east lynne-第50节

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ur　hat。〃

Richard　complied　by　putting　his　hat　on　his　head；　pulling　it　so　low　that　it　touched　his　nose。　He　felt　himself　safer　in　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　showed　him　into　Mr。　Dill's　room；　and　then　turned　the　key　upon　him；　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。　Whether　this　precautionary　measure　was　intended　to　prevent　any　possibility　of　Captain　Thorn's　finding　his　way　in；　or　of　Richard's　finding　his　way　out；　was　best　known　to　himself。

Mr。　Carlyle　came　to　the　front　door；　opened　it；　and　admitted　Captain　Thorn。　He　brought　him　into　the　clerk's　office；　which　was　bright　with　gas；　keeping　him　in　conversation　for　a　few　minutes　standing；　and　then　asking　him　to　be　seatedall　in　full　view　of　the　little　window。

〃I　must　beg　your　pardon；　for　being　late；〃　Captain　Thorn　observed。　〃I　am　half　an　hour　beyond　the　time　you　mentioned；　but　the　Herberts　had　two　or　three　friends　at　dinner；　and　I　could　not　get　away。　I　hope；　Mr。　Carlyle；　you　have　not　come　to　your　office　to…night　purposely　for　me。〃

〃Business　must　be　attended　to；〃　somewhat　evasively　answered　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃I　have　been　out　myself　nearly　all　day。　We　received　a　communication　from　London　this　morning；　relative　to　your　affair；　and　I　am　sorry　to　say　anything　but　satisfactory。　They　will　not　wait。〃

〃But　I　am　not　liable；　Mr。　Carlyle；　not　liable　in　justice。〃

〃Noif　what　you　tell　me　be　correct。　But　justice　and　law　are　sometimes　in　opposition；　Captain　Thorn。〃

Captain　Thorn　sat　in　perplexity。　〃They　will　not　get　me　arrested　here；　will　they？〃

〃They　would　have　done　it；　beyond　doubt；　but　I　have　caused　a　letter　to　be　written　and　dispatched　to　them；　which　must　bring　forth　an　answer　before　any　violent　proceedings　are　taken。　That　answer　will　be　here　the　morning　after　to…morrow。〃

〃And　what　am　I　do　to　then？〃

〃I　think　it　is　probable　there　may　be　a　way　of　checkmating　them。　But　I　am　not　sure；　Captain　Thorn；　that　I　can　give　my　attention　further　to　this　affair。〃

〃I　hope　and　trust　you　will；〃　was　the　reply。

〃You　have　not　forgotten　that　I　told　you　at　first　I　could　not　promise　to　do　so；〃　rejoined　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃You　shall　hear　from　me　to…morrow。　If　I　carry　it　on　for　you；　I　will　then　appoint　an　hour　for　you　to　be　here　on　the　following　day；　if　notwhy；　I　dare　say　you　will　find　a　solicitor　as　capable　of　assisting　you　as　I　am。〃

〃But　why　will　you　not？　What　is　the　reason？〃

〃I　cannot　always　give　reasons　for　what　I　do；〃　was　the　response。　〃You　will　hear　from　me　to…morrow。〃

He　rose　as　he　spoke；　Captain　Thorn　also　rose。　Mr。　Carlyle　detained　him　yet　a　few　moments；　and　then　saw　him　out　at　the　front　door　and　fastened　it。

He　returned　and　released　Richard。　The　latter　took　off　his　hat　as　he　advanced　into　the　blaze　of　light。

〃Well；　Richard；　is　it　the　same　man？〃

〃No；　sir。　Not　in　the　least　like　him。〃

Mr。　Carlyle；　though　little　given　to　emotion；　felt　a　strange　relief　relief　for　Captain　Thorn's　sake。　He　had　rarely　seen　one　whom　he　could　so　little　associate　with　the　notion　of　a　murderer　as　Captain　Thorn；　and　he　was　a　man　who　exceedingly　won　upon　the　regard。　He　would　heartily　help　him　out　of　his　dilemma　now。

