east lynne-第88章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


stay　to　tea　with　her；　and　I　did。〃

〃Did　you　see　Captain　Levison　there？〃

〃I　saw　Thornas　I　thought　him　to　be。　Afy　told　me　I　must　be　away　by　eight　o'clock；　for　she　was　expecting　a　friend　who　sometimes　came　to　sit　with　her　for　an　hour's　chat。　But；　in　talking　over　old　timesnot　that　I　could　tell　her　much　about　West　Lynne；　for　I　had　left　it　almost　as　long　as　she　hadthe　time　slipped　on　past　the　hour。　When　Afy　found　that　out　she　hurried　me　off；　and　I　had　barely　got　outside　the　gate　when　a　cab　drove　up；　and　Thorn　alighted　from　it；　and　let　himself　in　with　a　latch…key。　That　is　all　I　know。〃

〃When　you　knew　that　the　scandal　of　Afy's　absence　rested　on　Richard　Hare；　why　could　you　not　have　said　this；　and　cleared　him；　on　your　return　to　West　Lynne？〃

〃It　was　no　affair　of　mine；　that　I　should　make　it　public。　Afy　asked　me　not　to　say　I　had　seen　her；　and　I　promised　her　I　would　not。　As　to　Richard　Hare；　a　little　extra　scandal　on　his　back　was　nothing；　while　there　remained　on　it　the　worse　scandal　of　murder。〃

〃Stop　a　bit；〃　interposed　Mr。　Rubiny；　as　the　witness　was　about　to　retire。　〃You　speak　of　the　time　being　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening；　sir。　Was　it　dark？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　how　can　you　be　certain　it　was　Thorn　who　got　out　of　the　cab　and　entered？〃

〃I　am　quite　certain。　There　was　a　gas…lamp　right　at　the　spot；　and　I　saw　him　as　well　as　I　should　have　seen　him　in　daylight。　I　knew　his　voice；　too；　could　have　sworn　to　it　anywhere；　and　I　would　almost　have　sworn　to　him　by　his　splendid　diamond　ring。　It　flashed　in　the　lamplight。〃

〃His　voice！　Did　he　speak　to　you？〃

〃No。　But　he　spoke　to　the　cabman。　There　was　a　half　dispute　between　them。　The　man　said　Thorn　had　not　paid　him　enough；　that　he　had　not　allowed　for　having　been　kept　waiting　twenty　minutes　on　the　road。　Thorn　swore　at　him　a　bit；　and　then　flung　him　an　extra　shilling。〃

The　next　witness　was　a　man　who　had　been　groom　to　the　late　Sir　Peter　Levison。　He　testified　that　the　prisoner；　Francis　Levison　had　been　on　a　visit　to　his　master　late　in　the　summer　and　part　of　the　autumn；　the　year　that　Hallijohn　was　killed。　That　he　frequently　rode　out　in　the　direction　of　West　Lynne；　especially　toward　evening；　would　be　away　three　or　four　hours；　and　come　home　with　the　horse　in　a　foam。　Also　that　he　picked　up　two　letters　at　different　times；　which　Mr。　Levison　had　carelessly　let　fall　from　his　pocket；　and　returned　them　to　him。　Both　the　notes　were　addressed　〃Captain　Thorn。〃　But　they　had　not　been　through　the　post；　for　there　was　no　further　superscription　on　them；　and　the　writing　looked　like　a　lady's。　He　remembered　quite　well　hearing　of　the　murder　of　Hallijohn；　the　witness　added；　in　answer　to　a　question；　it　made　a　great　stir　through　out　the　country。　It　was　just　at　that　same　time　that　Mr。　Levison　concluded　his　visit；　and　returned　to　London。

〃A　/wonderful/　memory！〃　Mr。　Rubiny　sarcastically　remarked。

The　witness；　a　quiet；　respectable　man；　replied　that　he　/had/　a　good　memory；　but　that　circumstances　had　impressed　upon　it　particularly　the　fact　that　Mr。　Levison's　departure　followed　close　upon　the　murder　of　Hallijohn。

〃One　day；　when　Sir　Peter　was　round　at　the　stables；　gentlemen；　he　was　urging　his　nephew　to　prolong　his　visit；　and　asked　what　sudden　freak　was　taking　him　off。　Mr。　Levison　replied　that　unexpected　business　called　him　to　London。　While　they　were　talking；　the　coachman　came　up；　all　in　a　heat；　telling　that　Hallijohn；　of　West　Lynne；　had　been　murdered　by　young　Mr。　Hare。　I　remember　Sir　Peter　said　he　could　not　believe　it；　and　that　it　must　have　been　an　accident；　not　murder。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃There　was　more　said。　Mr。　Levison；　in　a　shameful　sort　of　manner；　asked　his　uncle；　would　he　let　him　have　five　or　ten　pounds？　Sir　Peter　seemed　angry；　and　asked；　what　had　he　done　with　the　fifty…pound　note　he　had　made　him　a　present　of　only　the　previous　morning？　Mr。　Levison　replied　that　he　had　sent　that　away　to　a　brother　officer；　to　whom　he　was　in　debt。　Sir　Peter　refused　to　believe　it；　and　said　he　had　more　likely　squandered　it　upon　some　disgraceful　folly。　Mr。　Levison　denied　that　he　had；　but　he　looked　confused；　indeed；　his　matter　altogether　was　confused　that　morning。〃

