So far as two men could explore minutely the interior of a house so eccentrically designed—on a plan that seemed indeed to affect an absence of all design—as “Delsrop,” Mr. Tuke and his guest did explore during the whole of that winter morning. They measured walls and doors; they tapped for vaults1, secret panels, or intermural recesses3. They went down into the “Priest’s Hole,” and convinced themselves that no hiding-place had been contrived5 anywhere in that well of dank and solid masonry6. They looked up chimneys; stamped on flags in hope of answering reverberations; prodded7 at ceilings hither and thither8 with a view to the discovery of some cunningly concealed9 hollow wherein it was possible the thing they sought might lie with all its crimson10 lustre11 quenched12 in dusk and darkness.
And it was only a complication of the puzzle that “Delsrop’s” antecessor had left its rooms—with one exception—desolate and unfurnished; inasmuch as any chair or table or bureau would have offered itself a likelier depository for a treasure so self-contained. What could be done with bare walls and floors and ceilings but punch and measure them? This the searchers did, with all the thoroughness they could contrive4, and with a proportionate absence of result. They even extended their investigations13 to the ruined outhouses, and to the external case of the main building itself—obviously a desperate resource. For here, long ages’ growth of matted creepers bespoke14 a confidence of increase that for generations had never known restraint. Dense16 ivy—interwoven with leafless tendons of honeysuckle—that showed lace-work of muscular adolescence17 through every gap in its foliage18; fibrous vines, that had never been schooled to culture, and that hung out annual clusters of unfulfilled berries—a very tradition of rustic19 gaucherie with the gentlemen starlings; winter jasmine that, when the world is wrapped in chilling reserve, protrudes20 a host of little red tongues in mockery of such self-importance—these, and others, contributed to such a thickset of arborescence as it were idle to attempt to penetrate21.
The room—that one furnished chamber—they left to the last. It was their moral refuge—their forlorn hope. There, at least, was visible evidence of the material side of the long-dead highwayman. Therein had he donned his guilty finery; or doffed22 it and confided23 the secrets of his cancerous conscience to the fine lawn of his pillow. And therein—unless a nice acumen24 should have led him to avoid that spot for his treasure’s hiding most patently inviting25 to common intelligences—was it presumable the stone was concealed.
At length the two bent26 their steps to this inner temple of their expectations. They were weary and a little depressed27, and they sat themselves down in a fan of weak sunlight that spread through the broad window.
Sir David looked about him with some listless curiosity—at the great posted bed; at the massive carved wardrobe of sombre oak; at the quaint28 old brass-framed mirror on the dressing-table.
“Was this all as it stands when you came?” he said, his inquisitiveness29 getting the better of his languor30.
“Precisely as it stands.”
“Then it belonged to Cutwater?”
“I presume so.”
“By cock!” said the other, dreamily introspective, “’tis cursed strange to think that here the man prinked and made his toilet and slept his sleep like any decent citizen. He was known by his blue coat and filigree31 lace, I’ve heard tell; and what bloody32 secrets may he not have locked into that wardrobe, and what dumb witnesses to his villainy? For he would take life, by all accounts, and was a terror in his day. And was there nothin’, Tuke—no trace——”
“Not a rag in all the room. If any had been, it had been cleared out before I came.”
“Well, he had his vanities; for all that his reputation, as I knew it, was rascal33 miserly. And he shows a pretty taste in bed and wardrobe. But there ain’t one consistent miser34 in all the history of niggards.”
“I seem to have heard of one or two.”
“Who, sir? tell me.”
“Well, for a few—‘Plum’ Turner, ‘Vulture’ Hopkins, Elwes, Jones, Betty Bolaine——”
“Oh! I cry you mercy, as the books say. These were the best of their kind; yet not one of ’em but would give in charity occasionally. And each would have its vanity, if you came to look. Mrs. Bolaine boasted her coach; and even Jones must have a new brim to his hat. No, sir. Two orders of misers35 there be—your Joneses and Dancers for one; and of the other every third man in the tale of humanity.”
“Tut-tut!”
“Oh! I mean it—the host of those who give a half-heart to gathering36, but a whole one against dissipating. Now, did you ever hear of a miser who killed himself to save expense?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“No, no, my friend. Possession is the disease.”
“Then how better to minister to it than by realizing one’s property, hoisting38 the metal into a sack, tying oneself thereto, and tilting39 all into the deep sea?”
“There would be the hire of the boat; but never mind. You give thought to things, I see.”
“Did you ever suppose I didn’t? I give it now to yonder wardrobe. ’Tis there, I’ll wager40, the jewel is.”
“We’ll look—we’ll look; though I’ve used it for months unwitting.”
He rose, with a laugh and a stretch, as he spoke15. A cloud had blurred41 the sun, and the room had fallen to melancholy42 shadow.
Perhaps it was on this account that, as he flung open one of the heavy doors of the cupboard, something within—an apparition—a momentary43 trick of the fancy—brought a startled oath from his lips.
A hanging wardrobe was revealed, with an empty shelf set above it; and back in the gloom of this shelf, a foul44 and withered45 face seemed to grin upon him from the darkness.
He thought it was Darda’s hideous46 relic47, and for an instant his heart jumped before the shocking revelation. Then the illusion passed, and he saw that what had discomfited48 him was nothing more terrifying than a cuff49 or bracelet50 of mouldered51 fur.
