"Whence did Ivar obtain that vase?" she murmured. "He has always refused to tell. 'Take it, and ask no questions,' has always been his answer. "'That urn1,'" she continued, repeating Idris' words, "'formed a part of the treasure that led to a murder. Whoever gave you the urn was either the assassin, or obtained it through the agency of the assassin.' Ivar gave it to me, but he was not the assassin. No! the deed was wrought2 by the hand of one who escaped from the wreck3 of the Idris. Let me read those letters again in the light of the new knowledge acquired to-day."
She rose, and from a drawer in a cabinet took a packet of letters.
"What would Idris Breakspear give to read these!" she murmured. "But the day is not far distant when I must put them into his hands; and then," she faltered4, "and then—how great will be his contempt for me!"
The first one was written in a woman's hand; and the envelope containing it bore the words, "To my daughter Lorelie."
Madame Rochefort had, when dying, given this letter[Pg 246] to Lorelie with the injunction that it was not to be read till after its writer had been laid in the grave.
"Dearest Lorelie," it ran, "it may be that the disclosure contained in this letter will cause you to view the memory of your mother with feelings of shame, if not of contempt: but leave the judgment6 of my conduct, or, if you should so term it, my sin, to that higher tribunal before which I now stand, and be not too quick to condemn7, since no woman can rightly judge me unless she herself has stood in a similar position to mine.
"You will surmise8 by these words that I have some strange confession9 to make, and such in truth is the case.
"You, my daughter, in common with the rest of the world, have hitherto regarded Eric Marville as a murderer, and your father, Noel Rochefort, as a man of stainless10 honour. Learn now the truth that these opinions must be reversed: it was your father, and not Eric Marville, that murdered Henri Duchesne. And for twenty years I have kept this guilty secret locked within my breast, shielding my husband's reputation to the injury of another's.
"Let me tell the tale, and that in as few words as possible, for it is a melancholy11 reminiscence; why should I linger over it?
"I married your father in 1869.
"During the first year of our wedded12 life we lived at Nantes, your father's regiment13 having been stationed there.
"Our circle of friends included, besides others, the Englishman, Eric Marville; and the Gascon, Henri Duchesne. The latter, some years before, had been a suitor for my hand; and to my uneasiness I discovered that though he himself was now married, he had not abandoned his passion for me. I remained deaf to his advances. Thereupon his love turned to hatred14, and, desirous of evoking15 my husband's suspicion and jealousy,[Pg 247] he had the baseness to boast among his friends that he had found in me an easy conquest. Though full of secret fury your father hesitated to send a challenge, since Duchesne was deadly with pistol and sword: to face him in duel16 was to face certain death.
"One memorable18 summer night I was sitting alone in the upper room of our house, which overlooked the Place Graslin, awaiting the return of your father from the Armorique Club. The hour was late. All was quiet in the square below. I opened the window and looked out upon the moonlit night. A footstep upon the pavement attracted my attention, and stepping forwards I looked downwards19 over the rail of the veranda20. Henri Duchesne was standing21 below: he looked up, saw me, and kissed his hand. At that moment, from the shadow of the doorway22, there leaped a man whose fingers immediately twined themselves around Duchesne's throat. Though taken by surprise he instantly recovered himself, and drew forth23 a dagger24, the recent gift, as I afterwards learned, of Eric Marville.
"I tried to call for help, but found myself dumb with horror. Mutely I leaned against the rail of the veranda watching the silent and savage25 death-grapple taking place beneath my very feet. The dagger changed hands: a swift stroke, and Duchesne lay stretched upon the pavement.
"The whole affair did not last more than a minute. I recoiled26 from the veranda, cold and trembling. Though I had not seen his face I knew only too well who it was that had wrought the deed.
"I staggered to a sofa and fainted.
"When I awoke, your father was sitting beside me.
"'It was a dream,' I murmured.
[Pg 248]
"'It was no dream, Thérèse, but reality, nor do I regret the deed. He sought your dishonour27. He deserved to die. It was an act of justice.'
"'Let us fly from Nantes before you are discovered,' I said.
"'Unwise! Stationed here with my regiment, and living close to the scene of the deed, I dare not fly. Suspicion would fall upon me at once.'
