Early the next morning Sutherland called, and Miss Forster rejoiced to see him and accepted with eagerness his offer of personal assistance. All night long her brother had remained like one physically7 crushed and broken, always conscious and uttering intermittent8 cries of pain. At daybreak he would have flown down to Putney, but they restrained him almost by main force, yet with less difficulty than might have been anticipated, for his strong will seemed shattered and all his spirit clouded as by a frightful9 dream.
Of course, under the circumstances, a public inquest was unavoidable. At the inquest, evidence of identity was given. Forster claimed the remains as those of his wife, and a sympathetic jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidentally drowned.’ Society was for some days slightly agitated10 on the subject, the general impression being that the unfortunate lady, for some unexplained reason, had committed suicide. For a marvel11, the so-called society journals preserved a decent silence; the fact being that Sutherland, in his capacity of self-constituted champion, had interviewed both Lagardère and Yahoo, and extracted from them, jointly12 and severally, a promise to abstain13 from any immediate14 allusions15 to the case. How he effected this object has never been disclosed; but he was, as we know, a determined16 man, and possibly the gentlemen perceived that publication would make a corporal chastisement17 inevitable18. They were the more willing to forego their usual carrion19 as they were greatly exercising their readers at that time in speculations20 as to whether a certain Italian prima donna who shall be nameless was or was not the daughter of an itinerant21 pieman in the Seven Dials, and as to what were the precise relations between the Prince of Scotland and Mademoiselle Schwangau, the charming topical singer of the Parisian cafés chantants.
So it came to pass that the poor remains, in a sealed coffin22, were taken to Queen’s Gate, and remained there until the day fixed23 for a quiet funeral. Most of the necessary arrangements were superintended by Sutherland, who had, as if almost by right, quietly established himself as a friend of the family. The brother and sister accepted his services gratefully, and almost without a word of explanation.
The funeral took place at Kensal Green. The only followers24 were Forster and his new acquaintance. At the grave the former utterly25 broke down, his wild tears flowing for the first time.
The two men returned to Forster’s house together.
‘I shall never forget your kindness,’ said Forster, during an interval26 of comparative calmness. ‘May God bless you for it! I am a broken man now, and have nothing left to live for; but while I live let us be friends.’
And he wrung27 the young man’s hands.
‘You have nothing to thank me for,’ replied Sutherland. ‘What I have done for you, I would, of course, do for any fellow-man in distress28. But I had a deep respect, a profound sympathy, for your wife.’
‘Though, as I understand, you scarcely knew her,’ said Forster, not without a certain wistful curiosity.
‘I could not be said to know her at all. We met twice or thrice, almost as strangers, and then I saw her performances at the Parthenon.’
‘We were so happy,’ cried Forster, with a sudden access of passionate29 emotion; ‘and she was so good! All goodness—all goodness! God knows under what misconceptions she left my roof. But I know she had an enemy, and perhaps——’
‘Can you bear to speak of that!’ interrupted Sutherland. ‘Hitherto I have forborne from touching30 on the subject, but with your permission I should like to say a few words now.’
‘Do so—I will try to attend.’
‘You are aware that Mrs. Forster was acquainted with a Frenchman, named Gavrolles, now in London?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you know—forgive me if I pain you—the nature of her relations with him?’
‘I think I do,’ returned Forster. ‘Before my darling’s guardian31 died, he confided32 to me that, when quite a child, she had been betrayed into a mock marriage with a foreigner, who almost immediately abandoned her. I knew this when I married her. I have no doubt that this Gavrolles is the same man; that he again thrust himself in her way; that, in order to avoid him, and dreading33 some misunderstanding on my part, she yielded to a wild impulse and—and——’
But here Forster broke down sobbing34, and hid his face in his hands. Deeply moved, Sutherland touched him gently on the shoulder, as he said:—
‘I think it has all been as you say. With regard to Mrs. Forster’s first acquaintance with this man, I can myself tell you something which will, I think, convince you of her innocence35 in the matter.’ Sutherland thereupon briefly36 recounted his first meeting with Madeline in the hotel at Fecamp, his suspicions of her companions, his offers of assistance; and explained also briefly the part he had taken afterwards, when they met again in Paris—saying nothing, however, of his own temporary misconception of Madeline’s true character, but describing the manner in which, on her abandonment by her pseudo-husband, he had restored her into the hands of her guardian.
