poor miss finch-第16章

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swoons　and　hysterics。　The　child　was　still　in　my　arms；　fast　yielding；　poor
little　thing；　to　the　exhaustion　of　fatigue　and　terror。　I　could　do　nothing
until　I　had　relieved　myself　of　the　charge　of　her。　Mrs。　Finch　looked　up　at
me；　trembling　and　sobbing。　I　put　the　child　in　her　lap。　Jicks　feebly
resisted　being　parted　from　me；　but　soon　gave　up；　and　dropped　her　weary
little　head　on　her　mother's　bosom。　〃Can　you　take　off　her　frock？〃　I　asked；
with　another　shakea　good　one；　this　time。　The　prospect　of　a　domestic
occupation　（of　any　sort）　appeared　to　rouse　Mrs。　Finch。　She　looked　at　the
baby；　in　its　cradle　in　one　corner　of　the　room；　and　at　the　novel；　reposing
on　a　chair　in　another　corner　of　the　room。　The　presence　of　these　two
familiar　objects　appeared　to　encourage　her。　She　shivered；　she　swallowed　a
sob；　she　recovered　her　breath；　she　began　to　undo　the　frock。

〃Put　it　away　carefully；〃　I　said；　〃and　say　nothing　to　anybody　of　what　has
happened；　until　I　come　back。　You　can　see　for　yourself　that　the　child　is
not　hurt。　Soothe　her；　and　wait　here。　Is　Mr。　Finch　in　the　study？〃

Mrs。　Finch　swallowed　another　sob；　and　said；　〃Yes。〃　The　child　made　a　last
effort。　〃Jicks　will　go　with　you；〃　said　the　indomitable　little　Arab
faintly。　I　ran　out　of　the　room；　and　left　the　three　babiesbig；　little；
and　leasttogether。

After　knocking　at　the　study　door　without　getting　any　reply；　I　opened　it
and　went　in。　Reverend　Finch；　comfortably　prostrate　in　a　large　arm…chair
（with　his　sermon…paper　spread　out　in　fair　white　sheets　by　his　side）；
started　up；　and　confronted　me　in　the　character　of　a　clergyman　that　moment
awakened　from　a　sound　sleep。

The　rector　of　Dimchurch　instantly　recovered　his　dignity。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Madame　Pratolungo；　I　was　deep　in　thought。　Please
state　your　business　briefly。〃　Saying　those　words；　he　waved　his　hand
magnificently　over　his　empty　sheets　of　paper；　and　added　in　his　deepest
bass：　〃Sermon…day。〃

I　told　him　in　the　plainest　words　what　I　had　seen　on　his　child's　frock；
and　what　I　feared　had　happened　at　Browndown。　He　turned　deadly　pale。　If　I
ever　yet　set　my　two　eyes　on　a　man　thoroughly　frightened；　Reverend　Finch
was　that　man。

〃Do　you　anticipate　danger？〃　he　inquired。　〃Is　it　your　opinion　that
criminal　persons　are　in；　or　near；　the　house？〃

〃It　is　my　opinion　that　there　is　not　a　moment　to　be　lost；〃　I　answered。　〃We
must　go　to　Browndown；　and　we　must　get　what　help　we　can　on　the　way。〃

I　opened　the　door；　and　waited　for　him　to　come　out　with　me。　Mr。　Finch
（still　apparently　pre…occupied　with　the　question　of　the　criminal　persons）
looked　as　if　he　wished　himself　a　hundred　miles　from　his　own　rectory　at
that　particular　moment。　But　he　was　the　master　of　the　house；　he　was　the
principal　man　in　the　placehe　had　no　other　alternative；　as　matters　now
stood；　than　to　take　his　hat　and　go。

We　went　out　together　into　the　village。　My　reverend　companion　was　silent
for　the　first　time　in　my　limited　experience　of　him。　We　inquired　for　the
one　policeman　who　patrolled　the　district。　He　was　away　on　his　rounds。　We
asked　if　anybody　had　seen　the　doctor。　No：　it　was　not　the　doctor's　day　for
visiting　Dimchurch。　I　had　heard　the　landlord　of　the　Gross　Hands　described
as　a　capable　and　respectable　man；　and　I　suggested　stopping　at　the　inn；
and　taking　him　with　us。　Mr。　Finch　instantly　brightened　at　that　proposal。
His　sense　of　his　own　importance　rose　again；　like　the　mercury　in　a
thermometer　when　you　put　it　into　a　warm　bath。

〃Exactly　what　I　was　about　to　suggest；〃　he　said。　〃Gootheridge　of　the　Gross
Hands　is　a　very　worthy　personfor　his　station　in　life。　Let　us　have
Gootheridge；　by　all　means。　Don't　be　alarmed；　Madame　Pratolungo。　We　are
all　in　the　hands　of　Providence。　It　is　most　fortunate　for　you　that　I　was
at　home。　What　would　you　have　done　without　me？　Now　don't；　pray　don't；　be
alarmed。　In　case　of　criminal　personsI　have　my　stick；　as　you　see。　I　am
not　tall；　but　I　possess　immense　physical　strength。　I　am；　so　to　speak；　all
muscle。　Feel！〃