"Next day we heard that Eric Marville had been arrested for the murder. 'Have no fear on his account,' said your father to me. 'He did not commit the deed: how, then, can they prove that he did?' The trial drew nigh, and to my dismay I learned that I, as being present in the house at the time of the murder, was cited to give evidence. Your father, anticipating every kind of question that could be put, instructed me what to say, and for many days continued drilling me in the answers I was to give. When the time came for me to take my place in court I stood up and swore an oath—heaven forgive the falsehood!—that I was asleep at the time of the murder, and heard nothing whatever of the scuffle.
"The trial ended: the prisoner was found guilty, and condemned28 to the guillotine. Never shall I forget Madame Marville's cry of agony when the sentence was pronounced. How often in the dead of night have I started from sleep with that cry ringing in my ears!
"From the tribunal I returned home heart-broken by the black wickedness of which I had been guilty. If Marville died, what was I but his murderess?
"'Noel,' I said, that same night, 'you will not let the innocent suffer?'
"'What would you have me do?' was his reply. 'Walk to the guillotine instead of him? Upon my word, you are an affectionate wife!'
"I shuddered29, for he spoke30 truth. I could prove the[Pg 249] innocence31 of Eric Marville only at the price of Noel's death.
"Was it for the wife to bring her husband to the guillotine?
"How I preserved my reason at this time I do not know. It came somewhat as a relief to learn that Marville's sentence was changed to imprisonment32 for life.
"'If you may not prove his innocence,' I said, 'there is one thing you can do for him. Aid him to escape from prison to some far-off land, where he may live in happiness with his wife and child.'
"'Ah! I might do that,' your father replied. The notion seemed to appeal to his spirit of daring and adventure. 'That's a devilish good idea of yours, Thérèse. There would be a dash of excitement in it! Only,' he added, gloomily, stopping in his walk, 'it will mean the utter ruin of my career. It is whispered that the Ministry33 intend to appoint me to the next Colonial Governorship. I should like to see the fellow free, but his rescue must be left to others. It cannot be done by me. I should have to escape with him, and become exiled from France forever. No! no! it's impossible.'
"But I would not let the idea sleep. I gave him no rest, continually urging him to the work of rescue, even threatening to reveal the truth in connection with the murder, till at last, wearied by my importunities, he matured a plan for Marville's rescue. The result you know. After an imprisonment of five years Eric Marville escaped from Valàgenêt Prison, and was hurried on board the yacht Nemesis34 that was waiting for him in Quilaix Bay. Your father went with him; as a law-breaker he could not remain in France. I would have accompanied their flight, but the hour of your birth was drawing near. It had been arranged, therefore, that I should join them at a later date. Alas35! I never set eyes upon your father[Pg 250] again. He corresponded with me at irregular intervals36, but after a lapse37 of eighteen months his letters ceased. The yacht in which he was cruising from place to place foundered38 off the English coast, and I have no reason to believe that he escaped a watery39 grave.
"If thus certain of his death, why, you may ask, did I not immediately make known the truth concerning the murder?
"I was an accessory after the fact, a perjurer42 likewise, and therefore amenable43 to the law. You were a babe of eighteen months, pretty and charming, the light of my life. To proclaim the truth meant imprisonment for me, separation from you; and withal, disgrace upon our common name. I could not bear the thought of this, and, therefore, deaf to the voice of justice, I continued to keep the truth hidden.
"But now, assured by the physician that I have not many days to live, I dare not die without making you the confidante of my guilty secret.
"This letter, signed with my name, together with your father's correspondence, which is contained in my private desk, will afford sufficient evidence of the innocence of Eric Marville.
"To you, then, my daughter, I leave the duty of clearing the memory of an injured man, hoping that you will be brave enough to face the consequent ignominy which must forever rest upon our name.
"Thérèse Rochefort."
Lorelie laid down the letter with a sigh.
"But I was not brave enough," she murmured.
Her father, Noel Rochefort, was credited with having destroyed a brilliant future by his chivalrous44 enterprise[Pg 251] of rescuing from prison a friend whom he deemed to be innocent: and, as the daughter of such, Lorelie, wherever she went, found herself an object of interest and sympathy, almost a heroine. Must she now proclaim that her father, the supposed hero, was in reality a murderer, and one, too, so base that in order to save his own neck he would have seen an innocent man, and his friend, go to the guillotine?
