desperate remedies-第55章

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allowed　to　see　the　Chronicle　for　the　year　before　the　last。　　He
placed　the　papers　before　her　on　his　study　table；　with　a　timidity　as
great　as　her　own；　and　then　left　her　entirely　to　herself。

She　turned　them　over　till　she　came　to　the　first　heading　connected
with　the　subject　of　her　search'Disastrous　Fire　and　Loss　of　Life　at
Carriford。'

The　sight；　and　its　calamitous　bearing　upon　her　own　life；　made　her　so
dizzy　that　she　could；　for　a　while；　hardly　decipher　the　letters。
Stifling　recollection　by　an　effort　she　nerved　herself　to　her　work；
and　carefully　read　the　column。　　The　account　reminded　her　of　no　other
fact　than　was　remembered　already。

She　turned　on　to　the　following　week's　report　of　the　inquest。　　After
a　miserable　perusal　she　could　find　no　more　pertaining　to　Mrs。
Manston's　address　than　this：

'ABRAHAM　BROWN；　of　Hoxton；　London；　at　whose　house　the　deceased　woman
had　been　living；　deposed；'　etc。

Nobody　else　from　London　had　attended　the　inquest。　　She　arose　to
depart；　first　sending　a　message　of　thanks　to　Mr。　Raunham；　who　was
out　of　doors　gardening。

He　stuck　his　spade　into　the　ground；　and　accompanied　her　to　the　gate。

'Can　I　help　you　in　anything；　Cytherea？'　he　said；　using　her　Christian
name　by　an　intuition　that　unpleasant　memories　might　be　revived　if　he
called　her　Miss　Graye　after　wishing　her　good…bye　as　Mrs。　Manston　at
the　wedding。　　Cytherea　saw　the　motive　and　appreciated　it；
nevertheless　replying　evasively

'I　only　guess　and　fear。'

He　earnestly　looked　at　her　again。

'Promise　me　that　if　you　want　assistance；　and　you　think　I　can　give
it；　you　will　come　to　me。'

'I　will；'　she　said。

The　gate　closed　between　them。

'You　don't　want　me　to　help　you　in　anything　now；　Cytherea？'　he
repeated。

If　he　had　spoken　what　he　felt；　'I　want　very　much　to　help　you；
Cytherea；　and　have　been　watching　Manston　on　your　account；'　she　would
gladly　have　accepted　his　offer。　　As　it　was；　she　was　perplexed；　and
raised　her　eyes　to　his；　not　so　fearlessly　as　before　her　trouble；　but
as　modestly；　and　with　still　enough　brightness　in　them　to　do　fearful
execution　as　she　said　over　the　gate

'No；　thank　you。'

She　returned　to　Tolchurch　weary　with　her　day's　work。　　Owen's
greeting　was　anxious

'Well；　Cytherea？'

She　gave　him　the　words　from　the　report　of　the　inquest；　pencilled　on
a　slip　of　paper。

'Now　to　find　out　the　name　of　the　street　and　number；'　Owen　remarked。

'Owen；'　she　said；　'will　you　forgive　me　for　what　I　am　going　to　say？
I　don't　think　I　canindeed　I　don't　think　I　cantake　any　further
steps　towards　disentangling　the　mystery。　　I　still　think　it　a　useless
task；　and　it　does　not　seem　any　duty　of　mine　to　be　revenged　upon　Mr。
Manston　in　any　way。'　　She　added　more　gravely；　'It　is　beneath　my
dignity　as　a　woman　to　labour　for　this；　I　have　felt　it　so　all　day。'

'Very　well；'　he　said；　somewhat　shortly；　'I　shall　work　without　you
then。　　There's　dignity　in　justice。'　　He　caught　sight　of　her　pale
tired　face；　and　the　dilated　eye　which　always　appeared　in　her　with
weariness。　　'Darling；'　he　continued　warmly；　and　kissing　her；　'you
shall　not　work　so　hard　againyou　are　worn　out　quite。　　But　you　must
let　me　do　as　I　like。'

2。　　MARCH　THE　TENTH

On　Saturday　evening　Graye　hurried　off　to　Casterbridge；　and　called　at
the　house　of　the　reporter　to　the　Chronicle。　　The　reporter　was　at
home；　and　came　out　to　Graye　in　the　passage。　　Owen　explained　who　and
what　he　was；　and　asked　the　man　if　he　would　oblige　him　by　turning　to
his　notes　of　the　inquest　at　Carriford　in　the　December　of　the　year
preceding　the　lastjust　adding　that　a　family　entanglement；　of　which
the　reporter　probably　knew　something；　made　him　anxious　to　ascertain
some　additional　details　of　the　event；　if　any　existed。

