THESTORYCONTINUEDBYMARIANHALCOMBEBLACKWATERPARK,HAMPSHIRE。
June11th,1850——Sixmonthstolookbackon——sixlong,lonelymonthssinceLauraandIlastsaweachother!
HowmanydayshaveIstilltowait?Onlyone!Tomorrow,thetwelfth,thetravellersreturntoEngland。Icanhardlyrealisemyownhappiness——Icanhardlybelievethatthenextfour-and-twentyhourswillcompletethelastdayofseparationbetweenLauraandme。
SheandherhusbandhavebeeninItalyallthewinter,andafterwardsintheTyrol。Theycomehack,accompaniedbyCountFoscoandhiswife,whoproposetosettlesomewhereintheneighbourhoodofLondon,andwhohaveengagedtostayatBlackwaterParkforthesummermonthsbeforedecidingonaplaceofresidence。SolongasLaurareturns,nomatterwhoreturnswithher。SirPercivalmayfillthehousefromfloortoceiling,ifhelikes,onconditionthathiswifeandIinhabitittogether。
Meanwhile,hereIam,establishedatBlackwaterPark,`theancientandinterestingseat’(asthecountyhistoryobliginglyinformsme)`ofSirPercivalGlyde,Bart。,’andthefutureabiding-place(asImaynowventuretoaddonmyaccount)ofplainMarianHalcombe,spinster,nowsettledinasnuglittlesitting-room,withacupofteabyherside,andallherearthlypossessionsrangedroundherinthreeboxesandabag。
IleftLimmeridgeyesterday,havingreceivedLaura’sdelightfulletterfromParisthedaybefore。IhadbeenpreviouslyuncertainwhetherIwastomeettheminLondonorinHampshire,butthislastletterinformedmethatSirPercivalproposedtolandatSouthampton,andtonavelstraightontohiscountry-house。HehasspentsomuchmoneyabroadthathehasnonelefttodefraytheexpensesoflivinginLondonfortheremainderoftheseason,andheiseconomicallyresolvedtopassthesummerandautumnquietlyatBlackwater。Laurahashadmorethanenoughofexcitementandchangeofscene,andispleasedattheprospectofcountrytranquillityandretirementwhichherhusband’sprudenceprovidesforher。Asforme,Iamreadytobehappyanywhereinhersociety。Weareall,therefore,wellcontentedinourvariousways,tobeginwith。
nightIsleptinLondon,andwasdelayedtheresolongtodaybyvariouscallsandcommissions,thatIdidnotreachBlackwaterthiseveningtillafterdusk。
Judgingbymyvagueimpressionsoftheplacethusfar,itistheexactoppositeofLimmeridge。
Thehouseissituatedonadeadflat,andseemstobeshutin——almostsuffocated,tomynorth-countrynotions,bytrees。Ihaveseennobodybuttheman-servantwhoopenedthedoortome,andthehousekeeper,averycivilperson,whoshowedmethewaytomyownroom,andgotmemytea。Ihaveanicelittleboudoirandbedroom,attheendofalongpassageonthefirstfloor。Theservantsandsomeofthespareroomsareonthesecondfloor,andallthelivingroomsareonthegroundfloor。Ihavenotseenoneofthemyet,andIknownothingaboutthehouse,exceptthatonewingofitissaidtobefivehundredyearsold,thatithadamoatrounditonce,andthatitgetsitsnameofBlackwaterfromalakeinthepark。
Eleveno’clockhasjuststruck,inaghostlyandsolemnmanner,fromaturretoverthecentreofthehouse,whichIsawwhenIcamein。Alargedoghasbeenwoke,apparentlybythesoundofthebell,andishowlingandyawningdrearily,somewhereroundacorner。Ihearechoingfootstepsinthepassagesbelow,andtheironthumpingofboltsandbarsatthehousedoor。Theservantsareevidentlygoingtobed。ShallIfollowtheirexample?
No,Iamnothalfsleepyenough。Sleepy,didIsay?IfeelasifIshouldneverclosemyeyesagain。Thebareanticipationofseeingthatdearface,andhearingthatwell-knownvoicetomorrow,keepsmeinaperpetualfeverofexcitement。IfIonlyhadtheprivilegesofaman,IwouldorderoutSirPercival’sbesthorseinstantly,andtearawayonanight-gallop,eastward,tomeettherisingsun——along,hard,heavy,ceaselessgallopofhoursandhours,likethefamoushighwayman’sridetoYork。Being,however,nothingbutawoman,condemnedtopatience,propriety,andpetticoatsforlife,Imustrespectthehousekeeper’sopinions,andtrytocomposemyselfinsomefeebleandfeminineway。
Readingisoutofthequestion——Ican’tfixmyattentiononbooks。LetmetryifIcanwritemyselfintosleepinessandfatigue。Myjournalhasbeenverymuchneglectedoflate。WhatcanIrecall——standing,asInowdo,onthethresholdofanewlife——ofpersonsandevents,ofchancesandchanges,duringthepastsixmonths——thelong,weary,emptyintervalsinceLaura’swedding-day?
WalterHartrightisuppermostinmymemory,andhepassesfirstintheshadowyprocessionofmyabsentfriends。Ireceivedafewlinesfromhim,afterthelandingoftheexpeditioninHonduras,writtenmorecheerfullyandhopefullythanhehaswrittenyet。AmonthorsixweekslaterIsawanextractfromanAmericannewspaper,describingthedepartureoftheadventurersontheirinlandjourney。Theywerelastseenenteringawildprimevalforest,eachmanwithhisrifleonhisshoulderandhisbaggageathisback。Sincethattime,civilisationhaslostalltraceofthem。NotalinemorehaveIreceivedfromWalter,notafragmentofnewsfromtheexpeditionhasappearedinanyofthepublicjournals。
Thesamedense,dishearteningobscurityhangsoverthefateandfortunesofAnneCatherick,andhercompanion,MrsClements。Nothingwhateverhasbeenheardofeitherofthem。Whethertheyareinthecountryoroutofit,whethertheyarelivingordead,nooneknows。EvenSirPercival’ssolicitorhaslostallhope,andhasorderedtheuselesssearchafterthefugitivestobefinallygivenup。
OurgoodfriendMrGilmorehasmetwithasadcheckinhisactiveprofessionalcareer。Earlyinthespringwewerealarmedbyhearingthathehadbeenfoundinsensibleathisdesk,andthattheseizurewaspronouncedtobeanapoplecticfit。Hehadbeenlongcomplainingoffulnessandoppressioninthehead,andhisdoctorhadwarnedhimoftheconsequencesthatwouldfollowhispersistencyincontinuingtowork,earlyandlate,asifhewerestillayoungman。Theresultnowisthathehasbeenpositivelyorderedtokeepoutofhisofficeforayeartocome,atleast,andtoseekreposeofbodyandreliefofmindbyaltogetherchanginghisusualmodeoflife。Thebusinessisleft,accordingly,tobecarriedonbyhispartner,andheishimself,atthismoment,awayinGermany,visitingsomerelationswhoaresettledthereinmercantilepursuits。Thusanothertruefriendandtrustworthyadviserislosttous——lost,Iearnestlyhopeandtrust,foratimeonly。
PoorMrsVeseytravelledwithmeasfarasLondon。ItwasimpossibletoabandonhertosolitudeatLimmeridgeafterLauraandIhadbothleftthehouse,andwehavearrangedthatsheistolivewithanunmarriedyoungersisterofhers,whokeepsaschoolatClapham。Sheistocomeherethisautumntovisitherpupil——Imightalmostsayheradoptedchild。Isawthegoodoldladysafetoherdestination,andleftherinthecareofherrelative,quietlyhappyattheprospectofseeingLauraagaininafewmonths’time。
AsforMrFairlie,IbelieveIamguiltyofnoinjusticeifIdescribehimasbeingunutterablyrelievedbyhavingthehouseclearofuswomen。Theideaofhismissinghisnieceissimplypreposterous——heusedtoletmonthspassintheoldtimeswithoutattemptingtoseeher——andinmycaseandMrsVesey’s,Itakeleavetoconsiderhistellingusboththathewashalfheartbrokenatourdeparture,tobeequivalenttoaconfessionthathewassecretlyrejoicedtogetridofus。Hislastcapricehasledhimtokeeptwophotographersincessantlyemployedinproducingsun-picturesofallthetreasuresandcuriositiesinhispossession。OnecompletecopyofthecollectionofthephotographsistobepresentedtotheMechanics’InstitutionofCarlisle,mountedonthefinestcardboard,withostentatiousred-letterinscriptionsunderneath,`MadonnaandChildbyRaphael。InthepossessionofFrederickFairlie,Esquire。’`CoppercoinoftheperiodofTiglathPileser。InthepossessionofFrederickFairlie,Esquire。’`UniqueRembrandtetching。KnownalloverEuropeasTheSmudge,fromaprinter’sblotinthecornerwhichexistsinnoothercopy。Valuedatthreehundredguineas。InthepossessionofFrederickFairlie,Esq。’Dozensofphotographsofthissort,andallinscribedinthismanner,werecompletedbeforeIleftCumberland,andhundredsmoreremaintobedone。Withthisnewinteresttooccupyhim,MrFairliewillbeahappymanformonthsandmonthstocome,andthetwounfortunatephotographerswillsharethesocialmartyrdomwhichhehashithertoinflictedonhisvaletalone。
Somuchforthepersonsandeventswhichholdtheforemostplaceinmymemory。Whatnextoftheonepersonwhoholdstheforemostplaceinmyheart?LaurahasbeenpresenttomythoughtsallthewhileIhavebeenwritingtheselines。WhatcanIrecallofherduringthepastsixmonths,beforeIclosemyjournalforthenight?
