by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第30节
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knew the vessel； to undertake a private examination of her； with a view of
purchasing her from your father without awakening his suspicions。 I
assented。 You have my confession now； Miss Nott。 You know my crime。 I
am at your mercy。〃
Rosey's arm only tightened around his own。 Her eyes sought his。 〃And
you didn't find anything？〃 she said。
The question sounded so oddly like Sleight's； that Renshaw returned a
little stiffly
〃I didn't look。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Rosey simply。
〃Because；〃 stammered Renshaw； with an uneasy consciousness of
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having exaggerated his sentiment； 〃it didn't seem honorable； it didn't seem
fair to you。〃
〃Oh； you silly！ you might have looked and told ME。〃
〃But；〃 said Renshaw； 〃do you think that would have been fair to
Sleight？〃
〃As fair to him as to us。 For； don't you see； it wouldn't belong to any of
us。 It would belong to the friends or the family of the man who lost it。〃
〃But there were no heirs；〃 said Renshaw。 〃That was proved by some
impostor who pretended to be his brother； and libelled the Pontiac at
Callao； but the courts decided he was a lunatic。〃
〃Then it belongs to the poor pirates who risked their own lives for it；
rather than to Sleight； who did nothing。〃 She was silent for a moment； and
then resumed with energy； 〃I believe he was at the bottom of that attack
last night。〃
〃I have thought so too；〃 said Renshaw。
〃Then I must go back at once；〃 she continued impulsively。 〃Father
must not be left alone。〃
〃Nor must YOU；〃 said Renshaw； quickly。 〃Do let me return with you；
and share with you and your father the trouble I have brought upon you。
Do not；〃 he added in a lower tone； 〃deprive me of the only chance of
expiating my offense； of making myself worthy your forgiveness。〃
〃I am sure；〃 said Rosey； lowering her lids and half withdrawing her
arm； 〃I am sure I have nothing to forgive。 You did not believe the treasure
belonged to us any more than to anybody else； until you knew ME〃
〃That is true；〃 said the young man； attempting to take her hand。
〃I mean；〃 said Rosey； blushing； and showing a distracting row of little
teeth in one of her infrequent laughs； 〃oh； you know what I mean。〃 She
withdrew her arm gently； and became interested in the selection of certain
wayside bay leaves as they passed along。 〃All the same； I don't believe in
this treasure；〃 she said abruptly； as if to change the subject。 〃I don't believe
it ever was hidden inside the Pontiac。〃
〃That can easily be ascertained now；〃 said Renshaw。
〃But it's a pity you didn't find it out while you were about it；〃 said
Rosey。 〃It would have saved so much talk and trouble。〃
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〃I have told you why I didn't search the ship；〃 responded Renshaw；
with a slight bitterness。 〃But it seems I could only avoid being a great
rascal by becoming a great fool。〃
〃You never intended to be a rascal；〃 said Rosey； earnestly； 〃and you
couldn't be a fool； except in heeding what a silly girl says。 I only meant if
you had taken me into your confidence it would have been better。〃
〃Might I not say the same to you regarding your friend； the old
Frenchman？〃 returned Renshaw。 〃What if I were to confess to you that I
lately suspected him of knowing the secret； and of trying to gain your
assistance？〃
Instead of indignantly repudiating the suggestion； to the young man's
great discomfiture； Rosey only knit her pretty brows； and remained for
some minutes silent。 Presently she asked timidly；
〃Do you think it wrong to tell another person's secret for their own
good？〃
〃No；〃 said Renshaw； promptly。
〃Then I'll tell you Monsieur de Ferrieres's！ But only because I believe
from what you have just said that he will turn out to have some right to the
treasure。〃
Then with kindling eyes； and a voice eloquent with sympathy； Rosey
told the story of her accidental discovery of de Ferrieres's miserable
existence in the loft。 Clothing it with the unconscious poetry of her fresh；
young imagination； she lightly passed over his antique gallantry and
grotesque weakness； exalting only his lonely sufferings and mysterious
wrongs。 Renshaw listened； lost between shame for his late suspicions and
admiration for her thoughtful delicacy； until she began to speak of de
Ferrieres's strange allusions to the foreign papers in his portmanteau。 〃I
think some were law papers； and I am almost certain I saw the word
Callao printed on one of them。〃
〃It may be so；〃 said Renshaw； thoughtfully。 〃The old Frenchman has
always passed for a harmless； wandering eccentric。 I hardly think public
curiosity has ever even sought to know his name； much less his history。
But had we not better first try to find if there IS any property before we
examine his claims to it？〃
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〃As you please；〃 said Rosey； with a slight pout； 〃but you will find it
much easier to discover him than his treasure。 It's always easier to find the
thing you're not looking for。〃
〃Until you want it；〃 said Renshaw； with sudden gravity。
〃How pretty it looks over there；〃 said Rosey； turning her conscious
eyes to the opposite mountain。
〃Very。〃
They had reached the top of the hill； and in the near distance the
chimney of Madrono Cottage was even now visible。 At the expected sight
they unconsciously stoppedunconsciously disappointed。 Rosey broke the
embarrassing silence。
〃There's another way home； but it's a roundabout way；〃 she said
timidly。
〃Let us take it；〃 said Renshaw。
She hesitated。 〃The boat goes at four； and we must return to… night。〃
〃The more reason why we should make the most of our time now；〃
said Renshaw with a faint smile。 〃To…morrow all things may be changed；
to…morrow you may find yourself an heiress； Miss Nott。 To…morrow；〃 he
added； with a slight tremor in his voice； 〃I may have earned your
forgiveness； only to say farewell to you forever。 Let me keep this sunshine；
this picture； this companionship with you long enough to say now what
perhaps I must not say to…morrow。〃
They were silent for a moment； and then by a common instinct turned
together into a narrow trail； scarce wide enough for two； that diverged
from the straight practical path before them。 It was indeed a roundabout
way home； so roundabout； in fact； that as they wandered on it seemed even
to double on its track； occasionally lingering long and becoming indistinct
under the shadow of madrono and willow； at one time stopping blindly
before a fallen tree in the hollow； where they had quite lost it； and had to
sit down to recall it； a rough way； often requiring the mutual help of each
other's hands and eyes to tread together in security； an uncertain way； not
to be found without whispered consultation and concession； and yet a way
eventually bringing them hand in hand； happy and hopeful； to the gate of
Madrono Cottage。 And if there was only just time for Rosey to prepare to
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take the boat； it was due to the deviousness of the way。 If a stray curl was
lying loose on Rosey's cheek； and a long hair had caught in Renshaw's
button； it was owing to the roughness of the way； and if in the tones of
their voices and in the glances of their eyes there was a maturer
seriousness； it was due to the dim uncertainty of the path they had traveled；
and would hereafter tread together。
IX
When Mr。 Nott had satisfied himself of Renshaw's departure； he
coolly bolted the door at the head of the companion way； thus cutting off
any communication with the lower deck。
