CHAPTER XXXVI. RALPH HARDING IS FOUND.

 Bert was still partly under the influence of chloroform; but the sight of Ralph Harding, whom he recognized from the photograph which had been given him, roused him from his stupefaction.

 

Harding repeated his question.

 

"Who are you?" he asked, "and how do you know me?"

 

"I am Bert Barton."

 

"What? not the son of John Barton?" exclaimed Harding, drawing back with a troubled look.

 

"Yes," answered Bert, gravely; "I am the259 son of John Barton, and I have been in search of you for several weeks."

 

"You have been in search of me? Why did you want to see me?"

 

"I want you to clear my father of the false charge which was brought against him ten years ago," answered Bert, firmly.

 

"I don't understand what you mean," stammered¹ Harding, who had sunk back into a chair and was eyeing Bert with a troubled look.

 

"Oh, yes, you do, Mr. Harding. It was you who gave the information that one of the stolen bonds was in my father's overcoat pocket."

 

"It was true," said Harding doggedly².

 

"Where were the rest?" asked Bert, pointedly³.

 

"How should I know? Your father had them secreted⁴ somewhere, I suppose."

 

"You know better than that. My father was innocent. He knew nothing of the bonds. An enemy plotted to get him into trouble."

 

"Do you charge me with being that enemy?" demanded Harding.260

 

"You had something to do with it, but you were the instrument of another."

 

"How do you know that?" admitted Harding, incautiously.

 

"Shall I tell you the name of that other?"

 

"Yes."

 

"It is Albert Marlowe."

 

Ralph Harding started in surprise.

 

"Does he admit it?" he asked, after a pause.

 

"No; he does not know that it is suspected. I want you to back me up in the demand that he clear my father from suspicion."

 

"He will never do it. How could he, without criminating himself?"

 

"Whatever be the result, my father's character must be cleared."

 

"Tell me, is your father still living?" asked Ralph Harding, earnestly.

 

"Yes, he is."

 

"Have you seen him?"

 

"Yes. Poor father, he has suffered much. He has been separated from my mother and myself these many years, and has not dared to show himself at his old home, or among261 his old friends, because he was liable to be arrested on the old charge."

 

Ralph was looking down upon the floor, and his features were working convulsively. Bert guessed what was passing through his mind, and paused to give him time.

 

He looked up after a while, and asked: "What would you have me do?"

 

"Testify to what you know. It will clear my father, and he can come home once more."

 

"But it will condemn⁵ Albert Marlowe."

 

"Why not let it? He is the guilty man. Have you so much reason to like Albert Marlowe that you will not do this act of justice?"

 

"No!" Ralph Harding burst out, and his face wore an expression of resentment⁶. "He has used me like a dog. It was through me that he became a rich man, and in return he has treated me with contempt and indifference⁷. If I dared——"

 

"You would expose him?"

 

"Yes, I would. It is of no use to deny what you have said. Your father is an innocent man. The bonds were stolen by Albert Marlowe."262

 

Bert looked triumphant⁸. He had wrung⁹ the truth from the accomplice¹⁰ of Squire¹¹ Marlowe.

 

"How did you find me?" asked Harding, abruptly¹². "How did you know I was in Chicago?"

 

"I was told so by your sister."

 

"Have you been in Peoria, then?" asked Harding, in great surprise.

 

"Yes; I was there last week."

 

"But how did you find out that I had a sister?"

 

"At Harrisburg. You left a letter from your sister at your boarding-house there, which gave me the clew I wanted."

 

"And how did you trace me to Harrisburg?"

 

Bert explained.

 

"And you defrayed your own expenses? I thought you and your mother were left in poverty."

 

"So we were; but an uncle of my mother's recently returned from California, and it is he who has supplied me with the funds needed for my journey."263

 

"Then he is wealthy?"

 

"I don't think so. He is employed in New York on a small salary, but he is liberal with the little he has. He has set his heart on clearing my father's reputation. It is he who sent me on my present mission."

 

"Does your father think that Albert Marlowe is the real thief?"

 

"He does. In fact, he is firmly convinced of it. Now, Mr. Harding, I have told you why I wanted to find you. You have as much as told me I am right in my suspicion. You are partly responsible for my poor father's undeserved sufferings. But for you he would never have been charged with the crime. Is it not so?"

 

"I admit it," Ralph Harding answered, slowly.

 

"Will you tell me who put the bond into my father's pocket?"

 

"I did."

 

"And who prompted you to do it?"

 

"It was the man you suspected—Albert Marlowe."264

 

"It was the proceeds of his theft that enabled him to start in business, was it not?"

 

"You are right."

 

"I have one more question to ask. Will you accompany me to New York and testify to this, if needful?"

 

"But what will happen to me?" asked Harding, troubled.

 

"My uncle bade me promise you that we will do our utmost to prevent your coming to harm. As to Albert Marlowe, we shall demand a confession¹³ from him, or we shall have him arrested, and the whole matter investigated."

 

Ralph Harding paused for a brief space, and then said: "What are your plans if I agree to help you?"

 

"To start for New York to-night," answered Bert, promptly¹⁴. "In New York I will take you to Uncle Jacob's office, and we will decide what to do next."

 

Harding hesitated a moment, then said: "I believe you will keep your promise, and I will put myself in your hands. I always liked your father better than Albert Marlowe, who265 is a very selfish man, and he has not kept his promise to me. I have reproached myself more than once for consenting to help Marlowe in his plot. It has never been out of my mind. I have been restless, unable to settle down anywhere, and have suffered punishment myself, though not as severe as has fallen upon your father. When I have made reparation, as I now have a chance to do, I shall be more contented¹⁵ in mind."

 

"Can you be ready to take the evening train with me?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Where are you living?"

 

"In this house."

 

"Then we can remain together. I have not thanked you yet for coming to my help, and saving my money."

 

"I am glad to have helped the son. It will help offset¹⁶ the injury I have done the father."

 

Bert, accompanied by Ralph Harding, took the evening train for New York. Their arrival was timely, for reasons which will be shown in a later chapter.

1 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

2 doggedly   

adv.顽强地，固执地

参考例句：

• He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
• He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。

3 pointedly   

adv.尖地，明显地

参考例句：

• She yawned and looked pointedly at her watch. 她打了个哈欠，又刻意地看了看手表。
• The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. 让对方道歉的要求遭到了断然拒绝。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 secreted   

v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏

参考例句：

• Insulin is secreted by the pancreas. 胰岛素是胰腺分泌的。
• He secreted his winnings in a drawer. 他把赢来的钱藏在抽届里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

6 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

7 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

8 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

9 wrung   

绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水）

参考例句：

• He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
• He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。

10 accomplice   

n.从犯，帮凶，同谋

参考例句：

• She was her husband's accomplice in murdering a rich old man.她是她丈夫谋杀一个老富翁的帮凶。
• He is suspected as an accomplice of the murder.他涉嫌为这次凶杀案的同谋。

11 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

12 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

13 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

14 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

15 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

16 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。