armadale-第196章
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plainly useless。 He went on through the streets； resolute to
discover her； and trying vainly to see the means to his end； till
the sense of fatigue forced itself on him once more。 Stopping to
rest and recruit his strength at the first hotel he came to； a
chance dispute between the waiter and a stranger about a lost
portmanteau reminded him of his own luggage； left at the
terminus； and instantly took his mind back to the circumstances
under which he and Mr。 Bashwood had met。 In a moment more； the
idea that he had been vainly seeking on his way through the
streets flashed on him。 In a moment more； he had determined to
try the chance of finding the steward again on the watch for the
person whose arrival he had evidently expected by the previous
evening's train。
Ignorant of the report of Allan's death at sea； uninformed； at
the terrible interview with his wife； of the purpose which her
assumption of a widow's dress really had in view； Midwinter's
first vague suspicions of her fidelity had now inevitably
developed into the conviction that she was false。 He could place
but one interpretation on her open disavowal of him； and on her
taking the name under which he had secretly married her。 Her
conduct forced the conclusion on him that she was engaged in some
infamous intrigue； and that she had basely secured herself
beforehand in the position of all others in which she knew it
would be most odious and most repellent to him to claim his
authority over her。 With that conviction he was now watching Mr。
Bashwood； firmly persuaded that his wife's hiding…place was known
to the vile servant of his wife's vices； and darkly suspecting；
as the time wore on； that the unknown man who had wronged him；
and the unknown traveler for whose arrival the steward was
waiting； were one and the same。
The train was late that night； and the carriages were more than
usually crowded when they arrived at last。 Midwinter became
involved in the confusion on the platform； and in the effort to
extricate himself he lost sight of Mr。 Bashwood for the first
time。
A lapse of some few minutes had passed before he again discovered
the steward talking eagerly to a man in a loose shaggy coat；
whose back was turned toward him。 Forgetful of all the cautions
and restraints which he had imposed on himself before the train
appeared； Midwinter instantly advanced on them。 Mr。 Bashwood saw
his threatening face as he came on； and fell back in silence。 The
man in the loose coat turned to look where the steward was
looking； and disclosed to Midwinter； in the full light of the
station…lamp； Allan's face！
For the moment they both stood speechless； hand in hand； looking
at each other。 Allan was the first to recover himself。
〃Thank God for this！〃 he said； fervently。 〃I don't ask how you
came here： it's enough for me that you have come。 Miserable news
has met me already； Midwinter。 Nobody but you can comfort me； and
help me to bear it。〃 His voice faltered over those last words；
and he said no more。
The tone in which he had spoken roused Midwinter to meet the
circums tances as they were； by appealing to the old grateful
interest in his friend which had once been the foremost interest
of his life。 He mastered his personal misery for the first time
since it had fallen on him； and gently taking Allan aside； asked
what had happened。
The answerafter informing him of his friend's reported death at
seaannounced （on Mr。 Bashwood's authority） that the news had
reached Miss Milroy； and that the deplorable result of the shock
thus inflicted had obliged the major to place his daughter in the
neighborhood of London； under medical care。
Before saying a word on his side； Midwinter looked distrustfully
behind him。 Mr。 Bashwood had followed them。 Mr。 Bashwood was
watching to see what they did next。
〃Was he waiting your arrival here to tell you this about Miss
Milroy？〃 asked Midwinter； looking again from the steward to
Allan。
〃Yes；〃 said Allan。 〃He has been kindly waiting here； night after
night； to meet me； and break the news to me。〃
Midwinter paused once more。 The attempt to reconcile the
conclusion he had drawn from his wife's conduct with the
discovery that Allan was the man for whose arrival Mr。 Bashwood
had been waiting was hopeless。 The one present chance of
discovering a truer solution of the mystery was to press the
steward on the one available point in which he had laid himself
open to attack。 He had positively denied on the previous evening
that he knew anything of Allan's movements； or that he had any
interest in Allan's return to England。 Having detected Mr。
Bashwood in one lie told to himself。 Midwinter instantly
suspected him of telling another to Allan。 He seized the
opportunity of sifting the statement about Miss Milroy on the
spot。
〃How have you become acquainted with this sad news？〃 he inquired；
turning suddenly on Mr。 Bashwood。
〃Through the major； of course；〃 said Allan； before the steward
could answer。
〃Who is the doctor who has the care of Miss Milroy？〃 persisted
Midwinter； still addressing Mr。 Bashwood。
For the second time the steward made no reply。 For the second
time； Allan answered for him。
〃He is a man with a foreign name；〃 said Allan。 〃He keeps a
Sanitarium near Hampstead。 What did you say the place was called；
Mr。 Bashwood？〃
〃Fairweather Vale； sir；〃 said the steward； answering his
employer； as a matter of necessity； but answering very
unwillingly。
The address of the Sanitarium instantly reminded Midwinter that
he had traced his wife to Fairweather Vale Villas the previous
night。 He began to see light through the darkness； dimly； for the
first time。 The instinct which comes with emergency； before the
slower process of reason can assert itself； brought him at a leap
to the conclusion that Mr。 Bashwoodwho had been certainly
acting under his wife's influence the previous daymight be
acting again under his wife's influence now。 He persisted in
sifting the steward's statement； with the conviction growing
firmer and firmer in his mind that the statement was a lie； and
that his wife was concerned in it。
〃Is the major in Norfolk？〃 he asked； 〃or is he near his daughter
in London？〃
〃In Norfolk；〃 said Mr。 Bashwood。 Having answered Allan's look of
inquiry； instead of Midwinter's spoken question； in those words；
he hesitated； looked Midwinter in the face for the first time；
and added； suddenly： 〃I object； if you please； to be
cross…examined； sir。 I know what I have told Mr。 Armadale； and I
know no more。〃
The words； and the voice in which they were spoken； were alike at
variance with Mr。 Bashwood's usual language and Mr。 Bashwood's
usual tone。 There was a sullen depression in his facethere was
a furtive distrust and dislike in his eyes when they looked at
Midwinter； which Midwinter himself now noticed for the first
time。 Before he could answer the steward's extraordinary
outbreak； Allan interfered。
〃Don't think me impatient；〃 he said； 〃but it's getting late； it's
a long way to Hampstead。 I'm afraid the Sanitarium will be shut
up。〃
Midwinter started。 〃You are not going to the Sanitarium
to…night！〃 he exclaimed。
Allan took his friend's hand and wrung it hard。 〃If you were as
fond of her as I am；〃 he whispered； 〃you would take no rest； you
could get no sleep； till you had seen the doctor； and heard the
best and the worst he had to tell you。 Poor dear little soul！ who
knows； if she could only see me alive and well〃 The tears came
into his eyes； and he turned away his head in silence。
Midwinter looked at the steward。 〃Stand back；〃 he said。 〃I want
to speak to Mr。 Armadale。〃 There was something in his eye which
it was not safe to trifle with。 Mr。 Bashwood drew back out of
hearing； but not out of sight。 Midwinter laid his hand fondly on
his friend's shoulder。
〃Allan；〃 he said； 〃I have reasons〃 He stopped。 Could the
reasons be given before he had fairly realized them himself； at
that time； too； and under those circumstances？ Impossible！ 〃I
have reasons；〃 he resumed； 〃for advising you not to believe too
readily what Mr。 Bashwood may say。 Don't tell him this； but take
the warning。〃
Allan looked at his friend in aston
