"I do not repeat that I am innocent," he asserted. "If you think that I killed that unhappy girl, you must continue to do so. But," added the Vicar with irony7, "I fail to see what motive8 you can ascribe to me for such an act."
"The motive of jealousy9," said Lovel sullenly10; "you were in love with Milly. Oh, you need not deny it, Mr. Chaskin; I know it for a fact."
"My friend," said Chaskin coldly, "I do not intend to deny it; but I question your right to make such a statement. It is true that I loved Miss Lester; but she never knew of my passion. She was the promised wife of my friend, and as such I did not think myself justified11 in revealing my feelings. You, Mr. Lovel, were less scrupulous12."
"I admit it," replied Lovel, attempting a weak defence; "but I loved her."
"All the village knew as much; but I do not call that love which debases its object. If you had said nothing to Miss Lester, she might have refused to meet you. And had she not met you," added Chaskin emphatically, "this tragedy would not have taken place."
"As you please, sir," rejoined the Vicar. "I refuse to defend myself to you."
"Can you defend yourself at all?" questioned Mexton suddenly.
"I shall answer that question when I am asked it by the duly constituted authorities."
"At least tell us how you lost that pistol."
The Vicar rose from his chair, and walking across to a side table, lifted therefrom an oblong box of mahogany. This he opened and placed before his visitors.
"This is a remnant of my soldiering days," he said. "Once it contained two pistols; now, as you see, there is only one. The other, I admit freely, is the weapon which you showed to me, Mr. Mexton."
"The weapon with which Milly was murdered," said Lovel viciously.
"No doubt; but, as I told you, I lost it some four weeks ago,"
"I cannot tell you," replied the Vicar; "the box stood always on that table. I see many people in this room; any one of them might have taken it."
"Mother Jimboy, for instance?"
"No; for the simple reason that Mother Jimboy never came to the Vicarage."
"Herne says she did," cried Lovel; "and that you saw her in this room before the murder."
Chaskin drew a long breath, and seemed to consider his reply: "Mr. Herne is mistaken," he said at length; "the gipsy was never in this room."
"Then somebody is telling a lie!" said Lovel, looking sharply at Chaskin.
"Perhaps I know where he is to be found without your aid!"
The Vicar shut down the lid of the box with a snap, and once more rose to his feet. "This conversation has lasted long enough," he said with dignity, "and I have replied to your questions very patiently. I refuse to answer any more."
"You say you are innocent?" asked Paul.
"I say nothing."
"You know who is guilty?" insisted Lovel.
"I know nothing."
This was all the answer they could obtain from Chaskin, so, seeing that it was useless to prolong the interview with so obstinate17 a man, Paul and his friend departed. Their visit had been productive of no good, and--if Chaskin were guilty--they had only succeeding in putting him on his guard. But was he guilty? The two young men took different views of the question. Paul was inclined to side with the Vicar; while Lovel was equally bent18 on insisting that the Vicar was the assassin.
"If he has not killed Milly, he would declare that he was innocent," said he.
"I don't see it at all," said Lovel obstinately20; "he did not know what evidence we could bring against him. When he knew, he took refuge in silence."
"Well," objected Paul, more just than his prejudiced companion, "if you remember, he denied that Mother Jimboy had stolen the pistol. If he were guilty, it is probable that he would seize on every chance to exculpate21 himself and inculpate22 others. The suggestion made by Herne would have been a good opportunity of shifting the blame from his own shoulders on to those of the gipsy; but, as you heard for yourself, Lovel, he declined to take advantage of the opening."
"Bah! that is his cunning. I daresay he has a defence all ready."
"No; he's not such a fool as to show his hand unless forced to do so. Should Drek arrest him, he would have lies in plenty to prove his innocence."
"I don't think there is sufficient evidence to arrest him."
