east lynne-第76章

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　his　desk；　signing　letters。

〃Why；　Dill；　you　are　out　of　breath！〃

〃Well　I　may　be！　Mr。　Archibald；　I　have　been　listening　to　the　most　extraordinary　statement。　I　have　found　out　about　Thorn。　Who　do　you　think　he　is？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　put　down　his　pen　and　looked　full　in　the　old　man's　face；　he　had　never　seen　him　so　excited。

〃It's　that　man；　Levison。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　He　did　not。　It　was　as　good　as　Hebrew　to　him。　〃The　Levison　of　to…day；　your　opponent；　is　the　Thorn　who　went　after　Afy　Hallijohn。　It　is　so；　Mr。　Archibald。〃

〃It　cannot　be！〃　slowly　uttered　Mr。　Carlyle；　thought　upon　thought　working　havoc　with　his　brain。　〃Where　did　you　hear　this？〃

Mr。　Dill　told　his　tale。　Otway　Bethel's　recognition　of　him；　Sir　Francis　Levison's　scared　paleness；　for　he　had　noticed　that；　Mr。　Ebenezer's　revelation。　The　point　in　it　all；　that　finally　settled　most　upon　Mr。　Carlyle；　was　the　thought　that　if　Levison　were　indeed　the　man；　/he/　could　not　be　instrumental　in　bringing　him　to　justice。

〃Bethel　has　denied　to　me　more　than　once　that　he　knew　Thorn；　or　was　aware　of　such　a　man　being　in　existence；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃He　must　have　had　a　purpose　in　it；　then；〃　returned　Mr。　Dill。　〃They　knew　each　other　to…day。　Levison　recognized　him　for　certain；　although　he　carried　it　off　with　a　high　hand；　pretending　not。〃

〃And　it　was　not　as　Levison；　but　as　Thorn；　that　Bethel　recognized　him？〃

〃There's　little　doubt　of　that。　He　did　not　mention　the　name；　Thorn；　but　he　was　evidently　struck　with　astonishment　at　hearing　that　it　was　Levison。　If　they　have　not　some　secret　between　them；　Mr。　Archibald；　I'll　never　believe　my　own　eyes　again。〃

〃Mrs。　Hare's　opinion　is　that　Bethel　had　to　do　with　the　murder；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　a　low　tone。

〃If　that　is　their　secret；　Bethel　knows　the　murderer；　rely　upon　it；〃　was　the　answer。　〃Mr。　Archibald；　it　seems　to　me　that　now　or　never　is　the　time　to　clear　up　Richard。〃

〃Aye；　but　how　set　about　it？〃　responded　Mr。　Carlyle。

Meanwhile　Barbara　had　proceeded　home　in　her　carriage；　her　brain　as　busy　as　Mr。　Carlyle's；　perhaps　more　troubled。　Her　springing　lightly　and　hastily　out　the　moment　it　stopped；　disdaining　the　footman's　arm；　her　compressed　lips　and　absent　countenance；　proved　that　her　resolution　was　set　upon　some　plan　of　action。　William　and　Madame　Vine　met　her　in　the　hall。

〃We　have　seen　Dr。　Martin；　Mrs。　Carlyle。〃

〃And　he　says〃

〃I　cannot　stay　to　hear　now；　William。　I　will　see　you　later；　madame。〃

She　ran　upstairs　to　her　dressing…room；　Madame　Vine　following　her　with　her　reproachful　eyes。　〃Why　should　she　care？〃　thought　madame。　〃It　is　not　her　child。〃

Throwing　her　parasol　on　one　chair；　her　gloves　on　another；　down　sat　Barbara　to　her　writing…table。　〃I　will　write　to　him；　I　will　have　him　here；　if　it　be　but　for　an　hour！〃　she　passionately　exclaimed。　〃This　shall　be；　so　far；　cleared　up。　I　am　as　sure　as　sure　can　be　that　it　is　that　man。　The　very　action　Richard　described！　And　there　was　the　diamond　ring！　For　better；　for　worse；　I　will　send　for　him；　but　it　will　not　be　for　worse　if　God　is　with　us。〃

She　dashed　off　a　letter；　getting　up　ere　she　had　well　begun　it；　to　order　her　carriage　round　again。　She　would　trust　none　but　herself　to　put　it　in　the　post。

　〃MY　DEAR　MR。　SMITHWe　want　you　here。　Something　has　arisen　that　it　　　is　necessary　to　see　you　upon。　You　can　get　here　by　Saturday。　Be　in　　　/these/　grounds；　near　the　covered　walk；　that　evening　at　dusk。　Ever　　　yours；　〃B。〃


And　the　letter　was　addressed　to　Mr。　Smith；　of　some　street　in　Liverpool；　the　address　furnished　by　Richard。　Very　cautions　to　see；　was　Barbara。　She　even　put　〃Mr。　Smith；〃　inside　the　letter。

〃Now　stop；〃　cried　Barbara　to　herself；　as　she　was　folding　it。　〃I　ought　to　send　him　a　five　pound　note；　for　he　may　not　have　the　means　to　come；　and　I　don't　think　I　have　one　of　that　amount　in　the　house。〃

