the queen of hearts-第86节

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my　love！　my　love！　what　harm　or　wrong　had　you　ever　done　in　this
world；　that　you　should　die　at　eighteen　by　a　blow　from　a
drunkard's　hand？


June　19th。　The　trial。　My　experience　of　what　happened　at　it　is
limited；　like　my　experience　of　the　examination　at　the
police…office；　to　the　time　occupied　in　giving　my　own　evidence。
They　made　me　say　much　more　than　I　said　before　the　magistrate。
Between　examination　and　cross…examination；　I　had　to　go　into
almost　all　the　particulars　about　　poor　Mary　and　her　funeral　that　I
have　written　i　n　this　journal；　the　jury　listening　to　every　word　I
spoke　with　the　most　anxious　attention。　At　the　end；　the　judge　said
a　few　words　to　me　approving　of　my　conduct；　and　then　there　was　a
clapping　of　hands　among　the　people　in　court。　I　was　so　agitated
and　excited　that　I　trembled　all　over　when　they　let　me　go　out　into
the　air　again。

I　looked　at　the　prisoner　both　when　I　entered　the　witness…box　and
when　I　left　it。　The　lowering　brutality　of　his　face　was　unchanged；
but　his　faculties　seemed　to　be　more　alive　and　observant　than　they
were　at　the　police…office。　A　frightful　blue　change　passed　over
his　face；　and　he　drew　his　breath　so　heavily　that　the　gasps　were
distinctly　audible　while　I　mentioned　Mary　by　name　and　described
the　mark　or　the　blow　on　her　temple。　When　they　asked　me　if　I　knew
anything　of　the　prisoner；　and　I　answered　that　I　only　knew　what
Mary　herself　had　told　me　about　his　having　been　her　father's　ruin；
he　gave　a　kind　of　groan；　and　struck　both　his　hands　heavily　on　the
dock。　And　when　I　passed　beneath　him　on　my　way　out　of　court；　he
leaned　over　suddenly；　whether　to　speak　to　me　or　to　strike　me　I
can't　say；　for　he　was　immediately　made　to　stand　upright　again　by
the　turnkeys　on　either　side　of　him。　While　the　evidence　proceeded
（as　Robert　described　it　to　me）；　the　signs　that　he　was　suffering
under　superstitious　terror　became　more　and　more　apparent；　until；
at　last；　just　as　the　lawyer　appointed　to　defend　him　was　rising　to
speak；　he　suddenly　cried　out；　in　a　voice　that　startled　every　one；
up　to　the　very　judge　on　the　bench：　〃Stop！〃

There　was　a　pause；　and　all　eyes　looked　at　him。　The　perspiration
was　pouring　over　his　face　like　water；　and　he　made　strange；
uncouth　signs　with　his　hands　to　the　judge　opposite。　〃Stop　all
this！〃　he　cried　again；　〃I've　been　the　ruin　of　the　father　and　the
death　of　the　child。　Hang　me　before　I　do　more　harm！　Hang　me；　for
God's　sake；　out　of　the　way！〃　As　soon　as　the　shock　produced　by
this　extraordinary　interruption　had　subsided；　he　was　removed；　and
there　followed　a　long　discussion　about　whether　he　was　of　sound
mind　or　not。　The　matter　was　left　to　the　jury　to　decide　by　their
verdict。　They　found　him　guilty　of　the　charge　of　manslaughter；
without　the　excuse　of　insanity。　He　was　brought　up　again；　and
condemned　to　transportation　for　life。　All　he　did；　on　hearing　the
dreadful　sentence；　was　to　reiterate　his　desperate　words：　〃Hang　me
before　I　do　more　harm！　Hang　me；　for　God's　sake；　out　of　the　way！〃


June　20th。　I　made　yesterday's　entry　in　sadness　of　heart；　and　I
have　not　been　better　in　my　spirits　to…day。　It　is　something　to
have　brought　the　murderer　to　the　punishment　that　he　deserves。　But
the　knowledge　that　this　most　righteous　act　of　retribution　is
accomplished　brings　no　consolation　with　it。　The　law　does　indeed
punish　Noah　Truscott　for　his　crime；　but　can　it　raise　up　Mary
Mallinson　from　her　last　resting…place　in　the　churchyard？

While　writing　of　the　law；　I　ought　to　record　that　the　heartless
wretch　who　allowed　Mary　to　be　struck　down　in　his　presence　without
making　an　attempt　to　defend　her　is　not　likely　to　escape　with
perfect　impunity。　The　policeman　who　looked　after　him　to　insure
his　attendance　at　the　trial　discovered　that　he　had　committed　past
offenses；　for　which　the　law　can　make　him　answer。　A　summons　was
executed　upon　him；　and　he　was　taken　before　the　magistrate　the
moment　he　left　the　court　after　giving　his　evidence。


I　had　just　written　these　few　lines；　and　was　closing　my　journal；
when　there　came　a　knock　at　the　door。　I　answered　it；　thinking　that
Robert　had　called　on　his　way　home　to　say　good…night；　and　found
myself　face　to　face　with　a　strange　gentleman；　who　immediately
asked　for　Anne　Rodway。　On　hearing　that　I　was　the　person　inquired
for；　he　requested　five　minutes'　conversation　with　me。　I　showed
him　into　the　little　empty　room　at　the　back　of　the　house；　and
waited；　rather　surprised　and　fluttered；　to　hear　what　he　had　to
say。

He　was　a　dark　man；　with　a　serious　manner；　and　a　short；　stern　way
of　speaking　I　was　certain　that　he　was　a　stranger；　and　yet　there
seemed　something　in　his　face　not　unfamiliar　to　me。　He　began　by
taking　a　newspaper　from　his　pocket；　and　asking　me　if　I　was　the
person　who　had　given　evidence　at　the　trial　of　Noah　Truscott　on　a
charge　of　manslaughter。　I　answered　immediately　that　I　was。

