desperate remedies-第74章

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accounting　for　her　seclusion　had　been　circulated。　　Was　it　not　true；
as　Edward　had　hinted；　that　he；　her　brother；　was　neglecting　his　duty
towards　her　in　allowing　Manston　to　thrive　unquestioned；　whilst　she
was　hiding　her　head　for　no　fault　at　all？

Was　it　possible　that　Manston　was　sensuous　villain　enough　to　have
contemplated；　at　any　moment　before　the　marriage　with　Cytherea；　the
return　of　his　first　wife；　when　he　should　have　grown　weary　of　his　new
toy？　　Had　he　believed　that；　by　a　skilful　manipulation　of　such
circumstances　as　chance　would　throw　in　his　way；　he　could　escape　all
suspicion　of　having　known　that　she　lived？　　Only　one　fact　within　his
own　direct　knowledge　afforded　the　least　ground　for　such　a
supposition。　　It　was　that；　possessed　by　a　woman　only　in　the　humble
and　unprotected　station　of　a　lady's　hired　companion；　his　sister's
beauty　might　scarcely　have　been　sufficient　to　induce　a　selfish　man
like　Manston　to　make　her　his　wife；　unless　he　had　foreseen　the
possibility　of　getting　rid　of　her　again。

'But　for　that　stratagem　of　Manston's　in　relation　to　the
Springroves；'　Owen　thought；　'Cythie　might　now　have　been　the　happy
wife　of　Edward。　　True；　that　he　influenced　Miss　Aldclyffe　only　rests
on　Edward's　suspicions；　but　the　grounds　are　goodthe　probability　is
strong。'

He　went　indoors　and　questioned　Cytherea。

'On　the　night　of　the　fire；　who　first　said　that　Mrs。　Manston　was
burnt？'　he　asked。

'I　don't　know　who　started　the　report。'

'Was　it　Manston？'

'It　was　certainly　not　he。　　All　doubt　on　the　subject　was　removed
before　he　came　to　the　spotthat　I　am　certain　of。　　Everybody　knew
that　she　did　not　escape　AFTER　the　house　was　on　fire；　and　thus　all
overlooked　the　fact　that　she　might　have　left　beforeof　course　that
would　have　seemed　such　an　improbable　thing　for　anybody　to　do。'

'Yes；　until　the　porter's　story　of　her　irritation　and　doubt　as　to　her
course　made　it　natural。'

'What　settled　the　matter　at　the　inquest；'　said　Cytherea；　'was　Mr。
Manston's　evidence　that　the　watch　was　his　wife's。'

'He　was　sure　of　that；　wasn't　he？'

'I　believe　he　said　he　was　certain　of　it。'

'It　might　have　been　hersleft　behind　in　her　perturbation；　as　they
say　it　wasimpossible　as　that　seems　at　first　sight。　　Yeson　the
whole；　he　might　have　believed　in　her　death。'

'I　know　by　several　proofs　that　then；　and　at　least　for　some　time
after；　he　had　no　other　thought　than　that　she　was　dead。　　I　now　think
that　before　the　porter's　confession　he　knew　something　about　her
though　not　that　she　lived。'

'Why　do　you？'

'From　what　he　said　to　me　on　the　evening　of　the　wedding…day；　when　I
had　fastened　myself　in　the　room　at　the　hotel；　after　Edward's　visit。
He　must　have　suspected　that　I　knew　something；　for　he　was　irritated；
and　in　a　passion　of　uneasy　doubt。　　He　said；　〃You　don't　suppose　my
first　wife　is　come　to　light　again；　madam；　surely？〃　　Directly　he　had
let　the　remark　slip　out；　he　seemed　anxious　to　withdraw　it。'

'That's　odd；'　said　Owen。

'I　thought　it　very　odd。'

'Still　we　must　remember　he　might　only　have　hit　upon　the　thought　by
accident；　in　doubt　as　to　your　motive。　　Yes；　the　great　point　to
discover　remains　the　same　as　everdid　he　doubt　his　first　impression
of　her　death　BEFORE　he　married　you。　　I　can't　help　thinking　he　did；
although　he　was　so　astounded　at　our　news　that　night。　　Edward　swears
he　did。'

'It　was　perhaps　only　a　short　time　before；'　said　Cytherea；　'when　he
could　hardly　recede　from　having　me。

'Seasoning　justice　with　mercy　as　usual；　Cytherea。　　'Tis　unfair　to
yourself　to　talk　like　that。　　If　I　could　only　bring　him　to　ruin　as　a
bigamistsupposing　him　to　be　oneI　should　die　happy。　　That's　what
we　must　find　out　by　fair　means　or　foulwas　he　a　wilful　bigamist？'

'It　is　no　use　trying；　Owen。　　You　would　have　to　employ　a　solicitor；
and　how　can　you　do　that？'