〃Did　he　get　the　five　or　ten　pounds？〃

〃I　don't　know；　gentlemen。　I　dare　say　he　did；　for　my　master　was　as　persuadable　as　a　woman；　though　he'd　fly　out　a　bit　sometimes　at　first。　Mr。　Levison　departed　for　London　that　same　night。〃

The　last　witness　called　was　Mr。　Dill。　On　the　previous　Tuesday　evening；　he　had　been　returning　home　from　spending　an　hour　at　Mr。　Beauchamp's；　when；　in　a　field　opposite　to　Mr。　Justice　Hare's；　he　suddenly　heard　a　commotion。　It　arose　from　the　meeting　of　Sir　Francis　Levison　and　Otway　Bethel。　The　former　appeared　to　have　been　enjoying　a　solitary　moonlight　ramble；　and　the　latter　to　have　encountered　him　unexpectedly。　Words　ensued。　Bethel　accused　Sir　Francis　of　〃shirking〃　him。　Sir　Francis　answered　angrily　that　he　knew　nothing　of　him；　and　nothing　he　wanted　to　know。

〃　'You　were　glad　enough　to　know　something　of　me　the　night　of　Hallijohn's　murder；'　retorted　Bethel　to　this。　'Do　you　remember　that　I　could　hang　you。　One　little　word　from　me；　and　you'd　stand　in　Dick　Hare's　place。'

〃　'You　fool！'　passionately　cried　Sir　Francis。　'You　couldn't　hang　me　without　putting　your　own　head　in　a　noose。　Did　you　not　have　your　hush　money？　Are　you　wanting　to　do　me　out　of　more？'

〃　'A　cursed　paltry　note　of　fifty　pounds！'　foamed　Otway　Bethel；　'which；　many　a　time　since；　I　have　wished　my　fingers　were　blown　off　before　they　touched。　I　never　should　have　touched　it；　but　that　I　was　altogether　overwhelmed　with　the　moment's　confusion。　I　have　not　been　able　to　look　Mrs。　Hare　in　the　face　since；　knowing　that　I　held　the　secret　that　would　save　her　son　from　the　hangman。'

〃　'And　put　yourself　in　his　place；'　sneered　Sir　Francis。

〃　'No。　Put　you。'

〃　'That's　as　it　might　be。　But；　if　I　went　to　the　hangman；　you　would　go　with　me。　There　would　be　no　excuse　or　escape　for　you。　You　know　it。'　〃

The　warfare　continued　longer；　but　this　was　the　cream　of　it。　Mr。　Dill　heard　the　whole；　and　repeated　it　now　to　the　magistrate。　Mr。　Rubiny　protested　that　it　was　〃inadmissible；〃　〃hearsay　evidence；〃　〃contrary　to　law；〃　but　the　bench　oracularly　put　Mr。　Rubiny　down；　and　told　him　they　did　not　want　any　stranger　to　come　there　and　teach　them　their　business。

Colonel　Bethel　had　leaned　forward　at　the　conclusion　of　Mr。　Dill's　evidence；　dismay　on　his　face；　agitation　in　his　voice。　〃Are　you　sure　that　you　made　no　mistakethat　the　other　in　this　interview　was　Otway　Bethel？〃

Mr。　Dill　sadly　shook　his　head。　〃Am　I　one　to　swear　to　a　wrong　man；　colonel？　I　wish　I　had　not　heard　itsave　that　it　may　be　the　means　of　clearing　Richard　Hare。〃

Sir　Francis　Levison　had　braved　out　the　proceedings　with　a　haughty；　cavalier　air；　his　delicate　hands　and　his　diamond　ring　remarkably　conspicuous。　Was　that　stone　the　real　thing；　or　a　false　one；　substituted　for　the　real？　Hard　up　as　he　had　long　been　for　money；　the　suspicion　might　arise。　A　derisive　smile　crossed　his　features　at　parts　of　the　evidence；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃You　may　convict　me　as　to　Mademoiselle　Afy；　but　you　can't　as　to　the　murder。〃　When；　however；　Mr。　Dill's　testimony　was　given；　what　a　change　was　there！　His　mood　tamed　down　to　what　looked　like　abject　fear；　and　he　shook　in　his　shoes　as　he　stood。

〃Of　course　your　worships　will　take　bail　for　Sir　Francis？〃　said　Mr。　Rubiny；　at　the　close　of　the　proceedings。

Bail！　The　bench　looked　at　one　another。

〃Your　worships　will　not　refuse　ita　gentleman　in　Sir　Francis　Levison's　position！〃

The　bench　thought　they　never　had　so　insolent　an　application　made　to　them。　Bail　for　him！on　this　charge！　No；　not　if　the　lord　chancellor　himself　came　down　to　offer　it。

