desperate remedies-第71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！


be　carefully　adjusting　their　pockets　if　they　have　been　receiving
money；　if　they　have　been　paying　it　in；　their　hands　swing　laxly。　　The
steward　had　in　all　likelihood　been　taking　moneypossibly　on　Miss
Aldclyffe's　accountthat　was　continual　with　him。　　And　he　might　have
been　removing　his　own；　as　a　man　would　do　who　was　intending　to　leave
the　country。

3。　　FROM　FIVE　TO　EIGHT　O'CLOCK　P。M。

Anne　reached　home　again　in　time　to　preside　over　preparations　for
dinner。　　Manston　came　in　half…an…hour　later。　　The　lamp　was　lighted；
the　shutters　were　closed；　and　they　sat　down　together。　　He　was　pale
and　wornalmost　haggard。

The　meal　passed　off　in　almost　unbroken　silence。　　When　preoccupation
withstands　the　influence　of　a　social　meal　with　one　pleasant
companion；　the　mental　scene　must　be　surpassingly　vivid。　　Just　as　she
was　rising　a　tap　came　to　the　door。

Before　a　maid　could　attend　to　the　knock；　Manston　crossed　the　room
and　answered　it　himself。　　The　visitor　was　Miss　Aldclyffe。

Manston　instantly　came　back　and　spoke　to　Anne　in　an　undertone。　　'I
should　be　glad　if　you　could　retire　to　your　room　for　a　short　time。'

'It　is　a　dry；　starlight　evening；'　she　replied。　　'I　will　go　for　a
little　walk　if　your　object　is　merely　a　private　conversation　with
Miss　Aldclyffe。'

'Very　well；　do；　there's　no　accounting　for　tastes；'　he　said。　　A　few
commonplaces　then　passed　between　her　and　Miss　Aldclyffe；　and　Anne
went　upstairs　to　bonnet　and　cloak　herself。　　She　came　down；　opened
the　front　door；　and　went　out。

She　looked　around　to　realize　the　night。　　It　was　dark；　mournful；　and
quiet。　　Then　she　stood　still。　　From　the　moment　that　Manston　had
requested　her　absence；　a　strong　and　burning　desire　had　prevailed　in
her　to　know　the　subject　of　Miss　Aldclyffe's　conversation　with　him。
Simple　curiosity　was　not　entirely　what　inspired　her。　　Her　suspicions
had　been　thoroughly　aroused　by　the　discovery　of　the　morning。　　A
conviction　that　her　future　depended　on　her　power　to　combat　a　man
who；　in　desperate　circumstances；　would　be　far　from　a　friend　to　her；
prompted　a　strategic　movement　to　acquire　the　important　secret　that
was　in　handling　now。　　The　woman　thought　and　thought；　and　regarded
the　dull　dark　trees；　anxiously　debating　how　the　thing　could　be　done。

Stealthily　re…opening　the　front　door　she　entered　the　hall；　and
advancing　and　pausing　alternately；　came　close　to　the　door　of　the
room　in　which　Miss　Aldclyffe　and　Manston　conversed。　　Nothing　could
be　heard　through　the　keyhole　or　panels。　　At　a　great　risk　she　softly
turned　the　knob　and　opened　the　door　to　a　width　of　about　half…an…
inch；　performing　the　act　so　delicately　that　three　minutes；　at　least；
were　occupied　in　completing　it。　　At　that　instant　Miss　Aldclyffe
said

'There's　a　draught　somewhere。　　The　door　is　ajar；　I　think。'

Anne　glided　back　under　the　staircase。　　Manston　came　forward　and
closed　the　door。　　This　chance　was　now　cut　off；　and　she　considered
again。　　The　parlour；　or　sitting…room；　in　which　the　conference　took
place；　had　the　window…shutters　fixed　on　the　outside　of　the　window；
as　is　usual　in　the　back　portions　of　old　country…houses。　　The
shutters　were　hinged　one　on　each　side　of　the　opening；　and　met　in　the
middle；　where　they　were　fastened　by　a　bolt　passing　continuously
through　them　and　the　wood　mullion　within；　the　bolt　being　secured　on
the　inside　by　a　pin；　which　was　seldom　inserted　till　Manston　and
herself　were　about　to　retire　for　the　night；　sometimes　not　at　all。

