the captives-第28部分

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touch　of　the　tears　still　lingered　there。

Outside　the　house　they　were　free。　It　looked　so　close　and　dark　behind　them　that　Maggie　shivered　a　little　and　put　her　arm　through　her　uncle's。

〃That's　all　right；〃　he　said；　patting　her　hand。　〃We're　going　to　enjoy　ourselves。〃

She　looked　up　and　saw　Martin　Warlock　facing　her。　The　unexpected　meeting　held　both　of　them　silent　for　a　moment。　To　her　it　seemed　that　he　had　risen　out　of　the　very　stones　of　the　pavement；　at　her　bidding；　to　make　her　evening　wonderful。　He　looked　so　strong；　so　square；　so　solid　after　the　phantom　imaginations　of　the　house　that　she　had　left；　that　the　sight　of　him　was　a　step　straight　into　the　heart　of　comfort　and　reassurance。

〃I　was　just　coming；〃　he　said；　looking　at　her；　〃to　leave　a　note　for　Miss　Cardinalfrom　my　father〃

〃She's　in；〃　Maggie　said。

〃Oh；　it　wasn't　to　bother　heronly　to　leave　the　note。　About　some　meeting；　I　think。〃

〃We're　just　going　out。　This　is　my　uncleMr。　Warlock。〃

The　two　men　shook　hands。

Mathew　Cardinal　smiled。　His　eyes　closed；　his　greeting　had　an　urgency　in　it　as　though　he　had　suddenly　made　some　discovery　that　gratified　and　amused　him。　〃Very　glad　to　meet　youvery　glad；　indeed；　sir。　Any　friend　of　my　niece's。　I　know　your　father；　sir；　know　him　and　admire　him。〃

They　all　turned　down　the　street　together。　Uncle　Mathew　talked；　and　then；　quite　suddenly；　stopping　under　a　lamp…post　as　though　within　the　circle　of　light　his　charm　were　stronger；　he　said：

〃I　suppose；　Mr。　Warlock；　you　wouldn't　do　me　the　great；　the　extreme；　honour　of　dining　with　myself　and　my　niece　at　my　humble　little　inn　to…night？　A　little　suddenI　hope　you'll　forgive　the　discourtesy　but　knowing　your　father〃

Martin　looked　straight　into　Maggie's　eyes。

〃Oh；　please　do！〃　she　said；　her　heart　beating；　as　it　seemed；　against　her　eyes　so　that　she　dropped　them。

〃Well〃　he　hesitated。　〃It's　very　good　of　you；　Mr。　Cardinalvery　kind。　As　a　matter　of　fact　I　was　going　to　dine　alone　to…nightjust　a　chop；　you　know；　somewhereif　it's　really　not　inconvenient　I'll　be　delighted〃

They　walked　on　together。

As　they　passed　into　Garrick　Street；　she　knew　that　she　had　never　in　all　her　life　been　so　glad　to　be　with　any　one；　that　she　had　never　so　completely　trusted　any　one；　that　she　would　like　to　be　with　him　often；　to　look　after　him；　perhaps；　and　to　be　looked　after　by　him。

Her　feeling　for　him　was　almost　sexless；　because　she　had　never　thought；　as　most　girls　do；　of　love　and　the　intrigue　and　coquetry　of　love。　She　was　so　simple　as　to　be　shameless；　and　at　once；　if　he　had　asked　her　then　in　the　street　to　marry　him　she　would　have　said　yes　without　hesitation　or　fear；　or　any　analysis。　She　would　like　to　look　after　him　as　well　as　herselfthere　were　things　she　was　sure　that　she　could　do　for　himand　she　would　be　no　burden　to　him　because　she　intended；　in　any　case；　to　lead　her　own　life。　She　would　simply　lead　it　with　a　companion　instead　of　without　one。

He　must　have　felt　as　he　walked　with　her　this　trust　and　simplicity。　She　was　certainly　the　most　extraordinary　girl　whom　he　had　ever　met；　and　he'd　met　a　number　。　。　。

He　could　believe　every　word　she　said；　he　had　never　known　any　one　so　direct　and　simple　and　honest；　and　yet　with　that　she　was　not　a　fool；　as　most　honest　girls　were。　No；　she　was　not　a　fool。　He　would　have　given　anything　to　be　as　sure　of　himself　。　。　。