'Certainly；'　said　the　other；　without　hesitation；　'though　I　am　afraid
I　haven't　much　beyond　what　we　printed　at　the　time。　　Let　me　seemy
old　note…books　are　in　my　drawer　at　the　office　of　the　paper：　　if　you
will　come　with　me　I　can　refer　to　them　there。'　　His　wife　and　family
were　at　tea　inside　the　room；　and　with　the　timidity　of　decent　poverty
everywhere　he　seemed　glad　to　get　a　stranger　out　of　his　domestic
groove。

They　crossed　the　street；　entered　the　office；　and　went　thence　to　an
inner　room。　　Here；　after　a　short　search；　was　found　the　book
required。　　The　precise　address；　not　given　in　the　condensed　report
that　was　printed；　but　written　down　by　the　reporter；　was　as　follows：…
…

　　　　　'ABRAHAM　BROWN；
　　　　　　　　　　LODGING…HOUSE　KEEPER；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　41　CHARLES　SQUARE；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HOXTON。'

Owen　copied　it；　and　gave　the　reporter　a　small　fee。　　'I　want　to　keep
this　inquiry　private　for　the　present；'　he　said　hesitatingly。　　'You
will　perhaps　understand　why；　and　oblige　me。'

The　reporter　promised。　　'News　is　shop　with　me；'　he　said；　'and　to
escape　from　handling　it　is　my　greatest　social　enjoyment。'

It　was　evening；　and　the　outer　room　of　the　publishing…office　was
lighted　up　with　flaring　jets　of　gas。　　After　making　the　above　remark；
the　reporter　came　out　from　the　inner　apartment　in　Graye's　company；
answering　an　expression　of　obligation　from　Owen　with　the　words　that
it　was　no　trouble。　　At　the　moment　of　his　speech；　he　closed　behind
him　the　door　between　the　two　rooms；　still　holding　his　note…book　in
his　hand。

Before　the　counter　of　the　front　room　stood　a　tall　man；　who　was　also
speaking；　when　they　emerged。　　He　said　to　the　youth　in　attendance；　'I
will　take　my　paper　for　this　week　now　I　am　here；　so　that　you　needn't
post　it　to　me。'

The　stranger　then　slightly　turned　his　head；　saw　Owen；　and　recognized
him。　　Owen　passed　out　without　recognizing　the　other　as　Manston。

Manston　then　looked　at　the　reporter；　who；　after　walking　to　the　door
with　Owen；　had　come　back　again　to　lock　up　his　books。　　Manston　did
not　need　to　be　told　that　the　shabby　marble…covered　book　which　he
held　in　his　hand；　opening　endways　and　interleaved　with　blotting…
paper；　was　an　old　reporting…book。　　He　raised　his　eyes　to　the
reporter's　face；　whose　experience　had　not　so　schooled　his　features
but　that　they　betrayed　a　consciousness；　to　one　half　initiated　as　the
other　was；　that　his　late　proceeding　had　been　connected　with　events
in　the　life　of　the　steward。　　Manston　said　no　more；　but；　taking　his
newspaper；　followed　Owen　from　the　office；　and　disappeared　in　the
gloom　of　the　street。

Edward　Springrove　was　now　in　London　again；　and　on　this　same　evening；
before　leaving　Casterbridge；　Owen　wrote　a　careful　letter　to　him；
stating　therein　all　the　facts　that　had　come　to　his　knowledge；　and
begging　him；　as　he　valued　Cytherea；　to　make　cautious　inquiries。　　A
tall　man　was　standing　under　the　lamp…post；　about　half…a…dozen　yards
above　the　post…office；　when　he　dropped　the　letter　into　the　box。

That　same　night；　too；　for　a　reason　connected　with　the　rencounter
with　Owen　Graye；　the　steward　entertained　the　idea　of　rushing　off
suddenly　to　London　by　the　mail…train；　which　left　Casterbridge　at　ten
o'clock。　　But　remembering　that　letters　posted　after　the　hour　at
which　Owen　had　obtained　his　informationwhatever　that　wascould
not　be　delivered　in　London　till　Monday　morning；　he　changed　his　mind
and　went　home　to　Knapwater。　　Making　a　confidential　explanation　to
his　wife；　arrangements　were　set　on　foot　for　his　departure　by　the
mail　on　Sunday　night。

3。　　MARCH　THE　ELEVENTH

Starting　for　church　the　next　morning　several　minutes　earlier　than
was　usual　with　him；　the　steward　intentionally　loitered　along　the
road　from　the　village　till　old　Mr。　Springrove　overtook　him。　　Manston
spoke　very　civilly　of　the　morning；　and　of　the　weather；　asking　how
the　farmer's　barometer　stood；　and　when　it　was　probable　that　the　wind
might　change。　　It　was　not　in　Mr。　Springrove's　naturegoing　to
church　as　he　was；　tooto　return　anything　but　a　civil　answer　to　such
civil　questions；　however　his　feelings　might　have　been　biassed　by
late　events。　　The　conversation　was　continued　on　terms　of　greater
friendliness。