"Drek may think otherwise," replied Lovel, looking at his watch. "Come to The Herne Arms, Mexton, for I expect the inspector24 will be waiting for us there. We will tell him of our interview with the Vicar, and see what his opinion is about the matter; I should not be surprised if Mr. Chaskin was in gaol25 by this evening."
"I should be very much surprised," said Paul emphatically. "As Lester is already accused of the crime, and is to stand his trial next week, Drek cannot arrest Chaskin as yet, however guilty he may think him. You can't have two people legally accused of the same crime. One must be proved innocent before the other can be imprisoned26 as suspected of guilt16."
"As to these points of law, I know nothing about them," replied Lovel impatiently; "all I know is that to my mind Chaskin is the guilty person. The evidence of Gran Jimboy and the production of that pistol are sufficient to hang him. However, we shall see."
There was nothing more said at the moment, as the conversation threatened to become disagreeable, and the two men walked to The Herne Arms. Here they found Inspector Drek, who informed them that Lester had delivered the message, but could not be present at the interview, as he had been called out to see a patient some miles away, and did not expect to be back before six o'clock. However, he was at their disposal, and very anxious he was to know why they had sought the interview.
"Come up to my room, and I'll tell you," said Lucas, and led the way to his sanctum. Here he ordered cigars and whisky; and having made his friends and himself comfortable, he related to Drek the story of his connection with Mrs. Jimboy, and his knowledge of what had taken place in the lane on that fatal night. All of which has been already set forth27.
"I think it wise that you should know all this, Mr. Drek," he said, concluding, "as someone else may relate my history in a more or less distorted fashion; and I am, as I can see plainly, in too dangerous a position to trifle with the law. Now our friend Mexton here can tell you of his visit to London, and our visits to Mrs. Jimboy and Chaskin."
"Mr. Chaskin! the Vicar!" cried Drek, who in his interest had let his cigar go out. "What has he to do with the matter."
"Let me explain," said Paul; and, in his turn, he told the inspector of his interview with Catinka, his discovery of the pistol in the gipsy tent, and finally the interview which, with Lovel, he had taken part in at the Vicarage. Drek, being thus in possession of all the evidence gathered by the pair, was in a position to deliver judgment28. This, however, he found it difficult to do, as he was not a particularly clever man; and the multiplicity of facts with which he had now to deal somewhat bewildered his brain. However, he saw what was expected of him in his official capacity, and rising to the occasion, he did his best to grapple with the situation.
"If you will permit me, gentlemen," said he, taking a drink of whisky to freshen up his faculties29, "I will recapitulate30 all that we have discovered--severally discovered--since the crime was committed. Then we can see against whom the evidence is strongest, and perhaps learn thereby31 who killed the girl. But I confess," added Drek, with a downcast air, "that I am not very sanguine32."
"Why not?" exclaimed Lucas, hotly. "There is plenty of evidence."
"That is the whole point, sir, there is too much evidence."
"Against Chaskin, I mean."
"And against Herne, also," observed Paul. "If the pistol found by Gran Jimboy incriminates Chaskin, no less does the blood-stained handkerchief point to the guilt of Herne."
"But Herne can't be guilty," protested Lucas, angrily. "I tell you he was in a trance when the shot was fired."
"After the shot was fired," corrected Mexton. "Remember, you did not see him until the girl was dead."
"He couldn't have fired the shot and then have fallen into a trance."
"Why not? The very act might excite his nerves to such a degree as to cause the trance. You know that these cataleptic states of Herne's are caused by violent emotion."
"But if he had fired the shot I should have found the pistol in his hand."
"He might have dropped it."
"No! I searched for it," said Lucas, obstinately, "and didn't find it."
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," cried Drek, intervening in the matter; "this discussion is unprofitable. You may both be right, and both wrong. But we shall not arrive at any conclusion by such loose arguments. Let us begin at the beginning and state all the cases."
"The cases against all those connected with the matter," said Drek. "Dr. Lester, Miss Clyde, this Polish violinist, yourself, Mr. Herne, and finally, Mr. Chaskin. There is strong evidence against each."
