desperate remedies-第58章

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'None　at　all；'　said　Manston。

The　rain　now　came　down　heavily；　but　they　pursued　their　path　with
alacrity；　the　produce　of　the　several　fields　between　which　the　lane
wound　its　way　being　indicated　by　the　peculiar　character　of　the　sound
emitted　by　the　falling　drops。　　Sometimes　a　soaking　hiss　proclaimed
that　they　were　passing　by　a　pasture；　then　a　patter　would　show　that
the　rain　fell　upon　some　large…leafed　root　crop；　then　a　paddling
plash　announced　the　naked　arable；　the　low　sound　of　the　wind　in　their
ears　rising　and　falling　with　each　pace　they　took。

Besides　the　small　private　bags　of　the　county　families；　which　were
all　locked；　the　postman　bore　the　large　general　budget　for　the
remaining　inhabitants　along　his　beat。　　At　each　village　or　hamlet
they　came　to；　the　postman　searched　for　the　packet　of　letters
destined　for　that　place；　and　thrust　it　into　an　ordinary　letter…hole
cut　in　the　door　of　the　receiver's　cottagethe　village　post…offices
being　mostly　kept　by　old　women　who　had　not　yet　risen；　though　lights
moving　in　other　cottage　windows　showed　that　such　people　as　carters；
woodmen；　and　stablemen　had　long　been　stirring。

The　postman　had　by　this　time　become　markedly　unsteady；　but　he　still
continued　to　be　too　conscious　of　his　duties　to　suffer　the　steward　to
search　the　bag。　　Manston　was　perplexed；　and　at　lonely　points　in　the
road　cast　his　eyes　keenly　upon　the　short　bowed　figure　of　the　man
trotting　through　the　mud　by　his　side；　as　if　he　were　half　inclined　to
run　a　very　great　risk　indeed。

It　frequently　happened　that　the　houses　of　farmers；　clergymen；　etc。；
lay　a　short　distance　up　or　down　a　lane　or　path　branching　from　the
direct　track　of　the　postman's　journey。　　To　save　time　and　distance；
at　the　point　of　junction　of　some　of　these　paths　with　the　main　road；
the　gate…post　was　hollowed　out　to　form　a　letter…box；　in　which　the
postman　deposited　his　missives　in　the　morning；　looking　in　the　box
again　in　the　evening　to　collect　those　placed　there　for　the　return
post。　　Tolchurch　Vicarage　and　Farmstead；　lying　back　from　the　village
street；　were　served　on　this　principle。　　This　fact　the　steward　now
learnt　by　conversing　with　the　postman；　and　the　discovery　relieved
Manston　greatly；　making　his　intentions　much　clearer　to　himself　than
they　had　been　in　the　earlier　stages　of　his　journey。

They　had　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　village。　　Manston　insisted
upon　the　flask　being　emptied　before　they　proceeded　further。　　This
was　done；　and　they　approached　the　church；　the　vicarage；　and　the
farmhouse　in　which　Owen　and　Cytherea　were　living。

The　postman　paused；　fumbled　in　his　bag；　took　out　by　the　light　of　his
lantern　some　half…dozen　letters；　and　tried　to　sort　them。　　He　could
not　perform　the　task。

'We　be　crippled　disciples　a　b'lieve；'　he　said；　with　a　sigh　and　a
stagger。

'Not　drunk；　but　market…merry；'　said　Manston　cheerfully。

'Well　done！　　If　I　baint　so　weak　that　I　can't　see　the　cloudsmuch
less　letters。　　Guide　my　soul；　if　so　be　anybody　should　tell　the
Queen's　postmaster…general　of　me！　　The　whole　story　will　have　to　go
through　Parliament　House；　and　I　shall　be　high…treasonedas　safe　as
housesand　be　fined；　and　who'll　pay　for　a　poor　martel！　　O；　'tis　a
world！'

'Trust　in　the　Lordhe'll　pay。'

'He　pay　a　b'lieve！　why　should　he　when　he　didn't　drink　the　drink？　　He
pay　a　b'lieve！　　D'ye　think　the　man's　a　fool？'

'Well；　well；　I　had　no　intention　of　hurting　your　feelingsbut　how
was　I　to　know　you　were　so　sensitive？'

'Trueyou　were　not　to　know　I　was　so　sensitive。　　Here's　a　caddle　wi'
these　letters！　　Guide　my　soul；　what　will　Billy　do！'

