the law and the lady-第48节

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Mr。　Dexter　of　the　night　by　the　inveterate　oddity　of　his　dress。
His　jacket；　on　this　occasion；　was　of　pink　quilted　silk。　The
coverlet　which　hid　his　deformity　matched　the　jacket　in　pale
sea…green　satin；　and；　to　complete　these　strange　vagaries　of
costume；　his　wrists　were　actually　adorned　with　massive　bracelets
of　gold；　formed　on　the　severely　simple　models　which　have
descended　to　us　from　ancient　times。

〃How　good　of　you　to　cheer　and　charm　me　by　coming　here！〃　he　said；
in　his　most　mournful　and　most　mu　sical　tones。　〃I　have　dressed；
expressly　to　receive　you；　in　the　prettiest　clothes　I　have。　Don't
be　surprised。　Except　in　this　ignoble　and　material　nineteenth
century；　men　have　always　worn　precious　stuffs　and　beautiful
colors　as　well　as　women。　A　hundred　years　ago　a　gentleman　in　pink
silk　was　a　gentleman　properly　dressed。　Fifteen　hundred　years　ago
the　patricians　of　the　classic　times　wore　bracelets　exactly　like
mine。　I　despise　the　brutish　contempt　for　beauty　and　the　mean
dread　of　expense　which　degrade　a　gentleman's　costume　to　black
cloth；　and　limit　a　gentleman's　ornaments　to　a　finger…ring；　in　the
age　I　live　in。　I　like　to　be　bright　and　I　beautiful；　especially
when　brightness　and　beauty　come　to　see　me。　You　don't　know　how
precious　your　society　is　to　me。　This　is　one　of　my　melancholy
days。　Tears　rise　unbidden　to　my　eyes。　I　sigh　and　sorrow　over
myself；　I　languish　for　pity。　Just　think　of　what　I　am！　A　poor
solitary　creature；　cursed　with　a　frightful　deformity。　How
pitiable！　how　dreadful！　My　affectionate　heartwasted。　My
extraordinary　talentsuseless　or　misapplied。　Sad！　sad！　sad！
Please　pity　me。〃

His　eyes　were　positively　filled　with　tearstears　of　compassion
for　himself！　He　looked　at　me　and　spoke　to　me　with　the　wailing；
querulous　entreaty　of　a　sick　child　wanting　to　be　nursed。　I　was
utterly　at　a　loss　what　to　do。　It　was　perfectly　ridiculousbut　I
was　never　more　embarrassed　in　my　life。

〃Please　pity　me！〃　he　repeated。　〃Don't　be　cruel。　I　only　ask　a
little　thing。　Pretty　Mrs。　Valeria；　say　you　pity　me！〃

I　said　I　pitied　himand　I　felt　that　I　blushed　as　I　did　it。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter；　humbly。　〃It　does　me　good。　Go
a　little　further。　Pat　my　hand。〃

I　tried　to　restrain　myself；　but　the　sense　of　the　absurdity　of
this　last　petition　（quite　gravely　addressed　to　me；　remember！）　was
too　strong　to　be　controlled。　I　burst　out　laughing。

Miserrimus　Dexter　looked　at　me　with　a　blank　astonishment　which
only　increased　my　merriment。　Had　I　offended　him？　Apparently　not。
Recovering　from　his　astonishment；　he　laid　his　head　luxuriously　on
the　back　of　his　chair；　with　the　expression　of　a　man　who　was
listening　critically　to　a　performance　of　some　sort。　When　I　had
quite　exhausted　myself；　he　raised　his　head　and　clapped　his
shapely　white　hands；　and　honored　me　with　an　〃encore。〃

〃Do　it　again；〃　he　said；　still　in　the　same　childish　way。　〃Merry
Mrs。　Valeria；　_you_　have　a　musical　laugh_I_　have　a　musical　ear。
Do　it　again。〃

I　was　serious　enough　by　this　time。　〃I　am　ashamed　of　myself；　Mr。
Dexter；〃　I　said。　〃Pray　forgive　me。〃

