death of the lion-第11章

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precious　heritage　of　his　written　project。　　But　where　was　that　
precious　heritage　and　were　both　the　author　and　the　book　to　have　
been　snatched　from　us？　　Lady　Augusta　wrote　me　that　she　had　done　all　
she　could　and　that　poor　Lord　Dorimont；　who　had　really　been　worried　
to　death；　was　extremely　sorry。　　I　couldn't　have　the　matter　out　with　
Mrs。　Wimbush；　for　I　didn't　want　to　be　taunted　by　her　with　desiring　
to　aggrandise　myself　by　a　public　connexion　with　Mr。　Paraday's　
sweepings。　　She　had　signified　her　willingness　to　meet　the　expense　
of　all　advertising；　as　indeed　she　was　always　ready　to　do。　　The　last　
night　of　the　horrible　series；　the　night　before　he　died；　I　put　my　
ear　closer　to　his　pillow。

〃That　thing　I　read　you　that　morning；　you　know。〃

〃In　your　garden　that　dreadful　day？　　Yes！〃

〃Won't　it　do　as　it　is？〃

〃It　would　have　been　a　glorious　book。〃

〃It　IS　a　glorious　book；〃　Neil　Paraday　murmured。　　〃Print　it　as　it　
stands　…　beautifully。〃

〃Beautifully！〃　I　passionately　promised。

It　may　be　imagined　whether；　now　that　he's　gone；　the　promise　seems　
to　me　less　sacred。　　I'm　convinced　that　if　such　pages　had　appeared　
in　his　lifetime　the　Abbey　would　hold　him　to…day。　　I've　kept　the　
advertising　in　my　own　hands；　but　the　manuscript　has　not　been　
recovered。　　It's　impossible；　and　at　any　rate　intolerable；　to　
suppose　it　can　have　been　wantonly　destroyed。　　Perhaps　some　hazard　
of　a　blind　hand；　some　brutal　fatal　ignorance　has　lighted　kitchen…
fires　with　it。　　Every　stupid　and　hideous　accident　haunts　my　
meditations。　　My　undiscourageable　search　for　the　lost　treasure　
would　make　a　long　chapter。　　Fortunately　I've　a　devoted　associate　in　
the　person　of　a　young　lady　who　has　every　day　a　fresh　indignation　
and　a　fresh　idea；　and　who　maintains　with　intensity　that　the　prize　
will　still　turn　up。　　Sometimes　I　believe　her；　but　I've　quite　ceased　
to　believe　myself。　　The　only　thing　for　us　at　all　events　is　to　go　on　
seeking　and　hoping　together；　and　we　should　be　closely　united　by　
this　firm　tie　even　were　we　not　at　present　by　another。




End