第30章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The Queen of Hearts",免费读到尾

  Sheseemedonthepointofsayingakindwordortwomore,when,seeingthebeadlecomingtowardme,shedrewback,asifshewasafraidofhim,andleftthechurchyard。

  \"Here’smysubscriptiontowardthefuneral,\"saidthebeadle,givingmebackhisshillingfee。\"Don’tsayanythingaboutit,foritmightn’tbeapprovedofinabusinesspointofview,ifitcametosomepeople’sears。Hasthelandlordsaidanythingmoretoyou?no,Ithoughtnot。He’stoopoliteamantogivemethetroubleofpullinghimup。Don’tstopcryinghere,mydear。Taketheadviceofamanfamiliarwithfunerals,andgohome。\"

  Itriedtotakehisadvice,butitseemedlikedesertingMarytogoawaywhenalltherestforsookher。

  Iwaitedabouttilltheearthwasthrowninandthemanhadlefttheplace,thenIreturnedtothegrave。Oh,howbareandcruelitwas,withoutsomuchasabitofgreenturftosoftenit!Oh,howmuchharderitseemedtolivethantodie,whenIstoodalonelookingattheheavypiled—uplumpsofclay,andthinkingofwhatwashiddenbeneaththem!

  Iwasdrivenhomebymyowndespairingthoughts。ThesightofSallylightingthefireinmyroomeasedmyheartalittle。Whenshewasgone,ItookupRobert’sletteragaintokeepmymindemployedontheonlysubjectintheworldthathasanyinterestforitnow。

  ThisfreshreadingincreasedthedoubtsIhadalreadyfeltrelativetohishavingremainedinAmericaafterwritingtome。

  Mygriefandforlornnesshavemadeastrangealterationinmyformerfeelingsabouthiscomingback。Iseemtohavelostallmyprudenceandself—denial,andtocaresolittleabouthispoverty,andsomuchabouthimself,thattheprospectofhisreturnisreallytheonlycomfortingthoughtIhavenowtosupportme。Iknowthisisweakinme,andthathiscomingbackcanleadtonogoodresultforeitherofus;butheistheonlylivingbeingleftmetolove;and——Ican’texplainit——butIwanttoputmyarmsroundhisneckandtellhimaboutMary。

  March14th。Ilockeduptheendofthecravatinmywriting—desk。Nochangeinthedreadfulsuspicionsthatthebaresightofitrousesinme。ItrembleifIsomuchastouchit。

  March15th,16th,17th。Work,work,work。IfIdon’tknockup,Ishallbeabletopaybacktheadvanceinanotherweek;andthen,withalittlemorepinchinginmydailyexpenses,ImaysucceedinsavingashillingortwotogetsometurftoputoverMary’sgrave,andperhapsevenafewflowersbesidestogrowroundit。

  March18th。ThinkingofRobertalldaylong。Doesthismeanthatheisreallycomingback?Ifitdoes,reckoningthedistanceheisatfromNewYork,andthetimeshipstaketogettoEngland,ImightseehimbytheendofAprilorthebeginningofMay。

  March19th。Idon’tremembermymindrunningonceontheendofthecravatyesterday,andIamcertainIneverlookedatit;yetIhadthestrangestdreamconcerningitatnight。Ithoughtitwaslengthenedintoalongclew,likethesilkenthreadthatledtoRosamond’sBower。IthoughtItookholdofit,andfolloweditalittleway,andthengotfrightenedandtriedtogoback,butfoundthatIwasobliged,inspiteofmyself,togoon。ItledmethroughaplaceliketheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,inanoldprintIrememberinmymother’scopyofthePilgrim’sProgress。I

  seemedtobemonthsandmonthsfollowingitwithoutanyrespite,tillatlastitbroughtme,onasudden,facetofacewithanangelwhoseeyeswerelikeMary’s。Hesaidtome,\"Goon,still;

  thetruthisattheend,waitingforyoutofindit。\"Iburstoutcrying,fortheangelhadMary’svoiceaswellasMary’seyes,andwokewithmyheartthrobbingandmycheeksallwet。Whatisthemeaningofthis?Isitalwayssuperstitious,Iwonder,tobelievethatdreamsmaycometrue?

