ragged lady, v2-第13节

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him　in　his　preoccupation　with　the　romantic　end　to　be　accomplished。　　He
had　meant　to　be　the　friend；　the　prophet；　to　these　American　lovers；　whom
he　was　reconciling　and　interpreting　to　each　other；　but　in　some　point　he
must　have　misunderstood。　　Yet　the　error　was　not　inexpiable；　and　in　his
expiation　he　could　put　the　seal　to　his　devotion。　　He　left　the　room；　where
Gregory　made　no　effort　to　keep　him。

He　walked　down　the　street　from　the　hotel　to　the　Arno；　and　in　a　few
moments　he　stood　on　the　bridge；　where　he　had　talked　with　that　joker　in
the　morning；　as　they　looked　down　together　on　the　boiling　river。　　He　had　a
strange　wish　that　the　joker　might　have　been　with　him　again；　to　learn　that
there　were　some　things　which　could　not　be　joked　away。

The　night　was　blustering；　and　the　wind　that　blew　the　ragged　clouds　across
the　face　of　the　moon；　swooped　in　sudden　gusts　upon　the　bridge；　and　the
deluge　rolling　under　it　and　hoarsely　washing　against　its　piers。　　Belsky
leaned　over　the　parapet　and　looked　down　into　the　eddies　and　currents　as
the　fitful　light　revealed　them。　　He　had　a　fantastic　pleasure　in　studying
them；　and　choosing　the　moment　when　he　should　leap　the　parapet　and　be　lost
in　them。　　The　incident　could　not　be　used　in　any　novel　of　his；　and　no　one
else　could　do　such　perfect　justice　to　the　situation；　but　perhaps
afterwards；　when　the　facts　leading　to　his　death　should　be　known　through
the　remorse　of　the　lovers　whom　he　had　sought　to　serve；　some　other　artist…
nature　could　distil　their　subtlest　meaning　in　a　memoir　delicate　as　the
aroma　of　a　faded　flower。

He　was　willing　to　make　this　sacrifice；　too；　and　he　stepped　back　a　pace
from　the　parapet　when　the　fitful　blast　caught　his　hat　from　his　head；　and
whirled　it　along　the　bridge。　　The　whole　current　of　his　purpose　changed；
and　as　if　it　had　been　impossible　to　drown　himself　in　his　bare　head；　he
set　out　in　chase　of　his　hat；　which　rolled　and　gamboled　away；　and　escaped
from　his　clutch　whenever　he　stooped　for　it；　till　a　final　whiff　of　wind
flung　it　up　and　tossed　it　over　the　bridge　into　the　river；　where　he
helplessly　watched　it　floating　down　the　flood；　till　it　was　carried　out　of
sight。




XXV。

Gregory　did　not　sleep；　and　he　did　not　find　peace　in　the　prayers　he　put　up
for　guidance。　　He　tried　to　think　of　some　one　with　whom　he　might　take
counsel；　but　he　knew　no　one　in　Florence　except　the　parents　of　his　pupil；
and　they　were　impossible。　　He　felt　himself　abandoned　to　the　impulse　which
he　dreaded；　in　going　to　Clementina；　and　he　went　without　hope；　willing　to
suffer　whatever　penalty　she　should　visit　upon　him；　after　he　had　disavowed
Belsky's　action；　and　claimed　the　responsibility　for　it。

He　was　prepared　for　her　refusal　to　see　him；　he　had　imagined　her　wounded
and　pathetic；　he　had　fancied　her　insulted　and　indignant；　but　she　met　him
eagerly　and　with　a　mystifying　appeal　in　her　welcome。　　He　began　at　once；
without　attempting　to　bridge　the　time　since　they　had　met　with　any
formalities。

〃I　have　come　to　speak　to　you　aboutthatRussian；　about　Baron　Belsky〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　she　returned；　anxiously。　　〃Then　you　have　hea'd〃

〃He　came　to　me　last　night；　andI　want　to　say　that　I　feel　myself　to　blame
for　what　he　has　done。〃

