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第74章

the legacy of cain-第74章

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The faint rustling of Helena's dress as she left her room reached
us in the silence。 I remained at the open door of the
dining…room; and Maria approached and stood near me。 We were both
frightened。 Euneece stepped forward; and stood on the mat at the
foot of the stairs; waiting。 Her back was toward me; I could only
see that she was as still as a statue。 The rustling of the dress
came nearer。 Oh; heavens! what was going to happen? My teeth
chattered in my head; I held by Maria's shoulder。 Drops of
perspiration showed themselves on the girl's forehead; she stared
in vacant terror at the slim little figure; posted firm and still
on the mat。

Helena turned the corner of the stairs; and waited a moment on
the last landing; and saw her sister。

〃You here?〃 she said。 〃What do you want?〃

There was no reply。 Helena descended; until she reached the last
stair but one。 There; she stopped。 Her staring eyes grew large
and wild; her hand shook as she stretched it out; feeling for the
banister; she staggered as she caught at it; and held herself up。
The silence was still unbroken。 Something in me; stronger than
myself; drew my steps along the hall nearer and nearer to the
stair; till I could see the face which had struck that murderous
wretch with terror。

I looked。

No! it was not my sweet girl; it was a horrid transformation of
her。 I saw a fearful creature; with glittering eyes that
threatened some unimaginable vengeance。 Her lips were drawn back;
they showed her clinched teeth。 A burning red flush dyed her
face。 The hair of her head rose; little by little; slowly。 And;
most dreadful sight of all; she seemed; in the stillness of the
house; to be _listening to something。_ If I could have moved; I
should have fled to the first place of refuge I could find。 If I
could have raised my voice; I should have cried for help。 I could
do neither the one nor the other。 I could only look; look; look;
held by the horror of it with a hand of iron。

Helena must have roused her courage; and resisted her terror。 I
heard her speak:

〃Let me by!〃

〃No。〃

Slowly; steadily; in a whisper; Euneece made that reply。

Helena tried once morestill fighting against her own terror: I
knew it by the trembling of her voice。

〃Let me by;〃 she repeated; 〃I am on my way to Philip's room。〃

〃You will never enter Philip's room again。〃

〃Who will stop me?〃

〃I will。〃

She had spoken in the same steady whisper throughoutbut now she
moved。 I saw her set her foot on the first stair。 I saw the
horrid glitter in her eyes flash close into Helena's face。 I
heard her say:

〃Poisoner; go back to your room。〃

Silent and shuddering; Helena shrank away from herdaunted by
her glittering eyes; mastered by her lifted hand pointing up the
stairs。

Helena slowly ascended till she reached the landing。 She turned
and looked down; she tried to speak。 The pointing hand struck her
dumb; and drove her up the next flight of stairs。 She was lost to
view。 Only the small rustling sound of the dress was to be heard;
growing fainter and fainter; then an interval of stillness; then
the noise of a door opened and closed again; then no sound
morebut a change to be seen: the transformed creature was cr
ouching on her knees; still and silent; her face covered by her
hands。 I was afraid to approach her; I was afraid to speak to
her。 After a time; she rose。 Suddenly; swiftly; with her head
turned away from me; she opened the door of Philip's roomand
was gone。

I looked round。 There was only Maria in the lonely hall。 Shall I
try to tell you what my sensations were? It may sound strangely;
but it is trueI felt like a sleeper; who has half…awakened from
a dream。


CHAPTER LX。

DISCOVERY。


A LITTLE later; on that eventful day; when I was most in need of
all that your wisdom and kindness could do to guide me; came the
telegram which announced that you were helpless under an attack
of gout。 As soon as I had in some degree got over my
disappointment; I remembered having told Euneece in my letter
that I expected her kind old friend to come to us。 With the
telegram in my hand I knocked softly at Philip's door。

The voice that bade me come in was the gentle voice that I knew
so well。 Philip was sleeping。 There; by his bedside; with his
hand resting in her hand; was Euneece; so completely restored to
her own sweet self that I could hardly believe what I had seen;
not an hour since。 She talked of you; when I showed her your
message; with affectionate interest and regret。 Look back; my
admirable friend; at what I have written on the two or three
pages which precede this; and explain the astounding contrast if
you can。

I was left alone to watch by Philip; while Euneece went away to
see her father。 Soon afterward; Maria took my place; I had been
sent for to the next room to receive the doctor。

He looked care…worn and grieved。 I said I was afraid he had
brought bad news with him。

〃The worst possible news;〃 he answered。 〃A terrible exposure
threatens this family; and I am powerless to prevent it;〃

He then asked me to remember the day when I had been surprised by
the singular questions which he had put to me; and when he had
engaged to explain himself after he had made some inquiries。 Why;
and how; he had set those inquiries on foot was what he had now
to tell。 I will repeat what he said; in his own words; as nearly
as I can remember them。 While he was in attendance on Philip; he
had observed symptoms which made him suspect that Digitalis had
been given to the young man; in doses often repeated。 Cases of
attempted poisoning by this medicine were so rare; that he felt
bound to put his suspicions to the test by going round among the
chemists's shopsexcepting of course the shop at which his own
prescriptions were made upand asking if they had lately
dispensed any preparation of Digitalis; ordered perhaps in a
larger quantity than usual。 At the second shop he visited; the
chemist laughed。 〃Why; doctor;〃 he said; 〃have you forgotten your
own prescription?〃 After this; the prescription was asked for;
and produced。 It was on the paper used by the doctorpaper which
had his address printed at the top; and a notice added; telling
patients who came to consult him for the second time to bring
their prescriptions with them。 Then; there followed in writing:
〃Tincture of Digitalis; one ounce〃with his signature at the
end; not badly imitated; but a forgery nevertheless。 The chemist
noticed the effect which this discovery had produced on the
doctor; and asked if that was his signature。 He could hardly; as
an honest man; have asserted that a forgery was a signature of
his own writing。 So he made the true reply; and asked who had
presented the prescription。 The chemist called to his assistant
to come forward。 〃Did you tell me that you knew; by sight; the
young lady who brought this prescription?〃 The assistant admitted
it。 〃Did you tell me she was Miss Helena Gracedieu?〃 〃I did。〃
〃Are you sure of not having made any mistake?〃 〃Quite sure。〃 The
chemist then said: 〃I myself supplied the Tincture of Digitalis;
and the young lady paid for it; and took it away with her。 You
have had all the information that I can give you; sir; and I may
now ask; if you can throw any light on the matter。〃 Our good
friend thought of the poor Minister; so sorely afflicted; and of
the famous name so sincerely respected in the town and in the
country round; and said he could not undertake to give an
immediate answer。 The chemist was excessively angry。 〃You know as
well as I do;〃 he said; 〃that Digitalis; given in certain doses;
is a poison; and you cannot deny that I honestly believed myself
to be dispensing your prescription。 While you are hesitating to
give me an answer; my character may suffer; I may be suspected
myself。〃 He ended in declaring he should consult his lawyer。 The
doctor went home; and questioned his servant。 The man remembered
the day of Miss Helena's visit in the afternoon; and the
intention that she expressed of waiting for his master's return。
He had shown her into the parlor which opened into the
consulting…room。 No other visitor was in the house at that time;
or had arrived during th

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