'I　can't　at　allI　know　that　very　well。　　But　neither　do　I　altogether
wish　to　at　presenta　lawyer　must　have　a　casefacts　to　go　upon；
that　means。　　Now　they　are　scarce　at　presentas　scarce　as　money　is
with　us；　and　till　we　have　found　more　money　there　is　no　hurry　for　a
lawyer。　　Perhaps　by　the　time　we　have　the　facts　we　shall　have　the
money。　　The　only　thing　we　lose　in　working　alone　in　this　way；　is
timenot　the　issue：　　for　the　fruit　that　one　mind　matures　in　a
twelvemonth　forms　a　more　perfectly　organized　whole　than　that　of
twelve　minds　in　one　month；　especially　if　the　interests　of　the　single
one　are　vitally　concerned；　and　those　of　the　twelve　are　only　hired。
But　there　is　not　only　my　mind　availableyou　are　a　shrewd　woman；
Cythie；　and　Edward　is　an　earnest　ally。　　Then；　if　we　really　get　a
sure　footing　for　a　criminal　prosecution；　the　Crown　will　take　up　the
case。'

'I　don't　much　care　to　press　on　in　the　matter；'　she　murmured。　　'What
good　can　it　do　us；　Owen；　after　all？'

'Selfishly　speaking；　it　will　do　this　goodthat　all　the　facts　of
your　journey　to　Southampton　will　become　known；　and　the　scandal　will
die。　　Besides；　Manston　will　have　to　sufferit's　an　act　of　justice
to　you　and　to　other　women；　and　to　Edward　Springrove。'

He　now　thought　it　necessary　to　tell　her　of　the　real　nature　of　the
Springroves'　obligation　to　Miss　Aldclyffeand　their　nearly　certain
knowledge　that　Manston　was　the　prime　mover　in　effecting　their
embarrassment。　　Her　face　flushed　as　she　listened。

'And　now；'　he　said；　'our　first　undertaking　is　to　find　out　where　Mrs。
Manston　lived　during　the　separation；　next；　when　the　first
communications　passed　between　them　after　the　fire。'

'If　we　only　had　Miss　Aldclyffe's　countenance　and　assistance　as　I
used　to　have　them；'　Cytherea　returned；　'how　strong　we　should　be！　　O；
what　power　is　it　that　he　exercises　over　her；　swaying　her　just　as　he
wishes！　　She　loves　me　now。　　Mrs。　Morris　in　her　letter　said　that　Miss
Aldclyffe　prayed　for　meyes；　she　heard　her　praying　for　me；　and
crying。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　did　not　mind　an　old　friend　like　Mrs。　Morris
knowing　it；　either。　　Yet　in　opposition　to　this；　notice　her　dead
silence　and　inaction　throughout　this　proceeding。'

'It　is　a　mystery；　but　never　mind　that　now；'　said　Owen　impressively。
'About　where　Mrs。　Manston　has　been　living。　　We　must　get　this　part　of
it　firstlearn　the　place　of　her　stay　in　the　early　stage　of　their
separation；　during　the　period　of　Manston's　arrival　here；　and　so　on；
for　that　was　where　she　was　first　communicated　with　on　the　subject　of
coming　to　Knapwater；　before　the　fire；　and　that　address；　too；　was　her
point　of　departure　when　she　came　to　her　husband　by　stealth　in　the
nightyou　knowthe　time　I　visited　you　in　the　evening　and　went　home
early　in　the　morning；　and　it　was　found　that　he　had　been　visited　too。
Ah！　couldn't　we　inquire　of　Mrs。　Leat；　who　keeps　the　post…office　at
Carriford；　if　she　remembers　where　the　letters　to　Mrs。　Manston　were
directed？'

'He　never　posted　his　letters　to　her　in　the　parishit　was　remarked
at　the　time。　　I　was　thinking　if　something　relating　to　her　address
might　not　be　found　in　the　report　of　the　inquest　in　the　Casterbridge
Chronicle　of　the　date。　　Some　facts　about　the　inquest　were　given　in
the　papers　to　a　certainty。'

Her　brother　caught　eagerly　at　the　suggestion。　　'Who　has　a　file　of
the　Chronicles？'　he　said。

'Mr。　Raunham　used　to　file　them；'　said　Cytherea。　　'He　was　rather
friendly…disposed　towards　me；　too。'

Owen　could　not；　on　any　consideration；　escape　from　his　attendance　at
the　church…building　till　Saturday　evening；　and　thus　it　became
necessary；　unless　they　actually　wasted　time；　that　Cytherea　herself
should　assist。　　'I　act　under　your　orders；　Owen；'　she　said。



XVI。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　WEEK

1。　　MARCH　THE　SIXTH

The　next　morning　the　opening　move　of　the　game　was　made。　　Cytherea；
under　cover　of　a　thick　veil；　hired　a　conveyance　and　drove　to　within
a　mile　or　so　of　Carriford。　　It　was　with　a　renewed　sense　of
depression　that　she　saw　again　the　objects　which　had　become　familiar
to　her　eye　during　her　sojourn　under　Miss　Aldclyffe's　roofthe
outline　of　the　hills；　the　meadow　streams；　the　old　park　trees。　　She
hastened　by　a　lonely　path　to　the　rectory…house；　and　asked　if　Mr。
Raunham　was　at　home。

Now　the　rector；　though　a　solitary　bachelor；　was　as　gallant　and
courteous　to　womankind　as　an　ancient　Iberian；　and；　moreover；　he　was
Cytherea's　friend　in　particular；　to　an　extent　far　greater　than　s