east lynne-第68节

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〃The　room　is　ready；　sir；〃　she　whispered；　〃and　all　the　household　are　in　bed。〃

〃Then　now's　your　time；　Richard。　Good…night。〃

He　stole　upstairs　after　Joyce；　who　piloted　him　through　the　room　of　Miss　Carlyle。　Nothing　could　be　seen　of　that　lady；　though　something　might　be　heard；　one　given　to　truth　more　than　politeness　might　have　called　it　snoring。　Joyce　showed　Richard　his　chamber；　gave　him　the　candle；　and　closed　the　door　upon　him。

Poor　hunted　Richard；　good…night　to　you。



CHAPTER　XXX。

BARBARA'S　HEART　AT　REST。

Morning　dawned。　The　same　dull　weather；　the　same　heavy　fall　of　snow。　Miss　Carlyle　took　her　breakfast　in　bed；　an　indulgence　she　had　not　favored　for　ever　so　many　years。　Richard　Hare　rose；　but　remained　in　his　chamber；　and　Joyce　carried　his　breakfast　in　to　him。

Mr。　Carlyle　entered　whilst　he　was　taking　it。　〃How　did　you　sleep；　Richard？〃

〃I　slept　well。　I　was　so　dead　tired。　What　am　I　to　do　next；　Mr。　Carlyle？　The　sooner　I　get　away　from　here　the　better。　I　can't　feel　safe。〃

〃You　must　not　think　of　it　before　evening。　I　am　aware　that　you　cannot　remain　here；　save　for　a　few　temporary　hours；　as　it　would　inevitably　become　known　to　the　servants。　You　say　you　think　of　going　to　Liverpool　or　Manchester？〃

〃To　any　large　town；　they　are　all　alike　to　me；　but　one　pursued　as　I　am　is　safer　in　a　large　place　than　a　small　one。〃

〃I　am　inclined　to　think　that　this　man；　Thorn；　only　made　a　show　of　threatening　you；　Richard。　If　he　be　really　the　guilty　party；　his　policy　must　be　to　keep　all　in　quietness。　The　very　worst　thing　that　could　happen　for　him；　would　be　your　arrest。〃

〃Then　why　molest　me？　Why　send　an　officer　to　dodge　me？〃

〃He　did　not　like　your　molesting　him；　and　he　thought　he　would　probably　frighten　you。　After　that　day　you　would　probably　have　seen　no　more　of　the　officer。　You　may　depend　upon　one　thing；　Richard；　had　the　policeman's　object　been　to　take　you；　he　would　have　done　so；　not　have　contented　himself　with　following　you　about　from　place　to　place。　Besides　when　a　detective　officer　is　employed　to　watch　a　party；　he　takes　care　not　to　allow　himself　to　be　seen；　now　this　man　showed　himself　to　you　more　than　once。〃

〃Yes；　there's　a　good　deal　in　all　that；〃　observed　Richard。　〃For；　to　one　in　his　class　of　life；　the　bare　suspicion　of　such　a　crime；　brought　against　him；　would　crush　him　forever　in　the　eyes　of　his　compeers。〃

〃It　is　difficult　to　me　Richard；　to　believe　that　he　is　in　the　class　of　life　you　speak　of；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃There's　no　doubt　about　it；　there's　none　indeed。　But　that　I　did　not　much　like　to　mention　the　name；　for　it　can't　be　a　pleasant　name　to　you；　I　should　have　said　last　night　who　I　have　seen　him　walking　with；〃　continued　simple…hearted　Richard。

Mr。　Carlyle　looked　inquiringly。　〃Richard　say　on。〃

〃I　have　seen　him；　sir；　with　Sir　Francis　Levison；　twice。　Once　he　was　talking　to　him　at　the　door　of　the　betting…rooms；　and　once　they　were　walking　arm…in…arm。　They　are　apparently　upon　intimate　terms。〃

