the foreigner-第16部分

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dismissing　his　absurdly　tragic　story；　what　evidence　has　been　brought　before　this　court　that　there　was　any　deliberate　attempt　at　murder？　　A　blow　was　struck；　but　by　whom？　　No　one　knows。　　What　was　the　motive？　　Was　it　in　self…defence　warding　off　some　murderous　attack？　　No　one　can　say。　　I　have　as　much　right　to　believe　that　this　was　the　case；　as　any　man　to　believe　the　contrary。　　Indeed；　from　what　we　know　of　the　character　of　this　wretched　traitor　and　thief；　it　is　not　hard　to　believe　that　the　attack　upon　this　stranger　would　come　from　him。〃

And　so　O'Hara　proceeded　with　his　most　extraordinary　defence。　Theory　after　theory　he　advanced；　quoting　instance　after　instance　of　extraordinary　killings　that　were　discovered　to　be　accidental　or　in　self…defense；　till　with　the　bewildered　jury　no　theory　explanatory　of　the　crime　committed　in　the　basement　of　Paulina's　house　was　too　fantastic　to　be　considered　possible。

In　his　closing　appeal　O'Hara　carried　the　jury　back　to　the　point　from　which　he　had　set　out。　　With　tears　in　his　voice　he　recounted　the　scene　of　the　parting　between　the　prisoner　and　his　children。　　He　drew　a　harrowing　picture　of　the　unhappy　fate　of　wife　and　children　left　defenceless　and　in　poverty　to　become　the　prey　of　such　men　as　Rosenblatt。　　He　drew　a　vivid　picture　of　that　age…long　struggle　for　freedom　carried　on　by　the　down…trodden　peasantry　of　Russia；　and　closed　with　a　tremendous　appeal　to　them　as　fathers；　as　lovers　of　liberty；　as　fair…minded；　reasonable　men　to　allow　the　prisoner　the　full　benefit　of　the　many　doubts　gathering　round　the　case　for　the　prosecution；　and　set　him　free。

It　was　a　magnificent　effort。　　Never　in　all　his　career　as　a　criminal　lawyer　had　O'Hara　made　so　brilliant　an　attempt　to　lift　a　desperate　case　from　the　region　of　despair　into　that　of　hope。　　The　effect　of　his　address　was　plainly　visible　upon　the　jury　and；　indeed；　upon　the　whole　audience　in　the　court　room。

The　judge's　charge　did　much　to　clear　the　atmosphere；　and　to　bring　the　jury　back　to　the　cold；　calm　air　of　Canadian　life　and　feeling；　but　in　the　jury　room　the　emotions　and　passions　aroused　by　O'Hara's　address　were　kindled　again；　and　the　result　reflected　in　no　small　degree　their　influence。

The　verdict　acquitted　the　prisoner　of　the　charge　of　manslaughter；　but　found　him　guilty　on　the　count　of　attempted　murder。　　The　verdict；　however；　was　tempered　with　a　strong　recommendation　to　mercy。

〃Have　you　anything　to　say？〃　asked　the　judge　before　pronouncing　sentence。

Kalmar；　who　had　been　deeply　impressed　by　the　judge's　manner　during　his　charge　to　the　jury；　searched　his　face　a　moment　and　then；　as　if　abandoning　all　hope　of　mercy；　drew　himself　erect　and　in　his　stilted　English　said：　　〃Your　Excellency；　I　make　no　petition　for　mercy。　　Let　the　criminal　make　such　a　plea。　　I　stand　convicted　of　crime；　but　I　am　no　criminal。　　The　traitor；　the　thief；　the　liar；　the　murderer；　the　criminal；　sits　there。〃　　As　he　spoke　the　word；　he　swung　sharply　about　and　stood　with　outstretched　arm　and　finger　pointing　to　Rosenblatt。　　〃I　stand　here　the　officer　of　vengeance。　　I　have　failed。　　Vengeance　will　not　fail。　　The　day　is　coming　when　it　will　strike。〃　　Then　turning　his　face　toward　the　group　of　foreigners　at　the　back　of　the　room　he　raised　his　voice　and　in　a　high　monotone　chanted　a　few　sentences　in　the　Russian　tongue。

The　effect　was　tremendous。　　Every　Russian　could　be　picked　out　by　his　staring　eyes　and　pallid　face。　　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　then　a　hissing　sound　as　of　the　breath　drawn　sharply　inward；　followed　by　a　murmur　hoarse　and　inhuman；　not　good　to　hear。　Rosenblatt　trembled；　started　to　his　feet；　vainly　tried　to　speak。　His　lips　refused　to　frame　words；　and　he　sank　back　speechless。

