"It's like heaven," sighed Miss Inderwick, whose face glowed like one of the roses she wore at her breast, from sheer happiness, "and to think that we shall be married to-morrow, Alan dearest."
"Then it will be more like heaven than ever," laughed the young man, who looked the picture of content. "Let us go to St. Peter's Dell, Marie darling; for it was there that we found the jewels."
"Rather the papers which led to the finding of the jewels," corrected Miss Inderwick gladly, "and it's a nice place to make love in, Alan, for I have planted it with roses."
"The Gardens of Shiraz, where Omar Khayyam sang," said the happy young lover, and quoted the well known lines softly:--
Beside me singing in the wilderness9,
And wilderness is Paradise enow."
"Oh, we don't want the bread and wine," laughed Marie indolently, as they took their way to the dell along a path riotous10 with blossom.
"Bread and cheese then."
"You have left out the best thing, dear."
"Kisses, eh? Well then." Alan stopped, took her into his strong arms and kissed her twice, thrice, and again on her rose-leaf lips.
"I wish you'd behave yourself," said Marie sedately11, "as to bread and cheese we have something better than that now."
"You have," said Alan quickly, "the jewels have brought close on one hundred thousand pounds, which all belong to you."
"What is mine is yours, darling. You know that."
"Yet nasty people will say that I married you for your money, Marie."
"Quite so, instead of being the most perfect woman ever created."
"Oh," Marie sighed from sheer pleasure, "say that again."
Alan did so with a laugh. "Marie, will you ever have enough flattery."
"It's not flattery, it's the truth, and I like you always to tell me the truth," said Marie as they entered the dell. "Come and sit down on the edge of the pool, Alan, and have a talk."
"Why not call it the well?" he asked, while they balanced themselves on the circle of stones, and he placed his arm round her waist to support her.
"Simon Ferrier called it the pool, and I think it's a very good name."
"I'm very glad he did," said Marie quickly, "and that he could not find one which began with 'K'. If he had we should never have solved the riddle14."
"Oh, don't let us talk any more about the riddle or the sad events connected with it," cried Fuller, a shade passing over his happy face; "let us leave the past alone and live in the present."
"I am living in the future when we shall be husband and wife."
"That desirable state of things will come into being to-morrow."
"I know," Marie nestled in her lover's arms. "But I want to talk of all that has happened Alan. Then we will say no more about it."
"But, Marie, we have talked over everything again and again."
"I dare say; but I want to ask questions and to be quite satisfied in my own mind that everything disagreeable is at an end."
"Very good," said Alan, resigning himself to the inevitable15 with a good grace, for he knew Marie's obstinacy16 of yore. "What do you wish to say?"
"Well, in the first place, I am still sorry that poor Mr. Bakche did not live to get his share of the jewels. For you know, Alan, they really did belong to him as a descendant of the Rajah of Kam."
"My dearest, the jewels were legally assigned to George Inderwick for a very great service. I am sure that the Rajah of Kam in those days would rather have lost his jewels than his wife and only son. As to Bakche, I am sorry that he died in so terrible a way, and had he lived, undoubtedly17 I should have kept the promise made on your behalf and handed over one third of the treasure. But Bakche did not act well, or honorably."
"What do you mean?" asked Marie opening her azure18 eyes very widely, "If he had not spoken out, poor Uncle Ran might have been hanged."
"Quite so, dear. But he only spoke19 out when bribed20 to do so. He knew all along that Miss Grison was guilty, and yet held his tongue."
"He wouldn't have done so had Uncle Ran been brought to trial?"
Alan smiled grimly. "I shouldn't like to have given him the chance," he said in a skeptical21 tone. "Bakche, like most people, acted in an entirely22 selfish way, and was ready to sacrifice every one for the sake of gaining his own ends. Had Miss Grison given him the peacock, and had he solved the riddle and secured the jewels, he would not have confessed what he knew."
"But Jotty might have done so."
"It's not improbable," admitted Fuller musingly23. "Jotty was wonderfully greedy, and was willing to sell anyone for quids, as he called them. He certainly sold Miss Grison for the sake of the few gems24 your uncle gave him. However, let us hope that the reformatory Inspector25 Moon has placed him in will improve him into a decent member of society. He's sharp enough and clever enough to do well in the world."
"But he hasn't had a fair chance, dear."
"Perhaps not; but he has one now. Miss Grison gave him one also, but only because he knew too much and the brat26 was aware that he had her under his thumb. However, Marie, I have told Moon that when Jotty improves you and I will give him enough money to go to America and make a new start. So that disposes of Jotty."
"I wonder Miss Grison didn't stick that horrid27 stiletto into him," said Miss Inderwick with a shudder28 "seeing how he betrayed her."
"He would not have done so had not Bakche told his story, and it was Bakche she hated most. It was truly wonderful how cunningly she managed to get close to the man to stab him. None of us thought when she walked up to him so quietly that she intended murder. And she drove it right into his heart, weak as she was. I expect," added Alan musingly, "that is what Bakche meant when he said that a weak arm could drive a stiletto into a sleeping man as easily as a strong one could. I thought at the time he meant Jotty, but he referred to Miss Grison, little thinking that the very next day she would prove the truth of his words on himself."
