the law and the lady-第58章

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the　time　come　when　the　wine　had　done　all　that　the　wine　could　do
for　him？

We　waited。　Ariel　sat　watching　him　　with　vacantly　staring　eyes　and
vacantly　open　mouth。　Ben　jamin；　impenetrably　expecting　the
signal；　kept　his　open　note…book　on　his　knee；　covered　by　his　hand。
Miserrimus　Dexter　went　on：

〃Damoride　hears　those　terrible　words；　Damoride　clasps　her　hands
in　entreaty。　'Oh；　madam！　madam！　how　can　I　kill　the　dear　and　noble
lady？　What　motive　have　I　for　harming　her？'　Cunegonda　answers；
'You　have　the　motive　of　obeying　Me。'　（Damoride　falls　with　her
face　on　the　floor　at　her　mistress's　feet。）　'Madam；　I　cannot　do
it！　Madam；　I　dare　not　do　it！'　Cunegonda　answers；　'You　run　no
risk：　I　have　my　plan　for　diverting　discovery　from　myself；　and　my
plan　for　diverting　discovery　from　you。'　Damoride　repeats；　'I
cannot　do　it！　I　dare　not　do　it！'　Cunegonda's　eyes　flash
lightnings　of　rage。　She　takes　from　its　place　of　concealment　in
her　bosom〃

He　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　sentence；　and　put　his　hand　to　his
headnot　like　a　man　in　pain；　but　like　a　man　who　had　lost　his
idea。

Would　it　be　well　if　I　tried　to　help　him　to　recover　his　idea？　or
would　it　be　wiser　（if　I　could　only　do　it）　to　keep　silence？

I　could　see　the　drift　of　his　story　plainly　enough。　His　object；
under　the　thin　disguise　of　the　Italian　romance；　was　to　meet　my
unanswerable　objection　to　suspecting　Mrs。　Beauly's　maidthe
objection　that　the　woman　had　no　motive　for　committing　herself　to
an　act　of　murder。　If　he　could　practically　contradict　this；　by
discovering　a　motive　which　I　should　be　obliged　to　admit；　his　end
would　be　gained。　Those　inquiries　which　I　had　pledged　myself　to
pursuethose　inquiries　which　might；　at　any　moment；　take　a　turn
that　directly　concerned　himwould；　in　that　case；　be　successfully
diverted　from　the　right　to　the　wrong　person。　The　innocent　maid
would　set　my　strictest　scrutiny　at　defiance；　and　Dexter　would　be
safely　shielded　behind　her。

I　determined　to　give　him　time。　Not　a　word　passed　my　lips。

The　minutes　followed　each　other。　I　waited　in　the　deepest　anxiety。
It　was　a　trying　and　a　critical　moment。　If　he　succeeded　in
inventing　a　probable　motive；　and　in　shaping　it　neatly　to　suit　the
purpose　of　his　story；　he　would　prove；　by　that　act　alone；　that
there　were　reserves　of　mental　power　still　left　in　him　which　the
practiced　eye　of　the　Scotch　doctor　had　failed　to　see。　But　the
question　waswould　he　do　it？

He　did　it！　Not　in　a　new　way；　not　in　a　convincing　way；　not　without
a　painfully　evident　effort。　Still；　well　done　or　ill　done；　he
found　a　motive　for　the　maid。

〃Cunegonda；〃　he　resumed；　〃takes　from　its　place　of　concealment　in
her　bosom　a　written　paper；　and　unfolds　it。　'Look　at　this；'　she
says。　Damoride　looks　at　the　paper；　and　sinks　again　at　her
mistress's　feet　in　a　paroxysm　of　horror　and　despair。　Cunegonda　is
in　possession　of　a　shameful　secret　in　the　maid's　past　life。
Cunegonda　can　say　to　her；　'Choose　your　alternative。　Either　submit
to　an　exposure　which　disgraces　you　anddisgraces　your　parents
foreveror　make　up　your　mind　to　obey　Me。'　Damoride　might　submit
to　the　disgrace　if　it　only　affected　herself。　But　her　parents　are
honest　people；　she　cannot　disgrace　her　parents。　She　is　driven　to
her　last　refugethere　is　no　hope　of　melting　the　hard　heart　of
Cunegonda。　Her　only　resource　is　to　raise　difficulties；　she　tries
to　show　that　there　are　obstacles　between　her　and　the　crime。
'Madam！　madam！'　she　cries；　'how　can　I　do　it；　when　the　nurse　is
there　to　see　me？'　Cunegonda　answers；　'Sometimes　the　nurse　sleeps；
sometimes　the　nurse　is　away。'　Damoride　still　persists。　'Madam！
madam！　the　door　is　kept　locked；　and　the　nurse　has　got　the　key。'〃

The　key！　I　instantly　thought　of　the　missing　key　at　Gleninch。　Had
he　thought　of　it　too？　He　certainly　checked　himself　as　the　word
escaped　him。　I　resolved　to　make　the　signal。　I　rested　my　elbow　on
the　arm　of　my　chair；　and　played　with　my　earring。　Benjamin　took
out　his　pencil　and　arranged　his　note…book　so　that　Ariel　could　not
see　what　he　was　about　if　she　happened　to　look　his　way。

