the filigree ball-第28部分

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the　faces　of　the　jury；　and　the　dark　and　brooding　look　which　had
marked　their　countenances　from　the　beginning　returned；　and　returned
to　stay。

What　would　their　verdict　be？　　There　were　present　two　persons　who
affected　to　believe　that　it　would　be　one　of　suicide　occasioned　by
dementia。　　These　were　Miss　Tuttle　and　Mr。　Jeffrey；　who；　now　that
the　critical　period　had　come；　straightened　themselves　boldly　in
their　seats　and　met　the　glances　concentrated　upon　them　with　dignity；
if　not　with　the　assurance　of　complete　innocence。　　But　from　the
carefulness　with　which　they　avoided　each　other's　eyes　and　the　almost
identical　expression　mirrored　upon　both　faces；　it　was　visible　to
all　that　they　regarded　their　cause　as　a　common　one；　and　that　the
link　which　they　denied；　as　having　existed　between　them　prior　to
Mrs。　Jeffrey's　death；　had　in　some　way　been　supplied　by　that　very
tragedy；　so　that　they　now　unwittingly　looked　with　the　same　eyes；
breathed　with　the　same　breath；　and　showed　themselves　responsive　to
the　same　fluctuations　of　hope　and　fear。

The　celerity　with　which　that　jury　arrived　at　its　verdict　was　a　shock
to　us　all。　　It　had　been　a　quiet　body；　offering　but　little　assistance
to　the　coroner　in　his　questioning；　but　when　it　fell　to　these　men　to
act；　the　precision　with　which　they　did　so　was　astonishing。　　In　a
half…hour　they　returned　from　the　room　into　which　they　had　adjourned；
and　the　foreman　gave　warning　that　he　was　prepared　to　render　a　verdict。

Mr。　Jeffrey　and　Miss　Tuttle　both　clenched　their　hands；　then　Miss
Tuttle　pulled　down　her　veil。

〃We　find；〃　said　the　solemn　foreman；　〃that　Veronica　Moore　Jeffrey；　who
on　the　night　of　May　eleventh　was　discovered　lying　dead　on　the　floor
of　her　own　unoccupied　house　in　Waverley　Avenue；　came　to　her　death　by
means　of　a　bullet；　shot　from　a　pistol　connected　to　her　wrist　by　a
length　of　white　satin　ribbon。

〃That　the　first　conclusion　of　suicide　is　not　fully　sustained　by　the
facts；

〃And　that　attempt　should　be　made　to　identify　the　hand　that　fired
this　pistol。〃

It　was　as　near　an　accusation　of　Miss　Tuttle　as　was　possible　without
mentioning　her　name。　　A　groan　passed　through　the　assemblage；　and　Mr。
Jeffrey；　bounding　to　his　feet；　showed　an　inclination　to　shout　aloud
in　his　violent　indignation。　　But　Miss　Tuttle；　turning　toward　him；
lifted　her　hand　with　a　commanding　gesture　and　held　it　so　till　he　sat
down　again。

It　was　both　a　majestic　and　an　utterly　incomprehensible　movement　on
her　part；　giving　to　the　close　of　these　remarkable　proceedings　a
dramatic　climax　which　set　all　hearts　beating　and；　I　am　bound　to　say；
all　tongues　wagging　till　the　room　cleared。




