little novels-第65章

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my　hurry　in　entering　the　wood；　his　suspicions　had　been　aroused；　and　he　and　the　lad　had　followed　me。　There　was　blood　on　my　clothes；　there　was　horror　in　my　face。　Appearances　were　plainly　against　me；　I　had　no　choice　but　to　accompany　the　gamekeeper　to　the　nearest　magistrate。

My　instructions　to　my　solicitor　forbade　him　to　vindicate　my　innocence　by　taking　any　technical　legal　objections　to　the　action　of　the　magistrate　or　of　the　coroner。　I　insisted　on　my　witnesses　being　summoned　to　the　lawyer's　office；　and　allowed　to　state；　in　their　own　way；　what　they　could　truly　declare　on　my　behalf；　and　I　left　my　defense　to　be　founded　upon　the　materials　thus　obtained。　In　the　meanwhile　I　was　detained　in　custody；　as　a　matter　of　course。

With　this　event　the　tragedy　of　the　duel　reached　its　culminating　point。　I　was　accused　of　murdering　the　man　who　had　attempted　to　take　my　life！



This　last　incident　having　been　related；　all　that　is　worth　noticing　in　my　contribution　to　the　present　narrative　comes　to　an　end。　I　was　tried　in　due　course　of　law。　The　evidence　taken　at　my　solicitor's　office　was　necessarily　altered　in　form；　though　not　in　substance；　by　the　examination　to　which　the　witnesses　were　subjected　in　a　court　of　justice。　So　thoroughly　did　our　defense　satisfy　the　jury；　that　they　became　restless　toward　the　close　of　the　proceedings；　and　returned　their　verdict　of　Not　Guilty　without　quitting　the　box。

When　I　was　a　free　man　again；　it　is　surely　needless　to　dwell　on　the　first　use　that　I　made　of　my　honorable　acquittal。　Whether　I　deserved　the　enviable　place　that　I　occupied　in　Bertha's　estimation；　it　is　not　for　me　to　say。　Let　me　leave　the　decision　to　the　lady　who　has　ceased　to　be　Miss　LarocheI　mean　the　lady　who　has　been　good　enough　to　become　my　wife。


MISS　DULANE　AND　MY　LORD。

Part　I。

TWO　REMONSTRATIONS。

I。

ONE　afternoon　old　Miss　Dulane　entered　her　drawing…room；　ready　to　receive　visitors；　dressed　in　splendor；　and　exhibiting　every　outward　appearance　of　a　defiant　frame　of　mind。

Just　as　a　saucy　bronze　nymph　on　the　mantelpiece　struck　the　quarter　to　three　on　an　elegant　clock　under　her　arm；　a　visitor　was　announced〃Mrs。　Newsham。〃

Miss　Dulane　wore　her　own　undisguised　gray　hair；　dressed　in　perfect　harmony　with　her　time　of　life。　Without　an　attempt　at　concealment；　she　submitted　to　be　too　short　and　too　stout。　Her　appearance　（if　it　had　only　been　made　to　speak）　would　have　said；　in　effect：　〃I　am　an　old　woman；　and　I　scorn　to　disguise　it。〃

Mrs。　Newsham；　tall　and　elegant；　painted　and　dyed；　acted　on　the　opposite　principle　in　dressing；　which　confesses　nothing。　On　exhibition　before　the　world；　this　lady's　disguise　asserted　that　she　had　reached　her　thirtieth　year　on　her　last　birthday。　Her　husband　was　discreetly　silent；　and　Father　Time　was　discreetly　silent：　they　both　knew　that　her　last　birthday　had　happened　thirty　years　since。

〃Shall　we　talk　of　the　weather　and　the　news；　my　dear？　Or　shall　we　come　to　the　object　of　your　visit　at　once？〃　So　Miss　Dulane　opened　the　interview。

〃Your　tone　and　manner；　my　good　friend；　are　no　doubt　provoked　by　the　report　in　the　newspaper　of　this　morning。　In　justice　to　you；　I　refuse　to　believe　the　report。〃　So　Mrs。　Newsham　adopted　her　friend's　suggestion。

〃You　kindness　is　thrown　away；　Elizabeth。　The　report　is　true。〃

〃Matilda；　you　shock　me！〃

〃Why？〃

〃At　your　age！〃

〃If　_he_　doesn't　object　to　my　age；　what　does　it　matter　to　_you？_〃

〃Don't　speak　of　that　man！〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃He　is　young　enough　to　be　your　son；　and　he　is　marrying　youimpudently；　undisguisedly　marrying　youfor　your　money！〃

〃And　I　am　marrying　himimpudently；　undisguisedly　marrying　himfor　his　rank。〃

〃You　needn't　remind　me；　Matilda；　that　you　are　the　daughter　of　a　tailor。〃

〃In　a　week　or　two　more；　Elizabeth；　I　shall　remind　you　that　I　am　the　wife　of　a　nobleman's　son。〃

