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第67节

east lynne-第67节

小说: east lynne 字数: 每页4000字

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〃The life I lead is dreadful!〃 cried Richard。 〃I might make up my mind to toil; though that's hard; after being reared a gentleman; but to be an exile; banned; disgraced; afraid to show my face in broad daylight amidst my fellowmen; in dread every hour that the sword may fall! I would almost as soon be dead as continue to live it。〃

〃Well; you have got nobody to grumble at; you brought it upon yourself;〃 philosophically returned Miss Carlyle; as she opened the door to admit her brother。 〃You would go hunting after that brazen hussy; Afy; you know; in defiance of all that could be said to you。〃

〃That would not have brought it upon me;〃 said Richard。 〃It was through that fiend's having killed Hallijohn; that was what brought the ban upon me。〃

〃It's a most extraordinary thing; if anybody else /did/ kill him; that the facts can't be brought to light;〃 retorted Miss Carlyle。 〃Here you tell a cock…and…bull story of some man's having done it; some Thorn; but nobody ever saw or heard of him; at the time or since。 It looks like a made…up story; Mr。 Dick; to whiten yourself。〃

〃Made up!〃 panted Richard; in agitation; for it seemed cruel to him; especially in his present frame of mind; to have a doubt cast upon his tale。 〃It is Thorn who is setting the officers upon me。 I have seen him three or four times within the last fortnight。〃

〃And why did you not turn the tables; and set the officers upon him?〃 demanded Miss Carlyle。

〃Because it would lead to no good。 Where's the proof; save my bare word; that he committed the murder?〃

Miss Carlyle rubbed her nose。 〃Dick Hare;〃 said she。

〃Well?〃

〃You know you always were the greatest natural idiot that ever was let loose out of leading strings。〃

〃I know I always was told so。〃

〃And it's what you always will be。 If I were accused of committing a crime; which I knew another had committed and not myself; should I be such an idiot as not to give that other into custody if I got the chance? If you were not in such a cold; shivery; shaky state; I would treat you to a bit of my mind; you may rely upon that。〃

〃He was in league with Afy; at that period;〃 pursued Richard; 〃a deceitful; bad man; and he carries it in his countenance。 And he must be in league with her still; if she asserts that he was in her company at the moment the murder was committed。 Mr。 Carlyle says she does; that she told him so the other day; when she was here。 He never was; and it was he; and no other; who did the murder。〃

〃Yes;〃 burst forth Miss Carlyle; for the topic was sure to agitate her; 〃that Jezebel of brass did presume to come here! She chose her time well; and may thank her lucky stars I was not at home。 Archibald; he's a fool too; quite as bad a you are; Dick Hare; in some things actually suffered her to lodge here for two days! A vain; ill… conducted hussy; given to nothing but finery and folly!〃

〃Afy said that she knew nothing of Thorn's movements now; Richard; and had not for some time;〃 interposed Mr。 Carlyle; allowing his sister's compliments to pass in silence。 〃She heard a rumor; she thought; that he had gone abroad with his regiment。〃

〃So much the better for her; if she does know nothing of him; sir;〃 was Richard's comment。 〃I can answer for it that he is not abroad; but in England。〃

〃And where are you going to lodge to…night?〃 abruptly spoke Miss Carlyle; confronting Richard。

〃I don't know;〃 was the broken…spirited answer; sighed forth。 〃If I lay myself down in a snowdrift; and am found frozen in the morning; it won't be of much moment。〃

〃Was that what you thought of doing?〃 returned Miss Carlyle。

〃No;〃 he mildly said。 〃What I thought of doing was to ask Mr。 Carlyle for the loan of a few shillings; and then I can get a bed。 I know a place where I shall be in safety; two or three miles from here。〃

〃Richard; I would not turn a dog out to go two or three miles on such a night as this;〃 impulsively uttered Mr。 Carlyle。 〃You must stop here。〃

〃Indeed I don't see how he is to get up to a bedroom; or how a room is to be made ready for him; for the matter of that; without betraying his presence to the servants;〃 snapped Miss Carlyle。 And poor Richard laid his aching head upon his hands。

But now Miss Carlyle's manner was more in fault than her heart。 Will it be believed that; before speaking the above ungracious words; before Mr。 Carlyle had touched upon the subject; she had been casting about in her busy mind for the best plan of keeping Richardhow it could be accomplished。