Manston　offered　his　services。

'They　are　to　be　divided；'　the　man　said。

'How？'　said　Manston。

'These；　for　the　village；　to　be　carried　on　into　it：　　any　for　the
vicarage　or　vicarage　farm　must　be　left　in　the　box　of　the　gate…post
just　here。　　There's　none　for　the　vicarage…house　this　mornen；　but　I
saw　when　I　started　there　was　one　for　the　clerk　o'　works　at　the　new
church。　　This　is　it；　isn't　it？'

He　held　up　a　large　envelope；　directed　in　Edward　Springrove's
handwriting：

　　　　　'MR。　O。　GRAYE；
　　　　　　　　　　CLERK　OF　WORKS；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TOLCHURCH；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　NEAR　ANGLEBURY。'

The　letter…box　was　scooped　in　an　oak　gate…post　about　a　foot　square。
There　was　no　slit　for　inserting　the　letters；　by　reason　of　the
opportunity　such　a　lonely　spot　would　have　afforded　mischievous
peasant…boys　of　doing　damage　had　such　been　the　case；　but　at　the　side
was　a　small　iron　door；　kept　close　by　an　iron　reversible　strap　locked
across　it。　　One　side　of　this　strap　was　painted　black；　the　other
white；　and　white　or　black　outwards　implied　respectively　that　there
were　letters　inside；　or　none。

The　postman　had　taken　the　key　from　his　pocket　and　was　attempting　to
insert　it　in　the　keyhole　of　the　box。　　He　touched　one　side；　the
other；　above；　below；　but　never　made　a　straight　hit。

'Let　me　unlock　it；'　said　Manston；　taking　the　key　from　the　postman。
He　opened　the　box　and　reached　out　with　his　other　hand　for　Owen's
letter。

'No；　no。　　O　nono；'　the　postman　said。　　'As　one　ofMajesty's
servantscareMajesty's　mailsdutyput　lettersown　hands。'　　He
slowly　and　solemnly　placed　the　letter　in　the　small　cavity。

'Now　lock　it；'　he　said；　closing　the　door。

The　steward　placed　the　bar　across；　with　the　black　side　outwards；
signifying　'empty；'　and　turned　the　key。

'You've　put　the　wrong　side　outwards！'　said　the　postman。　　''Tisn't
empty。'

'And　dropped　the　key　in　the　mud；　so　that　I　can't　alter　it；'　said　the
steward；　letting　something　fall。

'What　an　awkward　thing！'

'It　is　an　awkward　thing。'

They　both　went　searching　in　the　mud；　which　their　own　trampling　had
reduced　to　the　consistency　of　pap；　the　postman　unstrapping　his
little　lantern　from　his　breast；　and　thrusting　it　about；　close　to　the
ground；　the　rain　still　drizzling　down；　and　the　dawn　so　tardy　on
account　of　the　heavy　clouds　that　daylight　seemed　delayed
indefinitely。　　The　rays　of　the　lantern　were　rendered　individually
visible　upon　the　thick　mist；　and　seemed　almost　tangible　as　they
passed　off　into　it；　after　illuminating　the　faces　and　knees　of　the
two　stooping　figures　dripping　with　wet；　the　postman's　cape　and
private　bags；　and　the　steward's　valise；　glistening　as　if　they　had
been　varnished。

'It　fell　on　the　grass；'　said　the　postman。

'No；　it　fell　in　the　mud；'　said　Manston。　　They　searched　again。

'I'm　afraid　we　shan't　find　it　by　this　light；'　said　the　steward　at
length；　washing　his　muddy　fingers　in　the　wet　grass　of　the　bank。

'I'm　afraid　we　shan't；'　said　the　other；　standing　up。

'I'll　tell　you　what　we　had　better　do；'　said　Manston。　　'I　shall　be
back　this　way　in　an　hour　or　so；　and　since　it　was　all　my　fault；　I'll
look　again；　and　shall　be　sure　to　find　it　in　the　daylight。　　And　I'll
hide　the　key　here　for　you。'　　He　pointed　to　a　spot　behind　the　post。
'It　will　be　too　late　to　turn　the　index　then；　as　the　people　will　have
been　here；　so　that　the　box　had　better　stay　as　it　is。　　The　letter
will　only　be　delayed　a　day；　and　that　will　not　be　noticed；　if　it　is；
you　can　say　you　placed　the　iron　the　wrong　way　without　knowing　it；
and　all　will　be　well。'

This　was　agreed　to　by　the　postman　as　the　best　thing　to　be　done　under
the　circumstances；　and　the　pair　went　on。　　They　had　passed　the
village　and　come　to　a　crossroad；　when　the　steward；　telling　his
companion　that　their　paths　now　diverged；　turned　off　to　the　left
towards　Carriford。

