登陆注册
5166200000069

第69章

In a minute more, Miss Rachel came downstairs--very nicely dressed in some soft yellow stuff, that set off her dark complexion, and clipped her tight (in the form of a jacket) round the waist.She had a smart little straw hat on her head, with a white veil twisted round it.She had primrose-coloured gloves that fitted her hands like a second skin.Her beautiful black hair looked as smooth as satin under her hat.Her little ears were like rosy shells--they had a pearl dangling from each of them.She came swiftly out to us, as straight as a lily on its stem, and as lithe and supple in every movement she made as a young cat.Nothing that I could discover was altered in her pretty face, but her eyes and her lips.Her eyes were brighter and fiercer than I liked to see; and her lips had so completely lost their colour and their smile that I hardly knew them again.She kissed her mother in a hasty and sudden manner on the cheek.She said, `Try to forgive me, mamma'--and then pulled down her veil over her face so vehemently that she tore it.In another moment she had run down the steps, and had rushed into the carriage as if it was a hiding-place.

Sergeant Cuff was just as quick on his side.He put Samuel back, and stood before Miss Rachel, with the open carriage door in his hand, at the instant when she settled herself in her place.

`What do you want?' says Miss Rachel, from behind her veil.

`I want to say one word to you, miss,' answered the Sergeant, `before you go.I can't presume to stop your paying a visit to your aunt.I can only venture to say that your leaving us, as things are now, puts an obstacle in the way of my recovering your Diamond.Please to understand that; and now decide for yourself whether you go or stay.'

Miss Rachel never even answered him.`Drive on, James!' she called out to the coachman.

Without another word, the Sergeant shut the carriage door.Just as he closed it, Mr.Franklin came running down the steps.`Good-bye, Rachel,'

he said, holding out his hand.

`Drive on!' cried Miss Rachel, louder than ever, and taking no more notice of Mr.Franklin than she had taken of Sergeant Cuff.

Mr.Franklin stepped back thunderstruck, as well he might be.The coachman, not knowing what to do, looked towards my lady, still standing immovable on the top step.My lady, with anger and sorrow and shame all struggling together in her face, made him a sign to start the horses, and then turned back hastily into the house.Mr.Franklin, recovering the use of his speech, called after her, as the carriage drove off, `Aunt! you were quite right.

Accept my thanks for all your kindness--and let me go.'

My lady turned as though to speak to him.Then, as if distrusting herself, waved her hand kindly.`Let me see you, before you leave us, Franklin,'

she said, in a broken voice--and went on to her own room.

`Do me a last favour, Betteredge,' says Mr.Franklin, turning to me, with the tears in his eyes.`Get me away to the train as soon as you can!'

He too went his way into the house.For the moment, Miss Rachel had completely unmanned him.Judge from that, how fond he must have been of her!

Sergeant Cuff and I were left face to face, at the bottom of the steps.

The Sergeant stood with his face set towards a gap in the trees, commanding a view of one of the windings of the drive which led from the house.He had his hands in his pockets, and he was softly whistling `The Last Rose of Summer' to himself.

`There's a time for everything,' I said, savagely enough.`This isn't a time for whistling.'

At that moment, the carriage appeared in the distance, through the gap, on its way to the lodge-gate.There was another man, besides Samuel, plainly visible in the rumble behind.

`All right!' said the Sergeant to himself.He turned round to me.`It's no time for whistling, Mr.Betteredge, as you say.It's time to take this business in hand, now, without sparing anybody.We'll begin with Rosanna Spearman.Where is Joyce?'

We both called for Joyce, and received no answer.I sent one of the stable-boys to look for him.

`You heard what I said to Miss Verinder?' remarked the Sergeant, while we were waiting.`And you saw how she received it? I tell her plainly that her leaving us will be an obstacle in the way of my recovering her Diamond--and she leaves, in the face of that statement! Your young lady has got a travelling companion in her mother's carriage, Mr.Betteredge--and the name of it is, the Moonstone.'

同类推荐
  • Lorna Doonel

    Lorna Doonel

    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。
  • 渔具诗 鸣桹

    渔具诗 鸣桹

    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。
  • 忆平泉杂咏 忆春耕

    忆平泉杂咏 忆春耕

    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。
  • 杂艺

    杂艺

    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。
  • 易数钩深图

    易数钩深图

    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
  • 异瞳狂妃:邪帝,太凶猛!

    异瞳狂妃:邪帝,太凶猛!

