While I lay unconscious in my illness, I knew nothing, of course, of the events happening around me. It was only much later that I learnt from other people what had happened.
When I eventually returned to Limmeridge, Fanny told me about the letters and the night she had left Blackwater.
You left me at about seven, miss, and at nine o'clock I had another visitor — the Countess! Yes, I was so surprised. But she was very kind. She saw that I was upset at leaving and insisted on having some tea with me. So I drank my tea, and five minutes later I fainted — for the first time in my life! When I woke up, it was about half an hour later. A lady from the hotel was looking after me as the Countess had had to go home. I checked the letters in my dress, miss, and they were both there, quite safe.
And just as you told me, in London I posted the letter to Mr Kyrle, and as soon as I got to Limmeridge, I delivered the other letter personally to Mr Fairlie. I told him all about being dismissed by Sir Percival and everything, and what had happened at the hotel, but, well, he didn't seem very interested, miss.'
That last piece of information did not surprise me in the least. Had Laura's uncle ever been interested in anybody except himself? When I went to talk to him, he was full of excuses.
My nerves, dear Marian, remember my nerves! Yes, of course I will tell you about the letters, but please don't get excited and go around banging doors! Try to stay calm.'
I suppose my letter about Laura upset you,' I said.
Of course it did, dear Marian! What was I to do? You told me Laura needed to escape from her husband and to come to Limmeridge. But suppose Sir Percival had come after her? Think of the noise, the arguments, the banging of doors! That's why I wrote to you, to beg you to come here first by yourself, to talk the matter over with me.'
I never saw that letter, of course, as it arrived at Blackwater when I was unconscious with fever.
And Mr Kyrle wrote to you as well, didn't he?' I said.
Yes. He wrote to say he had received an envelope addressed to him in your handwriting, but which contained only a plain piece of paper without a word on it. He had written to you about it, and had received no reply. Why he expected me to explain this mystery, I had no idea. And that's what I told him.'
So helpful, I thought bitterly. But there was no point in saying anything. 'And were you surprised not to hear from me again?'
Indeed I was, until my sister's foreign husband, that extraordinary Count Fosco, came to see me. Such a huge man!' said Mr Fairlie, his eyes closing at the memory. 'But surprisingly quiet on his feet. Anyway, he explained how ill you were, dear Marian, which was why you hadn't replied to my letter. I was extremely shocked and sorry to hear about your illness. But the Count did talk so much — I thought he would never leave!'
And he persuaded you to write to Laura,' I said, trying to keep my voice calm and quiet.
Yes, he urged me — in fact, practically ordered me — to invite Laura here at once. She was too nervous and upset to be of any use to you in the sick-room, he said, and the situation with Sir Percival was growing more dangerous every day. There was no trouble with the journey, because he and his wife had just rented a house in London. So Laura could travel up to London, stay the night with them, and travel on to Cumberland the next day.'
So you wrote the letter and gave it to him,' I said.
Where was the harm in it? In any case, I never for a moment thought that Laura would leave you alone when you were so ill. And how was I to know what shocking event was about to take place? No one could possibly say that I was to blame …'
* * *
I know now exactly who was to blame, but it took quite a time to put all the different pieces of information together. When I first began to be aware of my surroundings again during my recovery, I knew nothing, of course, about the letters. I knew only that I was not in my usual bedroom and there was a foreign lady looking after me. I had no idea who she was and she would not answer any of my questions. So I was very relieved a few days later when the familiar face of Mrs Michelson appeared.
Oh, Mrs Michelson,' I said, 'I'm so glad to see you. Please tell me what's been happening.'
You've had typhus fever, Miss Halcombe. You've been very ill. But you're getting stronger now, I'm happy to say.'
Typhus! No wonder I feel so weak. And my sister, Lady Glyde — I do hope she didn't catch the infection?'
No, no, she didn't.'
Mrs Michelson would not look me in the face, and I began to feel worried. Was she afraid to tell me something?
Is my sister ill? Please, Mrs Michelson, I must know!'
No, she's not ill. But... but she's not here. She went away yesterday to London, and is going on to Limmeridge today.'
I stared at her. Laura gone? I could not believe it. What did it mean? Had something terrible happened? I remembered the conversation I heard during the night on the verandah roof, and my heart filled with fear.
And Sir Percival …?' I could not finish my question.
