the queen of hearts-第24章

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flaxen　hair；　with　a　gold…yellow　streak　in　itall　right；
motherfair　white　arms；　with　a　down　on　themlittle　lady's　hand；
with　a　reddish　look　under　the　finger　nails。　The　knifealways　the
cursed　knifefirst　on　one　side；　then　on　the　other。　Aha！　you
she…devil；　where's　the　knife？〃

At　the　last　word　his　voice　rose；　and　he　grew　restless　on　a
sudden。　I　saw　him　shudder　on　the　straw；　his　withered　face　became
distorted；　and　he　threw　up　both　his　hands　with　a　quick　hysterical
gasp。　They　struck　against　the　bottom　of　the　manger　under　which　he
lay；　and　the　blow　awakened　him。　I　had　just　time　to　slip　through
the　door　and　close　it　before　his　eyes　were　fairly　open；　and　his
senses　his　own　again。

〃Do　you　know　anything　about　that　man's　past　life？〃　I　said　to　the
landlord。

〃Yes；　sir；　I　know　pretty　well　all　about　it；〃　was　the　answer；　〃and
an　uncommon　queer　story　it　is。　Most　people　don't　believe　it。　It's
true；　though；　for　all　that。　Why；　just　look　at　him；〃　continued　the
landlord；　opening　the　stable　door　again。　〃Poor　devil！　he's　so
worn　out　with　his　restless　nights　that　he's　dropped　back　into　his
sleep　already。〃

〃Don't　wake　him；〃　I　said；　〃I'm　in　no　hurry　for　the　gig。　Wait　till
the　other　man　comes　back　from　his　errand；　and；　in　the　meantime；
suppose　I　have　some　lunch　and　a　bottle　of　sherry；　and　suppose　you
come　and　help　me　to　get　through　it？〃

The　heart　of　mine　host；　as　I　had　anticipated；　warmed　to　me　over
his　own　wine。　He　soon　became　communicative　on　the　subject　of　the
man　asleep　in　the　stable；　and　by　little　and　little　I　drew　the
whole　story　out　of　him。　Extravagant　and　incredible　as　the　events
must　appear　to　everybody；　they　are　related　here　just　as　I　heard
them　and　just　as　they　happened。

CHAPTER　II。

SOME　years　ago　there　lived　in　the　suburbs　of　a　large　seaport　town
on　the　west　coast　of　England　a　man　in　humble　circumstances；　by
name　Isaac　Scatchard。　His　means　of　subsistence　were　derived　from
any　employment　that　he　could　get　as　an　hostler；　and　occasionally；
when　times　went　well　with　him；　from　temporary　engagements　in
service　as　stable…helper　in　private　houses。　Though　a　faithful；
steady；　and　honest　man；　he　got　on　badly　in　his　calling。　His　ill
luck　was　proverbial　among　his　neighbors。　He　was　always　missing
good　opportunities　by　no　fault　of　his　own；　and　always　living
longest　in　service　with　amiable　people　who　were　not　punctual
payers　of　wages。　〃Unlucky　Isaac〃　was　his　nickname　in　his　own
neighborhood；　and　no　one　could　say　that　he　did　not　richly　deserve
it。

With　far　more　than　one　man's　fair　share　of　adversity　to　endure；
Isaac　had　but　one　consolation　to　support　him；　and　that　was　of　the
dreariest　and　most　negative　kind。　He　had　no　wife　and　children　to
increase　his　anxieties　and　add　to　the　bitterness　of　his　various
failures　in　life。　It　might　have　been　from　mere　insensibility；　or
it　might　have　been　from　generous　unwillingness　to　involve　another
in　his　own　unlucky　destiny；　but　the　fact　undoubtedly　was；　that　he
had　arrived　at　the　middle　term　of　life　without　marrying；　and；
what　is　much　more　remarkable；　without　once　exposing　himself；　from
eighteen　to　eight…and…thirty；　to　the　genial　imputation　of　ever
having　had　a　sweetheart。

When　he　was　out　　of　service　he　lived　alone　with　his　widowed
mother。　Mrs。　Scatchard　was　a　woman　above　the　average　in　her　lowly
station　as　to　capacity　and　manners。　She　had　seen　better　days；　as
the　phrase　is；　but　she　never　referred　to　them　in　the　presence　of
curious　visitors；　and；　though　perfectly　polite　to　every　one　who
approached　her；　never　cultivated　any　intimacies　among　her
neighbors。　She　contrived　to　provide；　hardly　enough；　for　her
simple　wants　by　doing　rough　work　for　the　tailors；　and　always
managed　to　keep　a　decent　home　for　her　son　to　return　to　whenever
his　ill　luck　drove　him　out　helpless　into　the　world。

One　bleak　autumn　when　Isaac　was　getting　on　fast　toward　forty　and
when　he　was　as　usual　out　of　place　through　no　fault　of　his　own；　he
set　forth；　from　his　mother's　cottage　on　a　long　walk　inland　to　a
gentleman's　seat　where　he　had　heard　that　a　stable…helper　was
required。

