That, as I take it, is Bible-truth.
You have robbed me of my good name;
I will bring you to want and shame.
Both are wicked, so both shall fall--
God in His Heaven shall judge of it all.
Mrs. Belswin brought it all on herself. She would play with fire, and although a life-long experience had taught her how dangerous was that pastime, she nevertheless indulged in it, even at the risk of burning her fingers. Indeed, so many times had she rushed into danger in her fierce, impulsive1 way, and so many times had she emerged scatheless2 by sheer good luck, that she became reckless in her daring, and at last the inevitable3 happened--she went too far.
Everything was now progressing smoothly4, both with herself and with those she loved. Kaituna had received an unexpected access of fortune, so that the difficulties of her marriage with Archie Maxwell were now removed by the power of gold; and Mrs. Belswin herself, living constantly with her darling, had now nothing left to wish for.
Yes! there was one thing she desired, and that was to see Silas Oates, in order to taunt5 him with the news of her good fortune. It was sheer devilry made her do this, as she cared nothing for her old lover; but some fiend having whispered in her ear that good fortune to her would be gall6 and wormwood to the American, she one day went straight to the Langham Hotel, in order to enjoy her triumph. Luckily for himself, Oates was absent in Paris at the time, where he had gone on a matter of business; but on his return he found Mrs. Belswin's card, and naturally enough being ignorant of her real object in paying him a visit, thought she had called for the sole purpose of getting more money out of him.
Silas Oates, in a most unjust fashion, did not blame his quondam lady-love for her persistency7, knowing her real nature too well to expect anything from her; but he blamed Mr. Dombrain for not keeping his promise, and making Mrs. Belswin stop her pecuniary8 importunities.
The lady herself had entirely9 forgotten Mr. Dombrain and his threats, or if she did remember them it was with a contemptuous sneer10, as she thought in her own heart that he could do nothing to harm her. But if Mrs. Belswin thus proved forgetful of the solicitor11, Silas Oates did not. Mr. Oates was genuinely angry at the way Dombrain permitted Mrs. Belswin to annoy him, so, as the unfortunate lawyer had omitted to fulfil his promise of acting12 as watch-dog, the American determined13 to punish him as he had threatened for his negligence14.
Silas went about the affair in a way peculiarly his own, and in a very few days Mr. Dombrain received a letter demanding an explanation of certain allegations concerning his past made against him by an American gentleman. The unfortunate man was quite stunned16 at the suddenness of his calamity17; nor was he comforted when a spiteful note arrived from Silas, which stated that he had revealed everything about the convict Damberton to the Law Society, as a punishment for the negligence of the lawyer Dombrain. Of course the poor wretch18 could not defend himself, although he made a feeble attempt to do so; and the consequence of Mrs. Belswin's folly19 and Mr. Oates's letter was, that Alfred Dombrain of London, Solicitor, was struck off the rolls, as not fit to have his name inscribed20 thereon.
It was truly a terrible thing to happen to this man, who, not having saved much money, now found himself reduced from an honourable21 profession, which gained him a competence22, to a disgraceful position and absolute beggary. The loss of his money troubled him but little, the loss of his name a great deal, for having once more regained23 the esteem24 of his fellow-men by years of exemplary life, he felt keenly the bitterness of being reduced to the same ignoble25 position he had occupied years before. He tried every means in his power to escape the disgrace, but the Law Society were relentless26, and Dombrain, lawyer, once more became that phantom27 of the past--Damberton, outcast.