〃I　have　been　for　nearly　two　years　in　London　seeking　Mary
Mallinson；　and　always　seeking　her　in　vain；〃　he　said。　〃The　first
and　only　news　I　have　had　of　her　I　found　in　the　newspaper　report
of　the　trial　yesterday。〃

He　still　spoke　calmly；　but　there　was　something　in　the　look　of　his
eyes　which　showed　me　that　he　was　suffering　in　spirit。　A　sudden
nervousness　overcame　me；　and　I　was　obliged　to　sit　down。

〃You　knew　Mary　Mallinson；　sir？〃　I　asked；　as　quietly　as　I　could。

〃I　am　her　brother。〃

I　clasped　my　hands　and　hid　my　face　in　despair。　Oh；　the　bitterness
of　heart　with　which　I　heard　him　say　those　simple　words！

〃You　were　very　kind　to　her；〃　said　the　calm；　tearless　man。　〃In　her
name　and　for　her　sake；　I　thank　you。〃

〃Oh；　sir；〃　I　said；　〃why　did　you　never　write　to　her　when　you　were
in　foreign　parts？〃

〃I　wrote　often；〃　he　answered；　〃but　each　of　my　letters　contained　a
remittance　of　money。　Did　Mary　tell　you　she　had　a　stepmother？　If
she　did；　you　may　guess　why　none　of　my　letters　were　allowed　to
reach　her。　I　now　know　that　this　woman　robbed　my　sister。　Has　she
lied　in　telling　me　that　she　was　never　informed　of　Mary's　place　of
abode？〃

I　remembered　that　Mary　had　never　communicated　with　her　stepmother
after　the　separation；　and　could　therefore　assure　him　that　the
woman　had　spoken　the　truth。

He　paused　for　a　moment　after　that；　and　sighed。　Then　he　took　out　a
pocket…book；　and　said：

〃I　have　already　arranged　for　the　payment　of　any　legal　expenses
that　may　have　been　incurred　by　the　trial；　but　I　have　still　to
reimburse　you　for　the　funeral　charges　which　you　so　generously
defrayed。　Excuse　my　speaking　bluntly　on　this　subject；　I　am
accustomed　to　look　on　all　matters　where　money　is　concerned　purely
as　matters　of　business。〃

I　saw　that　he　was　taking　several　bank…notes　out　of　the
pocket…book；　and　stopped　him。

〃I　will　gratefully　receive　back　the　little　money　I　actually　paid；
sir；　because　I　am　not　well　off；　and　it　would　be　an　ungracious　act
of　pride　in　me　to　refuse　it　from　you；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　see　you
handling　bank…notes；　any　one　of　which　is　far　beyond　the　amount
you　have　to　repay　me。　Pray　put　them　back；　sir。　What　I　did　for
your　poor　lost　sister　I　did　from　my　love　and　fondness　for　her。
You　have　thanked　me　for　that；　and　your　thanks　are　all　I　can
receive。〃

He　had　hitherto　concealed　his　feelings；　but　I　saw　them　now　begin
to　get　the　better　of　him。　His　eyes　softened；　and　he　took　my　hand
and　squeezed　it　hard。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　with　all　my
heart。〃

There　was　silence　between　us；　for　I　was　crying；　and　I　believe；　at
heart；　he　was　crying　too。　At　last　he　dropped　my　hand；　and　seemed
to　change　back；　by　an　effort；　to　his　former　calmness。

〃Is　there　no　one　belonging　to　you　to　whom　I　can　be　of　service？〃
he　asked。　〃I　see　among　the　witnesses　on　the　trial　the　name　of　a
young　man　who　appears　to　have　assisted　you　in　the　inquiries　which
led　to　the　prisoner's　conviction。　Is　he　a　relation？〃

〃No；　sirat　least；　not　nowbut　I　hope〃

〃What？〃

〃I　hope　that　he　may；　one　day；　be　the　nearest　and　dearest　relation
to　me　that　a　woman　can　have。〃　I　said　those　words　boldly；　because
I　was　afraid　of　his　otherwise　taking　some　wrong　view　of　the
connection　between　Robert　and　me

〃One　day？〃　he　repeated。　〃One　day　may　be　a　long　time　hence。〃

〃We　are　neither　of　us　well　off；　sir；〃　I　said。　〃One　day　means　the
day　when　we　are　a　little　richer　than　we　are　now。〃

〃Is　the　young　man　educated？　Can　he　produce　testimonials　to　his
character？　Oblige　me　by　writing　his　name　and　address　down　on　the
back　of　that　card。〃

When　I　had　obeyed；　in　a　handwriting　which　I　am　afraid　did　me　no
credit；　he　took　out　another　card　and　gave　it　to　me。

〃I　shall　leave　England　to…morrow；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　nothing　now
to　keep　me　in　my　own　country。　If　you　are　ever　in　any　difficulty
or　distress　（which　I　pray　God　you　may　never　be）；　apply　to　my
London　agent；　whose　address　you　have　there。〃

He　stopped；　and　looked　at　me　attentively；　then　took　my　hand
again。

〃Wher　e　is　she　buried？〃　he　said；　suddenly；　in　a　quick　whisper；
turning　his　head　away。

I　told　him；　and　added　that　we　had　made　the　grave　as　beautiful　as
we　could　with　grass　and　flowers。　I　saw　his　lips　whiten　and
tremble。

〃God　bless　and　reward　you！〃　he　said；　and　drew　me　toward　him
quickly　and　kissed　my　forehead。　I　was　quite　overcome；　and　sank
down　and　hid　my　face　on　the　table。　When　I　looked　up　again　he　was
gone。