"Woman, this stranger
Knows not thy shame;
Yet there is danger
Hears he thy name.
Breathe it, reveal it,
And thou art lost."
The diamond scarf-pin had been found on the terrace of Thornstream by Mrs. Belk, so the man to whom it belonged must have been there on the night of the murder, and the owner thereof, according to Maxwell's firm conviction--on the testimony3 of his own eyes--was none other than the stranger who had been in the company of Mrs. Belswin at the Deswarth station. The first thing, therefore, to be done was to find out who this stranger was, and demand from him an explanation of his presence at Thornstream on that fatal night.
Maxwell, however, did not know this man whom he suspected of being a murderer; he did not even know his name; but he could discover all about him in two ways, one of which was doubtful, the other certain.
The doubtful way:
To go down to Deswarth and inquire from the landlord of The Chequers the name, position, and business in the village of the man who had stayed at the inn. This was doubtful in this way: that supposing the stranger had come to Deswarth to commit this crime, he would naturally give a false name to the landlord, so as to obviate4 the danger of discovery, so Maxwell, with this idea in his head, plainly saw that going down to Deswarth in order to interview the landlord would, in all reasonable probability, be a waste of time.
The certain way:
To ask Mrs. Belswin the name of her companion, and the reason of his coming to the village. Archie felt his old doubts about Mrs. Belswin revive as he thought of the doubtful juxtaposition5 of this suspicious character with the companion. Why had she gone to London at the time of Sir Rupert's arrival? Why had she returned with a stranger, who had been on the terrace on the night of the murder? And why had Sir Rupert been murdered on the night of her return? Only one person could answer all these inquiries6, and that person was Mrs. Belswin. There was certainly something very mysterious about her conduct; but doubtless she would be able to give a satisfactory explanation; otherwise---- A cold sweat broke out on Maxwell's brow as he thought of the alternative.
Suspense7 is always more terrible than the event itself, and Archie, full of suspicion against Mrs. Belswin and the unknown foreigner, tortured his mind to a frightful8 extent over the possibility of this woman being concerned in the murder. If, however, she was innocent, she would be able to exculpate9 herself from any complicity in the affair; but if she was guilty it was terrible to think that she was the daily and nightly companion of Kaituna. She had possibly killed the father! If so she might also kill the daughter. Was she some one whom Sir Rupert had wronged, and who thus avenged10 herself by the hand of another. The idea was terrible, and Maxwell, filled with the agony of uncertainty11, determined12 to go at once to Mrs. Belswin and demand an explanation.
He made a point of calling that afternoon, and was lucky enough to find Mrs. Belswin alone, as Kaituna had gone out on a shopping excursion with Mrs. Valpy, who had come up to town the previous day. Mrs. Belswin informed the young man of this, and invited him to wait until Kaituna returned at the hour of five o'clock.
"Meanwhile," she said, ringing the bell, "sit down, and we will have some tea."
Maxwell mechanically took a seat and glanced at the clock, the hands of which pointed13 to four. This would give him a full hour to speak to Mrs. Belswin before the arrival of Kaituna, and in that time he expected to learn all he desired to know.
The lady seemed preoccupied14, and as Maxwell was racking his brains to invent some leading question, neither of them spoke15 for a few minutes. The servant brought in the tea, and while Mrs. Belswin busied herself with the cups, she for the first time noticed the unusual silence of the young man.
"Well, Mr. Maxwell," she said, handing him his tea, with a smile, "speech, I understand, was given to us to conceal our thoughts. You, I perceive, conceal them without speaking."
"I have come to see you on a matter of business," said Archie, abruptly16 putting down his cup on a small table near at hand.
The paleness of his face, the abruptness17 of his speech, the agitation18 of his manner, at once put Mrs. Belswin on her guard, and a thrill of fear shot through her heart--fear lest he should have discovered anything about her past life which would be fatal to her living with Kaituna. Her iron stoicism, however, prevailed, and she awaited with outward calm, but inward perturbation, his next words.
