“So,” said Sir David, “we sum up our conclusions. ’Twas the notorious Mr. Cutwater, alias1 Turk, that represented the syndicate that robbed Luvaine’s father of the stone.”
“’Twas somewhere here—on this estate bought out of the proceeds of his robberies—that he secreted3 the treasure.”
“Two,” said Miss Angela.
“And here his confederates sought him out, murdered him yonder, and made fruitless search for what he had sacrificed his life to hold.”
“Three,” said Miss Angela, “and right worshipfully concluded.”
“Peace, you bantam! ’Tis but the introduction to the argument.”
“Oh! I crave4 your honour’s indulgence”—and she looked round merrily at Dennis, who stood respectfully to the back of her chair.
“Now we gather,” said Sir David, with importance, “that of the ancient gang, only Mr. Fern hath cheated the gallows5, to return at this eleventh hour to the search; but that he hath confided6 his plot to two or more——”
“Lacking the greatness of the first rank of criminals,” put in Whimple impulsively—and so reddened to a fine after-glow of shame immediately he had spoken.
They all laughed; and quoth Miss Angel:
“How I love your inconsequence, Mr. Dennis. I think that sympathy with giant wickedness a very admirable foil to your humanity.”
She had taken a great interest in the servant since her mediation7 had procured8 him justice. What if he had been a figure familiar to her experience for years past? Only recent circumstance had presented him in the light that could appeal to her effectively—the melancholy9 twilight10, in fact, of romance. Now she was bethinking herself how this mystic hermit11 of the thickets12 had lived out his twenty years or so of haunted solitude13 that he might at the end serve her sensibilities with a little passing thrill of excitement; and she felt grateful to him and very considerate of his hectic14 cheeks.
“Their roses might have withered15 in the frost of death but for me,” she would ponder tenderly; and then her heart would take some resentment16 over the confident tyranny of his lord, that he had dared to sit in judgment17 on his intellectual superior.
“For that the poor man is,” she thought. “And the other must learn that with us women, brute18 strength unadorned is not the highest appeal to our favour.”
Here she dealt a little arbitrarily with justice; for the master was perhaps less a fool than the servant was an athlete. But the sentiment served her mood, and showed her the way to many small condescensions towards the poor fellow who had suffered such misjudgment.
Mr. Tuke could not but be conscious of this saucy20 subordination of his claims as a man of position. It entertained or aggravated21 him, according to his humour, to watch this variable maid playing off his servant against himself in the innocuous subtilties of coquetry. He could not be expected to take the effrontery22 seriously, and he was not so deeply in love but that he could see the humour of the girl’s capricious attitude towards him. “But I am called upon to be aware of it,” he thought; “and I must effect to puzzle my brain over the question of what I can have done to imperil myself in her favour.”
So he looked distressed23—when he remembered to—and all the time thought none the less of Miss Royston for so representing the charming whimsies24 of the fascinating of her sex.
“This rascally25 crew,” said Sir David, “we make it our business to anticipate, if a thorough ransackin’ of the whole house will serve our purpose.”
Miss Angela jumped to her feet.
“Oh, Davy!” she cried, “have you reached it at last? And our wits running ahead of yours from the first. What a solemn conclusion, little man! Only we came to it before you opened your mouth to speak. And here sits Mr. Tuke like a Lord Justice patiently waiting the verdict he hath directed.”
“You are a very knowin’ magpie,” said her brother, with a wag of his round head, “but you ain’t as clever as you’d take the credit for. I’ve given you the steps to a conclusion, that’s all; and now I’ll warrant you’ll go flingin’ off the last into space.”
“Brava!” cried the lady, clapping her hands. “All that is obvious goes for nothin’, as the philosopher would say: for, like all philosophers, he is a little shaky in his finalities. And now for the profound deduction26.”
“You impident baggage!” exclaimed the lord of “Chatters.” He had been quite in his element, taking judicial27 charge of the affair, drawing inferences and suggesting methods; and this irrepressible sister of his would do her worst to make him appear ridiculous.
“Tuke,” he said, turning to that silent and amused gentleman, “when you marry, marry a fool that knows herself to be one.”
“Indeed,” said the other, “that is easy; for any one that took me must needs answer to that description. Never hold me conceited29 after that, Miss Royston.”
Now, Heaven knows what Angela here chose to read between the lines; but she responded most icily:
“I doubt I shall take much interest in the matter, sir; though speaking generally, there seems to me no conceit28 like exaggerated humility30.”
She sat herself down again, her lips set forbiddingly. Sir David grinned, mentally scoring a little spiteful victory, and Mr. Tuke looked very much bewildered and abashed31.
