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coasting vessel sailed into the harbor； and the father's presence
on the scene decided him at last。 How this new influence acted it
was impossible to find out from the imperfect evidence of persons
who were not admitted to the family councils。 The fact； however；
was certain that the date of the father's return and the date of
Mr。 James Smith's first wicked resolution to marry the girl might
both be fixed； as nearly as possible； at one and the same time。
Having once made up his mind to the commission of the crime； he
proceeded with all possible coolness and cunning to provide
against the chances of detection。
Returning on board his yacht he announced that he had given up
his intention of cruising to Sweden and that he intended to amuse
himself by a long fishing tour in Scotland。 After this
explanation； he ordered the vessel to be laid up in the harbor；
gave the sailing…master leave of absence to return to his family
at Cowes； and paid off the whole of the crew from the mate to the
cabin…boy。 By these means he cleared the scene； at one blow； of
the only people in the town who knew of the existence of his
unhappy wife。 After that the news of his approaching marriage
might be made public without risk of discovery； his own common
name being of itself a sufficient protection in case the event
was mentioned in the Scotch newspapers。 All his friends； even his
wife herself； might read a report of the marriage of Mr。 James
Smith without having the slightest suspicion of who the
bridegroom really was。
A fortnight after the paying off of the crew he was married to
the merchant…captain's daughter。 The father of the girl was well
known among his fellow…townsmen as a selfish； grasping man； who
was too anxious to secure a rich son…in…law to object to any
proposals for hastening the marriage。 He and his wife； and a few
intimate relations had been present at the ceremony； and after it
had been performed the newly…married couple left the town at once
for a honeymoon trip to the Highland lakes。
Two days later； however； they unexpectedly returned； announcing a
complete change in their plans。 The bridegroom （thinking；
probably； that he would be safer out of England than in it） had
been pleasing the bride's fancy by his descriptions of the
climate and the scenery of southern parts。 The new Mrs。 James
Smith was all curosity to see Spain and Italy； and； having often
proved herself an excellent sailor on board her father's vessel；
was anxious to go to the Mediterranean in the easiest way by sea。
Her affectionate husband； having now no other object in life than
to gratify her wishes； had given up the Highland excursion； and
had returned to have his yacht got ready for sea immediately。 In
this explanation there was nothing to awaken the suspicions of
the lady's parents。 The mother thought Mr。 James Smith a model
among bridegrooms。 The father lent his assistance to man the
yacht at the shortest notice with as smart a crew as could be
picked up about the town。 Principally through his exertions； the
vessel was got ready for sea with extraordinary dispatch。 The
sails were bent； the provisions were put on board； and Mr。 James
Smith sailed for the Mediterranean with the unfortunate woman who
believed herself to be his wife； before Mr。 Dark and myself set
forth to look after him from Darrock Hall。
Such was the true account of my master's infamous conduct in
Scotland as it was related to me。 On concluding； Mr。 Dark hinted
that he had something still left to tell me； but declared that he
was too sleepy to talk any more that night。 As soon as we were
awake the next morning he returned to the subject。
〃I didn't finish all I had to say last night； did I？〃 he began。
You unfortunately told me enough； and more than enough； to prove
the truth of the statement in the anonymous letter；〃 I answered。
〃Yes；〃 says Mr。 Dark； 〃but did I tell you who wrote the anonymous
letter？〃
〃You don't mean to say that you have found that out！〃 says I。
〃I think I have；〃 was the cool answer。 〃When I heard about your
precious master paying off the regular crew of the yacht I put
the circumstance by in my mind； to be brought out again and
sifted a little as soon as the opportunity offered。 It offered in
about half an hour。 Says I to the gauger； who was the principal
talker in the room： 'How about those men that Mr。 Smith paid off？
Did they all go as soon as they got their money； or did they stop
here till they had spent every farthing of it in the
public…houses？' The gauger laughs。 'No such luck；' says he； in
the broadest possible Scotch （which I translate into English；
William； for your benefit）； 'no such luck； they all went south；
to spend their money among finer people than usall； that is to
say； with one exception。 It was thought the steward of the yacht
had gone along with the rest； when； the very day Mr。 Smith sailed
for the Mediterranean； who should turn up unexpectedly but the
steward himself！ Where he had been hiding； and why he had been
hiding； nobody could tell。' 'Perhaps he had been imitating his
master； and looking out for a wife；' says I。 'Likely enough；'
says the gauger； 'he gave a very confused account of himself； and
he cut all questions short by going away south in a violent
hurry。' That was enough for me： I let the subject drop。 Clear as
daylight； isn't it； William？ The
steward suspected something wrongthe steward waited and
watchedthe steward wrote that anonymous letter to your
mistress。 We can find him； if we want him； by inquiring at Cowes；
and we can send to the church for legal evidence of the marriage
as soon as we are instructed to do so。 All that we have got to do
now is to go back to your mistress； and see what course she means
to take under the circumstances。 It's a pretty case； William； so
faran uncommonly pretty case； as it stands at present。〃
We returned to Darrock Hall as fast as coaches and post…horses
could carry us。
Having from the first believed that the statement in the
anonymous letter was true； my mistress received the bad news we
brought calmly and resignedlyso far； at least； as outward
appearances went。 She astonished and disappointed Mr。 Dark by
declining to act in any way on the information that he had
collected for her； and by insisting that the whole affair should
still be buried in the profoundest secrecy。 For the first time
since I had known my traveling companion； he became depressed in
spirits on hearing that nothing more was to be done； and；
although he left the Hall with a handsome present； he left it
discontentedly。
〃Such a pretty case； William；〃 says he； quite sorrowfully； as we
shook hands〃such an uncommonly pretty caseit's a thousand
pities to stop it； in this way； before it's half over！〃
〃You don't know what a proud lady and what a delicate lady my
mistress is；〃 I answered。 〃She would die rather than expose her
forlorn situation in a public court for the sake of punishing her
husband。〃
〃Bless your simple heart！〃 says Mr。 Dark； 〃do you really think；
now； that such a case as this can be hushed up？〃
〃Why not；〃 I asked； 〃if we all keep the secret？〃
〃That for the secret！〃 cries Mr。 Dark； snappin