〃Excepting　that　they　are　both　tall；　with　nearly　the　same　color　of　hair；　there　is　no　resemblance　whatever　between　them；〃　proceeded　Richard。　〃Their　faces；　their　figures；　are　as　opposite　as　light　is　from　dark。　That　other；　in　spite　of　his　handsome　features；　had　the　expression　at　times　of　a　demon；　but　this　one's　expression　is　the　best　part　of　his　face。　Hallijohn's　murderer　had　a　curious　look　here；　sir。〃

〃Where？〃　questioned　Mr。　Carlyle；　for　Richard　had　only　pointed　to　his　face　generally。

〃WellI　cannot　say　precisely　where　it　lay；　whether　in　the　eyebrows　or　the　eyes；　I　could　not　tell　when　I　used　to　have　him　before　me；　but　it　was　in　one　of　them。　Ah；　Mr。　Carlyle；　I　thought；　when　Barbara　told　me　Thorn　was　here；　it　was　too　good　news　to　be　true；　depend　upon　it；　he　won't　venture　to　West　Lynne　again。　This　man　is　no　more　like　that　other　villain　than　you　are　like　him。〃

〃Thenas　that　is　set　at　restwe　had　better　be　going；　Richard。　You　have　to　see　your　mother；　and　she　must　be　waiting　in　anxiety。　How　much　money　do　you　want？〃

〃Twenty…five　pounds　would　do；　but〃　Richard　stopped　in　hesitation。

〃But　what？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Speak　out；　Richard。〃

〃Thirty　would　be　more　welcome。　Thirty　would　put　me　at　ease。〃

〃You　shall　take　thirty；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　counting　out　the　notes　to　him。　〃Nowwill　you　walk　with　me　to　the　grove；　or　will　you　walk　alone？　I　mean　to　see　you　there　in　safety。〃

Richard　thought　he　would　prefer　to　walk　alone；　everybody　they　met　might　be　speaking　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　latter　inquired　why　he　chose　moonlight　nights　for　his　visits。

〃It　is　pleasanter　for　travelling。　And　had　I　chosen　dark　nights；　Barbara　could　not　have　seen　my　signal　from　the　trees；〃　was　the　answer　of　Richard。

They　went　out　and　proceeded　unmolested　to　the　house　of　Justice　Hare。　It　was　past　nine；　then。　〃I　am　so　much　obliged　to　you　Mr。　Carlyle；〃　whispered　Richard；　as　they　walked　up　the　path。

〃I　wish　I　could　help　you　more　effectually；　Richard；　and　clear　up　the　mystery。　Is　Barbara　on　the　watch？　Yes；　there's　the　door　slowly　opening。〃

Richard　stole　across　the　hall　and　into　the　parlor　to　his　mother。　Barbara　approached　and　softly　whispered　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　standing；　just　outside　the　portico；　her　voice　trembled　with　the　suspense　of　what　the　answer　might　be。

〃Is　it　the　same　manthe　same　Thorn？〃

〃No。　Richard　says　this　man　bears　no　resemblance　to　the　real　one。〃

〃Oh！〃　uttered　Barbara；　in　her　surprise　and　disappointment。　〃Not　the　same！　And　for　the　best　part　of　poor　Richard's　evening　to　have　been　taken　up　for　nothing。〃

〃Not　quite　nothing；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　question　is　now　set　at　rest。〃

〃Set　at　rest！〃　repeated　Barbara。　〃It　is　left　in　more　uncertainty　than　ever。〃

〃Set　at　rest　so　far　as　regards　Captain　Thorn。　And　whilst　our　suspicions　were　concentrated　upon　him；　we　thought　not　of　looking　to　other　quarters。〃

When　they　entered　the　sitting…room　Mrs。　Hare　was　crying　over　Richard；　and　Richard　was　crying　over　her；　but　she　seized　the　hand　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃You　have　been　very　kind；　I　don't　know　whatever　we　should　do　without　you。　And　I　want　to　tax　your　kindness　further。　Has　Barbara　mentioned　it？〃