At　this　moment　a　loud；　flustering；　angry　voice　was　heard　calling　from　the　stairs；　and　Richard　leaped　up　as　if　he　had　been　shot。　His　door　not　the　one　leading　to　the　room　of　Miss　Carlyleopened　upon　the　corridor；　and　the　voice　sounded　close；　just　as　if　its　owner　were　coming　in　with　a　hound。　It　was　the　voice　of　Mr。　Justice　Hare。

〃Carlyle；　where　are　you？　Here's　a　pretty　thing　happened！　Come　down！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　for　once　in　his　life　lost　his　calm　equanimity；　and　sprang　to　the　door；　to　keep　it　against　invasion；　as　eagerly　as　Richard　could　have　done。　He　forgot　that　Joyce　had　said　the　door　was　safely　locked；　and　the　key　mislaid。　As　to　Richard；　he　rushed　on　his　hat　and　his　black　whiskers；　and　hesitated　between　under　the　bed　and　inside　the　wardrobe。

〃Don't　agitate　yourself；　Richard；〃　whispered　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃there　is　no　real　danger。　I　will　go　and　keep　him　safely。〃

But　when　Mr。　Carlyle　got　through　his　sister's　bedroom；　he　found　that　lady　had　taken　the　initiative；　and　was　leaning　over　the　balustrades；　having　been　arrested　in　the　process　of　dressing。　Her　clothes　were　on；　but　her　nightcap　was　not　off；　little　cared　she；　however；　who　saw　her　nightcap。

〃What　on　earth　brings　you　up　in　this　weather？〃　began　she；　in　a　tone　of　exasperation。

〃I　want　to　see　Carlyle。　Nice　news　I　have　had！〃

〃What　about？　Anything　concerning　Anne；　or　her　family？〃

〃Anne　be　bothered；〃　replied　the　justice；　who　was　from　some　cause；　in　a　furious　temper。　〃It　concerns　that　precious　rascal；　who　I　am　forced　to　call　son。　I　am　told　he　is　here。〃

Down　the　stairs　leaped　Mr。　Carlyle；　four　at　a　time；　wound　his　arm　within　Mr。　Hare's；　and　led　him　to　a　sitting…room。

〃Good…morning；　justice。　You　had　courage　to　venture　up　through　the　snow！　What　is　the　matter；　you　seem　excited。〃

〃Excited？〃　raved　the　justice；　dancing　about　the　room；　first　on　one　leg；　then　on　the　other；　like　a　cat　upon　hot　bricks；　〃so　you　would　be　excited；　if　your　life　were　worried　out；　as　mine　is；　over　a　wicked　scamp　of　a　son。　Why　can't　folks　trouble　their　heads　about　their　own　business；　and　let　my　affairs　alone？　A　pity　but　what　he　was　hung；　and　the　thing　done　with！〃

〃But　what　has　happened？〃　questioned　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Why　this　has　happened；〃　retorted　the　justice；　throwing　a　letter　on　the　table。　〃The　post　brought　me　this；　just　nowand　pleasant　information　it　gives。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　took　up　the　note　and　read　it。　It　purported　to　be　from　〃a　friend〃　to　Justice　Hare；　informing　that　gentleman　that　his　〃criminal　son〃　was　likely　to　have　arrived　at　West　Lynne；　or　would　arrive　in　the　course　of　a　day　or　so；　and　it　recommended　Mr。　Hare　to　speed　his　departure　from　it；　lest　he　should　be　pounced　upon。

〃This　letter　is　anonymous！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Of　course　it　is；〃　stamped　the　justice。

〃The　only　notice　/I/　should　ever　take　of　an　anonymous　letter　would　be　to　put　it　in　the　fire；〃　cried　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　lip　curling　with　scorn。

〃But　who　has　written　it？〃　danced　Justice　Hare。　〃And　/is/　Dick　at　West　Lynnethat's　the　question。〃

〃Now；　is　it　likely　that　he　should　come　to　West　Lynne？〃　remonstrated　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Justice；　will　you　pardon　me；　if　I　venture　to　give　you　my　candid　opinion。〃

〃The　fool　at　West　Lynne；　running　into　the　very　jaws　of　death！　By　Jupiter！　If　I　can　drop　upon　him；　I'll　retain　him　in　custody；　and　make　out　a　warrant　for　his　committal！　I'll　have　this　everlasting　bother　over。〃

