by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第29章
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〃Then she didn't tell yer that she and Ferrers was sparkin' and keepin'
kimpany together； that she and him was engaged； and was kalkilatin' to
run away to furrin parts； that she cottoned to him more than to the ship or
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her father？〃
〃She certainly did not； and I shouldn't believe it；〃 said Renshaw；
quickly。
Nott smiled。 He was amused； he astutely recognized the usual
trustfulness of love and youth。 There was clearly no deceit here！
Renshaw's attentive eyes saw the smile； and his brow darkened。
〃I like to hear yer say that； Mr。 Renshaw；〃 said Nott； 〃and it's no more
than Rosey deserves； ez it's suthing onnat'ral and spell…like that's come
over her through Ferrers。 It ain't my Rosey。 But it's Gospel truth； whether
she's bewitched or not； whether it's them damn fool stories she readsand
it's like ez not he's just the kind o' snipe to write 'em hisself； and sorter
advertise hisself； don't yer seeshe's allus stuck up for him。 They've had
clandesent interviews； and when I taxed him with it he ez much ez allowed
it was so； and reckoned he must leave； so ez he could run her off； you
knowkinder stampede her with 'honor。' Them's his very words。〃
〃But that is all past； he is gone； and Miss Nott does not even know
where he is！〃 said Renshaw； with a laugh； which； however； concealed a
vague uneasiness。
Mr。 Nott rose and opened the door carefully。 When he had satisfied
himself that no one was listening； he came back and said in a whisper；
〃That's a lie。 Not ez Rosey means to lie； but it's a trick he's put upon that
poor child。 That man； Mr。 Renshaw； hez been hangin' round the Pontiac
ever since。 I've seed him twice with my own eyes pass the cabin windys。
More than that； I've heard strange noises at night； and seen strange faces in
the alley over yer。 And only jist now ez I kem in I ketched sight of a furrin
lookin' Chinee nigger slinking round the back door of what useter be
Ferrers's loft。〃
〃Did he look like a sailor？〃 asked Renshaw quickly； with a return of
his former suspicion。
〃Not more than I do；〃 said Nott； glancing complacently at his pea…
jacket。 〃He had rings on his yeers like a wench。〃
Mr。 Renshaw started。 But seeing Nott's eyes fixed on him； he said
lightly； 〃But what have these strange faces and this strange man probably
only a Lascar sailor out of a jobto do with Ferrieres？〃
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〃Friends o' hisfeller furrin citizensspies on Rosey； don't you see？
But they can't play the old man； Mr。 Renshaw。 I've told Rosey she must
make a visit to the old Ranch。 Once I've got her ther safe； I reckon I kin
manage Mr。 Ferrers and any number of Chinee niggers he kin bring
along。〃
Renshaw remained for a few moments lost in thought。 Then rising
suddenly he grasped Mr。 Nott's hand with a frank smile but determined
eyes。 〃I haven't got the hang of this； Mr。 Nottthe whole thing gets me！ I
only know that I've changed my mind。 I'm NOT going to Sacramento。 I
shall stay HERE； old man； until I see you safe through the business； or my
name's not Dick Renshaw。 There's my hand on it！ Don't say a word。
Maybe it is no more than I ought to doperhaps not half enough。 Only
remember； not a word of this to your daughter。 She must believe that I
leave to…night。 And the sooner you get her out of this cursed ship the
better。〃
〃Deacon Flint's girls are goin' up in to…night's boat。 I'll send Rosey
with them；〃 said Nott with a cunning twinkle。 Renshaw nodded。 Nott
seized his hand with a wink of unutterable significance。
Left to himself Renshaw tried to review more calmly the
circumstances in these strange revelations that had impelled him to change
his resolution so suddenly。 That the ship was under the surveillance of
unknown parties； and that the description of them tallied with his own
knowledge of a certain Lascar sailor； who was one of Sleight's informants…
…seemed to be more than probable。 That this seemed to point to Sleight's
disloyalty to himself while he was acting as his agent； or a double
treachery on the part of Sleight's informants was in either case a reason
and an excuse for his own interference。 But the connection of the absurd
Frenchman with the case； which at first seemed a characteristic imbecility
of his landlord； bewildered him the more he thought of it。 Rejecting any
hypothesis of the girl's affection for the antiquated figure whose sanity
was a question of public criticism； he was forced to the equally alarming
theory that Ferrieres was cognizant of the treasure； and that his attentions
to Rosey were to gain possession of it by marrying her。 Might she not be
dazzled by a picture of this wealth？ Was it not possible that she was
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already in part possession of the secret； and her strange attraction to the
ship； and what he had deemed her innocent craving for information
concerning it； a consequence？ Why had he not thought of this before？
Perhaps she had detected his purpose from the first； and had deliberately
checkmated him。 The thought did not increase his complacency as Nott
softly returned。
〃It's all right；〃 he began with a certain satisfaction in this rare
opportunity for Machiavellian diplomacy； 〃it's all fixed now。 Rosey
tumbled to it at once； partiklerly when I said you was bound to go。 'But
wot makes Mr。 Renshaw go； father；' sez she； 'wot makes everybody run
away from the ship？' sez she； rather peart like and sassy for her。 'Mr。
Renshaw hez contractin' business；' sez I； 'got a big thing up in Sacramento
that'll make his fortun'；' sez Ifor I wasn't goin' to give yer away； don't ye
see。 'He had some business to talk to you about the ship；' sez she； lookin' at
me under the corner of her pocket handkerchief。 'Lots o' business；' sez I。
'Then I reckon he don't care to hev me write to him；' sez she。 'Not a bit；'
sez I； 'he wouldn't answer ye if ye did。 Ye'll never hear from that chap
agin。'〃
〃But what the devil〃 interrupted the young man impetuously。
〃Keep yer hair on！〃 remonstrated the old man with dark intelligence。
〃Ef you'd seen the way she flounced into her stateroom！she； Rosey； ez
allus moves ez softly ez a spirityou'd hev wished I'd hev unloaded a little
more。 No sir； gals is gals in some things all the time。〃
Renshaw rose and paced the room rapidly。 〃Perhaps I'd better speak to
her again before she goes；〃 he said； impulsively。
〃P'r'aps you'd better not；〃 replied the imperturbable Nott。
Irritated as he was； Renshaw could not avoid the reflection that the old
man was right。 What； indeed； could he say to her with his present
imper
