elinor wyllys-2-第34章

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ither　was　the　sixth；　that　which　Mr。　Clapp　had　in　his　possession；　yet　Mrs。　Stanley　was　convinced；　that　only　two　years　previously；　there　had　been　but　one　volume　lost。　Harry　tried　to　revive　his　recollection　of　the　time　and　place；　when　and　where；　he　had　read　that　volume；　with　the　portrait　of　Steele；　and　Addison's　papers　on　the　Paradise　Lost；　he　should　have　felt　sure　it　was　at　Greatwood；　not　long　before　going　abroad　with　Mr。　Henley；　had　it　not　been；　that　he　found　his　brother　had　the　very　same　edition　in　Philadelphia；　and　he　might　have　read　it　there。　He　also　endeavoured　to　discover　when　and　how　the　second　missing　volume　had　been　removed　from　its　usual　place　on　the　shelf。　But　this　was　no　easy　task；　neither　the　housekeepera　respectable　woman；　in　whom　Mrs。　Stanley　and　himself　had　perfect　confidencenor　the　servants；　could　form　even　a　surmise　upon　the　subject。　At　last　Harry　thought　he　had　obtained　a　clue　to　everything；　he　found　that　two　strangers　had　been　at　Greatwood　in　the　month　of　March；　that　year；　and　had　gone　over　the　whole　house；　representing　themselves　as　friends　of　the　family。　The　housekeeper　had　forgotten　their　visit；　until　Harry's　inquiries　reminded　her　of　the　fact；　she　then　gave　him　the　name　of　the　young　woman　who　had　gone　over　the　house　with　these　two　individuals。　This　girl　was　no　longer　at　Greatwood；　but　in　the　neighbouring　village；　at　Mrs。　Stanley's　request；　however；　she　came　to　give　a　report　of　the　circumstance。

｛〃Spectator〃　=　Susan　Fenimore　Cooper　has　been　forgetful；　the　sailor；　it　was　stated　in　Chapter　12；　had　a　copy　of　Volume　three；　Addison's　essays　on　Paradise　Lost；　that　Harry　remembered　reading；　are　in　fact　contained　in　Volumes　four　and　five；　but　we　are　now　told　that　it　is　Volumes　six　and　eight　that　are　missing　from　the　shelf！｝

〃It　was　in　March　these　two　strangers　were　here；　you　say；　Malvina？〃　observed　Mrs。　Stanley。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　it　was　in　March；　when　the　roads　were　very　bad。〃

〃What　sort　of　looking　persons　were　they；　and　how　old　should　you　have　called　them？〃　asked　Hazlehurst。

〃One　was　a　tall　and　slim　gentleman；　with　curly　hair；　the　other　looked　kind　o'　rough；　he　was　stout；　and　had　a　red　face；　they　wasn't　very　young；　nor　very　old。〃

〃Tell　us；　if　you　please；　all　you　remember　about　their　visit；　just　as　it　passed；〃　said　Harry。

〃Well；　it　happened　Mrs。　Jones　was　sick　in　her　room　when　they　called；　they　wanted　to　see　the　house；　saying　they　knew　the　family　very　well。　I　asked　them　to　sit　down　in　the　hall；　while　I　went　to　tell　Mrs。　Jones；　she　hadn't　any　objections；　and　told　me　to　show　them　the　rooms　they　wanted　to　see。　So　I　took　them　over　the　housefirst　the　parlours；　then　the　other　rooms。〃

〃Did　they　ask　to　see　the　bed…rooms？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　they　went　over　all　the　house　but　the　garret；　they　went　into　the　kitchen　and　the　pantry。〃

〃Did　they　stay　some　time？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　Mrs。　Jones　wondered　they　staid　so　long。〃

〃Did　they　go　into　the　library？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Do　you　remember　whether　they　looked　at　the　books？〃

〃No；　they　didn't　stay　more　than　a　minute　in　the　library。〃

〃Are　you　sure　they　did　not　look　at　any　of　the　books？〃　repeated　Harry。

〃I　am　quite　sure　they　didn't；　for　the　room　was　too　dark；　and　they　only　staid　half…a…minute。　I　asked　them　if　I　should　open　the　shutters；　but　one　of　them　said　they　didn't　care；　he　said　he　was　never　over…fond　of　books。〃

Mrs。　Stanley　and　Harry　here　exchanged　looks　of　some　surprise。

〃Did　they　talk　much　to　each　other？do　you　remember　what　they　said？〃　continued　Harry。

〃Yes；　they　talked　considerable。　I　reckon　they　had　been　here　before；　for　they　seemed　to　know　a　good　deal　about　the　house。　When　I　showed　them　the　south　parlour；　the　gentleman　with　the　red　face　said　everything　looked　natural　to　him；　but　that　room　most　of　all；　then　he　pointed　to　the　large　chair　by　the　fire…place；　and　said：　'That　is　where　I　last　saw　my　father；　in　that　very　chair；　he　was　a　good　old　gentleman；　and　deserved　to　have　a　better　son。'〃

