little novels-第69章

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am　gone。'

〃No　effort　of　mine　to　be　worthy　of　that　sacred　trust　was　left　untried。　How　could　I　hope　to　succeed　where　_she_　had　failed？　My　house　in　London　　and　my　house　in　the　country　were　both　open　to　Beaucourt；　I　entreated　him　to　live　with　me；　or　（if　he　preferred　it）　to　be　my　guest　for　a　short　time　only；　or　（if　he　wished　to　be　alone）　to　choose　the　place　of　abode　which　he　liked　best　for　his　solitary　retreat。　With　sincere　expressions　of　gratitude；　his　inflexible　despair　refused　my　proposals。

〃In　one　of　the　ancient　'Inns；'　built　centuries　since　for　the　legal　societies　of　London；　he　secluded　himself　from　friends　and　acquaintances　alike。　One　by　one；　they　were　driven　from　his　dreary　chambers　by　a　reception　which　admitted　them　with　patient　resignation　and　held　out　little　encouragement　to　return。　After　an　interval　of　no　great　length；　I　was　the　last　of　his　friends　who　intruded　on　his　solitude。

〃Poor　Lady　Howel's　will　（excepting　some　special　legacies）　had　left　her　fortune　to　me　in　trust；　on　certain　conditions　with　which　it　is　needless　to　trouble　you。　Beaucourt's　resolution　not　to　touch　a　farthing　of　his　dead　wife's　money　laid　a　heavy　responsibility　on　my　shoulders；　the　burden　being　ere　long　increased　by　forebodings　which　alarmed　me　on　the　subject　of　his　health。

〃He　devoted　himself　to　the　reading　of　old　books；　treating　（as　I　was　told）　of　that　branch　of　useless　knowledge　generally　described　as　'occult　science。'　These　unwholesome　studies　so　absorbed　him；　that　he　remained　shut　up　in　his　badly　ventilated　chambers　for　weeks　together；　without　once　breathing　the　outer　air　even　for　a　few　minutes。　Such　defiance　of　the　ordinary　laws　of　nature　as　this　could　end　but　in　one　way；　his　health　steadily　declined　and　feverish　symptoms　showed　themselves。　The　doctor　said　plainly；　'There　is　no　chance　for　him　if　he　stays　in　this　place。'

〃Once　more　he　refused　to　be　removed　to　my　London　house。　The　development　of　the　fever；　he　reminded　me；　might　lead　to　consequences　dangerous　to　me　and　to　my　household。　He　had　heard　of　one　of　the　great　London　hospitals；　which　reserved　certain　rooms　for　the　occupation　of　persons　capable　of　paying　for　the　medical　care　bestowed　on　them。　If　he　were　to　be　removed　at　all；　to　that　hospital　he　would　go。　Many　advantages；　and　no　objections　of　importance；　were　presented　by　this　course　of　proceeding。　We　conveyed　him　to　the　hospital　without　a　moment's　loss　of　time。

〃When　I　think　of　the　dreadful　illness　that　followed；　and　when　I　recall　the　days　of　unrelieved　suspense　passed　at　the　bedside；　I　have　not　courage　enough　to　dwell　on　this　part　of　my　story。　Besides；　you　know　already　that　Beaucourt　recoveredor；　as　I　might　more　correctly　describe　it；　that　he　was　snatched　back　to　life　when　the　grasp　of　death　was　on　him。　Of　this　happier　period　of　his　illness　I　have　something　to　say　which　may　surprise　and　interest　you。

〃On　one　of　the　earlier　days　of　his　convalescence　my　visit　to　him　was　paid　later　than　usual。　A　matter　of　importance；　neglected　while　he　was　in　danger；　had　obliged　me　to　leave　town　for　a　few　days；　after　there　was　nothing　to　be　feared。　Returning；　I　had　missed　the　train　which　would　have　brought　me　to　London　in　better　time。

〃My　appearance　evidently　produced　in　Beaucourt　a　keen　feeling　of　relief。　He　requested　the　day　nurse；　waiting　in　the　room；　to　leave　us　by　ourselves。

〃　'I　was　afraid　you　might　not　have　come　to　me　to…day；'　he　said。　'My　last　moments　would　have　been　imbittered；　my　friend；　by　your　absence。'

〃　'Are　you　anticipating　your　death；'　I　asked；　'at　the　very　time　when　the　doctors　answer　for　your　life？'

〃　'The　doctors　have　not　seen　her；'　he　said；　'I　saw　her　last　night。'

〃　'Of　whom　are　you　speaking？'

〃　'Of　my　lost　angel；　who　perished　miserably　in　New　Zealand。　Twice　her　spirit　has　appeared　to　me。　I　shall　see　her　for　the　third　time；　tonight；　I　shall　follow　her　to　the　better　world。'

