In the interim1 the mental state of Clyde since that hour when, the water closing over Roberta, he had made hisway to the shore, and then, after changing his clothes, had subsequently arrived at Sharon and the lakeside lodgeof the Cranstons, was almost one of complete mental derangement3, mainly caused by fear and confusion in hisown mind as to whether he did or did not bring about her untimely end. At the same time at the lakeside therealization that if by any chance he were then and there found, skulking4 south rather than returning north to theinn at Big Bittern to report this seeming accident, there would be sufficient hardness and cruelty to the look of itall to convince any one that a charge of murder should be made against him, had fiercely tortured him. For, as henow saw it, he really was not guilty--was he, since at the last moment he had experienced that change of heart?
But who was going to believe that now, since he did not go back to explain? And it would never do to go backnow! For if Sondra should hear that he had been on this lake with this factory girl--that he had registered withher as husband and wife . . . God!
And then trying to explain to his uncle afterwards, or his cold, hard cousin--or all those smart, cynical6 Lycurguspeople! No! No! Having gone so far he must go on. Disaster--if not death--lay in the opposite direction. Hewould have to make the best of this terrible situation--make the best of this plan that had ended so strangely and somewhat exculpatorily for him.
And yet these woods! This approaching night. The eerie7 loneliness and danger of it all now. How now to do,what to say, if met by any one. He was so confused--mentally and nervously8 sick. The crackle of a twig9 and heleaped forward as a hare.
And in this state it was that, after having recovered his bag and changed his clothes, wringing10 out his wet suit andattempting to dry it, then packing it in his bag under some dry twigs11 and pine-needles and burying the tripodbeneath a rotting log, that he plunged12 into the woods after night had fallen. Yet meditating13 more and more on hisvery strange and perilous14 position. For supposing, just as he had unintentionally struck at her, and they had falleninto the water and she uttered those piercing and appealing cries, there had been some one on the shore--someone watching--one of those strong, hardy15 men whom he had seen loitering about during the day and who mighteven at this moment be sounding a local alarm that would bring a score of such men to the work of hunting forhim this very night! A man hunt! And they would take him back and no one would ever believe that he had notintentionally struck her! They might even lynch him before he could so much as secure a fair trial. It waspossible. It had been done. A rope around his neck. Or shot down in these woods, maybe. And without anopportunity to explain how it had all come about--how harried16 and tortured he had been by her for so long. Theywould never understand that.
And so thinking he hurried faster and faster--as fast as strong and serried17 and brambly young firs and deadbranches that cracked most ominously18 at times would permit, thinking always as he went that the road to ThreeMile Bay must be to his right hand, the moon to his left when it should rise.
But, God, what was that?
Oh, that terrible sound!
Like a whimpering, screeching19 spirit in this dark!
There!
What was it?
He dropped his bag and in a cold sweat sunk down, crouching20 behind a tall, thick tree, rigid21 and motionless withfear.
That sound!
But only a screech-owl! He had heard it several weeks before at the Cranston lodge2. But here! In this wood! Thisdark! He must be getting on and out of here. There was no doubt of that. He must not be thinking such horrible,fearful thoughts, or he would not be able to keep up his strength or courage at all.
But that look in the eyes of Roberta! That last appealing look! God! He could not keep from seeing it! Hermournful, terrible screams! Could he not cease from hearing them--until he got out of here anyhow?
Had she understood, when he struck her, that it was not intentional--a mere22 gesture of anger and protest? Didshe know that NOW, wherever she was--in the bottom of the lake--or here in the dark of these woods beside him,mayhap? Ghosts! Hers. But he must get out of this--out of this! He must--and yet the safety of these woods, too.
He must not be too brash in stepping out into any road, either. Pedestrians23! People in search of him, maybe! Butdid people really live after death? Were there ghosts? And did they know the truth? Then she must know--buthow he plotted before that, too. And what would she think of that! And was she here now reproachfully andgloomily pursuing him with mistaken accusations24, as true as it might be that he had intended to kill her at first?
He had! He had! And that was the great sin, of course. Even though he had not killed her, yet something haddone it for him! That was true.
But ghosts--God--spirits that might pursue you after they were dead, seeking to expose and punish you--seekingto set people on your track, maybe! Who could tell? His mother had confessed to him and Frank and Esta andJulia that she believed in ghosts.
