a simpleton-第60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！


lost〃she　could　say　no　more。

Then　that　craven　heart　began　to　quake　at　what　he　was　doing；　quaked；
yet　persevered；　but　his　own　voice　quivered；　and　his　cheek　grew　ashy
pale。　　No　wonder。　　If　ever　God　condescended　to　pour　lightning　on　a
skunk；　surely　now　was　the　time。

Shaking　and　sweating　with　terror　at　his　own　act；　he　stammered　out；
〃Would　it　be　the　least　comfort　to　you　to　know　that　you　are　not
denied　that　poor　consolation？　　Suppose　he　died　not　so　miserably　as
you　think？　　Suppose　he　was　picked　up　at　sea；　in　a　dying　state？〃

〃Ah！〃

〃Suppose　he　lingered；　nursed　by　kind　and　sympathizing　hands；　that
almost　saved　him？　　Suppose　he　was　laid　in　hallowed　ground；　and　a
great　many　tears　shed　over　his　grave？〃

〃Ah；　that　would　indeed　be　a　comfort。　　And　it　was　to　say　this　you
came。　　I　thank　you。　　I　bless　you。　　But；　my　good；　kind　friend；　you
are　deceived。　　You　don't　know　my　husband。　　You　never　saw　him。　　He
perished　at　sea。〃

〃Will　it　be　kind　or　unkind；　to　tell　you　why　I　think　he　died　as　I
tell　you；　and　not　at　sea？〃

〃Kind；　but　impossible。　　You　deceive　yourself。　　Ah；　I　see。　　You
found　some　poor　sufferer；　and　were　good　to　him；　but　it　was　not　my
poor　Christie。　　Oh；　if　it　were；　I　should　worship　you。　　But　I　thank
you　as　it　is。　　It　was　very　kind　to　want　to　give　me　this　little；
little　crumb　of　comfort；　for　I　know　I　did　not　behave　well　to　you；
sir：　but　you　are　generous；　and　have　forgiven　a　poor　heart…broken
creature；　that　never　was　very　wise。〃

He　gave　her　time　to　cry；　and　then　said　to　her；　〃I　only　wanted　to　be
sure　it　WOULD　be　any　comfort　to　you。　　Mrs。　Staines；　it　is　true　I
did　not　even　know　his　name；　nor　yours。　　When　I　met；　in　this　very
room；　the　great　disappointment　that　has　saddened　my　own　life；　I
left　England　directly。　　I　collected　funds；　went　to　Natal；　and
turned　land…owner　and　farmer。　　I　have　made　a　large　fortune；　but　I
need　not　tell　you　I　am　not　happy。　　Well；　I　had　a　yacht；　and　sailing
from　Cape　Town　to　Algoa　Bay；　I　picked　up　a　raft；　with　a　dying　man
on　it。　　He　was　perishing　from　exhaustion　and　exposure。　　I　got　a
little　brandy　between　his　lips；　and　kept　him　alive。　　I　landed　with
him　at　once：　and　we　nursed　him　on　shore。　　We　had　to　be　very
cautious。　　He　improved。　　We　got　him　to　take　egg…flip。　　He　smiled　on
us　at　first；　and　then　he　thanked　us。　　I　nursed　him　day　and　night
for　ten　days。　　He　got　much　stronger。　　He　spoke　to　me；　thanked　me
again　and　again；　and　told　me　his　name　was　Christopher　Staines。　　He
told　me　that　he　should　never　get　well。　　I　implored　him　to　have
courage。　　He　said　he　did　not　want　for　courage；　but　nature　had　been
tried　too　hard。　　We　got　so　fond　of　each　other。　　Oh！〃and　the
caitiff　pretended　to　break　down；　and　his　feigned　grief　mingled　with
Rosa's　despairing　sobs。

He　made　an　apparent　effort；　and　said；　〃He　spoke　to　me　of　his　wife；
his　darling　Rosa。　　The　name　made　me　start；　but　I　could　not　know　it
was　you。　　At　last　he　was　strong　enough　to　write　a　few　lines；　and　he
made　me　promise　to　take　them　to　his　wife。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Rosa。　　〃Show　them　me。〃

〃I　will。〃

〃This　moment。〃　　And　her　hands　began　to　work　convulsively。

〃I　cannot；〃　said　Falcon。　　〃I　have　not　brought　them　with　me。〃

Rosa　cast　a　keen　eye　of　suspicion　and　terror　on　him。　　His　not
bringing　the　letter　seemed　monstrous；　and　so　indeed　it　was。　　The
fact　is；　the　letter　was　not　written。

Falcon　affected　not　to　notice　her　keen　look。　　He　flowed　on；　〃The
address　he　put　on　that　letter　astonished　me。　　'Kent　Villa。'　　Of
course　I　knew　Kent　Villa：　and　he　called　you　'Rosa。'〃

〃How　could　you　come　to　me　without　that　letter？〃　cried　Rosa；
wringing　her　hands。　　〃How　am　I　to　know？　　It　is　all　so　strange；　so
incredible。〃

