the queen of hearts-第95章
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lips； it was to say rather to himself than me：
〃You're not the girl。〃
〃No；〃 I said； with a strange choking at my heart； 〃I'm her
friend。〃
By this time he had recovered his surprise； and he seemed to be
aware that he had let out more than he ought。
〃You may be anybody's friend you like；〃 he said； brutally； 〃so
long as you don't come jabbering nonsense here。 I don't know you；
and I don't understand your jokes。〃
He turned quickly away from me when he had said the last words。
He had never once looked fairly at me since I first spoke to him。
Was it his hand that had struck the blow？ I had only sixpence in
my pocket； but I took it out and followed him。 If it had been a
five…pound note I should have done the same in the state I was in
then。
〃Would a pot of beer help you to understand me？〃 I said； and
offered him the sixpence。
〃A pot ain't no great things；〃 he answered； taking the sixpence
doubtfully。
〃It may lead to something better；〃 I said。 His eyes began to
twinkle； and he came close to me。 Oh； how my legs trembledhow
my head swam！
〃This is all in a friendly way； is it？〃 he asked； in a whisper。
I nodded my head。 At that moment I could not have spoken for
worlds。
〃Friendly； of course；〃 he went on to himself； 〃or there would
have been a policeman in it。 She told you； I suppose； that I
wasn't the man？〃
I nodded my head again。 It was all I could do to keep myself
standing upright。
〃I suppose it's a case of threatening to have him up； and make
him settle it quietly for a pound or two？ How much for me if you
lay hold of him？〃
〃Half。〃
I began to be afraid that he would suspect something if I was
still silent。 The wretch's eyes twinkled again and he came yet
closer。
〃I drove him to the Red Lion； corner of Dodd Street and Rudgely
Street。 The house was shut up； but he was let in at the jug and
bottle door； like a man who was known to the landlord。 That's as
much as I can tell you； and I'm certain I'm right。 He was the
last fare I took up at night。 The next morning master gave me the
sacksaid I cribbed his corn and his fares。 I wish I had。〃
I gathered from this that the crook…backed man had been a
cab…driver。
〃Why don't you speak？〃 he asked； suspiciously。 〃Has she been
telling you a pack of lies about me？ What did she say when she
came home？〃
〃What ought she to have said？〃
〃She ought to have said my fare was drunk； and she came in the
way as he was going to get into the cab。 That's what she ought to
have said to begin with。〃
〃But after？〃
〃Well； after； my fare； by way of larking with her； puts out his
leg for to trip her up； and she stumbles and catches at me for to
save herself； and tears off one of the limp ends of my rotten old
tie。 'What do you mean by that； you brute？' says she； turning
round as soon as she was steady on her legs； to my fare。 Says my
fare to her： 'I means to teach you to keep a civil tongue in your
head。' And he ups with his fist； andwhat's come to you； now？
What are you looking at me like that for？ How do you think a man
of my size was to take her part against a man big enough to have
eaten me up？ Look as much as you like； in my place you would have
done what I donedrew off when he shook his fist at you； and
swore he'd be the death of you if you didn't start your horse in
no time。〃
I saw he was working himself up into a rage； but I could not； if
my life had depended on it； have stood near him or looked at him
any longer。 I just managed to stammer out that I had been walking
a long way； and that； not being used to much exercise； I felt
faint and giddy with fatigue。 He only changed from angry to sulky
when I made that excuse。 I got a little further away from him；
and then added that if he would be at the Mews entrance the next
evening I should have something more to say and something more to
give him。 He grumbled a few suspicious words in answer about
doubting whether he should trust me to come back。 Fortunately； at
that moment； a policeman passed on the opposite side of the way。
He slunk down the Mews immediately； and I was free to make my
escape。
How I got home I can't say； except that I think I ran the greater
part of the way。 Sally opened the door； and asked if anything was
the matter the moment she saw my face。 I answered：
〃Nothingnothing。〃 She stopped me as I was going into my room；
and said：
〃Smooth your hair a bit； and put your collar straight。 There's a
gentleman in there waiting for you。〃
My heart gave one great bound： I knew who it was in an instant；
and rushed into the room like a mad woman。
〃Oh； Robert； Robert！〃
All my heart went out to him in those two little words。
〃Good God； Anne； has anything happened？ Are you ill？〃
〃Mary！ my poor； lost； murdered； dear； dear Mary！〃
That was all I could say before I fell on his breast。
May 2d。 Misfortunes and disappointments have saddened him a
little； but toward me he is unaltered。 He is as good； as kind； as
gently and truly affectionate as ever。 I believe no other man in
the world could have listened to the story of Mary's death with
such tenderness and pity as he。 Instead of cutting me short
anywhere； he drew me on to tell more than I had intended； and his
first generous words when I had done were to assure me that he
would see himself to the grass being laid and the flowers planted
on Mary's grave。 I could almost have gone on my knees and
worshiped him when he made me that promise。
Surely this best； and kindest； and noblest of men cannot always
be unfortunate！ My cheeks burn when I think that he has come back
with only a few pounds in his pocket； after all his hard and
honest struggles to do well in America。 They must be bad people
there when such a man as Robert cannot get on among them。 He now
talks calmly and resignedly of trying for any one of the lowest
employments by which a man can earn his bread honestly in this
great cityhe who knows French； who can write so beautifully！
Oh； if the people who have places to give away only knew Robert
as well as I do； what a salary he would have； what a post he
would be chosen to occupy！
I am writing these lines alone while he has gone to the Mews to
treat with the dastardly； heartless wretch with whom I spoke
yesterday。
Robert says the creatureI won't call him a manmust be humored
and kept deceived about poor Mary's end； in order that we may
discover and bring to justice the monster whose drunken blow was
the death of her。 I shall know no ease of mind till her murderer
is secured； and till I am certain that he will be made to suffer
for his crimes。 I wanted to go with Robert to the Mews； but he
said it was best that he should carry out the rest of the
investigation alone； for my strength and resolution had been too
hardly taxed already。 He said more words in praise of me for what
I have been able to do up to this time； which I am almost ashamed
to write down with my own pen。 Besides； there is no need； praise
from his lips is one of the things that I can trust my memory to
preserve to the latest day of my life。
May 3d。 Robert was very long last night before he came back to
tell me what he had done。 He easily recognized the hunchback at
the corner of the Mews by my description of him； but he found it
a hard matter； even with the help of money； to overcome the
cowardly wretch's distrust of him as a stranger and a man。
However； when this had been accomplished； the main difficulty was
conquered。 The hunchback； excited by the promise of more money；
went at once to the Red Lion to inquire about the person whom he
had driven there in his cab。 Robert followed him； and waited at
the corner of the street。 The tidings brought by the cabman were
of the most unexpected kind。 The murdererI can write of him by
no other namehad fallen ill on the very night when he was
driven to the Red Lion； had taken to his bed there and then； and
was still confined to it at that very moment。 His disease was of
a kind that is brought on by excessive drinking； and that affects
the mind as well as the body。 The people at the public house call
it the Horrors。
Hearing these things； Robert determined to see if he could not
find out something more