Ihaveonlyherletterstoguideme,andonthemostimportantofallthequestionswhichourcorrespondencecandiscuss,everyoneofthoselettersleavesmeinthedark。
Doeshetreatherkindly?IsshehappiernowthanshewaswhenIpartedwithheronthewedding-day?Allmylettershavecontainedthesetwoinquiries,putmoreorlessdirectly,nowinoneform,andnowinanother,andall,onthatpointonly,haveremainedwithoutreply,orhavebeenansweredasifmyquestionsmerelyrelatedtothestateofherhealth。Sheinformsme,overandoveragain,thatsheisperfectlywell——thattravellingagreeswithher——thatsheisgettingthroughthewinter,forthefirsttimeinherlife,withoutcatchingcold——butnotawordcanIfindanywherewhichtellsmeplainlythatsheisreconciledtohermarriage,andthatshecannowlookbacktothetwenty-secondofDecemberwithoutanybitterfeelingsofrepentanceandregret。Thenameofherhusbandisonlymentionedinherletters,asshemightmentionthenameofafriendwhowastravellingwiththem,andwhohadundertakentomakeallthearrangementsforthejourney。`SirPercival’hassettledthatweleaveonsuchaday——`SirPercival’hasdecidedthatwetravelbysucharoad。Sometimesshewrites`Percival’only,butveryseldom——inninecasesoutoftenshegiveshimhistitle。
Icannotfindthathishabitsandopinionshavechangedandcolouredhersinanysingleparticular。Theusualmoraltransformationwhichisinsensiblywroughtinayoung,fresh,sensitivewomanbyhermarriage,seemsnevertohavetakenplaceinLaura。Shewritesofherownthoughtsandimpressions,amidallthewondersshehasseen,exactlyasshemighthavewrittentosomeoneelse,ifIhadbeentravellingwithherinsteadofherhusband。Iseenobetrayalanywhereofsympathyofanykindexistingbetweenthem。Evenwhenshewandersfromthesubjectofhertravels,andoccupiesherselfwiththeprospectsthatawaitherinEngland,herspeculationsarebusiedwithherfutureasmysister,andpersistentlyneglecttonoticeherfutureasSirPercival’swife。Inallthisthereisnoundertoneofcomplainttowarnmethatsheisabsolutelyunhappyinhermarriedlife。TheimpressionIhavederivedfromourcorrespondencedoesnot,thankGod,leadmetoanysuchdistressingconclusionasthat。Ionlyseeasadtorpor,anunchangeableindifference,whenIturnmymindfromherintheoldcharacterofasister,andlookather,throughthemediumofherletters,inthenewcharacterofawife。Inotherwords,itisalwaysLauraFairliewhohasbeenwritingtomeforthelastsixmonths,andneverLadyGlyde。
Thestrangesilencewhichshemaintainsonthesubjectofherhusband’scharacterandconduct,shepreserveswithalmostequalresolutioninthefewreferenceswhichherlaterletterscontaintothename-ofherhusband’sbosomfriend,CountFosco。
ForsomeunexplainedreasontheCountandhiswifeappeartohavechangedtheirplansabruptly,attheendoflastautumn,andtohavegonetoViennainsteadofgoingtoRome,atwhichlatterPlaceSirPercivalhadexpectedtofindthemwhenheleftEngland。TheyonlyquittedViennainthespring,andtravelledasfarastheTyroltomeetthebrideandbridegroomontheirhomewardjourney。LaurawritesreadilyenoughaboutthemeetingwithMadameFosco,andassuresmethatshehasfoundherauntsomuchchangedforthebetter——somuchquieter,andsomuchmoresensibleasawifethanshewasasasinglewoman——thatIshallhardlyknowheragainwhenIseeherhere。ButonthesubjectofCountFosco(whointerestsmeinfinitelymorethanhiswife),Lauraisprovokinglycircumspectandsilent。Sheonlysaysthathepuzzlesher,andthatshewillnottellmewhatherimpressionofhimisuntilIhaveseenhim,andformedmyownopinionfirst。
This,tomymind,looksillfortheCount。Laurahaspreserved,farmoreperfectlythanmostpeopledoinlaterlife,thechild’ssubtlefacultyofknowingafriendbyinstinct,andifIamrightinassumingthatherfirstimpressionofCountFoscohasnotbeenfavourable,IforoneaminsomedangerofdoubtinganddistrustingthatillustriousforeignerbeforeIhavesomuchasseteyesonhim。But,patience,patience——thisuncertainty,andmanyuncertaintiesmore,cannotlastmuchlonger。Tomorrowwillseeallmydoubtsinafairwayofbeingclearedup,soonerorlater。
Twelveo’clockhasstruck,andIhavejustcomebacktoclosethesepages,afterlockingoutatmyopenwindow。
Itisastill,sultry,moonlessnight。Thestarsaredullandfew。Thetreesthatshutouttheviewonallsideslookdimlyblackandsolidinthedistance,likeagreatwallofrock。Ihearthecroakingoffrogs,faintandfaroff,andtheechoesofthegreatclockhumintheairlesscalmlongafterthestrokeshaveceased。IwonderhowBlackwaterParkwilllookinthedaytime?Idon’taltogetherlikeitbynight。
12th——Adayofinvestigationsanddiscoveries——amoreinterestingday,formanyreasons,thanIhadventuredtoanticipate。
Ibeganmysight-seeing,ofcourse,withthehouse。
Themainbodyofthebuildingisofthetimeofthathighly-overratedwoman,QueenElizabeth。Onthegroundfloortherearetwohugelylonggalleries,withlowceilingslyingparallelwitheachother,andrenderedadditionallydarkanddismalbyhideousfamilyportraits——everyoneofwhichIshouldliketoburn。Theroomsonthefloorabovethetwogalleriesarekeptintolerablerepair,butareveryseldomused。Thecivilhousekeeper,whoactedasmyguide,offeredtoshowmeoverthem,butconsideratelyaddedthatshefearedIshouldfindthemratheroutoforder。MyrespectfortheintegrityofmyownpetticoatsandstockingsinfinitelyexceedsmyrespectforalltheElizabethanbedroomsinthekingdom,soIpositivelydeclinedexploringtheupperregionsofdustanddirtattheriskofsoilingmynicecleanclothes。Thehousekeepersaid。`Iamquiteofyouropinion,miss,’andappearedtothinkmethemostsensiblewomanshehadmetwithforalongtimepast。
Somuch,then,forthemainbuilding。Twowingsareaddedateitherendofit。Thehalf-ruinedwingontheleft(asyouapproachthehouse)wasonceaPlaceofresidencestandingbyitself,andwasbuiltinthefourteenthcentury。OneofSirPercival’smaternalancestors——Idon’tremember,anddon’tcarewhich——tackedonthemainbuilding,atrightanglestoit,intheaforesaidQueenElizabeth’stime。Thehousekeepertoldmethatthearchitectureof`theoldwing。’bothoutsideandinside。wasconsideredremarkablyfinebygoodjudges。OnfurtherinvestigationIdiscoveredthatgoodjudgescouldonlyexercisetheirabilitiesonSirPercival’spieceofantiquitybypreviouslydismissingfromtheirmindsallfearofdamp,darkness,andrats。Underthesecircumstances,Iunhesitatinglyacknowledgedmyselftobenojudgeatall,andsuggestedthatweshouldtreat`theoldwing’preciselyaswehadpreviouslytreatedtheElizabethanbedrooms。Oncemorethehousekeepersaid,`Iamquiteofyouropinion,miss,’andoncemoreshelookedatmewithundisguisedadmirationofmyextraordinarycommon-sense。
Wewentnexttothewingontheright,whichwasbuilt,bywayofcompletingthewonderfularchitecturaljumbleatBlackwaterPark,inthetimeofGeorgetheSecond。
Thisisthehabitablepartofthehouse,whichhasbeenrepairedandredecoratedinsideonLaura’saccount。Mytworooms,andallthegoodbedroomsbesides,areonthefirstfloor,andthebasementcontainsadrawing-room,adining-room,amorning-room,alibrary,andaprettylittleboudoirforLaura,allverynicelyornamentedinthebrightmodernway,andallveryelegantlyfurnishedwiththedelightfulmodernluxuries。NoneoftheroomsareanythinglikesolargeandairyasourroomsatLimmeridge,buttheyalllookpleasanttolivein。Iwasterriblyafraid,fromwhatIhadheardofBlackwaterPark,offatiguingantiquechairs,anddismalstainedglass,andmusty,frowzyhangings,andallthebarbarouslumberwhichpeoplebornwithoutasenseofcomfortaccumulateaboutthem,indefianceoftheconsiderationduetotheconvenienceoftheirfriends。Itisaninexpressiblerelieftofindthatthenineteenthcenturyhasinvadedthisstrangefuturehomeofmine,andhassweptthedirty`goodoldtimes’outofthewayofourdailylife。
Idawdledawaythemorning——partofthetimeintheroomsdownstairs,andpartoutofdoorsinthegreatsquarewhichisformedbythethreesidesofthehouse,andbytheloftyironrailingsandgateswhichprotectitinfront。Alargecircularfishpondwithstonesides,andanallegoricalleadenmonsterinthemiddle,occupiesthecentreofthesquare。Theponditselfisfullofgoldandsilverfish,andisencircledbyabroadbeltofthesoftestturfIeverwalkedon。Iloiteredhereontheshadysidepleasantlyenoughtillluncheon-time,andafterthattookmybroadstrawhatandwanderedoutaloneinthewarmlovelysunlighttoexplorethegrounds。
DaylightconfirmedtheimpressionwhichIhadfeltthenightbefore,oftherebeingtoomanytreesatBlackwater。Thehouseisstifledbythem。Theyare,forthemostpart,young,andplantedfartoothickly。IsuspecttheremusthavebeenaruinouscuttingdownoftimberallovertheestatebeforeSirPercival’stime,andanangryanxietyonthepartofthenextpossessortofillupallthegapsasthicklyandrapidlyaspossible。Afterlookingaboutmeinfrontofthehouse,Iobservedaflower-gardenonmylefthand,andwalkedtowardsittoseewhatIcoulddiscoverinthatdirection。
Onanearerviewthegardenprovedtobesmallandpoorandillkept。Ileftitbehindme,openedalittlegateinaringfence,andfoundmyselfinaplantationoffir-trees。
Aprettywindingpath,artificiallymade,ledmeonamongthetrees,andmynorth-countryexperiencesooninformedmethatIwasapproachingsandy,heathyground-Afterawalkofmorethanhalfamile,Ishouldthink,amongthefirs,thepathtookasharpturn——thetreesabruptlyceasedtoappearoneithersideofme,andIfoundmyselfstandingsuddenlyonthemarginofavastopenspace,andlookingdownattheBlackwaterlakefromwhichthehousetakesitsname。
Theground,shelvingawaybelowme,wasallsand,withafewlittleheathyhillockstobreakthemonotonyofitincertainplaces。ThelakeitselfhadevidentlyonceflowedtothespotonwhichIstood,andhadbeengraduallywastedanddrieduptolessthanathirdofitsformersize。Isawitsstill,stagnantwaters,aquarterofamileawayfrommeinthehollow,separatedintopoolsandpondsbytwiningreedsandrushes,andlittleknollsofearth。Onthefartherbankfrommethetreesrosethicklyagain,andshutouttheview,andcasttheirblackshadowsonthesluggish,shallowwater。AsIwalkeddowntothelake,Isawthatthegroundonitsfarthersidewasdampandmarshy,overgrownwithrankgrassanddismalwillows。Thewater,whichwasclearenoughontheopensandyside,wherethesunshone,lookedblackandpoisonousoppositetome,whereitlaydeeperundertheshadeofthespongybanks,andtherankoverhangingthicketsandtangledtrees。Thefrogswerecroaking,andtheratswereslippinginandoutoftheshadowywater,likeliveshadowsthemselves,asIgotnearertothemarshysideofthelake。Isawhere,lyinghalfinandhalfoutofthewater,therottenwreckofanoldoverturnedboat。withasicklyspotofsunlightglimmeringthroughagapinthetreesonitsdrysurface,andasnakebaskinginthemidstofthespot,fantasticallycoiledandtreacherouslystill。Farandneartheviewsuggestedthesamedrearyimpressionsofsolitudeanddecay,andthegloriousbrightnessofthesummerskyoverheadseemedonlytodeepenandhardenthegloomandbarrennessofthewildernessonwhichitshone。Iturnedandretracedmystepstothehighheathyground,directingthemalittleasidefrommyformerpathtowardsashabbyoldwoodenshed,whichstoodontheouterskirtofthefirplantation,andwhichhadhithertobeentoounimportanttosharemynoticewiththewide,wildprospectofthelake。
OnapproachingtheshedIfoundthatithadoncebeenaboathouse,andthatanattempthadapparentlybeenmadetoconvertitafterwardsintoasortofrudearbour,byplacinginsideitafirwoodseat,afewstools,andatable。Ienteredtheplace,andsatdownforalittlewhiletorestandgetmybreathagain。
Ihadnotbeenintheboat-housemorethanaminutewhenitstruckmethatthesoundofmyownquickbreathingwasverystrangelyechoedbysomethingbeneathme。Ilistenedintentlyforamoment,andheardalow,thick,sobbingbreaththatseemedtocomefromthegroundundertheseatwhichIwasoccupying。Mynervesarenoteasilyshakenbytrifles,butonthisoccasionIstartedtomyfeetinafright——calledout——receivednoanswer——summonedmyrecreantcourage,andlookedundertheseat。
There,crouchedupinthefarthestcorner,laytheforlorncauseofmyterror,intheshapeofapoorlittledog——ablackandwhitespaniel。ThecreaturemoanedfeeblywhenIlookedatitandcalledtoit,butneverstirred。Imovedawaytheseatandlookedcloser。Thepoorlittledog’seyeswereglazingfast,andtherewerespotsofbloodonitsglossywhiteside。Themiseryofaweak,helpless,dumbcreatureissurelyoneofthesaddestofallthemournfulsightswhichthisworldcanshow。IliftedthepoordoginmyarmsasgentlyasIcould,andcontrivedasortofmake-shifthammockforhimtoliein,bygatheringupthefrontofmydressallroundhim。InthiswayItookthecreature,asPainlesslyaspossible,andasfastaspossible,backtothehouse。
FindingnooneinthehallIwentupatoncetomyownsitting-room,madeabedforthedogwithoneofmyoldshawls,andrangthebell。Thelargestandfattestofallpossiblehousemaidsansweredit,inastateofcheerfulstupiditywhichwouldhaveprovokedthepatienceofasaint。Thegirl’sfat,shapelessfaceactuallystretchedintoabroadgrinatthesightofthewoundedcreatureonthefloor。
`Whatdoyouseetheretolaughat?’Iasked,asangrilyasifshehadbeenaservantofmyown。`Doyouknowwhosedogitis?’
`No,miss,thatIcertainlydon’t。’Shestooped,andlookeddownatthespaniel’sinjuredside——brightenedsuddenlywiththeirradiationofanewidea——andpointingtothewoundwithachuckleofsatisfaction,said,`That’sBaxter’sdoings,thatis。’
IwassoexasperatedthatIcouldhaveboxedherears。`Baxter?’Isaid。`WhoisthebruteyoucallBaxter?’
Thegirlgrinnedagainmorecheerfullythanever。`Blessyou,miss!Baxter’sthekeeper,andwhenhefindsstrangedogshuntingabout,hetakesandshoots’em。It’skeeper’sdooty,miss。Ithinkthatdogwilldie。Here’swherehe’sbeenshot,ain’tit?That’sBaxter’sdoings,thatis。Baxter’sdoings,miss,andBaxter’sdooty。’
IwasalmostwickedenoughtowishthatBaxterhadshotthehousemaidinsteadofthedog。Seeingthatitwasquiteuselesstoexpectthisdenselyimpenetrablepersonagetogivemeanyhelpinrelievingthesufferingcreatureatourfeet,Itoldhertorequestthehousekeeper’sattendancewithmycompliments。Shewentoutexactlyasshehadcomein,grinningfromeartoear。Asthedoorclosedonhershesaidtoherselfsoftly,`It’sBaxter’sdoingsandBaxter’sdooty——that’swhatitis。’
Thehousekeeper,apersonofsomeeducationandintelligence,thoughtfullybroughtupstairswithhersomemilkandsomewarmwater。Theinstantshesawthedogonthefloorshestartedandchangedcolour。
`Why,Lordblessme,’criedthehousekeeper,`thatmustbeMisCatherick’sdog!’
`Whose?’Iasked,intheutmostastonishment。
`MisCatherick’s。YouseemtoknowMrsCatherick,MissHalcombe?’
`Notpersonally,butIhaveheardofher。Doesshelivehere?Hasshehadanynewsofherdaughter?’
`No,MissHalcombe,shecameheretoaskfornews。’
`When?’