And then at last the moon, after three such hours of stumbling, listening, waiting, perspiring25, trembling. No onein sight now, thank God! And the stars overhead--bright and yet soft, as at Pine Point where Sondra was. If shecould see him now, slipping away from Roberta dead in that lake, his own hat upon the waters there! If she couldhave heard Roberta's cries! How strange, that never, never, never would he be able to tell her that because of her,her beauty, his passion for her and all that she had come to mean to him, he had been able to . . . to . . . to . . .
well, ATTEMPT this terrible thing--kill a girl whom once he had loved. And all his life he would have this withhim, now,--this thought! He would never be able to shake it off--never, never, never. And he had not thought ofthat, before. It was a terrible thing in its way, just that, wasn't it?
But then suddenly there in the dark, at about eleven o'clock, as he afterwards guessed, the water having stoppedhis watch, and after he had reached the highroad to the west--and walked a mile or two,-- those three men, quick,like ghosts coming out of the shadow of the woods. He thought at first that having seen him at the moment hehad struck Roberta or the moment afterward5, they had now come to take him. The sweating horror of thatmoment! And that boy who had held up the light the better to see his face. And no doubt he had evinced mostsuspicious fear and perturbation, since at the moment he was most deeply brooding on all that had happened,terrorized really by the thought that somehow, in some way, he had left some clue that might lead directly tohim. And he did jump back, feeling that these were men sent to seize him. But at that moment, the foremost, atall, bony man, without appearing to be more than amused at his obvious cowardice26, had called, "Howdy,stranger!" while the youngest, without appearing to be suspicious at all, had stepped forward and then turned upthe light. And it was then that he had begun to understand that they were just countrymen or guides--not a possein pursuit of him--and that if he were calm and civil they would have no least suspicion that he was the murdererthat he was.
But afterward he had said to himself--"But they will remember me, walking along this lonely road at this hourwith this bag, won't they?" And so at once he had decided27 that he must hurry--hurry--and not be seen by anyothers anywhere there.
Then, hours later and just as the moon was lowering toward the west, a sickly yellow pallor overspreading thewoods and making the night even more wretched and wearisome, he had come to Three Mile Bay itself--a small collection of native and summer cottages nestling at the northernmost end of what was known as the IndianChain. And in it, as he could see from a bend in the road, a few pale lights still twinkling. Stores. Houses. Streetlamps. But all dim in the pale light--so dim and eerie to him. One thing was plain--at this hour and dressed as hewas and with his bag in hand, he could not enter there. That would be to fix curiosity as well as suspicion onhim, assuredly, if any one was still about. And as the launch that ran between this place and Sharon, fromwhence he would proceed to Pine Point, did not leave until eight-thirty, he must hide away in the meantime andmake himself as presentable as possible.
And accordingly re-entering a thicket28 of pines that descended29 to the very borders of the town, there to wait untilmorning, being able to tell by a small clock-face which showed upon the sides of a small church tower, when thehour for emerging had arrived. But, in the interim debating,--"Was it wise so to do?" For who might not be hereto wait for him? Those three men--or some one else who might have seen?--Or an officer, notified fromsomewhere else. Yet deciding after a time that it was best to go just the same. For to stalk along in the woodswest of this lake--and by night rather than day--seeing that by day he might be seen, and when by taking this boathe could reach in an hour and a half--or two hours at the most--the Cranston lodge at Sharon, whereas bywalking he would not arrive until to-morrow,--was not that unwise, more dangerous? Besides, he had promisedSondra and Bertine that he would be there Tuesday. And here it was Friday! Again, by tomorrow, might not ahue and cry be on--his description sent here and there--whereas this morning--well, how could Roberta havebeen found as yet? No, no. Better this way. For who knew him here--or could identify him as yet with either CarlGraham or Clifford Golden. Best go this way,--speedily, before anything else in connection with her developed.
Yes, yes. And finally, the clock-hands pointing to eight-ten, making his way out, his heart beating heavily as hedid so.
At the foot of this street was the launch which steamed from here to Sharon. And as he loitered he observed thebus from Raquette Lake approaching. It now occurred to him, if he encountered any one he knew on the steamerdock or boat, could he not say that he was fresh from Raquette Lake, where Sondra, as well as Bertine, had manyfriends, or in case they themselves came down on the boat, that he had been there the day before. What matterwhose name or lodge he mentioned--an invented one, if need be.