No　sooner　was　the　postman　out　of　sight　and　hearing　than　Manston
stalked　back　to　the　vicarage　letter…box　by　keeping　inside　a　fence；
and　thus　avoiding　the　village；　arrived　here；　he　took　the　key　from
his　pocket；　where　it　had　been　concealed　all　the　time；　and　abstracted
Owen's　letter。　　This　done；　he　turned　towards　home；　by　the　help　of
what　he　carried　in　his　valise　adjusting　himself　to　his　ordinary
appearance　as　he　neared　the　quarter　in　which　he　was　known。

An　hour　and　half's　sharp　walking　brought　him　to　his　own　door　in
Knapwater　Park。

2。　　EIGHT　O'CLOCK　A。M。

Seated　in　his　private　office　he　wetted　the　flap　of　the　stolen
letter；　and　waited　patiently　till　the　adhesive　gum　could　be
loosened。　　He　took　out　Edward's　note；　the　accounts；　the　rosebud；　and
the　photographs；　regarding　them　with　the　keenest　interest　and
anxiety。

The　note；　the　accounts；　the　rosebud；　and　his　own　photograph；　he
restored　to　their　places　again。　　The　other　photograph　he　took
between　his　finger　and　thumb；　and　held　it　towards　the　bars　of　the
grate。　　There　he　held　it　for　half…a…minute　or　more；　meditating。

'It　is　a　great　risk　to　run；　even　for　such　an　end；'　he　muttered。

Suddenly；　impregnated　with　a　bright　idea；　he　jumped　up　and　left　the
office　for　the　front　parlour。　　Taking　up　an　album　of　portraits；
which　lay　on　the　table；　he　searched　for　three　or　four　likenesses　of
the　lady　who　had　so　lately　displaced　Cytherea；　which　were
interspersed　among　the　rest　of　the　collection；　and　carefully
regarded　them。　　They　were　taken　in　different　attitudes　and　styles；
and　he　compared　each　singly　with　that　he　held　in　his　hand。　　One　of
them；　the　one　most　resembling　that　abstracted　from　the　letter　in
general　tone；　size；　and　attitude；　he　selected　from　the　rest；　and
returned　with　it　to　his　office。

Pouring　some　water　into　a　plate；　he　set　the　two　portraits　afloat
upon　it；　and　sitting　down　tried　to　read。

At　the　end　of　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　after　several　ineffectual
attempts；　he　found　that　each　photograph　would　peel　from　the　card　on
which　it　was　mounted。　　This　done；　he　threw　into　the　fire　the
original　likeness　and　the　recent　card；　stuck　upon　the　original　card
the　recent　likeness　from　the　album；　dried　it　before　the　fire；　and
placed　it　in　the　envelope　with　the　other　scraps。

The　result　he　had　obtained；　then；　was　this：　　in　the　envelope　were
now　two　photographs；　both　having　the　same　photographer's　name　on　the
back　and　consecutive　numbers　attached。　　At　the　bottom　of　the　one
which　showed　his　own　likeness；　his　own　name　was　written　down；　on　the
other　his　wife's　name　was　written；　whilst　the　central　feature；　and
whole　matter　to　which　this　latter　card　and　writing　referred；　the
likeness　of　a　lady　mounted　upon　it；　had　been　changed。

Mrs。　Manston　entered　the　room；　and　begged　him　to　come　to　breakfast。
He　followed　her　and　they　sat　down。　　During　the　meal　he　told　her　what
he　had　done；　with　scrupulous　regard　to　every　detail；　and　showed　her
the　result。

'It　is　indeed　a　great　risk　to　run；'　she　said；　sipping　her　tea。

'But　it　would　be　a　greater　not　to　do　it。'

'Yes。'

The　envelope　was　again　fastened　up　as　before；　and　Manston　put　it　in
his　pocket　and　went　out。　　Shortly　afterwards　he　was　seen；　on
horseback；　riding　in　a　direction　towards　Tolchurch。　　Keeping　to　the
fields；　as　well　as　he　could；　for　the　greater　part　of　the　way；　he
dropped　into　the　road　by　the　vicarage　letter…box；　and　looking
carefully　about；　to　ascertain　that　no　person　was　near；　he　restored
the　letter　to　its　nook；　placed　the　key　in　its　hiding…place；　as　he
had　promised　the　postman；　and　again　rode　homewards　by　a　roundabout
way；

3。　　AFTERNOON

The　letter　was　brought　to　Owen　Graye；　the　same　afternoon；　by　one　of
the　vicar's　servants　who　had　been　to　the　box　with　a　duplicate　key；
as　usual；　to　leave　letters　for　the　evening　post。　　The　man　found　that
the　index　had　told　falsely　that　morning　for　the　first　time　within
hi