the law and the lady-第42章

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'Well；　Lucy；'　she　said；　'how　d'ye　do？'　Then　she　remembered
business　again；　and　returned　to　her　receipt。　When　I　took　it
across　the　counter；　an　important　line　in　the　address　of　my　letter
was　left　out　in　the　copy。　Thanks　to　Lucy。　Now　a　man　in　the　same
position　would　not　have　seen　Lucyhe　would　have　been　too　closely
occupied　with　what　he　was　about　at　the　moment。　There　is　the　whole
difference　between　the　mental　constitution　of　the　sexes；　which　no
legislation　will　ever　alter　as　long　as　the　world　lasts！　What　does
it　matter？　Women　are　infinitely　superior　to　men　in　the　moral
qualities　which　are　the　true　adornments　of　humanity。　Be
contentoh；　my　mistaken　sisters；　be　content　with　that！〃

He　twisted　his　chair　around　toward　the　stove。　It　was　useless　to
dispute　the　question　with　him；　even　if　I　had　felt　inclined　to　do
so。　He　absorbed　himself　in　his　stew…pan。

I　looked　about　me　in　the　room。

The　same　insatiable　relish　for　horrors　exhibited　downstairs　by
the　pictures　in　the　hall　was　displayed　again　here。　The
photographs　hanging　on　the　wall　represented　the　various　forms　of
madness　taken　from　the　life。　The　plaster　casts　ranged　on　the
shelf　opposite　were　casts　（after　death）　of　the　heads　of　famous
murderers。　A　frightful　little　skeleton　of　a　woman　hung　in　a
cupboard；　behind　a　glazed　door；　with　this　cynical　inscription
placed　above　the　skull：　〃Behold　the　scaffolding　on　which　beauty
is　built！〃　In　a　corresponding　cupboard；　with　the　door　wide　open；
there　hung　in　loose　folds　a　shirt　（as　I　took　it　to　be）　of　chamois
leather。　Touching　it　（and　finding　it　to　be　far　softer　than　any
chamois　leather　that　my　fingers　had　ever　felt　before）；　I
disarranged　the　folds；　and　disclosed　a　ticket　pinned　among　them；
describing　the　thing　in　these　horrid　lines：　〃Skin　of　a　French
Marquis；　tanned　in　the　Revolution　of　Ninety…three。　Who　says　the
nobility　are　not　good　for　something？　They　make　good　leather。〃

After　this　last　specimen　of　my　host's　taste　in　curiosities；　I
pursued　my　investigation　no　further。　I　returned　to　my　chair；　and
waited　for　the　truffles。

After　a　brief　interval；　the　voice　of　the
poet…painter…composer…and…cook　summoned　me　back　to　the　alcove。

The　gas　was　out。　The　stew…pan　and　its　accompaniments　had
vanished。　On　the　marble　slab　were　two　plates；　two　napkins；　two
rolls　of　bread；　and　a　dish；　with　another　napkin　in　it；　on　which
reposed　two　quaint　little　black　balls。　Miserrimus　Dexter；
regarding　me　with　a　smile　of　benevolent　interest；　put　one　of　the
balls　on　my　plate；　and　took　the　other　himself。　〃Compose　yourself；
Mrs。　Valeria；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　an　epoch　in　your　life。　Your
first　Truffle！　Don't　touch　it　with　the　knife。　Use　the　fork　alone。
Andpardon　me；　this　is　most　importanteat　slowly。〃

I　followed　my　instructions；　and　assumed　an　enthusiasm　which　I
honestly　confess　I　did　not　feel。　I　privately　thought　the　new
vegetable　a　great　deal　too　rich；　and　in　other　respects　quite
unworthy　of　the　fuss　that　had　been　made　about　it。　Miserrimus
Dexter　lingered　and　languished　over　his　truffles；　and　sipped　his
wonderful　Burgundy；　and　sang　his　own　praises　as　a　cook　until　I
was　really　almost　mad　with　impatience　to　return　to　the　real
object　of　my　visit。　In　the　reckless　state　of　mind　which　this
feeling　produced；　I　abruptly　reminded　my　host　that　he　was　wasting
our　time；　by　the　most　dangerous　question　that　I　could　possibly
put　to　him。

〃Mr。　Dexter；〃　I　said；　〃have　you　seen　anything　lately　of　Mrs。
Beauly？〃

The　easy　sense　of　enjoyment　expressed　in　his　face　left　it　at
those　rash　words；　and　went　out　like　a　suddenly　extinguished
light。　That　furtive　distrust　of　me　which　I　had　already　noticed
instantly　made　itself　felt　again　in　his　manner　and　in　his　voice。

〃Do　you　know　Mrs。　Beauly？〃　he　asked。

〃I　only　know　her；〃　I　answered；　〃by　what　I　have　read　of　her　in　the
Trial。〃

He　was　not　satisfied　with　that　reply。

〃You　must　have　an　interest　of　some　sort　in　Mrs。　Beauly；〃　he　said；
〃or　you　would　not　have　asked　me　about　her。　Is　it　the　interest　of
a　friend；　or　the　interest　of　an　enemy？〃

