the law and the lady-第57章

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me。　〃Poetry　and　music　improvised　by　Dexter。　Silence！　Attention！〃

His　fingers　wandered　feebly　over　the　harpstrings；　awakening　no
melody；　suggesting　no　words。　In　a　little　while　his　hand　dropped；
his　head　sank　forward　gently；　and　rested　on　the　frame　of　the
harp。　I　started　to　my　feet；　and　approached　him。　Was　it　a　sleep？
or　was　it　a　swoon？

I　touched　his　arm；　and　called　to　him　by　his　name。

Ariel　instantly　stepped　between　us；　with　a　threatening　look　at
me。　At　the　same　moment　Miserrimus　Dexter　raised　his　head。　My
voice　had　reached　him。　He　looked　at　me　with　a　curious
contemplative　quietness　in　his　eyes　which　I　had　never　seen　in
them　before。

〃Take　away　the　harp；〃　he　said　to　Ariel；　speaking　in　languid
tones；　like　a　man　who　was　very　weary。

The　mischievous；　half…witted　creaturein　sheer　stupidity　or　in
downright　malice；　I　am　not　sure　whichirritated　him　once　more。

〃Why；　Master？〃　she　asked；　staring　at　him　with　the　harp　hugged　in
her　arms。　〃What's　come　to　you？　where　is　the　story？〃

〃We　don't　want　the　story；〃　I　interposed。　〃I　have　many　things　to
say　to　Mr。　Dexter　which　I　have　not　said　yet。〃

Ariel　lifted　her　heavy　hand。　〃You　will　have　it！〃　she　said；　and
advanced　toward　me。　At　the　same　moment　the　Master's　voice　stopped
her。

〃Put　away　the　harp；　you　fool！〃　he　repeated；　sternly。　〃And　wait
for　the　story　until　I　choose　to　tell　it。〃

She　took　the　harp　submissively　back　to　its　place　at　the　end　of
the　room。　Miserrimus　Dexter　moved　his　chair　a　little　closer　to
mine。　〃I　know　what　will　rouse　me；〃　he　said；　confidentially。
〃Exercise　will　do　it。　I　have　had　no　exercise　lately。　Wait　a
little；　and　you　will　see。〃

He　put　his　hands　on　the　machinery　of　the　chair；　and　started　on
his　customary　course　down　the　room。　Here　again　the　ominous　change
in　him　showed　itself　under　a　new　form。　The　pace　at　which　he
traveled　was　not　the　furious　pace　that　I　remembered；　the　chair　no
longer　rushed　under　him　on　rumbling　and　whistling　wheels。　It
went；　but　it　went　slowly。　Up　the　room　and　down　the　room　he
painfully　urged　itand　then　he　stopped　for　want　of　breath。

We　followed　him。　Ariel　was　first；　and　Benjamin　was　by　my　side。　He
motioned　impatiently　to　both　of　them　to　stand　back；　and　to　let　me
approach　him　alone。

〃I'm　out　of　practice；〃　he　said；　faintly。　〃I　hadn't　the　heart　to
make　the　wheels　roar　and　the　floor　tremble　while　you　were　away。〃

Who　would　not　have　pitied　him？　Who　would　have　remembered　his
misdeeds　at　that　moment？　Even　Ariel　felt　it。　I　heard　her
beginning　to　whine　and　whimper　behind　me。　The　magician　who　alone
could　rouse　the　dormant　sensibilities　in　her　nature　had　awakened
them　now　by　his　neglect。　Her　fatal　cry　was　heard　again；　in
mournful；　moaning　tones

〃What's　come　to　you；　Master？　Where's　the　story？〃

〃Never　mind　her；〃　I　whispered　to　him。　〃You　want　the　fresh　air。
Send　for　the　gardener。　Let　us　take　a　drive　in　your　pony…chaise。〃

It　was　useless。　Ariel　would　be　noticed。　The　mournful　cry　came
once　more

〃Where's　the　story？　where's　the　story？〃

The　　sinking　spirit　leaped　up　in　Dexter　again。

〃You　wretch　！　you　fiend！〃　he　cried；　whirling　his　chair　around；
and　facing　her。　〃The　story　is　coming。　I　_can_　tell　it！　I　_will_
tell　it！　Wine！　You　whimpering　idiot；　get　me　the　wine。　Why　didn't
I　think　of　it　before？　The　kingly　Burgundy！　that's　what　I　want；
Valeria；　to　set　my　invention　alight　and　flaming　in　my　head。
Glasses　for　everybody！　Honor　to　the　King　of　the　Vintagesthe
Royal　Clos　Vougeot！〃

