the filigree ball-第7部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


drawing…room。　　But　she　was　not　to　be　turned　aside　from　her　course。
Passing　him　by；　she　made　directly　for　the　library　which　she　entered
with　a　bound。　　Struck　by　her　daring；　we　all　crowded　up　behind　her；
and；　curious　brutes　that　we　were；　grouped　ourselves　in　a　semicircle
about　the　doorway　as　she　faltered　toward　her　sister's　outstretched
form　and　fell　on　her　knees　beside　it。　　Her　involuntary　shriek　and
the　fierce　recoil　she　made　as　her　eyes　fell　on　the　long　white　ribbon
trailing　over　the　floor　from　her　sister's　wrist；　struck　me　as　voicing
the　utmost　horror　of　which　the　human　soul　is　capable。　　It　was　as
though　her　very　soul　were　pierced。　　Something　in　the　fact　itself；
something　in　the　appearance　of　this　snowy　ribbon　tied　to　the　scarce
whiter　wrist；　seemed　to　pluck　at　the　very　root　of　her　being；　and
when　her　glance；　in　traveling　its　length；　lighted　on　the　death　dealing
weapon　at　its　end；　she　cringed　in　such　apparent　anguish　that　we
looked　to　see　her　fall　in　a　swoon　or　break　out　into　delirium。　　We
were　correspondingly　startled　when　she　suddenly　burst　forth　with
this　word　of　stern　command：

〃Untie　that　knot！　　Why　do　you　leave　that　dreadful　thing　fast　to　her？
Untie　it；　I　say；　it　is　killing　me；　I　can　not　bear　the　sight。〃　　And
from　trembling　she　passed　to　shuddering　till　her　whole　body　shook
convulsively。

The　captain；　with　much　consideration；　drew　back　the　hand　he　had
impulsively　stretched　toward　the　ribbon。

〃No；　no；〃　he　protested；　〃we　can　not　do　that；　we　can　do　nothing　till
the　coroner　comes。　　It　is　necessary　that　he　should　see　her　just　as
she　was　found。　　Besides；　Mr。　Jeffrey　has　a　right　to　the　same
privilege。　　We　expect　him　any　moment。〃

The　beautiful　head　of　the　woman　before　us　shook　involuntarily；　but
her　lips　made　no　protest。　　I　doubt　if　she　possessed　the　power　of
speech　at　that　moment。　　A　change；　subtle；　but　quite　perceptible；
had　taken　place　in　her　emotions　at　mention　of　her　sister's　husband；
and；　though　she　exerted　herself　to　remain　calm；　the　effort　seemed
too　much　for　her　strength。　　Anxious　to　hide　this　evidence　of　weakness；
she　rose　impetuously；　and　then　we　saw　how　tall　she　was；　how　the　long
lines　of　her　cloak　became　her；　and　what　a　glorious　creature　she　was
altogether。

〃It　will　kill　him；〃　she　groaned　in　a　deep　inward　voice。　　Then；　with
a　certain　forced　haste　and　in　a　tone　of　surprise　which　to　my　ear　had
not　quite　a　natural　ring；　she　called　aloud　on　her　who　could　no　longer
either　listen　or　answer：

〃Oh；　Veronica；　Veronica！　　What　cause　had　you　for　death？　　And　why　do
we　find　you　lying　here　in　a　spot　you　so　feared　and　detested？〃

〃Don't　you　know？〃　insinuated　the　captain；　with　a　mild　persuasiveness；
such　as　he　was　seldom　heard　to　use。　　〃Do　you　mean　that　you　can　not
account　for　your　sister's　violent　end；　you；　who　have　lived　with　her
　…　or　so　I　have　been　told…ever　since　her　marriage　with　Mr。　Jeffrey？〃

〃Yes。〃

Keen　and　clear　the　word　rang　out；　fierce　in　its　keenness　and　almost
too　clear　to　be　in　keeping　with　the　half　choked　tones　with　which　she
added：　〃I　know　that　she　was　not　happy；　that　she　never　has　been　happy
since　the　shadow　which　this　room　suggests　fell　upon　her　marriage。
But　how　could　I　so　much　as　dream　that　her　dread　of　the　past　or　her
fear　of　the　future　would　drive　her　to　suicide；　and　in　this　place　of
all　places！　　Had　I　done　so　…　had　I　imagined　in　the　least　degree　that
she　was　affected　to　this　extent　…　do　you　think　that　I　would　have
left　her　for　one　instant　alone？　　None　of　us　knew　that　she　contemplated
death。　　She　had　no　appearance　of　it；　she　laughed　when　I　…〃

