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！
truth will ruin and blacken both their futures irremediably。'
However； he proceeded to execute his commission。 This he put in the
form of a simple request from Owen to Manston； that Manston would
come to the Southampton platform； and wait for Owen's arrival； as he
valued his reputation。 The message was directed as the rector had
suggested； Edward guaranteeing to the clerk who sent it off that
every expense connected with the search would be paid。
No sooner had the telegram been despatched than his heart sank
within him at the want of foresight shown in sending it。 Had
Manston； all the time； a knowledge that his first wife lived； the
telegram would be a forewarning which might enable him to defeat
Owen still more signally。
Whilst the machine was still giving off its multitudinous series of
raps； Edward heard a powerful rush under the shed outside； followed
by a long sonorous creak。 It was a train of some sort； stealing
softly into the station； and it was an up…train。 There was the ring
of a bell。 It was certainly a passenger train。
Yet the booking…office window was closed。
'Ho； ho； John； seventeen minutes after time and only three stations
up the line。 The incline again？' The voice was the
stationmaster's； and the reply seemed to come from the guard。
'Yes； the other side of the cutting。 The thaw has made it all in a
perfect cloud of fog； and the rails are as slippery as glass。 We
had to bring them through the cutting at twice。'
'Anybody else for the four…forty…five express？' the voice continued。
The few passengers； having crossed over to the other side long
before this time； had taken their places at once。
A conviction suddenly broke in upon Edward's mind； then a wish
overwhelmed him。 The convictionas startling as it was suddenwas
that Manston was a villain； who at some earlier time had discovered
that his wife lived； and had bribed her to keep out of sight； that
he might possess Cytherea。 The wish wasto proceed at once by this
very train that was starting； find Manston before he would expect
from the words of the telegram （if he got it） that anybody from
Carriford could be with himcharge him boldly with the crime； and
trust to his consequent confusion （if he were guilty） for a solution
of the extraordinary riddle； and the release of Cytherea！
The ticket…office had been locked up at the expiration of the time
at which the train was due。 Rushing out as the guard blew his
whistle； Edward opened the door of a carriage and leapt in。 The
train moved along； and he was soon out of sight。
Springrove had long since passed that peculiar line which lies
across the course of falling in loveif； indeed； it may not be
called the initial itself of the complete passiona longing to
cherish； when the woman is shifted in a man's mind from the region
of mere admiration to the region of warm fellowship。 At this
assumption of her nature； she changes to him in tone； hue； and
expression。 All about the loved one that said 'She' before； says
'We' now。 Eyes that were to be subdued become eyes to be feared
for： a brain that was to be probed by cynicism becomes a brain that
is to be tenderly assisted； feet that were to be tested in the dance
become feet that are not to be distressed； the once…criticized
accent； manner； and dress； become the clients of a special pleader。
6。 FIVE TO EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
Now that he was fairly on the track； and had begun to cool down；
Edward remembered that he had nothing to showno legal authority
whatever to question Manston or interfere between him and Cytherea
as husband and wife。 He now saw the wisdom of the rector in
obtaining a signed confession from the porter。 The document would
not be a death…bed confessionperhaps not worth anything legally
but it would be held by Owen； and he alone； as Cytherea's natural
guardian； could separate them on the mere ground of an unproved
probability； or what might perhaps be called the hallucination of an
idiot。 Edward himself； however； was as firmly convinced as the
rector had been of the truth of the man's story； and paced backward
and forward the solitary compartment as the train wound through the
dark heathery plains； the mazy woods； and moaning coppices； as
resolved as ever to pounce on Manston； and charge him with the crime
during the critical interval between the reception of the telegram
and the hour at which Owen's train would arrivetrusting to
circumstances for what he should say and do afterwards； but making
up his mind to be a ready second to Owen in any emergency that might
arise。
At thirty…three minutes past seven he stood on the platform of the
station at Southamptona clear hour before the train containing
Owen could possibly arrive。
Making a few inquiries here； but too impatient to pursue his
investigation carefully and inductively； he went into the town。
At the expiration of another half…hour he had visited seven hotels
and inns； large and small； asking the same questions at each； and
always receiving the same replynobody of that name； or answering
to that description； had been there。 A boy from the telegraph…
office had called； asking for the same persons； if they recollected
rightly。
He reflected awhile； struck again by a painful thought that they
might possibly have decided to cross the Channel by the night…boat。
Then he hastened off to another quarter of the town to pursue his
inquiries among hotels of the more old…fashioned and quiet class。
His stained and weary appearance obtained for him but a modicum of
civility； wherever he went； which made his task yet more difficult。
He called at three several houses in this neighbourhood； with the
same result as before。 He entered the door of the fourth house
whilst the clock of the nearest church was striking eight。
'Have a tall gentleman named Manston； and a young wife arrived here
this evening？' he asked again； in words which had grown odd to his
ears from very familiarity。
'A new…married couple； did you say？'
'They are； though I didn't say so。'
'They have taken a sitting…room and bedroom； number thirteen。'
'Are they indoors？'
'I don't know。 Eliza！'
'Yes； m'm。'
'See if number thirteen is inthat gentleman and his wife。'
'Yes； m'm。'
'Has any telegram come for them？' said Edward； when the maid had
gone on her errand。
'Nonothing that I know of。'
'Somebody did come and ask if a Mr。 and Mrs。 Masters； or some such
name； were here this evening；' said another voice from the back of
the bar…parlour。
'And did they get the message？'
'Of course they did notthey were not herethey didn't come till
half…an…hour after that。 The man who made inquiries left no
message。 I told them when they came that they； or a name something
like theirs； had been asked for； but they didn't seem to understand
why it should be； and so the matter dropped。'
The chambermaid came back。 'The gentleman is not in； but the lady
is。 Who shall I say？'
'Nobody；' said Edward。 For it now became necessary to reflect upon
his method of proceeding。 His object in finding their whereabouts
apart from the wish to assist Owenhad been to see Manston； ask him
flatly for an e