east lynne-第61部分

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e　me？〃

〃I　am　quite　certain；　sir；　that　you　would　state　nothing　but　what　was　true；　and　I　know　that　your　judgment　is　sound；〃　was　Joyce's　answer。

〃Then　I　must　tell　you　that　I　do　not　believe　it　was　Richard　Hare　who　murdered　your　father。〃

〃/Sir/！〃　uttered　Joyce；　amazed　out　of　her　senses。

〃I　believe　Richard　Hare　to　be　as　innocent　of　the　murder　as　you　or　I；〃　he　deliberately　repeated。　〃I　have　held　grounds　for　this　opinion；　Joyce；　for　many　years。〃

〃Then；　sir；　who　did　it？〃

〃Afy's　other　lover。　That　dandy　fellow；　Thorn；　as　I　truly　believe。〃

〃And　you　say　you　have　grounds；　sir？〃　Joyce　asked；　after　a　pause。

〃Good　grounds；　and　I　tell　you　I　have　been　in　possession　of　them　for　years。　I　should　be　glad　for　you　to　think　as　I　do。〃

〃But；　sir；　if　Richard　Hare　was　innocent；　why　did　he　run　away？〃

〃Ah；　why；　indeed！　It　is　that　which　has　done　the　mischief。　His　own　weak　cowardice　was　in　fault。　He　feared　to　come　back；　and　he　felt　that　he　could　not　remove　the　odium　of　circumstances。　Joyce　I　should　like　you　to　see　him　and　hear　his　story。〃

〃There　is　not　much　chance　of　that；　sir。　I　dare　say　he　will　never　venture　here　again。〃

〃He　is　here　now。〃

Joyce　looked　up；　considerably　startled。

〃Here；　in　this　house；〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃He　has　taken　shelter　in　it；　and　for　the　few　hours　that　he　will　remain；　we　must　extend　our　hospitality　and　protection　to　him；　concealing　him　in　the　best　manner　we　can。　I　thought　it　well　that　this　confidence　should　be　reposed　in　you；　Joyce。　Come　now　and　see　him。〃

Considering　that　it　was　a　subdued　interviewthe　voices　subdued；　I　meanit　was　a　confused　one。　Richard　talking　vehemently；　Joyce　asking　question　after　question；　Miss　Carlyle's　tongue　going　as　fast　as　theirs。　The　only　silent　one　was　Mr。　Carlyle。　Joyce　could　not　refuse　to　believe　protestations　so　solemn；　and　her　suspicions　veered　round　upon　Captain　Thorn。

〃And　now　about　the　bed；〃　interjected　Miss　Carlyle；　impatiently。　〃Where's　he　to　sleep；　Joyce？　The　only　safe　room　that　I　know　of　will　be　the　one　through　mine。〃

〃He　can't　sleep　there；　ma'am。　Don't　you　know　that　the　key　of　the　door　was　lost　last　week；　and　we　cannot　open　it？〃

〃So　much　the　better。　He'll　be　all　the　safer。〃

〃But　how　is　he　to　get　in？〃

〃To　get　in？　Why；　through　my　room；　of　course。　Doesn't　mine　open　to　it；　stupid？〃

〃Oh；　well；　ma'am；　if　you　would　like　him　to　go　through　yours；　that's　different。〃

〃Why　shouldn't　he　go　through？　Do　you　suppose　I　mind　young　Dick　Hare？　Not　I；　indeed；〃　she　irascibly　continued。　〃I　only　wish　he　was　young　enough　for　me　to　flog　him　as　I　used　to；　that's　all。　He　deserves　it　as　much　as　anybody　ever　did；　playing　the　fool；　as　he　has　done；　in　all　ways。　I　shall　be　in　bed；　with　the　curtains　drawn；　and　his　passing　through　won't　harm　me；　and　my　lying　there　won't　harm　him。　Stand　on　ceremony　with　Dick　Hare！　What　next；　I　wonder？〃

Joyce　made　no　reply　to　this　energetic　speech；　but　at　once　retired　to　prepare　the　room　for　Richard。　Miss　Carlyle　soon　followed。　Having　made　everything　ready；　Joyce　returned。

〃The　room　is　ready；　sir；〃　she　whispered；　〃and　all　the　household　are　in　bed。〃

〃Then　now's　your　time；　Richard。　Good…night。〃

He　stole　upstairs　after　Joyce；　who　piloted　him　through　the　room　of　Miss　Carlyle。　Nothing　could　be　seen　of　that　lady；　though　something　might　be　heard；　one　given　to　truth　more　than　politeness　might　have　called　it　snoring。　Joyce　showed　Richard　his　chamber；　gave　him　the　candle；　and　closed　the　door　upon　him。

