"Be more careful with your pronouns," said Dr. Peterssen, inclining toward the abyss, and putting his hand to his ear. "You mean what have we done?"
"I did not stir."
"You lie," said Dr. Peterssen, with a brutal4 laugh. "With my own eyes I saw you hurl5 your step-brother over the precipice6. In the attempt to save himself he caught hold of my poor patient, but he was just one little minute too late. Instead of saving himself he destroyed his companion, and thus at one fell swoop7 I was robbed of three hundred a year. I, with a record at least as spotless as your own--we are a fine pair of white doves, you and I--am ready to take my Bible oath to this version of the catastrophe8; and I'll bet you a hundred to one, my buck9, that I swear you down in any court of justice you can name. A likely thing, isn't it, that I should wish to get rid of my poor patient, when by doing so I lose a sure income? You, on the contrary, have everything to gain by your step-brother's death. Dying unmarried--you understand?"
"Yes."
"You have only to be firm with Emilia and the point is carried. After what she has gone through, and plunged10 into despair as she will be, she can be made to believe anything, especially when she learns that you are prepared to behave generously to her. To resume, Gerald, dying unmarried, you come into all the property. Therefore his death is a distinctly desirable event in your eyes. Do not, therefore, my dear comrade, in this little affair, attempt to shirk your share of the responsibility, or I will throw it all upon your shoulders, and send you to the gallows11. Mr. Leonard Paget, I should be inclined to call you a fool if I did not know you better. What is done cannot be undone12, nor, with all your cant13, would you wish it undone."
"But," said Leonard, inwardly acknowledging the weight of his companion's arguments, "we are in danger."
"We are in none. Your step-brother Gerald, ardently14 desiring to gather with his own hands some edelweiss for his lady love, is informed by my unfortunate patient that he knows where the flower is to be found. Unwilling15 that they shall go alone, we express our intention to accompany them. Off we start with merry hearts. But we have not gone far before the young gentlemen beg to be allowed to enjoy their excursion without our society, and we, two fond and indulgent guardians16, yield to their implorings, and leave them to themselves. Lured17 by the balmy weather, we stroll up the mountains, scarcely noting in which direction we are wandering. We stop and dilate18 upon the sublime19 beauty of the scenery, our souls exalted20 by the thoughts it inspires, when our ecstatic musings are rudely interrupted by screams of anguish21. We hasten to the spot from which they proceed, and see--nothing. But our ears, ever open to the calls of humanity, cannot have deceived us. No, that is impossible. So we hunt and look about, calling out all the while to the poor souls who may be in peril22 to give us some indication how we can assist them. At length our attention is attracted by signs of a disturbance23 at the edge of this precipice, and kneeling"--he suited the action to the word, and Leonard knelt by his side--"we observe marks in the soil which engender24 the suspicion that a human creature has fallen over. We call out loudly, and are answered by a groan25 and scarcely distinguishable but undeniably pathetic appeals for help."
"I do not hear them," interrupted Leonard.
"Then you ought to. Are you quite devoid26 of imagination? Our hearts are rent by these appeals. We are not practised mountaineers, and are unable to render assistance. Therefore we hasten to the nearest village, and return with men and ropes to the rescue. But by that time it is too late."
"By that time," said Leonard, in a questioning tone, "they are dead?"
"By that time," repeated Dr. Peterssen, "they are dead. And"--with a steady look at Leonard--"of this fact we must convince ourselves before the introduction of other characters into the melancholy27 scene."
"How is that to be done?"
Dr. Peterssen rose to his feet, and cast sharp glances around.
"We are quite alone, I think."
"Not a person is in sight," said Leonard, watching his ruthless companion with curious eyes.
"Be silent a minute or two."
They stood perfectly28 still, all their senses on the alert.
"There is no doubt," said Dr. Peterssen, "that we are the only witnesses of the unhappy occurrence, and, thus far, safe. Now to make sure."
He divested29 himself of coat and waistcoat, and unwound a rope which he had adjusted round his waist.
"It is not very thick," he said, "nor very long, but it will help to steady us. See, I wind and fasten it about this slim trunk which providence30 has grown here to further our ends. Try it; you will find it quite secure."
"Yes, it can hardly get loosened of itself."
"The descent, as you will observe, is not very difficult after all. All that is required is steadiness and confidence. About 30 feet down--I reckon it is not more than that--you see a broad plateau of rock upon which half a dozen men can stand easily."
"But neither Gerald nor your patient is there."
"They have rolled over it, and we must ascertain31 their position, if it is possible to do so. Descend32."
"Descend!" cried Leonard, retreating.
"Descend," repeated Dr. Peterssen, calmly. "I will follow you."
"But why do you not go first?"
"Because, cherished idol33 of my soul, I do not trust you. You above and I below, you might easily finish me off, and have the game entirely34 in your own hands. You are quite safe with me, dear friend. It is to my advantage to keep you alive; I intend to get money out of you in the future. It would be to your advantage if I were in the same plight35 as our friends below, for then you would save the money you will have to pay me. Even as a lad I was distinguished36 for frankness. Descend."