〃Had　the　delirium　of　the　worst　time　of　the　fever　taken　possession　of　him　again？　In　unutterable　dread　of　a　relapse；　I　took　his　hand。　The　skin　was　cool。　I　laid　my　fingers　on　his　pulse。　It　was　beating　calmly。

〃　'You　think　I　am　wandering　in　my　mind；'　he　broke　out。　'Stay　here　tonightI　command　you；　stay！and　see　her　as　I　have　seen　her。'

〃I　quieted　him　by　promising　to　do　what　he　had　asked　of　me。　He　had　still　one　more　condition　to　insist　on。

〃　'I　won't　be　laughed　at；'　he　said。　'Promise　that　you　will　not　repeat　to　any　living　creature　what　I　have　just　told　you。'

〃My　promise　satisfied　him。　He　wearily　closed　his　eyes。　In　a　few　minutes　more　his　poor　weak　body　was　in　peaceful　repose。

〃The　day…nurse　returned；　and　remained　with　us　later　than　usual。　Twilight　melted　into　darkness。　The　room　was　obscurely　lit　by　a　shaded　lamp；　placed　behind　a　screen　that　kept　the　sun　out　of　the　sick　man's　eyes　in　the　daytime。

〃　'Are　we　alone？'　Beaucourt　asked。

〃　'Yes。'

〃　'Watch　the　door。　'

〃　'Why？'

〃　'You　will　see　her　on　the　threshold。'

〃As　he　said　those　words　the　door　slowly　opened。　In　the　dim　light　I　could　only　discern　at　first　the　figure　of　a　woman。　She　slowly　advanced　toward　me。　I　saw　the　familiar　face　in　shadow；　the　eyes　were　large　and　faintly　luminousthe　eyes　of　Mrs。　Evelin。

〃The　wild　words　spoken　to　me　by　Beaucourt；　the　stillness　and　the　obscurity　in　the　room；　had　their　effect；　I　suppose；　on　my　imagination。　You　will　think　me　a　poor　creature　when　I　confess　it。　For　the　moment　I　did　assuredly　feel　a　thrill　of　superstitious　terror。

〃My　delusion　was　dispelled　by　a　change　in　her　face。　Its　natural　expression　of　surprise；　when　she　saw　me；　set　my　mind　free　to　feel　the　delight　inspired　by　the　discovery　that　she　was　a　living　woman。　I　should　have　spoken　to　her　if　she　had　not　stopped　me　by　a　gesture。

〃Beaucourt's　voice　broke　the　silence。　'Ministering　Spirit！'　he　said；　'free　me　from　the　life　of　earth。　Take　me　with　you　to　the　life　eternal。'

〃She　made　no　attempt　to　enlighten　him。　'Wait；'　she　answered　calmly；　'wait　and　rest。'

〃Silently　obeying　her；　he　turned　his　head　on　the　pillow；　we　saw　his　face　no　more。

〃I　have　related　the　circumstances　exactly　as　they　happened：　the　ghost　story　which　report　has　carried　to　your　ears　has　no　other　foundation　than　this。



〃Mrs。　Evelin　led　the　way　to　that　further　end　of　the　room　in　which　the　screen　stood。　Placing　ourselves　behind　it；　we　could　converse　in　whispers　without　being　heard。　Her　first　words　told　me　that　she　had　been　warned　by　one　of　the　hospital　doctors　to　respect　my　friend's　delusion　for　the　present。　His　mind　partook　in　some　degree　of　the　weakness　of　his　body；　and　he　was　not　strong　enough　yet　to　bear　the　shock　of　discovering　the　truth。

〃She　had　been　saved　almost　by　a　miracle。

〃Released　（in　a　state　of　insensibility）　from　the　ruins　of　the　house；　she　had　been　laid　with　her　dead　relatives　awaiting　burial。　Happily　for　her；　an　English　traveler　visiting　the　island　was　among　the　first　men　who　volunteered　to　render　help。　He　had　been　in　practice　as　a　medical　man；　and　he　saved　her　from　being　buried　alive。　Nearly　a　month　passed　before　she　was　strong　enough　to　bear　removal　to　Wellington　（the　capital　city）　and　to　be　received　into　the　hospital。

〃I　asked　why　she　had　not　telegraphed　or　written　to　me。

〃　'When　I　was　strong　enough　to　write；'　she　said；　'I　was　strong　enough　to　bear　the　sea…voyage　to　England。　The　expenses　so　nearly　exhausted　my　small　savings　that　I　had　no　money　to　spare　for　the　telegraph。'

