little novels-第28章

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e　no　interference；　if　you　please；　with　his　letters；　or　his　papers；　or　with　anything　else　that　he　has　left　behind　him。　Put　back　directly　whatever　you　may　have　found　in　his　room。〃

The　housekeeper　had　her　full　share　of　a　woman's　temper　as　well　as　of　a　woman's　curiosity。　She　listened　to　me　with　a　rising　color；　and　a　just　perceptible　toss　of　the　head。

〃Must　I　put　it　back；　sir；　on　the　floor；　between　the　bed　and　the　wall？〃　she　inquired；　with　an　ironical　assumption　of　the　humblest　deference　to　my　wishes。　〃_That's_　where　the　girl　found　it　when　she　was　sweeping　the　room。　Anybody　can　see　for　themselves；〃　pursued　the　housekeeper　indignantly；　〃that　the　poor　gentleman　has　gone　away　broken…hearted。　　And　there；　in　my　opinion；　is　the　hussy　who　is　the　cause　of　it！〃

With　those　words；　she　made　me　a　low　curtsey；　and　laid　a　small　photographic　portrait　on　the　desk　at　which　I　was　sitting。

I　looked　at　the　photograph。

In　an　instant；　my　heart　was　beating　wildlymy　head　turned　giddythe　housekeeper；　the　furniture；　the　walls　of　the　room；　all　swayed　and　whirled　round　me。

The　portrait　that　had　been　found　in　my　senior　pupil's　bedroom　was　the　portrait　of　Jeromette！

IX。

I　HAD　sent　the　housekeeper　out　of　my　study。　I　was　alone；　with　the　photograph　of　the　Frenchwoman　on　my　desk。

There　could　surely　be　little　doubt　about　the　discovery　that　had　burst　upon　me。　The　man　who　had　stolen　his　way　into　my　house；　driven　by　the　terror　of　a　temptation　that　he　dared　not　reveal；　and　the　man　who　had　been　my　unknown　rival　in　the　by…gone　time；　were　one　and　the　same！

Recovering　self…possession　enough　to　realize　this　plain　truth；　the　inferences　that　followed　forced　their　way　into　my　mind　as　a　matter　of　course。　The　unnamed　person　who　was　the　obstacle　to　my　pupil's　prospects　in　life；　the　unnamed　person　in　whose　company　he　was　assailed　by　temptations　which　made　him　tremble　for　himself；　stood　revealed　to　me　now　as　being；　in　all　human　probability；　no　other　than　Jeromette。　Had　she　bound　him　in　the　fetters　of　the　marriage　which　he　had　himself　proposed？　Had　she　discovered　his　place　of　refuge　in　my　house？　And　was　the　letter　that　had　been　delivered　to　him　of　her　writing？　Assuming　these　questions　to　be　answered　in　the　affirmative；　what；　in　that　case；　was　his　〃business　in　London〃？　I　remembered　how　he　had　spoken　to　me　of　his　temptations；　I　recalled　the　expression　that　had　crossed　his　face　when　he　recognized　the　handwriting　on　the　letterand　the　conclusion　that　followed　literally　shook　me　to　the　soul。　Ordering　my　horse　to　be　saddled；　I　rode　instantly　to　the　railway…station。

The　train　by　which　he　had　traveled　to　London　had　reached　the　terminus　nearly　an　hour　since。　The　one　useful　course　that　I　could　take；　by　way　of　quieting　the　dreadful　misgivings　crowding　one　after　another　on　my　mind；　was　to　telegraph　to　Jeromette　at　the　address　at　which　I　had　last　seen　her。　I　sent　the　subjoined　messageprepaying　the　reply：

〃If　you　are　in　any　trouble；　telegraph　to　me。　I　will　be　with　you　by　the　first　train。　Answer；　in　any　case。〃

There　was　nothing　in　the　way　of　the　immediate　dispatch　of　my　message。　And　yet　the　hours　passed；　and　no　answer　was　received。　By　the　advice　of　the　clerk；　I　sent　a　second　telegram　to　the　London　office；　requesting　an　explanation。　The　reply　came　back　in　these　terms：

〃Improvements　in　street。　Houses　pulled　down。　No　trace　of　person　named　in　telegram。〃

I　mounted　my　horse；　and　rode　back　slowly　to　the　rectory。

〃The　day　of　his　return　to　me　will　bring　with　it　the　darkest　days　of　my　life。〃　。　。　。　。　。　〃I　shall　die　young；　and　die　miserably。　Have　you　interest　enough　still　left　in　me　to　wish　to　hear　of　it？〃　。。。。　〃You　_　shall_　hear　of　it。〃　Those　words　were　in　my　memory　while　I　rode　home　in　the　cloudless　moonlight　night。　They　were　so　vividly　present　to　me　that　I　could　hear　again　her　pretty　foreign　accent；　her　quiet　clear　tones；　as　she　spoke　them。　For　the　rest；　the　emotions　of　that　memorable　day　had　worn　me　out。　The　answer　from　the　telegraph　office　had　struck　me　with　a　strange　and　stony　despair。　My　mind　was　a　blank。　I　had　no　thoughts。　I　had　no　tears。

