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begin to answer them。 When your husband was here to…day he took
occasion to remind me that I was as weak as water in the hands of
a pretty woman。 He is quite right。 I _am_ as weak as water； I can
refuse nothing to a pretty woman。 Dear and admirable lady； don't
abuse your influence！ don't make an old soldier false to his word
of honor！〃
I tried to say something here in defense of my motives。 The Major
clasped his hands entreatingly； and looked at me with a pleading
simplicity wonderful to see。
〃Why press it？〃 he asked。 〃I offer no resistance。 I am a
lambwhy sacrifice me？ I acknowledge your power； I throw myself
on your mercy。 All the misfortunes of my youth and my manhood
have come to me through women。 I am not a bit better in my ageI
am just as fond of the women and just as ready to be misled by
them as ever； with one foot in the grave。 Shocking； isn't it？ But
how true！ Look at this mark！〃 He lifted a curl of his beautiful
brown wig； and showed me a terrible scar at the side of his head。
〃That wound （supposed to be mortal at the time） was made by a
pistol bullet；〃 he proceeded。 〃Not received in the service of my
countryoh dear； no！ Received in the service of a much…injured
lady； at the hands of her scoundrel of a husband； in a duel
abroad。 Well； she was worth it。〃 He kissed his hand
affectionately to the memory of the dead or absent lady； and
pointed to a water…color drawing of a pretty country…house
hanging on the opposite wall。 〃That fine estate；〃 he proceeded；
〃once belonged to me。 It was sold years and years since。 And who
had the money？ The womenGod bless them all！the women。 I don't
regret it。 If I had another estate； I have no doubt it would go
the same way。 Your adorable sex has made its pretty playthings of
my life； my time； and my moneyand welcome！ The one thing I have
kept to myself is my honor。 And now _that_ is in danger。 Yes； if
you put your clever little questions； with those lovely eyes and
with that gentle voice； I know what will happen。 You will deprive
me of the last and best of all my possessions。 Have I deserved to
be treated in that way； and by you； my charming friend？by you；
of all people in the world？ Oh； fie！ fie！〃
He paused and looked at me as beforethe picture of artless
entreaty； with his head a little on one side。 I made another
attempt to speak of the matter in dispute between us； from my own
point of view。 Major Fitz…David instantly threw himself prostrate
on my mercy more innocently than ever。
〃Ask of me anything else in the wide world；〃 he said； 〃but don't
ask me to be false to my friend。 Spare me _that_and there is
nothing I will not do to satisfy you。 I mean what I say； mind！〃
he went on； bending closer to me； and speaking more seriously
than he had spoken yet 〃I think you are very hardly used。 It is
monstrous to expect that a woman； placed in your situation； will
consent to be left for the rest of her life in the dark。 No！ no！
if I saw you； at this moment； on the point of finding out for
yourself what Eustace persists in hiding from you； I should
remember that my promise； like all other promises； has its limits
and reserves。 I should consider myself bound in honor not to help
youbut I would not lift a finger to prevent you from
discovering the truth for yourself。〃
At last he was speaking in good earnest： he laid a strong
emphasis on his closing words。 I laid a stronger emphasis on them
still by suddenly leaving my chair。 The impulse to spring to my
feet was irresistible。 Major Fitz…David had started a new idea in
my mind。
〃Now we understand each other！〃 I said。 〃I will accept your own
terms； Major。 I will ask nothing of you but what you have just
offered to me of your own accord。〃
〃What have I offered？〃 he inquired； looking a little alarmed。
〃Nothing that you need repent of；〃 I answered； 〃nothing which is
not easy for you to grant。 May I ask a bold question？ Suppose
this house was mine instead of yours？〃
〃Consider it yours；〃 cried the gallant old gentleman。 〃From the
garret to the kitchen； consider it yours！〃
〃A thousand thanks； Major； I will consider it mine for the
moment。 You knoweverybody knowsthat one of a woman's many
weaknesses is curiosity。 Suppose my curiosity led me to examine
everything in my new house？〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Suppose I went from room to room； and searched everything； and
peeped in everywhere？ Do you think there would be any chance〃
The quick…witted Major anticipated the nature of my question。 He
followed my example； he too started to his feet； with a new idea
