a laodicean-第35章

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'You　have　a　studio　at　the　castle　in　which　you　are　preparing
drawings？'

'I　have。'

'Have　you　a　clerk？'

'I　had　three　till　yesterday；　when　I　paid　them　off。'

'Would　they　have　any　right　to　enter　the　studio　late　at　night？'

'There　would　have　been　nothing　wrong　in　their　doing　so。
Either　of　them　might　have　gone　back　at　any　time　for　something
forgotten。　　They　lived　quite　near　the　castle。'

'Ah；　then　all　is　explained。　　I　was　riding　past　over　the　grass
on　the　night　of　last　Thursday；　and　I　saw　two　persons　in　your
studio　with　a　light。　　It　must　have　been　about　half…past　nine
o'clock。　　One　of　them　came　forward　and　pulled　down　the　blind
so　that　the　light　fell　upon　his　face。　　But　I　only　saw　it　for　a
short　time。'

'If　it　were　Knowles　or　Cockton　he　would　have　had　a　beard。'

'He　had　no　beard。'

'Then　it　must　have　been　Bowles。　　A　young　man？'

'Quite　young。　　His　companion　in　the　background　seemed　older。'

'They　are　all　about　the　same　age　really。　　By　the　wayit
couldn't　have　been　Dareand　Havill；　surely！　　Would　you
recognize　them　again？'

'The　young　one　possibly。　　The　other　not　at　all；　for　he
remained　in　the　shade。'

Somerset　endeavoured　to　discern　in　a　description　by　the　chief
constable　the　features　of　Mr。　Bowles：　　but　it　seemed　to
approximate　more　closely　to　Dare　in　spite　of　himself。　　'I'll
make　a　sketch　of　the　only　one　who　had　no　business　there；　and
show　it　to　you；'　he　presently　said。　　'I　should　like　this
cleared　up。'

Mr。　Cunningham　Haze　said　he　was　going　to　Toneborough　that
afternoon；　but　would　return　in　the　evening　before　Somerset's
departure。　　With　this　they　parted。　　A　possible　motive　for
Dare's　presence　in　the　rooms　had　instantly　presented　itself　to
Somerset's　mind；　for　he　had　seen　Dare　enter　Havill's　office
more　than　once；　as　if　he　were　at　work　there。

He　accordingly　sat　on　the　next　stile；　and　taking　out　his
pocket…book　began　a　pencil　sketch　of　Dare's　head；　to　show　to
Mr。　Haze　in　the　evening；　for　if　Dare　had　indeed　found
admission　with　Havill；　or　as　his　agent；　the　design　was　lost。

But　he　could　not　make　a　drawing　that　was　a　satisfactory
likeness。　　Then　he　luckily　remembered　that　Dare；　in　the
intense　warmth　of　admiration　he　had　affected　for　Somerset　on
the　first　day　or　two　of　their　acquaintance；　had　begged　for　his
photograph；　and　in　return　for　it　had　left　one　of　himself　on
the　mantelpiece；　taken　as　he　said　by　his　own　process。
Somerset　resolved　to　show　this　production　to　Mr。　Haze；　as
being　more　to　the　purpose　than　a　sketch；　and　instead　of
finishing　the　latter；　proceeded　on　his　way。

He　entered　the　old　overgrown　drive　which　wound　indirectly
through　the　wood　to　Markton。　　The　road；　having　been　laid　out
for　idling　rather　than　for　progress；　bent　sharply　hither　and
thither　among　the　fissured　trunks　and　layers　of　horny　leaves
which　lay　there　all　the　year　round；　interspersed　with　cushions
of　vivid　green　moss　that　formed　oases　in　the　rust…red　expanse。

Reaching　a　point　where　the　road　made　one　of　its　bends　between
two　large　beeches；　a　man　and　woman　revealed　themselves　at　a
few　yards'　distance；　walking　slowly　towards　him。　　In　the　short
and　quaint　lady　he　recognized　Charlotte　De　Stancy；　whom　he
remembered　not　to　have　seen　for　several　days。

She　slightly　blushed　and　said；　'O；　this　is　pleasant；　Mr。
Somerset！　　Let　me　present　my　brother　to　you；　Captain　De　Stancy
of　the　Royal　Horse　Artillery。'

Her　brother　came　forward　and　shook　hands　heartily　with
Somerset；　and　they　all　three　rambled　on　together；　talking　of
the　season；　the　place；　the　fishing；　the　shooting；　and　whatever
else　came　uppermost　in　their　minds。

Captain　De　Stancy　was　a　personage　who　would　have　been　called
interesting　by　women　well　out　of　their　teens。　　He　was　ripe；
without　having　declined　a　digit　towards　fogeyism。　　He　was
sufficiently　old　and　experienced　to　suggest　a　goodly
accumulation　of　touching　amourettes　in　the　chambers　of　his
memory；　and　not　too　old　for　the　possibility　of　increasing　the
store。　　He　was　apparently　about　eight…and…thirty；　less　tall
than　his　father　had　been；　but　admirably　made；　and　his　every
movement　exhibited　a　fine　combination　of　strength　and
flexibility　of　limb。　　His　face　was　somewhat　thin　and
thoughtful；　its　complexion　being　naturally　pale；　though
darkened　by　exposure　to　a　warmer　sun　than　ours。　　His　features
were　somewhat　striking；　his　moustache　and　hair　raven　black；
and　his　eyes；　denied　the　attributes　of　military　keenness　by
reason　of　the　largeness　and　darkness　of　their　aspect；　acquired
thereby　a　softness　of　expression　that　was　in　part　womanly。
His　mouth　as　far　as　it　could　be　seen　reproduced　this
characteristic；　which　might　have　been　called　weakness；　or
goodness；　according　to　the　mental　attitude　of　the　observer。
It　was　large　but　well　formed；　and　showed　an　unimpaired　line　of
teeth　within。　　His　dress　at　present　was　a　heather…coloured
rural　suit；　cut　close　to　his　figure。

