initials only-第46部分

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r　came。　　〃I　will　hear　it；〃　came　in　reluctant　finish。

Mr。　Brotherson　took　a　step　forward。　　His　manner　was　as　cold　as　the　heart　which　lay　like　a　stone　in　his　bosom。

〃Will　you　pardon　me　if　I　ask　you　to　rise？〃　said　he。　　〃I　have　my　weaknesses　too。　　（He　gave　no　sign　of　them。）　〃I　cannot　speak　down　from　such　a　height　to　the　man　I　am　bound　to　hurt。〃

As　if　answering　to　the　constraint　of　a　will　quite　outside　his　own；　Mr。　Challoner　rose。　　Their　heads　were　now　more　nearly　on　a　level　and　Mr。　Brotherson's　voice　remained　low；　as　he　proceeded；　with　quiet　intensity

〃There　has　been　a　time　…　and　it　may　exist　yet；　God　knows　…　when　you　thought　me　in　some　unknown　and　secret　way　the　murderer　of　your　daughter。　　I　do　not　quarrel　with　the　suspicion；　it　was　justified；　Mr。　Challoner。　　I　did　kill　your　daughter；　and　with　this　hand！　　I　can　no　longer　deny　it。〃

The　wretched　father　swayed；　following　the　gesture　of　the　hand　thus　held　out；　but　he　did　not　fall；　nor　did　a　sound　leave　his　lips。

Brotherson　went　coldly　on：

I　did　it　because　I　regarded　her　treatment　of　my　suit　as　insolent。　I　have　no　mercy　for　any　such　display　of　intolerance　on　the　part　of　the　rich　and　the　fortunate。　　I　hated　her　for　it；　I　hated　her　class；　herself　and　all　she　stood　for。　　To　strike　the　dealer　of　such　a　hurt　I　felt　to　be　my　right。　　Though　a　man　of　small　beginnings　and　of　a　stock　which　such　as　you　call　common；　I　have　a　pride　which　few　of　your　blood　can　equal。　　I　could　not　work；　or　sleep　or　eat　with　such　a　sting　in　my　breast　as　she　had　planted　there。　　To　rid　myself　of　it；　I　determined　to　kill　her；　and　I　did。　　How？　　Oh；　that　was　easy；　though　it　has　proved　a　great　stumbling…block　to　the　detectives；　as　I　knew　it　would！　　I　shot　her　…　but　not　with　an　ordinary　bullet。　　My　charge　was　a　small　icicle　made　deliberately　for　the　purpose。　　It　had　strength　enough　to　penetrate；　but　it　left　no　trace　behind　it。　'A　bullet　of　ice　for　a　heart　of　ice；'　I　had　said　in　the　torment　of　my　rage。　　But　the　word　was　without　knowledge；　Mr。　Challoner。　　I　see　it　now；　I　have　seen　it　for　two　whole　weeks。　　I　did　not　misjudge　her　condemnation　of　me；　but　I　misjudged　its　cause。　　It　was　not　to　the　comparatively　poor；　the　comparatively　obscure　man　she　sought　to　show　contempt；　but　to　the　brother　of　Oswald　whose　claims　she　saw　insulted。　　A　woman　I　should　have　respected；　not　killed。　　A　woman　of　no　pride　of　station；　a　woman　who　loved　a　man　not　only　of　my　own　class　but　of　my　own　blood　…　a　woman；　to　avenge　whose　unmerited　death　I　stand　here　before　you　a　self…condemned　criminal。　　That　is　but　justice；　Mr。　Challoner。　　That　is　the　way　I　look　at　things。　Though　no　sentimentalist；　and　dead　to　all　beliefs　save　the　eternal　truths　of　science；　I　have　that　in　me　which　will　not　let　me　profit；　now　that　I　know　myself　unworthy；　by　the　great　success　I　have　earned。　Hence　this　confession；　Mr。　Challoner。　　It　has　not　come　easily；　nor　do　I　shut　my　eyes　in　the　least　to　the　results　which　must　follow。　But　I　can　not　do　differently。　　To…morrow；　you　may　telegraph　to　New　York。　　Till　then　I　desire　to　be　left　undisturbed。　　I　have　many　things　to　dispose　of　in　the　interim。〃

Mr。　Challoner；　very　white　by　now；　pointed　to　the　door　before　he　sank　again　into　his　chair。　　Brotherson　took　it　for　dismissal　and　stepped　slowly　back。　　Then　their　eyes　met　again　and　Mr。　Challoner　spoke　his　first　word：

