armadale-第131部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃I　can't　say；〃　rejoined　his　son；　〃unless　she　went　back　in　the
interests　of　her　own　magnificent　head　of　hair。　The
prison…scissors；　I　needn't　tell　you；　had　made　short　work　of　it
with　Miss　Gwilt's　love…locks；　in　every　sense　of　the　word；　and
Mrs。　Oldershaw；　I　beg　to　add；　is　the　most　eminent　woman　in
England；　as　restorer…general　of　the　dilapidated　heads　and　faces
of　the　female　sex。　Put　two　and　two　together；　and　perhaps　you'll
agree　with　me；　in　this　case；　that　they　make　four。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　two　and　two　make　four；〃　repeated　his　father；
impatiently。　〃But　I　want　to　know　something　else。　Did　she　hear
from　him　again？　Did　he　send　for　her　after　he　had　gone　away　to
foreign　parts？〃

〃The　captain？　Why；　what　on　earth　can　you　be　thinking　of？　Hadn't
he　spent　every　farthing　of　her　money？　and　wasn't　he　loose　on　the
Continent　out　of　her　reach？　She　waited　to　hear　from　him。　I　dare
say；　for　she　persisted　in　believing　in　him。　But　I'll　lay　you　any
wager　you　like；　she　never　saw　the　sight　of　his　handwriting　again。
We　did　our　best　at　the　office　to　open　her　eyes；　we　told　her
plainly　that　he　had　a　first　wife　living；　and　that　she　hadn't　the
shadow　of　a　claim　on　him。　She　wouldn't　believe　us；　though　we　met
her　with　the　evidence。　Obstinate；　devilish　obstinate。　I　dare　say
she　waited　for　months　together　before　she　gave　up　the　last　hope
of　ever　seeing　him　again。〃

Mr。　Bashwood　looked　aside　quickly　out　of　the　cab　window。　〃Where
could　she　turn　for　refuge　next？〃　he　said；　not　to　his　son；　but　to
himself。　〃What；　in　Heaven's　name；　could　she　do？〃

〃Judging　by　my　experience　of　women；〃　remarked　Bashwood　the
younger；　overhearing　him；　〃I　should　say　she　probably　tried　to
drown　herself。　But　that's　only　guess…work　again：　it's　all
guess…work　at　this　part　of　her　story。　You　catch　me　at　the　end　of
my　evidence；　dad；　when　you　come　to　Miss　Gwilt's　proceedings　in
the　spring　and　summer　of　the　present　year。　She　might；　or　she
might　not；　have　been　desperate　enough　to　attempt　suicide；　and　she
might；　or　she　might　not；　have　been　at　the　bottom　of　those
inquiries　that　I　made　for　Mrs。　Oldershaw。　I　dare　say　you'll　see
her　this　morning；　and　perhaps；　if　you　use　your　influence；　you　may
he　able　to　make　her　finish　her　own　story　herself。〃

Mr。　Bashwood；　still　looking　out　of　the　cab　window；　suddenly　laid
his　hand　on　his　son's　arm。

〃Hush！　hush！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　violent　agitation。　〃We　have　got
there　at　last。　Oh；　Jemmy；　feel　how　my　heart　beats！　Here　is　the
hotel。〃

〃Bother　your　heart；〃　said　Bashwood　the　younger。　〃Wait　here　while
I　ma　ke　the　inquiries。〃

〃I'll　come　with　you！〃　cried　his　father。　〃I　can't　wait！　I　tell
you；　I　can't　wait！〃

They　went　into　the　hotel　together；　and　asked　for　〃Mr。　Armadale。〃

The　answer；　after　some　little　hesitation　and　delay；　was　that　Mr。
Armadale　had　gone　away　six　days　since。　A　second　waiter　added　that
Mr。　Armadale's　friendMr。　Midwinterhad　only　left　that　morning。
Where　had　Mr。　Armadale　gone？　Somewhere　into　the　country。　Where
had　Mr。　Midwinter　gone？　Nobody　knew。

Mr。　Bashwood　looked　at　his　son　in　speechless　and　helpless　dismay。

〃Stuff　and　nonsense！〃　said　Bashwood　the　younger；　pushing　his
father　back　roughly　into　the　cab。　〃He's　safe　enough。　We　shall
find　him　at　Miss　Gwilt's。〃

The　old　man　took　his　son's　hand　and　kissed　it。 〃Thank　you；　my
dear；〃　he　said；　gratefully。　〃Thank　you　for　comforting　me。〃

