desperate remedies-第82节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


spade；　as　it　cut　into　the　soft　vegetable　mould；　was　plainly
perceptible　to　her　ears　when　the　periodic　cessations　between　the
creaks　of　the　engine　concurred　with　a　lull　in　the　breeze；　which
otherwise　brought　the　subdued　roar　of　the　cascade　from　the　further
side　of　the　bank　that　screened　it。　　A　large　holesome　four　or　five
feet　deephad　been　excavated　by　Manston　in　about　twenty　minutes。
Into　this　he　immediately　placed　the　sack；　and　then　began　filling　in
the　earth；　and　treading　it　down。　　Lastly　he　carefully　raked　the
whole　mass　of　dead　and　dry　leaves　into　the　middle　of　the　pit；
burying　the　ground　with　them　as　they　had　buried　it　before。

For　a　hiding…place　the　spot　was　unequalled。　　The　thick　accumulation
of　leaves；　which　had　not　been　disturbed　for　centuries；　might　not　be
disturbed　again　for　centuries　to　come；　whilst　their　lower　layers
still　decayed　and　added　to　the　mould　beneath。

By　the　time　this　work　was　ended　the　sky　had　grown　clearer；　and　Anne
could　now　see　distinctly　the　face　of　the　other　woman；　stretching
from　behind　the　tree；　seemingly　forgetful　of　her　position　in　her
intense　contemplation　of　the　actions　of　the　steward。　　Her
countenance　was　white　and　motionless。

It　was　impossible　that　Manston　should　not　soon　notice　her。　　At　the
completion　of　his　labour　he　turned；　and　did　so。

'Hoyou　here！'　he　exclaimed。

'Don't　think　I　am　a　spy　upon　you；'　she　said；　in　an　imploring
whisper。　　Anne　recognized　the　voice　as　Miss　Aldclyffe's。

The　trembling　lady　added　hastily　another　remark；　which　was　drowned
in　the　recurring　creak　of　the　engine　close　at　hand　The　first
watcher；　if　he　had　come　no　nearer　than　his　original　position；　was
too　far　off　to　hear　any　part　of　this　dialogue；　on　account　of　the
roar　of　the　falling　water；　which　could　reach　him　unimpeded　by　the
bank。

The　remark　of　Miss　Aldclyffe　to　Manston　had　plainly　been　concerning
the　first　watcher；　for　Manston；　with　his　spade　in　his　hand；
instantly　rushed　to　where　the　man　was　concealed；　and；　before　the
latter　could　disengage　himself　from　the　boughs；　the　steward　struck
him　on　the　head　with　the　blade　of　the　instrument。　　The　man　fell　to
the　ground。

'Fly！'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe　to　Manston。　　Manston　vanished　amidst　the
trees。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　went　off　in　a　contrary　direction。

Anne　Seaway　was　about　to　run　away　likewise；　when　she　turned　and
looked　at　the　fallen　man。　　He　lay　on　his　face；　motionless。

Many　of　these　women　who　own　to　no　moral　code　show　considerable
magnanimity　when　they　see　people　in　trouble。　　To　act　right　simply
because　it　is　one's　duty　is　proper；　but　a　good　action　which　is　the
result　of　no　law　of　reflection　shines　more　than　any。　　She　went　up　to
him　and　gently　turned　him　over；　upon　which　he　began　to　show　signs　of
life。　　By　her　assistance　he　was　soon　able　to　stand　upright。

He　looked　about　him　with　a　bewildered　air；　endeavouring　to　collect
his　ideas。　　'Who　are　you？'　he　said　to　the　woman；　mechanically。

It　was　bad　policy　now　to　attempt　disguise。　　'I　am　the　supposed　Mrs。
Manston；'　she　said。　　'Who　are　you？'

