the law and the lady-第15部分

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resembling　it；　exist　in　the　archives　of　the　〃Annual　Register〃　or
in　the　pages　of　Voltaire？　The　bare　idea　of　such　a　thing　seemed
absurd　The　mere　attempt　to　make　a　serious　examination　in　this
direction　was　surely　a　wanton　waste　of　time。

And　yet　the　Major　had　certainly　stolen　a　look　at　the　book…case。
And　again；　the　broken　vase　had　once　stood　on　the　book…case。　Did
these　circumstances　justify　me　in　connecting　the　vase　and　the
book…case　as　twin　landmarks　on　the　way　that　led　to　discovery？　The
question　was　not　an　easy　one　to　decide　on　the　spur　of　the　moment。

I　looked　up　at　the　higher　shelves。

Here　the　collection　of　books　exhibited　a　greater　variety。　The
volumes　were　smaller；　and　were　not　so　carefully　arranged　as　on
the　lower　shelves。　Some　were　bound　in　cloth；　some　were　only
protected　by　paper　covers；　one　or　two　had　fallen；　and　lay　flat　on
the　shelves。　Here　and　there　I　saw　empty　spaces　from　which　books
had　been　removed　and　not　replaced。　In　short；　there　was　no
discouraging　uniformity　in　these　higher　regions　of　the　book…case。
The　untidy　top　shelves　looked　suggestive　of　some　lucky　accident
which　might　unexpectedly　lead　the　way　to　success。　I　decided；　if　I
did　examine　the　book…case　at　all；　to　begin　at　the　top。

Where　was　the　library　ladder？

I　had　left　it　against　the　partition　wall　which　divided　the　back
room　from　the　room　in　front。　Looking　that　way；　I　necessarily
looked　also　toward　the　door　that　ran　in　groovesthe　imperfectly
closed　door　through　which　I　heard　Major　Fitz…David　question　his
servant　on　the　subject　of　my　personal　appearance　when　I　first
entered　the　house。　No　one　had　moved　this　door　during　the　time　of
my　visit。　Everybody　entering　or　leaving　the　room　had　used　the
other　door；　which　led　into　the　hall。

At　the　moment　when　I　looked　round　something　stirred　in　the　front
room。　The　movement　let　the　light　in　suddenly　through　the　small
open　space　left　by　the　partially　closed　door。　Had　somebody　been
watching　me　through　the　chink？　I　stepped　softly　to　the　door；　and
pushed　it　back　until　it　was　wide　open。　There　was　the　Major；
discovered　in　the　front　room！　I　saw　it　in　his　facehe　had　been
watching　me　at　the　book…case！

His　hat　was　in　his　hand。　He　was　evidently　going　out；　and　he
dexterously　took　advantage　of　that　circumstance　to　give　a
plausible　reason　for　being　so　near　the　door。

〃I　hope　I　didn't　frighten　you；〃　he　said。

〃You　startled　me　a　little；　Major。〃

〃I　am　so　sorry；　and　so　ashamed！　I　was　just　going　to　open　the
door；　and　tell　you　that　I　am　obliged　to　go　out。　I　have　received　a
pressing　message　from　a　lady。　A　charming　personI　should　so　like
you　to　know　her。　She　is　in　sad　trouble；　poor　thing。　Little　bills；
you　know；　and　nasty　tradespeople　who　want　their　money；　and　a
husbandoh；　dear　me；　a　husband　who　is　quite　unworthy　of　her！　A
most　interesting　creature。　You　remind　me　of　her　a　little；　you
both　have　the　same　carriage　of　the　head。　I　shall　not　be　more　than
half　an　hour　gone。　Can　I　do　anything　for　you？　You　are　looking
fatigued。　Pray　let　me　send　for　some　more　champagne。　No？　Promise
to　ring　when　you　want　it。　That's　right！　_Au　revoir_；　my　charming
friend_au　revoir！_〃

I　pulled　the　door　to　again　the　moment　his　back　was　turned；　and
sat　down　for　a　while　to　compose　myself。

