And then out of the north woods a crime sensation of the first magnitude, with all of those intriguingly1 colorful,and yet morally and spiritually atrocious, elements--love, romance, wealth; poverty, death. And at oncepicturesque accounts of where and how Clyde had lived in Lycurgus, with whom he had been connected, how hehad managed to conceal2 his relations with one girl while obviously planning to elope with another--being wiredfor and published by that type of editor so quick to sense the national news value of crimes such as this. Andtelegrams of inquiry3 pouring in from New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and other largeAmerican cities east and west, either to Mason direct or the representatives of the Associated or United Press inthis area, asking for further and more complete details of the crime. Who was this beautiful wealthy girl withwhom it was said this Griffiths was in love? Where did she live? What were Clyde's exact relations with her? YetMason, over-awed by the wealth of the Finchleys and the Griffiths, loath4 to part with Sondra's name, simplyasserting for the present that she was the daughter of a very wealthy manufacturer in Lycurgus, whose name hedid not care to furnish--yet not hesitating to show the bundle of letters carefully tied with a ribbon by Clyde.
But Roberta's letters on the other hand being described in detail,--even excerpts5 of some of them--the morepoetic and gloomy being furnished the Press for use, for who was there to protect her. And on their publication awave of hatred6 for Clyde as well as a wave of pity for her--the poor, lonely, country girl who had had no one buthim--and he cruel, faithless,--a murderer even. Was not hanging too good for him? For en route to and from BearLake, as well as since, Mason had pored over these letters. And because of certain intensely moving passagesrelating to her home life, her gloomy distress7 as to her future, her evident loneliness and weariness of heart, hehad been greatly moved, and later had been able to convey this feeling to others--his wife and Heit and the localnewspapermen. So much so that the latter in particular were sending from Bridgeburg vivid, if somewhatdistorted, descriptions of Clyde, his silence, his moodiness8, and his hard-heartedness.
And then a particularly romantic young reporter from The Star, of Utica arriving at the home of the Aldens, therewas immediately given to the world a fairly accurate picture of the weary and defeated Mrs. Alden, who, too exhausted10 to protest or complain, merely contented12 herself with a sincere and graphic13 picture of Roberta'sdevotion to her parents, her simple ways of living, her modesty14, morality, religious devotion--how once the localpastor of the Methodist Church had said that she was the brightest and prettiest and kindest girl he had everknown, and how for years before leaving home she had been as her mother's own right hand. And thatundoubtedly because of her poverty and loneliness in Lycurgus, she had been led to listen to the honeyed wordsof this scoundrel, who, coming to her with promises of marriage, had lured15 her into this unhallowed and, in hercase, all but unbelievable relationship which had led to her death. For she was good and pure and sweet and kindalways. "And to think that she is dead. I can't believe it."It was so that her mother was quoted.
"Only Monday a week ago she was about--a little depressed16, I thought, but smiling, and for some reason which Ithought odd at the time went all over the place Monday afternoon and evening, looking at things and gatheringsome flowers. And then she came over and put her arms around me and said: 'I wish I were a little girl again,Mamma, and that you would take me in your arms and rock me like you used to.' And I said, 'Why, Roberta,what makes you so sad to-night, anyhow?' And she said, 'Oh, nothing. You know I'm going back in the morning.
And somehow I feel a little foolish about it to-night.' And to think that it was this trip that was in her mind. Isuppose she had a premonition that all would not work out as she had planned. And to think he struck my littlegirl, she who never could harm anything, not even a fly." And here, in spite of herself, and with the saddenedTitus in the background, she began to cry silently.
But from the Griffiths and other members of this local social world, complete and almost unbreakable silence.
For in so far as Samuel Griffiths was concerned, it was impossible for him at first either to grasp or believe thatClyde could be capable of such a deed. What! That bland18 and rather timid and decidedly gentlemanly youth, ashe saw him, charged with murder? Being rather far from Lycurgus at the time--Upper Saranac--where he wasreached with difficulty by Gilbert--he was almost unprepared to think, let alone act. Why, how impossible! Theremust be some mistake here. They must have confused Clyde with some one else.
Nevertheless, Gilbert proceeding20 to explain that it was unquestionably true, since the girl had worked in thefactory under Clyde, and the district attorney at Bridgeburg with whom he had already been in communicationhad assured him that he was in possession of letters which the dead girl had written to Clyde and that Clyde didnot attempt to deny them.
"Very well, then," countered Samuel. "Don't act hastily, and above all, don't talk to anyone outside of Smillie orGotboy until I see you. Where's Brookhart?"--referring to Darrah Brookhart, of counsel for Griffiths &Company.