And so, at last, making his way to the boat and boarding it. And later at Sharon, leaving it again and without, ashe thought, appearing to attract any particular attention at either end. For, although there were some elevenpassengers, all strangers to him, still no one other than a young country girl in a blue dress and a white straw hat,whom he guessed to be from this vicinity, appeared to pay any particular attention to him. And her glances wereadmiring rather than otherwise, although sufficient, because of his keen desire for secrecy30, to cause him to retireto the rear of the boat, whereas the others appeared to prefer the forward deck. And once in Sharon, knowing thatthe majority were making for the railway station to catch the first morning train down, he followed briskly intheir wake, only to turn into the nearest lunch-room in order to break the trail, as he hoped. For although he hadwalked the long distance from Big Bittern to Three Mile Bay, and previously31 had rowed all afternoon, andmerely made a pretense32 of eating the lunch which Roberta had prepared at Grass Lake, still even now he was nothungry. Then seeing a few passengers approaching from the station, yet none whom he knew, he joined theseagain as though just coming to the inn and launch from the train.
For at this time there had come to him the thought that this south train from Albany, as well as Utica being duehere at this hour, it was only natural that he should seem to come on that. Pretending first, therefore, to be going to the station, yet stopping en route to telephone Bertine and Sondra that he was here, and being assured that acar rather than a launch would be sent for him, he explained that he would be waiting on the west veranda33 of theinn. En route also he stopped at a news stand for a morning paper, although he knew there could be nothing in itas yet. And he had barely crossed to the veranda of the inn and seated himself before the Cranston carapproached.
And in response to the greeting of the Cranston family chauffeur34, whom he knew well, and who smiled mostwelcomingly, he was now able to achieve a seemingly easy and genial35 smile, though still inwardly troubled byhis great dread36. For no doubt by now, as he persistently37 argued with himself, the three men whom he had methad reached Big Bittern. And by now both Roberta and he must assuredly have been missed, and maybe, whoknows, the upturned boat with his hat and her veil discovered! If so, might they not have already reported thatthey had seen such a man as himself, carrying a bag, and making his way to the south in the night? And, if so,would not that, regardless of whether the body was found or not, cause them to become dubious38 as to whether adouble drowning had occurred? And supposing by some strange chance her body should come to the surface?
Then what? And might there not be a mark left by that hard blow he had given her? If so, would they not suspectmurder, and his body not coming up and those men describing the man they had seen, would not Clifford Goldenor Carl Graham be suspected of murder?
But neither Clifford Golden nor Carl Graham were Clyde Griffiths by any means. And they could not possiblyidentify Clyde Griffiths--with either Clifford Golden or Carl Graham. For had he not taken every precaution,even searching through Roberta's bag and purse there at Grass Lake while at his request after breakfast she hadgone back to see about the lunch? Had he not? True, he had found those two letters from that girl, TheresaBouser, addressed to Roberta at Biltz, and he had destroyed them before ever leaving for Gun Lodge. And as forthat toilet set in its original case, with the label "Whitely-Lycurgus" on it, while it was true that he had beencompelled to leave that, still might not any one--Mrs. Clifford Golden, or Mrs. Carl Graham--have bought that inWhitely's, and so without the possibility of its being traced to him? Assuredly. And as for her clothes, evenassuming that they did go to prove her identity, would it not be assumed, by her parents as well as others, thatshe had gone on this trip with a strange man by the name of Golden or Graham, and would they not want thathushed up without further ado? At any rate, he would hope for the best--keep up his nerve, put on a strong,pleasant, cheerful front here, so that no one would think of him as the one, since he had not actually killed her,anyhow.
Here he was in this fine car. And Sondra, as well as Bertine, waiting for him. He would have to say that he wasjust up from Albany--had been on some errand over there for his uncle which had taken all of this time sinceTuesday. And while he should be blissfully happy with Sondra, still here were all of those dreadful things ofwhich now all of the time he would be compelled to think. The danger that in some inadvertent way he had notquite covered all the tracks that might lead to him. And if he had not! Exposure! Arrest! Perhaps a hasty andunjust conviction--punishment, even! Unless he was able to explain about that accidental blow. The end of allhis dreams in connection with Sondra--Lycurgus--the great life that he had hoped for himself. But could heexplain as to that? Could he? God!
