the queen of hearts-第31章

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you　start　at　that。　I　thought　I　should　make　you　start　at　last。〃

I　had　started；　indeed。　That　paper　was　doubtless　the　leaf
mentioned　in　the　second's　unfinished　narrative　as　having　been
torn　out　of　his　pocketbook；　and　inscribed　with　the　statement　of
how　the　dead　man　had　lost　his　life。　If　proof　positive　were　wanted
to　identify　the　dead　body；　here　was　such　proof　found。

〃What　do　you　think　was　written　on　the　bit　of　paper？〃　continued
the　Capuchin　〃We　read　and　shudder。　This　dead　man　has　been　killed
in　a　duelhe；　the　desperate；　the　miserable；　has　died　in　the
commission　of　mortal　sin；　and　the　men　who　saw　the　killing　of　him
ask　us　Capuchins；　holy　men；　servants　of　Heaven；　children　of　our
lord　the　Popethey　ask　_us_　to　give　him　burial！　Oh！　but　we　are
outraged　when　we　read　that；　we　groan；　we　wring　our　hands；　we　turn
away；　we　tear　our　beards；　we〃

〃Wait　one　moment；〃　said　I；　seeing　that　the　old　man　was　heating
himself　with　his　narrative；　and　was　likely；　unless　I　stopped　him；
to　talk　more　and　more　fluently　to　less　and　less　purpose〃wait　a
moment。　Have　you　preserved　the　paper　that　was　pinned　to　the　dead
man's　coat；　and　can　I　look　at　it？〃

The　Capuchin　seemed　on　the　point　of　giving　me　an　answer；　when　he
suddenly　checked　himself。　I　saw　his　eyes　wander　away　from　my
face；　and　at　the　same　moment　heard　a　door　softly　opened　and
closed　again　behind　me。

Looking　round　immediately；　I　observed　another　monk　in　the
sacristya　tall；　lean；　black…bearded　man；　in　whose　presence　my
old　friend　with　the　snuff…box　suddenly　became　quite　decorous　and
devotional　to　look　at。　I　suspected　I　was　in　the　presence　of　the
father　superior；　and　I　found　that　I　was　right　the　moment　he
addressed　me。

〃I　am　the　father　superior　of　this　convent；〃　he　said；　in　quiet；
clear　tones；　and　looking　me　straight　in　the　face　while　he　spoke；
with　coldly　attentive　eyes。　〃I　have　heard　the　latter　part　of　your
conversation；　and　I　wish　to　know　why　you　are　so　particularly
anxious　to　see　the　piece　of　paper　that　was　pinned　to　the　dead
man's　coat？〃

The　coolness　with　which　he　avowed　that　he　had　been　listening；　and
the　quietly　imperative　manner　in　which　he　put　his　concluding
question；　perplexed　and　startled　me。　I　hardly　knew　at　first　what
tone　I　ought　to　take　in　answering　him。　He　observed　my　hesitation；
and　attributing　it　to　the　wrong　cause；　signed　to　the　old　Capuchin
to　retire。　Humbly　stroking　his　long　gray　beard；　and　furtively
consoling　himself　with　a　private　pinch　of　the　〃delectable　snuff；〃
my　venerable　friend　shuffled　out　of　the　room；　making　a　profound
obeisance　at　the　door　just　before　he　disappeared。

〃Now；〃　said　the　father　superior；　as　coldly　as　ever；　〃I　am
waiting；　sir；　for　your　reply。〃

〃You　shall　have　it　in　the　fewest　possible　words；〃　said　I；
answering　him　in　his　own　tone。　〃I　find；　to　my　disgust　and　horror；
that　there　is　an　unburied　corpse　in　an　outhouse　attached　to　your
convent。　I　believe　that　corpse　to　be　the　body　of　an　English
gentleman　of　rank　and　fortune；　who　was　killed　in　a　duel。　I　have
come　into　this　neighborhood　with　the　nephew　and　only　relation　of
the　slain　man；　for　the　express　purpose　of　recovering　his　remains；
and　I　wish　to　see　the　paper　found　on　the　body；　because　I　believe
that　paper　will　identify　it　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　relative
to　whom　I　have　referred。　Do　you　find　my　reply　sufficiently
straightforward？　And　do　you　mean　to　give　me　permission　to　look　at
the　paper？〃