Rash　as　I　might　be；　I　was　not　quite　reckless　enough　yet　to　meet
that　plain　question　by　an　equally　plain　reply。　I　saw　enough　in
his　face　to　warn　me　to　be　careful　with　him　before　it　was　too
late。

〃I　can　only　answer　you　in　one　way；〃　I　rejoined。　〃I　must　return　to
a　subject　which　is　very　painful　to　youthe　subject　of　the
Trial。〃

〃Go　on；〃　he　said；　with　one　of　his　grim　outbursts　of　humor。　〃Here
I　am　at　your　mercya　martyr　at　the　stake。　Poke　the　fire！　poke
the　fire！〃

〃I　am　only　an　ignorant　woman；〃　I　resumed；　〃and　I　dare　say　I　am
quite　wrong；　but　there　is　one　part　of　my　husband's　trial　which
doesn't　at　all　satisfy　me。　The　defense　set　up　for　him　seems　to　me
to　have　been　a　complete　mistake。〃

〃A　complete　mistake？〃　he　repeated。　〃Strange　language；　Mrs。
Valeria；　to　say　the　least　of　it！〃　He　tried　to　speak　lightly；　he
took　up　his　goblet　of　wine；　but　I　could　see　that　I　had　produced
an　effect　on　him。　His　hand　trembled　as　it　carried　the　wine　to　his
lips。

〃I　don't　doubt　that　Eustace's　first　wife　really　asked　him　to　buy
the　arsenic；〃　I　continued。　〃I　don't　doubt　that　she　used　it
secretly　to　improve　her　complexion。　But　w　hat　I　do　_not_　believe
is　that　she　died　of　an　overdose　of　the　poison；　taken　by　mistake。〃

He　put　back　the　goblet　of　wine　on　the　table　near　him　so
unsteadily　that　he　spilled　the　greater　part　of　it。　For　a　moment
his　eyes　met　mine；　then　looked　down　again。

〃How　do　you　believe　she　died？〃　he　inquired；　in　tones　so　low　that
I　could　barely　hear　them。

〃By　the　hand　of　a　poisoner；〃　I　answered。

He　made　a　movement　as　if　he　were　about　to　start　up　in　the　chair；
and　sank　back　again；　seized；　apparently；　with　a　sudden　faintness。

〃Not　my　husband！〃　I　hastened　to　add。　〃You　know　that　I　am
satisfied　of　_his_　innocence。〃

I　saw　him　shudder。　I　saw　his　hands　fasten　their　hold　convulsively
on　the　arms　of　his　chair。

〃Who　poisoned　her？〃　he　asked；　still　lying　helplessly　back　in　the
chair。

At　the　critical　moment　my　courage　failed　me。　I　was　afraid　to　tell
him　in　what　direction　my　suspicions　pointed。

〃Can't　you　guess？〃　I　said。

There　was　a　pause。　I　supposed　him　to　be　seceretly　following　his
own　train　of　thought。　It　was　not　for　long。　On　a　sudden　he　started
up　in　his　chair。　The　prostration　which　had　possessed　him　appeared
to　vanish　in　an　instant。　His　eyes　recovered　their　wild　light；　his
hands　were　steady　again；　his　color　was　brighter　than　ever。　Had　he
been　pondering　over　the　secret　of　my　interest　in　Mrs。　Beauly？　and
had　he　guessed？　He　had！

〃Answer　on　your　word　of　honor！〃　he　cried。　〃Don't　attempt　to
deceive　me！　Is　it　a　woman？〃

〃It　is。〃

〃What　is　the　first　letter　of　her　name？　Is　it　one　of　the　first
three　letters　of　the　alphabet？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃B？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Beauly？〃

〃Beauly。〃

He　threw　his　hands　up　above　his　head；　and　burst　into　a　frantic
fit　of　laughter。

〃I　have　lived　long　enough！〃　he　broke　out；　wildly。　〃At　last　I　have
discovered　one　other　person　in　the　world　who　sees　it　as　plainly
as　I　do。　Cruel　Mrs。　Valeria！　why　did　you　torture　me？　Why　didn't
you　own　it　before？〃

〃What！〃　I　exclaimed；　catching　the　infection　of　his　excitement。
〃Are　_your_　ideas　_my_　ideas？　Is　it　possible　that　_you_　suspect
Mrs。　Beauly　too？〃

He　made　this　remarkable　reply：

〃Suspect？〃　he　repeated；　contemptuously。　〃There　isn't　the　shadow
of　a　doubt　about　it。　Mrs。　Beauly　poisoned　her。〃



CHAPTER　XXX。

THE　INDICTMENT　OF　MRS。　BEAULY。

　I　STARTED　to　my　feet；　and　looked　at　Miserrimus　Dexter。　I　was　too
much　agitated　to　be　able　to　speak　to　him。