"I daresay," retorted Lucas, tartly35, ill pleased at his name being in the list; "but such evidence has proved the most of us innocent. Dr. Lester, for instance."
"Well, sir, Dr. Lester; look at the case against him. He is very poor; he wished his daughter to marry Mr. Herne, and learnt that the marriage--important to him as the means of securing a rich son-in-law to pay his debts--is likely to be broken off by the young lady's flirtation36 with you. The doctor becomes mad with drink, and taking a pistol, starts out to kill you. He remains37 away all the night, and cannot account for his actions. In the interval38 his daughter is killed; so we may assume that, intending to shoot you, Mr. Lovel, he shot her."
"Quite so," said Paul, drily; "but all that evidence is nullified by Miss Clyde's statement."
"I know that," replied Drek, with coolness, "but failing Miss Clyde's statement the evidence is strong against Dr. Lester. But he is innocent, so he is out of the case. Now Miss Clyde: she is in love with Mr. Lovel, and is jealous of Miss Lester. She takes a loaded pistol off the doctor, and is lurking39 in the lane to see the meeting of the man she loves with the woman she hates. Here, then, we may say that out of jealousy, and to get rid of a rival, Miss Clyde killed the girl."
"That evidence is rebutted40 by the fact that Miss Clyde could not have arrived home in time if she had killed Milly. Her hour of arrival at the farm can be proved by Mrs. Drass. Also, if Miss Clyde were guilty, she would not have produced that pistol."
"Very good," assented41 Drek, still imperturbable42; "then we will strike out Miss Clyde also. Now, then, for Catinka. She wants Mr. Herne's money, and thinks she will lose it if he marries Miss Lester. To remove this obstacle, she comes down to Barnstead and kills the girl."
"Bosh!" said Lovel, rudely. "If she had killed Milly she would not have left the clue of the rainbow feather, whereby she could be traced. You can strike Catinka out of your list also, Mr. Inspector."
"Certainly," replied Drek, obligingly. "Catinka is innocent, although, as you see, the evidence against her is very strong. Now we come to you, Mr. Lovel."
"Oh," said that young man, ironically, "and how do you intend to prove my guilt?"
"I am not presuming your guilt," said the inspector. "I merely intend to state the evidence against you."
"I am all attention," said Lovel.
"Well, sir, to put it briefly43, you love this girl; you are with her at the hour of the murder; you set up a false alibi44; you do everything to bring suspicion of guilt on yourself."
"But I am innocent."
"We will presume so for the moment," replied the inspector, coolly; "but you must know, Mr. Lovel, that beyond your bare word we have no proof that; you did not kill the girl."
"Going by the evidence----"
"Hang the evidence! Isn't it stronger against Herne and Chaskin? Did you find my handkerchief, bloodstained? Did you discover a pistol with my name on it?"
"No; but some lawyers might say that you stole the pistol out of Chaskin's room to inculpate him in a projected crime; also, that you took Herne's handkerchief out of his pocket when he was in a trance, and dropped it into the blood to get evidence against him. Oh, I don't say that you are guilty, Mr. Lovel, but you must admit that the evidence is strong. You think that Mr. Chaskin killed the girl; Mexton here inclines to think that Mr. Herne is guilty; but the evidence against the two is no stronger than that against you. A lawyer could build up a powerful----"
"Stop! stop!" cried Lovel, sitting down. "Stop! You will make me believe that I killed the poor girl after all!"
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1
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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onus
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| n.负担；责任 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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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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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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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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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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exculpate
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| v.开脱，使无罪 | |
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inculpate
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| v.使负罪；控告；使连累 | |
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entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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gaol
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| n.(jail)监狱；(不加冠词)监禁；vt.使…坐牢 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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recapitulate
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| v.节述要旨，择要说明 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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rebutted
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| v.反驳，驳回( rebut的过去式和过去分词 )；击退 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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44
alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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