the law and the lady-第48章

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substantially　intelligent　witness。

〃As　to　the　future；　I　am；　of　course；　not　able　to　speak　positively。
I　can　only　state　my　views。

〃That　he　will　end　in　madness　（if　he　live）；　I　entertain　little　or
no　doubt。　The　question　of　_when_　the　madness　will　show　itself
depends　entirely　on　the　state　of　his　health。　His　nervous　system
is　highly　sensitive；　and　there　are　signs　that　his　way　of　life　has
already　damaged　it。　If　he　conquer　the　bad　habits　to　which　I　have
alluded　in　an　earlier　part　of　my　report；　and　if　he　pass　many
hours　of　every　day　quietly　in　the　open　air；　he　may　last　as　a　sane
man　for　years　to　come。　If　he　persist　in　his　present　way　of
lifeor；　in　other　words；　if　further　mischief　occur　to　that
sensitive　nervous　systemhis　lapse　into　insanity　must　infallibly
take　place　when　the　mischief　has　reached　its　culminating　point。
Without　warning　to　himself　or　to　others；　the　whole　mental
structure　will　give　way；　and；　at　a　moment's　notice；　while　he　is
acting　as　quietly　or　speaking　as　intelligently　as　at　his　best
time；　the　man　will　drop　（if　I　may　use　the　expression）　into
madness　or　idiocy。　In　either　case；　when　the　catastrophe　has
happened；　it　is　only　due　to　his　friends　to　add　that　they　can　（as
I　believe）　entertain　no　hope　of　his　cure。　The　balance　once　lost；
will　be　lost　for　life。〃

There　it　ended。　Mr。　Playmore　put　the　letter　back　in　his　drawer。

〃You　have　just　read　the　opinion　of　one　of　our　highest　living
authorities；〃　he　said。　〃Does　Dexter　strike　you　as　a　likely　man　to
give　his　nervous　system　a　chance　of　recovery？　Do　you　see　no
obstacles　and　no　perils　in　your　way？〃

My　silence　answered　him。

〃Suppose　you　go　back　to　Dexter；〃　he　proceeded。　〃And　suppose　that
the　doctor's　opinion　exaggerates　the　peril　in　his　case。　What　are
you　to　do？　The　last　time　you　saw　him；　you　had　the　immense
advantage　of　taking　him　by　surprise。　Those　sensitive　nerves　of
his　gave　way；　and　he　betrayed　the　fear　that　you　aroused　in　him。
Can　you　take　him　by　surprise　again？　Not　you！　He　is　prepared　for
you　now；　and　he　will　be　on　his　guard。　If　you　encounter　nothing
worse；　you　will　have　his　cunning　to　deal　with　next。　Are　you　his
match　at　that？　But　for　Lady　Clarinda　he　would　have　hopelessly
misled　you　on　the　subject　of　Mrs。　Beauly。〃

There　was　no　answering　this；　either。　I　was　foolish　enough　to　try
to　answer　it；　for　all　that。

〃He　told　me　the　truth　so　far　as　he　knew　it；〃　I　rejoined。　〃He
really　saw　what　he　said　he　saw　in　the　corridor　at　Gleninch。〃

〃He　told　you　the　truth；〃　returned　Mr。　Playmore；　〃because　he　was
cunning　enough　to　see　that　the　truth　would　help　him　in　irritating
your　suspicions。　You　don't　really　believe　that　he　shared　your
suspicions？〃

〃Why　not？〃　I　said。　〃He　was　as　ignorant　of　what　Mrs。　Beauly　was
really　doing　on　that　night　as　I　wasuntil　I　met　Lady　Clarinda。
It　remains　to　be　seen　whether　he　will　not　be　as　much　astonished
as　I　was　when　I　tell　him　what　Lady　Clarinda　told　me。〃

This　smart　reply　produced　an　effect　which　I　had　not　anticipated。

To　my　surprise；　Mr。　Playmore　abruptly　dropped　all　further
discussion　on　his　side。　He　appeared　to　despair　of　convincing　me；
and　he　owned　it　indirectly　in　his　next　words。

〃Will　nothing　that　I　can　say　to　you；〃　he　asked；　〃induce　you　to
think　as　I　think　in　this　matter？〃

〃I　have　not　your　ability　or　your　experience；　〃I　answered。　〃I　am
sorry　to　say　I　can't　think　as　you　think。〃

〃And　you　are　really　determined　to　see　Miserrimus　Dexter　again？〃

〃I　have　engaged　myself　to　see　him　again。〃

He　waited　a　little；　and　thought　over　it。

〃You　have　honored　me　by　asking　for　my　advice；〃　he　said。　〃I
earnestly　advise　you；　Mrs。　Eustace；　to　break　your　engagement。　I
go　even　further　than　thatI　_entreat_　you　not　to　see　Dexter
again。〃