'You　must　be　feeling　settled　again　by　this　time；　Mr。　Springrove；
after　the　rough　turn…out　you　had　on　that　terrible　night　in
November。'

'Ay；　but　I　don't　know　about　feeling　settled；　either；　Mr。　Manston。
The　old　window　in　the　chimney…corner　of　the　old　house　I　shall　never
forget。　　No　window　in　the　chimney…corner　where　I　am　now；　and　I　had
been　used　to　it　for　more　than　fifty　years。　　Ted　says　'tis　a　great
loss　to　me；　and　he　knows　exactly　what　I　feel。'

'Your　son　is　again　in　a　good　situation；　I　believe？'　said　Manston；
imitating　that　inquisitiveness　into　the　private　affairs　of　the
natives　which　passes　for　high　breeding　in　country　villages。

'Yes；　sir。　　I　hope　he'll　keep　it；　or　do　something　else　and　stick　to
it。'

''Tis　to　be　hoped　he'll　be　steady　now。'

'He's　always　been　that；　I　assure　'ee；'　said　the　old　man　tartly。

'YesyesI　mean　intellectually　steady。　　Intellectual　wild　oats
will　thrive　in　a　soil　of　the　strictest　morality。'

'Intellectual　gingerbread！　　Ted's　steady　enoughthat's　all　I　know
about　it。'

'Of　courseof　course。　　Has　he　respectable　lodgings？　　My　own
experience　has　shown　me　that　that's　a　great　thing　to　a　young　man
living　alone　in　London。'

'Warwick　Street；　Charing　Crossthat's　where　he　is。'

'Well；　to　be　surestrange！　　A　very　dear　friend　of　mine　used　to　live
at　number　fifty…two　in　that　very　same　street。'

'Edward　lives　at　number　forty…ninehow　very　near　being　the　same
house！'　said　the　old　farmer；　pleased　in　spite　of　himself。

'Very；'　said　Manston。　　'Well；　I　suppose　we　had　better　step　along　a
little　quicker；　Mr。　Springrove；　the　parson's　bell　has　just　begun。'

'Number　forty…nine；'　he　murmured。

4。　　MARCH　THE　TWELFTH

Edward　received　Owen's　letter　in　due　time；　but　on　account　of　his
daily　engagements　he　could　not　attend　to　any　request　till　the　clock
had　struck　five　in　the　afternoon。　　Rushing　then　from　his　office　in
Westminster；　he　called　a　hansom　and　proceeded　to　Hoxton。　　A　few
minutes　later　he　knocked　at　the　door　of　number　forty…one；　Charles
Square；　the　old　lodging　of　Mrs。　Manston。

A　tall　man　who　would　have　looked　extremely　handsome　had　he　not　been
clumsily　and　closely　wrapped　up　in　garments　that　were　much　too
elderly　in　style　for　his　years；　stood　at　the　corner　of　the　quiet
square　at　the　same　instant；　having；　too；　alighted　from　a　cab；　that
had　been　driven　along　Old　Street　in　Edward's　rear。　　He　smiled
confidently　when　Springrove　knocked。

Nobody　came　to　the　door。　　Springrove　knocked　again。

This　brought　out　two　peopleone　at　the　door　he　had　been　knocking
upon；　the　other　from　the　next　on　the　right。

'Is　Mr。　Brown　at　home？'　said　Springrove。

'No；　sir。'

'When　will　he　be　in？'

'Quite　uncertain。'

'Can　you　tell　me　where　I　may　find　him？'

'No。　O；　here　he　is　coming；　sir。　　That's　Mr。　Brown。'

Edward　looked　down　the　pavement　in　the　direction　pointed　out　by　the
woman；　and　saw　a　man　approaching。　　He　proceeded　a　few　steps　to　meet
him。

Edward　was　impatient；　and　to　a　certain　extent　still　a　countryman；
who　had　not；　after　the　manner　of　city　men；　subdued　the　natural
impulse　to　speak　out　the　ruling　thought　without　preface。　　He　said　in
a　quiet　tone　to　the　stranger；　'One　word　with　youdo　you　remember　a
lady　lodger　of　yours　of　the　name　of　Mrs。　Manston？'

Mr。　Brown　half　closed　his　eyes　at　Springrove；　somewhat　as　if　he　were
looking　into　a　telescope　at　the　wrong　end。

'I　have　never　let　lodging