and　without　pausing　in
his　work。

〃It　is　absolutely　necessary；〃　I　answered。　〃I　can　explain　myself
to　you　in　no　other　way。〃

He　bent　his　head；　and　sighed　resignedly。

〃You　and　your　husband　are　not　living　together　at　the　present
time；〃　he　resumed。　〃Does　that　mean　that　Eustace　has　left　you？〃

〃He　has　left　me；　and　has　gone　abroad。〃

〃Without　any　necessity　for　it？〃

〃Without　the　least　necessity。〃

〃Has　he　appointed　no　time　for　his　return　to　you？〃

〃If　he　persevere　in　his　present　resolution；　Mr。　Dexter；　Eustace
will　never　return　to　me。〃

For　the　first　time　he　raised　his　head　from　his　embroiderywith　a
sudden　appearance　of　interest。

〃Is　the　quarrel　so　serious　as　that？〃　he　asked。　〃Are　you　free　of
each　other；　pretty　Mrs。　Valeria；　by　common　consent　of　both
parties？〃

The　tone　in　which　he　put　the　question　was　not　at　all　to　my
liking。　The　look　he　fixed　on　me　was　a　look　which　unpleasantly
suggested　that　I　had　trusted　myself　alone　with　him；　and　that　he
might　end　in　taking　advantage　of　it。　I　reminded　him　quietly；　by
my　manner　more　than　by　my　words；　of　the　respect　which　he　owed　to
me。

〃You　are　entirely　mistaken；〃　I　said。　〃There　is　no　angerthere　is
not　even　a　misunderstanding　between　us。　Our　parting　has　cost
bitter　sorrow；　Mr。　Dexter；　to　him　and　to　me。〃

He　submitted　to　be　set　right　with　ironical　resignation。　〃I　am　all
attention；〃　he　said；　threading　his　needle。　〃Pray　go　on；　I　won't
interrupt　you　again。〃　Acting　on　this　invitation；　I　told　him　the
truth　about　my　husband　and　myself　quite　unreservedly；　taking
care；　however；　at　the　same　time；　to　put　Eustace's　motives　in　the
best　light　that　they　would　bear。　Miserrimus　Dexter　dropped　his
embroidery　on　his　lap；　and　laughed　softly　to　himself；　with　an
impish　enjoyment　of　my　poor　little　narrative；　which　set　every
nerve　in　me　on　edge　as　I　looked　at　him。

〃I　see　nothing　to　laugh　at；〃　I　said；　sharply。

His　beautiful　blue　eyes　rested　on　me　with　a　look　of　innocent
surprise。

〃Nothing　to　laugh　at；〃　he　repeated；　〃in　such　an　exhibition　of
human　folly　as　you　have　just　described？〃　His　expression　suddenly
changed　his　face　darkened　and　hardened　very　strangely。　〃Stop！〃　he
cried；　before　I　could　answer　him。　〃There　can　be　only　one　reason
for　you're　taking　it　as　seriously　as　you　do。　Mrs。　Valeria！　you
are　fond　of　your　husband。〃

〃Fond　of　him　isn't　strong　enough　to　express　it；〃　I　retorted。　〃I
love　him　with　my　whole　heart。〃

Miserrimus　Dexter　stroked　his　magnificent　beard；　and
contemplatively　repeated　my　words。　〃You　love　him　with　your　whole
heart？　Do　you　know　why？〃

〃Because　I　can't　help　it；〃　I　answered；　doggedly。

He　smiled　satirically；　and　went　on　with　his　embroidery。
〃Curious！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃Eustace's　first　wife　loved　him
too。　There　are　some　men　whom　the　women　all　like；　and　there　are
other　men　whom　the　women　never　care　for。　Without　the　least　reason
for　it　in　either　case。　The　one　man　is　just　as　good　as　the　other；
just　as　handsome；　as　agreeable；　as　honorable；　and　as　high　in　rank
as　the　other。　And　yet　for　Number　One　they　will　go　through　fire
and　water；　and　for　Number　Two　they　won't　so　much　as　turn　their
heads　to　look　at　him。　Why？　They　don't　know　themselvesas　Mrs。
Valeria　has　just　said！　Is　there　a　physical　reason　for　it？　Is
there　some　potent　magnetic　emanation　from　Number　One　which　Number
Two　doesn't　possess？　I　must　investigate　this　when　I　have　the
time；　and　when　I　find　myself　in　the　humor。〃　Having　so　far　settled
the　question　to　his　own　entire　satisfaction；　he　looked　up　at　me
again。　〃I　am　still　in　the　dark　about　you　and　your　motives；〃　he
said。　〃I　am　still　as　far　as　ever　from　understanding　what　your
interest　is　in　investigating　that　hideous　tragedy　at　Gleninch。
Clever　Mrs。　Valeria；　please　take　me　by　the　hand；　and　lead　me　into
the　light。　You're　not　offended　with　me　are　you？　Make　it　up；　and　I
will　give　you　this　pretty　piece　of　embroidery　when　I　have　done
it。　I　am　only　a　poor；　solitary；　deformed　wretch；　with　a　quaint
turn　of　mind；　I　mean　no　harm。　Forgive　me！　indulge　me！　enlighten
me！〃