"But she was mad, Alan, quite mad."
"So it was proved at the trial," said Fuller with a shrug29, "but I have my suspicion, Marie, that Miss Grison was acting30 a part. I don't think that her brain was quite properly balanced, but her cunning in planning and plotting to implicate31 your uncle in the crime very nearly succeeded. She certainly was not mad when she acted in that way."
"Mad people are always cunning and clever; Alan," insisted Miss Inderwick.
"Well, let us give Miss Grison the benefit of the doubt. She can do no more harm now that she is shut up in that asylum32 as a criminal lunatic, and your uncle must be relieved to think she is safely out of the way."
"All the same he has gone to live in Switzerland in a little mountain hotel, my dear," said Marie nodding wisely. "He told me that he never would be satisfied until he had placed the ocean between him and his unhappy wife, and chose Switzerland as the best place to stay in."
"Which means that he has only placed the Channel between him and his bugbear," said Fuller dryly. "Well, Marie, I can't say that I am sorry Mr. Sorley came to that determination, as it leaves us The Monastery to ourselves, and such is his dread33 lest his wife should escape that he will never come to England again, even for a visit."
"I don't think you are quite fair to Uncle Ran, dear."
"Marie, you have said that again and again, and there is no truth in it, I assure you. I have every desire to be fair to the miserable34 man, and so has Dick, let alone my father and mother. But now that his deeds have come to light they all mistrust him. He certainly did not murder Baldwin Grison, but he assuredly ruined his life by driving him away, even though the poor wretch35 gave certain provocation36 for his dismissal. And you can't say that he behaved well to his wife. He married her for her good looks, and then grew weary of her, as such a selfish man would. When he had her under his thumb through the love she bore her brother, which impelled37 her to save him from arrest for forgery38 by sacrificing herself, your Uncle Ran, whom you think so highly of----"
"No I don't. But I'm sorry for him, dear."
"I don't think he needs your sorrow, or deserves your pity," said Alan in a grave tone. "He was quite ready to commit bigamy for money because he knew that Mrs. Sorley would not speak of her marriage on account of the hold he had over Baldwin. Luckily the rich girl he wished to marry died, so another complication was avoided. He is selfishly happy in Switzerland with his jewels, and because he knows that the woman he wronged so deeply is shut up. I think we may as well do our best to forget Uncle Ran."
"I don't agree with you, Marie, and if you think so, it shows what a truly sweet nature you have. He sold furniture which belonged to you and took your income, and kept you short in every way. He didn't bully40 you, I admit, but he didn't look after your welfare in any manner whatsoever41. You know that what I say is true."
"Yes," sighed Marie. "Well then, we won't talk any more about him. I know that he is quite happy where he is, and I'm sure I don't want him to come and make an inconvenient42 third in our lives, Alan."
"He won't," her lover assured her seriously. "He is far too much afraid of Miss Grison, or rather Mrs. Sorley, escaping from her asylum. He is out of our lives, Marie, and as he is happy in his own selfish way, why there is no more to be said. There are plenty of pleasanter subjects to talk about, my dear. Indeed, I never liked your uncle, and I always mistrusted him, as I had every reason to."
"I shan't talk of him any more, as I know you are right. And now that the jewels have sold so well and we have plenty of money we can repair The Monastery and improve the grounds, and you can be country squire43."
"But Alan, you will be away all the week."
"Not at all. I can come down every night. It isn't a long run to town."
"I want you all to myself here," pouted Marie, "what's the use of my having this horrid money unless I can have you. And half of it is yours, Alan, for unless you had solved the riddle it would not have come into my possession."
The young man was quiet for a few moments revolving46 what she had said. Much as he liked his profession, he secretly admitted that it would be very pleasant to play the part of a country gentleman. And certainly the discovery of the jewels was due to him. Also it was he who had saved the girl's uncle from a disagreeable death, and thus had prevented her from suffering a life-long shame and regret. Finally there was much to be done in connection with the house and the park and with certain lands which Marie wished to buy back, as having belonged to former spendthrift Inderwicks. Alan thought that he could do a great deal of good as the squire of Belstone, especially as his father was the vicar of the parish. Therefore he began to consider that it would not be a bad thing to give up the dingy47 office in Chancery Lane and come back to the land.
"And of course I could enter Parliament," he muttered, following his line of thought. "Yes I could do good there."
"Of course," cried Marie, clapping her hands, and guessing what he had been thinking about, "and perhaps you'll get into the Cabinet and the King may give you a title and----"
"And the moon is made of green cheese," laughed Alan, giving her a hug. "I dare say I shall give up the law, Marie, since you wish it, and we can do a lot of good down here on your money."
"Yours also, darling, yours also."
