the filigree ball-第49部分

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do；　too；　I　see　…　for　it　was　my　hand　which　had　placed　it　in　its
present　concealment。　　Quite　determined　to　reread　such　portions　of
it；　as　I　had　long　before　marked　as　pertinent　to　the　very　attempt　I
had　in　mind；　I　brought　in　the　candelabrum　from　the　parlor　and　drew
out　a　table　to　hold　it。　　But　I　waited　a　few　moments　before　taking
down　the　book　itself。　　I　wanted　first　to　learn　what　Mr。　Jeffrey　had
been　doing　upstairs　the　night　before。　So　leaving　the　light　burning
in　the　library；　I　proceeded　to　the　southwest　chamber；　holding　an
unlit　candle　in　my　hand；　the　light　feebly　diffused　through　the
halls　from　some　upper　windows　being　sufficient　for　me　to　see　my　way。
But　in　the　chamber　itself　all　was　dark。

The　wind　had　not　yet　risen　and　the　shutter　which　a　half…hour　later
moved　so　restlessly　on　its　creaking　hinges；　hugged　the　window　so
tightly　that　I　imagined　Mr。　Jeffrey　had　fastened　it　the　night　before。
Looking　for　some　receptacle　in　which　to　set　the　candle　I　now　lit；
I　failed　to　find　anything　but　an　empty　tumbler；　so　I　made　use　of
that。　　Then　I　glanced　about　me；　but　seeing　nothing　worth　my　attention
　…　Mrs。　Jeffrey's　wedding　fixings　did　not　interest　me；　and　everything
else　about　the　room　looking　natural　except　the　overturned　chair；
which　struck　me　as　immaterial。　　I　hurried　downstairs　again；　leaving
the　candle　burning　behind　me　in　case　I　should　wish　to　return　aloft
after　I　had　refreshed　my　mind　with　what　had　been　written　about　this
old　room。

〃Not　a　sound　disturbed　the　house　as　I　seated　myself　to　my　reading
in　front　of　the　library　shelves。　　I　was　as　much　alone　under　that
desolate　roof　as　mortal　could　be　with　men　anywhere　within　reach　of
him。　　I　enjoyed　the　solitude　and　was　making　a　very　pretty　theory
for　myself　on　a　scrap　of　paper　I　tore　from　another　old　book　when
a　noise　suddenly　rose　in　front；　which；　slight　as　it　was；　was　quite
unmistakable　to　ears　trained　in　listening。　　Some　one　was　unlocking
the　front　door。

〃Naturally　I　thought　it　to　be　Mr。　Jeffrey　returning　for　a　second
visit　to　his　wife's　house；　and　knowing　what　I　might　expect　if　he
surprised　me　on　the　premises；　I　restored　the　book　hastily　to　its
place　and　as　hastily　blew　out　the　candle。　　Then；　with　every
intention　of　flight；　I　backed　toward　the　door　by　which　I　had
entered。　　But　some　impulse　stronger　than　that　of　escape　made　me
stop　just　before　I　reached　it。　　I　could　see　nothing；　the　place　was
dark　as　Tophet；　but　I　could　listen。　　The　person　…　Mr。　Jeffrey；　or
some　other　…　was　coming　my　way　and　in　perfect　darkness。　　I　could
hear　the　faltering　steps　…　the　fingers　dragging　along　the　walls；
then　a　rustle　as　of　skirts；　proving　the　intruder　to　be　a　woman　…　a
fact　which　greatly　surprised　me　…　then　a　long　drawn　sigh　or　gasp。

〃The　last　determined　me。　　The　situation　was　too　intense　for　me　to
leave　without　first　learning　who　the　woman　was　who　in　terror　and
shrinking　dared　to　drag　her　half　resisting　feet　through　these　empty
halls　and　into　a　place　cursed　with　such　unwholesome　memories。　　I
did　not　think　of　Veronica。　　No　one　looks　for　a　butterfly　in　the
depths　of　a　dungeon。　But　I　did　think　of　Miss　Tuttle　…　that　woman　of
resolute　will。　　Without　attempting　to　imaging　the　reason　for　her
presence；　I　stood　my　ground　and　harkened　till　the　heavy　mahogany　door
at　the　other　end　of　the　room　began　to　swing　in　by　jerks　under　the
faint　and　tremulous　push　of　a　terrified　hand。　　Then　there　came
silence　…　a　long　silence　…　followed　by　a　moan　so　agonized　that　I
realized　that　whatever　was　the　cause　of　this　panting　woman's
presence　here；　it　was　due　to　no　mere　errand　of　curiosity。　　This
whetted　my　purpose。　　Anything　done　in　this　house　was　in　a　way　done
to　me；　so　I　remained　quiet　and　watched。　　But　the　sounds　which　now
and　then　came　from　the　remote　corner　upon　which　my　attention　was
concentrated　were　very　eloquent。