〃You？〃

〃Yes；　I。　　I　never　spoke　of　you　by　name　to　him；　I　didn't　dream　of　his　ever
seeing　you；　or　that　he　would　dare　to　speak　to　you　of　what　I　told　him。
But　I　believe　he　meant　no　wrong；　and　it　was　I　who　did　the　harm；　whether　I
authorized　it　or　not。〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　she　returned；　with　the　effect　of　putting　his　words　aside　as
something　of　no　moment。　　〃Have　they　head　anything　more？〃

〃How；　anything　more？〃　he　returned；　in　a　daze。

〃Then；　don't　you　know？　　About　his　falling　into　the　river？　　I　know　he
didn't　drown　himself。〃

Gregory　shook　his　head。　　〃Whenwhat　makes　them　think〃　He　stopped　and
stared　at　her。

〃Why；　they　know　that　he　went　down　to　the　Ponte　Trinity　last　night；
somebody　saw　him　going：　And　then　that　peasant　found　his　hat　with　his　name
in　it　in　the　drift…wood　below　the　Cascine〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Gregory；　lifelessly。　　He　let　his　arms　drop　forward；　and　his
helpless　hands　hang　over　his　knees；　his　gaze　fell　from　her　face　to　the
floor。

Neither　spoke　for　a　time　that　seemed　long；　and　then　it　was　Clementina　who
spoke。　　〃But　it　isn't　true！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it　is；〃　said　Gregory；　as　before。

〃Mr。　Hinkle　doesn't　believe　it　is；〃　she　urged。

〃Mr。　Hinkle？〃

〃He's　an　American　who's　staying　in　Florence。　　He　came　this　mo'ning　to
tell　me　about　it。　　Even　if　he's　drowned　Mr。　Hinkle　believes　he　didn't
mean　to；　he　must　have　just　fallen　in。〃

〃What　does　it　matter？〃　demanded　Gregory；　lifting　his　heavy　eyes。
〃Whether　he　meant　it　or　not；　I　caused　it。　　I　drove　him　to　it。〃

〃You　drove　him？〃

〃Yes。　　He　told　me　what　he　had　said　to　you；　and　Isaid　that　he　had
spoiled　my　lifeI　don't　know！〃

〃Well；　he　had　no　right　to　do　it；　but　I　didn't　blame　you；〃　Clementina
began；　compassionately。

〃It's　too　late。　　It　can't　be　helped　now。〃　　Gregory　turned　from　the　mercy
that　could　no　longer　save　him。　　He　rose　dizzily；　and　tried　to　get　himself
away。

〃You　mustn't　go！〃　she　interposed。　　〃I　don't　believe　you　made　him　do　it。
Mr。　Hinkle　will　be　back　soon；　and　he　will〃

〃If　he　should　bring　word　that　it　was　true？〃　Gregory　asked。

〃Well；〃　said　Clementina；　〃then　we　should　have　to　bear　it。〃

A　sense　of　something　finer　than　the　surface　meaning　of　her　words　pierced
his　morbid　egotism。　　〃I'm　ashamed；〃　he　said。　　〃Will　you　let　me　stay？〃

〃Why；　yes；　you　must；〃　she　said；　and　if　there　was　any　censure　of　him　at
the　bottom　of　her　heart；　she　kept　it　there；　and　tried　to　talk　him　away
from　his　remorse；　which　was　in　his　temperament；　perhaps；　rather　than　his
conscience；　she　made　the　time　pass　till　there　came　a　knock　at　the　door；
and　she　opened　it　to　Hinkle。

〃I　didn't　send　up　my　name；　I　thought　I　wouldn't　stand　upon　ceremony　just
now；〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　no！〃　she　returned。　　〃Mr。　Hinkle；　this　is　Mr。　Gregory。　　Mr。　Gregory
knew　Mr。　Belsky；　and　he　thinks〃

She　turned　to　Gregory　for　prompting；　and　he　managed　to　say；　〃I　don't
believe　he　was　quite　the　sort　of　person　to　And　yet　he　mighthe　was　in
trouble〃

