Chapter 9
‘Now, my good creature, whatever you have to say to me, out with it at once! I don’t want to hurry you needlessly; but these are business hours, and I have other people’s affairs to attend to besides yours.’
Addressing Ferrari’s wife, with his usual blunt good-humour, in these terms, Mr. Troy registered the lapse1 of time by a glance at the watch on his desk, and then waited to hear what his client had to say to him.
‘It’s something more, sir, about the letter with the thousand-pound note,’ Mrs. Ferrari began. ‘I have found out who sent it to me.’
Mr. Troy started. ‘This is news indeed!’ he said. ‘Who sent you the letter?’
‘Lord Montbarry sent it, sir.’
It was not easy to take Mr. Troy by surprise. But Mrs. Ferrari threw him completely off his balance. For a while he could only look at her in silent surprise. ‘Nonsense!’ he said, as soon as he had recovered himself. ‘There is some mistake — it can’t be!’
‘There is no mistake,’ Mrs. Ferrari rejoined, in her most positive manner. ‘Two gentlemen from the insurance offices called on me this morning, to see the letter. They were completely puzzled — especially when they heard of the bank-note inside. But they know who sent the letter. His lordship’s doctor in Venice posted it at his lordship’s request. Go to the gentlemen yourself, sir, if you don’t believe me. They were polite enough to ask if I could account for Lord Montbarry’s writing to me and sending me the money. I gave them my opinion directly — I said it was like his lordship’s kindness.’
‘Like his lordship’s kindness?’ Mr. Troy repeated, in blank amazement2.
‘Yes, sir! Lord Montbarry knew me, like all the other members of his family, when I was at school on the estate in Ireland. If he could have done it, he would have protected my poor dear husband. But he was helpless himself in the hands of my lady and the Baron3 — and the only kind thing he could do was to provide for me in my widowhood, like the true nobleman he was!’
‘A very pretty explanation!’ said Mr. Troy. ‘What did your visitors from the insurance offices think of it?’
‘They asked if I had any proof of my husband’s death.’
‘And what did you say?’
‘I said, “I give you better than proof, gentlemen; I give you my positive opinion.”’
‘That satisfied them, of course?’
‘They didn’t say so in words, sir. They looked at each other — and wished me good-morning.’
‘Well, Mrs. Ferrari, unless you have some more extraordinary news for me, I think I shall wish you good-morning too. I can take a note of your information (very startling information, I own); and, in the absence of proof, I can do no more.’
‘I can provide you with proof, sir — if that is all you want,’ said Mrs. Ferrari, with great dignity. ‘I only wish to know, first, whether the law justifies4 me in doing it. You may have seen in the fashionable intelligence of the newspapers, that Lady Montbarry has arrived in London, at Newbury’s Hotel. I propose to go and see her.’
‘The deuce you do! May I ask for what purpose?’
Mrs. Ferrari answered in a mysterious whisper. ‘For the purpose of catching5 her in a trap! I shan’t send in my name — I shall announce myself as a person on business, and the first words I say to her will be these: “I come, my lady, to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent to Ferrari’s widow.” Ah! you may well start, Mr. Troy! It almost takes you off your guard, doesn’t it? Make your mind easy, sir; I shall find the proof that everybody asks me for in her guilty face. Let her only change colour by the shadow of a shade — let her eyes only drop for half an instant — I shall discover her! The one thing I want to know is, does the law permit it?’
‘The law permits it,’ Mr. Troy answered gravely; ‘but whether her ladyship will permit it, is quite another question. Have you really courage enough, Mrs. Ferrari, to carry out this notable scheme of yours? You have been described to me, by Miss Lockwood, as rather a nervous, timid sort of person — and, if I may trust my own observation, I should say you justify6 the description.’
‘If you had lived in the country, sir, instead of living in London,’ Mrs. Ferrari replied, ‘you would sometimes have seen even a sheep turn on a dog. I am far from saying that I am a bold woman — quite the reverse. But when I stand in that wretch7’s presence, and think of my murdered husband, the one of us two who is likely to be frightened is not me. I am going there now, sir. You shall hear how it ends. I wish you good-morning.’
With those brave words the courier’s wife gathered her mantle8 about her, and walked out of the room.
Mr. Troy smiled — not satirically, but compassionately9. ‘The little simpleton!’ he thought to himself. ‘If half of what they say of Lady Montbarry is true, Mrs. Ferrari and her trap have but a poor prospect10 before them. I wonder how it will end?’
All Mr. Troy’s experience failed to forewarn him of how it did end.
Chapter 10
In the mean time, Mrs. Ferrari held to her resolution. She went straight from Mr. Troy’s office to Newbury’s Hotel.
