the queen of hearts-第52章

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That　must　be　done　at　once。　I　have　written　to　one　of　my　clerks；
who　is　accustomed　to　conducting　delicate　investigations；　to　come
to　this　house　without　loss　of　time。　He　is　to　be　trusted　with
anything；　and　he　will　pursue　the　needful　inquiries　immediately。

It　is　absolutely　necessary；　to　make　sure　of　committing　no
mistakes；　that　he　should　be　accompanied　by　some　one　who　is　well
acquainted　with　Mr。　James　Smith's　habits　and　personal　appearance；
and　your　mistress　has　fixed　upon　you　to　be　that　person。　However
well　the　inquiry　is　managed；　it　may　be　attended　by　much　trouble
and　delay；　may　necessitate　a　long　journey；　and　may　involve　some
personal　danger。　Are　you；〃　said　the　lawyer；　looking　hard　at　me；
〃ready　to　suffer　any　inconvenience　and　to　run　any　risk　for　your
mistress's　sake？〃

〃There　is　nothing　I　_can_　do；　sir；〃　said　I；　〃that　I　will　not　do。
I　am　a　fraid　I　am　not　clever　enough　to　be　of　much　use；　but；　so
far　as　troubles　and　risks　are　concerned；　I　am　ready　for　anything
from　this　moment。〃

My　mistress　took　the　handkerchief　from　her　face；　looked　at　me
with　her　eyes　full　of　tears；　and　held　out　her　hand。　How　I　came　to
do　it　I　don't　know；　but　I　stooped　down　and　kissed　the　hand　she
offered　me；　feeling　half　startled；　half　ashamed　at　my　own
boldness　the　moment　after。

〃You　will　do；　my　man；〃　said　the　lawyer；　nodding　his　head。　〃Don't
trouble　yourself　about　the　cleverness　or　the　cunning　that　may　be
wanted。　My　clerk　has　got　head　enough　for　two。　I　have　only　one
word　more　to　say　before　you　go　downstairs　again。　Remember　that
this　investigation　and　the　cause　that　leads　to　it　must　be　kept　a
profound　secret。　Except　us　three；　and　the　clergyman　here　（to　whom
your　mistress　has　written　word　of　what　has　happened）；　nobody
knows　anything　about　it。　I　will　let　my　clerk　into　the　secret　when
he　joins　us。　As　soon　as　you　and　he　are　away　from　the　house；　you
may　talk　about　it。　Until　then；　you　will　close　your　lips　on　the
subject。〃

The　clerk　did　not　keep　us　long　waiting。　He　came　as　fast　as　the
mail　from　London　could　bring　him。

I　had　expected；　from　his　master's　description；　to　see　a　serious；
sedate　man；　rather　sly　in　his　looks；　and　rather　reserved　in　his
manner。　To　my　amazement；　this　practiced　hand　at　delicate
investigations　was　a　brisk；　plump；　jolly　little　man；　with　a
comfortable　double　chin；　a　pair　of　very　bright　black　eyes；　and　a
big　bottle…nose　of　the　true　groggy　red　color。　He　wore　a　suit　of
black；　and　a　limp；　dingy　white　cravat；　took　snuff　perpetually　out
of　a　very　large　box；　walked　with　his　hands　crossed　behind　his
back；　and　looked；　upon　the　whole；　much　more　like　a　parson　of
free…and…easy　habits　than　a　lawyer's　clerk。

〃How　d'ye　do？〃　says　he；　when　I　opened　the　door　to　him。　〃I'm　the
man　you　expect　from　the　office　in　London。　Just　say　Mr。　Dark；　will
you？　I'll　sit　down　here　till　you　come　back；　and；　young　man；　if
there　is　such　a　thing　as　a　glass　of　ale　in　the　house；　I　don't
mind　committing　myself　so　far　as　to　say　that　I'll　drink　it。〃

I　got　him　the　ale　before　I　announced　him。　He　winked　at　me　as　he
put　it　to　his　lips。

〃Your　good　health；〃　says　he。　〃I　like　you。　Don't　forget　that　the
name's　Dark；　and　just　leave　the　jug　and　glass；　will　you；　in　case
my　master　keeps　me　waiting。〃

I　announced　him　at　once；　and　was　told　to　show　him　into　the
library。

When　I　got　back　to　the　hall　the　jug　was　empty；　and　Mr。　Dark　was
comforting　himself　with　a　pinch　of　snuff；　snorting　over　it　like　a
perfect　grampus。　He　had　swallowed　more　than　a　pint　of　the
strongest　old　ale　in　the　house；　and；　for　all　the　effect　it　seemed
to　have　had　on　him；　he　might　just　as　well　have　been　drinking　so
much　water。

As　I　led　him　along　the　passage　to　the　library　Josephine　passed
us。　Mr。　Dark　winked　at　me　again；　and　made　her　a　low　bow。