Sir Percival left the house last night, to go abroad,' she said. 'The Count and Countess have gone to London, and the servants have all been dismissed, except for a cook and the gardener. You and I are the only people living in the house, Miss Halcombe.'
The shock of this news was so great that I felt faint. Mrs Michelson hurried to fetch me a glass of water.
Oh, Miss Halcombe, I'm sorry,' she said. 'Try not to worry. You must rest now, and try to sleep a little.'
Later, when I felt stronger, we talked again. 'Tell me everything you can remember, from the day I fell ill,' I begged Mrs Michelson. 'I must know what happened.'
Well, Miss Halcombe, on that first morning a servant found you, lying on your bed in a fever, holding a pen tightly in your hand. The doctor was called at once, a Mr Dawson, who said you were very ill. The Countess and I acted as your nurses — Lady Glyde wanted to help, but she was so upset at seeing you unconscious that she couldn't stop crying.
Sir Percival and the Count were concerned about you too, though they seemed worried about something else as well. In fact, the Count spent three days down by the lake, at that old boat-house, and I remember he came in once when I was going through the hall. Sir Percival came rushing out of the library, saying, "Have you found her?" I didn't hear the answer and I have no idea who they were talking about.'
I had a very good idea who they were talking about, but it was obvious that Mrs Michelson didn't, so I said nothing.
Your fever got worse,' Mrs Michelson went on. 'The Count said we needed a nurse to help us, so Madame Fosco took the train to London and came back with Mrs Rubelle.'
Is that the foreign lady who was looking after me before you appeared, Mrs Michelson?' I asked.
Yes, that's right. She didn't say very much, but she was a capable nurse. I had no complaints about her work. Mr Dawson, the doctor, was suspicious of her because she was recommended by the Count, and he didn't like the Count at all.'
Why was that?' I asked.
The Count had a lot of medical knowledge, you see, and he was always suggesting to Mr Dawson ways of reducing your fever. Mr Dawson called it interference and got quite angry about it. But in fact, miss, the Count recognized you had typhus fever before Mr Dawson did. He — the Count, that is — went away to London for a week, and when he came back, he took one look at you and said "Typhus". Mr Dawson sent to London for another doctor, who came and said the same thing. Then we had a very worrying ten days, when your life was in danger, but at last the doctor said you were through the worst and with good nursing care you would recover. Lady Glyde was so overcome by this happy news that she became ill herself and had to be put to bed.'
My sister has always had delicate health,' I said.
Yes, she's not strong. Anyway, Miss Halcombe, it was at this point that disturbing things started to happen. First, the Count and Mr Dawson argued again so fiercely that Mr Dawson left, saying he refused to offer his services any more. Next, Sir Percival told me that he was going to close the house. As soon as you and Lady Glyde were able to travel, he said, you would be going away for a change of air. He told me to dismiss all the servants, except a girl to do the cooking, and a gardener. Imagine! Just like that! I tell you, Miss Halcombe, if I hadn't felt so sorry for you and Lady Glyde, I would have resigned at once!
The last thing was very strange indeed,' said Mrs Michelson, shaking her head. 'Sir Percival said that you and Lady Glyde would benefit from a stay at the seaside town of Torquay. He told me to go there to look for a suitable house to rent, and told me how much money I could pay. Well, I knew it wasn't enough, and I wish now that I hadn't gone, but he was my employer so I thought I had to obey his orders. I returned yesterday, after two days away, and told Sir Percival that it was impossible to find a house at such a low rent. Sir Percival showed no interest in my news at all. He just said that the Count and Countess had left Blackwater Park for their new house in London.'
Mrs Michelson looked at me anxiously. 'I think you'll find the next part of the story very upsetting,' she said. 'Poor Lady Glyde was cruelly deceived by her husband.'
You don't surprise me,' I murmured. 'Please go on.'
After seeing Sir Percival, I went upstairs to see you and Lady Glyde. Your sister, though still very weak, was feeling better and wanted to get up and go and visit you in your room. I helped her to dress and as we went down the passage, we met Sir Percival.
"If you're going to see your sister, you won't find her," Sir Percival says. "She left the house yesterday with Fosco and his wife. She decided to go with them to London, on her way to Limmeridge. Mrs Rubelle went too, to look after her on the journey. You can look in her room if you don't believe me."