My　utmost　expectations　had　not　prepared　me　for　the　tone　of
absolute　conviction　in　which　he　had　spoken。　At　the　best；　I　had
anticipated　that　he　might；　by　the　barest　chance；　agree　with　me　in
suspecting　Mrs。　Beauly。　And　now　his　own　lips　had　said　it；　without
hesitation　or　reserve！　〃There　isn't　the　shadow　of　a　doubt：　Mrs。
Beauly　poisoned　her。〃

〃Sit　down；〃　he　said；　quietly。　〃There's　nothing　to　be　afraid　of。
Nobody　can　hear　us　in　this　room。〃

I　sat　down　again；　and　recovered　myself　a　little。

〃Have　you　never　told　any　one　else　what　you　have　just　told　me？〃
was　the　first　question　that　I　put　to　him。

〃Never。　No　one　else　suspected　her。〃

〃Not　even　the　lawyers？〃

〃Not　even　the　lawyers。　There　is　no　legal　evidence　against　Mrs。
Beauly。　There　is　nothing　but　moral　certainty。〃

〃Surely　you　might　have　found　the　evidence　if　you　had　tried？〃

He　laughed　at　the　idea。

〃Look　at　me！〃　he　said。　〃How　is　a　man　to　hunt　up　evidence　who　is
tied　to　this　chair？　Besides；　there　were　other　difficulties　in　my
way。　I　am　not　generally　in　the　habit　of　needlessly　betraying
myselfI　am　a　cautious　man；　though　you　may　not　have　noticed　it。
But　my　immeasurable　hatred　of　Mrs。　Beauly　was　not　to　be
concealed。　If　eyes　can　tell　secrets；　she　must　have　discovered；　in
my　eyes；　that　I　hungered　and　thirsted　to　see　her　in　the　hangman's
hands。　From　first　to　last；　I　tell　you；　Mrs。　Borgia…Beauly　was　on
her　guard　against　me。　Can　I　describe　her　cunning？　All　my
resources　of　language　are　not　equal　to　the　task。　Take　the　degrees
of　comparison　to　give　you　a　faint　idea　of　it：　I　am　positively
cunning；　the　devil　is　comparatively　cunning；　Mrs。　Beauly　is
superlatively　cunning。　No！　no！　If　she　is　ever　discovered；　at　this
distance　of　time；　it　will　not　be　done　by　a　manit　will　be　done
by　a　woman：　a　woman　whom　she　doesn't　suspect；　a　woman　who　can
watch　her　with　the　patience　of　a　tigress　in　a　state　of
starvation〃

〃Say　a　woman　like　Me！〃　I　broke　out。　〃I　am　ready　to　try。〃

His　eyes　glittered；　his　teeth　showed　themselves　viciously　under
his　mustache；　he　drummed　fiercely　with　both　hands　on　the　arms　of
his　chair。

〃Do　you　really　mean　it？〃　he　asked。

〃Put　me　in　your　position；〃　I　answered　。　〃Enlighten　me　with　your
moral　certainty　（as　you　call　it）and　you　shall　see！〃

〃I'll　do　it！〃　he　said。　〃Tell　me　one　thing　first。　How　did　an
outside　stranger；　like　you；　come　to　suspect　her？〃

I　set　before　him；　to　the　best　of　my　ability；　the　various　elements
of　suspicion　which　I　had　collected　from　the　evidence　at　the
Trial；　and　I　laid　especial　stress　on　the　fact　（sworn　to　by　the
nurse）　that　Mrs。　Beauly　was　missing　exactly　at　he　time　when
Christina　Ormsay　had　left　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan　alone　in　her
room。

〃You　have　hit　it！〃　cried　Miserrimus　Dexter。　〃You　are　a　wonderful
woman！　What　was　she　doing　on　the　morning　of　the　day　when　Mrs。
Eustace　Macallan　died　poisoned？　And　where　was　she　during　the　dark
hours　of　the　night？　I　can　tell　you　where　she　was　_not_she　was
not　in　her　own　room。〃

〃Not　in　her　own　room？〃　I　repeated。　〃Are　you　really　sure　of　that？〃

〃I　am　sure　of　everything　that　I　say；　when　I　am　speaking　of　Mrs。
Beauly。　Mind　that：　and　now　listen！　This　is　a　drama；　and　I　excel
in　dramatic　narrative。　You　shall　judge　for　yourself。　Date；　the
twentieth　of　October。　Scene　the　Corridor；　called　the　Guests'
Corridor；　at　Gleninch。　On　one　side；　a　row　of　windows　looking　out
into　the　garden。　On　the　other；　a　row　of　four　bedrooms；　with
dressing…rooms　attached。　First　bedroom　（beginning　from　the
staircase）；　occupied　by　Mrs。　Beauly。　Second　bedroom；　empty。　Third
bedroom；　occupied　by　Miserrimus　Dexter。　Fourth　bedroom；　empty。　So
much　for　the　Scene！　The　time　comes　nextthe　time　is　eleven　at
night。　Dexter　discovered　in　his　bedroom；　reading。　Enter　to　him