the law and the lady-第45章

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friends　in　the　front　room；　and；　to　my　infinite　relief　and
delight；　touched　on　the　subject　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　of　her　own
accord。　Something　I　had　said　of　him；　when　his　name　had　been
accidentally　mentioned　at　dinner；　remained　in　her　memory；　and　led
us；　by　perfectly　natural　gradations；　into　speaking　of　Mrs。
Beauly。　〃At　last；〃　I　thought　to　myself；　〃the　Major's　little
dinner　will　bring　me　my　reward！〃

And　what　a　reward　it　was；　when　it　came！　My　heart　sinks　in　me
againas　it　sank　on　that　never…to…be…forgotten　eveningwhile　I
sit　at　my　desk　thinking　of　it。

　〃So　Dexter　really　spoke　to　you　of　Mrs。　Beauly！〃　exclaimed　Lady
Clarinda。　〃You　have　no　idea　how　you　surprise　me。〃

〃May　I　ask　why？〃

〃He　hates　her！　The　last　time　I　saw　him　he　wouldn't　allow　me　to
mention　her　name。　It　is　one　of　his　innumerable　oddities。　If　any
such　feeling　as　sympathy　is　a　possible　feeling　in　such　a　nature
as　his；　he　ought　to　like　Helena　Beauly。　She　is　the　most
completely　unconventional　person　I　know。　When　she　does　break　out；
poor　dear；　she　says　things　and　does　things　which　are　almost
reckless　enough　to　be　worthy　of　Dexter　himself。　I　wonder　whether
you　would　like　her？〃

〃You　have　kindly　asked　me　to　visit　you；　Lady　Clarinda。　Perhaps　I
may　meet　her　at　your　house？〃

〃I　hope　you　will　not　wait　until　that　is　likely　to　happen；〃　she
said。　〃Helena's　last　whim　is　to　fancy　that　she　has　gotthe　gout；
of　all　the　maladies　in　the　world！　She　is　away　at　some　wonderful
baths　in　Hungary　or　Bohemia　（I　don't　remember　which）and　where
she　will　go；　or　what　she　will　do　next；　it　is　perfectly　impossible
to　say。Dear　Mrs。　Woodville！　is　the　heat　of　the　fire　too　much
for　you？　You　are　looking　quite　pale。〃

I　_felt_　that　I　was　looking　pale。　The　discovery　of　Mrs。　Beauly's
absence　from　England　was　a　shock　for　which　I　was　quite
unprepared。　For　a　moment　it　unnerved　me。

〃Shall　we　go　into　the　other　room？〃　asked　Lady　Clarinda。

To　go　into　the　other　room　would　be　to　drop　the　conversation。　I
was　determined　not　to　let　that　catastrophe　happen。　It　was　just
possible　that　Mrs。　Beauly's　maid　might　have　quitted　her　service；
or　might　have　been　left　behind　in　England。　My　information　would
not　be　complete　until　I　knew　what　had　become　of　the　maid。　I
pushed　my　chair　back　a　little　from　the　fire…place；　and　took　a
hand…screen　from　a　table　near　me；　it　might　be　made　useful　in
hiding　my　face；　if　any　more　disappointments　were　in　store　for　me。

〃Thank　you；　Lady　Clarinda；　I　was　only　a　little　too　near　the　fire。
I　shall　do　admirably　here。　You　surprise　me　about　Mrs。　Beauly。
From　what　Mr。　Dexter　said　to　me；　I　had　imagined〃

〃Oh；　you　must　not　believe　anything　Dexter　tells　you！〃　interposed
Lady　Clarinda。　〃He　delights　in　mystifying　people；　and　he
purposely　misled　you；　I　have　no　doubt。　If　all　that　I　hear　is
true；　_he_　ought　to　know　more　of　Helena　Beauly's　strange　freaks
and　fancies　than　most　people。　He　all　but　discovered　her　in　one　of
her　adventures　（down　in　Scotland）；　which　reminds　me　of　the　story
in　Auber's　charming　operawhat　is　it　called？　I　shall　forget　my
own　name　next！　I　mean　the　opera　in　which　the　two　nuns　slip　out　of
the　convent；　and　go　to　the　ball。　Listen！　How　very　odd！　That
vulgar　girl　is　singing　the　castanet　song　in　the　second　act　at
this　moment。　Major！　what　opera　is　the　young　lady　singing　from？〃

The　Major　was　scandalized　at　this　interruption。　He　bustled　into
the　back　roomwhispered；　〃Hush！　hush！　my　dear　lady；　the　'Domino
Noir'〃and　bustled　back　again　to　the　piano。

〃Of　course！〃　said　Lady　Clarinda。　〃How　stupid　of　me！　The　'Domino
Noir。'　And　how　strange　that　you　should　forget　it　too！〃

