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！
He slunk down the Mews immediately； and I was free to make my
escape。
How I got home I can't say； except that I think I ran the greater
part of the way。 Sally opened the door； and asked if anything was
the matter the moment she saw my face。 I answered：
〃Nothingnothing。〃 She stopped me as I was going into my room；
and said：
〃Smooth your hair a bit； and put your collar straight。 There's a
gentleman in there waiting for you。〃
My heart gave one great bound： I knew who it was in an instant；
and rushed into the room like a mad woman。
〃Oh； Robert； Robert！〃
All my heart went out to him in those two little words。
〃Good God； Anne； has anything happened？ Are you ill？〃
〃Mary！ my poor； lost； murdered； dear； dear Mary！〃
That was all I could say before I fell on his breast。
May 2d。 Misfortunes and disappointments have saddened him a
little； but toward me he is unaltered。 He is as good； as kind； as
gently and truly affectionate as ever。 I believe no other man in
the world could have listened to the story of Mary's death with
such tenderness and pity as he。 Instead of cutting me short
anywhere； he drew me on to tell more than I had intended； and his
first generous words when I had done were to assure me that he
would see himself to the grass being laid and the flowers planted
on Mary's grave。 I could almost have gone on my knees and
worshiped him when he made me that promise。
Surely this best； and kindest； and noblest of men cannot always
be unfortunate！ My cheeks burn when I think that he has come back
with only a few pounds in his pocket； after all his hard and
honest struggles to do well in America。 They must be bad people
there when such a man as Robert cannot get on among them。 He now
talks calmly and resignedly of trying for any one of the lowest
employments by which a man can earn his bread honestly in this
great cityhe who knows French； who can write so beautifully！
Oh； if the people who have places to give away only knew Robert
as well as I do； what a salary he would have； what a post he
would be chosen to occupy！
I am writing these lines alone while he has gone to the Mews to
treat with the dastardly； heartless wretch with whom I spoke
yesterday。
Robert says the creatureI won't call him a manmust be humored
and kept deceived about poor Mary's end； in order that we may
discover and bring to justice the monster whose drunken blow was
the death of her。 I shall know no ease of mind till her murderer
is secured； and till I am certain that he will be made to suffer
for his crimes。 I wanted to go with Robert to the Mews； but he
said it was best that he should carry out the rest of the
investigation alone； for my strength and resolution had been too
hardly taxed already。 He said more words in praise of me for what
I have been able to do up to this time； which I am almost ashamed
to write down with my own pen。 Besides； there is no need； praise
from his lips is one of the things that I can trust my memory to
preserve to the latest day of my life。
May 3d。 Robert was very long last night before he came back to
tell me what he had done。 He easily recognized the hunchback at
the corner of the Mews by my description of him； but he found it
a hard matter； even with the help of money； to overcome the
cowardly wretch's distrust of him as a stranger and a man。
However； when this had been accomplished； the main difficulty was
conquered。 The hunchback； excited by the promise of more money；
went at once to the Red Lion to inquire about the person whom he
had driven there in his cab。 Robert followed him； and waited at
the corner of the street。 The tidings brought by the cabman were
of the most unexpected kind。 The murdererI can write of him by
no other namehad fallen ill on the very night when he was
driven to the Red Lion； had taken to his bed there and then； and
was still confined to it at that very moment。 His disease was of
a kind that is brought on by excessive drinking； and that affects
the mind as well as the body。 The people at the public house call
it the Horrors。
Hearing these things； Robert determined to see if he could not
find out something more for himself by going and inquiring at the
public house； in the character of one of the friends of the sick
man in bed upstairs。 He made two important discoveries。 First； he
found out the name and address of the doctor in attendance。
Secondly； he entrapped the barman into mentioning the murderous
wretch by his name。 This last discovery adds an unspeakably
fearful interest to the dreadful misfortune of Mary's death。 Noah
