the law and the lady-第55章

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Person；　ma'am；　and　I　hope　to　be　excused　if　I　venture　to　say　that
the　subject　is　（for　good　reasons）　extremely　disagreeable　to　me。〃

She　made　a　formal　courtesy；　and　quitted　the　room。

Left　by　myself；　I　felt　more　anxious　and　more　uncertain　than　ever
when　I　thought　of　the　experiment　that　was　to　be　tried　on　the　next
day。　Making　due　allowance　for　exaggeration；　the　description　of
Miserrimus　Dexter　on　his　departure　from　Mrs。　Macallan's　house
suggested　that　he　had　not　endured　my　long　absence　very　patiently；
and　that　he　was　still　as　far　as　ever　from　giving　his　shatt　ered
nervous　system　its　fair　chance　of　repose。

The　next　morning　brought　me　Mr。　Playmore's　reply　to　the　letter
which　I　had　addressed　to　him　from　Paris。

He　wrote　very　briefly；　neither　approving　nor　blaming　my　decision；
but　strongly　reiterating　his　opinion　that　I　should　do　well　to
choose　a　competent　witness　as　my　companion　at　my　coming　interview
with　Dexter。　The　most　interesting　part　of　the　letter　was　at　the
end。　〃You　must　be　prepared；〃　Mr。　Playmore　wrote；　〃to　see　a　change
for　the　worse　in　Dexter。　A　friend　of　mine　was　with　him　on　a
matter　of　business　a　few　days　since；　and　was　struck　by　the
alteration　in　him。　Your　presence　is　sure　to　have　its　effect；　one
way　or　another。　I　can　give　you　no　instructions　for　managing
himyou　must　be　guided　by　the　circumstances。　Your　own　tact　will
tell　you　whether　it　is　wise　or　not　to　encourage　him　to　speak　of
the　late　Mrs。　Eustace。　The　chances　of　his　betraying　himself　all
revolve　（as　I　think）　round　that　one　topic：　keep　him　to　it　if　you
can。〃　To　this　was　added；　in　a　postscript：　〃Ask　Mr。　Benjamin　if　he
were　near　enough　to　the　library　door　to　hear　Dexter　tell　you　of
his　entering　the　bedchamber　on　the　night　of　Mrs。　Eustace
Macallan's　death。〃

I　put　the　question　to　Benjamin　when　we　met　at　the　luncheon…table
before　setting　forth　for　the　distant　suburb　in　which　Miserrimus
Dexter　lived。　My　old　friend　disapproved　of　the　contemplated
expedition　as　strongly　as　ever。　He　was　unusually　grave　and
unusually　sparing　of　his　words　when　he　answered　me。

〃I　am　no　listener；〃　he　said。　〃But　some　people　have　voices　which
insist　on　being　heard。　Mr。　Dexter　is　one　of　them。〃

〃Does　that　mean　that　you　heard　him？〃　I　asked。

〃The　door　couldn't　muffle　him；　and　the　wall　couldn't　muffle　him；〃
Benjamin　rejoined。　〃I　heard　himand　I　thought　it　infamous。
There！〃

〃I　may　want　you　to　do　more　than　hear　him　this　time；〃　I　ventured
to　say。　〃I　may　want　you　to　make　notes　of　our　conversation　while
Mr。　Dexter　is　speaking　to　me。　You　used　to　write　down　what　my
father　said；　when　he　was　dictating　his　letters　to　you。　Have　you
got　one　of　your　little　note…books　to　spare？〃

Benjamin　looked　up　from　his　plate　with　an　aspect　of　stern
surprise。

〃It's　one　thing；〃　he　said；　〃to　write　under　the　dictation　of　a
great　merchant；　conducting　a　vast　correspondence　by　which
thousands　of　pounds　change　hands　in　due　course　of　post。　And　it's
another　thing　to　take　down　the　gibberish　of　a　maundering　mad
monster　who　ought　to　be　kept　in　a　cage。　Your　good　father；
Valeria；　would　never　have　asked　me　to　do　that。〃

〃Forgive　me；　Benjamin；　I　must　really　ask　you　to　do　it。　You　may　be
of　the　greatest　possible　use　to　me。　Come；　give　way　this　once；
dear；　for　my　sake。〃

Benjamin　looked　down　again　at　his　plate；　with　a　rueful
resignation　which　told　me　that　I　had　carried　my　point。

〃I　have　been　tied　to　her　apron…string　all　my　life；〃　I　heard　him
grumble　to　himself；　〃and　it's　too　late　in　the　day　to　get　loose
from　her　how。〃　He　looked　up　again　at　me。　〃I　thought　I　had　retired
from　business；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　seems　I　must　turn　clerk　again。
Well？　What　is　the　new　stroke　of　work　that's　expected　from　me　this
time？〃

The　cab　was　announced　to　be　waiting　for　us　at　the　gate　as　he
asked　the　question。　I　rose　and　took　his　arm；　and　gave　him　a
grateful　kiss　on　his　rosy　old　cheek。

