He turned from the corpse11 to ask for Bergan, and was surprised to learn that nothing was known of him at the Hall since he had retired12 to his room just before day-break, further than that Doctor Gerrish had mentioned meeting him at Oakstead. However, being informed that two men had inquired for him, and been sent to meet him, he took it for granted that some unexpected emergency had compelled him to hasten back to Savalla, at a moment's notice; he would be sure to return by afternoon, or send some explanation of his absence.
Meantime, Mr. Bergan was forced to fill the gap created by his departure; indeed, until his brother's will should be made known, he was both his natural and legal representative, he appointed the time, and decided13 the manner, of the funeral; he sent for a lawyer, and had seals affixed14 to all drawers and boxes likely to contain papers of value; he gave orders for the lower rooms to be cleaned and fitted, as far as might be, for the lying in state, and the reception of guests;—in short, he was kept busy until long past noon, when he was fain to go home for rest and refreshment15, as well as to satisfy himself of the state of Carice. She was still sleeping peacefully, and there was no cause for alarm.
Returning to the Hall, at a few minutes past three, he found the two physicians waiting in the library, but no sign or tidings of Bergan.
"Where can my nephew be?" he exclaimed in perplexity and even displeasure.
"It is certainly very strange," replied Doctor Gerrish, gravely.
Doctor Remy said nothing; but he shrugged16 his shoulders in a manner sufficiently17 expressive18 of disapprobation.
Yet he would have been glad to be able to answer the question,—at least to himself. He was completely in the dark as to how Big Ben and his confederate had prospered19 in their evil undertaking20. He knew that Bergan had not been found in his room, as was expected; but why he had gone forth21 so early, and whether he had encountered the ruffians, was altogether a mystery. All day, he had been holding himself ready for whatever might come,—Bergan's sudden appearance in the flesh, or the bringing in of his dead body, or a summons to go and afford him medical aid;—he did not mean to be taken off his guard, in any case. But the suspense22 was trying. It had not been contemplated23 in his original plan; it kept his mind and nerves continually on the stretch; it gave him an uncomfortable feeling that other hands than his own were busy with the dark threads of his schemes, weaving them into patterns that he had not designed. He longed to know precisely24 what he had to hope or to dread25.
Still, every moment of Bergan's absence was reasonable ground for belief that Big Ben had not only carried out his purpose of revenge to the full, but had succeeded wonderfully well in obliterating26 all trace of his work. So much the better. Bergan once removed from his path, it would become tolerably smooth and direct.
"I suppose that we shall have to proceed to business without my nephew, since he is not come," said Mr. Bergan, after a prolonged pause. "May I ask what is the object of this meeting?"
The answer to this question, although very gently given by Doctor Gerrish, was, of course, a severe shock; all the more, because Doctor Remy took care to throw in a covert27 insinuation that Bergan's absence betrayed some guilty connection with the disastrous29 event; bethinking himself that, in case the young man should escape Big Ben, he could be gotten rid of all the same, for the present, by being arrested for murder.
Doctor Gerrish, however, repelled30 the insinuation, as he had done before. "To my mind," said he, "everything points to the opposite conclusion. If Mr. Arling had anything to gain by poisoning his uncle, he must have gained it by staying here, and not by flight. Besides, he is too intelligent a man not to know that such flight would, in itself, arouse suspicion, and imply guilt28. Having given the matter a good deal of thought, since morning, I have decided that the poisoning must have been accidental. However, we will, with your permission, call in that old 'Maumer' and examine her a little more minutely than we did before. I have thought of several questions that it would be well to ask."
Rue31 was accordingly summoned from her faithful watch over her dead master. She declared positively32 that she had been with him from an early stage of his attack, until his death; and that he had taken only the medicines and food ordered by Doctor Remy, except the untimely drink of brandy, and the afore-mentioned powder. He had swallowed nothing whatever after the arrival of Mr. Arling,—not even the brandy for which he had called with almost his last breath.
"That certainly clears Mr. Arling," remarked Doctor Gerrish, in a low voice.
"H'm—perhaps so," rejoined Doctor Remy, meditatively33. "Still, it is evidence not worth a rush, you know, in a court of law."
"It is evidence perfectly34 satisfactory to me, nevertheless," interposed Mr. Bergan, firmly, "and may be so to you. I, as having known Maumer Rue from my infancy35, can vouch36 for her trustworthiness. Her testimony37 is as good as mine, or yours."