Mr。　Otway　Bethel；　conscious；　probably；　that　nobody　would　offer　bail　for　him；　not　even　the　colonel；　did　not　ask　the　bench　to　take　it。　So　the　two　were　fully　committed　to　take　their　trial　for　the　〃Wilful　murder；　otherwise　the　killing　and　slaying　of　George　Hallijohn；〃　and　before　night　would　be　on　their　road　to　the　county　prison　at　Lynneborough。

And　that　vain；　ill…starred　Afy！　What　of　her？　Well；　Afy　had　retreated　to　the　witness…room　again；　after　giving　evidence；　and　there　she　remained　to　the　close；　agreeably　occupied　in　a　mental　debate。　What　would　they　make　out　from　her　admission　regarding　her　sojourn　in　London　and　the　morning　calls？　How　would　that　precious　West　Lynne　construe　it？　She　did　not　much　care；　she　would　brave　it　out；　and　assail　them　with　towering　indignation；　did　any　dare　to　cast　a　stone　at　her。

Such　was　her　final　decision；　arrived　at　just　as　the　proceedings　terminated。　Afy　was　right　glad　to　remain　where　she　was；　till　some　of　the　bustle　had　gone。

〃How　was　it　ended？〃　asked　she　of　Mr。　Ball；　who；　being　a　bachelor；　was　ever　regarded　with　much　graciousness　by　Afy；　for　she　kept　her　eyes　open　to　contingencies；　although　Mr。　Joe　Jiffin　was　held　in　reserve。

〃They　are　both　committed　for　wilful　murderoff　to　Lynneborough　within　an　hour！〃

Afy's　color　rose。　〃What　a　shame！　To　commit　two　innocent　men　upon　such　a　charge。〃

〃I　can　tell　you　what；　Miss　Afy；　the　sooner　you　disabuse　your　mind　of　that　prejudice；　the　better。　Levison　has　been　as　good　as　proved　guilty　to…day；　but　if　proof　were　wanting；　he　and　Bethel　have　criminated　each　other。　'When　rogues　fall　out；　honest　men　get　their　own。'　Not　that　I　can　quite　fathom　Bethel's　share　in　the　exploit；　though　I　can　pretty　well　guess　at　it。　And；　in　proving　themselves　guilty　they　have　proved　the　innocence　of　Richard　Hare。〃

Afy's　face　was　changing　to　whiteness；　her　confident　air　to　one　of　dread；　her　vanity　to　humiliation。

〃Itcan'tbetrue！〃　she　gasped。

〃It's　true　enough。　The　part　you　have　hitherto　ascribed　to　Thorn；　was　enacted　by　Richard　Hare。　He　heard　the　shot　from　his　place　in　the　wood；　and　saw　Thorn　run；　ghastly；　trembling；　horrified；　from　his　wicked　work。　Believe　me；　it　was　Thorn　who　killed　your　father。〃

Afy　grew　cold　as　she　listened。　That　one　awful　moment；　when　conviction　that　his　words　were　true；　forced　itself　upon　her；　was　enough　to　sober　her　for　a　whole　lifetime。　/Thorn！/　Her　sight　failed；　her　head　reeled；　her　very　heart　turned　to　sickness。　One　struggling　cry　of　pain；　and；　for　the　second　time　that　day；　Afy　Hallijohn　fell　forward　in　a　fainting　fit。

Shouts；　hisses；　execrations；　yells！　The　prisoners　were　being　brought　forth；　to　be　conveyed　to　Lynneborough。　A　whole　posse　of　constables　was　necessary　to　protect　them　against　the　outbreak　of　the　mob；　which　outbreak　was　not　directed　against　Otway　Bethel；　but　against　Sir　Francis　Levison。　Cowering　like　the　guilty　culprit　that　he　was；　shivered　he；　hiding　his　white　facewondering　whether　it　would　be　a　repetition　of　Justice　Hare's　green　pond；　or　tearing　him　asunder　piecemealand　cursing　the　earth　because　it　did　not　open　and　let　him　in！



CHAPTER　XLI。

FIRM！

Miss　Lucy　was　/en　penitence/。　She　had　been　guilty　of　some　childish　fault　that　day　at　Aunt　Cornelia's；　which；　coming　to　the　knowledge　of　Mrs。　Carlyle；　after　their　return　home　the　young　lady　was　ordered　to　the　nursery　for　the　rest　of　the　day；　and　to　be　regaled　upon　bread　and　water。

Barbara　was　in　her　pleasant　dressing…room。　There　was　to　be　a　dinner　party　at　East　Lynne　that　evening；　and　she　had　just　finished　dressing。　Very　lovely　looked　she　in　her　dinner　dress；　with　purple　and　scarlet　flowers　in　her　bosom。　She　glanced　at　her　watch　somewhat　anxiously；　for　the　gentle