the black robe-第44节
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turned to evil uses was concealed by a patient。 The seal which
had secured the envelope was found； on examination； to have been
broken。
〃I would not have broken the seal myself；〃 our host added。 〃But；
as things were； I thought it my duty to look at the inclosures。
They refer to private affairs of Mr。 Winterfield； in which he is
deeply interested； and they ought to have been long since placed
in his possession。 I need hardly say that I consider myself bound
to preserve the strictest silence as to what I have read。 An
envelope； containing some blank sheets of paper； was put back in
the boy's waistcoat； so that he might feel it in its place under
the lining； when he woke。 The original envelope and inclosures
（with a statement of circumstances signed by my assistant and
myself） have been secured under another cover； sealed with my own
seal。 I have done my best to discover Mr。 Bernard Winterfield。 He
appears not to live in London。 At least I failed to find his name
in the Directory。 I wrote next； mentioning what had happened； to
the English gentleman to whom I send reports of the lad's health。
He couldn't help me。 A second letter to the French ladies only
produced the same result。 I own I should be glad to get rid of my
responsibility on honorable terms。〃
All this was said in the boy's presence。 He lay listening to it
as if it had been a story told of some one else。 I could not
resist the useless desire to question him。 Not speaking French
myself （although I can read the language）； I asked Doctor Wybrow
and his friend to interpret for me。
My questions led to nothing。 The French boy knew no more about
the stolen envelope than I did。
There was no discoverable motive； mind； for suspecting him of
imposing on us。 When I said； 〃Perhaps you stole it？〃 he answered
quite composedly； 〃Very likely； they tell me I have been mad； I
don't remember it myself； but mad people do strange things。〃 I
tried him again。 〃Or； perhaps； you took it away out of mischief？〃
〃Yes。〃 〃And you broke the seal； and looked at the papers？〃 〃I
dare say。〃 〃And then you kept them hidden； thinking they might be
of some use to you？ Or perhaps feeling ashamed of what you had
done； and meaning to restore them if you got the opportunity？〃
〃You know best； sir。〃 The same result followed when we tried to
find out where he had been； and what people had taken care of
him； during his last vagrant escape from home。 It was a new
revelation to him that he had been anywhere。 With evident
interest； he applied to us to tell him where he had wandered to；
and what people he had seen！
So our last attempts at enlightenment ended。 We came to the final
question of how to place the papers； with the least possible loss
of time； in Mr。 Winterfield's hands。
His absence in Paris having been mentioned； I stated plainly my
own position toward him at the present time。
〃Mr。 Winterfield has made an appointment with me to call at his
hotel； on his return to London；〃 I said。 〃I shall probably be the
first friend who sees him。 If you will trust me with your sealed
packet； in consideration of these circumstances； I will give you
a formal receipt for it in Doctor Wybrow's presenceand I will
add any written pledge that you may require on my part； acting as
Mr。 Winterfield's representative and friend。 Perhaps you would
like a reference as well？〃
He made a courteous reply。 〃A friend of Dr。 Wybrow's；〃 he said；
〃requires no other reference。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 I persisted。 〃I had the honor of meeting Doctor
Wybrow； for the first time； yesterday。 Permit me to refer you to
Lord Loring； who has long known me as his spiritual director and
friend。〃
This account of myself settled the matter。 I drew out the
necessary securitiesand I have all the papers lying before me
on my desk at this moment。
You remember how seals were broken； and impressed again； at the
Roman post…office； in the revolutionary days when we were both
young men？ Thanks to the knowledge then obtained； the
extraordinary events which once associated Mr。 Winterfield and
Miss Eyrecourt are at last plainly revealed to me。 Copies of the
papers are in my possession； and the originals are sealed again；
with the crest of the proprietor of the asylum； as if nothing had
happened。 I make no attempt to excuse myself。 You know our
motto：THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS。
I don't propose to make any premature use of the information
which I have obtained。 The first and foremost necessity； as I
have already reminded you； is to give Penrose the undisturbed
opportunity of completing the conversion of Romayne。 During this
interval； my copies of the papers are at the disposal of my
reverend brethren at headquarters。
THE STOLEN PAPERS。（COPIES。）
_Number One。From Emma Winterfield to Bernard Winterfield。_
4 Maidwell Buildings； Belhaven。
How shall I address you？ Dear Bernard； or Sir？ It doesn't matter。
I am going to do one of the few good actions of my life： and
familiarities or formalities matter nothing to a woman who lies
on her deathbed。
YesI have met with another accident。 Shortly after the date of
our separation； you heard； I think； of the fall in the circus
that fractured my skull？ On that occasion； a surgical operation；
and a bit of silver plate in place of the bone； put me right
again。 This time it has been the kick of a horse； in the stables。
Some internal injury is the consequence。 I may die to…morrow； or
live till next week。 Anywaythe doctor has confessed itmy time
has come。
Mind one thing。 The drinkthat vile habit which lost me your
love and banished me from your housethe drink is not to blame
for this last misfortune。 Only the day before it happened I had
taken the pledge； under persuasion of the good rector here； the
Reverend Mr。 Fennick。 It is he who has brought me to make this
confession； and who takes it down in writing at my bedside。 Do
you remember how I once hated the very name of a parsonand when
you proposed； in joke； to marry me before the registrar； how I
took it in downright earnest； and kept you to your word？ We poor
horse…riders and acrobats only knew clergymen as the worst
enemies we hadalways using their influence to keep the people
out of our show； and the bread out of our mouths。 If I had met
with Mr。 Fennick in my younger days； what a different woman I
might have been！
Well； regrets of that kind are useless now。 I am truly sorry；
Bernard； for the evil that I have done to you； and I ask your
pardon with a contrite heart。
You will at least allow it in my favor that your drunken wife
knew she was unworthy of you。 I refused to accept the allowance
that you offered to me。 I respected your name。 For seven years
from the time of our separation I returned to my profession under
an assumed name and never troubled you。 The one thing I could not
do was to forget you。 If you were infatuated by my unlucky
beauty； I loved devotedly on my side。 The well…born gentleman who
had sacrificed everything for my sake； was something more than
mortal in my estimation； he wasno！ I won't shock the good man
who writes this by saying what he was。 Besides； what do you care
for my thoughts of you now？
If you had only been content to remain as I left youor if I had
not found out that you were in love with Miss Eyrecourt； and were
likely to marry her； in the belief that death had released you
from meI should have lived and died； doing you no other injury
than the first great injury of consenting to be your wife。
But I made the discoveryit doesn't matter how。 Our circus was
in Devonshire at the time。 My jealous rage maddened me； and I had
a wicked admirer in a man who was old enough to be my father。 I
let him suppose that the way to my favor lay through helping my
revenge on the woman who was about to take my place。 He found the
money to have you watched at home and abroad； he put the false
announcement of my death in the daily newspapers； to complete
your delusion； he baffled the inquiries made through your lawyers
to obtain positive proof of my death。 And last； and （in those
wicked days） best service of all he took me to Brussels and
posted me at the door of the English church； so that your lawful
wife （with her mar