〃What　the　deuce　was　he　saying？〃　enquired　O'Hara　of　the　Interpreter　after　the　judge　had　pronounced　his　solemn　sentence。

〃He　was　putting　to　them；〃　said　the　Interpreter　in　an　awed　whisper；　〃the　Nihilist　oath　of　death。〃

〃By　Jove！　　Good　thing　the　judge　didn't　understand。　　The　bloody　fool　would　have　spoiled　all　my　fine　work。　　He　would　have　got　a　life　term　instead　of　fourteen　years。　　He's　got　enough；　though；　poor　chap。　　I　wish　to　Heaven　the　other　fellow　had　got　it。〃

As　the　prisoner　turned　with　the　officer　to　leave　the　dock；　a　wild　sobbing　fell　upon　his　ear。　　It　was　Paulina。　　Kalmar　turned　to　the　judge。

〃Is　it　permitted　that　I　see　my　children　beforebefore　I　depart？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　the　judge　quickly。　　〃Your　wife　and　children　and　your　friends　may　visit　you　at　a　convenient　hour　to…morrow。〃

Kalmar　bowed　with　grave　courtesy　and　walked　away。

Beside　the　sobbing　Paulina　sat　the　children；　pale　and　bewildered。

〃Where　is　my　father　going？〃　asked　the　boy　in　Russian。

〃Alas！　alas！　　We　shall　see　him　no　more！〃　sobbed　Paulina。

Quickly　the　boy's　voice　rang　out；　shrill　with　grief　and　terror；　〃Father！　father！　　Come　back！〃

The　prisoner；　who　was　just　disappearing　through　the　door；　stopped；　turned　about；　his　pale　face　convulsed　with　a　sudden　agony。　　He　took　a　step　toward　his　son；　who　had　run　toward　the　bar　after　him。

〃My　son；　be　brave；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　audible　throughout　the　room。　〃Be　brave。　　I　shall　see　you　to…morrow。〃

He　waved　his　hand　toward　his　son；　turned　again　and　passed　out　with　the　officer。

Through　the　staring　crowd　came　a　little　lady　with　white　hair　and　a　face　pale　and　chastened　into　sweetness。

〃Let　me　come　with　you；〃　she　said　to　Paulina；　while　the　tears　coursed　down　her　cheeks。

The　Galician　woman　understood　not　a　word；　but　the　touch　upon　her　arm；　the　tone　in　the　voice；　the　flowing　tears　were　a　language　she　could　understand。　　Paulina　raised　her　dull；　tear…dimmed　eyes；　and　for　a　brief　moment　gazed　into　the　pale　face　above　her；　then　without　further　word　rose　and；　followed　by　her　children；　accompanied　the　little　lady　from　the　room；　the　crowd　making　respectful　way　before　the　pathetic　group。

〃Say；　O'Hara；　there　are　still　angels　going　about；〃　said　young　Dr。　Wright；　following　the　group　with　his　eyes。

〃Be　Hivin！〃　replied　the　tender…hearted　Irishman；　his　eyes　suddenly　dim；　〃there's　wan　annyway；　and　Margaret　French　is　the　first　two　letters　of　her　name。〃



CHAPTER　VIII

THE　PRICE　OF　VENGEANCE


Dr。　Wright's　telephone　rang　early　next　morning。　　The　doctor　was　prompt　to　respond。　　His　practice　had　not　yet　reached　the　stage　that　rendered　the　telephone　a　burden。　　His　young　wife　stood　beside　him；　listening　with　eager　hope　in　her　wide…open　brown　eyes。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃Oh；　it's　you。　　Delighted　to　hear　your　ring。〃　　〃No；　not　so　terribly。　　The　rush　doesn't　begin　till　later　in　the　day。〃　　〃Not　at　all。　　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　　〃Certainly；　delighted。〃　　〃What？　　Right　away？〃　　〃Well；　say　within　an　hour。〃

〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　his　wife；　as　the　doctor　hung　up　the　phone。　　〃A　new　family？〃

〃No　such　luck；〃　replied　the　doctor。　　〃This　has　been　a　frightfully　healthy　season。　　But　the　spring　promises　a　very　satisfactory　typhoid　epidemic。〃

