east lynne-第92章

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〃There　appeared　to　be　no　one　in　the　cottage；　upstairs　or　down。　I　called　to　Afy；　but　she　did　not　answer。　I　caught　up　the　gun；　and　was　running　from　the　cottage　when　Locksley　came　out　of　the　wood　and　looked　at　me。　I　grew　confused；　fearful；　and　I　threw　the　gun　back　again　and　made　off。〃

〃What　were　your　motives　for　acting　in　that　way？〃

〃A　panic　had　come　over　me；　and　in　that　moment　I　must　have　lost　the　use　of　my　reason；　otherwise　I　never　should　have　acted　as　I　did。　Thoughts；　especially　of　fear；　pass　through　our　minds　with　astonishing　swiftness；　and　I　feared　lest　the　crime　should　be　fastened　upon　me。　It　was　fear　made　me　snatch　up　my　gun；　lest　it　should　be　found　near　the　body；　it　was　fear　made　me　throw　it　back　again　when　Locksley　appeared　in　viewa　fear　you　understand；　from　which　all　judgment；　all　reason；　had　departed。　But　for　my　own　conduct；　the　charge　never　would　have　been　laid　to　me。〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃In　my　flight　I　came　upon　Bethel。　I　knew　that　if　he　had　gone　toward　the　cottage　after　the　shot　was　fired；　he　must　have　encountered　Thorn　flying　from　it。　He　denied　that　he　had；　he　said　he　had　only　gone　along　the　path　for　a　few　paces；　and　had　then　plunged　into　the　wood　again。　I　believed　him　and　departed。〃

〃Departed　from　West　Lynne？〃

〃That　night　I　did。　It　was　a　foolish；　fatal　step；　the　result　of　cowardice。　I　found　the　charge　was　laid　to　me；　and　I　thought　I　would　absent　myself　for　a　day　or　two；　to　see　how　things　turned　out。　Next　came　the　inquest　and　the　verdict　against　me；　and　I　then　left　for　good。〃

〃This　is　the　truth；　so　far　as　you　are　cognizant　of　it？〃

〃I　swear　that　it　is　truth；　and　the　whole　truth；　so　far　as　I　am　cognizant　of　it；〃　replied　Richard　Hare；　with　emotion。　〃I　could　not　assert　it　more　solemnly　were　I　before　God。〃

He　was　subjected　to　a　rigid　cross…examination；　but　his　testimony　was　not　shaken　in　the　least。　Perhaps　not　one　present　but　was　impressed　with　its　truth。

Afy　Hallijohn　was　recalled；　and　questioned　as　to　Richard's　presence　at　her　father's　house　that　night。　It　tallied　with　the　account　given　by　Richard；　but　it　had　to　be　drawn　from　her。

〃Why　did　you　decline　to　receive　Richard　Hare　into　the　cottage；　after　appointing　him　to　come？〃

〃Because　I　chose；〃　returned　Afy。

〃Tell　the　jury　why　you　chose。〃

〃Well；　I　had　got　a　friend　with　meit　was　Captain　Thorn；〃　she　added；　feeling　that　she　should　only　be　questioned　on　this　point；　so　might　as　well　acknowledge　it。　〃I　did　not　admit　Richard　Hare；　for　I　fancied　they　might　get　up　a　quarrel　if　they　were　together。〃

〃For　what　purpose　did　Richard　Hare　bring　down　his　gundo　you　know？〃

〃It　was　to　lend　to　my　father。　My　father's　gun　had　something　the　matter　with　it；　and　was　at　the　smith's。　I　had　heard　him；　the　previous　day；　ask　Mr。　Richard　to　lend　him　one　of　his；　and　Mr。　Richard　said　he　would　bring　one；　as　he　did。〃

〃You　lodged　the　gun　against　the　wallsafely？〃

〃Quite　safely。〃

〃Was　it　touched　by　you；　after　placing　it　there；　or　by　the　prisoner？〃

〃I　did　not　touch　it；　neither　did　he；　that　I　saw。　It　was　that　same　gun　which　was　afterward　found　near　my　father；　and　had　been　discharged。〃

The　next　witness　called　was　Otway　Bethel。　He　also　held　share　in　the　curiosity　of　the　public；　but　not　in　equal　degree　with　Afy；　still　less　with　Richard　Hare。　The　substance　of　his　testimony　was　as　follows：

〃On　the　evening　that　Hallijohn　was　killed；　I　was　in　the　Abbey　Wood；　and　I　saw　Richard　Hare　come　down　the　path　with　a　gun；　as　if　he　had　come　down　from　his　own　home。〃

