the law and the lady-第41章

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my　husband's　character。　He　feels　the　stain　bitterly。　How　bitterly
no　one　knows　so　well　as　I　do。　His　sense　of　his　degradation　is　the
sense　that　has　parted　him　from　me。　It　is　not　enough　for　_him_
that　I　am　persuaded　of　his　innocence。　Nothing　will　bring　him　back
to　menothing　will　persuade　Eustace　that　I　think　him　worthy　to
be　the　guide　and　companion　of　my　lifebut　the　proof　of　his
innocence；　set　before　the　Jury　which　doubts　it；　and　the　public
which　doubts　it；　to　this　day。　He　and　his　friends　and　his　lawyers
all　despair　of　ever　finding　that　proof　now。　But　I　am　his　wife；
and　none　of　you　love　him　as　I　love　him。　I　alone　refuse　to
despair；　I　alone　refuse　to　listen　to　reason。　If　God　spare　me；　Mr。
Dexter；　I　dedicate　my　life　to　the　vindication　of　my　husband's
innocence。　You　are　his　old　friendI　am　here　to　ask　you　to　help
me。〃

It　appeared　to　be　now　my　turn　to　frighten　_him。_　The　color　left
his　face。　He　passed　his　hand　restlessly　over　his　forehead；　as　if
he　were　trying　to　brush　some　delusion　out　of　his　brain。

〃Is　this　one　of　my　dreams？〃　he　asked；　faintly。　〃Are　you　a　Vision
of　the　night？〃

〃I　am　only　a　friendless　woman；〃　I　said；　〃who　has　lost　all　that
she　loved　and　prized；　and　who　is　trying　to　win　it　back　again。〃

He　began　to　move　his　chair　nearer　to　me　once　more。　I　lifted　my
hand。　He　stopped　the　chair　directly。　There　was　a　moment　of
silence。　We　sat　watching　one　another。　I　saw　his　hands　tremble　as
he　laid　them　on　the　coverlet；　I　saw　his　face　grow　paler　and
paler；　and　his　under　lip　drop。　What　dead　and　buried　remembrances
had　I　brought　to　life　in　him；　in　all　their　olden　horror？

He　was　the　first　to　speak　again。

〃So　this　is　your　interest；〃　he　said；　〃in　clearing　up　the　mystery
of　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan's　death？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　you　believe　that　I　can　help　you？〃

〃I　do。〃

He　slowly　lifted　one　of　his　hands；　and　pointed　at　me　with　his
long　forefinger。

〃You　suspect　somebody；〃　he　said。

The　tone　in　which　he　spoke　was　low　and　threatening；　it　warned　me
to　be　careful。　At　the　same　time；　if　I　now　shut　him　out　of　my
confidence；　I　should　lose　the　reward　that　might　yet　be　to　come；
for　all　that　I　had　suffered　and　risked　at　that　perilous
interview。

〃You　suspect　somebody；〃　he　repeated。

〃Perhaps！〃　was　all　that　I　said　in　return。

〃Is　the　person　within　your　reach？〃

〃Not　yet。〃

〃Do　you　know　where　the　person　is？〃

〃No。〃

He　laid　his　head　languidly　on　the　back　of　his　chair；　with　a
trembling　long…drawn　sigh。　Was　he　disappointed？　Or　was　he
relieved？　Or　was　he　simply　exhausted　in　mind　and　body　alike？　Who
could　fathom　him？　Who　could　say？

〃Will　you　give　me　five　minutes？〃　he　asked；　feebly　and　wearily；
without　raising　his　head。　〃You　know　already　how　any　reference　to
events　at　Gleninch　excites　and　shakes　me。　I　shall　be　fit　for　it
again；　if　you　will　kindly　give　me　a　few　minutes　to　myself。　There
are　books　in　the　next　room。　Please　excuse　me。〃

I　at　once　retired　to　the　circular　antechamber。　He　followed　me　in
his　chair；　and　closed　the　door　between　us。



CHAPTER　XXIX。

IN　THE　LIGHT。

　A　LITTLE　interval　of　solitude　was　a　relief　to　me；　as　well　as　to
Miserrimus　Dexter。

