little novels-第63节
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clare； does not apply in any single particular to any one whom I know。〃
Captain Bervie turned round at the door。 His patience was in some danger of failing him。 Mr。 Linwood's unruffled composure； assisted in its influence by the presence of Madame Lagarde； reminded him of the claims of politeness。 He restrained the rash words as they rose to his lips。 〃You may make new acquaintances； sir；〃 was all that he said。 〃_You_ have the future before you。〃
Upon that； he went out。 Percy Linwood waited a little； reflecting on the Captain's conduct。
Had Doctor Lagarde's description of the lady accidentally answered the description of a living lady whom Captain Bervie knew？ Was he by any chance in love with her？ and had the Doctor innocently reminded him that his love was not returned？ Assuming this to be likely； was it really possible that he believed in prophetic revelations offered to him under the fantastic influence of a trance？ Could any man in the possession of his senses go to those lengths？ The Captain's conduct was simply incomprehensible。
Pondering these questions； Percy decided on returning to his place by the Doctor's chair。 〃Of one thing I am certain； at any rate；〃 he thought to himself。 〃I'll see the whole imposture out before I leave the house！〃
He took Doctor Lagarde's hand。 〃Now； then！ what is the next discovery？〃 he asked。
The sleeper seemed to find some difficulty in answering the question。
〃I indistinctly see the man and the woman again；〃 he said。
〃Am I the man still？〃 Percy inquired。
〃No。 The man； this time； is the Captain。 The woman is agitated by something that he is saying to her。 He seems to be trying to persuade her to go away with him。 She hesitates。 He whispers something in her ear。 She yields。 He leads her away。 The darkness gathers behind them。 I look and look； and I can see no more。〃
〃Shall we wait awhile？〃 Percy suggested； 〃and then try again？〃
Doctor Lagarde sighed； and reclined in his chair。 〃My head is heavy；〃 he said； 〃my spirits are dull。 The darkness baffles me。 I have toiled long enough for you。 Drop my hand and leave me to rest。〃
Hearing those words； Madame Lagarde approached her son's chair。
〃It will be useless； sir； to ask him any more questions to…night；〃 she said。 〃He has been weak and nervous all day； and he is worn out by the effort he has made。 Pardon me； if I ask you to step aside for a moment； while I give him the repose that he needs。〃
She laid her right hand gently on the Doctor's head； and kept it there for a minute or so。 〃Are you at rest now？〃 she asked。
〃I am at rest；〃 he answered； in faint； drowsy tones。
Madame Lagarde returned to Percy。 〃If you are not yet satisfied；〃 she said； 〃my son will be at your service to…morrow evening； sir。〃
〃Thank you； madam； I have only one more question to ask； and you can no doubt answer it。 When your son wakes； will he remember what he has said to Captain Bervie and to myself？〃
〃My son will be as absolutely ignorant of everything that he has seen； and of everything that he has said in the trance； as if he had been at the other end of the world。〃
Percy Linwood swallowed this last outrageous assertion with an effort which he was quite unable to conceal。 〃Many thanks； madam；〃 he said； 〃I wish you good…night。〃
Returning to the waiting…room； he noticed the money…box fixed to the table。 〃These people look poor；〃 he thought to himself； 〃and I feel really indebted to them for an amusing evening。 Besides； I can afford to be liberal； for I shall certainly never go back。〃 He dropped a five…pound note into the money…box； and left the house。
Walking toward his club； Percy's natural serenity of mind was a little troubled by the remembrance of Captain Bervie's language and conduct。 The Captain had interested the young man in spite of himself。 His first idea was to write to Bervie； and mention what had happened at the renewed consultation with Doctor Lagarde。 On second thoughts； he saw reason to doubt how the Captain might receive such an advance as this； on the part of a stranger。 〃After all；〃 Percy decided； 〃the whole thing is too absurd to be worth thinking about seriously。 Neither he nor I are likely to meet again； or to see the Doctor againand there's an end of it。〃
He never was more mistaken in his life。 The end of it was not to come for many a long day yet。
PART II。THE FULFILLMENT。
CHAPTER V。
THE BALLROOM。
WHILE the consultation at Doctor Lagarde's was still fresh in the memory of the persons present at it； Chance or Destiny； occupied in sowing the seeds for the harvest of the future； discovered as one of its fit instruments a retired military officer named Major Mulvany。
