the black robe-第34节
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Having arrived at these preliminary discoveries； it was time to
try what I could make of Mr。 Winterfield next。
Among the other good things which this gentleman has inherited is
a magnificent library collected by his father。 That one learned
man should take another learned man to see the books was a
perfectly natural proceeding。 My introduction to the master of
the house followed my introduction to the library almost as a
matter of course。
I am about to surprise you； as I was myself surprised。 In all my
long experience； Mr。 Winterfield is； I think； the most
fascinating person I ever met with。 Genial； unassuming manners； a
prepossessing personal appearance； a sweet temper； a quaint humor
delightfully accompanied by natural refinementsuch are the
characteristic qualities of the man from whom I myself saw Miss
Eyrecourt （accidentally meeting him in public） recoil with dismay
and disgust！ It is absolutely impossible to look at him； and to
believe him to be capable of a cruel or dishonorable action。 I
never was so puzzled in my life。
You may be inclined to think that I am misled by a false
impression； derived from the gratifying welcome that I received
as a friend of Father Newbliss。 I will not appeal to my knowledge
of human natureI will refer to the unanswerable evidence of Mr。
Winterfield's poorer neighbors。 Wherever I went； in the village
or out of it； if I mentioned his name； I produced a universal
outburst of admiration and gratitude。 〃There never was such a
friend to poor people； and there never can be such another to the
end of the world。〃 Such was a fisherman's description of him； and
the one cry of all the men and women near us answered； 〃That's
the truth！〃
And yet there is something wrongfor this plain reason； that
there is something to be concealed in the past lives of Mr。
Winterfield and Miss Eyrecourt。
Under these perplexing circumstances； what use have I made of my
opportunities？ I am going to surprise you againI have mentioned
Romayne's name to Mr。 Winterfield； and I have ascertained that
they are； so far； perfect strangers to one anotherand that is
all。
The little incident of mentioning Romayne arose out of my
examination of the library。 I discovered certain old volumes；
which may one day be of use to him； if he continues his
contemplated work on the Origin of Religions。 Hearing me express
myself to this effect； Mr。 Winterfield replied with the readiest
kindness：
〃I can't compare myself to my excellent father；〃 he said； 〃but I
have at least inherited his respect for the writers of books。 My
library is a treasure which I hold in trust for the interests of
literature。 Pray say so； from me； to your friend Mr。 Romayne。〃
And what does this amount to？ you will ask。 My reverend friend；
it offers me an opportunity； in the future； of bringing Romayne
and Winterfield together。 Do you see the complications which may
ensue？ If I can put no other difficulty in Miss Eyrecourt's way；
I think there is fruitful promise of a scandal of some kind
arising out of the introduction to each other of those two men。
You will agree with me that a scandal may prove a valuable
obstacle in the way of a marriage。
Mr。 Winterfield has kindly invited me to call on him when he is
next in London。 I may then have opportunities of putting
questions which I could not venture to ask on a short
acquaintance。
In the meantime； I have obtained another introduction since my
return to town。 I have been presented to Miss Eyrecourt's mother；
and I am invited to drink tea with her on Wednesday。 My next
letter may tell youwhat Penrose ought to have
discoveredwhether Romayne has been already entrapped into a
marriage engagement or not。
Farewell for the present。 Remind the Reverend Fathers； with my
respects； that I possess one of the valuable qualities of an
EnglishmanI never know when I am beaten。
BOOK THE THIRD。
CHAPTER I。
THE HONEYMOON。
MORE than six weeks had passed。 The wedded lovers were still
enjoying their honeymoon at Vange Abbey。
Some offense had been given； not only to Mrs。 Eyrecourt； but to
friends of her way of thinking； by the strictly private manner in
which the marriage had been celebrated。 The event took everybody
by surprise when the customary advertisement appeared in the
newspapers。 Foreseeing the unfavorable impression that might be
produced in some quarters； Stella had pleaded for a timely
retreat to the seclusion of Romayne's country house。 The will of
the bride being； as usual； the bridegroom's law； to Vange they
retired accordingly。
On one lovely moonlight night； early in July； Mrs。 Romayne left
her husband on the Belvidere； described in Major Hynd's
narrative； to give the housekeeper certain instructions relating
to the affairs of the household。 Half an hour later； as she was
about to ascend again to the top of the house； one of the
servants informed her that 〃the master had just left the
Belvidere； and had gone into his study。〃
Crossing the inner hall； on her way to the study； Stella noticed
an unopened letter； addressed to Romayne； lying on a table in a
corner。 He had probably laid it aside and forgotten it。 She
entered his room with the letter in her hand。
The only light was a reading lamp； with the shade so lowered that
the corners of the study were left in obscurity。 In one of these
corners Romayne was dimly visible； sitting with his head sunk on
his breast。 He never moved when Stella opened the door。 At first
she thought he might be asleep。
〃Do I disturb you； Lewis？〃 she asked softly。
〃No； my dear。〃
There was a change in the tone of his voice； which his wife's
quick ear detected。 〃I am afraid you are not well；〃 she said
anxiously。
〃I am a little tired after our long ride to…day。 Do you want to
go back to the Belvidere？〃
〃Not without you。 Shall I leave you to rest here？〃
He seemed not to hear the question。 There he sat； with his head
hanging down； the shadowy counterfeit of an old man。 In her
anxiety； Stella approached him； and put her hand caressingly on
his head。 It was burning hot。 〃O！〃 she cried； 〃you _are_ ill； and
you are trying to hide it from me。〃
He put his arm round her waist and made her sit on his knee。
〃Nothing is the matter with me；〃 he said； with an uneasy laugh。
〃What have you got in
your hand？ A letter？〃
〃Yes。 Addressed to you and not opened yet。〃 He took it out of her
hand； and threw it carelessly on a sofa near him。 〃Never mind
that now！ Let us talk。〃 He paused； and kissed her； before he went
on。 〃My darling； I think you must be getting tired of Vange？〃
〃Oh； no！ I can be happy anywhere with youand especially at
Vange。 You don't how this noble old house interests me； and how I
admire the glorious country all round it。〃
He was not convinced。 〃Vange is very dull；〃 he said； obstinately；
〃and your friends will be wanting to see you。 Have you heard from
your mother lately？〃
〃No。 I am surprised she has not written。〃
〃She has not forgiven us for getting married so quietly；〃 he went
on。 〃We had better go back to London and make our peace with her。
Don't you want to see the house my aunt left me at Highgate？〃
Stella sighed。 The society of the man she loved was society
enough for her。 Was he getting tired of his wife already？ 〃I will
go with you wherever you like。〃 She said those words in tones of
sad submission； and gently got up from his knee。
He rose also； and took from the sofa the letter which he had
thrown on it。 〃Let us see what our friends say；〃 he resumed。 〃The
address is in Loring's handwriting。〃
As he approached the table on which the lamp was burning； she
noticed that he moved with a languor that was new in her
experience of him。 He sat down and opened the letter。 She watched
him with an anxiety which had now become intensified to
suspicion。 The shade of the lamp still prevented her from seeing
his face plainly。 〃Just what I told you；〃 he said； 〃the Lorings
want to know when they are to see us in London； and your mother
says she 'feels like that character in Shakespeare who was cut by
his own daughters。' Read it。〃
He handed her the letter。 In t
