织工马南-第3部分

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id　not　want　to　miss　the　hunt，so　he　decided　to　continue　on　his　way．

At　the　hunt　he　met　several　friends　and　neighbours，and　be　fore　the　hunt　started　he　managed　to　sell　Wildfire　for　a　good　price．The　money　would　be　paid　when　he　brought　the　horse　to　the　neighbour's　house　later　that　day．Dunstan　knew　it　would　be　safer　to　take　the　horse　there　immediately，so　that　he　could　be　sure　of　receiving　the　money．But　he　was　confident　that　he　could　take　care　of　Wildfire　during　the　hunt，and　so，after　a　glass　or　two　of　whisky，he　joined　the　other　riders　in　the　fields．This　time，however，he　was　not　as　lucky　as　usual，and　horse　and　rid…er　fell　while　jumping　a　gate．Dunstan　got　up，shaken　but　unhurt，but　poor　Wildfire's　back　was　broken，and　in　a　few　mo－ments　he　died．

Dunstan　looked　around，and　was　glad　to　see　that　no　other　riders　had　noticed　his　accident．He　did　not　want　people　to　think　he　was　a　bad　rider．He　did　not　care　much　about　Wildfire，be－cause　he　thought　he　now　had　a　much　better　plan　to　offer　God－frey．The　worst　thing　was　that　he　would　have　to　walk　home，something　he　was　not　at　all　used　to　doing．

He　drank　some　more　whisky　from　the　bottle　he　kept　in　his　pocket，and　started　down　the　country　road．He　kept　thinking　about　Silas's　money．There　would　certainly　be　enough　for　his　own　needs　as　well　as　Godfrey's．Dunstan　thought　it　would　be　easy　to　frighten　the　weaver　a　little，and　then　Silas　would　quick－ly　agree　to　lend　his　money．

It　was　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon，and　the　whole　country－side　was　covered　by　a　thick　mist．Dunstan　did　not　see　anyone　on　his　way　back　to　Raveloe．He　knew　he　was　getting　close　to　the　old　quarry，although　he　could　not　see　the　road　in　front　of　him．At　last　he　saw　light　coming　from　the　weaver's　cottage，and　he　decided　to　knock　at　the　door．‘Why　not　ask　the　old　man　for　the　money　now？he　thought．

But　when　he　knocked　loudly，there　was　no　reply．And　when　he　pushed　the　door，it　opened．Dunstan　found　himself　in　front　of　a　bright　fire　which　showed　every　corner　of　the　small　living…room．Silas　Marner　was　not　there．Dunstan　was　tired　and　cold，so　he　went　quickly　to　sit　by　the　warm　fire．As　he　sat　down，he　noticed　a　small　piece　of　meat　cooking　over　the　fire．It　was　hanging　from　a　large　door　key．　‘So，the　old　man's　cooking　meat　for　his　supper，is　he？'thought　Dunstan．‘But　where　is　he？Why　is　his　door　unlocked？Perhaps　he　went　out　to　fetch　some　wood　for　the　fire，and　fell　into　the　quarry！Perhaps　he's　dead！'this　was　an　interesting　new　idea．‘And　if　he's　dead，who　inherits　his　mon－ey？Who　would　know　that　anybody　had　come　to　take　it　away？’And　the　most　important　question　of　all—‘Where　is　the　money？’

Dunstan's　excitement　made　him　forget　that　the　weaver　could　still　be　alive．He　wanted　Silas　to　be　dead，and　he　wanted　Silas's　money．He　looked　round　the　cottage　again．There　was　very　little　furniture，just　a　bed，the　loom，three　chairs　and　a　table．Dunstan　looked　under　the　bed，but　the　money　was　not　there．Then　he　noticed　a　plsce　on　the　floor，near　the　loom，where　the　floorboards　looked　different．By　pulling　up　one　of　the　boards，he　discovered　Silas's　hiding－place．He　took　out　the　two　heavy　bags　filled　with　gold，put　the　boards　back　and　hurried　to　the　door．

Outside，the　rain　was　falling　heavily，and　he　could　not　see　anything　at　all．Carrying　the　heavy　bags，he　stepped　forward　into　the　darkness．

　　




3　Where　is　Silas's　gold？

　　

