miss or mrs[1].(小姐还是夫人)-第19节
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Who else could they appeal to？ To their father？ Yes！ There was the person
to advise them。 In the meanwhile； silence toward their stepmothersilence
toward every one till their father came back！
They waited and waited。 One after another the precious hours；
pregnant with the issues of life and death； followed each other on the dial。
Lady Winwood returned alone。 She had left her husband at the House of
Lords。 Dinner…time came； and brought with it a note from his lordship。
There was a debate at the House。 Lady Winwood and his daughters were
not to wait dinner for him。
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TENTH SCENE。
Green Anchor Lane。
An hour later than the time at which he had been expected； Richard
Turlington appeared at his office in the city。
He met beforehand all the inquiries which the marked change in him
must otherwise have provoked； by announcing that he was ill。 Before he
proceeded to business； he asked if anybody was waiting to see him。 One of
the servants from Muswell Hill was waiting with another parcel for Miss
Lavinia； ordered by telegram from the country that morning。 Turlington
（after ascertaining the servant's name） received the man in his private
room。 He there heard； for the first time； that Launcelot Linzie had been
lurking in the grounds （exactly as he had supposed） on the day when the
lawyer took his instructions for the Settlement and the Will。
In two hours more Turlington's work was completed。 On leaving the
officeas soon as he was out of sight of the doorhe turned eastward；
instead of taking the way that led to his own house in town。 Pursuing his
course； he entered the labyrinth of streets which led； in that quarter of East
London； to the unsavory neighborhood of the river…side。
By this time his mind was made up。 The forecast shadow of meditated
crime traveled before him already； as he threaded his way among his
fellow…men。
He had been to the vestry of St。 Columb Major； and had satisfied
himself that he was misled by no false report。 There was the entry in the
Marriage Register。 The one unexplained mystery was the mystery of
Launce's conduct in permitting his wife to return to her father's house。
Utterly unable to account for this proceeding； Turlington could only accept
facts as they were； and determine to make the most of his time； while the
woman who had deceived him was still under his roof。 A hideous
expression crossed his face as he realized the idea that he had got her
（unprotected by her husband） in his house。 〃When Launcelot Linzie
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_does_ come to claim her；〃 he said to himself； 〃he shall find I have been
even with him。〃 He looked at his watch。 Was it possible to save the last
train and get back that night？ Nothe last train had gone。 Would she take
advantage of his absence to escape？ He had little fear of it。 She would
never have allowed her aunt to send him to Lord Winwood's house； if she
had felt the slightest suspicion of his discovering the truth in that quarter。
Returning by the first train the next morning； he might feel sure of getting
back in time。 Meanwhile he had the hours of the night before him。 He
could give his mind to the serious question that must be settled before he
left Londonthe question of repaying the forty thousand pounds。 There
was but one way of getting the money now。 Sir Joseph had executed his
Will； Sir Joseph's death would leave his sole executor and trustee （the
lawyer had said it！） master of his fortune。 Turlington determined to be
master of it in four…and…twenty hoursstriking the blow； without risk to
himself； by means of another hand。 In the face of the probabilities； in the
face of the facts； he had now firmly persuaded himself that Sir Joseph was
privy to the fraud that had been practiced on him。 The Marriage…
Settlement； the Will； the presence of the family at his country houseall
these he believed to be so many stratagems invented to keep him deceived
until the last moment。 The truth was in those words which he had
overheard between Sir Joseph and Launceand in Launce's presence
（privately encouraged； no doubt） at Muswell Hill。 〃Her father shall pay me
for it doubly： with his purse and with his life。〃 With that thought in his
heart； Richard Turlington wound his way through the streets by the river…
side； and stopped at a blind alley called Green Anchor Lane； infamous to
this day as the chosen resort of the most abandoned wretches whom
London can produce。
The policeman at the corner cautioned him as he turned into the alley。
〃They won't hurt _me！_〃 he answered； and walked on to a public…house at
the bottom of the lane。
The landlord at the door silently recognized him； and led the way in。
They crossed a room filled with sailors of all nations drinking； ascended a
staircase at the back of the house； and stopped at the door of the room on
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Miss or Mrs。？
the second floor。 There the landlord spoke for the first time。 〃He has
outrun his allowance； sir； as usual。 You will find him with hardly a rag on
his back。 I doubt if he will last much longer。 He had another fit of the
horrors last night； and the doctor thinks badly of him。〃 With that
introduction he opened the door； and Turlington entered the room。
On the miserable bed lay a gray…headed old man of gigantic stature；
with nothing on him but a ragged shirt and a pair of patched； filthy
trousers。 At the side of the bed； with a bottle of gin on the rickety table
between them； sat two hideous leering； painted monsters； wearing the
dress of women。 The smell of opium was in the room； as well as the smell
of spirits。 At Turlington's appearance； the old man rose on the bed and
welcomed him with greedy eyes and outstretched hand。
〃Money； master！〃 he called out hoarsely。 〃A crown piece in advance；
for the sake of old times！〃
Turlington turned to the women without answering； purse in hand。
〃His clothes are at the pawnbroker's； of course。 How much？〃
〃Thirty shillings。〃
〃Bring them here； and be quick about it。 You will find it worth your
while when you come back。〃
The women took the pawnbroker's tickets from the pockets of the
man's trousers and hurried out。
Turlington closed the door； and seated himself by the bedside。 He laid
his hand familiarly on the giant's mighty shoulder； looked him full in the
face； and said； in a whisper；
〃Thomas Wildfang！〃
The man started； and drew his huge hairy hand across his eyes； as if in
doubt whether he was waking or sleeping。 〃It's better than ten years；
master； since you called me by my name。 If I am Thomas Wildfang； what
are you？〃
〃Your captain； once more。〃
Thomas Wildfang sat up on the side of the bed； and spoke his next
words cautiously in Turlington's ear。
〃Another man in the way？〃
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃Yes。〃
The giant shook his bald； bestial head dolefully。 〃Too late。 I'm past the
job。 Look here。〃
He held up his hand； and showed it trembling incessantly。 〃I'm an old
man；〃 he said； and let his hand drop heavily again on the bed beside him。
Turlington looked at the door； and whispered back；
〃The man is as old as you are。 And the money is worth having。〃
〃How much？〃
〃A hundred pounds。〃
The eyes of Thomas Wildfang fastened greedily on Turlington's face。
〃Let's hear；〃 he said。 〃Softly； captain。 Let's hear。〃
* * * * * * * * *
When the women came back with the clothes； Turlington had left the
room。 Their promised reward lay waiting for them o
