the law and the lady-第43章

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much　for　the　Scene！　The　time　comes　nextthe　time　is　eleven　at
night。　Dexter　discovered　in　his　bedroom；　reading。　Enter　to　him
Eustace　Macallan。　Eustace　speaks：　'My　dear　fellow；　be
particularly　careful　not　to　make　any　noise；　don't　bowl　your　chair
up　and　down　the　corridor　to…night。'　Dexter　inquires；　'Why？'
Eustace　answers：　'Mrs。　Beauly　has　been　dining　with　some　friends
in　Edinburgh；　and　has　come　back　terribly　fatigued：　she　has　gone
up　to　her　room　to　rest。'　Dexter　makes　another　inquiry　（satirical
inquiry；　this　time）：　'How　does　she　look　when　she　is　terribly
fatigued？　As　beautiful　as　ever？'　Answer：　'I　don　t　know；　I　have
not　seen　her；　she　slipped　upstairs；　without　speaking　to　anybody。'
Third　inquiry　by　Dexter　（logical　inquiry；　on　this　occasion）：　'If
she　spoke　to　nobody；　how　do　you　know　she　is　fatigued？'　Eustace
hands　Dexter　a　morsel　of　paper；　and　answers：　'Don　t　be　a　fool！　I
found　this　on　the　hall　table。　Remember　what　I　have　told　you　about
keeping　quiet；　good…night！'　Eustace　retires。　Dexter　looks　at　the
paper；　and　reads　these　lines　in　pencil：　'Just　returned。　Please
forgive　me　for　going　to　bed　without　saying　good…night。　I　have
overexerted　myself；　I　am　dreadfully　fatigued。　（Signed）　Helena。'
Dexter　is　by　nature　suspicious。　Dexter　suspects　Mrs。　Beauly。
Never　mind　his　reasons；　there　is　no　time　to　enter　into　his
reasons　now。　He　puts　the　ease　to　himself　thus：　'A　weary　woman
would　never　have　given　herself　the　trouble　to　write　this。　She
would　have　found　it　much　less　fatiguing　to　knock　at　the
drawing…room　door　as　she　passed；　and　to　make　her　apologies　by
word　of　mouth。　I　see　something　here　out　of　the　ordinary　way；　I
shall　make　a　night　of　it　in　my　chair。　Very　good。　Dexter　proceeds
to　make　a　night　of　it。　He　opens　his　door；　wheels　himself　softly
into　the　corridor；　locks　the　doors　of　the　two　empty　bedrooms；　and
returns　（with　the　keys　in　his　pocket）　to　his　own　room。　'Now；'
says　D。　to　himself；　'if　I　hear　a　door　softly　opened　in　this　part
of　the　house；　I　shall　know　for　certain　it　is　Mrs。　Beauly's　door！'
Upon　that　he　closes　his　own　door；　leaving　the　tiniest　little
chink　to　look　through；　puts　out　his　light；　and　waits　and　watches
at　his　tiny　little　chink；　like　a　cat　at　a　mouse…hole。　The
corridor　is　the　only　place　he　wants　to　see；　and　a　lamp　burns
there　all　　night。　Twelve　o'clock　strikes；　he　hear　s　the　doors
below　bolted　and　locked；　and　nothing　happens。　Half…past
twelveand　nothing　still。　The　house　is　as　silent　as　the　grave。
One　o'clock；　two　o'clocksame　silence。　Half…past　twoand
something　happens　at　last。　Dexter　hears　a　sound　close　by；　in　the
corridor。　It　is　the　sound　of　a　handle　turning　very　softly　in　a
doorin　the　only　door　that　can　be　opened；　the　door　of　Mrs。
Beauly's　room。　Dexter　drops　noiselessly　from　his　chair　onto　his
hands；　lies　flat　on　the　floor　at　his　chink；　and　listens。　He　hears
the　handle　closed　again；　he　sees　a　dark　object　flit　by　him；　he
pops　his　head　out　of　his　door；　down　on　the　floor　where　nobody
would　think　of　looking　for　him。　And　what　does　he　see？　Mrs。
Beauly！　There　she　goes；　with　the　long　brown　cloak　over　her
shoulders；　which　she　wears　when　she　is　driving；　floating　behind
her。　In　a　moment　more　she　disappears；　past　the　fourth　bedroom；
and　turns　at　a　right　angle；　into　a　second　corridor；　called　the
South　Corridor。　What　rooms　are　in　the　South　Corridor？　There　are
three　rooms。　First　room；　the　little　study；　mentioned　in　the
nurse's　evidence。　Second　room；　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan's
bedchamber。　Third　room；　her　husband's　bedchamber。　What　does　Mrs。
Beauly　（supposed　to　be　worn　out　by　fatigue）　want　in　that　part　of
the　house　at　half…past　two　in　the　morning？　Dexter　decides　on
running　the　risk　of　being　seenand　sets　off　on　a　voyage　of
discovery。　Do　you　know　how　he　gets　from　place　to　place　without
his　chair？　Have　you　seen　the　poor　deformed　creature　hop　on　his
hands？　Shall　he　show　you　how　he　does　it；　before　he　goes　on　with
his　story？〃

