little novels-第62章

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eyes　dropped　to　the　ground；　he　let　me　go　without　a　word　more。

This；　I　declare　solemnly；　was　all　that　passed　at　our　visit。　By　some　unexpressed　consent　among　us；　no　allusion　whatever　was　made　to　Captain　Stanwick；　not　even　his　name　was　mentioned。　I　never　knew　that　the　two　men　had　met；　just　before　we　called　on　Mr。　Varleigh。　Nothing　was　said　which　could　suggest　to　me　the　slightest　suspicion　of　any　arrangement　for　another　meeting　between　them　later　in　the　day。　Beyond　the　vague　threats　which　had　escaped　Captain　Stanwick's　lipsthreats　which　I　own　I　was　rash　enough　to　despiseI　had　no　warning　whatever　of　the　dreadful　events　which　happened　at　Maplesworth　on　the　day　after　our　return　to　Nettlegrove　Hall。

I　can　only　add　that　I　am　ready　to　submit　to　any　questions　that　may　be　put　to　me。　Pray　don't　think　me　a　heartless　woman。　My　worst　fault　was　ignorance。　In　those　days；　I　knew　nothing　of　the　false　pretenses　under　which　men　hide　what　is　selfish　and　savage　in　their　natures　from　the　women　whom　it　is　their　interest　to　deceive。

No。　2。Julius　Bender；　fencing…master；　testifies　and　says：

I　am　of　German　nationality；　established　in　England　as　teacher　of　the　use　of　the　sword　and　the　pistol　since　the　beginning　of　the　present　year。

Finding　business　slack　in　London；　it　unfortunately　occurred　to　me　to　try　what　I　could　do　in　the　country。　I　had　heard　of　Maplesworth　as　a　place　largely　frequented　by　visitors　on　account　of　the　scenery；　as　well　as　by　invalids　in　need　of　taking　the　waters；　and　I　opened　a　gallery　there　at　the　beginning　of　the　season　of　1817；　for　fencing　and　pistol　practice。　About　the　visitors　I　had　not　been　deceived；　there　were　plenty　of　idle　young　gentlemen　among　them　who　might　have　been　expected　to　patronize　my　establishment。　They　showed　the　most　barbarous　indifference　to　the　noble　art　of　attack　and　defensecame　by　twos　and　threes；　looked　at　my　gallery；　and　never　returned。　My　small　means　began　to　fail　me。　After　paying　my　expenses；　I　was　really　at　my　wits'　end　to　find　a　few　pounds　to　go　on　with；　in　the　hope　of　better　days。

One　gentleman；　I　remember；　who　came　to　see　me；　and　who　behaved　most　liberally。

He　described　himself　as　an　American；　and　said　he　had　traveled　a　great　deal。　As　my　ill　luck　would　have　it；　he　stood　in　no　need　of　my　instructions。　On　the　two　or　three　occasions　when　he　amused　himself　with　my　foils　and　my　pistols；　he　proved　to　be　one　of　the　most　expert　swordsmen　and　one　of　the　finest　shots　that　I　ever　met　with。　It　was　not　wonderful：　he　had　by　nature　cool　nerves　and　a　quick　eye；　and　he　had　been　taught　by　the　masters　of　the　art　in　Vienna　and　Paris。

Early　in　Julythe　9th　or　10th　of　the　month；　I　thinkI　was　sitting　alone　in　my　gallery；　looking　ruefully　enough　at　the　last　two　sovereigns　in　my　purse；　when　a　gentleman　was　announced　who　wanted　a　lesson。　〃A　_private_　lesson；〃　he　said；　with　emphasis；　looking　at　the　man　who　cleaned　and　took　care　of　my　weapons。

I　sent　the　man　out　of　the　room。　The　stranger　（an　Englishman；　and；　as　I　fancied；　judging　by　outward　appearances；　a　military　man　as　well）　took　from　his　pocket…book　a　fifty…pound　banknote；　and　held　it　up　before　me。　〃I　have　a　heavy　wager　depending　on　a　fencing　match；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　have　no　time　to　improve　myself。　Teach　me　a　trick　which　will　make　me　a　match　for　a　man　skilled　in　the　use　of　the　foil；　and　keep　the　secretand　there　are　fifty　pounds　for　you。〃

I　hesitated。　I　did　indeed　hesitate；　poor　as　I　was。　But　this　devil　of　a　man　held　his　banknote　before　me　whichever　way　I　looked；　and　I　had　only　two　pounds　left　in　the　world！

〃Are　you　going　to　fight　a　duel？''　I　asked。

〃I　have　already　told　you　what　I　am　going　to　do；〃　he　answered。

I　waited　a　little。　The　infernal　bank…note　still　tempted　me。　In　spite　of　myself；　I　tried　him　again。

〃If　I　teach　you　the　trick；〃　I　persisted；　〃will　you　undertake　to　make　no　bad　use　of　your　lesson？〃