Poor　hunted　Richard；　good…night　to　you。



CHAPTER　XXX。

BARBARA'S　HEART　AT　REST。

Morning　dawned。　The　same　dull　weather；　the　same　heavy　fall　of　snow。　Miss　Carlyle　took　her　breakfast　in　bed；　an　indulgence　she　had　not　favored　for　ever　so　many　years。　Richard　Hare　rose；　but　remained　in　his　chamber；　and　Joyce　carried　his　breakfast　in　to　him。

Mr。　Carlyle　entered　whilst　he　was　taking　it。　〃How　did　you　sleep；　Richard？〃

〃I　slept　well。　I　was　so　dead　tired。　What　am　I　to　do　next；　Mr。　Carlyle？　The　sooner　I　get　away　from　here　the　better。　I　can't　feel　safe。〃

〃You　must　not　think　of　it　before　evening。　I　am　aware　that　you　cannot　remain　here；　save　for　a　few　temporary　hours；　as　it　would　inevitably　become　known　to　the　servants。　You　say　you　think　of　going　to　Liverpool　or　Manchester？〃

〃To　any　large　town；　they　are　all　alike　to　me；　but　one　pursued　as　I　am　is　safer　in　a　large　place　than　a　small　one。〃

〃I　am　inclined　to　think　that　this　man；　Thorn；　only　made　a　show　of　threatening　you；　Richard。　If　he　be　really　the　guilty　party；　his　policy　must　be　to　keep　all　in　quietness。　The　very　worst　thing　that　could　happen　for　him；　would　be　your　arrest。〃

〃Then　why　molest　me？　Why　send　an　officer　to　dodge　me？〃

〃He　did　not　like　your　molesting　him；　and　he　thought　he　would　probably　frighten　you。　After　that　day　you　would　probably　have　seen　no　more　of　the　officer。　You　may　depend　upon　one　thing；　Richard；　had　the　policeman's　object　been　to　take　you；　he　would　have　done　so；　not　have　contented　himself　with　following　you　about　from　place　to　place。　Besides　when　a　detective　officer　is　employed　to　watch　a　party；　he　takes　care　not　to　allow　himself　to　be　seen；　now　this　man　showed　himself　to　you　more　than　once。〃

〃Yes；　there's　a　good　deal　in　all　that；〃　observed　Richard。　〃For；　to　one　in　his　class　of　life；　the　bare　suspicion　of　such　a　crime；　brought　against　him；　would　crush　him　forever　in　the　eyes　of　his　compeers。〃

〃It　is　difficult　to　me　Richard；　to　believe　that　he　is　in　the　class　of　life　you　speak　of；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃There's　no　doubt　about　it；　there's　none　indeed。　But　that　I　did　not　much　like　to　mention　the　name；　for　it　can't　be　a　pleasant　name　to　you；　I　should　have　said　last　night　who　I　have　seen　him　walking　with；〃　continued　simple…hearted　Richard。

Mr。　Carlyle　looked　inquiringly。　〃Richard　say　on。〃

〃I　have　seen　him；　sir；　with　Sir　Francis　Levison；　twice。　Once　he　was　talking　to　him　at　the　door　of　the　betting…rooms；　and　once　they　were　walking　arm…in…arm。　They　are　apparently　upon　intimate　terms。〃

At　this　moment　a　loud；　flustering；　angry　voice　was　heard　calling　from　the　stairs；　and　Richard　leaped　up　as　if　he　had　been　shot。　His　door　not　the　one　leading　to　the　room　of　Miss　Carlyleopened　upon　the　corridor；　and　the　voice　sounded　close；　just　as　if　its　owner　were　coming　in　with　a　hound。　It　was　the　voice　of　Mr。　Justice　Hare。

〃Carlyle；　where　are　you？　Here's　a　pretty　thing　happened！　Come　down！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　for　once　in　his　life　lost　his　calm　equanimity；　and　sprang　to　the　door；　to　keep　it　against　invasion；　as　eagerly　as　Richard　could　have　done。　He　forgot　that　Joyce　had　said　the　door　was　safely　locked；　and　the　key　mislaid。　As　to　Richard；　he　rushed　on　his　hat　and　his　black　whiskers；　and　hesitated　between　under　the　bed　and　inside　the　wardrobe。

〃Don't　agitate　yourself；　Richard；〃　whispered　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃there　is　no　real　danger。　I　will　go　and　keep　him　safely。〃

