第56章

“Ah，you？Yes，youknowher。Shetookmywifefromme，Mr。Acton。 HeavenonlyknowswhattheholdwasthatshehadoverpoorMira。 Sheencouragedhertosetmeatdefianceandeventuallytoleaveme。ShewasanswerableforallthescandalousfollyandextravaganceofpoorMira’slifeinParis——sparemethetellingofthestory。Sheleftheratlasttodiealoneanduncaredfor。I reachedmywifetofindherdyingofafeverfromwhichLadyCarwitchetandhercrewhadfled。Shewasravingindelirium，anddiedwithoutrecognizingme。SometroubleshehadbeeninwhichI mustneverknowoppressedher。Attheverylastsherousedfromalongstuporandspoketothenurse。’Tellhimtogetthesapphireback——shestoleit。Shehasrobbedmychild。’Thosewereherlastwords。ThenurseunderstoodnoEnglish，andtreatedthemaswandering；butIheardthem，andknewshewassanewhenshespoke。“ “Whatdidyoudo？“ “WhatcouldI？IsawLadyCarwitchet，wholaughedatme，anddefiedmetomakeherconfessordisgorge。Itookthependanttomorethanoneeminentjeweleronpretenseofhavingthesettingseento，andallhaveexaminedandadmiredwithoutgivingahintoftherebeinganythingwrong。Iallowedacelebratedmineralogisttoseeit；hegavenosign——“ “Perhapstheyarerightandwearewrong。“ “No，no。Listen。IheardofanoldDutchmancelebratedforhisimitations。Iwenttohim，andhetoldmeatoncethathehadbeenallowedbyMontanarotocopytheValdez——settingandall——fortheParisExhibition。Ishowedhimthis，andheclaimeditforhisownworkatonce，andpointedouthisprivatemarkuponit。Youmusttakeyourmagnifiertofindit；aGreekBeta。HealsotoldmethathehadsoldittoLadyCarwitchetmorethanayearago。 “Itisaterribleposition。“ “Itis。Myco-trusteediedlately。Ihaveneverdaredtohaveanotherappointed。Iamboundtohandoverthesapphiretomydaughteronhermarriage，ifherhusbandconsentstotakethenameofMontanaro。“ Thebishop’sfacewasghastlypale，andthemoisturestartedonhisbrow。Irackedmybrainforsomewordofcomfort。 “MissPantonmaynevermarry。“ “Butshewill！“heshouted。“Thatistheblowthathasbeendealtmeto-day。Mychaplain——actually，mychaplain——tellsmethatheisgoingoutasatemperancemissionarytoequatorialAfrica，andhastheassurancetoaddthathebelievesmydaughterisnotindisposedtoaccompanyhim！“Hisconsummatingwrathactedasamomentarystimulant。Hesatupright，hiseyesflashingandhisbrowthunderous。Ifeltforthatchaplain。Thenhecollapsedmiserably。“Thesapphireswillhavetobeproduced，identified，revalued。HowshallIcomeoutofit？Thinkofthedisgrace，therippingupofoldscandals！EvenifIweretocompoundwithLadyCarwitchet，thesumshehintedatwastoomonstrous。Shewantsmorethanmymoney。Helpme，Mr。Acton！Forthesakeofyourownfamilyinterests，helpme！“ “Ibegyourpardon——familyinterests？Idon’tunderstand。“ “Ifmydaughterischildless，hernextofkinispoorMarmadukePanton，whoisdyingatCannes，notmarried，orlikelytomarry； andfailinghim，yournephew，SirThomasActon，succeeds。“ MynephewTom！Leta，orLeta’sbaby，mightcometobethepossibleinheritorofthegreatValdezsapphire！ThebloodrushedtomyheadasIlookedatthegreatshiningswindlebeforeme。“Whatdiabolicjugglerywasatworkwhentheexchangewasmade？“I demandedfiercely。 “ItmusthavebeenonthelastoccasionofherwearingthesapphiresinLondon。Ioughtnevertohaveletheroutofmysight“ “YoumustputastoptoMissPanton’smarriageinthefirstplace，“ Ipronouncedasautocraticallyashecouldhavedonehimself。 “Nottobethoughtof，“headmittedhelplessly。“Mirahasmyforceofcharacter。Sheknowsherrights，andshewillhaveherjewels。 Iwantyoutotakechargeofthe——thingforme。Ifit’sinthehouseshe’llmakemeproduceit。She’llinquireatthebanker’s。 IfYOUhaveitwecangaintime，ifbutforadayortwo。“Hebrokeoff。Carriagewheelswerecrashingonthegraveloutside。 