desperate remedies-第68章

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'Hoy！'　said　the　officer。

Nobody　answered。

'Hoy；　you　man　asleep　there！'　he　said　again。

No　reply。

'Well；　that's　oddthis　comes　of　the　folly　of　travelling　without
gig…lamps　because　you　expect　the　dawn。'　　He　jumped　to　the　ground　and
turned　on　his　lantern。

There　was　the　gig　which　had　obstructed　him；　standing　in　the　middle
of　the　road；　a　jaded　horse　harnessed　to　it；　but　no　human　being　in　or
near　the　vehicle。

'Do　you　know　whose　gig　this　is？'　he　said　to　the　woman。

'No；'　she　said　sullenly。　　But　she　did　recognize　it　as　the　steward's。

'I'll　swear　it's　Manston's！　　Come；　I　can　hear　it　by　your　tone。
However；　you　needn't　say　anything　which　may　criminate　you。　　What
forethought　the　man　must　have　hadhow　carefully　he　must　have
considered　possible　contingencies！　　Why；　he　must　have　got　the　horse
and　gig　ready　before　he　began　shifting　the　body。'

He　listened　for　a　sound　among　the　trees。　　None　was　to　be　heard　but
the　occasional　scamper　of　a　rabbit　over　the　withered　leaves。　　He
threw　the　light　of　his　lantern　through　a　gap　in　the　hedge；　but　could
see　nothing　beyond　an　impenetrable　thicket。　　It　was　clear　that
Manston　was　not　many　yards　off；　but　the　question　was　how　to　find
him。　　Nothing　could　be　done　by　the　detective　just　then；　encumbered
as　he　was　by　the　horse　and　Anne。　　If　he　had　entered　the　thicket　on　a
search　unaided；　Manston　might　have　stepped　unobserved　from　behind　a
bush　and　murdered　him　with　the　greatest　ease。　　Indeed；　there　were
such　strong　reasons　for　the　exploit　in　Manston's　circumstances　at
that　moment　that　without　showing　cowardice；　his　pursuer　felt　it
hazardous　to　remain　any　longer　where　he　stood。

He　hastily　tied　the　head　of　Manston's　horse　to　the　back　of　his　own
vehicle；　that　the　steward　might　be　deprived　of　the　use　of　any　means
of　escape　other　than　his　own　legs；　and　drove　on　thus　with　his
prisoner　to　the　county…town。　　Arrived　there；　he　lodged　her　in　the
police…station；　and　then　took　immediate　steps　for　the　capture　of
Manston。



XX。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　THREE　HOURS

1。　　MARCH　THE　TWENTY…THIRD。　　MIDDAY

Thirty…six　hours　had　elapsed　since　Manston's　escape。

It　was　market…day　at　the　county…town。　　The　farmers　outside　and
inside　the　corn…exchange　looked　at　their　samples　of　wheat；　and
poured　them　critically　as　usual　from　one　palm　to　another；　but　they
thought　and　spoke　of　Manston。　　Grocers　serving　behind　their
counters；　instead　of　using　their　constant　phrase；　'The　next　article；
please？'　substituted；　'Have　you　heard　if　he's　caught？'　　Dairymen　and
drovers　standing　beside　the　sheep　and　cattle　pens；　spread　their　legs
firmly；　readjusted　their　hats；　thrust　their　hands　into　the　lowest
depths　of　their　pockets；　regarded　the　animals　with　the　utmost
keenness　of　which　the　eye　was　capable；　and　said；　'Ay；　ay；　so's：
they'll　have　him　avore　night。'

Later　in　the　day　Edward　Springrove　passed　along　the　street　hurriedly
and　anxiously。　　'Well；　have　you　heard　any　more？'　he　said　to　an
acquaintance　who　accosted　him。

'They　tracked　him　in　this　way；'　said　the　other　young　man。　　'A
vagrant　first　told　them　that　Manston　had　passed　a　rick　at　daybreak；
under　which　this　man　was　lying。　　They　followed　the　track　he　pointed
out　and　ultimately　came　to　a　stile。　　On　the　other　side　was　a　heap　of
half…hardened　mud；　scraped　from　the　road。　　On　the　surface　of　the
heap；　where　it　had　been　smoothed　by　the　shovel；　was　distinctly
imprinted　the　form　of　a　man's　hand；　the　buttons　of　his　waistcoat；
and　his　watch…chain；　showing　that　he　had　stumbled　in　hurrying　over
the　stile；　and　fallen　there。　　The　pattern　of　the　chain　proved　the
man　to　have　been　Manston。　　They　followed　on　till　they　reached　a　ford
crossed　by　stepping…stoneson　the　further　bank　were　the　same
footmarks　that　had　shown　themselves　beside　the　stile。　　The　whole　of
this　course　had　been　in　the　direction　of　Budmouth。　　On　they　went；
and　the　next　clue　was　furnished　them　by　a　shepherd。　　He　said　that
wherever　a　clear　space　three　or　four　yards　wide　ran　in　a　line
through　a　flock　of　sheep　lying　about　a　ewe…lease；　it　was　a　proof
that　somebody　had　passed　there　not　more　than　half…an…hour　earlier。
At　twelve　o'clock　that　day　he　had　noticed　such　a　feature　in　his
flock。　　Nothing　more　could　be　heard　of　him；　and　they　got　into
Budmouth。　　The　steam…packet　to　the　Channel　Islands　was　to　start　at
eleven　last　night；　and　they　at　once　concluded　that　his　hope　was　to
get　to　France　by　way　of　Jersey　and　St。　Malohis　only　chance；　all
the　railway…stations　being　watched。