But　when　Mr。　Carlyle　got　through　his　sister's　bedroom；　he　found　that　lady　had　taken　the　initiative；　and　was　leaning　over　the　balustrades；　having　been　arrested　in　the　process　of　dressing。　Her　clothes　were　on；　but　her　nightcap　was　not　off；　little　cared　she；　however；　who　saw　her　nightcap。

〃What　on　earth　brings　you　up　in　this　weather？〃　began　she；　in　a　tone　of　exasperation。

〃I　want　to　see　Carlyle。　Nice　news　I　have　had！〃

〃What　about？　Anything　concerning　Anne；　or　her　family？〃

〃Anne　be　bothered；〃　replied　the　justice；　who　was　from　some　cause；　in　a　furious　temper。　〃It　concerns　that　precious　rascal；　who　I　am　forced　to　call　son。　I　am　told　he　is　here。〃

Down　the　stairs　leaped　Mr。　Carlyle；　four　at　a　time；　wound　his　arm　within　Mr。　Hare's；　and　led　him　to　a　sitting…room。

〃Good…morning；　justice。　You　had　courage　to　venture　up　through　the　snow！　What　is　the　matter；　you　seem　excited。〃

〃Excited？〃　raved　the　justice；　dancing　about　the　room；　first　on　one　leg；　then　on　the　other；　like　a　cat　upon　hot　bricks；　〃so　you　would　be　excited；　if　your　life　were　worried　out；　as　mine　is；　over　a　wicked　scamp　of　a　son。　Why　can't　folks　trouble　their　heads　about　their　own　business；　and　let　my　affairs　alone？　A　pity　but　what　he　was　hung；　and　the　thing　done　with！〃

〃But　what　has　happened？〃　questioned　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Why　this　has　happened；〃　retorted　the　justice；　throwing　a　letter　on　the　table。　〃The　post　brought　me　this；　just　nowand　pleasant　information　it　gives。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　took　up　the　note　and　read　it。　It　purported　to　be　from　〃a　friend〃　to　Justice　Hare；　informing　that　gentleman　that　his　〃criminal　son〃　was　likely　to　have　arrived　at　West　Lynne；　or　would　arrive　in　the　course　of　a　day　or　so；　and　it　recommended　Mr。　Hare　to　speed　his　departure　from　it；　lest　he　should　be　pounced　upon。

〃This　letter　is　anonymous！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Of　course　it　is；〃　stamped　the　justice。

〃The　only　notice　/I/　should　ever　take　of　an　anonymous　letter　would　be　to　put　it　in　the　fire；〃　cried　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　lip　curling　with　scorn。

〃But　who　has　written　it？〃　danced　Justice　Hare。　〃And　/is/　Dick　at　West　Lynnethat's　the　question。〃

〃Now；　is　it　likely　that　he　should　come　to　West　Lynne？〃　remonstrated　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Justice；　will　you　pardon　me；　if　I　venture　to　give　you　my　candid　opinion。〃

〃The　fool　at　West　Lynne；　running　into　the　very　jaws　of　death！　By　Jupiter！　If　I　can　drop　upon　him；　I'll　retain　him　in　custody；　and　make　out　a　warrant　for　his　committal！　I'll　have　this　everlasting　bother　over。〃

〃I　was　going　to　give　you　my　opinion；〃　quietly　put　in　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　fear；　Justice；　you　bring　these　annoyances　upon　yourself。〃

〃Bring　them　upon　myself！〃　ranted　the　indignant　justice。　〃I？　Did　I　murder　Hallijohn？　Did　I　fly　away　from　the　law？　Am　I　hiding；　Beelzebub　knows　where？　Do　I　take　starts；　right　into　my　native　parish；　disguised　as　a　laborer；　on　purpose　to　worry　my　own　father？　Do　I　write　anonymous　letters？　Bring　them　upon　myself；　do　I？　That　cobs　all；　Carlyle。〃

〃You　will　not　hear　me　out。　It　is　known　that　you　are　much　exasperated　against　Richard〃

〃And　if　your　son　serves　you　the　same　when　he　is　grown　up；　shan't　you　be　exasperated；　pray？〃　fired　Justice　Hare。

〃Do　hear　me。　It　is　known　that　you　are　much　exasperated；　and　that　any　allusion　to　him　excites　and　annoys　you。　Now；　my　opinion　is；　justice；　that　some　busybody　is　raising　these　reports　and　writing　these　letters　on　purpose　to　annoy　you。　It　may　be　somebody　at　West　Lynne；　very　near　to　us；　for　all