English
June17th.—Justasmyhandwasonthedoorofmyroom,IheardSirPercival’svoicecallingtomefrombelow.
“Imustbegyoutocomedownstairsagain,”hesaid.
“ItisFosco’sfault,MissHalcombe,notmine.
Hehasstartedsomenonsensicalobjectiontohiswifebeingoneofthewitnesses,andhasobligedmetoaskyoutojoinusinthelibrary.”
IenteredtheroomimmediatelywithSirPercival.
Laurawaswaitingbythewriting-table,twistingandturninghergardenhatuneasilyinherhands.
MadameFoscosatnearher,inanarm-chair,imperturbablyadmiringherhusband,whostoodbyhimselfattheotherendofthelibrary,pickingoffthedeadleavesfromtheflowersinthewindow.
ThemomentIappearedtheCountadvancedtomeetme,andtoofferhisexplanations.
“Athousandpardons,MissHalcombe,”hesaid.
“YouknowthecharacterwhichisgiventomycountrymenbytheEnglish?
WeItaliansareallwilyandsuspiciousbynature,intheestimationofthegoodJohnBull.
Setmedown,ifyouplease,asbeingnobetterthantherestofmyrace.
IamawilyItalianandasuspiciousItalian.
Youhavethoughtsoyourself,dearlady,haveyounot?Well!
itispartofmywilinessandpartofmysuspiciontoobjecttoMadameFoscobeingawitnesstoLadyGlyde’ssignature,whenIamalsoawitnessmyself.”
“Thereisnottheshadowofareasonforhisobjection,”interposedSirPercival.“IhaveexplainedtohimthatthelawofEnglandallowsMadameFoscotowitnessasignatureaswellasherhusband.”
“Iadmitit,”resumedtheCount.“ThelawofEnglandsays,Yes,buttheconscienceofFoscosays,No.”
Hespreadouthisfatfingersonthebosomofhisblouse,andbowedsolemnly,asifhewishedtointroducehisconsciencetousall,inthecharacterofanillustriousadditiontothesociety.
“WhatthisdocumentwhichLadyGlydeisabouttosignmaybe,”hecontinued,“Ineitherknownordesiretoknow.
Ionlysaythis,circumstancesmayhappeninthefuturewhichmayobligePercival,orhisrepresentatives,toappealtothetwowitnesses,inwhichcaseitiscertainlydesirablethatthosewitnessesshouldrepresenttwoopinionswhichareperfectlyindependenttheoneoftheother.
Thiscannotbeifmywifesignsaswellasmyself,becausewehavebutoneopinionbetweenus,andthatopinionismine.
Iwillnothaveitcastinmyteeth,atsomefutureday,thatMadameFoscoactedundermycoercion,andwas,inplainfact,nowitnessatall.
IspeakinPercival’sinterest,whenIproposethatmynameshallappear(asthenearestfriendofthehusband),andyourname,MissHalcombe(asthenearestfriendofthewife).
IamaJesuit,ifyoupleasetothinkso—asplitterofstraws—amanoftriflesandcrochetsandscruples—butyouwillhumourme,Ihope,inmercifulconsiderationformysuspiciousItaliancharacter,andmyuneasyItalianconscience.”
Hebowedagain,steppedbackafewpaces,andwithdrewhisconsciencefromoursocietyaspolitelyashehadintroducedit.
TheCount’sscruplesmighthavebeenhonourableandreasonableenough,buttherewassomethinginhismannerofexpressingthemwhichincreasedmyunwillingnesstobeconcernedinthebusinessofthesignature.
NoconsiderationoflessimportancethanmyconsiderationforLaurawouldhaveinducedmetoconsenttobeawitnessatall.
Onelook,however,atheranxiousfacedecidedmetoriskanythingratherthandeserther.
“Iwillreadilyremainintheroom,”Isaid.“AndifIfindnoreasonforstartinganysmallscruplesonmyside,youmayrelyonmeasawitness.”
SirPercivallookedatmesharply,asifhewasabouttosaysomething.
Butatthesamemoment,MadameFoscoattractedhisattentionbyrisingfromherchair.
Shehadcaughtherhusband’seye,andhadevidentlyreceivedherorderstoleavetheroom.
“Youneedn’tgo,”saidSirPercival.
