beasts and superbeasts-第7章

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THE　great　galleon　lay　in　semi…retirement　under　the　

sand　and　weed　and　water　of　the　northern　bay　where　the　

fortune　of　war　and　weather　had　long　ago　ensconced　it。　　

Three　and　a　quarter　centuries　had　passed　since　the　day　

when　it　had　taken　the　high　seas　as　an　important　unit　of　a　

fighting　squadron　…　precisely　which　squadron　the　learned　

were　not　agreed。　　The　galleon　had　brought　nothing　into　

the　world；　but　it　had；　according　to　tradition　and　report；　

taken　much　out　of　it。　　But　how　much？　　There　again　the　

learned　were　in　disagreement。　　Some　were　as　generous　in　

their　estimate　as　an　income…tax　assessor；　others　applied　

a　species　of　higher　criticism　to　the　submerged　treasure　

chests；　and　debased　their　contents　to　the　currency　of　

goblin　gold。　　Of　the　former　school　was　Lulu；　Duchess　of　

Dulverton。



The　Duchess　was　not　only　a　believer　in　the　existence　

of　a　sunken　treasure　of　alluring　proportions；　she　also　

believed　that　she　knew　of　a　method　by　which　the　said　

treasure　might　be　precisely　located　and　cheaply　

disembedded。　　An　aunt　on　her　mother's　side　of　the　family　

had　been　Maid　of　Honour　at　the　Court　of　Monaco；　and　had　

taken　a　respectful　interest　in　the　deep…sea　researches　in　

which　the　Throne　of　that　country；　impatient　perhaps　of　

its　terrestrial　restrictions；　was　wont　to　immerse　itself。　　

It　was　through　the　instrumentality　of　this　relative　that　

the　Duchess　learned　of　an　invention；　perfected　and　very　

nearly　patented　by　a　Monegaskan　savant；　by　means　of　which　

the　home…life　of　the　Mediterranean　sardine　might　be　

studied　at　a　depth　of　many　fathoms　in　a　cold　white　light　

of　more　than　ball…room　brilliancy。　　Implicated　in　this　

invention　（and；　in　the　Duchess's　eyes；　the　most　

attractive　part　of　it）　was　an　electric　suction　dredge；　

specially　designed　for　dragging　to　the　surface　such　

objects　of　interest　and　value　as　might　be　found　in　the　

more　accessible　levels　of　the　ocean…bed。　　The　rights　of　

the　invention　were　to　be　acquired　for　a　matter　of　

eighteen　hundred　francs；　and　the　apparatus　for　a　few　

thousand　more。　　The　Duchess　of　Dulverton　was　rich；　as　the　

world　counted　wealth；　she　nursed　the　hope；　of　being　one　

day　rich　at　her　own　computation。　　Companies　had　been　

formed　and　efforts　had　been　made　again　and　again　during　

the　course　of　three　centuries　to　probe　for　the　alleged　

treasures　of　the　interesting　galleon；　with　the　aid　of　

this　invention　she　considered　that　she　might　go　to　work　

on　the　wreck　privately　and　independently。　　After　all；　one　

of　her　ancestors　on　her　mother's　side　was　descended　from　

Medina　Sidonia；　so　she　was　of　opinion　that　she　had　as　

much　right　to　the　treasure　as　anyone。　　She　acquired　the　

invention　and　bought　the　apparatus。



Among　other　family　ties　and　encumbrances；　Lulu　

possessed　a　nephew；　Vasco　Honiton；　a　young　gentleman　who　

was　blessed　with　a　small　income　and　a　large　circle　of　

relatives；　and　lived　impartially　and　precariously　on　

both。　　The　name　Vasco　had　been　given　him　possibly　in　the　

hope　that　he　might　live　up　to　its　adventurous　tradition；　

but　he　limited　himself　strictly　to　the　home　industry　of　

adventurer；　preferring　to　exploit　the　assured　rather　than　