`Onlyyesterday。Shesaidsomeonehadreportedthatastrangeransweringtothedescriptionofherdaughterhadbeenseeninourneighbourhood。Nosuchreporthasreachedushere,andnosuchreportwasknowninthevillage,whenIsenttomakeinquiriesthereonMrsCatherick’saccount。Shecertainlybroughtthispoorlittledogwithherwhenshecame,andIsawittrotoutafterherwhenshewentaway。Isupposethecreaturestrayedintotheplantations,andgotshot。Wheredidyoufindit,MissHalcombe?’
`Intheoldshedthatlooksoutonthelake。’
`Ah,yes,thatistheplantationside,andthepoorthingdraggeditself,Isuppose,tothenearestshelter,asdogswill,todie。Ifyoucanmoistenitslipswiththemilk,MissHalcombe,Iwillwashtheclottedhairfromthewound。Iamverymuchafraiditistoolatetodoanygood。However,wecanbuttry。’
MrsCatherick!Thenamestillranginmyears,asifthehousekeeperhadonlythatmomentsurprisedmebyutteringit。Whilewewereattendingtothedog,thewordsofWalterHartright’scautiontomereturnedtomymemory:`IfeverAnneCatherickcrossesyourpath,makebetteruseoftheopportunity,MissHalcombe,thanImadeofit。’ThefindingofthewoundedspanielhadledmealreadytothediscoveryofMrsCatherick’svisittoBlackwaterPark,andthateventmightlead,initsturn,tosomethingmore。Ideterminedtomakethemostof
thechancewhichwasnowofferedtome,andtogainasmuch
informationasIcould。
`DidyousaythatMrsCathericklivedanywhereinthisneighbourhood?’Iasked。
`Ohdear,no,’saidthehousekeeper。`ShelivesatWelmingham,quiteattheotherendofthecounty——five-and-twentymilesoff,atleast。’
`IsupposeyouhaveknownMrsCatherickforsomeyears?’
`Onthecontrary,MissHalcombe,Ineversawherbeforeshecamehereyesterday。Ihadheardofher,ofcourse,becauseIhadheardofSirPercival’skindnessinputtingherdaughterundermedicalcare。MrsCatherickisratherastrangepersoninhermanners,butextremelyrespectable-looking。Sheseemedsorelyputoutwhenshefoundthattherewasnofoundation——none,atleast,thatanyofuscoulddiscover——forthereportofherdaughterhavingbeenseeninthisneighbourhood。’
`IamratherinterestedaboutMrsCatherick,’Iwenton,continuingtheconversationaslongaspossible。`IwishIhadarrivedheresoonenoughtoseeheryesterday。Didshestayforanylengthoftime?’
`Yes,’saidthehousekeeper,`shestayedforsometime;andIthinkshewouldhaveremainedlonger,ifIhadnotbeencalledawaytospeaktoastrangegentleman——agentlemanwhocametoaskwhenSirPercivalwasexpectedback。MrsCatherickgotupandleftatonce,whensheheardthemaidtellmewhatthevisitor’serrandwas。Shesaidtome,atparting,thattherewasnoneedtotellSirPercivalofhercominghere。Ithoughtthatratheranoddremarktomake,especiallytoapersoninmyresponsiblesituation。’
Ithoughtitanoddremarktoo。SirPercivalhadcertainlyledmetobelieve,atLimmeridge,thatthemostperfectconfidenceexistedbetweenhimselfandMrsCatherick。Ifthatwasthecase,whyshouldshebeanxioustohavehervisitatBlackwaterParkkeptasecretfromhim?
`Probably,’Isaid,seeingthatthehousekeeperexpectedmetogivemyopiniononMrsCatherick’spartingwords,`probablyshethoughttheannouncementofhervisitmightvexSirPercivaltonopurpose,byremindinghimthatherlostdaughterwasnotfoundyet。Didshetalkmuchonthatsubject?’
`Verylittle,’repliedthehousekeeper。’ShetalkedprincipallyofSirPercival,andaskedagreatmanyquestionsaboutwherehehadbeentravelling,andwhatsortofladyhisnewwifewas。Sheseemedtobemoresouredandputoutthandistressed,byfailingtofindanytracesofherdaughterintheseparts。``Igiveherup,’’werethelastwordsshesaidthatIcanremember;``Igiveherup,ma’am,forlost。’’AndfromthatshepassedatoncetoherquestionsaboutLadyGlyde,wantingtoknowifshewasahandsome,amiablelady,comelyandhealthyandyoung——Ah,dear!Ithoughthowitwouldend。Look,MissHalcombe,thepoorthingisoutofitsmiseryatlast!’
Thedogwasdead。Ithadgivenafaint,sobbingcry,ithadsufferedaninstant’sconvulsionofthelimbs,justasthoselastwords,`comelyandhealthyandyoung,’droppedfromthehousekeeper’slips。thechangehadhappenedwithstartlingsuddenness——inonemomentthecreaturelaylifelessunderourhands。
Eighto’clock。Ihavejustreturnedfromdiningdownstairs,insolitarystate。ThesunsetisburningredlyonthewildernessoftreesthatIseefrommywindow,andIamporingovermyjournalagain,tocalmmyimpatienceforthereturnofthetravellers。Theyoughttohavearrived,bymycalculations,beforethis。Howstillandlonelythehouseisinthedrowsyeveningquiet!Ohme!howmanyminutesmorebeforeIhearthecarriagewheelsandrundownstairstofindmyselfinLaura’sarms?
Thepoorlittledog!IwishmyfirstdayatBlackwaterParkhadnotbeenassociatedwithdeath,thoughitisonlythedeathofastrayanimal。
Welmingham——Isee,onlookingbackthroughtheseprivatepagesofmine,thatWelminghamisthenameoftheplacewhereMrsCathericklives。Hernoteisstillinmypossession,thenoteinanswertothatletteraboutherunhappydaughterwhichSirPercivalobligedmetowrite。Oneofthesedays,whenIcanfindasafeopportunity,Iwilltakethenotewithmebywayofintroduction,andtrywhatIcanmakeofMrsCatherickatapersonalinterview。Idon’tunderstandherwishingtoconcealhervisittothisplacefromSirPercival’sknowledge,andIdon’tfeelhalfsosure,asthehousekeeperseemstodo,thatherdaughterAnneisnotintheneighbourhoodafterall。WhatwouldWalterHartrighthavesaidinthisemergency?Poor,dearHartright!Iambeginningtofeelthewantofhishonestadviceandhiswillinghelpalready。
SurelyIheardsomething。Wasitabustleoffootstepsbelowstairs?Yes!Ihearthehorses’feet——Iheartherollingwheels。Awaywithmyjournalandmypenandink!Thetravellershavereturned——mydarlingLauraishomeagainatlast!
June15th——Theconfusionoftheirarrivalhashadtimetosubside。Twodayshaveelapsedsincethereturnofthetravellers,andthatintervalhassufficedtoputthenewmachineryofourlivesatBlackwaterParkinfairworkingorder。Imaynowreturntomyjournal,withsomelittlechanceofbeingabletocontinuetheentriesinitascollectedlyasusual。
IthinkImustbeginbyputtingdownanoddremarkwhichhassuggesteditselftomesinceLauracameback。
Whentwomembersofafamilyortwointimatefriendsareseparated,andonegoesabroadandoneremainsathome,thereturnoftherelativeorfriendwhohasbeentravellingalwaysseemstoplacetherelativeorfriendwhohasbeenstayingathomeatapainfuldisadvantagewhenthetwofirstmeet。thesuddenencounterofthenewthoughtsandnewhabitseagerlygainedintheonecase,withtheoldthoughtsandoldhabitspassivelypreservedintheother,seemsatfirsttopartthesympathiesofthemostlovingrelativesandthefondestfriends,andtosetasuddenstrangeness,unexpectedbybothanduncontrollablebyboth,betweenthemoneitherside。AfterthefirsthappinessofmymeetingwithLaurawasover,afterwehadsatdowntogetherhandinhandtorecoverbreathenoughandcalmnessenoughtotalk,Ifeltthisstrangenessinstantly,andIcouldseethatshefeltittoo。Ithaspartiallywornaway,nowthatwehavefallenbackintomostofouroldhabits,anditwillprobablydisappearbeforelong。ButithascertainlyhadaninfluenceoverthefirstimpressionsthatIhaveformedofher,nowthatwearelivingtogetheragain——forwhichreasononlyIhavethoughtfittomentionithere。
Shehasfoundmeunaltered,butIhavefoundherchanged。
Changedinperson,andinonerespectchangedincharacter。Icannotabsolutelysaythatsheislessbeautifulthansheusedtobe——Icanonlysaythatsheislessbeautifultome。
Others,whodonotlookatherwithmyeyesandmyrecollections,wouldprobablythinkherimproved。Thereismorecolourthereusedtobe,andherfigureseemsmorefirmlysetandmoresureandeasyinallitsmovementsthanitwasinhermaidendays。ButImisssomethingwhenIlookather——somethingthatoncebelongedtothehappy,innocentlifeofLauraFairlie,andthatIcannotfindinLadyGlyde。Therewasintheoldtimesafreshness,asoftness,anever-varyingandyetever-remainingtendernessofbeautyinherface,thecharmofwhichitisnotpossibletoexpressinwords,or,aspoorHartrightusedoftentosay,inpaintingeither。ThisisGone。IthoughtIsawthefaintreflectionofitforamomentwhensheturnedpaleundertheagitationofoursuddenmeetingontheeveningofherreturn,butithasneverreappearedsince。Noneofherlettershadpreparedmeforapersonalchangeinher。Onthecontrary。theyhadledmetoexpectthathermarriagehadlefther,inappearanceatleast,quiteunaltered。PerhapsIreadherletterswronglyinthepast,andamnowreadingherfacewronglyinthepresent?Nomatter!Whetherherbeautyhasgainedorwhetherithaslostinthelastsixmonths,theseparationeitherwayhasmadeherowndearselfmoreprecioustomethanever,andthatisonegoodresultofhermarriage,atanyrate!
Thesecondchange,thechangethatIhaveobservedinhercharacter,hasnotsurprisedme,becauseIwaspreparedforitinthiscasebythetoneofherletters。Nowthatsheisathomeagain,IfindherjustasunwillingtoenterintoanydetailsonthesubjectofhermarriedlifeasIhadpreviouslyfoundherallthroughthetimeofourseparation,whenwecouldonlycommunicatewitheachotherbywriting。AtthefirstapproachImadetotheforbiddentopicsheputherhandonmylipswithalookandgesturewhichtouchingly,almostpainfully,recalledtomymemorythedaysofhergirlhoodandthehappybygonetimewhentherewerenosecretsbetweenus。
`WheneveryouandIaretogether,Marian,’shesaid,`weshallbothbehappierandeasierwithoneanother,ifweacceptmymarriedlifeforwhatitis,andsayandthinkaslittleaboutitaspossible。Iwouldtellyoueverything,darling,aboutmyself,’shewenton,nervouslybucklingandunbucklingtheribbonroundmywaist,`ifmyconfidencescouldonlyendthere。Buttheycouldnot——theywouldleadmeintoconfidencesaboutmyhusbandtoo;andnowIammarried,IthinkIhadbetteravoidthem,forhissake,andforyoursake,andformine。Idon’tsaythattheywoulddistressyou,ordistressme——Iwouldn’thaveyouthinkthatfortheworld。But——Iwanttobesohappy,nowIhavegotyoubackagain,andIwantyoutobesohappytoo——’Shebrokeoffabruptly,andlookedroundtheroom,myownsitting-room,inwhichweweretalking。`Ah!’shecried,clappingherhandswithabrightsmileofrecognition,`anotheroldfriendfoundalready!Yourbookcase,Marian——yourdear-little-shabby-old-satin-woodbookcase——howgladIamyoubroughtitwithyoufromLimmeridge!Andthehorridheavyman’sumbrella,thatyoualwayswouldwalkoutwithwhenitrained!Andfirstandforemostofall,yourowndear,dark。clever,gipsy-face,lookingatmejustasusual!Itissolikehomeagaintobehere。Howcanwemakeitmorelikehomestill?Iwillputmyfather’sportraitinyourroominsteadofmine——andIwillkeepallmylittletreasuresfromLimmeridgehere——andwewillpasshoursandhourseverydaywiththesefourfriendlywallsroundus。Oh,Marian!’shesaid,suddenlyseatingherselfonafootstoolatmyknees,andlookingupearnestlyinmyface,`promiseyouwillnevermarry,andleaveme。Itisselfishtosayso,butyouaresomuchbetteroffasasinglewoman——unless——unlessyouarcveryfondofyourhusband——butyouwon’tbeveryfondofanybodybutme,willyou?’Shestoppedagain,crossedmyhandsonmylap,andlaidherfaceonthem。`Haveyoubeenwritingmanyletters,andreceivingmanyletterslately?’sheasked,inlow,suddenly-alteredtones。Iunderstoodwhatthequestionmeant,butIthoughtitmydutynottoencourageherbymeetingherhalfway。`Haveyouheardfromhim?’shewenton,coaxingmetoforgivethemoredirectappealonwhichshenowventured,bykissingmyhands,uponwhichherfacestillrested。`Ishewellandhappy,andgettingoninhisprofession?Hasherecoveredhimself——andforgottenme?’