I　had　remembered　it　perfectly；　but　I　could　not　trust　myself　to
speak。　If；　as　I　believed；　the　〃adventure〃　mentioned　by　Lady
Clarinda　was　connected；　in　some　way；　with　Mrs。　Beauly's
mysterious　proceedings　on　the　morning　of　the　twenty…first　of
October；　I　was　on　the　brink　of　the　very　discovery　which　it　was
the　one　interest　of　my　life　to　make！　I　held　the　screen　so　as　to
hide　my　face；　and　I　said；　in　the　steadiest　voice　that　I　could
command　at　the　moment；

〃Pray　go　on！pray　tell　me　what　the　adventure　was！〃

Lady　Clarinda　was　quite　flattered　by　my　eager　desire　to　hear　the
coming　narrative。

〃I　hope　my　story　will　be　worthy　of　the　interest　which　you　are　so
good　as　to　feel　in　it；　〃she　said。　〃If　you　only　knew　Helenait　is
_so_　like　her！　I　have　it；　you　must　know；　from　her　maid。　She　has
taken　a　woman　who　speaks　foreign　languages　with　her　to　Hungary
and　she　has　left　the　maid　with　me。　A　perfect　treasure！　I　should
be　only　too　glad　if　I　could　keep　her　in　my　service：　she　has　but
one　defect；　a　name　I　hatePhoebe。　Well！　Phoebe　and　her　mistress
were　staying　at　a　place　near　Edinburgh；　called　（I　think）
Gleninch。　The　house　belonged　to　that　Mr。　Macallan　who　was
afterward　triedyou　remember　it；　of　course？for　poisoning　his
wife。　A　dreadful　case；　but　don't　be　alarmedmy　story　has　nothing
to　do　with　it；　my　story　has　to　do　with　Helena　Beauly。　One　evening
（while　she　was　staying　at　Gleninch）　she　was　engaged　to　dine　with
some　English　friends　visiting　Edinburgh。　The　same　nightalso　in
Edinburghthere　was　a　masked　ball；　given　by　somebody　whose　name
I　forget。　The　ball　（almost　an　unparalleled　event　in　Scotland！）
was　reported　to　be　not　at　all　a　reputable　affair。　All　sorts　of
amusing　people　were　to　be　there。　Ladies　of　doubtful　virtue；　you
know；　and　gentlemen　on　the　outlying　limits　of　society；　and　so　on。
Helena's　friends　had　contrived　to　get　cards；　and　were　going；　in
spite　of　the　objectionsin　the　strictest　incognito；　of　course；
trusting　to　their　masks。　And　Helena　herself　was　bent　on　going
with　them；　if　she　could　only　manage　it　without　being　discovered
at　Gleninch。　Mr。　Macallan　was　one　of　the　strait…laced　people　who
disapproved　of　the　ball。　No　lady；　he　said；　could　show　herself　at
such　an　entertainment　without　compromising　her　reputation。　What
stuff！　Well；　Helena；　in　one　of　her　wildest　moments；　hit　on　a　way
of　going　to　the　ball　without　discovery　which　was　really　as
ingenious　as　a　plot　in　a　French　play。　She　went　to　the　dinner　in
the　carriage　from　Gleninch；　having　sent　Phoebe　to　Edinburgh
before　her。　It　was　not　a　grand　dinnera　little　friendly
gathering：　no　evening　dress。　When　the　time　came　for　going　back　to
Gleninch；　what　do　you　think　Helena　did？　She　sent　her　maid　back　in
the　carriage；　instead　of　herself！　Phoebe　was　dressed　in　her
mistress's　cloak　and　bonnet　and　veil。　She　was　instructed　to　run
upstairs　the　moment　she　got　to　the　house；　leaving　on　the　hall
table　a　little　note　of　apology　（written　by　Helena；　of　course！）；
pleading　fatigue　as　an　excuse　for　not　saying　good…night　to　her
host。　The　mistress　and　the　maid　were　about　the　same　height；　and
the　servants　naturally　never　discovered　the　trick。　Phoebe　got　up
to　her　mistress's　room　safely　enough。　There；　her　instructions
were　to　wait　until　the　house　was　quiet　for　the　night；　and　then　to
steal　up　to　her　own　room。　While　she　was　waiting；　the　girl　fell
asleep。　She　only　awoke　at　two　in　the　morning；　or　later。　It　didn't
much　matter；　as　she　thought。　She　stole　out　on　tiptoe；　and　closed
the　door　behind　her。　Before　she　was　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；
she　fancied　she　heard　something。　She　waited　until　she　was　safe　on
the　upper　story；　and　then　she　looked　over　the　banisters。　There
was　Dexterso　like　him！hopping　about　on　his　hands　（did　you
ever　see　it？　the　most　grotesquely　horrible　exhibition　you　can
imagine！）there　was　Dexter；　hopping　about；　and　looking　through
keyholes；　evidently　in　search　of　the　person　who　had　left　her　room
at　two　in　the　morning；　and　no　doubt　taking　Phoebe　for　her
mistress；　seeing　that　she　had　forgotten　to　take　her　mistress's
cloak　off　her　shoulders。　The　next　morning；　early；　Helena　came
back　in　a　hired　carriage　from　Edinburgh；　with　a　hat　and　mantle
borrowed　from　her　English　friends。　She　left　the　carriage　in　the
road；　and　got　into　the　house　by　way　of　the　gardenwithout　being
discovered；　this　time；　by　Dexter　or　by　anybody。　Clever　and
daring；　wasn't　it？　And；　as　I　said　just　now；　quite　a　new　version
of　the　'Domino　Noir。'　You　will　wonder；　as　I　did；　how　it　was　that
Dexter　didn't　make　mischief　in　the　morning？　He　would　have　done　it
no　doubt。　But　even　he　was　silenced　（as　Phoebe　told　me）　by　the
dreadful　event　that　happened　in　the　house　on　the　same　day。　My
dear　Mrs。　Woodville！　the　heat　of　this　room　is　certainly　too　much
for　you；　take　my　smelling…bottle。　Let　me　open　the　window。〃

