the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第20章
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'〃Murderer！ I climbed the tree on the night when you brought her
back。 I heard her； from the tree； speak of the Death…watch at the door。 I
was three times in the tree while you were shut up with her； slowly killing
her。 I saw her； from the tree； lie dead upon her bed。 I have watched you；
from the tree； for proofs and traces of your guilt。 The manner of it； is a
mystery to me yet； but I will pursue you until you have rendered up your
life to the hangman。 You shall never； until then； be rid of me。 I loved
her！ I can know no relenting towards you。 Murderer； I loved her！〃
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'The youth was bare…headed； his hat having fluttered away in his
descent from the tree。 He moved towards the gate。 He had to pass …
Him … to get to it。 There was breadth for two old…fashioned carriages
abreast； and the youth's abhorrence； openly expressed in every feature of
his face and limb of his body； and very hard to bear； had verge enough to
keep itself at a distance in。 He （by which I mean the other） had not
stirred hand or foot； since he had stood still to look at the boy。 He faced
round； now； to follow him with his eyes。 As the back of the bare light…
brown head was turned to him； he saw a red curve stretch from his hand to
it。 He knew； before he threw the bill…hook； where it had alighted … I say；
had alighted； and not； would alight； for； to his clear perception the thing
was done before he did it。 It cleft the head； and it remained there； and the
boy lay on his face。
'He buried the body in the night； at the foot of the tree。 As soon as it
was light in the morning； he worked at turning up all the ground near the
tree； and hacking and hewing at the neighbouring bushes and undergrowth。
When the labourers came； there was nothing suspicious； and nothing
suspected。
'But； he had； in a moment； defeated all his precautions； and destroyed
the triumph of the scheme he had so long concerted； and so successfully
worked out。 He had got rid of the Bride； and had acquired her fortune
without endangering his life； but now； for a death by which he had gained
nothing； he had evermore to live with a rope around his neck。
'Beyond this； he was chained to the house of gloom and horror； which
he could not endure。 Being afraid to sell it or to quit it； lest discovery
should be made； he was forced to live in it。 He hired two old people；
man and wife； for his servants； and dwelt in it； and dreaded it。 His great
difficulty； for a long time； was the garden。 Whether he should keep it
trim； whether he should suffer it to fall into its former state of neglect；
what would be the least likely way of attracting attention to it？
'He took the middle course of gardening； himself； in his evening
leisure； and of then calling the old serving…man to help him； but； of never
letting him work there alone。 And he made himself an arbour over
against the tree； where he could sit and see that it was safe。
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'As the seasons changed； and the tree changed； his mind perceived
dangers that were always changing。 In the leafy time； he perceived that
the upper boughs were growing into the form of the young man … that they
made the shape of him exactly； sitting in a forked branch swinging in the
wind。 In the time of the falling leaves； he perceived that they came down
from the tree； forming tell…tale letters on the path； or that they had a
tendency to heap themselves into a churchyard mound above the grave。
In the winter； when the tree was bare； he perceived that the boughs swung
at him the ghost of the blow the young man had given； and that they
threatened him openly。 In the spring； when the sap was mounting in the
trunk； he asked himself； were the dried…up particles of blood mounting
with it： to make out more obviously this year than last； the leaf… screened
figure of the young man； swinging in the wind？
'However； he turned his Money over and over； and still over。 He was
in the dark trade； the gold…dust trade； and most secret trades that yielded
great returns。 In ten years； he had turned his Money over； so many times；
that the traders and shippers who had dealings with him； absolutely did not
lie … for once … when they declared that he had increased his fortune；
Twelve Hundred Per Cent。
'He possessed his riches one hundred years ago； when people could be
lost easily。 He had heard who the youth was； from hearing of the search
that was made after him； but； it died away； and the youth was forgotten。
'The annual round of changes in the tree had been repeated ten times
since the night of the burial at its foot； when there was a great thunder…
storm over this place。 It broke at midnight； and roared until morning。
The first intelligence he heard from his old serving…man that morning； was；
that the tree had been struck by Lightning。
'It had been riven down the stem； in a very surprising manner； and the
stem lay in two blighted shafts： one resting against the house； and one
against a portion of the old red garden…wall in which its fall had made a
gap。 The fissure went down the tree to a little above the earth； and there
stopped。 There was great curiosity to see the tree； and； with most of his
former fears revived； he sat in his arbour … grown quite an old man …
watching the people who came to see it。
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'They quickly began to come； in such dangerous numbers； that he
closed his garden…gate and refused to admit any more。 But； there were
certain men of science who travelled from a distance to examine the tree；
and； in an evil hour； he let them in！ … Blight and Murrain on them； let them
in！
'They wanted to dig up the ruin by the roots； and closely examine it；
and the earth about it。 Never； while he lived！ They offered money for it。
They！ Men of science； whom he could have bought by the gross； with a
scratch of his pen！ He showed them the garden… gate again； and locked
and barred it。
'But they were bent on doing what they wanted to do； and they bribed
the old serving…man … a thankless wretch who regularly complained when
he received his wages； of being underpaid … and they stole into the garden
by night with their lanterns； picks； and shovels； and fell to at the tree。 He
was lying in a turret…room on the other side of the house （the Bride's
Chamber had been unoccupied ever since）； but he soon dreamed of picks
and shovels； and got up。
'He came to an upper window on that side； whence he could see their
lanterns； and them； and the loose earth in a heap which he had himself
disturbed and put back； when it was last turned to the air。 It was found！
They had that minute lighted on it。 They were all bending over it。 One
of them said； 〃The skull is fractured；〃 and another； 〃See here the bones；〃
and another； 〃See here the clothes；〃 and then the first struck in again； and
said； 〃A rusty bill…hook！〃
'He became sensible； next day； that he was already put under a strict
watch； and that he could go nowhere without being followed。 Before a
week was out； he was taken and laid in hold。 The circumstances were
gradually pieced together against him； with a desperate malignity； and an
appalling ingenuity。 But； see the justice of men； and how it was extended
to him！ He was further accused of having poisoned that girl in the
Bride's Chamber。 He； who had carefully and expressly avoided
imperilling a hair of his head for her； and who had seen her die of her own
incapacity！
'There was doubt for which of the two murders he should be first tried；
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but； the real one was chosen； and he was found Guilty； and cast for death。
Bloodthirsty wretches！ They would have made him Guilty of anything；
so set they were upon having his life。
'His money could do nothing to save him； and he was hanged。 I am
He； and I was hanged at Lancaster Castle with my face to the wall； a
hundred years ago！'
At this terrific announcement； Mr。 Goodchild tried to rise and cry out。
But； the two fiery lines extending from the old man's eyes to his own； kept
him down； and he could not utter a sound。 His sense of hearing； however；
was acute； and he could hear the clock strike Two。 No sooner had he
heard the clock strike Two； than he saw before him Two old men！
TWO。
The eyes of each； connected with his eyes by two films of fire： each；
exactly like the other： each； addressing him at precisely one and the
same instant： each； gnashing the same teeth in the same head； with the
same twitched nostril above them； and the same suffused expression
around it。 Two old men。 Differing in nothing； equally distinct to the
sight； the copy no fainter than the original； the second as real as the first。
'At what time；' said the Two old men； 'did you arrive at the door
below？'
'At Six。'
'And there were Six old men upon the stairs！'
Mr。 Goodchild having wiped the perspiration from his brow； or tried to
do it； the Two old men proceeded in one voice； and in the singular
number：
'I had been anatomised； but had not yet had my skeleton put together
and re…hung on an iron hook； when it began to be whispered that
