the law and the lady-第51章

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I　ran　to　Benjamin；　and　prevented　him　from　advancing　into　the
room。　In　all　my　long　experience　of　my　fatherly　old　friend　I　had
never　seen　him　really　angry　yet。　I　saw　him　more　than　angry　now。
He　was　palethe　patient；　gentle　old　man　was　pale　with　rage！　I
held　him　at　the　door　with　all　my　strength。

〃You　can't　lay　your　hand　on　a　cripple；〃　I　said。　Send　for　the　man
outside　to　take　him　a　way。

I　drew　Benjamin　out　of　the　room；　and　closed　and　locked　the
library　door。　The　housekeeper　was　in　the　dining…room。　I　sent　her
out　to　call　the　driver　of　the　pony…chaise　into　the　house。

The　man　came　inthe　rough　man　whom　I　had　noticed　when　we　were
approaching　the　garden　gate。　Benjamin　opened　the　library　door　in
stern　silence。　It　was　perhaps　unworthy　of　me；　but　I　could　_not_
resist　the　temptation　to　look　in。

Miserrimus　Dexter　had　sunk　down　in　the　chair。　The　rough　man
lifted　his　master　with　a　gentleness　that　surprised　me。　〃Hide　my
face；〃　I　heard　Dexter　say　to　him；　in　broken　tones。　He　opened　his
coarse　pilot…jacket；　and　hid　his　master's　head　under　it；　and　so
went　silently　outwith　the　deformed　creature　held　to　his　bosom；
like　a　woman　sheltering　her　child。



CHAPTER　XXXVI。

ARIEL。

I　PASSED　a　sleepless　night。

The　outrage　that　had　been　offered　to　me　was　bad　enough　in　itself。
But　consequences　were　associated　with　it　which　might　affect　me
more　seriously　still。　In　so　far　as　the　attainment　of　the　one
object　of　my　life　might　yet　depend　on　my　personal　association
with　Miserrimus　Dexter；　an　insurmountable　obstacle　appeared　to　be
now　placed　in　my　way。　Even　in　my　husband's　interests；　ought　I　to
permit　a　man　who　had　grossly　insulted　me　to　approach　me　again？
Although　I　was　no　prude；　I　recoiled　from　the　thought　of　it。

I　arose　late；　and　sat　down　at　my　desk；　trying　to　summon　energy
enough　to　write　to　Mr。　Playmoreand　trying　in　vain。

Toward　noon　（while　Benjamin　happened　to　be　out　for　a　little
while）　the　housekeeper　announced　the　arrival　of　another　strange
visitor　at　the　gate　of　the　villa。

〃It's　a　woman　this　time；　ma'amor　something　like　one；〃　said　this
worthy　person；　confidentially。　〃A　great；　stout；　awkward；　stupid
creature；　with　a　man's　hat　on　and　a　man's　stick　in　her　hand。　She
says　she　has　got　a　note　for　you；　and　she　won't　give　it　to　anybody
_but_　you。　I'd　better　not　let　her　inhad　I？〃

Recognizing　the　original　of　the　picture；　I　astonished　the
housekeeper　by　consenting　to　receive　the　messenger　immediately。

Ariel　entered　the　roomin　stolid　silence；　as　usual。　But　I
noticed　a　change　in　her　which　puzzled　me。　Her　dull　eyes　were　red
and　bloodshot。　Traces　of　tears　（as　I　fancied）　were　visible　on　her
fat；　shapeless　cheeks。　She　crossed　the　room；　on　her　way　to　my
chair；　with　a　less　determined　tread　than　was　customary　with　her。
Could　Ariel　（I　asked　myself）　be　woman　enough　to　cry？　Was　it
within　the　limits　of　possibility　that　Ariel　should　approach　me　in
sorrow　and　in　fear？

〃I　hear　you　have　brought　something　for　me？〃　I　said。　〃Won't　you
sit　down？〃

She　handed　me　a　letterwithout　answering　and　without　taking　a
chair。　I　opened　the　envelope。　The　letter　inside　was　written　by
Miserrimus　Dexter。　It　contained　these　lines：


　〃Try　to　pity　me；　if　you　have　any　pity　left　for　a　miserable　man；
I　have　bitterly　expiated　the　madness　of　a　moment。　If　you　could
see　meeven　you　would　own　that　my　punishment　has　been　heavy
enough。　For　God's　sake；　don't　abandon　me！　I　was　beside　myself
when　I　let　the　feeling　that　you　have　awakened　in　me　get　the
better　of　my　control。　It　shall　never　show　itself　again；　it　shall
be　a　secret　that　dies　with　me。　Can　I　expect　you　to　believe　this？
No。　I　won't　ask　you　to　believe　me；　I　won't　ask　you　to　trust　me　in
the　future。　If　you　ever　consent　to　see　me　again；　let　it　be　in　the
presence　of　any　third　person　whom　you　may　appoint　to　protect　you。
I　deserve　thatI　will　submit　to　it；　I　will　wait　till　time　has
composed　your　　angry　feeling　against　me。　All　I　ask　now　is　leav　e
to　hope。　Say　to　Ariel；　'I　forgive　him；　and　one　day　I　will　let　him
see　me　again。'　She　will　remember　it；　for　love　of　me。　If　you　send
her　back　without　a　message；　you　send　me　to　the　mad…house。　Ask
her；　if　you　don't　believe　me。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃MISERRIMUS　DEXTER。〃

