initials only-第34部分

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t　were　a　pistol；　I　feel　a　horrible　fear；　and　…　and　…〃　　The　child　was　staggering；　and　the　hand　which　was　free　had　sought　her　heart　where　it　lay　clenched；　the　knuckles　showing　white　in　the　dim　light。

Mr。　Challoner　watched　her　with　dilated　eyes；　the　spell　under　which　she　spoke　falling　in　some　degree　upon　him。　　Had　she　finished？　　Was　this　all？　　No；　she　is　speaking　again；　but　very　low；　almost　in　a　whisper。

〃There　is　music　…　a　crash　…　but　I　plainly　see　his　other　hand　approach　the　object　he　is　holding。　　He　takes　something　from　the　end　…　the　object　is　pointed　my　way　…　I　am　looking　into　…　into　…　what？　　I　do　not　know。　　I　cannot　even　see　him　now。　　The　space　where　he　stood　is　empty。　　Everything　fades；　and　I　wake　with　a　loud　cry　in　my　ears　and　a　sense　of　death　here。〃　　She　had　lifted　her　hand　and　struck　at　her　heart；　opening　her　eyes　as　she　did　so。　　〃　Yet　it　was　not　I　who　had　been　shot；〃　she　added　softly。

Mr。　Challoner　shuddered。　　This　was　like　the　reopening　of　his　daughter's　grave。　　But　he　had　entered　upon　the　scene　with　a　full　appreciation　of　the　ordeal　awaiting　him　and　he　did　not　lose　his　calmness；　or　the　control　of　his　judgment。

〃Be　seated；　Miss　Scott；〃　he　entreated；　taking　a　chair　himself。　〃You　have　described　the　spot　and　some　of　the　circumstances　of　my　daughter's　death　as　accurately　as　if　you　had　been　there。　　But　you　have　doubtless　read　a　full　account　of　those　details　in　the　papers；　possibly　seen　pictures　which　would　make　the　place　quite　real　to　you。　　The　mind　is　a　strange　storehouse。　　We　do　not　always　know　what　lies　hidden　within　it。〃

〃That's　true；〃　she　admitted。　　〃But　the　man！　　I　had　never　seen　the　man；　or　any　picture　of　him；　and　his　face　was　clearest　of　all。　　I　should　know　it　if　I　saw　it　anywhere。　　It　is　imprinted　on　my　memory　as　plainly　as　yours。　　Oh；　I　hope　never　to　see　that　man！〃　

Mr。　Challoner　sighed；　he　had　really　anticipated　something　from　the　interview。　　The　disappointment　was　keen。　　A　moment　of　expectation；　the　thrill　which　comes　to　us　all　under　the　shadow　of　the　supernatural；　and　then　…　this！　　a　young　and　imaginative　girl's　dream；　convincing　to　herself　but　supplying　nothing　which　had　not　already　been　supplied　both　by　the　facts　and　his　own　imagination！　　A　man　had　stood　at　the　staircase；　and　this　man　had　raised　his　arm。　　She　said　that　she　had　seen　something　like　a　pistol　in　his　hand；　but　his　daughter　had　not　been　shot。　　This　he　thought　it　well　to　point　out　to　her。

Leaning　toward　her　that　he　might　get　her　full　attention；　he　waited　till　her　eyes　met　his；　then　quietly　asked：

〃Have　you　ever　named　this　man　to　yourself？〃

She　started　and　dropped　her　eyes。

〃I　do　not　dare　to；〃　said　she。

〃Why？〃

〃Because　I've　read　in　the　papers　that　the　man　who　stood　there　had　the　same　name　as　…〃

〃Tell　me；　Miss　Scott。〃

〃As　Mr。　Brotherson's　brother。〃

〃But　you　do　not　think　it　was　his　brother？〃

〃I　do　not　know。〃

〃You've　never　seen　his　brother？〃

〃Never。〃

〃Nor　his　picture？

〃No；　Mr。　Brotherson　has　none。〃

〃Aren't　they　friends？　　Does　he　never　mention　Orlando？〃

〃Very；　very　rarely。　　But　I've　no　reason　to　think　they　are　not　on　good　terms。　　I　know　they　correspond。〃

〃Miss　Scott？〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Challoner。〃

〃You　must　not　rely　too　much　upon　your　dream。〃

Her　eyes　flashed　to　his　and　then　fell　again。

〃Dreams　are　not　revelations；　they　are　the　reproduction　of　what　already　lies　hidden　in　the　mind。　　I　can　prove　that　your　dream　is　such。〃　