"Mrs. Belswin," he said, slowly bending towards her, "do you know this diamond pin?"
"Oh!" muttered Mrs. Belswin under her breath, recognising it at once, "more misfortune."
"What do you say?"
"Before I answer your question, Mr. Maxwell," she observed, fixing her keen eyes on his face, "I wish to know why you put it."
"Certainly, that is only fair. Do you remember the day I met you at the Deswarth railway station?"
"Yes!"
"There was a stranger with you?"
"A stranger?"
"Pray do not evade19 the question," said Maxwell, in an annoyed tone; "I mean the dark gentleman whom you sent off to see about your portmanteau, and who accompanied you from town."
"How do you know he accompanied me from town?"
"I saw you both leave a first-class carriage together."
"That proves nothing. Travelling in the same carriage does not prove that he accompanied me from town."
"But he looked after your luggage at your request!"
"Yes! he did so, certainly, but what does that prove?"
"Simply this, that you know the gentleman."
Mrs. Belswin would have liked to deny this, as she saw from the production of the diamond pin, and the mention of Ferrari, that Maxwell knew something; but she was so afraid, lest, failing her, he should ask Kaituna, and so possibly discover more than she wished, that she answered him frankly20.
"Yes, I do know the gentleman."
"Ah! and you know his name?"
"Yes! His name is--but why do you want to know?"
"Because he wore this diamond pin on the day I saw him with you, and this diamond pin----"
"Yes! yes!" cried Mrs. Belswin, breathlessly, clasping her hands.
"--Was found on the terrace of Thornstream the morning after the murder."
The woman sprang to her feet, with a cry.
"Ferrari! impossible."
"Is his name Ferrari?"
"Yes! No! that is, Mr. Maxwell," she cried, seizing the young man by the lappet of his coat "What do you mean? what do you suspect?"
"I mean that this diamond pin belongs to Ferrari, whom you have just named. I suspect that he murdered Sir Rupert Pethram."
Mrs. Belswin uttered a cry of terror.
"No! no! It cannot be."
"Prove his innocence?"
"Yes!" said Maxwell, with an air of determination. "I have made up my mind to bring the murderer of Sir Rupert Pethram to justice. Appearances are dead against this man, and I intend to put the matter in the hands of the police."
"You will never find him."
Maxwell bounded from his seat, and crossing rapidly to Mrs. Belswin, seized her wrist.
"Tell me," he said, imperiously, "have you any reason for wishing this man to escape?"
"I!" she murmured, evasively; "I wish him to escape?"
"Yes! To all appearances he is your friend. He comes down with you to Deswarth. A jewel belonging to him is found at the window of a room. In that room a man is found dead. What does it all mean?"
Maxwell obeyed, and returned to his seat with a cloud on his brow, for the complicity of Mrs. Belswin in the affair now began to assume gigantic proportions.
On her part, Mrs. Belswin saw at a glance the dangers by which she was environed, and her active brain was already at work seeking some plan by which she could extricate23 herself. She already saw that Maxwell suspected her, and if he did so she trembled lest he should communicate his suspicions to her daughter. With her hands pressed to her burning face, she rapidly glanced at the aspect of affairs in order to know how to act towards this young man, whose attitude towards her was undeniably hostile.
If she refused to tell him anything he would put the matter into the hands of the police, and they would immediately arrest Ferrari. In doing so they would have no difficulty, as he, being a singer, was easily to be found, and appearances were sufficiently24 strong against him to authorise the granting of a warrant for his arrest. If Ferrari were arrested he would certainly, urged by a fear of the law, reveal all about her in his examination, and Kaituna would then learn that Mrs. Belswin, the companion, was her mother. If she did so, Mrs. Belswin trembled for the result of such a discovery, so at once she made up her mind to promise Maxwell an interview with Ferrari, and meanwhile warn the Italian of his peril25. By this means she hoped that, if guilty, Ferrari would at once fly from England; or, if innocent, he would be able to exculpate himself without incriminating her, so that in either case she would still preserve the secret of her true relationship to Kaituna.