He　had　been　watching　me　at　the　book…case！　The　man　who　was　in　my
husband's　confidence；　the　man　who　knew　where　the　clew　was　to　be
found；　had　been　watching　me　at　the　book…case！　There　was　no　doubt
of　it　now。　Major　Fitz…David　had　shown　me　the　hiding…place　of　the
secret　in　spite　of　himself！

I　looked　with　indifference　at　the　other　pieces　of　furniture；
ranged　against　the　fourth　wall；　which　I　had　not　examined　yet。　I
surveyed；　without　the　slightest　feeling　of　curiosity；　all　the
little　elegant　trifles　scattered　on　the　tables　and　on　the
chimney…piece；　each　one　of　which　might　have　been　an　object　of
suspicion　to　me　under　other　circumstances。　Even　the　water…color
drawings　failed　to　interest　me　in　my　present　frame　of　mind。　I
observed　languidly　that　they　were　most　of　them　portraits　of
ladiesfair　idols；　no　doubt；　of　the　Major's　facile
adorationand　I　cared　to　notice　no　more。　_My_　business　in　that
room　（I　was　certain　of　it　now！）　began　and　ended　with　the
book…case。　I　left　my　seat　to　fetch　the　library　ladder；
determining　to　begin　the　work　of　investigation　on　the　top
shelves。

On　my　way　to　the　ladder　I　passed　one　of　the　tables；　and　saw　the
keys　lying　on　it　which　Major　Fitz…David　had　left　at　my　disposal。

The　smaller　of　the　two　keys　instantly　reminded　me　of　the
cupboards　under　the　bookcase。　I　had　strangely　overlooked　these。　A
vague　distrust　of　the　locked　doors　a　vague　doubt　of　what　they
might　be　hiding　from　me；　stole　into　my　mind。　I　left　the　ladder　in
its　place　against　the　wall；　and　set　myself　to　examine　the
contents　of　the　cupboards　first。

The　cupboards　were　three　in　number。　As　I　opened　the　first　of　them
the　singing　upstairs　ceased。　For　a　moment　there　was　something
almost　oppressive　in　the　sudden　change　from　noise　to　silence。　I
suppose　my　nerves　must　have　been　overwrought。　The　next　sound　in
the　housenothing　more　remarkable　than　the　creaking　of　a　man's
boots　descending　the　stairsmade　me　shudder　all　over。　The　man
was　no　doubt　the　singing…master；　going　away　after　giving　his
lesson。　I　heard　the　house　door　close　on　him；　and　started　at　the
familiar　sound　as　if　it　were　something　terrible　which　I　had　never
heard　before。　Then　there　was　silence　again。　I　roused　myself　as
well　as　I　could；　and　began　my　examination　of　the　first　cupboard。

It　was　divided　into　two　compartments。

The　top　compartment　contained　nothing　but　boxes　of　cigars；　ranged
in　rows；　one　on　another。　The　under　compartment　was　devoted　to　a
collection　of　shells。　They　were　all　huddled　together　anyhow；　the
Major　evidently　setting　a　far　higher　value　on　his　cigars　than　on
his　shells。　I　searched　this　lower　compartment　carefully　for　any
object　interesting　to　me　which　might　be　hidden　in　it。　Nothing　was
to　be　found　in　any　part　of　it　besides　the　shells。

As　I　opened　the　second　cupboard　it　struck　me　that　the　light　was
beginning　to　fail。

I　looked　at　the　window：　it　was　hardly　evening　yet。　The　darkening
of　the　light　was　produced　by　gathering　clouds。　Rain…drops
pattered　against　the　glass；　the　autumn　wind　whistled　mournfully
in　the　corners　of　the　courtyard。　I　mended　the　fire　before　I
renewed　my　search。　My　nerves　were　in　fault　again；　I　suppose。　I
shivered　when　I　went　back　to　the　book…case。　My　hands　trembled：　I
wondered　what　was　the　matter　with　me。

The　second　cupboard　revealed　（in　the　upper　division　of　it）　some
really　beautiful　cameosnot　mounted；　but　laid　on　cotton…wool　in
neat　cardboard　trays。　In　one　corner；　half　hidden　under　one　of　the
trays；　there　peeped　out　the　whit　e　leaves　of　a　little　manuscript。
I　pounced　on　it　eagerly；　only　to　meet　with　a　new　disappointment：
the　manuscript　proved　to　be　a　descriptive　catalogue　of　the
cameosnothing　more！

