But another interview with the young lady in the evening, dissipated any hope of this nature which he may have entertained. She reported that her father was immovable on this point, and that persuasion1 and entreaty2 had alike been in vain.
"I may soon be able to comply with your father's conditions," said Cromwell. "I have received a letter to-day, which informs me that the party from whom I expect a legacy3, is in very feeble health."
"Perhaps there may be something in his story," thought Clara, and influenced by the doubt, she[Pg 140] smiled graciously, and said, "Let us wait and hope that fortune may favor us."
"Promise me one thing," asked Cromwell, "that you will wait for me, and will not admit the attention of any one else?"
But this did not suit the plans of the astute4 Clara. She by no means wished to compromise her matrimonial chances by binding6 herself to an uncertainty7, and accordingly answered:
"I would willingly do as you ask, Mr. Cromwell, if papa were willing, but he has expressly forbidden me to bind5 myself by an engagement, or make any promise."
James Cromwell's countenance8 fell.
"After all," she added, with a smile, "is any promise necessary in our case? Do we not understand one another?"
These words and the smile that accompanied them, restored the cheerfulness to her lover. He thought he did understand Clara Manton, but in this, as we know, he was egregiously9 mistaken.
The next morning he received the following letter from Paul Morton. It was the first he had received from the merchant, and was in reply to one of his own written from Madison.
It was as follows:
[Pg 141]
"James Cromwell:
"Dear Sir:—Yours of the 15th inst., informing me of your safe arrival at Madison and your determination to make that place your home, was duly received. The accident which you speak of as near befalling my ward10 at Niagara Falls did not surprise me. He is a careless boy, and I should not be surprised at any time to hear of his coming to harm from this cause. Of course, you will exercise proper care in cautioning him, etc., and then, should he meet with any accident, I shall exonerate11 you from blame in the matter. How is his health? I have at times thought he inherited the feeble constitution of his father. I understand also from the late Mr. Raymond, that his mother was an invalid12, and it is hardly to be expected that he would have a very strong or vigorous constitution. However, I do not feel anxious on this point, as I am aware that you have a knowledge of medicine, and I have full confidence in your ability to take all proper care of my young ward. I suppose you have found a suitable school for him. I shall be glad to hear that he is doing well in his studies, though on account of his not very strong constitution, previously13 referred to, it may be well not to press him too hard in the way of study.
"Let me hear from you respecting Robert's welfare, from time to time. Yours, etc.,
"Paul Morton."
[Pg 142]
James Cromwell read this letter twice over.
"He's a crafty14 old spider," he said to himself. "Any one to read it would think that he was very solicitous15 for the welfare of this boy. It would be considered an excellent letter by those who did not understand it. I am behind the scenes, and I know just what it means. He means to blame me, because I didn't make a sure thing of it at Niagara Falls, and hints pretty plainly about some accident happening to him in future. He is impatient to hear of his death, that is plain, and no doubt he will gladly pay the amount he promised, as soon as he receives intelligence of it."
This reflection plunged16 James Cromwell into serious thought. Already predisposed to the foul17 deed, the artful suggestions of this letter tended to fan the flame, and incite18 him still more to it. Danger indeed, and that most serious, was menacing our young hero.
So James Cromwell, spurred by a double motive19, veered20 more and more toward the accomplishment21 of the dark deed which would stain his soul with bloodshed, and in return give him the fleeting22 possession of money and the girl whom he loved.
[Pg 143]
Once resolved upon the deed, the next consideration was the ways and means of accomplishing it.
Should he use poison?
That seemed most in his line, and he regretted that he had not secured a supply of the same subtle poison which Paul Morton had purchased of him in the small shop on the Bowery. There was likely to be no one in that neighborhood who possessed23 a sufficient medical knowledge to detect its presence or trace its effects. But it was rare, and there was little chance of his obtaining it unless by sending to New York, and this would, of itself, afford strong ground for suspicion against him.
Then, as to the ordinary poisons, their effects upon the human system were too well understood, even by ordinary physicians, for him to employ them without great peril24. He decided25, therefore, to adjure26 poisons altogether. The fact that he was a druggist would render their use even more readily suspected than in the case of an ordinary person.
How then should he proceed?
This question was still undetermined in his own mind, when chance decided the matter for him.
[Pg 144]
One evening, while he was still pondering this question, and much embarrassed about the decision of it, he chanced to be returning home from a desultory27 walk which he had taken. Now, in the town of Madison, somewhat centrally situated28, or at least one side of it was near the center of the town, there was a pond of about two miles in circuit. By the edge of this pond James Cromwell met Robert Raymond.
Instantly an idea came into his mind, as casting his eyes toward the pond, he saw a small boat tied by a rope round the trunk of a tree.
"Good evening, Mr. Cromwell," said Robert. "Have you been taking a walk?"
"Yes, but I have not been far. When did you come out?"
"About half an hour ago."
"By the way, do you know how to row?"
"A little."
"I was thinking that we might borrow this boat, and have a little row on the pond. What do you say?"
"I should like it," said Robert, promptly29, for he had a boy's love of the water. "Shall I unfasten the rope?"
"Yes, I wish you would."
[Pg 145]
James Cromwell stepped into the boat, his heart beating quick with the thought of the deed which he meditated32. His courage almost failed him, for he was of a timid nature, but the thought of the stake for which he was playing, renewed his courage, and he resolved that, come what might, that night should be Robert Raymond's last.
"Which of us shall row, Mr. Cromwell?" asked Robert.
"I will row first, and you may do so afterward."
"All right."
Cromwell took his place, and rowed rather awkwardly until the boat reached the middle of the pond.
The outline of the pond was irregular. In one place there was a recess, surrounded by woods, within which they would be shielded from view. It seemed a fitting place for a tragedy.
[Pg 146]
When they were fairly within it, Cromwell said:
"Now you may take the oars."
Robert rose from his seat, and stepped toward the center of the boat. His movements were naturally rather unsteady. James Cromwell turned pale, and he braced35 his shrinking nerve. He felt that now was his time. Unless he acted now, his opportunity would be gone.
As Robert approached, he suddenly seized the unsuspecting boy around the middle, and threw him into the water. So suddenly was it done, that before the boy understood what had happened to him, he found himself engulfed36.
Never once looking back, James Cromwell seized the oars, and rowed himself swiftly back. When he got on shore, he looked nervously37 out over the surface of the pond. All was still. Nothing was visible of Robert.
"He is drowned!" said Cromwell to himself, wiping away the large drops of perspiration38 from his forehead.
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1
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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2
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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3
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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4
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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5
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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7
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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8
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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9
egregiously
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| adv.过份地，卓越地 | |
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10
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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11
exonerate
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| v.免除责任，确定无罪 | |
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12
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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13
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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14
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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15
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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16
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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17
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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18
incite
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| v.引起，激动，煽动 | |
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19
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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20
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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21
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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23
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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24
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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25
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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26
adjure
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| v.郑重敦促(恳请) | |
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desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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28
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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29
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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30
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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31
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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32
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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33
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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34
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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35
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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36
engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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38
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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