第 31 节
作者:你妹找1      更新:2022-06-15 12:54      字数:9321
  enclosure。  When the soldiers were dismissed to their quarters
  the sightseers dispersed; and Dare went through the gates to
  the barrack…yard。
  The guns were standing on the green; the soldiers and horses
  were scattered about; and the handsome captain whom Dare had
  pointed out to Havill was inspecting the buildings in the
  company of the quartermaster。  Dare made a mental note of
  these things; and; apparently changing a previous intention;
  went out from the barracks and returned to the town。
  IV。
  To return for a while to George Somerset。  The sun of his
  later existence having vanished from that young man's horizon;
  he confined himself closely to the studio; superintending the
  exertions of his draughtsmen Bowles; Knowles; and Cockton; who
  were now in the full swing of working out Somerset's creations
  from the sketches he had previously prepared。
  He had so far got the start of Havill in the competition that;
  by the help of these three gentlemen; his design was soon
  finished。  But he gained no unfair advantage on this account;
  an additional month being allowed to Havill to compensate for
  his later information。
  Before scaling up his drawings Somerset wished to spend a
  short time in London; and dismissing his assistants till
  further notice; he locked up the rooms which had been
  appropriated as office and studio and prepared for the
  journey。
  It was afternoon。  Somerset walked from the castle in the
  direction of the wood to reach Markton by a detour。  He had
  not proceeded far when there approached his path a man riding
  a bay horse with a square…cut tail。  The equestrian wore a
  grizzled beard; and looked at Somerset with a piercing eye as
  he noiselessly ambled nearer over the soft sod of the park。
  He proved to be Mr。 Cunningham Haze; chief constable of the
  district; who had become slightly known to Somerset during his
  sojourn here。
  'One word; Mr。 Somerset;' said the Chief; after they had
  exchanged nods of recognition; reining his horse as he spoke。
  Somerset stopped。
  'You have a studio at the castle in which you are preparing
  drawings?'
  'I have。'
  'Have you a clerk?'
  'I had three till yesterday; when I paid them off。'
  'Would they have any right to enter the studio late at night?'
  'There would have been nothing wrong in their doing so。
  Either of them might have gone back at any time for something
  forgotten。  They lived quite near the castle。'
  'Ah; then all is explained。  I was riding past over the grass
  on the night of last Thursday; and I saw two persons in your
  studio with a light。  It must have been about half…past nine
  o'clock。  One of them came forward and pulled down the blind
  so that the light fell upon his face。  But I only saw it for a
  short time。'
  'If it were Knowles or Cockton he would have had a beard。'
  'He had no beard。'
  'Then it must have been Bowles。  A young man?'
  'Quite young。  His companion in the background seemed older。'
  'They are all about the same age really。  By the wayit
  couldn't have been Dareand Havill; surely!  Would you
  recognize them again?'
  'The young one possibly。  The other not at all; for he
  remained in the shade。'
  Somerset endeavoured to discern in a description by the chief
  constable the features of Mr。 Bowles:  but it seemed to
  approximate more closely to Dare in spite of himself。  'I'll
  make a sketch of the only one who had no business there; and
  show it to you;' he presently said。  'I should like this
  cleared up。'
  Mr。 Cunningham Haze said he was going to Toneborough that
  afternoon; but would return in the evening before Somerset's
  departure。  With this they parted。  A possible motive for
  Dare's presence in the rooms had instantly presented itself to
  Somerset's mind; for he had seen Dare enter Havill's office
  more than once; as if he were at work there。
  He accordingly sat on the next stile; and taking out his
  pocket…book began a pencil sketch of Dare's head; to show to
  Mr。 Haze in the evening; for if Dare had indeed found
  admission with Havill; or as his agent; the design was lost。
  But he could not make a drawing that was a satisfactory
  likeness。  Then he luckily remembered that Dare; in the
  intense warmth of admiration he had affected for Somerset on
  the first day or two of their acquaintance; had begged for his
  photograph; and in return for it had left one of himself on
  the mantelpiece; taken as he said by his own process。
  Somerset resolved to show this production to Mr。 Haze; as
  being more to the purpose than a sketch; and instead of
  finishing the latter; proceeded on his way。