  *******

  April30th。Ihavefoundit!Godknowstowhatresultsitmaylead;butitisascertainasthatIamsittingherebeforemyjournalthatIhavefoundthecravatfromwhichtheendinMary’shandwastorn。Idiscovereditlastnight;buttheflutterIwasin,andthenervousnessanduncertaintyIfelt,preventedmefromnotingdownthismostextraordinaryandunexpectedeventatthetimewhenithappened。LetmetryifIcanpreservethememoryofitinwritingnow。

  IwasgoinghomeratherlatefromwhereIwork,whenIsuddenlyrememberedthatIhadforgottentobuymyselfanycandlestheeveningbefore,andthatIshouldbeleftinthedarkifIdidnotmanagetorectifythismistakeinsomeway。Theshopclosetome,atwhichIusuallydeal,wouldbeshutup,Iknew,beforeI

  couldgettoit;soIdeterminedtogointothefirstplaceI

  passedwherecandlesweresold。Thisturnedouttobeasmallshopwithtwocounters,whichdidbusinessononesideinthegeneralgroceryway,andontheotherintheragandbottleandoldironline。

  TherewereseveralcustomersonthegrocerysidewhenIwentin,soIwaitedontheemptyragsidetillIcouldbeserved。

  Glancingaboutmehereattheworthless—lookingthingsbywhichI

  wassurrounded,myeyewascaughtbyabundleofragslyingonthecounter,asiftheyhadjustbeenbroughtinandleftthere。

  Frommereidlecuriosity,Ilookedcloseattherags,andsawamongthemsomethinglikeanoldcravat。Itookitupdirectlyandhelditunderagaslight。Thepatternwasblurredlilaclinesrunningacrossandacrossthedingyblackgroundinatrellis—workform。Ilookedattheends:oneofthemwastornoff。

  HowImanagedtohidethebreathlesssurpriseintowhichthisdiscoverythrewmeIcannotsay,butIcertainlycontrivedtosteadymyvoicesomehow,andtoaskformycandlescalmlywhenthemanandwomanservingintheshop,havingdisposedoftheirothercustomers,inquiredofmewhatIwanted。

  Asthemantookdownthecandles,mybrainwasallinawhirlwithtryingtothinkhowIcouldgetpossessionoftheoldcravatwithoutexcitinganysuspicion。Chance,andalittlequicknessonmypartintakingadvantageofit,puttheobjectwithinmyreachinamoment。Theman,havingcountedoutthecandles,askedthewomanforsomepapertowrapthemin。Sheproducedapiecemuchtoosmallandflimsyforthepurpose,anddeclared,whenhecalledforsomethingbetter,thattheday’ssupplyofstoutpaperwasallexhausted。Heflewintoaragewithherformanagingsobadly。Justastheywerebeginningtoquarrelviolently,I

  steppedbacktotherag—counter,tooktheoldcravatcarelesslyoutofthebundle,andsaid,inaslightatoneasIcouldpossiblyassume:

  \"Come,come,don’tletmycandlesbethecauseofhardwordsbetweenyou。Tiethisraggedoldthingroundthemwithabitofstring,andIshallcarrythemhomequitecomfortably。\"

  Themanseemeddisposedtoinsistonthestoutpaperbeingproduced;butthewoman,asifshewasgladofanopportunityofspitinghim,snatchedthecandlesaway,andtiedthemupinamomentinthetornoldcravat。Iwasafraidhewouldhavestruckherbeforemyface,heseemedinsuchafury;but,fortunately,anothercustomercamein,andobligedhimtoputhishandstopeaceableandproperuse。?