We　waited　until　it　pleased　Miserrimus　Dexter　to　proceed。　The
interval　was　a　long　one。　His　hand　went　up　again　to　his　forehead。
A　duller　and　duller　look　was　palpably　stealing　over　his　eyes。
When　he　did　speak；　it　was　not　to　go　on　with　the　narrative；　but　to
put　a　question。

〃Where　did　I　leave　off？〃　he　asked。

My　hopes　sank　again　as　rapidly　as　they　had　risen。　I　managed　to
answer　him；　however；　without　showing　any　change　in　my　；manner。

〃You　left　off；〃　I　said；　〃where　Damoride　was　speaking　to
Cunegonda〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　he　interposed。　〃And　what　did　she　say？〃

〃She　said；　'The　door　is　kept　locked；　and　the　nurse　has　got　the
key。'〃

He　instantly　leaned　forward　in　his　chair。

〃No！〃　he　answered；　vehemently。　〃You're　wrong。　'Key？'　Nonsense！　I
never　said　'Key。'〃

〃I　thought　you　did；　Mr。　Dexter。〃

〃I　never　did！　I　said　something　else；　and　you　have　forgotten　it。〃

I　refrained　from　disputing　with　him；　in　fear　of　what　might
follow。　We　waited　again。　Benjamin；　sullenly　submitting　to　my
caprices；　had　taken　down　the　questions　and　answers　that　had
passed　between　Dexter　and　myself。　He　still　mechanically　kept　his
page　open；　and　still　held　his　pencil　in　readiness　to　go　on。
Ariel；　quietly　submitting　to　the　drowsy　influence　of　the　wine
while　Dexter's　voice　was　in　her　ears；　felt　uneasily　the　change　to
silence。　She　glanced　round　her　restlessly；　she　lifted　her　eyes　to
〃the　Master。〃

There　he　sat；　silent；　with　his　hand　to　his　head；　still　struggling
to　marshal　his　wandering　thoughts；　still　trying　to　see　light
through　the　darkness　that　was　closing　round　him。

〃Master！〃　cried　Ariel；　piteously。　〃What's　become　of　the　story？〃

He　started　as　if　she　had　awakened　him　out　of　a　sleep；　he　shook
his　head　impatiently；　as　though　he　wanted　to　throw　off　some
oppression　that　weighed　upon　it。

〃Patience；　patience；〃　he　said。　〃The　story　is　going　on　again。〃

He　dashed　at　it　desperately；　he　picked　up　the　first　lost　thread
that　fell　in　his　way；　reckless　whether　it　were　the　right　thread
or　the　wrong　one：

〃Damoride　fell　on　her　knees。　She　burst　into　tears。　She　said〃

He　stopped；　and　looked　about　him　with　vacant　eyes。

〃What　name　did　I　give　the　other　woman？〃　he　asked；　not　putting　the
question　to　me；　or　to　either　of　my　companions：　asking　it　of
himself；　or　asking　it　of　the　empty　air。

〃You　called　the　other　woman　Cunegonda；〃　I　said。

At　the　sound　of　my　voice　his　eyes　turned　slowlyturned　on　me；
and　yet　failed　to　look　at　me。　Dull　and　absent；　still　and
changeless；　they　were　eyes　that　seemed　to　be　fixed　on　something
far　away。　Even　his　voice　was　altered　when　he　spoke　next。　It　had
dropped　to　a　quiet；　vacant；　monotonous　tone。　I　had　heard
something　like　it　while　I　was　watching　by　my　husband's　bedside；
at　the　time　of　his　deliriumwhen　Eustace's　mind　appeared　to　be
too　weary　to　follow　his　speech。　Was　the　end　so　near　as　this？

〃I　called　her　Cunegonda；〃　he　repeated。　〃And　I　called　the　other〃

He　stopped　once　more。

〃And　you　called　the　other　Damoride；〃　I　said。

Ariel　looked　up　at　him　with　a　broad　stare　of　bewilderment。　She
pulled　impatiently　at　the　sleeve　of　his　jacket　to　attract　his
notice。

〃Is　this　the　story；　Master？〃　she　asked。

He　answered　without　looking　at　her；　his　changeless　eyes　still
fixed；　as　it　seemed；　on　something　far　away。

〃This　is　the　story；〃　he　said；　absently。　〃But　why　Cunegonda？　why
Damoride？　Why　not　Mistress　and　Maid？　It's　easier　to　remember
Mistress　and　Maid〃

He　hesitated；　he　shivered　as　he　tried　to　raise　himself　in　his
chair。　Then　he　seemed　to　rally　〃What　did　the　Maid　say　to　the
Mistress？〃　he　muttered。　〃What？　what？　what？〃　He　hesitated　again。
Then　something　seemed　to　dawn　upon　him　unexpectedly。　Was　it　some
new　thought　that　had　struck　him？　or　some　lost　thought　that　he　had
recovered？　Impossible　to　say。

