east lynne-第81章

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cond　wife；　false　to　himmore　shamelessly　false　than　even　herself　had　been；　inasmuch　as　she　had　had　the　grace　to　quit　him　and　East　Lynne　beforeas　the　servant　girls　say；　when　they　change　their　sweethearts〃taking　up〃　with　another？　The　positive　conviction　that　such　was　the　case　seized　firm　hold　upon　her　fancy；　her　thoughts　were　in　a　tumult；　her　mind　was　a　chaos。　Was　there　any　small　corner　of　rejoicing　in　her　heart　that　it　was　so？　And　yet；　what　was　it　to　her？　It　could　not　alter　by　one　iota　her　own　position　it　could　not　restore　to　her　the　love　she　had　forfeited。

Coupled　lovingly　together；　they　were　now　sauntering　up　the　walk；　the　sailor's　arm　thrown　round　the　waist　of　Mrs。　Carlyle。　〃Oh！　The　shameless　woman！〃　Ay；　she　could　be　bitter　enough　upon　graceless　doings　when　enacted　by　another。

But；　what　was　her　astonishment　when　she　saw　Mr。　Carlyle　advance；　and　that　his　appearance　caused　not　the　slightest　change　in　their　gracelessness；　for　the　sailor's　arm　was　not　withdrawn。　Two　or　three　minutes　they　stoodthe　threetalking　together　in　a　group。　Then　the　good…nights　were　exchanged；　the　sailor　left　them；　and　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　own　arm　lovingly　pressed　where　the　other's　had　been；　withdrew　with　his　wife。　The　truththat　it　was　Barbara's　brotherdashed　to　the　mind　of　Lady　Isabel。

〃Was　I　mad？〃　she　cried；　with　a　hollow　laugh。　〃/She/　false　to　him？　No；　no；　that　fate　was　reserved　for　me　alone！〃

She　followed　them　to　the　houseshe　glanced　in　at　the　windows　of　the　drawing…room。　Lights　and　fire　were　in　the　room；　but　the　curtains　and　windows　were　not　closed　for　the　night；　for　it　was　through　those　windows　that　Mr。　Carlyle　and　his　wife　had　passed　in　and　out　on　their　visits　to　the　covered　walk。　There　they　were；　alone　in　their　happiness；　and　she　stopped　to　glance　in　upon　it。　Lord　Mount　Severn　had　departed　for　London；　to　be　down　again　early　in　the　week。　The　tea　was　on　the　table；　but　Barbara　had　not　begun　to　make　it。　She　sat　on　the　sofa；　by　the　fire；　her　face；　with　its　ever　loving　gaze　upon　it；　turned　up　to　her　husband's。　He　stood　near；　was　talking　with　apparent　earnestness；　and　looking　down　at　Barbara。　Another　moment；　and　a　smile　crossed　his　lips；　the　same　sweet　smile　so　often　bent　upon　her　in　the　bygone　days。　Yes；　they　were　together　in　their　unclouded　happiness；　and　sheshe　turned　away　toward　her　own　lonely　sitting…room；　sick　and　faint　at　heart。

Ball　&　Treadman；　as　the　brass　plate　on　their　office　door　intimated；　were　conveyancers　and　attorneys　at　law。　Mr。　Treadman；　who　attended　chiefly　to　the　conveyancing；　lived　at　the　office；　with　his　family。　Mr。　Ball；　a　bachelor；　lived　away；　Lawyer　Ball；　West　Lynne　styled　him。　Not　a　young　bachelor；　midway；　he　may　have　been　between　forty　and　fifty。　A　short　stout　man；　with　a　keen　face　and　green　eyes。　He　took　up　any　practice　that　was　brought　to　himdirty　odds　and　ends　that　Mr。　Carlyle　would　not　have　touched　with　his　toebut；　as　that　gentleman　had　remarked；　he　could　be　honest　and　true　upon　occasion；　and　there　was　no　doubt　that　he　would　be　so　to　Richard　Hare。　To　his　house；　on　Monday　morning；　early；　so　as　to　catch　him　before　he　went　out；　proceeded　Mr。　Carlyle。　A　high　respect　for　Mr。　Carlyle　had　Lawyer　Ball；　as　he　had　had　for　his　father　before　him。　Many　a　good　turn　had　the　Carlyles　done　him；　if　only　helping　him　and　his　partner　to　clients　whom　they　were　too　fastidious　to　take　up。　But　the　two；　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Lawyer　Ball　did　not　rank　alike；　though　their　profession　was　the　same；　Lawyer　Ball　knew　that　they　did　not；　and　was　content　to　feel　humble。　The　one　was　a　received　gentleman；　the　other　was　a　country　attorney。

