malvina of brittany-第20章
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friend。 〃Ten years ago I was younger than I am now。 It may have
been her youthher extreme beauty。 I think Mrs。 Hepworth； in
allowing her husband to visit herhere where her address is known
to the police； and watch at any moment may be set upon heris
placing him in a position of grave danger。 If you care to lay
before me any facts that will allow me to judge of the case； I am
prepared to put my experience； and； if need be； my assistance； at
her service。〃
His self…possession had returned to him。
〃If you will excuse me；〃 he said； 〃I will tell the boy that he can
go。〃
We heard him； a moment later； turn the key in the outer door； and
when he came back and had made up the fire； he told us the beginning
of the story。
The name of the man buried in Highgate Cemetery was Hepworth； after
all。 Not Michael； but Alex； the elder brother。
From boyhood he had been violent； brutal； unscrupulous。 Judging
from Ellenby's story； it was difficult to accept him as a product of
modern civilisation。 Rather he would seem to have been a throwback
to some savage； buccaneering ancestor。 To expect him to work； while
he could live in vicious idleness at somebody else's expense； was
found to be hopeless。 His debts were paid for about the third or
fourth time； and he was shipped off to the Colonies。 Unfortunately；
there were no means of keeping him there。 So soon as the money
provided him had been squandered； he returned； demanding more by
menaces and threats。 Meeting with unexpected firmness； he seems to
have regarded theft and forgery as the only alternative left to him。
To save him from punishment and the family name from disgrace； his
parents' savings were sacrificed。 It was grief and shame that；
according to Ellenby； killed them both within a few months of one
another。
Deprived by this blow of what he no doubt had come to consider his
natural means of support； and his sister； fortunately for herself；
being well out of his reach； he next fixed upon his brother Michael
as his stay…by。 Michael； weak； timid； and not perhaps without some
remains of boyish affection for a strong； handsome； elder brother；
foolishly yielded。 The demands； of course； increased； until； in the
end； it came almost as a relief when the man's vicious life led to
his getting mixed up with a crime of a particularly odious nature。
He was anxious now for his own sake to get away； and Michael； with
little enough to spare for himself； provided him with the means； on
the solemn understanding that he would never return。
But the worry and misery of it all had left young Michael a broken
man。 Unable to concentrate his mind any longer upon his profession；
his craving was to get away from all his old associationsto make a
fresh start in life。 It was Ellenby who suggested London and the
ship furnishing business； where Michael's small remaining capital
would be of service。 The name of Hepworth would be valuable in
shipping circles； and Ellenby； arguing this consideration； but
chiefly with the hope of giving young Michael more interest in the
business； had insisted that the firm should be Hepworth and Co。
They had not been started a year before the man returned； as usual
demanding more money。 Michael； acting under Ellenby's guidance；
refused in terms that convinced his brother that the game of
bullying was up。 He waited a while； and then wrote pathetically
that he was ill and starving。 If only for the sake of his young
wife； would not Michael come and see them？
This was the first they had heard of his marriage。 There was just a
faint hope that it might have effected a change； and Michael；
against Ellenby's advice； decided to go。 In a miserable
lodging…house in the East End he found the young wife； but not his
brother； who did not return till he was on the point of leaving。 In
the interval the girl seems to have confided her story to Michael。
She had been a singer； engaged at a music…hall in Rotterdam。 There
Alex Hepworth； calling himself Charlie Martin； had met her and made
love to her。 When he chose； he could be agreeable enough； and no
doubt her youth and beauty had given to his protestations； for the
time being； a genuine ring of admiration and desire。 It was to
escape from her surroundings； more than anything else； that she had
consented。 She was little more than a child； and anything seemed
preferable to the nightly horror to which her life exposed her。
He had never married her。 At least； that was her belief at the
time。 During his first drunken bout he had flung it in her face
that the form they had gone through was mere bunkum。 Unfortunately
for her； this was a lie。 He had always been coolly calculating。 It
was probably with the idea of a safe investment that he had seen to
it that the ceremony had been strictly legal。
Her life with him； so soon as the first novelty of her had worn off；
had been unspeakable。 The band that she wore round her neck was to
hide where； in a fit of savagery； because she had refused to earn
money for him on the streets； he had tried to cut her throat。 Now
that she had got back to England she intended to leave him。 If he
followed and killed her she did not care。
It was for her sake that young Hepworth eventually offered to help
his brother again； on the condition that he would go away by
himself。 To this the other agreed。 He seems to have given a short
display of remorse。 There must have been a grin on his face as he
turned away。 His cunning eyes had foreseen what was likely to
happen。 The idea of blackmail was no doubt in his mind from the
beginning。 With the charge of bigamy as a weapon in his hand； he
might rely for the rest of his life upon a steady and increasing
income。
Michael saw his brother off as a second…class passenger on a ship
bound for the Cape。 Of course； there was little chance of his
keeping his word； but there was always the chance of his getting
himself knocked on the head in some brawl。 Anyhow； he would be out
of the way for a season； and the girl； Lola； would be left。 A month
later he married her； and four months after that received a letter
from his brother containing messages to Mrs。 Martin； 〃from her
loving husband； Charlie；〃 who hoped before long to have the pleasure
of seeing her again。
Inquiries through the English Consul in Rotterdam proved that the
threat was no mere bluff。 The marriage had been legal and binding。
What happened on the night of the murder； was very much as my friend
had reconstructed it。 Ellenby； reaching the office at his usual
time the next morning； had found Hepworth waiting for him。 There he
had remained in hiding until one morning； with dyed hair and a
slight moustache； he had ventured forth。
Had the man's death been brought about by any other means； Ellenby
would have counselled his coming forward and facing his trial； as he
himself was anxious to do； but； viewed in conjunction with the
relief the man's death must have been to both of them； that loaded
revolver was too suggestive of premeditation。 The isolation of the
house； that conveniently near pond； would look as if thought of
beforehand。 Even if pleading extreme provocation； Michael escaped
the rope； a long term of penal servitude would be inevitable。
Nor was it certain that even then the woman would go free。 The
murdered man would still； by a strange freak； be her husband； the
murdererin the eye of the lawher lover。
Her passionate will had prevailed。 Young Hepworth had sailed for
America。 There he had no difficulty in obtaining employmentof
course； under another namein an architects office； and later had
set up for himself。 Since the night of the murder they had not seen
each other till some three weeks ago。
* * *
I never saw the woman again。 My friend； I believe； called on her。
Hepworth had already returned to America； and my friend had
succeeded in obtaining for her some sort of a police permit that
practically left her free。
Sometimes of an evening I find myself passing through the street。
And always I have the feeling of having blundered into an empty
theatrewhere the play is ended。
HIS EVENING
