He had expected, from the intense emotion she displayed at the sight of Howard Van Burnam (for I was not mistaken as to the identity of the person occupying the carriage with her), to find her flushed with the passions incident upon this meeting, and her companion in a condition of mind which would make it no longer possible for him to deny his connection with this woman and his consequently guilty complicity in a murder to which both were linked by so many incriminating circumstances.
But for all his experience, the detective was disappointed in this expectation, as he had been in so many others connected with this case. There was nothing in[Pg 342] Miss Oliver's attitude to indicate that she had unburdened herself of any of the emotions with which she was so grievously agitated3, nor was there on Mr. Van Burnam's part any deeper manifestation4 of feeling than a slight glow on his cheek, and even that disappeared under the detective's scrutiny5, leaving him as composed and imperturbable6 as he had been in his memorable7 inquisition before the Coroner.
Disappointed, and yet in a measure exhilarated by this sudden check in plans he had thought too well laid for failure, Mr. Gryce surveyed the young girl more carefully, and saw that he had not been mistaken in regard to the force or extent of the feelings which had driven her into Mr. Van Burnam's presence; and turning back to that gentleman, was about to give utterance8 to some very pertinent9 remarks, when he was forestalled10 by Mr. Van Burnam inquiring, in his old calm way, which nothing seemed able to disturb:
"Who is this crazy girl you have forced upon me? If I had known I was to be subjected to such companionship I should not have regarded my outing so favorably."
Mr. Gryce, who never allowed himself to be surprised by anything a suspected criminal might do or say, surveyed him quietly for a moment, then turned towards Miss Oliver.
"You hear what this gentleman calls you?" said he.
Her face was hidden by her hands, but she dropped them as the detective addressed her, showing a countenance11 so distorted by passion that it stopped the current of his thoughts, and made him question whether the epithet12 bestowed13 upon her by their somewhat callous[Pg 343] companion was entirely14 unjustified. But soon the something else which was in her face restored his confidence in her sanity15, and he saw that while her reason might be shaken it was not yet dethroned, and that he had good cause to expect sooner or later some action from a woman whose misery16 could wear an aspect of such desperate resolution.
That he was not the only one affected17 by the force and desperate character of her glance became presently apparent, for Mr. Van Burnam, with a more kindly18 tone than he had previously19 used, observed quietly:
"I see the lady is suffering. I beg pardon for my inconsiderate words. I have no wish to insult the unhappy."
Never was Mr. Gryce so nonplussed20. There was a mingled21 courtesy and composure in the speaker's manner which was as far removed as possible from that strained effort at self-possession which marks suppressed passion or secret fear; while in the vacant look with which she met these words there was neither anger nor scorn nor indeed any of the passions one would expect to see there. The detective consequently did not force the situation, but only watched her more and more attentively22 till her eyes fell and she crouched23 away from them both. Then he said:
"You can name this gentleman, can you not, Miss Oliver, even if he does not choose to recognize you?"
But her answer, if she made one, was inaudible, and the sole result which Mr. Gryce obtained from this venture was a quick look from Mr. Van Burnam and the following uncompromising words from his lips:
"If you think this young girl knows me, or that I know her, you are greatly mistaken. She is as much[Pg 344] of a stranger to me as I am to her, and I take this opportunity of saying so. I hope my liberty and good name are not to be made dependent upon the word of a miserable24 waif like this."
"Your liberty and your good name will depend upon your innocence," retorted Mr. Gryce, and said no more, feeling himself at a disadvantage before the imperturbability25 of this man and the silent, non-accusing attitude of this woman, from the shock of whose passions he had anticipated so much and obtained so little.
Meantime they were moving rapidly towards Police Headquarters, and fearing that the sight of that place might alarm Miss Oliver more than was well for her, he strove again to rouse her by a kindly word or so. But it was useless. She evidently tried to pay attention and follow the words he used, but her thoughts were too busy over the one great subject that engrossed26 her.
"A bad case!" murmured Mr. Van Burnam, and with the phrase seemed to dismiss all thought of her.
"A bad case!" echoed Mr. Gryce, "but," seeing how fast the look of resolution was replacing her previous aspect of frenzy27, "one that will do mischief28 yet to the man who has deceived her."
"I want a police officer," she said.
Mr. Gryce, with all his assurance restored, leaped to the ground and held out his hand.
"I will take you into the presence of one," said he; and she, without a glance at Mr. Van Burnam, whose knee she brushed in passing, leaped to the ground, and turned her face towards Police Headquarters.
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1
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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3
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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4
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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5
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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6
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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7
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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8
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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9
pertinent
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| adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的 | |
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10
forestalled
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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12
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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13
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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15
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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16
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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17
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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18
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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23
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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25
imperturbability
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| n.冷静；沉着 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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28
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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29
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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