‘That is all I know,’ he said in conclusion, ‘and I think it is enough to justify37 you in your noble faith in Mrs. Forster’s honour. From first to last, when a mere38 child, she was this man’s victim, and so sure as there is a God above us, her death lies at his door.’
Trembling with agitation39, Forster rose to his feet.
‘Where is he? Let me see him! Yes, you are right—he has killed her. Tell me where he is, that I may find him out, and——’
At this moment a servant entered, bearing a card. A gentleman, he said, was waiting below desirous of seeing Mr. Forster on most important business. Almost mechanically Forster took the card and glanced at it. As he read the inscription upon it, he uttered a sharp cry and turned deathly pale.
Graven on the card, in fantastic letters, with many characteristic flourishes, was the name—
M. Auguste de Gavrolles.
The first shock of surprise over, Forster glanced up and found that Sutherland’s eyes were bent40 inquiringly upon his. He handed him the card.
‘My wish has been answered,’ he said with ominous41 calmness. ‘The very man I most wished to see is here, only I had rather the meeting had taken place beneath any roof but mine;’ then turning to the servant, he added, ‘Show the person into the drawing-room, and say I will come to him.’
The servant retired42, and once more Sutherland and Forster were left alone. Sutherland stood as if transfixed, with the elegant piece of pasteboard bearing the Frenchman’s name held still before his eyes; while Forster, bereft43 now of all his calmness, paced excitedly up and down the room. The sight of the Frenchman’s name at such a time almost transformed him into a madman. Trembling from head to foot, yet pale as death, he at last rushed to the door, when Sutherland laid his hand upon his shoulder to detain him.
‘I see you have made up your mind to meet the man.’ ‘I have.’
‘Well, so far I think you have done well, but before you meet him will you listen to some advice from me?’
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Nothing against your own interest or hers. I know that if you had descended44 the stairs two minutes ago you would either have strangled this Frenchman or thrashed him within an inch of his life. Your conduct would have been justifiable45, but not wise. You yourself would have regretted it before the morning. Be sure retribution shall come to him, though it may not come to-night. Now, I want you to forget for a time that this scoundrel ever intended the slightest harm to your dead wife.’
‘My God!’
‘I know the task will be a hard one, but remember it is for her sake. So far he has played his cards well. He knows even now that his person is sacred, because, if in your grief and anger you were tempted46 to assault him, you would only be the means of scandalising the name of the departed.’
‘Mr. Sutherland, what does all this mean?’
‘Only this. I want you to do me a favour. Will, you? Yes or no?’
‘Yes, certainly, if I can.’
‘Let me still be the champion of your wife?’
‘What!’
‘It is for her sake, remember. She shall be avenged47 but she must not be scandalised. This Frenchman has some deep motive48 in coming here. It would be well for both our sakes that I should learn what this motive is. Will you interview him in this room, and conceal49 me in some place where I can hear your conversation?’
At first Forster protested. To meet the Frenchman in a seemingly amiable50 spirit seemed beyond him, but Sutherland was so urgent in his pleading that at length his point was won. Forster yielded for Madeline’s sake.
There was a small lavatory51 adjoining the study—into this Sutherland retired, leaving the door ajar. Forster by a tremendous effort controlled his agitation, and, ringing the bell, ordered the Frenchman to be shown in to him.
Gavrolles entered the room.
He was neatly52 clad in black, and on his white face there was a grave look of sorrow. As the door closed behind him, he stepped daintily forward to where Forster sat, and as he did so a sickly perfume seemed to penetrate53 the whole atmosphere. Forster raised his head, looked at the Frenchman’s outstretched hand, but did not move.
‘Ah, monsieur,’ exclamed Gavrolles, ‘how shall I thank you for this interview? I know, monsieur, I must be de trop at such a time as this, but I am as it were a mere machine. I follow not my own inclinations55, but the force of circumstances; they have brought me here.’
‘Is this what you have come to say to me?’ asked Forster coldly.
‘Not all, by no means all,’ returned the Frenchman eagerly; ‘but before we proceed to business I must express to you, monsieur, my deep condolence in a great affliction which has befallen you!’
Forster’s face grew livid, he half rose from his chair; then remembering his promise to Sutherland he sank back again with a groan56.
‘Be careful,’ he said sternly. ‘If you come here on business, pray state it without further preamble57; at all events be good enough not to allude58 again to my domestic affairs.’
