the law and the lady-第59章

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〃The　Maid　said　to　the　Mistress。　Nothe　Mistress　said　to　the
Maid〃　He　stopped　abruptly；　and　raised　himself　erect　in　the
chair；　he　threw　up　both　his　hands　above　his　head；　and　burst　into
a　frightful　screaming　laugh。　〃Aha…ha…ha…ha！　How　funny！　Why　don't
you　laugh？　Funny；　funny；　funny；　funny。　Aha…ha…ha…ha…ha〃

He　fell　back　in　the　chair。　The　shrill　and　dreadful　laugh　died
away　into　a　low　sob。　Then　there　was　one　long；　deep；　wearily　drawn
breath。　Then　nothing　but　a　mute；　vacant　face　turned　up　to　the
ceiling；　with　eyes　that　looked　blindly；　with　lips　parted　in　a
senseless；　changeless　grin。　Nemesis　at　last！　The　foretold　doom
had　fallen　on　him。　The　night　had　come。

　But　one　feeling　animated　me　when　the　first　shock　was　over。　Even
the　horror　of　that　fearful　sight　seemed　only　to　increase　the　pity
that　I　felt　for　the　stricken　wretch。　I　started　impulsively　to　my
feet。　Seeing　nothing；　thinking　of　nothing　but　the　helpless　figure
in　the　chair；　I　sprang　forward　to　raise　him；　to　revive　him；　to
recall　him　（if　such　a　thing　might　still　be　possible）　to　himself。
At　the　first　step　that　I　took；　I　felt　hands　on　meI　was
violently　drawn　back。　〃Are　you　blind？〃　cried　Benjamin；　dragging
me　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　door。　〃Look　there！〃

He　pointed；　and　I　looked。

Ariel　had　been　beforehand　with　me。　She　had　raised　her　master　in
the　chair；　she　had　got　one　arm　around　him。　In　her　free　hand　she
brandished　an　Indian　club；　torn　from　a　〃trophy〃　of　Oriental
weapons　that　ornamented　the　wall　over　the　fire…place。　The
creature　was　transfigured！　Her　dull　eyes　glared　like　the　eyes　of
a　wild　animal。　She　gnashed　her　teeth　in　the　frenzy　that　possessed
her。　〃You　have　done　this！〃　she　shouted　to　me；　waving　the　club
furiously　around　and　around　over　her　head。　〃Come　near　him；　and
I'll　dash　your　brains　out！　I'll　mash　you　till　there's　not　a　whole
bone　left　in　your　skin！〃　Benjamin；　still　holding　me　with　one　hand
opened　the　door　with　the　other。　I　let　him　do　with　me　as　he　would；
Ariel　fascinated　me；　I　could　look　at　nothing　but　Ariel。　Her
frenzy　vanished　as　she　saw　us　retreating。　She　dropped　the　club；
she　threw　both　arms　around　him；　and　nestled　her　head　on　his
bosom；　and　sobbed　and　wept　over　him。　〃Master！　master！　They　shan't
vex　you　any　more。　Look　up　again。　Laugh　at　me　as　you　used　to　do。
Say；　'Ariel；　you're　a　fool。'　Be　like　yourself　again！〃　I　was
forced　into　the　next　room。　I　heard　a　long；　low；　wailing　cry　of
misery　from　the　poor　creature　who　loved　him　with　a　dog's　fidelity
and　a　woman's　devotion。　The　heavy　door　was　closed　between　us。　I
was　in　the　quiet　antechamber；　crying　over　that　piteous　sight；
clinging　to　my　kind　old　friend　as　helpless　and　as　useless　as　a
child。

Benjamin　turned　the　key　in　the　lock。

〃There's　no　use　in　crying　about　it；〃　he　said；　quietly。　〃It　would
be　more　to　the　purpose；　Valeria；　if　you　thanked　God　that　you　have
got　out　of　that　room　safe　and　sound。　Come　with　me。〃

He　took　the　key　out　of　the　lock；　and　led　me　downstairs　into　the
hall。　After　a　little　consideration；　he　opened　the　front　door　of
the　house。　The　gardener　was　still　quietly　at　work　in　the　grounds。

〃Your　master　is　taken　ill；〃　Benjamin　said；　〃and　the　woman　who
attends　upon　him　has　lost　her　headif　she　ever　had　a　head　to
lose。　Where　does　the　nearest　doctor　live？〃

The　man's　devotion　to　Dexter　showed　itself　as　the　woman's
devotion　had　shown　itselfin　the　man's　rough　way。　He　threw　down
his　spade　with　an　oath。

〃The　Master　taken　bad？〃　he　said。　〃I'll　fetch　the　doctor。　I　shall
find　him　sooner　than　you　will。〃

