the black robe-第7部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He thanked me； and accepted the invitation。 I find no great
difficulty in describing him； generally。 He was elderly； fat。 and
cheerful； buttoned up in a long black frockcoat； and presenting
that closely shaven face and that inveterate expression of
watchful humility about the eyes； which we all associate with the
reverend personality of a priest。
To my surprise； he seemed； in some degree at least； to know his
way about the place。 He made straight for the dreary little lake
which I have already mentioned； and stood looking at it with an
interest which was so incomprehensible to me； that I own I
watched him。
He ascended the slope of the moorland； and entered the gate which
led to the grounds。 All that the gardeners had done to make the
place attractive failed to claim his attention。 He walked past
lawns； shrubs； and flower…beds； and only stopped at an old stone
fountain； which tradition declared to have been one of the
ornaments of the garden in the time of the monks。 Having
carefully examined this relic of antiquity； he took a sheet of
paper from his pocket； and consulted it attentively。 It might
have been a plan of the house and grounds； or it might notI can
only report that he took the path which led him； by the shortest
way； to the ruined Abbey church。
As he entered the roofless inclosure； he reverently removed his
hat。 It was impossible for me to follow him any further； without
exposing myself to the risk of discovery。 I sat down on one of
the fallen stones； waiting to see him again。 It must have been at
least half an hour before he appeared。 He thanked me for my
kindness； as composedly as if he had quite expected to find me in
the place that I occupied。
〃I have been deeply interested in all that I have seen；〃 he said。
〃May I venture to ask； what is perhaps an indiscreet question on
the part of a stranger？〃
I ventured； on my side； to inquire what the question might be。
〃Mr。 Romayne is indeed fortunate；〃 he resumed； 〃in the possession
of this beautiful place。 He is a young man； I think？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Is he married？〃
〃No。〃
〃Excuse my curiosity。 The owner of Vange Abbey is an interesting
person to all good antiquaries like myself。 Many thanks again。
Good…day。〃
His pony…chaise took him away。 His last look restednot on
mebut on the old Abbey。
IX。
MY record of events approaches its conclusion。
On the next day we returned to the hotel in London。 At Romayne's
suggestion； I sent the same evening to my own house for any
letters which might be waiting for me。 His mind still dwelt on
the duel； he was morbidly eager to know if any communication had
been received from the French surgeon。
When the messenger returned with my letters； the Boulogne
postmark was on one of the envelopes。 At Romayne's entreaty； this
was the letter that I opened first。 The surgeon's signature was
at the end。
One motive for anxietyon my partwas set at rest in the first
lines。 After an official inquiry into the circumstances； the
French authorities had decided that it was not expedient to put
the survivor of the duelists on his trial before a court of law。
No jury； hearing the evidence； would find him guilty of the only
charge that could be formally brought against himthe charge of
〃homicide by premeditation。〃 Homicide by misadventure； occurring
in a duel； was not a punishable offense by the French law。 My
correspondent cited many cases in proof of it； strengthened by
the publicly…expressed opinion of the illustrious Berryer
himself。 In a word； we had nothing to fear。
The next page of the letter informed us that the police had
surprised the card playing community with whom we had spent the
evening at Boulogne； and that the much…bejeweled old landlady had
been sent to prison for the offense of keeping a gambling…house。
It was suspected in the town that the General was more or less
directly connected with certain disreputable circumstances
discovered by the authorities。 In any case； he had retired from
active service。
He and his wife and family had left Boulogne； and had gone away
in debt。 No investigation had thus far succeeded in discovering
the place of their retreat。
Reading this letter aloud to Romayne； I was interrupted by him at
the last sentence。
〃The inquiries must have been carelessly made；〃 he said。 〃I will
see to it myself。〃
〃What interest can you have in the inquiries？〃 I exclaimed。
〃The strongest possible interest；〃 he answered。 〃It has been my