"He's in Boston to-day," returned his son. "I think he told me last Friday that he wouldn't be back here untilMonday or Tuesday.""Well, wire him that I want him to return at once. Incidentally, have Smillie see if he can arrange with the editorsof The Star and Beacon21 down there to suspend any comment until I get back. I'll be down in the morning. Alsotell him to get in the car and run up there" (Bridgeburg) "to-day if he can. I must know from first hand all there isto know. Have him see Clyde if he can, also this district attorney, and bring down any news that he can get. And all the newspapers. I want to see for myself what has been published."And at approximately the same time, in the home of the Finchleys on Fourth Lake, Sondra herself, after forty-eight hours of most macerating thoughts spent brooding on the astounding22 climax23 which had put a period to allher girlish fancies in regard to Clyde, deciding at last to confess all to her father, to whom she was more drawnthan to her mother. And accordingly approaching him in the library, where usually he sat after dinner, reading orconsidering his various affairs. But having come within earshot of him, beginning to sob25, for truly she wasstricken in the matter of her love for Clyde, as well as her various vanities and illusions in regard to her own highposition, the scandal that was about to fall on her and her family. Oh, what would her mother say now, after allher warnings? And her father? And Gilbert Griffiths and his affianced bride? And the Cranstons, who except forher influence over Bertine, would never have been drawn24 into this intimacy26 with Clyde?
Her sobs27 arresting her father's attention, he at once paused to look up, the meaning of this quite beyond him. Yetinstantly sensing something very dreadful, gathering17 her up in his arms, and consolingly murmuring: "There,there! For heaven's sake, what's happened to my little girl now? Who's done what and why?" And then, with adecidedly amazed and shaken expression, listening to a complete confession28 of all that had occurred thus far--thefirst meeting with Clyde, her interest in him, the attitude of the Griffiths, her letters, her love, and then this--thisawful accusation29 and arrest. And if it were true! And her name were used, and her daddy's! And once more shefell to weeping as though her heart would break, yet knowing full well that in the end she would have her father'ssympathy and forgiveness, whatever his subsequent suffering and mood.
And at once Finchley, accustomed to peace and order and tact30 and sense in his own home, looking at hisdaughter in an astounded31 and critical and yet not uncharitable way, and exclaiming: "Well, well, of all things!
Well, I'll be damned! I am amazed, my dear! I am astounded! This is a little too much, I must say. Accused ofmurder! And with letters of yours in your own handwriting, you say, in his possession, or in the hands of thisdistrict attorney, for all we know by now. Tst! Tst! Tst! Damned foolish, Sondra, damned foolish! Your motherhas been talking to me for months about this, and you know I was taking your word for it against hers. And nowsee what's happened! Why couldn't you have told me or listened to her? Why couldn't you have talked all thisover with me before going so far? I thought we understood each other, you and I. Your mother and I have alwaysacted for your own good, haven't we? You know that. Besides, I certainly thought you had better sense. Really, Idid. But a murder case, and you connected with it! My God!"He got up, a handsome blond man in carefully made clothes, and paced the floor, snapping his fingers irritably,while Sondra continued to weep. Suddenly, ceasing his walking, he turned again toward her and resumed with:
"But, there, there! There's no use crying over it. Crying isn't going to fix it. Of course, we may be able to live itdown in some way. I don't know. I don't know. I can't guess what effect this is likely to have on you personally.
But one thing is sure. We do want to know something about those letters."And forthwith, and while Sondra wept on, he proceeded first to call his wife in order to explain the nature of theblow--a social blow that was to lurk32 in her memory as a shadow for the rest of her years--and next to call upLegare Atterbury, lawyer, state senator, chairman of the Republican State Central Committee and his own privatecounsel for years past, to whom he explained the amazing difficulty in which his daughter now found herself.
Also to inquire what was the most advisable thing to be done.
"Well, let me see," came from Atterbury, "I wouldn't worry very much if I were you, Mr. Finchley. I think I cando something to straighten this out for you before any real public damage is done. Now, let me see. Who is thedistrict attorney of Cataraqui County, anyhow? I'll have to look that up and get in touch with him and call youback. But never mind, I promise you I'll be able to do something--keep the letters out of the papers, anyhow.
Maybe out of the trial--I'm not sure--but I am sure I can fix it so that her name will not be mentioned, so don'tworry."And then Atterbury in turn calling up Mason, whose name he found in his lawyers' directory, and at oncearranging for a conference with him, since Mason seemed to think that the letters were most vital to his case,although he was so much overawed by Atterbury's voice that he was quick to explain that by no means had heplanned as yet to use publicly the name of Sondra or the letters either, but rather to reserve their actuality for theprivate inspection33 of the grand jury, unless Clyde should choose to confess and avoid a trial.
But Atterbury, after referring back to Finchley and finding him opposed to any use of the letters whatsoever34, orSondra's name either, assuring him that on the morrow or the day after he would himself proceed to Bridgeburgwith some plans and political information which might cause Mason to think twice before he so much asconsidered referring to Sondra in any public way.
And then after due consideration by the Finchley family, it was decided19 that at once, and without explanation orapology to any one, Mrs. Finchley, Stuart and Sondra should leave for the Maine coast or any place satisfactoryto them. Finchley himself proposed to return to Lycurgus and Albany. It was not wise for any of them to beabout where they could be reached by reporters or questioned by friends. And forthwith, a hegira35 of theFinchleys to Narragansett, where under the name of Wilson they secluded36 themselves for the next six weeks.
