five tales-第6章

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In　the　past　night　he　had　touched　bottom；　as　he　thought：　become　ready　to　face　anything。　　When　Keith　came　in　he　would　without　murmur　have　accepted　the　advice：　〃Give　yourself　up！〃　　He　was　prepared　to　pitch　away　the　end　of　his　life　as　he　pitched　from　him　the　fag…ends　of　his　cigarettes。　　And　the　long　sigh　he　had　heaved；　hearing　of　reprieve；　had　been　only　half　relief。　　Then；　with　incredible　swiftness　there　had　rushed　through　him　a　feeling　of　unutterable　joy　and　hope。　　Clean　awayinto　a　new　country；　a　new　life！　　The　girl　and　he！　　Out　there　he　wouldn't　care；　would　rejoice　even　to　have　squashed　the　life　out　of　such　a　noisome　beetle　of　a　man。　　Out　there！　　Under　a　new　sun；　where　blood　ran　quicker　than　in　this　foggy　land；　and　people　took　justice　into　their　own　hands。　　For　it　had　been　justice　on　that　brute　even　though　he　had　not　meant　to　kill　him。　　And　then　to　hear　of　this　arrest！　　They　would　be　charging　the　man　to…day。　　He　could　go　and　see　the　poor　creature　accused　of　the　murder　he　himself　had　committed！　And　he　laughed。　　Go　and　see　how　likely　it　was　that　they　might　hang　a　fellow…man　in　place　of　himself？　　He　dressed；　but　too　shaky　to　shave　himself；　went　out　to　a　barber's　shop。　　While　there　he　read　the　news　which　Keith　had　seen。　　In　this　paper　the　name　of　the　arrested　man　was　given：　〃John　Evan；　no　address。〃　　To　be　brought　up　on　the　charge　at　Bow　Street。　　Yes！　　He　must　go。　　Once；　twice；　three　times　he　walked　past　the　entrance　of　the　court　before　at　last　he　entered　and　screwed　himself　away　among　the　tag　and　bobtail。

The　court　was　crowded；　and　from　the　murmurs　round　he　could　tell　that　it　was　his　particular　case　which　had　brought　so　many　there。　　In　a　dazed　way　he　watched　charge　after　charge　disposed　of　with　lightning　quickness。　　But　were　they　never　going　to　reach　his　business？　　And　then　suddenly　he　saw　the　little　scarecrow　man　of　last　night　advancing　to　the　dock　between　two　policemen；　more　ragged　and　miserable　than　ever　by　light　of　day；　like　some　shaggy；　wan；　grey　animal；　surrounded　by　sleek　hounds。

A　sort　of　satisfied　purr　was　rising　all　round；　and　with　horror　Laurence　perceived　that　thisthis　was　the　man　accused　of　what　he　himself　had　donethis　queer；　battered　unfortunate　to　whom　he　had　shown　a　passing　friendliness。　　Then　all　feeling　merged　in　the　appalling　interest　of　listening。　　The　evidence　was　very　short。　Testimony　of　the　hotel…keeper　where　Walenn　had　been　staying；　the　identification　of　his　body；　and　of　a　snake…shaped　ring　he　had　been　wearing　at　dinner　that　evening。　　Testimony　of　a　pawnbroker；　that　this　same　ring　was　pawned　with　him　the　first　thing　yesterday　morning　by　the　prisoner。　　Testimony　of　a　policeman　that　he　had　noticed　the　man　Evan　several　times　in　Glove　Lane；　and　twice　moved　him　on　from　sleeping　under　that　arch。　　Testimony　of　another　policeman　that；　when　arrested　at　midnight；　Evan　had　said：　〃Yes；　I　took　the　ring　off　his　finger。　　I　found　him　there　dead　。。。。　　I　know　I　oughtn't　to　have　done　it。。。。　　I'm　an　educated　man；　it　was　stupid　to　pawn　the　ring。　　I　found　him　with　his　pockets　turned　inside　out。〃

Fascinating　and　terrible　to　sit　staring　at　the　man　in　whose　place　he　should　have　been；　to　wonder　when　those　small　bright…grey　bloodshot　eyes　would　spy　him　out；　and　how　he　would　meet　that　glance。　　Like　a　baited　raccoon　the　little　man　stood；　screwed　back　into　a　corner；　mournful；　cynical；　fierce；　with　his　ridged；　obtuse　yellow　face；　and　his　stubbly　grey　beard　and　hair；　and　his　eyes　wandering　now　and　again　amongst　the　crowd。　　But　with　all　his　might　Laurence　kept　his　face　unmoved。　　Then　came　the　word　〃Remanded〃；　and；　more　like　a　baited　beast　than　ever；　the　man　was　led　away。

