登陆注册
5386000000267

第267章

" 'DISASTER AT SEA.--Intelligence has reached the Royal Yacht Squadron and the insurers which leaves no reasonable doubt, we regret to say, of the total loss, on the fifth of the present month, of the yacht _Dorothea,_ with every soul on board. The particulars are as follows: At daylight, on the morning of the sixth, the Italian brig _Speranza,_ bound from Venice to Marsala for orders, encountered some floating objects off Cape Spartivento (at the southernmost extremity of Italy) which attracted the curiosity of the people of the brig. The previous day had been marked by one of the most severe of the sudden and violent storms, peculiar to these southern seas, which has been remembered for years. The _Speranza_ herself having been in danger while the gale lasted, the captain and crew concluded that they were on the traces of a wreck, and a boat was lowered for the purpose of examining the objects in the water. A hen-coop, some broken spars, and fragments of shattered plank were the first evidences discovered of the terrible disaster that had happened. Some of the lighter articles of cabin furniture, wrenched and shattered, were found next. And, lastly, a memento of melancholy interest turned up, in the shape of a lifebuoy, with a corked bottle attached to it. These latter objects, with the relics of cabin furniture, were brought on board the _Speranza._ On the buoy the name of the vessel was painted, as follows: "_Dorothea, R. Y. S._" (meaning Royal Yacht Squadron).

The bottle, on being uncorked, contained a sheet of note-paper, on which the following lines were hurriedly traced in pencil:

"Off Cape Spartivento; two days out from Messina. Nov. 5th, 4P.M." (being the hour at which the log of the Italian brig showed the storm to have been at its height). "Both our boats are stove in by the sea. The rudder is gone, and we have sprung a leak astern which is more than we can stop. The Lord help us all--we are sinking. (Signed) John Mitchenden, Mate." On reaching Marsala, the captain of the brig made his report to the British consul, and left the objects discovered in that gentleman's charge. Inquiry at Messina showed that the ill-fated vessel had arrived there from Naples. At the latter port it was ascertained that the _Dorothea_ had been hired from the owner's agent by an English gentleman, Mr. Armadale, of Thorpe Ambrose, Norfolk.

Whether Mr. Armadale had any friends on board with him has not been clearly discovered. But there is unhappily no doubt that the ill-fated gentleman himself sailed in the yacht from Naples, and that he was also on board of the vessel when she left Messina.'

"Such is the story of the wreck, as the newspaper tells it in the plainest and fewest words. My head is in a whirl; my confusion is so great that I think of fifty different things in trying to think of one. I must wait--a day more or less is of no consequence now--I must wait till I can face my new position, without feeling bewildered by it.

"November 23d.--Eight in the morning.--I rose an hour ago, and saw my way clearly to the first step that I must take under present circumstances.

"It is of the utmost importance to me to know what is doing at Thorpe Ambrose; and it would be the height of rashness, while Iam quite in the dark in this matter, to venture there myself. The only other alternative is to write to somebody on the spot for news; and the only person I can write to is--Bashwood.

"I have just finished the letter. It is headed 'private and confidential,' and signed 'Lydia Armadale.' There is nothing in it to compromise me, if the old fool is mortally offended by my treatment of him, and if he spitefully shows my letter to other people. But I don't believe he will do this. A man at his age forgives a woman anything, if the woman only encourages him. Ihave requested him, as a personal favor, to keep our correspondence for the present strictly private. I have hinted that my married life with my deceased husband has not been a happy one; and that I feel the injudiciousness of having married a _young_ man. In the postscript I go further still, and venture boldly on these comforting words: 'I can explain, dear Mr.

Bashwood, what may have seemed fake and deceitful in my conduct toward you when you give me a personal opportunity.' If he was on the right side of sixty, I should feel doubtful of results. But he is on the wrong side of sixty, and I believe he will give me my personal opportunity.

"Ten o'clock.--I have been looking over the copy of my marriage certificate, with which I took care to provide myself on the wedding-day; and I have discovered, to my inexpressible dismay, an obstacle to my appearance in the character of Armadale's widow which I now see for the first time.

"The description of Midwinter (under his own name) which the certificate presents answers in every important particular to what would have been the description of Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose, if I had really married him. 'Name and Surname'--Allan Armadale. 'Age'--twenty-one, instead of twenty-two, which might easily pass for a mistake. 'Condition'--Bachelor. 'Rank or profession'--Gentleman. 'Residence at the time of Marriage'--Frant's Hotel, Darley Street. 'Father's Name and Surname'--Allan Armadale. 'Rank or Profession of Father'--Gentleman. Every particular (except the year's difference in their two ages) which answers for the one answers for the other. But suppose, when I produce my copy of the certificate, that some meddlesome lawyer insists on looking at the original register? Midwinter's writing is as different as possible from the writing of his dead friend. The hand in which he has written 'Allan Armadale' in the book has not a chance of passing for the hand in which Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose was accustomed to sign his name.

