按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
positively to their master's identity。
〃It is quite unnecessary；〃 said the justice； as soon as the box
was empty again； 〃to examine any more witnesses as to the
question of identity。 All the legal formalities are accomplished；
and the charge against the prisoners falls to the ground。 I have
great pleasure in ordering the immediate discharge of both the
accused persons； and in declaring from this place that they leave
the court without the slightest stain on their characters。〃
He bowed low to my mistress as he said that； paused a moment； and
then looked inquiringly at Mr。 James Smith。
〃I have hitherto abstained from making any remark unconnected
with the immediate matter in hand；〃 he went on。 〃But； now that my
duty is done； I cannot leave this chair without expressing my
strong sense of disapprobation of the conduct of Mr。 James
Smithconduct which； whatever may be the motives that occasioned
it； has given a false color of probability to a most horrible
charge against a lady of unspotted reputation； and against a
person in a lower rank of life whose good character ought not to
have been imperiled even for a moment。 Mr。 Smith may or may not
choose to explain his mysterious disappearance from Darrock Hall；
and the equally unaccountable change which he has chosen to make
in his personal appearance。 There is no legal charge against him；
but； speaking morally； I should be unworthy of the place I hold
if I hesitated to declare my present conviction that his conduct
has been deceitful； inconsiderate； and unfeeling in the highest
degree。〃
To this sharp reprimand Mr。 James Smith （evidently tutored
beforehand as to what he was to say） replied that； in attending
before the justice； he wished to perform a plain duty and to keep
himself strictly within the letter of the law。 He apprehended
that the only legal obligation laid on him was to attend in that
court to declare himself； and to enable competent witnesses to
prove his identity。 This duty accomplished； he had merely to add
that he preferred submitting to a reprimand from the bench to
entering into explanations which would involve the disclosure of
domestic circumstances of a very unhappy nature。 After that brief
reply he had nothing further to say； and he would respectfully
request the justice's permission to withdraw。
The permission was accorded。 As he crossed the room he stopped
near his wife； and said； confusedly； in a very low tone：
〃I have done you many injuries； but I never intended this。 I am
sorry for it。 Have you anything to say to me before I go？〃
My mistress shuddered and hid her face。 He waited a moment； and；
finding that she did not answer him； bowed his head politely and
went out。 I did not know it then； but I had seen him for the last
time。
After he had gone； the lawyer； addressing Mr。 Robert Nicholson；
said that he had an application to make in reference to the woman
Josephine Durand。
At the mention of that name my mistress hurriedly whispered a few
words into her relation's ear。 He looked toward Mr。 Philip
Nicholson； who immediately advanced； offered his arm to my
mistress； and led her out。 I was about to follow； when Mr。 Dark
stopped me； and begged that I would wait a few minutes longer； in
order to give myself the pleasure of seeing 〃the end of the
case。〃
In the meantime； the justice had pronounced the necessary order
to have the quadroon brought back。 She came in； as bold and
confident as ever。 Mr。 Robert Nicholson looked away from her in
disgust and said to the lawyer：
〃Your application is to have her committed for perjury； of
course？〃
〃For perjury？〃 said Josephine； with her wicked smile。 〃Very good。
I shall explain some little matters that I have not explained
before。 You think I am quite at your mercy now？ Bah！ I shall make
myself a thorn in your sides yet。〃
〃She has got scent of the second marriage；〃 whispered Mr。 Dark to
me。
There could be no doubt of it。 She had evidently been listening
at the door on the night when my master came back longer than I
had supposed。 She must have heard those words about 〃the new
wife〃she might even have seen the effect of them on Mr。 James
Smith。
〃We do not at present propose to charge Josephine Durand with
perjury；〃 said the lawyer； 〃but with another offense； for which
it is important to try her immediately； in order to effect the
restoration of property that has been stolen。 I charge her with
stealing from her mistress； while in her service at Darrock Hall；
a pair of bracelets； three rings； and a dozen and a half of lace
pocket…handkerchiefs。 The articles in question were taken this
morning from between the mattresses of her bed； and a letter was
found in the same place which clearly proves that she had
represented the property as belonging to herself； and that she
had tried to dispose of it to a purchaser in London。〃 While he
was speaking； Mr。 Dark produced the jewelry； the handkerchiefs
and the letter； and laid them before the justice。
Even Josephine's extraordinary powers of self…control now gave
way at last。 At the first words of the unexpected charge against
her she struck her hands together violently； gnashed her sharp
white teeth； and burst out with a torrent of fierce…sounding
words in some foreig n language； the meaning of which I did not
understand then and cannot explain now。
〃I think that's checkmate for marmzelle；〃 whispered Mr。 Dark；
with his invariable wink。 〃Suppose you go back to the Hall； now；
William； and draw a jug of that very remarkable old ale of yours？
I'll be after you in five minutes； as soon as the charge is made
out。〃
I could hardly realize it when I found myself walking back to
Darrock a free man again。
In a quarter of an hour's time Mr。 Dark joined me； and drank to
my health； happiness and prosperity in three separate tumblers。
After performing this ceremony； he wagged his head and chuckled
with an appearance of such excessive enjoyment that I could not
avoid remarking on his high spirits。
〃It's the case； Williamit's the beautiful neatness of the case
that quite intoxicates me。 Oh； Lord； what a happiness it is to be
concerned in such a job as this！〃 cries Mr。 Dark； slapping his
stumpy hands on his fat knees in a sort of ecstasy。
I had a very different opinion of the case for my own part； but I
did not venture on expressing it。 I was too anxious to know how
Mr。 James Smith had been discovered and produced at the
examination to enter into any arguments。 Mr。 Dark guessed what
was passing in my mind； and； telling me to sit down and make
myself comfortable； volunteered of his own accord to inform me of
all that I wanted to know。
〃When I got my instructions and my statement of particulars；〃 he
began； 〃I was not at all surprised to hear that Mr。 James Smith
had come back。 （I prophesied that； if you remember； William； the
last time we met？） But I was a good deal astonished；
nevertheless； at the turn things had taken； and I can't say I
felt very hopeful about finding our man。 However； I followed my
master's directions； and put the advertisement in the papers。 It
addressed Mr。 James Smith by name； but it was very carefully
worded as to what was wan