〃A　younger　son；　don't　forget　that。〃

〃A　younger　son；　as　you　say。　He　finds　the　social　position；　and　I　find　the　moneyhalf　a　million　at　my　own　sole　disposal。　My　future　husband　is　a　good　fellow　in　his　way；　and　his　future　wife　is　anot　her　good　fellow　in　her　way。　To　look　at　your　grim　face；　one　would　suppose　there　were　no　such　things　in　the　world　as　marriages　of　convenience。〃

〃Not　at　your　time　of　life。　I　tell　you　plainly；　your　marriage　will　be　a　public　scandal。〃

〃That　doesn't　frighten　us；〃　Miss　Dulane　remarked。　〃We　are　resigned　to　every　ill…natured　thing　that　our　friends　can　say　of　us。　In　course　of　time；　the　next　nine　days'　wonder　will　claim　public　attention；　and　we　shall　be　forgotten。　I　shall　be　none　the　less　on　that　account　Lady　Howel　Beaucourt。　And　my　husband　will　be　happy　in　the　enjoyment　of　every　expensive　taste　which　a　poor　man　call　gratify；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life。　Have　you　any　more　objections　to　make？　Don't　hesitate　to　speak　plainly。〃

〃I　have　a　question　to　ask；　my　dear。〃

〃Charmed；　I　am　sure；　to　answer　itif　I　can。〃

〃Am　I　right　in　supposing　that　Lord　Howel　Beaucourt　is　about　half　your　age？〃

〃Yes；　dear；　my　future　husband　is　as　nearly　as　possible　half　as　old　as　I　am。〃

Mrs。　Newsham's　uneasy　virtue　shuddered。　〃What　a　profanation　of　marriage！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　her　friend　pronounced　positively。　〃Marriage；　by　the　law　of　England　（as　my　lawyer　tells　me）；　is　nothing　but　a　contract。　Who　ever　heard　of　profaning　a　contract？〃

〃Call　it　what　you　please；　Matilda。　Do　you　expect　to　live　a　happy　life；　at　your　age；　with　a　young　man　for　your　husband？〃

〃A　happy　life；〃　Miss　Dulane　repeated；　〃because　it　will　be　an　innocent　life。〃　She　laid　a　certain　emphasis　on　the　last　word　but　one。

Mrs。　Newsham　resented　the　emphasis；　and　rose　to　go。　Her　last　words　were　the　bitterest　words　that　she　had　spoken　yet。

〃You　have　secured　such　a　truly　remarkable　husband；　my　dear；　that　I　am　emboldened　to　ask　a　great　favor。　Will　you　give　me　his　lordship's　photograph？〃

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Dulane；　〃I　won't　give　you　his　lordship's　photograph。〃

〃What　is　your　objection；　Matilda？〃

〃A　very　serious　objection；　Elizabeth。　You　are　not　pure　enough　in　mind　to　be　worthy　of　my　husband's　photograph。〃

With　that　reply　the　first　of　the　remonstrances　assumed　hostile　proportions；　and　came　to　an　untimely　end。

II。

THE　second　remonstrance　was　reserved　for　a　happier　fate。　It　took　its　rise　in　a　conversation　between　two　men　who　were　old　and　true　friends。　In　other　words；　it　led　to　no　quarreling。

The　elder　man　was　one　of　those　admirable　human　beings　who　are　cordial；　gentle；　and　good…tempered；　without　any　conscious　exercise　of　their　own　virtues。　He　was　generally　known　in　the　world　about　him　by　a　fond　and　familiar　use　of　his　Christian　name。　To　call　him　〃Sir　Richard〃　in　these　pages　（except　in　the　character　of　one　of　his　servants）　would　be　simply　ridiculous。　When　he　lent　his　money；　his　horses；　his　house；　and　（sometimes；　after　unlucky　friends　had　dropped　to　the　lowest　social　depths）　even　his　clothes；　this　general　benefactor　was　known；　in　the　best　society　and　the　worst　society　alike；　as　〃Dick。〃　He　filled　the　hundred　mouths　of　Rumor　with　his　nickname；　in　the　days　when　there　was　an　opera　in　London；　as　the　proprietor　of　the　〃Beauty…box。〃　The　ladies　who　occupied　the　box　were　all　invited　under　the　same　circumstances。　They　enjoyed　operatic　music；　but　their　husbands　and　fathers　were　not　rich　enough　to　be　able　to　gratify　that　expensive　taste。　Dick's　carriage　called　for　them；　and　took　them　home　again；　and　the　beauties　all　agreed　（if　he　ever　married）　that　Mrs。　Dick　would　be　the　most　enviable　woman　on　the　face　of　the　civilized　earth。　Even　the　false　reports；　which　declared　that　he　was　privately　married　already；　and　on　bad　terms　with　his　wife；　slandered　him　cordially　under　the　popular　name。　And　his　intimate　companions；　when　they　alluded　among　each　other　to　a　romance　in　his　life　which　would　remain　a　hidden　romance　to　the　end　of　his　days；　forgot　that　the　occasion　justified　a　serious　and　severe　use　of　his　surname；　and　blamed　him　affectionately　as　〃poor　dear　Dick。〃