He　went　on；　suddenly　and　rapidly　went　on；　in　these　strange　words：

〃'The　letter；'　the　Maid　said；　'the　letter。　Oh　my　heart。　Every
word　a　dagger。　A　dagger　in　my　heart。　Oh；　you　letter。　Horrible；
horrible；　horrible　letter。'〃

What；　in　God's　name；　was　he　talking　about？　What　did　those　words
mean？

Was　he　unconsciously　pursuing　his　faint　and　fragmentary
recollections　of　a　past　time　at　Gleninch；　under　the　delusion　that
he　was　going　on　with　the　story？　In　the　wreck　of　the　other
faculties；　was　memory　the　last　to　sink？　Was　the　truth；　the
dreadful　truth；　glimmering　on　me　dimly　through　　the　awful　shadow
cast　before　it　by　the　advancing；　eclips　e　of　the　brain？　My　breath
failed　me；　a　nameless　horror　crept　through　my　whole　being。

Benjamin；　with　his　pencil　in　his　hand；　cast　one　warning　look　at
me。　Ariel　was　quiet　and　satisfied。　〃Go　on；　Master；〃　was　all　she
said。　〃I　like　it！　I　like　it！　Go　on　with　the　story。〃

He　went　onlike　a　man　sleeping　with　his　eyes　open；　and　talking
in　his　sleep。

〃The　Maid　said　to　the　Mistress。　Nothe　Mistress　said　to　the
Maid。　The　Mistress　said；　'Show　him　the　letter。　Must；　must；　must
do　it。'　The　Maid　said；　'No。　Mustn't　do　it。　Shan't　show　it。　Stuff。
Nonsense。　Let　him　suffer。　We　can　get　him　off。　Show　it？　No。　Let
the　worst　come　to　the　worst。　Show　it；　then。'　The　Mistress　said〃
He　paused；　and　waved　his　hand　rapidly　to　and　fro　before　his　eyes；
as　if　he　were　brushing　away　some　visionary　confusion　or
entanglement。　〃Which　was　it　last？〃　he　said〃Mistress　or　Maid？
Mistress？　No。　Maid　speaks；　of　course。　Loud。　Positive。　'You
scoundrels。　Keep　away　from　that　table。　The　Diary's　there。　Number
Nine；　Caldershaws。　Ask　for　Dandie。　You　shan't　have　the　Diary。　A
secret　in　your　ear。　The　Diary　will　hang；　him。　I　won't　have　him
hanged。　How　dare　you　touch　my　chair？　My　chair　is　Me！　How　dare　you
touch　Me？'〃

The　last　words　burst　on　me　like　a　gleam　of　light！　I　had　read　them
in　the　Report　of　the　Trialin　the　evidence　of　the　sheriff's
officer。　Miserrimus　Dexter　had　spoken　in　those　very　terms　when　he
had　tried　vainly　to　prevent　the　men　from　seizing　my　husband's
papers；　and　when　the　men　had　pushed　his　chair　out　of　the　room。
There　was　no　doubt　now　of　what　his　memory　was　busy　with。　The
mystery　at　Gleninch！　His　last　backward　flight　of　thought　circled
feebly　and　more　feebly　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　mystery　at
Gleninch！

Ariel　aroused　him　again。　She　had　no　mercy　on　him；　she　insisted　on
hearing　the　whole　story。

〃Why　do　you　stop；　Master？　Get　along　with　it！　get　along　with　it！
Tell　us　quickwhat　did　the　Missus　say　to　the　Maid？〃

He　laughed　feebly；　and　tried　to　imitate　her。

〃'What　did　the　Missus　say　to　the　Maid？'〃　he　repeated。　His　laugh
died　away。　He　went　on　speaking；　more　and　more　vacantly；　more　and
more　rapidly。　〃The　Mistress　said　to　the　Maid。　We've　got　him　off。
What　about　the　letter？　Burn　it　now。　No　fire　in　the　grate。　No
matches　in　the　box。　House　topsy…turvy。　Servants　all　gone。　Tear　it
up。　Shake　it　up　in　the　basket。　Along　with　the　rest。　Shake　it　up。
Waste　paper。　Throw　it　away。　Gone　forever。　Oh；　Sara；　Sara；　Sara！
Gone　forever。'〃

Ariel　clapped　her　hands；　and　mimicked　him　in　her　turn。

〃'Oh；　Sara；　Sara；　Sara！'〃　she　repeated。　〃'Gone　forever。'　That's
prime；　Master！　Tell　uswho　was　Sara？〃

His　lips　moved；　but　his　voice　sank　so　low　that　I　could　barely
hear　him。　He　began　again；　with　the　old　melancholy　refrain：

〃The　Maid　said　to　the　Mistress。　Nothe　Mistress　said　to　the
Maid〃　He　stopped　abruptly；　and　raised