MadameFoscolookedforherordersagain,gotthemagain,saidshewouldpreferleavingustoourbusiness,andresolutelywalkedout.
TheCountlitacigarette,wentbacktotheflowersinthewindow,andpuffedlittlejetsofsmokeattheleaves,inastateofthedeepestanxietyaboutkillingtheinsects.
MeanwhileSirPercivalunlockedacupboardbeneathoneofthebook-cases,andproducedfromitapieceofparchment,foldedlongwise,manytimesover.
Heplaceditonthetable,openedthelastfoldonly,andkepthishandontherest.
Thelastfolddisplayedastripofblankparchmentwithlittlewafersstuckonitatcertainplaces.
Everylineofthewritingwashiddeninthepartwhichhestillheldfoldedupunderhishand.LauraandIlookedateachother.
Herfacewaspale,butitshowednoindecisionandnofear.
SirPercivaldippedapeninink,andhandedittohiswife.
“Signyournamethere,”hesaid,pointingtotheplace.
“YouandFoscoaretosignafterwards,MissHalcombe,oppositethosetwowafers.Comehere,Fosco!
witnessingasignatureisnottobedonebymooningoutofwindowandsmokingintotheflowers.”
TheCountthrewawayhiscigarette,andjoinedusatthetable,withhishandscarelesslythrustintothescarletbeltofhisblouse,andhiseyessteadilyfixedonSirPercival’sface.
Laura,whowasontheothersideofherhusband,withthepeninherhand,lookedathimtoo.
Hestoodbetweenthemholdingthefoldedparchmentdownfirmlyonthetable,andglancingacrossatme,asIsatoppositetohim,withsuchasinistermixtureofsuspicionandembarrassmentonhisfacethathelookedmorelikeaprisoneratthebarthanagentlemaninhisownhouse.
“Signthere,”herepeated,turningsuddenlyonLaura,andpointingoncemoretotheplaceontheparchment.
“WhatisitIamtosign?”sheaskedquietly.
“Ihavenotimetoexplain,”heanswered.
“Thedog-cartisatthedoor,andImustgodirectly.
Besides,ifIhadtime,youwouldn’tunderstand.
Itisapurelyformaldocument,fulloflegaltechnicalities,andallthatsortofthing.Come!come!
signyourname,andletushavedoneassoonaspossible.”
“IoughtsurelytoknowwhatIamsigning,SirPercival,beforeIwritemyname?”
“Nonsense!Whathavewomentodowithbusiness?Itellyouagain,youcan’tunderstandit.”
“Atanyrate,letmetrytounderstandit.WheneverMr.Gilmorehadanybusinessformetodo,healwaysexplaineditfirst,andIalwaysunderstoodhim.”
“Idaresayhedid.Hewasyourservant,andwasobligedtoexplain.Iamyourhusband,andamNOTobliged.
Howmuchlongerdoyoumeantokeepmehere?
Itellyouagain,thereisnotimeforreadinganything—thedog-cartiswaitingatthedoor.
Onceforall,willyousignorwillyounot?”
Shestillhadthepeninherhand,butshemadenoapproachtosigninghernamewithit.
“Ifmysignaturepledgesmetoanything,”shesaid,“surelyIhavesomeclaimtoknowwhatthatpledgeis?”
Helifteduptheparchment,andstruckitangrilyonthetable.
“Speakout!”hesaid.“Youwerealwaysfamousfortellingthetruth.NevermindMissHalcombe,nevermindFosco—say,inplainterms,youdistrustme.”
TheCounttookoneofhishandsoutofhisbeltandlaiditonSirPercival’sshoulder.SirPercivalshookitoffirritably.TheCountputitonagainwithunruffledcomposure.
“Controlyourunfortunatetemper,Percival,”hesaid“LadyGlydeisright.”
“Right!”criedSirPercival.“Awiferightindistrustingherhusband!”
“Itisunjustandcrueltoaccusemeofdistrustingyou,”saidLaura.“AskMarianifIamnotjustifiedinwantingtoknowwhatthiswritingrequiresofmebeforeIsignit.”
“Iwon’thaveanyappealsmadetoMissHalcombe,”retortedSirPercival.“MissHalcombehasnothingtodowiththematter.”
Ihadnotspokenhitherto,andIwouldmuchrathernothavespokennow.