He　held　out　one　of　his　wizen　little　arms。　It　was　about　half　the　size　of
my　arm。　If　I　had　not　been　far　too　anxious　to　think　of　playing　tricks；　I
should　certainly　have　declared　that　it　was　needless；　with　such　a　tower　of
strength　by　my　side；　to　disturb　the　landlord。　I　dare　not　assert　that　Mr。
Finch　actually　detected　the　turn　my　thoughts　were　takingI　can　only
declare　that　he　did　certainly　shout　for　Gootheridge　in　a　violent　hurry；
the　moment　we　were　in　sight　of　the　inn。

The　landlord　came　out；　and；　hearing　what　our　errand　was；　instantly
consented　to　join　us。

〃Take　your　gun；〃　said　Mr。　Finch。

Gootheridge　took　his　gun。　We　hastened　on　to　the　house。

〃Were　Mrs。　Gootheridge　or　your　daughter　at　Browndown　today？〃　I　asked。

〃Yes；　ma'amthey　were　both　at　Browndown。　They　finished　up　their　work　as
usualand　left　the　house　more　than　an　hour　since。〃

〃Did　anything　out　of　the　common　happen　while　they　were　there？〃

〃Nothing　that　I　heard　of；　ma'am。〃

I　considered　with　myself　for　a　minute；　and　ventured　on　putting　a　few　more
questions　to　Mr。　Gootheridge。

〃Have　any　strangers　been　seen　here　this　evening？〃　I　inquired。

〃Yes；　ma'am。　Nearly　an　hour　ago　two　strangers　drove　by　my　house　in　a
chaise。〃

〃In　what　direction？〃

〃Coming　from　Brighton　way；　and　going　towards　Browndown。〃

〃Did　you　notice　the　men？〃

〃Not　particularly；　ma'am。　I　was　busy。　at　the　time。〃

A　sickening　suspicion　that　the　two　strangers　in　the　chaise　might　be　the
two　men　whom　I　had　seen　lurking　under　the　wall；　forced　its　way　into　my
mind。　I　said　no　more　until　we　reached　the　house。

All　was　quiet。　The　one　sign　of　anything　unusual　was　in　the　plain　traces
of　the　passage　of　wheels　over　the　turf　in　front　of　Browndown。　The
landlord　was　the　first　to　see　them。　〃The　chaise　must　have　stopped　at　the
house；　sir；〃　he　said；　addressing　himself　to　the　rector。

Reverend　Finch　was　suffering　under　a　second　suspension　of　speech。　All　he
could　say　as　we　approached　the　door　of　the　silent　and　solitary
buildingand　he　said　that　with　extreme　difficultywas；　〃Pray　let　us　be
careful！〃

The　landlord　was　the　first　to　reach　the　door。　I　was　behind　him。　The
rectorat　some　little　distanceacted　as　rear…guard；　with　the　South
Downs　behind　him　to　retreat　upon。　Gootheridge　rapped　smartly　on　the　door；
and　called　out；　〃Mr。　Dubourg！〃　There　was　no　answer。　There　was　only　a
dreadful　silence。　The　suspense　was　more　than　I　could　endure。　I　pushed　by
the　landlord；　and　turned　the　handle　of　the　unlocked　door。

〃Let　me　go　first；　ma'am；〃　said　Gootheridge。

He　pushed　by　me；　in　his　turn。　I　followed　him　close。　We　entered　the　house；
and　called　again。　Again　there　was　no　answer。　We　looked　into　the　little
sitting…room　on　one　side　of　the　passage；　and　into　the　dining…room　on　the
other。　Both　were　empty。　We　went　on　to　the　back　of　the　house；　where　the
room　was　situated　which　Oscar　called　his　workshop。　When　we　tried　the　door
of　the　workshop　it　was　locked。

We　knocked；　and　called　again。　The　horrid　silence　was　all　that
followedas　before。

I　tried　the　keyhole　with　my　finger。　The　key　was　not　in　the　lock。　I　knelt
down；　and　looked　through　the　keyhole。　The　next　instant；　I　was　up　again　on
my　feet；　wild　and　giddy　with　horror。

〃Burst　open　the　door！〃　I　screamed。　〃I　can　just　see　his　hand　lying　on　the
floor！〃

The　landlord；　like　the　rector；　was　a　little　man；　and　the　door；　like
everything　else　at　Browndown；　was　of　the　clumsiest　and　heaviest
construction。　Unaided　by　instruments；　we　should　all　three　together　have
been　too　weak　to　burst　it　open。　In　this　difficulty；　Reverend　Finch　proved
to　befor　the　first　time；　and　also　for　the　lastof　some　use。