He　made　no　answer　to　this；　I　doubt　if　he　heard　me。　His　variable
temper　appeared　to　be　in　course　of　undergoing　some　new　change。　He
sat　looking　at　my　dress　（as　I　supposed）　with　a　steady　and　anxious
attention；　gravely　forming　his　own　conclusions；　steadfastly
pursuing　his　own　train　of　thought。

〃Mrs。　Valeria；〃　he　burst　out　suddenly；　〃you　are　not　comfortable
in　that　chair。〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　I　replied；　〃I　am　quite　comfortable。〃

〃Pardon　_me；_〃　he　rejoined。　〃There　is　a　chair　of　Indian
basket…work　at　that　end　of　the　room　which　is　much　better　suited
to　you。　Will　you　accept　my　apologies　if　I　am　rude　enough　to　allow
you　to　fetch　it　for　yourself？　I　have　a　reason。〃

He　had　a　reason！　What　new　piece　of　eccentricity　was　he　about　to
exhibit？　I　rose　and　fetched　the　chair。　It　was　light　enough　to　be
quite　easily　carried。　As　I　returned　to　him；　I　noticed　that　his
eyes　were　strangely　employed　in　what　seemed　to　be　the　closest
scrutiny　of　my　dress。　And；　stranger　still；　the　result　of　this
appeared　to　be　partly　to　interest　and　partly　to　distress　him。

I　placed　the　chair　near　him；　and　was　about　to　take　my　seat　in　it；
when　he　sent　me　back　again；　on　another　errand；　to　the　end　of　the
room。

〃Oblige　me　indescribably；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　a　hand…screen
hanging　on　the　wall；　which　matches　the　chair。　We　are　rather　near
the　fire　here。　You　may　find　the　screen　useful。　Once　more　forgive
me　for　letting　you　fetch　it　for　yourself。　Once　more　let　me　assure
you　that　I　have　a　reason。〃

Here　was　his　〃reason；〃　reiterated；　emphatically　reiterated；　for
the　second　time！　Curiosity　made　me　as　completely　the　obedient
servant　of　his　caprices　as　Ariel　herself。　I　fetched　the
hand…screen。　Returning　with　it；　I　met　his　eyes　still　fixed　with
the　same　incomprehensible　attention　on　my　perfectly　plain　and
unpretending　dress；　and　still　expressing　the　same　curious　mixture
of　interest　and　regret。

〃Thank　you　a　thousand　times；〃　he　said。　〃You　have　（quite
innocently）　wrung　my　heart。　But　you　have　not　the　less　done　me　an
inestimable　kindness。　Will　you　promise　not　to　be　offended　with　me
if　I　confess　the　truth？〃

He　was　approaching　his　explanation　I　never　gave　a　promise　more
readily　in　my　life。

〃I　have　rudely　allowed　you　to　fetch　your　chair　and　your　screen
for　yourself；〃　he　went　on。　〃My　motive　will　seem　a　very　strange
one；　I　am　afraid。　Did　you　observe　that　I　noticed　you　very
attentivelytoo　attentively；　perhaps？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃I　thought　you　were　noticing　my　dress。〃

He　shook　his　head；　and　sighed　bitterly。

〃Not　your　dress；〃　he　said；　〃and　not　your　face。　Your　dress　is
dark。　Your　face　is　still　strange　to　me。　Dear　Mrs。　Valeria；　I
wanted　to　see　you　walk。〃

To　see　me　walk！　What　did　he　mean？　Where　was　that　erratic　mind　of
his　wandering　to　now？

〃You　have　a　rare　accomplishment　for　an　Englishwoman；〃　he
resumed〃you　walk　well。　_She_　walked　well。　I　couldn't　resist　the
temptation　of　seeing　her　again；　in　seeing　you。　It　was　_her_
movement；　_her_　sweet；　simple；　unsought　grace　（not　yours）；　when
you　walked　to　the　end　of　the　room　and　returned　to　me。　You　raised
her　from　the　dead　when　you　fetched　the　chair　and　the　screen。
Pardon　me　for　making　use　of　you：　the　idea　was　innocent；　the
motive　was　sacred。　You　have　distressedand　delighted　me。　My
heart　bleedsand　thanks　you。〃

