the law and the lady-第44章

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foreverfor　the　same　reason　precisely　which　has　led　him　to
separate　himself　from　you。　Existence　with　a　woman　who　knew　that
he　had　been　tried　for　his　life　as　a　murderer　was　an　existence
that　he　was　not　hero　enough　to　face。　You　wanted　the　truth。　There
it　is！　You　have　need　to　be　cautious　of　Mrs。　Beaulyyou　have　no
need　to　be　jealous　of　her。　Take　the　safe　course。　Arrange　with　the
Major；　when　you　meet　Lady　Clarinda　at　his　dinner；　that　you　meet
her　under　an　assumed　name。〃

〃I　can　go　to　the　dinner；〃　I　said；　〃under　the　name　in　which
Eustace　married　me。　I　can　go　as　'Mrs。　Woodville。'〃

〃The　very　thing！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃What　would　I　not　give　to　be
present　when　Lady　Clarinda　introduces　you　to　Mrs。　Beauly！　Think
of　the　situation。　A　woman　with　a　hideous　secret　hidden　in　her
inmost　soul：　and　another　woman　who　knows　of　itanother　woman　who
is　bent；　by　fair　means　or　foul；　on　dragging　that　secret　into　the
light　of　day。　What　a　struggle！　What　a　plot　for　a　novel！　I　am　in　a
fever　when　I　think　of　it。　I　am　beside　myself　when　I　look　into　the
future；　and　see　Mrs。　Borgia…Beauly　brought　to　her　knees　at　last。
Don't　be　alarmed！〃　he　cried；　with　the　wild　light　flashing　once
more　in　his　eyes。　〃My　brains　are　beginning　to　boil　again　in　my
head。　I　must　take　refuge　in　physical　exercise。　I　must　blow　off
the　steam；　or　I　shall　explode　in　my　pink　jacket　on　the　spot！〃

The　old　madness　seized　on　him　again。　I　made　for　the　door；　to
secure　my　retreat　in　case　of　necessityand　then　ventured　to　look
around　at　him。

He　was　off　on　his　furious　wheelshalf　man；　half　chairflying
like　a　whirlwind　to　the　other　end　of　the　room。　Even　this　exercise
was　not　violent　enough　for　him　in　his　present　mood。　In　an　instant
he　was　down　on　the　floor；　poised　on　his　hands；　and　looking　in　the
distance　like　a　monstrous　frog。　Hopping　down　the　room；　he
overthrew；　one　after　another；　all　the　smaller　and　lighter　chairs
as　he　passed　them；　arrived　at　the　end；　he　turned；　surveyed　the
prostrate　chairs；　encouraged　himself　with　a　scream　of　triumph；
and　leaped　rapidly　over　chair　after　chair　on　his　handshis
limbless　body　now　thrown　back　from　the　shoulders；　and　now　thrown
forward　to　keep　the　balancein　a　manner　at　once　wonderful　and
horrible　to　behold。　〃Dexter's　Leap…frog！〃　he　cried；　cheerfully；
perching　himself　with　his　birdlike　lightness　on　the　last　of　the
prostrate　chairs　when　he　had　reached　the　further　end　of　the　room。
〃I'm　pretty　active；　Mrs。　Valeria；　considering　I'm　a　cripple。　Let
us　drink　to　the　hanging　of　Mrs。　Beauly　in　another　bottle　of
Burgundy！〃

I　seized　desperately　on　the　first　excuse　that　occurred　to　me　for
getting　away　from　him。

〃You　forget；〃　I　said〃I　must　go　at　once　to　the　Major。　If　I　don't
warn　him　in　time；　he　may　speak　of　me　to　Lady　Clarinda　by　the
wrong　name。〃

Ideas　of　hurry　and　movement　were　just　the　ideas　to　take　his　fancy
in　his　present　state。　He　blew　furiously　on　the　whistle　that
summoned　Ariel　from　the　kitchen　regions；　and　danced　up　and　down
on　his　hands　in　the　full　frenzy　of　his　delight。

〃Ariel　shall　get　you　a　cab！〃　he　cried。　〃Drive　at　a　gallop　to　the
Major's。　Set　the　trap　for　her　without　losing　a　moment。　Oh；　what　a
day　of　days　this　has　been！　Oh；　what　a　relief　to　get　rid　of　my
dreadful　secret；　and　share　it　with　You！　I　am　suffocating　with
happinessI　am　like　the　Spirit　of　the　Earth　in　Shelley's　poem。〃
He　broke　out　with　the　magnificent　lines　in　〃Prometheus　Unbound；〃
in　which　the　Earth　feels　the　Spirit　of　Love；　and　bursts　into
speech。　〃'The　joy；　the　triumph；　the　delight；　the　madness！　the
boundless；　overflowing；　bursting　gladness！　the　vaporous
exultation　not　to　be　confined！　Ha！　ha！　the　animation　of　delight；
which　wraps　me　like　an　atmosphere　of　light；　and　bears　me　as　a
cloud　is　borne　by　its　own　wind。'　That's　how　I　feel；
Valeria！that's　how　I　feel！〃