Lawyer　Ball　was　at　breakfast　when　Mr。　Carlyle　was　shown　in。

〃Halloo；　Carlyle！　You　are　here　betimes。〃

〃Sit　still；　don't　disturb　yourself。　Don't　ring；　I　have　breakfasted。〃

〃The　most　delicious　/pate　de　foie/；〃　urged　Lawyer　Ball；　who　was　a　regular　gourmand。　〃I　get　'em　direct　from　Strasbourg。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　resisted　the　offered　dainty　with　a　smile。　〃I　have　come　on　business；〃　said　he；　〃not　to　feast。　Before　I　enter　upon　it；　you　will　give　me　your　word；　Ball；　that　my　communication　shall　be　held　sacred；　in　the　event　of　your　not　consenting　to　pursue　it　further。〃

〃Certainly　I　will。　What　business　is　it？　Some　that　offends　the　delicacy　of　the　Carlyle　office？〃　he　added；　with　a　laugh。　〃A　would…be　client　whom　you　turn　over　to　me　in　your　exclusiveness？〃

〃It　is　a　client　for　whom　I　cannot　act。　But　not　from　the　motives　you　assume。　It　concerns　that　affair　of　Hallijohn's；〃　Mr。　Carlyle　continued；　bending　forward；　and　somewhat　dropping　his　voice。　〃The　murder。〃

Lawyer　Ball；　who　had　just　taken　in　a　delicious　/bonne　bouche/　of　the　/foie　gras/；　bolted　it　whole　in　his　surprise。　〃Why；　that　was　enacted　ages　and　ages　ago；　it　is　past　and　done　with；〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Not　done　with；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Circumstances　have　come　to　light　which　tend　to　indicate　that　Richard　Hare　was　innocentthat　it　was　another　who　committed　the　murder。〃

〃In　conjunction　with　him？〃　interrupted　the　attorney。

〃No：　alone。　Richard　Hare　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　it。　He　was　not　even　present　at　the　time。〃

〃Do　you　believe　that？〃　asked　Lawyer　Ball。

〃I　have　believed　it　for　years。〃

〃Then　who　did　do　it？〃

〃Richard　accuses　one　of　the　name　of　Thorn。　Many　years　backten　at　leastI　had　a　meeting　with　Richard　Hare；　and　he　disclosed　certain　facts　to　me；　which　if　correct；　could　not　fail　to　prove　that　he　was　not　guilty。　Since　that　period　this　impression　has　been　gradually　confirmed　by　little　and　by　little；　trifle　upon　trifle　and　I　would　now　stake　my　life　upon　his　innocence。　I　should　long　ago　have　moved　in　this　matter；　hit　or　miss；　could　I　have　lighted　upon　Thorn；　but　he　was　not　to　be　found；　neither　any　clue　to　him；　and　we　now　know　that　this　name；　Thorn；　was　an　assumed　one。〃

〃Is　he　to　be　found？〃

〃He　is　found。　He　is　at　West　Lynne。　Mark　you；　I　don't　accuse　himI　do　not　offer　an　opinion　upon　his　guiltI　only　state　my　belief　in　Richard's　innocence；　it　may　have　been　another　who　did　it；　neither　Richard　nor　Thorn。　It　was　my　firm　intention　to　take　Richard's　case　up；　the　instant　I　saw　my　way　clearly　in　it；　and　now　that　that　time　has　come　I　am　debarred　from　doing　so。〃

〃What　debars　you？〃

〃Hence　I　come　to　you；〃　continued　Mr。　Carlyle；　disregarding　the　question。　〃I　come　on　the　part　of　Richard　Hare。　I　have　seen　him　lately；　and　conversed　with　him。　I　gave　him　my　reasons　for　not　personally　acting；　advised　him　to　apply　to　you；　and　promised　to　come　here　and　open　the　matter。　Will　you　see　Richard　in　good　faith；　and　hear　his　story；　giving　the　understanding　that　he　shall　depart　unmolested；　as　he　came；　although　you　do　not　decide　to　entertain　the　business？〃

〃I'll　give　it　with　all　the　pleasure　in　life；〃　freely　returned　the　attorney。　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　want　to　harm　poor　Dick　Hare；　and　if　he　can　convince　me　of　his　innocence；　I'll　do　my　best　to　establish　it。〃

〃Of　his　own　tale　you　must　be　the　judge。　I　do　not　wish　to　bias　you。　I　have　stated　my　belief　in　his　innocence；　but　I　repeat　that　I　give　no　opinion　myself　as　to　who　else　may　be　guilty。　Hear　his　account；　and　then　take　up　the　affair　or　not；　as　you　may　think　fit。　He　would　not　come　to　you　without　your　previous　promise　to　hold　him　harmless；　to　be　his　friend；　in　short；　for　the　time　being。　When　I　bear　this　promise　to　him　for　you；　my　part　is　done。〃

〃I　give　it　to　you　in　all　honor；　Carlyle。　Tell　Dick　he　has　nothing　to　fear　from　me。　Quite　the　contrary；　for　if　I　can　befriend　him；　I　shall　be　glad　to　do　it；　and　I　won't　spare　trouble。　What　can　possibly　be　your　objection　to　act　for　him？〃