〃On　her　arrival　in　London；　only　a　few　days　since；　she　had　called　on　me　at　the　time　when　I　had　left　home　on　the　business　which　I　have　already　mentioned。　She　had　not　heard　of　Lady　Howel's　death；　and　had　written　ignorantly　to　prepare　that　good　friend　for　seeing　her。　The　messenger　sent　with　the　letter　had　found　the　house　in　the　occupation　of　strangers；　and　had　been　referred　to　the　agent　employed　in　letting　it。　She　went　herself　to　this　person；　and　so　heard　that　Lord　Howel　Beaucourt　had　lost　his　wife；　and　was　reported　to　be　dying　in　one　of　the　London　hospitals。

〃　'If　he　had　been　in　his　usual　state　of　health；'　she　said；　'it　would　have　been　indelicate　on　my　partI　mean　it　would　have　seemed　like　taking　a　selfish　advantage　of　the　poor　lady's　deathto　have　let　him　know　that　my　life　had　been　saved；　in　any　other　way　than　by　writing　to　him。　But　when　I　heard　he　was　dying；　I　forgot　all　customary　considerations。　His　name　was　so　well…known　in　London　that　I　easily　discovered　at　what　hospital　he　had　been　received。　There　I　heard　that　the　report　was　false　and　that　he　was　out　of　danger。　I　ought　to　hav　e　been　satisfied　with　thatbut　oh；　how　could　I　be　so　near　him　and　not　long　to　see　him？　The　old　doctor　with　whom　I　had　been　speaking　discovered；　I　suppose；　that　I　was　in　trouble　about　something。　He　was　so　kind　and　fatherly；　and　he　seemed　to　take　such　interest　in　me；　that　I　confessed　everything　to　him。　After　he　had　made　me　promise　to　be　careful；　he　told　the　night…nurse　to　let　me　take　her　place　for　a　little　while；　when　the　dim　light　in　the　room　would　not　permit　his　patient　to　see　me　too　plainly。　He　waited　at　the　door　when　we　tried　the　experiment。　Neither　he　nor　I　foresaw　that　Lord　Howel　would　put　such　a　strange　interpretation　on　my　presence。　The　nurse　doesn't　approve　of　my　coming　backeven　for　a　little　while　onlyand　taking　her　place　again　to…night。　She　is　right。　I　have　had　my　little　glimpse　of　happiness；　and　with　that　little　I　must　be　content。'

〃What　I　said　in　answer　to　this；　and　what　I　did　as　time　advanced；　it　is　surely　needless　to　tell　you。　You　have　read　the　newspapers　which　announce　their　marriage；　and　their　departure　for　Italy。　What　else　is　there　left　for　me　to　say？

〃There　is；　perhaps；　a　word　more　still　wanting。

〃Obstinate　Lord　Howel　persisted　in　refusing　to　take　the　fortune　that　was　waiting　for　him。　In　this　difficulty；　the　conditions　under　which　I　was　acting　permitted　me　to　appeal　to　the　bride。　When　she　too　said　No；　I　was　not　to　be　trifled　with。　I　showed　her　poor　Lady's　Howel's　will。　After　reading　the　terms　in　which　my　dear　old　friend　alluded　to　her　she　burst　out　crying。　I　interpreted　those　grateful　tears　as　an　expression　of　repentance　for　the　ill…considered　reply　which　I　had　just　received。　As　yet；　I　have　not　been　told　that　I　was　wrong。〃


MR。　POLICEMAN　AND　THE　COOK。

A　FIRST　WORD　FOR　MYSELF。

BEFORE　the　doctor　left　me　one　evening；　I　asked　him　how　much　longer　I　was　likely　to　live。　He　answered：　〃It's　not　easy　to　say；　you　may　die　before　I　can　get　back　to　you　in　the　morning；　or　you　may　live　to　the　end　of　the　month。〃

I　was　alive　enough　on　the　next　morning　to　think　of　the　needs　of　my　soul；　and　（being　a　member　of　the　Roman　Catholic　Church）　to　send　for　the　priest。

The　history　of　my　sins；　related　in　confession；　included　blameworthy　neglect　of　a　duty　which　I　owed　to　the　laws　of　my　country。　In　the　priest's　opinionand　I　agreed　with　himI　was　bound　to　make　public　acknowledgment　of　my　fault；　as　an　act　of　penance　becoming　to　a　Catholic　Englishman。　We　concluded；　thereupon；　to　try　a　division　of　labor。　I　related　the　circumstances；　while　his　reverence　took　the　pen　and　put　the　matter　into　shape。

Here　follows　what　came　of　it：

I。

WHEN　I　was　a　young　man　of　five…and…twenty；　I　became　a　member　of　the　London　police　force。　After　nearly　two　years'　ordinary　experience　of　the　responsible　and　ill…paid　duties　of　that　vocation；　I　found　myself　employed　on　my　first　serious　and　terrible　case　of　official　inquiryrelating　to　nothing　less　t