    她是21世纪第一杀手,一双异瞳,傲视天穹。一朝穿越,沦为将军府废材傻女,当这双绝世异瞳在这世间重新睁开,风云变幻,乾坤颠覆,天命逆改!她手撕渣男,脚踩白莲,坐拥神宠,掌控神器,秒天炸地,走上巅峰!只是…一个不小心,被一只傲娇又毒舌的妖孽缠上。日日虐心(腹黑),夜夜虐身(强宠),虐完还要求负责?做梦!
  • 李嘉诚内部讲话:关键时,李嘉诚说了什么

    李嘉诚内部讲话:关键时,李嘉诚说了什么

    15年蝉联华人首富的商界大亨,经久不衰的华人企业家领袖;中国传统行业的领军人物,多元化投资领域的不倒翁,无国界经济的操盘圣手;李嘉诚送给新时代创业者的最好礼物。《李嘉诚内部讲话:关键时,李嘉诚说了什么》深刻还原和剖析了李嘉诚的创业经历以及他曾经的讲话,并展现了李嘉诚在企业成长的关键时刻所起到的作用和采取的应对措施。同时,对李嘉诚的做法进行了分析和拓展,为那些正在经营企业或处于企业管理层的人们提供一种借鉴和参考,帮助他们更好地对企业进行经营和管理。
  • 毒骨生香,王爷请投降

    毒骨生香,王爷请投降

    上一辈子她为救人而死,这一辈子她定为自己而活!生母是奴隶出生又如何?她这嫡小姐可不好惹,不管是让渣爹恶姐还是敌人的阴谋诡计,她都以牙还牙一虐到底。胸怀墨蝎,妖娆无双,触之酒液,媚骨生香,一笑一颦,迷惑众生。有人说她是妖女,可偏有不怕死的王爷非要往上闯,说将倾尽天下,以江山为聘,百里红妆,万金筑城,只求她红颜一笑……笑泥煤,敢跟她谈条件,倒霉王爷还不乖乖上榻领罚……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 传承者笔记

    传承者笔记

    大学刚毕业的楚唤灵,在一次醉酒中,被神奇系统附身,明明只想平平凡凡的活着,现实却总会给他惊喜!
  • 适是少年时

    适是少年时

    “卧槽!这女二太可恶了!导演我演什么?”萧意一脸的义愤填膺。陈楚微笑,淡淡的说:“女二。”【段一】“陈楚!你是不是专门针对我啊!每部戏我演的都不是好人!说!你是不是嫉妒我的智慧与美貌!”然而陈楚并没有理她。【段二】“萧意你好笨啊!”“我体育比你好!”“那是因为上天给你逃跑的潜能而我,并不需要。”【段三】“你你你!”“我我我?”“陈陈陈……”“我叫陈楚,不叫陈陈陈。”
  • 我是正道大宗师

    我是正道大宗师

    当吴明穿越醒来,发现自己变成一方恶霸!Σ(?д?|||)??居然还有穿越者福利-正道大宗师系统!竟然还要做好人?!emmm,论一个好演员的自我修养,不就是恶霸伸张正义吗,我大概……能做到?新世界我来了!
  • 重雕清凉传

    重雕清凉传

    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。
  • 全球影帝

    全球影帝

    “他是《拳王》中的铁血硬汉。”“也是《百年之恋》中的孤独老人。”“是《股市大亨》中花天酒地的金融巨鳄。”“还是《赎罪》中的疯狂且残忍的冷血杀手。”“是草根,也是现代体验派表演形式的国际公认大师。”“可退出戏外,他只是一个喜欢喝喝小酒的普通男人。”“草根亦可走向巨幕,这是一个有关于奋斗的故事。”
  • 教主贵姓(二)

    教主贵姓(二)

    花长老傲娇地道:“你不必不服气,我们教主乃是百年难得一见的天才,练成蛊王也不是不可能。”教主附和花长老:“就是!”项萧萧觉得自己要吐了,草包闭嘴!自夸的都拖出去烧死!很快他抓住了一个重点:“蛊王有什么用啊……”花长老:“顾名思义,此乃蛊中之王,能辟千蛊万毒……”项萧萧抢道:“这个我也可以吧?我刚才踩你虫子那招算不算?”花长老嘿嘿冷笑,刚想教训他,陡然眼神一变,若有所思地道:“教主,难道说和这蠢货成亲后,两个人接触久了,能将蛊王练成的时间提前?”左护法眼睛亮了:“这个推测有道理啊!”
  • 职场“蜗居”术

    职场“蜗居”术

    《职场蜗居术》讲的,是别人从未说过的职场如何“蜗居”,相信大多数职场人都处于“蜗居”状态。