〃There　was　another　…　a　poor　woman　…　she　died　suddenly　…　and　her　wound　was　not　unlike　that　inflicted　upon　Edith。　　Did　you　…〃

〃I　did。〃　　The　answer　came　without　a　tremour。　　〃You　may　say　and　so　may　others　that　I　was　less　justified　in　this　attack　than　in　the　other；　but　I　do　not　see　it　that　way。　　A　theory　does　not　always　work　in　practice。　　I　wished　to　test　the　unusual　means　I　contemplated；　and　the　woman　I　saw　before　me　across　the　court　was　hard…working　and　with　nothing　in　life　to　look　forward　to；　so　…〃

A　cry　of　bitter　execration　from　Mr。　Challoner　cut　him　short。　Turning　with　a　shrug　he　was　about　to　lift　his　hand　to　the　door；　when　he　gave　a　violent　start　and　fell　hastily　back　before　a　quickly　entering　figure　of　such　passion　and　fury　as　neither　of　these　men　had　ever　seen　before。

It　was　Oswald！　　Oswald；　the　kindly！　　Oswald；　the　lover　of　men　and　the　adorer　of　women！　　Oswald；　with　the　words　of　the　dastardly　confession　he　had　partly　overheard　searing　hot　within　his　brain！　Oswald；　raised　in　a　moment　from　the　desponding　invalid　to　a　terrifying　ministrant　of　retributive　justice。

Orlando　could　scarcely　raise　his　hand　before　the　other's　was　upon　his　throat。

〃Murderer！　　doubly…dyed　murderer　of　innocent　women！〃　was　hissed　in　the　strong　man's　ears。　　〃Not　with　the　law　but　with　me　you　must　reckon；　and　may　God　and　the　spirit　of　my　mother　nerve　my　arm！〃


XL

DESOLATE


The　struggle　was　fierce　but　momentary。　　Oswald　with　his　weakened　powers　could　not　long　withstand　the　steady　exertion　of　Orlando's　giant　strength；　and　ere　long　sank　away　from　the　contest　into　Mr。　Challoner's　arms。

〃You　should　not　have　summoned　the　shade　of　our　mother　to　your　aid；〃　observed　the　other　with　a　smile；　in　which　the　irony　was　lost　in　terrible　presage。　　〃　I　was　always　her　favourite。〃

Oswald　shuddered。　　Orlando　had　spoken　truly；　she　had　always　been　blindly；　arrogantly　trustful　of　her　eldest　son。　　No　fault　could　she　see　in　him；　and　now　…

Impetuously　Oswald　struggled　with　his　weakness；　raised　himself　in　Mr。　Challoner's　arms　and　cried　in　loud　revolt：

But　God　is　just。　　He　will　not　let　you　escape。　　If　He　does；　I　will　not。　　I　will　hound　you　to　the　ends　of　this　earth　and；　if　necessary；　into　the　eternities。　　Not　with　the　threat　of　my　arm　…　you　are　my　master　there；　but　with　the　curse　of　a　brother　who　believed　you　innocent　of　his　darling's　blood　and　would　have　believed　you　so　in　face　of　everything　but　your　own　word。〃

Peace！〃　adjured　Orlando。　　〃There　is　no　account　I　am　not　ready　to　settle。　　I　have　robbed　you　of　the　woman　you　love；　but　I　have　despoiled　myself。　　I　stand　desolate　in　the　world；　who　but　an　hour　ago　could　have　chosen　my　seat　among　the　best　and　greatest。　　What　can　your　curses　do　after　that？〃

〃Nothing。〃　　The　word　came　slowly　like　a　drop　wrung　from　a　nearly　spent　heart。　　〃　Nothing；　nothing。　　Oh；　Orlando；　I　wish　we　were　both　dead　and　buried　and　that　there　were　no　further　life　for　either　of　us。〃

The　softened　tone；　the　wistful　prayer　which　would　blot　out　an　immortality　of　joy　for　the　one；　that　it　might　save　the　other　from　an　immortality　of　retribution；　touched　some　long　unsounded　chord　in　Orlando's　extraordinary　nature。

Advancing　a　step；　he　held　out　his　hand　…　the　left　one。　　〃We'll　leave　the　future　to　itself；　Oswald；　and　do　what　we　can　with　the　present；〃　said　he。　　〃I've　made　a　mess　of　my　life　and　spoiled　a　career　which　might　have　made　us　both　kings。　　Forgive　me；　Oswald。　I　ask　for　nothing　else　from　God　or　man。　　I　should　like　that。　　It　would　strengthen　me　for　to…morrow。〃

