five tales-第8章

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en　reading　the　report；　of　even　considering　how　they　had　come　to　record　such　a　verdict　struck　him　with　savage　suddenness。　There　it　was；　and　nothing　he　could　do　or　say　would　alter　it；　no　condemnation　of　this　idiotic　verdict　would　help　reverse　it。　　The　situation　was　desperate；　indeed！　　That　five　minutes'　walk　from　the　Law　Courts　to　his　chambers　was　the　longest　he　had　ever　taken。

Men　of　decided　character　little　know　beforehand　what　they　will　do　in　certain　contingencies。　　For　the　imaginations　of　decided　people　do　not　endow　mere　contingencies　with　sufficient　actuality。　　Keith　had　never　really　settled　what　he　was　going　to　do　if　this　man　were　condemned。　Often　in　those　past　weeks　he　had　said　to　himself：　〃Of　course；　if　they　bring　him　in　guilty；　that's　another　thing！〃　　But；　now　that　they　had；　he　was　beset　by　exactly　the　same　old　arguments　and　feelings；　the　same　instincts　of　loyalty　and　protection　towards　Laurence　and　himself；　intensified　by　the　fearful　imminence　of　the　danger。　　And　yet；　here　was　this　man　about　to　be　hung　for　a　thing　he　had　not　done！　　Nothing　could　get　over　that！　　But　then　he　was　such　a　worthless　vagabond；　a　ghoul　who　had　robbed　a　dead　body。　　If　Larry　were　condemned　in　his　stead；　would　there　be　any　less　miscarriage　of　justice？　　To　strangle　a　brute　who　had　struck　you；　by　the　accident　of　keeping　your　hands　on　his　throat　a　few　seconds　too　long；　was　there　any　more　guilt　in　that　was　there　even　as　much；　as　in　deliberate　theft　from　a　dead　man？　Reverence　for　order；　for　justice；　and　established　fact；　will；　often　march　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　Jesuitry　in　natures　to　whom　success　is　vital。

In　the　narrow　stone　passage　leading　to　his　staircase；　a　friend　had　called　out：　〃Bravo；　Darrant！　　That　was　a　squeak！　　Congratulations！〃　And　with　a　bitter　little　smile　Keith　thought：　'Congratulations！　　I！'

At　the　first　possible　moment　the　hurried　back　to　the　Strand；　and　hailing　a　cab；　he　told　the　man　to　put　him　down　at　a　turning　near　to　Borrow　Street。

It　was　the　girl　who　opened　to　his　knock。　　Startled；　clasping　her　hands；　she　looked　strange　to　Keith　in　her　black　skirt　and　blouse　of　some　soft　velvety　stuff　the　colour　of　faded　roses。　　Her　round；　rather　long　throat　was　bare；　and　Keith　noticed　fretfully　that　she　wore　gold　earrings。　　Her　eyes；　so　pitch　dark　against　her　white　face；　and　the　short　fair　hair；　which　curled　into　her　neck；　seemed　both　to　search　and　to　plead。

〃My　brother？〃

〃He　is　not　in；　sir；　yet。〃

〃Do　you　know　where　he　is？〃

〃No。〃

〃He　is　living　with　you　here　now？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Are　you　still　as　fond　of　him　as　ever；　then？〃

With　a　movement；　as　though　she　despaired　of　words；　she　clasped　her　hands　over　her　heart。　　And　he　said：

〃I　see。〃

He　had　the　same　strange　feeling　as　on　his　first　visit　to　her；　and　when　through　the　chink　in　the　curtains　he　had　watched　her　kneeling　of　pity　mingled　with　some　faint　sexual　emotion。　　And　crossing　to　the　fire　he　asked：

〃May　I　wait　for　him？〃

〃Oh！　　Please！　　Will　you　sit　down？〃

But　Keith　shook　his　head。　　And　with　a　catch　in　her　breath；　she　said：

〃You　will　not　take　him　from　me。　　I　should　die。〃

He　turned　round　on　her　sharply。

〃I　don't　want　him　taken　from　you。　　I　want　to　help　you　keep　him。　　Are　you　ready　to　go　away；　at　any　time？〃

〃Yes。　　Oh；　yes！〃

〃And　he？〃

She　answered　almost　in　a　whisper：

〃Yes；　but　there　is　that　poor　man。〃

〃That　poor　man　is　a　graveyard　thief；　a　hyena；　a　ghoulnot　worth　consideration。〃　　And　the　rasp　in　his　own　voice　surprised　him。

〃Ah！〃　she　sighed。　　〃But　I　am　sorry　for　him。　　Perhaps　he　was　hungry。　I　have　been　hungryyou　do　things　then　that　you　would　not。　　And　perhaps　he　has　no　one　to　love；　if　you　have　no　one　to　love　you　can　be　very　bad。　　I　think　of　him　oftenin　prison。〃

