the black robe-第45节
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posted me at the door of the English church； so that your lawful
wife （with her marriage certificate in her hand） was the first
person who met you and the mock Mrs。 Winterfield on your way from
the altar to the wedding breakfast。
I own it； to my shame。 I triumphed in the mischief I had done。
But I had deserved to suffer； and I did suffer； when I heard that
Miss Eyrecourt's mother and her two friends took her away from
youwith her own entire approvalat the church door； and
restored her to society； without a stain on her reputation。 How
the Brussels marriage was kept a secret； I could not find out。
And when I threatened them with exposure； I got a lawyer's
letter； and was advised in my own interests to hold my tongue。
The rector has since told me that your marriage to Miss Eyrecourt
could be lawfully declared null and void； and that the
circumstances would excuse _you_； before any judge in England。 I
can now well understand that people； with rank and money to help
them； can avoid exposure to which the poor； in their places； must
submit。
One more。 duty （the last） still remains to be done。
I declare solemnly； on my deathbed； that you acted in perfect
good faith when you married Miss Eyrecourt。 You have not only
been a man cruelly injured by me； but vilely insulted and
misjudged by the two Eyrecourts； and by the lord and lady who
encouraged them to set you down as a villain guilty of heartless
and shameless deceit。
It is my conviction that these people might have done more than
misinterpret your honorable submission to the circumstances in
which you were placed。 They might have prosecuted you for
bigamyif they could have got me to appear against you。 I am
comforted when I remember that I did make some small amends。 I
kept out of their way and yours； from that day to this。
I am told that I owe it to you to leave proof of my death behind
me。
When the doctor writes my certificate； he will mention the mark
by which I may be identified； if this reaches you （as I hope and
believe it will） between the time of my death and my burial。 The
rector； who will close and seal these lines； as soon as the
breath is out of my body； will add what he can to identify me；
and the landlady of this house is ready to answer any questions
that may be put to her。 This time you may be really assured that
you are free。 When I am buried； and they show you my nameless
grave in the churchyard； I know your kind heartI die； Bernard；
in the firm belief that you will forgive me。
There was one thing more that I had to ask of you； relating to a
poor lost creature who is in the room with us at this moment。
But； oh； I am so weary！ Mr。 Fennick will tell you what it is。 Say
to yourself sometimesperhaps when you have married some lady
who is worthy of youThere was good as well as bad in poor Emma。
Farewell。
_Number TwoFrom The Rev。 Charles Fennick to Bernard
Winterfield。_
The Rectory； Belhaven。
SirIt is my sad duty to inform you that Mrs。 Emma Winterfield
died this morning； a little before five o'clock。 I will add no
comment of mine to the touching language in which she has
addressed you。 God has； I most sincerely believe； accepted the
poor sinner's repentance。 Her contrite spirit is at peace； among
the forgiven ones in the world beyond the grave。
In consideration of her wish that you should see her in death；
the coffin will be kept open until the last moment。 The medical
man in attendance has kindly given me a copy of his certificate；
which I inclose。 You will see that the remains are identified by
the description of a small silver plate on the right parietal
bone of the skull。
I need hardly add that all the information I can give you is
willingly at your service。
She mentions； poor soul； something which she had to ask of you。 I
prefer the request which； in her exhausted state； she was unable
to address to you in her own words。
While the performances of the circus were taking place in the
next county to ours； a wandering lad； evidently of deficient
intelligence； was discovered； trying to creep under the tent to
see what was going on。 He could give no intelligible account of
himself。 The late Mrs。 Winterfield （who was born and brought up；
as I understand； in France） discovered that the boy was French；
and felt interested in the unfortunate creature； from former
happy association with kind friends of his nation。 She took care
of him from that time to the day of her deathand he appeared to
be gratefully attached to her。
I say 〃appeared；〃 because an inveterate reserve marks one of the
peculiarities of the mental affliction from which he suffers。
Even his benefactress never could persuade him to take her into
his confidence。 In other respects； her influence （so far as I can
learn） had been successfully exerted in restraining certain
mischievous propensities in him； which occasionally showed
themselves。 The effect of her death has been to intensify that
reserve to which I have already alluded。 He is sullen and
irritableand the good landlady at the lodgings does not
disguise that she shrinks from taking care of him； even for a few
days。 Until I hear from you； he will remain under the charge of
my housekeeper at the rectory。
You have； no doubt； anticipated the request which the poor
sufferer wished to address to you but a few hours before her
death。 She hoped that you might be willing to place this
friendless and helpless creature under competent protection。
Failing your assistance； I shall have no alternative； however I
may regret it； but to send him to the workhouse of this town； on
his way； probably； to the public asylum。
Believe me； sir； your faithful servant；
CHARLES FENNICK。
P。S。I fear my letter and its inclosures may be delayed in
reaching you。
Yesterday evening； I had returned to my house； before it occurred
to me that Mrs。 Winterfield had not mentioned your address。 My
only excuse for this forgetfulness is； that I was very much
distressed while I was writing by her bedside。 I at once went
back to the lodgings； but she had fallen asleep； and I dared not
disturb her。 This morning； when I returned to the house； she was
dead。 There is an allusion to Devonshire in her letter； which
suggests that your residence may be in that county； and I think
she once spoke of you as a person of rank and fortune。 Having
failed to find your name in a London Directory； I am now about to
search our free library here for a county history of Devon； on
the chance that it may assist me。 Let me add； for your own
satisfaction； that no eyes but mine will see these papers。 For
security's sake； I shall seal them at once； and write your name
on the envelope。
_Added by Father Benwell。_
How the boy contrived to possess himself of the sealed packet we
shall probably never discover。 Anyhow； we know that he must have
escaped from the rectory； with the papers in his possession； and
that he did certainly get back to his mother and sister in
London。
With such complete information as I now have at my disposal； the
prospect is as clear again as we can desire。 The separation of
Romayne from his wife； and the alteration of his will in favor of
the Church； seem to be now merely questions of time。
BOOK THE FOURTH。
CHAPTER I。
THE BREACH IS WIDENED。
A FORTNIGHT after Father Benwell's discovery； Stella followed her
husband one morning into his study。 〃Have you heard from Mr。
Penrose？〃 she inquired。
〃Yes。 He will be here to…morrow。〃
〃To make a long visit？〃
〃I hope so。 The longer the better。〃
She looked at him with a mingled expression of surprise and
reproach。 〃Why do you say that？〃 she asked。 〃Why do you want him
so muchwhen you have got Me？〃
Thus far； he had been sitting at his desk； resting his head on
his hand； with his downcast eyes fixed on an open book。 When she
put her last question to him he suddenly looked up。 Through the
large window at his side the morning light fell on his face。 The
haggard look of suffering； which Stella remembered on the day
when they met on the deck of the steamboat； was again
visiblenot softe
