Butonceortwicetheyquickenedtheirpace,asifwiththepurposeofovertakingme,thenstopped,consultedtogether,andfellbackagaintotheirformerposition.
Theyhadsomespecialobjectevidentlyinview,andtheyseemedtobehesitatingordifferingaboutthebestmeansofaccomplishingit.
Icouldnotguessexactlywhattheirdesignmightbe,butIfeltseriousdoubtsofreachingKnowlesburywithoutsomemischancehappeningtomeontheway.Thesedoubtswererealised.
Ihadjustenteredonalonelypartoftheroad,withasharpturnatsomedistanceahead,andhadjustconcluded(calculatingbytime)thatImustbegettingneartothetown,whenIsuddenlyheardthestepsofthemenclosebehindme.
BeforeIcouldlookround,oneofthem(themanbywhomIhadbeenfollowedinLondon)passedrapidlyonmyleftsideandhustledmewithhisshoulder.
IhadbeenmoreirritatedbythemannerinwhichheandhiscompanionhaddoggedmystepsallthewayfromOldWelminghamthanIwasmyselfawareof,andIunfortunatelypushedthefellowawaysmartlywithmyopenhand.Heinstantlyshoutedforhelp.
Hiscompanion,thetallmaninthegamekeeper’sclothes,sprangtomyrightside,andthenextmomentthetwoscoundrelsheldmepinionedbetweentheminthemiddleoftheroad.
Theconvictionthatatraphadbeenlaidforme,andthevexationofknowingthatIhadfallenintoit,fortunatelyrestrainedmefrommakingmypositionstillworsebyanunavailingstrugglewithtwomen,oneofwhomwould,inallprobability,havebeenmorethanamatchformesingle-handed.
IrepressedthefirstnaturalmovementbywhichIhadattemptedtoshakethemoff,andlookedabouttoseeiftherewasanypersonneartowhomIcouldappeal.
Heshookhisheadwithstolidobstinacy,andwalkedawayinthedirectionofacottagewhichstoodbackfromthehigh-road.
Buttheshortermanwassharpenoughtolooktoconsequences,andnottolethiscompanioncommithimselfbyunnecessaryviolence.
Herepliedthatthemagistratewasthensittingatthetown-hall,andrecommendedthatweshouldappearbeforehimimmediately.
Wewentontothetown-hall.Theclerkmadeoutaformalsummons,andthechargewaspreferredagainstme,withthecustomaryexaggerationandthecustomaryperversionofthetruthonsuchoccasions.
Themagistrate(anill-temperedman,withasourenjoymentintheexerciseofhisownpower)inquiredifanyoneonorneartheroadhadwitnessedtheassault,and,greatlytomysurprise,thecomplainantadmittedthepresenceofthelabourerinthefield.
Heremandedmeatoncefortheproductionofthewitness,expressing,atthesametime,hiswillingnesstotakebailformyreappearanceifIcouldproduceoneresponsiblesuretytoofferit.
IfIhadbeenknowninthetownhewouldhaveliberatedmeonmyownrecognisances,butasIwasatotalstrangeritwasnecessarythatIshouldfindresponsiblebail.
IthadbeensomanagedastomakearemandnecessaryinatownwhereIwasaperfectstranger,andwhereIcouldnothopetogetmylibertyonbail.
Butinthattime,whileIwasinconfinement,SirPercivalmightuseanymeanshepleasedtoembarrassmyfutureproceedings—perhapstoscreenhimselffromdetectionaltogether—withouttheslightestfearofanyhindranceonmypart.
Attheendofthethreedaysthechargewould,nodoubt,bewithdrawn,andtheattendanceofthewitnesswouldbeperfectlyuseless.
Myindignation,Imayalmostsay,mydespair,atthismischievouschecktoallfurtherprogress—sobaseandtriflinginitself,andyetsodishearteningandsoseriousinitsprobableresults—quiteunfittedmeatfirsttoreflectonthebestmeansofextricatingmyselffromthedilemmainwhichInowstood.
Ihadthefollytocallforwritingmaterials,andtothinkofprivatelycommunicatingmyrealpositiontothemagistrate.
ThehopelessnessandtheimprudenceofthisproceedingfailedtostrikemebeforeIhadactuallywrittentheopeninglinesoftheletter.