"Very well, mine also. But we can talk of this on our honeymoon48 when we are strolling over those glorious Cornish moors49. Now, Marie, let us go back to the house. You know Dick is coming to be my best man, and he is bound to walk over here as soon as he arrives at the vicarage."
"I asked him to come with your father and mother, who are due here to afternoon tea," said Marie slipping off the circle of stones.
"Oh!" Alan looked at his watch. "Four o'clock. Then I expect they have arrived. Come along, my darling."
"Only one more question," said Marie as they, walked away from the dell.
"What is it?"
"You know that Simon Ferrier went back to India after burying the gems."
"He didn't bury them, he put them in Yarbury's Bank, dear. You forget."
"Well, you know what I mean," said Marie impatiently. "He hid the gems so that Julian Inderwick wouldn't get them."
"Yes; that's old history. Well?"
"Well," echoed Marie. "Simon Ferrier went back to tell George Inderwick where the jewels were to be found and never anticipated capture."
"True, oh queen! But what does all this lead to?"
"To this! Simon Ferrier had arranged the enigma50 of the peacock before he left England, and at a time when he never anticipated that he would have any difficulty in speaking personally to his master."
"I see what you mean. Well, my dear, all I can suppose is, that Ferrier was an over-cautious man, and made ready the enigma in case anything should prevent his reaching George Inderwick, as he certainly never did. When in captivity51 he worked out his scheme with the ring and the peacock exactly as he had planned it in England."
"But there was no need to when he was here," insisted Marie.
"No. But as I said before Simon Ferrier undoubtedly was an over-cautious man; witness the fact that he made so ingenious a cryptogram--if it can be called so--that even the man he designed to benefit could not solve it. And in its very ease lay its difficulty. I can't answer your question in any other way, dear. Not that it matters. We have the money, and everything is right, so let us enjoy our good fortune, and be thankful that none of those wasteful52 ancestors of yours solved the riddle. Had they done so I fear you would not be so rich."
"I think that is very true," said Marie with a laugh; "but here we are, darling, and there is Mr. Latimer."
It was indeed Dick arrayed in white flannels53 looking big and burly and genial54, and more like a good-natured bear than ever. He held out a hand to each at the same time, and walked towards the house between them. "How are the happy pair?" he asked gaily55.
"We won't be a truly happy pair until to-morrow," said Alan.
"Speak for yourself, dear," said Marie lightly. "I am happy enough now."
"You deserve to be," said Dick smiling, "for you have come through a lot of trouble, and that always makes hearts grow fonder. But do come and give me some tea, Mrs. Fuller--I beg your pardon, Miss Inderwick, but you and Alan do look just like a married couple."
"What's that about marriage?" asked the vicar appearing at the drawing-room door--the trio were in the house by this time, "have Marie and Alan been studying the prayer-book."
"Of course," said the girl, running forward to kiss Mrs. Fuller. "I know the ceremony by heart."
"It's more than I do," wailed56 Latimer with a shrug, "and as best man, I am sure to be a dismal57 failure."
"Oh you'll pull through somehow," the future bridegroom assured him.
"You must give me hints then. And when you are off for your honeymoon to Cornwall, I shall find it dismal in those Barkers Inn chambers58 all alone."
"Get married yourself then," advised the vicar.
"Upon my word I must think seriously about it," said Dick. "What do you say, Mrs. Fuller. Can't you find me a nice girl?"
"Not one so nice as Marie," said Mrs. Fuller, looking fondly at the graceful59 form of Miss Inderwick as her hands hovered60 over the tea-cups.
"No, I agree with you there, mother," said Alan, taking up a plate of bread and butter; "Marie is a rare bird."
"A rare bird indeed. Why not a peacock?"
"Why not?" asked the vicar, "all the happiness of the present is really due to the peacock. Marie, my dear," he observed as he took his tea, "I used to laugh at the idea of your fetish, but really things have come about so strangely that I think there is something in it."
"Behold62 our benefactor," cried Alan, pointing towards the bay-window at the end of the vast room, and there on a pedestal under a glass case was the famous bird, which had to do with so strange a history.
And even as the young man spoke, there came a burst of sunshine through the window which bathed the golden bird in radiant light. The gems flashed out into rare beauty, and in the dusky room, the fetish of the Inderwicks shone like a rare and magnificent jewel. So unexpected was the sudden glow and glory that everyone muttered a cry of admiration63.
"Let us drink its health in tea," said Dick raising his cup.
And with laughter they all did so, applauding the beneficence of the peacock, even though the vicar hinted that they were acting heathenishly. The fetish of the Inderwicks radiated glory from its gold and jewels in the burning sunshine until it glowed like a star of happy destiny. And all present accepted the omen as a hint of the future.
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1
monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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halcyon
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| n.平静的，愉快的 | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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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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bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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skeptical
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| adj.怀疑的，多疑的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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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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implicate
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| vt.使牵连其中，涉嫌 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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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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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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wasteful
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| adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的 | |
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flannels
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| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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62
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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63
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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