Aaron observed him anxiously. The disclosure that had already been made had so agitated1 him that he was apprehensive2 of further trouble.
"Ah! here it is," said the lawyer, opening the letter for which he had been looking; "I was afraid I had left it behind me. Excuse me a moment; I wish to refresh my memory."
He ran his eye over the letter, and nodded as he went through its points of importance.
"Does it concern the unhappy affair we have discussed?" inquired Aaron, unable to restrain his impatience3.
"No," replied the lawyer; "I take it that is settled, and I trust, for the sake of both the families, that it will not be re-opened."
"I trust not."
"This is quite a different matter, and I hardly know how to excuse myself for troubling you with it. It is a sudden thought, for I came here with no such intention. You must thank your own reputation for it, Mr. Cohen; it is well known that you have never neglected an opportunity to do an act of kindness, and though what I am about to speak of has come to me in the way of business, the story contains elements so romantic and peculiar4 that it has strangely attracted me. The reference in the letter which induces me to think that you may be able to help me is that you are a gentleman of influence in your community, and have a wide acquaintance with your co-religionists. Perhaps I had better read the words. My correspondent says--'I know that there are peculiar difficulties in the search I intend to make upon my return home, but before my arrival you may be able to discover something which will be of assistance to me. Probably if you consult some kind-hearted and influential5 member of the Jewish race you may, through him, obtain a clue; or, failing this, you might employ a Jewish agent to make inquiries6.' It is a lady who writes to me, and her letter comes from Australia. May I continue? Thank you. Let me tell you the story; it will interest you, and I will be as brief as possible. The letter is too long to read throughout." He handed it to Aaron. "It occupies, you see, fourteen closely written pages, and it is somewhat in the nature of a confession7. If you wish, I will have a copy of it made, and will send it on to you to-morrow."
Aaron, turning over the pages, came to the superscription:
"I remain,
"Yours truly,
"Mary Gordon."
Truly this was a day of startling surprises to him. He recollected8 the name as that of the gentleman for whom, twenty years ago, Mr. Moss9 had undertaken the commission which had lifted him from beggary by placing in his hands a large sum of money to which in strict justice he was not entitled, but which, from fear that the deception10 he had practised might otherwise be discovered, he was compelled to accept. He had, as an atonement, expended11 in secret charities a hundred times the sum; but this did not absolve12 him from the responsibility. The spirit of the dead past rose before him, and he was overwhelmed with the dread13 possibilities it brought with it.
"I fear," said the lawyer, "that I have been inconsiderate in introducing the matter at the present moment. I will postpone14 it to a future occasion."
"Pray continue," said Aaron, whose burning desire now was to know the worst. "I have had an exciting day, but I will pay due attention to what you wish to impart to me."
"I appreciate your kindness. If you cannot assist me, you may recommend me to an agent whom I will employ. I noticed that you referred in the letter to the name of my correspondent, Mrs. Gordon; the inquiry15 is of a delicate nature, and it may be her wish that her name is not too freely mentioned--at all events, for the present. Her story is not an uncommon16 one, but it takes an extraordinary and unusual turn. She is now, according to her own account, a lady of considerable means; her husband has lately died, and she has come into a fortune. Some twenty odd years ago she was a young woman, and had two lovers, one of whom wooed her with dishonourable intentions, and by him she was betrayed. This occurred during the absence in Australia of the gentleman who had proposed to her, and whom she had accepted. He was a resident in Australia, and it was his intention to make his home there. While he was on his way to England, with the intention of making her his wife and returning with her to the colony, she discovered that she was about to become a mother. In despair she fled from London, where he expected to find her, and sought to hide her shame among strangers. The place she selected was Portsmouth, and there she went through a series of harrowing trials, and was reduced to extreme poverty. In her letter to me she makes no effort to disguise the misery18 into which she was plunged19, and she is frank and outspoken20 in order that I may properly understand how it was that she was forced to abandon the child that was born in Portsmouth under most distressing21 circumstances. For it appears that when the suitor who wooed her honourably22 arrived in London and learned the story of her betrayal, he was still desirous to make her his wife. He traced her to Portsmouth, and found her there with her babe, who was then but a few days old. This would have induced most men to forego their honourable17 intentions; but Mr. Gordon, whose name she now bears, was an exception to the rule, and, through a gentleman who acted as a go-between, he made a singular proposition to her. It was to the effect that she should consent to give up her child entirely23, and during his lifetime to make no effort to recover it; he undertook to find a respectable and comfortable home for the babe, and to make a liberal provision for it. This is the bare outline of his proposition, and I need not go further into it. So desperate was her position that she and her child at the time were literally24 starving; she had not a friend but Mr. Gordon, who was stern in his resolve not to befriend her unless she accepted the conditions he dictated25; the gentleman who acted as a go-between had behaved very kindly26 to her, but could not assist her further. In these circumstances she made the sacrifice, and parted with her child, who from that day to this she has never seen. Mr. Gordon honourably fulfilled the terms of the agreement; a home was found for the child, and he married the lady, and took her to Australia, where she has resided for the last twenty years. It was part of the agreement that she should not be informed of the name of the people who adopted the child, and should not, directly or indirectly27, make the least endeavour to obtain any information concerning it while her husband was alive. If he died before her she was free to act as she pleased in the matter. This has occurred, and the widow, who has had no children by her marriage, is bent28 upon recovering her child, who, I may mention, is a girl. The task is beset29 with difficulties, and may prove hopeless. Shortly stated, Mr. Cohen, this is the case as it at present stands."
