east lynne-第82章

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ril　to　me；　Mr。　Ball！〃

〃Pooh；　pooh！〃　laughed　the　attorney。　〃Do　you　suppose　I　have　but　this　one　reception…room？　We　don't　let　cats　into　cages　where　canary　birds　are　kept。〃

Ebenezer　James　returned　with　the　messenger　dispatched　after　him。

〃You'll　be　sure　to　find　him　at　the　singing　saloon；〃　Mr。　Ball　had　said；　and　there　the　gentleman　was　found。

〃Is　it　any　copying；　sir；　wanted　to　be　done　in　a　hurry？〃　cried　James；　when　he　came　in。

〃No；〃　replied　the　attorney。　〃I　wish　a　question　or　two　answered；　that's　all。　Did　you　ever　know　Sir　Francis　Levison　to　go　by　any　name　but　his　own？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　He　has　gone　by　the　name　of　Thorn。〃

A　pause。　〃When　was　this？〃

〃It　was　the　autumn　when　Hallijohn　was　killed。　Thorn　used　to　be　prowling　about　there　in　an　eveningin　the　wood　and　at　the　cottage；　I　mean。〃

〃What　did　he　prowl　for？〃

Ebenezer　James　laughed。　〃For　the　same　reason　that　several　more　didI；　for　one。　He　was　sweet　upon　Afy　Hallijohn。〃

〃Where　was　he　living　at　the　time？　I　never　remember　him　in　West　Lynne。〃

〃He　was　not　at　West　Lynne；　sir。　On　the　contrary；　he　seemed　to　take　precious　good　care　that　West　Lynne　and　he　kept　separate。　A　splendid　horse　he　rode；　a　thoroughbred；　and　he　used　to　come　galloping　into　the　wood　at　dusk；　get　over　his　chat　with　Miss　Afy；　mount；　and　gallop　away　again。〃

〃Where　to？　Where　did　he　come　from？〃

〃From　somewhere　toward　Swainson；　a　ten　mile's　ride；　Afy　used　to　say　he　had。　Now　that　he　has　appeared　here　in　his　own　plumage；　of　course　I　can　put　two　and　two　together；　and　not　be　at　much　fault　for　the　exact　spot。〃

〃And　where's　that？〃　asked　the　lawyer。

〃Levison　Park；〃　said　Mr。　Ebenezer。　〃There's　little　doubt　he　was　stopping　at　his　uncle's；　and　you　know　that　is　close　to　Swainson。〃

Lawyer　Ball　thought　things　were　becoming　cleareror　darker；　whatever　you　may　please　to　call　it。　He　paused　again；　and　then　put　a　question　impressively。

〃James；　have　you　any　doubt　whatever；　or　shadow　of　doubt；　that　Sir　Francis　Levison　is　the　same　man　you　know　as　Thorn？〃

〃Sir；　have　I　any　doubt　that　you　are　Mr。　Ball；　or　that　I　am　Eb。　James？〃　retorted　Mr。　Ebenezer。　〃I　am　as　certain　of　that　man's　identity　as　I　am　of　yours。〃

〃Are　you　ready　to　swear　to　that　fact　in　a　court　of　justice？〃

〃Ready　and　willing；　in　any　court　in　the　world。　To…morrow；　if　I　am　called　upon。〃

〃Very　well。　You　may　go　back　to　your　singing　club　now。　Keep　a　silent　tongue　in　your　head。〃

〃All　close；　sir；〃　answered　Mr。　Ebenezer　James。

Far　into　the　middle　of　the　night　sat　Lawyer　Ball　and　Richard　Hare；　the　former　chiefly　occupied　in　taking　notes　of　Richard's　statement。

〃It's　half　a　crochet；　this　objection　of　Carlyle's　to　interfere　with　Levison；〃　suddenly　uttered　Richard；　in　the　midst　of　some　desultory　conversation。　〃Don't　you　think　so；　Mr。　Ball？〃

The　lawyer　pursed　up　his　lips。　〃Um！　A　delicate　point。　Carlyle　was　always　fastidiously　honorable。　/I/　should　go　at　him；　thunder　and　fury；　in　his　place；　but　I　and　Carlyle　are　different。〃

The　following　day；　Tuesday；　Mr。　Ball　was　much　occupied；　putting；　to　use　nearly　Ebenezer　James'　words；　that　and　that　together。　Later　in　the　day　he　took　a　journey　to　Levison　Park；　ferreted　out　some　information；　and　came　home　again。　On　that　same　day；　at　evening；　Richard　departed　for　Liverpoolhe　was　done　with　for　the　presentMr。　and　Mrs。　Carlyle　being；　as　before；　alone　cognizant　of　his　address。

Wednesday　morning　witnessed　the　arrival　again　of　the　Earl　of　Mount　Severn。　Lord　Vane；　too。　The　latter　ought　to　have　gone　back　to　Eton；　but　he　had　teased　and　prayed　to　be　allowed　to　〃see　the　fun　out；〃　meaning　the　election。　〃And　that　devil's　discomfiture　when　he　finds　himself　beaten；〃　he　surreptitiously　added；　behind　his　father's　back；　who　was　a　great　stickler　for　the　boy's　always　being　〃gentlemanly。〃　So　the　earl　had　yielded。　They　arrived；　as　before；　about　breakfast…time；　having　traveled　all　night。　Subsequently；　they　and　Mr。　Carlyle　walked　into　West　Lynne　together。

