the dynamiter-第23部分

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of　disease；　but　every　sign　of　health；　energy；　and　resolution。　　
While　he　was　still　looking；　the　visitor　took　his　departure；　
and　the　invalid；　having　carefully　fastened　the　front　door；　
sprang　upstairs　without　a　trace　of　lassitude。

That　night　upon　his　pillow；　Somerset　began　to　kindle　once　
more　into　the　hot　fit　of　the　detective　fever；　and　the　next　
morning　resumed　the　practice　of　his　art　with　careless　hand　
and　an　abstracted　mind。　　The　day　was　destined　to　be　fertile　
in　surprises；　nor　had　he　long　been　seated　at　the　easel　ere　
the　first　of　these　occurred。　　A　cab　laden　with　baggage　drew　
up　before　the　door；　and　Mrs。　Luxmore　in　person　rapidly　
mounted　the　steps　and　began　to　pound　upon　the　knocker。　　
Somerset　hastened　to　attend　the　summons。

'My　dear　fellow；'　she　said；　with　the　utmost　gaiety；　'here　I　
come　dropping　from　the　moon。　　I　am　delighted　to　find　you　
faithful；　and　I　have　no　doubt　you　will　be　equally　pleased　to　
be　restored　to　liberty。'

Somerset　could　find　no　words；　whether　of　protest　or　welcome；　
and　the　spirited　old　lady　pushed　briskly　by　him　and　paused　on　
the　threshold　of　the　dining…room。　　The　sight　that　met　her　
eyes　was　one　well　calculated　to　inspire　astonishment。　　The　
mantelpiece　was　arrayed　with　saucepans　and　empty　bottles；　on　
the　fire　some　chops　were　frying；　the　floor　was　littered　from　
end　to　end　with　books；　clothes；　walking…canes　and　the　
materials　of　the　painter's　craft；　but　what　far　outstripped　
the　other　wonders　of　the　place　was　the　corner　which　had　been　
arranged　for　the　study　of　still…life。　　This　formed　a　sort　of　
rockery；　conspicuous　upon　which；　according　to　the　principles　
of　the　art　of　composition；　a　cabbage　was　relieved　against　a　
copper　kettle；　and　both　contrasted　with　the　mail　of　a　boiled　
lobster。

'My　gracious　goodness！'　cried　the　lady　of　the　house；　and　
then；　turning　in　wrath　on　the　young　man；　'From　what　rank　in　
life　are　you　sprung？'　she　demanded。　　'You　have　the　exterior　
of　a　gentleman；　but　from　the　astonishing　evidences　before　me；　
I　should　say　you　can　only　be　a　greengrocer's　man。　　Pray；　
gather　up　your　vegetables；　and　let　me　see　no　more　of　you。'

'Madam；'　babbled　Somerset；　'you　promised　me　a　month's　
warning。'

'That　was　under　a　misapprehension；'　returned　the　old　lady。　　
'I　now　give　you　warning　to　leave　at　once。'

'Madam；'　said　the　young　man；　'I　wish　I　could；　and　indeed；　as　
far　as　I　am　concerned；　it　might　be　done。　　But　then；　my　
lodger！'

'Your　lodger？'　echoed　Mrs。　Luxmore。

'My　lodger：　　why　should　I　deny　it？'　returned　Somerset。　　'He　
is　only　by　the　week。'

The　old　lady　sat　down　upon　a　chair。　　'You　have　a　lodger？　…　
you？'　she　cried。　　'And　pray；　how　did　you　get　him？'

'By　advertisement；'　replied　the　young　man。　'O　madam；　I　have　
not　lived　unobservantly。　　I　adopted'　…　his　eyes　involuntarily　
shifted　to　the　cartoons　…　'I　adopted　every　method。'

Her　eyes　had　followed　his；　for　the　first　time　in　Somerset's　
experience；　she　produced　a　double　eye…glass；　and　as　soon　as　
the　full　merit　of　the　works　had　flashed　upon　her；　she　gave　
way　to　peal　after　peal　of　her　trilling　and　soprano　laughter。

'Oh；　I　think　you　are　perfectly　delicious！'　she　cried。　　'I　do　
hope　you　had　them　in　the　window。　　M'Pherson；'　she　continued；　
crying　to　her　maid；　who　had　been　all　this　time　grimly　waiting　
in　the　hall；　'I　lunch　with　Mr。　Somerset。　　Take　the　cellar　key　
and　bring　some　wine。'