Also, and because of the same cause the immediate9 removal of the Cranstons to one of the Thousand Islands,where there was a summer colony not entirely37 unsatisfactory to their fancy. But on the part of the Baggotts andthe Harriets, the contention38 that they were not sufficiently39 incriminated to bother and so remaining exactly wherethey were at Twelfth Lake. But all talking of Clyde and Sondra--this horrible crime and the probable socialdestruction of all those who had in any way been thus innocently defiled40 by it.
And in the interim41, Smillie, as directed by Griffiths, proceeding to Bridgeburg, and after two long hours withMason, calling at the jail to see Clyde. And because of authorization42 from Mason being permitted to see himquite alone in his cell. Smillie having explained that it was not the intention of the Griffiths to try to set up anydefense for Clyde, but rather to discover whether under the circumstances there was a possibility for a defense,Mason had urged upon him the wisdom of persuading Clyde to confess, since, as he insisted, there was not theslightest doubt as to his guilt43, and a trial would but cost the county money without result to Clyde--whereas if hechose to confess, there might be some undeveloped reasons for clemency--at any rate, a great social scandalprevented from being aired in the papers.
And thereupon Smillie proceeding to Clyde in his cell where brooding most darkly and hopelessly he waswondering how to do. Yet at the mere11 mention of Smillie's name shrinking as though struck. The Griffiths-SamuelGriffiths and Gilbert! Their personal representative. And now what would he say? For no doubt, as henow argued with himself, Smillie, having talked with Mason, would think him guilty. And what was he to saynow? What sort of a story tell--the truth or what? But without much time to think, for even while he was trying todo so Smillie had been ushered44 into his presence. And then moistening his dry lips with his tongue, he could only achieve, "Why, how do you do, Mr. Smillie?" to which the latter replied, with a mock geniality45, "Why, hello,Clyde, certainly sorry to see you tied up in a place like this." And then continuing: "The papers and the districtattorney over here are full of a lot of stuff about some trouble you're in, but I suppose there can't be much to it-theremust be some mistake, of course. And that's what I'm up here to find out. Your uncle telephoned me thismorning that I was to come up and see you to find out how they come to be holding you. Of course, you canunderstand how they feel down there. So they wanted me to come up and get the straight of it so as to get thecharge dismissed, if possible--so now if you'll just let me know the ins and outs of this--you know--that is--"He paused there, confident because of what the district attorney had just told him, as well as Clyde's peculiarlynervous and recessive46 manner, that he would not have very much that was exculpatory47 to reveal.
And Clyde, after moistening his lips once more, beginning with: "I suppose things do look pretty bad for me, Mr.
Smillie. I didn't think at the time that I met Miss Alden that I would ever get into such a scrape as this. But Ididn't kill her, and that's the God's truth. I never even wanted to kill her or take her up to that lake in the firstplace. And that's the truth, and that's what I told the district attorney. I know he has some letters from her to me,but they only show that she wanted me to go away with her--not that I wanted to go with her at all--"He paused, hoping that Smillie would stamp this with his approval of faith. And Smillie, noting the agreementbetween his and Mason's assertions, yet anxious to placate48 him, returned: "Yes, I know. He was just showingthem to me.""I knew he would," continued Clyde, weakly. "But you know how it is sometimes, Mr. Smillie," his voice,because of his fears that the sheriff or Kraut were listening, pitched very low. "A man can get in a jam with a girlwhen he never even intended to at first. You know that yourself. I did like Roberta at first, and that's the truth,and I did get in with her just as those letters show. But you know that rule they have down there, that no one incharge of a department can have anything to do with any of the women under him. Well, that's what started allthe trouble for me, I guess. I was afraid to let any one know about it in the first place, you see.""Oh, I see."And so by degrees, and growing less and less tense as he proceeded, since Smillie appeared to be listening withsympathy, he now outlined most of the steps of his early intimacy with Roberta, together with his presentdefense. But with no word as to the camera, or the two hats or the lost suit, which things were constantly andenormously troubling him. How could he ever explain these, really? And with Smillie at the conclusion of thisand because of what Mason had told him, asking: "But what about those two hats, Clyde? This man over herewas telling me that you admit to having two straw hats--the one found on the lake and the one you wore awayfrom there."And Clyde, forced to say something, yet not knowing what, replying: "But they're wrong as to my wearing astraw hat away from there, Mr. Smillie, it was a cap.""I see. But still you did have a straw hat up at Bear Lake, he tells me.""Yes, I had one there, but as I told him, that was the one I had with me when I went up to the Cranstons' the first time. I told him that. I forgot it and left it there.""Oh, I see. But now there was something about a suit--a gray one, I believe--that he says you were seen wearingup there but that he can't find now? Were you wearing one?""No. I was wearing the blue suit I had on when I came down here. They've taken that away now and given methis one.""But he says that you say you had it dry-cleaned at Sharon but that he can't find any one there who knowsanything about it. How about that? Did you have it dry-cleaned there?""Yes, sir.""By whom?""Well, I can't just remember now. But I think I can find the man if I were to go up there again--he's near thedepot," but at the same time looking down and away from Smillie.