She was sixteen years of age at the time of her mother's death, and lovely in face and figure; her friends flattered her vanity by averring45 that with her beauty and accomplishments46 she might win the love of a nobleman, or even of a prince! But what nobleman or prince would marry the daughter of a felon47? Therefore, she resolved to let the truth be hidden. If Eric Marville were still living he was free; let him rejoice in that fact: if dead, her attestation48 of his innocence would do him no good. True, she knew that Marville had left a son, who must often have felt shame at the stigma49 resting on his name. But this son would now be twenty-three years of age; he had grown up, she cynically50 argued, accustomed to the feeling, whereas in her case the knowledge had come upon her with a sudden and overwhelming shock. She pictured the pitying looks of her friends, the gibes51 of the malicious52 (for her beauty had made for her many enemies), and she shrank from facing the new situation. No: let the unknown Idris Marville bear the disgrace that of right belonged to her. And when, a month or two later, she learned from the newspapers that this same Idris Marville had perished in a fire at Paris, she felt a sense of relief.
But retribution was to follow!
The day came when her life was in such danger that she must have perished but for the providential help of a certain stranger; and when that stranger proved to be[Pg 252] none other than the Idris Marville whom she was wronging by her guilty silence, her feeling of remorse53 was so great that she was almost tempted54 to leap from the rock into the sea. To withhold55 the truth was pain, yet to declare it would be to earn Idris' contempt. Every kindly56 word, every pleasant look on his part, had gone to her heart like so many thrusts of steel.
The irony57 of fate! She had married Viscount Walden in the expectation of succeeding to a coronet, and now the belief was gradually forming in her mind that Idris was the rightful heir of Ravenhall: Beatrice Ravengar, and not herself, was destined58 to be the Countess of Ormsby.
O, if at the age of sixteen, and following the dictates59 of justice, she had tried to find Idris Marville, and finding, had given him her mother's written confession, how different her life might have been! Idris would perhaps have been attracted by her then as he had been seven years later. But now? She was united to a husband whom she felt to be worthless: a husband who had ceased to care for her: a husband whose title of right belonged to Idris.
"I am justly punished," she murmured, bitterly.
The remaining contents of the packet drawn60 by Lorelie from the escritoire consisted of the correspondence mentioned by Madame Rochefort in her inculpatory61 letter.
Arranging these missives according to the order of time in which they were written Lorelie took up the first, which dealt with the events that followed upon the flight from Quilaix.
"The Pelayo Hotel, Pajares.
25th April, 1875.
"The newspapers will already have told you how [Pg 253]admirably the rescue was planned and carried out, so I need not dwell upon that point.
"There was, however, one awkward hitch62 in the arrangement—the death of Mrs. Marville: but I am not to blame for that. Had Eric listened to me it would not have happened; my intention was to proceed direct to the yacht: he would turn aside to take his wife with him: now he has no wife.
"Eric Marville is free, and I hope you are satisfied.
"The superscription of this letter will show you that we are no longer on board the Nemesis.
"'What is Pajares?' you may ask. A mere63 hamlet on the northern slope of the Asturian Sierras, so high up as to be almost in the clouds: and the building dignified64 with the name of hotel is but a miserable65 log posada.
"How we come to be here is soon told.
"To fly from Quilaix to the open sea was an easy task: the difficulty was to attain66 dry land again in safety; for, as our romantic escapade would form the chief topic in all the newspapers, it was pretty certain that at every port a watch would be kept for our yacht. We feared putting into harbour. But land we must—somewhere. We could not cruise forever on the open main. How to land without detection was the problem.
"Chance decided67 our course of action. We lay becalmed in a wild rocky bay off the Asturian coast. Anchoring a mile from land we swept the shore with the glass: there was neither village nor human dwelling68 visible, not a living creature in sight. It was the very spot for our purpose; and, as if to favour us still more, a mist came on. Marville proposed that we should go ashore69 in the boat, and get rid of the tell-tale yacht by scuttling70 it there and then. I was compelled to agree to this plan, for I could devise none better. It went to my heart to[Pg 254] watch the beautiful Nemesis sinking out of sight forever, but it would have gone to my heart still more to be captured by a French cruiser, and provided with a cell at Valàgenêt.
