第 26 节
作者:插翅难飞      更新:2021-04-30 17:18      字数:9322
  not abuse her confidence。
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  But no; I was not her equal; and I was under her roof as a castaway
  enemy。       My     lips  were    sealed。    I   endeavoured      to  imitate    her   own
  wonderful      affectation    of  indifference;    but;  as  you   may    think?   I   was
  eagerly alert for any opportunity of serving her。
  One   morning   Lady   Jane   had   driven   in   her   phaeton   to   Okehampton;
  and   I   strolled   along   the   road   which   led   to   that   place   in   the   hope   that   I
  might meet her on her return。
  It was the early winter; and banks of fading fern sloped down to the
  winding      road。   It   is  a  bleak  place   this  Dartmoor;     wild   and   rockya
  country of wind and mist。
  I felt as I walked that it is no wonder Englishmen should suffer from
  the spleen。     My own heart was heavy within me; and I sat upon a rock by
  the   wayside   looking   out   on   the   dreary   view   with   my   thoughts   full   of
  trouble and foreboding。         Suddenly; however; as I glanced down the road;
  I saw a sight which drove everything else from my mind; and caused me
  to leap to my feet with a cry of astonishment and anger。
  Down the curve of the road a phaeton was coming; the pony tearing
  along at full gallop。      Within was the very lady whom I had come to meet。
  She   lashed   at   the   pony   like   one   who   endeavours   to   escape   from   some
  pressing danger; glancing ever backward over her shoulder。                  The bend of
  the road concealed from me what it was that had alarmed her; and I ran
  forward not knowing what to expect。
  The next instant I saw the pursuer; and my amazement was increased
  at the sight。    It was a gentleman in the red coat of an English fox…hunter;
  mounted on a great grey horse。           He was galloping as if in a race; and the
  long stride of the splendid creature beneath him soon brought him up to
  the lady's flying carriage。       I saw him stoop and seize the reins of the pony;
  so as to bring it to a halt。       The next instant he was deep in talk with the
  lady; he bending forward in his saddle and speaking eagerly; she shrinking
  away from him as if she feared and loathed him。
  You may think; my dear friends; that this was not a sight at which I
  could   calmly   gaze。     How   my   heart   thrilled   within   me   to   think   that   a
  chance should have been given to me to serve the Lady Jane!                    I ranoh;
  good     Lord;   how    I  ran!  At    last;  breathless;   speechless;    I  reached   the
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  phaeton。      The man glanced up at me with his blue English eyes; but so
  deep was he in his talk that he paid no heed to me; nor did the lady say a
  word。     She   still   leaned   back;   her   beautiful   pale   face   gazing   up   at   him。
  He   was   a   good…looking   fellowtall;   and   strong;   and   brown;   a   pang   of
  jealousy seized me as I looked at him。              He was talking low and fast; as
  the English do when they are in earnest。
  〃I tell you; Jinny; it's you and only you that I love;〃 said he。               〃Don't
  bear malice;  Jinny。       Let   by…gones be by…gones。          Come   now;  say  it's   all
  over。〃
  〃No; never; George; never!〃 she cried。
  A dusky red suffused his handsome face。              The man was furious。
  〃Why can't you forgive me; Jinny?〃
  〃I can't forget the past。〃
  〃By George; you must!           I've asked enough。         It's time to order now。
  I'll have my rights; d'ye hear?〃         His hand closed upon her wrist。
  At last my breath had returned to me。
  〃Madame;〃   I   said;   as   I   raised   my   hat;   〃do   I   intrude;   or   is   there   any
  possible way in which I can be of service to you?〃
  But neither of them minded me any more than if I had been a fly who
  buzzed between them。          Their eyes were locked together。
  〃I'll have my rights; I tell you。       I've waited long enough。〃
  〃There's no use bullying; George。〃
  〃Do you give in?〃
  〃No; never!〃
  〃Is that your final answer?〃
  〃Yes; it is。〃
