east lynne-第73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！


　just　have　knocked　me　down　with　astonishment。　Mr。　Carlyle；　it　was　the　man；　Thorn。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃You　thought　I　might　be　mistaken　in　him　that　moonlight　night；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　him　in　broad　daylight。　I　looked　him　full　in　the　face；　and　he　looked　at　me。　He　turned　as　white　as　cloth。　Perhaps　I　did　I　don't　know。〃

〃Was　he　well　dressed？〃

〃Very。　Oh；　there's　no　mistaking　his　position。　That　he　moves　in　the　higher　classes　there's　no　doubt。　The　cab　drove　away；　and　I　got　up　behind　it。　The　driver　thought　boys　were　there；　and　turned　his　head　and　his　whip；　but　I　made　him　a　sign。　We　didn't　go　much　more　than　the　length　of　a　street。　I　was　on　the　pavement　before　Thorn　was；　and　looked　at　him　again；　and　again　he　went　white。　I　marked　the　house；　thinking　it　was　where　he　lived；　and〃

〃Why　did　you　not　give　him　into　custody；　Richard？〃

Richard　Hare　shook　his　head。　〃And　my　proofs　of　his　guilt；　Mr。　Carlyle？　I　could　bring　none　against　himno　positive　ones。　No；　I　must　wait　till　I　can　get　proofs　to　do　that。　He　would　turn　round　upon　me　now　and　swear　my　life　away　to　murder。　Well；　I　thought　I'd　ascertain　for　certain　what　his　name　was；　and　that　night　I　went　to　the　house；　and　got　into　conversation　with　one　of　the　servants；　who　was　standing　at　the　door。　'Does　Captain　Thorn　live　here？'　I　asked　him。

〃　'Mr。　Westleby　lives　here；'　said　he；　'I　don't　know　any　Captain　Thorn。'

〃Then　that's　his　name；　thought　I　to　myself。　'A　youngish　man；　isn't　he？'　said　I；　'very　smart；　with　a　pretty　wife？'

〃　'I　don't　know　what　you　call　youngish；'　he　laughed；　'my　master's　turned　sixty；　and　his　wife's　as　old。'

〃That　checked　me。　'Perhaps　he　has　sons？'　I　asked。

〃　'Not　any；'　the　man　answered；　'there's　nobody　but　their　two　selves。'

〃So；　with　that；　I　told　him　what　I　wantedthat　a　lady　and　gentleman　had　alighted　there　in　a　cab　that　day；　and　I　wished　to　know　his　name。　Well；　Mr。　Carlyle；　I　could　get　at　nothing　satisfactory；　the　fellow　said　that　a　great　many　had　called　there　that　day；　for　his　master　was　just　up　from　a　long　illness；　and　people　came　to　see　him。〃

〃Is　that　all；　Richard？〃

〃All！　I　wish　it　had　been　all。　I　kept　looking　about　for　him　in　all　the　best　streets；　I　was　half　mad〃

〃Do　you　not　wonder；　if　he　is　in　this　position　of　life；　and　resides　in　London；　that　you　have　never　dropped　upon　him　previously？〃　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃No；　sir；　and　I'll　tell　you　why。　I　have　been　afraid　to　show　myself　in　those　latter　parts　of　the　town；　fearing　I　might　meet　with　some　one　I　used　to　know　at　home；　who　would　recognize　me；　so　I　have　kept　mostly　in　obscure　placesstables　and　such　like。　I　had　gone　up　to　the　West　End　this　day　on　a　matter　of　business。〃

〃Well；　go　on　with　your　story。〃

〃In　a　week's　time　I　came　upon　him　again。　It　was　at　night。　He　was　coming　out　of　one　of　the　theatres；　and　I　went　up　and　stood　before　him。〃

〃　'What　do　you　want；　fellow？'　he　asked。　'I　have　seen　you　watching　me　before　this。'

〃　'I　want　to　know　your　name；'　I　said；　'that's　enough　for　me　at　present。'

〃He　flew　into　a　passion；　and　swore　that　if　ever　he　caught　sight　of　me　near　him　again　he　would　hand　me　over　into　custody。　'And　remember；　men　are　not　given　into　custody　for　/watching/　others；'　he　significantly　added。　'I　know　you；　and　if　you　have　any　regard　for　yourself；　you'll　keep　out　of　my　way。'

〃He　had　got　into　a　private　carriage　as　he　spoke；　and　it　drove　away；　I　could　see　that　it　had　a　great　coat…of…arms　upon　it。〃

〃When　do　you　say　this　was？〃

〃A　week　ago。　Well；　I　could　not　rest；　I　was　half　mad；　I　say；　and　went　about；　still　trying　if　I　could　not　discover　his　name　and　who　he　was。　I　did　come　upon　him；　but　he　was　walking　quickly；　arm…in…arm　withwith　another　gentleman。　Again　I　saw　him；　standing　at　the　entrance　to　the　betting　rooms；　talking　to　the　same　gentleman；　and　his　face　turned　savageI　believe　with　fear　as　much　as　angerwhen　he　discerned　me。　He　seemed　to　hesitate；　and　thenas　if　he　acted　in　a　passionsuddenly　beckoned　to　a　policeman；　pointed　me　out；　and　said　something　to　him　in　a　fast　tone。　That　frightened　me；　and　I　slipped　away。　Two　hours　after；　when　I　was　in　quite　a　different　part　of　the　town；　in　turning　my　head　I　saw　the　same　policeman　following　me。　I　bolted　under　the　horses　of　a　passing　vehicle；　down　some　turnings　and　passages；　out　into　another　street；　and　up　beside　a　cabman　who　was　on　his　box；　driving　a　fare　past。　I　reached　my　lodgings　in　safety；　as　I　thought；　but　happening　to　glance　into　the　street；　there　I　saw　the　man　again；　standing　opposite；　and　reconnoitering　the　house。　I　had　gone　home　hungry；　but　this　took　all　my　hunger　away　from　me。　I　opened　the　box　where　I　kept　my　disguise；　put　it　on；　and　got　out　by　a　back　way。　I　have　been　pretty　nearly　ever　since　on　my　feet　reaching　here；　I　only　got　a　lift　now　and　then。〃