〃How？〃　She　looked　startled。

〃You　speak　of　seeing　something　being　leveled　at　you　which　made　you　think　of　a　pistol。〃

〃Yes；　I　was　looking　directly　into　it。〃

〃But　my　daughter　was　not　shot。　　She　died　from　a　stab。〃

Doris'　lovely　face；　with　its　tender　lines　and　girlish　curves；　took　on　a　strange　look　of　conviction　which　deepened；　rather　than　melted　under　his　indulgent；　but　penetrating　gaze。

〃I　know　that　you　think　so；　…　but　my　dream　says　no。　　I　saw　this　object。　　It　was　pointed　directly　towards　me　…　above　all；　I　saw　his　face。　　It　was　the　face　of　one　whose　finger　is　on　the　trigger　and　who　means　death；　and　I　believe　my　dream。〃

Well；　it　was　useless　to　reason　further。　　Gentle　in　all　else；　she　was　immovable　so　for　as　this　idea　was　concerned　and；　seeing　this；　he　let　the　matter　go　and　prepared　to　take　his　leave。

She　seemed　to　be　quite　ready　for　this。　　Anxiety　about　her　patient　had　regained　its　place　in　her　mind　and　her　glance　sped　constantly　toward　the　door。　　Taking　her　hand　in　his；　he　said　some　kind　words；　then　crossed　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　　Instantly　her　finger　flew　to　her　lips　and；　obedient　to　its　silent　injunction；　he　took　up　his　hat　in　silence；　and　was　proceeding　down　the　hall；　when　the　bell　rang；　startling　them　both　and　causing　him　to　step　quickly　back。

〃Who　is　it？〃　she　asked。　　〃Father's　in　and　visitors　seldom　come　so　late。〃

〃Shall　I　see？〃

She　nodded；　looking　strangely　troubled　as　the　door　swung　open；　revealing　the　tall；　strong　figure　of　a　man　facing　them　from　the　porch。

〃A　stranger；〃　formed　itself　upon　her　lips；　and　she　was　moving　forward；　when　the　man　suddenly　stepped　into　the　glare　of　the　light；　and　she　stopped；　with　a　murmur　of　dismay　which　pierced　Mr。　Challoner's　heart　and　prepared　him　for　the　words　which　now　fell　shudderingly　from　her　lips：

〃It　is　he！　　it　is　he！　　I　said　that　I　should　know　him　wherever　I　saw　him。〃　　Then　with　a　quiet　turn　towards　the　intruder；　〃Oh；　why；　why；　did　you　come　here！〃



XXIX

DO　YOU　KNOW　MY　BROTHER


Her　hands　were　thrust　out　to　repel；　her　features　were　fixed；　her　beauty　something　wonderful。　　Orlando　Brotherson；　thus　met；　stared　for　a　moment　at　the　vision　before　him；　then　slowly　and　with　effort　withdrawing　his　gaze；　he　sought　the　face　of　Mr。　Challoner　with　the　first　sign　of　open　disturbance　that　gentleman　had　ever　seen　in　him。

〃Ah；〃　said　he；　〃　my　welcome　is　readily　understood。　　I　see　you　far　from　home；　sir。〃　　And　with　an　ironical　bow　he　turned　again　to　Doris；　who　had　dropped　her　hands；　but　in　whose　cheeks　the　pallor　still　lingered　in　a　way　to　check　the　easy　flow　of　words　with　which　he　might　have　sought　to　carry　off　the　situation。　　〃Am　I　in　Oswald　Brotherson's　house？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　was　directed　here。　　But　possibly　there　may　be　some　mistake。〃

〃It　is　here　he　lives；〃　said　she；　moving　back　automatically　till　she　stood　again　by　the　threshold　of　the　small　room　in　which　she　had　received　Mr。　Challoner。　　〃　Do　you　wish　to　see　him　to…night？　　If　so；　I　fear　it　is　impossible。　　He　has　been　very　ill　and　is　not　allowed　to　receive　visits　from　strangers。〃

〃I　am　not　a　stranger；〃　announced　the　newcomer；　with　a　smile　few　could　see　unmoved；　it　offered　such　a　contrast　to　his　stern　and　dominating　figure。　　〃I　thought　I　heard　some　words　of　recognition　which　would　prove　your　knowledge　of　that　fact。〃