“What’s the matter?” said Sir David, rising.
Tuke passed his hand across his forehead, and was surprised to find a little dampness thereon.
“Nothing,” he said, with a rather uncertain laugh. “What a thing, Blythewood, if the highwayman’s ghost should be whipping us on to the chase?”
The little man had come up behind his friend, and was looking down, his eyes intent upon something.
“Lord!” he said suddenly, “I’ve found a hidin’-place.”
The other stared.
“The devil you have!” said he. “You’ve touched nothing. ’Tis like ‘Sit down when you see the rabbit’s tail.’”
“Well, I’ll lay odds,” said Sir David, “that I’ll show you somethin’ in that cupboard you never guessed at before.”
The wardrobe—or the half of it exposed—was filled with coats, small-clothes, and other articles of a gentleman’s attire54. But these hung high, and a space intervened between the skirts of them and the floor of the interior. Into this space the visitor plunged55 his head, and, dropping on his knees, ran his fingers in a hurried, nervous way along the ornamental56 jambs and the beading of the door-sill. Satisfied, apparently57, he nipped this last and gave it a vigorous jerk and pull. There was a click—a snap; and the floor of the half-cupboard shot up, an inch open, like the lid of a box.
Sir David fell back on his knees, trembling all over with excitement.
“What did I tell you?” he cried. “I’d seen another like it, and guessed the secret. ’Tis your business to look within. Zounds, Tuke, make haste!”
His flurry would brook58 no delay, though the other was bending above him quite white with agitation59; so it happened they both put down their hands together and tore open the flap.
The little man uttered almost a shriek60, as he pounced61 upon a shagreen case lying upon the top of a folded coat that was deposited within the false-bottom revealed.
He staggered to his feet—thrust his treasure into Tuke’s hands.
“Take it!” he cried, absolutely dancing. “It’s found, by God!”
With the exclamation62 his face fell. The other had snapped open the box—a jeweller’s case, by every sign—and—it was empty. There was the depression in the green velvet63 for stone, trinket, what-not; but no stone was there, or anything but vacancy64.
They turned, tapped, felt the casket all over; finally, they looked at one another dismayed.
He dashed down the useless shell, and with one impulse they both fell on their knees before the exposed recess.
“Look!” whispered Sir David, in an awe-struck tone—“his coat—Cutwater’s—the same he robbed and murdered in!”
It would seem to be as he said. The historical garment—neatly folded and laid away—was of blue silk, cut in a bygone fashion, and its edges were richly crusted with filigree of tarnished66 silver lace. Tuke seized it out, and dangled67 it up to view.
“’Twould be a treasure in itself to some,” he said. “I wonder will the spirit of the bloody cutpurse resent having its own pockets picked?”
He was conscious of the least little thrill and tendency to an upward glance at the shelf as he plunged his hand into the bagging of the full skirts. Nothing was in them but a torn laced handkerchief—a mere68 little limp cobweb thing such as ladies use. The two men looked at one another with lowered, compassionate69 eyes.
The coat was returned to the recess. The latter was empty of aught else; as was its double, which they found similarly sunk in the other half of the wardrobe.
Their jubilance was changed to depression. The search, they felt, had yielded all it was like to. That the case had once held the famous gem71 they felt convinced; and equally of course the cunning scoundrel would never have committed its contents to so simply contrived a hiding-place.
They were no nearer discovery than they had been any time that morning. As a matter of form they would closely examine every other article of furniture in the room; but they knew the result would be nil—as, indeed, it proved to be.
They came down to dinner, tired and famished72, and a little morose73. Angela received them with a charming smile.
“Oh!” she cried sprightlily—“if I am devoured, it is not with ennui. I am meat for its master.”
“And who is that?”
“Can you ask, sir! Why, Love, to be sure. I am fallen in love with Mr. Dennis. He hath entertained me since your going; and purely76, believe me. Never was a figure more melancholy and romantic.”
“I rejoice you have found amusement. Our morning has been fruitless.”
“What—the stone? That does not concern me. I have discovered a rarer gem.”
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1
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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4
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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masonry
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| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
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prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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8
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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9
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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10
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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11
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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12
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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13
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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14
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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15
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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16
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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adolescence
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| n.青春期，青少年 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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19
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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20
protrudes
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的第三人称单数 ) | |
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21
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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22
doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
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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24
acumen
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| n.敏锐，聪明 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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26
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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27
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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28
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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inquisitiveness
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| 好奇，求知欲 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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31
filigree
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| n.金银丝做的工艺品；v.用金银细丝饰品装饰；用华而不实的饰品装饰；adj.金银细丝工艺的 | |
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32
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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33
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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34
miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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35
misers
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| 守财奴，吝啬鬼( miser的名词复数 ) | |
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36
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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parsimony
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| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
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38
hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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39
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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40
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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41
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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42
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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43
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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44
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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45
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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46
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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47
relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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48
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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49
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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50
bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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51
mouldered
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| v.腐朽( moulder的过去式和过去分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
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52
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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53
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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54
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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55
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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56
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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57
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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58
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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59
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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60
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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61
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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62
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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63
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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64
vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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65
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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66
tarnished
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| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
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67
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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68
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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69
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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70
spawn
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| n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产 | |
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71
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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72
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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73
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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74
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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75
ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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76
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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