east lynne-第97部分

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〃One　day；　when　Sir　Peter　was　round　at　the　stables；　gentlemen；　he　was　urging　his　nephew　to　prolong　his　visit；　and　asked　what　sudden　freak　was　taking　him　off。　Mr。　Levison　replied　that　unexpected　business　called　him　to　London。　While　they　were　talking；　the　coachman　came　up；　all　in　a　heat；　telling　that　Hallijohn；　of　West　Lynne；　had　been　murdered　by　young　Mr。　Hare。　I　remember　Sir　Peter　said　he　could　not　believe　it；　and　that　it　must　have　been　an　accident；　not　murder。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃There　was　more　said。　Mr。　Levison；　in　a　shameful　sort　of　manner；　asked　his　uncle；　would　he　let　him　have　five　or　ten　pounds？　Sir　Peter　seemed　angry；　and　asked；　what　had　he　done　with　the　fifty…pound　note　he　had　made　him　a　present　of　only　the　previous　morning？　Mr。　Levison　replied　that　he　had　sent　that　away　to　a　brother　officer；　to　whom　he　was　in　debt。　Sir　Peter　refused　to　believe　it；　and　said　he　had　more　likely　squandered　it　upon　some　disgraceful　folly。　Mr。　Levison　denied　that　he　had；　but　he　looked　confused；　indeed；　his　matter　altogether　was　confused　that　morning。〃

〃Did　he　get　the　five　or　ten　pounds？〃

〃I　don't　know；　gentlemen。　I　dare　say　he　did；　for　my　master　was　as　persuadable　as　a　woman；　though　he'd　fly　out　a　bit　sometimes　at　first。　Mr。　Levison　departed　for　London　that　same　night。〃

The　last　witness　called　was　Mr。　Dill。　On　the　previous　Tuesday　evening；　he　had　been　returning　home　from　spending　an　hour　at　Mr。　Beauchamp's；　when；　in　a　field　opposite　to　Mr。　Justice　Hare's；　he　suddenly　heard　a　commotion。　It　arose　from　the　meeting　of　Sir　Francis　Levison　and　Otway　Bethel。　The　former　appeared　to　have　been　enjoying　a　solitary　moonlight　ramble；　and　the　latter　to　have　encountered　him　unexpectedly。　Words　ensued。　Bethel　accused　Sir　Francis　of　〃shirking〃　him。　Sir　Francis　answered　angrily　that　he　knew　nothing　of　him；　and　nothing　he　wanted　to　know。

〃　'You　were　glad　enough　to　know　something　of　me　the　night　of　Hallijohn's　murder；'　retorted　Bethel　to　this。　'Do　you　remember　that　I　could　hang　you。　One　little　word　from　me；　and　you'd　stand　in　Dick　Hare's　place。'

〃　'You　fool！'　passionately　cried　Sir　Francis。　'You　couldn't　hang　me　without　putting　your　own　head　in　a　noose。　Did　you　not　have　your　hush　money？　Are　you　wanting　to　do　me　out　of　more？'

〃　'A　cursed　paltry　note　of　fifty　pounds！'　foamed　Otway　Bethel；　'which；　many　a　time　since；　I　have　wished　my　fingers　were　blown　off　before　they　touched。　I　never　should　have　touched　it；　but　that　I　was　altogether　overwhelmed　with　the　moment's　confusion。　I　have　not　been　able　to　look　Mrs。　Hare　in　the　face　since；　knowing　that　I　held　the　secret　that　would　save　her　son　from　the　hangman。'

〃　'And　put　yourself　in　his　place；'　sneered　Sir　Francis。

〃　'No。　Put　you。'

〃　'That's　as　it　might　be。　But；　if　I　went　to　the　hangman；　you　would　go　with　me。　There　would　be　no　excuse　or　escape　for　you。　You　know　it。'　〃

The　warfare　continued　longer；　but　this　was　the　cream　of　it。　Mr。　Dill　heard　the　whole；　and　repeated　it　now　to　the　magistrate。　Mr。　Rubiny　protested　that　it　was　〃inadmissible；〃　〃hearsay　evidence；〃　〃contrary　to　law；〃　but　the　bench　oracularly　put　Mr。　Rubiny　down；　and　told　him　they　did　not　want　any　stranger　to　come　there　and　teach　them　their　business。

Colonel　Bethel　had　leaned　forward　at　the　conclusion　of　Mr。　Dill's　evidence；　dismay　on　his　face；　agitation　in　his　voice。　〃Are　you　sure　that　you　made　no　mistakethat　the　other　in　this　interview　was　Otway　Bethel？〃