I　was　just　able　to　answer；　〃Pray　say　nothing！　Let　me　slip　out
into　the　open　air！〃

I　made　my　way　unobserved　to　the　landing；　and　sat　down　on　the
stairs　to　compose　myself　where　nobody　could　see　me。　In　a　moment
more　I　felt　a　hand　laid　gently　on　my　shoulder；　and　discovered
good　Benjamin　looking　at　me　in　dismay。　Lady　Clarinda　had
considerately　spoken　to　him；　and　had　assisted　him　in　quietly
making　his　retreat　from　the　room；　while　his　host's　attention　was
still　absorbed　by　the　music。

〃My　dear　child！〃　he　whispered；　〃what　is　the　matter？〃

〃Take　me　home；　and　I　will　tell　you；〃　was　all　that　I　could　say。



CHAPTER　XXXII。

A　SPECIMEN　OF　MY　WISDOM。

　THE　scene　must　follow　my　erratic　movementsthe　scene　must　close
on　London　for　a　while；　and　open　in　Edinburgh。　Two　days　had　passed
since　Major　Fitz…David's　dinner…party。　I　was　able　to　breathe
again　freely；　after　the　utter　destruction　of　all　my　plans　for　the
future；　and　of　all　the　hopes　that　I　had　founded　on　them。　I　could
now　see　that　I　had　been　trebly　in　the　wrongwrong　in　hastily　and
cruelly　suspecting　an　innocent　woman；　wrong　in　communicating　my
suspicions　（without　an　attempt　to　verify　them　previously）　to
another　person；　wrong　in　accepting　the　flighty　inferences　and
conclusions　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　as　if　they　had　been　solid
truths。　I　was　so　ashamed　of　my　folly；　when　I　thought　of　the
pastso　completely　discouraged；　so　rudely　shaken　in　my
confidence　in　myself；　when　I　thought　of　the　future；　that；　for
once　in　a　way；　I　accepted　sensible　advice　when　it　was　offered　to
me。　〃My　dear；〃　said　good　old　Benjamin；　after　we　had　thoroughly
talked　over　my　discomfiture　on　our　return　from　the　dinner…party；
〃judging　by　what　you　tell　me　of　him；　I　don't　fancy　Mr。　Dexter。
Promise　me　that　you　will　not　go　back　to　him　until　you　have　first
consulted　some　person　who　is　fitter　to　guide　you　through　this
dangerous　business　than　I　am。

I　gave　him　my　promise；　on　one　condition。　〃If　I　fail　to　find　the
person；〃　I　said；　〃will　you　undertake　to　help　me？〃

Benjamin　pledged　himself　to　help　me；　cheerfully。

The　next　morning；　when　I　was　brushing　my　hair；　and　thinking　over
my　affairs；　I　called　to　mind　a　forgotten　resolution　of　mine　at
the　time　I　first　read　the　Report　of　my　husband's　Trial。　I　mean
the　resolutionif　Miserrimus　Dexter　failed　meto　apply　to　one
of　the　two　agents　（or　solicitors；　as　we　should　term　them）　who　had
prepared　Eustace's　defensenamely；　Mr。　Playmore。　This　gentleman；
it　may　be　remembered；　had　especially　recommended　himself　to　my
confidence　by　his　friendly　interference　when　the　sheriff's
officers　were　in　search　of　my　husband's　papers。　Referring　back　to
the　evidence　Of　〃Isaiah　Schoolcraft；〃　I　found　that　Mr。　Playmore
had　been　called　in　to　assist　and　advise　Eustace　by　Miserrimus
Dexter。　He　was　therefore　not　only　a　friend　on　whom　I　might　rely；
but　a　friend　who　was　personally　acquainted　with　Dexter　as　we