I was shocked and amazed by this, and Lady Glyde's face went as white as a sheet. She almost ran down the passage and threw open the door to your room. It was empty.
Then she cries out to Sir Percival, "Marian was much too ill to travel. Even if she did go, she would never leave without saying goodbye to me first. And why would she go to Limmeridge alone, leaving me here at Blackwater Park?"
"Because your uncle won't receive you till he has seen your sister first," says Sir Percival. "Have you forgotten the letter he wrote to her at the beginning of her illness?"
All through this interview, Miss Halcombe, I thought Sir Percival seemed very strange — jumpy and nervous, not at all his usual self. And now he just turned and walked away. Lady Glyde was shaking with fear, and looked at me with terror in her eyes. "Something's happened to my sister. I must follow her — I must see that she's alive and well with my own eyes. Please, Mrs Michelson, come down with me to Sir Percival. Stay with me, please!" She held my arm so tightly that I had to go with her.
Sir Percival was in the dining room, drinking. He drank at least four glasses of wine while we were in there, Miss Halcombe. Lady Glyde was very brave, I thought. She said, "If my sister is well enough to travel, then so am I. Please allow me to follow her at once by the afternoon train."
Sir Percival was so rude and rough with her. "You can go tomorrow," he said. "I'll write to Fosco. He can meet you at the station and you'll stay at his house overnight."
Lady Glyde's hand began to tremble violently on my arm. "I would rather not stay at the Count's house," she said.
Sir Percival then got very angry. "Why not?" he shouted." What's wrong with sleeping at your aunt's house? Your sister slept there last night to break her journey, and so will you. That's what your uncle, Mr Fairlie, wants you to do as well. Here — there's a letter from him. I forgot to send it up to you."
Poor Lady Glyde was shaking so much that she gave me the letter to read to her. It was very short. I remember it, word for word: Dear Laura, please come whenever you like. Break the journey by sleeping at your aunt's house. Sorry to hear of Marian's illness. Your fond uncle, Frederick Fairlie.
Lady Glyde didn't try to argue any more, and we went back upstairs. It seemed quite a sensible plan to me, Miss Halcombe, and I couldn't understand why Lady Glyde was so terrified of Count Fosco. She walked up and down her room, whispering, "Poor Marian — in that horrible man's power! I must find her, even if I have to follow her to Count Fosco's house."
The next day I helped Lady Glyde get ready and went with her to the station. "If Marian has already left for Limmeridge, I won't stay at the Count's house," she told me. "I'll go and stay with Mrs Vesey, my old governess." As the train pulled away, I saw her pale, frightened face at the window. I felt so sad for her.
Then I came back here. Imagine my surprise, Miss Halcombe, when I saw Mrs Rubelle walking in the garden! "What are you doing here?" I said. "You went to London with the Foscos and Miss Halcombe!" And then it all came out. You were still in the house. While I was out of the way in Torquay, they moved you to a room in an unused part of the house and kept you hidden. You must have been in a very deep sleep when they moved you. Perhaps they drugged you — I don't know. Then Sir Percival appeared and gave me this explanation. It was all for his wife's own good, he said. She needed a change of air, and would not have gone to Limmeridge if she had known that you were still in the house. He spoke in such a violent, angry way that I did not dare to express my opinion.
So you see, Miss Halcombe, that was how poor Lady Glyde was deceived. It was wicked and cruel. I would have resigned my position immediately, but Sir Percival told me that Mrs Rubelle was leaving and there would be no one to look after you if I left too. So, naturally, I stayed. Sir Percival left last night, as I told you. The gardener said he seemed half mad. He called for his carriage, and drove away like an escaped criminal, saying his house was a prison and he would never return to it. I hope and pray, Miss Halcombe, that I never see that man again.'
Poor Laura — how she must have suffered! There was nothing I could do. I could not go after her as I was too weak even to stand. I hoped desperately that she had found out about the deception and would write soon to tell me that she was safe.
* * *
A letter came a few days later, but it was not for me, and not from Laura. It was for Mrs Michelson from Madame Fosco.
Mrs Michelson came into my room with the letter in her hand. Mr Dawson, who had agreed to be my doctor again now that the Count had gone, was behind her. I took one look at both their faces, and sat up in bed, terrified.
