the law and the lady-第49章

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the　kitchen　gardenwith　one　little　patch　still　sparely
cultivated　by　the　old　man　and　his　wife；　and　all　the　rest　a
wilderness　of　weeds。　Beyond　the　far　end　of　the　garden；　divided
from　it　by　a　low　paling　of　wood；　there　stretched　a　patch　of　waste
ground；　sheltered　on　three　sides　by　trees。　In　one　lost　corner　of
the　ground　an　object；　common　enough　elsewhere；　attracted　my
attention　here。　The　object　was　a　dust…heap。　The　great　size　of　it；
and　the　curious　situation　in　which　it　was　placed；　aroused　a
moment's　languid　curiosity　in　me。　I　stopped；　and　looked　at　the
dust　and　ashes；　at　the　broken　crockery　and　the　old　iron。　Here
there　was　a　torn　hat；　and　there　some　fragments　of　rotten　old
boots；　and　scattered　around　a　small　attendant　litter　of　torn
paper　and　frowzy　rags。

〃What　are　you　looking　at？〃　asked　Mr。　Playmore。

〃At　nothing　more　remarkable　than　the　dust…heap；〃　I　answered。

〃In　tidy　England；　I　suppose；　you　would　have　all　that　carted　away
out　of　sight；〃　said　the　lawyer。　〃We　don't　mind　in　Scotland；　as
long　as　the　dust…heap　is　far　enough　away　not　to　be　smelt　at　the
house。　Besides；　some　of　it；　sifted；　comes　in　usefully　as　manure
for　the　garden。　Here　the　place　is　deserted；　and　the　rubbish　in
consequence　has　not　been　disturbed。　Everything　at　Gleninch；　Mrs。
Eustace　（the　big　dust…heap　included）；　is　waiting　for　the　new
mistress　to　set　it　to　rights。　One　of　these　days　you　may　be　queen
herewho　knows？〃

〃I　shall　never　see　this　place　again；〃
　I　said。

〃Never　is　a　long　day；〃　returned　my　companion。　〃And　time　has　its
surprises　in　store　for　all　of　us。〃

We　turned　away；　and　walked　back　in　silence　to　the　park　gate；　at
which　the　carriage　was　waiting。

On　the　return　to　Edinburgh；　Mr。　Playmore　directed　the
conversation　to　topics　entirely　unconnected　with　my　visit　to
Gleninch。　He　saw　that　my　mind　stood　in　need　of　relief；　and　he
most　good…naturedly；　and　successfully；　exerted　himself　to　amuse
me。　It　was　not　until　we　were　close　to　the　city　that　he　touched　on
the　subject　of　my　return　to　London。

〃Have　you　decided　yet　on　the　day　when　you　leave　Edinburgh？〃　he
asked。

〃We　leave　Edinburgh；〃　I　replied；　〃by　the　train　of　to…morrow
morning。〃

〃Do　you　still　see　no　reason　to　alter　the　opinions　which　you
expressed　yesterday？　Does　your　speedy　departure　mean　that？〃

〃I　am　afraid　it　does；　Mr。　Playmore。　When　I　am　an　older　woman；　I
may　be　a　wiser　woman。　In　the　meantime；　I　can　only　trust　to　your
indulgence　if　I　still　blindly　blunder　on　in　my　own　way。〃

He　smiled　pleasantly；　and　patted　my　handthen　changed　on　a
sudden；　and　looked　at　me　gravely　and　attentively　before　he　opened
his　lips　again。

〃This　is　my　last　opportunity　of　speaking　to　you　before　you　go；〃
he　said。　〃May　I　speak　freely？〃

〃As　freely　as　you　please；　Mr。　Playmore。　Whatever　you　may　say　to
me　will　only　add　to　my　grateful　sense　of　your　kindness。〃

〃I　have　very　little　to　say；　Mrs。　Eustaceand　that　little　begins
with　a　word　of　caution。　You　told　me　yesterday　that；　when　you　paid
your　last　visit　to　Miserrimus　Dexter；　you　went　to　him　alone。
Don't　do　that　again。　Take　somebody　with　you。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　am　in　any　danger；　then？〃

〃Not　in　the　ordinary　sense　of　the　word。　I　only　think　that　a
friend　may　be　useful　in　keeping　Dexter's　audacity　（he　is　one　of
the　most　impudent　men　living）　within　proper　limits。　Then；　again；
in　case　anything　worth　remembering　and　acting　on　_should_　fall
from　him　in　his　talk；　a　friend　may　be　valuable　as　witness。　In
your　place；　I　should　have　a　witness　with　me　who　could　take
notesbut　then　I　am　a　lawyer；　and　my　business　is　to　make　a　fuss
about　trifles。　Let　me　only　saygo　with　a　companion　when　you　next
visit　Dexter；　and　be　on　your　guard　against　yourself　when　your
talk　turns　on　Mrs。　Beauly。〃

