the black robe-第6章
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On the westward side； the ground sloped steeply down to a deep
pool or tarn。 Northward and southward； there was nothing to be
seen but the open moor。 Look where I might； with the moonlight to
make the view plain to me； the solitude was as void of any living
creature as if we had been surrounded by the awful dead world of
the moon。
〃Was it the boy's voice that you heard on the voyage across the
Channel？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； I heard it for the first timedown in the engine…room；
rising and falling； rising and falling； like the sound of the
engines themselves。〃
〃And when did you hear it again？〃
〃I feared to hear it in London。 It left me； I should have told
you； when we stepped ashore out of the steamboat。 I was afraid
that the noise of the traffic in the streets might bring it back
to me。 As you know； I passed a quiet night。 I had the hope that
my imagination had deceived methat I was the victim of a
delusion； as people say。 It is no delusion。 In the perfect
tranquillity of this place the voice has come back to me。 While
we were at table I heard it againbehind me； in the library。 I
heard it still； when the door was shut。 I ran up here to try if
it would follow me into the open air。 It _has_ followed me。 We
may as well go down again into the hall。 I know now that there is
no escaping from it。 My dear old home has become horrible to me。
Do you mind returning to London tomorrow？〃
What I felt and feared in this miserable state of things matters
little。 The one chance I could see for Romayne was to obtain the
best medical advice。 I sincerely encouraged his idea of going
back to London the next day。
We had sat together by the hall fire for about ten minutes； when
he took out his handkerchief； and wiped away the perspiration
from his forehead； drawing a deep breath of relief。 〃It has
gone！〃 he said faintly。
〃When you hear the boy's voice；〃 I asked； 〃do you hear it
continuously？〃
〃No； at intervals； sometimes longer； sometimes shorter。〃
〃And thus far； it comes to you suddenly； and leaves you
suddenly？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Do my questions annoy you？〃
〃I make no complaint；〃 he said sadly。 〃You can see for
yourselfI patiently suffer the punishment that I have
deserved。〃
I contradicted him at once。 〃It is nothing of the sort！ It's a
nervous malady； which medical science can control and cure。 Wait
till we get to London。〃
This expression of opinion produced no effect on him。
〃I have taken the life of a fellow…creature；〃 he said。 〃I have
closed the career of a young man who； but for me； might have
lived long and happily and honorably。 Say what you may； I am of
the race of Cain。 _ He_ had the mark set on his brow。 I have _my_
ordeal。 Delude yourself； if you like； with false hopes。 I can
endureand hope for nothing。 Good…night。〃
VIII。
EARLY the next morning； the good old butler came to me； in great
perturbation； for a word of advice。
〃Do come； sir； and look at the master！ I can't find it in my
heart to wake him。〃
It was time to wake him； if we were to go to London that day。 I
went into the bedroom。 Although I was no doctor； the restorative
importance of that profound and quiet sleep impressed itself on
me so strongly； that I took the responsibility of leaving him
undisturbed。 The event proved that I had acted wisely。 He slept
until noon。 There was no return of 〃the torment of the voice〃as
he called it； poor fellow。 We passed a quiet day； excepting one
little interruption； which I am warned not to pass over without a
word of record in this narrative。
We had returned from a ride。 Romayne had gone into the library to
read； and I was just leaving the stables； after a look at some
recent improvements； when a pony…chaise with a gentleman in it
drove up to the door。 He asked politely if he might be allowed to
see the house。 There were some fine pictures at Vange； as well as
many interesting relics of antiquity； and the rooms were shown；
in Romayne's absence； to the very few travelers who were
adventurous enough to cross the heathy desert that surrounded the
Abbey。 On this occasion； the stranger was informed that Mr。
Romayne was at home。 He at once apologizedwith an appearance of
disappointment； however； which induced me to step forward and
speak to him。
〃Mr。 Romayne is not very well；〃 I said； 〃and I cannot venture to
ask you into the house。 But you will be welcome； I am sure； to
walk round the grounds； and to look at the ruins of the Abbey。〃
He thanked me； and accepted the invitation。 I find no great
difficulty in describing him； generally。 He was elderly； fat。 and
cheerful； buttoned up in a long black frockcoat； and presenting
that closely shaven face and that inveterate expression of
watchful humility about the eyes； which we all associate with the
reverend personality of a priest。
To my surprise； he seemed； in some degree at least； to know his
way about the place。 He made straight for the dreary little lake
which I have already mentioned； and stood looking at it with an
interest which was so incomprehensible to me； that I own I
watched him。
He ascended the slope of the moorland； and entered the gate which
led to the grounds。 All that the gardeners had done to make the
place attractive failed to claim his attention。 He walked past
lawns； shrubs； and flower…beds； and only stopped at an old stone
fountain； which tradition declared to have been one of the
ornaments of the garden in the time of the monks。 Having
carefully examined this relic of antiquity； he took a sheet of
paper from his pocket； and consulted it attentively。 It might
have been a plan of the house and grounds； or it might notI can
only report that he took the path which led him； by the shortest
way； to the ruined Abbey church。
As he entered the roofless inclosure； he reverently removed his
hat。 It was impossible for me to follow him any further； without
exposing myself to the risk of discovery。 I sat down on one of
the fallen stones； waiting to see him again。 It must have been at
least half an hour before he appeared。 He thanked me for my
kindness； as composedly as if he had quite expected to find me in
the place that I occupied。
〃I have been deeply interested in all that I have seen；〃 he said。
〃May I venture to ask； what is perhaps an indiscreet question on
the part of a stranger？〃
I ventured； on my side； to inquire what the question might be。
〃Mr。 Romayne is indeed fortunate；〃 he resumed； 〃in the possession
of this beautiful place。 He is a young man； I think？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Is he married？〃
〃No。〃
〃Excuse my curiosity。 The owner of Vange Abbey is an interesting
person to all good antiquaries like myself。 Many thanks again。
Good…day。〃
His pony…chaise took him away。 His last look restednot on
mebut on the old Abbey。
IX。
MY record of events approaches its conclusion。
On the next day we returned to the hotel in London。 At Romayne's
suggestion； I sent the same evening to my own house for any
letters which might be waiting for me。 His mind still dwelt on
the duel； he was morbidly eager to know if any communication had
been received from the French surgeon。
When the messenger returned with my letters； the Boulogne
postmark was on one of the envelopes。 At Romayne's entreaty； this
was the letter that I opened first。 The surgeon's signature was
at the end。
One motive for anxietyon my partwas set at rest in the first
lines。 After an official inquiry into the circumstances； the
French authorities had decided that it was not expedient to put
the survivor of the duelists on his trial before a court of law。
No jury； hearing the evidence； would find him guilty of the only
charge that could be formally brought against himthe charge of
〃homicide by premeditation。〃 Homicide by misadventure； occurring
in a duel； was not a punishable offense by the French law。 My
correspondent cited many cases in proof of it； strengthened by
the publicly…expressed opinion of the illustrious Berryer
himself。 In a word； we had nothing to fear。
The next page of the letter informed us that the police had
surprised the card playing community with whom we had spent the
evening at Boulogne； and that the much…bejeweled old landlady had
been sent to prison for the offense of keeping a gambling…house。
It was suspected in the town that the General was more or less
directly connected with certain disreputable circumstances
discovered by the authorities。 In any case； he had retired from
active service。
He and his wife and family had left Boulogne； and had gone away
in debt。 No investigation had thus far succeeded in discovering
the place of their retreat。
Reading this letter aloud to Romayne； I was interrupted by him at
the last sentence。
〃The inquiries must have been carelessly made；〃 he said。 〃I will
see to it myself。〃
〃What interest can you have in the inquiries？〃 I exclaimed。
〃The strongest possible interest；〃 he answered。 〃It has been my
one hope to make some little atonement to the poor people whom I
have so cruelly wronged。 If the wife and children are in
distressed circumstances （which seems to be only too likely） I
may place them beyond the reach of anxietyanonymously； of
course。 Give me the surgeon's address。 I shall write instructions
for tracing them at my expensemerely announcing that an Unknown
Friend desires to be of service to the General's family。〃
This appeared to me to be a most imprudent thing to do。 I said so
plainlyand quite in vain。 With his customary impetuosity； he
wrote the letter at once； and sent it to the post that night。
X。
ON the question of submitting himself to medical advice （which I
now earnestly pressed upon him）； Romayne was disposed to be
equally unreasonable。 But in this case； events declared
themselves in my favor。
Lady Berrick's last reserves of strength had given way。 She had
been brought to London in a dying state while we