And then Smillie, like Mason before him, proceeding to ask about the bag in the boat, and whether it had notbeen possible, if he could swim to shore with his shoes and suit on, for him to have swam to Roberta and assistedher to cling to the overturned boat. And Clyde explaining, as before, that he was afraid of being dragged down,but adding now, for the first time, that he had called to her to hang on to the boat, whereas previously49 he had saidthat the boat drifted away from them. And Smillie recalled that Mason had told him this. Also, in connectionwith Clyde's story of the wind blowing his hat off, Mason had said he could prove by witnesses, as well as the U.
S. Government reports, that there was not a breath of air stirring on that most halcyon50 day. And so, plainly,Clyde was lying. His story was too thin. Yet Smillie, not wishing to embarrass him, kept saying: "Oh, I see," or,"To be sure," or "That's the way it was, was it?"And then finally asking about the marks on Roberta's face and head. For Mason had called his attention to themand insisted that no blow from a boat would make both abrasions51. But Clyde sure that the boat had only struckher once and that all the bruises52 had come from that or else he could not guess from what they had come. Butthen beginning to see how hopeless was all this explanation. For it was so plain from his restless, troubledmanner that Smillie did not believe him. Quite obviously he considered his not having aided Roberta asdastardly--a thin excuse for letting her die.
And so, too weary and disheartened to lie more, finally ceasing. And Smillie, too sorry and disturbed to wish tocatechize or confuse him further, fidgeting and fumbling53 and finally declaring: "Well, I'm afraid I'll have to begoing now, Clyde. The roads are pretty bad between here and Sharon. But I've been mighty54 glad to hear yourside of it. And I'll present it to your uncle just as you have told it to me. But in the meantime, if I were you, Iwouldn't do any more talking than I could help--not until you hear further from me. I was instructed to find anattorney up here to handle this case for you, if I could, but since it's late and Mr. Brookhart, our chief counsel,will be back to-morrow, I think I'll just wait until I can talk to him. So if you'll take my advice, you'll just not sayanything until you hear from him or me. Either he'll come or he'll send some one--he'll bring a letter from me,whoever he is, and then he'll advise you."And with this parting admonition, leaving Clyde to his thoughts and himself feeling no least doubt of his guiltand that nothing less than the Griffiths' millions, if so they chose to spend them, could save him from a fatewhich was no doubt due him.
就这样从北边林区爆出了最为轰动的凶杀案，这一重大事件情节动人，色彩斑斓，从道德和信仰上说又很残酷，各种特点真可以说是一应俱全……爱恋。
艳史。财富。贫困。死亡。那些迅即嗅出此类罪案具有轰动全国的新闻价值的报刊编辑，马上从大量电讯中选登了许许多多妙笔生花的报道，比方说，克莱德住在莱柯格斯某某地方，生活如何，他认识了哪些人，他一面千方百计隐瞒自己跟某一个姑娘的关系，一面显然却在策划自己跟另一位少女一起私奔，如此等等，不一而足。来自纽约。芝加哥。波士顿。费城。旧金山和美国东西两岸其他大城市的电报，有如潮水一般直接涌向梅森，要不然，美联社或合众社派驻这一地区的记者，要求进一步得到案件的详细情节。这位美丽的富家少女(据传竟然使这个格里菲思为之倾心相爱)究竟是谁?
她住在什么地方?
克莱德跟她的关系到底是什么性质?
但是，梅森慑于芬奇利和格里菲思两大家门权势，怎么也不肯透露桑德拉的名字，暂且只说她是莱柯格斯一个非常有钱的厂商之女，至于她的名字，他认为没有必要向各位奉告……不过，克莱德小心翼翼地用缎带束起来的那札信，他倒是毫不迟疑地出示给大家看的。
可是，有关罗伯达那些信，他却讲得详细极了……甚至还从某几封信里，摘录了最最富有诗意和令人动怜的内容，以供各报刊登载，试问有谁来保护这个可怜的姑娘呢?
这些摘录一发表，立即掀起了仇恨克莱德。同情罗伯达的浪潮……这个贫苦。孤单的乡下姑娘，除了他以外，她什么人都没有……而他却这么残忍，忘恩无义……甚至还是一名杀人凶犯。绞刑……对于他不是再合适也没有吗?
