The result of all this, however, was that it was finally decided1 that perhaps the easiest and safest defense2 thatcould be made, assuming that the Griffiths family of Lycurgus would submit to it, would be that of insanity3 or"brain storm"--a temporary aberration4 due to love and an illusion of grandeur5 aroused in Clyde by SondraFinchley and the threatened disruption by Roberta of all his dreams and plans. But after consultation6 withCatchuman and Darrah Brookhart at Lycurgus, and these in turn conferring with Samuel and Gilbert Griffiths, itwas determined7 that this would not do. For to establish insanity or "brain storm" would require previous evidenceor testimony8 to the effect that Clyde was of none too sound mind, erratic9 his whole life long, and with certainspecific instances tending to demonstrate how really peculiar10 he was--relatives (among them the Griffiths ofLycurgus themselves, perhaps), coming on to swear to it--a line of evidence, which, requiring as it would,outright lying and perjury11 on the part of many as well as reflecting on the Griffiths' blood and brain, wassufficient to alienate12 both Samuel and Gilbert to the extent that they would have none of it. And so Brookhartwas compelled to assure Belknap that this line of defense would have to be abandoned.
Such being the case, both Belknap and Jephson were once more compelled to sit down and consider. For any other defense which either could think of now seemed positively13 hopeless.
"I want to tell you one thing!" observed the sturdy Jephson, after thumbing through the letters of both Robertaand Sondra again. "These letters of this Alden girl are the toughest things we're going to have to face. They'relikely to make any jury cry if they're read right, and then to introduce those letters from that other girl on top ofthese would be fatal. It will be better, I think, if we do not mention hers at all, unless he does. It will only make itlook as though he had killed that Alden girl to get rid of her. Mason couldn't want anything better, as I see it."And with this Belknap agreed most heartily14.
At the same time, some plan must be devised immediately. And so, out of these various conferences, it wasfinally deduced by Jephson, who saw a great opportunity for himself in this matter, that the safest possibledefense that could be made, and one to which Clyde's own suspicious and most peculiar actions would mostexactly fit, would be that he had never contemplated15 murder. On the contrary, being a moral if not a physicalcoward, as his own story seemed to suggest, and in terror of being exposed and driven out of Lycurgus and of theheart of Sondra, and never as yet having told Roberta of Sondra and thinking that knowledge of this great lovefor her (Sondra) might influence Roberta to wish to be rid of him, he had hastily and without any worse plan inmind, decided to persuade Roberta to accompany him to any near-by resort but not especially Grass Lake or BigBittern, in order to tell her all this and so win his freedom--yet not without offering to pay her expenses as nearlyas he could during her very trying period.
"All well and good," commented Belknap. "But that involves his refusing to marry her, doesn't it? And what juryis going to sympathize with him for that or believe that he didn't want to kill her?""Wait a minute, wait a minute," replied Jephson, a little testily16. "So far it does. Sure. But you haven't heard me tothe end yet. I said I had a plan.""All right, then what is it?" replied Belknap most interested.
"Well, I'll tell you--my plan's this--to leave all the facts just as they are, and just as he tells them, and just asMason has discussed them so far, except, of course, his striking her--and then explain them--the letters, thewounds, the bag, the two hats, everything--not deny them in any way."And here he paused and ran his long, thin, freckled17 hands eagerly through his light hair and looked across thegrass of the public square to the jail where Clyde was, then toward Belknap again.
"All very good, but how?" queried18 Belknap.
"There's no other way, I tell you," went on Jephson quite to himself, and ignoring his senior, "and I think this willdo it." He turned to look out the window again, and began as though talking to some one outside: "He goes upthere, you see, because he's frightened and because he has to do something or be exposed. And he signs thoseregisters just as he did because he's afraid to have it known by anybody down there in Lycurgus that he is upthere. And he has this plan about confessing to her about this other girl. BUT," and now he paused and lookedfixedly at Belknap, "and this is the keystone of the whole thing--if this won't hold water, then down we go!
Listen! He goes up there with her, frightened, and not to marry her or to kill her but to argue with her to go away.