〃Lady's　maid；〃　I　heard　him　whisper　to　himself。　〃A　fine　woman　to
look　at；　but　a　damned　bad　one　to　deal　with。〃　I　turned　round　on
him；　rather　angry　at　his　cool　ways；　and　looked　hard　at　him　just
before　I　opened　the　library　door。　Mr。　Dark　looked　hard　at　me。
〃All　right；〃　says　he。　〃I　can　show　myself　in。〃　And　he　knocks　at
the　door；　and　opens　it；　and　goes　in　with　another　wicked　wink；　all
in　a　moment。

Half　an　hour　later　the　bell　rang　for　me。　Mr。　Dark　was　sitting
between　my　mistress　（who　was　looking　at　him　in　amazement）　and　the
lawyer　（who　was　looking　at　him　with　approval）。　He　had　a　map　open
on　his　knee；　and　a　pen　in　his　hand。　Judging　by　his　face；　the
communication　of　the　secret　about　my　master　did　not　seem　to　have
made　the　smallest　impression　on　him。

〃I've　got　leave　to　ask　you　a　question；〃　says　he；　the　moment　I
appeared。　〃When　you　found　your　master's　yacht　gone；　did　you　hear
which　way　she　had　sailed？　Was　it　northward　toward　Scotland？　Speak
up；　young　man；　speak　up！〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered。　〃The　boatmen　told　me　that　when　I　made
inquiries　at　the　harbor。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　says　Mr。　Dark；　turning　to　the　lawyer；　〃if　he　said　he
was　going　to　Sweden；　he　seems　to　have　started　on　the　road　to　it；
at　all　events。　I　think　I　have　got　my　instructions　now？〃

The　lawyer　nodded；　and　looked　at　my　mistress；　who　bowed　her　head
to　him。　He　then　said；　turning　to　me：

〃Pack　up　your　bag　for　traveling　at　once；　and　have　a　conveyance
got　ready　to　go　to　the　nearest　post…town。　Look　sharp；　young
manlook　sharp！〃

〃And；　whatever　happens　in　the　future；〃　added　my　mistress；　her
kind　voice　trembling　a　little；　〃believe；　William；　that　I　shall
never　forget　the　proof　you　now　show　of　your　devotion　to　me。　It　is
still　some　comfort　to　know　that　I　have　your　fidelity　to　depend　on
in　this　dreadful　trialyour　fidelity　and　the　extraordinary
intelligence　and　experience　of　Mr。　Dark。〃

Mr。　Dark　did　not　seem　to　hear　the　compliment。　He　was　busy
writing；　with　his　paper　upon　the　map　on　his　knee。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　when　I　had　ordered　the　dog…cart；　and
had　got　down　into　the　hall　with　my　bag　packed；　I　found　him　there
waiting　for　me。　He　was　sitting　in　the　same　chair　which　he　had
occupied　when　he　first　arrived；　and　he　had　another　jug　of　the　old
ale　on　the　table　by　his　side。

〃Got　any　fishing…rods　in　the　house？〃　says　he；　when　I　put　my　bag
down　in　the　hall。

〃Yes；〃　I　replied；　astonished　at　the　question。　〃What　do　you　want
with　them？〃

〃Pack　a　couple　in　cases　for　traveling；〃　says　Mr。　Dark；　〃with
lines；　and　hooks；　and　fly…books　all　complete。　Have　a　drop　of　the
ale　before　you　goand　don't　stare；　William；　don't　stare。　I'll
let　the　light　in　on　you　as　soon　as　we　are　out　of　the　house。　Off
with　you　for　the　rods！　I　want　to　be　on　the　road　in　five　minutes。〃

When　I　came　back　with　the　rods　and　tackle　I　found　Mr。　Dark　in　the
dog…cart。

〃Money；　luggage；　fishing…rods；　papers　of　directions；　copy　of
anonymous　letter；　guide…book；　map；〃　says　he；　running　over　in　his
mind　the　things　wanted　for　the　journey〃all　right　so　far。　Drive
off。〃

I　took　the　reins　and　started　the　horse。　As　we　left　the　house　I
saw　my　mistress　and　Josephine　looking　after　us　from　two　of　the
windows　on　the　second　floor。　The　memory　of　those　two　attentive
facesone　so　fair　and　so　good；　the　other　so　yellow　and　so
wickedhaunted　my　mind　perpetually　for　many　days　afterward。

〃Now；　William；〃　says　Mr。　Dark；　when　we　were　clear　of　the　lodge
gates；　〃I'm　going　to　begin　by　telling　you　that　you　must　step　out
of　your　own　character　till　further　notice。　You　are　a　clerk　in　a
bank；　and　I'm　another。　We　have　got　our　regular　holiday；　that
comes；　like　Christmas；　once　a　year；　and　we　are　taking　a　little
tour　in　Scotland　to　see　the　curiosities；　and　to　breathe　the　sea
air；　and　to　get　some　fishing　whenever　we　can。　I'm　the　fat　cashier
who　digs　holes　in　a　drawerful　of　gold　with　a　copper　shovel；　and
you're　the　arithmetical　young　man　who　sits　on　a　perch　behind　me
and　keeps　the　books。　Scotland's　a　beautiful　country；　William。　Can
you　make　whisky…toddy？　I　can；　and；　what's　more；　unlikely　as　the
thing　may　seem　to　you；　I　can　actually　drink　it　into　the　bargain。〃

