erewhon revisited-第42章
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Manager and Head Cashier； and to confirm his statement on oath by
kissing the reliquary containing the newly found relic。
〃The Ranger and the Master of the Gaol must contribute that the
prisoner's measurements； and the marks found on his body； negative
all possibility of his identity with the Sunchild； and that all the
hair on the covered as well as the uncovered parts of his body was
found to be jet black。
〃We advise further that the prisoner should have his nuggets and
his kit returned to him； and that the receipt given by the
Professors together with Professor Hanky's handkerchief be given
back to the Professors。
〃Furthermore； seeing that we should all of us like to have a quiet
evening with the prisoner； we should petition the Mayor and
Mayoress to ask him to meet all here present at dinner to…morrow
evening； after his discharge； on the plea that Professors Hanky and
Panky and Dr。 Downie may give him counsel； convince him of his
folly； and if possible free him henceforth from the monomania under
which he now suffers。
〃The prisoner shall give his word of honour； never to return to
Erewhon； nor to encourage any of his countrymen to do so。 After
the dinner to which we hope the Mayoress Will invite us； the
Ranger； if the night is fair； shall escort the prisoner as far as
the statues； whence he will find his own way home。
〃Those who are in favour of this compromise hold up their hands。〃
The Mayor and Yram held up theirs。 〃Will you hold up yours；
Professor Hanky；〃 said George； 〃if I release you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Hanky with a gruff laugh； whereon George released him
and he held up both his hands。
Panky did not hold up his； whereon Hanky said； 〃Hold up your hands；
Panky； can't you？ We are really very well out of it。〃
Panky； hardly lifting his head； sobbed out； 〃I think we ought to
have our f…f…fo…fo…four pounds ten returned to us。〃
〃I am afraid； sir；〃 said George； 〃that the prisoner must have spent
the greater part of this money。〃
Every one smiled； indeed it was all George could do to prevent
himself from laughing outright。 The Mayor brought out his purse；
counted the money； and handed it good…humouredly to Panky； who
gratefully received it； and said he would divide it with Hanky。 He
then held up his hands； 〃But；〃 he added； turning to his brother
Professor； 〃so long as I live； Hanky； I will never go out anywhere
again with you。〃
George then turned to Hanky and said； 〃I am afraid I must now
trouble you and Professor Panky to depose on oath to the facts
which Mrs。 Humdrum and Dr。 Downie propose you should swear to in
open court to…morrow。 I knew you would do so； and have brought an
ordinary form； duly filled up； which declares that the prisoner is
not the poacher you met on Thursday； and also； that he has been
long known to both of you as a harmless monomaniac。〃
As he spoke he brought out depositions to the above effect which he
had just written in his office； he shewed the Professors that the
form was this time an innocent one； whereon they made no demur to
signing and swearing in the presence of the Mayor； who attested。
〃The former depositions；〃 said Hanky； 〃had better be destroyed at
once。〃
〃That；〃 said George； 〃may hardly be； but so long as you stick to
what you have just sworn to； they will not be used against you。〃
Hanky scowled； but knew that he was powerless and said no more。
* * *
The knowledge of what ensued did not reach me from my father。
George and his mother； seeing how ill he looked； and what a shock
the events of the last few days had given him； resolved that he
should not know of the risk that George was about to run； they
therefore said nothing to him about it。 What I shall now tell； I
learned on the occasion already referred to when I had the
happiness to meet George。 I am in some doubt whether it is more
fitly told here； or when I come to the interview between him and
me； on the whole； however； I suppose chronological order is least
outraged by dealing with it here。
As soon as the Professors had signed the second depositions； George
said； 〃I have not yet held up my hands； but I will hold them up if
Mrs。 Humdrum and Dr。 Downie will approve of what I propose。 Their
compromise does not go far enough； for swear as we may； it is sure
to get noised abroad； with the usual exaggerations； that the
Sunchild has been here； and that he has been spirited away either
by us； or by the sun his father。 For one person whom we know of as
having identified him； there will be five； of whom we know nothing；
and whom we cannot square。 Reports will reach the King sooner or
later； and I shall be sent for。 Meanwhile the Professors will be
living in fear of intrigue on my part； and I； however unreasonably；
shall fear the like on theirs。 This should not be。 I mean；
therefore； on the day following my return from escorting the
prisoner； to set out for the capital； see the King； and make a
clean breast of the whole matter。 To this end I must have the
nuggets； the prisoner's kit； his receipt； Professor Hanky's
handkerchief； and； of course； the two depositions just sworn to by
the Professors。 I hope and think that the King will pardon us all
round； but whatever he may do I shall tell him everything。〃
Hanky was up in arms at once。 〃Sheer madness；〃 he exclaimed。 Yram
and the Mayor looked anxious； Dr。 Downie eyed George as though he
were some curious creature； which he heard of but had never seen；
and was rather disposed to like。 Mrs。 Humdrum nodded her head
approvingly。
〃Quite right； George；〃 said she； 〃tell his Majesty everything。〃
Dr。 Downie then said； 〃Your son； Mayoress； is a very sensible
fellow。 I will go with him； and with the Professorsfor they had
better come too： each will hear what the other says； and we will
tell the truth； the whole truth； and nothing but the truth。 I am；
as you know； a persona grata at Court； I will say that I advised
your son's action。 The King has liked him ever since he was a boy；
and I am not much afraid about what he will do。 In public； no
doubt we had better hush things up； but in private the King must be
told。〃
Hanky fought hard for some time； but George told him that it did
not matter whether he agreed or no。 〃You can come；〃 he said； 〃or
stop away； just as you please。 If you come； you can hear and
speak； if you do not； you will not hear； but these two depositions
will speak for you。 Please yourself。〃
〃Very well；〃 he said at last； 〃I suppose we had better go。〃
Every one having now understood what his or her part was to be；
Yram said they had better shake hands all round and take a couple
of hours' rest before getting ready for the banquet。 George said
that the Professors did not shake hands with him very cordially；
but the farce was gone through。 When the hand…shaking was over；
Dr。 Downie and Mrs。 Humdrum left the house； and the Professors
retired grumpily to their own room。
I will say here that no harm happened either to George or the
Professors in consequence of his having told the King； but will
reserve particulars for my concluding chapter。
CHAPTER XXI： YRAM； ON GETTING RID OF HER GUESTS； GOES TO THE
PRISON TO SEE MY FATHER
Yram did not take the advice she had given her guests； but set
about preparing a basket of the best cold dainties she could find；
including a bottle of choice wine that she knew my father would
like； thus loaded she went to the gaol； which she entered by her
father's private entrance。
It was now about half…past four； so that much more must have been
said and done after luncheon at the Mayor's than ever reached my
father。 The wonder is that he was able to collect so much。 He；
poor man； as soon as George left him； flung himself on to the bed
that was in his cell and lay there wakeful； but not unquiet； till
near the time when Yram reached the gaol。
The old gaoler came to tell him that she had come and would be glad
to see him； much as he dreaded the meeting there was no avoiding
it； and in a few minutes Yram stood before him。
Both were agitated； but Yram betrayed less of what she felt than my
father。 He could only bow his head and cover his face with his
hands。 Yram