"Is there a special reason," inquired Aaron, "for your applying to me for assistance?"
"Not exactly special; it is in a sense accidental, inspired by my visit this evening on the other matter we have spoken of. There are certain particulars in relation to Mrs. Gordon's search for her daughter which I have omitted. The arrangements for the future provision of the babe were carried out, I understand, by a firm of lawyers whose names Mrs. Gordon has been unable to ascertain30; but she is acquainted with the name of the gentleman who in Portsmouth conveyed Mr. Gordon's proposition to her. This gentleman is Dr. Spenlove, who, leaving Portsmouth several years ago, has attained31 an eminent32 position in London. You may be acquainted with him."
"He was at my house to-day."
"Then you are on terms of intimacy33 with him."
"No. We met to-day for the first time."
"In her letter Mrs. Gordon refers me to Dr. Spenlove, and I have not yet communicated with him. The letter only reached me this morning, and I have not had time to see him."
"You have not explained why you apply to me."
"The explanation is simple. During her husband's lifetime Mrs. Gordon faithfully carried out her obligation, and, as it appears to me, no words passed between them on the subject of the child. In his last moments, however, he must have relented; unfortunately, he left it too late to give his wife the information she so eagerly desired; he could scarcely articulate, and all she could gather from him was that he had employed an agent to look after the child, and that this agent was of the Jewish persuasion34. The conclusion is that he was a resident of Portsmouth, but he may not be living; and it has occurred to me that you, who have friends of your persuasion everywhere, may expedite the discovery by giving me the name and address of some old inhabitant who can put us on the track of Mr. Gordon's agent. When the lady arrives in England she will naturally go to Dr. Spenlove, who will doubtless assist her in her natural endeavour to obtain intelligence of the fate of her child. If you can also assist us you will earn a mother's gratitude35."
"I will consider it," said Aaron, and his voice was troubled; "that is all I can promise at present."
"It is all we can expect of you. There is another peculiar feature in this strange case. Mrs. Gordon, before she left England, entrusted36 Dr. Spenlove with a metal casket in which she had deposited some memorials of interest; this casket was to be given to the man who undertook to bring up the child, on the understanding that it was to be handed to the young lady at the age of twenty-one (supposing, of course, that she lived to that age), or before that time to be returned to the mother if she came to claim it. The young lady, if she be living, is not yet twenty-one, and it is the mother's intention to recover this casket, if it be possible. It is to be hoped it fell into the hands of an honest man."
"It is to be hoped so," said Aaron, mechanically.
Mr. Dillworthy said in a kind tone, "It is not an opportune37 time to seek your aid in a cause in which you are not personally interested, when another subject, the welfare of a dear daughter, engrosses38 your attention. Pray forgive me, Mr. Cohen."
Aaron bent his head, and as the lawyer closed the door behind him, sank back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
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1
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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7
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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8
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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10
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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11
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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absolve
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| v.赦免，解除（责任等） | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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14
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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16
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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17
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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19
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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20
outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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28
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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30
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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31
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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32
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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35
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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36
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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engrosses
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| v.使全神贯注( engross的第三人称单数 ) | |
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