She　looked　in　her　secretaire。　Not　a　single　five…pound　note。　Out　of　the　room　she　ran；　meeting　Joyce；　who　was　coming　along　the　corridor。

〃Do　you　happen　to　have　a　five…pound　note；　Joyce？〃

〃No；　ma'am；　not　by　me。〃

〃I　dare　say　Madame　Vine　has。　I　paid　her　last　week；　and　there　were　two　five…pound　notes　amongst　it。〃　And　away　went　Barbara　to　the　gray　parlor。

〃Could　you　lend　me　a　five…pound　note；　Madame　Vine？　I　have　occasion　to　enclose　one　in　a　letter；　and　find　I　do　not　possess　one。〃

Madame　Vine　went　to　her　room　to　get　it。　Barbara　waited。　She　asked　William　what　Dr。　Martin　said。

〃He　tried　my　chest　withoh；　I　forget　what　they　call　itand　he　said　I　must　be　a　brave　boy　and　take　my　cod…liver　oil　well；　and　port　wine；　and　everything　I　liked　that　was　good。　And　he　said　he　should　be　at　West　Lynne　next　Wednesday　afternoon；　and　I　am　to　go　there；　and　he　would　call　in　and　see　me。〃

〃Where　are　you　to　meet　him？〃

〃He　said；　either　at　papa's　office　or　at　Aunt　Cornelia's；　as　we　might　decide。　Madame　fixed　it　for　papa's　office；　for　she　thought　he　might　like　to　see　Dr。　Martin。　I　say；　mamma。〃

〃What？〃　asked　Barbara。

〃Madame　Vine　has　been　crying　ever　since。　Why　should　she？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know。　Crying！〃

〃Yes　but　she　wipes　her　eyes　under　her　spectacles；　and　thinks　I　don't　see　her。　I　know　I　am　very　ill；　but　why　should　she　cry　for　that？〃

〃Nonsense；　William。　Who　told　you　you　were　very　ill？〃

〃Nobody。　I　suppose　I　am；〃　he　thoughtfully　added。　〃If　Joyce　or　Lucy　cried；　now；　there'd　be　some　sense　in　it；　for　they　have　known　me　all　my　life。〃

〃You　are　so　apt　to　fancy　things！　You　are　always　doing　it。　It　is　not　likely　that　madame　would　be　crying　because　you　are　ill。〃

Madame　came　in　with　the　bank…note。　Barbara　thanked　her；　ran　upstairs；　and　in　another　minute　or　two　was　in　her　carriage。

She　was　back　again；　and　dressing　when　the　gentlemen　returned　to　dinner。　Mr。　Carlyle　came　upstairs。　Barbara；　like　most　persons　who　do　things　without　reflection；　having　had　time　to　cool　down　from　her　ardor；　was　doubting　whether　she　had　acted　wisely　in　sending　so　precipitately　for　Richard。　She　carried　her　doubt　and　care　to　her　husband；　her　sure　refuge　in　perplexity。

〃Archibald；　I　fear　I　have　done　a　foolish　thing。〃

He　laughed。　〃I　fear　we　all　do　that　at　times；　Barbara。　What　is　it？〃

He　had　seated　himself　in　one　of　Barbara's　favorite　low　chairs；　and　she　stood　before　him；　leaning　on　his　shoulder；　her　face　a　little　behind；　so　that　he　could　not　see　it。　In　her　delicacy　she　would　not　look　at　him　while　she　spoke　what　she　was　going　to　speak。

〃It　is　something　that　I　have　had　upon　my　mind　for　years；　and　I　did　not　like　to　tell　it　to　you。〃

〃For　years？〃

〃You　remember　that　night；　years　ago；　when　Richard　was　at　the　Grove　in　disguise〃

〃Which　night；　Barbara？　He　came　more　than　once。〃

〃The　nightthe　night　that　Lady　Isabel　quitted　East　Lynne；〃　she　answered；　not　knowing　how　better　to　bring　it　to　his　recollection　and　she　stole　her　hand　lovingly　into　his；　as　she　said　it。　〃Richard　came　back　after　his　departure；　saying　he　had　met　Thorn　in　Bean　lane。　He　described　the　peculiar　motion　of　the　hand　as　he　threw　back　his　hair　from　his　brow；　he　spoke　of　the　white　hand　and　the　diamond　ringhow　it　glittered　in　the　moonlight。　Do　you　remember？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃The　motion　appeared　perfectly　familiar　to　me；　for　I　had　seen　it　repeatedly　used　by　one　then　staying　at　East　Lynne。　I　wondered　you　did　not　recognize　it。　From　that　night　I　had　little　doubt　as　to　the　identity　of　Thorn。　I　believed　that　he　and　Captain　Levison　were　one。〃