But once up there and he sees how sick she is, and tired, and sad-- well, you know how much she still loves him,and he spends two nights with her, see?""Yes, I see," interrupted Belknap, curiously19, but not quite so dubiously20 now. "And that might explain thosenights.""MIGHT? Would!" replied Jephson, slyly and calmly, his harebell eyes showing only cold, eager, practical logic,no trace of emotion or even sympathy of any kind, really. "Well, while he's up there with her under thoseconditions--so close to her again, you see" (and his facial expression never altered so much as by a line) "heexperiences a change of heart. You get me? He's sorry for her. He's ashamed of himself--his sin against her. Thatought to appeal to these fellows around here, these religious and moral people, oughtn't it?""It might," quietly interpolated Belknap, who by now was very much interested and a little hopeful.
"He sees that he's done her a wrong," continued Jephson, intent, like a spider spinning a web, on his own plan,"and in spite of all his affection for this other girl, he's now ready to do the right thing by this Alden girl, do yousee, because he's sorry and ashamed of himself. That takes the black look off his plotting to kill her whilespending those two nights in Utica and Grass Lake with her.""He still loves the other girl, though?" interjected Belknap.
"Well, sure. He likes her at any rate, has been fascinated by that life down there and sort of taken out of himself,made over into a different person, but now he's ready to marry Roberta, in case, after telling her all about thisother girl and his love for her, she still wants him to.""I see. But how about the boat now and that bag and his going up to this Finchley girl's place afterwards?""Just a minute! Just a minute! I'll tell you about that," continued Jephson, his blue eyes boring into space like apowerful electric ray. "Of course, he goes out in the boat with her, and of course he takes that bag, and of coursehe signs those registers falsely, and walks away through those woods to that other girl, after Roberta is drowned.
But why? Why? Do you want to know why? I'll tell you! He felt sorry for her, see, and he wanted to marry her,or at least he wanted to do the right thing by her at the very last there. Not before, not before, remember, butAFTER he had spent a night with her in Utica and another one in Grass Lake. But once she was drowned--andaccidentally, of course, as he says, there was his love for that other girl. He hadn't ceased loving her even thoughhe was willing to sacrifice her in order to do the right thing by Roberta. See?""I see.""And how are they going to prove that he didn't experience a change of heart if he says he did and sticks to it?""I see, but he'll have to tell a mighty21 convincing story," added Belknap, a little heavily. "And how about thosetwo hats? They're going to have to be explained.""Well, I'm coming to those now. The one he had was a little soiled. And so he decided to buy another. As for that story he told Mason about wearing a cap, well, he was frightened and lied because he thought he would have toget out of it. Now, of course, before he goes to that other girl afterwards--while Roberta is still alive, I mean,there's his relationship with the other girl, what he intends to do about her. He's talking to Roberta, now you see,"he continued, "and that has to be disposed of in some way. But, as I see it, that's easy, for of course after heexperiences a change of heart and wants to do the right thing by Roberta, all he has to do is to write that othergirl or go to her and tell her-- about the wrong he has done Roberta.""Yes.""For, as I see it now, she can't be kept out of the case entirely22, after all. We'll have to ring her in, I'm afraid.""All right; then we have to," said Belknap.
"Because you see, if Roberta still feels that he ought to marry her--he'll go first and tell that Finchley girl that hecan't marry her--that he's going away--that is, if Roberta doesn't object to his leaving her that long, don't yousee?""Yes.""If she does, he'll marry her, either at Three Mile Bay or some other place.""Yes.""But you don't want to forget that while she's still alive he's puzzled and distressed23. And it's only after thatsecond night, at Grass Lake, that he begins to see how wrong all his actions have been, you understand.
Something happens. Maybe she cries or talks about wanting to die, like she does in those letters.""Yes.""And so he wants a quiet place where they can sit down in peace and talk, where no one else will see or hearthem.""Yes, yes--go on.""Well, he thinks of Big Bittern. He's been up there once before or they're near there, then, and just below there,twelve miles, is Three Mile Bay, where, if they decide to marry, they can.""I see.""If not, if she doesn't want to marry him after his full confession24, he can row her back to the inn, can't he, and heor she can stay there or go on.""Yes, yes.""In the meantime, not to have any delay or be compelled to hang about that inn--it's rather expensive, you know,and he hasn't any too much money--he takes that lunch in his bag. Also his camera, because he wants to takesome pictures. For if Mason should turn up with that camera, it's got to be explained, and it will be betterexplained by us than it will be by him, won't it?""I see, I see," exclaimed Belknap, intensely interested by now and actually smiling and beginning to rub hishands.