〃On　my　guard　against　myself？　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Practice；　my　dear　Mrs。　Eustace；　has　given　me　an　eye　for　the
little　weaknesses　of　human　nature。　You　are　（quite　naturally）
disposed　to　be　jealous　of　Mrs。　Beauly；　and　you　are；　in
consequence；　not　in　full　possession　of　your　excellent
common…sense　when　Dexter　uses　that　lady　as　a　means　of
blindfolding　you。　Am　I　speaking　too　freely？〃

〃Certainly　not。　It　is　very　degrading　to　me　to　be　jealous　of　Mrs。
Beauly。　My　vanity　suffers　dreadfully　when　I　think　of　it。　But　my
common…sense　yields　to　conviction。　I　dare　say　you　are　right。〃

〃I　am　delighted　to　find　that　we　agree　on　one　point；〃　he　rejoined；
dryly。　〃I　don't　despair　yet　of　convincing　you　in　that　far　more
serious　matter　which　is　still　in　dispute　between　us。　And；　what　is
more；　if　you　will　throw　no　obstacles　in　the　way；　I　look　to　Dexter
himself　to　help　me。〃

This　aroused　my　curiosity。　How　Miserrimus　Dexter　could　help　him；
in　that　or　in　any　other　way；　was　a　riddle　beyond　my　reading。

〃You　propose　to　repeat　to　Dexter　all　that　Lady　Clarinda　told　you
about　Mrs。　Beauly；〃　he　went　on。　〃And　you　think　it　is　likely　that
Dexter　will　be　overwhelmed；　as　you　were　overwhelmed；　when　he
hears　the　story。　I　am　going　to　venture　on　a　prophecy。　I　say　that
Dexter　will　disappoint　you。　Far　from　showing　any　astonishment；　he
will　boldly　tell　you　that　you　have　been　duped　by　a　deliberately
false　statement　of　facts；　invented　and　set　afloat；　in　her　own
guilty　interests；　by　Mrs。　Beauly。　Now　tell　meif　he　really　try；
in　that　way；　to　renew　your　unfounded　suspicion　of　an　innocent
woman；　will　_that_　shake　your　confidence　in　your　own　opinion？〃

〃It　will　entirely　destroy　my　confidence　in　my　own　opinion；　Mr。
Playmore。〃

〃Very　good。　I　shall　expect　you　to　write　to　me；　in　any　case；　and　I
believe　we　shall　be　of　one　mind　before　the　week　is　out。　Keep
strictly　secret　all　that　I　said　to　you　yesterday　about　Dexter。
Don't　even　mention　my　name　when　you　see　him。　Thinking　of　him　as　I
think　now；　I　would　as　soon　touch　the　hand　of　the　hangman　as　the
hand　of　that　monster！　God　bless　you！　Good…by。〃

So　he　said　his　farewell　words；　at　the　door　of　the　hotel。　Kind；
genial；　cleverbut　oh；　how　easily　prejudiced；　how　shockingly
obstinate　in　holding　to　his　own　opinion！　And　_what_　an　opinion！　I
shuddered　as　I　thought　of　it。


CHAPTER　XXXV。

MR。　PLAYMORE'S　PROPHECY。

　WE　reached　London　between　eight　and　nine　in　the　evening。
Strictly　methodical　in　all　his　habits；　Benjamin　had　telegraphed
to　his　housekeeper；　from　Edinburgh；　to　have　supper　ready　or　us　by
ten　o'clock；　and　to　send　the　cabman　whom　he　always　employed　to
meet　us　at　the　station。

Arriving　at　the　villa；　we　were　obliged　to　wait　for　a　moment　to
let　a　pony…chaise　get　by　us　before　we　could　draw　up　at　Benjamin's
door。　The　chaise　passed　very　slowly；　driven　by　a　rough…looking
man；　with　a　pipe　in　his　mouth。　But　for　the　man；　I　might　have
doubted　whether　the　pony　was　quite　a　stranger　to　me。　As　things
were；　I　thought　no　more　of　the　matter。

Benjamin's　respectable　old　housekeeper　opened　the　garden　gate；
and　startled　me　by　bursting　into　a　devout　ejaculation　of
gratitude　at　the　sight　of　her　master。　〃The　Lord　be　praised；　sir！〃
she　cried；　〃I　thought　you　would　never　come　back！〃

〃Anything　wrong？〃　asked　Benjamin；　in　his　own　impenetrably　quiet
way。

The　housekeeper　trembled　at　the　question；　and　answered　in　these
enigmatical　words：