A　pause。　〃Why　did　you　not　tell　me　so；　Barbara？〃

〃How　could　I　speak　of　that　man　to　you；　at　that　time？　Afterwards；　when　Richard　was　here；　that　snowy　winter's　day；　he　asserted　that　he　knew　Sir　Frances　Levison；　that　he　had　seen　him　and　Thorn　together；　and　that　put　me　off　the　scent。　But　to…day；　as　I　was　passing　the　Raven；　in　the　carriagegoing　very　slow；　on　account　of　the　crowdhe　was　perched　out　there；　addressing　the　people；　and　I　saw　the　very　same　actionthe　old　action　that　I　had　used　to　see。〃

Barbara　paused。　Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　interrupt　her。

〃I　feel　a　conviction　that　they　are　the　samethat　Richard　must　have　been　under　some　unaccountable　mistake　in　saying　that　he　knew　Francis　Levison。　Besides；　who　but　he；　in　evening　dress；　would　have　been　likely　to　go　through　Bean　lane　that　night？　It　leads　to　no　houses；　but　one　wishing　to　avoid　the　high　road　could　get　into　it　from　these　grounds；　and　so　on　to　West　Lynne。　He　must　have　gone　back　directly　on　foot　to　West　Lynne；　to　get　the　post　carriage；　as　was　proved；　and　he　would　naturally　go　through　Bean　lane。　Forgive　me；　Archibald；　for　recalling　these　things　to　you；　but　I　feel　so　sure　that　Levison　and　Thorn　are　one。〃

〃I　know　they　are；〃　he　quietly　said。

Barbara；　in　her　astonishment　drew　back　and　stared　him　in　the　facea　face　of　severe　dignity　it　was　just　then。

〃Oh；　Archibald！　Did　you　know　it　at　that　time？〃

〃I　did　not　know　it　until　this　afternoon。　I　never　suspected　it。〃

〃I　wonder　you　did　not。　I　have　wondered　often。〃

〃So　do　I　now。　Dill；　Ebenezer　James；　and　Otway　Bethelwho　came　home　to…daywere　standing　before　the　Raven；　listening　to　his　speech；　when　Bethel　recognized　him；　not　as　Levisonhe　was　infinitely　astonished　to　find　he　was　Levison。　Levison；　they　say；　was　scared　at　the　recognition；　and　changed　color。　Bethel　would　give　no　explanation；　and　moved　away；　but　James　told　Dill　that　Levison　was　the　man　Thorn　who　used　to　be　after　Afy　Hallijohn。〃

〃How　did　you　know？〃　breathlessly　asked　Barbara。

〃Because　Mr。　Ebenezer　was　after　Afy　himself；　and　repeatedly　saw　Thorn　in　the　wood。　Barbara；　I　believe　now　that　it　was　Levison　who　killed　Hallijohn；　but　I　should　like　to　know　what　Bethel　had　to　do　with　it。〃

Barbara　clasped　her　hands。　〃How　strange　it　is！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　some　excitement。　〃Mamma　told　me；　yesterday；　that　she　was　convinced　something　or　other　was　going　to　turn　up　relative　to　the　murder。　She　had　had　the　most　distressing　dream；　she　said；　connected　with　Richard　and　Bethel；　and　somebody　else；　whom　she　appeared　to　know　in　the　dream；　but　could　not　recognize　or　remember　when　she　was　awake。　She　was　as　ill　as　could　beshe　does　put　such　faith　in　these　wretched　dreams。〃

〃One　would　think　you　did　also；　Barbara；　by　your　vehemence。〃

〃No；　no；　you　know　better。　But　it　is　strangeyou　must　acknowledge　that　it　isthat；　so　sure　as　anything　fresh　happens　touching　the　subject　of　the　murder；　so　sure　is　a　troubled　dream　the　forerunner　of　it。　Mamma　does　not　have　them　at　other　times。　Bethel　denied　to　you　that　he　knew　Thorn。〃

〃I　know　he　did。〃

〃And　now　it　turns　out　that　he　does　know　him；　and　he　is　always　in　mamma's　dreamsnone　more　prominent　in　them　than　Bethel。　But；　Archibald；　I　am　not　telling　youI　have　sent　for　Richard。〃

〃You　have？〃

〃I　felt　sure　that　Levison　was　Thorn。　I　did　not　expect　that　others　would　recognize　him；　and　I　acted　on　the　impulse　of　the　moment　and　wrote　to　Richard；　telling　him　to　be　here　on　Saturday　evening。　The　letter　is　gone。〃

〃Well；　we　must　shelter　him　as　best　we　can。〃

〃Archibalddear　Archibald；　what　can　be　done　to　clear　him？〃　she　asked；　the　tears　rising　to　her　eyes。

〃Being　Levison；　I　cannot　act。〃

〃What！〃　she　uttered。　〃Not　actnot　act　for　Richard！〃

He　bent　his　clear；　truthful　eyes　upon　her。

〃My　dearest；　how　can　I？〃

She　looked　a　little　rebellious；　and　the　tears　fell。

〃You　have　not　considered；　Barbara。　Any　one　in　the　world　but　Levison；　it　would　look　like　my　own　revenge。〃

〃Forgive　me！〃　she　softly　whispered。　〃You　are　always　right。