the law and the lady-第56章

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and　rapt　attention。　I　took　the　nearest　arm…chair；　first　casting　a
glance　at　Benjamin；　which　he　immediately　understood。　He　placed
himself　behind　Dexter；　at　an　angle　which　commanded　a　view　of　my
chair。　Ariel；　silently　devouring　her　cakes；　crouched　on　a　stool
at　〃the　Master's〃　feet；　and　looked　up　at　him　like　a　faithful　dog。
There　was　an　interval　of　quiet　and　repose。　I　was　able　to　observe
Miserrimus　Dexter　uninterruptedly　for　the　first　time　since　I　had
entered　the　room。

I　was　not　surprisedI　was　nothing　less　than　alarmed　by　the
change　for　the　worse　in　him　since　we　had　last　met。　Mr。　Playmore's
letter　had　not　prepared　me　for　the　serious　deterioration　in　him
which　I　could　now　discern。

His　features　were　pinched　and　worn；　the　whole　face　seemed　to　have
wasted　strangely　in　substance　and　size　since　I　had　last　seen　it。
The　softness　in　his　eyes　was　gone。　Blood…red　veins　were
intertwined　all　over　them　now：　they　were　set　in　a　piteous　and
vacant　stare。　His　once　firm　hands　looked　withered；　they　trembled
as　they　lay　on　the　coverlet。　The　paleness　of　his　face
（exaggerated；　perhaps；　by　the　black　velvet　jacket　that　he　wore）
had　a　sodden　and　sickly　lookthe　fine　outline　was　gone。　The
multitudinous　little　wrinkles　at　the　corners　of　his　eyes　had
deepened。　His　head　sank　into　his　shoulders　when　he　leaned　forward
in　his　chair。　Years　appeared　to　have　passed　over　him；　instead　of
months；　while　I　had　been　absent　from　England。　Remembering　the
medical　report　which　Mr。　Playmore　had　given　me　to　readrecalling
the　doctor's　positively　declared　opinion　that　the　preservation　of
Dexter's　sanity　depended　on　the　healthy　condition　of　his
nervesI　could　not　but　feel　that　I　had　done　wisely　（if　I　might
still　hope　for　success）　in　hastening　my　return　from　Spain。
Knowing　what　I　knew；　fearing　what　I　feared；　I　believed　that　his
time　was　near。　I　felt；　when　our　eyes　met　by　accident；　that　I　was
looking　at　a　doomed　man。

I　pitied　him。

Yes；　yes！　I　know　that　compassion　for　him　was　utterly　inconsistent
with　the　motive　which　had　taken　me　to　his　houseutterly
inconsistent　with　the　doubt；　still　present　to　my　mind；　whether
Mr。　Playmore　had　really　wronged　him　in　believing　that　his　was　the
guilt　which　had　compassed　the　first　Mrs。　Eustace's　death。　I　felt
this：　I　knew　him　to　be　cruel；　I　believed　him　to　be　false。　And　yet
I　pitied　him！　Is　there　a　common　fund　of　wickedness　in　us　all？　Is
the　suppression　or　the　development　of　that　wickedness　a　mere
question　of　training　and　temptation？　And　is　there　something　in
our　deeper　sympathies　which　mutely　acknowledges　this　when　we　feel
for　the　wicked；　when　we　crowd　to　a　criminal　trial；　when　we　shake
hands　at　parting　（if　we　happen　to　be　present　officially）　with　the
vilest　monster　that　ever　swung　on　a　gallows？　It　is　not　for　me　to
decide。　I　can　only　say　that　I　pitied　Miserrimus　Dexterand　that
he　found　it　out。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　suddenly。　〃You　see　I　am　ill；　and　you　feel
for　me。　Dear　and　good　Valeria！〃

〃This　lady's　name；　sir；　is　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan；〃　interposed
Benjamin；　speaking　sternly　behind　him。　〃The　next　time　you　address
her；　remember；　if　you　please；　that　you　have　no　business　with　her
Christian　name。〃

Benjamin's　rebuke　passed；　like　Benjamin's　retort；　unheeded　and
unheard。　To　all　appearance；　Miserrimus　Dexter　had　completely
forgotten　that　there　was　such　a　person　in　the　room。

〃You　have　delighted　me　with　the　sight　of　you；〃　he　went　on。　〃Add
to　the　pleasure　by　letting　me　hear　your　voice。　Talk　to　me　of
yourself。　Tell　me　what　you　have　been　doing　since　you　left
England。〃

It　was　necessary　to　my　object　to　set　the　conversation　afloat；　and
this　was　as　good　a　way　of　doing　it　as　any　other。　I　told　him
plainly　how　I　had　been　employed　during　my　absence。

〃So　you　are　still　fond　of　Eustace？〃　he　said；　bitterly。

〃I　love　him　more　dearly　than　ever。〃

He　lifted　his　hands；　and　hid　his　face。　After　waiting　a　while；　he
went　on；　speaking　in　an　odd；　muffled　manner；　still　under　cover　of
his　hands。