ItwasnottillIhadpushedthepaperaway—nottill,Iamashamedtosay,Ihadalmostallowedthevexationofmyhelplesspositiontoconquerme—thatacourseofactionsuddenlyoccurredtomymind,whichSirPercivalhadprobablynotanticipated,andwhichmightsetmefreeagaininafewhours.
Ihadvisitedthisgentleman’shouse,itmayberemembered,atthetimeofmyfirstinquiriesintheBlackwaterParkneighbourhood,andIhadpresentedtohimaletterofintroductionfromMissHalcombe,inwhichsherecommendedmetohisfriendlyattentioninthestrongestterms.
Inowwrote,referringtothisletter,andtowhatIhadpreviouslytoldMr.Dawsonofthedelicateanddangerousnatureofmyinquiries.
IhadnotrevealedtohimthetruthaboutLaura,havingmerelydescribedmyerrandasbeingoftheutmostimportancetoprivatefamilyinterestswithwhichMissHalcombewasconcerned.
Usingthesamecautionstill,InowaccountedformypresenceatKnowlesburyinthesamemanner,andIputittothedoctortosaywhetherthetrustreposedinmebyaladywhomhewellknew,andthehospitalityIhadmyselfreceivedinhishouse,justifiedmeornotinaskinghimtocometomyassistanceinaplacewhereIwasquitefriendless.
Iobtainedpermissiontohireamessengertodriveawayatoncewithmyletterinaconveyancewhichmightbeusedtobringthedoctorbackimmediately.
Idirectedhimtofollowthedoctorwhereverhemighthappentobe,ifhewasnotathome,andthensatdowntowaitfortheresultwithallthepatienceandallthehopethatIcouldsummontohelpme.
Mr.Dawson’skindness,andthedelicacywithwhichhetreatedhispromptassistancequiteasamatterofcourse,almostoverpoweredme.
Beforefouro’clock,onthatafternoon,Iwasshakinghandswarmlywiththegoodolddoctor—afreemanagain—inthestreetsofKnowlesbury.
Icouldonlyreplythatmytimewasnotmyown,andIcouldonlyaskhimtoletmepaymyvisitinafewdays,whenImightrepeatmythanks,andoffertohimalltheexplanationswhichIfelttobeonlyhisdue,butwhichIwasnottheninapositiontomake.
Wepartedwithfriendlyassurancesonbothsides,andIturnedmystepsatoncetoMr.Wansborough’sofficeintheHighStreet.
Ifthenextfewhoursdidnotputmeinapositiontojustifyhisworstfears,andtoholdhimhelplessatmymercy,ImightloseeveryinchofthegroundIhadgained,nevertorecoveritagain.
Theunscrupulousnatureoftheman,thelocalinfluencehepossessed,thedesperateperilofexposurewithwhichmyblindfoldinquiriesthreatenedhim—allwarnedmetopressontopositivediscovery,withouttheuselesswasteofasingleminute.
Certainportionsoftheconversationofthetalkativeoldclerk,whichhadweariedmeatthetime,nowrecurredtomymemorywithanewsignificance,andasuspicioncrossedmyminddarklywhichhadnotoccurredtomewhileIwasinthevestry.
OnmywaytoKnowlesbury,IhadonlyproposedtoapplytoMr.WansboroughforinformationonthesubjectofSirPercival’smother.
Hewasajovial,red-faced,easy-lookingman—morelikeacountrysquirethanalawyer—andheseemedtobebothsurprisedandamusedbymyapplication.
Ithadneverbeeninquiredafter,anditwasnodoubtinthestrongroomamongotherpapersthathadnotbeendisturbedsincehisfather’sdeath.
Hewouldhaveriddenhisfavouritehobbyharderthanevernow.HowhadIcometohearofthecopy?wasitthroughanybodyinthetown?
Itwasimpossibleatthisstageoftheinvestigationtobetoocautious,anditwasjustaswellnottoletMr.WansboroughknowprematurelythatIhadalreadyexaminedtheoriginalregister.
Idescribedmyself,therefore,aspursuingafamilyinquiry,totheobjectofwhicheverypossiblesavingoftimewasofgreatimportance.
IwasanxioustosendcertainparticularstoLondonbythatday’spost,andonelookattheduplicateregister(paying,ofcourse,thenecessaryfees)mightsupplywhatIrequired,andsavemeafurtherjourneytoOldWelmingham.