ButtheexpressionofdistressinLaura’sfacewhensheturnedittowardsme,andtheinsolentinjusticeofherhusband’sconduct,leftmenootheralternativethantogivemyopinion,forhersake,assoonasIwasaskedforit.
“Excuseme,SirPercival,”Isaid—“butasoneofthewitnessestothesignature,IventuretothinkthatIHAVEsomethingtodowiththematter.
Laura’sobjectionseemstomeaperfectlyfairone,andspeakingformyselfonly,Icannotassumetheresponsibilityofwitnessinghersignature,unlessshefirstunderstandswhatthewritingiswhichyouwishhertosign.”
“Acooldeclaration,uponmysoul!”criedSirPercival.
“Thenexttimeyouinviteyourselftoaman’shouse,MissHalcombe,Irecommendyounottorepayhishospitalitybytakinghiswife’ssideagainsthiminamatterthatdoesn’tconcernyou.”
Istartedtomyfeetassuddenlyasifhehadstruckme.
IfIhadbeenaman,Iwouldhaveknockedhimdownonthethresholdofhisowndoor,andhavelefthishouse,neveronanyearthlyconsiderationtoenteritagain.
ButIwasonlyawoman—andIlovedhiswifesodearly!
ThankGod,thatfaithfullovehelpedme,andIsatdownagainwithoutsayingaword.
SHEknewwhatIhadsufferedandwhatIhadsuppressed.
Sheranroundtome,withthetearsstreamingfromhereyes.“Oh,Marian!”shewhisperedsoftly.
“Ifmymotherhadbeenalive,shecouldhavedonenomoreforme!”
“Comebackandsign!”criedSirPercivalfromtheothersideofthetable.
“ShallI?”sheaskedinmyear;“Iwill,ifyoutellme.”
“No,”Ianswered.“Therightandthetrutharewithyou—signnothing,unlessyouhavereaditfirst.”
“Comebackandsign!”hereiterated,inhisloudestandangriesttones.
TheCount,whohadwatchedLauraandmewithacloseandsilentattention,interposedforthesecondtime.
“Percival!”hesaid.“IrememberthatIaminthepresenceofladies.Begoodenough,ifyouplease,torememberittoo.”
SirPercivalturnedonhimspeechlesswithpassion.
TheCount’sfirmhandslowlytighteneditsgrasponhisshoulder,andtheCount’ssteadyvoicequietlyrepeated,“Begoodenough,ifyouplease,torememberittoo.”
Theybothlookedateachother.SirPercivalslowlydrewhisshoulderfromundertheCount’shand,slowlyturnedhisfaceawayfromtheCount’seyes,doggedlylookeddownforalittlewhileattheparchmentonthetable,andthenspoke,withthesullensubmissionofatamedanimal,ratherthanthebecomingresignationofaconvincedman.
“Idon’twanttooffendanybody,”hesaid,“butmywife’sobstinacyisenoughtotrythepatienceofasaint.
Ihavetoldherthisismerelyaformaldocument—andwhatmorecanshewant?
Youmaysaywhatyouplease,butitisnopartofawoman’sdutytosetherhusbandatdefiance.
Oncemore,LadyGlyde,andforthelasttime,willyousignorwillyounot?”
Laurareturnedtohissideofthetable,andtookupthepenagain.
“Iwillsignwithpleasure,”shesaid,“ifyouwillonlytreatmeasaresponsiblebeing.Icarelittlewhatsacrificeisrequiredofme,ifitwillaffectnooneelse,andleadtonoillresults—”
“WhotalkedofasacrificebeingrequiredofYou?”hebrokein,withahalf-suppressedreturnofhisformerviolence.
“Ionlymeant,”sheresumed,“thatIwouldrefusenoconcessionwhichIcouldhonourablymake.
IfIhaveascrupleaboutsigningmynametoanengagementofwhichIknownothing,whyshouldyouvisititonmesoseverely?
Itisratherhard,Ithink,totreatCountFosco’sscruplessomuchmoreindulgentlythanyouhavetreatedmine.”
Thisunfortunate,yetmostnatural,referencetotheCount’sextraordinarypoweroverherhusband,indirectasitwas,setSirPercival’ssmoulderingtemperonfireagaininaninstant.
“Scruples!”herepeated.“YOURscruples!