Lady Montbarry was at home, and alone. But the authorities of the hotel hesitated to disturb her when they found that the visitor declined to mention her name. Her ladyship’s new maid happened to cross the hall while the matter was still in debate. She was a Frenchwoman, and, on being appealed to, she settled the question in the swift, easy, rational French way. ‘Madame’s appearance was perfectly11 respectable. Madame might have reasons for not mentioning her name which Miladi might approve. In any case, there being no orders forbidding the introduction of a strange lady, the matter clearly rested between Madame and Miladi. Would Madame, therefore, be good enough to follow Miladi’s maid up the stairs?’
In spite of her resolution, Mrs. Ferrari’s heart beat as if it would burst out of her bosom12, when her conductress led her into an ante-room, and knocked at a door opening into a room beyond. But it is remarkable13 that persons of sensitively-nervous organisation14 are the very persons who are capable of forcing themselves (apparently by the exercise of a spasmodic effort of will) into the performance of acts of the most audacious courage. A low, grave voice from the inner room said, ‘Come in.’ The maid, opening the door, announced, ‘A person to see you, Miladi, on business,’ and immediately retired15. In the one instant while these events passed, timid little Mrs. Ferrari mastered her own throbbing16 heart; stepped over the threshold, conscious of her clammy hands, dry lips, and burning head; and stood in the presence of Lord Montbarry’s widow, to all outward appearance as supremely17 self-possessed as her ladyship herself.
It was still early in the afternoon, but the light in the room was dim. The blinds were drawn18 down. Lady Montbarry sat with her back to the windows, as if even the subdued19 daylight were disagreeable to her. She had altered sadly for the worse in her personal appearance, since the memorable20 day when Doctor Wybrow had seen her in his consulting-room. Her beauty was gone — her face had fallen away to mere21 skin and bone; the contrast between her ghastly complexion22 and her steely glittering black eyes was more startling than ever. Robed in dismal23 black, relieved only by the brilliant whiteness of her widow’s cap — reclining in a panther-like suppleness24 of attitude on a little green sofa — she looked at the stranger who had intruded25 on her, with a moment’s languid curiosity, then dropped her eyes again to the hand-screen which she held between her face and the fire. ‘I don’t know you,’ she said. ‘What do you want with me?’
Mrs. Ferrari tried to answer. Her first burst of courage had already worn itself out. The bold words that she had determined26 to speak were living words still in her mind, but they died on her lips.
There was a moment of silence. Lady Montbarry looked round again at the speechless stranger. ‘Are you deaf?’ she asked. There was another pause. Lady Montbarry quietly looked back again at the screen, and put another question. ‘Do you want money?’
‘Money!’ That one word roused the sinking spirit of the courier’s wife. She recovered her courage; she found her voice. ‘Look at me, my lady, if you please,’ she said, with a sudden outbreak of audacity27.
Lady Montbarry looked round for the third time. The fatal words passed Mrs. Ferrari’s lips.
‘I come, my lady, to acknowledge the receipt of the money sent to Ferrari’s widow.’
Lady Montbarry’s glittering black eyes rested with steady attention on the woman who had addressed her in those terms. Not the faintest expression of confusion or alarm, not even a momentary28 flutter of interest stirred the deadly stillness of her face. She reposed29 as quietly, she held the screen as composedly, as ever. The test had been tried, and had utterly30 failed.
There was another silence. Lady Montbarry considered with herself. The smile that came slowly and went away suddenly — the smile at once so sad and so cruel — showed itself on her thin lips. She lifted her screen, and pointed31 with it to a seat at the farther end of the room. ‘Be so good as to take that chair,’ she said.
Helpless under her first bewildering sense of failure — not knowing what to say or what to do next — Mrs. Ferrari mechanically obeyed. Lady Montbarry, rising on the sofa for the first time, watched her with undisguised scrutiny32 as she crossed the room — then sank back into a reclining position once more. ‘No,’ she said to herself, ‘the woman walks steadily33; she is not intoxicated34 — the only other possibility is that she may be mad.’
She had spoken loud enough to be heard. Stung by the insult, Mrs. Ferrari instantly answered her: ‘I am no more drunk or mad than you are!’
‘No?’ said Lady Montbarry. ‘Then you are only insolent35? The ignorant English mind (I have observed) is apt to be insolent in the exercise of unrestrained English liberty. This is very noticeable to us foreigners among you people in the streets. Of course I can’t be insolent to you, in return. I hardly know what to say to you. My maid was imprudent in admitting you so easily to my room. I suppose your respectable appearance misled her. I wonder who you are? You mentioned the name of a courier who left us very strangely. Was he married by any chance? Are you his wife? And do you know where he is?’
Mrs. Ferrari’s indignation burst its way through all restraints. She advanced to the sofa; she feared nothing, in the fervour and rage of her reply.