The Major was a smart little man； who persisted in setting up the appearance of youth as a means of hiding the reality of fifty。 Being still a bachelor； and being always ready to make himself agreeable； he was generally popular in the society of women。 In the ballroom he was a really welcome addition to the company。 The German waltz had then been imported into England little more than three years since。 The outcry raised against the dance； by persons ski lled in the discovery of latent impropriety； had not yet lost its influence in certain quarters。 Men who could waltz were scarce。 The Major had successfully grappled with the difficulties of learning the dance in mature life； and the young ladies rewarded him nobly for the。 effort。 That is to say； they took the assumption of youth for granted in the palpable presence of fifty。
Knowing everybody and being welcome everywhere； playing a good hand at whist； and having an inexhaustible fancy in the invention of a dinner； Major Mulvany naturally belonged to all the best clubs of his time。 Percy Linwood and he constantly met in the billiard…room or at the dinner…table。 The Major approved of the easy； handsome； pleasant…tempered young man。 〃I have lost the first freshness of youth；〃 he used to say； with pathetic resignation； 〃and I see myself revived； as it were； in Percy。 Naturally I like Percy。〃
About three weeks after the memorable evening at Doctor Lagarde's； the two friends encountered each other on the steps of a club。
〃Have you got anything to do to…night？〃 asked the Major。
〃Nothing that I know of；〃 said Percy； 〃unless I go to the theater。〃
〃Let the theater wait； my boy。 My old regiment gives a ball at Woolwich to…night。 I have got a ticket to spare； and I know several sweet girls who are going。 Some of them waltz； Percy！ Gather your rosebuds while you may。 Come with me。〃
The invitation was accepted as readily as it was given。 The Major found the carriage； and Percy paid for the post…horses。 They entered the ballroom among the earlier guests； and the first person whom they met； waiting near the door； wasCaptain Bervie。
Percy bowed a little uneasily。 〃I feel some doubt；〃 he said； laughing； 〃whether we have been properly introduced to one another or not。〃
〃Not properly introduced！〃 cried Major Mulvany。 〃I'll soon set that right。 My dear friend； Percy Linwood； my dear friend； Arthur Berviebe known to each other！ esteem each other！〃
Captain Bervie acknowledged the introduction by a cold salute。 Percy； yielding to the good…natured impulse of the moment； alluded to what had happened in Doctor Lagarde's consulting…room。
〃You missed something worth hearing when you left the Doctor the other night；〃 he said。 〃We continued the sitting； and _you_ turned up again among the persons of the drama； in a new character〃
〃Excuse me for interrupting you；〃 said Captain Bervie。 〃I am a member of the committee； charged with the arrangements of the ball； and I must really attend to my duties。〃
He withdrew without waiting for a reply。 Percy looked round wonderingly at Major Mulvany。 〃Strange！〃 he said； 〃I feel rather attracted toward Captain Bervie； and he seems to have taken such a dislike to me that he can hardly behave with common civility。 What does it mean？〃
〃I'll tell you；〃 answered the Major； confidentially。 〃Arthur Bervie is madly in lovemadly is really the wordwith a Miss Bowmore。 And （this is between ourselves） the young lady doesn't feel it quite in the same way。 A sweet girl； I've often had her on my knee when she was a child。 Her father and mother are old friends of mine。 She is coming to the ball to…night。 That's the true reason why Arthur left you just now。 Look at himwaiting to be the first to speak to her。 If he could have his way； he wouldn't let another man come near the poor girl all through the evening； he really persecutes her。 I'll introduce you to Miss Bowmore； and you will see how he looks at us for presuming to approach her。 It's a great pity； she will never marry him。 Arthur Bervie is a man in a thousand； but he's fast becoming a perfect bear under the strain on his temper。 What's the matter？ You don't seem to be listening to me。〃
This last remark was perfectly justified。 In telling the Captain's love…story； Major Mulvany had revived his young friend's memory of the lady in the blue dress； who had haunted the visions of Doctor Lagarde。
〃Tell me；〃 said Percy； 〃what is Miss Bowmore like？ Is there anything remarkable in her personal appearance？ I have a reason for asking。〃
As he spoke； there arose among the guests in the rapidly…fi
