the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第13章
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little where the question concerned the prestige of the aristocracy in
general； he would stop at nothing where the Claiborne family is
concerned。
〃I am telling you all this so that you may get an inkling of the blow it
was to him when I became a militant suffragist。 It was blow enough to
his nephew； Sir Archibald； my late husband。 The Earl maintains that it
hastened poor Archibald's death。 But that is ridiculous。 Archibald had
undermined his constitution with dissipation； and died following an
operation for gravel。 He was to have succeeded to the title； as both of the
Earl's legitimate sons were dead without issueone of them perished in the
Boer War； and the other was killed in the hunting field。
〃Upon Archibald's death the old Earl publicly acknowledged Reginald
Maltravers； his natural son； and took steps to have him legitimatized。 For
all of the bend sinister upon his escutcheon； Reginald Maltravers was as
fanatical concerning the family as his father。 Perhaps more fanatical；
because he secretly suffered for the irregularity of his own position in the
world。
〃At any rate； supported at first by the old Earl； he began a series of
persecutions designed to make me renounce my suffragist principles； or at
least to make me cease playing a conspicuous public part in the militant
propaganda。 As my husband was dead and there were no children； I
could not see that I was accountable to the Claiborne family for my
actions。 But the Claibornes took a different view of it。 In their
philosophy； once a Claiborne； always a Claiborne。 I was bringing
disgrace and humiliation upon the family； in their opinion。 Knowing the
old Earl as I do； I am aware that his suffering was genuine and intense。
But what was I to do？ One cannot desert one's principles merely because
they cause suffering； otherwise there could be no such thing as revolution。
〃Reginald Maltravers had another reason for his persecution。 After
the death of Sir Archibald he himself sought my hand in marriage。 I shall
always remember the form of his proposal； it concluded with these words：
'Had Archibald lived you would have been a countess。 You may still be a
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
countessbut you must drop this suffragist show； you know。 It is all
bally rot； Agatha； all bally rot。' I would not have married him without the
condition； for I despised the man himself； but the condition made me
furious and I drove him from my sight with words that turned him white
and made him my enemy forever。 'You will not be my countess； then；' he
said。 'Very wellbut I can promise you that you will cease to be a
suffragist。' I can still see the evil flash of his eye behind his monocle as he
uttered these words and turned away。〃
Lady Agatha shuddered at the recollection； and took a cup of tea。
〃It was then；〃 she resumed； 〃that the real persecution began。 I was
peculiarly helpless； as I have no near relations who might have come to
my defense。 Representing himself always as the agent of his father； but
far exceeding the Earl in the malevolence of his inventions； Reginald
Maltravers sought by every means he could command to drive me from
public life in England。
〃Three times he succeeded in having me flung into Holloway Jail。 I
need not tell you of the terrors of that institution； nor of the degrading
horrors of forcible feeding。 They are known to a shocked and
sympathetic world。 But Reginald Maltravers contrived； in my case； to
add to the usual brutalities a peculiar and personal touch。 By bribery； as I
believe； he succeeded in getting himself into the prison as a turnkey。 It
was his custom； when I lay weak and helpless in the semistupor of
starvation； to glide into my cell and； standing by my couch； to recite to me
the list of tempting viands that might appear daily upon the board of a
Countess of Claiborne。
〃He soon learned that his very presence itself was a persecution。
After my release from jail the last time； he began to follow me
everywhere。 Turn where I would； there was Reginald Maltravers。 At
suffrage meetings he took his station directly before the speaker's stand；
stroked his long blond mustache with his long white fingers； and stared at
me steadfastly through his monocle； with an evil smile upon his face。
Formerly he had； in several instances； prevented me from attending
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
suffrage meetings； once he had me spirited away and imprisoned for a
week when it fell to my lot to burn a railroad station for the good of the
cause。 He strove to ruin me with my leaders in this despicable manner。
〃But in the end he took to showing himself； he stood and stared。
Merely that。 He was subtle enough to shift the persecution from the
province of the physical to the realm of the psychological。 It was like
being haunted。 Even when I did not see him； I began to THINK that I
saw him。 He deliberately planted that hallucination in my mind。 It is a
wonder that I did not go mad。
〃I finally determined to flee to America。 I made all my arrangements
with care andas I thoughtwith secrecy。 I imagined that I had given
him the slip。 But he was too clever for me。 The third day out； as one of
the ship's officers was showing me about the vessel； I detected Reginald
Maltravers in the hold。 It is not usual to allow women so far below decks；
but I had insisted on seeing everything。 Perspiring； begrimed； and
mopping the moisture from his brow with a piece of cotton waste； there he
stood in the guise of aofa croaker； is it； Mr。 Cleggett？〃
〃Stoker； I believe；〃 said Cleggett。
〃Stoker。 Thank you。 He turned away in confusion when he saw that
he was discovered。 I perceived that； designing to cross on the same ship
with me； he had thought himself hidden there。 He was not wearing his
monocle； but I would know that sloping forehead； that blond mustache；
and that long； high； bony nose anywhere。〃
Lady Agatha broke off for a moment。 She was extremely agitated。
But presently she continued： 〃I endeavored to evade him。 The attempt
was useless。 He found me out at once。 The persecution went on。 It
was more terrible here than it had been in England。 There I had friends。
I had hours； sometimes even whole days； to myself。
〃But this was not the worst。 A new phase developed。 From his
appearance it suddenly became apparent to me that Reginald Maltravers
could not stop haunting