  He gave a bitter curse and threw down her hand。
  〃All right; my lady; we'll see about this。〃
  〃Excuse me; sir!〃 said I; with dignity。
  〃Oh; go to blazes!〃 he cried; turning on me with his furious face。                The
  next   instant   he   had   spurred   his   horse   and   was   galloping   down   the   road
  once more。
  Lady     Jane   gazed    after  him   until  he   was   out   of  sight;  and   I  was
  surprised to see that her   face   wore   a smile   and   not   a   frown。      Then she
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  turned to me and held out her hand。
  〃You are very kind; Colonel Gerard。            You meant well; I am sure。〃
  〃Madame;〃   said   I;   〃if  you   can   oblige  me   with   the  gentleman's   name
  and address I will arrange that he shall never trouble you again。〃
  〃No scandal; I beg of you;〃 she cried。
  〃Madame;   I   could   not   so   far   forget   myself。   Rest   assured   that   no
  lady's   name   would   ever   be   mentioned   by   me   in   the   course   of   such   an
  incident。     In bidding me to go to blazes this gentleman has relieved me
  from the embarrassment of having to invent a cause of quarrel。〃
  〃Colonel   Gerard;〃   said   the   lady;   earnestly;   〃you   must   give   me   your
  word as a soldier and a gentleman that this matter goes no farther; and also
  that   you   will   say  nothing    to  my    brother   about    what   you   have    seen。
  Promise me!〃
  〃If I must。〃
  〃I hold you to your word。         Now drive with me to High Combe; and I
  will explain as we go。〃
  The first words of her explanation went into me like a sabre…point。
  〃That gentleman;〃 said she; 〃is my husband。〃
  〃Your husband!〃
  〃You must have known that I was married。〃               She seemed surprised at
  my agitation。
  〃I did not know。〃
  〃This    is  Lord   George     Dacre。    We     have   been    married    two   years。
  There is no need to tell you how he wronged me。                I left him and sought a
  refuge    under    my   brother's   roof。   Up    till  to…day   he  has   left  me   there
  unmolested。
  What I must above all things avoid is the chance of a duel betwixt my
  husband and my brother。          It is horrible to think of。      For this reason Lord
  Rufton must know nothing of this chance meeting of to…day。〃
  〃If my pistol could free you from this annoyance 〃
  〃No; no; it is not to be thought of。        Remember your promise; Colonel
  Gerard。     And not a word at High Combe of what you have seen!〃
  Her husband!       I had pictured in my mind that she was a young widow。
  This   brown…faced   brute   with   his   〃go   to   blazes〃   was   the   husband   of   this
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  tender dove of a woman。           Oh; if she would but allow me to free her from
  so odious an encumbrance!             There is no divorce so quick and certain as
  that which I could give her。          But a promise is a promise; and I kept it to
  the letter。   My mouth was sealed。
  In   a   week   I   was   to   be   sent   back   from   Plymouth   to   St。   Malo;   and   it
  seemed to me that I might never hear the sequel of the story。                  And yet it
  was   destined   that   it   should   have   a   sequel   and   that   I   should   play   a   very
  pleasing and honourable part in it。
  It was only three days after the event which I have described when
  Lord Rufton burst hurriedly into my room。
  His face was pale and his manner that of a man in extreme agitation。
  〃Gerard;〃 he cried; 〃have you seen Lady Jane Dacre?〃
  I had seen her after breakfast and it was now mid…day。
  〃By Heaven; there's villainy here!〃 cried my poor friend; rushing about
  like   a   madman。     〃The   bailiff   has   been   up   to   say   that   a   chaise   and   pair
  were   seen   driving   full   split   down   the Tavistock   Road。     The   blacksmith
  heard a woman scream as it passed his forge。               Jane has disappeared。        By
  the   Lord;   I   believe   that   she   has   been   kidnapped   by   this   villain   Dacre。〃
  He     rang   the   bell   furiously。    〃Two      horses;    this  instant!〃    he   cried。
  〃Colonel Ge