〃Tell　the　doctor　to　bring　a　man　with　him；〃　Benjamin　added。　〃He
may　want　help。〃

The　gardener　turned　around　sternly。

〃_I'm_　the　man；〃　he　said。　〃Nobody　shall　help　but　me。〃

He　left　us。　I　sat　down　on　one　of　the　chairs　in　the　hall；　and　did
my　best　to　compose　myself。　Benjamin　walked　to　and　fro；　deep　in
thought。　〃Both　of　them　fond　of　him；〃　I　heard　my　old　friend　say　to
himself。　〃Half　monkey；　half　manand　both　of　them　fond　of　him。
_That_　beats　me。〃

The　gardener　returned　with　the　doctora　quiet；　dark；　resolute
man。　Benjamin　advanced　to　meet　them。　〃I　have　got　the　key；〃　he
said。　〃Shall　I　go　upstairs　with　you？〃

Without　answering；　the　doctor　drew　Benjamin　aside　into　a　corner
of　the　hall。　The　two　talked　together　in　low　voices。　At　the　end　of
it　the　doctor　said；　〃Give　me　the　key。　You　can　be　of　no　use；　you
will　only　irritate　her。〃

With　those　words　he　beckoned　to　the　gardener。　He　was　about　to
lead　the　way　up　the　stairs　when　I　ventured　to　stop　him。

〃May　I　stay　in　the　hall；　sir？〃　I　said。　〃I　am　very　anxious　to　hear
how　it　ends。〃

He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　before　he　replied。

〃You　had　better　go　home；　madam；〃　he　said。　〃Is　the　gardener
acquainted　with　your　address？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Very　well。　I　will　let　you　know　how　it　ends　by　means　of　the
gardener。　Take　my　advice。　Go　home。〃

Benjamin　placed　my　arm　in　his。　I　looked　back；　and　saw　the　doctor
and　the　gardener　ascending　the　stairs　together　on　their　way　to
the　locked…up　room。

〃Never　mind　the　doctor；〃　I　whispered。　〃Let's　wait　in　the　garden。〃

Benjamin　would　not　hear　of　deceiving　the　doctor。　〃I　mean　to　take
you　home；〃　he　said。　I　looked　at　him　in　amazement。　My　old　friend；
who　was　all　meekness　and　submission　so　long　as　there　was　no
emergency　to　try　him；　now　showed　the　dormant　reserve　of　manly
spirit　and　decision　in　his　nature　as　he　had　never　（in　my
experience）　shown　it　yet。　He　led　me　into　the　garden。　We　had　kept
our　cab：　it　was　waiting　for　us　at　the　gate。

On　our　way　home　Benjamin　produced　　his　note…book。

〃What's　to　be　done；　my　dear；　with　the　gib　berish　that　I　have
written　here？〃　he　said。

〃Have　you　written　it　all　down？〃　I　asked；　in　surprise。

〃When　I　undertake　a　duty；　I　do　it；〃　he　answered。　〃You　never　gave
me　the　signal　to　leave　offyou　never　moved　your　chair。　I　have
written　every　word　of　it。　What　shall　I　do？　Throw　it　out　of　the
cab　window？〃

〃Give　it　to　me。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　it？〃

〃I　don't　know　yet。　I　will　ask　Mr。　Playmore。〃




CHAPTER　XLI。

MR。　PLAYMORE　IN　A　NEW　CHARACTER。

　BY　that　night's　postalthough　I　was　far　from　being　fit　to　make
the　exertionI　wrote　to　Mr。　Playmore；　to　tell　him　what　had　taken
place；　and　to　beg　for　his　earliest　assistance　and　advice。

The　notes　in　Benjamin's　book　were　partly　written　in　shorthand；
and　were；　on　that　account；　of　no　use　to　me　in　their　existing
condition。　At　my　request；　he　made　two　fair　copies。　One　of　the
copies　I　inclosed　in　my　letter　to　Mr。　Playmore。　The　other　I　laid
by　me；　on　my　bedside　table；　when　I　went　to　rest。

Over　and　over　again；　through　the　long　hours　of　the　wakeful　night；
I　read　and　re…read　the　last　words　which　had　dropped　from
Miserrimus　Dexter's　lips。　Was　it　possible　to　interpret　them　to
any　useful　purpose？　At　the　very　outset　they　seemed　to　set
interpretation　at　defiance。　After　trying　vainly　to　solve　the
hopeless　problem；　I　did　at　last　what　I　might　as　well　have　done　at
firstI　threw　down　the　paper　in　despair。　Where　were　my　bright
visions　of　discovery　and　success　now？　Scattered　to　the　winds！　Was
there　the　faintest　chance　of　the　stricken　man's　return　to　reason？
I　remembered　too　well　what　I　had　seen　to　hope　for　it。　The　closing
lines　of　the　medical　report　which　I　had　read　in　Mr。　Playmore's
office　recurred　to　my　memory　in　the　stillness　of　the　night〃When
the　catastrophe　has　happened；　his　friends　can　entertain　no　hope
of　his　cure：　the　balance　once　lost；　will　be　lost　for　life。〃