〃I　was　going　to　give　you　my　opinion；〃　quietly　put　in　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　fear；　Justice；　you　bring　these　annoyances　upon　yourself。〃

〃Bring　them　upon　myself！〃　ranted　the　indignant　justice。　〃I？　Did　I　murder　Hallijohn？　Did　I　fly　away　from　the　law？　Am　I　hiding；　Beelzebub　knows　where？　Do　I　take　starts；　right　into　my　native　parish；　disguised　as　a　laborer；　on　purpose　to　worry　my　own　father？　Do　I　write　anonymous　letters？　Bring　them　upon　myself；　do　I？　That　cobs　all；　Carlyle。〃

〃You　will　not　hear　me　out。　It　is　known　that　you　are　much　exasperated　against　Richard〃

〃And　if　your　son　serves　you　the　same　when　he　is　grown　up；　shan't　you　be　exasperated；　pray？〃　fired　Justice　Hare。

〃Do　hear　me。　It　is　known　that　you　are　much　exasperated；　and　that　any　allusion　to　him　excites　and　annoys　you。　Now；　my　opinion　is；　justice；　that　some　busybody　is　raising　these　reports　and　writing　these　letters　on　purpose　to　annoy　you。　It　may　be　somebody　at　West　Lynne；　very　near　to　us；　for　all　we　know。〃

〃That's　all　rubbish！〃　peevishly　responded　the　justice；　after　a　pause。　〃It's　not　likely。　Who'd　do　it？〃

〃It　is　very　likely；　but　you　may　be　sure　they　will　not　give　us　a　clue　as　to　the　'who。'　I　should　put　that　letter　in　the　fire；　and　think　no　more　about　it。　That's　the　only　way　to　serve　them。　A　pretty　laugh　they　have　had　in　their　sleeve；　if　it　is　anybody　near；　at　seeing　you　wade　up　here　through　the　snow　this　morning！　They　would　know　you　were　bringing　the　letter；　to　consult　me。〃

The　justicein　spite　of　his　obstinacy　he　was　somewhat　easily　persuaded　to　different　views　of　things；　especially　by　Mr。　Carlylelet　fall　his　coat　tails；　which　had　been　gathered　in　his　arms；　as　he　stood　with　his　back　to　the　fire；　and　brought　down　both　his　hands　upon　the　table　with　force　enough　to　break　it。

〃If　I　thought　that；〃　he　spluttered；　〃if　I　could　think　it；　I'd　have　the　whole　parish　of　West　Lynne　before　me　to…day；　and　commit　them　for　trial。〃

〃It's　a　pity　but　what　you　could；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Well；　it　may　be；　or　it　may　not　be；　that　that　villain　is　coming　here；〃　he　resumed。　〃I　shall　call　in　at　the　police　station；　and　tell　them　to　keep　a　sharp　lookout。〃

〃You　will　do　nothing　of　the　sort　justice；〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Carlyle；　almost　in　agitation。　〃Richard　is　not　likely　to　make　his　appearance　at　West　Lynne；　but　if　he　did；　would　you；　his　own　father；　turn　the　flood　upon　him？　Not　a　man　living　but　would　cry　shame　upon　you。〃

〃I　took　an　oath　I'd　do　it；〃　said　the　justice。

〃You　did　not　take　an　oath　to　go　open…mouthed　to　the　police　station；　upon　the　receipt　of　any　despicable　anonymous　letter　or　any　foolish　report；　to　say；　'I　have　news　that　my　son　will　be　here　to…day；　look　after　him。'　Nonsense；　justice！　Let　the　police　look　out　for　themselves；　but　don't　/you/　set　them　on。〃

The　justice　growled；　whether　in　assent　or　dissent　did　not　appear；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　resumed；

〃Have　you　shown　this　letter　to　Mrs。　Hare；　or　mentioned　it　to　her？〃

〃Not　I。　I　didn't　give　myself　time。　I　had　gone