"So they go out on the lake.""Yes.""And they row around.""Yes.""And finally after lunch on shore, some pictures taken--""Yes.""He decides to tell her just how things stand with him. He's ready, willing--""I get you.""Only just before doing that, he wants to take one or two more pictures of her there in the boat, just off shore.""Yes.""And then he'll tell her, see?""Yes.""And so they go out in the boat again for a little row, just as he did, see?""Yes.""But because they intend to go ashore25 again for some flowers, he's left the bag there, see? That explains the bag.""Yes.""But before taking any more pictures there, in the boat on the water, he begins to tell her about his love for thisother girl--that if she wants him to, now he'll marry her and then write this Sondra a letter. Or, if she feels shedoesn't want to marry him with him loving this other girl . . .""Yes, go on!" interrupted Belknap, eagerly.
"Well," continued Jephson, "he'll do his best to take care of her and support her out of the money he'll have afterhe marries the rich girl.""Yes.""Well, she wants him to marry her and drop this Miss Finchley!""I see.""And he agrees?""Sure.""Also she's so grateful that in her excitement, or gratitude26, she jumps up to come toward him, you see?""Yes.""And the boat rocks a little, and he jumps up to help her because he's afraid she's going to fall, see?""Yes, I see.""Well, now if we wanted to we could have him have that camera of his in his hand or not, just as you think fit.""Yes, I see what you're driving at.""Well, whether he keeps it in his hand or doesn't, there's some misstep on his part or hers, just as he says, or justthe motion of the two bodies, causes the boat to go over, and he strikes her, or not, just as you think fit, butaccidentally, of course.""Yes, I see, and I'll be damned!" exclaimed Belknap. "Fine, Reuben! Excellent! Wonderful, really!""And the boat strikes her too, as well as him, a little, see?" went on Jephson, paying no attention to this outburst,so interested was he in his own plot, "and makes him a little dizzy, too.""I see.""And he hears her cries and sees her, but he's a little stunned27 himself, see? And by the time he's ready to dosomething--""She's gone," concluded Belknap, quietly. "Drowned. I get you.""And then, because of all those other suspicious circumstances and false registrations--and because now she's gone and he can't do anything more for her, anyhow--her relatives might not want to know her condition, youknow--""I see.""He slips away, frightened, a moral coward, just as we'll have to contend from the first, anxious to stand wellwith his uncle and not lose his place in this world. Doesn't that explain it?""About as well as anything could explain it, Reuben, I think. In fact, I think it's a plausible28 explanation and Icongratulate you. I don't see how any one could hope to find a better. If that doesn't get him off, or bring about adisagreement, at least we might get him off with, well, say, twenty years, don't you think?" And very muchcheered, he got up, and after eyeing his long, thin associate admiringly, added: "Fine!" while Jephson, his blueeyes for all the world like windless, still pools, looked steadily29 back.
"But of course you know what that means?" Jephson now added, calmly and softly.
"That we have to put him on the witness stand? Surely, surely. I see that well enough. But it's his only chance.""And he won't strike people as a very steady or convincing fellow, I'm afraid--too nervous and emotional.""Yes, I know all that," replied Belknap, quickly. "He's easily rattled30. And Mason will go after him like a wildbull. But we'll have to coach him as to all this--drill him. Make him understand that it's his only chance--that hisvery life depends on it. Drill him for months.""If he fails, then he's gone. If only we could do something to give him courage--teach him to act it out."Jephson's eyes seemed to be gazing directly before him at the very courtroom scene in which Clyde on the standwould have Mason before him. And then picking up Roberta's letters (copies of them furnished by Mason) andlooking at them, he concluded: "If it only weren't for these--here." He weighed them up and down in his hand.
"Christ!" he finally concluded, darkly. "What a case! But we're not licked yet, not by a darn sight! Why, wehaven't begun to fight yet. And we'll get a lot of publicity31, anyhow. By the way," he added, "I'm having a fellow Iknow down near Big Bittern dredge for that camera to-night. Wish me luck.""Do I?" was all Belknap replied.