The　confirmation　of　that　terrible　sentence　was　not　long　in
reaching　me。　On　the　next　morning　the　gardener　brought　a　note
containing　the　information　which　the　doctor　had　promised　to　give
me　on　the　previous　day。

Miserrimus　Dexter　and　Ariel　were　still　where　Benjamin　and　I　had
left　them　togetherin　the　long　room。　They　were　watched　by
skilled　attendants；　waiting　the　decision　of　Dexter's　nearest
relative　（a　younger　brother；　who　lived　in　the　country；　and　who
had　been　communicated　with　by　telegraph。　It　had　been　found
impossible　to　part　the　faithful　Ariel　from　her　master　without
using　the　bodily　restraints　adopted　in　cases　of　raging　insanity。
The　doctor　and　the　gardener　（both　unusually　strong　men）　had
failed　to　hold　the　poor　creature　when　they　first　attempted　to
remove　her　on　entering　the　room。　Directly　they　permitted　her　to
return　to　her　master　the　frenzy　vanished：　she　was　perfectly　quiet
and　contented　so　long　as　they　let　her　sit　at　his　feet　and　look　at
him。

Sad　as　this　was；　the　report　of　Miserrimus　Dexter's　condition　was
more　melancholy　still。

〃My　patient　is　in　a　state　of　absolute　imbecility〃those　were　the
words　in　the　doctor's　letter；　and　the　gardener's　simple　narrative
confirmed　them　as　the　truest　words　that　could　have　been　used。　He
was　utterly　unconscious　of　poor　Ariel's　devotion　to　himhe　did
not　even　appear　to　know　that　she　was　present　in　the　room。　For
hours　together　he　remained　in　a　state　of　utter　lethargy　in　his
chair。　He　showed　an　animal　interest　in　his　meals；　and　a　greedy
animal　enjoyment　of　eating　and　drinking　as　much　as　he　could
getand　that　was　all。　〃This　morning；〃　the　honest　gardener　said
to　me　at　parting；　〃we　thought　he　seemed　to　wake　up　a　bit。　Looked
about　him；　you　know；　and　made　queer　signs　with　his　hands。　I
couldn't　make　out　what　he　meant；　no　more　could　the　doctor。　_She_
knew；　poor　thingShe　did。　Went　and　got　him　his　harp；　and　put　his
hand　up　to　it。　Lord　bless　you！　no　use。　He　couldn't　play　no　more
than　I　can。　Twanged　at　it　anyhow；　and　grinned　and　gabbled　to
himself。　No：　he'll　never　come　right　again。　Any　person　can　see
that；　without　the　doctor　to　help　'em。　Enjoys　his　meals；　as　I　told
you；　and　that's　all。　It　would　be　the　best　thing　that　could　happen
if　it　would　please　God　to　take　him。　There's　no　more　to　be　said。　I
wish　you　good…morning；　ma'am。〃

He　went　away　with　the　tears　in　his　eyes；　and　he　left　me；　I　own
it；　with　the　tears　in　mine。

An　hour　later　there　came　some　news　which　revived　me。　I　received　a
telegram　from　Mr。　Playmore；　expressed　in　these　welcome　words：
〃Obliged　to　go　to　London　by　to…night's　mail　train。　Expect　me　to
breakfast　to…morrow　morning。〃

　The　appearance　of　the　lawyer　at　our　breakfast…table　duly
followed　the　appearance　of　his　telegram。　His　first　words　cheered
me。　To　my　infinite　surprise　and　relief；　he　was　far　from　sharing
the　despondent　view　which　I　took　of　my　position。

〃I　don't　deny；〃　he　said；　〃that　there　are　some　serious　obstacles
in　your　way。　But　I　should　never　have　called　here　before　attending
to　my　professional　business　in　London　if　Mr。　Benjamin's　notes　had
not　produced　a　very　strong　impression　on　my　mind。　For　the　first
time；　as　_I_　think；　you　really　have　a　prospect　of　success。　For
the　first　time；　I　feel　justified　in　offering　（under　certain
restrictions）　to　help　you。　That　miserable　wretch；　in　the　collapse
of　his　intelligence；　has　done　what　he　would　never　have　done　in
the　possession　of　his　sense　and　his　cunninghe　has　let　us　see
the　first　precious　glimmerings　of　the　light　of　truth。〃

〃Are　you　sure　it　_is_　the　truth？〃　I　asked。

〃In　two　important　particulars；〃　he　answered；　〃I　know　it　to　be　the
truth。　Your　idea　about　him　is　the　right　one。　His　memory　（as　you
suppose）　was　the　least　injured　of　his　faculties；　and　was　the　last
to　give　way　under　the　strain　of　trying　to　tell　that　story。　I
believe　his　memory　to　have　been　speaking　t