little novels-第63章

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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　coward。　But　I　tell　you　the　cold　sweat　poured　down　my　face　like　water。　I　should　have　dropped　if　I　had　not　held　by　the　branch　of　a　tree。

My　master　waited　until　I　had　in　a　measure　recovered　myself。　〃Feel　if　his　heart　beats；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　man　on　the　ground。

I　obeyed。　He　was　deadthe　heart　was　still；　the　beat　of　the　pulse　was　gone。　I　said；　〃You　have　killed　him！〃

The　Captain　made　no　answer。　He　packed　up　the　two　swords　again　in　the　canvas；　and　put　them　under　his　arm。　Then　he　told　me　to　follow　him　with　the　sketching　materials。　I　drew　back　from　him　without　speaking；　there　was　a　horrid　hollow　sound　in　his　voice　that　I　did　not　like。　〃Do　as　I　tell　you；〃　he　said：　〃you　have　yourself　to　thank　for　it　if　I　refuse　to　lose　sight　of　you　now。〃　I　managed　to　say　that　he　might　trust　me　to　say　nothing。　He　refused　to　trust　me；　he　put　out　his　hand　to　take　hold　of　me。　I　could　not　stand　that。　〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　I　said；　〃don't　touch　me！〃　We　reached　the　carriage　and　returned　to　Maplesworth。　The　same　day　we　traveled　by　post　to　London。

In　London　I　contrived　to　give　the　Captain　the　slip。　By　the　first　coach　the　next　morning　I　want　back　to　Maplesworth；　eager　to　hear　what　had　happened；　and　if　the　body　had　been　found。　Not　a　word　of　news　reached　me；　nothing　seemed　to　be　known　of　the　duel　in　Herne　Wood。

I　went　to　the　woodon　foot；　fearing　that　I　might　be　traced　if　I　hired　a　carriage。　The　country　round　was　as　solitary　as　usual。　Not　a　creature　was　near　when　I　entered　the　wood；　not　a　creature　was　near　when　I　looked　into　the　clearing。

There　was　nothing　on　the　ground。　The　body　was　gone。

No。　4。The　Reverend　Alfred　Loring；　Rector　of　Nettlegrove；　testifies　and　says：

I。

EARLY　in　the　month　of　October；　1817；　I　was　informed　that　Miss　Bertha　Laroche　had　called　at　　my　house；　and　wished　to　see　me　in　private。

I　had　first　been　presented　to　Miss　Laroche　on　her　arrival；　with　her　aunt；　to　take　possession　of　her　property　at　Nettlegrove　Hall。　My　opportunities　of　improving　my　acquaintance　with　her　had　not　been　so　numerous　as　I　could　have　desired；　and　I　sincerely　regretted　it。　She　had　produced　a　very　favorable　impression　on　me。　Singularly　inexperienced　and　impulsivewith　an　odd　mixture　of　shyness　and　vivacity　in　her　manner；　and　subject　now　and　then　to　outbursts　of　vanity　and　petulance　which　she　was　divertingly　incapable　of　concealingI　could　detect；　nevertheless；　under　the　surface　the　signs　which　told　of　a　true　and　generous　nature；　of　a　simple　and　pure　heart。　Her　personal　appearance；　I　should　add；　was　attractive　in　a　remarkable　degree。　There　was　something　in　it　so　peculiar；　and　at　the　same　time　so　fascinating；　that　I　am　conscious　it　may　have　prejudiced　me　in　her　favor。　For　fear　of　this　acknowledgment　being　misunderstood；　I　think　it　right　to　add　that　I　am　old　enough　to　be　her　grandfather；　and　that　I　am　also　a　married　man。

I　told　the　servant　to　show　Miss　Laroche　into　my　study。

The　moment　she　entered　the　room；　her　appearance　alarmed　me：　she　looked　literally　panic…stricken。　I　offered　to　send　for　my　wife；　she　refused　the　proposal。　I　entreated　her　to　take　time　at　least　to　compose　herself。　It　was　not　in　her　impulsive　nature　to　do　this。　She　said；　〃Give　me　your　hand　to　encourage　me；　and　let　me　speak　while　I　can。〃　I　gave　her　my　hand；　poor　soul。　I　said；　〃Speak　to　me；　my　dear；　as　if　I　were　your　father。〃

So　far　as　I　could　understand　the　incoherent　statement　which　she　addressed　to　me；　she　had　been　the　object　of　admiration　（while　visiting　Maplesworth）　of　two　gentlemen；　who　both　desired　to　marry　her。　Hesitating　between　them　and　perfectly　inexperienced　in　such　matters；　she　had　been　the　unfortunate　cause　of　enmity　between　the　rivals；　and　had　returned　to　Nettlegrove；　at　her　aunt's　suggestion；　as　the　best　means　of　extricating　herself　from　a　very　embarrassing　position。　The　removal　failing　to　alleviate　her　distressing　recollections　of　what　had　happened；　she　and　her　aunt　had　tried　a　further　change　by　making　a　tour　of　two　months　on　the　Continent。　She　had　returned　in　a　more　quiet　frame　of　mind。　To　her　great　surprise；　she　had　heard　nothing　of　either　of　her　two　suitors；　from　the　day　when　she　left　Maplesworth　to　the　day　when　she　presented　herself　at　my　rectory。

