desperate remedies-第65章

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into　the　middle　of　the　room。　　She　applied　her　eye　to　the　orifice。

Miss　Aldclyffe　and　Manston　were　both　standing；　Manston　with　his　back
to　the　window；　his　companion　facing　it。　　The　lady's　demeanour　was
severe；　condemnatory；　and　haughty。　　No　more　was　to　be　seen；　Anne
then　turned　sideways；　leant　with　her　shoulder　against　the　shutters
and　placed　her　ear　upon　the　hole。

'You　know　where；'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe。　　'And　how　could　you；　a　man；
act　a　double　deceit　like　this？'

'Men　do　strange　things　sometimes。'

'What　was　your　reasoncome？'

'A　mere　whim。'

'I　might　even　believe　that；　if　the　woman　were　handsomer　than
Cytherea；　or　if　you　had　been　married　some　time　to　Cytherea　and　had
grown　tired　of　her。'

'And　can't　you　believe　it；　too；　under　these　conditions；　that　I
married　Cytherea；　gave　her　up　because　I　heard　that　my　wife　was
alive；　found　that　my　wife　would　not　come　to　live　with　me；　and　then；
not　to　let　any　woman　I　love　so　well　as　Cytherea　run　any　risk　of
being　displaced　and　ruined　in　reputation；　should　my　wife　ever　think
fit　to　return；　induced　this　woman　to　come　to　me；　as　being　better
than　no　companion　at　all？'

'I　cannot　believe　it。　　Your　love　for　Cytherea　was　not　of　such　a　kind
as　that　excuse　would　imply。　　It　was　Cytherea　or　nobody　with　you。　　As
an　object　of　passion；　you　did　not　desire　the　company　of　this　Anne
Seaway　at　all；　and　certainly　not　so　much　as　to　madly　risk　your
reputation　by　bringing　her　here　in　the　way　you　have　done。　　I　am　sure
you　didn't；　AEneas。'

'So　am　I；'　he　said　bluntly。

Miss　Aldclyffe　uttered　an　exclamation　of　astonishment；　the
confession　was　like　a　blow　in　its　suddenness。　　She　began　to　reproach
him　bitterly；　and　with　tears。

'How　could　you　overthrow　my　plans；　disgrace　the　only　girl　I　ever　had
any　respect　for；　by　such　inexplicable　doings！。　。　。　　That　woman　must
leave　this　placethe　country　perhaps。　　Heavens！　the　truth　will　leak
out　in　a　day　or　two！'

'She　must　do　no　such　thing；　and　the　truth　must　be　stifled　somehow
nobody　knows　how。　　If　I　stay　here；　or　on　any　spot　of　the　civilized
globe；　as　AEneas　Manston；　this　woman　must　live　with　me　as　my　wife；
or　I　am　damned　past　redemption！'

'I　will　not　countenance　your　keeping　her；　whatever　your　motive　may
be。'

'You　must　do　something；'　he　murmured。　　'You　must。　　Yes；　you　must。'

'I　never　will；'　she　said。　　'It　is　a　criminal　act。'

He　looked　at　her　earnestly。　　'Will　you　not　support　me　through　this
deception　if　my　very　life　depends　upon　it？　　Will　you　not？'

'Nonsense！　　Life！　　It　will　be　a　scandal　to　you；　but　she　must　leave
this　place。　　It　will　out　sooner　or　later；　and　the　exposure　had
better　come　now。'

Manston　repeated　gloomily　the　same　words。　　'My　life　depends　upon
your　supporting　memy　very　life。'

He　then　came　close　to　her；　and　spoke　into　her　ear。　　Whilst　he　spoke
he　held　her　head　to　his　mouth　with　both　his　hands。　　Strange
expressions　came　over　her　face；　the　workings　of　her　mouth　were
painful　to　observe。　　Still　he　held　her　and　whispered　on。

The　only　words　that　could　be　caught　by　Anne　Seaway；　confused　as　her
hearing　frequently　was　by　the　moan　of　the　wind　and　the　waterfall　in
her　outer　ear；　were　these　of　Miss　Aldclyffe；　in　tones　which
absolutely　quivered：　　'They　have　no　money。　　What　can　they　prove？'

The　listener　tasked　herself　to　the　utmost　to　catch　his　answer；　but
it　was　in　vain。　　Of　the　remainder　of　the　colloquy　one　fact　alone　was
plain　to　Anne；　and　that　only　inductivelythat　Miss　Aldclyffe；　from
what　he　had　revealed　to　her；　was　going　to　scheme　body　and　soul　on
Manston's　behalf。