'Well；　they　went　to　the　boat：　　he　was　not　on　board　then。　　They　went
again　at　half…past　ten：　　he　had　not　come。　　Two　men　now　placed
themselves　under　the　lamp　immediately　beside　the　gangway。　　Another
stayed　by　the　office　door；　and　one　or　two　more　up　Mary　Streetthe
straight　cut　to　the　quay。　　At　a　quarter　to　eleven　the　mail…bags　were
put　on　board。　　Whilst　the　attention　of　the　idlers　was　directed　to
the　mails；　down　Mary　Street　came　a　man　as　boldly　as　possible。　　The
gait　was　Manston's；　but　not　the　clothes。　　He　passed　over　to　the
shaded　part　of　the　street：　　heads　were　turned。　　I　suppose　this
warned　him；　for　he　never　emerged　from　the　shadow。　　They　watched　and
waited；　but　the　steward　did　not　reappear。　　The　alarm　was　raised
they　searched　the　town　high　and　lowno　Manston。　　All　this　morning
they　have　been　searching；　but　there's　not　a　sign　of　him　anywhere。
However；　he　has　lost　his　last　chance　of　getting　across　the　Channel。
It　is　reported　that　he　has　since　changed　clothes　with　a　labourer。'

During　this　narration；　Edward；　lost　in　thought；　had　let　his　eyes
follow　a　shabby　man　in　a　smock…frock；　but　wearing　light　bootswho
was　stalking　down　the　street　under　a　bundle　of　straw　which　overhung
and　concealed　his　head。　　It　was　a　very　ordinary　circumstance　for　a
man　with　a　bundle　of　straw　on　his　shoulders　and　overhanging　his
head；　to　go　down　the　High　Street。　　Edward　saw　him　cross　the　bridge
which　divided　the　town　from　the　country；　place　his　shaggy
encumbrance　by　the　side　of　the　road；　and　leave　it　there。

Springrove　now　parted　from　his　acquaintance；　and　went　also　in　the
direction　of　the　bridge；　and　some　way　beyond　it。　　As　far　as　he　could
see　stretched　the　turnpike　road；　and；　while　he　was　looking；　he
noticed　a　man　to　leap　from　the　hedge　at　a　point　two　hundred；　or　two
hundred　and　fifty　yards　ahead；　cross　the　road；　and　go　through　a
wicket　on　the　other　side。　　This　figure　seemed　like　that　of　the　man
who　had　been　carrying　the　bundle　of　straw。　　He　looked　at　the　straw：
it　still　stood　alone。

The　subjoined　facts　sprang；　as　it　were；　into　juxtaposition　in　his
brain：

Manston　had　been　seen　wearing　the　clothes　of　a　labouring　mana
brown　smock…frock。　　So　had　this　man；　who　seemed　other　than　a
labourer；　on　second　thoughts：　　and　he　had　concealed　his　face　by　his
bundle　of　straw　with　the　greatest　ease　and　naturalness。

The　path　the　man　had　taken　led；　among　other　places；　to　Tolchurch；
where　Cytherea　was　living。

If　Mrs。　Manston　was　murdered；　as　some　said；　on　the　night　of　the
fire；　Cytherea　was　the　steward's　lawful　wife。　　Manston　at　bay；　and
reckless　of　results；　might　rush　to　his　wife　and　harm　her。

It　was　a　horrible　supposition　for　a　man　who　loved　Cytherea　to
entertain；　but　Springrove　could　not　resist　its　influence。　　He
started　off　for　Tolchurch。

2。　　ONE　TO　TWO　O'CLOCK　P。M。

On　that　self…same　mid…day；　whilst　Edward　was　proceeding　to　Tolchurch
by　the　footpath　across　the　fields；　Owen　Graye　had　left　the　village
and　was　riding　along　the　turnpike　road　to　the　county…town；　that　he
might　ascertain　the　exact　truth　of　the　strange　rumour　which　had
reached　him　concerning　Manston。　　Not　to　disquiet　his　sister；　he　had
said　nothing　to　her　of　the　matter。