She　was　plainbut　then　was　she？　As　they　passed　beneath　the　light　of　a　street　lamp　his　heart　gave　a　sudden　beat。　Her　face　was　so　GOOD；　her　eyes　so　true；　her　mouth　so　strong。　She　was　like　a　boy；　rather　and；　of　course；　she　was　dressed　badly。　But　he　wanted　to　look　after　her。　He　was　sure　that　she　knew　so　little　of　the　world　and　would　be　so　easily　deceived　。　。　。But　who　was　he　to　look　after　any　one？

He　knew　that　she　would　trust　him　utterly；　and　trust　him　not　only　because　she　was　ignorant　of　the　world；　but　also　because　she　was　herself　so　true。　At　the　thought　of　this　trust　his　heart　suddenly　warmed；　partly　with　shame　and　partly　with　pride。

They　walked　very　happily　along　laughing　and　talking。　They　turned　into　Henrietta　Street；　misty　with　lamps　that　were　dim　in　a　thin　evening　fog；　and　at　the　corner　of　the　street；　facing　the　Square；　was　Uncle　Mathew's　hotel。　It　was　a　place　for　the　use；　in　the　main；　of　commercial　gentlemen；　and　it　was　said　by　eager　searchers　after　local　colour；　to　have　retained　a　great　deal　of　the　Dickens　spirit。　In　the　hall　there　was　a　stout　gentleman　with　a　red　nose；　a　soiled　waiter；　a　desolate　palm　and　a　large…bosomed　lady　all　rings　and　black　silk；　in　a　kind　of　wooden　cage。　Down　the　stairs　came　a　dim　vapour　that　smelt　of　beef；　whisky　and　tobacco；　and　in　the　distance　was　the　regular　click　of　billiard…balls　and　the　brazen　muffled　tones　of　a　gramophone。　Uncle　Mathew　seemed　perfectly　at　home　here；　and　it　was　strange　to　Maggie　that　he　should　be　so　nervous　with　Aunt　Anne；　his　own　sister；　when　he　could　be　so　happily　familiar　with　the　powdered　lady　in　the　black　silk。

〃We're　to　have　dinner　in　a　private　room　upstairs；〃　said　Uncle　Mathew　in　a　voice　that　was　casual　and　at　the　same　time　important。　He　led　the　way　up　the　stairs。

Maggie　had　read　in　some　old　bound　volume　at　home　a　very　gruesome　account　of　the　〃Life　and　Misdeeds　of　Mr。　Palmer；　the　Rugeley　Poisoner。〃　The　impression　that　still　remained　with　her　was　of　a　man　standing　in　the　shadowy　hall　of　just　such　an　hotel　as　this；　and　pouring　poison　into　a　glass　which　he　held　up　against　the　light。　This　picture　had　been　vividly　with　her　during　her　childhood；　and　she　felt　that　this　must　have　been　the　very　hotel　where　those　fearful　deeds　occurred；　and　that　the　ghost　of　Mr。　Palmer's　friend　must；　at　this　very　moment；　be　writhing　in　an　upstairs　bedroom〃writhing；〃　as　she　so　fearfully　remembered；　bent　〃like　a　hoop。〃

However；　these　reminiscences　did　not　in　the　least　terrify　her；　she　welcomed　their　definite　outlines　in　contrast　with　the　shadowy　possibilities　of　her　aunts'　house。　And　she　had　Martin　Warlock　。　。　。　She　had　never　been　so　happy　in　all　her　life。

A　dismal　little　waiter　with　a　very　soiled　shirt　and　a　black　tie　under　his　ear；　guided　them　down　into　a　dark　passage　and　flung　open　the　door　of　a　sitting…room。　This　room　was　dark　and　sizzling　with　strange　noises；　a　gas…jet　burning　low　was　hissing；　some　papers　rustled　in　the　breeze　from　the　half…opened　window；　and　a　fire；　overburdened　with　the　weight　of　black　coal；　made　frantic　little　spurts　of　resistance。

A　white　cloth　was　laid　on　the　table；　and　there　were　glasses　and　knives　and　forks。　A　highly…coloured　portrait　of　her　late　Majesty　Queen　Victoria　confronted　a　long…legged　horse　desperately　winning　a　race　in　which　he　had　apparently　no　competitors。　There　was　a　wall…　paper　of　imitation　marble　and　a　broken…down　book…case　with　some　torn　paper　editions　languishing　upon　it。　Beyond　the　open　window　there　was　a　purple　haze　and　a　yellow　mistalso　a　bell　rang　and　carts　rattled　over　the　cobbles。　The　waiter　shut　out　these　sights　and　sounds；　gave　the　tablecloth　a　stroke　with　his　dirty　hand；　and　left　the　room。