'You　knew　my　cousin；　Jack　Ravensbury？'　he　said　to　Somerset；　as
they　went　on。　　'Poor　Jack：　　he　was　a　good　fellow。'

'He　was　a　very　good　fellow。'

'He　would　have　been　made　a　parson　if　he　had　livedit　was　his
great　wish。　　I；　as　his　senior；　and　a　man　of　the　world　as　I
thought　myself；　used　to　chaff　him　about　it　when　he　was　a　boy；
and　tell　him　not　to　be　a　milksop；　but　to　enter　the　army。　　But
I　think　Jack　was　rightthe　parsons　have　the　best　of　it；　I　see
now。'

'They　would　hardly　admit　that；'　said　Somerset；　laughing。　　'Nor
can　I。'

'Nor　I；'　said　the　captain's　sister。　　'See　how　lovely　you　all
looked　with　your　big　guns　and　uniform　when　you　entered
Markton；　and　then　see　how　stupid　the　parsons　look　by
comparison；　when　they　flock　into　Markton　at　a　Visitation。'

'Ah；　yes；'　said　De　Stancy；

　　　　　'〃Doubtless　it　is　a　brilliant　masquerade；
　　　　　　　But　when　of　the　first　sight　you've　had　your　fill；
　　　　　　　It　pallsat　least　it　does　so　upon　me；
　　　　　　　This　paradise　of　pleasure　and　ennui。〃

When　one　is　getting　on　for　forty；

　　　　　　　〃When　we　have　made　our　love；　and　gamed　our　gaming；
　　　　　　　　　　Dressed；　voted；　shone；　and　maybe；　something　more；
　　　　　　　　With　dandies　dined；　heard　senators　declaiming；
　　　　　　　　　　Seen　beauties　brought　to　market　by　the　score；〃

and　so　on；　there　arises　a　strong　desire　for　a　quiet　old…
fashioned　country　life；　in　which　incessant　movement　is　not　a
necessary　part　of　the　programme。'

'But　you　are　not　forty；　Will？'　said　Charlotte。

'My　dear；　I　was　thirty…nine　last　January。'

'Well；　men　about　here　are　youths　at　that　age。　　It　was　India
used　you　up　so；　when　you　served　in　the　line；　was　it　not？　　I
wish　you　had　never　gone　there！'

'So　do　I；'　said　De　Stancy　drily。　　'But　I　ought　to　grow　a　youth
again；　like　the　rest；　now　I　am　in　my　native　air。'

They　came　to　a　narrow　brook；　not　wider　than　a　man's　stride；
and　Miss　De　Stancy　halted　on　the　edge。

'Why；　Lottie；　you　used　to　jump　it　easily　enough；'　said　her
brother。　　'But　we　won't　make　her　do　it　now。'　　He　took　her　in
his　arms；　and　lifted　her　over；　giving　her　a　gratuitous　ride
for　some　additional　yards；　and　saying；　'You　are　not　a　pound
heavier；　Lott；　than　you　were　at　ten　years　old。　。　。　。　　What　do
you　think　of　the　country　here；　Mr。　Somerset？　　Are　you　going　to
stay　long？'

'I　think　very　well　of　it；'　said　Somerset。　　'But　I　leave　to…
morrow　morning；　which　makes　it　necessary　that　I　turn　back　in　a
minute　or　two　from　walking　with　you。'

'That's　a　disappointment。　　I　had　hoped　you　were　going　to
finish　out　the　autumn　with　shooting。　　There's　some；　very　fair；
to　be　got　here　on　reasonable　terms；　I've　just　heard。'

'But　you　need　not　hire　any！'　spoke　up　Charlotte。　　'Paula　would
let　you　shoot　anything；　I　am　sure。　　She　has　not　been　here　long
enough　to　preserve　much　game；　and　the　poachers　had　it　all　in
Mr。　Wilkins'　time。　　But　what　there　is　you　might　kill　with
pleasure　to　her。'

'No；　thank　you；'　said　De　Stancy　grimly。　　'I　prefer　to　remain　a
stranger　to　Miss　PowerMiss　Steam…Power；　she　ought　to　be
calledand　to　all　her　possessions。'

Charlotte　was　subdued；　and　did　not　insist　further；　while
Somerset；　before　he　could　feel　himself　able　to　decide　on　the
mood　in　which　the　gallant　captain's　joke　at　Paula's　expense
should　be　taken；　wondered　whether　it　were　a　married　man　or　a
bachelor　who　uttered　it。

He　had　not　been　able　to　keep