Part 83 (1/2)
”You don't tell me, sir!”
”Yes, murdered; perhaps you know his murderer?”
”Who was it, sir?”
”Colonel Darke.”
”Oh, I know _him_. He has been here, lately. Poor Mr. Swartz! And so they murdered him! I am sorry for him.”
Mohun's glance became more penetrating.
”You say that Colonel Darke has been here lately?”
”Yes, sir.”
”What was the occasion of his visit?”
”I don't know, sir; unless it was to hear me tell my visions.”
”You never knew him before?”
Amanda hesitated.
”Yes, sir,” she said at length.
”When, and how?”
”It was many years ago, sir;--I do not like to speak of these things.
He is a terrible man, they say.”
”You can speak to me, Amanda. I will repeat nothing; nor will Colonel Surry.”
The singular woman looked from Mohun to me, evidently hesitating. Then she seemed suddenly to make up her mind, and said, with her eternal smile:--
”I will tell you, then, sir. I can read faces, and I know neither you nor Colonel Surry will get me into trouble.”
”I will not--on my honor.”
”Nor I,” I said.
”That is enough, gentlemen; and now I will tell you what you wish to know, General Mohun.”
As she spoke she closed her eyes, and seemed for some moments to be reflecting. Then opening them again, she gazed, with her calm smile, at Mohun, and said:--
”It was many years ago, sir, when I first saw Colonel Darke, who then went by another name. I was living in this same house, when late one evening a light carriage stopped before the door, and a gentleman got out of it, and came in. He said he was travelling with his wife, who had been taken sick, and would I give them shelter until morning, when she would be able to go on? I was a poor woman, sir, as I am now, and hoped to be paid. I would have given the poor sick lady shelter all the same, though--and I told him he could come in, and sleep in this room, and I would go into that closet-like place behind you, sir. Well, he thanked me, and went back to the carriage, where a lady sat. He took her in his arms and brought her along to the house, when I saw that she was a very beautiful young lady, but quite pale. Well, sir, she came in and sat down in that chair you are now sitting in, and after awhile, said she was better. The gentleman had gone out and put away his horse, and when he came back I had supper ready, and every thing comfortable.”
”What was the appearance of the lady?” said Mohun, over whose brow a contraction pa.s.sed.
”She was small and dark, sir; but had the finest eyes I ever saw.”