“And how could he fancy such a thing?” I exclaimed indignantly.
“Well, you will see the result was quite enough to justify3 them in saying as they did, that he died by his own hand. The window was found fastened with a screw on the inside, as it had been when the chambermaid had arranged it at nine o’clock; no one could have entered through it. Besides, it was on the third story, and the rooms are lofty, so it stood at a great height from the ground, and there was no ladder long enough to reach it. The house is built in the form of a hollow square, and Mr. Clarke’s room looked into the narrow courtyard within. There is but one door leading into this, and it did not show any sign of having been open for years. The door was locked upon the inside, and the key in the lock, so that nobody could have made an entrance that way either, for it was impossible, you see, to unlock the door from the outside.”
“And how could they affect to question anything so clear?” I asked.
“There did come, nevertheless, a kind of mist over the subject, which gave those who chose to talk unpleasantly an opportunity of insinuating4 suspicions, though they could not themselves find the clue of the mystery. In the first place, it appeared that he had gone to bed very tipsy, and that he was heard singing and noisy in his room while getting to bed — not the mood in which men make away with themselves. Then, although his own razor was found in that dreadful blood (it is shocking to have to hear all this) near his right hand, the fingers of his left were cut to the bone. Then the memorandum5 book in which his bets were noted6 was nowhere to be found. That, you know, was very odd. His keys were there attached to a chain. He wore a great deal of gold and trinkets. I saw him, wretched man, on the course. They had got off their horses. He and your uncle were walking on the course.”
“Did he look like a gentleman?” I inquired, as I dare say, other young ladies would.
“He looked like a Jew, my dear. He had a horrid7 brown coat with a velvet8 cape9, curling black hair over his collar, and great whiskers, very high shoulders, and he was puffing10 a cigar straight up into the air. I was shocked to see Silas in such company.”
“And did his keys discover anything?” I asked.
“On opening his travelling desk and a small japanned box within it a vast deal less money was found than was expected — in fact, very little. Your uncle said that he had won some of it the night before at play, and that Clarke complained to him when tipsy of having had severe losses to counterbalance his gains on the races. Besides, he had been paid but a small part of those gains. About his book it appeared that there were little notes of bets on the backs of letters, and it was said that he sometimes made no other memorandum of his wagers11 — but this was disputed — and among those notes there was not one referring to Silas. But, then, there was an omission12 of all allusion13 to his transactions with two other well-known gentlemen. So that was not singular.”
“No, certainly; that was quite accounted for,” said I.
“And then came the question,” continued she, “what motive14 could Mr. Clarke possibly have had for making away with himself.”
“But is not that very difficult to make out in many cases?” I interposed.
“It was said that he had some mysterious troubles in London, at which he used to hint. Some people said that he really was in a scrape, but others that there was no such thing, and that when he talked he was only jesting. There was no suspicion during the inquest that your uncle Silas was involved, except those questions of Mr. Manwaring’s.”
“What were they?” I asked.
“I really forget; but they greatly offended your uncle, and there was a little scene in the room. Mr. Manwaring seemed to think that some one had somehow got into the room. Through the door it could not be, nor down the chimney, for they found an iron bar across the flue, near the top in the masonry15. The window looked into a court-yard no bigger than a ball-room. They went down and examined it, but, though the ground beneath was moist, they could not discover the slightest trace of a footprint. So far as they could make out, Mr. Clarke had hermetically sealed himself into his room, and then cut his throat with his own razor.”
“Yes,” said I, “for it was all secured — that is, the window and the door — upon the inside, and no sign of any attempt to get in.”
“Just so; and when the walls were searched, and, as your uncle Silas directed, the wainscoting removed, some moths16 afterwards, when the scandal grew loudest, then it was evident that there was no concealed17 access to the room.”
“So the answer to all those calumnies18 was simply that the crime was impossible,” said I. “How dreadful that such a slander19 should have required an answer at all!”
“It was an unpleasant affair even then, although I cannot say that anyone supposed Silas guilty; but you know the whole thing was disreputable, that Mr. Clarke was a discreditable inmate20, the occurrence was horrible, and there was a glare of publicity21 which brought into relief the scandals of Bartram–Haugh. But in a little time it became, all on a sudden, a great deal worse.”
My cousin paused to recollect22 exactly.
“There were very disagreeable whispers among the sporting people in London. This person, Clarke, had written two letters. Yes — two. They were published about two months after, by the villain23 to whom they were written; he wanted to extort24 money. They were first talked of a great deal among that set in town; but the moment they were published they produced a sensation in the country, and a storm of newspaper commentary. The first of these was of no great consequence, but the second was very startling, embarrassing, and even alarming.”
“What was it, Cousin Monica?” I whispered.
“I can only tell you in a general way, it is so very long since I read it; but both were written in the same kind of slang, and parts as hard to understand as a prize fight. I hope you never read those things.”
I satisfied this sudden educational alarm, and Lady Knollys proceeded.
“I am afraid you hardly hear me, the wind makes such an uproar25. Well, listen. The letter said distinctly, that he, Mr. Clarke, had made a very profitable visit to Bartram–Haugh, and mentioned in exact figures for how much he held your uncle Silas’s I.O.U.‘s, for he could not pay him. I can’t say what the sum was. I only remember that it was quite frightful26. It took away my breath when I read it.”
“Uncle Silas had lost it?” I asked.
“Yes, and owed it; and had given him those papers called I.O.U.‘s promising27 to pay, which, of course, Mr. Clarke had locked up with his money; and the insinuation was that Silas had made away with him, to get rid of this debt, and that he had also taken a great deal of his money.