The　cab　was　driven　next　to　the　second　lodging　which　Miss　Gwilt
had　occupied；　in　the　neighborhood　of　Tottenham　Court　Road。

〃Stop　here；〃　said　the　spy；　getting　out；　and　shutting　his　father
into　the　cab。　〃I　mean　to　manage　this　part　of　the　business
myself。〃

He　knocked　at　the　house　door。　〃I　have　got　a　note　for　Miss　Gwilt；〃
he　said；　walking　into　the　passage；　the　moment　the　door　was
opened。

〃She's　gone；〃　answered　the　servant。　〃She　went　away　last　night。〃

Bashwood　the　younger　wasted　no　more　words　with　the　servant。　He
insisted　on　seeing　the　mistress。　The　mistress　confirmed　the
announcement　of　Miss　Gwilt's　departure　on　the　previous　evening。
Where　had　she　gone　to？　The　woman　couldn't　say。　How　had　she　left？
On　foot。　At　what　hour？　Between　nine　and　ten。　What　had　she　done
with　her　luggage？　She　had　no　luggage。　Had　a　gentleman　been　to　see
her　on　the　previous　day？　Not　a　soul；　gentle　or　simple；　had　come
to　the　house　to　see　Miss　Gwilt。

The　father's　face；　pale　and　wild；　was　looking　out　of　the　cab
window　as　the　son　descended　the　house　steps。　〃Isn't　she　there；
Jemmy？〃　he　asked；　faintly〃isn't　she　there？〃

〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　cried　the　spy；　with　the　native　coarseness　of
his　nature　rising　to　the　surface　at　last。　〃I'm　not　at　the　end　of
my　inquiries　yet。〃

He　crossed　the　road；　and　entered　a　coffee…shop　situated　exactly
opposite　the　house　he　had　just　left。

In　the　box　nearest　the　window　two　men　were　sitting　talking
together　anxiously。

〃Which　of　you　was　on　duty　yesterday　evening；　between　nine　and　ten
o'clock？〃　asked　Bashwood　the　younger；　suddenly　joining　them；　and
putting　his　question　in　a　quick；　peremptory　whisper。

〃I　was；　sir；〃　said　one　of　the　men；　unwillingly。

〃Did　you　lose　sight　of　the　house？Yes！　I　see　you　did。〃

〃Only　for　a　minute；　sir。　An　infernal　blackguard　of　a　soldier　came
in〃

〃That　will　do；〃　said　Bashwood　the　younger。　〃I　know　what　the
soldier　did；　and　who　sent　him　to　do　it。　She　has　given　us　the　slip
again。　You　are　the　greatest　ass　living。　Consider　yourself
dismissed。〃　With　those　words；　and　with　an　oath　to　emphasize　them；
he　left　the　coffee…shop　and　returned　to　the　cab。

〃She's　gone！〃　cried　his　father。　〃Oh；　Jemmy；　Jemmy；　I　see　it　in
your　face！〃　He　fell　back　into　his　own　corner　of　the　cab；　with　a
faint；　wailing　cry。　〃They're　married；〃　he　moaned　to　himself；　his
hands　falling　helplessly　on　his　knees；　his　hat　falling　unregarded
from　his　head。　〃Stop　them！〃　he　exclaimed；　suddenly　rousing
himself；　and　seizing　his　son　in　a　frenzy　by　the　collar　of　the
coat。

〃Go　back　to　the　hotel；〃　shouted　Bashwood　the　younger　to　the
cabman。　〃Hold　your　noise！〃　he　added；　turning　fiercely　on　his
father。　〃I　want　to　think。〃

The　varnish　of　smoothness　was　all　off　him　by　this　time。　His
temper　was　roused。　His　prideeven　such　a　man　has　his　pride！was
wounded　to　the　quick。　Twice　had　he　matched　his　wits　against　a
woman's；　and　twice　the　woman　had　baffled　him。

He　got　out；　on　reaching　the　hotel　for　the　second　time；　and
privately　tried　the　servants　with　the　offer　of　money。　The　result
of　the　experiment　satisfied　him　that　they　had；　in　this　instance；
really　and　truly　no　information　to　sell。　After　a　moment's
reflection；　he　stopped；　before　leaving　the　hotel；　to　ask　the　way
to　the　parish　church。　〃The　chance　may　be　worth　trying；〃　he
thought　to　himself；　as　he　gave　the　address　to　the　driver。
〃Faster！〃　he　called　out；　looking　first　at　his　watch；　and　then　at
his　father。　〃The　minutes　are　precious　this　morning；　and　the　old
one　is　beginning　to　give　in。〃