"Well, you ought to know best," returned Doctor Remy, carelessly. "Still, the woman is old and blind, and cannot be expected to know all that goes on in her presence. Major Bergan might have swallowed half-a-dozen things without her knowledge."
Rue had fallen into the back-ground, during this discussion; but she now stepped forward and faced Doctor Remy, drawing herself up, and smiling scornfully.
"Blind, am I?" she asked; "I am not so blind as those who have eyes, Doctor Remy. No one saw you open my master's private drawer last evening, during his worst paroxysm, but I heard you open and shut it, distinctly, and the rustling38 of papers, too."
If Doctor Remy was both surprised and startled, he concealed39 it well, thanks to the guard that he was keeping over himself. He merely looked at his companions, and said, disdainfully; "Of course, such a charge, from such a source, is too ridiculous to be contradicted. The poor old woman has mistaken one sound for another; that is all."
"It is people who live by sight that mistake sounds, Doctor Remy," returned Rue, composedly; "a woman, who has lived by hearing for over sixty years, does not. Let me give you a proof of it. These gentlemen listen to your voice, as I do, and they do not hear anything unusual in it,—nothing more than the seriousness, or the coldness, or the scorn, that fits the words; but I hear in it anxiety and perplexity and suspense and fear. Since Mr. Arling has been missing, I have suspected that you could tell us what had become of him, if you would. But while you have been talking about him here, my ears have been watching your voice, your steps, your very breath; and I know now that you do not know where he is any more than we do. You are puzzled because he does not come; you are continually expecting—I will not say, dreading—to see him, or hear of him. Is it not so?"
"And if it is," answered Doctor Remy, coolly, "what is there strange about it? Why should I not be puzzled at his unaccountable disappearance41, and anxious for his speedy return?"
"Anxious?" she repeated, with a low laugh; "yes, you are anxious; but it will avail you nothing. Go your way, rummage42 drawers and cupboards, you will not find what you seek; plot and sin, you will not get what you covet43. Blinder of understanding than I am of eyes, you dig, and know not that it is a pit for your own feet; you plant and water, and never remember that the expectations of the wicked shall be cut off. Master Bergan will come back, and have his own, in spite of you!"
"I am very glad to hear it," responded Doctor Remy, with mock earnestness. Then he turned to his companions. "Her master's death has set her wits to wool-gathering," said he. "Have we any more time to listen to her maunderings?"
Rue opened her lips for a rejoinder, but Mr. Bergan, thinking that the scene had lasted long enough, though he had not been unimpressed by it, laid his hand on her arm. Instantly acknowledging his authority, as one of the family, she bent44 her head, and retired without a word.
Doctor Gerrish took out his watch. "I shall soon have to leave," said he. "Mr. Bergan, what is to be done about this business? I suppose it is our duty to report it to the authorities."
"If you are willing to be guided by my wishes," Mr. Bergan replied, after some consideration, "you will say nothing at present. I have no disposition45 to conceal40 a murder, if one has been committed; but, as you have well remarked, all the circumstances indicate that the poison was taken or administered accidentally. Nevertheless, there is room for evil minded persons to set afloat injurious reports concerning my nephew, while he is absent, and unable to defend himself; or these faithful servants of my brother, who, I am convinced, would not have poisoned him any sooner than I would, may be subjected to a deal of cruelty, from the fact that he was alone with them, much of the time, and their evidence, as Doctor Remy has reminded us, is worth nothing in law. Let the funeral go on, without hindrance46; the body will be laid in the family vault47, where it can be examined, and the presence of poison proved, at any time, if it becomes necessary. And it just occurs to me, as a possible explanation of my nephew's absence, that he may have gotten hold of some clue to this affair, and be following it up before it has time to cool. Let us wait until he appears, before we make any stir that may only thwart48 his efforts."
"Very well," said Doctor Gerrish. "My own preference is always for an open, straightforward49 course; but if you think this one more expedient50, under the circumstances, and will take the responsibility of it, I will not interfere51. Good day."
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1
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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perseveringly
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| 坚定地 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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benedictions
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| n.祝福( benediction的名词复数 )；（礼拜结束时的）赐福祈祷；恩赐；（大写）（罗马天主教）祈求上帝赐福的仪式 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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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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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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16
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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obliterating
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| v.除去( obliterate的现在分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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27
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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30
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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31
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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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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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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vouch
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| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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38
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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41
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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42
rummage
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| v./n.翻寻，仔细检查 | |
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43
covet
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| vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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48
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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49
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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50
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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51
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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