She　did　not　answer。　　Her　lips　had　parted；　but　her　thought　or　at　least　the　expression　of　her　thought　hung　suspended　in　the　terror　of　this　meeting　for　which　she　was　not　at　all　prepared。　　He　seemed　to　note　this　terror；　whether　or　not　he　understood　its　cause；　and　smiled　again；　as　he　added：

〃Mr。　Brotherson　must　have　spoken　of　his　brother　Orlando。　　I　am　he；　Miss　Scott。　　Will　you　let　me　come　in　now？〃

Her　eyes　sought　those　of　Mr。　Challoner；　who　quietly　nodded。　Immediately　she　stepped　from　before　the　door　which　her　figure　had　guarded　and；　motioning　him　to　enter；　she　begged　Mr。　Challoner；　with　an　imploring　look；　to　sustain　her　in　the　interview　she　saw　before　her。　　He　had　no　desire　for　this　encounter；　especially　as　Mr。　Brotherson's　glance　in　his　direction　had　been　anything　but　conciliatory。　　He　was　quite　convinced　that　nothing　was　to　be　gained　by　it；　but　he　could　not　resist　her　appeal；　and　followed　them　into　the　little　room　whose　limited　dimensions　made　the　tall　Orlando　look　bigger　and　stronger　and　more　lordly　in　his　self…confidence　than　ever。

〃I　am　sorry　it　is　so　late；〃　she　began；　contemplating　his　intrusive　figure　with　forced　composure。　　〃We　have　to　be　very　quiet　in　the　evenings　so　as　not　to　disturb　your　brother's　first　sleep　which　is　of　great　importance　to　him。〃

〃Then　I'm　not　to　see　him　to…night？〃

〃I　pray　you　to　wait。　　He's　…　he's　been　a　very　sick　man。〃

〃Dangerously　so？〃

〃Yes。〃

Orlando　continued　to　regard　her　with　a　peculiar　awakening　gaze；　showing；　Mr。　Challoner　thought；　more　interest　in　her　than　in　his　brother；　and　when　he　spoke　it　was　mechanically　and　as　if　in　sole　obedience　to　the　proprieties　of　the　occasion。

〃I　did　not　know　he　was　ill　till　very　lately。　　His　last　letter　was　a　cheerful　one；　and　I　supposed　that　all　was　right　till　chance　revealed　the　truth。　　I　came　on　at　once。　　I　was　intending　to　come　anyway。　　I　have　business　here；　as　you　probably　know；　Miss　Scott。〃

She　shook　her　head。　　〃I　know　very　little　about　business；〃　said　she。

〃My　brother　has　not　told　you　why　he　expected　me？〃

〃He　has　not　even　told　me　that　he　expected　you。〃

〃No？〃　　The　word　was　highly　expressive；　there　was　surprise　in　it　and　a　touch　of　wonder；　but　more　than　all；　satisfaction。　　〃　Oswald　was　always　close…mouthed；〃　he　declared。　　〃　It's　a　good　fault；　I'm　obliged　to　the　boy。〃

These　last　words　were　uttered　with　a　lightness　which　imposed　upon　his　two　highly　agitated　hearers；　causing　Mr。　Challoner　to　frown　and　Doris　to　shrink　back　in　indignation　at　the　man　who　could　indulge　in　a　sportive　suggestion　in　presence　of　such　fears；　if　not　of　such　memories；　as　the　situation　evoked。　　But　to　one　who　knew　the　strong　and　self…contained　man　…　to　Sweetwater　possibly；　had　he　been　present；　　…　there　was　in　this　very　attempt　…　in　his　quiet　manner　and　in　the　strange　and　fitful　flash　of　his　ordinarily　quick　eye；　that　which　showed　he　was　labouring　…　and　had　been　labouring　almost　from　his　first　entrance；　under　an　excitement　of　thought　and　feeling　which　in　one　of　his　powerfully　organised　nature　must　end　and　that　soon　in　an　outburst　of　mysterious　passion　which　would　carry　everything　before　it。　　But　he　did　not　mean　that　it　should　happen　here。　　He　was　too　accustomed　to　self…command　to　forget　himself　in　this　presence。　　He　would　hold　these　rampant　dogs　in　leash　till　the　hour　of　solitude；　then　…　a　glittering　smile　twisted　his　lips　as　he　continued　to　gaze；　first　at　the　girl　who　had　just　entered　his　life；　and　then　at　the　man　he　had　every　reason　to　distrust；　and　with　that　firm　restraint　upon　himself　still　in　full　force；　remarked；　with　a　courteous　inclination：

〃Th