〃Don't　you　believe　me？〃　said　Falcon　sadly。　　〃Why　should　I　deceive
you？　　The　first　time　I　came　down　to　tell　you　all　this；　I　did　not
KNOW　who　Mrs。　Staines　was。　　I　suspected；　but　no　more。　　The　second
time　I　saw　you　in　the　church；　and　then　I　knew；　and　followed　you　to
try　and　tell　you　all　this；　and　you　were　not　at　home　to　me。〃

〃Forgive　me；〃　said　Rosa　carelessly：　then　earnestly；　〃The　letter！
when　can　I　see　it？〃

〃I　will　send；　or　bring　it。〃

〃Bring　it！　I　am　in　agony　till　I　see　it。　　Oh；　my　darling！　my
darling！　　It　can't　be　true。　　It　was　not　my　Christie。　　He　lies　in
the　depths　of　the　ocean。　　Lord　Tadcaster　was　in　the　ship；　and　he
says　so；　everybody　says　so。〃

〃And　I　say　he　sleeps　in　hallowed　ground；　and　these　hands　laid　him
there。〃

Rosa　lifted　her　hands　to　heaven；　and　cried　piteously；　〃I　don't　know
what　to　think。　　You　would　not　willingly　deceive　me。　　But　how　can
this　be？　　Oh；　Uncle　Philip；　why　are　you　away　from　me？　　Sir；　you　say
he　gave　you　a　letter？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　why；　why　did　you　not　bring　it？〃

〃Because　he　told　me　the　contents；　and　I　thought　he　prized　my　poor
efforts　too　highly。　　It　did　not　occur　to　me　you　would　doubt　my
word。〃

〃Oh；　no：　no　more　I　do：　but　I　fear　it　was　not　my　Christie。〃

〃I'll　go　for　the　letter　at　once；　Mrs。　Staines。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you！　　Bless　you！　　Yes；　this　minute！〃

The　artful　rogue　did　not　go；　never　intended。

He　rose　TO　GO；　but　had　a　sudden　inspiration；　very　sudden；　of
course。　　〃Had　he　nothing　about　him　you　could　recognize　him　by？〃

〃Yes；　he　had　a　ring　I　gave　him。〃

Falcon　took　a　black…edged　envelope　out　of　his　pocket。

〃A　ruby　ring；〃　said　she；　beginning　to　tremble　at　his　quiet　action。

〃Is　that　it？〃　and　he　handed　her　a　ruby　ring。


CHAPTER　XXVII。


Mrs。　Staines　uttered　a　sharp　cry　and　seized　the　ring。　　Her　eyes
dilated　over　it；　and　she　began　to　tremble　in　every　limb；　and　at
last　she　sank　slowly　back；　and　her　head　fell　on　one　side　like　a
broken　lily。　　The　sudden　sight　of　the　ring　overpowered　her　almost
to　fainting。

Falcon　rose　to　call　for　assistance；　but　she　made　him　a　feeble
motion　not　to　do　so。

She　got　the　better　of　her　faintness；　and　then　she　fell　to　kissing
the　ring；　in　an　agony　of　love；　and　wept　over　it；　and　still　held　it；
and　gazed　at　it　through　her　blinding　tears。

Falcon　eyed　her　uneasily。

But　he　soon　found　he　had　nothing　to　fear。　　For　a　long　time　she
seemed　scarcely　aware　of　his　presence；　and　when　she　noticed　him；　it
was　to　thank　him；　almost　passionately。

〃It　was　my　Christie　you　were　so　good　to：　may　Heaven　bless　you　for
it：　and　you　will　bring　me　his　letter；　will　you　not？〃

〃Of　course　I　will。〃

〃Oh；　do　not　go　yet。　　It　is　all　so　strange：　so　sad。　　I　seem　to　have
lost　my　poor　Christie　again；　since　he　did　not　die　at　sea。　　But　no；
I　am　ungrateful　to　God；　and　ungrateful　to　the　kind　friend　that
nursed　him　to　the　last。　　Ah；　I　envy　you　that。　　Tell　me　all。　　Never
mind　my　crying。　　I　have　seen　the　time　I　could　not　cry。　　It　was
worse　then　than　now。　　I　shall　always　cry　when　I　speak　of　him；　ay；
to　my　dying　day。　　Tell　me；　tell　me　all。〃

Her　passion　frightened　the　egotist；　but　did　not　turn　him。　　He　had
gone　too　far。　　He　told　her　that；　after　raising　all　their　hopes；　Dr。
Staines　had　suddenly　changed　for　the　worse；　and　sunk　rapidly；　that
his　last　words　had　been　about　her；　and　he　had　said；　〃My　poor　Rosa；
who　will　protect　her？〃　　That；　to　comfort　him；　he　had　said　he　would
protect　her。　　Then　the　dying　man　had　managed　to　write　a　line　or
two；　and　to　address　it。　　Almost　his　last　words　had　been；　〃Be　a
father　to　my　child。〃

〃That　is　strange。〃

〃You　have　no　child？　　Then　it　must　have　been　you　he　meant。　　He　spoke
of　you　as　a　child　more　than　once。〃