West　Lynne　was　alive　and　astir。　The　election　was　to　come　off　that　week；　and　people　made　it　their　business　to　be　in　a　bustle　over　it；　collectively　and　individually。　Mr。　Carlyle's　committee　sat　at　the　Buck's　Head；　and　the　traffic　in　and　out　was　enough　to　wear　the　stones　away。　The　bench　of　justices　were　remarkably　warm　over　it；　neglecting　the　judicial　business；　and　showing　themselves　at　the　Buck's　Head　windows　in　purple　and　scarlet　streamers。

〃I　will　be　with　you　in　ten　minutes；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　withdrawing　his　arm　from　Lord　Mount　Severn's；　as　they　approached　his　office；　〃but　I　must　go　in　and　read　my　letters。〃

So　the　earl　went　on　to　the　Buck's　Head；　and　Lord　Vane　took　a　foot　canter　down　to　the　Raven；　to　reconnoiter　it　outside。　He　was　uncommonly　fond　of　planting　himself　where　Sir　Francis　Levison's　eyes　were　sure　to　fall　upon　himwhich　eyes　were　immediately　dropped；　while　the　young　gentleman's　would　be　fixed　in　an　audacious　stare。　Being　Lord　Vaneor　it　may　be　more　correct　to　say；　being　the　Earl　of　Mount　Severn's　son；　and　under　control；　he　was　debarred　from　dancing　and　jeering　after　the　yellow　candidate；　as　the　unwashed　gentry　of　his　own　age　indulged　in；　but　his　tongue　and　his　feet　itched　to　do　it。

Mr。　Carlyle　took　his　seat　in　his　private　room；　opened　his　letters；　assorted　them；　marked　on　the　back　of　some　what　was　to　be　the　purport　of　their　answer；　and　then　called　in　Mr。　Dill。　Mr。　Carlyle　put　the　letters　in　his　hand；　gave　some　rapid　instructions；　and　rose。

〃You　are　in　a　hurry；　Mr。　Archibald？〃

〃They　want　me　at　the　Buck's　Head。　Why？〃

〃A　curious　incident　occurred　to　me　last　evening；　sir。　I　was　an　ear…　witness　to　a　dispute　between　Levison　and　Otway　Bethel。〃

〃Indeed！〃　carelessly　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　who　was　busy　at　the　time　looking　for　something　in　the　deep　drawer　of　the　desk。

〃And　what　I　heard　would　go　far　to　hang　Levison；　if　not　Bethel。　As　sure　as　we　are　here；　Mr。　Archibald；　they　hold　the　secret　of　Hallijohn's　murder。　It　appears　that　Levison〃

〃Stop！〃　interposed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　would　prefer　not　to　hear　this。　Levison　may　have　murdered　him；　but　it　is　no　affair　of　mine；　neither　shall　I　make　it　such。〃

Old　Dill　felt　checkmated。　〃Meanwhile　Richard　Hare　suffers；　Mr。　Archibald；〃　he　observed；　in　a　remonstrating　tone。

〃I　am　aware　he　does。〃

〃Is　it　right　that　the　innocent　should　suffer　for　the　guilty？〃

〃No；　very　wrong。　But　the　case　is　all　too　common。〃

〃If　some　one　would　take　up　Richard　Hare's　cause　now；　he　might　be　proved　innocent；〃　added　the　old　man；　with　a　wistful　look　at　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃It　is　being　taken　up；　Dill。〃

A　pause　and　a　glad　look。　〃That's　the　best　news　I　have　had　for　many　a　day；　sir。　But　my　evidence　will　be　necessary　to　your　case。　Levison〃

〃I'm　not　taking　up　the　case。　You　must　carry　your　news　elsewhere。　It　is　no　affair　of　mine；　I　say。〃

〃Then　who　is　taking　it　up？〃　echoed　Mr。　Dill；　in　astonishment。

〃Ball。　He　has　had　a　meeting　with　Richard；　and　is　now　acting　for　him　under　the　rose。〃

Mr。　Dill's　eyes　sparkled。　〃Is　he　going　to　prosecute；　Mr。　Archibald？〃

〃I　tell　you　I　know　nothingI　will　know　nothing。　When　the　affair　comes　out　to　the　publicif　it　ever　does　come　outI　shall　share　in　the　information；　Dill；　and　that　is　all。〃

〃Ah；　well；　I　can　understand。　But　I　shall　go　on　to　their　office　at　once；　Mr。　Archibald；　and　inform　them　of　what　I　overheard；〃　spoke　old　Dill；　in　vehement　decision。

〃That　is　not　my　affair　either；〃　laughed　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃it　is　yours。　But　remember；　if　you　do　go；　it　is　Ball；　not　Treadman。〃