其实，这些信梅森在去熊湖的往返路上以及后来，都曾经仔细地看过。
其中有一些特别令人动怜的句段，比方说，有关她家里的生活光景，她对自己前途的烦恼，她内心显然感到孤寂和忧伤……都使他激动极了。后来，他还把自己这种感情感染了别人……他的妻子。海特和本地新闻记者。因此后来，特别是那些新闻记者发自布里奇伯格的一些通讯报道，描写克莱德固然生动，但却有些歪曲，专写他的沉默。他的阴郁和他的铁石心肠。
尤蒂卡《星报》某个特别罗曼蒂克的年轻记者，专访奥尔登家，马上让读者看到记者相当准确地描述心灰意懒。哀恸欲绝的奥尔登太太的情景。奥尔登太太实在精疲力竭，甚至无力表示抗议，或是呼怨叫屈。她老人家只是诚恳。
生动地说明了罗伯达对父母的孝心，她那简朴的生活方式，她的为人谦逊和高洁的品性，而且，她还笃信宗教，当地美以美会有一位牧师曾经说过，他见过的姑娘里头，就数罗伯达最聪明。最美丽和最善良了;在她离家以前，那么多年来她一直是母亲真正的得力帮手。她老人家还说，毫无疑问，只是因为她在莱柯格斯太孤苦伶仃，她才听信了那个流氓的甜言蜜语，他便答应跟她结婚，引诱她发生了亵渎神明的。而且是令人无法相信的一种关系，从而把她引向绝路。
因为，她这个人一向是真诚。纯洁。可爱和善良的。"现在想到她已死了。那是叫我怎么也不会相信的。"此外还摘引了罗伯达母亲以下一段话。
"只不过一星期前，也就是在星期一那天，她还在这里……我觉得她心情有点儿消沉，但她还是笑吟吟的。不知怎的(当时我只觉得有点儿怪)，她在星期一下午和傍晚，老是在农场各处转悠，仔细察看了每一件东西，还采来了一些鲜花。随后，她走过来，用胳臂搂住了我说:
'
''''我真巴不得自己又变成一个小妞儿，妈妈;那您就象过去那样把我搂在您怀里哄着我。，我就说:
'
''''怎么啦，罗伯达，今儿个晚上，你到底为什么会这么难过?
，她就说:
'
''''哦，没什么。您知道，我明儿一早就得回去了。今儿个晚上我不知怎的心里觉得有点儿乱。，那时候，她心里惦着的，就是这次出门旅行的事啊。我觉得，事前她一定预感到，一切不会按照她原来的计划实现。只要想一想，他竟然会砸我的小姑娘，她呀从来也不肯伤害任何东西，哪怕是小小的一头蝇子。"说到这儿，她情不自禁默默地抽泣了，这时满怀悲恸的泰特斯也伫立在那儿。
不过，在格里菲思家，以至当地上流社会里其他一些人家，还是完全保持一片几乎不受惊扰的沉默。因为，就塞缪尔。格里菲思来说，一开头怎么也无法理解，或是相信克莱德竟会做出这等事来。怎么会呢!
?
在他心目中这个温文尔雅。相当胆怯。显然颇有绅士风度的年轻人，会得了个杀人犯罪名?
这时他正远离莱柯格斯……在上萨拉纳克……吉尔伯特好不容易才跟他接通了电话……他几乎连想都来不及想，更不用说采取什么对策了。不，这是不可能的事!
想必是在哪儿出了差错。人家一定是把别的什么人错看成克莱德了。
但是，吉尔伯特继续向父亲解释说，毫无疑问，这一切都是千真万确的。
因为，那个姑娘就是在厂里克莱德手下做工的。而且，布里奇伯格地方检察官(吉尔伯特已跟此人联系过)肯定说手里还掌握死者写给克莱德的信，克莱德对此也并不试图加以否认。
"那末，好吧，"塞缪尔回答说。"在我见到你以前，先别仓卒行事，千万。
千万不得跟任何人谈起这事，除了斯米利或是戈特博伊。布洛克哈特现在哪儿?
"……他这是指格里菲思公司的法律顾问达拉。布洛克哈特。
"今天他在波士顿，"他儿子回答说。"我记得上星期五他告诉过我，说他在星期一或星期二以前恐怕回不来。""那末，就打电报给他，说我要他马上回来。还有，顺便让斯米利考虑一下，能不能跟《星报》和《灯塔报》的编辑谈一下，在我回来以前，暂时停发任何评论文章。明天一早我就到。还要关照他坐汽车去那儿〔布里奇伯格〕跑一趟，最好今天就去。我务必直接了解一下，问题出在哪儿。要是办得到的话，让他去看看克莱德，还有那位地方检察官;不管有什么新的情况都得带回来。还有所有的报纸。我要亲自看看报纸上登了些什么。"大约就在同一个时候，在第四号湖(原文如此，恐系误印，应该是"第十二号湖"。)芬奇利家别墅里，桑德拉整整两昼夜五内俱焚地都在沉思默想着这个骇人的剧变(由于这一剧变，她对克莱德怀有的种种少女的幻想，也就烟消云散了)。
最后，她决定这一切全得向父亲坦白承认(因为他们父女之间一向情深似海)。于是，她便向正在书房里的父亲走去(晚饭后，父亲照例在书房里看看书，或是思考思考各种问题)。不料，她一走到父亲身边，竟抽抽噎噎地哭了起来。因为，不论是她对克莱德的爱情破灭也好，或是对她自己优越的地位充满种种虚荣心和幻想也好，还是对即将落到她和她一家人头上的这一场丑闻也好，这一切确实使她创巨痛深啊。啊，她母亲有多少回向她提出警告，现在又会怎么说呢?
还有她父亲呢?
还有吉尔伯特。格里菲思和他的未婚妻?
还有克兰斯顿一家人(要是当初她不能指使伯蒂娜的话，他们怎么也不会赞成跟克莱德如此密切交往的)?
父亲一听到她的抽噎声，马上抬头一看，全然不知道这是怎么回事。可他一下子觉察到出了什么非常可怕的事，便把她搂在自己怀里，低声安慰她说:
"别哭，别哭!
