the black robe-第40节
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necessity of warning him against Father Benwell； she had not even
command enough over her own voice to ask how he had become
acquainted with the priest。 His manly devotion； the perfect and
pathetic sincerity of his respect； pleaded with her； in spite of
herself。 For a moment she paused to recover her composure。 In
that moment Romayne returned to them with the drawing in his
hand。
〃There！〃 he said。 〃It's nothing； this time； but some children
gathering flowers on the outskirts of a wood。 What do you think
of it？〃
〃What I thought of the larger work；〃 Winterfield answered。 〃I
could look at it by the hour together。〃 He consulted his watch。
〃But time is a hard master； and tells me that my visit must come
to an end。 Thank you； most sincerely。〃
He bowed to Stella。 Romayne thought his guest might have taken
the English freedom of shaking hands。 〃When will you come and
look at the pictures again？〃 he asked。 〃Will you dine with us；
and see how they bear the lamplight？〃
〃I am sorry to say I must beg you to excuse me。 My plans are
altered since we met yesterday。 I am obliged to leave London。〃
Romayne was unwilling to part with him on these terms。 〃You will
let me know when you are next in town？〃 he said。
〃Certainly！〃
With that short answer he hurried away。
Romayne waited a little in the hall before he went back to his
wife。 Stella's reception of Winterfield； though not positively
ungracious； was； nevertheless； the reverse of encouraging。 What
extraordinary caprice had made her insensible to the social
attractions of a man so unaffectedly agreeable？ It was not
wonderful that Winterfield's cordiality should have been chilled
by the cold welcome that he had received from the mistress of the
house。 At the same time； some allowance was to be made for the
influence of Stella's domestic anxieties； and some sympathy was
claimed by the state of her health。 Although her husband shrank
from distressing her by any immediate reference to her reception
of his friend； he could not disguise from himself that she had
disappointed him。 When he went back to the room； Stella was lying
on the sofa with her face turned toward the wall。 She was in
tears； and she was afraid to let him see it。 〃I won't disturb
you；〃 he said； and withdrew to his study。 The precious volume
which Winterfield had so kindly placed at his disposal was on the
table； waiting for him。
Father Benwell had lost little by not being present at the
introduction of Winterfield to Stella。 He had witnessed a plainer
betrayal of emotion when they met unexpectedly in Lord Loring's
picture gallery。 But if he had seen Romayne reading in his study；
and Stella crying secretly on the sofa； he might have written to
Rome by that day's post； and might have announced that he had
sown the first seeds of disunion between husband and wife。
CHAPTER V。
FATHER BENWELL'S CORRESPONDENCE。
_To the Secretary； S。 J。； Rome。_
In my last few hasty lines I was only able to inform you of the
unexpected arrival of Mrs。 Romayne while Winterfield was visiting
her husband。 If you remember； I warned you not to attach any
undue importance to my absence on that occasion。 My present
report will satisfy my reverend brethren that the interests
committed to me are as safe as ever in my hands。
I have paid three visits； at certain intervals。 The first to
Winterfield （briefly mentioned in my last letter）； the second to
Romayne； the third to the invalid lady； Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 In every
case I have been rewarded by important results。
We will revert to Winterfield first。 I found him at his hotel；
enveloped in clouds of tobacco smoke。 Having led him； with some
difficulty； into talking of his visit to Ten Acres Lodge； I asked
how he liked Romayne's pictures。
〃I envy him his pictures。〃 That was the only answer。
〃And how do you like Mrs。 Romayne？〃 I inquired next。
He laid down his pipe； and looked at me attentively。 My face （I
flatter myself） defied discovery。 He inhaled another mouthful of
tobacco； and began to play with his dog。 〃If I must answer your
question；〃 he burst out suddenly； 〃I didn't get a very gracious
reception from Mrs。 Romayne。〃 There he abruptly stopped。 He is a
thoroughly transparent man； you see straight into his mind；
through his eyes。 I perceived that he was only telling me a part
（perhaps a very small part） of the truth。
〃Can you account for such a reception as you describe？〃 I asked。
He answered shortly； 〃No。〃
〃Perhaps I can account for it；〃 I went on。 〃Did Mr。 Romayne tell
his wife that I was the means of introducing you to him？〃
He fixed another searching look on me。 〃Mr。 Romayne might have
said so when he left me to receive his wife at the door。〃
〃In that case； Mr。 Winterfield； the explanation is as plain as
the sun at noonday。 Mrs。 Romayne is a strong Protestant； and I am
a Catholic priest。〃
He accepted this method of accounting for his reception with an
alacrity that would not have imposed on a child。 You see I had
relieved him from all further necessity of accounting for the
conduct of Mrs。 Romayne！
〃A lady's religious prejudices；〃 I proceeded in the friendliest
way； 〃are never taken seriously by a sensible man。 You have
placed Mr。 Romayne under obligations to your kindnesshe is
eager to improve his acquaintance with you。 You will go again to
Ten Acres Lodge？〃
He gave me another short answer。 〃I think not。〃
I said I was sorry to hear it。 〃However；〃 I added； 〃you can
always see him here； when you are in London。〃 He puffed out a big
volume of smoke； and made no remark。 I declined to be put down by
silence and smoke。 〃Or perhaps；〃 I persisted； 〃you will honor me
by meeting him at a simple little dinner at my lodgings？〃 Being a
gentleman； he was of course obliged to answer this。 He said； 〃You
are very kind； I would rather not。 Shall we talk of something
else； Father Benwell？〃
We talked of something else。 He was just as amiable as everbut
he was not in good spirits。 〃I think I shall run over to Paris
before the end of the month；〃 he said。 〃To make a long stay？〃 I
asked。 〃Oh； no！ Call in a week or ten daysand you will find me
here again。〃
When I got up to go； he returned of his own accord to the
forbidden subject。 He said； 〃I must beg you to do me two favors。
The first is； not to let Mr。 Romayne know that I am still in
London。 The second is； not to ask me for any explanations。〃
The result of our interview may be stated in very few words。 It
has advanced me one step nearer to discovery。 Winterfield's
voice； look； and manner satisfied me of thisthe true motive for
his sudden change of feeling toward Romayne is jealousy of the
man who has married Miss Eyrecourt。 Those compromising
circumstances which baffled the inquiries of my agent are
associated； in plain English； with a love affair。 Remember all
that I have told you of Romayne's peculiar dispositionand
imagine； if you can； what the consequences of such a disclosure
will be when we are in a position to enlighten the master of
Vange Abbey！
As to the present relations between the husband and wife； I have
only to tell you next what passed； when I visited Romayne a day
or two later。 I did well to keep Penrose at our disposal。 We
shall want him again。
On arriving at Ten Acres Lodge； I found Romayne in his study。 His
manuscript lay before himbut he was not at work。 He looked worn
and haggard。 To this day I don't know from what precise nervous
malady he suffers； I could only guess that it had been troubling
him again since he and I last met。
My first conventional civilities were dedicated； of course； to
his wife。 She is still in attendance on her mother。 Mrs。
Eyrecourt is now considered to be out of danger。 But the good
lady （who is ready enough to recommend doctors to other people）
persists in thinking that she is too robust a person to require
medical help herself。 The physician in attendance trusts entirely
to her daughter to persuade her to persevere with the necessary
course of medicine。 Don't suppose that I trouble you by
mentioning these trumpery circumstances without a reason。 We
shall have oc