If　she　returned　to　the　door　of　the　room　she　might　be　discovered　at
any　moment；　but　could　she　listen　at　the　window；　which　overlooked　a
part　of　the　garden　never　visited　after　nightfall；　she　would　be　safe
from　disturbance。　　The　idea　was　worth　a　trial。

She　glided　round　to　the　window；　took　the　head　of　the　bolt　between
her　finger　and　thumb；　and　softly　screwed　it　round　until　it　was
entirely　withdrawn　from　its　position。　　The　shutters　remained　as
before；　whilst；　where　the　bolt　had　come　out；　was　now　a　shining　hole
three…quarters　of　an　inch　in　diameter；　through　which　one　might　see
into　the　middle　of　the　room。　　She　applied　her　eye　to　the　orifice。

Miss　Aldclyffe　and　Manston　were　both　standing；　Manston　with　his　back
to　the　window；　his　companion　facing　it。　　The　lady's　demeanour　was
severe；　condemnatory；　and　haughty。　　No　more　was　to　be　seen；　Anne
then　turned　sideways；　leant　with　her　shoulder　against　the　shutters
and　placed　her　ear　upon　the　hole。

'You　know　where；'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe。　　'And　how　could　you；　a　man；
act　a　double　deceit　like　this？'

'Men　do　strange　things　sometimes。'

'What　was　your　reasoncome？'

'A　mere　whim。'

'I　might　even　believe　that；　if　the　woman　were　handsomer　than
Cytherea；　or　if　you　had　been　married　some　time　to　Cytherea　and　had
grown　tired　of　her。'

'And　can't　you　believe　it；　too；　under　these　conditions；　that　I
married　Cytherea；　gave　her　up　because　I　heard　that　my　wife　was
alive；　found　that　my　wife　would　not　come　to　live　with　me；　and　then；
not　to　let　any　woman　I　love　so　well　as　Cytherea　run　any　risk　of
being　displaced　and　ruined　in　reputation；　should　my　wife　ever　think
fit　to　return；　induced　this　woman　to　come　to　me；　as　being　better
than　no　companion　at　all？'

'I　cannot　believe　it。　　Your　love　for　Cytherea　was　not　of　such　a　kind
as　that　excuse　would　imply。　　It　was　Cytherea　or　nobody　with　you。　　As
an　object　of　passion；　you　did　not　desire　the　company　of　this　Anne
Seaway　at　all；　and　certainly　not　so　much　as　to　madly　risk　your
reputation　by　bringing　her　here　in　the　way　you　have　done。　　I　am　sure
you　didn't；　AEneas。'

'So　am　I；'　he　said　bluntly。

Miss　Aldclyffe　uttered　an　exclamation　of　astonishment；　the
confession　was　like　a　blow　in　its　suddenness。　　She　began　to　reproach
him　bitterly；　and　with　tears。

'How　could　you　overthrow　my　plans；　disgrace　the　only　girl　I　ever　had
any　respect　for；　by　such　inexplicable　doings！。　。　。　　That　woman　must
leave　this　placethe　country　perhaps。　　Heavens！　the　truth　will　leak
out　in　a　day　or　two！'

'She　must　do　no　such　thing；　and　the　truth　must　be　stifled　somehow
nobody　knows　how。　　If　I　stay　here；　or　on　any　spot　of　the　civilized
globe；　as　AEneas　Manston；　this　woman　must　live　with　me　as　my　wife；
or　I　am　damned　past　redemption！'

'I　will　not　countenance　your　keeping　her；　whatever　your　motive　may
be。'

'You　must　do　something；'　he　murmured。　　'You　must。　　Yes；　you　must。'

'I　never　will；'　she　said。　　'It　is　a　criminal　act。'

He　looked　at　her　earnestly。　　'Will　you　not　support　me　through　this
deception　if　my　very　life　depends　upon　it？　　Will　you　not？'

'Nonsense！　　Life！　　It　will　be　a　scandal　to　you；　but　she　must　leave
this　place。　　It　will　out　sooner　or　later；　and　the　exposure　had
better　come　now。'

Manston　repeated　gloomily　the　same　words。　　'My　life　depends　upon
your　supporting　memy　very　life。'