What is it?' I gasped. 'You have some dreadful news for me. I can see it in your faces.'
Mrs Michelson sat down on the edge of the bed and took my hand. 'Your poor, dear sister, Lady Glyde...' she began.
The room began to darken around me, as though night was falling, and the words seemed to come from a great distance.
... was taken seriously ill when she arrived at her aunt's house in London, and died the next day, very suddenly. She is to be buried at Limmeridge, in her mother's grave.'
* * *
Kind Mrs Michelson nursed me through my second illness, with Mr Dawson's help. I was not able to travel for more than three weeks, but eventually I found the strength to leave that hated house and return to Limmeridge. Mrs Michelson and I travelled together to London, where I went to see Mr Kyrle. To him I revealed the terrible suspicions in my mind about the circumstances of my sister's death. He was most concerned and promised to make enquiries for me.
I went on to Limmeridge House and a few days later Mr Kyrle wrote to me there. He had taken statements from several witnesses, he said, and was convinced that nothing suspicious had happened. He sent copies of the statements for my information. This was the one by the Count's cook, Mrs Hester Pinhorn:
I was recently employed as a cook by the Count and Countess Fosco at 5 Forest Road, St John's Wood. One day near the end of July, the Countess's niece, Lady Glyde, arrived at the house. She immediately fell ill. I saw her lying on the sofa, her face all white. I ran out for a doctor and came back with Mr Goodricke. He examined her and said she had a very serious heart disease. During the night she got worse. Then, at about five o'clock the next day, she lost consciousness. The doctor went in and, after putting his hand on her heart, announced that she was dead. He said that, as the Count was a foreigner, he himself would go to record the death at the district office. The Count and Countess were very badly affected by the lady's death. The lady's husband was abroad, so they arranged the funeral themselves, which took place in Cumberland.
I was still very weak from my long illness, and despair nearly overtook me at this point. I had no friend to turn to, and no idea what to do next. I went every day to the churchyard, to put flowers on the grave and to read again those sad, sad words.
In Loving Memory of Laura, Lady Glyde
Wife of Sir Percival Glyde, of Blackwater Park, Hampshire
Born 27th March 1829
Died 25th July 1850
personally adv. in person 親自
practically adv. almost 幾乎
rent v. use at a rent 租
typhus n. a serious infectious disease 斑疹傷寒
catch the infection be affected by the infectious disease 被傳染
be through have passed 度過
fiercely adv. violently 激烈地
obey v. carry out a command 服從
jumpy adj. making sudden movements 躁動的
pull away (of a train ) leave (火車)離開;開走
drug v. to give someone a drug, esp in order to make them feel tired or go to sleep 用藥麻醉
for one's good for one's interest 為了……的利益;為了……好
be convinced be certain that something is true 確信
announce v. make publicly known 宣布
overtake v. overwhelm 擊垮
我在床上昏睡著,對周圍發(fā)生了什么當然一無所知。很長時間以后,我才從別人那里得知出了什么事。
后來,我回到利默里奇,范妮告訴我那兩封信的事以及她離開布萊克沃特那天晚上發(fā)生的事情。
“你從我那兒走的時候是7點鐘,9點鐘又來了一位客人——是伯爵夫人!沒錯,我非常吃驚。但她特別和善。她看出我在為離開而難過,就堅持要和我喝茶。我喝了茶,5分鐘后就暈過去了——這可是我頭一回暈過去!我醒的時候已經(jīng)過了大約半小時。旅店的一位女士在照看我,伯爵夫人已經(jīng)回去了。我檢查衣服里的信,兩封信都在,很安全。
“我照你說的,在倫敦把給克爾先生的信寄了出去,一到利默里奇,就把另一封信親自交給了費爾利先生。我告訴他,我被珀西瓦爾爵士辭退了,還有在那邊發(fā)生了什么以及旅店的事情,但是他好像對這些都沒什么興趣,小姐?!?/p>
對最后一點,我絲毫不覺得奇怪。勞拉的這個叔叔,除了對他自己的事還對什么有興趣?我去找他談的時候,他滿嘴借口。
“我的神經(jīng),親愛的瑪麗安,別忘了我的神經(jīng)不好!是的,我當然會告訴你信的事,可是請你不要激動,不要總那么使勁兒關(guān)門!請你保持冷靜。”
“我想我寫給你關(guān)于勞拉的信讓你擔心了吧?!蔽艺f。
“當然讓我擔心了,親愛的瑪麗安!我該怎么做呢?你說勞拉需要逃離她丈夫,回到利默里奇來。但是,如果珀西瓦爾爵士隨后過來找她怎么辦?想想那會有多少噪音、吵鬧、摔門聲!這就是我為什么給你寫信,叫你自己先回來,跟我談?wù)勥@件事?!?/p>
我當然沒見過那封信,因為信到布萊克沃特的時候,我正發(fā)著高燒,昏睡不醒。
“克爾先生也給你寫信了,是嗎?”我問。
“是的,他寫信給我說,他收到一個署名給他的信封,是你的筆跡,但是里面只有一張白紙,一個字也沒有。他給你寫過信,但沒收到回音。我不明白他為什么叫我解釋這個迷,我就這么跟他說的。”
真是挺幫忙的,我心里恨恨地想。現(xiàn)在說什么也沒用了。“再沒接到我的來信,你不感到奇怪嗎?”
