the black robe-第10节
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〃My dear； you interest me indescribably。 Do you suppose he was in
our rank of life？ I mean； of course； did he look like a
gentleman？〃
〃There could be no doubt of it。〃
〃Do try to describe him； Stella。 Was he tall and well dressed？〃
〃Neither tall nor shortrather thinquiet and graceful in all
his movementsdressed plainly； in perfect taste。 How can I
describe him？ When his friend brought him on board； he stood at
the side of the vessel； looking out thoughtfully toward the sea。
Such eyes I never saw before； Adelaide； in any human faceso
divinely tender and sadand the color of them that dark violet
blue； so uncommon and so beautifultoo beautiful for a man。 I
may say the same of his hair。 I saw it completely。 For a minute
or two he removed his hathis head was fevered； I thinkand he
let the sea breeze blow over it。 The pure light brown of his hair
was just warmed by a lovely reddish tinge。 His beard was of the
same color； short and curling； like the beards of the Roman
heroes one sees in pictures。 I shall never see him againand it
is best for me that I shall not。 What can I hope from a man who
never once noticed me？ But I _should_ like to hear that he had
recovered his health and his tranquillity； and that his life was
a happy one。 It has been a comfort to me； Adelaide； to open my
heart to you。 I am get ting bold enough to confess everything。
Would you laugh at me； I wonder； if I？〃
She stopped。 Her pale complexion softly glowed into color； her
grand dark eyes brightenedshe looked her loveliest at that
moment。
〃I am far more inclined； Stella； to cry over you than to laugh at
you；〃 said Lady Loring。 〃There is something； to my mind； very sad
about this adventure of yours。 I wish I could find out who the
man is。 Even the best description of a person falls so short of
the reality！〃
〃I thought of showing you something；〃 Stella continued； 〃which
might help you to see him as I saw him。 It's only making one more
acknowledgment of my own folly。〃
〃You don't mean a portrait of him！〃 Lady Loring exclaimed。
〃The best that I could do from recollection；〃 Stella answered
sadly。
〃Bring it here directly！〃
Stella left the room and returned with a little drawing in
pencil。 The instant Lady Loring looked at it； she recognized
Romayne and started excitedly to her feet。
〃You know him！〃 cried Stella。
Lady Loring had placed herself in an awkward position。 Her
husband had described to her his interview with Major Hynd； and
had mentioned his project for bringing Romayne and Stella
together； after first exacting a promise of the strictest secrecy
from his wife。 She felt herself bounddoubly bound； after what
she had now discoveredto respect the confidence placed in her；
and this at the time when she had betrayed herself to Stella！
With a woman's feline fineness of perception； in all cases of
subterfuge and concealment； she picked a part of the truth out of
the whole； and answered harmlessly without a moment's hesitation。
〃I have certainly seen him；〃 she said〃probably at some party。
But I see so many people； and I go to so many places； that I must
ask for time to consult my memory。 My husband might help me； if
you don't object to my asking him；〃 she added slyly。
Stella snatched the drawing away from her； in terror。 〃You don't
mean that you will tell Lord Loring？〃 she said。
〃My dear child！ how can you be so foolish？ Can't I show him the
drawing without mentioning who it was done by？ His memory is a
much better one than mine。 If I say to him； 'Where did we meet
that man？'he may tell me at oncehe may even remember the
name。 Of course； if you like to be kept in suspense； you have
only to say so。 It rests with you to decide。〃
Poor Stella gave way directly。 She returned the drawing； and
affectionately kissed her artful friend。 Having now secured the
means of consulting her husband without exciting suspicion； Lady
Loring left the room。
At that time in the morning； Lord Loring was generally to be
found either in the library or the picture gallery。 His wife
tried the library first。 On entering the room； she found but one
person in itnot the person of whom she was in search。 There；
buttoned up in his long frock coat； and surrounded by books of
all sorts and sizes； sat the plump elderly priest who had been
the especial object of Major Hynd's aversion。
〃I beg your pardon； Father Benwell；〃 said Lady Loring； 〃I hope I
don't interrupt your studies？〃
Father Benwell rose and bowed with a pleasant paternal smile。 〃I
am only trying to organize an improved arrangement of the
library；〃 he said； simply。 〃Books are companionable
creaturesmembers； as it were； of his family； to a lonely old
priest like myself。 Can I be of any service to your ladyship？〃
〃Thank you； Father。 If you can kindly tell me where Lord Loring
is〃
〃To be sure！ His lordship was here five minutes sincehe is now
in the picture gallery。 Pray permit me！〃
With a remarkably light and easy step for a man of his age and
size； he advanced to the further end of the library； and opened a
door which led into the gallery。
〃Lord Loring is among the pictures；〃 he announced。 〃And alone。〃
He laid a certain emphasis on the last word； which might or might
not （in the case of a spiritual director of the household） invite
a word of explanation。
Lady Loring merely said； 〃Just what I wanted； thank you once
more； Father Benwell〃and passed into the picture gallery。
Left by himself again in the library； the priest walked slowly to
and fro； thinking。 His latent power and resolution began to show
themselves darkly in his face。 A skilled observer would now have
seen plainly revealed in him the habit of command； and the
capacity for insisting on his right to be obeyed。 From head to
foot； Father Benwell was one of those valuable soldiers of the
Church who acknowledge no defeat； and who improve every victory。
After a while； he returned to the table at which he had been
writing when Lady Loring entered the room。 An unfinished letter
lay open on the desk。 He took up his pen and completed it in
these words： 〃I have therefore decided on trusting this serious
matter in the hands of Arthur Penrose。 I know he is youngbut we
have to set against the drawback of his youth； the counter…merits
of his incorruptible honesty and his true religious zeal。 No
better man is just now within my reachand there is no time to
lose。 Romayne has recently inherited a large increase of fortune。
He will be the object of the basest conspiraciesconspiracies of
men to win his money； and （worse still） of women to marry him。
Even these contemptible efforts may be obstacles in the way of
our righteous purpose； unless we are first in the field。 Penrose
left Oxford last week。 I expect him here this morning； by my
invitation。 When I have given him the necessary instructions； and
have found the means of favorably introducing him to Romayne； I
shall have the honor of forwarding a statement of our prospects
so far。〃
Having signed these lines； he addressed the letter to 〃The
Reverend the Secretary； Society of Jesus； Rome。〃 As he closed and
sealed the envelope； a servant opened the door communicating with
the hall； and announced：
〃Mr。 Arthur Penrose。〃
CHAPTER II。
THE JESUITS。
FATHER BENWELL rose； and welcomed the visitor with his paternal
smile。 〃I am heartily glad to see you；〃 he saidand held out his
hand with a becoming mixture of dignity and cordiality。 Penrose
lifted the offered hand respectfully to his lips。 As one of the
〃Provincials〃 of the Order； Father Benwell occupied a high place
among the English Jesuits。 He was accustomed to acts of homage
offered by his younger brethren to their spiritual chief。 〃I fear
you are not well；〃 he proceeded gently。 〃Your hand is feverish；
Arthur。〃
〃Thank you； FatherI am as well as usual。〃
〃Depression of spirits； perhaps？〃 Father Benwell persisted。
Penrose admitted it with a passing smile。 〃My spirits are never
very lively；〃 he said。
Father Benwell shook his head in gentle disapproval of a
depressed state of spirits in a young man。 〃This must be
corrected；〃 he remarked。 〃Cultivate cheerfulness