Ariel　opened　the　cupboard　in　the　alcove；　and　produced　the　wine
and　the　high　Venetian　glasses。　Dexter　drained　his　gobletful　of
Burgundy　at　a　draught；　he　forced　us　to　drink　（or　at　least　to
pretend　to　drink）　with　him。　Even　Ariel　had　her　share　this　time；
and　emptied　her　glass　in　rivalry　with　her　master。　The　powerful
wine　mounted　almost　instantly　to　her　weak　head。　She　began　to　sing
hoarsely　a　song　of　her　own　devising；　in　imitation　of　Dexter。　It
was　nothing　but　the　repetition；　the　endless　mechanical
repetition；　of　her　demand　for　the　story〃Tell　us　the　story。
Master！　master！　tell　us　the　story！〃　Absorbed　over　his　wine；　the
Master　silently　filled　his　goblet　for　the　second　time。　Benjamin
whispered　to　me　while　his　eye　was　off　us；　〃Take　my　advice；
Valeria；　for　once；　let　us　go。〃

〃One　last　effort；〃　I　whispered　back。　〃Only　one！〃

Ariel　went　drowsily　on　with　her　song

〃Tell　us　the　story。　Master！　master！　tell　us　the　story。〃

Miserrimus　Dexter　looked　up　from　his　glass。　The　generous
stimulant　was　beginning　to　do　its　work。　I　saw　the　color　rising　in
his　face。　I　saw　the　bright　intelligence　flashing　again　in　his
eyes。　The　Burgundy　_had_　roused　him！　The　good　wine　stood　my
friend；　and　offered　me　a　last　chance！

〃No　story；〃　I　said。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you；　Mr。　Dexter。　I　am　not
in　the　humor　for　a　story。〃

〃Not　in　the　humor？〃　he　repeated；　with　a　gleam　of　the　old　impish
irony　showing　itself　again　in　his　face。　〃That's　an　excuse。　I　see
what　it　is！　You　think　my　invention　is　goneand　you　are　not　frank
enough　to　confess　it。　I'll　show　you　you're　wrong。　I'll　show　you
that　Dexter　is　himself　again。　Silence；　you　Ariel；　or　you　shall
leave　the　room！　I　have　got　it；　Mrs。　Valeria；　all　laid　out　here；
with　scenes　and　characters　complete。〃　He　touched　his　forehead；
and　looked　at　me　with　a　furtive　and　smiling　cunning　before　he
added　his　next　words。　〃It's　the　very　thing　to　interest　you；　my
fair　friend。　It's　the　story　of　a　Mistress　and　a　Maid。　Come　back
to　the　fire　and　hear　it。〃

The　Story　of　a　Mistress　and　a　Maid？　If　that　meant　anything；　it
meant　the　story　of　Mrs。　Beauly　and　her　maid；　told　in　disguise。

The　title；　and　the　look　which　had　escaped　him　when　he　announced
it；　revived　the　hope　that　was　well…nigh　dead　in　me。　He　had
rallied　at　last。　He　was　again　in　possession　of　his　natural
foresight　and　his　natural　cunning。　Under　pretense　of　telling
Ariel　her　story；　he　was　evidently　about　to　make　the　attempt　to
mislead　me　for　the　second　time。　The　conclusion　was　irresistible。
To　use　his　own　wordsDexter　was　himself　again。

I　took　Benjamin's　arm　as　we　followed　him　back　to　the　fire…place
in　the　middle　of　the　room。

〃There　is　a　chance　for　me　yet；〃　I　whispered。　〃Don't　forget　the
signals。〃

We　returned　to　the　places　which　we　had　already　occupied。　Ariel
cast　another　threatening　look　at　me。　She　had　just　sense　enough
left；　after　emptying　her　goblet　of　wine；　to　be　on　the　watch　for　a
new　interruption　on　my　part。　I　took　care；　of　course；　that　nothing
of　the　sort　should　happen。　I　was　now　as　eager　as　Ariel　to　hear
the　story。　The　subject　was　full　of　snares　for　the　narrator。　At
any　moment；　in　the　excitement　of　speaking；　Dexter's　memory　of　the
true　events　might　show　itself　reflected　in　the　circumstances　of
the　fiction。　At　any　moment　he　might　betray　himself。

He　looked　around　him；　and　began。

〃My　public；　are　you　seated？　My　public；　are　you　ready？〃　he　asked；
gayly。　〃Your　face　a　little　more　this　way；〃　he　added；　in　his
softest　and　tenderest　tones；　motioning　to　me　to　turn　my　full　face
toward　him。　〃Surely　I　am　not　asking　too　much？　You　look　at　the
meanest　creature　that　crawlslook　at　Me。　Let　me　find　my
inspiration　in　your　eyes。　Let　me　feed　my　hungry　admiration　on
your　form。　Come；　have　one　little　pitying　smile　left　for　the　man
whose　happiness　you　have　wrecked。　Thank　you；　Light　of　my　Life；
thank　you！〃　He　kissed　his　hand　to　me；　and　threw　himself　back
luxuriously　in　his　chair。　〃The　story；〃　he　resumed。　〃The　story　at
last！　In　what　form　shall　I　cast　it？　In　the　dramatic　formthe
oldest　way；　the　truest　way；　the　shortest　way　of　telling　a　story！
Title　first。　A　short　title；　a　taking　title：　'Mistress　and　Maid。'
Scene；　the　land　of　romanceItaly。　Time；　the　age　of　romancethe
fifteenth　century。　Ha！　look　at　Ariel。　She　knows　no　more　about　the
fifteenth　century　than　the　cat　in　the　kitchen；　and　yet　she　is
interested　already。　Happy　Ariel！〃