  \"Quiteabundleofall—sortsontheoppositecounterthere,\"I

  saidtothewoman,asIpaidherforthecandles。

  \"Yes,andallhoardedupforsalebyapoorcreaturewithalazybruteofahusband,wholetshiswifedoalltheworkwhilehespendsallthemoney,\"answeredthewoman,withamaliciouslookatthemanbyherside。

  \"Hecan’tsurelyhavemuchmoneytospend,ifhiswifehasnobetterworktodothanpickinguprags,\"saidI。

  \"Itisn’therfaultifshehasn’tgotnobetter,\"saysthewoman,ratherangrily。\"She’sreadytoturnherhandtoanything。

  Charing,washing,laying—out,keepingemptyhouses——nothingcomesamisstoher。She’smyhalf—sister,andIthinkIoughttoknow。\"

  \"Didyousayshewentoutcharing?\"Iasked,makingbelieveasifIknewofsomebodywhomightemployher。

  \"Yes,ofcourseIdid,\"answeredthewoman;\"andifyoucanputajobintoherhands,you’llbedoingagoodturntoapoorhard—workingcreatureaswantsit。ShelivesdowntheMewsheretotheright——nameofHorlick,andashonestawomanaseverstoodinshoe—leather。Now,then,ma’am,whatforyou?\"

  Anothercustomercameinjustthen,andoccupiedherattention。I

  lefttheshop,passedtheturningthatleddowntotheMews,lookedupatthenameofthestreet,soastoknowhowtofinditagain,andthenranhomeasfastasIcould。Perhapsitwastheremembranceofmystrangedreamstrikingmeonasudden,orperhapsitwastheshockofthediscoveryIhadjustmade,butI

  begantofeelfrightenedwithoutknowingwhy,andanxioustobeundershelterinmyownroom。

  ItRobertshouldcomeback!Oh,whatareliefandhelpitwouldbenowifRobertshouldcomeback!

  May1st。Ongettingindoorslastnight,thefirstthingIdid,afterstrikingalight,wastotaketheraggedcravatoffthecandles,andsmoothitoutonthetable。IthentooktheendthathadbeeninpoorMary’shandoutofmywriting—desk,andsmoothedthatouttoo。Itmatchedthetornsideofthecravatexactly。I

  putthemtogether,andsatisfiedmyselfthattherewasnotadoubtofit。

  NotoncedidIclosemyeyesthatnight。Akindoffevergotpossessionofme——avehementyearningtogoonfromthisfirstdiscoveryandfindoutmore,nomatterwhattheriskmightbe。

  Thecravatnowreallybecame,tomymind,theclewthatIthoughtIsawinmydream——theclewthatIwasresolvedtofollow。I

  determinedtogotoMrs。Horlickthiseveningonmyreturnfromwork。

  IfoundtheMewseasily。Acrook—backeddwarfofamanwasloungingatthecornerofitsmokinghispipe。Notlikinghislooks,IdidnotinquireofhimwhereMrs。Horlicklived,butwentdowntheMewstillImetwithawoman,andaskedher。Shedirectedmetotherightnumber。Iknockedatthedoor,andMrs。

  Horlickherself——alean,ill—tempered,miserable—lookingwoman——answeredit。ItoldheratoncethatIhadcometoaskwhathertermswereforcharing。

  Shestaredatmeforamoment,thenansweredmyquestioncivillyenough。

  \"Youlooksurprisedatastrangerlikemefindingyouout,\"I

  said。\"Ifirstcametohearofyoulastnight,fromarelationofyours,inratheranoddway。\"

  AndItoldherallthathadhappenedinthechandler’sshop,bringinginthebundleofrags,andthecircumstanceofmycarryinghomethecandlesintheoldtorncravat,asoftenaspossible。

  \"It’sthefirsttimeI’veheardofanythingbelongingtohimturningoutanyuse,\"saidMrs。Horlick,bitterly。