〃And　you　leave　Eustace　in　Spain；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　return　to
England　by　yourself！　What　made　you　do　that？〃

〃What　made　me　first　come　here　and　ask　you　to　help　me；　Mr。
Dexter？〃

He　dropped　his　hands；　and　looked　at　me。　I　saw　in　his　eyes；　not
amazement　only；　but　alarm。

〃Is　it　possible；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃that　you　won't　let　that
miserable　matter　rest　even　yet？　Are　you　still　determined　to
penetrate　the　mystery　at　Gleninch？〃

〃I　am　still　determined；　Mr。　Dexter；　and　I　still　hope　that　you　may
be　able　to　help　me。〃

The　old　distrust　that　I　remembered　so　well　darkened　again　over
his　face　the　moment　I　said　those　words。

〃How　can　I　help　you？〃　he　asked。　〃Can　I　alter　facts？〃　He　stopped。
His　face　brightened　again；　as　if　some　sudden　sense　of　relief　had
come　to　him。　〃I　did　try　to　help　you；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　told　you
that　Mrs。　Beauly's　absence　was　a　device　to　screen　herself　from
suspicion；　I　told　you　that　the　poison　might　have　been　given　by
Mrs。　Beauly's　maid。　Has　reflection　convinced　you？　Do　you　see
something　in　the　idea？〃

This　return　to　Mrs。　Beauly　gave　me　my　first　chance　of　leading　the
talk　to　the　right　topic。

〃I　see　nothing　in　the　idea；〃　I　answered。　〃I　see　no　motive。　Had
the　maid　any　reason　to　be　an　enemy　to　the　late　Mrs。　Eustace？〃

〃Nobody　had　any　reason　to　be　an　enemy　to　the　late　Mrs。　Eustace！〃
he　broke　out；　loudly　and　vehemently。　〃She　was　all　goodness；　all
kindness；　she　never　injured　any　human　creature　in　thought　or
deed。　She　was　a　saint　upon　earth。　Respect　her　memory！　Let　the
martyr　rest　in　her　grave！〃　He　covered　his　face　again　with　his
hands；　and　shook　and　shuddered　under　the　paroxysm　of　emotion　that
I　had　roused　in　him。

Ariel　suddenly　and　softly　left　her　stool；　and　approached　me。

〃Do　you　see　my　ten　claws？〃　she　whispered；　holding　out　her　hands。
〃Vex　the　Master　again；　and　you　will　feel　my　ten　claws　on　your
throat！〃

Benjamin　rose　from　his　seat：　he　had　seen　the　action；　without
hearing　the　words。　I　signed　to　him　to　keep　his　place。
　Ariel　returned　to　her　stool；　and　looked　up　again　at　her　master。

〃Don't　cry；〃　she　said。　〃Come　on。　Here　are　the　strings。　Tease　me
again。　Make　me　screech　with　the　smart　of　it。〃

He　never　answered；　and　never　moved。

Ariel　bent　her　slow　mind　to　meet　the　difficulty　of　attracting　his
attention。　I　saw　it　in　her　frowning　brows；　in　her　colorless　eyes
looking　at　me　vacantly。　On　a　sudden；　she　joyfully　struck　the　open
palm　of　one　of　her　hands　with　the　fist　of　the　other。　She　had
triumphed。　She　had　got　an　idea。

〃Master！〃　she　cried。　〃Master！　You　haven't　told　me　a　story　for
ever　so　long。　Puzzle　my　thick　head。　Make　my　flesh　creep。　Come　on。
A　good　long　story。　All　blood　and　crimes。〃

Had　she　accidentally　hit　on　the　right　suggestion　to　strike　his
wayward　fancy？　I　knew　his　high　opinion　of　his　own　skill　in
〃dramatic　narrative。〃　I　knew　that　one　of　his　favorite　amusements
was　to　puzzle　Ariel　by　telling　her　stories　that　she　could　not
understand。　Would　he　wander　away　into　the　regions　of　wild
romance？　Or　would　he　remember　that　my　obstinacy　still　threatened
him　with　reopening　the　inquiry　into　the　tragedy　at　Gleninch？　and
would　he　set　his　cunning　at　work　to　mislead　me　by　some　new
stratagem？　This　latter　course　was　the　course　which　my　past
experience　of　him　suggested　that　he　would　take。　But；　to　my
surprise　and　alarm；　I　found　my　past　experience　at　fault。　Ariel
succeeded　in　diverting　his　mind　from　the　subject　which　had　been
in　full　possession　of　it　the　moment　before　she　spoke！　He　showed
his　face　again。　It　was　overspread　by　a　broad　smile　of　gratified
self…esteem。　He　was　weak　enough　now　to　let　even　Ariel　find　her
way　to　his　vanity。　I　saw　it　with　a　sense　of　misgiving；　with　a
doubt　whether　I　had　not　delayed　my　visit　until　too　late；　which
turned　me　cold　from　head　to　foot。