In　this　gay　humour　she　continued　throughout　the　luncheon；　
presented　Somerset　with　a　couple　of　dozen　of　wine；　which　she　
made　M'Pherson　bring　up　from　the　cellar　…　'as　a　present；　my　
dear；'　she　said；　with　another　burst　of　tearful　merriment；　
'for　your　charming　pictures；　which　you　must　be　sure　to　leave　
me　when　you　go；'　and　finally；　protesting　that　she　dared　not　
spoil　the　absurdest　houseful　of　madmen　in　the　whole　of　
London；　departed　（as　she　vaguely　phrased　it）　for　the　
continent　of　Europe。

She　was　no　sooner　gone；　than　Somerset　encountered　in　the　
corridor　the　Irish　nurse；　sober；　to　all　appearance；　and　yet　a　
prey　to　singularly　strong　emotion。　　It　was　made　to　appear；　
from　her　account；　that　Mr。　Jones　had　already　suffered　acutely　
in　his　health　from　Mrs。　Luxmore's　visit；　and　that　nothing　
short　of　a　full　explanation　could　allay　the　invalid's　
uneasiness。　　Somerset；　somewhat　staring；　told　what　he　thought　
fit　of　the　affair。

'Is　that　all？'　cried　the　woman。　　'As　God　sees　you；　is　that　
all？'

'My　good　woman；'　said　the　young　man；　'I　have　no　idea　what　you　
can　be　driving　at。　　Suppose　the　lady　were　my　friend's　wife；　
suppose　she　were　my　fairy　godmother；　suppose　she　were　the　
Queen　of　Portugal；　and　how　should　that　affect　yourself　or　Mr。　
Jones？'

'Blessed　Mary！'　cried　the　nurse；　'it's　he　that　will　be　glad　
to　hear　it！'

And　immediately　she　fled　upstairs。

Somerset；　on　his　part；　returned　to　the　dining…room；　and　with　
a　very　thoughtful　brow　and　ruminating　many　theories；　disposed　
of　the　remainder　of　the　bottle。　　It　was　port；　and　port　is　a　
wine；　sole　among　its　equals　and　superiors；　that　can　in　some　
degree　support　the　competition　of　tobacco。　　Sipping；　smoking；　
and　theorising；　Somerset　moved　on　from　suspicion　to　
suspicion；　from　resolve　to　resolve；　still　growing　braver　and　
rosier　as　the　bottle　ebbed。　　He　was　a　sceptic；　none　prouder　
of　the　name；　he　had　no　horror　at　command；　whether　for　crimes　
or　vices；　but　beheld　and　embraced　the　world；　with　an　immoral　
approbation；　the　frequent　consequence　of　youth　and　health。　　
At　the　same　time；　he　felt　convinced　that　he　dwelt　under　the　
same　roof　with　secret　malefactors；　and　the　unregenerate　
instinct　of　the　chase　impelled　him　to　severity。　　The　bottle　
had　run　low；　the　summer　sun　had　finally　withdrawn；　and　at　the　
same　moment；　night　and　the　pangs　of　hunger　recalled　him　from　
his　dreams。

He　went　forth；　and　dined　in　the　Criterion：　　a　dinner　in　
consonance；　not　so　much　with　his　purse；　as　with　the　admirable　
wine　he　had　discussed。　　What　with　one　thing　and　another；　it　
was　long　past　midnight　when　he　returned　home。　　A　cab　was　at　
the　door；　and　entering　the　hall；　Somerset　found　himself　face　
to　face　with　one　of　the　most　regular　of　the　few　who　visited　
Mr。　Jones：　　a　man　of　powerful　figure；　strong　lineaments；　and　
a　chin…beard　in　the　American　fashion。　　This　person　was　
carrying　on　one　shoulder　a　black　portmanteau；　seemingly　of　
considerable　weight。　　That　he　should　find　a　visitor　removing　
baggage　in　the　dead　of　night；　recalled　some　odd　stories　to　
the　young　man's　memory；　he　had　heard　of　lodgers　who　thus　
gradually　drained　away；　not　only　their　own　effects；　but　the　
very　furniture　and　fittings　of　the　house　that　sheltered　them；　
and　now；　in　a　mood　between　pleasantry　and　suspicion；　and　
aping　the　manner　of　a　drunkard；　he　roughly　bumped　against　the　
man　with　the　chin…beard　and　knocked　the　portmanteau　from　his　
shoulder　to　the　floor。　　With　a　face　struck　suddenly　as　white　
as　paper；　the　man　with　the　chin…beard　called　lamentably　on　
the　name　of　his　maker；　and　fell　in　a　mere　heap　on　the　mat　at　
the　foot　of　the　stairs。　　At　the　same　time；　though　only　for　a　
single　instant；　the　heads　of　the　sick　lodger　and　the　Irish　
nurse　popped　out　like　rabbits　over　the　banisters　of　the　first　
floor；　and　on　both　the　same　scare　and　pallor　were　apparent。

