English
MYfirstconvictionassoonasIfoundmyselfoutsidethehouse,wasthatnoalternativewasleftmebuttoactatonceontheinformationIhadreceived—tomakesureoftheCountthatnight,ortorisktheloss,ifIonlydelayedtillthemorning,ofLaura’slastchance.
Ilookedatmywatch—itwasteno’clock.
NottheshadowofadoubtcrossedmymindofthepurposeforwhichtheCounthadleftthetheatre.
Hisescapefromus,thatevening,wasbeyondallquestionthepreliminaryonlytohisescapefromLondon.
ThemarkoftheBrotherhoodwasonhisarm—Ifeltascertainofitasifhehadshownmethebrand;andthebetrayaloftheBrotherhoodwasonhisconscience—IhadseenitinhisrecognitionofPesca.
Itwaseasytounderstandwhythatrecognitionhadnotbeenmutual.
AmanoftheCount’scharacterwouldneverrisktheterribleconsequencesofturningspywithoutlookingtohispersonalsecurityquiteascarefullyashelookedtohisgoldenreward.
Theshavenface,whichIhadpointedoutattheOpera,mighthavebeencoveredbyabeardinPesca’stime—hisdarkbrownhairmightbeawig—hisnamewasevidentlyafalseone.
Theaccidentoftimemighthavehelpedhimaswell—hisimmensecorpulencemighthavecomewithhislateryears.
TherewaseveryreasonwhyPescashouldnothaveknownhimagain—everyreasonalsowhyheshouldhaveknownPesca,whosesingularpersonalappearancemadeamarkedmanofhim,gowherehemight.
IhavesaidthatIfeltcertainofthepurposeintheCount’smindwhenheescapedusatthetheatre.
HowcouldIdoubtit,whenIsaw,withmyowneyes,thathebelievedhimself,inspiteofthechangeinhisappearance,tohavebeenrecognisedbyPesca,andtobethereforeindangerofhislife?
IfIcouldgetspeechofhimthatnight,ifIcouldshowhimthatI,tooknewofthemortalperilinwhichhestood,whatresultwouldfollow?Plainlythis.
Oneofusmustbemasterofthesituation—oneofusmustinevitablybeatthemercyoftheother.
IowedittomyselftoconsiderthechancesagainstmebeforeIconfrontedthem.Iowedittomywifetodoallthatlayinmypowertolessentherisk.
Thechancesagainstmewantednoreckoningup—theywereallmergedinone.
IftheCountdiscovered,bymyownavowal,thatthedirectwaytohissafetylaythroughmylife,hewasprobablythelastmaninexistencewhowouldshrinkfromthrowingmeoffmyguardandtakingthatway,whenhehadmealonewithinhisreach.
TheonlymeansofdefenceagainsthimonwhichIcouldatallrelytolessentherisk,presentedthemselves,afteralittlecarefulthinking,clearlyenough.
BeforeImadeanypersonalacknowledgmentofmydiscoveryinhispresence,Imustplacethediscoveryitselfwhereitwouldbereadyforinstantuseagainsthim,andsafefromanyattemptatsuppressiononhispart.
IfIlaidthemineunderhisfeetbeforeIapproachedhim,andifIleftinstructionswithathirdpersontofireitontheexpirationofacertaintime,unlessdirectionstothecontrarywerepreviouslyreceivedundermyownhand,orfrommyownlips—inthateventtheCount’ssecuritywasabsolutelydependentuponmine,andImightholdthevantagegroundoverhimsecurely,eveninhisownhouse.
ThisideaoccurredtomewhenIwasclosetothenewlodgingswhichwehadtakenonreturningfromthesea-side.
Iwentinwithoutdisturbinganyone,bythehelpofmykey.
Alightwasinthehall,andIstoleupwithittomyworkroomtomakemypreparations,andabsolutelytocommitmyselftoaninterviewwiththeCount,beforeeitherLauraorMariancouldhavetheslightestsuspicionofwhatIintendedtodo.
AletteraddressedtoPescarepresentedthesurestmeasureofprecautionwhichitwasnowpossibleformetotake.Iwroteasfollows—
“ThemanwhomIpointedouttoyouattheOperaisamemberoftheBrotherhood,andhasbeenfalsetohistrust.
Putboththeseassertionstothetestinstantly.
YouknowthenamehegoesbyinEngland.
HisaddressisNo.5ForestRoad,St.John’sWood.
Ontheloveyouonceboreme,usethepowerentrustedtoyouwithoutmercyandwithoutdelayagainstthatman.
Ihaveriskedallandlostall—andtheforfeitofmyfailurehasbeenpaidwithmylife.”
Isignedanddatedtheselines,enclosedtheminanenvelope,andsealeditup.
OntheoutsideIwrotethisdirection:“Keeptheenclosureunopeneduntilnineo’clockto-morrowmorning.
Ifyoudonothearfromme,orseeme,beforethattime,breakthesealwhentheclockstrikes,andreadthecontents.”
Iaddedmyinitials,andprotectedthewholebyenclosingitinasecondsealedenvelope,addressedtoPescaathislodgings.
