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！
After describing the manner of Mr。 James Smith's arrival at the
Hall； the witness； Josephine Durand； confessed that she had been
led to listen at the music…room door by hearing angry voices
inside； and she then described； truly enough； the latter part of
the altercation between husband and wife。 Fearing； after this；
that something serious might happen； she had kept watch in her
room； which was on the same floor as her mistress's。 She had
heard her mistress's door open softly between one and two in the
morninghad followed her mistress； who carried a small lamp；
along the passage and down the stairs into the hallhad hidden
herself in the porter's chairhad seen her mistress take a
dagger in a green sheath from a collection of Eastern curiosities
kept in the hallhad followed her again； and seen her softly
enter the Red Roomhad heard the heavy breathing of Mr。 James
Smith； which gave token that he was asleephad slipped into an
empty room； next door to the Red Roam； and had waited there about
a quarter of an hour； when her mistress came out again with the
dagger in her handhad followed her mistress again into the
hall； where she had put the dagger back into its placehad seen
her mistress turn into a side passage that led to my roomhad
heard her knock at my door； and heard me answer and open ithad
hidden again in the porter's chairhad； after a while； seen me
and my mistress pass together into the passage that led to the
Red Roomhad watched us both into the Red Roomand had then；
through fear of being discovered and murdered herself； if she
risked detection any longer； stolen back to her own room for the
rest of the night。
After deposing on oath to the truth of these atrocious
falsehoods； and declaring； in conclusion； that Mr。 James Smith
had been murdered by my mistress； and that I was an accomplice；
the quadroon had further asserted； in order to show a motive for
the crime； that Mr。 Meeke was my mistress's lover； that he had
been forbidden the house by her husband； and that he was found in
the house； and alone with her； on the evening of Mr。 James
Smith's return。 Here again there were some grains of truth
cunningly mixed up with a revolting lie； and they had their
effect in giving to the falsehood a look of probability。
I was cautioned in the usual manner and asked if I had anything
to say。
I replied that I was innocent； but that I would wait for legal
assistance before I defended myself。 The justice remanded me and
the examination was over。 Three days later my unhappy mistress
was subjected to the same trial。 I was not allowed to communicate
with her。 All I knew was that the lawyer had arrived from London
to help her。 Toward the evening he was admitted to see me。 He
shook his head sorrowfully when I asked after my mistress。
〃I am afraid；〃 he said； 〃that she has sunk under the horror of
the situation in which that vile woman has placed her。 Weakened
by her previous agitation； she seems to have given way under this
last shock； tenderly and carefully as Mr。 Philip Nicholson broke
the bad news to her。 All her feelings appeared to be strangely
blunted at the examination to…day。 She answered the questions put
to her quite correctly； but at the same time quite mechanically；
with no change in her complexion； or in her tone of voice； or in
her manner； from beginning to end。 It is a sad thing； William；
when women cannot get their natural vent of weeping； and your
mistress has not shed a tear since she left Darrock Hall。〃
〃But surely； sir；〃 I said； 〃if my examination has not proved
Josephine's perjury； my mistress's examination must have exposed
it？〃
〃Nothing will expose it；〃 answered the lawyer； 〃but producing Mr。
James Smith； or； at least； legally proving that he is alive。
Morally speaking； I have no doubt that the justice before whom
you have been examined is as firmly convinced as we can be that
the quadroon has perjured herself。 Morally speaking； he believes
that those threats which your mistress unfortunately used
referred （as she said they did to…day） to her intention of
leaving the Hall early in the morning； with you for her
attendant； and coming to me； if she had been well enough to
travel； to seek effectual legal protection from her husband for
the future。 Mr。 Nicholson believes that； and I； who know more of
the circumstances than he does； believe also that Mr。 James Smith
stole away from Darrock Hall in the night under fear of being
indicted for bigamy。 But if I can't find himif I can't prove
him to be aliveif I can't account for those spots of blood on