The Frenchman shrugged59 his shoulders and turned upon Forster a pair of eyes lit with a sickly sinister60 light.
‘Pardon, monsieur,’ he returned blandly61. ‘I am sorry if I have pained you—but in this world it is not the fortune of any one that his path should be all sunshine. Though it is much against my inclination54, it is of your affairs that I must speak. Listen, monsieur. A little bird has already whispered abroad that Auguste de Gavrolles and Madame Forster were acquainted. Having learned so much, the curious are naturally anxious to hear more. They love romances. Here is one ready made, they say, but there is only one man who can tell it truly; and that man is Gavrolles. Accordingly Gavrolles is besieged62. Well, he does not wish to speak, for though he has been maligned63 he is a man of honour and an artiste. He is on the horns of a dilemma64. The only course for him to take would be to travel far away, but he is a poor man, and without money one can do nothing—absolutely nothing. Do you understand, monsieur?’
Forster shook his head.
‘I confess I do not.’
‘Then I must speak more plainly. Would it not be well, if you said to me, “Monsieur Gavrolles, since I am a rich man, it shall not be for the want of a little filthy65 lucre66 that my wife’s name is unpleasantly discussed. You shall not want the means to move away.”’
He paused, and for a moment there was silence. The Frenchman’s face went very pale, his smile became even more baleful, as he saw Forster rise slowly from his seat and point to the door.
‘That is enough,’ he exclaimed; ‘leave my house. If we stood face to face beneath any other roof but mine, I’d kill you like a dog.’
‘Monsieur, you do not understand.’
‘Not understand! You villain67, I understand too well. I know what you have done. I know what you would do. You made my wife’s life a hell; you tortured her into her grave; and now instead of feeling any pity for your victim, you come to me and ask me to pay you money to keep you from slandering68 her name. Leave my house, or as sure as there is a God above us I’ll have you whipped like a cur into the street!’
Forster was trembling from head to foot with rage. The Frenchman, who was still cool, turned to speak, but one look in the other’s face silenced him. He made two steps towards the door; there he paused. He felt in his pocket, drew forth69 a card, wrote rapidly upon it, then turned to Forster again.
‘Monsieur,’ he said quietly, ‘that is my address for three days at least. I leave it, in case you may wish to write to me.’
So saying, and with a profound bow, he took his leave. Scarcely had the door closed upon the Frenchman when Sutherland burst excitedly into the room.
‘Mr. Forster,’ he said, ‘once more will you do me a favour for your wife’s sake?’
But Forster seemed deaf to his words. He sank into his chair, murmuring, in heart-broken tones—
‘Madeline! my poor murdered wife 1’
‘Pray, listen to me. Send the scoundrel the money—let him have his price—conditionally!’
‘You advise me to do this?’
‘I do.’
He bent down and whispered in Forster’s ear—Forster started—the two men looked at each other.
After some hesitation Forster spoke70.
‘He shall have the money!’ he said.
‘And you will make those conditions?’
‘Certainly.’
Forster sat down at once, and wrote a note to Gavrolles. In it he said that he (Gavrolles) should be supplied with a certain sum, if he would pledge himself to return at once to France.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bracelets
|
|
| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
inscription
|
|
| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
physically
|
|
| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
intermittent
|
|
| adj.间歇的，断断续续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
marvel
|
|
| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
jointly
|
|
| ad.联合地，共同地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
abstain
|
|
| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
allusions
|
|
| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
chastisement
|
|
| n.惩罚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
carrion
|
|
| n.腐肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
speculations
|
|
| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
itinerant
|
|
| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
coffin
|
|
| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
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： |
|
|
|
|
28
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
passionate
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
guardian
|
|
| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
confided
|
|
| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
dreading
|
|
| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
innocence
|
|
| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
bereft
|
|
| adj.被剥夺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
justifiable
|
|
| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
avenged
|
|
| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
lavatory
|
|
| n.盥洗室，厕所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
inclination
|
|
| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
inclinations
|
|
| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
preamble
|
|
| n.前言；序文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
allude
|
|
| v.提及，暗指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
blandly
|
|
| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
besieged
|
|
| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
maligned
|
|
| vt.污蔑，诽谤（malign的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
dilemma
|
|
| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
filthy
|
|
| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
lucre
|
|
| n.金钱，财富 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
slandering
|
|
| [法]口头诽谤行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |