david elginbrod-第94节

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waning　light。

〃What　is　it；　dear？〃　she　said。

〃Oh；　Margaret！　are　you　there？　　I　did　not　know　you　were　in　the　room。
I　found　myself　at　the　door　before　I　knew　what　I　was　doing。〃

〃But　you　came　back　of　yourself　this　time。〃

〃Yes　I　did。　　But　I　still　feel　inclined　to　go。〃

〃There　is　no　sin　in　that；　so　long　as　you　do　not　encourage　the
feeling；　or　yield　to　it。〃

〃I　hate　it。〃

〃You　will　soon　be　free　from　it。　　Keep　on　courageously；　dear　sister。
You　will　be　in　liberty　and　joy　soon。〃

〃God　grant　it。〃

〃He　will；　Euphra。　　I　am　sure　he　will。〃

〃I　am　sure　you　know；　or　you　would　not　say　it。〃

A　knock　came　to　the　street　door。　　Euphra　started；　and　sat　in　the
attitude　of　a　fearful　listener。　　A　message　was　presently　brought
her；　that　Mr。　Sutherland　was　in　the　drawing…room；　and　wished　to　see
her。

Euphra　rose　immediately；　and　went　to　him。　　Margaret；　who　did　not
quite　feel　that　she　could　be　trusted　yet；　removed　to　a　room　behind
the　drawing…room；　whence　she　could　see　Euphra　if　she　passed　to　go
down　stairs。

Hugh　asked　her　if　she　could　tell　him　anything　more　about　Count
Halkar。

〃Only；〃　she　answered；　〃that　I　am　still　surer　of　his　being　near　me。〃

〃How　do　you　know　it？〃

〃I　need　not　mind　telling　you；　for　I　have　told　you　before　that　he　has
a　kind　of　supernatural　power　over　me。　　I　know　it　by　his　drawing　me
towards　him。　　It　is　true　I　might　feel　it　just　the　same　whether　he
was　in　America　or　in　London；　but　I　do　not　think　he　would　care　to　do
it；　if　he　were　so　far　off。　　I　know　him　well　enough　to　know　that　he
would　not　wish　for　me　except　for　some　immediate　advantage　to
himself。〃

〃But　what　is　the　use　of　his　doing　so；　when　you　don't　know　where　he
is　to　be　found。〃

〃I　should　go　straight　to　him；　without　knowing　where　I　was　going。〃

Hugh　rose　in　haste。

〃Put　on　your　bonnet　and　cloak；　and　come　with　me。　　I　will　take　care
of　you。　　Lead　me　to　him；　and　the　ring　shall　soon　be　in　your　hands
again。〃

Euphra　hesitated；　half　rose；　but　sat　down　immediately。

〃No；　no！　　Not　for　worlds；〃　she　said。　〃Do　not　tempt　me。　　I　must
notI　dare　notI　will　not　go。〃

〃But　I　shall　be　with　you。　　I　will　take　care　of　you。　　Don't　you　think
I　am　able；　Euphra？〃

〃Oh；　yes！　quite　able。　　But　I　must　not　go　anywhere　at　that　man's
bidding。〃

〃But　it　won't　be　at　his　bidding：　it　will　be　at　mine。〃

〃Ah！　that　alters　the　case　rather；　does　it　not？　　I　wonder　what
Margaret　would　say。〃

〃Margaret！　　What　Margaret？〃　said　Hugh。

〃Oh！　my　new　maid；〃　answered　Euphra；　recollecting　herself。

〃Not　being　well　at　present；　she　is　my　nurse。〃

〃We　shall　take　a　cab　as　soon　as　we　get　to　the　corner。〃

〃I　don't　think　the　count　would　be　able　to　guide　the　horse；〃　said
Euphra；　with　a　smile。　〃I　must　walk。　　But　I　should　like　to　go。　　I
will。　　It　would　be　such　a　victory　to　catch　him　in　his　own　toils。〃

She　rose　and　ran　up　stairs。　　In　a　few　minutes　she　came　down　again；
cloaked　and　veiled。　　But　Margaret　met　her　as　she　descended；　and
leading　her　into　the　back　drawing…room；　said：