Sheshouldnothaveaskedthosequestions。Sheshouldhaverememberedherownresolution,onthemorningwhenSirPercivalheldhertohermarriageengagement,andwhensheresignedthebookofHartright’sdrawingsintomyhandsforever。But,ahme!whereisthefaultlesshumancreaturewhocanpersevereinagoodresolution,withoutsometimesfailingandfallingback?Whereisthewomanwhohaseverreallytornfromherhearttheimagethathasbeenoncefixedinitbyatruelove?Bookstellusthatsuchunearthlycreatureshaveexisted——butwhatdoesourownexperiencesayinanswertobooks?
Imadenoattempttoremonstratewithher:perhaps,becauseIsincerelyappreciatedthefearlesscandourwhichletmesee,whatotherwomeninherpositionmighthavehadreasonsforconcealingevenfromtheirdearestfriends——perhaps,becauseIfelt,inmyownheartandconscience,thatinherplaceIshouldhaveaskedthesamequestionsandhadthesamethoughts。AllIcouldhonestlydowastoreplythatIhadnotwrittentohimorheardfromhimlately,andthentoturntheconversationtolessdangeroustopics。
Therehasbeenmuchtosaddenmeinourinterview——myfirstconfidentialinterviewwithhersinceherreturn。Thechangewhichhermarriagehasproducedinourrelationstowardseachother,byplacingaforbiddensubjectbetweenus,forthefirsttimeinourlives;themelancholyconvictionofthedearthofallwarmthoffeeling,ofallclosesympathy,betweenherhusbandandherself,whichherownunwillingwordsnowforceonmymind;thedistressingdiscoverythattheinfluenceofthatill-fatedattachmentstillremains(riomatterhowinnocently,howharmlessly)rootedasdeeplyaseverinherheart——allthesearedisclosurestosaddenanywomanwholovesherasdearly,andfeelsforherasacutely,asIdo
Thereisonlyoneconsolationtosetagainstthem——aconsolationthatoughttocomfortme,andthatdoescomfortme。Allthegracesandgentlenessofhercharacter——allthefrankaffectionofhernature——allthesweet,simple,womanlycharmswhichusedtomakeherthedarlinganddelightofeveryonewhoapproachedher,havecomebacktomewithherself。OfmyotherimpressionsIamsometimesalittleinclinedtodoubt。Ofthislast,best,happiestofallimpressions,Igrowmoreandmorecertaineveryhourintheday。
Letmeturn,now,fromhertohertravellingcompanions。Herhusbandmustengagemyattentionfirst。WhathaveIobservedinSirPercival,sincehisreturn,toimprovemyopinionofhim?
Icanhardlysay。Smallvexatiousandannoyancesseemtohavebesethimsincehecameback,andnoman,underthosecircumstances,iseverpresentedathisbest。Helooks,asIthink,thinnerthanhewaswhenheleftEngland。Hiswearisomecoughandhiscomfortlessrestlessnesshavecertainlyincreased。Hismanner——atleasthismannertowardsme——ismuchmoreabruptthanitusedtobe。Hegreetedme,ontheeveningofhisreturn,withlittleornothingoftheceremonyandcivilityofformertimes——nopolitespeechesofwelcome——noappearanceofextraordinarygratificationatseeingme——nothingbutashortshakeofthehand,andasharp`How-d’ye-do,MissHalcombe——gladtoseeyouagain。’HeseemedtoacceptmeasoneofthenecessaryfixturesofBlackwaterPark,tobesatisfiedatfindingmeestablishedinmyproperplace,andthentopassmeoveraltogether。
Mostmenshowsomethingoftheirdispositionintheirownhouses,whichtheyhaveconcealedelsewhere,andSirPercivalhasalreadydisplayedamaniafororderandregularity,whichisquiteanewrevelationofhim,sofarasmypreviousknowledgeofhischaracterisconcerned。IfItakeabookfromthelibraryandleaveitonthetable,hefollowsmeandputsitbackagain。IfIrisefromachair,andletitremainwhereIhavebeensitting,hecarefullyrestoresittoitsproperplaceagainstthewall。Hepicksupstrayflower-blossomsfromthecarpet,andmutterstohimselfasdiscontentedlyasiftheywerehotcindersburningholesinit,andhestormsattheservantsifthereisacreaseinthetablecloth,oraknifemissingfromitsplaceatthedinner-table,asfiercelyasiftheyhadpersonallyinsultedhim。
Ihavealreadyreferredtothesmallannoyanceswhichappeartohavetroubledhimsincehisreturn。MuchofthealterationfortheworsewhichIhavenoticedinhimmaybeduetothese。Itrytopersuademyselfthatitisso,becauseIamanxiousnottobedisheartenedalreadyaboutthefuture。Itiscertainlytryingtoanyman’stempertobemetbyavexationthemomenthesetsfootinhisownhouseagain,afteralongabsence,andthisannoyingcircumstancedidreallyhappentoSirPercivalinmypresence。
Ontheeveningoftheirarrivalthehousekeeperfollowedmeintothehalltoreceivehermasterandmistressandtheirguests。Theinstanthesawher,SirPercivalaskedifanyonehadcalledlately。Thehousekeepermentionedtohim,inreply,whatshehadpreviouslymentionedtome,thevisitofthestrangegentlemantomakeinquiriesaboutthetimeofhermaster’sreturn。Heaskedimmediatelyforthegentleman’sname。Nonamehadbeenleft。Thegentleman’sbusiness?Nobusinesshadbeenmentioned。Whatwasthegentlemanlike?Thehousekeepertriedtodescribehim,butfailedtodistinguishthenamelessvisitorbyanypersonalpeculiaritywhichhermastercouldrecognise。SirPercivalfrowned,stampedangrilyonthefloor,andwalkedonintothehouse,takingnonoticeofanybody。WhyheshouldhavebeensodiscomposedbyatrifleIcannotsay——buthewasseriouslydiscomposed,beyondalldoubt。
Uponthewhole,itwillbebest,perhaps,ifIabstainfromformingadecisiveopinionofhismanners,language,andconductinhisownhouse,untiltimehasenabledhimtoshakeofftheanxieties。whatevertheymaybe,whichnowevidentlytroubledhismindinsecret。Iwillturnovertoanewpage,andmypenshallletLaura’shusbandaloneforthepresent。
Thetwoguests——theCountandCountessFosco——comenextinmycatalogue。IwilldisposeoftheCountessfirst,soastohavedonewiththewomanassoonaspossible。
Laurawascertainlynotchargeablewithanyexaggeration,inwritingmewordthatIshouldhardlyrecogniseherauntagainwhenwemet。NeverbeforehaveIbeheldsuchachangeproducedinawomanbyhermarriageashasbeenproducedinMadameFosco。
AsEleanorFairlie(agedseven-and-thirty)。shewasalwaystalkingpretentiousnonsense,andalwaysworryingtheunfortunatemenwitheverysmallexactionwhichavainandfoolishwomancanimposeonlong-sufferingmalehumanity。AsMadameFosco(agedthree-and-forty),shesitsforhourstogetherwithoutsayingaword,frozenupinthestrangestmannerinherself。Thehideouslyridiculouslove-lockswhichusedtohangoneithersideofherfacearenowreplacedbystifflittlerowsofveryshortcurls,ofthesortoneseesinold-fashionedwigs。Aplain,matronlycapcoversherhead,andmakesherlook,forthefirsttimeinherlifesinceIrememberher,likeadecentwoman。Nobody(puttingherhusbandoutofthequestion,ofcourse)nowseesinher,whateverybodyoncesaw——Imeanthestructureofthefemaleskeleton,intheupperregionsofthecollar-bonesandtheshoulder-blades。Cladinquietblackorgreygowns,madehighroundthethroat——dressesthatshewouldhavelaughedat,orscreamedat,asthewhimofthemomentinclinedher,inhermaidendays——shesitsspeechlessincorners;herdrywhitehands(sodrythattheporesofherskinlookchalky)incessantlyengaged,eitherinmonotonousembroideryworkorinrollingupendlesscigarettesfortheCount’sownparticularsmoking。Onthefewoccasionswhenhercoldblueeyesareoffherwork,theyaregenerallyturnedonherhusband,withthelookofmutesubmissiveinquirywhichweareallfamiliarwithintheeyesofafaithfuldog。TheonlyapproachtoaninwardthawwhichIhaveyetdetectedunderheroutercoveringoficyconstraint,hasbetrayeditself,onceortwice,intheformofasuppressedtigerishjealousyofanywomaninthehouse(themaidsincluded)towhomtheCountspeaks,oronwhomhelookswithanythingapproachingtospecialinterestorattention。Exceptinthisoneparticular,sheisalways,morning,noon,andnight,indoorsandout,fairweatherorfoul,ascoldasastatue,andasimpenetrableasthestoneoutofwhichitiscut。Forthecommonpurposesofsocietytheextraordinarychangethusproducedinheris,beyondalldoubt,achangeforthebetter,seeingthatithastransformedherintoacivil,silent,unobtrusivewoman,whoisneverintheway。Howfarsheisreallyreformedordeterioratedinhersecretself,isanotherquestion。Ihaveonceortwiceseensuddenchangesofexpressiononherpinchedlips,andheardsuddeninflexionsoftoneinhercalmvoice,whichhaveledmetosuspectthatherpresentstateofsuppressionmayhavesealedupsomethingdangerousinhernature,whichusedtoevaporateharmlesslyinthefreedomofherformerlife。ItisquitepossiblethatImaybealtogetherwronginthisidea。Myownimpression,however,is,thatIamright。Timewillshow。
Andthemagicianwhohaswroughtthiswonderfultransformation——theforeignhusbandwhohastamedthisoncewaywardEnglishwomantillherownrelationshardlyknowheragain——theCounthimself?WhatoftheCount?
Thisintwowords:Helookslikeamanwhocouldtameanything。Ifhehadmarriedatigress,insteadofawoman,hewouldhavetamedthetigress。Ifhehadmarriedme,Ishouldhavemadehiscigarettes,ashiswifedoes——Ishouldhaveheldmytonguewhenhelookedatme,assheholdshers。
Iamalmostafraidtoconfessit。eventothesesecretpages。Themanhasinterestedme,hasattractedme,hasforcedmetolikehimIntwoshortdayshehasmadehiswaystraightintomyfavourableestimation,andhowhehasworkedthemiracleismorethanIcantell。
Itabsolutelystartlesme,nowheisinmymind,tofindhowplainlyIseehim!——howmuchmoreplainlythanIseeSirPercival,orMrFairlie,orWalterHartright,oranyotherabsentpersonofwhomIthink,withtheoneexceptionofLauraherself!Icanhearhisvoice,asifhewasspeakingatthismoment。Iknowwhathisconversationwasyesterday,aswellasifIwashearingitnow。HowamItodescribehim?Therearepeculiaritiesinhispersonalappearance,hishabits。andhisamusements,whichIshouldblameintheboldestterms,orridiculeinthemostmercilessmanner,ifIhadseentheminanotherman。Whatisitthatmakesmeunabletoblamethem,ortoridiculetheminhim?
Forexample,heisimmenselyfat。BeforethistimeIhavealwaysespeciallydislikedcorpulenthumanity。Ihavealwaysmaintainedthatthepopularnotionofconnectingexcessivegrossnessofsizeandexcessivegood-humourasinseparableallieswasequivalenttodeclaring,eitherthatnopeoplebutamiablepeopleevergetfat,orthattheaccidentaladditionofsomanypoundsoffleshhasadirectlyfavourableinfluenceoverthedispositionofthepersononwhosebodytheyaccumulate。Ihaveinvariablycombatedboththeseabsurdassertionsbyquotingexamplesoffatpeoplewhowereasmean,vicious,andcruelastheleanestandtheworstoftheirneighbours。IhaveaskedwhetherHenrytheEighthwasanamiablycharacter?WhetherPopeAlexandertheSixthwasagoodman?WhetherMrMurdererandMrsMurderessManningwerenotbothunusuallystoutpeople?Whetherhirednurses,proverbiallyascruelasetofwomenasaretohefoundinallEngland,werenot,forthemostpart,alsoasfatasetofwomenasaretobefoundinallEngland?——andsoon,throughdozensofotherexamples,modernandancient,nativeandforeign,highandlow。HoldingthesestrongopinionsonthesubjectwithmightandmainasIdoatthismoment,here,nevertheless,isCountFosco,asfatasHenrytheEighthhimself,establishedinmyfavour,atoneday’snotice,withoutletorhindrancefromhisownodiouscorpulence。Marvellousindeed!
Isithisfacethathasrecommendedhim?