Indeed, this sprightly32 lady suffered from a very common infirmity of poor humanity—an incapacity for graciously accepting such knocks as she dealt to others. One might unconsciously check her flow of spirits with the veriest straw of chaff33, and only discover the enormity haphazard34. Sometimes her sensitive nature would build up a grievance35 from a single word, so carelessly spoken and soon forgotten of the offender36 that, when he would come to view the complicated fabric37 of resentment that had sprung therefrom, he could only marvel38 at the astounding39 pregnancy40 of his speech.
“My sister having pronounced,” said Sir David—with a point of his little rude tongue in the direction of that incensed41 lady—“I come to the upshot of the apostleates—or whatever they are called.”
“And that is?” murmured Mr. Tuke, quite shyly.
“Why, that it ain’t no good looking for the stone where it’s been looked for before.”
Tuke stole a glance at Miss Royston, humbly42 and dumbly inviting43 her to endorse44 or quash this opinion. She was rigidly45 silent.
“Well?” he asked, not in the least knowing what he was inquiring about.
“Why, I’ve said it,” exclaimed the other. “We needn’t grub under the floors, when, by your own account, the boards have been had up already.”
“By Whimple’s account,” said Tuke. “But, you’re right. The rogues46 would have searched thoroughly47 where they did search.”
“Then, where to look?”
“I propose we each take two or three rooms to a share; investigate as we will, and meet and compare notes at dinner-time.”
“Capital. What d’ye say, Angel?”
“Oh! you can leave me out of the question.”
“What! you ain’t goin’ to take part in the fun?”
“I have contributed my mite48 to it, by serving as butt49 to the witticisms50 of two ingenious gentlemen.”
“Miss Royston!” exclaimed Tuke aghast.
“Oh, sir!” responded the lady frigidly51, “’twould argue a certain community of interests that hardly exists, did I permit myself the familiarity of an informal intrusion upon your privacy. But I can be quite happy here, if you will vouchsafe52 me the society of Mr. Whimple, who will take no advantage, I am sure, of my condescension19, and who will not judge frankness to be an invitation to impertinence.”
She capped this with quite an enigmatical little smile.
“Or, if you desire his services for yourself,” she said, “I can order out my horse and return to ‘Chatters.’”
Sir David was softly chuckling53, preliminary to a sad explosion of laughter. Tuke saw it, and hastily put in a word.
“I beg you will not disappoint me of your promised company to dinner. You are very welcome to what you ask; and your brother and I will hunt in company.”
He bowed, drew the little man from the room and to the far end of the passage without. There the latter suddenly detained him, his swollen54 face falling to an expression of great gravity.
“Lookee here,” he said, “I am in the dark—I am in the dark, Tuke. Will you take it friendly if I ask you to enlighten me. Are ye vexed55 wi’ the wench’s whimsies?”
“I am distressed to have offended her.”
“That won’t serve. I don’t want to force your hand, and Angel hath the wit to play her own game. But, d’you seek my countenance56? There’s the rub.”
The other broke into a smile.
“Well,” said he, “I won’t pretend to misconstrue you. I’m most sincere in desiring Miss Royston’s condescension.”
“Then,” said Sir David, “here’s a lovers’ quarrel toward; and ‘A swan can’t hatch without a crack of thunder’ is an old saw.”
His countenance contracted portentous57.
“Not that I may not have a word to say by and by,” quoth he; “for I am her guardian58 despite her independent jointure, and by the token am determined59 to prudence60. But, at the moment, to inquire would be premature61 and unjustified.”
“Well, I shall hope to satisfy you,” said Mr. Tuke, with a twinkle—“and so to our goose-hunt, by grace of your permission.”
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1
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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3
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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6
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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7
mediation
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| n.调解 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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9
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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10
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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11
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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12
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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13
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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14
hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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15
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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16
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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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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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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20
saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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21
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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whimsies
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| n.怪念头( whimsy的名词复数 )；异想天开；怪脾气；与众不同的幽默感 | |
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25
rascally
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| adj. 无赖的，恶棍的 adv. 无赖地，卑鄙地 | |
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deduction
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| n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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30
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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31
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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33
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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38
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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40
pregnancy
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| n.怀孕，怀孕期 | |
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41
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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42
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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43
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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44
endorse
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| vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意 | |
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45
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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46
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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47
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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48
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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49
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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50
witticisms
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| n.妙语，俏皮话( witticism的名词复数 ) | |
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51
frigidly
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| adv.寒冷地；冷漠地；冷淡地；呆板地 | |
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52
vouchsafe
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| v.惠予，准许 | |
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53
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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54
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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55
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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56
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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57
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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58
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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59
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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60
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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61
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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