Dora drew back with a gasp6. Was he about to confess to the crime and allege7 temporary insanity8 by way of excuse? A violent trembling seized all her limbs, and she was obliged to lean against the table while waiting for his next words.
"You say Joad saw me?" he asked, looking at her. "Joad can denounce me?"
"No," she murmured, "he will not denounce you."
"But why should he show me such mercy?" cried Allen with haggard surprise. "He admires you; he is jealous of me. To get rid of me he would willingly place a noose9 round my neck."
"That is true, Allen. But--you are safe from him. He--he has asked me to be his wife."
"Ah!" said he, jealously seizing her hands. "And you--you---- No!" He abruptly10 tossed her hands away. "You could never bring yourself to marry that wretch11, even for fifty thousand pounds."
"He does not wish for that money," said Dora, with a calmness which surprised herself; "he wants me."
Dora raised her eyes to his with a look of pain.
"How could I?" she said slowly. "He saw you at the Red House on that night."
"Dora"--Allen again seized her hands--"you are sacrificing yourself to save me?"
"I can do no less, Allen. I love you. Ah!" she cried, with a burst of tears, "you will never know how I love you. I have suffered from your cruelty, your desertion, from your strange silence, but I still love you, as I have always done. As I cannot be your wife and make you happy, I can still marry this man and save you from the consequences of your crime."
"Dora! You do not believe that I am guilty?"
"No, Allen, no; still, I cannot understand. You have refused me your confidence; you say you were mad on that night. Morally speaking, you are innocent, I am certain. But still, in a moment of anger----"
"I swear that I did not touch him!" cried Allen violently. "I admit that I was at the Red House on that night. He asked me to come."
"I guessed that. Joad posted a letter to you."
"Yes, yes. Wait!" He ran into the next room, wherein his desk was standing13, and in two minutes he returned with a paper. "This is his letter. You see, Edermont asked me to come at midnight to the Red House--to enter by the postern gate, which he left open for my admittance."
"He wished to add something to the conversation of the week before," said Dora, reading the letter. "But, my poor Allen, this letter rather condemns14 than saves you. It shows conclusively15 that you had an appointment at the Red House at midnight. And Mr. Edermont was killed at one o'clock."
"I don't know at what hour he was killed," rejoined Allen, taking back the letter with a gloomy air. "As I told you, I was mad on that night. I lost all idea of time. Whether I was in his study at twelve or one I cannot say, but when I did enter I saw him dead."
"Allen!" Dora uttered a cry of horror. "You saw him dead?"
"He was lying on the floor near the bureau," said Scott, speaking rapidly. "I see him now in my mind's eye--a limp heap, with his white hair dappled with blood. The Zulu club, torn from the savage16 weapons which decorated the walls, lay near him; his pistol was on the other side. He was dead--dead! Ah God, dead!"
During this recital17 Dora had sunk into a chair, overcome by the vehemence18 of his words. Allen strode to and fro, swinging his long arms, with a look of horror on his worn, white face. He pressed his hands to his eyes, as if to shut out the scene which his too vivid fancy had painted. Half swooning, Dora uttered a sob19, and the next moment Allen was on his knees beside her, covering her hands with passionate20 and burning kisses.
"My queen! my saint!" he said hurriedly; "and you would sacrifice yourself for me. You would marry this drunkard, this parasite21, this vile22 reptile23, to save me from danger! No, Dora. No, I have been weak and foolish, but I am not guilty--I swear that I am not guilty. You shall not shield me at the cost of your own ruin. Oh, if I could only tell you all! But I dare not, I dare not!"
Carried away by his passion, angered at the sense of his weakness, he could have kissed her feet. But Dora placed her hand on his forehead and reasoned calmly with him. He was not to be saved by giving way to such whirlwinds of passion and despair. The prospect24 was terrible, but they must both face it boldly. Allen was innocent. He said so, and she believed him. That was everything. If he were not guilty, they might find a way out of the trap into which he had stumbled. To do so, she must know exactly what took place on that fatal night, and to this end she addressed her frenzied25 lover.
"Allen," she said gravely, "this is not the way to save yourself from arrest, or me from a disgraceful marriage. I have obtained a week's time from Joad to think matters over. In seven days we can do a great deal, and we may see a way out of this terrible situation. Sit down beside me, and tell me exactly what you did on that night."
"I shall not sit down beside you, Dora. I shall remain here at your feet. Ah, Heaven! to think of that cruel bar which prevents our marriage! You should know all, but I have not the courage to tell you."
"Keep silent on that point," said Dora soothingly26. "What I want to know now is the story of that night. You returned from London on the second, did you not?"
"Yes," he replied in a tired voice. "In that conversation I had with Edermont he made certain statements which I could not believe. He said I could verify them in London, and told me how and where I could do so. I could not rest until I knew the truth, therefore I caught the express at Selling and went to town. Alas27, alas! I found that he had spoken only too truly, and that you could never be my wife."
Repressing the curiosity which devoured29 her to learn the terrible secret of which he spoke28, Dora smoothed his hair gently, and asked him to relate what had taken place on his return from this mysterious errand. He obeyed her like a child.
"When I came home," he said with thoughtful deliberation, "I found that letter I showed you awaiting me. Edermont asked me to see him in his study at midnight on the second of the month. But how he knew that I should return on that day I cannot guess."
"I can explain," said Dora quietly. "You wrote and told me when you would return, and I showed the letter to my guardian30."
"Why did you do that, Dora--especially when you knew about our quarrel?"