Mr。　Dill　sadly　shook　his　head。　〃Am　I　one　to　swear　to　a　wrong　man；　colonel？　I　wish　I　had　not　heard　itsave　that　it　may　be　the　means　of　clearing　Richard　Hare。〃

Sir　Francis　Levison　had　braved　out　the　proceedings　with　a　haughty；　cavalier　air；　his　delicate　hands　and　his　diamond　ring　remarkably　conspicuous。　Was　that　stone　the　real　thing；　or　a　false　one；　substituted　for　the　real？　Hard　up　as　he　had　long　been　for　money；　the　suspicion　might　arise。　A　derisive　smile　crossed　his　features　at　parts　of　the　evidence；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃You　may　convict　me　as　to　Mademoiselle　Afy；　but　you　can't　as　to　the　murder。〃　When；　however；　Mr。　Dill's　testimony　was　given；　what　a　change　was　there！　His　mood　tamed　down　to　what　looked　like　abject　fear；　and　he　shook　in　his　shoes　as　he　stood。

〃Of　course　your　worships　will　take　bail　for　Sir　Francis？〃　said　Mr。　Rubiny；　at　the　close　of　the　proceedings。

Bail！　The　bench　looked　at　one　another。

〃Your　worships　will　not　refuse　ita　gentleman　in　Sir　Francis　Levison's　position！〃

The　bench　thought　they　never　had　so　insolent　an　application　made　to　them。　Bail　for　him！on　this　charge！　No；　not　if　the　lord　chancellor　himself　came　down　to　offer　it。

Mr。　Otway　Bethel；　conscious；　probably；　that　nobody　would　offer　bail　for　him；　not　even　the　colonel；　did　not　ask　the　bench　to　take　it。　So　the　two　were　fully　committed　to　take　their　trial　for　the　〃Wilful　murder；　otherwise　the　killing　and　slaying　of　George　Hallijohn；〃　and　before　night　would　be　on　their　road　to　the　county　prison　at　Lynneborough。

And　that　vain；　ill…starred　Afy！　What　of　her？　Well；　Afy　had　retreated　to　the　witness…room　again；　after　giving　evidence；　and　there　she　remained　to　the　close；　agreeably　occupied　in　a　mental　debate。　What　would　they　make　out　from　her　admission　regarding　her　sojourn　in　London　and　the　morning　calls？　How　would　that　precious　West　Lynne　construe　it？　She　did　not　much　care；　she　would　brave　it　out；　and　assail　them　with　towering　indignation；　did　any　dare　to　cast　a　stone　at　her。

Such　was　her　final　decision；　arrived　at　just　as　the　proceedings　terminated。　Afy　was　right　glad　to　remain　where　she　was；　till　some　of　the　bustle　had　gone。

〃How　was　it　ended？〃　asked　she　of　Mr。　Ball；　who；　being　a　bachelor；　was　ever　regarded　with　much　graciousness　by　Afy；　for　she　kept　her　eyes　open　to　contingencies；　although　Mr。　Joe　Jiffin　was　held　in　reserve。

〃They　are　both　committed　for　wilful　murderoff　to　Lynneborough　within　an　hour！〃

Afy's　color　rose。　〃What　a　shame！　To　commit　two　innocent　men　upon　such　a　charge。〃

〃I　can　tell　you　what；　Miss　Afy；　the　sooner　you　disabuse　your　mind　of　that　prejudice；　the　better。　Levison　has　been　as　good　as　proved　guilty　to…day；　but　if　proof　were　wanting；　he　and　Bethel　have　criminated　each　other。　'When　rogues　fall　out；　honest　men　get　their　own。'　Not　that　I　can　quite　fathom　Bethel's　share　in　the　exploit；　though　I　can　pretty　well　guess　at　it。　And；　in　proving　themselves　guilty　they　have　proved　the　innocence　of　Richard　Hare。〃

Afy's　face　was　changing　to　whiteness；　her　confident　air　to　one　of　dread；　her　vanity　to　humiliation。

〃Itcan'tbetrue！〃　she　gasped。

〃It's　true　enough。　The　part　you　have　hitherto　ascribed　to　Thorn；　was　enacted　by　Richard　Hare。　He　heard　the　shot　from　his　place　in　the　wood；　and　saw　Thorn　run；　ghastly；　trembling；　horrified；　from　his　wicked　work。　Believe　me；　it　was　Thorn　who　killed　your　father。〃