Miss　Aldclyffe　seemed　now　to　have　no　further　reason　for　remaining；
yet　she　lingered　awhile　as　if　loth　to　leave　him。　　When；　finally；　the
crestfallen　and　agitated　lady　made　preparations　for　departure；　Anne
quickly　inserted　the　bolt；　ran　round　to　the　entrance　archway；　and
down　the　steps　into　the　park。　　Here　she　stood　close　to　the　trunk　of
a　huge　lime…tree；　which　absorbed　her　dark　outline　into　its　own。

In　a　few　minutes　she　saw　Manston；　with　Miss　Aldclyffe　leaning　on　his
arm；　cross　the　glade　before　her　and　proceed　in　the　direction　of　the
house。　　She　watched　them　ascend　the　rise　and　advance；　as　two　black
spots；　towards　the　mansion。　　The　appearance　of　an　oblong　space　of
light　in　the　dark　mass　of　walls　denoted　that　the　door　was　opened。
Miss　Aldclyffe's　outline　became　visible　upon　it；　the　door　shut　her
in；　and　all　was　darkness　again。　　The　form　of　Manston　returning　alone
arose　from　the　gloom；　and　passed　by　Anne　in　her　hiding…place。

Waiting　outside　a　quarter　of　an　hour　longer；　that　no　suspicion　of
any　kind　might　be　excited；　Anne　returned　to　the　old　manor…house。

4。　　FROM　EIGHT　TO　ELEVEN　O'CLOCK　P。M。

Manston　was　very　friendly　that　evening。　　It　was　evident　to　her；　now
that　she　was　behind　the　scenes；　that　he　was　making　desperate　efforts
to　disguise　the　real　state　of　his　mind。

Her　terror　of　him　did　not　decrease。　　They　sat　down　to　supper；
Manston　still　talking　cheerfully。　　But　what　is　keener　than　the　eye
of　a　mistrustful　woman？　　A　man's　cunning　is　to　it　as　was　the　armour
of　Sisera　to　the　thin　tent…nail。　　She　found；　in　spite　of　his
adroitness；　that　he　was　attempting　something　more　than　a　disguise　of
his　feeling。　　He　was　trying　to　distract　her　attention；　that　he　might
be　unobserved　in　some　special　movement　of　his　hands。

What　a　moment　it　was　for　her　then！　　The　whole　surface　of　her　body
became　attentive。　　She　allowed　him　no　chance　whatever。　　We　know　the
duplicated　condition　at　such　timeswhen　the　existence　divides
itself　into　two；　and　the　ostensibly　innocent　chatterer　stands　in
front；　like　another　person；　to　hide　the　timorous　spy。

Manston　played　the　same　game；　but　more　palpably。　　The　meal　was
nearly　over　when　he　seemed　possessed　of　a　new　idea　of　how　his　object
might　be　accomplished。　　He　tilted　back　his　chair　with　a　reflective
air；　and　looked　steadily　at　the　clock　standing　against　the　wall
opposite　to　him。　　He　said　sententiously；　'Few　faces　are　capable　of
expressing　more　by　dumb　show　than　the　face　of　a　clock。　　You　may　see
in　it　every　variety　of　incentivefrom　the　softest　seductions　to
negligence　to　the　strongest　hints　for　action。'

'Well；　in　what　way？'　she　inquired。　　His　drift　was；　as　yet；　quite
unintelligible　to　her。

'Why；　for　instance：　　look　at　the　cold；　methodical；　unromantic；
business…like　air　of　all　the　right…angled　positions　of　the　hands。
They　make　a　man　set　about　work　in　spite　of　himself。　　Then　look　at
the　piquant　shyness　of　its　face　when　the　two　hands　are　over　each
other。　　Several　attitudes　imply　〃Make　ready。〃　　The　〃make　ready〃　of
ten　minutes　to　one　differs　from　the　〃make　ready〃　of　ten　minutes　to
twelve；　as　youth　differs　from　age。　　〃Upward　and　onward〃　says　twenty…
five　minutes　to　eleven。　　Mid…day　or　midnight　expresses　distinctly
〃It　is　done。〃　　You　surely　have　noticed　that？'

'Yes；　I　have。'

He　continued　with　affected　quaintness：

'The　easy　dash　of　ten　minutes　past　seven；　the　rakish　recklessness　of
a　quarter　past；　the　drooping　weariness　of　twenty…five　minutes　past；
must　have　been　observed　by　everybody。'

'Whatever　amount　of　truth　there　may　be；　there　is　a　good　deal　of
imagination　in　your　fancy；'　she　said。

He　still　contemplated　the　clock。

'Then；　again；　the　general　finish　of　the　face　has　a　great　effect　upon
the　eye。　　This　old…fashioned　brass…faced　one　we　have　here；　with　its
arched　top；　half…moon　slit　for　the　day　of　the　month；　and　ship
rocking　at　the　upper　part；　impresses　me　with　the　notion　of　its　being
an　old　cynic；　elevating　his　brows；　whose　thoughts　can　be　seen
wavering　between　good　and　evil。'