〃Who　is　it？〃　said　his　wife　again；　impatiently。

〃Your　friend　Mrs。　French；　inviting　me　to　an　expedition　into　the　foreign　colony。〃

〃Oh！〃　　She　could　not　keep　the　disappointment　out　of　her　tone。　　〃I　think　Mrs。　French　might　call　some　of　the　other　doctors。〃

〃So　she　does；　lots　of　them。　　And　most　of　them　stand　ready　to　obey　her　call。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　little　woman　at　his　side；　〃I　think　you　are　going　too　much　among　those　awful　people。〃

〃Awful　people？〃　exclaimed　the　doctor。　　〃It's　awfully　good　practice；　I　know。　　That　is；　in　certain　lines。　　I　can't　say　there　is　very　much　variety。　　When　a　really　good　thing　occurs；　it　is　whisked　off　to　the　hospital　and　the　big　guns　get　it。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　like　your　going　so　much；〃　persisted　his　wife。　　〃Some　day　you　will　get　hurt。〃

〃Hurt？〃　exclaimed　the　doctor。　　〃Me？〃

〃Oh；　I　know　you　think　nothing　can　hurt　you。　　But　a　bullet　or　a　knife　can　do　for　you　as　well　as　for　any　one　else。　　Supposing　that　terrible　manwhat's　his　name？Kalmarhad　struck　you　instead　of　the　Polak；　where　would　you　be？〃

〃The　question　is；　where　would　he　be？〃　said　the　doctor　with　a　smile。　〃As　for　Kalmar；　he's　not　too　bad　a　sort；　at　least　there　are　others　a　little　worse。　　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　if　that　fellow　Rosenblatt　got　only　a　little　less　than　he　deserved。　　Certainly　O'Hara　let　in　some　light　upon　his　moral　ulcers。〃

〃Well；　I　wish　you　would　drop　them；　anyway；〃　continued　his　wife。

〃No；　you　don't；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃You　know　quite　well　that　you　would　root　me　out　of　bed　any　hour　of　the　night　to　see　any　of　their　kiddies　that　happened　to　have　a　pain　in　their　little　tumtums。　Between　you　and　Mrs。　French　I　haven't　a　moment　to　devote　to　my　large　and　growing　practice。〃

〃What　does　she　want　now？〃　　It　must　be　confessed　that　her　tone　was　slightly　impatient。

〃Mrs。　French　has　succeeded　in　getting　the　excellent　Mrs。　Blazowski　to　promise　for　the　tenth　time；　I　believe；　to　allow　some　one；　preferably　myself；　to　take　her　eczematic　children　to　the　hospital。〃

〃Well；　she　won't。〃

〃I　think　it　is　altogether　likely。　　But　why　do　you　think　so？〃

〃Because　you　have　tried　before。〃

〃Never。〃

〃Well；　Mrs。　French　has；　and　you　were　with　her。〃

〃That　is　correct。　　But　to…day　I　shall　adopt　new　tactics。　　Mrs。　French's　flank　movements　have　broken　down。　　I　shall　carry　the　position　with　a　straight　frontal　attack。　　And　I　shall　succeed。　If　not；　my　dear；　that　little　fur　tippet　thing　which　you　have　so　resolutely　refused　to　let　your　eyes　rest　upon　as　we　pass　the　Hudson's　Bay；　is　yours。〃

〃I　don't　want　it　a　bit；〃　said　his　wife。　　〃And　you　know　we　can't　afford　it。〃

〃Don't　you　worry；　little　girl；〃　said　the　doctor　cheerfully；　〃practice　is　looking　up。　　My　name　is　getting　into　the　papers。　　A　few　more　foreign　weddings　with　attendant　killings　and　I　shall　be　famous。〃

At　the　Blazowski　shack　Mrs。　French　was　waiting　the　doctor；　and　in　despair。　　A　crowd　of　children　appeared　to　fill　the　shack　and　overflow　through　the　door　into　the　sunny　space　outside；　on　the　sheltered　side　of　the　house。

The　doctor　made　his　way　through　them　and　passed　into　the　evil…　smelling；　filthy　room。　　For　Mrs。　Blazowski　found　it　a　task　beyond　her　ability　to　perform　the　domestic　duties　attaching　to　the　care　of　seven　children　and　a　like　number　of　boarders　in　her　single　room。　Mrs。　French　was　seated　on　a　stool　with　a　little　child　of　three　years　upon　her　knee。

〃Doctor；　don't　you　think　that　these　children　ought　to　go