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！
to show her HE was alive！
She said 〃Not at home〃 with a tone of unusual sharpness and
decision； which left the servant in no doubt he must be equally
decided at the hall door。
Falcon received the sudden freezer with amazement。 〃Nonsense；〃
said he。 〃Not at home at this time of the morningto an old
friend！〃
〃Not at home；〃 said the man doggedly。
〃Oh； very well；〃 said Falcon with a bitter sneer； and returned to
London。
He felt sure she was at home； and being a tremendous egotist； he
said； 〃Oh！ all right。 If she would rather not know her husband is
alive； it is all one to me；〃 and he actually took no more notice of
her for a full week； and never thought of her； except to chuckle
over the penalty she was paying for daring to affront his vanity。
However； Sunday came； he saw a dull day before him； and so he
relented； and thought he would give her another trial。
He went down to Gravesend by boat； and strolled towards the villa。
When he was about a hundred yards from the villa； a lady； all in
black； came out with a nurse and child。
Falcon knew her figure all that way off； and it gave him a curious
thrill that surprised him。 He followed her； and was not very far
behind her when she reached the church。 She turned at the porch；
kissed the child earnestly； and gave the nurse some directions；
then entered the church。
〃Come；〃 said Falcon； 〃I'll have a look at her； any way。〃
He went into the church； and walked up a side aisle to a pillar；
from which he thought he might be able to see the whole
congregation； and； sure enough； there she sat； a few yards from
him。 She was lovelier than ever。 Mind had grown on her face with
trouble。 An angelic expression illuminated her beauty； he gazed on
her； fascinated。 He drank and drank her beauty two mortal hours；
and when the church broke up； and she went home； he was half afraid
to follow her； for he felt how hard it would be to say anything to
her but that the old love had returned on him with double force。
However； having watched her home； he walked slowly to and fro
composing himself for the interview。
He now determined to make the process of informing her a very long
one： he would spin it out； and so secure many a sweet interview
with her： and； who knows？ he might fascinate her as she had him；
and ripen gratitude into love； as he understood that word。
He called； he sent in his card。 The man went in； and came back
with a sonorous 〃Not at home。〃
〃Not at home？ nonsense。 Why； she is just come in from church。〃
〃Not at home；〃 said the man； evidently strong in his instructions。
Falcon turned white with rage at this second affront。 〃All the
worse for her；〃 said he； and turned on his heel。
He went home； raging with disappointment and wounded vanity； and
since such love as his is seldom very far from hatehe swore she
should never know from him that her husband was alive。 He even
moralized。 〃This comes of being so unselfish；〃 said he。 〃I'll
give that game up forever。〃
By and by； a mere negative revenge was not enough for him； and he
set his wits to work to make her smart。
He wrote to her from his lodgings：
DEAR MADAM；What a pity you are never at home to me。 I had
something to say about your husband； that I thought might interest
you。
Yours truly；
R。 FALCON。
Imagine the effect of this abominable note。 It was like a rock
flung into a placid pool。 It set Rosa trembling all over。 What
could he mean？
She ran with it to her father； and asked him what Mr。 Falcon could
mean。
〃I have no idea；〃 said he。 〃You had better ask him； not me。〃
〃I am afraid it is only to get to see me。 You know he admired me
once。 Ah； how suspicious I am getting。〃
Rosa wrote to Falcon：
DEAR SIR；Since my bereavement I see scarcely anybody。 My servant
did not know you； so I hope you will excuse me。 If it is too much
trouble to call again； would you kindly explain your note to me？
Yours respectfully；
ROSA STAINES。
Falcon chuckled bitterly over this。 〃No； my lady；〃 said he。 〃I'll
serve you out。 You shall run after me like a little dog。 I have
got the bone that will draw you。〃
He wrote back coldly to say that the matter he had wished to
communicate was too delicate and important to put on paper； that he
would try and get down to Gravesend again some day or other； but
was much occupied； and had already put himself to inconvenience。
He added； in a postscript； that he was always at home from four to
five。
Next day he got hold of the servant； and gave her minute
instructions； and a guinea。
Then the wretch got some tools and bored a hole in the partition
wall of his sitting…room。 The paper had large flowers。 He was
artist enough to conceal the trick with water…colors。 In his bed…
room the hole came behind the curtains。
That very afternoon； as he had foreseen； Mrs。 Staines called on
him。 The maid； duly instructed； said Mr。 Falcon was out； but would
soon return； and could she wait his return？ The maid being so very
civil； Mrs。 Staines said she would wait a little while； and was
immediately ushered into Falcon's sitting…room。 There she sat
down； but was evidently ill at ease； restless； flushed。 She could
not sit quiet； and at last began to walk up and down the room；
almost wildly。 Her beautiful eyes glittered； and the whole woman
seemed on fire。 The caitiff； who was watching her； saw and gloated
on all this； and enjoyed to the full her beauty and agitation； and
his revenge for her 〃Not at homes。〃
But after a long time； there was a reaction： she sat down and
uttered some plaintive sounds inarticulate； or nearly； and at last
she began to cry。
Then it cost Falcon an effort not to come in and comfort her； but
he controlled himself and kept quiet。
She rang the bell。 She asked for writing paper； and she wrote her
unseen tormentor a humble note； begging him； for old acquaintance；
to call on her； and tell her what his mysterious words meant that
had filled her with agitation。
This done； she went away； with a deep sigh； and Falcon emerged； and
pounced upon her letter。
He kissed it； he read it a dozen times： he sat down where she had
sat； and his base passion overpowered him。 Her beauty； her
agitation； her fear； her tears； all combined to madden him； and do
the devil's work in his false； selfish heart； so open to violent
passions； so dead to conscience。
For once in his life he was violently agitated； and torn by
conflicting feelings： he walked about the room more wildly than his
victim had； and if it be true that； in certain great temptations；
good and bad angels fight for a man； here you might have seen as
fierce a battle of that kind as ever was。
At last he rushed out into the air； and did not return till ten
o'clock at night。 He came back pale and haggard； and with a look
of crime upon his face。
True Bohemian as he was； he sent for a pint of brandy。
So then the die was cast； and something was to be done that called
for brandy。
He bolted himself in； and drank a wine…glass of it neat； then
another； then another。
Now his pale cheek is flushed； and his eye glitters。 Drink
forever！ great ruin of English soul