I　hastened　to　stop　the　proposed　exhibition。

〃I　saw　you　hop　last　night；〃　I　said。　〃Go　on！pray　go　on　with　your
story！

〃Do　you　like　my　dramatic　style　of　narrative？〃　he　asked。　〃Am　I
interesting？〃

〃Indescribably　interesting；　Mr。　Dexter。　I　am　eager　to　hear　more。〃

He　smiled　in　high　approval　of　his　own　abilities。

〃I　am　equally　good　at　the　autobiographical　style；〃　he　said。
〃Shall　we　try　that　next；　by　way　of　variety？〃

〃Anything　you　like；〃　I　cried；　losing　all　patience　with　him；　〃if
you　will　only　go　on！〃

〃Part　Two；　Autobiographical　Style；〃　he　announced；　with　a　wave　of
his　hand。　〃I　hopped　along　the　Guests'　Corridor；　and　turned　into
the　South　Corridor。　I　stopped　at　the　little　study。　Door　open；
nobody　there。　I　crossed　the　study　to　the　second　door；
communicating　with　Mrs。　Macallan's　bedchamber。　Locked！　I　looked
through　the　keyhole　Was　there　something　hanging　over　it；　on　the
other　side？　I　can't　sayI　only　know　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen
but　blank　darkness。　I　listened。　Nothing　to　be　heard。　Same　blank
darkness；　same　absolute　silence；　inside　the　locked　second　door　of
Mrs。　Eustace's　room；　opening　on　the　corridor。　I　went　on　to　her
husband's　bedchamber。　I　had　the　worst　possible　opinion　of　Mrs。
BeaulyI　should　not　have　been　in　the　least　surprised　if　I　had
caught　her　in　Eustace's　room。　I　looked　through　the　keyhole。　In
this　case；　the　key　was　out　of　itor　was　turned　the　right　way　for
meI　don't　know　which。　Eustace's　bed　was　opposite　the　door。　No
discovery。　I　could　see　him；　all　by　himself；　innocently　asleep。　I
reflected　a　little。　The　back　staircase　was　at　the　end　of　the
corridor；　beyond　me。　I　slid　down　the　stairs；　and　looked　about　me
on　the　lower　floor；　by　the　light　of　the　night…lamp。　Doors　all
fast　locked　and　keys　outside；　so　that　I　could　try　them　myself。
House　door　barred　and　bolted。　Door　leading　into　the　servants'
offices　barred　and　bolted。　I　got　back　to　my　own　room；　and　thought
it　out　quietly。　Where　could　she　be？　Certainly　_in_　the　house；
somewhere。　Where？　I　had　made　sure　of　the　other　rooms；　the　field
of　search　was　exhausted。　She　could　only　be　in　Mrs。　Macallan's
roomthe　_one_　room　which　had　baffled　my　investigations；　the
_only_　room　which　had　not　lent　itself　to　examination。　Add　to　this
that　the　key　of　the　door　in　the　study；　communicating　with　Mrs。
Macallan's　room；　was　stated　in　the　nurse's　evidence　to　be
missing；　and　don't　forget　that　the　dearest　object　of　Mrs。
Beauly's　life　（on　the　showing　of　her　own　letter；　read　at　the
Trial）　was　to　be　Eustace　Macallan's　happy　wife。　Put　these　things
together　in　your　own　mind；　and　you　will　know　what　my　thoughts
were；　as　I　sat　waiting　for　events　in　my　chair；　without　my　telling
you。　Toward　four　o'clock；　strong　as　I　am；　fatigue　got　the　better
of　me。　I　fell　asleep。　Not　for　long。　I　awoke　with　a　start　and
looked　at　my　watch。　Twenty…five　minutes　past　four。　Had　she　got
back　to　her　room　while　I　was　asleep？　I　hopped　to　her　door　and
listened。　Not　a　sound。　I　softly　opened　the　door。　The　room　was
empty。　I　went　back　again　to　my　own　room　to　wait　and　watch。　It　was
hard　work　to　keep　my　eyes　open。　I　drew　up　the　window　to　let　the
cool　air　refresh　me；　I　fought　hard　with　exhausted　nature；　and
exhausted　nature　won。　I　fell　asleep　again。　This　time　it　was　eight
in　the　morning　when　I　awoke。　I　have　goodish　ears；　as　you　may　have
noticed。　I　heard　women's　voices　talking　under　my　open　window。　I
peeped　out。　Mrs。　Beauly　and　her　maid　in　close　confabulation！　Mrs。
Beauly　and　her　maid　looking　guiltily　about　them　to　make　sure　that
they　were　neither　seen　nor　heard！　'Take　care；　ma'am；'　I　heard　the
maid　say；　'that　horrid　deformed　monster　is　as　sly　as　a　fox。　Mind
he　doesn't　discover　you。'　Mrs。　Beauly　answered；　'You　go　first；
and　look　out　in　front；　I　will　follow　you；　and　make　sure　there　is
nobody　behind　us。'　With　that　they　disappeared　around　the　corner
of　the　house。　In　five　minutes　more　I　heard　the　door　of　Mrs。
Beauly's　room　softly　opened　and　closed　again。　Three　hours　later
the　nurse　met　her　in　the　corridor；　innocently　on　her　way　to　make
inquiries　at　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan's　door。　What　do　you　think　of
these　circumstances？　What　do　you　think　of　Mrs。　Beauly　and　her
maid　having　something　to　say　to　each　other；　which　they　didn't
dare　say　in　the　housefor　fear　of　my　being　behind　some　door
listening　to　them？　What　do　you　think　of　these　discoveries　of　mine
being　made　on　the　very　morning　when　Mrs。　Eustace　was　taken
illon　the　very　day　when　she　died　by　a　poisoner's　hand？　Do　you
see　your　way　to　the　guilty　person？　And　has　mad　Miserrimus　Dexter
been　of　some　assistance　to　you；　so　far？〃