老天哪，我的小姑娘碰上什么事了?
是谁欺侮她?
为了什么呀?
"随后，他显然异常惊诧地倾听她后悔没能早点把全部经过和盘托出:
她第一次跟克莱德的见面，她对他有好感，格里菲思家的态度，她的那些信，她的爱情，最后是这次……这次骇人听闻的罪行和逮捕。要是这一切果然都是真的呢!
她的名字，还有她爹爹的名字，就要常常被人议论!
她又抽抽噎噎地哭了起来，好象心都快要碎了，不过她心里很明白:
到头来她一定会得到她父亲的同情和宽恕，不管他听了会感到多么痛苦难受。
芬奇利对自己家里宁静。齐整。灵活。明智的气氛早就习以为常，这时露出异常惊愕。挑剔，而又并非毫不同情的神色直瞅着女儿，大声喊道:
"哎哟哟，真的出了这等事!
啊，真是见鬼!
我真的大吃一惊，我的天哪!
我一下子给吓懵了!
我不能不说，这可真的非同小可呀。得了杀人犯罪名!
可是你说，你自己的那些亲笔信还在他手里，而且现在可以推想，说不定还落到地方检察官手里呢。哎哟哟，真傻，桑德拉，真的鬼知道，你真傻!
好几个月来，你妈老是跟我提起这件事。可你知道，我一直相信的是你的话，而不是她的话。现在，你看，就出了这样的事!
为什么你不告诉我?
为什么你不听她的话?
为什么这些事在你还没有走得那么远以前，不早点跟我谈一谈?
我想我和你之间彼此都很了解。你妈跟我一向都是为你好，可不是吗?
这你也很清楚。此外，当然罗，我一向以为你头脑清醒得很。说实话，我就是这么想的。可是，你怎么搞的，同一个凶杀案子有牵连!
我的老天哪!
"他猝然站起身来。这个长得漂亮。白里透红的人，身上的穿着非常讲究，开始来回踱步，愤然作色，捻了一下手指，而桑德拉还在继续哭泣。他猛地停住脚步，又转过身来对她说:
"可是，别哭了，别哭了!
光是哭不管用的。眼泪也帮不了你忙呀。当然罗，也许我们好歹能让这一丑闻不外扬出去。可我不知道。
我还不知道。这事也许会对你有多大影响呀!
不过，有一点是肯定的。关于这些信，我们要过问一下。"桑德拉还是在哭泣。芬奇利先生就先把妻子叫过来，给她讲了这次打击的性质……这是对他们的社会声望的打击，将象阴影一样永远留在桑德拉的记忆里……随后打电话给莱加尔。阿特伯里。此人既是一位律师，又是本州参议员。
共和党本州中央委员会主席，也是芬奇利的常年私人法律顾问。他把女儿目前惊人的困境讲给律师听，并且还问此事该怎么办最稳妥。
"嗯，让我想一想，"阿特伯里回答说。"芬奇利先生，我要是处在您的地位，就不会过分发愁的。我想，这件事我总可以替您办妥贴的，决不会有损于您的名誉吧。嗯，让我想一想，卡塔拉基县的那个地方检察官，究竟是何许人也?
我可得了解清楚后，跟此人联系一下，随后再打电话给您。不过，请您尽管放心好了，我向您保证，我一定尽力而为……至少让各报刊上不提那些信。也许在开审时也不让出示那些信……对此，我还不能说有把握……不过，我相信我总可以想想办法，让他们不要提到令嫒的名字。因此，请您宽心得了。
"稍后，阿特伯里从律师通讯录上找到了梅森的名字，给他通了电话，马上跟他约定见面的时间，因为梅森好象认为这些信件与他经办的案子关系极为重要，尽管他一听是阿特伯里的声音就毕恭毕敬，赶紧解释说:
他压根儿没有打算要把桑德拉的名字或是那些信件公之于众，只是准备留待大陪审团秘密审查，除非克莱德如实供认，免去开庭审判的话。
后来，阿特伯里给芬奇利回电时，发现他坚决反对用任何方式提到这些信件或是桑德拉的名字，便向他保证说:
明后天他将亲自携带某些方案与政界消息到布里奇伯格走一趟，也许可以使梅森在决定用任何方式提到桑德拉以前，还得先要好好考虑一番才行。
接着，芬奇利一家人经过适当商议以后，就决定:
芬奇利太太。斯图尔特和桑德拉立刻动身去缅因州海滨，或是去他们乐意去的地方，用不着向任何人作出解释或是告别辞行。芬奇利先生打算回莱柯格斯和奥尔巴尼。他们一家人，不拘是谁，如果留在新闻记者能找到他们或是朋友们会问起他们的地方，都是极不妥当的。因此，芬奇利一家马上躲到纳拉甘塞特，化名威尔逊，隐居在那儿，为时六周。与此同时，克兰斯顿一家出于同一个原因，立刻迁往千岛群岛中的某一个岛上，他们觉得在那儿好歹还可以度过这个残暑。巴戈特家和哈里特家都认为自己牵连不深，大可不必心烦，因此，原来在第十二号湖，现在仍然留驻原地。不过，他们全都在议论克莱德和桑德拉……议论这一骇人听闻的罪行，议论所有那些由于此案多少受到玷污与不白之冤的人在社会上的声誉也许全给毁了。
与此同时，斯米利根据格里菲思家的指示，前往布里奇伯格跟梅森交谈长达两小时之久，然后去监狱看望克莱德，并获得梅森特许，可在他的牢房里单独会见他。斯米利开门见山地说，格里菲思家并不打算为克莱德作任何性质的辩护，而只是想了解一下，在目前情况下，有没有辩护的可能性。梅森则竭力敦促他说，最好劝说克莱德坦白认罪，因为他坚信克莱德犯罪问题，已是丝毫没有疑问的了;开庭审判，只是让本县白白地多花钱，对克莱德什么好处也没有……然而，克莱德如果肯坦白认罪，说不定还有某种理由，可以使他罪名减轻……不管怎么说，至少不让各报刊大肆渲染这一轰动社会的大丑闻。
随后，斯米利就去克莱德的牢房找他。这时，克莱德正在那儿愁眉不展，绝望地冥思苦索，真不知道该怎么办才好。可他一听见斯米利的名字，好象挨了一棍似的，马上浑身瑟缩。格里菲思家……塞缪尔。格里菲思和吉尔伯特!