Nothingremainedtobedoneafterthisbuttofindthemeansofsendingmylettertoitsdestinationimmediately.
Ishouldthenhaveaccomplishedallthatlayinmypower.
IfanythinghappenedtomeintheCount’shouse,Ihadnowprovidedforhisansweringitwithhislife.
Thatthemeansofpreventinghisescape,underanycircumstanceswhatever,wereatPesca’sdisposal,ifhechosetoexertthem,Ididnotforaninstantdoubt.
TheextraordinaryanxietywhichhehadexpressedtoremainunenlightenedastotheCount’sidentity—or,inotherwords,tobeleftuncertainenoughaboutfactstojustifyhimtohisownconscienceinremainingpassive—betrayedplainlythatthemeansofexercisingtheterriblejusticeoftheBrotherhoodwerereadytohishand,although,asanaturallyhumaneman,hehadshrunkfromplainlysayingasmuchinmypresence.
Thedeadlycertaintywithwhichthevengeanceofforeignpoliticalsocietiescanhuntdownatraitortothecause,hidehimselfwherehemay,hadbeentoooftenexemplified,eveninmysuperficialexperience,toallowofanydoubt.
Consideringthesubjectonlyasareaderofnewspapers,casesrecurredtomymemory,bothinLondonandinParis,offoreignersfoundstabbedinthestreets,whoseassassinscouldneverbetraced—ofbodiesandpartsofbodiesthrownintotheThamesandtheSeine,byhandsthatcouldneverbediscovered—ofdeathsbysecretviolencewhichcouldonlybeaccountedforinoneway.
Ihavedisguisednothingrelatingtomyselfinthesepages,andIdonotdisguiseherethatIbelievedIhadwrittenCountFosco’sdeath-warrant,ifthefatalemergencyhappenedwhichauthorisedPescatoopenmyenclosure.
Ileftmyroomtogodowntothegroundfloorofthehouse,andspeaktothelandlordaboutfindingmeamessenger.
Hehappenedtobeascendingthestairsatthetime,andwemetonthelanding.
Hisson,aquicklad,wasthemessengerheproposedtomeonhearingwhatIwanted.
Wehadtheboyupstairs,andIgavehimhisdirections.
Hewastotaketheletterinacab,toputitintoProfessorPesca’sownhands,andtobringmebackalineofacknowledgmentfromthatgentleman—returninginthecab,andkeepingitatthedoorformyuse.Itwasthennearlyhalf-pastten.
Icalculatedthattheboymightbebackintwentyminutes,andthatImightdrivetoSt.John’sWood,onhisreturn,intwentyminutesmore.
WhentheladhaddepartedonhiserrandIreturnedtomyownroomforalittlewhile,toputcertainpapersinorder,sothattheymightbeeasilyfoundincaseoftheworst.
Thekeyoftheold-fashionedbureauinwhichthepaperswerekeptIsealedup,andleftitonmytable,withMarian’snamewrittenontheoutsideofthelittlepacket.
Thisdone,Iwentdown-stairstothesitting-room,inwhichIexpectedtofindLauraandMarianawaitingmyreturnfromtheOpera.
IfeltmyhandtremblingforthefirsttimewhenIlaiditonthelockofthedoor.
NoonewasintheroombutMarian.Shewasreading,andshelookedatherwatch,insurprise,whenIcamein.
“Howearlyyouareback!”shesaid.“YoumusthavecomeawaybeforetheOperawasover.”
“Yes,”Ireplied,“neitherPescanorIwaitedfortheend.WhereisLaura?”
“Shehadoneofherbadheadachesthisevening,andIadvisedhertogotobedwhenwehaddonetea.”
IlefttheroomagainonthepretextofwishingtoseewhetherLaurawasasleep.
Marian’squickeyeswerebeginningtolookinquiringlyatmyface—Marian’squickinstinctwasbeginningtodiscoverthatIhadsomethingweighingonmymind.
WhenIenteredthebedchamber,andsoftlyapproachedthebedsidebythedimflickerofthenight-lamp,mywifewasasleep.
Wehadnotbeenmarriedquiteamonthyet.
Ifmyheartwasheavy,ifmyresolutionforamomentfalteredagain,whenIlookedatherfaceturnedfaithfullytomypillowinhersleep—whenIsawherhandrestingopenonthecoverlid,asifitwaswaitingunconsciouslyformine—surelytherewassomeexcuseforme?
Ionlyallowedmyselfafewminutestokneeldownatthebedside,andtolookcloseather—soclosethatherbreath,asitcameandwent,flutteredonmyface.
Ionlytouchedherhandandhercheekwithmylipsatparting.
Shestirredinhersleepandmurmuredmyname,butwithoutwaking.
Ilingeredforaninstantatthedoortolookatheragain.“Godblessandkeepyou,mydarling!”Iwhispered,andlefther.
Marianwasatthestairheadwaitingforme.Shehadafoldedslipofpaperinherhand.
“Thelandlord’ssonhasbroughtthisforyou,”shesaid.“Hehasgotacabatthedoor—hesaysyouorderedhimtokeepitatyourdisposal.”
