John Brancker paused on the steps outside the Bank, feeling utterly sick at heart. Not again to-day could he set foot inside those walls. The man whom he had respected and looked up to for so many years lay there dead, and he, John Brancker, was actually suspected of---- Great heavens! could it be anything more than a horrible nightmare? He turned and set off homeward at a rapid pace. Awaiting him there were two loving hearts into which no vile4 breath of suspicion, not even if the evidence against him were an hundredfold stronger than it was, would ever find a moment's harborage. Never had his humble5 home seemed so sweet and dear to him as that afternoon.
It was in no very enviable frame of mind that Ephraim Judd quitted the jury-room and made his way towards the river-bank. He was in no mood for business; he felt the need of being alone. How he despised himself for what he had done! And yet he felt that, in similar circumstances, he should be driven to do the same again. How was it possible for him to tell the truth, when to do so meant ruin to himself? Not one day longer would Mr. Avison retain him in his service if he were to become aware of his practice of prying6 into other people's affairs, and, in that case, what would become of him and his widowed mother?
To do Ephraim justice, in giving his evidence as he had given it, he had thought only of screening himself, never dreaming that by so doing he would be strengthening the web of suspicion which seemed to be closing slowly round Mr. Brancker. With all his petty, tortuous7 ways and crooked8 modes of reasoning, he shrank from doing anyone a direct injury. If, in his dealings with others, however simple those dealings might be, a roundabout course was sweeter to him than a straightforward9 one--that was a little weakness which he shared in common with many men far more highly placed than himself.
Truth to tell, Ephraim was not framed in the mould out of which your more robust10 villains11 are turned out. It might be said of him that, while to serve his own ends he would not have shrunk from pricking12 anyone with a pin in the dark, had a dagger13 been thrust into his hand he would have dropped it in terror and slunk away.
He had perjured14 himself to save himself, but nothing had been further from his intention than to do John Brancker an injury. No one had been more surprised than he at the turn Strong's evidence had taken; he was utterly at a loss how to reconcile the statements of the two men.
As soon as Edward Hazeldine and Mr. Prestwich were alone, the latter said:
"I wish you had heard the evidence this afternoon; it has taken quite an unexpected turn."
"An unexpected turn! In what way?" asked Edward, with a quick, suspicious glance at his companion.
"As tending to fix a shadow of suspicion on Mr. Brancker."
"On Mr. Brancker! What nonsense that must be!" exclaimed Edward, impatiently.
"I should probably have been as sceptical as you are, had I not heard the evidence in question," remarked Mr. Prestwich dryly.
He then went on to enlighten his companion, detailing the different points of evidence as deposed15 to by each witness in turn. Edward listened with growing wonder and uneasiness.
"That man Strong must have sworn to a lie," he said impetuously, when Mr. Prestwich had done.
"I don't think so, and I watched him narrowly. The fellow may be something of a dunderhead, but he seemed very much in earnest in what he said."
"Then you mean to imply that John Brancker has not told the truth?"
"I imply nothing. I only take the evidence as it stands, and try to consider it dispassionately. It seems to be fully16 understood that Mr. Brancker called at the Bank about half-past ten last evening, and he himself admits that he did not get home till midnight. It would appear certain that Mr. Hazeldine came by his death within those two periods of time. The nightwatchman is positive that he did not hear Mr. Brancker enter the Bank, which is accounted for by the latter making use of his pass-key. Both the murder and robbery would seem to be the work of someone well acquainted with your father's habits, and who knew in which particular safe the bullion17 was kept, and where to find the key of it; and who also possessed18 the means of getting quietly away after the deed was done. Mr. Brancker says that he knocked several times at Strong's door; Strong says that no one knocked; Mr. Brancker has a contusion over his left eye, which he accounts for by saying that a woman hit him with a stone. Finally, how are we to account for the blood-smears with which Mr. Brancker's drawer is marked both inside and out, as well as the floor in front of it?"
"For all that you have said I do not care one jot," was Edward Hazeldine's answer. "I am perfectly19 convinced that John Brancker had no more to do with the death of my father than I had."
"I am not saying that he had. I am only showing you which way the evidence is tending. In all probability the researches of the police during the next few days will put an entirely20 different complexion21 on the affair."
Edward Hazeldine went his way, a thoroughly22 unhappy man. It is not too much to say that the horror with which he had first heard of his father's death was now to a certain extent overshadowed by the grief and shame caused him by the reading of his father's letter. Under his cold, practical, matter-of-fact exterior23 lay hidden a proud and, in some things, a very sensitive nature, which was far more easily wounded than anyone knew of, and very deep was the wound made in it today. He prided himself on being a thoroughly just man, and it was essential to his happiness that all his actions should meet with the approval of his own conscience. But still more essential was it that he should stand well in the eyes of the world, and be one of whom his fellow-townsmen might have just reason to feel proud. Hidden in the deepest recesses24 of his mind lay the half-formed hope of one day being able to represent his native town in Parliament. It was a hope of which he had never spoken to anyone, but none the less was it secretly cherished. From the time when he was a boy of twelve, he had set himself steadily25 to regard his advancement26 in life, and the acquisition of wealth and social position, as the great ends for which he must never cease to strive.
