the law and the lady-第50章

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I　see　you　well；　sir；〃　he　said；　mechanicallyand　then　looked
around　at　me；　to　know　what　he　was　to　do　next。

〃I　understand　Mr。　Dexter；〃　I　whispered。　〃Leave　him　to　me。〃

Benjamin　stole　a　last　bewildered　look　at　the　object　in　the　chair；
bowed　to　it；　with　the　instinct　of　politeness　which　never　failed
him；　and　（still　with　the　air　of　a　man　in　a　dream）　withdrew　into
the　next　room。

Left　together；　we　looked　at　each　other；　for　the　first　moment；　in
silence。

Whether　I　unconsciously　drew　on　that　inexhaustible　store　of
indulgence　which　a　woman　always　keeps　in　reserve　for　a　man　who
owns　that　he　has　need　of　her；　or　whether；　resenting　as　I　did　Mr。
Playmore's　horrible　suspicion　of　him；　my　heart　was　especially
accessible　to　feelings　of　compassion　in　his　unhappy　case；　I
cannot　tell。　I　only　know　that　I　pitied　Miserrimus　Dexter　at　that
moment　as　I　had　never　pitied　him　yet；　and　that　I　spared　him　the
reproof　which　I　should　certainly　have　administered　to　any　other
man　who　had　taken　the　liberty　of　establishing　himself；　uninvited；
in　Benjamin's　house。

He　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃Lady　Clarinda　has　destroyed　your　confidence　in　me！〃　he　began；
wildly。

〃Lady　Clarinda　has　done　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　I　replied。　〃She　has
not　attempted　to　influence　my　opinion。　I　was　really　obliged　to
leave　London；　as　I　told　you。〃

He　sighed；　and　closed　his　eyes　contentedly；　as　if　I　had　relieved
him　of　a　heavy　weight　of　anxiety。

〃Be　merciful　to　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　tell　me　something　more。　I　have
been　so　miserable　in　your　absence。〃　He　suddenly　opened　his　eyes
again；　and　looked　at　me　with　an　appearance　of　the　greatest
interest。　〃Are　you　very　much　fatigued　by　traveling？〃　he
proceeded。　〃I　am　hungry　for　news　of　what　happened　at　the　Major's
dinner　party。　Is　it　cruel　of　me　to　tell　you　so；　when　you　have　not
rested　after　your　journey？　Only　one　question　to…night；　and　I　will
leave　the　rest　till　to…morrow。　What　did　Lady　Clarinda　say　about
Mrs。　Beauly？　All　that　you　wanted　to　hear？〃

〃All；　and　more；〃　I　answered。

〃What？　what？　what？〃　he　cried　wild　with　impatience　in　a　moment。

Mr。　Playmore's　last　prophetic　words　were　vividly　present　to　my
mind。　He　had　declared；　in　the　most　positive　manner；　that　Dexter
would　persist　in　misleading　me；　and　would　show　no　signs　of
astonishment　when　I　repeated　what　Lady　Clarinda　had　told　me　of
Mrs。　Beauly。　I　resolved　to　put　the　lawyer's　prophecyso　far　as
the　question　of　astonishment　was　concernedto　the　sharpest
attainable　test。　I　said　not　a　word　to　Miserrimus　Dexter　in　the
way　of　preface　or　preparation：　I　burst　on　him　with　my　news　as
abruptly　as　possible。

〃The　person　you　saw　in　the　corridor　was　not　Mrs。　Beauly；〃　I　said。
〃It　was　the　maid；　dressed　in　her　mistress's　cloak　and　hat。　Mrs。
Beauly　herself　was　not　in　the　house　at　all。　Mrs。　Beauly　herself
was　dancing　at　a　masked　ball　in　Edinburgh。　There　is　what　the　maid
told　Lady　Clarinda；　and　there　is　what　Lady　Clarinda　told　_me。_〃

In　the　absorbing　interest　of　the　moment；　I　poured　out　those　words
one　after　another　as　fast　as　they　would　pass　my　lips。　Miserrimus
Dexter　completely　falsified　the　lawyer's　prediction。　He　shuddered
under　the　shock。　His　eyes　opened　wide　with　amazement。　〃Say　it
again！〃　he　cried。　〃I　can't　take　it　all　in　at　once。　You　stun　me。〃

I　was　more　than　contented　with　this　resultI　triumphed　in　my
victory。　For　once；　I　had　really　some　reason　to　feel　satisfied
with　myself。　I　had　taken　the　Christian　and　merciful　side　in　my
discussion　with　Mr。　Playmore；　and　I　had　won　my　reward。　I　could
sit　in　the　same　room　with　Miserrimus　Dexter；　and　feel　the　blessed
conviction　that　I　was　not　breathing　the　same　air　with　a　poisoner。
Was　it　not　worth　the　visit　to　Edinburgh　to　have　made　sure　of
that？

In　repeating；　at　his　own　desire；　what　I　had　already　said　to　him；
I　took　care　to　add　the　details　which　made　Lady　Clarinda's
narrative　coherent　and　credible。　He　listened　throughout　with
breathless　attentionhere　and　there　repeating　the　words　after
me；　to　impress　them　the　more　surely　and　the　more　deeply　on　his
mind。

〃What　is　to　be　said？　what　is　to　be　done？〃　he　asked；　with　a　look
of　blank　despair。　〃I　can't　disbelieve　it。　From　first　to　last；
strange　as　it　is；　it　sounds　true。〃

（How　would　Mr。　Playmore　have　felt　if　he　had　heard　those　words？　I
did　him　the　justice　to　believe　that　he　would　have　felt　heartily
ashamed　of　himself。）

〃There　is　nothing　to　be　said；〃　I　rejoined；　〃except　that　Mrs。
Beauly　is　innocent；　and　that　you　and　I　have　done　her　a　grievous
wrong。　Don't　you　agree　with　me？〃

〃I　entirely　agree　with　you；〃　he　answered；　without　an　instant's
hesitation。　〃Mrs。　Beauly　is　an　innocent　woman。　The　defense　at　the
Trial　was　the　right　defense　after　all。〃

He　folded　his　arms　complacently；　he　looked　perfectly　satisfied　to
leave　the　matter　there。

I　was　not　of　his　mind。　To　my　own　amazement；　I　now　found　myself
the　least　reasonable　person　of　the　two！

Miserrimus　Dexter　（to　use　the　popular　phrase）　had　given　me　more
than　I　had　bargained　for。　He　had　not　only　done　all　that　I　had
anticipated　in　the　way　of　falsifying　Mr。　Playmore's
predictionhe　had　actually　advanced　beyond　my　limits。　I　could　go
the　length　of　recognizing　Mrs。　Beauly's　innocence；　but　at　that
point　I　stopped。　If　the　Defense　at　the　Trial　were　the　right
defense；　farewell　to　all　hope　of　asserting　my　husband's
innocence。　I　held　to　that　hope　as　I　held　to　my　love　and　my　life。

〃Speak　for　yourself；〃　I　said。　〃My　opinion　of　the　Defense　remains
unchanged。〃

He　started；　and　knit　his　brows　as　if　I　had　disappointed　and
displeased　him。

〃Does　that　mean　that　you　are　determined　to　go　on？〃

〃It　does。〃

He　was　downright　angry　with　me。　He　cast　his　customary　politeness
to　the　winds。

〃Absurd！　impossible！〃　he　cried；　contemptuously。　〃You　have
yourself　declared　that　we　wronged　an　innocent　woman　when　we
suspected　Mrs。　Beauly。　Is　there　any　one　else　whom　we　can　suspect？
It　is　ridiculous　to　ask　the　question。　There　is　no　alternative
left　but　to　accept　the　facts　as　they　are；　and　to　stir　no　further
in　the　matter　of　the　poisoning　at　Gleninch。　It　is　childish　to
dispute　plain　conclusions。　You　must　give　up。〃

〃You　may　be　angry　with　me　if　you　will；　Mr。　Dexter。　Neither　your
anger　nor　your　arguments　will　make　me　give　up。〃

He　controlled　himself　by　an　efforthe　was　quiet　and　polite　again
when　he　next　spoke　to　me。

〃Very　well。　Pardon　me　for　a　moment　if　I　absorb　myself　in　my　own
thoughts。　I　want　to　do　something　which　I　have　not　done　yet。〃

〃What　may　that　be；　Mr。　Dexter？〃

〃I　am　going　to　put　myself　into　Mrs。　Beauly's　skin；　and　to　think
with　Mrs。　Beauly's　mind。　Give　me　a　minute。　Thank　you。〃

What　did　he　mean？　what　new　transformation　of　him　was　passing
before　my　eyes？　Was　there　ever　such　a　puzzle　of　a　man　as　this？
Who　that　saw　him　now；　intently　pursuing　his　new　train　of　thought；
would　have　recognized　him　as　the　childish　creature　who
　had　awoke　so　innocently；　and　had　astonished　Benjamin　by　the
infantine　nonsense　which　he　talked？　It　is　said；　and　said　truly；
that　there　are　many　sides　to　every　human　character。　Dexter's　many
sides　were　developing　themselves　at　such　a　rapid　rate　of　progress
that　they　were　already　beyond　my　counting。

He　lifted　his　head；　and　fixed　a　look　of　keen　inquiry　on　me。

〃I　have　come　out　of　Mrs。　Beauly's　skin；〃　he　announced。　〃And　I
have　arrived　at　this　result：　We　are　two　impetuous　people；　and　we
have　been　a　little　hasty　in　rushing　at　a　conclusion。〃

He　stopped。　I　said　nothing。　Was　the　shadow　of　a　doubt　of　him
beginning　to　rise　in　my　mind？　I　waited；　and　listened。

〃I　am　as　fully　satisfied　as　ever　of　the　truth　of　what　Lady
Clarinda　told　you；　he　proceeded。　〃But　I　see；　on　consideration；
what　I　failed　to　see　at　the　time。　The　story　admits　of　two
interpretationsone　on　the　surface；　and　another　under　the
surface。　I　look　under　the　surface；　in　your　interests；　and　I　say；
it　is　just　possible　that　Mrs。　Beauly　may　have　been　cunning　enough
to　forestall　suspicion；　and　to　set　up　an　Alibi。〃

I　am　ashamed　to　own　that　I　did　not　understand　what　he　meant　by
the　last　wordAlibi。　He　saw　that　I　was　not　following　him；　and
spoke　out　more　plainly。

〃Was　the　maid　something　more　than　her　mistress's　passive
accomplice？〃　he　said。　〃Was　she　the　Hand　that　her　mistress　used？
Was　she　on　her　way　to　give　the　first　dose　of　poison　when　she
passed　me　in　this　corridor？　Did　Mrs。　Beauly　spend　the　night　in
Edinburghso　as　to　have　her　defense　ready；　if　suspicion　fell
upon　her？〃

My　shadowy　doubt　of　him　became　substantial　doubt　when　I　heard
that。　Had　I　absolved　him　a　little　too　readily？　Was　he　really
trying　to　renew　my　suspicions　of　Mrs。　Beauly；　as　Mr。　Playmore　had
foretold？　This　time　I　was　obliged　to　answer　him。　In　doing　so；　I
unconsciously　employed　one　of　the　phrases　which　the　lawyer　had
used　to　me　during　my　first　interview　with　him。

〃That　sounds　rather　far…fetched；　Mr。　Dexter；〃　I　said。

To　my　relief；　he　made　no　attempt　to　defend　the　new　view　that　he
had　advanced。

〃It　is　far…fetched；〃　he　admitted。　〃When　I　said　it　was　just
possiblethough　I　didn't　claim　much　for　my　ideaI　said　more　for
it　perhaps　than　it　deserved。　Dismiss　my　view　as　ridiculous；　what
are　you　to　do　next？　If　Mrs。　Beauly　is　not　the　poisoner　（either　by
herself　or　by　her　maid）；　who　is？　She　is　innocent；　and　Eustace　is
innocent。　Where　is　the　other　person　whom　you　can　suspect？　Have
_I_　poisoned　her？〃　he　cried；　with　his　eyes　flashing；　and　his
voice　rising　to　its　highest　notes。　〃Do　you；　does　anybody；　suspect
Me？　I　loved　her；　I　adored　her；　I　have　never　been　the　same　man
since　her　death。　Hush！　I　will　trust　you　with　a　secret。　（Don't
tell　your　husband；　it　might　be　the　destruction　of　our
friendship。）　I　would　have　married　her；　before　she　met　with
Eustace；　if　she　would　have　taken　me。　When　the　doctors　told　me　she
had　died　poisonedask　Doctor　Jerome　what　I　suffered；　_he_　can
tell　you！　All　through　that　horrible　night　I　was　awake；　watching
my　opportunity　until　I　found　my　way　to　her。　I　got　into　the　room；
and　took　my　last　leave　of　the　cold　remains　of　the　angel　whom　I
loved。　I　cried　over　her。　I　kissed　her。　for　the　first　and　last
time。　I　stole　one　little　lock　of　her　hair。　I　have　worn　it　ever
since；　I　have　kissed　it　night　and　day。　Oh；　God！　the　room　comes
back　to　me！　the　dead　face　comes　back　to　me！　Look！　look！〃

He　tore　from　its　place　of　concealment　in　his　bosom　a　little
locket；　fastened　by　a　ribbon　around　his　neck。　He　threw　it　to　me
where　I　sat；　and　burst　into　a　passion　of　tears。

A　man　in　my　place　might　have　known　what　to　do。　Being　only　a
woman；　I　yielded　to　the　compassionate　impulse　of　the　moment。

I　got　up　and　crossed　the　room　to　him。　I　gave　him　back　his　locket；
and　put　my　hand；　without　knowing　what　I　was　about；　on　the　poor
wretch's　shoulder。　〃I　am　incapable　of　suspecting　you；　Mr。
Dexter；〃　I　said；　gently。　〃No　such　idea　ever　entered　my　head。　I
pity　you　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart。〃

He　caught　my　hand　in　his；　and　devoured　it　with　kisses。　His　lips
burned　me　like　fire。　He　twisted　himself　suddenly　in　the　chair；
and　wound　his　arm　around　my　waist。　In　the　terror　and　indignation
of　the　moment；　vainly　struggling　with　him；　I　cried　out　for　help。

The　door　opened；　and　Benjamin　appeared　on　the　threshold。

Dexter　let　go　his　hold　of　me。

I　ran　to　Benjamin；　and　prevented　him　from　advancing　into　the
room。　In　all　my　long　exp