After the usual preliminary phrases had been exchanged, Sir Joseph showed some hesitation1 in openly approaching the question which the little party of three had met to debate. He avoided his lawyer’s eye; and he looked at Turlington rather uneasily.
“Richard,” he began at last, “when I spoke2 to you about your marriage, on board the yacht, I said I would give my daughter —” Either his courage or his breath failed him at that point. He was obliged to wait a moment before he could go on.
“I said I would give my daughter half my fortune on her marriage,” he resumed. “Forgive me, Richard. I can’t do it!”
Mr. Dicas, waiting for his instructions, laid down his pen and looked at Sir Joseph’s son-in-law elect. What would Mr. Turlington say?
He said nothing. Sitting opposite the window, he rose when Sir Joseph spoke, and placed himself at the other side of the table, with his back to the light.
“My eyes are weak this morning,” he said, in an unnaturally3 low tone of voice. “The light hurts them.”
He could find no more plausible4 excuse than that for concealing6 his face in shadow from the scrutiny7 of the two men on either side of him. The continuous moral irritation8 of his unhappy courtship — a courtship which had never advanced beyond the frigid9 familiarity of kissing Natalie’s hand in the presence of others — had physically10 deteriorated11 him. Even his hardy12 nerves began to feel the long strain of suspicion that had been laid unremittingly on them for weeks past. His power of self-control — he knew it himself — was not to be relied on. He could hide his face: he could no longer command it.
“Did you hear what I said, Richard?”
“I heard. Go on.”
Sir Joseph proceeded, gathering13 confidence as he advanced.
“Half my fortune!” he repeated. “It’s parting with half my life; it’s saying good-by forever to my dearest friend! My money has been such a comfort to me, Richard; such a pleasant occupation for my mind. I know no reading so interesting and so instructive as the reading of one’s Banker’s Book. To watch the outgoings on one side,” said Sir Joseph, with a gentle and pathetic solemnity, “and the incomings on the other — the sad lessening15 of the balance at one time, and the cheering and delightful16 growth of it at another — what absorbing reading! The best novel that ever was written isn’t to be mentioned in a breath with it. I can not, Richard, I really can not, see my nice round balance shrink up to half the figure that I have been used to for a lifetime. It may be weak of me,” proceeded Sir Joseph, evidently feeling that it was not weak of him at all, “but we all have our tender place, and my Banker’s Book is mine. Besides, it isn’t as if you wanted it. If you wanted it, of course — but you don’t want it. You are a rich man; you are marrying my dear Natalie for love, not for money. You and she and my grandchildren will have it all at my death. It can make no difference to you to wait a few years till the old man’s chair at the fireside is empty. Will you say the fourth part, Richard, instead of the half? Twenty thousand,” pleaded Sir Joseph, piteously. “I can bear twenty thousand off. For God’s sake don’t ask me for more!”
The lips of the lawyer twisted themselves sourly into an ironical17 smile. He was quite as fond of his money as Sir Joseph. He ought to have felt for his client; but rich men have no sympathy with one another. Mr. Dicas openly despised Sir Joseph.
There was a pause. The robin-redbreasts in the shrubbery outside must have had prodigious18 balances at their bankers; they hopped19 up on the window-sill so fearlessly; they looked in with so little respect at the two rich men.
“Don’t keep me in suspense20, Richard,” proceeded Sir Joseph. “Speak out. Is it yes or no?”
Turlington struck his hand excitedly on the table, and burst out on a sudden with the answer which had been so strangely delayed.
“Twenty thousand with all my heart!” he said. “On this condition, Graybrooke, that every farthing of it is settled on Natalie, and on her children after her. Not a half-penny to me!” he cried magnanimously, in his brassiest tones. “Not a half-penny to me!”
Let no man say the rich are heartless. Sir Joseph seized his son-in-law’s hand in silence, and burst into tears.
Mr. Dicas, habitually21 a silent man, uttered the first two words that had escaped him since the business began. “Highly creditable,” he said, and took a note of his instructions on the spot.