“Quiteright,Marian.Iwantthecab—Iamgoingoutagain.”
IdescendedthestairsasIspoke,andlookedintothesitting-roomtoreadtheslipofpaperbythelightonthetable.ItcontainedthesetwosentencesinPesca’shandwriting—
“Yourletterisreceived.IfIdon’tseeyoubeforethetimeyoumention,Iwillbreakthesealwhentheclockstrikes.”
Iplacedthepaperinmypocket-book,andmadeforthedoor.
Marianmetmeonthethreshold,andpushedmebackintotheroom,wherethecandle-lightfellfullonmyface.
Sheheldmebybothhands,andhereyesfastenedsearchinglyonmine.
“Isee!”shesaid,inaloweagerwhisper.“Youaretryingthelastchanceto-night.”
“Yes,thelastchanceandthebest,”Iwhisperedback.
“Notalone!Oh,Walter,forGod’ssake,notalone!Letmegowithyou.Don’trefusemebecauseI’monlyawoman.Imustgo!Iwillgo!I’llwaitoutsideinthecab!”
ItwasmyturnnowtoholdHER.Shetriedtobreakawayfrommeandgetdownfirsttothedoor.
“Ifyouwanttohelpme,”Isaid,“stophereandsleepinmywife’sroomto-night.
OnlyletmegoawaywithmymindeasyaboutLaura,andIanswerforeverythingelse.
Come,Marian,givemeakiss,andshowthatyouhavethecouragetowaittillIcomeback.”
Idarednotallowhertimetosayawordmore.Shetriedtoholdmeagain.
Iunclaspedherhands,andwasoutoftheroominamoment.
Theboybelowheardmeonthestairs,andopenedthehall-door.
Ijumpedintothecabbeforethedrivercouldgetoffthebox.
“ForestRoad,St.John’sWood,”Icalledtohimthroughthefrontwindow.
“Doublefareifyougetthereinaquarterofanhour.”“I’lldoit,sir.”Ilookedatmywatch.Eleveno’clock.Notaminutetolose.
Therapidmotionofthecab,thesensethateveryinstantnowwasbringingmenearertotheCount,theconvictionthatIwasembarkedatlast,withoutletorhindrance,onmyhazardousenterprise,heatedmeintosuchafeverofexcitementthatIshoutedtothemantogofasterandfaster.
Asweleftthestreets,andcrossedSt.John’sWoodRoad,myimpatiencesocompletelyoverpoweredmethatIstoodupinthecabandstretchedmyheadoutofthewindow,toseetheendofthejourneybeforewereachedit.
Justasachurchclockinthedistancestruckthequarterpast,weturnedintotheForestRoad.
IstoppedthedriveralittleawayfromtheCount’shouse,paidanddismissedhim,andwalkedontothedoor.
AsIapproachedthegardengate,Isawanotherpersonadvancingtowardsitalsofromthedirectionoppositetomine.
Wemetunderthegaslampintheroad,andlookedateachother.
Iinstantlyrecognisedthelight-hairedforeignerwiththescaronhischeek,andIthoughtherecognisedme.
Hesaidnothing,andinsteadofstoppingatthehouse,asIdid,heslowlywalkedon.WasheintheForestRoadbyaccident?
OrhadhefollowedtheCounthomefromtheOpera?
Ididnotpursuethosequestions.Afterwaitingalittletilltheforeignerhadslowlypassedoutofsight,Irangthegatebell.
Itwasthentwentyminutespasteleven—lateenoughtomakeitquiteeasyfortheCounttogetridofmebytheexcusethathewasinbed.
Theonlywayofprovidingagainstthiscontingencywastosendinmynamewithoutaskinganypreliminaryquestions,andtolethimknow,atthesametime,thatIhadaseriousmotiveforwishingtoseehimatthatlatehour.
Accordingly,whileIwaswaiting,Itookoutmycardandwroteundermyname“Onimportantbusiness.”
Themaid-servantansweredthedoorwhileIwaswritingthelastwordinpencil,andaskedmedistrustfullywhatI“pleasedtowant.”
“Besogoodastotakethattoyourmaster,”Ireplied,givingherthecard.
Isaw,bythegirl’shesitationofmanner,thatifIhadaskedfortheCountinthefirstinstanceshewouldonlyhavefollowedherinstructionsbytellingmehewasnotathome.
ShewasstaggeredbytheconfidencewithwhichIgaveherthecard.
Afterstaringatme,ingreatperturbation,shewentbackintothehousewithmymessage,closingthedoor,andleavingmetowaitinthegarden.
Inaminuteorsoshereappeared.“Hermaster’scompliments,andwouldIbesoobligingastosaywhatmybusinesswas?”
“Takemycomplimentsback,”Ireplied,“andsaythatthebusinesscannotbementionedtoanyonebutyourmaster.”
Sheleftmeagain,againreturned,andthistimeaskedmetowalkin.
Ifollowedheratonce.InanothermomentIwasinsidetheCount’shouse.
Share this article to
FINISH