the mysterious stranger-第22章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
who ventures to open his mouth； and presently such mouths will cease to
open。 Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies； putting the blame upon
the nation that is attacked； and every man will be glad of those
conscience…soothing falsities； and will diligently study them； and refuse
to examine any refutations of them； and thus he will by and by convince
himself that the war is just； and will thank God for the better sleep he
enjoys after this process of grotesque self…deception。〃
Chapter 10
Days and days went by now； and no Satan。 It was dull without him。 But
the astrologer； who had returned from his excursion to the moon； went
about the village； braving public opinion； and getting a stone in the
middle of his back now and then when some witch…hater got a safe chance
to throw it and dodge out of sight。 Meantime two influences had been
working well for Marget。 That Satan； who was quite indifferent to her；
had stopped going to her house after a visit or two had hurt her pride；
and she had set herself the task of banishing him from her heart。
Reports of Wilhelm Meidling's dissipation brought to her from time to
time by old Ursula had touched her with remorse； jealousy of Satan being
the cause of it； and so now； these two matters working upon her together；
she was getting a good profit out of the combinationher interest in
Satan was steadily cooling； her interest in Wilhelm as steadily warming。
All that was needed to complete her conversion was that Wilhelm should
brace up and do something that should cause favorable talk and incline
the public toward him again。
The opportunity came now。 Marget sent and asked him to defend her uncle
in the approaching trial； and he was greatly pleased； and stopped
drinking and began his preparations with diligence。 With more diligence
than hope； in fact； for it was not a promising case。 He had many
interviews in his office with Seppi and me； and threshed out our
testimony pretty thoroughly； thinking to find some valuable grains among
the chaff； but the harvest was poor； of course。
If Satan would only come！ That was my constant thought。 He could invent
some way to win the case； for he had said it would be won； so he
necessarily knew how it could be done。 But the days dragged on； and
still he did not come。 Of course I did not doubt that it would be won；
and that Father Peter would be happy for the rest of his life； since
Satan had said so； yet I knew I should be much more comfortable if he
would come and tell us how to manage it。 It was getting high time for
Father Peter to have a saving change toward happiness； for by general
report he was worn out with his imprisonment and the ignominy that was
burdening him； and was like to die of his miseries unless he got relief
soon。
At last the trial came on； and the people gathered from all around to
witness it； among them many strangers from considerable distances。 Yes；
everybody was there except the accused。 He was too feeble in body for
the strain。 But Marget was present； and keeping up her hope and her
spirit the best she could。 The money was present； too。 It was emptied
on the table； and was handled and caressed and examined by such as were
privileged。
The astrologer was put in the witness…box。 He had on his best hat and
robe for the occasion。
QUESTION。 You claim that this money is yours？
ANSWER。 I do。
Q。 How did you come by it？
A。 I found the bag in the road when I was returning from a journey。
Q。 When？
A。 More than two years ago。
Q。 What did you do with it？
A。 I brought it home and hid it in a secret place in my observatory；
intending to find the owner if I could。
Q。 You endeavored to find him？
A。 I made diligent inquiry during several months； but nothing came of
it。
Q。 And then？
A。 I thought it not worth while to look further； and was minded to use
the money in finishing the wing of the foundling…asylum connected with
the priory and nunnery。 So I took it out of its hiding…place and counted
it to see if any of it was missing。 And then
Q。 Why do you stop？ Proceed。
A。 I am sorry to have to say this； but just as I had finished and was
restoring the bag to its place； I looked up and there stood Father Peter
behind me。
Several murmured； 〃That looks bad；〃 but others answered； 〃Ah； but he is
such a liar！〃
Q。 That made you uneasy？
A。 No； I thought nothing of it at the time； for Father Peter often came
to me unannounced to ask for a little help in his need。
Marget blushed crimson at hearing her uncle falsely and impudently
charged with begging； especially from one he had always denounced as a
fraud； and was going to speak； but remembered herself in time and held
her peace。
Q。 Proceed。
A。 In the end I was afraid to contribute the money to the foundling…
asylum； but elected to wait yet another year and continue my inquiries。
When I heard of Father Peter's find I was glad； and no suspicion entered
my mind； when I came home a day or two later and discovered that my own
money was gone I still did not suspect until three circumstances
connected with Father Peter's good fortune struck me as being singular
coincidences。
Q。 Pray name them。
A。 Father Peter had found his money in a pathI had found mine in a
road。 Father Peter's find consisted exclusively of gold ducatsmine
also。 Father Peter found eleven hundred and seven ducatsI exactly the
same。
This closed his evidence； and certainly it made a strong impression on
the house； one could see that。
Wilhelm Meidling asked him some questions； then called us boys； and we
told our tale。 It made the people laugh； and we were ashamed。 We were
feeling pretty badly； anyhow； because Wilhelm was hopeless； and showed
it。 He was doing as well as he could； poor young fellow； but nothing was
in his favor； and such sympathy as there was was now plainly not with his
client。 It might be difficult for court and people to believe the
astrologer's story； considering his character； but it was almost
impossible to believe Father Peter's。 We were already feeling badly
enough； but when the astrologer's lawyer said he believed he would not
ask us any questionsfor our story was a little delicate and it would be
cruel for him to put any strain upon iteverybody tittered； and it was
almost more than we could bear。 Then he made a sarcastic little speech；
and got so much fun out of our tale； and it seemed so ridiculous and
childish and every way impossible and foolish； that it made everybody
laugh till the tears came； and at last Marget could not keep up her
courage any longer； but broke down and cried； and I was so sorry for her。
Now I noticed something that braced me up。 It was Satan standing
alongside of Wilhelm！ And there was such a contrast！ Satan looked so
confident； had such a spirit in his eyes and face； and Wilhelm looked so
depressed and despondent。 We two were comfortable now； and judged that
he would testify and persuade the bench and the people that black was
white and white black； or any other color he wanted it。 We glanced
around to see what the strangers in the house thought of him； for he was
beautiful； you knowstunning； in factbut no one was noticing him； so
we knew by that that he was invisible。
The lawyer was saying his last words； and while he was saying them Satan
began to melt into Wilhelm。 He melted into him and disappeared； and then
there was a change； when his spirit began to look out of Wilhelm's eyes。
That lawyer finished quite seriously； and with dignity。 He pointed to
the money； and said：
〃The love of it is the root of all evil。 There it lies； the ancient
tempter； newly red with the shame of its latest victorythe dishonor of
a priest of God and his two poor juvenile helpers in crime。 If it could
but speak； let us hope that it would be constrained to confess that of
all its conquests this was the basest and the most pathetic。〃
He sat down。 Wilhelm rose and said：
〃From the testimony of the accuser I gather that he found this money in a
road more than two years ago。 Correct me； sir； if I misunderstood you。〃
The astrologer said his understanding of it was correct。