自从湖水吞没了罗伯达，克莱德游到岸边，换了衣服，终于来到了沙隆克兰斯顿家别墅。在这段时间里，克莱德的心态简直完全象发了狂似的。这主要是因为他自己心里既害怕，又慌乱，怎么都闹不明白:
究竟是不是他促使罗伯达这样夭折的。同时，他在湖滨时便意识到:
万一此时此地有人发现他偷偷往南走，而不是往北走回大比腾湖客栈，去报告这件仿佛意外的不幸事故，那末，这一切看起来是太惨无人道了，谁都会断然控告他犯了杀人罪。这一闪念剧烈地折磨着他。因为，这时他觉得自己实在是无罪的……他不是在那最后一刹那就回心转意了吗?
不过，既然他没有回去作一交待，现在还有谁会相信他呢?
而如今再回去也是要不得!
因为，要是桑德拉听说他跟这个厂里的女工一块到过这个湖上……住店时还把她一起登记为夫妇……老天哪!
以后，还得向他伯父，或是他那个冷酷无情的堂兄吉尔伯特详细交待，或是向所有那些惯于冷嘲热讽的莱柯格斯的年轻阔少详细交待!
不!
不!
已经走到这一步了，他就得一直走下去。走回头路……即使不死……也将是大祸临头。他必须善于化险为夷……充分利用结局如此不可思议的这么一个计划，这个有那么一点儿是为他开脱罪责的结局。
可是这些树林子呀!
这个正在逼近的黑夜呀!
这四周围令人骇怕的荒凉，以及它所隐藏的种种危险呀!
这时万一碰上什么人，那怎么办，该说什么才好?
他已是方寸大乱了……濒临心理。精神崩溃的边缘。一根小树桠枝嘎吱一响，他就会拔脚往前一蹦跳，活象一头野兔子。
先前他已经找到了自己的手提箱，换了衣服，一个劲儿拧他透湿的衣服，想让它快点儿干，然后装入他那放在一堆干枯树枝和松针底下的手提箱，又把那副三脚架埋在一根烂圆木头底下。他就在这么一种心态下，等到天黑以后，才躲进了树林子。不过，他却一个劲儿在苦思冥想着目前自己奇怪的险境。因为假定说，当他只是出于无心地砸着她一下，他们两人都落了水，而她尖声喊叫救命时，万一岸上有什么人……这些身强力壮的人(白天他就看到他们到处转悠着)里头……有一个人看在眼里，此刻也许就在本地危言耸听，乱说一通，备不住今儿晚上就有一。二十个人来围捕他!
象打猎那样围捕他!
而且，他们会把他押回去，谁都不信他不是存心砸她的!
甚至他还没等到公正审判以前，说不定他们早就给他动了私刑。这是很可能的。过去常有过这类事。只要一根绳索套上他的脖子。要不然，说不定在树林子就地给毙了。甚至不给你机会说一说这件事的来龙去脉……多久以来，她是怎样紧逼他，折磨他。这些谁都不会知道的。
他一面这么想，一面越走越快……在这些茁壮。茂密。刺人的小枞树丛里，在脚下时而极为不祥地噼啦作响的枯树枝堆里，自己能走多快，就走多快。他一面走，心里老是在这么琢磨:
去三英里湾的路一定是在他的右边，而月亮要是升起，肯定在他的左边了。
可是，老天哪，这是什么呀?
啊，这可怕的声响!
好象是一个在黑暗中啜泣。尖叫的精灵!
瞧!
那是什么呀?
他放下自己的手提箱，浑身冒冷汗匐伏地上，蜷缩在一棵参天大树后头，直吓得呆若木鸡。
那多吓人的声音!
原来只是一头凶枭!
好几个星期前，他在克兰斯顿家别墅听到过它的尖叫声。
可是在这儿!
在这树林子里!
在这四顾茫茫的黑暗里!
他必须一直往前走，走出树林子。那是用不着怀疑的。他必须甩掉类似这些可怕。吓人的念头，不然他就连一点儿力量和勇气也都没有了。
可是罗伯达的眼色呀!
