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！
at the Matabele camp； looked down upon the Makalanga moving about the
first enclosure far below。 By the aid of the glasses Benita even
thought that she recognised Tamas； although of this it was difficult
to be sure； for they were all very much alike。 Still； the discovery
quite excited her。
〃I am sure it is Tamas；〃 she said。 〃And oh！ how I wish that we were
down there with him； although it is true that then we should be nearer
to the Matabele。 But they are better than Mr。 Meyer； much better。〃
Now for a while they were silent； till at length she said suddenly：
〃Father； you are keeping something back from me； and things begin to
come back。 Tell me； did I go anywhere last night with Mr。 Meyeryou
and he and I together？〃
He hesitated and looked guilty； Mr。 Clifford was not a good actor。
〃I see that we did； I am sure that we did。 Father； tell me。 I must
know； I will know。〃
Then he gave way。
〃I didn't want to speak； dear； but perhaps it is best。 It is a very
strange story。 Will you promise not to be upset？〃
〃I will promise not to be more upset than I am at present；〃 she
answered； with a sad little laugh。 〃Go on。〃
〃You remember that Jacob Meyer wanted to mesmerize you？〃
〃I am not likely to forget it；〃 she answered。
〃Well； last night he did mesmerize you。〃
〃What？〃 she said。 〃/What？/ Oh！ how dreadful！ Now I understand it all。
But when？〃
〃When you were sound asleep； I suppose。 At least； the first I knew of
it was that some noise woke me； and I came out of the hut to see you
following him like a dead woman； with a lamp in your hand。〃
Then he told her all the story； while she listened aghast。
〃How dared he！〃 she gasped； when her father had finished the long
tale。 〃I hate him； I almost wish that you had killed him；〃 and she
clenched her little hands and shook them in the air。
〃That is not very Christian of you； Miss Clifford；〃 said a voice
behind her。 〃But it is past one o'clock； and as I am still alive I
have come to tell you that it is time for luncheon。〃
Benita wheeled round upon the stone on which she sat； and there；
standing amidst the bushes a little way from the foot of the wall； was
Jacob Meyer。 Their eyes met； hers were full of defiance； and his of
conscious power。
〃I do not want any luncheon； Mr。 Meyer；〃 she said。
〃But I am sure that you do。 Please come down and have some。 Please
come down。〃
The words were spoken humbly； almost pleadingly； yet to Benita they
seemed as a command。 At any rate； with slow reluctance she climbed
down the shattered wall； followed by her father； and without speaking
they went back to their camping place； all three of them； Jacob
leading the way。
When they had eaten； or made pretence to eat； he spoke。
〃I see that your father has told you everything； Miss Clifford； and of
that I am glad。 As for me； it would have been awkward； who must ask
your forgiveness for so much。 But what could I do？ I knew； as I have
always known； that it was only possible to find this treasure by your
help。 So I gave you something to make you sleep； and then in your
sleep I hypnotized you； andyou know the rest。 I have great
experience in this art； but I have never seen or heard of anything
like what happened； and I hope I never shall again。〃
Hitherto Benita had sat silent； but now her burning indignation and
curiosity overcame her shame and hatred。
〃Mr。 Meyer；〃 she said； 〃you have done a shameful and a wicked thing；
and I tell you at once that I can never forgive you。〃
〃Don't say that。 Please don't say that；〃 he interrupted in tones of
real grief。 〃Make allowances for me。 I had to learn； and there was no
other way。 You are a born clairvoyante； one among ten thousand； my art
told me so； and you know all that is at stake。〃
〃By which you mean so many ounces of gold； Mr。 Meyer。〃
〃By which I mean the greatness that gold can give； Miss Clifford。〃
〃Such greatness； Mr。 Meyer； as a week of fever； or a Matabele spear；
or God's will can rob you of。 But the thing is done； and soon or late
the sin must be paid for。 Now I want to ask you a question。 You
believe in nothing； you have told me so several times。 You say that
there is no such thing as a spirit； that when we die； we die； and
there's an end。 Do you not？〃
〃Yes； I do。〃
〃Then tell me； what was it that spoke out of my lips last night； and
how came it that I； who know no Portuguese； talked to you in that
tongue？〃
He shrugged his shoulders。
〃You have put a difficult question； but one I think that can be
answered。 There is no such thing as a spirit； an identity that
survives death。 But there is such a thing as the subconscious self；
which is part of the animating principle of the universe； and； if only
its knowledge can be unsealed； knows all that has passed and all that
is passing in that universe。 One day perhaps you will read the works
of my compatriot； Hegel； and there you will find it spoken of。〃
〃You explain nothing。〃
〃I am about to explain； Miss Clifford。 Last night I gave to your sub…
conscious selfthat which knows allthe strength of liberty； so that
it saw the past as it happened in this place。 Already you knew the
story of the dead girl； Benita da Ferreira； and that story you
re…enacted； talking the tongue she used as you would have talked Greek
or any other tongue； had it been hers。 It was not her spirit that
animated you； although at the time I called it so for shortness； but
your own buried knowledge； tricked out and furnished by the effort of
your human imagination。 That her name； Benita； should have been yours
also is no doubt a strange coincidence； but no more。 Also we have no
proof that it was so； only what you said in your trance。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Benita； who was in no mood for philosophical argument。
〃Perhaps also one day you will see a spirit； Mr。 Meyer； and think
otherwise。〃
〃When I see a spirit and know that it is a spirit； then doubtless I
shall believe in spirits。 But what is the good of talking of such
things？ I do not seek spirits； I seek Portuguese gold。 Now； I am sure
you can tell where that gold lies。 You would have told us last night；
had not your nervous strength failed you； who are unaccustomed to the
state of trance。 Speaking as Benita da Ferreira； you said that you saw
it and described its condition。 Then you could； or would； say no more；
and it became necessary to waken you。 Miss Clifford； you must let me
mesmerize you once again for a few minutes only； for then we will
waste no time on past histories； and we shall find the gold。 Unless；
indeed；〃 he added by an afterthought； and looking at her sharply； 〃you
know already where it is； in which case I need not trouble you。〃
〃I do not know； Mr。 Meyer。 I remember nothing about the gold。〃
〃Which proves my theory。 What purported to be the spirit of Benita da
Ferreira said that it had passed the secret on to you； but in your
waking stat