Iaddedthat,intheeventofmysubsequentlyrequiringacopyoftheoriginalregister,IshouldmakeapplicationtoMr.Wansborough’sofficetofurnishmewiththedocument.
Itwasofexactlythesamesizeasthevolumeinthevestry,theonlydifferencebeingthatthecopywasmoresmartlybound.
Myhandsweretrembling—myheadwasburninghot—IfeltthenecessityofconcealingmyagitationaswellasIcouldfromthepersonsaboutmeintheroom,beforeIventuredonopeningthebook.
Ontheblankpageatthebeginning,towhichIfirstturned,weretracedsomelinesinfadedink.Theycontainedthesewords—
Belowthisnotetherewasalineadded,inanotherhandwriting,asfollows:“ExtendingfromthefirstofJanuary,1800,tothethirtiethofJune,1815.”
Nothing!NotavestigeoftheentrywhichrecordedthemarriageofSirFelixGlydeandCeciliaJaneElsterintheregisterofthechurch!
Belowittherewasablankspace—aspaceevidentlyleftbecauseitwastoonarrowtocontaintheentryofthemarriagesofthetwobrothers,whichinthecopy,asintheoriginal,occupiedthetopofthenextpage.Thatspacetoldthewholestory!
Thereitmusthaveremainedinthechurchregisterfromeighteenhundredandthree(whenthemarriageshadbeensolemnisedandthecopyhadbeenmade)toeighteenhundredandtwenty-seven,whenSirPercivalappearedatOldWelmingham.
Here,atKnowlesbury,wasthechanceofcommittingtheforgeryshowntomeinthecopy,andthere,atOldWelmingham)wastheforgerycommittedintheregisterofthechurch.
Myheadturnedgiddy—Iheldbythedesktokeepmyselffromfalling.Ofallthesuspicionswhichhadstruckmeinrelationtothatdesperateman,notonehadbeennearthetruth.
TheideathathewasnotSirPercivalGlydeatall,thathehadnomoreclaimtothebaronetcyandtoBlackwaterParkthanthepoorestlabourerwhoworkedontheestate,hadneveronceoccurredtomymind.
AtonetimeIhadthoughthemightbeAnneCatherick’sfather—atanothertimeIhadthoughthemighthavebeenAnneCatherick’shusband—theoffenceofwhichhewasreallyguiltyhadbeen,fromfirsttolast,beyondthewidestreachofmyimagination.
Thepaltrymeansbywhichthefraudhadbeeneffected,themagnitudeanddaringofthecrimethatitrepresented,thehorroroftheconsequencesinvolvedinitsdiscovery,overwhelmedme.
Whocouldwondernowatthebrute-restlessnessofthewretch’slife—athisdesperatealternationsbetweenabjectduplicityandrecklessviolence—atthemadnessofguiltydistrustwhichhadmadehimimprisonAnneCatherickintheAsylum,andhadgivenhimovertothevileconspiracyagainsthiswife,onthebaresuspicionthattheoneandtheotherknewhisterriblesecret?
Thedisclosureofthatsecret,evenifthesufferersbyhisdeceptionsparedhimthepenaltiesofthelaw,woulddeprivehimatoneblowofthename,therank,theestate,thewholesocialexistencethathehadusurped.ThiswastheSecret,anditwasmine!
Awordfromme,andhouse,lands,baronetcy,weregonefromhimforever—awordfromme,andhewasdrivenoutintotheworld,anameless,penniless,friendlessoutcast!
Thatlastthoughtsteadiedme.Interestsfarmorepreciousthanmyowndependedonthecautionwhichmustnowguidemyslightestactions.
Inthedangeranddesperationofhispositionhewouldbestaggeredbynorisks,hewouldrecoilatnocrime—hewouldliterallyhesitateatnothingtosavehimself.
Iconsideredforaminute.MyfirstnecessitywastosecurepositiveevidenceinwritingofthediscoverythatIhadjustmade,andintheeventofanypersonalmisadventurehappeningtome,toplacethatevidencebeyondSirPercival’sreach.
InthisemergencyIresolvedtoreturntothechurch,toapplyagaintotheclerk,andtotakethenecessaryextractfromtheregisterbeforeIsleptthatnight.