They　continued　their　cheerful　conversation；　Martin　laughing　at　nothing　at　all；　and　Maggie　smiling；　and　Uncle　Mathew　stroking　his　mouth　and　sharpening　his　eyes　and　standing；　in　his　uneasy　fashion；　first　on　one　leg　and　then　on　the　other。　Maggie　realised　that　her　uncle　was　trying　to　be　most　especially　pleasant　to　young　Warlock。　She　wondered　why；　she　also　remembered　what　he　had　said　to　her　about　Martin's　father　。　。　。　No；　he　had　changed。　She　could　not　follow　his　motives　as　she　had　once　been　able　to　do。　Then　he　had　simply　been　a　foolish；　drunken；　but　kindly…intentioned　old　man。

Then　Mr。　Warlock　on　his　side　seemed　to　like　her　uncle。　That　was　an　extraordinary　thing。　Or　was　he　only　being　friendly　because　he　was　happy？　No；　she　remembered　his　face　as　he　had　joined　them　that　evening。　He　had　not　been　happy　then。　She　liked　him　the　more　because　she　knew　that　he　needed　help　。　。　。　The　meal；　produced　at　last　by　the　poor　little　waiter；　was　very　merry。　The　food　was　not　wonderfulthe　thick　pea…soup　was　cold；　the　sole　bones　and　skin；　the　roast　beef　tepid　and　the　apple…tart　heavy。　The　men　drank　whiskies　and　sodas；　and　Maggie　noticed　that　her　uncle　drank　very　little。　And　then　（with　apologies　to　Maggie）　they　smoked　cigars；　and　she　sat　before　the　dismal　fire　in　an　old　armchair　with　a　hole　in　it。

Martin　Warlock　talked　in　a　most　delightful　way　about　his　travels；　and　Uncle　Mathew　asked　him　questions　that　were　not；　after　all；　so　stupid。　What　had　happened　to　him？　Had　Maggie　always　undervalued　him；　or　was　it　that　he　was　sober　now　and　clear…headed？　His　fat　round　thighs　seemed　stronger；　his　hands　seemed　cleaner；　the　veins　in　his　face　were　not　so　purple。　She　remembered　the　night　when　he　had　come　into　her　room。　She　had　been　able　to　manage　him　then。　Would　she　be　able　to　manage　him　now？

After　dinner　he　grew　very　restless。　His　eyes　wandered　to　the　door；　then　to　his　watch；　then　to　his　companions；　he　smiled　uneasily；　pulling　his　moustache；　thenjumping　to　his　feet；　tried　to　speak　with　an　easy　self…confidence。

〃I　must　leave　you　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　。　。　。　A　matter　of　business；　only　in　this　hotel。　Downstairs。　Yes。　A　friend　of　mine　and　a　little　matter。　Urgent。　I'm　sure　you'll　forgive　me。〃

For　a　moment　Maggie　was　frightened。　She　was　here　in　a　strange　hotel　in　a　strange　room　with　a　man　whom　she　scarcely　knew。　Then　she　looked　up　into　young　Warlock's　face　and　was　reassured。　She　could　trust　him。

He　stood　with　his　arm　on　the　shabby；　dusty　mantelpiece；　looking　down　upon　her　with　his　good…natured　kindly　smile；　so　kindly　that　she　felt　that　he　was　younger　than　she　and　needed　protection　in　a　world　that　was　filled　with　designing　Uncle　Mathews　and　mysterious　Aunt　Annes　and　horrible　Miss　Warlocks。

He；　on　his　side；　as　he　looked　down　at　her；　was　surprised　at　his　own　excitement。　His　heart　was　beating；　his　hand　tremblingbefore　this　plain；　ordinary；　unattractive　girl！　Unattractive　physicallybut　not　uninteresting。　One　of　the　most　interesting　human　beings　whom　he　had　ever　met；　simply　because　she　was　utterly　unlike　any　one　else。　He　felt　shame　before　her；　because　he　knew　that　she　would　believe　every　word　that　he　said。　In　that　she　was　simple；　but　〃he　would　be　bothered　if　she　was　simple　in　anything　else。〃　She　had　made　up　her　mindhe　knew　it　as　well　as　though　she　had　told　himto　trust　him　absolutely；　and　he　knew　well　enough　how　little