〃My　objection　applies　not　to　Richard。　I　would　willingly　appear　for　him；　but　I　will　not　take　proceedings　against　the　man　he　accuses。　If　that　man　is　to　be　denounced　and　brought　before　justice；　I　will　hold　neither　act　nor　part　in　it。〃

The　words　aroused　the　curiosity　of　Lawyer　Ball；　and　he　began　to　turn　over　all　persons；　likely　and　unlikely；　in　his　mind；　never；　according　to　usage；　giving　a　suspicion　to　the　right　one。　〃I　cannot　fathom　you；　Carlyle。〃

〃You　will　do　that　better；　possibly；　when　Richard　shall　have　made　his　disclosure。〃

〃It'sit'snever　his　own　father　that　he　accuses？　Justice　Hare？〃

〃Your　wits　must　be　wool…gathering；　Ball。〃

〃Well；　so　they　must；　to　give　utterance　to　so　preposterous　a　notion；〃　acquiesced　the　attorney；　pushing　back　his　chair　and　throwing　his　breakfast　napkin　on　the　carpet。　〃But　I　don't　know　a　soul　you　could　object　to　go　against　except　the　justice。　What's　anybody　else　in　West　Lynne　to　you；　in　comparison　to　restoring　Dick　Hare　to　his　fair　fame？　I　give　it　up。〃

〃So　do　I；　for　the　present；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　he　rose。　〃And　now；　about　the　ways　and　means　for　your　meeting　this　poor　fellow。　Where　can　you　see　him？〃

〃Is　he　at　West　Lynne？〃

〃No。　But　I　can　get　a　message　conveyed　to　him；　and　he　could　come。〃

〃When？〃

〃To…night；　if　you　like。〃

〃Then　let　him　come　here　to　this　house。　He　will　be　perfectly　safe。〃

〃So　be　it。　My　part　is　now　over；〃　concluded　Mr。　Carlyle。　And　with　a　few　more　preliminary　words；　he　departed。　Lawyer　Ball　looked　after　him。

〃It's　a　queer　business。　One　would　think　Dick　accuses　some　old　flame　of　Carlyle'ssome　demoiselle　or　dame　he　daren't　go　against。〃



CHAPTER　XXXVIII。

THE　WORLD　TURNED　UPSIDE　DOWN。

On　Monday　evening　the　interview　between　Lawyer　Ball　and　Richard　Hare　took　place。　With　some　difficulty　would　the　lawyer　believe　his　tale　not　as　to　its　broad　details；　he　saw　that　he　might　give　credit　to　them　but　as　to　the　accusation　against　Sir　Francis　Levison。　Richard　persisted；　mentioned　every　minute　particular　he　could　think　ofhis　meeting　him　the　night　of　the　elopement　in　Bean　lane；　his　meetings　with　him　again　in　London；　and　Sir　Francis's　evident　fear　of　him；　and　thence　pursuit；　and　the　previous　Saturday　night's　recognition　at　the　door　of　the　Raven；　not　forgetting　to　tell　of　the　anonymous　letter　received　by　Justice　Hare　the　morning　that　Richard　was　in　hiding　at　Mr。　Carlyle's。　There　was　no　doubt　in　the　world　it　had　been　sent　by　Francis　Levison　to　frighten　Mr。　Hare　into　dispatching　him　out　of　West　Lynne；　had　Richard　taken　refuge　in　his　father's　home。　None　had　more　cause　to　keep　Dick　from　falling　into　the　hands　of　justice　than　Francis　Levison。

〃I　believe　what　you　sayI　believe　all　you　say；　Mr。　Richard；　touching　Thorn；〃　debated　the　attorney；　〃but　it's　next　to　impossible　to　take　in　so　astounding　a　fact　as　that　he　is　Sir　Francis　Levison。〃

〃You　can　satisfy　yourself　of　the　fact　from　other　lips　than　mine；〃　said　Richard。　〃Otway　Bethel　could　testify　to　it　if　he　would；　though　I　doubt　his　willingness。　But　there's　Ebenezer　James。〃

〃What　does　he　know　about　it？〃　asked　the　attorney；　in　surprise。　〃Ebenezer　James　is　in　our　office　at　present。〃

〃He　saw　Thorn　often　enough　in　those　days；　and　has；　I　hear；　recognized　him　as　Levison。　You　had　better　inquire　of　him。　Should　you　object　to　take　cause　against　Levison？〃

〃Not　a　bit　of　it。　Let　me　be　assured　that　I　am　upon　safe　grounds　as　to　the　identity　of　the　man；　and　I'll　proceed　in　it　forthwith。　Levison　is　an　out…and…out　scoundrel；　/as/　Levison；　and　deserves　hanging。　I　will　send　for　James　at　once；　and　hear　what　he　says；〃　he　concluded；　after　a　pause　of　consideration。

Richard　Hare　started　wildly　up。　〃Not　while　I　am　here；　he　must　not　see　me。　For　Heaven's　sake；　consider　the　peril　to　me；　Mr。　Ball！〃

〃Pooh；　pooh！〃　laughed　the　attorney。　〃Do　you　suppose　I　have　but　this　one　rec