登陆注册
5166200000139

第139章

I HAVE not a word to say about my own sensations.

My impression is, that the shock inflicted on me completely suspended my thinking and feeling power.I certainly could not have known what Iwas about when Betteredge joined me--for I have it on his authority that I laughed, when he asked what was the matter, and putting the nightgown into his hands, told him to read the riddle for himself.

Of what was said between us on the beach, I have not the faintest recollection.

The first place in which I can now see myself again plainly is the plantation of firs.Betteredge and I are walking back together to the house; and Betteredge is telling me that I shall be able to face it, and he will be able to face it, when we have had a glass of grog.

The scene shifts from the plantation to Betteredge's little sitting-room.

My resolution not to enter Rachel's house is forgotten.I feel gratefully the coolness and shadiness and quiet of the room.I drink the grog (a perfectly new luxury to me, at that time of day), which my good old friend mixes with icy-cold water from the well.Under any other circumstances, the drink would simply stupefy me.As things are, it strings up my nerves.I begin to `face it,' as Betteredge has predicted.And Betteredge, on his side, begins to `face it,' too.

The picture which I am now presenting of myself, will, I suspect, be thought a very strange one, to say the least of it.Placed in a situation which may, I think, be described as entirely without parallel, what is the first proceeding to which I resort? Do I seclude myself from all human society? Do I set my mind to analyse the abominable impossibility which, nevertheless, confronts me as an undeniable fact? Do I hurry back to London by the first train to consult the highest authorities, and to set a searching inquiry on foot immediately? No.I accept the shelter of a house which I had resolved never to degrade myself by entering again; and I sit, tippling spirits and water in the company of an old servant, at ten o'clock in the morning.Is this the conduct that might have been expected from a man placed in my horrible position? I can only answer that the sight of old Betteredge's familiar face was an inexpressible comfort to me, and that the drinking of old Betteredge's grog helped me, as I believe nothing else would have helped me, in the state of complete bodily and mental prostration into which I had fallen.I can only offer this excuse for myself; and I can only admire that invariable preservation of dignity, and that strictly logical consistency of conduct which distinguish every man and woman who may read these lines, in every emergency of their lives from the cradle to the grave.

`Now, Mr.Franklin, there's one thing certain, at any rate,' said Betteredge, throwing the nightgown down on the table between us, and pointing to it as if it was a living creature that could hear him.` He's a liar, to begin with.'

This comforting view of the matter was not the view that presented itself to my mind.

`I am as innocent of all knowledge of having taken the Diamond as you are,' I said.`But there is the witness against me! The paint on the nightgown, and the name on the nightgown are facts.'

Betteredge lifted my glass, and put it persuasively into my hand.

`Facts?' he repeated.`Take a drop more grog, Mr.Franklin, and you'll get over the weakness of believing in facts! Foul play, sir!' he continued, dropping his voice confidentially.`That is how I read the riddle.Foul play somewhere--and you and I must find it out.Was there nothing else in the tin case, when you put your hand into it?'

The question instantly reminded me of the letter in my pocket.I took it out, and opened it.It was a letter of many pages, closely written.

I looked impatiently for the signature at the end.`Rosanna Spearman.'

As I read the name, a sudden remembrance illuminated my mind, and a sudden suspicion rose out of the new light.

`Stop!' I exclaimed.`Rosanna Spearman came to my aunt out of a reformatory?

Rosanna Spearman had once been a thief?'

`There's no denying that, Mr.Franklin.What of it now, if you please?'

`What of it now? How do we know she may not have stolen the Diamond after all? How do we know she may not have smeared my nightgown purposely with the paint--?'

Betteredge laid his hand on my arm, and stopped me before I could say any more.

`You will be cleared of this, Mr.Franklin, beyond all doubt.But Ihope you won't be cleared in that way.See what the letter says, sir.In justice to the girl's memory, see what it says.'

I felt the earnestness with which he spoke--felt it as a friendly rebuke to me.`You shall form your own judgment on her letter,' I said.`I will read it out.'

I began--and read these lines:

`S IR ,--I have something to own to you.A confession which means much misery, may sometimes be made in very few words.This confession can be made in three words.I love you.'

The letter dropped from my hand.I looked at Betteredge.`In the name of Heaven,' I said, `what does it mean?'

He seemed to shrink from answering the question.

`You and Limping Lucy were alone together this morning, sir,' he said.

`Did she say nothing about Rosanna Spearman?'

`She never even mentioned Rosanna Spearman's name.'

`Please to go back to the letter, Mr.Franklin.I tell you plainly, I can't find it in my heart to distress you, after what you have had to bear already.Let her speak for herself, sir.And get on with your grog.

For your own sake, get on with your grog.'

I resumed the reading of the letter.

`It would be very disgraceful to me to tell you this, if I was a living woman when you read it.I shall be dead and gone, sir, when you find my letter.It is that which makes me bold.Not even my grave will be left to tell of me.I may own the truth--with the quicksand waiting to hide me when the words are written.