When　Dunstan　Cass　left　the　cottage，Silas　Marner　was　only　a　hundred　metres　away．He　was　walking　home　from　the　village，where　he　had　gone　to　buy　what　he　needed　for　his　next　day's　work．His　legs　were　tired，but　he　felt　almost　happy．He　was　looking　forward　to　supper…time，when　he　would　bring　out　his　gold．Tonight　he　had　an　extra　reason　to　hurry　home．He　was　going　to　eat　hot　meat，which　was　unusual　for　him．And　it　would　cost　him　nothing，because　someone　had　giv…en　him　a　piece　of　meat　as　a　present．He　had　left　it　cooking　over　the　fire．The　door　key　was　needed　to　hold　it　safely　in　place，but　Silas　was　not　at　all　worried　about　leaving　his　gold　in　the　cot…tage　with　the　door　unlocked．He　could　not　imagine　that　a　thief　would　find　his　way　through　the　mist，rain　and　darkness　to　the　little　cottage　by　the　quarry．

When　he　reached　his　cottage　and　opened　the　door，he　did　not　notice　that　anything　was　different．He　threw　off　his　wet　coat，and　pushed　the　meat　closer　to　the　fire．As　soon　as　he　was　warm　again，he　began　to　think　about　his　gold．It　seemed　a　long　time　to　wait　until　after　supper，when　he　usually　brought　out　the　coins　to　look　at．So　he　decided　to　bring　out　his　gold　immediate－ly，while　the　meat　was　still　cooking．

But　when　he　took　up　the　floorboards　near　the　loom，and　saw　the　empty　hole，he　did　not　understand　at　once．His　heart　beat　violently　as　his　trembling　hands　felt　all　round　the　hole．There　was　nothing　there！He　put　his　hands　to　his　head　and　tried　to　think．Had　he　put　his　gold　in　a　different　place，and　forgotten　about　it？He　searched　every　corner　of　his　small　cottage，until　he　could　not　pretend　to　himself　any　more．He　had　to　accept　the　truth－his　gold　had　been　stolen！

He　gave　a　wild，desperate　scream，and　stood　still　for　a　mo－ment．Then　he　turned　towards　his　loom，and　almost　fell　into　the　seat　where　he　always　worked．He　touched　the　loom　to　make　sure　it，too，had　not　been　stolen．Now　he　was　beginning　to　think　more　clearly．‘A　thief　has　been　here！If　I　can　find　him，he'll　have　to　give　back　my　gold！But　I　was　only　away　for　a　short　time，and　there's　no　sign　of　anyone　entering　the　cottage．’He　wondered　whether　it　was　really　a　thief　who　had　taken　his　money，or　whether　it　was　the　same　cruel　God　who　had　already　destroyed　his　happiness　once．But　Silas　preferred　to　suspect　a　thief，who　would　perhaps　return　the　money．He　began　to　think　it　must　be　Jem　Rodney，a　local　poacher，who　had　known　about　Silas's　money，and　who　sometimes　visited　the　cottage．Silas　felt　stronger　now　that　he　thought　he　knew　the　thief．‘I　must　go　and　tell　the　Squire，and　the　police！’he　said　to　himself．‘They'll　make　Jem　give　me　back　the　money！'so　he　hurried　out　in　the　rain　without　a　coat，and　ran　towards　the　Rainbow．

He　thought　he　would　find　the　most　important　people　in　Rav－eloe　at　the　public　house，but　in　fact　most　of　them　were　at　Mrs　Osgood's　birthday　dance．There　were，however，five　villagers　at　the　Rainbow，enjoying　an　interesting　conversation　about　ghosts，while　drinking　their　beer．

‘I　tell　you，people　have　seen　ghosts，'the　butcher　said．‘And　I'll　tell　you　where，too．Behind　the　church！’

‘That's　right，’agreed　old　Mr　Macey．‘You　young　ones　aren't　old　enough　to　remember，but　people　have　seen　ghosts　near　the　church　since　I　was　a　boy．Oh　yes，it's　true．’

The　farrier　laughed　scornfully．‘Ghosts！People　imagine　they　see　things　on　a　dark　night！You　can't　make　me　believe　in　ghosts！It's　a　question　of　fact！There　are　no　ghosts！’