Welookedatoneanotherinconsternation。Flightwasimperative。 Ihurriedhimdownstairsandoutoftheconservatoryjustasthedoorbellrang。Ithinkwebothlostourheadsintheconfusion。 Heshovedthecaseintomyhands，andIpocketedit，withoutathoughtoftheawfulresponsibilityIwasincurring，andsawhimdisappearintotheshelterofthefriendlynight。 WhenIthinkofwhatmyfeelingswerethatevening——ofmymurderoushatredofthatsmirking，jestingJezebelwhosatoppositemeatdinner，mywrathfulindignationatthethoughtofthepoorlittleexpectedheirdefraudederehisbirth；ofthecrushingcontemptI feltformyselfandthebishopasapairofwitlessidiotsunabletoseeourwayoutofthedilemma；allthisboilingandsurgingthroughmysoul，Icanonlywonder——Domenicohavinggivenhimselfaholiday，andthekitchenmaiddoingherworstandwickedest——thatgoutorjaundicedidnotputanendtothisstoryatonce。 “UnclePaul！“Letawaslookinghersweetestwhenshetrippedintomyroomnextmorning。“I’venewsforyou。She，“pointingadelicateforefingerinthedirectionofthecorridor，“isgoing！ HerBokumshavereachedParisatlast，andsentforhertojointhemattheGrandHotel。“ Iwasthunderstruck。Thelonged-fordeliverancehadbutcometoremovehopelesslyandforeveroutofmyreachLadyCarwitchetandthegreatValdezsapphire。 “Why，aren’tyouoverjoyed？Iam。Wearegoingtocelebratetheeventbyadinnerparty。Tom’shospitablesoulisvexedbythelackofentertainmentwehadprovidedher。WemustasktheBrownleyssomedayorother，andtheywillbedelightedtomeetanythinginthewayofaladyship，orsuchsmartfolksastheDuberly-Parkers。ThenwemayaswellhavetheBlomfields，andairthatawfulmodernSevresdessertserviceshegaveuswhenweweremarried。“Ihadnoobjectiontomake，andshewenton，rubbinghersoftcheekagainstmyshoulderlikethepurringlittlecatshewas: “NowIwantyoutodosomethingtopleaseme——andMrs。Blomfield。 Shehassetherheartonseeingyourrubies，andthoughIknowyouhateheraboutasmuchasyoudothatSevreschina——“ “What！Wearmyrubieswiththat！Iwon’t。I’lltellyouwhatI willdo，though。I’vegotsomecarbunclesasbigasprizegooseberries，awholeset。ThenyouhaveonlytoputthoseBohemianglassvasesandcandelabraonthetable，andletyourgardenerdohisworstwithhisgreatforced，scentless，vulgarblooms，andweshallallbeinkeeping。“Letapouted。Anideastruckme。“OrI’lldoasyouwish，ononecondition。YougetLadyCarwitchettowearherbigsapphire，anddon’ttellherIwishit。“ Ilivedthroughthenextfewdaysasoneinsomeevildream。Thesapphires，liketwinspecters，hauntedmedayandnight。Wasevermansotantalized？Toholdtheshadowandseethesubstancedangledtemptinglywithinreach。Thebishopmadenosignofriddingmeofmyunwelcomecharge，andthethoughtofwhatmighthappeninacaseofburglary——fire——earthquake——mademestartandtrembleatallsortsofinopportunemoments。 IkeptfaithwithLeta，andreluctantlyproducedmybeautifulrubiesonthenightofherdinnerparty。EmergingfrommyroomI camefulluponLadyCarwitchetinthecorridor。Shewasdressedfordinner，andatherthroatIcaughtthebluegleamofthegreatsapphire。Letahadkeptfaithwithme。Idon’tknowwhatI stammeredinreplytoherladyship’sremarks；mywholesoulwasabsorbedinthecontemplationoftheintoxicatinglovelinessofthegem。THATaPalaisRoyaldeception！Incredible！Myfingerstwitched，mybreathcameshortandfiercewiththelustofpossession。Shemusthaveseenthecovetousglareinmyeyes。A lookofgratifiedspitefulcomplacencyoverspreadherfeatures，asshesweptonaheadanddescendedthestairsbeforeme。Ifollowedhertothedrawing-roomdoor。Shestoppedsuddenly，andmurmuringsomethingunintelligiblehurriedbackagain。 EverybodywasassembledtherethatIexpectedtosee，withanaddition。