Mr. Catchuman did not prove by any means to be the one to extract from Clyde anything more than had eitherMason or Smillie. Although shrewd to a degree in piecing together out of the muddled1 statements of anothersuch data as seemed most probable, still he was not so successful in the realm of the emotions, as was necessary in the case of Clyde. He was too legal, chilling--unemotional. And in consequence, after grilling2 Clyde for fourlong hours one hot July afternoon, he was eventually compelled to desist with the feeling that as a plotter ofcrime Clyde was probably the most arresting example of feeble and blundering incapacity he had ever met.
For since Smillie's departure Mason had proceeded to the shores of Big Bittern with Clyde. And there discoveredthe tripod and camera. Also listened to more of Clyde's lies. And as he now explained to Catchuman that, whileClyde denied owning a camera, nevertheless he had proof that he did own one and had taken it with him when heleft Lycurgus. Yet when confronted with this fact by Catchuman, as the latter now noticed, Clyde had nothing tosay other than that he had not taken a camera with him and that the tripod found was not the one belonging toany camera of his--a lie which so irritated Catchuman that he decided4 not to argue with him further.
At the same time, however, Brookhart having instructed him that, whatever his personal conclusions in regard toClyde, a lawyer of sorts was indispensable--the charity, if not the honor, of the Griffiths being this muchinvolved, the western Griffiths, as Brookhart had already explained to him, having nothing and not being wantedin the case anyhow--he decided that he must find one before leaving. In consequence, and without anyknowledge of the local political situation, he proceeded to the office of Ira Kellogg, president of the CataraquiCounty National Bank, who, although Catchuman did not know it, was high in the councils of the Democraticorganization. And because of his religious and moral views, this same Kellogg was already highly incensed5 andirritated by the crime of which Clyde was accused. On the other hand, however, because as he well knew thiscase was likely to pave the way for an additional Republican sweep at the approaching primaries, he was notblind to the fact that some reducing opposition6 to Mason might not be amiss. Fate seemed too obviously to befavoring the Republican machine in the person of and crime committed by Clyde.
For since the discovery of this murder, Mason had been basking7 in such publicity8 and even nation-wide notorietyas had not befallen any district attorney of this region in years and years. Newspaper correspondents andreporters and illustrators from such distant cities as Buffalo9, Rochester, Chicago, New York and Boston, werealready arriving as everybody knew or saw, to either interview or make sketches10 or take photos of Clyde, Mason,the surviving members of the Alden family, et cetera, while locally Mason was the recipient11 of undiluted praise,even the Democratic voters in the county joining with the Republicans in assuring each other that Mason was allright, that he was handling this young murderer in the way that he deserved to be handled, and that neither thewealth of the Griffiths nor of the family of that rich girl whom he appeared to have been trying to capture, wasinfluencing this young tribune of the people in the least. He was a real attorney. He had not "allowed any grass togrow under his feet, you bet."Indeed previous to Catchuman's visit, a coroner's jury had been called, with Mason attending and directing even,the verdict being that the dead girl had come to her death through a plot devised and executed by one ClydeGriffiths who was then and there in the county jail of Bridgeburg and that he be held to await the verdict of theCounty Grand Jury to whom his crime was soon to be presented. And Mason, through an appeal to the Governor,as all now knew was planning to secure a special sitting of the Supreme12 Court, which would naturally involve animmediate session of the County Grand Jury in order to hear the evidence and either indict13 or discharge Clyde.
And now, Catchuman arriving to inquire where he was likely to find a local lawyer of real ability who could betrusted to erect14 some sort of a defense15 for Clyde. And immediately as an offset16 to all this there popped intoKellogg's mind the name and reputation of one Hon. Alvin Belknap, of Belknap and Jephson, of this same city-anindividual who had been twice state senator, three times Democratic assemblyman from this region, and more recently looked upon by various Democratic politicians as one who would be favored with higher honors as soonas it was possible to arrange an issue which would permit the Democrats17 to enter into local office. In fact, onlythree years before, in a contest with Mason for the district attorneyship, this same Belknap had run closer tovictory than any other candidate on the Democratic ticket. Indeed, so rounded a man was he politically that thisyear he had been slated18 for that very county judgeship nomination19 which Mason had in view. And but for thissudden and most amazing development in connection with Clyde, it had been quite generally assumed thatBelknap, once nominated, would be elected. And although Mr. Kellogg did not quite trouble to explain toCatchuman all the complicated details of this very interesting political situation, he did explain that Mr. Belknapwas a very exceptional man, almost the ideal one, if one were looking for an opponent to Mason.
And with this slight introduction, Kellogg now offered personally to conduct Catchuman to Belknap andJephson's office, just across the way in the Bowers20 Block.