I　was　about　half…way　on　my　road　home；　and　I　had　just　heard　the　clock　of　a　village　church　strike　ten；　when　I　became　conscious；　little　by　little；　of　a　chilly　sensation　slowly　creeping　through　and　through　me　to　the　bones。　The　warm；　balmy　air　of　a　summer　night　was　abroad。　It　was　the　month　of　July。　In　the　month　of　July；　was　it　possible　that　any　living　creature　（in　good　health）　could　feel　cold？　It　was　_not_　possibleand　yet；　the　chilly　sensation　still　crept　through　and　through　me　to　the　bones。

I　looked　up。　I　looked　all　round　me。

My　horse　was　walking　along　an　open　highroad。　Neither　trees　nor　waters　were　near　me。　On　either　side；　the　flat　fields　stretched　away　bright　and　broad　in　the　moonlight。

I　stopped　my　horse；　and　looked　round　me　again。

Yes：　I　saw　it。　With　my　own　eyes　I　saw　it。　A　pillar　of　white　mistbetween　five　and　six　feet　high；　as　well　as　I　could　judgewas　moving　beside　me　at　the　edge　of　the　road；　on　my　left　hand。　When　I　stopped；　the　white　mist　stopped。　When　I　went　on；　the　white　mist　went　on。　I　pushed　my　horse　to　a　trotthe　pillar　of　mist　was　with　me。　I　urged　him　to　a　gallop…the　pillar　of　mist　was　with　me。　I　stopped　him　againthe　pillar　of　mist　stood　still。

The　white　color　of　it　was　the　white　color　of　the　fog　which　I　had　seen　over　the　riveron　the　night　when　I　had　gone　to　bid　her　farewell。　And　the　chill　which　had　then　crept　through　me　to　the　bones　was　the　chill　that　was　creeping　through　me　now。

I　went　on　again　slowly。　The　white　mist　went　on　again　slowlywith　the　clear　bright　night　all　round　it。

I　was　awed　rather　than　frightened。　There　was　one　moment；　and　one　only；　when　the　fear　came　to　me　that　my　reason　might　be　shaken。　I　caught　myself　keeping　time　to　the　slow　tramp　of　the　horse's　feet　with　the　slow　utterances　of　these　words；　repeated　over　and　over　again：　〃Jeromette　is　dead。　Jeromette　is　dead。〃　But　my　will　was　still　my　own：　I　was　able　to　control　myself；　to　impose　silence　on　my　own　muttering　lips。　And　I　rode　on　quietly。　And　the　pillar　of　mist　went　quietly　with　me。

My　groom　was　waiting　for　my　return　at　the　rectory　gate。　I　pointed　to　the　mist；　passing　through　the　gate　with　me。

〃Do　you　see　anything　there？〃　I　said。

The　man　looked　at　me　in　astonishment。

I　entered　the　rectory。　The　housekeeper　met　me　in　the　hall。　I　pointed　to　the　mist；　entering　with　me。

〃Do　you　see　anything　at　my　side？〃　I　asked。

The　housekeeper　looked　at　me　as　the　groom　had　looked　at　me。

〃I　am　afraid　you　are　not　well；　sir；〃　she　said。　〃Your　color　is　all　goneyou　are　shivering。　Let　me　get　you　a　glass　of　wine。　〃

I　went　into　my　study；　on　the　ground…floor；　and　took　the　chair　at　my　desk。　The　photograph　still　lay　where　I　had　left　it。　The　pillar　of　mist　floated　round　the　table；　and　stopped　opposite　to　me；　behind　the　photograph。

The　housekeeper　brought　in　the　wine。　I　put　the　glass　to　my　lips；　and　set　it　down　again。　The　chill　of　the　mist　was　in　the　wine。　There　was　no　taste；　no　reviving　spirit　in　it。　The　presence　of　the　housekeeper　oppressed　me。　My　dog　had　followed　her　into　the　room。　The　presence　of　the　animal　oppressed　me。　I　said　to　the　woman：　〃Leave　me　by　myself；　and　take　the　dog　with　you。〃