同类推荐
  • Mazelli and Other Poems

    Mazelli and Other Poems

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说弥勒下生经

    佛说弥勒下生经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 萨天锡逸诗永和本

    萨天锡逸诗永和本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 永樂大典書目考

    永樂大典書目考

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 青囊秘诀

    青囊秘诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 余罪5:我的刑侦笔记

    余罪5:我的刑侦笔记

    血太热!十八年前血案浮出水面!余罪千里缉凶!本书为您揭开的是一张令人触目惊心的当下社会犯罪网络。从混迹人群中的扒手,到躲在深山老林里的悍匪,从横行街头的流氓,到逡巡在海岸线边缘的毒枭;他们似乎离我们很远,似乎又很近,看似悄无声息,却又如影随形;作者所描写的,正是这个光怪陆离而又真实存在的地下世界。警校学员余罪,在通过一次意外的选拔之后,被丢进了一间住满凶神恶煞的罪犯的牢房,他迅速发现,要在这个凶险万状的环境中活下来,自己必须比毒贩更奸诈,比窃贼更狡猾,比匪徒更残忍。他不仅要用罪犯的思维去理解犯罪,还要用罪犯的手段去对抗犯罪,更要和罪犯一样突破种种底线。
  • 金刚顶瑜伽降三世成就极深密门

    金刚顶瑜伽降三世成就极深密门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 不可不读的最悬疑的侦探故事

    不可不读的最悬疑的侦探故事

    在成长的道路上,最快乐的体验是求知;在探索的过程中,最需要的帮助是引导。希望这本书能带领小朋友们在知识的海洋里快乐遨游,让它成为你的良师益友!
  • 我的妹妹是狠人

    我的妹妹是狠人

    “不为成仙,只为在这红尘中等你回来……”九天之上,居然传来这么一句话,震动了万古。……突然有一个逆世称尊、动辄杀尽天下的狠人妹妹,是什么体验?而且,这个妹妹还不是一般的狠……惊才绝艳、天姿惊世、绝代风华傲古今…………和狠人大帝的诸界游。也有大量的国漫元素,如大鱼和风语咒、武庚等,也会有神话仙侠背景的影视世界。
  • 皇极枪神

    皇极枪神

    云风大陆,唯武独尊,本为天骄,却被蒙尘,一朝觉醒,乘风直上九万里。本是家族天才,却突发变故,成为家族的笑柄,殊不知,这一切早于命中注定,妖孽之路,正在崛起...
  • 那一抹丁香的浓淡

    那一抹丁香的浓淡

    生活?那是什么?有人说是酒,有人说是舞台,可是,生活就是生活,平实的,跌宕的,朴素的,奢华的,那就是生活,生活,是用来享受的。而我,会用自己的方法面对?(?^o^?)?。
  • 很老很老的老偏方,腰酸背痛一扫光

    很老很老的老偏方,腰酸背痛一扫光

    书中内容介绍了作者多年精心收集的最齐全的腰酸背痛老偏方,经过医学证明是最安全、最有效、最实用的。
  • 善待生活

    善待生活

    《善待生活》融书本知识的生活经验于一体,行文旁征博引,汪洋瓷肆,语言平易流畅、形象生动。
  • 惊世毒皇后

    惊世毒皇后

    【这样的她—】季弦歌,左相之女,却因为一场阴谋,被推上皇后之位。作为夫君,皇帝只想除掉她。作为亲人,父亲只想利用她。江湖纷争,朝堂纠葛,尔虞我诈。◆暗潮凶猛的阴谋诡计中,她,游走于正邪之间,左手利刃,右手品茶,步步为营,谈笑间,俾睨众生,扭转乾坤,杀人于无形!在重重阻碍下,她究竟能否建立起属于自己的帝国?【这样的他们—】(妙手神医:前半生我为了医术而活,后半生,想要为你而活。(当朝右相:你说,我是仙,我说,你是魔,仙魔之间,若是注定不能相守,那么,我愿意为了你坠入魔道。(武林至尊:你说我只知道天下,却不知,我愿意用整个天下,来守护你的肆无忌惮。还有那皇帝,世家族长,铁血战神…她与他们之间,本是个个不待见,本是互相利用,一转身,又是谁,会与这个女子一步步攀上高峰,并肩傲视天下?——◆◆片花欣赏:【皇帝篇】大殿中:某男一身阴冷的走进来,隐忍的低声说道:“季弦歌,你还是朕的皇后!朕警告你,不要再到处招惹男人!”某女冷笑:“皇上此话何意,您有您的女人,我有我的男人,我们之间本就是交易,不是么?”【丞相篇】御花园中:男子匍匐在地,卑微的姿势,却依旧让人觉得仙风傲骨。“皇后娘娘,大人已经跪了一天了…”身边的丫头不忍心,道。“大人,您可是累了?”某女一脸慵懒。“微臣不累,皇后娘娘可愿意,赦免那些无辜的人?”“你要是爬上本宫的床,本宫也许会愿意…”某女清冷的说。“微臣,愿意。”某女愣了一下,笑道:“放一个人,你就陪本宫一夜!”男子露出一个似有若无的笑容,道:“臣,遵旨。”【盟主篇】:山巅之上:女子道:“徐家那老头,竟抢我生意?!”男子露出狐狸般的笑容:“明天就让他儿子不举,怎么样?”女子又道:“这苍山派和青云教又打起来了?头疼!”“那咱就把这俩,夷为平地。”男子一脸宠溺。女子浅笑:“你把我惯得这么嚣张,别人受不了,可如何是好?”风华绝代的男子看着某女,眼底闪过一丝狡诈,心中幽幽的道:若是天下人都受不了,那才甚好。●●女强+男强,强强对抗。喜欢的亲们点击【放入书架】喔!
  • 掌控乾坤:重生修罗女皇

    掌控乾坤:重生修罗女皇

    她是六道之首的修罗女皇,却没有想到,被信任之人陷害,跌落六道轮回,重生成为天朝哑巴公主。重生后的她,功力尽失,造就木灵体质,并只能重新修炼创生控命决!一个以杀戮为生的修罗,却只能修炼救死扶伤的功法,这简直让她有种自杀的冲动。不过,就算只能修炼救死扶伤功法那又如何?谁说救人的功法不能杀人?且看她如果逆境重生,重踏巅峰!