CHAPTER XVI. MORE REVELATIONS.

If there ever were three men taken aback, those three were certainly in the cabin of the Seamew--as for Miss Sarschine, she stood looking calmly at them with an expression of surprise.

"Will you kindly¹ tell me what you want?" she asked quietly--"Is it to see Lord Calliston?"

"No," replied Dowker, who had somewhat recovered himself, "we wanted to see you."

"To see me?" she said with surprise.

"Or at least, Lady Balscombe."

Miss Sarschine smiled contemptuously.

"I understand what you mean," she said coolly. "You thought that Lord Calliston had eloped with Lady Balscombe--so he intended to have done, but I changed his plans and eloped instead."

"And where did you leave Lady Balscombe on the night you visited her?" asked Norwood.

"I do not answer that question till I know who you are," she said boldly, frowning at him.

"I will tell you," said Sir Rupert, who had hitherto kept silent. "This, gentleman is Mr. Norwood, a solicitor--this Mr. Dowker of Scotland Yard--and I am Sir Rupert Balscombe."

"You--you Sir Rupert Balscombe," she said quickly.

"Your sister's husband."

"How do you know Lady Balscombe was my sister?"

"I found it out," interposed Dowker, "from your father, Captain Dicksfall."

"My father," she murmured, turning pale, "you have seen him?

"Yes."

"Well," she said coldly, "now you have found out my relationship with Lady Balscombe, what do you want to see me about?"

"Her murder," said Dowker in a deep voice.

She sprang forward with a sudden cry.

"Her murder--her--what do you mean?"

"I mean that the victim of the Jermyn Street murder, whom we thought to be you, turns out to be Lady Balscombe."

"My wife!" said Sir Rupert with a groan², burying his face in his hands.

"God!--it's too horrible," cried Lena, and sank down into a chair. "Amelia dead--murdered--by whom?"

"That's what we want to find out," said Norwood coldly.

"What enemies had she?" muttered Miss Sarschine half to herself--"none that would desire her death--I cannot understand. I cannot,"--then suddenly struck by a thought she asked, "Why did you think the dead woman was me?"

"Because she was dressed in your clothes."

"Yes! yes!" she said feverishly³. "I can understand now--I can understand."

"Where did you see her last?" asked Norwood.

"At her own house in Park Lane."

"Did you leave her there?"

"No! she left me."

"Oh!" cried Dowker, a light breaking in on him, "now I understand--you changed clothes there, and she left the house first."

"She did--to go to Calliston's rooms."

"I thought so," said Norwood with a cry of triumph, "it was Lady Balscombe Desmond saw."

"Desmond! Desmond!" she echoed. "What has he to do with this?"

"Simply this--he is now in prison on a charge of murdering Lena Sarschine."

"I see you mistook my sister for me--but murder--I can't understand--I can't understand," and she pressed her hand across her forehead.

Sir Rupert looked up.

"Listen to me," he said sternly, "a man's life hangs on your evidence, so tell us all that happened between you and my wife on that night."

There was a carafe⁴ of water on the table, and filling a glass from it Lena drank it up quickly, and then turned with ashen⁵ face to the three men, who sat cold and silent before her.

"I will tell you all," she said in a shaky voice, "and you can form your own conclusions."

The three settled themselves to listen, and she began to speak, in a trembling voice, which gradually became steadier, the following story:

"I need not tell you my early history, as you already know it. When I left Folkestone I went abroad with Lord Calliston, and when we returned he took the house for me in St. John's Wood. I stayed with him, because I loved him, and he promised to marry me--a promise he has since fulfilled. When my sister became known in London as Lady Balscombe I soon found it out from Calliston, and then implored⁶ him to make me his wife--he laughed, and said he would--then my sister fell in love with him--not he with her, I swear, for he loves no one but me, and in the end she persuaded him to elope with her. I discovered the fact from my maid, who learned it from Lady Balscombe's maid, Anne Lifford, and in despair I went to see Calliston, and implore⁷ him to give up the mad idea. Blinded with rage and despair, I took a dagger⁸ from the wall of my drawing-room intending to kill Calliston if he did not agree to give up my sister--sounds melodramatic, I know, but look what I had at stake! Calliston was not in, and I only saw Mr. Desmond, who tried to persuade me to go home again. He tried to get the dagger from me, and I flung it across the room. By accident, he put his foot on it, and broke it. So seeing it was useless, I made no further attempt to get it, and he put the pieces in his pocket. Then I went home in despair, but could not rest. I went out with the intention of catching⁹ an early train to Shoreham, concealing¹⁰ myself on board the yacht, and then confront my sister when she arrived.