Itisratherlateinthedayforyoutobescrupulous.
Ishouldhavethoughtyouhadgotoverallweaknessofthatsort,whenyoumadeavirtueofnecessitybymarryingme.”
Theinstanthespokethosewords,Laurathrewdownthepen—lookedathimwithanexpressioninhereyeswhich,throughoutallmyexperienceofher,Ihadneverseeninthembefore,andturnedherbackonhimindeadsilence.
Thisstrongexpressionofthemostopenandthemostbittercontemptwassoentirelyunlikeherself,soutterlyoutofhercharacter,thatitsilencedusall.
Therewassomethinghidden,beyondadoubt,underthemeresurface-brutalityofthewordswhichherhusbandhadjustaddressedtoher.
Therewassomelurkinginsultbeneaththem,ofwhichIwaswhollyignorant,butwhichhadleftthemarkofitsprofanationsoplainlyonherfacethatevenastrangermighthaveseenit.
TheCount,whowasnostranger,sawitasdistinctlyasIdid.WhenIleftmychairtojoinLaura,IheardhimwhisperunderhisbreathtoSirPercival,“Youidiot!”
LaurawalkedbeforemetothedoorasIadvanced,andatthesametimeherhusbandspoketoheroncemore.
“Youpositivelyrefuse,then,togivemeyoursignature?”hesaid,inthealteredtoneofamanwhowasconsciousthathehadlethisownlicenceoflanguageseriouslyinjurehim.
“Afterwhatyouhavejustsaidtome,”sherepliedfirmly,“IrefusemysignatureuntilIhavereadeverylineinthatparchmentfromthefirstwordtothelast.
Comeaway,Marian,wehaveremainedherelongenough.”
“Onemoment!”interposedtheCountbeforeSirPercivalcouldspeakagain—“onemoment,LadyGlyde,Iimploreyou!”
Laurawouldhavelefttheroomwithoutnoticinghim,butIstoppedher.
“Don’tmakeanenemyoftheCount!”Iwhispered.“Whateveryoudo,don’tmakeanenemyoftheCount!”
Sheyieldedtome.Iclosedthedooragain,andwestoodnearitwaiting.
SirPercivalsatdownatthetable,withhiselbowonthefoldedparchment,andhisheadrestingonhisclenchedfist.
TheCountstoodbetweenus—masterofthedreadfulpositioninwhichwewereplaced,ashewasmasterofeverythingelse.
“LadyGlyde,”hesaid,withagentlenesswhichseemedtoaddressitselftoourforlornsituationinsteadoftoourselves,“praypardonmeifIventuretoofferonesuggestion,andpraybelievethatIspeakoutofmyprofoundrespectandmyfriendlyregardforthemistressofthishouse.”HeturnedsharplytowardsSirPercival.
“Isitabsolutelynecessary,”heasked“thatthisthinghere,underyourelbow,shouldbesignedto-day?”
“Itisnecessarytomyplansandwishes,”returnedtheothersulkily.“Butthatconsideration,asyoumayhavenoticed,hasnoinfluencewithLadyGlyde.”
“Answermyplainquestionplainly.Canthebusinessofthesignaturebeputofftillto-morrow—YesorNo?”
“Yes,ifyouwillhaveitso.”
“Thenwhatareyouwastingyourtimeforhere?Letthesignaturewaittillto-morrow—letitwaittillyoucomeback.”
SirPercivallookedupwithafrownandanoath.
“YouaretakingatonewithmethatIdon’tlike,”hesaid.“AtoneIwon’tbearfromanyman.”
“Iamadvisingyouforyourgood,”returnedtheCount,withasmileofquietcontempt.
“Giveyourselftime—giveLadyGlydetime.
Haveyouforgottenthatyourdog-cartiswaitingatthedoor?Mytonesurprisesyou—ha?
Idaresayitdoes—itisthetoneofamanwhocankeephistemper.
HowmanydosesofgoodadvicehaveIgivenyouinmytime?Morethanyoucancount.HaveIeverbeenwrong?
Idefyyoutoquotemeaninstanceofit.Go!takeyourdrive.
Thematterofthesignaturecanwaittillto-morrow.
Letitwait—andrenewitwhenyoucomeback.”
SirPercivalhesitatedandlookedathiswatch.