"Fortunately, the sea was as smooth as glass and the wind still as we rowed off, otherwise enveloped71 in a fog on an ironbound coast we might have fared ill. We ran the boat ashore in safety, destroyed it immediately afterwards, and paid off our crew, who were as glad as ourselves to be quit of the yacht, for they, too, as fellow-conspirators in the rescue-plot, were amenable to justice.
"We dispersed72: and since the crew went eastward73, Marville and I turned our faces westward74, and walking all night as chance directed, found ourselves at early dawn at Gijon, where we rested. We assumed the character of pedestrian tourists. From Gijon we moved on to Oviedo, and thence to the mountain-hamlet of Pajares, where I write this.
"I have found Marville far from being a pleasant companion: the death of his wife has gloomed his spirits, and has poisoned the pleasure he might otherwise derive75 from his newly-acquired freedom.
"His talk, on the few occasions when he does talk, turns mainly upon that accident, and upon the look of horror which his boy gave him. 'He will never want to see me again,' he mutters moodily76.
"I was not sorry when he proposed that we should part. He saw that his gloom was an ill-match for my cheerful nature. With his love of mountaineering he resolved to cross the sierras, and to penetrate77 into Leon. He set off without a guide. From the door of the posada I watched him ascending78 the mountain-path, his solitary80 black form outlined against the white snow. He dwindled81 to a speck82, and that was the last I saw of him. Shall we ever see each other again? He forgot to make[Pg 255] arrangements for a future meeting, and I didn't remind him of the point.
"He has done me irreparable injury. For him I have wrecked83 a brilliant military career, lost a Colonial Governorship, and made myself an exile forever from la belle84 France. Why should I confess the deed to him? Haven't I made the fellow sufficient atonement?"
Lorelie took up another letter, which was dated more than a twelvemonth after the first.
"H?tel d'Angleterre,
Salerno,
10th May, 1876.
"I verily believe that the continual mention of an absent evil has the power of causing that evil to appear. In every one of your letters you have alluded85, despite my forbiddance, to Eric Marville and his innocence. Your persistency86 in this respect seems to have raised him up again from the things of the past—a past I was beginning to forget.
"You can guess what is coming.
"I have met with Eric Marville. More than a year has passed since I parted from him in the village inn of Pajares, hoping never more to set eyes upon him: and now his disturbing presence is with me again. 'Disturbing?' you say. Yes. You know the aphorism87, 'We hate those whom we have injured;' and I suppose I have injured him: you so often say it in your letters that I have come at last to believe it.
"What folly88 led me to Campania? I might have foreseen our meeting; for, prior to the rescue, did not I transfer his banking89 account under an assumed name to Messrs. Stradella, of Naples?
"But to our meeting.
[Pg 256]
"Yesterday I made an excursion to Paestum, and, fortunately, had the place to myself. Not one tourist was there. Solitary and charmed I wandered for a whole day among the magnificent ruins of the past.
"Amid the stillness of a lovely twilight90 I sat down at the base of a marble column belonging to the Temple of Neptune91. The whole circle of the sky, from the wine-dark sea before me to the peaks of the cypress-clad mountains behind, was flushed with the deep violet hues92 to be seen only in this southern clime.
"I smoked a cigar and drank in the pure air of peace. It was a time disposing one to turn poet, monk93, or somebody equally moral. I had almost forgotten that night at Nantes.
"Suddenly my eye caught sight of a shadow. I looked up; and there was Eric Marville watching me with an expression that made me feel uneasy, I could not tell why.
"On seeing that I had noticed him he came forward. He did not offer his hand, but smiled mysteriously, almost exultantly94, so it seemed to me, and took a seat opposite me on a fallen pillar.
"At first we talked commonplaces. Presently he remarked:
"'I am going yachting among the fiords of Norway. You must accompany me.'
"His manner implied that he was master and I servant! Why should he desire me for his compagnon de voyage, seeing that, as matters are at present, we are so unlike each other, he gloomy, I gay?
"'There is a fine yacht for sale at Naples. The price is moderate. I propose that we divide it between us.'