NotawelcomeonebythelookonTom’sface。Hestoodonthehearthrugconversingwithagreathulking，high-shoulderedfellow，sallow-faced，withaheavymustacheanddroopingeyelids，fromthecornersofwhichflashedoutasuddensuspiciouslookasI approached，whichlightedupintoagreedyoneasitrestedonmyrubies，andseemedunaccountablyfamiliartome，tillLadyCarwitchettrippingpastmeexclaimed: “Hehascomeatlast！Mynaughty，naughtyboy！Mr。Acton，thisismyson，LordCarwitchet！“ Ibrokeoffshortinthemidstofmypoliteacknowledgmentstostareblanklyather。Thesapphirewasgone！Agreatgiltcross，withaScotchpebblelikeanaciddrop，washersoledecoration。 “Ihadtoputmypendantaway，“sheexplainedconfidentially；“theclasphadgotbrokensomehow。“Ididn’tbelieveaword。 LordCarwitchetcontributedlittletothegeneralentertainmentatdinner，butfellintoconfidentialtalkwithMrs。Duberly-Parker。 Icaughtafewunintelligibleremarksacrossthetable。Theyreferred，Isubsequentlydiscovered，tothelady’slittlebookonNorthchurchraces，andIrecollectedthattheSpringMeetingwason，andto-morrow“CupDay。“AfterdinnertherewasgreattalkaboutgettingupapartytogoonGeneralFairford’sdrag。LadyCarwitchetwasinecstasiesandtriedtocoaxmeintojoining。 Letadeclinedpositively。Tomacceptedsulkily。 ThelookinLordCarwitchet’seyereturnedtomymindasIlockedupmyrubiesthatnight。Itmadehimlooksolikehismother！I wentroundmyfasteningswithunusualcare。Safeandclosetsanddeskanddoors，Itriedthemall。Comingatlasttothebathroom，itopenedatonce。Itwasthehousemaid’sdoing。Shehadevidentlytakenadvantageofmyhavingabandonedtheroomtogiveit“athoroughspringcleaning，“andIanathematizedher。Thefurniturewasallpiledtogetherandveiledwithsheets，thecarpetandfeltcurtainweregone，therewerenewbroomsabout。AsI peeredaround，avoicecloseatmyearmademejump——LadyCarwitchet’s！ “ItellyouIhavenothing，notapenny！IshallhavetoborrowmytrainfarebeforeIcanleavethis。They’llbegladenoughtolendit。“ Notonlyhadtheportierebeenremoved，butthedoorbehindithadbeenunlockedandleftopenforconvenienceofdustingbehindthewardrobe。Imightaswellhavebeeninthebedroom。 “Don’ttellme，“IrecognizedCarwitchet’sgrowl。“You’venotbeenhereallthistimefornothing。You’vebeencollectingforaKilburncotorgettingsubscriptionsforthedistressedIrishlandlords。Iknowyou。NowI’mnotgoingtoseemyselfruinedforthewantofapaltryhundredorso。Itellyouthecoltisadeadcertainty。IfIcouldhavegotathousandortwoonhimlastweek，wemighthaveendedourdogdaysmillionaires。Handoverwhatyoucan。You’vemoney’sworth，ifnotmoney。Where’sthatsapphireyoustole？“ “Ididn’t。Icanshowyouthereceiptedbill。AllIpossessishonestlycomeby。Whatcouldyoudowithit，evenifIgaveityou？Youcouldn’tsellitastheValdez，andyoucan’tgetitcutupasyoumightifitwerereal。“ “Ifit’sonlybogus，whyareyoualwaysinsuchaflutteraboutit？ I’lldosomethingwithit，neverfear。Handover。“ “Ican’t。Ihaven’tgotit。IhadtoraisesomethingonitbeforeIlefttown。“ “Willyouswearit’snotinthatwardrobe？Idaresayyouwill。I meantosee。Givemethosekeys。“ Iheardastruggleandajingle，thenthewardrobedoormusthavebeenflungopen，forastreakoflightstruckthroughacrackinthewoodoftheback。Creepingcloseandpeepingthrough，Icouldseeanawfulsight。LadyCarwitchetinaflannelwrapper，minushair，teeth，complexion，pointingaskinnyforefingerthatquiveredwithrageatherson，whowasoutoftherangeofmyvision。 “Stopthat，andthrowthosekeysdownheredirectly，orI’llrousethehouse。SirThomasisamagistrate，andwilllockyouupassoonaslookatyou。“Sheclutchedatthebellropeasshespoke。 “I’llswearI’mindangerofmylifefromyouandgiveyouincharge。