elinor wyllys-2-第26章

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t　of　half…cunning；　half…insinuating　manner。

〃I　do　not　in　the　least　doubt　the　ability　of　many　men；　sir；　to　distort　actions　equally　innocent。〃

〃But　you　acknowledge　the　fact？〃

〃The　fact　that　I　locked　up　a　drunken　sailor；　I　certainly　acknowledge；　and　you　will　find　me　ready　to　acknowledge　any　other　fact　equally　true。〃

〃Do　you　believe　this　to　be　the　person　you　locked　up；　Harry？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃I　think　it　not　improbable　that　it　is　the　same　individual；　but　I　did　not　see　the　man　distinctly　at　the　time。〃

〃I　am　glad；　gentlemen；　that　you　are　prepared　to　admit　the　identity　thus　farthat　is　a　step　gained；〃　observed　Mr。　Clapp；　running　his　hand　through　his　locks。

〃Permit　me；　Mr。　Clapp；　to　ask　you　a　question　or　two；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃Now　you　recall　that　circumstance　to　me；　I　should　like　to　ask；　if　we　have　not　also　heard　of　this　individual　since　the　occasion　you　refer　to？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　you　probably　have　heard　of　him　since；〃　replied　Mr。　Clapp；　baldly。

〃And　in　connexion　with　yourself；　I　think？〃

〃In　connexion　with　me；　sir。　You　will　find　me　quite　as　ready　as　Mr。　Hazlehurst　to　admit　facts；　sir；〃　replied　the　lawyer；　leaning　back　in　his　chair。

〃When　they　are　undeniable；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys；　drily。　〃May　I　inquire　what　was　the　nature　of　that　connexion？〃　asked　the　gentleman；　with　one　of　his　searching　looks。

The　lawyer　did　not　seem　to　quail　beneath　the　scrutiny。

〃The　connexion；　Mr。　Wyllys；　was　the　commencement　of　what　has　been　completed　recently。　Mr。　Stanley　came　to　lay　before　me　the　claims　which　he　now　makes　publicly。〃

〃You　never　made　the　least　allusion　to　any　claim　of　this　kind　to　me；　at　that　time；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃I　didn't　believe　it　then；　I　am　free　to　say　so　now；〃

〃Still；　not　believing　the　claim；　it　was　singular；　I　may　say　suspicious；　sir；　that　you　never　even　mentioned　the　individual　who　made　it。〃

〃Why；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　Mr。　Wyllys；　I　had　unpleasant　thoughts　about　it；　we　were　neighbours　and　old　friends；　and　though　I　might　make　up　my　mind　to　undertake　the　case；　if　I　thought　it　clear；　I　did　prefer　that　you　should　not　know　about　my　having　had　anything　to　do　with　it；　as　long　as　I　thought　it　a　doubtful　point。　I　think　you　must　see　that　was　only　natural　for　a　young　lawyer；　who　had　his　fortune　to　make；　and　expected　employment　from　you　and　your　friends。　I　have　no　objections　whatever　to　speaking　out　now；　to　satisfy　your　mind；　Mr。　Wyllys。〃

〃I　believe　I　understand　you；　sir；〃　replied　Mr。　Wyllys；　his　countenance　expressing　more　cool　contempt　than　he　was　aware　of。

〃I　think；　however；　there　are　several　other　points　which　are　not　so　easily　answered；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Mr。　Reed；　as　if　preferring　to　continue　the　conversation　with　him。　〃Do　you　not　think　it　singular；　Mr。　Reed；　to　say　the　least；　that　your　client　should　have　allowed　so　many　years　to　pass；　without　claiming　the　property　of　Mr。　Stanley；　and　then；　at　this　late　day；　instead　of　applying　directly　to　the　executors；　come　to　a　small　town　like　Longbridge；　to　a　lawyer　so　little　known　as　Mr。　Clapp；　in　order　to　urge　a　claim；　so　important　to　him　as　this　we　are　now　examining？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys；　with　a　meaning　smile。

〃We　are　able　to　explain　all　those　points　quite　satisfactorily；　I　think；〃　replied　Mr。　Reed。

〃I　object；　however；〃　interposed　Mr。　Clapp；　〃to　laying　our　case　fully　before　the　defendants；　until　we　know　what　they　conclude　to　do。　We　have　met　here　by　agreement；　to　give　the　defendants　an　opportunity　of　satisfying　their　own　mindsthat　they　may　settle　the　point；　whether　they　will　admit　our　claim；　or　whether　we　must　go　to　law　to　get　our　rights。　It　was　agreed　that　the　meeting　should　be　only　a　common　friendly　visit；　such　as　Mr。　Stanley　felt　perfectly　willing　to　pay　to　his　step…mother；　and　old　family　friends。　We　also　agreed；　that　we　would　answer　any　common　questions　that　might　help　to　satisfy　the　defendants；　provided　that　they　did　not　tend　to　endanger　our　future　success；　in　the　event　of　a　trial。　I　think；　Mr。　Reed；　that　as　there　does　not　seem　as　yet　much　probability　that　the　defendants　will　be　easily　convinced；　it　behooves　us　to　be　on　our　guard。〃