〃I　could　not　talk　in　the　hall；　mamma；　the　servants　might　have　overheard。〃

〃Mr。　Hare　is　not　well；　and　we　terribly　fear　he　will　be　home　early；　in　consequence；　otherwise　we　should　have　been　quite　safe　until　after　ten；　for　he　is　gone　to　the　Buck's　Head；　and　they　never　leave；　you　know；　till　that　hour　has　struck。　Should　he　come　in　and　see　Richardoh；　I　need　not　enlarge　upon　the　consequences　to　you；　Archibald；　the　very　thought　sends　me　into　a　shiver。　Barbara　and　I　have　been　discussing　it　all　the　evening；　and　we　can　only　think　of　one　plan；　it　is；　that　you　will　kindly　stay　in　the　garden；　near　the　gate；　and；　should　he　come　in；　stop　him；　and　keep　him　in　conversation。　Barbara　will　be　with　you；　and　will　run　in　with　the　warning；　and　Richard　can　go　inside　the　closet　in　the　hall　till　Mr。　Hare　has　entered　and　is　safe　in　this　room；　and　then　he　can　make　his　escape。　Will　you　do　this；　Archibald？〃

〃Certainly　I　will。〃

〃I　cannot　part　with　him　before　ten　o'clock；　unless　I　am　forced；〃　she　whispered；　pressing　Mr。　Carlyle's　hands；　in　her　earnest　gratitude。　〃You　don't　know　what　it　is；　Archibald；　to　have　a　lost　son　home　for　an　hour　but　once　in　seven　years。　At　ten　o'clock　we　will　part。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　and　Barbara　began　to　pace　in　the　path　in　compliance　with　the　wish　of　Mrs。　Hare；　keeping　near　the　entrance　gate。　When　they　were　turning　the　second　time；　Mr。　Carlyle　offered　her　his　arm；　it　was　an　act　of　mere　politeness。　Barbara　took　it；　and　there　they　waited　and　waited；　but　the　justice　did　not　come。

Punctually　to　the　minute；　half　after　nine；　Lady　Isabel's　carriage　arrived　at　Mrs。　Jefferson's；　and　she　came　out　immediatelya　headache　being　the　plea　for　her　early　departure。　She　had　not　far　to　go　to　reach　East　Lynneabout　two　milesand　it　was　a　by…road　nearly　all　the　way。　They　could　emerge　into　the　open　road；　if　they　pleased；　but　it　was　a　trifle　further。　Suddenly　a　gentleman　approached　the　carriage　as　it　was　bowling　along；　and　waved　his　hand　to　the　coachman　to　pull　up。　In　spite　of　the　glowing　moonlight；　Lady　Isabel　did　not　at　first　recognize　him；　for　he　wore　a　disfigured　fur　cap；　the　ears　of　which　were　tied　over　his　ears　and　cheeks。　It　was　Francis　Levison。　She　put　down　the　window。

〃I　thought　it　must　be　your　carriage。　How　early　you　are　returning！　Were　you　tired　of　your　entertainers？〃

〃Why；　he　knew　what　time　my　lady　was　returning；〃　thought　John　to　himself；　〃he　asked　me。　A　false　sort　of　a　chap　that；　I've　a　notion。〃

〃I　came　out　for　a　midnight　stroll；　and　have　tired　myself；〃　he　proceeded。　〃Will　you　take　compassion　on　me；　and　give　me　a　seat　home？〃

She　acquiesced。　She　could　not　do　otherwise。　The　footman　sprang　from　behind　the　door；　and　Francis　Levison　took　his　place　beside　Lady　Isabel。　〃Take　the　high　road；〃　he　put　out　his　head　to　say　to　the　coachman；　and　the　man　touched　his　hatwhich　high　road　would　cause　them　to　pass　Mr。　Hare's。

〃I　did　not　know　you；〃　she　began；　gathering　herself　into　her　own　corner。　〃What　ugly　thing　is　that　you　have　on？　It　is　like　a　disguise。〃

He　was　taking　off　the　〃ugly　thing〃　as　she　spoke　and　began　to　twirl　it　round　his　hand。　〃Disguise？　Oh；　no；　I