armadale-第111章
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〃Sometimes； Mr。 Armadale；〃 returned Pedgift the elder； as
unabashed as ever。 〃I believe as often as a lawyer can。 To
proceed； sir。 When I was in the criminal branch of practice； it
fell to my lot to take instructions for the defense of women
committed for trial from the women's own lips。 Whatever other
difference there might be among them； I got； in time； to notice；
among those who were particularly wicked and unquestionably
guilty； one point in which they all resembled each other。 Tall
and short； old and young； handsome and ugly； they all had a
secret self…possession that nothing could shake。 On the surface
they were as different as possible。 Some of them were in a state
of indignation； some of them were drowned in tears； some of them
were full of pious confidence； and some of them were resolved to
commit suicide before the night was out。 But only put your finger
suddenly on the weak point in the story told by any one of them；
and there was an end of her rage； or her tears； or her piety； or
her despair； and out came the genuine woman； in full possession
of all her resources with a neat little lie that exactly suited
the circumstances of the case。 Miss Gwilt was in tears；
sirbecoming tears that didn't make her nose redand I put my
finger suddenly on the weak point in _her_ story。 Down dropped
her pathetic pocket…handkerchief from her beautiful blue eyes；
and out came the genuine woman with the neat little lie that
exactly suited the circumstances！ I felt twenty years younger；
Mr。 Armadale； on the spot。 I declare I thought I was in Newgate
again； with my note…book in my hand； taking my instructions for
the defense！〃
〃The next thing you'll say； Mr。 Pedgift；〃 cried Allan； angrily；
〃is that Miss Gwilt has been in prison！〃
Pedgift Senior calmly rapped his snuff…box； and had his answer
ready at a moment's notice。
〃She may have richly deserved to see the inside of a prison； Mr。
Armadale； but； in the age we live in； that is one excellent
reason for her never having been near any place of the kind。 A
prison； in the present tender state of public feeling； for a
charming woman like Miss Gwilt！ My dear sir； if she had attempted
to murder you or me； and if an inhuman judge and jury had decided
on sending her to a prison； the first object of modern society
would be to prevent her going into it； and； if that couldn't be
done； the next object would be to let her out again as soon as
possible。 Read your newspaper； Mr。 Armadale； and you'll find we
live in piping times for the black sheep of the communityif
they are only black enough。 I insist on asserting； sir； that we
have got one of the blackest of the lot to deal with in this
case。 I insist on asserting that you have had the rare luck； in
these unfortunate inquiries； to pitch on a woman who happens to
be a fit object for inquiry； in the interests of the public
protection。 Differ with me as strongly as you please； but don't
make up your mind finally about Miss Gwilt until events have put
those two opposite opinions of ours to the test that I have
proposed。 A fairer test there can't be。 I agree with you that no
lady worthy of the name could attempt to force her way in here；
after receiving your letter。 But I deny that Miss Gwilt is worthy
of the name； and I say she will try to force her way in here in
spite of you。〃
〃And I say she won't！〃 retorted Allan； firmly。
Pedgift Senior leaned back in his chair and smiled。 There was a
momentary silence； and in that silence the door…bell rang。
The lawyer and the client both looked expectantly in the
direction of the hall。
〃No；〃 cried Allan； more angrily than ever。
〃Yes！〃 cried Pedgift Senior； contradicting him with the utmost
politeness。
They waited the event。 The opening of the house door was audible；
but the room was too far from it for the sound of voices to reach
the ear as well。 After a long interval of expectation； the
closing of the door was heard at last。 Allan rose impetuously and
rang the bell。 Mr。 Pedgift the elder sat sublimely calm； and
enjoyed； with a gentle zest； the largest pinch of snuff he had
taken yet。
〃Anybody for me？〃 asked Allan； when the servant came in。
The man looked at Pedgift Senior； with an expression of
unutterable reverence； and answered； 〃Miss Gwilt。〃
〃I don't want to crow over you； sir；〃 said Mr。 Pedgift the elder；
when the servant had withdrawn。 〃But what do you think of Miss
Gwilt _ now？_〃
Allan shook his head in silent discouragement and distress。
〃Time is of some importance； Mr。 Armadale。 After what has just
happened； do you still object to taking the course I have had the
honor of suggesting to you？〃
〃I can't； Mr。 Pedgift；〃 said Allan。 〃I can't be the means of
disgracing her in the neighborhood。 I would rather be disgraced
myselfas I am。〃
〃Let me put it in another way； sir。 Excuse my persisting。 You
have been very kind to me and my family； and I have a personal
interest； as well as a professional interest； in you。 If you
can't prevail on yourself to show this woman's character in its
true light； will you take common precautions to prevent her doing
any more harm？ Will you consent to having her privately watched
as long as she remains in this neighborhood？〃
For the second time Allan shook his head。
〃Is that your final resolution； sir？〃
〃It is； Mr。 Pedgift； but I am much obliged to you for your
advice； all the same。〃
Pedgift Senior rose in a state of gentle resignation； and took up
his hat 〃Good…evening； sir；〃 he said； and made sorrowfully for
the door。 Allan rose on his side； innocently supposing that the
interview was at an end。 Persons better acquainted with the
diplomatic habits of his legal adviser would have recommended him
to keep his seat。 The time was ripe for 〃Pedgift's postscript；〃
and the lawyer's indicative snuff…box was at that moment in one
of his hands； as he opened the door with the other。
〃Good…evening；〃 said Allan。
Pedgift Senior opened the door； stopped； considered； closed the
door again； came back mysteriously with his pinch of snuff in
suspense between his box and his nose； and repeating his
invariable formula； 〃By…the…by； there's a point occurs to me；〃
quietly resumed possession of his empty chair
Allan； wondering； took the seat； in his turn； which he had just
left。 Lawyer and client looked at each other once more； and the
inexhaustible interview began again。
CHAPTER VI。
PEDGIFT'S POSTSCRIPT。
〃I MENTIONED that a point had occurred to me； sir；〃 remarked
Pedgift Senior。
〃You did；〃 said Allan。
〃Would you like to hear what it is； Mr。 Armadale？〃
〃If you please；〃 said Allan。
〃With all my heart； sir！ This is the point。 I attach considerable
importanceif nothing else can be doneto having Miss Gwilt
privately looked after； as long as she stops at Thorpe Ambrose。
It struck me just now at the door； Mr。 Armadale； that what you
are not willing to do for your own security； you might be willing
to do for the security of another person。〃
〃What other person？〃 inquired Allan。
〃A young lady who is a near neighbor of yours； sir。 Shall I
mention the name in confidence？ Miss Milroy。〃
Allan started； and changed color。
〃Miss Milroy！〃 he repeated。 〃Can _she_ be concerned in this
miserable business？ I hope not； Mr。 Pedgift； I sincerely hope
not。〃
〃I paid a visit； in your interests； sir； at the cottage this
morning；〃 proceeded Pedgift Senior。 〃You shall hear what happened
there； and judge for yourself。 Major Milroy has been expressing
his opinion of you pretty freely； and I thought it highly
desirable to give him a caution。 It's always the way with those
quiet addle…headed me n： when they do once wake up； there's no
reasoning with their obstinacy； and no quieting their violence。
Well； sir； this morning I went to the cottage。 The major and Miss
Neelie were both in the parlormiss not looking so pretty as
usual； pale； I thought； pale； and worn； and anxious。 Up jumps the
addle…headed major （I wouldn't give _that；_ Mr。 Armadale； for the
brains of a man who can occupy himself for half his lifetime in
making a clock！）up jumps the addle…headed major； in the
loftiest manner； and actually tries to look me down。 Ha！ ha！ the
idea