"Then I thought I would call and implore her to give up my lover. She had gone to a ball, but I waited for her, and when she came into the room revealed myself. We had a stormy scene--she refused to give Calliston up, and, at length, the only thing I could obtain from her was this, that she would go to Calliston's chambers¹¹, ask him if his love was for her or me, and when she got his answer return to me at Park Lane. I agreed to this, but proposed, as she would compromise herself in going to a bachelor's rooms at that hour of the night, that she should put on my clothes, and, as we were very like one another, she could pass herself off for me in the event of discovery. We changed clothes, and she went away while I remained and locked myself in her room. I waited nearly all night for her return, but as she did not come I left the house about four o'clock in the morning, and went to London Bridge Station, where I caught the 5.45 train to Shoreham. I was dressed in Lady Balscombe's clothes, and went straight on board the yacht without awaking suspicion, as they were expecting my sister. I went into my cabin, and fell asleep, worn out with the events of the night. When I woke, about ten o'clock, I found we were on our way, and that Lord Calliston was on board. Being told that Lady Balscombe was on board asleep, he did not trouble himself to see me, or else he would have discovered the truth, but said I was not to be disturbed, and gave orders for the yacht to start. When he did see me I need hardly tell you his surprise. I told him all, and we had a terrible battle over things. He wanted to go back again to England, but I swore I'd throw myself overboard if he did, so he yielded, and in the end we made it up. We started for the Azores, but the yacht became disabled in a storm, and put in to a French port, where we were married by the English Consul¹². Then we started back for England and arrived yesterday. Lord Calliston went up to town on business, and I remained here, so that is all I know of the affair."

"Then you are now Lady Calliston?" said Sir Rupert.

"Yes, he has done me that justice at last."

"Then I hope you'll have a happier life and end than your sister," said the baronet, bitterly; "but even what you have told us does not solve the mystery of her death."

"It solves a good many things, however," said Dowker, cheerfully, "it proves the truth of Mr. Desmond's statement about the dagger, and shows us how it was Lady Balscombe went to Lord Calliston's chambers instead of Miss Sarschine--I beg pardon, Lady Calliston--but tell me, madame, did your husband know of the murder before he left England?"

"No; how could he?" she said, in surprise. "He came down to Shoreham by an early train and the yacht left at once."

"But he would be sure to see about it in the morning papers?" suggested Norwood.

"He would only see the announcement, but no details," said Dowker, "and thinking Lady Balscombe was on board the yacht, and Miss Sarschine at home, he would never think either of them was the victim."

"Well, gentlemen," said Sir Rupert, turning his haggard face towards them, "now we have discovered the dead woman to have been my wife, what is the next thing to be done?"

"See Lord Calliston," answered Dowker, promptly¹³. "I want to know all his movements on that night."

"You don't suspect him," said Lena, turning on him like a tiger.

"I never said I did," he replied quietly. "I merely want to find out his movements, and I daresay he'll have no hesitation¹⁴ in giving an account of them."

"Of course he won't," she replied wearily, "and now, as I've told you all, you'll permit me to retire. I'm quite worn out."

She bowed to the three men, then left the cabin slowly. When she disappeared, Dowker shook himself briskly.

"Well, gentlemen, we must go back to town at once, and see Lord Calliston. I want an account of all his movements on that night, and I already know where he was at nine o'clock."

"Where?" asked Norwood, curiously¹⁵.

"At the 'Pink 'Un,' Soho, to see a boxing-match--afterwards I don't know where he went, but I must have a satisfactory explanation."

"But you don't think he murdered Lady Balscombe?" said the baronet.

Dowker looked wise.

"No," he replied, significantly, "I don't think he murdered Lady Balscombe, but he might have murdered Lena Sarschine."

"You mean he might have mistook my wife for his mistress."

"Exactly!"

1 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

2 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

3 feverishly   

adv. 兴奋地

参考例句：

• Feverishly he collected his data. 他拼命收集资料。
• The company is having to cast around feverishly for ways to cut its costs. 公司迫切须要想出各种降低成本的办法。

4 carafe   

n.玻璃水瓶

参考例句：

• She lifted the stopper from the carafe.她拔出玻璃酒瓶上的瓶塞。
• He ordered a carafe of wine.他要了一瓶葡萄酒。

5 ashen   

adj.灰的

参考例句：

• His face was ashen and wet with sweat.他面如土色，汗如雨下。
• Her ashen face showed how much the news had shocked her.她灰白的脸显示出那消息使她多么震惊。

6 implored   

恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
• She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。

7 implore   

vt.乞求，恳求，哀求

参考例句：

• I implore you to write. At least tell me you're alive.请给我音讯，让我知道你还活着。
• Please implore someone else's help in a crisis.危险时请向别人求助。

8 dagger   

n.匕首，短剑，剑号

参考例句：

• The bad news is a dagger to his heart.这条坏消息刺痛了他的心。
• The murderer thrust a dagger into her heart.凶手将匕首刺进她的心脏。

9 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

10 concealing   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善，我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定，还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产

11 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

12 consul   

n.领事；执政官

参考例句：

• A consul's duty is to help his own nationals.领事的职责是帮助自己的同胞。
• He'll hold the post of consul general for the United States at Shanghai.他将就任美国驻上海总领事(的职务)。

13 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。

14 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

15 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。