He　paused　for　a　moment；　he　let　his　head　droop　on　his　breast；　then
suddenly　raised　it　again。

〃Surely　we　were　talking　about　her　last　night？〃　he　said。　〃What　did
I　say？　what　did　you　say？　My　memory　is　confused；　I　half　remember；
half　forget。　Please　remind　me。　You're　not　offended　with　meare
you？〃

I　might　have　been　offended　with　another　man。　Not　with　him。　I　was
far　too　anxious　to　find　my　way　into　his　confidencenow　that　he
had　touched　of　his　own　accord　on　the　subject　of　Eustace's　first
wifeto　be　offended　with　Miserrimus　Dexter。

〃We　were　speaking；〃　I　answered；　〃of　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan's
death；　and　we　were　saying　to　one　another〃

He　interrupted　me；　leaning　forward　eagerly　in　his　chair。

〃Yes！　yes！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃And　I　was　wondering　what　interest
_you_　could　have　in　penetrating　the　mystery　of　her　death。　Tell
me！　Confide　in　me！　I　am　dying　to　know！〃

〃Not　even　you　have　a　stronger　interest　in　that　subject　than　the
interest　that　I　feel；〃　I　said。　〃The　happiness　of　my　whole　life　to
come　depends　on　my　clearing　up　the　mystery。〃

〃Good　Godwhy？〃　he　cried。　〃Stop！　I　am　exciting　myself。　I　mustn't
do　that。　I　must　have　all　my　wits　about　me；　I　mustn't　wander。　The
thing　is　too　serious。　Wait　a　minute！〃

An　elegant　little　basket　was　hooked　on　to　one　of　the　arms　of　his
chair。　He　opened　it；　and　drew　out　a　strip　of　embroidery　partially
finished；　with　the　necessary　materials　for　working；　a　complete。
We　looked　at　each　other　across　the　embroidery。　He　noticed　my
surprise。

〃Women；〃　he　said；　〃wisely　compose　their　minds；　and　help
themselves　to　think　quietly；　by　doing　needle…work。　Why　are　men
such　fools　as　to　deny　themselves　the　same　admirable　resourcethe
simple　and　soothing　occupation　which　keeps　the　nerves　steady　and
leaves　the　mind　calm　and　free？　As　a　man；　I　follow　the　woman's
wise　example。　Mrs。　Valeria；　permit　me　to　compose　myself。〃

Gravely　arranging　his　embroidery；　this　extraordinary　being　began
to　work　with　the　patient　and　nimble　dexterity　of　an　accomplished
needle…woman。

〃Now；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter；　〃if　you　are　ready；　I　am。　You
talkI　work。　Please　begin。〃

I　obeyed　him；　and　began。



CHAPTER　XXVIII。

IN　THE　DARK。

　WITH　such　a　man　as　Miserrimus　Dexter；　and　with　such　a　purpose　as
I　had　in　view；　no　half…confidences　were　possible。　I　must　either
risk　the　most　unreserved　acknowledgment　of　the　interests　that　I
really　had　at　stake；　or　I　must　make　the　best　excuse　that　occurred
to　me　for　abandoning　my
　contemplated　experiment　at　the　last　moment。　In　my　present
critical　situation；　no　such　refuge　as　a　middle　course　lay　before
meeven　if　I　had　been　inclined　to　take　it。　As　things　were；　I　ran
risks；　and　plunged　headlong　into　my　own　affairs　at　starting。

〃Thus　far；　you　know　little　or　nothing　about　me；　Mr。　Dexter；〃　I
said。　〃You　are；　as　I　believe；　quite　unaware　that　my　husband　and　I
are　not　living　together　at　the　present　time。〃

〃Is　it　necessary　to　men