What　had　she　been　about　to　say？　　The　captain　seemed　to　wonder；　and
after　waiting　in　vain　for　the　completion　of　her　sentence；　he　quietly
suggested：

〃You　have　not　finished　what　you　had　to　say；　Miss　Tuttle。〃

She　started　and　seemed　to　come　back　from　some　remote　region　of
thought　into　which　she　had　wandered。　　〃I　don't　know　…　I　forget；〃　she
stammered；　with　a　heart…broken　sigh。　　〃Poor　Veronica！　　Wretched
Veronica！　　How　shall　I　ever　tell　him！　　How；　how；　can　we　ever　prepare
him！〃

The　captain　took　advantage　of　this　reference　to　Mr。　Jeffrey　to　ask
where　that　gentleman　was。　　The　young　lady　did　not　seem　eager　to
reply；　but　when　pressed；　answered；　though　somewhat　mechanically；
that　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　say；　Mr。　Jeffrey　had　many　friends
with　any　one　of　whom　he　might　be　enjoying　a　social　evening。

〃But　it　is　far　past　midnight　now；〃　remarked　the　captain。　　〃Is　he　in
the　habit　of　remaining　out　late？〃

〃Sometimes；〃　she　faintly　admitted。　　〃Two　or　three　times　since　his
marriage　he　has　been　out　till　one。〃

Were　there　other　causes　for　the　young　bride's　evident　disappointment
and　misery　besides　the　one　intimated？　　There　certainly　was　some
excuse　for　thinking　so。

Possibly　some　one　of　as　may　have　shown　his　doubts　in　this　regard；
for　the　woman　before　us　suddenly　broke　forth　with　this　vehement
assertion：

〃Mr。　Jeffrey　was　a　loving　husband　to　my　sister。　　A　very　loving
husband；〃　she　emphasized。　　Then；　growing　desperately　pale；　she　added；
〃I　have　never　known　a　better　man；〃　and　stopped。

Some　hidden　anguish　in　this　cry；　some　self…consciousness　in　this
pause；　suggested　to　me　a　possibility　which　I　was　glad　to　see　ignored
by　the　captain　in　his　next　question。

〃When　did　you　see　your　sister　last？〃　he　asked。　　〃Were　you　at　home
when　she　left　her　husband's　house？〃

〃Alas！〃　she　murmured。　　Then　seeing　that　a　more　direct　answer　was
expected　of　her；　she　added　with　as　little　appearance　of　effort　as
possible：　〃I　was　at　home　and　I　heard　her　go　out。　　But　I　had　no　idea
that　it　was　for　any　purpose　other　than　to　join　some　social　gathering。〃

〃Dressed　this　way？〃

The　captain　pointed　to　the　floor　and　her　eyes　followed。　　Certainly
Mrs。　Jeffrey　was　not　appareled　for　an　evening　company。　　As　Miss
Tuttle　realized　the　trap　into　which　she　had　been　betrayed；　her　words
rushed　forth　and　tripped　each　other　up。

〃I　did　not　notice。　　She　often　wore　black　…　it　became　her。　　My　sister
was　eccentric。〃

Worse；　worse　than　useless。　　Some　slips　can　not　be　explained　away。
Miss　Tuttle　seemed　to　realize　that　this　was　one　of　them；　for　she
paused　abruptly；　with　the　words　half　finished　on　her　tongue。　　Yet
her　attitude　commanded　respect；　and　I　for　one　was　ready　to　accord
it　to　her。

Certainly；　such　a　woman　was　not　to　be　seen　every　day；　and　if　her
replies　lacked　candor；　there　was　a　nobility　in　her　presence　which
gave　the　lie　to　any　doubt。　　At　least；　that　was　the　effect　she
produced　on　me。　　Whether　or　not　her　interrogator　shared　my　feeling
I　could　not　so　readily　determine；　for　his　attention　as　well　as　mine
was　suddenly　diverted　by　the　cry　which　now　escaped　her　lips。

〃Her　watch！　　Where　is　her　watch？　　It　is　gone！　　I　saw　it　on　her
breast　and　it's　gone。　　It　hung　just　…　just　where　…〃