From that point the business of the settlement flowed smoothly22 on to its destined23 end. Sir Joseph explained his views at the fullest length, and the lawyer’s pen kept pace with him. Turlington, remaining in his place at the table, restricted himself to a purely24 passive part in the proceedings25. He answered briefly27 when it was absolutely necessary to speak, and he agreed with the two elders in everything. A man has no attention to place at the disposal of other people when he stands at a crisis in his life. Turlington stood at that crisis, at the trying moment when Sir Joseph’s unexpected proposal pressed instantly for a reply. Two merciless alternatives confronted him. Either he must repay the borrowed forty thousand pounds on the day when repayment28 was due, or he must ask Bulpit Brothers to grant him an extension of time, and so inevitably29 provoke an examination into the fraudulent security deposited with the firm, which could end in but one way. His last, literally30 his last chance, after Sir Joseph had diminished the promised dowry by one half, was to adopt the high-minded tone which became his position, and to conceal5 the truth until he could reveal it to his father-in-law in the privileged character of Natalie’s husband. “I owe forty thousand pounds, sir, in a fortnight’s time, and I have not got a farthing of my own. Pay for me, or you will see your son-in-law’s name in the Bankrupt’s List.” For his daughter’s sake — who could doubt it? — Sir Joseph would produce the money. The one thing needful was to be married in time. If either by accident or treachery Sir Joseph was led into deferring31 the appointed day, by so much as a fortnight only, the fatal “call” would come, and the firm of Pizzituti, Turlington & Branca would appear in the Gazette.
So he reasoned, standing32 on the brink33 of the terrible discovery which was soon to reveal to him that Natalie was the wife of another man.
“Richard!”
“Mr. Turlington!”
He started, and roused his attention to present things. Sir Joseph on one side, and the lawyer on the other, were both appealing to him, and both regarding him with looks of amazement34.
“Have you done with the settlement?” he asked.
“My dear Richard, we have done with it long since,” replied Sir Joseph. “Have you really not heard what I have been saying for the last quarter of an hour to good Mr. Dicas here? What can you have been thinking of?”
Turlington did not attempt to answer the question. “Am I interested,” he asked, “in what you have been saying to Mr. Dicas?”
“You shall judge for yourself,” answered Sir Joseph, mysteriously; “I have been giving Mr. Dicas his instructions for making my Will. I wish the Will and the Marriage–Settlement to be executed at the same time. Read the instructions, Mr. Dicas.”
Sir Joseph’s contemplated35 Will proved to have two merits — it was simple and it was short. Excepting one or two trifling36 legacies37 to distant relatives, he had no one to think of (Miss Lavinia being already provided for) but his daughter and the children who might be born of her marriage. In its various provisions, made with these two main objects in view, the Will followed the precedents38 established in such cases. It differed in no important respect from the tens of thousands of other wills made under similar circumstances. Sir Joseph’s motive39 in claiming special attention for it still remained unexplained, when Mr. Dicas reached the clause devoted40 to the appointment of executors and trustees; and announced that this portion of the document was left in blank.
“Sir Joseph Graybrooke, are you prepared to name the persons whom you appoint?” asked the lawyer.
Sir Joseph rose, apparently41 for the purpose of giving special importance to the terms in which he answered his lawyer’s question.
“I appoint,” he said, “as sole executor and trustee — Richard Turlington.”
It was no easy matter to astonish Mr. Dicas. Sir Joseph’s reply absolutely confounded him. He looked across the table at his client and delivered himself on this special occasion of as many as three words.
“Are you mad?” he asked.
Sir Joseph’s healthy complexion42 slightly reddened. “I never was in more complete possession of myself, Mr. Dicas, than at this moment.”
Mr. Dicas was not to be silenced in that way.
“Are you aware of what you do,” persisted the lawyer, “if you appoint Mr. Turlington as sole executor and trustee? You put it in the power of your daughter’s husband, sir, to make away with every farthing of your money after your death.”
Turlington had hitherto listened with an appearance of interest in the proceedings, which he assumed as an act of politeness. To his view, the future was limited to the date at which Bulpit Brothers had a right to claim the repayment of their loan. The Will was a matter of no earthly importance to him, by comparison with the infinitely43 superior interest of the Marriage. It was only when the lawyer’s brutally44 plain language forced his attention to it that the question of his pecuniary45 interest in his father-in-law’s death assumed its fit position in his mind.
His color rose; and he too showed that he was offended by what Mr. Dicas had just said.
“Not a word, Richard! Let me speak for you as well as for myself,” said Sir Joseph. “For seven years past,” he continued, turning to the lawyer, “I have been accustomed to place the most unlimited46 trust in Richard Turlington. His disinterested47 advice has enabled me largely to increase my income, without placing a farthing of the principal in jeopardy48. On more than one occasion, I have entreated49 him to make use of my money in his business. He has invariably refused to do so. Even his bitterest enemies, sir, have been obliged to acknowledge that my interests were safe when committed to his care. Am I to begin distrusting him, now that I am about to give him my daughter in marriage? Am I to leave it on record that I doubt him for the first time — when my Will is opened after my death? No! I can confide14 the management of the fortune which my child will inherit after me to no more competent or more honorable hands than the hands of the man who is to marry her. I maintain my appointment, Mr. Dicas! I persist in placing the whole responsibility under my Will in my son-in-law’s care.”