“我的確感到奇怪,直到我的那個外國妹夫,福斯科伯爵過來看我,我才明白發(fā)生了什么。他可真胖!”費爾利先生閉上眼睛,陷入回憶之中,“但是他走路卻很輕。他告訴我你病得非常厲害,所以沒有回信。聽說你生病我非常震驚,也很難過??墒?,伯爵沒完沒了地跟我說話——我簡直覺得他不想走了!”
“是他讓你給勞拉寫信的吧。”我盡量用平和的語氣說。
“是的,他請求我——實際上是命令我——讓勞拉馬上回到這兒來。他說勞拉非常緊張害怕,在你的房間里也幫不了什么忙。而且珀西瓦爾爵士一天比一天危險。旅途中不會有問題,因為他和妻子剛剛在倫敦租了一棟房子,勞拉可以先到倫敦,在他們那里住一晚,第二天再趕往坎伯蘭郡?!?/p>
“所以,你就寫了那封信,讓他拿走了?”我問。
“這有什么不好嗎?不管怎樣,我根本不相信勞拉會在你病重的時候丟下你不管。而且我怎么知道將要發(fā)生什么事?誰也不能把事情怪到我頭上……”
* * *
現(xiàn)在我知道究竟是誰在搞鬼了,但是把各種消息都串起來頗費了一些時間。我剛從昏迷中醒來,注意到周圍的時候,對信的事自然一無所知。我只知道自己不在原來的臥室,一位外國女士在旁邊照顧我。我不知道她是誰,她也不回答我的任何問題。因此,幾天后當米切爾森太太熟悉的臉出現(xiàn)在我面前時,我大大地松了一口氣。
“噢,米切爾森太太,”我說,“見到你真是太高興了??旄嬖V我到底發(fā)生了什么?”
“你得了斑疹傷寒,哈爾庫姆小姐。你病得很厲害。不過,我很高興你現(xiàn)在恢復(fù)得很好?!?/p>
“斑疹傷寒!怪不得我這么虛弱。我妹妹,格萊德夫人——我希望她沒被傳染吧?”
“沒有,她沒有被傳染?!?/p>
米切爾森太太不敢正眼看我,我開始擔心起來,她是不是害怕告訴我什么事情?
“我妹妹病了嗎?米切爾森太太,我必須知道真相!”