〃Are　you　going；　Euphra？〃

〃Yes；　but　I　am　going　with　Mr。　Sutherland；〃　answered　Euphra；　in　a
defensive　tone。　〃It　is　to　please　him；　and　not　to　obey　the　count。〃

〃Are　you　sure　it　is　all　to　please　Mr。　Sutherland？　　If　it　were；　I
don't　think　you　would　be　able　to　guide　him　right。　　Is　it　not　to　get
rid　of　your　suffering　by　yielding　to　temptation；　Euphra？　　At　all
events；　if　you　go；　even　should　Mr。　Sutherland　be　successful　with
him；　you　will　never　feel　that　you　have　overcome　him；　or　he；　that　he
has　lost　you。　　He　will　still　hold　you　fast。　　Don't　go。　　I　am　sure
you　are　deceiving　yourself。〃

Euphra　stood　for　a　moment　and　pouted　like　a　naughty　child。　　Then
suddenly　throwing　her　arms　about　Margaret's　neck；　she　kissed　her；
and　said：

〃I　won't　go；　Margaret。　　Here；　take　my　things　up　stairs　for　me。〃

She　threw　off　her　bonnet　and　cloak；　and　rejoined　Hugh　in　the
drawing…room。

〃I　can't　go；〃　she　said。　〃I　must　not　go。　　I　should　be　yielding　to
him；　and　it　would　make　a　slave　of　me　all　my　life。〃

〃It　is　our　only　chance　for　the　ring；〃　said　Hugh。

Again　Euphra　hesitated　and　wavered；　but　again　she　conquered。

〃I　cannot　help　it；〃　she　said。　〃I　would　rather　not　have　the　ring　than
goif　you　will　forgive　me。〃

〃Oh；　Euphra！〃　replied　Hugh。　〃You　know　it　is　not　for　myself。〃

〃I　do　know　it。　　You　won't　mind　then　if　I　don't　go？〃

〃Certainly　not；　if　you　have　made　up　your　mind。　　You　must　have　a　good
reason　for　it。〃

〃Indeed　I　have。〃　　And　even　already　she　felt　that　resistance　brought
its　own　reward。

Hugh　went　almost　immediately；　in　order　to　make　his　report　to
Falconer；　with　whom　he　had　an　appointment　for　the　purpose。

〃She　is　quite　right；〃　said　Falconer。　〃I　do　not　think；　in　the
relation　in　which　she　stands　to　him；　that　she　could　safely　do
otherwise。　　But　it　seems　to　me　very　likely　that　this　will　turn　out
well　for　our　plans；　too。　　Let　her　persist；　and　in　all　probability　he
will　not　only　have　to　resign　her　perforce；　but　will　so　far　make
himself　subject　to　her　in　turn；　as　to　seek　her　who　will　not　go　to
him。　　He　will　pull　upon　his　own　rope　till　he　is　drawn　to　the　spot
where　he　has　fixed　it。　　What　remains　for　you　and　me　to　do；　is　to
keep　a　close　watch　on　the　house　and　neighbourhood。　　Most　likely　we
shall　find　the　villain　before　long。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　so？〃

〃The　whole　affair　is　mysterious；　and　has　to　do　with　laws　with　which
we　are　most　imperfectly　acquainted；　but　this　seems　to　me　a
presumption　worth　acting　upon。　　Is　there　no　one　in　the　house　on　whom
you　could　depend　for　assistancefor　information；　at　least？〃

〃Yes。　There　is　the　same　old　servant　that　Mrs。　Elton　had　with　her　at
Arnstead。　　He　is　a　steady　old　fellow；　and　has　been　very　friendly
with　me。〃