Iwasnotthenawarethatalegally-certifiedcopywasnecessary,andthatnodocumentmerelydrawnoutbymyselfcouldclaimtheproperimportanceasaproof.
Iwasnotawareofthis,andmydeterminationtokeepmypresentproceedingsasecretpreventedmefromaskinganyquestionswhichmighthaveprocuredthenecessaryinformation.
ImadethebestexcusesIcouldforthediscomposureinmyfaceandmannerwhichMr.Wansboroughhadalreadynoticed,laidthenecessaryfeeonhistable,arrangedthatIshouldwritetohiminadayortwo,andlefttheoffice,withmyheadinawhirlandmybloodthrobbingthroughmyveinsatfeverheat.
Inmyschool-daysIhadbeenanotedrunner,andIhadnotwantedforpracticesinceinthelatertimeofmyexperienceinCentralAmerica.
Asmallmistyrainwasfalling,anditwasimpossibleforthefirsthalfofthewaytomakesurewhetherIwasfollowedornot.
Butatthelasthalfofmyjourney,whenIsupposedmyselftobeabouttwomilesfromthechurch,Isawamanrunbymeintherain,andthenheardthegateofafieldbytheroadsideshuttosharply.
Ikeptstraighton,withmycudgelreadyinmyhand,myearsonthealert,andmyeyesstrainingtoseethroughthemistandthedarkness.
BeforeIhadadvancedahundredyardstherewasarustlinginthehedgeonmyright,andthreemensprangoutintotheroad.
Thetwounhurtmenpursuedme.Theywerebothgoodrunners—theroadwassmoothandlevel,andforthefirstfiveminutesormoreIwasconsciousthatIdidnotgainonthem.
Icouldbarelyseethedimblacklineofthehedgesoneitherside,andanychanceobstacleintheroadwouldhavethrownmedowntoacertainty.
Therapid,regularthumpoftheirfeetgrewfainteronmyear,andIcalculatedbythesoundthatIwasfarenoughinadvancetotaketothefieldswithagoodchanceoftheirpassingmeinthedarkness.
Divergingtothefootpath,ImadeforthefirstbreakthatIcouldguessat,ratherthansee,inthehedge.Itprovedtobeaclosedgate.
Ikeptstraightacrossthefield,andwhenIhadreachedthefartherextremityofit,waitedthereforaminutetorecovermybreath.
IonlyknewthatIhadkeptthewindandrainatmybackonleavingKnowlesbury,andifInowkeptthematmybackstill,Imightatleastbecertainofnotadvancingaltogetherinthewrongdirection.
Proceedingonthisplan,Icrossedthecountry—meetingwithnoworseobstaclesthanhedges,ditches,andthickets,whicheverynowandthenobligedmetoaltermycourseforalittlewhile—untilIfoundmyselfonahillside,withthegroundslopingawaysteeplybeforeme.
Havingturnedtotherightonleavingtheroad,Inowturnedtotheleft,onthechanceofregainingthelinefromwhichIhadwandered.
IwasbackatOldWelmingham,andthemanwiththelanternwasnootherthanmyacquaintanceofthemorning,theparishclerk.
Helookedsuspiciousandconfused—hisruddycheeksweredeeplyflushed—andhisfirstwords,whenhespoke,werequiteunintelligibletome.
“Thekeysofthevestry.Lordsaveusandhelpus!whatshallIdo?Thekeysaregone!Doyouhear?”criedtheoldman,shakingthelanternatmeinhisagitation,“thekeysaregone!”
ItoldyouIhadalongday’sworkthismorning—Ilockedthedoorandshutthewindowdown—it’sopennow,thewindow’sopen.Look!
Heturnedtothecasementwindowtoshowmethatitwaswideopen.Thedoorofthelanterncameloosefromitsfasteningasheswayeditround,andthewindblewthecandleoutinstantly.
Ihurriedhimintothehouse.ThetreacherythatIhadeveryreasontoexpect,thetreacherythatmightdeprivemeofeveryadvantageIhadgained,wasatthatmoment,perhaps,inprocessofaccomplishment.
MyimpatiencetoreachthechurchwassogreatthatIcouldnotremaininactiveinthecottagewhiletheclerklitthelanternagain.
