There were two ways in which she could go to work; either begin from the arrival of Lady Burville at Hernwood Hall, and progress onward5 to the committal of the crime, or begin from the fact of the murder, and trace back its motive to Lady Burville. After some consideration, she decided6 on the latter of these two courses. But Lady Burville had departed, and Dora was ignorant of her present address. Even if she did learn it, there was no excuse whereby she could gain an interview with the lady. She had no proof that this stranger was implicated7 in the crime, and if she were--a fact which Dora fully8 believed--there would be little chance of forcing her into confession9. This course was therefore out of the question, but there remained the other. Starting with the evidence which had gathered round the crime itself, the theories, the suppositions, the beliefs, Dora thought she might piece together scattered10 hints and facts, which might be woven into a rope strong enough to hang the assassin. But the difficulty, in the absence of all absolute knowledge, was to discover the criminal.
And there was yet another thing to be remembered. The reward of fifty thousand pounds had brought into competition hundreds of men, bent11 upon gaining the prize. From far and near they came to Canterbury, and haunted the environs of the Red House. But not one of them entered the gates, for these were kept locked, and the famous postern through which the assassin had passed had been bricked up, by Dora's order. Every labourer and tramp and shopkeeper in the neighbourhood was questioned and cross-questioned by these pests, but none gained any information likely to solve the mystery. No trace could be found of Edermont's past life. He had appeared in the place twenty years before; he had bought the Red House, and a few farms; he had lived in retirement12 since that time. Beyond this nothing could be learned, and, notwithstanding the magnitude of the reward, no one was fortunate enough to make a step forward. Out of the night the assassin had come, into the night he had gone; and neither Inspector13 Jedd nor the many amateur detectives could trace him to his hiding-place. Hemmed14 in by these difficulties on all sides, with no information to go upon, with obstinate15 people like Joad, Allen, and Mrs. Tice to deal with, it can be easily seen how difficult was the problem which Dora wished to solve. On surveying the situation her heart failed her; she felt helpless.
One chance she had of making a beginning, and that was by questioning Joad as to the motive of the crime. That this motive was to be found in Edermont's past life Dora was certain; and as Joad was more likely than anyone else to know that past, he would be the proper person to apply to for information. From conversations which she had overheard, Dora was satisfied that the secret of the horror which had overshadowed Edermont's life--which had sent him to church and to the consolation16 of the Litany--was known to Joad. And as Joad evinced a decided admiration17 for her, she resolved to use such admiration for the purpose of discovering the truth. When she learned the secret of Edermont's past, she would learn the name of the person he dreaded18; that name would identify the assassin, and if she found the assassin she might be able to learn and do away with the unknown obstacle to her marriage with Allen. She would gain also the fortune of the dead man; but that, in Dora's opinion, was a side issue.
In the meantime, and before she had time to formulate19 her plans--which, indeed, were but in their inception--Mrs. Tice came over, bag and baggage, to play the part of dragon at the Red House. Dora was glad to welcome her within its walls; not only because she promised to stand a bulwark20 of respectability against Joad, but also because Mrs. Tice might reveal by accident something of Edermont's past. The conversation at Canterbury had shown Dora very plainly that some time or another Mrs. Tice had been acquainted with the recluse21; and that such acquaintance must have been prior to his purchase of the Red House. At that period had been engendered22 the terror which had haunted the poor creature, and Mrs. Tice might have some inkling of its nature.
The old housekeeper23, however, was not to be cajoled into reminiscences of the past. She kept a guard over her tongue, and resolutely24 avoided all Dora's hints and significant remarks. It was quite a week before Dora could induce her to converse25 on the subject at all, and then she spoke in an ambiguous fashion. Life at that moment seemed to Dora to resemble a theatre with the curtain down. If she could induce Mrs. Tice to raise the curtain, what shadowy drama of the past might not be performed! Seven days after the arrival of Mrs. Tice she lifted the curtain a little--a very little--but revealed enough to excite the liveliest curiosity in the girl.
It was after nine o'clock, and as usual Joad had been turned out to have his supper, and talk classics with Mr. Pride, the schoolmaster. The gates were locked, the shutters26 of the windows were closed, and Mrs. Tice was seated in Dora's own sitting-room27, with a basket of work before her. Dora sat by the one window, which had not yet been shut, and the pale light of the evening floated into the room, to mingle28 with the dim radiance of the solitary29 candle which illuminated30 the busy fingers of the housekeeper. Meg Gance was in her kitchen, resting after the labours of the day, so the two women were quite alone. Suddenly Dora yawned, and stretched out her hands.
"Heigh-ho!" said she in a wearied tone. "How long is this going on, I wonder?"
"What are you referring to, Miss Carew?" asked the housekeeper in her pleasant voice--"to your life here?"
"No doubt," replied Dora scornfully; "but I have lost the chief of my blessings."
"You mean Mr. Allen?" said the old lady in an embarrassed tone.
"Yes, I do, Mrs. Tice. And since he has left me, I do not see why I should not accept the attentions of Mr. Lambert Joad. The wretched old man worships the ground I walk on."
"Of course you are jesting?" said Mrs. Tice, with an uneasy smile; "but I see that Mr. Joad admires you. More's the pity."
"Why 'more's the pity'?"
"Well, you see, miss, he will not relish33 your rebuffing him for his impertinence; and he is likely to prove a dangerous enemy."
"Pshaw! He can do me no harm."
"I am not so sure of that, miss. He knows a good deal about Mr. Edermont's past life."
"Is there anything in the past life of Mr. Edermont likely to be harmful to me?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Tice deliberately36, "there is."