Itmaybehisface。Heisamostremarkablelikeness,onalargescale,ofthegreatNapoleon。HisfeatureshaveNapoleon’smagnificentregularity——hisexpressionrecallsthegrandlycalm,immovablepoweroftheGreatSoldier’sface。Thisstrikingresemblancecertainlyimpressedme,tobeginwith;butthereissomethinginhimbesidestheresemblance,whichhasimpressedmemore。IthinktheinfluenceIamnowtryingtofindisinhiseyes。TheyarethemostunfathomablegreyeyesIeversaw,andtheyhaveattimesacold,clear,beautiful,irresistibleglitterinthemwhichforcesmetolookathim,andyetcausesmesensations,whenIdolook,whichIwouldrathernotfeel。Otherpartsofhisfaceandheadhavetheirstrangepeculiarities。Hiscomplexion,forinstance,hasasingularsallow-fairness,somuchatvariancewiththedark-browncolourofhishair,thatIsuspectthehairofbeingawig,andhisface,closelyshavenallover,issmootherandfreerfromallmarksandwrinklesthanmine,though(accordingtoSirPercival’saccountofhim)heiscloseonsixtyyearsofage。Butthesearenottheprominentpersonalcharacteristicswhichdistinguishhim,tomymind,fromalltheothermenIhaveeverseen。Themarkedpeculiaritywhichsingleshimoutfromtherankandfileofhumanityliesentirely,sofarasIcantellatpresent,intheextraordinaryexpressionandextraordinarypowerofhiseyes。
Hismannerandhiscommandofourlanguagemayalsohaveassistedhim,insomedegree,toestablishhimselfinmygoodopinion。Hehasthatquietdeference,thatlookofpleased,attentiveinterestinlisteningtoawoman,andthatsecretgentlenessinhisvoiceinspeakingtoawoman,which,saywhatwemay,wecannoneofusresist。Here,too,hisunusualcommandoftheEnglishlanguagenecessarilyhelpshim。IhadoftenheardoftheextraordinaryaptitudewhichmanyItaliansshowinmasteringourstrong,hard,Northernspeech;but,untilIsawCountFosco,IhadneversupposeditpossiblethatanyforeignercouldhavespokenEnglishashesneaksit。Therearetimeswhenitisalmostimpossibletodetect,byhisaccent,thatheisnotacountrymanofourown,andasforfluency,thereareveryfewbornEnglishmenwhocantalkwithasfewstoppagesandrepetitionsastheCount。Hemayconstructhissentencesmoreorlessintheforeignway,butIhaveneveryetheardhimuseawrongexpression,orhesitateforamomentinhischoiceofaword。
Allthesmallestcharacteristicsofthisstrangemanhavesomethingstrikinglyoriginalandperplexinglycontradictoryinthem。Fatasheisandoldasheis,hismovementsareastonishinglylightandeasy。Heisasnoiselessinaroomasanyofuswomen,andmorethanthat,withallhislookofunmistakablementalfirmnessandpower,heisasnervouslysensitiveastheweakestofus。HestartsatchancenoisesasinveteratelyasLauraherself。Hewincedandshudderedyesterday,whenSirPercivalbeatoneofthespaniels,sothatIfeltashamedofmyownwantoftendernessandsensibilitybycomparisonwiththeCount。
Therelationofthislastincidentremindsmeofoneofhismostcuriouspeculiarities,whichIhavenotyetmentioned——hisextraordinaryfondnessforpetanimals。
SomeofthesehehasleftontheContinent,buthehasbroughtwithhimtothishouseacockatoo,twocanary-birds,andawholefamilyofwhitemice。Heattendstoallthenecessitiesofthesestrangefavouriteshimself,andhehastaughtthecreaturestobesurprisinglyfondofhimandfamiliarwithhim。Thecockatoo,amostviciousandtreacherousbirdtowardseveryoneelse,absolutelyseemstolovehim。Whenheletsitoutofitscage,ithopsontohisknee,andclawsitswayuphisgreatbigbody,andrubsitstop-knotagainsthissallowdoublechininthemostcaressingmannerimaginable。Hehasonlytosetthedoorsofthecanaries’cagesopen,andtocallthem,andtheprettylittlecleverlytrainedcreaturesperchfearlesslyonhishand,mounthisfatoutstretchedfingersonebyone,whenhetellsthemto`goupstairs,’andsingtogetherasiftheywouldbursttheirthroatswithdelightwhentheygettothetopfinger。Hiswhitemiceliveinalittlepagodaofgaily-paintedwirework,designedandmadebyhimself。Theyarealmostastameasthecanaries,andtheyareperpetuallyletoutlikethecanaries。Theycrawlalloverhim,poppinginandoutofhiswaistcoat,andsittingincouples,whiteassnow,onhiscapaciousshoulders。Heseemstobeevenfonderofhismicethanofhisotherpets,smilesatthem,andkissesthem,andcallsthembyallsortsofendearingnames。IfitbepossibletosupposeanEnglishmanwithanytasteforsuchchildishinterestsandamusementsasthese,thatEnglishmanwouldcertainlyfeelratherashamedofthem,andwouldbeanxioustoapologiseforthem,inthecompanyofgrown-uppeople。ButtheCount,apparently,seesnothingridiculousintheamazingcontrastbetweenhiscolossalselfandhisfraillittlepets。Hewouldblandlykisshiswhitemiceandtwittertohiscanary-birdsamidanassemblyofEnglishfox-hunters,andwouldonlypitythemasbarbarianswhentheywerealllaughingtheirloudestathim。
ItseemshardlycrediblewhileIamwritingitdown,butitiscertainlytrue,thatthissameman,whohasallthefondnessofanoldmaidforhiscockatoo,andallthesmalldexteritiesofanorgan-boyinmanaginghiswhitemice,cantalk,whenanythinghappenstorousehim,withadaringindependenceofthought,aknowledgeofbooksineverylanguage,andanexperienceofsocietyinhalfthecapitalsofEurope,whichwouldmakehimtheprominentpersonageofanyassemblyinthecivilisedworld。Thistrainerofcanary-birds,thisarchitectofapagodaforwhitemice,is(asSirPercivalhimselfhastoldme)oneofthefirstexperimentalchemistsliving,andhasdiscovered,amongotherwonderfulinventions,ameansofpetrifyingthebodyafterdeath,soastopreserveit,ashardasmarble,totheendoftime。Thisfat,indolent,elderlyman,whosenervesaresofinelystrungthathestartsatchancenoises,andwinceswhenheseesahouse-spanielgetawhipping,wentintothestable-yardonthemorningafterhisarrival,andputhishandontheheadofachainedbloodhound——abeastsosavagethattheverygroomwhofeedshimkeepsoutofhisreach。HiswifeandIwerepresent,andIshallnotforgetthescenethatfollowed,shortasitwas。
`Mindthatdog,sir,’saidthegroom;`hefliesateverybody!’`Hedoesthat,myfriend,’repliedtheCountquietly,`becauseeverybodyisafraidofhim。Letusseeifhefliesatme。’Andhelaidhisplump,yellow-whitefingers,onwhichthecanary-birdshadbeenperchingtenminutesbefore,upontheformidablebrute’shead,andlookedhimstraightintheeyes。`Youbigdogsareallcowards,’hesaid,addressingtheanimalcontemptuously,withhisfaceandthedog’swithinaninchofeachother。`Youwouldkillapoorcat,youinfernalcoward。Youwouldflyatastarvingbeggar,youinfernalcoward。Anythingthatyoucansurpriseunawares——anythingthatisafraidofyourbigbody,andyourwickedwhiteteeth,andyourslobbering,bloodthirstymouth,isthethingyouliketoflyat。Youcouldthrottlemeatthismoment,youmean,miserablebully,andyoudaren’tsomuchaslookmeintheface,becauseI’mnotafraidofyou。Willyouthinkbetterofit,andtryyourteethinmyfatneck?Bah!notyou!’Heturnedaway,laughingattheastonishmentofthemenintheyard,andthedogcreptbackmeeklytohiskennel。`Ah!mynicewaistcoat!’hesaidpathetically。`IamsorryIcamehere。Someofthatbrute’sslobberhasgotonmyprettycleanwaistcoat。’Thosewordsexpressanotherofhisincomprehensibleoddities。Heisasfondoffineclothesastheveriestfoolinexistence,andhasappearedinfourmagnificentwaistcoatsalready——alloflightgarishcolours,andallimmenselylargeevenforhim——inthetwodaysofhisresidenceatBlackwaterPark。
Histactandclevernessinsmallthingsarequiteasnoticeableasthesingularinconsistenciesinhischaracter,andthechildishtrivialityofhisordinarytastesandpursuits。
Icanseealreadythathemeanstoliveonexcellenttermswithallofusduringtheperiodofhissojourninthisplace。HehasevidentlydiscoveredthatLaurasecretlydislikeshim(sheconfessedasmuchtomewhenIpressedheronthesubject)——buthehasalsofoundoutthatsheisextravagantlyfondofflowers。Whenevershewantsanosegayhehasgotonetogiveher,gatheredandarrangedbyhimself,andgreatlytomyamusement,heisalwayscunninglyprovidedwithaduplicate,composedofexactlythesameflowers,groupedinexactlythesameway,toappeasehisicilyjealouswifebeforeshecansomuchasthinkherselfaggrieved。HismanagementoftheCountess(inpublic)isasighttosee。Hebowstoher,hehabituallyaddressesheras`myangel,’hecarrieshiscanariestopayherlittlevisitsonhisfingersandtosingtoher,hekissesherhandwhenshegiveshimhiscigarettes;hepresentsherwithsugar-plumsinreturn,whichheputsintohermouthplayfully,fromaboxinhispocket。Therodofironwithwhichherulesherneverappearsincompany——itisaprivaterod,andisalwayskeptupstairs。
Hismethodofrecommendinghimselftomeisentirelydifferent。HeflattersmyvanitybytalkingtomeasseriouslyandsensiblyasifIwasaman。Yes!IcanfindhimoutwhenIamawayfromhim——Iknowheflattersmyvanity,whenIthinkofhimuphereinmyownroom——andyet,whenIgodownstairs,andgetintohiscompanyagain,hewillblindmeagain,andIshallbeflatteredagain,justasifIhadneverfoundhimoutatall!HecanmanagemeashemanageshiswifeandLaura,ashemanagedthebloodhoundinthestable-yard,ashemanagesSirPercivalhimself,everyhourintheday。`MygoodPercival!howIlikeyourroughEnglishhumour!’——`MygoodPercival!howIenjoyyoursolidEnglishsense!’HeputstherudestremarksSirPercivalcanmakeonhiseffeminatetastesandamusementsquietlyawayfromhiminthatmanner——alwayscallingthebaronetbyhisChristianname,smilingathimwiththecalmestsuperiority,pattinghimontheshoulder,andbearingwithhimbenignantly,asagood-humouredfatherbearswithawaywardson。
TheinterestwhichIreallycannothelpfeelinginthisstrangelyoriginalmanhasledmetoquestionSirPercivalabouthispastlife。
SirPercivaleitherknowslittle,orwilltellmelittle,aboutit。HeandtheCountfirstmetmanyyearsago,atRome,underthedangerouscircumstancestowhichIhavealludedelsewhere。SincethattimetheyhavebeenperpetuallytogetherinLondon,inParis,andinVienna——butneverinItalyagain;theCounthaving,oddlyenough,notcrossedthefrontiersofhisnativecountryforyearspast。Perhapshehasbeenmadethevictimofsomepoliticalpersecution?Atallevents,heseemstobepatrioticallyanxiousnottolosesightofanyofhisowncountrymenwhomayhappentobeinEngland。Ontheeveningofhisarrivalheaskedhowfarwewerefromthenearesttown,andwhetherweknewofanyItaliangentlemenwhomighthappentobesettledthere。HeiscertainlyincorrespondencewithpeopleontheContinent,forhislettershaveallsortsofoddstampsonthem,andIsawoneforhimthismorning,waitinginhisplaceatthebreakfast-table,withahuge,official-lookingsealonit。Perhapsheisincorrespondencewithhisgovernment?Andyet,thatishardlytobereconciledeitherwithmyotherideathathemaybeapoliticalexile。
HowmuchIseemtohavewrittenaboutCountFosco!Andwhatdoesitallamountto?——aspoor,dearMrGilmorewouldask,inhisimpenetrablebusiness-likeway。IcanonlyrepeatthatIdoassuredlyfeel,evenonthisshortacquaintance,astrange,half-willing,half-unwillinglikingfortheCount。HeseemstohaveestablishedovermethesamesortofascendencywhichhehasevidentlygainedoverSirPercival。Free,andevenrude,ashemayoccasionallybeinhismannertowardshisfatfriend,SirPercivalisneverthelessafraid,asIcanplainlysee,ofgivinganyseriousoffencetotheCount。IwonderwhetherIamafraidtoo?Icertainlyneversawaman,inallmyexperience,whomlshouldbesosorrytohaveforanenemy。IsthisbecauseIlikehim,orbecauseIamafraidofhim?Chisa?——asCountFoscomightsayinhisownlanguage。Whoknows?
June16th——Somethingtochronicletodaybesidesmyownideasandimpressions。Avisitorhasarrived——quiteunknowntoLauraandtome,andapparentlyquiteunexpectedbySirPercival。
Wewereallatlunch,intheroomwiththenewFrenchwindowsthatopenintotheverandah,andtheCount(whodevourspastryasIhaveneveryetseenitdevouredbyanyhumanbeingsbutgirlsatboarding-schools)hadjustamusedusbyaskinggravelyforhisfourthtart——whentheservantenteredtoannouncethevisitor。
`MrMerrimanhasjustcome,SirPercival,andwishestoseeyouimmediately。’
SirPercivalstarted,andlookedatthemanwithanexpressionofangryalarm。
`MrMerriman!’herepeated,asifhethoughthisownearsmusthavedeceivedhim。
`Yes,SirPercival——MrMerriman,fromLondon。’
`Whereishe?’