A　thought　now　enlightened　her：　　the　clock　was　behind　her；　and　he
wanted　to　get　her　back　turned。　　She　dreaded　turning；　yet；　not　to
excite　his　suspicion；　she　was　on　her　guard；　she　quickly　looked
behind　her　at　the　clock　as　he　spoke；　recovering　her　old　position
again　instantly。　　The　time　had　not　been　long　enough　for　any　action
whatever　on　his　part。

'Ah；'　he　casually　remarked；　and　at　the　same　minute　began　to　pour　her
out　a　glass　of　wine。　　'Speaking　of　the　clock　has　reminded　me　that　it
must　nearly　want　winding　up。　　Remember　that　it　is　wound　to…night。
Suppose　you　do　it　at　once；　my　dear。'

There　was　no　possible　way　of　evading　the　act。　　She　resolutely　turned
to　perform　the　operation：　　anything　was　better　than　that　he　should
suspect　her。　　It　was　an　old…fashioned　eight…day　clock；　of
workmanship　suited　to　the　rest　of　the　antique　furniture　that　Manston
had　collected　there；　and　ground　heavily　during　winding。

Anne　had　given　up　all　idea　of　being　able　to　watch　him　during　the
interval；　and　the　noise　of　the　wheels　prevented　her　learning
anything　by　her　ears。　　But；　as　she　wound；　she　caught　sight　of　his
shadow　on　the　wall　at　her　right　hand。

What　was　he　doing？　　He　was　in　the　very　act　of　pouring　something　into
her　glass　of　wine。

He　had　completed　the　manoeuvre　before　she　had　done　winding。　　She
methodically　closed　the　clock…case　and　turned　round　again。　　When　she
faced　him　he　was　sitting　in　his　chair　as　before　she　had　risen。

In　a　familiar　scene　which　has　hitherto　been　pleasant　it　is　difficult
to　realize　that　an　added　condition；　which　does　not　alter　its　aspect；
can　have　made　it　terrible。　　The　woman　thought　that　his　action　must
have　been　prompted　by　no　other　intent　than　that　of　poisoning　her；
and　yet　she　could　not　instantly　put　on　a　fear　of　her　position。

And　before　she　had　grasped　these　consequences；　another　supposition
served　to　make　her　regard　the　first　as　unlikely；　if　not　absurd。　　It
was　the　act　of　a　madman　to　take　her　life　in　a　manner　so　easy　of
discovery；　unless　there　were　far　more　reason　for　the　crime　than　any
that　Manston　could　possibly　have。

Was　it　not　merely　his　intention；　in　tampering　with　her　wine；　to　make
her　sleep　soundly　that　night？　　This　was　in　harmony　with　her　original
suspicion；　that　he　intended　secretly　to　abscond。　　At　any　rate；　he
was　going　to　set　about　some　stealthy　proceeding；　as　to　which　she　was
to　be　kept　in　utter　darkness。　　The　difficulty　now　was　to　avoid
drinking　the　wine。

By　means　of　one　pretext　and　another　she　put　off　taking　her　glass　for
nearly　five　minutes；　but　he　eyed　her　too　frequently　to　allow　her　to
throw　the　potion　under　the　grate。　　It　became　necessary　to　take　one
sip。　　This　she　did；　and　found　an　opportunity　of　absorbing　it　in　her
handkerchief。

Plainly　he　had　no　idea　of　her　countermoves。　　The　scheme　seemed　to
him　in　proper　train；　and　he　turned　to　poke　out　the　fire。　　She
instantly　seized　the　glass；　and　poured　its　contents　down　her　bosom。
When　he　faced　round　again　she　was　holding　the　glass　to　her　lips；
empty。

In　due　course　he　locked　the　doors　and　saw　that　the　shutters　were
fastened。　　She　attended　to　a　few　closing　details　of　housewifery；　and
a　few　minutes　later　they　retired　for　the　night。

5。　　FROM　ELEVEN　O'CLOCK　TO　MIDNIGHT

When　Manston　was　persuaded；　by　the　feigned　heaviness　of　her
breathing；　that　Anne　Seaway　was　asleep；　he　softly　arose；　and　dressed
himself　in　the　gloom。　　With　ears　strained　to　their　utmost　she　heard
him　complete　this　operation；　then　he　took　something　from　his　pocket；
put　it　in　the　drawer　of　the　dressing…table；　went　to　the　door；　and
down　the　stairs。　　She　glided　out　of　bed　and　looked　in　the　drawer。
He　had　only　restored　to　its　place　a　small　phial　she　had　seen　there
before。