他们的私人代表来了。现在他该说些什么呢?
他暗自思忖，毫无疑问，斯米利已经跟梅森交谈过，一定认为他，克莱德，是有罪的。现在他该说些什么呢?
是说真话呢……还是干脆编些假话?
可他没有多少时间来思考，因为他正要思考一下的当儿，斯米利已经闯入他牢房了。这时，他用舌头润湿一下自己干枯的嘴唇，勉强说了一声:
"啊，您好，斯米利先生?
"斯米利假惺惺地亲切回答说:
"哦，你好，克莱德，看见你被关押在这么一个地方，当然很难过。"接着，他说:
"各家报刊，还有这儿的地方检察官，提到你这麻烦事，都有许许多多谣传。不过，我想，这一切并不是那么可怕，当然罗，一定是在哪儿出了岔错。我到这儿来，就是要弄清楚这一点。今天早上你伯父给我打电话，要我上这儿来了解一下他们怎么会把你拘押起来的。当然罗，你的那些亲属目前心情怎么样，你自己也一定明白。所以，他们要我上这儿来，将此事了解清楚，如果可能的话，把这一指控驳回去……所以，现在只要求你把这件事的来龙去脉通通告诉我……你明白了吗……我说的就是……"斯米利说到这儿就顿住了。由于他刚才从地方检察官那儿听说过的情况，以及克莱德眼前特别紧张与畏怯的神态，他心里也很明白:
克莱德未必会说出很多理由来给自己开脱罪责的。
克莱德又一次润湿了自己的嘴唇，开始说话了:
"我想，看来情况对我确实不大妙，斯米利先生。当初我碰见奥尔登小姐时，怎么也没想到会让自己陷入困境的。不过，反正我并没有杀害她，老天可以佐证，这是千真万确的。我甚至从来都没想过要把她杀掉，而且我也压根儿没想到要把她带到湖上去。这都是实话，我对地方检察官也是这么说的。我知道他手里掌握她写给我的几封信，不过，这些信只是说明:
她要我跟她一块出走……压根儿不是我要跟她一块出走……"他顿住了一会儿，希望斯米利会相信他说的这些话是老实话。斯米利发现他的说法跟梅森所说的是一致的，但要竭力安抚他，就仅仅这样回答说:
"是啊，我知道。那些信梅森刚才都给我看过了。""我知道他会给您看的，"克莱德有气无力地继续说道。"可您知道，有时常常有这种情况，斯米利先生，"他深怕警长或是克劳特在偷听，就把自己的声音压得非常低。"一个男人可能会跟一个姑娘陷入窘境，这是他一开头压根儿没想到的。这您自己也很清楚。我开头确实是喜欢罗伯达的，这是实话。于是，我就跟她相好了，如同信上所说的那样。不过，您也知道我们那儿的厂规，不管是谁主管哪个部门的，都不得同他手下的任何一个女工有来往。是啊，我觉得，后来我碰到的所有麻烦，原因就在这儿。您明白了吧，我一开头就害怕别人知道这件事。""哦，我明白了。"他就这样说下去，心情渐趋平静，因为斯米利好象同情地在听他说话。现在，他就把自己最早跟罗伯达亲近的情况，几乎全都抖搂出来，并且还把它们跟目前为自己的辩护联系起来。不过，他就是只字不提那架照相机。那两顶帽子，以及那套丢失了的衣服……这些东西总是让他感到苦恼极了。说真的，这一切叫他怎么解释呢?
斯米利听完以后，想到先前从梅森那儿获悉的情况，便开口问道:
"不过那两顶帽子是怎么一回事，克莱德?