Early　that　morning　she　was　walking；　after　breakfast；　in　the　park　at　Nettlegrove　when　she　heard　footsteps　behind　her。　She　turned；　and　found　herself　face　to　face　with　one　of　her　suitors　at　Maplesworth。　I　am　informed　that　there　is　no　necessity　now　for　my　suppressing　the　name。　The　gentleman　was　Captain　Stanwick。

He　was　so　fearfully　changed　for　the　worse　that　she　hardly　knew　him　again。

After　his　first　glance　at　her；　he　held　his　hand　over　his　bloodshot　eyes　as　if　the　sunlight　hurt　them。　Without　a　word　to　prepare　her　for　the　disclosure；　he　confessed　that　he　had　killed　Mr。　Varleigh　in　a　duel。　His　remorse　（he　declared）　had　unsettled　his　reason：　only　a　few　days　had　passed　since　he　had　been　released　from　confinement　in　an　asylum。

〃You　are　the　cause　of　it；〃　he　said　wildly。　〃It　is　for　love　of　you。　I　have　but　one　hope　left　to　live　formy　hope　in　you。　If　you　cast　me　off；　my　mind　is　made　up。　I　will　give　my　life　for　the　life　that　I　have　taken；　I　will　die　by　my　own　hand。　Look　at　me；　and　you　will　see　that　I　am　in　earnest。　My　future　as　a　living　man　depends　on　your　decision。　Think　of　it　to…day；　and　meet　me　here　to…morrow。　Not　at　this　time；　the　horrid　daylight　feels　like　fire　in　my　eyes；　and　goes　like　fire　to　my　brain。　Wait　till　sunsetyou　will　find　me　here。〃

He　left　her　as　suddenly　as　he　had　appeared。　When　she　had　sufficiently　recovered　herself　to　be　able　to　think；　she　decided　on　saying　nothing　of　what　had　happened　to　her　aunt。　She　took　her　way　to　the　rectory　to　seek　my　advice。

It　is　needless　to　encumber　my　narrative　by　any　statement　of　the　questions　which　I　felt　it　my　duty　to　put　to　her　under　these　circumstances。　My　inquiries　informed　me　that　Captain　Stanwick　had　in　the　first　instance　produced　a　favorable　impression　on　her。　The　less　showy　qualities　of　Mr。　Varleigh　had　afterward　grown　on　her　liking；　aided　greatly　by　the　repelling　effect　on　her　mind　of　the　Captain's　violent　language　and　conduct　when　he　had　reason　to　suspect　that　his　rival　was　being　preferred　to　him。　When　she　knew　the　horrible　news　of　Mr。　Varleigh's　death；　she　〃knew　her　own　heart〃　（to　repeat　her　exact　words　to　me）　by　the　shock　that　she　felt。　Toward　Captain　Stanwick　the　only　feeling　of　which　she　was　now　conscious　was；　naturally；　a　feeling　of　the　strongest　aversion。

My　own　course　in　this　difficult　and　painful　matter　appeared　to　me　to　be　clear。　〃It　is　your　duty　as　a　Christian　to　see　this　miserable　man　again；〃　I　said。　〃And　it　is　my　duty　as　your　friend　and　pastor；　to　sustain　you　under　the　trial。　I　will　go　with　you　to…morrow　to　the　place　of　meeting。

II。

THE　next　evening　we　found　Captain　Stanwick　waiting　for　us　in　the　park。

He　drew　back　on　seeing　me。　I　explained　to　him；　temperately　and　firmly；　what　my　position　was。　With　sullen　looks　he　resigned　himself　to　endure　my　presence。　By　degrees　I　won　his　confidence。　My　first　impression　of　him　remains　unshakenthe　man's　reason　was　unsettled。　I　suspected　that　the　assertion　of　his　release　was　a　falsehood；　and　that　he　had　really　escaped　from　the　asylum。　It　was　impossible　to　lure　him　into　telling　me　where　the　place　was。　He　was　too　cunning　to　do　thistoo　cunning　to　say　anything　about　his　relations；　when　I　tried　to　turn　the　talk　that　way　next。　On　the　other　hand；　he　spoke　with　a　revolting　readiness　of　the　crime　that　he　had　committed；　and　of　his　settled　resolution　to　destroy　himself　if　Miss　Laroche　refused　to　be　his　wife。　〃I　have　nothing　else　to　live　for；　I　am　alone　in　the　world；〃　he　said。　〃Even　my　servant　has　deserted　me。　He　knows　how　I　killed　Lionel　Varleigh。〃　He　paused　and　spoke　his　next　words　in　a　whisper　to　me。　〃I　killed　him　by　a　trickhe　was　the　best　swordsman　of　the　two。〃