〃One thing is certain;〃 she resumed; 〃that it will be impossible for you to sleep here without its being known to Joyce。 And I suppose you and Joyce are upon the friendly terms of drawing daggers; for she believes you were the murderer of her father。〃

〃Let me disabuse her;〃 interrupted Richard; his pale lips working as he started up。 〃Allow me to see her and convince her; Mr。 Carlyle。 Why did you not tell Joyce better?〃

〃There's that small room at the back of mine;〃 said Miss Carlyle; returning to the practical part of the subject。 〃He might sleep there。 But Joyce must be taken in confidence。〃

〃Joyce had better come in;〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。 〃I will say a word to her first。〃

He unlocked the door and quitted the room。 Miss Carlyle as jealously locked it again; called to Joyce and beckoned her into the adjoining apartment。 He knew that Joyce's belief in the guilt of Richard Hare was confirmed and strong; but he must uproot that belief if Richard was to be lodged in his house that night。

〃Joyce;〃 he began; 〃you remember how thoroughly imbued with the persuasion you were; that Afy went off with Richard Hare; and was living with him。 I several times expressed my doubts upon the point。 The fact was; I had positive information that she was not with him; and never had been; though I considered it expedient to keep my information to myself。 You are convinced now that she was not with him?〃

〃Of course I am; sir。〃

〃Well; you see; Joyce; that my opinion would have been worth listening to。 Now I am going to shake your belief upon another point; and if I assure you that I have equally good grounds for doing so; you will believe me?〃

〃I am quite certain; sir; that you would state nothing but what was true; and I know that your judgment is sound;〃 was Joyce's answer。

〃Then I must tell you that I do not believe it was Richard Hare who murdered your father。〃

〃/Sir/!〃 uttered Joyce; amazed out of her senses。

〃I believe Richard Hare to be as innocent of the murder as you or I;〃 he deliberately repeated。 〃I have held grounds for this opinion; Joyce; for many years。〃

〃Then; sir; who did it?〃

〃Afy's other lover。 That dandy fellow; Thorn; as I truly believe。〃

〃And you say you have grounds; sir?〃 Joyce asked; after a pause。

〃Good grounds; and I tell you I have been in possession of them for years。 I should be glad for you to think as I do。〃

〃But; sir; if Richard Hare was innocent; why did he run away?〃

〃Ah; why; indeed! It is that which has done the mischief。 His own weak cowardice was in fault。 He feared to come back; and he felt that he could not remove the odium of circumstances。 Joyce I should like you to see him and hear his story。〃

〃There is not much chance of that; sir。 I dare say he will never venture here again。〃

〃He is here now。〃

Joyce looked up; considerably startled。

〃Here; in this house;〃 repeated Mr。 Carlyle。 〃He has taken shelter in it; and for the few hours that he will remain; we must extend our hospitality and protection to him; concealing him in the best manner we can。 I thought it well that this confidence should be reposed in you; Joyce。 Come now and see him。〃

Considering that it was a subdued interviewthe voices subdued; I meanit was a confused one。 Richard talking vehemently; Joyce asking question after question; Miss Carlyle's tongue going as fast as theirs。 The only silent one was Mr。 Carlyle。 Joyce could not refuse to believe protestations so solemn; and her suspicions veered round upon Captain Thorn。

〃And now about the bed;〃 interjected Miss Carlyle; impatiently。 〃Where's he to sleep; Joyce? The only safe room that I know of will be the one through mine。〃

〃He can't sleep there; ma'am。 Don't you know that the key of the door was lost last week; and we cannot open it?〃

〃So much the better。 He'll be all the safer。〃

〃But how is he to get in?〃

〃To get in? Why; through my room; of course。 Doesn't mine open to it; stupid?〃

〃Oh; well; ma'am; if you would like him to go through yours; that's different。〃

〃Why shouldn't he go through? Do you suppose I mind young Dick Hare? Not I; indeed;〃 she irascibly continued。 〃I only wish he was young enough for me to flog him as I used to; that's all。 He deserves it as much as anybody ever did; playing the fool; as he has done; in all ways。 I shall be in bed; with the curtains drawn; and his passing through won't harm me; and my lying there won't harm him。 Stand on ceremony with Dick Hare! What next; I wonder?〃

Joyce made no reply to this energetic speech; but at once retired to prepare the room for Richard。 Miss Carlyle soon followed。 Having made everything ready; Joyce returned。

〃The room is ready; sir;〃 she whispered; 〃and all the household are in bed。〃

〃Then now's your time;

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