bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第191节
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in through the glass from the corridor outside。 He knows them
well。 The blood has not flushed into his face so suddenly and redly
for many a long year； as when he recognises Lady Dedlock。
He steps into the room； and she comes in too； closing both the
doors behind her。 There is a wild disturbance—is it fear or
anger？—in her eyes。 In her carriage and all else； she looks as she
looked downstairs two hours ago。
Is it fear or is it anger； now？ He cannot be sure。 Both might be
as pale； both as intent。
“Lady Dedlock？”
She does not speak at first； nor even when she has slowly
dropped into the easy chair by the table。 They look at each other；
like two pictures。
“Why have you told my story to so many persons？”
“Lady Dedlock； it was necessary for me to inform you that I
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knew it。”
“How long have you known it？”
“I have suspected it a long while—fully known it； a little while。”
“Months？”
“Days。”
He stands before her； with one hand on a chair…back and the
other in his old…fashioned waistcoat and shirt…frill； exactly as he
has stood before her at any time since her marriage。 The same
formal politeness； the same composed deference that might as well
be defiance； the whole man the same dark； cold object； at the same
distance； which nothing has ever diminished。
“Is this true concerning the poor girl？”
He slightly inclines and advances his head； as not quite
understanding the question。
“You know what you related。 Is it true？ Do her friends know
my story also？ Is it the town…talk yet？ Is it chalked upon the walls
and cried in the streets？”
So！ Anger； and fear； and shame。 All three contending。 What
power this woman has； to keep these raging passions down！ Mr
Tulkinghorn’s thoughts take such form as he looks at her； with his
ragged grey eyebrows a hair’s…breath more contracted than usual；
under her gaze。
“No； Lady Dedlock。 That was a hypothetical case； arising out of
Sir Leicester’s unconsciously carrying the matter with so high a
hand。 But it would be a real case if they knew—what we know。”
“Then they do not know it yet？”
“No。”
“Can I save the poor girl from injury before they know it？”
“Really； Lady Dedlock；” Mr Tulkinghorn replies； “I cannot give
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a satisfactory opinion on that point。”
And he thinks； with the interest of attentive curiosity； as he
watches the struggle in her breast； “The power and force of this
woman are astonishing！”
“Sir；” she says； for the moment obliged to set her lips with all
the energy she has； that she may speak distinctly； “I will make it
plainer。 I do not dispute your hypothetical case。 I anticipated it；
and felt its truth as strongly as you can do； when I saw Mr
Rouncewell here。 I knew very well that if he could have had the
power of seeing me as I was； he would consider the poor girl
tarnished by having for a moment been； although most innocently；
the subject of my great and distinguished patronage。 But； I have
an interest in her； or I should rather say—no longer belonging to
this place—I had； and if you can find so much consideration for
the woman under your foot as to remember that； she will be very
sensible of your mercy。”
Mr Tulkinghorn； profoundly attentive； throws this off with a
shrug of self…depreciation； and contracts his eyebrows a little
more。
“You have prepared me for my exposure； and I thank you for
that too。 Is there anything that you require of me？ Is there any
claim that I can release； or any charge or trouble that I can spare
my husband in obtaining his release； by certifying to the exactness
of your discovery？ I will write anything； here and now； that you
will dictate。 I am ready to do it。”
And she would do it！ thinks the lawyer； watchful of the firm
hand with which she takes the pen！
“I will not trouble you； Lady Dedlock。 Pray spare yourself。”
“I have long expected this； as you know。 I neither wish to spare
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myself； nor to be spared。 You can do nothing worse to me than you
have done。 Do what remains； now。”
“Lady Dedlock； there is nothing to be done。 I will take leave to
say a few words； when you have finished。”
Their need for watching one another should be over now； but
they do it all this time； and the stars watch them both through the
opened window。 Away in the moonlight lie the woodland fields at
rest； and the wide house is as quiet as the narrow one。 The narrow
one！ Where are the digger and the spade； this peaceful night；
destined to add the last great secret to the many secrets of the
Tulkinghorn existence？ Is the man born yet； is the spade wrought
yet？ Curious questions to consider； more curious perhaps not to
consider； under the watching stars upon a summer night。
“Of repentance or remorse； or any feeling of mine；” Lady
Dedlock presently proceeds； “I say not a word。 If I were not dumb；
you would be deaf。 Let that go by。 It is not for your ears。”
He makes a feint of offering a protest； but she sweeps it away
with her disdainful hand。
“Of other and very different things I come to speak to you。 My
jewels are all in their proper places of keeping。 They will be found
there。 So； my dresses。 So； all the valuables I have。 Some ready
money I had with me； please to say； but no large amount。 I did not
wear my own dress； in order that I might avoid observation。 I went
to be henceforward lost。 Make this known。 I leave no other charge
with you。”
“Excuse me； Lady Dedlock；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； quite
unmoved。 “I am not sure that I understand you。 You went？—”
“To be lost to all here。 I leave Chesney Wold tonight。 I go this
hour。”
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Mr Tulkinghorn shakes his head。 She rises； but he； without
removing hand from chair…back or from old…fashioned waistcoat
and shirt…frill； shakes his head。
“What？ Not go as I have said？”
“No； Lady Dedlock；” he very calmly replies。
“Do you know the relief that my disappearance will be？ Have
you forgotten the stain and blot upon this place； and where it is；
and who it is？”
“No； Lady Dedlock； not by any means。”
Without deigning to rejoin； she moves to the inner door and has
it in her hand； when he says to her； without himself stirring hand
or foot； or raising his voice：
“Lady Dedlock； have the goodness to stop and hear me； or
before you reach the staircase I shall ring the alarm…bell and rouse
the house。 And then I must speak out； before every guest and
servant； every man and woman in it。”
He has conquered her。 She falters； trembles； and puts her hand
confusedly to her head。 Slight tokens these in any one else； but
when so practised an eye as Mr Tulkinghorn’s sees indecision for a
moment in such a subject； he thoroughly knows its value。
He promptly says again； “Have the goodness to hear me； Lady
Dedlock；” and motions to the chair from which she has risen。 She
hesitates； but he motions again； and she sits down。
“The relations between us are of an unfortunate description；
Lady Dedlock； but； as they are not of my making； I will not
apologise for them。 The position I hold in reference to Sir