　I　finished　the　strange　letter；　and　looked　at　Ariel。

She　stood　with　her　eyes　on　the　floor；　and　held　out　to　me　the
thick　walking…stick　which　she　carried　in　her　hand。

〃Take　the　stick〃　were　the　first　words　she　said　to　me。

〃Why　am　I　to　take　it？〃　I　asked。

She　struggled　a　little　with　her　sluggishly　working　mind；　and
slowly　put　her　thoughts　into　words。

〃You're　angry　with　the　Master；〃　she　said。　〃Take　it　out　on　Me。
Here's　the　stick。　Beat　me。〃

〃Beat　you！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃My　back's　broad；〃　said　the　poor　creature。　〃I　won't　make　a　row。
I'll　bear　it。　Drat　you；　take　the　stick！　Don't　vex　_him。_　Whack　it
out　on　my　back。　Beat　_me。_〃

She　roughly　forced　the　stick　into　my　hand；　she　turned　her　poor
shapeless　shoulders　to　me；　waiting　for　the　blow。　It　was　at　once
dreadful　and　touching　to　see　her。　The　tears　rose　in　my　eyes。　I
tried；　gently　and　patiently；　to　reason　with　her。　Quite　useless！
The　idea　of　taking　the　Master's　punishment　on　herself　was　the　one
idea　in　her　mind。　〃Don't　vex　_him；_〃　she　repeated。　〃Beat　_me。_〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　'vexing　him'？〃　I　asked。

She　tried　to　explain；　and　failed　to　find　the　words。　She　showed　me
by　imitation；　as　a　savage　might　have　shown　me；　what　she　meant。
Striding　to　the　fire…place；　she　crouched　on　the　rug；　and　looked
into　the　fire　with　a　horrible　vacant　stare。　Then　she　clasped　her
hands　over　her　forehead；　and　rocked　slowly　to　and　fro；　still
staring　into　the　fire。　〃There's　how　he　sits！〃　she　said；　with　a
sudden　burst　of　speech。　〃Hours　on　hours；　there's　how　he　sits！
Notices　nobody。　Cries　about　_you。_〃

The　picture　she　presented　recalled　to　my　memory　the　Report　of
Dexter's　health；　and　the　doctor's　plain　warning　of　peril　waiting
for　him　in　the　future。

Even　if　I　could　have　resisted　Ariel；　I　must　have　yielded　to　the
vague　dread　of　consequences　which　now　shook　me　in　secret。

〃Don't　do　that！〃　I　cried。　She　was　still　rocking　herself　in
imitation　of　the　〃Master；〃　and　still　staring　into　the　fire　with
her　hands　to　her　head。　〃Get　up；　pray！　I　am　not　angry　with　him
now。　I　forgive　him。〃

She　rose　on　her　hands　and　knees；　and　waited；　looking　up　intently
into　my　face。　In　that　attitudemore　like　a　dog　than　a　human
beingshe　repeated　her　customary　petition　when　she　wanted　to　fix
words　that　interested　her　in　her　mind。

〃Say　it　again！〃

I　did　as　she　bade　me。　She　was　not　satisfied。

〃Say　it　as　it　is　in　the　letter；〃　she　went　on。　〃Say　it　as　the
Master　said　it　to　Me。〃

I　looked　back　at　the　letter；　and　repeated　the　form　of　message
contained　in　the　latter　part　of　it；　word　for　word：

〃I　forgive　him；　and　one　day　I　will　let　him　see　me　again。〃

She　sprang　to　her　feet　at　a　bound。　For　the　first　time　since　she
had　entered　the　room　her　dull　face　began　to　break　slowly　into
light　and　life。

〃That's　it！〃　she　cried。　〃Hear　if　I　can　say　it；　too；　hear　if　I've
got　it　by　heart。〃

Teaching　her　exactly　as　I　should　have　taught　a　child；　I　slowly
fastened　the　message；　word　by　word；　on　her　mind。

〃Now　rest　yourself；〃　I　said；　〃and　let　me　give　you　something　to
eat　and　drink　after　your　long　walk。〃