〃Yes；　〃　he　said；　impatiently　enough。

I　was　not　quite　satisfied　yet。

〃Will　you　promise　it；　on　your　word　of　honor？〃　I　asked。

〃Of　course　I　will；〃　he　answered。　〃Take　the　money；　and　don't　keep　me　waiting　any　longer。〃

I　took　the　money；　and　I　taught　him　the　trickand　I　regretted　it　almost　as　soon　as　it　was　done。　Not　that　I　knew；　mind；　of　any　serious　consequences　that　followed；　for　I　returned　to　London　the　next　morning。　My　sentiments　were　those　of　a　man　of　honor；　who　felt　that　he　had　degraded　his　art；　and　who　could　not　be　quite　sure　that　he　might　not　have　armed　the　hand　of　an　assassin　as　well。　I　have　no　more　to　say。

No。　3。Thomas　Outwater；　servant　to　Captain　Stanwick；　testifies　and　says：

If　I　did　not　firmly　believe　my　master　to　be　out　of　his　senses；　no　punishment　that　I　could　receive　would　prevail　upon　me　to　tell　of　him　what　I　am　going　to　tell　now。

But　I　say　he　is　mad；　and　therefore　not　accountable　for　what　he　has　donemad　for　love　of　a　young　woman。　If　I　could　have　my　way；　I　should　like　to　twist　her　neck；　though　she　_is_　a　lady；　and　a　gr　eat　heiress　into　the　bargain。　Before　she　came　between　them；　my　master　and　Mr。　Varleigh　were　more　like　brothers　than　anything　else。　She　set　them　at　variance；　and　whether　she　meant　to　do　it　or　not　is　all　the　same　to　me。　I　own　I　took　a　dislike　to　her　when　I　first　saw　her。　She　was　one　of　the　light…haired；　blue…eyed　sort；　with　an　innocent　look　and　a　snaky　waistnot　at　all　to　be　depended　on；　as　I　have　found　them。

I　hear　I　am　not　expected　to　give　an　account　of　the　disagreement　between　the　two　gentlemen；　of　which　this　lady　was　the　cause。　I　am　to　state　what　I　did　in　Maplesworth；　and　what　I　saw　afterward　in　Herne　Wood。　Poor　as　I　am；　I　would　give　a　five…pound　note　to　anybody　who　could　do　it　for　me。　Unfortunately；　I　must　do　it　for　myself。

On　the　10th　of　July；　in　the　evening；　my　master　went；　for　the　second　time　that　day；　to　Mr。　Varleigh's　lodgings。

I　am　certain　of　the　date；　because　it　was　the　day　of　publication　of　the　town　newspaper；　and　there　was　a　law　report　in　it　which　set　everybody　talking。　There　had　been　a　duel　with　pistols；　a　day　or　two　before；　between　a　resident　in　the　town　and　a　visitor；　caused　by　some　dispute　about　horses。　Nothing　very　serious　came　of　the　meeting。　One　of　the　men　only　was　hurt；　and　the　wound　proved　to　be　of　no　great　importance。　The　awkward　part　of　the　matter　was　that　the　constables　appeared　on　the　ground；　before　the　wounded　man　had　been　removed。　He　and　his　two　seconds　were　caught；　and　the　prisoners　were　committed　for　trial。　Dueling　（the　magistrates　said）　was　an　inhuman　and　unchristian　practice；　and　they　were　determined　to　put　the　law　in　force　and　stop　it。　This　sentence　made　a　great　stir　in　the　town；　and　fixed　the　date；　as　I　have　just　said；　in　my　mind。

Having　been　accidentally　within　hearing　of　some　of　the　disputes　concerning　Miss　Laroche　between　my　master　and　Mr。　Varleigh；　I　had　my　misgivings　about　the　Captain's　second　visit　to　the　friend　with　whom　he　had　quarreled　already。　A　gentleman　called　on　him；　soon　after　he　had　gone　out；　on　important　business。　This　gave　me　an　excuse　for　following　him　to　Mr。　Varleigh's　rooms　with　the　visitor's　card；　and　I　took　the　opportunity。

I　heard　them　at　high　words　on　my　way　upstairs；　and　waited　a　little　on　the　landing。　The　Captain　was　in　one　of　his　furious　rages；　Mr。　Varleigh　was　firm　and　cool　as　usual。　After　listening　for　a　minute　or　so；　I　heard　enough　（in　my　opinion）　to　justify　me　in　entering　the　room。　I　caught　my　master　in　the　act　of　lifting　his　canethreatening　to　strike　Mr。　Varleigh。　He　instantly　dropped　his　hand；　and　turned　on　me　in　a　fury　at　my　intrusion。　Taking　no　notice　of　this　outbreak　of　temper；　I　gave　him　his　friend's　card；　and　went　out。　A　talk　followed　in　voices　too　low　for　me　to　hear　outside　the　room；　and　then　the　Captain　approached　the　door。　I　got　out　of　his　way；　feeling　very　uneasy　about　what　was　to　come　next。　I　could　not　presume　to　question　Mr。　Varleigh。　The　only　thing　I　could　think　of　was　to　tell　the　young　lady's　aunt　what　I　had　seen　and　heard；　and　to　plead　with　Miss　Laroche　herself　to　make　peace　between　them。　When　I　inquired　for　the　ladies　at　their　lodgings；　I　was　told　that　they　had　left　Maplesworth。