She　sat　by　the　window　reading。　　From　her　position　she　could　see　up
the　lane　for　a　distance　of　at　least　a　hundred　yards。　　Passers…by
were　so　rare　in　this　retired　nook；　that　the　eyes　of　those　who　dwelt
by　the　wayside　were　invariably　lifted　to　every　one　on　the　road；
great　and　small；　as　to　a　novelty。

A　man　in　a　brown　smock…frock　turned　the　corner　and　came　towards　the
house。　　It　being　market…day　at　Casterbridge；　the　village　was　nearly
deserted；　and　more　than　this；　the　old　farm…house　in　which　Owen　and
his　sister　were　staying；　stood；　as　has　been　stated；　apart　from　the
body　of　cottages。　　The　man　did　not　look　respectable；　Cytherea　arose
and　bolted　the　door。

Unfortunately　he　was　near　enough　to　see　her　cross　the　room。　　He
advanced　to　the　door；　knocked；　and；　receiving　no　answer；　came　to　the
window；　he　next　pressed　his　face　against　the　glass；　peering　in。

Cytherea's　experience　at　that　moment　was　probably　as　trying　a　one　as
ever　fell　to　the　lot　of　a　gentlewoman　to　endure。　　She　recognized　in
the　peering　face　that　of　the　man　she　had　married。

But　not　a　movement　was　made　by　her；　not　a　sound　escaped　her。　　Her
fear　was　great；　but　had　she　known　the　truththat　the　man　outside；
feeling　he　had　nothing　on　earth　to　lose　by　any　act；　was　in　the　last
stage　of　recklessness；　terrified　nature　must　have　given　way。

'Cytherea；'　he　said；　'let　me　come　in：　　I　am　your　husband。'

'No；'　she　replied；　still　not　realizing　the　magnitude　of　her　peril。
'If　you　want　to　speak　to　us；　wait　till　my　brother　comes。'

'O；　he's　not　at　home？　　Cytherea；　I　can't　live　without　you！　　All　my
sin　has　been　because　I　love　you　so！　　Will　you　fly　with　me？　　I　have
money　enough　for　us　bothonly　come　with　me。'

'Not　nownot　now。'

'I　am　your　husband；　I　tell　you；　and　I　must　come　in。'

'You　cannot；'　she　said　faintly。　　His　words　began　to　terrify　her。

'I　will；　I　say！'　he　exclaimed。　　'Will　you　let　me　in；　I　ask　once
more？'

'NoI　will　not；'　said　Cytherea。

'Then　I　will　let　myself　in！'　he　answered　resolutely。　　'I　will；　if　I
die　for　it！'

The　windows　were　glazed　in　lattice　panes　of　leadwork；　hung　in
casements。　　He　broke　one　of　the　panes　with　a　stone；　thrust　his　hand
through　the　hole；　unfastened　the　latch　which　held　the　casement
close；　and　began　opening　the　window。

Instantly　the　shutters　flew　together　with　a　slam；　and　were　barred
with　desperate　quickness　by　Cytherea　on　the　inside。

'Damn　you！'　he　exclaimed。

He　ran　round　to　the　back　of　the　house。　　His　impatience　was　greater
now：　　he　thrust　his　fist　through　the　pantry　window　at　one　blow；　and
opened　it　in　the　same　way　as　the　former　one　had　been　opened；　before
the　terror…stricken　girl　was　aware　that　he　had　gone　round。　　In　an
instant　he　stood　in　the　pantry；　advanced　to　the　front　room　where　she
was；　flung　back　the　shutters；　and　held　out　his　arms　to　embrace　her。

In　extremely　trying　moments　of　bodily　or　mental　pain；　Cytherea
either　flushed　hot　or　faded　pale；　according　to　the　state　of　her
constitution　at　the　moment。　　Now　she　burned　like　fire　from　head　to
foot；　and　this　preserved　her　consciousness。

Never　before　had　the　poor　child's　natural　agility　served　her　in　such
good　stead　as　now。　　A　heavy　oblong　table　stood　in　the　middle　of　the
room。　　Round　this　table　she　flew；　keeping　it　between　herself　and
Manston；　her　large　eyes　wide　open　with　terror；　their　dilated　pupils
constantly　fixed　upon　Manston's；　to　read　by　his　expression　whether
his　next　intention　was　to　dart　to　the　right　or　the　left。

Even　he；　at　that　heated　moment；　could　not　endure　the　expression　of
unutterable　agony　which　shone　from　that　extraordinary　gaze　of　hers。
It　had　surely　been