“沒有,她沒病。不過……不過她已經(jīng)不在這兒了。她昨天去了倫敦,準備今天去利默里奇?!?/p>
我盯著她。勞拉走了?我不信。這說明什么呢?出了可怕的事?我記起了在游廊頂上聽到的談話,心里充滿了恐懼。
“那珀西瓦爾爵士……?”我無法把話講完。
“珀西瓦爾爵士昨晚離開莊園,到國外去了,”她說,“伯爵夫婦去了倫敦,仆人們?nèi)记采⒘?,就剩下一個廚師和一個園丁。莊園里只有你和我了,哈爾庫姆小姐。”
這個消息對我的震動太大,我感到一陣眩暈,米切爾森太太趕忙去為我拿了杯水來。
“哦,哈爾庫姆小姐,真抱歉,”米切爾森太太說,“你別擔心,一定要好好休息,試著睡一會兒吧?!?/p>
后來,我身上有些力氣了,我們又聊起來。“告訴我,自從我生病那天起都發(fā)生了什么?”我懇求米切爾森太太,“我一定要知道出了什么事。”
“好吧,哈爾庫姆小姐。頭一天早上,一個仆人發(fā)現(xiàn)你躺在床上,發(fā)著高燒,手里還緊緊握著鋼筆。我們很快叫來了一位醫(yī)生,道森先生。他說你病得很厲害。伯爵夫人和我一起照顧你——格萊德夫人也想幫忙,但是看到你昏迷的樣子,她很難過,不住地哭。
“珀西瓦爾爵士和伯爵也都為你擔心,不過他們兩人好像還在為別的事?lián)?。實際上,伯爵在湖邊呆了三天,就在那個老船屋里。我記得他有一次回來,我正路過大廳。這時,珀西瓦爾爵士從書房沖出來問他:‘找到她了嗎?’我沒聽到回答,也不知道他們說的是誰?!?/p>
我非常清楚他們說的是誰,明顯米切爾森太太不知道,所以我沒有說話。
“你燒得越來越厲害,”米切爾森太太接著說,“伯爵說我們需要找一個護士幫忙,于是福斯科夫人坐火車去了倫敦,帶回了魯貝爾太太?!?/p>
“就是那位在你來之前照顧我的外國女士嗎,米切爾森太太?”
“對,就是她。她很少說話,但很能干。我對她干活兒挑不出任何毛病。道森先生,那位醫(yī)生,對她有懷疑,因為她是伯爵推薦的,而道森先生一點兒也不喜歡伯爵。”
“為什么呢?”我問。
“你知道伯爵懂得許多醫(yī)學(xué)知識,他不斷地向道森先生提出給你退燒的辦法。道森先生非常生氣,說這是干涉他的工作。但實際上,小姐,伯爵比道森先生更早地看出你得了斑疹傷寒。他——我是說伯爵——到倫敦去了一星期,回來后看了你一眼就說是‘斑疹傷寒’。道森先生從倫敦又請來一位醫(yī)生,也說是斑疹傷寒。接下來的十天我們大家都非常擔心,你當時有生命危險。不過最后,醫(yī)生說你已經(jīng)度過了危險期,只要得到精心照顧,就會好起來。聽到這個好消息,格萊德夫人過于高興,結(jié)果她自己病倒了,不得不臥床休息?!?/p>
“我妹妹的身體一直很弱?!蔽艺f。
“是的,她的身體不太好。不過,哈爾庫姆小姐,就在這個時候,令人心煩的事接二連三地發(fā)生了。先是伯爵和道森先生大吵了一架,道森先生走了,他說不愿意再干了。然后,珀西瓦爾爵士告訴我他準備關(guān)閉莊園。他說等你和格萊德夫人能出門旅行了,就應(yīng)該離開這里,換換環(huán)境。他讓我辭退了所有的仆人,只留下一個女仆做飯,還有一個園丁。真是難以想象!就是這樣!我跟你說,哈爾庫姆小姐,要不是擔心你和格萊德夫人,我當時馬上就不干了!
“最后一件事非常奇怪,”米切爾森太太搖搖頭接著說,“珀西瓦爾爵士說,你和格萊德夫人到海濱小城托基呆一段時間會對你們有好處。他叫我去那里找一棟合適的房子租下來,還告訴我只能花多少錢。唉,我知道錢不夠。我現(xiàn)在真希望沒去那個地方,但他是東家,我想我不能不聽他的吩咐。我走了兩天,昨天回來的。我告訴珀西瓦爾爵士用那么少的錢根本不可能租到房子。他對我的回復(fù)一點兒也不感興趣,只是說伯爵夫婦已經(jīng)離開布萊克沃特,去倫敦的新居了?!?/p>
米切爾森太太不安地看著我?!拔蚁胂旅娴氖虑橐欢〞屇汶y過,”她說,“可憐的格萊德夫人讓她丈夫騙慘了?!?/p>
“我不會感到驚訝的,”我輕聲說,“請接著講?!?/p>
“見過了珀西瓦爾爵士,我上樓去看你和格萊德夫人。你妹妹雖說還很虛弱,但已經(jīng)好多了。她要起來到你的房間看你。我?guī)退┖靡路T谧呃壤镂覀兣龅搅绥晡魍郀柧羰俊?/p>
“‘如果你是去看你的姐姐,你不會找到她了,’珀西瓦爾爵士說,‘她昨天同福斯科夫婦離開了這里。她決定跟他們順路到倫敦,然后去利默里奇。魯貝爾太太也走了,她要在路上照看你姐姐。你要是不信我的話,可以到她的房間看看?!?/p>
“聽到這些,我大吃一驚。格萊德夫人的臉變得煞白。她幾乎在走廊里跑起來,一把推開你的房門,里面空無一人。
“然后她沖著珀西瓦爾爵士叫起來:‘瑪麗安病得那么厲害,根本不能旅行。即使要去的話,她也不會不跟我道別就走。為什么她要一個人去利默里奇,把我留在布萊克沃特?’
