put yourself in his place-第41部分

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e　had　a　rooted　disbelief　in　women's　headaches。　　His　own　head　had　far　more　reason　to　ache；　and　his　heart　too。　　He　puzzled　himself　all　dinner…time　about　this　headache；　and　was　very　bad　company。

Soon　after　dinner　he　took　a　leaf　out　of　her　book；　pretended　headache；　and　said　he　should　like　to　take　a　turn　by　himself　in　the　air。

What　he　really　wanted　to　do　was　to　watch　Miss　Carden's　windows；　for　he　had　all　manner　of　ugly　suspicions。

There　seemed　to　be　a　strong　light　in　the　room。　　He　could　see　no　more。

He　walked　moodily　up　and　down；　very　little　satisfied　with　himself；　and　at　last　he　got　ashamed　of　his　own　thoughts。

〃Oh；　no！〃　he　said；　〃she　is　in　her　room；　sure　enough。〃

He　turned　his　back；　and　strolled　out　into　the　road。

Presently　he　heard　the　rustle　of　a　woman's　dress。　　He　stepped　into　the　shade　of　the　firs　directly；　and　his　heart　began　to　beat　hard。

But　it　was　only　Jael　Dence。　　She　came　out　within　a　few　yards　of　him。　She　had　something　white　in　her　hand；　which；　however；　she　instinctively　conveyed　into　her　bosom　the　moment　she　found　herself　in　the　moonlight。　　Coventry　saw　her　do　it　though。

She　turned　to　the　left；　and　walked　swiftly　up　the　road。

Now　Coventry　knew　nothing　about　this　girl；　except　that　she　belonged　to　a　class　with　whom　money　generally　goes　a　long　way。　　And　he　now　asked　himself　whether　it　might　not　be　well　worth　his　while　to　enlist　her　sympathies　on　his　side。

While　he　was　coming　to　this　conclusion；　Jael；　who　was　gliding　along　at　a　great　pace；　reached　a　turn　in　the　road；　and　Mr。　Coventry　had　to　run　after　her　to　catch　her。

When　he　got　to　the　turn　in　the　road；　she　was　just　going　round　another　turn；　having　quickened　her　pace。

Coventry　followed　more　leisurely。　　She　might　be　going　to　meet　her　sweetheart；　and；　if　so；　he　had　better　talk　to　her　on　her　return。

He　walked　on　till　he　saw　at　some　distance　a　building；　with　light　shining　though　it　in　a　peculiar　way；　and　now　the　path　became　very　rugged　and　difficult。　　He　came　to　a　standstill；　and　eyed　the　place　where　his　rival　was　working　at　that　moment。　　He　eyed　it　with　a　strange　mixture　of　feelings。　　It　had　saved　his　life　and　hers；　after　all。　　He　fell　into　another　mood；　and　began　to　laugh　at　himself　for　allowing　himself　to　be　disturbed　by　such　a　rival。

But　what　is　this？　　Jael　Dence　comes　in　sight　again：　she　is　making　for　the　old　church。

Coventry　watched　her　unseen。　　She　went　to　the　porch；　and；　after　she　had　been　there　some　time；　the　door　was　opened　just　a　little；　then　wide；　and　she　entered　the　building。　　He　saw　it　all　in　a　moment：　the　girl　was　already　bought　by　the　other　side；　and　had　carried　his　rival　a　letter　before　his　eyes。

A　clandestine　correspondence！

All　his　plans　and　his　resolutions　melted　away　before　this　discovery。　There　was　nothing　to　be　done　but　to　save　the　poor　girl　from　this　miserable　and　degrading　attachment；　and　its　inevitable　consequences。

He　went　home；　pale　with　fury；　and　never　once　closed　his　eyes　all　night。

Next　day　he　ordered　his　dog…cart　early；　and　told　Mr。　Raby　and　Grace　he　was　going　to　Hillsborough　for　medical　advice：　had　a　pain　in　his　back　he　could　not　get　rid　of。

He　called　on　the　chief　constable　of　Hillsborough；　and　asked　him；　confidentially；　if　he　knew　any　thing　about　a　workman　called　Little。

〃What；　a　Londoner；　sir？　the　young　man　that　is　at　odds　with　the　Trades？〃

〃I　shouldn't　wonder。　　Yes；　I　think　he　is。　　A　friend　of　mine　takes　an　interest　in　him。〃