I　crossed　the　threshold　while　he　was　still　speaking。　The　last　I
saw　of　him　he　was　pouring　out　that　glorious　flood　of　wordshis
deformed　body；　poised　on　the　overthrown　chair；　his　face　lifted　in
rapture　to　some　fantastic　heaven　of　his　own　making。　I　slipped　out
softly　into　the　antechamber。　Even　as　I　crossed　the　room；　he
changed　once　more。　I　heard　his　ringing　cry；　I　heard　the　soft
thump…thump　of　his　hands　on　the　floor。　He　was　going　down　the　room
again；　in　〃Dexter's　Leap…frog；〃　flying　over　the　prostrate　chairs。

In　the　hall；　Ariel　was　on　the　watch　for　me。

As　I　approached　her；　I　happened　to　be　putting　on　my　gloves。　She
stopped　me；　and；　taking　my　right　arm；　lifted　my　hand　toward　her
face。　Was　she　going　to　kiss　it？　or　to　bite　it？〃　Neither。　She
smelt　it　like　a　dogand　dropped　it　again　with　a　hoarse　chuckling
laugh。

〃You　don't　smell　of　his　perfumes；〃　she　said。　〃You　_haven't_
touched　his　beard。　_Now_　I　believe　you。　Want　a　cab？〃

〃Thank　you。　I'll　walk　till　I　meet　a　cab。〃

She　was　bent　on　being　polite　to　menow　I　had　_not_　touched　his
beard。

〃I　say！〃　she　burst　out；　in　her　deepest　notes。

〃Yes？〃

〃I'm　glad　I　didn't　upset　you　in　the　canal。　There　now！〃

She　gave　me　a　friendly　smack　on　the　shoulder　which　nearly　knocked
me　downrelapsed；　the　instant　after；　into　her　leaden　stolidity
of　look　and　manner…and　led　the　way　out　by　the　front　door。　I
heard　her　hoarse　chuckling　laugh　as　she　locked　the　gate　behind
me。　My　star　was　at　last　in　the　ascendant！　In　one　and　the　same　day
I　had　found　my　way　into　the　confidence　of　Ariel　and　Ariel's
master。





CHAPTER　XXXI。

THE　DEFENSE　OF　MRS。　BEAULY。

　THE　days　that　elapsed　before　Major　Fitz…David's　dinner…party
were　precious　days　to　me。

My　long　interview　with　Miserrimus　Dexter　had　disturbed　me　far
more　seriously　than　I　suspected　at　the　time。　It　was　not　until
some　hours　after　I　had　left　him　that　I　really　began　to　feel　how
my　nerves　had　been　tried　by　all　that　I　had　seen　and　heard　during
my　visit　at　his　house。　I　started　at　the　slightest　noises；　I
dreamed　of　dreadful　things；　I　was　ready　to　cry　without　reason　at
one　moment；　and　to　fly　into　a　passion　without　reason　at　another。
Absolute　rest　was　what　I　wanted；　and　（thanks　to　my　good　Benjamin）
was　what　I　got。　The　dear　old　man　controlled　his　anxieties　on　my
account；　and　spared　me　the　questions　which　his　fatherly　interest
in　my　welfare　made　him　eager　to　ask。　It　was　tacitly　understood
between　us　that　all　conversation　on　the　subject　of　my　visit　to
Miserrimus　Dexter　（of　which；　it　is　needless　to　say；　he　strongly
disapproved）　should　be　deferred　until　repose　had　restored　my
energies　of　body　and　mind。　I　saw　no　visitors。　Mrs。　Macallan　came
to　the　cottage；　and　Major　Fitz…David　came　to　the　cottageone　of
them　to　hear　what　had　passed　between　Miserrimus　Dexter　and
myself；　the　other　to　amuse　me　with　the　latest　gossip　about　the
guests　at　the　forthcoming　dinner。　Benjamin　took　it　on　himself　to
make　my　apologies；　and　to　spare　me　the　exertion　of　receiving　my
visitors。　We　hired　a　little　open　carriage；　and　took　long　drives
in　the　pretty　country　lanes　still　left　flourishing　within　a　few
miles　of　the　northern　suburb　of　London。　At　home　we　sat　and　talked
quietly　of　old　times；　or　played　at　backgammon　and　dominoesand
so；　for　a　few　happy　days；　led　the　peaceful　unadventurous　life
which　was　good　for　me。　When　the　day　of　the　dinner　arrived；　I　felt
restored　to　my　customary　health。　I　was　ready　again；　and　eager
again；　for　the　introduction　to　Lady　Clarinda　and　the　discovery　of
Mrs。　Beauly。

