desperate remedies-第87章
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he sent for me （this was last week） and I was glad to go to him。
Then this is what he did。 He promised to fetch me； and did not
leaving me to do the journey alone。 He promised to meet me at the
station herehe did not。 I went on through the darkness to his
house； and found his door locked and himself away from home。 I have
been obliged to come here； and I write to you in a strange room in a
strange village inn！ I choose the present moment to write to drive
away my misery。 Sorrow seems a sort of pleasure when you detail it
on paperpoor pleasure though。
'But this is what I want to knowand I am ashamed to tell it。 I
would gladly do as you say； and come to you as a housekeeper； but I
have not the money even for a steerage passage。 James； do you want
me badly enoughdo you pity me enough to send it？ I could manage
to subsist in London upon the proceeds of my sale for another month
or six weeks。 Will you send it to the same address at the post…
office？ But how do I know that you 。 。 。 '
Thus the letter ended。 From creases in the paper it was plain that
the writer； having got so far； had become dissatisfied with her
production； and had crumpled it in her hand。 Was it to write
another； or not to write at all？
The next thing Anne Seaway perceived was that the fragmentary story
she had coaxed out of Manston； to the effect that his wife had left
England for America； might be truthful； according to two of these
letters； corroborated by the evidence of the railway…porter。 And
yet； at first； he had sworn in a passion that his wife was most
certainly consumed in the fire。
If she had been burnt； this letter； written in her bedroom； and
probably thrust into her pocket when she relinquished it； would have
been burnt with her。 Nothing was surer than that。 Why； then； did
he say she was burnt； and never show Anne herself this letter？
The question suddenly raised a new and much stranger onekindling a
burst of amazement in her。 How did Manston become possessed of this
letter？
That fact of possession was certainly the most remarkable revelation
of all in connection with this epistle； and perhaps had something to
do with his reason for never showing it to her。
She knew by several proofs； that before his marriage with Cytherea；
and up to the time of the porter's confession； Manston believed
honestly believedthat Cytherea would be his lawful wife； and
hence； of course； that his wife Eunice was dead。 So that no
communication could possibly have passed between his wife and
himself from the first moment that he believed her dead on the night
of the fire； to the day of his wedding。 And yet he had that letter。
How soon afterwards could they have communicated with each other？
The existence of the letteras much as； or more than its contents
implying that Mrs Manston was not burnt； his belief in that calamity
must have terminated at the moment he obtained possession of the
letter； if no earlier。 Was； then； the only solution to the riddle
that Anne could discern； the true one？that he had communicated
with his wife somewhere about the commencement of Anne's residence
with him； or at any time since？
It was the most unlikely thing on earth that a woman who had
forsaken her husband should countenance his scheme to personify her…
…whether she were in America； in London； or in the neighbourhood of
Knapwater。
Then came the old and harassing question； what was Manston's real
motive in risking his name on the deception he was practising as
regarded Anne。 It could not be； as he had always pretended； mere
passion。 Her thoughts had reverted to Mr。 Raunham's letter； asking
for proofs of her identity with the original Mrs。 Manston。 She
could see no loophole of escape for the man who supported her。
True； in her own estimation； his worst alternative was not so very
bad after allthe getting the name of libertine； a possible
appearance in the divorce or some other court of law； and a question
of damages。 Such an exposure might hinder his worldly progress for
some time。 Yet to him this alternative was； apparently； terrible as
death itself。
She restored the letters to their hiding…place； scanned anew the
other letters and memoranda； from which she could gain no fresh
information； fastened up the cabinet； and left everything in its
former condition。
Her mind was ill at ease。 More than ever she wished that she had
never seen Manston。 Where the person suspected of mysterious moral
obliquity is the possessor of great physical and intellectual
attractions； the mere sense of incongruity adds an extra shudder to
dread。 The man's strange bearing terrified Anne as it had terrified
Cytherea； for with all the woman Anne's faults； she had not
descended to such depths of depravity as to willingly participate in
crime。 She had not even known that a living wife was being
displaced till her arrival at Knapwater put retreat out of the
question； and had looked upon personation simply as a mode of
subsistence a degree better than toiling in poverty and alone； after
a bustling and somewhat pampered life as housekeeper in a gay
mansion。
'Non illa colo calathisve Minervae
Foemineas assueta manus。'
2。 AFTERNOON
Mr。 Raunham and Edward Springrove had by this time set in motion a
machinery which they hoped to find working out important results。
The rector was restless and full of meditation all the following
morning。 It was plain； even to the servants about him； that
Springrove's communication wore a deeper complexion than any that
had been made to the old magistrate for many months or years past。
The fact was that； having arrived at the stage of existence in which
the difficult intellectual feat of suspending one's judgment becomes
possible； he was now putting it in practice； though not without the
penalty of watchful effort。
It was not till the afternoon that he determined to call on his
relative； Miss Aldclyffe； and cautiously probe her knowledge of the
subject occupying him so thoroughly。 Cytherea； he knew； was still
beloved by this solitary woman。 Miss Aldclyffe had made several
private inquiries concerning her former companion； and there was
ever a sadness in her tone when the young lady's name was mentioned；
which showed that from whatever cause the elder Cytherea's
renunciation of her favourite and namesake proceeded； it was not
from indifference to her fate。
'Have you ever had any reason for supposing your steward anything
but an upright man？' he said to the lady。
'Never the slightest。 Have you？' said she reservedly。
'WellI have。'
'What is it？'
'I can say nothing plainly； because nothing is proved。 But my
suspicions are very strong。'
'Do you mean that he was rather cool towards his wife when they were
first married； and that it was unfair in him to leave her？ I know
he was； but I think his recent conduct towards her has amply atoned
for the neglect。'
He looked Miss Aldclyffe full in the face。 It was plain that she
spoke honestly。 She had not the slightest notion that the woman who
lived with the steward might be other than Mrs。 Manstonmuch less
that a greater matter might be behind。
'That's not itI wish it was no more。 My suspicion is； first； that
the woman living at the Old House is not Mr。 Manston's wife。'
'NotMr。 Manston's wife？'
'That is it。'
Miss Aldclyffe looked blankly at the rector。 'Not Mr。 Manston's
wifewho else can she be？' she said simply。
'An improper woman of the name of Anne Seaway。'
Mr。 Raunham had； in common with other people； noticed the
extraordinary interest of Miss Aldclyffe in the well…being of her
steward； and had endeavoured to account for it in various ways。 The
extent to which she was shaken by his information； whilst it proved
that the understanding between herself and Manston did not make her
a sharer of his secrets； also showed that the tie which bound her to
him was still unbroken。 Mr。 Raunham had lately begun to doubt the
latter fact； and now； on finding himself mistaken； regretted that he
had not kept his own counsel in the matter。 This it was too late to
do； and he pushed on with his proofs。 He gave Miss Aldclyffe in
d