〃Scotland！〃　says　I。　〃What　are　we　going　to　Scotland　for？〃

〃Question　for　question；〃　says　Mr。　Dark。　〃What　are　we　starting　on
a　journey　for？〃

〃To　find　my　master；〃　I　answered；　〃and　to　make　sure　if　the　letter
about　him　is　true。〃

〃Very　good；〃　says　he。　〃How　would　you　set　about　doing　that；　eh？〃

〃I　should　go　and　ask　about　him　at　Stockholm　in　Sweden；　where　he
said　his　letters　were　to　be　sent。〃

〃Should　you；　indeed？〃　says　Mr。　Dark。　〃If　you　were　a　shepherd；
William；　and　had　lost　a　sheep　in　Cumberland；　would　you　begin
looking　for　it　at　the　Land's　End；　or　would　you　try　a　little
nearer　home？〃

〃You're　attempting　to　make　a　fool　of　me　now；〃　says　I。

〃No；〃　says　Mr。　Dark；　〃I'm　only　letting　the　light　in　on　you；　as　I
said　I　would。　Now　listen　to　reason；　William；　and　profit　by　it　as
much　as　you　can。　Mr。　James　Smith　says　he　is　going　on　a　cruise　to
Sweden；　and　makes　his　word　good；　at　the　beginning；　by　starting
northward　toward　the　coast　of　Scotland。　What　does　he　go　in？　A
yacht。　Do　yachts　carry　live　beasts　and　a　butcher　on　board？　No。
Will　joints　of　meat　keep　fresh　all　the　way　from　Cumberland　to
Sweden？　No。　Do　gentlemen　like　living　on　salt　provisions？　No。　What
follows　from　these　three　Noes？　That　Mr。　James　Smith　must　have
stopped　somewhere　on　the　way　to　S　weden　to　supply　his　sea…larder
with　fresh　provisions。　Where；　in　that　case；　must　he　stop？
Somewhere　in　Scotland；　supposing　he　didn't　alter　his　course　when
he　was　out　of　sight　of　your　seaport。　Where　in　Scotland？　Northward
on　the　main　land；　or　westward　at　one　of　the　islands？　Most　likely
on　the　main　land；　where　the　seaside　places　are　largest；　and　where
he　is　sure　of　getting　all　the　stores　he　wants。　Next；　what　is　our
business？　Not　to　risk　losing　a　link　in　the　chain　of　evidence　by
missing　any　place　where　he　has　put　his　foot　on　shore。　Not　to
overshoot　the　mark　when　we　want　to　hit　it　in　the　bull's…eye。　Not
to　waste　money　and　time　by　taking　a　long　trip　to　Sweden　till　we
know　that　we　must　absolutely　go　there。　Where　is　our　journey　of
discovery　to　take　us　to　first；　then？　Clearly　to　the　north　of
Scotland。　What　do　you　say　to　that；　Mr。　William？　Is　my　catechism
all　correct；　or　has　your　strong　ale　muddled　my　head？〃

It　was　evident　by　this　time　that　no　ale　could　do　that；　and　I　told
him　so。　He　chuckled；　winked　at　me；　and；　taking　another　pinch　of
snuff；　said　he　would　now　turn　the　whole　case　over　in　his　mind
again；　and　make　sure　that　he　had　got　all　the　bearings　of　it　quite
clear。

By　the　time　we　reached　the　post…town　he　had　accomplished　this
mental　effort　to　his　own　perfect　satisfaction；　and　was　quite
ready　to　compare　the　ale　at　the　inn　with　the　ale　at　Darrock　Hall。
The　dog…cart　was　left　to　be　taken　back　the　next　morning　by　the
hostler。　A　post…chaise　and　horses　were　ordered　out。　A　loaf　of
bread；　a　Bologna　sausage；　and　two　bottles　of　sherry　were　put　into
the　pockets　of　the　carriage；　we　took　our　seats；　and　started
briskly　on　our　doubtful　journey。

〃One　word　more　of　friendly　advice；〃　says　Mr。　Dark；　settling
himself　comfortably　in　his　corner　of　the　carriage。　〃Take　your
sleep；　William；　whenever　you　feel　that　you　can　get　it。　You　won't
find　yourself　in　bed　again　till　we　get　to　Glasgow。〃

CHAPTER　III。

ALTHOUGH　the　events　that　I　am　now　relating　happened　many　years
ago；　I　shall　still；　for　caution's　sake；　avoid　mentioning　by　name
the　various　places　visited　by　Mr。　Dark　and　myself　for　the　p