XVI

AN　EGOTIST　OF　THE　FIRST　WATER


Had　the　control　of　affairs　been　mine　at　this　moment　I　am　quite
positive　that　I　should　have　found　it　difficult　to　deny　these　two
the　short　interview　which　they　appeared　to　crave　and　which　would
have　been　to　them　such　an　undeniable　comfort。　　But　a　sterner　spirit
than　mine　was　in　charge；　and　the　district　attorney；　into　whose　hands
the　affair　had　now　fallen；　was　inexorable。　　Miss　Tuttle　was　treated
with　respect；　with　kindness；　even；　but　she　was　not　allowed　any
communication　with　her　brother…in…law　beyond　the　formal　〃Good
afternoon〃　incident　upon　their　separation；　while　he；　scorning　to
condemn　his　lips　to　any　such　trite　commonplace；　said　nothing　at　all；
only　looked　a　haggard　inquiry　which　called　forth　from　her　the　most
exalted　look　of　patience　and　encouraging　love　it　has　ever　been　my
good　fortune　to　witness。　　Durbin　was　standing　near　and　saw　this
look　as　plainly　as　I　did；　but　it　did　not　impose　on　him；　he　said。
But　what　in　the　nature　of　human　woe　could　impose　on　him？　　Durbin　is
a　machine　…　a　very　reliable　and　useful　machine；　no　doubt；　yet　when
all　is　said；　a　simple　contrivance　of　cogs　and　wheels；　while　I　…　well；
I　hope　that　I　am　something　more　than　that；　or　why　was　I　a　changed
man　toward　her　from　the　moment　I　saw　the　smile　which　marked　this
accused　woman's　good　by　to　Francis　Jeffrey。　　No　longer　believing　in
her　guilt；　I　went　about　my　business　with　tumult　in　brain　and　heart；
asking　in　my　remorse　for　an　opportunity　to　show　her　some　small
courtesy　whereby　to　relieve　the　torture　I　felt　at　having　helped　the
coroner　in　the　inquiries　which　had　brought　about　what　looked　to　me
now　like　a　cruel　and　unwarranted　result。

That　it　should　be　given　to　Durbin　to　hold　such　surveillance　over　her
as　her　doubtful　position　demanded　added　greatly　to　my　discomfort。
But　I　was　enabled　to　keep　my　lips　firmly　shut　over　any　expression　of
secret　jealousy　or　displeasure；　and　this　was　fortunate；　as　otherwise
I　might　have　failed　to　obtain　the　chance　of　aiding　her　later　on；　in
other　and　deeper　matters。

Meanwhile；　and　before　any　of　us　had　left　this　room；　one　fact　had
become　apparent。　　Mr。　Jeffrey　was　not　going　to　volunteer　any　fresh
statement　in　face　of　the　distinct　disapproval　of　his　sister…in…law。
As　his　eye　fell　upon　the　district　attorney；　who　had　lingered　near；
possibly　in　the　hope　of　getting　something　more　from　this　depressed
and　almost　insensible　man；　he　made　one　remark；　but　it　was　an
automatic　one；　calculated　to　produce　but　little　effect　on　the
discriminating　ears　of　this　experienced　official。

〃I　do　not　believe　that　my　wife　was　murdered。〃　　This　was　what　he　said。
〃It　was　a　wicked　verdict。　　My　wife　killed　herself。　　Wasn't　the　pistol
found　tied　to　her？〃

Either　from　preoccupation　or　a　dazed　condition　of　mind；　he　seemed　to
forget　that　Miss　Tuttle　had　owned　to　tying　on　this　pistol；　and　that
nothing　but　her　word　went　to　prove　that　this　was　done　before　and　not
after　the　shot　had　been　delivered　in　the　Moore　house　library。　　I
thought　I　understood　him　and　was　certain　that　I　sympathized　with　his
condition；　but　in　the　ears　of　those　less　amiably　disposed　toward　him；
his　statements　had　lost　force　and　the　denial　went　for　little。

Meanwhile　a　fact　which　all　had　noted　and　commented　on　had　recurred　to
my　mind　and　caused　me　to　ask　a　brother　officer　who　was　walking　out
beside　me　what　he　thought　of　Mr。　Moore's　absence　from　an　inquiry
presumably　of　such　importance　to　all　members　of　this　family。

The　fellow　laughed　and　said：

〃Old　Dave　has　lost　none　of　his　peculiarities　in　walking　into　his
fortune。　　This　is　his　day　at　the　cemetery。　　Didn't　you　know　that？
He　will　let　nothing　on　earth　get　in　the　way　of　his　pilgrimage　to
that　spot　on　the　twenty…third　of　May；　much　less　so　trivial　an
occurrence　as　an　inquest　over　the　remains　of　his　nearest　relative。〃

I　felt　my　gorge　rise；　then　a　thought　struck　me　and　I　asked　how　long
the　old　gentleman　kept　up　his　watch。

〃From　sunrise　to　sundown；　the　boys　say。　　I　never　saw　him　there　myself。
My　beat　lies　in　an　opposite　direction。〃

I　left　him　and　started　for　Rock　Creek　Cemetery。　　There　were　two　good
hours　yet　before　sundown　and　I　resolved　to　come　upon　Uncle　David　at
his　post。

It　took　just　one　hour　and　a　quarter　to　get　there　by　the　most　direct
route　I　could　take。　　Five　minutes　more　to　penetrate　the　grounds　to
where　a　superb　vehicle　stood；　drawn　by　two　of　the　finest　horses　I
had　seen　in　Washington　for　many　a　long　day。　　As　I　was　making　my　way
around　this　equipage　I　came　upon　a　plot　in　a　condition　of　upheaval
preparatory　to　new　sodding　and　the　planting　of　several　choice　shrubs。
In　the　midst　of　the　sand　thus　exposed　a　single　head…stone　rose。　　On
his　knees　beside　this　simple　monument　I　saw　the　figure　of　Uncle
David；　dressed　in　his　finest　clothes　and　showing　in　his　oddly
contorted　face　the　satisfaction　of　great　prosperity；　battling　with
the　dissatisfaction　of　knowing　that　one　he　had　so　loved　had　not
lived　to　share　his　elevation。　　He　was　rubbing　away　the　mold　from　the
name　which；　by　his　own　confession；　was　the　only　one　to　which　his
memory　clung　in　sympathy　or　endearment。　　At　his　feet　lay　an　open
basket；　in　which　I　detected　the　remains　of　what　must　have　been　a
rather　sumptuous　cold　repast。　　To　all　appearance　he　had　foregone
none　of　his　ancient　customs；　only　those　customs　had　taken　on　elegance
with　his　rise　in　fortune。　　The　carriage　and　the　horses；　and　most　of
all；　the　imperturbable　driver；　seemed　to　awaken　some　awe　in　the　boys。
They　were　still　in　evidence；　but　they　hung　back　sheepishly　and　eyed
the　basket　of　neglected　food　as　if　they　hoped　he　would　forget　to　take
it　away。　　Meanwhile　the　clattering　of　chains　against　the　harness；　the
pawing　of　the　horses　and　the　low　exclamations　of　the　driver　caused　me
the　queerest　feelings。　　Advancing　quite　unceremoniously　upon　the
watcher　by　the　grave；　I　remarked　aloud；

〃The　setting　sun　will　soon　release　you；　Mr。　Moore。　　Are　you　going
immediately　into　town？〃

He　paused　in　his　rubbing；　which　was　being　done　with　a　very　tender
hand；　and　as　if　he　really　loved　the　name　he　was　endeavoring　to　bring
into　plainer　view。　　Scowling　a　little；　he　turned　and　met　me
point…blank　with　a　look　which　had　a　good　deal　of　inquiry　in　it。

〃I　am　not　usually　interrupted　here；〃　he　emphasized；　〃except　by　the
boys；〃　he　added　more　mildly。　　〃They　sometimes　approach　too　closely；
but　I　am　used　to　the　imps　and　scarcely　notice　them。　　Ah！　　there　are
some　of　my　old　friends　now！　　Well；　it　is　time　they　knew　that　a
change　has　taken　place　in　my　fortunes。　　Hi；　there！　　Hands　up　and
catch　this；　and　this；　and　this！〃　he　shouted。　　〃But　keep　quiet　about
it　or　next　year　you　will　get　pennies　again。〃

And　flinging　quarters　right　and　left；　he　smiled　in　such　a　pompous；
self…satisfied　way　at　the　hurrah　and　scramble　which　ensued；　that　it
was　well　worth　my　journey　there　just　to　see　this　exhibition　of
combined　vanity　and　good　humor。

〃Now　go！〃　he　vociferated；　and　the　urchins；　black　and　white；　flew
away；　flinging　up　their　heels　in　delight　and　shouting：　〃Bully　for　you；
Uncle　David！　　We'll　come　again　next　year；　not　for　twenty…fives　but
fifties。〃

〃I　will　make　it　dollars　if　I　only　live　so　long；〃　he　muttered。　　And
deigning　now　to　remember　the　question　I　had　put　to　him；　he　grandly
remarked：

〃I　am　going　straight　into　town。　　Can　I　do　anything　for　you？〃

〃Nothing。　　I　thought　you　might　like　to　know　what　awaits　you　there。
The　city　is　greatly　stirred　up。　　The　coroner's　jury　in　the
Jeffrey…Moore　case　has　just　brought　in　a　verdict　to　the　effect　that
suicide　has　not　been　proved。　　Naturally；　this　is　equivalent　to　one
of　murder。〃