〃I　am　satisfied　with　your　reply；　and　see　no　reason　for　refusing
you　a　sight　of　the　paper；〃　said　the　father　superior；　〃but　I　have
something　to　say　first。　In　speaking　of　the　impression　produced　on
you　by　beholding　the　corpse；　you　used　the　words　'disgust'　and
'horror。'　This　license　of　expression　in　relation　to　what　you　have
seen　in　the　precincts　of　a　convent　proves　to　me　that　you　are　out
of　the　pale　of　the　Holy　Catholic　Church。　You　have　no　right；
therefore；　to　expect　any　explanation；　but　I　will　give　you　one；
nevertheless；　as　a　favor。　The　slain　man　died；　unabsolved；　in　the
commission　of　mortal　sin。　We　infer　so　much　from　the　paper　which
we　found　on　his　body；　and　we　know；　by　the　evidence　of　our　own
eyes　and　ears；　that　he　was　killed　on　the　territories　of　the
Church；　and　in　the　act　of　committing　direct　violation　of　those
special　laws　against　the　crime　of　dueling；　the　strict　enforcement
of　which　the　holy　father　himself　has　urged　on　the　faithful
throughout　his　dominions　by　letters　signed　with　his　own　hand。
Inside　this　convent　the　ground　is　consecrated；　and　we　Catholics
are　not　accustomed　to　bury　the　outlaws　of　our　religion；　the
enemies　of　our　holy　father；　and　the　violators　of　our　most　sacred
laws　in　consecrated　ground。　Outside　this　convent　we　have　no
rights　and　no　power；　and；　if　we　had　both；　we　should　remember　that
we　are　monks；　not　grave…diggers；　and　that　the　only　burial　with
which　_we_　can　have　any　concern　is　burial　with　the　prayers　of　the
Church。　That　is　all　the　explanation　I　think　it　necessary　to　give。
Wait　for　me　here；　and　you　shall　see　the　paper。〃　With　those　words
the　father　superior　left　the　room　as　quietly　as　he　had　entered
it。

I　had　hardly　time　to　think　over　this　bitter　and　ungracious
explanation；　and　to　feel　a　little　piqued　by　the　language　and
manner　of　the　person　who　had　given　it　to　me；　before　the　father
superior　returned　with　the　paper　in　his　hand。　He　placed　it　before
me　on　the　dresser；　and　I　read；　hurriedly　traced　in　pencil；　the
following　lines：


〃This　paper　is　attached　to　the　body　of　the　late　Mr。　Stephen
Monkton；　an　Englishman　of　distinction。　He　has　been　shot　in　a
duel；　conducted　with　perfect　gallantry　and　honor　on　both　sides。
His　body　is　placed　at　the　door　of　this　convent；　to　receive　burial
at　the　hands　of　its　inmates；　the　survivors　of　the　encounter　being
obliged　to　separate　and　secure　their　safety　by　immediate　flight。
I；　the　second　of　the　slain　man；　and　the　writer　of　this
explanation；　certify；　on　my　word　of　honor　as　a　gentleman　that　the
shot　which　killed　my　principal　on　the　instant　was　fired　fairly；
in　the　strictest　accordance　with　the　rules　laid　down　beforehand
for　the　conduct　of　the　duel。

〃（Signed）；　F。〃


〃F。〃　I　recognized　easily　enough　as　the　initial　letter　of
Monsieur　Foulon's　name；　the　second　of　Mr。　Monkton；　who　had　died
of　consumption　at　Paris。

The　discovery　and　the　identification　were　now　complete。　Nothing
remained　but　to　break　the　news　to　Alfred；　and　to　get　permission
to　remove　the　remains　in　the　outhouse。　I　began　almost　to　doubt
the　evidence　of　my　own　senses　when　I　reflected　that　the
apparently　impracticable　object　with　which　we　had　left　Naples　was
already；　by　the　merest　chance；　virtually　accomplished。

〃The　evidence　of　the　paper　is　decisive；〃　said　I；　handing　it　back。
〃There　can　be　no　doubt　that　the　remains　in　the　outhouse　are　the
remains　of　which　we　have　been　in　search。　May　I　inquire　if　any
obstacles　will　be　thrown　in　our　way　should　the　late　Mr。　Monkton's
nephew　wish　to　remove　his　uncle's　body　to　the　family　burial…place
in　England？〃

〃Where　is　this　nephew？〃　asked　the　father　superior。

〃He　is　now　awaiting　my　return　at　the　town　of　Fondi。〃

〃Is　he　in　a　position　to　prove　his　relationship？〃

〃Certainly；　he　has　papers　with　him　which　will　place　it　beyond　a
doubt。〃

〃Let　him　satisfy　the　civil　authorities　of　his　claim；　and　he　need
expect　no　obstacle　to　his　wishes　from　any　one　here。〃

I　was　in　no　humor　for　talking　a　moment　longer　with　my
sour…tempered　companion　than　I　could　help。　The　day　was　wearing　on
me　fast；　and；　whether　night　overtook　me　or　not；　I　was　resolved
never　to　stop　on　my　return　till　I　got　back　to　Fondi。　Accordingly；
after　telling　the　father　superior　that　he　might　expect　to　hear
from　me　again　immediately；　I　made　my　bow　and　hastened　out　of　the
sacristy。