Hisanxietyaboutthesecretjourneywhichhewastotakethatday,revivedbytheCount’swords,wasnowevidentlydisputingpossessionofhismindwithhisanxietytoobtainLaura’ssignature.
Heconsideredforalittlewhile,andthengotupfromhischair.
“Itiseasytoarguemedown,”hesaid,“whenIhavenotimetoansweryou.
Iwilltakeyouradvice,Fosco—notbecauseIwantit,orbelieveinit,butbecauseIcan’tstophereanylonger.”
Hepaused,andlookedrounddarklyathiswife.
“Ifyoudon’tgivemeyoursignaturewhenIcomebackto-morrow!”
Therestwaslostinthenoiseofhisopeningthebook-casecupboardagain,andlockinguptheparchmentoncemore.
Hetookhishatandglovesoffthetable,andmadeforthedoor.LauraandIdrewbacktolethimpass.“Rememberto-morrow!”hesaidtohiswife,andwentout.
Wewaitedtogivehimtimetocrossthehallanddriveaway.TheCountapproacheduswhilewewerestandingnearthedoor.
“YouhavejustseenPercivalathisworst,MissHalcombe,”hesaid.
“Ashisoldfriend,Iamsorryforhimandashamedofhim.
Ashisoldfriend,Ipromiseyouthatheshallnotbreakoutto-morrowinthesamedisgracefulmannerinwhichhehasbrokenoutto-day.”
Laurahadtakenmyarmwhilehewasspeakingandshepresseditsignificantlywhenhehaddone.
Itwouldhavebeenahardtrialtoanywomantostandbyandseetheofficeofapologistforherhusband’smisconductquietlyassumedbyhismalefriendinherownhouse—anditwasatrialtoHER.
IthankedtheCountcivilly,andletherout.Yes!
Ithankedhim:forIfeltalready,withasenseofinexpressiblehelplessnessandhumiliation,thatitwaseitherhisinterestorhiscapricetomakesureofmycontinuingtoresideatBlackwaterPark,andIknewafterSirPercival’sconducttome,thatwithoutthesupportoftheCount’sinfluence,Icouldnothopetoremainthere.
Hisinfluence,theinfluenceofallothersthatIdreadedmost,wasactuallytheonetiewhichnowheldmetoLaurainthehourofherutmostneed!
Weheardthewheelsofthedog-cartcrashingonthegravelofthedriveaswecameintothehall.SirPercivalhadstartedonhisjourney.
“Whereishegoingto,Marian?”Laurawhispered.“Everyfreshthinghedoesseemstoterrifymeaboutthefuture.Haveyouanysuspicions?”
Afterwhatshehadundergonethatmorning,Iwasunwillingtotellhermysuspicions.
“HowshouldIknowhissecrets?”Isaidevasively.
“Iwonderifthehousekeeperknows?”shepersisted.
“Certainlynot,”Ireplied.“Shemustbequiteasignorantasweare.”
Laurashookherheaddoubtfully.
“DidyounothearfromthehousekeeperthattherewasareportofAnneCatherickhavingbeenseeninthisneighbourhood?Don’tyouthinkhemayhavegoneawaytolookforher?”
“Iwouldrathercomposemyself,Laura,bynotthinkingaboutitatall,andafterwhathashappened,youhadbetterfollowmyexample.Comeintomyroom,andrestandquietyourselfalittle.”
Wesatdowntogetherclosetothewindow,andletthefragrantsummerairbreatheoverourfaces.
“Iamashamedtolookatyou,Marian,”shesaid,“afterwhatyousubmittedtodownstairs,formysake.
Oh,myownlove,IamalmostheartbrokenwhenIthinkofit!
ButIwilltrytomakeituptoyou—Iwillindeed!”
“Hush!hush!”Ireplied;“don’ttalkso.Whatisthetriflingmortificationofmypridecomparedtothedreadfulsacrificeofyourhappiness?”
“Youheardwhathesaidtome?”shewentonquicklyandvehemently.
“Youheardthewords—butyoudon’tknowwhattheymeant—youdon’tknowwhyIthrewdownthepenandturnedmybackonhim.”
Sheroseinsuddenagitation,andwalkedabouttheroom.
“Ihavekeptmanythingsfromyourknowledge,Marian,forfearofdistressingyou,andmakingyouunhappyattheoutsetofournewlives.Youdon’tknowhowhehasusedme.