"Do you believe, Thérèse, that man is a free agent, with full control over his own actions? Of course you answer 'Yes'; your father-confessor has preached the[Pg 257] doctrine95 a hundred times. I answer 'No'! How, otherwise, can I account for my conduct? I hate the fellow; I do not wish to go yachting; I have a presentiment96 that ill will come of it. Nevertheless, I have given him my promise. Explain that, if you can."
"The H?tel Crocelle, Naples,
2d June, 1876.
"The transfer of the yacht is complete. It is as pretty a vessel97 as one could desire. Over it my first open variance98 with Marville arose. I say 'open,' because, secretly, we have been in a state of hostility99 to each other since the day of our meeting at Paestum.
"Marville was desirous of changing the name of our new-bought yacht. I suggested Lorelie, after the little daughter whom I trust one day to see; he wished it to be called Idris, after his child. The spin of a coin decided the point in his favour. The crew are all English, and have given proof of it. When Marville ordered the new name to be painted, they begged him not to rechristen the vessel, declaring that to do so would bring ill-luck. Marville treated their opinion with contempt. He rolled up his shirt-sleeves, slung100 a plank101 over the side, and set to work himself, painting the name Idris as if to the manner born. Two of the crew deserted102 in consequence. Strange that English sailors, so bold in fight, should be so superstitious103!"
"The Yacht Idris, Gibraltar,
7th July, 1876.
"Marville is a wretched companion. Twelve months of freedom ought to have made him as bright and gay as in the old days, instead of which he is the same melancholy being who left me at Pajares, with only one topic of conversation—his unjust conviction.
[Pg 258]
"You ask me whether I shall ever tell him that it was I who slew104 Duchesne? You might as well ask me whether I want my throat cut at once? That little affair at Nantes was the beginning of a train of circumstances that ended in the death of his wife. He would hold me primarily responsible for this last unlucky accident. Tell him the true story! I would as soon tell the Minister of Justice, who would at least see that I had a fair trial, whereas Marville, in his present state of gloom, is incapable105 of listening to reason. Yesterday, while toying with his knife at dinner, he muttered, 'I would that the assassin of Duchesne were before me now!' You can guess how I felt at those words. I am in a trying situation. Every day I have to listen to a new theory accounting106 for the cause of the murder, with remarks as to how an intelligent detective ought to set to work. It is not enough for me to smoke in silence; he wants to hear theories from me on the matter, and becomes angry because I have none to give. I wish to God he would talk of something else besides the one everlasting107 theme! I feel that I shall be betraying myself some day.
"You remember the silver altar-ring engraved108 with runic letters, the ring that he entrusted109 to my secret keeping on the morning of his arrest? After his trial I handed the relic110 to his wife, but scarcely knowing why, I made a copy of the runic inscription111. This copy happened to be among my papers on board the Nemesis, and, believe me, when leaving the sinking yacht, Marville betrayed more concern over this wretched piece of writing than over anything else on board.
"It seems that he has been studying my transcript112 during the past year, trying to extract some meaning from it: and though failing hitherto, he still perseveres113.
"He talks oddly at times, and I am beginning to [Pg 259]believe that his mind is unhinged. He declared to-day that he is the rightful heir to a peerage, and could take his rank to-morrow if he chose. Of course I believe this!"
"The Yacht Idris, Penzance,
12th July, 1876.
"If you perceive a difference in my penmanship ascribe it to my trembling hand. I am in a state of nervous fear. The strangest, the most inexplicable114, the weirdest116 event of my life, happened yesterday. I was cleansing117 my hands in a bowl of water. Marville was standing beside me. Suddenly he observed in a very strange tone, 'Do your hands always redden the water like that?'
"I glance downwards. The water in the basin—believe me or not, as you will—was as crimson118 as blood! My God! it looked for all the world like the water in which I washed my hands that night!
"I could see by the mirror that my face had turned as white as chalk. My agitation119 was too obvious to escape Marville's notice. He smiled strangely, and turned away. What does it mean? Can it be that he suspects me of—that? I have not yet recovered from the shock, though it happened twenty-four hours ago, nor have I washed my hands since then. My God! if it should happen again! I never expected to feel regret for the death of Duchesne; nevertheless, I do. It has reduced me to a devilishly nervous state of mind. I suppose moralists would say that I am suffering retribution.
