the black robe-第75节
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gentleman whom I had noticed on the journey to Parisand by
Father Benwell。
The Jesuit's vigilant eyes discovered us instantly； in our place
near the fireside。 I thought I saw suspicion as well as surprise
in his face。 But he recovered himself so rapidly that I could not
feel sure。 He bowed to Stella。 She made no return； she looked as
if she had not even seen him。
One of the doctors was an Englishman。 He said to Father Benwell：
〃Whatever your business may be with Mr。 Romayne； we advise you to
enter on it without delay。 Shall we leave the room？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 Father Benwell answered。 〃The more witnesses are
present； the more relieved I shall feel。〃 He turned to his
traveling companion。 〃Let Mr。 Romayne's lawyer；〃 he resumed；
〃state what our business is。〃
The gray…headed gentleman stepped forward。
〃Are you able to attend to me； sir？〃 he asked。
Romayne； reclining in his chair； apparently lost to all interest
in what was going on； heard and answered。 The weak tones of his
voice failed to reach my ear at the other end of the room。 The
lawyer； seeming to be satisfied so far； put a formal question to
the doctors next。 He inquired if Mr。 Romayne was in full
possession of his faculties。
Both the physicians answered without hesitation in the
affirmative。 Father Benwell added _his_ attestation。 〃Throughout
Mr。 Romayne's illness；〃 he said firmly； 〃his mind has been as
clear as mine is。〃
While this was going on； the child had slipped off his mother's
lap； with the natural restlessness of his age。 He walked to the
fireplace and stoppedfascinated by the bright red glow of the
embers of burning wood。 In one corner of the low fender lay a
loose little bundle of sticks； left there in case the fire might
need relighting。 The boy； noticing the bundle； took out one of
the sticks and threw it experimentally into the grate。 The flash
of flame； as the stick caught fire； delighted him。 He went on
burning stick after stick。 The new game kept him quiet： his
mother was content to be on the watch； to see that no harm was
done。
In the meantime； the lawyer briefly stated his case。
〃You remember； Mr。 Romayne； that your will was placed； for safe
keeping； in our office；〃 he began。 〃Father Benwell called upon
us； and presented an order； signed by yourself； authorizing him
to convey the will from London to Paris。 The object was to obtain
your signature to a codicil； which had been considered a
necessary addition to secure the validity of the will。Are you
favoring me with your attention； sir？〃
Romayne answered by a slight bending of his head。 His eyes were
fixed on the boystill absorbed in throwing his sticks； one by
one； into the fire。
〃At the time when your will was executed；〃 the lawyer went on；
〃Father Benwell obtained your permission to take a copy of it。
Hearing of your illness； he submitted the copy to a high legal
authority。 The written opinion of this competent person declares
the clause； bequeathing the Vange estate to Father Benwell； to be
so imperfectly expressed； that the will might be made a subject
of litigation after the testator's death。 He has accordingly
appended a form of codicil amending the defect； and we have added
it to the will。 I thought it my duty； as one of your legal
advisers； to accompany Father Benwell on his return to Paris in
charge of the willin case you might feel disposed to make any
alteration。〃 He looked toward Stella and the child as he
completed that sentence。 The Jesuit's keen eyes took the same
direction。 〃Shall I read the will； sir？〃 the lawyer resumed； 〃or
would you prefer to look at it yourself？〃
Romayne held out his hand for the will； in silence。 He was still
watching his son。 There were but few more sticks now left to be
thrown in the fire。
Father Benwell interfered； for the first time。
〃One word； Mr。 Romayne； before you examine that document；〃 he
said。 〃The Church receives back from you （through me） the
property which was once its own。 Beyond that it authorizes and
even desires you to make any changes which you or your trusted
legal adviser may think right。 I refer to the clauses of the will
which relate to the property you have inherited from the late
Lady Berrickand I beg the persons present to bear in memory the
few plain words that I have now spoken。〃
He bowed with dignity and drew back。 Even the lawyer was
favorably impressed。 The doctors looked at each other with silent
approval。 For the first time； the sad repose of Stella's face was
disturbedI could see that it cost her an effort to repress her
indignation。 The one unmoved person was Romayne。 The sheet of
paper on which the will was written lay unregarded upon his lap；
his eyes were still riveted on the little figure at the
fireplace。
The child had thrown his last stick into the glowing red embers。
He looked about him for a fresh supply； and found nothing。 His
fresh young voice rose high through the silence of the room。
〃More！〃 he cried。 〃More！〃
His mother held up a warning finger 。 〃Hush！〃 she whispered。 He
shrank away from her as she tried to take him on her knee； and
looked across the room at his father。 〃More！〃 he burst out louder
than ever。 Romayne beckoned to me； and pointed to the boy。
I led him across the room。 He was quite willing to go with mehe
reiterated his petition； standing at his father's knees。
〃Lift him to me；〃 said Romayne。
I could barely hear the words： even his strength to whisper
seemed to be fast leaving him。 He kissed his sonwith a panting
fatigue under that trifling exertion； pitiable to see。 As I
placed the boy on his feet again； he looked up at his dying
father； with the one idea still in his mind。
〃More； papa！ More！〃
Romayne put the will into his hand。
The child's eyes sparkled。 〃Burn？〃 he asked； eagerly。
〃Yes！〃
Father Benwell sprang forward with outstretched hands。 I stopped
him。 He struggled with me。 I forgot the privilege of the black
robe。 I took him by the throat。
The boy threw the will into the fire。 〃Oh！〃 he shouted； in high
delight； and clapped his chubby hands as the bright little blaze
flew up the chimney。 I released the priest。
In a frenzy of rage and despair； he looked round at the persons
in the room。 〃I take you all to witness；〃 he cried； 〃this is an
act of madness！〃
〃You yourself declared just now；〃 said the lawyer； 〃that Mr。
Romayne was in perfect possession of his faculties。〃
The baffled Jesuit turned furiously on the dying man。 They looked
at each other。
For one awful moment Romayne's eyes brightened； Romayne's voice
rallied its power； as if life was returning to him。 Frowning
darkly； the priest put his question。
〃What did you do it for？〃
Quietly and firmly the answer came：
〃Wife and child。〃
The last long…drawn sigh rose and fell。 With those sacred words
on his lips； Romayne died。
London； 6th May。At Stella's request； I have returned to
Penrosewith but one fellow…traveler。 My dear old companion； the
dog； is coiled up； fast asleep at my feet； while I write these
lines。 Penrose has gained strength enough to keep me company in
the sitting…room。 In a few days more he will see Stella again。
What instructions reached the Embassy from Romewhether Romayne
received the last sacrament at the earlier period of his
illnesswe never heard。 No objection was made； when Lord Loring
proposed to remove the body to England； to be buried in the
family vault at Vange Abbey。
I had undertaken to give the necessary directions for the
funeral； on my arrival in London。 Returning to the hotel； I met
Father Benwell in the street。 I tried to pass on。 He deliberately
stopped me。
〃How is Mrs。 Romayne？〃 he asked； with that infernal suavity which
he seems always to have at command。 〃Fairly well I hope？ And the
boy？ Ah； he little thought how he was changing his prospects for
the better； when he made that blaze in the fire！ Pardon me； Mr。
Winterfield； you don't seem to be quite so cordial as usual。
Perhaps you are thinking of your inconsiderate assault on my
throat？ Let us forgive and forget。 Or； perhaps； you object to my
having converted poor