  \"What!thespoiledoldneck—handkerchiefbelongedtoyourhusband,didit?\"saidI,ataventure。

  \"Yes;Ipitchedhisrottenragofaneck—’andkercherintothebundlealongwiththerest,andIwishIcouldhavepitchedhiminafterit,\"saidMrs。Horlick。\"I’dsellhimcheapatanyragshop。Therehestands,smokinghispipeattheendoftheMews,outofworkforweekspast,theidlesthumpbackedpiginallLondon!\"

  ShepointedtothemanwhomIhadpassedonenteringtheMews。Mycheeksbegantoburnandmykneestotremble,forIknewthatintracingthecravattoitsownerIwasadvancingasteptowardafreshdiscovery。IwishedMrs。Horlickgoodevening,andsaidI

  wouldwriteandmentionthedayonwhichIwantedher。

  WhatIhadjustbeentoldputathoughtintomymindthatIwasafraidtofollowout。Ihaveheardpeopletalkofbeinglight—headed,andIfeltasIhaveheardthemsaytheyfeltwhenIretracedmystepsuptheMews。Myheadgotgiddy,andmyeyesseemedabletoseenothingbutthefigureofthelittlecrook—backedman,stillsmokinghispipeinhisformerplace。I

  couldseenothingbutthat;IcouldthinkofnothingbutthemarkoftheblowonmypoorlostMary’stemple。IknowthatImusthavebeenlight—headed,forasIcameclosetothecrook—backedmanIstoppedwithoutmeaningit。Theminutebefore,therehadbeennoideainmeofspeakingtohim。Ididnotknowhowtospeak,orinwhatwayitwouldbesafesttobegin;andyet,themomentIcamefacetofacewithhim,somethingoutofmyselfseemedtostopme,andtomakemespeakwithoutconsideringbeforehand,withoutthinkingofconsequences,withoutknowing,I

  mayalmostsay,whatwordsIwasutteringtilltheinstantwhentheyrosetomylips。

  \"Whenyouroldneck—tiewastorn,didyouknowthatoneendofitwenttotherag—shop,andtheotherfellintomyhands?\"

  Isaidtheseboldwordstohimsuddenly,and,asitseemed,withoutmyownwilltakinganypartinthem。

  Hestarted,stared,changedcolor。Hewastoomuchamazedbymysuddenspeakingtofindananswerforme。Whenhedidopenhislips,itwastosayrathertohimselfthanme:

  \"You’renotthegirl。\"

  \"No,\"Isaid,withastrangechokingatmyheart,\"I’mherfriend。\"

  Bythistimehehadrecoveredhissurprise,andheseemedtobeawarethathehadletoutmorethanheought。

  \"Youmaybeanybody’sfriendyoulike,\"hesaid,brutally,\"solongasyoudon’tcomejabberingnonsensehere。Idon’tknowyou,andIdon’tunderstandyourjokes。\"

  Heturnedquicklyawayfrommewhenhehadsaidthelastwords。

  HehadneveroncelookedfairlyatmesinceIfirstspoketohim。

  Wasithishandthathadstrucktheblow?Ihadonlysixpenceinmypocket,butItookitoutandfollowedhim。Ifithadbeenafive—poundnoteIshouldhavedonethesameinthestateIwasinthen。

  \"Wouldapotofbeerhelpyoutounderstandme?\"Isaid,andofferedhimthesixpence。

  \"Apotain’tnogreatthings,\"heanswered,takingthesixpencedoubtfully。

  \"Itmayleadtosomethingbetter,\"Isaid。Hiseyesbegantotwinkle,andhecameclosetome。Oh,howmylegstrembled——howmyheadswam!

