the woman in the alcove-第7部分

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　the　alcove；　I　mean；　is　hidden　from　those　entering　from　the　main　hall　by　draperies　which　have　been　hung　over　it　for　this　occasion；　but　it　is　quite　visible　from　the　back　passageway；　and　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　it　was　by　its　means　the　man；　whose　reflected　image　you　saw；　both　entered　and　left　the　alcove。　It　is　an　important　fact　to　establish；　and　we　feel　very　much　obliged　to　you　for　the　aid　you　have　given　us　in　this　matter。〃

Then；　as　I　continued　to　stare　at　him　in　my　elation　and　surprise；　he　added；　in　quick　explanation：

〃The　lights　in　the　alcove；　and　in　the　several　parlors；　are　all　hung　with　shades；　as　you　must　perceive；　but　the　one　in　the　hall；　beyond　the　arch；　is　very　bright；　which　accounts　for　the　distinctness　of　this　double　reflection。　Another　thing；and　it　is　a　very　interesting　point；it　would　have　been　impossible　for　this　reflection　to　be　noticeable　from　where　you　sit；　if　the　level　of　the　alcove　flooring　had　not　been　considerably　higher　than　that　of　the　main　floor。　But　for　this　freak　of　the　architect；　the　continual　passing　to　and　fro　of　people　would　have　prevented　the　reflection　in　its　passage　from　surface　to　surface。　Miss　Van　Arsdale；　it　would　seem　that　by　one　of　those　chances　which　happen　but　once　or　twice　in　a　lifetime；　every　condition　was　propitious　at　the　moment　to　make　this　reflection　a　possible　occurrence；　even　the　location　and　width　of　the　several　doorways　and　the　exact　point　at　which　the　portiere　was　drawn　aside　from　the　entrance　to　the　alcove。〃

〃It　is　wonderful；〃　I　cried；　〃wonderful！〃　Then；　to　his　astonishment；　perhaps；　I　asked　if　there　was　not　a　small　door　of　communication　between　the　passageway　back　of　the　alcove　and　the　large　central　hall。

〃Yes；〃　he　replied。　〃It　opens　just　beyond　the　fireplace。　Three　small　steps　lead　to　it。〃

〃I　thought　so；〃　I　murmured；　but　more　to　myself　than　to　him。　In　my　mind　I　was　thinking　how　a　man；　if　he　so　wished；　could　pass　from　the　very　heart　of　this　assemblage　into　the　quiet　passageway；　and　so　on　into　the　alcove；　without　attracting　very　much　attention　from　his　fellow　guests。　I　forgot　that　there　was　another　way　of　approach　even　less　noticeable　that　by　the　small　staircase　running　up　beyond　the　arch　directly　to　the　dressing…rooms。

That　no　confusion　may　arise　in　any　one's　mind　in　regard　to　these　curious　approaches；　I　subjoin　a　plan　of　this　portion　of　the　lower　floor　as　it　afterward　appeared　in　the　leading　dailies。

〃And　Mr。　Durand？〃　I　stammered；　as　I　followed　the　inspector　back　to　the　room　where　we　had　left　that　gentleman。　〃You　will　believe　his　statement　now　and　look　for　this　second　intruder　with　the　guiltily…hanging　head　and　frightened　mien？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　stopping　me　on　the　threshold　of　the　door　and　taking　my　hand　kindly　in　his；　〃if（don't　start；　my　dear；　life　is　full　of　trouble　for　young　and　old；　and　youth　is　the　best　time　to　face　a　sad　experience）　if　he　is　not　himself　the　man　you　saw　staring　in　frightened　horror　at　his　breast。　Have　you　not　noticed　that　he　is　not　dressed　in　all　respects　like　the　other　gentlemen　present？　That；　though　he　has　not　donned　his　overcoat；　he　has　put　on；　somewhat　prematurely；　one　might　say；　the　large　silk　handkerchief　lie　presumably　wears　under　it？　Have　you　not　noticed　this；　and　asked　yourself　why？〃

