the law and the lady-第16章
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yourself what Eustace persists in hiding from you； I should
remember that my promise； like all other promises； has its limits
and reserves。 I should consider myself bound in honor not to help
youbut I would not lift a finger to prevent you from
discovering the truth for yourself。〃
At last he was speaking in good earnest： he laid a strong
emphasis on his closing words。 I laid a stronger emphasis on them
still by suddenly leaving my chair。 The impulse to spring to my
feet was irresistible。 Major Fitz…David had started a new idea in
my mind。
〃Now we understand each other！〃 I said。 〃I will accept your own
terms； Major。 I will ask nothing of you but what you have just
offered to me of your own accord。〃
〃What have I offered？〃 he inquired； looking a little alarmed。
〃Nothing that you need repent of；〃 I answered； 〃nothing which is
not easy for you to grant。 May I ask a bold question？ Suppose
this house was mine instead of yours？〃
〃Consider it yours；〃 cried the gallant old gentleman。 〃From the
garret to the kitchen； consider it yours！〃
〃A thousand thanks； Major； I will consider it mine for the
moment。 You knoweverybody knowsthat one of a woman's many
weaknesses is curiosity。 Suppose my curiosity led me to examine
everything in my new house？〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Suppose I went from room to room； and searched everything； and
peeped in everywhere？ Do you think there would be any chance〃
The quick…witted Major anticipated the nature of my question。 He
followed my example； he too started to his feet； with a new idea
in his mind。
〃Would there be any chance；〃 I went on； 〃of my finding my own way
to my husband's secret in this house？ One word of reply； Major
Fitz…David！ Only one wordYes or No？〃
〃Don't excite yourself！〃 cried the Major。
〃Yes or No？〃 I repeated； more vehemently than ever。
〃Yes；〃 said the Major； after a moment's consideration。
It was the reply I had asked for； but it was not explicit enough；
now I had got it； to satisfy me。 I felt the necessity of leading
him （if possible） into details。
〃Does 'Yes' mean that there is some sort of clew to the mystery？〃
I asked。 〃Something； for instance； which my eyes might see and my
hands mig ht touch if I could only find it？〃
He considered again。 I saw that I had succeeded in interesting
him in some way unknown to myself； and I waited patiently until
he was prepared to answer me。
〃The thing you mention；〃 he said； 〃the clew （as you call it）；
might be seen and might be touchedsupposing you could find it。〃
〃In this house？〃 I asked。
The Major advanced a step nearer to me； and answered
〃In this room。〃
My head began to swim； my heart throbbed violently。 I tried to
speak； it was in vain； the effort almost choked me。 In the
silence I could hear the music…lesson still going on in the room
above。 The future prima donna had done practicing her scales； and
was trying her voice now in selections from Italian operas。 At
the moment when I first heard her she was singing the beautiful
air from the _Somnambula；_ 〃Come per me sereno。〃 I never hear
that delicious melody； to this day； without being instantly
transported in imagination to the fatal back…room in Vivian
Place。
The Majorstrongly affected himself by this timewas the first
to break the silence。
〃Sit down again；〃 he said； 〃and pray take the easy…chair。 You are
very much agitated； you want rest。〃
He was right。 I could stand no longer； I dropped into the chair。
Major Fitz…David rang the bell； and spoke a few words to the
servant at the door。
〃I have been here a long time；〃 I said； faintly。 〃Tell me if I am
in the way。〃
〃In the way？〃 he repeated； with his irresistible smile。 〃You
forget that you are in your own house！〃
The servant returned to us； bringing with him a tiny bottle of
champagne and a plateful of delicate little sugared biscuits。
〃I have had this wine bottled expressly for the ladies；〃 said the
Major。 〃The biscuits came to me direct from Paris。 As a favor to
_me；_ you must take some refreshment。 And then〃 He stopped and
looked at me very attentively。 〃And then；〃 he resumed； 〃shall I
go to my young prima donna upstairs and leave you here alone？〃
It was impossible to hint more delicately at the one request
which I now had it in my mind to make to him。 I took his hand and
pressed it gratefully。
〃The tranquillity of my whole life to come is at stake；〃 I said。
〃When I am left here by myself； does your generous sympathy
permit me to examine everything in the room？〃
He signed to me to drink the champagne and eat a biscuit before
he gave his answer。
〃This is serious；〃 he said。 〃I wish you to be in perfect
possession of yourself 。 Restore your strengthand then I will
speak to you。〃
I did as he bade me。 In a minute from the time when I drank it
the delicious sparkling wine had begun to revive me。
〃Is it your express wish；〃 he resumed； 〃that I should leave you
here by yourself to search the room？〃
〃It is my express wish；〃 I answered。
〃I take a heavy responsibility on myself in granting your
request。 But I grant it for all that； because I sincerely
believeas you believethat the tranquillity of your life to
come depends on your discovering the truth。〃 Saying those words；
he took two keys from his pocket。 〃You will naturally feel a
suspicion；〃 he went on； 〃of any locked doors that you may find
here。 The only locked places in the room are the doors of the
cupboards under the long book…case； and the door of the Italian
cabinet in that corner。 The small key opens the book…case
cupboards； the long key opens the cabinet door。〃
With that explanation； he laid the keys before me on the table。
〃Thus far；〃 he said； 〃I have rigidly respected the promise which
I made to your husband。 I shall continue to be faithful to my
promise； whatever may be the result of your examination of the
room。 I am bound in honor not to assist you by word or deed。 I am
not even at liberty to offer you the slightest hint。 Is that
understood？〃
〃Certainly！〃
〃Very good。 I have now a last word of warning to give youand
then I have done。 If you do by any chance succeed in laying your
hand on the clew； remember this_the discovery which follows
will be a terrible one。_ If you have any doubt about your
capacity to sustain a shock which will strike you to the soul；
for God's sake give up the idea of finding out your husband's
secret at once and forever！〃
〃I thank you for your warning； Major。 I must face the
consequences of making the discovery； whatever they may be。〃
〃You are positively resolved？〃
〃Positively。〃
〃Very well。 Take any time you please。 The house； and every person
in it； are at your disposal。 Ring the bell once if you want the
man…servant。 Ring twice if you wish the housemaid to wait on you。
From time to time I shall just look in myself to see how you are
going on。 I am responsible for your comfort and security； you
know； while you honor me by remaining under my roof。〃
He lifted my hand to his lips； and fixed a last attentive look on
me。
〃I hope I am not running too great a risk；〃 he saidmore to
himself than to me。 〃The women have led me into many a rash
action in my time。 Have _you_ led me； I wonder； into the rashest
action of all？〃
With those ominous last words he bowed gravely and left me alone
in the room。
CHAPTER X。
THE SEARCH。
THE fire burning in the grate was not a very large one； and the
outer air （as I had noticed on my way to the house） had something
of a wintry sharpness in it that day。
Still； my first feeling； when Major Fitz…David left me； was a
feeling of heat and oppression； with its natural result； a
difficulty in breathing freely。 The nervous agitation of the time
was； I suppose； answerable for these sensations。 I took off my
bonnet and mantle and gloves； and opened the window for a little
while。 Nothing was to be seen outside but a paved courtyard； with
a skylight in the middle； closed at the further end by the wall
of the Major's stables。 A few minutes at the window cooled and
refreshed me。 I shut it down again； and took my first step on the
way of discovery。 In other words； I began my first examination of
the four walls around me； and of all