in his mind。
〃Would there be any chance；〃 I went on； 〃of my finding my own way
to my husband's secret in this house？ One word of reply； Major
Fitz…David！ Only one wordYes or No？〃
〃Don't excite yourself！〃 cried the Major。
〃Yes or No？〃 I repeated； more vehemently than ever。
〃Yes；〃 said the Major； after a moment's consideration。
It was the reply I had asked for； but it was not explicit enough；
now I had got it； to satisfy me。 I felt the necessity of leading
him （if possible） into details。
〃Does 'Yes' mean that there is some sort of clew to the mystery？〃
I asked。 〃Something； for instance； which my eyes might see and my
hands mig ht touch if I could only find it？〃
He considered again。 I saw that I had succeeded in interesting
him in some way unknown to myself； and I waited patiently until
he was prepared to answer me。
〃The thing you mention；〃 he said； 〃the clew （as you call it）；
might be seen and might be touchedsupposing you could find it。〃
〃In this house？〃 I asked。
The Major advanced a step nearer to me； and answered
〃In this room。〃
My head began to swim； my heart throbbed violently。 I tried to
speak； it was in vain； the effort almost choked me。 In the
silence I could hear the music…lesson still going on in the room
above。 The future prima donna had done practicing her scales； and
was trying her voice now in selections from Italian operas。 At
the moment when I first heard her she was singing the beautiful
air from the _Somnambula；_ 〃Come per me sereno。〃 I never hear
that delicious melody； to this day； without being instantly
transported in imagination to the fatal back…room in Vivian
Place。
The Majorstrongly affected himself by this timewas the first
to break the silence。
〃Sit down again；〃 he said； 〃and pray take the easy…chair。 You are
very much agitated； you want rest。〃
He was right。 I could stand no longer； I dropped into the chair。
Major Fitz…David rang the bell； and spoke a few words to the
servant at the door。
〃I have been here a long time；〃 I said； faintly。 〃Tell me if I am
in the way。〃
〃In the way？〃 he repeated； with his irresistible smile。 〃You
forget that you are in your own house！〃
The servant returned to us； bringing with him a tiny bottle of
champagne and a plateful of delicate little sugared biscuits。
〃I have had this wine bottled expressly for the ladies；〃 said the
Major。 〃The biscuits came to me direct from Paris。 As a favor to
_me；_ you must take some refreshment。 And then〃 He stopped and
looked at me very attentively。 〃And then；〃 he resumed； 〃shall I
go to my young prima donna upstairs and leave you here alone？〃
It was impossible to hint more delicately at the one request
which I now had it in my mind to make to him。 I took his hand and
pressed it gratefully。
〃The tranquillity of my whole life to come is at stake；〃 I said。
〃When I am left here by myself； does your generous sympathy
permit me to examine everything in the room？〃
He signed to me to drink the champagne and eat a biscuit before
he gave his answer。
〃This is serious；〃 he said。 〃I wish you to be in perfect
possession of yourself 。 Restore your strengthand then I will
speak to you。〃
I did as he bade me。 In a minute from the time when I drank it
the delicious sparkling wine had begun to revive me。
〃Is it your express wish；〃 he resumed； 〃that I should leave you
here by yourself to search the room？〃
〃It is my express wish；〃 I answered。
〃I take a heavy responsibility on myself in granting your
request。 But I grant it for all that； because I sincerely
believeas you believethat the tranquillity of your life to
come depends on your discovering the truth。〃 Saying those words；
he took two keys from his pocket。 〃You will naturally feel a
suspicion；〃 he went on； 〃of any locked doors that you may find
here。 The only locked places in the room are the doors of the
cupboards under the long book…case； and the door of the Italian
cabinet in that corner。 The small key opens the book…case
cupboards； the long key opens the cabinet door。〃
With that explanation； he laid the keys before me on the table。
〃Thus far；〃 he said； 〃I have rigidly respected the promise which
I made to your husband。 I shall continue to be faithful to my
promise； whatever may be the result of your examination of the
room。 I am bound in honor not to assist you by word or deed。 I am
not even at liberty to offer you the slightest hint。 Is that
understood？〃
〃Certainly！〃
〃Very good。 I have now a last word of warning to give youand
then I have done。 If you do by any chance succeed in laying your
hand on the clew； remember this_the discovery which follows
will be a terribl