I　had　noticed　it。　I　had　noticed　it　from　the　moment　I　recovered　from　my　fainting　fit；　but　I　had　not　thought　it　a　matter　of　sufficient　interest　to　ask；　even　of　myself；　his　reason　for　thus　hiding　his　shirt…front。　Now　I　could　not。　My　faculties　were　too　confused；　my　heart　too　deeply　shaken　by　the　suggestion　which　the　inspector's　words　conveyed；　for　me　to　be　conscious　of　anything　but　the　devouring　question　as　to　what　I　should　do　if；　by　my　own　mistaken　zeal；　I　had　succeeded　in　plunging　the　man　I　loved　yet　deeper　into　the　toils　in　which　he　had　become　enmeshed。

The　inspector　left　me　no　time　for　the　settlement　of　this　question。　Ushering　me　back　into　the　room　where　Mr。　Durand　and　my　uncle　awaited　our　return　in　apparently　unrelieved　silence；　he　closed　the　door　upon　the　curious　eyes　of　the　various　persons　still　lingering　in　the　hall；　and　abruptly　said　to　Mr。　Durand：

〃The　explanations　you　have　been　pleased　to　give　of　the　manner　in　which　this　diamond　came　into　your　possession　are　not　too　fanciful　for　credence；　if　you　can　satisfy　us　on　another　point　which　has　awakened　some　doubt　in　the　mind　of　one　of　my　men。　Mr。　Durand；　you　appear　to　have　prepared　yourself　for　departure　somewhat　prematurely。　Do　you　mind　removing　that　handkerchief　for　a　moment？　My　reason　for　so　peculiar　a　request　will　presently　appear。〃

Alas；　for　my　last　fond　hope！　Mr。　Durand；　with　a　face　as　white　as　the　background　of　snow　framed　by　the　uncurtained　window　against　which　he　leaned；　lifted　his　hand　as　if　to　comply　with　the　inspector's　request；　then　let　it　fall　again　with　a　grating　laugh。

〃I　see　that　I　am　not　likely　to　escape　any　of　the　results　of　my　imprudence；〃　he　cried；　and　with　a　quick　jerk　bared　his　shirt…front。

A　splash　of　red　defiled　its　otherwise　uniform　whiteness！　That　it　was　the　red　of　heart's　blood　was　proved　by　the　shrinking　look　he　unconsciously　cast　at　it。



IV

EXPLANATIONS

My　love　for　Anson　Durand　died　at　sight　o？that　crimson　splash　or　I　thought　it　did。　In　this　spot　of　blood　on　the　breast　of　him　to　whom　I　had　given　my　heart　I　could　read　but　one　wordguilt　heinous　guilt；　guilt　denied　and　now　brought　to　light　in　language　that　could　be　seen　and　read　by　all　men。　Why　should　I　stay　in　such　a　presence？　Had　not　the　inspector　himself　advised　me　to　go？

Yes；　but　another　voice　bade　me　remain。　Just　as　I　reached　the　door；　Anson　Durand　found　his　voice　and　I　heard；　in　the　full；　sweet　tones　I　loved　so　well：

〃Wait　I　am　not　to　be　judged　like　this。　I　will　explain！〃

But　here　the　inspector　interposed。

〃Do　you　think　it　wise　to　make　any　such　attempt　without　the　advice　of　counsel；　Mr。　Durand？〃

The　indignation　with　which　Mr。　Durand　wheeled　toward　him　raised　in　me　a　faint　hope。

〃Good　God；　yes！〃　he　cried。　〃Would　you　have　me　leave　Miss　Van　Arsdale　one　minute　longer　than　is　necessary　to　such　dreadful　doubts？　RitaMiss　Van　Arsdaleweakness；　and　weakness　only；　has　brought　me　into　my　present　position。　I　did　not　kill　Mrs。　Fairbrother；　nor　did　I　knowingly　take　her　diamond；　though　appearances　look　that　way；　as　I　am　very　ready　to　acknowledge。　I　did　go　to　her　in　the　alcove；　not　once；　but　twice；　and　these　are　my　reasons　for　doing　so：　About　three　months　ago　a　certain　well…known　man　of　enormous　wealth　came　to　me　with　the　request　that　I　should　procure　for　him　a　diamond　of　superior　beauty。　He　wished　to　give　it　to　his　wife；　and　he　wished　it　to　outshine　any　which　could　now　be　found　in　New　York。　This　meant　sending　abroad　an　expense　he　was　quite　willing　to　incur　on　the　sole　condition　that　the　stone　should　not　disappoint　him　when　he　saw　it；　and　that　it　was　to　be　in　his　hands　on　the　eighteenth　of　March；　his　wife's　birthday。　Never　before　had　I　had　such　an　opportunity　for　a　large　stroke　of　business。　Naturally　elated；　I　entered　at　once　into　correspondence　with　the　best　known　dealers　on　the　other　side；　and　last　week　a　diamond　was　delivered　to　me　which　seemed　to　fill　all　the　necessary　requirements。　I　had　never　seen　a　finer　stone；　and　was　consequently　rejoicing　in　my　success；　when　some　one；　I　do　not　remember　who　now；　chanced　to　speak　in　my　hearing　of　the　wonderful　stone　possessed　by　a　certain　Mrs。　Fairbrothera　stone　so　large；　so　brilliant　and　so　precious　altogether　that　she　seldom　wore　it；　though　it　was　known　to　connoisseurs　and　had　a　great　reputation　at　Tiffany's；　where　it　had　once　been　sent　for　some　alteration　in　the　setting。　Was　this　stone　larger　and　finer　than　the　one　I　had　procured　with　so　much　trouble？　If　so；　my　labor　had　all　been　in　vain；　for　my　patron　must　have　known　of　this　diamond　and　would　expect　to　see　it　surpassed。

