the black robe-第72节
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as a mysteriously inspired person The other priest； Penrose； had
been in charge of the mission medicine…chest； and had
successfully treated cases of illness among the Apaches。 As a
'great medicine…man；' he too is a privileged personunder the
strong protection of their interest in their own health。 The
lives of the prisoners are in no danger； provided they can endure
the hardship of their wandering existence among the Indians。
Penrose spoke to me with the resignation of a true hero。 'I am in
the hands of God；' he said； 'and if I die； I die in God's
service。'
〃I was entirely unprovided with the means of ransoming the
missionariesand nothing that I could say； or that I could
promise； had the smallest effect on the savages。 But for severe
and tedious illness； I should long since have been on my way back
to Arizona with the necessary ransom。 As it is； I am barely
strong enough to write this letter。 But I can head a subscription
to pay expenses； and I can give instructions to any person who is
willing to attempt the deliverance of the priests。〃
So the letter ended。
Before I had read it； I was at a loss to know where to go； or
what to do； when I leave St。 Germain。 I am now at no loss。 I have
found an object in life； and a means of making atonement to
Stella for my own ungracious and unworthy words。 Already I have
communicated by telegraph with Mr。 Murthwaite and with my
sailing…master。 The first is informed that I hope to be with him；
in London； to…morrow morning。 The second is instructed to have
the yacht fitted out immediately for a long voyage。 If I can save
these menespecially PenroseI shall not have lived in vain。
London； September 15。No。 I have resolution enough to go to
Arizona； but I have no courage to record the parting scene when
it was time to say good…by。
I had intended to keep the coming enterprise a secret； and only
to make the disclosure in writing when the vessel was ready to
sail。 But； after reading the letter to the _Times；_ Stella saw
something in my face （as I suppose） that betrayed me。 Well； it's
over now。 I do my best to keep myself from thinking of itand；
for this reason； I abstain from dwelling on the subject here。
Mr。 Murthwaite has not only given me valuable instructionshe
has provided me with letters of introduction to persons in
office； and to the _padres_ （or priests） in Mexico； which will be
of incalculable use in such an expedition as mine。 In the present
disturbed condition of the United States； he recommends me to
sail for a port on the eastern coast of Mexico； and then to
travel northward overland； and make my first inquiries in Arizona
at the town of Tubac。 Time is of such importance； in his opinion；
that he suggests making inquiries in London and Liverpool for a
merchant vessel under immediate sailing orders for Vera Cruz or
Tampico。 The fitting out of the yacht cannot be accomplished； I
find； in less than a fortnight or three weeks。 I have therefore
taken Mr。 Murthwaite's advice。
September 16。No favorable answer； so far as the port of London
is concerned。 Very little commerce with Mexico； and bad harbors
in that country when you do trade。 Such is the report。
September 17。A Mexican brig has been discovered at Liverpool；
under orders for Vera Cruz。 But the vessel is in debt； and the
date of departure depends on expected remittances！ In this state
of things I may wait； with my conscience at ease； to sail in
comfort on board my own schooner。
September 18…30。I have settled my affairs； I have taken leave
of my friends （good。 Mr。 Murthwaite included）； I have written
cheerfully to Stella； and I sail from Portsmouth to…morrow； well
provided with the jars of whisky and the kegs of gunpowder which
will effect the release of the captives。
It is strange； considering the serious matters I have to think
of； but it is also true； that I feel out of spirits at the
prospect of leaving England without my traveling companion； the
dog。 I am afraid to take the dear old fellow with me； on such a
perilous expedition as mine may be。 Stella takes care of
himand； if I don't live to return； she will never part with
him； for his master's sake。 It implies a childish sort of mind； I
supposebut it is a comfort to me to remember that I have never
said a hard word to Traveler； and never lifted my hand on him in
anger。
All this about a dog！ And not a word about Stella？ Not a word。
_Those_ thoughts are not to be written。
I have reached the last page of my diary。 I shall lock it； and
leave it in charge of my bankers； on my way to the Portsmouth
train。 Shall I ever w ant a new diary？ Superstitious people might
associate this coming to the end of the book with coming to an
end of another kind。 I have no imagination； and I take my leap in
the dark hopefullywith Byron's glorious lines in my mind：
〃Here's a sigh to those who love me；
And a smile to those that bate；
And whatever sky's above met
Here's heart for every fated
（An inclosure is inserted here； marking a lapse of seven months；
before the entries in the diary are resumed。 It consists of two
telegrams； dispatched respectively on the 1st and 2d of May；
1864。）
1。 〃From Bernard Winterfield； Portsmouth； England。 To Mrs。
Romayne care of M。 Villeray； St。 Germain； near Paris。 Penrose
is safe on board my yacht。 His unfortunate companion has died of
exhaustion； and he is himself in a feeble state of health。 I at
once take him with me to London for medical advice。 We are eager
for news of you。 Telegraph to Derwent's Hotel。〃
2。 〃From Mrs。 Eyrecourt； St。 Germain。 To Bernard Winterfield；
Derwent's Hotel； London。 Your telegram received with joy； and
sent on to Stella in Paris。 All well。 But strange events have
happened。 If you cannot come here at once； go to Lord Loring。 He
will tell you everything。〃
Tenth Extract。
London； 2d May； 1864。Mrs。 Eyrecourt's telegram reached me just
after Doctor Wybrow had paid his first professional visit to
Penrose； at the hotel。 I had hardly time to feel relieved by the
opinion of the case which he expressed； before my mind was upset
by Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 Leaving Penrose under the charge of our
excellent landlady； I hurried away to Lord Loring。
It was still early in the day： his lordship was at home。 He
maddened me with impatience by apologizing at full length for
〃the inexcusable manner in which he had misinterpreted my conduct
on the deplorable occasion of the marriage ceremony at Brussels。〃
I stopped his flow of words （very earnestly spoken； it is only
right to add）； and entreated him to tell me； in the first place；
what Stella was doing in Paris。
〃Stella is with her husband；〃 Lord Loring replied。
My head turned giddy； my heart beat furiously。 Lord Loring looked
at meran to the luncheon table in the next roomand returned
with a glass of wine。 I really don't know whether I drank the
wine or not。 I know I stammered out another inquiry in one word。
〃Reconciled？〃 I said。
〃Yes； Mr。 Winterfieldreconciled； before he dies。〃
We were both silent for a while。
What was he thinking of？ I don't know。 What was I thinking of？ I
daren't write it down。
Lord Loring resumed by expressing some anxiety on the subject of
my health。 I made the best excuse for myself that I could； and
told him of the rescue of Penrose。 He had heard of my object in
leaving England； and heartily congratulated me。 〃This will be
welcome news indeed；〃 he said； 〃to Father Benwell。〃
Even the name of Father Benwell now excites my distrust。 〃Is _he_
in Paris too？〃 I inquired。
〃He left Paris last night；〃 Lord Loring answered； 〃and he is now
in London； on important business （as I understand） connected with
Romayne's affairs。〃
I instantly thought of the boy。
〃Is Romayne in possession of his faculties？〃 I asked。
〃In complete possession。〃
〃While justice is in his power； has he done justice to his son？〃
Lord Loring looked a little confused。 〃I have not heard；〃 was all
he said in reply。
I was far from satisfied。 〃You are one of Romayne's oldest
friends；〃 I persisted。 〃Have
