little novels-第69部分

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d　produced　_two_　swords　concealed　in　the　packet。　If　I　had　felt　any　doubts　before；　I　was　certain　of　what　was　coming　now。　A　duel　without　seconds　or　witnesses；　by　way　of　keeping　the　town　magistrates　in　the　darka　duel　between　my　master　and　Mr。　Varleigh！　As　his　name　came　into　my　mind；　the　man　himself　appeared；　making　his　way　into　the　clearing　from　the　other　side　of　the　wood。

What　could　I　do　to　stop　it？　No　human　creature　was　in　sight。　The　nearest　village　was　a　mile　away；　reckoning　from　the　further　side　of　the　wood。　The　coachman　was　a　stupid　old　man；　quite　useless　in　a　difficulty；　even　if　I　had　had　time　enough　to　go　back　to　the　road　and　summon　him　to　help　me。　While　I　was　thinking　about　it；　the　Captain　and　Mr。　Varleigh　had　stripped　to　their　shirts　and　trousers。　When　they　crossed　their　swords；　I　could　stand　it　no　longerI　burst　in　on　them。　〃For　God　Almighty's　sake；　gentlemen；〃　I　cried　out；　〃don't　fight　without　seconds！〃　My　master　turned　on　me；　like　the　madman　he　was；　and　threatened　me　with　the　point　of　his　sword。　Mr。　Varleigh　pulled　me　back　out　of　harm's　way。　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　whispered；　as　he　led　me　back　to　the　verge　of　the　clearing；　〃I　have　chosen　the　sword　instead　of　the　pistol　expressly　to　spare　his　life。〃

Those　noble　words　（spoken　by　as　brave　and　true　a　man　as　ever　breathed）　quieted　me。　I　knew　Mr。　Varleigh　had　earned　the　repute　of　being　one　of　the　finest　swordsmen　in　Europe。

The　duel　began。　I　was　placed　behind　my　master；　and　was　consequently　opposite　to　his　antagonist。　The　Captain　stood　on　his　defense；　waiting　for　the　other　to　attack。　Mr。　Varleigh　made　a　pass。　I　was　opposite　the　point　of　his　sword；　I　saw　it　touch　the　Captain's　left　shoulder。　In　the　same　instant　of　time　my　master　struck　up　his　opponent's　sword　with　his　own　weapon；　seized　Mr。　Varleigh's　right　wrist　in　his　left　hand；　and　passed　his　sword　clean　through　Mr。　Varleigh's　breast。　He　fell；　the　victim　of　a　murderous　trickfell　without　a　word　or　a　cry。

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