Yes，andwhenyou’reinprisonI’llkeepyoutheretillyoudie。I’veoftenthoughtI’ddoit。HowaboutthehotelrobberieslastsummeratCowes，eh？Mightn’tthepolicebegratefulforahintortwo？Andhowabout——“ Thekeysfellwithacrashonthebed，accompaniedbysomebadlanguageinanapologetictone，andthedoorslammedto。Icrepttremblingtobed。 Thisnewandhorriblecomplicationofthesituationfilledmewithdismay。LordCarwitchet’swolfishglanceatmyrubiestookanewmeaning。Theyweresafeenough，Ibelieved——butthesapphire！Ifhedisbelievedhismother，howlongwouldshebeabletokeepitfromhisclutches？ThatshehadsomeplotofherownofwhichthebishopwouldeventuallybethevictimIdidnotdoubt，orwhyhadshenotmadeherbargainwithhimlongago？Butsupposingshetookfright，lostherhead，allowedhersontowrestthejewelfromher，orgaveconsenttoitsbeingmutilated，divided！Ilayinacoldperspirationtillmorning。 Myterrorshauntedmeallday。TheywerewithmeatbreakfasttimewhenLadyCarwitchet，trippinginsmiling，madealastattempttoinducemetoaccompanyherandkeepher“bad，badboy“fromgettingamong“thosehorridbettingmen。“ TheyhauntedmethroughthelongpeacefuldaywithLetaandthetete-a-tetedinner，buttheyswarmedaroundandbesetmesorestwhen，sittingaloneovermysitting-roomfire，Ilistenedforthereturnofthedragparty。Ireadmynewspaperandbrewedmyselfsomehotstrongdrink，buttherecomesatimeofnightwhennofirecanwarmandnodrinkcancheer。Thebishop’sdespairingfacekeptmecompany，andhistroublesandthewrongsofthefutureheirtookpossessionofme。Thentheuncannynoisesthatmakealloldhousesghostlyduringthesmallhoursbegantomakethemselvesheard。 Muffledfootstepstrodthecorridor，stoppingtolistenateverydoor，doorlatchesgentlyclicked，boardscreakedunreasonably，soundsofstealthymovementscamefromthelocked-upbathroom。Thewelcomecrashofwheelsatlast，andthesoundofthefront-doorbell。IcouldhearLadyCarwitchetmakinghershrilladieuxtoherfriendsandherstepsinthecorridor。Shewassoftlyhummingalittlesongassheapproached。Iheardherunlockherbedroomdoorbeforesheentered——anoddthingtodo。Tomcamesleepilystumblingtohisroomlater。Iputmyheadout。“WhereisLordCarwitchet？“ “Haven’tyouseenhim？Heleftushoursago。Notcomehome，eh？ Well，he’swelcometostayaway。Idon’twanttoseemoreofhim。“ Tom’sbrowwasdarkandhisvoicesurly。“Igavehimtounderstandasmuch。“Whateverhadhappened，Tomwasevidentlytoodisgustedtoexplainjustthen。 Iwentbacktomyfireunaccountablyrelieved，andbrewedmyselfanotherandastrongerbrew。Itwarmedmethistime，butexcitedmefoolishly。Theremustbesomewayoutofthedifficulty。I feltnowasifIcouldalmostseeitifIgavemymindtoit。Why—— suppose——theremightbenodifficultyafterall！Thebishopwasanervousoldgentleman。Hemighthavebeenmistakenallthrough，Bogaertsmighthavebeenmistaken，Imight——no。Icouldnothavebeenmistaken——orIthoughtnot。IfidgetedandfumedandarguedwithmyselftillIfoundIshouldhavenopeaceofmindwithoutalookatthestoneinmypossession，andIactuallywenttothesafeandtookthecaseout。 Thesapphirecertainlylookeddifferentbylamplight。Isatandstared，andallbutover-persuadedmybetterjudgmentintogivingitaverdict。Bogaerts’smark——Isuddenlyrememberedit。Itookmymagnifierandheldthependanttothelight。There，scratcheduponthestone，wastheGreekBeta！Therecameataponmydoor，andbeforeIcouldanswer，thehandleturnedsoftlyandLordCarwitchetstoodbeforeme。Iwhippedthecaseintomydressing- gownpocketandstaredathim。Hewasnotpleasanttolookat，especiallyatthattimeofnight。Hehadadisheveled，desperateair，hisvoicewashoarse，hisred-rimmedeyeswild。 “Ibegyourpardon，“hebegancivillyenough。