〃Did　Richard　Hare　see　you？〃

〃No；　he　could　not　see　me；　I　was　right　in　the　thicket。　He　went　to　the　cottage　door；　and　was　about　to　enter；　when　Afy　Hallijohn　came　hastily　out　of　it；　pulling　the　door　to　behind　her；　and　holding　it　in　her　hand；　as　if　afraid　he　would　go　in。　Some　colloquy　ensued；　but　I　was　too　far　off　to　hear　it；　and　then　she　took　the　gun　from　him　and　went　indoors。　Some　time　after　that　I　saw　Richard　Hare　amid　the　trees　at　a　distance；　farther　off　the　cottage；　then；　than　I　was；　and　apparently　watching　the　path。　I　was　wondering　what　he　was　up　to；　hiding　there；　when　I　head　a　shot　fired；　close；　as　it　seemed；　to　the　cottage；　and〃

〃Stop　a　bit；　witness。　Could　that　shot　have　been　fired　by　Richard　Hare？〃

〃It　could　not。　He　was　a　quarter　of　a　mile；　nearly；　away　from　it。　I　was　much　nearer　the　cottage　than　he。〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃I　could　not　imagine　what　that　shot　meant；　or　who　could　have　fired　it　not　that　I　suspected　mischiefand　I　knew　that　poachers　did　not　congregate　so　near　Hallijohn's　cottage。　I　set　off　to　reconnoiter；　and　as　I　turned　the　corner；　which　brought　the　house　within　my　view；　I　saw　Captain　Thorn；　as　he　was　called；　come　leaping　out　of　it。　His　face　was　white　with　terror；　his　breath　was　gonein　short；　I　never　saw　any　living　man　betray　so　much　agitation。　I　caught　his　arm　as　he　would　have　passed　me。　'What　have　you　been　about？'　I　asked。　'Was　it　you　that　fired？'　He〃

〃Stay。　Why　did　you　suspect　him？〃

〃From　his　state　of　excitementfrom　the　terror　he　was　inthat　some　ill　had　happened；　I　felt　sure；　and　so　would　you；　had　you　seen　him　as　I　did。　My　arresting　him　increased　his　agitation；　he　tried　to　throw　me　off；　but　I　am　a　strong　man；　and　I　suppose　he　thought　it　best　to　temporize。　'Keep　dark　upon　it；　Bethel；'　he　said；　'I　will　make　it　worth　your　while。　The　thing　was　not　premeditated；　it　was　done　in　the　heat　of　passion。　What　business　had　the　fellow　to　abuse　me？　I　have　done　no　harm　to　the　girl。'　As　he　thus　spoke；　he　took　out　a　pocket　book　with　the　hand　that　was　at　liberty；　I　held　the　other〃

〃As　the　prisoner　thus　spoke；　you　mean？〃

〃The　prisoner。　He　took　a　bank…note　from　his　pocket　book；　and　thrust　it　into　my　hands。　It　was　a　note　for　fifty　pounds。　'What's　done　can't　be　undone；　Bethel；'　he　said；　'and　your　saying　that　you　saw　me　here　can　serve　no　good　turn。　Shall　it　be　silence？'　I　took　the　note　and　answered　that　it　should　be　silence。　I　had　not　the　least　idea　that　anybody　was　killed。〃

〃What　did　you　suppose　had　happened；　then？〃

〃I　could　not　suppose；　I　could　not　think；　it　all　passed　in　the　haste　and　confusion　of　a　moment；　and　no　definite　idea　occurred　to　me。　Thorn　flew　on　down　the　path；　and　I　stood　looking　after　him。　The　next　was　I　heard　footsteps；　and　I　slipped　within　the　trees。　They　were　those　of　Richard　Hare；　who　took　the　path　to　the　cottage。　Presently　he　returned；　little　less　agitated　than　Thorn　had　been。　I　had　gone　into　an　open　space；　then；　and　he　accosted　me；　asking　if　I　had　seen　'that　hound'　fly　from　the　cottage？　'What　hound？'　I　asked　of　him。　'That　fine　fellow；　that　Thorn；　who　comes　after　Afy；'　he　answered；　but　I　stoutly　denied　that　I　had　seen　any　one。　Richard　Hare　continued　his　way；　and　I　afterward　found　that　Hallijohn　was　killed。〃

〃And　so　you　took　a　bribe　to　conceal　one　of　the　foulest　crimes　that　man　ever　committed；　Mr。　Otway　Bethel！〃

〃I　took　the　money；　and　I　am　ashamed　to　confess　it。　But　it　was　done　without　reflection。　I　swear　that　had　I　known　what　crime　it　was　intended　to　hush　up；　I　never　would　have　touched　it。　I　was　hard　up　for　funds；　and　the　amount　tempted　me。　When　I　discovered　what　had　really　happened；　and　that　Richard　Hare　was　accused；　I　was　thunderstruck　at　my　own　deed；　many　a　hundred　times　since　have　I　cursed　the　money；　and　the　fate　of　Richard　has　been　as　a　heavy　weight　upon　my　conscience。〃