Afy　grew　cold　as　she　listened。　That　one　awful　moment；　when　conviction　that　his　words　were　true；　forced　itself　upon　her；　was　enough　to　sober　her　for　a　whole　lifetime。　/Thorn！/　Her　sight　failed；　her　head　reeled；　her　very　heart　turned　to　sickness。　One　struggling　cry　of　pain；　and；　for　the　second　time　that　day；　Afy　Hallijohn　fell　forward　in　a　fainting　fit。

Shouts；　hisses；　execrations；　yells！　The　prisoners　were　being　brought　forth；　to　be　conveyed　to　Lynneborough。　A　whole　posse　of　constables　was　necessary　to　protect　them　against　the　outbreak　of　the　mob；　which　outbreak　was　not　directed　against　Otway　Bethel；　but　against　Sir　Francis　Levison。　Cowering　like　the　guilty　culprit　that　he　was；　shivered　he；　hiding　his　white　facewondering　whether　it　would　be　a　repetition　of　Justice　Hare's　green　pond；　or　tearing　him　asunder　piecemealand　cursing　the　earth　because　it　did　not　open　and　let　him　in！



CHAPTER　XLI。

FIRM！

Miss　Lucy　was　/en　penitence/。　She　had　been　guilty　of　some　childish　fault　that　day　at　Aunt　Cornelia's；　which；　coming　to　the　knowledge　of　Mrs。　Carlyle；　after　their　return　home　the　young　lady　was　ordered　to　the　nursery　for　the　rest　of　the　day；　and　to　be　regaled　upon　bread　and　water。

Barbara　was　in　her　pleasant　dressing…room。　There　was　to　be　a　dinner　party　at　East　Lynne　that　evening；　and　she　had　just　finished　dressing。　Very　lovely　looked　she　in　her　dinner　dress；　with　purple　and　scarlet　flowers　in　her　bosom。　She　glanced　at　her　watch　somewhat　anxiously；　for　the　gentlemen　had　not　made　their　appearance。　Half…past　six！　And　they　were　to　dine　at　seven。

Madame　Vine　tapped　at　the　door。　Her　errand　was　to　beg　grace　for　Lucy。　She　had　been　promised　half　an　hour　in　the　drawing…room；　when　the　ladies　entered　it　from　the　dessert…table；　and　was　now　in　agony　of　grief　at　the　disappointment。　Would　Mrs。　Carlyle　pardon　her；　and　allow　her　to　be　dressed？

〃You　are　too　lenient　to　the　child；　madame；〃　spoke　Barbara。　〃I　don't　think　you　ever　would　punish　her　at　all。　But　when　she　commits　faults；　they　must　be　corrected。〃

〃She　is　very　sorry　for　her　fault；　she　promises　not　to　be　rude　again。　She　is　crying　as　if　she　would　cry　her　heart　out。〃

〃Not　for　her　ill…behavior；　but　because　she's　afraid　of　missing　the　drawing…room　to…night；〃　cried　Barbara。

〃Do；　pray；　restore　her　to　favor；〃　pleaded　madame。

〃I　shall　see。　Just　look；　Madame　Vine！　I　broke　this；　a　minute　or　two　ago。　Is　it　not　a　pity？〃

Barbara　held　in　her　hand　a　beautiful　toilette　ornament；　set　in　pure　gold。　One　of　the　petals　had　come　off。

Madame　Vine　examined　it。　〃I　have　some　cement　upstairs　that　would　join　it；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　could　do　it　in　two　minutes。　I　bought　it　in　France。〃

〃Oh；　I　wish　you　would；〃　was　Barbara's　delighted　response。　〃Do　bring　it　here　and　join　it　now。　Shall　I　bribe　you？〃　she　added；　laughing。　〃You　make　this　all　right；　and　then　you　shall　bear　back　grace　to　Lucyfor　I　perceive　that　is　what　your　heart　is　set　upon。〃

Madame　Vine　went；　and　returned　with　her　cement。　Barbara　watched　her；　as　she　took　the　pieces　in　her　hand；　to　see　how　the　one　must　fit　on　to　the　other。

〃This　has　been　broken　once；　as　Joyce　tells　me；〃　Barbara　said。　〃But　it　must　have　been　imperceptibly　joined；　for　I　have　looked　in　vain　for　the　damage。　Mr。　Carlyle　bought　it　for　his　first　wife；　when　they　were　in　London；　after　their　marriage。　She　broke　it　subsequently　here；　at　East　Lynne。　You　will　never　do　it；　Madame　Vine；　if　your　hand　shakes　like　that。　What　is　the　matter？〃

A　great　deal　was　the　matter。　First；　the　ominous　words　had　been　upon　her　tongue。　〃I