the woman in the alcove-第14部分

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〃I'm　the　magistrate　of　this　district。　I've　a　question　to　ask　this　sick　man；　on　behalf　of　the　New　York　Chief　of　Police；　who　is　a　personal　friend　of　mine。　It　is　connected　with〃

〃Hush！〃

The　doctor　had　seized　him　by　the　arm　and　turned　his　face　away　from　the　sick　tent。　Then　the　two　heads　came　together　and　an　argument　began。

I　could　not　hear　a　word　of　it；　but　their　motions　were　eloquent。　My　sympathy　was　with　the　magistrate；　of　course；　and　I　watched　eagerly　while　he　passed　a　letter　over　to　the　doctor；　who　vainly　strove　to　read　it　by　the　light　of　the　moon。　Finding　this　impossible；　he　was。　about　to　return　it；　when　the　other　struck　a　match　and　lit　a　lantern　hanging　from　the　horn　of　his　saddle。　The　two　heads　came　together　again；　but　as　quickly　separated　with　every　appearance　of　irreconcilement；　and　I　was　settling　back　with　sensations　of　great　disappointment；　when　a　sound　fell　on　the　night　so　unexpected　to　all　concerned　that　with　a　common　impulse　each　eye　sought　the　sick　tent。

〃Water！　will　some　one　give　me　water？〃　a　voice　had　cried；　quietly　and　with　none　of　the　delirium　which　had　hitherto　rendered　it　unnatural。

The　doctor　started　for　the　tent。　There　was　the　quickness　of　surprise　in　his　movement　and　the　gesture　he　made　to　the　magistrate；　as　he　passed　in；　reawakened　an　expectation　in　my　breast　which　made　me　doubly　watchful。

Providence　was　intervening　in　our　favor；　and　I　was　not　surprised　to　see　him　presently　reissue　with　the　nurse；　whom　he　drew　into　the　shadow　of　the　trees；　where　they　had　a　short　conference。　If　she　returned　alone　into　the　tent　after　this　conference　I　should　know　that　the　matter　was　at　an　end　and　that　the　doctor　had　decided　to　maintain　his　authority　against　that　of　the　magistrate。　But　she　remained　outside　and　the　magistrate　was　invited　to　join　their　council；　when　they　again　left　the　shadow　of　the　trees　it　was　to　approach　the　tent。

The　magistrate；　who　was　in　the　rear；　could　not　have　more　than　passed　the　opening；　but　I　thought　him　far　enough　inside　not　to　detect　any　movement　on　my　part；　so　I　took　advantage　of　the　situation　to　worm　myself　out　of　my　corner　and　across　the　ledge　to　where　the　tent　made　a　shadow　in　the　moonlight。

Crouching　close；　and　laying　my　ear　against　the　canvas；　I　listened。

The　nurse　was　speaking　in　a　gently　persuasive　tone。　I　imagined　her　kneeling　by　the　head　of　the　patient　and　breathing　words　into　his　ear。　These　were　what　I　heard：

〃You　love　diamonds。　I　have　often　noticed　that；　you　look　so　long　at　the　ring　on　your　hand。　That　is　why　I　have　let　it　stay　there；　though　at　times　I　have　feared　it　would　drop　off　and　roll　away　over　the　adobe　down　the　mountain…side。　Was　I　right？〃

〃Yes；　yes。〃　The　words　came　with　difficulty；　but　they　were　clear　enough。　〃It's　of　small　value。　I　like　it　because〃

He　appeared　to　be　too　weak　to　finish。

A　pause；　during　which　she　seemed　to　edge　nearer　to　him。

〃We　all　have　some　pet　keepsake；〃　said　she。　〃But　I　should　never　have　supposed　this　stone　of　yours　an　inexpensive　one。　But　I　forget　that　you　are　the　owner　of　a　very　large　and　remarkable　diamond；　a　diamond　that　is　spoken　of　sometimes　in　the　papers。　Of　course；　if　you　have　a　gem　like　that；　this　one　must　appear　very　small　and　valueless　to　you。〃

