miss or mrs[1].(小姐还是夫人)-第24节
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restlessly toward the window。 It was impossible to say when his master
might not return； and it might be as much as his life was worth to be
caught in the house after he had been locked out of it。 He begged
permission to open the window； and make his escape back to the stables
while there was still time。 As he unbarred the shutter they were startled by
a voice hailing them from below。 It was Launce's voice calling to Natalie。
The servant disappeared； and Natalie was in Launce's arms before she
could breathe again。
For one delicious moment she let her head lie on his breast； then she
suddenly pushed him away from her。 〃Why do you come here？ He will
kill you if he finds you in the house。 Where is he？〃
Launce knew even less of Turlington's movements than the servant。
〃Wherever he is； thank God； I am here before him！〃 That was all the
answer he could give。
Natalie and her aunt heard him in silent dismay。 Sir Joseph woke； and
recognized Launce before a word more could be said。 〃Ah； my dear boy！〃
he murmured； faintly。 〃It's pleasant to see you again。 How do you come
here？〃 He was quite satisfied with the first excuse that suggested itself。
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〃We'll talk about it to… morrow；〃 he said； and composed himself to rest
again。
Natalie made a second attempt to persuade Launce to leave the house。
〃We don't know what may have happened；〃 she said。 〃He may have
followed you on your way here。 He may have purposely let you enter his
house。 Leave us while you have the chance。〃
Miss Lavinia added her persuasions。 They were useless。 Launce
quietly closed the heavy window…shutters； lined with iron； and put up the
bar。 Natalie wrung her hands in despair。
〃Have you been to the magistrate？〃 she asked。 〃Tell us； at least； are
you here by his advice？ Is he coming to help us？〃
Launce hesitated。 If he had told the truth； he must have acknowledged
that he was there in direct opposition to the magistrate's advice。 He
answered evasively； 〃If the vicar doesn't come； the doctor will。 I have told
him Sir Joseph must he moved。 Cheer up； Natalie！ The doctor will be here
as soon as Turlington。〃
As the name passed his lipswithout a sound outside to prepare them
for what was comingthe voice of Turlington himself suddenly penetrated
into the room； speaking close behind the window； on the outer side。
〃You have broken into my house in the night；〃 said the voice。 〃And
you don't escape _this_ way。〃
Miss Lavinia sank on her knees。 Natalie flew to her father。 His eyes
were wide open in terror； he moaned； feebly recognizing the voice。 The
next sound that was heard was the sound made by the removal of the
ladder from the balcony。 Turlington； having descended by it； had taken it
away。 Natalie had but too accurately guessed what would happen。 The
death of the villain's accomplice had freed him from all apprehension in
that quarter。 He had deliberately dogged Launce's steps； and had
deliberately allowed him to put himself in the wrong by effecting a secret
entrance into the house。
There was an intervala horrible intervaland then they heard the
front door opened。 Without stopping （judging by the absence of sound） to
close it again； Turlington rapidly ascended the stairs and tried the locked
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door。
〃Come out； and give yourself up！〃 he called through the door。 〃I have
got my revolver with me； and I have a right to fire on a man who has
broken into my house。 If the door isn't opened before I count three； your
blood be on your own head。 One！〃
Launce was armed with nothing but his stick。 He advanced； without an
instant's hesitation； to give himself up。 Natalie threw her arms round him
and clasped him fast before he could reach the door。
〃Two！〃 cried the voice outside； as Launce struggled to force her from
him。 At the same moment his eye turned toward the bed。 It was exactly
opposite the doorit was straight in the line of fire！ Sir Joseph' s life （as
Turlington had deliberately calculated） was actually in greater danger than
Launce's life。 He tore himself free； rushed to the bed； and took the old man
in his arms to lift him out。
〃Three！〃
The crash of the report sounded。 The bullet came through the door；
grazed Launce's left arm； and buried itself in the pillow； at the very place
on which Sir Joseph's head had rested the moment before。 Launce had
saved his father…in…law's life。 Turlington had fired his first shot for the
money； and had not got it yet。
They were safe in the corner of the room； on the same side as the door…
…Sir Joseph； helpless as a child； in Launce's arms； the women pale； but
admirably calm。 They were safe for the moment； when the second bullet
（fired at an angle） tore its way through the wall on their right hand。
〃I hear you；〃 cried the voice of the miscreant on the other side of the
door。 〃I'll have you yetthrough the wall。〃
There was a pause。 They heard his hand sounding the wall； to find out
where there was solid wood in the material of which it was built； and
where there was plaster only。 At that dreadful moment Launce's
composure never left him。 He laid Sir Joseph softly on the floor； and
signed to Natalie and her aunt to lie down by him in silence。 Their lives
depended now on neither their voices nor their movements telling the
murderer where to fire。 He chose his place。 The barrel of the revolver
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grated as he laid it against the wall。 He touched the hair trigger。 A faint
_click_ was the only sound that followed。 The third barrel had missed fire。
They heard him ask himself； with an oath； 〃What's wrong with it
now？〃
There was a pause of silence。
Was he examining the weapon？
Before they could ask themselves the question； the report of the
exploding charge burst on their ears。 It was instantly followed by a heavy
fall。 They looked at the opposite wall of the room。 No sign of a bullet
there or anywhere。
Launce signed to them not to move yet。 They waited； and listened。
Nothing stirred on the landing outside。
Suddenly there was a disturbance of the silence in the lower regionsa
clamor of many voices at the open house door。 Had the firing of the
revolver been heard at the vicarage？ Yes！ They recognized the vicar's
voice among the others。 A moment more； and they heard a general
exclamation of horror on the stairs。 Launce opened the door of the room。
He instantly closed it again before Natalie could follow him。
The dead body of Turlington lay on the landing outside。 The charge in
the fourth barrel of the revolver had exploded while he was looking at it。
The bullet had entered his mouth and killed him on the spot。
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Miss or Mrs。？
DOCUMENTARY HINTS； IN
CONCLUSION。
First Hint。
（Derived from Lady Winwood's Card…Rack。）
〃Sir Joseph Graybrooke and Miss Graybrooke request the honor of
Lord and Lady Winwood's company to dinner； on Wednesday； February 10；
at half…past seven o'clock。 To meet Mr。 and Mrs。 Launcelot Linzie on their
return。〃
Second Hint。
（Derived from a recent Money Article in morning Newspaper。）
〃We are requested to give the fullest contradiction to unfavorable
rumors lately in circulation respecting the firm of Pizzituti； Turlington； and
Branca。 Some temporary derangement in the machinery of the business
was undoubtedly produced in consequence of
