the black robe-第23节
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he might offend。
Imagine any human being； out of a lunatic asylum； talking in this
way。 Shall I own to you； my reverend colleague； how this curious
self…exposure struck me？ As I listened to Romayne； I felt
grateful to the famous Council which definitely forbade the
priests of the Catholic Church to marry。 _We_ might otherwise
have been morally enervated by the weakness which degrades
Romayneand priests might have become instruments in the hands
of women。
But you will be anxious to hear what Penrose did under the
circumstances。 For the moment； I can tell you this； he startled
me。
Instead of seizing the opportunity； and directing Romayne's mind
to the consolations of religion； Penrose actually encouraged him
to reconsider his decision。 All the weakness of my poor little
Arthur's character showed itself in his next words。
He said to Romayne： 〃It may be wrong in me to speak to you as
freely as I wish to speak。 But you have so generously admitted me
to your confidenceyou have been so considerate and so kind
toward methat I feel an interest in your happiness； which
perhaps makes me over bold。 Are you very sure that some such
entire change in your life as your marriage might not end in
delivering you from your burden？ If such a thing could be； is it
wrong to suppose that your wife's good influence over you might
be the means of making your marriage a happy one？ I must not
presume to offer an opinion on such a subject。 It is only my
gratitude； my true attachment to you that ventures to put the
question。 Are you conscious of having given this matterso
serious a matter for yousufficient thought？〃
Make your mind easy； reverend sir！ Romayne's answer set
everything right。
He said： 〃I have thought of it till I could think no longer。 I
still believe that sweet woman might control the torment of the
voice。 But could she deliver me from the remorse perpetually
gnawing at my heart？ I feel as murderers feel。 In taking another
man's lifea man who had not even injured me！I have committed
the one unatonable and unpardonable sin。 Can any human creature's
influence make me forget that？ No more of itno more。 Come！ Let
us take refuge in our books。〃
Those words touched Penrose in the right place。 Now； as I
understand his scruples； he felt that he might honorably speak
out。 His zeal more than balanced his weakness； as you will
presently see。
He was loud； he was positive； when I heard him next。 〃No！〃 he
burst out； 〃your refuge is not in books； and not in the barren
religious forms which call themselves Protestant。 Dear master；
the peace of mind； which you believe you have lost forever； you
will find again in the divine wisdom and compassion of the holy
Catholic Church。 There is the remedy for all that you suffer！
There is the new life that will yet make you a happy man！〃
I repeat what he said； so far； merely to satisfy you that we can
trust his enthusiasm； when it is once roused。 Nothing will
discourage； nothing will defeat him now。 He spoke with all the
eloquence of convictionusing the necessary arguments with a
force and feeling which I have rarely heard equaled。 Romayne's
silence vouched for the effect on him。 He is not the man to
listen patiently to reasoning which he thinks he can overthrow。
Having heard enough to satisfy me that Penrose had really begun
the good work； I quietly slipped out of the waiting…room and left
the hotel。
To…day being Sunday； I shall not lose a post if I keep my letter
open until to…morrow。 I have already sent a note to Penrose；
asking him to call on me at his earliest convenience。 There may
be more news for you before post time。
Monday； 10 A。M。。
There _is_ more news。 Penrose has just left me。
His first proceeding； of course； was to tell me what I had
already discovered for myself。 He is modest； as usual； about the
prospect of success which awaits him。 But he has induced Romayne
to suspend his historical studies for a few days； and to devote
his attention to the books which we are accustomed to recommend
for perusal in such cases as his。 This is un questionably a great
gain at starting。
But my news is not at an end yet。 Romayne is actually playing our
gamehe has resolved definitely to withdraw himself from the
influence of Miss Eyrecourt！ In another hour he and Penrose will
have left London。 Their destination is kept a profound secret。
All letters addressed to Romayne are to be sent to his bankers。
The motive for this sudden resolution is directly traceable to
Lady Loring。
Her ladyship called at the hotel yesterday evening； and had a
private interview with Romayne。 Her object； no doubt； was to
shake his resolution； and to make him submit himself again to
Miss Eyrecourt's fascinations。 What means of persuasion she used
to effect this purpose is of course unknown to us。 Penrose saw
Romayne after her ladyship's departure； and describes him as
violently agitated。 I can quite understand it。 His resolution to
take refuge in secret flight （it is really nothing less） speaks
for itself as to the impression produced on him； and the danger
from which； for the time at least； we have escaped。
Yes！ I say 〃for the time at least。〃 Don't let our reverend
fathers suppose that the money expended on my private inquiries
has been money thrown away。 Where these miserable love affairs
are concerned； women are daunted by no adverse circumstances and
warned by no defeat。 Romayne has left London； in dread of his own
weaknesswe must not forget that。 The day may yet come when
nothing will interpose between us and failure but my knowledge of
events in Miss Eyrecourt's life。
For the present； there is no more to be said。
CHAPTER XI。
STELLA ASSERTS HERSELF。
Two days after Father Benwell had posted his letter to Rome； Lady
Loring entered her husband's study； and asked eagerly if he had
heard any news of Romayne。
Lord Loring shook his head。 〃As I told you yesterday；〃 he said；
〃the proprietor of the hotel can give me no information。 I went
myself this morning to the bankers； and saw the head partner。 He
offered to forward letters； but he could do no more。 Until
further notice； he was positively enjoined not to disclose
Romayne's address to anybody。 How does Stella bear it？〃
〃In the worst possible way；〃 Lady Loring answered。 〃In silence。〃
〃Not a word even to you？〃
〃Not a word。〃
At that reply； the servant interrupted them by announcing the
arrival of a visitor； and presenting his card。 Lord Loring
started； and handed it to his wife。 The card bore the name of
〃Major Hynd；〃 and this line was added in pencil： 〃On business
connected with Mr。 Romayne。 〃
〃Show him in directly！〃 cried Lady Loring。
Lord Loring remonstrated。 〃My dear！ perhaps I had better see this
gentleman alone？〃
〃Certainly notunless you wish to drive me into committing an
act of the most revolting meanness！ If you send me away I shall
listen at the door。〃
Major Hynd was shown in； and was duly presented to Lady Loring。
After making the customary apologies； he said： 〃I returned to
London last night； expressly to see Romayne on a matter of
importance。 Failing to discover his present address at the hotel；
I had the hope that your lordship might be able to direct me to
our friend。〃
I am sorry to say I know no more than you do；〃 Lord Loring
replied。 〃Romayne's present address is a secret confided to his
bankers； and to no one else。 I will give you their names； if you
wish to write to him。
Major Hynd hesitated。 〃I am not quite sure that it would be
discreet to write to him； under the circumstances。〃
Lady Loring could no longer keep silence。 〃Is it possible； Major
Hynd； to tell us what the circumstances are？〃 she asked。 〃I am
almost as old a friend of Romayne as my husbandand I am very
anxious about him。〃
The Major looked embarrassed。 〃I can hardly answer your
ladyship；〃 he said； 〃without reviving painful recollections〃
Lady Loring's impatience interrupted the Major's apologies。 〃Do
you mean the duel？〃 she inquired。
Lord Loring interposed。 〃I should tell you； Major Hynd； that Lady
Loring is as well informed as I am of what happe
