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！
Armadale
by Wilkie Collins
TO
JOHN FORSTER。
In acknowledgment of the services which he has rendered to the
cause of literature by his 〃Life of Goldsmith；〃 and in
affectionate remembrance of a friendship which is associated with
some of the happiest years of my life。
READERS in generalon whose friendly reception experience has
given me some reason to relywill； I venture to hope； appreciate
whatever merit there may be in this story without any prefatory
pleading for it on my part。 They will； I think； see that it has
not been hastily meditated or idly wrought out。 They will judge
it accordingly； and I ask no more。
Readers in particular will； I have some reason to suppose； be
here and there disturbed； perhaps even offended； by finding that
〃Armadale〃 oversteps； in more than one direction； the narrow
limits within which they are disposed to restrict the development
of modern fictionif they can。
Nothing that I could say to these persons here would help me with
them as Time will help me if my work lasts。 I am not afraid of my
design being permanently misunderstood； provided the execution
has done it any sort of justice。 Estimated by the clap…trap
morality of the present day； this may be a very daring book。
Judged by the Christian morality which is of all time； it is only
a book that is daring enough to speak the truth。
LONDON； April； 1866。
ARMADALE。
PROLOGUE。
CHAPTER I。
THE TRAVELERS。
IT was the opening of the season of eighteen hundred and
thirty…two； at the Baths of WILDBAD。
The evening shadows were beginning to gather over the quiet
little German town； and the diligence was expected every minute。
Before the door of the principal inn； waiting the arrival of the
first visitors of the year； were assembled the three notable
personages of Wildbad； accompanied by their wivesthe mayor；
representing the inhabitants； the doctor； representing the
waters； the landlord； representing his own establishment。 Beyond
this select circle； grouped snugly about the trim little square
in front of the inn； appeared the towns…people in general； mixed
here and there with the country people； in their quaint German
costume； placidly expectant of the diligencethe men in short
black jackets； tight black breeches； and three…cornered beaver
hats； the women with their long light hair hanging in one thickly
plaited tail behind them； and the waists of their short woolen
gowns inserted modestly in the region of their shoulder…blades。
Round the outer edge of the assemblage thus formed； flying
detachments of plump white…headed children careered in perpetual
motion； while； mysteriously apart from the rest of the
inhabitants； the musicians of the Baths stood collected in one
lost corner； waiting the appearance of the first visitors to play
the first tune of the season in the form of a serenade。 The light
of a May evening was still bright on the tops of the great wooded
hills watching high over the town on the right hand and the left；
and the cool breeze that comes before sunset came keenly fragrant
here with the balsamic odor of the first of the Black Forest。
〃Mr。 Landlord；〃 said the mayor's wife （giving the landlord his
title）； 〃have you any foreign guests coming on this first day of
the season？〃
〃Madame Mayoress；〃 replied the landlord （returning the
compliment）； 〃I have two。 They have writtenthe one by the hand
of his servant； the other by his own hand apparentlyto order
their rooms； and they are from England； both； as I think by their
names。 If you ask me to pronounce those names； my tongue
hesitates； if you ask me to spell them； here they are； letter by
letter； first and second in their order as they come。 First； a
high…born stranger （by title Mister） who introduces himself in
eight letters； A； r； m； a； d； a； l； eand comes ill in his own
carriage。 Second； a high…born stranger （by title Mister also）；
who introduces himself in four lettersN； e； a； land comes ill
in the diligence。 His excellency of the eight letters writes to
me （by his servant） in French； his excellency of the four letters
writes to me in German。 The rooms of both are ready。 I know no
more。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested the mayor's wife； 〃Mr。 Doctor has heard from
one or both of these illustrious strangers？〃
〃From one only； Madam Mayoress； but not； strictly speaking； from
the person himself。 I have received a medical report of his
excellency of the eight letters； and his case seems a bad one。
God help him！〃
〃The diligence！〃 cried a child from the outskirts of the crowd。
The musicians seized their instruments； and silence fell on the
