|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 60
She found that the ideas she had just employed to pacify the
servants' hall were also in her father's thoughts. From them,
however, he won no consolation, though he stood convinced. But
the fact that Septimus May should have failed, and paid for his
failure with his life, now assumed its true significance for Sir
Walter. He was self-absorbed, prostrate, and desperate. In such
a condition one is not master of oneself, and may say and do
anything. The old man's armor was off, and in the course of his
next few speeches, by a selfish forgetfulness that he would have
been the first to condemn in another, he revealed a thing that was
destined to cause the young widow bitter and needless pain. First,
however, he pointed out what she already grasped and made clear to
others.
"This upsets all May's theories and gives the lie to me as well.
Why did I believe him! Why did I let him convince me against my
better judgment?"
"Do not fret about that now."
"You might say, 'I told you so!' but you will not do that.
Nevertheless, you were right to seek to stop this unfortunate man
last night, and he was terribly mistaken. No being from another
world had anything to do with his death. If we granted that, there
is an end of religious faith."
"We can be sure of it, father. Evil spirits would have had no
power over Mr. May, if there is a just God in heaven."
"Then it is something else. If not a spirit, then a living man--a
human devil--and the police will discover him. In this house, one
we have known and trusted; for all are known and trusted. They
will blame me, with good reason, for sacrificing another life. The
irony of fate that I, of all men, one so much alive to the meaning
of mercy--that I, out of superstitious folly--But how will it
look in the eyes of justice? Black--black! I am well prepared
to suffer what I have deserved, Mary. Nothing that man can do to
me equals the shame and dismay I feel when I consider what I have
done to myself!"
"You must not talk so; it is unworthy of you. You know it, father,
while you speak. Nobody has a right to question you or your
opinions. Many would have been convinced by Mr. May last night.
They may still think that he was right, and that, far from
receiving evil treatment, he was blessed by being taken away into
the next world without pain or shock. We must feel for him as we
try to feel for dear Tom. And I do not mean that I am sorry for
him; I am only sorry for us, because of the difficulty of
explaining. Yet to tell the truth will not be difficult. They
must do the best they can. It doesn't matter as much as you think.
Indeed, how should they blame you at all until they themselves find
out the truth?"
"They will--they must! They will discover the reason. They will
hunt down the murderer, and they will inevitably attach utmost
blame to me for listening to a man possessed. May was possessed,
I tell you!"
"He was exceedingly convincing. When I listened to him he shook
me, too."
"I should have supported you, instead of going over to him."
"He knows the truth now. He is with Tom now. We must remember
that. We know they are happy, and that makes the opinion of living
people matter very little."
Then, out of his weakness, he smote her, and thrust upon her some
hours of agony, very horrible in their nature, which there was no
good reason that Mary should have suffered.
"Who is alive and who is dead?" he asked. "We don't even know that.
The police demanded to make their own inquiries, and Peter
Hardcastle may at this moment be a living and breathing man, if
they are right."
She stared at him and feared for his reason.
"What do you mean?"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|