the queen of hearts-第69章

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under　shelter　in　my　own　room。

It　Robert　should　come　back！　Oh；　what　a　relief　and　help　it　would
be　now　if　Robert　should　come　back！


May　1st。　On　getting　indoors　last　night；　the　first　thing　I　did；
after　striking　a　light；　was　to　take　the　ragged　cravat　off　the
candles；　and　smooth　it　out　on　the　table。　I　then　took　the　end　that
had　been　in　poor　Mary's　hand　out　of　my　writing…desk；　and　smoothed
that　out　too。　It　matched　the　torn　side　of　the　cravat　exactly。　I
put　them　together；　and　satisfied　myself　that　there　was　not　a
doubt　of　it。

Not　once　did　I　close　my　eyes　that　night。　A　kind　of　fever　got
possession　of　mea　vehement　yearning　to　go　on　from　this　first
discovery　and　find　out　more；　no　matter　what　the　risk　might　be。
The　cravat　now　really　became；　to　my　mind；　the　clew　that　I　thought
I　saw　in　my　dreamthe　clew　that　I　was　resolved　to　follow。　I
determined　to　go　to　Mrs。　Horlick　this　evening　on　my　return　from
work。

I　found　the　Mews　easily。　A　crook…backed　dwarf　of　a　man　was
lounging　at　the　corner　of　it　smoking　his　pipe。　Not　liking　his
looks；　I　did　not　inquire　of　him　where　Mrs。　Horlick　lived；　but
went　down　the　Mews　till　I　met　with　a　woman；　and　asked　her。　She
directed　me　to　the　right　number。　I　knocked　at　the　door；　and　Mrs。
Horlick　herselfa　lean；
　ill…tempered；　miserable…looking　womananswered　it。　I　told　her
at　once　that　I　had　come　to　ask　what　her　terms　were　for　charing。
She　stared　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　answered　my　question　civilly
enough。

〃You　look　surprised　at　a　stranger　like　me　finding　you　out；〃　I
said。　〃I　first　came　to　hear　of　you　last　night；　from　a　relation　of
yours；　in　rather　an　odd　way。〃

And　I　told　her　all　that　had　happened　in　the　chandler's　shop；
bringing　in　the　bundle　of　rags；　and　the　circumstance　of　my
carrying　home　the　candles　in　the　old　torn　cravat；　as　often　as
possible。

〃It's　the　first　time　I've　heard　of　anything　belonging　to　him
turning　out　any　use；〃　said　Mrs。　Horlick；　bitterly。

〃What！　the　spoiled　old　neck…handkerchief　belonged　to　your
husband；　did　it？〃　said　I；　at　a　venture。

〃Yes；　I　pitched　his　rotten　rag　of　a　neck…'andkercher　into　the
bundle　along　with　the　rest；　and　I　wish　I　could　have　pitched　him
in　after　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Horlick。　〃I'd　sell　him　cheap　at　any
ragshop。　There　he　stands；　smoking　his　pipe　at　the　end　of　the
Mews；　out　of　work　for　weeks　past；　the　idlest　humpbacked　pig　in
all　London！〃

She　pointed　to　the　man　whom　I　had　passed　on　entering　the　Mews。　My
cheeks　began　to　burn　and　my　knees　to　tremble；　for　I　knew　that　in
tracing　the　cravat　to　its　owner　I　was　advancing　a　step　toward　a
fresh　discovery。　I　wished　Mrs。　Horlick　good　evening；　and　said　I
would　write　and　mention　the　day　on　which　I　wanted　her。

What　I　had　just　been　told　put　a　thought　into　my　mind　that　I　was
afraid　to　follow　out。　I　have　heard　people　talk　of　being
light…headed；　and　I　felt　as　I　have　heard　them　say　they　felt　when
I　retraced　my　steps　up　the　Mews。　My　head　got　giddy；　and　my　eyes
seemed　able　to　see　nothing　but　the　figure　of　the　little
crook…backed　man；　still　smoking　his　pipe　in　his　former　place。　I
could　see　nothing　but　that；　I　could　think　of　nothing　but　the　mark
of　the　blow　on　my　poor　lost　Mary's　temple。　I　know　that　I　must
have　been　light…headed；　for　as　I　came　close　to　the　crook…backed
man　I　stopped　without　meaning　it。　The　minute　before；　there　had
been　no　idea　in　me　of　speaking　to　him。　I　did　not　know　how　to
speak；　or　in　what　way　it　would　be　safest　to　begin；　and　yet；　the
moment　I　came　face　to　face　with　him；　something　out　of　myself
seemed　to　stop　me；　and　to　make　me　speak　without　considering
beforehand；　without　thinking　of　consequences；　without　knowing；　I
may　almost　say；　what　words　I　was　uttering　till　the　instant　when
they　rose　to　my　lips。