And then knocking at Belknap's door, they were admitted by a brisk, medium-sized and most engaging-lookingman of about forty-eight, whose gray-blue eyes at once fixed21 themselves in the mind of Catchuman as thepsychic windows of a decidedly shrewd if not altogether masterful and broad-gauge man. For Belknap wasinclined to carry himself with an air which all were inclined to respect. He was a college graduate, and in hisyouth because of his looks, his means, and his local social position (his father had been a judge as well as anational senator from here), he had seen so much of what might be called near-city life that all those gaucheriesas well as sex-inhibitions and sex-longings which still so greatly troubled and motivated and even marked a manlike Mason had long since been covered with an easy manner and social understanding which made him fairlycapable of grasping any reasonable moral or social complication which life was prepared to offer.
Indeed he was one who naturally would approach a case such as Clyde's with less vehemence23 and fever than didMason. For once, in his twentieth year, he himself had been trapped between two girls, with one of whom he wasmerely playing while being seriously in love with the other. And having seduced24 the first and being confrontedwith an engagement or flight, he had chosen flight. But not before laying the matter before his father, by whomhe was advised to take a vacation, during which time the services of the family doctor were engaged with theresult that for a thousand dollars and expenses necessary to house the pregnant girl in Utica, the father had finallyextricated his son and made possible his return, and eventual3 marriage to the other girl.
And therefore, while by no means sympathizing with the more cruel and drastic phases of Clyde's attempt atescape--as so far charged (never in all the years of his law practice had he been able to grasp the psychology25 of amurderer) still because of the rumored26 existence and love influence of a rich girl whose name had not as yet beendivulged he was inclined to suspect that Clyde had been emotionally betrayed or bewitched. Was he not poor andvain and ambitious? He had heard so: had even been thinking that he--the local political situation being what itwas might advantageously to himself--and perhaps most disruptingly to the dreams of Mr. Mason be able toconstruct a defense--or at least a series of legal contentions27 and delays which might make it not so easy for Mr.
Mason to walk away with the county judgeship as he imagined. Might it not, by brisk, legal moves now--andeven in the face of this rising public sentiment, or because of it,--be possible to ask for a change of venue--ortime to develop new evidence in which case a trial might not occur before Mr. Mason was out of office. He andhis young and somewhat new associate, Mr. Reuben Jephson, of quite recently the state of Vermont, had beenthinking of it.
And now Mr. Catchuman accompanied by Mr. Kellogg. And thereupon a conference with Mr. Catchuman andMr. Kellogg, with the latter arguing quite politically the wisdom of his undertaking28 such a defense. And his owninterest in the case being what it was, he was not long in deciding, after a conference with his younger associate,that he would. In the long run it could not possibly injure him politically, however the public might feel about itnow.
And then Catchuman having handed over a retainer to Belknap as well as a letter introducing him to Clyde,Belknap had Jephson call up Mason to inform him that Belknap & Jephson, as counsel for Samuel Griffiths onbehalf of his nephew, would require of him a detailed29 written report of all the charges as well as all the evidencethus far accumulated, the minutes of the autopsy30 and the report of the coroner's inquest. Also information as towhether any appeal for a special term of the Supreme Court had as yet been acted upon, and if so what judge hadbeen named to sit, and when and where the Grand Jury would be gathered. Incidentally, he said, Messrs. Belknapand Jephson, having heard that Miss Alden's body had been sent to her home for burial, would request at once acounsel's agreement whereby it might be exhumed31 in order that other doctors now to be called by the defensemight be permitted to examine it--a proposition which Mason at once sought to oppose but finally agreed torather than submit to an order from a Supreme Court judge.
These details having been settled, Belknap announced that he was going over to the jail to see Clyde. It was lateand he had had no dinner, and might get none now, but he wanted to have a "heart to heart" with this youth,whom Catchuman informed him he would find very difficult. But Belknap, buoyed32 up as he was by hisopposition to Mason, his conviction that he was in a good mental state to understand Clyde, was in a high degreeof legal curiosity. The romance and drama of this crime! What sort of a girl was this Sondra Finchley, of whomhe had already heard through secret channels? And could she by any chance be brought to Clyde's defense? Hehad already understood that her name was not to be mentioned--high politics demanding this. He was really mosteager to talk to this sly and ambitious and futile33 youth.
However, on reaching the jail, and after showing Sheriff Slack a letter from Catchuman and asking as a specialfavor to himself that he be taken upstairs to some place near Clyde's cell in order that, unannounced, he mightfirst observe Clyde, he was quietly led to the second floor and, the outside door leading to the corridor whichfaced Clyde's cell being opened for him, allowed to enter there alone. And then walking to within a few feet ofClyde's cell he was able to view him--at the moment lying face down on his iron cot, his arms above his head, atray of untouched food standing22 in the aperture34, his body sprawled35 and limp. For, since Catchuman's departure,and his second failure to convince any one of his futile and meaningless lies, he was more despondent36 than ever.
In fact, so low was his condition that he was actually crying, his shoulders heaving above his silent emotion. Atsight of this, and remembering his own youthful escapades, Belknap now felt intensely sorry for him. Nosoulless murderer, as he saw it, would cry.