I　might　as　well　have　spoken　to　one　of　the　chairs。　She　snatched　up
her　stick　from　the　floor；　and　burst　out　with　a　hoarse　shout　of
joy。　〃I've　got　it　by　heart！〃　she　cried。　〃This　will　cool　the
Master's　head！　Hooray！〃　She　dashed　out　into　the　passage　like　a
wild　animal　escaping　from　its　cage。　I　was　just　in　time　to　see　her
tear　open　the　garden　gate；　and　set　forth　on　her　walk　back　at　a
pace　which　made　it　hopeless　to　attempt　to　follow　and　stop　her。

I　returned　to　the　sitting…room；　pondering　on　a　question　which　has
perplexed　wiser　heads　than　mine。　Could　a　man　who　was　hopelessly
and　entirely　wicked　have　inspired　such　devoted　attachment　to　him
as　Dexter　had　inspired　in　the　faithful　woman　who　had　just　left
me？　in　the　rough　gardener　who　had　carried　him　out　so　gently　on
the　previous　night？　Who　can　decide？　The　greatest　scoundrel　living
always　has　a　friendin　a　woman　or　a　dog。

I　sat　down　again　at　my　desk；　and　made　another　attempt　to　write　to
Mr。　Playmore。

Recalling；　for　the　purpose　of　my　letter；　all　that　Miserrimus
Dexter　had　said　to　me；　my　memory　dwelt　with　special　interest　on
the　strange　outbreak　of　feeling　which　had　led　him　to　betray　the
secret　of　his　infatuation　for　Eustace's　first　wife。　I　saw　again
the　ghastly　scene　in　the　death…chamberthe　deformed　creature
crying　over　the　corpse　in　the　stillness　of　the　first　dark　hours
of　the　new　day。　The　horrible　picture　took　a　strange　hold　on　my
mind。　I　arose；　and　walked　up　and　down；　and　tried　to　turn　my
thoughts　some　other　way。　It　was　not　to　be　done：　the　scene　was　too
familiar　to　me　to　be　easily　dismissed。　I　had　myself　visited　the
room　and　looked　at　the　bed。　I　had　myself　walked　in　the　corridor
which　Dexter　had　crossed　on　his　way　to　take　his　last　leave　of
her。

The　corridor？　I　stopped。　My　thoughts　suddenly　took　a　new
direction；　uninfluenced　by　any　effort　of　my　will。

What　other　association　besides　the　association　with　Dexter　did　I
connect　with　the　corridor？　Was　it　something　I　had　seen　during　my
visit　to　Gleninch？　No。　Was　it　something　I　had　read？　I　snatched　up
the　Report　of　the　Trial　to　see。　It　opened　at　a　page　which
contained　the　nurse's　evidence。　I　read　the　evidence　through
again；　without　recovering　the　lost　remembrance　until　I　came　to
these　lines　close　at　the　end：

　〃Before　bed…time　I　went　upstairs　to　prepare　the　remains　of　the
deceased　lady　for　the　coffin。　The　room　in　which　she　lay　was
locked；　the　door　leading　into　Mr。　Macallan's　room　being　secured；
as　well　as　the　door　leading　into　the　corridor。　The　keys　had　been
taken　away　by　Mr。　Gale。　Two　of　the　men…servants　were　posted
outside　the　bedroom　to　keep　watch。　They　were　to　be　relieved　at
four　in　the　morningthat　was　all　they　could　tell　me。〃

　There　was　my　lost　association　with　the　corridor！　There　was　what
I　ought　to　have　remembered　when　Miserrimus　Dexter　was　telling　me
of　his　visit　to　the　dead！

How　had　he　got　into　the　bedroomthe　doors　being　locked；　and　the
keys　being　taken　away　by　Mr。　Gale？　There　was　but　one　of　the
locked　doors　of　which　Mr。　Gale　had　not　got　the　keythe　door　of
communication　between　the　study　and　the　bedroom。　The　key　was
missing　from　this。　Had　it　been　stolen？　And　was　Dexter　the　thief？
He　might　have　passed　by　the　men　on　the　watch　while　they　were
asleep；　or　he　might　have　crossed　the　corridor　in　an　unguarded
interval　while　the　men　were　being　relieved。　But　how　could　he　have
got　into　the　bedchamber　except　by　way　of　the　locked　study　door？
He　_must_　have　had　the　key！　And　he　_must_　have　secreted　it　weeks
before　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan's　death！　When　the　nurse　first
arrived　at　Gleninch；　on　the　seventh　of　the　month；　her　evidence
declared　the　key　of　the　door　of　communication　to　be　then　missing。

To　what　conclusion　did　these　considerations　and　discoveries
point？　Had　Miserrimus　Dexter；　in　a　moment　of　ungovernable
agitation；　unconsciously　placed　the　clew　in　my　hands？　Was　the
pivot　on　which　turned　the　whole　mystery　of　the　poisoning　at
Gleninch　the　missing　key？

I　went　back　for　the　third　time　to　my