经过这一切洽谈以后，终于决定:
最方便。最稳妥的辩护理由，只要莱柯格斯的格里菲思家表示同意的话，也许就是借口说神经错乱，或是"脑病暴发"……由于克莱德爱上了桑德拉。芬奇利，在他心里产生了向往豪华生活的幻想，也由于他惧怕自己的全部梦想和光辉前程将被罗伯达毁掉，使他一时神经失常。
可是，他们在莱柯格斯和卡奇曼。达拉。布鲁克哈特磋商后，又去跟塞缪尔。
格里菲思。吉尔伯特。格里菲思商谈，最后得出结论认为上述这套方案是行不通的。因为，要证明神经错乱，或是"脑病暴发"，必需具有过去的证据或是见证，证明克莱德一向心智不太健全，平素行为古怪，还要有若干特别显著的具体实例，足以说明他确实是希奇古怪的，并由亲属(说不定其中就有莱柯格斯的格里菲思家)出面发誓作证……这一连串的证据，当然，既要有很多人提供彻头彻尾的谎言和伪证，并且还会玷污格里菲思一家人的血统和智力，从而引起塞缪尔和吉尔伯特的反感，对这一方案肯定不会同意。因此，布鲁克哈特不得不告知贝尔纳普，说这一套辩护方案非得放弃不可。
于是，贝尔纳普和杰夫森两人不得不重新坐了下来，仔细考虑对策。反正要他们两个琢磨出别的辩护理由，目前看来还不是全然没有希望。
"有一件事我要跟你说说!
"犟脾气的杰夫森反复看过罗伯达和桑德拉的信以后开了腔说。"这个奥尔登姑娘的那些信……说实话，才是我们出庭时最难对付的。只要仔细读一读，不管是哪一个陪审团，全都会掉眼泪的。要是先提出奥尔登这些信，紧接着再提出那另一个姑娘的信，那就肯定全完蛋了。我想，要是梅森闭口不提另一个姑娘的信，我们最好压根儿也不去提它就得了。不然，那就会造成这么一个印象，好象他杀害那个奥尔登姑娘，为的是要把她摆脱掉。
依我看，这对梅森就是最有利的了。"贝尔纳普对此衷心表示赞同。
与此同时，又得马上推出另一套方案来。于是，经过好几次磋商之后，杰夫森(他认为这个案子准定让他日后飞黄腾达)最后终于得出这么一个结论:
唯一可以提出的最稳妥的辩护理由(而且，同克莱德本人的一些令人可疑，两又非常离奇的行动正好并行不悖)，就是说，克莱德从来没有想到过要谋害她。恰好相反，正如他本人所申辩的，他即使在生理上不是，但在道德上确是一个懦夫。
他深怕自己被人一揭发，就会从莱柯格斯和桑德拉的心中被撵走，同时，因为还从来没有把桑德拉的事告诉过罗伯达，他暗自琢磨，罗伯达一旦知道他对她(桑德拉)如此倾心相爱，说不定也会产生想把他摆脱掉的愿望。因此，他就在仓卒之间决定，也谈不上包藏什么祸心，只是劝说罗伯达跟他一块到附近任何一个地方(但并不见得一定是草湖，或是大比腾)去游逛，为了把这一切全都告诉她，从而使自己获得自由……当然罗，他还是向她保证，说他愿意竭尽全力，负担她在她非常艰难的时期的生活费用。
"这一切好极了，"贝尔纳普发表意见说。"不过，这就涉及到他拒绝跟她结婚一事，可不是?
试问有哪一个陪审团会同情他，或是相信他并不是存心杀害她呢?
""且慢，且慢，"杰夫森有些恼火地回答说。"到现在为止，当然罗，是这样。
不过，你还没有把我的话听完。我跟你说，我又有一个方案嘛。""好呀，那是什么样的方案呢?
"贝尔纳普很感兴趣地回答说。
"得了，我会告诉你的……我的方案是这样……让所有的事实都原封不动，正如克莱德所说的和梅森迄今谈到的那样，当然罗，只是除了他砸了她这一节……然后对所有这些事实都加以解释……比方说，那和信件呀。伤痕呀。手提箱呀。两顶帽子呀，所有这一切……绝不加以否认。"说到这儿，他沉吟不语，用他那双长满斑点。又长又薄的手，不耐烦地捋了一下自己光亮的头发，抬眼先是望着关押克莱德的监狱对面的广场上的草坪，随后又望了一眼贝尔纳普。
"这一切都很好，不过你说怎么解释呢?