Approaching Clyde's cell door, after a pause, he began with: "Come, come, Clyde! This will never do. Youmustn't give up like this. Your case mayn't be as hopeless as you think. Wouldn't you like to sit up and talk to alawyer fellow who thinks he might be able to do something for you? Belknap is my name--Alvin Belknap. I liveright here in Bridgeburg and I have been sent over by that other fellow who was here a while ago--Catchuman,wasn't that his name? You didn't get along with him so very well, did you? Well, I didn't either. He's not ourkind, I guess. But here's a letter from him authorizing37 me to represent you. Want to see it?" He poked38 it geniallyand authoritatively39 through the narrow bars toward which Clyde, now curious and dubious40, approached. For there was something so whole-hearted and unusual and seemingly sympathetic and understanding in this man'svoice that Clyde took courage. And without hesitancy, therefore, he took the letter and looked at it, then returnedit with a smile.
"There, I thought so," went on Belknap, most convincingly and pleased with his effect, which he creditedentirely to his own magnetism41 and charm. "That's better. I know we're going to get along. I can feel it. You aregoing to be able to talk to me as easily and truthfully as you would to your mother. And without any fear that anyword of anything you ever tell me is going to reach another ear, unless you want it to, see? For I'm going to beyour lawyer, Clyde, if you'll let me, and you're going to be my client, and we're going to sit down together tomorrow,or whenever you say so, and you're going to tell me all you think I ought to know, and I'm going to tellyou what I think I ought to know, and whether I'm going to be able to help you. And I'm going to prove to youthat in every way that you help me, you're helping42 yourself, see? And I'm going to do my damnedest to get youout of this. Now, how's that, Clyde?"He smiled most encouragingly and sympathetically--even affectionately. And Clyde, feeling for the first timesince his arrival here that he had found some one in whom he could possibly confide43 without danger, was alreadythinking it might be best if he should tell this man all--everything--he could not have said why, quite, but heliked him. In a quick, if dim way he felt that this man understood and might even sympathize with him, if heknew all or nearly all. And after Belknap had detailed how eager this enemy of his--Mason--was to convict him,and how, if he could but devise a reasonable defense, he was sure he could delay the case until this man was outof office, Clyde announced that if he would give him the night to think it all out, to-morrow or any time he choseto come back, he would tell him all.
And then, the next day Belknap sitting on a stool and munching44 chocolate bars, listened while Clyde before himon his iron cot, poured forth45 his story--all the details of his life since arriving at Lycurgus--how and why he hadcome there, the incident of the slain46 child in Kansas City, without, however, mention of the clipping which hehimself had preserved and then forgotten; his meeting with Roberta, and his desire for her; her pregnancy47 andhow he had sought to get her out of it--on and on until, she having threatened to expose him, he had at last, andin great distress48 and fright, found the item in The Times-union and had sought to emulate49 that in action. But hehad never plotted it personally, as Belknap was to understand. Nor had he intentionally50 killed her at the last. No,he had not. Mr. Belknap must believe that, whatever else he thought. He had never deliberately51 struck her. No,no, no! It had been an accident. There had been a camera, and the tripod reported to have been found by Masonwas unquestionably his tripod. Also, he had hidden it under a log, after accidentally striking Roberta with thecamera and then seeing that sink under the waters, where no doubt it still was, and with pictures of himself andRoberta on the film it contained, if they were not dissolved by the water. But he had not struck her intentionally.
No--he had not. She had approached and he had struck, but not intentionally. The boat had upset. And then asnearly as he could, he described how before that he had seemed to be in a trance almost, because having gone sofar he could go no farther.
But in the meantime, Belknap, himself finally wearied and confused by this strange story, the impossibility as henow saw it of submitting to, let alone convincing, any ordinary backwoods jury of this region, of the innocenceof these dark and bitter plans and deeds, finally in great weariness and uncertainty53 and mental confusion, even,getting up and placing his hands on Clyde's shoulders, saying: "Well, that'll be enough of this for to-day, Clyde, Ithink. I see how you felt and how it all came about--also I see how tired you are, and I'm mighty54 glad you've been able to give me the straight of this, because I know how hard it's been for you to do it. But I don't want youto talk any more now. There are going to be other days, and I have a few things I want to attend to before I takeup some of the minor55 phases of this with you to-morrow or next day. Just you sleep and rest for the present.
You'll need all you can get for the work both of us will have to do a little later. But just now, you're not to worry,because there's no need of it, do you see? I'll get you out of this--or we will--my partner and I. I have a partnerthat I'm going to bring around here presently. You'll like him, too. But there are one or two things that I want youto think about and stick to--and one of these is that you're not to let anybody frighten you into anything, becauseeither myself or my partner will be around here once a day anyhow, and anything you have to say or want toknow you can say or find out from us. Next you're not to talk to anybody--Mason, the sheriff, these jailers, noone--unless I tell you to. No one, do you hear! And above all things, don't cry any more. For if you are asinnocent as an angel, or as black as the devil himself, the worst thing you can do is to cry before any one. Thepublic and these jail officers don't understand that--they invariably look upon it as weakness or a confession56 ofguilt. And I don't want them to feel any such thing about you now, and especially when I know that you're reallynot guilty. I know that now. I believe it. See! So keep a stiff upper lip before Mason and everybody.
"In fact, from now on I want you to try and laugh a little--or at any rate, smile and pass the time of day with thesefellows around here. There's an old saying in law, you know, that the consciousness of innocence52 makes any mancalm. Think and look innocent. Don't sit and brood and look as though you had lost your last friend, because youhaven't. I'm here, and so is my partner, Mr. Jephson. I'll bring him around here in a day or two, and you're to lookand act toward him exactly as you have toward me. Trust him, because in legal matters he's even smarter than Iam in some ways. And to-morrow I'm going to bring you a couple of books and some magazines and papers,and I want you to read them or look at the pictures. They'll help keep your mind off your troubles."Clyde achieved a rather feeble smile and nodded his head.
"From now on, too,--I don't know whether you're at all religious--but whether you are or not, they hold serviceshere in the jail on Sundays, and I want you to attend 'em regularly--that is, if they ask you to. For this is areligious community and I want you to make as good an impression as you can. Never mind what people say orhow they look--you do as I tell you. And if this fellow Mason or any of those fellows around here get topestering you any more, send me a note.
"And now I'll be going, so give me a cheerful smile as I go out--and another one as I come in. And don't talk,see?"Then shaking Clyde briskly by the shoulders and slapping him on the back, he strode out, actually thinking tohimself: "But do I really believe that this fellow is as innocent as he says? Would it be possible for a fellow tostrike a girl like that and not know that he was doing it intentionally? And then swimming away afterwards,because, as he says, if he went near her he thought he might drown too. Bad. Bad! What twelve men are going tobelieve that? And that bag, those two hats, that missing suit! And yet he swears he didn't intentionally strike her.
But what about all that planning--the intent--which is just as bad in the eyes of the law. Is he telling the truth or ishe lying even now--perhaps trying to deceive himself as well as me? And that camera--we ought to get hold ofthat before Mason finds it and introduces it. And that suit. I ought to find that and mention it, maybe, so as tooffset the look of its being hidden--say that we had it all the time--send it to Lycurgus to be cleaned. But no, no-waita minute--I must think about that."And so on, point by point, while deciding wearily that perhaps it would be better not to attempt to use Clyde'sstory at all, but rather to concoct57 some other story--this one changed or modified in some way which would makeit appear less cruel or legally murderous.
可是，卡奇曼先生从克莱德身上探出来的情况，压根儿不见得比梅森或斯米利更多些。尽管他相当心细手巧，根据杂乱无章的谈话，编成一份似乎最翔实可靠的资料，但是，对克莱德一案来说，必须了解清楚的内心活动方面，他却并没有取得多大成功。他这个人太严峻。太冷漠……不易动感情。因此，在七月里一个炎热的下午，他把克莱德折磨了整整四个钟头，最后才不得不收场。
他深深地感到，作为一个凶杀案的策划者来说，克莱德恐怕是他所见到过的能力最差。纰漏最多的一个惊人的例子。
斯米利走了以后，梅森押着克莱德去大比腾湖边，就在那儿发现了三脚架和照相机。又听了克莱德另外编造的一些谎话。现在梅森向卡奇曼解释说，克莱德虽然否认他有照相机，可是他梅森有确实证据，证明他确实有一架照相机，而且，他从莱柯格斯动身时就带在身边的。但卡奇曼向克莱德提出这个问题时，发觉克莱德只说自己身边没有带照相机，被发现的三脚架并不是他照相机上的三脚架……这句谎话，让卡奇曼非常反感，就决定再也不跟他争辩下去了。
不过，布鲁克哈特曾关照过他，不管他个人对克莱德作出结论如何，还是少不了要给他选一名辩护律师;这至少涉及到格里菲思家的仁慈，且不说他们的家族荣誉。布鲁克哈特还向他交过底，说西部姓格里菲思的那一家赤贫如洗，反正本案也不必要把他们牵连进去。因此，他决定临行前，非得物色到一名辩护律师不可。结果，他因为对当地政情一无所知，就找到了卡塔拉基县国民银行行长艾拉。凯洛格的办公处。此人在当地民主党组织里地位很高(对此卡奇曼并不了解)。这位凯洛格从他宗教和道德观出发，对克莱德被告发的罪行早就非常愤怒。但从另一方面，他深知这个案子很可能给共和党在即将来临的预选中再获全胜铺平了道路。因此，他看到，这是一个可以利用来削弱梅森的声望的机会。由于克莱德这个人的形象以及他所犯的罪行，看来运气很显然是对共和党机器有利。
因为，自从这一凶杀案发现以来，梅森甚至在全国一直享有盛名，可以说多少年来本区哪一个地方检察官从来没有碰到过的。来自布法罗。罗切斯特。
芝加哥。纽约和波士顿这些遥远的城市的各报通讯员。记者和插图画家，都早已来到这里，向克莱德。梅森，以及奥尔登家里其他人，或是进行采访，或是画速写，或是拍照等等……这一切人人都已知道，或是亲眼看到了。与此同时，梅森在当地社会上已成为交口称誉的对象，甚至连本县民主党的选民也跟共和党人联合在一起，都肯定梅森为人公道，说他处置这个年轻杀人犯的办法正是后者罪有应得，又说不管是有钱有势的格里菲思家也好，还是克莱德好象很想征服的那个有钱的姑娘家的财富也好，对这个年轻的护民官丝毫没有产生影响。
他才是一个真正的检察官啊。他决不会"坐失良机，您尽管放心"。
事实上，在卡奇曼来访以前，验尸陪审团甚至在梅森主持与指导下，已经开过会了，一致认为:
这个姑娘之所以致死，是由于一个名叫克莱德。格里菲思的人策划谋杀的结果;此犯现已关进布里奇伯格县监狱，应继续予以扣押，听候本县大陪审团判决;他的罪案不日即将呈报本县大陪审团。众所周知，梅森已请求州长，让最高法院专门开庭审理，因此，本县大陪审团自然要召开会议，以便听取证词，并决定对克莱德起诉，或是将他释放。正在这时，卡奇曼来到这里，问能不能寻摸到一位真正有能力的本地律师，确信能为克莱德作些辩护。
为了抵制梅森这一切的活动，凯洛格马上想到本市贝尔纳普与杰夫森律师事务所里的阿尔文。贝尔纳普这个人的大名和他的声望:
此人当过两任本州参议员，三次代表本区出任民主党州众议员。最近，许多民主党的政客认为:
他还可以擢升到更高的要职，只要民主党能将本地行政机构掌握在自己的手里。事实上，三年前，这位贝尔纳普与梅森竞争地方检察官的职位时，对梅森来说，他就是民主党候选人名单上最危险的一个劲敌。诚然，他跟政界各方面关系都给打通了，今年已被提名为本县法官候选人，这一职位也正是被梅森眼睛盯住了的。
要不是突然发生了克莱德这一惊人事件，一般都认为，贝尔纳普只要一被提名，就会当选。这种极端有趣的政坛形势，连同所有错综复杂的细节，凯洛格先生虽然没有不厌其烦地一一讲给卡奇曼听，不过，他倒是确实讲过这样的话:
倘要寻摸梅森的对手，贝尔纳普先生则是一个特别合适，甚至再也理想不过的人了。
经过这样扼要介绍以后，凯洛格乐意亲自陪同卡奇曼到街对面鲍尔斯大楼里的贝尔纳普与杰夫森律师事务所去。
他们叩了一下贝尔纳普的门，应接他们的是一个中等身材，生气勃勃，看来很招人欢喜的男子，年龄在四十八岁左右;他那双灰蓝色眼睛，卡奇曼一见就觉得:
此人即使说不上特别老练。心胸宽厚的话，单看这两扇心灵的窗口，显然就能知道他是非常精明的。因为贝尔纳普平时举止谈吐很有风度，无不使周围所有的人肃然起敬。他是个大学毕业生。年轻时，由于他的容貌。家境，及其在本地的社会地位(他父亲做过法官，又当过代表本州的参议员)，他早已尽情地领略过通常所谓寻欢作乐的生活乐趣，因此，所有那些不善交际。性压抑。性渴念等等感受，至今依然使梅森这样的人困惑。激动，甚至给了他的一言一行以决定性的影响，然而对贝尔纳普来说，却早已成为过去了;他的通情达理和宽容大度，使他对生活中常常碰到的。从道德或社会视角来看都很复杂(但只要不是非常特别)的任何问题，他全都能理解得相当透彻。
事实上，此人就其秉性来说，在处置克莱德这么一个案子时，当然不象梅森那样激烈。狂热。要知道，他在二十岁那年，曾为两个姑娘而陷入过困境:
他跟其中的一个只不过是玩玩，而同另一个却是一本正经地在谈恋爱。他诱奸了第一个姑娘，当时摆在他面前的，要么是订婚，要么是逃跑，他选择了逃跑。
不过，事先他把这事告诉了父亲，父亲劝他出去休假旅行，同时请家庭医生大力相助，结果花去一千块美元，另外还支付了那个怀孕姑娘住在尤蒂卡时的一笔必要开销。父亲毕竟使儿子摆脱了困境，方才可以回来，最后跟另一个姑娘结了婚。
因此，虽然对于克莱德企图逃避责任时所采取的……如同迄今他被告发的……那些比贝尔纳普本人当年所采取的较为残忍和激烈的措施，贝尔纳普决不同情(他开业当律师尽管已有这么多年，一直无法理解杀人犯的心理)，但是因为传说克莱德还跟一个富翁的女儿有过风流韵事，考虑到爱情所造成的影响(这个姑娘的名字，至今仍未被披露)，贝尔纳普倾向于认为:
克莱德是被爱情迷住了，是着了魔。他不是一个虽然贫穷但又爱慕虚荣。欲望强烈的人吗?
他听说确实就是这样。他甚至还这样琢磨过:
本地的政坛形势，说不定对自己大有好处，或许还会使梅森的美梦化为泡影，那就是说，也许可由他提出辩护的设想……或是至少通过一系列法庭辩论和一再延期，使梅森不能那么轻而易举地夺走他梦寐以求的本县法官这一职位。目前不是可以通过强有力的法律手段……甚至不顾与日俱增的群情激愤，或者说也正是有鉴于此……来要求变更审判地点吗?
或者要求放宽时间，以便发现新的证据，这样在梅森离职前也许审判还不会开始。
他和他的那个年轻的新同事，刚从佛蒙特州来的鲁本。杰夫森先生，他们两人最近正想到这一着呢。
正在这时，卡奇曼先生在凯洛格先生陪同下走了进来。贝尔纳普马上跟卡奇曼先生和凯洛格先生进行磋商。凯洛格先生从政治上论证由贝尔纳普接手这么一个案子是明智的。何况贝尔纳普本人对该案也很感兴趣，他跟他的年轻同事商议以后，马上表示同意了。不管目前公众会怎么想，从长远的观点看，它不可能在政治上对他有危害。
随后，卡奇曼将一笔预约辩护聘金，连同把他介绍给克莱德的一封信，都交给了贝尔纳普。贝尔纳普请杰夫森打电话通知梅森，说贝尔纳普与杰夫森事务所受塞缪尔。格里菲思的委托，出任他侄子的辩护律师，要求他梅森给他们一份详细的书面报告，其中包括所有的罪状与迄今搜集到的全部证据，还有尸体解剖记录，以及验尸官验尸结果的报告。此外还要了解一下:
要求最高法院专门开庭一事获准了没有。如果已经获准了，那末，指定的法官是谁，大陪审团在何时何地开会。他还说，顺便提一下，据贝尔纳普和杰夫森两位先生听说，奥尔登小姐的尸体已运回家乡安葬，他们要求即刻获得双方律师同意，将尸体重新掘出来，由被告的辩护律师延请其他医生进行查验。梅森对上述这个提议马上表示反对，不过，到最后还是同意了，因为，要不然，他们就得报送最高法院等候法官的裁决。
这些细节问题全都谈妥以后，贝尔纳普宣布说，他要去监狱看看克莱德。
这时天色已经不早了，他还没有吃晚饭，而且现在说不定连晚饭也吃不上了，不过，他很想跟这个年轻人"推心置腹"地谈一谈。据卡奇曼向他介绍说，他一定会发现这个年轻人是很难对付的。可是贝尔纳普倍觉鼓舞的是因为他反对梅森，深信自己有充分的思考力，最最容易了解克莱德，何况他从事律师这一职业的好奇心，简直已达到了顶点。这个案子，既有风流艳史，而又富于戏剧性!
这个桑德拉。芬奇利，到底是怎样一位姑娘呢?
他通过秘密渠道，已经听人说起过了。
难道说就不传唤她来给克莱德辩护吗?
人们早已关照过他:
她的名字是万万不可提到的……这正是高层政治利益的需要。说实话，他恨不得马上跟这个狡猾。
欲望强烈，但是没出息的年轻人谈一谈。
贝尔纳普一到监狱，把卡奇曼的介绍信交给执法官斯莱克，要求特别照顾，让他到楼上靠近克莱德牢房的地方，不声不响地先观察一下这个囚犯。稍后，他便悄悄地被引领到了二楼。通往克莱德牢房的过道那道门正敞着，让他独自一人走了进去。贝尔纳普走到离克莱德牢房只有几步远的地方，只见他正脸儿朝下，两手捂住脑袋，四肢叉开，浑身瘫了似的俯伏在铁床上。牢房那个小不点儿的窗口里，还有一盘吃食，一动也没动过。因为自从卡奇曼走后，也就是在他第二次失败(他本想用一些空洞无聊的谎话来骗取人家的信任)以后，他比过去更加心灰意懒了。他内心情绪是如此低沉，这会儿确实是在哭，他的两个肩膀，也好象由于无声的呻吟而在抽搐着。贝尔纳普一见此情此景，立刻回想起自己年轻时的荒唐事，不由得无比怜悯他。依他看，没有灵魂的杀人犯是不会哭的。
他走近克莱德牢房的门口，迟疑了一下，这才开始说:
"得了，得了，克莱德!
这可要不得。你可千万别这样垂头丧气。你这个案子，也许并不象你想象中那样毫无希望啊。好好坐起来，跟一个也许能给你出一点力的律师谈谈吧?
本人叫贝尔纳普……阿尔文。贝尔纳普。我就住在布里奇伯格。是刚才来看过你的人派我来的……他叫卡奇曼，是吧?
你跟他谈不到一块，是吧?
啊，我跟他也谈不到一块。依我看，他可不是我们那样的人。不过，眼前这封信，是他授权我来作为你的辩护人。你要看一看吗?
"他和颜悦色。信心十足地将那封信从狭窄的铁栅栏里塞了进去。克莱德迟疑而又好奇地朝铁栅栏这边走过来。这个人说话的声音里，有一种真心诚意。
异乎寻常。好象是同情谅解的调子，这使克莱德一下子来了勇气。于是，他不再犹豫，拿起信来看了一下，跟着微微一笑，将信还给了来人。
"得了，我早就这么想过了，"贝尔纳普信心十足地继续说，对自己一下子取得的效果很感满意……依他看，完全应该归功于他的那种巨大的个人魅力。"这就更好了。我知道，我们准合得来。这我可看得出来。你一定能跟我开诚相见地谈，有如你同母亲谈一样。而且，你也不用担心你跟我谈的哪一句话，会传到别人耳朵里，除非你自己乐意让它传出去，明白吧?
因为只要你同意，克莱德，我就出任你的辩护律师，你就是我的委托人。明天或是随你说什么时候，我们要一块坐下来，你就把你认为我应该知道的事通通告诉我;而我就要对你说，我认为我应该知道哪些事情，以及我到底能不能帮助你。而且，我还要向你证明:
不管是在哪一方面，你帮助了我，其实也就是帮助了你自己，明白吧?
可我怎么也得拚上我的老命，要把你从这个案子里拖出来。现在，你倒说说看，怎么样，克莱德?
"他充满鼓励。同情……甚至亲昵地微微一笑。克莱德觉得这是他入狱后头一次找到了一个他信得过，而又绝无危险的人，他心里已经在琢磨，也许最好把所有一切……每一件事……一古脑儿都告诉这个人。至于他为什么会这样，连他自己也说不上来，反正贝尔纳普他是喜欢的。克莱德马上……尽管还是朦朦胧胧地……觉得，只要这个人全都……或是差不多全都……知道的话，他就会了解他的，说不定甚至还会同情他的。后来，贝尔纳普又向克莱德详细介绍他的对手……梅森……如何恨不得马上给他定罪判刑;还说只要他能设计出一个合理的辩护方案，他又如何十拿九稳，使这个案子拖下去，直到这个人卸去地方检察官职务时为止。于是，克莱德便说，贝尔纳普最好让他今天夜里好好地思考一下，那末，到了明天，或是随贝尔纳普的便，什么时候再回来，他就要把所有一切都向这位辩护律师和盘托出。
转天，贝尔纳普坐在一只凳子上，嘴里嚼着一条条巧克力，仔细地倾听着。
克莱德坐在自己铁床上，向贝尔纳普陈述个人经历……从他来到莱柯格斯以后生活中的所有情节说起，比方说，他是怎样到这里来的，为什么要来，以及在堪萨斯城轧死一小孩的不幸事故(不过，他并没有提到他给自己保留的。后来却又遗忘了的那份剪报);他跟罗伯达的幽会，对她充满情欲，使她怀了孕，后来他又怎样想方设法让她摆脱困境。他谈着，谈着，一直谈到，她如何吓唬他，说要揭发他，最后，他在万分绝望和惊恐之下碰巧看到《时代联合报》上那条新闻，自己就想何不也仿效一下。不过，贝尔纳普必须明白，这个他自己是怎么也策划不出来的。到了最后一刻，他也不是存心要把她害死的。不，他并没有害死她。不管贝尔纳普先生是怎么想的，但是这一点必须相信克莱德。他从来没有故意砸过她。不，不，不!
这是一个不幸事故。他是有一架照相机的，据说有一副三脚架给梅森找到了，那当然就是他的三脚架。他在无意中用照相机砸了罗伯达，随后眼看着照相机沉入湖底了。于是，他把那副三脚架藏匿在一根圆木底下。那架照相机，毫无疑问，如今还在湖底，里头胶卷只要没有被湖水泡坏，上面还有他本人跟罗伯达拍摄的像片。反正他从来没有故意砸过她。不，他从来也没有呀。是她身子向他探过来，他碰了她一下，但决不是故意的。小船一下子翻掉了。随后，他尽可能把当时情况说得更准确，说他在翻船面前如何惊恐失措，简直是呆若木鸡似的，因为当时他已在那条犯罪的路上走得那么远，再也无法走得更远了。
这个离奇的故事，终于使贝尔纳普也感到心烦意乱了。依他看，这一切简直没法向这里荒僻林区的任何一个普通陪审团提出来，更不用说让他们相信这些恶毒。残酷的计划与行动竟然都是毫无恶意的。最后，贝尔纳普简直腻味透顶，满腹狐疑，甚至心乱如麻，站了起来，两手搭在克莱德肩膀上，说:
"嗯，我想，今天讲到这儿就得了，克莱德。你心中的感受，以及这一切发生经过，我全都明白了。我也知道你该有多累了。我很高兴你能把这一切真相全讲给我听，因为我知道要你讲这些，该有多难受呀。但现在我不要你再多讲了。以后我们日子还长着呢。再说，暂时我还有几件事要兼顾一下，到明天或是后天，我要把这个案子里头一些细节跟你谈一谈。现在，你先躺下来睡，暂时休息一下吧。
不久我们两个就要开始工作了，你非得有饱满的精力不可。不过，暂时你不要发愁，因为这压根儿就犯不着担心嘛，明白吧?
我……说得更确切些……是我们……我的同事和我想要把你从这一事件中拖出来。我有一个同事，我马上要把他带到这儿来。谅你也一定会喜欢他的。不过，有两个条件，我希望你能考虑一下，而且还要坚决遵守……第一，你千万不要一见到什么人，自己先就给吓坏了，因为不管是我也好，还是我的同事也好，反正每天要来这儿一趟的。
你想要说些什么，或是想要知道些什么，你尽管可以对我们说就得了。第二，你不得同任何人说话……不管是梅森。执法官，或是这些监狱看守，哪一个人都不行……除非我关照你可以这么做。不管是谁，都不准说……你听见了吧!
顶顶要紧的是……再也不要哭鼻子。因为，不管你象天使一样清白也好，还是象魔鬼一样恶毒也好，顶顶要不得的，就是……你在人家面前哭鼻子。不管公众也好，还是这些监狱看守也好，他们并不了解这个……人家始终把泪水看成一种软弱，或是自己供认有罪。我决不希望人家对你抱有类似这样看法，特别是我已经明白，事实上你并没有犯罪。这一点现在我明白了，而且也是相信的。
你明白吧!
所以，你在梅森等人面前，就得表现坚定沉着。
"其实，从现在起，我希望你就不妨开始来一点儿格格大笑……至少也要笑眯眯的，乐呵呵的，跟这儿所有人都得寒暄道好。你知道吧，司法界有一句老话:
只要知道自己无罪，定能处之泰然。记住自己是无罪的，别让人家看到你有犯罪的神态。切莫愁眉不展呆坐在这儿冥思苦索，让人看到你好象连一个朋友都没有……但事实上，你并不是这样。有我在这儿哩……还有我的同事，杰夫森先生，我们都同你在一起。过一两天，我要把他带来。你对待他的态度，就要象对待我的态度一个样。要信任他，因为他精通法律，在某些方面比我还要强。明天，我要带一些书报杂志给你，我希望你随便翻翻，或是看看那些插图也好。反正可以让你消消闷，解解愁呗。"克莱德淡淡地一笑，点点头。
"哦，还有一件事……我可不知道你现在信不信教……不过，不管你信也好，不信也好，这儿监狱里星期天照例做礼拜的，我劝你要经常参加……这就是说，只要人家邀你参加的话。因为，这儿人人都信教，我倒是希望你尽可能给人留下一个好印象。至于别人对你有什么议论，或是对你看法如何，你先不要放在心上……你只要照我的话儿去做就得了。但是，如果说梅森这个家伙，或是这儿哪一个人再来跟你胡搅蛮缠，给我写个条子就得了。
"现在，我该走了，我出门时，你要乐哈哈地对我笑一笑，下次我一进门时，你也要这样笑一笑来迎接我。还有，不许胡扯……明白了吧?
"随后，他使劲地晃了晃克莱德的肩膀，拍拍他的后背，便迈开大步走出了牢房。其实，这时他心里却在思忖:
"请问，我真的相信这小子象他所说的自己无罪吗?
砸了一个姑娘，还不知道他这是故意砸的，这可能吗?
过后，他就泅水游到别处去了，照他的说法，因为深怕一游到姑娘身边，说不定会被她拉住，也给淹死了。简直是卑鄙无耻!
象他这样说法，十二个人(此处指大陪审团(通常由十二至二十三人组成)。)会相信吗?
还有……那只手提箱。那两顶草帽。那套不翼而飞的衣服!
可是他却赌誓发咒，说他是无意之中砸了她的。但他那一整套的计划……真实意图……从法律观点来看，还不是同样犯罪了吗。他说的是实话呢，还是直到此刻继续在撒谎?
也许是想欺骗他自己，同时也在欺骗我吧?
还有那架照相机……本来我们应该在梅森找到和当众出示以前早就弄到手的。还有那套衣服。我应该把它找到，也许还得公开地提一提，别让人家以为那套衣服是藏匿起来了……说它一直掌握在我们手里……已送到莱柯格斯去洗了。可是，不，不……等一等……这事我们还得好好琢磨琢磨不可。"就这样一点一点地暗自琢磨，同时，他又腻味地想到:
最好也许压根儿不采用克莱德的说法，还不如干脆另编一套……那就是说，把克莱德的那个说法改动一下，让人看起来不是那么残酷，或是从法律观点来看，也不是那么迹近谋杀。
收听单词发音 |
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muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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grilling
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| v.烧烤( grill的现在分词 )；拷问，盘问 | |
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eventual
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| adj.最后的，结局的，最终的 | |
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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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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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sketches
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| n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概 | |
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recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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indict
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| v.起诉，控告，指控 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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offset
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| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
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democrats
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| n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
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slated
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| 用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nomination
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| n.提名，任命，提名权 | |
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bowers
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| n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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rumored
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| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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contentions
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| n.竞争( contention的名词复数 )；争夺；争论；论点 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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autopsy
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| n.尸体解剖；尸检 | |
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exhumed
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| v.挖出，发掘出( exhume的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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authorizing
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| 授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 ) | |
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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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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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magnetism
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| n.磁性，吸引力，磁学 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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pregnancy
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| n.怀孕，怀孕期 | |
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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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emulate
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| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
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intentionally
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| ad.故意地，有意地 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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concoct
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| v.调合，制造 | |
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