put yourself in his place-第70部分

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Grace's　red　face　and　swimming　eyes　told　how　this　shaft　went　home。　In　short；　she　made　a　coy　promise　that　she　would　co…operate　with　Mrs。　Little　〃and；〃　said　she；　〃how　lucky！　he　has　almost　promised　to　grant　me　the　first　favor　I　ask　him。　　Well；　I　shall　entreat　him　to　be　a　good　nephew；　and　do　whatever　dear　Mr。　Raby　asks　him。　　But　of　course　I　shall　not　say；　and　then　if　you　do；　you　and　I〃here　the　young　lady　cut　her　sentence　very　short。

〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Mrs。　Little。　　〃THAT　will　follow　as　a　matter　of　course。　　Now；　my　dear；　you　and　I　are　conspiratorsfor　his　good：　and　we　must　write　often　and　let　each　other　know　all　we　do。〃

With　this　understanding；　and　a　good　many　pretty　speeches　and　kisses；　they　parted。

Dr。　Amboyne　did　not　recover　so　quickly　as　they　could　have　wished；　but　they　employed　the　interval。　　Feelers　were　adroitly　applied　to　Henry　by　both　ladies；　and　they　were　pleased　to　find　that　he　rather　admired　his　wrong…headed　uncle；　and　had　been　deeply　touched　by　the　old　gentleman's　address　to　his　mother's　picture。

Bolt　never　came　near　him；　and　the　grass　was　beginning　to　grow　on　the　condemned　bricks。　　In　short；　every　thing　seemed　to　incline　in　one　direction。

There　was；　however；　something　very　serious　going　on　out　of　their　sight。

〃Not　at　home！〃　　That　white　lie　made　Mr。　Coventry　feel　sick　at　heart。　He　went　home　disconsolate。　　The　same　evening　he　received　Miss　Carden's　letter。

The　writer　treated　him　like　a　gentleman；　said　a　few　words　about　her　own　peculiar　position；　and　begged　him　to　consider　that　position；　and　to　be　very　generous；　to　cease　his　visits　entirely　for　the　present；　and　so　give　himself　one　more　title　to　her　esteem；　which　was　all　she　had　to　give　him。　　This　was　the　purport；　and　the　manner　was　simply　perfect；　so　gentle　yet　firm；　and　then　she　flattered　his　amour　propre　by　asking　that　from　his　generosity　which　she　could　have　taken　as　a　right：　she　did　all　she　could　to　soften　the　blow。　　But　she　failed。　The　letter　was　posted　too　soon　after　Henry's　visit。　　Behind　the　velvet　paw　that　struck　him；　Coventry　saw　the　claws　of　the　jealous　lover。　　He　boiled　with　rage　and　agony；　and　cursed　them　both　in　his　fury。

After　an　hour　or　two　of　frenzy；　he　sat　down　and　wrote　back　a　letter　full　of　bitter　reproaches　and　sneers。　　He　reflected。　　He　lighted　a　cigar　and　smoked　it；　biting　it　almost　through；　now　and　then。　　He　burned　his　letter。　　He　lay　awake　all　night；　raging　and　reflecting　alternately；　as　passion　or　judgment　got　the　upper　hand。

In　the　morning　he　saw　clearer。　　〃Don't　quarrel　with　HER。　　Destroy　HIM。〃　　He　saw　this　as　plainly　as　if　it　was　written。

He　wrote　Grace　a　few　sad　lines；　to　say　that　of　course　he　submitted　to　her　will。　　The　letter　ended　thus：　〃Since　I　can　do　nothing　to　please　you；　let　me　suffer　to　please　you：　even　that　is　something。〃

（This　letter　brought　the　tears　to　Grace's　eyes；　and　she　pitied　and　esteemed　the　writer。）

He　put　on　a　plain　suit；　and　drove　into　Hillsborough；　burning　with　wild　ideas　of　vengeance。　　He　had　no　idea　what　he　should　do；　but　he　was　resolved　to　do　something。　　He　felt　capable　of　assassinating　Little　with　his　own　hand。

I　should　be　sorry　to　gain　any　sympathy　for　him；　but　it　is　only　fair　the　reader　should　understand　that　he　felt　deeply　aggrieved；　and　that　we　should　all　feel　aggrieved　under　similar　circumstances。　　Priority　is　a　title；　all　the　world　over；　and　he　had　been　the　lady's　lover　first；　had　been　encouraged；　and　supplanted。

Longing　to　wound；　but　not　knowing　how　to　strike；　he　wandered　about　the　town；　and　went　into　several　factories；　and　talked　to　some　of　the　men；　and　contrived　to　bring　the　conversation　round　to　Little；　and　learn　what　he　was　doing。　　But　he　gathered　no　information　of　any　use　to　him。　　Then　he　went　to　Grotait's　place；　and　tried　to　pump　him。　That　sagacious　man　thought　this　odd；　and　immediately　coupled　this　with　his　previous　denunciation　of　Little；　and　drew　him　on。

Coventry　was　too　much　under　the　influence　of　passion　to　be　quite　master　of　himself　that　day；　and　he　betrayed　to　this　other　Machiavel　that　he　wished　ill　to　Henry　Little。　　As　soon　as　he　had　thoroughly　ascertained　this；　Grotrait　turned　coolly　on　him；　and　said；　〃I　am　sorry　Mr。　Little　has　got　enemies；　for　he　and　his　partner　talk　of　building　a　new　factory；　and　that　will　be　a　good　thing　for　us：　take　a　score　of　saw…grinders　off　the　box。〃　　Then　Coventry　saw　he　had　made　a　mistake；　and　left　〃The　Cutlers'　Arms〃　abruptly。

Next　day　he　took　a　lodging　in　the　town；　and　went　about　groping　for　information；　and　hunting　for　a　man　whose　face　he　knew；　but　not　his　name。　　He　learned　all　about　Bolt　and　Little's　vain　endeavor　to　build；　and　went　and　saw　the　place；　and　the　condemned　bricks。　　The　sight　gratified　him。　　He　visited　every　saw…grinder's　place　he　could　hear　of；　and；　at　last；　he　fell　in　with　Sam　Cole；　and　recognized　him　at　once。　　That　worthy　affected　not　to　know　him；　and　went　on　grinding　a　big　saw。　　Coventry　stepped　up　to　him；　and　said　in　his　ear；　〃I　want　to　speak　with　you。　　Make　an　appointment。〃

Cole　looked　rather　sulky　and　reluctant　at　being　drawn　from　his　obscurity。　　However；　he　named　a　low　public…house　in　a　back　slum；　and　there　these　two　met　that　night；　and　for　greater　privacy　were　soon　seated　in　a　place　bigger　than　a　box　and　smaller　than　a　room　with　discolored　walls；　and　a　rough　wooden　table　before　them　splashed　with　beer。　　It　looked　the　very　den　to　hatch　villainy　in；　and　drink　poison　to　its　success。

Coventry；　pale　and　red　alternately；　as　fear　and　shame　predominated；　began　to　beat　about　the　bush。

〃You　and　I　have　reason　to　hate　the　same　man。　　You　know　who　I　mean。〃

〃I　can　guess。　　Begins　with　a　Hel。〃

〃He　has　wronged　me　deeply；　and　he　hurt　you。〃

〃That　is　true；　sir。　　I　think　he　broke　my　windpipe；　for　I'm　as　hoarse　as　a　raven　ever　since：　and　I've　got　one　or　two　of　the　shot　in　my

cheek　still。〃

〃Well；　then；　now　is　your　time　to　be　revenged。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　about　that。　　What　he　done　was　in　self…defense；　and　if　I　play　bowls　I　must　look　for　rubs。〃

Coventry　bit　his　lip　with　impatience。　　After　a　pause；　he　said；　〃What　were　you　paid　for　that　job？〃

〃Not　half　enough。〃

〃Twenty　pounds？〃

〃Nor　nothing　like　it。〃

〃I'll　give　you　a　hundred　to　do　it　again；　only　more　effectually。〃　　He　turned　very　pale　when　he　had　made　this　offer。

〃Ah；〃　said　Cole；　〃anybody　could　tell　you　was　a　gentleman。〃

〃You　accept　my　offer；　then？〃

〃Nay；　I　mean　it　is　easy　to　see　you　don't　know　trades。　　I　musn't　meddle　with　Mr。　Little　now；　he　is　right　with　the　Trade。〃

〃What；　not　if　I　pay　you　five　times　as　much？　say　ten　times　then；　two　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Nay；　we　Union　chaps　are　not　malefactors。　　You　can't　buy　us　to　injure　an　unoffending　man。　　We　have　got　our　laws；　and　they　are　just　ones；　and；　if　a　man　will　break　them；　after　due　warning；　the　order　is　given　to　'do'　him；　and　the　men　are　named　for　the　job；　and　get　paid　a　trifle　for　their　risk；　and　the　risk　is　not　much；　the　Trade　stand　by　one　another　too　true；　and　in　so　many　ways。　　But　if　a　man　is　right　with　the　Trade；　it　is　treason　to　harm　him。　　No；　I　mustn't　move　a　finger　against　Little。〃

〃You　have　set　up　a　conscience！〃　said　Coventry　bitterly。

〃You　dropped　yours；　and　I　picked　it　up；〃　was　the　Yorkshireman's　ready　reply。　　He　was　nettled　now。

At　this　moment　the　door　was　opened　and　shut　very　swiftly；　and　a　whisper　came　in　through　the　momentary　aperture；　〃Mind　your　eye；　Sam　Cole。〃

Coventry　rushed　to　the　door　and　looked　out；　there　was　nobody　to　be　seen。

〃You　needn't　trouble　yourself；〃　said　Cole。　　〃You　might　as　well　run　after　the　wind。　　That　was　a　friendly　warning。　　I　know　the　voice；　and　Grotait　must　be　on　to　us。　　Now；　sir；　if　you　offered　me　a　thousand　pounds；　I　wouldn't　touch　a　hair　of　Mr。　Little：　he　is　right　with　the　Trade；　and　we　should　have　Grotait　and　all　the　Trade　as　bitter　as　death　against　us。　　I'll　tell　you　a　secret；　sir；　that　I've　kept　from　my　wife〃（he　lowered　his　voice　to　a　whisper）〃Grotait　could　hang　me　any　day　he　chose。　　You　must　chink　your　brass　in　some　other　ear；　as　the　saying　is：　only　mind；　you　did　me　a　good　turn　once；　and　I'll　do　you　one　now；　you　have　been　talking　to　somebody　else　besides　me；　and　blown　yourself：　so　now　drop　your　little　game；　and　let　Little　alone；　or　the　Trade　will　make　it　their　job　to　LAY　YOU。〃

Coventry's　face　betrayed　so　much　alarm；　that　the　man　added；　〃And　penal　servitude　wouldn't　suit　the　likes　of　you。　　Keep　out　of　it。〃

With　this　rough　advice　the　conference　ended；　and　Mr。　Coventry　went　home　thoroughly　shaken　in　his　purpose；　and　indeed　not　a　little　anxious　on　his　own　account。　　Suppose　he　had　been　overheard！　his　offer　to　Cole　was　an　offense　within　reach　of　the　criminal　law。　　What　a　mysterious　labyrinth　was　this　Trade　confederacy；　into　which　he　had　put　his　foot　so　rashly；　and　shown　his　game；　like　a　novice；　to　the　subtle　and　crafty　Grotait。　　He　now　collected　all　his　powers；　not　to　injure　Little；　but　to　slip　out　of　his　own　blunder。

He　seized　this　opportunity　to　carry　out　a　coup　he　had　long　meditated：　he　went　round　to　a　dozen　timber…merchants；　and　contracted　with　them　for　the　sale　of　every　tree；　old　or　young；　on　his　estate；　and；　while　the　trees　were　falling　like　grain；　and　the　agents　on　both　sides　measuring　the　fallen；　he　vanished　entirely　from　Hillsborough　and　Bollinghope。


Dr。　Amboyne's　influenza　was　obstinate；　and　it　was　nearly　a　fortnight　before　he　was　strong　enough　to　go　to　Cairnhope；　but　at　last　Mrs。　Little　received　a　line　from　him；　to　say　he　was　just　starting；　and　would　come　straight　to　her　on　his　return：　perhaps　she　would　give　him　a　cup　of　tea。

This　letter　came　very　opportunely。　　Bolt　had　never　shown　his　face　again；　and　Henry　had　given　up　all　hopes　of　working　his　patents；　and　had　said　more　than　once　he　should　have　to　cross　the　water　and　sell　them。

As　for　Mrs。　Little；　she　had　for　some　time　maintained　a　politic　silence。　　But　now　she　prepared　for　the　doctor's　visit　as　follows：　〃So；　then；　you　have　no　more　hopes　from　the　invincible　Mr。　Bolt？〃

〃None　whatever。　　He　must　have　left　the　town　in　disgust。〃

〃He　is　a　wise　man。　　I　want　you　to　imitate　his　example。　　Henry；　my　dear；　what　is　the　great　object　of　your　life　at　present？　　Is　it　not　to　marry　Grace　Carden？〃

〃You　know　it　is。〃

〃Then　take　her　from　my　hands。　　Why　do　you　look　so　astonished？　　Have　you　forgotten　my　little　boast？〃　　Then；　in　a　very　different　tone；　〃You　will　love