〃And　so　do　I。　　His　case　was　a　disgrace　to　the　country；　and　to　the　constabulary　of　the　place。　　It　occurred　just　ten　days　before　I　came　here；　and　it　seems　to　me　that　nothing　was　done　which　ought　to　have　been　done。〃

Mr。　Coventry　put　in　a　question　or　two；　which　elicited　from　Mr。　Ransome　all　he　knew　about　the　matter。

〃Where　does　this　Little　live？〃　was　the　next　inquiry。

〃I　don't　know；　but　I　think　you　could　learn　at　Mr。　Cheetham's。　　The　only　time　I　ever　saw　Little；　he　was　walking　with　the　foreman　of　those　works。　　He　was　pointed　out　to　me。　　A　dark　young　man；　carries　himself　remarkably　welldoesn't　look　like　a　workman。　　If　they　don't　know　at　Cheetham's；　I'll　find　him　out　for　you　in　twenty…four　hours。〃

〃But　this　Grotait。　　Do　you　know　him？〃

〃Oh；　he　is　a　public　character。　　Keeps　'The　Cutlers'　Arms；'　in　Black　Street。〃

〃I　understand　he　repudiates　all　these　outrages。〃

〃He　does。　　But　the　workmen　themselves　are　behind　the　scenes；　and　what　do　they　call　him？　　Why；　'Old　Smitem。'〃

〃Ah！　　You　are　one　of　those　who　look　below　the　surface；〃　said　the　courtier。

He　then　turned　the　conversation；　and；　soon　after；　went　away。　　He　had　been　adroit　enough　to　put　his　questions　in　the　languid　way　of　a　man　who　had　no　personal　curiosity；　and　was　merely　discharging　a　commission。

Mr。　Ransome；　as　a　matter　of　form；　took　a　short　note　of　the　conversation；　but　attached　no　importance　to　it。　　However；　he　used　the　means　at　his　command　to　find　out　Little's　abode。　　Not　that　Mr。　Coventry　had　positively　asked　him　to　do　it；　but；　his　attention　being　thus　unexpectedly　called　to　the　subject；　he　felt　desirous　to　talk　to　Little　on　his　own　account。

Mr。　Coventry　went　straight　to　〃The　Cutlers'　Arms；〃　but　he　went　slowly。　　A　powerful　contest　was　now　going　on　within　him；　jealousy　and　rage　urged　him　onward；　honor　and　gratitude　held　him　back。　　Then　came　his　self…deceiving　heart；　and　suggested　that　Miss　Carden　had　been　the　first　to　break　her　promise　（she　had　let　Jael　Dence　into　Little's　secret）；　and　that　he　himself　was　being　undermined　by　cunning　and　deceit：　strict　notions　of　honor　would　be　out　of　place　in　such　a　combat。　　Lastly；　he　felt　it　his　DUTY　to　save　Miss　Carden　from　a　degrading　connection。

All　these　considerations；　taken　together；　proved　too　strong　for　his　good　faith；　and　so　stifled　the　voice　of　conscience；　that　it　could　only　keep　whispering　against　the　deed；　but　not　prevent　it。

He　went　direct　to　〃The　Cutlers'　Arms。〃　　He　walked　into　the　parlor　and　ordered　a　glass　of　brandy…and…water；　and　asked　if　he　could　see　Mr。　Grotait；　privately。　　Mr。　Grotait　came　in。

〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Grotait。　　Will　you　have　any　thing？〃

〃A　glass　of　ale；　sir；　if　you　please。〃

When　this　had　been　brought；　and　left；　and　the　parties　were　alone；　Coventry　asked　him　whether　he　could　receive　a　communication　under　a　strict　promise　of　secrecy。

〃If　it　is　a　trade　matter；　sir；　you　can　trust　me。　　A　good　many　have。〃

〃Well　then；　I　can　tell　you　something　about　a　workman　called　Little。　But　before　I　say　a　word；　I　must　make　two　express　conditions。　　One　is；　that　no　violence　shall　be　used　toward　him；　the　other；　that　you　never　reveal　to　any　human　creature；　it　was　I　who　told　you。〃