“‘因為你叔叔要先跟你姐姐見面,再見你,’珀西瓦爾爵士說,‘難道你忘了在你姐姐剛病的時候,他寫來的信了嗎?’
“整個談話中,哈爾庫姆小姐,我覺得珀西瓦爾爵士顯得很怪——又煩躁,又緊張,跟平時的他一點兒也不一樣。說完,他就轉(zhuǎn)身走開了。格萊德夫人害怕得直哆嗦,她看著我,眼睛里充滿了恐懼?!医憬愠鍪铝恕N冶仨毴フ宜?,我必須親眼看到她平安無事。米切爾森太太,請和我一起去找珀西瓦爾爵士。請陪我去!’她緊緊地抓著我的胳膊,我只好跟她一起下樓。
“珀西瓦爾爵士在餐廳喝酒,我們在的那一會兒,他就至少喝了四杯,哈爾庫姆小姐。我覺得格萊德夫人很勇敢。她說:‘如果姐姐可以旅行,那我也可以。請允許我乘下午的火車去追她?!?/p>
“珀西瓦爾爵士對她非常無理、粗暴?!憧梢悦魈烊ィf,‘我會給福斯科寫信。他會到車站接你,你晚上就住他那里?!?/p>
“格萊德夫人扶著我胳膊的手開始抖得很厲害?!也幌胱≡诓艏?。’她說。
“珀西瓦爾爵士發(fā)怒了?!疄槭裁矗俊舐暼碌?,‘在你姑媽家過夜有什么不好?你姐姐昨天途中就是在那里過夜的,你也一樣。這也是你叔叔費爾利先生的要求。給——這是他的信,我忘了給你了?!?/p>
“可憐的格萊德夫人哆嗦得很厲害,她把信交給我,讓我念給她聽。信很短,我還一字不差地記著:親愛的勞拉,請在方便的時候回來。途中在姑媽家過夜。聽說瑪麗安病了,我非常難過。愛你的叔叔,弗雷德里克·費爾利。
“格萊德夫人沒有再繼續(xù)爭下去,我們兩人回到樓上。我覺得這樣做很明智,哈爾庫姆小姐,我不明白格萊德夫人為什么那么害怕福斯科伯爵。她在房間里走來走去,輕聲自言自語:‘可憐的瑪麗安——落到那個可怕的人手里!我一定要找到她,哪怕是到福斯科伯爵家里也要找到她?!?/p>
“第二天,我?guī)透袢R德夫人準備好一切,陪她來到車站?!绻旣惏惨呀?jīng)回利默里奇了,我就不住在伯爵家,’她告訴我,‘我會去找維西夫人,我原來的家庭教師。”火車開的時候,透過車窗我看到她蒼白、恐慌的臉。我很為她難過。
“然后我回到這兒,竟然看到魯貝爾太太在花園散步,哈爾庫姆小姐,你知道我有多么驚訝!‘你怎么在這兒?’我問,‘你不是和福斯科伯爵一家還有哈爾庫姆小姐去倫敦了嘛!’后來事情慢慢都清楚了。你還在莊園。趁我去托基的時候,他們把你搬到了莊園里一個沒人住的房間藏起來了。他們搬動你的時候,你肯定在昏睡。也許他們給你吃了藥——我不清楚。這時,珀西瓦爾爵士過來給了我如下的解釋。他說這一切都是為了他妻子好,她需要換個環(huán)境,假如她知道你還在莊園,是不會去利默里奇的。他說話時怒氣沖沖的,我沒敢說什么。
“你看,哈爾庫姆小姐,這就是可憐的格萊德夫人受騙的經(jīng)過。多么惡毒、多么不近人情。我本來要馬上辭職的,但是珀西瓦爾爵士告訴我,魯貝爾太太要走了,要是我也走的話,就沒人照顧你了。這不,我就又留了下來。珀西瓦爾爵士是昨晚離開的,我剛才告訴過你。聽園丁說,他跟瘋了似的。他吩咐準備馬車,然后仿佛落荒而逃的囚犯般駕車走了,嘴里還說什么這個家像個監(jiān)獄,他再也不想回來了。我真的希望,哈爾庫姆小姐,我再也不會見到那個人了?!?/p>