〃I　was　so　upset　by　this　possibility　that　I　resolved　to　see　the　jewel　and　make　comparisons　for　myself。　I　found　a　friend　who　agreed　to　introduce　me　to　the　lady。　She　received　me　very　graciously　and　was　amiable　enough　until　the　subject　of　diamonds　was　broached；　when　she　immediately　stiffened　and　left　me　without　an　opportunity　of　proffering　my　request。　However；　on　every　other　subject　she　was　affable；　and　I　found　it　easy　enough　to　pursue　the　acquaintance　till　we　were　almost　on　friendly　terms。　But　I　never　saw　the　diamond；　nor　would　she　talk　about　it；　though　I　caused　her　some　surprise　when　one　day　I　drew　out　before　her　eyes　the　one　I　had　procured　for　my　patron　and　made　her　look　at　it。　'Fine；'　she　cried；　'fine！'　But　I　failed　to　detect　any　envy　in　her　manner；　and　so　knew　that　I　had　not　achieved　the　object　set　me　by　my　wealthy　customer。　This　was　a　woeful　disappointment；　yet；　as　Mrs。　Fairbrother　never　wore　her　diamond；　it　was　among　the　possibilities　that　he　might　be　satisfied　with　the　very　fine　gem　I　had　obtained　for　him；　and；　influenced　by　this　hope；　I　sent　him　this　morning　a　request　to　come　and　see　it　tomorrow。　Tonight　I　attended　this　ball；　and　almost　as　soon　as　I　enter　the　drawing…room　I　hear　that　Mrs。　Fairbrother　is　present　and　is　wearing　her　famous　jewel。　What　could　you　expect　of　me？　Why；　that　I　would　make　an　effort　to　see　it　and　so　be　ready　with　a　reply　to　my　exacting　customer　when　he　should　ask　me　to…morrow　if　the　stone　I　showed　him　had　its　peer　in　the　city。　But　was　not　in　the　drawing…room　then；　and　later　I　became　interested　elsewhere〃here　he　cast　a　look　at　me〃so　that　half　the　evening　passed　before　I　had　an　opportunity　to　join　her　in　the　so…called　alcove；　where　I　had　seen　her　set　up　her　miniature　court。　What　passed　between　us　in　the　short　interview　we　held　together　you　will　find　me　prepared　to　state；　if　necessary。　It　was　chiefly　marked　by　the　one　short　view　I　succeeded　in　obtaining　of　her　marvelous　diamond；　in　spite　of　the　pains　she　took　to　hide　it　from　me　by　some　natural　movement　whenever　she　caught　my　eyes　leaving　her　face。　But　in　that　one　short　look　I　had　seen　enough。　This　was　a　gem　for　a　collector；　not　to　be　worn　save　in　a　royal　presence。　How　had　she　come　by　it？　And　could　Mr。　Smythe　expect　me　to　procure　him　a　stone　like　that？　In　my　confusion　I　arose　to　depart；　but　the　lady　showed　a　disposition　to　keep　me；　and　began　chatting　so　vivaciously　that　I　scarcely　noticed　that　she　was　all　the　time　engaged　in　drawing　off　her　gloves。　Indeed；　I　almost　forgot　the　jewel；　possibly　because　her　mov