the queen of hearts-第33章
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much at my ease in his society as if he had been my own brother。
The first of these eccentricities consisted in the reappearance
on several occasions of the odd expression in his eyes which I
had first seen when he asked me whether I knew anything about the
duel。 No matter what we were talking about； or where we happened
to be； there were times when he would suddenly look away from my
face； now on one side of me； now on the other； but always where
there was nothing to see； and always with the same intensity and
fierceness in his eyes。 This looked so like madnessor
hypochondria at the leastthat I felt afraid to ask him about
it； and always pretended not to observe him。
The second peculiarity in his conduct was that he never referred；
while in my company； to the reports about his errand at Naples；
and never once spoke of Miss Elmslie； or of his life at Wincot
Abbey。 This not only astonished me； but amazed those who had
noticed our intimacy； and who had made sure that I must be the
depositary of all his secrets。 But the time was near at hand when
this mystery； and some other mysteries of which I had no
suspicion at that period； were all to be revealed。
I met him one night at a large ball； given by a Russian nobleman；
whose name I could not pronounce then； and cannot remember now。 I
had wandered away from reception…room； ballroom； and cardroom； to
a small apartment at one extremity of the palace； which was half
conservatory； half boudoir； and which had been prettily
illuminated for the occasion with Chinese lanterns。 Nobody was in
the room when I got there。 The view over the Mediterranean；
bathed in the bright softness of Italian moonlight； was so lovely
that I remained for a long time at the window； looking out； and
listening to the dance…music which faintly reached me from the
ballroom。 My thoughts were far away with the relations I had left
in England； when I was startled out of them by hearing my name
softly pronounced。
I looked round directly； and saw Monkton standing in the room。 A
livid paleness overspread his face； and his eyes were turned away
from me with the same extraordinary expression in them to which I
have already alluded。
〃Do you mind leaving the ball early to…night？〃 he asked； still
not looking at me。
〃Not at all；〃 said I。 〃Can I do anything for you？ Are you ill？〃
〃Noat least nothing to speak of。 Will you come to my rooms？〃
〃At once； if you like。〃
〃No； not at once。 _I_ must go home directly； but don't you come
to me for half an hour yet。 You have not been at my rooms before；
I know； but you will easily find them out； they are close by。
There is a card with my address。 I _must_ speak to you to…night；
my life depends on it。 Pray come！ for God's sake； come when the
half hour is up！〃
I promised to be punctual； and he left me directly。
Most people will be easily able to imagine the state of nervous
impatience and vague expectation in which I passed the allotted
period of delay； after hearing such words as those Monkton had
spoken to me。 Before the half hour had quite expired I began to
make my way out through the ballroom。
At the head of the staircase my friend； the _attache；_ met me。
〃What！ going away already？〃 Said he。
〃Yes； and on a very curious expedition。 I am going to Monkton's
rooms； by his own invitation。〃
〃You don't mean it！ Upon my honor； you're a bold fellow to trust
yourself alone with 'Mad Monkton' when the moon is at the full。〃
〃He is ill； poor fellow。 Besides； I don't think him half as mad
as you do。〃
〃We won't dispute about that； but mark my words； he has not asked
you to go where no visitor has ever been admitted before without
a special purpose。 I predict that you will see or hear something
to…night which you will remember for the rest of your life。〃
We parted。 When I knocked at the courtyard gate of the house
where Monkton lived； my friend's last words on the palace
staircase recurred to me； and； though I had laughed at him when
he spoke them； I began to suspect even then that his prediction
would be fulfilled。
CHAPTER III。
THE porter who let me into the house where Monkton lived directed
me to the floor on which his rooms were situated。 On getting
upstairs； I found his door on the landing ajar。 He heard my
footsteps； I suppose； for he called to me to come in before I
could knock。
I entered； and found him sitting by the table； with some loose
letters in his hand； which he was just tying together into a
packet。 I noticed； as he asked me to sit down； that his express
ion looked more composed； though the paleness had not yet left
his face。 He thanked me for coming； repeated that he had
something very important to say to me； and then stopped short；
apparently too much embarrassed to proceed。 I tried to set him at
his ease by assuring him that； if my assistance or advice could
be of any use； I was ready to place myself and my time heartily
and unreservedly at his service。
As I said this I saw his eyes beginning to wander away from my
faceto wander slowly； inch by inch； as it were； until they
stopped at a certain point； with the same fixed stare into
vacancy which had so often startled me on former occasions。 The
whole expression of his face altered as I had never yet seen it
alter； he sat before me looking like a man in a death…trance。
〃You are very kind；〃 he said； slowly and faintly； speaking； not
to me； but in the direction in which his eyes were still fixed。
〃I know you can help me； but〃
He stopped； his face whitened horribly； and the perspiration
broke out all over it。 He tried to continuesaid a word or
twothen stopped again。 Seriously alarmed about him； I rose from
my chair with the intention of getting him some water from a jug
which I saw standing on a side…table。
He sprang up at the same moment。 All the suspicions I had ever
heard whispered against his sanity flashed over my mind in an
instant； and I involuntarily stepped back a pace or two。
〃Stop；〃 he said； seating himself again； 〃don't mind me； and don't
leave your chair。 I wantI wish； if you please； to make a little
alteration； before we say anything more。 Do you mind sitting in a
strong light？〃
〃Not in the least。〃
I had hitherto been seated in the shade of his reading…lamp； the
only light in the room。
As I answered him he rose again； and； going into another
apartment； returned with a large lamp in his hand； then took two
candles from the side…table； and two others from the chimney
piece； placed them all； to my amazement； together； so as to stand
exactly between us； and then tried to light them。 His hand
trembled so that he was obliged to give up the attempt； and allow
me to come to his assistance。 By his direction； I took the shade
off the reading…lamp after I had lit the other lamp and the four
candles。 When we sat down again； with this concentration of light
between us； his better and gentler manner began to return； and
while he now addressed me he spoke without the slightest
hesitation。
〃It is useless to ask whether you have heard the reports about
me；〃 he said； 〃I know that you have。 My purpose to…night is to
give you some reasonable explanation of the conduct which has
produced those reports。 My secret has been hitherto confided to
one person only； I am now about to trust it to your keeping； with
a special object which will appear as I go on。 First； however； I
must begin by telling you exactly what the great difficulty is
which obliges me to be still absent from England。 I want your
advice and your help； and； to conceal nothing from you； I want
also to test your forbearance and your friendly sympathy； before
I can venture on thrusting my miserable secret into your keeping。
Will you pardon this apparent distrust of your frank and open
characterthis apparent ingratitude for your kindness toward me
ever since we first met？〃
I begged him not to speak of these things； but to go on。
〃You know；〃 he proceeded； 〃that I am here to recover the body of
my Uncle Stephen； and to carry it back with me to our family
burial…place in England； and you must also be aware that I have
not yet succeeded in discovering his remains。 Try to pass over；
for the present；