〃But；　Richard；　do　you　know　that　West　Lynne　is　the　very　worst　place　you　could　have　flown　to？　It　has　come　to　light　that　you　were　here　before；　disguised　as　a　farm　laborer。〃

〃Who　the　deuce　betrayed　that？〃　interrupted　Richard。

〃I　am　unable　to　tell；　I　cannot　even　imagine。　The　rumor　was　rife　in　the　place；　and　it　reached　your　father's　ear。　The　rumor　may　make　people's　wits　sharper　to　know　you　in　your　disguise；　than　they　otherwise　might　have　been。〃

〃But　what　was　I　to　do？　I　was　forced　to　come　here　first　and　get　a　little　money。　I　shall　fix　myself　in　some　other　big　town；　far　away　from　LondonLiverpool　or　Manchester；　perhaps；　and　see　what　employment　I　can　get　into；　but　I　must　have　something　to　live　upon　till　I　can　get　it。　I　don't　possess　a　penny　piece；〃　he　added；　drawing　out　his　trousers　pockets　for　the　inspection　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　last　coppers；　I　had；　three　pence；　I　spent　in　bread　and　cheese　and　half　a　pint　of　beer　at　midday。　I　have　been　outside　that　window　for　more　than　an　hour；　sir。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃And　as　I　neared　West　Lynne　I　began　to　think　what　I　should　do。　It　was　no　use　in　me　trying　to　catch　Barbara's　attention　such　a　night　as　this；　I　had　no　money　to　pay　for　a　lodging；　so　I　turned　off　here；　hoping　I　might；　by　good　luck；　drop　upon　you。　There　was　a　little　partition　in　the　window　curtainit　had　not　been　drawn　closeand　through　it　I　could　see　you　and　Miss　Carlyle。　I　saw　her　leave　the　room；　I　saw　you　come　to　the　window　and　open　it；　and　then　I　spoke。　Mr。　Carlyle；〃　he　added；　after　a　pause；　〃is　this　life　to　go　on　with　me　forever？〃

〃I　am　deeply　sorry　for　you；　Richard；〃　was　the　sympathizing　answer。　〃I　wish　I　could　remedy　it。〃

Before　another　word　was　spoken　the　room　door　was　tried；　and　then　gently　knocked　at。　Mr。　Carlyle　placed　his　hand　on　Richard；　who　was　looking　scared　out　of　his　wits。

〃Be　still；　be　at　ease；　Richard；　no　one　shall　come　in。　It　is　only　Peter。〃

Not　Peter's　voice；　however；　but　Joyce's　was　heard；　in　response　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　demand　of　who　was　there。

〃Miss　Carlyle　has　left　her　handkerchief　downstairs；　sir；　and　has　sent　me　for　it。〃

〃You　cannot　come　inI　am　busy；〃　was　the　answer；　delivered　in　a　clear　and　most　decisive　tone。

〃Who　was　it？〃　quivered　Richard；　as　Joyce　was　heard　going　away。

〃It　was　Joyce。〃

〃What！　Is　she　here　still？　Has　anything　ever　been　heard　of　Afy；　sir？〃

〃Afy　was　here　herself　two　or　three　months　ago。〃

〃Was　she；　though？〃　uttered　Richard；　beguiled　for　an　instant　from　the　thought　of　his　own　danger。　〃What　is　she　doing？〃

〃She　is　in　service　as　a　lady's　maid。　Richard；　I　questioned　Afy　about　Thorn。　She　protested　solemnly　to　me　that　it　was　not　Thorn　who　committed　the　deedthat　it　could　not　have　been　he；　for　Thorn　was　with　her　at　the　moment　of　its　being　done。〃

〃It's　not　true！〃　fired　Richard。　〃It　was　Thorn。〃

〃Richard；　you　cannot　tell；　you　did　not　/see/　it　done。〃

〃I　know　that　no　man　could　have　rushed　out　in　that　frantic　manner；　with　those　signs　of　guilt　and　fear　about　him；　unless　he　had　been　engaged　in　a　bad　deed；〃　was　Richard　Hare's　answer。　〃It　could　have　been　no　one　else。〃

〃Afy　declared　he　was　with　her；〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Look　here；　sir；　you　are　a　sharp　man；　and　folks　say　I　am　not；　but　I　can　see　things　and　draw　my　reasoning　as　well　as　they　can；　perhaps。　If　Thorn　were　not　Hallijohn's　murderer；　why　should　he　be　persecuting　me　what　would　he　care　about　me？　And　why　should　his　face　turn　livid；　as　it　has　done；　each　time　he　has　seen　my　eyes　upon　him？　Whether　he　did　commit　the　murder；　or　whether　he　didn't；　he　must　know　th