I　was　too　violently　excited　to　answer　him。　The　way　to　the
vindication　of　my　husband's　innocence　was　opened　to　me　at　last！

〃Where　is　she？〃　I　cried。　〃And　where　is　that　servant　who　is　in　her
confidence？〃

〃I　can't　tell　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Where　can　I　inquire？　Can　you　tell　me　that？〃

He　considered　a　little。　〃There　is　one　man　who　must　know　where　she
isor　who　could　find　it　out　for　you；〃　he　said。

〃Who　is　he？　What　is　his　name？〃

〃He　is　a　friend　of　Eustace's。　Major　Fitz…David。〃

〃I　know　him！　I　am　going　to　dine　with　him　next　week。　He　has　asked
you　to　dine　too。〃

Miserrimus　Dexter　laughed　contemptuously。

〃Major　Fitz…David　may　do　very　well　for　the　ladies；〃　he　said。　〃The
ladies　can　treat　him　as　a　species　of　elderly　human　lap…dog。　I　don
t　dine　with　lap…dogs；　I　have　said；　No。　You　go。　He　or　some　of　his
ladies　may　be　of　use　to　you。　Who　are　the　guests？　Did　he　tell
you？〃

〃There　was　a　French　lady　whose　name　I　forget；〃　I　said；　〃and　Lady
Clarinda〃

〃That　will　do！　She　is　a　friend　of　Mrs。　Beauly's。　She　is　sure　to
know　where　Mrs。　Beauly　is。　Come　to　me　the　moment　you　have　got
your　information。　Find　out　if　the　maid　is　with　her：　she　is　the
easiest　to　deal　with　of　the　two。　Only　make　the　maid　open　her
lips；　and　we　have　got　Mrs。　Beauly。　We　crush　her；〃　he　cried；
bringing　his　hand　down　like　lightning　on　the　last　languid　fly　of
the　season；　crawling　over　the　arm　of　his　chair〃we　crush　her　as
I　crush　this　fly。　Stop！　A　questiona　most　important　question　in
dealing　with　the　maid。　Have　you　got　any　money？〃

〃Plenty　of　money。〃

He　snapped　his　fingers　joyously。

〃The　maid　is　ours！〃　he　cried。　〃It's　a　matter　of　pounds；
shillings；　and　pence　with　the　maid。　Wait！　Another　question。　About
your　name？　If　you　approach　Mrs。　Beauly　in　your　own　character　as
Eustace's　wife；　you　approach　her　as　the　woman　who　has　taken　her
placeyou　make　a　mortal　enemy　of　her　at　starting。　Beware　of
that！〃

My　jealousy　of　Mrs。　Beauly；　smoldering　in　me　all　through　the
interview；　burst　into　flames　at　those　words。　I　could　resist　it　no
longerI　was　obliged　　to　ask　him　if　my　husband　had　ever　loved
　her。

〃Tell　me　the　truth；〃　I　said。　〃Did　Eustace　really？〃

He　burst　out　laughing　maliciously；　he　penetrated　my　jealousy；　and
guessed　my　question　almost　before　it　had　passed　my　lips。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃Eustace　did　really　love　herand　no　mistake
about　it。　She　had　every　reason　to　believe　（before　the　Trial）　that
the　wife's　death　would　put　her　in　the　wife's　place。　But　the　Trial
made　another　man　of　Eustace。　Mrs。　Beauly　had　been　a　witness　of
the　public　degradation　of　him。　That　was　enough　to　prevent　his
marrying　Mrs。　Beauly。　He　broke　off　with　her　at　once　and
foreverfor　the　same　reason　precisely　which　has　led　him　to
separate　himself　from　you。　Existence　with　a　woman　who　knew　that
he　had