Miserrimus　Dexter　spoketo　Ariel；　not　to　me。

〃Poor　devil！〃　he　said；　patting　her　head　complacently。　〃You　don't
understand　a　word　of　my　stories；　do　you？　And　yet　I　can　make　the
flesh　creep　on　your　great　clumsy　bodyand　yet　I　can　hold　your
muddled　mind；　and　make　you　like　it。　Poor　devil！〃　He　leaned　back
serenely　in　his　chair；　and　looked　my　way　again。　Would　the　sight
of　me　remind　him　of　the　words　that　had　passed　between　us　not　a
minute　since？　No！　There　was　the　pleasantly　tickled　self…conceit
smiling　at　me　exactly　as　it　had　smiled　at　Ariel。　〃I　excel　in
dramatic　narrative；　Mrs。　Valeria；〃　he　said。　〃And　this　creature
here　on　the　stool　is　a　remarkable　proof　of　it。　She　is　quite　a
psychological　study　when　I　tell　her　one　of　my　stories。　It　is
really　amusing　to　see　the　half…witted　wretch's　desperate　efforts
to　understand　me。　You　shall　have　a　specimen。　I　have　been　out　of
spirits　while　you　were　awayI　haven't　told　her　a　story　for　weeks
past；　I　will　tell　her　one　now。　Don't　suppose　it's　any　effort　to
me！　My　invention　is　inexhaustible。　You　are　sure　to　be　amusedyou
are　naturally　seriousbut　you　are　sure　to　be　amused。　I　am
naturally　serious　too；　and　I　always　laugh　at　her。〃

Ariel　clapped　her　great　shapeless　hands。　〃He　always　laughs　at
me！〃　she　said；　with　a　proud　look　of　superiority　directed　straight
at　me。

I　was　at　a　loss；　seriously　at　a　loss；　what　to　do。

The　outbreak　which　I　had　provoked　in　leading　him　to　speak　of　the
late　Mrs。　Eustace　warned　me　to　be　careful；　and　to　wait　for　my
opportunity　before　I　reverted　to　_that_　subject。　How　else　could　I
turn　the　conversation　so　as　to　lead　him；　little　by　little；　toward
the　betrayal　of　the　secrets　which　he　was　keeping　from　me？　In　this
uncertainty；　one　thing　only　seemed　to　be　plain。　To　let　him　tell
his　story　would　be　simply　to　let　him　waste　the　precious　minutes。
With　a　vivid　remembrance　of　Ariel's　〃ten　claws；〃　I　decided；
nevertheless　on　discouraging　Dexter's　new　whim　at　every　possible
opportunity　and　by　every　means　in　my　power。

〃Now；　Mrs。　Valeria；〃　he　began；　loudly　and　loftily；　〃listen。　Now；
Ariel；　bring　your　brains　to　a　focus。　I　improvise　poetry；　I
improvise　fiction。　We　will　begin　with　the　good　old　formula　of　the
fairy　stories。　Once　upon　a　time〃

I　was　waiting　for　my　opportunity　to　interrupt　him　when　he
interrupted　himself。　He　stopped；　with　a　bewildered　look。　He　put
his　hand　to　his　head；　and　passed　it　backward　and　forward　over　his
forehead。　He　laughed　feebly。

〃I　seem　to　want　rousing；〃　he　said

Was　his　mind　gone。？　There　had　been　no　signs　of　it　until　I　had
unhappily　stirred　his　memory　of　the　dead　mistress　of　Gleninch。
Was　the　weakness　which　I　had　already　noticed；　was　the
bewilderment　which　I　now　saw；　attributable　to　the　influence　of　a
passing　disturbance　only？　In　other　words；　had　I　witnessed　nothing
more　serious　than　a　first　warning　to　him　and　to　us？　Would　he　soon
recover　himself；　if　we　were　patient；　and　gave　him　time？　Even
Benjamin　was　interested　at　last；　I　saw　him　trying　to　look　at
Dexter　around　the　corner　of　the　chair。　Even　Ariel　was　surprised
and　uneasy。　She　had　no　dark　glances　to　cast　at　me　now。

We　all　waited　to　see　what　he　would　do；　to　hear　what　he　would　say；
next。

〃My　harp！〃　he　cried。　〃Music　will　rouse　me。〃

Ariel　brought　him　his　harp。

〃Master；〃　she　said；　wonderingly；　〃what's　come　to　you？〃

He　waved　his　hand；　commanding　her　to　be　silent。

〃Ode　to　Invention；〃　he　announced；　loftily；　addressing　himself　to
me。　〃Poetry　and　music　improvised　by　Dexter。　Silence！　Attention！〃

His　fingers　wandered　feebly　ov