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！
ril to me； Mr。 Ball！〃
〃Pooh； pooh！〃 laughed the attorney。 〃Do you suppose I have but this one reception…room？ We don't let cats into cages where canary birds are kept。〃
Ebenezer James returned with the messenger dispatched after him。
〃You'll be sure to find him at the singing saloon；〃 Mr。 Ball had said； and there the gentleman was found。
〃Is it any copying； sir； wanted to be done in a hurry？〃 cried James； when he came in。
〃No；〃 replied the attorney。 〃I wish a question or two answered； that's all。 Did you ever know Sir Francis Levison to go by any name but his own？〃
〃Yes； sir。 He has gone by the name of Thorn。〃
A pause。 〃When was this？〃
〃It was the autumn when Hallijohn was killed。 Thorn used to be prowling about there in an eveningin the wood and at the cottage； I mean。〃
〃What did he prowl for？〃
Ebenezer James laughed。 〃For the same reason that several more didI； for one。 He was sweet upon Afy Hallijohn。〃
〃Where was he living at the time？ I never remember him in West Lynne。〃
〃He was not at West Lynne； sir。 On the contrary； he seemed to take precious good care that West Lynne and he kept separate。 A splendid horse he rode； a thoroughbred； and he used to come galloping into the wood at dusk； get over his chat with Miss Afy； mount； and gallop away again。〃
〃Where to？ Where did he come from？〃
〃From somewhere toward Swainson； a ten mile's ride； Afy used to say he had。 Now that he has appeared here in his own plumage； of course I can put two and two together； and not be at much fault for the exact spot。〃
〃And where's that？〃 asked the lawyer。
〃Levison Park；〃 said Mr。 Ebenezer。 〃There's little doubt he was stopping at his uncle's； and you know that is close to Swainson。〃
Lawyer Ball thought things were becoming cleareror darker； whatever you may please to call it。 He paused again； and then put a question impressively。
〃James； have you any doubt whatever； or shadow of doubt； that Sir Francis Levison is the same man you know as Thorn？〃
〃Sir； have I any doubt that you are Mr。 Ball； or that I am Eb。 James？〃 retorted Mr。 Ebenezer。 〃I am as certain of that man's identity as I am of yours。〃
〃Are you ready to swear to that fact in a court of justice？〃
〃Ready and willing； in any court in the world。 To…morrow； if I am called upon。〃
〃Very well。 You may go back to your singing club now。 Keep a silent tongue in your head。〃
〃All close； sir；〃 answered Mr。 Ebenezer James。
Far into the middle of the night sat Lawyer Ball and Richard Hare； the former chiefly occupied in taking notes of Richard's statement。
〃It's half a crochet； this objection of Carlyle's to interfere with Levison；〃 suddenly uttered Richard； in the midst of some desultory conversation。 〃Don't you think so； Mr。 Ball？〃
The lawyer pursed up his lips。 〃Um！ A delicate point。 Carlyle was always fastidiously honorable。 /I/ should go at him； thunder and fury； in his place； but I and Carlyle are different。〃
The following day； Tuesday； Mr。 Ball was much occupied； putting； to use nearly Ebenezer James' words； that and that together。 Later in the day he took a journey to Levison Park； ferreted out some information； and came home again。 On that same day； at evening； Richard departed for Liverpoolhe was done with for the presentMr。 and Mrs。 Carlyle being； as before； alone cognizant of his address。
Wednesday morning witnessed the arrival again of the Earl of Mount Severn。 Lord Vane； too。 The latter ought to have gone back to Eton； but he had teased and prayed to be allowed to 〃see the fun out；〃 meaning the election。 〃And that devil's discomfiture when he finds himself beaten；〃 he surreptitiously added； behind his father's back； who was a great stickler for the boy's always being 〃gentlemanly。〃 So the earl had yielded。 They arrived； as before； about breakfast…time； having traveled all night。 Subsequently； they and Mr。 Carlyle walked into West Lynne together。
West Lynne was alive and astir。 The election was to come off that week； and people made it their business to be in a bustle over it； collectively and individually。 Mr。 Carlyle's committee sat at the Buck's Head； and the traffic in and out was enough to wear the stones away。 The bench of justices were remarkably warm over it； neglecting the judicial business； and showing themselves at the Buck's Head windows in purple and scarlet streamers。
〃I will be with you in ten minutes；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； withdrawing his arm from Lord Mount Severn's； as they approached his office； 〃but I must go in and read my letters。〃