"Can I move safely in the matter, with such a pitfall as I see here open under my feet? How can I tell? Where can I find an experienced person to inform me? I must shut up my diary and think.

同类推荐
  • 龙角山记

    龙角山记

    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。
  • COLUMBA

    COLUMBA

    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。
  • 医林琐语

    医林琐语

    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。
  • 文昌杂录

    文昌杂录

    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。
  • 凌沧草

    凌沧草

    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
  • 三辅黄图

    三辅黄图

    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。
  • 典型文案

    典型文案

    本书对1949年以来中国当代文学按事例的发生发展进行仔细梳理。将典型性事件好典型性人物与中国当代文艺政策好部署的背景联系起来考察,清晰地勾勒了一幅当代文学,特别是前三十年(1949~1979)文学与体制、政策、形势、运动等等的“关系史”。
  • 魔战天下之舍身成魔

    魔战天下之舍身成魔

    从前生到今世,是宿命的轮回。从相知、相识到相爱、相守,是缘份的牵绊。魔者有逆天的帅性,有战天的勇性,更有不世的豪情!世上并不止修行一条路,出身仙门却无灵根的他,立志要在仕途上为家族再造辉煌。可是,家怀异宝,招来横祸。一夜之间,满门被屠。如此的仇恨,他能否逆天改命?报仇雪恨?毅然入魔,能否再创辉煌?天地神魔、道有定论,对于一个男人来说,就是一个“战”字。无论挡在前面的人是什么样的对手,那怕是大罗金仙我也要取了你的命,这就是一个男人身上应该有的“热血”。且看主角如何战天、战地、战人、战神,仙若挡我,我便弑仙。佛若挡我,我便杀佛。且看主角入魔之后,如何联合众魔,“魔战天下”。且看主角如何诠释真情,“爱的生死与共、至死不渝”。
  • 刘备的日常

    刘备的日常

    瓒:嘿!刘备。绍:哈!刘备。术:哼!刘备。操:呸!刘备。众美:啊!刘备。-------------------------------------正经的简介:魂穿少年刘备,从改变楼桑村自家老宅开始,与十九岁孤母相依为伴,同村刘氏兄弟相帮,千金买马骨,一诺重千金。复爵陆城亭侯,师从卢植,种田养士,数城大建,未来可期。-------------------------------------一句话简介:且看双传奇难度下,刘三墩无伤通关,解锁三国完美真·结局。-------------------------------------解锁稀有成就:北境守护者,草原撑犁孤涂,鲜卑驯鹿人,哺育万马者,东胡共主,诸羌执鞭者,遥远绿洲主人,陇右牧羊人,四海弄潮手,三南天王(即将解锁),罗马解放者(准备解锁)。-------------------------------------哔!阅读前提示:①:这是一簿大汉继承者们的青春修炼手册。②:这是一本用减字白话文书写的成长日志。③:这大体上是个古装励志言情传记故事会。友情告知:请细看作者自定义标签。
  • 无人过夏

    无人过夏

    28岁职场剩女温颜,温和一世容颜,32岁高富帅,楚蓝,决绝中不容一丝背叛,她在漫漫职场中求一点荣华,他在阿谀奉承中寻一丝真心,她清醒时面试了他的公司,无论是因是果,这是一段避之唯恐不及的纠缠,你要我的人,还是我的心,对不起,都不能给你.
  • 八十天环游地球

    八十天环游地球

    我们在阅读文学名著时,往往会遇到一些难以理解的词句,这样就会阻碍我们读懂某一句话或某一段话的意思。所以,我们必须正确理解词句的含义,而理解词语不能仅仅局限在表面含义,还要认真体会它们所表达的作用。
  • 人生的枷锁(下)

    人生的枷锁(下)

    《人生的枷锁》是英国作家毛姆被公认的杰作,也是一部带有自传色彩的小说。本书问世至今,曾三次被搬上大荧幕,并入选了“20世纪百大英文小说”。书中的主人公菲利普从小就过着不幸的生活。他父母双亡,先天跛足,童年时代也在既陌生又压抑的环境中度过。当他步入社会,又经受了理想破灭之苦和爱情的伤痛。备受煎熬的他始终没有放弃自己,而是在更加坎坷的人生道路上坚决前行。在历经各种磨难之后,菲利普终于摆脱了之前禁锢自己思想和精神的种种枷锁,找到了适合自己的人生方向。
  • 审分览

    审分览

    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。
  • 告密者

    告密者

    《告密者》这部书,收纳了《事实真相》《告密者》《尖叫的碎片》《夏日往事》等作品。一个个奇妙的故事,像一眼眼深邃而奇妙的洞穴,读之者,如身临其境,能感受到人心人性酿造的丝丝缕缕凉意,也能感受作者对生活本身,对各种际遇的人物的一腔深情。
  • 返生香

    返生香

    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。