Neither lawyer nor outcast, however, were satisfied to accept this crushing blow without making some return thereto; and when Mr. Dombrain found that all his ideas of respectability were at an end, he turned round venomously to punish Mrs. Belswin, whom he considered to be the main cause of his unmerited disgrace. He did not write to her, he did not see her, he did not even mention her name to a soul, but he went straight to the nearest police magistrate28, told his story of what had taken place at Thornstream on that fatal night, and, as a result, obtained a warrant of arrest against Mrs. Belswin for the murder of Sir Rupert Pethram. This being done, he departed, in company with two detectives, to feast his eyes on the disgrace of this woman, who had cost him his hardly earned position; and for the first time for many days he laughed--not a pleasant laugh, but a nasty, sardonic29, sneering30 laugh, which boded31 ill to the liberty and peace of mind of Jezebel Manners, alias32 Lady Pethram, alias Mrs. Belswin. In spite of the tragic33 force of the whole matter, there was something positively34 grotesque35 in the situation; for Silas Oates wronged by Mrs. Belswin, had revenged himself upon Mr. Dombrain; and Mr. Dombrain wronged by Silas Oates, had revenged himself upon Mrs. Belswin. It was a three-cornered duel36, to speak paradoxically, in which every one shot at every one else, but the only person of the three principals who came off scot-free was the American, and he appreciated the grim irony37 of the situation.
Meanwhile Mrs. Belswin, quite unaware38 how dearly her attempt to see Oates had cost her, was seated in company with Kaituna and Archie Maxwell at afternoon tea, and the trio were talking about the Pole Star shares, the expected arrival of Toby Clendon, and, of course, about the approaching marriages.
"And you will be perfectly39 happy, Kaituna," said Mrs. Belswin, looking wistfully at her daughter--the daughter whom she dare not acknowledge.
Kaituna caught hold of Archie's hand, with a quick flush and a look of delight in her large black eyes.
"Yes, perfectly happy," she replied, smiling. "We are going to be the Darby and Joan of romance, are we not, Archie?"
"I trust so, dear; but Darby and Joan! Oh, what a prosaic40 comparison. No! Kaituna we will be--let me think--we will be like Lord Lovel and Lady Nancy Bell in the old ballad41."
"Fie, that is a worse comparison than mine! They were unhappy, and if a red rose and a briar did grow out of their respective graves, I don't know that such a miracle proves your case."
"Well, you certainly ought to be happy," said Mrs. Belswin, with a quick sigh, as she realised how soon she was to lose the girl she loved. "Health, wealth, and love--what a trinity of perfections."
"All of which are to be found in Kaituna. But you, Mrs. Belswin, what about Signor Ferrari?"
"Oh, I have not made up my mind yet to marry him, Mr. Maxwell; besides, I have another offer."
"Mr. Samson Belk."
"Oh!" said Maxwell, smiling, "he is the other Romeo in the field. Well, he is certainly very handsome----"
"And is very fond of me," interrupted Mrs. Belswin, quickly. "But all the same I am not for him."
"Nor for Signor Ferrari either?" laughed Kaituna, going over to her chaperon and putting her arms round her neck. "Ah, there is a third person."
"I think you can pretty well guess whom that third person is," said Mrs. Belswin, kissing the girl; "but Mr. Maxwell is going to rob me of my third person."
"I cannot deny the soft impeachment," replied Archie, with a gay nod. "As soon as Toby comes home we will be married."
The talk was certainly frivolous43; but then, after all the trials these three people had undergone, it was a great relief to chatter44 idly in a desultory45 manner, especially when all three beheld46 the brightness of the future. For them the storms and trials of life had passed--so they fondly thought; and the elder woman, looking back at the dismal47 past, thanked God in her heart for the peaceful present, while the lovers saw before them nothing but a shining path, strewn with roses, leading to the paradise of perfect felicity.
At this moment a knock came at the door, and the servant entered with a frightened look on her face.
"Oh, mum," she said, going quickly to Mrs. Belswin, "there are three gentleman to see you."
"Who are they?" asked Mrs. Belswin, in some surprise, never thinking for a moment of the coming storm.
"Mr. Dombrain, mum, and----"
"Mr. Dombrain," repeated Mrs. Belswin, with a chill of fear at her heart; "what does he want?"
"I want you, Jezebel Manners," said Dombrain, making his appearance at the door, with a malignant48 grin on his coarse red face.
The moment she heard the name Mrs. Belswin knew it was all over, and with a cry of agony held out her imploring49 hands to the lawyer.
"Oh, not before her! not before her!" she moaned piteously.