BeforeIhadadvancedtenpacesamanapproachedmefromthedirectionleadingtothechurch.Hespokerespectfullyaswemet.
Withthatanswerheretracedhissteps.Ilookedbackatthecottageandsawtheclerkcomingout,withthelanternlightedoncemore.
Aswemountedtherisinggroundwhichledtothebuildingfromthatpoint,oneofthevillagechildren—aboy—camecloseuptous,attractedbythelightwecarried,andrecognisedtheclerk.
“Isay,measter,”saidtheboy,pullingofficiouslyattheclerk’scoat,“therebesummunupyanderinthechurch.Iheerdunlockthedooronhisself—Iheerdunstrikealoightwi’amatch.”
“Come!come!”Isaidencouragingly.“Wearenottoolate.Wewillcatchtheman,whoeverheis.Keepthelantern,andfollowmeasfastasyoucan.”
Imountedthehillrapidly.Thedarkmassofthechurch-towerwasthefirstobjectIdiscerneddimlyagainstthenightsky.
TheinstantIturnedthecornerandcameinviewofthevestry,Isawthelantern-skylightontheroofbrilliantlylitupfromwithin.
Iheardasnappingnoiseinside—Isawthelightabovegrowbrighterandbrighter—apaneoftheglasscracked—Irantothedoorandputmyhandonit.Thevestrywasonfire!
BeforeIcouldmove,beforeIcoulddrawmybreathafterthatdiscovery,Iwashorror-struckbyaheavythumpagainstthedoorfromtheinside.
Iheardthekeyworkedviolentlyinthelock—Iheardaman’svoicebehindthedoor,raisedtoadreadfulshrillness,screamingforhelp.
Theservantwhohadfollowedmestaggeredbackshuddering,anddroppedtohisknees.“Oh,myGod!”hesaid,“it’sSirPercival!”
Asthewordspassedhislipstheclerkjoinedus,andatthesamemomenttherewasanotherandalastgratingturnofthekeyinthelock.
Irushedtothedoor.Theoneabsorbingpurposethathadfilledallmythoughts,thathadcontrolledallmyactions,forweeksandweekspast,vanishedinaninstantfrommymind.
Allremembranceoftheheartlessinjurytheman’scrimeshadinflicted—ofthelove,theinnocence,thehappinesshehadpitilesslylaidwaste—oftheoathIhadsworninmyownhearttosummonhimtotheterriblereckoningthathedeserved—passedfrommymemorylikeadream.
“Trytheotherdoor!”Ishouted.“Trythedoorintothechurch!Thelock’shampered.You’readeadmanifyouwasteanothermomentonit.”
Ilookedroundatmytwocompanions.Theservanthadrisentohisfeet—hehadtakenthelantern,andwasholdingitupvacantlyatthedoor.
Terrorseemedtohavestruckhimwithdownrightidiocy—hewaitedatmyheels,hefollowedmeaboutwhenImovedlikeadog.
HardlyknowingwhatIdid,actingdesperatelyonthefirstimpulsethatoccurredtome,Iseizedtheservantandpushedhimagainstthevestrywall.“Stoop!”Isaid,“andholdbythestones.
Inthefrantichurryandagitationofthemoment,itneverstruckmethatImightletouttheflameinsteadoflettingintheair.
Ifthewindhadnotchanced,inthepositionIoccupied,tosetitawayfromme,myexertionsmighthaveendedthenandthere.
Thegleamsandflashesofthelightshowedmetheservant’sfacestaringupvacantlyunderthewall—theclerkrisentohisfeetonthetombstone,wringinghishandsindespair—andthescantypopulationofthevillage,haggardmenandterrifiedwomen,clusteredbeyondinthechurchyard—allappearinganddisappearing,intheredofthedreadfulglare,intheblackofthechokingsmoke.Andthemanbeneathmyfeet!
“Thekeyofthechurch!”Ishoutedtotheclerk.“Wemusttryitthatway—wemaysavehimyetifwecanburstopentheinnerdoor.”
“No,no,no!”criedtheoldman.“Nohope!thechurchkeyandthevestrykeyareonthesamering—bothinsidethere!Oh,sir,he’spastsaving—he’sdustandashesbythistime!”
“They’llseethefirefromthetown,”saidavoicefromamongthemenbehindme.“There’saingineinthetown.They’llsavethechurch.”
IndefianceofmyownreasonIpersuadedmyselfthatthedoomedandlostwretchinthevestrymightstillbelyingsenselessonthefloor,mightnotbedeadyet.
Iknewthestrengthoftheheavylock—Iknewthethicknessofthenailedoak—Iknewthehopelessnessofassailingtheoneandtheotherbyordinarymeans.
Iappealedtothemanwhohadspokenfirstofthefire-engineinthetown.“Haveyougotyourpick-axeshandy?”Yes,theyhad.
Notamanwasleftbehindbuttheclerk—thepooroldclerkstandingontheflattombstonesobbingandwailingoverthechurch.
Theservantwasstillatmyheels—hiswhite,helpless,panic-strickenfacewascloseovermyshoulderaswepushedintothecottage.
Abeamranacrossoverourheads,butnotoutofreachofourarmsandourpickaxes—abeamfastateachendintheruinedwall,withceilingandflooringallrippedaway,andagreatgapintheroofabove,opentothesky.
Therewasascreamfromthewomenallhuddledinthedoorwaytolookatus—ashoutfromthemen—twoofthemdownbutnothurt.
Wehaveshakenitalready,thehingesmustgiveifthelockwon’t.Anotherrunwiththebeam!One,two,three—andoff.It’sloose!
Thescorchingheatonourfacesdrivesusback:weseenothing—above,below,allthroughtheroom,weseenothingbutasheetoflivingfire.
“He’sdustandashes,”saidtheclerk.“Andthebooksaredustandashes—andoh,sirs!thechurchwillbedustandashessoon.”
Thoseweretheonlytwowhospoke.Whentheyweresilentagain,nothingstirredinthestillnessbutthebubbleandthecrackleoftheflames.
Aharshrattlingsoundinthedistance—thenthehollowbeatofhorses’hoofsatfullgallop—thenthelowroar,theall-predominanttumultofhundredsofhumanvoicesclamouringandshoutingtogether.Theengineatlast.
Therehestood,hiseyesstillfastenedontheflamesinachangeless,vacantstare.Ispoketohim,Ishookhimbythearm.Hewaspastrousing.
Intenminutestheenginewasinposition,thewellatthebackofthechurchwasfeedingit,andthehosewascarriedtothedoorwayofthevestry.
Myenergyofwillwasgone—mystrengthwasexhausted—theturmoilofmythoughtswasfearfullyandsuddenlystilled,nowIknewthathewasdead.
Isawthefireslowlyconquered.Thebrightnessoftheglarefaded—thesteamroseinwhiteclouds,andthesmoulderingheapsofembersshowedredandblackthroughitonthefloor.
Therewasapause—thenanadvancealltogetherofthefiremenandthepolicewhichblockedupthedoorway—thenaconsultationinlowvoices—andthentwomenweredetachedfromtherest,andsentoutofthechurchyardthroughthecrowd.
Thepoliceclosedagainroundthedoorway,andmenstoleoutfromamongthecrowdbytwosandthreesandstoodbehindthemtobethefirsttosee.
Thetidingsfromthevestrybegantoflowoutamongthecrowd—theydroppedslowlyfrommouthtomouthtilltheyreachedtheplacewhereIwasstanding.
“Havetheyfoundhim?”“Yes.”—”Where?”“Againstthedoor,onhisface.”—“Whichdoor?”“Thedoorthatgoesintothechurch.
“No,scorched,notburnt—helayonhisface,Itellyou.”—“Whowashe?Alord,theysay.”“No,notalord.SIRSomething;SirmeansKnight.”“AndBaronight,too.”“No.”“Yes,itdoes.”—“Whatdidhewantinthere?”“Nogood,youmaydependonit.”—“Didhedoitonpurpose?”—”Burnhimselfonpurpose!”
—“Idon’tmeanhimself,Imeanthevestry.”—“Ishedreadfultolookat?”“Dreadful!”—“Notabouttheface,though?”“No,no,notsomuchabouttheface.Don’tanybodyknowhim?”“There’samansayshedoes.”—“Who?”“Aservant,theysay.
“Here,sir—hereheis!”Dozensofeagerfacespressedaboutme—dozensofeagerarmspartedthecrowd.Themaninauthoritycameuptomewithalanterninhishand.
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