"贝尔纳普问道。
"跟你说了，没有别的办法，"杰夫森仿佛在自言自语地说，没有理会自己的老同事。"我认为只有这个办法是行得通的。"他身子侧过去，又望着窗外说话，仿佛在跟外面什么人交谈。"他上那儿去，明白吧，就是因为他吓坏了，因为他不能不有所防备，要不然就被人告发了。于是，他在旅社登记时写上了别人的姓名，因为他深怕给莱柯格斯来人知道他去过那儿。而且他打算向她坦白承认自己爱上了另一个姑娘。不过，"这时，他迟疑不语，两眼盯住贝尔纳普。"这是我们性命交关的支柱所在，要是连这都站不住脚，那我们就全完了!
听着!
他跟她一块到了那儿，心里怕得要命，但并不是想跟她结婚，也不是想害死她，而仅仅是想说服她别再缠住他。殊不知一到了那儿，看见她身体很不舒服，疲累，悲伤……啊，知道吧，她还是多么爱他，于是，他就跟她一块厮混了两个夜晚，明白吧?
""是啊，我明白，"贝尔纳普他感到有点儿好奇，不过这一回早已不犯疑了。
"这样一来，也许就可以讲清楚了，为什么他跟她在一块度过两个夜晚。
""也许?
已经讲清楚了!
"杰夫森淘气而又镇静地回答说。他的那双淡蓝色眼睛里，映现出的只有一种冷静。坚毅。注重实际的逻辑，说真的，连一丝儿感情。
哪怕是同情的影子都没有。"哦，当时他跟她一块到了那儿，是在这种情况之下……跟她又是那么亲近，明白了吧。"(杰夫森说话时，脸上的表情简直一丝儿变化都没有。)"他就回心转意了。你听懂了我的意思没有?
他为她感到难过。他觉得自己很丢脸……因为他在她面前是有了罪的。这应该说总可以打动这里老百姓，这些善男信女的心，是吧?
""这也许可以，"贝尔纳普安详地插话说。至此，他一下子来了劲儿，感到大有希望了。
"他知道自己做了对不起她的事，"杰夫森继续说。如同一只正在织网的蜘蛛一样，他把全部心思都扑在自己的方案上。"不管他那么狂热地爱恋另一个姑娘，现在他准备公平地对待这个奥尔登姑娘，明白吧，因为他替她感到很难过，觉得自己很丢脸。这样就可以促使公众改变对他的看法，因为原先人们认为他一面跟她一块在尤蒂卡。草湖住了两个夜晚，一面却在策划怎样把她杀害。
"但他还是很爱另一个姑娘，是吧?
"贝尔纳普又插了一句说。
"哦，当然罗。不管怎么说，他是非常喜欢她的。反正他一进入那上流社会，就有点儿晕头晕脑，简直自以为是，判若两人。不过话又说回来，这时候他倒是准备跟罗伯达结婚的，如果说即使在他向她坦白承认自己爱上了这另一个姑娘之后，罗伯达还是乐意跟他结婚的话。""我明白了。不过，有关那条小船。手提箱，以及事后他去这个芬奇利姑娘家，这些事该怎么说呢?
""且慢!
且慢!
我这就跟你说了，"杰夫森接下去说。他的那双蓝眼睛象一股强烈的电光从空间来回掠过似的。"当然罗，他是跟她一块坐船出去的，当然罗，他随身带上了那只手提箱，当然罗，他在旅社登记时报了假名字，并且在罗伯达溺水死亡以后，穿过那儿树林子到另一个姑娘那里去了。不过，为什么呢?
为什么呢?
你很想知道为什么吧?
我这就跟你说!
他替罗伯达感到难过，知道吧，而且，他想要跟她结婚，或者至少说，在那最后时刻，他想要公平地对待她。可是，要记住，这可不是在他跟她先在草湖住了一宿，接着跟她又在尤蒂卡住了一宿之前，不是在那之前，而是在那之后。不过，她一淹死……当然罗，正如他所说的，那是由于意外事故……他对另一个姑娘的爱情又死灰复燃啦。是的，他对她的爱情一直没有停止过，哪怕是为了要公平地对待罗伯达而准备牺牲她的时候也是这样。明白吧?
""我明白了。""那末，人们又怎么能证明他并没有回心转意，要是他说过自己确实回心转意过，并且坚持自己这个说法呢?
""我明白了，不过，他非得解释清楚，令人非常信服不可，"贝尔纳普有些忧心忡忡地说。"那两顶帽子怎么说呢?