`Inthelibrary,SirPercival。’
Heleftthetabletheinstantthelastanswerwasgiven,andhurriedoutoftheroomwithoutsayingawordtoanyofus。
`WhoisMrMerriman?’askedLaura,appealingtome。
`Ihavenottheleastidea,’wasallIcouldsayinreply。
TheCounthadfinishedhisfourthtart,andhadgonetoaside-tabletolookafterhisviciouscockatoo。Heturnedroundtouswiththebirdperchedonhisshoulder。
`MrMerrimanisSirPercival’ssolicitor,’hesaidquietly。
SirPercival’ssolicitor。ItwasaperfectlystraightforwardanswertoLaura’squestion,andvet,underthecircumstances,itwasnotsatisfactory。IfMrMerrimanhadbeenspeciallysentfurbyhisclient,therewouldhavebeennothingverywonderfulinhisleavingtowntoobeythesummons。ButwhenalawyertravelsfromLondontoHampshirewithoutbeingsentfor,andwhenhisarrivalatagentleman’shouseseriouslystartlesthegentlemanhimself,itmaybesafelytakenforgrantedthatthelegalvisitoristhebearerofsomeveryimportantandveryunexpectednews——newswhichmaybeeitherverygoodorverybad,butwhichcannot,ineithercase,beofthecommoneverydaykind。
LauraandIsatsilentatthetableforaquarterofanhourormore,wonderinguneasilywhathadhappened,andwaitingforthechanceofSirPercival’sspeedyreturn。Therewerenosignsofhisreturn,andwerosetoleavetheroom。
TheCount,attentiveasusual,advancedfromthecornerinwhichhehadbeenfeedinghiscockatoo,withthebirdstillperchedonhisshoulder,andopenedthedoorforus。LauraandMadameFoscowentoutfirst。JustasIwasonthepointoffollowingthemhemadeasignwithhishand,andspoketome,beforeIpassedhim,intheoddestmanner。
`Yes,’hesaid,quietlyansweringtheunexpressedideaatthatmomentinmymind,asifIhadplainlyconfidedittohiminsomanywords——`yes,MissHalcombe,somethinghashappened。’
Iwasonthepointofanswering,`Ineversaidso,’buttheviciouscockatooruffledhisclippedwingsandgaveascreechthatsetallmynervesonedgeinaninstant,andmademeonlytoogladtogetoutoftheroom。
IjoinedLauraatthefootofthestairs。Thethoughtinhermindwasthesameasthethoughtinmine,whichCountFoscohadsurprised,andwhenshespokeherwordswerealmosttheechoofhis。She,too,saidtomesecretlythatshewasafraidsomethinghadhappened。
June16th——Ihaveafewlinesmoretoaddtothisday’sentrybeforeIgotobedtonight。
AbouttwohoursafterSirPercivalrosefromtheluncheon-tabletoreceivehissolicitor,MrMerriman,inthelibrary,Ileftmyroomalonetotakeawalkintheplantations。JustasIwasattheendofthelandingthelibrarydooropenedandthetwogentlemencameout。Thinkingitbestnottodisturbthembyappearingonthestairs,Iresolvedtodefergoingdowntilltheyladcrossedthehall。Althoughtheyspoketoeachotheringuardedtones,theirwordswerepronouncedwithsufficientdistinctnessofutterancetoreachmyears。
`Makeyourmindeasy,SirPercival,’Iheardthelawyersay;`itallrestswithLadyGlyde。’
Ihadturnedtogobacktomyownroomforaminuteortwo,butthesoundofLaura’snameonthelipsofastrangerstoppedmeinstantly。Idaresayitwasverywrongandverydiscreditabletolisten,butwhereisthewoman,inthewholerangeofoursex,whocanregulateheractionsbytheabstractprinciplesofhonour,whenthoseprinciplespointoneway,andwhenheraffections,andtheinterestswhichgrowoutofthem,pointtheother?
Ilistened——andundersimilarcircumstancesIwouldlistenagain——yes!withmyearatthekeyhole,ifIcouldnotpossiblymanageitinanyotherway。
`Youquiteunderstand,SirPercival,’thelawyerwenton。`LadyGlydeistosignhernameinthepresenceofawitness——oroftwowitnesses,ifyouwishtobeparticularlycareful——andisthentoputherfingeronthesealandsay,``Ideliverthisasmyactanddeed。’’Ifthatisdoneinaweek’stimethearrangementwillbeperfectlysuccessful,andtheanxietywillbeallover。Ifnot——’
`Whatdoyoumeanby``ifnot’’?’askedSirPercivalangrily。`Ifthethingmustbedoneitshallbedone。Ipromiseyouthat,Merriman-’
`Justso,SirPercival——justso;buttherearetwoalternativesinalltransactions,andwelawyersliketolookbothoftheminthefaceboldly。Ifthroughanyextraordinarycircumstancethearrangementshouldnotbemade,IthinkImaybeabletogetthepartiestoacceptbillsatthreemonths。Buthowthemoneyistoberaisedwhenthebillsfalldue——’
`Damnthebills!Themoneyisonlytobegotinoneway,andinthatway,Itellyouagain,itshallbegot。Takeaglassofwine,Merriman,beforeyougo。’
`Muchobliged,SirPercival,Ihavenotamomenttoloseiflamtocatchtheup-train。Youwillletmeknowassoonasthearrangementiscomplete?andyouwillnotforgetthecautionIrecommended——’
`OfcourseIwon’t。There’sthedog-cartatthedoorforyou。Mygroomwillgetyoutothestationinnotime。Benjamin,drivelikemad!Jumpin。IfMrMerrimanmissesthetrainyouloseyourplace。Holdfast,Merriman,andifyouareupsettrusttothedeviltosavehisown。’Withthatpartingbenedictionthebaronetturnedaboutandwalkedbacktothelibrary。
Ihadnotheardmuch,butthelittlethathadreachedmyearswasenoughtomakemefeeluneasy。The`something’that`hadhappened’wasbuttooPlainlyaseriousmoneyembarrassment,andSirPercival’srelieffromitdependeduponLaura。Theprospectofseeingherinvolvedinherhusband’ssecretdifficultiesfilledmewithdismay,exaggerated,nodoubt,bymyignoranceofbusinessandmysettleddistrustofSirPercival。Insteadofgoingout,asIproposed,IwentbackimmediatelytoLaura’sroomtotellherwhatIhadheard。
Shereceivedmybadnewssocomposedlyastosurpriseme。Sheevidentlyknowsmoreofherhusband’scharacterandherhusband’sembarrassmentsthanIhavesuspecteduptothistime。
`Ifearedasmuch,’shesaid,`whenIheardofthatstrangegentlemanwhocalled,anddeclinedtoleavehisname。’
`Whodoyouthinkthegentlemanwas,then?’Iasked。
`SomepersonwhohasheavyclaimsonSirPercival,’sheanswered,`andwhohasbeenthecauseofMrMerriman’svisitheretoday。’
`Doyouknowanythingaboutthoseclaims?’
`No,Iknownoparticulars。’
`Youwillsignnothing,Laura,withoutfirstlookingatit?’
`Certainlynot,Marian。WhateverIcanharmlesslyandhonestlydotohelphimIwilldo——forthesakeofmakingyourlifeandmine,love,aseasyandashappyaspossible。ButIwilldonothingignorantly,whichwemight,oneday,havereasontofeelashamedof。Letussaynomoreaboutitnow。Youhavegotyourhaton——supposewegoanddreamawaytheafternooninthegrounds?’
Onleavingthehousewedirectedourstepstothenearestshade。
Aswepassedanopenspaceamongthetreesinfrontofthehouse,therewasCountFosco,slowlywalkingbackwardsandforwardsonthegrass,sunninghimselfinthefullblazeofthehotJuneafternoon。Hehadabroadstrawhaton,withaviolet-colouredribbonroundit。Ablueblouse,withprofusewhitefancy-workoverthebosom,coveredhisprodigiousbody,andwasgirtabouttheplacewherehiswaistmightoncehavebeenwithabroadscarletleatherbelt。Nankeentrousers,displayingmorewhitefancy-workovertheankles,andpurplemoroccoslippers,adornedhislowerextremities。HewassingingFigaro’sfamoussongintheBarberofSeville。withthatcrisplyfluentvocalisationwhichisneverheardfromanyotherthananItalianthroat,accompanyinghimselfontheconcertina,whichheplayedwithecstaticthrowings-upofhisarms,andgracefultwistingsandturningsofhishead,likeafatStCeciliamasqueradinginmaleattire。`Figaroqua!Figarola!Figarosu!Figarogiu!’sangtheCount,jauntilytossinguptheconcertinaatarm’slength,andbowingtous,ononesideoftheinstrument,withtheairygraceandeleganceofFigarohimselfattwentyvicarsofage。
`Takemywordforit,Laura,thatmanknowssomethingofSirPercival’sembarrassments,’Isaid,aswereturnedtheCount’ssalutationfromasafedistance。
`Whatmakesyouthinkthat?’sheasked。
`Howshouldhehaveknown,otherwise,thatMrMerrimanwasSirPercival’ssolicitor?’Irejoined。`Besides,whenIfollowedyououtoftheluncheon-room,hetoldme。withoutasinglewordofinquiryonmypart,thatsomethinghadhappened。Dependuponit,heknowsmorethanwedo。’
`Don’taskhimanyquestionsifhedoes。Don’ttakehimintoourconfidence。
`Youseemtodislikehim,Laura,inaverydeterminedmanner。Whathashesaidordonetojustifyyou?’
`Nothing,Marian。Onthecontrary,hewasallkindnessandattentiononourjourneyhome,andheseveraltimescheckedSirPercival’soutbreaksoftemper,inthemostconsideratemannertowardsme。PerhapsIdislikehimbecausehehassomuchmorepowerovermyhusbandthanIhave。Perhapsithurtsmypridetobeunderanyobligationstohisinterference。AllIknowis,thatIdodislikehim。’
Therestofthedayandeveningpassedquietlyenough。ThecountandIplayedatchess。Forthefirsttwogameshepolitelyallowedmetoconquerhim,andthen,whenhesawthatIhadfoundhimout,beggedmypardon,andatthethirdgamecheckmatedmeintenminutes。SirPercivalneveroncereferred,allthroughtheevening,tothelawyer’svisit。Buteitherthatevent,orsomethingelse,hadproducedasingularalterationforthebetterinhim。Hewasaspoliteandagreeabletoallofus,asheusedtobeinthedaysofhisprobationatLimmeridge,andhewassoamazinglyattentiveandkindtohiswife,thatevenicyMadameFoscowasrousedintolookingathimwithagravesurprise。Whatdoesthismean?IthinkIcanguess——IamafraidLauracanguess——andIamsureCountFoscoknows。IcaughtSirPercivallookingathimforapprovalmorethanonceinthecourseoftheevening。
June17th——Adayofevents。ImostferventlyhopeImaynothavetoadd,adayofdisastersaswell。
SirPercivalwasassilentatbreakfastashehadbeentheeveningbefore,onthesubjectofthemysterious`arrangement’(asthelawyercalledit)whichishangingoverourheads。Anhourafterwards,however,hesuddenlyenteredthemorning-room,wherehiswifeandIwerewaiting,withourhatson,forMadameFoscotojoinus,andinquiredfortheCount。
`Weexpecttoseehimheredirectly,’Isaid。
`Thefactis,’SirPercivalwenton,walkingnervouslyabouttheroom,`IwantFoscoandhiswifeinthelibrary,foramerebusinessformality,andIwantyouthere,Laura,foraminutetoo。’Hestopped,andappearedtonotice,forthefirsttime,thatwewereinourwalkingcostume。`Haveyoujustcomein?’heasked,`orwereyoujustgoingout?’
`Wewereallthinkingofgoingtothelakethismorning,’saidLaura。`Butifyouhaveanyotherarrangementtopropose——’
`No,no,’heansweredhastily。`Myarrangementcanwait。Afterlunchwilldoaswellforitasafterbreakfast。Allgoingtothelake,eh?Agoodidea。Let’shaveanidlemorning——I’llbeoneoftheparty。’
Therewasnomistakinghismanner,evenifithadbeenpossibletomistaketheuncharacteristicreadinesswhichhiswordsexpressed,tosubmithisownplansandprojectstotheconvenienceofothers。Hewasevidentlyrelievedatfindinganyexcusefordelayingthebusinessformalityinthelibrary,towhichhisownwordshadreferred。MyheartsankwithinmeasIdrewtheinevitableinference。
TheCountandhiswifejoinedusatthatmoment。Theladyhadherhusband’sembroideredtobacco-pouch,andherstoreofpaperinherhand,forthemanufactureoftheeternalcigarettes。Thegentleman,dressed,asusual,inhisblouseandstrawhat,carriedthegaylittlepagoda-cage,withhisdarlingwhitemiceinit,andsmiledonthem,andonus,withablandamiabilitywhichitwasimpossibletoresist。
`Withyourkindpermission,’saidtheCount,`Iwilltakemysmallfamilyhere——mypoor-little-harmless-pretty-Mouseys,outforanairingalongwithus。Therearedogsaboutthehouse,andshallIleavemyforlornwhitechildrenatthemerciesofthedogs?Ah,never!’