At　the　convent　gate　stood　my　old　friend　with　the　tin　snuff…box；
waiting　to　let　me　out。

〃Bless　you；　may　son；〃　said　the　venerable　recluse；　giving　me　a
farewell　pat　on　the　shoulder；　〃come　back　soon　to　your　spiritual
father　who　loves　you；　and　amiably　favor　him　with　another　tiny；
tiny　pinch　of　the　delectable　snuff。〃

CHAPTER　VI。


I　RETURNED　at　the　top　of　my　speed　to　the　village　where　I　had　left
the　mules；　had　the　animals　saddled　immediately；　and　succeeded　in
getting　back　to　Fondi　a　little　before　sunset。

While　ascending　the　stairs　of　our　hotel；　I　suffered　under　the
most　painful　uncertainty　as　to　how　I　should　best　communicate　the
news　of　my　discovery　to　Alfred。　If　I　could　not　succeed　in
preparing　him　properly　for　my　tidings；　the　results；　with　such　an
organization　as　his；　might　be　fatal。　On　opening　the　door　of　his
room；　I　felt　by　no　means　sure　of　myself；　and　when　I　confronted
him；　his　manner　of　receiving　me　took　me　so　much　by　surprise　that；
for　a　moment　or　two；　I　lost　my　self…possession　altogether。

Every　trace　of　the　lethargy　in　which　he　was　sunk　when　I　had　last
seen　him　had　disappeared。　His　eyes　were　bright；　his　cheeks　deeply
flushed。　As　I　entered；　he　started　up；　and　refused　my　offered
hand。

〃You　have　not　treated　me　like　a　friend；〃　he　said；　passionately；
〃you　had　no　right　to　continue　the　search　unless　I　searched　with
youyou　had　no　right　to　leave　me　here　alone。　I　was　wrong　to
trust　you；　you　are　no　better　than　all　the　rest　of　them。〃

I　had　by　this　time　recovered　a　little　from　my　first　astonishment；
and　was　able　to　reply　before　he　could　say　anything　more。　It　was
quite　useless；　in　his　present　state；　to　reason　with　him　or　to
defend　myself。　I　determined　to　risk　everything；　and　break　my　news
to　him　at　once。

〃You　will　treat　me　more　justly；　Monkton；　when　you　know　that　I
have　been　doing　you　good　service　during　my　absence；〃　I　said。
〃Unless　I　am　greatly　mistaken；　the　object　for　which　we　have　left
Naples　may　be　nearer　attainment　by　both　of　us　than〃

The　flush　left　his　cheeks　almost　in　an　instant。　Some　expression
in　my　face；　or　some　tone　in　my　voice；　of　which　I　was　not
conscious；　had　revealed　to　his　nervously…quickened　perception
more　than　I　had　intended　that　he　should　know　at　first。　His　eyes
fixed　themselves　intently　on　mine；　his　hand　grasped　my　arm；　and
he　said　to　me　in　an　eager　whisper：

〃Tell　me　the　truth　at　once。　Have　you　found　him？〃

It　was　too　late　to　hesitate。　I　answered　in　the　affirmative。

〃Buried　or　unburied？〃

His　voice　rose　abruptly　as　he　put　the　question；　and　his
unoccupied　hand　fastened　on　my　other　arm。

〃Unburied。〃

I　had　hardly　uttered　the　word　before　the　blood　flew　back　into　his
cheeks；　his　eyes　flashed　again　as　they　looked　into　mine；　and　he
burst　into　a　fit　of　triumphant　laughter；　which　shocked　and
startled　me　inexpressibly。

〃What　did　I　tell　you？　What　do　you　say　to　the　old　prophecy　now？〃
he　cried；　dropping　his　hold　on　my　arms；　and　pacing　backward　and
forward　in　the　room。　〃Own　you　were　wrong。　Own　it；　as　all　Naples
shall　own　it；　when　once　I　have　got　him　safe　in　his　coffin！〃

His　laughter　grew　more　and　mere　violent。　I　tried　to　quiet　him　in
vain。　His　servant　and　the　landlord　of　the　inn　entered　the　room；
but　they　only　added　fuel　to　the　fire；　and　I　made　them　go　out
again。　As　I　shut　the　door　on　them；　I　observed　lying　on　a　table
near　at　hand　the　packet　of　letters　from　Miss　Elmslie；　which　my
unhappy　friend　preserved　with　such　care；　and　read　and　re…read
with　such　unfailing　devotion。　Looking　toward　me　just　when　I
passed　by　the　table；　the　letters