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！
window； fronting Allan。 He occupied the place； of necessity；
which Allan had just left。 It was the side of the window on which
the Statuette stood。 The little figure； placed on its projecting
bracket； was； close behind him on his right hand。 No signs of
change appeared in the stormy sky。 The rain still swept slanting
across the garden； and pattered heavily against the glass。
〃Give me your hand； Allan。〃
Allan gave it； and Midwinter held it firmly while he spoke。
〃There is something strange between us；〃 he said。 〃There is
something to be set right which touches you nearly； and it has
not been set right yet。 You asked me just now where I met with
Miss Gwilt。 I met with h er on my way back here； upon the
high…road on the further side of the town。 She entreated me to
protect her from a man who was following and frightening her。 I
saw the scoundrel with my own eyes； and I should have laid hands
on him； if Miss Gwilt herself had not stopped me。 She gave a very
strange reason for stopping me。 She said I didn't know who his
employer was。〃
Allan's ruddy color suddenly deepened； he looked aside quickly
through the window at the pouring rain。 At the same moment their
hands fell apart； and there was a pause of silence on either
side。 Midwinter was the first to speak again。
〃Later in the evening；〃 he went on； 〃Miss Gwilt explained
herself。 She told me two things。 She declared that the man whom I
had seen following her was a hired spy。 I was surprised； but I
could not dispute it。 She told me next； Allanwhat I believe
with my whole heart and soul to be a falsehood which has been
imposed on her as the truthshe told me that the spy was in your
employment！〃
Allan turned instantly from the window； and looked Midwinter full
in the face again。 〃I must explain myself this time；〃 he said；
resolutely。
The ashy paleness peculiar to him in moments of strong emotion
began to show itself on Midwinter's cheeks。
〃More explanations！〃 he said； and drew back a step； with his eyes
fixed in a sudden terror of inquiry on Allan's face。
〃You don't know what I know； Midwinter。 You don't know that what
I have done has been done with a good reason。 And what is more； I
have not trusted to myselfI have had good advice。〃
〃Did you hear what I said just now？〃 asked Midwinter；
incredulously。 〃You can'tsurely； you can't have been attending
to me？〃
〃I haven't missed a word；〃 rejoined Allan。 〃I tell you again； you
don't know what I know of Miss Gwilt。 She has threatened Miss
Milroy。 Miss Milroy is in danger while her governess stops in
this neighborhood。〃
Midwinter dismissed the major's daughter from the conversation
with a contemptuous gesture of his hand。
〃I don't want to hear about Miss； Milroy；〃 he said。 〃Don't mix up
Miss Milroy Good God； Allan； am I to understand that the spy
set to watch Miss Gwilt was doing his vile work with your
approval？〃
〃Once for all； my dear fellow； will you； or will you not； let me
explain？〃
〃Explain！〃 cried Midwinter； his eyes aflame； and his hot Creole
blood rushing crimson into his face。 〃Explain the employment of a
spy？ What！ after having driven Miss Gwilt out of her situation by
meddling with her private affairs； you meddle again by the vilest
of all meansthe means of a paid spy？ You set a watch on the
woman whom you yourself told me you loved； only a fortnight
sincethe woman you were thinking of as your wife！ I don't
believe it； I won't believe it。 Is my head failing me？ Is it
Allan Armadale I am speaking to？ Is it Allan Armadale's face
looking at me？ Stop！ you are acting under some mistaken scruple。
Some low fellow has crept into your confidence； and has done this
in your name without telling you first。〃
Allan controlled himself with admirable patience and admirable
consideration for the temper of his friend。 〃If you persist in
refusing to hear me；〃 he said； 〃I must wait as well as I can till
my turn comes。〃
〃Tell me you are a stranger to the employment of that man； and I
will hear you willingly。〃
〃Suppose there should be a necessity； that you know nothing
about； for employing him？〃
〃I acknowledge no necessity for the cowardly persecution of a
helpless woman。〃
A momentary flush of irritationmomentary； and no morepassed
over Allan's face。 〃You mightn't think her quite so helpless；〃 he
said； 〃if you knew the truth。〃
〃Are _you_ the man to tell me the truth？〃 retorted the other。
〃You who have refused to hear her in her own defense！ You who
have closed the doors of this house against her！〃
Allan still controlled himself； but the effort began at last to
be visible。
〃I know your temper is a hot one；〃 he said。 〃But for all that；
your violence quite takes me by surprise。 I can't account for it；
unless〃he hesitated a moment； and then finished the sentence in
his usual frank； outspoken way〃unless you are sweet yourself on
Miss Gwilt。〃
Those last words heaped fuel on the fire。 They stripped the truth
instantly of all concealments and disguises； and laid it bare to
view。 Allan's instinct had guessed； and the guiding influence
stood revealed of Midwinter's interest in Miss Gwilt。
〃What right have you to say that？〃 he asked； with raised voice
and threatening eyes。
〃I told _you；_〃 said Allan； simply； 〃when I thought I was sweet
on her myself。 Come！ come！ it's a little hard； I think； even if
you are in love with her； to believe everything she tells you；
and not to let me say a word。 Is _that_ the way you decide
between us？〃
〃Yes； it is！〃 cried the other； infuriated by Allan's second
allusion to Miss Gwilt。 〃When I am asked to choose between the
employer of a spy and the victim of a spy； I side with the
victim！〃
〃Don't try me too hard； Midwinter； I have a temper to lose as
well as you。〃
He stopped； struggling with himself。 The torture of passion in
Midwinter's face； from which a less simple and less generous
nature might have recoiled in horror； touched Allan suddenly with
an artless distress； which； at that moment； was little less than
sublime。 He advanced； with his eyes moistening； and his hand held
out。 〃You asked me for my hand just now；〃 he said； 〃and I gave it
you。 Will you remember old times； and give me yours； before it's
too late？〃
〃No！〃 retorted Midwinter； furiously。 〃I may meet Miss Gwilt
again； and I may want my hand free to deal with your spy！〃
He had drawn back along the wall as Allan advanced； until the
bracket which supported the Statuette was before instead of
behind him。 In the madness of his passion he saw nothing but
Allan's face confronting him。 In the madness of his passion； he
stretched out his right hand as he answered； and shook it
threateningly in the air。 It struck the forgotten projection of
the bracketand the next instant the Statuette lay in fragments
on the floor。
The rain drove slanting over flower…bed and lawn； and pattered
heavily against the glass； and the two Armadales stood by the
window； as the two Shadows had stood in the Second Vision of the
Dream； with the wreck of the image between them。
Allan stooped over the fragments of the little figure； and lifted
them one by one from the floor。
〃Leave me；〃 he said； without looking up；