Andyetyououghttoknow,foryousawhowheusedmeto-day.
Youheardhimsneeratmypresumingtobescrupulous—youheardhimsayIhadmadeavirtueofnecessityinmarryinghim.”
Shesatdownagain,herfaceflusheddeeply,andherhandstwistedandtwinedtogetherinherlap.
“Ican’ttellyouaboutitnow,”shesaid;“IshallburstoutcryingifItellyounow—later,Marian,whenIammoresureofmyself.
Mypoorheadaches,darling—aches,aches,aches.Whereisyoursmelling-bottle?Letmetalktoyouaboutyourself.
IwishIhadgivenhimmysignature,foryoursake.ShallIgiveittohimto-morrow?
Iwouldrathercompromisemyselfthancompromiseyou.
Afteryourtakingmypartagainsthim,hewilllayalltheblameonyouifIrefuseagain.Whatshallwedo?
Oh,forafriendtohelpusandadviseus!—afriendwecouldreallytrust!”
Shesighedbitterly.IsawinherfacethatshewasthinkingofHartright—sawitthemoreplainlybecauseherlastwordssetmethinkingofhimtoo.
Insixmonthsonlyfromhermarriagewewantedthefaithfulservicehehadofferedtousinhisfarewellwords.
HowlittleIoncethoughtthatweshouldeverwantitatall!
“Wemustdowhatwecantohelpourselves,”Isaid.“Letustrytotalkitovercalmly,Laura—letusdoallinourpowertodecideforthebest.”
Puttingwhatsheknewofherhusband’sembarrassmentsandwhatIhadheardofhisconversationwiththelawyertogether,wearrivednecessarilyattheconclusionthattheparchmentinthelibraryhadbeendrawnupforthepurposeofborrowingmoney,andthatLaura’ssignaturewasabsolutelynecessarytofititfortheattainmentofSirPercival’sobject.
Thesecondquestion,concerningthenatureofthelegalcontractbywhichthemoneywastobeobtained,andthedegreeofpersonalresponsibilitytowhichLauramightsubjectherselfifshesigneditinthedark,involvedconsiderationswhichlayfarbeyondanyknowledgeandexperiencethateitherofuspossessed.
Myownconvictionsledmetobelievethatthehiddencontentsoftheparchmentconcealedatransactionofthemeanestandthemostfraudulentkind.
IhadnotformedthisconclusioninconsequenceofSirPercival’srefusaltoshowthewritingortoexplainit,forthatrefusalmightwellhaveproceededfromhisobstinatedispositionandhisdomineeringtemperalone.
MysolemotivefordistrustinghishonestysprangfromthechangewhichIhadobservedinhislanguageandhismannersatBlackwaterPark,achangewhichconvincedmethathehadbeenactingapartthroughoutthewholeperiodofhisprobationatLimmeridgeHouse.
Hiselaboratedelicacy,hisceremoniouspolitenesswhichharmonisedsoagreeablywithMr.Gilmore’sold-fashionednotions,hismodestywithLaura,hiscandourwithme,hismoderationwithMr.Fairlie—alltheseweretheartificesofamean,cunning,andbrutalman,whohaddroppedhisdisguisewhenhispractisedduplicityhadgaineditsend,andhadopenlyshownhimselfinthelibraryonthatveryday.
IsaynothingofthegriefwhichthisdiscoverycausedmeonLaura’saccount,foritisnottobeexpressedbyanywordsofmine.
Ionlyrefertoitatall,becauseitdecidedmetoopposehersigningtheparchment,whatevertheconsequencesmightbe,unlessshewasfirstmadeacquaintedwiththecontents.
Underthesecircumstances,theonechanceforuswhento-morrowcamewastobeprovidedwithanobjectiontogivingthesignature,whichmightrestonsufficientlyfirmcommercialorlegalgroundstoshakeSirPercival’sresolution,andtomakehimsuspectthatwetwowomenunderstoodthelawsandobligationsofbusinessaswellashimself.
Aftersomepondering,Ideterminedtowritetotheonlyhonestmanwithinreachwhomwecouldtrusttohelpusdiscreetlyinourforlornsituation.