It　was　true。　Still　capable　of　hearing　and　of　understanding；　Mr。
Bashwood　was　past　speaking　by　this　time。　He　clung　with　both　hands
to　his　son's　grudging　arm；　and　let　his　head　fall　helplessly　on
his　son's　averted　shoulder。

The　parish　church　stood　back　from　the　street；　protected　by　gates
and　railings；　and　surrounded　by　a　space　of　open　ground。　Shaking
off　his　father's　hold；　Bashwood　the　younger　made　straight　for　the
vestry。　The　clerk；　putting　away　the　books；　and　the　clerk's
assistant；　hanging　up　a　surplice；　were　the　only　persons　in　the
room　when　he　entered　it　and　asked　leave　to　look　at　the　marriage
register　for　the　day。

The　clerk　gravely　opened　the　book；　and　stood　aside　from　the　desk
on　which　it　lay。

The　day's　register　comprised　three　marriages　solemnized　that
morning；　and　the　first　two　signatures　on　the　page　were　〃Allan
Armadale〃　and　〃Lydia　Gwilt！〃

Even　the　spyignorant　as　he　was　of　the　truth；　unsuspicious　as　he
was　of　the　terrible　future　consequences　to　which　the　act　of　that
morning　might　leadeven　the　spy　started；　when　his　eye　first　fell
on　the　page。　It　was　done！　Come　what　might　of　it；　it　was　done　now。
There；　in　black　and　white；　was　the　registered　evidence　of　the
marriage；　which　was　at　once　a　truth　in　itself；　and　a　lie　in　the
conclusion　to　which　it　led！　Therethrough　the　fatal　similarity
in　the　namesthere；　in　Midwinter's　own　signature；　was　the　proof
to　persuade　everybody　that；　not　Midwinter；　but　Allan；　was　the
husband　of　Miss　Gwilt！

Bashwood　the　younger　closed　the　book；　and　returned　it　to　the
clerk。　He　descended　the　vestry　steps；　with　his　hands　thrust
doggedly　into　his　pockets；　and　with　a　serious　shock　inflicted　on
his　professional　self…esteem。

The　beadle　met　him　under　the　church　wall。　He　considered　for　a
moment　whether　it　was　worth　while　to　spend　a　shilling　in
questioning　the　man；　and　decided　in　the　affirmative。　If　they
could　be　traced　and　overtaken；　there　might　be　a　chance　of　seeing
the　color　of　Mr。　Armadale's　money　even　yet。

〃How　long　is　it；〃　he　asked；　〃since　the　first　couple　married　here
this　morning　left　the　church？〃

〃About　an　hour；〃　said　the　beadle。

〃How　did　they　go　away？〃

The　beadle　deferred　answering　that　second　question　until　he　had
first　pocketed　his　fee。

〃You　won't　trace　them　from　here；　sir；〃　he　said；　when　he　had　got
his　shilling。　〃They　went　away　on　foot。〃

〃And　that　is　all　you　know　about　it？〃

〃That；　sir；　is　all　I　know　about　it。〃

Left　by　himself；　even　the　Detective　of　the　Private　Inquiry　Office
paused　for　a　moment　before　he　returned　to　his　father　at　the　gate。
He　was　roused　from　his　hesitation　by　the　sudden　appearance；
within　the　church　inclosure；　of　the　driver　of　the　cab。

〃I'm　afraid　the　old　gentleman　is　going　to　be　taken　ill；　sir；〃
said　the　man。

Bashwood　the　younger　frowned　angrily；　and　walked　back　to　the　cab。
As　he　opened　the　door　and　looked　in；　his　father　leaned　forward
and　confronted　him；　with　lips　that　moved　speechlessly；　and　with　a
white　stillness　over　all　the　rest　of　his　face。

〃She's　done　us；〃　said　the　spy。　〃They　were　married　here　this
morning。〃

The　old　man's　body　swayed　for　a　moment　from　one　side　to　the
other。　The　instant　after；　his　eyes　closed　and　his　head　fell
forward　toward　the　front　seat　of　the　cab。　〃Drive　to　the
hospital！〃　cried　his　son。　〃He's　in　a　fit。　This　is　what　comes　of
putting　myself　out　of　my　way　to　please　my　father；〃　he　muttered；
sullenly　raising　Mr。　Ba