"One of the sailors declares that he heard me talking in my sleep. I must keep my cabin-door locked at night. If I should babble120 of that, and wake to find Marville sitting by my bedside with an awful smile and with glassy eyes fixed121 on me!"
[Pg 260]
"The Yacht Idris, Trondheim,
10th September, 1876.
"I verily believe that Marville is mad! He pretends that he has deciphered the runic inscription. It relates to the buried treasure of an old Norse Viking—which treasure, he avers122, still exists in the spot where it was hidden, a thousand years ago, the site being some point on the eastern coast of England. A short run across the North Sea will bring us to the place. He is bent123 on finding it. Is it not clear that he is mad?
"Hitherto I have taken charge of the yacht. Now he has assumed the command, heedless of my mild protests. The crew do not like this change of masters. His seamanship is of the wildest character. He delights to sport with reefs and eddies124, with winds and storms. Thank heaven! we are going no farther north, or he would take a diabolical125 pleasure in steering126 us all into the Ma?lstrom in order to demonstrate how cleverly he could get us out again. This may be all very well for him, who is in love with death, but for my part I prefer to live.
"He has exchanged his former melancholy mood for one of reckless mirth. He drinks: talks loudly: laughs: and promises to divide his imaginary treasure among the crew. 'To obtain it,' he says, 'we shall have to penetrate to the chamber127 of the dead, for its hiding-place is the tomb. But the ancient curse must be fulfilled; and you,' he added, turning to me, 'shall be our Protesilaus.'
"The Yacht Idris, Bergen,
7th October, 1876.
"I have discovered who Protesilaus was—a Greek hero who sacrificed his life to procure129 the safety of his[Pg 261] friends. Curious! What does Marville mean by calling me Protesilaus?
"A strange occurrence took place last night. A subdued130 wailing131 was heard among the shrouds132. The thick fog prevented us from discovering the origin of the sound. Fear fell on the crew, and none of them would ascend79 the rigging to ascertain133 the cause. They muttered that it was a ghost, and that it foreboded ill to all on board. Marville laughed at them for a pack of fools! Of course it was nothing but the moaning of some seabird, but, for all that, in my then state of mind it was sufficiently134 disquieting135.
"I retired136 to rest, but only to lie awake all night with that eerie137 sound playing around the vessel. The sailors have lost all cheerfulness, and believe themselves to be living on a doomed138 ship. 'What vessel ever did well, after she was re-named?' asked one. I confess that I myself am affected139 by the general gloom, but when I expressed to Marville my intention of remaining at Bergen till his return from the treasure-search, he cried, 'No, no! you, of all persons, must not leave us.' Why not? I thought of Protesilaus again.
"The more I consider his moody140 watchful141 manner towards me of late, the more convinced I grow that he suspects me of the killing142 of Duchesne. He has lured143 me on board this yacht with the object of torturing my conscience; by perpetually dwelling upon the crime he hopes to entrap144 me into a confession. So far he has failed, but my position is a terrible one. I feel intuitively that he is maturing some scheme of vengeance145.
"'Why do I not escape?' you may ask. Impossible! The sailors, I believe, have orders to watch me. If I go ashore he accompanies me, ostensibly from friendship, in reality to keep guard over me. His dreadful smile fascinates me, and chains me to him. I seem to have lost all[Pg 262] freedom of will and action, and to have fallen completely under the spell of some weird115 being from another world. I feel that ere long he will draw the secret from me.
"When I behold146 my reflection in the glass I cannot refrain from the thought, 'Can that be the once brilliant and handsome Rochefort?' I look ten years older—grey, haggard. I should be quite safe in returning to France, for no one would recognize me now.
"If there be a tribunal above to which one is responsible for the deeds done on earth, I trust that the remorse I have suffered of late will be taken into account."
"The Yacht Idris. In Ormsby Roads,
13th October, 1876, 7 p.m.
"We are anchored off the English coast in front of a little town called Ormsby-on-Sea. To the right of the town and about a mile from the shore rise the towers of some old castle, embowered in a woodland vale, and forming a pretty feature in the landscape. Marville seems to take a great interest in this edifice147; all this morning he has been studying it through the telescope.