It　wanted　then　but　two　days　of　his　birthday；　and　Mrs。　Scatchard；
with　her　usual　fondness；　made　him　promise；　before　he　started；
that　he　would　be　back　in　time　to　keep　that　anniversary　with　her；
in　as　festive　a　way　as　their　poor　means　would　allow。　It　was　easy
for　him　to　comply　with　this　request；　even　supposing　he　slept　a
night　each　way　on　the　road。

He　was　to　start　from　home　on　Monday　morning；　and；　whether　he　got
the　new　place　or　not；　he　was　to　be　back　for　his　birthday　dinner
on　Wednesday　at　two　o'clock。

Arriving　at　his　destination　too　late　on　the　Monday　night　to　make
application　for　the　stablehelper's　place；　he　slept　at　the　village
inn；　and　in　good　time　on　the　Tuesday　morning　presented　himself　at
the　gentleman's　house　to　fill　the　vacant　situation。　Here　again
his　ill　luck　pursued　him　as　inexorably　as　ever。　The　excellent
written　testimonials　to　his　character　which　he　was　able　to
produce　availed　him　nothing；　his　long　walk　had　been　taken　in
vain：　only　the　day　before　the　stable…helper's　place　had　been
given　to　another　man。

Isaac　accepted　this　new　disappointment　resignedly　and　as　a　matter
of　course。　Naturally　slow　in　capacity；　he　had　the　bluntness　of
sensibility　and　phlegmatic　patience　of　disposition　which
frequently　distinguish　men　with　sluggishly…working　mental　powers。
He　thanked　the　gentleman's　steward　with　his　usual　quiet　civility
for　granting　him　an　interview；　and　took　his　departure　with　no
appearance　of　unusual　depression　in　his　face　or　manner。

Before　starting　on　his　homeward　walk　he　made　some　inquiries　at
the　inn；　and　ascertained　that　he　might　save　a　few　miles　on　his
return　by　following　the　new　road。　Furnished　with　full
instructions；　several　times　repeated；　as　to　the　various　turnings
he　was　to　take；　he　set　forth　on　his　homeward　journey　and　walked
on　all　day　with　only　one　stoppage　for　bread　and　cheese。　Just　as
it　was　getting　toward　dark；　the　rain　came　on　and　the　wind　began
to　rise；　and　he　found　himself；　to　make　matters　worse；　in　a　part
of　the　country　with　which　he　was　entirely　unacquainted；　though　he
knew　himself　to　be　some　fifteen　miles　from　home。　The　first　house
he　found　to　inquire　at　was　a　lonely　roadside　inn；　standing　on　the
outskirts　of　a　thick　wood。　Solitary　as　the　place　looked；　it　was
welcome　to　a　lost　man　who　was　also　hungry；　thirsty；　footsore　and
wet。　The　landlord　was　civil　and　respectable…looking；　and　the
price　he　asked　for　a　bed　was　reasonable　enough。　Isaac　therefore
decided　on　stopping　comfortably　at　the　inn　for　that　night。

He　was　constitutionally　a　temperate　man。

His　supper　consisted　of　two　rashers　of　bacon；　a　slice　of
home…made　bread　and　a　pint　of　ale。　He　did　not　go　to　bed
immediately　after　this　moderate　meal；　but　sat　up　with　the
landlord；　talking　about　his　bad　prospects　and　his　long　run　of
ill…luck；　and　diverging　from　these　topics　to　the　subjects　of
horse…flesh　and　racing。　Nothing　was　said　either　by　himself；　his
host；　or　the　few　laborers　who　strayed　into　the　tap…room；　which
could；　in　the　slightest　degree；　excite　the　very　small　and　very
dull　imaginative　faculty　which　Isaac　Scatchard　possessed。

At　a　little　after　eleven　the　house　was　closed。　Isaac　went　round
with　the　landlord　and　held　the　candle　while　the　doors　and　lower
windows　were　being　secured。　He　noticed　with　surprise　the　strength
of　the　bolts　and　bars；　and　iron…sheathed　shutters。

〃You　see；　we　are　rather　lonely　here；〃　said　the　landlord。　〃We
never　have　had　any　attempts　made　to　break　in　yet；　but　it's　always
as　well　to　be　on　the　safe　side。　When　nobody　is　sleeping　here；　I
am　the　only　man　in　the　house。　My　wife　and　daughter　are　timid；　and
the　servant…girl　takes　after　her　missuses。　Another　glass　of　ale
before　you　turn　in？　No！　Well；　how　such　a　sober　man　as　you　comes
to　be　out　of　place　is　more　than　I　can　make　out；　for　one。　Here's
where　you're　to　sleep。　You're　our　only　lodger　to…night；　and　I
think　you'll　say　my　missus　has　done　her　best　to　make　you
comfortable。　You're　quite　sure　you　won't　have　another　glass　of
ale？　Very　well。　Good…night。〃

It　was　half…past　eleven　by　the　clock　in　the　passage　as　they　went
upstairs　to　the　bedroom；　the　window　of　which　looked　on　to　the
wood　at　the　ba