她那最后求救的眼色呀!
老天哪!
如今始终浮现在他眼前呀!
她那凄惨的。可怕的尖叫声呀!
在他耳际始终回响着……至少一直到他走出了树林子!
她会不会知道，他砸着她原是出于无心……仅仅表示忿怒和抗议罢了?
现在她会不会知道，且不管她是在哪儿……在湖底……说不定是在这漆黑一团的树林子里，也许就在他身边?
难道说有鬼!
她的阴魂。不过，他非得走出这树林子不可……走出这树林子!
他非得走出去不可。可他在这些树林子里又是多么安全呀。
他也千万不能轻率地走大路呀。什么地方有过往行人!
说不定是正在追捕他的那些人!
不过，人死了以后，真的还有生命吗?
有鬼吗?
他们会知道全部真相吗?
那时，她一定会知道的，不过，他在这以前是怎样策划的，她也会知道的。那她对此会有怎样的想法呢?
这时，她会不会在这里，满怀怨恨。忧伤，出于错误的指控紧跟在他背后呢?
一开头可能他确实存心要将她杀害，他确实是存心呀!
他确实是存心呀!
这，当然罗，是犯了滔天大罪。即便是他并没有将她杀害，但是发生了的事情替他这么干了!
这可是实话。
可是，鬼……上帝……精灵，它死后会紧跟着你，一个劲儿揭发你，惩罚你……说不定还会叫别人跟踪追寻你!
有谁说得准呀?
过去他母亲对他。对弗兰克。爱思德。朱丽娅都说过她自己相信有鬼的。
接下来整整三个钟头，他一面走，一面不断摔交，听声响，等呀等的，冒冷汗，浑身抖索，最后月亮终于升起来了。现在四下里见不到有人影儿，谢天谢地!
还有，头顶上……星星……亮晶晶的，可又很温柔，如同在桑德拉那儿的松树岬一样。现在要是她能看见他从葬身湖底的罗伯达那儿偷偷溜了，而他自己的帽子却漂浮在那湖面上呢!
要是她还能听到罗伯达的尖叫声呢!
真怪，他永远。永远。永远都不能告诉她，就是为了她，为了她的美丽，为了迷恋她，以及为了他觉得她将对自己具有极其重要的意义，他才有可能……可能……可能……嗯，试图完成这一可怕的事……将从前他爱过的那个姑娘杀害。这个念头将紧紧跟着他一辈子!
他永远都甩不掉了……永远，永远，永远也甩不掉。这在以前正是他始料所不及。要知道这事简直是太可怕了，可不是?
但在他到达向西的公路后，又走了一两英里，据后来他估摸大约是十一点钟(因为进了水，他的表不走了)，突然黑咕隆咚出现了那三个人，有如鬼魂一溜烟从树林子阴影里闪了出来。开头他暗自寻思，他们是在他砸了罗伯达时，或是在这以后没多久就看见了，现在是来抓他的。这多吓人的时刻呀!
还有那个举起灯仔细端详他脸孔的孩子呀。毫无疑问，一定从他脸上发觉最最让人怀疑的惧怕和窘困的神色，因为那时他正好愁眉苦脸地冥想着这已发生过的一切情景;又转念一想，他好象留下一些线索，很可能直接追查到他头上来，一下子把他吓坏了。而且，当时他确实往后一跳，以为那些人是派来抓他的。可是就在这时，走在最前头的那瘦高个儿的男子，一见他胆小如鼠的窘态，好象只是觉得挺好玩，冲他喊道:
"你好，过路人!
"而年纪最轻的那一个，仿佛压根儿没有疑心似的，大步流星往前走去，并把灯捻得更亮了。直到这时他方才明白，他们只不过都是乡巴佬，或是导游……并不是追捕他的民团……只要他能泰然自若。
彬彬有礼，人家一点儿也不会疑心他是真正的凶手。
然而过后他自言自语道……"可能他们会记得我，是在这么一个时刻，拎着这只手提箱，沿着这条荒凉的小路走去，可不是吗?