Startling　doubts　beset　me　as　I　walked　restlessly　backward　and
forward；　now　in　the　anteroom；　and　now　in　the　corridor　outside。　It
was　plain　that　I　had　（quite　innocently）　disturbed　the　repose　of
some　formidable　secrets　in　Miserrimus　Dexter's　mind。　I　confused
and　wearied　my　poor　brains　in　trying　to　guess　what　the　secrets
might　be。　All　my　ingenuityas　after…events　showed　mewas　wasted
on　speculations　not　one　of　which　even　approached　the　truth。　I　was
on　surer　ground　when　I　arrived　at　the　conclusion　that　Dexter　had
really　kept　every　mortal　creature　out　of　his　confidence。　He　could
never　have　betrayed　such　serious　signs　of　disturbance　as　I　had
noticed　in　him；　if　he　had　publicly　acknowledged　at　the　Trial；　or
if　he　had　privately　communicated　to　any　chosen　friend；　all　that
he　knew　of　the　tragic　and　terrible　drama　acted　in　the　bedchamber
at　Gleninch。　What　powerful　influence　had　induced　him　to　close　his
lips？　Had　he　been　silent　in　mercy　to　others？　or　in　dread　of
consequences　to　himself？　Impossible　to　tell！　Could　I　hope　that　he
would　confide　to　Me　what　he　had　kept　secret　from　Justice　and
Friendship　alike？　When　he　knew　what　I　really　wanted　of　him；　would
he　arm　me；　out　of　his　own　stores　of　knowledge；　with　the　weapon
that　would　win　me　victory　in　the　struggle　to　come？　The　chances
were　against　itthere　was　no　denying　that。　Still　the　end　was
worth　trying　for。　The　caprice　of　the　moment　might　yet　stand　my
friend；　with　such　a　wayward　being　as　Miserrimus　Dexter。　My　plans
and　projects　were　sufficiently　strange；　sufficiently　wide　of　the
ordinary　limits　of　a　woman's　thoughts　and　actions；　to　attract　his
sympathies。　〃Who　knows；〃　I　thought　to　myself；　〃if　I　may　not　take
his　confidence　by　surprise；　by　simply　telling　him　the　truth？〃

The　interval　expired；　the　door　was　thrown　open；　the　voice　of　my
host　summoned　me　again　to　the　inner　room。

〃Welcome　back！〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter。

〃Dear　Mrs。　Valeria；　I　am　quite　myself　again。　How　are　you？〃

He　looked　and　spoke　with　the　easy　cordiality　of　an　old　friend。
During　the　period　of　my　absence；　short　as　it　was；　another　change
had　passed　over　this　most　multiform　of　living　beings。　His　eyes
sparkled　with　good…humor；　his　cheeks　were　flushing　under　a　new
excitement　of　some　sort。　Even　his　dress　had　undergone　alteration
since　I　had　seen　it　last。　He　now　wore　an　extemporized　cap　of
white　paper；　his　ruffles　were　tucked　up；　a　clean　apron　was　thrown
over　the　sea…green　coverlet。　He　hacked　his　chair　before　me；
bowing　and　smiling；　and　waved　me　to　a　seat　with　the　grace　of　a
dancing　master；　chastened　by　the　dignity　of　a　lord　in　waiting。

〃I　am　going　to　cook；〃　he　announced；　with　the　most　engaging
simplicity。　〃We　both　stand　in　need　of　refreshment　before　we
return　to　the　serious　business　of　our　interview。　You　see　me　in　my
cook's　dress；　forgive　it。　There　is　a　form　in　these　things。　I　am　a
great　stickler　for　forms。　I　have　been　taking　some　wine。　Please
sanction　that　proceeding　by　taking　some　wine　too。〃

He　filled　a　goblet　of　ancient　Venetian　glass　with　a　purple…red
liquor；　beautiful　to　see。

〃Burgundy！〃　he　said〃the　king　of　wine：　And　this　is　the　king　of
BurgundiesClos　Vougeot。　I　drink　to　your　health　and　happiness！〃

He　filled　a　second　goblet　for　himself；　and　honored　the　toast　by
draining　it　to　the　bottom。　I　now　understood　the　sparkle　in　his
eyes　and　the　flush　in　his　cheeks。　It　was　my　interest　not　to
offend　him。　I　drank　a　little　of　his　wine；　and　I　quite　agreed　with
him。　I　thought　it　delicious。

〃What　shall　we　eat？〃　he　asked。　〃It　must　be　something　worthy　of
our　Clos　Vougeot。　Ariel　is　good　at　roasting　and　boiling　joints；
poor　wretch！　but　I　don't　insult　your　taste　by　offering　you
Ariel's　cookery。　Plain　joints！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　an　expression
of　refined　disgust。　〃Bah！　A　man　who　eats　a　plain　joint　is　only
one　remove　from　a　cannibal　or　a　butcher。　Will　you　leave　it　to　me
to　discover　something　more　worthy　of　us？　Let　us　go　to　the
kitchen。〃

He　wheeled　his　chair　around；　and　invited　me　to　accompany　him　with
a　courteous　wave　of　his　hand。