The　sight　of　this　incredible　emotion　turned　Somerset　to　
stone；　and　he　continued　speechless；　while　the　man　gathered　
himself　together；　and；　with　the　help　of　the　handrail　and　
audibly　thanking　God；　scrambled　once　more　upon　his　feet。

'What　in　Heaven's　name　ails　you？'　gasped　the　young　man　as　
soon　as　he　could　find　words　and　utterance。

'Have　you　a　drop　of　brandy？'　returned　the　other。　　'I　am　
sick。'

Somerset　administered　two　drams；　one　after　the　other；　to　the　
man　with　the　chin…beard；　who　then；　somewhat　restored；　began　
to　confound　himself　in　apologies　for　what　he　called　his　
miserable　nervousness；　the　result；　he　said；　of　a　long　course　
of　dumb　ague；　and　having　taken　leave　with　a　hand　that　still　
sweated　and　trembled；　he　gingerly　resumed　his　burthen　and　
departed。

Somerset　retired　to　bed　but　not　to　sleep。　　What；　he　asked　
himself；　had　been　the　contents　of　the　black　portmanteau？　　
Stolen　goods？　the　carcase　of　one　murdered？　or　…　and　at　the　
thought　he　sat　upright　in　bed　…　an　infernal　machine？　　He　took　
a　solemn　vow　that　he　would　set　these　doubts　at　rest；　and　with　
the　next　morning；　installed　himself　beside　the　dining…room　
window；　vigilant　with　eye；　and　ear；　to　await　and　profit　by　
the　earliest　opportunity。

The　hours　went　heavily　by。　　Within　the　house　there　was　no　
circumstance　of　novelty；　unless　it　might　be　that　the　nurse　
more　frequently　made　little　journeys　round　the　corner　of　the　
square；　and　before　afternoon　was　somewhat　loose　of　speech　and　
gait。　　A　little　after　six；　however；　there　came　round　the　
corner　of　the　gardens　a　very　handsome　and　elegantly　dressed　
young　woman；　who　paused　a　little　way　off；　and　for　some　time；　
and　with　frequent　sighs；　contemplated　the　front　of　the　
Superfluous　Mansion。　　It　was　not　the　first　time　that　she　had　
thus　stood　afar　and　looked　upon　it；　like　our　common　parents　
at　the　gates　of　Eden；　and　the　young　man　had　already　had　
occasion　to　remark　the　lively　slimness　of　her　carriage；　and　
had　already　been　the　butt　of　a　chance　arrow　from　her　eye。　　He　
hailed　her　coming；　then；　with　pleasant　feelings；　and　moved　a　
little　nearer　to　the　window　to　enjoy　the　sight。　　What　was　his　
surprise；　however；　when；　as　if　with　a　sensible　effort；　she　
drew　near；　mounted　the　steps　and　tapped　discreetly　at　the　
door！　　He　made　haste　to　get　before　the　Irish　nurse；　who　was　
not　improbably　asleep；　and　had　the　satisfaction　to　receive　
this　gracious　visitor　in　person。

She　inquired　for　Mr。　Jones；　and　then；　without　transition；　
asked　the　young　man　if　he　were　the　person　of　the　house　（and　
at　the　words；　he　thought　he　could　perceive　her　to　be　
smiling）；　'because；'　she　added；　'if　you　are；　I　should　like　to　
see　some　of　the　other　rooms。'　　Somerset　told　her　he　was　under　
an　engagement　to　receive　no　other　lodgers；　but　she　assured　
him　that　would　be　no　matter；　as　these　were　friends　of　Mr。　
Jones's。　　'And；'　she　continued；　moving　suddenly　to　the　
dining…room　door；　'let　us　begin　here。'　　Somerset　was　too　late　
to　prevent　her　enterin