  \"Thisisallinafriendlyway,isit?\"heasked,inawhisper。

  Inoddedmyhead。AtthatmomentIcouldnothavespokenforworlds。

  \"Friendly,ofcourse,\"hewentontohimself,\"ortherewouldhavebeenapolicemaninit。Shetoldyou,Isuppose,thatI

  wasn’ttheman?\"

  Inoddedmyheadagain。ItwasallIcoulddotokeepmyselfstandingupright。

  \"Isupposeit’sacaseofthreateningtohavehimup,andmakehimsettleitquietlyforapoundortwo?Howmuchformeifyoulayholdofhim?\"

  \"Half。\"

  IbegantobeafraidthathewouldsuspectsomethingifIwasstillsilent。Thewretch’seyestwinkledagainandhecameyetcloser。

  \"IdrovehimtotheRedLion,cornerofDoddStreetandRudgelyStreet。Thehousewasshutup,buthewasletinatthejugandbottledoor,likeamanwhowasknowntothelandlord。That’sasmuchasIcantellyou,andI’mcertainI’mright。HewasthelastfareItookupatnight。Thenextmorningmastergavemethesack——saidIcribbedhiscornandhisfares。IwishIhad。\"

  Igatheredfromthisthatthecrook—backedmanhadbeenacab—driver。

  \"Whydon’tyouspeak?\"heasked,suspiciously。\"Hasshebeentellingyouapackofliesaboutme?Whatdidshesaywhenshecamehome?\"

  \"Whatoughtshetohavesaid?\"

  \"Sheoughttohavesaidmyfarewasdrunk,andshecameinthewayashewasgoingtogetintothecab。That’swhatsheoughttohavesaidtobeginwith。\"

  \"Butafter?\"

  \"Well,after,myfare,bywayoflarkingwithher,putsouthislegfortotripherup,andshestumblesandcatchesatmefortosaveherself,andtearsoffoneofthelimpendsofmyrottenoldtie。’Whatdoyoumeanbythat,youbrute?’saysshe,turningroundassoonasshewassteadyonherlegs,tomyfare。Saysmyfaretoher:’Imeanstoteachyoutokeepaciviltongueinyourhead。’Andheupswithhisfist,and——what’scometoyou,now?

  Whatareyoulookingatmelikethatfor?Howdoyouthinkamanofmysizewastotakeherpartagainstamanbigenoughtohaveeatenmeup?Lookasmuchasyoulike,inmyplaceyouwouldhavedonewhatIdone——drewoffwhenheshookhisfistatyou,andsworehe’dbethedeathofyouifyoudidn’tstartyourhorseinnotime。\"

  Isawhewasworkinghimselfupintoarage;butIcouldnot,ifmylifehaddependedonit,havestoodnearhimorlookedathimanylonger。IjustmanagedtostammeroutthatIhadbeenwalkingalongway,andthat,notbeingusedtomuchexercise,Ifeltfaintandgiddywithfatigue。HeonlychangedfromangrytosulkywhenImadethatexcuse。Igotalittlefurtherawayfromhim,andthenaddedthatifhewouldbeattheMewsentrancethenexteveningIshouldhavesomethingmoretosayandsomethingmoretogivehim。Hegrumbledafewsuspiciouswordsinansweraboutdoubtingwhetherheshouldtrustmetocomeback。Fortunately,atthatmoment,apolicemanpassedontheoppositesideoftheway。

  HeslunkdowntheMewsimmediately,andIwasfreetomakemyescape。

  HowIgothomeIcan’tsay,exceptthatIthinkIranthegreaterpartoftheway。Sallyopenedthedoor,andaskedifanythingwasthematterthemomentshesawmyface。Ianswered:

  \"Nothing——nothing。\"ShestoppedmeasIwasgoingintomyroom,andsaid:

  \"Smoothyourhairabit,andputyourcollarstraight。There’sagentlemanintherewaitingforyou。\"

  Myheartgaveonegreatbound:Iknewwhoitwasinaninstant,andrushedintotheroomlikeamadwoman。