Turlington attempted to speak. The lawyer attempted to speak. Sir Joseph — with a certain simple dignity which had its effect on both of them — declined to hear a word on either side. “No, Richard! as long as I am alive this is my business, not yours. No, Mr. Dicas! I understand that it is your business to protest professionally. You have protested. Fill in the blank space as I have told you. Or leave the instructions on the table, and I will send for the nearest solicitor50 to complete them in your place.”
Those words placed the lawyer’s position plainly before him. He had no choice but to do as he was bid, or to lose a good client. He did as he was bid, and grimly left the room.
Sir Joseph, with old-fashioned politeness, followed him as far as the hall. Returning to the library to say a few friendly words before finally dismissing the subject of the Will, he found himself seized by the arm, and dragged without ceremony, in Turlington’s powerful grasp, to the window.
“Richard!” he exclaimed, “what does this mean?”
“Look!” cried the other, pointing through the window to a grassy51 walk in the grounds, bounded on either side by shrubberies, and situated52 at a little distance from the house. “Who is that man? — quick! before we lose sight of him — the man crossing there from one shrubbery to the other?” Sir Joseph failed to recognize the figure before it disappeared. Turlington whispered fiercely, close to his ear —“Launcelot Linzie!”
In perfect good faith Sir Joseph declared that the man could not possibly have been Launce. Turlington’s frenzy53 of jealous suspicion was not to be so easily calmed. He asked significantly for Natalie. She was reported to be walking in the grounds. “I knew it!” he said, with an oath — and hurried out into the grounds to discover the truth for himself.
Some little time elapsed before he came back to the house. He had discovered Natalie — alone. Not a sign of Launce had rewarded his search. For the hundredth time he had offended Natalie. For the hundredth time he was compelled to appeal to the indulgence of her father and her aunt. “It won’t happen again,” he said, sullenly54 penitent55. “You will find me quite another man when I have got you all at my house in the country. Mind!” he burst out, with a furtive56 look, which expressed his inveterate57 distrust of Natalie and of every one about her. “Mind! it’s settled that you all come to me in Somersetshire, on Monday next.” Sir Joseph answered rather dryly that it was settled. Turlington turned to leave the room — and suddenly came back. “It’s understood,” he went on, addressing Miss Lavinia, “that the seventh of next month is the date fixed58 for the marriage. Not a day later!” Miss Lavinia replied, rather dryly on her side, “Of course, Richard; not a day later.” He muttered, “All right” and hurriedly left them.
Half an hour afterward59 Natalie came in, looking a little confused.
“Has he gone?” she asked, whispering to her aunt.
Relieved on this point, she made straight for the library — a room which she rarely entered at that or any other period of the day. Miss Lavinia followed her, curious to know what it meant. Natalie hurried to the window, and waved her handkerchief — evidently making a signal to some one outside. Miss Lavinia instantly joined her, and took her sharply by the hand.
“Is it possible, Natalie?” she asked. “Has Launcelot Linzie really been here, unknown to your father or to me?”
“Where is the harm if he has?” answered Natalie, with a sudden outbreak of temper. “Am I never to see my cousin again, because Mr. Turlington happens to be jealous of him?”
She suddenly turned away her head. The rich color flowed over her face and neck. Miss Lavinia, proceeding26 sternly with the administration of the necessary reproof60, was silenced midway by a new change in her niece’s variable temper. Natalie burst into tears. Satisfied with this appearance of sincere contrition61, the old lady consented to overlook what had happened; and, for this occasion only, to keep her niece’s secret. They would all be in Somersetshire, she remarked, before any more breaches62 of discipline could be committed. Richard had fortunately made no discoveries; and the matter might safely be trusted, all things considered, to rest where it was.
Miss Lavinia might possibly have taken a less hopeful view of the circumstances, if she had known that one of the men-servants at Muswell Hill was in Richard Turlington’s pay, and that this servant had seen Launce leave the grounds by the back-garden gate.
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1
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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2
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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3
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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4
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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7
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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8
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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9
frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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10
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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11
deteriorated
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| 恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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13
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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14
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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15
lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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16
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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17
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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18
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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19
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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20
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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21
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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22
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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24
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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repayment
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| n.偿还，偿还款；报酬 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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30
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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31
deferring
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| v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的现在分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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32
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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33
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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34
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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35
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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legacies
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| n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症 | |
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38
precedents
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| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
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39
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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40
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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41
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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42
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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43
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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44
brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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45
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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46
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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47
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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48
jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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49
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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51
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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52
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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53
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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54
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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55
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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56
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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57
inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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58
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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59
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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60
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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61
contrition
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| n.悔罪，痛悔 | |
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62
breaches
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| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
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