Hechirrupedpaternallyathissmallwhitechildrenthroughthebarsofthepagoda,andweallleftthehouseforthelake。
IntheplantationSirPercivalstrayedawayfromus。Itseemstobepartofhisrestlessdispositionalwaystoseparatehimselffromhiscompanionsontheseoccasions,andalwaystooccupyhimselfwhenheisaloneincuttingnewwalking-sticksforhisownuse。Themereactofcuttingandloppingathazardappearstopleasehim。Hehasfilledthehousewithwalking-sticksofhisownmaking,notoneofwhichheevertakesupforasecondtime。Whentheyhavebeenonceusedhisinterestinthemisallexhausted,andhethinksofnothingbutgoingonandmakingmore。
Attheoldboathousehejoinedusagain。Iwillputdowntheconversationthatensuredwhenwewereallsettledinourplacesexactlyasitpassed。Itisanimportantconversation,sofarasIamconcerned,forithasseriouslydisposedmetodistrusttheinfluencewhichCountFoscohasexercisedovermythoughtsandfeelings,andtoresistitforthefutureasresolutelyasIcan。
Theboat-housewaslargeenoughtoholdusall,butSirPercivalremainedoutsidetrimmingthelastnewstickwithhispocket-axe。Wethreewomenfoundplentyofroomonthelargeseat。Lauratookherwork,andMadameFoscobeganhercigarettes。I,asusual。hadnothingtodo。Myhandsalwayswere,andalwayswillbe,asawkwardasaman’s。TheCountgood-humouredlytookastoolmanysizestoosmallforhim,andbalancedhimselfonitwithhisbackagainstthesideoftheshed,whichcreakedandgroanedunderhisweight。HeputthePagoda-cageonhislap,andletoutthemicetocrawloverhimasusual。Theyarepretty,innocent-lookinglittlecreatures,butthesightofthemcreepingaboutaman’sbodyisforsomereasonnotpleasanttome。Itexcitesastrangeresponsivecreepinginmyownnerves,andsuggestshideousideasofmendyinginprisonwiththecrawlingcreaturesofthedungeonpreyingonthemundisturbed。
Themorningwaswindyandcloudy,andtherapidalternationsofshadowandsunlightoverthewasteofthelakemadetheviewlookdoublywild,weird,andgloomy。
`Somepeoplecallthatpicturesque,’saidSirPercival,pointingoverthewideprospectwithhishalf-finishedwalking-stick。`Icallitablotonagentleman’sproperty。Inmygreat-grandfather’stimethelakeflowedtothisplace。Lookatitnow。Itisnotfourfeetdeepanywhere,anditisallpuddlesandpools。IwishIcouldaffordtodrainit,andplantitallover。Mybailiff(asuperstitiousidiot)saysheisquitesurethelakehasacurseonit,liketheDeadSea。Whatdoyouthink,Fosco?Itlooksjusttheplaceforamurder,doesn’tit?’
`MygoodPercival,’remonstratedtheCount。`WhatisyoursolidEnglishsensethinkingof?Thewateristooshallowtohidethebody,andthereissandeverywheretoprintoffthemurderer’sfootsteps。Itis,uponthewhole,theveryworstplaceforamurderthatIeversetmyeyeson。’
`Humbug!’saidSirPercival,cuttingawayfiercelyathisstick。`YouknowwhatImean。Thedrearyscenery,thelonelysituation。Ifyouchoosetounderstandme,youcan——ifyoudon’tchoose,Iamnotgoingtotroublemyselftoexplainmymeaning。’
`Andwhynot,’askedtheCount,`whenyourmeaningcanbeexplainedbyanybodyintwowords?Ifafoolwasgoingtocommitamurder,yourlakeisthefirstplacehewouldchooseforit。Ifawisemanwasgoingtocommitamurder,yourlakeisthelastplacehewouldchooseforit。Isthatyourmeaning?Ifitis,thereisyourexplanationforyoureadymade。Takeit,Percival。withyourgoodFosco’sblessing。’
LauralookedattheCountwithherdislikeforhimappearingalittletooplainlyinherface。Hewassobusywithhismicethathedidnotnoticeher。
`Iamsorrytohearthelake-viewconnectedwithanythingsohorribleastheideaofmurder,’shesaid。`AndifCountFoscomustdividemurderersintoclasses,Ithinkhehasbeenveryunfortunateinhischoiceofexpressions。Todescribethemasfoolsonlyseemsliketreatingthemwithanindulgencetowhichtheyhavenoclaim。Andtodescribethemaswisemensoundstomelikeadownrightcontradictioninterms。Ihavealwaysheardthattrulywisemenaretrulygoodmen,andhaveahorrorofcrime。’
`Mydearlady,’saidtheCount,`thoseareadmirablesentiments,andIhaveseenthemstatedatthetopsofcopy-books。’Heliftedoneofthewhitemiceinthepalmofhishand,andspoketoitinhiswhimsicalway。`Myprettylittlesmoothwhiterascal,’hesaid,`hereisamorallessonforyou。Atrulywisemouseisatrulygoodmouse。Mentionthat,ifyouplease,toyourcompanions,andnevergnawatthebarsofyourcageagainaslongasyoulive。’
`Itiseasytoturneverythingintoridicule,’saidLauraresolutely;`butyouwillnotfinditquitesoeasy,CountFosco,togivemeaninstanceofawisemanwhohasbeenagreatcriminal。’
TheCountshruggedhishugeshoulders,andsmiledonLaurainthefriendliestmanner。
`Mosttrue!’hesaid。`Thefool’scrimeisthecrimethatisfoundout,andthewiseman’scrimeisthecrimethatisnotfoundout。IfIcouldgiveyouaninstance,itwouldnotbetheinstanceofawiseman。DearLadyGlyde,yoursoundEnglishcommonsensehasbeentoomuchforme。Itischeckmateformethistime,MissHalcombe——ha?’
`Standtoyourguns,Laura,’sneeredSirPercival,whohadbeenlisteninginhisplaceatthedoor。`Tellhimnext,thatcrimescausetheirowndetection。There’sanotherbitofcopybookmoralityforyou,Fosco。Crimescausetheirowndetection。Whatinfernalhumbug!’
`Ibelieveittobetrue,’saidLauraquietly。
SirPercivalburstoutlaughing,soviolently,sooutrageously,thathequitestartledusall——theCountmorethananyofus。
`Ibelieveittoo,’Isaid,comingtoLaura’srescue。
SirPercival,whohadbeenunaccountablyamusedathiswife’sremark,wasjustasunaccountablyirritatedbymine。Hestruckthenewsticksavagelyonthesand,andwalkedawayfromus。
`PoordearPercival!’criedCountFosco,lookingafterhimgaily,`heisthevictimofEnglishspleen。But,mydearMissHalcombe,mydearLadyGlyde,doyoureallybelievethatcrimescausetheirowndetection?Andyou,myangel,’hecontinued,turningtohiswife,whohadnotutteredawordyet,`doyouthinksotoo?’
`Iwaittobeinstructed,’repliedtheCountess,intonesoffreezingreproof,intendedforLauraandme,`beforeIventureongivingmyopinioninthepresenceofwell-informedmen。’
`Doyou,indeed?’Isaid。`lrememberthetime,Countess,whenyouadvocatedtheRightsofWomen,andfreedomoffemaleopinionwasoneofthem。’
`Whatisyourviewofthesubject,Count?’askedMadameFosco,calmlyproceedingwithhercigarettes,andnottakingtheleastnoticeofme。
TheCountstrokedoneofhiswhitemicereflectivelywithhischubbylittlefingerbeforeheanswered。
`Itistrulywonderful,’hesaid,`howeasilySocietycanconsoleitselffortheworstofitsshortcomingswithalittlebitofclap-trap。Themachineryithassetupforthedetectionofcrimeismiserablyineffective——andyetonlyinventamoralepigram,savingthatitworkswell,andyoublindeverybodytoitsblundersfromthatmoment。Crimescausetheirowndetection。dothey?Andmurderwillout(anothermoralepigram),willit?AskCoronerswhositatinquestsinlargetownsifthatistrue,LadyGlyde。Asksecretariesoflife-assurancecompaniesifthatistrue,MissHalcombe。Readyourownpublicjournals。Inthefewcasesthatgetintothenewspapers,aretherenotinstancesofslainbodiesfound,andnomurdererseverdiscovered?Multiplythecasesthatarereportedbythecasesthatarenotreported,andthebodiesthatarefoundbythebodiesthatarenotfound,andwhatconclusiondoyoucometo?This。Thattherearefoolishcriminalswhoarediscovered,andwisecriminalswhoescape。Thehidingofacrime,orthedetectionofacrime,whatisit?Atrialofskillbetweenthepoliceononeside,andtheindividualontheother。Whenthecriminalisabrutal,ignorantfool,thepoliceinninecasesoutoftenwin。Whenthecriminalisaresolute,educated,highly-intelligentman,thepoliceinninecasesoutoftenlose。Ifthepolicewin,yougenerallyhearallaboutit。Ifthepolicelose,yougenerallyhearnothing。AndonthistotteringfoundationyoubuildupyourcomfortablemoralmaximthatCrimecausesitsowndetection!Yes——allthecrimeyouknowof。Andwhatoftherest?’
`Devilishtrue,andverywellput,’criedavoiceattheentranceoftheboat-house。SirPercivalhadrecoveredhisequanimity,andhadcomebackwhilewewerelisteningtotheCount。
`Someofitmaybetrue,’Isaid,`andallofitmaybeverywellput。ButIdon’tseewhyCountFoscoshouldcelebratethevictoryofthecriminaloverSocietywithsomuchexultation,orwhyyou,SirPercival,shouldapplaudhimsoloudlyfordoingit。’
`Doyouhearthat,Fosco?’askedSirPercival。`Takemyadvice,andmakeyourpeacewithyouraudience。Tellthemvirtue’safinething——theylikethat,Icanpromiseyou。’
TheCountlaughedinwardlyandsilently,andtwoofthewhitemiceinhiswaistcoat,alarmedbytheinternalconvulsiongoingonbeneaththem。dartedoutinaviolenthurry,andscrambledintotheircageagain。
`Theladies,mygoodPercival,shalltellmeaboutvirtue,’hesaid。`TheyarebetterauthoritiesthanIam,fortheyknowwhatvirtueis,andIdon’t。’
`Youhearhim?’saidSirPercival。`Isn’titawful?’
`Itistrue,’saidtheCountquietly。`Iamacitizenoftheworld,andIhavemet,inmytime,withsomanydifferentsortsofvirtue,thatIampuzzled,inmyoldage,tosaywhichistherightsortandwhichisthewrong。Here,inEngland,thereisonevirtue。Andthere,inChina,thereisanothervirtue。AndJohnEnglishmansaysmyvirtueisthegenuinevirtue。AndJohnChinamansaysmyvirtueisthegenuinevirtue。AndIsayYestoone,orNototheother,andamjustasmuchbewilderedaboutitinthecaseofJohnwiththetop-bootsasIaminthecaseofJohnwiththepigtail。Ah,nicelittleMousey!come,kissme。WhatisyourownPrivatenotionofavirtuousman,mypret-pret-pretty?Amanwhokeepsyouwarm,andgivesyouplentytoeat。Andagoodnotion,too,foritisintelligible,attheleast。’
`Stayaminute,Count,’Iinterposed。`Acceptingyourillustration,surelywehaveoneunquestionablevirtueinEnglandwhichiswantinginChina。TheChineseauthoritieskillthousandsofinnocentpeopleonthemostfrivolouspretexts。WeinEnglandarefreefromallguiltofthatkind——wecommitnosuchdreadfulcrime——weabhorrecklessbloodshedwithallourhearts。’
`Quiteright,Marian,’saidLaura。`Wellthoughtof,andwellexpressed。’
`PrayallowtheCounttoProceed,’saidMadameFosco,withsterncivility。`YouWillfind,youngladies,thatheneverspeakswithouthavingexcellentreasonsforallthathesays。’
`Thankyou,myangel,’repliedtheCount。`Haveabonbon?’Hetookoutofhispocketaprettylittleinlaidbox,andplaceditopenonthetable。`ChocolateàlaVanille,’criedtheimpenetrableman,cheerfullyrattlingthesweetmeatsinthebox,andbowlingallround。`OfferedbyFoscoasanactofhomagetothecharmingSociety。’
`Begoodenoughtogoon,Count,’saidhiswife,withaspitefulreferencetomyself。`ObligemebyansweringMissHalcombe。’
`MissHalcombeisunanswerable,’repliedthepoliteItalian;`thatistosay,sofarasshedoes。Yes!Iagreewithher。JohnBulldoesabhorthecrimesofJohnChinaman。Heisthequickestoldgentlemanatfindingoutfaultsthatarehisneighbours’,andtheslowestoldgentlemanatfindingoutthefaultsthatarehisown,whoexistsonthefaceofcreation。Ishesoverymuchbetterinhiswaythanthepeoplewhomhecondemnsintheirway?EnglishSociety,MissHalcombe,isasoftentheaccompliceasitistheenemyofcrime。Yes!yes!Crimeisinthiscountrywhatcrimeisinothercountries——agoodfriendtoamanandtothoseabouthimasoftenasitisanenemy。Agreatrascalprovidesforhiswifeandfamily。Theworseheisthemorehemakesthemtheobjectsforyoursympathy。Heoftenprovidesalsoforhimself。Aprofligatespendthriftwhoisalwaysborrowingmoneywillgetmorefromhisfriendthantherigidlyhonestmanwhoonlyborrowsofthemonce,underpressureofthedirectwant。Intheonecasethefriendswillnotbeatallsurprised,andtheywillFive。Intheothercasetheywillbeverymuchsurprised,andtheywillhesitate。IstheprisonthatMrScoundrellivesinattheendofhiscareeramoreuncomfortableplacethantheworkhousethatMrHonestylivesinattheendofhiscareer?WhenJohn-Howard-Philanthropistwantstorelievemiseryhegoestofinditinprisons,wherecrimeiswretched——notinhutsandhovels。wherevirtueiswretchedtoo。WhoistheEnglishpoetwhohaswonthemostuniversalsympathy——whomakestheeasiestofallsubjectsforpatheticwritingandpatheticpainting?Thatniceyoungpersonwhobeganlifewithaforgery,andendeditbysuicide——yourdear,romantic,interestingChatterton。Whichgetsonbest,doyouthink,oftwopoorstarvingdressmakers——thewomanwhoresiststemptationandishonest,orthewomanwhofallsundertemptationandsteals?Youallknowthatthestealingisthemakingofthatsecondwoman’sfortune——itadvertisesherfromlengthtobreadthofgood-humoured,charitableEngland——andsheisrelieved,asthebreakerofacommandment,whenshewouldhavebeenlefttostarve,asthekeeperofit。Comehere,myjollylittleMouse!Hey!presto!pass!Itransformyou,forthetimebeing,intoarespectablelady。Stopthere,inthepalmofmygreatbighand,mydear,andlisten。Youmarrythepoormanwhomyoulove,Mouse,andonehalfyourfriendspity,andtheotherhalfblameyou。Andnow,onthecontrary,yousellyourselfforgoldtoamanyoudon’tcarefor,andallyourfriendsrejoiceoveryou,andaministerofpublicworshipsanctionsthebasehorrorofthevilestofallhumanbargainsandsmilesandsmirksafterwardsatyourtable,ifyouarepoliteenoughtoaskhimtobreakfast。Hey!presto!pass!Beamouseagain,andsqueak。Ifyoucontinuetobealadymuchlonger,IshallhaveyoutellingmethatSocietyabhorscrime——andthen,Mouse,Ishalldoubtifyourowneyesandearsarereallyofanyusetoyou。Ah!Iamabadman,LadyGlyde,amInot?Isaywhatotherpeopleonlythink,andwhenalltherestoftheworldisinaconspiracytoacceptthemaskforthetrueface,mineistherashhandthattearsofftheplumppasteboard,andshowstheharebonesbeneath。Iwillgetuponmybigelephant’slegs,beforeIdomyselfanymoreharminyouramiableestimations——Iwillgetupandtakealittleairywalkofmyown。Dearladies,asyourexcellentSheridansaid,Igo——andleavemycharacterbehindme。’
Hegotup,putthecageonthetable,andpausedforamomenttocountthemiceinit。`One,two,three,four——Ha!’hecried,withalookofhorror,`where,inthenameofHeaven,isthefifth——theyoungest,thewhitest,themostamiableofall——myBenjaminofmice!’
