the queen of hearts-第39章
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of insanity。
Was this curable？ Miss Elmslie； who knew him far better than I
did； seemed by her conduct to think so。 Had I any reason or right
to determine offhand that she was mistaken？ Supposing I refused
to go to the frontier with him； he would then most certainly
depart by himself； to commit all sorts of errors； and perhaps to
meet with all sorts of accidents； while I； an idle man； with my
time entirely at my own disposal； was stopping at Naples； and
leaving him to his fate after I had suggested the plan of his
expedition； and had encouraged him to confide in me。 In this way
I kept turning the subject over and over again in my mind； being
quite free； let me add； from looking at it in any other than a
practical point of view。 I firmly believed； as a derider of all
ghost stories； that Alfred was deceiving himself in fancying that
he had seen the apparition of his uncle before the news of Mr。
Monkton's death reached England； and I was on this account；
therefore； uninfluenced by the slightest infection of my unhappy
friend's delusions when I at last fairly decided to accompany him
in his extraordinary search。 Possibly my harum…scarum fondness
for excitement at that time biased me a little in forming my
resolution； but I must add； in common justice to myself； that I
also acted from motives of real sympathy for Monkton； and from a
sincere wish to allay； if I could； the anxiety of the poor girl
who was still so faithfully waiting and hoping for him far away
in England。
Certain arrangements preliminary to our departure； which I found
myself obliged to make after a second interview with Alfred；
betrayed the object of our journey to most of our Neapolitan
friends。 The astonishment of everybody was of course unbounded；
and the nearly universal suspicion that I must be as mad in my
way as Monkton himself showed itself pretty plainly in my
presence。 Some people actually tried to combat my resolution by
telling me what a shameless profligate Stephen Monkton had
beenas if I had a strong personal interest in hunting out his
remains！ Ridicule moved me as little as any arguments of this
sort； my mind was made up； and I was as obstinate then as I am
now。
In two days' time I had got everything ready； and had ordered the
traveling carriage to the door some hours earlier than we had
originally settled。 We were jovially threatened with 〃a parting
cheer〃 by all our English acquaintances； and I thought it
desirable to avoid this on my friend's account； for he had been
more excited； as it was； by the preparations for the journey than
I at all liked。 Accordingly； soon after sunrise； without a soul
in the street to stare at us； we privately left Naples。
Nobody will wonder； I think； that I experienced some difficulty
in realizing my own position； and shrank instinctively from
looking forward a single day into the future； when I now found
myself starting； in company with 〃Mad Monkton；〃 to hunt for the
body of a dead duelist all along the frontier line of the Roman
States！
CHAPTER V。
I HAD settled it in my own mind that we had better make the town
of Fondi； close on the frontier； our headquarters； to begin with；
and I had arranged； with the assistance of the embassy； that the
leaden coffin should follow us so far； securely nailed up in its
packing…case。 Besides our passports； we were well furnished with
letters of introduction to the local authorities at most of the
important frontier towns； and； to crown all； we had money enough
at our command （thanks to Monkton's vast fortune） to make sure of
the services of any one whom we wanted to assist us all along our
line of search。 These various resources insured us every facility
for action； provided always that we succeeded in discovering the
body of the dead duelist。 But； in the very probable event of our
failing to do this； our future prospectsmore especially after
the responsibility I had undertakenwere of anything but an
agreeable nature to contemplate。 I confess I felt uneasy； almost
hopeless； as we posted； in the dazzling Italian sunshine； along
the road to Fondi。
We made an easy two days' journey of it； for I had insisted； on
Monkton's account； that we should travel slowly。
On the first day the excessive agitation of my companion a little
alarmed me； he showed； in many ways； more symptoms of a
disordered mind than I had yet observed in him。 On the second
day； however； he seemed to get accustomed to contemplate calmly
the new idea of the search on which we were bent； and； except on
one point； he was cheerful and composed enough。 Whenever his dead
uncle formed the subject of conversation； he still persistedon
the strength of the old prophecy； and under the influence of the
apparition which he saw； or thought he saw alwaysin asserting
that the corpse of Stephen Monkton； wherever it was； lay yet
unburied。 On every other topic he deferred to me with the utmost
readiness and docility； on this he maintained his strange opinion
with an obstinacy which set reason and persuasion alike at
defiance。
On the third day we rested at Fondi。 The packing…case； with the
coffin in it； reached us； and was deposited in a safe place under
lock and key。 We engaged some mules； and found a man to act as
guide who knew the country thoroughly。 It occurred to me that we
had better begin by confiding th e real object of our journey
only to the most trustworthy people we could find among the
better…educated classes。 For this reason we followed； in one
respect； the example of the fatal dueling…party； by starting；
early on the morning of the fourth day； with sketch…books and
color…boxes； as if we were only artists in search of the
picturesque。
After traveling some hours in a northerly direction within the
Roman frontier； we halted to rest ourselves and our mules at a
wild little village far out of the track of tourists in general。
The only person of the smallest importance in the place was the
priest； and to him I addressed my first inquiries； leaving
Monkton to await my return with the guide。 I spoke Italian quite
fluently； and correctly enough for my purpose； and was extremely
polite and cautious in introducing my business； but in spite of
all the pains I took； I only succeeded in frightening and
bewildering the poor priest more and more with every fresh word I
said to him。 The idea of a dueling…party and a dead man seemed to
scare him out of his senses。 He bowed； fidgeted； cast his eyes up
to heaven； and piteously shrugging his shoulders； told me； with
rapid Italian circumlocution； that he had not the faintest idea
of what I was talking about。 This was my first failure。 I confess
I was weak enough to feel a little dispirited when I rejoined
Monkton and the guide。
After the heat of the day was over we resumed our journey。
About three miles from the village； the road； or rather
cart…track； branched off in two directions。 The path to the
right； our guide informed us； led up among the mountains to a
convent about six miles off。 If we penetrated beyond the convent
we should soon reach the Neapolitan frontier。 The path to the
left led far inward on the Roman territory； and would conduct us
to a small town where we could sleep for the night。 Now the Roman
territory presented the first and fittest field for our search；
and the convent was always within reach； supposing we returned to
Fondi unsuccessful。 Besides； the path to the left led over the
widest part of the country we were starting to explore； and I was
always for vanquishing the greatest difficulty first； so we
decided manfully on turning to the left。 The expedition in which
this resolution involved us lasted a whole week； and produced no
results。 We discovered absolutely nothing； and returned to our
headquarters at Fondi so completely baffled that we did not know
whither to turn our steps next。
I was made much more uneasy by the effect of our failure on
Monkton than by the failure itself。 His resolution appeared to
break down altogether as soon as we began to retrace our steps。
He became first fretful and capricious； then silent and
desponding。 Finally； he sank into a lethargy of body and mind
that seriously alarmed me。