  \"Oh,Robert,Robert!\"

  Allmyheartwentouttohiminthosetwolittlewords。

  \"GoodGod,Anne,hasanythinghappened?Areyouill?\"

  \"Mary!mypoor,lost,murdered,dear,dearMary!\"

  ThatwasallIcouldsaybeforeIfellonhisbreast。

  May2d。Misfortunesanddisappointmentshavesaddenedhimalittle,buttowardmeheisunaltered。Heisasgood,askind,asgentlyandtrulyaffectionateasever。IbelievenoothermanintheworldcouldhavelistenedtothestoryofMary’sdeathwithsuchtendernessandpityashe。Insteadofcuttingmeshortanywhere,hedrewmeontotellmorethanIhadintended;andhisfirstgenerouswordswhenIhaddoneweretoassuremethathewouldseehimselftothegrassbeinglaidandtheflowersplantedonMary’sgrave。Icouldalmosthavegoneonmykneesandworshipedhimwhenhemademethatpromise。

  Surelythisbest,andkindest,andnoblestofmencannotalwaysbeunfortunate!MycheeksburnwhenIthinkthathehascomebackwithonlyafewpoundsinhispocket,afterallhishardandhoneststrugglestodowellinAmerica。TheymustbebadpeopletherewhensuchamanasRobertcannotgetonamongthem。Henowtalkscalmlyandresignedlyoftryingforanyoneofthelowestemploymentsbywhichamancanearnhisbreadhonestlyinthisgreatcity——hewhoknowsFrench,whocanwritesobeautifully!

  Oh,ifthepeoplewhohaveplacestogiveawayonlyknewRobertaswellasIdo,whatasalaryhewouldhave,whataposthewouldbechosentooccupy!

  IamwritingtheselinesalonewhilehehasgonetotheMewstotreatwiththedastardly,heartlesswretchwithwhomIspokeyesterday。

  Robertsaysthecreature——Iwon’tcallhimaman——mustbehumoredandkeptdeceivedaboutpoorMary’send,inorderthatwemaydiscoverandbringtojusticethemonsterwhosedrunkenblowwasthedeathofher。Ishallknownoeaseofmindtillhermurdererissecured,andtillIamcertainthathewillbemadetosufferforhiscrimes。IwantedtogowithRoberttotheMews,buthesaiditwasbestthatheshouldcarryouttherestoftheinvestigationalone,formystrengthandresolutionhadbeentoohardlytaxedalready。HesaidmorewordsinpraiseofmeforwhatIhavebeenabletodouptothistime,whichIamalmostashamedtowritedownwithmyownpen。Besides,thereisnoneed;praisefromhislipsisoneofthethingsthatIcantrustmymemorytopreservetothelatestdayofmylife。

  May3d。Robertwasverylonglastnightbeforehecamebacktotellmewhathehaddone。HeeasilyrecognizedthehunchbackatthecorneroftheMewsbymydescriptionofhim;buthefounditahardmatter,evenwiththehelpofmoney,toovercomethecowardlywretch’sdistrustofhimasastrangerandaman。

  However,whenthishadbeenaccomplished,themaindifficultywasconquered。Thehunchback,excitedbythepromiseofmoremoney,wentatoncetotheRedLiontoinquireaboutthepersonwhomhehaddriventhereinhiscab。Robertfollowedhim,andwaitedatthecornerofthestreet。Thetidingsbroughtbythecabmanwereofthemostunexpectedkind。Themurderer——Icanwriteofhimbynoothername——hadfallenillontheverynightwhenhewasdriventotheRedLion,hadtakentohisbedthereandthen,andwasstillconfinedtoitatthatverymoment。Hisdiseasewasofakindthatisbroughtonbyexcessivedrinking,andthataffectsthemindaswellasthebody。ThepeopleatthepublichousecallittheHorrors。