〃Only　two　things；〃　I　said。　〃Sit　down　behind　Mr。　Dexter's　chair；
so　that　he　can't　see　you。　But　take　care　to　place　yourself；　at　the
same　time；　so　that　you　can　see　me。〃

〃The　less　I　see　of　Mr。　Dexter　the　better　I　shall　be　pleased；〃
growled　Benjamin。　〃What　am　I　to　do　after　I　have　taken　my　place
behind　him？〃

〃You　are　to　wait　until　I　make　you　a　sign；　and　when　you　see　it　you
are　to　begin　writing　down　in　your　note…book　what　Mr。　Dexter　is
sayingand　you　are　to　go　on　until　I　make　another　sign；　which
means；　Leave　off！〃

〃Well？〃　said　Benjamin；　〃what's　the　sign　for　Begin？　and　what's　the
sign　for　Leave　off？〃

I　was　not　quite　prepared　with　an　answer　to　this。　I　asked　him　to
help　me　with　a　hint。　No！　Benjamin　would　take　no　active　part　in
the　matter。　He　was　resigned　to　be　employed　in　the　capacity　of
passive　instrumentand　there　all　concession　ended；　so　far　as　he
was　concerned。

Left　to　my　own　resources；　I　found　it　no　easy　matter　to　invent　a
telegraphic　system　which　should　sufficiently　inform　Benjamin；
without　awakening　Dexter's　quick　suspicion。　I　looked　into　the
glass　to　see　if　I　could　find　the　necessary　suggestion　in　anything
that　I　wore。　My　earrings　supplied　me　with　the　idea　of　which　I　was
in　search。

〃I　shall　take　care　to　sit　in　an　arm…chair；〃　I　said。　〃When　you　see
me　rest　my　elbow　on　the　chair；　and　lift　my　hand　to　my　earring；　as
if　I　were　playing　with　itwrite　down　what　he　says；　and　go　on
untilwell；　suppose　we　say；　until　you　hear　me　move　my　chair。　At
that　sound；　stop。　You　understand　me？〃

〃I　understand　you。〃

We　started　for　Dexter's　house。



CHAPTER　XL。

NEMESIS　AT　LAST。

　THE　gardener　opened　the　gate　to　us　on　this　occasion。　He　had
evidently　received　his　orders　in　anticipation　of　my　arrival。

〃Mrs。　Valeria？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes。〃

〃And　friend？〃

〃And　friend。〃

〃Please　to　step　upstairs。　You　know　the　house。〃

Crossing　the　hall；　I　stopped　for　a　moment；　and　looked　at　a
favorite　walking…cane　which　Benjamin　still　kept　in　his　hand。

〃Your　cane　will　only　be　in　your　way；〃　I　said。　〃Had　you　not　better
leave　it　here？〃

〃My　cane　may　be　useful　upstairs；〃　retorted　Benjamin；　gruffly。
〃_I_　haven't　forgotten　what　happened　in　the　library。〃

It　was　no　time　to　contend　with　him。　I　led　the　way　up　the　stairs。

Arriving　at　the　upper　flight　of　steps；　I　was　startled　by　hearing
a　sudden　cry　from　the　room　above。　It　was　like　the　cry　of　a　person
in　pain；　and　it　was　twice　repeated　before　we　entered　the　circular
antechamber。　I　was　the　first　to　approach　the　inner　room；　and　to
see　the　many…sided　Miserrimus　Dexter　in　another　new　aspect　of　his
character。

The　unfortunate　Ariel　was　standing　before　a　table；　with　a　dish　of
little　cakes　placed　in　front　of　her。　Round　each　of　her　wrists　was
tied　a　string；　the　free　ends　of　which　（at　a　distance　of　a　few
yards）　were　held　in　Miserrimus　Dexter's　hands。　〃Try　again；　my
beauty！〃　I　heard　him　say；　as　I　stopped　on　the　threshold　of　the
door。　〃Take　a　cake。〃　At　the　word　of　command；　Ariel　submissively
stretched　out　one　arm　toward　the　dish。　Just　as　she　touched　a　cake
with　the　tips　of　her　fingers　her　hand　was　jerked　away　by　a　pull
at　the　string；　so　savagely　cruel　in　the　nimble　and　devilish
violence　of　it　that　I　felt　inclined　to　snatch　Benjamin's　cane　out
of　his　hand　and　break　it　over　Miserrimus　Dexter's　back。　Ariel
suffered　the　pain　this　time　in　Spartan　silence。　The　position　in
which　she　stood　enabled　her　to　be　the　first　to　see　me　at　the
door。　She　had　discovered　me。　Her　teeth　were　set；　her　face　was
flushed　under　the　struggle　to　restrain　herself。　Not　even　a　sigh
escaped　her　in　my　presence。

〃Drop　the　string！〃　I　called　out；　indignantly　〃Release　her；　Mr。
Dexter；　or　I　shall　leave　the　house。〃

At　the　sound　of　my　voice　he　burst　out　with　a　shrill　cry　of
welcome。　His　eyes　fastened　on　me　with　a　fierce；　devouring
delight。

