desperate remedies-第88章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
detail the grounds of his belief。
Before he had done； she recovered the cloak of reserve that she had
adopted on his opening the subject。
'I might possibly be convinced that you were in the right； after
such an elaborate argument；' she replied； 'were it not for one fact；
which bears in the contrary direction so pointedly； that nothing but
absolute proof can turn it。 It is that there is no conceivable
motive which could induce any sane manleaving alone a man of Mr。
Manston's clear…headedness and integrityto venture upon such an
extraordinary course of conductno motive on earth。'
'That was my own opinion till after the visit of a friend last
nighta friend of mine and poor little Cytherea's。'
'Ahand Cytherea；' said Miss Aldclyffe； catching at the idea raised
by the name。 'That he loved Cythereayes and loves her now； wildly
and devotedly； I am as positive as that I breathe。 Cytherea is
years younger than Mrs。 Manstonas I shall call hertwice as sweet
in disposition； three times as beautiful。 Would he have given her
up quietly and suddenly for a commonMr。 Raunham； your story is
monstrous； and I don't believe it！' She glowed in her earnestness。
The rector might now have advanced his second propositionthe
possible motivebut for reasons of his own he did not。
'Very well； madam。 I only hope that facts will sustain you in your
belief。 Ask him the question to his face； whether the woman is his
wife or no； and see how he receives it。'
'I will to…morrow； most certainly；' she said。 'I always let these
things die of wholesome ventilation； as every fungus does。'
But no sooner had the rector left her presence； than the grain of
mustard…seed he had sown grew to a tree。 Her impatience to set her
mind at rest could not brook a night's delay。 It was with the
utmost difficulty that she could wait till evening arrived to screen
her movements。 Immediately the sun had dropped behind the horizon；
and before it was quite dark； she wrapped her cloak around her；
softly left the house； and walked erect through the gloomy park in
the direction of the old manor…house。
The same minute saw two persons sit down in the rectory…house to
share the rector's usually solitary dinner。 One was a man of
official appearance； commonplace in all except his eyes。 The other
was Edward Springrove。
The discovery of the carefully…concealed letters rankled in the mind
of Anne Seaway。 Her woman's nature insisted that Manston had no
right to keep all matters connected with his lost wife a secret from
herself。 Perplexity had bred vexation； vexation； resentment；
curiosity had been continuous。 The whole morning this resentment
and curiosity increased。
The steward said very little to his companion during their luncheon
at mid…day。 He seemed reckless of appearancesalmost indifferent
to whatever fate awaited him。 All his actions betrayed that
something portentous was impending； and still he explained nothing。
By carefully observing every trifling action； as only a woman can
observe them； the thought at length dawned upon her that he was
going to run away secretly。 She feared for herself； her knowledge
of law and justice was vague； and she fancied she might in some way
be made responsible for him。
In the afternoon he went out of the house again； and she watched him
drive away in the direction of the county…town。 She felt a desire
to go there herself； and； after an interval of half…an…hour；
followed him on foot notwithstanding the distanceostensibly to do
some shopping。
One among her several trivial errands was to make a small purchase
at the druggist's。 Near the druggist's stood the County Bank。
Looking out of the shop window； between the coloured bottles； she
saw Manston come down the steps of the bank； in the act of
withdrawing his hand from his pocket； and pulling his coat close
over its mouth。
It is an almost universal habit with people； when leaving a bank； to
be carefully adjusting their pockets if they have been receiving
money； if they have been paying it in； their hands swing laxly。 The
steward had in all likelihood been taking moneypossibly on Miss
Aldclyffe's accountthat was continual with him。 And he might have
been removing his own； as a man would do who was intending to leave
the country。
3。 FROM FIVE TO EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
Anne reached home again in time to preside over preparations for
dinner。 Manston came in half…an…hour later。 The lamp was lighted；
the shutters were closed； and they sat down together。 He was pale
and wornalmost haggard。
The meal passed off in almost unbroken silence。 When preoccupation
withstands the influence of a social meal with one pleasant
companion； the mental scene must be surpassingly vivid。 Just as she
was rising a tap came to the door。
Before a maid could attend to the knock； Manston crossed the room
and answered it himself。 The visitor was Miss Aldclyffe。
Manston instantly came back and spoke to Anne in an undertone。 'I
should be glad if you could retire to your room for a short time。'
'It is a dry； starlight evening；' she replied。 'I will go for a
little walk if your object is merely a private conversation with
Miss Aldclyffe。'
'Very well； do； there's no accounting for tastes；' he said。 A few
commonplaces then passed between her and Miss Aldclyffe； and Anne
went upstairs to bonnet and cloak herself。 She came down； opened
the front door； and went out。
She looked around to realize the night。 It was dark； mournful； and
quiet。 Then she stood still。 From the moment that Manston had
requested her absence； a strong and burning desire had prevailed in
her to know the subject of Miss Aldclyffe's conversation with him。
Simple curiosity was not entirely what inspired her。 Her suspicions
had been thoroughly aroused by the discovery of the morning。 A
conviction that her future depended on her power to combat a man
who； in desperate circumstances； would be far from a friend to her；
prompted a strategic movement to acquire the important secret that
was in handling now。 The woman thought and thought； and regarded
the dull dark trees； anxiously debating how the thing could be done。
Stealthily re…opening the front door she entered the hall； and
advancing and pausing alternately； came close to the door of the
room in which Miss Aldclyffe and Manston conversed。 Nothing could
be heard through the keyhole or panels。 At a great risk she softly
turned the knob and opened the door to a width of about half…an…
inch； performing the act so delicately that three minutes； at least；
were occupied in completing it。 At that instant Miss Aldclyffe
said
'There's a draught somewhere。 The door is ajar； I think。'
Anne glided back under the staircase。 Manston came forward and
closed the door。 This chance was now cut off； and she considered
again。 The parlour； or sitting…room； in which the conference took
place； had the window…shutters fixed on the outside of the window；
as is usual in the back portions of old country…houses。 The
shutters were hinged one on each side of the opening； and met in the
middle； where they were fastened by a bolt passing continuously
through them and the wood mullion within； the bolt being secured on
the inside by a pin； which was seldom inserted till Manston and
herself were about to retire for the night； sometimes not at all。
If she returned to the door of the room she might be discovered at
any moment； but could she listen at the window； which overlooked a
part of the garden never visited after nightfall； she would be safe
from disturbance。 The idea was worth a trial。
She glided round to the window； took the head of the bolt between
her finger and thumb； and softly screwed it round until it was
entirely withdrawn from its position。 The shutters remained as
before； whilst； where the bolt had come out； was now a shining hole
three…quarters of an inch in diameter； through which one might see
into the middle of the room。 She applied her eye to the orifice。
Miss Aldclyffe and Manston were both s