〃My　mind's　upset；　sir；　and　whether　things　are　wrong　or　whether
things　are　right　is　more　than　I　can　say。　Hours　ago；　a　strange　man
came　in　and　asked〃she　stopped；　as　if　she　were　completely
bewilderedlooked　for　a　moment　vacantly　at　her　masterand
suddenly　addressed　herself　to　me。　〃And　asked；〃　she　proceeded；
〃when　_you_　was　expected　back；　ma'am。　I　told　him　what　my　master
had　telegraphed；　and　the　man　says　upon　that；　'Wait　a　bit；'　he
says；　'I'm　coming　back。'　He　came　back　in　a　minute　or　less；　and　he
carried　a　Thing　in　his　arms　which　curdled　my　bloodit　did！and
set　me　shaking　from　the　crown　of　my　head　to　the　sole　of　my　foot。
I　know　I　ought　to　have　stopped　it；　but　I　couldn't　stand　upon　my
legs；　much　less　put　the　man　out　of　the　house。　In　he　went；　without
'_with_　your　leave；'　or　'_by_　your　leave；'　Mr。　Benjamin；　sirin
he　went；　with　the　Thing　in　his　arms；　straight　through　to　your
library。　And　there　It　has　been　all　these　hours。　And　there　It　is
now。　I've　spoken　to　the　police；　but　they　wouldn't　interfere；　and
what　to　do　next　is　more　than　my　poor　head　can　tell。　Don't　you　go
in　by　yourself；　ma'am！　You'll　be　frightened　out　of　your　witsyou
will！〃

I　persisted　in　entering　the　house；　for　all　that。　Aided　by　the
pony；　I　easily　solved　the　mystery　of　the　housekeeper's　otherwise
unintelligible　narrative。　Passing　through　the　dining…room　（where
the　supper…table　was　already　laid　for　us）；　I　looked　through　the
half…opened　library　door。

Yes；　there　was　Miserrimus　Dexter；　arrayed　in　his　pink　jacket；
fast　asleep　in　Benjamin's　favorite　arm…chair！　No　coverlet　hid　his
horrible　deformity。　Nothing　was　sacrificed　to　conventional　ideas
of　propriety　in　his　extraordinary　dress。　I　could　hardly　wonder
that　the　poor　old　housekeeper　trembled　from　head　to　foot　when　she
spoke　of　him。

〃Valeria；〃　said　Benjamin；　pointing　to　the　Portent　in　the　chair。
〃Which　is　itan　Indian　idol；　or　a　man？〃

I　have　already　described　Miserrimus　Dexter　as　possessing　the
sensitive　ear　of　a　dog：　he　now　allowed　that　he　also　slept　the
light　sleep　of　a　dog。　Quietly　as　Benjamin　had　spoken；　the　strange
voice　aroused　him　on　the　instant。　He　rubbed　his　eyes；　and　smiled
as　innocently　as　a　waking　child。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mrs。　Valeria？〃　he　said。　〃I　have　had　a　nice　little
sleep。　You　don't　know　how　happy　I　am　to　see　you　again。　Who　is
this？〃）

He　rubbed　his　eyes　once　more！　and　looked　at　Benjamin。　Not　knowing
what　else　to　do　in　this　extraordinary　emergency；　I　presented　my
visitor　to　the　master　of　the　house。

〃Excuse　my　getting　up；　sir；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter。　〃I　can't　get
upI　have　no　legs。　You　look　as　if　you　thought　I　was　occupying
your　chair？　If　I　am　committing　an　intrusion；　be　so　good　as　to　put
your　umbrella　under　me；　and　give　me　a　jerk。　I　shall　fall　on　my
hands；　and　I　shan't　be　offended　with　you。　I　will　submit　to　a
tumble　and　a　scoldingbut　please　don't　break　my　heart　by　sending
me　away。　That　beautiful　woman　there　can　be　very　cruel　sometimes；
sir；　when　the　fit　takes　her。　She　went　away　when　I　stood　in　the
sorest　need　of　a　little　talk　with　hershe　went　away；　and　left　me
to　my　loneliness　and　my　suspense。　I　am　a　poor　deformed　wretch；
with　a　warm　heart；　and；　perhaps；　an　insatiable　curiosity　as　well。
Insatiable　curiosity　（have　you　ever　felt　it？）　is　a　curse。　I　bore
it　until　my　brains　began　to　boil　in　my　head；　and　then　I　sent　for
my　gardener；　and　made　him　drive　me　here。　I　like　being　here。　The
air　of　your　library　soothes　me；　the　sight　of　Mrs。　Valeria　is　balm
to　my　wounded　heart。　She　has　something　to　tell　mesomething　that
I　am　dying　to　hear。　If　she　is　not　too　tired　after　her　journey；
and　if　you　will　let　her　tell　it；　I　promise　to　have　myself　taken
away　when　she　has　done。　Dear　Mr。　Benjamin；　you　look　like　the
refuge　of　the　afflicted。　I　am　afflicted。　Shake　hands　like　a　good
Christian；　and　take　me　in。〃

He　held　out　his　hand。　His　soft　blue　eyes　melted　into　an
expression　of　piteous　entreaty。　Completely　stupefied　by　the
amazing　harangue　of　which　he　had　been　made　the　object；　Benjamin
took　the　offered　hand；　with　the　air　of　a　man　in　a　dream。　〃I　hope
I　see　you　well；　sir；〃　he　said；　mechanicallyand　then　looked
around　at　me；　to　know　what　he　was　to　do