〃Mr。　Falcon；　I　have　a　child；　but　born　since　I　lost　my　poor　child's
father。〃

〃Then　I　think　he　knew　it。　　They　say　that　dying　men　can　see　all　over
the　world：　and　I　remember；　when　he　said　it；　his　eyes　seemed　fixed
very　strangely；　as　if　on　something　distant。　　Oh；　how　wonderful　all
this　is。　　May　I　see　his　child；　to　whom　I　promised〃

The　artist　in　lies　left　his　sentence　half　completed。

Rosa　rang；　and　sent　for　her　little　boy。

Mr。　Falcon　admired　his　beauty；　and　said　quietly；　〃I　shall　keep　my
vow。〃

He　then　left　her；　with　a　promise　to　come　back　early　next　morning
with　the　letter。

She　let　him　go　only　on　those　conditions。

As　soon　as　her　father　came　in；　she　ran　to　him　with　this　strange
story。

〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　said　he。　　〃It　is　impossible。〃

She　showed　him　the　proof；　the　ruby　ring。

Then　he　became　very　uneasy；　and　begged　her　not　to　tell　a　soul。　　He
did　not　tell　her　the　reason；　but　he　feared　the　insurance　office
would　hear　of　it；　and　require　proofs　of　Christopher's　decease；
whereas　they　had　accepted　it　without　a　murmur；　on　the　evidence　of
Captain　Hamilton　and　the　Amphitrite's　log…book。

As　for　Falcon；　he　went　carefully　through　Staines's　two　letters；　and
wherever　he　found　a　word　that　suited　his　purpose；　he　traced　it　by
the　usual　process；　and　so；　in　the　course　of　a　few　hours；　he
concocted　a　short　letter；　all　the　words　in　which；　except　three；
were　facsimiles；　only　here　and　there　a　little　shaky；　the　three　odd
words　he　had　to　imitate　by　observation　of　the　letters。　　The
signature　he　got　to　perfection　by　tracing。

He　inserted　this　letter　in　the　original　envelope；　and　sealed　it
very　carefully；　so　as　to　hide　that　the　seal　had　been　tampered　with。

Thus　armed；　he　went　down　to　Gravesend。　　There　he　hired　a　horse　and
rode　to　Kent　Villa。

Why　he　hired　a　horse；　he　knew　how　hard　it　is　to　forge　handwriting；
and　he　chose　to　have　the　means　of　escape　at　hand。

He　came　into　the　drawing…room；　ghastly　pale；　and　almost　immediately
gave　her　the　letter；　then　turned　his　back；　feigning　delicacy。　　In
reality　he　was　quaking　with　fear　lest　she　should　suspect　the
handwriting。　　But　the　envelope　was　addressed　by　Staines；　and　paved
the　way　for　the　letter；　she　was　unsuspicious　and　good；　and　her
heart　cried　out　for　her　husband's　last　written　words：　at　such　a
moment；　what　chance　had　judgment　and　suspicion　in　an　innocent　and
loving　soul？

Her　eloquent　sighs　and　sobs　soon　told　the　caitiff　he　had　nothing　to
fear。

The　letter　ran　thus：


MY　OWN　ROSA；All　that　a　brother　could　do　for　a　beloved　brother；
Falcon　has　done。　　He　nursed　me　night　and　day。　　But　it　is　vain。　　I
shall　never　see　you　again　in　this　world。　　I　send　you　a　protector；
and　a　father　to　your　child。　　Value　him。　　He　has　promised　to　be　your
stay　on　earth；　and　my　spirit　shall　watch　over　you。To　my　last
breath；　your　loving　husband；

CHRISTOPHER　STAINES。


Falcon　rose；　and　began　to　steal　on　tiptoe　out　of　the　room。

Rosa　stopped　him。　　〃You　need　not　go；〃　said　she。　　〃You　are　our
friend。　　By　and　by　I　hope　I　shall　find　words　to　thank　you。〃

〃Pray　let　me　retire　a　moment；〃　said　the　hypocrite。　　〃A　husband's
last　words：　too　sacreda　stranger：〃　and　he　went　out　into　the
garden。　　There　he　found　the　nursemaid　Emily；　and　the　little　boy。

He　stopped　the　child；　and　made　love　to　the　nursemaid；　showed　her
his　diamondshe　carried　them　all　about　himtold　her　he　had　thirty
thousand　acres　in　Cape　Colony；　and　diamonds　on　them；　and　was　going
to　buy　thirty　thousand　more　of　the　government。　　〃Here；　take　one；〃
said　he。　　〃Oh；　you　needn't　be　shy。　　They　are　common　enough　on　my
estates。　　I'll　tell　you　what；　though；　you　could　not　buy　that　for
less　than　thirty　pounds　at　any　shop　in　London。　　Could　she；　my
little　duck？　　Never　mind；　it　is　no　brighter　than　her　eyes。　　Now　do
you　know　what　she　will　do　with　that；　Master　Christie？　　She　will
give　it　to　some　duffer　to　put　in　a　pin。〃

〃She　won't　do　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　said　Emily；　flushing　a