This　confession　was　so　horrible　that　I　could　only　attribute　it　to　an　insane　delusion。　On　pressing　my　inquiries；　I　found　that　the　same　idea　must　have　occurred　to　the　poor　wretch's　relations；　and　to　the　doctors　who　signed　the　certificates　for　placing　him　under　medical　care。　This　conclusion　（as　I　afterward　heard）　was　greatly　strengthened　by　the　fact　that　Mr。　Varleigh's　body　had　not　been　found　on　the　reported　scene　of　the　duel。　As　to　the　servant；　he　had　deserted　his　master　in　London；　and　had　never　reappeared。　So　far　as　my　poor　judgment　went；　the　question　before　me　was　not　of　delivering　a　self…accused　murderer　to　justice　（with　no　corpse　to　testify　against　him）；　but　of　restoring　an　insane　man　to　the　care　of　the　persons　who　had　been　appointed　to　restrain　him。

I　tried　to　test　the　strength　of　his　delusion　in　an　interval　when　he　was　not　urging　his　shocking　entreaties　on　Miss　Laroche。　〃How　do　you　know　that　you　killed　Mr。　Varleigh？〃　I　said。

He　looked　at　me　with　a　wild　terror　in　his　eyes。　Suddenly　he　lifted　his　right　hand；　and　shook　it　in　the　air；　with　a　moaning　cry；　which　was　unmistakably　a　cry　of　pain。　〃Should　I　see　his　ghost；〃　he　asked；　〃if　I　had　not　killed　him？　I　know　it；　by　the　pain　that　wrings　me　in　the　hand　that　stabbed　him。　Always　in　my　right　hand！　always　the　same　pain　at　the　moment　when　I　see　him！〃　He　stopped　and　ground　his　teeth　in　the　agony　and　reality　of　his　delusion。　〃Look！〃　he　cried。　〃Look　between　the　two　trees　behind　you。　There　he　iswith　his　dark　hair；　and　his　shaven　face；　and　his　steady　look！　There　he　is；　standing　before　me　as　he　stood　in　the　wood；　with　his　eyes　on　my　eyes；　and　his　sword　feeling　mine！〃　He　turned　to　Miss　Laroche。　〃Do　_you_　see　him　too？〃　he　asked　eagerly。　〃Tell　me　the　truth。　My　whole　life　depends　on　your　telling　me　the　truth。〃

She　controlled　herself　with　a　wonderful　courage。　〃I　don't　see　him；〃　she　answered。

He　took　out　his　handkerchief；　and　passed　it　over　his　face　with　a　gasp　of　relief。　〃There　is　my　last　chance！〃　he　said。　〃If　she　will　be　true　to　meif　she　will　be　always　near　me；　morning；　noon；　and　night；　I　shall　be　released　from　the　sight　of　him。　See！　he　is　fading　away　already！　Gone！〃　h　e　cried；　with　a　scream　of　exultation。　He　fell　on　his　knees；　and　looked　at　Miss　Laroche　like　a　savage　adoring　his　idol。　〃Will　you　cast　me　off　now？〃　he　asked；　humbly。　〃Lionel　was　fond　of　you　in　his　lifetime。　His　spirit　is　a　merciful　spirit。　He　shrinks　from　frightening　you；　he　has　left　me　for　your　sake；　he　will　release　me　for　your　sake。　Pity　me；　take　me　to　live　with　youand　I　shall　never　see　him　again！〃

It　was　dreadful　to　hear　him。　I　saw　that　the　poor　girl　could　endure　no　more。　〃Leave　us；〃　I　whispered　to　her；　〃I　will　join　you　at　the　house。

He　heard　me；　and　instantly　placed　himself　between　us。　〃Let　her　promise；　or　she　shan't　go。〃

She　felt；　as　I　felt；　the　imperative　necessity　of　saying　anything　that　might　soothe　him。　At　a　sign　from　me　she　gave　him　her　promise　to　return。

He　was　satisfiedhe　insisted　on　kissing　her　hand；　and　then　he　let　her　go。　I　had　by　this　time　succeeded　in　inducing　him　to　trust　me。　He　proposed；　of　his　own　accord；　that　I　should　accompany　him　to　the　inn　in　the　village　at　which　he　had　been　staying。　The　landlord　（naturally　enough　distrusting　his　wretched　guest）　had　warned　him　that　morning　to　find　some　other　place　of　shelter。　I　engaged　t