to　explore　the　unknown。　　Lulu's　intercourse　with　him　had　

been　restricted　of　recent　years　to　the　negative　processes　

of　being　out　of　town　when　he　called　on　her；　and　short　of　

money　when　he　wrote　to　her。　　Now；　however；　she　bethought　

herself　of　his　eminent　suitability　for　the　direction　of　a　

treasure…seeking　experiment；　if　anyone　could　extract　gold　

from　an　unpromising　situation　it　would　certainly　be　Vasco　

…　of　course；　under　the　necessary　safeguards　in　the　way　of　

supervision。　　Where　money　was　in　question　Vasco's　

conscience　was　liable　to　fits　of　obstinate　silence。



Somewhere　on　the　west　coast　of　Ireland　the　Dulverton　

property　included　a　few　acres　of　shingle；　rock；　and　

heather；　too　barren　to　support　even　an　agrarian　outrage；　

but　embracing　a　small　and　fairly　deep　bay　where　the　

lobster　yield　was　good　in　most　seasons。　　There　was　a　

bleak　little　house　on　the　property；　and　for　those　who　

liked　lobsters　and　solitude；　and　were　able　to　accept　an　

Irish　cook's　ideas　as　to　what　might　be　perpetrated　in　the　

name　of　mayonnaise；　Innisgluther　was　a　tolerable　exile　

during　the　summer　months。　　Lulu　seldom　went　there　

herself；　but　she　lent　the　house　lavishly　to　friends　and　

relations。　　She　put　it　now　at　Vasco's　disposal。



〃It　will　be　the　very　place　to　practise　and　

experiment　with　the　salvage　apparatus；〃　she　said；　〃the　

bay　is　quite　deep　in　places；　and　you　will　be　able　to　test　

everything　thoroughly　before　starting　on　the　treasure　

hunt。〃



In　less　than　three　weeks　Vasco　turned　up　in　town　to　

report　progress。



〃The　apparatus　works　beautifully；〃　he　informed　his　

aunt；　〃the　deeper　one　got　the　clearer　everything　grew。　　

We　found　something　in　the　way　of　a　sunken　wreck　to　

operate　on；　too！〃



〃A　wreck　in　Innisgluther　Bay！〃　exclaimed　Lulu。



〃A　submerged　motor…boat；　the　SUB…ROSA；〃　said　Vasco。



〃No！　really？〃　said　Lulu；　〃poor　Billy　Yuttley's　boat。　　

I　remember　it　went　down　somewhere　off　that　coast　some　

three　years　ago。　　His　body　was　washed　ashore　at　the　

Point。　　People　said　at　the　time　that　the　boat　was　

capsized　intentionally　…　a　case　of　suicide；　you　know。　　

People　always　say　that　sort　of　thing　when　anything　tragic　

happens。〃



〃In　this　case　they　were　right；〃　said　Vasco。



〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　the　Duchess　hurriedly。　　

〃What　makes　you　think　so？〃



〃I　know；〃　said　Vasco　simply。



〃Know？　　How　can　you　know？　　How　can　anyone　know？　　The　

thing　happened　three　years　ago。〃



〃In　a　locker　of　the　SUB…ROSA　I　found　a　water…tight　

strong…box。　　It　contained　papers。〃　　Vasco　paused　with　

dramatic　effect　and　searched　for　a　moment　in　the　inner　

breast…pocket　of　his　coat。　　He　drew　out　a　folded　slip　of　

paper。　　The　Duchess　snatched　at　it　in　almost　indecent　

haste　and　moved　appreciably　nearer　the　fireplace。



〃Was　this　in　the　SUB…ROSA'S　strong…box？〃　she　asked。



〃Oh　no；〃　said　Vasco　carelessly；　〃that　is　a　list　of　

the　well…known　people　who　would　be　involved　in　a　very　

disagreeable　scandal　if　the　SUB…ROSA'S　papers　were　made　

public。　　I've　put　you　at　the　head　of　it；　otherwise　it　

follows　alphabetical　order。〃



The　Duchess　gazed　helplessly　at　the　string　of　names；　

which　seemed　for　the　moment　to　include　nearly　every　one　

she　knew。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　her　own　name　at　the　head　