Laurence　sat　on；　a　cold　perspiration　thick　on　his　forehead。　　Someone　else；　then；　had　come　on　the　body　and　turned　the　pockets　inside　out　before　John　Evan　took　the　ring。　　A　man　such　as　Walenn　would　not　be　out　at　night　without　money。　　Besides；　if　Evan　had　found　money　on　the　body　he　would　never　have　run　the　risk　of　taking　that　ring。　　Yes；　someone　else　had　come　on　the　body　first。　　It　was　for　that　one　to　come　forward；　and　prove　that　the　ring　was　still　on　the　dead　man's　finger　when　he　left　him；　and　thus　clear　Evan。　　He　clung　to　that　thought；　it　seemed　to　make　him　less　responsible　for　the　little　man's　position；　to　remove　him　and　his　own　deed　one　step　further　back。　　If　they　found　the　person　who　had　taken　the　money；　it　would　prove　Evan's　innocence。　　He　came　out　of　the　court　in　a　sort　of　trance。　　And　a　craving　to　get　drunk　attacked　him。　　One　could　not　go　on　like　this　without　the　relief　of　some　oblivion。　　If　he　could　only　get　drunk；　keep　drunk　till　this　business　was　decided　and　he　knew　whether　he　must　give　himself　up　or　no。　　He　had　now　no　fear　at　all　of　people　suspecting　him；　only　fear　of　himselffear　that　he　might　go　and　give　himself　up。　　Now　he　could　see　the　girl；　the　danger　from　that　was　as　nothing　compared　with　the　danger　from　his　own　conscience。　　He　had　promised　Keith　not　to　see　her。　　Keith　had　been　decent　and　loyal　to　himgood　old　Keith！　　But　he　would　never　understand　that　this　girl　was　now　all　he　cared　about　in　life；　that　he　would　rather　be　cut　off　from　life　itself　than　be　cut　off　from　her。　　Instead　of　becoming　less　and　less；　she　was　becoming　more　and　more　to　himexperience　strange　and　thrilling！　　Out　of　deep　misery　she　had　grown　happythrough　him；　out　of　a　sordid；　shifting　life　recovered　coherence　and　bloom；　through　devotion　to　him　him；　of　all　people　in　the　world！　　It　was　a　miracle。　　She　demanded　nothing　of　him；　adored　him；　as　no　other　woman　ever　hadit　was　this　which　had　anchored　his　drifting　barque；　thisand　her　truthful　mild　intelligence；　and　that　burning　warmth　of　a　woman；　who；　long　treated　by　men　as　but　a　sack　of　sex；　now　loves　at　last。

And　suddenly；　mastering　his　craving　to　get　drunk；　he　made　towards　Soho。　　He　had　been　a　fool　to　give　those　keys　to　Keith。　　She　must　have　been　frightened　by　his　visit；　and；　perhaps；　doubly　miserable　since；　knowing　nothing；　imagining　everything！　　Keith　was　sure　to　have　terrified　her。　　Poor　little　thing！

Down　the　street　where　he　had　stolen　in　the　dark　with　the　dead　body　on　his　back；　he　almost　ran　for　the　cover　of　her　house。　　The　door　was　opened　to　him　before　he　knocked；　her　arms　were　round　his　neck；　her　lips　pressed　to　his。　　The　fire　was　out；　as　if　she　had　been　unable　to　remember　to　keep　warm。　　A　stool　had　been　drawn　to　the　window；　and　there　she　had　evidently　been　sitting；　like　a　bird　in　a　cage；　looking　out　into　the　grey　street。　　Though　she　had　been　told　that　he　was　not　to　come；　instinct　had　kept　her　there；　or　the　pathetic；　aching　hope　against　hope　which　lovers　never　part　with。

Now　that　he　was　there；　her　first　thoughts　were　for　his　comfort。　　The　fire　was　lighted。　　He　must　eat；　drink；　smoke。　　There　was　never　in　her　doings　any　of　the　〃I　am　doing　this　for　you；　but　you　ought　to　be　doing　that　for　me〃　which　belongs　to　so　many　marriages；　and　liaisons。　　She　was　like　a　devoted　slave；　so　in　love　with　the　chains　that　she　never　knew　she　wore　them。　　And　to　Laurence；　who　had　so　little　sense　of　property；　this　only　served　to　deepen　tenderness；　and　the　hold　she　had　on　him。　　He　had　resolved　not　to　tell　her　of　the　new　danger　he　ran　from　his　own　conscience。　　But　resolutions　with　him　were　but　the　opposites　of　what　was　sure　to　come；　and　at　last　the　words：