"于是，他马上决定，必须赶快走……赶快走……不要再跟那儿什么人撞见了。
以后，又过了好几个钟头，月儿西沉了，给树林子抹上一层浅黄的灰白色，让人觉得这夜晚变得更凄惨难受了。于是，克莱德步行来到了三英里湾……这是本地居民以及避暑别墅组成的小村落，坐落在印第安钱恩河北头。他从路上转弯处眺望，见到那儿有几盏惨白的灯光还在闪烁。还有商铺。房子。街灯。
可他觉得，在惨淡的月光底下，好象它们几乎黯淡无光……昏惨惨如同阴曹冥府似的。有一点，他心里显然很明白……在这么一个时刻，象他这身穿着打扮，手里又拎着箱子，他是断断乎不能上那儿去的。不然的话，那儿要是还有人发觉了他，瞧他这副德行，肯定一下子使人感到好奇和疑心。再说，来往于三英里湾和沙隆(他可以从沙隆再去松树岬)之间的小汽船，八点半以前不会开船。现在他就得先躲一躲，并尽可能让自己体面些，方才可以见人。
因此，他又走进了一直延伸到村沿的松林子，想在那儿一直等到天亮。他望着小教堂钟楼上那座小小的四面钟，就知道该出去的时间到了。可是，在那段时间里，他心中一直在七上八下地担心……"这样做是不是妥当?
"说不定有人就在那儿等着他，可不是吗?
就是那三个人……或是其他也许看见过他的人?
……或是一名警官，从哪儿得到了什么消息。但是，不一会儿，他决定最好还是进村去。因为，在这湖西树林子里行走……是在夜里而不是在白天……在白天说不定他会被别人看见，要知道他只要一搭上这小汽船，一个半钟头……至多两个钟头……便可以到达克兰斯顿家在沙隆的别墅，而要是步行，明天才能到得了……那不是很蠢，而且比较危险吗?
再说，他早就答应过桑德拉和伯蒂娜，说他将在星期二到那儿。可今天已是星期五了!
说不定到明天就会闹得满城风雨，开始缉捕……有关他的外貌特征，将在各处张贴公告……而在今天早上……嗯，罗伯达哪能很快就被发现呢?
不，不。最好还是进村去。因为到了那儿，有谁知道他呢……谁能证明他跟卡尔。格雷厄姆。克利福德。戈尔登就是同一个人呢?
最好还是向村子里走去……赶快走，趁人们对罗伯达的情况还不怎么知道。是的，正是这样。最后，当时针指八点十分时，他终于走了出去，可心儿却在怦然乱跳。
开往沙隆的小汽船，停泊在这条街的尽头。他正在慢慢走去的时候，蓦然间看见来自拉凯特湖的公共汽车驶过来。他心里顿时想到，要是在码头上或是汽船上碰见什么熟人，他不是可以说刚从拉凯特湖上来吗?
反正桑德拉和伯蒂娜在那儿就有很多朋友;要不然，万一她们自己从船上下来，不是可以说他前天就在那儿了吗?
只要随便提一下哪个人或是哪个别墅的名字，必要时索性杜撰就得了。
他就这样终于走到船边，上了船。后来到沙隆上了岸。据他回想起来，好象来去两头都没有特别引人注意。因为，虽然看十来个乘客，他全不认识的，但好象并没有哪一个对他特别注意，除了一个身穿蓝衣服。头戴白草帽的乡下姑娘。据他估摸，她是附近本地人吧。而且，她眼里流露出来的，是爱慕，而不是别的什么神色。可是，因为他竭力要想避免被人看见，她这一眼色也就足以使他一再退缩到船尾，而别的乘客仿佛都喜欢到前面甲板上去。一到沙隆，他知道大多数人是去火车站赶早上头班车，也就连忙跟在他们后头，只是到了最近一家便餐馆，他却踅了进去，正如他所希望的，要甩掉盯梢的尾巴。虽说他从大比腾湖步行到三英里湾，路程很长，而且前一天又划了整整一个下午船，只是装装样子，才吃了一点罗伯达在草湖准备好的午餐点心，可是，即使到了现在，他也还不觉得肚子饿。随后，见到几个旅客正从车站走过来，里头并没有熟人，他就又跟他们走在一块，好象他是刚下火车来到旅馆，准备上汽船码头的。
这时，他猛地想到:
从奥尔巴尼和尤蒂卡开来的南行车，马上就到了，他佯装搭乘这趟车来的，这才是合情合理呢。因此，他先是佯装去火车站，在半路上给伯蒂娜和桑德拉打电话，说他已经到了这里。她们给他的回话是，要派汽车(而不是汽艇)来接他，于是他说他就在旅馆西头游廊等着。路上他在报摊上买了一份晨报，虽然他知道现在报上还不会刊登有关此事的消息。他刚到旅馆的游廊落了座，克兰斯顿家的车子就到了。
他所熟识的克兰斯顿家那个汽车夫，向他一面问好，一面非常殷勤地向他微笑。克莱德好歹装得好象乐乐呵呵，一点儿都不拘谨地也向他报以微笑，尽管自己心怀巨大的恐惧而非常忐忑不安。因为，他总是一个劲儿对自己说，毫无疑问，他碰到的三个人，这时早已到了大比腾。而且，到了此刻，当然发现罗伯达和他都已失踪了。也许，谁知道呢，那条底儿朝天的船，还有他的草帽和她的面纱，也都被发现了!