I　saw　no　more　of　the　Captain　that　night。

The　next　morning　he　seemed　to　be　quite　himself　again。　He　said　to　me；　〃Thomas；　I　am　going　sketching　in　Herne　Wood。　Take　the　paint…box　and　the　rest　of　it；　and　put　this　into　the　carriage。〃

He　handed　me　a　packet　as　thick　as　my　arm；　and　about　three　feet　long；　done　up　in　many　folds　of　canvas。　I　made　bold　to　ask　what　it　was。　He　answered　that　it　was　an　artist's　sketching　umbrella；　packed　for　traveling。

In　an　hour's　time；　the　carriage　stopped　on　the　road　below　Herne　Wood。　My　master　said　he　would　carry　his　sketching　things　himself；　and　I　was　to　wait　with　the　carriage。　In　giving　him　the　so…called　umbrella；　I　took　the　occasion　of　his　eye　being　off　me　for　the　moment　to　pass　my　hand　over　it　carefully；　and　I　felt；　through　the　canvas；　the　hilt　of　a　sword。　As　an　old　soldier；　I　could　not　be　mistakenthe　hilt　of　a　sword。

What　I　thought；　on　making　this　discovery；　does　not　much　matter。　What　I　did　was　to　watch　the　Captain　into　the　wood；　and　then　to　follow　him。

I　tracked　him　along　the　path　to　where　there　was　a　clearing　in　the　midst　of　the　trees。　There　he　stopped；　and　I　got　behind　a　tree。　He　undid　the　canvas；　and　produced　_two_　swords　concealed　in　the　packet。　If　I　had　felt　any　doubts　before；　I　was　certain　of　what　was　coming　now。　A　duel　without　seconds　or　witnesses；　by　way　of　keeping　the　town　magistrates　in　the　darka　duel　between　my　master　and　Mr。　Varleigh！　As　his　name　came　into　my　mind；　the　man　himself　appeared；　making　his　way　into　the　clearing　from　the　other　side　of　the　wood。

What　could　I　do　to　stop　it？　No　human　creature　was　in　sight。　The　nearest　village　was　a　mile　away；　reckoning　from　the　further　side　of　the　wood。　The　coachman　was　a　stupid　old　man；　quite　useless　in　a　difficulty；　even　if　I　had　had　time　enough　to　go　back　to　the　road　and　summon　him　to　help　me。　While　I　was　thinking　about　it；　the　Captain　and　Mr。　Varleigh　had　stripped　to　their　shirts　and　trousers。　When　they　crossed　their　swords；　I　could　stand　it　no　longerI　burst　in　on　them。　〃For　God　Almighty's　sake；　gentlemen；〃　I　cried　out；　〃don't　fight　without　seconds！〃　My　master　turned　on　me；　like　the　madman　he　was；　and　threatened　me　with　the　point　of　his　sword。　Mr。　Varleigh　pulled　me　back　out　of　harm's　way。　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　whispered；　as　he　led　me　back　to　the　verge　of　the　clearing；　〃I　have　chosen　the　sword　instead　of　the　pistol　expressly　to　spare　his　life。〃

Those　noble　words　（spoken　by　as　brave　and　true　a　man　as　ever　breathed）　quieted　me。　I　knew　Mr。　Varleigh　had　earned　the　repute　of　being　one　of　the　finest　swordsmen　in　Europe。

The　duel　began。　I　was　placed　behind　my　master；　and　was　consequently　opposite　to　his　antagonist。　The　Captain　stood　on　his　defense；　waiting　for　the　other　to　attack。　Mr。　Varleigh　made　a　pass。　I　was　opposite　the　point　of　his　sword；　I　saw　it　touch　the　Captain's　left　shoulder。　In　the　same　instant　of　time　my　master　struck　up　his　opponent's　sword　with　his　own　weapon；　seized　Mr。　Varleigh's　right　wrist　in　his　left　hand；　and　passed　his　sword　clean　through　Mr。　Varleigh's　breast。　He　fell；　the　victim　of　a　murderous　trickfell　without　a　word　or　a　cry。

The　Captain　turned　slowly；　and　faced　me　with　his　bloody　sword　in　his　hand。　I　can't　tell　you　how　he　looked；　I　can　only　say　that　the　sight　of　him　turned　me　faint　with　terror。　I　was　at　WaterlooI　am　no