可憐的勞拉——她肯定受了很多罪!我現(xiàn)在一點兒辦法也沒有,也無法去追她,我現(xiàn)在虛弱得站都站不起來。我真的希望勞拉能夠發(fā)現(xiàn)這個騙局,盡快地給我寫信,告訴我她平安無事。
* * *
幾天后來了一封信,但不是給我的,也不是勞拉寫來的,而是福斯科夫人寫給米切爾森太太的。
米切爾森太太拿著那封信走進我的房間,后面跟著道森先生,他同意繼續(xù)為我看病,因為伯爵已經(jīng)走了。我看到他們兩人的神色,從床上坐起來,心里很害怕。
“出了什么事?”我急切地問,“你們有可怕的消息要告訴我。我從你們的臉上能看出來?!?/p>
米切爾森太太在我的床邊坐下,握住我的手?!澳隳强蓱z的、親愛的妹妹,格萊德夫人……”她說。
我的周圍變得一團漆黑,就像夜色降臨一樣,下面的話似乎是從很遙遠的地方傳來的。
“……她到倫敦的姑媽家以后就病倒了,第二天就死了,死得非常突然。她將被安葬在利默里奇,她母親的墓地?!?/p>
* * *
我又病倒了,好心的米切爾森太太在道森先生的幫助下精心地照顧我。三個多星期的時間里,我都無法出門旅行。但我終于恢復(fù)了體力,離開了那個令人憎恨的莊園,回到利默里奇。米切爾森太太和我一同來到倫敦,我去見了克爾先生,向他講述了我心中對妹妹死因的懷疑。他對這件事很關(guān)心,答應(yīng)為我調(diào)查。
我到利默里奇幾天后,克爾先生的信也寄到了那里。他從幾個證人那里獲得了證詞,他相信沒有任何可疑的事發(fā)生。他把證詞的副本寄給了我。下面是福斯科的廚師赫斯特·平霍恩太太的筆錄:
我是最近受雇于福斯科伯爵夫婦的,他們住在圣約翰伍德,弗雷斯特街5號???月底的一天,伯爵夫人的侄女,格萊德夫人來到伯爵家。她很快就病了。我看見她躺在沙發(fā)上,臉色蒼白。我跑去叫醫(yī)生,找來了古德里克先生。他給她做了檢查,說她得了嚴重的心臟病。當天夜里,她病情加重。大約第二天早上5點,她失去了知覺。醫(yī)生進來,用手摸了摸她的胸口,說她已經(jīng)死了。醫(yī)生說,因為伯爵是外國人,所以他得親自到地區(qū)辦公室報告人口死亡。福斯科伯爵夫婦對格萊德夫人的死非常傷心。格萊德夫人的丈夫在國外,因此他們安排了葬禮的有關(guān)事宜,葬禮安排在坎伯蘭郡舉行。
由于長時間生病,我現(xiàn)在還非常虛弱,此時絕望幾乎將我擊垮。我找不到什么朋友可以傾訴,茫然不知下面該如何是好。每天我都去教堂墓地,去給勞拉的墓獻花,一遍又一遍地讀著那些令我心碎的文字。
愛妻勞拉·格萊德之墓
生于1829年3月27日
卒于1850年7月25日
漢普郡布萊克沃特莊園
珀西瓦爾·格萊德爵士立
PART THREE
THE STORY TOLD BY WALTER HARTRIGHT
瘋狂英語 英語語法 新概念英語 走遍美國 四級聽力 英語音標 英語入門 發(fā)音 美語 四級 新東方 七年級 賴世雄 zero是什么意思吉林市龍興羅蘭圣菲英語學(xué)習(xí)交流群