这也非得解释清楚不可。""得了，这会儿我正要讲的，就是帽子问题。他原来的那一顶有些脏了。于是，他决定另外买一顶。至于他跟梅森说过他戴的是一顶鸭舌帽……啊，那时因为他吓坏了，才撒了谎，因为他心里想自己非得快点解脱不可。当然罗，在他过后到另一个姑娘那儿去之前，我的意思是说，有罗伯达还活着的时候，他跟那另一个姑娘仍然是有关系的，而且对她是有意图的。你要明白，这时他正在向罗伯达进行解释，"他接下去说。"这一点怎么也得设法交待清楚。不过，依我看，这也不难，因为，当然罗，在他回心转意和想要公平对待罗伯达以后，剩下来他只要写封信给那另一个姑娘，或是上她那儿去，告诉她有关他对不起罗伯达的事，可不是?
""是的。""因为，现在依我看，本案毕竟不能闭口不提她。我怕我们非得惊动她不可。
""既然需要，那我们就惊动吧，"贝尔纳普说。
"因为，你要知道，如果罗伯达仍然认为他应该跟她结婚……他就得先去芬奇利家，跟那个姑娘说他不能跟她结婚了……他要到罗伯达那儿去了……这就是说，只要罗伯达并不反对他可以暂时离开她的话，你明白了吧?
""明白了。""要是她果真这样，他就跟她结婚，是在三英里湾，或是在其他什么地方。""是啊。""不过，你别忘了，只要她还活着，他心里总是茫然若失，无比痛苦。只是在草湖度过了第二夜以后，他才开始认识到他过去对待她该有多么卑鄙，你明白了吧。他们之间出了什么事。也许是她哭了，或是说到要自杀，如同她在写那些信时所说的那样。""是啊。""因此，他心里就想同她一块去一个安静的地方，在那儿谁也看不见他们，听不到他们，他们不妨平心静气地坐下来谈谈。""是啊，是啊……讲下去吧。""于是，他就想到了大比腾。从前他是去过那儿的，或者说，就是因为他们离那个地方很近。而且，再过去十二英里，就是三英里湾了。他们要是决定结婚，不妨在三英里湾结婚就得了。""我明白了。""再不然，要是她听了他的彻底坦白以后，不想跟他结婚，他就可以划船把她送回到那家旅社，可不是吗。也许是他，或者是她，会暂时留在那儿，另一个则马上动身离去。""是啊，是啊。""顺便提一下，为了不要拖延时间，也不要老是滞留在那家旅社……要知道这是相声花钱，你明白吧。何况他也不是那么很有钱……他把午餐点心放在自己手提箱里。还带上了那架照相机，因为他要拍摄一些照片。因为，只要梅森一出示那架照相机，那我们就得把那架照相机的来龙去脉一一解释清楚。与其由他来解释，还不如由我们来解释的好，是吧?
""我明白了，我明白了，"贝尔纳普大声嚷了起来，这时他兴致很高，而且，说真的，脸上含着微笑，甚至还开始在搓手。
"他们就这样游湖去了。""是啊。""他们在湖上尽情地划呀划。""是啊。""最后，他们在湖岸上用过午餐点心，他还拍了一些照……""是啊。""他决定将他目前的处境告诉她。现在他已准备好了，愿意……""我明白你的意思了。""可是，就在他开始说这些话以前，他要给她再拍一两张照，拍她人在船上，靠近湖岸的镜头。""是啊。""然后，他就全都告诉了她，明白吧?
""是啊。""这样，他们就又上了小船，打算如同刚才他那样，再划一会儿，明白吧?
""我明白。""不过，因为他们打算再上岸去采一些花，他就把手提箱留在岸上，明白了吧?
这样，手提箱问题也就交待清楚了。""是啊。""不过，就在湖上。船上继续给她拍照以前，他开始把他爱恋过另一个姑娘的事告诉了她……他说，她要是现在还愿意跟他结婚，那他就跟她结婚，随后写一封信给这个桑德拉。不过，要是现在她了解到他既然爱上了另一个姑娘，自己也就不愿意跟他结婚了……""是啊，说下去!
"贝尔纳普兴冲冲地插话说。
"于是，"杰夫森继续说。"他要竭尽全力照顾她，支持她，因为他跟那个有钱的姑娘结婚以后，他就有的是钱了。""是啊。""不过，她要他跟她结婚，把这个芬奇利小姐甩掉!
""我明白了。""那他同意了吗?
""当然罗。""瞧她是那么感激，就在极度兴奋或是感激之中跳了起来，向他直扑了过来，明白了吧?