〃They've　arrested　someone；〃　escaped　him。

》From　her　face　he　knew　she　had　grasped　the　danger　at　once；　had　divined　it；　perhaps；　before　he　spoke。　　But　she　only　twined　her　arms　round　him　and　kissed　his　lips。　　And　he　knew　that　she　was　begging　him　to　put　his　love　for　her　above　his　conscience。　　Who　would　ever　have　thought　that　he　could　feel　as　he　did　to　this　girl　who　had　been　in　the　arms　of　many！　　The　stained　and　suffering　past　of　a　loved　woman　awakens　in　some　men　only　chivalry；　in　others；　more　respectable；　it　rouses　a　tigerish　itch；　a　rancorous　jealousy　of　what　in　the　past　was　given　to　others。　　Sometimes　it　will　do　both。　　When　he　had　her　in　his　arms　he　felt　no　remorse　for　killing　the　coarse；　handsome　brute　who　had　ruined　her。　　He　savagely　rejoiced　in　it。　　But　when　she　laid　her　head　in　the　hollow　of　his　shoulder；　turning　to　him　her　white　face　with　the　faint　colour…staining　on　the　parted　lips；　the　cheeks；　the　eyelids；　when　her　dark；　wide…apart；　brown　eyes　gazed　up　in　the　happiness　of　her　abandonmenthe　felt　only　tenderness　and　protection。

He　left　her　at　five　o'clock；　and　had　not　gone　two　streets'　length　before　the　memory　of　the　little　grey　vagabond；　screwed　back　in　the　far　corner　of　the　dock　like　a　baited　raccoon；　of　his　dreary；　creaking　voice；　took　possession　of　him　again；　and　a　kind　of　savagery　mounted　in　his　brain　against　a　world　where　one　could　be　so　tortured　without　having　meant　harm　to　anyone。

At　the　door　of　his　lodgings　Keith　was　getting　out　of　a　cab。　　They　went　in　together；　but　neither　of　them　sat　down；　Keith　standing　with　his　back　to　the　carefully　shut　door；　Laurence　with　his　back　to　the　table；　as　if　they　knew　there　was　a　tug　coming。　　And　Keith　said：　〃There's　room　on　that　boat。　　Go　down　and　book　your　berth　before　they　shut。　　Here's　the　money！〃

〃I'm　going　to　stick　it；　Keith。〃

Keith　stepped　forward；　and　put　a　roll　of　notes　on　the　table。

〃Now　look　here；　Larry。　　I've　read　the　police　court　proceedings。　There's　nothing　in　that。　　Out　of　prison；　or　in　prison　for　a　few　weeks；　it's　all　the　same　to　a　night…bird　of　that　sort。　　Dismiss　it　from　your　mindthere's　not　nearly　enough　evidence　to　convict。　　This　gives　you　your　chance。　　Take　it　like　a　man；　and　make　a　new　life　for　yourself。〃

Laurence　smiled；　but　the　smile　had　a　touch　of　madness　and　a　touch　of　malice。　　He　took　up　the　notes。

〃Clear　out；　and　save　the　honour　of　brother　Keith。　　Put　them　back　in　your　pocket；　Keith；　or　I'll　put　them　in　the　fire。　　Come；　take　them！〃　And；　crossing　to　the　fire；　he　held　them　to　the　bars。　　〃Take　them；　or　in　they　go！〃

Keith　took　back　the　notes。

〃I've　still　got　some　kind　of　honour；　Keith；　if　I　clear　out　I　shall　have　none；　not　the　rag　of　any；　left。　　It　may　be　worth　more　to　me　than　thatI　can't　tell　yetI　can't　tell。〃　　There　was　a　long　silence　before　Keith　answered。　　〃I　tell　you　you're　mistaken；　no　jury　will　convict。　　If　they　did；　a　judge　would　never　hang　on　it。　　A　ghoul　who　can　rob　a　dead　body　ought　to　be　in　prison。　　What　he　did　is　worse　than　what　you　did；　if　you　come　to　that！〃　　Laurence　lifted　his　face。　〃Judge　not；　brother；〃　he　said；　〃the　heart　is　a　dark　well。〃　　Keith's　yellowish　face　grew　red　and　swollen；　as　though　he　were　mastering　the　tickle　of　a　bronchial　cough。　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　then？　　I　suppose　I　may　ask　you　not　to　be　entirely　oblivious　of　our　name；　or　is　such　a　consideration　unworthy　of　your　honour？〃　　Laurence　bent　his　head。　　The　gesture　said　more　clearly　than　words：　'Don't　kick　a　man　when　he's　down！'

〃I　don't　know　what　I'm　going　to　donothing　at　present。　　I'm　awfully　sorry；　Keith；　awfully　sorry。〃

Keith　looked　at　him；　and　without　another　word　went　out。




VI

To　any；　save　philosophers；　reputation　may　be　threatened　almost　as　much　by　disgrace　to　name　and　family　as　by　the　disgrace　of　self。　Keith's　instinct　was　always　to　deal　actively　with　danger。　　But　this　blow；　whether　it　fell　on　him　by　discovery　or　by　confession；　could　not　be　countered。　　As　blight　falls　on　a　rose　from　who　knows　where；　the　scandalous　murk　would　light　on　him。　　No　repulse　possible！　　Not　even　a　wriggling　from　under！　　Brother　of　a　murde