the night…gown； the accidental circumstances of the case remain
unexplainedyour mistress's rash language； the bad terms on
which she has lived with her husband； and her unlucky disregard
of appearances in keeping up her intercourse with Mr。 Meeke； all
tell dead against usand the justice has no alternative； in a
legal point of view； but to remand you both； as he has now done；
for the production of further evidence。〃
〃But how； then； in Heaven's name； is our innocence to be proved；
sir？〃 I asked。
〃In the first place；〃 said the lawyer； 〃by finding Mr。 James
Smith； and； in the second place； by persuading him； when he is
found； to come forward and declare himself。〃
〃Do you really believe； sir；〃 said I； 〃that he would hesitate to
do that； when he knows the horrible charge to which his
disappearance has exposed his wife？ He is a heartless villain； I
know； but surely〃
〃I don't suppose；〃 said the lawyer； cutting me short； 〃that he is
quite scoundrel enough to decline coming forward； supposing he
ran no risk by doing so。 But remember that he has placed himself
in a position to be tried for bigamy； and that he believes your
mistress will put the law in force against him。〃
I had forgotten that circumstance。 My heart sank within me when
it was recalled to my memory； and I could say nothing more。
〃It is a very serious thing；〃 the lawyer went on〃it is a
downright offense against the law of the land to make any private
offer of a compromise to this man。 Knowing what we know； our duty
as good citizens is to give such information as may bring him to
trial。 I tell you plainly that； if I did not stand toward your
mistress in the position of a relation as well as a legal
adviser； I should think twice about running the riskthe very
serious riskon which I am now about to venture for her sake。 As
it is； I have taken the right measures to assure Mr。 James Smith
that he will not be treated according to his deserts。 When he
knows what the circumstances are； he will trust ussupposing
always that we can find him。 The search about this neighborhood
has been quite useless。 I have sent private instructions by
to…day's post to Mr。 Dark in London； and with them a
carefully…worded form of advertisement for the public newspapers。
You may rest assured that every human means of tracing him will
be tried forthwith。 In the meantime； I have an important question
to put to you about Josep hine。 She may know more than we think
she does； she may have surprised the secret of the second
marriage； and may be keeping it in reserve to use against us。 If
this should turn out to be the case； I shall want some other
chance against her besides the chance of indicting her for
perjury。 As to her motive now for making this horrible
accusation； what can you tell me about that； William？〃
〃Her motive against me； sir？〃
〃No； no； not against you。 I can see plainly enough that she
accuses you because it is necessary to do so to add to the
probability of her story； which； of course； assumes that you
helped your mistress to dispose of the dead body。 You are coolly
sacrificed to some devilish vengeance against her mistress。 Let
us get at that first。
Has there ever been a quarrel between them？〃
I told him of the quarrel； and of how Josephine had looked and
talked when she showed me her cheek。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃that is a strong motive for revenge with a
naturally pitiless； vindictive woman。 But is that all？ Had your
mistress any hold over her？ Is there any self…interest mixed up
along with this motive of vengeance？ Think a little； William。 Has
anything ever happened in the house to compromise this woman； or
to make her fancy herself compromised？〃
The remembrance of my mistress's lost trinkets and handkerchiefs；
which later and greater troubles had put out of my mind； flashed
back into my memory while he spoke。 I told him immediately of the
alarm in the house when the loss was discovered。
〃Did your mistress suspect Josephine and question her？〃 he asked；
eagerly。
〃No； sir；〃 I replied。 〃Before she could say a word； Josephine
impudently asked who she suspected； and boldly offered her own
boxes to be searched。〃
The lawyer's face turned red as scarlet。 He jumped out of his
chair； and hit me such a smack on the shoulder that I thought he
had gone mad。
〃By Jupiter！〃 he cried out； 〃we have got the whip…hand of that
she…devil at last。〃
I looked at him in astonishment。
〃Why； man alive；〃 he said； 〃don't you see how it is？ Josephine's
the thief！ I am as sure of it as that you and I are talking
together。 This vile accusation against your mistress answers
another purpose besid