of　the　list　exercised　an　almost　paralysing　effect　on　her　

thinking　faculties。



〃Of　course　you　have　destroyed　the　papers？〃　she　

asked；　when　she　had　somewhat　recovered　herself。　　She　was　

conscious　that　she　made　the　remark　with　an　entire　lack　of　

conviction。



Vasco　shook　his　head。



〃But　you　should　have；〃　said　Lulu　angrily；　〃if；　as　

you　say；　they　are　highly　compromising　…　〃



〃Oh；　they　are；　I　assure　you　of　that；〃　interposed　the　

young　man。



〃Then　you　should　put　them　out　of　harm's　way　at　once。　　

Supposing　anything　should　leak　out；　think　of　all　these　

poor；　unfortunate　people　who　would　be　involved　in　the　

disclosures；〃　and　Lulu　tapped　the　list　with　an　agitated　

gesture。



〃Unfortunate；　perhaps；　but　not　poor；〃　corrected　

Vasco；　〃if　you　read　the　list　carefully　you'll　notice　that　

I　haven't　troubled　to　include　anyone　whose　financial　

standing　isn't　above　question。〃



Lulu　glared　at　her　nephew　for　some　moments　in　

silence。　　Then　she　asked　hoarsely：　〃What　are　you　going　to　

do？〃



〃Nothing　…　for　the　remainder　of　my　life；〃　he　

answered　meaningly。　　〃A　little　hunting；　perhaps；〃　he　

continued；　〃and　I　shall　have　a　villa　at　Florence。　　The　

Villa　Sub…Rosa　would　sound　rather　quaint　and　picturesque；　

don't　you　think；　and　quite　a　lot　of　people　would　be　able　

to　attach　a　meaning　to　the　name。　　And　I　suppose　I　must　

have　a　hobby；　I　shall　probably　collect　Raeburns。〃



Lulu's　relative；　who　lived　at　the　Court　of　Monaco；　

got　quite　a　snappish　answer　when　she　wrote　recommending　

some　further　invention　in　the　realm　of　marine　research。





THE　COBWEB





THE　farmhouse　kitchen　probably　stood　where　it　did　as　

a　matter　of　accident　or　haphazard　choice；　yet　its　

situation　might　have　been　planned　by　a　master…strategist　

in　farmhouse　architecture。　　Dairy　and　poultry…yard；　and　

herb　garden；　and　all　the　busy　places　of　the　farm　seemed　

to　lead　by　easy　access　into　its　wide　flagged　haven；　where　

there　was　room　for　everything　and　where　muddy　boots　left　

traces　that　were　easily　swept　away。　　And　yet；　for　all　

that　it　stood　so　well　in　the　centre　of　human　bustle；　its　

long；　latticed　window；　with　the　wide　window…seat；　built　

into　an　embrasure　beyond　the　huge　fireplace；　looked　out　

on　a　wild　spreading　view　of　hill　and　heather　and　wooded　

combe。　　The　window　nook　made　almost　a　little　room　in　

itself；　quite　the　pleasantest　room　in　the　farm　as　far　as　

situation　and　capabilities　went。　　Young　Mrs。　Ladbruk；　

whose　husband　had　just　come　into　the　farm　by　way　of　

inheritance；　cast　covetous　eyes　on　this　snug　corner；　and　

her　fingers　itched　to　make　it　bright　and　cosy　with　chintz　

curtains　and　bowls　of　flowers；　and　a　shelf　or　two　of　old　

china。　　The　musty　farm　parlour；　looking　out　on　to　a　prim；　

cheerless　garden　imprisoned　within　high；　blank　walls；　was　

not　a　room　that　lent　itself　readily　either　to　comfort　or　

decoration。



〃When　we　are　more　settled　I　shall　work　wonders　in　

the　way　of　making　the　kitchen　habitable；〃　said　the　young　

woman　to　her　occasional　visitors。　　There　was　an　unspoken　

wish　in　those　words；　a　wish　which　was　unconfessed　as　well　

as　unspoken。　　Emma　Ladbruk　was　the　mistress　of　the　farm；　

jointly　with　her　husband　she　might　have　her　say；　and　to　a　

certain　extent　her　way；　in　ordering　its　affairs。　　But　she　

was　not　mistress　of　the　kitchen。



On　one　of　the　shelves　of　an　old　dresser；　in　company　

with　chipped　sauce…boats；　pewter　jugs；　cheese…graters；　

and　paid　bills；　rested　a　worn　and　ragged　Bible；　on　whose　

front　page　was　the　record；　in　faded　ink；　of　a　baptism　

dated　ninety…four　years　ago。　〃Martha　Crale〃　was　the　name　

written　on　that　yellow　page。　　The　yellow；　wrinkled　old　

dame　who　hobbled　and　muttered　about　the　kitchen；　looking　

like　a　dead　autumn　leaf　which　the　winter　winds　still　

pushed　hither　and　thither；　had　once　been　Martha　Crale；　

for　seventy　odd　years　she　had　been　Martha　Mountjoy。　　For　

longer　than　anyone　could　remember　she　had　pattered　to　and　

fro　between　oven　and　wash…house　and　dairy；　and　out　to　

chicken…run　and　garden；　grumbling　and　muttering　and　

scolding；　but　working　unceasingly。　　Emma　Ladbruk；　of　

whose　coming　she　took　as　little　notice　as　she　would　of　a　

bee　wandering　in　at　a　window　on　a　summer's　day；　used　at　

first　to　watch　her　with　a　kind　of　frightened　curiosity。　　

She　was　so　old　and　so　much　a　part　of　the　place；　it　was　

difficult　to　think　of　her　exactly　as　a　living　thing。　　Old　

Shep；　the　white…nozzled；