〃Come　in！　come　in！〃　he　cried。　〃See　what　I　am　reduced　to　in　the
maddening　suspense　of　waiting　for　you。　See　how　I　kill　the　time
when　the　time　parts　us。　Come　in！　come　in！　I　am　in　one　of　my
malicious　humors　this　morning；　caused　entirely；　Mrs。　Valeria；　by
my　anxiety　to　see　you。　When　I　am　in　my　malicious　humors　I　must
tease　something。　I　am　teasing　Ariel。　Look　at　her！　She　has　had
nothing　to　eat　all　day；　and　she　hasn't　been　quick　enough　to
snatch　a　morsel　of　cake　yet。　You　needn't　pity　her。　Ariel　has　no
nervesI　don't　hurt　her。〃

〃Ariel　has　no　nerves；〃　echoed　the　poor　creature；　frowning　at　me
for　interfering　between　her　master　and　herself。　〃He　doesn't　hurt
me。〃

I　heard　Benjamin　beginning　to　swing　his　cane　behind　him。

〃Drop　the　string！〃　I　reiterated；　more　vehemently　than　ever。　〃Drop
it；　or　I　shall　instantly　leave　you。〃

Miserrimus　Dexter's　delicate　nerves　shuddered　at　my　violence。
〃What　a　glorious　voice！〃　he　exclaimedand　dropped　the　string。
〃Take　the　cakes；〃　he　added；　addressing　Ariel　in　his　most　imperial
manner。

She　passed　me；　with　the　strings　hanging　from　her　swollen　wrists；
and　the　dish　of　cakes　in　her　hand。　She　nodded　her　head　at　me
defiantly。

〃Ariel　has　got　no　nerves；〃　she　repeated；　proudly。　〃He　doesn't
hurt　me。〃

〃You　see；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter；　〃there　is　no　harm　doneand　I
dropped　the　strings　when　you　told　me。　Don't　_begin_　by　being　hard
on　me；　Mrs。　Valeria；　after　your　long　absence。〃　He　paused。
Benjamin；　standing　silent　in　the　doorway；　attracted　his　attention
for　the　first　time。　〃Who　is　this？〃　he　asked；　and　wheeled　his
chair　suspiciously　nearer　to　the　door。　〃I　know！〃　he　cried；　before
I　could　answer。　〃This　is　the　benevolent　gentleman　who　looked　like
the　refuge　of　the　afflicted　when　I　saw　him　last。You　have
altered　for　the　worse　since　then；　sir。　You　have　stepped　into
quite　a　new　characteryou　personify　Retributive　Justice
now。Your　new　protector；　Mrs。　ValeriaI　understand！〃　He　bowed
low　to　Benjamin；　with　ferocious　irony。　〃Your　humble　servant；　Mr。
Retributive　Justice！　I　have　deserved　youand　I　submit　to　you。
Walk　in；　sir！　I　will　take　care　that　your　new　office　shall　be　a
sinecure。　This　lady　is　the　Light　of　my　Life。　Catch　me　failing　in
respect　to　her　if　you　can！〃　He　backed　his　chair　before　Benjamin
（who　listened　to　him　in　contemptuous　silence）　until　he　reached
the　part　of　the　room　in　which　I　was　standing。　〃Your　hand；　Light
of　my　Life！〃　he　murmured　in　his　gentlest　tones。　〃Your　handonly
to　show　that　you　have　forgiven　me！〃　I　gave　him　my　hand。　〃One？〃　he
whispered；　entreatingly。　〃Only　one？〃　He　kissed　my　hand　once；
respectfullyand　dropped　it　with　a　heavy　sigh。　〃Ah；　poor
Dexter！〃　he　said；　pitying　himself　with　the　whole　sincerity　of　his
egotism。　〃A　warm　heartwasted　in　solitude；　mocked　by　deformity。
Sad！　sad！　Ah；　poor　Dexter！〃　He　looked　round　again　at　Benjamin；
with　another　flash　of　his　ferocious　irony。　〃A　beauteous　day；
sir；〃　he　said；　with　mock…conventional　courtesy。　〃Seasonable
weather　indeed　after　the　late　long…continued　rains。　Can　I　offer
you　any　refreshment？　Won't　you　sit　down？　Retributive　Justice；
when　it　is　no　taller　than　you　are；　looks　best　in　a　chair。〃

〃And　a　monkey　looks　best　in　a　cage；〃　rejoined　Benjamin；　enraged
at　the　satirical　reference　to　his　shortness　of　stature。　〃I　was
waiting；　sir；　to　see　you　get　into　your　swing。〃

The　retort　produced　no　effect　on　Miserrimus　Dexter：　it　appeared
to　have　passed　by　him　unheard。　He　had　changed　again；　he　was
thoughtful；　he　was　subdued；　his　eyes　were　fixed　on　me　with　a　sad
and　rapt　attention。　I　took　the　nearest　arm…chair；　first　casting　a
glance　at　B