But what would Lord and Lady Elstree think and say, and in what way would they act, should he ever be compelled to reveal to the world the real facts connected with his father's death? In such a case he knew full well that the doors of Seaham Lodge27 would be closed to him forever, and that he must give up all hope of ever winning the hand of Miss Winterton. Goshope Grange, one of the Earl's country seats, to which he had been invited for a week's shooting last September, and where he had for fellow-guests two lords, three baronets, and a host of minor28 celebrities29, would know him no more. Social extinction30 would be the fate of him and his, should the contents of his father's letter ever become known. After such an exposure, how could he bear to look his fellow-townsmen in the face? He would have to give up his business, if indeed, his partners did not insist on his seceding31 from it; all his ambitious projects would fall in ruins around him, and he would have to seek another home in some place where he was known to none.
"And as matters were now turning out, it seemed only too probable that he would feel himself compelled to reveal the contents of the letter. It would never do to let an innocent man suffer under the stigma32 of so terrible a crime. Whatever the cost to him and his might be, that man's innocence33 must be proclaimed aloud on the housetops. Very bitter were his thoughts as he walked slowly through the town, with his hat pulled over his brows and his eyes bent34 on the ground, towards his father's house. A chill shot through his heart as his fingers touched the muffled35 knocker. The servant who let him in burst out crying afresh the moment she set eyes on him, and he needed all his nerve to enable him to retain his outward composure as he opened the drawing-room door and went in. Clement36 was sitting on one side of the fireplace, Fanny on the other. Edward touched his brother lightly on the shoulder, and then the hands of both met in a long, affectionate grip.
"Where is my mother?" asked the elder man.
"She is lying down in her own room," answered Fanny. "When I went to her, a few minutes ago, she was asleep."
"Sleep is the best thing for her just now. I must leave it to you, Clem, to induce her to keep up her strength as much as possible."
"You may rely upon it that I will look after her."
Presently Edward took his leave. He was restless and anxious to get home. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts. The company of anyone would have been distasteful to him just then. He shut himself up in his study as soon as he reached home.
Next day Mr. Avison, who had been telegraphed for, arrived from Paris, and he and John Brancker at once set to work to ascertain37 to what extent the Bank was a sufferer by the recent robbery. The result was that gold and notes to the amount of about three thousand one hundred pounds proved to be missing, together with the twelve hundred pounds which the dead man had brought with him from London.
The investigation38 served to bring to light one singular fact which puzzled Mr. Avison and John Brancker not a little. Mr. Hazeldine's private ledger39 was missing, as were also a number of check slips on which the undercashiers entered the numbers of the notes which they paid over at the close of each day's business.
"It certainly looks," said Mr. Avison, "as if the thief or thieves were intimately acquainted with the ins and outs of our business, or else why should they have taken away with them the only evidence by means of which we should have been able to trace the missing notes?"
But John Brancker could only profess40 himself to be as utterly puzzled over the affair as Mr. Avison was.
Although Mr. Avison had read the evidence taken at the inquest, he had hitherto attached no importance to the fact that certain portions of it seemed to point the finger of suspicion at John Brancker. John was such an old and tried servant, and he had such implicit41 confidence in his integrity, that he had only smiled to himself, as he thought how wide of the truth people are often led by circumstantial evidence.
But now the case began to put on a very different complexion. A grave suspicion was taking root in his mind, that no one but a man thoroughly acquainted with the inner working of the Bank could be at the bottom of the mystery. It troubled him more even than the loss of the money troubled him, to think that his faith in human nature should be so rudely shaken. But Mr. Avison was by nature a very reticent42 man, a man who thought much but said little, and John had not the faintest notion of the feelings at work in his employer's mind. The Banker said to himself that some further evidence would probably be forthcoming at the adjourned43 inquest, and that he could afford to wait till then.
Obed Sweet was another person who was considerably44 troubled in the article he called his mind. That Mr. Hazeldine had come by his death between half-past ten and half-past eleven o'clock, everybody seemed fully agreed. Yet was Obed quite aware that during the greater portion of the time in question, he had been asleep in his room downstairs. This it was that troubled him. If he had only kept awake, as he ought to have done, might he not have heard someone come in, or go out, or have been alarmed by the noise of a struggle, or by some cry for help? Unfortunately, he had heard nothing. He tried to argue himself into the belief that he was a remarkably45 light sleeper46. "Why, a mouse could hardly scamper47 across the floor without my hearing it," he said to himself again and again. Still he wished most fervently48 that he had not fallen asleep on that fatal night.
Meanwhile, the needful authority having been granted by the Coroner, Mr. Hazeldine's funeral took place. It was attended by nearly half the population of Ashdown, either as followers49 or onlookers50. A day or two later, the jury met again for the adjourned inquest.
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1
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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6
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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7
tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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9
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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10
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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11
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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12
pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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perjured
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| adj.伪证的，犯伪证罪的v.发假誓，作伪证( perjure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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16
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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bullion
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| n.金条，银条 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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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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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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celebrities
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| n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉 | |
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30
extinction
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| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
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seceding
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| v.脱离，退出( secede的现在分词 ) | |
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stigma
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| n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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36
clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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37
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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38
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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39
ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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40
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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41
implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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42
reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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43
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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46
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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47
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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48
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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49
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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50
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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