I　heard　sighs　and　bitter　groans；　with　now　and　then　a　murmured
prayer；　broken　by　a　low　wailing；　in　which　I　caught　the　name　of
Francis。　　And　still；　possibly　on　account　of　the　utterance　of　this
name；　I　thought　the　woman　near　me　to　be　Miss　Tuttle；　and　even　went
so　far　as　to　imagine　the　cause　of　her　suffering　if　not　the　nature
of　her　retribution。　　Words　succeeded　cries　and　I　caught　phrases
expressive　of　fear　and　some　sort　of　agonized　hesitation。　　Once
these　broken　ejaculations　were　interrupted　by　a　dull　sound。
Something　had　dropped　to　the　bare　floor。　　We　shall　never　know　what
it　was；　but　I　have　no　doubt　that　it　was　the　pistol；　and　that　the
marks　of　dust　to　be　found　on　the　connecting　ribbon　were　made　by　her
own　fingers　in　taking　it　again　in　her　hand。　　（You　will　remember
that　these　same　fingers　had　but　a　few　minutes　previous　groped　their
way　along　the　walls。）　　For　her　voice　soon　took　a　different　tone；
and　such　unintelligible　phrases　as　these　could　be　heard　issuing
from　her　partly　paralyzed　lips：

〃'I　must！　…　I　can　never　meet　his　eye　again　alive。　　He　would　despise
　…　　Brave　enough　to　…　to　…　another's　blood　…　coward　…　when　…　own。
Oh；　God！　　forgive！'　　Then　another　silence　during　which　I　almost
made　up　my　mind　to　interfere；　then　a　loud　report　and　a　flash　so
startling　and　unexpected　that　I　recoiled；　during　which　the　room
leaped　into　sudden　view　…　she　too　…　Veronica　…　with　baby　face　drawn
and　set　like　a　woman's　…　then　darkness　again　and　a　heavy　fall　which
shook　the　floor；　if　not　my　hard　old　heart。　　The　flash　and　that　fall
enlightened　me。　　I　had　just　witnessed　the　suicide　of　the　last　Moore
saving　myself；　a　suicide　for　which　I　was　totally　unprepared　and　one
which　I　do　not　yet　understand。

〃I　did　not　go　over　to　her。　　She　was　as　dead　when　she　fell　as　she
ever　would　be。　　In　the　flash　which　lit　everything；　I　had　seen　where
her　pistol　was　pointed。　　Why　disturb　her　then？　　Nor　did　I　return
upstairs。　　I　had　small　interest　now　in　anything　but　my　own　escape
from　a　situation　more　or　less　compromising。

Do　you　blame　me　for　this？　　I　was　her　heir　and　I　was　where　I　had　no
legal　right　to　be。　　Do　you　think　that　I　was　called　upon　to　publish
my　shame　and　tell　how　I　lingered　there　while　my　own　niece　shot
herself　before　my　eyes？　　That　shot　made　me　a　millionaire。　　This
certainly　was　excitement　enough　for　one　day　…　besides；　I　did　not
leave　her　there　neglected。　　I　notified　you　later　…　after　I　had　got
my　breath　and　had　found　some　excuse。　　That　wasn't　enough？　　Ah；　I
see　that　you　are　all　models　of　courage　and　magnanimity。　　You　would
have　laid　yourselves　open　to　every　reproach　rather　than　let　a
little　necessary　perjury　pass　your　lips。　　But　I　am　no　model。　　I
am　simply　an　old　man　who　has　been　too　hardly　dealt　with　for　seventy
long　years　to　possess　every　virtue。　　I　made　a　mistake　…　I　see　it
now　…　trusted　a　dog　when　I　shouldn't　…　but　if　Rudge　had　not　seen
ghosts　…　well；　what　now？〃