Kaituna, overcome with astonishment50 at this strange scene, went up to Mrs. Belswin as if to protect her, but the woman shrank from her with a moan of pain, and hid her face in her hands.
"What does this mean?" demanded Maxwell, as soon as he recovered his breath.
"You will soon know," retorted Dombrain, savagely51. "Jezebel Manners, Pethram, Belswin, or whatever name you like to call yourself, I warned you the last time we met what I would do if you played me false. You have done so, to my ruin, my shame, my disgrace, and I have come to drag you down to where you have hurled52 me. This is the woman, officers."
One of the detectives advanced and touched Mrs. Belswin on the shoulder.
"In the Queen's name, I arrest you----"
"Arrest her?" interrupted Kaituna, her face flaming with indignation; "but for what--for what?"
"For the murder of Rupert Pethram."
Kaituna gave a shriek53 of horror, and seized Maxwell by the arm, while he, scarcely less thunderstruck, stared at the detective with a look of amazement54 on his face.
"It is false! it is false!" shrieked55 Mrs. Belswin, throwing herself on her knees before Kaituna, "I swear to you it is false. I did not kill your father."
"You did," said Dombrain, in a deep voice, "I saw you do it!"
Mrs. Belswin sprang to her feet and made a bound forward, with a fierce light flashing in her eyes, and it would have been a bad thing for Mr. Dombrain had she succeeded in reaching him. The detective, however, was on the watch, and throwing himself on the wretched woman, had the handcuffs on her wrists in a moment.
"I cannot believe it! I cannot believe it!" moaned Kaituna, hiding her face on Maxwell's breast.--"Mrs. Belswin, my kind good friend----"
"Your friend," scoffed56 Dombrain, with an ugly glitter in his ferret-like eyes. "Yes, you don't know who your friend is!"
"For God's sake, silence!" shrieked Mrs. Belswin, pale to the lips.
"No, I will not keep silence, you fiend, who have ruined me. I will tell all. Miss Pethram, do you see that wretched woman with the handcuffs on--that guilty wretch who murdered your father, that----"
"I see Mrs. Belswin," cried Kaituna, with sudden fire; "I see the woman who saved me from starvation, and I do not believe this base charge you make."
With noble indignation she walked across to Mrs. Belswin, and threw her arm round the poor woman's neck, while Archie, who respected and liked the companion, mutely approved of the girl's generous action.
"Ah, you put your arm on her neck now," said Dombrain, with a sneer, "but you will take it away when you know----"
"Dombrain!" cried the wretched woman, for the last time, "spare me--spare me!"
"I will spare you as you have spared me."
"Be silent, with your cowardly threats, sir," said Kaituna, looking proudly at him, "and do your worst. Who is Mrs. Belswin?"
"Your mother!"
"Your mother is alive! She stands there, and you can now know her for what she is--a guilty wife--a divorced woman--and the murderer of her husband."
Kaituna gazed at this gibing60 devil with a terrified stare in her dilated61 eyes, then turned slowly and looked at her miserable62 mother. The unhappy woman, with a grey worn face, haggard and scarred with myriad63 wrinkles, made a step forward, as if to embrace her child, but the girl, with a look of terror, shrank back, and fell in a faint on the floor at the feet of Maxwell, while Mrs. Belswin sank on her knees with a piteous cry, wringing64 her manacled hands over the unconscious form of the daughter she had found--and lost.
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1
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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scatheless
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| adj.无损伤的，平安的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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7
persistency
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| n. 坚持(余辉, 时间常数) | |
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8
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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9
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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10
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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12
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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13
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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15
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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16
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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17
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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18
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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19
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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20
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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21
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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competence
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| n.能力，胜任，称职 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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24
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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25
ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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28
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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29
sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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31
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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32
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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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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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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38
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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39
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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40
prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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41
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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42
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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43
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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44
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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45
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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46
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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47
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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48
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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49
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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50
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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51
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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52
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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53
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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54
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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55
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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58
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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59
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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60
gibing
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| adj.讥刺的，嘲弄的v.嘲笑，嘲弄( gibe的现在分词 ) | |
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61
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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63
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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64
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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