〃I　will　take　the　responsibility；　sir；　of　answering　other　observations　of　Mr。　Wyllys's；〃　replied　Mr。　Reed。　〃As　the　object　of　the　meeting　was　an　amicable　arrangement；　we　may　be　able　to　make　the　case　more　clear；　without　endangering　our　own　grounds。　Have　you　any　remarks　to　make；　madam？〃　he　added；　turning　to　Mrs。　Stanley。

It　had　been　settled　between　the　friends；　before　the　meeting；　that　Mr。　Wyllys　should　be　chief　spokesman　on　the　occasion；　for；　although　the　sailor　claimed　the　nearer　connexion　of　step…son　to　Mrs。　Stanley；　yet　she　had　scarcely　known　her　husband's　son；　having　married　after　he　went　to　sea。　Harry；　it　is　true；　had　often　been　with　young　Stanley　at　his　father's　house；　but　he　was　at　the　time　too　young　a　child　to　have　preserved　any　distinct　recollection　of　him。　Mr。　Wyllys　was　the　only　one　of　the　three　individuals　most　interested；　who　remembered　his　person；　manner；　and　character；　with　sufficient　minuteness　to　rely　on　his　own　memory。　The　particular　subjects　upon　which　the　sailor　should　be　questioned；　had　been　also　agreed　upon　beforehand；　by　Harry　and　his　friends。　In　reply　to　Mr。　Reed's　inquiry；　Mrs。　Stanley　asked　to　see　the　papers　which　had　been　brought　for　their　investigation。

Mr。　Clapp　complied　with　the　request；　by　drawing　a　bundle　of　papers　from　his　pocket。　He　first　handed　Mrs。　Stanley　a　document；　proving　that　William　Stanley　had　made　two　voyages　as　seaman；　in　a　Havre　packet；　in　the　year　1824；　or　nearly　ten　years　since　the　wreck　of　the　Jefferson。　The　captain　of　this　vessel　was　well　known；　and　still　commanded　a　packet　in　the　same　line；　very　probably　his　mates　were　also　living；　and　could　be　called　upon　to　ascertain　the　authenticity　of　this　paper。　No　man　in　his　senses　would　have　forged　a　document　which　could　be　so　easily　disproved；　and　both　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Hazlehurst　were　evidently　perplexed　by　it；　while　Mrs。　Stanley　showed　an　increase　of　nervous　agitation。　Mr。　Wyllys　at　length　returned　this　paper　to　Mr。　Reed；　confessing　that　it　looked　more　favourably　than　anything　they　had　yet　received。　Two　letters　were　then　shown；　directed　to　William　Stanley；　and　bearing　different　dates；　one　was　signed　by　the　name　of　David　Billings；　a　man　who　had　been　the　chief　instrument　in　first　drawing　William　Stanley　into　bad　habits；　and　had　at　length　enticed　him　to　leave　home　and　go　to　sea；　it　was　dated　nineteen　years　back。　As　no　one　present　knew　the　hand…writing　of　Billings；　and　as　he　had　died　some　years　since；　this　letter　might；　or　might　not；　have　been　genuine。　The　name　of　the　other　signature　was　entirely　unknown　to　Harry　and　his　friends；　this　second　letter　bore　a　date　only　seven　years　previous　to　the　interview；　and　was　addressed　to　William　Stanley；　at　a　sailor's　boarding…house　in　Baltimore。　It　was　short；　and　the　contents　were　unimportant；　chiefly　referring　to　a　debt　of　fifteen　dollars；　and　purporting　to　be　written　by　a　shipmate　named　Noah　Johnson：　the　name　of　William　Stanley；　in　conjunction　with　the　date；　was　the　only　remarkable　point　about　this　paper。　Both　letters　had　an　appearance　corresponding　with　their　dates；　they　looked　old　and　soiled；　the　first　bore　the　post…office　stamp　of　New　York；　the　other　had　no　post…mark。　Mr。　Wyllys　asked　if　this　Noah　Johnson　could　be　found？　The　sailor　replied；　that　he　had　not　seen　him　for　several　years；　and　did　not　know　what　had　become　of　him；　he　had　kept　the　letter　because　it　acknowledged　the　debt。　He　replied　to　several　other　questions　about　this　man；　readily　and　naturally；　though　Mr。　Wyllys　had　no　means　of　deciding　whether　these　answers　were　correct　or　not。　Hazlehurst　then　made　several　inquiries　about　Billings；　whom　he　had　seen；　and　remembered　as　a　bad　fellow；　the　son　of　a　country　physician　living　near　Greatwood。　His　height；　age；　appearance；　and　several　circumstances　connected　with　his　family；　were　all　very　accurately　given　by　Mr。　Reed's　client；　as　Harry　frankly　admitted　to　Mrs。　Stanley　and　Mr。　Wyllys。