whole community。 From far away in the windings of the forest
gorge； the ring of horses' bells came faintly clear through the
evening stillness。 Which carriage was approachingthe private
carriage with Mr。 Armadale； or the public carriage with Mr。 Neal？
〃Play； my friends！〃 cried the mayor to the musicians。 〃Public or
private； here are the first sick people of the season。 Let them
find us cheerful。〃
The band played a lively dance tune； and the children in the
square footed it merrily to the music。 At the same moment； their
elders near the inn door drew aside； and disclosed the first
shadow of gloom that fell over the gayety and beauty of the
scene。 Through the opening made on either hand； a little
procession of stout country girls advanced； each drawing after
her an empty chair on wheels； each in waiting （and knitting while
she waited） for the paralyzed wretches who came helpless by
hundreds thenwho come helpless by thousands nowto the waters
of Wildbad for relief。
While the band played； while the children danced； while the buzz
of many talkers deepened； while the strong young nurses of the
coming cripples knitted impenetrably； a woman's insatiable
curiosity about other women asserted itself in the mayor's wife。
She drew the landlady aside； and whispered a question to her on
the spot。
〃A word more； ma'am；〃 said the mayor's wife； 〃about the two
strangers from England。 Are their letters explicit？ Have they got
any ladies with them？〃
〃The one by the diligenceno；〃 replied the landlady。 〃But the
one by the private carriageyes。 He comes with a child； he comes
with a nurse； and；〃 concluded the landlady； skillfully keeping
the main point of interest till the last； 〃he comes with a Wife。〃
The mayoress brightened； the doctoress （assisting at the
conference） brightened； the landlady nodded significantly。 In the
minds of all three the same thought started into life at the same
moment〃We shall see the Fashions！ 〃
In a minute more； there was a sudden movement in the crowd； and a
chorus of voices proclaimed that the travelers were at hand。
By this time the coming vehicle was in sight； and all further
doubt was at an end。 It was the diligence that now approached by
the long street leading into the squarethe diligence （in a
dazzling new coat of yellow paint） that delivered the first
visitors of the season at the inn door。 Of the ten travelers
released from the middle compartment and the back compartment of
the carriageall from various parts of Germanythree were
lifted out helpless； and were placed in the chairs on wheels to
be drawn to their lodgings in the town。 The front compartment
contained two passengers onlyMr。 Neal and his traveling
servant。 With an arm on either side to assist him； the stranger
（whose malady appeared to be locally confined to a lameness in
one of his feet） succeeded in descending the steps of the
carriage easily enough。 While he steadied himself on the pavement
by the help of his sticklooking not over…patiently toward the
musicians who were serenading him with the waltz in 〃Der
Freischutz〃his personal appearance rather damped the enthusiasm
of the friendly little circle assembled to welcome him。 He was a
lean； tall； serious； middle…aged man； with a cold gray eye and a
long upper lip； with overhanging eyebrows and high cheek…bones； a
man who looked what he wasevery inch a Scotchman。
〃Where is the proprietor of this hotel？〃 he asked； speaking in
the German language； with a fluent readiness of expression； and
an icy coldnes s of manner。 〃Fetch the doctor；〃 he continued；
when the landlord had presented himself； 〃I want to see him
immediately。〃
〃I am here already； sir；〃 said the doctor； advancing from the
circle of friends； 〃and my services are entirely at your
disposal。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Mr。 Neal； looking at the doctor； as the rest of
us look at a dog when we have whistled and the dog has come。 〃I
shall be glad to consult you to…morrow morning； at ten o'clock；
about my own case。 I only want to trouble you now with a message
which I have undertaken to deliver。 We overtook a traveling
carriage on the road here with a gentleman in itan Englishman；
I believewho appeared to be seriously ill。 A lady who was with
him begged me to see you immediately on my arrival； and to secure
your professional assistance in removing the patient from the
carriage。 Their courier has met with an accident； and has been
left behind on the road； and they are obliged to travel very
slowly。 If you are here in an hour； you will be here in time to
receive them。 That is the messa