Benjamin　looked　a　little　sadly　at　my　flushed　face　as　we　drove　to
Major　Fitz…David's　house。

〃Ah；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　in　his　simple　way；　〃I　see　you　are　well
again！　You　have　had　enough　of　our　quiet　life　already。〃

My　recollection　of　events　and　persons；　in　general；　at　the
dinner…party；　is　singularly　indistinct。

I　remember　that　we　were　very　　merry；　and　as　easy　and　familiar　with
one
　another　as　if　we　had　been　old　friends。　I　remember　that　Madame
Mirliflore　was　unapproachably　superior　to　the　other　women
present；　in　the　perfect　beauty　of　her　dress；　and　in　the　ample
justice　which　she　did　to　the　luxurious　dinner　set　before　us。　I
remember　the　Major's　young　prima　donna；　more　round…eyed；　more
overdressed；　more　shrill　and　strident　as　the　coming　〃Queen　of
Song；〃　than　ever。　I　remember　the　Major　himself；　always　kissing
our　hands；　always　luring　us　to　indulge　in　dainty　dishes　and
drinks；　always　making　love；　always　detecting　resemblances　between
us；　always　〃under　the　charm；〃　and　never　once　out　of　his　character
as　elderly　Don　Juan　from　the　beginning　of　the　evening　to　the　end。
I　remember　dear　old　Benjamin；　completely　bewildered；　shrinking
into　corners；　blushing　when　he　was　personally　drawn　into　the
conversation；　frightened　at　Madame　Mirliflore；　bashful　with　Lady
Clarinda；　submissive　to　the　Major；　suffering　under　the　music；　and
from　the　bottom　of　his　honest　old　heart　wishing　himself　home
again。　And　there；　as　to　the　members　of　that　cheerful　little
gathering；　my　memory　finds　its　limitswith　one　exception。　The
appearance　of　Lady　Clarinda　is　as　present　to　me　as　if　I　had　met
her　yesterday；　and　of　the　memorable　conversation　which　we　two
held　together　privately；　toward　the　close　of　the　evening；　it　is
no　exaggeration　to　say　that　I　can　still　call　to　mind　almost　every
word。

I　see　her　dress；　I　hear　her　voice　again；　while　I　write。

She　was　attired；　I　remember；　with　that　extreme　assumption　of
simplicity　which　always　defeats　its　own　end　by　irresistibly
suggesting　art。　She　wore　plain　white　muslin；　over　white　silk；
without　trimming　or　ornament　of　any　kind。　Her　rich　brown　hair；
dressed　in　defiance　of　the　prevailing　fashion；　was　thrown　back
from　her　forehead；　and　gathered　into　a　simple　knot
behindwithout　adornment　of　any　sort。　A　little　white　ribbon
encircled　her　neck；　fastened　by　the　only　article　of　jewelry　that
she　worea　tiny　diamond　brooch。　She　was　unquestionably　handsome；
but　her　beauty　was　of　the　somewhat　hard　and　angular　type　which　is
so　often　seen　in　English　women　of　her　race：　the　nose　and　chin　too
prominent　and　too　firmly　shaped；　the　well…opened　gray　eyes　full
of　spirit　and　dignity；　but　wanting　in　tenderness　and　mobility　of
expression。　Her　manner　had　all　the　charm　which　fine　breeding　can
conferexquisitely　polite；　easily　cordial；　showing　that　perfect
yet　unobtrusive　confidence　in　herself　which　（in　England）　seems　to
be　the　natural　outgrowth　of　pre…eminent　social　rank。　If　you　had
accepted　her　for　what　she　was；　on　the　surface；　you　would　have
said；　Here　is　the　model　of　a　noble　woman　who　is　perfectly　free
from　pride。　And　if　you　had　taken　a　liberty　with　her；　on　the
strength　of　that　conviction；　she　would　have　made　you　remember　it
to　the　end　of　your　life。

We　got　on　together　admirably。　I　was　introduced　as　〃Mrs。
Woodville；〃　by　previous　arrangement　with　the　Majoreffected
through　Benjamin。　Before　the　dinner　was　over　we　had　promised　to
exchange　visits。　Nothing　but　the　opportunity　was　wanting　to　lead
Lady　Clarinda　into　talking；　as　I　wanted　her　to　talk；　of　Mrs。
Beauly。

Late　in　the　evening　the　opportunity　came。

I　had　taken　refuge　from　the　terrible　bravura　singing　of　the
Major's　strident　prima　donna　in　the　back　drawing…room。　As　I　had
hoped　and　anticipated；　after　a　while　Lady　Clarinda　（missing　me
from　the　group　around　the　piano）　came　in　search　of　me。　She　seated
herself　by　my　side；　out　of　sight　and　out　of　hearing　of　our
friends　in　the　front　room；　and；　to　my　infinite　relief　and
delight；　touched　on