“Isawyourlightburning，andthought，aswegobytheearlytrainto-morrow，youmightallowmetoconsultyounowonalittlebusinessofmymother’s。“Hiseyesrovedabouttheroom。Washetryingtofindthewhereaboutsofmysafe？“Youknowalotaboutpreciousstones，don’tyou？“ “Somyfriendsarekindenoughtosay。Won’tyousitdown？Ihaveunluckilylittlechanceofindulgingthetasteonmyownaccount，“ wasmycautiousreply。 “Butyou’vewrittenabookaboutthem，andknowthemwhenyouseethem，don’tyou？Nowmymotherhasgivenmesomething，andwouldlikeyoutogiveaguessatitsvalue。Perhapsyoucanputmeinthewayofdisposingofit？“ “Icertainlycandosoifitisworthanything。Isthatit？“I wasinafeverofexcitement，forIguessedwhatwasclutchedinhispalm。HeheldouttometheValdezsapphire。 Howitshoneandsparkledlikeagreatbluestar！ImademyselfadeprecatingsmileasItookitfromhim，buthowdareIcallitfalsetoitsface？Aswellaccusethesuninheavenofbeingacheapimitation。Ifalteredandprevaricatedfeebly。Wherewasmymoralcourage，andwherewasthegood，honest，thumpingliethatshouldhaveaidedme？“IhavethebestauthorityforrecognizingthisasaverygoodcopyofafamousstoneinthepossessionoftheBishopofNorthchurch。“HisscowlgrewsoblackthatIsawhebelievedme，andIwentonmorecheerily:“ThiswasmanufacturedbyJohannesBogaerts——Icangiveyouhisaddress，andyoucanmakeinquiriesyourself——byspecialpermissionofthethenowner，thelateLeoneMontanaro。“ “Handitback！“heinterrupted(hisotherremarkswereoutrageous，butsatisfactorytohear)；butIwavedhimoff。Icouldn’tgiveitup。Itfascinatedme。Itoyedwithit，Icaressedit。Imadeitdisplayitsdifferenttonesofcolor。Imustseethetwostonestogether。Imustseeitoutshineitspaltryrival。Itwasawhimsicalfrenzythatseizedme——Icancallitbynoothername。 “Wouldyouliketoseetheoriginal？Curiouslyenough，Ihaveithere。Thebishophasleftitinmycharge。“ ThewolfishlightflamedupinCarwitchet’seyesasIdrewforththecase。HelaidtheValdezdownonasheetofpaper，andI placedtheother，stillinitscase，besideit。Inthatmomenttheylookedidentical，exceptforthelittleloopofshamstones，replacedbyaplaingoldbandinthebishop’sjewel。Carwitchetleanedacrossthetableeagerly，thetablegavealurch，thelamptottered，crashedover，andwewereleftinsemidarkness。 “Don’tstir！“Carwitchetshouted。“Theparaffinisallovertheplace！“Heseizedmysofablanket，andflungitoverthetablewhileIstoodhelpless。“There，that’ssafenow。Haveyoucandlesonthechimney-piece？I’vegotmatches。“ Helookedverywhiteandexcitedashelitup。“Mighthavebeenanawkwardjobwithallthatburningparaffinrunningabout，“hesaidquitepleasantly。“Ihopenorealharmisdone。“Iwasliftingtherugwithshakinghands。ThetwostoneslayasIhadplacedthem。No！Inearlydroppeditbackagain。Itwasthestoneinthecasethathadtheloopwiththethreeshamsapphires！ Carwitchetpickedtheotheruphastily。“Soyousaythisisrubbish？“heasked，hiseyessparklingwickedly，andanattemptatmortificationinhistone。 “Utterrubbish！“Ipronounced，withtruthanddecision，snappingupthecaseandpocketingit。“LadyCarwitchetmusthaveknownit。“ “Ah，well，it’sdisappointing，isn’tit？Good-by，weshallnotmeetagain。“ Ishookhandswithhimmostcordially。“Good-by，LordCarwitchet。 SOgladtohavemetyouandyourmother。IthasbeenasourceoftheGREATESTpleasure，Iassureyou。“ IhaveneverseentheCarwitchetssince。Thebishopdroveovernextdayinratherbetterspirits。MissPantonhadrefusedthechaplain。 “Itdoesn’tmatter，mylord，“Isaidtohimheartily。“We’veallbeenundersomestrangemisconception。Thestoneinyourpossessionistheveritableone。Icouldsweartothatanywhere。 ThesapphireLadyCarwitchetwearsisonlyanexcellentimitation，and——Ihaveseenitwithmyowneyes——istheonebearingBogaerts’smark，theGreekBeta。“ End