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第173章

armadale-第173章

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the Englishman to…morrow; with the necessary credentials to
establish me in his confidence。 Tell me his name?'

〃I told it。

〃 'Give me his address?'

〃I gave it; and turned to leave him。 Before I had stepped out of
the shelter of the boats; I heard him behind me again。

〃 'One last word;' he said。 'Accidents sometimes happen at sea。
Have you interest enough in the Englishmanif an accident
happens in his caseto wish to know what has become of him?'

〃I stopped; and considered on my side。 I had plainly failed to
persuade him that I had no secret to serve in placing Armadale's
money and (as a probable consequence) Armadale's life at his
mercy。 And it was now equally clear that he was cunningly
attempting to associate himself with my private objects (whatever
they might be) by opening a means of communication between us in
the future。 There could be no hesitation about how to answer him
under such circumstances as these。 If the 'accident' at which he
hinted did really happen to Armadale; I stood in no need of
Manuel's intervention to give me the intelligence of it。 An easy
search through the obituary columns of the English papers would
tell me the newswith the great additional advantage that the
papers might be relied on; in such a matter as this; to tell the
truth。 I formally thanked Manuel; and declined to accept his
proposal。 'Having no interest in the Englishman;' I said; 'I have
no wish whatever to know what becomes of him。'

〃He looked at me for a moment with steady attention; and with an
interest in me which he had not shown yet。

〃 'What the game you are playing may be;' he rejoined; speaking
slowly and significantly; 'I don't pretend to know。 But I venture
on a prophecy; nevertheless_you will win it!_ If we ever meet
again; remember I said that。' He took off his hat; and bowed to
me gravely。 'Go your way; madam。 And leave me to go mine!'

〃With those words; he released me from the sight of him。 I waited
a minute alone; to recover myself in the air; and then returned
to the house。

〃The first object that met my eyes; on entering the sitting…room;
wasArmadale himself!

〃He was waiting on the chance of seeing me; to beg that I would
exert my influence with his friend。 I made the needful inquiry as
to what he meant; and found that Midwinter had spoken as he had
warned me he would speak when he and Armadale next met。 He had
announced that he was unable to finish his work for the newspaper
as soon as he had hoped; and he had advised Armadale to find a
crew for the yacht without waiting for any assistance on his
part。

〃All that it was necessary for me to do; on hearing this; was to
perform the promise I had made to Midwinter; when he gave me my
directions how to act in the matter。 Armadale's vexation on
finding me resolved not to interfere expressed itself in the form
of all others that is most personally offensive to me。 He
declined to believe my reiterated assurances that I possessed no
influence to exert in his favor。 'If I was married to Neelie;' he
said; 'she could do anything she liked with me; and I am sure;
when you choose; you can do anything you like with Midwinter。' If
the infatuated fool had actually tried to stifle the last faint
struggles of remorse and pity left stirring in my heart; he could
have said nothing more fatally to the purpose than this! I gave
him a look which effectually silenced him; so far as I was
concerned。 He went out of the room grumbling and growling to
himself。 'It's all very well to talk about manning the yacht。 I
don't speak a word of their gibberish here; and the interpreter
thinks a fisherman and a sailor means the same thing。 Hang me if
I know what to do with the vessel; now I have got her!'

〃He will probably know by to…morrow。 And if he only comes here as
usual; I shall know too!


〃October 25th。Ten at night。Manuel has got him!

〃He has just left us; after staying here more than an hour; and
talking the whole time of nothing but his own wonderful luck in
finding the very help he wanted; at the time when he needed it
most。

〃At noon to…day he was on the Mole; it seems; with his
interpreter; trying vainly to make himself understood by the
vagabond population of the water…side。 Just as he was giving it
up in despair; a stranger standing by (Manuel had followed him; I
suppose; to the Mole from his hotel) kindly interfered to put
things right。 He said; 'I speak your language and their language;
sir。 I know Naples well; and I have been professionally
accustomed to the sea。 Can I help you?' The inevitable result
followed。 Armadale shifted all his difficulties on to the
shoulders of the polite stranger; in his usual helpless; headlong
way。 His new friend; however; insisted; in the most honorable
manner; on complying with the customary formalities before he
would consent to take the matter into his own hands。 He begged
leave to wait on Mr。 Armadale; with his testimonials to character
and capacity。 The same afternoon he had come by appointment to
the hotel; with all his papers; and with 'the saddest story' of
his sufferings and privations as 'a political refugee' that
Armadale had ever heard。 The interview was decisive。 Manuel left
the hotel; commissioned to find a crew for the yacht; and to fill
the post of sailing…master on the trial cruise。

〃I watched Midwinter anxiously; while Armadale was telling us
these particulars; and afterward; when he produced the new
sailing…master's testimonials; which he had brought with him for
his friend to see。

〃For the moment; Midwinter's superstitious misgivings seemed to
be all lost in his natural anxiety for his friend。 He examined
the stranger' s papersafter having told me that the sooner
Armadale was in the hands of strangers the better!with the
closest scrutiny and the most business…like distrust。 It is
needless to say that the credentials were as perfectly regular
and satisfactory as credentials could be。 When Midwinter handed
them back; his color rose: he seemed to feel the inconsistency of
his conduct; and to observe for the first time that I was present
noticing it。 'There is nothing to object to in the testimonials;
Allan: I am glad you have got the help you want at last。' That
was all he said at parting。 As soon as Armadale's back was
turned; I saw no more of him。 He has locked himself up again for
the night; in his own room。

〃There is nowso far as I am concernedbut one anxiety left。
When the yacht is ready for sea; and when I decline to occupy the
lady's cabin; will Midwinter hold to his resolution; and refuse
to sail without me?


〃October 26th。Warnings already of the coming ordeal。 A letter
from Armadale to Midwinter; which Midwinter has just sent in to
me。 Here it is:

〃 'DEAR MIDI am too busy to come to…day。 Get on with your work;
for Heaven's sake! The new sailing…master is a man of ten
thousand。 He has got an Englishman whom he knows to serve as mate
on board already; and he is positively certain of getting the
crew together in three or four days' time。 I am dying for a whiff
of the sea; and so are you; or you are no sailor。 The rigging is
set up; the stores are coming on board; and we shall bend the
sails to…morrow or next day。 I never was in such spirits in my
life。 Remember me to your wife; and tell her she will be doing me
a favor if she will come at once; and order everything she wants
in the lady's cabin。 Yours affectionately; A。 A。'

〃Under this was written; in Midwinter's hand: 'Remember what I
told you。 Write (it will break it to him more gently in that
way); and beg him to accept your apologies; and to excuse you
from sailing on the trial cruise。'

〃I have written without a moment's loss of time。 The sooner
Manuel knows (which he is certain to do through Armadale) that
the promise not to sail in the yacht is performed already; so far
as I am concerned; the safer I shall feel。


〃October 27th。A letter from Armadale; in answer to mine。 He is
full of ceremonio us regrets at the loss of my company on the
cruise; and he politely hopes that Midwinter may yet induce me to
alter my mind。 Wait a little; till he finds that Midwinter won't
sail with him either! 。 。 。 。

〃October 30th。

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