Between　his　teeth　Keith　muttered：　〃And　Laurence？〃

〃We　do　never　speak　of　it；　we　are　afraid。〃

〃He's　not　told　you；　then；　about　the　trial？〃

Her　eyes　dilated。

〃The　trial！　　Oh！　　He　was　strange　last　night。　　This　morning；　too；　he　got　up　early。　　Is　it…is　it　over？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What　has　come？〃

〃Guilty。〃

For　a　moment　Keith　thought　she　was　going　to　faint。　　She　had　closed　her　eyes；　and　swayed　so　that　he　took　a　step；　and　put　his　hands　on　her　arms。

〃Listen！〃　he　said。　　〃Help　me；　don't　let　Laurence　out　of　your　sight。　We　must　have　time。　　I　must　see　what　they　intend　to　do。　　They　can't　be　going　to　hang　this　man。　　I　must　have　time；　I　tell　you。　　You　must　prevent　his　giving　himself　up。〃

She　stood；　staring　in　his　face；　while　he　still　held　her　arms；　gripping　into　her　soft　flesh　through　the　velvety　sleeves。

〃Do　you　understand？〃

〃Yes…but　if　he　has　already！〃

Keith　felt　the　shiver　which　ran　through　her。　　And　the　thought　rushed　into　his　mind：　'My　God！　　Suppose　the　police　come　round　while　I'm　here！'　　If　Larry　had　indeed　gone　to　them！　　If　that　Policeman　who　had　seen　him　here　the　night　after　the　murder　should　find　him　here　again　just　after　the　verdict！　　He　said　almost　fiercely：

〃Can　I　trust　you　not　to　let　Larry　out　of　your　sight？　　Quick！　Answer！〃

Clasping　her　hands　to　her　breast；　she　answered　humbly：

〃I　will　try。〃

〃If　he　hasn't　already　done　this；　watch　him　like　a　lynx！　　Don't　let　him　go　out　without　you。　　I'll　come　to…morrow　morning　early。　　You're　a　Catholic；　aren't　you？　　Swear　to　me　that　you　won't　let　him　do　anything　till　he's　seen　me　again。〃

She　did　not　answer；　looking　past　him　at　the　door；　and　Keith　heard　a　key　in　the　latch。　　There　was　Laurence　himself；　holding　in　his　hand　a　great　bunch　of　pink　lilies　and　white　narcissi。　　His　face　was　pale　and　haggard。　　He　said　quietly：

〃Hallo；　Keith！〃

The　girl's　eyes　were　fastened　on　Larry's　face；　and　Keith；　looking　from　one　to　the　other；　knew　that　he　had　never　had　more　need　for　wariness。

〃Have　you　seen？〃　　he　said。

Laurence　nodded。　　His　expression；　as　a　rule　so　tell…tale　of　his　emotions；　baffled　Keith　utterly。

〃Well？〃

〃I've　been　expecting　it。〃

〃The　thing　can't　standthat's　certain。　　But　I　must　have　time　to　look　into　the　report。　　I　must　have　time　to　see　what　I　can　do。　　D'you　understand　me；　LarryI　must　have　time。〃　　He　knew　he　was　talking　at　random。　　The　only　thing　was　to　get　them　away　at　once　out　of　reach　of　confession；　but　he　dared　not　say　so。

〃Promise　me　that　you'll　do　nothing；　that　you　won't　go　out　even　till　I've　seen　you　to…morrow　morning。〃

Again　Laurence　nodded。　　And　Keith　looked　at　the　girl。　　Would　she　see　that　he　did　not　break　that　promise？　　Her　eyes　were　still　fixed　immovably　on　Larry's　face。　　And　with　the　feeling　that　he　could　get　no　further；　Keith　turned　to　go。

〃Promise　me；〃　he　said。

Laurence　answered：　〃I　promise。〃

He　was　smiling。　　Keith　could　make　nothing　of　that　smile；　nor　of　the　expression　in　the　girl's　eyes。　　And　saying：　〃I　have　your　promise；　I　rely　on　it！〃　　he　went。




IX

To　keep　from　any　woman　who　loves；　knowledge　of　her　lover's　mood；　is　as　hard　as　to　keep　music　from　moving　the　heart。　　But　when　that　woman　has　lived　in　suffering；　and　for　the　first　time　knows　the　comfort　of　love；　then　let　the　lover　try　as　he　may　to　disguise　his　heartno　use！　Yet　by　virtue　of　subtler　abnegation　she　will　often　succeed　in　keeping　it　from　him　that　she　knows。

When　Keith　was　gone　the　girl　made　no　outcry；　asked　no　questions；　managed　that　Larry　should　not　suspect　her　intuition；　all　that　evening　she　acted　as　if　she　knew　of　nothing　preparing　within　him；　and　through　him；　within　herself。

