CHAPTER XXV. WALKING INTO A TRAP.

 The thought that she was so soon to see Richard Dewey, and to minister to his comfort, was a source of pleasure to Florence. Her patient waiting was at length to be rewarded. What mattered it to her that he was poor and sick? He had all the more need of her.

 

"It's a long ride, miss," said Jones as he closed the carriage-door. "I hope you won't be tired before we get there."

 

"I shall not mind it," said Florence. "How far is it?"

 

"I don't rightly know. It's a matter of ten miles, I'm thinkin'."

 

"Very well."

 

Jones resumed his seat, and Florence gave herself up to pleasant thoughts. She felt thankful that she was blessed with abundant means, since[Pg 196] it would enable her to spare no expense in providing for the sick man. Others might call him a fortune-hunter, but that produced no impression upon her, except to make her angry. She had given her whole love and confidence to the man whom her heart had chosen.

 

The carriage rolled onward¹ rapidly: as from time to time she glanced out of the window, she saw that they had left behind the town and were in the open country. She gave herself no concern, however, and did not question Jones, taking it for granted that he was on the right road, and would carry her to the place where Richard Dewey had found a temporary refuge.

 

"It is some poor place, probably," she reflected, "but if he can be moved I will have him brought into town, where he can see a skilful² doctor daily."

 

At the end of an hour and a half there was a sudden stop.

 

Florence looked out of the carriage-window, and observed that they were in front of a shabby-looking dwelling³ of two stories.

 

Jones leaped from his elevated perch⁴ and opened[Pg 197] the door of the carriage. "This is the place, miss," he said. "Did you get tired?"

 

"No, but I am glad we have arrived."

 

"It's a poor place, miss, but Mr. Dewey was took sick sudden, so I was told, and it was the best they could do."

 

"It doesn't matter. Perhaps he can be moved."

 

"Perhaps so. Will you go in?"

 

"Yes."

 

The door was opened, and a slatternly-looking woman of sinister⁵ aspect appeared at the threshold. Florence took no particular notice of her appearance, but asked, hurriedly, "How is he?"

 

"Oh, he'll get along," answered the woman, carelessly. "Will you come in?"

 

"He is not dangerously sick, then?" said Florence, relieved.

 

"He's got a fever, but ain't goin' to die this time."

 

"This is Mrs. Bradshaw, Miss Douglas," said Jones, volunteering an introduction.

 

"I thank you, Mrs. Bradshaw, for your kindness to a sick man and a stranger," said Florence, earnestly. "Can I see him now?"

 

[Pg 198]"Yes, miss, if you'll just walk up stairs. I hope you'll excuse the looks of things; I haven't had time to fix up."

 

"Oh, don't mention it."

 

In a tumult⁶ of emotion Florence followed her guide up a rough staircase.

 

On the landing Mrs. Bradshaw opened a door and, standing⁷ aside, invited Florence to enter.

 

On a sofa, with his back to her, lay the figure of a man covered with a shawl.

 

"Richard!" said the visitor, eagerly.

 

The recumbent figure slowly turned, and revealed to the dismayed Florence, not the face of the man she expected to see, but that of Orton Campbell.

 

"Mr. Campbell!" she ejaculated, in bewilderment.

 

"I see you know me, Miss Douglas," said Orton Campbell, throwing off the shawl and rising from the couch.

 

For the first time it dawned upon Florence that she had walked into a trap. She hurried to the door and strove to open it, but Mrs. Bradshaw had locked it.

 

[Pg 199]"What does this mean, Mr. Campbell?" she demanded with spirit, in spite of her terror. "Is this unworthy trick of your devising?"

 

"I am afraid I must confess that it is," said Orton, coolly.

 

"And it was all a falsehood about Richard Dewey's sickness?"

 

"Yes."

 

"And the note?"

 

"I wrote it myself."

 

"Then, sir, you have acted shamefully," said Florence, indignantly.

 

"I am afraid I have," said Orton Campbell, smiling, "but I couldn't help it!"

 

"'Couldn't help it'?" repeated Miss Douglas.

 

"No; you would not receive me, and I had to contrive⁸ an interview."

 

"Do you know anything of Richard Dewey?"

 

"No; he is perfectly⁹ well, so far as I know, or he may be dead. Pray be seated."

 

"I would rather stand. May I ask what you expect to gain by this base deception¹⁰?"

 

"Your consent to a marriage with me."

 

[Pg 200]"Then it is clear you don't know me, Orton Campbell."

 

"It is quite as clear, Miss Florence Douglas, that you don't know me."

 

"I believe you capable of any atrocity¹¹."

 

"Then you do know me. I am capable of anything that will break down your opposition¹² to my suit."

 

"Do you propose to keep me here?"

 

"Yes, until you give me a favorable answer."

 

"That will never be."

 

"Then you will stay here an indefinite period."

 

"Are there no laws in California?"

 

"None that will interfere¹³ with me. The people who live here are devoted¹⁴ to my interests, as you will find. I don't wish to hurry you in your decision, and will therefore leave you for the present. Your meals will be sent you at regular times, and I will call again to-morrow."

 

He drew a key from his pocket, opened the door, and left the room, locking the door behind him.

 

Florence sank into a chair, almost in despair.

 

1 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

2 skilful   

(=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的

参考例句：

• The more you practise,the more skilful you'll become.练习的次数越多，熟练的程度越高。
• He's not very skilful with his chopsticks.他用筷子不大熟练。

3 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

4 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

5 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

6 tumult   

n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹

参考例句：

• The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
• His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

8 contrive   

vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出

参考例句：

• Can you contrive to be here a little earlier?你能不能早一点来？
• How could you contrive to make such a mess of things?你怎么把事情弄得一团糟呢？

9 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

10 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。

11 atrocity   

n.残暴，暴行

参考例句：

• These people are guilty of acts of great atrocity.这些人犯有令人发指的暴行。
• I am shocked by the atrocity of this man's crimes.这个人行凶手段残忍狠毒使我震惊。

12 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

13 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

14 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。