the queen of hearts-第43章
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〃F。〃 I recognized easily enough as the initial letter of
Monsieur Foulon's name； the second of Mr。 Monkton； who had died
of consumption at Paris。
The discovery and the identification were now complete。 Nothing
remained but to break the news to Alfred； and to get permission
to remove the remains in the outhouse。 I began almost to doubt
the evidence of my own senses when I reflected that the
apparently impracticable object with which we had left Naples was
already； by the merest chance； virtually accomplished。
〃The evidence of the paper is decisive；〃 said I； handing it back。
〃There can be no doubt that the remains in the outhouse are the
remains of which we have been in search。 May I inquire if any
obstacles will be thrown in our way should the late Mr。 Monkton's
nephew wish to remove his uncle's body to the family burial…place
in England？〃
〃Where is this nephew？〃 asked the father superior。
〃He is now awaiting my return at the town of Fondi。〃
〃Is he in a position to prove his relationship？〃
〃Certainly； he has papers with him which will place it beyond a
doubt。〃
〃Let him satisfy the civil authorities of his claim； and he need
expect no obstacle to his wishes from any one here。〃
I was in no humor for talking a moment longer with my
sour…tempered companion than I could help。 The day was wearing on
me fast； and； whether night overtook me or not； I was resolved
never to stop on my return till I got back to Fondi。 Accordingly；
after telling the father superior that he might expect to hear
from me again immediately； I made my bow and hastened out of the
sacristy。
At the convent gate stood my old friend with the tin snuff…box；
waiting to let me out。
〃Bless you； may son；〃 said the venerable recluse； giving me a
farewell pat on the shoulder； 〃come back soon to your spiritual
father who loves you； and amiably favor him with another tiny；
tiny pinch of the delectable snuff。〃
CHAPTER VI。
I RETURNED at the top of my speed to the village where I had left
the mules； had the animals saddled immediately； and succeeded in
getting back to Fondi a little before sunset。
While ascending the stairs of our hotel； I suffered under the
most painful uncertainty as to how I should best communicate the
news of my discovery to Alfred。 If I could not succeed in
preparing him properly for my tidings； the results； with such an
organization as his； might be fatal。 On opening the door of his
room； I felt by no means sure of myself； and when I confronted
him； his manner of receiving me took me so much by surprise that；
for a moment or two； I lost my self…possession altogether。
Every trace of the lethargy in which he was sunk when I had last
seen him had disappeared。 His eyes were bright； his cheeks deeply
flushed。 As I entered； he started up； and refused my offered
hand。
〃You have not treated me like a friend；〃 he said； passionately；
〃you had no right to continue the search unless I searched with
youyou had no right to leave me here alone。 I was wrong to
trust you； you are no better than all the rest of them。〃
I had by this time recovered a little from my first astonishment；
and was able to reply before he could say anything more。 It was
quite useless； in his present state； to reason with him or to
defend myself。 I determined to risk everything； and break my news
to him at once。
〃You will treat me more justly； Monkton； when you know that I
have been doing you good service during my absence；〃 I said。
〃Unless I am greatly mistaken； the object for which we have left
Naples may be nearer attainment by both of us than〃
The flush left his cheeks almost in an instant。 Some expression
in my face； or some tone in my voice； of which I was not
conscious； had revealed to his nervously…quickened perception
more than I had intended that he should know at first。 His eyes
fixed themselves intently on mine； his hand grasped my arm； and
he said to me in an eager whisper：
〃Tell me the truth at once。 Have you found him？〃
It was too late to hesitate。 I answered in the affirmative。
〃Buried or unburied？〃
His voice rose abruptly as he put the question； and his
unoccupied hand fastened on my other arm。
〃Unburied。〃
I had hardly uttered the word before the blood flew back into his
cheeks； his eyes flashed again as they looked into mine； and he
burst into a fit of triumphant laughter； which shocked and
startled me inexpressibly。
〃What did I tell you？ What do you say to the old prophecy now？〃
he cried； dropping his hold on my arms； and pacing backward and
forward in the room。 〃Own you were wrong。 Own it； as all Naples
shall own it； when once I have got him safe in his coffin！〃
His laughter grew more and mere violent。 I tried to quiet him in
vain。 His servant and the landlord of the inn entered the room；
but they only added fuel to the fire； and I made them go out
again。 As I shut the door on them； I observed lying on a table
near at hand the packet of letters from Miss Elmslie； which my
unhappy friend preserved with such care； and read and re…read
with such unfailing devotion。 Looking toward me just when I
passed by the table； the letters caught his eye。 The new hope for
the future； in connection with the writer of them； which my news
was already awakening in his heart； seemed to overwhelm him in an
instant at sight of the treasured memorials that reminded him of
his betrothed wife。 His laughter ceased； his face changed； he ran
to the table； caught the letters up in his hand； looked from them
to me for one moment with an altered expression which went to my
heart； then sank down on his knees at the table； laid his face on
the letters； and burst into tears。 I let the new emotion have its
way uninterruptedly； and quitted the room without saying a word。
When I returned after a lapse of some little time； I found him
sitting quietly in his chair； reading one of the letters from the
pack et which rested on his knee。
His look was kindness itself； his gesture almost womanly in its
gentleness as he rose to meet me； and anxiously held out his
hand。
He was quite calm enough now to hear in detail all that I had to
tell him。 I suppressed nothing but the particulars of the state
in which I had found the corpse。 I assumed no right of direction
as to the share he was to take in our future proceedings； with
the exception of insisting beforehand that he should leave the
absolute superintendence of the removal of the body to me； and
that he should be satisfied with a sight of M。 Foulon's paper；
after receiving my assurance that the remains placed in the
coffin were really and truly the remains of which we had been in
search。
〃Your nerves are not so strong as mine；〃 I said； by way of
apology for my apparent dictation； 〃and for that reason I must
beg leave to assume the leadership in all that we have now to do；
until I see the leaden coffin soldered down and safe in your
possession。 After that I shall resign all my functions to you。〃
〃I want words to thank you for your kindness；〃 he answered。 〃No
brother could have borne with me more affectionately； or helped
me more patiently than you。〃
He stopped and grew thoughtful； then occupied himself in tying up
slowly and carefully the packet of Miss Elmslie's letters； and
then looked suddenly toward the vacant wall behind me with that
strange expression the meaning of which I knew so well。 Since we
had left Naples I had purposely avoided exciting him by talking
on the useless and shocking subject of the apparition by which he
believed himself to be perpetually followed。 Just now； however；
he seemed so calm and collectedso little likely to be violently
agitated by any allusion to the dangerous topic； that I ventured
to speak out boldly。
〃Does the phantom still appear to you；〃 I asked； 〃as it appeared
at Naples？〃
He looked at me and smiled。
〃Did I not tell you that it followed me everywhere？〃 His eyes
wandered back again to the vacant space； and he went on speaking
in that direction as if he had been continuing the conversation
with some third person in the room。 〃We shall part；〃 he said；
slowly and softly； when the empty place is filled in Wincot
vault。 Then I shall st