His　words；　caresses；　the　very　zest　with　which　he　helped　her　to　prepare　the　feast；　the　flowers　he　had　brought；　the　wine　he　made　her　drink；　the　avoidance　of　any　word　which　could　spoil　their　happiness；　allall　told　her。　　He　was　too　inexorably　gay　and　loving。　　Not　for　herto　whom　every　word　and　every　kiss　had　uncannily　the　desperate　value　of　a　last　word　and　kissnot　for　her　to　deprive　herself　of　these　by　any　sign　or　gesture　which　might　betray　her　prescience。　　Poor　soulshe　took　all；　and　would　have　taken　more；　a　hundredfold。　　She　did　not　want　to　drink　the　wine　he　kept　tilting　into　her　glass；　but；　with　the　acceptance　learned　by　women　who　have　lived　her　life；　she　did　not　refuse。　　She　had　never　refused　him　anything。　　So　much　had　been　required　of　her　by　the　detestable；　that　anything　required　by　a　loved　one　was　but　an　honour。

Laurence　drank　deeply；　but　he　had　never　felt　clearer；　never　seen　things　more　clearly。　　The　wine　gave　him　what　he　wanted；　an　edge　to　these　few　hours　of　pleasure；　an　exaltation　of　energy。　　It　dulled　his　sense　of　pity；　too。　　It　was　pity　he　was　afraid　offor　himself；　and　for　this　girl。　　To　make　even　this　tawdry　room　look　beautiful；　with　firelight　and　candlelight；　dark　amber　wine　in　the　glasses；　tall　pink　lilies　spilling　their　saffron；　exuding　their　hot　perfume　he　and　even　himself　must　look　their　best。　　And　with　a　weight　as　of　lead　on　her　heart；　she　managed　that　for　him；　letting　him　strew　her　with　flowers　and　crush　them　together　with　herself。　　Not　even　music　was　lacking　to　their　feast。　　Someone　was　playing　a　pianola　across　the　street；　and　the　sound；　very　faint；　came　stealing　when　they　were　silentswelling；　sinking；　festive；　mournful；　having　a　far…off　life　of　its　own；　like　the　flickering　fire…flames　before　which　they　lay　embraced；　or　the　lilies　delicate　between　the　candles。　　Listening　to　that　music；　tracing　with　his　finger　the　tiny　veins　on　her　breast；　he　lay　like　one　recovering　from　a　swoon。　　No　parting。　　None！　　But　sleep；　as　the　firelight　sleeps　when　flames　die；　as　music　sleeps　on　its　deserted　strings。

And　the　girl　watched　him。

It　was　nearly　ten　when　he　bade　her　go　to　bed。　　And　after　she　had　gone　obedient　into　the　bedroom；　he　brought　ink　and　paper　down　by　the　fire。　The　drifter；　the　unstable；　the　good…for…nothingdid　not　falter。　　He　had　thought；　when　it　came　to　the　point；　he　would　fail　himself；　but　a　sort　of　rage　bore　him　forward。　　If　he　lived　on；　and　confessed；　they　would　shut　him　up；　take　from　him　the　one　thing　he　loved；　cut　him　off　from　her；　sand　up　his　only　well　in　the　desert。　　Curse　them！　　And　he　wrote　by　firelight　which　mellowed　the　white　sheets　of　paper；　while；　against　the　dark　curtain；　the　girl；　in　her　nightgown；　unconscious　of　the　cold；　stood　watching。

Men；　when　they　drown；　remember　their　pasts。　　Like　the　lost　poet　he　had　〃gone　with　the　wind。〃　　Now　it　was　for　him　to　be　true　in　his　fashion。　　A　man　may　falter　for　weeks　and　weeks；　consciously；　subconsciously；　even　in　his　dreams；　till　there　comes　that　moment　when　the　only　thing　impossible　is　to　go　on　faltering。　　The　black　cap；　the　little　driven　grey　man　looking　up　at　it　with　a　sort　of　wonder　faltering　had　ceased！

He　had　finished　now；　and　was　but　staring　into　the　fire。

　　　　　　　　　〃No　more；　no　more；　the　moon　is　dead；　　　　　　　　　　　And　all　the　people　in　it；　　　　　　　　　　　The　poppy　maidens　strew　the　bed；　　　　　　　　　　　We'll　come　in　half　a　minute。〃

Why　did　doggerel　start　up　in　the　mind　like　that？　　Wanda！　　The　weed…　flower　become　so　rare　he　would　not　be　parted　from　her！　　The　fire；　the　candles；　and　the　fireno　more　the　flame　and　flicker！

And；　by　the　dark　curtain；　the　girl　watched。




X

Keith　went；　not　home；　but　to　his　club；　and　in　the　room　devoted　to　the　reception　of　guests；　empty　at　this　hour；　he　sat　down　and　read　the　report　of　the　trial。　　The　fools　had　made　out　a　case　that　looked　black　enough。　　And　for　a　long　time；　on　the　thick　soft　carpet　which　let　out　no　sound　of　footfall；　he　paced　up　and　down；　thinking。　　He　might　see　the　defending　counsel；　might　surely　d