  He entered the old overgrown drive which wound indirectly
  through the wood to Markton。  The road; having been laid out
  for idling rather than for progress; bent sharply hither and
  thither among the fissured trunks and layers of horny leaves
  which lay there all the year round; interspersed with cushions
  of vivid green moss that formed oases in the rust…red expanse。
  Reaching a point where the road made one of its bends between
  two large beeches; a man and woman revealed themselves at a
  few yards' distance; walking slowly towards him。  In the short
  and quaint lady he recognized Charlotte De Stancy; whom he
  remembered not to have seen for several days。
  She slightly blushed and said; 'O; this is pleasant; Mr。
  Somerset!  Let me present my brother to you; Captain De Stancy
  of the Royal Horse Artillery。'
  Her brother came forward and shook hands heartily with
  Somerset; and they all three rambled on together; talking of
  the season; the place; the fishing; the shooting; and whatever
  else came uppermost in their minds。
  Captain De Stancy was a personage who would have been called
  interesting by women well out of their teens。  He was ripe;
  without having declined a digit towards fogeyism。  He was
  sufficiently old and experienced to suggest a goodly
  accumulation of touching amourettes in the chambers of his
  memory; and not too old for the possibility of increasing the
  store。  He was apparently about eight…and…thirty; less tall
  than his father had been; but admirably made; and his every
  movement exhibited a fine combination of strength and
  flexibility of limb。  His face was somewhat thin and
  thoughtful; its complexion being naturally pale; though
  darkened by exposure to a warmer sun than ours。  His features
  were somewhat striking; his moustache and hair raven black;
  and his eyes; denied the attributes of military keenness by
  reason of the largeness and darkness of their aspect; acquired
  thereby a softness of expression that was in part womanly。
  His mouth as far as it could be seen reproduced this
  characteristic; which might have been called weakness; or
  goodness; according to the mental attitude of the observer。
  It was large but well formed; and showed an unimpaired line of
  teeth within。  His dress at present was a heather…coloured
  rural suit; cut close to his figure。
  'You knew my cousin; Jack Ravensbury?' he said to Somerset; as
  they went on。  'Poor Jack:  he was a good fellow。'
  'He was a very good fellow。'
  'He would have been made a parson if he had livedit was his
  great wish。  I; as his senior; and a man of the world as I
  thought myself; used to chaff him about it when he was a boy;
  and tell him not to be a milksop; but to enter the army。  But
  I think Jack was rightthe parsons have the best of it; I see
  now。'
  'They would hardly admit that;' said Somerset; laughing。  'Nor
  can I。'
  'Nor I;' said the captain's sister。  'See how lovely you all
  looked with your big guns and uniform when you entered
  Markton; and then see how stupid the parsons look by
  comparison; when they flock into Markton at a Visitation。'
  'Ah; yes;' said De Stancy;
  '〃Doubtless it is a brilliant masquerade;
  But when of the first sight you've had your fill;
  It pallsat least it does so upon me;
  This paradise of pleasure and ennui。〃
  When one is getting on for forty;
  〃When we have made our love; and gamed our gaming;
  Dressed; voted; shone; and maybe; something more;
  With dandies dined; heard senators declaiming;
  Seen beauties brought to market by the score;〃
  and so on; there arises a strong desire for a quiet old…
  fashioned country life; in which incessant movement is not a
  necessary part of the programme。'
  'But you are not forty; Will?' said Charlotte。
  'My dear; I was thirty…nine last January。'
  'Well; men about here are youths at that age。  It was India
  used you up so; when you served in the line; was it not?  I
  wish you had never gone there!'
  'So do I;' said De Stancy drily。  'But I ought to grow a youth
  again; like the rest; now I am in my native air。'
  They came to a narrow brook; not wider than a man's stride;
  and Miss De Stancy halted on the edge。
  'Why; Lottie; you used to jump it easily enough;' said her
  brother。  'But we won't make her do it now。'  He took her in
  his arms; and lifted her over; giving her a gratuitous ride
  for some additional yards; and saying; 'You are not a pound
  heavier; Lott; than you were at ten years old。 。 。 。  What do
  you think of the country here; Mr。 Somerset?  Are you going to
  stay long?'
  'I think very well of it;' said Somerset。  'But I