NeitherLauranorIwereinanyfavourabledispositiontobeamused。TheCount’sglibcynicismhadrevealedanewaspectofhisnaturefromwhichwebothrecoiled。Butitwasimpossibletoresistthecomicaldistressofsoverylargeamanatthelossofsoverysmallamouse。Welaughedinspiteofourselves;andwhenMadameFoscorosetosettheexampleofleavingtheboathouseempty,sothatherhusbandmightsearchittoitsremotestcorners,welosealsotofollowherout。
Beforewehadtakenthreesteps,theCount’squickeyediscoveredthelostmouseundertheseatthatwehadbeenoccupying。Hepulledasidethebench,tookthelittleanimalupinhishand,andthensuddenlystopped,onhisknees,lookingintentlyataparticularplaceonthegroundjustbeneathhim。
Whenherosetohisfeetagain,hishandshooksothathecouldhardlyputthemousebackinthecage,andhisfacewasofafaintlividyellowhueallover。
`Percival!’hesaid,inawhisper。`percival!comehere。’
SirPercivalhadpaidnoattentiontoanyofusforthelasttenminutes。Hehadbeenentirelyabsorbedinwritingfiguresonthesand。andthenrubbingthemoutagainwiththepointofhisstick。
`What’sthematternow?’heasked,loungingcarelesslyintotheboat-house。
`Doyouseenothingthere?’saidtheCount,catchinghimnervouslybythecollarwithonehand,andpointingwiththeothertotheplacenearwhichhehadfoundthemouse。
`Iseeplentyofdrysand,’answeredSirPercival,`andaspotofdirtinthemiddleofit。’
`Notdirt,’whisperedtheCount,fasteningtheotherhandsuddenlyonSirPercival’scollar,andshakingitinhisagitation。`Blood。’
Laurawasnearenoughtohearthelastword,softlyashewhisperedit。Sheturnedtomewithalookofterror。
`Nonsense,mydear,’Isaid。`Thereisnoneedtobealarmed。Itisonlythebloodofapoorlittlestraydog。’
Everybodywasastonished,andeverybody’seyeswerefixedonmeinquiringly。
`Howdoyouknowthat?’askedSirPercival,speakingfirst。
`Ifoundthedoghere,dying,onthedaywhenyouallreturnedfromabroad,’Ireplied。`Thepoorcreaturehadstrayedintotheplantation,andhadbeenshotbyyourkeeper。’
`Whosedogwasit?’inquiredSirPercival。`Notoneofmine?’
`Didyoutrytosavethepoorthing?’askedLauraearnestly。`Surelyyoutriedtosaveit,Marian?’
`Yes,’Isaid,`thehousekeeperandIbothdidourbest——butthedogwasmortallywounded,andhediedunderourhands。’
`Whosedogwasit?’persistedSirPercival,repeatinghisquestionalittleirritably。`Oneofmine?’
`No,notoneofyours。’
`Whosethen?Didthehousekeeperknow?’
Thehousekeeper’sreportofMrsCatherick’sdesiretoconcealhervisittoBlackwaterParkfromSirPercival’sknowledgerecurredtomymemorythemomentheputthatlastquestion,andIhalfdoubtedthediscretionofansweringit;butinmyanxietytoquietthegeneralalarm,Ihadthoughtlesslyadvancedtoofartodrawhack,exceptattheriskofexcitingsuspicion,whichmightonlymakemattersworse。Therewasnothingforitbuttoansweratonce,withoutreferencetoresults。
`Yes,’Isaid。`Thehousekeeperknew。ShetoldmeitwasMrsCatherick’sdog。’
SirPercivalhadhithertoremainedattheinnerendoftheboat-housewithCountFosco,whileIspoketohimfromthedoor。ButtheinstantMrsCatherick’snamepassedmylipshepushedbytheCountroughly,andplacedhimselffacetofacewithmeundertheopendaylight。
`HowcamethehousekeepertoknowitwasMrsCatherick’sdog?’heasked,fixinghiseyesonminewithafrowninginterestandattention,whichhalfangered,halfstartledme。
`Sheknewit,’Isaidquietly,`becauseMrsCatherickbroughtthedogwithher。’
`Broughtitwithher?Wheredidshebringitwithher?’
`Tothishouse。’
`WhatthedevildidMrsCatherickwantatthishouse?’
Themannerinwhichheputthequestionwasevenmoreoffensivethanthelanguageinwhichheexpressedit。Imarkedmysenseofhiswantofcommonpolitenessbysilentlyturningawayfromhim。
JustasImovedtheCount’spersuasivehandwaslaidonhisshoulder,andtheCount’smellifluousvoiceinterposedtoquiethim。
`MydearPercival!——gently——gently!’
SirPercivallookedroundinhisangriestmanner。TheCountonlysmiledandrepeatedthesoothingapplication。
`Gently,mygoodfriend——gently!’
SirPercivalhesitated,followedmeafewsteps,and,tomygreatsurprise,offeredmeanapology。
`Ibegyourpardon,MissHalcombe,’hesaid。`Ihavebeenoutoforderlately,andIamafraidIamalittleirritable。ButIshouldliketoknowwhatMrsCatherickcouldpossiblywanthere。Whendidshecome?Wasthehousekeepertheonlypersonwhosawher?’
`Theonlyperson,’Ianswered,`sofarasIknow。’
TheCountinterposedagain。
`Inthatcasewhynotquestionthehousekeeper?’hesaid。`Whynotgo,Percival,tothefountain-headofinformationatonce?’
`Quiteright!’saidSirPercival。`Ofcoursethehousekeeperisthefirstpersontoquestion。Excessivelystupidofmenottoseeitmyself。’Withthosewordsheinstantlyleftustoreturntothehouse。
ThemotiveoftheCount’sinterference,whichhadpuzzledmeatfirst,betrayeditselfwhenSirPercival’sbackwasturned。HehadahostofquestionstoputtomeaboutMrsCatherick,andthecauseofhervisittoBlackwaterPark,whichhecouldscarcelyhaveaskedinhisfriend’spresence。ImademyanswersasshortasIcivillycould,forIhadalreadydeterminedtochecktheleastapproachtoanyexchangingofconfidencesbetweenCountFoscoandmyself。Laura,however,unconsciouslyhelpedhimtoextractallmyinformation,bymakinginquiriesherself,whichleftmenoalternativebuttoreplytoher,ortoappearintheveryunenviableandveryfalsecharacterofadepositaryofSirPercival’ssecrets。Theendofitwas,that,inabouttenminutes’time,theCountknewasmuchasIknowofMrsCatherick,andoftheeventswhichhavesostrangelyconnecteduswithherdaughter,Anne,fromthetimewhenHartrightmetwithhertothisday。
Theeffectofmyinformationonhimwas,inonerespect,curiousenough。
IntimatelyasheknowsSirPercival,andcloselyasheappearstobeassociatedwithSirPercival’sprivateaffairsingeneral,heiscertainlyasfarasIamfromknowinganythingofthetruestoryofAnneCatherick。Theunsolvedmysteryinconnectionwiththisunhappywomanisnowrendereddoublysuspicious,inmyeyes,bytheabsoluteconvictionwhichIfeel,thatthecluetoithasbeenhiddenbySirPercivalfromthemostintimatefriendhehasintheworld。ItwasimpossibletomistaketheeagercuriosityoftheCount’slookandmannerwhilehedrankingreedilyeverywordthatfellfrommylips。Therearemanykindsofcuriosity,Iknow——butthereisnomisinterpretingthecuriosityofblanksurprise:ifIeversawitinmylifeIsawitintheCount’sface。
Whilethequestionsandanswersweregoingon,wehadallbeenstrollingquietlybackthroughtheplantation。AssoonaswereachedthehousethefirstobjectthatwesawinfrontofitwasSirPercival’sdog-cart,withthehorseputtoandthegroomwaitingbyitinhisstable-jacket。Iftheseunexpectedappearancesweretobetrusted,theexaminationofthehousekeeperhadproducedimportantresultsalready。
`Afinehorse,myfriend,’saidtheCount,addressingthegroomwiththemostengagingfamiliarityofmanner。`Youaregoingtodriveout?’
`Iamnotgoing,sir,’repliedtheman,lookingathisstable-jacket,andevidentlywonderingwhethertheforeigngentlemantookitforhislivery。`Mymasterdriveshimself。’
`Aha!’saidtheCount,`doesheindeed?Iwonderhegiveshimselfthetroublewhenhehasgotyoutodriveforhim。Ishegoingtofatiguethatnice,shining,prettyhorsebytakinghimveryfartoday?’
`Idon’tknow,sir,’answeredtheman。`Thehorseisamare,ifyouplease,sir。She’sthehighest-couragedthingwe’vegotinthestables。Hername’sBrownMolly,sir,andshe’llgotillshedrops。SirPercivalusuallytakesIsaacofYorkfortheshortdistances。’
`AndyourshiningcourageousBrownMollyforthelong?’
`Yes,sir。’
`Logicalinference,MissHalcombe,’continuedtheCount,wheelingroundbriskly,andaddressingme。`SirPercivalisgoingalongdistancetoday。’
Imadenoreply。Ihadmyowninferencestodraw,fromwhatIknewthroughthehousekeeperandfromwhatIsawbeforeme,andIdidnotchoosetosharethemwithCountFosco。
WhenSirPercivalwasinCumberland(Ithoughttomyself),hewalkedawayalongdistance,onAnne’saccount,toquestionthefamilyatTodd’sCorner。NowheisinHampshire,ishegoingtodriveawayalongdistance,onAnne’saccountagain,toquestionMrsCatherickatWelmingham?
Weallenteredthehouse。AswecrossedthehallSirPercivalcameoutfromthelibrarytomeetus。Helookedhurriedandpaleandanxious——butforallthat,hewasinhismostpolitemoodwhenhespoketous。
`IamsorrytosayIamobligedtoleaveyou,’hebegan——`alongdrive——amatterthatIcan’tverywellputoff。Ishallbebackingoodtimetomorrow——butbeforeIgoIshouldlikethatlittlebusiness-formality,whichIspokeofthismorning,tobesettled。Laura,willyoucomeintothelibrary?Itwon’ttakeaminute——amereformality。Countess,mayItroubleyoualso?IwantyouandtheCountess,Fosco,tobewitnessestoasignature——nothingmore。Comeinatonceandgetitover。’
Heheldthelibrarydooropenuntiltheyhadpassedin,followedthem,andshutitsoftly。
Iremained,foramomentafterwards,standingaloneinthehall,withmyheartbeatingfastandmymindmisgivingmesadly。ThenIwentontothestaircase,andascendedslowlytomyownroom。