〃When　your　old　neck…tie　was　torn；　did　you　know　that　one　end　of　it
went　to　the　rag…shop；　and　the　other　fell　into　my　hands？〃

I　said　these　bold　words　to　him　suddenly；　and；　as　it　seemed；
without　my　own　will　taking　any　part　in　them。

He　started；　stared；　changed　color。　He　was　too　much　amazed　by　my
sudden　speaking　to　find　an　answer　for　me。　When　he　did　open　his
lips；　it　was　to　say　rather　to　himself　than　me：

〃You're　not　the　girl。〃

〃No；〃　I　said；　with　a　strange　choking　at　my　heart；　〃I'm　her
friend。〃

By　this　time　he　had　recovered　his　surprise；　and　he　seemed　to　be
aware　that　he　had　let　out　more　than　he　ought。

〃You　may　be　anybody's　friend　you　like；〃　he　said；　brutally；　〃so
long　as　you　don't　come　jabbering　nonsense　here。　I　don't　know　you；
and　I　don't　understand　your　jokes。〃

He　turned　quickly　away　from　me　when　he　had　said　the　last　words。
He　had　never　once　looked　fairly　at　me　since　I　first　spoke　to　him。

Was　it　his　hand　that　had　struck　the　blow？　I　had　only　sixpence　in
my　pocket；　but　I　took　it　out　and　followed　him。　If　it　had　been　a
five…pound　note　I　should　have　done　the　same　in　the　state　I　was　in
then。

〃Would　a　pot　of　beer　help　you　to　understand　me？〃　I　said；　and
offered　him　the　sixpence。

〃A　pot　ain't　no　great　things；〃　he　answered；　taking　the　sixpence
doubtfully。

〃It　may　lead　to　something　better；〃　I　said。　His　eyes　began　to
twinkle；　and　he　came　close　to　me。　Oh；　how　my　legs　trembledhow
my　head　swam！

〃This　is　all　in　a　friendly　way；　is　it？〃　he　asked；　in　a　whisper。

I　nodded　my　head。　At　that　moment　I　could　not　have　spoken　for
worlds。

〃Friendly；　of　course；〃　he　went　on　to　himself；　〃or　there　would
have　been　a　policeman　in　it。　She　told　you；　I　suppose；　that　I
wasn't　the　man？〃

I　nodded　my　head　again。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　keep　myself
standing　upright。

〃I　suppose　it's　a　case　of　threatening　to　have　him　up；　and　make
him　settle　it　quietly　for　a　pound　or　two？　How　much　for　me　if　you
lay　hold　of　him？〃

〃Half。〃

I　began　to　be　afraid　that　he　would　suspect　something　if　I　was
still　silent。　The　wretch's　eyes　twinkled　again　and　he　came　yet
closer。

〃I　drove　him　to　the　Red　Lion；　corner　of　Dodd　Street　and　Rudgely
Street。　The　house　was　shut　up；　but　he　was　let　in　at　the　jug　and
bottle　door；　like　a　man　who　was　known　to　the　landlord。　That's　as
much　as　I　can　tell　you；　and　I'm　certain　I'm　right。　He　was　the
last　fare　I　took　up　at　night。　The　next　morning　master　gave　me　the
sacksaid　I　cribbed　his　corn　and　his　fares。　I　wish　I　had。〃

I　gathered　from　this　that　the　crook…backed　man　had　been　a
cab…driver。

〃Why　don't　you　speak？〃　he　asked；　suspiciously。　〃Has　she　been
telling　you　a　pack　of　lies　about　me？　What　did　she　say　when　she
came　home？〃

〃What　ought　she　to　have　said？〃

〃She　ought　to　have　said　my　fare　was　drunk；　and　she　came　in　the
way　as　he　was　going　to　get　into　the　cab。　That's　what　she　ought　to
have　said　to　begin　with。〃

〃But　after？〃

〃Well；　after；　my　fare；　by　way　of　larking　with　her；　puts　out　his
leg　for　to　trip　her　up；　and　she　stumbles　and　catches　at　me　for　to
save　herself；　and　tears　off　one　of　the　limp　ends　of　my　rotten　old
tie。　'What　do　you　mean　by　that；　you　brute？'　says　she；　turning
round　as　soon　as　she　was　steady　on　her　legs；　to　my　fare。　Says　my
fare　to　her：　'I　means　to　teach　you　to　keep　a　civil　tongue　in　your
head。'　And　he　ups　with　his　fist；　andwhat's　come　to　you；　now？
What　are　you　looking　at　me　like　that　for？　How　do　you　think　a　man
of　my　size　was　to　take　her　part　against　a　man　big　enough　to　have
eaten　me　up？　Look　as　much　as　you　like；　in　my　place　you　would　have
done　what　I　donedrew　off　when　he　shook　his　fist　at　you；　and
swore　he'd　be　the　death　of　you　if　you　didn't　start　your　horse　in
no　time。〃