He　resumed　his　childish　ways；　he　recover；　his　innocent　smile；
with　the　odd　little　puckers　and　wrinkles　accompanying　it　at　the
corners　of　his　eyes。　I　began　to　doubt　whether　I　might　not　have
been　unreasonably　hard　on　him。　I　penitently　resolved　to　be　more
considerate　toward　his　infirmities　of　mind　and　body　during　the
remainder　of　my　visit。

〃Let　me　go　back　for　a　moment；　Mr。　Dexter；　to　past　times　at
Gleninch；〃　I　said。　〃You　agree　with　me　in　believing　Eustace　to　be
absolutely　innocent　of　the　crime　for　which　he　was　tried。　Your
evidence　at　the　Trial　tells　me　that。〃

He　paused　over　his　work；　and　looked　at　me　with　a　grave　and　stern
attention　which　presented　his　face　in　quite　a　new　light。

〃That　is　_our_　opinion；〃　I　resumed。　〃But　it　was　not　the　opinion
of　the　Jury。　Their　verdict；　you　remember；　was　Not　Proven。　In
plain　English；　the　Jury　who　tried　my　husband　declined　to　express
their　opinion；　positively　and　publicly；　that　he　was　innocent。　Am
I　right？〃

Instead　of　answering；　he　suddenly　put　his　embroidery　back　in　the
basket；　and　moved　the　machinery　of　his　chair；　so　as　to　bring　it
close　by　mine。

〃Who　told　you　this？〃　he　asked。

〃I　found　it　for　myself　in　a　book。〃

Thus　far　his　face　had　expressed　steady　attentionand　no　more。
Now；　for　the　first　time；　I　thought　I　saw　something　darkly　passing
over　him　which　betrayed　itself　to　my　mind　as　rising　distrust。

〃Ladies　are　not　generally　in　the　habit　of　troubling　their　heads
about　dry　questions　of　law；〃　he　said。　〃Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan　the
Second；　you　must　have　some　very　powerful　motive　for　turning　your
studies　that　way。〃

〃I　have　a　very　powerful　motive；　Mr。　Dexter　My　husband　is　resigned
to　the　Scotch　Verdict　His　mother　is　resigned　to　it。　His　friends
（so　far　as　I　know）　are　resigned　to　it〃

〃Well？〃

〃Well！　I　don't　agree　with　my　husband；　or　his　mother；　or　his
friends。　I　refuse　to　submit　to　the　Scotch　Verdict。〃

The　instant　I　said　those　words；　the　madness　in　him　which　I　had
hitherto　denied；　seemed　to　break　out。　He　suddenly　stretched
himself　over　his　chair：　he　pounced　on　me；　with　a　hand　on　each　of
my　shoulders；　his　wild　eyes　questioned　me　fiercely；　frantically；
within　a　few　inches　of　my　face。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　shouted；　at　the　utmost　pitch　of　his
ringing　and　resonant　voice。

A　deadly　fear　of　him　shook　me。　I　did　my　best　to　hide　the　outward
betrayal　of　it。　By　look　and　word；　I　showed　him；　as　firmly　as　I
could；　that　I　resented　the　liberty　he　had　taken　with　me。

〃Remove　your　hands；　sir；〃　I　said；　〃and　retire　to　your　proper
place。〃

He　obeyed　me　mechanically。　He　apologized　to　me　mechanically。　His
whole　mind　was　evidently　still　filled　with　the　words　that　I　had
spoken　to　him；　and　still　bent　on　discovering　what　those　words
meant。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃I　humbly　beg　your　pardon。　The
subject　excites　me；　frightens　me；　maddens　me。　You　don't　know　what
a　difficulty　I　have　in　controlling　myself。　Never　mind。　Don't　take
me　seriously。　Don't　be　frightened　at　me。　I　am　so　ashamed　of
myselfI　feel　so　small　and　so　miserable　at　having　offended　you。
Make　me　suffer　for　it。　Take　a　stick　and　beat　me。　Tie　me　down　in
my　chair。　Call　up　Ariel；　who　is　as　strong　as　a　horse；　and　tell
her　to　hold　me。　Dear　Mrs。　Valeria！　Injured　Mrs。　Valeria！　I'll
endure　anything　in　the　way　of　punishment；　if　you　will　only　tell
me　what　you　mean　by　not　submitting　to　the　Scotch　Verdict。〃　He
backed　his　chair　penitently　as　he　made　that　entreaty。　〃Am　I　far
enough　away　yet？〃　he　asked；　with　a　rueful　look。　〃Do　I　still
frighten　you？　I'll　drop　out　of　sight；　if　you　prefer　it；　in　the
bottom　of　the　chair。〃

He　lifted　the　sea…green　coverlet。　In　another　moment　he　would　have
disappeared　like　a　puppet　in　a　show　if　I　had　not　stopped　him。

〃Say　nothing　more；　and　do
　nothing　more；　I　accept　your　apologies；〃　I　said。　〃When　I　tell　you
that　I　refuse　to　submit　to　the　opinion　of　the　Scotch　Jury；　I　mean
exactly　what　my　words　express。　That　verdict　has　left　a　stain　on
my　husband's　character。　He　feels　the　stain　bitterly。　How　bitterly
no　one　knows　so　well　as　I　do。　His　sense