〃Is　it　possible！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Stanley。

〃But；　my　dear　madam；　it　was　all　acting　no　doubt；　they　wished　to　pass　for　the　characters　they　have　since　assumed；　it　only　proves　that　the　plot　has　been　going　on　for　some　time。〃　〃Do　you　remember　anything　else　that　was　said？〃　added　Hazlehurst；　turning　again　to　the　girl。

〃They　talked　considerable；　but　I　didn't　pay　much　attention。　They　inquired　when　Mr。　Hazlehurst　was　coming　home；　I　said　I　didn't　know。　The　one　with　the　curly　hair　said　he　guessed　they　knew　more　about　the　family　than　I　did；　and　he　looked　queer　when　he　said　so。〃

Nothing　further　was　gathered　from　this　girl；　who　bore　an　excellent　character　for　truth　and　honesty；　though　rather　stupid。　The　volume　of　the　Spectator　still　remained　as　much　a　mystery　as　ever。　Nor　did　a　second　conversation　with　this　young　woman　bring　to　light　anything　new；　her　answers　on　both　occasions　corresponded　exactly；　and　beyond　proving　the　fact　of　Clapp's　having　been　over　the　house　with　the　sailor；　nothing　was　gained　from　her　report。　At　the　second　conversation；　Harry　asked　if　she　knew　whether　these　strangers　had　remained　long　in　the　neighbourhood？

〃I　saw　them　the　next　day　at　meeting；〃　she　replied；　〃and　Jabez　told　me　he　met　them　walking　about　the　place；　that　is　all　I　know　about　it；　sir。〃

Jabez；　one　of　the　men　on　the　farm；　was　questioned：　he　had　seen　these　two　strangers　walking　about　the　place；　looking　at　the　barns　and　stables；　the　same　day　they　had　been　at　the　house；　but　he　had　not　spoken　to　them；　and　this　was　the　amount　of　his　story。

Harry　then　inquired　at　the　taverns　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　he　found　that　two　persons；　answering　to　the　same　description；　had　staid　a　couple　of　days；　about　the　middle　of　March；　at　a　small　inn；　within　half　a　mile　from　Greatwood。　Their　bill　had　been　made　out　in　the　name　of　〃Mr。　Clapp　and　friend。〃　This　was　satisfactory　as　far　as　it　went；　and　accounted　for　the　sailor's　knowledge　of　the　house；　though　Mrs。　Stanley　could　not　comprehend　at　first；　how　this　man　should　have　pointed　out　so　exactly；　her　husband's　favourite　seat。　Harry　reminded　her；　however；　that　Clapp　had　passed　several　years　of　his　youth　at　Franklin　Cross…Roads；　in　a　lawyer's　office；　and　had　very　probably　been　at　Greatwood　during　Mr。　Stanley's　life…time。

Hazlehurst　had　drawn　up　a　regular　plan　of　action　for　his　inquiries；　and　after　having　discovered　who　could　assist　him；　and　who　could　not；　he　portioned　off　the　neighbourhood　into　several　divisions；　intending　to　devote　a　day　to　eachcalling　at　every　house　where　he　hoped　to　gain　information　on　the　subject　of　William　Stanley。

He　set　out　on　horseback　early　in　the　morning；　for　his　first　day's　circuit；　taking　a　note…book　in　his　pocket；　to　record　facts　as　he　went　along；　and　first　turning　his　horse's　head　towards　the　house　of　Mrs。　Lawson；　who　had　been　a　constant　playfellow　of　William　Stanley's；　when　both　were　children。　This　lady　was　one　of　a　large　family；　who　had　been　near　neighbours　of　the　Stanleys　for　years；　and　on　terms　of　daily　intimacy　with　them；　and　she　had　already　told　Harry；　one　day　when　she　met　him　in　the　village；　that　she　held　herself　in　readiness　to　answer；　to　the　best　of　her　ability；　any　questions　about　her　former　playmate；　that　he　might　think　it　worth　while　to　ask。　On　knocking　at　this　lady's　door；　he　was　so　fortunate　as　to　find　Mrs。　Lawson　at　home；　and；　by　especial　luck；　Dr。　Lewis；　a　brother　of　her's；　who　had　removed　from　that　part　of　the　country；　happened　just　then　to　be　on　a　visit　at　his　sister's。

After　a　little　preliminary　chat；　Hazlehurst　made　known　the　particular　object　of　his　call。

〃Do　I　remember　William　Stanley's　personal　appearance　and　habits？　Perfectly；　quite　as　well　as　I　do　my　own　brother's；〃　replied　the　doctor；　to　Harry's　first　inquiry。