He was master of the situation, and Leonard was compelled to submit. Steadying himself by the rope he descended37, and reached the plateau. Dr. Peterssen climbed down after him with the agility38 of a cat.
"I see them," he said, "though not very distinctly. They seem to be lying side by side. Luckily it will not be at all difficult to get to them. Between being hurled39 down these rocks unaware40 and descending41 them voluntarily there is a great difference. We will go together. Careful, Leonard, careful; I must not have my milch cow injured."
They reached the spot where the bodies lay. The violence with which they had been dashed over the precipice had told its tale. Of the two Dr. Peterssen's patient was the more injured. In his descent his features had been so dreadfully cut and lacerated that they were scarcely distinguishable.
"My poor ward3 is done for," said Dr. Peterssen, adding, with eyes sanctimoniously42 raised to heaven, "he is now in a better world."
"And Gerald?" whispered Leonard.
It was some time before Dr. Peterssen replied, and when he spoke43 there was a strange note in his voice.
"Gerald lives."
"Then what has been done," cried Leonard, in a tone of mingled44 despair and fury, "has been done in vain!"
"Easy to finish the job," remarked Dr. Peterssen.
But, hardened as he was, Leonard shrank from the ruthless suggestion. Had he been alone he might have nerved himself to the desperate expedient45, but in the presence of a witness----
"Are you certain be lives?"
"Quite certain," said Dr. Peterssen. "His head is badly cut, and there is no saying in what condition he will be when he opens his eyes. He has a long illness before him, which may terminate fatally."
"But, before the end he may be able to assure Emilia that they are legally married. Before the end he may make his will!"
"He may. It would be bad for both of us"
"Is there no road but one out of it?"
"I have a strong gift of invention," said Dr. Peterssen. "There is another road, a hazardous46 one, the risk and trouble of which will be mine; but I don't mind, so long as I am properly paid for it, and you will be rich enough to arrange that to my satisfaction."
"Speak plainly, in the devil's name."
"In the name of that august myth I will endeavor to do so. What hazards and what personal inconvenience will not such a sacred friendship as ours incur47 for a quid pro2 quo! The two men lying helpless before us, one dead and one living, are about the same height. Perhaps you have observed that?"
"I have not."
"I have. And not only about the same height but about the same build. The color of their hair is not dissimilar, and it really seems to have been ordained48 by fate that neither of them should wear mustache or beardeek."
"For the life of me I can't see your drift."
"The quality of your mental powers is not generally opaque49, but you are remarkably50 dense51 at this moment. Dressed in each other's clothes, who is to distinguish them? Thus attired52, my poor patient, whose features are battered53 beyond recognition, is carried back to the village as your luckless brother Gerald. As Gerald he is buried; the tombstone you lovingly erect54 over his remains55 proclaims it. Thus attired, he is carried back to the village as my patient, and I attend on him; no one else sets an eye upon him, though that risk might be run with safety. To-morrow comes a summons from his father, which I invent, to take him back to England. It grieves me to leave you in your grief, to leave the bereaved56 Emilia in her sorrow--but what can I do? Duty is my watchword, and I set it before me unflinchingly, and perform it. Without delay I return home, bearing my patient with me. Do you see the drift of my plan now?"
"I do," replied Leonard, setting his teeth close. "But will you be able to carry it out?"
"To the bitter end--till Gerald is dead."
They exchanged glances; the compact was made.
"If he should recover consciousness while we are changing their clothes!" whispered Leonard.
"Accept my professional word. The injuries he has received are so severe that he will not recover his senses until he is on the road to England. Not even then, perhaps. Trust me to manage him. I am responsible to no one, and there are potent57 drugs which I can use to any end I wish. As a matter of fact my poor patient's father is thousands of miles away, and will learn just as much as it pleases me to impart, and at the time I choose to impart it. What kind of friend am I?"
"The best of friends. Let us set to work."
Dr. Peterssen laughed internally; in this villanous scheme he saw what was hidden from Leonard.
An hour afterward58 they stood again on the edge of the precipice, and the rope they had used was once more concealed59 round Dr. Peterssen's body. He had forced down Gerald's throat ah opiate which insured insensibility for many hours to come. Leonard hoped that his step-brother would die under its influence, but Dr. Peterssen did not share the hope. He wanted Gerald to live--at least for the present.
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1
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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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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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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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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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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gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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dilate
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| vt.使膨胀，使扩大 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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engender
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| v.产生，引起 | |
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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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26
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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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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29
divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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30
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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31
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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32
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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36
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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39
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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40
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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41
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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42
sanctimoniously
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43
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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44
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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45
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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46
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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47
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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48
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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49
opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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50
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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51
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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52
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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54
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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55
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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56
bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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57
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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59
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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