〃Well；　what　I　would　advise　is；　that　you　should　find　yourself
quarters　as　near　the　spot　as　possible；　and；　besides　keeping　as　much
of　a　personal　guard　upon　the　house　as　you　can；　engage　the　servant
you　mention　to　let　you　know；　the　moment　the　count　makes　his
appearance。　　It　will　probably　be　towards　night　when　he　calls；　for
such　a　man　may　have　reasons　as　well　as　instincts　to　make　him　love
the　darkness　rather　than　the　light。　　You　had　better　go　at　once；　and
when　you　have　found　a　place；　leave　or　send　the　address　here　to　me；
and　towards　night…fall　I　will　join　you。　　But　we　may　have　to　watch
for　several　days。　　We　must　not　be　too　sanguine。〃

Almost　without　a　word；　Hugh　went　to　do　as　Falconer　said。　　The　only
place　he　could　find　suitable；　was　a　public…house　at　the　corner　of　a
back　street；　where　the　men…servants　of　the　neighbourhood　used　to
resort。　　He　succeeded　in　securing　a　private　room　in　it；　for　a　week；
and　immediately　sent　Falconer　word　of　his　locality。　　He　then　called
a　second　time　at　Mrs。　Elton's；　and　asked　to　see　the　butler。　　When　he
came：

〃Irwan；〃　said　he；　〃has　Herr　von　Funkelstein　called　here　to…day？〃

〃No；　sir；　he　has　not。〃

〃You　would　know　him；　would　you　not？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　perfectly。〃

〃Well；　if　he　should　call　to…night；　or　to…morrow；　or　any　time　within
the　next　few　days；　let　me　know　the　moment　he　is　in　the　house。　　You
will　find　me　at　the　Golden　Staff；　round　the　corner。　　It　is　of　the
utmost　importance　that　I　should　see　him　at　once。　　But　do　not　let　him
know　that　any　one　wants　to　see　him。　　You　shall　not　repent　helping　me
in　this　affair。　　I　know　I　can　trust　you。〃

Hugh　had　fixed　him　with　his　eyes；　before　he　began　to　explain　his
wishes。　　He　had　found　out　that　this　was　the　best　way　of　securing
attention　from　inferior　natures；　and　that　it　was　especially
necessary　with　London　servants；　for　their　superciliousness　is　cowed
by　it；　and　the　superior　will　brought　to　bear　upon　theirs。　　It　is　the
only　way　a　man　without　a　carriage　has　to　command　attention　from
such。　　Irwan　was　not　one　of　this　sort。　　He　was　a　country　servant；
for　one　difference。　　But　Hugh　made　his　address　as　impressive　as
possible。

〃I　will　with　pleasure；　sir；〃　answered　Irwan；　and　Hugh　felt　tolerably
sure　of　him。

Falconer　came。　　They　ordered　some　supper；　and　sat　till　eleven
o'clock。　　There　being　then　no　chance　of　a　summons；　they　went　out
together。　　Passing　the　house；　they　saw　light　in　one　upper　window
only。　　That　light　would　burn　there　all　night；　for　it　was　in　Euphra's
room。　　They　went　on；　Hugh　accompanying　Falconer　in　one　of　his
midnight　walks　through　London；　as　he　had　done　repeatedly　before。
》From　such　companionship　and　the　scenes　to　which　Falconer　introduced
him；　he　had　gathered　this　fruit；　that　he　began　to　believe　in　God　for
the　sake　of　the　wretched　men　and　women　he　saw　in　the　world。　　At
first　it　was　his　own　pain　at　the　sight　of　such　misery　that　drove
him；　for　consolation；　to　hope　in　God；　so；　at　first；　it　was　for　his
own　sake。　　But　as　he　saw　more　of　them；　and　grew　to　love　them　more；
he　felt　that　the　only　hope　for　them　lay　in　the　love　of　God；　and　he
hoped　in　God　for　them。　　He　saw　too　that　a　God　not　both　humanly　and
absolutely　divine；　a　God　less　than　that　God　shadowed　forth　in　the
Redeemer　of　men；　would　not　do。　　But　thinking　about　God　thus；　and
hoping　in　him　for　his　brothers　and　sisters；　he　began　to　love　God。
Then；　last　of　all；　that　he　might　see　in　him　one　to　whom　he　could
abandon　everything；　that　he　might　see　him　perfect　and　all　in　all　and
as　he　must　befor　the　sake　of　God　himself；　he　believed　in　him　as
the