'I　am　the　officer　employed　by　Mr。　Raunham　to　sift　this　mystery
which　may　be　criminal。'　　He　stretched　his　limbs；　pressed　his　head；
and　seemed　gradually　to　awake　to　a　sense　of　having　been　incautious
in　his　utterance。　　'Never　you　mind　who　I　am；'　he　continued。　　'Well；
it　doesn't　matter　now；　eitherit　will　no　longer　be　a　secret。'

He　stooped　for　his　hat　and　ran　in　the　direction　the　steward　had
takencoming　back　again　after　the　lapse　of　a　minute。

'It's　only　an　aggravated　assault；　after　all；'　he　said　hastily；
'until　we　have　found　out　for　certain　what's　buried　here。　　It　may　be
only　a　bag　of　building　rubbish；　but　it　may　be　more。　　Come　and　help
me　dig。'　　He　seized　the　spade　with　the　awkwardness　of　a　town　man；
and　went　into　the　pit；　continuing　a　muttered　discourse。　　'It's　no
use　my　running　after　him　single…handed；'　he　said。　　'He's　ever　so　far
off　by　this　time。　　The　best　step　is　to　see　what　is　here。'

It　was　far　easier　for　the　detective　to　re…open　the　hole　than　it　had
been　for　Manston　to　form　it。　　The　leaves　were　raked　away；　the　loam
thrown　out；　and　the　sack　dragged　forth。

'Hold　this；'　he　said　to　Anne；　whose　curiosity　still　kept　her
standing　near。　　He　turned　on　the　light　of　a　dark　lantern　he　had
brought；　and　gave　it　into　her　hand。

The　string　which　bound　the　mouth　of　the　sack　was　now　cut。　　The
officer　laid　the　bag　on　its　side；　seized　it　by　the　bottom；　and
jerked　forth　the　contents。　　A　large　package　was　disclosed；　carefully
wrapped　up　in　impervious　tarpaulin；　also　well　tied。　　He　was　on　the
point　of　pulling　open　the　folds　at　one　end；　when　a　light　coloured
thread　of　something；　hanging　on　the　outside；　arrested　his　eye。　　He
put　his　hand　upon　it；　it　felt　stringy；　and　adhered　to　his　fingers。
'Hold　the　light　close；'　he　said。

She　held　it　close。　　He　raised　his　hand　to　the　glass；　and　they　both
peered　at　an　almost　intangible　filament　he　held　between　his　finger
and　thumb。　　It　was　a　long　hair；　the　hair　of　a　woman。

'God！　　I　couldn't　believe　itno；　I　couldn't　believe　it！'　the
detective　whispered；　horror…struck。　　'And　I　have　lost　the　man　for
the　present　through　my　unbelief。　　Let's　get　into　a　sheltered　place。
。　。　。　　Now　wait　a　minute　whilst　I　prove　it。'

He　thrust　his　hand　into　his　waistcoat　pocket；　and　withdrew　thence　a
minute　packet　of　brown　paper。　　Spreading　it　out　he　disclosed；　coiled
in　the　middle；　another　long　hair。　　It　was　the　hair　the　clerk's　wife
had　found　on　Manston's　pillow　nine　days　before　the　Carriford　fire。
He　held　the　two　hairs　to　the　light：　　they　were　both　of　a　pale…brown
hue。　　He　laid　them　parallel　and　stretched　out　his　arms：　　they　were
of　the　same　length　to　a　nicety。　　The　detective　turned　to　Anne。

'It　is　the　body　of　his　first　wife；'　he　said　quietly。　　'He　murdered
her；　as　Mr。　Springrove　and　the　rector　suspectedbut　how　and　when；
God　only　knows。'

'And　I！'　exclaimed　Anne　Seaway；　a　probable　and　natural　sequence　of
events　and　motives　explanatory　of　the　whole　crimeevents　and
motives　shadowed　forth　by　the　letter；　Manston's　possession　of　it；
his　renunciation　of　Cytherea；　and　instalment　of　herselfflashing
upon　her　mind　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning。