"I wished to point out to Mr. Edermont that you had gone to London," replied Dora, "and, if possible, induce him to explain your reason for going there."
"Ah, he knew my reason well enough," said Allen with a frown; "but I suppose he refused to tell you what it was?"
"Naturally. He refused to tell me anything. But now you know how Mr. Edermont learnt the date of your return, and appointed that midnight meeting for the date. Go on, Allen."
"I was pleased to get his invitation," continued Allen, picking up the thread of his story, "as I fancied he might confess something further, likely to ameliorate the distressing31 situation in which I was placed by his previous revelation. I determined32, therefore, to obey the summons, but as it yet wanted three hours till midnight the thought of the delay worked me into a fever of anxiety. The hopes, the fears, the vague terrors which beset33 me drove me nearly wild. I declare, Dora, that I was like a madman. A hundred ideas came into my head as to how I might do away with the effect of Edermont's secret and regain34 you. But one and all were dismissed, and I felt more helpless than ever. Only one man could put matters right, and that was the man who put them wrong; so there was nothing left for it but to wait until I saw him at midnight."
"Had you any idea that a third person might be present at your meeting?"
"No. As you see, there is no mention of a third person in the letter, nor did I see a third person in the study--only the dead man's corpse35." "Ugh!"--Allen shuddered--"I shall never forget that horrible sight."
"It was gruesome enough in the morning," said Dora with a shiver, "so it must have been doubly horrifying36 at night. Well, did you remain indoors until you went to the Red House?"
"No. I could not rest; I could not bear the confinement37. I felt that I must be up and doing, so, in sheer despair, I went out on my bicycle. Where I went I do not know. The night was as bright as day with the rays of the moon, and I had sufficient sense to guide the machine rightly, while running blindly along, not knowing or caring whither I was going. I went up hill and down dale along those weary roads, until I wore myself out. Physically38 exhausted39, for I must have been riding at nearly top speed for hours, I turned in the direction of Chillum. At what time I got there I do not know."
"You had your watch with you?"
"Mr. Joad said he saw you pass his cottage shortly before twelve o'clock."
"It might have been," said Allen indifferently; "but to my mind it was nearer one o'clock. Indeed, it must have been, for, according to your showing, the murder was committed about that time, and when I entered the study I found Edermont dead."
"Dead! Poor soul!" cried Dora, clasping her hands.
"The postern-gate was open," continued Allen rapidly, "also the side-door of that deserted41 drawing-room. This did not surprise me, as I had been led to expect from the letter that the way would be clear for me to enter. When I went into the study I was struck with horror at the sight. A candle, wasted nearly to the socket42, was burning on the bureau. The desk itself was hacked43 and smashed, and the drawers forced open, as you saw it in the morning. Hundreds of letters and papers were scattered44 about, some on the bureau itself, others on the floor, and in the midst of all this disorder45 lay the ghastly dead body, terrible to look at in the pale glimmer46 of the expiring candle. The pistol was on one side, the knobkerrie on the other, and the dead man, with his face and head beaten and disfigured, lay between."
"Did you hear anyone, or see anyone?"
"I heard nothing, I saw nothing. The door leading to the hall was closed, and there was no sign of the assassin. I saw in a flash the terrible position in which I was placed. I had quarrelled with Edermont, and here I was, in his private room at midnight, standing beside his dead body. I might be accused of the murder, and condemned47 on circumstantial evidence--for, on the face of it, I could make no defence. As I looked with horror on the scene, with these thoughts in my mind, the candle flamed up in one expiring flash, then died out in a blue flicker48. I was alone in the darkness with the dead man; and, seized with a sudden panic--surely excusable under the circumstances--I turned and fled rapidly. In two minutes I was on my bicycle, running full speed for Canterbury. That is all I know, Dora."
Dora considered for a few moments after he had finished.
"You are sure that there was nobody else in the Red House on that night?" she asked, after a pause.
Allen hesitated.
"I did not intend to speak," he murmured; "but for my own sake I must tell you all. When I was coming into Chillum I met a woman going towards Canterbury on a bicycle."
"A woman, Allen! And at midnight--alone! Who was she?"
"At the time I passed her I did not know," said the doctor, rising; "but on my return journey, when I had left the house after the murder, I met her again, by the railway bridge. She was wheeling her machine down the hill, and called out to me to help her. The tyre of her back wheel was punctured49. I got off at once, notwithstanding my anxiety to get home, and, with the aid of guttapercha, I soon mended the tiny hole. Then we rode on together until our roads parted."
"Do you know who she was?" asked Dora for a second time.
"Yes," said Allen quietly. "I recognised her at once." He produced a brooch from his waistcoat pocket. "I found this in Edermont's study, where it had no doubt been dropped by her."
"How do you know?"
"By putting two and two together. Look at the brooch."
Dora did so. It was a slender bar of pale gold, to which two letters formed of small pearls were attached. She uttered an exclamation50 of astonishment51 as she read them out. "L.B.," she said; "that stands for----"
"For Laura Burville," finished Allen quickly. "Exactly. Laura Burville was the woman I met coming from Chillum. And, by the evidence of the brooch, Laura Burville was the woman who was in Edermont's study on the midnight of the second of August."
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1
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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allege
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| vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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9
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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14
condemns
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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conclusively
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| adv.令人信服地，确凿地 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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parasite
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| n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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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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29
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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30
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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35
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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horrifying
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| a.令人震惊的，使人毛骨悚然的 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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40
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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42
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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hacked
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| 生气 | |
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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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45
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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46
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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47
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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49
punctured
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| v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的过去式和过去分词 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气 | |
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50
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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51
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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