I　followed　the　chair　to　some　closed　curtains　at　one　end　of　the
room；　which　I　had　not　hitherto　noticed。　Drawing　aside　the
curtains；　he　revealed　to　view　an　alcove；　in　which　stood　a　neat
little　gas…stove　for　cooking。　Drawers　and　cupboards；　plates；
dishes；　and　saucepans；　were　ranged　around　the　alcoveall　on　a
miniature　scale；　all　scrupulously　bright　and　clean。　〃Welcome　to
the　kitchen！〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter。　He　drew　out　of　a　recess　in
the　wall　a　marble　slab；　which　served　as　a　table；　and　reflected
profoundly；　with　his　hand　to　his　head。　〃I　have　it！〃　he　cried；　and
opening　one　of　the　cupboards　next；　took　from　it　a　black　bottle　of
a　form　that　was　new　to　me。　Sounding　this　bottle　with　a　spike；　he
pierced　and　produced　to　view　some　little　irregularly　formed　black
objects；　which　might　have　been　familiar　enough　to　a　woman
accustomed　to　the　luxurious　tables　of　the　rich；　but　which　were　a
new　revelation　to　a　person　like　myself；　who
　had　led　a　simple　country　life　in　the　house　of　a　clergyman　with
small　means。　When　I　saw　my　host　carefully　lay　out　these　occult
substances　of　uninviting　appearance　on　a　clean　napkin；　and　then
plunge　once　more　into　profound　reflection　at　the　sight　of　them；
my　curiosity　could　be　no　longer　restrained。　I　ventured　to　say；
〃What　are　those　things；　Mr。　Dexter；　and　are　we　really　going　to
eat　them？〃

He　started　at　the　rash　question；　and　looked　at　me　with　hands
outspread　in　irrepressible　astonishment。

〃Where　is　our　boasted　progress？〃　he　cried。　What　is　education　but
a　name？　Here　is　a　cultivated　person　who　doesn't　know　Truffles
when　she　sees　them！〃

〃I　have　heard　of　truffles；〃　I　answered；　humbly；　〃but　I　never　saw
them　before。　We　had　no　such　foreign　luxuries　as　those；　Mr。
Dexter；　at　home　in　the　North。〃

Miserrimus　Dexter　lifted　one　of　the　truffles　tenderly　on　his
spike；　and　held　it　up　to　me　in　a　favorable　light。

〃Make　the　most　of　one　of　the　few　first　sensations　in　this　life
which　has　no　ingredient　of　disappointment　lurking　under　the
surface；〃　he　said。　〃Look　at　it；　meditate　over　it。　You　shall　eat
it；　Mrs。　Valeria；　stewed　in　Burgundy！〃

He　lighted　the　gas　for　cooking　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　was
about　to　offer　me　an　inestimable　proof　of　his　good…will。

〃Forgive　me　if　I　observe　the　most　absolute　silence；〃　he　said；
〃dating　from　the　moment　when　I　take　this　in　my　hand。〃　He　produced
a　bright　little　stew…pan　from　his　collection　of　culinary　utensils
as　he　spoke。　〃Properly　pursued；　the　Art　of　Cookery　allows　of　no
divided　attention；〃　he　continued；　gravely。　〃In　that　observation
you　will　find　the　reason　why　no　woman　ever　has　reached；　or　ever
will　reach；　the　highest　distinction　as　a　cook。　As　a　rule；　women
are　incapable　of　absolutely　concentrating　their　attention　on　any
one　occupation　for　any　given　time。　Their　minds　will　run　on
something　elsesay；　typically；　for　the　sake　of　illustration；
their　sweetheart　or　their　new　bonnet。　The　one　obstacle；　Mrs。
Valeria；　to　your　rising　equal　to　the　men　in　the　various
industrial　processes　of　life　is　not　raised；　as　the　women　vainly
suppose；　by　the　defective　institutions　of　the　age　they　live　in。
No！　the　obstacle　is　in　themselves。　No　institutions　that　can　be
devised　to　encourage　them　will　ever　be　strong　enough　to　contend
successfully　with　the　sweetheart　and　the　new　bonnet。　A　little
while　ago；　for　instance；　I　was　instrumental　in　getting　women
employed　in　our　local　post…office　here。　The　other　day　I　took　the
troublea　serious　business　to　meof　getting　downstairs；　and
wheeling　myself　away　to　the　office　to　see　how　they　were　getting
on。　I　took　a　letter　with　me　to　register。　It　had　an　unusually　long
address。　The　registering　woman　began　copying　the　address　on　the
receipt　form；　in　a　business…like　manner　cheering　and　delightful
to　see。　Half　way　through；　a　little　child…sister　of　one　of　the
other　women　employed　trotted　into　the　office；　and　popped　under
the　counter　to　go　and　speak　to　her　relative。　The　registering
woman's　mind　instantly　gave　way。　Her　pencil　stopped；　her　eyes
wandered　off　to　the　child　with　a　charming　expression　of　interest。
'Well；　Lucy；'　she　said；　'how　d'ye　do？'　Then　she　remembered
bu