desperate remedies-第92章
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in advance； but on Manston's other hand。
He reached a pit； midway between the waterfall and the engine…house。
There he stopped； wiped his face； and listened。
Into this pit had drifted uncounted generations of withered leaves；
half filling it。 Oak； beech； and chestnut； rotten and brown alike；
mingled themselves in one fibrous mass。 Manston descended into the
midst of them； placed his sack on the ground； and raking the leaves
aside into a large heap； began digging。 Anne softly drew nearer；
crept into a bush； and turning her head to survey the rest； missed
the man who had dropped behind； and whom we have called the first
watcher。 Concluding that he； too； had hidden himself； she turned
her attention to the second watcher； the other woman； who had
meanwhile advanced near to where Anne lay in hiding； and now seated
herself behind a tree； still closer to the steward than was Anne
Seaway。
Here and thus Anne remained concealed。 The crunch of the steward's
spade； as it cut into the soft vegetable mould； was plainly
perceptible to her ears when the periodic cessations between the
creaks of the engine concurred with a lull in the breeze； which
otherwise brought the subdued roar of the cascade from the further
side of the bank that screened it。 A large holesome four or five
feet deephad been excavated by Manston in about twenty minutes。
Into this he immediately placed the sack； and then began filling in
the earth； and treading it down。 Lastly he carefully raked the
whole mass of dead and dry leaves into the middle of the pit；
burying the ground with them as they had buried it before。
For a hiding…place the spot was unequalled。 The thick accumulation
of leaves； which had not been disturbed for centuries； might not be
disturbed again for centuries to come； whilst their lower layers
still decayed and added to the mould beneath。
By the time this work was ended the sky had grown clearer； and Anne
could now see distinctly the face of the other woman； stretching
from behind the tree； seemingly forgetful of her position in her
intense contemplation of the actions of the steward。 Her
countenance was white and motionless。
It was impossible that Manston should not soon notice her。 At the
completion of his labour he turned； and did so。
'Hoyou here！' he exclaimed。
'Don't think I am a spy upon you；' she said； in an imploring
whisper。 Anne recognized the voice as Miss Aldclyffe's。
The trembling lady added hastily another remark； which was drowned
in the recurring creak of the engine close at hand The first
watcher； if he had come no nearer than his original position； was
too far off to hear any part of this dialogue； on account of the
roar of the falling water； which could reach him unimpeded by the
bank。
The remark of Miss Aldclyffe to Manston had plainly been concerning
the first watcher； for Manston； with his spade in his hand；
instantly rushed to where the man was concealed； and； before the
latter could disengage himself from the boughs； the steward struck
him on the head with the blade of the instrument。 The man fell to
the ground。
'Fly！' said Miss Aldclyffe to Manston。 Manston vanished amidst the
trees。 Miss Aldclyffe went off in a contrary direction。
Anne Seaway was about to run away likewise； when she turned and
looked at the fallen man。 He lay on his face； motionless。
Many of these women who own to no moral code show considerable
magnanimity when they see people in trouble。 To act right simply
because it is one's duty is proper； but a good action which is the
result of no law of reflection shines more than any。 She went up to
him and gently turned him over； upon which he began to show signs of
life。 By her assistance he was soon able to stand upright。
He looked about him with a bewildered air； endeavouring to collect
his ideas。 'Who are you？' he said to the woman； mechanically。
It was bad policy now to attempt disguise。 'I am the supposed Mrs。
Manston；' she said。 'Who are you？'
'I am the officer employed by Mr。 Raunham to sift this mystery
which may be criminal。' He stretched his limbs； pressed his head；
and seemed gradually to awake to a sense of having been incautious
in his utterance。 'Never you mind who I am；' he continued。 'Well；
it doesn't matter now； eitherit will no longer be a secret。'
He stooped for his hat and ran in the direction the steward had
takencoming back again after the lapse of a minute。
'It's only an aggravated assault； after all；' he said hastily；
'until we have found out for certain what's buried here。 It may be
only a bag of building rubbish； but it may be more。 Come and help
me dig。' He seized the spade with the awkwardness of a town man；
and went into the pit； continuing a muttered discourse。 'It's no
use my running after him single…handed；' he said。 'He's ever so far
off by this time。 The best step is to see what is here。'
It was far easier for the detective to re…open the hole than it had
been for Manston to form it。 The leaves were raked away； the loam
thrown out； and the sack dragged forth。
'Hold this；' he said to Anne； whose curiosity still kept her
standing near。 He turned on the light of a dark lantern he had
brought； and gave it into her hand。
The string which bound the mouth of the sack was now cut。 The
officer laid the bag on its side； seized it by the bottom； and
jerked forth the contents。 A large package was disclosed； carefully
wrapped up in impervious tarpaulin； also well tied。 He was on the
point of pulling open the folds at one end； when a light coloured
thread of something； hanging on the outside； arrested his eye。 He
put his hand upon it； it felt stringy； and adhered to his fingers。
'Hold the light close；' he said。
She held it close。 He raised his hand to the glass； and they both
peered at an almost intangible filament he held between his finger
and thumb。 It was a long hair； the hair of a woman。
'God！ I couldn't believe itno； I couldn't believe it！' the
detective whispered； horror…struck。 'And I have lost the man for
the present through my unbelief。 Let's get into a sheltered place。
。 。 。 Now wait a minute whilst I prove it。'
He thrust his hand into his waistcoat pocket； and withdrew thence a
minute packet of brown paper。 Spreading it out he disclosed； coiled
in the middle； another long hair。 It was the hair the clerk's wife
had found on Manston's pillow nine days before the Carriford fire。
He held the two hairs to the light： they were both of a pale…brown
hue。 He laid them parallel and stretched out his arms： they were
of the same length to a nicety。 The detective turned to Anne。
'It is the body of his first wife；' he said quietly。 'He murdered
her； as Mr。 Springrove and the rector suspectedbut how and when；
God only knows。'
'And I！' exclaimed Anne Seaway； a probable and natural sequence of
events and motives explanatory of the whole crimeevents and
motives shadowed forth by the letter； Manston's possession of it；
his renunciation of Cytherea； and instalment of herselfflashing
upon her mind with the rapidity of lightning。
'AhI see；' said the detective； standing unusually close to her：
and a handcuff was on her wrist。 'You must come with me； madam。
Knowing as much about a secret murder as God knows is a very
suspicious thing： it doesn't make you a goddessfar from it。' He
directed the bull's…eye into her face。
'Poohlead on；' she said scornfully； 'and don't lose your principal
actor for the sake of torturing a poor subordinate like me。'
He loosened her hand； gave her his arm； and dragged her out of the
grovemaking her run beside him till they had reached the rectory。
A light was burning here； and an auxiliary of the detective's
awaiting him： a horse ready harnessed to a spring…cart was standing
outside。
'You have comeI wish I had known that；' the detective said to his
assistant； hurriedly and angrily。 'Well； we've blunderedhe's
goneyou should have been here； as I said！ I was sold by that
woman； Miss Aldclyffeshe watched me。' He hastily gave directions
in an undertone to this man。 The concluding words were； 'Go in to
the rectorhe's up。 Detain Miss Aldclyffe。 I； in