Turning　to　the　lower　division　of　the　cupboard；　I　found　more
costly　curiosities　in　the　shape　of　ivory　carvings　from　Japan　and
specimens　of　rare　silk　from　China。　I　began　to　feel　weary　of
disinterring　the　Major's　treasures。　The　longer　I　searched；　the
farther　I　seemed　to　remove　myself　from　the　one　object　that　I　had
it　at　heart　to　attain。　After　closing　the　door　of　the　second
cupboard；　I　almost　doubted　whether　it　would　be　worth　my　while　to
proceed　farther　and　open　the　third　and　last　door。

A　little　reflection　convinced　me　that　it　would　be　as　well；　now
that　I　had　begun　my　examination　of　the　lower　regions　of　the
book…case；　to　go　on　with　it　to　the　end。　I　opened　the　last
cupboard。

On　the　upper　shelf　there　appeared；　in　solitary　grandeur；　one
object　onlya　gorgeously　bound　book。

It　was　of　a　larger　size　than　usual；　judging　of　it　by　comparison
with　the　dimensions　of　modern　volumes。　The　binding　was　of　blue
velvet；　with　clasps　of　silver　worked　in　beautiful　arabesque
patterns；　and　with　a　lock　of　the　same　precious　metal　to　protect
the　book　from　prying　eyes。　When　I　took　it　up；　I　found　that　the
lock　was　not　closed。

Had　I　any　right　to　take　advantage　of　this　accident；　and　open　the
book？　I　have　put　the　question　since　to　some　of　my　friends　of　both
sexes。　The　women　all　agree　that　I　was　perfectly　justified；
considering　the　serious　interests　that　I　had　at　stake；　in　taking
any　advantage　of　any　book　in　the　Major's　house。　The　men　differ
from　this　view；　and　declare　that　I　ought　to　have　put　back　the
volume　in　blue　velvet　unopened；　carefully　guarding　myself　from
any　after…temptation　to　look　at　it　again　by　locking　the　cupboard
door。　I　dare　say　the　men　are　right。

Being　a　woman；　however；　I　opened　the　book　without　a　moment's
hesitation。

The　leaves　were　of　the　finest　vellum；　with　tastefully　designed
illuminations　all　round　them。　And　what　did　these　highly
ornamental　pages　contain？　To　my　unutterable　amazement　and
disgust；　they　contained　locks　of　hair；　let　neatly　into　the　center
of　each　page；　with　inscriptions　beneath；　which　proved　them　to　be
love…tokens　from　various　ladies　who　had　touched　the　Major's
susceptible　heart　at　different　periods　of　his　life。　The
inscriptions　were　written　in　other　languages　besides　English；　but
they　appeared　to　be　all　equally　devoted　to　the　same　curious
purpose；　namely；　to　reminding　the　Major　of　the　dates　at　which　his
various　attachments　had　come　to　an　untimely　end。　Thus　the　first
page　exhibited　a　lock　of　the　lightest　flaxen　hair；　with　these
lines　beneath：　〃My　adored　Madeline。　Eternal　constancy。　Alas；　July
22；　1839！〃　The　next　page　was　adorned　by　a　darker　shade　of　hair；
with　a　French　inscription　under　it：　〃Clemence。　Idole　de　mon　鈓e。
Toujours　fidele。　Helas；　2me　Avril；　1840。〃　A　lock　of　red　hair
followed；　with　a　lamentation　in　Latin　under　it；　a　note　being
attached　to　the　date　of　dissolution　of　partnership　in　this　case；
stating　that　the　lady　was　descended　from　the　ancient　Romans；　and
was　therefore　mourned　appropriately　in　Latin　by　her　devoted
Fitz…David。　More　shades　of　hair　and　more　inscriptions　followed；
until　I　was　weary　of　looking　at　them。　I　put　down　the　book；
disgusted　with　the　creatures　who　had　assisted　in　filling　it；　and
then　took　it　up　again；　by　an　afterthought。　Thus　far　I　had
thoroughly　searched　everything　that　had　presented　itself　to　my
notice。　Agreeab