"Mr. Maxwell," she said at length, suppressing her agitation, "I will tell you all I know, and then you can judge for yourself."
"Thank you, Mrs. Belswin," replied Maxwell, in a tone of relief. "I think that will be the best way, as I am anxious to avoid the interference of the police."
"And why, sir," demanded Mrs. Belswin, with a piercing glance.
The young man made no reply, but looked confused, upon which the woman laughed bitterly.
"Ah, I see," she said with scorn; "you think that I, a stranger to the late Sir Rupert, am implicated26 in his death."
"I have not said so, madam," murmured the young man, hastily.
"I swear before God," cried Mrs. Belswin, rising from her seat and raising her right hand--"I swear before God that I know nothing of the death of this man."
"But Ferrari----"
"I believe Ferrari to be innocent. Appearances are against him, it is true, but that does not render him guilty. Listen, Mr. Maxwell. Stephano Ferrari is a friend of mine, for I met him in America. Before I came to England I was an opera-singer, and he was singing with me in the same company. We are engaged to be married."
"You?"
"Yes. I wanted to rest my voice, and as I had but little money I became companion to Miss Pethram. You know whether I have been a good friend to her or not."
"You have been a good friend, certainly."
"My duties kept me near Miss Pethram, so I saw Ferrari but rarely, and as he is devoted27 to me, naturally he missed my society. At the time I left Deswarth, I came to London to see about my marriage, and on my return--which was on a Sunday--Ferrari came down with me, as he was not singing that night. Is there anything strange in this?"
"No; it seems quite natural," replied Maxwell, after a pause. "I would act the same way towards Kaituna."
"Signor Ferrari," resumed Mrs. Belswin, coldly, "stayed that night at The Chequers, and returned, I believe, next morning to town. I did not see him, as, owing to the terrible death of Sir Rupert, I had to stay with Kaituna. I do not know how he spent the night. I do not know at what hour he returned in the morning."
"But this scarf-pin?"
"It is certainly his; but what of that? He may have come to Thornstream to see me, and lost it on the terrace."
"If so, why did he not see you?"
"I do not know. I know nothing beyond what I have told you; but set your mind at rest. Come here to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, and I will take you to Signor Ferrari, who will doubtless be able to explain all to your satisfaction."
"You will?"
"Yes; at eleven to-morrow. I am sure he is innocent."
"You are still suspicious, I see," replied Mrs. Belswin, with a faint smile. "Well, it is only natural, and I hope your suspicions will be dispelled29 by Signor Ferrari's explanation. But now I must ask you to permit me to retire, as all this exciting talk has given me a headache. If, however, you will wait for Kaituna----"
"Not to-night, thank you," said Maxwell, hastily taking his hat and stick. "I'm too disturbed to see her. Good-bye; I rely on your promise. To-morrow at eleven."
"At eleven I will wait you," answered Mrs. Belswin, truthfully; "so at present good-bye, and don't think worse of me than you can help."
Maxwell said nothing, but, bowing politely, left the room, while Mrs. Belswin, annoyed at his silence, stood frowning angrily.
"He still suspects," she muttered, ringing the bell. "Ferrari must put an end to his suspicions--if he can."
The servant entered the room.
"A hansom at once!"
"I'm in terrible danger," she said pulling on her gloves--"terrible danger. One false step, and all may be known. Ferrari is my only hope. Can he be guilty? Appearances are against him. If he is a murderer let him suffer, as long as he keeps silence."
"The cab, ma'am."
Mrs. Belswin went downstairs.
"I don't care what happens," she cried, when driving away, "as long as I keep my child."
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1
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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2
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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3
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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4
obviate
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| v.除去，排除，避免，预防 | |
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5
juxtaposition
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| n.毗邻，并置，并列 | |
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6
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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7
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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8
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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9
exculpate
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| v.开脱，使无罪 | |
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10
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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11
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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12
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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13
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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14
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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15
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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16
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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17
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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18
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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19
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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21
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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22
wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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23
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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24
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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25
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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27
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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29
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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