one hope to make some little atonement to the poor people whom I
have so cruelly wronged。 If the wife and children are in
distressed circumstances （which seems to be only too likely） I
may place them beyond the reach of anxietyanonymously； of
course。 Give me the surgeon's address。 I shall write instructions
for tracing them at my expensemerely announcing that an Unknown
Friend desires to be of service to the General's family。〃
This appeared to me to be a most imprudent thing to do。 I said so
plainlyand quite in vain。 With his customary impetuosity； he
wrote the letter at once； and sent it to the post that night。
X。
ON the question of submitting himself to medical advice （which I
now earnestly pressed upon him）； Romayne was disposed to be
equally unreasonable。 But in this case； events declared
themselves in my favor。
Lady Berrick's last reserves of strength had given way。 She had
been brought to London in a dying state while we were at Vange
Abbey。 Romayne was summoned to his aunt's bedside on the third
day of our residence at the hotel； and was present at her death。
The impression produced on his mind roused the better part of his
nature。 He was more distrustful of himself； more accessible to
persuasion than usual。 In this gentler frame of mind he received
a welcome visit from an old friend； to whom he was sincerely
attached。 The visitof no great importance in itselfled； as I
have since been informed； to very serious events in Romayne's
later life。 For this reason； I briefly relate what took place
within my own healing。
Lord Loringwell known in society as the head of an old English
Catholic family； and the possessor of a magnificent gallery of
pictureswas distressed by the change for the worse which he
perceived in Romayne when he called at the hotel。 I was present
when they met； and rose to leave the room； feeling that the two
friends might perhaps be embarrassed by the presence of a third
person。 Romayne called me back。 〃Lord Loring ought to know what
has happened to me；〃 he said。 〃I have no heart to speak of it
myself。 Tell him everything； and if he agrees with you； I will
submit to see the doctors。〃 With those words he left us together。
It is almost needless to say that Lord Loring did agree with me。
He was himself disposed to think that the moral remedy； in
Romayne's case； might prove to be the best remedy。
〃With submission to what the doctors may decide；〃 his lordship
said； 〃the right thing to do； in my opinion； is to divert our
friend's mind from himself。 I see a plain necessity for making a
complete change in the solitary life that he has been leading for
years past。 Why shouldn't he marry？ A woman's influence； by
merely giving a new turn to his thoughts； might charm away that
horrible voice which haunts him。 Perhaps you think this a merely
sentimental view of the case？ Look at it practically； if you
like； and you come to the same conclusion。 With that fine
estateand with the fortune which he has now inherited from his
auntit is his duty to marry。 Don't you agree with me？〃
〃I agree most cordially。 But I see serious difficulties in your
lordship's way。 Romayne dislikes society； and； as to marrying；
his coldness toward women seems （so far as I can judge） to be one
of the incurable defects of his character。〃
Lord Loring smiled。 〃My dear sir； nothing of that sort is
incurable； if we can only find the right woman。〃
The tone in which he spoke suggested to me that he had got 〃the
right woman〃and I took the liberty of saying so。 He at once
acknowledged that I had guessed right。
〃Romayne is； as you say； a difficult subject to deal with；〃 he
resumed。 〃If I commit the slightest imprudence； I shall excite
his suspicionand there will be an end of my hope of being of
service to him。 I shall proceed carefully； I can tell you。
Luckily； poor dear fellow； he is fond of pictures！ It's quite
natural that I should ask him to see some recent additions to my
galleryisn't it？ There is the trap that I set！ I have a sweet
girl to tempt him； staying at my house； who is a little out of
health and spirits herself。 At the right moment； I shall send
word upstairs。 She may well happen to look in at the gallery （by
the merest accident） just at the time when Romayne is looking at
my new pictures。 The rest depends； of course； on； the effect she
produces。 If you knew her； I believe you would agree with me that
the experiment is worth trying。〃
Not knowing the lady； I had little faith in the success of the
experiment。 No one； however； could doubt Lord Loring's admirable
devotion to his friendand w