Just　what　my　mother…in…law　had　said！　just　what　Benjamin　and　Major
Fitz…David　had　said！　They　were　all　against　me。　And　still　I　held
out。

I　wonder；　when　I　look　back　at　it；　at　my　own　obstinacy。　I　am
almost　ashamed　to　relate　that　I　made　Mr。　Playmore　no　reply。　He
waited；　still　looking　at　me。　I　felt　irritated　by　that　fixed　look。
I　arose；　and　stood　before　him　with　my　eyes　on　the　floor。

He　arose　in　his　turn。　He　understood　that　the　conference　was　over。

〃Well；　well；〃　he　said；　with　a　kind　of　sad　good…humor；　〃I　suppose
it　is　unreasonable　of　me　to　expect　that　a　young　woman　like　you
should　share　any　opinion　with　an　o　ld　lawyer　like　me。　Let　me　only
remind　you　that　our　conversation　must　remain　strictly
confidential　for　the　present；　and　then　let　us　change　the　subject。
Is　there　anything　that　I　can　do　for　you？　Are　you　alone　in
Edinburgh？〃

〃No。　I　am　traveling　with　an　old　friend　of　mine；　who　has　known　me
from　childhood。〃

〃And　do　you　stay　here　to…morrow？〃

〃I　think　so。〃

〃Will　you　do　me　one　favor？　Will　you　think　over　what　has　passed
between　us；　and　will　you　come　back　to　me　in　the　morning？〃

〃Willingly；　Mr。　Playmore；　if　it　is　only　to　thank　you　again　for
your　kindness。〃

On　that　understanding　we　parted。　He　sighedthe　cheerful　man
sighed；　as　he　opened　the　door　for　me。　Women　are　contradictory
creatures。　That　sigh　affected　me　more　than　all　his　arguments。　I
felt　myself　blush　for　my　own　head…strong　resistance　to　him　as　I
took　my　leave　and　turned　away　into　the　street。



CHAPTER　XXXIV。

GLENINCH。

　〃AHA！〃　said　Benjamin；　complacently。　〃So　the　lawyer　thinks；　as　I
do；　that　you　will　be　highly　imprudent　if　you　go　back　to　Mr。
Dexter？　A　hard…headed；　sensible　man　the　lawyer；　no　doubt。　You
will　listen　to　Mr。　Playmore；　won't　you；　though　you　wouldn't
listen　to　me？〃

（I　had　of　course　respected　Mr。　Playmore's　confidence　in　me　when
Benjamin　and　I　met　on　my　return　to　the　hotel。　Not　a　word　relating
to　the　lawyer's　horrible　suspicion　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　had
passed　my　lips。）

〃You　must　forgive　me；　my　old　friend；〃　I　said；　answering　Benjamin。
〃I　am　afraid　it　has　come　to　thistry　as　I　may；　I　can　listen　to
nobody　who　advises　me。　On　our　way　here　I　honestly　meant　to　be
guided　by　Mr。　Playmorewe　should　never　have　taken　this　long
journey　if　I　had　not　honestly　meant　it。　I　have　tried；　tried　hard
to　be　a　teachable；　reasonable　woman。　But　there　is　something　in　me
that　won't　be　taught。　I　am　afraid　I　shall　go　back　to　Dexter。〃

Even　Benjamin　lost　all　patience　with　me　this　time。

〃What　is　bred　in　the　bone；〃　he　said；　quoting　the　old　proverb；
〃will　never　come　out　of　the　flesh。　In　years　gone　by；　you　were　the
most　obstinate　child　that　ever　made　a　mess　in　a　nursery。　Oh；　dear
me；　we　might　as　well　have　stayed　in　London。〃

〃No；〃　I　replied；　〃now　we　have　traveled　to　Edinburgh；　we　will　see
something　（interesting　to　_me_　at　any　rate）　which　we　should　never
have　seen　if　we　had　not　left　London。　My　husband's　country…house
is　within　a　few　miles　of　us　here。　To…morrowwe　will　go　to
Gleninch。〃

〃Where　the　poor　lady　was　poisoned？〃　asked　Benjamin；　with　a　look
of　dismay。　〃You　mean　that　place？〃

〃Yes。　I　want　to　see　the　room　in　which　she　died；　I　want　to　go　all
over　the　house。〃

Benjamin　crossed　his　hands　resignedly　on　his　lap。　〃I　try　to
understand　the　new　generation；〃　said　the　old　man；　sadly；　〃but　I
can't　manage　it。　The　new　generation　beats　me。〃

I　sat　down　to　write　to　Mr。　Playmore　about　the　visit　to　Gleninch。
The　house　in　which　the　tragedy　had　occurred　that　had　blighted　my
husband's　life　was；　to　my　mind；　the　most　interesting　house　on　the
habitable　globe。　The　prospect　of　visiting　Gleninch　had；　indeed
（to　tell　the　truth）；　strongly　influenced　my　resolution　to　consult
the　Edinburgh　lawyer。　I　sent　my　note　to　Mr。　Playmore　by　a
messenger；　and　received　the　kindest　reply　in　return。　If　I　would
wait　until　the　afternoon；　he　would　get　the　day's　business　done；
and　would　take　us　to　Gleninch　in　his　own　carriage。