But　Oswald；　ever　kindly；　generous　and　more　ready　to　think　of　others　than　of　himself；　had　yet　some　of　Orlando's　tenacity。　　He　gazed　at　that　hand　and　a　flush　swept　up　over　his　cheek　which　instantly　became　ghastly　again。

〃I　cannot；〃　said　he　…　〃not　even　the　left　one。　　May　God　forgive　me！〃

Orlando；　struck　silent　for　a　moment；　dropped　his　hand　and　slowly　turned　away。　　Mr。　Challoner　felt　Oswald　stiffen　in　his　arms；　and　break　suddenly　away；　only　to　stop　short　before　he　had　taken　one　of　the　half　dozen　steps　between　himself　and　his　departing　brother。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　he　demanded　in　tones　which　made　Orlando　turn。

〃I　might　say；　To　the　devil；〃　was　the　sarcastic　reply。　　〃But　I　doubt　if　he　would　receive　me。　　No；〃　he　added；　in　more　ordinary　tones　as　the　other　shivered　and　again　started　forward；　〃you　will　have　no　trouble　in　finding　me　in　my　own　room　to…night。　　I　have　letters　to　write　and　…　other　things。　　A　man　like　me　cannot　drop　out　without　a　ripple。　　You　may　go　to　bed　and　sleep。　　I　will　keep　awake　for　two。〃

〃Orlando！〃　　Visions　were　passing　before　Oswald's　eyes；　soul…crushing　visions　such　as　in　his　blame　less　life　he　never　thought　could　enter　into　his　consciousness　or　blast　his　tranquil　outlook　upon　life。　〃Orlando！〃　he　again　appealed；　covering　his　eyes　in　a　frenzied　attempt　to　shut　out　these　horrors；　〃I　cannot　let　you　go　like　this。　To…morrow　…〃

〃To…morrow；　in　every　niche　and　corner　of　this　world；　wherever　Edith　Challoner's　name　has　gone；　wherever　my　name　has　gone；　it　will　be　known　that　the　discoverer　of　a　practical　air…ship；　is　a　man　whom　they　can　no　longer　honour。　　Do　you　think　that　is　not　hell　enough　for　me；　or　that　I　do　not　realise　the　hell　it　will　be　for　you？　　I've　never　wearied　you　or　any　man　with　my　affection；　but　I'm　not　all　demon。　　I　would　gladly　have　spared　you　this　additional　anguish；　but　that　was　impossible。　　You　are　my　brother　and　must　suffer　from　the　connection　whether　we　would　have　it　so　of　not。　　If　it　promises　too　much　misery　…　and　I　know　no　misery　like　that　of　shame　…　come　with　me　where　I　go　to…morrow。　　There　will　be　room　for　two。〃

Oswald；　swaying　with　weakness；　but　maddened　by　the　sight　of　an　overthrow　which　carried　with　it　the　stifled　affections　and　the　admiration　of　his　whole　life；　gave　a　bound　forward；　opened　his　arms　and　…　fell。

Orlando　stopped　short。　　Gazing　down　on　his　prostrate　brother；　he　stood　for　a　moment　with　a　gleam　of　something　like　human　tenderness　showing　through　the　flare　of　dying　passions　and　perishing　hopes；　then　he　swung　open　the　door　and　passed　quietly　out；　and　Mr。　Challoner　could　hear　the　laughing　remark　with　which　he　met　and　dismissed　the　half…dozen　men　and　women　who　had　been　drawn　to　this　end　of　the　hall　by　what　had　sounded　to　them　like　a　fracas　between　angry　men。



XLI

FIVE　O'CLOCK　IN　THE　MORNING


The　clock　in　the　hotel　office　struck　three。　　Orlando　Brotherson　counted　the　strokes；　then　went　on　writing。　　His　transom　was　partly　open　and　he　had　just　heard　a　step　go　by　his　door。　　This　was　nothing　new。　　He　had　already　heard　it　several　times　before　that　　night。　　It　was　Mr。　Challoner's　step；　and　every　time　it　passed；　he　had　rustled　his　papers　or　scratched　vigorously　with　his　pen。　　〃He　is　keeping　watch　for　Oswald；〃　was　his　thought。　　〃They　fear　a　sudden　end　to　this。　No　one；　not　the　son　of　my　mother　knows　me。　　Do　I　know　myself？〃

Four　o'clock！　　The　light　was　still　burning；　the　pile　of　letters　he　was　writing　increasing。

Five　o'clock！　　A　rattling　shade　betrays