east lynne-第17章

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ontinued　the　excited　peer。　〃I　will　stake　my　veracity　that　such　a　one　never　occurred　yet。〃

〃No　money　for　her　own　personal　wants！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Not　a　halfpenny　in　the　world。　And　there　are　no　funds；　and　will　be　none；　that　I　can　see；　for　her　to　draw　upon。〃

〃Quite　correct；　my　lord；〃　nodded　Mr。　Warburton。　〃The　entailed　estates　go　to　you；　and　what　trifling　matter　of　personal　property　may　be　left　the　creditors　will　take　care　of。〃

〃I　understand　East　Lynne　is　yours；〃　cried　the　earl；　turning　sharply　upon　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃Isabel　has　just　said　so。〃

〃It　is；〃　was　the　reply。　〃It　became　mine　last　June。　I　believe　his　lordship　kept　the　fact　a　close　secret。〃

〃He　was　obliged　to　keep　it　a　secret；〃　interposed　Mr。　Warburton；　addressing　Lord　Mount　Severn；　〃for　not　a　stiver　of　the　purchase　money　could　he　have　fingered　had　it　got　wind。　Except　ourselves　and　Mr。　Carlyle's　agents；　the　fact　was　made　known　to　none。〃

〃It　is　strange；　sir；　that　you　could　not　urge　the　claims　of　his　child　upon　the　earl；〃　rejoined　the　new　peer　to　Mr。　Warburton；　his　tone　one　of　harsh　reproof。　〃You　were　in　his　confidence；　you　knew　the　state　of　his　affairs；　it　was　in　your　line　of　duty　to　do　it。〃

〃Knowing　the　state　of　his　affairs；　my　lord；　we　knew　how　useless　the　urging　it　would　be；〃　returned　Mr。　Warburton。　〃Your　lordship　has　but　a　faint　idea　of　the　burdens　Lord　Mount　Severn　had　upon　him。　The　interest　alone　upon　his　debts　was　frightfuland　the　deuce's　own　work　it　was　to　get　it。　Not　to　speak　of　the　kites　he　let　loose；　he　would　fly　them；　and　nothing　could　stop　him；　and　they　had　to　be　provided　for。〃

〃Oh；　I　know；〃　replied　the　earl；　with　a　gesture　of　contempt。　〃Drawing　one　bill　to　cover　another；　that　was　his　system。〃

〃Draw！〃　echoed　Mr。　Warburton。　〃He　would　have　drawn　a　bill　on　Aldgate　pump。　It　was　a　downright　mania　with　him。〃

〃Urged　to　it　by　his　necessities；　I　conclude；〃　put　in　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃He　had　no　business　to　have　such　necessities；　sir；〃　cried　the　earl；　wrathfully。　〃But　let　us　proceed　to　business。　What　money　is　there　lying　at　his　banker's；　Mr。　Warburton？　Do　you　know？〃

〃None；〃　was　the　blank　reply。　〃We　overdrew　the　account　ourselves；　a　fortnight　ago；　to　meet　one　of　his　pressing　liabilities。　We　hold　a　little；　and；　had　he　lived　a　week　or　two　longer；　the　autumn　rents　would　have　been　paid　inthough　they　must　have　been　as　quickly　paid　out　again。〃

〃I'm　glad　there's　something。　What　is　the　amount？〃

〃My　lord；〃　answered　Mr。　Warburton；　shaking　his　head　in　a　self…　condoling　manner；　〃I　am　sorry　to　tell　you　that　what　we　hold　will　not　half　satisfy　our　own　claims；　money　actually　paid　out　of　our　pockets。〃

〃Then　where　on　earth　is　the　money　to　come　from；　sir？　For　the　funeral　for　the　servants'　wagesfor　everything；　in　fact？〃

〃There　is　none　to　come　from　anywhere；〃　was　the　reply　of　Mr。　Warburton。

Lord　Mount　Severn　strode　the　carpet　more　fiercely。　〃Wicked　improvidence！　Shameful　profligacy；　callous…hearted　man！　To　live　a　rogue　and　die　a　beggarleaving　his　daughter　to　the　charity　of　strangers！〃

〃Her　case　presents　the　worst　feature　of　the　whole；〃　remarked　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃What　will　she　do　for　a　home？〃

〃She　must；　of　course；　find　it　with　me；〃　replied　his　lordship；　〃and；　I　should　hope；　a　better　one　than　this。　With　all　these　debts　and　duns　at　his　elbow；　Mount　Severn's　house　could　not　have　been　a　bower　of　roses。〃

〃I　fancy　she　knew　nothing　of　the　state　of　affairs；　had　seen　little；　if　anything；　of　the　embarrassments；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Nonsense！〃　said　the　peer。

〃Mr。　Carlyle　is　right；　my　lord；〃　observed　Mr。　Warburton；　looking　over　his　spectacles。　〃Lady　Isabel　was　in　safety　at　Mount　Severn　till　the　spring；　and　the　purchase　money　from　East　Lynnewhat　the　earl　could　touch　of　itwas　a　stop…gap　for　many　things；　and　made　matters　easy　for　the　moment。　However；　his　imprudences　are　at　an　end　now。〃