"And do you know what it is?"
"Yes, miss; I know what it is, and so does Mr. Allen. It was a knowledge of that past which sent him up to London. Since he returned we have talked over the matter, and we have both concluded that it is best to hold our tongues. But if Mr. Joad knows the secret, and you rebuff him, he may not be wise enough to keep silent."
"I am glad to hear you say so!" cried Dora with animation37. "Since I can learn the secret from no one else, I'll see if a rebuff cannot loosen Mr. Joad's tongue."
"If you are wise, you will let well alone," warned Mrs. Tice, feeling that she had said too much.
Dora crossed the room, and stood with her hands behind her back, looking indignantly at the old woman.
"Upon my word, it is a shame!" she said in a low voice. "I am apparently38 surrounded by pitfalls39 on all sides, yet no one will tell me how to avoid them."
"If you remain quiet, you won't fall into them," replied Mrs. Tice with a nod.
"Quiet!" cried Dora, frowning. "Good heavens! how can I remain quiet when I see my life falling into ruins? No, no, no!" She stamped her foot defiantly40. "I must act, I must inquire, I must know what all these mysteries mean!"
"You will never arrive at that knowledge, Miss Carew."
"I'm not so sure of that, Mrs. Tice. Remember your hint about that Joad creature. I'll wring41 it out of him, if I can't out of anyone else. Mrs. Tice"--Dora flung herself on her knees before the housekeeper--"did you know Mr. Edermont before he came to the Red House?"
"Yes, Miss Carew, I can admit that much: I knew Mr. Edermont."
"Was that when you were Allen's nurse?"
"Yes, Miss Carew."
"In the service of Allen's parents?"
"I was in the service of Dr. and Mrs. Scott," replied Mrs. Tice composedly. "Pray don't ask me any more questions, Miss Carew, for I cannot answer them."
"You will not, you mean," said Dora, rising. "Never mind, I have found out something from the little you have told me."
Mrs. Tice looked up quickly.
"Impossible," she said anxiously. "I have revealed nothing."
"Oh, I can put two and two together, Mrs. Tice," said Dora quietly. "Allen told me that his parents lived in Christchurch, Hants--that his father and mother are buried there. Now, if you knew Mr. Edermont while you were nursing Allen, Mr. Edermont must have lived, or have been on a visit, at Christchurch. Consequently, if I go down to Christchurch I shall learn something of Mr. Edermont's past life."
Mrs. Tice fell into the skilfully-laid trap.
"You won't find that the name of Edermont is known in those parts," she said, without thinking.
"Precisely," said Dora coolly. "Edermont is a false name. I have suspected that for some time. Thank you, Mrs. Tice, for admitting it. I have learnt so much from you. Mr. Joad will tell me the rest."
"Mr. Joad may or may not," said Mrs. Tice doubtfully. "Do not go too much by what I am saying, Miss Carew. You have a skilful42 and crafty43 person to deal with."
"Are you talking of yourself?"
"You seem to be well acquainted with his character, Mrs. Tice. Did you know him at Christchurch?"
"No, my dear. I never saw the man until I came here--to this house. But I have eyes in my head, and I can see that he is singularly deceitful."
"Perhaps, but harmless."
Mrs. Tice shook her head with pursed-up lips.
"I disagree with you. The adder45 is harmless so long as it isn't trodden upon. Tread upon Mr. Joad, my dear young lady, and he will--bite."
To emphasize the last word Mrs. Tice snapped off a piece of thread, and looked up at Dora with a sharp nod. Evidently Joad had failed to impress her favourably46.
"I have no doubt you are right," said Dora, after reflection. "He would be dangerous if he got the chance, but I don't see where his opportunity for mischief47 comes in."
"Neither do I, Miss Carew; but he'll watch for one, you mark my words."
Dora did not reply to this remark, as she was of the same opinion herself. She was thinking about Carver's remark touching48 a past romance of Edermont's, and of her own statement to Allen that Mrs. Tice might have been the woman who had to do with the same. It was now her desire to find out if there was any grain of truth in her supposition, but she did not know exactly how to put it to Mrs. Tice. At last she thought the best method to approach so delicate a subject was by a side issue.
"Your husband is dead, isn't he, Mrs. Tice?" she asked with apparent carelessness.
"Yes, Miss Carew," replied the housekeeper; "he died more than twenty-five years ago, and his body is buried in the graveyard49 of Christchurch Priory."
"Were you much in love with him?"
"We respected and liked one another," said Mrs. Tice judiciously50: "but we were not madly in love."
"Were you ever madly in love with anyone, Mrs. Tice?"
"No, my dear young lady," was the laughing reply, "never! I am not a romantic person."
Dora thought for a moment.
"Was Mr. Edermont handsome when you knew him first?"
"He was passable, Miss Carew--a little, womanish man. Even in his youth his hair was white--the effect of nerves, I believe. He was always nervous, poor soul!"
"He had reason to be, evidently."
"Yes," said Mrs. Tice sharply, "good reason. I never liked him, but I was sorry for him."
Determined51 to know the exact truth, Dora put her question plainly:
"Were you in love with him?"
"What!" said Mrs. Tice, laughing, "with that rat of a man? No, my dear: I had better taste."
This was conclusive52, and Dora was satisfied that, whoever had played the part of heroine in her guardian's romance, it was not Mrs. Tice.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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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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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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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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implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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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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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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formulate
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| v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述 | |
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bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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recluse
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| n.隐居者 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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39
pitfalls
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| （捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误 | |
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40
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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graveyard
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| n.坟场 | |
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50
judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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51
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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