little novels-第70节
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he proceedings of the man…servant； but one interpretation could now be placed on them。 They distinctly justified what Captain Bervie had said of him。 Mr。 Bowmore thought of the Captain's other assertion； relating to the urgent necessity for making his escape； and looked at Percy in silent dismay； and turned paler than ever。
Percy's thoughts； diverted for the moment only from the lady of his love； returned to her with renewed fidelity。 〃Let us hear what Charlotte thinks of it；〃 he said。 〃Where is she？〃
It was impossible to answer this question plainly and in few words。
Terrified at the effect which her attempt at explanation produced on Percy； helplessly ignorant when she was called upon to account for her daughter's absence； Mrs。 Bowmore could only shed tears and express a devout trust in Providence。 Her husband looked at the new misfortune from a political point of view。 He sat down and slapped his forehead theatrically with the palm of his hand。 〃Thus far；〃 said the patriot； 〃my political assailants have only struck at me through the newspapers。 _Now_ they strike at me through my child！〃
Percy made no speeches。 There was a look in his eyes which boded ill for Captain Bervie if the two met。 〃I am going to fetch her；〃 was all he said； 〃as fast as a horse can carry me。〃
He hired his horse at an inn in the town； and set forth for Justice Bervie's house at a gallop。
During Percy's absence； Mr。 Bowmore secured the front and back entrances to the cottage with his own hands。
These first precautions taken； he ascended to his room and packed his traveling…bag。 〃Necessaries for my use in prison；〃 he remarked。 〃The bloodhounds of Government are after me。〃 〃Are they after Percy； too？〃 his wife ventured to ask。 Mr。 Bowmore looked up impatiently； and cried 〃Pooh！〃as if Percy was of no consequence。 Mrs。 Bowmore thought otherwise： the good woman privately packed a bag for Percy； in the sanctuary of her own room。
For an hour； and more than an hour； no event of any sort occurred。
Mr。 Bowmore stalked up and down the parlor； meditating。 At intervals； ideas of flight presented themselves attractively to his mind。 At intervals； ideas of the speech that he had prepared for the public meeting on the next day took their place。 〃If I fly to…night；〃 he wisely observed； 〃what will become of my speech？ I will _not_ fly to…night！ The people shall hear me。〃
He sat down and crossed his arms fiercely。 As he looked at his wife to see what effect he had produced on her； the sound of heavy carriage…wheels and the trampling of horses penetrated to the parlor from the garden…gate。
Mr。 Bowmore started to his feet； with every appearance of having suddenly altered his mind on the question of flight。 Just as he reached the hall； Percy's voice was heard at the front door。 〃Let me in。 Instantly！ Instantly！〃
Mrs。 Bowmore drew back the bolts before the servants could help her。 〃Where is Charlotte？〃 she cried； seeing Percy alone on the doorstep。
〃Gone！〃 Percy answered furiously。 〃Eloped to Paris with Captain Bervie！ Read her own confession。 They were just sending the messenger with it； when I reached the house。〃
He handed a note to Mrs。 Bowmore； and turned aside to speak to her husband while she read it。 Charlotte wrote to her mother very briefly； promising to explain everything on her return。 In the meantime； she had left home under careful protectionshe had a lady for her companion on the journeyand she would write again from Paris。 So the letter； evidently written in great haste； began and ended。
Percy took Mr。 Bowmore to the window； and pointed to a carriage and four horses waiting at the garden…gate。
〃Do you come with me； and back me with your authority as her father？〃 he asked； sternly。 〃Or do you leave me to go alone？〃
Mr。 Bowmore was famous among his admirers for his 〃happy replies。〃 He made one now。
〃I am not Brutus；〃 he said。 〃I am only Bowmore。 My daughter before everything。 Fetch my traveling…bag。〃
While the travelers' bags were being placed in the chaise； Mr。 Bowmore was struck by an idea。
He produced from his coat…pocket a roll of many papers thickly covered with writing。 On the blank leaf in which they were tied up； he wrote in the largest letters： 〃Frightful domestic calamity！ Vice…President Bowmore obliged to leave England！ Welfare of a beloved daughter！ His speech will be read at the meeting by Secretary Joskin； of the Club。 （Private to Joskin。 Have these lines printed and posted everywhere。 And； when you read my speech； for God's sake don't drop your voice at the ends of the sentences。）〃