I　saw　he　was　working　himself　up　into　a　rage；　but　I　could　not；　if
my　life　had　depended　on　it；　have　stood　near　him　or　looked　at　him
any　longer。　I　just　managed　to　stammer　out　that　I　had　been　walking
a　long　way；　and　that；　not　being　used　to　much　exercise；　I　felt
faint　and　giddy　with　fatigue。　He　only　changed　from　angry　to　sulky
when　I　made　that　excuse。　I　got　a　little　further　away　from　him；
and　then　added　that　if　he　would　be　at　the　Mews　entrance　the　next
evening　I　should　have　something　more　to　say　and　something　more　to
give　him。　He　grumbled　a　few　suspicious　words　in　answer　about
doubting　whether　he　should　trust　me　to　come　back。　Fortunately；　at
that　moment；　a　policeman　passed　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　way。
He　slunk　down　the　Mews　immediately；　and　I　was　free　to　make　my
escape。

How　I　got　home　I　can't　say；　except　that　I　think　I　ran　the　greater
part　of　the　way。　Sally　opened　the　door；　and　asked　if　anything　was
the　matter　the　moment　she　saw　my　face。　I　answered：
〃Nothingnothing。〃　She　stopped　me　as　I　was　going　into　my　room；
and　said：

〃Smooth　your　hair　a　bit；　and　put　your　collar　straight。　There's　a
gentleman　in　there　waiting　for　you。〃

My　heart　gave　one　great　bound：　I　knew　who　it　was　in　an　instant；
and　rushed　into　the　room　like　a　mad　woman。

〃Oh；　Robert；　Robert！〃

All　my　heart　went　out　to　him　in　those　two　little　words。

〃Good　God；　Anne；　has　anything　happened？　Are　you　ill？〃

〃Mary！　my　poor；　lost；　murdered；　dear；　dear　Mary！〃

That　was　all　I　could　say　before　I　fell　on　his　breast。


May　2d。　Misfortunes　and　disappointments　have　saddened　him　a
little；　but　toward　me　he　is　unaltered。　He　is　as　good；　as　kind；　as
gently　and　truly　affectionate　as　ever。　I　believe　no　other　man　in
the　world　could　have　listened　to　the　story　of　Mary's　death　with
such　tenderness　and　pity　as　he。　Instead　of　cutting　me　short
anywhere；　he　drew　me　on　to　tell　more　than　I　had　intended；　and　his
first　generous　words　when　I　had　done　were　to　assure　me　that　he
would　see　himself　to　the　grass　being　laid　and　the　flowers　planted
on　Mary's　grave。　I　could　almost　have　gone　on　my　knees　and
worshiped　him　　when　he　made　me　that　promise。

Surely　this　best；　and　kindest；　and　noblest　of　men　cannot　always
be　unfortunate！　My　cheeks　burn　when　I　think　that　he　has　come　back
with　only　a　few　pounds　in　his　pocket；　after　all　his　hard　and
honest　struggles　to　do　well　in　America。　They　must　be　bad　people
there　when　such　a　man　as　Robert　cannot　get　on　among　them。　He　now
talks　calmly　and　resignedly　of　trying　for　any　one　of　the　lowest
employments　by　which　a　man　can　earn　his　bread　honestly　in　this
great　cityhe　who　knows　French；　who　can　write　so　beautifully！
Oh；　if　the　people　who　have　places　to　give　away　only　knew　Robert
as　well　as　I　do；　what　a　salary　he　would　have；　what　a　post　he
would　be　chosen　to　occupy！

I　am　writing　these　lines　alone　while　he　has　gone　to　the　Mews　to
treat　with　the　dastardly；　heartless　wretch　with　whom　I　spoke
yesterday。

Robert　says　the　creatureI　won't　call　him　a　manmust　be　humored
and　kept　deceived　about　poor　Mary's　end；　in　order　that　we　may
discover　and　bring　to　justice　the　monster　whose　drunken　blow　was
the　death　of　her。　I　shall　know　no　ease　of　mind　till　her　murderer
is　secured；　and　till　I　am　certain　that　he　will　be　made　to　suffer
for　his　crimes。　I　wanted　to　go　with　Robert　to　the　Mews；　but　he
said　it　was　best　that　he　should　carry　out　the　rest　of　the
investigation　alone；　for　my　strength　and　resolution　had　been　too
hardly　taxed　already。　He　said　more　words　in　praise　of　me　for　what
I　have　been　able　to　do　up　to　this　time；　which　I　am　almost　ashamed
to　write　down　with　my　own　pen。　Besides；　there　is　no　need；　praise
from　his　lips　is　one　of　the　things　that　I　can　trust　my　memory　to
preserve　to　the　latest　day　of　my　life。


May　3d。　Robert　was　very　long　last　night　before　he　came　back　to
tell　me　what　he　had　done。　He　easily　r