Ariel　looked　at　me　again；　in　the　double　intoxication　of　the　wine
and　the　triumph。

〃I　know　no　more　than　the　cat　in　the　kitchen；〃　she　repeated；　with
a　broad　grin　of　gratified　vanity。　〃I　am　'happy　Ariel！'　What　are
you？〃

Miserrimus　Dexter　laughed　uproariously。

〃Didn't　I　tell　you？〃　he　said。　〃Isn't　she　fun？Persons　of　the
Drama。〃　he　resumed：　〃three　in　number。　Women　only。　Angelica；　a
noble　lady；　noble　alike　in　spirit　and　in　birth。　Cunegonda；　a
beautiful　devil　in　woman's　form。　Damoride；　her　unfortunate　maid。
First　scene：　a　dark　vaulted　chamber　in　a　castle。　Time；　evening。
The　owls　are　hooting　in　the　wood；　the　frogs　are　croaking　in　the
marsh。Look　at　Ariel！　Her　flesh　creeps；　she　shudders　audibly。
Admirable　Ariel！〃

My　rival　in　the　Master's　favor　eyed　me　defiantly。　〃Admirable
Ariel！〃　she　repeated；　in　drowsy　accents。　Miserrimus　Dexter　paused
to　take　up　his　goblet　of　Burgundyplaced　close　at　hand　on　a
little　sliding　table　attached　to　his　chair。　I　watched　him
narrowly　as　he　sipped　the　wine。　The　flush　was　still　mounting　in
his　face；　the　light　was　still　brightening　in　his　eyes。　He　set
down　his　glass　again；　with　a　jovial　smack　of　his　lipsand　went
on：

〃Persons　present　in　the　vaulted　chamber：　Cunegonda　and　Damoride。
Cunegonda　speaks。　'Damoride！'　'Madam？'　'Who　lies　ill　in　the
chamber　above　us？'　'Madam；　the　noble　lady　Angelica。'　（A　pause。
Cunegonda　speaks　again。）　'Damoride！'　'　Madam？'　'How　does　Angelica
like　you？'　'Madam；　the　noble　lady；　sweet　and　good　to　all　who
approach　her；　is　sweet　and　good　to　me。'　'Have　you　attended　on
her；　Damoride？'　'Sometimes；　madam；　when　the　nurse　was　weary。'
'Has　she　taken　her　healing　medicine　from　your　hand　'　'Once　or
twice；　madam；　when　I　happened　to　be　by。'　'Damoride；　take　this　key
and　open　the　casket　on　the　table　there。'　（Damoride　obeys。）　'Do
you　see　a　green　vial　in　the　casket？'　'I　see　it；　madam。'　'Take　it
out。'　（Damoride　obeys。）　'Do　you　see　a　liquid　in　the　green　vial？
can　you　guess　what　it　is？'　'No；　madam。'　'Shall　I　tell　you？'
（Damoride　bows　respectfully　）　'Poison　is　in　the　vial。'　（Damoride
starts；　she　shrinks　from　the　poison；　she　would　fain　put　it　aside。
Her　mistress　signs　to　her　to　keep　it　in　her　hand；　her　mistress
speaks。）　'Damoride；　I　have　told　you　one　of　my　secrets；　shall　I
tell　you　another？'　（Damoride　waits；　fearing　what　is　to　come。　Her
mistress　speaks。）　'I　hate　the　Lady　Angelica。　Her　life　stands
between　me　and　the　joy　of　my　heart。　You　hold　her　life　in　your
hand。'　（Damoride　drops　on　her　knees；　she　is　a　devout　person；　she
crosses　herself；　and　then　she　speaks。）　'Mistress；　you　terrify　me。
Mistress；　what　do　I　hear？'　（Cunegonda　advances；　stands　over　her；
looks　down　on　her　with　terrible　eyes；　whispers　the　next　words。）
'Damoride！　the　Lady　Angelica　must　dieand　I　must　not　be
suspected。　The　Lady　Angelica　must　dieand　by　your　hand。'〃

He　paused　again。　To　sip　the　wine　once　more？　No；　to　drink　a　deep
draught　of　it　this　time。

Was　the　stimulant　beginning　to　fail　him　already？

I　looked　at　him　attentively　as　he　laid　himself　back　again　in　his
chair　to　consider　for　a　moment　before　he　went　on。

The　flush　on　his　face　was　as　deep　as　ever；　but　the　brightness　in
his　eyes　was　beginning　to　fade　already。　I　had　noticed　that　he
spoke　more　and　more　slowly　as　he　advanced　to　the　later　dialogue
of　the　scene。　Was　he　feeling　the　effort　of　invention　already？　Had
the　time　come　when　the　wine　had　done　all　that　the　wine　could　do
for　him？

We　waited。　Ariel　sat　watching　him　　wi