〃Mrs。　Lawson　told　me　that　he　used　to　pass　half　his　time　at　your　father's　house；　and　kindly　offered　to　assist　me；　as　far　as　lay　in　her　power；　and　I　look　upon　myself　as　doubly　fortunate　in　finding　you　here　to…day。　We　wish；　of　course；　to　collect　as　many　minute　details　as　possible；　regarding　Mr。　Stanley's　son；　as　we　feel　confident；　from　evidence　already　in　our　power；　that　this　new…comer　is　an　impostor。〃

〃No　doubt　of　it；〃　replied　the　doctor；　〃an　extravagant　story；　indeed！　Nearly　eighteen　years　as　still　as　a　mouse；　and　then　coolly　stepping　in；　and　claiming　a　property　worth　some　hundreds　of　thousands。　A　clear　case　of　conspiracy；　without　doubt。〃

〃Poor　William　was　no　saint；　certainly；〃　added　Mrs。　Lawson；　〃but　this　sailor　must　be　a　very　bad　man。〃

〃Pray；　when　did　you　last　see　young　Stanley！〃　asked　Harry；　of　the　lady。

〃When　he　was　at　home；　not　long　before　his　father's　death。　He　held　out　some　promise　of　reforming；　then。　Billings；　who　first　led　him　into　mischief；　was　not　in　the　neighbourhood　at　that　time；　and　his　father　had　hopes　of　him；　but　some　of　his　old　companions　led　him　off　again。〃

〃He　must　have　been　a　boy　of　strange　temper；　to　leave　home　under　such　circumstances；　an　only　son；　with　such　prospects　before　him。〃

〃Yes；　his　temper　was　very　unpleasant；　but　then；　Mr。　Stanley；　the　father；　did　not　know　how　to　manage　him。〃

〃He　could　scarcely　have　had　much　sense　either；　to　have　been　so　easily　led　astray　by　a　designing　young　fellow；　as　that　Billings　seems　to　have　been。〃

〃Flattery；　flattery　did　it　all；〃　observed　the　doctor。　〃Some　people　thought　young　Stanley　little　more　than　half…witted；　but　I　have　always　maintained　that　he　was　not　wanting　in　sense。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　you　can　say　so；　doctor；〃　observed　the　sister。　〃I　am　sure　it　was　a　settled　thing　among　us　children；　that　he　was　a　very　stupid；　disagreeable　boy。　He　never　took　much　interest　in　our　plays；　I　remember。〃

〃Not　in　playing　doll…baby；　perhaps；　but　I　have　had　many　a　holiday　with　him　that　I　enjoyed　very　much；　I　can　tell　you。　He　never　had　a　fancy　for　a　book；　that　is　true；　but　otherwise　be　was　not　so　very　dull　as　some　people　make　out。〃

〃He　had　the　reputation　of　being　a　dull　boy；　had　he？〃

〃Oh；　certainly；〃　said　Mrs。　Lawson。　〃at　one　time；　when　we　were　quite　children；　we　all　took　arithmetic　lessons　together；　and　he　was　always　at　the　foot　of　the　class。〃

〃He　had　no　head　for　figures；　perhaps；　it　is　more　likely；　though；　that　he　wouldn't　learn　out　of　obstinacy；　he　was　as　obstinate　as　a　mule；　that　I　allow。〃

〃What　sort　of　games　and　plays　did　he　like　best？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　he　liked　one　better　than　another；　so　long　as　he　could　choose　himself；〃　replied　Dr。　Lewis。

〃Was　he　a　strong；　active　boy？〃

〃Not　particularly　active；　but　a　stout；　healthy　lad。〃

〃Disposed　to　be　tall？〃

〃Tallish；　the　last　time　he　was　here；　he　must　have　measured　about　five　feet　ten。〃

〃Oh；　more　than　that；〃　interposed　Mrs。　Lawson；　〃he　was　taller　than　our　eldest　brother；　I　knowfull　six　feet　one；　I　should　say。〃

〃No；　no；　Sophia；　certainly　not　more　than　five　feet　nine　or　ten。　Remember；　you　were　a　little　thing　yourself　at　the　time。〃

〃Do　you　remember　the　colour　of　his　eyes；　Mrs。　Lawson？〃

〃Yes；　perfectly；　they　were　blue。〃

〃Brown；　I　should　say；〃　added　the　doctor。

〃No；　John；　you　are　quite　mistaken；　his　eyes　were　blue；　Mr。　Hazlehurstvery　dark　blue。〃

〃I　could　have　taken　my　oath　they　were　brown；〃　said　the　doctor。

Hazlehurst　looked　from　one　to　the　other　in　doubt。

〃You　were　away　from　home；　doctor；　more　than　I　was；　and　probably　do　not　remember　William's　face　as　distinctly　as　I　do。　I　am　quite　confident　his　eyes　were　a　clear；　deep　blue。〃

〃Well；　I　should　h