〃You　might　have　lifted　the　weight　by　confessing。〃

〃To　what　end？　It　was　too　late。　Thorn　had　disappeared。　I　never　heard　of　him；　or　saw　him；　until　he　came　to　West　Lynne　this　last　spring；　as　Sir　Francis　Levison；　to　oppose　Mr。　Carlyle。　Richard　Hare　had　also　disappearedhad　never　been　seen　or　heard　of；　and　most　people　supposed　he　was　dead。　To　what　end　then　should　I　confess？　Perhaps　only　to　be　suspected　myself。　Besides；　I　had　taken　the　money　upon　a　certain　understanding；　and　it　was　only　fair　that　I　should　keep　to　it。〃

If　Richard　Hare　was　subjected　to　a　severe　cross…examination；　a　far　more　severe　one　was　awaiting　Otway　Bethel。　The　judge　spoke　to　him　only　once；　his　tone　ringing　with　reproach。

〃It　appears　then；　witness；　that　you　have　retained　within　you；　all　these　years；　the　proofs　of　Richard　Hare's　innocence？〃

〃I　can　only　acknowledge　it　with　contrition；　my　lord。〃

〃What　did　you　know　of　Thorn　in　those　days？〃　asked　the　counsel。

〃Nothing；　save　that　he　frequented　the　Abbey　Wood；　his　object　being　Afy　Hallijohn。　I　had　never　exchanged　a　word　with　him　until　that　night；　but　I　knew　his　name；　Thornat　least；　the　one　he　went　by；　and　by　his　addressing　me　as　Bethel；　it　appeared　that　he　knew　mine。〃

The　case　for　the　prosecution　closed。　An　able　and　ingenious　speech　was　made　for　the　defence；　the　learned　counsel　who　offered　it　contending　that　there　was　still　no　proof　of　Sir　Francis　having　been　the　guilty　man。　Neither　was　there　any　proof　that　the　catastrophe　was　not　the　result　of　pure　accident。　A　loaded　gun；　standing　against　a　wall　in　a　small　room；　was　not　a　safe　weapon；　and　he　called　upon　the　jury　not　rashly　to　convict　in　the　uncertainty；　but　to　give　the　prisoner　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。　He　should　call　no　witnesses；　he　observed；　not　even　to　character。　Character！　for　Sir　Francis　Levison！　The　court　burst　into　a　grin；　the　only　sober　face　in　it　being　that　of　the　judge。

The　judge　summed　up。　Certainly　not　in　the　prisoner's　favor；　but；　to　use　the　expression　of　some　amidst　the　audience；　dead　against　him。　Otway　Bethel　came　in　for　a　side　shaft　or　two　from　his　lordship；　Richard　Hare　for　sympathy。　The　jury　retired　about　four　o'clock；　and　the　judge　quitted　the　bench。

A　very　short　time　they　were　absent。　Scarcely　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　His　lordship　returned　into　court；　and　the　prisoner　was　again　placed　in　the　dock。　He　was　the　hue　of　marble；　and；　in　his　nervous　agitation；　kept　incessantly　throwing　back　his　hair　from　his　foreheadthe　action　already　spoken　of。　Silence　was　proclaimed。

〃How　say　you；　gentlemen　of　the　jury？　Guilty；　or　not　guilty？〃

〃GUILTY。〃

It　was　a　silence　to　be　felt；　and　the　prisoner　gasped　once　or　twice　convulsively。

〃But；〃　said　the　foreman；　〃we　wish　to　recommend　him　to　mercy。〃

〃On　what　grounds？〃　inquired　the　judge。

〃Because；　my　lord；　we　believe　it　was　not　a　crime　planned　by　the　prisoner　beforehand；　but　arose　out　of　the　bad　passions　of　the　moment；　and　was　so　committed。〃

The　judge　paused；　and　drew　something　black　from　the　receptacle　of　his　pocket；　buried　deep　in　his　robes。

〃Prisoner　at　the　bar！　Have　you　anything　to　urge　why　sentence　of　death　should　not　be　passed　upon　you？〃

The　prisoner　clutched　the　front　of　the　dock。　He　threw　up　his　head；　as　if　shaking　off　the　dread　fear　which　had　oppressed　him；　and　the　marble　of　his　face　changed　to　scarlet。

〃Only　this；　my　lord。　The　jury；　in　giving　their　reason　for　recommending　me　to　your　lordship's　mercy；　have　adopted　the　right　view　of　the　case　as　it　actually　occurred。　The　man　Hallijohn's　life　was　taken　by　me；　it　will　be　useless　for　me　to　deny；　in　the　face　of　the　evidence　given　this　day；　but　it　was　not　taken　in　malice。　When　I　quitted　the　girl；　Afy；　and　went　to　the　cottage　for　my　hat；　I　no　more　contemplated　injuring　mortal　man　than　I　contemplate　it　at　this　moment。　He　was　there；　the　father；　and　in　the　dispute　that　ensued　the　catastrophe　occurred。　My　lord；　it　was　not　wilful　murder。〃

The　prisoner　ceased；　and　the　judge；　the　black　cap　on　his　head；　crossed　his　hands　one　upon　the　other。

〃Prisoner　at　the　bar。　You　have　been　convicted　by　clear　and　undoubted　evid