So the earl went on to the Buck's Head； and Lord Vane took a foot canter down to the Raven； to reconnoiter it outside。 He was uncommonly fond of planting himself where Sir Francis Levison's eyes were sure to fall upon himwhich eyes were immediately dropped； while the young gentleman's would be fixed in an audacious stare。 Being Lord Vaneor it may be more correct to say； being the Earl of Mount Severn's son； and under control； he was debarred from dancing and jeering after the yellow candidate； as the unwashed gentry of his own age indulged in； but his tongue and his feet itched to do it。
Mr。 Carlyle took his seat in his private room； opened his letters； assorted them； marked on the back of some what was to be the purport of their answer； and then called in Mr。 Dill。 Mr。 Carlyle put the letters in his hand； gave some rapid instructions； and rose。
〃You are in a hurry； Mr。 Archibald？〃
〃They want me at the Buck's Head。 Why？〃
〃A curious incident occurred to me last evening； sir。 I was an ear… witness to a dispute between Levison and Otway Bethel。〃
〃Indeed！〃 carelessly replied Mr。 Carlyle； who was busy at the time looking for something in the deep drawer of the desk。
〃And what I heard would go far to hang Levison； if not Bethel。 As sure as we are here； Mr。 Archibald； they hold the secret of Hallijohn's murder。 It appears that Levison〃
〃Stop！〃 interposed Mr。 Carlyle。 〃I would prefer not to hear this。 Levison may have murdered him； but it is no affair of mine； neither shall I make it such。〃
Old Dill felt checkmated。 〃Meanwhile Richard Hare suffers； Mr。 Archibald；〃 he observed； in a remonstrating tone。
〃I am aware he does。〃
〃Is it right that the innocent should suffer for the guilty？〃
〃No； very wrong。 But the case is all too common。〃
〃If some one would take up Richard Hare's cause now； he might be proved innocent；〃 added the old man； with a wistful look at Mr。 Carlyle。
〃It is being taken up； Dill。〃
A pause and a glad look。 〃That's the best news I have had for many a day； sir。 But my evidence will be necessary to your case。 Levison〃
〃I'm not taking up the case。 You must carry your news elsewhere。 It is no affair of mine； I say。〃
〃Then who is taking it up？〃 echoed Mr。 Dill； in astonishment。
〃Ball。 He has had a meeting with Richard； and is now acting for him under the rose。〃
Mr。 Dill's eyes sparkled。 〃Is he going to prosecute； Mr。 Archibald？〃
〃I tell you I know nothingI will know nothing。 When the affair comes out to the publicif it ever does come outI shall share in the information； Dill； and that is all。〃
〃Ah； well； I can understand。 But I shall go on to their office at once； Mr。 Archibald； and inform them of what I overheard；〃 spoke old Dill； in vehement decision。
〃That is not my affair either；〃 laughed Mr。 Carlyle； 〃it is yours。 But remember； if you do go； it is Ball； not Treadman。〃
Waiting only to give certain orders to the head clerk； Mr。 Dill proceeded to the office of Ball & Treadman。 A full hour was he closeted there with the senior partner。
Not until three o'clock that afternoon did the justices take their seats on the bench。 Scarcely were they seated when Lawyer Ball bustled in and craved a secret hearing。 His application was of the last importance； he promised； but； that the ends of justice might not be defeated it was necessary their worships should entertain it in private； he therefore craved the bench to accord it to him。
The bench consulted； looked wise； and； possibly possessing some latent curiosity themselves upon the point； graciously acceded。 They adjourned to a private room； and it was full half…past four before they came out of it。 Very long faces； scared and grim； were their worships'； as if Lawyer Ball's communication had both perplexed and confounded them。
〃This is the afternoon we are to meet Dr。 Martin at papa's office；〃 William Carlyle had suddenly exclaimed that day at dinner。 〃Do we walk in； Madame Vine？〃
〃I do not know； William。 Mrs。 Carlyle is going to take you。〃
〃No； she is not； you are going to take me。〃
A flush passed over Lady Isabel's face at the bare thought； though she did not believe it。 /She/ go to Mr。 Carlyle's office！ 〃Mrs。 Carlyle told me herself that she should take you；〃 was the reply。
〃All I know is； mamma told me this morning you would take me to West Lynne to…day；〃 persisted William。
The discussion was interrupted by the appearance of Mrs。 Carlyle interrupted and decided also。
〃Madame Vine；〃 she said； 〃you will be ready at three o'clock to go in with William？〃
Lady Isabel's heart beat。 〃I understood you to say that you should go with him yourself； madame。〃
〃I know I did。 I intended to do so； but I heard this morning that some frien