〃No；　they　are　not　at　an　end；〃　returned　Lord　Mount　Severn；　〃they　leave　their　effects　behind　them。　I　hear　there　was　a　fine　scene　yesterday　morning；　some　of　the　unfortunate　wretches　he　has　taken　in　made　their　appearance　here；　all　the　way　from　town。〃

〃Oh；　they　are　Jews　half　of　them；〃　slightingly　spoke　Mr。　Warburton。　〃If　they　do　lose　a　little；　it　will　be　an　agreeable　novelty　to　them。〃

〃Jews　have　as　much　right　to　their　own　as　we　have；　Mr。　Warburton；〃　was　the　peer's　angry　reprimand。　〃And　if　they　were　Turks　and　infidels；　it　would　not　excuse　Mount　Severn's　practices。　Isabel　says　it　was　you；　Mr。　Carlyle；　who　contrived　to　get　rid　of　them。〃

〃By　convincing　them　that　East　Lynne　and　its　furniture　belonged　to　me。　But　there　are　those　two　men　upstairs；　in　possession　ofof　him；　I　could　not　get　rid　of　them。〃

The　earl　looked　at　him。　〃I　do　not　understand　you。〃

〃Did　you　not　know　that　they　have　seized　the　corpse？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle；　dropping　his　voice。　〃Two　men　have　been　posted　over　it；　like　sentinels；　since　yesterday　morning。　And　there's　a　third　in　the　house；　I　hear；　who　relieves　each　other　by　turn；　that　they　may　go　down　in　the　hall　and　take　their　meals。〃

The　earl　had　halted　in　his　walk　and　drawn　near　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　mouth　open；　his　face　a　marvel　of　consternation。　〃By　George！〃　was　all　Mr。　Warburton　uttered；　and　snatched　off　his　glasses。

〃Mr。　Carlyle；　do　I　understand　you　arightthat　the　body　of　the　late　earl　has　been　seized　for　a　debt？〃　demanded　the　peer；　solemnly。　〃Seize　a　dead　body！　Am　I　awake　or　dreaming？〃

〃It　is　what　they　have　done。　They　got　into　the　room　by　stratagem。〃

〃Is　it　possible　that　transactions　so　infamous　are　permitted　by　our　law？〃　ejaculated　the　earl。　〃Arrest　a　dead　man！　I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing。　I　am　shocked　beyond　expression。　Isabel　said　something　about　two　men；　I　remember；　but　she　was　so　full　of　grief　and　agitation　altogether；　that　I　but　half　comprehended　what　she　did　say　upon　the　subject。　Why；　what　will　be　done？　Can't　we　bury　him？〃

〃I　fancy　not。　The　housekeeper　told　me；　this　morning；　she　feared　they　would　not　even　suffer　the　coffin　to　be　closed　down。　And　that　ought　to　be　done　with　all　convenient　speed。〃

〃It　is　perfectly　horrible！〃　uttered　the　earl。

〃Who　has　done　itdo　you　know？〃　inquired　Mr。　Warburton。

〃Somebody　of　the　name　of　Anstey；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃In　the　absence　of　any　member　of　the　family；　I　took　upon　myself　to　pay　the　chamber　a　visit　and　examine　into　the　men's　authority。　The　claim　is　about　three　thousand　pounds。〃

〃If　it's　Anstey　who　has　done　it　it　is　a　personal　debt　of　the　earl's；　really　owing；　every　pound　of　it；〃　observed　Mr。　Warburton。　〃A　sharp　man；　though；　that　Anstey；　to　hit　upon　such　a　scheme。〃

〃And　a　shameless　and　a　scandalous　man；〃　added　Lord　Mount　Severn。　〃Well；　this　is　a　pretty　thing。　What's　to　be　done？〃

While　they　consult；　let　us　look　for　a　moment　at　Lady　Isabel。　She　sat　alone；　in　great　perplexity；　indulging　the　deepest　grief。　Lord　Mount　Severn　had　intimated　to　her；　kindly　and　affectionately；　that　henceforth　she　must　find　her　home　with　him　and　his　wife。　Isabel　returned　a　faint　〃Thank　you〃　and　as　soon　as　he　left　her；　burst　into　a　paroxysm　of　rebellious　tears。　〃Have　her　home　with　Mrs。　Vane！〃　she　uttered　to　her　own　heart；　〃No；　never；　rather　would　she　dierather　would　she　eat　a　crust　and　drink　water！〃　and　so　on；　and　so　on。　Young　demoiselles　are　somewhat　prone　to　indulge　in　these　flights　of　fancy；　but　they　are　in　most　cases　impracticable　and　foolishexceedingly　so　in　that　of　Lady　Isabel　Vane。　Work　for　their　living？　It　may　appear　very　feasible　in　theory；　but　theory　and　practice　are　as　opposite　as　light　and　dark。　The　plain　fact　was；　that　Isabel　had　no　alternative　whatever；　save　that　of　accepting　a　home　with　Lady　Mount　Severn；　and　the　conviction　that　it　must　be　so　stole　over　her　spirit；　even　while　her　hasty　lips　were　protesting　that　she　would　not。