They　went　out；　and　left　me　alone　in　the　room。

I　sat　looking　at　the　pillar　of　mist；　hovering　opposite　to　me。

It　lengthened　slowly；　until　it　reached　to　the　ceiling。　As　it　lengthened；　it　grew　bright　and　luminous。　A　time　passed；　and　a　shadowy　appearance　showed　itself　in　the　center　of　the　light。　Little　by　little；　the　shadowy　appearance　took　the　outline　of　a　human　form。　Soft　brown　eyes；　tender　and　melancholy；　looked　at　me　through　the　unearthly　light　in　the　mist。　The　head　and　the　rest　of　the　face　broke　next　slowly　on　my　view。　Then　the　figure　gradually　revealed　itself；　moment　by　moment；　downward　and　downward　to　the　feet。　She　stood　before　me　as　I　had　last　seen　her；　in　her　purple…merino　dress；　with　the　black…silk　apron；　with　the　white　handkerchief　tied　loosely　round　her　neck。　She　stood　before　me；　in　the　gentle　beauty　that　I　remembered　so　well；　and　looked　at　me　as　she　had　looked　when　she　gave　me　her　last　kisswhen　her　tears　had　dropped　on　my　cheek。

I　fell　on　my　knees　at　the　table。　I　stretched　out　my　hands　to　her　imploringly。　I　said：　〃Speak　to　meO；　once　again　speak　to　me；　Jeromette。〃

Her　eyes　rested　on　me　with　a　divine　compassion　in　them。　She　lifted　her　hand；　and　pointed　to　the　photograph　on　my　desk；　with　a　gesture　which　bade　me　turn　the　card。　I　turned　it。　The　name　of　the　man　who　had　left　my　house　that　morning　was　inscribed　on　it；　in　her　own　handwriting。

I　looked　up　at　her　again；　when　I　had　read　it。　She　lifted　her　hand　once　more；　and　pointed　to　the　handkerchief　round　her　neck。　As　I　looked　at　it；　the　fair　white　silk　changed　horribly　in　colorthe　fair　white　silk　became　darkened　and　drenched　in　blood。

A　moment　moreand　the　vision　of　her　began　to　grow　dim。　By　slow　degrees；　the　fi　gure；　then　the　face；　faded　back　into　the　shadowy　appearance　that　I　had　first　seen。　The　luminous　inner　light　died　out　in　the　white　mist。　The　mist　itself　dropped　slowly　downwardfloated　a　moment　in　airy　circles　on　the　floorvanished。　Nothing　was　before　me　but　the　familiar　wall　of　the　room；　and　the　photograph　lying　face　downward　on　my　desk。

X。

THE　next　day；　the　newspapers　reported　the　discovery　of　a　murder　in　London。　A　Frenchwoman　was　the　victim。　She　had　been　killed　by　a　wound　in　the　throat。　The　crime　had　been　discovered　between　ten　and　eleven　o'clock　on　the　previous　night。

I　leave　you　to　draw　your　conclusion　from　what　I　have　related。　My　own　faith　in　the　reality　of　the　apparition　is　immovable。　I　say；　and　believe；　that　Jeromette　kept　her　word　with　me。　She　died　young；　and　died　miserably。　And　I　heard　of　it　from　herself。

Take　up　the　Trial　again；　and　look　at　the　circumstances　that　were　revealed　during　the　investigation　in　court。　His　motive　for　murdering　her　is　there。

You　will　see　that　she　did　indeed　marry　him　privately；　that　they　lived　together　contentedly；　until　the　fatal　day　when　she　discovered　that　his　fancy　had　been　caught　by　another　woman；　that　violent　quarrels　took　place　between　them；　from　that　time　to　the　time　when　my　sermon　showed　him　his　own　deadly　hatred　toward　her；　reflected　in　the　case　of　another　man；　that　she　discovered　his　place　of　retreat　in　my　house；　and　threatened　him　by　letter　with　the　public　assertion　of　her　conjugal　rights；　lastly；　that　a　man；　variously　described　by　different　witnesses；　was　seen　leaving　the　door　of　her　lodgings　on　the　night　of　the　murder。　The　Lawadvancing　no　further　than　thismay　have　discovered　circumstances　of　suspicion；　but　no　certainty。　The　Law；　in　default　of　direct　evidence　to　convict　the　prisoner；　may　have　rightly　decided　in　letting　him　go　free。

But　_I_　persisted　in　believing　that　the　man　was　guilty。　_I_　declare　that　he；　and　he　alone；　was　the　murderer　of　Jeromette。　And　now；　you　know　why。


MISS　MINA　AND　THE　GROOM

I。

I　HEAR　that　the　〃shocking　story　of　my　conduct〃　was　widely　circulated　at　the　ball；　and　that　public　opinion　（among　the　ladies）；　in　every　part　of　the　room；　declared　I　had　disgraced　myself。　But　there　was　one　dissentient　voice　in　this　chorus　of　general　condemnation。　You　spoke；　Madam；　with　all　the　authority　of　your　wide　celebrity　and　your　high　rank。　You　said：　〃I　am　personally　a　stranger　to　the　young　lady　who　is　the　subject