〃Stay！〃　he　said。　〃My　friends；　if　the　back　garden　gate　is　open；　we　can　get
in　by　the　window。〃

Neither　the　landlord　nor　I　had　thought　of　the　window。　We　ran　round　to　the
back　of　the　house；　seeing　the　marks　of　the　chaise…wheels　leading　in　the
same　direction。　The　gate　in　the　wall　was　wide　open。　We　crossed　the　little
garden。　The　window　of　the　workshopopening　to　the　groundgave　us
admission　as　the　rector　had　foretold。　We　entered　the　room。

There　he　laypoor　harmless；　unlucky　Oscarsenseless；　in　a　pool　of　his
own　blood。　A　blow　on　the　left　side　of　his　head　had；　to　all　appearance；
felled　him　on　the　spot。　The　wound　had　split　the　scalp。　Whether　it　had
also　split　the　skull　was　more　than　I　was　surgeon　enough　to　be　able　to
say。　I　had　gathered　some　experience　of　how　to　deal　with　wounded　men；　when
I　served　the　sacred　cause　of　Freedom　with　my　glorious　Pratolungo。　Cold
water；　vinegar；　and　linen　for　bandagesthese　were　all　in　the　house；　and
these　I　called　for。　Gootheridge　found　the　key　of　the　door　flung　aside　in
a　corner　of　the　room。　He　got　the　water　and　the　vinegar；　while　I　ran
up…stairs　to　Oscar's　bedroom；　and　provided　myself　with　some　of　his
handkerchiefs。　In　a　few　minutes；　I　had　a　cold　water　bandage　over　the
wound；　and　was　bathing　his　face　in　vinegar　and　water。　He　was　still
insensible；　but　he　lived。　Reverend　Finchnot　of　the　slightest　help　to
anybodyassumed　the　duty　of　feeling　Oscar's　pulse。　He　did　it　as　if；
under　the　circumstances；　this　was　the　one　meritorious　action　that　could
be　performed。　He　looked　as　if　nobody　could　feel　a　pulse　but　himself。
〃Most　fortunate；〃　he　said；　counting　the　slow；　faint　throbbing　at　the　poor
fellow's　wrist〃most　fortunate　that　I　was　at　home。　What　would　you　have
done　without　me？〃

The　next　necessity　was；　of　course；　to　send　for　the　doctor；　and　to　get
help；　in　the　meantime；　to　carry　Oscar　up…stairs　to　his　bed。

Gootheridge　volunteered　to　borrow　a　horse；　and　to　ride　off　for　the
doctor。　We　arranged　that　he　was　to　send　his　wife　and　his　wife's　brother
to　help　me。　This　settled；　the　one　last　embarrassment　left　to　deal　with；
was　the　embarrassment　of　Mr。　Finch。　Now　that　we　were　free　from　all　fear
of　encountering　bad　characters　in　the　house；　the　_boom…boom_　of　the
little　man's　big　voice　went　on　unintermittingly；　like　a　machine　at　work
in　the　neighborhood。　I　had　another　of　my　inspirationssitting　on　the
floor　with　Oscar's　head　on　my　lap。　I　gave　my　reverend　companion　something
to　do。　〃Look　about　the　room！〃　I　said。　〃See　if　the　packing…case　with　the
gold　and　silver　plates　is　here　or　not。〃

Mr。　Finch　did　not　quite　relish　being　treated　like　an　ordinary　mortal；　and
being　told　what　he　was　to　do。

〃Compose　yourself；　Madame　Pratolungo；〃　he　said。　〃No　hysterical　activity；
if　you　please。　This　business　is　in　My　hands。　Quite　needless；　ma'am；　to
tell　Me　to　look　for　the　packing…case。〃

〃Quite　needless；〃　I　agreed。　〃I　know　beforehand　the　packing…case　is　gone。〃

That　answer　instantly　set　him　fussing　about　the　room。　Not　a　sign　of　the
case　was　to　be　seen。

All　doubt　in　my　mind　was　at　an　end　now。　The　two　ruffians　lounging　against
the　wall　had　justified；　horribly　justified；　my　worst　suspicions　of　them。

On　the　arrival　of　Mrs。　Gootheridge　and　her　brother；　we　carried　him　up　to
his　room。　We　laid　him　on　the　bed；　with　his　neck…tie　off；　and　his　throat
free；　and　the　air　blowing　over　him　from　the　open　window。　He　showed　no
sign　yet　of　coming　to　his　senses。　But　still　the　pulse　went　faintly　on。　No
change　was　discernible　for　the　worse。

It　was　useless　to　hope　for　the　doctor's　arrival；　before　another　hour　at
least。　I　felt　the　necessity　of　getting　back　at　once　to　the　rectory；　so　as
to　be　able　to　tell　Lucilla　（with　all　needful　preparation）　th