Two　mourners　only　attended　the　funeralthe　earl　and　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　latter　was　no　relative　of　the　deceased；　and　but　a　very　recent　friend；　but　the　earl　had　invited　him；　probably　not　liking　the　parading；　solus；　his　trappings　of　woe。　Some　of　the　county　aristocracy　were　pallbearers；　and　many　private　carriages　followed。

All　was　bustle　on　the　following　morning。　The　earl　was　to　depart；　and　Isabel　was　to　depart；　but　not　together。　In　the　course　of　the　day　the　domestics　would　disperse。　The　earl　was　speeding　to　London；　and　the　chaise　to　convey　him　to　the　railway　station　at　West　Lynne　was　already　at　the　door　when　Mr。　Carlyle　arrived。

〃I　was　getting　fidgety　fearing　you　would　not　be　here；　for　I　have　barely　five　minutes　to　spare；〃　observed　the　earl；　as　he　shook　hands。　〃You　are　sure　you　fully　understood　about　the　tombstone？〃

〃Perfectly；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃How　is　Lady　Isabel？〃

〃Very　down…hearted；　I　fear；　poor　child；　for　she　did　not　breakfast　with　me；〃　replied　the　earl。　〃Mason　privately　told　me　that　she　was　in　a　convulsion　of　grief。　A　bad　man；　a　/bad/　man；　was　Mount　Severn；〃　he　emphatically　added；　as　he　rose　and　rang　the　bell。

〃Let　Lady　Isabel　be　informed　that　I　am　ready　to　depart；　and　that　I　wait　to　see　her；〃　he　said　the　servant　who　answered　it。　〃And　while　she　is　coming；　Mr。　Carlyle；〃　he　added；　〃allow　me　to　express　my　obligations　to　you。　How　I　should　have　got　along　in　this　worrying　business　without　you；　I　cannot　divine。　You　have　promised；　mind；　to　pay　me　a　visit；　and　I　shall　expect　it　speedily。〃

〃Promised　conditionallythat　I　find　myself　in　your　neighborhood；〃　smiled　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Should〃

Isabel　entered；　dressed　also；　and　ready；　for　she　was　to　depart　immediately　after　the　earl。　Her　crape　veil　was　over　her　face；　but　she　threw　it　back。

〃My　time　is　up；　Isabel；　and　I　must　go。　Is　there　anything　you　wish　to　say　to　me？〃

She　opened　her　lips　to　speak；　but　glanced　at　Mr。　Carlyle　and　hesitated。　He　was　standing　at　the　window；　his　back　towards　them。

〃I　suppose　not；〃　said　the　earl；　answering　himself；　for　he　was　in　a　fever　of　hurry　to　be　off；　like　many　others　are　when　starting　on　a　journey。　〃You　will　have　no　trouble　whatever；　my　dear；　only　mind　you　get　some　refreshments　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　for　you　won't　be　at　Castle　Marling　before　dinner…time。　Tell　Mrs。　Vatell　Lady　Mount　Severn　that　I　had　no　time　to　write；　but　will　do　so　from　town。〃

But　Isabel　stood　before　him　in　an　attitude　of　uncertaintyof　expectancy；　it　may　be　said；　her　color　varying。

〃What　is　it；　you　wish　to　say　something？〃

She　certainly　did　wish　to　say　something；　but　she　did　not　know　how。　It　was　a　moment　of　embarrassment　to　her；　intensely　painful；　and　the　presence　of　Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　tend　to　lessen　it。　The　latter　had　no　idea　his　absence　was　wished　for。

〃Bless　me；　Isabel！　I　declare　I　forgot　all　about　it；〃　cried　the　earl；　in　a　tone　of　vexation。　〃Not　being　accustomed　tothis　aspect　of　affairs　is　so　new〃　He　broke　off　his　disjointed　sentences；　unbuttoned　his　coat；　drew　out　his　purse；　and　paused　over　its　contents。

〃Isabel；　I　have　run　myself　very　short；　and　have　but　little　beyond　what　will　take　me　to　town。　You　must　make　three　pounds　do　for　now；　my　dear。　Once　at　Castle　MarlingPound　has　the　funds　for　the　journeyLady　Mount　Severn　will　supply　you；　but　you　must　tell　her；　or　she　will　not　know。〃

He　shot　some　gold　out　of　his　purse　as　he　spoke；　and　left　two　sovereigns　and　two　half　sovereigns　on　the　table。　〃Farewell；　my　dear；　make　yourself　happy　at　Castle　Marling。　I　shall　be　home　soon。〃

Passing　from　the　room　with　Mr。　Carlyle；　he　stood　talking　with　that　gentleman　a　minute；　his　foot　on　the　step　of　the　chaise；　a