Truscott； as she told me herself in the last conversation I ever
had with her； was the name of the man whose drunken example
ruined her father； and Noah Truscott is also the name of the man
whose drunken fury killed her。 There is something that makes one
shudder； something supernatural in this awful fact。 Robert agrees
with me that the hand of Providence must have guided my steps to
that shop from which all the discoveries since made took their
rise。 He says he believes we are the instruments of effecting a
righteous retribution； and； if he spends his last farthing； he
will have the investigation brought to its full end in a court of
justice。
May 4th。 Robert went to…day to consult a lawyer whom he knew in
former times The lawyer was much interested； though not so
seriously impressed as he ought to have been by the story of
Mary's death and of the events that have followed it。 He gave
Robert a confidential letter to take to the doctor in attendance
on the double…dyed villain at the Red Lion。 Robert left the
letter； and called again and saw the doctor； who said his patient
was getting better； and would most likely be up again in ten days
or a fortnight。 This statement Robert communicated to the lawyer；
and the lawyer has undertaken to have the public house properly
watched； and the hunchback （who is the most important witness）
sharply looked after for the next fortnight； or longer if
necessary。 Here； then； the progress of this dreadful business
stops for a while。
May 5th。 Robert has got a little temporary employment in
copying for his friend the lawyer。 I am working harder than ever
at my needle； to make up for the time that has been lost lately。
May 6th。 To…day was Sunday； and Robert proposed that we should
go and look at Mary's grave。 He； who forgets nothing where a
kindness is to be done； has found time to perform the promise he
made to me on the night when we first met。 The grave is already；
by his orders； covered with turf； and planted round with shrubs。
Some flowers； and a low headstone； are to be added； to make the
place look worthier of my poor lost darling who is beneath it。
Oh； I hope I shall live long after I am married to Robert！ I want
so much time to show him all my gratitude！
May 20th。 A hard trial to my courage to…day。 I have given
evidence at the police…office； and have seen the monster who
murdered her。
I could only look at him once。 I could just see that he was a
giant in size； and that he kept his dull； lowering； bestial face
turned toward the witness…box； and his bloodshot； vacant eyes
staring on me。 For an instant I tried to confront that look； for
an instant I kept my attention fixed on himon his blotched
faceon the short； grizzled hair above iton his knotty；
murderous right hand； hanging loose over the bar in front of him；
like the paw of a wild beast over the edge of its den。 Then the
horror of himthe double horror of confronting him； in the first
place； and afterward of seeing that he was an old manovercame
me； and I turned away； faint； sick； and shuddering。 I never faced
him again； and； at the end of my evidence； Robert considerately
took me out。
When we met once more at the end of the examination； Robert told
me that the prisoner never spoke and never changed his position。
He was either fortified by the cruel composure of a savage； or
his faculties had not yet thoroughly recovered from the disease
that had so lately shaken them。 The magistrate seemed to doubt if
he was in his right mind； but the evidence of the medical man
relieved this uncertainty； and the prisoner was committed for
trial on a charge of manslaughter。
Why not on a charge of murder？ Robert explained the law to me
when I asked that question。 I accepted the explanation； but it
did not satisfy me。 Mary Mallinson was killed by a blow from the
hand of Noah Truscott。 That is murder in the sight of God。 Why
not murder in the sight of the law also？
* * * * * * *
June 18th。 To…morrow is the day appointed for the trial at the
Old Bailey。
Before sunset this evening I went to look at Mary's grave。 The
turf has grown so green since I saw it last； and the flowers are
springing up so prettily。 A bird was perched dressing his
feathers on the low white headstone that bears the inscription of
her name and age。 I did not go near enough to disturb the little
creature。 He looked innocent and pretty on the grave； as Mary
herself was in her lifetime。 When he flew away I went and sat for
a little by the headstone； and read the mournful lines on it。 Oh；
my love！ my love！ what harm or wrong had you ever done in this
worl