〃Yes；　this　is　nothing；　nothing。〃　And　he　appeared　to　turn　away　his　head。

〃Mr。　Fairbrother！　Pardon　me；　but　I　want　to　tell　you　something　about　that　big　diamond　of　yours。　You　have　been　in　and　have　not　been　able　to　read　your　letters；　so　do　not　know　that　your　wife　has　had　some　trouble　with　that　diamond。　People　have　said　that　it　is　not　a　real　stone；　but　a　well…executed　imitation。　May　I　write　to　her　that　this　is　a　mistake；　that　it　is　all　you　have　ever　claimed　for　itthat　is；　an　unusually　large　diamond　of　the　first　water？〃

I　listened　in　amazement。　Surely；　this　was　an　insidious　way　to　get　at　the　truth；a　woman's　way；　but　who　would　say　it　was　not　a　wise　one；　the　wisest；　perhaps；　which　could　be　taken　under　the　circumstances？　What　would　his　reply　be？　Would　it　show　that　he　was　as　ignorant　of　his　wife's　death　as　was　generally　believed；　both　by　those　about　him　here　and　those　who　knew　him　well　in　New　York？　Or　would　the　question　convey　nothing　further　to　him　than　the　doubtin　itself　an　insult　of　the　genuineness　of　that　great　stone　which　had　been　his　pride？

A　murmurthat　was　all　it　could　be　calledbroke　from　his　fever…dried　lips　and　died　away　in　an　inarticulate　gasp。　Then；　suddenly；　sharply；　a　cry　broke　from　him；　an　intelligible　cry；　and　we　heard　him　say：

〃No　imitation！　no　imitation！　It　was　a　sun！　a　glory！　No　other　like　it！　It　lit　the　air！　it　blazed；　it　burned！　I　see　it　now！　I　see〃

There　the　passion　succumbed；　the　strength　failed；　another　murmur；　another；　and　the　great　void　of　night　which　stretched　overI　might　almost　say　under　uswas　no　more　quiet　or　seemingly　impenetrable　than　the　silence　of　that　moon…enveloped　tent

Would　he　speak　again？　I　did　not　think　so。　Would　she　even　try　to　make　him？　I　did　not　think　this；　either。　But　I　did　not　know　the　woman。

Softly　her　voice　rose　again。　There　was　a　dominating　insistence　in　her　tones；　gentle　as　they　were；　the　insistence　of　a　healthy　mind　which　seeks　to　control　a　weakened　one。

〃You　do　not　know　of　any　imitation；　then？　It　was　the　real　stone　you　gave　her。　You　are　sure　of　it；　you　would　be　ready　to　swear　to　it　ifsay　just　yes　or　no；〃　she　finished　in　gentle　urgency。

Evidently　he　was　sinking　again　into　unconsciousness；　and　she　was　just　holding　him　back　long　enough　for　the　necessary　word。

It　came　slowly　and　with　a　dragging　intonation；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　the　ring　of　truth　with　which　he　spoke。

〃Yes；〃　said　he；

When　I　heard　the　doctor's　voice　and　felt　a　movement　in　the　canvas　against　which　I　leaned；　I　took　the　warning　and　stole　back　hurriedly　to　my　quarters。

I　was　scarcely　settled；　when　the　same　group　of　three　I　had　before　watched　silhouetted　itself　again　against　the　moonlight。　There　was　some　talk；　a　mingling　and　separating　of　shadows；　then　the　nurse　glided　back　to　her　duties　and　the　two　men　went　toward　the　clump　of　trees　where　the　horse　had　been　tethered。

Ten　minutes　and　the　doctor　was　back　in　his　bunk。　Was　it　imagination；　or　did　I　feel　his　hand　on　my　shoulder　before　he　finally　lay　down　and　composed　himself　to　sleep？　I　can　not　say；　I　only　know　that　I　gave　no　sign；　and　that　soon　all　stir　ceased　in　his　direction　and　I　was　left　to　enjoy　my　triumph　and　to　listen　with　anxious　interest　to　the　strange　and　unintelligible　sounds　which　accompanied　the　descent　of　the　horseman　down　the　face　of　the　cliff；　and　finally　to　watch　with　a　fascination；　which　drew　me　to　my　knees；　the　passage　of　that　sparkling　star　of　light　hanging　from　his　saddle。　It　crept　to　and　fro　across　the　side　of　the　opposite　mountain　as　he　threaded　its　endless　zigzags　and　finally　disappeared　over　the　brow　into　the　invisible　canyons　beyond。

With　the　disappearance　of　this　beacon　came　lassitude　and　sleep；　through　whose　hazy　atmosphere　floated　wild　sentences　from　the　sick　tent；　which　showed　that　the　patient　was　back　again　in　Nevada；　quarreling　over　the　price　of　a　horse　which　was　to　carry　him　beyond　the　reach　of　some　threatening　avalanche。

When　next　morning　I　came　to　depart；　the　doctor　took　me　by　both　hands　and　looked　me　straight　in　the　eyes。

〃You　heard；〃　he　said。

〃How　do　you　know？〃　I　asked。

〃I　can　tell　a　satisfied　man　when　I　see　him；〃　he　growled；　throwing　down　my　hands　with　that　same　humorous　twinkle　in　his　eyes　which　had　encouraged　me　from　the　first。

I　made　no　answer；　but　I　shall　remember　the　lesson。

One　detail　more。　When　I　stared　on　my　own　descent　I　found　why　the　leggings；　with　which　I　had　been　provided；　were　so　indispensable。　I　was　not　allowed　to　ride；　indeed；　riding　down　those　steep　declivities　was　impossible。　No　horse　could　preserve　his　balance　with　a　rider　on　his　back。　I　slid；　so　did　my　horse；　and　only　in　the　valley　beneath　did　we　come　together　again。

VIII

ARREST

The　success　of　this　interview　provoked　other　attempts　on　the　part　of　the　reporters　who　now　flocked　into　the　Southwest。　Ere　long　particulars　began　to　pour　in　of　Mr。　Fairbrother's　painful　journey　south；　after　his　illness　set　in。　The　clerk　of　the　hotel　in　El　Moro；　where　the　great　mine…owner's　name　was　found　registered　at　the　time　of　the　murder；　told　a　story　which　made　very　good　reading　for　those　who　were　more　interested　in　the　sufferings　and　experiences　of　the　millionaire　husband　of　the　murdered　lady　than　in　those　of　the　unhappy　but　comparatively　insignificant　man　upon　whom　public　opinion　had　cast　the　odium　of　her　death。

It　seems　that　when　the　first　news　came　of　the　great　crime　which　had　taken　place　in　New　York；　Mr。　Fairbrother　was　absent　from　the　hotel　on　a　prospecting　tour　through　the　adjacent　mountains。　Couriers　had　been　sent　after　him；　and　it　was　one　of　these　who　finally　brought　him　into　town。　He　had　been　found　wandering　alone　on　horseback　among　the　defiles　of　an　untraveled　region；　sick　and　almost　incoherent　from　fever。　Indeed；　his　condition　was　such　that　neither　the　courier　nor　such　others　as　saw　him　had　the　heart　to　tell　him　the　dreadful　news　from　New　York；　or　even　to　show　him　the　papers。　To　their　great　relief；　he　betrayed　no　curiosity　in　them。　All　he　wanted　was　a　berth　in　the　first　train　going　south；　and　this　was　an　easy　way　for　them　out　of　a　great　responsibility。　They　listened　to　his　wishes　and　saw　him　safely　aboard；　with　such　alacrity　and　with　so　many　precautions　against　his　being　disturbed　that　they　have　never　doubted　that　he　left　El　Moro　in　total　ignorance；　not　only　of　the　circumstances　of　his　great　bereavement；　but　of　the　bereavement　itself。

This　ignorance；　which　he　appeared　to　have　carried　with　him　to　the　Placide；　was　regarded　by　those　who　knew　him　best　as　proving　the　truth　of　the　affirmation　elicited　from　him　in　the　pauses　of　his　delirium　of　the　genuineness　of　the　stone　which　had　passed　from　his　hands　to　those　of　his　wife　at　the　time　of　their　separation；　and；　further　despatches　coming　in；　some　private　and　some　official；　but　all　insisting　upon　the　fact　that　it　would　be　weeks　before　he　would　be　in　a　condition　to　submit　to　any　sort　of　examination　on　a　subject　so　painful；　the　authorities　in　New　York　decided　to　wait　no　longer　for　his　testimony；　but　to　proceed　at　once　with　the　inquest。

Great　as　is　the　temptation　to　give　a　detailed　account　of　proceedings　which　were　of　s