‘I am his widow — and you know it, you wicked woman! Ah! it was an evil hour when Miss Lockwood recommended my husband to be his lordship’s courier —!’
Before she could add another word, Lady Montbarry sprang from the sofa with the stealthy suddenness of a cat — seized her by both shoulders — and shook her with the strength and frenzy36 of a madwoman. ‘You lie! you lie! you lie!’ She dropped her hold at the third repetition of the accusation37, and threw up her hands wildly with a gesture of despair. ‘Oh, Jesu Maria! is it possible?’ she cried. ‘Can the courier have come to me through that woman?’ She turned like lightning on Mrs. Ferrari, and stopped her as she was escaping from the room. ‘Stay here, you fool — stay here, and answer me! If you cry out, as sure as the heavens are above you, I’ll strangle you with my own hands. Sit down again — and fear nothing. Wretch! It is I who am frightened — frightened out of my senses. Confess that you lied, when you used Miss Lockwood’s name just now! No! I don’t believe you on your oath; I will believe nobody but Miss Lockwood herself. Where does she live? Tell me that, you noxious38 stinging little insect — and you may go.’ Terrified as she was, Mrs. Ferrari hesitated. Lady Montbarry lifted her hands threateningly, with the long, lean, yellow-white fingers outspread and crooked39 at the tips. Mrs. Ferrari shrank at the sight of them, and gave the address. Lady Montbarry pointed contemptuously to the door — then changed her mind. ‘No! not yet! you will tell Miss Lockwood what has happened, and she may refuse to see me. I will go there at once, and you shall go with me. As far as the house — not inside of it. Sit down again. I am going to ring for my maid. Turn your back to the door — your cowardly face is not fit to be seen!’
She rang the bell. The maid appeared.
‘My cloak and bonnet40 — instantly!’
The maid produced the cloak and bonnet from the bedroom.
‘A cab at the door — before I can count ten!’
The maid vanished. Lady Montbarry surveyed herself in the glass, and wheeled round again, with her cat-like suddenness, to Mrs. Ferrari.
‘I look more than half dead already, don’t I?’ she said with a grim outburst of irony41. ‘Give me your arm.’
She took Mrs. Ferrari’s arm, and left the room. ‘You have nothing to fear, so long as you obey,’ she whispered, on the way downstairs. ‘You leave me at Miss Lockwood’s door, and never see me again.’
In the hall they were met by the landlady42 of the hotel. Lady Montbarry graciously presented her companion. ‘My good friend Mrs. Ferrari; I am so glad to have seen her.’ The landlady accompanied them to the door. The cab was waiting. ‘Get in first, good Mrs. Ferrari,’ said her ladyship; ‘and tell the man where to go.’
They were driven away. Lady Montbarry’s variable humour changed again. With a low groan43 of misery44, she threw herself back in the cab. Lost in her own dark thoughts, as careless of the woman whom she had bent45 to her iron will as if no such person sat by her side, she preserved a sinister46 silence, until they reached the house where Miss Lockwood lodged47. In an instant, she roused herself to action. She opened the door of the cab, and closed it again on Mrs. Ferrari, before the driver could get off his box.
‘Take that lady a mile farther on her way home!’ she said, as she paid the man his fare. The next moment she had knocked at the house-door. ‘Is Miss Lockwood at home?’ ‘Yes, ma’am.’ She stepped over the threshold — the door closed on her.
‘Which way, ma’am?’ asked the driver of the cab.
Mrs. Ferrari put her hand to her head, and tried to collect her thoughts. Could she leave her friend and benefactress helpless at Lady Montbarry’s mercy? She was still vainly endeavouring to decide on the course that she ought to follow — when a gentleman, stopping at Miss Lockwood’s door, happened to look towards the cab-window, and saw her.
‘Are you going to call on Miss Agnes too?‘he asked.
It was Henry Westwick. Mrs. Ferrari clasped her hands in gratitude48 as she recognised him.
‘Go in, sir!’ she cried. ‘Go in, directly. That dreadful woman is with Miss Agnes. Go and protect her!’
‘What woman?’ Henry asked.
The answer literally49 struck him speechless. With amazement and indignation in his face, he looked at Mrs. Ferrari as she pronounced the hated name of ‘Lady Montbarry.’ ‘I’ll see to it,’ was all he said. He knocked at the house-door; and he too, in his turn, was let in.
收听单词发音 |
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lapse
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| 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 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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justifies
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| 证明…有理( justify的第三人称单数 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护） | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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compassionately
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| adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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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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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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supremely
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| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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suppleness
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| 柔软； 灵活； 易弯曲； 顺从 | |
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25
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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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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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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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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45
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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46
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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47
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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48
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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49
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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