We　had；　one　and　all；　with　an　involuntary　impulse；　turned　our　backs
upon　him。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　hotly　demanded。

〃Only　what　all　Washington　will　do　to…morrow；　and　afterwards　the
whole　world；〃　gravely　returned　the　major。　　Then；　as　an　ejaculation
escaped　the　astonished　millionaire；　he　impressively　added：　〃A
perjury　which　allows　an　innocent　man　and　woman　to　remain　under　the
suspicion　of　murder　for　five　weeks　is　one　which　not　only　the　law
has　a　right　to　punish；　but　which　all　society　will　condemn。
Henceforth　you　will　find　yourself　under　a　ban；　Mr。　Moore。〃*

My　story　ends　here。　　The　matter　never　came　before　the　grand　jury。
Suicide　had　been　proved；　and　there　the　affair　rested。　　Of　myself　it
is　enough　to　add　that　I　sometimes　call　in　Durbin　to　help　me　in　a
big　case。

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*　Time　amply　verified　this　prophecy。　　Mr。　　Moore　is　living　in　great
style　in　the　Moore　house；　and　drives　horses　which　are　conspicuous
even　in　Washington。　　But　no　one　accepts　his　invitations；　and　he　is
as　much　of　a　recluse　in　his　present　mansion　as　he　ever　was　in　the
humble　cottage　in　which　his　days　of　penury　were　spent。
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XXVII

YOU　HAVE　COME！　　YOU　RAVE　SOUGHT　ME！〃


These　are　some　words　from　a　letter　written　a　few　months　after　the
foregoing　by　one　Mrs。　Edward　Truscott　to　a　friend　in　New　York：

〃Edinburgh；　May　7th；　1900。

〃Dear　Louisa：　…　You　have　always　accused　me　of　seeing　more　and
hearing　more　than　any　other　person　of　your　acquaintance。　　Perhaps
I　am　fortunate　in　that　respect。　　Certainly　I　have　been　favored
today　with　an　adventure　of　some　interest　which　I　make　haste　to
relate　to　you。

〃Being　anxious　to　take　home　with　me　some　sketches　of　the
exquisite　ornamentation　in　the　Rosslyn　chapel　about　which　I　wrote
you　so　enthusiastically　the　other　day；　I　took　advantage　of　Edward's
absence　this　morning　to　visit　the　place　again　and　this　time　alone。
The　sky　was　clear　and　the　air　balmy；　and　as　I　approached　the　spot
from　the　near…by　station　I　was　not　surprised　to　see　another　woman
straying　quietly　about　the　exterior　of　the　chapel　gazing　at　walls
which；　interesting　as　they　are；　are　but　a　rough　shell　hiding　the
incomparable　beauties　within。　　I　noticed　this　lady；　I　could　not
help　it。　　She　was　one　to　attract　any　eye。　　Seldom　have　I　seen　such
grace；　such　beauty；　and　both　infused　by　such　melancholy。　　Her
sadness　added　wonderfully　to　her　charm；　and　I　found　it　hard　enough
to　pass　her　with　the　single　glance　allowable　to　a　stranger；
especially　as　she　gave　evidence　of　being　one　of　my　own　countrywomen：

〃However；　I　saw　no　alternative；　and　once　within　the　charmed　edifice；
forgot　everything　in　the　congenial　task　I　had　set　for　myself。　　For
some　reason　the　chapel　was　deserted　at　this　moment　by　all　but　me。
As　the　special　scroll…work　I　wanted　was　in　a　crypt　down　a　short
flight　of　steps　at　the　right　of　the　altar；　I　was　completely　hidden
from　view　to　any　one　entering　above　and　was　enjoying　both　my
seclusion　and　the　opportunity　it　gave　me　of　carrying　out　my　purpose
unwatched　when　I　heard　a　light　step　above　and　realized　that　the
exquisite　beauty　which　had　so　awakened　my　admiration　had　at　last
found　its　perfect　setting。　　Such　a　face　amid　such　exquisite
surroundings　was　a　rare　sight；　and　interested　as　I　always　am　in
artistic　effects　I　was　about　to　pocket　pencil　and　pad　and　make　my
way　up　to　where　she　moved　among　the　carved　pillars　when　I　heard　a