The　hour　was　midnight；　and　the　friends；　whom　the　most　hospitable　of　men　delighted　to　assemble　round　his　dinner…table；　had　taken　their　leave　with　the　exception　of　one　guest　specially　detained　by　the　host；　who　led　him　back　to　the　dining…room。

〃You　were　angry　with　our　friends；〃　Dick　began；　〃when　they　asked　you　about　that　report　of　your　marriage。　You　won't　be　angry　with　Me。　Are　you　really　going　to　be　the　old　maid's　husband？〃

This　plain　question　received　a　plain　reply：　〃Yes；　I　am。〃

Dick　took　the　young　lord's　hand。　Simply　and　seriously；　he　said：　〃Accept　my　congratulations。〃

Howel　Beaucourt　started　as　if　he　had　received　a　blow　instead　of　a　compliment。

〃There　isn't　another　man　or　woman　in　the　whole　circle　of　my　acquaintance；〃　he　declared；　〃who　would　have　congratulated　me　on　marrying　Miss　Dulane。　I　believe　you　would　make　allowances　for　me　if　I　had　committed　murder。〃

〃I　hope　I　should；〃　Dick　answered　gravely。　〃When　a　man　is　my　friendmurder　or　marriageI　take　it　for　granted　that　he　has　a　reason　for　what　he　does。　Wait　a　minute。　You　mustn't　give　me　more　credit　than　I　deserve。　I　don't　agree　with　you。　If　I　were　a　marrying　man　myself；　I　shouldn't　pick　an　old　maidI　should　prefer　a　young　one。　That's　a　matter　of　taste。　You　are　not　like　me。　_You_　always　have　a　definite　object　in　view。　I　may　not　know　what　the　object　is。　Never　mind！　I　wish　you　joy　all　the　same。〃

Beaucourt　was　not　unworthy　of　the　friendship　he　had　inspired。　〃I　should　be　ungrateful　indeed；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　didn't　tell　you　what　my　object　is。　You　know　that　I　am　poor？〃

〃The　only　poor　friend　of　mine；〃　Dick　remarked；　〃who　has　never　borrowed　money　of　me。〃

Beaucourt　went　on　without　noticing　this。　〃I　have　three　expensive　tastes；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　to　get　into　Parliament；　I　want　to　have　a　yacht；　I　want　to　collect　pictures。　Add；　if　you　like；　the　selfish　luxury　of　helping　poverty　and　wretchedness；　and　hearing　my　conscience　tell　me　what　an　excellent　man　I　am。　I　can't　do　all　this　on　five　hundred　a　yearbut　I　can　do　it　on　forty　times　five　hundred　a　year。　Moral：　marry　Miss　Dulane。〃

Listening　attentively　until　the　other　had　done；　Dick　showed　a　sardonic　side　to　his　character　never　yet　discovered　in　Beaucourt's　experience　of　him。

〃I　suppose　you　have　made　the　necessary　arrangements；〃　he　said。　〃When　the　old　lady　releases　you；　she　will　leave　consolation　behind　her　in　her　will。〃

〃That's　the　first　ill…natured　thing　I　ever　heard　you　say；　Dick。　When　the　old　lady　dies；　my　sense　of　honor　takes　fright；　and　turns　its　back　on　her　will。　It's　a　condition　on　my　side；　that　every　farthing　of　her　money　shall　be　left　to　her　relations。〃

〃Don't　you　call　yourself　one　of　them？〃

〃What　a　question！　Am　I　her　relation　because　the　laws　of　society　force　a　mock　marriage　on　us？　How　can　I　make　use　of　her　money　unless　I　am　her　husband？　and　how　can　she　make　use　of　my　title　unless　she　is　my　wife？　As　long　as　she　lives　I　stand　honestly　by　my　side　of　the　bargain。　But　when　she　dies　the　transaction　is　at　an　end；　and　the　surviving　partner　returns　to　his　five　hundred　a　year。〃

Dick　exhibited　another　surprising　side　to　his　character。　The　most　compliant　of　men　now　became　as　obstinate　as　the　proverbial　mule。

〃All　very　well；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　doesn't　explain　whyif　you　must　sell　yourselfyou　have　sold　yourself　to　an　old　lady。　There　are　plenty　of　young　ones　and　pretty　ones　with　fortunes　to　tempt　you。　It　seems　odd　that　you　haven't　tried　your　luck