要是这样，也许他们三人早就去报告，说他们路上看见过象他这么一个人，拎着手提箱，连夜往南走，可不是吗?
要是这样，不管她的尸体找到没有，人们不就会怀疑这一对恋人是不是真的溺死了?
万一由于某种奇缘，罗伯达的尸体已漂浮到水面上呢?
那时该怎么办?
他狠狠地砸了她一下，说不定会在她脸上留下一处伤痕，可不是吗?
要是这样，人们不是就会疑心这是谋杀吗?
何况那具男尸还没有下落，刚才那几个人会说出他们见过的人是什么模样儿，那末，人们肯定怀疑克利福德。戈尔登或是卡尔。格雷厄姆就是杀人犯。
不过，克利福德。戈尔登也好，卡尔。格雷厄姆也好，断断乎都不是克莱德呀。而且，人们不可能确认克莱德。格里菲思……与克利福德。戈尔登或是卡尔。格雷厄姆就是同一个人。因为他不是事事都很小心翼翼吗?
早餐过后，她应他的请求回去准备午餐点心时，他甚至在草湖就把罗伯达的手提箱和手提包搜查过一遍。可不是吗?
不错，他发现一个名叫特丽莎。布塞的姑娘寄给比尔茨的罗伯达的两封信，但在动身去冈洛奇前，他就把那两封信销毁了。至于装在原来那只盒子里头的化妆用品，上面有"莱柯格斯……怀特利"的商标，他只好让它留下来，反正不管是什么人……克利福德。戈尔登太太也好，还是卡尔。格雷厄姆太太也好，都有可能上怀特利商店买那东西，因此就不可能追查到他头上来，可不是吗?
当然罗，肯定不会的。至于罗伯达的衣服，即使能证明她就是罗伯达，难道她的父母，以及所有其他人，不会承想她是跟一位名叫戈尔登或是格雷厄姆的陌生人一块旅游吗?
恐怕他们也恨不得把这一丑闻马上掩盖起来吧?
不管怎么说，克莱德心里净往最好结果想……要善于控制自己，装出一副镇定。
轻松。愉快的样子来。让这里谁都不会怀疑他就是那个人，因为说实话，反正他并没有杀害她呀!
如今他又坐上这辆漂亮汽车了。桑德拉和伯蒂娜正等着他哩。他还得说明，他刚从奥尔巴尼来……是替他伯父出差去那里的，所以把星期二以后他的全部时间都给占用了。本来跟桑德拉在一起，他应该感到无比幸福，可是现在即使在这里，他还不能不时刻想到所有这些可怕的事。所有那些蛛丝马迹，只要他稍一疏忽，没有掩盖好，都可能追查到他头上来，那有多危险呀。万一他真的没有掩盖好呢!
被揭发出来!
抓了起来!
说不定就在仓卒之间，作出了公正的判决……甚至受到刑罚!
除非他能把那意外的一砸交待清楚了。要不然，他对桑德拉，对莱柯格斯所充满的梦想，他心心念念盼着的荣华富贵的生活，就全成了泡影。不过那种事他能交待清楚吗?
他能行吗?
老天哪!
收听单词发音 |
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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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derangement
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| n.精神错乱 | |
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skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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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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13
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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harried
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| v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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serried
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| adj.拥挤的；密集的 | |
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ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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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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perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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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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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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