He threw down the pen； and embraced Mrs。 Bowmore in the most summary manner。 The poor woman was ordered to send the roll of paper to the Club； without a word to comfort and sustain her from her husband's lips。 Percy spoke to her hopefully and kindly； as he kissed her cheek at parting。
On the next morning； a letter； addressed to Mrs。 Bowmore； was delivered at the cottage by private messenger。
Opening the letter； she recognized the handwriting of her husband's old friend； and her old friendMajor Mulvany。 In breathless amazement； she read these lines：
〃DEAR MRS。 BOWMOREIn matters of importance； the golden rule is never to waste words。 I have performed one of the great actions of my lifeI have saved your husband。
〃How I discovered that my friend was in danger； I must not tell you at present。 Let it be enough if I say that I have been a guest under Justice Bervie's hospitable roof； and that I know of a Home Office spy who has taken you unawares； under pretense of being your footman。 If I had not circumvented him； the scoundrel would have imprisoned your husband； and another dear friend of mine。 This is how I did it。
〃I must begin by appealing to your memory。
〃Do you happen to remember that your husband and I are as near as may be of about the same height？ Very good； so far。 Did you； in the next place； miss Bowmore's traveling coat and cap from their customary peg？ I am the thief； dearest lady； I put them on my own humble self。 Did you hear a sudden noise in the hall？ Oh； forgive meI made the noise！ And it did just what I wanted of it。 It brought the spy up from the kitchen； suspecting that something might be wrong。
〃What did the wretch see when he got into the hall？ His master； in traveling costume； running out。 What did he find when he reached the garden？ His master escaping； in a post…chaise； on the road to London。 What did he do； the born blackguard that he was？ Jumped up behind the chaise to make sure of his prisoner。 It was dark when we got to London。 In a hop； skip； and jump； I was out of the carriage； and in at my own door； before he could l ook me in the face。
〃The date of the warrant； you must know； obliged him to wait till the morning。 All that night； he and the Bow Street runners kept watch They came in with the sunriseand who did they find？ Major Mulvany snug in his bed； and as innocent as the babe unborn。 Oh； they did their duty！ Searched the place from the kitchen to the garretsand gave it up。 There's but one thing I regretI let the spy off without a good thrashing。 No matter。 I'll do it yet； one of these days。
〃Let me know the first good news of our darling fugitives； and I shall be more than rewarded for what little I have done。
〃Your always devoted；
〃TERENCE MULVANY。〃
CHAPTER XI。
PURSUIT AND DISCOVERY。
FEELING himself hurried away on the road to Dover； as fast as four horses could carry him； Mr。 Bowmore had leisure to criticise Percy's conduct； from his own purely selfish point of view。
〃If you had listened to my advice；〃 he said； 〃you would have treated that man Bervie like the hypocrite and villain that he is。 But no！ you trusted to your own crude impressions。 Having given him your hand after the duel （I would have given him the contents of my pistol！） you hesitated to withdraw it again； when that slanderer appealed to your friendship not to cast him off。 Now you see the consequence！〃
〃Wait till we get to Paris！〃 All the ingenuity of Percy's traveling companion failed to extract from him any other answer than that。
Foiled so far； Mr。 Bowmore began to start difficulties next。 Had they money enough for the journey？ Percy touched his pocket； and answered shortly； 〃Plenty。〃 Had they passports？ Percy sullenly showed a letter。 〃There is the necessary voucher from a magistrate；〃 he said。 〃The consul at Dover will give us our passports。 Mind this！〃 he added； in warning tones； 〃I have pledged my word of honor to Justice Bervie that we have no political object in view in traveling to France。 Keep your politics to yourself； on the other side of the Channel。〃
Mr。 Bowmore listened in blank amazement。 Charlotte's lover was appearing in a new characterthe character of a man who had lost his respect for Charlotte's father！
It was useless to talk to him。 He deliberately checked any further attempts at conversation by leaning back in the carriage； and closing his eyes。 The truth is； Mr。 Bowmore's own language and conduct were insensibly producing the salutary impression on Percy's mind which Bervie had vainly tried to convey； under the disadvantage of having Charlotte's influence against h