Mr。　Reed　looked　gratified　by　the　appearance　of　things；　and　Mr。　Clapp　seemed　quite　satisfied　with　the　turn　matters　were　now　taking。　Throughout　the　interview；　Mr。　Reed　seemed　to　listen　with　a　sort　of　calm　interest；　as　if　he　had　little　doubt　as　to　the　result。　Mr。　Clapp's　manner　was　much　more　anxious；　but　then　he　was　perfectly　aware　of　the　suspicions　against　him；　and　knew　that　not　only　this　particular　case；　but　his　whole　prospects　for　life；　were　at　stake　on　the　present　occasion。

〃Like　most　sailors；　Mr。　Stanley　has　kept　but　few　papers；〃　observed　Mr。　Reed。

〃He　has　been　as　careless　about　his　documents；　as　he　was　about　his　propertyhe　has　lost　some　of　the　greatest　importance；〃　observed　Mr。　Clapp。　〃Here　is　something；　though；　that　will　speak　for　him；〃　added　the　lawyer；　as　he　handed　Mrs。　Stanley　a　book。　It　was　a　volume　of　the　Spectator；　open　at　the　blank　leaves；　and　showing　the　following　words：　〃John　William　Stanley；　Greatwood；　1804；〃　and　below；　these；　〃William　Stanley；　1810；〃　the　first　sentence　was　in　the　hand…writing　of　the　father；　the　second　in　the　half…childish　characters　of　the　son；　both　names　had　every　appearance　of　being　autographs。　The　opposite　page　was　partly　covered　with　names　of　ships；　scratches　of　the　pen；　unconnected　sentences；　and　one　or　two　common　sailor　expressions。　Mrs。　Stanley's　eyes　grew　dim　for　an　instant；　after　she　had　read　the　names　of　her　husband　and　step…sonshe　passed　the　book　to　Mr。　Wyllys；　he　took　it；　examined　it　closely；　but　found　nothing　to　complain　of　in　its　appearance。

｛〃the　Spectator〃　=　English　daily　periodical　published　by　Richard　Steele　（1672…1729）　and　Joseph　Addison　（1672…1719）　between　1711　and　1714；　the　eight　volumes　of　the　Spectator　have　been　reprinted　frequently　in　book　form　ever　since｝

〃This　is　only　the　third　volume；　have　you　the　whole　set？〃　he　asked；　turning　to　the　sailor。

〃No；　sir；　I　left　the　rest　at　home。〃

〃Is　there　such　a　set　at　Greatwood？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys；　turning　to　Mrs。　Stanley。

〃There　is；〃　replied　the　lady；　in　a　low　voice；　〃and　one　volume　missing。〃

Hazlehurst　asked　to　look　at　the　book；　it　was　handed　to　him　by　Mr。　Wyllys。　He　examined　it　very　carefully；　binding；　title…page；　and　contents；　Mr。　Clapp　watching　him　closely　at　the　moment。

〃Do　you　suspect　the　hand…writing？〃　asked　the　lawyer。

〃Not　in　the　least；〃　replied　Hazlehurst。　〃You　have　read　this　volume　often　I　suppose；〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　sailor。

〃Not　I；〃　was　the　reply；　〃I　ain't　given　to　reading　in　any　shape；　my　shipmates　have　read　that　'ere　book　oftener　than　I　have。〃

〃Did　you　carry　it　with　you　in　all　your　voyages？〃

〃No；　I　left　it　ashore　half　the　time。〃

〃How　long　have　you　had　it　in　your　possession？〃

〃Since　I　first　went　to　sea。〃

〃Indeed！　that　is　singular；　I　should　have　said；　Mr。　Clapp；〃　exclaimed　Harry；　suddenly　facing　the　lawyer；　〃that　only　four　years　since；　I　read　this　very　volume　of　the　Spectator　at　Greatwood！〃

If　Hazlehurst　expected　Mr。　Clapp　to　betray　confusion；　he　was　disappointed。

〃You　may　have　read　some　other　volume；〃　was　the　cool　reply；　although　Harry　thought；　or　fancied；　that　he　traced　a　muscular　movement　about　the　speaker's　eyelids；　as　he　uttered　the　words：　〃That　volume　has　been　in　the　possession　of　Mr。　Stanley　since　he　first　went　to　sea。〃

〃Is　there　no　other　copy　of　the　Spectator　at　your　country…place；　Mrs。　Stanley？〃　asked　Mr。　Reed。

〃There　is　another　edition；