the black robe-第24节
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Loring is as well informed as I am of what happened at Boulogne；
and of the deplorable result； so far as Romayne is concerned。 If
you still wish to speak to me privately； I will ask you to
accompany me into the next room。〃
Major Hynd's embarrassment vanished。 〃After what you tell me；〃 he
said； 〃I hope to be favored with Lady Loring's advice。 You both
know that Romayne fought the fatal duel with a son of the French
General who had challenged him。 When we returned to England； we
heard that the General and his family had been driven away from
Boulogne by pecuniary difficulties。 Romayne； against my advice；
wrote to the surgeon who had been present at the duel； desiring
that the General's place of retreat might be discovered； and
expressing his wish to assist the family anonymously； as their
Unknown Friend。 The motive； of course； was； in his own words； 'to
make some little atonement to the poor people whom he had
wronged。' I thought it a rash proceeding at the time； and I am
confirmed in my opinion by a letter from the surgeon； received
yesterday。 Will you kindly read it to Lady Loring？〃
He handed the letter to Lord Loring。 Translated from the French；
it ran as follows：
〃SIRI am at last able to answer Mr。 Romayne's letter
definitely； with the courteous assistance of the French Consul in
London； to whom I applied when other means of investigation had
produced no result。
〃A week since the General died； circumstances connected with the
burial expenses informed the Consul that he had taken refuge from
his creditors； not in Paris as we supposed； but in London。 The
address is； Number 10； Camp's Hill； Islington。 I should also add
that the General； for obvious reasons； lived in London under the
assumed name of Marillac。 It will be necessary； therefore； to
inquire for his widow by the name of Madame Marillac。
〃You will perhaps be surprised to find that I address these lines
to you； instead of to Mr。 Romayne。 The reason is soon told。
〃I was acquainted with the late Generalas you knowat a time
when I was not aware of the company that he kept； or of the
deplorable errors into which his love of gambling had betrayed
him。 Of his widow and his children I know absolutely nothing。
Whether they have resisted the contaminating influence of the
head of the householdor whether poverty and bad example
combined have hopelessly degraded themI cannot say。 There is at
least a doubt whether they are worthy of Mr。 Romayne's benevolent
intentions toward them。 As an honest man； I cannot feel this
doubt； and reconcile it to my conscience to be the means； however
indirectly； of introducing them to Mr。 Romayne。 To your
discretion I leave it to act for the best； after this warning。〃
Lord Loring returned the letter to Major Hynd。 〃I agree with
you；〃 he said。 〃It is more than doubtful whether you ought to
communicate this information to Romayne。〃
Lady Loring was not quite of her husband's opinion。 〃While there
is a doubt about these people；〃 she said； 〃it seems only just to
find out what sort of character they bear in the neighborhood。 In
your place； Major Hynd； I should apply to the person in whose
house they live； or to the tradespeople whom they have employed。〃
〃I am obliged to leave London again to…day；〃 the Major replied；
〃but on my return I will certainly follow your ladyship's
advice。〃
〃And you will let us know the result？〃
〃With the greatest pleasure。〃
Major Hynd took his leave。 〃I think you will be responsible for
wasting the Major's time；〃 said Lord Loring； when the visitor had
retired。
〃I think not；〃 said Lady Loring。
She rose to leave the room。 〃Are you going out？〃 her husband
asked。
〃No。 I am going upstairs to Stella。〃
Lady Loring found Miss Eyrecourt in her own room。 The little
portrait of Romayne which she had drawn from recollection lay on
the table before her。 She was examining it with the closest
attention。
〃Well； Stella； and what does the portrait tell you？〃
〃What I knew before； Adelaide。 There is nothing false and nothing
cruel in that face。〃
〃And does the discovery satisfy you？ For my part； I despise
Romayne for hiding himself from us。 Can you excuse him？〃
Stella locked up the portrait in her writing…case。 〃I can wait；〃
she said quietly
Thi s assertion of patience seemed to irritate Lady Loring 〃What
is the matter with you this morning？〃 she asked。 〃You are more
reserved than ever。〃
〃No； I am only out of spirits； Adelaide。 I can't help thinking of
that meeting with Winterfield。 I feel as if some misfortune was
hanging over my head。〃
〃Don't speak of that hateful man！〃 her ladyship exclaimed。 〃I
have something to tell you about Romayne。 Are you completely
absorbed in your presentiments of evil？ or do you think you can
listen to me？〃
Stella's face answered for her。 Lady Loring described the
interview with Major Hynd in the minutest detailincluding； by
way of illustration； the Major's manners and personal appearance。
〃He and Lord Loring；〃 she added； 〃both think that Romayne will
never hear the last of it if he allows these foreigners to look
to him for money。 Until something more is known about them； the
letter is not to be forwarded。〃
〃I wish I had the letter；〃 cried Stella。
〃Would you forward it to Romayne？〃
〃Instantly！ Does it matter whether these poor French people are
worthy of his generosity？ If it restores his tranquillity to help
them； who cares whether they deserve the help？ They are not even
to know who it is that assists themRomayne is to be their
unknown friend。 It is he； not they； whom we have to think ofhis
peace of mind is everything； their merit is nothing。 I say it's
cruel to _him_ to keep him in ignorance of what has happened。 Why
didn't you take the letter away from Major Hynd？〃
〃Gently； Stella！ The Major is going to make inquiries about the
widow and children when he returns to London。〃
〃When he returns！〃 Stella repeated indignantly。 〃Who knows what
the poor wretches may be suffering in the interval； and what
Romayne may feel if he ever hears of it？ Tell me the address
againit was somewhere in Islington； you said。〃
〃Why do you want to know it？〃 Lady Loring asked。 〃You are not
going to write to Romayne yourself？〃
〃I am going to think； before I do anything。 If you can't trust my
discretion； Adelaide； you have only to say so！〃
It was spoken sharply。 Lady Loring's reply betrayed a certain
loss of temper on her side。 〃Manage your own affairs； StellaI
have done meddling with them。〃 Her unlucky visit to Romayne at
the hotel had been a subject of dispute between the two
friendsand this referred to it。 〃You shall have the address；〃
my lady added in her grandest manner。 She wrote it on a piece of
paper； and left the room。
Easily irritated； Lady Loring had the merit of being easily
appeased。 That meanest of all vices； the vice of sulkiness； had
no existence in her nature。 In five minutes she regretted her
little outburst of irritability。 For five minutes more she
waited； on the chance that Stella might be the first to seek a
reconciliation。 The interval passed； and nothing happened。 〃Have
I really offended her？〃 Lady Loring asked herself。 The next
moment she was on her way back to Stella。 The room was empty。 She
rang the bell for the maid。
〃Where is Miss Eyrecourt？〃
〃Gone out； my lady。〃
〃Did she leave no message？〃
〃No； my lady。 She went away in a great hurry。〃
Lady Loring at once drew the conclusion that Stella had rashly
taken the affair of the General's family into her own hands。 Was
it possible to say how this most imprudent proceeding might end？
After hesitating and reflecting； and hesitating again； Lady
Loring's anxiety got beyond her control。 She not only decided on
following Stella； but； in the excess of her nervous apprehension；
she took one of the men…servants with her； in case of emergency！
CHAPTER XII。
THE GENERAL'S FAMILY。
NOT always remarkable for arriving at just conclusions； Lady
Loring had drawn the right inference this time。 Stella had
stopped the first cab that passed her； and had directe