ThatmanwasMr.Gilmore’spartner,Mr.Kyrle,whoconductedthebusinessnowthatouroldfriendhadbeenobligedtowithdrawfromit,andtoleaveLondononaccountofhishealth.
IexplainedtoLaurathatIhadMr.Gilmore’sownauthorityforplacingimplicitconfidenceinhispartner’sintegrity,discretion,andaccurateknowledgeofallheraffairs,andwithherfullapprovalIsatdownatoncetowritetheletter,IbeganbystatingourpositiontoMr.Kyrleexactlyasitwas,andthenaskedforhisadviceinreturn,expressedinplain,downrighttermswhichhecouldcomprehendwithoutanydangerofmisinterpretationsandmistakes.
MyletterwasasshortasIcouldpossiblymakeit,andwas,Ihope,unencumberedbyneedlessapologiesandneedlessdetails.
JustasIwasabouttoputtheaddressontheenvelopeanobstaclewasdiscoveredbyLaura,whichintheeffortandpreoccupationofwritinghadescapedmymindaltogether.
“Howarewetogettheanswerintime?”sheasked.“YourletterwillnotbedeliveredinLondonbeforeto-morrowmorning,andthepostwillnotbringthereplyheretillthemorningafter.”
Theonlywayofovercomingthisdifficultywastohavetheanswerbroughttousfromthelawyer’sofficebyaspecialmessenger.
Iwroteapostscripttothateffect,beggingthatthemessengermightbedespatchedwiththereplybytheeleveno’clockmorningtrain,whichwouldbringhimtoourstationattwentyminutespastone,andsoenablehimtoreachBlackwaterParkbytwoo’clockatthelatest.
Hewastobedirectedtoaskforme,toanswernoquestionsaddressedtohimbyanyoneelse,andtodeliverhisletterintonohandsbutmine.
“IncaseSirPercivalshouldcomebackto-morrowbeforetwoo’clock,”IsaidtoLaura,“thewisestplanforyoutoadoptistobeoutinthegroundsallthemorningwithyourbookoryourwork,andnottoappearatthehousetillthemessengerhashadtimetoarrivewiththeletter.
Iwillwaithereforhimallthemorning,toguardagainstanymisadventuresormistakes.
ByfollowingthisarrangementIhopeandbelieveweshallavoidbeingtakenbysurprise.Letusgodowntothedrawing-roomnow.
Wemayexcitesuspicionifweremainshutuptogethertoolong.”
“Suspicion?”sherepeated.“Whosesuspicioncanweexcite,nowthatSirPercivalhasleftthehouse?DoyoumeanCountFosco?”
“PerhapsIdo,Laura.”
“YouarebeginningtodislikehimasmuchasIdo,Marian.”
“No,nottodislikehim.Dislikeisalwaysmoreorlessassociatedwithcontempt—IcanseenothingintheCounttodespise.”
“Youarenotafraidofhim,areyou?”
“PerhapsIam—alittle.”
“Afraidofhim,afterhisinterferenceinourfavourto-day!”
“Yes.IammoreafraidofhisinterferencethanIamofSirPercival’sviolence.RememberwhatIsaidtoyouinthelibrary.Whateveryoudo,Laura,don’tmakeanenemyoftheCount!”
Wewentdownstairs.Lauraenteredthedrawing-room,whileIproceededacrossthehall,withmyletterinmyhand,toputitintothepost-bag,whichhungagainstthewalloppositetome.
Thehousedoorwasopen,andasIcrossedpastit,IsawCountFoscoandhiswifestandingtalkingtogetheronthestepsoutside,withtheirfacesturnedtowardsme.
TheCountesscameintothehallratherhastily,andaskedifIhadleisureenoughforfiveminutes’privateconversation.
Feelingalittlesurprisedbysuchanappealfromsuchaperson,Iputmyletterintothebag,andrepliedthatIwasquiteatherdisposal.
Shetookmyarmwithunaccustomedfriendlinessandfamiliarity,andinsteadofleadingmeintoanemptyroom,drewmeoutwithhertothebeltofturfwhichsurroundedthelargefish-pond.
AswepassedtheCountonthestepshebowedandsmiled,andthenwentatonceintothehouse,pushingthehalldoortoafterhim,butnotactuallyclosingit.
TheCountesswalkedmegentlyroundthefish-pond.