‘Now，now，’began　the　lanalord，who　always　tried　to　keep　the　peace，‘in　some　ways　you're　all　wrong，and　in　some　ways　you're　all　right，that's　my　opinion．There　are　ghosts，and　there　aren't，well，that's　what　people　say．And…’

Just　then　Silas's　white　face　appeared　suddenly　in　the　door－way．He　had　run　all　the　way　from　his　cottage，so　he　could　not　speak　for　a　moment．He　stared　silently　at　the　men　with　his　strange　staring　eyes，looking　exactly　like　a　ghost．For　a　few　minutes　nobody　said　anything，while　Silas　tried　to　control　his　breathing．Then　the　landlord　spoke．

‘What　do　you　want，Master　Marner？Come，tell　us．’

‘Robbed！’cried　Silas，suddenly　able　to　speak．‘I've　been　robbed！I　want　the　police，and　the　Squire！’He　waved　his　arms　wildly　as　he　spoke．

‘Hold　him，Jem，'said　the　landlord　to　the　poacher，who　was　sitting　near　the　door．‘I　think　he's　gone　mad．’

But　Jem　moved　quickly　away．‘Not　me！’he　replied．‘I　don't　want　anything　to　do　with　a　ghost！’

‘Jem　Rodney！’cried　Silas，turning　and　staring　at　the　man　he　suspected．

‘Yes，Master　Marner？’answered　Jem，trembling　a　little．

‘If　it　was　you　who　stole　my　money，'said　Silas，going　close　to　Jem，‘just　give　it　back　to　me，and　I　won't　tell　the　police．Please—just　give　it　back．’

‘Stole　your　money！’cried　Jem　angrily．‘I'll　throw　this　glass　at　you　if　you　accuse　me　of　stealing　your　money！’

‘Come　now，Master　Matner，'said　the　landlord　firmly，tak－ing　Silas　by　the　arm．‘You　must　explain　what　you　mean　if　you　want　us　to　believe　you．And　sit　down　by　the　fire　to　dry　your　clothes．You're　very　wet．’

‘That's　right，'said　the　farrier．‘No　more　staring　like　a　madman．That's　what　I　thought　you　were　at　first—not　a　ghost，of　course．’

The　weaver　sat　down，in　the　centre　of　the　little　group　of　men，and　told　his　story．It　felt　strange　but　pleasant　to　him，to　talk　to　his　neighbours　and　tell　them　his　problems．The　men　re－alized　at　once　that　Silas　was　telling　the　truth．They　had　sus－pected　him　of　working　for　the　devil，but　they　knew　now　that　the　devil　was　no　longer　taking　care　of　him．

‘Well，Master　Marner，'said　the　landlord　in　the　end，‘you　mustn't　accuse　poor　Jem．He　sometimes　steals　a　chicken，we　all　know　that，but　he's　been　sitting　here　drinking　with　us　all　evening．So　he's　not　the　thief．’

‘That's　right，'said　old　Mr　Macey．‘You　can't　accuse　someone　who　hasn't　done　anything　wrong，Master　Marner．’

These　words　brought　the　past　back　to　Silas，and　he　remem－bered　standing　in　front　of　his　accusers　in　the　Light　Street　chapel．He　went　up　to　Jem．

‘I　was　wrong，’he　said　miserably．‘I'm　sorry，Jem．I　had　no　reason　to　accuse　you．But—where　can　my　gold　be？’

‘Perhaps　some　stranger　came　to　your　cottage　while　you　were　out，'said　the　farrier．‘But　we　must　report　the　robbery　to　the　police　and　the　Squire　immediately．’

Next　morning，when　the　whole　village　heard　about　the　stolen　gold，they　all　discussed　it　excitedly．A　few　people　still　did　not　trust　Silas　or　believe　his　story．Most　people，however，were　suspicious　of　the　pedlar　who　had　visited　Raveloe　the　month　be－fore．Perhaps　he　had　returned　to　hide　near　the　quarry，and　steal　the　money　when　Silas　left　his　cottage．Several　villagers　thought　they　remembered　his　evil…looking　face，and　felt　sure　he　was　not　honest．

Silas　himself　remembered　that　the　pedlar　had　come　to　his　co