""是啊。""于是，那条小船就有点儿摇晃，他一跃而起，想要搀住她，因为他担心她快要摔倒了，明白吧?
""是啊，我明白。""得了，现在，他的那架照相机，我们说它是在他手里也好，不在他手里也好，反正随你觉得怎么合适就怎么说得了。""是啊，你的用意我知道了。""总之一句话，不管这照相机是不是在他手里，反正如同他所说的那样，他们俩不慎失足，要不然，就是因为他们俩的身子一晃，小船就底儿朝天了。至于他砸了她没有，看你觉得怎么合适就怎么说好了。不过，如果说他砸了她，那当然罗，也只是偶然碰到罢了。""是啊，我明白了，真是见鬼!
"贝尔纳普大声嚷道。"好，鲁本!
这一招真高明!
简直妙极了!
""接着，船舷又碰撞过她，也碰撞过他，只不过是轻微一点儿，明白了吧?
"杰夫森接下去说，沉浸在自己谋划的这一套方案之中，对这种狂热劲儿丝毫也没有注意到。"不过，也撞得他有点儿晕头转向了。""我明白了。""他听见她在大声呼叫救命，而且也看得到她的，不过，他自己也有点儿吓昏了，明白了吧?
等到他刚清醒过来，准备想办法……""她早已没了，"贝尔纳普平静地下了这么一个结论。"给淹死了。你的意思我明白了。""随后，由于这一切可疑的情况，旅社登记时申报假名字等等……还有，因为她早已咽气了，反正他再也救不活她了……你也知道，她的亲属说不定要追查她的情况……""我明白。""所以，他吓坏了，就溜了。要知道他天生是个懦夫……正如我们一开始就明确论证过那样。他一心希望跟他伯父搞好关系，保住他在这个上流社会里的地位。难道说这样解释还不够清楚吗?
""依我看，这一切差不多解释通通都清楚了，鲁本。事实上，我觉得你这样解释好象很有道理，我向你表示祝贺。我真不知道，有谁还能指望寻摸到比这更好的解释呢。要是这样还不能为他开脱，或是使陪审团产生意见分歧，那末，最低限度也许我们还可以让他得到，哦，比方说，二十年徒刑，你认为怎么样?
"说罢，他得意扬扬地站了起来，十分钦慕地瞅了他的这位瘦高个儿同事一眼，又找补着说:
"真是绝招啊!
"杰夫森那双蓝眼睛，活象风平浪静的一泓池水，只是不动声色回眸了他一眼。
"不过，当然罗，你也明白这意味着什么?
"杰夫森平静地轻声补充了一句。
"那是说我们就得让他出庭作证?
当然罗。当然罗。这我看得很清楚。可这是他唯一的机会啊。""但我深怕，他看起来不象一个很坚定。很有自信的见证人……他这个人太紧张，太容易动感情了。""是啊，这我全都明白，"贝尔纳普马上回答说。"他给人一吓唬，就慌张了。
而梅森会象一头野牛冲他疾驰而来。不过，我们就得辅导他……训练他……能应付这一切。让他懂得这是他唯一的机会了……他的这条性命就全押在这儿了。
我们就训练他几个月吧。""他要是表演失败，那就全完了。只要我们能想个办法，把他的勇气给鼓起来……教他演好这场戏就好了。"这时，杰夫森两眼仿佛直接凝视着法院大厅，克莱德坐在证人席上，梅森站在他前面。随后，杰夫森捡起罗伯达那些信(说得更确切些，是梅森交给的抄本)看看，最后才说:
"要是没有眼前这些东西就好了!
"他把这些信放在手里掂了一下，最后阴沉地说:
"天哪!
多棘手的案子啊!
不过话又说回来，我们还没有被打垮，见鬼去吧，这样的事压根儿不会有的。嘿，我们还没有开始拚搏哩。不管怎么说，一定可以使我们出足风头了。是啊，再说，"他又找补着说。"我在大比腾附近有一个熟人，就叫他今儿晚上去打捞那架照相机。你预祝我走好运吧。""难道说我还会不预祝你吗?
"贝尔纳普回答的，就是这么一句话。
收听单词发音 |
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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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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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aberration
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| n.离开正路，脱离常规，色差 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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alienate
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| vt.使疏远，离间；转让(财产等) | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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freckled
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| adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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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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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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