〃Wait！〃　cried　one　of　the　men　who　had　been　peering　about　the　floor。
〃Is　this　it？〃

He　held　aloft　a　small　object　blazing　with　jewels。

〃Yes；〃　she　gasped；　trying　to　take　it。

But　the　officer　gave　it　to　the　captain　instead。

〃It　must　have　slipped　from　her　as　she　fell；〃　remarked　the　latter；
after　a　cursory　examination　of　the　glittering　trinket。　　〃The　pin　by
which　she　attached　it　to　her　dress　must　have　been　insecurely
fastened。〃　　Then　quickly　and　with　a　sharp　look　at　Miss　Tuttle：　〃Do
you　know　if　this　was　considered　an　accurate　timepiece？〃

〃Yes。　　Why　do　you　ask？　　Is　it　…〃

〃Look！〃　　He　held　it　up　with　the　face　toward　us。　　The　hands　stood　at
thirteen　minutes　past　seven。　　〃The　hour　and　the　moment　when　it　struck
the　floor；〃　he　declared。　　〃And　consequently　the　hour　and　the　moment
when　Mrs。　Jeffrey　fell；〃　finished　Durbin。

Miss　Tuttle　said　nothing；　only　gasped。

〃Valuable　evidence；〃　quoth　the　captain；　putting　the　watch　in　his
pocket。　　Then；　with　a　kind　look　at　her；　called　forth　by　the　sight
of　her　misery：

〃Does　this　hour　agree　with　the　time　of　her　leaving　the　house？〃

〃I　can　not　say。　　I　think　so。　　It　was　some　time　before　or　after　seven。
I　don't　remember　the　exact　minute。〃

〃It　would　take　fifteen　for　her　to　walk　here。　　Did　she　walk？〃

〃I　do　not　know。　　I　didn't　see　her　leave。　　My　room　is　at　the　back　of
the　house。〃

〃You　can　say　if　she　left　alone　or　in　the　company　of　her　husband？〃

〃Mr。　Jeffrey　was　not　with　her？〃

〃Was　Mr。　Jeffrey　in　the　house？〃

〃He　was　not。〃

This　last　negative　was　faintly　spoken。

The　captain　noticed　this　and　ventured　upon　interrogating　her　further。

〃How　long　had　he　been　gone？〃

Her　lips　parted；　she　was　deeply　agitated；　but　when　she　spoke　it　was
coldly　and　with　studied　precision。

〃Mr。　Jeffrey　was　not　at　home　to…night　at　all。　　He　has　not　been　in
all　day。〃

〃Not　at　home？　　Did　his　wife　know　that　he　was　going　to　dine　out？〃

〃She　said　nothing　about　it。〃

The　captain　cut　short　his　questions　and　in　another　moment　I
understood　why。　　A　gentleman　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　whose　face
once　seen；　was　enough　to　stop　the　words　on　any　man's　lips。　　Miss
Tuttle　saw　this　gentleman　almost　as　quickly　as　we　did　and　sank　with
an　involuntary　moan　to　her　knees。

It　was　Francis　Jeffrey　come　to　look　upon　his　dead　bride。

I　have　been　present　at　many　tragic　scenes　and　have　beheld　men　under
almost　every　aspect　of　grief；　terror　and　remorse；　but　there　was
something　in　the　face　of　this　man　at　this　dreadful　moment　that　was
quite　new　to　me；　and；　as　I　judge；　equally　new　to　the　other　hardy
officials　about　me。　　To　be　sure　he　was　a　gentleman　and　a　very
high…bred　one　at　that；　and　it　is　but　seldom　we　have　to　do　with　any
of　his　ilk。

Breathlessly　we　awaited　his　first　words。

Not　that　he　showed　frenzy　or　made　any　display　of　the　grief　or
surprise　natural　to　the　occasion。　　On　the　contrary；　he　was　the
quietest　person　present；　and　among　all　the　emotions　his　white　face
mirrored　I　saw　no　signs　of　what　might　be　called　sorrow。　　Yet　his
appearance　was　one　to　wring　the　heart　and　rouse　the　most
contradictory　conjectures　as　to　just　what　chord　in　his　evidently
highly　strung　nature　throbbed　most　acutely　to　the　horror　and
astonishment　of　this　appalling　end　of　so　short　a　married　life。

His　eye；　which　was　fixed　on　the　prostrate　body　of　his　bride；　did
not　yield　up　its　secret。　　When　he　moved　and　came　to　where　she　lay
and　caught　his　first　sight　of　the　ribbon　and　the　pistol　attached　to
it；　the　most