Benjamin's　obstinacyin　its　own　quiet　way；　and　on　certain
occasions　onlywas　quite　a　match　for　mine。　He　had　privately
determined；　as　one　of　the　old　generation；　to　have　nothing　to　do
with　Gleninch。　Not　a　word　on　the　subject　escaped　him　until　Mr。
Playmore's　carriage　was　at　the　hotel　door。　At　that　appropriate
moment　Benjamin　remembered　an　old　friend　of　his　in　Edinburgh。
〃Will　you　please　to　excuse　me；　Valeria？　My　friend's　name　is
Saunders；　and　he　will　take　it　unkindly　of　me　if　I　don't　dine　with
him　to…day。〃

　Apart　from　the　associations　that　I　connected　with　it；　there　was
nothing　to　interest　a　traveler　at　Gleninch。

The　country　around　was　pretty　and　well　cultivated；　and　nothing
more。　The　park　was；　to　an　English　eye；　wild　and　badly　kept。　The
house　had　been　built　within　the　last　seventy　or　eighty　years。
Outside；　it　was　as　bare　of　all　ornament　as　a　factory；　and　as
gloomily　heavy　in　effect　as　a　prison。　Inside；　the　deadly
dreariness；　the　close；　oppressive　solitude　of　a　deserted　dwelling
wearied　the　eye　and　weighed　on　the　mind；　from　the　roof　to　the
basement。　The　house　had　been　shut　up　since　the　time　of　the　Trial。
A　lonely　old　couple；　man　and　wife；　had　the　keys　and　the　charge　of
it。　The　man　shook　his　head　in　silent　and　sorrowful　disapproval　of
our　intrusion　when　Mr。　Playmore　ordered　him　to　open　the　doors　and
shutters；　and　let　the　light　in　on　the　dark；　deserted　place。　Fires
were　burning　in　the　library　and　the　picture…gallery；　to　preserve
the　treasures　which　they　contained　from　the　damp。　It　was　not
easy；　at　first；　to　look　at　the　cheerful　blaze　without　fancying
that　the　inhabitants　of　the　house　must　surely　come　in　and　warm
themselves。　Ascending　to　the　upper　floor；　I　saw　the　rooms　made
familiar　to　me　by　the　Report　of　the　Trial。　I　entered　the　little
study；　with　the　old　books　on　the　shelves；　and　the　key　still
missing　from　the　locked　door　of　communication　with　the
bedchamber。　I　looked　into　the　room　in　which　the　unhappy　mistress
of　Gleninch　had　suffered　and　died。　The　bed　was　left　in　its　place；
the　sofa　on　which　the　nurse　had　snatched　her　intervals　of　repose
was　at　its　foot；　the　Indian　cabinet；　in　which　the　crumpled　paper
with　the　grains　of　arsenic　had　been　found；　still　held　its　little
collection　of　curiosities。　I　moved　on　its　pivot　the　invalid…table
on　which　she　had　taken　her　meals　and　written　her　poems；　poor
soul。　The　place　was　dreary　and　dreadful；　the　heavy　air　felt　as　if
it　were　still　burdened　with　its　horrid　load　of　misery　and
distrust。　I　was　glad　to　get　out　（after　a　passing　glance　at　the
room　which　Eustace　had　occupied　in　those　days）　into　the　Guests'
Corridor。　There　was　the　bedroom；　at　the　door　of　which　Miserrimus
Dexter　had　waited　and　watched。　There　was　the　oaken　floor　along
which　he　had　hopped；　in　his　horrible　way；　following　the　footsteps
of　the　servant　disguised　in　her　mistress's　clothes。　Go　where　I
might；　the　ghosts　of　the　dead　and　the　absent　were　with　me；　step
by　step。　Go　where　I　might；　the　lonely　horror　of　the　house　had　its
still　and　awful　voice　for　Me：　〃_I_　keep　the　secret　of　the　Poison！
_I_　hide　the　mystery　of　the　death！〃

The　oppression　of　the　place　became　unendurable。　I　longed　for　the
pure　sky　and　the　free　air。　My　companion　noticed　and　understood
me。

〃Come；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　had　enough　of　the　house。　Let　us　look　at
the　grounds。〃

In　the　gray　quiet　of　the　evening　we　roamed　about　the　lonely
gardens；　and　threaded　our　way　through　the　rank；　neglected
shrubberies。　Wandering　here　and　wandering　there；　we　drifted　into
the　kitchen　gardenwith　one　little　patch　still　sparely
cultivated　by　the　old　man　and　his　wife；　and　all　the　res