这儿梅森告诉我说，你承认自己有两顶草帽……湖面上发现的那一顶，还有你离开那儿时戴的那一顶。"这时，克莱德不得不说一些话，可又不知道该说些什么才好，便回答说:
"可是他们搞错了，斯米利先生。我离开时戴的不是草帽，而是一顶鸭舌帽。
""我明白了。不过他告诉我，说你在熊湖时还是戴着一顶草帽。""是的，我在那儿时是戴过一顶草帽。不过，我已经告诉过他了。这是我头一次去克兰斯顿家时戴的。我告诉过他了。那时我把它忘了，结果丢在他们家里了。""哦，我明白了。不过，好象有一套衣服还有点儿问题……我觉得是一套灰色的……他说人们看见你在那儿时穿在身上的，可现在找不到，是吧?
你是穿过这么一套灰色衣服吧?
""没有。我穿的就是我上这儿时身上穿的那一套蓝色衣服。现在人们把那一套带走了，另给了我这一套。""不过，根据他说，你说过在沙隆时送出去干洗了。但他在那儿找谁都找不到，谁都不知道有这一回事。这是怎么搞的?
你在那儿真的送出去干洗了没有?
""是送去干洗了，先生。""是送给谁的?
""嗯，现在我可记不起来了。不过，我想，我要是再去那儿走一趟，能找到那个人……他就在车站附近。"不过，他说话时两眼望着地面，不敢跟斯米利目光相遇。
接着，斯米利如同早先梅森那样，问到了小船上的手提箱。还有，他既然没脱掉衣鞋，能泅水游到岸上，那他为什么不能游到罗伯达身边，帮她抓住那条倾覆了的小船呢?
克莱德如同早先一样解释说，他深怕自己被她也拖下了水，但此刻头一次补充说他是喊过她快抓住那条小船的，而在这以前，他只说过那条小船打从他们身边漂走了。斯米利记得梅森跟他也是这么说过的。还有，克莱德原说帽子给风刮走了，梅森说此事可以传唤证人佐证，也可以根据美国政府的气象报告，证明那一天风平浪静，一丝儿风也没有。因此，克莱德显然是在撒谎。他这样胡编乱造，必然露了马脚。不过，斯米利不愿让他太难堪，老是重复念叨说:
"哦，我明白了，"或是"当然罗，"或是"事情原来是这样，是吧?
"最后，斯米利问到罗伯达脸部和头部的伤痕。因为，梅森要他注意这些伤痕，并且坚信倘跟船舷碰撞，不可能同时两处都有伤痕。但是克莱德肯定说，那条小船只碰撞过她一下，所有的创伤都是这样来的，要不然，连他也想不出怎么会碰伤的。反正这时他自己开始认识到这一切解释都是徒劳的。因为，从斯米利那种困惑不安的神态看来，很清楚说明:
斯米利并不相信他的话。显而易见，斯米利认为他没有去搭救罗伯达，这是一种卑鄙。懦弱的行为。他眼巴巴看着让她溺水而死……而懦弱只不过是轻描淡写的托词罢了。
克莱德实在太疲惫。太沮丧，不想继续撒谎，最后也就干脆闭口不谈了。
而斯米利也太烦恼不安，不愿再进一步盘问他，弄得他惶惶不可终日。这时，斯米利简直坐立不安，来回揉手，最后才说:
"好吧，现在我该走了，克莱德。从这儿去沙隆的路相当不好走呀。不过，我很高兴听到了你对这事的看法。我将把你对我说的那些话如实转告你的伯父。可是，我要是处在你的地位，暂时就尽可能不要多说什么了……直至得到我进一步的消息。根据指示，我要在这儿物色一位辩护律师……如果我能做到的话……给你办这个案子。不过，现在时间不早了，我们的首席法律顾问布鲁克哈特先生明天就要回来，因此，我想最好还是先等一等，让我跟他谈过以后再说。所以，你要是接受我的劝告的话，那末，在你听到他或是我的消息以前，你就不要再多说什么了。要么是他自己来，要么是由他派某个人来……反正不拘是谁，总得持有我写的信，那时候，此人就会给你出点子的。"斯米利临行前这样劝告了之后就走了，让克莱德独自想心事。可是，斯米利本人一点儿都不怀疑克莱德是有罪的，而且认为，格里菲思家倘若不准备花上好几百万美元……如果说他们愿意的话……那怎么也不能把克莱德从他毫无疑问是自作自受的厄运中搭救出来。
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intriguingly
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conceal
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inquiry
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loath
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excerpts
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| n.摘录，摘要( excerpt的名词复数 )；节选（音乐，电影）片段 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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moodiness
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| n.喜怒无常；喜怒无常，闷闷不乐；情绪 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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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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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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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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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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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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hegira
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| n.逃亡 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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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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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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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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authorization
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| n.授权，委任状 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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geniality
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| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
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recessive
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| adj.退行的，逆行的，后退的，隐性的 | |
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exculpatory
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| adj.辩解的，辩明无罪的 | |
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placate
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| v.抚慰，平息(愤怒) | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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halcyon
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| n.平静的，愉快的 | |
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abrasions
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| n.磨损( abrasion的名词复数 )；擦伤处；摩擦；磨蚀（作用） | |
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bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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