〃Money　trouble？〃　asked　Hinkle。　　〃They　say　these　Russians　have　a　perfect
genius　for　debt。　　I　had　a　little　inspiration；　since　I　saw　you；　but　there
doesn't　seems　to　be　anything　in　it；　so　far。〃　　He　addressed　himself　to
Clementina；　but　he　included　Gregory　in　what　he　said。　　〃It　struck　me　that
he　might　have　been　running　his　board；　and　had　used　this　drowning　episode
as　a　blind。　　But　I〃ve　been　around　to　his　hotel；　and　he's　settled　up；　all
fair　and　square　enough。　　The　landlord　tried　to　think　of　something　he
hadn't　paid；　but　he　couldn't；　and　I　never　saw　a　man　try　harder；　either。〃
Clementina　smiled；　she　put　her　hand　to　her　mouth　to　keep　from　laughing；
but　Gregory　frowned　his　distress　in　the　untimely　droning。

〃I　don't　give　up　my　theory　that　it's　a　fake　of　some　kind；　though。　　He
could　leave　behind　a　good　many　creditors　besides　his　landlord。　　The
authorities　have　sealed　up　his　effects；　and　they've　done　everything　but
call　out　the　fire　department；　that's　on　duty　looking　after　the　freshet；
and　it　couldn't　be　spared。　　I'll　go　out　now　and　slop　round　a　little　more
in　the　cause；　〃Hinkle　looked　down　at　his　shoes　and　his　drabbled　trousers；
and　wiped　the　perspiration　from　his　face；〃but　I　thought　I'd　drop　in；　and
tell　you　not　to　worry　about　it；　Miss　Clementina。　　I　would　stake　anything
you　pleased　on　Mr。　Belsky's　safety。　　Mr。　Gregory；　here；　looks　like　he
would　be　willing　to　take　odds；〃　he　suggested。

Gregory　commanded　himself　from　his　misery　to　say；　〃I　wish　I　could
believeI　mean〃

〃Of　course；　we　don't　want　to　think　that　the　man's　a　fraud；　any　more　than
that　he's　dead。　　Perhaps　we　might　hit　upon　some　middle　course。　　At　any
rate；　it's　worth　trying。〃

〃May　Ido　you　object　to　my　joining　you？〃　Gregory　asked。

〃Why；　come！〃　Hinkle　hospitably　assented。　　〃Glad　to　have　you。　　I'll　be
back　again；　Miss　Clementina！〃

Gregory　was　going　away　without　any　form　of　leavetaking；　but　he　turned
back　to　ask；　〃Will　you　let　me　come　back；　too？〃

〃Why；　suttainly；　Mr。　Gregory；〃　said　Clementina；　and　she　went　to　find　Mrs。
Lander；　whom　she　found　in　bed。

〃I　thought　I'd　lay　down；〃　she　explained。　　〃I　don't　believe　I'm　goin'　to
be　sick；　but　it's　one　of　my　pooa　days；　and　I　might　just　as　well　be　in　bed
as　not。〃　　Clementina　agreed　with　her；　and　Mrs。　Lander　asked：　〃You　hea'd
anything　moa？〃

〃No。　　Mr。　Hinkle　has　just　been　he'a；　but　he　hadn't　any　news。〃

Mrs。　Lander　turned　her　face　toward　the　wall。　　〃Next　thing；　he'll　be
drownin'　himself。　　I　neva　wanted　you　should　have　anything　to　do　with　the
fellas　that　go　to　that　woman's。　　There　ain't　any　of　'em　to　be　depended
on。〃

It　was　the　first　time　that　her　growing　jealousy　of　Miss　Milray　had　openly
declared　itself；　but　Clementina　had　felt　it　before；　without　knowing　how
to　meet　it。　　As　an　escape　from　it　now　she　was　almost　willing　to　say；
〃Mrs。　Lander；　I　want　to　tell　you　that　Mr。　Gregory　has　just　been　he'a；
too。〃

〃Mr。　Gregory？〃

〃Yes。　　Don't　you　remember？　　At　the　Middlemount？　　The　first　summa？　　He　was
the　headwaitathat　student。〃

Mrs。　Lander　jerked　her　head　round　on　the　pillow。　　〃Well；　of　all　theWhat
does　he　want；　over　he'a？〃

〃Nothing。　　That　ishe's　travel