armadale-第172章
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words。 He knew as well as I did that he had not the shadow of a
claim on me。 But the mere attempt to raise it would； as he was
well aware； lead necessarily to the exposure of my whole past
life。
〃Still keeping silence； I looked out over the sea。 I don't know
why； except that I instinctively looked anywhere rather than look
at _him。_
〃A little sailing…boat was approaching the shore。 The man
steering was hidden from me by the sail； but the boat was so near
that I thought I recognized the flag on the mast。 I looked at my
watch。 Yes！ It was Armadale coming over from Santa Lucia at his
usual time； to visit us in his usual way。
〃Before I had put my watch back in my belt； the means of
extricating myself from the frightful position I was placed in
showed themselves to me as plainly as I see them now。
〃I turned and led the way to the higher part of the beach； where
some fishing…boats were drawn up which completely screened us
from the view of any one landing on the shore below。 Seeing
probably that I had a purpose of some kind； Manuel followed me
without uttering a word。 As soon as we were safely under the
shelter of the boats； I forced myself； in my own defense； to look
at him again。
〃 'What should you say；' I asked； 'if I was rich instead of poor？
What should you say if I could afford to give you a hundred
pounds？'
〃He started。 I saw plainly that he had not expected so much as
half the sum I had mentioned。 It is needless to add that his
tongue lied； while his face spoke the truth； and that when he
replied to me the answer was； 'Nothing like enough。'
〃 'Suppose；' I went on； without taking any notice of what he had
said； 'that I could show you a way of helping yourself to twice
as much three times as muchfive times as much as a hundred
pounds； are you bold enough to put out your hand and take it？'
〃The greedy glitter came into his eyes once more。 His voice
dropped low； in breathless expectation of my next words。
〃 'Who is the person？' he asked。 'And what is the risk？'
〃I answered him at once； in the plainest terms。 I threw Armadale
to him； as I might have thrown a piece of meat to a wild beast
who was pursuing me。
〃 'The person is a rich young Englishman；' I said。 'He has just
hired the yacht called the _Dorothea；_ in the harbor here； and he
stands in need of a sailing…master and a crew。 You were once an
officer in the Spanish navyyou speak English and Italian
perfectlyyou are thoroughly well acquainted with Naples and all
that belongs to it。 The rich young Englishman is ignorant of the
language； and the interpreter who assists him knows nothing of
the sea。 He is at his wits' end for want of useful help in this
strange place； he has no more knowledge of the world than that
child who is digging holes with a stick there in the sand； and he
carries all his money with him in circular notes。 So much for the
person。 As for the risk； estimate it for yourself。'
〃The greedy glitter in his eyes grew brighter and brighter with
every word I said。 He was plainly ready to face the risk before I
had done speaking。
〃 'When can I see the Englishman？' he asked； eagerly。
〃I moved to the seaward end of the fishing…boat； and saw that
Armadale was at that moment disembarking on the shore。
〃 'You can see him now；' I answered； and pointed to the place。
〃After a long look at Armadale walking carelessly up the slope of
the beach； Manuel drew back again under the shelter of the boat。
He waited a moment； considering something carefully with himself；
and put another question to me； in a whisper this time。
〃 'When the vessel is manned；' he said； 'and the Englishman sails
from Naples； how many friends sail with him？'
〃 'He has but two friends here；' I replied； 'that other gentleman
whom you saw with me at the opera； and myself。 He will invite us
both to sail with him； and when the time comes； we shall both
refuse。'
〃 'Do you answer for that？'
〃 'I answer for it positively。'
〃He walked a few steps away； and stood with his face hidden from
me； thinking again。 All I could see was that he took off his hat
and passed his handkerchief over his forehead。 All I could hear
was that he talked to himself excitedly in his own language。
〃There was a change in him when he came back。 His face had turned
to a livid yellow； and his eyes looked at me with a hideous
distrust。
〃 'One last question；' he said； and suddenly came closer to me；
suddenly spoke with a marked emphasis on his next words： '_What
is your interest in this？_'
〃I started back from him。 The question reminded me that I _had_
an interest in the matter； which was entirely unconnected with
the interest of keeping Manuel and Midwinter apart。 Thus far I
had only remembered that Midwinter's fatalism had smoothed the
way for me； by abandoning Armadale beforehand to any stranger who
might come forward to help him。 Thus far the sole object I had
kept in view was to protect myself； by the sacrifice of Armadale；
from the exposure that threatened me。 I tell no lies to my Diary。
I don't affect to have felt a moment's consideration for the
interests of Armadale's purse or the safety of Armadale's life。 I
hated him too savagely to care what pitfalls my tongue might be
the means of opening under his feet。 But I certainly did not see
（until that last question was put to me） that； in serving his own
designs； Manuel mightif he dared go all lengths for the
moneybe serving my designs too。 The one overpowering anxiety to
protect myself from exposure before Midwinter had （I suppose）
filled all my mind； to the exclusion of everything else。
〃Finding that I made no reply for the moment； Manuel reiterated
his question； putting it in a new form。
〃 'You have cast your Englishman at me；' he said； 'like the sop
to Cerberus。 Would you have been quite so ready to do that if you
had not had a motive of your own？ I repeat my question。 You have
an interest in thiswhat is it？'
〃 'I have two interests；' I answered。 'The interest of forcing
you to respect my position here； and the interest of ridding
myself of the sight of you at once and forever！' I spoke with a
boldness he had not yet heard from me。 The sense that I was
making the villain an instrument in my hands； and forcing him to
help my purpose blindly； while he was helping his own； roused my
spirits； and made me feel like myself again。
〃He laughed。 'Strong language； on certain occasions； is a lady's
privilege；' he said。 'You may； or may not； rid yourself of the
sight of me； at once and forever。 We will leave that question to
be settled in the future。 But your other interest in this matter
puzzles me。 You have told me all I need know about the Englishman
and his yacht； and you have made no conditions before you opened
your lips。 Pray； how are you to force me； as you say； to respect
your position here？'
〃 'I will tell you how；' I rejoined。 'You shall hear my
conditions first。 I insist on your leaving me in five minutes
more。 I insist on your never again coming near the house where I
live； and I forbid your attempting to communicate in any way
either with me or with that other gentleman whom you saw with me
at the theater'
〃 'And suppose I say no？' he interposed。 'In that case； what will
you do？'
〃 'In that case；' I answered； 'I shall say two words in private
to the rich young Englishman； and you will find yourself back
again among the chorus at the opera。'
〃 'You are a bold woman to take it for granted that I have my
designs on the Englishman already； and that I am certain to
succeed in them。 How do you know？'
〃 'I know _you；_' I said。 'And that is enough。'
〃There was a moment's silence between us。 He looked at me； and I
looked at him。 We understood each other。
〃He was the first to speak。 The villainous smile died out of his
face； and his voice dropped again distrustfully to its lowest
tones。
〃 'I accept your terms；' he said。 'As long as your lips are
closed； my lips shall be closed tooexcept in the event of my
finding that you have deceived me； in which case the bargain is
at an end； and you will see me again。 I shall present myself to
the Englishman to…morrow； with the necessary credentials to
e