He　then　came　close　to　her；　and　spoke　into　her　ear。　　Whilst　he　spoke
he　held　her　head　to　his　mouth　with　both　his　hands。　　Strange
expressions　came　over　her　face；　the　workings　of　her　mouth　were
painful　to　observe。　　Still　he　held　her　and　whispered　on。

The　only　words　that　could　be　caught　by　Anne　Seaway；　confused　as　her
hearing　frequently　was　by　the　moan　of　the　wind　and　the　waterfall　in
her　outer　ear；　were　these　of　Miss　Aldclyffe；　in　tones　which
absolutely　quivered：　　'They　have　no　money。　　What　can　they　prove？'

The　listener　tasked　herself　to　the　utmost　to　catch　his　answer；　but
it　was　in　vain。　　Of　the　remainder　of　the　colloquy　one　fact　alone　was
plain　to　Anne；　and　that　only　inductivelythat　Miss　Aldclyffe；　from
what　he　had　revealed　to　her；　was　going　to　scheme　body　and　soul　on
Manston's　behalf。

Miss　Aldclyffe　seemed　now　to　have　no　further　reason　for　remaining；
yet　she　lingered　awhile　as　if　loth　to　leave　him。　　When；　finally；　the
crestfallen　and　agitated　lady　made　preparations　for　departure；　Anne
quickly　inserted　the　bolt；　ran　round　to　the　entrance　archway；　and
down　the　steps　into　the　park。　　Here　she　stood　close　to　the　trunk　of
a　huge　lime…tree；　which　absorbed　her　dark　outline　into　its　own。

In　a　few　minutes　she　saw　Manston；　with　Miss　Aldclyffe　leaning　on　his
arm；　cross　the　glade　before　her　and　proceed　in　the　direction　of　the
house。　　She　watched　them　ascend　the　rise　and　advance；　as　two　black
spots；　towards　the　mansion。　　The　appearance　of　an　oblong　space　of
light　in　the　dark　mass　of　walls　denoted　that　the　door　was　opened。
Miss　Aldclyffe's　outline　became　visible　upon　it；　the　door　shut　her
in；　and　all　was　darkness　again。　　The　form　of　Manston　returning　alone
arose　from　the　gloom；　and　passed　by　Anne　in　her　hiding…place。

Waiting　outside　a　quarter　of　an　hour　longer；　that　no　suspicion　of
any　kind　might　be　excited；　Anne　returned　to　the　old　manor…house。

4。　　FROM　EIGHT　TO　ELEVEN　O'CLOCK　P。M。

Manston　was　very　friendly　that　evening。　　It　was　evident　to　her；　now
that　she　was　behind　the　scenes；　that　he　was　making　desperate　efforts
to　disguise　the　real　state　of　his　mind。

Her　terror　of　him　did　not　decrease。　　They　sat　down　to　supper；
Manston　still　talking　cheerfully。　　But　what　is　keener　than　the　eye
of　a　mistrustful　woman？　　A　man's　cunning　is　to　it　as　was　the　armour
of　Sisera　to　the　thin　tent…nail。　　She　found；　in　spite　of　his
adroitness；　that　he　was　attempting　something　more　than　a　disguise　of
his　feeling。　　He　was　trying　to　distract　her　attention；　that　he　might
be　unobserved　in　some　special　movement　of　his　hands。

What　a　moment　it　was　for　her　then！　　The　whole　surface　of　her　body
became　attentive。　　She　allowed　him　no　chance　whatever。　　We　know　the
duplicated　condition　at　such　timeswhen　the　existence　divides
itself　into　two；　and　the　ostensibly　innocent　chatterer　stands　in
front；　like　another　person；　to　hide　the　timorous　spy。

Manston　played　the　same　game；　but　more　palpably。　　The　meal　was
nearly　over　when　he　seemed　possessed　of　a　new　idea　of　how　his　object
might　be　accomplished。　　He　tilted　back　his　chair　with　a　reflective
air；　and　looked　steadily　at　the　clock　standing　against　the　wall
opposite　to　him。　　He　said　sententiously；　'Few　faces　are　capable　of
expressing　more　by　dumb　show　than　the　face　of　a　clock。　　You　may　see
in　it　every　variety　of　incentivefrom　the　softest　seductions　to
negligence　to　the　strongest　hints　for　action。'

'Well；　in　what　way？'　she　inquired。　　His　drift　was；　as　yet；　quite
unintelligible　to　her。

'Why；