"'Haven't seen the place for ten years,' he muttered, 'wonder if he is still alive.'
"I asked him the name of the place. A scowl148 was my only answer. He hasn't improved in amiability149 since we left Bergen. In the dictatorial150 spirit assumed by him of late he will not permit any of us to land. He himself is going ashore for some purpose which he refuses to disclose. He will not return to the yacht till to-morrow. I am dispatching this letter to the post by the sailor who is to row Marville ashore—a sailor whom I can trust.—Farewell!"
"The last letter we ever received from him," murmured Lorelie, laying down the missive.
[Pg 263]
The tone of the final letters conveyed an impression terrible in its suggestiveness to her mind now that by means of her hypnotic experiment she had become aware of the tragedy that had taken place within the interior of Ormfell.
"The Idris went down on the evening of October 13th," she murmured, "and late that same night Olave Ravengar returned to Ravenhall after an absence of ten years. Is this a coincidence, or is the present earl the same person as Eric Marville? Did my father go down with the yacht, or did he escape the sea only to fall within the interior of Ormfell by the hand of the man whom he had wronged?"
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
urn
|
|
| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
untied
|
|
| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
condemn
|
|
| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
surmise
|
|
| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
stainless
|
|
| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
wedded
|
|
| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
evoking
|
|
| 产生，引起，唤起( evoke的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
duel
|
|
| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
avenging
|
|
| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
memorable
|
|
| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
downwards
|
|
| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
veranda
|
|
| n.走廊；阳台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
recoiled
|
|
| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
dishonour
|
|
| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
shuddered
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
innocence
|
|
| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
ministry
|
|
| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
nemesis
|
|
| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
lapse
|
|
| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
foundered
|
|
| v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
concealment
|
|
| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
perjurer
|
|
| n.伪誓者，伪证者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
amenable
|
|
| adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
chivalrous
|
|
| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
averring
|
|
| v.断言( aver的现在分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
46
accomplishments
|
|
| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
felon
|
|
| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
attestation
|
|
| n.证词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
stigma
|
|
| n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
cynically
|
|
| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
gibes
|
|
| vi.嘲笑，嘲弄（gibe的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
malicious
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
withhold
|
|
| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
irony
|
|
| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
dictates
|
|
| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
inculpatory
|
|
| adj.使人负罪的，责难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
62
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
scuttling
|
|
| n.船底穿孔，打开通海阀（沉船用）v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
dispersed
|
|
| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
eastward
|
|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
derive
|
|
| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
moodily
|
|
| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
ascending
|
|
| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
ascend
|
|
| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
dwindled
|
|
| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
speck
|
|
| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
wrecked
|
|
| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
belle
|
|
| n.靓女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
alluded
|
|
| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
persistency
|
|
| n. 坚持(余辉, 时间常数) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
aphorism
|
|
| n.格言，警语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
banking
|
|
| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
Neptune
|
|
| n.海王星 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
hues
|
|
| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
monk
|
|
| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
exultantly
|
|
| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
doctrine
|
|
| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
presentiment
|
|
| n.预感，预觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
variance
|
|
| n.矛盾，不同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
hostility
|
|
| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
plank
|
|
| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
superstitious
|
|
| adj.迷信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
slew
|
|
| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
incapable
|
|
| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
accounting
|
|
| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
engraved
|
|
| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
entrusted
|
|
| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
relic
|
|
| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
inscription
|
|
| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
transcript
|
|
| n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
perseveres
|
|
| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
inexplicable
|
|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
weirdest
|
|
| 怪诞的( weird的最高级 )； 神秘而可怕的； 超然的； 古怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
cleansing
|
|
| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
babble
|
|
| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
avers
|
|
| v.断言( aver的第三人称单数 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
eddies
|
|
| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
diabolical
|
|
| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
rusty
|
|
| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
wailing
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
shrouds
|
|
| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
disquieting
|
|
| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
eerie
|
|
| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
moody
|
|
| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
watchful
|
|
| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
lured
|
|
| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
entrap
|
|
| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
edifice
|
|
| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
scowl
|
|
| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
amiability
|
|
| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
dictatorial
|
|
| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |