Part 27 (2/2)
The Scin-Laeca slowly waned, and, fading first into a paler shadow, then vanished. I rejoiced at the reply I had given. Two days elapsed before Mr. Stanton again came to me; in the interval the Scin-Laeca did not reappear. I had mustered all my courage, all my common-sense, noted down all the weak points of the false evidence against me, and felt calm and supported by the strength of my innocence.
The first few words of the solicitor dashed all my courage to the ground; for I was anxious to hear news of Lilian, anxious to have some message from her that might cheer and strengthen me, and my first question was this,--
”Mr. Stanton, you are aware that I am engaged in marriage to Miss Ashleigh. Your family are not unacquainted with her. What says, what thinks she of this monstrous charge against her betrothed?”
”I was for two hours at Mrs. Ashleigh's house last evening,” replied the lawyer; ”she was naturally anxious to see me as employed in your defence. Who do you think was there? Who, eager to defend you, to express his persuasion of your innocence, to declare his conviction that the real criminal would be soon discovered,--who but that same Mr.
Margrave; whom, pardon me my frankness, you so rashly and groundlessly suspected.”
”Heavens! Do you say that he is received in that house; that he--he is familiarly admitted to her presence?”
”My good sir, why these unjust prepossessions against a true friend? It was as your friend that, as soon as the charge against you amazed and shocked the town of L----, Mr. Margrave called on Mrs. Ashleigh, presented to her by Miss Brabazon, and was so cheering and hopeful that--”
”Enough!” I exclaimed,--”enough!”
I paced the room in a state of excitement and rage, which the lawyer in vain endeavoured to calm, until at length I halted abruptly: ”Well, and you saw Miss Ashleigh? What message does she send to me--her betrothed?”
Mr. Stanton looked confused. ”Message! Consider, sir, Miss Ashleigh's situation--the delicacy--and--and--”
”I understand, no message, no word, from a young lady so respectable to a man accused of murder.”
Mr. Stanton was silent for some moments, and then said quietly, ”Let us change this subject; let us think of what more immediately presses. I see you have been making some notes: may I look at them?”
I composed myself and sat down. ”This accuser! Have inquiries really been made as to himself, and his statement of his own proceedings? He comes, he says, from America: in what s.h.i.+p? At what port did he land? Is there any evidence to corroborate his story of the relations he tried to discover; of the inn at which he first put up, and to which he could not find his way?”
”Your suggestions are sensible, Dr. Fenwick. I have forestalled them. It is true that the man lodged at a small inn,--the Rising Sun; true that lie made inquiries about some relations of the name of Walls, who formerly resided at L----, and afterwards removed to a village ten miles distant,--two brothers, tradesmen of small means but respectable character. He at first refused to say at what seaport he landed, in what s.h.i.+p he sailed. I suspect that he has now told a falsehood as to these matters. I sent my clerk to Southampton, for it is there he said that he was put on sh.o.r.e; we shall see: the man himself is detained in close custody. I hear that his manner is strange and excitable; but that he preserves silence as much as possible. It is generally believed that he is a bad character, perhaps a returned convict, and that this is the true reason why he so long delayed giving evidence, and has been since so reluctant to account for himself. But even if his testimony should be impugned, should break down, still we should have to account for the fact that the casket and the case-knife were found in your bureau; for, granting that a person could, in your absence, have entered your study and placed the articles in your bureau, it is clear that such a person must have been well acquainted with your house, and this stranger to L---- could not have possessed that knowledge.”
”Of course not. Mr. Margrave did possess it!”
”Mr. Margrave again! oh, sir!”
I arose and moved away with an impatient gesture. I could not trust myself to speak. That night I did not sleep; I watched impatiently, gazing on the opposite wall for the gleam of the Scin-Laeca. But the night pa.s.sed away, and the spectre did not appear.
CHAPTER XLI.
The lawyer came the next day, and with something like a smile on his lips. He brought me a few lines in pencil from Mrs. Ashleigh; they were kindly expressed, bade me be of good cheer; ”she never for a moment believed in my guilt; Lilian bore up wonderfully under so terrible a trial; it was an unspeakable comfort to both to receive the visits of a friend so attached to me, and so confident of a triumphant refutation of the hideous calumny under which I now suffered as Mr. Margrave!”
The lawyer had seen Margrave again,--seen him in that house. Margrave seemed almost domiciled there!
I remained sullen and taciturn during this visit. I longed again for the night. Night came. I heard the distant clock strike twelve, when again the icy wind pa.s.sed through my hair, and against the wall stood the luminous Shadow.
”Have you considered?” whispered the voice, still as from afar. ”I repeat it,--I alone can save you.”
”Is it among the conditions which you ask, in return, that I shall resign to you the woman I love?”
”No.”
”Is it one of the conditions that I should commit some crime,--a crime perhaps heinous as that of which I am accused?”
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