'AhI　see；'　said　the　detective；　standing　unusually　close　to　her：
and　a　handcuff　was　on　her　wrist。　　'You　must　come　with　me；　madam。
Knowing　as　much　about　a　secret　murder　as　God　knows　is　a　very
suspicious　thing：　　it　doesn't　make　you　a　goddessfar　from　it。'　　He
directed　the　bull's…eye　into　her　face。

'Poohlead　on；'　she　said　scornfully；　'and　don't　lose　your　principal
actor　for　the　sake　of　torturing　a　poor　subordinate　like　me。'

He　loosened　her　hand；　gave　her　his　arm；　and　dragged　her　out　of　the
grovemaking　her　run　beside　him　till　they　had　reached　the　rectory。
A　light　was　burning　here；　and　an　auxiliary　of　the　detective's
awaiting　him：　　a　horse　ready　harnessed　to　a　spring…cart　was　standing
outside。

'You　have　comeI　wish　I　had　known　that；'　the　detective　said　to　his
assistant；　hurriedly　and　angrily。　　'Well；　we've　blunderedhe's
goneyou　should　have　been　here；　as　I　said！　　I　was　sold　by　that
woman；　Miss　Aldclyffeshe　watched　me。'　　He　hastily　gave　directions
in　an　undertone　to　this　man。　　The　concluding　words　were；　'Go　in　to
the　rectorhe's　up。　　Detain　Miss　Aldclyffe。　　I；　in　the　meantime；　am
driving　to　Casterbridge　with　this　one；　and　for　help。　　We　shall　be
sure　to　have　him　when　it　gets　light。'

He　assisted　Anne　into　the　vehicle；　and　drove　off　with　her。　　As　they
went；　the　clear；　dry　road　showed　before　them；　between　the　grassy
quarters　at　each　side；　like　a　white　riband；　and　made　their　progress
easy。　　They　came　to　a　spot　where　the　highway　was　overhung　by　dense
firs　for　some　distance　on　both　sides。　　It　was　totally　dark　here。

There　was　a　smash；　and　a　rude　shock。　　In　the　very　midst　of　its
length；　at　the　point　where　the　road　began　to　drop　down　a　hill；　the
detective　drove　against　something　with　a　jerk　which　nearly　flung
them　both　to　the　ground。

The　man　recovered　himself；　placed　Anne　on　the　seat；　and　reached　out
his　hand。　　He　found　that　the　off…wheel　of　his　gig　was　locked　in　that
of　another　conveyance　of　some　kind。

'Hoy！'　said　the　officer。

Nobody　answered。

'Hoy；　you　man　asleep　there！'　he　said　again。

No　reply。

'Well；　that's　oddthis　comes　of　the　folly　of　travelling　without
gig…lamps　because　you　expect　the　dawn。'　　He　jumped　to　the　ground　and
turned　on　his　lantern。

There　was　the　gig　which　had　obstructed　him；　standing　in　the　middle
of　the　road；　a　jaded　horse　harnessed　to　it；　but　no　human　being　in　or
near　the　vehicle。

'Do　you　know　whose　gig　this　is？'　he　said　to　the　woman。

'No；'　she　said　sullenly。　　But　she　did　recognize　it　as　the　steward's。

'I'll　swear　it's　Manston's！　　Come；　I　can　hear　it　by　your　tone。
However；　you　needn't　say　anything　which　may　criminate　you。　　What
forethought　the　man　must　have　hadhow　carefully　he　must　have
considered　possible　contingencies！　　Why；　he　must　have　got　the　horse
and　gig　ready　before　he　began　shifting　the　body。'

He　listened　for　a　sound　among　the　trees。　　None　was　to　be　heard　but
the　occasional　scamper　of　a　rabbit　over　the　withered　leaves。　　He
threw　the　light　of　his　lantern　through　a　gap　in　the　hedge；　but　could
see　nothing　beyond　an　impenetrable　thicket。　　It　was　clear　that
Man