Iexpectedtobemadethedepositaryofsomeextraordinaryconfidence,andIwasastonishedtofindthatMadameFosco’scommunicationformyprivateearwasnothingmorethanapoliteassuranceofhersympathyforme,afterwhathadhappenedinthelibrary.
Herhusbandhadtoldherofallthathadpassed,andoftheinsolentmannerinwhichSirPercivalhadspokentome.
Thisinformationhadsoshockedanddistressedher,onmyaccountandonLaura’s,thatshehadmadeuphermind,ifanythingofthesorthappenedagain,tomarkhersenseofSirPercival’soutrageousconductbyleavingthehouse.
TheCounthadapprovedofheridea,andshenowhopedthatIapprovedofittoo.
IthoughtthisaverystrangeproceedingonthepartofsucharemarkablyreservedwomanasMadameFosco,especiallyaftertheinterchangeofsharpspeecheswhichhadpassedbetweenusduringtheconversationintheboat-houseonthatverymorning.
However,itwasmyplaindutytomeetapoliteandfriendlyadvanceonthepartofoneofmyelderswithapoliteandfriendlyreply.
IansweredtheCountessaccordinglyinherowntone,andthen,thinkingwehadsaidallthatwasnecessaryoneitherside,madeanattempttogetbacktothehouse.
ButMadameFoscoseemedresolvednottopartwithme,andtomyunspeakableamazement,resolvedalsototalk.
Hithertothemostsilentofwomen,shenowpersecutedmewithfluentconventionalitiesonthesubjectofmarriedlife,onthesubjectofSirPercivalandLaura,onthesubjectofherownhappiness,onthesubjectofthelateMr.Fairlie’sconducttoherinthematterofherlegacy,andonhalfadozenothersubjectsbesides,untilshehaddetainedmewalkingroundandroundthefish-pondformorethanhalfanhour,andhadquiteweariedmeout.
Whethershediscoveredthisornot,Icannotsay,butshestoppedasabruptlyasshehadbegun—lookedtowardsthehousedoor,resumedhericymannerinamoment,anddroppedmyarmofherownaccordbeforeIcouldthinkofanexcuseforaccomplishingmyownreleasefromher.
AsIpushedopenthedoorandenteredthehall,IfoundmyselfsuddenlyfacetofacewiththeCountagain.Hewasjustputtingaletterintothepost-bag.
Afterhehaddroppeditinandhadclosedthebag,heaskedmewhereIhadleftMadameFosco.
Itoldhim,andhewentoutatthehalldoorimmediatelytojoinhiswife.
HismannerwhenhespoketomewassounusuallyquietandsubduedthatIturnedandlookedafterhim,wonderingifhewereilloroutofspirits.
Whymynextproceedingwastogostraightuptothepost-bagandtakeoutmyownletterandlookatitagain,withavaguedistrustonme,andwhythelookingatitforthesecondtimeinstantlysuggestedtheideatomymindofsealingtheenvelopeforitsgreatersecurity—aremysterieswhichareeithertoodeeportooshallowformetofathom.
Women,aseverybodyknows,constantlyactonimpulseswhichtheycannotexplaineventothemselves,andIcanonlysupposethatoneofthoseimpulseswasthehiddencauseofmyunaccountableconductonthisoccasion.
Whateverinfluenceanimatedme,IfoundcausetocongratulatemyselfonhavingobeyeditassoonasIpreparedtosealtheletterinmyownroom.
Ihadoriginallyclosedtheenvelopeintheusualwaybymoisteningtheadhesivepointandpressingitonthepaperbeneath,andwhenInowtrieditwithmyfinger,afteralapseoffullthree-quartersofanhour,theenvelopeopenedontheinstant,withoutstickingortearing.
PerhapsIhadfasteneditinsufficiently?
Perhapstheremighthavebeensomedefectintheadhesivegum?
Or,perhaps——No!itisquiterevoltingenoughtofeelthatthirdconjecturestirringinmymind.Iwouldrathernotseeitconfrontingmeinplainblackandwhite.
Ialmostdreadto-morrow—somuchdependsonmydiscretionandself-control.
Therearetwoprecautions,atallevents,whichIamsurenottoforget.
ImustbecarefultokeepupfriendlyappearanceswiththeCount,andImustbewellonmyguardwhenthemessengerfromtheofficecomesherewiththeanswertomyletter.
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