the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第12部分
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clear pleasant night enough； and after a few minutes I had the streets pretty
much to myself。 It's a curious thing； Austin； to be alone in London at night；
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the gas…lamps stretching away in perspective； and the dead silence； and
then perhaps the rush and clatter of a hansom on the stones； and the fire
starting up under the horse's hoofs。 I walked along pretty briskly； for I was
feeling a little tired of being out in the night； and as the clocks were
striking two I turned down Ashley Street； which； you know； is on my way。
It was quieter than ever there； and the lamps were fewer； altogether； it
looked as dark and gloomy as a forest in winter。 I had done about half the
length of the street when I heard a door closed very softly； and naturally I
looked up to see who was abroad like myself at such an hour。 As it
happens； there is a street lamp close to the house in question； and I saw a
man standing on the step。 He had just shut the door and his face was
towards me； and I recognized Crashaw directly。 I never knew him to
speak to； but I had often seen him； and I am positive that I was not
mistaken in my man。 I looked into his face for a moment； and thenI
will confess the truthI set off at a good run； and kept it up till I was
within my own door。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Why？ Because it made my blood run cold to see that man's face。 I
could never have supposed that such an infernal medley of passions could
have glared out of any human eyes； I almost fainted as I looked。 I knew I
had looked into the eyes of a lost soul； Austin； the man's outward form
remained； but all hell was within it。 Furious lust； and hate that was like
fire； and the loss of all hope and horror that seemed to shriek aloud to the
night； though his teeth were shut； and the utter blackness of despair。 I am
sure that he did not see me； he saw nothing that you or I can see； but what
he saw I hope we never shall。 I do not know when he died； I suppose in
an hour； or perhaps two； but when I passed down Ashley Street and heard
the closing door； that man no longer belonged to this world； it was a
devil's face I looked upon。〃
There was an interval of silence in the room when Villiers ceased
speaking。 The light was failing； and all the tumult of an hour ago was
quite hushed。 Austin had bent his head at the close of the story； and his
hand covered his eyes。
〃What can it mean？〃 he said at length。
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〃Who knows； Austin； who knows？ It's a black business； but I think
we had better keep it to ourselves； for the present at any rate。 I will see if
I cannot learn anything about that house through private channels of
information； and if I do light upon anything I will let you know。〃
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VII
THE ENCOUNTER IN SOHO
Three weeks later Austin received a note from Villiers； asking him to
call either that afternoon or the next。 He chose the nearer date； and found
Villiers sitting as usual by the window； apparently lost in meditation on the
drowsy traffic of the street。 There was a bamboo table by his side； a
fantastic thing； enriched with gilding and queer painted scenes； and on it
lay a little pile of papers arranged and docketed as neatly as anything in
Mr。 Clarke's office。
〃Well； Villiers； have you made any discoveries in the last three
weeks？〃
〃I think so； I have here one or two memoranda which struck me as
singular； and there is a statement to which I shall call your attention。〃
〃And these documents relate to Mrs。 Beaumont？ It was really
Crashaw whom you saw that night standing on the doorstep of the house
in Ashley Street？〃
〃As to that matter my belief remains unchanged； but neither my
inquiries nor their results have any special relation to Crashaw。 But my
investigations have had a strange issue。 I have found out who Mrs。
Beaumont is！〃
〃Who is she？ In what way do you mean？〃
〃I mean that you and I know her better under another name。〃
〃What name is that？〃
〃Herbert。〃
〃Herbert！〃 Austin repeated the word； dazed with astonishment。
〃Yes； Mrs。 Herbert of Paul Street； Helen Vaughan of earlier adventures
unknown to me。 You had reason to recognize the expression of her face；
when you go home look at the face in Meyrick's book of horrors； and you
will know the sources of your recollection。〃
〃And you have proof of this？〃
〃Yes； the best of proof； I have seen Mrs。 Beaumont； or shall we say
Mrs。 Herbert？〃
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〃Where did you see her？〃
〃Hardly in a place where you would expect to see a lady who lives in
Ashley Street； Piccadilly。 I saw her entering a house in one of the
meanest and most disreputable streets in Soho。 In fact； I had made an
appointment； though not with her； and she was precise to both time and
place。〃
〃All this seems very wonderful； but I cannot call it incredible。 You
must remember； Villiers； that I have seen this woman； in the ordinary
adventure of London society； talking and laughing； and sipping her coffee
in a commonplace drawing…room with commonplace people。 But you
know what you are saying。〃
〃I do； I have not allowed myself to be led by surmises or fancies。 It
was with no thought of finding Helen Vaughan that I searched for Mrs。
Beaumont in the dark waters of the life of London； but such has been the
issue。〃
〃You must have been in strange places； Villiers。〃
〃Yes； I have been in very strange places。 It would have been useless；
you know； to go to Ashley Street； and ask Mrs。 Beaumont to give me a
short sketch of her previous history。 No； assuming； as I had to assume；
that her record was not of the cleanest； it would be pretty certain that at
some previous time she must have moved in circles not quite so refined as
her present ones。 If you see mud at the top of a stream； you may be sure
that it was once at the bottom。 I went to the bottom。 I have always
been fond of diving into Queer Street for my amusement； and I found my
knowledge of that locality and its inhabitants very useful。 It is； perhaps；
needless to say that my friends had never heard the name of Beaumont；
and as I had never seen the lady； and was quite unable to describe her； I
had to set to work in an indirect way。 The people there know me； I have
been able to do some of them a service now and again； so they made no
difficulty about giving their information； they were aware I had no
communication direct or indirect with Scotland Yard。 I had to cast out a
good many lines； though； before I got what I wanted； and when I landed
the fish I did not for a moment suppose it was my fish。 But I listened to
what I was told out of a constitutional liking for useless information； and I
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found myself in possession of a very curious story； though； as I imagined；
not the story I was looking for。 It was to this effect。 Some five or six
years ago； a woman named Raymond suddenly made her appearance in
the neighbourhood to which I am referring。 She was described to me as
being quite young； probably not more than seventeen or eighteen； very
handsome； and looking as if she came from the country。 I should be
wrong in saying that she found her level in going to this particular quarter；
or associating with these people； for from what I was told； I should think
the worst den in London far too good for her。 The person from whom I
got my information； as you may suppose； no great Puritan； shuddered and
grew sick in telling me of the nameless infamies which were laid to her
charge。 After living there for a year； or perhaps a little more； she
disappeared as suddenly as she came； and they saw nothing of her till
about the time of the Paul Street case。 At first she came to her old haunts
only occasionally； then more frequently； and finally took up her abode
there as before； and remained for six or eight months。 It's of no use my
going into details as to the life that woman led； if you want particulars you
can look at Meyrick's legacy。 Those designs were not drawn from his
imagination。 She again disappe