〃What；　is　he　working　still？〃

〃My　conditions；　Mr。　Grotait？〃

〃I　promise　you　absolute　secrecy；　sir；　as　far　as　you　are　concerned。　As　to　your　other　condition；　the　matter　will　work　thus：　if　your　communication　should　be　as　important　as　you　think；　I　can　do　nothing　the　man　is　not　in　the　saw…tradeI　shall　carry　the　information　to　two　other　secretaries；　and　shall　not　tell　them　I　had　it　from　Mr。　Coventry；　of　Bollinghope。〃　　（Mr。　Coventry　started　at　finding　himself　known。）　　〃Those　gentlemen　will　be　sure　to　advise　with　me；　and　I　shall　suggest　to　them　to　take　effectual　measures；　but　to　keep　it；　if　possible；　from　the　knowledge　of　all　those　persons　who　discredit　us　by　their　violent　acts。〃

〃Well　then；　on　that　understandingthe　man　works　all　night　in　a　deserted　church　at　Cairnhope；　it　is　all　up　among　the　hills。〃

Grotait　turned　red。　　〃Are　you　sure　of　this？〃

〃Quite　sure？〃

〃You　have　seen　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Has　he　a　forge？〃

〃Yes；　and　bellows；　and　quantities　of　molds；　and　strips　of　steel。　　He　is　working　on　a　large　scale。〃

〃It　shall　be　looked　into；　sir；　by　the　proper　persons。　　Indeed；　the　sooner　they　are　informed；　the　better。〃

〃Yes；　but　mind；　no　violence。　　You　are　strong　enough　to　drive　him　out　of　the　country　without　that。〃

〃I　should　hope　so。〃

Coventry　then　rose；　and　left　the　place；　but　he　had　no　sooner　got　into　the　street；　than　a　sort　of　horror　fell　on　him；　horror　of　himself；　distrust　and　dread　of　the　consequences；　to　his　rival　but　benefactor。

Almost　at　the　door　he　was　met　by　Mr。　Ransome；　who　stopped　him　and　gave　him　Little's　address；　he　had　obtained　it　without　difficulty　from　Bayne。

〃I　am　glad　you　reminded　me；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　shall　call　on　him　myself；　one　of　these　days。〃

These　words　rang　in　Coventry's　ears；　and　put　him　in　a　cold　perspiration。　　〃Fool！〃　thought　he；　〃to　go　and　ask　a　public　officer；　a　man　who　hears　every　body　in　turn。〃

What　he　had　done　disinclined　him　to　return　to　Cairnhope。　　He　made　a　call　or　two　first；　and　loitered　about；　and　then　at　last　back　to　Raby；　gnawed　with　misgivings　and　incipient　remorse。

Mr。　Grotait　sent　immediately　for　Mr。　Parkin；　Mr。　Jobson；　and　Mr。　Potter；　and　told　them　the　secret　information　he　had　just　received。

They　could　hardly　believe　it　at　first；　Jobson；　especially；　was　incredulous。　　He　said　he　had　kept　his　eye　on　Little；　and　assured　them　the　man　had　gone　into　woodcarving；　and　was　to　be　seen　in　the　town　all　day。

〃Ay；〃　said　Parkin；　〃but　this　is　at　night；　and；　now　I　think　of　it；　I　met　him　t'other　day；　about　dusk；　galloping　east；　as　hard　as　he　could　go。〃

〃My　information　is　from　a　sure　source；〃　said　Grotait；　stiffly。

Parkin。〃What　is　to　be　done？〃

Jobson。〃Is　he　worth　another　strike？〃

Potter。〃The　time　is　unfavorable：　here's　a　slap　of　dull　trade。〃

The　three　then　put　their　heads　together；　and　various　plans　were　suggested　and　discussed；　and；　as　the　parties　were　not　now　before　the　public；　that　horror　of　gunpowder；　vitriol；　and　life…preservers；　which　figured　in　their　notices　and　resolutions；　did　not　appear　in　their　conversation。　　Grotait　alone　was　silent　and　doubtful。　　This　Grotait　was　the　greatest　fanatic　of　the　four；　and；　like　all　fanatics；　capable　of　vast　cruelty：　but　his　cruelty　lay　in　his　head；　rather　than　in　his　heart。　　Out　of　Trade　questions；　the　man；　though　vain　and　arrogant；　was　of　a　genial　and　rather　a　kindly　nature；　and；　even　in　Trade　questions；　being　more　intelligent　than　his　fellows；　he　was　sometimes　infested　with　a　gleam　of　humanity。

His　bigotry　was；　at　this　moment；　disturbed　by　a　visitation　of　that　kind。

〃I'm　perplexed；〃　said　he：　〃I　don't　often　hesitate　on　a　Trade　question　neither。　　But　the　men　we　have　done　were　always　low…lived　blackguards；　who　would　have　destro