Waiting　only　to　give　certain　orders　to　the　head　clerk；　Mr。　Dill　proceeded　to　the　office　of　Ball　&　Treadman。　A　full　hour　was　he　closeted　there　with　the　senior　partner。

Not　until　three　o'clock　that　afternoon　did　the　justices　take　their　seats　on　the　bench。　Scarcely　were　they　seated　when　Lawyer　Ball　bustled　in　and　craved　a　secret　hearing。　His　application　was　of　the　last　importance；　he　promised；　but；　that　the　ends　of　justice　might　not　be　defeated　it　was　necessary　their　worships　should　entertain　it　in　private；　he　therefore　craved　the　bench　to　accord　it　to　him。

The　bench　consulted；　looked　wise；　and；　possibly　possessing　some　latent　curiosity　themselves　upon　the　point；　graciously　acceded。　They　adjourned　to　a　private　room；　and　it　was　full　half…past　four　before　they　came　out　of　it。　Very　long　faces；　scared　and　grim；　were　their　worships'；　as　if　Lawyer　Ball's　communication　had　both　perplexed　and　confounded　them。

〃This　is　the　afternoon　we　are　to　meet　Dr。　Martin　at　papa's　office；〃　William　Carlyle　had　suddenly　exclaimed　that　day　at　dinner。　〃Do　we　walk　in；　Madame　Vine？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　William。　Mrs。　Carlyle　is　going　to　take　you。〃

〃No；　she　is　not；　you　are　going　to　take　me。〃

A　flush　passed　over　Lady　Isabel's　face　at　the　bare　thought；　though　she　did　not　believe　it。　/She/　go　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　office！　〃Mrs。　Carlyle　told　me　herself　that　she　should　take　you；〃　was　the　reply。

〃All　I　know　is；　mamma　told　me　this　morning　you　would　take　me　to　West　Lynne　to…day；〃　persisted　William。

The　discussion　was　interrupted　by　the　appearance　of　Mrs。　Carlyle　interrupted　and　decided　also。

〃Madame　Vine；〃　she　said；　〃you　will　be　ready　at　three　o'clock　to　go　in　with　William？〃

Lady　Isabel's　heart　beat。　〃I　understood　you　to　say　that　you　should　go　with　him　yourself；　madame。〃

〃I　know　I　did。　I　intended　to　do　so；　but　I　heard　this　morning　that　some　friends　from　a　distance　are　coming　this　afternoon　to　call　upon　me；　therefore　I　shall　not　go　out。〃

How　she；　Lady　Isabel；　wished　that　she　dare　say；　also；　〃I　shall　not　go　out　either。〃　But　that　might　not　be。　Well；　she　must　go　through　with　it　as　she　had　to　go　through　with　the　rest。

William　rode　his　pony　into　West　Lynne；　the　groom　attending　to　take　it　back　again。　He　was　to　walk　home　with　Madame　Vine；　who　walked　both　ways。

Mr。　Carlyle　was　not　in　when　they　arrived　at　the　office。　The　boy　went　boldly　on　to　the　private　room；　leaving　Madame　Vine　to　follow　him。

Presently　Mr。　Carlyle　appeared。　He　was　talking　to　Mr。　Dill；　who　followed　him。

〃Oh；　you　are　here；　Madame　Vine！　I　left　word　that　you　were　to　go　into　Miss　Carlyle's。　Did　I　not　leave　word；　Dill？〃

〃Not　with　me；　sir。〃

〃I　forgot　it；　then；　I　meant　to　do　so。　What　is　the　time？〃　He　looked　at　his　watch：　ten　minutes　to　four。　〃Did　the　doctor　say　at　what　hour　he　should　call？〃　Mr。　Carlyle　added　to　Madame　Vine。

〃Not　precisely。　I　gathered　that　it　would　be　very　early　in　the　afternoon。〃

〃Here　he　is！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Carlyle　with　alacrity；　as　he　went　into　the　hall。　She　supposed　he　alluded　to　the　physiciansupposed　he　had　seen　him　pass　the　window。　Their　entrance　together　woke　up　William。

〃Well；〃　said　the　doctor；　who　was　a　little　man　with　a　bald　head；　〃and　how　fares　it　with　my　young　patient？　/Bon　jour/　madame。〃

〃/Bon　jour/；　monsieur；〃　responded　she。　She　wished　everybody　would　address　her　in　French；　and　take　her　for　French；　there　seemed　less　chance　of　recognition。　She　would　have　to　speak　in　good　plain　English；　however；　if　she　must　carry　on　conversation　with　the　doctor。　Beyond　a　familiar　phrase　or　two；　he　was　something　like　Justice　Hare/Nong　parley　Fronsay/　me！

〃And　how　does　the　cod…liver　oil　get　on？〃　asked　the　doctor　of　William；　as　he　drew　him　to　the　light。　〃It　is　nicer　now　than　it　used　to　be；　eh？〃

〃No；〃　said　William；　〃it　is　nastier　than　ever。〃

Dr。　Martin　looked　at　the　boy；　felt　his　pulse；　his　skin；　listened　to　his　breathing。　〃There；〃　said　he；　presently；　〃you