“I just recollect these points which were exactly what made the impression,” continued Lady Knollys, after a short pause; “the letter was written in the evening of the last day of the wretched man’s life, so that there had not been much time for your uncle Silas to win back his money; and he stoutly28 alleged29 that he did not owe Mr. Clarke a guinea. It mentioned an enormous sum as being actually owed by Silas; and it cautioned the man, an agent, to whom he wrote, not to mention the circumstance, as Silas could only pay by getting the money from his wealthy brother, who would have the management; and he distinctly said that he had kept the matter very close at Silas’s request. That, you know, was a very awkward letter, and all the worse that it was written in brutally30 high spirits, and not at all like a man meditating31 an exit from the world. You can’t imagine what a sensation the publication of these letters produced. In a moment the storm was up, and certainly Silas did meet it bravely — yes, with great courage and ability. What a pity he did not early enter upon some career of ambition! Well, well, it is idle regretting. He suggested that the letters were forgeries32. He alleged that Clarke was in the habit of boasting, and telling enormous falsehoods about his gambling33 transactions, especially in his letters. He reminded the world how often men affect high animal spirits at the very moment of meditating suicide. He alluded34, in a manly35 and graceful36 way, to his family and their character. He took a high and menacing tone with his adversaries37, and he insisted that what they dared to insinuate38 against him was physically39 impossible.”
I asked in what form this vindication40 appeared.
“It was a letter, printed as a pamphlet; everybody admired its ability, ingenuity41, and force, and it was written with immense rapidity.”
“Was it at all in the style of his letters?” I innocently asked.
My cousin laughed.
“Oh, dear, no! Every since he avowed42 himself a religious character, he had written nothing but the most vapid43 and nerveless twaddle. Your poor dear father used to send his letters to me to read, and I sometimes really thought that Silas was losing his faculties44; but I believe he was only trying to write in character.”
“I suppose the general feeling was in his favour?” I said.
“I don’t think it was, anywhere; but in his own county it was certainly unanimously against him. There is no use in asking why; but so it was, and I think I would have been easier for him with his unaided strength to uproot45 the Peak than to change the convictions of the Derbyshire gentlemen. They were all against him. Of course there were predisposing causes. Your uncle published a very bitter attack upon them, describing himself as the victim of a political conspiracy46: and I recollect he mentioned that from the hour of the shocking catastrophe47 in his house, he had forsworn the turf and all pursuits and amusements connected with it. People sneered48, and said he might as well go as wait to be kicked out.”
“Were there law-suits about all this?” I asked.
“Everybody expected that there would, for there were very savage49 things printed on both sides, and I think, too, that the persons who thought worst of him expected that evidence would yet turn up to convict Silas of the crime they chose to impute50; and so years have glided51 away, and many of the people who remembered the tragedy of Bartram–Haugh, and took the strongest part in the denunciation, and ostracism52 that followed, are dead, and no new light had been thrown upon the occurrence, and your uncle Silas remains53 an outcast. At first he was quite wild with rage, and would have fought the whole county, man by man, if they would have met him. But he had since changed his habits and, as he says, his aspirations54 altogether.”
“He has become religious.”
“The only occupation remaining to him. He owes money; he is poor; he is isolated55; and he says, sick and religious. Your poor father, who was very decided56 and inflexible57, never helped him beyond the limit he had prescribed, after Silas’s mésalliance. He wanted to get him into Parliament, and would have paid his expenses, and made him an allowance; but either Silas had grown lazy, or he understood his position better than poor Austin, or he distrusted his powers, or possibly he really is in ill-health; but he objected his religious scruples58. Your poor papa thought self-assertion possible, where an injured man has right to rely upon, but he had been very long out of the world, and the theory won’t do. Nothing is harder than to get a person who has once been effectually slurred59, received again. Silas, I think, was right. I don’t think it was practicable.
“Dear child, how late it is!” exclaimed Lady Knollys suddenly, looking at the Louis Quatorze clock, that crowned the mantel-piece.
It was near one o’clock. The storm had a little subsided60, and I took a less agitated61 and more confident view of Uncle Silas than I had at an earlier hour of that evening.
“And what do you think of him?” I asked.
Lady Knollys drummed on the table with her finger points as she looked into the fire.
“I don’t understand metaphysics, my dear, nor witchcraft62. I sometimes believe in the supernatural, and sometimes I don’t. Silas Ruthyn is himself alone, and I can’t define him, because I don’t understand him. Perhaps other souls than human are sometimes born into the world, and clothed in flesh. It is not only about that dreadful occurrence, but nearly always throughout his life; early and late he has puzzled me. I have tried in vain to understand him. But at one time of his life I am sure he was awfully63 wicked — eccentric indeed in his wickedness — gay, frivolous64, secret, and dangerous. At one time I think he could have made poor Austin do almost anything; but his influence vanished with his marriage, never to return again. No; I don’t understand him. He always bewildered me, like a shifting face, sometimes smiling, but always sinister65, in an unpleasant dream.”
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收听单词发音
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1
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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wagers
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| n.赌注，用钱打赌( wager的名词复数 )v.在（某物）上赌钱，打赌( wager的第三人称单数 )；保证，担保 | |
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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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masonry
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| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
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moths
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| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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calumnies
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| n.诬蔑，诽谤，中伤（的话）( calumny的名词复数 ) | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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forgeries
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| 伪造( forgery的名词复数 )； 伪造的文件、签名等 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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insinuate
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| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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42
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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vapid
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| adj.无味的；无生气的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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45
uproot
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| v.连根拔起，拔除；根除，灭绝；赶出家园，被迫移开 | |
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46
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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48
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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50
impute
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| v.归咎于 | |
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51
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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52
ostracism
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| n.放逐；排斥 | |
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53
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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54
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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58
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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slurred
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| 含糊地说出( slur的过去式和过去分词 )； 含糊地发…的声； 侮辱； 连唱 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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