  Hearingthesethings,Robertdeterminedtoseeifhecouldnotfindoutsomethingmoreforhimselfbygoingandinquiringatthepublichouse,inthecharacterofoneofthefriendsofthesickmaninbedupstairs。Hemadetwoimportantdiscoveries。First,hefoundoutthenameandaddressofthedoctorinattendance。

  Secondly,heentrappedthebarmanintomentioningthemurderouswretchbyhisname。ThislastdiscoveryaddsanunspeakablyfearfulinteresttothedreadfulmisfortuneofMary’sdeath。NoahTruscott,asshetoldmeherselfinthelastconversationIeverhadwithher,wasthenameofthemanwhosedrunkenexampleruinedherfather,andNoahTruscottisalsothenameofthemanwhosedrunkenfurykilledher。Thereissomethingthatmakesoneshudder,somethingsupernaturalinthisawfulfact。RobertagreeswithmethatthehandofProvidencemusthaveguidedmystepstothatshopfromwhichallthediscoveriessincemadetooktheirrise。Hesayshebelieveswearetheinstrumentsofeffectingarighteousretribution;and,ifhespendshislastfarthing,hewillhavetheinvestigationbroughttoitsfullendinacourtofjustice。

  May4th。Robertwentto—daytoconsultalawyerwhomheknewinformertimesThelawyerwasmuchinterested,thoughnotsoseriouslyimpressedasheoughttohavebeenbythestoryofMary’sdeathandoftheeventsthathavefollowedit。HegaveRobertaconfidentiallettertotaketothedoctorinattendanceonthedouble—dyedvillainattheRedLion。Robertlefttheletter,andcalledagainandsawthedoctor,whosaidhispatientwasgettingbetter,andwouldmostlikelybeupagainintendaysorafortnight。ThisstatementRobertcommunicatedtothelawyer,andthelawyerhasundertakentohavethepublichouseproperlywatched,andthehunchback(whoisthemostimportantwitness)

  sharplylookedafterforthenextfortnight,orlongerifnecessary。Here,then,theprogressofthisdreadfulbusinessstopsforawhile。

  May5th。Roberthasgotalittletemporaryemploymentincopyingforhisfriendthelawyer。Iamworkingharderthaneveratmyneedle,tomakeupforthetimethathasbeenlostlately。

  May6th。To—daywasSunday,andRobertproposedthatweshouldgoandlookatMary’sgrave。He,whoforgetsnothingwhereakindnessistobedone,hasfoundtimetoperformthepromisehemadetomeonthenightwhenwefirstmet。Thegraveisalready,byhisorders,coveredwithturf,andplantedroundwithshrubs。

  Someflowers,andalowheadstone,aretobeadded,tomaketheplacelookworthierofmypoorlostdarlingwhoisbeneathit。

  Oh,IhopeIshalllivelongafterIammarriedtoRobert!Iwantsomuchtimetoshowhimallmygratitude!

  May20th。Ahardtrialtomycourageto—day。Ihavegivenevidenceatthepolice—office,andhaveseenthemonsterwhomurderedher。

  Icouldonlylookathimonce。Icouldjustseethathewasagiantinsize,andthathekepthisdull,lowering,bestialfaceturnedtowardthewitness—box,andhisbloodshot,vacanteyesstaringonme。ForaninstantItriedtoconfrontthatlook;foraninstantIkeptmyattentionfixedonhim——onhisblotchedface——ontheshort,grizzledhairaboveit——onhisknotty,murderousrighthand,hanginglooseoverthebarinfrontofhim,likethepawofawildbeastovertheedgeofitsden。Thenthehorrorofhim——thedoublehorrorofconfrontinghim,inthefirstplace,andafterwardofseeingthathewasanoldman——overcameme,andIturnedaway,faint,sick,andshuddering。Ineverfacedhimagain;and,attheendofmyevidence,Robertconsideratelytookmeout。

点击下载App,搜索"The Queen of Hearts",免费读到尾